Naruto was about to see why Sasori had sent him a request telling him that he had to see if this Ranma was the Spark, when another 'Walker appeared, floating above Greenland.
The ninja instantly recognized who it was.
"Hello, Naruto. Having fun?"
"Uh... yes, Nicol Bolas-sama. I was."
"I saw what you were doing - how noble of you to train your fellow Planeswalkers. Trying to gain an upper hand?"
Naruto laughed nervously, eliciting sharp pain from the right side of his chest. "Uh... yeah. But not for fighting you. Primarily for defending myself and my precious people against..."
"Against 'Walkers who would do them harm," completed the Elder Dragon. He then laughed. "Still as red as ever. Your emotions get the better of you. Very well. Remember what I've taught you, and have a nice day."
As Nicol Bolas disappeared, Naruto gave a shudder at the dragon's condescending tone towards the end of his short lecture.
When Naruto first became a Planeswalker, he initially sat, wide-eyed, at the center of what would later be called "The Crater of the End". Kakashi didn't find him there though. In fact, Naruto had disappeared for a whole week following his ascension. Where he was, was the Bastard Plane, the Blind Eternities, Limbo, whatever you want to call it. He had 'walked there on accident.
It was there that he met the Elder Dragon, Nicol Bolas, the strongest Planeswalker. Period. Recognizing that Naruto was not only a Planeswalker, but of the increasingly rare Old Breed, the blue/black/red dragon took it upon himself to get the little ninja started. Naruto learned the basics of magic and how to planeswalk, and then the dragon dropped him into the center of Konoha.
But the dragon's training was brutal, and Naruto quickly learned about dueling with other 'Walkers would be very difficult, especially since many of them, especially those of the New Breed, were interested in absorbing his spark and his power.
All of this instilled a great deal of respect for Nicol Bolas in the young Planeswalker as well as a great deal of fear. Naruto was content to be second to the great dragon, but he still wanted to surpass everyone else. And he wanted to help other 'Walkers who just wanted to be left alone.
Nicol Bolas checked in on Naruto every once in a while, to measure his progress. Naruto feared these visits as much as he looked forward to them. He always wondered, What if I am found lacking? or What if I have gained too much power?
This paranoia and obsession with power caused Naruto to be a mixture of red and black, and the young 'Walker became all the better for it, though he did have trust issues with nearly everyone he met.
All save one whom he knew he could trust unconditionally: Gaara Planeswalker.
Naruto was pulled out of his reminiscence when Gaara appeared next to him, gourd full of sand on his back and everything.
Naruto spent a second to remember about how he saved Gaara from Akatsuki in the middle of their extraction ritual. He defeated Sasori, turning him into a card, while Gaara, a newly-formed Planeswalker of the New Breed, went after Deidara. The tanuki-demon bearer managed to exact revenge on the psychotic artist and turned him into a grain of sand, Gaara's own version of tokens.
Naruto helped Gaara to train in his new powers, and they had remained friends, even helping each other out of life-threatening situations. They even ganged up against other 'Walkers who were stronger than they.
Naruto had very few people who he could trust, and Gaara he trusted the most. He felt that he would be able to call on Tenchi for assistance, but that was all.
Nicol Bolas was a threat, but he could not be eliminated. Nor did Naruto (or Gaara) want to try.
Naruto extended his hand to his friend, and the redhead took it.
"What brings you here, where the snow will weaken your sand?"
"I have come to let you know that I have succeeded in my project."
"Figuring out how to summon all those whom you killed before you became a 'Walker?"
"Yes. I figured out the exact mana construct combined with the proper chakra pattern allows me to bring my former assassins and victims back from beyond the grave. As a result, my power has increased by a factor of 89."
"Ah. I was going to check in on Sasori to see if this person who he's fighting is a Spark."
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(Posted Sat, 25 Oct 2008 06:40)
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