I don't own Naruto, Final Fantasy 7, or anything else. I'm just a broke college student…

Normal Talking: "Insert witty remark here."

Normal Thinking: 'Insert witty remark here.'

Bijū/Deity Talking: "Insert witty remark here."

Bijū/Deity Thinking: 'Insert witty remark here.'

Scene Change: Insert Place Here

Jutsu/Technique: Insert Jutsu Here

Last Updated: 4/9/17 (Minor Improvements)

"This world…I won't let it end!"

"I don't want any regrets…I don't want the things we did…to be turned into nothing! Things may seem hard…But it's only hopeless if we give up. So I won't quit! I won't stop! As long as there is even a shred of a chance…I will never! Back! Down!"

"…I know what 'friends' are. And I want to protect them…That's all."

"…Is that your answer?"

"She must be the lady that the old man was talking about…Kaguya Ōtsutsuki!"

"We're in a new dimension? The hell? What kind of power is that?!"

"Now!"

"Shannarō!"

"Hell yeah-ttebayo!"

"The bijū! They're free! They're all getting summoned back to our dimension!"

"Kurama, hey! You're not going back yet?"

'I, the ancestor of all chakra…am defeated by these scattered chakras…?'

"Don't 'hey' me, brat! Hurry up and finish the job! Finalize the seal!"

"Oh, right! Sasuke!"

"Tch!"

'No…No, I refuse! I refuse to simply be sealed again!'

"Y…You!"

"You've been hiding in this shadows this entire time, haven't you, Zetsu? But I noticed…"

"No!"

"A brat who can't even leave his mother's side…Won't ever understand a thing about it!"

"Damn you!"

'I won't be defeated like I'm nothing! I refuse! I refuse! IreFuseIreFUSeiReFusEIrefUSeiRefuse!'

"W…What's she doing?! What's that thing in the sky?!"

"She's opening another rift! Get out of the way!"

"What's that stuff coming out of it?! I can't even tell if it's green water or green light-ttebayo!"

"I don't know, but don't let it grab you!"

'If I am going to lose…Then I will make sure you lose too!'

"Naruto, watch out! Agh!"

"Sakura-chan! Damn it, hang on!"

"Naruto, wait! If you go after her, then you'll get grabbed too!"

"I don't care!"

"Naruto!"

'You…You're the one to blame…'

"N-Naruto…"

"I've got you! Just hang on!"

"No, save yourse-!"

"Screw that!"

"This thing is going to pull both of us in if you don't!"

"I won't let it!"

'I can sense it…I can see it…You gave them hope…You gave them a will to fight…You're the one who will lead their future…You're the heart of their future.'

"Come on…! Let go, you stupid light-water thing! Gah!"

"Naruto! See, it's grabbing you now! We're both getting dragged to the portal! Fly back to the others!"

"No!"

"You can still get away! Just let me go!"

"Not happening!"

"Pleas-!"

"I. Said. No!" 'Damn! What do I do, now?!'

"Naruto!"

"Dobe! Grab on!"

"Kurama! Sasuke!"

'So if I send you away…'

"Its pull is too strong!"

"Then make your pull stronger than that!"

"I can't even use Kamui against it!"

'This isn't good…! I can't hold on for much longer! And if I go, then Sakura goes too! I can't fight this thing off while holding her!'

"More tendrils are coming out!"

'They're all focusing on me…And they only got Sakura because she pushed me out of the way…So I'm what it's after?'

'Then I will be getting rid the heart!'

"Naruto?! What are you doing?!"

"Dobe?!"

"Don't let go!"

'I was right…After I separated from Sakura, they left her alone…' "Sorry about this, guys…But this thing is after me…So I'll deal with it myself."

"Like hell!"

"Kurama?!"

"After all that we just went through, you think I'm going to sit by and watch this happen?! I am Kurama! The Kyūbi no Kitsune! The strongest of the bijū! And as my partner, you're not dealing with this alone!"

"But-!"

"Shut up! This is happening, whether you want it to or not!"

"…Thanks, partner."

'Suffer! Suffer in isolation, as you doom me to!'

"Naruto!"

"No!"

"Tch!"

"Relax! I'll be fine! I have Kurama with me again!"

"Don't stop fighting it!"

"Listen…Thanks, guys…For everything."

"Don't talk like that!"

"I really appreciate everything you've done…For becoming my family…"

"Shut up! Stop speaking like this is goodbye!"

"Sasuke…I leave things to you, okay? You said you wanted to be Hokage, right? Please carry out my dream for the both of us…"

"Damn it, Dobe!"

"Later, guys! Be sure to say bye to the others for me!"

"NARUTO!"

…

"…He's…He's gone…"

'It…It burns…!'

"What the hell is this stuff?!"

'E-Everything hurts…I can't breathe…I can't see…'

"Naruto?! Kit! Hold on! Stay conscious!"

'K…Kurama…?'

"I'm here! Take my chakra to heal! Try to find a way out of this crap!"

'I don't know…if I can…All I can see is green…In every direction, it's nothing but a sea of green…And it hurts…'

"Hey! Stay awake!"

'…But-'

"But nothing! Don't close your eyes! Don't you fucking dare close your eyes!"

'Y…You say that…But it's getting harder…and harder to keep them open…'

"Naruto?! Kit!"

'…Kurama…? It sounds like he's getting further and further away…'

"Kit! Answ…e…it!"

'It's no good…I can't stay awake…anymore…'

"-!"

Naruto's return to awareness was a slow process. No matter how highly trained the shinobi, torture by means of a swim through a strange green liquid that burned every part of the body that it touched was tiring. Even with his partner's presence inside him actively helping to combat the pain and heal the damage, it was a new level of agony for the blond.

So, no. Naruto was not fully lucid the moment he woke up. Instead, he opted to remain still and give himself a few minutes.

Once his ability to think clearly began to return, Naruto decided to assess the situation. Based on what he was feeling, the sense of pain was gone.

That was good news.

However, Naruto was alarmed to note that while the sense of pain was gone, so was the sense of everything else. As in all of Naruto's senses had disappeared. From touch to smell, there was nothing. He couldn't even see anything!

That wasn't good news.

Alarm growing, Naruto tried lifting a hand to where his eyes were, but was met with a jarring sense of incompleteness.

'Kurama?' He tried calling to his partner, hoping that he would have some answers that would put his worries to rest. Maybe the fuzz ball did something so that Naruto wouldn't suffer in that sea of green? 'Hey, you listening?' No response. 'Kurama?!'

"Invader."

'Wha-?' If Naruto still had the ability to feel or control his body, then he would have jumped in surprise at the new voice. One that was definitely not the voice of a gigantic fox with nine tails. This voice was that of a woman. What was even stranger, Naruto wasn't even sure that he was hearing the voice. It was as if the voice was just…there, in his head. But not in the same way that he mentally spoke to Kurama.

"Invader! You dare tread upon my domain?!"

'What? What are you talking about?!'

"You have come here to destroy, haven't you?! Like the other one!"

'Huh? No! I don't even know who you are!' Seriously, what was this lady talking about?

"Do not lie to me!"

'I'm not lying! I swear!'

"Then why have you come here?! Why did you open that rift?!"

Naruto wanted to scowl, but that was still beyond him at the moment. 'I didn't open that rift! I was just there when it opened! And besides, that green stuff dragged me into it! I didn't want to come here-ttebayo!'

"You lie!"

'I already said I'm no-' Mentally sighing, Naruto cut himself off. 'If I'm going to argue with you, can we at least do it face to face?'

"Why? So you can attempt to strike me down?"

Growling, Naruto snapped back. 'No, because not being able to see the person I'm arguing with is annoying!' He paused. '…And I'm starting to really freak out over not having my senses…So please?' He asked.

The voice didn't respond immediately, so Naruto thought the woman was going to refuse, but then something began to shift. What was previously an abyss of nothing but darkness shifted into a sea of bluish-green liquid/light in the form of countless threads. The threads were twirling, twisting, dancing…flowing all around him. With a jolt of surprise, Naruto noted that it was the same stuff that came out of the portal. And off in the distance, Naruto could see stars shining brightly.

Daring himself to turn his attention downward, Naruto felt a rush of relief when he saw his body. And strangely enough, the moment that he saw his body, the rest of his senses returned. Naruto was suddenly able to register the sensation of standing, and he was able to feel the gentle caressing of the strange liquid/light as some of the threads brushed up against him, as if curious. Although he was still wary of the liquid/light stuff, Naruto didn't let himself react when some of it brushed his hand.

'Who is he?'

'Why is he here?'

'Is he one of us now?'

'He's different.'

'Is he dangerous?'

'Another Calamity?'

Naruto blinked when he heard the whispers. Quickly looking around, he was unable to spot anyone nearby, despite the countless voices. He was distracted from his search when a particularly adventurous thread came up and grazed his cheek.

'He is different…But I don't think he means any harm.'

It was at that point that Naruto finally realized that the voices were coming from the threads. With wide eyes, Naruto watched as the brave thread returned to rejoin the others. 'What is this stuff…?'

"It is the very essence and life of the planet. Of me."

Startled, Naruto whirled around upon hearing the voice speak from behind him. Standing a dozen feet away was a woman, one whom Naruto couldn't describe in anyway but beautiful.

The woman was tall, and she had flowing blond hair that seemed to glow as it cascaded down to her upper back. Strangely enough, the woman was wearing an extravagant set of armor that was colored various shades of white, gold, and violet. Complementing the armor was an equally extravagant scepter and shield. While her outfit and beauty were very eye-catching, Naruto was unable to tear his eyes away from hers.

The woman's emerald eyes were narrowed in wariness. In hatred. In anger.

In fear.

Swallowing nervously, Naruto slowly raised his hands in a nonthreatening manner and offered a hesitant smile. "Um…Hey ther-"

"I have done as you asked and provided a plane for which we can speak in manner more comfortable for you." The woman interrupted. "Now you will answer my question. Why did you come here?!"

Subconsciously taking a step back when the woman's voice suddenly seemed far more powerful, Naruto hastily spoke up. "I already told you that I didn't want to come here!"

"Then what was the reason for creating the rift?! If not to invade, then for what purpose?!"

"I didn't open the portal!" Naruto shot back. "I already told you I just happened to be there!"

"You are lying to me again!" The woman said furiously. "I demand the truth!"

Feeling his anger and frustration grow, Naruto did scowl this time. "It is the truth! I didn't open the portal, damn it!" He shouted, causing the woman to actually flinch and the threads that had been circling him to scatter. Seeing the woman's reaction and the hint of fear in her eyes grow, Naruto's guilt overtook his frustration and anger. Sighing, Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Look…I promise you that I didn't open that portal. Just like I promise that I didn't want to come here. The only reason I'm even here is because I got caught by these weird lights while trying to get them off my friend. They pulled me in."

The woman was silent for a few moments before she glanced down to the threads surrounding them, noting that many of the threads had already willingly returned to be close to Naruto. "The Lifestream was sent to capture the most powerful presence on the other side of the rift. For only that presence would have had the power to open a rift to here." She finally said softly.

Understanding lit Naruto's eyes. With a groan, he slumped. "Okay, that makes sense…" When the woman's glare returned, he quickly continued. "The person who made the portal was there, and she was more powerful than me, but then she was sealed." He explained. "Right before she was fully sealed, she must have opened the portal as a last ditch effort to take at least one of us out." He sighed sadly. "…And it worked."

Hearing this, the woman frowned slightly. "And that is the truth?"

Naruto nodded. "I swear it on my nindō. Uh, my ninja way." He elaborated upon her obvious confusion.

The woman stared at Naruto for several long minutes, with Naruto not even daring to breathe as he awaited her response. Although a small bit of panic flared in him when he realized that he wasn't breathing and he apparently didn't need to.

"Of course you do not need to breathe. You are here in mind and soul, not body." The woman's voice cut off any rising distress in him. "All mortal needs are irrelevant while you are here."

"Oh…" Naruto said dumbly. "Okay…?" 'Did she just read my mind?'

"I did." The woman confirmed, much to his amazement. "As I have said, the form you are currently taking is made up of your mind and soul, so it is of no surprise that thoughts are projected here when you don't work to keep them private. It is your own fault."

"Uh…" Blinking, Naruto digested that bit of information. After repeating it a few times in his head, he thought he understood. "Alright…I'll be more careful to not…think too loudly?" She nodded. It was then that Naruto noticed that her scepter and shield had vanished, as had much of the anger in her eyes, although she was still obviously wary of him. "So…Where am I?"

"You are in the Lifestream. And you do not belong here."

Naruto frowned slightly, still confused. "That doesn't tell me much-ttebayo…"

It was now the woman's turn to frown at him. "How does it not? The Lifestream is the Lifestream."

"But what does that mean? What is the Lifestream?"

"The Lifestream is the essence of the planet. It is the essence of all the inhabitants of the planet. Their memories, their feelings, their emotions, their knowledge. All of those make up the Lifestream. They make up me. While the inhabitants occupy the surface of the planet, the Lifestream is the heart of the planet."

"Wait…" Naruto tried to grasp what she was saying. "So…you are the Lifestream?" And based on her words, Naruto wasn't on his world anymore. Although, that was something of a given from how he was dragged through the portal to another dimension that Kaguya opened.

She nodded. "Both yes and no. I am both the Lifestream and the planet. And yet, I am also a representation of their will."

"Huh…" Naruto's brow furrowed in thought. "But you said that this place is the Lifestream…So how is it you, and yet you're here?"

"Because I willed it so." She said easily, as if that explained it.

Deciding that he wasn't going to fully understand anytime soon, Naruto sighed again. "Fine…" Suddenly, he grinned at her. "So? What's your name? Do I just call you Lifestream? I would rather have a name to use."

The abrupt grin and question prompted a look of surprise to appear on the woman's face. Hesitating, she slowly answered the question. "I have many names…But if you must call me something, then you may call me Minerva."

Naruto happily nodded. "It's nice to meet you, Minerva. I'm Naruto Uzumaki!" He greeted.

"Naruto Uzumaki…" She repeated quietly, as if testing the name. Tilting her head, she spoke. "And you say that you are not the one who created that rift? You didn't come here to invade?"

Why did she keep asking him that? "No, I didn't." Naruto said again. "In fact, I will happily leave now and return to my dimension. Can you send me back?" He asked eagerly. If she was as powerful and divine as she was implying, then she should be able to do it!

"Impossible."

That single word froze Naruto and chilled his blood. "Wh…What?" He asked weakly.

"I said it is impossible." Minerva said bluntly. "I have many powers and abilities, to the point that I can do nearly anything I wish in this domain…But creating a rift in time and space is not something I can do."

A sick feeling grew in Naruto's stomach, but he wasn't sure if that was even possible here. "So…So I can't go back?" She nodded, making the sick feeling in him grow. For several moments, Naruto dwelled on that, feeling the despair crush him. Eventually, he took in a deep breath and slowly exhaled it. "…That's fine." He already figured that this might happen when he gave himself up for Sakura. It was stupid of him to let himself become hopeful. "I guess I'm staying here…" That knowledge hurt him, but he didn't have much of a choice. He would try to make the best of it and live on the surface.

"No."

Naruto jolted at the unexpected and harsh rebuttal. "Wha-?"

"I said no." Minerva glared at him. "I will not allow you to stay here. You do not belong here. You are to leave this planet at once. Beings from elsewhere bring nothing but calamity and ruin. And while you may not currently have any intent to do harm, I will not risk it. Leave at once."

The whiskered blond gaped at her. "B-But why? And How?! I can't open a portal like Kaguya can, and while I can fly with Six Paths Senjutsu, where would I go?!"

"You are unable to leave?" The woman asked, getting a hasty nod. "I see…Then there is no choice." She willed her scepter back into existence, putting Naruto on edge.

"Wait…What do you mean by that? What're you going to do?" He asked cautiously.

"If you are unable to leave, then that means that you must be removed from the planet in another manner." She explained. Pointing the scepter at Naruto, she continued as it began to glow. "You must be erased."

Naruto took a step back. "…You're going to kill me?"

Minerva nodded. "I apologize, but I will not take such a risk by allowing you to exist here. This is the only remaining solution. Goodbye, Naruto Uzumaki."

The blond gritted his teeth. "Don't screw with me-ttebayo! What kind of solution is that?!"

"The only one available."

"Why are you saying that?!" Naruto demanded. "What are you so afraid of?!" Something flashed in Minerva's eyes, and Naruto's mind went back to everything he has heard in his short time here. "Who is the 'other one'? And what is the 'Calamity'?" Minerva actually flinched at the questions. "I guess it's someone else who came here from another world? And they hurt…the planet? Hurt you? You're scared that I will do the same."

"…I am." She finally admitted. "So you understand why you must be removed."

Glaring, Naruto shook his head. "Sorry, but I don't understand. I don't know who or what this thing was or is, but I don't mean you any harm." He looked away as his eyes grew distant. "…I just got through with fighting to save my own world. I wouldn't doom another." He whispered, face turning sad.

Minerva observed him in silence for a minute as the glow in her scepter faded away. "Prove it." She suddenly ordered.

"Huh?" Naruto returned his attention to her with a blink. "Prove what?"

"Prove that you wouldn't ever mean any harm. That you fought such a battle." She elaborated.

"Um…" Naruto scratched the back of his head in confusion. "How would I do that?"

The glow returned to the scepter, putting Naruto on edge, but Minerva's next words eased any thoughts that she was going to attack. "Open your mind to me." She instructed. "Allow me to read your memories and judge your person. I will watch your life in order to do so."

Naruto frowned at her. "And why should I do that?" While he didn't want to be killed simply for getting sucked into this world, he also didn't like the idea of letting someone he didn't know or trust into his head to watch his entire life.

Minerva quirked an eyebrow at him. "Would you rather be erased?" She asked.

Frown deepening, Naruto glared off to the side at nothing in particular. 'So it's either die or show her my life to prove I'm honest…' That irritated him, admittedly. He didn't even let his friends know that he was a jinchuriki until he was a teenager. And now he had to show everything to this lady he hasn't even known for an hour?

But when the only other option was to be 'erased', what choice did he have?

Shoving his frustration and sense of helplessness to the side, Naruto sighed and looked back to Minerva. "Fine…How do we do this?"

Walking up to Naruto until they were only a couple of feet apart, Minerva pointed her scepter at his forehead. "Simpy relax and allow me to do the work. This will be over in a minute." Taking a deep breath and closing his eyes, Naruto nodded. Seeing this, Minerva established the link.

Despite his eyes being closed, Naruto's vision went white.

Minato and Kushina protecting him from the Kyūbi. Kushina's emotional farewell to him while Minato watched sadly.

The third Hokage giving him the key to his apartment where he would live alone, despite hardly being six.

Deciding that he wanted to become Hokage.

His one-sided rivalry with Sasuke. Establishing friendships for the first time in the Academy.

Smiling in the face of the glares from every side. Retaliating with pranks. Forming a bond with Iruka.

Learning of the Kyūbi.

The formation of team 7. Completing random missions until the mission to Wave. Watching a friend and rival seemingly sacrifice himself to save him.

Watching as another person who could have been a friend was buried after sacrificing himself to save his precious person.

The declaration of his nindō.

The chūnin exams. Meeting Gaara. Becoming both nervous and excited at the idea of the exams.

Getting confronted by Orochimaru. Sasuke getting the cursed seal. Feeling powerless.

Meeting Jiraiya. Learning how to summon toads and use the Kyūbi's chakra.

The invasion. Fighting Gaara to defend the people he cares about. Returning only to learn of the death of the person he viewed as a grandfather.

Leaving Konoha with Jiraiya to find some woman. Learning the Rasengan along the way. Getting attacked by the Akatsuki for the first time. Watching as a someone he sees as a rival is mentally tortured into a coma. Learning that they are after him.

Meeting Tsunade. Completing the Rasengan for the first time to beat Kabuto. Winning the necklace.

Growing tensions with Sasuke. Amounts to a fight on the roof of a hospital, only for Kakashi to stop them.

Getting woken up early in the morning by Shikamaru to be told that Sasuke defected.

The retrieval mission. Hating that he has to leave his friends behind to fight alone, one after another.

Catching up to Sasuke at the Valley of the End. Losing the fight and waking up on Kakashi's back.

Leaving Konoha for an extended training trip with Jiraiya.

Returning to Konoha, only to soon be sent out again after word arrives that Gaara was kidnapped.

Failing to arrive in time to save Gaara. The rage boiling over until he lashes out at the Akatsuki member that took Gaara's body.

The revival of Gaara at the cost of another. Departing from Suna with a smile after getting thanked by his friend.

Meeting Sai and Yamato. Experiencing a rocky start for the new team.

Confronting Orochimaru. Losing himself to his rage. Hurting Sakura.

Growing to fear himself and what he might accidentally do.

Meeting Sasuke, only to lose him again.

Learning of his chakra nature. Starting to create a new technique. Finishing the creation of the technique just in time to use it against the people who killed the sensei of his friends. The technique is labeled as forbidden, due to the damage done to the user.

Searching for Sasuke again, only to barely miss him.

Being told that the man he viewed as family was killed in action.

Sage training. Learning about the origin of his name. Returning to Konoha, only to find it in ruins.

Despair at the loss of so many people.

The battle against a sibling-student of Jiraiya. A clash of beliefs. Nearly losing control of the Kyūbi after a friend sacrifices herself for him.

Meeting his father. The overwhelming anger upon learning that the man he saw as a hero -the man who he also held some resentment towards for sealing the Kyūbi in him- was his father.

The feeling of joy that overshadows the anger.

Learning that the Kyūbi attack on the night of his birth wasn't an accident.

The growing happiness and love when his father says he believes in him.

Winning over Nagato. Watching sadly as he killed himself to right his latest wrongs. Listening as Nagato said he believed in Naruto.

Being accepted by the entire village for the first time.

Hearing that Sasuke attacked another jinchuriki. Begging the Raikage to forgive Sasuke, only for it to fall on deaf ears.

The truth of the Uchiha clan.

Saving Sakura from Sasuke. The short reunion of team 7.

The mission across the sea. Meeting Killer B. Conquering his inner darkness.

Fighting the Kyūbi for control of his power.

Meeting his mother. Feeling her love and him expressing to her that he is happy to be her son.

Conquering the Kyūbi.

Learning of the war. Breaking out with Killer B to join it.

Confronting Tsunade and the Raikage. Getting their blessing to join the war.

Numerous battles against reanimated shinobi. Both former enemies and allies alike.

Meeting Itachi and Nagato again.

Clashing with Tobi. The arrival of Kakashi and Gai. Learning the truth of Tobi.

Fully joining forces with Kurama. Meeting the other bijū and jinchuriki.

The revival of an incomplete Jūbi.

Failing to prevent the death of yet another friend.

The arrival of Sasuke and the previous Hokage. Obito becoming the jinchuriki of the Jūbi.

Formation of a giant tree. Escalation of the battle, only for it to end with Madara getting revived again.

Losing Kurama and nearly dying.

Meeting the Sage of Six Paths. Receiving some of his power. Failing to stop the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

Madara turning into Kaguya. An even harder battle.

Successfully sealing away Kaguya, but not before she opens a rift.

Saving Sakura at the cost of saving himself. Kurama reentering his body. Giving final farewells to his team. Getting pulled into the rift.

A sea of green and unimaginable pain.

With a gasp and a jerk, the visions and flashes of memories all stopped, resulting in him using his knees to support himself as he waited for his head to stop spinning. "…That…That sucked." He finally said. Not hearing anything, Naruto frowned slightly. Standing back up, he turned his attention to Minerva and opened his mouth to speak, but was thrown off guard by what he saw.

Or more specifically, the sad expression on her face.

"You…" Minerva began slowly. "I believe you…You did not mean to come here. And you mean no harm."

Naruto gave her a relieved smile. "Really? That's good." His smile grew. "So you won't kill me? You'll let me live on this planet?" He blinked when her expression saddened even further. "…What's wrong?" She said she believed him, so why would he still not be allowed to?

"…You seem to misunderstand…" Minerva said quietly. "While I was initially wary of you because of what the last outsider did, it is not the only reason that I cannot allow you to stay."

Worry mingled with fear in Naruto's mind. "…What else is there?"

Minerva sighed. "The Lifestream makes up all inhabitants of this planet. It courses through them all, from the animals to the plants. Once a being dies, they return here, to the Lifestream. To me." She shook her head. "But you…You aren't from this planet. Or even this dimension."

Naruto swallowed. "So I don't have the Lifestream in me…And that means I can't stay?"

"While it doesn't necessarily mean that…It may prove problems later on. Such interference must not be allowed to happen."

"But…Then what was the point of showing you my memories?" Naruto wasn't able to keep the bitterness out of his tone. "If I couldn't stay no matter what, then I would rather have kept them private. There's no way for me to be allowed to stay?"

She thought about it for a moment. "Even if I did allow you to stay on this planet…Even if I did send you to the surface…There is another problem."

"And what's that?" Naruto asked dejectedly.

Minerva hesitated. "Upon your entry into this dimension, your body fell into the physical form of the Lifestream that is on the surface of the planet. The inhabitants call it Mako."

"…That's what that green water was?" Naruto shivered upon remembering the pain. "The stuff that burned me?"

"…Correct…"

"Okay…And I guess that's a bad thing?" Naruto guessed. "What did it do to me…?"

"It…" She paused, as if trying to find the words. Eventually, she simply sighed. "It destroyed your body." She admitted, to the blond's horror.

"…What…?" He asked weakly.

"Mako in such high concentration is fatal to humans here, and apparently to humans from your dimension as well. Your body held up remarkably well, which must be partly in thanks to your friend, but…" She shook her head. "Your body will soon give out."

"B-But…" Naruto quickly gestured to himself. "Look at me! I'm fine!"

"And you appear to be so due to the fact that this is not a physical plane." Minerva reminded. "The form you take is nothing but a projection your mind created for yourself when I allowed it."

"That's…" Naruto really felt sick now. "Then why were you telling me to leave if I was already about to die? Why were you going to kill me?"

At this, Minerva offered him a look that was almost guilty. "I let fear rule me. I was too focused on the possibility of you being a threat to think clearly. All I wanted was for you to either be erased or leave the planet, never mind that you were about to die."

Suddenly, another thought made Naruto's blood freeze. "Wait! What about Kurama! What happened to him?!"

"He is still in your body, futilely attempting to heal the damage done and revive you, even as more damage is taken." She said quietly.

Naruto took several deep breaths to calm himself, even if he didn't need to breathe here. "So…What am I? Am I dead?"

Minerva considered the question. "As it stands, you are currently on the brink of death. Your body is about to shut down completely, and then you will die."

The blond stared at her for several moments. "So that's it then. I beat the bad guy, saved my world, only to get sucked into another and fall into some toxic water and die." He closed his eyes. "Happy birthday to me, huh?"

Upon these words, Minerva blinked. Blinking again, she frowned minutely, unnoticed by Naruto. "Happy birthday…?" She repeated.

Naruto, thinking that she somehow didn't understand the concept, nodded. "Yeah, you know, the anniversary of my birth?" He said, voice lacking emotion.

"That could…That could work…A rebirth." Minerva whispered, confusing Naruto.

"Hm…?"

Gaining a determined look, Minerva spoke up. "Naruto Uzumaki." She intoned, startling Naruto by the sudden authoritative tone she took. Snapping his eyes back open, he saw the serious expression she had.

"Y-Yeah?"

"You said that you wished to inhabit this planet. To live here, correct?"

Growing more confused, Naruto slowly nodded. "That's right…But that's impossible, right? You said it couldn't happen because I don't have the Lifestream running through me. And there's the thing about my body getting ruined…"

"If I gave you an opportunity to change that, would you take it? If I offered the chance to provide you with a new body, one that would have the Lifestream running through it, would you accept?" She asked him.

"Wait…" Not really wanting to dare to hope, Naruto's mind began connecting the dots. "But you said…" He shook his head in disbelief. "You have the power to give me a new body? And I could use it?"

Minerva nodded curtly. "I do have the power to do so, yes."

"Then why didn't you say so?" Naruto demanded incredulously.

"For the reason that the idea didn't occur to me. And that you are still an outsider as it stands. Incorporating you into the Lifestream wasn't something I was contemplating." Minerva explained.

Naruto shot her a wary look. "Why are you so serious about this? What aren't you saying?"

"Long ago, when the last invader came to this planet and threatened the Lifestream, threatened me…I created several creatures that would act as my defenders against the Calamity. I created the WEAPONs." She told him. "But before I could use them against the Calamity, it was sealed by the inhabitants of the surface at the time. With the danger temporarily passed, I put the WEAPONs into a stasis, waiting for the day that they would be needed."

Although he had his moments, Naruto wasn't completely stupid. "…You want to make me one of these things, don't you?"

"I do." Minerva confirmed. "Under normal circumstances, I would never consider such a thing…" Much to Naruto's surprise, she gave him a small smile. "But after viewing your life and judging your character, I believe that you would make a wonderful defender." Seeing his reluctance, she continued. "Remember that the only alternative is death. And if you are worried about what you will turn into, rest assured that I will do my best to construct your new body to match your previous one. The only changes that you will undergo are ones that would be needed to successfully become a WEAPON of this planet. Of the Lifestream."

Frowning slightly, Naruto turned his head away and absently watched the calm flow of the threads around them. "…Would I even be human?"

Minerva didn't answer right away. "…You have been open and honest with me, to the point of showing me your life…So I will be open and honest with you…No. You would look like one, and would be very similar in anatomy…But you would not be human."

Naruto took a deep breath. "I wouldn't be human…" He said to himself under his breath. After everything he did while growing to prove that he was human…To prove that he was the same as everyone else…That he wasn't a monster…

Was he really willing to throw it all away? To really become the thing that he used to fear that the villagers were right about?

"I understand that it is a hard choice, especially given what I saw of your life…" Minerva said with a surprising amount of sympathy in her tone. "But there isn't much time left for you to decide. Your body is about to fail completely. And once that happens, it will be too late. I'm going to need to preserve your mind and soul now if I'm going to transfer it into a new body."

Clenching his fist, Naruto still debated if he wanted to take her up on the offer. "What would I be doing?" He said, trying to put off the final answer while also getting more information. "Are you going to put me into a stasis like the other WEAPONs?"

"No." Minerva immediately denied, much to his relief. "You are not the same as them. You are a person with thoughts and feelings. I will give you a human form and allow you to live as you please on the surface. All I ask is that you answer the call to help me if needed. You would be a WEAPON, a being meant to protect the planet from serious threats. A defender…My knight. If something were to put the planet -whether it be the physical form or the Lifestream- in danger, then you would need to stop it."

"What about my jutsu?" Naruto asked. "My chakra?"

Minerva considered the question. "Your…chakra is unusual on this planet. While the inhabitants here have the Lifestream flowing through them, you have chakra. I will…do my best to reconstruct your chakra pathways in order to allow you to use them still…But it may be difficult, if not impossible." She told him.

"Okay…" He finally turned back to her, a determined glint in his eyes. "Last question. Actually, it's more of a condition."

Although she frowned minutely, Minerva slowly nodded. "And that is…?"

"Kurama comes with me." Naruto said. "You saw my memories, so you know what we've been through. He's my partner. In a way, he has been with me for so long that I can consider him family." Even if he was an ass. "And he's only stuck in this dimension with me because he refused to let me go through that portal alone. If I'm doing this, then he is going to be with me the entire time." He stared her in the eye, daring her to say no.

After a minute, the smile returned to Minerva's face. "Very well." She agreed, getting Naruto to grin. "I will preserve him in a similar way that I will preserve your mind and soul while your new body is constructed. When your body is finished and I send you to the surface, he will be with you. But while he will essentially be sleeping, you will be awake as I educate you on your duties and other essential information."

"Hehehe…" Grinning even wider, Naruto saluted her. "You got it!"

Unable to stop herself, Minerva returned the grin, although with a softer one. "So then may I assume that you accept? Will you become a WEAPON? Become my defender and knight?"

"You know it!" Naruto shot her a thumbs up. "If you're going to go through the trouble of making me a new body, then the least I could do is help you out! Just leave it to me-ttebayo!"

Much to Naruto's shock, Minerva actually giggled. The threads around them seemed to dance in joy in response to her mood. "You're enthusiastic now. I like it." She nodded. "Well then, if we are in agreement, then I will proceed to put Kurama into stasis and temporarily tie your mind to the Lifestream." She raised her scepter up, and Naruto watched it glow for a moment before flashing. "And now to start constructing your body…I will need a little time for that."

Practically bouncing now, Naruto rested his arms behind his head. "So what happens now?"

"Now, I will begin explaining to you what will be expected of you and some of this planet's history." She answered.

"Oh, right…Learning…" Naruto deflated at that, eliciting another giggle from Minerva.

"Welcome to Gaia, Naruto Uzumaki. From here on out, you are Final WEAPON."

And we're here! Welcome to The Final WEAPON: Preliminary Crisis, Chapter 1!

This is a plot bunny that has been stuck in my head for about a week now. What do you think? Does it have merit? Or should I scrap it? And take a guess as to what that title means I'm starting with...

If things go as planned, then this series of stories will expand throughout the entire story line of Final Fantasy VII...And yes, I mean the entire story line. Maybe (As in, probably/most likely) not an in depth experience of everything, and definitely not every event, but I do plan to tie them all in in some way. Only time will tell if I'm being too ambitious (I am 4/5 sure that I am).

Aren't Sephiroth and Zetsu creepily similar in some ways?

One of the things I hate most (Or at least strongly dislike when done incorrectly) in some stories is when the MC spills his entire life story to someone else at the drop of a hat. It especially irritates me when the life story is a painful one, the person being told is someone the MC just met, it is at the very start of a story, or some combination of those (And here I am, doing all three…Damn it all). Unfortunately, I couldn't exactly avoid that here, both for the reason that my take on Minerva is someone who is rightfully highly suspicious of someone from another world until proven that they are trustworthy, and because it would give Minerva a reason to like Naruto and want him as a WEAPON.

Please don't ask me about my other stories. The only other one I'm working on right now is Twilight Key.

Questions? Comments? Concerns? Post a review!

Until next time,

Kog6943