Disclaimer: Naruto and Touhou project belong to their respective owners, and I will delete this story if requested.


The spell cards and the spell card rules were altered to suit written narrative.

This story's version of the spell card rules is: 1) Destructive capability must be limited. 2) A player loses after declaring surrender, being rendered unable to continue, having used the maximum number of spell card agreed beforehand, in this order. 3) Spells with substantial power require spell cards to be used. 4) Spell cards have to be made beautiful. 5) Rules can be adjusted as for each specific occasion. 6) Losers must obey the victors' conditions.


The Changing of way III

That late-summer night, the rare, short period of relative peace in Gensokyō had broken. Colouring the sky above the Scarlet Devil Mansion were curtains of projectiles, interweaving and mingling into a fancy show of lights. Though invisible to villagers, the show was more than that; it was a heated fight.

Patchouli Knowledge floated on the show's edge, drawing a luminous piece of paper in her hand. 'Earth Water Sign "Noachian Deluge".'

Hundreds of water bullets formed in the air and let loose against the curtains. Upon colliding, the curtain dimmed and explosions roared. Patchouli used this to strafe the other end, in which Marisa was thrusting her furnace before her while holding a luminous paper. She announced aloud, 'Love Sign 'Master Spark'!'

A spark of magic streaked from Marisa's furnace towards Patchouli. Seeing Patchouli manoeuvring away from the spark, Marisa dragged it across the night, illuminating a portion of Gensokyō as though it were daytime. But Patchouli had a counter for this. She drew a luminous paper and announced aloud, 'Water Sign "Jellyfish Princess".'

An orb of water devoured patchouli, forming a protective thick bubble that protected her as the spark connected. The bubble's surface rippled, and the water heated. But Patchouli was patient, using the respite to stabilise her breathing. After a while, the spark died, replaced by a curtain of glowing orbs and missiles.

Patchouli flew away. Marisa adjusted her firing, unaware Patchouli was announcing a spell.

'Moon Wood Sign "Satellite Sunflower".'

'Damn, I got distracted!'

Marisa scurried away as an enormous projectile shot from patchouli. It was flying upward, several degrees off the perfect vertical, dispensing smaller projectiles to the area in which Marisa was scurrying. Reaching to her pocket, Marisa drew a luminous paper from her pocket and announced, 'Light Sign "Luminous Strike"!' She took her besom in her arms, calculating an angle as she lost altitude.

Angle calculated, Marisa shot a large projectile from the besom at where Patchouli's projectile would be when hers reached the same altitude. Marisa then recovered to her broom and flew away while blitzing Patchouli.

Marisa's large projectile struck Patchouli's, producing a deafening roar and bathing the Scarlet Devil Mansion with light. Marisa used this to use 'Master Spark' against Patchouli, who used 'jellyfish Princess' to protect herself.

After this repeat of an earlier event, Patchouli dived to the forest as Marisa continued her blitzing, intending to find a safe space under the canopy. But she was wrong; Marisa cared not about the forest. Missiles and glowing orbs fell to the forest, and Marisa summoned four sigils to drag sparks of light magic through the forest.

Patchouli thought the four sigils were acting like searchlights. Patchouli then panicked out of her trance, firing a volley of fireballs to the sky. This action revealed Patchouli's position, causing Marisa to focus her firing around where the volley of fire had come.

The resulting dust and smoke caused Patchouli to drop, mind racing against her asthma to finish this fight.

Fireballs shot from the canopy, forming letters that said, 'stop firing. I won't shoot anymore.' Marisa thought it was Patchouli's declaration of surrender. Thus, she flew down looking for Marisa.

Contrary to Marisa's belief, Patchouli had not surrendered. And with Marisa stopping her blitzing, Patchouli was able to stabilise her breathing as she clasped her hands. Touching down, Marisa approached Patchouli, saying, 'What have you got there? Is it for me?'

'Yes.' Patchouli smiled through ragged breaths. 'It is for you.' Patchouli opened her hands, revealing a luminous piece of paper. 'Moon Sign "Silent Selene".'

Arrows of solidified moonlight shot out of Patchouli to every direction, consuming Marisa in the barrage. But Patchouli was not done yet; she kept abusing Marisa until the spell reached its time limit, at which point Marisa was lying on the ground, attire tattered and body littered with wounds.

Marisa whined. 'That's cheating.'

'No, the rules said nothing about deception.'

'That's still cheating.'

'I don't care. A thief is to be treated harshly. Now, you'll return my books.'

'I'm not going home like this. Alice's gonna mock me to death. I'm going to the mansion before going home.'

'What do you need?'

'A skirt, a shirt, and a bloomer. Oh, and snacks, and drinks, and a nice bath too.'

Patchouli sighed. 'Fine. Are you going to keep hugging the earth?'

'Help me.' Marisa extended her hand. When Patchouli took her hand, Marisa yanked hard, causing Patchouli to fall face-first to the ground. 'See you in the mansion!' Marisa laughed as she took off flying.

'That little…. I will get back at her later.'

Near dawn, Patchouli was reading a book in her bed. The bedroom was a spacious square, and it had its own bathroom. Patchouli's luxurious queen bed was in the middle, pressed to the wall away from the bathroom. Against the wall to the bed's left was a small table, on which a tray of biscuits and two glasses were sitting, and to the right a series of bookcases. Next to the last wall was a dim floor-lamp, the sole source of light in this moment.

The bathroom door parted, flooding the dim room with blinding light. Marisa's head peaked through the slit. 'Patchy, where are my clothes?'

Never averting her eyes, Patchouli said, 'In the bathroom.'

'Where? There's only a gift box here. Is it for me?'

'Yes, my compensation for your damaged clothes.'

'Thanks!' Marisa closed the door. A few minutes later, Marisa left the bathroom clad in a maid uniform. 'Seriously, Patchy? I was so happy you gave me a gift.'

'Unless you want to wander naked, you wear that uniform.'

'J-just give me my clothes!'

'I've burnt them, including your undergarments. On that note, I changed my mind about the stolen books. You may keep them, but you will work as my maid for a month. Any mistake from your part while working here will extend the period by a week.'

Marisa wanted to protest but kept silent. She figured that she could cause so much trouble the residents would fire her instead of extending her employment. Walking to the table, Marisa picked a biscuit and drank from a glass. 'Milk?'

'Yes, good for my bones.'

'You're so frail. By the way, what book is that?' Patchouli lifted her book. 'I can't see its title.'

'Use a spell to see in the dark. I know you stole my note on that spell.'

'I was only borrowing.' Marisa rested beside Patchouli, using a spell to see in the dark. However, instead of what Patchouli expected, Marisa used a spell to make her eyes glow, thus illuminating the pages enough for comfortable reading. 'I've scared kids already using this spell.'

'I never asked,' said Patchouli, flipping a page.

Reading, Marisa said, ''Patchouli Knowledge's Journal of Rocketry'. Didn't know you're interested in mechanical rockets.' Marisa extended her hand and focused, creating a rocket made of magic. 'See? Magic rocket is better than mechanical. Can be made whenever and wherever, has no weight, needs no fuel and no warhead, and you don't need to carry them around!'

The rocket struck the floor lamp.

'A month and a week,' said Patchouli.

'Yeah, yeah. Wait, I've got an idea! Let's settle this once for all with a challenge. If you win, I'm gonna stop borrowing your books. I'm keeping the ones in my house, though. If I win, I can borrow your books as I like.'

Patchouli closed her book. 'I'm listening.'

'Let's see who is the greatest magician between us! There's gonna be three criteria.' Marisa raised a finger. 'First, who's got more knowledge between us.' Marisa raised another finger. 'Second, the best researcher wins.' Raising another finger, Marisa said, 'Third, the stronger between us wins. How about it?'

'Let's take it further. Following witches' habit of competing for each other's items and knowledge, the winner will keep all. I mean every possession the loser has. There will also be one more criterion: capability as a teacher.'

Marisa's eyes dimmed. 'What's up with the fourth one? You're just adding stuff so you can draw a draw.'

'Teaching a student from a blank slate into a great magician displays the teaching magician's fortitude and knowledge. You would know.'

Marisa grinned. 'I wouldn't. I was taught by a dead person, not a magician.'

'The detail is irrelevant. Also, what's the purpose of gathering knowledge if it just disappears after you die? Isn't that why we write books?'

'Maybe not when we're talking about you. You're always angry when I borrow your books.'

'You're stealing them. Also, I never approve of you reading my books.'

'Fine, I'm in. I'm gonna train Kozuzu, so go get your own student,' said Marisa before leaving.

Kozuzu—a bibliophile known for her deciphering eyes—would give Marisa an unfair advantage, as students often assisted their teachers in researches, resulting in capability boost in both teachers and students. For this, a combination of Kozuzu and Marisa would be terrifying. Patchouli needed someone with potential to negate, or at least highly diminish, Kozuzu's advantage. Or she could pluck Kozuzu's eyes and implant them to her future student.

It would not be impossible. In fact, it would be easy. All Patchouli had to do was bait the bibliophile out of the village and attack her. However, the possibility of being killed was higher than the possibility of success. Thus, Patchouli discarded this idea.

Illuminated by a floating orb of light, Patchouli returned her book to a bookcase. She then scanned the bookcase beside this one, which housed a row of thick books bound in purple, velvety material. They were Patchouli's diaries, each volume containing about a decade of record. They were arranged in chronological order, which the book spines stated in roman numbers I to XIII.

Patchouli took the book numbered XIII and made herself comfortable in her bed. She then read the book backwards, looking for candidates for her student. It hadn't taken her long to pick a candidate. His name was Naruto Uzumaki.

According to Remilia, Naruto's fate was being both a judge and an executioner against the humanity of the Elemental Nations, in addition to being Reimu's husband. Everything considered, Patchouli concluded that a vast potential lied within Naruto. Otherwise, why would Yukari pay him special care? His fate, extraordinary as it was, would not be enough to allure Yukari into being interested beyond observing. It should be his potential that allured Yukari into taking him to Gensokyō and offering him to Reimu.

Her decision made, Patchouli looked for Remilia, who was playing a board game with her sister—Flandre Scarlet—in the garden when Patchouli found her. Patchouli then asked Remilia's permission to teach Naruto.

'No,' said Remilia, 'You'll spend a lot of time with Naruto. Reimu's going to be jealous.'

'Well, I'm teaching him anyway. Reimu won't touch me if I'm precious to Naruto.'

'What makes you think Naruto'll respect you? Even Reimu, who's been taking care of him for months, doesn't have his respect. Only Yukari does.'

'Mistress,' said Sakuya as she laid a cake beside Flandre, 'does he really respect Yukari?'

'Barely. He's mostly trying to get back at her for everything she's done to him, even the petty stuffs. It's still more than what Reimu gets, though. He's either ignoring her or rejecting her. At least he's willing to listen and talk to Yukari.'

'Did Reimu tell you all this?'

'Nope. She blubbered when drunk last time I visited her.'

Said Patchouli, 'Makes sense. He hates Reimu because she bound him to her without asking first, and he pretends to respect Yukari because she's his only way of getting those pills.'

'Good point, Patchouli. No one other than Yukari will transport him to Eintei. Even then, she teleported him so he couldn't learn how to get there.'

Yukari's protecting him from addiction, thought Patchouli. 'I can use this to entice him. For being my student, I'll offer him a way to sleep without using drugs and freedom from being Reimu's husband.'

'Now that you mention it…. Sakuya.'

'Yes, mistress,' said Sakuya.

'Get that boy. I want him.'

'Understood.'

Seeing Sakuya leaving to get Naruto, Flandre said, 'Sister, why do you want him?'

'After Patchouli transformed his great potential into aptitudes, we'll have one more magician in our mansion. And this time, the magician won't be a frail patsy. The frail patsy can then focus on being a librarian.'

'I hear that, Remi.'

Later that day, Sakuya found herself observing Naruto's house. She hid behind a bush, overlooking Naruto's house as he interacted with Reimu.

The house, as far as Sakuya had gathered, was alive, and it often caused a ruckus by setting itself on fire or blowing its roof to another building, if not people. And Reimu had repeatedly purified it, only for the house to return to life a day later. This had caused a realisation in Reimu: Naruto was giving it life. Henceforth, Reimu had another reason to take him home.

The only visible room from Sakuya's position was Naruto's workshop. It was a room containing a collection of writing supplies and stacks of textbooks—most being Naruto's heritage and a small portion handwritten by Reimu. Naruto sat in the centre, writing on a large piece of paper as Reimu guided his hands in every stroke.

Yet mistress said he only ignores and rejects her, thought Sakuya.

Reimu released Naruto's hands, her voice heard by Sakuya. 'That's how you modify your heritage to run on pure spiritual energy! Or you can drop your blood to add physical energy to the mix and make chakra, but I won't advise that. Before I go, let's try this seal.'

Sakuya moved closer, curious of what the seal did. And Sakuya learnt what it did when it flew out of the window and wrapped around her body.

Naruto and Reimu looked out of the window. Reimu said, 'There, it works!'

Sakuya struggled against the binding, to no avail. 'Could you please release me, Reimu?'

'Nope! That's Naruto's practice for today. If he fails to free you, just wait for five minutes after his last touch. See you!'

Reimu walked away. Sakuya looked at Naruto, who merely sat there looking at her.

'I do not understand the seal enough to free you,' said Naruto.

As soon as Naruto closed his mouth, the seal unbound Sakuya, and Sakuya bound Naruto with the seal before activating it and carrying him to the mansion.

There, Naruto was thrown rolling on the floor after a second of travel. 'How is that possible?' said Naruto, 'It should have taken five minutes, not a second.'

'Time is always on my side. Now be quiet. I need to inform someone of your arrival.'

'That's unnecessary, Sakuya,' said Patchouli as she approached Naruto, a chair floating beside her. After seating herself Near Naruto, Patchouli said, 'Dismissed. Now, you choose one of the following. Let's see…. Offence or defence?'

'Both.'

'I said, 'choose one'.'

'My defence would be eliminating the enemy's ability to attack.'

'That's about an army, isn't it? I'm talking about your individual style.'

'My individual style is the same.'

Patchouli stared. 'Do you mean overwhelming the enemy like Marisa does?'

'Why does it matter to you? What do you want?'

'I want to make something precious out of you; I will make you my greatest masterpiece. And for that, I need to know whether you have the potential for it.'

'I am not interested.'

'Why not? I will teach you everything I know, and I will treat you with respect. I'll even guide you to be a yōkai magician. Think about it. The Hakurei clan is only for pure-bred humans. Therefore, you will sever your bond with Reimu if you abandon your humanity. Or maybe you've changed your mind? Sakuya's told me you're more intimate with Reimu than expected.'

'There is nothing intimate between us. The only reason I allowed her to get that close was because I need her to teach me. And how could Sakuya have enough time to tell you?'

'Like Sakuya said: time is on her side. Now back on topic. Does that mean you only allow Reimu to get close for power? I can teach you about seals, too.' Patchouli produced a golden piece of paper. 'Here, drop your blood in this agreement to seal our contract.'

'No,' said Marisa, taking the paper from Patchouli's hand, 'Reimu's gonna kill him!'

'You'll give me a heart attack if you keep surprising me. Also, that rule applies only to villagers.'

'She's gonna kill him anyway. Her ageing is slowed for a reason, you know? Even if he's killed, he'll reincarnate in the village and still be bound to marry her. And Reimu's gonna take him from there and raise him herself so he wouldn't reject her again.'

I see, thought Naruto, Nothing matters, at least not when it concerns me. Tears dripped down Naruto's cheeks. Nothing to hold on; Nothing to trust. I am still confused months after the unification, and the absolute evil torments me almost every night. And I am addicted to drugs. All of this would disappear if I die, right?

Kurama jolted out of his half sleep. 'Don't think of it, brat.'

Why not? Naruto thought, looking at Patchouli as she argued with Marisa in a corner away from him, If I die, my memory of Konoha would no longer have control over me. I would not be too scared to trust anymore; I would be as human as any other humans again.'

Kurama roared, 'Don't be reckless! What would happen to me if I die too?'

Trapped with Minato. You can shred him apart forever.

'Well, that's correct. But that's not what I mean! You can's just give up like a coward!'

Call me what you like, Naruto thought as the seal unbound him, now, I am free. Time to cause as much trouble and get killed because of it.

Kurama head-butted the unsealed gate of the seal, granting Naruto complete access to his chakra. 'Do whatever you like with it. Humans don't deserve redemption, anyway. It was nice, brat. I just thought you'd restore my faith in humanity. Guess I was wrong. Goodbye.'

Orange chakra enveloped Naruto. Everything then froze, and Sakuya brought Naruto to the Garden of the Sun. Then everything flowed again.

A gigantic construct of a kitsune exploded into being, plunging the human village under its shadow. The kitsune's tails converged before its open maw, bleeding blue orbs and red orbs into a spot in which a black orb was growing in size. Sakuya watched as the orb became humongous. When Naruto produced a powerful force, which ejected the orb forward and blew the construct's tails backward, Sakuya watched where the orb was going.

Realising the orb was coming to the mansion, Sakuya flew there. She then froze everything before evacuating everyone and every important thing inside to the forest of magic. Then, as soon as Sakuya lost to exhaustion before her mistress' feet, everything returned to normal.

The humongous black orb dashed above the human village and struck the Scarlet Devil Mansion, producing an explosion that rocked Gensokyō and expanded the Misty Lake. Additionally, the explosion caused a yōkai nearby the gigantic kitsune—Yūka Kazami—to erupt in anger. Yūka punched the construct's head just as it prepared to shoot another orb, redirecting it to shoot at the nearby hill instead of the lake. Unsatisfied, Yūka punched the head again, shattering it so that the boy inside would fall. Yūka then caught him and threw him away, ignoring the red mist materialising out of the boy's body.

The red mist condensed, forming an orange-furred kitsune by the garden. Said Yūka to the kitsune, 'And who are you?'

A cold presence swept Gensokyō, for the shinigami of the Elemental Nations had arrived to harvest Kurama. 'Don't touch him,' said the shinigami.

'Just get him away from here,' said Yūka.

'Of course.'

'Wait,' said Kurama, 'what about Naruto?'

'I can't find his spirit for some reason.'

'Well, then… take me, you creepy bastard!'

'That's not how you're supposed to speak to the death god.'

Kurama let out a mocking roar. 'You aren't a death god. You're a freaking servant!'

'Wait a minute! Just because I'm working for a Yama, doesn't mean I'm a freaking servant!'

'So you admit you're not a death god?'

Meanwhile, Naruto was in a flowery expanse, enjoying a gentle wind as he watched the flowers sway. On occasions, uncanny light would come from the sky, revealing a dense forest sitting in the distance. Wandering the flowers were birds and butterflies, thousands in number and serene in manner. They are so free, thought Naruto, so peaceful.

But nothing mattered anymore to Naruto. Memories of the absolute evil would still play behind his eyelids, although he no longer felt a craving for the pills. And the flowery expanse calmed him. He would love to stay here until his reincarnation.

Wandering about, Naruto felt the distant forest inviting him. Naruto ran, taking his time to run in circles and scaring birds and butterflies before reaching the forest. It was, after all, his only chance to act and feel like a child. In Konoha, he'd expose himself to the brunt of the villagers' hatred if he did. In Gensokyō, he'd been dependant to the pills for sleeping, resulting in a craving. Even without the craving, the constant burden of the absolute evil and his fate had been too heavy for him. He only wanted to be a child, not a key to saving the world or other nonsenses.

After a while, Naruto laid on grasses in the forest with ragged breathing. 'Why did I even want this? Right, I thought would be fun. Instead, it was tiring. And here I thought it would be fun…. Perhaps it would have been fun with a friend.' Naruto looked around. 'But I see no one else here. Am I alone here?'

Naruto rose. He then walked deeper to the forest. Air was stale here. Some places were dark, and some were bright, both of them alternating in no particular pattern. None of the trees here was familiar. Only the red tower in the distance was. It was the Hokage Residence, or how it would look like if abandoned and lost to age. Naruto walked there, crossing a stream that's similar to the one he'd fished in. Another familiar thing to his memory was a swing that he found in a dark section. It bore a striking resemblance to the swing he'd used to play in back in Konoha. The design and size were perfect, and even the tree next the bar to which the swing was suspended was the same as the one he remembered.

'Swing, this swing is still pristine.'

Naruto sat in the swing, and he then began swinging. He laughed. He finally had something to play with enough familiarity to be fun yet not enough to be traumatising. Perhaps this fabricated place is not so bad, thought Naruto, I would not mind spending time until my next incarnation here. All I need is to take my mind off my memory.

Naruto stooped swinging, bashing his forehead against a suspension. He stayed after the swing had stopped, massaging his forehead to alleviate his sudden headache. Naruto stopped massaging when a particularly bright light came from the sky and reflected off an object in the distance into his eye. He jumped off and headed to the object. It was a mirror, which housed something that gave Naruto a dejected stare when Naruto stared into it. Whatever the thing was, it was not Naruto.

Naruto kicked the mirror then wandered about.

In the middle of grasses Naruto found a doll house. 'Strange. I have never played with a doll.' Naruto picked up a doll, noting the perplexing details of it. 'Someone must have loved dolls so much in live.' Naruto looked about. 'There's a pile of books. Whose memory is this? I thought I was alone here.' Naruto returned the doll and inspected the books. The first one he took was a children story. He plopped down and read, trying to ignore the changes in the environment that was growing creepy. In the end, Naruto surrendered to his fear; he exchanged his book with another one and returned to the swing.

Upon arriving there, Naruto noticed a swing that hadn't been there to the left of his. It was similar in design, although it was suspended to the sky instead of to a bar. A woman in red robe occupied this swing. She wasn't swinging; she only sat there quiet.

Naruto approached her, noticing the silver hair cascading from her head. Naruto estimated the hair would reach her waist when she's standing up. On her head was a bundle of hair separate from the rest. It's bound by a band, which caused its beginning to become erect. Naruto sat in his swing and read. But he never took his mind off the woman beside him.

The first page was a drawing in which a silver-haired woman in red robe was kneeling before a young blonde in a white shirt and a blue apron, clasping the latter's hands together. Both of them were smiling. In the rest of the pages were random doodles for Naruto. He couldn't understand what they represented.

'Are you done reading my daughter's book?'

Naruto craned his head to the woman beside him. He then returned to the first page of the book. 'Is she you?'

'Yes, and that's my daughter.'

'I see. I apologise. I didn't mean to steal. It's just…. well, I thought I was the only spirit in this afterlife.'

'Beside animals, I'm the only one beside you here. Also, it's not the afterlife.'

'I see.' Naruto looked at his companion. 'What is this place?'

'Have you heard of Makai? There are many worlds called Makai out there. But this world is special; I made it from my dream as my sanctuary. What you've seen that aren't your memories are some of my fondest ones. But how could you influence this dream of mine with your memories?'

'I've no clue.'

'Here's your clue: you aren't a human.'

'Has Kurama's presence transformed me?'

'No, you were never a human in the first place. You were born a human, sure, and your physical body was a human, but you never were. Ah, that's for latter. For now, I want to tell you things.'

Naruto looked away. 'Go away.'

'That's not how you talk to me, human.'

'You said I was not a human, yet you called me a human just now. And you called me a human as though you weren't one.'

'I'm not a human. My daughter used to be one, though. I'm a goddess.'

'I see.' Naruto thought of everything after his death, noting how everything differed from the afterlife Reimu had taught him. Naruto looked at the goddess. 'This is not the afterlife, is it? You brought me here.'

The goddess smiled. 'No, it isn't the afterlife. And yes, I brought you here. I want to talk about your fate. Do you know what your fate is?'

Naruto looked away, groaning. 'Even in death,' muttered Naruto, 'I could not escape this discussion…. To marry Reimu and give her a child or children to restore her clan, and to do something in the Elemental Nations. That Yama told me it is to be a judge to the humanity of the Elemental Nations, while Minato told me it is to save that world.'

'Both are correct. Your fate is to save that world by judging humanity for the corruption they've brought. So, why do you reject your fated partner?'

'I hate being under control.'

'You know absolute freedom will bring nothing good.'

'She wants to take advantage of me.'

'What makes you say that?'

Naruto heard a creak, and he felt the stale air shifting on his left. 'She needs to restore her clan. After I have given her a child, she may forsake me. Not that it matters to me. I will lose what I gain, as was always the case.'

'I see, your mentality is like my daughter. Nowadays, she only lives by herself and for herself in the middle of a forest, pushing away everyone who tries to be her friend because she's afraid to lose again. Interacting with people is fine; getting close to personal level is unacceptable, so different from how she used to be. She was so cheerful. You are just like that, aren't you?'

Naruto could not understand why she kept mentioning her daughter to him, but he agreed.

'A divine spirit like you should not be an individualistic and nihilistic person. It will be dangerous.'

So that is what I am, thought Naruto. 'That is none of your concern, I believe.'

'It is. A divine spirit shouldn't be like that. If a divine spirit had one of them, and not to the fullest, it would still be fine. If it had both, it would be very destructive.'

'How do you know that? Why do you keep mentioning your daughter?'

'Experience. I used to be very destructive, but I changed when I started taking care of a human girl as my daughter. I keep mentioning her because you remind me of her. Same hair, same traits. You've also met her. If you can befriend her and be someone that she can rely upon, that will be delightful, and you will have my gratitude.'

Naruto snorted. 'Your daughter is not my responsibility. Take care of her on your own.'

'I can't meet her.'

'Why not?' said Naruto jumping off his swing.

'I hide here out of shame because I ruined our home. I can't bear to see her again.'

'If I were you, I would meet her. I would be ashamed, but at least my daughter would rejoice in my presence. People usually turn to nihilism because there is nothing to hold on. If you meet her again, she might have something to hold on to again.' Naruto walked away, only to sense the ground shifting to bring him to his swing.

'Indeed, she's lost everything. And I will meet her again, just not in person. Also, I'd appreciate if you want to be that something for her.'

'Not again.' Naruto occupied his swing, looking at the goddess. 'Not this thing again!'

'You don't have to marry her to be a companion worthy of holding on to. I won't approve of you marrying her, anyway. On that note, do you know that that shrine maiden loves you?'

'No, I don't think so. Her god bound me to her. She is forced into this, which is why I believe she would forsake me after I have fulfilled my role.' Naruto looked up. 'Why me?'

'You should ask her. After all, it's her who chose you; the god only bound you to her so you won't leave her.'

Naruto snorted.

'Even if she's forced into this, why not make it worth the pain for her? She loves you, so why not return her love? You could have a family.'

'I want a family where I am the child, not the father!'

The goddess smiled. 'If you're still upset about your childhood taken from you, we may satisfy you together. You will feel how it's like to be the child, if only for a short time and with one parent. It's not too late yet, but your time is running out. You're entering the transitional period between childhood and adulthood, so satisfy it before it's too late. Or you will regret it.'

'You are not my mother.'

'I will be, technically. I will make you a human body similar to your dead one, but it won't have the addiction to that pills and blood ties to whoever your parents were. Anyway, forget about them. You will be my son soon.' The goddess produced a translucent piece of paper. 'Give your signature here. It can be anything that's identifiable as yours at first glance and unique to you.'

Naruto took the paper, reading its content. 'It only binds me to dedicate my life protecting Gensokyō at all cost.'

'Gensokyō is my daughter's home now. Do your best protecting it. And you must fulfil your fate in the Elemental Nations to do it.' Before Naruto even thought of an excuse, the goddess said, 'Your arrival connected that world to Gensokyō, opening a channel for corruption to flow. You must save that world to save Gensokyō. I don't want my daughter to lose her home again.'

Naruto looked at the goddess, his eyes a pair of piercing blue orbs under the uncanny light. 'What happened to her old home?!'

'Watch your tone. I'm still a goddess, although few still pray to me.'

'... What happened to your home?'

The goddess answered, voice normal before rising midway and kept rising to the end of her answer. 'I destroyed a chunk of my Makai because I lost control while fighting some invaders. Then I went away to regain control of myself by venting my frustration on those troublemakers that caused the invaders to invade in the first place. And after I returned, I learnt my daughter was so frustrated with my disappearance that she destroyed another chunk of Makai while fighting the invaders, who had grown stronger somehow, to get even with what they'd done. And she lost. Even with the grimoire I hadgifted her, she still lost. And she struck my beautiful Makai with another Makai, making it creepy like the other place. Even the original entry can't be used anymore after this merge.'

'Makai? Your home was a Makai?'

The goddess responded in a neutral tone, 'Yes, I told you I crated Makai. And it used to be a nice place.'

Naruto gulped. He's afraid his next question would anger the goddess, but he asked nonetheless. 'Are you still angry at her?'

'Who? My daughter? I was never angry at her. I'm just ashamed of losing control in the first place. If I hadn't lost control, the destruction would have been minimum and she wouldn't have been frustrated. But now's too late for that. My place is here, alone by myself. I want you to do whatever's expected of you to protect Gensokyō in exchange for the second chance I would give you. And if you promise to do your best to befriend my daughter and help her out of her nihilism, I will promise you will meet me again someday; both of you will meet me together.'

Naruto stared at her, finding her beauty mesmerising before catching himself and looking away. 'Why would I want to meet you again?'

'Wouldn't you want to see your mother again?'

'I may or may not want.'

'A child missing their mother is normal. Except, of course, when the mother has brought nothing but distress or abandoned her child.'

Naruto looked at the bottom of the contract, in which two names were present. 'Shinki. Is this your name?'

'Yes,' said the goddess, 'Sign it, please. Your name on that contract will change as you change your name.'

Naruto bit his thumb and wrote his name in blood. He then gave the paper to Shinki. 'Here.'

'Thank you.' Shinki took the paper, saying, 'Now, get undressed.'

Naruto blinked. 'Excuse me, why should I get undressed before a stranger?'

'I can't make an exact copy of your body if I don't see it first.'

'I am a spirit.'

'Your spirit still looks like your human body. Come on, boy, I will not do anything evil to you. I just need to see it.'

'Now that you mention it. I am a divine spirit, am I not?'

'Get to it, boy.'

'Wait, my spirit's clothed!'

'I said, get to it!'

An awkward silence followed. Naruto stood there with nothing covering his body, blood rushing under his skin that he turned scarlet as Shinki modelled a body after him.

'Relax,' said Shinki, 'I might model it wrong if you keep being red like that.'

'As if I could!'

A little more than a day later, Shinki had completed the body. She'd put strings to connect Naruto to his body, and she'd made it so that Naruto's spirit could express itself better. Naruto was eager to get in. However, Shinki prohibited him from entering before he mastered a way to control the strings. 'In case someone tries to steal your body or pull you out, you can take it back,' said Shinki, 'Get dressed, and carry the body to my palace.'

'Wait.' Naruto pointed at his body's cheeks. 'You forgot something.'

'I'm sure Reimu will appreciate the disappearance of those whiskers. You look more like you this way.'

They then headed to Shinki's palace, which was located in the centre of the forest. As Naruto was unable to fly, they had to walk, which Shinki used as an opportunity to treat Naruto like a child. Naruto, while appreciative, found the situation awkward; he hadn't expected such a sudden shift in treatment would confuse rather than comfort him. As a result, when he had mastered the string and clothed his body two days later, he asked for one more week to spend with Shinki instead of entering his body.

A week had passed since Naruto's request. He was sitting in a bed, looking out of the palace as he waited for Shinki to finish writing a letter. He was in his body, and he was clothed in a down-scaled version of Shinki's robe. Shinki had said it was for him to remember her in case they'd never meet again. Naruto wished they would spend more time, but he realised Shinki wanted to be left alone. And he was satisfied. He'd had a childhood. It had been only for a week, but it was enough to make up for the things he'd had to endure.

Naruto would not look back in hatred anymore. He had forgiven his past—although not all of the people who had contributed to it. And Shinki had weaved his spirit so both halves were better integrated—eliminating most of his confusion—and helped him make his options clear . He could either reject Reimu and replace the Hakurei clan with the Uzumaki clan, or accept her and let the Hakurei clan subsume the Uzumaki clan. If he chose the latter, the Uzumaki clan would disappear, but its heritage would prevail. And Gensokyō's survival would be guaranteed either way, though each option had different consequences. Other arrays of options had also been cleared.

With his past no longer haunting him and his options clear, Naruto wouldn't fight himself anymore; he'd only have to look forward. The absolute evil would still be a problem, but he hoped accepting Reimu's love would weather its effect.

Naruto muttered, 'Funny, I see love as a potential answer again. Does the answer differ at collective and personal levels?' The bedroom's door was knocked. Naruto opened it and saw Shinki. 'Mother.'

'I've written the letter. It's in this book.' Shinki gave Naruto the book he'd read in the swing. 'Give it to your sister.'

Naruto opened the book, looking for the letter. Naruto then unfolded and read it. 'Why did you write I am your 'gift' for her.'

'It's impolite to read someone else's message. But yes, you are my gift for her. It's a price for the extra week of being a child.'

'What do you mean by this?'

'Is a companion not a gift?'

'I see. I apologise for reading this. It was force of habit.'

'It's alright. I'm sure you can trust people again after a while... Actually, your sister might be jealous and not accept sharing her mother with anyone. You might have to be satisfied with being her friend.'

Naruto folded the letter and returned it. 'Who is she?'

'Alice Margatroid.'

'Alice.' Naruto closed the book. 'Being a friend is enough.'

'Does she terrify you?'

Naruto blushed 'No, stay away, please.' Naruto tried to push Shinki, but she was unmoving.

'So she has that impression on you.'

'You said I would go home this morning.'

'This evening. It's evening in Gensokyō.' Shinki held Naruto's shoulder, looking deep into his eyes. 'We've talked about this, but let me repeat this. You're a unique instance of divine spirit, an anomaly. There is no answer to what your existence is, so make your own answer, understand?'

'I understand.'

'Good.' Shinki released Naruto before offering her hands to him. 'Hold them. I'll bring you there.' After Naruto took her hands, Shinki said, 'This might be the last time we see each other. Do you have something to say?'

'Thank you for everything.'

'I thank you too. You've accompanied me this last week. Well, farewell. '

Naruto was in a room. He, judging on the extravagant decorations of this place, concluded he was in his room in Yukari's mansion, for Yukari's taste for the extravagant was unmistakable. Naruto hadn't stayed here, despite Yukari's offers, but he knew the room enough to dig through a drawer for food. There were a block of chocolate in paper wrapping, bottles of sake, and many-coloured rock-solid orbs of sugar in elastic, transparent wrappings. 'I was right in never opening this drawer. Old sage wanted me to get drunk.'

Naruto jolted when someone held his shoulder. 'Got you, thief!'

Naruto sighed. 'You surprised me, Chen.'

'Naruto? I thought you were dead. Lady Yukari gave your corpse to a yōkai a while ago.'

'So that's how she sees me. I am dispensable.'

'No, really,' said a distinct voice. 'Welcome back to life, Naruto.'

Naruto looked at Yukari. 'How is giving my corpse as a food not signifying my dispensability?'

'I needed to discard your body. Besides, you are here now. I knew you would return. Go play in the field, Chen. We need to talk alone.'

After Chen had left, Naruto said, 'How could you know?'

Yukari beamed. 'That goddess told me. To be precise, she asked me to hold Reimu so that she wouldn't invade her world again to take you.'

'Reimu was one of the invaders?'

'Now, now, that's a long story. And looks like you are not upset anymore. Care to share the details?'

'No.' Naruto unwrapped a sugar orb. 'How do you eat this?'

'You don't. You only keep it in your mouth and enjoy the sweetness. Don't bite or swallow it. Those are bad for you.'

'I see.' Naruto wrapped it again and returned it. 'Could I use these for danmaku games?'

'Using candies for danmaku games? That's cute. Anyway, I told Reimu you were staying with me, so keep the lie consistent.' A gap opened, from which Yukari took a scroll of paper. 'This is the script. You may tell Reimu the truth once she doesn't care anymore, but until then, you must lie.'

Naruto took the scroll. He then lied on his futon to read it.

'You have three hours before we go to the Scarlet Devil Castle. Reimu and the devils are waiting there.'

'Castle?'

'Yes. You destroyed the Scarlet Devil Mansion, so they had their maid build a castle in the middle of the lake using materials from the hill you'd destroyed.' Using her gap, Yukari laid herself beside Naruto. She then proceeded to poke him.

'No, don't touch me.'

'Fine.' Yukari stopped. 'Why are you staring at me like that?'

'I remember you being bigger the first time we met.'

Yukari smiled. 'That was terrifying, was it not? That was my real size. I shrink myself using my ability most of the time to avoid intimidating people.'

'Could you make me a little taller using that? I have had enough of people teasing my height.'

'No, it will be bad for you.'

Yukari resumed poking Naruto, to his dismay. When Yukari had Naruto in her arms, he knew escape would be difficult. 'Let go of me, you old hag!'

'My, my, you are livelier than ever. I wonder what she did to make you like this.'

'Let go of me. Reimu would be angry at you for this.'

'My, you care about her? Finally. While that's good, she could not see us here. Besides, I have slept with you once. Doing it again would not hurt.'

'God damn it, hag!'

After Naruto had memorised the script and Yukari had satisfied herself making Naruto uncomfortable, the latter brought the former to the castle to discuss protocols for controlling Flandre Scarlet. She had gone out of control during Naruto's death, forcing Marisa to pacify her once again. During the discussion, Naruto learnt the word 'troll' from Remilia's off-topic comment. Apparently, the word could be used to describe Yukari.

After the discussion, Patchouli brought Naruto to the secrecy of the new library. It was there the contract for teaching Naruto was drawn under Reimu's supervision. After the negotiation, Patchouli and Naruto drew blood to be spilt on the contract document, which was a paper made of magic. They then had dinner, which was hosted by Remilia.

Everything was foreign to him. Reimu said that Remilia was more pretentious that usual, but Naruto had no prior experience to compare with. The meals were odd, although delicious, and the drinks were served in a luxurious cup for each person. For Naruto, the cup contained a type of tea, which Sakuya had prepared using special a special ingredient to enhance water viscosity and colour it red. The two devils—Remilia and Flandre—had different liquid in their cups.

For some reason, Remilia had a smug expression on her face as she lifted her cup to her lips. 'What are you looking at, Naruto? Has never seen a vampire up close before?'

Naruto shook his head, wondering why he'd agreed to entertain Remilia's idea of a special dinner. 'How would it taste like?' asked Naruto, lifting his cup.

'Hard to say. It should be sweet, but we may have different taste buds for all we know. Try it!'

And Naruto did, and he put down his cup after his first sip.

'How does it taste?' asked Remilia.

'It tastes like iron'

Everyone but Flandre—who was beside Naruto—and Naruto froze. They stared at him with widened eyes, signalling Naruto of something wrong.

'Sister,' said Flandre, lifting her cup, 'my drink's only half full.'

Naruto realised Flandre was lifting the one he'd drunk from. He sighed, burying his face in his palms.

On a beaten path, Naruto trailed after Reimu after dinner. They walked close to each other, Naruto after Reimu, as Reimu's lantern was the only source of illumination under the canopy. 'So, Reimu, why did you ask me to walk you home?'

'It's more romantic to walk than to fly. And didn't you say you wanted to go home?'

'I need to take my possessions first.'

'We can do it tomorrow. Also, don't you want to talk?'

'Do you trust me?'

'I don't know what the hag did to you, but I know you're my Naruto.'

'I see. Well, I apologise for not treating you nicely.'

Reimu stopped in her track. When Naruto was about to overtake her, she walked again, holding Naruto's hand and refusing to let go despite his attempt to break free. 'Come now, you just apologised to me, yet you reject me again. Did I hurt you?'

'No, not that.'

'Then what?'

Naruto took a deep breath. 'Give me time for physical contacts, alright? I remember nothing pleasant about them. Also, I am not ready to marry you yet.'

'We will wait until you're ready, you know? You can't give me a child right now. I thought I told you already.'

'About three years, then. However, when did you tell me about this?' Naruto looked up to Reimu.

For Naruto's height, which was as tall as Reimu's shoulder, her stare felt as though it penetrated deep into his soul as she spoke, 'You would have known had you paid attention to me.'

'Sorry, I could not make sense. Why me of all people?'

Reimu cast her attention forward. 'Well, we can understand each other. We're both orphans since birth. We don't have friends. And we're also poor, so there's that.'

'You have friends.'

'I can count my human friends on two fingers.'

'Perhaps because you treat humans the way you do Yōkai?'

'I don't know,' said Reimu, 'I was raised by a Yōkai, and my friends were mostly Yōkai. Only Marisa is a human, but she's weird. I have no idea to interact with normal humans.'

'Sorry…. How could I not notice this?'

'You're always pushing me away. If you're not, you're ignoring me.'

'Sorry.'

'Hey, it's fine! I have you. Just promise me to treat me better!.'

'I promise. Look out.' Naruto pulled Reimu from her path lest she'd stumble on an exposed root.

'Thanks. Also, you don't have to stay with me. You may live alone until you're ready to live with me.'

'I want to live with you. I will live there until my new house is done.'

'New house?'

Naruto nodded. 'I won a gamble against a demon in the shrine. Because she lost, she has to build me a house. We could stay there once it's done. I am uncomfortable living under constant surveillance of the shrine's god.'

'Sure. I'll do a rite to your house in the village. It kept returning to life when you lived there.' After an hour of silence, Reimu asked, 'What happened to your clothes?'

'I think that the combination of my orange suit and my red coat was hideous.'

'Oh…. It looks familiar somehow. Good thing you realised, though.'

'By the way, Reimu… er, how old are you?'

Reimu brought her lips close to his ears, whispering her age.

'Then… why are you still flat?'

'I'm not flat! My chest looks flat because my breasts are hidden under my sarashi! You're opening up, and the first thing you asked me is my breasts?!'

'No, I am just wondering about your age, that's all. Is it wrong to know my future wife's age?'

'Humpf!'

'Hey, was I wrong?'


In this chapter of this story, Alice is still bitter over the invasion of Makai and its ensuing destruction, which is why she, though not actively seeking conflicts, will use each opportunity to beat the then invaders: Marisa and Reimu. Yūka doesn't count because she mostly keeps to herself. Mima's gone, so she doesn't count as well. Not sure how they stand to each other in canon and if windows and PC-98 canons are even the same canon.