~~~
Naruto saw a lone boy sitting alone on the very edge of the porch, his body seated on the rough textures of the wood that ran along the estate.
Their eyes met, locking down on each other.
Naruto couldn't help but scowl while looking at the boy.
He couldn't help but think that he was looking at a mirror. A mirror that was showing an exact replica of his younger self.
"I have no obligation to do so. My time is being wasted every moment that I'm sitting here." Even though he had said this, Naruto had no intention of moving.
It was far too painful to even do a single action.
Naruto placed the back of his head on the wooden wall. Breathing at a ragged rate, Naruto felt the need to pass out; but he persevered.
"Yukari-san told us about you. A foolish boy with an even more foolish dream. I believe her; because peace will never remain constant." Naruto was amused by his words.
"Is that so? And why do you think that?" He responded.
"Don't you see? Humans are nothing but selfish beings that will crave power. They will destroy anything in their path for that pursuit. An example of that is you - you're a walking contradiction to your own dreams."
Naruto grunted. He brought up a good point. He didn't know of this boy's name, but he did know that his intelligence was great.
But, even with all that intelligence of his, the boy still couldn't see the bigger picture. Under the man known as Uchiha Naruto was far more than what the eye.
Under the veil of those malicious actions, was a boy who was searching for an end. And he was willing to use everything in his arsenal to attain such a thing.
"I'll indulge in those words of yours" -- Naruto paused for a bit, forcing himself to sand up even under all of tha pain -- "but I won't bother explaining my thought-process to anyone."
"And why is that?" He narrowed his eyes at Naruto, as he saw him stagger with each step that he took. Without looking at him, Naruto spoke.
"You know, we're more alike than you can realize. Unless you already realized it to begin with. So, here's a single piece of advice." He disregarded the question altogether.
"There will always be a beginning; and there will be always be an end. Everything in-between those two will be what decided the ending for you." The boy continued to narrow his eyes at Naruto, squinting.
"What are you implying?"
"To live your best life. Don't walk on the same path as me, because that will only give you a grueling suffering." The boy grunted at him.
"I already know to be like you. I'd rather not be such a miserable-looking person." Naruto nodded as he staggered forward, letting the boy continue on with his book as he struggled to walk and walk.
As he walked forward Naruto saw Yukari standing from the other side.
"Well, it seems you're far too stubborn for your own good." Naruto huffed, struggling to breathe properly as Yukari leaned against the wall.
"Are you going to order me again? 'Cause I'm not gonna listen." Yukari sighed, shaking her head as she pointed towards the exit.
"You're too stubborn, so no. The exit is over there." Naruto nodded, walking towards the exit that Yukari pointed towards. Even though each step that he took was a struggle, he continued to push forward.
"And that boy who you were talking to-- his name is Toshiro." How fitting for a boy with talent and intelligent that far surpassed his peers.
I can... feel it. Naruto thought, shifting his eyes towards the horizon. Ever since he had woken up from this place, he could feel a strong power emanate from afar.
The place I'll achieve Nirvana.
Naruto walked, pushin pass the entrance to the estate. From the outside, one could see that the estate itself was the still the same as the one back on Earth.
Perhaps a form of teleportation that Yukari had managed to conjure? Or maybe it was Madara's doing in the end.
"Mister!" Naruto turned around, seeing the two kids from before hound him. "Here!" They giggled, handing him a white fur lined cloak.
"Why?"
"So if you go to the city, no one will be able to see the hole on the center of your chest!" They continued to hound him. With a troubled look on his face, Naruto took it out of obligation.
Attaching it to his back, the white fur lined cloak settled around him, covering his torso with a good amount of degree. As he turned around and walked off, the 2 waved him a goodbye.
"Bye!"
Soon they turned around, running back to the estate. Naruto's body soon was engulfed in the far distance.
~~~
"What the hell...?" Naruto stared at the luminescent lights that covered his vision. He had walked for hours, and had only reached a civilization after it had already turned dark.
And a civilization that he had found-- what an incredible sight, he thought.
*BEEEP!*
He stood above, standing on a small hill that gave him a large view. With cars that drove and stopped; and civilians walking through the streets with electronics in their hands.
He had only read it in books; because these things were merely fictional things that had been created by genius writers who had made up countless mysteries on places that they had created themselves.
Chiba City.
Naruto was amazed by the sight. He found a way down the mountain, walking down the trail as he stayed in the shadows, refusing to enter the spotlight.
He'd stick out like a sore thumb.
But this was not his destination. Truly, the place that he needed to be was on the other side of the city.
Maybe even further from the city.
But he could feel the strong power that he could feel with such intensity. Naruto, looked from left to right, seeing if the coast was clear.
And it was.
Gnashing his teeth down, Naruto mustered all of the strength that he could harness from his fragile body, and bursted forward, blood leaking from his mouth.
The painkillers were going to soon wear off and Yukari didn't even bother to supply him with some more. Making it to the other side, Naruto walked continued on his path.
He heard many of the homeless beg him for money; but Naruto paid no heed to them, walking forward without mercy. Naruto smelled garbage that the homeless had surrounded themselves around.
In the books, it had said that Japan was a very clean country. And he was now inclined to believe them considering how the only place he had seen much trash was a place that was hounded with those suffering from what had been poverty.
Making his way out of the the dump, Naruto caught sight a pharmaceutical store. There were some in Konoha, but they weren't all that popular anymore due to how potent medical-nin became to be.
Naruto crossed the street, entering an alleyway that had no one in it. Peering from the corner, there was a couple in lab coats holding many plates in their hands.
They're feeding them? Naruto questioned, seeing them cross the street, seemingly on their way to feed those suffering from homelessness at the dump that he had walked through.
How kind of them.
Shaking these thoughts out of his head, Naruto rushed out of the shadows, keeping his footsteps silent as he opened and entered the pharmaceutical store.
WIth sweat rolling down his head, Naruto searched the store for more painkillers. He had to be quick, since from the delicious scent that his nose was picking up, the couple was going to come back soon to get more plates.
Where? Where? Where? Forcing his body to move, Naruto searched the shelves with swiftness, his eyes seeing each and every single one of the items.
Going up to the back, Naruto could hear the voices of the couple just a bit outside of the store. Going over the counter, Naruto continued to look for more.
Shit. He looked to his side, seeing the food on a table. This meant that the couple was most certainly coming back here. Searching the shelves even more, Naruto ignored the delicious scent.
There! Naruto saw the painkillers, snatching as much that he could. Just as he was taking the painkillers with cautiousness, Naruto could hear the footsteps of the couple from the other side.
The door to the back begun to open.
He knew there were cameras watching him, but he didn't bother to tamper with them. The couple would have no reason to check the cameras if they didn't suspect anyone was in here.
Sealing the multiple dozen of painkillers inside his mark, Naruto did not hesitate to jump over the counter, safely landing on his feet in silence.
He kept the blood that threatened to fall inside of his mouth, and rushed out of the pharmaceutical store. Still having a bit of time left on his painkillers that Yukari had given him, Naruto entered the alleyway once more.
There was light on the other side of the alleyway that Naruto gravitated towards. Even with tired eyes that had black bags underneath, Naruto did not relent on his path.
Staying in the dark shadows, Naruto did not succumb to the light. As cars pass through, Naruto hid behind a large garbage bin. Naruto knew that if he ran out right now, the chances of him being spotted was guaranteed.
His gaze lifted, looking at the side of the wall that surrounded him. Once the close was clear, Naruto jumped up, attaching himself to the wal, shouldering the pain that hounded him.
Reaching the top of the building, Naruto's gaze was now casted downward on the beauty of Chiba. Knowing the pain was going to rise substantially soon, Naruto decided to bring forth his all.
Ushering chakra to his feet, Naruto pushed himself off the building, appearing as a blur to those who may have saw him.
He was now many miles away from his current spot.
~~~
Naruto didn't know how far he had traveled, but he knew he had came far. He had found water soon after the jump across the city of Chiba, and had down 2 of the painkillers alongside the water to make the pain settle down.
There had been a few close calls, but now he had found himself in the raw daylight; in a forest; and at the very bottom of a massive mountain.
At the top of this mountain, was the place that he had decided to be his destined destination. Naruto stayed silent, bearing through the pain.
As he stood silently, Naruto knew of the dangers of failing.
With only 2 days left, Naruto rushed alongside the mountain. Attaching himself to the side, Naruto mustered enough strength to calmly run upwards.
Naruto knew the dangers of going at the high altitudes in the condition that he was in. As he got higher, breathing would become more difficult due to the air being less dense and containing less oxygen molecules.
And, as he was already experiencing the effects. It also didn't help that there was snow covering this mountain with such smoldering intensity.
He pushed forward, persevering through the pain that was resulting due to the constant breathing that he had to do.
Avoiding the void of snow that was in the form of an avalanche, Naruto gnashed his teeth down, jumped forward to continue on his conquest.
Almost an hour had went by, and he was nearing the top of the mountain. His lips were covered in blood due to some instances of his breathing becoming much worse than before.
"Haah... hahh... hahhh.... haaahhhh."
His breathing was ragged as he reached at the top of the mountain. Coughing up a tiny bit of blood, Naruto laid on the snowy ground, his body feeling the small droplets of snow.
On his knees, Naruto spat out a tiny bit of blood before looking up and seeing the thing that he had been sensing ever since he had entered this Second Earth.
A lone tree that stood at the middle of the highest peak of the mountain.
With a glowing golden color its leaves stayed intact even through all of the harsh weather that it had to endure.
Leaving footprints behind him, Naruto stood in front of the mighty tree. His eyes glanced at the branches, observing everything that the tree contained.
He walked a bit more, soon sitting on the ground. He felt the cold wash over, but it soon nulled with dullness as he regulated his harsh breathing.
Underneath the large tree, Naruto sat on a lotus position as he stared off in the distance. But these colors soon were bleak as he closed his eyes.
For the next two days, until he reached Nirvana or Madara arrives, he will not leave this spot.
~~~
YEARS AGO!
"What exactly is ████████?" Naruto asked, sitting on a log as Buddha floated in the air. They had met many days, and Naruto decided to ask him this question that lingered in his mind.
"It's a bodhisattva that was said to appear on Earth, reach Nirvana, and teach our ways to those who are perceived as humans."
"Are you saying--" Buddha cut him off, shaking his head.
"No, you are far from being that bodhisattva. In fact, I'd dare say you're the exact opposite of said man. No, what I'm saying is to take his place."
"Wouldn't he get mad?"
"His rage won't matter when in front of a man who achieved Nirvana before him. If you must, then you can erase from the face of reality." Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"Why are you helping me?" Naruto asked, having cautiousness lurking from every fiber of his body. Buddha - the man covered in golden color - looked down on Naruto.
"In my years of living, I've never seen a kid more interesting than you." Buddha pointed towards the sky, as the stars above glimmered.
"And I dare say that many of the Gods are interested in as well."
The glimmering light intensified.
"But make no mistake, I am only advising you. Only you can complete this path of yours with your own power before you obtain the power to crush everything and anything."
"I see. Even though I had already accepted, I'll accept once more." With eyes devoid of emotion, Naruto walked away.
The words slowly unfolded in his mind, the singular title that he'd be granted if he reached Nirvana.
M███████
Ma██████
Mai█████
Mait████
Maitr███
Maitre██
Maitrey█
Maitreya!
Maitreya - The Buddha of the Future!
Well, the title of being the Maitreya would merely be another title that he'll have. But he was excited, for having a title of a heavenly being under his belt.
~~~
Hours went by, and Naruto succumbed to himself, feeling everything that he and the world had to offer. Even as the pain coursed through his body-
he ignored it.
He persevered as he suppressed the pain with his mind; and stabilized his breathing once it had threatened to become ragged, almost rigid.
He had settled it under the many hours that had went by in an instant. With his eyes still closed, Naruto reminisced of the past.
He remembered when he had first fought Gaara. He was fond of that moment until this very day. It had let him cope with lost, but he after so long, he had forgotten the feeling of losing.
And the burning loathe of himself had begun due to it.
Now, he found himself, on the top of a mountain, in a lotus position as he looked over what he had experienced over the many years of his life.
Naruto ignored the coldness that wash over, continuing his meditation.
Even after all this time, Naruto still couldn't believe it. As he looked at the ceiling fan that spun with quickness, Naruto continued with his thoughts.
He had a home alone.
He stood alone, as he walked through his apartment, feeling the homey feeling that surrounded him. He breathed in, sitting down at his table and ate ramen.
Naruto continued and continued his thoughts, his mind swirling as his body and mind nulled out any type of potential interference that could occur.
Naruto looked back, catching sight of Rock Lee's unconscious body on the large boulder that Lee was previously standing on. He spat out blood from his mouth, feeling every ounce of his body on fire due to his Susano'o.
With just enough to stand up by himself, he limped himself out of the battle scene, knowing that someone will be coming to make sure everything was fine.
Naruto looked at his body, seeing part of his outfit fully destroyed by the battle that had just occurred.
The cloak. . . Naruto thought to himself, knowing that he'll have to get the same cloak fixed by someone who was promising. With every part of his body sore, he continued walking.
As he made his way back to Konoha, Naruto thought about what was going to happen next after his whole ordeal was finished.
But he did know one thing.
"That this was only the beginning."
His first battle with Rock Lee was a thrilling one, bringing the subtle excitement that he didn't know he had within him from long ago.
Even when he had won in the end, it still could've gone either way. As they brought each and every single part of their body to life, they fought to their limits.
He'll miss the excitement that came as a byproduct of simply living life.
"Thank... you. Hn, here." Satsuki shoved her gift to Naruto. He widened his eyes slightly. "You know, this gift is already better than the gift I gave you. Deluxe Edition Chess Pieces that are said to be unbreakable by human standards. I've been trying to get myself one of these." Naruto looked at it with a pleased expression on his face.
"Thanks," said Naruto, patting her head carefully as he walked past her.
He looked back, their eyes meeting as a lovely spark formed between them.
"You might be more stable than I originally thought you were." Naruto's lips curved upwards, a genuine smile forming.
He soon left a red-faced Satsuki to her demise as he entered the classroom.
While he no longer had those chess pieces anymore, Naruto had kept them in pristine condition before he had left Konoha.
He once in a while wondered if they were no longer there, but shook off that thought, knowing that he had something that he was content with.
And, to add on, those chess pieces weren't unbreakable. While he did keep them in pristine condition, there had been a small graze on the King due to his carelessness.
"6 years," said Naruto, a small huff at the end. This caused them to raise an eyebrow at what he meant. "6 whole long years that I managed to keep my shit a secret." They narrowed their eyes at him.
What does he mean by that?
"But I guess the ninja world has finally caught up to me. Yes, it's finally time." Naruto started to slowly raise his head up towards the water clone of Zabuza.
His gaze hardened with a small fiery fury lurking underneath those beautiful azure orbs.
"I'll show you the power of my eyes — the real power of Uchiha Naruto." His Sharingan flared to life.
He had wanted his secret of being an Uchiha to have lasted longer with his own team; but it seemed that was merely a hopeless thought for him.
For a short while, he was happy that he that the burden of hiding his heritage was lifted off of his shoulders, no longer burdening him any further.
They immediately crashed down, unable to move. Hotoke was the power to eradicate and annihilate everything in its path.
This was only the taste of his power.
"This is where you all belong - BELOW ME."
This was the time when he and Konoha had first clashed after his defection against the entirety of the village. And, without much, had absolutely crushed them with his newfound Rinnegan abilities.
And also when he had finally reconnected and reunited with Satsuki after so long.
"You know, one time before this day had come, my grandfather took me to a place that reeked with blood and corpses. There was a battle — no, a massacre of people that died. That was when I learned of the cycle of hatred. My grandfather spoke of it often, but never truly told me of its meaning." Naruto explained as he took out the kunai.
The wolf was already dead. Naruto had hit a vital organ. But he kept on talking.
"But, when I finally learned about it in that accursed day, I created a goal for myself. A way for me to test my own resolve — my absolute limits and capacity." Naruto told the dead wolf as he stood back up.
"To create eternal peace. But, to do so, I will have to conquer the 5 Great Nations."
Even after everything - beginning to the very end - Naruto was a liar. But he was fine with that. If Uchiha Naruto was known as such, then he was fine with even that.
He'll bear it.
Until the very end of time.
~~~
It was 20 minutes before the 2nd day was at its conclusion. And, as such, it was 20 minutes before the promised day was upon them.
No... it was better to say that it was the promised hour.
Because everything will be decided soon enough. Everything that existed around him was nulled away from his body, he himself ignoring all the pain and coldness that trailed alongside him.
Breathing one more time, Naruto felt the heaviness of the snow press against his head.
*CRASH!*
A loud boom destroyed everything around him, a calamity rising about 50 meters away from him. But Naruto did not budge as the snow on his body flew away.
"It seems you have yet to reach Nirvana; but you are undoubtedly close." Naruto, with his eyes still closed, responded to Madara's words.
"So it seems," Naruto said calmly. His feeling - his emotions - were almost abysmal. Once he reaches Nirvana, those emotions of his will be riddled with nothingness.
They will be eradicated.
And he had accepted such a fact.
Under the veil of the tree, Naruto halted his rhythmic breathing, only doing it every now and then.
And, slowly but surely, Naruto opened his eyes. For a moment, the colors were all distorted alongside his vision due to having his eyes closed for so long.
Ignoring the pain with a nulling void, Naruto slowly unfolded his legs, standing up with elegance.
"But I'm sure I'll reach it before the fight ends."
A cold condensation escaped their mouths, as stood in silence for a moment or two. They didn't bother voicing their opinion, but they knew it.
This was their last battle.
And the winner will be the ruler of existence.
~~~
Done. With this chapter done, we only have a few more chapters left before Grace ends. It's honestly very surreal to me since I've been writing Grace for about a year and a half now. I think.
Maybe even more than that.
I've lost track.
But, as always, thanks for reading Grace.
Vote this chapter.
But until next time.
CYA!