A/N

Hello and welcome! This chapter is an important one it could be seen as emotional or even critical, depending on how everyone takes it.

Naruto will be experiencing a lot of emotions in this chapter, but as always, the show must go on.

Let's answer some reviews -

Archer headass – The Isha fan club indeed! I didn't want Naruto to take her because it doesn't align with his character at the moment. His power is a mix of Killua's from HxH, the Raikage's Lightning Armour, and even Thunder God Raiden, very close comparisons. This chapter is a big moment for Naruto to begin understanding himself.

amavgupta0 – This chapter should help clear that up.

FanFictionman43 – Yes, Naruto and Isha will get more time together as he starts to come to terms with himself. Isha won't appear again until Act 3, though.

Camrin Finnerty2 – Isha was definitely fun, but as mentioned, she won't return until Act 3. Naruto didn't take her because it doesn't fit his character at this stage. Jayce has been fun to write as well, and I'm excited to finally start shifting things around with his story.

Lichi Sechino – Bingo! It's very much like Iron Man's situation, that was the inspiration! I knew someone would catch that. Caitlyn will see Naruto soon, and I'm really excited about that.

To everyone else, thank you so much for your kind words. They mean a lot and really motivate me to keep updating regularly.

Now, let's begin!

Chapter 9 – Remember Me Act 2

Naruto perched silently atop a high rooftop overlooking Piltover's bustling streets. The city was alive with light and sound, its vibrant glow a sharp contrast to the dim and chaotic world of Zaun below. Hood drawn low over his face, he kept to the shadows, his glowing blue eyes barely visible as he surveyed the scene below.

It had been ahile since he'd been this close to the topside, and the sight of it stirred something deep within him an ache he couldn't quite place. His heart thudded painfully against his chest, the crystal embedded within pulsing faintly, as if in response to the flood of emotions.

The streets below were filled with life. Children laughed as they ran through the cobblestone roads, their carefree joy ringing out like music. Couples strolled arm in arm, vendors called out their wares, and small groups gathered to share stories and laughter. The air seemed to hum with a sense of peace and safety that felt alien to Naruto.

His gaze drifted to a small park nestled between the towering buildings. There, a family sat together on a bench beneath the glow of a streetlamp. A young boy, no older than ten, was grinning ear to ear as he proudly held up a toy a wooden airplane with intricate details.

"You made this all by yourself?" the father asked, his voice warm and full of pride.

The boy nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! I carved it just like you showed me!"

The father laughed, ruffling the boy's hair. "That's my boy! I'm so proud of you."

The mother, sitting on the other side, leaned in to hug the boy. "We're both proud of you. And we love you so much," she said, her voice soft and full of affection.

Naruto's chest tightened as he watched the scene unfold. The boy's laughter, the father's pride, the mother's love it all felt like a distant echo of something he couldn't quite remember, yet couldn't forget.

As Naruto couldn't tear his gaze away from the family. He watched as they stood, the boy holding his father's hand while his mother ruffled his hair. Together, they walked off into the night, their laughter fading into the distance.

Now staring down at the now empty park. His glowing blue eyes flickered faintly, the remnants of his emotional turmoil refusing to fade. His heart still beat heavily in his chest, the crystal pulsing in tandem with his erratic thoughts. The woman's voice echoed in his mind, soft and full of warmth "We love you so much."

Love...

The word hung in the air like a question he couldn't answer. It was a word he'd heard countless times before on the streets, in passing conversations, even from Silco when he spoke about Jinx. But what did it truly mean? And why did hearing it now feel like a dagger twisting in his chest?

He leaned back against the edge of the roof, his mind spinning. Fragments of voices and images danced in his thoughts, too fleeting to grasp but too vivid to ignore. A gentle voice, a comforting embrace, laughter that felt so familiar yet so foreign.

Was that love? Naruto wondered, his glowing eyes narrowing as he tried to piece the fragments together. Is that what it felt like? Or is this just some stupid dream?

The pain in his chest flared again, forcing him to clutch at his heart. The crystal's energy surged momentarily, lighting up his veins like molten fire. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to breathe through the pain.

"Get it together," he muttered, his voice strained. "This isn't your life. It never was."

But no matter how much he tried to push the thoughts away, the image of the family lingered. The father's pride, the mother's warmth, the boy's laughter it was like staring into a world that had once been his, a world he'd been violently ripped away from.

Naruto clenched his fists, his glowing veins dimming slightly as he forced the energy back under control. The word love rolled through his mind again, leaving him unsettled.

"What even is love?" he muttered to himself. His voice was low, almost bitter, as if he were afraid of the answer. "How do people just… know?"

He had seen it, felt its echoes in the way Jinx clung to him, in the way Silco spoke about her, even in the quiet moments when Powder's memory flickered to life in her. But could that really be called love? Or was it just survival? A desperate attempt to hold onto something, anything, in a world that tore you apart?

Naruto's thoughts wandered to Jinx her chaos, her pain, and the way she leaned on him as if he were the only stable thing in her life. He remembered the way she'd cried in his arms, the way her broken smile lit up when he told her she was beautiful.

Was that love? he wondered again, the question gnawing at him. Or was it just… something else?

The streets below were still alive with laughter and light, the kind of peace Naruto had never truly known. He watched as another couple strolled hand in hand, their soft laughter carrying up to where he sat. The ache in his chest grew stronger, the crystal's energy humming faintly in response.

"This place…" he said softly, his voice carrying a weight of bitterness. "It's not for people like me."

He clenched his fists, the faint glow of his veins lighting up beneath his pale skin. The crystal seemed to pulse in agreement, as if reminding him of what he was a weapon, a force of destruction, not someone who belonged in a world of love and light.

But even as he said the words, he couldn't tear his gaze away from the people below. He couldn't stop the flicker of longing that stirred in his chest, the faint hope that maybe, just maybe, there was more to life than chaos and pain.

Naruto stayed on the rooftop long after the family had gone, his mind a storm of thoughts he couldn't control. The word love lingered, taunting him with its mystery, its promise of something he couldn't quite grasp.

As the night deepened, Naruto finally rose to his feet. His glowing eyes swept over the city one last time, taking in the lights and the laughter below. His hood fell lower over his face, shrouding him in shadow.

"I don't belong here," he whispered, the words filled with a quiet resignation. "But… I have to know."

With a sharp crackle of energy, he zapped away, leaving the vibrant glow of Piltover behind. The image of the family, the sound of the mother's voice, the warmth in her words they stayed with him, a painful reminder of what he'd lost.

And what he might never find again...

Naruto wandered through the streets of Piltover, his hood pulled low over his glowing eyes. The city, with all its brilliance and wealth, felt suffocating, like a gilded cage. But he pressed on, his chest tightening with each step as if an invisible force was pulling him toward something unknown.

It had taken him hours of searching, piecing together bits of information overheard in passing conversations. He didn't know why he was so determined to find this place. All he had were fragmented memories images of warmth and laughter that didn't feel like they belonged to him. Yet, something deep inside urged him forward.

Finally, he stopped in front of a tall, rusted gate. The symbol on the gate caught his eye immediately: a swirling spiral, red and vibrant even through the layers of grime and decay. It was strange familiar, yet alien. His heart thudded in his chest, the crystal embedded within pulsing faintly as if resonating with the sight.

"The Uzumaki estate," he murmured to himself, the words foreign yet heavy with meaning. He didn't know why the name struck a chord, but it did. And as he stared at the symbol, a strange mixture of confusion and unease settled over him.

The gate creaked loudly as Naruto pushed it open, the sound echoing in the still night. The path leading up to the house was overgrown with weeds, the cobblestones cracked and uneven. The house itself loomed ahead, a shadow of what it must have once been. Its windows were shattered, its walls scarred by time and neglect. Yellow tape stretched across the entrance, faded but still clinging stubbornly to the ruins.

Naruto stopped in his tracks, his glowing eyes scanning the scene. The house looked like it hadn't been touched in years. It was as though the world had moved on, leaving this place behind like a forgotten relic. And yet, it still bore the remnants of a crime scene, as if someone, somewhere, had refused to let its memory fade completely.

He reached out to touch the symbol on the gate, his fingers brushing against the cold metal. A flicker of something an emotion he couldn't name sparked inside him. Anger? Sadness? He couldn't tell. All he knew was that the sight of this place stirred something deep and raw within him.

Naruto stepped through the gate and onto the overgrown path. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if the air itself grew denser the closer he got to the house. By the time he reached the front door, his chest was tight, and the crystal in his chest pulsed erratically, sending faint waves of energy through his veins.

The door hung slightly ajar, its once polished surface now marred by scratches and dirt. Naruto hesitated for a moment, his hand hovering over the doorknob. A part of him didn't want to go inside. He didn't know what he would find or what it would mean if he did.

But he pushed the door open anyway.

The inside of the house was dark, the air thick with dust and silence. Furniture lay overturned, papers and broken glass scattered across the floor. The walls, once adorned with pictures, now bore only faint outlines where the frames had hung. The place felt hollow, as though it had been drained of all life.

Naruto stepped inside, his footsteps echoing faintly in the empty space. A wave of emotions washed over him anger, confusion, sadness all tangled together in a way he couldn't untangle. He clenched his fists at his sides, his glowing eyes scanning the ruins.

As he walked through the house, Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that he wasn't alone. Not physically he knew the place was abandoned but in another way. It was as if the walls themselves were watching him, bearing witness to his every move. The air felt heavy, laden with memories he couldn't quite grasp.

He stopped in what must have once been a living room. A broken painting frame lay face down on the floor, its glass shattered. Naruto knelt down, picking it up carefully. He turned it over, his breath catching in his throat.

The painting was faded and torn, but he could make out three figures a man with a warm smile, a woman with vibrant red hair, and a small child between them, grinning ear to ear. The boy's hair was blond, his eyes a familiar shade of blue.

Naruto's grip tightened on the frame, his hands trembling. The crystal in his chest pulsed violently, sending a sharp pain through his body. He clutched at his heart, gritting his teeth as he tried to steady himself.

"Why does this feel so... familiar?" he whispered, his voice barely audible. He didn't know these people he couldn't possibly but something deep inside told him otherwise.

Rising to his feet, Naruto placed the painting back on the broken table, his movements careful. His glowing eyes flickered as a surge of anger bubbled up inside him, hot and sudden. He didn't know where it came from or why, but it burned through him like a wildfire.

"Why was this place left like this?" he muttered, his voice sharp with frustration. "Why didn't anyone care?"

The house felt like a monument to abandonment, a place frozen in time while the world outside moved on. It made his chest ache, the pain radiating outward as if the crystal was feeding off his turmoil.

The air inside the Uzumaki estate grew heavier, charged with an unseen force. Naruto clutched at his chest, the crystal embedded within flaring violently. Its energy radiated outward, the glowing veins beneath his skin illuminating the dark room with an eerie blue light. His breathing grew laboured, the pain in his chest intensifying with every pulse.

"Damn it…" he muttered, stumbling as the light surged again. His fists clenched instinctively, his body trembling as he tried to suppress the chaotic energy coursing through him.

But it was too much to contain.

A wave of power burst from him, the shockwave rattling the house. Dust and debris fell from the ceiling, and the room filled with a low hum that reverberated through the walls. Glass fragments tinkled to the ground as shelves rattled, their contents shifting precariously.

The sudden burst of energy lit up the darkened estate, casting long, flickering shadows against the walls. Naruto's glowing eyes scanned the room, his heart racing. That's when he noticed it a faint blue light emanating from the far corner of the room.

A soft click echoed through the house, followed by the creak of old hinges. Naruto turned sharply, his glowing eyes narrowing as he watched a hidden door slowly swing open. Behind it, a staircase led downward, shrouded in darkness but pristine, untouched by time.

Naruto approached the staircase cautiously, his heart hammering in his chest. Each step felt heavier than the last, the silence around him almost deafening. Dust hung in the air, disturbed by his movements, but the stairs themselves seemed oddly well preserved, as though someone had intended for this place to remain hidden but intact.

His glowing eyes illuminated the narrow passageway as he descended. The staircase spiralled downward, and the air grew cooler with each step. His breath quickened, the anticipation mounting as he reached the bottom.

What he found took his breath away.

The room before him was vast, its walls lined with shelves crammed full of books, glass containers, and various trinkets that sparkled faintly in the blue glow of his eyes. Dust covered everything, but the space felt alive, as though it had been waiting for someone to uncover it. A desk sat at the centre, papers strewn across its surface, alongside small vials of an unidentifiable liquid and strange, delicate tools.

Naruto stepped forward, his hands brushing against the desk as he took in the room. His glowing eyes fell on a photograph lying atop the papers, its frame cracked but still holding its precious contents.

The boy in the picture looked so familiar. Blonde hair, bright blue eyes that seemed to glow faintly even in the photograph. His heart clenched as he picked up the frame, the crystal in his chest pulsing in time with the image before him. It was undeniable. The boy was him.

"No…" he whispered, his voice trembling. His hands shook as he clutched the frame. "It can't be…"

The truth washed over him like a tidal wave, leaving him breathless. The house, the symbol, the memories he couldn't quite grasp they all pointed to the same thing, this was his home.

He was Naruto Uzumaki.

As the realization settled, Naruto set the frame down and turned his attention to the desk. Among the scattered papers was a worn notebook, its leather cover faded but intact. His fingers brushed against it tentatively, as though touching it might shatter the fragile truth he had just uncovered.

Opening the notebook, Naruto's eyes scanned the pages. The handwriting was neat and deliberate, the words chronicling years of events business dealings, political manoeuvres, and moments of personal reflection. Each entry felt like a glimpse into the life of someone meticulous and deeply invested in his work.

Naruto flipped through the pages, his heart pounding as he searched for something anything that might give him more answers. He stopped abruptly at a passage dated several years ago.

The entry detailed an attack a fierce battle at the bridge dividing Zaun and Piltover. The writer described it in vivid detail, recounting every move, every loss, every decision made in the heat of battle. The words painted a picture of chaos and bloodshed, but beneath the surface, there was an undercurrent of regret.

"I wish I didn't kill people that day," the writer admitted, the words heavy with guilt. "I didn't want my actions to shape the future in blood. I wanted something better for all of us. For my son, Naruto."

The notebook fell from Naruto's hands, landing on the desk with a dull thud. His chest heaved as he stared down at the words, his vision blurring. The father he couldn't remember, the mother whose face was only a fleeting memory they had dreamed of a better future. They had dreamed of him.

"This… was his," Naruto said quietly, his voice breaking. His trembling fingers traced the cover of the notebook, his mind racing with emotions he couldn't name.

Naruto's legs gave out, and he sank into the chair by the desk, his head in his hands. The weight of the truth pressed down on him, suffocating and relentless. He had spent years denying his past, convincing himself that he was nothing more than the weapon Silco had shaped him to be. But now, confronted with the undeniable evidence of who he was, he felt lost.

"I was Naruto Uzumaki," he whispered, the words feeling foreign on his tongue. "I was…"

The glow of his crystal dimmed, its light no longer pulsing with the same chaotic energy. Instead, it felt subdued, almost calm, as though it, too, had found a semblance of peace in the revelation.

But Naruto didn't feel peace. He felt anger. Anger at the life he had been robbed of, the family he had lost, and the person he could no longer be.

"This place…" he muttered, his voice low and strained. "It was my home. And now… it's nothing."

The room seemed to echo his pain, the silence heavy with the weight of the past. Naruto sat there for what felt like hours, the notebook still open before him, the photograph of the boy staring back as if to remind him of who he had once been.

And who he could never be again.

Naruto still sitting at the desk, his glowing eyes flickering as he turned the pages of the notebook with trembling hands. The entries shifted in tone, growing darker and more methodical. The handwriting became sharper, more frantic, as though the writer was racing against time. Each word felt heavier than the last, and Naruto's stomach twisted as he read.

"The crystals have immense potential," the entry began. "They hold the power to reshape our future to make a better world for our son. But the process is… unpredictable."

Naruto's brow furrowed as he scanned the next few lines. The words blurred together, fragmented memories flashing in his mind.

"I have engaged with men from Zaun. They provide… subjects. Infants. Children. If we can understand what makes Naruto unique, we can replicate it. We can create a generation of hope a generation that embodies the future I've dreamed of."

Naruto froze, his hand hovering over the page. The breath caught in his throat as he stared at the words, unable to process them fully.

Infants, Children.

The implications struck him like a hammer, and he felt the crystal in his chest flare erratically. His father this man he couldn't even remember had used children as test subjects. To recreate him. To turn his existence into some kind of blueprint for a future no one had asked for.

He continued reading, his hands shaking with each turn of the page.

"Each attempt has failed," Minato had written, his words clinical, devoid of emotion. "The subjects cannot withstand the energy of the crystals. They burn out shatter before the process can stabilize. None of them are like my son. None of them can bear the weight of this power."

Naruto's head spun, his chest heaving as he tried to steady his breathing. The words felt like poison, seeping into his veins and choking him from the inside. He glanced down at the faint glow of the crystal embedded in his chest, its light pulsating in time with his own rapid heartbeat.

He felt sick.

The room spun around him as the truth settled in. His father had sacrificed countless lives children of missing children, no less all in the name of recreating the power that had been forced upon Naruto himself. And for what? A better future? A dream built on a foundation of broken lives?

Naruto clenched the notebook tightly, his knuckles whitening as anger surged through him. His glowing eyes burned brighter, the crystal's energy surging uncontrollably. A bitter laugh escaped his lips, sharp and jagged like broken glass.

"Is this what you wanted, Minato?" he hissed, his voice filled with venom. "Is this your better future?"

His laugh grew louder, more unhinged, as the room seemed to tremble under the force of his power. The crystal pulsed violently, feeding off his rage, his despair. He couldn't contain it anymore. The emotions spilled out of him, a chaotic storm of pain and anger that he couldn't suppress.

The notebook slipped from his hands, landing on the desk with a hollow thud. The words stared back at him, mocking him with their cold rationality.

Naruto's eyes fell to the final lines of the entry. His father's words felt like a dagger in his chest.

"I understand that some may not agree with my methods," Minato had written. "But I will do whatever is necessary to protect the future I have envisioned. One day, I hope my son will continue this dream. He is the key. He is the hope for what lies ahead."

"Continue your dream?" Naruto spat, his voice laced with fury. He grabbed the notebook and hurled it against the wall, the pages scattering as it struck. "As if! As if I could!"

The room seemed to echo his outburst, the silence that followed heavy and suffocating. Naruto's breaths came in ragged gasps as he stared at the broken desk, the shattered remnants of a life he didn't want to remember.

"To hell with it all," he muttered, his voice low and bitter. "To hell with your dream. To hell with you."

He kicked the desk, the force of his blow sending it crashing into the wall. Splinters of wood scattered across the room, and a faint hum filled the air as something stirred in the wreckage.

Naruto stumbled back, coughing violently as the crystal's energy surged through him. He dropped to one knee, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth. His glowing eyes flickered weakly as the room dimmed around him.

Then, a soft blue light filled the space.

Naruto looked up, his vision blurry, and froze. A shimmering figure stood before him, its edges flickering faintly like an old projection. The figure was smiling a gentle, warm smile that made his heart clench painfully.

It was a woman, her vibrant red hair glowing faintly in the light. Her green eyes sparkled with kindness, and her expression radiated a sense of love and comfort that felt achingly familiar.

Naruto's breath hitched as he stared at her, his voice barely above a whisper. "Who…?"

The hologram of Kushina Uzumaki smiled softly, her gaze meeting his as if she could see directly into his soul.

And Naruto felt the world around him crumble once more.

The clamour of coins and cards filled the smoky room, a palpable tension hanging over the table where Sevika sat, her mechanical prosthetic arm resting on the edge. Her opponents, rough looking men with greedy eyes, were more focused on the growing pile of coins than the silent menace Sevika radiated.

With a lazy smirk, Sevika leaned back in her chair, her cigar clenched between her teeth. She threw down her cards with a flourish, earning groans from her opponents as they realized they'd lost. Sevika laughed, her good hand sweeping the winnings toward her.

"Better luck next time," she said mockingly, but her amusement was short-lived.

A sharp whistle cut through the air, followed by the crunch of impact as a knee collided with Sevika's face. Her chair toppled backward, sending her sprawling to the floor. Coins scattered across the table, and her opponents grabbed what they could before bolting, not eager to get caught in whatever storm was brewing.

Sevika groaned, her hand going to her jaw as she looked up to see Vi standing over her, fists clenched and eyes blazing with fury.

"Well, well," Sevika drawled, wiping her mouth and spitting blood onto the floor. "Look who's come crawling back."

"Get up," Vi snarled. "We're going to have a chat."

Sevika chuckled darkly as she stood, shrugging off her cloak. Her mechanical arm gleamed in the dim light, its sharp edges catching Vi's eye. The arm hissed as Sevika activated a vial of shimmer embedded within it, the substance surging into her veins.

"You want to chat?" Sevika said, raising her fists. "Let's chat."

The room erupted into chaos as the two women clashed. Sevika's shimmer enhanced strength made her a brutal opponent, each punch from her mechanical arm sending shockwaves through the air. But Vi was no stranger to fighting; she ducked and weaved, landing heavy blows to Sevika's ribs and jaw.

Their fight was relentless, each hit echoing in the now empty room. Sevika's arm smashed through tables and walls, while Vi's knuckles bled from the sheer force of her punches. Finally, with a well timed move, Vi tackled Sevika to the ground, pinning her with her forearm pressed against her throat.

"Where's my sister?" Vi demanded, her voice a low growl.

Sevika grinned, her teeth streaked with blood. "Your sister?" she said mockingly. "She's not your sister anymore. She works for Silco now."

The words hit Vi like a sledgehammer, her grip loosening as shock and disbelief flickered across her face.

That moment of hesitation was all Sevika needed. With a hiss of her mechanical arm, blade like fingers extended and stabbed Vi in the gut. Vi gasped, her body jerking backward as blood seeped through her shirt.

Sevika loomed over her, ready to deliver a killing blow, but a sharp crack rang out. Sevika staggered back, clutching her shoulder where a bullet from Caitlyn's rifle had struck her. She glared at Caitlyn, who stood in the doorway, rifle trained on her.

"Guess we're done here," Sevika muttered, turning and shuffling out of the room, blood and shimmer leaking from her wounds.

Caitlyn rushed to Vi's side, dropping her rifle to kneel beside her. "Vi, are you okay?" she asked, panic lacing her voice.

Vi groaned, clutching her wound as she tried to sit up. "I'll live," she muttered, though her pale face said otherwise.

Caitlyn looped an arm around her, helping her to her feet. "Come on, we need to get you out of here."

Leaning heavily on Caitlyn, Vi hobbled toward the exit. Her mind raced with Sevika's words, the revelation that Powder no, Jinx was working for Silco twisting like a knife in her chest. She clenched her teeth, ignoring the pain in her side as they disappeared into the shadows.

In her lair, Jinx stood before her latest creation, her fingers twitching with excitement. The machine was a masterpiece, its design eerily similar to the device Jayce had built to unlock hextech's potential. A glowing hex crystal pulsed at its centre, its light casting an ethereal glow over Jinx's wide, manic grin.

She flipped a switch, and the machine hummed to life. Energy surged through its circuits, and the crystal glowed brighter, its power contained but palpable.

"I did it," Jinx whispered to herself, her voice filled with wonder. "I really did it."

But even as the machine whirred and sparked, her mind drifted to Naruto. She shook her head, banishing the thoughts. "No distractions," she muttered. "This is for me."

Sevika staggered into Silco's office, leaving a trail of blood and shimmer in her wake. Silco looked up from his desk, his sharp eyes narrowing at the sight of her dishevelled state.

"You look like hell," he remarked, his voice calm but laced with irritation.

Sevika collapsed into a chair, wincing as she clutched her wounded shoulder. "Vi's back," she said bluntly.

Silco froze, the cigar in his hand forgotten. "What?"

"She's alive," Sevika confirmed. "And she's looking for Jinx."

Silco's mind reeled, the revelation hitting him harder than he expected. He had believed Vi dead for years, a loose end long since buried. But now she was back, threatening the delicate balance he had worked so hard to maintain.

"Interesting," Silco said finally, his voice thoughtful. "Let her come. If she wants Jinx, she'll have to go through me."

The hologram of Kushina Uzumaki shimmered faintly, her eyes filled with warmth and sorrow as she studied Naruto. Her glowing form moved slightly closer, her movements delicate and deliberate, as if aware that she was treading on fragile ground.

"You activated the relic," she said softly, her voice carrying an almost maternal weight. "It responds only to our family. I am… a data backup of sorts. An echo of Kushina Uzumaki, your mother. Though I haven't been updated for some years."

Naruto, still kneeling on the ground, let out a dry laugh, his voice laced with bitterness. "Well, the future hasn't been too kind to me, has it?"

Kushina tilted her head, her expression pained as she took him in fully. "I can see that," she said softly. "What took you so long? This is your family's legacy. Why wait so many years to appear?"

Naruto pushed himself to his feet, his glowing eyes meeting hers, filled with turmoil and anger. "When you lose your memory," he said tersely, "it tends to delay things."

Kushina's expression softened further as she took a step closer, her gaze filled with understanding. "I see," she said, her voice tinged with sadness. "You must be… what? Seventeen? Eighteen years old now?"

Naruto nodded slowly, not breaking eye contact. "Something like that."

Kushina sighed, her holographic form flickering faintly. "Then tell me, what are your intentions here, Naruto?"

Naruto's jaw tightened, and his fists clenched at his sides. "I don't care if you have my mother's face," he said sharply. "I came here to find out about my memories. And now? Now I wish I hadn't."

He turned away from her, his shoulders tense. "The night my parents died, so did the boy they all knew. Whoever Naruto Uzumaki was… he's gone. I can't go back to the way things were. I couldn't even if I wanted to."

Kushina's eyes lingered on him, her expression unreadable. "I can see it," she said quietly. "You're suffering. Severe mental trauma, blood poisoning, and… the crystal." Her gaze dropped to his chest, her voice steady but grave. "It's killing you, slowly, as it's corrupting your mind."

Naruto's breath hitched for a moment before he chuckled darkly. "Yeah, I know it's killing me. Everything else you said? That's news to me."

Kushina's expression didn't waver. "You must survive," she said firmly. "You are the last of our family."

Naruto turned back to face her, his glowing eyes narrowing. "I won't die," he said evenly. "But don't think I'm doing it for you or this so called legacy."

For a moment, his thoughts drifted elsewhere, his mind fixating on a single image, Jinx's face. The way she smiled, the way she laughed, the way she looked at him when she was at her most vulnerable. The image steadied him, grounding him in a way nothing else could.

Kushina studied him closely, her ethereal gaze piercing but not unkind. "You have someone you wish to protect, don't you?" she asked.

Naruto hesitated for a moment before nodding, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah."

Kushina's smile returned, small but meaningful. "Would you do anything to save that person?"

Naruto didn't hesitate this time. "Yes," he said firmly.

"No matter the cost?" she pressed.

He nodded again, his voice steady. "No matter what."

Her expression grew sombre, her violet eyes filled with something that felt both like pride and sorrow. "That's what your father did," she said softly. "He had people he wanted to protect. A future he envisioned for those he loved, and he wouldn't stop no matter what it took because that's what love does to oneself."

Naruto froze, the words hitting him like a tidal wave. Love. That word again. It echoed in his mind, resonating with a depth he couldn't ignore. His chest ached, not from the crystal's corruption but from the weight of realization.

He thought of Jinx. The way he always followed her, protected her, supported her without a second thought. He didn't question it, didn't stop to wonder why. His body and heart had simply moved on instinct.

Kushina's holographic voice was gentle but firm. "Do you understand now, Naruto?"

His mind swirled with memories, moments with Jinx that, until now, he hadn't fully grasped. The way he stood by her side no matter how chaotic or dangerous things became. The way her laughter could momentarily silence the storm within him. The way he felt whole only when he was with her.

And then, as if a veil had lifted, Naruto finally understood.

He loved her...

The room fell silent, the faint hum of the holographic device the only sound as Naruto's words echoed in the air.

"I love her," he said quietly, his voice trembling but resolute. "I love Jinx."

Kushina's hologram blinked, her expression softening with a small smile. "Jinx," she repeated, testing the name on her lips. "I don't know who she is, but… it seems she's someone very important to you."

Naruto nodded, his glowing eyes dimming slightly as he tried to compose himself. "She is. She's… everything."

Kushina's smile turned bittersweet. She looked at him for a long moment, her gaze filled with a quiet sorrow. "I'm sorry, Naruto. I'm sorry for everything that's happened to you. For everything you've had to endure. Maybe… in another world, we could've been a happy family. You, me, Minato. Together."

Naruto's jaw tightened, and he let out a dry, humourless laugh. "Maybe," he said, his voice tinged with bitterness. "But even so, I'm happy here… in my own way. I've done a lot of damage, sure. Hurt a lot of people. But Zaun… Zaun is my home now. And I'll protect it."

Kushina's hologram flickered faintly, her face falling into a sombre expression. "I understand," she said softly. "You've made a life for yourself, even in the chaos. And I… I can't fault you for that."

Naruto nodded but didn't speak. His mind raced with emotions he couldn't fully process.

Kushina stepped forward, her projection shimmering as if she wished she could reach out and touch him. "But," she began, her voice gentle yet firm, "as your mother… I have to ask something of you."

Naruto's gaze snapped to her, his glowing eyes narrowing slightly. "What is it?" he asked, his tone cautious.

"Find Jayce," Kushina said. "Or Caitlyn. They can help you. I know you don't trust them right now, and I don't blame you. To you, they're just strangers. But they're part of your past and maybe, just maybe, they could help secure your future."

Naruto's eyes darkened, and he crossed his arms defensively. "Who says I need help?" he muttered. "I'm fine."

As if to betray his words, a violent cough wracked his body, blood splattering onto the floor as he doubled over. The crystal in his chest pulsed erratically, sending a surge of pain through him. Kushina's face filled with worry, and she stepped closer, though her holographic form could not touch him.

"I understand why you hate them," Kushina said softly, her voice trembling. "Why you want nothing to do with the people from your past. But… as a mother's dying wish… please survive, Naruto. No matter what."

Naruto looked up at her, his expression unreadable. She moved closer, lowering herself until her projection was eye level with him. Though she couldn't physically touch him, her presence felt warm, comforting.

She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his in a gesture that transcended the limitations of the hologram. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke her final words. "I will always love you, Naruto. No matter what."

The hologram flickered, and Kushina's form began to dissipate. Naruto reached out instinctively, his hand passing through the fading light. "Wait—" he started, but it was too late. She was gone.

The room plunged into silence once more, leaving Naruto alone with the weight of her words.

For a moment, he sat there, staring at the empty space where Kushina had been. He clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening as his emotions threatened to overwhelm him.

And then, without warning, tears began to stream down his face.

Naruto didn't understand why he was crying. The tears fell unbidden, carving hot trails down his cheeks as he sat there, trembling. His chest ached not from the crystal, but from something deeper, something raw and undefinable.

He wiped his face roughly with his sleeve, but the tears kept coming. The image of Kushina's warm smile lingered in his mind, along with her words.

"I will always love you."

Naruto exhaled shakily, his hands trembling as he tried to steady himself. His thoughts drifted to Jinx her chaotic energy, her unpredictable laughter, her rare moments of vulnerability.

Was this what love truly was? The kind of love that made someone willing to endure anything, no matter the cost?

Naruto rose to his feet, his movements slow and deliberate. His glowing eyes burned brightly as he looked around the room one last time, his mind a whirlwind of emotions.

"I'll survive," he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse but resolute. "But not for you, but for her."

He turned and began ascending the staircase, his footsteps echoing in the stillness. As he reached the surface, the night sky stretched out above him, stars twinkling faintly in the distance.

Naruto pulled his hood up, shielding his face from the world. His chest still ached, but this time, it wasn't just the crystal. It was something far more profound a feeling he didn't fully understand but couldn't ignore.

With a final glance at the ruins of his childhood home, Naruto zapped away into the night, his path uncertain but his resolve stronger than ever.

Chapter 9 – Remember Me Act 2 End

A/N

Andddd that's the end, everyone! A bit of a depressing chapter, but at least Naruto now understands what love is...

We also learned some interesting things about Minato take his actions however you will. I hope this chapter did a good job of showing both sides of the story.

Now Naruto knows he loves Jinx... Confession when? Maybe next chapter. How will Jinx react? Who knows...

Until next time,

byebye!