A/N
What a journey, ay? I've been going back and forth trying to tweak the dialogue in this chapter for ages, but I think it's perfect now... or at least I hope so!
Honestly, this chapter was stressing me out so much, but we're finally here!
First off, no, this isn't the final chapter. It's just the last chapter of Season one before I take a break for a bit. I need some time off, you know? I'm tired. I want to read some stories, watch some anime, and just be lazy for a while, lol.
Now, let's jump into the reviews!
BigDogB90 – Erm... yeah, Viktor totally lied, and I did that on purpose. I went back and pointed it out as a lie so there wouldn't be any confusion. Sorry for the mix up!
KaidoFett – You'll get your answers this chapter, but Viktor won't appear again until the next one.
Kabei – Enjoy this chapter, man. I added some extra moments just for you!
bluryface2412 – Indeed! I hope this one lives up to your expectations.
Lichi Sechino – Ayy, thanks, man. I had help from a friend on Discord with the rune lore. Shame on Viktor, right? And yeah, Jinx with Shimmer is just on a whole other level. Naruto had no idea what it would do to her, and he let his guard down. This chapter's juicy!
ExplodingBlitz – Not much of Jayce this chapter, but he'll be in the next one for sure.
NightRaven1671 – Just one more chapter before I take a step back to relax for a bit. Don't worry, the story will continue!
PudgySasquatch – Lol, not much of a cliffhanger this time. You'll be fine today!
Paradoxity – Yep, Shimmer Jinx had Naruto completely on edge. Thank you for the support!
Archer headass – For real, lol. Always trust Jinx, pleaseee.
Ren Hatori – Lol, I didn't even realise they did that in Season 2! I based mine on Tokyo Ghoul's Kaneki and Rize dynamic. That's crazy.
Addllax – Erm, maybe the ending is both happy and sad? We need a mix, right?
Curiousman123 – Damn... not everyone is going to make it out alive, sorry, dude.
parzivaldetermined1 – Hello, friend! I haven't seen Dandadan yet, so I can't write about something I don't know. Maybe once I check out the anime or manga, I'll consider it.
FanFictionman43 – There are more cute and sad moments here, for sure. Yeah, it's the crystal's influence working on Naruto over time. I hope I've done justice to showcasing that gradual corruption. Jinx in control? Oh boy, it's going to get wild.
the warrior of worlds – You're right, Ambessa is definitely a pain in Naruto's side. Lots more moments with her to come.
Ravage88atlas – It's endgame time for sure. This chapter will finally wrap up much of the corruption and give Naruto some rest. But no, he will see the rocket…
Silverwingzz – Early on, Naruto had control, but over time, he started losing himself to the crystal's corruption and the weight of everything happening in his life. Honestly, no one would stay sane under those circumstances. The hex crystals always corrupt, either physically or mentally it's part of the series' lore, like the Hexcore corrupting the trio in Season 2. Hope this clears things up!
aesir – Thanks for the kind words, man. You're spot on Jinx definitely should've called him Ruto. I dropped the ball on that, such a great idea! I'm glad you feel I've captured her mental side well for the story.
That's everything! This chapter is a mix of sad and happy moments, with a lot going on, so focus up.
Mental issues, heightened emotions everything is at an all-time high in this chapter.
Also, this story will now officially be rated M. It should've been from the start, and it was a genuine mistake that it wasn't.
I'm sorry about that!
Now, enjoy!
Chapter 15 – Destroy the World Act 3 (Finale)
Monsters….
Are they born, or are they made?
The question has lingered for centuries, a riddle etched into the fabric of human nature. The stories we tell, the nightmares we conjure they all circle back to the same dark curiosity. What is it that truly makes a monster?
Is it hatred? That seething, corrosive emotion that twists the soul and poisons the heart? Perhaps anger? the kind that burns with a relentless fury, turning even the gentlest of hands into fists? Or could it be love, in its most obsessive and destructive form, a force so consuming it bends reality itself?
In the shadows of this truth lies the most painful realisation, monsters are not born from nothing. They are forged sculpted by pain, betrayal, and loss. They are the sum of the cruelty they endure, the scars they carry, and the choices they make in the wake of their suffering. A child left alone to fend for themselves in a world that does not care, a soul twisted by the weight of their own despair.
And yet, there are those who are born with a spark an edge, a gift, a curse. Some might argue that monsters were always within them, waiting for the right moment to emerge. A beast lurking beneath the surface, biding its time until the world gives it reason to awaken.
Naruto Uzumaki.
Is he a monster? Or is he merely a boy consumed by circumstances beyond his control? A vessel for power he did not ask for, shaped by the shadows of his past and the pain etched into his heart. He is not innocent not anymore. He has made his choices, dealt his blows, and left destruction in his wake.
But does that make him irredeemable? Or was he simply made this way by a world that discarded him, by memories that haunt him, and by the love he clings to with desperate hands?
And what of Jinx?
Once a girl named Powder, now a whirlwind of chaos and brilliance. Was she destined to become the force she is today, or did the world's cruelty turn her into something it could not contain? Was it Vi's absence? The loss of a family? The echo of her failures and the whispers of a fractured mind?
Perhaps monsters are not made in one defining moment, but in countless small ones the sharp words, the broken promises, the endless nights of being left behind.
If a monster is born, it is with the potential for darkness, but if they are made, then the question becomes: who is to blame? The one who becomes the monster, or the world that drove them to it?
In the end, maybe there are no answers. Only a reflection a mirror held up to our own frailty, forcing us to confront the truth we so often avoid that monsters are not some foreign entities. They are us. Our fears, our flaws, our mistakes. They are the darker parts of ourselves, waiting for the perfect storm to emerge.
Naruto lies still, unconscious, his breath shallow, the faint glow of the crystal in his chest a haunting reminder of his pain and his power. His journey is far from over, but the question remains:
Is he fighting to escape his monstrosity, or is he running headlong into it?
Jinx paced back and forth in the abandoned cannery, her fingers twitching against the cool metal of her pistol. The flickering light overhead cast erratic shadows on the walls, matching the chaos in her mind. The voice the familiar, haunting voice echoed softly in her ears. It was Naruto's, but not the one she trusted. It was the one she feared, the one she created in her fractured mind, dripping with mischief and venom.
"Shhh," she hissed under her breath, her head tilting slightly as if trying to physically shake the voice loose. Her pink glowing eyes darted to the far corner of the room, where he sat, swinging his legs playfully, his small figure bathed in an ethereal glow.
"Come on, Jinx," the hallucination cooed, lounging casually in the corner of her mind. His ghostly form was visible only to her, his glowing blue eyes piercing through the dimness like a predator's in the dark. "What's the plan? Gonna let her ruin everything? You're better than that."
"Shut up," Jinx muttered, her fingers curling tighter around her pistol. Her gaze darted to Vi, tied to a chair at the centre of the room. Her sister stirred faintly, her head lolling as she began to wake.
"Shush," Jinx snapped again, this time louder, her tone edged with manic frustration. Her pink glowing eyes narrowed as she tilted her head, catching the smirk playing across the hallucination's face. "I've got this."
The hallucination smirked, his tone mocking yet melodic. "Sure, you do. But what's the play, Jinx? Show her who you've become? Or maybe…" He leaned in, his phantom form circling her like a vulture. "…maybe show her what she made you."
Vi groaned softly, her head lifting slightly as she blinked against the dim light. Jinx's grin widened, her manic energy growing as she saw her sister waking. She couldn't contain the excitement bubbling in her chest, though her fingers twitched nervously.
"Finally," Jinx said, her voice syrupy and teasing. "Sleeping beauty awakens."
Vi blinked harder, her vision sharpening to reveal her surroundings. She tugged against the ropes binding her to the chair, her muscles tensing as realization washed over her. Jinx's figure loomed before her, a chaotic mix of menace and familiarity.
Jinx giggled, her tone light but laced with malice. "Welcome back, sis," she said, drawing out the word as if savouring its taste. "Been a while, huh?"
The hallucination appeared again, standing just behind Jinx, his arms crossed, and his glowing blue eyes fixated on Vi. "Tell her, Jinx. Tell her what she did. Tell her why you had to become this."
Jinx's grin faltered briefly, a flicker of doubt crossing her features. She placed a hand to her temple, her fingers pressing hard as though trying to squeeze the voice out of her mind. But the ghostly figure remained, unwavering, his smirk growing wider.
"You know," Jinx began, her voice carrying an almost sing song quality as she turned back to Vi. "Silco thought he made me. Thought he was the one who brought me to life, gave me my edge." She giggled, shaking her head as her gaze bore into Vi's with unsettling clarity. "But nope. Not really."
She stepped closer, her footsteps deliberate yet erratic, her eyes shining with a dangerous light. "It was you, Vi. You made me. You and your stupid little promises, your stupid little lies." Her voice wavered between mockery and a deep, cutting pain. "And then you left. You left me to rot, and you know who stayed?"
The hallucination stepped into her line of sight, towering over her, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "Me," he whispered into her ear, though his words were for Jinx alone. "I never left."
Jinx turned her head slightly, as if acknowledging his presence, though her words were directed at Vi. "Naruto stayed. His voice kept me company when yours disappeared. Funny how that works, huh?"
Vi's jaw tightened as she tugged at her bindings again, her voice hoarse but steady. "Powder," she said, her tone pleading but firm. "It doesn't have to be like this."
Jinx's laughter burst forth like a gunshot, sharp and cutting. She waved her pistol in the air, pacing in erratic circles around the room. "Doesn't it?" she shot back, her voice rising with each word. "Because it sure feels like this is exactly how it has to be."
The hallucination leaned closer, his phantom lips curving into a cruel smile as he whispered, "She needs to understand. Show her the truth, Jinx. Show her what she's done."
Jinx's manic energy only grew as she stalked closer to Vi, her grin twisting into something more sinister. "You're gonna see, Vi," she said, her voice softening to a near whisper, her pink glowing eyes burning into her sister's. "You're gonna see everything and then maybe just, maybe you'll understand why there's no going back."
The hallucination lingered in the corner of her mind, his presence suffocating as Jinx leaned in closer to her captive sister, her grip on reality slipping further with every passing moment.
The flickering light of the candles cast shadows across the room. The abandoned cannery had been transformed into a twisted parody of a tea party. The macabre scene was laced with Jinx's unhinged creativity and chilling nostalgia. The table was set with broken plates and rusted cutlery, adorned with warped, childlike effigies of Mylo and Claggor sitting stiffly in their makeshift seats. The stuffed bunny from their childhood lay propped up next to Claggor's effigy, its button eyes staring vacantly.
Vi's chair screeched against the floor as Jinx dragged her to the table, the noise grating on everyone's ears. Bound tightly to the chair, Vi struggled against the restraints, her eyes darting around the room as she tried to process the horrifying scene. Across from her sat Silco, bound and gagged, his mismatched eyes filled with a mix of fear and anger. To his right was Naruto, unconscious but breathing, bound like the rest, his head lolling slightly to the side. His pale face bore fresh scratches and faint bruises, but his glowing blue eyes remained dim, evidence of his incapacitated state.
Jinx, her pink glowing eyes alight with manic glee, skipped around the table, humming a disjointed tune. She grabbed a matchbox, striking one against the table to light the candelabras. The flames flickered, illuminating the chaos with an unsettling warmth.
"There we go," Jinx chirped, stepping back to admire her handiwork. "Perfect, right? Just like old times. A family dinner." She shot a glance at Vi, her grin widening. "Well, almost."
Vi's heart pounded as she scanned the table before her. "Powder," she said, her voice strained. "What is this? What are you doing?"
"What am I doing?" Jinx echoed, tilting her head as if the question baffled her. She began to pace, twirling a cupcake in her hands. Atop it, like a sinister prize, rested the stolen hex crystal, glowing faintly. "I'm throwing a tea party, duh. For us, for the people who matter."
She gestured dramatically toward the effigies, Silco, and Naruto. "Look at this guest list! It's exclusive. Only the best of the best."
Her grin faltered slightly as her gaze landed on Silco. She sauntered over to him, poking his chest with the tip of her pistol. "Well, most of them. You? You're here because you're a liar."
Silco glared at her, his body tense against the bindings. His muffled protests were ignored as Jinx turned back to Vi.
"And you," Jinx said, her voice dripping with mock sweetness as she approached her sister. "You're here because you need to remember what it feels like to lose everything."
Vi's jaw clenched. "I didn't leave you, Powder. I've told you this I never wanted to leave you!"
"Stop calling me that!" Jinx shouted, slamming the cupcake onto the table. The force made the crystal tremble, its light flickering ominously. She pressed her hands to her head, her pink eyes narrowing as if warding off unseen voices. "Powder's gone, she fell down a well, remember?"
Vi's throat tightened, but she forced her voice to remain calm. "That's not true. You're still my sister, Powder. The only thing that kept me going in prison was the thought of getting back to you. That hasn't changed."
Jinx laughed sharply, the sound grating and disjointed. "Sisters?" she sneered. "You're not my sister. You're just another liar."
She reached for the cupcake, her fingers curling around the crystal as she raised it above her head. "You all lied! Silco, Vi, even Naruto!" Her gaze snapped to Naruto's unconscious form, her voice dropping into something softer, almost pained. "You said you trusted me…"
She walked around the table, trailing her fingers along the backs of the chairs. "You lied, and now look where we are. A cosy little tea party… with a side of betrayal."
Jinx approached the shadows where Caitlyn was wheeled out, bound and gagged. She shoved the chair forward, the wheels screeching as Caitlyn joined the grim assembly.
"And then there's you," Jinx said, leaning close to Caitlyn. Her tone was soft yet venomous, dripping with mockery. "You're trying to steal him away.. my Naruto." She giggled, her lips curling into a predatory smile. "Guess what? That's not gonna happen."
Vi's voice broke through the tension. "Powder, listen to me. You don't have to do this. We can leave. Just you and me. We can fix this."
"Fix this?" Jinx's voice rose to a near scream, her expression twisting with fury and anguish. "You think you can just fix this? After everything? After leaving me?"
She whirled around, gripping the crystal tightly in her hand. "You don't get it, do you? Silco didn't make Jinx. You did. You and… and him." Her voice cracked as she glanced at Naruto. "You left me, and his voice stayed. And I… I became what I had to."
Vi's eyes softened, despite the tears welling in them. "You're still my sister that hasn't changed."
Jinx froze for a moment, her breathing ragged. The room fell silent, save for the faint hum of the hex crystal. For a fleeting second, it seemed as though she might waver.
But then the grin returned, manic and unrelenting. "You don't get it," Jinx whispered. "But you will. Soon enough."
She turned to the table, her hand brushing against Naruto's shoulder as she leaned in closer to the crystal, its glow casting haunting shadows across her face.
The air in the room felt suffocating, heavy with tension and the haunting glow of the hex crystal. Jinx's erratic movements were matched only by her fractured thoughts, her gaze flickering between Vi, Caitlyn, and the hallucination of Naruto standing silently behind her. The hallucination was watching her with an unnerving stillness, his glowing blue eyes piercing into her as if silently urging her on.
Jinx's lips trembled as she turned back to Vi, the pistol trembling in her hands. Her pink-glowing eyes brimmed with something caught between hope and desperation. "It's simple, really," she said, her voice quivering. "Vi, you decide. You want to be my sister again? Really be my sister?"
She stepped closer, placing the gun in Vi's bound hands. "Then prove it," Jinx whispered, her voice breaking. "Kill her... Kill Caitlyn, and we can have everything back. Me, you, Naruto… just like it was before."
Vi's hands trembled as she stared at the pistol in her lap. Her knuckles were white, her jaw tight. "Powder…" Her voice was a plea, soft and trembling. "You don't have to do this. This isn't you."
"Isn't me?" Jinx snapped, her voice a volatile mix of anger and pain. "Don't you get it? This is who I am now. You made me this way. You left me, Vi. And now you're back, but only if you play by my rules."
Vi's eyes locked onto her sister's, her voice steady despite the tears welling in her eyes. "I'm not going to kill her."
Jinx's grin faltered, her hands twitching at her sides. "You're lying," she said, a shrill edge creeping into her voice. "You're just like everyone else. A liar."
"No," Vi said firmly. "I'm telling you the truth. I'm not going to hurt her. I'm not going to hurt anyone."
Jinx's hand darted forward, snatching the gun from Vi's lap. She turned, aiming it directly at Caitlyn's head. The atmosphere crackled with raw tension, the hum of the hex crystal growing louder, as though feeding off the chaos.
"Maybe I'll do it myself," Jinx said, her voice high and unsteady. "Maybe that'll fix things. If I kill her, then it's just us again. Me, you, and Naruto."
Frantically, Vi spoke, her voice rising. "Powder, stop! You don't have to do this! We can leave all of this behind. Just you and me. I'll take you away from here. No Silco, no Naruto, no shimmer, no hex crystals. Just us. Please."
Jinx froze for a moment, her shoulders trembling. Her breathing grew erratic, and her eyes darted toward Silco, who struggled against his bindings, attempting to speak. She hesitated, then yanked the gag from his mouth.
"You don't have to listen to her, Jinx," Silco rasped, his voice hoarse but firm. "She's lying to you. She always has been."
Jinx's pink glowing eyes widened as she turned to him. "But you…" Her voice cracked. "You lied too."
"I wasn't going to betray you," Silco said, his tone resolute. "Not you or Naruto. I've done everything to protect you, to protect both of you. Everything I've done… it's always been for Zaun and for you."
Jinx's grip on the gun tightened, her breathing shallow and unsteady. Her gaze darted toward the hallucination of Naruto, who tilted his head, his glowing eyes full of mock amusement.
"Liar," the hallucination of Naruto whispered in her mind, his voice dripping with venom. "He was going to trade you away. Just like she left you. They're all the same."
Jinx clenched her teeth, tears streaming down her face. She raised the gun and fired, the shot ringing out like a thunderclap. But the bullet didn't hit anyone in the room. It struck the Mylo dummy, shattering the glass behind it into a rain of sparkling shards.
As the fragments hit the ground, a faint hum filled the air.
Naruto's eyes snapped open, their glow cutting through the light like twin beacons. The atmosphere in the room shifted, the weight of his presence growing as his chest rose and fell steadily. His expression was unreadable, but his glowing eyes landed first on Jinx, then on Vi, Caitlyn, and Silco.
The room fell into a tense, electrified silence as the air itself seemed to hold its breath, waiting for what would come next.
Naruto blinked, his vision still hazy and his body sluggish. The first thing he saw was the spectral form of Powder standing in the corner of his vision, her mocking grin slicing through his thoughts like a knife.
"About time you woke up," she teased, her voice dripping with derision. "You nearly missed all the fun."
Naruto groaned, shifting against the restraints that bound him. His body felt heavy, his strength sapped, and the rune on his wrist burned faintly. "What's happening?" he rasped, his glowing eyes scanning the room. His gaze landed on Jinx, standing amidst the eerie candlelit chaos.
Jinx turned to him, her grin softening into something more conflicted. "Naruto, you're awake," she said, her voice a mix of relief and tension. She gestured toward the table, where thwy all sat bound. "This… this is where it all comes together."
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked, his voice growing stronger despite the weight in his chest.
Jinx crossed her arms, her glowing pink eyes darting toward Silco, who was struggling against his bindings. "He was going to give us up," she said coldly, her tone carrying a note of betrayal. "Me, you, for Zaun."
Naruto's breath caught, his glowing eyes narrowing as he turned his gaze to Silco. "What?" he said, his voice sharp despite the exhaustion. "Is that true?"
Silco managed to shake his head, his eyes meeting Naruto's with a desperate sincerity. "No," he said, his voice muffled but firm. "It's not true. I would never betray you."
Powder leaned closer to Naruto's ear, her phantom voice a seductive whisper in his mind. "Oh, listen to him. The way he says it, like he really means it. Doesn't it make you want to believe him?" Her laugh was sharp and cutting. "You know better, don't you?"
Naruto's anger began to simmer, his breathing growing heavier as the energy within him stirred. "Jinx," he said, his tone low and tense, "get me out of these restraints, now."
Jinx shook her head, her grin faltering as she glanced at the hallucination only she could see. "Sorry, big guy," she said, her voice wavering. "No can do. Not yet. Not until…" She trailed off, her pink eyes glinting with an unsettling excitement. "Not until we let off the fireworks. Not until they know what it feels like."
"Jinx," Naruto said again, his tone more urgent. "This isn't the time. Let me out, and we'll deal with this together."
Her gaze flickered to the side, where her hallucination whispered in her ear. The ghostly figure of Mylo laughed, a cruel, hollow sound. "Don't listen to him. He'll only ruin it. They all do."
Jinx's expression hardened, her grip tightening on her pistol. "Not yet," she said firmly, her voice carrying a dangerous edge.
Naruto pulled against his restraints, his teeth clenched. "Jinx, please."
In the shadows, Caitlyn discreetly reached for a shard of broken glass on the floor, her fingers fumbling as she worked to cut herself loose. Her eyes flicked between Jinx, Naruto, and Vi, her mind racing.
Silco's voice broke through the tension, filled with raw emotion as he looked at his two adopted children. "Jinx, Naruto… you're my family, my daughter, my son. I would never forsake you."
The words lingered in the air, heavy with a truth he desperately wanted them to believe.
But in both Naruto and Jinx's minds, their hallucinations hissed in unison, "Liar."
The word echoed through their thoughts like a poisonous chant, filling the room with an invisible weight. Naruto and Jinx's gazes snapped toward each other's hallucinations, their glowing eyes locking in mutual shock as they both screamed…
"SHUT UP!"
The room fell into a stunned silence, the echo of their voices reverberating off the walls. Jinx stared at Naruto, her expression a mix of disbelief and anger, while Naruto's chest heaved, his glowing eyes flickering as he processed what had just happened.
Jinx's glowing pink eyes darted toward Naruto, her expression a mixture of disbelief and anger. "Did you just tell me to shut up?" she asked, her voice trembling but sharp.
Naruto opened his mouth to respond but faltered, his hands clenching into fists. "Yes… No… It's complicated, Jinx," he said finally, his tone strained as he avoided her piercing gaze.
The tension in the room thickened, almost suffocating. Caitlyn, unnoticed by the others, had managed to cut herself free. Her breathing was heavy, her eyes locked onto Jinx with a mix of fear and determination. She seized Jinx's minigun from the table and stood, aiming it directly at her.
"Drop the gun, Jinx!" Caitlyn commanded, her voice firm despite the tremor in her hands.
Jinx froze for a moment, her wide eyes locking onto the barrel of the weapon. Slowly, she lowered her pistol, placing it onto the table. Her hands raised, feigning surrender, her expression unreadable. "Okay, okay," she said, her voice soft and disarming. "You got me."
Naruto watched her warily, his glowing blue eyes narrowing as his instincts screamed that something was wrong.
Then, in a blur of motion, Jinx moved. Her body, empowered by shimmer, became a streak of pink light as she dashed toward Caitlyn with impossible speed. Naruto's eyes widened as he barely processed the movement. In a heartbeat, Jinx knocked Caitlyn unconscious with a brutal strike, reclaiming the minigun as her hands trembled around its trigger.
"Jinx…" Naruto muttered, his voice low with disbelief. He hadn't realized how much the shimmer had transformed her.
Vi's voice broke through the stunned silence, trembling but desperate. "Powder, please. Wake up." Her words were thick with emotion as she listed off the names of their lost family. "Mylo, Claggor, Vander, Mom, Dad… They wouldn't want this. They wouldn't want you to be like this."
Jinx's entire body tensed. Her pink eyes flickered erratically as monstrous hallucinations of Mylo, Claggor, and Vander began to surround her, their faces grotesque and twisted, their voices haunting her. Her breathing quickened, her grip on the minigun tightening as her gaze darted between them and Vi.
"Stop it!" Jinx screamed, her voice cracking under the weight of her torment. "Stop saying their names! Stop hurting me!"
"Vi, stop!" Naruto bellowed, his voice shaking the room. His glowing eyes flared brighter as he turned to Vi. "You're making it worse! You're hurting her!"
Silco, watching his daughter unravel before him, furiously struggled against his bonds. His voice was raw as he growled through gritted teeth. "You… will not… take her from me!"
With one last desperate effort, Silco broke free, grabbing the pistol from the table and leveling it at Vi. His hand shook, his face a mask of fury and desperation. "She's mine!" he roared.
The sound of the minigun firing filled the room in a deafening blast, drowning out all other noise. Jinx had turned, her hands trembling violently as she sprayed bullets across the room in blind panic. Time seemed to slow as one bullet found its mark striking Silco square in the chest.
Naruto's glowing eyes widened in horror as Silco stumbled back, his hand flying to his chest as blood blossomed across his shirt. His legs buckled, and he crumpled to the ground.
"Silco!" Naruto roared, his body surging with adrenaline and raw energy. The rune on his wrist flared as he tore through his restraints with the last of his strength, rushing to Silco's side in an electric blur.
Time seemed to stand still as Naruto knelt beside Silco, his trembling hands hovering over the wound. Jinx stood frozen, the minigun dangling limply in her grip as tears streamed down her face. Vi stared in shock, her own voice caught in her throat as the weight of what had just transpired sank in.
Naruto knelt beside Silco, his hands trembling as they hovered over the gaping wound in the man's chest. Blood pooled around them, dark and foreboding, staining the floor and Naruto's trembling fingers. The once commanding presence of Silco was reduced to a frail shell, his breaths shallow and laboured.
Naruto's heart pounded painfully against his ribs, his glowing blue eyes dim and shrouded in grief. He could feel something breaking inside him, a storm surging within that he couldn't stop. For all the chaos he'd endured, for all the pain he'd inflicted and received, nothing had prepared him for this.
"Silco…" Naruto's voice cracked, barely above a whisper. His throat tightened as the tears he'd been holding back began to flow freely down his face. "Come on… Don't do this to me. Don't do this to us!"
Silco's head tilted slightly, his dimming gaze finding Naruto's. A faint smile tugged at his bloodstained lips, weak but filled with something akin to pride. "Naruto… you've always… been stronger than you realize…" His voice was a faint rasp, every word a struggle. "You don't… need me…"
Naruto shook his head vehemently, his fists clenching against the blood slick floor. "No! That's not true!" His voice rose, tinged with desperation and disbelief. "You've always been the strong one! You kept us together, you gave us a home, you… you made us feel like we belonged!"
His breathing grew ragged, the tears coming faster now, unchecked and unrelenting. "I'm not the strong one. I'm not you! You're the only one who can keep this together. Please, Silco, don't leave us like this! Don't leave me like this!"
Silco's trembling hand reached up, faltering before it found Naruto's arm. The touch was faint, barely there, but it was enough to silence Naruto's frantic pleas for a moment. "Listen… to me," Silco said, his voice breaking as blood bubbled at his lips. "Don't… blame her… Don't blame… Jinx. She's not herself. She's not… thinking clearly."
Naruto's chest heaved as he struggled to process Silco's words. His gaze darted toward Jinx, who stood frozen nearby, her face streaked with tears as she clutched Silco's other hand. Her eyes were wide, wild, and filled with a mixture of fear and devastation.
"Silco, I…" Naruto stammered, his voice heavy with pain and confusion. "I don't know if I can do this. I don't know if I can—"
Silco's grip tightened slightly, his strength dwindling but his determination unwavering. "You… have to," he said firmly, his words laboured but resolute. "Zaun… needs you. Jinx… needs you. Promise me… you'll stay together. Promise me you'll… take care of each other."
Naruto's heart felt like it was being torn from his chest. The weight of the promise crushed him, suffocating him. He could barely breathe as he whispered, his voice cracking, "I promise… Father."
At the word, Silco's expression softened, and a faint smile crossed his lips. "That's my boy…" he murmured, his voice a mere breath. "You… and Jinx… are perfect. Just… perfect…"
His eyes glazed over, his body going limp in Naruto's trembling hands.
"Silco!" Naruto yelled, shaking him slightly, his voice echoing through the stillness of the room. "Silco! Wake up! Come on, don't do this to me!"
The realization hit him like a hammer, driving the air from his lungs. Silco was gone. The man who had taken him in, who had guided him and given him a place in the world, was gone.
Jinx dropped to her knees on the other side of Silco, her face contorted in agony. "I'm sorry," she sobbed, clutching Silco's lifeless hand. Her voice was broken, trembling with the weight of her guilt. "I didn't mean to… I didn't mean for this to happen! You said you'd never leave us! You said you'd always protect us!"
She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking with the force of her sobs. "You promised…" she choked out, her voice barely audible. "You promised…"
Naruto sat back on his heels, his hands trembling as he stared at Silco's lifeless form. His tears blurred his vision, the salty drops mixing with the blood on his face. He had never felt so powerless, so lost. The room felt like it was closing in around him, the weight of Silco's final words pressing down on him like a crushing tide.
Jinx's cries filled the room, raw and unfiltered. Naruto turned his gaze to her, his own grief mirrored in her broken expression…
Looking blankly at Silco's lifeless body, the last traces of emotion draining from his face. His glowing blue eyes dimmed, the energy they held simmering into a cold, detached flicker. Powder appeared in his mind's eye, lingering just at the edge of his vision, but he didn't acknowledge her. Her voice, her taunts, her playful grin they all faded into irrelevance. He was done with the illusions, done with the noise.
Instead, his focus turned to Jinx, who had grown eerily quiet, her face a mask of stoicism. The room was still except for the faint crackle of the dying flames. Naruto's voice broke the silence, low and emotionless.
"This is it," he said, his tone flat. "We're alone in this world again, just like before." He gestured faintly toward Silco's body without looking. "So… what's the plan?"
Jinx didn't respond immediately. She walked to the chair at the centre of the room, dragging her feet as if the weight of the moment bore down on her. Slowly, she sat down, her hands resting limply on her knees. Her gaze drifted to Vi, who was still tied to her chair, her face pale and streaked with tears.
"You and me," Jinx said softly, her voice devoid of its usual chaos. "We'll never love each other like we used to. It's gone, Vi. Everything we had… it died a long time ago."
Vi's lips trembled as she fought to find the right words. "Powder…" she began, her voice shaking. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry for everything. I—"
"No," Jinx cut her off, her voice cold and unyielding. "I don't need your apologies. I don't need anything from you." She turned her head slightly, her glowing pink eyes meeting Naruto's. "I love him now. And I always will."
Naruto's expression didn't change as Jinx spoke. He felt nothing not the joy of being chosen, not the pain of the moment, just… emptiness. He crossed his arms, his voice carrying the weight of resignation.
"Vi, there's no point," Naruto said, his gaze falling to his bloodstained hands. "Look at us." He turned them over, his fingers trembling slightly before he clenched them into fists. "Everything we touch… we destroy."
His eyes flickered toward Silco's body, then back to Jinx. "This world doesn't want people like us. It's better if we stop pretending, we can fit into it."
Jinx stood from the chair, her movements deliberate, and walked toward the hex crystal. Without a word, she picked it up, her grip firm and her expression unreadable. She glanced at Naruto briefly, as if silently asking for his understanding, then turned and walked away.
Caitlyn stirred, groaning as she came to. Her eyes fluttered open, taking in the wreckage of the room. When her gaze landed on Jinx and the hex crystal, she froze, her heart pounding. "No…" she whispered, struggling against her bonds. "No, no, no!"
Jinx ignored her. She moved with purpose, loading the crystal into a massive, hastily constructed rocket launcher. The weapon hissed and clicked as it powered up, the crystal's glow intensifying.
Caitlyn's desperate pleas grew louder. "Naruto!" she called, her voice breaking. "You have to stop her! Please! If you have any feelings left for your family, for me, for anyone, you must stop her!"
Naruto turned to Caitlyn, his face unreadable. Her words seemed to hang in the air, heavy and suffocating. Slowly, he walked toward her, his footsteps echoing in the silence. He crouched down to her level, his glowing blue eyes meeting her desperate gaze.
A faint, sad smile crossed his lips. "Maybe… in another life, Caitlyn," he said softly. "Maybe we could've had that bond you care so much about. But in this life…" He gestured vaguely to himself. "The Naruto Uzumaki, you knew is gone. He's nothing more than a monster now."
Caitlyn's eyes filled with tears, her chest heaving with silent sobs as Naruto stood and walked away. Behind him, Jinx activated the launcher, her hands steady and her expression cold. The massive rocket hissed as it ignited, its blue glow illuminating the entire room before it shot into the sky with a deafening roar.
The rocket's ascent was visible to everyone in the city.
Ekko, alive, stood atop a crumbling building in the undercity. Heimerdinger, beside him, looked up at the glowing projectile cutting through the dark sky. The two exchanged a grim glance, their expressions heavy.
Sevika, seated in Silco's old office, watched the rocket's glow from the window. She leaned back in her chair, her gaze dark and contemplative. Her hand rested on the hilt of her weapon, but she made no move to rise.
Caitlyn frees Vi and the pair watch in horror, their eyes fixed on the rocket as it hurtled toward its target. "No…" Caitlyn whispered, her voice trembling. "No…"
In the Council chambers, Jayce, Mel, and the other council members debated heatedly over Silco's demands. Their arguments were abruptly silenced by the sound of shattering glass as the rocket crashed through the chamber's massive window.
The explosion erupted in a blinding wave of blue light, consuming everything in its path.
Jinx stood outside the abandoned cannery, her face illuminated by the distant glow of the explosion. A faint, eerie smile crossed her lips as the sound of destruction echoed through the city.
Naruto stood a short distance away, his eyes fixed on the horizon. His expression was calm, detached. In his mind, the ghostly figure of Powder whispered faintly, her voice a blend of admiration and mockery.
"You finally did it," she said. "The world will never forget us now."
Caitlyn, with Vi's help, pushed herself to her feet, her eyes never leaving Naruto. She gripped her side where the earlier fight had left its mark, but her gaze was sharp, her voice cutting through the silence with an icy resolve.
"You've made a big mistake, Naruto," Caitlyn said, her tone steady despite the tremor of emotion beneath it. "There's no coming back from this. You chose your side."
Naruto didn't respond, his glowing blue eyes fixed on the devastation around him. The faint hum of the hex crystal in the distance was the only sound accompanying her words.
"I tried," Caitlyn continued, her voice softening, almost as if she were pleading with him one last time. "I tried to make you see reason. But maybe you're right, maybe the Naruto Uzumaki I knew is gone."
Her words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Vi wrapped an arm around Caitlyn's shoulders, silently supporting her as they began to walk away, their backs turned on Naruto and the wreckage he had left in his wake. Naruto didn't move to stop them. He didn't even flinch. His eyes, hollow yet glowing faintly, were locked on a different figure.
Jinx.
She stood with her back to him, her posture slumped and defeated. Her hands trembled at her sides, her fingers twitching as if she were trying to grasp something that wasn't there. Her once vibrant pink eyes seemed dimmer, her gaze fixed on Silco's lifeless body.
Naruto took a slow step forward, his voice breaking the fragile silence. "Jinx…"
She stiffened but didn't turn. Her voice came out in a broken whisper. "I didn't mean it… I didn't mean any of it. But the voices… they're always there, always talking, always telling me what to do."
Naruto stopped a few paces behind her, his face a mixture of pain and understanding. Silco's death still clawed at his heart, but as he looked at Jinx, he saw himself. The chaos, the confusion, the pain of being torn apart by forces beyond control. He couldn't hold it against her not when he understood so completely.
"I understand," he said softly, his voice carrying across the distance between them. "I hear voices too."
That made her turn, her face streaked with tears, her expression one of desperate disbelief. "You… you do?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Naruto nodded, his steps slow and deliberate as he closed the distance between them. "All the time," he admitted. "They tell me I'm not enough. That I can't save anyone. That I'll always fail. But I can make them stop. At least for now."
He held out his hand, his palm steady despite the storm inside him. "Let me help you, Jinx. Let me make it stop."
Jinx hesitated, her breath catching as she stared at his outstretched hand. "You can't," she said, shaking her head violently. "No one can. They're always there. Always…"
Naruto didn't let her finish. He stepped forward and pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her trembling form. His hand rested gently on the back of her head, and he leaned his forehead against hers, his voice a soothing murmur.
"See?" he said, his voice soft and steady. "Just relax, let it out. They won't bother you now. I promise."
At first, Jinx resisted, her body rigid and unyielding. But then, like a dam breaking, she collapsed into him, her sobs wracking her frame as she clung to him desperately. She buried her face into his chest, her hands clutching at his shirt like a lifeline.
Naruto felt his own tears spill over as he held her, his gaze lifting to Silco's still body. The man who had been both mentor and father figure, the man who had given them both a place in this cruel world, was gone. Naruto's voice cracked as he whispered, his words barely audible.
"I wish I could talk to him, just one more time…"
The rain began to fall, light at first but soon growing heavier, the droplets mingling with the tears on their faces. Naruto looked up at the sky, the cold rain striking his skin as his chest tightened with a familiar, excruciating pain. He winced but didn't pull away from Jinx. His time was running out, and he knew it.
"What a day for rain," Naruto murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
Jinx didn't reply, her cries softening into quiet sniffles as she stayed in his embrace. For a brief moment, in the midst of the destruction and despair, they found solace in each other a fleeting moment of peace in a world that seemed determined to tear them apart.
Holding Jinx close, his arms still wrapped around her trembling form. The rain continued to fall, washing away the blood and grime, but it couldn't cleanse the weight of what they had just endured. He glanced at Silco's lifeless body, lying still on the ground. The man who had built their world, who had given them purpose, was gone.
Naruto's voice was quiet but firm as he finally spoke. "We should bury him. He deserves that much."
Jinx pulled back slightly, her tear-streaked face showing the faintest flicker of determination. She nodded, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. "Yeah," she whispered. "He deserves that."
They got to work in silence, moving with purpose but weighed down by grief. Naruto struggled to carry Silco's body with his fading strength, his breath laboured and ragged. Jinx stayed close, her pink eyes darting to him every so often, worry etched into her features. She could see the strain in his every movement, the crystal in his chest pulsing faintly with an ominous glow.
The makeshift grave was shallow, carved into the muddy ground beneath the heavy rain. They laid Silco to rest gently, as if the care they gave him now could somehow make up for all the chaos and violence that had led to this moment. Naruto knelt beside the grave, his hand pressed to the damp earth as he whispered, "Goodbye, Silco. I hope you find peace… wherever you are."
Jinx knelt beside him, her gaze fixed on the grave as the rain soaked through her hair. "I'm sorry," she said softly, her voice trembling. "I didn't mean for it to happen. I didn't want it to end like this."
Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch steady despite the storm raging within him. "We didn't want this, but it happened. Now we have to move forward. For him. For Zaun."
Jinx nodded again, her jaw set as she helped Naruto to his feet. "We need to save you," she said firmly, her grip on his arm tightening. "We're not losing anyone else. Not like this."
Naruto gave her a faint smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Yeah… we'll figure it out. But I don't know how much time I have left." He glanced down at the faint glow of the crystal in his chest, the pain in his body worsening with every passing moment.
Jinx looked at him, her eyes burning with a fierce determination. "Then we move fast. We head to the Last Drop and get the notes on the operation. We'll save you. I promise."
Naruto nodded, his gaze shifting to the horizon. "We have to be quick. Silco's death… it'll send shockwaves through Zaun. The underworld has no leader now. Piltover will come after us enforcers, soldiers… maybe worse."
His mind flashed back to the general woman he had encountered before, her piercing gaze and calculated demeanour. A chill ran down his spine as he muttered, "She won't stop until we're gone."
Jinx reached out, steadying him as he swayed slightly. "We won't let them catch us," she said, her voice resolute. "We'll finish what we started, Naruto."
Naruto looked back at Silco's grave one last time, the weight of everything pressing down on him. "Goodbye… Father," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the rain.
With Jinx's help, he pushed himself to his feet, his body screaming in protest as they turned toward the Last Drop. Together, they walked away from the grave, leaving behind the man who had shaped their lives and stepping into a future that promised only chaos and bloodshed.
The news spread faster than either of them expected. Walking through the darkened streets of Zaun, Naruto and Jinx kept their hoods low, their faces obscured as they weaved through the crumbling chaos around them. The city was descending into madness, the power vacuum left by Silco's death sparking violent infighting among the three remaining Chembarons Smeech, Margot, and Chross. Shouts echoed in the distance, punctuated by gunfire and the occasional explosion, as each faction scrambled for dominance.
Naruto leaned heavily on Jinx, his breath coming in uneven gasps. The glowing crystal embedded in his chest pulsed faintly, each beat sending waves of pain coursing through his body. Jinx's pink eyes darted around, keeping watch for any threats as they moved. Their destination was clear, the Last Drop. Inside, they'd find the notes they needed to save Naruto's life.
"Almost there," Jinx muttered under her breath, her tone filled with both determination and worry.
But as they turned a corner, chaos found them first. A blur of motion came from above, and before they could react, a figure crashed into Naruto, sending him sprawling to the ground. Jinx, momentarily startled, whirled around, her hands darting toward her weapons.
Naruto groaned, pushing himself up on his elbows, his irritation clear. "What the hell—?"
He stopped mid sentence as his glowing blue eyes locked onto a familiar face. Standing before him was the girl from the alleyway, the one who had reminded him of Powder. She looked up at him with wide, golden brown eyes, her expression a mix of fear and relief.
"It's you again," Naruto said, his voice quieter now, tinged with recognition.
The girl nodded quickly, her small frame trembling as she darted behind him, clutching the back of his coat like a lifeline. Jinx stepped closer, her pink eyes narrowing suspiciously as she sized up the situation. "Who's this?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Before Naruto could answer, a group of armed men rounded the corner, their weapons drawn and their eyes scanning the street. Chross's men. Their uniforms were crude but identifiable, their faces hardened with intent. One of them pointed in their direction, his voice barking out orders.
"There she is! Don't let her get away!"
Naruto sighed, his annoyance clear as he glanced at Jinx. "Figures," he muttered, nodding toward the approaching men.
Jinx smirked, her grip tightening on her weapon. "Guess we're not sneaking around anymore."
Without another word, the pair sprang into action. Naruto's hands crackled with energy as he lunged forward, his speed a blur as he closed the distance between him and the first thug. With a well placed strike, he sent the man sprawling into a wall, unconscious before he hit the ground. Jinx, meanwhile, let out a gleeful laugh as she opened fire, her weapon blazing as she dispatched two more with calculated precision.
The fight was brief but intense, the street illuminated by flashes of light and the sound of gunfire. When it was over, the bodies of Chross's men littered the ground, their weapons lying useless beside them.
Jinx twirled her weapon, blowing imaginary smoke from the barrel. "Well, that was fun. Now, mind telling me who the kid is?"
Naruto dusted himself off, glancing back at the girl, who was still clinging to his coat. "She needed help one day, so I saved her," he said simply. The girl nodded in agreement, her eyes darting nervously between Jinx and Naruto.
Jinx raised an eyebrow, her expression skeptical but not unkind. "And now she's following us?"
Naruto shrugged. "Looks like it."
The girl, emboldened by the calm exchange, took a step forward and looked at them both with wide, pleading eyes. There was something in her gaze a quiet desperation, a sadness that spoke of loss and pain. It was a look neither Jinx nor Naruto could ignore.
Jinx glanced at Naruto, her lips pressing into a thin line. "She reminds me of…" Her voice trailed off, but the meaning was clear.
Naruto sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We don't have time for this," he muttered, but his resolve wavered as the girl's gaze met his. There was something hauntingly familiar in her expression, something that tugged at a part of him he thought had long since been buried.
"Fine," Naruto said at last, his tone begrudging. "But only until we know she's safe."
"Fine," Jinx echoed, though her voice was softer, more understanding. She crouched down, meeting the girl's gaze on her level. "Stick close, got it?"
The girl's face lit up with a small, hesitant smile. She nodded, her golden-brown eyes shimmering with gratitude.
Naruto gave her a small thumbs up, his attempt at reassurance. "Let's go."
Together, the three of them continued toward the Last Drop, their hoods pulled low to shield their identities from the chaos around them. The girl stayed close, her small frame tucked between Naruto and Jinx as they moved. The sounds of Zaun's descent into madness faded behind them as they reached the familiar doors of the bar.
Stepping inside, the air was heavy with tension. The Last Drop felt emptier than usual, its patrons either hiding from the infighting or too consumed with their own schemes to care. Jinx and Naruto exchanged a glance before leading the girl to a quiet corner, her presence a strange, unexpected addition to their already chaotic world.
The tension in the last drop was palpable, the remnants of Silco's absence evident in every corner. Sevika leaned against the bar, her sharp eyes immediately spotting Naruto, Jinx, and the small girl following close behind them. Her gaze hardened as they approached, noting Naruto's pale complexion and laboured movements. She stepped forward, arms crossed.
"Where the hell have you been?" Sevika demanded, her voice low but heavy with authority. Her eyes flicked to Jinx and then to the unfamiliar girl. "And who's this?"
Naruto held up a hand, his expression tired but resolute. "Sevika, I need you to trust me on this. I can't explain everything right now, but I need you to try and keep things under control until I'm back."
Sevika's brow furrowed. "Under control? The whole city's falling apart, Naruto. You're asking a lot."
"I know," Naruto admitted, his voice steady but pleading. "But please, just this once. Trust me. I'll make it right."
Sevika's gaze lingered on him for a moment before shifting to Jinx, who offered a playful grin but said nothing. Then her eyes dropped to the girl hiding behind them, her small frame almost disappearing behind Naruto's coat.
"What the hell's going on here?" Sevika asked, shaking her head in exasperation. "Who's the kid?"
Naruto glanced at the girl, then back to Sevika. "She's… with us for now. Look, it's complicated. I just need to get something from the basement, and then we're out of here."
Sevika sighed heavily, her frustration evident. "Fine," she relented, stepping aside. "But you better come back in one piece. And next time I see you, you better be healthy, got it?"
Naruto gave her a faint smile. "I'll be better than ever. Promise."
Sevika scoffed but didn't press further, watching as Naruto, Jinx, and the girl descended into the basement. She muttered to herself, "You're all crazy."
In the basement, Naruto rummaged through a hidden compartment, pulling out the notes and diagrams they needed for the operation. Jinx watched him closely, her pink eyes flickering with both curiosity and concern. The girl, stayed close to Jinx, her golden brown eyes wide as she took in the chaotic surroundings.
"You sure about this?" Jinx asked, her voice softer than usual.
Naruto paused, glancing over his shoulder at her. "I trust you, Jinx, with my life."
Jinx's eyes widened slightly at his words, and for a moment, her usual manic energy seemed to falter. She nodded, tucking a strand of blue hair behind her ear. "Okay… If you trust me, then I'll do it."
The three of them walked through the shadowed streets of Zaun, their hoods pulled low to avoid unwanted attention. The city around them was alive with chaos, but their focus remained on their destination Jinx's lair.
As they walked, Jinx broke the silence. "So," she started, her tone teasing, "is she gonna be with us all the time now?" She jerked her thumb toward Isha, who was quietly walking a few steps ahead of them.
Naruto sighed, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Let's just wait until we get this crystal out of me. Then we can think about other things."
Jinx smirked but didn't push further, her gaze shifting to Isha. There was something about the girl that tugged at a buried part of her memories of herself as Powder, lost and vulnerable. She shook the thought away and focused on Naruto instead.
When they finally arrived at Jinx's lair, the familiar hum of machinery and the chaotic energy of her space seemed to ease some of Naruto's tension. He laid the notes out on a table, carefully explaining everything he'd learned about the operation to Jinx.
"This is… a lot," Jinx admitted, her usual confidence wavering slightly as she scanned the pages. "What if I mess up?"
"You won't," Naruto said firmly, his glowing blue eyes locking onto hers. "I trust you."
Jinx hesitated, her hands gripping the edges of the table. Her pink eyes flicked to his face, searching for any hint of doubt. Instead, she found only certainty.
"Okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Before she could say anything else, Naruto leaned in and kissed her. The gesture caught her completely off guard, her eyes widening in surprise before she melted into the moment. For a brief second, the world around them disappeared, leaving only the two of them.
A playful sound broke the moment a smooching noise accompanied by giggles. They both turned to see Isha making exaggerated kissing faces, her golden-brown eyes sparkling with mischief.
Naruto chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Guess we've got an audience."
Jinx laughed too, a rare and genuine sound that lit up her face. She nudged Naruto playfully. "You're such a loser."
Naruto smirked. "You'll be fine, Jinx. I trust you."
She nodded, her confidence returning as she glanced back at the notes. "Yeah," she said, her voice steady. "Let's get to work."
The light of Jinx's lair cast long, flickering shadows over the cluttered room as Naruto lay motionless on the operation table. His chest rose and fell steadily, the faint glow of the unstable core pulsing weakly beneath his pale skin. Jinx adjusted her goggles, her usually wild energy focused and razor sharp. Isha stood by her side, handing over tools with a quiet diligence that Jinx was beginning to appreciate.
Jinx glanced at Naruto, her fingers trembling slightly as she placed the mask over his face. "Alright, big guy," she murmured, her voice soft but tinged with a rare vulnerability. "Time to take a nap. Don't go dreaming about anyone else, okay?"
Naruto managed a faint smirk, his glowing blue eyes locking onto hers. "I trust you," he whispered, his voice barely audible.
As the gas hissed through the mask, Naruto's eyelids fluttered, and then his eyes closed completely. The glow of his core dimmed slightly as his body went still.
Jinx took a deep breath, adjusting her goggles. "Alright, let's do this," she muttered, her voice steady but determined.
Isha passed her a scalpel, watching with wide, curious eyes. Jinx nodded at the girl. "Good job, kid. Keep it up."
The procedure was delicate every move required precision. Jinx worked tirelessly, her hands deft as she disconnected the unstable core from the intricate network of veins and wires that fed it. Sweat beaded on her forehead, her pink eyes darting between the glowing notes Naruto had painstakingly gathered and the glowing, flickering mass beneath her tools.
"Okay," Jinx muttered to herself. "This is the big one."
She paused, looking at the unstable core as it pulsed ominously. Removing it was the most dangerous part Naruto's breathing would stop momentarily, leaving her precious little time to replace it with the stable crystal. Isha stood by with the new core, her small hands steady as she handed it over.
"You ready, kid?" Jinx asked, her voice tight.
Isha gave her a confident thumbs up.
Jinx exhaled slowly, her hands moving with precision. The unstable core came loose, its light flickering and fading as she set it aside.
Naruto's chest stilled.
"C'mon, c'mon, c'mon," Jinx whispered, quickly maneuvering the stable core into place. She adjusted wires, secured connections, and finally flipped the small switch that would activate the new core.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Inside Naruto's mind, he stood amidst a swirling void of light and shadow. Powder appeared before him, her figure shimmering like a mirage. Her blue eyes sparkled with a strange mix of joy and sadness.
"You've done well," she said, her voice soft and melodic.
Naruto frowned, stepping closer. "We still have a long way to go."
Powder shook her head, her smile bittersweet. "No… not us. Only you."
Naruto froze, confusion flickering across his face. "What are you saying?"
She reached out, her hand hovering just above his chest, where the faint glow of the unstable core flickered. "Once the new core takes over, I'll be gone for good. No more voices. No more corruption. You'll be free."
Naruto's breath caught in his throat. "But… you've been there this whole time. You've kept me going. How can—"
Powder interrupted, her smile widening even as her figure began to fade. "We've had a nice time together, haven't we? All the chaos, all the fun… It's been one hell of a ride."
Naruto felt his chest tighten as he reached for her, his hand passing through her dissolving form. "I guess this is goodbye, then," he said, his voice thick with emotion.
Powder's laughter echoed faintly in the void, her outline shimmering one last time. "Goodbye, Naruto. Make it count."
And then she was gone.
The only sound was the steady hum of the stable core, glowing faintly in the low light. Jinx stared at Naruto's unmoving form, her hands trembling as she hovered over his chest. Isha stood beside her, clutching a tool tightly, her wide eyes darting between Naruto and Jinx.
"Come on, big guy," Jinx whispered, her voice cracking. "Don't make me regret this."
Naruto's chest was still, too still. Jinx bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, her fingers twitching with the urge to shake him awake. She glanced at Isha, whose small, worried face mirrored her own panic.
The seconds dragged on, each one feeling like an eternity. Jinx leaned closer, her voice dropping to a desperate whisper. "Naruto… don't do this to me. Don't you dare leave me alone."
The stable core pulsed, faint at first, then stronger. A flicker of light danced across Naruto's chest as his fingers twitched ever so slightly. Jinx's breath hitched as she leaned closer, her hands trembling over him.
"Come on, come on!" she urged, her voice rising in pitch.
Suddenly, Naruto gasped, his body jerking violently as his lungs filled with air. His eyes snapped open, glowing bright and sharp, as if a storm had been unleashed within them. His chest rose and fell rapidly, the stable core glowing rhythmically in sync with his breath.
Jinx let out a half-sob, half-laugh, her relief spilling over as she ripped her goggles off and tossed them aside. "You idiot!" she yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks. "You scared me half to death! Don't you ever do that again!"
Naruto blinked, his vision swimming as he struggled to focus. "Jinx?" he rasped, his voice hoarse but alive. "What… happened?"
Jinx threw herself onto him, her arms locking around his neck as she buried her face into his shoulder. "You almost died, that's what happened, you idiot!" she cried, her voice muffled but full of emotion.
Naruto winced, his muscles still weak, but he managed to lift a hand to pat her back. "Guess I needed a longer nap than I thought," he said, his voice laced with dry humor.
Jinx pulled back, glaring at him with tear-streaked cheeks. "Don't you joke with me right now!" she shouted, her voice a mixture of anger and relief. "Do you have any idea how close I came to losing you?"
Naruto's glowing eyes softened as he met hers. "I'm sorry," he said quietly. "And… thank you, for saving me."
Isha watched the scene from the corner, her small hands clutching her tool tightly as a faint smile crept onto her lips. She stepped forward cautiously, offering a shy thumbs up. Naruto glanced at her, his lips curling into a faint but genuine smile.
"Good job, kid," he said, his voice steadying. "You're not half bad at this."
Jinx sniffed, wiping her face as she tried to regain her composure. "Yeah, yeah," she muttered, attempting to mask her relief. "Don't go giving her all the credit. I did the hard part."
Naruto chuckled weakly, his head leaning back as he stared at the ceiling. The weight of everything his survival, Silco's death, the chaos of Zaun and Piltover pressed down on him, but for the first time in a long time, there was a faint spark of hope.
Jinx's voice broke through his thoughts. "So… how do you feel?"
Naruto exhaled slowly, his glowing eyes meeting hers. "Better," he said. "Different… but better."
She studied him for a moment, her pink eyes searching for any hint of uncertainty. When she found none, her grin returned, softer but still unmistakably hers. "Good," she said, her tone firm. "Because we've got a lot to figure out, and I'm not doing it without you."
Naruto nodded, his gaze steady despite the lingering ache in his chest. "We'll figure it out," he said, his voice resolute. "Together."
Chapter 15 – Destroy the World Act 3 (Finale) End
That's the end! A lot happened in this chapter, Silco's death, Naruto calling him father, the dynamic between Jinx and Naruto, and Caitlyn giving up on him. And just wait until Caitlyn finds out who the rocket killed…
Isha to the rescue she's finally here!
Naruto is back to full health and ready to act.
There's also room to focus on Jinx and Naruto building their relationship moving forward.
Now, I'll be taking a break for a while not sure how long, but I've already started drafting the final parts of this story. I'll update again once I'm ready. It's been an amazing experience sharing this story with everyone.
Let me know your thoughts, and until next time,
byebye!