Disclaimer: You know what's here, so don't bother me, don't sue me, and don't eat me.
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Drip… drip… drip…
The sound of water droplets hitting the floor snaps a 17 years old blonde shinobi awake as his cerulean blue eyes take in as much of his surrounding without actually moving.
Drip… drip… drip…
One thing is for certain, this is not his mindscape… Actually, this is far from his mindscape. White walls, tall white pillars, and a white ceiling high above him… His first impression: too white, no where to hide if some threat appears.
Groaning, the teen slowly pushes himself up into a sitting position, and lo and behold, white floors lay underneath him. Like he thought before, the place is too white. Sighing, the teen tries to stand up, only to moan as he grabs his head. It felt as if someone is slamming a sledge hammer on it rapidly and repeatedly.
"Ow… did anyone get the name of the summon that ran me over…?" The blonde asks as he messages his head with the tips of his finger to try and sooth the pounding headache. Actually, how did he get a headache?
Last thing he remembers…
"PERISH!" Screams Tobi, AKA Uchiha Madara as he launch black flame at him. He tries to dodge, but the flame is too fast and he had being caught by surprise. In a matter of milliseconds, the black flame caught onto his hands and starts to consume his flesh.
The pain is unbearable, the heat unrivaled, and the intensity unthinkable. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts so much that he can't even summon the strength to cut that arm off least he be completely consumed by it. He wonders briefly why the man hasn't done this already. Oh right, he was never angry enough to take off his masks as to use both his eyes…
It hurts…
"Foolish mortal. Must I continuing to help you?! I refuse to be in such a weak VESSEL!"
Pain… heat… blissful unconsciousness…
Blinking, the teen quickly check his hands to find that now only is it intact, it is a healthy tan, the same as before. Although the cloth was burned off, he feels that it and of itself is a blessing, even if it means owing the fox a big favorite… Err, that sounds bad…
Drip… drip… drip…
Oh right, the surrounding. Let's see, white, white, white… the pillars might be used for hiding, but still… There is an unknown light source high above, almost as if the ceiling itself is glowing, but he figures since there are shadows about, there must be a light somewhere. Seeing none, he shrugs before slowly easing himself into a standing position. Now he gets a better view of the… corridor he is in.
Blinking, he slowly turns around so he can take in his surrounding. Not too wide, not too narrow, just perfect width to fight in but also keep the destruction to a minimum. This is a perfect place for a straight out taijutsu ninja battle. Gai and Lee would love this place…
Tossing that thought of his head for now, he finds himself standing right in the middle of the corridors. To one side, there is a double door that is left wide open, leading to a stair case that leads downward if the descending ceiling is any indication. The other end is also a double door left ajar, this time containing a stair case that leads up… What is this? Heaven or Hell?
"Am I dead or something?" He asks to no one before jumping as someone indeed DID answer him.
No child… you are not dead. You have too much left to do.
Blinking, he rapidly turns his heads his way and that, trying to figure out where the voice is coming from, seeing no one, he drops into a defensive stance.
There is no need to be alarmed. You will not be harmed.
"Okay… who are you? And what do you want with me?"
I am… that I am…
Right… that helps how? Don't know.
As for why you are here, it is because it is time to face your destiny, child, as the Jailor…
"Um, sorry to say, but I don't really believe in that whole destiny and fate crap." He says as he scrawl at the unseen before relaxing his stance, though he never let his guard down. "And you still haven't told me what you want with me."
Ah, but I did child. It is time to take up the Soothing Breeze and turn it into a Raging Storm…
Just then, his right hand suddenly shoots up with a will of its own, and clench into a fist. A flash a light appears, forcing him to shield his eyes from it while something heavy settles into his hand with a click as if a lock was unlocked. Then the light vanished. Blinking to get his eyes back into focus, the teen then gapes at the giant five feet silver and gold key in his hand; silver neck, golden guard, leather-wrapped handle, and a key chain. It's almost as long as him if you simply add on another foot and a half. Then he drops down onto his knees at the weight of it. "Holy-!"
Currently, the key is weight down by your guilt. Face it down and release yourself…
"Argh… I don't know what you're talking about!" He shouts as he tries to let go of the key, but find that he couldn't… Or that his hand WOULDN'T. "Hey, what's going on? Let me go damn it!" He continues to struggle as he tries to either lift the key or get it off his hand. It however proves to be too heavy to lift and that his hand simply won't listen. "Damn it, let go!"
Face your guilt, face your past, and face your regret… Then, he is bombarded by memories.
Kakashi, dead by the hands Akatsuki as he tries to fend off the attacker simply known as Pein…
Chouji, impaled on a tree by a large wooden stake…
"Stop…"
Gai, died by overloading himself with the gate so the other can escape…
Lee, in a fit of rage, took down Juugo but die from serious injury…
"Stop it…"
Hinata, neck twisted at an unnatural angle while her killer continues to laugh…
Kiba, died of a broken heart as he watch Akamaru's corpse while Kisame's sword heads for his neck…
"I'm sorry…"
Shikamaru, sacrifice himself in suicide jutsu that took Zetsu with him…
Shino, carried in on a stretcher, maimed and broken…
Face them, bury them, and let them rest in peace…
Ino, died while taking a blow meant for him, and he would have survived anyway…
Neji, in his revenge for Hinata, forgets about the ability of one Madara…
It is not your fault…
Sai, smiling a genuine smile, held down Kabuto so he can be hit by a rasen-shuriken…
Sakura, bleeding, smiling, a large whole on where her stomach was…
Let them rest… put the past, in the past, but do not forget about them…
With each memory of the death, the teen moans out an apology as tears pour out of his eyes. The guilt continues to weight him down, and the key only gets heavier and heavier while his hand grabs on tighter and tighter.
Let go…
The hand grips with bone crushing force, and the key weight enough to dislocate shoulders, yet he continues to hold on.
Let go…
Blood start to flow from the hand at how hard the key were being held, and the floor seems to crack under the weight of the key.
Let go…
Bah, that's just like you… It's alright Naruto; it's not your fault…
"SAKURA!" He shouts as his heads snap up, eyes widen and searching, frantic, hoping even knowing that it is impossible that she can be alive. "Sakura, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…"
Baka, you shouldn't blame yourself you know? It's not your fault, no one blame you.
"But…"
Gees, do I have to go down there and beat the shit out of you?
"But Sakura… you can't…" Naruto laughs bitterly as he continues to stare into the ceiling.
Well, then I guess you just have to go on some adventure now and beat your self up huh? So stop mopping around. It's time to pick your ass up! SHANARO!!
"…Yeah…" The teen says with a bitter smile before he drops his head down. That's when he notices his right hand's state. It looks like it was boiled… "My guilt eh…? It'll never be gone…" With that, he lets out a breath as he feels his shoulder sag, as if finally free from a large stone that has be strapped to him. It feels good… so good in fact that he couldn't help but laugh. He laugh so hard that he never notice when he drops onto his back and starts to roll, holding his side with one arm while the other cradle the key to his chest.
Indeed, the first lesson: no matter how many times you fall, pick yourself up and keep on moving forward… The first lesson you taught yourself…
Oh right… how can he forget? Those twelve years of striving for recognition…
Sighing as he wipe away the excess tears lingering on his cheek, the teen stands up, noticing for the first time that while the key still is a little heavy, it is manageable now. That, and, "I can let go now…?"
Never let your past weigh you down, but never forget them and never bury them. While let bygone be bygone, always remember what happen, as it is what makes you who you are…
"…Right…" The teen says before he looks up once more, more relaxed, refresh, and some what content. "So what now?"
Now you choose… Would you choose the path of darkness? At that, a light seems to beam into the stair case that leads downward. Or would you choose the path of light? This time, a light beams into the stair case that leads upward. Choose your path…
"…Right… the whole choose-your-fate thing… It's just like Ibiki's test…" The teen sighs as he switches from looking to the 'path of light' and the 'path of darkness' repeatedly. If he goes into the light, it'll ruin the whole thing about being a shinobi wouldn't it? After all, a shinobi's life is in the shadow. However, if he goes into the darkness, it wouldn't be hiding, more like being consumed by it. Shinobi may kill for money, but they are no murderer. At least he isn't a murderer, and to him, being in darkness means becoming a murderer… But there is only the light and the dark…
In the case of in between, the path of twilight appear… Just then, another door appears, this time right between the two doors, signifying that it is a path of light AND darkness.
"Well now, I guess that's the path for me…" The blonde teen says as he opens the door and steps through into darkness. Not deter by it at all, the teen continues to walk, and soon he finds himself exiting a door into the light. Once his eyes adjust to the light, he finds himself standing on a stain glass platform, and the platform is of him sitting lotus style, holding an orb of light, with nine circles surrounding him. Each circle depicts the head portray of somebody, some looks familiar, some doesn't.
But before he can continue examining them however, three lights flashes, and in front of him appears a rod, a sword, and a shield. The three paths of twilight await the new holder.
Would it be the path of the Sage? The rod sparkles as it fizzle with lighting and simply ooze a calming power. Wise, clever, canny, and ever so curious, the Sage shall gain power through knowledge.
Would it be the path of the Warrior? The sword lights up as it is then surrounded by flame, giving off the feeling of an untamed force of nature. Powerful, wild, unmatched, and forever raging, the Warrior shall conquer all that oppose him.
Or would it be the path of the Guardian? The shield shines as wind blows from it while it gives off the feeling of an unmoving mountain. Unmoving, steady, soothing, and always ready, the Guardian protects that which is precious.
The three paths await, yet only one shall leave…
"Right, more choose-only-one crap…" The teen says with a shrug as he simply walks over to the shield with no hesitation and picks it up with his left hand. "And of course, do you need to ask?"
You have chosen the path of hardship, but the rewards are great… The third lesson: true strength comes from protecting that which is precious… The third lesson of your life…
"What happen to the second? Crack… Oh man, you got to be joking… KAKRINK! DAMNIT!! OOF!" The teen shouts as the platform broke and then he landed on yet another platform, this one showing a woman with red hair and red cat-like eyes, with nine of those giant keys flowing around her in a circle. "Great, let me fall to my death, I would so appreciate it." The teen mumbles sarcastically as he gets off his rear and dusts himself off. "So now what?"
To what do you protect? Then three things happened. First, in a flash of dark smoke walks out a tall man with long silver hair, aqua-green eyes that seem to glow, and a sword that's way too long for its own good. Second, a dark portal appears and from it walks a person in a long, black leather coat –a she if the body showing through is any indication- with most of the face obscured by the hood that was pulled up. Finally, a teenage girl with shoulder length red hair in a pink one-piece dress, and laughing blue eyes a shade darker than his steps out from a door that appears out of the ground and simply emits light.
Would you protect those who walk in the darkness? At this, the man walks forward and did a mocking bow, all the while a mocking smirk on his face and his aqua-green eyes shine with amusement.
Would you protect those of neither light nor darkness? At this, the hooded woman flicks him off while blowing him a raspberry, but the teen feels no ill intention from the person, only playfulness.
Or would you protect those who shine in the realm of light? At this, the teenage girl silently giggles as she did a small curtsy while her eyes genuinely laugh WITH him, instead of at him. Her giggles warm his heart.
Now that's something he doesn't know how to response. The key in his hand also seem to repulse the two that are of darkness and in between… But then he notices something. Each of them is standing there relaxed, all as if waiting and see what he'll do next… as if they are his companions. Then he remember the lesson he learned between the first and third ones, so he simply sighs, smiles, and walk toward the one that is in between, and then past her. He knows all three turn to look at him confused; the man scrawling, the woman snaring, and the girl pouting. Just then, he stops and turn around while calling back, "Oi, what are you all waiting for, an invitation? C'mon, we got to go now."
Very good, astounding. Lesson number two, and also the most important lesson you've learned so far: those who don't obey rules are trash, but those who abandon their friends are worst than trash. The three all smile at him, amused, teasing, and content respectfully. Then all three vanish the same way they appear, and the teen blinks before another door appears in front of him. Now we move onto the next stage…
"Well, at least this time it's not falling stage…" The teen says as he pushes open the door, and steps through. When he can clearly see again, he finds himself looking at a series of platforms, all connected by strange floating boards that make up cases of stairs. Shrugging, he starts off for the first stair case. To be a Guardian, you must also be protected, for a Guardian without his guards cannot protect anything, let alone himself.
"Right… a Guardian trusts his friends to watch his back." The blonde teen says as he arrive at the first platform (a silver haired boy holding a very strange version of the giant key, looking more like a sword made of leathery wing), and immediately strange shadow-like creatures appears. "Um, what are these?"
Heartless, hearts consumed by darkness that seeks to consume more hearts as to fill in the void. Then in a flash of light, those creatures were cut down into pieces by the man from before. For the fight that follows, the strength of the Warrior is needed, for he provides the power that the Guardian lacks. The man smirks, never noticing how another creature appears behind him. He would have been wounded if the teen didn't bash the creature –slash through it really- with the giant key. The man blinks before nodding his thanks. Of course, a Warrior, no matter how strong, is susceptible to arrogance, thus making them vulnerable.
The boy blinks before laughing at the irony of it all. What does strength matter if you can't protect yourself from it? "Hmm, that reminds me of someone…" The teen says before he starts for the next platform, the man following him with the sword held behind him. When he arrived at the next platform (a woman in black over all with horns made from her hair, a staff topped with a giant emerald, and pale skin coupled with smirking lips and half lid eyes), several creatures appear, some looking like cars, some like jack-in-the-boxes, and some like very fat men. The man leaps forward to try and cut one of the fat men, keyword being tried, as he was suddenly knocked off by a jack-in-the-box. The blonde teen leaps into action to block the follow-up attack from a car-like creature, but quickly got overwhelmed as several suddenly ganged up on him. Just as he is about to use Kage Bunshin no Jutsu to even the odd, several yellow kunais slam into the ground, and in the blink of an eye the creatures are all electrocuted by giant lighting bolts that shot down from nowhere.
The Guardian also has Guardians of his own, for they protect one another as no one man can take down an army, no matter how much strength. The woman in black coat steps out of a portal next to him and waves. Then the man appears behind her as he slices a car creature in half. Yet not all Guardians protect the same things, and some specialize in areas while other simply supports another.
"No one is all-powerful. Not even the Kyuubi. Everything can be taken down if we all work together." With that said, the teen starts off for the next platform again, the two following just a step behind him.
The last of the series of platform quickly come to path (it shows the same woman with red hair and the nine keys), and suddenly he felt the familiar presence. How can he forget? He'd lived with it for 17 years.
"Foolish mortal. Do you hope to oppose me!? The MIGHTIEST OF ALL BIJU?!" The fox screams as it pulls itself up onto the platform, in all of its monstrous glory, waving tails and all. Its blood red eyes glare down at the three on the platform. Then suddenly, the heavy pressure of killing intent lessens as a transparent shield appears around them all, and the teenage girl walks out of a door, while holding up her hands. She blinks, she tilts her head, and she smiles.
The Sage helps the Guardian solves puzzles, be it large or small, and provide knowledge when ever see fit. Just then, the Kyuubi roars before slamming a giant claw into the shield, and the girl falters a bit. She suddenly finds herself being supported by the other three, and she lightly laughs, knowing she'll be safe. Of course, the Sage lacks fitness, thus require the Warrior and the Guardian to protect, least the Sage comes to harm.
"Knowledge is strength; to know is to be prepared." The teen lectures as he remembers one of the lessons he'd learn from one of his mentor. After all, to shinobis, information is everything! Just then, the girl points at the Kyuubi's head and the blond teen immediately knows what to do. "Now let's take down this bastard! AIM FOR THE HEAD!"
At the last syllable, they all leaps into action as the man jumps toward the Kyuubi, the woman fires kunais after kunais at it, and the girl summons another giant key to her hand and stay near the woman. As for the teen, he charges off after the man and smirks as he sees the silver-haired man creates cuts after cuts on the Kyuubi. Then with a battle cry, he jumps onto the fox's snot and starts to whack away with the key (although he suddenly wonder why he uses the key instead of other weapons, but if it's in his hands, why deny using it? Besides, gloating right over the fox for beating it with a giant key!).
Then Kyuubi roar in fury, blasting both the teen and the man away by raw power alone. The two slam into the ground painfully, and just as a claw is about to slam on them, the girl dashes to their location and evoke a shield of light once more, but this time, it seems to reflect the damage instead of simply absorbing it. Meanwhile, the woman launches dozens of kunai, each laced with lightening that singe the fur of the fox. The fox back up a bit, protecting its face with one arm while its nine tails went wild by sending magic blast after blast towards them.
Seeing this, the teen pushes the girl toward the man, who instantly picks her up as the two leaps in opposite direction. The teen charges toward the head once more, weaving in and out of the blasts before jumping up and smashing the key into the fox's nose. The fox roar in pain at the burning sensation the key gives off, before launching forward to try and eat the blonde nuisance in one large bite, but instead of crunchy sensation, the fox only got more pain from the dozens of kunais that now pierce its inner mouth.
Moaning in pain, the fox retreats slightly to try and regenerate some of the wounds dealt by the insects. However, the group simply won't allow it the chance to regain its composure. In a show of teamwork that the blonde teen finds amazing, he and the man dash towards the woman, who charges up two spheres of electricity that then, coat the weapons of the two. Nodding to each other, the two charges toward the fox as the girl shoots out an orb of energy that when reaches the two male, forms into another transparent shield.
The Kyuubi roar in fury once more as it tries to bat the two away, only to meet resistance in the form of the shield, causing no harm but the raising of its frustration. The two then leaps as one, and in the same amazing teamwork, slams their respective weapon onto the fox's head, making it roar in pain and fury once more. "ROARR! YOU'LL PAY!"
"Ah shi-!" The teen never gets to finish his sentence as in the next instance the tails serge forward in a blitz, successfully knocking the teen and the man away. The woman runs forward, jumps, and catches the two, but was in term carried away too due to the force at which the two were sent flying. "FEEL MY WRATH!!"
"Eep!" The girl yelps as she flattens herself onto the ground just in time to avoid the beam of energy that shouts out from the fox's mouth. The other three though aren't as fortunate as they get hit by it directly.
It's so painful that they can't help but scream.
So powerful were the blast that they were push off the platform. The fox gives chase and it too jump off the platform. Seeing that, the girl too jumps off the platform, and thus beginning a sequence of flashy aerial maneuver while beings of energy and blasts of magic dot the void.
Then in a show of amazing strength, the girl catches up to the fox and with one mighty swing of her key, sends it spiraling onto an identical twin of the platform they fell of off, stunning it for a bit. The Warrior and two Guardians take their chance, having recovered during mid flight, and launch into a series of consecutive strikes that bash and burn the fox even more. Then as one, all four slams their weapons into the fox's head, effectively beating it back for now. "To think I am forced to retreat…"
"Bah, whatever fox, just admit you lost." The teen says as he shoulders the key and grin. "I'll admit I might never take you on one on one, but with them, I can, right guys? Huh? Where they go?" The teen asks as he searches around for his mysterious companions, only to find them missing. It's just him and the fox now, on that small platform… "Ah shit…"
Well done. Outstanding… The teen jumps as he once again feels the voice from before. Finally, the shield of the Guardian. She who lends her power so he may successfully defend that which is precious to him…
Blinking, the teen stares in shock at the fox that growls at him. "What? It –she- is my shield? Wait, back up, rewind!"
Do not be shocked, for certain things happen for a reason. Just then, the fox glows before she starts to shrink, and in her place is a woman in somewhat torn kimono, long red hairs in nine braids, and cat-like eyes that glare at him while her full lips are currently in a pout. In fact, she is the exact copy of the woman depicted by the stain glass platform… Now to formerly meet she who shields you from death, Kyuubi.
"Blah, blah, blah. I still don't like you." The woman says as she stands up on somewhat wobbly legs. "Damn, that really is quite a beating… I blame the keyblade."
Indeed the keyblade grants unimaginable power, yet the majority is that of the boy's.
"Whatever." Kyuubi says as she regains her balance and walks over to an alarmed teen. "Relax brat, the fight is over. Now it's time for your reward." The woman grins savagely as she quickly latches onto the teen, who yelps before said yelp is muffled by her planting her lips on him.
"MMMMM!!!"
With a satisfying moan, the woman lets go of the teen before tossing a chain towards him. Still dazed, the teen catches the chain in reflex and instinct alone as he continues to watch the woman laugh herself silly. "What just… why did… how in the… what…?" Then as if a switch is flipped on, the teen regain his balance and shouts accusingly, "I THOUGHT YOU DON'T LIKE ME!!"
"Oh-ho, I don't. But of course, the line is blurry." Kyuubi says mysteriously before she vanishes without a trace, leaving the teen standing there gaping at where the Kitsune was a while ago.
Sighing, the blonde exams himself and wince at his multitude of gushes, cuts, and burns that liter his body. It's almost a common sight if he do say so himself, him being injured that is. However he'd actually expected those wounds to be much worst. "Well, since I'm utterly lost on where everyone went and what to do now, I'll just ask the stupid question: what now?"
Now, you wake up…
"Huh?"
Then, as if a light switch is then flipped, everything vanished. Everything except for Darkness…
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"You think he'll be alright?" A voice, blurry and seemly muffled, says in another language as he slowly regain consciousness.
"I can't say. He looks quite hurt when we found him." Another, older and deeper, says in the same language. None of the words make sense though, and what about finding him injured? Wait, is this even Konoha?
"Oh but Penelope, he LOOKS fine now… Actually, now I think about it, he heals pretty fast." The first voice says, and he can feel a finger poking him in the cheek, where his 'whiskers' are. "Hmm, and he looks pretty cute."
"Alice! Stop pestering the boy." The second voice scolds judging from the tone, and the finger lefts his cheek alone. "Now, why don't we leave him alone so he may recover in peace?"
"Oh, alright. I suppose that is for the… PENELOPE! HE'S WAKING UP!"
"Itai… not so loud…" He groans as he gets into a sitting position, and blinks as he heard two gasps by his right. Looking over, he blinks again at the woman that is blushing while frowning at him and the girl that's hiding her eyes behind her petite and delicate hands. "Huh? What?"
"Um…" The older of the two mumbles as she simply points at his chest, where a slight breeze sends a chill down his spine. Seriously, it's not like he's half naked… um, wait. Sending the woman a look, he is answered as the woman nod shyly.
Right, so he is half naked, maybe even in nothing but his birthday suit. And judging by the fact that the two continue to blush with the younger of the two sneaking glances at him, his chest is totally exposed. Now that registered in his mind, he finds himself in a large, comfortable, and warm four-poster bed, covered by warm sheet and where his head was are several plush pillows. He is in what looks like a guest room of some sort of mansion if the elaborate and elegant furniture he sees are any indication. He is sitting in unknown territory, with people speaking unknown language, and he is at least half naked under the bed…
So he did the only thing that comes to mind at the time…
"Um… can you guys give me my cloth back?"
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Author's Note:
Right, first, you should know who this is, who I'm describing (or at least some inking of it), and where he eventually landed in. If not, go kill yourself with the entire Naruto and Kingdom Hearts series.
Secondly, I don't want to hear it about Sephiroth being down powered (again, if you don't get who that is, go slaughter yourself with the entire FFVII series AND KH series). Sephy is powerful, yes. But no matter how you put it, he can't go against a freaking demon that has pretty much infinite power AND is consider a force of nature. Even dear old Sephy is only consider to be a major threat that can be stopped (a major threat that threaten to blow up a world, but still, he CAN be stopped).
Thirdly, there WILL be gaps in the story details and plot line, since I'm still trying to work out the details, so don't pester me about what I am missing and what not. They will be filled eventually or never. Accept it and move on (insert evil laugh).
Fourth, this story is a plot bunny that is bouncing around a little too much for its own good, so I'm putting it down where it belongs: on paper (it's either that or the trashcan… mental trashcan… after it went through a mental slaughter house). And for any grammar errors or spelling mistakes you encountered, I'm sorry, but I am trying.
Lastly, don't bug me about my two other stories. I am working on them, but college and lack of ideas hurt… Me playing KH recently doesn't help either. So shush! I am trying...
So… yeah, enjoy.