Chapter 30 Back Home

During those last days Naruto went over every Great Old One and Outer God he knew. He was able to throw out a few possibilities but the majority still stayed. There were many of the Eldritch deities that Naruto knew of but he did not know which were mindless or which were not. That was his main clue to finding out the identity of whatever was manipulating his life for it's own ends. There wasn't much he could do no matter what it was. He could not hope to stop a Great Old One, let alone an Outer God. Either way Naruto figured it was best to put off the thoughts. Whatever it was it had plans for him, so it wasn't an immediate threat, at least not one Naruto could handle.

It was during the trip back that that Naruto began to realize just how little humanity meant in the grand scheme of things, really the dawning realization that should humanity go extinct and the universe would not care in the slightest should have been obvious, but the human mind rarely thought on those terms. It was easy to believe that humanity was in some way special, weather it was because of what we as a species has accomplished, whether for good or ill. In reality humanity was nothing more than another thing floating around the uncaring and dangerous universe. Either way there was little Naruto could do about that so best not to dwell on it. As uncaring as the universe was, it was in just as much trouble when Azathoth awakens. Naruto did not know why but he found that thought comforting in a small way.

The thoughts did not last long when Naruto and company made it back to Konoha. The trip back was just as calm as the days following the fight at the bridge. However they were back, and Naruto had some work to do. All he had to do was get debriefed and all would be well. The debriefing process went as well as one would expect, with a retelling of the events with the occasional question asked by the Hokage. Though there were a lot of questions asked around the time they revealed that Naruto acquired a Summoning Contract. The Hokage was surprised to hear such news. When they finished thee tale and they were dismissed the Hokage asked Naruto to stay behind to ask further questions. Not to Naruto, instead they asked to speak to the summons directly. So Naruto summoned Xel.

All the questions asked to Xel were much the same ones Kakashi asked when he first spoke to Xel. Though there were a few extra questions. The Hokage was much more thorough than Kakashi when it came to how the questions were asked and listening to the answers. Either way Naruto, while he did not show it was only concentrating to get to the lad and begin the reagent. In the middle of questioning he felt the memories of the clones who had Haku's and Zabuza's body make it to the labs with there corpses sealed. He went over their memories for a second before continuing with the questioning.

Naruto was not good at reading people, he knew when they wee lying thanks to his eyes but only knew subconsciously. Despite this he could tell that the Hokage seemed happy that a new summoning contract was found. One that he had never heard of with creatures he could not imagine in his wildest dreams or his most terrible nightmares. When he dismissed Naruto he was smiling at the way Xel spoke to Naruto as if he were royalty. It was an interesting sight considering the boys history. he went back to his paperwork as Naruto left.

Naruto quickly became aware that he was being followed by ANBU, though there was something slightly different in the way these ones behaved. They were much more quiet than the others. Naruto had tried to find a way to lose them and it was a simple endeavor. One that he did often when younger. He simply walked through large crowds with his hood up. Naruto always wore simple clothing, no use in wasting brainpower on what to wear when there was more important thing to worry about. As such combined with Naruto's short stature it was easy to lose others in the crowds of others who wore just as simple clothing. He performed a body flicker without smoke as soon as he was surrounded by a fairly large crowd. It did not matter how good you were, there were limitations humans had, and one was how the mind worked. Even the strange ANBU following Naruto was no problem.

Moving faster than the human eye could follow Naruto made it to a nearby manhole and quickly made his way down. Replacing the lid he headed off to his lab, confident he escaped the strange ANBU that were following him. He finally made his way to the lab. He nodded to Konohamaru as he entered.

Naruto was surprised by the size of his new lab. The expansions were amazing. In roughly a month and a few weeks the once small lab was increased to triple it's original size. The shoggoth was now putting equipment together while a multitude of clones were studying the gauntlets of the demon brothers. Naruto made his way to the medic room. Laying on the tables were the bodies of Haku and Zabuza, with Zabuza's blade leaning against a wall. Several clones were looking over the two checking everything they could.

"What is the state of them", asks Naruto.

A clone wearing a lab coat walked up to Haku.

"Interestingly Haku appears to be the most intact, despite the fist sized hole in his chest. We have found a few strange things in his anatomy. For one, while still a corpse he is much colder than a corpse should be. What remains of his blood has essentially tuned to red snow though no signs of frost bite with the aception of claw marks on his leg, what is strange is that according to some of our studies, Haku should theoretically be immune to the cold temperature. How he got frostbite on his leg is beyond me", said the clone.

The clone moved to Zabuza.

"Zabuza is much worse off, the amount of damage done to him is staggering. Several organs are going to be useless if he is brought back. That could be a problem, or so we thought", said the clone.

"What do you men or so you thought", asked Naruto.

"Well, we have been studying the reagent after we gained memories that you got the needed flower. What we found is that it does not work how we thought it did. It turns out that it does not bring the dead back to life, rather it bring the dead back to a state resembling life. Technically they would still be dead. Without the divine flower they would not regain their memories and would decompose naturally. What I mean is that while we can bring them back, they would still be dead, as such they would be unable to regenerate wounds, or age", says the clone.

Naruto sat in a chair.

"So even if we bring them back they would still look like this, great. Well we will have to try something to simulate regeneration. I will work on a few things. Until then keep their bodies in the pods to prevent decomposition before we have a chance to try", says Naruto.

The clones nod.

Naruto goes to the green house where several clones were already planting the seeds of the divine flower.

"Won't be long now. Get the plant itself ready, we are going to create the reagent as soon as we can", says Naruto.

The clones nod as they plant the last seed. Then another clone walks up to Naruto.

"I thought you might want to know we have our own power source now, as well as have the biometric scanners built. We merely need to add yours and Konohamaru template to it and then no one other than who you want can come through that door. The same is true for the module where the Necronomicon lays. The clones have also arrived yesterday with the summoning contracts, and they have been added to the model. We have started analyzing the Mokuton sample and have read through the copy of the forbidden scroll. We have not trained with it yet but there are over a hundred techniques with several that can be called safe to learn, at least safe for us. We also have some more to discuss in the meeting room on events that have occurred while you were away", says a clone.

Naruto nods as he leaves toward the room. There he meets several clones talking to one another. After a moment they inform Naruto on the plans to wait until after the chunin exams to tell the others and see if they can be trusted as well an the information on ROOT and there sudden interest in him and reveal Konohamaru's idea to take them over by replacing there leader. Naruto thinks on it for a minute.

"We can try that, however I don't want to rush it. With the Chunin exams coming up I want everything to be in order before we do anything rash. We'll bide our time for now. However I do want as many clones to figure out what are ROOTs activities and the identity of their leader", said Naruto.

The other clones nod. When the meeting ends Naruto tells Konohamaru the information on the creature that had stopped there fight against Haku and other information such as it's identity as a Great Old One or Outer God.

"It's my opinion that whatever it is isn't worth compromising your plans, you can't stop them. Hell you only have a small chance against Cthulhu and that is because you are only trying to slow him down. A fully awake Outer God or Great Old One is not something we can do anything about, at least not without summoning one ourselves, and that would only do more harm than good", says Konohamaru.

"I'm well aware of that, I just wanted you to know the situation", says Naruto.

"Well it is interesting, but my knowledge of the future did say that there was something else at work, I assume that this was that something. In any event I don't know it's identity and would not tell you even if I did", says Konohamaru.

"Noted, anyway I have some work to do. Thanks by the way for getting us our own power", says Naruto.

Konohamaru dismissed Naruto.

Naruto walks to the chemistry room where over a dozen clones were already preparing the reagent. One walked up to Naruto.

"Good you are here, I have news. The reagent will be finished by tomorrow at the rate we are going, most of that time is letting certain ingredients ferment, it won't be long now, how do you want to proceed once it is finished", asked the clone.

"Test it on mice, inject it to both living and dead ones. Then kill the ones still alive and see it they come back. Make sure you take everything into account, we need to know the dosage for when we use it on Haku or Zabuza", says Naruto.

he clone walks away. Now was time to learn more on exactly what happened when Naruto drank Haku's and Sasuke's blood. With a bite of his finger he summons Xel. After explaining the situation Xel forms the Psionic tether to send Naruto into his Eldritch form. Naruto looks at his blackened claws.

"So what do you think", ask Naruto.

"Obviously related to cold in some way, scratch one of my fins see what happens. Do not worry I have had worse", says Xel in Naruto's mind.

Naruto floats over to Xel. With a single finger he scratches his palm. immediately Naruto scratches a fin on Xels arm. It turns black around the wound.

"It seems as if you did not get the ice boys abilities, instead you created your own. Whatever you scratch while in eldritch form gets immediate frostbite around the wound. Painful and deadly", says Xel.

Naruto goes over to a nearby glass window on a door. He looks at the eyes on his whiskers. Looking at the middle pair he finds it unusual that they are slightly red in color. Looking around he feels strange as for those eyes the world seems to move slower while it moves normally for his other eyes. It takes some getting used to but eventually he does.

"Not enough of the blood was taken from your teammate. Things move slower, and you can better understand the way things move, but you will find it hard pressed to copy them perfectly. Without Chakra in your eldritch form quite yet, its uses are limited for now, though after you become able to change at your own power you will be able to use them much like he can, though you would need more of his blood", says Xel.

"I don't think Sasuke would appreciate me stealing his powers Xel", says Naruto.

"And why care, is that not what his eyes do", says Xel.

"Good point, but I think they are good for now. Ok Xel lets go back to normal", says Naruto.

Xel releases the psionic tether and his mind returns to his body. Naruto begins to shift back to normal.

"Well that was fun, maybe after some more tests I'll drink a bit of the Mokuton sample", says Naruto.

"Interesting decision my lord, I look forward to seeing what you gain afterwards", says Xel.

Naruto Shrugs.

"It can wait, though I will do it before the Chunin exams, but I want that stuff fully analyzed before I do in case I accidentally drink it all or something", says Naruto.

Xel nods.

"Alright, things are progressing smoothly, we still have some trouble out there but for now at least we should be good, I'm going to add my template to the biometric scanners, look over a few things, then return home", says Naruto.

Meanwhile not far away the ROOT agents sent to follow Naruto go back to Danzo. They all bow before him as they give there report.

"Danzo-sama, we lost the child. It seems as if he disappeared in the crowds with the use of a smokeless body flicker", says an agent.

Danzo leans back in his chair as he thinks over the information.

"So he knew he was being followed, impressive for a Genin", says Danzo.

He gets out of his chair.

"Keep an eye on the boy, I want to know what he does, where he goes, and who he associates with", says Danzo.

The agents all nods before leaving Danzo's office. Danzo looks at a file before him. Opening it he begins to read.

"So the boy has summons now, impressive", says Danzo as he reads through the file.

Naruto looks at the Gauntlets the Demon Brothers had. Looking for ways to improve it in any way. He detaches the chain from one of the gauntlets. He looks at a clone wearing a labcoat and goggles.

"Ok I'm thinking electrify the chain, Make it where the chain can retract and shoot out. I like the idea of creating a tether between two people, but instead of that I have a better idea. Begin making schematics on a small drone to place on the end of the chain. Make sure it can fly. It will replace the other person. Make sure the drone is remote controlled in some way to direct it. We might have to run a cable through the chain. Keep the detaching mechanism, never know when the chain will be rendered inert and become a liability, though the chances are low, I still don't want to take any chances", says Naruto.

The clone looks at the Gauntlets for a moment.

"I can do that, in fact I can do better. I was looking over the material used in Zabuza's sword. What is amazing is the sword can regenerate by cutting others and using the iron in the blood to fix itself. Give me a few months and I can have the gauntlet doing the same", said the clone.

"You got it, six months good", asks Naruto.

"I'll have it ready in four", says the clone smiling.

Naruto nods.

"Good, make it so. Create a few out of normal materials and mass produce them in the foundry, the regenerating ones will be kept safe. I'd like one of those", says Naruto.

"I can have a normal one in six weeks and begin mass producing them in eight", says the clone.

Naruto smiles.

"Good, that's what I like to hear. What about the gas masks", asks Naruto.

"They are well made, nothing mush can be changed to make it better. However I did have an idea. I though why not make a full face gas mask with a nozel at the side of it that can expel a poisonous gas. You'll have to wear a canister on your back to use it but It will be light. Other than that, anything else would only be additions", says the clone.

"Clone, I like the way you think. From now on, I'm calling you Brainiac", says Naruto.

Brainiac gives off an evil maniacal laugh.

"Yes, Brainiac, perfect. My enemies will run in terror from the name as they fall to my scientific genius, Muhahahahahahaaa", says Brainiac laughing maniacally.

Naruto slowly backs away from Brainiac.

"Yeah, you do that. Just don't blow the place up", says Naruto.

Brainiac stops laughing and looks at Naruto.

"You're no fun", says Brainiac.

"Right, you know what I'm going to go. Please don't do anything rash", says Naruto.

Brainiac nods. Naruto leaves the labs with Konohamaru in tow.

"So, now your clones are insane", says Konohamaru.

Naruto narrows his eyes looking at Konohamaru.

"No not insane, just enthusiastic", says Naruto.

"Whatever you say"