Merry Christmas Everyone!

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

Chapter – 3

The young man's heart hammered against his ribs. He'd made it. Finally. He was in Belobog, a city whose legendary walls had seemed impenetrable just a day ago. He glanced up at the towering structures, a faint smile pulling at his lips. He had scaled those walls, a feat he doubted many others could accomplish, especially given his… unique features.

"First, I should hide them," he muttered, glancing around the bustling marketplace. The last thing he needed was attention. Just the way he looked was enough to send someone passing out, as he witnessed first-hand. A woman had collapsed in a heap after catching a glimpse of his fox ears and tails near the wall he had climbed. "A cloak would be good, but my tails aren't that small to hide."

Puff

With a wisp of white smoke, his worries vanished – literally. His ears and tails were gone, replaced by the smooth skin of a regular human. He blinked in surprise, running a hand over the spot where his ears had been. "..." He couldn't explain it, but he wasn't complaining. He seemed to have stumbled upon a convenient little talent, a skill he could certainly use.

He took a deep breath, letting the energy of the city wash over him. Belobog was a symphony of sights and sounds. The intricate tools that illuminated the city cast a warm glow on the grand architecture and winding alleys, and the scent of exotic spices wafted through the air. It was a far cry from the quiet wilderness he'd left behind.

"Wow, a lot of people sure are happy. Are they celebrating something?" he wondered aloud.

"Of course!" a voice boomed behind him, making him jump. He turned to find a man with a badge on his winter coat that identified him as medical personnel. He grinned widely, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement. "Today is the Belobog Academy's Graduation! My kid sister is also graduating too! I might take loads of photos; our parents are sure to arrive as well. Hearing your colleagues praise one of your own is such a nectar to your ears. Ha~"

The young man slowly took a step back, unnerved by the man's exuberant energy. He just arrived and already he was dealing with a human being too talkative!

"Hold on there!" the man exclaimed, extending an arm and grabbing his shoulder. He adjusted his glasses, peering at him intently.

"?" the young man tilted his head.

"From what I can tell," the man announced, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, "you, you are not a local."

The young man's blood ran cold. He hadn't even made it past the marketplace before being found out! He could already picture himself in some sort of bureaucratic nightmare. He forced a nervous chuckle, trying to sound casual. "W-What… no… you must be making a mistake. I'm a resident here. Can't you tell?" He took a step back as the man stepped closer, his eyes fixed on him.

"Oh, I can tell," the man said, a strange smile playing on his lips. It wasn't malicious, but it was intensely curious. "You have a certain… newness, about you. Like a traveler from afar." He paused, his eyes scanning the young man from head to toe.

The young man's mind raced. He needed to get away, to blend back into the crowd before this man alerted anyone else. "Look, I, uh, I need to go." He stammered, his hand instinctively moving to where his tails would be, a movement he quickly tried to disguise.

"Oh, and where do you live, pray tell?" the man asked, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

"M-My house you mean?" The young man stammered.

"Yes, of course." The man's eyes never left his, his smile looked more like a hunting predator.

He realized he was a terrible liar. His nervous sweat and the way his hands scratched at the back of his head didn't help at all. Think, think. "It's right over there." he gestured vaguely down the street.

"Oh, you're a resident of the dawn and dust building?"

"Yeah, that's right." He wanted to run at this point but he couldn't figure out how.

"HAHAHAHA!" the man roared with laughter, slapping Kaelen on his back so hard he almost stumbled. the young man joined him with forced and nervous laughter, the corners of his lips twitching with discomfort.

"What a twist of fate. My family owns the building."

"HAHAHAHA" They both laughed again, the sound ringing false on the empty street. The young man kept scratching the back of his head, a nervous tic he couldn't control. He could feel the sweat trickling down his back and wished he could just disappear again.

Their loud, forced laughter drew stares. Passersby hurried away, avoiding the strange duo. Some parents silently pulled their children further away, while the elderly shook their heads disapprovingly.

The man's smile faltered slightly, his tone shifting, "So, tell me punk," he said, the word seeming less friendly and more threatening, "Why have I never seen you before when I know all the residents there?"

"…" By this point, the amount of fear and consequences he thought he might face could tear him up as he couldn't even make an audible response to the man.

The young man turned his face away as the man was awfully close to him not to mention he had his arm draped over his shoulder and neck.

"I don't know?" His voice squeaked, as if the man had removed all the courage in him. His emotions were a haywire about what to do next.

"…" Even though he faced away from the man, the young man felt a chill as he could feel the expression the man was making.

"Hmm… you sure got a huge bag, must be twice your size. And these arms, you got quite the lean muscle. I wonder…"

"Are they even yours?" The man whispered into his ear, the tone of his voice and everything he had done till now to him was a very uncomfortable experience.

"N-No! They're mine! I-I mean, someone gave them to me! I didn't steal anything!"

The young man jumped back. He couldn't take it anymore as he quickly performed some sort of defense posture against the creepy man. Their interaction slowly drew a crowd and some of the people were laughing as if already understanding what was happening.

"…" The man then steps forward, his glasses for some reason hide his eyes behind the glass which only made him more impending.

"Hahahaha! My apologies, I was just playing with you." The man put his arm on the back of his neck and laughed normally this time. The maniac air he had earlier was quickly substituted with a normal one and this caught him off guard.

"This guy…"

"He's done it again. Haha!"

"So carefree, good thing he has the skills."

The crowd murmurs with amusement as they slowly disperse. The man was quite known around the area as a sort of jokester and his prey are always the new faces.

"Here are some lunch tickets and a bit of money to show how apologetic I am."

The man then appeared fast in front of him and handed him a few things on his arm as if rejecting wasn't an option.

"I already know you're from the underworld. With that kind of attire, I could tell from a far away. It's a habit of mind to prank new faces that come here, I just can't help myself."

As if everything he did earlier was forgotten, the man brushed it off with a smooth apology and a gift while mentioning it was not the first time.

"This is where you were, didn't I tell you to wait for Mom and Dad?"

"?" The man turned to find a young adult girl of average height looking at him with a frustrated expression.

"Oh, you did mention that. Sorry, I guess, something caught my eye and I just couldn't hold it in. hehe…"

The girl gave him a deadpanned expression, "You didn't harass someone again, right? Cause, you know, last time?"

"What? Of course not," The man laughs off the girl who was supposedly his sister. Seeing her usual antic responding to his usual quirk made him smile, "Ask my friend here if I did anything terrible today."

"…"

"Who are you talking about?"

"Hm?"

The man turned to look at the person he had been speaking to before his sister arrived, "This gentleman… here?"

"?"

"Where did he go… oh, he ran off." The man saw the retreating figure and he could easily spot him due to the large baggage he was carrying.

"Amazing, he sure ran fast."

"What are you looking at?"

His sister was at times worried about his brother as she had to be the moral compass at times like this. She knew he was a genius and that sometimes led him to be overly curious but never hurt anyone in the end.

"Nothing, come on, let's not make our parents wait too long."

"Why do you think I'm here looking for you?"

"So, today is your birthday, right?"

"You forgot again Vache, it was already months ago, the 26th of April to be exact. Are you sure, you're, okay?"

The girl looked at him worried, as this was not a normal occurrence. The man has some sort of issue and this scares her for his health.

"That makes you eighteen now. Time sure flies by especially when your little sister finished medical college in no time. Bet you must be the youngest of your class? Hehe."

"Vache."

"Oh, don't look at me like that." The man ruffles her hair and gives her a reassuring smile, "Even if I do have an issue, I know you can save me. I've seen how hard you've been studying."

"What are you talking about? You're the one who taught me everything I know. I'm still lacking compared to you."

!*

The man pulled her nose and she quickly swatted his hand away. Her expression was anything but nice. She glared at him and this woke her from the depression words she just mentioned.

"I'm lucky to have someone as kind as you for a sister."

"I know," The girl retorted sharply, as he also tends to give sneak compliments, "So, what are you going to do for this little sister who passed her exams with flying colors?"

"Anything!"

"Please, don't shout. It's embarrassing."

"Happy birthday, Natasha."

"Didn't I already tell you? But I guess," The girl held his arm with a smile and they proceeded toward a couple standing not too far, waving at them with welcome smiles of their own, "Thanks."

…

The city of Belobog, where a jubilant celebration marked the graduation of students from the prestigious Medical College. The hearts of the people shone brightly over the bustling streets, casting a warm glow on the colorful decorations that adorned every corner. Flags fluttered in the breeze, and the air was thick with the enticing aromas of street food.

Though his pockets were light, the sight of the festivities sparked a sense of adventure in him. "I may not have much money," he thought, "but that won't stop me from enjoying this celebration!" With a determined grin, he set off to explore the festivities, his large baggage became a beacon of curiosity in the sea of colorful robes and outfits.

Booths lined the streets, each offering something unique. One stall was piled high with skewers of grilled dishes, and His stomach growled at the delicious scents wafting through the air. He approached the vendor, a jovial woman with a warm smile.

"How much for one skewer?" he asked, hoping it would be within his meager budget he got from the weird man.

"Just a couple of shields," she replied, noticing the glint of hope in his eyes. He rummaged through his pockets, finally pulling out the few coins he had. It wasn't enough for a full meal, but the vendor laughed and handed him a skewer anyway. "Consider it a graduation gift!" she said, winking not realizing he wasn't a student.

"Thanks! You're the best!" He exclaimed, his face lighting up as he took a bite. The flavors exploded in his mouth, and for a moment, he forgot about his worries. He continued his exploration, savoring the delicious food while his heart swelled with joy.

As he wandered deeper into the celebration, the young man came across a stage where a band was playing lively music. The crowd danced and cheered, and he couldn't resist joining in. He moved to the beat, his body flowing with energy, a big smile plastered across his face. He was lost in the rhythm, forgetting for a moment that he was an illegal citizen, and just enjoying life.

After the music, he spotted a booth where children were trying their hand at throwing darts at balloons. The challenge caught his eye, and without a second thought, he stepped up to try his luck. He picked up a dart and, with his natural reflexes, hit three balloons in quick succession. The vendor, impressed, challenged him to hit every single one to get the huge prize. Unfortunately for the vendor, the young man hit every single balloon.

The vendor reluctantly handed him a small stuffed animal as a prize—a life-size plush fox that looked remarkably like him.

"Wow! This is awesome!" The young man said, hugging the huge plush toy tightly. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt so carefree. As he wandered through the celebration, he noticed a group of graduates gathered, sharing their stories and memories. Intrigued, he approached them, eager to hear their tales.

The graduates welcomed him warmly, laughing as they recounted the challenges they faced during their studies, the late nights spent poring over medical texts, and the friendships they had forged along the way. The young man, in turn, shared stories of his adventures with some major adjustment, the one friend he made along the way, and the importance of never giving up. The camaraderie was infectious, and they all found common ground in their struggles and triumphs.

"Hey, we never asked what his name was."

As the sun began to set, the festivities shifted into high gear. Fireworks lit up the night sky, casting a kaleidoscope of colors above Belobog. He stood with the graduates, watching the spectacle in awe. It was a celebration of hard work, dreams fulfilled, and new beginnings.

At that moment, the young man realized that it didn't matter how much money he had or what challenges lay ahead. What mattered was the connections he made, the joy of shared experiences, and the ability to celebrate life's little victories. With his heart full and his spirit high, he knew he would carry this new experience of Belobog's celebration with him, wherever his adventures took him next.

Lost in the sights and sounds, he stumbled upon the entrance to the underground transport system, a massive tunnel system that connected the two halves of Belobog. Curious, he leaned over the railing to peer down into the dark abyss, his bright blue eyes sparkling with intrigue. That's when he noticed him—a small boy, no older than ten, leaning precariously over the edge, his eyes wide with wonder.

"Hey! Be careful!" He shouted, instinctively reaching out. The boy turned, startled, and stumbled backward. In an effort to grab him, our hero lunged forward, but the force of his movement caused him to lose his footing. Time seemed to slow as he slipped, his heart racing, and before he could register what was happening, he tumbled into the darkness of the tunnel below.

The fall was dizzying, a whirl of shadows and echoes. It felt like an eternity before something could stop his fall. His eyes widened as he finally saw the very ground, though he was not slowing down.

The faint light filtering through the tunnel revealed he was about to land in a hidden cavern, an underground world far removed from the bustling streets of Belobog above.

!* The sound of flesh meeting an unmovable force.

Meanwhile, in the upper city, A group of concerned citizens spoke in hushed tones, pointing toward the entrance of the underground transport.

"They said a young man fell! A really big fall!" One woman exclaimed; her eyes wide with fear.

The sound of distant waves crashed rhythmically against rocky surroundings, a lullaby that stirred a certain young man from the depths of an unyielding darkness.

"…"

Someone stood just a few feet from him. This person was faded and he couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman.

"Hey! Hey!"

"Can you hear me!?"

"…"

He called the person and got a response from said person. Though he could somehow tell the person's mouth was moving, he couldn't hear anything the person was saying.

"Na…"

"What? I can't hear you!?"

"….ruto."

"What did you say!?"

"….."

"That's."

He finally heard it. The words he heard were so familiar as if he had been in his mouth for all his life. Though the moment was quickly over as he was starting to fade, showing signs, it was a dream.

"Then, my….."

…

He blinked against the harsh light, squinting as his surroundings began to come into focus. He found himself lying in a narrow bed, the walls adorned with posters of anatomical charts and medical diagrams, which seemed to whisper promises of healing and life.

He tried to sit up but a wave of pain coursed through his body, forcing him to lie back down. It felt as though his bones were locked in a vice. Panic threatened to overtake him, but before he could spiral, a gentle voice pierced through the haze of confusion.

"Easy there. Just breathe," the voice said, calm and steady.

He turned his head to find a girl standing beside him, her brow furrowed with concern. She looked no older than him, her hair tied back in a ponytail, and her blue scrubs slightly crumpled. She had a warmth about her that instantly made him feel safe.

"Are you an angel?

"Ah, haha. No, I'm not." The young woman giggles, a little flattered at his confusion.

"So, I'm not dead and in heaven?"

He had a dazed look as he was still focused on her pretty face.

"I promise, you most certainly are not dead." She reassured him with her gentle voice once more.

"…"

After a short silence of embarrassment on his part. The young man calmed down his heart and flushed cheeks.

"Okay, I'm calm now. So, where am I?" He croaked, his throat dry and raw.

"You're in my brother's clinic," she replied, her eyes brightening. "I'm Natasha. You… you took quite a fall. No one should have survived that."

He grimaced at the mention of his name, his memory a fog. He remembered the hike along the cliffs, the rush of adrenaline as he approached the edge, but then—nothing.

"How long have I been here?" he managed to ask, his voice barely a whisper.

"Three days," she said, glancing at a clipboard perched at the foot of the bed. "It took us a day to find you before we could give you treatment. You were unconscious the entire time. I was starting to think you might never wake up."

The weight of those words settled in the room, heavy and suffocating. "What happened?" he whispered.

"You slipped while saving a child from making the same fall you just experienced," Natasha explained, her voice softening. "Do you remember? Some people from the upper world contacted us and thought you were… gone. You lost so much blood, not to mention the incredible damage you sustained, I thought you wouldn't make it but…" She paused wondering if she should tell or ask but decided to put a lid on it for later.

"But you fought hard, and so did we. You've got multiple fractures, and you're going to be sore for a long time, but you'll heal. I promise."

His heart raced. "The kid? Is he okay?"

"Yes, a little shaken up, but he is okay. We told the parents what happened. They'll be thrilled to hear you're awake."

Natasha's presence was like a balm. He felt an inexplicable kindness from her, perhaps because she was the first person he had seen since waking up from fall. "Thank you for taking care of me," he said, sincerity woven through his words.

"It's what I do," she replied with a modest smile, but her eyes betrayed her youth. They held a depth of compassion that belied her age. "I'm hoping to become a great doctor one day. My brother is teaching me everything he knows."

As the hours passed, Natasha stayed by his side, checking his vitals, adjusting the IV drip, and explaining the intricacies of his injuries. They talked about life, dreams, and the sheer randomness of fate. He learned that she had a love for medicine because all of her family were doctors and had saved many lives.

"Life is unpredictable," she said, her gaze unwavering as she met his eyes before turning around to tend to the other patients in the clinic. "We have to hold on to what we can, while we can."

"Don't have to tell me twice, I promise to myself to live a long life! Believe it!" As he felt his body getting better, the young man jumped on the bed and enthusiastically fist-bump into the air.

"Such an energetic boy. Haha…" The people and patients within the clinic felt the energy of the young man jumping on his bed with a smile was infectious.

"I hope it's not a bother. I can make him stop." Natasha who was still attending to the others saw her new patient in was energetic mood and worried it might upset the others or cause said patient to be overexerted.

"No, we don't mind. Have you ever seen a smile so innocent and energetic on a young man's face in the underworld?"

"I see, that's true. Not a lot of people his age here don't normally jump in joy over their recovery."

"That's right. It reminds us old folks of when we had dreams. So, please, let me smile a little longer."

"Look at him. He might get around too well for someone new here. Hehe…"

Natasha now sees what they are seeing. Her miracle patient, a person who had survived an incredible fall from a height no normal human should've survived had a little bit too much energy after only a few hours of waking up from his coma and injuries.

"Doctor Vache! Is Doctor Vache Here!?"

A man dressed in miner's clothing rushed in, he looked frantic as the situation felt dire.

"No, he's out to run some errands. I'm his assistant, what is the issue? Is everything alright?"

Natasha quickly went to the man and helped him calm down. After his explanation, she and some of the people inside move quickly toward the door and investigate what the situation outside was.

….

Our hero burst out of the clinic's door, the artificial light of the underworld hitting his face like moonlight. He had just come out from a coma, his heart lighter than it he was almost recovered. But that joy quickly faded as he spotted Natasha and the others rushing outside to a commotion at the corner of the street.

Two men were locked in a heated argument, their voices rising in intensity.

One man, dressed sharply in a tailored suit and polished shoes, gestured wildly with his hands, his eyes darting nervously. The other man, clad in dusty work clothes that bore the marks of a long day's labor, stood across from him, fists clenched and face twisted in anger. It was clear that something had gone horribly wrong.

"What do you mean you 'lost' my money?!" the miner shouted, his voice laced with frustration and disbelief. "You said it was a solid investment! You tricked me!"

The situation was not looking good as the miner had friends protecting him from any disturbance from the other.

"Natasha, why isn't anyone stopping them?"

"We're trying but the situation doesn't seem to be simple. Most of the miners band together to block anyone from interfering." She had a concerned expression as things like this were not something that could be easily resolved, "The Silvermane guards should've arrived by now. What is taking them so long?"

The young man saw the numerous miners blocking anyone from coming closer. It seems whatever the person had done caused all of them to act like this.

"Such a difficult situation, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

"Vache!"

Natasha felt a sense of relief seeing her brother had finally arrived back while the young man had a different reaction due to the prior experience he would never forget.

"It's you!/It's you?"

Both Vache and the young man point fingers at each other. Though Vache was pleased, it could not be said the same for the young man.

"You know how happy I am to see you again my friend."

"!?"

Vache tried to embrace the young man though he wasn't able to as the young man quickly hid behind Natasha.

"Get away from me you creep!" While hiding behind Natasha, the young man hissed at the man who had sort of violated him, "That's him, Natasha, that's a creepy guy who got too familiar. Don't let him go anywhere near me!"

"This is kind of hard to process." Natasha looked between her older brother and her patient. She could tell her brother did something stupid but right now, it was not the time.

"Enough, this isn't the time. Vache the situation over there is not good."

"Ah, yes, I heard. The man might do something he might regret. Even if he was the victim." Back to his serious tone, the man saw the situation was starting to escalate.

"Anyway, I am surprised you got out of bed so quickly. Though, I did see how extremely healthy and well-lean your body was during the treatment."

"…" The young man had a deadpan expression, "Y-You treated me?"

"Hmm?" A sinister smirk appeared on Vache's lips, "Oh yes, yes, I did."

"No, no, no!" The young man started searching around his body if anything weird was there or anything that was not normal since he just learned it wasn't just Natasha would treated him but the creep also had a hand in it.

"Don't worry, despite his embarrassing behaviour, he's one of the best doctors in Belobog. He won't do something that would jeopardize his role as a doctor."

"The best." The way he said it to him still gave him the chills. However, he didn't realize that the man loved messing with people like him.

"It was quite an amazing site."

"What was?"

"Oh," The man remembered it as it had happened a few days ago and how it was still fresh in his mind, "How you were sprawling in your bed. Repeatedly shouting your name and other embarrassing stuff a delusion person would say."

"…"

"Wait… I said my name?"

"Oh, yes, repeatedly. At first, you screamed out asking what your name was, only to start calling yourself-!?"

"What is it?! What did I say!?"

The young man rushed to him and grabbed him, as if desperate to know since he hadn't the faintest idea who he was or even his name.

"Wait, calm down! We already have trouble here. So, please, both of you, focus."

Natasha came in between them as if talking to two unruly children. She didn't think this kind of headache would be an issue right now.

"How about me make a deal?"

"What are doing, Vache?"

Natasha warned him, she saw he was doing his usual antic again. Something that makes people irritated.

"If you saved that man and apprehended the miner. I might just tell you what you want to hear. So, what do you say?"

"But they aren't the bad guy." He looks at the doctor who seems to care about the deal he made rather than the people who are having the real problems.

"What if I don't want to?" He challenged, meeting the doctor's gaze. "These people are just trying to survive. They deserve to get what they were owed!"

The doctor's smile was enigmatic, "Then let them have their revenge, and you will lose your chance for that answer. Consider this: sometimes, to achieve your desires, you must make difficult choices."

"I…" The young man clenched his fists anger at his indecisiveness.

"Oh no, he's going to kill him!"

"!?"

The well-dressed man stammered, trying to back away, but the miner closed the distance. Naruto's instincts kicked in; he recognized the danger brewing in the air and his decision was made.

The miner raised a heavy shovel, his muscles taut and ready to swing, his eyes wild with desperation.

"Stop!" He shouted, darting forward. In a split second, he bulldozed his way through the miners with great strength surprising everyone, and then leaped between the two men, arms crossed high to shield the well-dressed man from the impending blow. The shovel struck down, but instead of the crunch of metal meeting flesh, it met his forearms, causing a shockwave that reverberated through the air.

The young man grunted but didn't flinch. Blood dripped from his arm where the shovel had made contact, but he maintained his stance, eyes fixed on the miner. "You can't do this!" he exclaimed, voice steady despite the situation. "I know you're angry, and you have every right to be. But violence isn't the answer!"

The miner's eyes widened, caught off guard by the sudden intervention. Naruto could see the pain behind his rage—the weight of family, of responsibilities that had gone unmet. The miner hesitated, his grip loosening on the shovel as he looked from Naruto to the man in the suit, who was now trembling in fear.

"Life is unpredictable," Naruto continued, his voice calm yet powerful. "Sometimes, we make mistakes, and sometimes we're wronged. But giving in to anger won't solve anything. Your family needs you, and they're counting on you."

After a long moment, the miner dropped the shovel, panting heavily, confusion and frustration still flickering in his eyes. Naruto saw the conflict raging within him, a battle between righteous anger and the love for his family that grounded him.

Then, without waiting for an answer, He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small pouch. "Here," he said, pressing it into the miner's hands. "Take this. It's not much, but it should help you get your wife and daughter into the hospital. They need you more than anything right now."

The miner looked down at the pouch, disbelief washing over his features. "I can't take this... I don't even know you."

"I know you don't," He replied with a soft smile. "But you need it more than I do. Just promise me you'll take care of your family."

Tears brimmed in the miner's eyes as he looked back at Naruto, the rage dissipating like fog in the morning sun. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I... I promise."

He turned his gaze to the well-dressed man, who was still cowering on the ground. "And you," he said, "You better make amends. Cause I might just be the one to deal the finishing blow."

"What? Don't think you can say anything you want to me just because you saved me from a bunch of dumb miners."

The man instead of being grateful decided to make a poor choice of words, "Do you people know who's backing me? You better not mess with the wrong person here!"

PUNCH!*

The young man didn't let him continue as he drove his fist right into his fist and propelled him a few feet away.

"Just sit still there. You talk too much."

With that, the young hero stepped back, allowing the miner to gather himself. He turned away, feeling a sense of fulfillment wash over him. He had intervened, not just to stop a fight but to remind someone of the importance of family and the strength found in compassion. But the punch was the most refreshing part.

"YEAH!"

The people around were cheering the moment he punched the man. It seems like it wasn't only the miners that were displeased.

"Let me take a look, you're bleeding. Honestly, what were you thinking?" Natasha upon arriving at his side saw the new injuries he sustained; this made a frown on her face.

"Sorry, even though I may get what I want, but I do know that helping others is what really matters."

"!?"

His words surprised the two siblings. Both wonder how selfless the young man is since it is a rare trait in this day and age.

"Vache."

"I like to apologize again." The doctor though felt guilty as his question had caused the young man to act in such a way, "I was testing where your moral compass points at. I didn't think you would take the hit like that."

"Vache! How could you!?" Natasha, while treating the young man's arm glared at his brother for making such actions.

"It's okay, I made my decision." The young man wasn't bothered anymore as he felt his decision was fine.

The doctor felt entertained as the young man showed traits he had hardly seen in people.

"I might not remember my name now. But I'll find it out without your stinking help. Believe it."

The young man and doctor gave each other a challenging stare-down.

"Your name, that was it?" Natasha butted in and was surprised at what the deal Vache meant, "I was there too. So, I heard it. It's Naruto. That's the name you mention in your sleep."

"No!/Yes!" Both men reacted mixedly. She ignored them and quietly finished treating and once again treating the young man now named Naruto.

thud!*

"Don't sleep on the ground, it's dirty. I just patched you."

"Naruto… that's my name."

He was so thrilled at finally knowing his name that he didn't hear Natasha talking to him. His smile seemed brighter than usual.

Vache grinned, then suddenly leaned down closer with a paper in hand. "But there is one small matter we must discuss…"

"What's that?" Naruto asked, suddenly wary.

Vache expression shifted to a more serious demeanor. "The cost of treatment."

Naruto's heart sank. He had been so caught up in the moment and all that transpired that he forgot. "Cost? I thought it was free?"

"Oh no, no. My dear Naruto, if that were the case. The clinic would've closed a long time ago. Ask Natasha."

"He's right. I'm sorry, I mention it too late."

Natasha couldn't look at him in the eyes as she felt a little guilty for mentioning it so late.

With a flourish, Vache pulled out a clipboard and began scribbling furiously. "For the cost of the treatment that was used on you, the total comes to… five hundred shields!" he declared, tapping his pen against the paper with dramatic flair.

"That's not a lot right?" He nervously asked, he was still a little lost on how much the currency was worth.

"What do you think?" Vache smiled manically.

thud!*

Naruto finally faints as Vache dealt the final blow with a triumphant smug smile.

"You could've just told him there are alternatives. He could put on a tab or do something for us instead of charging him."

Natasha sighs at his brother's fetish of messing with others.

"Now, where would the fun be in that?"

Though he might've learned what he had forgotten, there was always a price to be paid, even if the person who set that was ridiculous.

And done…

Age: Yes, we changed the age. It was going to cause issue on future chapters.

Naruto: He looks like a 16 year old meaning Naruto Shippuden age.

Serval: 13

Gephart: 11

Natasha: 18

Bye!