Chapter Thirty-Nine
The Truth
Day 4
Tuesday
Haku opened his eyes and looked up at the wooden cross placed on a small, cloth-covered table. He had a hand around his necklace as he finished his daily prayer, an activity he picked up a year ago. This wooden idol to God was not his, however, but was the Uzumaki matriarch's.
"You finished?"
Haku glanced back to see Mito standing at the door. She walked over and got down to her knees in front of her altar, looking at the cross with tired eyes. They did not speak, one just staring while the other looked down into her hands.
"I wonder how you learned how to pray correctly," Mito finally said, getting the young boy's attention. "I had noticed the cross of Christ around your neck and wondered if you knew its significance. Then I noticed you praying often, more now that Naruto has been gone, and I knew that this wasn't the actions of an ignorant boy."
Haku did not say anything and only closed his eyes. He had expected someone to catch on but when no one did he just assumed it was because no one cared. He had a feeling Mito would know considering she herself was from Heaven and knew more than the rest of Hell.
"So, how did you learn to pray and worship down here in Hell?" Mito asked the question that she was building up to.
"Stephen," Haku decided to be honest to a point with the woman. "He taught me."
"The lost boy?" She asked and got a nod in return. "That's not too unexpected. Was he a Christian from Earth?"
"No," Haku shook his head. "He's not Christian in the sense of others I've run into. But he is a believer."
Mito frowned as she noticed that Haku was picking his words carefully. He wasn't lying but he was making sure he wasn't giving the entire truth. That made her wonder what he was hiding from everyone.
Be careful with the secrets you keep hidden, Mito warned to herself but did not voice her thoughts.
There was no point digging further when it was clear Haku wanted to keep whatever secrets hidden. It would only push the boy away if he pried further and that would not serve Naruto's group well. And since the boy was an integral member of the group, Naruto's companions, that would only cause issues.
"I want advanced training," Haku suddenly stated, making Mito look with a raised eyebrow. "I know that you have some knowledge about these fallen gods. I also know you think we are underprepared and that cannot remain the case if we want to help Naruto."
"You aren't the strength of the warriors sent by Mars," Mito acknowledged the statement with a hum.
"And that is but one of the fallen gods, there are others and they are clearly stronger. I need to advance faster and farther than when I was alive. I was the apprentice of one of the Seven Swordsmen of Kirigakure so I can attest that I will not fall behind. So I request advanced training to get me to a level equal to those hoplites, Mito-sama."
The redhead watched as Haku bowed with his forehead resting on the floor. The request was not just an inquiry but a plea. Yet, she did not know if he would benefit from her teaching methods, which were strict and overbearing by normal standards.
It is part of the reason why she never had a team herself to train. The Uzumaki Way, a grueling lifestyle that would transform many children into professional warriors, was not something just anyone can take. Haku was also too old to start a traditional training method, meaning his learning would be accelerated to compensate.
But he has the determination. With that thought Mito took a breath and turned to the cross altar once more. "If you are serious, I will train you in my people's ways. But if I see any amount of hesitance or slack, I will stop and not offer it again. Do you still agree?"
Haku raised his head and there was a fire in his eyes that made Mito's chest blaze with equal passion.
"Anything if it means I am useful to stand by Naruto."
Mito cracked a wicked grin and got to her feet. The atmosphere of the room changed and pressed down on the boy. This is the pressure that she had built in life not just as one of her clan's main family but as an accomplished kunoichi and Jinchuuriki. The experience further gained as a Virtue of Heaven the likes of which had the Elder's and the Sage admiring.
It is the power of Mito Uzumaki, the Matriarch of the Uzumaki and the Virtue of Diligence.
"Do not say I didn't warn you, Haku Yuki. I will build you up into a shinobi worthy of the Warring States. And to accomplish that, I will destroy everything that made you a shinobi in life."
Day 7
Friday
Lilith hummed as she waited inside the living room. She had her dear husband resting his head in her lap, running her fingers through his blonde locks. He has been stressed for the whole week as he has coordinated with the Princes and Goetia to find the fallen angels.
They had recently learned that their daughter has been going to Beelzebub for transformation training. Bee wasn't the strongest among the Princes with her transformation; that position was held by Satan, but she was a formidable user. She had fought plenty of Darkness abominations and her proficiencies in science and wild brawling made her one of the strongest.
But Charlie was not as close to Satan as she was with Bee, and she was still afraid of his transformation ever since accidentally seeing it when she was very young. The Prince of Wrath was still apologetic to this day as he never wants to be viewed as a scary monster by those he considers his family - and as an only child he considers the Princes and Charlie his family. But if Charlie is serious about mastering her transformation, she will have to go to the man at some point.
I wonder when she will approach me about magic.
Lilith was the best when it came to magic and had no true equal in existence. The only ones to hold a candle to her would be Bael, who had a good mastery of sciences and magic, and Solomon the son of David. The King of Israel was a powerful mortal who was able to call upon Hell's energies and denizens for his own means. The Goetia, who were the primary source of his summons, had shared their knowledge with the man and allowed the nation of the Israelites to prosper for a while.
But even then, his abilities were pale in comparison to the Queen's. She had used magic through music to create the Hell that they have today. She breathed order and life into the bleak realm that it used to be when she and her husband were cast out. Even to this day, no one mortal would display the power and breadth of sorcery that she has - in Heaven or Hell.
Ding dong
The low ring of the house's doorbell sounded into the quiet room, rousing the sleeping King and gaining the awareness of the Queen. While Lucifer was cautious on who would be bothering him at his home without proper notice, his wife was looking at the time. She blinked as she realized that the hours have passed quicker than she realized.
She's here.
"I'll get it, my love," Lilith caressed her husband's cheek, getting a content purr from him. "It's a guest I've invited."
He raised an eyebrow as she walked away, surprised that his wife would invite anyone to their home. He loved his wife dearly, he really did, but she was never one to have something like friends. The only ones to have gained that closeness had been her sister, Eve, and Bethesda. The latter of which was solely because he was friends with Frederick.
Who could it be?
He did not wonder long as soon enough his wife led a brunette woman with pale skin and dark makeup. He recognized her immediately.
"Eve! What a pleasant surprise!"
"Hello to you too, Luci," the woman smiled back as her eyes twinkled amusedly. "I see you're doing well."
"Ah, just a little stress," he waved off lightheartedly. "Nothing some time with my dear wife doesn't fix."
"I see," Eve chuckled as she took a seat on one of the sofas.
Lilith took her seat again next to her husband and took his hand into hers.
"So, what have you invited Eve here for, love?"
Lilith hummed a bit while running her fingers along his hand and knuckles. "I have felt that with the emergence of the fallen gods, and their activities currently, that it was time you learned something that I worked out on my own. Something Eve is also knowledgeable on."
Eve took that as her moment to speak up before Lucifer could voice his confusion. "What she means to say is that you need to learn about Naruto. She told me he was taken by Mars which means he is their hostage."
Lucifer looked concerned even though he knew all of this, but he understood that there was more to this than he currently knew. Otherwise, his wife would not have wasted the time to have Eve come and speak to him after so long.
"First is the people that took Naruto. They are known as the New Order and they are working with Darkness to influence the last prophecy. Their goal, as far as we can tell, is to end all of Father's creations with the help of the Child of God."
"Why do that if their whole thing is to be worshiped like gods again?"
"That's why I think it is to start anew," Eve answered immediately. "They will create their own world and be the gods they always wanted. The Child can easily do that as they are fated to destroy and create."
Lucifer locked his fingers in his lap and thought on the Mother of Humanity's words for a few moments. If what she says is true then that makes them a bigger threat than before. If they happen to get their hands on God's Child and turn him to their side then that will make things messy.
However, something dawned on him in that next moment. "Eve, are you telling me that Naruto is the Child of God?"
She nodded her head grimly. "That's why Lilith felt it was necessary to get you clued in. She worked this out on her own but had not had her suspicions confirmed until recently. This is also why getting Naruto back is very important."
"I have the Princes and Goetia turning Hell upside down for anywhere they may be hidden," Lucifer told her and spaced out as he realized just how bad this entire situation actually got. "If they are here, they will be found, but I fear they will not hide here. They are not stupid enough to do that when we would very likely go searching for them."
"Which is why I think they are hiding in the cosmos or in the mortal worlds," Eve sighed and sat back. "Which brings me into the next point. You will have to petition your siblings for help."
Lucifer's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No, no, no. I cannot go to them about this. Do you know what they will do? They will try to come here and look for him themself as if we couldn't do it. They would not work with me but order all of us around."
"Hon, calm down," Lilith squeezed his hand while speaking in a soothing tone. "We have no choice. If Naruto continues to be missing, there's no telling what's being done to him to make him break. If he falls to their will, then it is very likely that we will give them what they want and we will lose at that very moment."
"I know it won't be easy, Luci, but you have no choice," Eve frowned apologetically as the fallen Seraphim shook fearfully. "I know it's not Pride that holds you back, it was never that, but you need to face your family at some point."
Lucifer hung his head while his knee bounced up and down erratically. He knew deep down that they were right. He will have to face his fears and his guilt at some point but he just never wished it would be in the next millennia. Then again, he would never have approached them if he could avoid it.
I wonder what Father will think.
He had never told God about His granddaughter, nor his family either. It will be quite the explaining when they learn.
I feel like I'm gonna throw up.
Day 8
Saturday
"Everyone breaks sometime. The corruption from Darkness is not something anyone can resist, even him." Mars looked at the blonde Promised Child with crossed arms.
"Even so, we cannot let this continue on for too long. Hell is looking for him as we speak and it won't be long until they sniff this place out." Odin reasoned with Mortifer. "We are only lucky by the fact that angels and demons are not allowed into the mortal realms as they like."
"And yet we see it anyway," Mars sneered. "What is with you, one-eye, are you telling me you are afraid?"
"Because we finally have him and I will not risk losing him again!" Odin glared at the Greek god. "Or are you wanting to be the one to tell her that we failed this time? I already paid my price, how about you?"
Naruto looked up, expecting to see the men in front of him speaking, but instead it was just the darkness again. How long has he been out of it? He could have sworn they were just there talking about him.
The thing is draining more out of me each time. Naruto sighed as he leaned his head back to look at his bindings.
The chains were sapping any chakra and magic he may have. With the little strength he had, without his chakra he couldn't even break out of wooden bindings if he tried. It really sucked and he wished he had thought ahead for possibly being trapped. Maybe if he had researched some tracking seals.
He wasn't even sure how long he's been kept here. It's been a while since his body has atrophied considerably. His wrists, cheeks, and ankles are bone-like and his muscles are becoming frail and mush. While being forced to relive memories, his body is somehow injected with supplements that will keep his organs going even if he hasn't eaten or drank the entire time.
That only means that he has only the bare minimum to survive. That's left him in such a poor state.
Naruto winced as a subtle orange light enveloped the cell, surprising him for a moment before realizing it was just his hallucination again.
"Hello again, Naruto," Stephen gave a small, sad smile as he looked.
"Hello again, Naruto." Naruto mocked the hallucination. "What do you want?"
Stephen frowned but it wasn't one of anger or anything. He was silent for a moment before signing. "I came to see you again since you haven't called for me. I can leave you alone if you want?"
Naruto's eyes widened at that and for some reason the aspect of the hallucination leaving him scared him. He didn't want to be alone, even if it's from a hallucination of his dead friend.
He shook his head, his damp and dull hair swinging like whisps of smoke. "N-no. Please don't leave me. I'm sorry."
Stephen did not say anything but the begging made his lips twitch downward. He approached slowly, his presence making the blonde shiver, and raised a hand to the boy's cheek. Naruto leaned into the touch, not questioning how real it felt, and Stephen just rubbed a thumb along his whisker marks.
He sighed and sat down next to the blonde before gently pulling his head to his shoulder. "Rest. It's okay."
Naruto did so after a few moments, closing his eyes as he accepted the peace brought by the imaginary Stephen. But it really felt so real. He doubted this was a hallucination anymore… but Stephen is dead so who could this be? Another attempt by his captors to weaken his will?
"Who are you?" He whispered weaker than he intended. "You're real. How are you here?"
Stephen runs his fingers through the blonde hair as he thought about the question. Naruto thought he was ignoring him for a second and just as he was going to ask louder he got a sigh.
"I'm really Stephen, but that's not my real name. It's only what I've given to you and Haku and Tayuya as well as my background." His words are slow and pronounced, making sure that Naruto follows along. "That's not to say I lied, as the Stephen I have played does exist. He was bullied, and he did kill himself. However, he is happy in Heaven with friends and family."
Naruto did not move from his spot against the boy, but he did tense more as he listened. "Then… who are you really?"
"The simple version is that I am God, I am Him." Stephen could feel the confusion coming from the boy and decided to elaborate quickly. "God has three persons of which have three distinct features defined in relation to one another but we are all God. It is hard for mortals to truly understand My nature, and since you are born of creation it is hard to understand as well despite being Our son. The simple version is that the Father creates, the Son redeems, and I change - all in relation to you humans and ningen."
Naruto is slow to understand because of his exhaustion from the eldritch thing but nodded along. He could understand it somewhat, mostly from his clones reading different bibles and literature tied to God. It was one of the first things he learned when he arrived in Hell. Mostly to understand how exactly he could be sentenced to damnation for eternity but even then the sources he gathered made it clear that he would not have ended up there.
"I am the Holy Spirit and I had kept an eye out for you since learning your mortal body died. Jesus the Son is in Heaven to look after the Light and the Father is currently looking for the major manipulators behind your death." Stephen was trying to keep things quick and simple but he was realizing it was only making things more confusing.
"Wait, if the Father is looking for them, why don't you tell them that I am here." Naruto leaned away to look at God with narrowed eyes. "They're right here like why am I still locked here with the people you are trying to find!"
"No answer I give will satisfy you," He answered simply.
Naruto sat back against the wall and closed his eyes holding back any anger or sadness he was feeling. All he asked was, "then why are you here?"
"Because you may have each of Me inside of you, but it is I who gave you the most," Stephen answered cryptically. "When you were created you were given a piece of the Father, the Son, and Me. But among us, I made the most of you. Your love for orange and your ability to empathize with and connect with others on a deeper level solely with words is telling of that."
"For nearly a century we had prepared and manifested your birth. In that time, the signs of our last prophecy were given and we crafted your soul with the power and destiny to fulfill it. Father gave a third of himself, Jesus gave a quarter, and I filled the rest."
Naruto looked at the Holy Spirit, finding Him looking at him. Truthfully, he didn't doubt Stephen's words but it was still hard to believe at a moment like this. If this was all true, why is he still a captive when he has such divinity? No, he doubted he was what He said he was.
"That doesn't explain why you are here," Naruto exhaled and closed his eyes once more as he felt a sudden wave of fatigue.
"I am responsible for you, like any parent would care for their child. It is just unfortunate that I am bound to not be able to assist in your escape." Stephen sighed before feeling something approach their location. "I know it does not make sense that I can't get you out of here but understand that you have a path to take. All I can do is give company in these hard times and numb a bit of your pain."
With that, He faded from existence and once again the room was bathed in the harsh cold. Naruto was left shivering, just now realizing how comforting Stephen- the Holy Spirit's presence really was.
Then, the ceiling above him opened and he whimpered as he realized it was that time again.
No more. Please.