Welcome to chapter 2 where our story will start to divert a little bit. So, let's get on with the next part of the story.
Chapter 2
We open on our blonde hero slowly trudging through the snow, now let's not assume he is in Scandinavia however he is in Central Asia, more specific the icy peaks of the Himalayas. Not Everest but near enough for it to be freezing. As Naruto is slowly climbing towards the next peak, he remembers why he was here in the first place.
Huntik Foundation Safe House – 36 hours ago.
"Hmm," our blonde mused to himself as he sank into the comforting embrace of the couch in the house, he was staying in.
'BEEP' 'BEEP' 'BEEP'
Came the annoying tone of his personal Holotome that he had painted orange to make sure he new which was his.
"What now," spoke the blonde as he opened the device to reveal a holographic projection of a man in a suit.
"Hello old chap, how are you?!" came the overly cheerful voice of Guggenheim.
"Hello sir," began the blonde as he reluctantly relinquished himself from the welcoming embrace of the couch, "what can I do for you?"
"Ah Dante, spoke about how you helped him out in Paris, good work," spoke the projection.
"I was just repaying one of the many favours I owe Dante," replied Naruto.
"Well, as to why I have called, we have gotten word from our contacts that the organisation is looking into a unique site somewhere in the Himalayas," began the elder blonde as his image disappeared to be replaced with the map of the area, "they have been seen looking for the ruins of an ancient settlement that seems to contain a unique power if the legend holds true a unique healing magic whether it is an artefact or a spell, we need to get to it first."
"Healing Magic," spoke the blonde as he stood up, "this is rear, very rear not many healing spells exist and the ones we have are basic."
"Correct my boy, the rumour is this magic is the reason the legend of Shangri-La even exists," spoke Guggenheim.
"Am I to head in to this solo?" questioned Naruto as he began grabbing his bag.
"We were going to send you with Montehue, however he is off the grid for the next 24-36 hours, you will have to go in first and we will send him in when we can but be careful we don't need your mother coming out of retirement," Guggenheim replied to the blonde.
"That is a scary thought" began Naruto as he stood at the read with his bag ready to go, "Alright I assume the usual transport is waiting at the airport?"
"Of course, my boy," spoke Guggenheim, "good luck," and with that the Holotome turned off as Naruto grabbed the mission card, Mission: Secrets of Shangri-La – Find the secret behind the proposed healing like legends of Shangri-La and prevent it from falling into enemy hands.
Present Time: Somewhere in the Himalayas
"TURSLEY!" bellowed a large voice as a robust man with a climbers beard spoke to a scrawny red headed man in his early twenties, "We have a lot of ground to cover to catch up to Naruto so no time for dilly dallying."
"On my way sir," spoke the red head as they began the climb towards the peak knowing they are behind the Naruto they had to catch up quickly.
Present Time: Near some ruins in the Himalayas
We focus back on out blonde protagonist as he is scanning a small settlement that had become ruins over time. As he scanned these ruins with his Holotome he is hoping to see if he can find a clue, he had seen some fresh tracks come through hear however they completely ignored the ruins, something Naruto found highly imprudent of them as it may shine some light on what needs to be done or a specific pathway that is normally ignored.
As he was scanning the documentation his amulets where humming under his thick parka telling him they are always at the ready if needed. As his Holotome finished a weird rune was seen on multiple of the ruins that looked to have come from different places along the walls of this small settlement. As Naruto began looking at the rune it almost looked like a mountains peak when all were arranged correctly.
"Smart," spoke Naruto with a smile as he began holding up the rune symbol to see if it matched with any of the peaks around him, within a short amount of time he found a peak that matched and quickly sent the information to Guggenheim knowing that he would get the information to Montehue. As the blonde was packing up, he felt as if he was being watched but couldn't make out anything in this cold and snowy environment especially as the wind began to pick up and howl.
As our blonde began moving out in the direction of the peak the wind did pick up and blow through the small ruined village revealing a shape within the wind with glowing red eyes before it quickly left a soon as it appeared.
Later as the sun began to set
Long before the sun had set Naruto had set his small tent and with a quick 'camo-skin' spell patten pending he was hidden from any and all who would look for him. Secured within a shallow cave and within his tent Naruto began to meditate. As he was his Holotome began ringing again.
As he opened the lid it revealed the smiling face of a red-haired women, "Naruto, honey, how are you?" spoke the women projection excitedly.
"Hey Mum," spoke Naruto as he began smiling at her through the Holotome, "I've bunkered in for the night using Camo-Skin to hide the tent."
"That's good make sure you're eating well I heard from Guggenheim that Montehue will be backing you up on this one where is he."
"He has reached the mountains but I have a full day, climb on him," replied Naruto.
"Make sure you tell him hello from me when you see him. Oh! did you get the package I had Guggenheim express you," she excitedly spoke to him.
"I got it but didn't get a chance to open it," spoke Naruto as he began digging into his pack looking for the small parcel.
"Go on open it, open it," Kushina began speaking again acting like a kid on Christmas, "I sent her to help you while in the cold."
As Naruto finished unwrapping the parcel it was a small ornate box with an amulet inside. The amulet itself had a Pale-Green Gem common amongst all Yama-Titan Amulets. The body of the amulet kept a similar colour scheme of dull dark greens and greys resembling a half moon shaped bottom with the ends curling up leading into a cradle for the gem. The sides almost look like a fancy bun made out of the dark green material. The top was interesting as it was unique as it was a small orange-red crystal-like structure resembling fire.
The second Naruto grabbed the amulet he began to glow a pale-green showing he was bonding with the titan inside.
"Go on," spoke Kushina, "Scan her, I specifical sent her to you from my collection to help you."
"Thank-you mum," spoke Naruto as he scanned the amulet with the Holotomb, when he did so a new hologram appeared next to his mother's head showing a 3D rendering of the titan inside the amulet.
The hologram depicted a red skinned women clad in a white kimono covered with intricate details of climbing flames, brandishing two quarter staffs. Her hair was done up in the immaculate bun shape that defined her amulet and below she also had a devils tail lazily swishing back and forth.
The Holotome began to speak with its synthesized voice telling Naruto the details of the titan.
Kerosan: Attack 4 Defence 4, Type Yama-Titan Sorceress, Size: Average, Special Abilities: Flame Control, Dragon Burst, Acrobatics, Melee Combat.
"Holy Crap mum!" exclaimed Naruto, "you sent me one of your strongest titans."
As Naruto was looking at his mother in disbelief and all she was doing was smiling away at her.
"I sent her to you to protect you," began Kushina as tears began to well up in her eyes, "I know you're a powerful seeker but I can't help but worry, I'm your mother and if sending Kerosan makes you come home sooner all the better."
Seeing the tears in her eyes, brought a few to Naruto's own. As Kushina had raised Naruto as a single mother and being a seeker on top of that is quite challenging but they do have an unbreakable bond. As Naruto and Kushina talked into the night lets shift our focus somewhere else for a minute.
Lower on the mountain at a small camp site
"Boss," spoke a female voice not being able to make out details due to the large snow goggles and parka, "We've been circling for a few days and found nothing are you sure it's on this mountain."
"I thought I told you not to question me," came the gravely voice of the so-called boss as he began to step outside of the tent they where in, "I am sure it is here the Professor confirmed that it would be here."
As he spoke another female voice different form the ones form earlier spoke up, "So what is so important about this place? I better not be freezing my tits off for nothing!" as the voice finished quite strong a noise from outside drew their attention.
It was if the wind had come alive and swirled into a new shape a large sizes tornado of death began to form before claws and shining red eyes appeared from within.
"Ah good," spoke the boss as he pulled out an amulet and with a dark blue light the swirls storm of death was sucked into the amulet, "Someone else has found something we have missed, we will set out at first light and catch this Foundation Nuisance and eliminate him."
"Yes Boss," echoed both of the female voices.
Well, this could be a bit dangerous for our hero's couldn't it some Organisation agents are now tracking our Hero while Montehue and tersely are at the bottom of the mountain now who is going to reach Shangri-La first.
I have hinted at the identities of the mystery characters I wonder if anyone can find out who they are. Also, this is more of a bridging chapter for me to get the main part of this little divergence of the main story and used as a way of showing character dynamics.
Until Next Time: also, if anyone wants to Beta these before they are published, I'm still new and don't know how Beta reading works yet but I am willing to learn.