A/N- Sorry for the false notification about Chapter 9! Also, many of you wanted Medusa to remain as Sakura's Servant, so I've decided to stick with that. I plan to wrap up this story within 5 to 10 this story is complete, I'll start working on a Naruto x Pokémon crossover. It'll feature a shinobi Naruto (no neglected trope here), and the pairing is still undecided, though May will definitely be included since she's my favorite. The story will primarily take place in the Hoenn's all for now. Hope you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 8: Unspoken Desires

Xx—Emiya Residence—xX

The cozy glow of the room contrasted with the crisp evening air outside. Shirou and Sakura returned, balancing trays filled with an assortment of snacks—pastries, skewers, and steaming mugs of tea.

"Hope everyone's hungry," Shirou said with a smile, setting the trays on the table. Naruto's eyes sparkled as he grabbed a pastry, biting into it enthusiastically.

"This is way better than ramen-flavored chips!" Naruto declared, crumbs scattering everywhere.

Rin groaned, leaning back in her chair. "Can you not eat like a wild animal for once?"

Naruto grinned unapologetically, his cheek stuffed with food. "Hey, gotta keep my strength up!"

As the group enjoyed the snacks, the atmosphere grew lighter. Sakura quietly refilled everyone's tea, her smile soft but content. Rin and Shirou exchanged barbs over who had contributed more to the meal, while Naruto leaned back, watching them with an amused expression.

Then, as if struck by a thought, Naruto straightened and turned his gaze toward Archer.

"Hey, Archer," he said, his voice cutting through the chatter. "We've heard everyone's dreams, goals, or whatever. But you haven't shared yours yet."

The room fell silent. Even Sakura and Shirou, who had been laughing moments ago, stilled as they exchanged uncertain glances.

Archer, who had been standing near the window with her arms crossed, tilted her head slightly. Her crimson eyes narrowed, the moonlight casting a sharp glow on her silver hair. "Why does it matter to you?"

Naruto shrugged, popping another pastry into his mouth. "I'm just curious. Everyone's got something they want, right? World domination, unlimited snacks, peace and quiet… What's your deal?"

Archer's lips twitched as if she were holding back a smirk, but her expression quickly hardened. "I don't need a wish. The past can't be changed, no matter how much you desire it to be."

Naruto leaned forward, his elbows on the table, unfazed by Archer's tone. "That's not really an answer. So you're saying you wouldn't change anything? No regrets?"

The tension in the room thickened. Rin opened her mouth to speak but quickly shut it when Archer shot her a warning glance.

"Regrets?" Archer said quietly, her voice carrying a weight that silenced even Naruto's usual cheer. "If I could erase my existence, I would. But the Grail is not a tool for salvation; it's a curse."

Her words hung heavy in the air.

Naruto's bright blue eyes softened, and he tilted his head, resting his chin in his palm. "That's a pretty dark way to look at things, Archer-chan."

Archer's brow twitched at the nickname, but Naruto continued, his tone lighter now. "I get it, though. Regret can eat at you. But if you're here, doesn't that mean you've still got a chance to make things better?"

Her crimson gaze locked with his, her expression unreadable. For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for her reply.

"Perhaps," Archer said finally, her voice quieter. "But some mistakes can't be undone."

"Maybe not," Naruto admitted, a small smile tugging at his lips. "But that doesn't mean you stop trying, does it?"

Archer's gaze lingered on him, her stern mask softening slightly. "You're an optimist," she said eventually, her tone neutral but lacking its earlier sharpness.

Naruto laughed, the sound breaking the tension. "Maybe! But it beats moping around, don't you think?"

The room's atmosphere lightened slightly, though a shadow of Archer's words lingered. Rin cleared her throat, clearly eager to change the subject.

"Well, now that Naruto's got his answer—or close enough—can we move on?" she asked, glaring at him.

Naruto grinned, raising his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. No more probing."

But as the evening continued, Naruto's gaze occasionally drifted to Archer, a thoughtful look in his eyes. Something about the stoic Servant reminded him of his own struggles—of the loneliness he had once endured and the bonds that had pulled him out of it.

Perhaps, he thought, there was a way to help Archer find peace

As the group settled back into a more relaxed atmosphere, Shirou—her auburn hair catching the warm glow of the room's light—glanced at Naruto, curiosity sparking in her amber eyes.

"Hey, Naruto," she said, setting her empty mug down with a quiet clink. "We've talked about everyone else's dreams and wishes, but you've never mentioned yours."

Naruto blinked, mid-bite of another pastry. He paused, looking between Shirou and Sakura, who nodded in agreement, their eyes expectant.

"Yeah," Sakura added softly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "What would you wish for, Naruto? If you had the chance to ask for anything, what would it be?"

The question caught Naruto off guard. He leaned back in his chair, chewing slowly as he mulled it over. The room grew quiet, all eyes on him now. Even Archer turned her gaze toward him, her crimson eyes sharp but intrigued.

"My wish, huh?" Naruto repeated, rubbing the back of his head. He gave a sheepish laugh. "Honestly, I haven't really thought about it."

Rin frowned, crossing her arms. "You've been dragged into all this Grail stuff, and you don't even have a wish?"

Naruto shrugged, his tone light. "I mean, I've always been more of a 'punch first, think later' kind of guy. Wishing for something feels… weird, y'know?"

Shirou tilted her head, her expression softening. "But there must be something you want. Something you'd change if you could?"

Naruto's easygoing grin faltered slightly. His blue eyes grew distant, his mind wandering to memories he rarely allowed to surface—years of loneliness, the pain of being hated for something beyond his control, and the sacrifices his friends had made for him.

"Well…" He hesitated, his usual exuberance dimming. "If I could, I'd wish for the dreams of my friends and family to come true. That includes you, Rin, Saber, and Archer. You guys might be my comrades in this war, but now… you're my friends too."

The sincerity in his voice hung in the air, the quiet weight of his words settling over the room. Rin's usual sharp retort faltered as she processed the honesty in his expression.

"I know what it's like to feel lost and uncertain," Naruto continued, his voice softer now. "But if I can help the people I care about find their happiness, then that's enough for me."

Sakura's gaze softened, her violet eyes glimmering with understanding. Shirou, too, looked at him with an expression that was both surprised and touched, as though seeing a side of him she hadn't expected.

"But," Naruto said suddenly, his grin returning with renewed brightness, "I don't need some magic Grail to make that happen. I'll do it my way—one step at a time. No shortcuts."

Rin rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress the faint smile tugging at her lips. "Typical. You'd rather take the long road."

"Hey, it's just how I am!" Naruto replied, crossing his arms with a confident grin.

The room seemed lighter, the tension melting away in the warmth of his words. Even Archer, who had remained silent and watchful, allowed a faint, almost imperceptible smile to touch her lips.

"Your way, huh?" Archer murmured, her crimson gaze lingering on him. "Maybe that's not such a bad way after all."

Naruto blinked in surprise but gave her a bright smile, scratching the back of his head. "See? Even the cool Archer-chan agrees!"

Archer's brow twitched at the nickname, but the faint smile remained.

As the group eased back into conversation, Naruto's words lingered in their minds, a quiet reminder of the bonds they were forming amid the chaos of the Grail War.

Xx—Emiya Residence—xX

-Rooftop-

Meanwhile, in a secluded space, one of Naruto's clones held a glowing shard of Zelretch's magic, conversing with the Wizard Marshal himself.

"Why'd you summon me, Naruto? Found another meme you just had to share?" Zelretch's voice was both amused and teasing.

Naruto chuckled. "Not this time. I actually have a serious question."

"Oh? A matter so grave even the almighty Naruto Uzumaki needs assistance?"

Naruto smirked. "Quit the dramatics, old man. Why did the Grail War start again just ten years after the last one?"

Zelretch's grin was nearly audible. "Where's the fun in giving you answers outright? You're sharp—you'll figure it out."

Naruto sighed but couldn't help chuckling. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"When you're as old as I am, you learn to find entertainment wherever you can. Speaking of which, you do realize for me, we haven't talked for thousands of years? Time flows differently when you're a Master of Kaleidoscope."

Naruto's smile faded slightly, acknowledging the truth in Zelretch's words. Even with his Rinne-sharingan, such mastery over time and space was daunting.

"Fine, fine, I'll figure it out. But at least answer this—Rin's Servant Archer… is she Shirou Emiya from the future?"

Zelretch chuckled darkly, his voice laced with amusement. "Caught on, have you? Yes, she is Shirou Emiya, but not from this future. She hails from an alternate timeline, a different thread of possibilities altogether."

Naruto tilted his head, his eyes narrowing in curiosity. "An alternate timeline? What makes it so different from this one?"

Zelretch's tone shifted, taking on a more serious note. "In her timeline, the choices she made, the battles she fought, and the sacrifices she endured shaped a vastly different path. Without you to change the course of events, and not knowing the truth about the Holy Grail, she still fought on. In the end, she became what you see now—a Guardian, bound by a contract with Alaya. A Warden of humanity's survival."

Naruto frowned, his gaze thoughtful. "Is there a way to remove her contract with Alaya? So she can be free again, without Alaya breathing down her neck?"

Zelretch chuckled softly. "There is a way, but it wouldn't be as entertaining for me."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "You want fun, huh? You know I can end this war in under a minute, right? I could march to the Einzbern estate, extract the Lesser Grail from Illya, then head to the Church and take care of the fake priest and Gilgamesh. Summon the Grail, destroy it, and live a normal life without this mess."

Zelretch's laughter rang out, genuine and amused. "You're right. That would be no fun at all. How about a compromise? I'll tell you how to break Archer's contract, but you won't interfere in the war."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "You know I'll step in if my friends' lives are in danger."

"As noble as always, but let them fight their own battles. They won't grow if you keep coddling them."

Naruto sighed, knowing the truth of those words. "Fine. I agree—so long as they're not in life-threatening danger."

A/N: If any of you want to chat with me, I'm on some Discord servers, though I'm not very active there. I go by 'Beans.'

M.A.D.B Overseas Server:- /Cz3uYEXnub/

The Goat Server:- /mT7dmXMTzf/

P.S. Don't forget to leave a review! I love hearing your thoughts on this.