Anyone see this? I know the site has been having problems lately and chapters haven't been updating, showing up or taking their sweet time despite being released. It's why I update on Archive of Our Own first. It has it's own problems, but at least they take care of their shit when it isn't working.

Anyways, no real ship at the moment. Not anyone from Natlan, if I'll be honest. Maybe Furina? Yeah, honestly leaning to Furina if this gets enough support to become a full story.

"Naruto!"

That voice… It was so familiar… Sasuke?

Naruto's eyes opened, but he saw nothing but shadows. Even if his vision was blurry, he couldn't see a thing!

Where was he? Where was Sasuke? He was close to stopping him from making the worst mistake in his life…

Naruto failed even to grimace at the thought. He couldn't even glower after that. Something was wrong. Not only did he not know where he was, he couldn't move any part of his body despite all he tried.

He simply lay against the rough, rugged rocks, consumed by this all-consuming darkness. Unable to see or sense anything around him besides wisps of ominous violet mist vapor.

But he could hear. Oh, he could hear something vile growling nearby.

Naruto tried everything, but his banged-up body couldn't move. It felt as if an oppressive weight held down his body, keeping him pinned despite his efforts.

A shadowy figure emerged. A snarling wolf that floated? What was that thing? Were there more coming out of the mist? Did that one transform into something else?

What were these creatures?!

Didn't matter! He needed to move! The wolf was almost on him, its teeth bared. Ready to strike and bite him in the throat.

Naruto mustered every ounce of his will to growl audibly. Oh, he wasn't gonna just lay here and die. He refused, dammit!

And he found the strength to punch it directly in its snout.

Naruto felt a slight amount of satisfaction as the creature howled and recoiled from the blow. It wasn't enough more than to piss it off, but it was enough to give him time. His body trembled as an indescribable pain coarse through his veins as he stood on his feet.

But stand Naruto did.

He stood, and he grinned, wiping what felt like a smudge of blood from his blemished face. "Heh, I ain't no wimp. You aren't taking me without a fight. Bring it on!"

The big wolf roared, likely ticked off at the punch to his snout. All his pals, whether they were other floating wolves or other strange creatures he didn't recognize before, rushed him at once.

Naruto growled in his throat. His body wasn't functioning the way he wanted it to. He was numb and sluggish. Even if he were to throw a punch, the odds of hitting his target were low. He was lucky the big dumb wolf held his stupid face over him so he could bop him.

That wouldn't stop him. Even if they bit, clawed, or maimed him, he wasn't gonna go out without a fight! He wasn't sure what the fox was doing, but screw him too! Stupid fox was probably somehow how he got into this situation and why his body felt as crummy as it did!

Naruto balled his fist as the creatures approached. Cocking his fist back was painfully slow, and it was agony to do so. He didn't care.

They were going down! He was Naruto Uzumaki, and he would not run!

Naruto felt a warm sensation tickling as his fist somehow connected to the smaller fox skull as it lunged forward. It started within his stomach. He almost thought the fox was responding to his complaints and decided to help him.

But he knew better. This feeling was different as it spread, surging through his body before it exploded around him like a fire.

No, it was a fire! An intense, burning flame ignited around him, turning the creatures that charged him to cinders and scorched the rocky terrain.

"Pretty…" Naruto muttered under his breath as he watched the fire flicker around him.

Somehow, it wasn't hurting him despite giving out a tremendous amount of heat. He was utterly engulfed within it. And yet all he felt was warm as he stretched his hand to see the flames emanating from him.

What was this feeling? Was this… Comfort?

He hissed as the flame slowly began to diminish. The exhaustion he had felt before returned with a vengeance as it dwindled into a new, fiery jewel attached to the waistband of his tattered clothing. When it finally faded, he felt like he had slammed into a brick wall.

And he stood standing with the big wolf, who floated just out of the radius of his flames. It looked quite stumped at what it had just seen. Naruto grinned despite being just as confused. "Heh, what now, you big dumb wolf?! It's just you and me! Mono-e-mono! Let's go!"

Naruto laughed as it growled at him. Now that they were alone, despite the pain and exhaustion, he felt…

Were more coming from the shadows?

"Ah, shit…" Naruto gave a deadpan groan, twitching at the sight of more creatures coming out from the abyss. "Give it a rest, will ya! I've had a day, ya know!"

The wolf growled, and all the creatures rushed toward him, the wolf this time amongst the group.

Naruto couldn't help but laugh. If this was how he had to go out, he felt ecstatic. They had to throw everything at him to stand a chance.

If that wasn't a confidence booster for the thirteen-year-old…

"What in the world?!" Naruto cried, shielding his eyes with his arm as another blinding light flashed and shattered the darkness above.

An intense heat far grander than what burned away the creatures the last time roared and swallowed him. Yet, just like the previous time, he felt comforted by the flames. It was confusing, but he smirked as he listened to the cries of the denizens of the shadows being erased by the fire.

Served them right! He didn't need this! He hadn't even begun to dwell on the thought that he failed to bring Sasuke home…

Or where home was, for that matter? This place wasn't familiar at all!

All he knew was there was a brilliant glow emanating from the sky, approaching him. A woman? Yes, it was a woman with a fiery aura burning around her as she stepped before him. "So many years, I hoped for this moment, yet I never thought it would come true… And now you stand before me much bigger than when I gave you up, yet still so young… Time has passed differently in that world I left you in."

"Eh, what are you talking about, lady? I don't even know who you are." Naruto grunted, scrunching his brow at the woman. He stood firm in spite of his body trying to let him down. He was internally shaking, desperately trying to stay on his feet to look strong to save face.

Naruto didn't want to look weak before this intimidating fire lady.

"No, you wouldn't remember me. You were too young at the time." The woman pitifully sighed, her blazing gaze shimmering.

Naruto glowered, standing defensively as the women continued to approach. What did that mean? Wait… Was she… Crying?

And before… Did she say she gave him up?

Naruto's entire body went rigid as she walked onto him, uncomfortably close. She couldn't be… This woman couldn't be…

But her touch as she warmly embraced him in a vice-grip hug, tightly holding him to her. "You have finally come home to me, my son."

No, this couldn't be. This woman… How? It didn't make sense…

Did it? He was never told anything about his parents. He didn't know anything about them. So, could this woman be…

"Mom?" Naruto's voice trembled after a moment's hesitation, looking up into the woman's face.

"Yes, mommy's here…" Her voice quivered as she knelt and gazed into Naruto's eyes. "I'm so sorry for giving you up, but there was something I had to do… But enough about that. Let's bring you home."

"It's time for Natlan to rejoice in the arrival of the next Pyro Archon."

It's been a while since I've done a Genshin Impact concept. This one has been sitting around for a while, so I finished it up and I thought to post it to see what everyone thought about it.

Yes? No? Let me know what you think. It might become something more later if more people like it. We'll see.

Until next time my friends, Peace.