Naruto x Holy Grail War [1]

“What is this?”

Nagato stared at the crimson markings etched on the back of his hand, his brows tightly furrowed.

“There are no chakra signatures nearby…”

He shook his head gravely. His sensory jutsu had covered the entire city, yet he found no trace of any chakra fluctuations.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

Nagato’s unease deepened as if an invisible force loomed overhead, pressing down with an unbearable weight.

….

“Search the entire area immediately!”

A roared command shattered the tension as Ay, the Fourth Raikage, bellowed at the shinobi gathered before him. He thrust forward his right hand, now branded with three ominous crimson strokes, his fury barely contained.

“The enemy dared to tamper with my body, and you’re all just standing there like fools?!”

The shinobi trembled under his wrath, none daring to utter a word.

“You didn’t notice it either, did you?”

Though the thought crossed their minds, no one voiced it aloud. Ay’s infamous temper left no room for such remarks.

….

“These markings hold an immense reservoir of power… yet I can’t seem to harness it.”

In the dimly lit underground chamber, Orochimaru’s expression flickered between fascination and unease.

“Where did these markings come from? Why do they possess such overwhelming energy? And why… why can’t I control it?”

He extended his pale, slender hand toward the light. The markings glowed ominously in the shadows, pulsating as though alive.

“The only sensation when they appeared was a searing burn… but nothing else followed.”

The glow reflected off his serpentine eyes, their depths swirling with obsession and hunger.

….

Above the planet’s surface—

Streams of ethereal light intertwined with starlight, coalescing into a massive sphere of energy.

“World Integration—Complete.”

“Master Selection—Complete.”

“Commencing Heroic Spirit Summoning…”

“Power Calibration in Progress…”

“Holy Grail System—Constructed.”

“Virtual Arena—Established.”

“The Holy Grail War—Begins!”

“Master Transfer—Initiated.”

In an instant, seven beams of light descended, enveloping the chosen individuals. Their forms vanished into the void without a trace.

At the same time, countless screens unfolded across the fabric of space. Wherever intelligent beings existed, the screens emerged—vast and imposing in crowded areas, subtle and faint in isolated corners.

Drawn by some inexplicable force, countless beings lifted their heads to witness the images displayed. Yet, as the scenes unfolded, shock rippled through their minds.

The screens split into seven sections, each focusing on a different figure, their wary gazes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings.

“The Fourth Raikage—Ay!”

“The Legendary Sannin—Orochimaru!”

“The Rogue Uchiha—Itachi Uchiha!”

“The Princess of Konoha—Tsunade!”

“The Fourth Mizukage—Yagura Karatachi!”

Murmurs erupted across worlds as names of legends and terrors echoed through the crowd. Each figure was a pillar of strength in their respective domains, yet now, they stood as contenders bound by an unknown force.

And thus, the gears of fate began to turn, setting the stage for a battle that would reshape destinies.

….

“Who is that?!”

Sarutobi Hiruzen slammed his hand against the desk, his face contorted in disbelief. His sharp gaze locked onto the skeletal figure standing at the center of the glowing screen—Nagato.

That crimson-red hair was unmistakable, but what truly drew his attention were the eerie ripples swirling within Nagato’s deep violet eyes—an ominous sight that sent chills down his spine.

Among the seven figures displayed, Sarutobi recognized five. However, the remaining two—Nagato with his Rinnegan and another seemingly unremarkable individual—were complete mysteries.

“Lord Third!”

A masked shinobi appeared before him, bowing respectfully.

“Those strange screens have appeared all over the Hidden Leaf Village.”

Sarutobi exhaled slowly, taking a deep drag from his pipe before issuing his orders.

“Notify the Anbu. Search every corner of the village, inside and out. I want the one responsible for this uncovered immediately.”

“Yes, sir!”

….

“Why does that man have the same Rinnegan as the leader?”

Confusion rippled through the Akatsuki members as they watched the scene unfold.

Nagato had always operated behind the facade of the Deva Path, concealing his true appearance. Most of the Akatsuki members had never seen his real body before.

But now, his secret was laid bare for the world to see.

….

“Where is this place?”

Tsunade scanned her surroundings warily. She stood within an ancient cathedral, its dimly lit interior exuding a somber, almost oppressive atmosphere. Rows of empty pews stretched out in all directions, and an enormous statue loomed ahead, its shadow dominating the space.

She had no idea how she ended up here, but her instincts screamed for caution.

….

“Could this place be connected to the markings on my hand?”

Orochimaru rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“If that’s the case, then perhaps these markings act as some kind of key…”

His pale fingers traced the crimson etchings, his serpentine eyes glinting with curiosity and hunger.

….

“Parlor tricks.” Nagato snorted dismissively, his eyes already closed as he began to meditate.

….

“It’s him!”

Within the Uchiha compound of the Hidden Leaf, a young Sasuke—no older than eight—stared up at the glowing screen. His eyes burned with hatred as the image of Itachi Uchiha appeared.

His nails dug into his palms, trembling as the memories of that fateful night resurfaced.

….

“Welcome to Fuyuki City.”

A calm, authoritative voice echoed through the cathedral as a man in black robes emerged from a side door near the statue.

His sharp gaze swept over the seven individuals before him, his demeanor steady and unfazed.

Despite sharing the same space, the seven could not see each other. They could only see him, and he alone could observe all seven simultaneously.

“Being chosen as Masters and appearing here means that each of you harbors a powerful desire—a desire that ties directly to the ritual you will undertake over the next seven days.”

The man stepped closer, his presence exuding an air of authority.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I am the priest overseeing this Holy Grail War.”

“A priest? The Holy Grail War?”

The seven Masters exchanged bewildered looks, though their confusion paled in comparison to the chaos erupting across the ninja world as countless spectators tried to make sense of what they were witnessing.

However, there was one exception.

“A priest?”