A/N: Let's go, new chapter! Sorry for the delay—I've been making some edits to the earlier chapters, changing the beginning so that it's no longer a flashback. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! You'll notice some elements from SuperApplePie's fic I Don't Need Chakra to Win! (especially the first part, which is basically a homage), so definitely check that one out if you haven't—it's a really great fic, and I hope it gets updated soon.
That's all for now, see you at the end!
Chapter 3:-Sakura Rescue Ark
Xx—Emiya Residence—xX
"Oii! Naruto, wake up! It's almost time for school, and you're still sleeping?" Fuji-nee's voice echoed through the house.
"Ah, Fuji-nee, don't you know sleep is vital for the human body?" Naruto mumbled, burying his face deeper into the pillow.
"And don't even try to give me that 'sleep is vital' excuse! You went to bed at eight last night!" Fuji-nee shouted from the living room, not giving up.
"Well, there goes that excuse," Naruto muttered, realizing it was useless to argue. But still, he wasn't ready to get up yet.
"Come on, hurry up! Sakura made some ramen for you!"
Naruto's eyes immediately shot open. "Change of plans! I'll be right there, Fuji-nee!"
Naruto practically inhaled his breakfast, slamming his empty bowl down with a wide grin. "Marry me, Sakura!"
"E-Eh?!" Sakura's face turned beet red, clearly flustered.
"This is the best bowl of ramen I've had in a while! Try as she might, Shirou can't make ramen this good." Naruto patted his stomach, satisfied.
Sakura winked playfully at Shirou, who looked both amused and slightly embarrassed. "You shouldn't give Naruto ramen in the morning, Sakura," Shirou said with a sigh. "It's not healthy for him."
Before Sakura could respond, Fuji-nee butted in, grinning mischievously. "Shirou's right, Sakura! And Naruto, you really shouldn't be eating ramen for breakfast. Don't you know how unhealthy it is? Especially with the amounts you eat it in."
Naruto slumped to the floor dramatically. "Why do you guys hate on ramen? Ramen would never hurt me!" He wailed, exaggerated tears streaming down his face.
Shirou sighed, shaking her head. "He'll be like that for a while," she muttered.
Fuji-nee, on the other hand, gave a bright smile and clapped her hands together. "Well, the food was great, and making little Naruto cry was even better! But I've got tests to grade, so I'll be going now!"
Naruto watched her speed off, then sighed. "What's with her? Why is she so mean?"
Sakura, too, brushed off the gloom, smiling gently. "Don't say that, Oni-chan. Fujimura-sensei had to leave much earlier to grade her tests, but she stayed behind to wake you up so you wouldn't oversleep and miss school."
Naruto watched as Sakura and Shirou gathered the plates and disappeared into the kitchen. He sat there for a few moments in silence, his eyes lingering on Sakura as she worked.
"Whatcha looking at?" Kurama's voice rumbled in Naruto's mind.
"Oh, fuzzbutt decided to wake up," Naruto thought back. "I was just looking at Sakura, that's all."
"Heh, I knew it! Your perverted tendencies are finally resurfacing! I'm so proud of you!"
Kurama cackled, thoroughly amused.
"Shut up, Kurama! It's not like that!" Naruto groaned. "I was just remembering the day we met her."
"Ahhh, that day..." Kurama mused. "I haven't seen you that mad since the day Pain attacked Konoha..."
Flashback:
Xx—Fuyuki City—xX
-PlayGround-
Naruto and Shirou, both eleven years old, were enjoying the warm afternoon sun at the playground. Naruto had discovered after a few days of meeting Kiritsugu that not only was he physically younger in this world, but his mind had regressed as well. He realized this after having an uncontrollable temper tantrum one day—something that hadn't happened to him since he was a child. When he brought it up with Kurama, the fox had given him a calm but thoughtful response.
"This might be a chance to relive your childhood without all the hate," Kurama had said, surprising Naruto with the rare moment of insight.
Naruto had mulled it over for a while. His new life in this strange world, with no one knowing his past as the Kyuubi's jinchūriki or treating him with the fear and hatred he had known all too well in Konoha, did feel different. Almost freeing, even.
Another thing he had quickly noticed: the people in this world didn't use chakra. After asking Kiritsugu about it one evening, the man explained the concept of magic circuits to him. They sounded similar to chakra in some ways, but the way they worked was entirely foreign. Magic circuits were a part of a person's body, like a bloodline, inherited through generations. They determined how much magical energy someone could generate, and this magical energy could be used to cast spells or even strengthen the body, much like chakra-enhanced techniques.
But unlike chakra, it seemed that only certain families possessed magic circuits. It was a strange limitation, one Naruto still couldn't fully wrap his head around.
Back to the park
The wind rustled through the trees, and the sound of laughter from other children filled the air. Naruto swung lazily on the monkey bars while Shirou sat nearby on a bench, watching the clouds drift by.
"Naruto, slow down. You're going to hurt yourself," Shirou said with a small smile, though her voice carried a note of caution.
"Heh, I've got this!" Naruto flipped off the bars, landing with a wide grin. "See? Perfect!"
Shirou rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smile at Naruto's boundless energy. Just as they were about to continue their game, Shirou's gaze drifted across the playground and froze. A few boys were gathered in the corner, and in the middle of them, a girl with purple hair was cowering.
"Hey, Naruto…" Shirou's voice turned serious. "Something's wrong."
Naruto's attention snapped to the direction Shirou was looking. He saw the girl—small, trembling, clearly afraid. The boys were laughing at her, throwing insults, and pushing her roughly.
Without a word, Naruto was already moving. Shirou followed close behind.
"Oi! Leave her alone!" Naruto's voice rang out loud and clear as he marched toward the bullies, his eyes flashing dangerously. He hated bullies—they reminded him of people back in Konoha, before Pain's attack.
The boys hesitated for a second before one of them sneered, "What's it to you, blondie?"
"It's everything if you're picking on someone who can't fight back!" Naruto shot back, fists clenched, ready to fight if needed.
One of the boys tried to step toward Naruto, but Shirou quickly grabbed his arm, twisting it just enough to make him back off. "Do we have a problem?" she asked calmly, her eyes sharp.
The boys muttered a few curses under their breath and scattered, not willing to take on both Naruto and Shirou. Once they were gone, Naruto turned to the girl who was still crouched on the ground, her head bowed.
"Hey, are you okay?" Naruto crouched down to meet her eyes.
The girl slowly lifted her gaze. Her purple eyes were filled with fear, but she nodded weakly. "I… I'm fine."
"What's your name?" Shirou asked softly, kneeling beside her.
"S-Sakura. Sakura Matou," she whispered.
Naruto frowned as he looked at her more closely. Something wasn't right. He could feel it, an unease settling in his gut. He gave her a warm smile but glanced at Shirou meaningfully.
"Well, Sakura, those guys won't bother you anymore," Naruto said, trying to keep the mood light. "We've got your back!"
Sakura smiled faintly, but her eyes remained dull and distant.
As the three of them talked a little more, Naruto couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was terribly wrong with her. He could sense something dark, something alive inside her body. His instincts screamed at him, and without giving it away, Naruto activated his Sharingan, his eyes spinning into crimson. He focused on Sakura—and what he saw made his blood run cold.
Living worms... inside her.
Naruto's jaw clenched, but he kept his expression neutral so as not to alarm Sakura or Shirou. The worms slithered through her magic circuit, feeding off her energy, twisting inside her. It was horrifying.
Naruto made up his mind. He couldn't leave her like this.
"Hey, Sakura," he said with a bright grin. "Why don't you hang out with Shirou a little longer? I, uh, need to go grab something real quick."
Shirou raised an eyebrow but nodded, trusting Naruto.
Once he left the playground, Naruto created a shadow clone in secreted and left it with Shirou and Sakura to avoid suspicion. Then, after some will he silently followed Sakura from a distance as she made her way home. His suspicions deepened when she walked toward the Matou mansion—an eerie, decrepit building that seemed to exude an aura of darkness.
Xx—Fuyuki City—xX
-Matou mansion-
Inside the Matou mansion, Naruto's senses were on high alert. The place reeked of malice. Using his clone to scout ahead, Naruto made his way through the corridors, following the sinister energy trail deeper into the mansion.
Finally, he found what he feared most.
In a cold, dimly lit chamber, Sakura stood motionless at the edge of a pit—the worm pit. Below her, the same grotesque creatures that had been inside her body writhed and crawled, their presence corrupting everything around them. The scene made Naruto's stomach turn. She seemed resigned as if this nightmare had become normal.
Naruto's fists clenched as his Sharingan flared into its Mangekyō form, his resolve hardening. He couldn't leave her like this, and he wouldn't.
With swift, quiet movements, Naruto descended into the pit. He reached Sakura, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. Her eyes widened in shock, filled with fear and confusion.
"Naruto... what are you doing here?" Sakura's voice was a shaky whisper, her body trembling.
"I'm here to help you," Naruto replied softly. "You don't have to go through this anymore."
Tears welled up in Sakura's eyes, but she shook her head, looking around fearfully. "No… you have to leave! My grandfather—he'll kill you!"
Naruto gave her a soft, reassuring smile. "He's not going to hurt anyone anymore. I promise."
Sakura's eyes widened in horror. "No, you don't understand—he's not human. He can't be killed."
Naruto's gaze darkened, but his smile remained gentle. "I've fought monsters before, Sakura. He's no different."
Before she could protest further, Naruto turned his attention back to the worms that writhed and crawled around her. His Sharingan spun faster as he focused his chakra, preparing to eliminate the parasites that had tormented her for so long. He reached out with his chakra, carefully targeting the largest of the worms, the one directly connected to Zouken's twisted magic.
With a sharp breath, Naruto unleashed a wave of chakra, burning away the worms with the power of his chakra. The creatures shrieked and writhed as they were incinerated, and Sakura gasped, collapsing into Naruto's arms as the last of them was purged from her body.
Naruto held her close for a moment, letting her catch her breath. "You're free now," he whispered.
But before they could leave, a dark presence filled the chamber. A chill ran down Naruto's spine as he turned, his Sharingan locking onto the twisted figure standing in the shadows.
Zouken Matou had arrived.
The withered, ancient man stepped forward, his body emanating a foul energy. His face was contorted in rage, his eyes glowing with malice.
"You… how dare you interfere with my work!" Zouken spat, his voice a low hiss. "Do you have any idea who I am?"
Naruto gently laid Sakura on the ground, standing protectively in front of her. His Sharingan flared to life once more, his gaze locked onto Zouken's decaying form. "I know exactly who you are. And I'm going to end this, right here, right now."
Zouken let out a low, sinister laugh. "Foolish boy. You think you can destroy me? I've lived for centuries! I am immortal!"
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his Mangekyō Sharingan glowing brighter. He could feel the dark energy surrounding Zouken, the twisted life force that had kept him alive for so long. But he wasn't afraid.
"I've faced worse than you," Naruto said, his voice calm and unwavering. "You're just another monster to be put down."
With a swift motion, Naruto activated Amaterasu, the black flames erupting from his eyes and engulfing Zouken in an instant. The dark mage screamed in agony as the flames consumed him, burning hotter than the sun itself. Zouken tried to escape, but the flames clung to him, devouring his body and soul.
"You… you can't… this isn't possible!" Zouken howled as the flames burned through him, his form disintegrating before Naruto's eyes.
But Naruto remained silent, his eyes cold as he watched Zouken fall apart. The flames of Amaterasu would burn for seven days and nights—there would be no escape for him this time.
With the mansion collapsing around them, Naruto scooped up Sakura in his arms and dashed out, the inferno behind them lighting the sky. They reached safety just as the old Matou mansion was swallowed by the black flames, reduced to ash.
Sakura clung to Naruto, tears streaming down her face. "You… you saved me," she whispered, her voice breaking.
Naruto smiled softly, wiping away her tears. "You don't have to worry anymore. You're free now."
Xx—Emiya Residence—xX
Later that night, Naruto brought Sakura to his home. Shirou immediately embraced her, offering comfort and reassurance.
"You're safe now," Shirou said with a soft smile. "You can stay with us."
Sakura hesitated, but seeing the warmth and sincerity in Shirou's eyes, she nodded gratefully.
In private, Naruto told Kiritsugu the full story—what had been happening to Sakura, the horrors of the Matou mansion, and how he had killed Zouken.
Kiritsugu's face was grave, but he nodded slowly. "You did the right thing, Naruto. She's safe now. But we'll need to be careful moving forward."
Naruto, feeling the weight of the day lift slightly from his shoulders, nodded in return. Sakura was finally free. But he couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something far more dangerous.
End of Flashback.
Naruto blinked, the memories of that day still fresh in his mind as the flashback ended. He let out a long breath, leaning back against the kitchen wall as Kurama's voice echoed in his head.
"That day was a turning point, wasn't it?" Kurama's voice rumbled softly. "You were still so young… but you made a decision that changed everything—for her and for you."
Naruto stared at the ceiling, his thoughts a mix of pride and lingering unease. "Yeah… I couldn't just leave her like that. No one should have to go through what Sakura did."
Kurama chuckled. "True. You've always had that annoying habit of getting involved in other people's problems. But… it wasn't just her you saved that day, was it?"
Naruto's eyes softened as he glanced toward the kitchen, where Sakura was helping Shirou clean up. The sound of their quiet laughter reached his ears, and a small smile tugged at his lips. "No… I think I saved myself too. In a way."
He didn't like thinking about the darker parts of his past, about the things he had to do—like killing Zouken. But every time he looked at Sakura, at how much she had grown and how strong she had become, he knew it was worth it. The terror and pain that had once haunted her had been replaced with a quiet strength, one that even Shirou admired.
"Naruto, are you okay?" Sakura's soft voice pulled him from his thoughts.
Naruto blinked and looked up to see Sakura standing over him, concern etched into her features. Shirou stood beside her, wiping her hands on a dish towel, looking equally curious.
Naruto smiled, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just… thinking."
Sakura gave him a knowing look but didn't press him. She sat down beside him, resting her hand gently on his arm. "You don't always have to carry everything on your own, you know. We're here for you too."
Naruto felt warmth spread through his chest. He glanced at Shirou, who nodded silently in agreement.
"I know," he said, his voice soft. "I'm lucky to have you both."
The three of them sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the bond they shared growing stronger by the day. There was a peacefulness that settled between them, a sense of safety that had taken years to build.
But Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming. A storm on the horizon that threatened to unravel the peace they had fought so hard to achieve. He could feel it in the air—thick and heavy with tension.
Kurama's voice rumbled in his head once more. "You know this peace won't last forever, right? This world… it's full of danger. And you, Naruto, are standing right in the middle of it."
Naruto closed his eyes, steeling himself. "I know, Kurama. But for now… let's just enjoy the quiet."
The nine-tailed fox snorted but didn't argue. Instead, he settled back into the depths of Naruto's consciousness, allowing his host a moment of reprieve.
As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting the kitchen in a warm, golden light, Naruto, Shirou, and Sakura remained together—three friends who had been through so much, yet were always there for one another.
But deep down, Naruto knew that their peace was fragile. And the next challenge, whatever it may be, was just around the corner.
A/N: So, yeah, Zouken is dead. If you're wondering about Shinji, he's dead too—Naruto accidentally killed him in the fire while he was in a blind rage. He didn't realize there were others in the mansion, so... yeah. That's that.
P.S. Don't forget to leave a review! I love hearing your thoughts on this