Disclaimer: I own nothing, and I will never own this great series, I am doing this for free, and for you enjoyment

Heir to the Throne

There are many well known land marks in the village hidden in the leaves, the most popular one and the same one many think of when Konoha comes to mind is the world renown Hokage Monument and Hokage tower, which sits in front of said monument. However, there is another place unique to Konoha that is not widely known; a place that has only recently appeared a few years before the Kyuubi attack.

The Maw.

The Maw was a valley that had, for unknown reasons, just opened up a few miles outside of the wall that encircled Konoha. It was aptly named because of its appearance, the gorge opened up like a great mouth, its walls lined with teeth like rocks, with a waterfall flowing over the edge to vanish into the seemingly endless bottom of the canyon.

It is here that we find one legendary ninja and his apprentice. Jiraiya, the legendary Toad hermit, super pervert and author was currently carrying the unconscious form of his apprentice, one Uzumaki Naruto, Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi no Yoko. The reason they were here was simple: Kuchiyose no Jutsu, the Summoning Technique. Jiraiya was utterly dumbfounded that even after all the time he spent trying to get the kid to summon, all that he was coming out with was tadpoles. It frustrated him to no end; the kid had an excellent pedigree, being the son of his star student, should have put him even slightly ahead of the pack, but the kid had shown no aptitude in either tai, gen, or even ninjutsu. Jiraiya did have to admit that having a forbidden Jonin level jutsu was impressive, but a whole lot of useless clones was still just that, useless, and even then it was only in addition to two of the three jutsu taught at the academy: Kawarimi and Henge.

So Jiraiya, decided enough was enough and to get Naruto to summon he figured that he would have to put his student in a life-or-death situation. Just being near The Maw should be enough to show the kid how serious he was being. It was unfortunate that Jiraiya never checked up on Naruto before, otherwise he would have realized that the kid had been so socially isolated that he had never heard of The Maw or the stories of terror that surrounded it. Tossing his student to the ground, he prepared to make his student take the final plunge.

"Uuuug, huh? Where, where are we?" Naruto asked after re-gaining consciousness, giving the world around him a rather confused, and stupid looking, fox like look until Jiraiya stepped into his line of sight with a rather unpleasant look on the old ninja's face.

"Stand up Naruto! Your training ends here!" he proclaimed. Naruto jumped to his feet, angered by the old ninja's proclamation.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?! I HAVEN'T DONE ANYTHING YET!" This only made the look on Jiraiya's face become more unpleasant before yelling right back at the poor genin.

"NARUTO SHUT UP! Starting now if you want to succeed you're going to have to stare death in the face; if you want to complete you training and don't want to die, do something about it, NOW!"

And with that, in addition to a chakra powered finger poke to the forehead, Jiraiya launched the poor fox faced Genin through a half dozen bushes and over the edge of The Maw. Naruto let out a startled gasp as he saw what he was currently flying over as he lost his backwards momentum, falling into the depths of the gorge. Naruto panicked, he was falling, and he seemed to be gaining speed.

'If I don't do something, it really is going to be the end for me'he thought, channeling chakra to his hands and feet. Unfortunately, Jiraiya, in his anger had launched Naruto a little off course. Instead of falling next to rocks that were smooth do to the waterfall wearing them down, Naruto was falling next to the very sharp 'teeth' that made up the rest of the canyon walls. The meeting of Naruto's hands moving at high speed and the sharp rock did not end well.

Naruto screamed as the razor sharp rock effortlessly cut through his hand, almost cleaving his ring and little finger from his hand. The intense pain destroyed Naruto's concentration. As he screamed, he closed his eyes and thus, never saw the large blunt tooth like rock that was in his path. His head struck the rock with tremendous force, cracking the bones in his skull and neck, not causing enough damage to kill him, but enough to render him completely unconscious.

Unable to contact the fox, Naruto continued to fall far past the point he would have had had he been able to summon. As he fell, his unconscious body came across the most peculiar thing in the side of the gorge. It was a portal or door of some sort, about fifty feet across, sealed by a large, iris like doorway made of an odd, reflective, black rock. As Narutos body begins to pass the large portal, the iris like door suddenly snaps open and air rushes into the portal with the force of a hurricane, dragging in Narutos unconscious form with it. Fifteen minuets later, the door snaps shut, taking with it any evidence of Naruto's presence in the canyon.

As Naruto fell and vanished into the portal, Jiraiya continued to keep watch, hoping to see a flash of color that would announce the arrival of a summoned toad. But as fate would have it, time past and the burning disk of the sun continued to clime higher and higher into the sky. Jiraiya remained where he was standing.

'Come on Naruto you can do this, don't die on me now,' he thought, 'come on gaki, summon something… you don't have to summon a large one, even a medium sized one could cushion your fall just… please… don't die on me… please'

However, nothing happened, and the sun soon reach it's apex in the sky before slowly, ever so slowly, started back down towards the horizon. It was then that it hit him.

He had failed.

Naruto was dead.

And it was all his fault.

Jiraiya's legs shook before he finally fell to his knees. He had murdered Minato's child, Kushina's little boy.He had rushed the young boy, expecting too much from him too soon. Sure, on the surface it seemed selfish of him, but he did it for Naruto's sake. His informants had given him word that the Akatsuki were on the move, and would deploy Itachi and Kisame to capture Naruto, thus getting their hardest job out of the way first. He only wanted Naruto to be able to defend himself and the best way to do that was use the Kyuubi's chakra. But he had set his goals too high and as a result, Naruto had paid the price.

He fell onto his hands and knees as a sob tore its way from his throat.

'Minato, Kushina, how could you ever forgive a fool such as me for what I have done to your most precious treasure?'he asked himself, tears streaming down his face as he stared back into the unforgiving abyss. It is said that when you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back. Right now, Jiraiya could tell that the Abyss that he was staring into wasn't staring back at him, it was laughing at him. Laughing at the poor old fool that had made the biggest mistake of his life.

The portal that Naruto was draw into was not a portal at all, but an air tunnel designed to exchange toxic fumes that would build up with fresh clean oxygen. As the air and subsequently, Naruto, moved down the passage towards its final destination, ancient energies awoke, energies that no shinobi could sense. Mana. An energy that flowed through all creation; an energy that few could control let alone understand in the elemental countries.

But the energies didn't react to Naruto, but rather something inside of Naruto's blood, something given to him by his mother. The energies reached out, catching and guiding the young Uzumaki through the air tunnel, ensuring that the young ninja would come to no harm while traveling through the seemingly endless tunnels. The Mana, in addition to guiding the young blond accelerated the already unnatural healing ability provided by the Kyuubi. The tunnels finally came to an end and the boy was flung out of the tunnel. Had Mana been alive, it wouldn't have worried about the boy coming to any harm, for the place that he was tossed into didn't exactly abide by the laws of nature, and by proxy, the laws of physics.

Had Naruto been conscious he would have been shocked and awed by what he had just floated into. It was a cavern, a massive cavern that could have easily fitted about a third of Konoha inside it comfortably. Around the sides of the cavern, innumerable waterfalls of lava provided ambient light reveling that numerous stalactites had been converted into dwellings, each connected either through rocky passages or suspension bridges. But what took the cake lay in the center of the cavern, was a massive, inverted, dark tower.

The Tower, like the dwellings that surrounded it, was carved from a super-massive stalactite that hung from the center of the cavern. It reeked of power and nobility, sloping gently inwards towards the bottom before blooming out into six large claws which surrounded a massive blue beam of light. The beam of light itself reached down, deep into the earth, touching it's core and providing stability to a world that would have otherwise collapsed in on it's self. In a way, the tower mocked all that was good with it's very existence, saying, if the tower could speak 'without me, dear heroes, your world would not exist, so remember when trying to wipe out all the evil in the world, that evil will always find a way!'

Surrounding the tower, floating like the rings of Saturn, were rings of rocks varying in size form fist sized rocks to boulders so large that one could carve a hokages face in them. However, one of the rocks had a greater purpose than to just to float about. Sensing a source of evil energy, no matter how small, the small rock platform rushed out to meet him. Stopping just below Naruto, the platform waited until the boy's body gently floated to a rest on the platforms surface before racing towards the tower with its precious cargo.

As the platform came to a halt, a small gremlin like creature that had been watching the platform rock come in to dock suddenly jumped up in the air screaming its head off at the sight of a person laying down on the rocks surface. It ran as fast as its feet could carry it (which was actually quite fast indeed) into the tower screaming at the top of its lungs "MAS-TER! MAS-TER!"

The Netherworld had an unexpected guest at its front door.

When you entered the tower, one would expect the aura of darkness and evil to permeate the entire structure. But it didn't, instead, the inside of the tower, an aura of depression ruled. This aura had befallen the inhabitants of the tower nearly thirteen years ago with the death of its princess. The great and mighty Overlord, Acheron, couldn't resist the overwhelming sadness that hung about the tower like his bright red banners. In truth, the death of his daughter hit him the hardest; she was the light that gave the tower, and him, the will to go on even in their darkest moment. Moments like Juno's death, the many STDs that she had picked up from flaunting and using her body finally claiming her life, or Dark Fay's slow and agonizing death when her magical energies became too unstable for even her to control and slowly ate away at her from the inside out.

The only reason that Overlord Acheron hadn't ended his life was Kelda. He hated to admit it, but in this case, she had the strength to carry on that he didn't. Raising his hands to his face, the overlord slowly removed the five point crown of his Infernal Helm. Putting his signature helm in his lap, Acheron couldn't help but sigh. It had been so long since he last did anything, he wondered if they was anything that could possibly relight the dark flame of his soul. Looking to the mosaic on the floor in front of him, a scowl crossed his features. Before, the floor mosaic had only been a 'Minion hunting Dragon' style, but under his orders, one of the patterns had been removed and replaced with the mosaic of a rose hung in a velvet noose.

A smirk tugged at his features, he supposed it was fitting considering the treachery of his Aunt Rose. She had always been gifted with magic, and had used that gift that she had to place a memory charm on Gnarl's memory and altered the original Dark tower after his mother Velvet fled to make it appear as if she had been the only mistress of the Overlord. He huffed, a lot good that did for her, after he defeated the 'Great Emperor Solarius' aka Florian Greenheart, he turned his Evil Prescence spell on her, and with little difficulty forced her into submission. After that, it was a simple matter of making her spill all of her secrets, from the murder of his mother, to his abandonment at Nordberg, and aiding of Solarius in ruling the land. She had been properly punished for her transgressions.

Acheron was broken from his wool gathering by the screams of "MASTER!" by his most annoying minion, Spaz. Sighing, he replaced his helm before nodding to his Minion master, Gnarl. Gnarl, taking the hint, stuck out his cane and tripped the over-active minion before clubbing him with his club like end of his cane, eliciting a loud "OWIE!" from the prone minion. Gnarl hadn't changed much since Acherons conquering of the Glorious Empire, the only changes he had undergone were the addition of a cane to help walk and an eye patch to cover the eye he lost in a scuffle with Minato for calling the young ninja "porcupine head."

"What is it Spaz?" The great and might Overlord intoned, his deep voice carrying clear across the expanse of the throne room. Spaz jumped to his feet, ignoring the fact that he had just survived a brutal beating from Gnarls cane, jumped up and down pointing to the main entrance.

"Master, boy on rock! Orange boy on rock!" This caused Acheron to arch an eyebrow beneath his helm, something like that didn't happen everyday. He turned to Gnarl only to find that his Minion master was making his way to the unusual find. Pulling himself out of his throne, Acheron grabbed his favorite axe, the reaper, and latched it to the harness on his back; it never hurt to be too cautious.

Making his way to the landing platform, Acheron got his first glimpse of his uninvited guest. He froze, Gnarl had managed to shoo away the minions that had gathered around the young lad and subsequently reveled his face to the Overlord. The first thought to go through his head was 'He looks like Minato,'kneeling down by the boys side as Gnarl went through the genin's hip pouch searching for clue to his identity. From what Acheron could see the young lad was about twelve, maybe thirteen years old. 'The same age my Grandson would have been,' he thought, 'had he survived Minato's sealing…' He paused. 'What the hells?! That's impossible!'

Closing his eyes, he focused on the energy that the boy was emitting. What had surprised him was the fact that the boy was emitting fourdifferent wave-lengths of energy: Chakra, Mana, Youki, and Evil Energy. The last was had to be a mistake of some sort, for there were only two ways the boy could have and emit evil energy; one was that the current overlord had died and the netherworld chose a new overlord or he was a direct descendant from the current Overlord. The former was impossible since Acheron was still alive and well so that could only leave…

"My Lord, I think you should have a look at this," Gnarl said handing his lordship a folded up paper he had found in the genin's pouch. Taking and unfolding the paper revealed it to be the young genins registration paper, but what caught Acherons attention was the name it listed: Naruto Uzumaki, the very name Kushina wanted for her unborn son. Two emotions welled up inside of him. Happiness and Rage. Happiness because his Grandson was alive, the child of his precious daughter survived, thus his line was secure, there was an heir to the throne. But that was soon quashed by the unbridled rage that chorused through his veins.

'Sarutobi, you lied to me, YOU LIED TO ME, YOU LIED TO ME!! You said they died!'

Acherons rage could not only be felt, but it was visible, to the naked eye, in the form of a towering black tornado of evil energy. But, as quickly as the rage came, so too did it disappear, and the happiness that he first felt took its place. Scooping up the young genin, no, not genin, his grandson and made his way inside. Soon, the Sandaime Hokage would feel his wrath as would all of Konoha for keeping him separated from his grandson. Soon he, Overlord Acheron, ruler of Uzu no Kuni, ruler of the magical land of Darien, would add yet another territory to his empire: Konoha.

Blood will always find a way back home.

Entering the throne room, he was prevented from going any further by his one true love and remaining mistress, Kelda. Unlike many people, Kelda aged quit gracefully, the only signs of her ageing being the random silver hair that made its self known in her bright red mane and the crows' feet at the corners of her eyes. She looked to her lord with worry.

"Acheron what happened, that energy spike was intense enough to wake me up an…" she paused, catching sight of the orange clad form in her lords' arms, "…Acheron… who… wha…"

"The Sandaime lied to us Kelda, this whole time our grandson was alive; but now he here with us, safe and sound as he should have been." Acheron answered cutting off her confusion. Tears welled up in her eyes, even if it was small or indirect; a part of her beloved daughter had survived. The tears had started to flow down her cheeks as she took a step closer and took her first look at her grandson.

"He looks just like that silly hero father of his," she said smiling, stroking his hair. Acheron nodded, but unlike his father, this boy wouldn't be a hero. No, the child of Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki would instead become a Dark Lord. Acheron swore on his fathers' blood that he would do anything in his power to ensure his grandson became the most powerful Overlord of all time.

"Kelda, I need to see Naruto's memories, could you please watch over us while I do so?"

Kelda knew why he asked that of her, the spell that he was planning on using would allow him the greatest access to Naruto's memories at the price of leaving his body and therefore, Naruto's, defenseless. It worked similar to the jutsu of the Yamanaka, but was not a jutsu because it used Mana instead of chakra. Nodding to her love, she helped him ease Naruto to the floor, Acheron placed his right hand over Naruto's heart and his gauntlet covered left hand on Narutos forehead, forming a mana 'circuit.' Activating the spell, Acherons eye lids snapped shut; Kelda could see his eyes twitching underneath their lids as if he were in REM sleep. However, as she watched, Kelda began to see Acheron features tighten beneath the darkened visage of his helmet. That was a bad sign, Kelda, through her many years of knowing him, knew that it meant that what ever he was seeing was sending him into a rage. A few moments later, Acheron broke the connection and walked a few steps away, huffing and puffing like a Nordburgian dire wolf after chasing seal pups. Walking up next to him, Kelda put a hand on his exposed arm.

"Acheron?" He turned to look at her, and Kelda gasped. His eyes were glowing twice as intensely as before. Scratch angry, Acheron was pissed! The last time she had seen him this furious before was during the gnome invasion. He turned away before speaking in a hollow tone.

"Kelda, do you remember the reason I never went through with my planned invasion of the Elemental Nations?" Kelda frowned.

"I believe it was because Kushina said that the village hidden in the leaves was the strongest and thus an example to the rest of the ninja countries because of how peaceful, fair, and just its citizens were," she replied. Acheron sighed.

"What I saw in Naruto's memories proved Kushina's trust in Konoha was misplaced. The boy was the village whipping boy for a lack of a better term. He suffer abuse on a level that would make mychildhood look like happiness and sunshine," Kelda gasped, Acheron's child hood was a bad one. While he was never beaten because he showed magical powers, he was still shunned and picked on. For Naruto's childhood to make Acherons look happy was…

Acheron didn't wait for Kelda to reply, he knew what she would say. Raising his skull faced gauntlet high in the air, Acheron triggered it, causing a trumpet like sound to be emitted form the central jewel. High above them, the massive claw like device that made up the Netherworlds main teleporter dropped down and opened up, reveling Acheron's most powerful weapon.

The Tower Heart.

He had originally destroyed the heart in order to break the anti-magic shield that surrounded empire city. However, after he had conquered the land of Darien, his power had grown strong enough for him to forcibly recreate the tower heart from the ambient energies that still lingered around after Florian's death. It was powerful enough to magically contact all the people of his empire, and that is exactly what he was going to do. Placing his left hand upon the surface of the sphere of pure crystal mogrite, he focused his mind upon contacting every citizen of his nation. Half-way around the world, in the land called Darien (which just so happened to not only be also known as Uzu no Kuni, but also cover half the world, the very half of the world that the Ninja nations were unaware of) every person and sentient beast paused in what ever they were doing to listen to their ruler. Acherons voice echoed within the minds of his people…

…citizens of the empire, the years of morning are over! A vile deception, perpetrated by the hokage of konoha has been uncovered, and an heir has been found! My Grandson, our prince, the child of our beloved princess Kushina now resides safely within the Dark Tower. For the crimes that Konoha has committed against our family I am here by claiming the village of Konoha as payment for these crimes. But I will not stop my punishment at this! Rally to arms my brothers and sisters! Set sail to the west! From the country Known as the land of Waves we shall take the whole of the land of Fire, the so called strongest of the great Shinobi nations, as punishment to these fools who dare try end our noble line! And from there, the whole of the elemental will be ours for the taking!...

All around the land of Darien, cries of men and roars of beast were heard. Mages ready their spell books, warriors sharpened their swords, sailors prepped their ships, and great beasts took flight. The Noble line of king Acheron was secured! An Heir had been found! And there were enemies to strike down!

Soon the elemental nations would know the fury of Darien, the awesome might of the empire of Uzu no Kuni. Soon, Konoha would feel the wrath of Acheron, the one true king.

The wrath, of the Overlord.

AN: A big Thank you goes out to my Beta, Fallen-Ryu, for not only helping me polish this chapter to prefection, but for allowing me to use his Idea of "Naruto fall in gorge trying to summon and instead discovers netherworld". For my "Storm Fox" fans out there, don't worry, chapter four is getting there...slowly. In the meantime, Review! the more reviews I get the more likely I'll speed up the postings of my chapters! Later!