Chapter 12

One Week Later

Naruto looked at the surrounding mountains and forests as he waited for the rest of his party to arrive: Arya, Eragon, and Orik.

"Kurama, we're about to head towards the home of the elves. If I remember correctly, Hagoromo Ji-san told us that a group of people left the Elemental Nations around 1000 years ago just as Kaguya was first sealed. From what I heard, the elves arrived in Alagaesia around 3000 years ago which agrees with the approximately 3x time displacement. I have not mentioned the fact before but in Arya, there is a thin chakra pathway that is still active but is actually leaking chakra into the surrounding flesh and bones with the greatest concentration of chakra being in their minds. I suspect this is why the elves are so much stronger than humans, both physically and mentally. Even in Eragon, he too has a chakra pathway, except this pathway is even thinner than Arya's, and for some reason concentrated in his mind and in his palm with the silver circle. So it would seem that Dragon Riders received chakra pathways from their dragons, because so far all of the regular humans have absolutely no chakra."

"Interesting, it would seem that the first people who left the Elemental Nations had chakra, but had no knowledge of how to use it. So these elves either already spoke this ancient language or were introduced to it when they arrived on this land. Either way, when we get to their forest, you should attempt to learn how to use this magic if only to learn what it can do. Now unless there's something interesting, like a large battle or massacre, occurring, don't wake me up." Kurama said as he started to snore.

Eragon flew with Saphira to where they were supposed to meet before leaving for Du Weldenvarden. He thought about what occurred this past week: the discussion about Naruto with Saphira, the dwarf feast with a drunk Saphira, the invitation to the Dr Vrangr Gata by Trianna the sorceress that Saphira drove away, and finally the decision to move the Varden to Surda.

"Saphira, we're finally going to the forest of the elves to further our training. Just what do you think will happen? What if we are not accepted by them?"

"Little One, most likely you will learn more about the ancient language and its complexities. They will probably also sharpen your swordsmanship to your limits. If the elves are anything like Arya, I do not think we will have to worry about them accepting us. If they do not, then we will show them what exactly a Dragon Rider and his Dragon can do when desperate. But also remember, you will have Naruto at your side and if half of the things you showed me is true, then we will have nothing worry about. From his memories, it is obvious how much he cares for his…precious ones to the point of sacrificing his own body and reputation."

"I guess so, but where are the others?" Eragon questioned as they landed until he felt a tap on his shoulder.

"Yo." Naruto said as the pair almost attacked him until they saw who it was.

"Naruto, why do you keep doing this?" Eragon shouted while Saphira merely mused on how exactly did the blonde stand on her without her noticing.

"…Because it's fun and you're so easy to tease." Naruto cheekily replied as the pair just face faulted while crying anime tears.

"One day, we'll get you!" Both the dragon rider and dragon thought.

"Oh, there's Arya and Orik. But why are they on those horse things?" Naruto mused.

"Hmmm, I wonder, maybe it's to get us to Ellesméra in a short amount of time?" Eragon said sarcastically as Arya and Orik joined them.

"Can't Saphira just carry us all there? Surely flying is faster than just riding on a horse."

"That is true…if she could carry us all at once." Eragon replied.

"I see…is that the only thing preventing her from flying us all there? Nothing like only allowing her Rider on her back or anything?" Naruto said while looking at Saphira.

After Saphira gave Eragon a certain look, he replied, "If she could carry us all there, she would. I believe she is just as impatient as all of us to get there."

"Alright then. Everyone, get on top of Saphira. I'll make us lighter so that Saphira will be able to fly us all there." Naruto said as everyone but Orik nodded and climbed on top of the dragon.

"You sure about this human? While it would be an honor to fly on Saphira, I don't want to drop from the sky merely because you could not keep us up. Besides, I like having my feet on the ground." Orik said suspiciously.

"I see your point. You don't trust me and you don't know my powers. That is understandable. But know that Ajihad and your King seems to trust me. As for your liking to have your feet on the ground…I can do something about that but you must promise to never speak about this unless I permit it." Naruto said seriously while looking into Orik's and everyone's eyes.

After several moments of Orik's hesitation, everyone nodded. "Very good. Once I do my…spell…you will see some surprising things. Do not worry, it is only another one of my techniques. Now, look into my eyes. Kamui!" Naruto said as Orik swirled away from existence.

"What was that? Where did he go?" Arya and Eragon asked, although with less concern than curiosity.

"That is one of my jutsus, Kamui. With it, I can transport items and people into my own personal dimension." Naruto said. "Within it, I can perform to a lesser extent time manipulation in that dimension to the extent of slowing down time in that dimension up to 20x. So by the time we stop for the night, he would feel it was only an hour at most." Naruto said, while hiding the other abilities that Kamui afforded him.

"Amazing. To think you could store living beings and transport them around with no one knowing. But the amount of energy to forcibly rip apart space and then maintain the inside to allow others to survive…must be beyond huge." Arya sighed.

"Alright, enough about me. Let's get going. Now Saphira, this may feel a little weird, but trust me on this. Doton: Keijugan no Jutsu!" Naruto said while flashing through several hand signs and slapping his hand on Saphira's back.

Immediately, Saphira felt lighter than she has ever been, even when she only carried Eragon.

"What did you do Naruto? Saphira is going completely crazy about this and its applications?"

"I merely lightened the gravity of Saphira and our surroundings. With this, she should not feel any strain while flying us there. If anything she should go even faster than when she was only carrying you." Naruto replied before lying down on Saphira's back to take a nap.

Arya and Eragon just stared at the blonde snoring away as they wondered while flying towards their destination, "Just how is he not slipping?"

When night fell, Saphira landed in a clearing while Arya, Eragon and Naruto dismounted to set up camp. Before doing so, Naruto brought Orik back into existence and watched as the dwarf landed on his ass and looked around wildly.

"What did you do? Why were there thousands of you? What was that landscape? Why is it dark?" Orik asked as he fired off questions.

"First, that was my personal dimension you were in. There were thousands of me because as they train, their memories become my memories, hence I don't need to personally train in certain areas. That landscape is just what my personal dimension looks like. I'm not sure why that is so, but I have my suspicions. As for the last question, it as has been nearly a whole day already. Time passes 20x slower in my dimension Orik, which is why it is already nighttime." Naruto answered as he walked away to set up his place to sleep.

Later on around a fire they created, Naruto asked Eragon about his journey, except this time in greater detail about Brom and his death by the Ra'zac than what Eragon told Ajihad back in his study.

"Eragon, did you love him?" Naruto suddenly asked.

"Yes, of course, like a father." Eragon answered confusedly, wondering why the blonde was asking.

"Were you able to tell him that?" Naruto asked softly as the others looked at them.

"…No…" Eragon whispered as he looked away.

"Do you regret it? Not being able to tell him so?" Naruto asked with an odd look in his eyes.

"Of course I regret it! It is one of my greatest regrets, not being able to tell my father figure that I loved him, that I'm sorry for causing his death, that I'm sorry for not being powerful enough to protect him! Why are you asking this? Why are you picking at my wounds?" Eragon flared back at the blonde in anger and pain.

Naruto paused a moment before sighing, with his shoulders squared as if he made an important decision.

"Kit, you sure about this? This could easily set the others away from you once you do this." Kurama asked worriedly.

"I am sure about this Kurama. After first hearing his story in Ajihad's study, I've been thinking about this the whole time. Look at him Kurama. Doesn't he remind you of me? If you encountered so similar to you in a similar situation, you too would do everything you could to help guide him back to the right path." Naruto sighed in his thoughts.

"Alright...I see where you are coming from so I won't interfere. But be prepared for what happens to you after you do this, even if it's only temporary." Kurama said as he went back to sleep.

"Eragon, if you could see him one last time, would you take it even if it only lasts a few minutes?"

The area immediately quieted as four pairs of eyes stared at him. In their minds they thought back to his amazing feats: annihilating hundreds of Urgals, destroying a 4000 man army, instantly teleporting, having a personal dimension, and manipulating gravity for hours on end. But speaking to the dead? This was something else entirely. This was one of the forbidden things in magic, to never raise or contact the deceased and that none have ever succeeded in doing so.

"Eragon…you remind me so much of myself. You've seen my memories. You saw what I had to endure, what I had to give up and accept. You've also seen the importance of closure. I can see within your eyes that flicker of hatred against yourself for not being powerful enough. I have seen the end results of such a path, and I will not allow you to walk it. Now tell me Eragon! Will you see him…one last time?" Naruto said as his voice grew stronger and stronger with each word.

"Little One. No one knows more than me about how much pain you have been in regarding Brom. Despite you saying that you were over it, I know that you have not, and probably never will never forgive yourself. If you can be spared from such pain, then take this chance that he is offering. Do it, or you will forever regret it." Saphira said in their mental link as Eragon hesitated.

After a moment of silence, Eragon simply said, "Do it."

Naruto closed his eyes as he switched his eyes to the Rinne-Sharingan. "So be it."

Naruto created a shadow clone of himself, making the others twitch in surprise as he ordered the clone to lie down on his back. "Step back, close your eyes, and be ready to speak. I will only hold him here for 10 minutes, for those long dead have no place in the world of the living."

"Gedo: Rinne Tensei no Jutsu!"

Suddenly, a demon like head with circular banded eyes and purple flames surrounding it emerged from the ground, cauing the others to shiver from its mere presence. A moment later, a blue light shining light emerged from its mouth and into the clone. After that, the head descended back into the ground, although not before Naruto dropped to the ground, panting with sweat running down his forehead.

Upon hearing the blonde dropping to the ground, they immediately opened their eyes and ran to help Naruto up. As they did, they witnessed the clone changing shape into a figure so familiar to Eragon and Saphira. Finally, it morphed into the figure Brom, complete with the clothing he died in and a silver circle on his palm. After a moment, he opened his eyes.

"Eragon, why are you here? Are you dead? No, this is the land of the living, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE YOU FOOL?" Brom roared at Eragon after taking in his surroundings, concerned that the boy had used his life just to bring him back.

"Brom, wait! It was not me that brought you back, it was Naruto, the one behind you. And he said we only have 10 minutes to talk before you have to go back to the land of the dead." Eragon responded as Brom relaxed, knowing that Eragon wouldn't die for doing this.

"I see, well hurry up, we don't have much time. Speak!" Brom said in an irate manner, although all that could be seen in his eyes were concern and confusion.

"Brom…father, I wanted to call you that for so long." Eragon begun as Brom widened his eyes. "I wanted to say that I'm sorry for getting you killed. If I was only strong enough, you wouldn't have needed to take the knife to save me. I'm sorry for not being powerful to heal you. I'm sorry for not fully appreciating what you have given me until you were gone. I'm sorry for being a burden. And I'm most sorry for never telling you that I love you as much as a son would a father!" Eragon said as he nearly shouted towards the end with tears running down his cheeks.

Brom's softened, finally understanding why Eragon called him here. "Eragon, you were never a burden, except well, in the beginning. Eragon, you did not get me killed, there was simply nothing that could have been done. If I had not jumped in front of you, the Ra'zac would have made sure to kill me anyways before escaping. And Eragon, everyone is weak in the beginning, including the elves. And know that stronger people than you could not have saved me from my wounds." Brom softly said as his form started to flicker and thin. "Ah, it would seem my time is nearly up. It is good to see you too Saphira. My, you have gotten big…just like my Saphira. Continue guarding him, as he will forever guard you. And know this Eragon…I too considered you as my son and if you are going where I think you are going, you will be in for a special surprise. Now go with my blessings, son. See you on the other side." Brom said as he left with a smile on his face.

"Brom…" Eragon whispered as he kneeled where he disappeared, except this time with an unyielding flame in his eyes.

Notes

Du Vrangr Gata – The Wandering Path

Doton: Keijugan no Jutsu – Earth Style: Lightened Boulder Jutsu

Dûrgrimst Ingeitum - Dwarf Clan under King Hrothgar: Metalworkers

Next up – Ellesméra!