Meeting of the Multiversal Council
September 1st, Year One of the Unification
Projection Set In Nexus Chamber IV of the Unified Realms
Safe, R-Encrypted Copy
PRESENT
[…]
Six Hundred Seventeen New Arrivals:
[…]
Lucy Heartfilia, from Earthland World #33 (Shizune's Note: A wizard with a strong bond to her spirits.)
[…]
Lucy Heartfilia (#EW33): It's about trust. Why are you hesitating?
Uzumaki Naruto (#Chair): […] Trust? Hesitating?
Lucy Heartfilia (#EW33): Trust in your allies, in your friends. That's where true strength lies.
Uzumaki Naruto (#Chair): Trust has always been a cornerstone of our strength, yes.
Lucy Heartfilia (#EW33): But it's more than that! Friendship isn't just a part of our strength—it is our strength! It's the magic that binds us, the power that fuels our hearts! Without it, we're nothing! When hearts are united in friendship, no obstacle is insurmountable! It's the most powerful magic of all!
Uzumaki Naruto (#Chair): With all due respect, what the hell are you saying?
Mitarashi Anko (#01): Actual friendship magic? Oh, my, you'd do terribly there, Naruto.
Meeting of the Multiversal Council
September 2nd, Year One of the Unification
Projection Set In Nexus Chamber V of the Unified Realms
Safe, R-Encrypted Copy
PRESENT
[…]
Five Hundred Forty-Four New Arrivals:
[…]
Geralt of Rivia, from Continent World #82 (Mai's Note: Geralt, the White Wolf, is said to carry a wisdom forged in countless battles.)
Vesemir, from Continent World #82 (Mai's Note: Vesemir, a seasoned mentor and father figure to many 'witchers:' wizard-like mercenaries with high-libido and shiny eyes.)
[…]
Geralt of Rivia (#CW82): But the world isn't black and white.
Uzumaki Naruto (#Chair): [...] I am aware?
Geralt of Rivia (#CW82): Choices are rarely clear-cut. It's important for us to see the gray areas. Before we commit to anything or anyone.
Uzumaki Naruto (#Chair): We navigate such things every day, yes.
Geralt of Rivia (#CW82): As long as you remember that the lesser evil is still evil, we might be able to find a working compromise.
Uzumaki Naruto (#Chair): [Laughs.]
[…]
Vesemir (#82): A good mentor is crucial, however. Why go at it alone? In guiding others, we also learn. The cycle of knowledge must continue.
Uzumaki Sakura (#01): Wizards? You kids love wizards, don't you, Sarada?
Uchiha Sarada (#07): They are tolerable in small doses.
Uzumaki Sakura (#01): What about your friend Nacchan? Wouldn't he love seeing more wizard [stuff]? We should send him there.
Uzumaki Boruto (#07): […] Somehow, I don't think it's a good idea.
Vesemir (#82): […]
Uzumaki Kaitaro (#Chair): We value the wisdom of our mentors highly, yes.
Orochimaru (#Chair): Please do not lie to our newest friends, Kaitaro.
Meeting of the Multiversal Council
September 3rd, Year One of the Unification
Projection Set In Nexus Chamber IX of the Unified Realms
Safe, R-Encrypted Copy
PRESENT
[…]
One Thousand One Hundred Fourteen New Arrivals:
[…]
Voldemort Lord, from World #H94 (Sakura's Note: some black mage named Tom who's obsessed with power and immortality. He talks of a new order, a world reshaped by his ideals. Thought you'd get along.)
[…]
Severus Snape (#H94): […] How long has it been…? How long has it been since you've had him captured? Months, now?
Uzumaki Naruto (#Chair): Sorry, he slipped my mind.
Albus Dumbledore (#H94): Severus, please. All that matters, now, is that justice is finally served.
Sirius Black (#H94): I can't help but notice, Albus, that you haven't insisted on bringing him back home for trial.
Albus Dumbledore (#H94): We both know how justice can be miscarried there, do we not, Sirius?
Sirius Black (#H94): Ha! Maybe you do know how to hold a grudge, Albus, after all. I won't complain.
Voldemort Lord (#H94): This is a farce. You talk of justice while you hold me here, against my will?
Uzumaki Naruto (#Chair): I merely wanted to talk.
Albus Dumbledore (#H94): Indeed, Tom. Your actions have consequences. And they have led you here.
Voldemort Lord (#H94): You fools. You think holding me will change anything? My ideals, my followers, they are beyond your grasp. And you, Severus. A traitor of dubious blood. Did you think you could escape my wrath by hiding in this charade?
Severus Snape (#H94): I serve not your interests anymore[…] Tom.
Voldemort Lord (#H94): You're a coward who has only changed masters then, Snape. A spineless, turncoat rat. Like your father was.
Severus Snape (#H94): Is it truly mine that you are speaking of? Your[…]
Voldemort Lord (#H94): Of course. Where else would you have learned to kneel before me? Now, go and grovel at this man's feet. That is what you do best.
Sirius Black (#H94): Easy, there. You've lost. You're here, trapped.
Voldemort Lord (#H94): Lost? I do not lose, Black. I merely... recalibrate.
Sirius Black (#H94): Recalibrate all you want, then.
Voldemort Lord (#H94): You sit there, so smug in your righteousness. But let me remind you of the truth. I have crushed those you held dear, eradicated the weak and defiant. Your dear Pot[…]
Uzumaki Naruto (#Chair): Enough chit chat now, Tom the Wizard. Your soul is ours to pick apart. Hopefully you have something interesting for us all.
Journal Entry #232 by Orochimaru of World #47: Observations on Hana of the Celestial Ring
Date: September 5th, Year One of the Unification
Subject: Kirishima Hana, Citizen of the Celestial Ring's Market Plaza Shiranui
Today's focus is on Kirishima Hana. Her very ordinariness makes her a subject of my unending fascination. Hana was picked randomly and has consented to this scrutiny, it's worth mentioning.
Hana's day commences with the artificial dawn, a masterful imitation of natural light cycles. Her living space is a haven of personal aesthetics, featuring chakra-imbued sculptures and a mix of tangible and holographic art. Her morning ritual is chakra meditation, a discipline that centers her energies for the day's tasks.
She follows this with a meal, simple but rich in nutrients, thanks to our state-of-the-art technology. The food, of course, is engineered yet flavored to satisfy even the most refined tastes.
Hana is on what is known as the Path of the Healer. This role resembles that of a medical ninja but encompasses a wider range of duties, such as crafting chakra-infused medicines. Her precision in the healing halls is noteworthy, demanding a level of chakra control that I will admit, I find somewhat impressive.
Social engagements take place in communal gardens, areas designed for both visual appeal and social interaction. These, I find I have no particular interest in, usually, so let us move on.
In the afternoon, Hana often indulges in scholarly activities. Today, she attended a lecture on universal balance, a topic of heightened relevance given the Empire's technologies and leanings.
As the artificial light fades, marking the onset of evening, Hana partakes in self-reflection. This introspective exercise is vital to their daily regimen, aimed at sustaining emotional equilibrium and focus. A ritual I find useful for its potential use in psychological influence.
As Hana ends her day, it becomes evident to me that this way of living offers rich material for study. My curiosity is heightened, and additional observation is justified.
End of Entry #232.
The Toad and the Pale Moon
It had been a busy summer, and it was promising to be a busy fall.
Distress calls came from everywhere, and the Celestial Ring continued to expand, week after week, day after day. It didn't seem like there was going to be an end to it.
People adapted, as they always did.
The ninja (and other Path of the Warrior adepts) were busy, as numerous as they were. And this was not just true of the strongest, who went on more dangerous missions.
Go there. Help the people. Over and over.
An endless cycle of freeing worlds — perhaps only to put another ruler in charge, one who was hopefully better.
No one back home likely understood what life had turned out to be like for him. And how could they, when his homeworld simply reaped the benefits of his continued employment for the Ring…?
Go there. Help the people.
For whom? He rarely even got to meet any of these people.
Who was he doing this for?
There was something bubbling inside him, something red hot—
A wooden stick slammed against the back of his head.
Gods, did it hurt! This shit had to be reinforced. He wouldn't put it past the cruel woman — or the ones working with her, they were all terrible, cruel, sexy —
The stick slammed against his head again and this time, Gama let out a growl.
"Focus, child." So came the short order, in a tone that left no room for interpretation. "It is the second time in a row you lost control of it."
Gama growled. "Is this a joke? How am I supposed to focus on anything if you keep hitting me with that fucking stick?"
Yoisen gave him a flat look. "Isn't that the method the Toads employed with you?"
"What does this have to do with anything?! I know none of the future Jūbi bearers got slapped with a stick."
She tilted her head. "…You're not going to be a Jūbi bearer if you can't master a simple Kyūbi."
He glared at her until she glared back and he felt too scared to continue. "…Whatever. Let's move. There's a world to save."
Yoisen sighed. "Had Naruto not personally asked for me to watch over you because of how badly your last mission went, I would have gladly let you handle it yourself."
Gama's ears reddened. That one had, admittedly, been a fumble on his part. "…Don't you have some tyrant to go grool over, or something?"
Oh, fuck. Had he said this out loud? Likely. It felt as though the words hung in the air. True, Gama was well-versed in the language of desire, could sense an attraction from kilometers away, and indeed this particular instance was intense, but still.
Yoisen paused, and for a moment, Gama felt as if he were teetering on the edge of a blade — hers. "…What does grool mean?"
"Uh…" Gama thought quickly, decided to bullshit his way out of this. "It's like... a combination of great and cool."
"I see." Yoisen nodded. "I don't understand the sentence then, but you have my thanks for teaching me."
Gama cringed inwardly, and made a silent prayer. "…No worries."
…
If there was one advantage to rescuing worlds, it was that the people tended to be properly grateful afterward.
This was a fact not lost on Gama, who decided that being a seasoned traveler of realities with a gift for arriving just when hope seemed to flicker out was not that bad after all.
As the celebrations began, with songs in his (their) honor lifting into the evening sky, Gama forgot all about his earlier state of mind.
From the mist-enshrouded peaks of Shurin to the sun-scorched dunes of Kazangan, they had confronted five despots today, and mythical beasts, too.
Gama's name was carried on the lips of the wind across countless cities, he knew, along with a story of deliverance. And always, those whom he liberated showered him with their most precious offerings: gems as large as one's hand, blades bathed in the light of dying stars, and banquets fit for a legion.
All of these, he refused. These riches paled in comparison to the sincere thanks of the women he saved.
"But you have returned to us our homeland." A woman named Sango was saying. "What boon might we bestow upon you in gratitude?"
Gama shook his head nobly. "I only fulfilled what was expected of me." After thinking some, he added. "…And I am but one out of many warriors."
To Yoisen's credit, she didn't interrupt him, although she did roll her eyes.
The folk of planet Yousha shed tears of elation, thanking him for the returned dawn.
Sango's smile was warm, and the appreciation, clear in her gaze. "Expectation or not, you people have our gratitude. And you have mine."
Gama just smiled back. Sango gave him a look that he knew all too well, and his heart sped up with anticipation. Yes. Yes.
Her words confirmed it. "Will you two spend the night—"
"I am afraid we need to depart now." Yoisen said. And Gama was almost certain it wasn't even done on purpose. She could simply be that oblivious. Or she was subtly disrupting him, in a way he couldn't even notice. "There are other worlds waiting for us."
Sango seemed to deflate. "Oh."
Goddamnit. He wanted to assure her, to make promises he could keep, but the life they led was never that simple. "…We'll meet again." Gama said with a sigh. "The… universe has a way of bringing souls back together."
That way was a Rinnegan with the Emperor's special ability Impressed on it.
He didn't really count on it. People had their own lives, after all—
"See you on this Celestial Ring soon, then?" She asked hopefully. "I will spend a night there, simply because your words have made me so very curious. Perhaps you could… show me around?"
Aw yeah. Gama's grin could have blinded a blind man. "For sure!"
Yoisen sighed, and he thought she rolled her eyes again. Gods, was he looking forward to his next assignment with Toru — hell, he'd even take Jinsuke at this point.
But a woman, beautiful and cruel as she might be, insulting him was fine too. He'd pay her back someday. That was a promise he wouldn't back out on.
Shrine Maiden
She was Himura Kyōka, fifty-ninth shrine maiden of the village of Kitsunemura.
In a world draped in the veils of mystique, where legends breathed and danced with the rustling leaves, there stood the village of Kitsunemura, cradled in the arms of whispering forests.
Here, under the eternal watch of gnarled, ancient trees and the ever-changing sky, Kyōka was born — a child of destiny, marked by the spirits for a path written in the stars, marked to be a sacrifice.
Kyōka, with eyes mirroring tranquil ponds and a voice as gentle as the breeze through the sacred grove, grew under this shadow. The villagers, seeing in her the embodiment of the divine, revered her. Destined to bridge the mortal and the spiritual, she was the chosen conduit to the revered fox deity's spirit.
As the moon waxed and waned, the fated day approached. In reverence of ancient rites, the village watched as Kyōka adorned herself in ceremonial white and red robes, her face marked with the sacred symbols of the fox.
On the night of her great sacrifice, Kitsunemura glowed with celestial light, the air resonant with the silent songs of the kami. A night of celebration, it seemed. Yet Kyōka, who had always known her difference and carried a deep-seated sadness, found no solace even on this destined night.
Ascending the shrine steps slowly, her prayers mingled with starlight and shadows. The villagers watched, witnessing the merging of worlds, the dance of the spirits around their beloved maiden. In that sacred moment, the barrier between realms thinned, and Kyōka, the fifty-ninth shrine maiden, was poised to join the eternal dance.
The Great Fox Spirit, Inari-Kitsune, approached as her life waned.
Though her physical form would vanish into the embrace of the night, Kyōka had hopes her spirit would lingered, a guardian ethereal and ever-present—
And then, inexplicably, unexpectedly, Inari-Kitsune bristled and retreated swiftly.
Color returned to Kyōka's skin, slowly. Among the crowd, disguised strangers — a tall black-haired man, a taller blond one, and a fierce woman with pink hair — revealed themselves, once it was clear the ritual had been disrupted.
The woman roared at the Great Fox to come back, but it was gone already. And then, nothing.
The village stood in stunned silence as these newcomers disclosed a shocking truth: Kitsunemura's foundation was a lie, and Inari-Kitsune, in truth responsible for their hardships, was now fleeing from mere mortals.
With undeniable proof, and the deity's abandonment clear, the village's faith wavered. The shrines, once sacred, were torn down in disillusionment.
She was Himura Kyōka, and she would have been the fifty-ninth shrine maiden of the village of Kitsunemura.
And she supposed that made her the last.
...
"Well." Toru sighed. "No fox-killing in that one either."
"That little bitch is obviously running." Sakura snorted, making a fist. "Hiding from us."
"Clearly." Toru approved. "Are we going for another of these worlds, then?"
Naruto thought about it.
...
"You know, a little heads-up next time would be nice." Sakura huffed playfully as she dove into the cloud-like bed. "Ino's probably running around like a headless chicken covering for me."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, a teasing glint in his eye. "Since when do you mind an early day off?"
"I don't." Sakura laughed. "But Yoisen was pretty cool about it, so no harm done."
Naruto nearly froze. "Wait, you left Ino and Yoisen alone? Together?"
"She was more than happy." Sakura nodded. "Say. Why do you look like you've seen a kami?"
Sakura watched him summon his jacket back on, amusedly.
"If I go now…" He began. "I think I can make it in time, still. Probably."
Sakura's laughter stopped him in his tracks. "Relax, it's just a joke. Yoisen's with Hanabi and Gama this week, remember? Your face, though!" She shook her head, still chuckling. "You really do juggle too much."
"You're terrible." Naruto exhaled slowly. "…Please don't makethat joke again."
"Alright, alright, I'll behave." Sakura said easily. "Now, why don't you come take a nap with me?"
"Sure thing, midget. Don't Kamui through me."
"My, you're an ass." She laughed and patted the silk sheets under her, beckoning him to come to bed.
Naruto's lips quirked into a smile.
Joining her on the bed, he felt the day's burdens lift. Sakura shuffled closer, her smaller head finding the familiar nook beneath his chin. Naruto's arm wrapped around her.
Sakura chuckled, her voice muffled against his chest. "…But you're my ass. And the others', I suppose."
The words vibrated against his heart, and it was a badge he wore with honor.
There was peace in these moments, taking a nap with one of the pieces of his world cradled in his arms.
Kings of Nothing
The sky churned with a whirlpool of dark clouds, casting eerie shadows across the landscape.
Naruto and Sasuke stood back-to-back, eyes narrowed as they surveyed the ruined landscape.
"Be reasonable." This world's Shibai laughed. His chakra brimmed with malevolent energy that seemed to distort the very air around them. "And consider the disadvantages of your situation."
Naruto snorted. "Unless your neck is made out of something that I can't cut, I don't really see any disadvantage here, space goat."
"Maybe we should end this fast, Naruto." Sasuke said, his red-ringed eyes never leaving the enemy in front of him.
Encircling them from all sides, Ōtsutsuki formations were as intricate as they were deadly.
At the vanguard were the Twelve Heavenly Generals. Clad in ceremonial armor and wielding weapons infused with sacred powers, they were a force to be reckoned with.
The Oni Brigade on the right flank, wearing cruel masks. The Tengu Division above them, soaring with wide, feathered wings.
And the Four Heavenly Kings, of course.
"Don't let me stop you, then." Naruto said, smiling. "I don't like the way that Shibai guy's eying my sword."
It was no wonder, however. That man's (Ōtsutsuki) eyes could discern there was something otherworldly about it, likely.
"But do give me a second before that Infernal Grove, alright?" Naruto asked. "I'll soften them up."
'I am Water, the force that shapes the stone. My depths you cannot fathom.'
Water surged from the strength of his chakra.
It wasn't a mere wave, nor a torrent — it was as though the very earth had torn open, releasing a sea in an instant.
The space around Naruto and Sasuke became an expanding sphere of liquid force, shattering the ground, transforming the air into a roiling, unstoppable deluge.
The landscape warped as if reality itself bent under the weight of so much water, too sudden and too overwhelming to be contained.
For years, this element had been restrained, pent-up within the folds of Naruto's chakra, waiting like a caged leviathan.
Now unleashed, it moved as if sentient, a cataclysmic force making up for lost time. It swallowed everything in its path, as inexorable as time and as unfathomable as the cosmos.
And more importantly…
It left enemies very, very vulnerable to his even stronger lightning abilities.
All of this happened in a flash, of course.
But their enemies were strong.
Formidable, no doubt, but Naruto's grin was undeterred as the first wave of them lunged, blades gleaming, and arms unnaturally extended to slice through the water's resistance.
Shibai was among them. Naruto and Sasuke moved in flawless harmony, a dance perfected through countless battles.
Sasuke blocked the ancestral sword that the man wielded with his own; an ethereal blade met a divine one with a sound that wasn't supposed to be made, nor heard.
Up close, King Shibai seemed to stop.
His gaze caught Naruto's, and something entirely disbelieving passed through his eyes. "No. You are…" He whispered, as though thrust underwater. "Amatsu-Mikaboshi…?"
Naruto groaned. "Oh, not this shit again."
He prepared to strike Shibai, but didn't need to.
"Square up!" Toru's voice thundered across the field, his sights set on the King.
Coming out of nowhere, a leg enveloped in teal chakra rocketed toward Shibai's face. The being let it happen, of course. The mere force of it wouldn't do much to him—
Reality seemed to contort. Shibai's visage was sucked into the blow, only to be violently expelled upon contact. It was as if something rippled, contracted, and finally exploded in a burst of energy.
In any case, Shibai was sent flying.
A terrible creature rose where Toru had been, a six-armed Susanoo, whose fists rained down in every conceivable direction at the same time, just as the man himself became a comet of light.
Unleashing the pent-up Storm chakra, Naruto flooded the area with blinding brilliance. His allies had the foresight to close their eyes, averting total blindness. Even so, their world turned momentarily ashen as the chakra pulsed, breaking the land.
The electric tempest coursed through the sea, turning each drop into a volatile spark, ready to set ablaze anything it touched.
Fertile soil, in a way. The rest of the water vaporized in a flash of heat that came from Sasuke's single Dragon hand sign, giving way to a forest of golden trees that erupted from the sundered ground.
And how they burned! They were living things, coordinated lances of fire that struck out with a vengeance, part of a bigger whole, and did not seem to ever turn to ash.
The same thing, of course, could not be said of the Otsutsuki armies, who suffered the full brunt of the inferno.
There was something to be said about the thrill of battle, and no matter how much the two others denied it, Naruto knew they felt the same.
Grinning ominously, he channeled a stream of white lightning down his blade with a sweep of his hand—
A portal opened beside him, aglow with ashen light and flecks of red.
A letter, sealed with an intricate, familiar emblem, floated through. It hovered in the air for a moment before dropping into Naruto's outstretched hand.
His other hand crackled with power as he absentmindedly smote some opportunistic Otsutsuki.
"For fuck's sake." Sasuke snapped. "Now of all times?"
Naruto spared him no attention. Shibai was handled. And Toru needed a good fight anyway — every dog needed its exercise.
...
Evening, you.
I have enjoyed every detail you shared like… Confectionery? Candy? I am still trying to figure out which kind, however.
I will admit to being relatively unfamiliar with the ones that exist now. The only candy that does come to mind would be Manjū, and I never really cared for it. Nor for Daifuku.
Perhaps there are better options. You will have to show me someday, I am afraid.
I noticed your previous message left a question unanswered. It's like finding a grain of sand on my Manjū. Of course, I will not pry into that matter, as I do not know whether it was on purpose.
I have been thinking about that shirt you mentioned. I can almost see you wearing it, like an unfinished watercolor sketch, just missing some crucial details — your hair, eyes, hands.
It would be much easier if you simply sent me a photograph, of course. Some picture posed in front of a mirror if it is easier, for example.
Sakura showed me there are movies on the Relay! I never knew about that, you traitor! In any case, she and I, Karin and I, have stayed up a bit past our bedtime watching some of them. The quality of animated movies these days is astonishing, I can hardly believe it.
Anyhow, I could show you how to watch these movies — in case you do not already know.
Yours,
Yoisen :)
...
Sasuke's eyes narrowed, his nostrils flaring with undisguised irritation.
"What's on your mind?" Naruto inquired, his voice a model of calm.
"Don't even think of answering it right now."
"Of course not." Naruto said, scowling.
For a moment, Sasuke let himself hope. It was quickly dashed.
"No." Naruto said. "I can't do it if you're standing behind me."
WHY THE WOODWIDE WEB WAS A MISTAKE
From: TheGallantToad2
Date: September 10, Year One 12:01pm
To: NarukoReigns
Subject: Who looks best in a strapless dress
For fuck's sake, woman. I'm not talking about the guys, I thought this much was clear.
Let me break it down, taking three examples.
Hanabi — Hanabi has an excellent body. Super tight, petite, and perky. Her best feature is probably her tits — although the rest is top of the shelf stuff. They're SUPER perky, and they look huge on her small frame. Big, round, nicely shaped breasts. If you pay attention to her tight dresses, you should have an idea about just how perky her tits AND nipples must be. Her ass is great too — she trains a lot, apparently.
Yugito - where do I start? Cat-like flexibility. I just KNOW she must be wild — and probably control every part of her body. Just IMAGINE. And she's also slimthick — such a tiny midsection and super wide hips. A true hourglass body. She's always had big tits that are still nicely shaped and round. Plus, I know she's been a jinchuuriki her whole life, like us. That means one thing: Non stop stamina. So much power too. And more. Personal top 5.
Karin - the winner. The biggest, firmest ass in the realm. That's a Uzumaki class ass. Tha t's ASS. Her ass is so insanely fat that it probably makes regular panties look like a thong. Her ass cheeks must be spilling out the sides and swallowing up her panties all the time. It's such a clear explosion from even her meaty thighs. Gods, what a show-stealer. So full of curve, so sweet it is. I could wax poetry about it, but you didn't like my latest attempt
Your turn.
Ino scares me even more than Sakura BTW, so I won't address either. I feel that just thinking about her is going to land me in dark places.
—N.
…
From: NarukoReigns
Date: September 10, Year One 12:20pm
To: TheGallantToad2
Subject: Who looks best in a strapless dress
Hey Gama,
Hope you're doing well. I've got to say, I'm still trying to decode half the acronyms you use in your messages. You might as well be speaking in ancient runes!
On another note, why is there no hologram, no video attached to your messages? Are you still using that relic of a keyboard? You know we're in the first (new) century, right?
I know what you're implying, but it's not true. Bijū-enhanced pussy, really? I can assure you there's no such thing. I'd know, everything I learned, I had to figure on my own. Are you talking about someone in particular?
Ino and Sakura are actually my type, as far as women go. I'd love to be sandwiched in between them. Be the ham to their buns, y'know. I'm sure they're competitive enough for it to be fun.
Or perhaps have our darling Emperor, as well as his right and left arm mess me up :)
I can fix them.
—N.
…
From: TheGallantToad2
Date: September 10, Year One 12:26pm
To: NarukoReigns
Subject: Who looks best in a strapless dress
I wish I could unread this — you're SICK.
-N.
…
From: TheGallantToad2
Date: September 10, Year One 5:42pm
To: ToruSama, PadamusDaGrim, InuzuKiba44, BigGuy4U
Subject: Game night
Alt Subject: The Devil Has White Hair (and a Long Sword)
No, but for real, guys.
I need to talk about something weird going on with Yoisen. Have you noticed how she's been acting lately? There's this strange jealousy thing happening, but it's not about anything logical, like the big man's wives. It's like she's getting all bent out of shape over any new girls that might come into the picture.
I made one (ONE) joke about that Satsuki person, and I thought she was about to cut my dick off. Okay, perhaps I made another joke about one of these women who really wanted to meet the Emperor Naruto.
Otherwise, she's mostly chill. The only moment she really seems happy is when she's writing those damn letters. Who are they for, guys?
I'm kinda stumped here and could use your guys' take on this. Toru, you're Naruto's go-to guy, maybe you've got some insight? And Sirius, maybe there's something you're doing in those letters you send back home that we could learn from? Kiba, just… sniff around?
Hit me back when you can — I might be dead soon, with that dorky space yandere around. Because, make no mistake, this woman is a dork. The last time I've seen someone more unhinged, they had been raised by Orochimaru.
ToruSama: No clue, man. I try not to get involved in his shit. Maybe she's feeling left out? And about the letters, Sirius, you're doing some voodoo there?
PadamusDaGrim: It's not voodoo in England, just regular magic. Maybe she just needs to feel connected, you know?
ToruSama: Makes sense. But ask someone else.
InuzuKiba44: Good idea, I'll do it. And Chōji, maybe we should plan a group thing sooner? Keep the morale up and all that.
BigGuy4U: Totally. Let's set something up. Sunday? What do you guys think?
PadamusDaGrim: Game night sounds fun. I'll bring the snacks and the old school charm.
BigGuy4U: Nah, let me handle the food.
InuzuKiba44: Why not women instead, my canine brother?
ToruSama: It's a boy's night.
TheGallantToad2: Hanabi's there…
ToruSama: Did I stutter?
The evening draped the world in a velvety indigo, and Karin found Naruto in the expansive library of the Meteor Valley, a tome of ancient lore open in his hands.
Behind the glass window, streaks of light, the meteors in question, cascaded across the sky in a beautiful shower.
She approached him quietly, her steps a soft echo between the rows of books.
"Find anything interesting?" Karin asked, grinning and draping an arm around her oldest friend's shoulders.
Naruto smiled up at her, as though he always brightened in her company — enough to make a fierce woman blush, really.
"Just old stories from other worlds. Legends of empires long fallen." He shared, a subtle invitation in his tone. "Some of our latest citizens gifted them to Ryūsei's scholars. I suppose they want their history to be understood, too."
Karin leaned against the large, oak desk, her fingers tracing the intricate carvings. "You do realize you'll be in these books, too, someday?"
"I suppose." He smiled, closing the book with a soft thud. "But that goes for any of us, doesn't it?"
"Right." Karin tilted her head, her red hair catching the light of the candles. "…Think the stories will be any good?"
Naruto moved closer, the distance between them charged with a familiar warmth. "They'll have to be." He replied easily, his hand finding hers. "You're in them."
She grinned, feeling her cheeks redden slightly. "Ino is right. You're a smooth talker."
Together, they watched the candles flicker, surrounded by the smell of ancient oaks.
From: HiddenLeafHermit544
Date: September 12, Year One 9:03am
To: TheGallantToad2
Subject: Quick question
Hey Gama,
Glad you're asking me and not your father. That man has turned unbearably dull. Sorry, not sorry.
It's a question that everyone in this world must have wondered about: "Where did Empress Sakura's facial scar come from?"
No record or tale speaks of it. No one offers any sort of explanation. This makes the origin of the scar all the more enigmatic.
Even the keenest minds must be stumped. Count me among them.
The scar under her eye narrows to a sliver, expanding across her cheek, with the densest area above the eye indicating the starting point. It's old, and is neither a burn nor a simple cut — eliminate those possibilities.
Traditional weapons from the Fūma or Akimichi clans are equally unlikely culprits. From my experience, that leaves us primarily with wind or lightning chakra as the cause. Yet, this wound remains unhealed, defying our advanced medical jutsu — a rarity, especially given her ability to become intangible.
The scar's pattern is consistent with the piercing quality of lightning and the slicing nature of wind, beginning sharply and widening along its path. This suggests a blend of both elements, explaining its distinct shape and the intense concentration at the origin.
For someone of Sakura's standing, commanding powerful healing abilities and the best healers alike, only a jutsu of exceptional potency, perhaps rivaling her own, could thwart recovery, indicating an extraordinary lightning/wind chakra at work.
So, piecing it together: she got this scar from an extraordinary burst of chakra, unleashed close to her eye when her guard was down.
I presume the most likely scenario is the following: Sakura deactivated her technique while sharing an intense emotional moment with her husband. At that vulnerable juncture, he lost control. Imagine them close to each other, both unprepared for the sudden outburst of Uzumaki chakra that erupted between them. Picture it: the force of the blast, exceeding both of their expectations, tearing across her face, permanently scarring her eye like a military police officer hosing down an aggressive civilian. Truly, the sheer speed and force of the event left an impression on her face, scarring it in an erotic display of pain and pleasure.
I think this is the most likely solution.
Feel free to ask further questions.
—J.
…
From: TheGallantToad2
Date: September 12, Year One 9:03am
To: HiddenLeafHermit544
Subject: Quick question
Thanks. I'm good.
—N.
Naruto composed music most days he was home, now.
It found its way from his mind, though his hand and onto the back of whatever chakra-printed document happened to be lying around.
To Ino, these markings were nothing more than scribbles until he brought them to life. His koto would echo simple tunes, swinging melodies, and complicated classical strains from an era Ino had never truly appreciated — until now.
Perhaps he could still make Ino's heart skip a beat with such things, but that was because she was a very sensitive, empathic person. Unlike him.
Perhaps she kissed him softly in those moments, pressing her lips to his own, to his brow, to his messy hair that was slightly more golden. His deep purple eyes would lock with her sky-blue ones, radiating a warmth that was both earnest and familiar.
All the while, his fingers continued their dance, strong and sure.
They both know each other like the back of their own hand; both know that love was the art of embracing imperfections, and a nice song or three could make these a bit softer on the heart.
"I thought you were about to cry." She said to him, once he was done.
He smiled. "That's just my flow face. You wouldn't get it, being a non-musician and all."
She stood over him, with an amused smile when he leaned back to rest his head on the couch behind him. She stared at him, eyes narrowing slightly as she played his words again.
"What?" Naruto asked, tilting his head.
"You're such a—"
"Handsome man?"
"I was going to say 'bastard,' actually."
He squinted. "…What did I do, now?"
"You know damn well what you said." She said.
"I don't see it."
She knew he didn't, actually. "Whatever. Are you going to kiss me?"
He shrugged magnanimously. "I suppose."
When she smiled at him and he smiled back, holding her hand at dinner; when those skilled fingers spelled out melodies along Ino's spine in the aftermath, both of them tangled in sheets and content — that was a song, too.
From: LesserEvilsGuy
Date: September 12, Year One 11:40am
To: FlowersForYou
Subject: I told Sakura about the Bentō Incident…
Well, of course. One of the gentlest souls I've ever known can also be the most fiery, and I've known this for a while.
Brash words, unfiltered expressions, but it's part of the charm. Brilliant and capable, but she's often second-guessing herself, when no one's looking. I won't delve into the otherworldly intimacy we share; it speaks for itself.
So here's the thing — you're amazing. Enough to make some wonder what you see in me. Not me, of course — who could resist this chiseled chest, dazzling smile and sculpted ass, incredible humility and sense of humor, right?
—N.
…
From: FlowersForYou
Date: September 12, Year One 11:44am
To: LesserEvilsGuy
Subject: I told Sakura about the Bentō Incident…
I'm sure you send this to all your lovers who have sufficiently long legs.
Nevertheless, I appreciate the sentiment.
—I.
P.S.: I love you too
…
From: DaggerAndRose
Date: September 12, Year One 2:09pm
To: UzumakiYoisen
Subject: This weekend.
Hey, all this week's movies came out a bit early, and Ino has work.
Do you want to come? See a movie or play some games?
—S.
…
From: UzumakiYoisen
Date: September 12, Year One 2:13pm
To: DaggerAndRose
Subject: This weekend.
Is this device recording properly? I find myself uncertain of whether to await the blue or red indicator. The times when penned letters sufficed seem so distant. Observing a blue hue, I'll proceed under the assumption this is functioning as intended.
New paragraph.
Sakura, you mentioned you might assist with understanding this thought-to-text feature? Its intricacies are rather befuddling. And why are the vocal cues so complex?
In any case, I eagerly anticipate our upcoming gathering.
Best regards.
Insert signature.
— Yoisen ((Note: Please disregard any extraneous commands or text, as I am still getting the hang of this.)
Send the message please.
—Y.
…
From: DaggerAndRose
Date: September 12, Year One 2:17pm
To: UzumakiYoisen
Subject: This weekend.
Yoisen,
Don't fret about the tech. It gets to all of us at some point. And maybe that's why you should have calibrated it properly — it's still time. Yes, the blue light means it's recording. And if you want to skip a paragraph, you just have to think the words clearly in your mind. Don't vocalize the command. For example, think "new paragraph" without saying it out loud.
The thought setting can be tricky at first, but you'll get the hang of it. Just remember to think clearly and avoid any stray thoughts. Otherwise, the device might record things you didn't intend to share.
Movie sounds like a plan.
—S.
…
From: UzumakiYoisen
Date: September 12, Year One 2:19pm
To: DaggerAndRose
Subject: This weekend.
Thank you for the advice. I must admit, its complexity still baffles me. A question: does grool have a second meaning, aside from 'great' and 'cool'? It seemed to trigger a strange reaction when I used it in a message.
Send the message please.
—Y.
…
From: DaggerAndRose
Date: September 12, Year One 2:21pm
To: UzumakiYoisen
Subject: This weekend.
Ugh. I can't stand that word — just like 'moist.' It sounds like the name for something like the trail of slime a snail would leave behind. Just call it wetness or pussy juice like everyone else.
—S.
P.S.: Don't worry, I'm sure Naruto won't mind too much, no matter what it was you sent exactly.
…
From: UzumakiYoisen
Date: September 12, Year One 2:23pm
To: DaggerAndRose
Subject: This weekend
I am going to kill myself again.
Send.
—Y.
…
From: DaggerAndRose
Date: September 12, Year One 2:24pm
To: UzumakiYoisen
Subject: This weekend.
Hahahahaha
—S.
…
From: DaggerAndRose
Date: September 12, Year One 2:25pm
To: Hanabi, LesserEvilsGuy
Subject: You were right about that grool message
It was a mistake on her part. Disappointing.
Hanabi: Told you.
LesserEvilsGuy: Told you.
DaggerAndRose: Shut the fuck up.
…
From: ToruSama
Date: September 12, Year One 2:50pm
To: IronFistKarin
Subject: Guess who killed a king?
And freed another Earth, even.
IronFistKarin: Please tell me it's not about Naruto.
ToruSama: I won't tell, then.
IronFistKarin: Joking. Congrats!
ToruSama: Heh, thanks.
…
From: UchihaSasuke01
Date: September 13, Year One 10:23am
To: [GROUP: Friends (+ Naruto)]
Subject: Heating problems
The temperature dropped by like 20 degrees. What the fuck is going on, Naruto?
LesserEvilsGuy: You do know it's not always my fault?
ToruSama: :)
FlowersForYou: :')
Hanabi: That's unfair, sometimes it's Sakura, too.
DaggerAndRose: We're not even in Umi, how should we know? Just burn some coal or something. Or your wood.
IronFistKarin: We're sorting it out.
UzumakiYoisen: Considering the fluctuations in cosmic energy that were sensed, it is highly likely that a kami might be interfering. Send the message O.R.O. please.
LesserEvilsGuy: See? It's just Amaterasu being petty.
ToruSama: It's snowing. In Umi.
DaggerAndRose: Hahahaha how the fuck are a few days of winter a problem? Just layer up haha
UchihaSasuke01: Just fix it.
Niibi: Please fix it.
UchihaItachi01: Please fix it.
MeiMei: This.
LesserEvilsGuy: Incredible. After all I've done for you. At your age, I was walking thirty kilometers in the snow, uphill both ways, with nothing but a pair of sandals and a torn cloak, just to fetch a pail of water. And here you are, complaining about a little chill in the air. Oh, how the times have changed.
UzumakiYoisen: This never happened. Send message please.
LesserEvilsGuy: I don't mean in this lifetime.
UzumakiYoisen: Nor do I. Send the message O.R.O. please.
FlowersForYou: Ever watching, I see. Creep.
UzumakiYoisen: It was an obligation. Send please.
Yashagorochan: Rest assured, we are working on it. In the meantime, do enjoy this fresh respite.
…
From: UchihaSasuke01
Date: September 13, Year One 10:40am
To: [GROUP: SnakeFreeZone]
Subject: Heating problems
Orochimaru definitely means to keep the winter for a while, doesn't he?
IronFistKarin: He… might have said something about preventing people from getting too soft, last time. And something about a windmill, evolution…
ToruSama: I KNEW it. How hard can it be to make an artificial sun?
IronFistKarin: ...You guys do realize we already made the switch a while ago?
…
From: SirKonohamaru
Date: September 13, Year One 12:05pm
To: LesserEvilsGuy
Subject: Urgent!
Do you know where I can find a vape?
LesserEvilsGuy: No.
From: LesserEvilsGuy
Date: September 13, Year One 12:12pm
To: TheGallantToad2
Subject: Careful when you talk to my cousin
Wouldn't want you to have to go through the Warrior Path bootcamp again.
TheGallantToad2: Please no
From: LesserEvilsGuy
Date: September 13, Year One 12:13pm
To: ToruSama
Subject: Careful when you talk to my cousin
Or I'll tell Akemi about the Bentō incident.
ToruSama: Bro wtf that's low even for you
From: LesserEvilsGuy
Date: September 13, Year One 12:14pm
To: ThatBearGuy
Subject: Careful when you talk to your nephew
We don't need EVERY Sarutobi to smoke, Asuma.
ThatBearGuy: yeah got it my bad
"Nobody knows."
Yugito peered over at Naruto, who lounged beside her, lazily sprawled on the verdant cliff edge. Yūshirō was off with Karin — or was it Yoisen today? Yugito couldn't help but smile at the thought; the boy was as unpredictable as a summer storm.
It didn't really give her any insights in Naruto's latest, seemingly somber musings.
"Huh?" She asked eloquently.
"Nobody knows, Yugito." Naruto repeated. "Nobody knows the weight on my shoulders. I feel it… every day." He stared at the heavens. "Before I go to bed. It lingers when I wake up in the morning. Sometimes, I wonder… Can I do this?"
She looked at him in concern, with gentle eyes. "Naruto… I didn't know you felt that way — I suspected, but…" She shook her head. "I should've seen it. The responsibility of worlds — even for you, that's… It's natural to feel overwhelmed, Naruto, I—"
Naruto tilted his head. "…Worlds? Oh, no. I meant my wives — and you."
Confusion flashed across Yugito's face. "I'm… sorry?"
"Do you know how hard it is to take care of the needs of five women? To try and find time for everybody?" He shook his head. "I've been spending so much time in Shade's Realm that—"
Yugito threw a fireball at him.
From: FlowersForYou
Date: September 14, Year One 1:13pm
To: [GROUP: Karin's Harem]
Subject: Bad workplace habits
No one should be allowed to eat fish at work. I swear, whenever Rika works, I can smell the sea for hours afterwards. I know she's from Oniryu Island, where they eat fish all day, but…
IronFistKarin: Want me to do something about it?
FlowersForYou: Please.
IronFistKarin: Filter fish smells specifically or prevent it from lingering?
FlowersForYou: Both?
DaggerAndRose: I've seen you eat fish before.
FlowersForYou: Incredible. And that's what you consider a checkmate, I suppose?
DaggerAndRose: You tell me.
Hanabi: I would never inflict bad smells upon others.
DaggerAndRose: Very thoughtful of you.
FlowersForYou: She just doesn't like fish.
Niibi: Please let me leave the conversation.
Niibi left the group.
DaggerAndRose added Niibi to the group.
DaggerAndRose: Hahaha
DaggerAndRose: No
…
From: UchihaAvenger
Date: September 14, Year One 2:20pm
To: NamelessAvenger, UchihaNaruto
Subject: Help me plan
Are you Jinsuke? I need your help.
NamelessAvenger: Do not call me by that name.
UchihaNaruto: We need your help!
NamelessAvenger: So you do. What is this about?
UchihaAvenger: I need to kill that man. Itachi. Not the one on the Ring.
NamelessAvenger: …Why?
UchihaAvenger: He killed my original clan and made me relive their murder for three days.
UchihaNaruto: And we heard you killed your Itachi.
NamelessAvenger: Itachi was innocent.
UchihaAvenger: Just because yours didn't kill your clan means nothing about mine!
NamelessAvenger: You misunderstood me. Itachi killed my clan, too.
UchihaNaruto: What is he innocent of, then?!
NamelessAvenger: Of acting solely on his own volition. There were puppet masters behind the scenes. One, I killed.
UchihaAvenger: This has nothing to do with me. We just need your help to kill mine.
NamelessAvenger: Seek answers first. I am afraid I cannot help you.
UchihaAvenger: I am looking for justice! Not answers!
UchihaNaruto: Hello?
UchihaNaruto: Hello?
UchihaNaruto: Hello?
UchihaNaruto: Hello?
UchihaNaruto: Hello
…
From: Hanabi
Date: September 13, Year One 3:51pm
To: DaggerAndRose
Subject: Overcoming writer's block
What I want is you on your back. Perhaps with a pillow — the edge of it between your legs. A blanket, twisted into a rope, will do. A mere facsimile of me there against your pussy, growing wet as your hips begin to move, looking for this dreadful, delicious friction. Looking for me. Do that, and maybe I'll help. Maybe.
…
From: DaggerAndRose
Date: September 13, Year One 4:12pm
To: IronFistKarin, ToruSama
Subject: What the fuck is wrong with Hanabi?
Subject related.
ToruSama: How much time do you have?
IronFistKarin: Nothing is wrong. She's pent up.
ToruSama: Please, no more degenerate sex life references. Everyone's terrible. Is it the season…? Does forced winter make people hornier?
IronFistKarin: I don't think so? But there was nothing to my message. Hanabi doesn't really enjoy the office life.
ToruSama: Too brainy for her, I suppose.
DaggerAndRose: Take her out, then.
ToruSama: It kinda sounds threatening, coming from you.
DaggerAndRose: I DO love a good stabbing. But please let Hanabi out, too. You know how she can get.
"I'm horny."
Naruto glanced up from the files on his desk to see Hanabi standing right in the open door frame.
Kaitaro, on the other side of the room, politely erected a sound bubble around himself so as not to have to listen to their drivel. "…Please do not cause a scandal again. Some things are better kept indoors. Not in staircases."
"I'm still working, Hanabi." Naruto said.
Her eyes narrowed. "Is this important?"
Naruto thought of the latest documents Orochimaru had submitted, and the dark glee he imagined the man got from sending so many of them, too. Malicious compliance directed toward his student-turned-leader, Naruto was nearly sure.
"Not really."
"Then you can shut up and follow me." She said with an arched eyebrow. "I've been waiting for ages."
"…Three days?" He laughed, as he followed her out of the room, and down the first level of the staircase as she glared at him.
That was the sort of thing Yugito didn't understand.
Tokyo Drifters
Nacchan's transition back to his regular school life was seamless, slipping into the monotony like a pebble into a still pond.
It felt like a Thursday, not carrying the weight of a Monday nor the joy of a Friday. Just an ordinary day in the middle of the week.
His family was well. Thriving, even. The atmosphere at home was brighter.
His father's achievements in the past year had led him to the esteemed position of Tokyo's Governor. He was always swamped with work, but a genuine, light-hearted laugh, one Nacchan hadn't heard in a while, often filled their home.
Whether it was the joy of Nacchan's return or the satisfaction of his accomplishments, his father seemed content. And his ambitions were growing even loftier.
Hopefully that didn't have too much to do with the line of contact with the Emperor Nacchan knew his father kept open.
His mother, meanwhile, had taken a safer path, one that Nacchan deeply appreciated. Gone were the days of shady acquaintances and risky ventures.
She had rediscovered her passion for art, a pursuit that kept her away from the temptation of sports betting or the perilous world of underground fighting or the shadier stuff. It was a welcome change.
Yup, it was like a smooth return to his old, new normal.
As Nacchan settled into his "familiar" school life, he couldn't help but feel the disconnect.
He was now trailing a year behind his original peers, surrounded by younger faces with a naivety he once wore.
Their innocent curiosity about the "new student" was palpable, with hushed talks and fleeting glances.
While the teachers were compassionate, offering extra help, the narrative of his "year abroad" felt like a thin veil that he could barely be bothered to keep up.
With a fervor to not just catch up but outshine a girl who had broken his heart, Nacchan immersed himself in his studies.
It kept him occupied, distracted from the memories of the past year.
And still, sometimes, late into the night… In spite of himself, of all the weird shit… Nacchan was still studying the notes he had painstakingly written over long sleepless nights.
They were a reminder of the adventures he had embarked upon. Adventures that no one here, aside from his parents (once he felt like telling them) would even believe.
And even stranger… he still wanted to see Boruto, Sarada and Mitsuki. And he wondered—
He squashed that thought. What did it matter, really…? That was just a summer fling.
The rhythmic ticking of the classroom clock was interrupted by the soft chime of the entrance bell.
The chatter that usually filled the room fell silent, all eyes turned towards the door as the teacher stood up to introduce a new face.
The whispers started again.
"Oh, she's beautiful!"
"I've never seen her before, who is she?"
Nacchan didn't really care.
The teacher cleared his throat.
"Class, please welcome our new exchange student from France, Fleur Delacour."
He suddenly found himself caring.
The teacher gestured towards the striking blonde standing at the entrance. Fleur's long hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her blue eyes shimmered, almost ethereal — as always.
She wore a confident yet polite smile, greeting the class with a soft, perfectly-accented "Hello" that had to be her using a translator.
Nacchan's heart skipped a beat. Memories of their shared nights flashed before his eyes.
The last days in the castle, stolen glances, whispered secrets, and passionate moments they shared.
He had never expected to see her again, especially here, in his classroom, in Tokyo.
Oh god.
She had followed him. Through fucking time and space and worlds. Who had talked…? One of the three, for sure.
As Fleur calmly took a seat, her eyes scanned the room, locking onto Nacchan's for a fleeting moment. She simply gave him a subtle nod and began taking notes.
Throughout the class, Nacchan struggled to focus on the lesson. His mind was racing.
When the lunch bell rang, Fleur was immediately surrounded by a group of curious students, eager to know more about the foreign beauty. However, she gracefully excused herself, making her way towards Nacchan.
"Not fair!" Someone groaned.
"Of course it would be Namikaze."
He wasn't sure what to say.
"Nacchan." Her voice was soft.
"Fleur." He responded, trying to sound casual.
"We need to talk." She whispered, her gaze intense.
He nodded "After school, at the old park?"
"No." She laughed. "Right now. I won't waste much of your time."
…
Nacchan walked next to Fleur as she effortlessly wove her way through the crowd of students in the cafeteria, her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight that streamed through the windows. He could hear the whispers and giggles around him.
Knowing how fast rumors went in this school, there was no way all his former classmates wouldn't be made aware of this by the time the week ended.
"You are quite popular, aren't you?" She remarked with a playful tilt of her head, her blue eyes twinkling.
"My dad is." Nacchan responded with a sigh. "It's been a little while, Fleur."
"Two months isn't that long." She said, stopping to give him a once-over. "You've changed." She observed, her eyes searching his.
He chuckled softly. "It's just the lack of wizard robes, I'm sure. Different uniform."
Her lips curled into a gentle smile. "You look good in it."
"Thanks." 'You too' sounded fairly awkward in his head, but it turned out that saying nothing at all was even more so.
There was a brief silence as they both tried to find the right words. They didn't manage, and so the silence was prolonged.
Finally, Fleur broke it. "I wanted to talk to you about something."
Nacchan knew it all too well. He looked at her, waiting.
"I have a choice to make." She began slowly, more hesitantly than she usually sounded. "And it all depends on your decision."
The world seemed to freeze to Nacchan. Oh god, she was pregnant—
But Fleur continued.
"What I mean is…" She said, kicking the floor softly. "I can stay here for a little while, or I can leave. But I need to know what you want."
Nacchan was taken aback. And he wasn't sure he got it, frankly.
"…What are you asking me, exactly?"
She took a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "I kinda want to be with you. Maybe. I'm thinking of staying around here for a little while."
Nacchan looked startled. "What? … I told you. I'm not the wizard you think I am — not really, at least — We're not even from the same—"
"Does that truly matter?" She asked, suddenly and loudly.
"Well…"
"If you don't want me here, speak up." Fleur nearly demanded. "I can take rejection, believe me."
She really didn't seem like it, frankly.
But that wasn't the issue.
"Is this really what you want?" He asked again, gesturing at something vague. "This… this is a very different sort of place, Fleur. This world, its customs are unlike any you've known. And I'm probably not who you envisioned."
"You think I came here because I thought you were a dark wizard?" She asked, drawing herself up to her full height and throwing her silver hair back. She seemed kinda short now, actually. "Not because I found something to like about you after you saved me? Not for the moments we've shared?"
Nacchan could almost hear Mitsuki's voice, and something about trauma-bonding.
He hesitated. "I—"
"Do you believe I care about your lack of magic? Especially when it's hardly the case now." She retorted, visibly irritated. "Yes, you concealed it, and it hurts. But does it matter?"
"No—"
"I like you!"
"You hardly know me!" The words escaped him.
"I like what I do know!" She countered. "These two months are to figure out whether I like the rest!"
"…Two months?"
Fleur paused. Then she reddened.
"Is that a problem? Is that too long?" She asked, looking a bit more hesitant. "Ah, I… Please tell me and I'll leave right away."
"That's not what I said!"
"So — You want me to stay, then?"
"Yes, of course! — Wait. Hold on." Frustration bubbled within him. "Is this a normal wizard courtship?"
Fleur shrugged. "How do you know what's normal in the first place? These things are very personal."
"Is this a veela thing, then?"
She snorted. "You've been reading too much fantasy if you believe in soul-bonds, Nacchan."
"What… what about… Everything?"
Fleur shrugged. "I finished schooling and was planning to take a gap year to travel. I can do that here, see the future some..."
"But… your family?"
"Your friend Boruto gave me this." She lifted a small pendant from her shirt. "I can go back anytime. Or to that space thing, apparently." She then frowned. "Also what's wrong with Boruto's aunties, exactly…?"
"…No one really knows." Nacchan said.
A long silence stretched between them.
"…Did I misread this?" Fleur finally asked. "I… I'm not too used to being the one chasing, I'll admit. And… I guess I can be somewhat impulsive."
Nacchan knew the answer to this. Had known it since he had seen her today, really.
He looked down. "I'd like you to stay." He finally admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I want you here."
Fleur's eyes sparkled with a mixture of surprise and relief. "Then I'll stay a little while."
…
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, and then spoke of a hundred small things.
Cities she had seen in her own world: From Paris, Lyon, Strasbourg to Edinburgh, Valencia and Naples.
He told her about the events that had happened in the Muggle world between her time and his.
She teased him about his reputation at Hogwarts, and he told her the truth behind the stories, the appearances. He told her about how he had gotten there in the first place, the story of Gama and his former best friend and crush, and she was properly outraged on his behalf.
Though he didn't take her up on her offer to go and make Sakura jealous, because that sounded entirely too unreasonable. Perhaps this was a veela thing, but he didn't dare ask.
There were many things they didn't discuss, too. The events of the Third Task, for one.
Fleur carried a bag full of her belongings in her necklace. 'Enough to sleep anywhere, so that I don't have to rely on hotels after tonight,' she had said proudly.
She noticed he seemed to make a strange face at that, and soon class resumed.
Fleur asked him if he minded walking her to a nearby inn, which he didn't. But he offered her another alternative, a bit timidly, and this time, she was the one not to mind.
Neither of them were entirely sure when they began walking hand in hand.
He opened his home's doors to her, and there was a short silence as they stepped in.
Nacchan's dad broke it casually. "Back already, Nacchan?"
"Mom, Dad…" He began, a bit quietly. Then, with growing confidence. "There is someone I want to introduce to you."
"Oh my, you guys are so cute!"
Minato smiled and nodded for him to go on.
Nacchan rested his hand on Fleur's back. "This is Fleur Delacour. She… she's very special to me. And she's going to be staying with us for a little while."
The World of Curses
Satoru Gojo's piercing gaze stayed on the newcomers. He offered a serene smile. "What the fuck."
His Six Eyes told him that there was, at the very least, something entirely different about their bodies.
Hanabi frowned. "Don't make me say it again. We are dimensional travelers from—"
"I did hear you." Gojo responded with an affected air of indifference. "Which is why I'm asking: what the fuck."
"What's so hard to understand about it?" She huffed.
Yoisen, the white-haired woman, closed her eyes momentarily. "Perhaps this is why you aren't dispatched too often." She remarked.
Hanabi bristled slightly. "It's not my fault if people can't keep up."
Undisturbed, Yoisen continued, "We received a distress signal. Your world is in turmoil, isn't it?"
Gojo grinned confidently. "I assure you, it wasn't me. Everything's being taken care of."
"Oh? By whom?" Hanabi asked. "The miko we passed before?"
"Utahime wouldn't do that — she's too weak." Gojo waved a hand dissmisively in front of her. "And by whom is it handled…? By yours truly."
Hanabi smacked his hand away. Or rather, she attempted to. Something invisible was in the way. She showed light surprise, and Gojo's grin widened, his eyes playful. "Just like that."
His gaze became more calculating. These newcomers weren't Sorcerers, but they weren't Curses either. What were they?
Hanabi's eyes flashed, and became a startling shade of azure — eerily like his own, actually. He didn't react outwardly, but that was… worrying.
"Okay." He said. "Something is clearly off here."
Hanabi ignored him. "Ah, so you're extending the space between us indefinitely. Clever."
He smirked. "You seem familiar with my technique. But it's not exactly a secret."
"Something tells me you're overly reliant on it." Hanabi said. "Like Sakura. Except hers is actually hard to bypass."
He laughed. "I can hold my own without it. Trust me." He flashed a cocky smile. "Few can—"
She blurred forward, and he countered her strike with a textbook throw that she rolled with, spinning through the air to land on a nearby lamppost, with the agility of a cat.
"—match me in physical combat."
"Okay…?" Hanabi asked, unimpressed. "That's basic Jōnin level. Expected more."
He raised a brow. "I have more speed up my sleeve."
"Right, faster…" She said.
A small creature simply appeared where she had been before. She took in the exact time it took him to react to it.
"…But not that fast, either." She stated.
"Oh, yeah?" He asked, feeling a bit peeved. He lifted his right hand and the lamppost she was on was suddenly lifted in the air. Still non-lethal, of course—
Except she wasn't on it anymore.
…And perhaps he hadn't seen her move.
"Oh, yeah." She said.
"Hanabi." Yoisen intervened. "There is no need to antagonize him."
Hanabi's retort was swift. "Who initiated it?"
"…You?"
She chuckled. "Fair point."
Impressed, Gojo conceded, "You're swift. And you know about my Limitless already." He smiled. "I suppose you know about Infinite Void too, of course."
Hanabi considered it. "Is that what's between your ears, given form?"
"Ha!" Gojo cracked his neck, removed his jacket. "Ready to test that theory?"
"We could." Hanabi said. "Or maybe I could pose a hypothetical question about our potential clash."
"Ask away." Gojo replied with a smirk.
"We agree that I can't go through your barrier, right?"
Gojo nodded confidently. "Exactly. You've got it."
"What if I didn't try?"
He snorted. "Then that's that."
"What if instead of wasting my time trying to cross an infinite distance, I warped something inside of you…? Truly warped it to be where you happen to be?"
"She is fast enough." Yoisen added. "And let's factor in that the size of the item is subject to variation. Hypothetically, of course."
Gojo pondered for a moment. How fast was she? Fast enough to somehow not get hit by his Domain…? Did she have something to counter it, like a Domain of her own?
"Assuming you are able to do that, it is a decent option." He said. "I suppose. I am pretty tough to kill, you see. Regeneration—"
"Or, how about I just transport you and everything around us into space? Far, far away?"
Gojo paused. "That might not work." Because his Limitless should be able to filter incoming cursed energy. If that was even what they made use of. "…It could also be problematic, I suppose."
Hanabi grinned. "Most can't breathe in the void. Ever tried?"
Gojo shrugged nonchalantly. "Can't say I have."
Hanabi's smirk grew wider, but Yoisen was already scanning the horizon. "Those are just a couple of ideas off the top of my head." Hanabi continued. "If a fight is what you want, I'm game. But if things get serious, I might just try those tactics. So, do we spar or do we exchange contact details for when real trouble arises?"
If anything, it seemed to make Gojo more determined to fight.
"Ha! Hahaha!" He grinned like a loon, the same way Hanabi did. "Backing off because there's a chance of dying is just how losers think! Bring it—"
"There is no time for sparring." Yoisen cut in sharply. "If you want to do this, do it after we're done here."
Gojo sighed. "…Fine, fine. Just hand me that business card and I'll take care of this whole mess for good."
He was already contemplating how to counter this sort of warping tactics. They sounded kinda dangerous, now that he thought about it.
Hanabi smiled, and handed him a necklace that he took a long look at before putting it in his back pocket. "Good choice."
Yoisen, her gaze still fixed on the east, said, "We should get started. Let's begin by pinpointing the most powerful presences. I sense some malevolent spirits congregating nearby. We'll tackle the strongest first."
Hanabi shrugged. "Spirits, curses, humans… either works for me. Will you help us?"
Gojo sighed.
Rate Your Helper
Uzumaki Hanabi
Path of the Warrior, Path of the Seer — Umigakure, Celestial Ring
Rating: 1/5
So, let's get one thing straight: If you ever run into her? Maybe just use your Cursed Technique to ƒry your brain and save yourself the headache. I've met a lot of people in my time, and trust me, there's got to be better help out there. If you're smart, and I think you are, ask for a switch — they're apparently supposed to accept the request.
Uzumaki Hanabi? Where do I start? Probably at the bottom of the list of helpers on this Celestial Ring gig. Haven't met the others, though. She loves the sound of her own voice but doesn't really say much. And her right-hand? She does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to keeping things contained so that the normies don't get dragged into this mess. But hey, if you want to hear all about 'superior' eyes (not that great) and being oh so very strong, about her… interesting marital setup, she's your gal.
Only saving grace? When she gets down to it, she can blast curses like no other. Gotta give credit where it's due. She's on fire — literally, it seems.
P.S.: But thanks for taking care of that fake version of my old pal. Guess I had some unresolved issues, huh?
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"That… that…" Hanabi fumed. "That's what I get for helping kill all these ghosts? After how much we had to slow down for him? A shitty rating? I'll get even lower than Sakura in no time."
Sakura, who had a near zero out of five average rating, which Hanabi apparently did not know of. Which Sakura claimed was because she was too good at the job, and had no issue telling people uncomfortable truths.
Yoisen shook her head slowly.
"…Somehow, I believe you are still ahead on that front."
lensdump:
i/s1gsao : An Everlasting Empire (...And a Woman Who Will Grow a Hand in Only the Most Trivial of Moments)