Shy Fox Chronicles
Chapter 14: Echoes of the Ancients
We do not own Naruto or any copyright content. All copyright content goes to their respective owners. We own all OCs.
Bolded Italicized is used for descriptive actions.
Italicized is used for internal thoughts/flashbacks.
Bold is for emphasis.
"Underlined Bold" is for dialogue/internal thoughts concerning otherworldly beings.
As the concave panel of the pod lifted, letting out a great hissing cloud of smoke, out came a truly massive figure. To the amazement of the boys, the figure was as tall as Seishin, stepping out with a wide sweeping step. He was clad from head to toe in ancient armor that reminded them of armor from samurai movies, though on a far more regal and comprehensive scale. Red and black plates lay over chainmail and red silks, with white and gold pauldrons accentuating the look. Slung over his left gauntlet was a great round shield with many runes of a different kind to the innumerable kinds they had seen already, with unusually a razor's edge to it. Yet, as they looked up, they were forced to take a step back. They were met with sun worn bronze skin, deep sapphire blue eyes, and tufts of spiky crimson hair sticking out from his samurai helmet. All encased in a fearsome dragon mask of red and gold.
"That's the legendary last king of Seaheart…?" Seikoku asked in awe.
"I literally just said that child. Do keep up with the program." Bartholomew answered with annoyance, rolling his eyes at the boys' reaction.
"As cool as this moment is right now, we have bigger concerns here! There are more of those things out there!" Kei reminded the others.
"What do you mean, young ones?" the man before them asked, speaking in an accent that most closely resembled those used in the most ancient, traditional plays.
"With all due respect, your majesty, there are more of those angry spirits right outside this chamber." Shinkoku replied, trying to remain calm.
"The spirits are angered?" The man asked in surprise, as he began to steady himself on somewhat uncertain feet.
"Understatement of the year. If we don't do something, King Bartholomew's people are dead." Sasuke explained quickly.
The deep blue eyes scanned over them, clearing taking things in as fast as they could, before he squatted down more to their level. Staring directly into them, they gulped as if he was staring into their very souls.
"I am going to need you young ones to calm down and explain things a bit more clearly. I just got out of this pod. Now please tell me, what year is this?" The king asked, in a calm, but demanding tone.
"It's been a thousand years since the time of the Sage of Six Paths, your kingliness." Naruto replied awkwardly.
"I see. And of these angry spirits?" he asked, though clearly taking this in stride, as if the information had shaken him.
"We don't know what they are! They just attacked out of nowhere when we came to wake up the Chaos Kin hidden in this mountain for the Time of Awakening! They really don't seem to want that Chaos Kin kid to be woken up!" Seikoku explained as quickly and fluently as he could.
The man turned and sternly looked at Seikoku, causing him to shutter. "It is a Nythralian boy, not Chaos Kin. And the only spirits we have here are bound by oaths of guardianship. If the time you have said has passed, then I have an idea of what may have happened. Though I will require greater council to create an effective response on such short notice." the king explained before standing up straight.
"Wait… what's the difference between a Chaos Kin and a Nytha… Nytharala…? What you said. And what's your name, your kingliness?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"We're sorry for any disrespect, your majesty. Ignore Naruto, for he…. Yeah, he's dumb." Shinkoku replied simply and respectfully.
"I am not dumb. I just have a tough time paying attention." Naruto replied in annoyance.
"With how much of a hard time you have paying attention, you might as well be." Sasuke replied, rolling his eyes.
"What the heck, duck butt!?" Naruto snapped at his Uchiha friend.
"Stop calling me that! My hair does not look like a duck's butt!" Sasuke snapped back.
"Boys! Enough with this prattling!" the king boomed, which immediately made them all snap to attention.
"Yes, sir!" All the boys replied nervously.
With a sigh and pinching the bridge of his nose, the king resumed. "To properly re-rail this conversation, I am King Oda Shang the Second. Secondly, while both terms describe the same race, Chaos Kin is a slur given to them by those of the mortal plane. Nythralian is the term they call themselves." he explained after a deep sigh.
"Ohhhh! So, it's like calling a Hyūga 'White Eyes'?" Seikoku asked before realizing something. "Wait… does that mean we've been doing a racism this whole time?"
"It was not intentional on your part. Merely that that knowledge has been lost. But now that you know, it is your responsibility to use the more respectful term and teach others of this." Oda explained simply.
"Hm, it makes no difference to my kind. Chaos Kin, Nythralian. Either way, they destroy things all the same, even if it is not on purpose." Bartholomew replied with a dismissive grunt. With Sasuke looking at him with suspicion though choosing to stay silent.
"Before we can discuss why you boys want to reach the Nythralian in our vaults, we first must get a handle on this situation. King Bartholomew. If you could assist me in releasing the royal guard in stasis chambers 5-7, you would have my gratitude." Oda said as he began to walk towards the exit of the chamber.
Bartholomew simply bowed a bit. "With pleasure, sir." he replied before heading towards the exit as well.
"Come along, boys! We have work to do!" Oda called out to them.
Meanwhile: Hokage's Office - Konohagakure
With a deep sigh, Kushina rubbed her temples as she looked before the assembled elders of the village. The Uchiha, Kamishini, and her own clan were outraged at the disappearance of the little princelings, and many others were raising questions of how it was even possible. Even with Tsunade and Hiruzen at her sides, it was clear this was going to be a long, long, long meeting.
"Alright order! Order everyone! Panicking isn't going to get us anywhere! Believe me, I've tried!" Kushina yelled.
"One of my sons is missing. I believe that this is an adequate time to panic." Fugaku replied, trying to maintain his composure.
"I agree with my husband, Kushina! This is the perfect time to panic!" Mikoto replied in a much less composed tone.
"What do we pay our shinobi for if five brats can just walk out our own front gate without anyone noticing?" Tsume asked, crossing her arms in annoyance.
"Logically speaking, we are talking about the son of a man who snuck out of the village to track down Lady Kushina when she was kidnapped and the son of the woman whose skills terrified her entire class." Shibi replied stoically.
"Flattery will get you nowhere." Kushina replied playfully.
"I'm hearing a lot of belly achin', but not a lot a' solutions being thrown about here, mons." Reggae Lee shot out, getting various nods from his entourage.
"I think we're asking the wrong questions here." Shikaku piped up, a contemplative look on his face.
"Explain, Shikaku." Kushina ordered, her gaze turning to the clan head.
"Instead of wondering how they left, we should be trying to figure out why. That might help us figure out where they went." Shikaku pointed out.
"Shikaku-san is right. Have the boys been talking with you all about anything out of the ordinary lately? Have they been acting weirdly at all?" Hiruzen asked, looking at the three sets of parents before him.
"The triplets did tell me about some strange dreams they've been having about a family of strange-eyed and strange-furred wolves, a child with heterochromatic eyes, and a mysterious mountain. Does that help at all?" Miko, the daughter of Seishin, spoke up.
"Now that you mention it… Naruto did say something vaguely like that." Kushina mused.
"My wife told me that Hinata and Enten have been having similar dreams as well. A heterochromatic eyed boy, a mysterious chamber within a mountain, and a baby sealed within some kind of barrier." Hiashi replied.
"Sasuke told Fugaku, Itachi, and I about a dream like that. The same boy, a mysterious mountain pass with a giant, mysterious mountain within, and the same wolves that the triplets and Naruto mentioned." Mikoto noted, noticing a pattern.
"Chōji told my wife and I something similar, too. A dream about a purple and golden-eyed boy, a massive mountain, and golem made of stone and energy guarding a mysterious barrier with a baby inside." Chōza replied, beginning to find the whole situation strange.
This opened the floodgates. The other clan leaders admitted to something similar from their own children. Others beyond that spoke of different dreams, but of a similarly strange nature. Bizarre visions, great beasts rising, horrifying nightmares that awoken them in a great fright. It all was maddening with the sheer quantity and the nature of them. All save for Seishin, whose expression quickly turned to that of concern. Which did not go unnoticed.
"I… think I know where those boys might have gone…" Seishin said ominously.
"... Father. What. Did you do?" Miko asked him suspiciously.
"Miko. Let the man explain." Kushina ordered.
"Keikoku… may or may not have asked me about any large, mysterious mountains in the Land of Fire. So, I told him… about the Mountain of Death…" Seishin sheepishly replied.
This caused the entire room to gasp in shock. The mere mention of that unholy place filled them with dread, as nearly everyone knew someone lost by that mountain. This had an… outsized effect upon Miko.
"YOU BRAINDEAD OLD CODGER!!! WHAT COULD'VE POSSESSED YOU TO TELL HIM ABOUT THAT PLACE!?!?!?" Miko roared, leaping to grab her father by the neck in an attempt to strangle him only to be held back by the others.
"Miko! I am still your father!" Seishin shot back in offense.
"You're about to be my late father for this, you batty old bastard!!!!" Miko shrieked in fury, struggling against the bonds by the rest of the clan representatives.
"Honey, please calm your murderous rage long enough for him to explain himself." Her husband said as he helped restrain her. She turned to look at the plain looking man, with his quiet aura of strength beginning to work its magic in calming her down.
Taking a deep breath, Miko sat back down and directed the foulest, most demonic glare she could at her father. "Talk. NOW." she told him.
"Kei came to me inquiring about such a mountain, and I explained to him its true nature. Of which I should explain to you all." Seishin explained, which did not improve his daughter's mood.
"And just what is this 'true nature' you told him about, my oh so dear father?" Miko growled out, white-hot flames beginning to come off her.
"Miko. Either you calm yourself down and let the man explain or I will have to ask you to leave." Kushina sternly said, her own motherly wrath rising to the surface.
Miko took a deep breath to compose herself as the flames dissipated, multiple things in the room left either caught ablaze and needing to be patted down or having melted. Once the flames were dealt with, she turned to her father and nodded for him to continue.
"The Mountain of Death's true origin is not as some cursed mountain that eats those who enter it. It is the home of our ancient, and senior to us, cousins. The Dragonmen of Seaheart." Seishin explained. The importance was lost on most of the crowd, save for that of the Kamishini. Of which it had a profound effect on Miko.
"The remnants of Seaheart!? Here!?!? In the Land of Fire!?!?!?" The Kamishini woman called out in disbelief.
"No, my dear. This is not some mere remnant or colony. It is their homeland. The mountain of Seaheart." Seishin corrected her politely.
"I should have known! No wonder no normal shinobi have ever returned from that mountain alive!!" Miko called out in sheer disbelief.
"Would you mind explaining for the rest of the class Seishin?" Kushina asked with a raised eyebrow.
"For once, I agree with Lady Kushina." Homura replied, leaning in.
"Yes. Please explain this, Seishin." Koharu added.
"Our peoples' come from The Land Closest to the Gods, descended from a common people known as the Heavenly Kin. They were not only extremely blessed by the gods of heaven but even intermarried with them. Our two peoples' ruling families are descended from that land's royal line. Seaheart from the kings, and ours from the royal guard, made up of princes who would not become king." Seishin explained, as others began to mutter amongst themselves about this development.
"So, you're telling me that a people more ancient and powerful than you Kamishini once lived within that mountain…?" Inoichi asked in sheer disbelief, as if unable to comprehend the concept.
"Yes. Our Dragonmen cousins devoted themselves to culture, trade, and artisanry. While we continued our path to what you see today. In those pursuits, they learned to wield the fundamentals of all the realms. What you all would call magic." Seishin continued, which got many to balk at such an assertion.
"Magic? Like what you Kamishini wield?" Hiashi asked in disbelief.
"We have not wielded true magic in over a thousand years. Divine chakra is merely a synthesis of mystical winds and chakra. They can use the old ways." Seishin corrected, getting an absolutely stunned look out of the Hyūga lord. A rare sight to behold.
"If these people are so powerful, then why did they disappear for over a thousand years?" Tsunade asked, getting many murmurs in the great throng of people that stuffed the Hokage's Office.
"That we do not know. We have not had the chance to inspect the mountain while dealing with the seals on the major realm gates for the last thousand years along with anything that managed to slip through the seals." Seishin explained.
"Seishin. What is in that mountain that could be connected to our boys' dreams that would make them want to go there? And what kind of danger are they in?" Kushina asked sternly, staring at him with the fury of one thousand lionesses.
"There is a possibility that the people of Seaheart may still dwell within the mountain. The boys may be heading there looking for answers to what these visions are telling them and their friends." Seishin explained to the shock of those present.
"Kakashi!!" Kushina yelled out.
"Reporting for duty, Lady Kushina." Kakashi replied, appearing behind his village leader like a magician.
Kushina nearly jumped out of her seat in shock. "Quit doing that!" Kushina snapped, placing her hand over her heart.
"With all due respect, Lady Kushina… no." Kakashi replied simply.
"Get your team and go with the Kamishini to investigate the Mountain of Death for any signs of the boys. Immediately." Kushina ordered. "Wait… were you here the whole time?"
"... Maybe." Kakashi replied with a grin beneath his mask.
"Get moving on the double." Kushina sternly ordered. "And that includes you Seishin."
Placing a fist over his heart, Seishin bowed. "As you wish, Lady Hokage." he replied.
"Mobilize every member of your clan that is not out on missions or another important task. This is an emergency! Their lives are on the line!" Kushina roared.
Meanwhile: Within the Mountain of Seaheart
The war of Gremlin and Spirit raged onwards. Despite the diminutive wild spirits' best efforts, they were being pushed by the sheer numbers of the enraged guardians. However, over the din of this chaotic conflict, a great voice roared over it all.
"Double march! Battle Formation!" The powerful, gruff voice of a veteran warrior bellowed.
From the hallway came men of truly titanic proportions, many reaching a full seven feet. Clad in double layered samurai like plate, their heads were completely enclosed in fearsome Shinigami-masked helmets of darkened metal. Striding forth, each man held a colossal two-handed axe in their hand, gleaming with runes of lightning and death. Their mere presence hummed and crackled with might as the Gremlins stepped aside while the formation crashed in. Great sweeps of the axes hit with the force of a storm surge, crashing against the spirit horde, and cleaving into them. Multiples were cut down with each swath cut, stalling the ever-growing tide of spirits' momentum.
"You lot can return to your king. We have this fight now." The towering veteran said, in his hand wielding a massive war scythe.
"Thank you. Thank you." Many of the Gremlins said as they rushed off in the direction they saw their king run.
"Don't let up, men! They were once our allies, but now they are our foes!" The veteran roared as he rushed into battle with his men.
As the battle began to rage, it began attracting the bulk of the spirits' attention. This allowed Oda to begin opening other chambers of their occupants and fill them in on the situation. The boys noticed people of many distinct kinds, dresses, and even accents among them as they began to gather supplies and organize themselves. However, they were soon greeted by a man nearly as tall as Oda with similar eyes to him, wearing robes of a martial artist.
"My brother wishes to see you all in the council meeting." the man said simply after a respectful bow.
Nodding, the boys looked up at him. "Take us to your leader." Naruto replied firmly.
"... You've always wanted to say that haven't you?" Sasuke asked in a deadpan.
"... Maaaaybe. You can't prove anything." Naruto replied, trying to hide the truth.
Following behind him, they saw over a dozen men and women standing around a large table with a display of the mountain before them, simmering in mystical light. While most of them were older, each wore various different clothing likely of different classes and professions. The boys even saw one in purple robes and a pointy hat with a staff. To their confusion however, they did not see any one of them that looked like a shinobi's or any other martial profession. Yet, at their center was Oda, who put his helmet and mask on the table in front of them. Yet when they looked upon his face… it looked like Naruto's…
"He kinda looks like Naruto…" Kei said aloud.
"No way. Naruto's face is way more stupid than that." Sasuke replied simply.
"The only way it could be more stupid is if it was Sasuke's face." Naruto chipped in.
"Say that to my face, Whiskers!" Sasuke snapped quietly at his friend.
"Sure, as long as you don't spit breadcrumbs at me!" Naruto snapped back just as quietly.
"Guys! Shut up!" Shinkoku snapped, motioning to the council all looking at them.
The two bowed their heads in apology before wisely hushing up. Oda motioned them to come closer as the boys noticed Bartholomew sitting on a corner of the table, scepter slung over his shoulder like a stick.
"Now then, everyone. We all have these five to thank for being reawakened." Oda said while motioning to them.
"And what reason have they awakened us my lord?" The man in the strange robes and hat asked.
"It appears the Nythralian's Time of Awakening has come. Which means we are on the cusp of a Dark Age." Oda explained, getting murmurs from the council as they gave orders to retainers and servants.
"Now when you say, 'Dark Age'…?" Naruto asked nervously.
"The forces of Darkness, Death, and Destruction bringing the end of all civilization across the realms. However, the boy and nine other chosen warriors will stand at the head of an army to repel this multi-pronged threat. Or bring about the end of all we have built." Oda explained grimly.
"Wait… ten? I thought there were only four. Did our clan not get the entire prophecy?" Seikoku asked in confusion.
"Only those who have looked into the Winds of the Heavens for centuries can pick out the finer details of the prophecy. Though the more likely explanation is that the original details of the prophecy were lost to your clan long ago." A woman in a white and gold robes explained, her hood obscuring her face.
The boys nodded as Kei spoke up. "Before we awaken the Nythralian kid, I'd like to get to copy whatever piece of the prophecy you have down there with him. Maybe, if we find enough pieces of it, we can put the whole thing together." the oldest of the triplets requested.
"So, are we here to eliminate one of these darknesses before it comes to power? The Nythralian? Bartholomew mentioned they destroy anything in their path." Sasuke questioned.
"The shadow isn't one of those darknesses, boy. That much is certain. It is the herald that will guide the forces of Order into battle. And it appears you all are to help guide it to its greater purpose." Oda corrected Sasuke. "For now, however, we have more immediate problems than the child."
"What kinds of problems?" Shinkoku asked in concern.
"Our absence has angered the spirits greatly, and this deharmonization is so great, that they have become a danger not just to use, but several leagues around the mountain. If they are not stopped en masse, then many more people could die. However, we are not able to reactivate things here fast enough with their sheer numbers." One of Oda's council members explained.
"Uh-oh… that's not good…" Seikoku said fearfully.
"Why can't you guy's clan help out with this?" Sasuke asked Seikoku curiously.
"Most types of supernatural chakra aren't good at dealing with things that you can't touch. Only certain types of it can." Kei explained.
"Then it leaves us with only one option." Oda gravely said, making everyone look at him. "We will have to seal those remaining in stasis, seal off as many areas as we can, take what we can, and activate the mountain's molten core."
The room fell gravely silent, as not a single member of the council spoke. The boys could tell written on their faces that they agreed with their king but were not happy about it. Even they realized what it meant. Molten core indicated a volcano, which would lead to the destruction of their home. At that revelation, they could not help but feel bad. Oda's own face was written with that somber and heartbreaking decision, barely able to keep its composure.
"I will make my way to the controls myself and detonate it. It is my duty as king. Everyone else will get supplies and the people out via the minor realm gates." Oda explained, getting more sorrowful, but understanding looks.
"My lord. The minor realm gates in our absence have fallen into disrepair. Only the one that operates in the mortal realm is working. And in its current condition it would struggle to get us out past the blast radius." A man in work overalls and clad with a variety of tools explained.
"Get it up and running as best we can. I will not allow my people or any other to fall to the predations of a problem that we caused. Any further questions?" Oda explained, before looking around the crowd.
"We still have to get to Kumori and unseal him if he's so important." Naruto noted.
This created a wave of shocked faces from the Seaheartians before them.
"How do you know his name?" Oda asked curiously.
"I… didn't. I just figured we needed to call him something and you guys keep calling him 'the shadow,' so I figured we could name him something based on that…" Naruto noted a bit shyly.
"Um, Naruto. How are we gonna get down there without the spirits eating us?" Seikoku asked his blonde friend nervously.
"I can assign someone to escort you down there. Do not you worry. It is the least I can do for you as thanks for freeing us from our stasis." Oda explained, though his sorrow filled face was not leaving.
Kei then stepped forward in front of his friends. "Lord Oda. What about your people who are still in stasis? How are you going to retrieve them through a volcano erupting?" Kei asked, his concern filling his voice.
Oda's cheeks sagged into a frown, as he let out a deep sigh. "I do not know. I fear… I fear that it may not be possible in the future. But this is the only hope we must ensure the safety of others." Oda replied, his regret filling his voice. "But now, we must get started. Time is of the essence."
To Be Continued…