395Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Naruto or Wakfu franchises. Comments/Criticism is fine as long as it isn't just hate or flaming. If you do not like, no one is forcing you to read and you can just leave.
Challenge by ZXAdvent
Thank you and please enjoy
Wakfu: Chronicles of the Lost Ninja
-Chapter 1-
"You are quite a marvel Naruto, to have suffered so much yet still retain your belief so strongly. You all the right to exact revenge against me for killing our master yet refuse to in the name of peace." An extremely scraggly, bare chested redheaded man said from an odd walker like machine while a blue haired woman wearing a long black cloak with red clouds stood beside him protectively. His odd rippled purple eyes were focused on a blue eyed blonde teen boy with whiskered cheeks that stood before him, his form battered, and his clothes torn and bloodied.
"Killing you won't bring Ero-Sennin back, all it will do is prolong the cycle of hatred that he worked so hard to break." Naruto said calmly with just a hint of sadness to it. "So please Nagato, just surrender peacefully and all this madness can end. No more fighting, no more senseless death and destruction." He said while slowly walking towards the pair, making the woman shift slightly in front of the now named Nagato.
Said redhead seemed to consider what Naruto said for several moments before responding. "I do believe… that you can bring the peace of which you speak. Your eyes hold the confidence… no a conviction just like both Jiraiya-sensei and my close friend Yahiko." He said somberly while gently pushing the woman out of the way much to her confusion. "I can also see the hypocrisy of my own actions. I claimed to want peace but in order to do so I took the lives of those undeserving of such punishment. A mistake I will now rectify."
As he spoke, Nagato started doing a series of odd motions with his hands that set Naruto on guard while the bluenette became alarmed. "Nagato! What are you doing? That will kill you!" She exclaimed, much to the blonde's confusion as she tried to stop the process only to get stopped by a wall of black metal bars.
"I know it will Konan," Even while speaking to her, Nagato's eyes never wavered from Naruto's as he continued to make hand-seals. "But before it does, there is one last thing I must do." More metal bars suddenly emerged from the ground surrounding the whiskered teen in a complex pattern of symbols.
Eyes widening in alarm, Naruto tried to jump away only to find he couldn't as the metal markers started glowing a light blue and his feet started to turn to stone. "What is this?!" He demanded.
"A seal," Nagato said plainly as the color seemed to drain from his hair. "I may believe you will be able to bring peace, but not by yourself and not in this time. Be at ease though, as those who perished this day shall be brought back as my final apology."
"No, st-" Naruto was cut off midscream as the petrification spread over his lips.
"Goodbye Naruto Uzumaki, I hope when we meet again in the afterlife you shall be able to tell me of how you succeeded. Gedō: Rinne Tensei no Jutsu. FuinJutsu: Chikyū no nemuri no haha. (Outer Path: Samsara Heavenly Technique. Sealing Technique: Mother of the Earth's Slumber.)" As soon as he finished speaking, Nagato passed away with a smile on his face as Naruto was completely engulfed in stone, leaving him as nothing more than a cold granite-like statue with an expression of outrage, sadness, and a slight tint of fear.
By the time backup arrived a day later, all anyone would find was that same statue with the engraving under it reading:
-800,000 years give or take a millennium later-
"'Only one with a pure heart shall reawaken the bringer of peace', or at least that's what I think it says. This is ancient text after all." A mostly bald old man with a thick white beard and holding a large golden shovel said as he looked over the overgrown statue and the writing under it with a critical eye, the florescent moss of the cave giving him plenty of light to work with.
"You shouldn't have a problem reading it then Ruel. Nothing's more arsenic then you are." An orange-haired teen said with a laugh as he flipped a small sword with an eyeball in his hand.
"Archaic you Iop brain," A blonde girl with pointed ears, sharp green eyes, and a bow strapped to her back said with a facepalm.
"That's what I said Eva."
"I wonder who carved this, the level of detail alone is astonishing." A girl with grass green hair, dark brown skin, and wearing clothing made of leaves said as she ran her fingers over the statue's cheek, gently brushing off some of the vegetation to reveal the whisker-like engravings. "It's almost like it's an actual person."
"Well Amalia, given some of the weird, bizarre, and just outright strange stuff I've seen myself and we've seen in the last few weeks, it wouldn't be all that unlikely when you think about it." Ruel said, making the greenette pause for a moment before quickly retracting her hand with a creep out look on her face.
"It's still pretty cool looking," A young boy wearing a large blue hat that reached down to the back of rear said from behind the statue while a small yellow bird floating next to his head nodded in agreement. "And it'll look even better once we get it all cleaned up."
"Eh, might as well, we are kinda stuck in here until the storm passes." Eva said while gesturing to the mouth of the cave where rain could be seen falling in heavy sheets. "Would give us something to do to pass the time, and it's not like Oma Island is going anywhere."
"Ugh, well you and Yugo can have fun doing that, this princess is going to get some beauty rest thank you very much." Amalia said as she planted her hands floor of the cave, a green glow emitting from them into the earth as a large flower full of a cotton-like substance emerged that she promptly flopped onto.
"And us two are going to go get something to make a fire so we can get some grub going, right Percedal?" Ruel said while wrapping his arm around the orange-haired boy's shoulders.
"Hmm, my stomach could use some food in it." Percedal agreed, drooling a bit while his stomach rumbled loudly.
Watching them walk into a deeper section of the cave with a blank look, Eva just sighed in exasperation before turning back to the statue to see that Yugo trying to peel off some of the vines. Giggling softly at the somewhat adorable sight, she reached into her hip pouch and pulled out a dagger she kept in case of emergencies and used it to carefully sever the small connecting tendrils holding them in place.
"Thanks Eva," Yugo said while bundling up the rope-like plants and carelessly tossing it behind him where it ended up conking Amalia on the head. Shooting up with a small grunt, she rubbed the tender spot while preparing to tell the two off only to get cut off by a ball of moss that lodged itself in her mouth.
"Wow, Amalia was right on the detail," Yugo said, neither him or Eva noticing said girl's muffled choking as she struggled to pull the lump out of her mouth. "They even carved out places where his clothes were torn up." He gestured to the spot he had just uncovered on the statues waist. Reaching down and dusting off some of remaining flecks, Yugo yelped in pain as he accidentally nicked his finger on the stone's sharp edge. A few drops of his blood dripping onto the area as he retracted his hand.
"Careful there Yugo, wouldn't want you getting an… infection… is it just me or is the statue glowing?" Eva asked midsentence as she grabbed the hat wearing boy and quickly jumped back. Sure enough, the statue had gained a light blue hue to it.
"Nope, definitely not you." Yugo said as he held his hand up, a similar blue glow on them while Eva pulled out her bow and drew the string as an arrow made of yellow energy formed.
"Bleugh! Would it have killed you to help me?!" Amalia yelled out as she finally got the ball of moss free, only to blink in confusion at their lack of response before noticing their stances. Turning in the direction that they were facing, she blinked in shock at the glowing statue before jumping in surprise as once hidden symbols on the floor also started glowing. "What's going on?" She asked worriedly while pulling out a doll and holding it in a threatening manner.
"Not sure," Eva and Yugo said at the same time, neither taking their eyes of the statue for a moment as they waited for any signs of hostility. Said signs came in the form of black metal bars shooting from the ground, forming a cage around the trio before they could react.
Acting the fastest, Eva quickly shot several glowing arrows at the bars, only to blink in shock as they were completely absorbed without making a scratch. "Wha? That's im-AGH!" She yelled as one of the bars shot out of the ground and stabbed into her calf.
"Eva!" "Evangeline!" Yugo and Amalia cried out, rushing to her side to help, only to come skidding to a halt when she looked towards them. "Eva?" Amalia asked in horror.
Instead of seeing her normal vibrant emerald eyes, the leaf girl saw purple-ringed eyes with no visible sclera. Eva didn't respond to her call, seemingly caught in a trance until a blue ring of energy appeared beside her that Yugo popped out of and tackled her side, knocking her away from the metal bar with a sickening squelch.
It did the trick though as the elf girl's eyes faded back to normal before she released a tired groan and brought a hand to her forehead. "Huh? What? Where… where am I?" She asked, her gaze drifting across the room hazily before settling on the boy sitting on her stomach.
"Are you okay Eva?" Yugo asked, concern clear in his voice as he climbed off and looked towards her leg where a small trickle of blood still flowed.
"Y-yeah, it's just a flesh wound." She stuttered out, still a bit dazed from what happened. Before either could speak further though, a shriek of pain made them snapped their heads towards Amalia who now had one of the metal rods digging into her bicep. A split second later her eyes had changed to those same purple rippled pattern as her arms went slack.
"Amal-GAH!" Yugo had no time to react as another rod got impaled him right through the bottom of his foot.
"Ah, aren't you just a little rascal."
"Yugo! Come help your pa cook!"
"Oh Ruel, up to your same old tricks I see."
"Thanks for saving me! My name is Sir Percedal of Sadlygrove a noble knight and guardian of the Shushu Rubilax."
"Poulters are attacking the Village!"
"DAD!"
"It's wonderful to meet you, I'm Amalia Sheran Sharm princess of the Sadida Kingdom and this is my bodyguard Evangeline."
"Where is the dragon? Where is he!?
"Stay away from my son!"
"Your true family awaits you on Oma Island."
"The Black Crow keeps driving everyone off, so trade has been practically destroyed."
"Thank you for breaking the curse that ailed us, we are forever in your debt."
"We can't just leave the Puddlies to fend for themselves, they need our help!"
Yugo gasped in shocked as reality slammed back into him suddenly, before yelping in pain as he felt the rod in his foot suddenly retract. Stumbling backwards, he tripped over a stone in the ground and would have fallen to the ground if Eva hadn't caught him. Not far away, Amalia was leaning against the wall breathing heavily as she held a hand to her chest.
"What… What was that?" The boy asked, watching in confusion and suspicion as the black poles slowly disintegrated into dust.
"Not sure, but I have a strong feeling we're about to find out." Eva said, their gazes going back to the statue as it stopped glowing suddenly, revealing the now perfectly clean statue. A few seconds later, the dull grey stone slowly started to gain color starting with the area Yugo had cut himself. The torn-up shirt turned black, a ragged red cloak with black flames, the pants a bright orange. His skin became a moderate tanned color, hair a few shades darker blonde than Eva's, and finally vibrate cerulean eyes.
"-op Nagato!" The teen yelled the instant the petrification had worn off, stumbling forwards a few steps and blinking in surprise as he looked around the cave. "The hell? Where am I?" He asked aloud before suddenly collapsing to his knees as he started to sweat rapidly. "And why am… I so… tired…" *Thump*
…
…
"Hey guys, we're back." Percedal called out as he and Ruel showed up with armloads of dried up vines and roots. However, upon seeing the sight of their friends nursing their injuries, the missing statue, and the unconscious blonde lying on the ground, he felt it prudent to ask the most important question he could think of. "You guys had a fight? Without inviting me?!"
"…Iop brain."
-End Chapter-
AN: Hope you all like my first attempt at a challenge story. While not what I would usually work with, I hope I managed to put it all together in a way you all will like. To clarify, this is happening just a little bit after the group encountered the Puddlies. Thank you for reading and please review.
