Here's another one!

Yes, I would like to point out that this is still first and for most Hurt/Comfort primary genre, adventure is second. So, the dramatic moments may come more than you think.

Disclaimer: We do not own any Franchise. We just love being imaginative.

Chapter - 19

The familiar pull inwards was gentle this time, not the jarring wrench that used to accompany his involuntary trips into the recesses of his soul. Naruto felt himself drifting, senses softening as the world around him dissolved into a swirling vortex of colors he couldn't quite name, yet felt deeply familiar with. It was a sensation he hadn't experienced in what felt like an eternity, a forgotten whisper from a past life.

When his senses re-solidified, the change hit him like a physical wave. Gone was the oppressive darkness, the echoing emptiness that used to define this space. The dingy prison, the looming cage that had housed his companion for so long, was nowhere to be seen. In its place, stretched a vista so vibrant, so alive, it stole the breath from his lungs.

Rolling hills, painted in hues of emerald and jade, sloped gently towards a horizon that bled into a breathtaking sunset. To his left, a majestic forest, reminiscent of Konoha's own Forest of Death, stood proud, the rustling of unseen leaves carried on a gentle breeze. To his right, the stark, sandy expanse of Suna spread out, detailed with canyons mimicking the very landscape he had fought and bled on. Further still, he could discern the icy peaks of the Land of Iron, and the lush, watery terrain of the Land of Water. It was as if the five great shinobi nations, fractured and diverse as they were, had somehow coalesced here, within the heart of his own soul.

"Kurama...?" The name escaped his lips in a hushed whisper, laced with an almost unbearable fragility. It was a sound born of hope, of longing, of a happiness that threatened to crack under the weight of its own intensity. Could this be real? Or was this just another cruel trick of his mind, a phantom echo of a life he desperately wished to reclaim?

He scanned the landscape, his heart hammering against his ribs. The air hummed with a familiar, potent energy, a chakra signature that resonated deep within his bones –Kurama'schakra. And then he saw him.

There, amidst the rolling green hills, bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, sat Kurama. Not confined, not caged, but in all his magnificent, unrestrained glory. He was colossal, a being of myth and legend brought to life. Compared to the buildings he'd once known in the bustling city of Belobog, Kurama was a titan, his nine tails swaying gently like banners in a soft wind. He was magnificent, terrifying, and utterly, undeniably… Kurama.

Silence stretched between them, thick and heavy. Naruto's anxiety clawed at him. What if this was another dream? What if he was alone, adrift in a world that felt both familiar and impossibly distant, hallucinating the presence of his oldest, most complicated friend? He took a tentative step forward, then another, each footfall light on the unseen grass beneath his feet.

"Kurama," he called out again, his voice trembling now, the fragile hope threatening to shatter. He couldn't bear the thought of this being another illusion, another cruel reminder of everything he had lost. He needed to know, hehadto know.

Then, Kurama moved. Slowly, majestically, his enormous head turned, those crimson eyes, burning with ancient wisdom and untamed power, focused on Naruto. And then came the grin. A wide, fearsome grin that showcased rows of formidable fangs, a grin that had once instilled terror in the hearts of nations. But to Naruto, it was a different kind of smile. He knew it intimately, recognized the subtle curve of the lips, the slight crinkle around the eyes. It was Kurama's version of happiness, gruff and untamed as the beast himself, but happiness nonetheless.

"Naruto," Kurama rumbled, his voice a deep tremor that resonated through the very essence of the mindscape, yet filled with a warmth that chased away the lingering chill of Naruto's fear. "It's good to see you again, brat."

Relief flooded Naruto, so potent it almost buckled his knees. He wasn't alone. Kurama was here. This wasn't a phantom, not a figment of his shattered memories. This was real. He was Naruto Uzumaki, the knucklehead ninja, the hero of the Fourth Great Ninja War, and Kurama, his cantankerous, loyal partner, was right here with him.

He broke into a run, all the pent-up emotion exploding in a surge of pure, unadulterated joy. He sprinted across the grassy plains, ignoring the impossibly vast distance shrinking beneath his feet, adrenaline pumping through his veins. Leaping into the air, he soared towards the colossal fox, propelled by a happiness so profound it felt like wings.

"Kurama!" he shouted, tears streaming down his face, not tears of sorrow, but tears of sheer, overwhelming joy. He laughed, a sound of pure, unburdened elation that echoed across the transformed mindscape.

Kurama's massive paw, larger than any building Naruto had ever seen, moved with surprising gentleness. The claw-like fingers curled inwards, forming a vast, furry cradle, and Naruto landed with a soft thud on the warm fur of Kurama's palm. He was nestled amongst the thick, vibrant orange fur, the scent of Kurama, wild and earthy, filling his senses. He was home.

"HAHAHA! Kurama, you're real! You're actually here!" Naruto exclaimed, scrambling to his knees on Kurama's palm, his hands burying themselves in the soft fur. He grinned the widest, most genuine smile he could muster, a smile that radiated pure, unadulterated bliss.

"I am... Naruto," Kurama responded, a hint of something akin to amusement in his deep voice. He slowly raised his fist, or rather, a paw the size of a small mountain, towards Naruto. Kurama, even in his gruff way, could sense the turmoil that had plagued Naruto upon his arrival in this strange, new world. He had chosen to remain connected, a silent guardian in the back of the young man's mind, feeling the echoes of his emotions, the confusion, the loneliness.

This young man, this unpredictable, loud, and impossibly kind human… he reminded Kurama so much of the Sage of Six Paths, Hagoromo Otsutsuki. The old man who had been a father figure to the Tailed Beasts, who had preached understanding and connection. Kurama had watched Naruto grow, from a lonely, despised child to a shinobi legend, a testament to resilience and unwavering spirit. And now, seeing the pure joy radiating from the man, chasing away the shadows that had clung to him, Kurama felt a deep sense of… satisfaction. Maybe even something closer to affection.

"You're so big!" Naruto exclaimed, marveling at Kurama's sheer size. "You're huge, even bigger than I remember!"

"Having both halves tends to do that," Kurama grumbled, a low rumble that vibrated through Naruto's very being. "Yin and Yang, remember? More power, more… size."

"Heh, yeah, right," Naruto chuckled, still giddy with relief. "More power, more fluff to cuddle!" He playfully patted Kurama's paw, eliciting a snort from the colossal fox.

The happy young man dancing with unrestrained glee on his palm, calling out his name with such genuine affection – it was a sight that warmed the ancient fox's usually cynical heart. Kurama felt a stirring of an emotion he rarely allowed himself to acknowledge, a feeling that was dangerously close to… happiness.

Their conversation flowed easily after that, the years of shared battles and unspoken understanding bridging any gap of time or silence. Naruto peppered Kurama with questions, his words tumbling over each other in his eagerness.

"Kurama, you never answer me when I called you," Naruto's voice, though still cheerful, held a hint of playful accusation. He sat cross-legged on Kurama's palm now, looking up at the towering fox with bright, inquisitive eyes. "Why was that?"

"I was sleeping," Kurama stated simply, his tone nonchalant. "Didn't feel like answering." He shrugged a massive shoulder, the movement causing a tremor in the mindscape. It wasn't entirely untrue. He had often retreated into slumber during Naruto's younger years, conserving chakra and distancing himself from the chaotic energy of the boy.

"Sleeping?!" Naruto exclaimed, playfully indignant. "Sleeping?! Kurama, I thought you were gone! I was freaking out here, thinking I was going crazy, and you were just… sleeping?!"

Kurama merely huffed, a plume of warm air ruffling Naruto's spiky hair. "Lazy fox," Naruto muttered, though his voice was laced with affection.

Naruto's voice sobered slightly as he continued, "I was so scared, Kurama. I really thought... I thought all of it was just in my head. Konoha, the war, everyone... I thought it was all just memories, fake memories in a frozen world. Especially after I couldn't feel you. I thought... I thought you were gone, for real this time." He trailed off, his gaze softening with a melancholic tinge. "Dead. Inside me."

Kurama listened patiently, his crimson eyes fixed on Naruto, letting the young man pour out his heart. He knew Naruto's talkative nature, and he understood the need to vocalize his fears, to make them real and therefore, less daunting. He simply let Naruto talk, offering a silent, steadfast presence, the anchor Naruto needed in this uncertain reality.

"Kurama," Naruto said after a while, his voice softer now, laced with a thoughtful melancholy as he settled down, lying back against the soft fur on Kurama's head, gazing up at the vibrant, painted sky. Kurama, sensing the change in mood, carefully lowered himself to the ground, his massive form creating a warm, comforting presence next to Naruto's small figure.

"Kurama, we died after the ninja war, right?" Naruto asked, his voice barely a whisper, carried away on the gentle breeze of the mindscape.

"Yes," Kurama responded, his voice low and resonant, echoing Naruto's own introspective mood. He knew where this was going. He could feel the memories stirring within Naruto, memories they both shared, memories that bound them together in ways that transcended words.

"Back when I was a kid," Naruto began, his gaze lost in the painted sunset, "In one of Iruka-sensei's classes… he asked us a question. 'If the world was going to end tomorrow, who would you like to spend your last day with?' He gave us these little slips of paper to write our answers on." Naruto chuckled softly, a rueful sound. "Back then… back then I didn't really have anyone I wanted to write down. I thought it was a stupid question. Dumb kid stuff. But now…"

Naruto turned his head, his blue eyes, bright and clear even in the fading light of the mindscape's sunset, met Kurama's crimson gaze. He grinned, his usual, infectious grin, but this time, there was a depth to it, a weight of experience and understanding that had been forged in the fires of countless battles and shared sacrifices.

"But now I realize," Naruto said, his voice filled with a quiet certainty, "if that were really the case… if the world was ending tomorrow… I definitely would have written your name, Kurama."

Silence descended again, but this time, it was different. It wasn't heavy or anxious, but comfortable, peaceful. Kurama looked down at the young man lying on his head, the setting sun casting long shadows across the vibrant landscape of their shared soul. He was silent for a long moment, caught off guard, as he always seemed to be, by Naruto's uncanny ability to cut through his gruff exterior and reach the core of who he was.

"Naruto..." Kurama finally rumbled, the name a low, almost gentle sound. He couldn't quite articulate the complex emotions stirring within him, the unexpected warmth that bloomed in his ancient heart. He was Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox, the embodiment of chaos and destruction. Words of sentimentality were foreign to him, clumsy and ill-fitting. But somehow, this idiot of a partner, this loud, persistent, unbelievably kind human, always managed to find the words that resonated, the words that truly mattered. And in the quiet understanding that settled between them, in the shared silence of their bond, Kurama knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Naruto's words were true. And that, in its own strange, convoluted way, was enough. More than enough.

"Heh," Naruto let out a breath, the tension in his shoulders visibly easing. "I mean, we've been together ever since I was born, right?" He clapped his hands together, his grin widening again. "The past, all the bad stuff, all that's gone now, behind us." He spread his arms wide, encompassing the expansive mindscape. "And you've been there for me all this time. I'm really glad… really,reallyglad I got to meet you again after I… died."

A profound silence descended upon the mindscape. Kurama's ruby eyes narrowed, a flicker of confusion, then something sharper, something akin to alarm, creeping into their depths. "What are you talking about?" he rumbled, his voice suddenly strained. He felt a cold tendril of unease wrapping around his ancient heart. Something was wrong. Terribly wrong. Meet you again after I died'…? What is the meaning of this, Naruto?

"Right, you wouldn't know, silly fox, you just woke up!" Naruto chuckled, oblivious to the subtle shift in Kurama's demeanor. "Let me explain! Okay, so… the world I woke up in… it's called Belobog. It's this frozen city, and there's this whole… uh… fragmentum thing going on and ice is everywhere, it's a mess!" He waved his hands dismissively, launching into a rapid-fire explanation. "Here's how it happened – after… after everything went dark… I woke up, like, BAM! Snow everywhere. Met this girl, Serval, she was super cool, helped me out of this creepy noble's house, then we got to Belobog, and oh man, debt collectors, Natasha was pretty and nice, underworld mining jobs, a crazy trial where I didn't even do anything wrong, and then I met Penya, she's this probation officer, super strict but actually really nice once you get to know her, and then…" He took a breath, his enthusiasm undeterred, "… and then I went on this expedition, and… and well, that's where I am now. Or, was. Before I ended up here, I guess."

As Naruto spoke, a torrent of memories, experiences, emotions flooded out of him, a vibrant kaleidoscope of his time in this… Belobog. Kurama, his initial confusion morphing into a grim understanding, listened patiently, his massive form still and attentive. Naruto's joy at their reunion, his lingering sadness from whatever ordeal he had been through, his frustration with the frozen city, the unexpected warmth he found in new friendships – Kurama absorbed it all. He had always been Naruto's confidante, his silent sounding board. He wouldn't stop now. He observed the vibrant tapestry of Naruto's experiences woven into his words, the genuine emotions that colored his narrative. He saw the echoes of Naruto's spirit, his unwavering optimism shining even in the face of hardship.

Eventually, the exhaustion of reliving his experiences, coupled with the profound relief and comfort of being with Kurama, took its toll. Naruto's voice softened, his eyelids fluttered, and soon, he was fast asleep, nestled against Kurama's massive claws. Though his physical body remained in wherever this 'Belobog' was, a projection of his mind remained within the familiar, comforting embrace of his mindscape. Being near Kurama, even in this ephemeral form, was the closest thing to home, to belonging, that Naruto had felt since… since everything had changed.

The soft hum of chakra resonated through the tranquil expanse of Naruto's mindscape. It was a vast, starlit ocean, reflecting the gentle warmth emanating from the colossal form of Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox. Naruto, a smaller, spectral version of himself, lay curled on one of Kurama's massive, clawed paws, fast asleep. Strands of golden chakra connected them, weaving a silent tapestry of shared existence.

For hours, or perhaps what felt like hours in the fluid realm of consciousness, Naruto had been talking. Not in words spoken aloud, but in the intimate language of thought and emotion, shared directly with Kurama. He'd recounted memories, some sharp and vibrant with joy, others muted with the dull ache of past sadness. He spoke of ramen with Iruka-sensei, the exhilarating rush of perfecting a new jutsu, the sting of loneliness that used to cling to him like a shadow, and the unwavering bonds he had forged with his friends. He even revisited the pain, the harsh words and glares from villagers in his younger days.

Kurama listened, as he always did. Initially, there had been gruff dismissals, sarcastic remarks, and the occasional impatient growl. But over time, something had shifted within the powerful Bijuu. He had become a patient confidant, a silent guardian of Naruto's heart. He offered no advice, no judgment, just a vast, unwavering presence, a comforting anchor in the tumultuous sea of Naruto's memories. He had seen it all, the triumphs and the tribulations, the light and the darkness that resided within the young man.

The gentle rise and fall of Naruto's spectral chest slowed, his breathing evened out, and he drifted into sleep, his mind still tethered to this inner sanctuary. Even physically, back in the waking world, Naruto's chakra pulsed in a rhythm echoing Kurama's own, a subtle testament to their inseparable bond. It was here, in the warmth of Kurama's presence, that Naruto felt closest to home, a home that had become increasingly elusive, increasingly… fragmented.

Kurama gazed down at the sleeping projection of Naruto nestled in his claws. A low rumble vibrated in his chest, a sound that wasn't quite a growl, more akin to a sigh. "Naruto," he murmured, the sound resonating through the mindscape, though he knew Naruto wouldn't hear. "What have they done to you?" A melancholic edge tinged his voice, a rare display of emotion from the formidable beast. He sensed gaps, inconsistencies, as if pieces of Naruto's past had still been deliberately excised, leaving behind frayed edges and incomplete pictures.

"Is that the boy? Ah, now I remember." A new voice echoed in the mindscape, disrupting the quiet hum. It was ethereal, luminous, and laced with an unnerving curiosity. A ball of pure white light materialized nearby, dark tendrils swirling within its core like ink in milk. It glided closer, its light casting strange, elongated shadows across the ocean of stars. "Such a strong young man… no." The voice paused, reassessing.

Kurama's eyes narrowed, his massive form tensing. He recognized the presence, or at least, he recognized thetypeof presence. Stellaron. A cosmic anomaly, a shard of something vast and ancient, capable of warping reality itself. He had encountered echoes of their kind before, fleeting glimpses in the chaotic currents of dimensional rifts, enough to recognize the unsettling aura they exuded.

"A strong foxian, a pesky descendant of those barbarians… wait… no," the Stellaron mused, its tendrils flickering. It circled Naruto slowly, its light probing, intrusive. "A strange one, a foxian but with nine tails? Or, are they from you, a great noble entity unknown to me?"

A wave of killing intent, raw and potent enough to shatter mountains, erupted from Kurama. The air in the mindscape crackled with his fury. The Stellaron simply scoffed, its light dimming momentarily before pulsating once more, unfazed. "He lost his memories, regained only half of it, or someplace which I do not know of? Such interesting beings, the both of you." It sounded almost… delighted.

Kurama, his patience finally snapping, lashed out with one of his massive tails, snatching the Stellaron from the air. He pulled it close, his jaws opening, chakra coalescing in his mouth, swirling and compressing into a miniature sun. A Tailed Beast Bomb, potent and silent, formed, radiating raw power. "What right have you to look into his memories?" Kurama growled, his voice a thunderous tremor. His protectiveness of Naruto, fierce and unwavering, surged to the forefront.

"Both of you don't belong to this reality. I wonder how you two came to be." The Stellaron's voice remained calm, almost conversational, even as it was enveloped by the searing heat of the Tailed Beast Bomb.

The blast unleashed. Not with a roar, but with a silent, blinding wave of pure energy. The mindscape shimmered, stars momentarily extinguished before rekindling their light. When the energy dissipated, the Stellaron, seemingly unscathed, remained trapped in Kurama's tail.

"Such power," the Stellaron said, its voice now tinged with something akin to respect, or perhaps grudging acknowledgement. "And yet you forget, I cannot be reduced to nothing. My physical form might be no more, but I am still a tool of the great Aeons! You might have devoured all of my strength and essence from this pitiful avatar, but it doesn't change the fact that a being of my standing will never truly die. And I will regain my powers someday, and you will never know when!" Its cockiness was unsettling, even to Kurama.

Kurama studied the captured Stellaron. He could feel its essence, its strange, alien energy. Hehadabsorbed a portion of its power with the Tailed Beast Bomb, yet, as it claimed, it persisted. It reformed, coalesced, like smoke reforming after being scattered. He couldn't destroy it, not in the way he understood destruction. It was a force of concept, not just matter and energy.

"Fool," Kurama rumbled, a cunning glint entering his crimson eyes. He shifted the Stellaron, still imprisoned in his tail, towards a specific point in the mindscape. It was an area that seemed subtly… wrong. Distorted. Disoriented. A tear in the fabric of this mental reality. "I doubt you, or any of the Aeons you revere so much, would be able to comprehend why Naruto still hasn't regained all of his memories."

"Oh?" the Stellaron's curiosity was piqued again. "Do explain."

"Look," Kurama instructed, one massive claw pointing towards the disrupted space, deliberately not looking at it himself. He had glimpsed it before, fleetingly, and the mere sight had sent a shiver of unease down his usually unflinching spine. "Look at it and try to understand."

"This… what is…" The Stellaron focused its light on the distorted area. It attempted to analyze, to comprehend. Stellarons were beings of immense cosmic understanding, capable of grasping complex universal laws and unraveling celestial mysteries. Yet, here, it faltered. Something was there, undeniably present, but it remained frustratingly beyond its grasp. Faint whispers, shadows of meaning, danced at the edge of its perception.

"Look closer," Kurama urged, a manic grin spreading across his vulpine face. He tightened his tail around the Stellaron, forcing it closer to the disturbed space.

As the Stellaron drew nearer, it began to perceive something more concrete. Words. An incomprehensible script, yet undeniably words, swirling and spinning around clusters of fragmented images, scenes, events – Naruto's lost memories, locked in place, held captive. The unknown script acted as a cage, an impenetrable barrier. And then, the Stellaronfeltit. A searing, agonizing pain ripped through its non-corporeal form. It wasn't physical pain, but something far more profound, a violation at the core of its being. The words pulsed with an energy that dwarfed even the Aeons, a presence so ancient and immense it defied comprehension. Terror, raw and primal, flooded the Stellaron's awareness. It had never known fear.

With a desperate surge of energy, the Stellaron tore itself free from Kurama's grip, recoiling violently. It slammed into a far corner of the mindscape, its light flickering erratically, then dimming to a faint, trembling glow. It remained there, motionless, radiating an aura of stunned, abject fear. It wouldn't move. Itcouldn'tmove.

Kurama, too, had caught a glimpse of the swirling words and fractured memories as he pushed the Stellaron closer. He had felt the edges of that immense presence, the terrifying power that held Naruto's memories hostage. He recoiled instinctively, shielding himself and the sleeping Naruto from the overwhelming force. He understood now, why Naruto's memories remained fragmented, why he had been plucked from his home, why they were here, in this unfamiliar reality. Someone, something, far beyond the Stellaron, had orchestrated this.

"You've taken us from our home," Kurama growled, his voice low and dangerous, directed at the cowering Stellaron, though he knew it was just a messenger, a tool. "You've thrown us into a reality we don't belong to. And now you've manipulated his memories as you please. I don't know about Naruto, if he will ever truly understand the scope of this… but I will hold this personal grudge for the rest of my existence."

He lowered his massive head, nudging Naruto gently. He then enveloped them both in his tails, creating a cocoon of fur and chakra, shutting out the light of the stars, shutting out the presence of the terrified Stellaron, retreating deeper into the silent, protective depths of their shared mindscape. They were in a slumber, but not of peace. It was a slumber born of a shared, simmering anger, and a profound, unsettling mystery that now shrouded their existence. The question was no longer just about finding their way home. It was about uncovering who, orwhat, had stolen it from them in the first place.

"…" Naruto when he woke up, he realized he wasn't in his mindscape anymore. The familiar, swirling orange energy was absent, replaced by the mundane dimness of a room. He blinked, adjusting to the weak light filtering from a grimy window high up on the wall. For a disorienting moment, he wasn't sure where he was at all. Then the rough, scratchy texture of the blanket under his fingers, the faint medicinal smell in the air, and the dull ache in his limbs all pieced themselves together. He was in his room, under Doctor Vache's clinic.

A shiver ran down his spine, not from cold, but from a prickling sense of unease. This wasn't right. Usually, the first thing he was aware of upon waking was the vast, echoing space of his mindscape, the booming presence of Kurama, even if the giant fox was sulking in the distance. Speaking of…

"Kurama?" Naruto spoke, half expecting the sound to echo in the emptiness he usually found within. He feared it might've been just a dream, a phantom sensation of the bond he had with the Nine-Tailed Fox.

A gruff voice, closer than he expected, rumbled in response after a few seconds of heavy silence. "Don't bother me, Naruto."

Relief flooded through him, so potent it almost made him weak. "Kurama!" Naruto said, a wide, unrestrained grin splitting his face. He pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the joyful thump of his heart. It wasn't a dream. Kurama was there. He wasn't alone. This wasn't the weird, silent emptiness he had feared.

"Hehe." Naruto happily smiled, pushing himself up into a sitting position on the narrow cot. It wasn't a dream, thank goodness. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, the wooden floor cold beneath his bare feet. He decided to get up and maybe spend the day a little more productively than staring at the ceiling and… well, nothing. He hadn't been doing much of anything lately, adrift in a fog he couldn't quite name. Kurama's presence, even a grumpy one, felt like a solid anchor pulling him back to himself.

Naruto got up and exited his room under the clinic. He stretched, his joints popping and creaking in protest from disuse. Unfortunately, the room was not connected with stairs to the main clinic. It was a strange design, a bit like an afterthought. Naruto always had to get outside the door of his room, walk around the side of the clinic, and enter through the front. He stepped out into the crisp, thin air of Boulder Town.

"Naruto? Your awake?" A man's voice, thick with surprise and something akin to thrill, cut through the morning quiet. Naruto turned to see Borin, a miner he recognized easily with his perpetually dust-covered face and weary eyes, walking down the street. Borin was gaping at him like he'd just seen a ghost.

"Hey, Borin! Morning," Naruto greeted with a wave, a touch bewildered by the man's reaction. He hadn't beenthatsick, had he?

"Naruto?" Borin blurted out, his voice carrying more excitement than Naruto thought possible.

"Naruto?" another voice echoed, closer this time.

"The kid is awake?" a third voice joined in, tinged with disbelief.

"Hey, Naruto is finally awake!" Borin shouted, his voice booming through the narrow streets of Boulder Town.

"Naruto!"

"Naruto!"

Within moments, it felt like the entire town had descended upon him. People poured out of doorways, miners emerged from the tunnels leading to the mines, even Doctor Vache's clinic door swung open the doctor's perpetually worried assistant, peering out with wide eyes. It didn't take long for all the townsfolk to come together and surround the woken blond-haired young man. Confusion warred with a burgeoning warmth in Naruto's chest as he took in the faces around him – faces that had become familiar, faces that had been kind, faces that had become like good friends and family in this strange, frozen world.

"Let's go to Naruto's ramen and celebrate!" someone yelled, and a cheer erupted from the crowd.

Before Naruto could even process what was happening, he was lifted off his feet, carried aloft by the jubilant townsfolk. He laughed, a genuine, unrestrained sound that felt foreign and yet wonderfully familiar at the same time. He was surfing the crowd, a sea of smiling faces, happy shouts, and welcoming hands. Everyone seemed genuinely overjoyed, their happiness infectious. Things were turning a good way, a way he hadn't dared to hope for, and he couldn't be any happier. His heavy heart, which had felt like a stone in his chest for so long, now felt lighter, almost buoyant since he realized something… and Kurama being there also helped, a lot.

"Oh, Naruto, I hope you haven't forgotten about that big debt~" From amongst the crowd, Doctor Vache's voice, laced with his usual playful taunt, cut through the joyous clamor. The doctor, leaning against the clinic doorway with a mischievous glint in his eye, pointed a long finger at Naruto. He was trying to stir him up again, as usual.

"Shut up, Quack Doctor!" Naruto shouted back, laughing as he was still being carried along. "Natasha already told me, I already paid them and now, I'm debt free!" It was a point of pride for him, finally clearing off that ridiculous medical debt Vache had saddled him with after patching him up countless times.

"Haha… I guess, I can't fool you anymore." The doctor chuckled, his smile widening. He reached into his coat pocket and then threw something towards Naruto, a cream-colored envelope fluttering through the air. "Here, I hope you know how to use it."

"What's this?" Naruto caught the envelope one-handed as the crowd moved him along, Doctor Vache seeming to recede into the distance. Inside the envelope was a pocket-sized paper book that had the words 'bank account' embossed on the front in elegant script. He flipped it open, his eyes widening as he saw his name printed clearly on the cover – 'Naruto Uzumaki'. He quickly scanned through the pages. It was a bank book, alright, and judging from the numbers printed within, it was a substantial one at that. Naruto smiled, a genuine, surprised, and very pleased smile. He tucked the bank book safely into his worn jacket. This was unexpected, to say the least.

"Naruto!" More people surged forward, pressing gifts into his hands. They all missed Naruto, it seemed, and hailed him as the hero of Boulder Town. The person who not only saved the lives of every miner from the cave-in incident months ago, but had been a great positive influence in the town ever since, always willing to share food, money he somehow managed to scrape together, and a helping hand around the town.

"Naruto, I heard your debt free but you can always come back and work in the mines. Maybe even use those nifty skills of clones to get more work done." Goro, the chief miner of the underworld of Belobog, a mountain of a man with hands like shovels, welcomed him with a powerful slap on the back that nearly sent Naruto flying. He chuckled, though, a hearty, genuine sound. It was good to see Goro again.

"Naruto! Such a thrill to see you again, heard you've been pretty busy lately." Oleg, who had finally retired from fighting in the underground orphanage arena, emerged from the throng, leading two little kids Naruto knew very well by the hand. Oleg, a gruff but kind man, had always seemed weary of the world, but now, a soft smile touched his lips.

"Naruto, Master Oleg is teaching me and I'm gonna be a hero like you someday!" Luka, the younger of the two, a whirlwind of energy with bright, curious eyes, declared with fierce determination, puffing out his small chest.

"Here, it's thanks for helping me and Luka," Seele, the quieter, more reserved girl, murmured, her gaze shy but her small hand extending out to Naruto, offering a roughly carved wooden bird. Luka thrust a slightly squashed, but lovingly painted, clay whistle into his other hand.

The two kids, Luka and Seele, gave Naruto their own gifts, their small faces beaming with earnestness. Naruto gladly accepted them, his heart swelling with warmth. These were small tokens, simple gestures, but they meant the world.

"Naruto here's my gift too!"

"Naruto, I hope you like this!"

"Thank you for always helping us, Naruto."

"Thank you, mister, you saved my daddy and mommy."

Different gifts, wrapped in scraps of cloth or presented with bare hands, were pressed into his arms. Hand-knitted scarves, rough-hewn tools, small pouches of precious ore dust, even a crudely drawn picture. Naruto didn't care about what they cost. The sentiment was enough, more than enough. He felt like he was celebrating his birthday, surrounded by family, by people who genuinely cared about him.

Eventually, the crowd carried him to a cleared space outside a partially built structure. He recognized it instantly. It was the ramen shop he had been helping to build, back before… before everything had become so hazy. Tables, hastily constructed from salvaged wood, were arranged in a long line before it. Steam rose from large pots, and the air was thick with the savory aroma of cooking food.

"Here, boss." A man stepped forward, wiping his hands on a stained apron. Naruto recognized him as Ben, an ex-miner, husband, and father of three who had been one of the most enthusiastic volunteers on the ramen shop project. "Ever since that day, I've been making, training, trying to perfect it. Even though I'm still lacking, I'll re-create the Ichiraku ramen you always talked about." Ben's eyes shone with a fervent belief, a conviction that warmed Naruto from the inside out.

The man clapped his calloused hands together, his voice ringing out across the assembled crowd. "Everyone, eat to your hearts' content! We're celebrating the boss's return!"

Everyone cheered again, a wave of sound that vibrated through Naruto. It was just ramen, perhaps not exactly Ichiraku quality yet as Ben had humbly admitted, but laid out alongside it were many other delicacies of Boulder Town – hearty stews, rough bread, roasted root vegetables. Naruto, still reeling from the overwhelming welcome, gratefully accepted a bowl of ramen and sat down at one of the tables, the joyous energy of the crowd swirling around him.

He took a bite of the ramen, the hot broth warming him from the inside. It wasn't Ichiraku's, not yet, but it was good, genuinely good. He ate with gusto, his hunger finally catching up to him after whatever strange haze he had been in. As he ate, however, his eyes began to notice something strange about the food spread out on the tables.

And that's when he saw it. A simple wooden bowl, nestled amongst the ramen and stews, filled with fluffy, pearly white grains.

"Rice?" He looked at a bowl piled high with fluffy white rice, disbelief flickering in his mind. "When did they have rice?" He knew the harsh conditions of life in the underworld, the struggle for every scrap of sustenance. He had never seen rice in Boulder Town since he'd arrived. Growing it in this frozen wasteland was impossible, wasn't it?

His gaze shifted to a basket overflowing with soft, pale bread. He picked up a slice, tearing off a piece and tasting it. "Soft bread and it's tasty?" He'd seen bread before, the hard, dark, practically inedible slabs that were a staple ration, butthis? This was like the bread he'd heard whispered about, delicacies reserved only for the high nobles of the overworld of Belobog. This was started to weird him out.

Then he spotted a dish he didn't recognize at all – chunks of golden potatoes and vibrant orange radishes swimming in a rich, fragrant sauce. He cautiously tasted it. "Potato? Radish? And it's spicy! It's curry!" His eyes widened. Curry? InBoulder Town? This was unheard of. He tasted almost all the dishes that were on the table now, his earlier joy starting to be replaced by a creeping sense of unease. He had been on ration-grade food, bland and barely palatable, for as long as he had been in this frozen world. This abundance, thisvariety, this deliciousness… it was utterly incongruous with everything he knew about Boulder Town.

"Where? How did they even get all of this?" Naruto looked up from the table, his gaze sweeping across the smiling faces of the people around him. They were laughing, chatting, sharing stories, completely oblivious to his growing bewilderment. The warmth of their welcome still resonated, but a cold knot of suspicion was tightening in his stomach. Something was definitely wrong. This felt… too good to be true. He was awake, Kurama was there, and the town was celebrating him, but this… this feast, this sudden prosperity, it didn't make any sense. Where had all of this come from? And why now? The joy of waking up began to dissipate, replaced by a chilling question that whispered in the back of his mind: what was really going on?

"So, good." The word escaped his lips as a disbelieving whisper. Rice. He hadn't eaten rice in… well, ever. He knew, intellectually, about rice. History lessons spoke of vast fields, golden under a real sun, of harvests and abundance. But in Belobog, in the frozen tunnels miles beneath the surface, it was a myth, a fairy tale. Growing it was impossible, the conditions too harsh, the resources too scarce.

As he was about to break through the polite murmur of conversation and ask the question burning in his mind, a wooden spoon, laden with steaming stew and tender chunks of meat, was shoved gently into his mouth. The taste was incredible, rich and savory, the meat melting on his tongue. He turned, startled, and met the smiling face of a familiar girl.

"So, how is it? I made it myself." Platinum blond hair, now streaked with vibrant red, framed a face he knew, a face he had missed more than he realized. Those bright, intelligent blue eyes, now crinkling at the corners with a warm smile. It was her.

"Serval!" Naruto exclaimed, his face breaking into a wide, genuine grin. He reached out and fist-bumped her, the familiar gesture grounding him in the unexpected joy of the moment. "Serval! It's really you!"

"Wow, never seen you so happy before," Serval teased, her smile widening. She deftly pulled the bowl of ramen Naruto had been eyeing closer towards herself and, with a mischievous glint in her eyes, used a fork to expertly spear a mouthful of noodles. "Did you miss me that much?"

"Wow, never seen you so happy before," Serval remarked, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She sauntered over to the counter, casually swiping the bowl of ramen right out from under Naruto's chopsticks. Before he could protest, she'd deftly twirled some noodles around a provided fork and taken a generous bite. "Did you miss me that much?" she teased, chewing thoughtfully.

"Hey, that's mine!" Naruto protested, grabbing the other side of the bowl, a playful tug-of-war ensuing. Serval held firm, a smirk playing on her lips. "So, what if I did?" Naruto continued, a blush creeping up his neck despite his attempt at nonchalance. "What's wrong with missing a friend?" He punctuated his question by pulling up a strand of noodle, slurping it down with a satisfying noise.

Serval's smirk widened, and she mirrored his action, pulling a noodle up from her side of the bowl. It was then, amidst their playful struggle, that they both stilled. The noodle, stubbornly refusing to break, stretched taut between their chopsticks, leading directly to their faces. They were nose to nose, separated only by a single, glistening strand of ramen.

A hush fell over the ramen shop. All eyes, it seemed, were suddenly glued to the unexpected tableau in front of them. Then, a mischievous voice from the back of the crowd broke the silence. "Kiss!"

"Kiss!"

"Kiss!"

The chant picked up instantly. "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" People started clapping and stomping their feet, their lunchtime boredom suddenly replaced by the unexpected drama unfolding before them. Naruto, initially oblivious to the romantic implication, was now giving Serval a bewildered, borderline panicked look. He was too focused on retrieving his pilfered ramen to register the true nature of the situation. He just wanted his bowl back!

Serval, on the other hand, seemed to be relishing the attention. Her smirk deepened into a full-blown grin. She leaned fractionally closer, her eyes locking with Naruto's, a playful challenge dancing within their depths. It was a silent dare, a test of his composure.

Naruto's eyes widened. The chanting, the proximity, Serval's mischievous gaze – it all clicked into place. His face flushed crimson. He was about to be… kissed? By Serval? In front of everyone? Panic surged, overriding any other thought. He didn't stop to analyze his feelings, didn't consider the possibility of actually wanting it. Instinct took over.

With a sharp, jerky movement, Naruto snapped the noodle strand.

Clap! Clap! Clap!The crowd erupted in cheers, their spontaneous performance culminating in a resounding applause. Serval, holding the bowl of ramen aloft like a trophy, stood triumphant, smirking down at Naruto, who was practically sprawled on the ground in his flustered retreat.

"It was too easy," she declared, her voice laced with playful smugness.

"What the hell!?" Naruto exclaimed, his cheeks burning. He finally grasped the near-kiss, the chanting crowd, the whole ridiculous scenario.

"Why didn't you just kiss her, you coward!?" Someone shouted from the back of the crowd, their voice laced with good-natured ribbing.

"We are not like that! Who said that!?" Naruto sputtered, his face now a vibrant shade of red. The people around them erupted in laughter, their mirth genuine and warm. He had changed, they seemed to notice, and they welcomed it. He was, in a way he hadn't realized, a ray of sunshine in their often-dim world.

"Serval, you better not do that again. That was my ramen," Naruto grumbled, narrowing his eyes at his friend, though the heat in his cheeks betrayed his mock severity.

"Oh?You'reramen? But you're right, itwas… your ramen. Hehe." She taunted him again, taking another deliberate, and loud, slurp of noodles.

Just as Naruto was about to launch into another playful retort, a tiny voice piped up, cutting through the cheerful din. "Serval, hungry!"

A small child clung to Serval's back, her small arms wrapped tightly around her neck. A girl, undeniably Serval's younger spitting image, though much smaller, perhaps four years old, with the same platinum blond hair, albeit softer, and droopy, sleep-filled eyes.

"Ah, sorry, Lynxy, here, a glass of milk and sweet bread." Serval's demeanor instantly softened. She gently unstrapped the girl from the carrier on her back and placed her carefully on a nearby bench. Lynx blinked owlishly, rubbing her eyes, before reaching for the offered glass of milk and a fluffy sweet roll.

Naruto watched, a different kind of surprise washing over him. Serval, the playfully mischievous, sometimes brash, Serval, transformed into a tender, gentle caretaker. "Serval, who's that?" he asked softly, gesturing towards the little girl.

"She's Lynx, my little sister." Serval patted Lynx's head affectionately, her voice filled with warmth and pride. "Isn't she adorable?"

"Well, yeah, she almost looks exactly like you," Naruto admitted, a smile softening his features. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wrapped candy, a sugary treat from the overworld. "Hi, I'm one of your sister's friends, Naruto." He offered the candy to Lynx.

"Thank you," The little girl accepted the candy politely, bowing her head in a quick, almost shy gesture. "But it's too much sweet for one day." She placed the candy carefully on the bench beside her, then took a bite of her sweet bread.

"Oh." Naruto blinked, slightly taken aback by the mature response from such a young child.

"Smart, isn't she? I'm so proud of her," Serval beamed, wrapping an arm around Lynx in a quick hug, who continued to eat her bread, seemingly unfazed by her older sister's affection.

"Here," Lynx suddenly offered Naruto a small, clear jelly-like cube from a small pouch she pulled from her pocket. Naruto recognized it instantly – one of the minty, non-sugar treats popular in the overworld, often given as a palate cleanser. "My sister is always happier when she talks about you."

"Lynx!?" Serval's cheeks flushed a faint pink, her eyes widening in mock horror at her little sister's unexpected revelation.

"Oh, what's this?" Naruto's earlier embarrassment evaporated, replaced by a smug grin. He leaned closer to Serval, his voice a low, teasing murmur. "I guess I'm not the only one who's been missing a friend?"

Serval, instead of blushing further, simply grabbed Naruto's ear, twisting it gently but firmly. The young man yelped in mock pain, the playful tension between them returning, as warm and comforting as the unexpected feast spread out before them. The mystery of the food, the reason for this sudden abundance, still lingered in the back of Naruto's mind, but for now, surrounded by laughter, shared food, and the familiar presence of a dear friend, it could wait. He was home, in a way he hadn't expected, and that, for now, was enough.

"So, wanna know why so much food. Ones you could only hear from old text and past reference came to be? Especially in the underworld?" Serval asked between bites, gesturing around the crowded shop with her chopsticks. "Seriously, look at this!" She pointed to a mountainous bowl of ramen overflowing with braised meat, glistening greens, and a perfectly soft-boiled egg. "This is top-tier stuff. Not the usual nutrient paste you'd expect down here." Serval always was amazed when she had learned of this the first time, the abrupt shift from scarcity to relative abundance, and she loved, absolutelyloved, the food here.

He had been relatively new to Belobog, having arrived with a head full of amnesia and a spirit full of questions. "No, not really," he admitted, scratching the back of his head. "Just wondering why you are here in the underworld." His curiosity was less about the culinary revolution and more about the platinum blond-haired whirlwind before him. He always thought of her as a refined princess, somewhat untouchable, someone who resided in the gleaming overworld and certainly didn't frequent places like this just for funsies. It was… unexpected.

Serval rolled her eyes playfully, setting her chopsticks down. "Seriously? That's what's on your mind?" She sometimes forgot this young man, with his bright dark-orange jumpsuit and even brighter grin, was a simple-minded idiot, albeit a well-meaning one. "Just strolling around and showing my little sister around. There's that's my reason, now," she said with a dismissive wave, before her expression turned mischievous. "Though, I suppose there is more to it than just 'strolling.'"

Before Naruto could ask further, Serval grabbed his arm, her grip surprisingly strong, and pulled him away from the bustling party in the ramen shop. "Come on, Mr. Curious. Let me show you therealreason I'm here. Let me show you the great change your little gift actually did." Lynx, ever the adventurer, trailed closely behind, her small hand slipping into Serval's free one.

"What?" Naruto asked, completely bewildered as he was dragged out of the warm, fragrant ramen shop and into the cooler, dimly lit streets of the underworld. "Gift? What are you talking about?"

Serval led them through a labyrinth of narrow alleys, the air growing colder and damper as they moved away from the main thoroughfare. Finally, she stopped in a particularly dark and deserted passage, the only light filtering down from faint cracks in the ceiling far above. She deposited Lynx gently on the ground, her sister leaning against her leg with wide-eyed anticipation.

"Now," Serval began, turning to Naruto with a sly smile. "I know you have a little ability that turns you all… glowing and super strong." She punctuated her words with exaggerated gestures. "You know, that… chakra thing, right?" She knew bits and pieces from their previous encounters, enough to understand the basics of his peculiar energy.

Before Naruto could even process her words, Serval jumped, with the agility of a seasoned climber, and positioned herself on his arm, clinging to him like a particularly enthusiastic vine. Lynx giggled, clapping her hands in delight.

"So, do it!" Serval urged, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Do the glowing thing and let's go around town. I need to show you something from up high."

"No?" Naruto stammered, still trying to grasp the sudden turn of events. He hadn't used his chakra in this way in Belobog not wanting to be a moving target, and certainly not with passengers.

Serval leaned closer, placing a finger lightly on his lip, silencing his protests. "You owe me," she said, her voice softening slightly. "More than one time, remember?"

The words were like a key unlocking a cascade of memories in Naruto's mind. Flashes of scenes flooded his consciousness: Serval's cool hand reaching out to him in the cold, sterile cell when he had no memory, just fear and confusion. Serval's confident voice guiding him through the legal labyrinth of the court trial, unraveling the lies of the corrupt noble. Serval's meticulously planned strategy, delivered with a knowing wink, that had ensured the Belobog expedition into the dangerous overworld proceeded without a hitch. Each memory was a bead on the string of his gratitude, a testament to her unwavering support and kindness.

He blinked, the memories grounding him in the present. He looked at Serval, her vibrant eyes reflecting the faint light, then at Lynx, her innocent face filled with trust. Hedidowe her. More than he could probably ever repay.

"Okay," Naruto said, a determined glint entering his eyes. "Hold on tight."

Closing his eyes for a moment, Naruto focused his energy, the familiar warmth of Kurama's chakra surging within him. It was a comfortable power, an extension of himself, now even more refined and controlled after their shared experiences. A wave of golden energy erupted from him, engulfing both Serval and Lynx in a warm, protective cloak of chakra. The alleyway was bathed in a soft, golden light as Naruto's transformation completed, his whisker marks deepening slightly, his eyes glowing with vibrant energy.

Serval and Lynx gasped, not in fear, but in awe. Unlike the usual fretful girls around their age, the Landau sisters were clearly thrill-seekers at heart. Serval whooped with delight, while Lynx's eyes shone with pure wonder as they felt themselves lifted gently off the ground.

With a powerful, yet controlled burst of energy, Naruto launched himself upwards, ascending rapidly through the cracks in the underworld ceiling. The ground fell away beneath them, replaced by a breathtaking panorama of the underworld city sprawled below. Buildings that had seemed tall and imposing from the street level now looked like miniature models. Naruto moved with practiced ease, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, his chakra cloak cushioning each landing, ensuring a smooth and silent ride. Every movement was soft and careful, a testament to his honed control, ensuring no tremors disturbed the delicate balance of the underworld structures.

"Now, go toward the East of Boulder town," Serval directed, her voice clear and steady despite the rush of wind, holding Lynx securely in her arm. Lynx pointed excitedly, her little finger indicating the direction Serval had given.

They landed gently on a high hill overlooking the eastern edge of Boulder town, a vantage point that offered a sweeping view of the surrounding landscape. Serval hopped off Naruto's arm, carefully placing Lynx on the ground beside her. She gestured towards the distant horizon.

"Naruto, look down there," she said, her tone suddenly serious.

Naruto followed her gaze. His eyes widened in surprise as he took in the scene below. Spreading out before them was a vast field, a vibrant patchwork of green and brown in the otherwise muted tones of the underworld. People were working the land, tending to rows and rows of crops, plants of all shapes and sizes flourishing in what he knew was a normally barren environment. It was a scene of unexpected life, a testament to resilience against the harsh realities of their subterranean world.

He sat down on the dry hillside, the soft earth surprisingly yielding, and listened intently as Serval began to speak. She recounted the story of the pouch he had given to Doctor Vache before the ill-fated expedition into the overworld. He vaguely remembered handing the doctor something, a small, unassuming pouch he'd found amongst his few belongings when he first woke up in the Belobog prison. He hadn't thought much of it at the time, assuming it was just some worthless trinket.

"Remember that little pouch of… well, we didn't knowwhatit was at the time, but you gave it to Doctor Vache?" Serval prompted. Naruto nodded slowly, the memory flickering faintly. "Doctor Vache, being Doctor Vache, decided to experiment. He planted the seeds inside, not expecting much, because, you know,underworld. No sunlight, barely any warmth, the official line from the Silvermane Guards was that growing anything down here was practically impossible. The bureaucrats in the overworld never shared the 'secrets' to hydroponics or other advanced farming with us, kept it all for themselves, the selfish…" Serval trailed off, momentarily digressing into her usual disdain for Belobog's upper echelons.

She quickly refocused, turning back to Naruto. "But those seeds, Naruto," she said, her voice filled with wonder, "those seeds you unknowingly gave him… they grew. And not just a little bit. They thrived. They yielded all sorts of crops, things we hadn't seen in generations, things only spoken of in dusty old texts and faded illustrations. Doctor Vache, bless his chaotic soul, didn't keep it a secret. He shared the seeds, the knowledge, everything. And it spread. Like wildfire."

Serval gestured to the sprawling fields below. "This," she said, her voice resonating with pride, "this is the result. Mass-scale farming. Real food. Because of you."

Naruto stared at the fields, a wave of disbelief washing over him. He had found that pouch, dismissed it as nothing, and yet… it had sparked this. He remembered the gnawing hunger he had witnessed in the underworld, the desperation in people's eyes as they struggled to survive on meager rations and tasteless synthesized meals. He hadn't thought his insignificant discovery could have such a profound impact. He wondered where the seeds had come from, what strange and distant land they had originated from, but for now, those questions faded into insignificance compared to the sight before him. He was simply… happy. Deeply, profoundly happy.

"Naruto, now do you understand why they hailed you as their hero?" Serval asked softly, settling down beside him, drawing Lynx onto her lap. Lynx, mesmerized by the fields, pointed and babbled excitedly.

Naruto was silent for a long moment, his gaze fixed on the thriving farmland. He had saved people before, in his past life, in a world far removed from Belobog. But those were grand, world-altering battles against powerful enemies. This… this was different. This was quiet, unassuming, almost accidental. Yet, it had touched the lives of so many in a fundamental way.

"…" Naruto just made a small smile, a genuine, heartfelt smile that stretched across his face and reached his eyes.

"You saved the lives of many families, Naruto," Serval continued, her voice warm and comforting, resting her head lightly on his shoulder. "You won against a corrupted noble in a court of law, giving them hope and justice. And you gave them food, real food that could grow even in this dark, cold world." She looked up at him, her eyes searching his. "So, Mr. Big hero, what do you think? What to consider this place as your home instead?"

"…" Naruto realized she had seen through him, or at least understood the unspoken longing that had been simmering within him. He had told her about his past, about the village he had lost, the home he could never return to. He had unknowingly been searching for a place to belong, a place to anchor himself in this new world. He looked out at the fields, at the people working the land, at the burgeoning life he had inadvertently helped to create.

"Yeah…" Naruto said, his voice quiet but firm. "Yeah, it's a place I can call home." A sense of peace settled over him, a feeling he hadn't realized he was yearning for until this very moment.

After a few more minutes of quiet contemplation, watching the artificial light paint the underworld world in hues of purple and grey, Naruto, with a renewed sense of purpose, activated his chakra cloak once more. He carefully carried the two Landau sisters, their laughter echoing in the cool evening air, and soared back towards the overworld, navigating the city with confident grace. Sneaking into the Landau estate was child's play, his chakra concealing their presence as they landed softly back in Serval's room, the familiar clutter of tools and inventions welcoming him like an old friend.

Serval gently laid the now-sleeping Lynx on her bed, tucking her in with a tender smile. She turned to Naruto, leaning against her workbench. "I might be busy with my… goals," she said, gesturing vaguely around the room, "but I have time to hang out. You know," she continued, a thoughtful expression on her face, "you told me that people should always talk to other people every day, even if it's just small talk, otherwise our hearts get dark and serious." She pointed a playful finger at Naruto, a charming smile gracing her lips. "Those words… they helped me, and a friend of mine, more than you think."

"So, don't be a stranger, okay?" Serval said, her smile widening.

"Yeah, I won't." Naruto replied, his heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time.

The two friends exchanged a smile, a silent understanding passing between them, a promise of continued companionship in this strange, new world. As the day faded into night, Naruto left the warm, familiar embrace of the Landau estate and made his way back to his small but comfortable home beneath Doctor Vache's clinic. He walked with a spring in his step, the scent of ramen clinging to his clothes, the image of thriving fields imprinted on his mind, and a newfound sense of belonging warming his heart. He was in place he could call home.

And done…

Age:

Naruto: ?

Serval: 14

Gephart: 12

Lynx: 4

Natasha: 19

Penya: 23 (No, she will not be interested in Naruto)

Abilities

Rasengan, Odama Rasengan, Incomplete tail beast bomb

Multi-Shadow clones

Fire manipulation and ignition

Transformation technique (How he hid his fox features.)

Substitution jutsu

Kurama yin yang chakra mode

Bye!