Chapter 10 The Opinions of Immortals
The days turned to weeks, and the weeks turned to months, and still the ever-present of the ANBU following Naruto was there. So far ever since signing the Eldritch Beast contract Naruto has been unable to safely read from the Necronomicon, now was he able to practice the Tentacle Whip Jutsu until no words or hand seals were needed.
Naruto watched day after day as the colors of sound emanating from the ANBU betrayed their presence. He did what he could for that time, he studied and he experimented. Attempting to use his Physical Transformation Justus as Naruto called it, Naruto found the possibilities endless. He could fool the eyes of a Hyuuga according to Hinata.
The news on Naruto's physical Transformation spread like wildfire among the students. Even among the civilians. Many believed the ability to come from the fox. To Naruto that hypothesis may be correct. Legends told of the shapeshifting abilities of Kitsune, perhaps the physical transformation diverged from the fox. It was the most likely explanation at the moment. After researching the containers of the tailed beasts thanks to books provided by Hiruzen, who in his wisdom allowed Naruto to read them to know what he was in for. They told of abilities granted to the containers that diverged from the beasts within. Perhaps the physical transformation was one of Naruto's abilities gained from the fox.
When Naruto had the time He would summon Xel, the Keeper of the Summoning Scroll, Without the Necronomicon Xel was a treasure trove of information. As an Immortal child of Dagon, Xel knew much of the workings of things behind the scenes of the universe. So to speak. While large, Xel was small enough to summon in Naruto's Bathroom where no windows were. Away from the prying eyes of the ANBU outside, they could safely speak to one another.
"Listen Xel we are friends right", asks Naruto.
"No my Lord we are not", says Xel.
Naruto raises an eyebrow at this statement.
"What do you mean", asks Naruto.
"I am a keeper of forbidden truth my lord. I see the world as not a hierarchy but a broken chain of differing albeit simple command structures. You are either a follower or a leader, there is no time for friends", says Xel.
"I disagree, but going on your theory what if two followers wish to be friends with one another, or two leaders", asks Naruto.
"It remains the same, the two followers will backstab one another to reach higher in the broken chain. Two leaders will do the same until only one remains. I am very old my lord, and I have seen this happen many times", says Xel.
"Very well you are free to have your opinion, but I still disagree. Then again humans are social creatures I don't know much about Deep Ones to make such a judgement call", says Naruto.
"Deep Ones follow or lord Dagon, we will do as he says even if we should die. We have no concepts on friendship, companionship, or any form of such social needs. We merely exist to serve our master and father Lord Dagon, and those above him", says Xel.
"Sounds like a rather if you will excuse the simple term, boring life", says Naruto.
"Not at all, boredom is a concept mortals have. With such short lives you try so hard to cram as much trivial matters into as little time as possible. When you run out of things to do you spend the rest of the day thinking on what new to do, this is boredom. The Immortal Deep Ones have only one goal, serve Lord Dagon and Mother Hydra. To put it in human words, we are simply to busy serving our lords to become bored", says Xel.
Naruto shrugs deciding to drop the subject.
"Well anyway I thought I might ask, Where does the Necronomicon come from", asks Naruto.
"An interesting question. The Necronomicon was not written so much as created through ways no mortal can ever truly understand, the best way to put it is it separated from one of the Outer Gods. According to Lord Dagon, the book was once apart of the Crawling Chaos, better Known as Nyarlathotep. After it's creation it was passed between many Outer Gods such as Yog-Sothoth and Shub-Niggurath. Then it passed between many Great Old Ones including Yig Father of serpents, Nyogtha, Aphoom-Zhah, Lord Cthulhu, and even Lord Dagon Himself. They would copy there essence into the book, a simple task for the Great Old Ones. All Great Old Ones live in some form in every universe simultaneously. The results of them copying there essence bore the book known as the Necronomicon. More would be added to the book by the other races within the multiverse, but very little of what additions they made is clear".
"Quite the history for the book", says Naruto.
"The Necronomicon is no mere book my lord, it is so much more. So powerful that even copies of it behave strangely, as the first man to copy the book, known as Abdul Alhazred quickly found out", says Xel.
"You know allot about the book Xel, I'm surprised"
"Do not be my lord, I am the Keeper of Forbidden Knowledge, I know many things that even other Deep Ones do not know, and what I know is but a drop in the ocean compared to the infinite pages of the Necronomicon", says Xel.
Naruto nods.
"Ok Xel, I think I should get some rest, I'll talk to you later", says Naruto.
"Thy will be done, my lord"
Xel dispels in a puff of grey smoke. Naruto leaves the bathroom to rest for the night, still waiting for the colors of sound coming from the ANBU to leave.
Naruto slept that night. However this night would be quite different. Naruto awoke laying in a puddle of water. He slowly raised himself up as he looked through an expansive sewer. Looking around through the Eyes of Azathoth Naruto found the area strange. While sound could be heard no Colors emerged from them. As he stood and walked down the sewer the world around him began to change so slowly it was almost unnoticeable. It was only after the changes were complete did Naruto find himself standing in a library of sorts. The architecture of the library was alien. Books and scrolls adorned the walls.
Naruto continued through the sewer turned library. Then he made his way to a pair of old stairs spiraling down. Walking down what could only be called Binary stairs Naruto found himself exiting what appeared to be an arena. The stone floors carved with alien symbols his eyes could not translate, as if they were not even there. Looking towards the back of the arena Naruto sees large metal bars. These bars mimicked the bars of a prison. Behind the bars only blackness. As Naruto walked toward the bars he noted a strange locking mechanism. A piece of paper with the word 'seal' written on it. immediately Naruto smiled as he walked toward the cage. Looking at the faint reflection in the bars, Naruto notes his eyes were a familiar blue, but the thought as to why was not asked, this place was not reality.
Naruto looked into the black room listening to the low breathing of some giant animal. Naruto waited patiently as a pair of enormous eyes opened beneath them a wide smile.
"And so the Prisoner meets his Jailer", says the creature.
"The nine tailed fox I presume, it is a pleasure to meet you", says Naruto.
The fox laughs at Naruto's greeting as it stares at him intently.
"A curious greeting from such a small mortal, come closer", says the fox.
Naruto does. As he nears the bars large claws emerge from the darkness through the bars attempting to kill Naruto. The claws mere inches away from Naruto's face.
"I think you will find intimidating me in such an obvious manner to be difficult. By looking at your eyes and mouth I was able to calculate the length of your claws based on the normal size of claws on normal foxes, then compare it to your size. As well as use descriptions of your appearance to make sure your claws were not abnormally long based on your body size compared to a normal fox. With the exception of you possessing fingers they are not, and I knew only your claws could fit through the bars.", says Naruto.
The eyes of the fox narrow as it bares it's fangs at Naruto.
"Insolent whelp, If I were free I would tear you to pieces before devouring the remains", says the fox.
"But you are not free, so I have nothing to worry about. Now you can sit there and get angry at me, or we can have a reasonable discussion like civilized sentient beings", says Naruto.
The fox looks at Naruto for a moment before smiling.
"You are most curious whelp", says the fox.
"No I just have seen and heard of things much stranger than a giant fox with nine tails composed primarily from chakra", says Naruto.
"I highly doubt that", says the fox.
"I understand your point of view, but truth be told you are relatively normal compared to entities that are so alien and strange the minds of man snap at only seeing them", says Naruto.
"That, I can believe", says the fox.
Naruto chuckles for a moment.
"I take it you have a low opinion of humans?"
"Your pathetic race has sealed me within the body of a child where I am forever trapped, why would I hold such filth in any positive regard"
"Well how about the fact that said boy you are sealed within is an intellectual who does not judge one man or in your case fox by the sins of the past, at least not without knowing them first", says Naruto.
The fox moves closer to the bars revealing it's full head, an inquisitive look on its face.
"Then perhaps they have granted me some amusement, but that is as far as I will go", says the fox.
Naruto nods.
"I see, well your opinion is your own, I just came to talk", says Naruto.
"Very well, speak", says the Fox.
"I have always wondered much about the tailed beasts even before I found out you were inside me, so I was wondering exactly what are the views and opinions of creatures over several millennia years old. I have always thought such creatures would hold great wisdom", says Naruto.
The fox, for the first time smiles a true smile.
"Quite the request, one I never expected from one of your race. Those who I were sealed in before only wanted to use my power", says the fox.
"Well if that is what you are more comfortable with knowledge is a power, one far greater than even the sharpest sword or the quickest bow. All I really care about is truth", says Naruto.
"You surprise me whelp, for one so young you are quite wise", says the fox.
Naruto shrugs.
"I try"
"Very well, Just open the seal and we can talk face to face", asks the fox.
"I'm afraid I cannot do that, I have not yet done enough research on seals to even attempt such a thing. The results could range anywhere from making us a gestalt entity, to destroying us both. You might gain control of my body but it would be no guarantee. Besides, I have so much more to do before I would even consider something so suicidal", says Naruto.
"Not the answer I was expected. I expected no, but not quite that reasoning", says the fox confused.
"If my answer is no I will explain why it is, I may have a habit of withholding information, but I detest lies", says Naruto.
The fox looks at Naruto for a moment.
"Very well then ask your questions and lets be done with this", says the fox.
As Naruto bombards the fox with question after question the fox grows to find the boy an entertaining distraction from its normal days of merely existing in a cage. The fox tells Naruto stories of great battles between the tailed beasts and men. It tells him of many tales it has experienced in it's long life. As the fox shares it's stories Naruto listens on with a child like sense of fascination. It has been much to long since the fox could ever use it's gift of speech for much more than threats and curses. As it finishes it's last tale Naruto stands up preparing to leave.
"Well I should go, I may stop by again in the future. Oh before I forget I am Naruto Uzumaki, what is your name, I doubt your name is nine tails"
The fox looks at Naruto for a moment, considering what the boy had said.
"My name is Kurama"
Naruto smiles and nods.
"Well, it was pleasant speaking to you Kurama, lets do it again sometime", says Naruto.
"Yes, lets", says Kurama as the boy disappears.
After he is gone Kurama begins to think about the enigma that is the boy before leaving those thoughts for another day, for now he rested.
Naruto Woke in his bed. He yawned as he made his way to the bathroom, looking at the familiar Eyes of Azathoth. Naruto thinks to himself on the day ahead. He had little else to do with the ANBU watching him, so he thought today would be the day to try a little experiment.