A/N: Please read this note, would you kindly?
*Sees the lack of Genshin Impact x Naruto crossovers*
Fine. I'll do it myself! Also, have mercy! This is my first time doing this and I'm not quite at Inazuma yet though I'm trying to get there. Bloody Dainslief quests...
As ever, the Embers rule remains.
If folks don't like this story? Poof! Gone! Deleted for keeps! That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
Before we get started, I'll say this. Of course the Traveler still exist in this story~!
Hope you like this novel new take on things. Here goes nothiiiing~!
As ever, I own no references, quotes, memes or themes.
Now prepare yourself for insanity.
"I fear no gods or man...but that thing... He scares me.
How can he keep smiling?!
~?
A New Archon
"Why?!"
Be it by luck or misfortune, a giant tree broke Naruto's fall from the heavens.
"Does?!"
Well, relatively speaking. Broke was the operative word here.
"This?!
He hit every branch and bough on the way down.
"Always?!"
Leaves, branches, brambles, you name it.
"Keep haaaaappening?!"
Yup. He hit them all.
"To meeeeeeee?!"
Every last one.
Swear and spitting in a manner that would've made even the staunchest sailor blush, he flung out an arm and grabbed blindly for something -anything at all!- to slow his fall. For the first time his chakra faltered; tearing his grip away against the sheer momentum of his descent. Not far below the ground rushed up to greet him like a long lost friend, ready to render him a greasy red smear upon the grass. Really, it wasn't fair. He didn't even know why he was falling in the first place!
"C'mon, body!" He roared! "Work, damnit!"
Blue eyes flashed red and he flung out an arm. Here at last, the last dregs of his chakra responded. His body flashed into a shimmering shade of golden black. A trio of truth seeking balls burst from his back and violently arrested his momentum at the last instant. As one they hauled him back from the brink, turning a wild fall into a gentle gliding descent. Bare feet touched down against windswept grass, sending him stumbling forward three paces, no more. His knees soon joined them as his forehead kissed the ground.
"Urgh." a low groan muffled itself against the dirt. "Kurama? What happpened...?"
The growl that answers was nothing short of irate. "What always happens. Bad luck...
"How did we even get here?
Naruto opened his mouth to answer. Closed it again. He didn't remember. He distinctly recalled one final clash with Sasuke, a horrible burning sensation in his right arm -a cursory inspection confirmed that it was relatively intact, albeit bloodied- then lying sprawled out on the ground beside him. After that...
Darkness.
He cast a fretful glance at the sky, but whatever portal had deposited him here was nowhere to be seen.
Something shifted in his peripherals.
"Huh." he looked up. Up again. Up some more. "That's a really big tree."
Absolutely gigantic, more like.
"Oh?" a voice plucked at his ears. "I thought I heard someone...
Naruto whirled and found himself staring at young boy clad in green and white. Striking eyes gazed back at him from within a battered face. He didn't look to be in a good way himself. His clothes battered and torn, one hand leaning heavily against the mighty oak he'd come to rest upon. And for all that concern, he balked further still when he saw his wounds.
"What happened to you?!"
"Thank you for your concern, but there's no need for alarm." Despite his injuries the boy managed a weary smile. "I just had a bit of...trouble with the fatui. I didn't think they'd manage to find my resting place...
Naruto blinked. "Fa-what-now?"
"Hmm? You don't know them? Have you been living under a rock...or...oh?'
The boy tilted his head a fraction of a degree to the right, regarding him anew. Something bright flashed through his gaze, something ancient and unknowable. Naruto didn't much like that gaze. It saw him, pierced him, knew him in a way no mortal being possibly could. Just as well, then. The boy before him wasn't mortal at all.
"I see." the green clad boy's smile grew another inch. "You're not from this world, are you? Did you fall out of yours perchance? It would make for a lovely tale, I suppose...
Naruto's hope shriveled up and died like a flower in the desert.
"Another world?!"
"And you're clearly strong, too." the boy prattled on, paying him no mind. "After a fall like that, you should have a few broken bones at the least, internal bleeding at the worst." An impish gleam danced through his gaze as a breeze might through a sunny sky. "There's a strong sense of freedom about you, too. Just how strong would you say you are?"
A seed of doubt took root in his heart. "I don't much like the look you're giving me...
"Hmm, hmm." the stranger ignored him anew. "You might be just the one I'm looking for. A placeholder, if nothing else.
Said seed sprouted. "Oi! I'm talking!"
"And I'm not listening~!" the boy chirruped. "Relax, I'm not your enemy. As a matter of fact," a hand swept down, touching his green vest, "I have a gift for you."
With a whirl of windy light, he pulled something forth from his body and held it out for him to see. An intricate shimmering white-on-green chest piece, fashioned in the shape of a queen. It looked harmless enough; yet his mind told him it was so much more than that. His sixth sense bridled in the presence of it; not affronted, but alarmed all the same.
His frown redoubled. "What is that?"
"I've been keeping this for a long time now," the youth confessed, holding it up for him to see. "Maybe its time I passed it on."
Naruto edged back. "You've lost me."
"Ehe," the stranger scratched the back of his head. "I know, its a lot to take in. Basically, I'm not a strong as I used to be. I'm probably the weakest Archon out there now, especially after just waking up. I won't be able to keep this from them forever. But you!" Once more that gaze of blue green found his, narrow and intent. "You're strong. Even without this Gnosis. Tell me, you wouldn't be interested in ruling a certain nearby city, would you?"
"Not a chance!" he crossed his arms in an x-shape formation. "People should rule themselves. I don't know this first thing about this place."
Surprisingly, it was the right answer.
"Ha! A true wanderer, then." here at last, his smile turned sly. "I'll admit, I have ulterior reasons for doing this. If I give this Gnosis to you, the Fatui will never get their mitts on it...and I'll be free to live my life as I wish, unmolested by their agents...so! "unbidden, he found himself leaning in as the bard presented the piece to him. "Would you mind looking after this for me? I know its a lot to ask, but I'm out of options."
"Kurama? Little help here?"
"I'm as lost as you are. But if you do take...whatever that is...be wary."
"You keep using all those words," Naruto frowned, "Archon, Fatui, Gnosis! What're you talking about?!"
"Don't worry." the boy closed his fingers around the shimmering piece of himself, a piece that Naruto was beginning to realize was his very soul. "All will be made clear in time."
...you know I never did get your name.
"I have plenty of those. But for now...yeah." the dark-haired youth nodded once, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "Venti. That'll do. Here." he held up the chess piece once more. "Won't you take it?"
Naruto considered the "gnosis" anew.
Such a tiny little thing. It didn't feel malevolent or malign; no, not at all. If anything it felt...happy? A lone fingers reached out giving it a jab. Nothing happened. There was no spark, no rush of memories, maybe the faint stirring of the wind, but he might've imagined that.
The boy giggled. "Its not going to bite you, silly."
"Says the stranger offering me a weird piece of jewelry...so you just want me to hold onto this?" it didn't sound so hard. He could just stow in a scroll or something. Seemed like a harmless errand. "That's all I have to do? Nothing else?"
"Well, when you say hold, I'm thinking more along the line sof...
Venti moved with startling speed, slipping out of his grasp to ram an open palm into his chest. Naruto doubled over with a hiss and clutched at himself. He glimpsed a fair flicker of light-time enough to see the Gnosis slip into his ribs!-and then the deed was done. Numbness pervaded the core of his being, but only for a moment. A strange weightlessness soon followed, bringing with it a faint feeling of...something. He didn't know how to describe it, only that it was.
"Oh." he heard Kurama mutter. "That's certainly something. I feel good. Really good."
"Hey!" he straightened with a snarl and batted the bard away. "That hurt, ya know!"
"Sorry, not sorry." Venti wriggled out of his grasp. "I thought it might not, for a minute there." he danced back and sketched a low bow. "With that gone, I should be able to move freely for a little while. Look after Dvalin if he causes trouble, won't you? I'll be wanting that Gnosis back someday."
A sudden swirl of wind swept across the tree, kicking up leaves.
Naruto raised an arm to ward it off, and much to his surprise, the wind answered him in kind. It lashed out, wild and free, not with chakra, but another element altogether.
When he looked up the boy in green was nowhere to be seen.
His world swam at the edges. "I don't feel so good...
Everything went black.
(...Some Time Later...)
"So this green guy gave you his...what did you say it was?"
"Gnosis." Naruto held up his hand, scowling at it when the odd chess piece failed to materialize. "He called it that. Haven't been able to control it properly since."
His reflection gazed back at him from the waters of the beach where he'd awoken, anger burning bright in his eyes. Three days of this. Seventy-two hours of wandering the wilds and foraging for food, all the while trying to make sense of this new, uncontrollable power. His chakra was fine, make no mistake. Kurama had never been stronger. But when one started conjuring windstorms just by sneezing...yeah, that was a problem.
.
..
...
A beat of silence passed between him and his traveling companion.
Her little nose wrinkled. "Hmmm...Paimon doesn't get it."
He stole a glance at her from the corner of his eye.
She was a tiny little thing, rater reminding him of some fairy from a certain storybook. Dark purple eyes shone like the stars from a pale face, regarding him beneath a man of thick white hair cropped short just above her tiny shoulders. Her clothing was just as outlandish as her appearance; for she wore a long-sleeved white jumper and a night-blue cape flecked with stars, coupled with white stockings alongside matching boots. Odd rose-gold embroidery flowed across her boots, the color of which matched nicely with her dark hairpin and the strange little crown floating above her head.
Almost looked like a halo, that did. Was she an angel or something?
Such a strange girl. And to think he'd fished her out of the water only a few hours ago.
"Wait!" she snapped her fingers. "He made you an Archon!" as he looke don she performed a little twirl in the air. "Like one of the Seven! That's amazing~!"
Naruto shrugged. "The hell're the Seven?"
"Eh?!" the tiny sprite recoiled as if he'd struck her across the face. "You don't even know about the Seven?! Wow, you really aren't from this world, are you?"
"Noooo." he drawled, favoring her with a bland look. "I've only said that half a dozen times since we met. And really," a finger flitted out, poking her head in mild rebuke. "For a self-proclaimed guide, you're not very good at fighting, are you? That last slime nearly gobbled you up.
"Hey!" she stamped a foot in the air. "Paimon's been a very good guide! You wouldn't know half the things you know without her!"
"And I fished you out of the ocean." Naruto leaned back, hiding a smile behind one palm. "That makes us even."
"Hrrngh...
Her stomach growled piteously, cutting off anything she might've said. A blond brow quirked at her.
...when was the last time you ate anything?"
She looked away, whistling innocently. "Paimon doesn't remember? She was too busy arguing with her!
"Alright, alright. I can take a hint." he climbed to his feet, reached over and ruffled her hair, drawing an indignant squawk from the child-like being. "Which way to the nearest city, impy?"
She sputtered. "Don't call me an imp!"
"She really is one, though...
Naruto's snigger sent Paimon into a paroxysm of angry squeaks. Really, she was just too cute not to tease.
Still, it was time to be off. Nudging that thought away, he turned his gaze down the sandy shoal, picked a direction at random, and started walking. With a destination in mind his thoughts became clearer, less opaque with every step. He didn't have a particular destination in mind at the moment, nor a goal to speak off. For now he could only move forward.
"...Seven Gods, eh?" he thumbed his chin as his feet dug into the sand. "Alright. Good to remember...
"Paimon doesn't like the look on your face...why focus on them?"
"Oh, no particular reason." now was his turn to whistle as he set off down the path. "Just seven arses I may or may not need to kick in the foreseeable future." his brow twitched. "Including the little bastard who put this thing in my chest without telling me what it would do!"
His traveling companion pursed her lips, but floated after him nevertheless. "Paimon's starting to think you're a little touched in the head...
He quirked a brow. "Only a little?"
She huffed. "Food first, bucko! Argument later!"
It was the start of a grand journey. Laughter and tears awaited them. Joy and sorrow alike.
But it would be a beautiful journey nevertheless, one the world wouldn't soon forget.
For better or worse, Teyvat would never be the same.
Long live the New Archon.
A/N: Clearly, the following chapters are going to be absolutely MASSIVE in size and scope.
Once more, the Embers rule remains.
If folks don't like this story? Poof! Gone! Deleted for keeps! That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore. My free time is limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.
Must protect emergency food-ahem! I mean Paimon. Definitely Paimon. To Mondstadt we go! Then Liyue! And one mustn't forget Inazuma! Madness and mayhem await!
Right then, as ever, Reviews are love, Reviews are Life.
Reviews keep me safe from any and all strife.
So in the immortal words of Atlas...
...review, Would You Kindly?
Every bit helps out!
(FUTURE! Previews?)
Some are very far out indeed...
Hope you enjoy the taste of what's to come.
"BOOM!"
Naruto coughed once. "Ow...?"
"Klee's done for!" the culprit wailed. "I broke the rules...!
"Whoa, hey!" He flailed his arms, startled by her tears. "Its fine! You didn't hurt me!"
"Well aren't you a cutie...
A giant fox slammed into a raging beast and slammed it to the ground.
"Calm down, ya damn dragon!"
"Say what you will about this Gnosis thing, but its made us more powerful."
Naruto flung out a hand and the wind answered. "Seems like this. Might have to experiment a bit...
"Where is it?!"
Venti grinned. "Hehehe...I don't have it...
Signora absolutely seethed. "You little rodent...!"
Lumine touched a hand to her forehead. "Owwww...
(Edit: Because frankly, I couldn't resist. Imma polish it up later.)
Wrong, wrong, wrong. This country was wrong! All of it! Every bit of it!
Naruto inhaled deeply, chest swelling with wind and air.
"Hey!" Paimon must've felt it, because she jerked back. "Now wait just a second! Calm down! Don't do anything rash!"
Beidou sighed. "Too late.
Keqing yelped. "Duck and cover!"
"RAIDEN!" his head snapped back as he howled at the skies of Inazuma. "I WANT A WORD WITH YOU!"
Lightning answered. Still he snarled up into the heavens.
"This is not how a god should rule her people!" The clouds answered, swelling with thunder. "Get your ass down here or SO HELP ME I will drag you out!"
Something stirred in the air behind him.
"You know me...?"
"I am Naruto Uzumaki, Archon of Wind." He turned to face her as she stepped forth from the portal, unfazed by her beauty. "Zhongli told me all about you. Yae told me more. Finding and fighting things like you is what I do. And you are absolutely a thing."
"Watch your words." her expression was nothing short of thunderous. "I promised my people eternity. I am not a thing."
"No. You're only a thing!" he stabbed a finger at her, jabbing her in the chest, much to her surprise. "You're a puppet, while the real you hides away! You don't do anything! You don't live! You just hide in that sword! Like a child! You're afraid!"
"I am not...!"
A scowl wrought her face as she stifled the words.
...is there a point to this prattle? Are you dictating your obituary to me?"
"Balls of steel." Beidou muttered behind him. "Big blasted bronze balls of steel."
"Listen, Ei." Naruto ignored her, spread his arms, and stepped forward. "Its time to give this country back to its people. This is your one and only chance to do so peacefully. This world doesn't need gods! Its time to give this world back to people. You and me? Its time for us to go."
Her lance rose. "You would stand in the way of eternity?"
"No." he summoned his staff and matched her. "Just you. Lemme show you what life looks like."
Two gods collided in a shower of joyous jade wind and violent violet lightning.
~Nz.