The Shinobi Visitor

Chapter 48 - Island's End...

- Chasm Monastery, Yamatai -

After scaling the cliff wall with some craggy parts, Patronus, Lara and Captain America reached a tunnel as they slowly crawled on the floor to the other side to avoid alerting any enemies ahead. Once reaching the other side of the tunnel, the trio found the opposing trio of Mathias, Whitman and a scared Sam.

"Did they change her clothes?" Patronus asked when he got a closer look. Sam was wearing a white ceremonial outfit with a halo of flowers around her head. "What are they going to with her?"

Captain America noticed that the rookie hero was about to intervene to rescue Sam, but quickly stopped him from doing so. "Look over there." The Avenger pointed at the bridge connected to the monastery. "If we go now, they'll alert the others."

Patronus merely nodded as he tuned out Cap's words not out of disrespect but of stunned. He was not alone as Lara too was staring at the two samurai warriors who were dressed and armed differently. One of them was dressed as an archer with a bow on its back while the other samurai was dressed like an infantryman with a sword on its belt.

"Okay…But Whitman is mine." Patronus warned lowly.

Lara chose to ignore in favor to watching Sam as she and the others cautiously approached the bridge, especially Whitman. "Who are these…people?" Whitman asked nervously.

Mathias, grunting as he held Sam close, answered. "They guard the monastery. They wait only to be introduced to their new Queen, by the one who brought her back to us."

"Ah, of course, of course." Whitman said as his pride lit up from the comment. "I have encountered these archaic tribes before." He breathed to calm his nerves. "Let's get some awards, James."

Lara and the others watched the doctor reveal himself to the now-alert Stormguard. "What is he doing?"

"Being an idiot." Patronus answered simply.

"My name is Dr. James Whitman." Whitman introduced himself to the Stormguard. "I come in peace. I bring you your new queen!" He expected Mathias to reveal Sam but neither of them came out as they hid behind a boulder, scaring him. "Your queen…" His fear grew as the two Stormguard approached him. "What is it in Japanese… Your… Your Joou."

That was the stressor as the Stormguard drew their weapons and began slaughtering him while Mathias dragged Sam across the bridge. The trio jumped down from their hiding spot as Lara called out. "Sam!"

"Lara!"

The chasing Stormguard was blown off the bridge by a strong gust of wind along with the bridge itself.

"SAM!"

"LARA!"

An annoyed Mathias tugged Sam's arm. "Come on!"

Patronus wanted to jump across the gap and pummel Mathias to the ground but the wind current was too strong for either of them. Lara on the other hand noticed two other Stormguard nearby on a separate cliff near the entrance and saw them enter the monastery via a window. "Follow me."

"Wait!" Patronus called out as Lara complied. He waited for the wind to decrease volume. "Now!"

Lara fired a rope arrow and traversed the zipline to the craggy cliffside to the other side as Captain America followed her along with Patronus before they climbed through the window, entering the monastery. "Formation?"

"Formation." Captain answered as he took the rear with Lara between him and Patronus while the latter took the front. They walked down the hallway and turned right before Patronus stopped as an inhuman cry echoed. "What was that?"

His answer came in the form of more Stormguards as they walked in a room ahead of them, conversing like employees in a normal workday.

"The Stormguard…" Lara mused loud enough for the heroes to hear. "Still protecting their queen after all these years?"

"Shall we introduce them to a world of pain?" Patronus asked like a little child.

Captain sent him a nod of the head. "Let's." He answered as Lara pulled out her shotgun and cocked it in one motion with a single hand.

The cocking attracted the Stormguard as they grabbed their weapons and charged at them. Patronus met their charge as he grabbed the first Stormguard and used him as a shield to ram through the rest, knocking them down before throwing the Stormguard in his grip to a wall.

Captain, seeing the Stormguard recovering, threw his shield at the other katana-wielding Stormguard but the cursed samurai ducked underneath the projectile. Undeterred, the Avenger gently nudged Lara aside before he charged at his chosen Stormguard, tackling it to the ground before disarming the katana from the grip.

Meanwhile Lara quickly back-stepped, dodged and flipped acrobatically between the last two Stormguard as they swung their naginatas as she quickly unloaded four shots from her shotgun after landing on the ground. She fired two more shots just to be sure they stayed down.

Captain and the Stormguard traded blows and counterattacks as neither of them gave each other an inch. The Avenger ducked underneath an elbow strike and tackled the samurai once more before he quickly latched his legs around the Stormguard's neck while its arm was stretched out by his hands.

"An armbar." Patronus stated after glancing the grappling move as he simply blocked his Stormguard's attacks before slitting its throat and tendon areas with his Pivot Blade.

Captain's body twerked as a loud snap slightly echoed in the room, signifying that the Stormguard is dead…its neck was snapped.

After setting boxes and debris on fire, the trio crouched through a narrow tunnel as they entered a huge room filled with nothing but Stormguard.

"Oh shit." Lara and Patronus cursed after seeing the horde of unaware Stormguard. "Don't make a sound, everyone."

"Agreed." Captain stated as he and the others crouched alongside the structure that hid them from the Stormguard, walked up the stairs before they stealthily crossed a beam to the other staircase and scaled alongside an edge.

As they approached the open window while scaling, the trio noticed the hulking Stormguard in the center of the room as two smaller Stormguard were inspecting its armor for possible defects. Was this the new leader of the Stormguard after the General's seppuku?

That was on Patronus's mind until he saw Lara jumped to the window but accidently knocked down a skull, attracting the Stormguard's attention. With swift action, the Uzumaki ninja threw three smoke bombs in the center to block their sight as he and Captain entered the window after Lara.

The Avenger tilted his head to dodge a flaming arrow. "Run!" He ordered as more arrows flew at them, causing an explosion afterwards.

The trio ran down the hall as a chain of explosions followed them before they tumbled down a steep hill with a few sharp turns and landed on the bottom.

"Oh…" Lara groaned as a hand was in front of her. She accepted it as Patronus helped her stand up. "Thanks."

"Anytime." Patronus answered before extending his Pivot Blade. "Incoming!"

Three Stormguard had jumped from the walls above ahead and charged at them which they responded just as swift. Patronus parried a Stormguard's katana, cutting it due to the Adamantine blade as Captain America bashed his shield on the Stormguard's head.

Once it fell on the ground, the Avenger was on top of it and decapitated the head off before he noticed the second Stormguard. His instincts blared at the point as Captain hunched his back while Patronus rolled over him and kicked the Stormguard's katana away.

Lara watched Patronus slit the Stormguard's throat with his golden narrow wrist blade before she fired several shots from her silencer at the bare-handed Stormguard in the chest and head. After the bodies were taken care of and out of sight, the trio ran to the end of the hallway where there was an ancient door.

Instead of Lara, it was Patronus who opened it with brute force as he punched the door down. Instantly, a powerful gust wind greeted them after doing so as they soon reassumed the formation while trying to mind the weather.

As they climbed up a wall to enter another tunnel, the trio heard the Endurance survivors on the radio.

-"Jonah, Grim, incoming!"- Roth called out.

Reyes spoke next after the old man. -"Shoot them down with everything you got!"-

-"I got this side…call out targets!"- Jonah shouted as the sounds of gunfire burst in the link.

Lara shared glances with the two heroes as they all shared nods to hurry to rescue Sam. They made it to the other side where a bridge stood before them while the constant breeze of wind was slowly pulling it apart. As the trio cautiously trudged against the wind, the bridge suddenly tilted forward, sending them to a natural platform below.

And once again, Patronus was used to break Lara's fall while Captain had rolled on the ground.

"This is getting annoying!" The disguised ninja whined as both he and Lara stood up.

*Bababam* *Bababam*

The drum-like sound attracted the trio's attention as hordes of Stormguard was getting ready for battle and charging at them. Both Patronus and Lara used their senses to scan the two plateaus that serve as their battleground as they saw that ahead of them in the far north was the one calling the shots for the samurai.

The Stormguard Stalker.

"Alright you bastards, let's see what you got." Lara taunted as she readied her pistol.

Patronus already counterattacked by expertly throwing ten exploding kunai at the Stormguard on the higher plateau, watching them scatter before being blown away seconds later. Lara ducked under an arrow before she returned fire at the Stormguard archer as the Croft explorer followed Captain who had cleared a path of Stormguard.

Seeing a Stormguard on a roof that hid it from the wandering eyes of Lara and Captain, Patronus reached the far roof in one leap and landed on the surprised Stormguard before he stabbed his right Hidden Blade into its neck.

Unbeknownst to him except to Kurama and Ashura, Naruto had just performed an air assassination.

After witnessing his men being torn apart and defeated by the intruders, the Stormguard Stalker raised its massive spiked kanabo with a mighty roar as more archers ran out of the monastery doors and formed into two columns. Once seeing them nocked their aflame arrows, the Stalker brought its kanabo down.

His senses blaring, Patronus turned around and saw the hailing arrows along with the distracted Lara and Captain America. "Guys, get down!" Naruto shouted before he used a Shunshine to reach their location…in front of them.

"We have to retreat!" Lara cried out as she stepped backwards.

Captain shook his head. "There's no time!"

"No choice…" Naruto whispered before he clapped his hands together. "Futon: Kazeheki!"

All movements of the Stormguard ceased when a swirling mass of wind circled around the outsiders and cut many arrows that threatened them. Their leader stared at the spherical mass as it dispersed, revealing the outsiders to unharmed by their arrows.

Raising its kanabo and aiming directly at the hooded one, the Stalker roared loudly before giving orders in Japanese. And Patronus and Lara knows what he said.

"Capture the one responsible for our Queen!"

The Stormguard sentries, archers and swordsman raised their respective weapons as they either aimed at Patronus or in case of the swordsmen and spearmen took to charge with their weapons.

"I'll handle them! You two get up there!" Patronus ordered, much to their surprise, especially Lara.

She grabbed his arm. "Are you crazy?! You can't fight the rest on your own! It's suicide!"

"Lucky for me, I'm not asking for your permission." Patronus answered simply before he grabbed and tossed both Lara and Captain to the higher plateau just as the Stormguard used a massive stone pillar as a bridge to cross to him. "Let's play!"

Clasping an enemy's blade with his palm, Patronus snatched the weapon before plunging it into the former owner as it fell backwards from instant death for now. He bobbed and weaved from a naginata before breaking it with a hand-knife as Naruto formed his signature technique in his palm.

"Rasengan!" Patronus slammed his chakra sphere into a horde of Stormguard as they were destroyed while their disintegrated remains flew off the plateau. Turning around, he inhaled and exhaled several wind-chakra cylindrical projectiles quickly. "Futon: Shinkugyoku!" The Stormguard were torn apart by the wind element's cutting power while the remaining ones were cut down by Patronus's Pivot Blade and Hidden Blade.

Meanwhile on the second plateau, Lara took cover behind a house before she fired her machine gun at the sentries and archers in the towers as Captain America parried several naginata and katana strikes from four Stormguards with his shield. Lara, after taking out the long-range fighters, aided Captain with two shots from her shotgun at the naginata wielding Stormguard.

The katana-wielding Stormguard were distracted by Lara, giving Captain a chance as he quickly snatched a naginata away and cleaved the four Stormguard through their upper torsos. Lara ducked under an arrow and switched her shotgun for her compound bow as she nocked and released an arrow right back at the Stormguard archer.

The duo could hear Patronus's joyous laughter followed by a gentle breeze of wind as they made their way towards the shrine ahead but debris blocked their way between the towers. More Stormguard approached them with swinging weapons whether it be katana, naginata or shield, but they were not deterred.

Lara stood back and switched to her machine gun as she emptied a clip at the Stormguard while Captain fought the others in weapons combat. The Avenger rolled under a Stormguard's katana that found itself into another before he cleaved their legs with his Vibranium-made shield.

After they were secured, Lara fired a rope arrow and used her ascender to pull the debris out. The duo ran between the towers until they were stopped by the impending presence in front of the monastery doors.

Once all was cleared, Patronus leaped to the higher plateau and saw Lara and Captain holding onto the ground with the axe and shield respectively.

As for the Stormguard Stalker, it noticed Patronus and roared at him as the leader charged at him before being blown away by a power gust of wind over Lara and Captain.

TTIIPMxTTIIPMxTTIIPM

- Sacred Hall, Chasm Shrine -

- Inland Yamatai -

After making it inside and catching a breather or two, Patronus looked at Lara who had the 'tell me everything' look. "Wind is one of the capabilities I can use."

"Aerokinesis is one of the beneficial powers in the world and I'm speaking from experience." Captain mused as Patronus chuckled a little. Lara continued to stare at him as she was hurt by the hooded hero's hidden powers although at the same time, she knew that he probably had a reason for doing so.

In fact, she was just glad that he used his powers now and the time Grim was saved. However, she became conflicted by the Stormguard's reaction of his powers. Most likely they'll be focused on killing Patronus since he's the biggest threat to their queen.

"Lara? Lara." The archer blinked when Patronus called out her name. "You good to go?" He asked after a snap of his fingers.

Lara nodded. "Let's keep going." She and the heroes walked to the central shrine room where there was a suspended obstacle. "Great, now we got to do another puzzle or something."

"Or we can do…" Patronus paused as he stepped in front of the doors on the other side and punched through them. "This." He finished as a stunned Lara stared at him while Captain had the 'I knew it' expression. "Come on in, you two."

Lara grabbed his arm as her glare came back ten-fold. "You are going to tell me everything about you when we're done here."

"You sure about that?" Patronus gave the elevator eyes at her and himself. "'Everything' you say?" He smirked before a tick-marked Lara slapped him good across the face. "Argh!"

"Are you serious now?!" Lara shouted at the fear-stricken Patronus. "Unbelievable! And I thought you were different from other men. Guess Captain America is the only different guy here."

The Avenger chuckled nervously. "Am I really?"

"Whatever…" Patronus whispered lowly.

Lara simply 'humphed' as she walked around the center of the room, noticing statues of woman in ceremonial robes with metallic rays coming out from behind them like the sun. "The Sun Queens… the fire ritual where the Queen chooses her successor." She observed at the stone carvings around her as they spoke of the fire ritual. "The chosen priestess enters the monastery. She's given your power and becomes the new queen."

Patronus and Captain waited as Lara stopped at the last carving while she remembered Mathias's words towards Sam back at the palace. "Wait a minute…"

'Many have given their souls willingly for this gift.'

Now the words of the Stormguard General came to play in her thoughts.

'Now the first and last queen lives a half-life, a soul in a decaying body.'

Lara gasped softly as she finally realized the ritual's true nature. "Vessels. It's not about transferring power. It's transferring… a soul." Her eyes paced around the statues present in the room. "All these Queens… they were all… you." She stopped at the largest statute in the room. "Himiko. The first and last." Fear gripped her when she realized something else important. "Oh God and now you want Sam."

Captain and Patronus glanced at each other as Lara said to the statute. "Well, you're not getting her."

"Okay then. Let's go." Captain edged onwards to the door as Patronus followed him.

The ninja's arm was grabbed by the side, causing him to look at Lara who looked guilt-ridden. "You were right all along, Patronus. Himiko is alive." Lara said. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" Patronus tilted his head. "At best, I said that she might be alive. That itself is a theory, no." Lara chuckled when the hero's head tilted further like a dog wanted a trick. "Come on. Let's save your friend."

The trio ran through the passageway and made to the windy outside where they saw a massive ziggurat ahead of them connected to a bridge. As they made it to the bridge's opposite end, a lightning bolt crashed at the top of them but Patronus deflected it. "Futon: Kazeheki!"

The lone bolt struck a lone part of the bridge behind them as the protective wind wall dispersed around the trio. "We have to get out of this storm!" Captain shouted over the strong wind as he noticed a cave tunnel in the ziggurat. "Through there!"

The trio ran through the cave and climbed up a few high craggy walls to the higher floor. Lara walked to the hole in the wall where she saw the entrance and a craggy wall next to her that led a higher floor as she climbed it while Patronus and Captain followed from behind.

After reaching the highest floor they could, the trio's radios blared with Reyes's voice.

-"Guys, those bastards are coming in. We did the best we could to slow them down…"-

The trio looked down at the bridge and saw hordes of Stormguard running to the ziggurat.

Lara responded back. "Get to the boat… and if we're not back…"

-"We're not leaving without you girl!"- Roth said hotly through the commlink. –"We're waiting for you…Patronus, I expect you to bring her back to me."-

Patronus nodded as he answered the touch screen. "You bet, Roth." He nodded at his companions as they traveled to the other tower, scaled it and crossed to the other side with Lara's rope arrow until they arrived at another campfire. "Okay, who or what are putting these campfires?"

"Oh boy." Lara rolled her eyes while Captain chuckled a bit.

TTIIPMxTTIIPMxTTIIPM

- Ziggurat Vestibule, Chasm Ziggurat -

- Inland Yamatai -

After Lara's temperature rose by the campfire's warmth, the trio engaged in another climbing session as they scaled up the icy craggy walls, broken wooden planks and the wind that threatened to blow them off the ziggurat. At last, they finally reached the top of the ziggurat where Mathias had Sam kneeling before a woman in a royal kimono and her hair done in a professional manner.

"Oh, great Queen." Mathias chanted as his arms were stretched out. "Through the trials I brought you the vessel. Pour forth and return to this mortal coil." Sam was scared and her fear grew as the chant continued. "Pour forth and be reborn. Pour forth and be awaken!"

The decaying body jolted as her face tore from the sudden action with a loud gasp while light blue energy shot out from her mouth to Sam's body.

"Sam!" Lara shouted with worry as she fired an arrow.

"Crap!" Patronus cursed as he threw his kunai.

Both projectiles were thrown aside by the bluish sphere that acted as a shield, forcing the trio to jump down to reach Sam and Mathias while Solarii emerged from the wooden structures. "The ritual has begun. Defend Mathias!"

"Oh no, you don't!" Patronus channeled chakra around his fist before thrusting it forward. "Eaken!"

Lara and Captain watched as a narrow column of wind—instead of the normal version—shot out of the hero's hand and threw the Solarii off the ziggurat along with a building or two. The remaining Solarii stood in fear after seeing the wind attack, giving the trio to assault them with everything they have as Lara shot down five of them while Captain threw his shield to take down a squadron.

Patronus on the other hand had leapt ahead of the two as he rushed to get to Sam. "Why didn't I give Sam a Hirashin kunai?!" He cursed himself for not being more careful with Sam. His progress stopped when another gust of wind blew against his frame as Captain and Lara caught up with him.

They climbed another structure to reach the high pedestal until Stormguard appeared from the edges. Lara was ready to fight when a lightning bolt struck a building structure near them as it soon fell onto the struggling Stormguard.

"We have to hurry!" Lara urged as the road in front of them were destroyed, leaving only a pillar in the massive gap between them and the other building on the cliff.

Patronus and Captain were about to go after her when their trained senses alerted them of attacks as they dodged out of the way and saw the Skeleton Warriors, Oni-bi and Yoki brandishing their weapons. Lara turned around and saw the heroes battling the Yokai.

"Guys!" Lara called out.

Patronus slashed a Yoki in half with Tenkaichi. "Lara, go save Sam! We'll catch up to you!" He shouted back without turning around to look at her. "GO!"

Lara hesitated but she knew he was right and turned around as she entered an opening clearing that was surrounded by burning fires and broken building debris. The archer hid behind a debris to hide from two Solarii who didn't seem to have notice her presence.

Dread filled her when a hulking hand grabbed the edge as its owner pulled himself up the clearing. It was the Stormguard Stalker as it walked towards the two Solarii while they opened fire but the samurai's heavy armor deflected the bullets. The leader slammed its arm against the first Solarii, killing him on contact before it grabbed the second by the throat as it soon crushed his throat.

Lara gulped loudly as the Stalker roared at her with its massive spiked kanabo rested on the right shoulder. She rolled out of the way from the Stalker's range as it slammed the kanabo on the ground, causing a small shockwave before she fired bullets from her machine gun at the samurai's back.

The Stalker groaned as it reached for the back but ignored the pain in favor to smash her with the kanabo. Lara rolled out of the way once more and opened fire directly at the unarmored back along with two grenades from her launcher.

Two explosions staggered the Stalker from the force but the samurai recomposed himself as it charged at Lara and swung the kanabo once more. She dodged once more and emptied the current mag at the Stalker's back, but this time the cursed samurai fell to its knees.

"Now's my chance!" Lara thought as she charged at the Stalker and slashed the shoulder area.

The Stormguard leader groaned from the pain but it quickly recovered and lashed out at Lara who swiftly back-rolled out of the way as two Stormguard sentries climbed to their battleground.

Lara reloaded her machine gun and fired at the smaller Stormguard before she dodged out of the Stalker's kanabo and counter-attacked with her gun once more. She also fired three grenades at the samurai as it was blasted by the forceful explosions a moment later.

More Stormguard sentries and archers appeared on the roof as the Stalker, without its helmet, ordered them to attack her.

"Shit!" Lara cursed as she emptied out her clip at the Stormguard horde while dodging her attacks. She rolled out of the way and switched out for her shotgun before she fired the wide short bursts at the hordes. "You won't bring me down, you bastards!"

The Stalker roared when its men fell to the female intruder and charged at her once more. Lara once again dodged the kanabo strike and fired at his back four more times as it fell to his knees. Grabbing her axe, Lara stabbed the Stalker in the head several times before she slashed upwards through the chin.

Feeling the body slacked, Lara pulled out her axe from the Stormguard Stalker's head and took a breather from the battle. She looked up to see a lightning bolt destroy an obstacle and cleared a path that led her straight to the platform surrounded by the shield.

As she made it, the bridge behind her collapsed from the wind but that wasn't on her mind. Lara pulled out her compound bow and prepared to fire at the decaying body but someone else had another idea in mind.

"No!" Mathias shouted as he fired at Lara, knocking the bow out of her hand.

Lara pulled out her pistol and fired a shot at the charging Solarii leader but Mathias ignored the pain as he knocked out the pistol out of her hand before punching her. Lara spun around and pulled out her axe before she dug it into Mathias's shoulder.

"This ends now!" Mathias tackled her to the ground.

Lara saw his pistol and reached for the weapon but found herself in a clash as Mathias tried to stab her with his axe. The struggle between didn't last as a black blade dug itself in Mathias's shoulder, causing him to scream in pain and arching his back.

Lara saw Patronus and Captain near Sam before she grabbed Mathias's pistol and fired a bullet at his other shoulder. Mathias screamed once more from the gunfire and when the sword fell from his shoulder as he stumbled backwards towards the edge.

Standing up, Lara grabbed her own pistol and fired both weapons at the staggering Mathias as she approached him until the Solarii leader lost his footing and fell to his death with failing arms.

"AAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Lara panted heavily as she stared down the massive descent Mathias took with her pistols by the sides. She felt that this was what she was supposed to be but put that aside as she ran over to Sam who was being blasted by the light.

Patronus asked, "What do we do now?!"

"This!" Lara affirmed as she stabbed her torch into Himiko's body.

The effect was instant as Himiko screamed in agony while her body disintegrated in a golden light. Patronus and Captain looked back at Sam who was being cradled by Lara as her head was on the latter's lap. "Sam? Sam! Wake up!"

"What's wrong with her?" Captain asked as Patronus approached her.

Suddenly, Sam lunged at Patronus as her hands was his body. To their shock, her eyes were yellow as an evil smirk adorned her lips.

"Now I'll have my revenge by taking your body!"

"It's Himiko!" Lara shouted in dreaded realization.

"Patronus, get away from her!"

Patronus gritted his teeth as he was fighting Himiko's attempt to take his body. As for Himiko, she was having trouble to take his body but quickly realized that this was not the one who destroyed her ritual but his descendant as she saw very few images about him.

The hooded figure being a blonde teenager slamming a Ki-infused sphere against another red-eyed teenager's lightning-covered hand. Another image was him being trained by the one who destroyed her centuries ago.

Meanwhile, Naruto was seeing Himiko's memories as well.

(Flashback Begins)

- Chasm Ziggurat, Monastery -

- Inland Yamatai -

- November 1, 500 A.D. -

"How dare you appear yourself to me! I am the Sun Queen!"

The Sun Queen put up a brave face but she was utterly afraid at the intruder's flawless martial prowess as her elite Stormguard including her General were on the floor with wounds and bruises. Standing in front of her surrounded by her wounded Stormguard was the intruder himself.

His purple-grayish ripple eyes stared at her with the mix of disappointment and solemn before they glanced at the whimpering priestess. The white-cloaked Sage couldn't blame her since she was to become a vessel for Himiko and would have if he hadn't arrived in time.

"You used your power of knowledge to escape death." The Sage of Six Paths spoke in a firm voice, frightening the Queen. "You took the lives of those before the priestess today."

The priestess whimpered once more as she avoided to look at her former queen.

"They offered their lives to me!" Himiko justified as she summoned lightning to her hands before firing them at the intruder. "And nor you and anyone else will defy me!"

To her shock, the Sage of Six Paths raised his right hand to catch the lightning before he crushed it.

"Fortunately, I'm here." The unknown Otsutsuki member flashed through a series of hand-signs before slamming his right hand on the ground. "And I shall place your punishment."

The Sun Queen gasped as kanji spread from his hands and latched all over her person. "W-What are you doing?"

"You wanted to live forever, then you shall." The Sage of Six Paths answered. "Fuinjutsu: Godai Kekkai!"

The Stormguard General reached out with his hand. "My Queeen!" He cried out for his screaming queen.

Himiko's body glowed brightly as the seals soon disappeared from visible sight. Her head hung down as her general reached out for her before he turned his head to the one who ruined it all.

"Damn… you…"

The Sage sighed as he formed a single hand-sign. "Now you'll never know of my existence." His eyes glowed with power as the ground shook from the technique he used on the entire island. The Sage of Six Paths turned to the priestess. "You are safe now."

The Father of all Ninja grunted lightly when the priestess hugged him in gratitude. "Thank you, thank you." The priestess repeated her mantra as the Sage carried her with his arms while leaving the palace. "Won't they come after me or you?"

Hagoromo shook his head. "Almost all the Stormguard's memories have been altered by the Genjutsu I just placed except for her." He referred to Himiko. "She'll remember me but as for you, you killed yourself after discovering the ritual's true nature."

"Ooh…Well I guess that's better than being a doll." The priestess muttered before speaking aloud. "But regardless, since the ritual was interrupted, you basically cursed her and the Stormguard."

"Plus, my Genjutsu and Fuinjutsu will keep them occupied for a very, very long time." Hagoromo stated firmly. "Although, I have a feeling that someone from my family will finish things off here."

The priestess tilted her head. "Who do you mean?"

"Just rambling. Are you ready to head back to Nihon (Japan)?" A nod came from the priestess. "Let's go."

The Sage and his traveler entered a small portal created by the former's Yin-Yang chakra and left the deserted island that soon became engulfed by raging storms.

(Flashback Ends)

"LET….ME…IN!"

Patronus gritted his teeth. "FAT CHANCE!" He shouted as the image of Kurama appeared in front of Himiko's eyes while probing through his mind.

"Get out of his mind!" Kurama shouted before he roared loudly with blared fangs.

Himiko screamed as she and Patronus were separated from each other by the light. "What was that?! That wasn't human!"

"Screw you!" Patronus formed handsigns different from the one his master used. "Uzumaki Fuinjutsu: Kitsune no Kekkai!"

Lara and Captain stepped back in shock as a one-tailed kitsune made of wind emerged from Patronus's hand and rushed through Sam's body. To their surprise, Himiko's spirit was dragged out from Sam as she was held tightly by the fox's tail.

"NO! NO!" Himiko shouted in defiance as she struggled to break free.

Patronus walked to the struggling Sun Queen. "I am sorry that my ancestor brought you suffering but you brought this on your own." He whispered to Himiko, much to her anger.

"Are you going to seal me like your ancestor?!" Himiko screamed out. "Do that! But remember I'll escape this island and bring the world to its knees!"

Patronus stared at her solemnly while Lara and Captain America noticed something about Himiko's spirit. It was becoming physical. She was being revived!

"So, you haven't noticed yet." Patronus muttered softly. "You don't feel the wind?"

Raising a brow, Himiko's eyes widened slowly every second as she did feel the wind breeze against her face. For the first time in a long time, she felt something. Now, her plan of conquest will be ten times fruitful.

Or it would have been if it was not for the golden narrow blade plunged into her throat.

The wind fox's tail released the dying Himiko before it disappeared into the air as Patronus gently lowered her body on the ground. He pulled out his left Hidden Blade from her throat as Himiko grabbed his hand and he knew what it meant. She didn't want to be alone.

"I-I just*gag*wanted…to live*cough*more." Himiko admitted with tears.

"Death comes for us all when the time is right." Patronus answered softly. "If one tries to prolong life rather than accept death, then the fear grows and the consequences become greater."

The first and last Sun Queen chuckled mirthfully. "Says the one…who became an immortal."

"I never wanted it." Patronus whispered while he suppressed his shock. She saw him obtaining Poseidon's power? "Funny how that goes: those who want immortality dies while those who don't becomes one."

Himiko stared inside the hood and she could've sworn that she saw a vague hint of dual blue within. She coughed once more as blood began to fill her throat. "Funny it is… But it goes to show… you're a better… Human being. Worthy." She inhaled deeply. "Arigato (Thank you)."

With her last breath, Himiko left this world.

"Requiescat in pace (Rest in peace)." Patronus whispered in Italian as he closed her eyelids.

Soon, the body of the Sun Queen disintegrated due to being killed and no longer in contact with the fox. Naruto's new original Uzumaki Fuinjutsu allows him to touch a spirit and give them a physical body due to using the Yin-Yang release. The spirit would remain alive as long the fox makes physical contact unless someone kills the spirit with a special metal or power.

The Adamantine metal of the Hidden Blades met that requirement. He only recently created this technique and it is very delicate due to the intricate control of the Yin and Yang chakras.

"It's over…It's finally over!" Lara said with great relief as Sam chuckled loudly.

Patronus looked at the girls and smiled at them as he flicked the blood from his Hidden Blade before he retracted it inside his bracer. "Yeah, it's over."

"Thank goodness." Captain said as he stood beside Patronus. He looked decent despite the numerous cuts and dirty patches around his costume. "I take it you didn't want S.H.I.E.L.D. to know more about you."

"The less they know, the better." Patronus affirmed strongly. He turned to the Avenger. "And I trust you'll keep it a secret."

Captain America saluted the rookie hero with absolute respect. "Till my dying day."

"Y-you don't have to be so serious about it." Patronus said with a sweat-drop.

"A hero killing people is something most would not ignore." Captain mused as Patronus narrowed his eyes. "However, I think that's exactly what I'm looking for."

The ninja looked at him. "What do you mean by that?"

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- Survivor's Beach, Shipwreck Beach -

"Please reconsider, Patronus."

"Nope."

"…" The Endurance crew stared at the show before them as Patronus stood on the opposite side of the boat with Captain America trying to convince him about his offer. From what they heard, the Avenger had offered the rookie hero to be the first member of a new team he's building with other heroes. Much to their surprise including Captain America, Patronus had refused the offer.

"…Very well but the offer still stands, Patronus."

Patronus gave a thumbs-up before he noticed one interesting fact with the boat. "Uh, guys? You fought off the Stormguard, correct."

Alex raised an arm as he flexed the muscles. "Of course, we took down some of them. They were no match for us."

"But they were more than a match for the gas tank."

"Eh?" was the collective word for the crew.

Patronus stepped aside to show the engine leaking oil as a stray arrow had struck one of the gas lines. "No, no." Reyes repeated with disbelief as the boat began to slow down until it stopped near the shoreline. "NO!"

"Yep." Patronus said with a pop of the 'p'.

As they reluctantly disembarked from the boat while Roth and Reyes tried to fix the aquatic vehicle. Lara and Sam sat next to each other while Jonah, Alex and Grim searched around the beach to make sure the perimeter is secured from Solarii or Stormguard.

"Patronus…" Said hero looked to his side and saw Captain America. "Are you sure that ship is USS America?" A nod came from him as the Avenger sighed with relief. "Then a lot of people back home are going to be relieved to have their loved ones back."

Before they left for the beach, Patronus had taken Captain America to the cavern where the lost American warship was stranded and informed him that S.H.I.E.L.D.'s main priority should be the deceased sailors before the island's structures and tombs.

Their much-needed peace was interrupted by the sound of something falling against a metal component. The armed people rose to their feet with their weapons pointed at the spot where they heard the noise.

*Kon~*

Patronus turned around as he sensed two different unique energies from behind a broken shelter. He walked towards it and in everyone's direct line of fire, much to their chagrin. "Patronus, out of the way!"

Ignoring the warning, the disguised ninja reached the shelter and crouched. "It's okay…You can come out." He said softly. A coo-like sound came from behind the shelter. "It's fine. No one here will hurt you, I promise." Patronus stretched out his right hand as a peace offering.

It wasn't long until the Endurance crew saw something amazing unlike the nasty creatures earlier such as the numerous types of Yokai. The first creature was a small fox with fur as white as clear snow, green eyes and a red bib around the neck. But it was the second creature that had all their attention. It resembled a small child with light green skin, white small eyes and smile on its adorable face as it had a small bib around the neck, a stick of sorts in its left hand and an oversized bowl on its head.

"A Kodama aren't you." Patronus stated softly, getting a big nod from the small creature. "Where's your shrine? And your friends?"

Lara walked towards Patronus and crouched next to him as the Kodama hid behind the fox who snarled at her. "It's okay. It's okay." Lara raised her hands up to show she meant no harm. "I'm not going to hurt you either. I'm friends with him." She pointed at Patronus who nodded at the creatures.

Soon, everyone sans Reyes approached the creatures who were reluctant and scared by their presences but eventually accepted them.

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As it had turned out, the Kodama is a Japanese tree spirit much like the Dryads in Greek mythology that resides in trees. According to Patronus's knowledge, they also lived in shrines that are dedicated to them. The Kodama would bring fortune and luck to those benevolent to them and their trees but also curse those who are the opposite.

After Sam and the similarly-excited Jonah, Alex and Grim had their turn taking care of the creatures, the Kodama and the fox ran to the one whom they felt the safest with as the former quickly climbed to his head while the latter creature sat on his lap.

"They seem to like you very much." Lara said jovially.

Patronus chuckled as he nuzzled the fox's head while the Kodama played with his hood. "I just have that effect on animals, even the folklore type." He gestured to the creature on his head.

There was also the fact that he became one with nature after mastering Senjutsu and Sage Mode. His learning of the art had made him respect nature of the highest nature and the animals can sense that deep respect like the Raicho the Thunderbird, Sui the Hippocampus, and now the Kodama and the white fox.

Although, it was the vulpine creature that gave him the most cause for alarm…in a good way so to speak.

"Great One?" Patronus blinked a few times as he looked around for the voice, only for his head get patted by the Kodama. "Can you hear me?"

Patronus gave a small nod, much to the Kodama and fox's delight.

"Yay! I'm so happy! I knew you were different from the rest of the humans here. I just knew it!" The Kodama spoke and waved its stick like a child. "Foxy here didn't believe me but I knew it!"

"Is that really his name?" Patronus asked through the link. The fox shook his head and snarled a little at the Kodama. "What's his deal?" He flinched when the fox tried to bite him but the Nemean Lion's pelt protected his body from the fangs.

"She, not a 'he'."

Getting down to business, Patronus asked softly. "How long have you two been on this island?"

The Kodama explained its history on the island from there on. It told Naruto about how the island was a prosperous one filled with humans and Yokai living in peace with each other. However, that all changed when the Sun Queen took over the island and ruled over its people, brainwashed them to hate the Yokai and destroy all shrines and homes dedicated to them. The Yokai had morphed into their current forms from years of malevolence by the humans except the Kodama themselves.

The Kodama ranged in the thousands around the island before Himiko's reign but after centuries of being hunted and eaten by Yokai and Human alike, there was only one left. That was when the last Kodama met the fox who became its best friend and guardian during the last 300 years. The fox was on aboard an Atakebune, a Japanese coastal naval war vessel used during the 16th and 17th centuries, before it sunk by Himiko's storms.

They met and looked out for each other ever since.

"What is that?"

Everyone's thoughts were interrupted after Sam brought their attention to the horizon where they saw an outline. An outline belonging to a— "Ship!" Roth shouted with vigor as everyone sans Captain and Patronus waved their arms to catch the ship sailor's attention.

The ship had stopped 30 yards away from the island's shoreline, forcing them to swim towards the brig-type ship. As soon as they climbed aboard, the crew explored the Colonial-era ship to search for the captain or anyone but they couldn't which led a few of them to one conclusion.

"THIS SHIP IS HAUNTED!" Jonah, Alex, Sam and Grim screamed out loud.

Shrugging his shoulders, Patronus looked around the brig-type vessel as did everyone else but their reason was to make sure that the ship was empty. The ninja looked up at the central mast on the main deck and smiled within his hood as he saw something cool and wanted a better look.

He noticed the Assassin-shaped pulley system and used it to pull himself to the crow's nest. Naruto chuckled at the object that caught his attention. It was a black flag with an orange Assassin insignia while a red Uzumaki Clan's symbol was centered inside the insignia.

His wives must've made the flag or Jolly roger as it was formally called during his time here. He could only imagine Kuroka arguing with Medusa about the design while Saeko and Rhea with the colors. This made him more anxious to see his family once the crew are safe on Japan's mainland.

"Patronus!" The ninja looked down and saw Lara waving him to come down before complying with her request. "Wait, wait, wait!" Lara cried out as Patronus fell off the crow's nest before he landed in front of her with no sign of pain. "Seriously, who are you?"

Smirking under his hood, Patronus shrugged his shoulders. "Who knows?"

"Anyone know how to steer this ship?" Alex asked as everyone shook their heads. "I was afraid of that."

"Actually, I do." Patronus said with a raised hand, drawing everyone's attention. "My grandfather was a ship-fanatic and taught me how to sail all types of ships."

"Including an 18th-century brig?" Lara asked with wonder. A nod came from the hooded ninja. "You just continue to surprise me."

His figurative grandfather being Poseidon in a way, Patronus inherited all knowledge of seafaring and the mechanics of every ship class in mankind's history from the Olympian god due in part of his godly power residing within him. That also include limited telekinetic power over the ship.

As they walked to the helm on the upper quarterdeck, both the Avenger and disguised Shinobi noticed the water began to swirl near the ship, alerting their trained senses of the danger. "Everyone, get ready!" The Endurance crew stayed near the main mast and grabbed hold of it as Patronus grabbed the helm.

Suddenly, the Aquila sailed forward very fast due to Patronus's discreet use of his Wind Style as he steered the ship away from the swirling area. However, they couldn't get far enough as the ocean behind rose to insurmountable heights as the ship's passengers saw a new creature that threatened to harm them.

The fox snarled at the creature while the Kodama's grip grew tighter on his head as Patronus inspected closely on the creature.

The churning water held massive debris of wooden ships from past centuries as the massive monster resembled with a rounded head much like a bald monk and two large glowing stones that acted for its eyes.

"The Umibozu…" Patronus whispered before steering the ship away and using the wind to make it go faster.

The tales of the Umibozu or Sea Monk in English was quite discomforting for the ninja as it was basically the mega version of the shark from 'Jaws' which also made him scared of the ocean for a little while. It was a Yokai who attacks ships in the dead of night and according to the legends, to avoid a ship plunging into the ocean, the sailors would use a bottomless barrel to save their lives.

Unfortunately for them, they don't have a bottomless barrel now.

The Umibozu quickly caught to the fast ship and summoned a tentacle of water to smash the crew, but Patronus quickly steered the helm to starboard as the Aquila performed a sharp turn. Large waves rose from the smashed tentacle and headed for the broadsided ship.

Seeing that they won't make with turns, Patronus channeled chakra once more. "Futon: Kazeheki!" A large version of the wind technique swirled around the ship and cut a sphere-size hole through the waves. As the technique dispersed, Naruto looked beyond the stern and widened his eyes before steering Aquila hard to port and telekinetically had the full sails for extra speed.

Captain was about to ask why with full sails when a huge yellow beam narrowly missed them. "What's the plan, Patronus?"

The hooded ninja planned to create a clone and battle the Yokai itself when Sam pointed out something else in the ocean. "Over there! Don't tell me it's another one!" The best friend of Lara said in fear.

They were in for a surprise as a horse-headed creature with arachnid-like claws and crustacean armor bursts out of the sea surface and tackled the Umibozu back away from the Aquila. The passengers and hidden captain of the Assassin flagship watched the battle between the similar-sized giants after Patronus sailed to a safe distance.

"What is that thing?" Alex asked as he wiped his glasses of seawater.

"Looks like they're fighting each other over territory." Roth assumed as the Umibozu whipped a tentacle at the opposing enemy which didn't look affected due to its bulky appearance.

Grim hummed to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear. "Grim? Do you know that creature?"

"I've heard of its appearance from one of my pops' old stories." Grim answered as the horse creature opened its maw and released a water jet-spray at the Umibozu which didn't look damaged but was pushed back by the force of the attack. "I think that's a Hippocampus."

Lara stared at him in disbelief. "Hippocampus? As in Poseidon's creatures he created and pulls his chariot? I thought they were supposed to be beautiful."

"Looks can be deceiving, girl." Roth said in turn as his eyes were on the two creatures. "I wonder if it's on our side?"

A scoff came from Reyes. "You've got to be joking. Creatures that size can't be on our size." She stated coldly as Patronus rolled his eyes at her.

Sui neighed loudly as she tackled the Umibozu once more. The Yokai's eyes coalesced into one big massive glowing eye as energy charged inside it and alerted both Sui and her lord. The Hippocampus despite its massive bulk swiftly turned around as its long sharp scaled tail stabbed through the eye and to the other side.

The Umibozu lost shape as the water and shipwreck debris fell back into the ocean while Sui crushed the stone in its tail with the arachnid-like limbs into pieces before she gently waded through the ocean towards the Aquila, much to the passengers' shock.

"We got to leave! Patronus, steer this thing!" Reyes ordered but he did not heed her words. "Patronus! Now!"

Patronus waited until Sui's head was lowered to his height and surprised everyone with his words. "Good job, Sui. I'm proud of you." The Hippocampus shook her head in content as waterdrops fell on everyone, much to Naruto's amusement. "I missed you too. Come down here and give me a nuzzle."

Lara and her friends watched the massive creature shrink into the size of a puppy as it slithered around his body before nuzzling against his hooded head. "WHO ARE YOU?!" Everyone including Captain shouted with vigor.

Patronus chuckled as he returned to the helm and steered his ship north. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

As everyone tried to pry answers from the hooded hero, Lara walked to the aft/stern and watched the island grow smaller and smaller with each nautical distance until it was gone. She encountered creatures and historical figures that were thought to be myths and legends only to be proven real right before her very eyes.

And the one who was part of opening her eyes to the supernatural world was at the helm. She could hope that he would be there for her as she plans to discover the truth of her father's many theories of the world's legends.

It wasn't long until one of the survivors noticed something far ahead in the bow of the ship. "Guys, look! We're saved!" Sam shouted with glee as her friends cheered loudly while the jet-like airborne vehicle approached the ship with astounding speed.

Patronus and Captain America recognized the vehicle as the Quinjet circled around them before cruising with the ship like an escort.

And yet why was a sinking feeling pitted inside Naruto's stomach?

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(Eight Hours Later)

- Osaka Naval Base -

- Osaka, Honshu, Japan -

"Iknewit-I knewit-Iknewit-Iknewit-Iknewit-Iknewit."

A fuming Naruto suppressed the urge to destroy the base with a Rasengan and its stronger wind variant but he knew better but that still didn't mean he couldn't be upset about his current predicament and his tenants were in the same boat.

He was being arrested by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents as soon as the survivors and himself docked near Osaka's ports. His charge: interfering with an active S.H.I.E.L.D mission. Lara was quite adamant and angry like her friends about the charge but none of them came close to Captain America's anger who demanded to speak to Fury.

So, Fury is the head honcho of the organization. Good to know who to punch once he escapes.

Once he calmed his nerves, Naruto realized that this was an opportunity to know more about the organization and its personnel. So, he waited on the main deck of his ship with his hidden eyes glanced around the dock as agents had their side-arms aimed at him.

"People are watching me from the other side. Interesting." Patronus thought as he found himself to be completely at ease despite his earlier mood. Then he remembered that his occupants were safe.

The Kodama, the fox and Sui hid within his robes' seals to prevent S.H.I.E.L.D. from getting their hands on them. His ship, the Aquila, was safe from any potential eaves-dropping devices due to him placing strategically hidden tags that constantly sends out wind-nature chakra a millimeter off the ship. As for his weapons, they were still on his person and when the agents tried to take them, Patronus gave them a painful message to not touch them. Thirty agents didn't get the message.

Captain America returned to the ship as Lara and her friends stared at him. "Patronus, I am so sorry. I should've seen this coming especially from Fury." He apologized vehemently yet his anger from earlier was somewhat present.

"He used you to get to me." Patronus said in realization, much to the crew's shock.

A nod came from the Avenger. "He knew that I would recruit you to help the survivors and used that as a cover to arrest you on a false charge."

"For some reason, I feel honored all of the sudden." Patronus said off-handedly, surprising Captain. "I can tell you had no part in this and I believe you."

"This isn't fair! You were trying to help us!" Sam spoke with vigor as her friends nodded in agreement.

Lara walked to Patronus and Captain America. "We'll back you up, Patronus. You saved our lives."

Captain shared a chuckle with the rookie hero. "Most likely they're going to separate you all for your debriefing. Now Fury is going to try to—"

"Take your statement of everything that's happened since you arrived on the island." Fury spoke with authority as he made himself know. "Patronus."

"You must be Fury." Patronus said. "I figured you'd be taller or… something."

"Captain if you would…" Fury ordered to be alone.

Captain America did move but not outside as he stood behind Patronus with crossed arms. "You want the full story? You need to debrief both of us."

"All of us." Lara said firmly as she and her friends stood by Patronus.

Seeing that they would not budge and realizing Patronus would harm his agents if they took them off the ship for separate debriefing. "…Very well." Fury sighed with discontent as he opened his file with a blank paper. "Let's begin."

There began the longest waiting and debriefing Naruto had ever taken part of.

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(Three Hours Later)

"And we are done." Fury said as he finished his debriefing with the rookie hero.

As Lara and the others, they gave their debriefings at separate areas around the main deck to different agents and finished as well. They were being escorted off the ship while Captain America stayed with Patronus.

"I take it you want something else." Patronus stated in fact.

"Telepath?"

"An acute observer."

"Straight to the point. Very well." Fury closed the file as he coldly stared at the hooded Assassin. "Where were you on the night of April 28?"

"Sorry?" Patronus asked in a confused tone.

"I'm asking you of your whereabouts on the night of April 28."

"I honestly have no idea what you're talking about." Patronus admitted genuinely. So many things happened in this dimension that he doesn't remember everything unless it was of the utmost importance like his children's birthdays and his wives' anniversaries. "I'm a bit lost here."

Fury didn't like his answer and was about to press for more information when the ship suddenly began to glow light blue, stunning both him and Captain America. Patronus swiftly grabbed the two of them before he tossed them off his ship as the glowing began to consume the ship and him as well.

"Patronus!" The ninja looked back to see Lara trying to reach him but she was held back by S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. "Patronus! Get off the ship!" Lara demanded her friend.

The ninja was about to respond to her when he and the ship suddenly vanished in a bright bluish light. Fury, Captain, the Endurance survivors and agents stared at the empty space of the vanished Aquila as Lara began to curse at the S.H.I.E.L.D. director. "Damn you! Damn you, Fury!"

Fury ignored Croft's words as he silently fumed at losing the rookie hero and knew that he probably was never going to get another chance ever again.

Captain glared at the one-eyed man before ushering the survivors to the base away from the agents. He could only hope that Patronus was alive and forgive him for what happened even though the rookie hero already told him otherwise.

Lara was most devastated at losing the person who believed in her other than Roth and Sam. She wanted to get to know him more once they got off the island but now it seemed she may never get the chance. Despite all that, she had a feeling that she can see him again.

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- Fushimi-ku, Kyoto -

- Kyoto Prefecture, Honshu, Japan -

Patronus blinked several times as he found himself standing in front of a shrine that had fox statutes on both sides stationed at the base of a mountain. He looked around and noticed the people didn't register his presence, which made him nervous.

"Am I dead?" Patronus whispered with beads of sweat falling down his head.

His little show was interrupted when he felt his robes bugled a bit before the white fox escaped and ran up the trail of vermillion torii. "Follow him, my lord!"

Ignoring the 'lord' part, Naruto heeded the Kodama who stationed itself atop his head as he followed the fox all the way to the shrine's haiden, the hall of worship on Shinto shrine architecture. Patronus saw the fox's head gesture to the well next to him and he knew immediately what it wanted him to do first.

Patronus performed the mandatory procedure for entering a shrine before he entered the haiden as the fox led him to the hoden, the shrine's main sanctuary and the most sacred building of a Shinto shrine. From what he remembered Saeko's words about the Shinto religion, the hoden is generally closed to the public.

So, why was he given the exception?

"And where's the priest?" The fox glared at him and Patronus fixed his sentence. "I mean the kannushi (Shinto priest)? Or the miko (shrine maiden)? Where are they?"

The white fox turned its head while it wagged its tail as the kannushi of the shrine made himself present. His attire was a white kariginu and a eboshi on his head as the elderly man slowly walked to the middle of the room. "Oh! Hello there, young man."

"Uh…Hello." Patronus bowed slightly to show respect to both the shrine and kannushi as the latter kneeled to pray. "Forgive me if I'm trespassing here. This fox…brought me here." He hesitated with a pointed finger at the creature in front of him. "If you want me to—"

"No, no. Not at all, young man." The priest calmed the hooded ninja with a gentle hand wave. "After all, I did bring you here." He turned around to see a stunned Patronus while the fox's tail wagged even more. "Ah, come here you."

"*Kon~*" The fox ran to the kannushi and leapt into his arms as it rubbed its head against his chest.

"I have missed you, child. So much…" A stunned yet wary Patronus stared at the two. "Your brothers and sisters are anxious to see you."

"Is he talking about me or the fox?" Patronus asked as he was surrounded by large numbers of white foxes who stared at him. "Why do I feel like I'm being set up?"

"Get him."

The ninja barely screamed as the foxes jumped at him but he was soon astounded by their actions. They nuzzled against him and licked all over his body, tickling the ninja at the same time. "K-knock it off. Knock it off!" Patronus pleaded with laughing bouts.

It was some time until the kannushi ceased the bout with a wave of his hand. The white foxes backed away with bowed head as Patronus stood up. "I thank you, young man, for bringing one of my children home. And do not worry about your ship: it's safe and sound in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. You'll be sent there after our talk is done."

"I-I'm sorry, your children?" Patronus stuttered as the fox he rescued yipped at him. Then he thought back about the fox statues at the shrine gates as the gears in his head began to turn. "Where are we exactly?"

The elderly man chuckled at the slow ninja. "Currently, we are at the Fushimi Inari Taisha in the city of Kyoto."

"Fushimi Inari Taisha? Kyoto?" Patronus repeated as the gears in his head spun faster. "His children? White foxes? The oldest dedicated to one of the…" He paused as his widened eyes stared at the gentle smirking man while he took a step back. "The foxes here are not just foxes… they are kitsune. They and this shrine are dedicated to the kami of this country. The kami of foxes, fertility, rice, tea and sake, of agriculture and industry, of general prosperity and worldly success."

The man nodded as his clothes began to change to a bright red yukata with the eboshi gone. He had white hair, aged skin but still looked to be in his prime as a black whip was attached to his robe.

"You're Inari Okami." Patronus whispered with awe. The Kodama on his head simply waved at the fox god like a child would at a lone stranger.

Inari nodded with a grateful smile. "I'm touched you know my titles and I do admit that it's bit of a mouthful." He said as Patronus shrugged little albeit nervously. "Now let us discuss…descendant of the Sage of Six Paths."

Patronus back-flipped away to dodge a swift swipe from Inari's whip. "What was that for?!"

"Our discussion." Inari answered simply as he snapped his fingers. His kitsune messengers disappeared in a white mist followed by him and Patronus as well.

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- Peak of Mount Inari -

After they appeared at the top of the mountain, Patronus put some distance between himself and the kami as he placed the Kodama near a tree.

"Here you go. I can't fight if I'm protecting you at same time, okay." The ninja rubbed the tree spirit's head playfully as the kitsune it befriended came to his side. "You'll keep him safe, right?"

The kitsune yipped positively before the Kodama jumped on its back and ran back to her brethren who stood afar from the future battleground.

Patronus turned around with a serious expression as he popped his knuckles. "I wonder what my master did to you that you want to fight me."

"You'll find it…if you survive."

"I like that bet."

The two combatants stared at each other for a long while as the chilly wind blew against their clothing before they disappeared with astounding speed. They reappeared in the middle of the mountain peak as Inari summoned a black sickle in his opposite hand and swung it at Patronus who dodged the attack.

The ninja smirked as he channeled his chakra into the familiar sphere in his palm. "Rasengan!"

A loud explosion rocked the mountain peak as a massive amount of rock and debris showered the entire area, shielding the kitsune and Kodama audience. The battle between a mortal and a god had begun for the first time on Japanese soil.