Naruto had entered his final year in the academy. He was feeling rather good about his progress. Sure the ANBU still watched him but he found ways to keep himself busy. His work with seals had gone nowhere as they were usually interrupted by Anko for her 'training'. Though she did stop treating Naruto like a scapegoat for her anger against Orochimaru (Mostly). With his work in seals minimal, Naruto had purchased several books on the sealing arts. Xel was summoned in an attempt to use his knowledge of the Necronomicon version of seals, called rituals to better understand the science behind seals. They had the books strewn around the bathroom. While reading several books Xel seemed to become more and more irate.
"How is it that you humans can use such complex designs and know nothing about how they work. It's all ideas and hypothesis, not a single theory.", says Xel.
"What do you mean", asks Naruto.
"The description of what seals do makes it obvious, they are similar to rituals but very different", says Xel.
Naruto looks at Xel confused.
"You have read on seals for less than an hour, and you already think you know how they work", says Naruto.
"Think, no my lord, I know", says Xel.
"Alright Xel how do seals work in comparison to your rituals", asks Naruto.
"Look at the explosive tag, from the strokes described in the book most of it inhibits the explosion", says Xel.
"I don't think I follow", says Naruto.
"Seals are connections to put it into a way you can understand. They essentially connect to another universe and borrow their laws of physics. The explosive tag takes a single particle from an anti-matter universe. The explosion is inhibited to a controllable level. Storage scrolls create a link into a pocket dimension, there are an infinite number of these pocket dimensions throughout the multiverse. In essence all your seals really are, are connections. Rituals from the Necronomicon are different, they literally create new laws of physics", says Xel.
"Wait, then when I made the seal that gave me my eyes, did I mess up this universe in some way", asks Naruto fearfully.
Xel ponders it for a moment.
"It is possible, but the Ritual of Azathoth may have more than likely added or taken away laws of physics for you to obey, but it is doubtful", says Xel.
"Provide an example please", asks Naruto.
"Certainly, the seal is a focus of sorts. It makes sure it only affects it's intended target, so long as the seal is correctly arranged. I must say using string was clever, but I am surprised you made it perfectly. To get back on track lets say you activate the seal, it could add a law that makes you capable of living in the angles of time, rather than the curves. It could also take away your ability to obey the law of gravity. Obviously neither of those have happened, nothing could have happened at all. Considering how perfect the seal was I doubt anything would be taken away, and anything gained would have destroyed your corporeal form completely", says Xel.
"Well, good thing that didn't happen", says Naruto.
"Indeed", says Xel.
Naruto pushes his books aside.
"So what about the seal that holds Kurama", asks Naruto.
"The seal is surprisingly complex, it works very similar to the storage scrolls, but instead of connecting to a pocket dimension it connects to your mind. It is impressive that it connects not to another universe but to an abstract idea. It uses existing laws in this universe to its advantage. I would love to meet the one who made it", says Xel.
"He was my father", says Naruto with a smile.
"Well now I understand where you get your intellect my lord", says Xel.
"I have a picture of him and my mother if you want to see what he looks like", says Naruto.
Xel looks at Naruto for a moment as if trying to find the words to say.
"It is not necessary my lord. In fact for us it is not recommended", says Xel.
"What do you mean", asks Naruto.
"As a Deep One we are the children of Lord Dagon. Lord Dagon is who we worship, his father lord Cthulhu is a minor deity, and his parents are not even recognized. As you go up the chain of Great Old Ones you eventually enter the Outer Gods. We worship only one and it's mate. Dagon accepts our worship Cthulhu is apathetic to it. Some others are offended by it. It is our ways. In essence you are my lord, your ancestors are not", says Xel.
Naruto puts his hand to his chin leaning back.
"Deep Ones have a weird religion", says Naruto.
"The same could be said by us compared to yours. It has been like this for us since the Esoteric Order of Dagon began", says Xel.
Naruto shrugs at Xels comment.
"Have it your way", says Naruto.
After a bit more reading Naruto hears his door kicked in.
"Anko's here, you better dispel Xel", says Naruto.
Xel nods and dispels immediately. After several seconds Anko walks in on Naruto reading.
"You always read in the bathroom", asks Anko twirling a Kunai.
"Not really, it's just quiet in here", says Naruto.
Anko throws the Kunai at Naruto's book. Naruto drops it.
"Hey, do you have any idea how much I had to pay for that", screams Naruto.
"Don't care. Now then I was thinking, why not get some extra help in your taijutsu training. So I went round Konoha until I found just the guy", says Anko giving a rather creepy smile.
"Why are you smiling like that", asks Naruto.
Anko chuckles and drags Naruto outside.
"Naruto I'd like you to meet Might Guy and his students Rock Lee, Neji Hyuuga, and Tenten", says Anko.
"Hello young Naruto, are you ready to train and fan out your Flames of Youth", speaks a man wearing spandex with a jonin vest bowl cut and most ridiculous eyebrows ever seen.
"Yes Guy-sensei, we will train until our flames burn bright as the sun, and If we cannot we will do five hundred laps around Konoha, and if we cannot do that We will climb the Hokage Monument using only our hands", says what could only be described as a younger clone of Guy.
Naruto looks at the two as they embrace in a hug while calling each others name.
Tenten looks at Naruto for a moment.
"You're Naruto right", asks the Girl.
Naruto nods.
"Your eyes makes it where you can't see genjutsu right", asks Tenten.
Naruto nods again.
"Consider yourself lucky you can't see their sunset genjutsu", says Tenten.
"I don't even feel like asking", says Naruto.
He turns his head to the Hyuuga as he looks at Naruto with a look of superiority.
"Can I help you", asks Naruto.
"I sincerely doubt that", says Neji.
Naruto turns back to the hug of the two spandex clad men, then he stares at Anko with a face of annoyance. Anko smiles at Naruto as he does.
"Anko, why do you hate me", asks Naruto.
Anko only laughs.
The following hours Naruto is put through the most rigorous workout of his life. The idea that this five hundred laps was only a workout had Naruto regretting the fact he decided to wake up today. After the workout as Guy looks at his students and Naruto.
"Yes, a break will be most helpful now. It will allow us to regain our stamina and rekindle our flames of Youth", says Guy with a smile and thumbs up. A blinding sparkle coming from his teeth.
"Hey Naruto?", asks Tenten.
"Yes"
"Did you see a sparkle coming from Guys teeth", asks Tenten.
"Yes Tenten, yes I did", says Naruto.
Tenten looks back for a moment.
"Really, I always thought it was a Genjutsu", says Tenten.
"I see, Tenten is this training every day", asks Naruto.
"Yeah, but only Lee does it all. Neji and I stop after the workout", says Tenten.
Naruto nods looking at Guy and Lee who were now running in place. Then he looks at Neji, with the same look on his face as before.
"Would you stop looking at me like that", says Naruto.
Neji scoffs as he glares at Naruto.
"As if you can talk to me like that, you who are still an academy student, who is probably fated to be one forever", says Neji.
"Fate huh, and here I thought you were a genius", says Naruto.
"You dare mock me", says Neji.
"Not you, only your belief of fate. Fate is the ideas of solipsists and the arrogant", says Naruto.
Neji glares at Naruto again. Naruto shakes his head.
"The very idea of fate ignores the ideas of scholars and philosophists. Fate makes the assumption there is only one universe, and it ignore multiverse theory", says Naruto.
Neji raises an eyebrow.
"And what is multiverse theory", asks Neji.
Naruto puts his hand to his chin.
"Ok well lets say you make a decision. Even a simple one. According to multiverse theory when you make a decision other universes are created where you made different decisions. Flip a coin. Congrats you made two universes one where it landed heads and one where it landed tails. Maybe even a third where it landed on its side. In essence this is multiverse theory. Also it goes beyond that. There can be worlds where things happened differently. A world where everything is the same but a man did not light a cigarette at that time. While this may seem irrelevant it turns out by that very act he did not incinerate an airborne mutant bacteria that was just born and would one day evolve into a new species that could wipe out humanity. All because he didn't light a cigarette. Every action could cause a new universe where the circumstances may seem similar but are in fact wildly different with time. Hell go back far enough and there would be universes where the beginning of the universe was different. There could be a universe where there was no gravity and as such planets and stars did not form. Instead it is a universe where only particles exist that stay put without ever being pulled together by gravity. Or a universe composed of anti-matter. Humans were wrong when we thought the only planet was this one. Then we were wrong when we thought there was only one solar system. Then we were wrong when we thought there was only one galaxy. We are more than likely wrong about their being only one universe if our track record is to be believed. Fate makes it where there is only one universe where everything is predetermined and free will is an illusion, and I can see through any illusion", says Naruto.
Neji glares at Naruto with a mixture of contained anger and confusion. Tenten holds back a laugh as she sees his face. They Guy and Lee come over.
"Rest is over, time to let our flames grow tall. Come my most youthful students, let us let Naruto's flames rise high", says Guy.
"Ye Guy-sensei, we will show Naruto that a Genius of hard work, can become much stronger that a born Genius. Yosh", says Lee as he runs in place.
"But I am a genius, and it took hard work to get like that", says Naruto.
"Then show us your youthful flames burn bright Naruto", says Guy smiling.
Naruto looks at the speed Lee and Guy move as Naruto tries to keep up, cursing himself for not training his body more. Sure he had unusual levels of stamina and Anko's torture sessions thinly disguised as training helped, buy Guy was insane with training.
How the hell can they move so fast. They have got to be related to the Byakhee. I mean seriously. I think Lee is wearing training weights. Very heavy ones if his movement is to be believed.
As the exercise leaves Naruto feeling like a pile of jelly or a Shoggoth in a pile of jelly. Naruto lays on the ground breathing heavy. He opens his eyes to see the smiling face of Anko.
"So how did it go", asks Anko.
"I hate you", says Naruto.
Anko smirks as she drags Naruto to her 'training'. On the way Naruto begins to scratch his cheeks. They have been itching a lot lately.