AN: This chapter was, surprising to me, fairly easy to write. I wanted to develop more of Naruto's general personality and interactions with others, while progressing the plot some, but instead chose to make what I want to call an Interlude, sort of like my current favorite author and inspiration for this story, NeonZangetsu, who actually left a review for the first chapter! But it ultimately became a chapter from the perspective of the 'Calamity' itself.

After reviewing some of the actual, hand written notes about this story I made an adjustment or two that would mesh it in a lot more, more specifically just what the 'Calamity' that has been alluded to was. I made some minor adjustments to the final big bad, of which I've already made a profile for, and whom was inspired by some recent stories I've read, both on and off fan fan-fiction.

There isn't really much to say about this chapter, other than I hope it is as well received as the others, and to the inevitable flamers, thank you so much for the feedback, no matter how negative it may be. There is no such thing as a perfect story, author, or chapter therein, so having any and all feedback about a story and the direction it's going is helpful.

(Chapter 2- Calamity)

It slumbered.

Dreams, nightmares, fantastical scenes and horrid terrors filled it, dancing, flashing across it's mind.

A world, small, weak, but persistent. Enduring. A horde of fragile creatures, fleshy pink things, staring without comprehension at their world, slowly discovering the magnitude of their insignificance.

The dream stirred once more. A new scene plays out. The creatures stood more sure of themselves. Braver. More curious. Stone and stick, rock and flint, they slowly grew more sure of themselves.

That they were special. Ignorant of the nature of the beings who held dominion over them.

The dream grew hazy, clearing within an instant. A great figure, proud and great and fearsome. This one was different. Somehow greater than the other creatures they lorded over. As if they were better. As if all things were already their's.

A simple creature, not special in any way, chosen so cruelly, tortured and maimed and despised, declared to hold All the Evils of the World. As though the creatures understood evil.

Again, the scene changed. Further now. A creature, beauty beyond any other before or after, watching and careful, like a serpent, as manipulation after manipulation fell into place. Haughty and proud, shrouding grief and fear and pain like the other things around them.

Once more. This figure was grand. All the world at their feet, kneeling, the other creatures bent and broken to submission, before them a great sea, beyond which impossibility awaited. Watching and waiting, as if by declaring it so, everything would eventually kneel.

Scene after scene played out, each one bringing more and more knowledge and experience as the last. The sum of all things.

A creature with gold hair, smiling and singing as her world burned. Another, with equally gold hair, stood proud before a grand city, even as darkness crept over it. A swordsman, a lifetime of practice and experience, yet still ever more to learn. Again and again and again. These strange creatures who bent so easy, yet never broke.

And it hated them. Hated the creatures who mocked life, treated it as a toy, to be tossed about and disregarded, as though they themselves understood life.

It hated the creature who died on his feet, only kept that way by tying themselves to a tree. It hated the creature who prayed to a higher power, faith blindly leading them to a horrid end. It hated the creatures, who so loved each other, but so easily manipulated by their 'friends'. It hated the creature who stood in defiance of the natural order.

But most of all, of all the creatures it had witnessed and watched and learned from, it hated-hated-hated-HATED- the creature who watched it all with it. Who saw the failings and glories, the brightest kindness and darkest cruelty, and still found forgiveness and love and kindness at every turn. As though, even when they faltered they could still stand back up. As if it could understand kindness-where it was just as cruel-love-where it was just as hateful-forgiveness-as it clung to it's hate like a lifeline- the arrogant creature wearing it's petty, weakness as a cloak.

It hated that one the most.

So it would wait. Watch. Learn.

And one day, it would annihalate every. Last. One. Of. Them.

It stirred, then, sending ripples across all things, a black dread spreading through all of creation. The primal knowledge that the end was coming.

A single, great eyelid fluttered lazily open, eyes reflecting the infinite perceiving just once outside of dreams the world, and the humans who inhabited it, and found it-them-wanting.

It would see the destruction of these creatures, so alien to itself, it thought sleepily, even as it drifted further and further into the realms of dream, and in their place oblivion, blissful in it's nihilism, a chasm of nothingness.

AN: Again, this chapter was more or less a look into the Calamity. I've been agonizing for a while on how to describe what it wants, and even after rewriting it several times I'm still not wholly satisfied with it. And before anyone screams 'Lovecraft' no. It is not a 'Great Old One'. It is not an 'Elder God.' I won't spoil what it is, but hopefully as the story goes on, it will become apparent.

On a different note, the suggestions for the members of Naruto's lovers have been coming in nicely. The one I've seen most often is Byrnhilder, and I can work with that. Might be difficult, but I can. And until I actually write it in, it's still up for grabs. But so far, she is in the lead. If anyone has any other suggestions, please, review with your chosen and why.

Like always, I don't know when I'll update, so be on the lookout.

And as always, have a pleasant day.