Hey, everyone!

Here's another one! And your suggestions are valid and thank you. But we still have a plot in mind for this story.

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

Chapter - 9

The frantic voice crackled through the comm system, "Requesting backup, I repeat requesting back up! The inmate code name: Naruto, an unidentified being disguised as a human has escaped from his cell!" The Silvermane guard, her voice tight with fear, tried again.

"..." Static only met her ears, the transmission jarringly cut was jamming the transmission, a low, persistent hum that made the guard grit her teeth in frustration. She adjusted the antenna, her gloved hand trembling slightly.

BOOM!

The ground shook beneath her boots, "Hello?! The being has transformed and gained incredible size. It has taken the form of a large canine anime with nine tails!" She scrambled for a better vantage point, continuing her report, her eyes wide with disbelief at the monstrous creature before her.

"Ahhhh! I repeat, the administrative building has collapsed!" The female screamed, a raw, primal sound that vibrated through the static-filled air. Still, beneath the terror, a steely resolve held firm, the result of years of rigorous training.

"The inmate has begun destroying the administrative district!" She witnessed the horrifying display of power, structures crumbling like sandcastles before the colossal being. She pressed herself against a crumbling wall, watching in horrified fascination as massive paws tore through reinforced concrete like paper.

"…." The transmission responded and yet she could hardly hear any words and decided to repeat her report.

She dropped her voice into a desperate, panicked tone. "This is Soldier Unit 7 reporting to Central Command! We have a monster rampaging! He's throwing structures like toys! I repeat, the city is under attack! We are losing ground! Requesting heavy artillery, air support, anyone!" Serval's voice crackled as she mimicked a radio transmission.

"I cannot ascertain if it is a fragmentum monster but the soldiers within the vicinity cannot hold much longer!" Her voice was almost drowned out by a deafening roar that shook the very foundations of the building.

"It seems to resemble a snow fox but with a distinct orange color," Her voice then cut off with a loud crude interference, "No, get down! It's throwing the structures again!"

"At this rate, Belobog, our home, will be decimated!" She reported in stark fear while watching the unfolding chaos. Terror, raw and primal, clawed at her throat.

Roar!

"This might be the last time you will hear my voice," she whispered, her voice thick with unshed tears. Yet, a core of steely resolve remained. "Tell my family I died a hero."

The radio was silent, save for the sounds of concrete being pulverized and the cries of fear and metal.

smack!

"You idiot, what are you doing!?" Naruto, the inmate, very much still in his captivity and not rampaging around the city, his voice a low growl, smacked his hand against the bars of his administrative cell, making the metal resonate with a dull thud. He glared at Serval, a teenage girl tasked with temporary guard duty, who was currently on the other side of the bars, looking far too chipper for someone who just got a reprimand from a prisoner.

Serval, rubbed her ear surprised at the sudden metallic noise. She was currently on a temporary duty as supplementary punishment from her militaristic father. She was currently in her makeshift stage, assembled from overturned crates and discarded cables in Serval's usual chaotic style. Her audience, a nine tail Naruto, a small snow mouse, and a couple of maintenance bots, were all eyes as she adjusted the puppet show.

"Making a live documentary about the inmate that had his whole life turned upside down?" She finally answered him back, though it wasn't the answer he wanted.

His orange fox tail, impossibly long, stretched between the bars, the tip of it still vibrating after connecting with her skull. "Ow!" Serval cried, rubbing the back of her head, her mischievous grin returning. "Hey! That's not part of the script!"

smack!

"That hurt..." Serval whined dramatically, then lowered the sock puppets and the tin can she'd been using as a makeshift radio. She'd been trying to alleviate the boredom before his trial began, and what better way than with a little dramatic storytelling?

"I was just trying to lighten the mood, besides, I was getting bored myself." She laughed, a bubbly sound that did little to soothe Naruto's simmering irritation. "I had to find a way to keep busy myself while we wait for the trials to begin."

She giggled, completely unrepentant. The entirety of the supposed city-wide rampage, the monstrous transformation, the valiant last stand – it had all been a figment of her overactive imagination, acted out with sock puppets and enthusiastic voice acting. A story she made up on the spot about his predicament and how things would escalate in a very unbelievable way.

"Lighten the mood? By making me into some giant, city-destroying monster?!" Naruto, slumped against the cell wall, was clearly not amused, having been forced to watch her puppet show. He was particularly perturbed by the realistic portrayal of him being a giant, destructive monster.

"Well..." Serval picked up a puppet, a sock with button eyes and crudely stitched-on whiskers, and looked at him with an innocent smile, "You do have all those cool powers and, not to mention, the fox ears and tails." She gestured at his tails. "So, hate me for being creative with my story. I'm just trying to use my imagination here." She gave him a playful, knowing look, unbothered by his frustration.

flick

Naruto, still scowling, flicked a small pebble between the bars, hitting Serval squarely on the forehead. She yelped and rubbed it again, but the annoyance quickly melted back into amusement. He really did look like a grumpy gorilla when he was angry.

"Well, change it!" Naruto grumbled, "I can't have people seeing me as some mindless monster! I spentmonthsbuilding my reputation in the underworld." His voice took on a slightly wistful tone.

"Months.MonthsI spent building this rep."

He straightened up, adjusting the black-orange jacket he was wearing. It hung on him like a scarecrow's clothes, a stark contrast to the bright orange he favored back in Konoha. But here, blending in was key. Or at least, ithadbeen.

"Coming from where I come from," Naruto continued, his voice echoing slightly, "you'd think dealing with a bunch of kids in the shadows would be a walk in the park. Right? Wrong!"

He shuddered, a genuine tremor running through him despite the bravado in his voice. "These Belobog underworld rugrats? They're a whole different breed. They make Konoha academy bullies look like kindergarteners sharing candy."

His mind flashed back to the initial days. The suspicion in their eyes, sharper than any kunai. The constant tests, the ruthless attempts to exploit any weakness. He'd arrived in this bizarre world, landing smack-dab in its underbelly, with nothing but the clothes on his back and the burning need to find his way back home. These kids, jaded and hardened by their environment, saw him as a mark.

"They stole my rations," he grumbled, a familiar pang of betrayal hitting him even now. "Thefood packets! That's low, even for ninja academy standards. And the insults! Forget 'dead last,' they had a whole vocabulary of trash-talking I'd never even heard before. 'Surface dweller,' 'lost lamb,' 'shiny hair freak' – the creativity was almost impressive, almost."

He rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous habit. "I remember that time they trapped me in that broken-down automaton's empty husk? Said it was a 'welcoming ceremony.' they said. More like almost froze me to death!"

But Naruto wasn't one to stay down for long. He was Naruto Uzumaki, the guy who'd faced down gods and saved the world. A bunch of street urchins weren't going to break him. He'd used his wits, his agility, and yes, sometimes even a carefully aimed shadow clone feint, to navigate their treacherous games.

He learned their territories, their leaders, their unspoken rules. He shared his meager rations when he could, even after they stole his. He helped fix their broken toys, his surprisingly adept hands finding solutions where they saw only scrap. He even taught them some surprisingly effective, if slightly toned-down, ninja training exercises, disguising them as "cool underground parkour moves."

Slowly, grudging respect began to bloom. They saw his resilience, his unwavering spirit, even if they didn't fully understand it. They saw him stand up for the weaker kids, even when it meant taking a beating himself.

"And you know what?" Naruto said, a wide grin spreading across his face, illuminated by the flickering neon. "I won. Yeah, you heard that right. I, Naruto Uzumaki, became theirboss."

"Your reputation? Becoming a bunch of kids' bosses?" Serval could barely keep a straight face. Hearing his story always seem to put a smile on her. Even though, she thought he exaggerated on them. "Really?"

"Yeah, my street cred." Naruto declared, puffing out his chest, oblivious to her amused expression.

"I even got a fake tattoo and everything." He rotated his shoulder so she could see the crudely drawn, slightly smudged skull that adorned it. He still hadn't quite figured out why those kids in the underworld had swapped out his "special" candy for chalk.

"Pfft!" Serval let out a snort, trying her best to contain her laughter. She caught sight of the crudely drawn, faded marker lines depicting a skull on his bicep. She bit her lip, fighting back a wave of laughter. It looked more like a lopsided potato, and the fact that he thought it was intimidating was just the cherry on top of this absurdity sundae.

"What?" Naruto, sometimes frustratingly oblivious, completely missed the humor.

"Nothing, nothing." She coughed, trying to regain her composure.

"It's not like you can actually transform into a 100ft tall fox with nine tails," she remarked casually as if discussing the weather.

"Ah?" Naruto almost choked on his own saliva. He stared at her, his usually boisterous energy abruptly replaced with a stunned, wide-eyed silence, the moment she'd mentioned such an accurate description based on her own story.

"Wait." Serval's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a sudden, intense curiosity. She pressed her face against the cold steel bars, her eyes locked on Naruto.

"Can you actually transform into a freaking 100ft tall fox!?" She practically pressed her face against the steel bars, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and frantic curiosity. The logical part of her brain, the part that was supposed to be questioning the impossible premise, had taken a backseat to her unbridled interest. This waswaycooler than sock puppets and his over-the-top stories. The idea, once a fantastical element of her story, suddenly seemed like a very real possibility, and the sheer audacity of it thrilled her.

"Uh, no comment," Naruto turned his back to her, his face flushed, suddenly very interested in the wall. He could feel the heat of her curiosity burning into his back.

"No, Wait! Can you or can't you!? Tell me, tell me! How big does it get? What's it like? Don't you dare ignore me, Naruto Uzumaki!" Serval's questions rained down on him, sometimes escalating to shouts, the sock puppets lying forgotten on the floor. The hum of the cell block faded as her insistent voice filled the small space, leaving Naruto with a growing sense of unease and a desperate wish that he hadn't let that slip about his… peculiarities.

The usual bright energy radiating from Serval was muted, replaced by a disquieting stillness.

"Naruto, it's almost time," Serval said, glancing at her watch. Even though she wasn't the one on trial, she felt a nervous flutter in her stomach for her friend's sake.

They sat on opposite sides of the cold, unyielding bars of the holding cell. Naruto, despite the grim situation – facing a trial he swore he hadn't provoked – tried to maintain his usual bravado. He flexed his arm, attempting a reassuring grin. "Don't worry, Serval! I can handle this! It's just… well, it's just a big misunderstanding, ya know?"

Naruto, his vibrant orange hair dulled by the dim light, rose to his feet. His face, usually alight with boundless energy, was now etched with a grim determination. He nodded, understanding but not accepting the situation. He'd risked his life to save his fellow miners during that terrible cave-in, and now he was treated like a common criminal. The irony was bitter.

"Naruto," she began, her voice uncharacteristically low and serious, the usual teasing lilt completely absent.

"What?" Naruto asked, confused by her prolonged silence. "Do I have something on my face?"

Then, the transformation happened. It was as if a switch had been flicked behind her vibrant blue eyes. The playful crinkle at the corners smoothed out, her brow furrowed in concentration, and her jaw tightened with a sense of determined resolve he'd never witnessed before. The change was so sudden, so complete, that Naruto blinked. The usual mischievous glint was replaced by a laser-like focus.

"Serval?" he asked, a hint of confusion in his voice. "You okay?"

Her gaze, sharp and unwavering, met his. "Naruto, you shouldn't be here. This whole thing… it's wrong." Her voice, though serious, held a new kind of strength, a quiet authority that surprised even herself.

Naruto shifted uncomfortably. "I know, right? They're saying I… well, you know. But I didn't do any of it."

Serval nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. "I believe you, Naruto. I always will." She took a deep breath, her shoulders straightening. "Listen, I know things look bad. You're the defendant, and I'm… well, I'm your Beiliff. Not exactly a top-tier legal position." She managed a self-deprecating smirk, but it was fleeting.

"But I'm not helpless, Naruto. And neither are you." She leaned closer to the bars, her voice dropping to a near whisper.

"Here, put this in your ear." She held out a small, almost invisible device.

"What is it?" He eyed it suspiciously, the tiny object disappearing into his palm.

"It's an earpiece. So, we can communicate without anyone detecting us in the courtroom." Serval explained, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "And don't worry, I modified this one so no one will notice it or interrupt the frequency."

"Here, let me." Serval gently helped him place the earpiece in his ear. "Now, do you need to be reminded of what you should and shouldn't do in the trial room?"

"I know," Naruto nodded, grateful for her help. Over the weeks, Serval, with her surprising legal knowledge, had drilled the essential courtroom etiquette into him.

Serval stepped closer to the bars, her hand instinctively reaching for them before catching herself. "Listen, Naruto, the trial is… different. It's not standard procedure. Because of the circumstances, it will just be the Administration heads, the Architects, a few well-known individuals and me… as temporary Bailiff, for now. My stuck-up dad insisted."

"Stay calm, speak clearly, and most importantly, you need to be careful what you say. Don't interrupt, don't show anger, no matter how unfair it is. Let them speak first. It'll help." She paused, her eyes meeting his, a flicker of hope sparking within her. "Like I said I have a friend who might be able to assist you. Just please, try to stay calm".

Naruto's brow furrowed again. "A friend? Who?" He wracked his brain, trying to think of a possibility that connect can actually help him here.

Serval held his gaze, a spark of her old confidence returning. "Don't worry about the 'who' right now, Naruto. Just trust me. This friend… they're good. Really good."

"I know you have every right to deny any claims. Just… please, don't do anything reckless before the trial starts, okay?" She offered a small, reassuring smile before turning to leave. "I'll see you in court."

Naruto acknowledged her words with a slow nod. He trusted Serval. He trusted her sincerity.

Naruto sat back on the bench, his mind buzzing. A friend? Who could Serval possibly know who could influence this kind of situation? He was up against powerful figures, people who seemed determined to make an example of him.

He looked around the stark, sterile cell. The air hummed faintly, the only sound besides the thumping of his own heart. He was completely alone. Even the usual drone of the cleaning bots was absent. It was eerily quiet.

That's when he saw it. A tiny flicker of white movement near the corner. He focused his gaze and saw it – a small, white mouse, its whiskers twitching nervously. It was the only other occupant of his cell: a small, white snow mouse common to Belobog.

Naruto felt a surprising warmth spread through him. He'd always had a soft spot for the little creatures. He held out his hand slowly, palm up. The mouse hesitated for a moment, then, with a surprising burst of courage, scurried onto his hand.

He gently cupped it in his palm, its tiny heartbeat fluttering against his skin. "Hey there, little guy," he whispered. He'd been feeling so alone, so helpless. This tiny creature was a welcome distraction, a bit of unexpected companionship in this cold, isolating place.

A sudden thought struck him. He carefully lifted and placed it near the cell door. "Go on," he whispered. "At least you can find you way out."

The mouse, seemingly understanding, wiggled its nose and move through the gap between the iron bars, disappearing into the corridor.

Naruto watched it go, a small smile tugging at his lips. It was a pointless act, really. What could a tiny mouse possibly do?

He turned back to the corner where he'd first seen the mouse. His eyes scanned the wall, the cold metal floor. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Then, his gaze snagged on something. Near the floor, partially obscured by a thin layer of frost, was a small, rectangular outline. He moved closer, his heart starting to beat faster. He reached out and touched the cold surface. It was metal, colder than the surrounding wall.

He scraped away the frost with his fingernail, revealing the faint lines of a small vent cover. A ventilation shaft. Hidden, almost perfectly camouflaged against the grey wall.

His eyes darted to the space where the mouse had disappeared. A vent. A tiny mouse. Serval's cryptic words echoed in his mind: "I have a friend. Someone… unexpected."

A spark ignited in Naruto's mind. It was a long shot, a crazy idea. But looking at the hidden vent, remembering the tiny white mouse that had somehow appeared in his locked cell, a plan began to form. A plan that hinged on the most unlikely of allies. Maybe, just maybe, Serval's "unexpected friend" wasn't a person at all.

"Nice,"

An idea bloomed in Naruto's mind. He might not know the intricacies of Belobog's legal system, but he knew a means of egress when he saw one. He dropped into a familiar stance, his hands flashing through a quick series of seals - Dog, Boar, Ram – a puff of white smoke erupted, momentarily obscuring his form. "Transformation Jutsu!"

His first attempt was a snail. He felt his body morph, pulling into a slow, cumbersome form. But the snail was too slow, he wouldn't be able to get anywhere before they caught him. With another puff of smoke, he shifted again. This time, he became an ant. He was small enough to fit through the bars of the cell easily, but the frigid air of Belobog was instantly overwhelming. His tiny body shivered uncontrollably, his limbs seizing up. He quickly reverted back to his human form, gasping for breath.

He tried a hawk, thinking maybe a aerial option from the vent to escape would be his best bet. But, the icy wind ripped at the hawk's feathers, making it impossible to control. The cold seeped into his bones. Frustrated, he tried other animals, each transformation a gamble. He kept shifting, experimenting, feeling the frustration build with each failed attempt.

"This one has got to work." Finally, an idea bloomed in his mind, a spark of hope ignited. He focused, channeling his low reserved chakra, and formed the seals. A final puff of smoke shrouded his body as he felt his limbs shift, his fur sprout, and his tail extend. He was now a snow fox, but not just any snow fox. He was small, sleek, with nine magnificent tails, each tipped with icy white fur. An animal perfectly adapted to the harsh climate of Belobog. This was an animal made for this weather.

The transformation felt natural, a power he had wielded since he was a boy, though the familiar surge of chakra was a little weaker than he'd like. He padded silently and without hesitation, he slipped into the vent.

"Like hell, I'm letting those people decide my fate," he thought to himself, his excitment a low rumble in his transformed state. "I'll decide my own fate!" The metallic confines of the vent echoed his conviction as he began his journey into the unseen infrastructure of the Belobog Administration building.

Meanwhile, the rhythmic clanging of boots on the metal floor signaled the approach of a Silvermane Guard. He stopped at Naruto's cell, keys jangling in his gloved hand. "Inmate, it's time," he called out, his voice firm and official. Silence was his only reply. Frowning, the guard unlocked the cell and pushed the heavy door open.

"Inmate?" he repeated, stepping inside. He reached for the lump under the thin blanket on the cot, expecting to rouse the troublesome prisoner. He yanked the blanket back.

"?!" His eyes widened in disbelief. Instead of the blonde-haired youth, a crudely fashioned log lay on the bed, propped up to resemble a sleeping figure. He snatched the radio from his belt. "This is Guard Unit 7 reporting a possible escape. Inmate in cell block C-4 is… missing. Replace with a log. Repeat, inmate replaced with a log."

News of the escape reached Serval as she was discussing Naruto's case with a contact who had some influence within the Belobog Administration. Her friend had assured her they could sway the court, highlight Naruto's heroic actions, and secure a more lenient outcome. The ringing of her communicator cut through their conversation.

"Serval Landau speaking," she answered, a hint of impatience in her tone.

"Ma'am, it's about the… the prisoner in holding cell C-4," the voice on the other end stammered. "He's… gone."

"What do you mean he's gone!?" Serval's voice rose in alarm, her carefully laid plans threatening to crumble. She excused herself and hurried towards the holding cells, her boots clicking sharply on the polished floors.

She arrived to find the guard who had discovered the escape looking bewildered. The log lay discarded on the bed, a crudely written note tucked beneath it. She snatched it up. It was addressed to her.

'Thanks for the company, Serval. But I'm not waiting around and let some old folks decide what my fate will be. - Naruto'

Serval glared at the note, then at the older guard. Despite the disparity in their age and experience, her noble lineage and temporary assignment as Naruto's bailiff placed her in a position of authority. "I'm sorry, but even I can't understand how," the guard was saying, wringing his hands. "No one got through the outer checkpoints, and our internal sensors didn't detect any forced exit or entry."

"No sign of forced entry anywhere in the sector, Lady Serval. The larger vent access points on the roof and exterior walls are all sealed." The guard continued his report fearful of the noble before him.

Serval tapped her gloved fingers on her leg, her mind racing. "He couldn't have just vanished. Gregor, are you sure about the sensors? Nothing at all?"

"Absolutely certain, ma'am. The system is regularly calibrated. Even a small disturbance would have registered."

Serval sighed, running a hand through her vibrant hair. This was more complicated than she anticipated. She had connections, people who could have smoothed things over in court. Now, with Naruto on the loose, everything was more difficult.

Serval groaned, running a hand through her fiery red hair. "Naruto…" she muttered, exasperated. He was going to ruin everything. "Okay, listen to me. Do not alert the higher-ups unnecessarily, not yet. Get a few reliable men and search for him. Hemustattend his trial, no matter what."

"No, expand the search," she ordered, her voice firm. "Check every maintenance tunnel, every unused storage room. He's resourceful, we can't underestimate him." She glanced back at the cell, at the crude log substitute on the bed.

"Yes, ma'am," the guard replied, a touch of surprise in his voice.

A strange warmth flickered in Serval's chest at the current predicament but she quickly pushed it aside. Focus, Serval. "You idiot," Thinking about Naruto she muttered under her breath, already turning to join the search. "I told you to trust me."

"…." Inside the labyrinthine narrow network of vents, Naruto, still in his fox form, was starting to regret his impulsive decision. The limited visibility and the endless twists and turns were disorienting. He was acutely aware of his lack of direction, a weakness that plagued him even in his human form.

Every so often, he would come across open hatches or ventilation grills, offering glimpses into the inner workings of the Administration building. He'd seen guards chatting and drinking, oblivious to the furry fugitive inches away. He'd also spotted stern-faced officials buried in paperwork and a few unsettlingly overweight individuals barking orders at harried employees. The sterile environment and rigid hierarchy grated on his nerves.

A frustrated yip escaped his muzzle, echoing faintly in the metal ductwork. Hunger gnawed at his stomach, and he could feel the drain on his focus from maintaining the transformation. He knew it wouldn't last forever, and the thought of reverting to his human form in this confined space with who-knew-what lurking around was not appealing. He pressed on, his nine tails brushing against the cold metal, hoping against hope to find an exit before his luck, and his chakra, ran out.

The chill air of the vents bit at Naruto's transformed fur, sharper than the cold of his cell. He navigated the claustrophobic tunnels, his nine tails brushing against the metal walls, creating a faint rhythmic scraping sound. The metallic tang of the ventilation system was a stark contrast to the fresh, albeit frigid, air he craved. He sniffed at the various openings he encountered, hoping to catch a scent of the outside, anything that wasn't stale air and the lingering aroma of what smelled suspiciously like industrial cleaner.

He stopped abruptly, his foxy ears twitching. He could hear voices, clearer than before. Carefully, he crept towards a grated opening, his lithe body pressing against the metal. Below, in what seemed to be a break room, a couple of guards were chatting, mugs steaming in their hands.

"Did you hear about that idiot who saved the miners?" one said, taking a loud slurp of his drink. "They actually locked him up for 'further investigation'."

"Yeah, some noble's kid got hurt in the incident. Political garbage, you know how it is," the other replied with a shrug.

Naruto's fangs bared in a silent snarl. Political garbage indeed. He risked a peek, his bright blue eyes narrowed. They were the same guards who had escorted him to his cell. The unfairness of it all gnawed at him. He had risked his life, used his chakra until he was dizzy, just to pull those miners out of that cave-in. And this was his reward?

He moved on, the conversation fuelling his frustration and determination. He had to get out of here. He had to find his own way, his own justice. The thought of being judged by people who cared more about politics than the lives he saved made his blood boil, even in his transformed state.

Suddenly, the vent narrowed, forcing him to hunch lower. The metal around him vibrated with a rhythmic thrum. He recognized the sound – a train. He was near a transport line. Hope surged within him. If he could reach the train lines, he might be able to hitch a ride out of the Administration sector, maybe even out of Belobog altogether.

He pushed forward, the space becoming increasingly cramped. His full body-transformation was flickering, the edges of his fox form blurring slightly. He gritted his teeth, focusing his chakra, trying to maintain the illusion. He could feel the strain, the drain on his mentality. He needed to find an exit, and fast.

Ahead, he saw a light, a faint glow emanating from a loose panel in the vent wall. With a surge of adrenaline, he pushed against it, the rusty metal groaning in protest. The panel popped open, revealing a small maintenance shaft, dimly lit and filled with pipes and wires. It was a tight squeeze, but it was an exit.

He shifted his weight, preparing to slip through, when he heard a voice, muffled but close.

"Did you hear something?"

Naruto froze, his foxy heart pounding. Below him, in the maintenance shaft, a figure in a worker's uniform was tinkering with a valve.

He was trapped. He couldn't go back, and he couldn't be seen. His transformation was wavering, the familiar scent of human sweat starting to emanate from his fur. He had to make a decision, and fast.

"Damn it!" A frustrated whine escaped his fox muzzle. He was starving. Maintaining a full-body transformation, especially one as convincing as this, was a drain on his chakra reserves. He could feel the familiar tingle, the subtle shimmer around his paws that signaled the jutsu's weakening. He knew he was on borrowed time.

Panic spurred him on. His little fox legs worked furiously, scrambling to another path. He rounded a bend, his nose twitching, and a faint glow caught his attention. His sensitive ears picked up the murmur of voices, a smaller gathering than the larger rooms he'd glimpsed before. Hope surged through him. This could be it, his way out.

Ignoring the protesting ache in his muscles, he propelled himself towards the light, the promise of fresh air and freedom fueling his desperate sprint. He reached the grill, a simple latticework of metal, and without hesitation, launched himself forward, his fox head colliding with the cold bars.

He didn't realize, in his frantic escape, that his destination was the very core of the system that had imprisoned him. The unfairness of it all, the twist of fate that led him from one cage to another, albeit a more ornate one, was a bitter pill to swallow.

With a muffled metallic thud, the grill gave way. He tumbled downwards, the sudden shift from the cramped vent to open air disorienting. He landed with a soft thump, a surprisingly gentle impact.

The courtroom was hushed, an air of solemn anticipation hanging heavy in the air. The few occupants – stern-faced officials, robed figures, and a scattering of uniformed officers – were waiting for the proceedings to begin. None of them saw the snow-white fox plummet from the ceiling, but a collective intake of breath rippled through the room as a low, surprised squeak echoed.

Just then, with impeccably bad timing, the side door of the courtroom burst open. Serval Landau, a whirlwind of frantic energy, stood in the doorway, her usually bright eyes shadowed with exhaustion. She'd been tearing the administrative building, searching for the infuriatingly elusive Naruto.

"Bailiff, it seems you finally arrive," A booming voice declared from the jury box. Serval's father, a decorated Silvermane guard captain with a formidable presence, sat amidst a row of similarly imposing figures. "Where, pray tell, is the subject of today's trial?"

Serval bit her lip, a mix of relief and frustration warring within her. She might like Naruto, but his disappearance and subsequent reappearance could cause her a lot of trouble.

A quiet noise came from the direction of the defendant's podium.

"Ugh," a familiar voice groaned from the direction of the podium. Naruto, his transformation completely dispelled, sat rubbing his head, looking dazed but otherwise unharmed. He was back in his normal form, the tell-tale whisker marks prominent on his cheeks. It looked as though he had been there the entire time, patiently waiting.

The courtroom, after having been in a state of confusion, was now calm. No one bothered to question how he had appeared there.

Serval walked briskly to her station beside the podium, her glare a silent reprimand for his escapade. "Where were you?" she hissed, her voice low and urgent. "You scared me half to death!"

"Arise for the judge," a solemn voice commanded, and a young woman, veiled from head to toe, took her seat behind the judge's bench. She looked almost too young to be sitting in such a position.

"Woah," Naruto blurted out before he could stop himself. "This is the judge? She looks like they're barely be old enough to-"

His words were cut short by a sharp tug on his ear. Serval's grip was surprisingly strong. "Naruto," she muttered through gritted teeth. "Please… quiet." The trial, it seemed, was about to begin, and he was back to square one, trapped by the very system he had tried to outwit, and it seemed destiny wanted him there, at least, for now.

Just as the court was about to begin, the doors swung open again, this time more gently. A man with a disheveled appearance, sporting an absurdly large fake mustache, entered with a confident stride. "I am Mr. Uzumaki's attorney for this case," he announced.

Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief. "Quack doctor?!" He mentally shouted. He knew that voice anywhere. Doctor Vache, the man who had stitched him up after more than a few ill-advised escapades, the man whose medical genius was only rivaled by his spectacularly bad jokes that somehow always landed him in trouble with the locals.

Naruto turned to Serval, "Is he another friend you?"

Serval's eyes widened. "No! I didn't contact him. Do you know him?"

"I-I do…" Naruto reluctantly confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Naruto!" Vache's face lit up with a wide grin, and he bounded over to the podium, clasping Naruto's hand with a bone-crushing shake. "It's so good to see you again!"

"You're a doctor. How can you be a lawyer?" Naruto asked, still reeling from the shock. He had spent almost a year under Vache's less-than-conventional care, and never once heard of him as a lawyer.

"I wasn't yesterday," Vache replied with a huge smirk of pure, unadulterated confidence. He explained he'd taken an emergency special case Bar exam, and passed with 'flying colors'. "But now, I am!"

He leaned in close to Naruto, his breath smelling faintly of antiseptic and something vaguely floral. In a whisper that sent a shiver of unease down Naruto's spine, Vache promised, "Don't worry, I've got this."

Naruto felt like crying. His luck, as usual, was a mixed bag of awful and bizarre.

"The court will come to order," the young judge announced, her voice surprisingly commanding despite her age. "The defendant, Naruto Uzumaki, will now stand for the beginning of his trial."

Naruto, dazed and confused, recited his full name, his origins, and the length of his stay in the Belobog underground: almost a year. The robot stenographer hummed as it began to record the proceedings.

Then came the crux of the matter. The charges. The prosecutor, a stern-faced woman with an air of unshakeable authority, began to lay out the case against Naruto. He was accused of causing widespread chaos and destruction within the mines. The words hung in the air, heavy with accusation, a stark contrast to the reality Naruto knew. He had been trying to help, trying to save the miners from a cave-in caused by unstable geological formations. He had risked his own life to pull them out.

But the Belobog Administration, it seemed, had a knack for twisting the narrative. They had conveniently omitted the part about the lives saved, focusing instead on the collateral damage – a few support pillars damaged, some equipment rendered unusable. They had painted him as a reckless menace, a danger to the delicate ecosystem of the undercity. And then came the kicker, a detail that made Naruto's blood run cold: a passing mention of him indirectly causing harm to a noble's child who had been visiting the mines on some ill-advised excursion. Indirectly. The child had tripped over a loose rock.

Naruto wanted to protest, to explain. But the cold, hard reality of the courtroom, the unwavering gaze of the veiled judge, and the unnerving confidence radiating from his newly-minted lawyer, held him captive. He could only stand there, listening to the accusations pile up, his fate seemingly sealed before the trial had even truly begun. He could only hope, against all logic and reason, that Dr. Vache, the man whose idea of a medical consultation often involved puns and questionable home remedies, actually knew what he was doing. Right now, hope felt like a very fragile thing indeed.

The air in the courtroom hung thick and suffocating, heavy with the stench of manufactured accusations and the smug satisfaction of the Belobog Administration's elite. Naruto felt the familiar burn of injustice crawl up his throat, but Vache's hand on his arm was a firm anchor, a silent plea for restraint. He watched, teeth gritted, as the prosecutor, a man with a voice like sandpaper and a face like a weasel, piled on the charges. Each new accusation felt like a fresh slap, twisting the truth into unrecognizable shapes.

"Terrorism, disruption of public order, conspiracy against the esteemed leaders of Belobog, theft of vital resources…" the prosecutor droned on, each word a poisoned dart aimed at Naruto's heart. He wanted to scream, to defend himself, to tell them about the cave-in, the frantic race against time, the miners' grateful faces. He wanted to tell them how he'd risked his neck, not destroyed property. But Vache's warning eyes, a surprisingly intense blue in his weathered face, held him back.

Then came the question, cold and final. "Defendant Uzumaki, how do you plead?" The veiled young woman on the dais, the Judge, watched with an unreadable expression. The silence stretched, thick and expectant. Naruto could practically taste the eagerness of the nobles and administrators, their eyes gleaming with the prospect of him broken, enslaved.

"I…" Naruto wanted to refute and deny everything but he was at a loss for word. So many people focus on him and so many with bitter gaze.

"…" Before he could answer, Vache came up to him and whispered something into his ears. Naruto wasn't sure but the man pled him to give him his trust.

"Guilty," he heard himself say, the word a bitter pill forced down his throat. A wave of shock rippled through the courtroom. Even the smirk on the prosecutor's face faltered for a moment wondering why the young man did give them a show of hopelessness. He saw the hurt and confusion in the eyes of the few miners who had managed to sneak into the gallery, their hope dashed against the stone walls of this corrupt system.

Before the word could truly settle, before the weight of that false confession could crush him, Vache was on his feet. He moved with a surprising agility for a man who looked like he spent more time in dimly lit clinics than in courtrooms.

"Yes, he pleads guilty," Vache's voice, surprisingly resonant, cut through the stunned silence. Every head in the room snapped towards him. Even the veiled judge seemed to lean forward slightly. Naruto opened his mouth to protest, to retract the damning word, but a swift, practiced movement from Vache saw a small, hard object jammed between his teeth. It tasted faintly of antiseptic.

"To the partial destruction of the mines," Vache continued smoothly, as if interrupting Naruto was the most natural thing in the world. "My client acknowledges a degree of involvement stemming directly from his heroic efforts to save the trapped miners. He also pleads guilty to the technicality of illegal entry into Belobog. However," Vache's voice gained a sharp edge, "He pleads unequivocallynot guiltyto all other preposterous charges leveled against him."

The prosecutor sputtered, his face turning a shade of purple that matched the velvet cushions of the noble's box. "Objection! This is irregular! The defendant has already entered a plea!"

The veiled judge tapped a slender finger against the armrest of her chair. "Overruled. I'll allow it. The court is interested in the full context of the situation." A ripple of surprise went through the onlookers. Perhaps, just perhaps, there was a flicker of something other than corruption behind that veil.

Vache turned, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "Thank you, your honor." He faced the court again, his gaze sweeping over the faces of the accusers. "Furthermore, I would like to present myself not only as Mr. Uzumaki's legal counsel but also as his physician. This young man has resided under my care in the underworld since his arrival in Belobog. He has proven himself to be nothing short of a diligent and honorable individual."

Naruto stared at Vache, a whirlwind of emotions churning within him. Confusion, anger, and a burgeoning sense of bewildered gratitude. This man, who had seemed so gruff and eccentric, was now his unlikely shield.

"As such," Vache continued, his voice taking on a clinical tone, "Due to his initial lack of citizenship, I implemented a standard procedure for monitoring transient individuals under my care." A murmur rippled through the courtroom. Tagging was common practice in the military, tolerated as a necessary evil for maintaining order amongst the undocumented. Naruto's eyes narrowed. He understood now the unnerving way Vache seemed to appear whenever he was in, the knowing glances.

Vache pulled out his phone, the screen illuminating his face with a soft glow. "And as you can see from these logs…" He tapped the screen, bringing up a dizzying array of timestamps and locations. "These are not just any logs, your honor. These are maintained by the very Architects of Belobog themselves. They are used, ironically, to track individuals deemed… problematic." A few of the administrators shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

"These logs meticulously document Mr. Uzumaki's movements. And as you can plainly see," Vache's voice gained a triumphant lilt, his eyes glinting with satisfaction as he gestured to the screen, "his activities have been almost exclusively confined to the mine's areas and the town where my clinic is situated. He has been nowhere near the locations where these other alleged infractions occurred."

Vache held the phone aloft, a modern weapon against ancient lies. He met the gazes of the jury, his smirk widening. "The evidence is irrefutable. Mr. Uzumaki could not have committed these other crimes. The logs prove it."

The courtroom was silent, the weight of Vache's words hanging heavy in the air. Naruto, still with the gag in his mouth, stared at his lawyer, a mix of awe and disbelief swirling within him. This eccentric doctor, with his genius methods and surprising connections, had just thrown a wrench into the well-oiled machinery of the Belobog Administration's corruption. The fight for his freedom was far from over, but for the first time since he'd been dragged into this nightmare, a flicker of hope ignited within him. He had an unlikely ally, a man who fought his battles with logic, evidence, and a healthy dose of theatrical flair.

The courtroom did not stay quiet as it erupted in chaos. The jury whispered amongst themselves, casting nervous looks towards the administrator's table.

"Order! Order in the court!" the judge slammed her gavel repeatedly, her veiled face impassive.

After a tense few moments, the murmuring subsided, replaced by a palpable tension. The jury, their faces a mixture of annoyance and disbelief, huddled together, their deliberations swift and clearly biased.

"We, the jury, have come to a conclusion," the foreman announced, his tone laced with resentment. "We find Naruto Uzumaki guilty on all counts." Naruto felt a surge of anger. They hadn't even considered the evidence. They were so entrenched in their preconceived notions, so eager to see him punished, that they'd completely disregarded the truth. He glared at them, a silent torrent of frustration boiling within him.

But the trial wasn't over. The judge, her veiled face betraying no emotion, remained impassive. The jury's verdict, Naruto now understood, was merely a recommendation. The final decision rested with her.

"The attorney for Mr. Uzumaki has presented compelling evidence," the judge stated, her voice clear and firm, her gaze sweeping across the courtroom, lingering for a moment on the stunned jury. "Irrefutable evidence. Therefore, the charges beyond the involvement in the mine incident and the illegal entry into Belobog will be dismissed."

"My jury," the judge's voice hardened, a distinct edge creeping into her tone, "I am deeply disappointed in your decision. Even after being presented with such clear evidence, you chose to align yourselves with… self-serving interests. Your insistence on this verdict, despite the facts, speaks volumes." She paused, her silence heavy with implied condemnation. "And your silence confirms my assessment."

Naruto's eyes widened. This young, veiled judge possessed a power he hadn't anticipated, a strength that defied the apparent influence of the jury.

"Mr. Uzumaki," The judge continued, her attention shifting back to him, "You will be charged with one year of probation. During this time, you will be assigned to the Belobog Scientific Expeditionary Team, under the supervision of Officer Penya Sergeyevna." A few murmurs of surprise rippled through the court at the mention of the renowned, and notoriously strict, officer. "Furthermore, recognizing your… unique abilities as a potential Path Strider," a term that sent a shiver down Naruto's spine despite his ignorance of its full meaning, "You will be placed under certain restraints, the specifics of which Officer Sergeyevna will discuss with you."

Path Strider. The term hung in the air, heavy with implication.

"After his probation," the judge continued, unfazed by the murmurs, "Mr. Uzumaki will have to attend a test to gain his citizenship."

She brought down her gavel with a resounding thud. "Court adjourned."

The pronouncements echoed through the courtroom, leaving a stunned silence in their wake. Naruto, still reeling from the rollercoaster of the trial, looked at Vache, who offered him a small, enigmatic smile. Serval equally excited as she removes his chained arms. He still had so many questions, a whirlwind of confusion and a grudging respect for the eccentric doctor who had somehow managed to pull him back from the brink. His freedom, though conditional, was a far cry from the slave labor the prosecutor had so gleefully anticipated. The journey ahead would undoubtedly be challenging, but for the first time in a long time, Naruto felt a flicker of hope, a fragile spark in the cold, bureaucratic heart of Belobog

The cold nipped at Naruto's exposed cheeks, a familiar sensation despite the alien landscape around him. He'd been braced for the worst, for the crushing weight of imprisonment in this frozen city, Belobog. His usual brand of…enthusiasm, let's call it, hadn't exactly endeared him to the local authorities. He'd thought his luck had finally run out, a bitter taste he knew well.

But then, the unexpected. Serval Landau, a whirlwind of platinum blond hair and exasperated sighs, had appeared as his temporary bailiff, his first friend upon waking up in this world, a meeting where they'd just chat and make each other laugh instead of navigating bizarre legal systems. And then, like a plot twist in a badly written scroll, Doctor Vache had walked into the courtroom, a man whose reputation preceded him like a blizzard, and declared he would represent him. Why? Naruto had no clue, but he wasn't about to question it.

The trial had been a blur of legalese and stern faces, but Vache's arguments, sharp and precise like an expertly thrown kunai, had chipped away at the charges. He hadn't walked away completely unscathed, but the sentence was a slap on the wrist compared to the icy grip of a Belobog prison. Freedom tasted like the crisp winter air, biting but exhilarating.

He descended the grand staircase of the administrative building, his black and orange jacket flapping in the breeze. The structure was immense, a hulking behemoth of metal and glass that dominated the cityscape. He'd been too preoccupied with his immediate predicament to truly appreciate its scale before. Now, standing at its base, he understood how it shielded this civilization from the perpetual winter.

"Pretty impressive, huh?" Serval's voice was laced with amusement. She stood beside him, her arms crossed. "The Architect's work. Keeps us all from becoming popsicles."

Naruto nodded, his gaze fixed on the intricate design of the building's facade. Freedom was intoxicating, even in the face of this monumental structure.

"Why didn't you just stay put, like I asked?" Serval's playful tone shifted to one of mild annoyance. "I told you I had a friend working on this. They helped you win."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it now," Naruto said, understanding dawning on him. "Thanks, Serval. Your friend is a lifesaver. That vent was pretty small, but the transformation jutsu did the trick."

Serval's brow furrowed in confusion. "Vent? What are you talking about? My friend didn't help you escape your cell."

Naruto blinked, genuinely puzzled. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small, white snow mouse. It twitched its nose, looking utterly unconcerned about its surroundings. "This little guy. Your friend. Thanks to him, I wasn't stuck in that box."

Serval let out a shriek, jumping back and nearly tripping on the steps. "Get that thing away from me!" Her usual confident demeanor evaporated, replaced by a look of pure disgust. She could rewire a robot blindfolded, but rodents? They were her Achilles' heel, a lingering trauma from a childhood incident involving a particularly aggressive hamster.

Naruto, oblivious to her phobia, moved closer, the mouse held out in his palm. "See? Your friend. Tell him I said thanks."

"That is not my friend!" Serval practically yelled, her face reddening. "The friend I was talking about… it was the judge!"

Naruto's jaw dropped. "The judge? Seriously?"

Serval sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Yes, seriously. Now, put the mouse away before I do something you'll regret."

Naruto, finally understanding his colossal blunder, sheepishly tucked the snow mouse back into his jacket. He rubbed his head with a sheepish laugh. "Ah, my bad. I just assumed...sorry." He tucked the mouse back into his jacket, his laughter a bit nervous and embarrassed.

Serval glared at him, a pout forming on her lips. Serval glared at him for a moment, her lips pursed in a pout. "You're impossible." Then, her tone shifted again, becoming more serious. "And why didn't you answer the earpiece I gave you? I tried to reach you a bunch of times."

Naruto shrugged, his gaze dropping to the ground. "I didn't know how to turn it on." In truth, he couldn't really answered it while under his transformation.

Serval sighed, fighting back a smile. "Of course, you didn't.

But the annoyance quickly faded, replaced by a mischievous glint in her eyes. She pulled out a sleek device, its screen glowing with a live video feed, "Come here, I got something fun. A little revenge."

"Look at this," she said, holding it out for Naruto to see.

The video showed a lavishly decorated office. Naruto recognized the stern-faced man behind the large desk – Serval's father, the esteemed Landau noble of Belobog. One of the people responsible for his extra charges in the court case.

"Whoa, how'd you get one of these things?" Naruto interrupted; his eyes wide with fascination. "Down in the underworld, nobody has these 'phones' or whatever you call them. And if they do, they're selling them for a fortune."

"Focus, you idiot," Serval said, rolling her eyes. "Watch." She tapped an icon on the screen.

Suddenly, the office in the video erupted in a cloud of thick, pungent-smelling smoke or gas. Naruto could practically smell the acrid fumes through the screen. Serval's father coughed and sputtered, frantically covering his nose and mouth. He lunged for the door, desperate to escape the noxious cloud.

Before he could reach it, Serval tapped another icon. A small red light flashed above the office door in the video, and it audibly clicked shut. Serval's father banged on the door, his muffled shouts barely audible through the gas and the digital transmission.

Both Serval and Naruto erupted in laughter, tears streaming down their faces at the sight of the usually composed man trapped in his own office, puking on some unknown, undoubtedly foul-smelling concoction.

"So," Serval said, wiping a tear from her eye, her grin wide and infectious. "Now that you're a free-ish man with some time on your hands… how about I show you the real Belobog? With a few… modifications, of course."

Naruto's grin mirrored hers. The cold air suddenly felt a lot warmer. "Lead the way," he said, the thrill of adventure, and the promise of more mischief, coursing through him. This frozen world might just turn out to be interesting after all.

The crisp Belobog air, a stark contrast to the stuffy administrative buildings, felt refreshingly playful as Serval Landau bounded beside Naruto. He remembered his first whirlwind tour, a cacophony of sights and sounds during the Pyrotechnic Festival. This was different, more intimate, a genuine glimpse into the city beyond the celebrations.

"Alright, spiky head," Serval grinned, adjusting her goggles. "Ready for therealBelobog tour?"

Naruto, still slightly overwhelmed by the sheer organization and cleanliness of the city compared to his own world, nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Thanks, Serval!"

Serval's grin widened at the honorific. "Don't get any ideas, just being friendly. Now, behold!" She gestured dramatically towards a grand fountain, its water sculpted into intricate ice formations. Near it, a portly noble in ostentatious attire held court, his voice booming with pronouncements about the 'inherent superiority of the established order' and other such nonsense.

Serval's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Watch this." She produced a small, sleek drone from her pocket, its propellers almost silent as it whirred to life. Naruto watched, intrigued, as she expertly piloted it, the drone zipping unseen behind the oblivious noble.

A moment of silence, then a low, drawn-out sound, unmistakably like the expulsion of trapped gas, emanated from the vicinity of the noble. The surrounding onlookers subtly recoiled, glancing at the red-faced man as he continued his pompous speech, seemingly unaware of the auditory betrayal.

Naruto burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. Serval joined him, tears welling in her eyes. "Oh, man! He totally thinks it was him!" she choked out, wiping a tear. "This is why I get into trouble, you know?"

"I can see why!" Naruto wheezed, still chuckling. An idea sparked in his mind. "Hey, can I try something?"

Serval shrugged, still recovering from her laughter fit. "Knock yourself out."

The next hour became a symphony of synchronized mischief. Serval, with her technological prowess and insider knowledge of Belobog's social dynamics, identified prime targets: a notoriously stingy merchant, a perpetually grumpy librarian, and a couple of gossiping socialites. For each target, Naruto deployed his shadow clones. One clone would mimic the target's gait and posture a few paces behind, while another would execute a perfectly timed, harmless prank – a strategically placed whoopee cushion, whispering silly insults just out of earshot, or even subtly swapping the grumpy librarian's book with a brightly colored children's story.

The reactions were priceless. The merchant found himself sitting on seemingly empty air, the librarian sputtered in confusion at the picture of a smiling sun on the cover of his serious tome, and the socialites argued amongst themselves, convinced the other had just made a rude comment. Serval and Naruto, hidden behind pillars or conveniently parked food stalls, watched the chaos unfold, their laughter muffled by their hands.

They explored the quieter corners of Belobog too. Serval showed Naruto hidden workshops filled with fascinating gadgets, the bustling Healer's Market teeming with exotic herbs and remedies, and even a surprisingly serene rooftop garden overlooking the snow-dusted architecture. Naruto, despite the initial shock of the futuristic city, found a certain charm in its structured beauty and the underlying pulse of life beneath the icy facade. He even told Serval a little about his own chaotic, yet vibrant, home.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows across the cobblestone streets, they found themselves back near the entrance of the Administrative District. A familiar figure stood waiting, his tall frame and neatly pressed coat standing out against the fading light. Doctor Vache.

Serval nudged Naruto playfully. "Looks like your babysitter's here." But her tone was warm, not dismissive. She looked at Naruto, a genuine smile softening her features. "Hey, you're not leaving Belobog after your probation, right?"

Naruto shook his head vehemently. "Back in the frozen world of never ending cold? Nope! I'm staying!"

"Good." Serval's eyes held a spark of anticipation. "Then you gotta promise we'll do this again. Without the official chaperones."

Naruto grinned, a wide, unrestrained smile that lit up his face. He raised his fist instinctively. Serval blinked, a flicker of confusion crossing her face before understanding dawned. A slow smile spread across her lips, and she bumped her own fist against his. "Deal, you doofus. Don't go getting intotoomuch trouble without me."

She gave him a final playful shove before turning and heading towards the administrative building to finish her work. Naruto watched her go, a genuine warmth spreading through him. He hadn't felt this much carefree joy in a long time.

"Naruto," Vache's calm voice broke through his thoughts. "It seems you had a productive afternoon."

"Yeah," Naruto said, grinning at the doctor. "Serval's a lot of fun. And your lawyer skills are pretty amazing, by the way. Almost as good as your doctor skills."

Vache gave a small, almost modest smile. "Think nothing of it. Consider it a… repayment of a debt. You did save my sister's life, after all."

Naruto waved his hand dismissively. "Hey, that wasn't a debt thing. Natasha's family, just like everyone else down there." He gestured vaguely towards the lower districts, a place that had felt alien just days ago but was now starting to feel like home. "The underworld folks, they're… well, they're family."

A genuine smile spread across Vache's face, a warmth that reached his usually serious and sometimes crazy eyes. He let out a soft chuckle. "Indeed. It seems your arrival at my clinic was more impactful than I initially anticipated."

He gestured towards the grand entrance of the Administrative District. "Now then, Naruto. The Belobog Scientific Expeditionary Team have been eagerly waiting for you." He began walking, and Naruto followed, the earlier laughter still echoing in his heart, a promise of more adventures to come in this strange, wonderful city called Belobog.

And done!

Age:

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

Serval: 13

Gephart: 11

Natasha: 18

Oleg: 38

Luka: 7

Seele: 7

Abilities

Rasengan

Multi-Shadow clones

Fire manipulation and ignition

Transformation technique (How he hid his fox features.)

Bye!