Chapter Text
Chapter One: Eyes That Hold The Heavens
They had made a terrible mistake. They had freed the world from the Infinite Tsukuyomi, but at a price too high to pay. Naruto's body was drained of all energy, his wounds too deep to heal. He knew he was dying, and he didn't want to drag Kurama down with him.
"Thank you, Kurama. You have been with me since the day I was born. You have suffered so much because of me. But you also taught me so much. You became my friend, my partner, my family. I'm sorry I can't keep you with me any longer. Please, go and join your other half. Be free, be happy. Goodbye, my lifelong companion." Naruto said, as he released the seal that bound Kurama to him.
"No... no... Kit... Naruto...!" Kurama cried out, as he felt Naruto's life force fading away. He tried to reach out to him, to hold him, to save him. But it was too late. Naruto was gone.
Kakashi and Sakura arrived at the Valley of the End, only to find a scene of horror. Sasuke and Naruto lay on the ground, motionless. Sakura ran to them, hoping to find a sign of life. She saw Sasuke's chest rising and falling, but his eyes were empty and wet.
"I... I acknowledged him..." Sasuke whispered, barely audible. "He defeated me. We cancelled the Infinite Tsukuyomi... but... we used too much chakra... it cost... his... life..."
"No..." Sakura sobbed, as she tried to heal Sasuke's wounds. But she knew it was useless. He had lost his will to live. His sky-blue eyes were dull.
Kurama emerged from Naruto's body, surrounded by orange chakra bubbles. He looked at the others, his eyes full of sorrow. He looked at his former vessel, his friend, his hero.
"Dad, Sensei, Obito, Rin, Kushina..." Kakashi muttered, as he looked at the sky, tears streaming down his face. "I failed you..."
"Kakashi." Sasuke called him.
He turned to the boy.
"Naruto's last words were... 'Tell Kakashi-sensei to move on. Don't let him spend the rest of his life grieving. Live long, live well.'"
"Kakashi." Kurama said. The man looked at him. "Make sure that the Uchiha scum doesn't get punished. That idiot told me to tell you that."
"Of course he said that." Kakashi smiled sadly, as he remembered Naruto's kindness, his courage, his smile. "Of course he did."
~• •~
The sun was setting over the Hidden Leaf Village, casting a warm glow over the thousands of people who had gathered to pay their respects to a fallen hero. A hero who had saved the world from the Infinite Tsukuyomi, but had sacrificed his life in the process. A hero who had touched the lives of so many, with his unwavering determination, his infectious smile, and his boundless love. A hero who was only seventeen years old.
His name was Naruto Uzumaki.
He lay in a wooden coffin, wrapped in a white cloth, with a red swirl on his chest. His face was peaceful, as if he was sleeping. His blond hair was ruffled by the gentle breeze. His whisker marks were still visible on his cheeks. He looked like he could wake up any moment, and say one of his catchphrases, like "Believe it!" or "Dattebayo!". But he didn't. He was gone."
Next to his newly dug grave, there was another grave, it was his mother, Kushina Uzumaki. She had died giving birth to him, and had never seen him grow up. She had never hugged him, or praised him, or scolded him. She had never told him how much she loved him. But she had left him a parting gift, a gift that had stayed with him until the end. A gift that had made him who he was.
His name was Kurama.
The nine-tailed fox, the most powerful of the tailed beasts, had been sealed inside Naruto since he was a baby. He had been hated and feared by the villagers, who saw him as a monster, a curse, a demon. He had been lonely and angry, and had lashed out at Naruto, who had endured his pain and hatred. He had been used and manipulated by Madara, who had tried to enslave him and the other tailed beasts. He had been freed and befriended by Naruto, who had seen him as a living being, a comrade, a friend. He had fought and bled with Naruto, who had shared his chakra and his will. He had died and mourned with Naruto, who had released him from his seal and thanked him for everything.
He was Naruto's lifelong companion.
And he was not alone.
Behind the coffins, standing in a semicircle, were the other eight tailed beasts. They had come from all over the world, to pay their respects to the boy who had united them, who had spoken to them, who had understood them. They had come to say goodbye to their friend, their brother, their saviour. They had come to honour his memory, his legacy, his dream.
They were Naruto's family.
And they were not the only ones.
In front of the coffins, kneeling on the ground, were the people who had known Naruto the best, who had grown up with him, who had fought with him, who had loved him. They were his teammates, his teachers, his rivals, his friends. They were his precious people.
And they were crying.
It was the day the world mourned for a hero. A hero who had saved them from darkness, who had given them hope, who had sacrificed everything for them. A hero who was only seventeen years old.
The funeral was grand and solemn. People from all walks of life came to pay their respects. Civilians, shinobis, merchants, nobles, and even a few daimyos. They all bowed their heads in gratitude and sorrow. Naruto was the only shinobi in whose funeral the tailed-beasts were present. They roared in grief and anger, as they watched their friend being lowered into the ground. He was buried next to his mother, who had died giving birth to him.
Konohamaru cried the most. He had looked up to Naruto as his role model, his mentor, his brother. He had vowed to follow his footsteps, to become the Hokage, to protect the village. He kept his promise. He became the seventh Hokage, and he led the village with courage and wisdom. But he never stopped missing Naruto.
Tsunade didn't move at all. She stood still, like a statue. Her face was blank, but her eyes were red. She had lost her lover, her brother, her student, and now her successor. She had lost too much. She couldn't bear it anymore. She officially retired, and left the village. Twenty years later, she passed away, and was buried next to Naruto.
Sakura cried like a baby. She had loved Naruto, but she had never told him. She had hurt him, ignored him, rejected him. She regretted it all. She wanted to make it up to him, to show him how much she cared. She began wearing orange clothes for him, despite looking hideous in them. She never took them off.
Hinata was silently sobbing next to her sister and father. She had loved Naruto, and she had told him. She had supported him, admired him, accepted him. She was happy with him, for a brief moment. She wanted to be with him, to marry him, to have his children. She never got the chance. She never married. She became the next Hyuuga clan head, and she led the clan with grace and dignity. Her final words before she died were— 'Naruto-kun'.
Kakashi tried his best not to be sad. He had taught Naruto, guided him, watched him grow. He had seen him become a hero, a leader, a legend. He was proud of him, like a father. He wanted to honour him, to continue his legacy, to make him smile. He became the next Hokage, and he married Anko, with whom he had a boy— Naruto Hatake. He named him after his student, his friend, his son.
Sasuke and Sakura married five years later, and had a daughter— Naruko Uchiha. She inherited his spirit, his will, his power. She idolised Naruto, whose face was carved into the Hokage monument, despite not being one. She called him her uncle, her hero, her inspiration. She became the Eighth Hokage.
Gaara later adopted a child, whom he named Naruto of the Sand. He was a boy who had been orphaned by war, who had been shunned by his peers, who had been lonely and sad. He reminded Gaara of himself, and of Naruto. He gave him a home, a family, a purpose. He taught him how to love, how to trust, how to live. He named him after his friend, his ally, his brother. Naruto of the Sand.
Iruka never married, he spent most of his time in 'Naruto's Ramen', which was formerly known as 'Ichiraku Ramen'. He had been Naruto's teacher, his supporter, his confidant. He had seen him grow from a troublemaker to a saviour, from a nobody to a somebody. He loved him like a son. He passed away ten years later, in his sleep. He dreamed of Naruto, smiling and laughing.
In most dimensions, Otsutsukis invaded the earth— Ishiki, Momoshiki, Urashiki, Code and so on. But in this one, they never came.
Naruto became more than just a name. He became a symbol, a legend, a legacy. People named their kids after him, in honour of him. His name was pronounced with utmost respect, with awe and admiration. History books made him a legendary figure, a hero of heroes. His accomplishments were still remembered, his deeds still praised. Kids in the academies were encouraged by saying that, 'You can always become a ninja even if you are the dead-last.' He was known as 'The Immortal Hero'.
How true it was— because nobody ever forgot him.
~~• •~~
In a distant realm, a newborn drew its first breath. The infant squinted, bewildered by the blurred world that greeted it.
"He is exquisite," murmured a feminine voice.
"Undoubtedly," chimed in another, perhaps male. "See his hair—the unmistakable mark of our lineage."
"And those eyes," the woman continued. "Not merely blue, but radiant. Like the very heavens themselves."
"They shimmer," he observed.
"Like the boundless sky," she agreed.
"So, these are THE eyes?"
"It seems so."
"I imagined a normal life for him."
"We shall grant him just that—a life of normalcy."
"Yes."
"But what shall we name him?"
"His eyes mirror the sky. Thus…"
"Tenodakume Gojo," the woman declared, her smile radiant. "A fitting name—Tenodakume."
The baby emitted an odd sound, baffling its caretakers.
"He doesn't seem to approve," the man observed.
"Nonsense! It's a splendid name!"
"Eyes that cradle the heavens? Too conspicuous. Can we shield him from those old fogies with such a moniker?"
"Have a better suggestion?"
"Akira?"
"Too commonplace."
"Koenji?"
"Dull."
"Yuki?"
"Laughable."
"George Washington?"
"You jest…" Their laughter echoed through the ethereal chamber.
Naruto, now thoroughly bewildered, recalled his demise. Yet here he stood, dwarfed by two colossal beings. The situation defied reason. When he attempted to speak, an infantile sound emerged—a newborn's cry.
'I am reborn!?' he wondered, his mind a tempest of questions.
~• •~
On a serene spring dawn, as the chorus of birds serenaded the world awake and sakura petals waltzed on the gentle breath of the wind, Tenodakume Gojo made his entrance into the world.
He was the progeny of Hanako and Koenji Gojo, two souls bound by more than love—they shared the legacy of their bloodline. Their matching hues of hair and eyes were the visible threads that tied them to the illustrious Gojo lineage, famed for their mystical Cursed techniques—Limitless and the rare ocular gift, the Six Eyes, a marvel that graced the clan once in generations.
Satoru Gojo, Hanako's elder brother, was the bearer of those legendary eyes, his gaze piercing the veil of the mundane to witness the extraordinary. His potential was boundless, his destiny to become the paramount sorcerer of his age. Yet, this gift cast a shadow over Hanako, leaving her overlooked and undervalued, her own non-combative abilities deemed inconsequential in the clan's eyes. While Satoru ascended to the ranks of a Special Grade Jujutsu Sorcerer, she remained obscured in the background.
Koenji's fate was marked by an even harsher stigma—Heavenly Restriction. Devoid of Cursed Energy, he was the outcast, the anomaly in a lineage defined by power. The clan's disdain weighed upon him, a burden he bore with silent resilience.
United by their shared isolation, Hanako and Koenji sought refuge in each other, their love a sanctuary from the world's scorn. At seventeen, they turned their backs on the Gojo name and found solace in a simple life, tending to a farm, their happiness a quiet rebellion against their birthright.
Then came the birth of their son, a child who defied all expectations. With the Six Eyes that mirrored his uncle's, Tenodakume's gaze held the brilliance of the heavens themselves. Even with closed eyes, the luminescence of his being shone through, a testament to the enigmatic power that coursed through his veins—a power that would one day challenge the very foundations of their world.
In the clandestine world of the Gojo clan and the broader realm of Jujutsu, the birth of a child with the Six Eyes was a harbinger of both awe and peril. Aware of the lengths to which some would go to possess such power, Hanako and Koenji made a heart-wrenching decision. They would shroud their son's gift in secrecy, proclaiming him blind to the world. A blindfold, akin to that worn by Satoro, would be his shield, a poignant but necessary ruse.
Tenodakume, a child of quietude and warmth, rarely shed tears. His world was one of gentle embraces and playful laughter with his parents, a sanctuary of love in a world fraught with hidden dangers.
When he uttered his first word, 'tou-chan,' it was a moment so tender it lingered in Hanako's heart for days, a balm to her spirit.
The name Tenodakume, however, seemed to sit uneasily with him, like a coat too stiff and formal. Thus, his father, inspired by a moment as simple as savoring a bowl of ramen, bestowed upon him a name that resonated with his soul—Naruto.
Naruto, with an appetite for life as voracious as his love for ramen, embraced the world with open arms. His compassion knew no bounds; he was a friend to every creature, great and small. His sense of justice was fierce, once defending the honor of an elderly woman with a courage that belied his tender age.
His parents admired his noble heart, even as they cautioned him against the folly of reckless bravery. Yet, Naruto marched to the beat of his own drum, undeterred by size or strength when standing up for what was right.
His quirks were many, each endearing him further to those who knew him best. His mother cherished his verbal tic, a signature melody in their daily lives.
Naruto bore the visage of a past life, sans the whisker marks and golden locks. His eyes, a mesmerising amethyst, held galaxies within their depths, a cosmic dance of stars and nebulae. His parents entrusted him with a sacred charge: to reveal the universe in his gaze only to those who held his heart, and whose hearts he held in return.
Beneath the veil of his blindfold, his world was awash with clarity. The fabric that shielded his eyes from the world was a paradox, for it hid the very beauty it sought to protect. He often pondered the reason behind this constant concealment—were his eyes too captivating, too extraordinary to be revealed?
As he grew, he came to realise that his sight was no ordinary gift; it was a dojutsu of remarkable power, allowing him to perceive the minutiae of the world in breathtaking detail. Knowledge flowed to him effortlessly, every explanation and lesson crystallising in his mind with vivid precision.
Yet, the origin of his unique vision remained shrouded in mystery, locked away by his parents' silence. He yearned for the day they would unveil the story of his eyes, but a whisper of doubt lingered—perhaps some secrets were destined to remain just beyond reach..
~• •~
At the tender age of four, Tenodakume Gojo, once known to the world as Naruto Uzumaki, crossed the threshold of academia. His intellect was undeniable, a brilliant flame that burned bright and unwavering. Despite his youthful defiance, he was a marvel—a prodigy whose spirit housed the wisdom of ages.
His teachers were drawn to his charm, finding joy in his innocent laughter and the sweetness of his demeanor. Yet, the shadow of envy loomed in the form of older children, who cloaked their intimidation with taunts aimed at his distinctive orange blindfold. But Naruto, resilient as ever, remained unfazed by their shallow jeers.
The day came when their words turned to actions, a physical challenge meant to break him. But the playground bore witness to their defeat, the bullies rendered unconscious, their plans undone. No suspicion fell upon Naruto, the 'blind' boy, an irony not lost on those who knew the truth.
Isolation followed, as fear replaced curiosity among his peers. They whispered 'demon' once more, a label he knew all too well. Regret tinged his heart, for his desire to connect had been overshadowed by the need to defend. Friendship, it seemed, would be a treasure hard-won in this place.
Then, at five, a day like no other dawned. The schoolyard emptied, leaving Naruto alone with the echo of laughter and the fading warmth of the sun. He waited for the familiar faces of his parents, but they did not come.
He waited.
And waited.
Time stretched on, a silent companion to his solitude.
With resolve, he ventured home, his steps carrying him to the modest embrace of their traditional Japanese abode. "Tadaima," he called into the stillness, a greeting met with silence. Concern flickered within him—were they laboring late, toiling under the weight of financial strain? Perhaps his fondness for ramen should be curbed, a small sacrifice for their well-being.
Then, the shrill ring of the telephone shattered the quiet. Startled, he reached for the receiver, his fingers brushing against the symbol of a world still new and strange to him. The call connected, and with it, the thread of destiny began to weave its next chapter.
"Hello?" His voice wavered, a mix of innocence and confusion. "This is the Gojo residence. May I ask who's calling?" The familiar endearment slipped out, a habit hard to break.
"Is this Naruto-kun?" The voice on the other end was tinged with a sorrow he knew all too well.
"Auntie?" Recognition dawned; it was the voice of his parents' friend, a comforting presence in his life.
Her words came hesitantly, a prelude to heartache. "I was at your school, Naruto-kun, but you were nowhere to be found. There's… there's something I need to tell you."
A primal instinct screamed within him to sever the connection, to flee from the impending storm.
"What's wrong?" he asked, the words barely a whisper, dread coiling in his stomach.
Through tears, she delivered the blow. "Your parents… there's been an accident at the farm. A wall collapsed…"
Silence engulfed him, a void where his heartbeat should have been.
"Naruto-kun, are you there?" Desperation laced her voice, a plea for him to respond.
But he was lost to the world, a statue with the phone still pressed to his ear. A cerulean aura emanated from him, unseen yet felt by all. It was a silent testament to his grief, a force that swept through the town, cleansing it of darkness. When dawn broke, the sorcerers would only find whispers of spirits that once were, all vanished in the wake of his sorrow.
~• •~
"Alright Itadori-kun," Satoru said as he held Yuji. "Watch how I fight."
"Domain Expansion…" Jugo stopped when he felt something powerful far away. He looked at Gojo, who had a stern expression on his face. So he asked, "Was that something connected to you?"
"Who knows!" Gojo smiled brightly. "Now, where were we?"
"Right… Domain Expansion: Coffin Of The Iron Mountain!"
"Domain Expansion: Infinite Void." Gojo shattered his opponent's domain with his own as he lifted his blindfold a bit. Then he looked at the direction the surge of that power came from. "Hanako…"
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