CHAPTER 4 – CONFESS YOUR SINS AND SORROWS
Naruto sat slumped on a bench in the park, his eyes closed, enjoying the warmth of the morning sun on his face. He had been lost in thought for what felt like hours, but was only a few minutes. His mind was occupied with his relationship with Koneko, trying to figure out how to fix things between them. He knew he had messed up by invading her privacy and betraying her trust. Despite his repeated apologies, Koneko seemed to withdraw further and further away from him. Their once-easy conversations now felt stiff and forced, and Naruto felt a growing sense of disconnection from her. He was losing her, and the thought made him feel even more helpless and alone.
As he sat there, a flash of bright blonde hair caught his attention. A young woman was standing nearby, looking lost and confused. Her striking blue eyes scanned the signs, trying to make sense of them. Naruto felt drawn to her, her gentleness apparent even from a distance. She was clearly a foreigner, struggling to ask for directions in broken Japanese. Her long blonde hair and delicate features made it clear that she was European. And she was dressed in a nun's habit, which only added to her mysterious allure.
Naruto approached her with a friendly smile. "Excuse me, do you need any help?"
The woman's eyes lit up with relief. "Oh, thank goodness! I just arrived in Japan a few days ago. I've been trying to see the sights, but I seem to have gotten lost. And I'm having trouble reading the signs."
"Well, I know some great spots," Naruto replied. "I'd be happy to show you around."
The woman, whose name he soon learned was Asia, beamed with gratitude. "Thank you so much! That would be wonderful."
Naruto introduced himself and then escorted Asia around the city, and teaching her how to read the shop signs to get her more familiar with the city. He also decided to show her to some of his favorite places, starting at a ramen stand.
As they sat down to eat ramen, Asia expressed her excitement at trying it for the first time.
"You've never had ramen before?" Naruto exclaimed, incredulous. "You're missing out on one of life's greatest pleasures! You have to try this place's noodles; they're the best in the city."
As they ate, Naruto showed Asia how to use chopsticks properly. "It takes some practice, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature," he said, holding up his chopsticks to demonstrate.
"I'm sorry if I'm being a bother," Asia said, looking down at her chopsticks.
"Nah, don't worry about it. It's actually kind of cute," Naruto replied with a grin.
Asia blushed at his compliment. "Thank you. I'm really glad we met."
"Me too," Naruto said, his eyes meeting hers. "It's been nice showing you around. How are you liking the food?"
"It's really good," Asia replied, taking another bite of ramen.
Naruto's thoughts drifted to Koneko as they continued their tour of the city. He couldn't help but think about their first date at this very same ramen stand, where he had convinced her to try the noodles despite her initial skepticism. He remembered the look on her face as she took her first bite, and how they had bonded over their different tastes in food.
Naruto smiled as Koneko took a hesitant bite of the ramen. "See, it's not so bad, is it?" he teased.
Koneko rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile. "I guess not. You have strange taste in food, Naruto."
Naruto laughed. "I prefer to think of it as adventurous."
As they walked to their next destination, Naruto's mind continued to wander. He thought about Koneko's recent behavior and how much he missed her company. He wanted to talk to her and clear the air between them, but he didn't know how to get through to her.
Lost in his thoughts, Naruto didn't notice a car hurtling towards him until Asia's quick warning saved his life. He stumbled out of the way just in time, but the car clipped his side and sent him tumbling to the ground. Pain shot through his body as he lay there, dazed and disoriented. He heard Asia worriedly asking if he was okay and was about to reassure her when he felt the pain in his side start to alleviate.
Asia quickly settled next to Naruto, a warm green light emanating from her hands as she started to heal him. Her healing powers amazed Naruto, and he couldn't help but wonder how she had come to possess such incredible abilities. The warm, kind and gentle feeling of her power reflected her nature, and Naruto was reminded of the feeling of comfort he got from his mother when he'd been injured.
As she healed him, Asia asked, "Why were you so distracted, Naruto?"
Naruto sighed. "I'm sorry. I can't help thinking about someone."
"Is it someone you care about?" Asia asked gently.
Naruto hesitated, then decided to confide in her. "Yeah. Her name is Koneko. She's my girlfriend, but we've been having some problems lately."
"I see," Asia said softly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Naruto nodded. "I thought she was keeping secrets from me, and so I followed her and her friends. But she found out and we had a fight, and I don't know how to make it up to her."
Asia listened patiently, her kind eyes filled with empathy. "It sounds like you care about Koneko very much," she said softly. "Maybe the best way to make it up to her is to show her how much you love her."
Naruto nodded, feeling a sense of peace wash over him. He knew that Asia was right. He just needed to figure out how to show Koneko how much she meant to him. Naruto found himself drawn in by her kindness and optimism. He had never met anyone like her before. "I will, no matter what it takes. I won't let anything come between us."
"Alright, I'm all done healing your side, now please show me your arm." Asia requested.
Naruto then started to roll up his sleeves so that she could see the bruised area. As he did, Asia noticed the skin discoloration of his arm starting at his forearm, just below the bruise. His normally tan skin contrasted with the much paler skin that started at his forearm and ending at his fingertips.
Noticing her stare, Naruto decided to elaborate. "It's a birth mark. I've had it since I was a kid, it looks a bit weird, doesn't it?"
Asia shook her head. "No, I don't think it's weird at all. I think it makes you more unique, Naruto."
Naruto blushed, scratching the back of his head at the praise. "Nobody's ever called it that before. Thanks, Asia."
As Asia finishes healing Naruto's arm, Naruto watches in awe as the bruise disappears. He can't help but comment on how amazing her powers are, and he compares them to his mother's. Asia's expression changes, and Naruto can tell that there's a deeper story behind her powers.
"Is everything alright, Asia?" he asks, sensing her sadness.
"It's just that...my powers haven't always been a blessing," she replies, her voice trailing off.
Naruto gazed at Asia, curious about the source of her pain. He felt an urge to open up to her, hoping that sharing his own experience would make her feel more comfortable confiding in him. "My mother passed away when I was young," he revealed, his eyes glimmering with unshed tears. "But even though she's gone, I still cherish the memories I have of her."
He shut his eyes and took a deep breath, struggling to recall a long-forgotten moment. Suddenly, he saw it: his mother, her face blurred by time, producing a ball of fire in her hand. He remembered her telling him he was special, that he could accomplish anything he set his mind to. A lump formed in his throat, but he forced it down, determined not to appear weak in front of Asia.
"I remember when she used to perform magic around me," he continued, opening his eyes. "I felt invincible, like nothing could ever hurt me. She made me feel so secure and loved."
Asia's eyes widened with wonder. She had never met anyone with elemental abilities, having grown up in seclusion as a nun since discovering her healing powers.
"But a monster killed her in front of me," Naruto added, his voice tinged with grief. "Everyone told me I had imagined it to cope with her leaving me. After that, I began to think that maybe it was all in my head."
Asia's heart ached for him, touched by the intensity of Naruto's suffering. She understood all too well the agony of losing someone you cherished, having grown up without parents herself. Though she had been so young that she had no memories of them, unlike Naruto who had a close bond with his mother.
"I'm so sorry, Naruto," she said, compassion shining in her eyes. "It must have been unbearable for you. Losing someone you love is never easy, and it's even harder when you're young."
Naruto nodded, feeling a weight lift from his chest. "It was. But seeing you heal me like that... it reminded me of my mother. I can do a bit of magic myself, but I thought I was the only one..."
Asia smiled warmly. "You're not alone, Naruto. There are many people like us, I'm sure of it. And your mother would be so proud of the person you've become. You have a kind heart, Naruto, and you're always willing to help others. That's something to be proud of." Her smile wavered slightly, and Naruto glimpsed a hint of something.
Naruto's eyes softened as he listened to Asia's kind words. "Thanks, Asia. That means a lot."
Naruto felt a sense of warmth and comfort wash over him. He was grateful for the opportunity to share his pain with someone who understood. He also realized that he had been so caught up in his own problems that he hadn't asked Asia about hers. "What about you?" he asked. "Have you lost someone too?"
Asia hesitated for a moment before finally responding. "Yes," she said softly. "I lost my parents when I was young. I was raised by the church after that."
Naruto nodded sympathetically. "That must have been tough," he said.
"It was," Asia agreed. I was different from the other kids in the church because of my healing powers, and they didn't really want to be friends with me. But I was happy to help people with my powers, and I was satisfied with that until…until…." she trailed off, the pain and hurt in her voice evident.
"Until what?" Naruto prompted gently.
Asia's eyes glistened with tears, and her voice trembled as she spoke. "Until I made a mistake, and used my healing powers on someone I shouldn't have." she confessed, her gaze downcast. "And then they kicked me out of the church. I was all alone, with nowhere to go."
Naruto's heart went out to her, and he reached out to take her hand in a gesture of solidarity. "You're not alone anymore," he said firmly. "I'm here for you, Asia. You can count me as your friend and i promise to help you make more."
Asia's eyes widened with surprise and gratitude at his words, and a small smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Really?" she asked, her voice tentative yet hopeful.
"Absolutely," Naruto affirmed, his own smile growing wider as he gazed at her.
Naruto and Asia walked down the somewhat busy streets of the city, enjoying each other's company as they chatted and laughed. Naruto couldn't help but feel a sense of peace around Asia, and he was glad to have met her.
As the sun began to set, Naruto escorted Asia back home to the old church that seemed to be abandoned. The doors creaked as they pushed them open, and the air inside was thick with an ominous energy. The place gave him an eerie feeling and he kept his guard up, ready for anything unexpected.
Suddenly, a voice from the shadows made itself heard. "Well, well, well. What do we have here? A devil worshipper walks into the house of the Lord. How unsightly." A spear of light appeared out of nowhere and barely missed Naruto's head, embedding itself into the wall.
Naruto's eyes darted towards the sound, trying to make sense of the situation. The figure emerged from the shadows, a man wearing a fedora and a black coat that swirled around him. Naruto tensed up, ready for whatever might come next.
"Lord Dohnaseek, what are you doing? Why are you attacking Naruto?" Asia asked, stepping in front of Naruto to defend him.
"Isn't it obvious, Asia? This piece of human filth dared to enter the house of our Father after cavorting with demons," Dohnaseek replied, forming another spear of light in his hand and hurling it at Naruto.
Naruto barely dodged the attack and stumbled backward, still bewildered by what was happening. "What...What do you mean? I haven't done anything wrong!"
A white-haired man exorcist, stepped out of the shadows, pointing at Naruto with accusing red eyes. "Quit playing dumb, you damn devil-loving scum! You're reeking of demonic energy. It's sickening!"
Naruto's heart raced with fear and confusion. "Demonic energy? What are you talking about?"
Asia stepped forward, her arms outstretched to protect Naruto. "Father Freed, that's not possible. I know Naruto. He's a kind person. He would never do something like that."
Freed sneered at Asia. "Oh, look at what we have here. The adorable little nun has found herself a new playmate. But that devil worshipper behind you is just oozing with the stench of demonic energy. I can practically taste it in the air."
He unsheathed a sword made of pure light, brandishing it at Naruto. "As a priest, it's my duty to rid the world of filth like him. And what better way to do it than by hacking him to pieces with my sweet-ass light sword?"
Naruto stood there in disbelief, unsure of how to react. Everything was happening so fast, and he couldn't understand why he was being accused of such a thing.
"A-Asia," Naruto stuttered. "What is this? Who are these people? How are they doing that?" Naruto asked, looking to the nun for answers as she seemed to understand what was going on.
Asia stepped forward, her arms spread wide as she defended Naruto. "Please, you don't understand. Naruto is a good person. He would never do something like this."
Dohnaseek laughed, a cruel sound that sent chills down Naruto's spine. "Oh, we understand perfectly. And now, we must carry out our duty and rid the world of this filth. Freed!"
Freed brandished his light sword. "You heard the man. This heretic needs to be purged, for the sake of our holy mission."
Naruto was starting to feel scared and angry. "I don't worship any devils, I don't know what you're talking about! You're making a mistake!"
Freed charged at him, swinging his sword with deadly intent. Naruto dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade. "Stop this! What did I ever do to you?"
Dohnaseek chuckled. "It's not about what you did. It's about what you are. And you, Naruto, are nothing but a pathetic human who's aligned himself with devils."
Asia stepped forward, tears streaming down her face. "Please, stop this. You're hurting him."
Freed ignored her, advancing on Naruto with his sword raised. "Time to die, scum."
Naruto gritted his teeth, his fists clenched. "I won't let you hurt me or anyone else. I'll fight you if I have to."
He lunged at Freed, throwing a punch that connected with the exorcist's jaw. Freed stumbled back, surprised by the sudden attack. Naruto followed up with a kick to the stomach, sending Freed crashing to the ground. "You're not as weak as you look," Freed snarled, a hint of surprise in his voice.
Naruto stood over Freed, his eyes blazing with determination. "I may not have any fancy spears or a cool sword, but I'm not just going to roll over and die. I won't back down."
"Don't get cocky now you little shit!" Freed yelled as he quicky recovered and charged at Naruto again, swinging his sword with renewed fury. Naruto struggled to defend himself, ducking and dodging as best he could.
Naruto pressed forward, his attacks growing fiercer with each passing moment. He had no idea what was going on or why these two were trying to kill him. All he knew was that he couldn't let his guard down, not for a second. And so, he fought with every ounce of strength he had, refusing to back down even in the face of certain death.
Freed charged towards Naruto, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. Naruto weaved and dodged, narrowly avoiding each strike. Meanwhile, Dohnaseek hung back, hurling spears of light at Naruto from a distance. The spears were so fast that Naruto struggled to react in time, and soon he was getting cut up.
Gritting his teeth, Naruto pushed through the pain, determined to turn the tables. With a burst of energy, he lunged towards Freed, hoping to catch him off guard. But Freed sidestepped the attack effortlessly, leaving Naruto vulnerable to Dohnaseek's spears, but Naruto managed to duck and roll away before Dohnaseek's spears could hit him.
The fight dragged on for what felt like hours. Naruto was growing tired, his movements sluggish. The cuts on his body were taking their toll, and blood was starting to seep through his clothes. But he refused to give up.
Scanning the room quickly, Naruto searched for something he could use as a weapon, but found nothing. Then he noticed that Freed was destroying the wooden church benches with his sword, leaving scraps of wood behind.
With no other option, Naruto grabbed a piece of wood and charged at Freed, swinging it with all his might. But the light sword easily sliced through it, and Naruto stumbled backward, his heart pounding in his chest. "Pathetic. You really think a piece of wood can stop me?" Freed mocked.
As Naruto prepared to launch another attack, he noticed a spear of light hurtling toward him. In a split-second decision, he reached out and caught the spear with his left hand, hoping to use it as a weapon. "I'll use anything to take you down!" he declared.
But as soon as the spear made contact with his hand, it disappeared, leaving Naruto bewildered. Before he could contemplate it any further, he was hit by another wave of spears, each one coming faster than the last. Naruto tried to dodge them, but he was too slow, and he could feel them cutting through his clothes and grazing his skin. "Damn it! I can't keep taking hits like this!" he said through gritted teeth.
Just when he thought it was over for him, Asia stepped in between him and the attackers, halting their attacks. She quickly started to heal his wounds, much to the anger of the fallen angels and the exorcist.
"What do you think you're doing, witch?" Freed growled, stepping closer to Asia. "Do you think you can just heal this devil-loving scum and get away with it?"
Dohnaseek interjected, his voice cold and detached. "Leave her be, Freed. She's still useful to us. We'll leave her punishment to Lady Raynare. But as for the boy..."
Naruto's heart sank as he realized that he was about to die. He was completely outmatched and outgunned, and there was no way he could win this fight. He turned to Asia, who was now done healing his wounds, as she shook his arm, urging him to run.
"Go, Naruto. Run. I'll be fine. They won't hurt me. Just go," she whispered, her eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry for all of this."
"I can't leave you here like this!" Naruto protested.
"It's okay, Naruto. Just go. Please," Asia said softly.
Naruto didn't want to leave her, especially not like this, but he knew that he had no other choice. Naruto hesitated for a moment before nodding and sprinting towards the exit, his heart heavy with guilt and despair.
Naruto darted out of the church, his eyes wide and his heart racing. He could hear Freed's heavy footsteps pounding the pavement behind him, and he knew that he had to keep moving if he wanted to survive.
It was late in the evening and the street was semi-crowded, with people milling about on the sidewalks and cars zooming by on the road. Naruto weaved in and out of the crowd, using his incredible agility and parkour skills to vault over benches, slide under railings, and leap over obstacles in his path. Freed, meanwhile, was forced to run on the ground, dodging pedestrians and cars as he chased after his prey.
Naruto could hear Freed getting closer and closer, and he knew that he had to do something to shake him off. He spotted a narrow alleyway up ahead and made a split-second decision to duck inside.
The alley was dark and narrow, with trash cans and boxes piled up against the walls. Naruto sprinted down the alley, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear Freed's heavy footsteps echoing behind him, and he knew that he was running out of time.
Without breaking stride, Naruto leaped onto a nearby wall and pushed off with incredible force, propelling himself onto the roof of a nearby building. Freed followed suit, but Naruto was already off and running across the rooftops, his movements fluid and graceful.
Freed was a formidable opponent, but Naruto knew he had the advantage in this kind of terrain. He sprinted across the rooftop, leaping from one building to the next with ease, his feet barely touching the ground.
Freed was struggling to keep up, his heavy footsteps echoing across the rooftops. Naruto could hear him getting closer, but he refused to look back. He focused all his energy on the task at hand: staying one step ahead of his pursuer.
Naruto swung himself around a corner, flipping over a gap between buildings, and landed on a narrow ledge on the other side. He ran along the ledge, his arms outstretched for balance, and jumped to the next rooftop.
Freed was right behind him, his eyes fixed on Naruto's back. He couldn't afford to lose him now. He pushed himself harder, running faster than he ever had before, his breath coming in short gasps.
Naruto was almost there. He could see the end of the alleyway just ahead, and he knew he was almost home free. But then, out of nowhere, Freed produced a flash bang and tossed it at Naruto's feet.
Naruto was caught off guard. The sudden explosion disoriented him, leaving him blinded and dazed. He stumbled forward, his arms flailing, and before he knew it, Freed had caught up to him, tackling him to the ground and pinning him down. "Gotcha!"
Naruto grunted as he hit the pavement, the wind knocked out of him. Naruto struggled to break free from Freed's grip, and managed to kick himself away from the crazy priest. Freed was barely phased though and pulled out his light sword again, ready to fight. The two stared each other down once more, and Naruto could tell that Freed was about to attack.
But Naruto wasn't going to allow for a repeat of what happened at the church. Now that Dohnaseek was gone, the fight was a bit fairer with him only needing to deal with Freed. It wasn't going to be easy, especially since he still didn't have any weapons, and he was starting to feel exhausted from all the exertion, but his chances were definitely better than they were before.
Freed was fast and strong, not to mention armed and rather skilled too, but he wasn't as agile as Naruto was. Taking Freed head-on wasn't going to work, so Naruto would have to try a different tactic, and change the nature of the fight to his favor.
Naruto's heart raced as he scrambled to his feet, his eyes locked onto Freed's sword. He knew he needed to find a way out, and quickly. He scanned the area, his mind racing with possibilities. He was confident in his agility and parkour skills, honed over years of training, but he had never faced an opponent like this.
"You won't catch me that easily," Naruto said, his voice steady despite the panic bubbling inside him.
Freed charged at him, his sword raised high. "I already have. And now, I'll make sure to put an end to your little parkour show."
Naruto ducked under the first swing, then vaulted over a nearby car, using the roof as a springboard to launch himself into the air. "You're going to have to try harder than that," he taunted.
"Don't underestimate me, kid!" Freed said, swinging his sword again.
But Naruto was already out of range, flipping over a trash can and landing on a nearby bench. He spun around, his eyes fixed on Freed's sword, waiting for an opening.
"I'm not underestimating you. I just know my way around here better than you do," Naruto said, keeping his voice cool and confident.
"We'll see about that!" Freed said, charging at him once more.
Naruto darted to the side, using a series of quick, evasive movements to stay out of range. He ran up the side of a nearby building, using his momentum to launch himself onto a balcony, then leaped to a nearby rooftop.
Freed followed him, his sword at the ready as the chase started again. "I'll give you credit for being fast, but speed alone won't save you!"
Naruto could hear his heavy footsteps echoing across the rooftops as he ran, his heart pounding in his chest. He scanned the area, looking for a way to turn the tables on his opponent.
Spotting a nearby fire escape, Naruto sprinted towards it, his feet barely touching the ground. He scrambled up the ladder, using his hands and feet to propel himself upwards, then leaped onto the roof of the adjacent building.
"We'll see about that," Naruto muttered under his breath.
Freed was right behind him, but Naruto had gained some distance. "You can run, but you can't hide!" Freed taunted.
"Who said anything about hiding?" Naruto said as he sprinted across the rooftop, leaping over gaps and dodging obstacles as he went.
Freed was still close, but Naruto was beginning to tire him out, using his agility to stay out of reach of his sword. "Stop running and face me like a man!"
As they reached the edge of the roof, Naruto saw his chance. "You want me to face you? Fine, let's do this!" He spun around, using the edge of the building as a springboard to launch himself towards Freed.
"What are you-" Freed began to ask, surprised by Naruto's sudden change in tactics, but Naruto was already rapidly closing in. Freed swung his sword, but Naruto dodged it with ease, then delivered a powerful kick to his stomach.
"Take that!" Naruto said as Freed stumbled backwards, his sword clattering to the ground.
Naruto seized the opportunity, sprinting towards the fallen sword and grabbing it before Freed could recover. "It's over, Freed."
Freed scrambled to his feet, his eyes wide with surprise. Naruto held the sword aloft, ready to strike. But Freed wasn't finished yet. With lightning speed, he reached into his coat and pulled out a gun, aiming it at Naruto.
"What the-" Naruto froze, caught off guard by the sudden turn of events.
"Say goodbye, kid." Freed smiled coldly, as he pulled the trigger.