Notes at the bottom.

Prologue: A New Life

?

Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo looked upon the beautiful planet of Earth, a world not unlike Terra. For despite the many variations between the pair, there were also many parallels. Studying both worlds with impartial impunity, Hagoromo recognized the turning point between the planets was the Shinju.

The God Tree had forever altered Terra, changing its land and people, moulding them to fit its parasitic needs. Yes, Hagoromo acknowledged that humanity's following changes were partially his responsibility. But as he looked upon Earth, it made him reflect on the prospect that if his clan had never found Terra, would it and its inhabitants have evolved along the same lines as those upon Earth?

There was quite a bit of evidence to back this possibility.

Still, despite the lack of interference from an outside source, he perceived with disappointment that humanity upon Earth was no less volatile than their peers on Terra. For every champion upon the planet, there were equal numbers of— if not more—villains willing and eager to harm their fellow man. Instead of humans using chakra to destroy and corrupt, mankind on Earth used technology. This, unfortunately, was a sad factor of the human race's base nature; they were capable of grandness, but also debasement at its lowest form.

Nonetheless, Earth would work for his plans, and more importantly, he believed Minato could find happiness upon this world. This was essential if his mother was to remain permanently sealed within Chibaku Tensei.

Though he doubted his descendant, he was aware that his efforts had halted Black Zetsu's schemes to free his mother. When Minato sealed himself and the Yin half of Kurama into Yomi, his actions had single-handedly left his mother entombed within her prison. However, even this could be countered, which was why Hagoromo intended to correct that oversight. Ensuring his mother was permanently sealed away, and Terra remained safe from the threat of her reawakening.

"Are you certain this is wise, brother? Tampering with souls locked in Yomi is dangerous, and doing so will require that you pay a steep price." Hagoromo directed his attention away from Earth and towards his twin, who did little to hide his unease. No, perhaps it wasn't wise. However, he did not believe it was mere coincidence that he'd begun to see visions of Earth as he lingered on the precipice between life and death. Mulling over options that could aid the two boys who were destined to stop Uchiha Madara and bring lasting peace to Terra.

"I am uncertain, brother, and I could do more harm than good with my actions." Except he knew Black Zetsu was working tirelessly on a way to revive Minato. Thereby ensuring his—no, their—mother was unsealed, which he would not allow to happen. "However, I cannot allow the present circumstances to continue without trying to correct past mistakes."

Hamura sighed at his declaration but acknowledged his reasoning was sound, before focusing on him with sharp eyes. "Fine; then at least let me aid you in this endeavour." At his twin's words, Hagoromo smiled and bowed his head with appreciation. Understanding this action would take a lot, but if his mother remained sealed, it would be worth whatever cost was demanded of them.

?

Hagoromo signed as he eyed the pair before him. Kurama's disbelief had begun to slip away as rage replaced it. While the Yondaime showed only panic and little coherence, his pale eyes continually darting about in terror, he feared this madness would be the result after their long imprisonment within Yomi.

Because Yomi-no-Kuni was created to break a soul and eventually destroy it for whatever sins they performed in life. This was accomplished through various means of torture and time, that followed a different track to prolong the suffering of the soul that was imprisoned within it. Once that method was finished, the soul would dissolve and fade entirely from existence.

Though this process had little effect on his child, it was destroying the Yondaime. Because it didn't matter that Namikaze Minato's original intention was noble, Yomi acted as it was designed and broke the man, first physically, then mentally. It was the reason why Minato appeared to be a young child. Little older than a toddler, rather than the man he was upon entering Yomi. And his physical appearance had been reformed over the entirety of his stay. Skin having paled, hair flat and now ash blond instead of golden and wild, whilst his eye-color had lightened to a pale blue. Both progressions were how one identified the degradation of a soul and showcased how long that individual had left until their soul dissolved entirely.

Hagoromo expected this would only worsen the longer Minato remained imprisoned if he followed Yomi's time track. It would be another twenty years before Obito summoned Minato using a convoluted version of the Kuchiyose Edo Tensei technique they were perfecting. For the express purpose of extracting Kurama from Minato. By that time, Hagoromo understood the Yondaime would be unable to put up any resistance against his former student. Sealing both their fates, with his son being reabsorbed into his mother's body. While Minato would be killed after Kurama was extracted from him.

Thus, he decided to act, for their sake, and because those on Terra needed his mother to remain imprisoned.

Putting forth a placating hand in supplication, he nodded to the pair, and once he had their attention focused on him, recited his proposal, which could save them all.

?

Kurama said nothing throughout his father's request, his eyes lingering upon him even as he automatically continued to adjust his position to aid Minato.

This action and his father's presence reminded Kurama that eighty or so years ago, he would have preferred to skin the former Hokage, rather than support him. However, over their shared imprisonment, his sentiments and feelings towards Minato had changed drastically. The man who was once his adversary had become his reluctant ally and eventually his friend. This made it difficult to watch as Minato disintegrated. From the strong-willed man, who willingly sacrificed his life to protect his village and family, to a broken man that could barely string his thoughts together with any lucidity.

However, if his father's words were valid, Minato could leave Yomi behind forever.

So far, the Yondaime had shown little reaction to his father's words or intent. In fact, he only knew Minato was paying attention and not drifting off into one of his self-delusions because of the hand tightening around his fur. It was another gesture that had become commonplace after Minato first broke under Yomi's mental torture.

When his father finished speaking, Kurama finally looked away from him and towards Minato, aware of what this deal would entail. He would be able to traverse between limbo and Earth freely while Minato would be reborn on Earth, at his present reflected age and appearance. The seal would remain intact, connecting them, thereby making any attempt to summon him, outside of extraction, impossible. Consequently, leaving Ōtsutsuki Kaguya sealed and giving Minato freedom from a realm that was consuming his soul.

Pushing aside these thoughts, Kurama began to scrutinize his friend, taking note that Minato's pinched and pale countenance matched the tight squeeze upon his fur. Minato took a breath before his gaze moved from his feet and back to his father, hesitantly, "I wo-uld be re-born?" His friend's stuttered words were soft-spoken, timid, "and remember no-thing?"

He noted the account of losing access to his chakra didn't faze Minato. No, it was merely the thought of losing his reasons for enduring Yomi's repeated tortures, which made his friend pause and hesitate to accept his father's deal. Not that he expected any other reaction from Minato. Because while his friend would be reborn, so to speak, the process would leave his memory sealed away permanently for his own sanity. All chakra would be purged from his body, to fit the human population of Earth. Many would be bothered by that last part, but not the Yondaime; it was only the loss of his memories which made him hesitate.

His father nodded to the questions, and the hand around his fur tightened as Minato dropped his gaze back to his feet, a slight shudder reverberating through his small frame. Nothing was said as seconds turned into minutes. He nudged Minato, causing pale blue eyes to peek up at him with uncertainty and terror. Emotions Kurama was aware would have never affected the former Hokage before his imprisonment. It was then other emotions slipped across his unnaturally youthful features; trepidation, anxiety, and pain. Minato would forget his loved ones.

Forget the very reason why he continued to endure the ordeal of Yomi, instead of just giving up and accepting oblivion.

A second more passed before a false smile slipped across his pale features, "don't have a ch-oice." Minato paused, biting his lip anxiously, his usual stutter more pronounced before taking a breath. "We'll eit-her be sum-moned, and… Nar-uto will have to face this K-aguya. Or Yo-mi will fin-ish absorbing me and de-stroy you, th-ereby kill-ing you and Na-ruto in the p-rocess."

It was the most Minato had spoken in years. He stepped closer to his friend, giving support but remained silent, allowing him the necessary time to make a decision. Minato then released his hold from his fur as his shaking grew violent, and he looked towards his father, agitation coloring his tone. "Yes, I'll d-o it."

Arklay Mountains, OH 1981

Will tapped his left hand against the steering wheel in tune with the music as Celeste leaned into him. His right arm wrapped snugly around his wife's small frame as they listened to the quiet songs of Fats Domino while driving through the Arklay Mountains.

Both had agreed on the relaxing songs of Fats and other blues singers for the road trip since neither preferred the others musical tastes. Will had a liking for classic rock, while Celeste preferred some new-age techno noise, which she claimed was music and would become popular as time progressed. Will tended to agree rather than irritate his wife over a topic they wouldn't see eye to eye on.

"Ten whole days," Celeste declared with satisfaction as laziness played across her tone, and she ran a hand along the pant leg of his worn jeans. He agreed wholeheartedly with his wife's sentiment. The last seven months had been hectic, and they needed a break from their jobs and the burgeoning stress that hadn't lessened since… the previous miscarriage.

They had sat down and talked like they used to, before Celeste had miscarried this last baby. Managing to hammer out one of the main issues afflicting their marriage was their increased work schedules. Although both recognized fixing that problem wouldn't be simple. As a sergeant within the New York City police department, he was lucky if he got to work less than ten hours a day. And since the miscarriage, he'd increased that time as much as his boss was willing to allow. Celeste was no better with her new position at Con Edison, which had her working nearly as many hours as himself.

Nevertheless, it was these long hours and the silence which had increased the strain on their marriage and worsened the issue that started it: their inability to have a child of their own. Something they both desired, and when faced with the reality that it might not be possible, they had ignored the recommendation from the obstetrician. It had been established for them after the first miscarriage that Celeste was unlikely to carry to term, and if they wanted to have a child, they should consider adoption. At the time, they had both stubbornly held onto the fact that the doctor had only stated it was highly unlikely, not impossible. So, for the next five years, they continued to try and have a baby. However, after losing this last one… Celeste no longer wanted to go through that pain, and honestly, Will wasn't confident he could handle it either.

Some would find that odd, seeing as he regularly saw and experienced the worst humanity had to offer. But losing another tiny life that had been a part of himself and Celeste, brought a tension between them that remained unresolved, causing them to drift further apart.

Months passed before he finally broke down and talked with his father about the situation. His old man, with his usual aplomb, told him to grow a pair, talk with Celeste, then take a break from work and visit his old hometown. He said it would do Celeste and himself good to get a breather from the city and give them time to consider all their options.

Afterwards he finally manned up and spoke with his wife, being honest, which set off a chain reaction and left them talking throughout the night. Celeste agreed with his father's advice that taking a break from the city could give them a new perspective. His wife may be a New Yorker by birth, but she loved his hometown of Raccoon City and its unique charm.

"Uhmm, fishing on the Circular River, a few Budweiser's with the old man and no radio traffic to interrupt me. Pure heaven."

Celeste snorted, "I don't know what you whine about more: the lack of real fishing in New York or which film is the best western ever made."

Will glanced over to his wife at her comment, a grin gracing his features. "Hey, I'll have you know a man's western is serious business, and not to be-"

"Will, look out!"

Snapping his attention to where Celeste was gawking with dawning horror, he found a small child in the middle of the road, right where he was heading.

SHIT!

Trained instincts or dumb luck had him gripping the wheel and veering his S-10 to the right just in time to miss the child that was looking at them with pale blue eyes. He showed no recognition or fear as the truck nearly turned the child into roadkill.

But that wasn't the end of it. He'd missed the child, and hadn't flipped his truck, but the sharp jerk had them spinning out of control. Although the road contained no black ice, there was a slickness upon it from the rain that had passed through earlier.

Will's heart was pounding with the same adrenaline he experienced while on the job, and he took his foot off the gas to turn into the spin. He ignored the drop-off, which would kill them if they went over the edge, and focused on righting his truck.

He gently tapped the breaks until it started to slow down. Then downshifted and continued to apply pressure to the breaks. When his pickup stopped fishtailing, he reversed the wheel and steered them towards safety. A few more seconds passed before he was able to bring his truck to a grinding halt.

Blueberry hill continued to play over the radio, uninterrupted as the engine idled, and he and Celeste's breaths came out in rattled beats. However, long training and repeated actions as a cop took over, and he quickly adjusted, taking a calming breath. He pointedly ignored the reminder of how close they'd come to dying and looked over to his wife to verify she was unhurt.

Celeste appeared none the worse for wear, but pale, eyes widened with shock, hair slightly mussed, but with no bruising or any other visible damage. Gently taking her hand, he squeezed it, and at once she focused on him. He could see that her pupils had doubled in size, empathizing the state of shock running through her system.

Will smiled as he shifted his hand and ran his fingers along her hand and arm in a soothing pattern. After another moment, Celeste took a deep breath before she nodded. "I'm fine, Will… just a little rattled." She swallowed, panic still showing but now shifting in another direction as she turned her attention to his truck's rear window and the kid he barely avoided. "Do you think that child is alright?"

Satisfied, his wife was fine; he gave her hand one more squeeze and focused on the other issue.

The kid.

Will knew the child had not been in the middle of the freaking road when he looked away, so where the hell did he or she come from?! Animals he expected to pop out of nowhere, not kids.

When he logically examined this fact more closely. Will grasped the only way the kid could have gotten on the road in the few seconds; he'd looked away. It was if someone had purposely tossed him there. Which led him to the realization that someone had just tried to murder a child. Fury colored his thoughts, though not surprisingly, because he'd seen worse on the job. And if this person was willing to kill a child, what would they do to him and Celeste?

Nothing good.

Pushing aside his rage, he refocused, recognizing the danger and set his hand upon Celeste's shoulder to catch her attention. He knew his wife's first instinct would probably be to bolt from the truck and check on the kid.

"Celeste, I need you to remain here, while I check on the child," at his command, Celeste's attention snapped back to him. Her shock had shifted into semi-calm composure. He could see the desire to disobey his mandate run across her features, since she was never one to take orders willingly.

Nonetheless, Will knew how dangerous this could be and let that show as he addressed her, unwilling to see her harmed. "We don't know who tossed that kid into the middle of the road. Let me check on them and verify everything is alright." Celeste looked ready to argue, but understanding surfaced, warring with her desire to help before she reluctantly nodded.

"Go ahead, but I'm keeping the window rolled down, just in case."

Will smiled at her rebuttal, dropped his hand from her shoulder, and looked out the back window to the child that was still watching them. The boy or girl, (he needed to figure out that detail) was young, little older than a toddler. From this distance, he couldn't distinguish too much about their appearance; the darkness obscured the child's features. He only knew the child's eye color because his headlights had hit them dead on.

Still, who the hell would try to kill a child by tossing them into the middle of the damn road? He expected something like this in New York, not his old hometown. Could it be someone from the Umbrella facility that was located here in the Arklay Mountains? It was a possibility, and as he eyed the kid, Will began to look around for movement or anything that could have shoved the child onto the road.

But as the kid began to shiver, Will understood he didn't have time to verify the area properly. With the temperature well into the forties and the general dampness, the child's health was probably taking a nosedive.

Unbuckling his seatbelt, he reached beneath his seat and pulled out his M1911. It wasn't Matilda, but she'd do in a pinch. He shoved the gun down the waistband of his pants, out of sight, but within easy reach if necessity dictated. Will got out of his pickup and automatically began to shift his attention to all points around the child. He surveyed the surrounding area for every open threat, hoping to spot any details that he had missed from inside the truck. While he looked around, Will shut the pickup door and moved towards the child cautiously.

He quickly picked up on the unnatural silence that prevailed over the area like a heavy shroud, nothing coming from the surrounding forest like one would expect. All Will could discern was idle from his pickup and the kid's barely perceived movements. This heavy silence only worsened the darkness and increased his unease.

Keeping his senses sharp for anything unnatural, Will moved closer to the kid, now able to glean more details. Baggy clothes, which looked like they were made for an adult covered his or her tiny frame. Pale skin getting paler by the second, long dirty blond hair that fell around the child in a way which suggested it hadn't been cut in a while. Cherubic features that would make any adult stop and coo at the beautiful child, but also gave him no clues on the child's sex. Still, it was those light blue eyes which caught and held his attention. They showed little comprehension but were focused on him as he stopped short and bent down to examine the kid for injuries. Finding nothing that outwardly suggested the kid was injured, he began to study the child's clothing. All the while ignoring the prevalent silence, which made him feel like he'd walked onto the set of a horror film.

The child's clothing consisted of a blue long-sleeved shirt and a short-sleeved white coat with flames along the hemline and words written in the Asian dialect on the back. Not your typical clothing, least of all for this neck of the woods.

He found no other evidence on the kid's identity or who could have done this to him or her. Keeping one hand ready to draw and fire his weapon, he tugged off his fleece jacket, wanting to warm the child before frostbite or sickness could set in. But as he reached forward to wrap his coat around the kid, the boy or girl tilted their head. Confusion fell across those young features, before the kid reached forward with their hand, to mirror his gesture.

So the kid had some spunk, good to know.

He smiled with compassion. He spoke to the child, using the same tone he reserved for crime scene victims. "Curious, are you? Well, this will keep you warm against the bitter cold." He explained softly as he wrapped his jacket around the child. He used the pretext to search the kid for further information on who the child was and who did this. When he got his coat around the child, he or she dropped the hand and shrunk into the fleece jacket, those pale blue eyes never wavering from his face. However, his impromptu search did turn up something, a photograph.

At the snap of a branch, not far from their position, instinct and training made Will pull the kid close to his body, shove the photograph into a pocket and pull out his M1911. Sighting his weapon, he began to look around the area, gun ready to discharge and take out anything that was a threat. As he looked about, he perceived that his position was too open. And this was likely the piece of work that threw the kid onto the road to begin with. Getting back to his truck would be the safest course.

The kid had stiffened up when he brought him close but was now moving closer to his warmth — burrowing against him, like an earthworm seeking out the dirt. "Come on, kid, let's get you to the pickup," he stated calmly as he secured the child and stood up. Will was grateful that the kid wasn't heavy, but this made him somewhat worried. Weren't kids supposed to weigh more? He adjusted the child in his grip, keeping his gun at the ready, then began to cautiously move back towards his truck. Will stopped short of the truck bed when he saw... two men and a dog?

Focusing on them, he nearly dropped the kid and his gun. Fear rose when he noted the horns on the men's heads and their unnatural eyes. One bore purple ringed irises, while the other's eyes were a soft glowing bluish color. The dog had reddish-orange fur, burning red eyes, and nine tales that waved lazily behind it.

What the freaking hell?! They- it wasn't natural…!

Blinking to make sure he had seen correctly, Will felt his breath catch because one second, they were visible, and in the next they were gone. Was he hallucinating? The last ten freaking minutes had been more high-strung than half his time patrolling the streets of New York.

But no, he could distinctly remember their otherworldly appearance, like something out of the comic books he read as a child.

"Will, what is it, do you need me?" When the strain from Celeste's voice reached him, Will shoved down his shock and gripped the trembling kid closer.

Taking a deep breath, he put the gun back into his waistband, "no, I'm coming back." He continued on, storing the odd image of the people—or beings, whatever—in the back of his mind for later contemplation, when he didn't have a concerned wife and shivering child to take care of.

Reaching the driver's side, he quickly got in, watching as Celeste's eyes latched onto the kid, and handed the child over before holstering the M1911. Will put his pickup back into drive and stepped on the gas before speeding off, driving faster than he should. He wanted to put as much distance between themselves and the spot where he had witnessed the impossible.

Though he kept a partial amount of his attention on his wife and the kid, his focus remained on the road and the surrounding area, looking for any more oddities or threats. Celeste had begun to whisper to the child in a soothing tone and wrapped him in a spare jacket she'd pulled from their bags. At first, the kid was transfixed by the inside of his truck. However, upon spotting Celeste's red hair, those pale blue eyes never wavered from her person.

After he put some distance between the impossibilities and themselves, Will began to pick up other small details he'd ignored in his haste to flee the area. The radio was silent, and the heater was on full blast, drilling away the remaining cold air from outside. Raccoon City wasn't far, he could already see the city lights, and inside his shirt pocket was the picture he'd found on the child. Reaching for it, he handed the photo over to Celeste. "I found this on the kid."

At Celeste's sharp intake of breath, he glanced over to her before refocusing on the road, giving her a moment to sum up her thoughts.

"Will, this couple and that man… he looks just like this boy." So, his wife had checked if the kid was a boy a girl, good to have that question answered, he thought nonsensically as they drove into the cities outer limits.

"Give me a sec; there's a gas station up ahead, we'll pull in there and see if we can't get some answers." His wife didn't respond, but from the corner of his eye he caught her pulling the boy closer as he started to tug at her red hair.

He stopped the car well within sight of the store's front, where others were coming and going. Will took a breath and relaxed his hold upon the steering wheel, before looking over to Celeste. She was still pale but frowning at the photo in her unoccupied hand. As she handed it back, Will instantly perceived what had disturbed Celeste.

There was a couple in the photo, holding a baby. Love and happiness showed openly in their eyes as they looked upon the infant held tenderly in their arms. He had no doubt these were the boy's parents. The adoration he could see reflected openly in their eyes were evidence enough. He couldn't deny how closely the pictured man resembled the boy currently in his wife's arms. No, not just similar, damn near identical. Outside of their coloring and hair, they could be twins when the kid finished growing. Huh, at least the boy wouldn't have any problems catching the attention of the ladies when he got older, Will thought as he studied the man. His features were handsome, but also beautiful in a way that bordered on effeminate; his physique was lean rather than broad. While the woman held that same beauty, with delicate characteristics and hair as red as his wife's, her eyes were the color of amethysts. Lastly, the infant had the same hair coloring and messy style as the man in the photo. But odd whisker-like marks adorned the baby's cheeks. And its features heavily resembled the woman in the photograph. Will realized why his wife had looked so disturbed by the photo. The absence of facial markings meant that the baby in this picture couldn't be the young boy in his wife's arms.

"Will, notice the shirt, they're remarkably similar."

He studied the photo and then looked over to the kid, now dozing in his wife's arms, one hand still gripping Celeste's red hair. He noted that the shirt on the kid and the one the man was wearing in the photo were not just similar, but exactly the same.

Things were only getting stranger, and Will wanted to know what the hell was going on. Why was the kid dressed in an adult's clothes? Who the hell were the people that didn't look human and vanished like ghosts? And who were the people in this photo? More importantly, what connection did they share with this boy?

The whole situation was something you expected to read in those expos written by conspiracy buffs. Though he enjoyed a good mystery, this was beyond him. Setting the photo down, he began to consider their options.

His parents..? No, too risky.

However, the hospital would provide a safe haven for the boy, and they could identify any injuries that were not visible to the naked eye. He opened the door to his truck. "I'm going to call my folks, let them know what's happened, then let's head over to the hospital and get him checked out. Need anything from inside?"

Celeste shook her head at his question and smiled grimly, a hint of humor falling across her beautiful features. "So much for relaxing, eh, Cowboy?"

He grinned at her, knowing that this was Celeste's method of covering up her stress or fear. Playing this old game that was as familiar to them as breathing. "Red, who needs to relax when mysteries are afoot?" He asked, with a wink. His wife chuckled but paused when the boy in her arms roused from his light doze. Looking upon the boy that had been thrust into their lives, quite literally, Will found himself reiterating his earlier sentiment. A mystery indeed.

When they left the gas station, neither Will nor Celeste was aware of the three beings that looked on as the couple drove away. After the couple and boy disappeared into the city, the men vanished with only the fox lingering for a moment longer, hoping for Minato's sake that his father was correct.

Six months later, Will and Celeste Kennedy officially adopted the unknown boy they had found in the Arklay Mountains, naming him Leon Scott Kennedy.

So there is the beginning for my weird crossover between Naruto & Resident Evil. This is only the prologue for my series. I'm nearly finished with the second installment, which covers Resident Evil 2 and will include parts from both the Remake and original since I thoroughly enjoyed both games. For the first part of the series, there won't be much Naruto, it focuses on Resident Evil, and I won't begin posting the second part for this series until I'm finished writing it. However, since I'm nearly done with the writing, I should start posting sometime next month or in February.

If this prologue doesn't make it clear enough, Leon and Minato are the same person.

This a warning; there will be Yaoi. If that's not your cup of tea, no problem. But I want to make that clear since the relationship will happen in the third installment for this series.

Found a Beta, thank you myochiikurin for all corrections.

Comments are appreciated, so thank you if you decide to put in a word or two down below.