Synthetic Shinobi (A Naruto and Nier Crossover Fanfiction)

Tobirama wasted no time. His body jerked into motion, hands flying into rapid seals as the air around him seemed to ripple with an almost unnatural speed. Within moments, water began to materialize in midair, twisting and coiling like a living serpent.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!" he roared, voice mechanical, echoing in the space.

A massive, snarling dragon made of water surged forth, its eyes glowing with cold malice as it lunged straight for Hiruzen.

The old man, despite his age, was ready. His gnarled hands grasped the staff tightly, and with a fluid motion, he extended it, letting it grow into a massive pole, large enough to block the incoming attack. "Enma, extend!"

The dragon crashed against the staff with a deafening splash, water spraying everywhere. Hiruzen, standing his ground, pushed the attack away before weaving his own hand signs.

"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Jutsu!" The moment the fire dragon burst from his mouth, it roared to life, a fiery serpent spiraling through the air, colliding head-on with Tobirama's next torrent of water. Steam exploded everywhere, creating a thick, hot mist that swirled around the battlefield, making the area around them almost impossible to see through.

But while Hiruzen and Tobirama dueled, Naruto was in a battle of her own.

Hashirama, the First Hokage, one of the most powerful shinobi to have ever lived, stood across from her, his eyes glazed over with the same lifeless black hue as his brother's. But unlike Tobirama's precision, Hashirama moved with the grace of someone trying—and failing—to resist. His body jerked awkwardly as he swung his hand in her direction, sending a barrage of wooden spikes shooting from the ground at Naruto's feet.

"Oh, come on." Naruto yelped as she clumsily leapt to the side, nearly tripping over the overly large cloak that was still hanging awkwardly around her shoulders. One of the wooden spikes grazed her leg, ripping part of the cloak and leaving a shallow cut. "Ugh, seriously?"

As she jumped and dodged, Naruto pulled the cloak tighter around her, trying to keep herself decent as Hashirama's attacks continued. It was ridiculous—dodging the First Hokage's attacks while also playing a game of "keep Naruto covered"—but somehow, she was managing. Barely.

"Hey, uh, Grandpa Hashirama, or whatever!" Naruto called, leaping out of the way of another incoming tree branch. "Any tips on becoming a super cool Hokage?"

There was a brief flicker of emotion in Hashirama's lifeless eyes, like some part of him was still in there, fighting to regain control of his body. His mouth moved slightly, but it was Orochimaru's curse keeping him from answering properly. Still, in between the mindless grunts, Naruto swore she heard him mumble, "Cool...?"

Naruto spun around, narrowly dodging a vine that shot out from the ground. "Affirmative! You were like, the first Hokage, right? Super legendary and stuff! How do I—whoa—become cool like you?"

Hashirama, clearly still fighting the control Orochimaru had over him, jerked his head in what might have been a nod. "P-protect…" he managed to stutter between attacks, his hands trembling as he formed another seal.

"Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!"

Trees erupted from the ground, towering and massive, filling the arena in an instant. Huge branches swooped down, aiming for Naruto, who squeaked and scrambled to keep her cloak on as she dodged and weaved through the forest.

"Protect? That's it?" Naruto yelped, narrowly avoiding being flattened by a tree trunk. "That's all you've got? I thought there'd be, like, a secret handshake or something!"

Hashirama's wooden arms swung at her again, slower this time, and Naruto could feel him holding back. She jumped out of the way, but one of the branches caught the edge of her cloak, tugging it loose.

"Oh, no." Naruto gasped, grabbing at the cloak before it completely flew off, barely managing to pull it back over her shoulders. "This is a nightmare!"

But through the chaos, she could hear Hashirama grunt, "B-be…kind…"

Naruto blinked, momentarily thrown off by his words. "Kind?"

Hashirama's wooden arm shot forward again, but this time, Naruto didn't dodge. She stood her ground, cloak flapping dramatically in the wind (though still very much a disaster of a garment). She looked at the First Hokage, really looked at him. He wasn't just throwing attacks at her. He was trying to communicate—trying to break through Orochimaru's control.

"Be kind… and protect others…" he rasped, his voice strained.

Naruto's expression softened as she dodged yet another attack, this one half-hearted. "That's it, huh? Be kind and protect everyone? Seems kinda simple, but…" She grinned, hopping back and flipping mid-air to avoid another massive tree trunk. "Sounds like it works for me. Dattebayo."

Just as she landed, however, a massive root shot up from the ground, wrapping around her leg. "Ah, come on." Naruto struggled, pulling at the root with one hand while holding the cloak around her with the other. "Stupid trees, always messing things up."

Hashirama's face twitched again, his mouth forming the faintest of smiles, as if he approved of her determination. Despite Orochimaru's control, it seemed like the old Hokage was still in there, still fighting.

Naruto, seeing this, narrowed her eyes in determination. "Okay, old man, I get it. Be kind, protect others, and stay cool." She 'grinned'. "Now it's time for me to show you how I do things. Shadow Clone Jutsu."

In an instant, dozens of Naruto clones appeared, each one clad in the same oversized cloak. Together, they all started yanking at the wooden roots and branches, freeing the original Naruto from her bind.

"Alright, old man!" Naruto shouted, finally free and holding her Rasengan-ready hand high. "Let's end this before I lose any more dignity, okay?"

Hashirama's eyes flickered one last time, almost as if he was saying, "Good luck, kid."

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