An Adventitious Key of Hope

Disclaimer: I do not own Kingdom Hearts, Shonen Jump, or any media affiliated with them.

Legend:

Normal Speech: "I am a fool."

… equals pause

Thoughts: 'Xemnas!'

Flashback = Chain of Memories: You're right.

Kei: If you're wondering about this above me, that's the legend. It shows the certain techniques the writer uses to save time.

Yusei: Lazy.

Kei: You have no right to-

Serena: Begin the chapter!

- Omakey -

Naruto steps out from a door. The last he remembers he entered a world made from the card he received. It was Traverse Town. Beside him are Donald and Goofy, and in front of him the man in black.

"You again," he mutters.

"So, how was it? Reuniting with your memories?" asks the man, who if he recalls correctly is named Marluxia.

"Yeah it was nice to see Yugi and the others, but that doesn't change this." Naruto glares at him, before asking, "What are you after?"

"What do you have to offer?" He summons the Keyblde in response, threatening a fight. As Donald and Goofy take out their weapons, another portal of darkness opens to reveal Axel with his hood down.

"Yello!"

"What are you doing here?" questions Marxluxia coldly.

"Hey, you're hogging the hero. How's about giving me a chance to play?" Marluxia throws another card to Axel and disappears as he catches it. Axel turns to Naruto, saying, "My show now Keyblade Master. The name's Axel; got it memorized?"

"I'm hardly a master, and I didn't ask for your name Axel," Naruto says, not falling for his flattery.

"My my, quick learner. Well, now that we know each other better," Axel raises his arms and thrusts them to the side, summoning his flaming chakrams, "don't you go off and die on me now!"

- End Omakey -

The III Key: A New Journey Begins

A white pod opens up in the midst of the very blanch room it rests in. Inside floats the blond Keyblade wielder, Naruto Uzumaki. "Naruto!" says a squawking voice.

"Naruto, time to wake up!" says another voice.

The blond opens his blue and gold eyes, looking out into the view before him. He spots to his surprise and glee his two friends Donald and Goofy. He jumps out from the pod, shouting their names. "Donald! Goofy!" The two jump up and down happily being reunited. Though as they come to reality, a question comes to mind.

"Where are we?" Naruto looks around to examine the bright white room.

"That was some nap," says Jiminy as he crawls out of Naruto's shirt.

"Oh, you were there the whole time?" That's when he processes what the cricket conscious said. "Wait, we were sleeping?"

"How did we end up here?" asks Donald curiously. He turns to Goofy.

"Oh, um… Let's see..." He begins counting down the things they did that he remembers. "We fought and defeated Ansem together, we reunited the worlds by sealing the door to darkness, and then we met Pluto."

Naruto cups his chin as he recollects his thoughts. He says, "Yeah, I remember all that. And we were looking for Sasuke and the King… But everything after that is a blur."

Goofy turns to Jiminy as an idea comes to him. "Hey Jiminy, can ya check your journal?"

"Right! I recorded everything down." He takes out his little notebook, and at the end sees only a single page with anything written inside; "'Thank Youko.' I wonder who that is?"

"Youko?" asks Naruto confused. He's never that name before, yet at the same time, it feels right to him. "Who's that?"

"Some journal…" Donald complains, before everyone sighs. Clearly, they don't remember what happened and there's not even evidence of what they did a year ago.

Jiminy is clearly upset, and says, "Look, let's check outside. Maybe we can get a good idea of where we are."

"Sure with me," says Donald gleefully.

With that, everyone walks outside of the building. Of course, being in the basement of the mansion, it takes some time to reach the main floor. It doesn't take much longer to reach the outside however and they continue to walk into the surrounding forest. Goofy being the tallest leads them into town, as he is able to see the recognizable twilight and hear civilization sooner than the others.

As they walk, Naruto takes a look around. The others do so as well, but while it's different for Donald and Goofy seeing as they do not recognize this world, he finds something interesting though. Everything makes him feel warm inside.

He stops for a bit just outside an alley he recognizes the most. "Have I been here?"

Donald and Goofy stop to look at him, Jiminy having returned inside the Keybearer's clothes. Confused by his words, Donald asks, "What do you mean?"

"I don't remember being here at all," says Goofy.

Naruto looks at the alleyway opening, which leads them to the inside of the familiar hangout Xutaron would go to with Hayner and the others. Speaking of which, as soon as he and his two friends step in, he spots Hayner, Pence, and Olette sitting around doing absolutely nothing. Almost as if they were waiting for someone.

But once they notice them, Hayner rudely speaks, "Hey, this is a private place."

"Oh, sorry." Naruto rubs his head sheepishly. "We just got here and..." The blond swordsman sees Pence coming up to him, examining the Keyblade wielder. "Uh..."

"You're new here right? I'm Pence," says the tall hair teen as friendly as he could.

Hayner gets up and leaves, right after introducing himself. "Hayner. Sorry, but we got stuff to do."

"My name's Olette." The token female broadcasts her name to our drowsy heroes, soon coming to a thought that's expressed on her face, asking, "Have you guys done the summer homework yet? Independent studies suck so hard…"

"Homework?" Naruto scuffs. "Haven't done homework since I graduated the Shinobi Academy."

"The what?" Olette asks, catching that name. "You're a ninja?"

"Maybe not right now…" He looks to the side as he answers, as if unsure of himself.

"Oh right, we should introduce ourselves," says Goofy. He holds a hand out to the name's he's addressing. "You can call us Naruto, Donald, and Goofy."

Their names spark eyes to be widened. Olette is the first to speak, saying, "So it's you three. Someone was actually here looking for you."

"What'd he look like?" asks Donald.

"He had on a black coat so we couldn't see his face," says Pence, which raises a red flag on all of them. "But he had these distinctive round ears."

"Ears?" The trio turns to one another to think about that description, before coming to the same conclusion. Out of sync, they shout, "The King!"

"Yeah, it's gotta be him!" Donald says happily.

Goofy goes up to Pence and asks, "Did he say where he'd be?"

"He mentioned he'd meet you guys at the train station." They all turn to the entrance to see Hayner there. "Now that you know, get going."

"Right! No use waiting around." With that, the trio makes their way out the hideout.

Honestly, with the signs put up, it doesn't take them long to reach the train station. The familiar setting allows Naruto to guide them to the highest point of the town, and the posters informing them of their location helps too. Upon reaching the top, the afternoon sky that still radiates of twilight hits down upon them like a beautiful orange blanket.

Naruto calls out, "King Mickey?" But to no avail. They sigh feeling nothing will come about before the next surprise takes up. A Dusk appears before them from a shade veil in the ground. The Dusk is accompanied by more and more of its kind. Confused, the trio stares at them, but that's when Naruto notices something about the symbol on its head.

'That looks like a Heartless emblem… Then-' He immediately summons the Kingdom chain Keyblade, before rushing into battle to slash. It slips in the air avoiding his attack and kicks him in the back of the head.

Donald summons Fire to blast a Dusk, but then a second headbutts him. Goofy blocks attacks from a Dusk successfully but gets struck in the back. The two groan feeling more hurt than they should. Donald even says, "This shouldn't be this hard! We've destroyed Heartless stronger than these things!"

Naruto watches the Dusk's movements before blocking a well-coordinated strike. 'These things don't fight like Heartless. Those guys act like wild animals, but these feel smart.' He then groans, feeling a twitch in his muscles. This weakens him and allows the Dusk to strike him hard until he falls over. "What's going on? Why do I feel so weak?"

"We've been asleep for a good while! We haven't fought or used our muscles in so long we're not as strong as we were," Goofy explains upon realization. He, Donald and Naruto are thrown together by the Dusks laying on the ground. The trio looks up at their enemies, worrying about their lives.

The Dusks shimmer before flying in to attack. Naruto holds his sword up to block, but at the last minute, they're saved. A figure in black jumps down and slashes the Dusk into nothing, before cutting down the next two with swift jumping action despite his small frame. He then leaps high up and destroys the last two, before landing with his back facing the trio.

Naruto opens his eyes and sees who saved them, and sees a small person in a black coat. He has round ears and wields the Star Seeker Keyblade. Donald and Goofy push down the blond looking at him. "Your Majesty!" they say in unison.

He shushes them. "You guys gotta get on the train, the purple one. Here's some money for it." He hands over a pink pouch with a blue heart on it to them, which Naruto grabs. Keyblade in hand, Mickey jumps away to leave them be.

"Where's he going?" asks Naruto as he looks at the pouch. "What did he mean by taking the train?"

"It don't matter," says Goofy who smiles happily. "What matters is he's safe and out of the Realm of Darkness."

Naruto then thinks about it. "Let's see… the King was with Sasuke though, and he got out…" He pauses to think further before it hits him. "Sasuke must have gotten out too!"

"Of course!" Donald adds.

"Alright, it wasn't all for naught!" Naruto happily stands. "All I need to do now is look for Sasuke, and then bring him back to Konoha! That way I can keep my promise to Sakura, and focus on what Yensei wanted me to do after all this. As well as Kurama's promise. What're you guys gonna do?"

They just give him a blank stare. "What?"

"Really Naruto? You gotta ask?" says Goofy in a drab tone.

He then laughs at them. "I'm just jerking your chain! Obviously, we got one more adventure on our belts. Let's get going!" Almost immediately they come out of their short depression and throw their arms up to cheer. "To...where again?"

"We gotta take the train!" Goofy says as a reminder.

"Oh right!" Donald sighs as Naruto recollects the recent memory. Without any further adieu, they step inside the train station. As they do, Naruto looks back to see Hayner, Pence, and Olette coming up to see them.

"Naruto!" says Pence as he comes forward. As Naruto asks what brings them here, he says, "We wanted to see you guys off."

"Oh, thanks." This takes him by honest surprise.

Goofy takes the pouch to pay for their ride. But as he does, Olette sees something odd. "Wait a minute." She then digs into her bag pocket to take out, an identical pouch.

"They're the same?" Goofy says in shock.

Taking that in, they pay for their ride and climb the stairs to reach it. Though once they see the purple train, Naruto sighs with a sullen heart. "This may be the last time we'll ever see this place again."

The Twilight Gang look at Naruto when he said that, seeing something new about him. Donald and Goofy are also relatively surprised by his attitude. This is the first time he's felt strongly about a world he's never been to before. Even as they enter the train, Naruto continues to worry about the town.

"Well, I guess this is bye," he tells them as he's about to step onboard.

Pence, however, stops him to ask, "Naruto, have we met before?"

He takes a moment to think about it, before confessing, "No, I haven't." He then smiles at them. "But, I can say now that we'll always know each other." As he says this, tears come down from Naruto's eyes. This sudden change shocks the Twilight Gang, and even Naruto himself is surprised when he does this.

"What the?" He wipes his eyes and quickly steps aboard. As the door closes, he looks at his hands and then back out the window. And as the train takes off, he says, "That was weird..."

The train takes off, leaving Hayner, Pence, and Olette to watch them leave with mild sadness and confusion.

Meanwhile, on the train, Naruto watches as Twilight Town becomes a fading sight. His hand clenches the pouch he got back from Goofy, feeling something. He then digs inside and pulls out a blue crystal ball. Like everything else from that town, he recognizes something about it, and it takes hold of his heart. "Why? Why am I sad?"

Donald and Goofy look at him sympathetically. "Don't worry Naruto. We can always come back and visit, once we get a Gummi Ship."

"Yeah," adds Donald hoping to cheer him up.

This works, as Naruto manages to make himself smile. The outside of the train sparkles, transforming into space. What appears to be northern lights illuminate their path. It's a beautiful experience.

Back in Twilight Town, a lone figure has been watching Naruto, Donald, and Goofy since their leave. His face shrouded by a black coat's hood, he reaches his hand inside the hood, pulling them out to reveal his fingers doused with liquid. He sighs and enters a portal of darkness.

Up higher, having also witnessed them leave, Axel, Youko, and Ansem stand on a high point by a cliff. Axel groans before saying, "Well, that's that. Naruto's whole again, and is on his way to bigger and better things."

Ansem looks over to the redhead. "Do you have any regrets?"

"Yeah, but there's nothing I can do about it."

Youko looks at a picture she drew, which contains her and Xutaron. She then says sullenly, "It's best this way. Everyone has a place they belong, and a place they must return to."

"Wish I could say the same for us. Nobodies don't exist remember? Xutaron got lucky to return to his original self," Axel says. "The rest of us don't have anywhere to go, especially failures and traitors to the Organization."

"Maybe so…" A tear falls onto the picture. "But there is a place I wish to go, and a person I want to see again. Both of them."

There's a short moment of silence as if mourning a loss. Axel then burns it away by saying, "So, you think you can let us go? I mean, I know you're here to kill us, but..."

Youko gasps, turning to Ansem. "What? Kira, wants me destroyed?"

"You know what, go." Ansem turns away. "My debt is repaid."

"Debt?" asks Axel.

"You both saved me and Naruto at Castle Oblivion. I'm just paying back the favor."

"Shit, ain't gotta tell me twice!" Axel opens a Portal of Darkness and walks in. Youko picks herself up, nodding to Ansem.

"Thank you." She then steps inside, having the portal fade away with them inside.

"What have you done?!" Ansem turns around to see a furious Kira walking forward. "You were supposed to destroy them!"

"I was, but then I figured I didn't have to. If Youko is who I think she is, we might need her. Also, I can't help you with revenge." Ansem walks off to leave Kira behind.

"I'm disappointed. I figured you of all people would be sympathetic to getting revenge," Kira says with deep seeded anger.

"I'm done with being an Avenger." He walks through another portal. Luckily he left, else he'd have to suffer from Kira's roar of anger.

Back to Action…

The train brings Naruto, Donald, and Goofy to a mysterious location plastered on a floating island in the middle of nowhere aurora space. They all step out, and see a lone tower, one Naruto recognizes for sure.

Taking a good look at it, he suddenly says, "Wait, that… That's Yensei's home!"

"It is?!" Donald says in shock. "Let's go then!"

Naruto walks forward with Donald and Goofy, but as they do the train disappears. "… There goes our ride."

"We'll worry about leaving later. There must be a reason we've been brought to Master Yen Sid's tower!" Donald says.

They walk over to the tower, passing by many bushes along the way. They stop at the front door. Why? There's someone in the way. He's a large, pudgy guy in purple and black clothes. They can't see his face, but they can hear him chuckling.

"What's going on?" Naruto asks him.

"Oh, you're just in time!" says the guy, his voice almost recognized by Donald and Goofy for a moment. "I just sent some of my lackeys to see if the master in this here tower's as big and tough as they say."

"What for?" he asks again.

"Well, word is he's a powerful sorcerer, which would make him a perfect subor-sudorni… bodyguard for me. See, it don't matter how strong he is. He'll do whatever I say once he's a Heartless."

"Heartless?!" Donald shouts, causing the trio to go on guard.

"Yeah, Heartless. They're those monsters who come from the darkness in people's hearts. I've been going around gathering an army of Heartless for my dear friend Maleficent, and since I owe her a debt this is the best way to make up for it, especially since everyone else working for her stopped." As he explains his motives, the trio lessens up a bit to process what he said. "Oh, what am I doing telling you all this for anyway? Go on, scram! I'm behind schedule as it is."

"Ya outta find something nicer to do," Goofy says with his advice.

"Oh, says who?" He turns around to reveal his face, and that's when the two animal people finally put together who he is. He recalls them as well. "Dah! It's you two!"

"Pete?!" Donald and Goofy say in unison.

"What are you two nimrods doing here?!"

"We could ask YOU the same question!" This is Donald's outburst.

Naruto finally speaks up and asks how they know this Pete. This is where Goofy comes in saying, "Pete's from our world. He's been causing trouble for ages, til her Majesty banished him. Haven't seen him for..." He counts his fingers. "It's been 11 years."

Pete laughs, before saying, "Let's just say Maleficent gave me a hand, and now I'm gonna take that hand and promote revenge on you and everyone! Together we'll take over all the worlds with our dark forces!"

The trio of heroes looks back at each other, before laughing. Of course, Pete doesn't take it lying down. "What's so funny? Her power isn't something to laugh at! She's so great that-"

"She's dead." These are Naruto's morbid words, so strong that Pete shuts up immediately. "Maleficent can't help you."

"What? What do you mean?" They all stare at Pete's temporary break down, before in denial he shouts, "Heartless, round up!"

Shadows rise up from the ground to face Naruto and company. This time, knowing the dangers, Naruto stretches himself and summons his Keyblade. Goofy makes the first move knocking an incoming Shadow aside before Donald casts Blizzard to send it away.

Naruto bashes a Shadow in the head before striking it golf style into a group of more Shadows. He then summons a Fire spell and burns them to cinders. 'Even my magic is weaker.'

With Donald's Thunder, all the Heartless are finally gone. And well, Pete's not taking it well what with his jumping up and down throwing a tantrum. "Oh, you three just wait! Nobody messes with the Mighty Pete!"

"I thought it was Captain Justice," Goofy says, mocking him unintentionally.

"Nah, I heard it was Captain Dark!" This is Donald's two bits.

"Whatever. You sent all your Heartless inside, right? We'll clear them out, so get lost!" says Naruto pointing his Keyblade at Pete. "Though we might not have to. Yensei's too strong to be taken out by a bunch of Heartless. He's a former Keyblade wielder after all."

"He is?!" Donald and Goofy ask in shock.

"Oh yeah, I never told you guys. Let's go see him!" Naruto goes up to the door, Pete having long since stepped away, and enters.

"Oh, those punks are gonna get it!" He summons a portal of darkness and runs inside.

Inside the tower, Naruto, Donald, and Goofy walk up a flight of stairs, which seems to be basic in a lot of castles except that one in Hollow Bastion as far as they remember. Naruto reminisces as he passes by rooms, expecting Heartless to pop out. That's why he has the Keyblade still in his hands instead of sending it away.

They soon reach the top floor, where they find Yen Sid's main office behind a glowing door. It's just as Naruto last saw it, with the stars of space outside the window, a desk plastered in the middle of the room, and Yen Sid himself sitting before them. Donald and Goofy get down on one knee to show their respects.

Naruto, however, has no respect. "Yensei! It's been so long! How are the fairies?"

"Naruto, show some respect!" Donald shouts, pushing him down.

Yensei, however, raises his hands to put them at ease a commissioned officer in the Army would to everyone else below him at attention. "Naruto, it's been a while. I've lost track of you about a year ago."

"Yeah," he begins. "It all went to sh-" Naruto stops, before mouthing out words to himself, eventually continuing with, "hell after Hollow Bastion. But once we defeated him at the End of the World, we thought it was over. But we just ran into Heartless outside! Not to mention I haven't gotten any closer to those three you told me about, Sasuke is still missing, and I haven't freed the other Biju just yet."

"Yeah! It's like everything we did was for nothing," adds Donald, still slightly frustrated. "What are we gonna do?"

Yen Sid gives them all his trademark stare, before closing his eyes to hum. He then says, "Do not fret my young apprentice. Have you at least met with Mickey?"

"Uh huh!" This comes from Goofy. "He gave us money to get here."

"Then, it wasn't all for naught. All it means is that you have a new journey to fulfill."

"A new one?" This is Donald.

"It's as you said Naruto; you still have many things to do before you can peacefully return home. And that is why you must prepare for this next journey. You've been lucky so far, but it is now that you must know your true strength, and surpass who you are to defeat the new enemies before you."

"But, how come the Heartless are still around?" asks Naruto this time.

"Your past endeavors have prevented an insurmountable number of Heartless from escaping the great darkness; make no mistake about that." He then flicks his hand, to show an illusion of Donald to their far right. "As you know, Heartless are created when one falls into the darkness of their heart."

Donald the illusion transforms into a Shadow. "You know this and know better than to fall into your darkness, but remember this; the Heartless are darkness made real. So while you know better, as long as darkness exists within a single heart, they will not only be difficult to eliminate but just as hard to protect others from."

Naruto looks between his two friends, realizing just how true his words are. Goofy then says, "Then if everyone's heart was filled with light, we'd all be safe from them."

Yen Sid nods with a smile, before pointing to the Heartless. A being appears beside it, that they recognize as that Dusk from earlier. "You may or may not have met this being before, but these will be the third enemies you will encounter. When a Heartless is born, sometimes the Body and Mind left behind will gain a will of its own and move. This is only when someone with a strong will, be they good or evil, becomes a Heartless."

Naruto sees it and nods when he realizes what that thing was now, and why it reminded him of a Heartless. Yen Sid continues. "An apparition of its former self, a spirit that lives on even as it slowly fades from existence… These are Nobodies, the remains of the Heartless. Because they have no hearts they have no emotions. Through their memories left with the Mind, they act according to how they used to, but this is all a ruse. These things that don't exist can only pretend to have feelings."

"They… don't exist?" Goofy asks.

The illusions then disappear, and three more Dusk images appear behind the trio. They turn around to face them as Yen Sid continues. "These are Dusks, the first and most common form of Nobody. On your journey, you will come across many Nobodies, and they will all attempt to do you harm. Otherwise, they wouldn't appear before you. Still, these and the other monsters are just lowly lifeforms destined to fall into darkness. Unfortunately, the Nobodies here are vastly different.

"I'm sure you recognize them." He flicks his hand, which reveals three people in black coats.

Seeing them, Naruto tenses up. "Wait, these are Nobodies?"

"The black coat can be worn by anyone who acquires it, but there exists an order who controls the lesser Nobodies, called Organization XIII. They've established themselves after the last members of Akatsuki have fallen."

"What?" Naruto flinches. "They were running Akatsuki… But how?"

"Heartless and Nobody are different entities in more than just appearance and power. The larger the darkness of one's Heart, the stronger the Heartless it produces, the more monstrous it appears. The greater the will of one's Heart, the stronger the Nobody it produces, the more human it appears. Nobodies exist on a higher function than Heartless; unlike the mindless beasts of darkness, they can think and plan. That's how they were able to take control of Akatsuki."

"Organization XIII…" Naruto turns to Donald and Goofy, but neither know of what they are.

"They remained in the shadows, working through Akatsuki as their cover while Ansem rampaged collecting the Seven Princesses of Hearts. Now since Kingdom Hearts was revealed they've started to take public action. The King knew the truth behind Ansem's actions and the connection with Organization XIII and took action beforehand. That's why he went to the Realm of Darkness."

"I see… Alright, let's go!" Naruto says. "If the king's fighting these bastards then we need to help him."

"Before you go, a parting gift." Yen Sid lifts his hands, handing over a book to Naruto.

"What this?" Naruto reads the title: "'The Guide to Keyblade Transformation'!?"

"It's time you learned how to control the Keyblade the way a Master is able to. This will be useful as you unleash more of your Drive's powers."

"Wow, thanks Yensei!" He picks up the book and immediately begins reading.

"One more thing before you part; you will need to fix your clothes to accompany the Keyblade Armor you will also receive." After saying this, Naruto looks at his clothes and realizes there are tears and faded colors after his year as an active Keyblade wielder. "The three fairies will help you with your outfit before you're on your way."

"Right." Naruto goes towards the door left of Yen Sid and enters alone. There he sees Flora, Fauna and Merryweather conversing.

They quickly notice him, and Fauna says, "Oh, welcome back Naruto."

"It's good to be back Fauna," he tells her with a heartfelt smile.

"We could hear what was going on in the other room. We'll set you on your way with this." Flora waves her red wand and summons a metal circle in his hand. This circle has a blue heart in a gold outline painted under a blue spiral on orange steel. It also comes with a crown attached to a necklace.

"Is this…"

"Master Yen Sid had this specially made for you, your very own special Keyblade Armor. When you use it, just remember it has no special effect on your current Drive forms. Use it to control powers that you cannot hold on your own." This is from Merryweather. "Next up, your clothes."

"Alright, remember how we practiced. No dillydallying either." All three back away and zap Naruto with their triple wand magic. Their magic instantly repairs the overwhelming dark powers that ruined it, to begin with. Not only does he look good as new, but the jacket of his clothes have changed as well; instead of being a jacket, it now more closely resembles a jinbaori. The coattails stretch down to reach his knees, are colored a dark blue with orange highlights as opposed to the opposite for the rest of his clothes. The same symbol on the armor piece is on the left breast of his armor.

Merryweather takes the armor piece and attaches it to his right arm. She also attaches the necklace around his neck, right next to his green crystal. "Thanks."

"No problem. Now off you go." With that, Naruto exists to show everyone his new and improved outfit. As he does, a blackbird looks down from the highest window at everything.

Naruto sees no one around. Curious he heads to the hallway, where he finds Donald, Goofy and Yen Sid standing there. Out the window, he spots the Gummi ship, the original the Chip and Dale relatives worked with. "Where did that come from?!"

"A Mr. Kaiba sent it from Hollow Bastion when I told him who it was for. It's all repaired as well, and ready to fly." Naruto joins his friends as they prepare to leave. "But first, three things."

"Three?"

"As I've told you before, the Nobodies can think and plan, and they've been working on one for a while. What it is, I don't know. But, the King sensed the danger. After sealing away the darkness with you, he now travels world to world fighting the Heartless in your absence while seeking to solve the riddle of Organization XIII. He feels a personal vendetta involved with them as if a connection to his past.

"The second thing is when you sealed the darkness and restored the worlds, the barriers that separated the worlds are now back. So travel isn't as easy, and the Lanes Between has long been closed off for the modern era. But don't fear; if what the King suspected proves true, the worlds have prepared new pathways along which you may travel." This brings a bit of hope to them. "These pathways may be utilized by unlocking special gates. How these gates are opened, I'm afraid I do not know..." They drop in disappointment. "However, the Keyblade will serve as your guide. When a beam of light radiates from the Keyblade, return to the Gummi Ship. Though the worlds may seem far apart and out of reach, they nonetheless remain connected by invisible ties. As do our hearts.

"And finally, on your travels, I need you to look after this one."

"Huh?" Yen Sid steps aside, drawing in the attention of the three world hoppers to witness a new person in front of them.

He is a boy as young as them, dressed in a similar outfit to Naruto. The short-sleeved hoodie is colored black, with silver pauldron-like additions to his sleeves and a white lining. His undershirt is emerald with a red patch in the center. His pants, similar to chaps, are colored black on the outside, also green on the inside, lined with silver-white edging. Yellow straps crisscross around his pants, held together with a black belt. The pants feature red pockets with a black cross over them. His gloves are colored black on the outside and white on the inside with a yellow line running around them. He also wears large black-red shoes with silver soles, a zipper running across the top, and yellow straps holding them together with buckles here and there.

"Uh, hi," he says, waving politely to the three in front of him like a nervous pervert.

"This here is Izuku Midoriya. He was with Mickey and brought here for training as you shortly after he left the realm of darkness." Naruto glances at Izuku with that explanation, recognizing a familiar look in his eyes.

"Another Keyblade wielder?"

"Why was he in the Realm of Darkness?" asks Donald after Goofy's question.

The elderly sorcerer steps aside further, putting Izuku on his right and our heroes on his left. "Izuku was there when the king entered the dark world to retrieve the Keyblade of Darkness. He will be going with you on your journey. I believe exposure to your experience will help draw out his inner power."

Once more the ninja gives Izuku a look, examining this green newcomer. It took him three years to reach the level of competency that defeated Maleficent's group. How could this guy close the distance?

"That's all I can tell you for now. As for Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato, I have an idea of how to help save them." Naruto perks up. "Focus on what you can do now. Once you face Organization XIII, you'll be able to save the Biju from their plight. Go forth, Naruto, Donald, Goofy, and Izuku."

With that, all four take off for the Gummi Ship. Once they're gone, Yen Sid smiles. And then it retreats into a frown. "So, I take it you're going to follow him? Or, will you finish what you couldn't?"

Behind him stands a man in a black coat. His face is revealed as Xutaron. "Yen Sid, thanks for not telling him I was here."

"I know you have your reasons. Otherwise, you would have merged back together with him," says the aged sorcerer before he turns around. "What will you do?"

"I need to remember everything. There are blocks in my memory before I sealed myself in Naruto with Kushina, and before I can merge back with him I gotta recover something."

"Then, you would be wise to make haste." Yen Sid points at his left arm, which is blinking in and out of reality. "You're starting to merge with him already when you two touched. Very soon, your Heart shall return to Naruto as well as half of his power."

"I know. I probably shouldn't have wasted time here, but thanks for telling me who I was," says Xutaron before he pulls over his hood. "By the way, I got all the Heartless that showed up, but there was this dark feeling coming from the basement. It was sealed inside this painting of a map on a table so I left it like that."

As he says this, Xutaron notices a dark look in his eyes. "What?"

"Nothing. It is not for you to be concerned with."

"Master Yen Sid!" The two of them hear Flora and Fauna coming to find him. Xutaron enters a portal of darkness just as the three fairies enter. "It's terrible! She's back!"

"Who is?"

"Maleficent!" says Merryweather out of total fear.

Shocked, Yen Sid follows them inside the chambers where they found her, only for nothing. The room is vastly empty. He gripes while stroking his beard. "Maleficent…"

Serena: In the next chapter Naruto and the others return to Hollow Bastion. Also, we hope you notice that we've changed things a bit so that Izuku from My Hero Academia joins in, following up from the first chapter prologue.