Heroes of Cataclysm, Akiyuchi Arc, Chapter 1: The Awakening

It was all a blur. Akiyuchi, a Reckless and cheerful ninja woke up in the streets of London. He winced in pain and rubbed his eyes. "Where am I?" Akiyuchi asked as he focused his eyes and looked around. "A...village? No wait. It's too advanced. What are these things?" Akiyuchi asked as he got his kunai and pointed it at a british car. He then tapped on it. "Seems safe..?" Akiyuchi asked as he walked around. The Big Clocktower known as Big Ben rung loudly. He walked around the streets, trying to find any trace of life. "Hello? Anyone here? Hellooooo" He called out as he looked in windows of buildings and saw no traces of life. A Tea kettle was about to burst tho. "This is getting a bit spooky." Akiyuchi said as the tea pot burst into pieces. Akiyuchi was shocked but regained composure. He stepped back and got back into the street. "Where the hell am i?" Akiyuchi asked as he saw a newspaper fly towards him on the ground. "London...?" He asked as he raised an eyebrow.

{BGM: Disquieting}

"You're in another world." A familiar voice said. "T-That...voice.. Kazu? Is that you?" Akiyuchi asked as he turned around. "What do you mean?" Akiyuchi asked. "It's as i said, idiot. We're in another world. I'm relieved to see you alive, old friend. However... My god will have my head if i let you live." Kazumaru said as he activated his Rinnegan, and Tenseigan. "We don't have to fight. We were brought here for a reason. We should be working together like we did when we were kids." Akiyuchi said. Kazumaru closed his eyes and shook his head. "No, That is a failed past. I severed my ties with you long ago. You and your leaf bastards slain my great grandfather. I'll never forgive you for that!" Kazumaru shouted out as he opened his eyes and they flashed red for a second. A Red aura then covered Kazumaru. "What is this aura? What the hell happened to you!?" Akiyuchi asked.

{BGM: Best Friend's Blade}

Kazumaru remained silent as he then weaved hand seals. "Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!" He shouted as he spewed out a massive expanding fireball towards Akiyuchi, Burning some buildings in the process. Akiyuchi quickly weaved hand seals and slammed the ground. "Earth Style: Mud Wall!" Akiyuchi shouted as a huge stone wall appeared and shielded Akiyuchi from the flames. Kazumaru growled in an annoyed tone and clapped his hands together. Akiyuchi gasped and spoke. "Oh no.. not that jutsu!" Akiyuchi shouted as Kazumaru smirked. "Planetary...Devastation!" Kazumaru yelled out as he made a black orb strike Akiyuchi. Akiyuchi tried to dodge but couldnt. The Earth around him began to encase him until a massive stone ball took shape. Kazumaru then flung the stone ball into the air and with a hand sign, caused the meteor to fall down. Akiyuchi felt that this might be the end, so he utilized his kekkei genkai and made his body become transparent, and allowed him to escape. He then landed in front of Kazumaru and smirked. "You learned some new tricks, eh?" Akiyuchi said as he laughed. "What's so funny?" Kazumaru asked as he raised an eyebrow. Akiyuchi didnt answer and rushed in towards Kazumaru. "Almighty Push!" Kazumaru said as he made a dome of energy repel Akiyuchi which caused him to get sent flying. "Universal Pull!" Kazumaru said as he pulled Akiyuchi in towards himself and pointed his kunai at him. Akiyuchi went ethereal and bypassed the kunai. "To answer your question, I find it funny that you'd willingly let yourself become a pawn. Suzuha-Sensei would be so disappointed." Akiyuchi said as he weaved handseals. "Fire Style: Infernal Nail Jutsu!" Akiyuchi said as he placed his hand on the ground and several small portals opened up around Kazumaru, and nails popped out of them. The Nails then exploded. Kazumaru took the attack head on and turned into a log. "Blast it.. A substitution." Akiyuchi said as Kazumaru flash stepped behind Akiyuchi with kunai in hand and went towards his neck. Akiyuchi grabbed his own knife and clashed against Kazumaru. Akiyuchi threw his Kunai behind Kazumaru to distract him. He then quickly charged up a Rosedon and went for Kazumaru's neck. Kazumaru gasped and he turned off his rinnegan due to having little to no chakra and he turned it back into the Sharingan. He then quickly utilized Ryujin to block Akiyuchi. Akiyuchi's attack was absorbed into the Ryujin and burned him in the process. Akiyuchi then winced in pain and flipped back.

{BGM: Brothers}

"That jutsu of yours.. I did not miss it." Akiyuchi said as the Ryujin began to harden. Scales manifested on it and Kazumaru growled as his eyes flashed red. "That's...new." Akiyuchi said as he watched. "You're going to die, by my hand! To hell with our past! I'm going to mount your head on my wall. IM GOING TO DESTROY YOU!" Kazumaru shouted in sheer anger. "Look man, you're letting your god.. i guess? Take hold of you. You're not like who you used to be. The Kazumaru that i know never let himself sink this low." Akiyuchi said as Kazumaru growled in anger. "Let the anger go. I'll help you get over this. Really.. I will." Akiyuchi said as he held his hand out. Kazumaru raised his hand and chakra swirled. The Ryujin sword formed. "I'll never give up on you, Got it, idiot?" Akiyuchi asked as he dropped his weapon. Kazumaru hesitated and tears fell. He slammed the sword next to Akiyuchi and spoke. "How do you do it? How do you get into my head like that?" Kazumaru asked as the red glow faded and his ryujin faded. Akiyuchi walked over. "It's because i know you. Better than anyone. We have to work together. Admit it, you enjoyed working together... Back when we were genin." Akiyuchi said. "Akiyuchi, I can't join you. You should know that...But... You do have a point. We'll have to go our separate ways.. But know that I want to work with you. But not now. I can't make it obvious. Go.. Get away from here. I'll stay in touch. We'll meet up at the foot of the Chakra tree since if this world is like this, then our world should be attached as well. Now go!" Kazumaru said as Akiyuchi nodded and ran away. "I hope i know what im doing..." Kazumaru said to himself as he disappeared.

After spending hours, Akiyuchi found a portal in a sewer. "Ugh.. this place smells more rancid then the Sound village. i'm outta here." Akiyuchi said as he leaped into the portal and ended up in a brightly lit and beautifully decorated castle. There a voice can be heard.

{BGM: Prelude}

"Ah, at last one of my faithful arrives. Be at ease, Hero. You are safe here." the Voice said as a Holy being walked down stairs.

"Who..are you?" Akiyuchi asked. "My name is Ulta, God of Valor. I'm sure you have plenty of questions. I will be happy to answer them, my Champion." Ulta said as Akiyuchi took a seat on the couch. "Where is this place? Why am I here? and Why did i have to fight my friend?" Akiyuchi asked. "Ah, some good questions. To start, The first answer is that You are in the World of Cataclysm, You, along with nine brave souls i managed to save, are the Heroes of Cataclysm or at least i hope to believe. I saved you from the war's end. You may not remember, but you played a part in it. Unfortunately, the other fighters were banished to hell by the fiend known as Galarian." Ulta said. "That would explain why the world i was in is lifeless. But why did my friend fight me? Why did he have a red glow?" Akiyuchi asked. "Ah.. Then i fear your friend is a lost cause. He was picked by the God of Chaos, Virca, to be his champion. Virca is a heartless god who puts power above all else, and he will even sacrifice his own men if it benefited him." Ulta was about to continue but Akiyuchi spoke in a loud tone. "How dare you speak of my friend like he was a mindless savage. He confessed to me that he wants to work with me, but cant due to obvious reasons. He has a heart of gold, I refuse to give up on him." Akiyuchi said as he then bowed. "Forgive me for my outburst, i did not mean to lash out at you, Lord Ulta." Akiyuchi added in. "All is forgiven, my child. Perhaps I worded that wrong. If your friend wants to join our side, then he must needs to take control of his own destiny. But that is a topic for another time. I have a mission for you, Champion. The nine other souls that i have saved are most likely waking up. Go to them, and help them find their way here. To help you with this task, I'll give you one of my feathers that can pinpoint where the heroes are. Recuperate and prepare yourself, my champion, and go forth, and triumph! Oh, and in regards to your friend... Worry not. If he desires to join us, simply reach out to him, and stick by him. Good luck, Young Warrior." Ulta said as he went up the stairs to his chambers. Akiyuchi tightened his headband, got his kunai knives and shuriken, as well as medical food pills and he left the castle to commence his task.