Chapter Text
When he awoke he did so with a gasp, immediately jerking into a seated position while his hands instinctively went to patting at his chest only to find not so much as a bruise upon it. His breathing, which had started heavy soon slowed to normal as he calmed himself and took stock of his surroundings to find that he was lying on a grassy plain in the shade of a tree.
"Finally awake then." Called a voice behind him, one he'd never heard before.
Turning to it he found himself eyeing a man who stood at the base of the tree. He was an older man perhaps in his forties if he had to guess an age. He was tall impressively so and stocky as well. Though he'd never met the man before he had an idea who he was simply due to his long brown hair, long face and the grey eyes of the Starks.
"Lord Stark." He greeted the man with a short bow of the head as he stood to his feet.
"Prince Rhaegar."
"You're both awake, good."
The voice that spoke was new to both and turning towards it they found a figure emerging from the bushes to the left. Both men could only look on in a stunned surprise as despite the deep, powerful voice it was not a man that emerged but a beast. Specifically speaking it was a fox, only a kind that neither had ever seen before. To start it was massive as it stood at a height above the two men, and to stand taller than Lord Stark was no small feat. Its fur was a golden color bright enough to match the sun while its eyes were blue enough to match the sky and nine tails waved lazily behind it.
Suddenly as if its very appearance was not enough the creature shifted with fur, tails, claws and fangs fading away until the creature was gone and in its place was a man. He had blond hair that would put the Lannisters to shame, as instead of pale blond it was golden blond as if blessed by the sun itself. He still retained the sky-blue eyes of his fox form as well only the pupils were now round like a humans and he had odd markings on his face, three lines on each cheek giving the appearance of whiskers. As his form settled he stretched himself with the sound of bones cracking echoing through the clearing for a few moments before he settled.
"Sorry about that, I've been asleep for a while." Stated the being calmly as he approached them.
"Who are you stranger?" questioned Lord Stark just before the prince himself could do so.
"Now that is the question, I have many names but the two of you may call me Naruto."
It was a name the likes of which neither man had ever heard before but knew they'd not be forgetting any time soon.
"As for your next question of our current location, we call it the Borderlands. It is one of many spiritual nexus points hat separates the realm of the living from that of the dead." Explained Naruto.
"So we are dead." Said Rhaegar frowning.
"Indeed both of you for many years now. As to why I have summoned your spirits here it is due to your descendants, specifically your son, and your grandchildren. Come."
The two surprised men could do little more than follow after the being as he led them through the forest to the edge of a lake. Within the body of water there were a number of stones that led to what the Stark Lord recognized as a weirwood tree, the size of which he'd never seen or thought possible as it was taller than the towers of even the tallest castles.
"You're one of the Old Gods." Exclaimed Lord Stark softly.
"Indeed that is what your people and the Children now call us. I am also one of the Valerian Gods, of course both the First Men and Valyrians seemed to have forgotten much about us." Revealed Naruto shocking both men.
"For instance you call this a weirwood tree. Like me this tree has many names, your ancestors called it Yggdrasil, The World Tree. The ones you are familiar with are grown from the seeds of this one.".
Turning away from the tree Naruto motioned to the water. The water itself was clear and deep enough where neither man could see the bottom.
"Step into the water and submerge yourselves. As spirits you do not require to breathe. You will witness what has befallen your families and when it is done, and you emerge we will speak on how we will fix it."
With his piece said Naruto sat himself down with his legs crossed and closed his eyes. With no choice other than to do as bid the two men waded out into the water. When they emerged they had no idea of just how much time had passed as it could have been mere minutes or many years or anything in between the two points. While they had no clue how much time had passed it was obvious some had as several more figures had gathered on the shore. Though they had not met some of them each man recognized them all the same for the most part. Eddard Stark, Robb Stark, Bran Stark, Rickon Stark, Brandon Stark, Lyanna Stark, Arya Stark, Sansa Stark, Elia Martell, Rhaella Targaryen, Daenerys Targaryen, Aegon 'Jon' Targaryen and many more. The sight of the gathered individuals had both men moving towards them yet before they could speak their host opened his eyes and stood.
"Now that everyone has been gathered and caught up let us make sure everyone is on the same page." Stated Naruto getting the groups attention.
"Aegon, now that you have seen things from another perspective can you tell me what was happening with Brandon the younger?" questioned Naruto
The person addressed was a black-haired young man who just be his looks alone would have never been thought of as anything but a Stark. Upon hearing the name he winced visibly yet answered regardless.
"That old man, he took over his body didn't he?" questioned the former Bastard of Winterfell, words that caused many to freeze in place.
"Indeed. Brynden Rivers or as he is more commonly known Bloodraven has spent decades planning his vengeance and ensured his success upon taking young Brandon's body as his own." Stated Naruto.
Brandon Stark himself looked quite young perhaps only thirteen or fourteen years old. His auburn hair was long almost midway down his back and he sat surrounded by his siblings and Aegon whom converged upon him.
"Lady Lyarra." Called Naruto causing many heads especially the Starks to snap up and take in the woman whom he addressed.
She was quite young appearing as if she were in her early twenties and had the Stark looks about her with long brown hair and grey eyes. She was a beauty and stood with a poise befitting of a noble.
"What mistake did your husband make?"
"There were plenty, but the root was falling for the poison words of that southern maester." Said the woman
Her words were accompanied by a glare at her husband that had Lord Rickard Stark cringing back, much to the surprise of many and the elation of Arya who simply smirked.
"Queen Rhaella what mistake did Princess Lyanna make?" Questioned Naruto
"She was too trusting of Lysa Tully. She should have insured multiple means of her message getting out."
The next stretch of time was spent going over the mistakes that had been made. None but Rickon was spared of this and there were quite a few tongue lashings that were handed out in this time as well. Eventually Naruto had enough as he could see all of them had gotten the message that none of them had acted without mistakes.
"As much as this was needed you were not all gathered here simply to point out your mistakes. I will be sending you back, all of you though obviously at different times. That said let us discuss how we fix this mess." Said Naruto.
After what seemed like several hours of planning during which time his wife had raked him over the coals for sending Eddard to the Vale for so long Lord Stark finally felt enough had been covered.
"Anything else" questioned Lord Rickard.
"The fishwife will need to come to Winterfell early." Said Lyanna.
It wasn't the first time Catelyn Tully had been brought up between the group. Of course when mentioned many of them refused to call her by name. Thankfully at least the woman wasn't actually there as many in attendance wanted nothing more than to beat her bloody. Eddard and Sansa had gotten it bad enough but there was a special hatred for Catelyn Tully amongst the Starks and Targaryens for how she had treated Jon amongst other things. While they could have picked another bride for his son Lyarra would not have it, in her words she would put up with the idiot southerner if only for her grandchildren. That said she'd then given Eddard the tongue lashing of the ages over the desecration of their lands and his caving to her desires.
Sansa herself was silent, though learning that she had nearly been excluded from this gathering and had only been included because Naruto felt that the girl could be useful in the long run provided she spend some time under her grandmother Lyarra, which was why she currently sat silently beside the woman. While he felt for the girl Rickard honestly thought she deserved her treatment, yes she'd gotten the North its independence, but she'd done so by betraying her family and even broken an oath made before a weirwood. This of course explained how she died as when that news got out she'd been killed for it; they'd used poison so at least she'd had a clean death. The Karstarks had taken control of the North though as a regent until Arya returned from her travels.
Arya unfortunately hadn't lasted much longer. Her ship had been caught within a fierce storm and ended up sinking after crashing into a boulder that stuck out of the water, she ended up drowning at sea. As for Jon he ended up hanging himself from the branch of a weirwood beyond the wall only a few months after being banished. Thus had ended both houses Targaryen and Stark. According to Naruto many of the gods had been very displeased by this turn of events as it was not supposed to happen and Naruto who was the strongest amongst them had been voted to come and fix it. After that point the blond had been silent for the most part sitting cross legged and smoking a pipe. Aside from chuckling when his Targaryen grandson insisted on a name that was not Aegon, Naruto had maintained that silence allowing them to make up their own plans.
"Now that you have finalized your plans, I'll say they are decent but short sided." Said Naruto much to the surprise of the group.
"Rickard Stark you will have your people do an exploration of the North. You will find that it is filled with a wealth of goods. You will also begin negotiations between the leaders of the North and the leaders of those beyond the wall or the 'Free Folk' as they like to be called. You have forgotten the Old Ways of your people; they will teach you much that you have lost and allow you an exploration of those lands for goods. In turn you will make White Harbor into a trade outpost. Also send your people out to explore the world, it is much bigger than you know. This will increase the influence, reputation and wealth of the North and slowly your will people will come out of the isolationist mindset." Said Naruto getting a nod from the man
"Rhaella Targaryen you must increase your own personal influence on the world. I have been informed you had plans once that you never made known, implement them. This will make things easier on your daughter when her time comes. While Tywin is distracted you will see to your husbands return from Duskensdale, you will learn who to send when the time grows near. This will increase your standing with him allowing you to stretch your wings even more and give you some influence over him. You will in effect become the power behind the throne." Said Naruto making her eyes go wide before she nodded
"Doran, Oberyn and Elia Martell, you will spend you youth as you had for the most part, except for one caveat. You will investigate your lands history and explore its regions, in time you will find secrets that you have lost, including the rediscovery of your magic. With that find you will be able to heal Elia of her illness and Doran of his when it comes. Doran you will also have to let others in on your plans in the future, it will help temper the rashness of your brother and others around you. Elia your second pregnancy will come later than before, I will not take a child from you so he shall instead be born later" Said Naruto shocking them.
"Rhaegar Targaryen you will investigate your own houses history and in doing so like the Starks and Martel's you will regain what your house has lost."
"Aegon, you do not have to pick one over the other. You are a Targaryen and a Stark, a Dragon and a Wolf, both the land and skies are your domain. Like you I was also orphaned the day I was born and spent my early life chasing identity, purpose and craving the acknowledgement of others. Embrace who you are, stop fighting your instincts and emulating Eddard. Your uncle while for the most part is a good man is also a fool, it got him killed and destroyed his family. Your emulation got you killed and made you easily manipulated. Embrace this second chance young man." Said Naruto locking eyes with Jon who could only shakily nod his head.
"Arya Stark, you will lose the gifts of the Faceless. In exchange you will learn other skills that will make you even deadlier but without stripping away your identity. Mind your teachers well and perhaps one day I shall teach you a bit myself." Said the blond getting a serious nod from her.
"As for you Sansa Stark, embrace this second chance for you will not get another. Know that there are worse fates than death should you fail me." Said Naruto his eyes flashing a baleful red for but a moment before returning to their original blue getting a shivering Sansa to nod shakily.
With his peace said Naruto snapped his fingers causing the weirwood to glow with a white light before what looked like a doorway appeared within its trunk from which nothing could be seen but the white light shining from it.
"The tree shall guide you back to the world of the living. In time you will all receive visits from friends of mine who will aid you along the way." Said the blond.
Leading the troupe from the front Prince Rhaegar took a deep breath before letting it out and crossing the pond to the island of the tree and walking into the light. As the last of them left Naruto sighed before he shifted back to his fox form and drifted to sleep.