Given how badly this site has been broken over the last few months, it's a surprise I'm even deciding to update here. I thought I was done with this site. Yet I just can't give up on it as it is where I started writing. So even as it is broken, I will update here occasionally with massive dumps of what's been written since the last time I've updated, so if you want timely updates, follow me on Ao3.

Note: For Full First Chapter and Future Chapters, Follow on Ao3. Naruto X Furina.

May I Present?!

(Naruto's PoV)

Where am I? I don't sense anyone I know nearby… Or at all! What happened? The last thing I remember… Sasuke and I reconciled as we lay on the battlefield with one another.

What is this place? So much water… Am I breathing it? That's strange. Ahk! It's so salty! Wait, why is this not hurting? I was banged up and bruised…

Hm, did my wounds heal over? And my arm… Still gone… Kurama? Okay, you're still there. Just sleeping and worn out from our battle. You drained your chakra just as much as I did… Sleep well, buddy.

Guess I'm on my own for a while… Let's see where I am… Is that a bridge? What kind of architecture is this? I've never seen anything like that before. Do they seriously have ferries that go on a bridge over the water?

Huh? Better start investigating and seeing what this place is if I want to find my way back home. Don't want to know what's going on without me! Or what Sasuke will do while I'm not there…

I don't understand this place. Fontaine? Never heard of it before… And they have never heard of Konoha or the Elemental Nations, so I'm definitely somewhere else. I wish I had an answer, but it feels like I'm in a different dimension. This world feels… Stranger.

Hmm, did I fall through one of Kaguya's dimensions? Were those still open? Nah, that doesn't make sense… Sasuke can warp through dimensions as long as he sees where he is going… Doesn't help me here. I think I still feel him, but it's faint… And he wouldn't be able to see this place to get to me.

Crap. Gonna have to figure out a way back myself. Guess I should start with what I know…

Huh, what's with that flamboyantly dressed girl over there? …Those eyes… I know that look…

Dammit. Can't sit back and do nothing… And who knows? Maybe she'll know something about what I'm looking for.

(Furina's PoV)

I am so tired… Is the end coming soon? I've prepared for it so long that I don't know if it will ever come, yet I fear when it does. I've done everything I can possibly do to stop this apocalypse… Nothing seems to matter…

My world will be swallowed by the ocean, and all that will remain is… Me.

How much longer must I maintain this charade? Can I, for once, reveal my true self? I yearn to cease this pretense, but I fear I have become the very person I've feigned to be for centuries.

It has left me utterly exhausted, drained of all energy and hope.

What? Who? … Ah! Please don't hurt me! I can give you whatever you want!

Wait, why are you laughing? It's not funny! You scared me! Don't you know who I am?! …You don't? Really?

Then allow me to present my majesty! You stand before the powerful… And magnificent, Hydro Archon!

Why are you still laughing?! Do you still need help understanding who I am? …What do you mean you don't know and don't care?! How can you not know about the Archons? Don't laugh! I am important!

Ugh! I am done with you! Good day!

…Wait, what does that mean? I was not sad! You must be mistaken! Ah! What do you mean you see the loneliness in my eyes?! That's not true at all! I am surrounded by my adoring populace all the time! People have to wait weeks to have an audience with me! I am never alone!

…Um, regardless of your intentions, thank you for your concern. It's not often someone expresses their worries for me… So, where are you from? Why do I ask? Well, you said you had no idea who I was. I can understand that if you were from somewhere else… But to not know about the Archons?

From another world? Really! That's amazing! You must tell me at once what your world is like! I must know!

…Huh? You… Don't know how you arrived here? Oh, I see… You are searching for a way home.

Perhaps, maybe I can help in some way? Since you showed your genuine concern for me, allow me to repay the favor to you…

But I expect a service in return! I am the Hydro Archon! Shower me with praise, and I will assist you however I can!

Today was a busy but productive morning—nothing out of the ordinary. As usual, he had to filter through many miscellaneous reports and requests and either approve or deny them. There wasn't a scheduled court case for a few days so he could focus on his other work. He was waiting for the Chief Editor of the Steambird to arrive…

A knock at the door drew his attention from his desk. Scouring the door, noticing the time, he nodded. It was time for his scheduled meeting with Lady Furina. To keep her up to date on the ongoing events of Fontaine… Even if, at times, she seemed utterly disinterested in them. She wanted to keep track of her nation, especially the court cases. Those always interested her the most.

"Enter." The Iudex of Fontaine commanded from his desk. The door cracked open, and who he expected to enter, accompanied by her faithful bodyguard for the last few years. "Ah, Lady Furina. Naruto. If you would give me a moment. I am nearly finished with these reports."

"I can wait. I'm in no hurry today. Just my usual meetings with my adoring fans!" Furina confidently flicked her hand through her long, twin ponytails, strutting toward the desk with Naruto at her side, dressed in a similar orange vest to hers with a red cumberbund strapped around his waist and flowing black pants. Her demeanor softened as her eyes shifted toward him before returning to Neuvillette. "Have you found anything new about… You know."

"Ah, of course." Neuvillette nodded, reaching for the Steambird newspaper and handing it to Furina. "If you haven't read this morning's paper, I believe you will find something interesting that may coincide with your inquiry. They seemed to have hired a writer who may know something. I believe her name is Mona Megistus."

"Really?" Furina's eyes dazzled as she took the Steambird paper, holding it out before examining it and holding it to the side for Naruto to see. "This is the one? …Yes, it talks about a traveler from another world… Who has come here on her journey to learn about other cultures… And who is searching for her brother?"

"So we finally have a lead outside of wandering haplessly through the Abyss." Naruto's eyes sharpened as he scanned the article and nodded. "It's something to go on… Perhaps if I were to meet with her, she might have more information about this traveler."

"Oh, perhaps we can message her and pay for her trip here, requesting she brings along this traveler? " Furina surmised her ideal, her face faltering and eyes glistening with sadness momentarily before her expression returned to its usual jubilant state as she turned to Neuvillette. "I request the funds for such expenditure! We can spare no expense for my most trusted subject!"

"I have already called for a meeting with Euphrasie to ask her to assist in this endeavor. I am currently working on setting aside funding. I will add a message for her to invite this traveler with her." With a nod, Neuvillette glanced at Naruto and pulled out a new scroll to scribe upon. "For your services over the last few years, I thank you. It has been invaluable. I can only express my hope that this somehow leads you back to your home. You have earned my deepest respect."

"Thank you, Iudex Neuvillette." Naruto bowed before returning to the article intently. "But I wouldn't count this as a blessing just yet…"

"From Mona's article, it seems like she has lost her powers since coming here… So it seems like a lot of work is left to do."

Has it been several years since we have met? Since you have come to me?

I have done my best to help you find your way home… I spent so much to help find the way back home to you that finding a way to stop the ocean from swallowing my country has been my second priority…

But you have focused on that for me. You have stayed at my side all this time, unwilling to allow such a fate to befall my country and its people. …You have no idea how much I appreciate you.

Now, we may be parting separate ways if this lead holds… And it is bittersweet… I want you to return home so you can be happy, but simultaneously…

I don't want this to end. Please stay with me for a bit longer… I don't want to be let alone. …Perhaps I could go with you?

I wish I could tell you all this… But I'm afraid. I'm scared of everything. I am but a drop in this ocean that has swallowed me whole… This fear that has been holding me back drowns me!

Please don't go… Stay with me until the very end.

R & R.