AK: Hey guys sorry for late update on this one, I got bum out by some reviews, but you know as long as I like it. I will continue it ya know? Anyway, I hope you like this chapter!
"Gah~!" Alkaid skidded on the ground with a red cheeks, as Naruto kicked her face when she tried to attack him. "Damn, sensei this sucks!"
"You need to adapt…" Naruto muttered stoically.
"Easier said than done, Sensei!" Alkaid complained.
The young man sighed inwardly as he was regretting on teaching this girl, it's been a solid two weeks and she hasn't gotten much progress. She believed his lie on using her skills on smithing and other mundane tasks for him, but besides that she isn't that talented with swords. "I take it that you weren't the alpha girl in your school?"
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Alkaid scowled. "Are you implying something?"
"I meant that your movements are stiff… but your body type is good and healthy." He started noticing her frame, making the girl cover herself. "But your running and other actions aren't really used beside day to day activities."
"Wow, I… you nailed it. How?" Alkaid announced stunned at the teen's deduction at her body being logical rather than some leer or misjudging gender crap.
"I used to be the captain of my middle school kendo club." Naruto stated offhandedly as he used to seeing women from the females asking for his help with their stance and help gripping their shinai's.
"Wait used to be?" Alkaid wondered before shaking her head with a mirthful smile. "No wonder you can read my movements."
"It's nothing special." Naruto shrugged off, as he really didn't care just making sure that she knows her flaws. "Get up. We're starting, or have you finally hit your wall?"
"Are you crazy? No way am I giving up!" Alkaid replied, getting into a fighting stance, moving her left leg forward and her right leg slightly back. Taking out two short knives, as most daggers can be used with both hands for lower power but faster attacks, a twin blader style.
"Remember, you're primarily focusing on damage and speed, attack as many times before jumping away. That's the trick for the style you want." He announced before pulling out Skieth's cross, holding the mass of red metal with one hand.
"Got it." Alkaid nodded before readying herself.
"Whenever you're ready. Come at me." Naruto stated with a dark look, as Alkaid moved quickly… moving almost like a ninja befitting her nickname. The young lass jumped up into the air when watching Naruto's hand barely moved. "Idiot." He declared before moving back when the red haired teen spun in midair to land a hit on the experienced boy.
The blonde swung the large staff/scythe weapon as Alkaid's eyes widened. She quickly twirled her blades to grip them underhanded to block the attack. Barely able to push it upwards but was sent backwards when a hard kick landed in her stomach.
She however grit her teeth as she stomped her heel into the floor to jump across to slam her blade at his chest, stabbing deeply, but her face was suddenly in horror, "Sensei, I-"
Naruto however kneed her stomach making her hunch over, until he pulled out a long length of rope as he quickly move around her, then tugged on the string… as she was tied into a ball! Her left arm was bent backwards, left leg was folded as it was tightly bound to her body. Her right leg was also tied to the left ankles in lotus position, she was unable to move in any way possible. "…Okay how was that even possible?" She deadpanned, looking around on how she was stuck in this… again.
"Talent mostly…" Naruto deadpanned as he then sliced her free, barely nicking her making the red haired girl sighed in relief. "Get up…" He order gently to the woman.
"Ahhhhhhhh…?" Alkaid groaned. "How long are we doing this?"
"Until you get it right,"
"Which is when?"
"When you get it right."
"You sound like that old anime with the guy who killed Goblins…" The self proclaim ninja sighed before sitting down, "Can I take a break?"
"Fine. But only for a little bit." Naruto stated as he placed his wand/scythe on his back.
"Thank god…" Alkaid groaned in relief as she sprawled on the ground. "I thought I was gonna die…"
"I don't have much time until I go into the front lines to battle the next boss." He told his 'student' as she leaned in, "You're not coming, you will get killed."
"Aww, this sucks all you make me do is this stupid training and slave tasks." She complained sighing at the fact her teacher won't let her fight.
"Better that, than you dying…" Naruto added, looking up at the sky. 'I rather not have to waste time to fix my own weapons if she can do it.'
"Hm? Sensei? What's up? You look like you're daydreaming."
"I… wish to find my friend and return home for my promise…" He stated before mist began surrounding them, he took notice as the odd event. "Alkaid get your… Alkaid?" Naruto turned to see she was gone and he was alone in empty area.
XXXXXXXXXX
"Morning Sugu-chan." Lara smiled as she saw the busty middle schooler entering the hospital. Ever since she visits Naruto and visit to check on the SAO victims. Soon she was coming everyday to keep Suguha company when her mother can't come to pick her up and took her home. "Visiting your blonde prince?"
"Huh? Oh… hey Lara…" Suguha waved tiredly. "Mom didn't come again?"
The woman frowned as she placed the young girl to a nearby bench, "Okay, did you skip breakfast again?" She asked not at all please as she saw the girl nodding. "You're killing yourself, Naruto-san is going to be fine, but he won't be happy to see you in the bed next to him when he wakes up."
"I'm fine… it's not that bad." Suguha weakly argued as Lara pushed her down when she tried to stand up.
"No it's really bad. You need to take care of yourself more." Lara frowned with a stern look, crossing her arms. "Sheesh, its like Uncle Harald again." She muttered as the older woman pulled on Suguha's arm, "We're eating before you go back to Naruto's room, your choice here or nearby restaurants?"
Suguha wanted to argue, but with the way Lara was scolding her now, it would be best if she complied to what she said, "Nearby restaurant…"
"Alright that leaves that Chinese restaurant… or that ramen stand nearby." Lara stated as she came to the area so many times that she knows which places are close enough for-
"Ramen…"
"Sorry?" Lara replied as she saw a meek look from Suguha, "I was thinking."
"Ramen… I want ramen for lunch..." Suguha answered her.
"Didn't peg you for a ramen type of girl." She smiled, happy to see the girl answering with a want than just her eating anything. "Alright, its a five minute walk!" She said pushing the girl before something fell from her pocket, a small notebook that Lara saw.
Picking it up, she read the title but eyes widen at the name, "The Epitaph of Twilight?"
"Huh?" Suguha looked at Lara weakly.
"Suguha-chan, where did you get this book?" Lara asked, almost demanding in her tone. "Where did you gain this book?" She yelled as some of the nurses looked on as some were ready to intervene if needed as Tsunade would do the same for Suguha.
"N-Naruto's room had it… I used to see him read it all the time in kendo practice until he quit." She stuttered at the frightening look that Lara gave her, it was like she was going to slap her for just having it.
However Lara nodded taking a deep breath, "I'm sorry, it's just… I told you that poem is rare…" She picked up, quickly skimming the pages, and closed it shut. "...We need to talk."
They quickly left the hospital and went towards the restaurant, an awkward and uncomfortable silence hung in the air as the two got their table and waited for the ramen to come, "Did Naruto handwrite this all? No copy or stealing this?"
"Yes!" She said worried look, "Is he in trouble?"
Lara sighed shaking her head, "No… no he is not. But be careful, this book is like an artifact to those who read Emma's works." She placed the book down on the table after making another check, "Although… his handwriting is… beautiful, almost like Calligraphy."
Suguha nodded also a bit stunned to see such fancy and well written from a person who- "..." She sat in silence at what she just thought of, he wasn't like that.
"You're thinking about Naruto?" Lara said as the food arrived, as she spoke to the waiter, "Two orders of onigiri, chicken dumpling sandwiches, and another two bowls of the same ramen." She discreetly passed her credit card to the waiter who bowed, she was going to make sure this girl was going to at least be well fed before going back to the empty room.
"Yes, I was thinking on the time before he became so… empty to everyone." The younger girl said remembering the first time she ever met her crush and brother figure.
"I see…" Lara nodded.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
It was when she was still in primary school, she and Kazuto were forced to attend a play date with their dad's friend, Jiraiya, who had a child their own age. She saw a young boy hiding behind the leg of Jiraiya slightly afraid of the new kids he never saw, "C'mon gaki, say hello. No need to be scared." Jiraiya said kindly to his godson trying to ease his discomfort.
"W-Who are they?" He asked still clutching onto his guardian pants.
"They're your new friends." Jiraiya grinned widely at him. "Don't worry. They're not gonna bite."
Naruto watched as Jiraiya left the three kids in the living room as he didn't look at them, but went to the bookcase. And pulled out a large tome 'The Epitaph of Twilight' and simply read it as he sat in place. It was obvious to the two kids that Naruto had no interest in playing, but Suguha being an outgoing girl wanted to cheer him up.
"Hiya! I'm Suguha, and this is my onii-chan Kazuto!" The little girl greeted with a bright smile.
However Naruto didn't say anything as his eyes glowed with excitement reading the book with great delight, Kazuto was sure that book was too advanced for someone like them to read yet Naruto was reading it like it was manga.
"What are you reading?" Kazuto asked, as he walked around and looked over Naruto's shoulder.
However Naruto just glared at the boy, "No, Ero-jiji told me not to share this book." He said moving a bit to reread the book, smiling sweetly as the world wasn't scary anymore.
"He's ignoring us." Suguha pouted, puffing her cheeks in annoyance.
"..." Naruto however started to cry, worrying the kids, even as tears fell from his face he read the book without wiping them.
"H-Hey, what's wrong?" Kazuto stuttered scared.
"…Aura dies…" he said looking up, eyes turning red and puffy from sudden leakage.
"Who?" Kazuto and Suguha repeated in confusion. Who was this Aura?
"Aura… people used her kindness and killed her… and her family by shooting at the heavens… why would they do that?" He asked clearly distraught by the news, "She just got her freedom… she just finally…" He couldn't hold it anymore, before anything else he closed the book and placed it in the correct spot. Before sliding down and began to weep once more.
The Kirigaya siblings looked at each other, totally confused then back at Naruto. They had no clue what he was talking about. What exactly did he read in those pages?
Suguha has never seen a kid so emotional to such a story, not even cartoons or games made her that expressive.
XXXXXXXXXXXX
"Oh right… Aurora died, the goddess of light and aura was tricked into giving the humans her power to kill the other gods." Lara stated as she saw the appetizers coming, "Just when the Wave and the Shadow Dragon were defeated."
Suguha nodded, "I just read that part, it was sad. No, it was the ultimate betrayal. She saved and care for those people, only for them to kill her when they became jealous of the Gods." She slowly ate her second bowl as telling that story made her hungry. "But it wasn't like it was real. Why did he cry?"
"I… cannot say, to be honest." Lara answered truthfully. "Maybe her story pulled on a few heartstrings and it really hit home for him."
"Aura… wait… that name…"
"What is it?" Lara looked at Suguha.
"Aura… her name sounds familiar…"
"You just told me the story." Lara said confused on her part.
"No, no… I feel I've heard that name from somewhere else…"
Sorry Suguha… maybe tomorrow, Aura is waiting for me…
She made a fist, Aura… the one person that Naruto always gave up anything for… why was she so angry at this person? She shook her head...she hope Naruto was ok...
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Wham!
"Shit," Naruto fell on his bottom when another… attack knocked him out of his spot. Every 10 seconds, he was attacked… no player can do this in the mist. Had to be a boss type monster, but where was Alkaid, it took a- dammit! while for him to pull his menu, but she seems ok given her health bar. "Damn… that girl was about to give me a heart attack…" he groaned. He then felt being attacked again and again.
"Okay, that's it." He growled, getting up and preparing for an attack, he closed his eyes and counted down… eight… nine…
Crack-!
"Die!"
"NARUTO, IT'S ME."
Naruto stopped midway when the mist finally lifted up to reveal a very familiar person. "Aura!?" He yelled out as his face nearly cried at the sight of his only friend. He drop Skieth's wand and held her close to his body, "You're safe! My Aura… My shining Aura…" he whispered softly as Strea hugged him back.
"You… really miss me huh?" She whispered back as she let her hands roam over Naruto's back, "Never leave me again…" she moved her lips to his ear as she said that in the most seductive tone, he had ever heard. He felt his face become hot for some odd reason, but it was cast aside to feel and see his friend again.
…
…
...
From a few feet away, Alkaid saw Naruto holding a woman who she never saw before… but the problem is that woman wasn't Strea. Rather a sort of strange figure that seemed… inhuman. It was sickly and tall in the shape of a woman… barely. Its oily and messy hair covered her face, as its razor sharp nails slightly adjust to ready to stab Naruto…
"Naruto please… promise me something?" It asked, the voice was just as bad as the appearance of where it came from. It was like the voice was being strangled as it spoke, the femeine tone was barely passable for it as well.
"Anything…" Naruto responded.
But before the woman could say anything…
"SENSEI, GET AWAY FROM HER!"
However it was too late as she saw red dripping on the floor…
XXXXXXXXXX
Suguha and Lara were waiting in the restaurant still as it started to pour rain, "Jeez, just when we finished…" The older woman stated.
"I guess we're stuck here for a while." Suguha replied, though having a far off look on her face.
Lara sighed as she looked at their order taker, "Hey any sweets here?" After she got a nod, Lara nodded back as she pointed at the bill, "Then get us two of each of whatever is good." Moving her head to her younger friend the woman leaned back in her chair, "So… when did Naruto stop acting normal… or emotional is what I meant?"
"Er well…" Suguha trailed off as she thought back to when it first started.
XXXXXXXXXX
Suguha stood with her family as the coffin of Jiraiya was finally buried… she turned her head to Naruto who stood there. She and Kazuto were able to finally be friends with him after many tries, but when she heard her friend's godfather died in a robbery at a bank near where they lived, she asked her parents to take her to see Naruto.
But nothing could have prepared them for what they have seen. The look in his eyes… were almost soulless, as if there was no light in them. His face looked absolutely mind-numbing as if the boy couldn't comprehend let alone understand what had just happened. And when the siblings tried to talk to him, his silence was maddening. It was like he was gone…
Soon people left one by one, leaving her family, Tsunade and an odd man she had never seen before. He looked at Naruto with saddened eyes speaking to Tsunade as he left, making the hospital director angry at his choice. However Naruto just shook in place, "He died for nothing… " he said glaring at the tombstone.
"I know. He did not deserve that." Tsunade sighed.
"I was talking about his choice in saving me… he was a fool for doing that." Tsunade eyes widen at that cold reason, "Ludicrous… just plain ludicrous choices." The child looked at the woman, "Am I going to be taken to an orphanage? If so, then fine, I just hope to be left alone."
Tsunade looked at the young boy, what happen to him? He used to be sunny and sweet, "No… you won't. You'll be living with the Kirigiya's."
"Why? Aren't you my godmother?" He asked stoically as his emotionless eyes peered into her soul.
"I am. But…" Tsunade trailed off, thinking carefully of her next words.
"Tsunade has to work most of the day, she can't keep watch over you." Suguha's mother, walked to them giving a bow to Tsunade for losing a close friend today.
"So? Jiraiya was with me and look where it got him…" he looked at the ground blankly. "Not like God was watching out for him." He gave a cruel smile at the truth.
"Naruto…" Suguha's mother frowned concerned.
"Whatever, doesn't matter in the end… he's dead. At least I don't have to change my school or other annoying things." He said before turning his back, "You adults go ahead… I will walk home…"
"Naruto-"
"It's fine… after all..." he turned his head and Suguha felt fear at the dead look he had in his eyes. It made her body become colder than any icy day in the winter she felt, "This is the fate for all humans."
XXXXXXXXXX
Lara shuddered at the memory Suguha said, "I heard that crime, I didn't think Naruto was one of the kids who were there at that bank." She said, knowing that Naruto might've just mentally couldn't cope with it. "So he was like that from then on?"
"Yeah, he never smiled again. He tried to act like a big brother to me and Kazuto, but it was like… he was supposed to. Like learning to say please and thank you, something obligated to do." Suguha stated as the times that she and Naruto lived were… professional. She knew his kindness was because he lived there rent free even though he wanted to use his inheritance to pay for the years he would be living with them, yet for some reason, her mother wouldn't allow it.
So he in turn does more chores than any of the family combined, cooks better than any restaurant near them, and still is an honor student. At first, they all thought this was a way he would cope after the incident, keeping himself busy all the time, and having no time to rest because there was work to be done.
But… there he was playing a game or going outside and coming home with bruises on his body from fighting a local gang. He just… floated to life until the beta test of SAO, and each day he was more happy than the last near the end of the testing he was almost normal.
But now...he might be completely like a regular guy now in the game…Suguha had to admit. What kind of normal was for Naruto?
XXXXXXXXX
Naruto smiled as he saw the broken and bloody body of the woman he loved, "Eheheh…" he chuckled as he wiped some of the red blood off his face.
"Sensei!" Alkaid rushed to her teacher, "How did-?! So you were just playing?"
"Huh? Oh Alkaid there you are." Naruto looked to her, smiling normally at her. "So the mist did create illusions."
"W-What just happened!?"
"I just said it," He kicked the body of Strea as it screamed out, "And this bitch has big stones for transforming to Aura."
"Wait so you were tricked?" The red haired woman said as she saw the being was still...well a monster.
"Yeah, right now I see is Strea… although I do feel bad that I get to see her all beaten up and bleeding…" He said with a sad look… before stabbing the spear end of his wand into the woman's back as she screams out in pain, "Although I feel worse if I didn't address the problem right now! And shut up, you screaming in her voice is hurting my heart!" Despite his words Alkaid to a step back from his demonic smile as he literally twisted the wound.
"Should I… come back later?" Alkaid stuttered.
"No… we got a boss to stop." He said before lifting the cross part of the wand and…
SPLAT!
"Urp…" The woman felt vile coming up in her throat as she saw the amount of blood on the ground. Even though it was a fake world, it was just as daunting to even think it could happen in the real world. But before she could ask Naruto what he meant a loud noise cause the most horrible pain inside her skull!
DINGGGG~
Naruto closed his eyes as he also was in pain but unlike Alkaid he was still ready to fight, as his smile widened. Soon when opening his eyes he saw the field he fought Skeith in, "Eheheh… so a rematch?" He asked taking out his bloody colored cross and look around, but didn't see the enemy.
"What's…! Going on!? Arrrrgh, my head!" Alkaid cried out.
"Shut up, its just a tuning fork sound." Naruto said looking around as he moves behind Alkaid to protect her, "Either use a teleport crystal or stand up, Skeith is a tough guy."
"Who?"
"Then again maybe it's something else entirely…" Naruto face became a soft as if a child again, "Using illusions…" He said as he stabbed Alkaid!
"S-Sensei?" She said as the wand stabbed her stomach… only to vanish in a cloud of mist.
"...Hmph…" He looked forward to seeing Alkaid who was still clutching her head, "Alkaid wake up and get behind me now!"
"W-Wha-"
"Behind me, now!" Naruto ordered and Alkaid quickly complied, after staggering to her feet. Before Naruto grabbed her wrist and the wire he used from their training was wrap around on his left wrist, binding the two, "Whatever you do, don't cut this off! This enemy is using some kind of… magic or optical illusion. We get separated and we die, understand?"
"Magic? But there's no magic in SAO!"
"Exactly. That's just it." Naruto replied a mad smile on his face as he explain it further. "Either it's a bug in the system or something else entirely different. What that is, I don't know. But I intend to find out."
As if taking that as a challenge, the air seemed to ripple like the effect when throwing a rock into a pond. It was the oddest thing for both players to ever see in their respective lives, it looked to be some strange rock formation, with strange designs, and having webs of cracks all over its form the spaces of color showing few patches of earthen brown, clay red, and a few patches of pink.
"A tablet?" Alkaid said as she could only try to easily explain it. "Or…"
"Who cares? Look at the name it has…"
Innis: The Mirage of Deceit
Phase 2
"So there's more of Skeith types here?" He said before lifting a hand, the creature/stone stood still as it waited for Naruto. "An honor to meet you, I Naruto will be killing you today, Innis… prepare yourself!"
The teen rushed forward as he dragged Alkaid, who screamed in pain when the wire sunk into her flesh, ignoring her screams. He saw the being suddenly move away from his one-handed strike with his scythe. The girl pulled Naruto to the side as she saw the being rushing at her, "Sensei! We got to leave!"
Naruto didn't care to hear her, he watched as the being moved back and forth the area. His eyes no longer seeing anything else but Innis, "There!" He swung his wand in counterclockwise spin as it smacked into the stony face of the creature. "Alkaid!" He order throwing his arm forward eyes twitch as the intense pain from the wire practically slashing his wrist.
The girl despite in immense pain, the girl pulled out her tanto blade and did a diagonal slash at the being as it took it before vanishing away from the two. "Gah…" She soon drop her blade unable to bare the pain any longer. "I-It didn't take any damage?"
"Cool!" Naruto grinned darkly, as his wand glowed red as they noticed the health bar finally appearing and soon lowered. "Ohh…" He said in deflated tone...but still got ready.
"Alkaid…" He soon grab her sword and attached to her hand, making sure that it was not fall off her hand. "You're going to help me kill this being!"
The girl however was afraid...this smile he had was not something a human-
Actually...
It was something a human should have, it was a kind smile that had nothing but faith that this battle would be good. She wanted to leave and stay at the nearest inn, but all this time and training is why she wanted to fight. She tightened her jaw and nodded, clutching her hand to grip her tanto sword better. "Yes sensei, I will fight beside you!"
The two watched as the mist rolled in the area once more and Naruto said one thing, "Fighting blind, that was in my bucket list."
…
…
…
"Really?" Alkaid voiced echoed as the two were no longer able to see each other again as the mist covered everything. It was almost comedic as the two had an odd conversation right before a deadly battle.
"D-Doesn't everyone?" Naruto said, slightly alarmed that his dream was off to the girl.
A large sweatdrop appeared from the dispute between them...but it did not come from the two players.
XXXXX
Terror of Death Program Percentage: 5%
CHAPTER END
AK: Now we learn abit more about Naruto and his past, things would slowly built up around this. He was a...semi normal kid before he became emotionless. So why did he became like that? Hmm...hmm…
Anyway each chapter it will have a Program percentage why is there just look on future chapters to see the difference. I hope you like it, please review if you want to this story to contiune. Have a great time reading other fics if not this one!