Drip-drop.
Drip-drop.
In the dark cave, the only sound that could be heard was the constant dripping of water, echoing from a mysterious source in the distance. To the unaided eye, there appeared to be nothing to observe or appreciate besides the thick and still darkness. Black surrounded everything, engulfing the surroundings. Amidst the darkness, a solitary orb of crimson emanated a flickering and broken glow as it scrutinized the night.
"Obito, you should stop worrying about it now," a menacing voice, enveloped in the wicked aura of deceit and slyness, echoed through the dimly lit chamber, as the glow of the red eye faded into the shadows.
"I'm not worried, Zetsu," the owner of the eye finally spoke, his voice filled with pure malice and a hint of annoyance. "I'm just thinking about the ways I can take down that blue-haired apostate," Obito whispered, vividly remembering the words of that accursed woman. They were bitterly annoying, and he would even go so far as to dub them disastrous for their plan.
'I don't mourn the deaths of my friends. To me, both of them departed with heroic deaths, and that is ultimately what matters. We are shinobis, Madara, and we are destined to die in one way or another. If I cannot endure the passing of others, then I have no right to claim the title of a Shinobi.'
His lone red eye snapped open once more as a surge of chakra erupted from his body, leaving behind a wake of searing devastation. "She has ruined our plans; her only punishment is death." Clenching his hand, he picked up the mask from the rock beside him and positioned it on his face.
"Why didn't you kill her that day? It would have been effortless," Zetsu inquired with amusement, his white side gleaming, as a flicker of distress crossed their companion's face. The boy appeared troubled, and it was evident that something unusual was occupying his thoughts.
"I..." he trailed off, momentarily speechless. Why hadn't he killed her? Was it because she was useless to their plan, or because of her audacious statements? He didn't know because, at that moment, he decided to let her live and suffer in this cursed world. "I will not kill her," he whispered. Suddenly, his head snapped towards the shadowy corner of the room. There, he saw the motionless form of Sasuke Uchiha lying lifeless on the ground. "He will." The red eye began spinning ominously.
He was the ultimate puppet for the impending war. This boy would give them everything they desired. Power, support, and above all, the Rinnegan - he was willing to dedicate himself to these causes for as long as necessary. And when the time comes, he, like all others, would gladly be sacrificed to pave the way for a new world. A world where he could finally see her alive, smiling, and dancing in the endless green meadows.
Zetsu smirked. "Do you really think he can do that?" he asked, hoping for a plausible explanation from his ally. "His body is rejecting the Mokuton," he exclaimed, but his words fell on deaf ears as they failed to impact the man in front of him. Yet, to him, they remained undeniably significant. There was no denying it; Sasuke was indeed the vessel of Indra Ōtsutsuki this time. The pungent chakra was unmistakable, but why then was he rejecting the Mokuton? As far as he knew, Indra and his chakra would seize any opportunity to secure victory over his brother. So, his rejection of Mokuton was a little strange.
"I don't care as long as we obtain the Rinnegan. That's all that matters to me," Obito whispered, his wandering eye stealing yet another glance at the boy. "Do we still have Itachi's eyes?" This question prompted Zetsu to vanish into the ground, only to reappear moments later holding a peculiar glass object. The transparent box was filled with green liquid, and in the center of the eerie fluid lay two powerful eyes.
"Sasuke is fully prepared for the transplant procedure. I have successfully removed his Rinnegan, and now he can undoubtedly receive his brother's eyes." Playfully toying with the container in his hand, White Zetsu chuckled at the Uchiha.
Obito gazed at the eyes for a moment before nodding decisively. "Start the procedure immediately. I have waited for far too long," he stated firmly, leaving no room for doubt.
From the moment Obito learned of Nagato's death and the disappearance of the Rinnegan, he realized their plan had been severely hindered and would be postponed indefinitely. Due to the incompetent actions of that self-proclaimed God, everything had to come to a halt, from the mission to send Sasuke to capture the Hachibi, to the preparations for Kisame's role. Every hope he had was lost. He watched as his dream was shattered right before his eyes, all because of someone else's incompetence.
But then, Zetsu told him something very intriguing.
This stupid boy carried the same chakra as his mentor, a potent and powerful chakra capable of attaining the ultimate power of Rikudō Sennin with the assistance of Hashirama's cells. After conducting numerous experiments, they have finally achieved their goal: a new pair of Rinnegan. With the power of these eyes in their hands, they could finally achieve their ultimate goal of changing the world.
"Zetsu," the strange plant man, abruptly halted his stride. Tell him that he can only kill Danzō after capturing the Hachibi and killing Konan. This will be the ultimate test of his abilities." With that command, Obito vanished into the vortex of his eye.
"Of course, fool" Zetsu smirked. "The Uchihas are just so gullible," he chuckled sinisterly, reminiscing about the occasions he had successfully deceived Indra and his foolish successors. No matter how intelligent they believed themselves to be, their emotions obstructed their ability to discern his deceitful and manipulative nature.
"Curse of hatred? Ha!" Zetsu chuckled with amusement. "This apparent curse is nothing more than a ridiculous excuse to partake in absurd behavior without consequences," his laughter echoed throughout the room once again.
-oOo-
"Taju Kage Bunshin No Jutsu!"
A sense of enthusiasm filled him as his eyes swept across the vast grassland, teeming with his mirror images. He had spent the entire night pondering what to study and ultimately arrived at a straightforward solution. "Suiton!" It was the only nature of chakra that could halt the scorching flames of Uchiha. His confrontation with Sasuke was inevitable; he knew that. They were destined to confront each other in a fight of life and death, so having a counterattack for his troublesome fire jutsu would be essential.
"Alright boys, it's time for training, let's get to it."
"We're on it, boss!"
Excitement flickered in his eyes as the clones eagerly sprinted towards the nearby water source, a shimmering pond nestled among a dense thicket of trees and bushes. "Do your best!" He giggled to himself, then shouted at the clones. It had been a long time since he had felt this way. The thrill of learning something new on his own had long been forgotten, but now it had returned, and he couldn't help but acknowledge that this was what made him Naruto Uzumaki. The boy who had the ability to accomplish the unimaginable on his own.
He didn't require the presence of others in his life as long as he was bestowed with the blessings of his loved ones. With them with himself, he would grow into a force to be reckoned with for the sake of the people who had sacrificed their lives for him.
'When a person has something important that they want to protect, that's when they can truly become strong.'
Blue eyes glistened with a newfound determination. "I have countless promises to keep, and I'll not die until I fulfill them all," he declared. Carefully unbuttoning his vibrant orange and black jacket, he gently laid it on the ground.
'Ram-Cross.'
Forming the famous ram-cross seal, he grinned when bright bursts of smoke lit up the area. "Alright!" he exclaimed, taking the starting position for the renowned Frog Kata as his blue eyes turned gold. "You three!" He pointed at the three clones who were engrossed in conversation, discussing something dreadful, likely a spooky tale. "Head to that secret area and gather information about the natural energy presence there." His clones promptly obeyed the command and disappeared in a flash of orange and black.
His eyes shifted back to the rest of the clones, grinning at him eagerly, awaiting their opportunity to lay their hands on him.
"Attack!" Startled, without any warning, they all rushed towards Naruto, who was taken aback as he realized he had enhanced this group of clones with sage chakra. This left him stunned, unable to react in time.
"You moron!" The first punch landed on the gut of the boy.
"Why did you stop training?!" The blow landed on his jaw as the clone shouted out his frustration at him.
"We are Naruto Uzumaki, and we never stop training, you know." The powerful blow from the third opponent caused him to struggle for breath, feeling his ribs ache.
"Deaths happen, but that doesn't mean we should stop doing the things that keep us alive." The fourth was rather gentle compared to the previous ones, only brushing off his back and leaving a few minor scratches.
"Now look at you, being blasted away by his own shadow clones." The fifth's punch was the most powerful, and it was enough to send Naruto flying to the ground.
Naruto had no idea what had just transpired. It was all a blur of agony and confusion for him. The only sensation he could feel was excruciating pain - a pain beyond imagination. "Oh," he groaned, struggling to open his mouth, but his efforts proved futile in this predicament. He didn't know clones could be dangerous, but he had noticed how different they were from him and from each other. "Bashtwards," he mumbled through a swollen lip with his mouth partially closed.
"What's the matter, boss? Are you already getting old?" The clone couldn't complete his insult as a ferocious punch, brimming with untamed rage, connected with his cheek, dissipating him into a cloud of smoke.
The other clones immediately straightened up as a highly enthusiastic Naruto emerged from the haze. The sinister grin on his face was truly frightening. "Let's fight," his words were enough to send shivers down the clones' spines, as they trembled in fear.
"I am not old," he declared to the first clone as it dissipated into a whirlwind of air and smoke.
"I can still fight," the second was fortunate enough to evade the initial attack but was then pushed into the path of the natural energy. Needless to say, he couldn't even handle the touch of the invisible force.
The remaining clones, who were watching the brutal beat down of their kin, shivered, their fear palpable on their sweaty faces. The sight before them was a powerful display of their boss's true capabilities when pushed to his limits. He was undeniably merciless when he needed to be.
The third clone took a step back as his boss's electric golden eyes landed on him. It was his turn next. "I will surpass that pervert," and the clone was not mistaken. With incredible speed, Naruto flickered in front of him and unleashed a barrage of unforgiving, powerful punches.
The other two duplicates were so terrified that they resorted to punching themselves, desperately hoping that one would miraculously disappear or vice versa. "Punch harder!" One clone bellowed at his doppelgänger.
"I'm try-" his words were drowned out by the dense haze of smoke.
Umm," the last remaining one gulped, scanning his surroundings nervously, aware of the imminent end. He wasn't surprised when a grinning Naruto appeared from the smoke and placed his hand on his cheek, albeit a little too forcefully.
Naruto pouted. "Dammit, those bastards. They could have hit me more gently, hmph," his eyes scurried away from the remnants of destruction he had caused and began to analyze the other clones who were desperately attempting to walk on water as fast as possible. He still marveled at how such a simple jutsu like Kage Bunshin could yield such remarkable outcomes.
It was a multipurpose jutsu, one which he could utilize to learn amazing things in a matter of minutes and also could be used to hide his insecurities. "Loneliness," he whispered, looking down at the ground. It was a very familiar word for him. He had known its meaning for years now and there was no denying that it was an agonizing emotion. "It hurts the most," he reflected with a heavy heart.
"Oww," his train of thoughts was interrupted by a sudden rush of memories that invaded his mind. The memories were nothing significant, just a few faint illustrations of his clones' first attempt at water walking exercise. "The clones are performing well," he smiled.
As he glanced up at the sky with squinted eyes, he noticed that the sun was already in the middle, indicating that it was already past noon. "Hmm, I have to arrange my house too" his words suddenly reminded him of something he had forgotten amidst the training. "Damn! I need to help the girls as well." With determination, he swiftly turned and made his way towards the beautiful place that was now his home. A place he would defend with all his strength and willpower.
'This time, I will not fail.'
-oOo-
Naruto was left in awe at the mesmerizing sight before him. He could hardly believe his own eyes as numerous objects effortlessly floated through the air, as light as a speck of dust or a feather. He couldn't understand how it was possible without the Rinnegan. It was surreal to see that the person behind this was none other than his companion, Rias. Just like the objects, the girl in question was also soaring high in the air with the help of her beautiful wings.
"Amazing," he uttered a single yet powerful word, to convey his awe at the impressive display of skill. There was absolutely no one, and he meant absolutely no one, who could do what the girl in front of him was doing at this very moment with such effortless grace.
Rias blinked in surprise upon hearing Naruto's voice. She quickly dispelled the magical seal and turned to meet his gaze, only to be captivated by what she saw in his eyes. Admiration and amazement, two emotions she had seldom seen combined in someone's gaze before. The male demons often gazed at her with desire, while the female ones were envious of her beauty. The select few humans who had witnessed her true form were primarily filled with desire, while others remained uncertain. So, it was refreshing to see someone who hardly feared her magic and actually admired it without any hint of perversion. "Did you like it?" she asked, hovering in midair with her wings, savoring the incredible feeling for a few more moments.
"Of course!" came the stunned reply from Naruto. "Flying is so much fun, you know." In an instant, the admiration evaporated and jealousy, accompanied by a subtle pout, took over.
The devil girl giggled mischievously. "Oh, come on, please don't be so sad," she said sympathetically as she gracefully descended from the sky and landed beside the boy. "Here" she held out her hands. "Hold me, I will let you ride me," she may have spoken carelessly, but as the true meaning of her words finally dawned on her, her face immediately flushed with embarrassment. Embarrassment or excitement? She wasn't sure.
Although Naruto sensed the internal struggle the girl was facing, he remained composed and reached out to hold her hands. They were cold for some reason, but it didn't bother him. In just a few minutes, he was about to have the experience of a lifetime. "Rias," he whispered to the girl who appeared lost in her own thoughts.
"Huh?!" His words startled her back to reality. "What do you-" she was cut off again when she realized that her hands were now held by the boy. 'Ride me...' precarious thoughts besieged her mind once more, but this time, they had little to no effect on her. Instead, an exciting idea sprang into her mind. "Pick me up," she whispered, smiling innocently at the bewildered boy. She had witnessed Akeno laughing and reveling in his embrace, so by their rules, it was now her turn, and she would ensure that she savored every moment of it.
"Arms?"
"No," she wanted something different. "Behind," and there was no place better than his back where she could reveal her devilish features to him.
"Huh?"
Leaping relentlessly for a few seconds, she eventually positioned herself on his back, eliciting a slight groan in the process. "I cannot carry you, so you must cling onto me," she instructed. With a single utterance, a pair of elegant, obsidian wings burst forth from her back, and in a mere instant, they soared into the boundless blue skies above.
Naruto remained silent for a while at the beginning, completely absorbed by the captivating view before him. Everything appeared small and beautiful. The mountains, rivers, and trees below all resembled a piece of a magnificent painting, whose creator remained unknown. "Whoa," he gasped as they took a sharp turn to the right, narrowly avoiding the flocks of birds swirling through the sky in a riot of colors. The surreal experience only fueled his determination to delve deeper into mastering the powers of the Rinnegan.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Rias whispered in a gentle tone, savoring the frequent changes of his expression.
He glanced over his shoulder and nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely! I have always wanted to fly high in the sky!"
Her grip tightened around his body, but the boy was too preoccupied to notice. In that fleeting moment, all she could manage was a soft, breathless "Ohh". She couldn't help but notice that something strange was happening to her. His captivating smile, joyful attitude, and bright blonde hair dancing in the wind were beginning to have an unfamiliar effect on her. They were stirring up an emotion that she had vowed to conceal from the world. Attraction, whether she liked it or not, she was finding herself increasingly intrigued by a human. "No!" she told herself. There was no way she could be entertaining such thoughts about a human like him.
"Can you take me to Akeno?" His words snapped her out of the trance.
Just like that, the moment shattered. She averted her gaze from him, taking a moment to calm her wild mind and heart. "Sure," she answered, promptly flapping her wings to execute a sharp dive toward the ground. During the descent, her hands unconsciously tightened their grip on him as if she were unwilling to let him go.
-oOo-
"Thank you, Rias," said Naruto as they landed in front of Akeno's shrine. "You have been a great help."
"No problem, Naruto," Rias said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes, something that Naruto noticed instantly.
"Hey Rias, is everything alright?" Naruto asked with a concerned tone. He had noticed that during the descent, Rias held him tighter than she had during the flight.
"No, no! Absolutely nothing!" Rias exclaimed, her response escaping a little too hastily as she vigorously shook her head. Revealing her inner struggle to Naruto was out of the question. She was determined to face this challenge on her own. "I just suddenly remember that I need to complete some unfinished cleaning tasks."
Naruto instantly knew that she was lying. The slight twitching of the skin beneath her eyelids and the subtle curling of her fingers may have gone unnoticed by a casual observer, but not by Naruto, an adept ninja. However, he realized that she did not want to talk about the matter, so he decided not to trouble his new acquaintance. "Oh, I apologize! I won't take up any more of your afternoon," Naruto said, flashing Rias a charming grin as he tilted his head, bearing a striking resemblance to a fox with his eyes closed.
Rias felt her face flush as she caught sight of Naruto's adorable expression. She silently thanked her lucky stars that Naruto had his eyes closed, preventing him from seeing her blushing cheeks. The feelings she experienced during the flight came rushing back, compelling her to step forward and embrace him. With considerable effort, she pushed back her feelings and managed to speak in her normal tone of voice, suppressing the joyful squeal she desperately wanted to release. "I'll see you later, then!" Rias waved goodbye to Naruto as his eyelids opened, and she quickly spread her wings, taking off into the sky with a graceful leap.
Naruto watched her depart, a small smile playing on his lips. He couldn't help but notice how Rias blushed when he flashed his trademark "foxy grin". Deep down, he felt a sense of pride in the fact that even the most skilled pervert couldn't make a woman blush like he could. It appeared that he was already surpassing him. Realizing that he could not afford to waste any more time, he quickly turned around and came to a halt in front of the shrine.
The shrine was nothing out of the ordinary; it resembled Naka Shrine back in Konoha. Naruto noticed only two distinct features as he approached: the pair of Sakura trees gracefully adorning each side of the archway, and the elegant fence gracefully encasing the shrine. The staircase looked cleaner and shorter, and the stone sculptures had more defined features compared to those outside the Naka Shrine. Although Naruto had seen several similar buildings before, there was something about this one that made him come to a halt and marvel at the sight.
"Oh, Naruto!" A female voice jolted him back to reality. He turned his gaze towards the shrine's entrance, where Akeno stood donning a pristine white Miko attire adorned with delicate red lace. She was holding a broom and appeared to be sweeping the floor, but her red dress showed no signs of dirt or dust. "How are you today?"
"Nothing much, just trying to learn something new. And you?" Naruto replied with a small smile as he ascended the stairs leading up to the shrine.
"I feel much better now that you're here," Akeno chirped joyfully, setting her broom aside and stepping aside slightly to make way for Naruto. "How about I give you a tour of this place?"
"Huh?! That sounds... fantastic!" Naruto exclaimed, giving her the same charming smile he had flashed at Rias. "I must confess, the outfit really suits you. It enhances your beauty even more than before," he complimented, gazing at the attire with great interest. There was something troubling his mind because all he could think about at that moment was her wearing that outfit loosely on her figure.
Akeno's blushing was much more noticeable than Rias's. She raised a sleeve to conceal her flushed face and playfully exclaimed, "Oh my, Naruto-san. Are you flirting with little ol' me?" Only the closed eyelids of her face were visible, but they seemed to crease with delight, mirroring Kakashi's signature smile.
"Uh, NO, NO, NO!" Naruto hastily exclaimed, waving his hands around frantically. "I was just trying to give you a compliment, that's all! I wasn't making any advances!"
Akeno felt a momentary pang of disappointment hearing her handsome dismiss her intentions, but quickly pushed those emotions aside. She lowered her sleeve, revealing the smile on her face as she said, "Well, well, no need to be so flustered. Please, come in and let me give you that tour." With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, she giggled and motioned for Naruto to follow with a playful smirk on her lips.
Naruto determinedly ignored the giggling girl beside him. 'Giggling should be outlawed!' he thought furiously to himself with a mental huff. However, his petulant thoughts were soon forgotten as Akeno led him inside the shrine.
The interior of the shrine presented a stunning and well-organized courtyard, with neatly lined small bushes along the path and patches of vibrant, green grass situated behind them. The courtyard was divided into four distinct sections, each one separated by a path, including the main entrance, which formed a cross shape. In the center of each section, there stood a magnificent tree bearing luscious fruit. Peaches adorned the top left, apples graced the top right, oranges adorned the bottom left, and plums decorated the bottom right. At the convergence of the four paths, a solitary, medium-sized fountain gushed forth with impeccably clear water. Joyful chirping could also be heard coming from the fountain, which seemed to serve as a birdbath as well. Upon closer inspection, one could observe a few glowing runes along the base of the fountain, which controlled the water and the circulation.
Akeno then guided Naruto through the various rooms, from the dining room to the library and the bedrooms. However, she made a special point of emphasizing her own bedroom and repeatedly gave Naruto suggestive looks, which he pointedly ignored.
"Wow," Naruto breathed in amazement as they returned to the courtyard and settled on a bench. He reclined, allowing himself to relax as he listened to the melodious chirping of the birds and observed several of them gracefully gliding in and out of the gushing fountain. "Did you create all of this by yourself?"
"Of course not!" Akeno answered with an amused smile on her face. "I found all of this already here; I just tidied everything up."
"Even so, this is truly amazing!" Naruto exclaimed, sitting up and gesturing toward the courtyard and the scenery. Suddenly, a small red bird flew by and landed on Naruto's outstretched hand, causing him to freeze and slowly pull back his arm.
'What an adorable little creature,' Naruto thought to himself as he tenderly caressed the bird, enjoying the gentle nuzzling of its petite head against his hand. He grew contemplative as he started thinking 'This... This is what Jiraiya wanted,' he thought as he continued to stroke the bird's head. 'A world of peace and tranquility. A place where harmony reigns and all can live without fear.'
Akeno noticed Naruto falling silent and turned her head to ask what was wrong, but decided against it when she saw the pure smile on his face. To her, that smile was something she felt she could gaze upon for eternity. It wasn't like the artificial smiles she wore as a façade, a mere disguise. This smile was genuine, a reflection of his pure bliss. Her heart began to race as she gazed at him, wanting to witness his smile more frequently. Her gaze drifted from his visage to the delicate crimson bird perched on his lap.
'Red,' Her thoughts took a downturn as she gazed upon the chirping bird. She knew that Rias also desired her handsome, and the thought of him leaving her was utterly terrifying. Would she once again be overshadowed? Would she be the second choice? Would he abandon her, just like her despicable father did?
Her somber thoughts were interrupted by a comical outburst of anger that shattered the peaceful atmosphere. When she glanced at Naruto, she burst into a fit of laughter.
There was a patch of bird droppings on Naruto's golden hair.
Naruto was livid. He was having a great time when, out of nowhere, a member of the bird's family decided that it was the perfect moment to answer nature's call right above him. However, his anger quickly faded away as he heard the joyful laughter of Akeno. Never before had he experienced such a delightful sound. In that very moment, he resolved to do whatever it took to make Akeno laugh more, eager to revel in the sheer beauty of her angelic laughter.
"Um, Akeno?" Naruto asked, feeling a bit awkward after the laughter subsided. "Is there a place where I can wash this off?"
"Of course," Akeno said, giggling from time to time. "Follow me."
-oOo-
Naruto sat in a small garden next to the library, focusing his chakra as he skillfully carved into a stone. Beside him lay two other blank stones and a stack of processed and painted wood, all ready to be assembled. Akeno had led him to her personal bathroom, which made him feel rather uncomfortable. Her suggestive actions and teasing tone of voice only made things worse.
"What are you up to, Naruto?" The woman that Naruto had been thinking about spoke from behind him.
Naruto halted his carving, gazing back to find Akeno wearing the same attire as earlier today. With a hint of sorrow in his voice, Naruto explained, "I am constructing a memorial for the people who were dearest to my heart." He motioned towards the pile, his expression reflecting melancholy. "Forgive me, I should have asked for your permission before arriving here."
"Oh, it's not a problem at all!" Akeno said, dismissing Naruto's concern. "You are welcome to visit here anytime!" She glanced at the stack of wood. "Would you like some assistance in assembling it?"
"That would be wonderful! Thank you," Naruto exclaimed, overwhelmed with gratitude for the generous offer of assistance. With his limited knowledge of crafting memorials, he felt anxious about the possibility of making a mistake that could diminish the significance of the tribute.
Naruto and Akeno worked in a peaceful silence, diligently constructing the memorials based on a sketch that Naruto had meticulously designed during the previous nights. After a few hours, the sky started to turn orange as the sun began to sink lower.
Standing up, Naruto walked over to the base of the sakura tree and placed the final memorial there. As he turned around, Akeno spoke up from behind him. "I'll leave you alone now, Naruto. Thank you for letting me help you."
"No, no. I should be the one thanking you," Naruto said, turning around to face her. "However, if it's not too much trouble, do you happen to have any incense sticks nearby?"
"Of course, silly! This is a shrine, in case you didn't notice," Akeno giggled into her sleeve as Naruto let out a small groan at the realization. "I'll go get some for you."
As Akeno departed, Naruto shifted his gaze towards the memorials, his voice filled with solemnity. "Hey Baa-chan, Ero-sennin and Hinata. It's been quite a while since our last conversation, hasn't it? I apologize for not talking earlier, but things kept getting the way." He wondered. Anyway, now that I am here, I want to express..." As he continued to speak, tears welled up in his eyes and cascaded down his cheeks, gradually soaking the vibrant, verdant grass below.
"Can you believe it? Those two girls, Rias and Akeno, claim to be devils! Devils of all things! And here I was, thinking that such creatures were mere legends and figments of imagination," Naruto chuckled, a tiny glimmer of amusement appearing on his tear-streaked face. "You would love to see them, Ero-sennin. They both have the biggest boobs I've ever seen, big enough to give baa-chan a run for her money, I think." His lips quirked up in a small smile. "You would probably faint and die of blood loss if you ever saw them."
Engrossed in conversation, he didn't even realize it was nighttime until the fireflies started flying up from the grass.
Gazing up at the moonlit sky, his heart sank, and his frame began to shake slightly as his emotions threatened to consume him once more. "I apologize... I'm sorry that I couldn't be there to protect all of you... Sorry that I couldn't fulfill my promise to you, baa-chan... That I couldn't reciprocate your love, Hinata..."
He couldn't hold back his trembling sobs as he whispered, "I swear, ero-sennin. I vow with all my heart and soul to make your dream come true. I will bring peace to this world and carry on your legacy!" With unwavering resolve burning in his eyes, he raised his right hand towards the heavens and let his voice unleash, intensifying into a resounding roar. "I will succeed, or I will die trying! I will not fail you again!"
Hearing two sniffles from behind him, he tensed and whipped his body around and saw both Rias and Akeno standing there with tears in their eyes. Overwhelmed by a sudden wave of embarrassment, he realized that those two must have heard at least half of, if not all of his speech.
Although he knew deep down that the girls wouldn't think any less of him for this, a nagging doubt in his mind whispered that they might abandon him in the aftermath. That they would turn their backs on him and leave him alone again.
Akeno, fully aware of Naruto's apprehensions, spoke in a sincere tone without any trace of her usual teasing playfulness. Losing family and friends is never easy. We don't think any less of you for expressing your emotions." Embracing him, she was inwardly glad that Naruto didn't pull away. "Just know that if you ever need someone to talk to, my doors are always open." She gently let go of him from the hug and offered him a smile, tinged with sadness, yet providing comfort.
Moving forward, Rias followed Akeno's lead and addressed Naruto with kindness. "Akeno is absolutely correct. We will never see you as weak just because you express your sorrow over losing loved ones. Although I haven't personally gone through such a loss, I promise to give you my unwavering support, Naruto."
As she released the blonde, a gust of wind swept through, scattering sakura petals from the tree. The petals swirled in the wind, some gently landing on the trio, others floating into the pond near the memorial, and a few gracefully adorning the memorial and the grass.
Naruto felt a powerful wave of emotions consuming him. Here were two girls that he had barely known for a month, yet they were both so willing to help him in his time of despair. He couldn't help but deeply admire the scene before him: the two beautiful girls illuminated by the fireflies, bathed in the moonlight from the clear sky, with cherry blossom petals dancing around them. It was truly a scene he longed to remain in forever. His heart swelled with an unexplainable emotion as he nodded with gratitude, speechless.
Sensing Naruto's mood, Rias and Akeno, both handed him a small packet of incense sticks and gave him one final reassuring smile as they turned around, leaving Naruto alone in the garden.
His voice dropped to a whisper again as they walked away. "How will I succeed without your wisdom here to guide me, baa-chan?" He lit the incense sticks with a spark of chakra and placed three in each of the three small pots on the memorials. "I wish there was someone as wise as you here to guide me," he muttered, offering a small prayer as he turned around and started walking away, uncertain about what the future would bring.
If he had stayed just a moment longer, he would have witnessed a subtle glimmer of light illuminating the memorials. Not only that, but he would have noticed how the light quickly ascended into the sky, only to vanish with a gentle burst.
-END-
I hope you liked the chapter.
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Stay safe.
See ya!