Naruto will be getting his first weapon in this chapter. Won't be his only/final weapon nor will it be the only type of weapon at his disposal. Don't overthink it. It has meaning/purpose, but it's not that deep.
000TD000
Dragonspine felt different on his skin. Well, it would be disingenuous to say it was only his skin. Down to his core, trudging through the mountains felt like a whole, new experience. This land of always winter once felt unwelcoming. Frigid, harsh winds made every second he spent in its embrace like a step closer to his soul freezing over. There was a time when he couldn't see himself coming back here... that time being this morning.
Now, the ice and snow felt inviting, the winds blowing by making him feel at ease. He felt no urge to shiver or to hide away from the cold. The scales had reversed as it seems, he now felt the urge to explore the place. It was freeing to bask in it the mountain's brilliance without fear of hypothermia. He reckoned that it would be a shame not to see what the world looks like from its peak.
"Sit!"
"Gah!" A sharp burst of air left his lungs as the pommel of Kaeya's sword bashed into his back, right on a rib. "What gives!?" His baneful eyes cut behind him to the Cavalry Captain. She leveled him with an unimpressed glare of her own.
"We're not here for games," Her sultry voice held an undertone of warning. "It's not clear what happened to you and you're no help at all, so sit by until the good doctor finishes."
"What did you want me to say!? Sage Mode is Sage Mode! It's not that deep!"
"This-" Kaeya raised her hand; frost was pouring off of it at a constant. "-Is not normal!" It wasn't exclusive to her hand, frigid mist was rolling off various parts of her body in mass.
"That looks like a personal problem." Naruto crossed his arms. "If you can't control your own powers then you're the one that needs to be getting tested!"
"It stops when I'm clear of you!"
"Then stop standing so close!"
"I'm supposed to be watching you!"
"Says you! Varka wants you to put me up for a while! You choosing to make me follow you around is on you!"
"Oh, I'll put you up, alright!"
"What does that even mean!?"
"Pardon the intrusion," Albedo approached the medical bed. Naruto adjusted his posture on the bed and Kaeya move around it to stand beside Albedo. In his hands, he held various data sheets, byproducts of the tests he'd run on Naruto. "I do have some conclusive information on what has occurred."
"What do you make of it." Kaeya took the sheets from Albedo's hands and glanced through them.
"I know Sage Mode, so he's not gonna say anything I wouldn't!" Naruto said, too turning an ear to Albedo. "But I still hear what ya have to say since to hush her up!" Naruto stabbed a glare at Kaeya at the last part, yet she paid him no bother.
"Naruto, I do not think this form is Sage Mode as you know it."
"What!?"
Albedo sighed, pulling up a stool and buckling down to elaborate. "With how you explained Sage Mode, as it goes you enter it by absorbing nature energy. Once in your body, you harmonize its flow with that of your own body's energies, correct?"
"Yelp!"
"And it is a process of your consciously calling out to it, isn't it? With you consciously maintaining its presence in your body, as well, correct?"
"It was like that before, yea, but now that me and Kurama got on the same page, he handles the gathering and maintenance."
"… Naruto… Kurama isn't here right now."
"Well yea, I know that! You don't have to go reminding me, what would that have… to… do… Oh." Naruto looked down at his fist, clenching them, The energy of nature coursed through them. It still coursed through them. He had not exited Sage Mode nor did he feel it waning. If anything, it felt like the flow of energy was growing more potent. "How? Why? It should have faded by now."
"What is inside you isn't Nature Energy."
"Wait- What is it then!?"
Seeing his panic, Albedo took a pause before speaking again. "I should apologize. I was speaking with certainty there; when it is only a hypothesis. But what is inside you now is Elemental Energy, I'm sure of that. It could be what your people know as Nature Energy. Yet the attributes of Elemental Energy and Nature Energy do not line up, hence my doubts."
"B-but, how was I able to gather it then."
"Could be that with them both being from nature that you were able to absorb it in the same way that you do Nature Energy. The outcome does seem to be different though. With Nature Energy, you have to steadily gather more to keep the form going. Whereas in this form of 'Sage Mode' – if you'd wish to call it that – Elemental Energy flows into you in a wanton manner. You do not need to draw it forth. You have become a conduit for it."
"So… this is permanent."
"That depends, can you try to stop the flow?"
"Ah." Naruto closed his eyes and focused. He went at it for a solid minute, his face growing strained. "Come on! Come on!" He gritted his teeth. "There!" his hair took on a blond hue. "Got-" he was about to announce success, but his head knocked back with a deal of force. Energy flooded to him at a visible pace, his hair going stark white again. "I… don't 'Got it'."
"Sage Mode is Sage Mode, huh?" Naruto looked at the mocking smirk on Kaeya's face and sighed.
"Well, at least you're happy."
"It's the small victories."
"Whatever." Naruto looked back to Albedo. "How much of a problem is this."
"It's too early to say the full ramifications, but for now we should be wary of who you interact with."
"Why's that?" Kaeya asked, her motives evident. Being that Naruto was to take a spot at Dawn Winery, he couldn't be an unwitting threat to others. It wouldn't do for his presence to pose harm to those who served under the banner of Ragnvindr.
"Naruto is taking in all manner of Elemental Energy at a rapid rate, but once it is inside of him it cultivates in a way. First merging into a sort of 'neutral' energy. Once inside his body take a purifying effect on the energy. It removes any taint, refining the energy to the umpteenth degree. The issue in this is that even as this process is occurring; your body has reached 'capacity'. So even as it takes in Elemental Energy it is expelling the excess. The air around you is becoming full of highly potent, neutral Elemental Energy. For which everything around you absorbed. Or at least everything that's known to absorb or use Elemental Energy."
"Like Visions." Kaeya drew a conclusion that a nod from Albedo confirmed. That would explain why her own powers were going wild. She was experiencing a state of an overabundance of Elemental Energy.
"And monsters as well," Albedo added. "You're a sort of supercharger. In the field, this would make you an invaluable asset for allied Vision Users. We all experience a want for more energy during difficult battles, so you'd make a welcomed asset. The Ordo Favonius would be foolish to reject you should the higher-ups hear of this. But as is, this ability is an area buff. You would be as much a benefit to your enemies as you are to your allies."
"If the Fatui caught wind of this, they would immediately try to snatch you away." Kaeya frowned. "… By force if necessary."
"I'd like to see them try!" Naruto had no idea what 'the Fatui' were, but he had an in-grown distaste for people that try to 'snatch' him by force. It hadn't so much as been a full five years since he dealt with the last guys to try that.
"Idiot." Kaeya sighed.
"It's not so simple as fending them off." Albedo explained. "The Fatui is an enemy of ours, but to the public and on a diplomatic front they are our allies. If issues arose between them and you... well, our intervention would lead to an international incident."
"Enemies that you can't just punch are the worse!" Naruto growled.
"Ain't that the truth," Kaeya grumbled.
Albedo sighed. They weren't much better with their desire to seek violence first. But they were his allies, so he'd bear.
"Indeed," Albedo agreed for the sake of peace. "But the issue remains, that we cannot parade Naruto around any unwanted eyes. Those without Visions should be fine. But he must stay clear of those who could key into his nature. Avoid environments with unknown or sensitive variables... such as those found in the city's limits."
"Are you saying that I can't return to Mondstadt!?"
"I'm saying that for now. We should limit the places you visit to Dragonspine and Dawn Winery. But we will resolve this post-haste."
"You're already in the Knight's care," Kaeya said, giving him a smile that was warm and comforting for once. "So we won't leave you in the lurk. Even if I want to."
"Alright," Naruto grinned. He chose to ignore the last bit of the otherwise kind words. It was becoming clear that he had to take what he could get with Kaeya. Slamming his fist into his palm, he asked: "Where do we start!?"
"We need you to gain control over how often you absorb Elemental Energy or at least how often you expel it. And from the stories you've told, you learn best from practical lessons." Albedo looked over to Kaeya.
"Do not involve me in this."
"You've involved me, so this would be a fair trade, no? Also, combat isn't my forte."
"Huh," Naruto looked between Kaeya and Albedo. "What are y'all on about?"
"Well." Albedo leveled both of them with a look. "The two of you were at each other's necks. A bit of sparring should be therapeutic. This should help Naruto familiarize himself with the goings of the energy within him. And learning the combat stylings of the Ordo Favonius as well would do some good. I see this as an absolute win."
"Damn it." Kaeya rubbed the bridge of her nose, looking over to Naruto, who could only offer her an awkward smile. "Do trust that you won't enjoy this." She turned and walked out of Albedo's Mountainside Lair. "Now come on!" her authority as the Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius carrying on her tongue. Or in other words, Naruto took his sweet time following.
000TD000
The encounter that followed was the first of… few. Kaeya had a talent for combat. On skill, Naruto would rate her high. He saw no flaw with how she swung a sword at least. But for every cunning tactic she had Naruto could return with an unpredictable tactic of his own. And while she had a tenacious streak, it came in bursts. Naruto was tenacity granted mortal flesh. They were not alike.
Beyond that, she was lethal without Elemental Energy. He'd learn that she reached her rank in the Knights of Favonius before she ever received a vision. Cryo accented her attacks rather than define them. They all knew that she wasn't the best option to help Naruto with his plight.
With Kaeya, there was no incentive to focus on holding his Elemental Energy at bay. The swing of her sword was fatal. Throwing ice into the mix was an extra flare. Kaeya claimed that he needed someone that would penalize him if he didn't keep his energy in check. Luckily, it wasn't hard to find a candidate.
"Time to clean up!" A massive, ethereal blade of amber cut towards him with thunderous momentum.
"Craaaaap!" Naruto swore as he turned tail and ran. He wanted no part of the battery to follow. He lept for the snow-cloaked earth as the overgrown beam sabre cut overhead. "Do you have to say that every time!?" He knew it to be a mantra. Vision Users saw greater success in actualizing a power by tieing it to a word or phrase. So inspiring them to unleash hidden might by reminding them of what motivated them.
He knew as much, but it grew irksome after the twentieth time in the last hour.
His feedback came as the unwelcomed sight of the blade's swift flight change downwards.
"Nevermind then!" A burst of Elemental Energy erupted from his back. It gave him the needed charge up to dash forward. Getting more distance, he shifted to the side of the swing right before impact. The crater the blade left behind only cause a bit of sweat to pour before he refocused on the aspiring knight. It was unfair how she could move that cumbersome thing with the ease of a normal sword.
He ducked, dodged, and dove out of the way of Noelle's swings. Controlled bursts of Elemental Energy helped to change his trajectory in a pinch.
"Enough." He neared up on the lass and cocked back a fist. A punch from him, especially in Sage Mode, made many a man quiver. Yet rather than fear, the silver-haired girl met him with resolve, radiating an amber glow.
"Steady as stone!" He too swift to act, punch cast right as a hexagonal barrier erupted outward's from Noelle's center. He had no time to cut away.
"Double crap!" His teeth gritted as his fist collided knuckle first into the unforgiving surface. The sheer breadth of Elemental Energy powering the barrier made its hardness impeccable. His body vibrated as he stumbled back. That was all the opening Noelle needed. Her claymore cut back behind her as she took the stance of someone up to plate. And sure enough, she swung her arms forth like she held a bat rather than a sword. The result spoke for itself. He became a ragdoll, tossed into a tree and then through that tree, and another, and another. He met a sudden stop thanks to a mountainous wall. A small avalanche of snow found its way on top of him with Noelle rushing to the scene of the collision.
She stood across from a mound of snow as tall as she. "Are you okay!?" Her shield protected her as the snow blew out everything. Naruto stood, ruffling his hair to rid it of frost.
"I've been worse." He checked his arm. "Ah, you managed to knick me that time. Good going, 'ttebayo!" He grinned at the girl.
"Yay! I'm getting better!" She cheered jumping for joy. A knick was a credit in its own right, of this, she knew. Noelle's strength was tremendous, even when not considering her age and size. Her Vision had an enhancing effect on her. As it came to rare physical strength, she was the rival of any monster. Visions had that sort of quality. They enhanced their user as his Sage Mode did. But they were a grade or two apart. The augmentation effects of his Sage Mode could trump a Vision. That was a definite. As this nigh perpetual conduit of the elements, his defenses were extreme at a passive. And he'd taken to compressing Elemental Energy across his skin in a fashion after an exoskeleton. Like wearing armor invisible to the naked eye, but hard to bypass all the same.
All this to say, that a proper knick was impressive.
"Yea, good going." Naruto congratulated. "Feels like I'm spinning in place though," he sighed.
"Oh, don't say that! It did take me a moment to build up my Breastplate." 'Breastplate' was the chosen name for her mobile barrier. Not the armored covering for her generous bust.
The goal of this training was two-pronged. Noelle was a girl – three years Naruto's junior – that had issues with Elemental Energy. Namely, she used a lot of it in her techniques. She had little sense of control over how much Elemental Energy she poured into her action. But when she did have a good buildup of Elemental Energy, she was a veritable Juggernaut.
Her 'Breastplate' gave her a barrier that healed her wounds will under its coverage. While her 'Sweeping Time', allowed her to turn a Claymore in hand into a hyper-extending beam sabre. The issue lay in that the potency of such skills was proportional to her Elemental Energy usage. And Noelle was someone that believed in giving everything her all. This caused her to tucker herself out in a quick fashion. Losing all your stored up Elemental Energy had an effect on the body not dissimilar to the loss of stamina.
She needed to learn self-restraint in combat, and also how to refine her skills while she was at it. Cutting down energy costs and maximizing the payoff was what they hoped to do.
This made her an 'ideal' partner for Naruto. That's to say, the most unfair matchup Kaeya could find for him. Due to his own, equal-opposite issues with Elemental Energy, he could keep her going. If he did not focus, the Elemental Energy pouring off of him would find its way to her. Which generally meant pain and anguish in the follow-up. Between her excessive range and immaculate defenses, he had no way to snatch victory.
Yet she was no closer to granting harm to him either. Her Sweeping Time was costly and often ended in her fainting of exhaustion. For this reason, she was forbade from using it in normal circumstances. It left her green to its might. But the more they trained, the more she grasped at it. It was only a matter of time before she figured out how to harness its power well enough to do true damage.
Though Naruto wasn't hopeless. Elemental Energy was driven by 'intent', with that understanding he could get creative. As long as he focused on using the Elemental Energy to 'attack', 'defend', 'boost', or 'dodge', it would convert. It shifted into a sort of pure 'kinetic energy' that would 'buff' his actions. The best part was that the shift made the used energy harder to absorb. As a drawback, if he tried to use too much energy for any one action, then he'd meet a poor end. Terrible pain coursing through his joints from the strain of overcharging. It left him still expelling more 'neutral' Elemental Energy than he could manage.
So while Noelle was working towards making the most out of every bit of energy, he did the opposite. He worked towards shoving as much elemental energy into each act as possible. Beyond that, he came up with a diverse number of ways to use his energy and did as much in tandem. He worked to keep up his protective coat. Every motion came with a release of kinetic energy to quicken it. Every punch and kick held with a shockwave of energy behind it. He also bothered to sharpen his senses and reflexes with Elemental Energy as well. It was overkill and made for a tedious affair. All amplified by how he was trying to stipend his intake of Elemental Energy throughout. Doing one of these tasks was difficult enough, but not impossible. Doing it all together was utterly laborious. But at Albedo's concealing, he assured him that he was on the right track with all this. If he made it all instinctual, then he'd definitely be able a step closer to normalcy... and a step closer to becoming a Knight. That also made him a step closer to finding Kurama.
But for now, the process remained exhausting, mentally that is. Physically, the constant Elemental Energy intake made him restless. But it didn't matter that the body was willing if the spirit was stressed and ready to crash.
"You seem tired. Would you like some tea?" Noelle, the sweetheart that she was, caught on to his plight in earnest.
"Yea, that seems fine." He said, almost in a daze, as Noelle grabbed his hand and walked with him back to the Albedo's hideaway.
000TD000
Arriving, they saw Kaeya relaxed at a corner table, feet kicked up beside a bottle of wine. She held a glass in hand, while Albedo was standing over a set of unopened packages, reading a letter.
"What's in the box?" Naruto asked, making for that corner table, shoving Kaeya's feet off the surface as he sat. It earned him a glare, but he only stuck out his tongue. The teasing had become par for the course between them.
Noelle went towards the back of the lab, where a set up of tea-themed equipment could be found.
While sitting, he prioritized all his focus on stopping the flow of Elemental Energy to or from his body. His hair glowered and flickered for several moments before settling on blond. This was a tremendous effort, but he made a habit of it whenever possible. Even during breaks, he didn't stop practicing. He had no such luxury.
"But for real!" He waved his arm until he grabbed Albedo's attention. "Whacha reading?"
"It is a message from Lady Alice."
"That's your… um… aunt, right?"
"She is the woman that took me in, yes."
"That's putting it lightly." Kaeya chuckled, lone eye glancing between Albedo and the box before him. "She coddles you like a mother would."
"That isn't a bad thing, per se. It's almost… nice… a mother's affection."
"Are you only saying that because she might be listening?" Kaeya said as much as a joke, but it had Naruto whipping his head in caution.
"Wait! Is she!?"
Albedo laughed a gentle laugh. "Lady Alice is an enigmatic, near-omnipotent mystery. She often knows more than anyone ever tells her. It's for this reason that it's become something of a joke that she's always watching."
"But is she?"
"Perhaps? It's not the prerogative of us mere mortals to know for sure." The smallest of smirks graced Albedo's face.
"Well, she sounds just lovely." Naruto sighed, leaning into his chair. If Albedo and Kaeya were not concerned, then it wasn't his place. "Thanks." Noelle offered a tray of tea. He graciously accepted a cup as she moved to Kaeya who waved her away with her wine glass. "So what does the letter say."
"It's for you actually."
"Me!?"
"Yes." Albedo unraveled one of the packages and pulled from its confines an odd device. Naruto beheld a crimson ornamental box with golden trim. Nobs, levers, and buttons spread across it with a large golden horn attached to its top.
"Is that a record player?"
"Familiar with it?"
"We have something like that back in my world. But I've only seen The old man ever use one." It was the precursor to the radio, he knew. And old man Sarutobi kept one tucked away in the Hokage's Office. But unlike the beaten worn thing he remembered, this one was well kept, new even.
"Well perhaps you know how to activate it?"
"No clue."
Albedo sighed. This was a common theme with Naruto. His well-spring of knowledge could prove useful if he was more astute. He was from a world more advanced than their own in several ways. Yet he had no knowledge of how advanced technology worked, better yet how to recreate it. But there was no point in bringing much mind to it. Instead, he turned back to the letter and read on. Coming to the part he sought, he turned and pressed a button at the side of the box.
"Hello... Hello! Is this thing working!? Ah, but of course it is, I am the one who built it after all!"
'How modest…' Naruto thought.
"You should know, modesty is for those who are uncertain in just how talented they are."
'Wha…' Could she read minds?
"Oh dear, It's not mind reading. This is a recording after all, so the correct term would be fortune-teller... though I'm not saying that I'm one of those either!"
Really, who was this lady!?
"I am Alice: Great Adventurer of the Realms, Originator of the Kujirai Art - Temari Jutsu, and, of course, Mother of the Most Adorable Klee."
What was a 'Klee'? Naruto almost expected an answer. Instead, the recording carried into other paths.
"And you have Naruto Uzumaki as Varka tells me. I must say it has been a while since I've heard such a name. To have a Outlander from the Elemental Nations grace our shores is quite rare and an Uzumaki no less. What a peculiar coincidence."
"What she just say!?" Naruto got excited, looking between Albedo and Kaeya. Both of them were on alert as well, though their motivations were their own.
"I know what you're thinking, but no. I'm not familiar with how to send you back to that place. It's born from solidarity, I'm afraid. The last person I met from that place – a girl by the name of Minami Uzumaki – fled to our world to escape. You see there was a war that consumed your world at the time. I'm sure you heard of it."
Was it bad showing that 'a war that consumed the world' didn't help to narrow down the era?
"She did not wish to be found nor did she wish to return. So as curious as I was, I choose to swear off any investigations."
Naruto deflated and Albedo sighed nearly as dejected, but Kaeya looked almost relieved. Seeing this, he would have spoken on it, but the recording drew his attention.
"Though, she did settle down in Liyue last I heard. You may find out something about her through a trip there. It's strange really; you would figure she'd favor Inazuma since their customs are so similar. But I suppose anything that reminded her of home was a net negative. But anyway… I know that your opinion and her opinion of your home are not the same. So after some reevaluation, I've opened investigations on a path to that place. but these sort of things will take time, deary. So try not to focus on it, Minami once told me that 'Uzumaki work best when they live in the moment. They try not to sweat the small stuff', a grand outlook! One that I hope you can share with her."
Naruto smiled. He lived for the now already, but the validation that he was following the ways of his ancestor gave him an odd pride.
"But on other issues, I've also heard that you've become something of a conduit of Elemental Energy. How curious. Most others who have tried as much have become unintelligible monsters. That or outright exploded, spontaneous combustion as it were. If you feel either coming on, let Albedo know. I'd like him to record the process!"
How reassuring.
"Again, I only jest. Well not about the monster and exploding parts. Such outcomes are well documented in the annals of Sumeru Academia. But if you are still alive and cognizant, then I doubt that such effects would plague you. So you're fine… probably… maybe… hopefully?"
HOW REASSURING!
"Anyway. I actually have a gift for you. Consider it, Auntie Alice's way of making up for all the birthdays I've missed unto now!"
Naruto frowned. He didn't know much about this Alice, so he wouldn't go calling her 'Auntie' anytime soon.
"It is something that should prove a great help with your energy expulsion problem."
Auntie Alice was it!? Fine with him!
"In fact, I'd say it's something that only you could use. Your specific 'problem' makes you worthy of it. Albedo if you would."
Lead by Alice's words, Albedo held a box out to Naruto. The blond was quick to take it and rip it open revealing a set of… um… Vs? It was the best way to describe them. Inside the box was a set of objects with a shared, complex design. They best reminded him of Vs. Made of a shiny black metal accented with grays and oranges, the objects had sharp edges and pointed tips. The inside held a grip. They were almost like Katars, but with the handle built into the blade. What gave Naruto pause though was that each grip held a ring with a trigger inside. As he picked the 'katars' up and expected them closer, he noticed that on one side was a raised black piece. Out from which stuck was an ivory barrel. Looking down the length, he didn't notice much inside beyond darkness.
"Do try to avoid pointing the barrel towards you. That's a quick way to lose a limb… or worse."
Naruto was quick to point the barrel away. "Don't point it at me!" Kaeya jeered.
"Those weapons are guns, pistols to be specific about it. A standard gun can fire metal bullets – which you can think of as small, explosive arrowheads to save time. And our do they fire far and at high speeds to boot. The best part is that they make the most fun little noise when they go off. As far as weapons go, bombs are best, I'd say... but guns are a not terribly distant second... for those without Visions at least. And in that lay the problem. These weapons are quite difficult to build and take years of study to manufacture. Most blacksmiths find better success with crafting weapons that Vision Users prefer. Swords, Bows, Claymores, and the occasion Polearm, all very boring. And Vision users do not fear guns as they can outpace a bullet's speed with ease. But a Vision User with a gun would be a major threat, I dare say."
Naruto had to agree. Logic held that a weapon value scaled to the user's skill, so why not use them?
"The problem lies in that Vision users can endow their weapons with Elemental Energy. Doing as much with your average gun yields results the same as using a bow or catalyst. Not ideal considering how pricey guns are compared to the latter options."
Ah, yea… yea. Reluctance to adopt such a weapon made more sense. The most popular weapon would be the one that the best warriors favored. The defacto best were Vision Users, so if they choose to forgo guns, then the rest of the world would as well.
"These pistols are not your average guns though. They were part of a collaborative effort between several nations. The goal was to make guns that a vision user could appreciate or at least fear. Rather than using bullets, they absorb Elemental Energy. That energy gets turnt into super-heated bolts and each pull of the trigger fires a volley of them. It worked fabulously, in lab tests at least. Field tests reveal how flawed they were. A Vision User could fire off around five shots before filling the drain. A non-vision user using a pre-prepped energy supply could manage two before reloading. The project was a failure and abandoned by all but one Nation: Snezhnaya. They've made good progress with development on their own. If you met a field agent of the Fatui you might notice as much. But I couldn't very well sneak into Snezhnaya to snatch any away from them... Hmm... actually I could, but I would likely never hear the end of it from Varka."
Snezhnaya was the home of the Fatui, so a no-fly zone for those under the Mondstadt banner save diplomats. Naruto found it curious that she chose not to engage – not out of fear of the Fatui's wrath – but out of avoidance of Varka's scolding. Fearless. He liked that in her.
"These are instead, something I acquired on one of my trips through Fontaine, in a junk shop of all places! Lucky me am I right!? But I've put a lot of work into refurbishing them, for your sake. I call them the Icarus Pinions and oh boy do they pack a wallop! You'll be the envy of all your Vision User's friends. and I've even packaged in an 'Annihilation Mode' for when you want to pack an extra punch. Though I'll warn that going with that might be too much even for you. But that's just a guess."
Why did he get the feeling that it wasn't a guess?
"Well anyway, I could carry on, but I'm sure you've had enough of my rambling. Inside the box is a manual on how to wield these bad boys in proper style. I've also taken to leave manuals on maintenance and re-creation. Though I fear that the latter may be above your pay-grade. For now at least. Now then take care! Oh, yea, I've also sent word to the Knights of Favonius so that Klee knows she has another 'Big Brother' looking out for her. Be sure to take good care of her. Auntie Alice is always watching afterall."
That last part sounded equal parts foreboding and wholesome. But wait! "Hey, I didn't agree to be anyone's-" And the recording just began from the top. Words heard once before playing back before Albedo put a stop to it, turning the machine off.
"You shouldn't worry," Kaeya said in a comforting tone, resting a hand on his shoulder. "As a Knight, you will meet the task of babysitting Klee anyway. I'd make sure of that." Scratch comfort, this woman was still the worse.
"Jokes aside, it seems that Lady Alice has come to our aid in your regard. This should be a huge boon towards getting your energy problems under control."
"Oh, I suppose that means... I'm no longer needed then," Noelle's voice held a mourning, her head drooping. Naruto was quick to her rescue, swooping in and cupping both of her hands.
"Of course you're needed, Noelle." He gave her a broad smile. "Even with these 'pistols', I still need to get better at controlling Elemental Energy. Plus I was helping you get better with your techniques as well. Also… well, your afternoon tea is delicious. I don't think I could get through the day without it now."
"Ah, right, I see." A glowing hue grassed Noelle's cheeks as she looked away. "I guess that I can stay as long as you'll still have me."
"Great!"
"You never comfort me like that." Kaeya frowned.
"Horrid women don't need comfort!"
"Asshole." She cooed playfully, standing from her seat. "But come on."
"Where are we going?" Naruto asked.
"Well you do need to test these 'Icarus Pinions' of yours. And I've so happened to be tasked with dismantling a Ruin Grader. The big lug is getting too close to civilization for the higher-ups' liking."
"So you want me to do your job for you!?"
"Don't as like it wouldn't be a good test for you, and Noelle as well. After all, you won't make it far in the Knights if you can't deal with one measly automaton."
Why didn't he believe her?
"Fine, but I have to figure out how these things work first."
"Read on the go, we can't wait forever."
"This task. You were given it a while ago weren't you?"
"Mh-hm. The day after we met, in fact"
"That was almost two weeks ago!"
"All the more reason not to wait."
"You are going to be the death of me, woman!" Naruto reared up on her.
"That's the goal, man!" Kaeya pushed her face close up on his, not backing down as she mocked him. A coy grin lay on her lips that didn't settle Naruto at all.
"Whatever. You owe me dinner for this." He grumbled, grabbing the Icarus Pinions and instructional manual.
"I already provide all your meals, should I provide you with a five-course meal!? Oh, wait! You already get those every night!"
"It's not being generous if you rub it in!"
"Like I care! Find another place is you're so unhappy!"
"Oh, you can believe I can't wait to get my own place!" He stormed out of the lair.
"Ha! Not happening! Your first assignment as a knight will be as a stay-in guard at the Dawn Winery!" Kaeya said chasing after.
"Um, wouldn't that be an abuse of power?" Noelle asked, Albedo and she being the only two remaining in the hideaway.
"I do not think the Captain cares?"
"Fair… I should be going then!" Noelle rushed after Naruto and Kaeya, least be left to find the way on her own.
Once he was alone, Albedo turned back to the machine. "Do you truly not know of a way back to his home?"
The phonograph sparked to life without any button mash. "I do, if we're being transparent, even against Minami's wishes I couldn't resist a good puzzle. But that world has nothing pleasant for those descendants of their Sage of Six Paths. It's best that he stay away, for now at least. If he can't make a home of Teyvat, then I'll relent in seeing him home. For now, though, I expect you to be a good big brother to Klee and to Naruto as well."
"Very well... Lady Alice." Albedo did not force the issue. Archons worked in mysterious ways, after all.
000TD000
The journey to the Ruin Grader was a rough one. The climb up and down snowy mountains slopes was something he was used to after weeks of it. But trying to handle it while reading and keep a check on his Elemental Energy intake was nearly too much.
But they eventually reached a site of carnage, a Hilichurl Camp that had seen better days. The remains of slaughtered Hilichurls, Samachurls, and even a Mitachurl lay thrown about the place. Towers, tents, and wooden shrines still alit in flame.
"Oh no." Noelle gasped at the sight while Naruto held a scowl on his face.
"Is this that Grader's doing?" His voice carried contempt on its winds.
Kaeya was baffled by the both of them, looking at them like they were idiots. "You do know that Hilichurls are hostile too, right?"
"Not always!" Naruto chirped his seriousness breaking. "Sometimes they do cool little dances when they don't notice you!"
"… and when they do notice you?"
"We don't talk about that."
"Bzzrp-zztp!" Further discussion ended as the battle cry of a Ruin Automaton blasted through the air.
Trudging their way was the Ruin Grader, massive and bulky. Brown and tan and silver metals – worn and rusted – set amongst each other. Puzzled together to form a behemoth that looked able to bring so much of what its name implied: ruin.
Naruto didn't need to be ordered as he saw Kaeya leap back. He grabbed Noelle, who had so chosen to take a defensive stance. The crazy lass was ready to play chicken with a soulless machine.
He dragged her on with reckless force. Elemental energy paid for kinetic force, it all sent to his soles. They flew back and away. He pulled Noelle into a secure grip as they landed a distance away. A massive superheated beam cut through the land, scorching it wholly. Would have scorched them had they not moved when they did.
"Work smart! This is a real fight." Naruto chided, putting Noelle to the side and grabbing the gifted pistols from his belt. He leveled his eyes to the eye of the Ruin Grader as it began to charge them. "Shield or not…" He charged the Grader, sliding under a wild swing from the machine. Opportunity given, he punched into its exposed 'ribs'. The sharpened tip of Icarus Pinion cut into metal and was followed up by a click. Trigger pulled, that sound signaled the emergence of a bolt of sun-blessed energy. The damage left from a single shot exposed the innards of the Grader. "… Dodge where you can..." The Ruin Grader did not back down. Its arms clicked in their own right, extending out as the whole of its upper body began to spin in a tornado of steel. Naruto was too close to evade, but elemental energy erupted from him. A perfect sphere formed around him. When the Ruin Grader's limbs smashed into him, Naruto flew back like a volleyball. He crashed and righted himself as the impromptu shield shattered like glass. "… Don't shield unless you can't."
"Right!" Noelle took to his lesson with care. She summoned forth her weapon, a gold and navy single-edged sword as tall as she and half as wide. Whiteblind branded, she charged in as Naruto moved in toe.
She went low, dashing for its legs. She became a mortal arrow, kicking off the ground in one go, flying towards the bot. Her claymore cut towards the armored shin of its right leg. She struck true, cutting into the limb and shattering the core held within. It sputtered in its spin, unable to keep momentum with but one leg.
Its lower half covered, Naruto chose to go high. He leapt into the air and only accelerated from there. A shockwave of kinetic force saw him high above the twelve-foot titan. High enough for his like, a second burst sent him back down again. He collided pistols first into the skull of the metal menace. Blades cut into the metal and a double click rocked the Grader's world. Explosive heat melted away much of its armored helm. Its core exposed, Naruto struck again. Cocking back a hand and allowing elemental energy to harshly course through his limb. His fist swung down with monstrous force, the Ruin Grader forced to crumble. Pinion firmly in the machine's core Naruto chose then to pull the trigger. What was unleashed was more cannon fire than bullet. The overcharge of Elemental Energy allowing passage for a miniature sun to tear into its skull. It burnt its way down to its sternum.
Naruto had the good sense to leap away as did Noelle. Both watched as the chest of the Ruin Grader glowed white-hot and then gave way. Its upper body exploded outwards in a shower of heat and shrapnel.
"Well-"
"Bzzrp-zztp!" Naruto might have been about to speak on how easy that was, but sound erupted from the Ruin Grader's unharmed leg. It was their only warning. All at once, it glowed an unwelcomed green. It pulled itself back to full height, or at least what remained of it. But even then all scattered remains began glowing that same green. Shrapnel jettisoned back to it, falling into place. Their saving grace might be that some of its parts were smelted into nothing. But almost miraculous, metal began growing in places where that was none. Better than before, the Ruin Grader looked immaculate, gone of rust and wear.
That was not meant to happen, and Kaeya knew as much. Ruin machines had a degree of regenerative capabilities. But it was slow and never on such a level. Destroying one before it ever had the chance to so much as start the process was well possible. 'Naruto...' She thought. Albedo warned that monsters could take advantage of Naruto's existence as a well-spring of Elemental Energy. This proved to what capacity. But that'd be too distracting to bring up now. She'd have to improvise.
"It's a Grader I was set to handle, you know!" Kaeya called from afar, Cheshire grin planted on her lips. "High-specs and all. Destroy all three cores, or that will happen again!"
Back with Naruto, he felt the urge to curse at how she failed to mention that before. But instead, he favored: "Where's the third core!?"
"Figure it out!"
"Woman!" Naruto turned to Kaeya to speak his peace.
"Move!" He registered her words too late, a flash of light and steel smashing into him. He was ripped from his feet, carried with the rocket into a cliff face.
The explosive went off and rubble fell. Cold stone and harsh ice threatened to crush him in a way that he wouldn't recover. He owed a lot to his instincts as his arms flew up before he could think. His Icarus Pinions almost burned in his hands as he pulled the trigger. Neither bullet nor cannonball followed. Instead, twin beams fired from the guns, merging into one in swift fashion. It was enough to vaporize all that was above him, cutting a deep gash into the cliffside. Then carving a hole into the clouds above.
"If only you aimed that at the Grader!"
"SHUT! UP!" He roared, pulling himself up. His skin was red, from anger, yes, but the rocket's explosion had also come so very close to properly burning him. He'd accept the make-shift sunburn begrudgingly. He knew that without Sage Mode it could have been so much worse.
He took a step forward and stumbled, his hair falling flaccid - white giving to blond - and his vision blurring. He felt exhausted all at once. An intense hunger consumed him as he lost his footing outright. He caught himself with his arms, sheer determination keeping him from collapsing fully. He refused to be put on his back again. Not by some supersized toy.
"Time to clean up!" Noelle's voice was numb to his ears. He looked toward her - his vision still horrid and all in grayscale - as her claymore became a beam sabre.
She charged in close and swung upwards, geo-infused blade knocking aside the Grader's head. She pulled back right away, going into a swing that cut into right leg of Guard. A glow and explosion gave clue to the destruction of one of its cores, which it didn't appreciate. Its eye glowed a demonic glow, a beam of energy blasting toward Noelle. She said words too vague for Naruto to hear. Yet he knew her well enough to know it to be the short mantra that called forth her Breastplate.
Beam meet shield and shield was shoved away in force. Noelle shot towards the left as her barrier began to crack. Fleeing the beam's range just as her geo shield shattered.
She swung her luminescent claymore. The reach of the blade extending through the distance and slamming into its skull. Another eruption went off as another core was destroyed.
"HIIIIYAAAA!" Two cores down, Noelle knew where the third one was to be found. doing a counterclockwise twirl to curve her blade into its final core. The sound of metal smashing was a melody to Naruto as Noelle destroyed its third core as the beam sabre gave.
The Ruin Grader made to collapse, just as Naruto's vision returned to him proper. Just as he noticed that he was glowing an awful orange.
"GET OUT OF THERE!" Kaeya showed true concern as she warned Noelle away, but the girl looked too drained to move. She put too much into her barrier-beam sabre combo. Fatigue as great as what Naruto experienced moments overtook her. She did not have the durability to withstand the consequences.
'No!' Fear consumed him, leading him to open the call to nature for the first time in weeks. It answered in spades; Elemental Energy filled him to the brim in a fluid motion. He felt ready to go once more, but that did not enthuse him at all, panic still had hold of him. His eyes were set on Noelle, who still hadn't moved. He scrambled to his feet and rushed towards her as the blast neared.
"DON'T GIVE UP!" Those words seemed to spark something inside him. He felt his feet give way, he felt himself become light and energy. Pure and fiery, that white ball that was once Naruto flew forward at unmatched speeds. It smashed into Noelle as the explosion grew ever closer.
She did not tumble, but instead grew firm. She gripped her claymore as her eyes took to a rainbow hue and her silver hair glowed white. "AS ONE!" Noelle and Naruto voice roared together from her mouth. Whiteblind erupted with fiery geo energy as Noelle swung.
Her beam sabre sparked back to life and slammed into the self-destructing Ruin Grader. The collision enough to pick it up from the ground and send it flying. Not done, an ethereal Naruto sparked up from behind her. Translucent and shiny, like a holy wisp, Naruto soared above Noelle. Hoisting the Icarus Pinions high, they glowed white-hot before shifting.
"Energy Intake: Maximum! Annihilation Mode: Initiated!" The Icarus Pinions shattered like glass. The shards of the Icarus Pinions shifted about before reforming into a single weapon. A massive canon - larger than the sum of its parts - fell to Naruto's ghostly hands.
Even apart the two spoke as one. "VANISH!" With a click, the merged Icarus Pinion unleashed a blast that caused the air itself to tremble. The beam trumped the size of the Ruin Grader ever so massively. It vaporized the Ruin Grader before it ever had the chance to explode.
"Hn! Hit it that time! 'Ttebayo!" Noelle and Naruto sang, as Naruto's pistols shattered and reformed back into two.
"Yes, how nice," Kaeya said as she approached the two. Looking between the Noelle with the flowing glowing hair and the ghostly Naruto. He floated attached to her back like a glorified balloon. "How does that come undone?"
"No clue!"
"What do you mean, 'no clue', you did it!?"
"We were in a panic! Besides why would we want to undo it! We can definitely become a knight like this!"
"If you want to be inside someone then you could have chosen better!"
"What!? We think we know what you're implying, but also we have zero clue what you're..." Naruto and Noelle clutched their heads as one followed and then fainted as one as well. Naruto's body returned to normal – blond hair and all – as he crashed into the snow beside Noelle. The glow faded from Noelle's hair and Kaeya could only guess that her eyes shifted back.
With them both unconscious, Kaeya had to figure what to make of this. She looked them and then to the Icarus Pinions. They did work to well rid Naruto of his excess Elemental Energy. They worked too well. Collapsing in the middle of a fight due to overcharging on a shot could be a detriment not worth suffering. If Noelle hadn't been at the top of her game after constant training with him, then they both could have died. Of course she was around to swoop in before things escalated that far and she was about to do just that. But at that moment, Naruto showed just how far his supportive abilities stretched.
'Hmm?' Even without an element to call his own he had his own version of an Elemental Burst. Or at least she hoped that was his Burst. If he could do something more grandiose than that, then even Varka would be quivering. 'I'll let Albedo make of this.' She thought, as she grabbed Noelle and tossed her onto her shoulder. Grabbing Naruto by the back of his jacket and dragging him along.
Yeah, Albedo would have a field day with this revelation. And of course, he would want Naruto to give a demonstration. Kaeya would be sure to volunteer before anyone could protest. She meant what she said. She would allow Noelle to monopolize Naruto. She had him first, damn it!
000TD000
Author's Notes:
Noelle's Here! Honestly, I just love her, being that I was a NoelleMain for the longest and still switch her onto the team fairly often. She'll forever be one of my most reliable characters, so of course, I'd give her some love here.
So with this chapter, Naruto's abilities have been moreso revealed. The point in this chapter was to show that he doesn't have a full grasp on this 'Sage Mode' and that there are many things to it that he doesn't have full reign or understanding of, such as that 'Fusion' Technique we saw at the tail end. But to be clear, his struggling to keep it in check isn't meant to be a continued plot point, it was present in this chapter to establish the foundation of him working towards mastering it, but by the next few chapters, he'll have enough control of it that these powers won't be a true detriment beyond occasion flare-ups at inconvenient moments.
Again, his 'guns' – if you could truly call them that, more like beam pistols – won't be his only weapons and even by the next chapter you'll see him getting a hold of his second weapon. I wanted to include them here as a mixture of a homage to Kiana from Honkai Impact and also because really, am I the only one confused about why the Fatui's minions are literally the only human characters with guns in a world where automatons room about everywhere? So with this, I hoped to give more of an explanation for that. Beyond that, Gun-Fu is just awesome. Sometimes aesthetics is reason enough, no?
As yet another plug, if you have the free time, go read some stories by my good buddies: PlaguedAmbition and AngryOwl. They have gotten back into the swing of writing and any added encouragement via review will be welcomed(possibly).
There's a poll on my profile for the harem, so vote so your voice is heard. The final decision will be up to me, but your weighing in will heavily skew my decision in the audience's favor.
Also, do leave a review, people so often wait until after events have come and passed to speak up. Make your thoughts known, if there's something you want to see or to NOT see, speak now or forever dread the fact that you didn't once it's too late. I can change plans in the midst of writing, but I have no intention of going back and altering chapters once they're published on this site.
Also, also, more reviews inspire me to update quicker.
Ja Ne~!