Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. Some Japanese guy seems hell-bent on twisting the show beyond recognition though, so blame him.

Author's Note: Many of you may recognize this story. That's because it's already been published in what I've dubbed my 'plot-bunny account'. However, because of my sudden interest in certain characters of the Narutoverse, this plot-bunny has now been promoted to a full-blown story.

Also, 'Hands of Time'. It's coming soon, I swear. My muse has finally returned.

Warning: This is written in present tense.

~o0O0o~

A New Dawn

Prologue

Uzumaki Naruto has had too many close calls to count, but this is the first time that he realizes he cannot win, that no amount of fighting will change anything for the better. This time, they've truly lost.

Despite the knowledge, spiky blond locks stand straight up as undulating power bursts forth from within like a river raging through the broken remains of a dam. The Kyūbi jinchūriki stands firm as the world goes to hell. He owes it to them, those who died, to fight and never stop. It doesn't matter that they stand no chance; he'll be damned if he dies without giving it his all.

Thus, Naruto prepares himself for the inevitable end.

He doesn't even flinch when he appears: the man with the eyes of power, different though they may be. One with swirls of inky black in a sea of blood, and the other a royal purple, the concentric ripples leading back to the pupil.

Mangekyō Sharingan and Rinnegan pulse in unison.

Grey skin harder than steel, mismatched horns that erupt from his crown, and an ebon staff with six coppery rings

"Obito," Naruto growls, instinctively tensing his muscles in preparation for the upcoming confrontation. "We'll never accept this!"

Obito's face is a blank slate, void of all emotion. His eyes seem to shimmer with a hint of annoyance, but Naruto can't be sure. The man takes a step forward, then another, and another, each one leaving a trail of black flames.

The air thickens.

There's a flash of movement. Naruto doesn't realize how, but he finds himself sprawling on the ground, his arm twisted at an odd angle and his mouth spraying with blood. The world briefly disappears in red and black and crushing pain before he regains his sight, only to find Obito standing above him with his arms crossed.

His eyes are piercing and his expression blank.

This is not the visage of a human.

"Uzumaki Naruto, you've proven yourself far too much of a nuisance to be allowed to live, even if half the Kyūbi is still held within you." Obito's is the unearthly whisper of a deity, brimming with contempt and self-righteousness.

This is a god in every sense of the word.

Naruto tries to snarl at the words, but finds that he can't; his jaw has been shattered, and even Kurama is having trouble healing it.

Obito reaches out, chakra pooling dangerously as kanji blaze into existence at the tips of his fingers.

Naruto scrambles away as best as he can with his injured limbs, Obito trailing him effortlessly.

"No! Stay away! You're not gonna seal me, 'ttebayo! I won't let you take Kurama!" His jaw has managed to heal enough for him to speak, but it still feels like fire sliding into his flesh with each movement.

His limbs, although healing at an astonishing rate, are still only semi-functional, forcing him to awkwardly drag himself across the ruinous plain. A trail of blood marks his path.

Obito merely vanishes and reappears in front of the blond, shoving his chakra-encased fingers into Naruto's stomach. A matrix springs into existence.

With a gasp, the Naruto drops to the floor, the agony of his new seal causing his mind to go blank.

Obito's face displays no emotion, but his eyes gleam with malice. "Uzumaki Naruto, know that I am this world's god. I cast you out that you may never return."

The seal engulfs his being, and Naruto burns. The last thing he is aware of is the screams of his allies who have finally caught up to him.

His eyes close in absolute shame as he realizes that he has failed them all for the last time, but he does not close them willingly.

His name is Uzumaki Naruto, and he'll be damned if he ever stopped fighting. He struggles to open them, to stay awake, to win.

But the seal of a god will not be denied. With a single flare, Naruto is completely overpowered.

His thoughts die a quiet death in the void, and his soul is set adrift through the unending expanses of Oblivion.

Author's Note: I'm quite intrigued as to how you all will receive this. Love it? Hate it? Does the writing style not appeal to you? Let me know what you think!