So uh, I thought about this long and hard and I want to get your feedback on it.
I've had this chapter written for a long time now but it's a flashback about Naruto's journey over the past two years which gives an insight into how he changed from the happy-go-lucky blonde we all know to… the madao that is class 3E's homeroom teacher.
I was wondering if you would like me to compile the flashbacks in the story and make another series out of it, yeah? Or should I just keep on writing both timelines as a single story?
Also thanks for the reviews. I'm glad to see new people commenting. I welcome you all.
We are at 2k followers!
Thank you so much, everyone! It's a major milestone for me. I never knew my story could hit 2k followers when I posted the first chapter. Much love guys.
Thanks for the favs too… We are nearing 2k.
As for the pairing, I'm sticking to a single pairing for this story. Sorry guys.
Thanks for understanding.
Love you all.
You make me one happy writer.
Oh, btw, I don't get depressing reviews about grammar and typos anymore. I'm not challenging you bosses out there(read grammar nazis) I'm just glad I can give you better content now.
Without any further long epistle, I hereby present to you, the sixth… seventh? Flashback so far.
"Kage bunshin no jutsu" For magic and jutsus.
"2k followers!" Normal dialogue
"2k!" For thoughts
"Puny human" Bijū, dragons, gods dialogue
"Puny human" for thoughts
CHAPTER 23
It was a bright afternoon today and one Naruto Uzumaki under disguise walked amongst the inhabitants of the city, his destination; The library.
He vividly remembered Yasaka's words as he bumped into a stranger on the street. He whispered an apology to the stranger with a smile on his face because he not only understood them now but also read and write their language.
He was giddy at the fact that he could now speak a new entire language. It would make a fine code language when he finds a way back home and become Hokage.
Naruto walked the street, coming across a blonde-haired woman. He gazed at the sun and sighed out loud, his mind wandering to that night.
([Flashback])
"Now, listen very carefully to me, Naruto. Believe me when I say I would have followed you and helped you in any way I can but where you're going is a no-fly zone to our pantheon. We are not enemies per se, but we have a neutral relationship instead. You have to be extremely cautious in all you do and when you find yourself in a bleak situation with no possible way out are you allowed to use this." Yasaka grabbed Naruto's right hand, folding a piece of paper in his hands.
Naruto who was having a hard time paying attention—sitting on the futon in front of Yasaka in the middle of the night in her room—flinched and closed his eyes shut when Yasaka grabbed his hand expecting a punch or a slap for getting distracted. Feeling nothing, he opened an eye and peeked at Yasaka. The piece of paper rustled in his hands as he stared at it confused.
"Huh, What's this?" He asked.
"Keep that with you always. Promise me you'll take it with you wherever you go."
The look on Yasaka's face reminded him of her status and at the same time, it reminded him of the worried look a civilian gave her shinobi husband when he's about to embark on a dangerous mission.
"What's up with the piece of paper anyway?" he huffed.
A seal master underestimating a powered piece of paper of any kind is something only a seal master like Naruto could pull off.
"I'm serious right now, Naruto!" Yasaka yelled.
"Fine, fine. Do you want to wake somebody up? It's midnight and we are alone in here. Do you want people to get the wrong impression?"
Yasaka stuttered, flustered by what the blonde was insinuating before she replied, "That 'piece of paper' as you eloquently put it, is your ticket out of that place if things go south, and given your record, things will surely go south."
"Hey!" Naruto shot up to his feet indignantly.
"You caused a war between two factions, remember." The kyubi deadpanned.
"Oh." Naruto rubbed his head sheepishly and went down on his knees. He knew Yasaka didn't mean it offensively and given his record… She wasn't wrong.
The invasion and subsequent destruction of Konoha? Because of one Uzumaki Naruto.
The fourth shinobi world war? Well, he was among the top reasons as he had Kurama sealed in him.
Anyways, Naruto knew he should be extremely careful to prevent foiling his way back home.
"That seal contains a magic circle that is going to teleport you out of that place if you find yourself in a pickle."
"So, if I activate this," Naruto held the object in his hand up. "Then 'poof' I'm gone, right?"
"Hm," Yasaka replied with worry still present on her face.
"What's with that look on your face? You'll get wrinkles all over your pretty face at this rate" he joked.
Yasaka sighed as she stared at the blonde and answered, "It's just that you'll be entering an entirely different pantheon on your own that far exceeds the Youkai Faction in number and power and you don't know anything about them and you'll-"
Yasaka stopped mid-sentence when she felt Naruto's hand on her head, her worries disappeared when he rubbed her fox ears and she couldn't help but let out a purr of satisfaction.
"You worry too much, old fox." Naruto noticed she didn't react to him calling her old. "I'll be fine and I'm much stronger than I look. The people of- The people of…" The blonde ninja trailed off trying to remember a name.
Yasaka missed his ministration when he took his hand away from her head to rub his chin in thought.
"See, you already forgot, again." she grimaced.
"Write it on a paper or something for me"
"Just promise me you will look out for the four people I mentioned. If you ever cross paths with them, you use the teleportation circle as fast as you can."
"Alright! Alright! You look like a worried Mom" He groaned.
Yasaka scoffed, placing his hand back on her head. "Tch, he could have just flirted and called me a worried girlfriend" She mulled, mustering a cute pout on her face.
"Naruto," she began suddenly getting serious. "I want you to swear—swear on Kunou you'll find a way back home at all cost." She said, raising his hand off her head but she still held on to it.
Naruto placed his hands on top of her and gave her a warm smile. "...Dattebayo."
Yasaka smiled and held on to his hand when he tried to yank it back. She glared at him and placed his hand back on her head, the action garnered an exasperated sigh from the blond.
Naruto yawned, getting tired of stroking Yasaka's fox ears. It was dark outside already and he was drowsy and sleep clouded his mind. "Yasaka, I think it's time to call it quits, I'm tired."
Yasaka pulled Naruto down when he tried to stand up and she yanked too hard, making the blonde scream.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that he sobered up, all drowsiness wiped off his face when he banged his head on the futon-covered floor.
He shot up to his kneel, nursing his head yelling, "What the hell is-"
Yasaka covered his mouth with her palm and placed her finger on her lips in a shush gesture. A second later, they both heard a pitter-patter outside and the shadows of a group of Youkais went past Yasaka's room.
"Night guards doing round shifts." She whispered. "It's going to take a while before they leave," Yasaka said, pursing her lips, dodging Naruto's blue eyes with a faint blush on her face. "That means you're stuck with me" She whispered to herself as an afterthought.
Naruto groaned as he went back to sitting cross-legged. He leveled a weak glare at Yasaka who looked quite cute in the drowsy state he was in.
Yasaka giggled softly as he swayed back and forth, half-asleep, jolting awake now and then until he fell asleep with his mouth open bending a weird angle to the left. Yasaka couldn't suppress her giggles anymore as they turned into a burst of full-blown laughter.
Naruto woke up to the sound of Yasaka's laughter and the sight of her holding her ribs on the floor.
"Stupid fox" He whispered pouting.
Yasaka wiped a bead of tear off her eyes before she sat with her legs tucked under her generous bust. She reached out to cup Naruto's face before she brought his head down on her lap. Naruto's eyes widened the moment his head made contact with her soft lap, no pillow in the world could beat this feeling and his eyes widened even further as she ran her fingers across his blonde locks.
"Yasaka?"
The blonde received no reply but Yasaka continued running her fingers through his scalps. The unpredictable ninja snuggled into her lap with a sigh.
He slept with a huge smile on his face, getting the best scalp massage of his life.
([Flashback end])
Naruto had a tiny blush on his face when he entered the library once again. This time with knowledge and optimism.
The library had rows upon rows of bookshelves and the strong smell of ink and paper filled the air. He reached the section of ancient magic and teleportation magic. Taking the old books covered with dust from the huge shelf.
The blonde found an empty secluded seat and dropped the books on the table. He glanced at the foot-tall books and grimaced while tapping his feet.
Who would have thought Naruto Uzumaki would visit a library, not to talk of reading a book on a foreign concept he's never heard of and will never have the ability to use.
Naruto groaned as he took a seat, feeling the urge to create shadow clones to do the job but he didn't want people freaking out. The blonde ninja read up on ancient magics diligently and all he could find was some super powerful magic but none matched what he was looking for. He was about to give up when he found a book called Magic and the Nine Realms.
The shinobi was quite excited and read up on something called Yggdrasil. The Yggdrasil turned out to be a super glorified shinju that kept the nine realms together. The blonde read up on the nine planets but nothing could further his quest.
The books on ancient relics, artifacts, and spells didn't fit his search at all.
Fed up and mentally exhausted, he left. It was almost past curfew anyways. Wouldn't want the old hag bitching him.
(Scene Change: Somewhere in New Valhalla)
Naruto stood in front of a door, his temporary apartment, and knocked on the door. His trained ears picked up chopping sounds and the sounds of running water which only means one thing.
Naruto gulped and looked at the time; it was 6:59 PM… Safe!
The blonde shinobi pushed the door open and slammed it close behind him. He missed a ladle flying from the kitchen by an inch as he ducked for cover.
The ninja of Konoha peeked over the brown couch and let out a sigh of relief because there were no more projectiles flying toward him. He looked behind and saw the earlier utensil was embedded in the wooden door. He couldn't help but shudder; that was too close for comfort.
"What did I tell you, boy?" a woman questioned from the kitchen.
"I was a minute early! Curfew starts at Seven!" Naruto yelled instantly, trying to win the argument before it began.
"No, it starts at 6:59 PM from now on."
Naruto Uzumaki knew it was pointless to try and win an argument with the white-haired woman and could only gnash his teeth in anguish.
"...Hag," he mumbled under his breath.
The white-haired old lady walked out of the kitchen and placed a tray of food in front of Naruto and told him to eat up.
That was weird, the old hag never cooked something for him.
Naruto eyed the food like it was a ticking time bomb. His instincts told him it was poisoned but it looks so tantalizing. He braced himself anyway and took a taste and his taste buds agreed with his stomach... It was edible.
He shrugged and proceeded to wolf down the meal.
"...Boy, you have to start working to feed yourself. You can't expect a woman as old as I am to take care of a boy as young as you."
Naruto stopped eating all of a sudden and nodded his head. It was time to stop free-loading off the hag. Though he helped with house chores and errands, that wasn't going to put food on the table. He needed to contribute financially.
"Alright, Old hag, I'm gonna surprise you when I bring lots of money home for you!" Naruto replied with an upbeat attitude.
The old hag scoffed in disbelief and a tiny magic circle appeared on her palms before the ladle embedded in the door came out of it.
"Showoff…" commented Naruto.
The old hag joined him and they ate and drank till they were full.
An awkward silence descended on the apartment while Naruto looked around the house for a few moments, eyes darting back and forth, on the couch trying to look anywhere but his landlady's green orbs.
"Well then hag, I think I'll retire to my—" Naruto's butt was halfway off the couch when his landlady's words pulled his butt back to the cushion like a magnet.
"Boy, now that food is out of the way… What are you going to do about the rumors circulating?" She asked, crossing her legs with her arm over her generous bust, tapping her biceps with her delicate fingers.
Naruto began sweating bullets at the mention of the rumor.
His landlady was an old woman, a grandma, Tsunade 2.0 if you will, but little wrinkles were there, and well, on the other hand, he was a fit, healthy young man, and then, he became her tenant all of a sudden so some rumors were going around… very bad rumors.
At first, he brushed it off thinking it was nothing serious but the looks the neighbors gave him were quite disturbing. Imagine his surprise when he heard silent whispers behind his back, people calling him names.
Gigolo.
Man whore.
He didn't know the gravity of the insinuations going around until his landlady came home one day, livid. She barked about people—her enemies aka the neighboring hags—calling her names.
Sugar mommy.
Cougar.
and she blamed it all on him.
There were two things his landlady hated, the first was unknown and the second was losing a tongue battle… Not the kind of tongue you think of, nay, she loved having the last word but on that day, not only did she lose the battle, she didn't have the last word, and to top It all, she was humiliated and Naruto Uzumaki was left to deal with the furious hag all alone.
Naruto thought long and hard before he answered her, "...I'll find an apartment if that's what you want."
The Landlady shook her head chuckling to herself. "So you want people to say I bought you a new apartment and take it the wrong way?"
Naruto had an expression that clearly said 'what the fuck do you expect me to do then' on his face as he stared at her wide eyes.
"You have 7 days to resolve this boy," she told him and dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
Naruto groaned as he slammed the door to his room shut and tried to punch a phantom doll of his landlady in rage. The blonde needed lots of sleep it seems.
(Scene Change: The next day, Gardney's bar)
Naruto downed an extra-large cup full of booze and earned himself a white mustache.
"I wish I could help you but I can't afford another employee," Gardney informed the blonde.
"Please, even if it's manual labor. I can wash the dishes, sweep the floor, I can do anything!" he begged.
"I'm sorry Naruto but there are no vacant spaces left."
Gardney watched the dejected blonde with folded arms. The boy was now a fluent speaker of their language it seems. Maybe he could put a good word in for the sap with one of his friends.
"Ah, I wish I could meet my friend again. I don't even know his name!" Naruto wailed, grabbing his face in shame.
Gardney raised an eyebrow at the blonde. He could be very weird sometimes. "I thought you were the kind of guy who's too shy to ask favors from people in high places." he waved his hands off as he made a beverage for a new customer.
"I don't know anyone in high places." Naruto cried, downing another cup.
"Did you hit your head or do you live under a rock?" Gardney knew he was being rude but he didn't care.
Naruto raised his head at the huge bartender and wondered why he was getting offensive all of a sudden.
"Do you even know who my lord is?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
Naruto shook his head.
"No wonder..."
The blonde was oblivious to who his new friend was and it seemed the Odinson enjoyed his anonymity waiting for the right time to drop the bomb.
"Naruto… he's of royal blood."
"Oh, I see… What?!"
"The youngest son of the All-Father," Gardney added.
Naruto's mouth was wide open with surprise as he dropped the cup he was holding.
By the sweet life-saving logs,
Lady luck was once again on his side! Meeting two supernatural royals in a row.
Haha! Take that old hag, I'm friends with a prince!
"If you're lucky, you might meet him before he leaves." Gardney cleaned the tabletop.
"He's leaving?!" Naruto asked aghast.
"On an eight weeks long diplomatic mission."
"Thanks, Gardney!" Naruto dropped a tip on the table and bolted right out of the bar.
Gardney shielded his eyes from the dust wondering what type of magic enhanced his speed to such levels. The same trail of dust rushed back into his bar and stopped at the spot where he was occupying a moment ago.
"Um, I don't know where he lives." The dobe of the ninja academy had a sheepish smile on his face.
"This guy must have been living under a rock…" Gardney thought giving him a flat stare.
.
.
.
Naruto Uzumaki cursed as he ran across the rooftops of the tallest buildings, the air rushed past him as he augmented his entire body with chakra taking massive leaps.
In his rush, Naruto took the time to appreciate the view of the golden buildings and while taking in the view of the mammoth buildings, he spotted a group of kids in a commotion of sorts, pointing at one of the building tops.
A kid was hanging by the crock of his shirt from one of the tallest buildings.
This looks like a job for Superma— I mean, Super Nin—
"Eyes front, Naruto!" he screamed mentally as he jumped past the kids.
Those kids had parents, parents that were supposed to look after them. He had his responsibilities too; an entire world to awaken from their Uchiha-induced coma.
Time was of the essence and he was running out of it fast.
He didn't have time to play the hero.
.
.
.
"Thank you, mister." A little boy sniffed, waving at the blonde hero that saved his life.
"Damn me and my hero complex."
How did he get there in the first place? Naruto wondered as he bounced off the side of the buildings and landed on the roof.
Sparing one last glance at the kids, he watched them, waving with tears in their eyes.
Turns out they were orphans playing with magic and got too excited, thus an accident happened.
.
.
.
Naruto Uzumaki—maybe due to the fact that he had just stroked his hero complex—made a perfect superhero landing with dust, spider cracks, perfect pose, slow-mo standing and all, right in front of Odin's front gate.
"Let me through," he ordered in the name of justice before his delusion of grandeur came to a screeching halt when the guards blocked his way.
"State your name and business, citizen."
"I'm Naruto Uzumaki and I'm here to see the prince," he replied.
"Do you have a prior engagement with his majesty? Where is your pass?"
Naruto was getting irritated… fast.
"Look, guys, just call… the prince out, I have something important to tell him!" Naruto made a motion to brush past them but the guards crossed their spears and blocked the entrance.
"I'm sorry but we cannot let you through."
"I need to see the prince!" Naruto began struggling with the guards but they were quite sturdy, firmly rooted to their spot.
This went on for a few moments before one of the guards lost it and punched him in the stomach and threatened to lock him up in jail.
Naruto was once locked up in jail in a foreign land, it wasn't a pleasant experience and he wasn't looking forward to experiencing that again and so he gave them the pinky finger and left their presence.
But, they didn't know….
The blonde ninja had been known to be a tenacious one since the days he started desecrating the Hokage mountains so, it was no surprise that the ninja scaled the walls of the palace in a clandestine manner worthy of his profession.
"Kekeke, those idiots can't stop me! Naruto Uzumaki ain't someone they can comprehend."
Kurama rolled his eyes in the seals watching the events of the day. The nine-tailed fox still couldn't believe Naruto was In an entirely different reality, a different universe.
Naruto vaulted over the railings and landed on an extended platform that looked almost like a heliport.
Maybe those flying boats were supposed to land here.
Anyhow, this place was an open spot and anyone could spot a figure standing on the platform and it had an amazing view of the city.
As if on cue, Naruto heard footsteps and made haste to hide behind the walls.
Two men, one wearing a white suit with long gray hair and the other man, who seemed familiar, leaned on the railing and gazed upon the city.
"How glorious will this city become when Ragnarok graces us with its wrath."
"Indeed, my lord, and we will be the instruments that hasten its coming."
"That is correct, Fang."
"Wait… Fang, why does that name sound familiar?" Naruto thought in his hiding spot.
"And with the All-Father, Thor, Baldur, and now Vidar gone, nothing stands in our way." he cackled.
Naruto's eyeballs widened in astonishment. That was three out of the four people Yasaka told him to flee from on sight.
"Those idiots cannot stop Ragnarok. No god can stop it." the guy in the white suit replied.
"Who's this weirdo going on about Ragnarok? What's this Ragnarok thing?"
Loki gripped the railing and stared at the ocean in the distance, bubbling with excitement. He would see the fruits of his labor soon, he could feel it.
The three sisters living at the roots of Yggdrasil had spoken,
Provoked by the strong desire of an alien, the hands of the clock have been shifted and the great end draws near. Ragnarok might be upon us as we speak.
Loki couldn't help the stupid grin on his face when he received the news. Though he wondered who this alien was, he sure as hell earned his gratitude for shifting the doomsday clock.
Loki had reasons to believe this alien they spoke of was none other than Fang, the 'Asgardian' beside him.
"Bwahahaha" he cackled out loud, picturing the twilight of the gods.
Naruto's eyes widened a fraction as realization dawned on him. He'd recognize that kind of sound any day; the laughter of a Villain that's about to achieve his goal.
He had heard enough and had already overstayed his stay at this point.
Naruto peeked through the wall, his eyes trained on Loki's back before he deftly sleds back in premonition at the slightest tension in Loki's posture.
Loki glanced at the walls in suspicion, his eyes narrowed before he sensed a shift in the air. "Who's there?"
Naruto covered his mouth lest he gasps and moved away from the wall. He needed saving and fast.
"Lord Loki?" Fang questioned when Loki moved closer to the walls.
There was no one in the vicinity, they made sure of it and the royal family was the only ones permitted to use the platform.
Fang fished out a knife from his wrist and followed Loki. If Loki was cautious like this then someone was definitely there.
"Help, Kurama!"
"Keh!"
"Seriously?" he deadpanned. "Curse you, Kyuubi!"
Loki and Fang exchanged glances as they neared the wall, one conjured a magic circle and the other took out another knife.
The negative emotions were rolling off them in waves.
A bead of sweat rolled down Naruto's face.
"Fuck… I'm gonna have to fight my way through this."
Naruto closed his eyes, and stilled his body, ready to draw in sage energy before—
"Loki?" A feminine voice snapped Naruto out of his meditative state. "What are you doing here, and with a peasant no less?"
The new lady had her eyes on the wall Naruto was hiding as she questioned the boys. She had long silky shiny dark-brown hair, flawless skin, and a body that rivaled, if not surpassed Gaia's. She was garbed in a black robe with a dark blue scarf worthy of a Greek goddess.
"The All-Father will hear of this."
Loki gritted his teeth at the sight of the lady. "Might as well conjure a magic circle for you to go and tell on me." he rolled his eyes.
The evil god, Loki, spared one last glance at the wall before he left. Fang bowed at the black-haired woman and followed suit.
The lady strode forward and rested her elbows on the railing, her back to the city, and turned her head towards the wall and said, "Come out, I know you are there."
Naruto sighed from where he was and poked his head from his hiding spot to take a peek at the woman only for him to freeze with his jaw unhinged.
She was drop-dead gorgeous.
The lady giggled, her blue eyes shining with mischievousness. "Cat's got your tongue, Human?"
Naruto's sapphire blue orbs widened against his will. She knew he was human? Who is this woman?
"What is a human doing in a place strictly forbidden for even Asgardians, talkless mortals?" she questioned as she left the railing and moved towards Naruto.
Naruto stood motionlessly, tongue-tied
"Well… one rarely gets to meet your kind, even so, a human one at that." She walked up to him with her hands crossed over her bountiful mounds, a head shorter than the blonde. "You might be the only one I've come across."
If Naruto's eyes were wide before, now it's dangling on the floor, out of their sockets.
"Wha—W-Who are you, Ma'am?" he asked raising his defense.
This woman discovered his well-guarded secrets in mere seconds. She was not to be trifled with.
"Oh please, call me… Freya." The lady giggled into her sleeves.
(Scene Change: Naruto's rented Apartment)
Naruto slammed the door shut behind him, breathing hard like he just fought the ten tails.
"Thank goodness! I made it in time!"
"Naruto! Where have you been all day?" Naruto's landlady came out of her room with a furious look.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." he flopped onto the couch, exhausted.
"How many times do I have to tell you to keep your shoes outside?!" she bonked the blonde on the head.
"Leave me alone, Hag!" he cried in protest, nursing his head.
"Anyways, shoes are the least of our problems." she hurriedly took a seat at the table.
"What's up? I thought I'd cleared the rent money Monday?"
"Nope."
"Gas bills Friday?"
"Naruto! You have finally ruined my reputation!" she snapped.
"What did I do this time?!" he snapped back.
"Don't raise your voice at me, boy." The white-haired landlady fired off a beam of white light that signed Naruto's sleeves from a magic circle on her hand.
"Hag…" Naruto murmured, rubbing his singed sleeves in pain.
"Listen up, boy. The neighbors have gathered together to do something habitual again, only this time, they succeeded."
Naruto sat straight and listened with rapt attention.
"We were in the marketplace, the fabric section, and a lot of women were present. Old and young."
"Quick question." Naruto raised his hand, earning a nod from his landlady. "Why were there lots of women in the marketplace? I know you're sexist but that was—Ow!"
"Do not speak when I'm speaking, boy!" Naruto was silenced courtesy of a punch to the bridge of his nose. "Now, where was I… Yes, women… Suddenly all of them started talking about attending the gala in their best outfits with their husbands and boyfriends, stealing glances at lonely ol' me."
"A gala?" he replied rhetorically, nursing the bridge of his nose.
"Yes. Some of the damsels were even talking about you, sending heated glares my way."
"Really?" his face lit up in pride.
Let it be known that female Asgardians were very eye-catching.
"Then, I was challenged to see who wins the best couple award."
Naruto's stomach churned at the implication of her story. "No way?!" he slowly backed away from his landlady, shaking his head, already catching her drift.
"Yes, way. They already have you labeled as a gigolo but don't be mistaken, Uzumaki, I hate losing, that's all!"
"You grannies should leave me out of your business!" he groaned.
"I picked a suit for you."
"A suit!"
"Yes."
"I'm never wearing a suit, never. You can just kill me instead. I'd gladly die than wear a suit."
"Oh, don't worry then, this old woman might die of loneliness and embarrassment knowing that a certain blondie could have made her wish come true." she hiccupped with fake tears.
"Your entire existence was created to torment me." Naruto's left eyes twitched as he watched her Oscar-worthy performance.
Seeing that it was not enough to deter the blonde, she pulled out her trump card. "Oh, how I wish my dead son was here—"
"Fine! Fine! I'll do it." he huffed.
"We're attending the gala two days from now. That means I have an entire day to mold you from a human to Asgardian. All our traditions and etiquette will be hammered into your thick skull..." she could feel a headache coming as she thought about teaching Naruto.
Naruto was tactless and lacking grace, no pint of nobility or gentlemanliness in his entire being. She hoped that Naruto would have at least the basics down before they attended the gala.
(Scene Change: Morning, on the apartment's rooftop)
"Kage Bunshin no jutsu!" Naruto called with a smug grin.
The look of surprise on his normally broody, moody landlady was well worth revealing his signature technique.
"Teach us, landlady!" The clones chorused with a bow.
The white-haired old woman was stunned before she revealed an ear-splitting grin on her face when Naruto explained the principle of the shadow clones to her.
.
.
.
Naruto had turned into a perfect gentleman in the middle of the day.
She made sure to teach him how to impress a lady with his words, actions, and even his posture.
"You know, Mi lady, you haven't graced me with your nomenclature yet," he asked as they both had a formal meal, swirling a cup of wine.
His landlady went all out, even giving him a massive vocabulary boost too.
"Well, if you pass the last test, I will tell you my name."
"And what, pray tell, is that?"
"... Dancing."
Naruto threw the napkin he was using to wipe his mouth and shot up to his feet instantly. "No fucking way!"
"Mind your tongue, boy. A gentleman does not spit profanities like that."
"My clones can—"
"No! Dancing requires you, the original."
Naruto swallowed his retort and could only gnash his teeth in frustration. "You'd better tell me your name when we're done."
And so, hours went by and it was noon. Naruto had all the dance steps down except the last one.
"You did well Naruto… I think you deserve to know my name."
Naruto, for one, was happy the mini hell he put himself in was over. It was super awkward dancing with his landlady.
"Well…?"
"What?"
"Let's hear it."
"Hear what?"
"Your name."
"Gondul."
"What?"
"My name is… Gondul."
"Gondul…" Naruto tasted the word in his mouth but ceased his comment, avoiding the ire of his Landlady.
She gave him a few tips and pointers before they retired to their separate room in preparation for the next day.
(Scene change, Surty's Residence)
Soft music filled the air, the instrumentalists played their stringed instruments with zeal as the gala gradually filled with Asgardians.
The hero Surty, the host, threw the gala for his single daughter, the pearl of his eyes. She was an object of beauty and many have come far and wide in hopes of establishing a relationship with the Hero via his delectable daughter.
She was at the ripe age for marriage.
Amidst the Asgardians was someone who stood out of place, raising a glass of wine to his lips, admiring the huge hall.
"Having fun?" Gondul, dressed in a white strapless gown, asked.
If Naruto didn't know she had a grandchild, he would have thought she was another damsel hoping to meet her prince charming in the event.
Speaking of prince charming, Naruto was charming the ladies with his black suit and slicked-back hair.
Gondul had to paralyze the blonde to style his hair. It took hours to tame his wild hair and now, his blue eyes were more pronounced.
"Other than the stares… This is kind of relaxing."
"Oh, Gondul! I never knew you would come to the gala like this. After all, you are a lonely old widow."
Naruto downed the entire drink down the hatch staring at lady Dursley. Gondul's number one rival and neighbor had her husband by her side. The man looked more like her waiter than her husband. Mrs. Dursley was quite the bossy lady.
"I don't know," Gondul linked her hands around Naruto's arm. "Maybe I just wanted to show off?"
"Damn, Gondul! Who's the smoking hot stud?" one of Mrs. Dursley's reinforcements asked.
"Don't act like you don't know my tenant." she deadpanned.
"Well, this one is a keeper, Gondul. I'd grab that piece of meat if I were you."
"Pervert." the white-haired landlady sneered.
The star of the day, Surty's daughter, stole everyone's attention as her father announced her presence. She was garbed in a red shiny gown that complimented her curly red long hair draped over her shoulder.
Applause filled the air as she gracefully ascended the flight of stairs. The men openly gawked at her while married men were sent into a daze as she waltzed past them bewitching them with her beauty.
"Yabe!" Naruto cursed mentally. He would recognize that bust size and red hair anywhere… After all, he's seen the entire package.
"Um, Gondul, 3 'o clock, danger, so yeah, let's go home," Naruto whispered behind her ear.
"What are you talking about? The party's just getting started." she squealed and rushed off with her frenemies.
The music tempo changed and everyone started dancing and the party came to life with a flair.
Magic filled the air, like literally magic. Even the instruments were played with magic.
Gondul had wandered off with her neighbors, no doubt to do granny challenges of sorts to see who's the best.
Naruto's eyes darted around looking at the open windows before his sapphire-blue orbs made contact with Surty's daughter's deep blue ones and he didn't like what he saw in those eyes.
Naruto looked left and right before he made a beeline towards the nearest exit but his attempt was thwarted by a red magic circle that appeared in front of him.
He stumbled back as Surty's daughter sauntered out of the circle and held his hand.
"Hi, I'm Rose." she buffed her eyelids at him as she introduced herself.
"Um… I swear I didn't—"
"I haven't seen you around here before. Trust me, I'm very good with faces but yours seems new and attractive."
"Err…" Naruto trailed off uncomfortably. "Thanks?"
"Dance with me." Rose entered his personal space and threw her arms around his neck.
The dance floor cleared out for both teens as they danced.
"Hey, Gondul, ain't that your man?"
"That's my man alright! Stealing the spotlight effortlessly." Gondul clinked her glass with her friend.
"I like your eyes…" She gave the compliments after staring into his eyes for a long time.
"Uhh… Thanks?"
Surty held his wife as they watched their daughter dance with a blonde man.
"Do you think he's the one?" Surty, a hulky Asgardian, asked his wife.
"Only Rose can tell," she replied.
The music stopped and everyone blessed them with applause. Rose gave a bow and winked at Naruto before she glanced at her parents.
"Ah shit," Naruto exclaimed when he saw the look Rose's mom gave him. It was just like Freya's.
"Naruto! Look at you, Barely two hours have passed and you are already making me proud!" Gondul slapped Naruto on his shoulders. "Come, this calls for a celebration!"
"Are you drunk, Gondul?" he asked.
"Of course, my son just made me proud!" Gondul didn't even register her mistake. She was tipsy as she pulled him around.
Naruto decided right then he was going to have a blast with the lady. She deserved to have a son for a night and a son for a night was what he was going to give her.
And so, they did weird shit together, just having fun, throwing all their problems and sorrow away.
Amidst their fun, Naruto bumped into someone and inadvertently poured wine all over his face and hair in the process.
The party went on as people danced and grooved, having fun. Surty clinked a glass, the action garnered everybody's attention.
"It's time for my daughter to announce the man of her choice."
Rose smiled as people applauded her as she stilled her nerve to announce her potential husband.
Rose searched around for Naruto before she saw the blonde with wet hair and his face looked familiar all of a sudden.
"Wait…" Her beautiful face furrowed in recollection. "The bathhouse pervert?!"
"Dad! That's the guy I was talking about!" she yelled pointing a finger at Naruto who was giggling with Gondul behind him encouraging him to go all in.
The Asgardians cheered for Naruto, thinking he had been chosen to be the son-in-law of the hero.
Congratulations were in order.
"Hehe, When we're done here, we're going to play Blackjack so you can know how lucky I am! I intend to make you rich Grandma Gondul!" the shinobi cackled.
Naruto stopped cackling when he noticed everyone was clapping and smiling at him, some even outright congratulating him with a handshake.
"Huh? What's going on?" he asked in confusion, glancing at Gondul.
"Guards! Seize him!" Surty bellowed, pointing at Naruto.
"Ah, shit… I'm saying that quite often." he sighed.
Naruto stuffed his winnings into his pocket as much as his pockets would allow. He glanced around, the guards had moved towards the exit, blocking his escape route.
"Gondul, anytime now, I need that abracadabra, woman!" he yelled, going through a fit of panic.
Gondul, now fully tipsy, slammed the last cup of wine for the day on the table and stretched. "Don't worry Naruto, I'll save you!"
And with a war cry, she took down two guards with flawless moves even though she was tipsy. Her movements were graceful and fluid, almost like a warrior.
"Wow…" Naruto exclaimed, feeling a little tipsy himself.
One of the dealers tried to nab him to gain favor in Surty's sight but a bottle of wine to the head knocked him out cold.
"Party Fight!"
Naruto's declaration ignited a wide-scale brawl.
Gondul had taught Naruto the ways of the gentlemanly Asgardian but the ways of the wild Asgardians was something Naruto witnessed firsthand with a Prince in a bar filled with brutes and peasants of every kind in the streets of New Valhalla.
Naruto and Gondul worked together to take the guards down, dancing as they took them down. They managed to slip out amidst the commotion and left an angry Surty at the gala.
(Somewhere in Asgard.)
"Yeah! Did you see what I did to that guy?!"
Naruto and Gondul were out of breath in their hiding spot, retelling their tales of the party.
"Yeah son, you really took the cake with tha—'' Gondul went silent when she finally noticed her lapsus after her body had burned the alcohol in her system when they were running for their lives.
"Gondul… are you okay?" Naruto asked in concern.
"Ugh…"
Naruto saw a mini magic circle materialize behind her ear and a booming voice came out of it all of a sudden.
The person on the other end was screaming at the top of her lungs no doubt.
"Grandma! What the hell were you thinking?! Do you know how ma—"
"Hello? Hello? I'm losing you." Gondul feigned.
"Don't you—"
The magic circle behind her ear disappeared. She ended the call on purpose.
"Who was that?" he asked.
"My Granddaughter. That one is too stuck up, in an upright manner." She quickly added. "She was all about academics In school so she never had a boyfriend of her own. She grew too serious for my taste."
Naruto deadpanned at his landlady. She was the farthest thing from being serious. He shivered involuntarily picturing a young gondul.
"She was denied the family head position because she was incompatible with our family magic style and as a consequence of trying to make up for her perceived shortcomings in magic, her school life was completely academic, to the point that she did not have a social life. And thus she grew up too smart and serious."
"She's cool," Naruto said all of a sudden.
Gondul stared at her tenant as he had just grown another head.
"She's hardworking and she didn't let anything like family traditions and expectations weigh her down."
The image of Hinata flashed through his mind for a moment there.
"I'd definitely date her! She's hardworking." Naruto proclaimed with his chest puffed out.
"Stay away from my Grandchild, Human! She'll never fall for the likes of you!" Gondul bellowed. "She'll get married to a handsome rich responsible Asgardian!"
"You're still tipsy." Naruto deadpanned.
"Ah, now, she's the personal bodyguard of the All-Father. Ah, I'm so proud of my Granddaughter." She cooed.
Naruto made a mental note to remove his eyeballs and wash them when he got home. He had to unsee his despicable landlady gushing and cooing about her Granddaughter with a blush on her face.
"And she's calling back... What's up Ro-tan?!"
"Ro-tan?" Naruto raised an eyebrow at the name.
"I heard you had an accomplice, a blonde man! How irresponsible can a man be to the point that he dragged you into his mess?"
Naruto's eyes twitched when she dragged him into the conversation.
"He's been taking care of me since you were gone, Ro-tan."
"Anyways, don't be so quick to trust strangers. You're not the kind to play nice Grandma with strangers."
Naruto nodded. He had to agree with her granddaughter there.
"What? I don't trust the blonde bastard."
He rolled his eyes in exasperation.
"Is he there? I want to talk to him. Connect your magic circle with his."
Naruto adopted a panicked look, waving his hands frantically in front of him. He didn't have a magic circle and he didn't want to talk to the big boss' personal bodyguard.
They call somebody the All-Father, what more do you need to hear to know he's the boss?
"I'm not sure if he wants to talk with you…" she replied, squinting at the blonde making hand gestures.
"Can you hear me, mister? Forward your bank details, I don't like you staying with my Grandma who lives alone all by herself," she demanded condescendingly.
"The last time I checked, you don't have enough money to buy an apartment," Gondul recalled.
"G-Grandma...! I-I'll take a loan!"
"Don't worry about me and live life to the fullest… Rossweisse." Gondul sighed. Her granddaughter cared too much about her.
"Ro what now? What kind of name is that?" Naruto idly wondered. Her name sounded like a pretty flower to his ears.
"Grandma..." she whined over the phone.
"I just want my granddaughter to be happy, so don't worry about me. I can take care of this guy on my own if he ever gets over his head."
Naruto scoffed at Gondul and jumped off the building having had enough of the grandma granddaughter charade going on.
"Just be careful Grandma. Love you, goodbye."
"Love you too, Rossweisse."
Gondul looked around, looking for Naruto before she spotted him in the distance, jumping roofs.
"Wait for me." She yelled as she chased after him.
(Scene change: Gondul's apartment.)
Naruto and Gondul were out sky gazing with beer and chicken on the roof. Both the tenant and the landlady had changed into their sleep wares.
"Guess, you lost the bet after all…" Naruto sighed.
"Nah, I had so much fun tonight. Definitely better than the prize." she grinned.
It's been so long since she threw caution to the wind. The death of her son affected her in so many ways… She just withdrew herself from everyone and everything, but she couldn't do the same to her son's only child.
"You know, Naruto… I miss him sometimes."
Naruto spared a sideways glance at his landlady. Longing rolled off her in waves. "I understand," he said, raising the bottle of beer to his mouth.
"I can see it in your eyes too. You've lost someone precious to you too but you hide it well. Maybe because you're young."
Naruto gulped a mouthful of beer and willed his eyes closed. Since they were having an honest moment here, he might as well open his cupboard and display the skeleton he had in there.
"Gondul, Is there a way for me to leave this dimension?"
Gondul deadpanned and conjured a magic circle.
"No, a way for me to transcend this universe," he asked with a bitter smile on his face.
"Naruto…" she whispered in sheer astonishment.
How could someone so young think of such impossibilities?
"I heard there was an ancient super powerful spell in Asgard that can transcend dimensions."
"A magic spell that can transcend dimensions...? Never heard of it?" Gondul shrugged.
"I have been finding a way to transcend dimensions and in my voyage, I helped the youkais solve a problem and in return, they told me about the powerful magic spell in Asgard. I haven't even found it yet but if I did, I can't cast magic spells, you know."
Naruto took a drumstick from the pack and chewed on the piece gently, letting his veiled request sink in, hoping to find his landlady's favor. Gondul pursed her lips in thought at the implication before she mirrored her tenant, taking another drumstick, and releasing a sigh.
"I've thought about it long and hard, Naruto. Should I or should I not. I would be betraying my people, the pledge I made when I was still in service… wait, I'm not in service anymore but still! Once a Valkyrie, always a Valkyrie, and at the same time, I can't help but look at the other side... I would be helping my dumb tenant."
Naruto has rubbed off on her too much.
Gondul began chuckling all of a sudden before it became a full-blown laugh. "How credible is your source?"
"From the leader of the Kyoto faction."
Gondul sniffed and wiped a tear off her eye. "First off, there's no such thing as a super-powerful magic circle. You've been on a wild goose chase. In all the history of Asgard, there's been a thing that—" she bit her lips all of a sudden and trailed off, eyes widening gently.
A thing.
Naruto blinked once and twice, waiting for her to say something.
"Ancient…" she trailed off with a faraway look.
"Gondul?"
"By Ydgrassil… Heh, My goodness…"
What Naruto seeks is the ancient treasure of Asgard. As ancient as the gods themselves. It had disappeared into legend when the age of magic circles came and its use became widespread.
"What you seek… is very ancient, Naruto." she was suddenly shrouded in a mysterious aura.
"Have you seen it?" Naruto asked with hope in his eyes.
"No, but it exists, sadly I don't know its whereabouts.
Naruto wanted to cry. It was like his snowball finally had a chance in hell. A chance to go back home. Naruto would do anything right now. He was even willing to sell his soul.
"What you seek isn't an ancient spell or an artifact or a relic… What you seek is a machine."
Somebody praise the logs.
It was a machine all along.
That only means one thing.
"What you seek, Naruto is the…."
A teardrop leaked from the corner of his eyes.
After 3 months he finally had a glimmer of hope. His first lead.
Kurama woke up in the seal, his tails slowly swishing around. His head on his paws. His eyes half-lidded with dead serious concentration.
This is what they have been waiting for.
Lady luck was on their side again.
Gondul knew what it was all along.
"... The Bifrost."