Title: Old Lives Revisited

Author: AkatsukiDaybreak

Summary: A special technique that allows people to remember past lives and retrieve skills from them. Now Naruto and the rest of the Konoha Twelve must deal with these and learn to use them to their advantage. Naruto/BtVS/Multi crossover.

Pairings: TBA

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto (property of Masashi Kishimoto), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (property of Joss Whedon) or any other series used in this story which are property of their respective owners.

A/N: This is set just after the time skip, before the mission to save Gaara.

This is a response to Spaceman's Challenge, Past Lives: Naruto Style, on his profile.

--

Tsunade frowned as she looked over the report that had just been submitted to her. Apparently it was of extreme importance. She looked up at the badger-masked ANBU who had just brought her the report.

"Who authorized this?" she demanded.

"The village elders, Hokage-sama," he replied, "They felt it would lead to a solution to dealing with Orochimaru."

"Why was I not informed of this?"

"It was felt that it would be unnecessary unless it yielded some results."

She stood up and slammed her fist on her desk. She was a little impressed that he didn't flinch at all.

"Unnecessary?! I am the Hokage! Something like this should be cleared with me! Soul research could be dangerous. We all know where it led Orochimaru."

"I understand, Hokage-sama. However, as the report stated it has yielded a very useful application."

"This 'Zensei Ryouhou,' is it safe?"

"Yes, but there have been instances of past lives being especially traumatic and leading to the need for psychological treatment, but nothing severe. However, in most cases the volunteers were stronger for the experience."

"I see," Tsunade said as she sat back down, "You are dismissed."

He nodded and formed a hand seal, disappearing a swirl of leaves. Tsunade sighed as she glanced at the report again. If Zensei Ryouhou would make Konoha shinobi stronger, then it could be a great boon to the village. Then again, this was so new that there was no way of knowing what the risks were. She would need a trial group that she could supervise, but that would mean placing lives in danger. Many shinobi would be willing to take the risk, but was it worth it?

She would have to make a decision. It would have to be someone who needed to become stronger more than anyone else. Naruto sprang to mind immediately, but would it be fair to ask him to undertake something that he wouldn't refuse no matter how much she warned? On the other hand, if she didn't offer him a chance to grow stronger he would be at greater risk from the Akatsuki?

Ultimately, it came down to the fact that all training had its risks and that he needed all the help he could get, but there was no reason to make him go it alone. It would require further research before she made a decision, but she sincerely hoped this would be legitimate.

--

"Whoa, what's everyone doing here, Tsunade-obaachan?" Naruto asked as he stepped into Tsunade's office, noticing that Teams 8, 10, and Gai, sans their senseis, and Sakura were already there.

This earned him a smack from Sakura.

"Show more respect to Tsunade-shishou," she said, "And maybe if you weren't late then we'd know why we're here."

"Okay, sorry," he said.

Tsunade cleared her throat to get everyone's attention.

"The reason I have called you all here is that our research teams have created a new jutsu called Zensei Ryouhou," she began, "It allows the person subjected to it to remember a past life and it seems that recalling another life of experiences has made most of the initial subjects better shinobi, but I must warn you there are risks involved. So I'm offering the eleven of you the chance to undergo it. It is completely your choice."

"I'll do it!" Naruto responded immediately, "Because it'll put me one step closer to becoming Hokage!"

"I will also do it, no matter how risky it is!" Rock Lee echoed with just as much enthusiasm.

"I-if N-Naruto-kun is going to d-do it, I will, too," Hinata added.

"That's great, Hinata!" Naruto said.

The Hyuuga heiress promptly blushed and had to fight very hard not to faint.

"There's no way I'm letting you guys hog this!" Kiba said.

"I'll join, as well," Shino said.

"Count the three of us in!" Ino declared.

"Troublesome woman," Shikamaru muttered.

Neji and Tenten both nodded in response.

"Like I'm going to let myself fall as far behind the rest of you as I was when I was a genin," Sakura said.

"All right then, come with me," Tsunade ordered, not a bit surprised that all of them agreed.

She led them out of her building and to a lab in a low security ANBU facility that had been prepared for them. The room itself was mostly white and brightly lit with eleven chairs. Several non-ANBU researchers were standing around with ANBU guards positioned, waiting for the Hokage.

"If you'll all take a seat," Tsunade said, "We can begin immediately."

Each of them sat down and a researcher moved into position in front of each of them. They rapidly formed hand seals, some of which appeared to be improvised from other hand seals or completely new ones. Finally, they stopped and thrust their hands forward, palms smacking their subjects' chests. Immediately their eyes glazed over.

--

At that instant all of the Konoha Eleven were experiencing something very similar. Thousands of memories flooded their minds.

Naruto remembered a language he had never heard before in this life, a town sitting on the mouth of Hell, vampires, witches, ghosts, werewolves, demons, mad scientists, gods, fighting, friends, family, death, Heaven, resurrection, becoming a leader. One word pounded over and over in his head: Slayer.

Sakura was getting much the same thing as Naruto, but other points stuck out. Computers, a dark haired boy, spells, potions, a yellow crayon, a beautiful young woman, a gunshot, guilt, and so much more that she thought her head might explode.

Hinata, Kiba, and Shino were all getting similar sets of memories. A land full of yokai and humans. A man in a baboon skin robe, then changing into a more demonic guise. A round jewel. So much more.

Hinata remembered most poignantly a well, a little brother, a mother, a grandfather, a white haired man with the ears of a dog, a bow and arrow, a bicycle, a constant list of excuses for missing school and a wedding.

Kiba remembered a noblewoman, a miko, a tree, a girl in a seifuku, a transforming sword, and the same wedding.

Shino remembered an old monk, a tanuki, a hole to the void, a shakujo, groping beautiful women, falling in love with an especially beautiful one, the closing of the void, getting married, and children.

Shikamaru recalled a vast forest, a herd of deer-like creatures, humans coming, fighting, capture, more fighting, resentment.

Chouji remembered that same forest, delicious nectar and tree sap, a surprise attack, capture, being forced to fight, anger.

Ino remembered a vast land of snow and ice, many delicious scents to follow, hot springs, fire, pain, imprisonment, fighting, depression.

All three remember plotting together and escaping, living a life on the run from their captor.

Rock Lee remembered a life of fighting for the joy of the fight, a young girl with pink hair, and a nameless, beat up sword.

Neji remembered a life as the heir of a noble family, a sword called Senbonzakura, the word 'chire,' playing with a young girl in his youth, marrying a common woman, her death, adopting her sister, her near execution, saving her from enemies.

Tenten remembered a life of happy servitude to her mistress, a sword named Suzumebachi, the phrase 'jinteki shakusetsu,' a sense of anger and despair at being abandoned, a drive to surpass her, relief at her return.

--

Back in the physical world, the ANBU were panicked. Naruto had begun to take on the four tailed state, bringing back memories of the attack of the Kyuubi no Yoko. They didn't move a muscle, though, as Tsunade had ordered them to not attack until it showed hostile intent and anyone who disobeyed would be facing her one-on-one.

The fox seemed agitated as a black mist enveloped it, fusing into it. Black areas began to appear all over the red aura surrounding Naruto. It tried to rip the black pieces out, only to spread it further. The black aura soon replaced most of the red, leaving only small patches of the original color. It screamed in a desperate and terrified voice that sounded so inhuman that it sent a chill down the spines of everyone present. Finally, the Aura began to fade and Naruto fell to the ground, unconscious.

It was only then that they noticed the transformations occurring in the rest of the Konoha Eleven.

Sakura was floating in mid air. Her pink hair had turned vibrant blonde and her body glowed brightly. A look of exultation was apparent on her face as she stared upward at the ceiling. She muttered something under her breath and fell back into her chair with an unceremonious thump, the glow fading and her hair turned back to pink.

There was no spectacular show from Hinata or Shino, but those sensitive enough to feel it sensed that their chakra had become unbelievably pure.

Kiba, however, had undergone a transformation. His dark brown hair had turned snowy white and his ears were gone, replaced by pointed dog's ears on the top of his head.

The Ino-Shika-Chou trio had also gained animal-like characteristics.

Shikamaru had become a deer-like centaur with two oddly shaped antlers with black balls in their centers on top of his head.

Chouji had two black antennae poking out of his hair and had sprouted two large, white and black butterfly wings on his back that had inexplicably broken through his armor and clothing.

Ino was probably the worst case. Her body was covered in coarse brown hair and her nose had become like a pig's snout.

Team Gai hadn't physically transformed, but had gained some weapons. The creation of the zanpakuto had begun as the spiritual component of their chakra seeped out of their bodies and formed incorporeal swords. The physical energy of their chakra soon followed, giving the zanpakuto corporeal manifestations.

Rock Lee's took the form of a long katana with a nicked and beat up blade. Neji's zanpakuto was in much better condition, though a little shorter with a rectangular guard. Tenten's was the shortest, with an oval-shaped guard.

Tsunade surveyed the scene of unconscious shinobi and took a deep breath.

"Get a team of medic-nins in here, now!" she ordered.

Two ANBU nodded and disappeared. Tsunade rushed over to Naruto and knelt over him. There were no apparent injuries on his body.

"Would someone care to explain to me what the hell just happened?" Tsunade asked, her voice carrying a tone that dared anyone to say the wrong thing.

Only one brave soul dared to speak, the same badger-masked ANBU who had delivered the report to her.

"Hokage-sama, nothing like this ever happened with any of the trials," he answered, "There must be something about their past lives that sets them apart."

"Obviously," Tsunade muttered under her breath as she continued examining the unconscious nins.

--

Meanwhile in one of Orochimaru's many lairs, Kabuto and Sasuke stood at each side of the Sannin, listening to the report of a cat masked faux-ANBU spy that had been planted in Konoha.

"What do you have to report?" Orochimaru asked.

"They have discovered a new jutsu in Konoha, Orochimaru-sama," he reported, "It is called 'Zensei Ryouhou.' It allows people to relive past lives, in most cases making them more skillful due to the gained experiences. There was even some speculation that it could be used to control the cycle of reincarnation."

A wide smile spread across Orochimaru's face.

--

Glossary

Zensei Ryouhou: Past life regression

-obaachan: granny

-shishou: teacher/master

Shakujo-a Buddhist ringed staff

Senbonzakura: Thousand Cherry Blossoms

Chire: Scatter

Jinteki Shakusetsu: Sting all enemies to death

Suzumebachi: Hornet

Kyuubi no Yoko: Nine Tailed Fox (note: I'm not sure why it's not Kyuubi no Kitsune in Naruto, all I've been able to find is that yoko is an obsolete reading of the kanji for 'fox,' whereas kitsune is the modern reading. I can only speculate it's just a stylistic choice.)

Zanpakuto: Soul Cutter