Chapter 55 The Threshold of Dreams

Naruto leapt out the way as Sasuke sprinted toward his brother with the Chidori in his hand. As he brought it up to hit Itachi in the chest, he caught his arm.

"Hello little brother", said Itachi.

Sasuke glared at him in pure anger as he struggled against his brothers Grip. Itachi threw his brother against a wall before he turned to where Naruto was. A cloud of smoke appeared in the room and the door closed behind them seemingly by it's own power. As the cloud cleared Xel stood with his claws bared. He began to glow a purple color. Kisame, intrigued by this fish like being leapt at him. He was shocked when he froze mid air. His sword Samehada was glowing purple. It was yanked from his hands and floated around him. Xel controles the sword to attack Kisame using his mental powers. Samehada was drinking the psionic energy, but as it did it squirmed as if in pain. Sakura had jumped near Sasuke to help against his brother. Itachi was easily keeping them away. Then all of a sudden he felt several stabs in his back. He turned to see tentacles pierced into his skin coming from some four armed creatre with nine eye covered tentacles. His eyes widened as he recognized the appearance of Naruto on the creature.

As he realized this he could feel his blood being sucked. He used a simple kunai to slash the tendrils and was surprized when they grew back. Most of his attention was on his brother as he did this. He leapt toward Kisame who was still attempting to regain his own blade. The sentient sword was shrieking as it unwillingly drank the psyonic energy.

"Give me back Samehada you bastard", screamed Kisame at the top of his lungs.

Xel pain no attention as he remained still. The floating sword continued to slash and swipe at it's bandages covering the sword had come loose and Samehada was snapping at the air in an attempt to escape. Itachi landed near Kisame before turning back to his brother who was doing hand signs.

"Don't burn down my home", said Naruto as he recognized the signs.

Sasuke froze for a split second before he glared at his brother. His hand surrounded in the lightning chidori. The arcs of lightning grew larger and larger. The Over use of the Chidori was causing Sasuke to feel tired but he was so consumed with anger he pushed it aside and ran toward his brother. Itachi's eyes morphed into the form of the Mangekyo Sharingan. When he prepared to use something against his Brother he froze wide eyed. Sasuke's body turned into his winged Curse marked form but that is not what caused him to pause. His Younger brother had the eyes of the Mangekyo Sharingan as well. He was almost a second to late when he spoke his Jutsu of choice.

As Sasuke's hand plunged into his brothers chest, Itachi transformed into a flock of crows. The birds flew behind Sasuke. Before Sasuke could turn around a sharp pain hit the back of his neck and he fell unconscious. By this time Sakura had snuck Behind Itachi and Held him still. Her arms wrapped around him but as was a long slender Tail that held him in place. Sakura used all the strength avalable to hold Itachi still As Naruto floated over to Itachi. Itachi attempted to use the Tsukuyomi but was shocked to find it did not work on Naruto, he closed his right eye and opened his left but before he could do anything Naruto grabbed his head.

Naruto recoiled as Itachi's memories entered his mind. By a reflex he let go and only stared at the Uchiha before him. Naruto turned to Sakura.

"Let him go", said Naruto.

Itachi rose an eyebrow as he looked at Naruto.

"What, I've got him. Finish him off", said Sakura.

"Trust me", said Naruto.

Reluctantly She let go of Itachi. Naruto quickly put his hand to Itachi and implanted memories into his mind. When it was over Itachi stared at Naruto shaking. Naruto showed Itachi everything that was to come in the near future. Itachi then remembered the warnings of Herbert and nodded to Naruto.

Kisame was still on the defensive against his own blade. Everytime he attempted to grab it it floated upward out of his reach. The blade no longer moved as it did before. While it was still clearly alive only it's mouth moved up and down as it feasted on Psionic energy. The blade stopped chewing air as it's scales wiggled.

"What am I", asked the Sword.

Kisame froze in his tracks as his sword spoke as clear as day. This proved to be a mistake as the floating blade was flung toward Kisame and it slashed across his chest. The scaled shredded the front of his cloak and skin. He leapt back as the Sword seemed to look around.

"Where am I, What is this place", asked Samehada.

Xel pulled the blade toward him and grabbed the handle. His tactile telepathy pumped false memories into the blade causing it to twitch and spasm.

"You are mine", said Xel as he heafted the sword.

To Kisame's anger and amazement the blade did not retaliate as the strange fish creature hefted it up. With newfound intelligence the sword did not posses before it accepted the false memories as truth, not yet old enough to understand the concept of falsehoods. Before Kisame could lash out in rage Itachi landed near him.

"We should go", said Itachi.

"I'm not leaving Samehada", screamed Kisame.

As he spoke those words Xel had extracted the remaining true memories from the sword and learn it's uses. Kisame watches as Samehada fused with Xels flesh. The Deep One took on a shark like appearance. His fish like fins turned from that of a Deep One into the fins of a Shark. His grotesque bumpy skin turned sililer to the blade of Samehada, and his needle like teeth grew thick and seraded. He grew in size as a Shark like tail grew from his spine and the largest Shark fin bursted from his back. Xel lifted his hands. A strange blue arua appeared around him. The waves of Purple still remained. The sinks turned on by themselves and several sharks made of water flowed toward Kisame and Itachi.

"Amateratsu", said Itachi.

The back wall enveloped into black flames and Itachi leapt through with a reluctant Kisame in tow. A small force of ANBU attracted by the noise appeared. Naruto hid from sight in his eldritch form. The middle eyes on his Cheek were a strange fusion of the Eyes of Azathoth and Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan. They glowed causing the black flame to die down. Once the flames were gone He shifted back to normal. Xel grabbed his own arm and pulled Samehada from out of his very skin. As the blade came out He slowly returned to his normal visage.

"I shall keep this", said Xel.

Naruto nodded.

"What is my masters name", asked the sword.

Before Xel could answer Naruto butted in.

"I was told that Samehada could not speak", said Naruto.

"It cannot, or should I say could not. Thogh drinking Psionic energy has changed it", said Xel.

He looked at the Blade.

"I am Xel, keeper of Scrolls and Forbidden Knowledge. I am your master", said Xel.

Samehada's teeth clattered together. Some form of acknowledgement.

"Yes master Xel", spoke the sword as it's teeth Stopped chattering together.

Sakura appeared next to Naruto.

"Why did you make me let him go", asked Sakura.

Naruto stared onto the distance as the Akatsuki members leapt off.

"I read his mind. With this new information I cannot be sure killing him is a wise move just yet", said Naruto.

"What are you going to tell Sasuke", asked Sakura.

Naruto looked at the unconscious form of Sasuke. He sighed.

"You know how I feel about lying. This is something he needs to know. What he does with it is up to him", said Naruto.

As the words left Naruto's lips he heard the faint sound of laughter in the distance. The light of the world seemed to grow dim as the sky took on a hellish red color. Slowly ink colored tendrils crawled against the sky replacing the red with pitch black. Naruto turned to see the shadowed man floating above the city, humans were frozen in place as if time had no meaning. Naruto froze as the Shadowed man approached closer. He floated right ot the window. Even in the light of day his face was still hidden in shadows.

"Who is that", asked Sakura.

Naruto's eyes narrowed.

"The Shadowed man", said Sakura.

He bagan to clap as he observed Naruto before him.

"What are you doing here", asked Naruto.

"You impress me young one. You are coming along nicely. I did not have to intervene this time", spoke a thousand whispers that seemed to cause the temperature to drop.

Sakura shivered as the Shadowed man stood before her. He seemed to be of both average hight and yet towered over her by several feet at the same time. She looked away so as not to focus. The Shadowed man looked down at Sasuke. As soon as he did Sasuke's eyes shot open and he screamed as if waking from a nightmare. When He looked at the Shadowed man he recoiled back.

"Who is that", asked Sasuke with fear in his voice. His brother the furthest thing from his mind. The thousand whispers began to laugh as the Shadowed man looked at Sasuke.

"I have many names, your friend calls me the Shadowed man"

Sasuke recoiled further and looked away from the strange form of the shadowed mad.

"Why are you here", asked Naruto.

The Shadowed man's head tilted as if he were observing Naruto as a human would a work of art.

"The great city of R'leyh has slowly began to rise for quite some time. It has reached the Threshold of Dreams", said the Shadowed man.

Xel seemed to flinch at that.

"And what is that", asked Naruto.

The shadowed man pointed to Xel. Everyone spun to view the Deep One who was slowly backing away from the Outer God. He looked to Naruto.

"The Threshold of Dreams is the point where Cthulhu is close enough to the surface for his dreams to seep into the world. Water normally blocks the telepathic power of Cthulhu. Now some of those dreams can escape and plague the drams of mortals", said Xel.

Naruto turned back to the Shadowed Man who stood staring at Naruto.

"Why tell us", asked Naruto.

"You are important to my plans. By the time you would have learned this then I would not be able to enjoy the fullest potential you bring when you confront Cthulhu. WIthout that then it would not be as amusing when you do attempt to stop him", said The Shadowed man.

A long table appeared next to them and the Shadowed man sat before it with his fingers laced. He motioned to the chairs.

"Have a seat, I would like to know much about you", said the Shadowed man.

Reluctantly everyone sat at the table. While it was difficult to tell it seemed as if he was still looking at Naruto.

"So, tell me. What do you know about me", asked the Shadowed man.

"Only that you are an Outer God", said Naruto.

The Shadowed man nodded.

"Really", said The shadowed man.

As he spoke the words the two empty chairs were filled with Konohamaru and Herbert.

"What the fuck", said Herbert as he looked around. When he saw the Shadowed man he instantly froze.

"You claim you only know I am an Outer God, though I fid that difficult to believe. You see Naruto it is possible to momentarily trick a God, but not forever. We are connected in a way. I can peer into your minds eye at any time to view what you hide from everyone else", said The Shadowed man as he pointed to Naruto.

Naruto, Konohamaru, Xel, And Herbert all screamed and grabbed their heads in pain. Sakura and Sasuke looked at them and each began to breathe hard. Naruto looked at The shadowed man in fear.

"Nyarlathotep", said Naruto.

The Shadowed man seemed to smile.

"Interesting, you seem to know much more about my identity than you originally let on. Tell me how is that", asked Nyarlathotep.

Naruto began to breathe hard as Nyarlathotep waited.

"It was me", said Konohamaru.

Everyone turned to look at Konohamaru who was looking down.

"Really, is that so. Tell me Yithian, how is it ou found out", asked Nyarlathotep.

"When. When I was reading the Necronmicon. I did not recognize your name", said Konohamaru.

Nyarlathotep nodded.

"I know, I have known for quite some time. O decided the Threshold of Dreams was the perfect time to let you know I always knew", said Nyarlathotep.

Konohamaru flinched at the words 'Threshold of Dreams' but was otherwise silent.

"Now tell me Yithian, why would you go against me like that. Was my warning not clear", asked Nyarlathotep.

As the Words left his lips Konohamaru transformed into a bloated leech. Sakura tried to shut her eyes as hundreds of tiny leeches crawled from Konohamaru's throat, but She found they would not shut, and she could not look away. It wasn't long until she noticed everyone had a tentacle behind their neck that forced them to look. When she saw it she could feel one behind her as well.

"I give out simple instructions not to seek me out and you betray those instructions. Tell me what should your punishment be", asked Nyarlathotep.

The Leeches stopped pouring out. The bloated Leech coughed black fluid before it breathed normally.

"Forgive me Lord Nyarlathotep. I did not mean to disobey you. I had no memory of your existence I was no longer aware of your greatness", said Konohamaru.

As the last word left his mouth the torrent of leeches began to flow again.

"Yes, that is a good point. Though I asked you what should your punishment be. Not your pitiful excuses", said Nyarlathotep.

A wine glass of strange dark liquid appeared before Nyarlathotep. It seemed to wiggle as he lifted it to where his mouth would be. He drank the strange liquid as he watched the grotesque form of Konohamaru struggle and cry.

"This is your own fault Yithian. I am however feeling lenient. You shall serve as an example toward the others of what happens when you disobey me. I would punish you further. But you will be necessary to help now that the Threshold of Dreams has passed", said Nyarlathotep.

For Hours eyeryone was forced to watched Konohamru wiggle around in his leech form. Nyarlathotep only drank the black fluid calmly as it happened. As time went on the world seemed to rot. Black and red covered the walls as time went on.

"Why are you doing this", cried out Sakura.

"Amusement, To teach a lesson, for no reason. There are many reasons that all blend together into a reason no human could understand. And why should you. Should a worm know why humans use it as bait. It is interesting to ponder the way of things, but the simple matter is my reasons for anything is alien to you. The work has a better chance of understanding why it is impaled on a hook. Though I encourage speculation. You humans are amusing to me. Your fear is as Alien to me as I am to you. Then again why would something like myself ever need to fear. In truth I have no reason or anything to fear. That I do find it interesting that there is something humanity can do that I cannot. Fear, such a simple concept to understand but one I shall fail to feel. I find that something worth study", said Nyarlathotep as he drank the unending black bile from his glass.

"Who are you", asked Sasuke.

Nyarlathotep laughed.

"I go by Nyarlathotep, I am the Crawling Chaos. Son of Azathoth. Pray to all spaces that you may never meet me in my thousand other forms", said Nyarlathotep.

As if to prove a point he shifted into several other forms. Even though their heads were turned away they felt like they could see the horrors behind them. For what seemed like a century they watched as Konohamaru suffered. By now the Torrent of leeches had caused the wiggling bloodsuckers to fill the room up to the edges of the table though no Leech ever got on the table itself. Never blinking or turning their heads they screamed in terror as the leeches bagan to drink their blood. Then Nyarlathotep stood up.

"As interesting as this dinner party has been I have much to do. I thank you for your company", said Nyarlathotep as he put his hands behind his back.

Everyone found that they could move normally again.

"This has been amusing, I will let you keep my identity locked away within your respective mindscapes as a gift, after all fooling an Outer God should be rewarded though not encouraged therefore you will remember this is only fair. By now you should know fully well what I mean when I say I shall be watching you", said Nyarlathotep.

He faded from sight. The world returned back to normal. No one could move. Herbert and Konohamaru were gone. Xel walked forward. He placed his hand on Sakura and Sasuke's head and erased much of their memories but kept some. None of them knew who the Shadowed man was but they still remembered what he did. For Sakura and Sasuke's own sanity, they only remembered a small bit of it. It was enough. Once done Xel dispelled. They said nothing as several ANBU jumped in the room.

"Are you alright", asked an ANBU.

No one said anything. He asked again, this time Naruto did answer.

"Just shaken up a little", said Naruto.

The ANBU nodded.

"Yeah, and S-rank ninja can do that to you", said the ANBU.

Everyone was drawn from their daze at that. What had felt like a hundred years was only moments for them. Any doubts Sakura and Sasuke had about Naruto's claims were stomped out by the remnants of the horrid display they still remembered. Though none of them remembered the creatures name.

Far away from the villages, and deep under the ocean where the mad god dreams. Cthulhu rested in his perpetual death like slumber. His dreams seeped out of his aquatic world into the world of ninja and attached to the minds of the humans in nearby coastal towns and villages. From this day forth, many would go through sleepless nights complaining of visions of creatures with to many limbs and feelers. Of the horrifying gruesome and slow death of their fellow man. Though these men only had to deal with the sleepless nights, there were those who were worse off.

Some who were better attuned to the supernatural were these who were worst off. These psychic seers of the future were imprisoned en mass in mental asylums. Their dreams of the future casing insanity and madness the likes of which were not natural by any stretch of the imagination. The screams from Asylums were heard far and wide, beyond what most people could believe a voice can travel. The Threshold of Dreams has been passed. And those gifted with visions of the future fond those gifts were quickly becoming twisted into curses they never imagined possible. Many cried crimson tears of blood as the God of Insanity reached closer to the surface.

Among these dreamers there were some who escaped prosecution and imprisonment. They fled their respective villages and would continue to fear these dreams. That fear would turn to worship. That Worship allowed many to find other seers who shared their visions. From them the first cults of Cthulhu were born in the ninja world. They were drawn to the Land of Demons where a powerful future seer lived. She would see horrible visions and began to worship this creature who stood as high as a mountain with a tentacles face. Her name was Shion priestess of the Land of Demons, and she would become the leader of these cults.