The Call to the living, The Call home
Akiko stared at the massive seal. She had an inkling on what this would do, the only thing she hoped was that she had the strength to follow through with the summoning. And meeting the Uzumaki Ancestors.
“You don’t have to do this dear,” Hasiko murmured to her, holding Akiko’s calloused hands in her frail ones.
“I do, if I don’t we won’t survive any longer. We’re barely holding on as it. And if we die, so does the history and my son will never learn of his past and of his clan and I want this to be here for him” Akiko explained just as quietly. The old woman smiled.
“I would be honoured to meet your son. What is his name?” She asked with hope.
“Naruto Uzumaki, and I would be honoured for you to teach him about his family” Akiko bowed to her elder.
“Oh, my dear, I would be more than happy to teach him!” Hasiko assured with the happiness of teaching a new generation.
Akiko withdrew and took an affirming breath. Now was the time.
She strode with purpose to the circle. She had to protect these people, they had to survive and so did she. By the gods, Akiko wanted to see her son again, and even see her anchor. As prickly as the man can be.
X
With the elders gathered to watch, Akiko stepped in the circle and the sealing script started to glow.
“I call upon the dead and the dying. I call upon those who have fallen long ago to rise once more to protect your beloved home and to protect those few left behind. I call you to rise again and protect this heritage that shall be passed on to the future. I call upon the dead and dying, RISE.”
The glow of the script intensified and soon the room was blinded by the light.
X
Akiko stared at the blackness around her. She knew where she was. This was where the dead had gone, back to the promised land. And this is where she would meet the ancestors. She sat down to wait. And wait long, she did not have to do.
“Who are you to call on the resting?” A voice spoke from the darkness and echoed all around.
“I am one who is trying to save what little is left of the living elders. So that they may pass on their knowledge and their history to other Uzumaki.” She retuned confidently.
“And who is there left to teach? We are scattered amongst the wind.”
“There are many refuges and their children and then there is also my adopted son, Naruto Uzumaki. The son of Kushina.” Akiko answered confidently, even though she didn’t feel it.
“Her son lived?” The voice asked, surprise evident in its tone.
“He did and he has flourished. I also know that he longs to know about his culture and his clan since nothing was taught to him in that blasted village.” Akiko spat, her hatred for the village showing.
“you do not like the village?” it question, the conversation moving elsewhere.
“I would have taken Naruto away from there years ago, if he didn’t see hope for it. The village has treated him worse than dirt and can go hang.” Her anger coming out and sharpening her words.
There was a pause before the voice spoke again.
“Is this why you wish to rise the dead? To get back at Khonoa?” Akiko could hear the accusation in the voice
“No!” She denied fiercely, “I wish to raise the dead to protect the survivors of this clan! We had to run when rouge ninja found us and bombarded the village! They are my patients and I’m going to every damn thing in my powers to save them!
They are what remains of the clan of My son! They are his history and his legacy! If they die, I lose my friends and family! I lose my chance for Naruto to learn where he comes from! I lose the chance at saving the decedents of the Reko! And I refuse to let that happen! If you will not help me raise these fallen warriors, I will do it without!” She roared into the darkness, letting her massive amount of spiritual chakra to amass and grow.
She pulled it from deep within, pulling more and more and more and aiming at the dark.
“I CALL YOU BACK TO THE LIVING TO HELP THE UZUMAKI ONCE MORE, TO SAVE THE FEW ELDERS AND DECEDNTS LEFT WHO SURVIED THE WAR. WE ARE DYING AND I BEG FOR YOUR HELP” Her chakra surged forward, following her wish.
“I see your conviction and I am moved and We will help.” This time it was many voices that spoke. Akiko turned around and saw the sea of determined faces, all with hair as bright as vibrant as a living flame. Akiko stared at them dumbstruck, she could feel her tears swell and fall.
They were saved.
The promised Land started to glow an Akiko knew she was being sent back to the living plane. However, before it had gotten too bright Akiko performed a deep bow.
“Thank you.” Her voice choked with gratitude was all she could say before she was returned, before they were all returned to the land of the living.
X
Outside, where the ninja fought to keep the people they cared about safe, the earth began to rumble and the skies began to darken. The atmosphere turned heavy and ominous. In the distance the Uzukage tower began to glow like a beacon of hope, it’s light and power spreading out all across the island and reaching even further.
The streets and half broken buildings too began to light up as the power surged forward, finding every body that had fallen. It urged them to rise and to protect.
Skeletons and decomposed bodies rose from their fallen positions, their headband shining bright with power. In the graveyards, embalmed and cold corpses too began to rise. They had been called to rise and they headed that call. Uzu would stand tall once more. Taller and stronger than before.
They would not lie down and with a Reko at the centre, they could rebuild.
The rogue ninja were startled, thinking Genjutsu at first, until the first of them had been stabbed clean through with a rusty kuni. They fought back, jutsus destroying skeletons that just put themselves back together, bodies that just kept walking, kept fighting. The rouge ninja stared at the masses in fear.
“We have to run! The dead have risen!” One called to the others. They fled the city, running into the dead on the outskirts and dying one by one by the hands of the dead, ensuring that no news escaped.
X
The elders watched as Akiko Spiritual charka began to gather and become visible. They watched as the wind was generated from the sheer power of it and they wondered, how could she have that much spiritual chakra only. They had seen her physical component and it was what a normal civilian had. Her spiritual amount was what the elders have, from all their years of experience.
Her chakra floated in the air, aimless. Then, by silent command, it surged into the sealing array, lighting up all the arrays and continuing outwards. The elders could feel the dead’s acceptance of their plea and gave a collective sigh of relief. They would be safe and Uzu would rise again.
X
Far away, throughout the elemental nations. People with the blood of the Uzumaki felt the call. The call to return home.
Heads turned, and hearts yearned. All in the direction of home.