Returned at last...
This wasn't an easy chapter.
Been stressed a lot, and I'm not exactly doing well.
And I can't say I'm doing the best at the moment, but I'm trying.
Writing is my outlet, and when that isn't exactly doing well, things can avalanche...
Running a poll for my return to writing anniversary that starts next month.
So I'm focusing on updating all my currently running stories this month to give a fair shot to all of the stories.
And others simply have scheduled updates, so please don't ask about updates.
This is still a concept idea and one that is still being built, so it does take more work to build properly.
Why we're still in the Prologue!
Anyways, sorry if I haven't gotten to reviews, life...
Trying...
Onto the story!
*Also note, my editor sometimes breaks, and it messes up for some reason, and I don't catch it sometimes it double punctuates. What makes it weirder is when I copied and pasted it here from Google Docs... The mistakes aren't on Google Docs, So I'm just even more confused.*
It was dark here. He could barely see.
The floors were swamped in water that was nearly knee height for him. He couldn't tell where he was going at all.
He just woke up here and didn't know where anyone was.
Where was Ruby? That mysterious man that saved him and her?
Did he get transported to a different place instead of going back home? He ended up back home last time, but what if this time he was sent somewhere else?
"Hello?" Naruto whimpered as he called out, hoping, pleading for an answer as it was too desolate in the damp darkness.
But nothing responded as he shuffled forward, sniffling, shivering, and covering and rubbing his arms for warmth as it was cold in this place. All he felt was the pain in his gut, pulling on him and making him wince and grip his head, almost making him stumble. It almost felt like something was tugging him forward…
Straight to a new path that he would not have taken.
He didn't know what else to do. He took the path. Was it something reaching out to him? Telling him to take this path? It could be after everything he was experiencing. With Ruby going to meet her. Those weird creatures…
This would be something else to add to the list.
Another painful tug and down a new path. It felt like something was directing him. But what? Where could it be leading him to in this dark place? To the way out, maybe? He could only hope as he wanted to see the light again…
These tugs kept pulling him all over the place too. He wasn't sure if they were leading him anywhere at all. This place was so disorienting. He didn't understand it at all.
Wait…
Was the area around him starting to get bigger?
What was that sound? It sounded like some sort of rough rumble…
Almost like a growl of a ferocious, wild animal…
The area was so large now. Pillars oddly stood in front of him. Almost like a gate. Like it was barring something from leaving. Something massive…
Naruto didn't like this. What had the feeling drawn him toward…
Wait, was that something moving in the darkness? It looked like it. If he focused his attention, he could see something vaguely orange…
Fuzzy…
And he let out a horrific scream as two large, scarlet eye opened before his visage, followed by a malicious grin of sharp teeth still shaded in the darkness.
Well, well, well…
Look at what we have here.
Found me at last, lost sheep.
Took your sweet time.
Stumbling back into the water, looking up at the hellacious creature shrouded in darkness, Naruto trembled. What was this monstrosity that he was brought to? What powerful creature was he drawn to?
Would it eat him? Devour him whole with a single gulp?
Crush him into a paste with its immense size!
The creature merely let out a booming laugh, enjoying the sheer terror the boy was experiencing before him.
And to Naruto's horror, it stepped closer to the gate, and he realized what the beast was. His eyes shimmered in and out as he scrambled and scurried backward, unable to process what he saw.
It couldn't be!
No! That meant the tale of the Fourth Hokage…
Amusing…
Alas, harming you would only wreak more problems…
Seeing as you are chosen by Father…
Child of Light.
Falling into the water, barely floating within, Naruto turned to the massive demon…
The one he knew that brought havoc to his village five years before. The one that the Fourth Hokage supposedly defeated and was now standing before him…
Walled off by this gate.
Even filled with rampant fear and trepidation, his heart beating in his ears and drumming throughout his body…
Naruto heard what the beast said.
Did it know what was happening to him? And why was it acting so calm? Wasn't it supposed to be some aggressive monstrosity that wreaked destruction and was made of malice?
That's what everyone said…
The beast's long ears perked up, and it snarled, its scarlet eyes flashing as it gazed upon him
Seems our time is limited, as expected.
Know this child.
Things are not as they seem.
If you were anyone else… I would not care…
But you are Ashura and can bring and end to this cycle.
Struggling to his feet, looking at the massive creature, feeling pain within his head as everything began to blur and darken, Naruto wobbled on his feet. He tried shaking his head, but it was to no avail.
No…
He was just starting to get some answers…
Even if this was a scary fox demon! It knew something!
He had to try and say something!
"Hey! I'm not this Asura or whatever! My name is Uzumaki Naruto!" Naruto angrily retorted at the giant beast of a fox. "Now, what's this about all the other stuff? I can't follow a word you're saying!"
Even with his vision blurring and blackening, being barely able to stand as his swaying form staggered, Naruto found the fox's response condensing.
It smugly grunted at him!
And with it smirking at him with its muzzle!
Was that possible?
Just like your mother…
Brazen yet courageous…
Both truly are Ashura's descendants.
Know this. I will be watching you very closely…
To see if you are worthy of such honor!
Uzumaki Naruto.
Even as his vision began to fade, his body went limp, falling into the murky water below. Something within him stirred and whirled.
What did the beast say…
Did it just…
Admit it knew his mother?
But how? How did the fox that the Fourth Hokage know his mother? Why did he know her?
No! This wasn't fair!
Naruto needed to know more!
Everything was so pretty…
It was like a spring garden filled with roses everywhere. A warm, gentle breeze flowed through the garden, scattering the petals around her. Her eyes glistened at the sight…
It was so beautiful!
Then something fluttered gently through her hair as if combing through it. It was a reminiscent feeling…
It felt like a hand patting and calming her…
"Mom?" Ruby's eyes shone, silver wings sparkling in the corners of her eyes, as she turned around to see…
A glowing silver silhouette knelt before her, softly smiling.
"I'm sorry, my little rose…" The silhouette spoke, hand combing through Ruby's hair. "I never thought this would happen or you would awaken to this so soon."
"Mom!" Tears streamed down from Ruby's eyes as she lunged forward, embracing the silver specter. "I miss you! I want you to come home! I…"
"I know, dear…" Summer's silhouette gently soothed her weeping daughter. "But I can no longer keep my promise, Ruby…"
"No!"
"Ruby…" Summer attempted to reach through her wailing daughter, her glistening body beginning to sparkle and scatter into roses. "Listen, my lovely child…"
"I want you back home!" Ruby wept as Summer's glowing form began to softly break free from her grasp and scatter before her very eyes.
"There are some things I cannot accomplish, my little rose." Summer shed a tear as she dissipated before expressing a sad smile. "Ruby, before I go… Our eyes are special. Able to do incredible things… It's how I'm here talking to you one last time in your dreamscape…"
"You wished for it, and so it became a reality." Summer's translucent body slowly faded into more and more roses as Ruby's tears soaked her face.
"I… Wished for it?" Ruby sobbed, watching the vestiges of her mother disappear before her eyes. "I wished… My friend to me… Too?"
"You wished for a friend?" Summer's image faded into roses, her face barely visible, but her voice trembled. "Ruby… Are you hearing… Someone's voice?"
"Yes! My friend! Uzumaki Naruto," Ruby cried, watching her mother disperse into rose petals swirling all around her, falling to her knees as tears streamed down her face. "No… Don't go… Don't leave me again…"
"I'm sorry… Little rose…" Summer's last words whispered in the wind. "I love you… Always… And tell your friend… His mother and I… Are old friends… Been talking to her since your age…"
"Tell him Summer Rose wishes… I could have been there for Kushina."
Lights filled his vision. Terrible beeping followed.
Annoying, constant beeping.
And the smell of a foul, obnoxious odor filled his nostrils! What was this place?
Why was he here instead of his home? Why could he not wake up in his bed for once?
What was this place? What were these weird machines? Were those wires sticking into him?
"Ah! Get out of me? Demon! Foul beast!" Naruto screamed as he yanked on the wires connecting to his arms and violently freaked out before a soft, gentle hand was placed on his shoulder.
"They're not hurting you." Naruto gazed up and saw a white porcelain mask reminiscent of a cat and brown eyes behind that held a gentleness. "They're monitoring your condition and keeping you hydrated. You've been out for some time."
"Nani?" Naruto panicked, still jerking and nearly pulling the wires out at hearing that he had been out for a while before remembering that creature had pounced on him. "Oh, stupid wolf creature pouncing on me while protecting Ruby…"
"Slow down." The purple-haired young lady in a porcelain mask interrupted with a calm, collected voice as she kept Naruto connected to the machines. "Explain what happened. You were summoned to the girl before? And now there were creatures?"
"Yeah!" Naruto rapidly nodded and moved his entire body to narrate his story, making it difficult to keep the medic wires attached. "I heard Ruby crying again. She was sad again as something was wrong with her dad and her sister, and she had a fight and ran away. I was talking to her, and I comforted her! Then these weird creatures called… what'd she call them, Gim? Grin? Something like that! They attacked her, and she tried to run but couldn't get away, and I could hear everything! I just wanted to help her any way I could, and I was suddenly there running away from the creatures with her!"
"Owned by nailing them in the face with rocks!" Naruto embellished the story as he held up his fist victoriously, and the cat-masked teenager rolled her eyes, hearing his tone as she kept his wires attached, able to decipher his embellishment as he blushed a moment later as she flatly stared. "But… They were too much and kept chasing us and caught up. One leapt and would have caught Ruby, and I couldn't let that happen. My body moved, and I pushed her out of the way and let it take me instead."
"Then something cool happened!" Naruto emphatically pumped his fist and pulled the wires free, much to her annoyance, and she smacked the machine as it set off an alarm, not wanting a nurse to come in at the moment. "Her eyes glowed, and this silver light just covered the area, and all the creatures turned to ashes! It was, like, awesome! I want to learn a technique like that! She passed out after it, and more showed up, but a cool dude with a scythe showed up, and I passed out…"
"A dōjutsu?" The woman with purple-haired muttered to herself, frowning under her mask. "An undiscovered one, perhaps. Interesting… Naruto?"
"Then something weird happened as I woke up for the first time…" Naruto hung his head sullenly, remembering what happened. "It was dark and wet. I couldn't see well, and I didn't understand what was leading me, but something kept pulling me to the center of the place where a gate was…"
"A gate?" She was alarmed, her brown eyes shimmering as she feared where the story was heading. "Wait, Naruto, let me get…"
"And I saw the same demon that the Fourth Hokage defeated five years ago." Naruto turned and looked straight into the masked woman's fearful gaze. "I thought the Fourth killed the demon? Maybe he just defeated it, and it ran away. I just ended up in its area by this weird power of mine…"
Unsure of how to tell him or even what to say about meeting the fox, she could only nod. It was true that the Fourth defeated the Nine-Tails and didn't kill it. She couldn't tell him how he conquered it and how he met it was…
"It was weird," Naruto looked down thoughtfully. "I thought he would be scarier, but he didn't seem mean. He even said he knew my mother… And what was happening to me? Something about being As…Asura? I wanted to ask him what was happening, but I suddenly woke up here."
Remaining quiet, the masked teenager stayed still, unmoving. The door suddenly burst open as a nurse came in to check on the situation, finally having recognized the machines were no longer monitoring Naruto's condition. "Oh, he's awake! Hellacious little pest… Allow me…"
"I have everything under control." The cat-masked kunoichi coldly gazed upon the woman, her voice authoritative, and Naruto shivered as he could feel something else underneath her tone. "He has recovered. There are no signs of lingering issues, and all vital signs are nominal. Lord Hokage requested to see him when he awoke, so I will escort him. Take your leave."
The nurse froze momentarily. Then the door slammed, and she was gone faster than Naruto could blink.
What just happened? What did he see?
Why was she so scared? Did the cat mask lady do something? Say something weird? He didn't think so…
"Naruto," Her voice now seemed far more serene, comforting even as she turned her attention back to him, offering her right hand. "Lord Hokage wished to see you when you were awake, so let's be off…"
"I don't want to bother the old man…" Naruto sullenly looked away. "He's already so busy…"
"He's always busy." The young masked teen chuckled, placing her hand on Naruto's shoulder. "But he makes time for everyone, and taking care of their issues is what being Hokage is about. He wants to make sure you're safe and wants to see you. And you can tell him your story yourself, okay? I think he would like to hear it, especially about the part where you saved the girl."
"Really?" Naruto beamed, looking back home and grinning like a fool. "You think he would want to hear it?"
"Of course, he would. Every single word." She smiled under the mask and tilted her head, lacing her words carefully. "He will be especially thrilled to hear how you protected the girl. That's a trait he often looks for in our future shinobi… Ones earmarked for greatness…"
"The signs of someone with Will of Fire burning brightly within them, waiting to be kindled."
Naruto's eyes widened in excitement as he shook giddy! Everything that happened before was dumped out of his head as the last thing said was stuck on repeat.
He was marked for greatness!
"OH YEAH! BELIEVE IT!"
"Ruby!"
Yellow was the first thing she saw.
It smothered her vision. Blurred it. Squeezed her tightly until she was gasping for air…
"I'm so sorry!" She heard Yang's high-pitched voice as it wailed in her ear, shaking her on the lumpy bed that did not feel like hers. "I didn't mean anything I said! I was just mad! I didn't mean to take it out on you… I'm sorry! So sorry!"
"Yang?" Ruby looked at the blonde hair obscuring her vision before her eyes misted, and she embraced her sister. "I love you… Sorry, I ran… I know you are too…"
Yang's cries only echoed louder in her eyes, and her grip tightened. But it didn't bother Ruby in the slightest. Her friend was right. Her sister didn't hate her…
She just needed to get her pain out, just like her.
As her sister's yellow hair started to become less intrusive and she could see past it, Ruby observed the room curiously.
This wasn't their room. Where was this place? This bed was too big. Hard and lumpy.
A grinch had to sleep on it…
And those bottles all over the place were weird. She had seen a few in the house before. Mom, Dad, and Uncle Qrow drank them at special times. But here there were just everywhere…
"Yang," Ruby asked quizzically, scanning the room as she was confused. "Where are we?"
Softly letting go of her sister and sniffling, Yang wiped her eyes until she could see properly. A few more sobs came, and she took a deep breath to settle down. "We're at Uncle Qrow's… He took us to his place."
"Uncle's Qwow's?" Ruby tilted her head, her eyes wide as she looked around and started nodding before frowning. "Where's dad?"
Yang scowled before turning away, but her eyes shimmered as she clutched her chest. "Still at home… But it was scary."
"What?" Ruby frowned, her eyes shimmering. "Why?"
"Uncle Qrow returned with you on his shoulder, madder than I've ever seen him." Yang distantly looked down at the bed, recalling the memory. "He told me to stay beside you and not move as he put you on the couch. I did as he said, scared you were hurt… He went straight into Dad's room and slammed the door… So many crashes. So much yelling. I thought I heard another voice yelling. A woman's… He came out, more upset, picked you up, took my hand, and brought us here."
Gasping, Ruby covered her mouth. It sounded awful. She never heard anything like that before. It didn't sound good what happened. She had listened to some yelling before, mostly from Uncle Qrow when he was drinking his special drink, but it was all in good fun, and he was smiling when he did it…
This didn't sound like that.
Silver eyes glossed over. She hung her head. What was wrong with her dad? Why was Uncle Qrow so mad at him too? Wasn't he sick? Hurting? Shouldn't they be helping him…
Hearing a click, Ruby's head lifted to the door she had noticed and saw it open. And her uncle emerged, his eyes bloodshot, eyelids heavy, and his expression weary as he put on a smile seeing Ruby awake. "Ah, thought it was getting a little loud. How you doing, kiddo?"
Frowning, seeing the sullen reactions as Ruby hung her head and Yang looked away, Qrow exhaled deeply. Running his hand through his hair, he shook his head.
This was going to be a chore… One he had no choice in the matter.
It had been a couple of strange days.
Ever since talking to the old man, Naruto had noticed things had been a lot different.
He was told he would soon join the Ninja Academy, which was exciting! He was one step closer to becoming like his idol! And soon, he would reach that goal! It wouldn't take long now!
But first, he had to keep taking lessons from Mikoto very seriously about taking care of his apartment, and now how to better learn to read and write too? Those were such a drag…
And she was very strict with them. Still nice, but she was very focused and wouldn't let him slack for a moment…
She also had this odd demeanor around him. Like she had this look in her eyes. A sad expression as she looked upon him…
What was she sad about? Why did she seem like she was ready to cry sometimes? Was it something he did? If it were, he would do better…
Also, the silver-haired masked guy and purple-haired lady were showing up at night more often. Taking him out and playing ninja with him when he could find other kids to play with, even though they were too old to play the game…
Other kids wouldn't play with him despite how hard he tried to get involved in their games. Three or four kids would accept him into a game, and that was it. A nice pineapple-haired kid, a big round boy, a girl with blonde hair, and a brown-haired boy with red triangles on his face.
They were cool! He wished he could play with them more often…
Or play with Sasuke, but he was never around the other kids. Maybe he was shy?
But the masked man and lady would play with him and point out specific things he did while playing. Things initially seemed quite annoying, but when he applied them or followed their example…
They really helped! And it made it a lot more fun when he could almost hit them! But they were excellent and kept avoiding him and telling him he was close…
"Naruto…" Mikoto's voice gently brought him back to reality and drew him back to the work before him, making him frown as he looked at the book. "You were lost in thought again. I know paying attention is hard for you, but please focus. Let's start at the top again…"
"Not again…" Naruto rolled his eyes, earning a stern stare from the Uchiha matriarch that made him wince as he looked at the top line and sighed. "Fine…"
As he began to read out loud once more absently, his thoughts drifted again. And worry crept into his mind as ever since all of this happened, it all started with him moving into this place and hearing her crying…
And now he hadn't heard from her in days, and it worried him.
He could only hope that meant Ruby was okay and that Scythe Man had taken care of those monsters.
Naruto really hoped so. He wanted his friend to be safe.
"Naruto." Mikoto, now a little more irritated, pressed the boy. "From the top."
"No! I'm done! No more reading! It boring!"
Mikoto narrowed her eyes, and the room lowered several degrees in temperature.
Naruto shivered as a cold shiver swept down his spine and stared into her eyes, devoid of emotion, before a soft smile crept on her lips.
"Naruto, dear," Was the last thing he wanted to hear from her lips.
He knew he had messed up.
Ruby…
Didn't like it here.
She wanted to be back home.
She wanted to be back home with Dad. To see him being okay. To see him up, out of bed like he used to be. Cooking breakfast. Watering the plants. Going to work. Ready fairy tales for her and Yang before bedtime…
Ruby loved her Uncle…
But this wasn't home. This place didn't feel right. Nothing felt okay. It felt wrong. Quiet.
Yang wasn't speaking much. She talked to her and would talk to her uncle. There just wasn't much to say.
Ruby was sure she didn't want to be here either. She wanted to be home too.
Or…
She wanted to be somewhere that didn't feel so empty.
Uncle Qrow was gone most of the day, and they didn't know what to do in this place, so she and Yang didn't do much. Going outside was scary as they were in Vale and didn't know any places nearby. If there was a park to play in or anything. Or if they needed supervision…
Things they didn't need at home…
She just wanted to be somewhere…
Doing something. Anything.
Her eyes opened wide as a thought came to her.
Ruby had forgotten her friend! What had happened to her friend?
Naruto had saved her from the Grimm, and then everything went blank. She hadn't asked anything about it to her uncle…
She was too afraid to after hearing what happened from Yang. She was sure if she was okay, so was he, but with what happened…
Now she just wanted to know if he was okay. To see if he was okay…
"I wish…" Ruby absently kicked the air while sitting on the couch, gently bringing her fingers to her eyes and rubbing them. "I knew if Naruto was okay… I wouldn't want my friend to be hurt because of me…"
"I want to see him again…" Sighing as she held her head down, closing her eyes, knowing that wouldn't happen, Ruby brought her hands to her knees.
What was she going to do for the rest of the day? Both she and her sister were getting so bored…
"Yo, Ruby!" Ruby heard her sister's voice from Qrow's room and the door opening. "I think I found something! Might not last long, but I found a recorder so we can make vid… Ruby!"
"Make what?" Ruby opened her eyes, not realizing they were sparkling and glazed in a silver glow. "Yang? What's wrong?"
"Ruby! You… You…" Yang stumbled backward, falling onto her rump as a terrified expression filled her. "You are glowing! What is happening? This is different from the service!"
"I'm glowing?" Ruby looked down and saw her entire body glittering in an ethereal silver glow and starting to disappear, similarly to her mothers in her dream. "Oh! My wish came true!"
"You're what?" Yang screamed in horror, not understanding anything she saw, trying to scramble and crawl to her feet, seeing her sister dispersed before her eyes. "No, no, no! I can't lose you too! This isn't happening!"
"I'll be back!" Ruby waved as a silver light began to fill the room and smiled. "My friend came like this and went back home, so I'll come back home shortly too! Bye, Yang!"
"WHAT?!" Yang screams echoed throughout Qrow's apartment as a silver light flashed through the windows, blinding her.
With a single step forward, her hair softly fluttering, Ruby looked ahead and saw a strange kitchen she had never seen before. *
Her eyes opened wide in vivid amazement.
Was this Naruto's house? Had she come to his place like he had come to hers the first time?
So many things she recognized and things she didn't! This place was neat! And this was all his?
Must be lonely…
"Ah, my eyes are burning from that!" She heard his voice and excitedly turned around to see who she had come to visit. "Ruby? What are you doing here? How?"
He was there! Naruto was okay! Her friend was okay!
"Naruto!" Ruby's eyes shone with wings slowly fading from the corner of her eyes as she leaped over and hugged him. "I was worried you were hurt! So I wished to see you again, and now I'm here!"
"Wait, is that how this works?" Naruto blinked in confusion. "Well, I did want to help you no matter what…"
Before he could finish his words, his front door was snapped open. Naruto and Ruby's attention was snapped to the intruder to see Mikoto standing in the doorway, quickly sliding something behind her back, her eyes wide at the scene before her.
"It can't be…" Mikoto looked confused at the young girl, petrified. "She's here…"
"Hi! I'm Ruby Rose!" Ruby greeted the lady at the door with a bright living smile before she turned back to Naruto. "Oh, oh! I remember something else! Gotta share! I got to talk to my mom!"
"What?" Naruto flinched in surprise upon hearing that statement and looked shocked. "How? Didn't she…"
"I wished to talk to her again, and my eyes allowed it to happen!" Ruby gleamed, babbling as energy surged, making her seem like a hyper child. "And guess what! My mom said she knew yours! That they talked since they were our age!"
"Summer…" Mikoto whispered gently, her eyes misty before she closed them and looked away. "So she wasn't crazy all those times saying she was talking to someone…"
"That's my mom's name!" Ruby turned to the strange woman before curiously tilting her head at her. "How did you know her name?"
"My… Most trusted friend always talked about her." Mikoto grinned, opening her eyes as she held back a smirk and tears while looking down at the young child. "Tell me, child? Did Summer give a name to Naruto's mother by chance?"
"Oh!" Ruby turned back to Naruto, silver eyes open wide. "Yes! Um, Kushina! And that she wished that… Wait…"
"If I can wish myself here…" Ruby pondered, lowering her head at her mother's last statement, frowning as it didn't make any sense.
If she and Naruto could transport to one another, would that mean their mothers would be able to do the same?
"My…" Naruto trembled, hearing his mother's name for the first time, looking at Ruby and then strangely at Mikoto, who only nodded. "Was Kushina?"
"Indeed it was." Mikoto knelt before Naruto, combing her hand through his sharp and spiky hair and expressing a comforting smile while Ruby looked on timidly. "She was a strong, passionate woman filled with a conviction like I have never seen before. And a temper, oh, that fiery temper… And you are already so much like her, Naruto. That's why I said I've always known you, and I hope you continue to stay that way. I can think of no higher compliment for my best friend than to say her son turned out just like her."
Tears streamed down his cheeks. Sobs wracked his body. Hearing those words…
Finally getting confirmation about his mother. Knowing her name. After what the beat had said…
At least now…
Feeling a tight hug from the side as he tried to wipe his tears away, he looked to see Ruby, tears built in her eyes. "It's okay to be sad? Remember… I miss my mom too… At least we cry together this time."
Smiling in his tears, seeing the girl crying alongside him, Naruto held his head a little higher. "Yeah, you're right. It might be sad now…"
"But they're still with us." Ruby smiled through the tears and tried to laugh.
"Yes, they are…" Mikoto whispered, closing her eyes before taking a deep breath. "Hey, there's an ice cream parlor nearby. Shall we get some ice cream quickly? I don't know if Ruby has much time if your adventures have anything to go by?"
"Oh, right!" Naruto's eyes widened, still filled with tears realizing his friend was still there. "I, uh…"
"I'll cover it, don't worry." Mikoto laughed, ruffling the boy's hair and standing. "Let's go quickly now!"
"Yes!" Both responded, trying to wipe their tears, ignoring the silver glow of her eyes and the golden gleam coming from his right hand.
Mikoto had noted it, but with a simple swirl of her crimson eyes, it wouldn't be noticeable to anyone else.
At least until Ruby disappeared.
Mikoto smirked.
She'd willingly take the heat for that.
* - So this is my little inside joke I'm gonna let you in on, but early I like to think that what's allowing Naruto and Ruby to pass through worlds is being far more rough with Naruto than Ruby. With Ruby it's like picking her up like she is a delicate flower and placing her in a vase. Then patting her on the head and giving her a kiss. For Naruto…
It's planting him on a catapult and Naruto's turning to him going "Is this safe?" and he's shrugging and hitting the switch, firing him off into the distance going, "Let's find out!"