12 Years Before The Fourth Great Shinobi War
Mowi
Naruto sifted through the endless pile of foreign mail on his desk, his eyes half-lidded in boredom. It was the same routine every day—requests from minor villages, complaints, or poorly concealed attempts at political manipulation. Each letter was more tedious than the last, and the stack never seemed to get smaller. He sighed as he discarded yet another envelope, his fingers brushing against one that was... different.
The paper was filthy, as if it had been dragged through mud. The envelope was poorly sealed, and the writing on the front was uneven, clumsy, and riddled with spelling errors. Naruto tilted his head, mildly intrigued.
"Hm? A child, maybe? Or someone illiterate…"
He tore it open carefully, expecting nothing of value. Inside was a single sheet of crumpled paper, decorated with haphazard doodles of what he guessed were stick figures. One was clearly him—red hair, a white haori, and a sword drawn far too big for the tiny figure. He stood over a poorly scribbled blob with sharp teeth.
Naruto's lips twitched, caught between a chuckle and a sigh. A kid's imagination, no doubt. He was about to set it aside when his eyes caught a sentence at the top, written in shaky, oversized letters.
"Pless, you are my hero."
The words made him pause. A hero? Him? Of all people? He frowned and read on.
"Dear Lord Hokage,
My name is Matsuda. I am 8 years old, and I live in the Village of Mud. You saved my papa once when I was 4 years old. He was being attacked by bandits, and you stopped them! You were not the Hokage then, but you were so strong and brave. My papa says you didn't even take money. You just helped us. You are the best shinobi ever, and I want to be like you when I grow up!
But, Lord Hokage, our village is in trouble again. A monster comes at night. It is big and scary. It eats our cows and sheep, and it broke the crops. My friend's brother tried to chase it away, but the monster hurt him, and now he can't walk.
We are a small village, and we are very poor. We can't hire shinobi to help. But I thought maybe if I asked you, you would help us because you are strong, and you helped my papa before. You are my hero. I know you are busy, but please, can you save us again?
From,
Matsuda"
Naruto stared at the letter for a long moment, his thumb brushing over the messy handwriting. The drawing of him on the page felt almost surreal. He was a hero to someone? A child's idol? After everything he'd done…
He sighed, leaning back in his chair. The letter was different from all the others—not a demand, not a complaint, but a desperate plea from a child who still believed in him. He tapped his foot on the floor, deep in thought.
"Neko," he called, his voice sharp but calm.
In an instant, Yuugao Uzuki appeared in the room, her feline ANBU mask obscuring her face. "Yes, Lord Hokage?"
He handed her the letter. "This village... Send a team to investigate. Neutralise the creature if it's real. Protect the people."
Yuugao read the letter briefly, her head tilting slightly. "Understood. Anything else?"
Naruto reached into his drawer and retrieved a glowing yellow crystal. He handed it to her. "Take this. If the situation escalates or becomes too dangerous, channel your chakra into it. It will summon me instantly."
She nodded, pocketing the crystal. "As you command, Lord Hokage."
With that, she vanished, leaving Naruto alone with the rest of his mail. He glanced back at Matsuda's drawing one last time, his eyes lingering on the crude, heroic image of himself.
"Hero, huh?" he muttered, a ghost of a smile tugging at his lips. "Guess even I can be one to someone."
Ô~Ô
The small farming village sat nestled in the muddy foothills, its wooden houses weathered and beaten by years of harsh conditions. It wasn't a wealthy village, nor an impressive one. But it was alive, bustling with nervous energy as the ANBU team arrived, their presence immediately drawing cautious stares. Children peeked out from behind their mothers, while the older men stood at a distance, murmuring among themselves.
The team, led by Neko, walked to the largest building in the centre of the village. The village leader, an elderly man with a hunched back and gnarled hands, greeted them with a mix of hope and anxiety.
"Lord Hokage sent you?" the leader asked, his voice shaky but grateful.
Neko nodded, her mask glinting in the fading light. "Yes. We're here to deal with your monster problem."
The leader's shoulders sagged with relief. "Thank you, thank you. We've been praying for help."
"Tell us everything," Neko said, her voice calm but firm.
The old man sighed and began. "It started months ago. At first, we thought it was a wolf or a bear, maybe some other wild animal. But it's not like anything we've seen. It's massive, with glowing eyes and a horrible wail that chills the soul. It comes only at night, attacking our animals—cows, sheep, anything we have left—and destroying our fields. It's wounded several villagers already."
"Adults?" Neko asked, tilting her head.
The leader nodded. "Yes. Strangely, it hasn't harmed any children. Some say that's proof it's not just a beast but something... unnatural."
The ANBU glanced at each other before Neko spoke again. "What do you mean by 'unnatural'?"
"Legends," the old man said, lowering his voice. "Some say it's a vengeful spirit, grieving for centuries. Others claim it was once a prince or princess from a kingdom that fell long ago."
"Which kingdom?" another ANBU member, Sparrow, asked, his voice sceptical.
The leader shook his head. "Nobody knows. Just stories passed down through the generations. But the attacks have grown worse lately. We're a poor village—we have no soldiers, no shinobi. Please, help us."
Neko nodded. "We'll investigate. Prepare your people to stay indoors tonight. No one should leave their homes under any circumstances."
The leader bowed low. "Thank you, ANBU-san. May the gods watch over you."
The team spent the afternoon questioning frightened villagers, gathering what information they could. The details were consistent—glowing eyes, a wailing sound, and attacks on livestock and crops. One woman showed them a patch of earth where her sheep had been slaughtered, deep claw marks gouged into the mud.
"It doesn't come near the children," she whispered, clutching her shawl tightly. "But it's only a matter of time. Please, end this nightmare."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the ANBU prepared themselves. Neko, crouching near the edge of the village, glanced at her team. "We wait for it to come. Stay alert. This isn't just some wild animal."
The team nodded, their masks reflecting the dim moonlight. In the eerie quiet of the night, they waited, their nerves sharp as the village held its breath. The monster would come. It always did.
Ô~Ô
The moon hung low in the sky, casting a pale silver glow over the sunflower field. The village was utterly silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the wind. Yuagō—Neko to her team—waited, crouched in the shadows of the treeline. Her breath was steady, her mind focused, though memories of the past pricked at her.
Three years. Four years since Kushina-sensei had died, the night the Kyuubi had brought the village to its knees. Chōjō, her teammate, had died that same night—a kind-hearted fool who'd run into the chaos to help an old man escape. She and Naruto were the only ones left from that team now.
Naruto. The boy she remembered was long gone. The tiny, redheaded ball of energy had become a hollow-eyed Hokage, a leader who shouldered burdens far beyond his years. He was suffering, and she hated that she couldn't ease his pain.
Her thoughts were interrupted by Tora's sharp whisper. "Something's coming."
Yuagō tightened her grip on her kunai and peered into the field. The sunflowers swayed gently, and then she saw it—something massive, emerging from the shadows.
The creature was grotesque, a nightmare given form. It stood nearly eight feet tall, its skin pale and mottled like decaying flesh. Thick, corded muscles rippled beneath its tattered, rotting clothing. Its long, dark hair hung in tangled strands, dripping with what looked like black mud. The nails on its unnaturally long fingers were jagged and yellowed, like claws.
Its eyes—burning red orbs that glowed with an unnatural light—seemed to pierce through the darkness, scanning the field with an eerie intelligence. The way it moved was wrong. It didn't walk so much as lurch, its head twitching erratically as if controlled by invisible strings.
"Oh…" Tora's voice wavered slightly. "That's…"
"Scary," Sparrow muttered.
The creature lumbered toward the herd of cows grazing at the edge of the field. Without warning, it lunged. Its claws slashed through the air, cutting down a cow in one swift, brutal motion. The animal didn't even have time to cry out as its body crumpled to the ground. Blood pooled around the carcass, staining the sunflowers red.
Yuagō's heart pounded, but her voice was calm and steady. "Formation D. Now."
The team moved like shadows, spreading out into their designated positions. The creature growled—a low, guttural sound that vibrated in the air. Its glowing eyes flicked toward them, and for a moment, Yuagō could swear it smiled.
This was no ordinary beast.
The ANBU moved with precision, executing their coordinated assault with the efficiency expected of Konoha's elite. Kunai and shuriken flew through the air, their trajectories honed by years of training. Tora struck first, hurling a barrage of explosive tags toward the creature. A deafening blast shook the field, and smoke billowed outward.
Yuagō leapt into action next, her blade aimed for the beast's exposed neck. Sparrow and Falcon moved in unison, flanking it from either side to limit its movements.
But as the smoke cleared, the creature stood unharmed.
It growled, irritated but unscathed, swiping a massive claw toward Falcon. He dodged just in time, his movements fluid yet tense.
"This thing's tough," Falcon muttered, landing near Yuagō.
"Focus," she hissed, her eyes fixed on the monster.
Suddenly, the beast lunged forward with surprising speed, its claws swiping at Sparrow. He wasn't fast enough. The sharp talons tore through his armour and into his flesh, sending him flying back with a sickening thud. Blood pooled beneath him as he clutched his side, gasping in pain.
"Sparrow!" Tora yelled, rushing to his side.
"I'm...fine," Sparrow groaned, though his face was pale, and his breathing shallow.
Yuagō gritted her teeth. "We need to overwhelm it. Form up!"
The team regrouped and launched another assault. Fire jutsu from Tora, wind-enhanced strikes from Falcon, and Yuagō's lightning-infused blade all converged on the creature. But no matter what they threw at it, the result was the same.
Every injury inflicted on the monster healed almost instantly. Deep gashes closed within seconds, burned flesh regenerated in moments, and the beast seemed to grow more aggressive with each failed attack.
And then it spoke.
"Where is he? Where is the Sage?"
The voice was guttural and filled with rage, but beneath the anger, there was a note of despair.
"What the hell is it talking about?" Falcon panted, dodging another claw swipe.
"I don't know, but it's getting stronger," Yuagō snapped. The monster's movements had changed. It was no longer slow and clumsy; its attacks were calculated, its strikes more precise.
The ANBU were on the defensive now, and Yuagō could feel the tide turning against them.
"This is getting out of hand," she muttered.
Her hand reached for the crystal Naruto had given her. There was no other choice. Gripping the small gem tightly, she pushed her chakra into it. The crystal glowed for a moment before shattering into fine particles, the fragments disappearing into the air.
The battlefield fell silent. Even the monster froze, its glowing red eyes narrowing in confusion.
And then the sky roared.
A bolt of red lightning crashed down, striking the field with a deafening boom. The air crackled with energy, and when the light faded, a small figure stood in the midst of the scorched ground.
He was short, his red hair shining like embers in the moonlight. A pristine white cloak billowed around him, the kanji for '"Crystal" ' embroidered in bold red on the back.
"Hokage-sama!" Sparrow exclaimed, his voice trembling with relief despite his injuries.
"It's alright now," Naruto said, his voice calm yet firm. "Neko, take everyone and leave."
"But—"
"Leave the rest to me," Naruto repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Yuagō hesitated for a moment, then nodded, gesturing for the others to retreat.
As the ANBU began to fall back, the monster tilted its head, its glowing eyes locked on Naruto. For a moment, it almost seemed... relieved.
"The Sage... You're finally here..." it rumbled, its voice heavy with emotion.
Naruto's expression didn't change. His gaze was steady, his posture unyielding. Then, Naruto tilted his head, his crimson hair catching the faint glow of the moonlight. "Why were you attacking the village?"
The monster growled low, its massive claws twitching as though annoyed by the question. "To make them listen. To make them bring a monk or priest. Someone who could exorcise me."
Naruto's brow arched. "Huh? Why would any spirit want that?"
The monster snarled, its sharp teeth glinting in the dark. "I hate my life... even after death. I'm stuck here, bound to this wretched place."
"Oh," Naruto murmured, a hint of understanding in his tone. "You want to go to the afterlife."
The creature nodded, the motion slow and heavy. "Yes."
Naruto's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice calm but probing. "And you were human?"
The monster's glowing red eyes flickered, its body stiffening as if the question carried a weight too heavy to bear. "Yes," it said, the word almost a whisper.
Naruto studied the hulking figure, his expression unreadable. Then, after a pause, he asked, "Would you tell me your story?"
The creature's red eyes widened, glowing faintly in confusion and hesitation. "Why?" it rasped, suspicion lacing its voice.
Naruto shrugged, his posture as casual as his tone. "No particular reason."
The monster hesitated, its gaze fixed on Naruto as though searching for something—malice, pity, mockery. But all it found was a strange, quiet sincerity.
It exhaled deeply, a sound both tired and resigned. "Fine," it said at last, its massive frame lowering slightly. "Listen carefully."
Ô~Ô
"My name is... I don't remember," the monster began, its voice low and heavy with the weight of memories. "I was born into a royal family centuries before the age of shinobi even began."
Naruto stood still, listening, his gaze unwavering.
"Ours was a stable kingdom," the creature continued. "We were rich, had vast lands. The crops were good, the cattle thrived. We had no invaders. Even bandits stayed away because the Fire Temple was close.
"I remember playing with my sister in the endless cornfields, chasing away crows while our bodyguards scrambled to keep up. She was younger than me by three years. Ui. My sister's name was Ui. We were inseparable.
"My father died three years after she was born. Suddenly, my uncle was king." The creature's claws scraped the ground. "Before he passed, my father told me to look after my mother and Ui. And I did. At least... I thought I did."
Naruto's silence encouraged the creature to go on.
"At first, things were fine. But then... the bandits came. They stole our animals, ransacked the outskirts of the kingdom. And then there was the drought—a whole year without rain.
"I was twelve the first time it happened. Rumours spread, vicious and cruel. They said the famine was because of me and Ui—'cursed children of the late king.' It was my uncle who started those whispers. He wanted us out of the way."
The monster's glowing eyes dimmed as if consumed by shadows of the past. "At first, the villagers threw dirt and garbage at the palace. I was young but skilled, the best spear master in our lands. I stood at the gate, clutching my mother and Ui, daring anyone to come closer. No one did."
It paused, a deep growl rumbling from its chest. "Not until I was sick."
Naruto's expression darkened as the story unfolded.
"They waited," the creature hissed. "When I was too weak to stand, they snuck into the palace like rats in the night. They looted everything. My mother, she... she hid me and Ui in a trapdoor beneath the floorboards."
It fell silent for a moment, its enormous hands trembling. "The locals killed her. I still feel Ui's tears on my hands as she clung to me in the darkness."
The monster exhaled, a shuddering sound that echoed with pain. "We ran, me and Ui. We fled to a city far from the kingdom—a city that would later become a place of legend, where the Sage of Six Paths would build his organisation. Back then, it was just a big city, crowded and indifferent.
"We lived in an abandoned temple, broken and forgotten like us. I would steal food for Ui, scrounging enough to keep her fed. She loved 'mowi ', a sweet we would find occasionally."
Its voice softened. "I wonder... if 'mowi ' still exists today."
"...
The city fair was alive with noise and colour—children laughing, vendors shouting, the smell of roasted meat and sugary treats hanging thick in the air. I didn't care about any of it.
I glanced back at the temple one last time before leaving. Ui was lying on the old blanket we'd found, her face pale, her breaths shallow. She looked so fragile, like a bird that could break with the slightest gust of wind.
"Mowi," she whispered, her voice so weak it barely reached my ears. "I want... mowi."
I knelt by her side, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Count on me, Ui," I said, forcing a smile I didn't quite feel. "You just stay here and be safe, alright?"
Her lips curved into the faintest smile. "You'll really get it?"
"Of course I will," I said, my voice full of confidence. "I'm your big brother. I always keep my promises."
I pulled out the small white dandelion I'd found earlier that morning. It was delicate, barely holding together, but still beautiful in its own way. I tied it into her messy hair. "There. Now you look like a princess."
Her smile grew just a little wider. "Be careful."
"I will," I promised, then turned and left.
The fair was chaos—people packed shoulder to shoulder, the air filled with the constant roar of voices. Every stall I passed had guards standing nearby, their eyes sharp and unforgiving. My stomach twisted. Stealing was impossible here.
I wandered aimlessly, frustration gnawing at me. Every turn seemed to lead to another dead end. How was I supposed to get mowi if I couldn't take it?
That's when I saw it.
A wooden sign near the centre of the fair, announcing a spear-throwing competition. The prize? A small bag of copper coins. Enough to buy more mowi than Ui could eat.
I pushed through the crowd and signed up without hesitation.
The other competitors were giants—broad-shouldered men with muscles built for war. They laughed when they saw me, a scrawny kid with a worn shirt and bare feet. I ignored them.
When my turn came, everything else disappeared. The noise, the stares, the laughter—all gone. I gripped the spear, feeling its weight in my hands, and took a deep breath.
I threw.
The spear hit dead centre, splitting the wooden target with a loud crack. The crowd erupted in cheers, but I barely heard them. All I could think about was Ui and the smile she'd have when I brought her the mowi.
The bag of coins felt heavy in my hands, but it was a good kind of heavy. I ran straight to the vendor, buying as much mowi as I could carry. Sticky and sweet, wrapped in fresh leaves. Ui's favourite.
"Ui's going to love this," I said to myself as I made my way back to the temple.
The doors creaked as I pushed them open. "Ui!" I called, my voice full of excitement. "Look what I've brought!"
Silence.
My heart sank. "Ui?"
I set the mowi down and started searching the temple, my chest tightening with every empty corner I checked. She wasn't here.
"Ui!" I shouted as I ran outside. The slums were dark and crowded, but I didn't care. I called her name again and again, my voice growing hoarse.
I ran to the market, the fairgrounds, every place I could think of. My legs burned, and my chest felt like it was going to explode, but I didn't stop.
"Ui!" I screamed into the night, my voice echoing off the empty streets.
But no one answered.
The commotion grew louder as I stumbled into the square. Voices echoed, mixed with panic and fear. "A devil!" someone shouted. "Serves her right!"
I pushed my way through the crowd, confusion clawing at my mind. A devil? What were they talking about? My heart pounded, and dread gripped me tighter with each step.
As I reached the centre of the square, my vision froze.
There she was—Ui.
Tied to a horse, no horses, her head hanging low, each of her limbs bound to one beast. Blood caked her clothes, her once radiant face now pale and broken.
"Ui!" I screamed, thrashing through the guards, shoving them aside as I ran toward her.
She looked up, her tear-streaked eyes finding mine. Her lips trembled, a faint, sorrowful smile tugging at them.
"Brother..." she whispered.
Tears blurred my vision. "No, no, no..." I choked, reaching out for her.
But before I could reach her, the horses were urged forward. The ropes tightened, pulling her away from me.
Her head tilted back, and she looked at me one last time, the white dandelion still tied in her hair—bloody, but untouched.
"No!" I screamed, trying to chase after her.
But a blade sliced through the air, striking down at me.
The mowi slipped from my hands, falling to the ground like a faint echo of what we had lost. My body collapsed beneath the weight of the blade, my vision fading.
As my head rolled onto the dirt, I could still see her—Ui's bloodied face, her smile etched in my memory forever.
Lifeless, I stared at her, as my headless body remained, gazing at the last piece of her—the white dandelion that clung to her hair.
Then, everything went silent.
I was reborn the very next moment.
These people were always right. We had demon blood in us.
The rage burned within me, a searing fire that couldn't be extinguished. I wasn't born human. I wasn't born for this world. I was something else—something they feared, something they had always whispered about in hushed tones.
Anger became my only companion. I wanted vengeance for Ui, for my mother, for everything they had stolen from me.
In the blood-red afternoon, I rose from my despair, no longer human but a creature of endless pain and torment. The city that had once shunned us, despised us, became a ground of carnage beneath my feet. I slaughtered them all—men, women, children—every last soul, until the streets ran red with their blood.
There was no mercy. No reprieve. Only the echoes of their screams and the visions of Ui's face haunting me. Her smile, her tear-streaked eyes, became the ghosts that drove me.
When the slaughter ended, I found her once again. Lifeless, lying amidst the carnage. I couldn't save her when she needed me. I couldn't save my mother either. I was powerless before the weight of their deaths.
I knelt in the ruins of that broken city and buried her. A simple prayer, a promise that I would never forget. Beneath her lifeless body, I planted a dandelion seed, hoping that something, anything, might grow from the desolation.
How long I remained there, I cannot say. Was it a century? More? Time stretched out like an eternal, suffocating void. Days, years, centuries blended into one.
When the Sage of Six Paths arrived, I was a hollowed-out shell of what I had once been. Fear gripped me—fear of death, of losing myself once again. I ran, deep into the shadows, hiding from fate, afraid of meeting it once more.
I wish I hadn't run. I wish I had welcomed death when it had come.
Now, I am trapped. Condemned to live forever as a monster. Endless. Aimless. A soul left to wander the void, doing nothing, seeing nothing, feeling nothing.
I waited for someone to come, someone to end this hollow existence, to take away the torment that burns in my chest.
I waited for centuries.
I heard of Hashirama Senju. They said he had powers, but no one spoke of exorcism. No one spoke of peace. Just power.
Then, many years later, I heard of a boy—a miracle. A child, they said, whose power rivaled the heavens. His name became a whisper, a legend of hope. A boy who made miracles, they called him.
I felt his power. It was immense, unlike anything I had ever known. It drew me in, a glimmer of something I had forgotten—hope, perhaps.
That's why I am here now, luring him to me.
Please, end my existence. O great Sage, release me from this torment. I want to see them again. I want to find my mother and Ui in the afterlife.
Please, let me rest.
…"
Ô~Ô
Naruto listened to his story, his expression unreadable, the weight of his own burdens etched into his face. He remained silent as the monster spoke, letting the echoes of his words linger in the stillness.
When he was done, Naruto finally raised his gaze. His blue eyes met the creature's glowing red ones, both of them hollow, lost in their own pain.
"I'm not as pious as you think," Naruto said quietly. "But… I can exorcize you."
The monster blinked, his breath catching. "Really?"
"You've lived a painful life," Naruto continued. "I can relate. You were wronged, cast into darkness. But… it doesn't change the fact that you harmed innocents."
The monster's breath hitched, his red eyes narrowing. "I… I couldn't save her. I couldn't save them. I didn't know… I didn't understand…"
Naruto watched him, his expression still as cold and distant as ever. "I'm sure your sister died pure-hearted, without hate. But are you pure at this moment?"
The monster flinched, his form trembling slightly.
"If you perish now," Naruto said, his voice sharp, "would you go to heaven… or to hell?"
The monster didn't respond immediately, his mind lost in the turmoil of those questions. For the first time, his confidence wavered, and a flicker of doubt crept into his expression.
Naruto took a step closer, his tone softer now. "There's a way," he said. "A way to find peace. But… you must promise me something."
The monster's gaze lifted to meet Naruto's once more. "Anything."
"Promise me you'll never kill a person unless it's absolutely necessary. Not for vengeance. Not out of hate."
The monster hesitated, then nodded. "I promise."
Naruto continued, "Protect the innocent, the ones who cannot protect themselves. No matter what the cost."
The monster's eyes widened. "Can I… see Ui again?"
Naruto's lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. "Yes. And your mom. And your dad."
The monster's breath hitched, tears forming in his eyes. "I… I accept."
Naruto formed the dragon hand seal, his chakra surging. The air around them seemed to hum with an otherworldly power, crackling like the edge of a storm.
"Sealing Art," Naruto murmured.
The monster's body began to shimmer, glowing faintly as Naruto's chakra wove itself into the seals. The creature closed his eyes, a sob escaping him, and he felt his very essence begin to shift, to change.
"Thank you," the monster whispered, his voice barely audible.
Naruto watched in silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. He didn't speak again, only stood as the monster faded, his form dissolving into glowing particles that scattered like dust in the wind.
Naruto exhaled, his hand still raised. The village was silent, the tension finally lifting. And far away, deep within the afterlife, the monster would find the peace he had sought for centuries.
Naruto stepped into the village, his white Hokage cloak fluttering slightly in the breeze. Almost immediately, his ANBU guards swarmed around him, their masks reflecting both concern and awe.
"Hokage-sama, are you alright?" Neko asked, scanning him for injuries.
"How did it go?" Tora added. "We didn't hear or see anything after the summoning!"
"As expected of the Godaime!" Sparrow chimed in, still holding his injured side but clearly relieved.
Naruto waved them off with a tired expression. "It's done. No need to fuss."
The village chief approached next, a stooped old man with rough hands and a grateful smile. He bowed deeply, his voice trembling as he said, "Thank you, Lord Hokage. You have saved us all. Now, we can farm without fear. The village owes you everything."
Behind the chief stood a boy—Matsuda. The young boy who had sent the shaky letter. His wide eyes sparkled with admiration as he clutched a worn cap in his hands, fidgeting nervously.
"You're Matsuda?" Naruto asked, his voice softening.
The boy nodded eagerly, stepping forward. "Yes, Hokage-sama! I'm the one who sent the letter!"
Naruto crouched slightly to meet the boy's eye level. "You did well, Matsuda. It takes courage to ask for help."
The boy's face flushed with pride, and he blurted out, "How can I be like you, Hokage-sama? Strong and brave… a hero!"
Naruto's lips twitched into a faint smile, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. He stood up and placed a hand lightly on the boy's head.
"You shouldn't try to be like me, Matsuda," he said, his voice calm but heavy. "I'm not a good person. I've made too many mistakes, hurt too many people."
Matsuda frowned, his small brow furrowing in confusion. "But you saved us! You're a hero!"
Naruto's gaze softened, and he crouched again, this time resting his elbows on his knees. "Listen. Being a hero isn't about strength or power. It's about using your heart and brain together. Think before you act. Always choose what feels right, even when it's hard. If you do that, you'll grow up to be a good person. Better than me."
Matsuda tilted his head, still not fully understanding, but nodded anyway. "Well, you're still my hero. Oh! And I'm a really good cook!"
Naruto blinked, a bit surprised by the sudden change in topic. Then, he asked a question, an oddly Irrelevant question.
"Can you make mowi?"
"Mowi?" Matsuda blinked. "Never heard of it," then, he puffed his chest. "One day," Matsuda continued, "I'll come to the Hidden Leaf and serve you this 'mowi', Lord Hokage! You'll see!"
Naruto chuckled faintly and straightened up, his hand ruffling the boy's hair. "I'll be waiting, Matsuda."
With that, he signaled to his ANBU. "We're done here. Let's go."
As he and his team disappeared in a swirl of leaves, the villagers cheered, and Matsuda waved enthusiastically, his voice ringing out, "I'll see you again, Hokage-sama!"
Naruto didn't look back, but as they vanished into the distance, a faint smile lingered on his face. "Maybe you will, kid. Maybe you will."
Ô~Ô
Dimension 764.
The monster… no, the boy opened his eyes slowly, squinting as sharp sunlight pierced through the room. He groaned softly, shielding his face with his hand. The bright light felt almost foreign after what felt like an eternity of darkness and despair.
"Rise and shine, little prince!" a cheerful voice rang out.
His eyes adjusted, and he saw a woman standing by the window, pulling back the curtains to let in the morning sun. The warmth filled the room, the golden rays illuminating her familiar face.
Room? Curtains? He blinked, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. Where was he?
Then his gaze locked onto her. His breath caught, his chest tightening painfully.
"M-Mom?" he whispered, his voice trembling as if he didn't dare to hope. "Is… is that really you…?"
The woman turned to him, her expression soft and full of love. "What's the matter? Don't you remember? It's your birthday today! You were so excited last night, Rui."
"Rui...?" That was his name...? He stared at her, his mind reeling. His mother. She looked just as he remembered—her kind eyes, her gentle smile, the way she stood with her hands on her hips, always ready to scold him for being reckless.
He felt his heart race as he looked down at himself. His body… It was back. Not grotesque, not monstrous. His hands were smooth and small, free of claws. He touched his face—no fangs, no veins.
He was… human again.
Just then, a tiny hand clutched his own tightly.
"Big brother, big brother, come on! It's your big day!"
He turned, his vision blurring as tears welled up. There she was. Ui, his little sister. She looked up at him with her big, innocent eyes, her small frame practically vibrating with excitement.
"Ui?!" he choked out, his voice cracking.
"Big brother, don't just sit there! We have so much to do today!" she giggled, tugging at his hand.
He couldn't stop the tears from streaming down his face. He pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly as he cried, his whole body trembling.
"Big brother, what's wrong? Did you have a bad dream?" she asked, her voice softening in concern.
He buried his face in her hair, the familiar scent making his heart ache with relief and joy.
"Yeah," he murmured, his voice shaking. "A bad dream… But I'm glad I'm back."
As he held his sister, a thought surfaced in his mind, quiet and filled with gratitude.
'Thank you… Crystal Sage. '
Ô~Ô
Author Note:
Probably three more chapters before we explore the place where Naruto was for the few decades before the 'Fifth Great Shinobi War'. That, probably will be three more chapters. Thus, within seven chapters, we shall end the 'flashbacks'.
Thanks for reading this chapter.
Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words motivate me to write better, larger and with more depth.
Till next time!