Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, Tsukihime, Kara no Kyoukai, Fate/ or any Type-Moon copyrighted and or trademarked work used in this story.

This was a mistake.

That simple thought roared at the forefront of a young boy's mind, but he ignored it to focus on his current task. As he jogged through the lively forest, blue eyes gazed up to its canopy and observed the dusky sky through gaps in the branches. The sun would set soon, but he would have more than enough time to complete the exam. Alas, he would only see it through if he could settle his fraying nerves.

Am I making a mistake? He asked himself despite the fact that he continued onward. Though his strides were encumbered by the weight on his back, he took each heavy step with purpose as his determination attempted to silence his doubts.

Or was it actually desperation?

Naruto Uzumaki wasn't certain of the answer. All he knew was that he wanted to become a shinobi no matter the method entailed.

Am I...

So why was he having second thoughts?

The object strapped on his back threatened his conscience. Its weight pressed down upon him, and it nearly brought him to a halt; consequently, it managed to at least slow his pace, and he could not help but reflect upon his situation.

The blond had failed the Shinobi Academy's graduation test. The disappointment had ruined his mood for the entire afternoon and even diluted the taste of his favorite meal: that being a hot bowl of ramen. Earlier, as he sat within Ramen Ichiraku and attempted to curb his frustration with noodles and soup, his sensei, Mizuki Toujou, had approached and spoke words that stirred his hope.

An opportunity: another chance to graduate; those were the words spoken.

The teacher had informed him of a secret test given to students that met certain requisites despite their failure, and he was recommended and accepted as an examinee. The joy that sprung forth was nearly palpable, but he restrained himself in order to learn about the test.

And so here he was now, at a clearing in the forest, nearly finished with the task of the exam.

So again, why was he having doubts about this?

He unstrapped the object from his back and heaved it upright on one end upon the ground in front of him. With it secured in place by his left hand, he gazed upon it and acknowledged that this object was his ticket to becoming a ninja: a large scroll nearly half his height.

The Scroll of Seals: a treasure of his home village.

Naruto took in a deep breath and exhaled, yet the doubts persisted. He took a moment to think about where the hesitation originated from, but he didn't have to contemplate too hard. After all, this wasn't his first failure of the standardized tests which allowed a student to graduate early depending on their performance; however, not once had he been offered this new exam after his previous failures.

That was strange in his opinion. If he was honest (as much as it pained him), Naruto was aware that there was no marked improvement in his skills from the last examination. The most frustrating aspect of this recent failure was the fact he failed one portion of the exam again. He clenched his teeth at that fact, and a frown crept upon his expression.

Back to the matter at hand, he wondered what was different now? It was a question he couldn't answer much to his chagrin. Perhaps he was overthinking this?

Or was there another facet to his doubts?

Am I doing the right thing? He was conflicted on the matter. Indeed, a small part of his mind acknowledged the truth in Iruka Umino's judgment. The man, his other sensei and a proctor of the graduation exam, spoke valid words concerning his performance and score. Every other student, as well as him, delivered their best, and he shouldn't be an exception to the standard. He had simply failed; however, a large and loud part of his conscience disregarded that fact. He wanted—no, needed—to become an enlisted shinobi.

It would be a decisive step towards his dream. If he couldn't hurdle pass this difficulty, then he had no hope for his future.

I want to be a shinobi...

Naruto had to become a ninja. He was simply exhausted of his status in life, and it had to change. No longer would he tolerate being ridiculed by his peers; no longer would he accept his ostracization from the community; no longer would those whispers haunt his every step. He would become a shinobi and then the Hokage—the greatest of all time. He would be acknowledged and respected within Konoha. That was what he truly wanted, and the reason why was simple.

This was his home, and he simply wanted to belong.

"Well, time to start..." he sighed. His shoulders slackened, and he decided to get to work. He had an exam to pass and no time to waste. Without any further hesitation, he laid the scroll on the ground and unfurled a portion of it. I just have to learn a jutsu, and I can pass, he thought as he read over the many techniques inscribed on it. He paused when one section caught his attention, Edo Tensei...

His eyes widened in astonishment as he read the information regarding the technique. He swallowed hard as his mind numbed to the world. He heard his heartbeat accelerate over the din of the forest, and his hands trembled slightly. Only one idea surged forth as he stared at those captivating words.

Can I...learn about my parents?

Naruto bit his lip and narrowed his eyes as he contemplated the idea. As an orphan and ward of the village, he grew up alone and independent. That was strange in itself when there were still children his age within Konoha's orphanage. His independence began when he enrolled into the Shinobi Academy, and while he did have a guardian of a sort (the Hokage himself) and received stipends as financial support, the simple fact was that he lead a very lonely life.

Within that solitude, inside an empty home, questions would always arise, and it plagued his mind constantly over the years. It persisted even to this day and made worse by the ostracization he endured. There were moments when whispers had reached his ears, and the talk he would involuntarily (or at times voluntarily) hear was disheartening.

Doubly so when the topic was of his parents.

Of course, it was just chatter, and he wouldn't ever let it ruin his day; however, with this technique, he could prove those callous claims of his orphaning wrong as well as settle his own doubts once and for all. His parents had to have died during the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox's attack as he refused to believe in the alternative.

He hesitated for a moment, but he realized he wanted peace of mind in regards to his parents.

But how can I perform the jutsu? I don't have these tools on me... the technique required a calligraphy set to draw a complicated seal, and he didn't have time to acquire one before his rendezvous with Mizuki-sensei. Most vexing was also the simple fact that the design he had to draw was not even provided. He clenched his teeth, anger nearly igniting before he noticed a seal partially obstructed by the roll; he rolled it open further and came to see a containment seal inscribed.

With a shrug, he placed a hand upon it and applied his chakra; subsequently, a smaller scroll materialized much to his surprise. He blinked before he took it in hand and opened it to view its contents.

This is it! A smile bloomed on his face as he turned away from the Scroll of Seals and set the smaller scroll on the ground. Unfortunately, that smile quickly warped into a frown as he realized the conundrum he faced. Where am I supposed to get their DNA for the catalyst?! Let alone a... he gulped in grim realization of the other requirement to perform the technique. A sacrifice?

He really didn't think this through; yet, he couldn't give up now. He needed to confirm his beliefs, so he stood there with narrowed eyes and thought over the information again.

...I don't need a sacrifice. As it says, that's just a temple to house and bind the soul to the Impure World. Without a sacrifice, the soul won't incarnate for long and will probably return to the Pure Lands right away, but... he clenched his fists as he unblinkingly stared at the seal. As long as I summon the soul of either of my parents, then that means that they or at least one of them didn't abandon me.

He clenched his fists, That's all I need.

Admittedly, that still left one issue, and he had not a hint of an idea to solve it. It was clear to him that he couldn't retrieve the required DNA, and to his rising frustration, he realized that his excitement overshadowed his critical thinking. The simple fact was that he didn't even know who his parents were, so how the hell would he had been able to even acquire said DNA? And that was the entire purpose of performing the Edo Tensei: to learn the identity of his parents if he even he could.

He was simply at an impasse.

Ugh...

These mental gymnastics were incredibly frustrating, and a bitter frown painted his features when he realized he was stuck.

Goddamnit...

Was there anything he could do?

I...I guess I... Wait...

He nearly gave up when another idea sprung forth. He obviously couldn't acquire and use his unknown parents' DNA, but...

What if I use my own?

In his opinion, the idea had merit. If there was a way to bypass the lack of a genetic resource for a specific summoning, then why not use a similar DNA resource that genetically matched the target of interest. Who could match his parents' DNA better than him? Perhaps their immediate family members could match his parents, but fortunately, he could count himself amongst them.

This could work... he silently stared at the seal. A bead of sweat trailed down his temple as he breathed weakly. A minute passed before he inhaled deeply, This will work... It has to.

With his decision made, Naruto plucked a few strands of his blond hair and placed it upon the center of the special seal. Next, he dug into his hip pouch and pulled out a kunai. The blade glinted as it refracted the waning sunlight, and he leveled it against his free palm which hovered above the seal. His hands trembled minutely, so he inhaled deeply to settle his rising nerves.

The young boy didn't know where the anxiety stemmed from, whether it be from anticipation or uncertainty, but he knew he wanted to do this. With a tightening of his grip, he cut open his hand and watched as the blood poured onto the seal, drenching his blond strands a deep red. Soon, the bleeding coagulated before he flicked the ichor off the weapon and reholstered it.

There was only one thing left to do.

His resolve affirmed, and with unwavering focus, Naruto surged his chakra as he gestured through the required sequence of hand seals. And with a clap of his hands...

His world stilled.

The blood on the seal crept off the scroll and trailed over the ground in a specific pattern.

He couldn't move (the deprivation of motor skills).

A large, unique sequence of scripts and a black circle illuminated on the ground before his eyes.

He couldn't breathe (the deterioration of bodily functions).

I...made a...mis—stake... his chakra was draining rapidly from him, and he feared what would come next.

He couldn't think (the deconstruction of the ego).

Numbness crept over his figure, a cold grasped his entirety, and darkness and silence overwhelmed his perception as he fell.

He couldn't live (the liberation of the soul from the physical form).

Naruto Uzumaki fell asleep, and he was uncertain if he would ever awaken again.

2

He was floating...

Wait, he was rising...

No, he was sinking...

Naruto wasn't certain, but he felt as if he was submerged and cast adrift within a current. Strangely, he was undeniably cold, but it wasn't such a distracting discomfort compared to the loneliness he was intimately familiar with and was experiencing now.

There was also a sense of exhaustion; he wanted to sleep, yet he knew he shouldn't. He didn't know where such an intuitive thought stemmed from; perhaps an unconscious fear that was borderline primal roared within him. Regardless, he answered its call and forced himself to wakefulness. He struggled to open his eyes, and upon doing so, he found the act to be entirely pointless as he could perceive only darkness.

He perceived absolutely nothing.

Am I...dead? He pondered as he drifted within the encompassing silence. He remembered what he had done, and it was the only conclusion he could make in regards to his current situation. A depression fell over him while he gazed unfocused into the abyss.

Naruto didn't know whether to cry or rage, so he stayed silent as he reflected upon his life.

So short; so lonely; so meaningless.

He had no one, but he had hope.

Yet, that very same hope damned him here.

Now, he had nothing; he had accomplished nothing; he would amount to nothing.

Is this it? Am I really...

The tears flowed freely from his unrestrained misery, and he felt his desolation reflected this place perfectly. That depression threatened to overwhelm him as he realized he was alone since the beginning and had died alone in the end; he died without understanding why his home shunned him, and why there were no parents to call his own; he died without being acknowledged as a person of worth and without forging a significant bond with someone—with anyone.

I...

It wasn't fair, but life rarely was.

I... No...

He couldn't accept that.

No.

He wouldn't accept it.

I...I don't want to die, he blinked away the tears as he focused his gaze into the abyss. I don't want to die... he repeated to himself multiple times as if it was a mantra.

And as if in response to his wish, a ray of light cut through the haunting darkness. He narrowed his eyes before he reached a hand towards it and found his entire body ascending in response. Slowly, he approached that distant light as he chanted his earnest wish. A desperation he had never experienced bolstered his desire and ignited that damnable hope of his. The light was nearly blinding him now, and soon, he closed his eyes before he felt his outstretched hand breach the surface of the darkness.

He emerged as if it was a sea, and he surveyed the surface and found only a void barely illuminated by a distant star; however, before he could appreciate the sight, his entire figure emerged from the dark sea. Immediately, he experienced vertigo, and he found himself plummeting in freefall towards nowhere.

Wh-what the hell's going on?! Why the hell am I falling?!

In his panic, he gazed back up (or was it down) to the dark sea and was strangely soothed by the sight. As if comprehension dawned upon him, he didn't feel lonely anymore and actually desired to return despite his previous thoughts; yet, he believed wholeheartedly it wasn't his time to die as there were still things he wished to experience. He turned his gaze away as if in rejection of that inevitable destination with only a single thought in mind.

Not yet, Alaya.

Naruto's freefall continued throughout the void with Alayashiki becoming ever distant. He questioned if there was a destination set as his impatience kindled. He gazed ahead of his fall, admiring the ever distant star ahead of him; its appearance reminded him of the sun breaching the horizon despite the cold light it radiated. Its majesty was soothing, and a quiet part of himself wondered if he could grasp hold of it.

That very thought grew louder, silencing all else in his mind. A desire unwarranted simmered within, and he found himself reaching out a hand to that distant star. It was a compulsion he wouldn't fight, and at the moment, all he wanted was to reach it; however, no matter how long he fell nor how far he reached, much to his frustration, that star stayed ever distant. His impatience was set to ignite.

Damnit! Why haven't I reached it?! How long am I—ah-aahh-aaaaaaahhhhhhh-AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!

Suddenly, his entire entity burned from sensory overload. His mind was overwhelmed with images and information: of distant lands and different times, of distant stars and different life, and of distinct structures and different laws.

For what felt like an eternity and yet fleeting, Naruto perceived all of the world, all of the universe, all of reality.

As if fevered, he spoke frantically, All is within it (the origin). It is within all (enlightenment). Power (do I desire). Knowledge (do I seek). Possibilities (all recorded within). I will reach (I am one with)—

He blinked and found himself within a new yet strangely familiar setting. The ground, the sky, and the horizon all radiated a translucent gold similar to his chakra.

This is my...inner world... How do I know that?

He turned to survey the place, and a few minutes ticked by before he stilled in paralyzing fear. His entire form trembled as he gazed over the golden distance. And in response to him, the environment quaked as well. Despite all the strange happenings he had just recently experienced, Naruto understood exactly what had and was transpiring as his eyes moistened once again.

...I reached the Root...

I didn't want this...

Tears ran freely as a nerve straining crack echoed throughout his soul.

I don't want this...

Fear conquered his heart and mind while more gut-wrenching cracks reverberated. He knew that in a few moments he would cease to be himself; he would become something entirely different: a transcendent being.

No...I don't want this!

This was merely chrysalis; a [ ] incarnate would emerge.

NO!

His blurred perception altered in response to his desperation, and he found himself witnessing the life he could have lived. All the possibilities open to Naruto Uzumaki were presented before him: his happiness, his struggles, his successes, his failures, his sufferings, and his deaths.

No, I want... What I want...

His expression was mired in despair while he yelled out in hope, "Even so, that's a life I want to experience! No matter what end I find, I want to live it myself! So please..." so he prayed, "I don't want to disappear!"

And so he shattered, and Naruto Uzumaki ceased to be.

3

The sky was nearly dark. The last embers of the setting sun blazed in the horizon, simply awaiting to vanish similarly to a lit wick dying out. Nature sang its chorus, and the cicadas claimed the next verse within the lush forest.

"What a pointless existence..."

A young boy's voice whispered as he basked in the natural song that continued unimpeded.

"Is there any meaning in this?"

A soft wind picked up and rustled his blond locks.

"Why did I even return here?"

He opened his eyes, and a golden pair observed the corpse of a young boy a few strides away at the front of the summoning circle he stood within.

"I should just let Gaia destroy me. After all, I'm just a mistake..."

He sighed and pondered what to do. He honestly had no desire to continue existing. All that was and ever would be was something he already perceived and understood. The simple truth was that life was boring, and he just didn't want to bother with it.

Perhaps he should conceptualize a religion? But then he ran the risk of being influenced by humanity and their constant need to assign domains to deities. The last thing he wanted was to become dysfunctional and irrational.

Like Ishtar...

No. Just no.

And he ran that risk if he kept existing long enough for humanity to discover him.

"Even so, that's a life I want to experience!"

Again, he focused his gaze on the corpse before him. It wasn't as if he held no sympathy for the boy. After all, Naruto Uzumaki was his mortal aspect and still influenced his core; however, he was a transcendent being. Therefore, whatever wishes and interests the mortal boy held were his and his alone.

The transcendent simply did not share such desires.

Oh, I forgot. The body should still be alive.

He expanded his senses to ascertain the boy's status and confirmed it. Even the Elemental Nations was subjected to the laws of the era no matter how unique the land was.

But it doesn't matter even with such vitality. Without the soul, you're brain dead.

And a brain dead jinchuuriki was of no use to Konoha. Upon being hospitalized, the Konoha administration would surely prepare a second host to transfer the bijuu and then euthanize the boy.

Inevitably, Naruto Uzumaki was going to die. And frankly, he couldn't bring himself to care.

"Even so..."

The transcendent's expression was placid yet contained a hint of melancholy as a soft breeze passed through. Even if he didn't want to act, he wasn't heartless. Honestly, he would be doing his mortal aspect a favor if he just let the boy die.

Before he could contemplate the matter further, his focus was disturbed by a distinct song of the forest. He shifted his sight to a tree and found a nest of wagtails warbling in chorus. A family with nestlings singing their hunger and appreciation to their parents; the young were fed before the nest eventually calmed into docile silence.

He was unaware of it, but his soft expression gained a hint of yearning, "It's only natural a child would seek the comfort of their parents even if beyond reach." He turned back to focus on the mortal as realization dawned on him, "That's right... Their fragments are sealed in there as well."

He thought of them: the individuals responsible for the existence of Naruto Uzumaki, "Minato Namikaze, Kushina Uzumaki... Father (Chichi-ue)... Mother (Haha-ue)..."

It was strange.

To finally be able to put appearance and name to those faceless entities that haunted his mortal self's every waking moment...

"Our parents..."

With the knowledge acquired from his transcendence, he thought back to that tragic night: the night of his birth. A night where a family was denied a future by the misguided yet nonetheless malicious actions of a fool; a night where a mother's hopes and dreams were mercilessly ripped away from her.

A night where a mother died with at least a semblance of hope for herself and her child.

Could he be so indifferent and callous as to deny her that?

The transcendent sighed, "Is this one of the reasons why you wish to live, Naruto Uzumaki? Perhaps to have a chance to meet them?"

"...that's a life I want to experience!"

"From this day forth, you will suffer. Is that something you're willing to endure?"

"Even so... No matter what end I find..."

He exhaled before turning his gaze skyward. He wondered what it was that drove the boy to have such desires despite witnessing all of his possibilities—all of his tragedies.

"...Hope, is it? I wonder..."

He reached out with his right hand towards the sky and gazed through the gaps of his fingers. Slowly, he closed it as if to grasp something, and he brought the clenched hand before his eyes and opened it.

He stared at nothing.

"...Very well," he plucked a few strands of his hair before tossing them into the air. Immediately, he brought his hands together as if in prayer, and a gentle wind caressed the clearing. Leaves scattered about were picked up and carried by nature's breath. Within its whim, they danced about as the blond strands hovered before him and illuminated brightly, "I can't understand why you would choose to lead such an uncertain and perilous path in life. I don't think I would be able to walk such a path. Perhaps that makes me a coward, but that's fine with me.

"However, I will admit to being envious of you. At least you are aware of your desires."

He was a mistake: an existence that was never meant to be. He was uncertain of what he should or could do, and he wondered if there was anything that could fulfill the void within.

What do I want?

How strange. Even after acquiring omniscience, he was unaware of the answer to that.

The glowing strands converged together and intertwined themselves as a shell formed around it; its appearance was similar to a small, translucent ball. He reached a hand before his lips, and the glowing orb came to a rest hovering above his palm. The transcendent exhaled softly as if breathing life into it, and the visible hair strands disintegrated, leaving the ball hollow. All that remained was a vibrant orb radiating vitality as the wind died down.

The transcendent relaxed, his arms falling to rest at his sides as the orb floated over to the comatose boy. Without pause, it pressed into his body and easily vanished inside of his flesh, and a deep inhale from the mortal followed.

"You may be my bunrei, but your life is your own, Naruto Uzumaki. Live as you will. Now then..."

Upon trailing off, the world came to a stop; all of nature ceased its functions as an entity older than humanity itself manifested before the transcendent. It was simply a soothing golden light that shined with an unrivaled luster, and motes danced within the air like fireflies within a moonlit meadow.

Tranquil.

He felt at home.

"What can I do for you, Alaya?" He paused as a thought rose to the surface, No, wait. Alaya has yet to go independent. Here before me is Gaia. "Forgive me, I am still adapting to my existence. To what do I owe this visit, Mother Gaia?"

In response, the light pulsed brightly; the floating particles scintillated like distant stars. It would've been a sight of beauty if it wasn't so oppressive.

"I assure you I mean you no harm. I have no interest in becoming a threat to you. After all, you are my home."

As if pacified by his answer, the brightness dimmed and encompassed him with warmth.

The transcendent smiled as he contemplated his words, Home... That's right. This is my home. No matter the state of my existence, I am a man of the world, and I want to belong. And a man would strive and endure to forge a life for himself.

"Mother Gaia, I have a proposal." he glanced past the entity towards the still form of his mortal aspect, "Let's make a contract."

I...

The light pulsed and radiated brilliantly for but a fleeting moment before receding.

I want to see something new for ourselves.

Gaia's light continued to fade and eventually disappeared entirely as nature took its proper course.

But that cannot happen here... Yes...

He fixed his gaze at his mortal self, "Naruto Uzumaki, I wish you fortune upon your journey, and I...hope...you find a fulfilling end. However..." he glanced past him and through the canopy of the forest towards the village. His sight came to stop upon the distant Hokage Monument and rested upon the face of his father, "I want no part of it."

His power surged as he enabled his Authority for a minor task. Immediately, the summoning circle vanished, and the smaller scroll rolled itself closed before sealing itself within the Scroll of Seals. The clearing had reset itself with a simple thought before another phenomenon disturbed it; ripples formed in the air behind him like the surface of a lake disturbed by a cast stone.

"Live well, Naruto Uzumaki. I hope you can forgive me," he turned his back on everything his mortal existence knew and approached the mystery. Stopping before it, he chanced one last glance over his shoulder to the mortal boy and sighted him stirring awake.

With a gasp, the mortal awoke and sat up, a mix of confusion and melancholy painting his expression; the transcendent narrowed his eyes as a strange and unwarranted emotion surged within, and he noted that his hands were trembling. He grasped his right wrist and inhaled deeply until he calmed, all while observing the mortal. Soon, he turned away and stepped through the aberration, disappearing from the Elemental Nations.

He would think back to this final moment in the future and come to realize the emotion he felt. The reason was simple: for he knew all.

All possibilities.