SPIRITS: THE PRIMORDIAL BEING

AUTHOR: SAMNAMIKAZE23

…

"What the hell are you; why are you doing this?!" Naruto's roared in anguish, looking into Pain's Rinnegan with rage in his eyes. He was immobilized, pinned to the ground by a chakra rod going through his hands to the earth. He was unable to move to his anger. Pain just looked on with his cold dead eyes impassive to Naruto's plight. He simply spoke,

"Why are you doing this you asked? Even if I told you the reasons, it wouldn't change anything, but, if I choose my words with care, maybe you'll grasp a little bit of it."

"I have no words to hear from you!"

"My goal is to do what Jiraiya-sensei could not accomplish." Pain spoke, regardless of the Jinchuuriki's rants. Naruto looked angry, his eyes darkening with rage.

Sensei… he dares call him sensei after all he has done?!

Pain ignorant of his thoughts continued, "As I told you, I'll bring forth peace and justice."

"Peace? Justice? Don't mess with me… Don't fuck with me! You killed my master! Hurt my friends! And destroyed my village!" Naruto's nails dug deep into the earth, looking forward with unrestrained anger at Pain.

His eyes and thoughts darkened, looking deep into Pain's eyes with resentment. "So don't stand on your little throne and spew out bullshit, after all you've done!"

Naruto heaved in and out in fury and pain; he was helpless here, and that infuriated him more than anything. Pain looked back at him, without a judging expression on his face, "So tell me, what your goal is."

Naruto snarled in anger looking deep with hatred towards Pain's concentric eyes, "I'll fucking kill you and then bring peace to the Elemental Nations!"

Pain closed his eyes in thought. "I see… that's splendid. It's the epitome of justice, Nevertheless-"

He opened his eyes, holding Naruto's gaze. "What about my family, my friends, my village? Does Konoha alone have the right to proclaim peace and justice, after causing this very destruction to my village?"

Naruto's eyes slightly widened, "W…what are you talking about?"

"The fire country along with Konoha grew too big. To protect their own interests, they warred with the other Great Nations, and, in doing so, securing their own gains was necessary. Had they not, their nation and villages would be in famine. However, it was our small nation and villages that became the battleground."

Naruto looked stunned as Pain continued, "Time and again, our country was invaded and left in ruins. We suffered through wars many times – until, finally, the Great Nations stabilized. While all our country had left was a pain out of this world."

Naruto's once judgmental face fell, replaced with one of shock; he then looked solemnly forward, thoughts spiraling in and out. Pain looked at him speaking, "We aim for the same thing. We are trying to bring forth the peace Jiraiya-sensei spoke of. You and I are no different from each other. We are simply driven by our own sense of justice. You are trying to do the same to me, as I did to Konoha. The pain of loss is the same for us all. You and I, have both suffered this pain."

Naruto's face twisted to that of distress as the deaths of his comrades passed through his mind. Pain seeing that his words were finally reaching him, continued.

"You fight for your own sense of justice, and I fight for mine. We are ordinary humans, driven by revenge in the name of justice."

Pain then crouched to look at a conflicted Naruto straight in the eye, "However, if we disguise our revenge in the name of justice, this justice grows, gives birth to more revenge, and thus the chain of hatred begins. By living through these events now, by knowing the past, we can look into the future. That is what we know as history, and from it, we learn that humans are incapable of opening their eyes; of understanding each other."

Naruto couldn't say a word, completely stunned at the revelation by the person before him, and even though he knew this was not his real body, he could see the pain deep into his eyes. He could empathize. He fortunately was not born in war; he didn't have to see the atrocities man was capable of committing, but now, after Sasuke and Jiraiya, he could feel something, even if it was a fraction of what he was going through.

Pain… Indescribable pain and hatred all mixed together. It felt similar to the Kyuubi's chakra. As Pain kept speaking on, Naruto could feel that they were similar, that they were connected. It wasn't in his character to think, but now…

Pain then spoke words that resonated in his mind every moment. Something that chewed in his head but he worked at trying to deny,

"The world of shinobi is ruled by hatred."

His conversation with Jiraiya years ago came through as he thought on the world. Konoha, the Elemental Nations, did it really deserve to be saved? No one was holy, no one was justifiable in their actions. No one. Ever since Jiraiya spoke those words to him during his childhood, everything began to be made clear.

The glares of the populace wherever he went, unjustifiable deaths, everything was clear, but he ignored it, put it at the back of his mind as he smiled, trudging forward. The truth was that he was afraid, afraid of the world he would have stepped in had he embraced it - the dark side of the world. He kept on forging ahead, trying to find a reason to stick to his ideals, his people.

Although, he knew, time and again he was losing. It only needed something to push him over the edge, and it came.

Sasuke happened, while he was heartbroken, he could at least understand a bit of what he went through, but not completely.

Jiraiya then died, and the hate he felt for Pain was indescribable. He could feel it tearing in his heart, he desperately wanted to kill this man in front of him.

In that moment, Naruto was shocked at the dark thoughts that came into his head. It was then he realized; it was then he was faced with the cold hard truth.

He wasn't different from all of them, the people the world criticized. All they needed was one bad day, one very bad day; and to Naruto, it was happening.

I believe that the day will come when people can truly understand each other.

Naruto's eyes widened at the words of his sensei filtering through his memories. Was it false hope? Mere wishes?

He was losing.

"To create peace, how will you face this hatred? I want to hear your answer."

Naruto closed his eyes in solemn silence as Pain's question was asked. How was he supposed to answer that? He couldn't even conquer his own hatred, how was he able to face that of the world?

"I… don't know how."

Pain looked on impassively with Naruto hopelessly unable to meet his gaze.

His point was proven. Now at this moment, Naruto couldn't move. He felt what he rarely felt; hopelessness and solitude; and just when he felt at the lowest pits of his mind, she happened.

Hinata was killed before him while she selflessly tried to protect him, and he lost it. He didn't care anymore about the state of the world, all he wanted to do, was kill him, end him.

The battle ended, Naruto stood victorious, standing over Pain body, but the strangest thing was that he couldn't feel the victory. It felt pyrrhic, it felt pointless. That feeling of victory, that need to prove his might was no longer there. His heart was still empty, hollow.

Did he really win?

Naruto looked down at Pain's corpse, contemplating his words in their earlier conversation, clenching his fist.

He moved on till he found himself in Nagato's hideout. He looked ahead, looking at his shrunken visage.

Was this the price of his power?

"So, peace has arrived, huh."

Naruto looked across the room to see a female close to him. Looking fierce, strong, and ready to give her life in loyalty for him, Nagato; the one responsible for everything. How someone could stand beside him while doing this, an ultimate crime to humanity baffled him. Common sense would dictate she would as far from him as possible, but despite all he had done, she stood by him; fighting and killing for him.

He wanted to know why and at his behest, Nagato told him his story, and it was heartbreaking to listen to.

"…Yahiko was dead, and I became the leader of the organization in his stead. After that, more of my friends; my brothers died in battle, and more, and more, and more people continued to die."

Naruto looked down in contemplation. Nagato continued, "You people of the Fire country that would stop at nothing to achieve peace. The small request fees people pay to Konoha become war funds. The people of the Fire Country knowingly support war, yet they speak hypocritically of peace. The barely existent peace of your great nations is made possible by the sacrifices of lesser nations like ours."

"To us, your peace means violence. Just by living, people are hurting others without realizing it. As long as mankind continues to exist, so will hatred. True peace can't exist in this cursed world. Jiraiya-sensei's words are nothing but fiction!"

Naruto looked solemnly forward as he looked at Nagato. Konan watched the exchange without comment. She too wanted to listen to his words, his answer. The person that defeated the Six Paths of Pain, Uzumaki Naruto.

"I have told you my story, Let me hear your answer."

…

PROLOGUE 1: THE PROGENITOR

RING!

A bell rang out as a blond haired woman stepped into the shop. She was an attractive woman wearing a long-sleeved suit with spectacles. She made her way to the desk looking directly at a bald-grey haired old man on the counter with a stern look.

The old man looked at the woman smiling happily, "Good day Glynda dear, what can we get you today?"

"Not particularly interested in your material merchandises. I need the audience of a certain blond haired fellow."

The old man sighed grumbling, "At least purchase something."

The woman's eye twitched, with the old man sighing disappointedly. Customers seemingly bloomed over the last few months and the disappointing thing was that a very few bought a single thing from the shop. Due to the fact that they came to drag him back to the academy.

He yelled. "Naruto!"

In this case it was the latter.

"Yeah, yeah I heard! No need to be grumpy about it."

Naruto grumbled, lazily trudging into the shop from the back door. His eyes shifted tiredly to the woman who arched an eyebrow at his disheveled form. Naruto grimaced as her eyebrow twitched in irritation, "You know school started three hours ago, and you've been sleeping?!"

"Well not sleeping exactly, more or less."

"Oh you are so infuriating! It has been explained time and time again your priorities in the school, and you walk around like you own the place. Very disappointing."

She scolded as Naruto grimaced, while ruffling his hair. Roshi just chuckled at the pair. It was always a delight watching the blond taken down a peg.

"Would you stop knocking me down already Glynda?" Naruto looked to the side seemingly with a pout. "I'm sorry I overslept, had a late night appointment."

Glynda just sighed as she placed her fingers on the bridge of her nose. This was too much for one day, and it was morning. "Just… get dressed."

"Yea yea."

Naruto waved, lazily moving to the back door where he came from. The old man chuckled at Glynda's annoyed look. She then turned her gaze back at him, looking forward in stoic silence, greatly making the man uncomfortable.

A few minutes of silence passed as the old man tried to start up a conversation, "Heh… You know, you two act like a couple; bringing chuckles to a good old man like me."

Glynda's eyes narrowed at Roshi whose face became nervous. He laughed nervously at the cold aura permeating round the woman. How the hell does Naruto deal with her?

Naruto's voice echoed from the inner room. "Don't give the old man a heart attack Glynda, that's my job!"

"What a weird thing to say?" Roshi spoke out looking back to the door. "You troublesome brat."

"Heh… What can I say Roshi, I care for your well-being."

Roshi just sighed and moved to the coffee maker. The Uzumaki came with his own headaches.

Naruto came out wearing a simple white shirt with an unbuttoned collar with folded sleeves and black trousers. He ruffled his blond spiky hair inquiring with a grin, "Well, what do you think?"

"Get the hell out of here." Roshi waved him away as he sipped from his cup.

"Really? I look that great?! Thanks! Well, I'm on my way. Don't miss me too much old man."

Glynda just looked confused at the conversation but shrugged it off, not seeing the need to bother herself with the weird duo between them.

"Whatever." Roshi moved to set up some dust crystals for business. Hopefully the next customer would actually buy something.

…

Naruto walked alongside Glynda who just looked annoyed with the concept of walking with him, "You know if you smile it won't do any damage to your reputation, or your face. I've apologized already. I'm sorry. Besides, Roshi's not here for you to intimidate."

Glynda sighed, her expression softening a bit. "I'm curious."

"Hmm?"

"What's the story between you and Roshi?"

Naruto brightened. "Ah! I and the old man go way back I guess, not to mention he makes the meanest Ramen! Up to par with the one I had back home."

She continued to move ahead commenting, "And why do you still do mercenary jobs? Even though I understand, it's quite useless if you ask me."

Naruto folded his arms in defiance. "Sure it seems useless but it's one of the only ways for me to legally flex my muscles. Plus, Ozpin doesn't spar with me as often as I'd like. You aren't focused on hand to hand so that's another loss. This way I get to stretch some muscles as well as stay sane."

"Stay sane?" Glynda asked, incredulous to which Naruto chuckled.

"Don't think too much into it."

"You are very… peculiar."

Naruto just chuckled. "I have that way with people."

"I still don't get you." Glynda spoke prompting a puzzled glance from Naruto.

"What do you mean? I'm pretty self-explanatory."

"You are just… strange. From the first time I met you, I always knew you were odd. It might just be me but, you and Ozpin aren't telling me something."

"Really?" Naruto whistled innocently. "And what do you think it is?"

"I'm going to find out one way or another."

"It's no use straining your head, Glynda." Naruto laughed patting her shoulder playfully. "Besides I thought women loved the mysterious types."

Glynda looked at him with an arched eyebrow, walking evenly with him. Naruto just smirked as he moved on, the wind brushing his face.

Naruto who was oblivious to her actions, commented, slowing down a bit. "Well it seems we were walking rather pointlessly. I could have easily teleported us to the Academy. Or are you enjoying my company, Glynda? Has this delinquent of a man managed to tame the Huntress' heart?" Naruto asked with a taunting smirk at his last statement.

Glynda who was slightly ahead of him stopped to his confusion. Naruto looked at her still form with a questioning look.

"Glynda?" She turned towards him speaking, "Look at me Naruto."

"Huh?" Naruto shifted his head sideways in puzzlement as Glynda looked at him seriously. Here, there was no childish pranks, no trival matters, she just looked at him as if she was looking for something; searching for something.

Naruto had to admit, he always felt nervous around this woman. He never knew the reason but he knew that she was perceptive about things, while he could easily wipe her memories in case she managed to deduce who he was he just couldn't. She was a rare gem, someone he could bond with.

Before he could outlive her that is.

While he was waiting for her to say something, he was stunned when she just walked on ahead; a circular inscription glowing on the floor ahead of them.

Naruto looked slightly stunned, seeing the faint smile she gave him. He ruffled his hair chuckling a bit before accepting the invitation and stepping into his patented transportation spell.

And you think I'm the only peculiar one Glynda. A very rare gem she was indeed.

In a blink of light, they vanished.

…

FROM DUST TILL DAWN

Roshi sighed as night came, so far only a handful of customers came to buy his products. It wasn't long ago when a red hooded girl came into his shop but since then nothing. He was about giving up hope for the day before he heard a man ending a conversation.

"…but perhaps victory is in the simpler things that have been long forgotten, things that require a smaller, much honest soul."

He walked into the shop, with Roshi arching an eyebrow at the man's words. Looking at the goons in black suits and red tie he grimaced.

"Do you know how hard it is to find a dust shop open this late?"

This shouldn't be good.

…

"So, how were the classes?" Ozpin asked, adjusting his spectacles. Naruto just scowled, moving from the door and sat opposite Ozpin in the latter's office, the fan rotating slowly.

"What do you think?" He leaned into his chair. "I never saw myself to be a teacher, feels like I'm going against the very essence of myself. Where's Glynda?"

Ozpin replied, "Who knows? Walking around the school doing things, I'm guessing."

"She's one weird woman, I tell you. Very perceptive." Naruto commented looking deep in thought. Ozpin looked curious as to what elicited this comment.

"She was able to find out about you?"

"Please, I doubt that." Naruto waved the comment away, "Just that I know she feels something is strange about me… well, about us."

"That's good, very good." Ozpin nodded with a chuckle, prompting a puzzled look from Naruto.

"Why do you say that?"

"It means she is a very capable huntress. She is the second in command after me even though she is still a teacher. It is a great thought that she is beginning to suspect something between us. I actually am rooting for her to catch us you know."

Naruto smirked in resignation before looking to the ceiling fan following the rotating blades, "Stop making it seem as if we are committing a crime or something. You're a weird one you know."

Ozpin laughed. "Say that to an old ass man like yourself."

Naruto scoffed as Ozpin got up from the chair and moved to the shelves behind him. He removed a bottle of wine and two glasses, pouring the wine into the two glass cups and giving one to Naruto. Mouthing a silent cheers, Naruto drank from it peering into the fluid.

"Good stuff."

"Bad luck to you; you can just enjoy the taste."

"Heh."

Ozpin looked at Naruto commenting, "I have a bad feeling that things are going to get rowdy again."

"You too huh." Naruto hummed while sipping from his glass.

Ozpin frowned. "Due to the reports coming in from the council, it' no brainer that your faunus are going to be an integral part of that."

Naruto grimaced; a bitter thought going through his memories, "They really went beyond my teachings. Although I had to leave lest my secret be left out, it was disappointing that they turned out this way. They were a bad decision in attempting to bring the two species together. They were meant to be a mode to create a beacon of light to the world, not this-"

"Was leaving them a mistake?"

Naruto closed his eyes in thought, not replying to him.

Ozpin looked at nervously, asking, "You aren't going to kill them are you?"

"I don't know Ozpin. They keep pushing things to the point that it's less likely to be an option anymore. Given Ironwood's reports of the rising turbulence in Mistral, we might be getting there sooner than we hoped."

Ozpin nodded in understanding. He knew Naruto more than anyone alive at this point. If things went out of hand he knew how bloody Naruto could make it. Really bloody.

He knew that beneath that smile, that cheerfulness was a god, a titan that could cause destructions to the point that the Grimm world be no more than a speck in his eye.

He never ever imagined meeting someone with such an amount of strength within a body, but here he was, sitting opposite to definitely the most powerful being in the world of Remnant.

Perhaps there might be a way for them, through her.

Ozpin contemplated before going through his drawers. "Dark matters aside, we are set to conclude selection of our new students. Here… I have a surprise for you."

Ozpin tossed a file to Naruto who caught it, looking through the file, he flipped through some pages before he stopped at one. His eyes widened in recognition, a familiar smile emerging from his face.

"Is this-?"

"Yea." Ozpin commented, "I was stunned when I saw her part of the new students. Makes things interesting don't you think?"

Naruto smiled fondly at the picture, "I see she is hiding in plain sight. Discrimination seems to be her fear. It's been a while since I've seen her."

"Don't worry." Ozpin spoke in assurance as Naruto looked at him, arching an eyebrow questioningly.

"Hmm?"

"We will quell that fear of hers. Besides, isn't it why you created this school; to bring everyone together?"

Naruto chuckled, before relaxing to his seat. "Thank you Ozpin."

CHAPTER END