NationStates Jolt Archive

"I feel murderous intent, someone has entered Suna," Gaara said. "Once upon a time that was how your Kakashi noticed me spying."
Naruto reached out...and sensed it as well. "I sense it too."

***

Katana drew her fan as the figure drew near yet was far away enough not to be recognisable.

"Identify yourself?" she yelled.

The figure stopped. "Katana?"

Katana was quick to recognise the voice. "Gaara was right, Matsuri," she said and held her fan behind her. "You're safe with us."

Matsuri drew near, she was definitely their Matsuri. A little rough, she looked as though she hadn't been sleeping much. Then again, who would when they were seemingly alone.

"It is you," Matsuri said. "Daniel... Konoha..."
"What about Konoha?" Travis asked sharply.

"We'd better head to the entrance," Gaara suggested as he left the academy

***

"You're Leaf Nin," Matsuri replied. "I was surprised to see Leaf Nin here as well."

"We'd better head to the entrance," Gaara suggested as he left the academy
"All right." Naruto nodded and headed after Gaara.

***

"You're Leaf Nin," Matsuri replied. "I was surprised to see Leaf Nin here as well."
"Heh. We just came along for the ride." Travis grinned.

"All well and nice to get together, but can we move on before things get even weirder?" Nick asked. Kagome nodded in agreement.

Gaara led him out to the entrance, or as close to it as they could get. Stood nearby were a dozen or so clone soldier.

"Huh? Even here you two team up," came a voice, a familiar voice.

"So you are the one with the murderous intent?" Gaara said looking up.

Stood atop one of the buildings was a blue elf with blond hair dressed in a long black trenchcoat.

"Heh, you don't look so good," Jacen grinned. "So where's me? I told him I'd find Suna. Guess he thought I didn't know what Suna really was."

***

"It's the Kagutsuchi that is the power behind the weirdness," Matsuri said. "That blue orb in the centre of the inverted world."

She looked toward the others.

"We are safe down here though."

Gaara led him out to the entrance, or as close to it as they could get. Stood nearby were a dozen or so clone soldier.

"Huh? Even here you two team up," came a voice, a familiar voice.

"So you are the one with the murderous intent?" Gaara said looking up.

Stood atop one of the buildings was a blue elf with blond hair dressed in a long black trenchcoat.

"Heh, you don't look so good," Jacen grinned. "So where's me? I told him I'd find Suna. Guess he thought I didn't know what Suna really was."
"We ain't tellin'." Naruto folded his arms. "So you're Daniel's dark alternate. I can sense it."

***

"It's the Kagutsuchi that is the power behind the weirdness," Matsuri said. "That blue orb in the centre of the inverted world."

She looked toward the others.

"We are safe down here though."
"For now." Travis nodded. "But where do we go from here?"

Jacen laughed. "Dark? Matter of perception," he replied. "Seems things are backwards here."

Gaara looked toward Naruto. "We have to make sure they go no further."

***

Matsuri looked up. "This way," she said, motioning for them to follow.

Down at the end of the tunnel amongst a bedroll and various other camping equipment was a glowing blue door.

"I don't know what it is but Jr told me it would be a part of the Kagutsuchi," she said. "He and a few others headed inside then The Conception happened an hour after, just like he had warned. I think the foundation tried to prevent it and failed."

Daniel bit his lower lip.

Jacen laughed. "Dark? Matter of perception," he replied. "Seems things are backwards here."

Gaara looked toward Naruto. "We have to make sure they go no further."
"Yeah." Naruto smirked, then released his chakra all at once, making the air pressure rise with his sheer power. It's as if Jacen and his clones have been captured in an intense gravitational field. (think Bleach spiritual pressure)

***

Matsuri looked up. "This way," she said, motioning for them to follow.

Down at the end of the tunnel amongst a bedroll and various other camping equipment was a glowing blue door.

"I don't know what it is but Jr told me it would be a part of the Kagutsuchi," she said. "He and a few others headed inside then The Conception happened an hour after, just like he had warned. I think the foundation tried to prevent it and failed."

Daniel bit his lower lip.
"A glowing blue door." Travis blinked. "Well, that's something new. Usually it'd be shiny like a blast door."

There was a sudden explosion and a building near to the two nin came crashing down. Gaara's first instinct was to put up a sand shield.

"Oh this is fun," they heard Jacen laugh.

Through the dust, the clone soldiers began firing at them. Gaara once again put up the sand shield.

***

"Because it's the same as the Kagutsuchi," Matsuri mentioned. "There's no way of opening it."

"I don't have time for them," Jacen told the General in charge of the clone soldiers. "I must get inside the Kagutsuchi. You keep them occupied."

The General just nodded and watched as the blue elf climbed the nearby buildings and disappeared.

"I sense him moving away," Gaara warned Naruto. "You should go after them, I can hold them off."

***

"Hey that's easy to do," Daniel said walking up to the door.

"Wait..." Matsuri began.

But Daniel touched the shining blue door and was gone.

"I don't have time for them," Jacen told the General in charge of the clone soldiers. "I must get inside the Kagutsuchi. You keep them occupied."

The General just nodded and watched as the blue elf climbed the nearby buildings and disappeared.

"I sense him moving away," Gaara warned Naruto. "You should go after them, I can hold them off."
"Right." Naruto nodded and sped off after the false blue elf. A wall of wind was created to slow Jacen down.

***

"Hey that's easy to do," Daniel said walking up to the door.

"Wait..." Matsuri began.

But Daniel touched the shining blue door and was gone.
"Hey! Come back!" Not thinking as usual, Travis also touched the door...

"Heh, just like my dimension," Jacen chuckled to himself, cleanly avoiding the wind.

He teleported himself away, not fearing any effect from the vortex world and arrived a couple of blocks away.

"Have to do better then that."

Gaara meanwhile continued to hold the clone soldier back. What he wouldn't give to have the whole village fighting by his side once more.

***

The room Travis then found himself in had a blew glow to it. Though he wouldn't be able to tell by looking at Daniel whom was already blue anyway.

"Said it was easy to do," he grinned seeing Travis enter the room. "I see four doors, which one should we take?"

Back outside the glowing blue door, Katana sighed. "Fucking idiots the pair of them."

"Nothing we can do to help them now," Matsuri said rather glumly.

"Heh, just like my dimension," Jacen chuckled to himself, cleanly avoiding the wind.

He teleported himself away, not fearing any effect from the vortex world and arrived a couple of blocks away.

"Have to do better then that."

Gaara meanwhile continued to hold the clone soldier back. What he wouldn't give to have the whole village fighting by his side once more.
"Hmm." Naruto mused. I can't take him if he's zipping around all the time...looks like I'll have to break out that training old Ero-sannin gave me.

Teleporting close to Jacen, Naruto produced a few handseals, then spread his arms out slightly. Runes burned in the air, then dome-shaped light erupted, blocking further teleportation attempts for the two of them. "Heh. Gotcha."

Now Jacen would have to fight and defeat Naruto if he wanted to release the anti-teleport seal...

***

The room Travis then found himself in had a blew glow to it. Though he wouldn't be able to tell by looking at Daniel whom was already blue anyway.

"Said it was easy to do," he grinned seeing Travis enter the room. "I see four doors, which one should we take?"
"I don't know...Door number one?" Travis suggested, pointing to the first door.

Back outside the glowing blue door, Katana sighed. "Fucking idiots the pair of them."

"Nothing we can do to help them now," Matsuri said rather glumly.
"Indeed. Pazaak or sabacc?" Nick asked, pulling out a deck of cards.

Jacen drew a blue lightsaber. "Guess a fight it is then," he scowled. "Would have been much easier for you to just let us go about our business but no you just have to stick your nose in it and for what? All this will be gone when The Conception has run it's choice and who knows everything will be back the way it was before even after we've stripped the vortex world of it's resources."

***

"Door number one..." Daniel said and walked over to it.

The door behind them opened at the same time.

"You have got to be kidding me."

They were given a full view of the backs.

"Not door number one then..." Daniels eyes looked down. "You're stood on a trapdoor."

***

"How can you play cards at a time like this?" Matsuri questioned him.

Jacen drew a blue lightsaber. "Guess a fight it is then," he scowled. "Would have been much easier for you to just let us go about our business but no you just have to stick your nose in it and for what? All this will be gone when The Conception has run it's choice and who knows everything will be back the way it was before even after we've stripped the vortex world of it's resources."
"So that's your plan? Pretty pathetic if you ask me." Naruto ignited his orange one and smirked vulpinely. "Not even worthy of a Sith apprentice, much less a Lord."

***

"Door number one..." Daniel said and walked over to it.

The door behind them opened at the same time.

"You have got to be kidding me."

They were given a full view of their backs.
"Kinda tacky to look up our own asses, if you ask me." Travis tried to joke it away, even if he was weirded out again.

"Not door number one then..." Daniels eyes looked down. "You're stood on a trapdoor."
"Whaa?" Travis jumped up from the trapdoor...

***

"How can you play cards at a time like this?" Matsuri questioned him.
"Well, considering that Travis and Daniel are inside the door and we're not, I'd say it's only a matter of time before they figure out how to save the universe. And even if it blows, we probably won't even notice. Either way, it's clear that we'd just get in the way." Nick said matter-of-factly as he shuffled the deck. "Besides, I'm pretty sure the door's blocked to us. 'Only heroes with awesome destinies' need enter and all that."

Kagome only shook her head. "You're so calm about this, Nick."

"Heh. I don't look it, but I trust Travis with my life, and not just because he's the Heir. He's my friend." Nick smiled. "I'm just the guy with the guns, holding him up so he can win."

Kagome chuckled. "I guess I am too."

"I'm just a kid."

Jacen raised an eyebrow and grinned.

"Resources are resources," he replied. "Bringing The Conception down onto unsuspecting alternate-verses to get those resources, simple. Much richer then going to an alternate-verse and raping the resources, The Conception brings out more. Magatama, can't get it any other way."

Jacen laughed.

"The most powerful object and it only comes during The Conception. Hundreds of alternate-verses out there, a limitless supply."

***

Daniel knelt down and opened the trapdoor. Another room and thankfully no sign of him looking back at himself. He looked toward Travis and jumped through.

The room was larger but still bare. There was one door this time. A safe bet that this one wouldn't be the same.

***

They had her there, nothing they could do but wait. Matsuri sighed and sat down to wait.

"I'm just a kid."

Jacen raised an eyebrow and grinned.

"Resources are resources," he replied. "Bringing The Conception down onto unsuspecting alternate-verses to get those resources, simple. Much richer then going to an alternate-verse and raping the resources, The Conception brings out more. Magatama, can't get it any other way."

Jacen laughed.

"The most powerful object and it only comes during The Conception. Hundreds of alternate-verses out there, a limitless supply."
Naruto shook his head. "And killing them when you're finished. Any other crazy plans you want to spill or are you done?"

***

Daniel knelt down and opened the trapdoor. Another room and thankfully no sign of him looking back at himself. He looked toward Travis and jumped through.

The room was larger but still bare. There was one door this time. A safe bet that this one wouldn't be the same.
Travis jumped down with Daniel. "Looks like that's it."


***

They had her there, nothing they could do but wait. Matsuri sighed and sat down to wait.
At least they won't be bored for a while...

"Death..." Jacen laughed. "Everyone dies because of The Conception but the supporting cast of he whom resurrects the world. Death... death is not a permanent thing if the resurrector chooses so, better hope he's like me or everyone will stay dead."

He raised his lightsaber.

"I can tell you more, tell you how to shape a new world... or you could forever wander the Kagutsuchi for eternity never knowing what to do."

***

"Looks like it," Daniel agreed.

Like before, he opened the door and it led them into a curved hallway.

"I think we're getting somewhere."

"Death..." Jacen laughed. "Everyone dies because of The Conception but the supporting cast of he whom resurrects the world. Death... death is not a permanent thing if the resurrector chooses so, better hope he's like me or everyone will stay dead."

He raised his lightsaber.

"I can tell you more, tell you how to shape a new world... or you could forever wander the Kagutsuchi for eternity never knowing what to do."
Naruto thought it sounded a lot like a bunch of hogwash, like the Fox's constant poking for him to gain ultimate power at the cost of everything else. "You mean Daniel? Heh. I'll take my chances with him. Are you sure you want to tell me something like that?"

***

"Looks like it," Daniel agreed.

Like before, he opened the door and it led them into a curved hallway.

"I think we're getting somewhere."
"Yeah." Travis said. "Let's keep going."

"Well theres another me going around," Jacen smirked. "I've stopped wanting to kill him because that's like suicide really, it's me but from an alternate-verse." He unlit his lightsaber. "To be honest I couldn't care less about this world but he's too close to being me. It's the first time I've ever come across myself in an alternate-verse."

***

The corridor seemed to curve on for ages until they came across another door. Unlocked but something was blocking it from the other side.

"Bugger," Daniel cursed. "Guess we'll have to break it down."

"Well theres another me going around," Jacen smirked. "I've stopped wanting to kill him because that's like suicide really, it's me but from an alternate-verse." He unlit his lightsaber. "To be honest I couldn't care less about this world but he's too close to being me. It's the first time I've ever come across myself in an alternate-verse."
"I see." At least Naruto was keeping him from going after Travis and Daniel. He always thought it'd take a battle to do that. Well, it seems sometimes not. He sheathed his blade as well, but kept the hilt ready. "So what's this about shaping the world?"

***

The corridor seemed to curve on for ages until they came across another door. Unlocked but something was blocking it from the other side.

"Bugger," Daniel cursed. "Guess we'll have to break it down."
"You read my mind!" Travis said, forming a clone to create Rasengan. Then he thrust the ball of chakra at the wall...

"Rebuilding a world after The Conception," Jacen said. "To be reborn a world must die, it's an age old fact of life. The vortex world is nothing more then a stopgap."

Jacen looked up and pointed toward the Kagutsuchi.

"The source of power and a curse. You need to get to the centre to rebuild the world but if you don't know what you're doing you'll never get there because it'll play tricks on you. That and it'll send demons out as well, you've heard them haven't you?"

***

The door crashed down and once the dust cleared they found another room. Lying in the centre was a body, a Realian. Her eyes wide open and motionless.

"That doesn't give me a lot of hope," Daniel gulped.

"Rebuilding a world after The Conception," Jacen said. "To be reborn a world must die, it's an age old fact of life. The vortex world is nothing more then a stopgap."

Jacen looked up and pointed toward the Kagutsuchi.

"The source of power and a curse. You need to get to the centre to rebuild the world but if you don't know what you're doing you'll never get there because it'll play tricks on you. That and it'll send demons out as well, you've heard them haven't you?"
"I have." Naruto said. I bet the kids are already there. I guess I'll just have to put my trust in you, Travis and Daniel. I just gotta keep this guy talking.

"So what's your true purpose here?"

***

The door crashed down and once the dust cleared they found another room. Lying in the centre was a body, a Realian. Her eyes wide open and motionless.

"That doesn't give me a lot of hope," Daniel gulped.
"Jeez. That's sick. Is she dead?" Travis asked.

"I already told you, resource hunting," Jacen replied. "And I'm a bit annoyed that they stole my vehicle and buggered it up."

***

Daniel walked over to the body and knelt down.

"Yeah, or depowered," he said. "I can never remember which."

"I already told you, resource hunting," Jacen replied. "And I'm a bit annoyed that they stole my vehicle and buggered it up."
"Better them than you." Naruto said proudly. He spoke again, "I meant, besides resource hunting. That can't be all you want out of this place."

***

Daniel walked over to the body and knelt down.

"Yeah, or depowered," he said. "I can never remember which."
"I wonder who would do this..." Travis mused.

Jacen just shrugged. "Well I do like to collect things," he admitted. "You know little things from the ruins of Conception torn worlds, books and tankards. Little things like that."

He briefly eyed Naruto.

"And no not slaves, we don't enslave survivors but we will fight those that get in our way."

***

"Demons maybe?" Daniel gulped.

The last thing he wanted to do was run into a demon or two in here.

Jacen just shrugged. "Well I do like to collect things," he admitted. "You know little things from the ruins of Conception torn worlds, books and tankards. Little things like that."

He briefly eyed Naruto.

"And no not slaves, we don't enslave survivors but we will fight those that get in our way."
"How honorable. Ever thought about leaving them alone?" Naruto scowled.

***

"Demons maybe?" Daniel gulped.

The last thing he wanted to do was run into a demon or two in here.
"Hope not." Travis gulped as well.

"Well when a world is reborn items do not matter," Jacen replied. "Now souls... souls left behind after the initial Conception they can float about not realising they're dead and that their world is temporarily no more. We leave them well alone."

***

"I know these may be famous last words," Daniel began, looking around for another door or even perhaps a trapdoor. "But I don't hear or feel a demon nearby."

Found it, at the other side of the room was another door.

"Well when a world is reborn items do not matter," Jacen replied. "Now souls... souls left behind after the initial Conception they can float about not realising they're dead and that their world is temporarily no more. We leave them well alone."
"Hmph." Naruto wondered where to go from here. Keep on stalling... "How did you become a Sith?"

***

"I know these may be famous last words," Daniel began, looking around for another door or even perhaps a trapdoor. "But I don't hear or feel a demon nearby."

Found it, at the other side of the room was another door.
"There's the door. Let's go." Travis said.

Jacen chuckled. "I'm no more Sith then you are," he said. "Rule of two, like the rule of Darth Bane. Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody power, the other to crave it. Hence why I go by Jacen and not a Darth name. One Master, my father Darth Karask and one apprentice, Darth Megaten."

***

Daniel quickly crashed through it wanting to get out of the room with the dead realian and wasn't being to careful about where he was going. Beyond the door was a spiral staircase descending into the blue glow below and the blue elf proptly disappeared down into it.

Jacen chuckled. "I'm no more Sith then you are," he said. "Rule of two, like the rule of Darth Bane. Two there should be; no more, no less. One to embody power, the other to crave it. Hence why I go by Jacen and not a Darth name. One Master, my father Darth Karask and one apprentice, Darth Megaten."
Ah, so that must be an alternate world where the Sith are the King and someone else. Wonder where the point of divergence occurred? Naruto thought. "Your father, then. How did he become Sith?"

***

Daniel quickly crashed through it wanting to get out of the room with the dead realian and wasn't being to careful about where he was going. Beyond the door was a spiral staircase descending into the blue glow below and the blue elf proptly disappeared down into it.
"Hey, wait for me!" Travis teleported down to the blue glow as well.

Jacen scratched his head. "Something about a foreign kid and a sword," he said. "When he was fighting his grandfather the kid and the sword kept telling him embrace the dark side."

Jacen shrugged.

"At least that's how I heard the story go anyway. I don't really know the truth."

***

Daniel was at the bottom already rubbing his head and grumbling.

"Fuck it, that hurt."

Jacen scratched his head. "Something about a foreign kid and a sword," he said. "When he was fighting his grandfather the kid and the sword kept telling him embrace the dark side."

Jacen shrugged.

"At least that's how I heard the story go anyway. I don't really know the truth."
"Hmm..." Naruto thought it might have been a Dark Daniel. A mirror world isn't hard to think about, when you think about it. "I see. Hmm...now what to do with you..."

***

Daniel was at the bottom already rubbing his head and grumbling.

"Fuck it, that hurt."
Travis popped on top of him and landed hard. "Oww..."

Jacen placed his hands behind his head and stared at Naruto.

"Does it matter you've already decided I'm evil and can't be trusted."

***

"Watch it," Daniel yelled before getting up.

He saw what appeared to be a mini Kagutsuchi just floating in the middle of the room. Nearby were two more bodies, both had been shot in the head.

Daniel gulped as he recognised them.

"Mary and Shelley..."

Jacen placed his hands behind his head and stared at Naruto.

"Does it matter you've already decided I'm evil and can't be trusted."
"Not really. I'm just going to keep you here until my apprentice completes his mission." Naruto smiled.

***

"Watch it," Daniel yelled before getting up.

He saw what appeared to be a mini Kagutsuchi just floating in the middle of the room. Nearby were two more bodies, both had been shot in the head.

Daniel gulped as he recognised them.

"Mary and Shelley..."
"Damn. Dad talked about them alot. I hope Jr's ok..." Travis tried to stay calm.

Jacen smirked.

"Well then, best hope they know what they're doing or this world could stay a vortex world for eternity, trapping you all in it until you die," he said. "Wonderful thought isn't it?"

***

"I have a bad feeling about this," Daniel sighed.

He further inspected the mini Kagutsuchi, trying to ignore the bodies on the floor.

"What do you think?"

Jacen smirked.

"Well then, best hope they know what they're doing or this world could stay a vortex world for eternity, trapping you all in it until you die," he said. "Wonderful thought isn't it?"
"Heh. I don't know. I might think of something." Naruto smirked back. "After all, nothing will stop me from being Hokage. Not even a weird alternate world."

***

"I have a bad feeling about this," Daniel sighed.

He further inspected the mini Kagutsuchi, trying to ignore the bodies on the floor.

"What do you think?"
"Might be the thing we're supposed to look for." Travis shrugged. "Better than nothing, I suppose."

"Wait you're not already Hokage in this alternate-verse?" Jacen said and burst out laughing.

Elsewhere, Gaara found the clone soldiers moving away from the entrance. He decided against persuing them as it could be a trap.

***

Daniel scratched his head. "We touch..."

"DON'T TOUCH IT!"

Daniel jumped a mile.

"It gets into your head."

Daniel soon recognised the voice, Jr but where was he?

"Wait you're not already Hokage in this alternate-verse?" Jacen said and burst out laughing.

Elsewhere, Gaara found the clone soldiers moving away from the entrance. He decided against persuing them as it could be a trap.
"Don't mock me!" Naruto scowled. "I'm...just waiting for the right time!"

***

Daniel scratched his head. "We touch..."

"DON'T TOUCH IT!"

Daniel jumped a mile.

"It gets into your head."

Daniel soon recognised the voice, Jr but where was he?
"Jr.? Is that you?" Travis called out.

"Right, like Megaten is waiting for the right time to kill my father," Jacen remarked.

***

Jr appeared in one corner of the room. His eyes looked crazed and he appeared to be sweating. In one hand he held a gun.

"It gets into your head. It gets in and it makes you see thing..."

He then seemed to blank out.

"Right, like Megaten is waiting for the right time to kill my father," Jacen remarked.
"I will be Hokage." Naruto stressed.

***

Jr appeared in one corner of the room. His eyes looked crazed and he appeared to be sweating. In one hand he held a gun.

"It gets into your head. It gets in and it makes you see thing..."

He then seemed to blank out.
"What are we going to do?" Travis asked. He was at a loss.

Jacen looked up. "So this thing you used to stop me teleporting, you haven't said how it works," he mentioned. "Isn't that what you guys are supposed to do? Gloat and give the enemy a chance to escape."

***

"I don't know," Daniel admitted and crouched down.

Jr's eyes seemed to watch him, he seemed to be no longer blanking out. Still there was that crazed look and the gun in his hand which was probably still loaded.

"It messes with our minds..."

He looked between Jr and Travis.

"Could be doing it right now."

Jacen looked up. "So this thing you used to stop me teleporting, you haven't said how it works," he mentioned. "Isn't that what you guys are supposed to do? Gloat and give the enemy a chance to escape."
"Too cliche." Naruto smiled. "Besides, not this time."

***

"I don't know," Daniel admitted and crouched down.

Jr's eyes seemed to watch him, he seemed to be no longer blanking out. Still there was that crazed look and the gun in his hand which was probably still loaded.

"It messes with our minds..."

He looked between Jr and Travis.

"Could be doing it right now."
"Maybe, maybe not. But we have to do something..." Travis said.

"Bugger," Jacen groaned.

***

Daniel nodded. "But what?" he said. "Dammit, I wish there was someone here who knew what the bloody fuck to do."

The young blue elf made his hands into fists and hit the ground. He looked over at the crazed Jr who appeared to be laughing at them.

"And he can't be the real Jr."

"Bugger," Jacen groaned.
"Now...we'll just sit here until the end of the world happens or our young friends complete their mission." Naruto smirked. A bowl of steaming-hot ramen popped out of seemingly nowhere. "At least I have my Neverending Scroll of Ramen with me. Designed it myself."

***

Daniel nodded. "But what?" he said. "Dammit, I wish there was someone here who knew what the bloody fuck to do."

The young blue elf made his hands into fists and hit the ground. He looked over at the crazed Jr who appeared to be laughing at them.

"And he can't be the real Jr."
"Or maybe he's just gone insane. But we've got to do something..." Travis sighed.

"Well personally I don't like to sit around." Jacen replied.

He placed his hands in his pockets and began to walk off.

***

"Especially with him," Daniel said, nodding in the direction of Jr.

"Hates you, messes with your mind," Jr said. "Hate you, doesn't choose you, gets in your head."

Daniel thought for a moment.

"Choose you?" he said, giving Travis a questioning glance.

"Moarte hum e muje. Tu hum trash e muje."

Daniel didn't recognise the language that Jr was now speaking. It was alien to him but he still approached the mini Kagutsuchi.

"Jel'enedra isda e chere."

Daniel closed his eyes and reached out to touch it. Before he could however, Jr had fired his gun and though Daniel hadn't felt anything, he saw red appearing on his arm. His own blood. Daniel froze in horror.

"Armaya," came the sound of Jr's voice. "Dovo's armaya."

Travis stood up quickly as Jr. shot Daniel. "Dammit! I'll take care of him, Daniel. You do what you have to do."

He turned his attention to Jr, his lightsaber in front of him. "What the heck do you think you're doing, Jr? I thought you were my dad's friend?"

====

"Well personally I don't like to sit around." Jacen replied.

He placed his hands in his pockets and began to walk off.
As soon as he did so, a wall of wind erupted, blocking Jacen from going any further. Naruto chuckled between gulps of ramen. "You think I'm going to let you go that easily? You're going to interfere with my apprentice's job. I'm not going to let you do that."

Daniel took one look at Travis and disappeared into the blue of the Kagutsuchi. Then he was gone.

Jr turned to Travis himself. "Because I am the destroyer of worlds, I AM the Kagutsuchi," he yelled in a maniacal voice and laughed.

His gun then became a blue lightsaber.

***

Jacen held up his arm and raised an eyebrow. "Bugger," he sighed. "Oh well."

Daniel took one look at Travis and disappeared into the blue of the Kagutsuchi. Then he was gone.

Jr turned to Travis himself. "Because I am the destroyer of worlds, I AM the Kagutsuchi," he yelled in a maniacal voice and laughed.

His gun then became a blue lightsaber.
"Crap. Just crap." Travis grumbled as he saw the Jr that was not Jr produce a lightsaber. In response, he created a few clones and sent them after the so-called Destroyer of Worlds, and had them attack all at once. "Take that!"

***

Jacen held up his arm and raised an eyebrow. "Bugger," he sighed. "Oh well."
Naruto just smiled and finished his ramen, then burped. The empty bowl disappeared. "Ahh, that was good."

What Jr did next would have surprised all who knew him. With a force push-like power he attempted to push Travis and his clones away. Of note away from the mini Kagutsuchi itself. Could Travis possibly pick up on that?

"Shall not go," Jr growled and moved after him with his lightsaber held in an attacking position.

***

"Well this is jolly exciting," Jacen remarked sarcastically.

What Jr did next would have surprised all who knew him. With a force push-like power he attempted to push Travis and his clones away. Of note away from the mini Kagutsuchi itself. Could Travis possibly pick up on that?

"Shall not go," Jr growled and moved after him with his lightsaber held in an attacking position.
Travis was shoved back and away from the mini Kagutsuchi, along with his clones. He rolled backwards and blocked Jr's blow, then had his clones attacked again. He noted that Jr was trying to keep him from that thing. So if he's doing that, then I gotta get there!

With that in mind, Travis decided to spam more and more clones and sicced them on the evil Jr. While he distracted Jr with his mass of clones, he began moving through the clones for the mini Kagutsuchi...


***

"Well this is jolly exciting," Jacen remarked sarcastically.
"Heh. Well, you have two choices. You can either defeat me -which I highly doubt you have the skill for- or you can sit here until whatever comes comes." Naruto grinned like a fox.

"Oh no you don't!" Jr yelled.

Once again he used the air to push them away. Still he was overcome by the mass of clone and Travis was given a clear run to the Kagutsuchi...

***

Jacen folded his arms and scowled at him.

"Oh no you don't!" Jr yelled.

Once again he used the air to push them away. Still he was overcome by the mass of clones and Travis was given a clear run to the Kagutsuchi...
"Oh, yes I do!" Travis shot back as many clones were killed in the attempt. Nevertheless, he jumped for the device...

***

Jacen folded his arms and scowled at him.
Naruto wasn't one of the most patient of Jounin of Konoha, but today, he was certainly in a very stand-off mood. Waiting for any movement or tricks by Jacen...

Daniel looked around him. All he could see was blue and he wasn't entirely sure he was stood on solid ground.

Suddenly Travis popped into existence in front of him.

"Defeated him huh?"

***

Jacen didn't move. He just quietly stood there.

Daniel looked around him. All he could see was blue and he wasn't entirely sure he was stood on solid ground.

Suddenly Travis popped into existence in front of him.

"Defeated him huh?"
"Not really." Travis admitted. "He was just trying to keep me from here. So...where are we?"

Daniel just looked around. "Inside the mini Kagutsuchi I guess," he said. "Could have used Kazuma or Shadow here... you see anything other then blue?"

"No. Blue, blue, everywhere..." Travis peered around, seeing nothing.

"If you focus your mind maybe we could find something," Daniel suggested.

He closed his eyes and cleared his mind.

"Hmm..." Travis focused and cleared his mind as well...

There was a life sign, faint but there.

"We're not alone," he said, "but I can't locate them."

"I sense it too. Where is it?" Travis asked.

"I don't know," Daniel admitted. "I don't even think that normal physics apply here."

He knelt down and touched the floor. It was solid but it looked like the air around them.

"This way I think."

The blue elf then began to walk off as he followed his instinct.

"Ok." Travis followed after the blue elf.

In the blue was a white light. The Life sign they held felt.

"I am proud that you have come this far my grandson," came an ethereal voice.

Which struck the young blue elf.

"But you must journey further. Only then can things go back to what they were. Come back to what you know, your father, my son will be there I promise you."

Daniel just nodded as the white light turned to a wooden door.

"I'm ready," he sighed. "You? I trust this voice."

"Even if I didn't, there's no turning back." Travis shrugged. "Let's go."

"That's true," Daniel sighed and stepped through the door.

They found themselves stood on the Kagutsuchi itself. The ruined world was all around them.

"Helpful."

Travis snorted as he got a look at the ruined world. "You can say that again."

The Kagutsuchi began to grow brighter and lightning began to strike it. Though near it never seemed to reach the two boys.

"Oh fuck," Daniel swore.

"I have seen your mind, your will be done. The world will be reborn..."

"Huh?" Travis looked around for the source of the voice, but found none.

The air went strange and the world looked like a negative as it had during The Conception. Then lightning repeatedly struck both Daniel and Travis. The bolt coming one after the other with hardly a pause but the strange thing was they didn't feel anything.

"This is nothing like being zapped by the Cyredathem-Telemmaitë, I always thought lightning would hurt," Daniel joked.

***

"Hey looks like things are picking up," Jacen grinned as the world turned to a negative.

The air went strange and the world looked like a negative as it had during The Conception. Then lightning repeatedly struck both Daniel and Travis. The bolt coming one after the other with hardly a pause but the strange thing was they didn't feel anything.

"This is nothing like being zapped by the Cyredathem-Telemmaitë, I always thought lightning would hurt," Daniel joked.
"I wonder when it would end..." Travis wondered.

***

"Hey looks like things are picking up," Jacen grinned as the world turned to a negative.
Did they do it? Naruto only asked himself.

Daniel began to feel light headed. Looking up he could see land peeling away where black lightning struck it.

"That's good... right?" he wondered.

***

"Wish I had some popcorn," Jacen remarked before simply vanishing into thin air.

Daniel began to feel light headed. Looking up he could see land peeling away where black lightning struck it.

"That's good... right?" he wondered.
"Um...I don't think so..." Travis looked nervous at the black lightning striking the land.

***

"Wish I had some popcorn," Jacen remarked before simply vanishing into thin air.
"Uhwah?" Naruto looked incredulously at Jacen vanishing in thin air. "Dammit! What now?"

"It's like how The Conception started," Daniel realised.

Blackness was spreading across where the land peeled away.

***

Elsewhere the others found themselves disappearing one by one. When they did disappear they found they could see nothing but pitch black and could feel a floating feeling.

"I'm blind!" Katsuo yelled, hoping someone would hear.

Someone did.

"Shut up," came Katana's voice.

"It is a void," came Kazuma's voice. They had not heard from him in a while. "If we stay in the Vortex world we would be torn apart into nothing but atoms."

Somewhere someone, possibly Katsuo gulped.

"It's like how The Conception started," Daniel realised.

Blackness was spreading across where the land peeled away.
"Should we run or something?" Travis asked, a hint of panic in his voice.

"Yeah!" Daniel agreed.

But as he tried to run off he found his feet were stuck in place.

"I can't move," there was a hint of panic in his own voice. "Maybe I'm not supposed to."

Travis tried to move as well, with the same result. "Dammit! I can't move either!"

=====

Meanwhile, Nick and Kagome also found themselves in a pretty pickle. A pitch-black pickle, that is.

"Reminds me of the time when *that* incident happened." Nick mused.

"Nick is that you?" Kagome asked. She too was blind.

"Yeah. But where are we?"

"I don't know..."

“Bugger,” Daniel said.

Looking up the world had all gone. There was nothing of Draconis Nightcrawlis left.

The Kagutsuchi exploded with the pair still stood upon it. Everything went blue and Daniel had thought he died. But there was no feeling of death but there was feeling, he was lying flat on his back his eyes still closed.

Upon opening them once again he saw his father stood above him. He had this rather cheeky grin on his face.

“You went to far this time,” he chuckled. “You lot pushed yourselves too hard it seems. Didn't think that a mission alongside Konoha would have knocked out the lot of you.”

Slowly Daniel sat up, he was in a Suna hospital wing and he could see the others, Katana, Katsuo, Travis, Kagome and nick all bandaged up in nearby beds.

“Fuck,” Daniel groaned, hoping that they too would wake soon.

By the door he noticed Matsuri watching him.

“I must leave, the Kazekage wants to see me,” his father then told him. “You rest or I'm in trouble with Quatre.”

Daniel just nodded as his smiled and left.

Outside the Kazekage office Shadow was sat next to a sleeping Naruto...

Shadow was quick to move as a figure emerged from the Kazekage office. A large fan swooped down and hit Naruto over the head.

"No sleeping outside the Kazekage office," a voice unmistakeably belonging to Temari yelled.

"Oww!" Suddenly, Naruto was awake as he was hit upside the head by Temaki. "What the hell was that for?!"

Then he noticed it. "Wait...what am I doing here?"

=====

Travis and company groaned and awoke slowly, missing the King of DN. Travis was the first to ask. "What happened? Did we..."

He trailed off. The last he remembered was the world disappearing around him, then blue, then black. He turned to Daniel. "Did we do it?"

Temari shook her head. "What do you think?" she remarked. "Gaara wanted to see you. He's acting as strangely as you are, head in."

With that Temari headed off down the corridor, leaving Naruto with Shadow.

***

Daniel was sat up in his bed relieved to see that Travis had woken up.

"We did," he said. "Dad was here just like that voice said."