AN: Ok, so for events like ages to events in Re:Zero, they are not cannon followed, so note that because I honestly don't care what ages certain things happen if it'll ruin the story I'm trying to make, and the changes of the ages don't matter that much so yeah. ]

Another year has passed, and Naruto still has not learned any new jutsu. Emilia and Naruto's relationship has remained relatively the same as they are now thirteen. Kurama has been the primary source of authority as Puck has mainly retreated unless called upon. Naruto and Emilia also have gone to the villages surrounding Elior Forest many times, and Emilia is starting to adopt the same view that Naruto had. That being that, since she has a Kurama, Naruto, and even Puck, she isn't as self-conscience about her appearance anymore.

Naruto continued to practice to learn the Rasengan. He now had an outfit that he enjoyed more due to going to the villages and Kurama stealing his stuff to make clothing. He now fits a nice orange pair of pants, black scandals that fit comfortably, and a lovely orange vest, and to both Naruto's and Kurama's surprise, they even found a shop that sold kunai.

Emilia was now sporting a beautiful blue shirt with white accents that perfectly complemented her hair and skin tone. The shirt was made of a lightweight, breathable material that felt soft against her skin, and it was accented with delicate white highlights that added a touch of elegance.

Emilia's inspiration for the outfit came from her admiration for Naruto and his striking blue eyes. The blue color of her shirt and skirt brought out the vibrant blue of her eyes, giving her a fresh, vibrant look. She wanted to incorporate that color into her outfit and was thrilled with the result.

Naruto summoned forty shadow clones to try to get the first step completed to mastering the Rasengan. Still, without any water balls or other methods used to learn the Rasengan, Naruto was having trouble.

Emilia noticing this asked, "Naruto is there anything I can do to help you train?"

Naruto thought momentarily, "Can you make a water ball, ya know?"

Kurama decided to test something after noticing the interaction taking place. Kurama now understood how magic worked in this world, and basically, all of Naruto's techniques used mana which is the same as chakra in his mind. Hence, every technique Naruto created was essentially a new form of magic.

Kurama spoke in his small avatar, "Emilia, your power is the element of fire that can increase or decrease the temperature… if you focused on creating a sphere of ice and then manipulated the temperature to the correct amount, the outside would remain in ice, but water would be within. Can you do that?"

Emilia thought about it for a second and formed an ice sphere. Then she attempted to change the temperature within and then shook the ice sphere. From the vibrations, she felt she could accomplish what Kurama requested.

Emilia smiled, "Here… does Naruto need it?"

Naruto nodded, "No way you could do that? Thanks so much, it's so hard to learn this technique without a water ball, but this will work the same."

Emilia gave a light blush handing the sphere to Naruto, which he burst the first attempt he made.

Naruto sighed in embarrassment, "Emilia… could you create like twenty of those?"

Emilia nodded. After countless days of watching Naruto fail to master the technique he was attempting to learn and herself reaching her limit in magical potential, she could only try to help Naruto in his training. She formed twenty balls, and Naruto created twenty shadow clones to attempt again. After understanding the concept reasonably well at this point and only lacking the steps required to learn the Rasengan, Naruto could complete the water ball stage reasonably quickly.

Kurama smiled, "Good job. Now how are we going to get a rubber ball?"

Naruto sighed, "I don't know… maybe ice spheres would work?"

Kurama declined, "No, because the rubber ball needs to be flexible. Well, it might work it just would be a unique way of learning it… give it a shot."

Emilia formed a normal ice sphere, and Naruto attempted but failed. He was used to failing at this point as entirely the Rasengan almost seemed impossible. He needed rubber balls, and none of the villages nearby had them.

Kurama remembered Puck informing him of the four nations and one being Kararagi which more than likely was the source of how Naruto was able to find a kunai in the surrounding villages. The distance was quite far, but it would take about an hour or so with a chakra cloak. Kurama decided it would be best to explore more of the outside, and he was interested in how Kararagi's merchants learned of kunai.

Kurama spoke, "Emilia, Naruto. We are going to Kararagi. I'm sure we can find rubber balls there, and from what Puck told me about the place, it's oddly similar to a village like Konoha."

Naruto looked in amazement, "Really? Let's go. How far is it?"

Kurama replied, "Normally, like seven days, but with your chakra cloak, like an hour or so."

Naruto questioned, "Will I be able to use the chakra cloak?"

Kurama declined, "No, you're not ready yet. The last thing I want to deal with is you running into a tree or a mountain or something while carrying Emilia."

Naruto agreed, "Whatever." Naruto turned toward Emilia, "Do you want to go?"

Emilia nodded, "Yeah, I'm happy to go anywhere you go, Naruto."

Naruto face reddened, "Uhh ok cool."

'Perhaps Minato should've taught you how to talk to the opposite gender.'

Naruto glared in annoyance at the flying avatar, "Shut up! I don't need help with that, ya know."

Emilia was confused and amazed as she watched Naruto and Kurama switch places, with the powerful spirit avatar dissipating into the air. Despite the strange and unexpected events, Emilia didn't feel afraid. She trusted Naruto and Kurama, knowing they had her best interests at heart.

As Naruto's body picked her up, Emilia felt a sense of comfort and security. She wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling the warmth of his body against hers. Despite the strange and unfamiliar surroundings, she felt safe and protected in Naruto's arms.

Together, they made their way toward Kararagi, their destination a mystery. Emilia was filled with excitement and wonder, eager to see what lay ahead. She knew that this journey was just the beginning, and she was determined to make the most of every moment.

Naruto watched in shock and amazement as they approached the city-states of Kararagi. Kurama was completely confused as the resemblance of culture within Konoha was very prevalent within Kararagi. Kurama begins to wonder as his father never told him to attempt to bring back Naruto or himself… he could question whether his father had some sort of for site he neglected to mention.

When the two landed in Kyo, the largest city-state within Kararaggi. It was a site for Kurama and Naruto. Naruto looked around, seeing ramen shops and many other things that resembled what he would see in Konoha. He saw many pieces of clothing that resembled what shinobi wore.

Naruto asked, "Ramen! Ramen! NO WAY THEY HAVE RAMEN! Kurama, wait, Emilia, you finally can taste what I've been explaining to you for so long. The delicacy of ramen."

Kurama sighed, "We have no money. Am I going to have to do shady things to get you ramen?"
Kurama suddenly felt a large amount of negative emotion somewhere close by. He could tell the energy was around the same that Puck had.

Kurama warned, "Something is here. Naruto, enter your chakra cloak. It'll protect you and Emilia. I sense a lot of negative emotion coming towards us."

Hearing that, Naruto activated his chakra cloak, which surrounded him and Emilia, while Kurama enlarged his avatar, ready for the coming conflict. A woman with white hair appeared, and Kurama could sense both killing and negative emotions.

The women sent multiple attacks that used wind at Kurama's avatar, but he evaded them easily. He then amplified the chakra he contained to form a small bijou bomb. The woman continued to dash towards Kurama, but her fate was already sealed. Kurama released a very concentrated blast toward the woman, which Kurama summarized to be a spirit. With a single attack, the women changed into many colors and died.

However, the blast that the bijuu bomb had destroyed the surrounding areas. Nobody was injured, but a few shops were damaged, and the road that the spirit was on was. Kurama sighed as he had no idea what or who he had just killed.

Naruto asked, "Is… it over?"

'Yes, you can release your cloak.'

Naruto did so and saw the damage that the attack left. Multiple shops were destroyed, and the road was recked entirely. Emilia saw the damage and could only frown at whatever caused Kurama to have to fight.

A voice called out, "What an interesting sight to see."

Naruto, Kurama, and Emilia stared at the wolf-like man. Kurama could sense no ill intent from the man so relaxed. The wolf-like man wore a purple robe with multiple kunai and a sword that Kurama recognized to be very similar to one of the seven swords wielded by those within the village hidden in the mist. The man was carrying a large sword that looked to be used for executing people. It had a large circle cut out at the end of the blade.

Naruto noticing the man's kunai without fear, asked, "Are you a shinobi? You have kunai and a cool sword!"

The wolf-man smiled at the boy, "My name is Halibel, and yes, I am, in fact, a shinobi. It's quite shocking to see the legend of the nine-tailed fox that my father told me to be here."

Kurama begins to wonder how he knew anything about him or his power. Based on the information he has been given, his only idea is that others from Naruto's world have been sent here. The entire area surrounding them almost felt like they were within the Konoha.

Naruto continued, "My name is Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm a shinobi too! This is Kurama, and this is Emilia." he said, pointing towards the direction of each name he gave.

Emilia was surprised as nobody had given her any strange looks since being in Kararagi. She didn't mind the usual stares, but it was refreshing not to deal with them. She was also happy to see Naruto so excited. The last time she saw Naruto like this was when Kurama first appeared in their lives.

Halibel looked shocked, hearing what Naruto said, "You say you're a shinobi?"

Naruto nodded, "Yeah, I am a shinobi, believe it!"

Hailbel surveyed the damage caused by the Kurama and then realized what had transpired. The evil spirit Zarestia was killed. He couldn't believe it for a moment, but seeing the nine-tailed fox that his father spoke about, he could only ignore his doubt. Eliminating Zarestia is not easy and has been plaguing Kararagi since the nation's dawn. First, he must fix the situation and reward the three for their actions.

Hailbel turned to Kurama, "I must thank you for what you have done for our nation. Kararagi, the spirit you killed, has been plaguing our nation since dawn."

Kurama sighed, "Good, glad to see what I did was helpful. Hailbel, we came here for one thing, but I'm guessing that will be multiple things now. Rubber balls, ramen, and kunai. We have no money, so would that be a reward acceptable?"

Hailbel began laughing, "Rubber balls, ramen, and some kunai? That's certainly a reward I can fulfill for you."

Naruto's eyes widened in excitement, "Let's go! We need ramen. Emilia, you'll get to have ramen. Thank you!

After the introductions concluded, the first went to Halibels and recommended the best ramen shop within Kararagi. The three and Kurama's avatars sat down at a ramen shop that remarkably looked similar to one within the Konoho.

As the three bowls of steaming hot ramen were placed in front of Naruto, he couldn't help but let out a gasp of delight. He had been craving this dish for the past five years, ever since he first tasted it, and now, finally, he was about to savor it again.

The ramen looked terrific, the steam rising from the bowls and carrying the rich, savory aroma of the broth to his nostrils. The noodles were perfectly cooked, al dente, and the toppings looked fresh and delicious.

Naruto couldn't contain his excitement as he picked up his chopsticks and began to dig in. The first bite was pure heaven, the broth rich and flavorful, the noodles perfectly cooked, and the toppings added just the right texture and flavor.

As he ate, Naruto felt a sense of nostalgia wash over him. He remembered the first time he tried ramen and how it had become one of his favorite dishes. Despite the many hardships he had faced in his life, he was grateful for this simple pleasure, and he savored every bite of the delicious ramen.

Naruto turned to see in shock that Emilia finished her bowl before him, "Emilia, you must've liked it if you finished eating before me. Ramen is amazing ya know."

Emilia blushed in embarrassment, "Welll, it's good. It's much better than the food in the forest."

Naruto smiled, "Yeah, I've been telling you for so long it's amazing."

Hailbel laughed at the conversation, "You two make quite a good pair."

Emilia tilted her head, "What do you meannnn, oh wait…."

Hailbel laughed again, "You said your name was just Emilia, right?"

Emilia nodded, "Emilia… just Emilia."

Hailbel continued in his friendly taunting, "One day, it'll be Emilia Uzamaki."

Emilia and Naruto's faces were embarrassed as they turned a bright, fiery red.

Hailbel spoke more seriously, "So ramen, rubber balls, and kunai?"

Naruto's nodded, his face still red, "Yeah, that's all we nee-d thanks!"

Hailbel then asked, "Why rubber balls?"

Naruto explained, "Well, I'm trying to learn the Rasengan, and I need rubber balls to complete the technique's final part. Kurama, can we just say here? There's ramen, shinobi, and kunai. It feels…." Naruto's excitement faded as the memory of his life in Konoha returned, "Nevermind."

Hailbel noticing his reaction patted Naruto's head, "Naruto, I can tell you'll grow up to be a fine shinobi. Most of the world has no idea what a shinobi is, but I can tell you are truly a shinobi. We can go to another shop and get the rubber balls and then a weapons shop to get you and Emilia some weapons. How's that sound, Naruto?"

Naruto nodded, "Thank you."

Emilia knew Naruto very well and could tell when he was sad, happy, or almost any emotion, as Naruto was already relatively easy to read. But she felt terrible and wondered about Naruto's past as she did not know of her own.

The group made their way to a shop that sold rubber balls. The merchant was surprised when he was asked by Hailbel, a well-known law enforcement and protector of Kararagi, for one-hundred rubber balls. After they got it, Naruto insisted on carrying the giant bag, but Halibel, after seeing Naruto trip multiple times, decided to carry it.

As the group made their way to the weapon shop, a conversation began.

Hailbel commented, "So this training your doing is not related to magic?"

Naruto responded, "No I use ninjutsu. Right now, I'm trying to master the Rasengan."

Hailbel continued in curiosity, "Do you know any ninjutsu already?"

Naruto smiled, "Yeah, I know the shadow clone jutsu. Believe it!"

Hailbel asked with a smile, "If you don't mind showing it to me. I'd like to see it."

Without a second thought, Naruto formed the hand sign and said, "Shadow clone Jutsu!"

Naruto wasn't focusing on how much chakra he used, so about four hundred Narutos appeared, and Hailbel was dumbfounded at what he had just witnessed. He heard stories from his father about ninjutsu and chakra, but seeing it himself was something he never thought he'd experience.

Naruto's sudden movement caught the attention of everyone in the area as he dispelled the countless shadow clones that filled the roads. People stopped in their tracks, staring at Naruto in shock and awe as they realized who he was and what he was capable of.

The legends of ninjutsu were well-known within Kararagi, and many people there had heard of Naruto's incredible abilities. They had never seen anything like this before, and they were amazed by the sheer number of shadow clones Naruto summoned.

Some people gasped in disbelief, while others whispered to each other in hushed tones, trying to make sense of what they were witnessing.

Hailbel simply laughed, "I was not expecting that."

Naruto's smile grew, "So you think it was cool?"
Hailbel nodded, "Naruto, you have the potential to change this world. A shinobi that knows how to use ninjutsu, it's remarkable." Hailbel continued, "Don't let that get to your head. Protect those you care about and use your power for good. I look forward to seeing what you'll become in the future."

Kurama thought about this man, and his words almost reminded him of Jiraiya, only if he wasn't a pervert. He thought about asking Halibel to join them but knew that the time they'd meet again would come.

Naruto responded, "I will. I promised Emilia, too, and I'll save the elves in Elior Forest. This place is amazing, and I'll come back whenever I can!"

Hailbel smiled, and the group continued to the weapons shop. The shop contained many items that shinobi would use, ranging from kunai, swords of both large and small lengths, and sealing formulas, but the most shocking was a specific type of kunai they had. When Kurama saw the shape that resembled that of which Minato used, he couldn't believe what he was witnessing.

Naruto looked at the kunai and the blades and turned to Emilia, "Emilia, you should get a weapon, ya know."

Emilia thought momentarily, "But I'm a magic user. What would I use a weapon for?"

Hailbel commented, "Magic can be used with weapons. For example," Halbiel took out his sword, and the sword began to glow, "I imbued wind magic into this sword just now. You could do the same with a sword yourself."

Emilia smiled, wanting to share something with Naruto, and now she could. She looked at the store's various weapons and decided to go with a light, short slender katana-style sword with a single-edged blade. The blade is polished to a mirror finish, giving it a bright and reflective appearance.

Naruto stared at Emilia with her new sword, "Emilia, you look… I mean, the sword looks great ya know."

Emilia nodded, "Yeah, I like it a lot… figuring out how to use magic with it will be harddd, but I'll figure it out. What did you choose, Naruto?"

Naruto showed the Kunai, which Kurama specifically told him to get, shaped very similar to that the ones his father used in combination with the flying thunder god.

Emilia looked in awe, "Those are so cool, Naruto. I can't wait to get back and start training."

Naruto agreed, "Yeah, we got everything we needed, didn't we." Naruto redirected his eyes towards Halibel, "Thank you so much, Halbiel. I'll be sure to visit. Maybe one day me and Emilia can move here ya know."

The merchant bowed, "If your going to conversate could you do it outside, please."

The group moved outside, and Naruto realized what he had said to Emilia. He'd love Kararagi. He'd love it. But he realized what he said about the frozen elves.

Naruto looked with remorse at Emilia, "I'm sorry… I forgot."

Emilia responded, "Naruto, it's alright. You proved to me a long time ago that you wouldn't break your promise, and… meeting you was probably the best thing that ever happened in my life."

Naruto looked at Emilia's amethyst eyes and glowing face, realizing he was the same. Meeting Emilia was the best thing that ever happened to him. Kurama comes in at a close second, but Emilia is the person he's spent the most time with. He had never cared for someone so much before he came to this world.

Naruto replied, "Emilia… when we return to the forest, I'll tell you how you changed my life."

Hailbel watched the two, only imagining the future that they'd share. Today was a day he'd never forget not only meeting a true shinobi who knew ninjutsu, the legendary nine-tailed fox, and viewing the site of what he could imagine for the future of Naruto and Emilia.

Hailbel handed Kurama the bag containing the rubber balls, and Kurama used one of his tails to carry it. He wanted to say one more thing before the two left.

Halibel turned to Naruto, "Naruto, I expect great things from you. You and Kurama are the beacon of hope and the return of a true shinobi. Emilia, take care of Naruto and treat him well. Kurama, keep these two safe. It was both an honor and a thrill to meet you three today."

Naruto grinned, and Emilia smiled at the gesture as Kurama reminded Hailbel they would return before leaving Kararagi. Kurama learned quite a lot from coming here, and he also couldn't help but wonder if his father knew Naruto's life would turn out to be so peaceful in this world.

This was like a side adventure, but it was really to write. Since Re:Zero shows aspects of Japan, I just replaced it with aspects of Konoha since it makes the most sense.

I think I'm pacing everything reasonably well at this point. I still don't know when I'll deal with the spirit, but probably by the time, Naruto learns the flying thunder god.

I'm keeping the pacing excellent and slow to develop the bond between Emilia and Naruto well, as a bunch of annoying shit will happen once annon starts.