-ooOoo-
"Ummm baa-chan!"
"Hmm?"
"Why did you give me this necklace?"
"You don't like it? Then, should I take it back?"
"No! No! No! No!"
"Then why are you asking me these silly questions today?"
"It-It is just that I don't get presents like this very often, you know"
A smile blossomed on that beautiful face. "Ahh... so that's what the real issue is huh, Naruto?"
"Y-yes"
"Then you have to get used to it, Naruto."
"Why?"
"Because I'm going to shower you with gifts once you take this seat of Hokage from me!"
"Really?"
"Believe it!"
"I see...".
He finally smiled.
-x-
Blood.
An inconceivable amount of blood.
Red was everywhere. Everything his eyes beheld was engulfed in the vibrant hue of crimson.
The soil of his cherished village oozed with a detestable red liquid of death, while the skies above were shrouded in a somber sea of dark clouds.
Everywhere he looked, he found only the chilling silence of death and an aura of sorrow and resentment. It was all his fault. He was the catalyst behind it all. That man with those nefarious eyes was after him. That heinous organization wanted him. Then why do these people have to suffer? Just why?
"Baa-chan" fresh tears fell to the ground, tainting the already red soil. "Why?" His fingers tenderly embraced her cold hand. "Why did I have to be so late?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why couldn't Nagato complete his technique?" He spoke with a hint of frustration, his fingers gripping her palm tightly, desperately searching for any remaining trace of life. "Why did he run out of chakra?" Blue eyes became lost in the depths of a dull, brown ocean. "Why did you have to be the one left behind?" He stared at the lifeless and weathered face of the elderly woman. A torrent of bittersweet memories flooded his shattered mind.
-x-
"I'm sorry, Naruto".
"Sorry won't bring him back!"
"I-I know".
"If Ero Sennin was the Hokage, he would have never sent you to that mission".
-x-
"I'm sorry."
He wanted to die. There was nothing left for him in this world now. Every person who cared for him was dead. The old man, Iruka-sensei, Ero Sennin, and now his precious Baa-chan.
She lay there, resting peacefully in his blood-covered arms, lifeless and silent. Her entire body was covered in bruises and a thick layer of blood; however, her beautiful face still adorned that damn warm smile. "Why are you still smiling?" Raising his hand, he flicked a few strands of hair from her face and tucked them behind her ears. "You should be sad too," the cracks in his voice deepened. "You left me alone, just like everyone else did!" His words faltered as he tried to argue with the lifeless body of his Baa-chan. "You have abandoned me in this cruel world, Baa-chan!" he finally cried out to the lifeless form of the woman. The dreadful silence that followed his outburst only fueled his growing fury.
"Naruto."
Naruto immediately recognized the voice, and as her words pierced through him like icy arrows, his soul froze, shattering the remnants of courage within. "Sakura." After some time, he finally acknowledged the girl's presence.
The girl known as Sakura stiffened at his gloomy voice. "Don't speak like that, Naruto!" she exclaimed, capturing the attention of the people around them. "You are not to blame for this." Her words resonated with a deep sense of sadness and sympathy, conveying more despair for the boy than for herself.
"No, you are wrong! "I was the one who caused all of this chaos!" Naruto retaliated and tried to concede himself as guilty of every single accusation she couldn't shoot towards him. He knew she was sad and wanted to vent her frustration at someone, and why wouldn't she? After all, she was Tsunade's beloved student. After him and Shizune, if there was someone Tsunade truly admired and loved then it was her, Sakura Haruno.
"She loved you, Naruto. You were like a family to her, someone she wanted to protect at any cost," Sakura whispered, a fresh trail of tears splashing down onto the damp ground of Konoha.
"I know," he reiterated in his prior dull voice.
"She didn't perish in a meaningless death. She died protecting you!"
"I know."
She sacrificed her status, her honour, and even herself for you. Everything she did was for your happiness! Sakura's anger finally erupted due to her teammate's lack of response. The pain, anger, and sorrow coursing through her veins spilled out in her words. The horrific sight of her teacher's bloodied body only intensified her emotions.
"I know."
At that moment, fury consumed her, causing her to let out a bone-chilling scream that startled even her closest friends who were attempting to calm down the frightened onlookers. The weight behind her words was profound, enough to send a shiver down Naruto's spine.
"Do you really believe you could have saved her? No!" she screamed, her hands gripping the collar of his torn shirt. "Pain was an extremely powerful enemy, Naruto. Unlike others who had attacked our village in the past, he had no distinct objectives," she snarled. "He didn't seek anything from us. All he desired was to inflict pain and misery on our village! My teacher and everyone else who couldn't be revived died because he wanted them to suffer. They were all very dear to you, and he knew that." These sharp words cut through the suffocating silence and pierced the boy's soul.
"I-I" The words that were about to come out of his mouth succumbed when the soft skin of her hands made contact with his cheek.
"Naruto... look at me."
He didn't, he couldn't look at her. Her face was covered with tears, and he couldn't withstand that. Tears never looked good on her beautiful face. "Let me be, Sakura. I am not worthy of your kindness," he whispered and was about to say something more but had to stop when his lips were forced closed as another hand abruptly made contact with his cheek, but unlike the last time, this time the connection was rough.
"Sakura!" Shikamaru Nara who was watching everything from the sidelines, shouted at the girl. "Leave him," his words came out with a deceptive calmness to the civil population of the village, but every Shinobi around him could notice the irritation hidden within them.
Ino sprang into action as well. "Forehead, give him some space for a minute" she instructed the girl who in return began to stare at her in surprise. "Deaths are common in the shinobi world. We can't dwell on them for long, but that doesn't mean we can't at least remember the departed soul for a while." Her lips formed a sad smile at the end of her statement as she recalled the passing of her beloved teacher, Asuma Sarutobi.
"But-But" Sakura was speechless. Her friends and even her best friend was condemning her for her behaviour. Instead of chastising and motivating this idiot, they were demeaning her for her actions.
"They are right, Sakura." A familiar faint whisper touched her ears, forcing her to immediately turn around.
"Sensei!" she exclaimed, raw tears sparkling in her red eyes once more.
Kakashi regarded the girl for a while before his eyes veered over to the lifeless form of his now-former Hokage, 'Lady Tsunade'. "Naruto," he whispered to the boy who was sitting quietly beside the corpse. "I can feel your pain very well."
Pain.
'To understand others truly, one must understand their pain.'
'Uzumaki Naruto, one day you will understand my pain.'
Pain.
"He was right" Naruto's broken words attracted the interminable attention of others. "We can never truly understand each other, sensei," he confessed, as he pressed his palms against the ground to propel himself back onto his feet. "You will never understand me, and I will never understand any of you," he chuckled as he blankly stared at the stunned people of Konoha. "This is our destiny," he whispered, and right on cue, the skies roared in a boisterous clamor of thunder.
A somber expression overshadowed Kakashi's face, as a wave of nostalgia washed over him. He had witnessed that very expression in the past. The expression of pure bitterness and solitude. He knew it. He had experienced it. "You are wrong," he barely began, when his female student did something truly unbelievable.
"Naruto" fed up with his nonsensical monologue, Sakura cried out and embraced him tightly, a gesture that the boy didn't even attempt to reciprocate. "I don't need to know anything else about you," she hissed, as raindrops filled the crevices in her skin, mingling with her translucent tears. "Uzumaki Naruto, you are my friend, and the future Hokage of this village," her words ignited a sense of hope and inspiration within the people of Konoha once more. "Tsunade-sama, Jiraiya-sama, Sandaime-sama, and Yondaime-sama all believed in you, Naruto. They not only sacrificed their lives for this village, but also for you, Naruto," fierce green eyes focused on her teammate for a moment before meeting his deep blue gaze.
"Sakura!" Kakashi was completely shocked. His mind couldn't believe what was happening. His student, who had never even made an effort to acknowledge the boy's presence, was now encouraging him like no one else. Perhaps it was due to the current situation, but regardless of the reason, he was pleased to see that change in her.
Sakura smiled at her teacher. "You don't know, sensei," she began. I was filled with fear as I witnessed the devastating state of our village. The intense gaze of that monster was terrifying, sensei. It showed no mercy to anyone who dared to cross its path. Even Tsunade-sama, who is known for her bravery, was frightened by those eyes." A tremor ran through her entire body as she vividly remembered the terrified expression on her teacher's face.
"But then Pain mentioned Naruto's inevitable death to her!" A small smile flickered on her lips. "And everything changed. I immediately saw the change in her eyes. In that very moment, she looked as if she finally discovered the purpose to fight those eyes. Despite being on the brink of death, she wore a bright smile, as she was certain that you, Naruto, would continue and win the battle." Her anguished cries compelled Naruto to direct his gaze towards her.
"She's right, Naruto! You shouldn't blame yourself for everything," Sai, the stoic member of Team 7, emerged from the crowd to speak to his one and true friend. "Those who lost their lives loved you more than anything else," he clarified to the confused boy, his voice filled with genuine sympathy. Right now, if there was anything he wanted then it was to alleviate the burden from his true friend.
"Love..." a wistful smile replaced the frown on Naruto's face. "I wasted my whole life in search of acknowledgment and love, Sai." Each word was followed by an increase in the pouring rain, and numerous delicate rivulets of blood began carving their way through the soil of Konoha. "When I finally found them, fate cruelly ripped them away from me," he complained.
"Naruto" Kakashi exclaimed, "Enough of this foolishness of yours!"
"W-What?!"
"I said-"
"Please allow him to speak, sensei. I wanna know more about our friend." Shikamaru walked past his teacher and positioned himself in front of his childhood friend. "Tell me more about your pain, Naruto," he urged the boy, eager to delve deeper into the depths of his friend's heart and understand the anguish he carried. If understanding each other's pain was the right way, then Shikamaru was determined to fully embrace it. Kyūbi or not, Idiot or not, this boy was his best friend, and he would ensure their bond remained unwavering.
Naruto shivered when his eyes met the damp and curious gaze of his friend. It was the first time someone other than Ero Sennin and Tsunade had expressed genuine interest in understanding his life. "Everyone I loved died in some way or another, Shika," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper, and immediately squirmed when Shikamaru inclined his head towards him, his gaze filled with concern and interest. "The sole thread connecting all their unfortunate deaths is none other than me. I bear the weight of their untimely deaths. Even Iruka sensei died due to me." Summoning every ounce of courage that remained within him, he managed to whisper his last words.
Shikamaru went silent for a while. His sharp eyes, previously fixed on Naruto, were now scanning the various expressions of those around them. Civilians, as usual, were staring at them in curiosity and panic while the other part of the population, the shinobis, were watching attentively. "I understand. So, what is your next move?" he finally turned to his friend and posed a question that he knew would determine the future of their village.
Naruto didn't waste any time answering. "I will try to distance myself from the village as much as possible, just like Ero Sennin," He responded with a hint of determination in his voice. No matter the difficulty, he would go to any lengths to protect his remaining friends from the lurking dangers. He couldn't bear the thought of them despising his existence forever.
'Uzumaki Naruto, you don't truly understand the depths of human nature. They are incredibly fearful beings, whether they be friends or foe. They fear anything that surpasses their understanding. Gradually, that fear nourishes a seed of hatred within their deceitful hearts and then, they reveal their true nature.'
He flashed a fleeting smile to his friends. "Please let me do this," he trailed off. "Please, everyone. I want to become stronger!" He turned around and pleaded with his friends, hoping that they would understand his predicament and accept his proposal.
"I can't allow you to do it, Naruto," Sai answered firmly, eyeing his friend as if he was the most foolish person on the planet at that moment. "According to one book I have read, one must stay with his or her friends no matter what happens." He added, remembering a quote from a book he had read a while ago.
"He's right, Naruto. No matter how much we suffer, I can never bring myself to hate you," Shikamaru said with a sad smile. "I don't blame you for the losses today, because we would have suffered even greater losses if you hadn't stopped Nagato," he grumbled, breaking from his usual demeanor. "We have both lost a precious part of our hearts throughout this whole journey, Naruto. "You lost Jiraiya, Iruka, and others while I lost Asuma-sensei and Chōji" Now that shocked Naruto to no end because as far as he knew only a select few were not revived by that technique. Tsunade, Iruka, Ayame, Hinata and Teuchi were among them, but he knew nothing about Chouji.
"C-Chouji?" he gasped.
Shikamaru sighed and averted his eyes from the boy, feeling a wave of sadness washing over him. He didn't want to cause any more pain, and the tears forming in his eyes only made it harder. "Both he and Kakashi were severely injured in the battle against one of the paths, Naruto. Although Kakashi was revived, Chōji, unfortunately, was not as fortunate," he managed to say amid silent sobs.
Just as expertly crafted arrows, Shikamaru's words pierced his heart, leaving it wounded with sorrow and pain. "I'm sorry," he said, tightly clutching the hem of his shirt, trying to contain the feelings of desperation and remorse that overwhelmed him. "I'm sorry," he repeated, his words heavy with regret. Shikamaru was suffering yet again because of him. First his teacher, Asuma, and now his best friend, Chouji. It was all because of him and the fox inside his abdomen.
After what felt like an eternity, Kakashi was overwhelmed with a sense of worthlessness. Witnessing his student in such a vulnerable state, desperately seeking forgiveness from others, was an agonizing sight to behold. It reminded him of the time when he had experienced a similar feeling of being useless, a time when he helplessly watched his teacher make the ultimate sacrifice for the village, while he himself stood idle on the sidelines. Since then, he had pushed himself to his limits to ensure that none of his loved ones would suffer the same fate as his old team members. "Naruto," he murmured, his voice cracking at the sight of helpless Naruto. "It wasn't your fault," he whispered again, for that was all he could do at the time.
"Your isolation won't bring them back, Naruto" This time it was Sakura who spoke. Her master was right. Naruto was truly an extraordinary person. Instead of bragging about his newfound powers to them, here he was, begging for forgiveness due to things that weren't under his control, to begin with. "They are gone. They played their part. Your apologies will not bring them back. Now it's your time to become stronger and ensure their sacrifices won't go in vain. It's your job to prevent things like this from happening in the future now." Her face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and frustration. She had never been so openly supportive of him; it had always been the other way around. He had always been there for her, unwavering in his support, so this was a new and unsettling experience for her.
She also realized that her teammate was not as happy with his life as he let others believe. Instead, he carried a burden of sadness within him. He had helped many people during tough times, but nobody had ever been able to see beyond his cheerful mask and discover the hidden sadness inside, including her. The thought made her want to hit herself, but it could wait, she had a friend to help.
Naruto lowered his head in shame. Sakura was right, sorry wouldn't do anything. "I know," he admitted. "That's why I have decided to stay away from you guys in the first place. I will travel the world in search of power so that I can protect you from any danger." He declared, shocking everyone once again.
"Naruto!" Kakashi, Sai, and Shikamaru exclaimed simultaneously, disbelief etched on their faces. They were shocked by what they had just heard. Naruto, a boy who had always longed for recognition and validation from others, was now choosing to spend his time in solitude. The whole idea seemed completely absurd and unfair to him
"You are already incredibly strong, Naruto," Sakura reasoned with the boy, desperately hoping that he would reconsider his decision.
Naruto smiled sadly to himself. "I'm not strong-"
"No! You are very strong Naruto." She retorted. "You are the strongest among us. Just one look at you was all it took to inspire confidence in each and every one of us!" Radiating with resolution, Sakura kept unleashing her heartfelt and encouraging words upon Naruto.
While she was doing that, Naruto just ignored her words as his eyes drifted back to Tsunade's lifeless body for one last time.
-x-
'Why do you constantly irritate her by calling her Baa-chan, Naruto?'
'Because I like calling her that, ero sennin.'
'Hmph! You always make fun of us brat. Show us some respect, you know.'
'Respect? Hahaha. What is that?'
'Laugh as much as you want brat, but I promise you, one day you will regret not showing us the love and respect we deserve.'
-x-
Fresh tears welled up in his eyes once more. "Sakura, how many people did I manage to save?" he asked, his blue eyes regarding her with quiet intensity.
"What kind of question is that Naruto?"
Naruto remained still; his gaze fixed on her bruised face. "Just answer me," he urged the girl.
"Umm..." Sakura was rendered speechless. There was nothing she could think of at that moment. The mere sight of him being so fragile and helpless was enough to shatter her heart into a million pieces.
"Let me answer it for you. None." Naruto answered, his voice turning bitter as he continued. "I couldn't even save Hinata, one who selflessly sacrificed her life for me. Then how can you call me powerful, Sakura?" His words were cold yet at the same time held an inconceivable amount of sadness within them.
Sakura looked at the ground in shame. "I-I"
"I need more power, Sakura." He whispered.
"What are you going to do for it, Naruto?"
Naruto smiled sadly at his friend. He didn't know why, but her words were fueling his hunger for power even more. Perhaps it was because she was one of the few people left that he could call his friend. "For now, I am uncertain about the path I will take, but one thing is certain: I will find a way to achieve my goals. You can count on me for that." He assured her.
"I have always believed in you, Naruto," the girl finally looked up and smiled at him, her bruised face revealing no trace of the sadness that was overwhelming her. Sakura realized at that moment that nothing could prevent him from leaving. When he was determined to do something, no one could stop him. Understanding this, with a heavy heart, she stepped forward and hugged him, desperately trying to hold back her tears in front of her beloved friend.
Naruto tensed at the touch, but as time passed, he gradually returned the embrace. He sensed her trembling, intensifying his already mounting guilt over his planned actions. They remained like that for a moment longer before Naruto reluctantly concluded that it was time to leave, and so he gently pulled away from her.
Sakura offered no resistance as she felt Naruto's warm embrace release her. She knew that this might very well be the last time of them meeting face-to-face, and she was determined to make the most of it. Summoning all her courage, she attempted to break the promise he had made to her years ago. However, she was unable to do so, as she was taken aback by what Naruto said next.
"Also, I will bring Sasuke back to our village." The entire area fell into a hushed stillness, as did Sakura, who gasped at that very moment. "I can't give you an exact time limit right now, but remember, no matter how far I go, your words will always be there to remind me that I still have to bring that idiot back to your team. I will not disappoint you!" He smiled at her.
At that precise moment, the entire population of Konoha received the answers to the myriad questions that had been swirling in their minds. However, in the mind of a one particular girl with pink hair, there flickered a glimmer of hope. A hope that she could reunite with her beloved teammates once again. A hope that her friend would find the peace that he so undeniably deserved in his life. While Naruto sprinted off into the distance, her thoughts gravitated towards Nagato's final words.
'My eyes perceive something extraordinary in you, Uzumaki Naruto. You are similar to me, yet distinctly different at the same time. Your choices will shape the future of this cursed world. Therefore, to guide you on your journey, I bestow upon you, my vision.'
She held her hands up to her chest, as she sent a plea to the universe, that Naruto would find what he desired out there.
"I wish you the best Naruto."
-oOo-
Naruto was at peace. After that horrendous disaster, which was his awkward interaction with those people, everything had changed for him. Long gone was that stupid blonde knucklehead who wanted the attention of others. Now, he was just a normal shinobi and all he wished for was peace and power.
After that conversation with his friends, he decided to leave Konoha right away. He understood that living there wouldn't grant him peace, especially with his teacher and Sakura, who still had deep concern for him.
Even if they had left him alone, there would always be someone trying to interrupt him or attempting to draw him back into their eccentric group. He no longer wanted to be associated with any individual or group. At this moment, he aspired to be recognized as a Wanderer in search of the power to save the world.
~Ding~
A smile spread across his lips as he caught the melodious sound of his stove. Pushing himself to his feet, he leisurely made his way to the paradise of his home: his tiny, yet magnificent, kitchen. A place where he usually spends most of his day now, endeavoring to learn every recipe present there. He was certain that if Ayame or Teuchi were still alive, they would have been delighted with his progress. They had tried to teach him several recipes, but he always declined, insisting that he had them and Shizune to cook for him.
"Ah!" He sighed in delight as the heavenly aroma of steaming ramen and miso tickled his nose. No matter how many recipes he collected, nothing could compare to the exquisite flavor of Miso ramen. It was truly divine. "The food of the Gods," he whispered as he savored the tantalizing aroma. "Hah! Who would have thought I would become a master... Aaii Aaii Aaii!" he screamed as the scorching hot steel met the tender skin of his fingers. "Idiot! Dumbass! How foolish!" He chided himself for his own lack of judgment. "Now, where could those gloves be?" His eyes wandered around the room, searching for the vital tool of his culinary endeavors. "Ah!" He smiled triumphantly as he finally spotted his beloved premium edition green oven mitts resting on the countertop.
"Banshō Ten'in"
"There," he chuckled as the mittens finally made contact with his palm. "This Jutsu is so useful," he murmured as he carefully lifted the cooker from the heated surface of the stove. "I should thank Nagato for it, but am I gonna? Nah." Lifting the lid, Naruto immediately stepped away from the silverware to protect himself from the flavorful and hot steam of the food.
"Shinra Tensei"
He sighed in relief as the steam quickly escaped the house through the ventilation system. "Hmm... I should thank that man," he thought to himself, but then decided against it once again. That man didn't deserve anything from him. He was a lunatic who had taken everything away from him. "Oi, Oi," he pinched himself to shield his sanity from the rising negative feelings. "The perverted old man and Granny wanted to see me live a happy life, and I won't let them down," he exclaimed as he untied his cooking apron and eased himself onto one of the chairs placed around the grand dining table.
The lavender eyes shimmered with excitement once more as a moderately-sized Chinese bowl was delicately placed before him. "Now, let us embark on a journey of flavors," he whispered, reaching for the smooth wooden ladle. With graceful movements, he dipped it into the velvety broth simmering inside the pot. Gently swirling the broth for a moment, he then set the ladle aside and skillfully collected a generous portion of the fine liquid. "There, there," he couldn't help but smile as his eyes evaluated the contents of the broth. Everything was perfect, and he knew it. "Perfect," he hummed when the broth finally filled the bowl. "I still can't believe I can make things as amazing as this masterpiece," his hands subsequently reached the nearest drawer and plucked out a pair of chopsticks.
~Snap~.
Like a delicate work of art, the wooden ornament splintered into two perfectly symmetrical pieces. "Thank you for the meal!" he whispered. "Now, let us savor this masterpiece." The smile adorning his face failed to conceal his boundless enthusiasm; he brimmed with pride over his achievements.
"Bliss," he exclaimed, fluttering in ecstatic delight. "It's absolutely incredible!" Raising the chopsticks, he eagerly took another mouthful. "The broth could have used a hint of spiciness, though," he couldn't help but notice the slightly bland texture of the liquid. "I will definitely remember to add more spices next time," he assured himself with determination as he resumed his delicious meal.
-oOo-
Rias Gremory, the Princess of the underworld, was not pleased with her current life. Despite having everything one could ever desire, she still longed for something greater, something extraordinary. Some might label her as insatiable and selfish, but that was simply her nature. After all, greed was an integral aspect of being a devil. A devil was meant to embody all seven sins.
And her greed was one of them.
Throughout her entire life, she has been an ambitious woman. She has always yearned for everything, from the most precious toys to associating with the most valuable members of the peerage she could find for herself. She had never settled for anything less than the best. For her, wealth and quality were above everything, but that didn't mean she never changed her principles. Surprisingly, and with great regret, she did change her opinion about the world. That girl made her reconsider.
Akeno Himejima.
A girl, an angel, a queen, and, most importantly, her best friend. Akeno transformed her, completely changing her life for the better. Little did she know, but she was grateful that it happened. When she first encountered Akeno in the forest, Rias sensed something amiss with the girl. She appeared so average, almost alarmingly so. Her attire, her figure, her countenance – all utterly ordinary. She was the antithesis of Rias. If Rias were the Moon, then Akeno was the radiant Sun.
Unlike others, Akeno had a remarkable ability to truly embrace life and all its imperfections. She lived every moment to the fullest, accepting flaws as an integral part of her being. Rias, on the other hand, could never understand this. Flaws irritated her, appearing like unsightly scars marring the pristine beauty of the moon. No matter how enchanting one may be, flaws inevitably catch the attention of others, tarnishing the allure.
"I long for a life as ordinary as hers!" And behold, there she stood, yearning for a life that could mirror the normalcy of her closest friend. For, could there be anything more extraordinary for a demon than experiencing the mundane? Typically, devils did not desire a run-of-the-mill existence, especially with humans. However, she, Rias Gremory, was not a typical devil.
"Ara Ara."
Rias jolted upright in panic. "Fuck!" She cursed under her breath, realizing that she must have been heard.
"I never imagined that you desired to lead an ordinary existence, Princess," Akeno said, gazing into Rias' greenish blue eyes with a mixture of amusement and contentment. "You could have simply asked me, my dear king," she playfully suggested, giving her elegant eyebrows a slight wiggle.
"Akeno!" Rias exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration. "Why didn't you bother to knock before coming in?" she scolded her friend. It was clear that Akeno was becoming bolder and careless day by day.
Akeno giggled, her face taking on a mischievous look. "When did I start knocking on your door, Rias?" she asked.
Rias opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her friend was right. She had never knocked on her door before. The embarrassment swelled within her. "Oh," she grumbled, attempting to conceal the burning shame. "I must have said it by mistake, Akeno." Her senses rebuked her for the feeble excuse she had just used, especially in front of Akeno.
The Queen of Rias blinked. "Huh?"
"Leave it."
Akeno hesitated, then blinked again. "You're acting rather strange, Rias. Is this because of Riser?" She could have easily ignored that question, but she allowed her curiosity to roam freely through her thoughts.
Rias' expression soured upon hearing the mention of that moron. "Why on earth would I waste my thoughts on him, Akeno?" Her lips curled with disdain.
"Who knows? You might actually be starting to develop feelings for him," Akeno said playfully, fully aware that it was a risky comment. However, the priceless reaction she received from her friend made it all worthwhile.
"As if he's worthy of it," she snorted at the statement. Suddenly, something clicked in her mind. "By the way, how is Issei handling all of this?" She had nearly forgotten about the unusual member of her peerage, the one who potentially possessed the power to free her from the restraints of that treaty.
"I don't know. The last time I checked on him, he was busy staring at your chest," she replied. "But that sounds like a completely normal boy to me." Her lips curved upward as a rosy hue of embarrassment tinged her friend's cheeks.
"Ahem" Rias coughed, several times, again and again, but that color didn't flicker away from her cheeks. "He is quite a-"
"Pervert" Akeno finished it for her friend.
Rias lowered her head in shame. "Yes," she murmured. "Do you believe he will be able to defeat the Phenex?" she inquired, stating the most obvious question.
Now, that question made Akeno contemplate something. Unlike Rias, she didn't ponder much about the boy. Did he possess a formidable weapon? Yes, but did he truly possess the talent to wield it? No. He was a playful individual with a silly yet cute dream of becoming a harem king. His only redeeming quality was his sacred gear; aside from that, he was useless to them in any sort of combat scenario. "I'm not sure, he may or may not. It all depends on how he awakens his gear," she admitted.
"Hmm... Sometimes I think I should leave everything, Akeno" Rias confessed to her best friend.
"Why?"
"I don't want this type of life anymore. I want to live freely like you. Free from the expectations of my family name and the pressure of this contract."
Akeno rolled her eyes at her friend who was once again acting like a typical rich, teenage girl form an anime. "Do you honestly believe you could survive without all these luxuries, without your family, without me?" Her words may have carried a hint of bitterness, but they held undeniable truth. Having grown up alongside this girl, Akeno was intimately familiar with her unusual personality.
Rias Gremory wanted to be known as Rias, just Rias.
"I don't know, but I want to try" Rias' words caused Akeno to visibly recoil a bit.
"What?" To say she was surprised would be a massive understatement. Akeno Himejima was utterly stunned.
"Yes, Akeno. I want to go on an adventure, a journey to a very faraway place. A place where no one knows about me. A place where I can find him!" The red-haired devil whispered with a faraway look on her face.
Akeno smiled at the girl, her innocence shining through. "I hope your wishes come true, Rias," she chirped.
"Really?" Rias was cut off abruptly as the purple skies of the underworld rumbled with the sound of thunder.
"What is that?" Akeno gazed out of the window, her eyes scanning the skies. It was highly unusual for thunderstorms to form in the netherworld. "We must-" her words died in her throat as a deafening roar, a roar that commanded everything to halt, reverberated through the vibrant purple sky.
Before the two girls could react, a beam of shimmering purple light pierced through the skies and descended toward them.
Rias, who was overseeing everything unfolding, swiftly pushed her queen aside from the path of the light.
"Rias!" Akeno screamed in horror as her friend was consumed by the mysterious energy.
Rias looked at her friend and smiled sadly. "It happened too fast, you know. I couldn't let it hurt you." Her eyes twinkled with tears as she watched her body disintegrate into tiny particles, almost as if someone were erasing her very essence from the world.
Akeno didn't hesitate for a moment before she also pounced on her friend, hugging her tightly. "I will not allow you to go anywhere." She murmured, smiling with tears in her eyes as her own body started to mirror the same reaction.
"Akeno!" Rias desperately cried out, but her warning came too late.
~Blink~
In an instant, they both disappeared completely from the supernatural world. The last thing they heard was muffled shouts coming from the other side of the room.
-oOo-
Uzumaki Naruto found himself caught in a bind, his mind racing to find an escape route from the predicament before him. It all began with a grave error on his part. "I shouldn't have eaten this much. Now, who is going to clear this mess?" He slumped into a state of depression, his gaze avoiding the mountain of dirty dishes that had accumulated in the sink.
Let it be known that he despised cleaning dishes as much as he adored devouring a bowl of flavorful ramen. The process of washing dishes seemed utterly pointless and tiresome to him. After all, who truly enjoyed this task? It did not offer any rewarding outcomes. "Oh, how I wish the Rinnegan had a technique for cleaning dishes!" he lamented, looking up to the heavens. After all, it was a dream one could only dare to have.
An intense smell assailed his nostrils. "Eww," he grimaced and gagged in disgust. It was truly repulsive. "I suppose I have to handle this on my own," he sighed. It was moments like these that made him keenly feel the absence of someone by his side. When Shizune and Tsunade were alive, they used to take care of all the work while he would just slack off on the couch like the dumbass he was. "They must be laughing at me from above," he pouted while his hand gently plucked out a small bowl from the sink. "Can I at least have one of them back, God?" he whispered with a smile on his face. The thought of having them back in his life was enough to brighten his mood.
Skies rumbled.
"Wait!" Naruto interrupted his work as the entire house began violently shaking from the power of the storm. "Are you really going to send them back?" he asked, his gaze fixed on the quivering ceiling, an eager smile plastered across his face as he anxiously anticipated the result.
He extended his hands forward, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the person he was waiting for. Suddenly, there was a loud snap, directly above his house.
"Huh?" The flickering grin on his lips faded as he detected a presence directly above his house. A presence devoid of any trace of chakra.
~Bam!~
Naruto blinked. "Who are you?" he asked the girl who was uncomfortably resting in his arms.
Blue eyes locked onto him. "Ummm," the owner of the piercing gaze attempted to speak, but ultimately chose to stay silent. It was uncomfortable for her, he thought.
"I asked, 'Who are you?'" he warned her as he withdrew his hands back to his body, causing the person to drop on the ground in the process.
"Umm..."
With a sharp gaze, he closely observed the individual. In an instant, his swift hand snatched a kunai from the nearby desk, its sharp tip aimed at her. "Speak," he cautioned once again.
"There is a noodle on your face."
"..."
END
I hope you guys liked the chapter.
This is an old story of mine that I have re-edited because people were messaging me about it all time.
If you like it, drop a review.
Thank you and see ya.
