Edit: Diabellstar's dream (the third scene) has been changed due to the lore revelation in the Rage of the Abyss set of what has happened to the White Forest shedding a few key details with a new archetype.

"You bastards! You went this far… Just for the damn Fox!"

"Foolish boy… I do this for the money. I don't care for what the leader's goal is. As long as I'm paid handsomely, I'll finish the mission no matter the consequences. All that matters in this world is power. And nothing is more powerful than the power of money."

"That's your reason for all this?! Just to get paid?! You killed one of my best friend's sensei, and that's all you have to say for this?! You monster!"

"Think what you wish of me. This is and has been the way of the shinobi since the beginning. You are far too sentimental. It will be your downfall."

"Bastard, you don't know me! I'll show you just how wrong you are! I'll change this world! I'll change the way it works! You better believe I will!"

"Pointless words. Many have said those exact words before. Nothing has changed. Nothing will change. Your words will fall on deaf ears. You are powerless, boy. You will soon learn the harsh reality of this world. And when you do, I'll still be around to watch you fall into despair."

"Go to hell! You won't get to see that world after I'm finished with you!"

"Naruto, no, don't! It's a…"

"RASENSHURIKEN!"

"Damn you!" Naruto rapidly sat up, his nostril flared, eyes tracing everything in his vicinity.

He needed clarification about his surroundings. What was this place? A simple, dull-colored field with trees sparsely scattered throughout. A thin mist had rolled through, distorting visibility to a degree if it wasn't for his campfire.

Naruto grimaced before letting out a pitiful sigh. Of course. It was a dream of what led him to be stuck in this strange world. His emotions had so absorbed him that he momentarily forgot. "Of course, I dream of that asshole… At least I took him out with me."

Wincing as pain radiated through his right arm, Naruto exhaled. Even with the fox inside him, the wounds his attack inflicted upon him never fully recovered. That the wounds he received were so severe they cut to the molecular level. Not even the Nine-Tails was able to regenerate those wounds. Simply patch them so his arm wasn't entirely useless…

It's time to move. The fox's voice bitterly resonated in his ears.

Naruto's face soured, and then he shook his head. They had agreed to work with one another after a year after falling into that ravine. He wasn't sure how, but there were some sort of mystical properties or a rift in dimensions. But now he was in this new world and had to deal with it and find his way back home.

The problem was the creatures here were deadly. And it wasn't just the creatures. The technology here was a threat. There were even people here way more powerful than he was. So much that even the Nine-Tails did not underestimate them. There were people here who were so powerful that they even wanted to avoid them. Those they avoided at all cost… When they could.

Thankfully, the fox was willing to put aside its ego when danger to him was present and allowed him full access to his chakra if the moment called for it. A benefit of this world, he supposed. And sometimes that wasn't enough.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm on it," Naruto grumbled, lifting out of his makeshift camp and kicking dirt over the campfire. "You've been so jumpy lately. Just cause you have sensed something doesn't mean it's a threat, ya know?"

Kneeling and picking up a rucksack he slept beside, he loaded it onto his back before tightening the blue bandana on his head. With all the battles he had faced since falling into this world, he kept his headband safely tucked away in one of the few scrolls he had in his sack. He didn't have enough scrolls to store everything. Had to pick what was important to him to keep stored.

Make it quick. Kyuubi snarled from within. I can only hope, despite your sheer ignorance, that you are right.

And what I've been feeling isn't what I think.

"Master… Lady Diabell?! What has happened to you? …No, I'm so sorry…"

"Astellar? …Ah, you have seen what I have become… Make no mistake. You have nothing to apologize for. This is my fault… I should have never given control of the Spoils to you and your dear sister…"

"I caused this? …No… Our forest…"

"Astellar, you are not to blame. Your heart was pure. It's why the corruption has not taken hold within you. My judgment blinded me… And did not see what your sister would be capable of. Her desires… Overwhelmed this simple and clean forest and has now corrupted us all."

"Elzette…"

"Astellar, I must beg for your forgiveness… I can no longer act, and the corruption has rooted deeply within me and your sisters. A task is required of you if you wish to save the White Forest."

"Retrieve the Sinful Spoils… And save your sister from the mistake she is making."

A pale set of heterochromatic-ringed eyes, one lavender, the other lime, snapped wide open. Immediately sitting up, gasping her jagged sword in her right hand, her dull eyes pierced the forest around her, taking in her surroundings. Her memory was so vivid. It was almost as if she relived that memory.

However, she was still in the forest. No. They were still in the forest… What happened at the temple was behind them. She was so close to accomplishing her goal…

Her breath labored as she clutched her chest and tightly shut her eyelids. Gnashing her teeth as her jaw clenched, she shook her head to shake the thoughts rapidly invading her mind. That memory… She was so close…

"Master," The young woman's heterochromatic eyes opened and gazed through the darkness of the forest. She set down her sword and grasped her sleeveless black cloak with red trimmings made of beastly fur; some of the beast's claws adorned the cloak's trimming. A faint smile graced her lips for a rare moment, turning her attention to the other who slept in her camp. "I am almost finished. I just have…"

"Poplar?" Diabellstar's heart skipped a beat. The adorable creature that she had adopted from this forest. The beast made of flames that formed from the withered remains of the defeated dragon she tore open to claim the Spoil. The same creature that attempted to hug her despite what she had done to its kin from which it originated. She didn't understand why, but he now adored her… And now…

Disappeared?

Her eyes narrowed as she slowly stood up. Searching for any traces of where Poplar could have gone, Diabellstar found nothing obvious. Lifting her left hand, she drew power from the ley lines. Poplar was a magical creature. So if he wandered away, she could see where he wandered to.

It was easy to trace his essence. With the Sinful Spoil it possessed, the magic it radiated was unlike any other. Stomping out the campfire, she followed the trail. How far could the little guy wander from the camp? In such a short time!

It soon became apparent where he went. They were so close to the forest's edge. He must have been too excited and got ahead of himself.

He had journeyed into civilization to see how other life existed.

"Oh no." Diabellstar's face fell as the trail led directly toward the town on the horizon. Flicking her hood over her silver hair, she adorned her devil mask over her right eye and made haste. She couldn't let anyone find out what Poplar was. If she found out…

That was the worst-case scenario. But she hadn't sensed her presence in a long time. And she would feel it if she was near. Now, the problem would be if anyone recognized her…

"You just had to make this difficult for me, didn't you?" Diabellstar glowered, intent on tracking and retrieving Poplar. "That town is full of bounty hunters…"

"All ready to claim the Seeker of Sinful Spoils bounty."

His head throbbed in agony as mechanical roars and gears shrieked all around him in this town. This place was too noisy for his tastes. Stupid biker gang… How could they even call themselves that when they mostly rode on animals?! If they weren't just harmless idiots searching for bounties or a quick buck, he'd…

Inhaling the air while rubbing his temples, attempting to calm down, Naruto gagged on the fumes of the mechanical exhaust emanating from their machinery. Tears welled in his eyes as he wheezed and coughed for a moment before he scowled. These devices were worse than any train he had encountered before… If he could just…

Wiping the spitle from his chin and glaring at the bikers, he exhaled, shook his head, and gazed upon the tavern in the middle of this lively townstead. If there were a place that would have information, this would be it. Or, at the very least…

A well-paying job likely would be posted here.

Yet another teaching from Jiraiya that stuck. The man did teach him well… When he wasn't imbibing in his addictions… Naruto exhaled at the memory of his sensei. He hoped everyone back home was safe. It had been so long since he had seen anyone after he fell into that ravine chasing down those Akatsuki fools…

Naruto shook his head, focused on the task at hand, and strode past the goblins at the entrance, earning several death stares as he did. The looks they were giving him gave him the chills. And that cage-rattling on the back of the big motorcycle… He refrained from grimacing, knowing how gangs like these operated. They were mainly bounty hunters, although they were said to delve into more suspicious activities occasionally. If past experiences since he arrived in this place taught him anything…

He would need to watch his back if he ever wanted to find his way back home. They reminded him of a particular group back home. Naruto balled his hands into a fist. If those damn criminals threatened any of his friends while he was away… They would pay.

"Muuaahh!" A high-pitched shriek, followed by the metal shattering, caused the goblins to howl in rage.

Instinctively, Naruto wheeled around defensively to see what had happened. Given they had caged something, the chances of it being a dangerous and deadly animal were high… For every living thing in this world was dangerous, one way or another.

He wasn't expecting a dog-sized creature wailing in fear, rapidly floating toward him with its arms open wide. It clutched onto his arm, used him as a shield, and crouched behind him, looking fearfully toward the goblins that chased after it.

It was strangely warm to the touch, which made sense. It did have a fiery appearance. Some of its fur waved freely like a flame. But what was this thing? It had lizard characteristics, but could float?

And what was with that weird third eye that took up most of its forehead?!

"Okay…" Naruto scrunched his brow at the furry snake-like creature cowering behind him.

"Gives us the Snake-Eyes, runt." One of the goblin bikers stepped forward and snarled at Naruto, possessively stalking toward him, his grunts flanking his side.

Gauging their slow movements, Naruto took the opportunity to look back at the creature they called a Snake-Eye without letting them out of his sight. This was a Snake-Eye? This adorable thing? From the forest nearby? It didn't look dangerous at all!

Why were they so feared?!

"Mmuuaahh!" It shook its head and cowered further behind Naruto, attempting to hide behind him. Naruto tilted his head, absently wondering where it was even crying from. It didn't have a mouth! Was it just telepathically communicating?

Was it trying to ask for his help?

"Nah," Naruto shook his head and confidently smirked, turning his full attention to the bikers. "I don't know what's going on here, but this little guy is afraid of ya, and I don't feel like letting it get hurt."

The goblins hissed, each quickly drawing a different kind of mechanical weapon. It didn't matter as the moment they pounced, they were each thrown back into the street, skidding on their back, nearly unconscious.

They didn't even know he had hit them and tossed them in the street in front of the rest of their rowdy gang. A goblin, seemingly the leader, growled and turned his attention to Naruto as he slowly walked toward the gang, the Snake-Eye behind him expressing surprise with its vast and sparkling eyes. Hopping onto a lion-like creature that roared, he glared at Naruto. "You'll regret that kid… You don't know who you are messing with here."

"Oh, I have a good idea." Naruto's grin only widened as he stopped before the tensing gang. He measured their response and felt confident. He could handle these guys. His right hand extended to the side as a swirling orb of chakra built in his palm. "It's you who doesn't know who they're messing with. Now leave this Snake-Eyes alone, or you're gonna have to deal with me."

The goblins hissed. Their machinery revved. Their weapons were drawn.

Several machines exploded in a magenta magical mist, scattering their parts throughout the streets while goblins flew in the sky. Naruto tensed, scanning the wreckage for this new opposition. His eyes flickered as a young woman wearing a tattered black cloak strode through the destruction, stalking toward him, a ragged sword in her right hand and wisps of magenta magic radiating from her left.

Her eyes intently focused on the Snake-Eye behind him… Which made a squeal of delight? Was this someone it knew?

She stopped mere feet in front of Naruto. His features strained; he was prepared for a fight, unsure what this woman wanted with him or this creature. Yet, as their eyes met, it felt like she was measuring whether he was a threat… Who was this woman? Wait… Her face…

Was she the Seeker of Sinful Spoils? The one on all the Wanted posters?

Before he could speak, she turned from him to face the bikers and stepped beside him. Almost as if she was going to fight alongside him. But the hatred in those eyes… Reminded him of someone back home. "The Spoils are mine and mine alone. If you dare, try to take them from me…"

"You will face my wrath."

Sitting upon a cliff, a blonde witch dressed in a pure white robe sat on the edge, holding the brim of her hat fluttering in the wind. Her eyes dazzled, and a sinful smile spread on her lips. She giggled softly, gazing down upon the small town in the distance. "There you are… Good. It is almost time. We are so close, Astellar. Almost all the pieces have been gathered. One last one, and everything will be complete."

"Isn't that right, my friend?" She slyly glanced behind her, her sinister smile spreading further as she gazed upon her partner cloaked in a raggedy light brown poncho, his raven hair flickering in the wind beneath his bandana.

"Hmph, whatever." The young man scoffed and rolled his eyes before his heterochromatic gaze sharply focused upon her, the tomoe in his red eyes wildly spinning within his right, and the odd stillness of his lavender, ringed eye pierced her gaze. "Our goals just happen to align. …There was never a chance he wouldn't be dragged into this affair. Do be aware, Diabellze, as soon as I finish my business with him, our deal will be complete."

"Yes, I'm aware, Sasuke. But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy ourselves, does it?" Diabellze's unsettling smile sent a shiver down Sasuke's spine. What was she planning? Wait, was that… The golden apple in her hand?

Taking a crisp, wet bite from the Spoils, her eyes shimmered, holding the apple toward Sasuke. "Won't you come and partake in the festivities?"

"The festival is about to begin. Shouldn't you enjoy yourself?"

Had to release the full chapter of this story. It was gnawing at me and I needed to get it out so I can work on other stories.

Gonna leave it a solo chapter for now. If you really like this story and the direction it is heading, please leave a comment. I love hearing from ya and the more I hear back, I might just pick this story up some point down the road and give it a shot.

Hushed Dreams should be the next update now that I don't have the flu. So until next time my friends, Peace.