"Life isn't about fighting the storm—it's about learning to find peace within it."

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Chapter 05

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Naruto eagerly waited as Frieren prepared to teach him his first spell. His excitement was palpable as Frieren finally uttered the enchant word, "Saff," and instructed him to practice its pronunciation.

"Saff! Saff! Saff!" Naruto chanted enthusiastically, his voice brimming with anticipation.

"What does it do? Summon lightning? Bring a storm?" he asked, practically bouncing in place.

Frieren didn't answer directly. "Keep practicing. Accurate pronunciation is crucial," she said, walking away to retrieve something.

Naruto continued, "Saff! Saff! Saff!" his mind racing with possibilities.

When Frieren returned, she carried an oil-stained steel bowl. Naruto blinked, confused. "Huh? What's that for?"

Frieren simply raised her hand. "Saff," she said calmly, and with a flicker of magic, the grime and oil vanished. The bowl gleamed like it was freshly forged.

Naruto froze, his excitement draining in an instant. "What… was that?" he asked, his voice dangerously calm.

"It's an oil-cleaning spell. Convenient, isn't it?" Frieren replied with a small smile.

"Convenient?!" Naruto exploded, his face a mix of disbelief and fury. "I thought you were going to teach me something epic! My world might be in danger right now, and you're teaching me how to clean a bowl?!"

Frieren remained unbothered by his outburst. "You underestimate the importance of practical spells. They're incredibly useful."

Fern nodded in agreement. "Mistress is right. A clean bowl can save time and effort."

Naruto threw his hands up, utterly exasperated. "What is wrong with you people?! My world might be in ruins by now!"

Frieren raised an eyebrow. "Shut up. You know nothing about the scope of time."

"Oh yeah? And you do?"

"I've seen civilizations rise and fall," Frieren replied matter-of-factly. "Trust me. I know."

Naruto huffed, glaring at her. "Fine! You don't want to teach me a proper spell? Whatever! I have another mage here. Oi, Fern, what spell can you teach me?"

Fern hesitated before answering. "I can teach you a mold-cleaning spell, Mr. Naruto. It's very convenient for cleaning copper statues."

Naruto stared at her, his jaw dropping. "...What is wrong with you people?!"

Kraft, seeing Naruto's anger, decided to intervene. "Calm down," he said, gesturing to the fireplace. "Come meditate with me."

Grumbling, Naruto complied. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes, fidgeting and shifting uncomfortably.

Minutes turned to an hour. Naruto's restless movements ceased, his body relaxing as if melting into the flow of the moment.

"Is he asleep?" Stark asked, inspecting his axe.

"No," Kraft said with a grin. "This is something else."

Fern, now alert, murmured, "His mana… it's increasing."

"What?" Stark turned, watching in disbelief.

"He's connecting with the environment," Frieren observed, her tone neutral but her eyes curious.

Kraft's grin widened. "I always thought he was just a general type. But no. This kid—he's a sage."

"A sage?" Frieren asked, sceptical.

"A person who will one day master the pinnacle of sorcery, mystic arts, and warriorism. He's inexperienced now, yes, but given time…" Kraft's voice carried a certainty that left no room for doubt. "He will surpass us all."

The group fell silent, stunned by the proclamation. Even Frieren couldn't hide her shock, her calm façade betraying a flicker of disbelief.

Stark shook his head. "I get that he's talented, but isn't that a bit much?"

Kraft's response was firm. "No. It's not just talent. It's destiny."

Õ—T—Õ

Naruto opened his eyes. Kraft was right! Meditating does calm the mind. No wonder Pervy Sage did it quite often. And—

Wait.

Naruto blinked as the stares continued. It felt like being a rare bird in a cage, surrounded by four overly curious zookeepers. He flailed his hands in frustration.

"Oi, what's with you guys? Did I grow horns or something?"

Frieren rubbed her chin, her gaze unwavering. "He speaks."

Naruto frowned. "Of course, I can talk, you hag! What's wrong with you?!"

Fern interjected, her tone clinical, "Mr. Naruto, you've been absorbing mana from nature for three hours straight."

"Wait, what?!" His eyes widened.

Stark, scratching his head, muttered, "I thought you'd turn into some kind of animal or monster… I was ready." He sheepishly held up a rope.

Naruto deadpanned. "Seriously? I'm trying to meditate here, and you're over there planning to hogtie me like a rogue bear?"

Fern handed him a small mirror. "Look."

Naruto gasped. His jade eyes glowed like tiny lanterns, with two delicate black floral patterns framing them.

"Cool tattoos!" he said, grinning like a kid who just discovered a shiny new toy.

Kraft leaned forward, his voice calm. "Do you feel… different? Physically?"

Naruto tilted his head, considering. "I kinda wanna pee?"

Frieren sighed. "Try harder."

Frowning, Naruto closed his eyes, concentrating. "Okay, okay, um… there's a bear sleeping a few miles from here? And, um, I can see a beaver over the hill… how?"

"Oooh," Frieren leaned in with interest. "Anything else?"

Naruto sniffed, his expression souring. "Stark's bed is wet."

"Hey!" Stark jumped up, looking defensive.

Fern crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at Stark. "Mr. Stark?"

"…yes?" he replied, his face pale.

"You perv!" Fern grabbed her staff and began chasing him around the room, her strikes landing with loud thwacks.

As Stark yelped and scrambled away, Kraft chuckled softly, leaning back. Meanwhile, Naruto looked at his glowing eyes in the mirror again, marveling.

"Man, I can feel the mana flowing everywhere—like I'm part of the world! This is amazing!" He looked up at Frieren. "And I got tattoos! Beat that, hag!"

"You call those tattoos?" Frieren snorted, unimpressed.

But as they all laughed and Stark tried dodging Fern's wrath, Naruto suddenly felt his connection to the world dim. The glow in his eyes flickered out, and the floral marks faded from his face.

"It's gone," he muttered. "So… it has a time limit?"

Kraft nodded, his grin widening. "A power like that can't be constant. It's a gift, a moment of connection with nature itself." He stood and clapped Naruto on the shoulder. "We'll call it: Sage Mode."

Weeks turned into months. The cabin became more of a prison than a shelter for Naruto, who was growing increasingly restless. Snow piled higher and higher outside, the blizzard relentless, as if nature itself conspired to keep them trapped.

Naruto, determined to make progress, had turned to Frieren with pleas to teach him magic. At first, his attempts were straightforward: polite requests, earnest promises to work hard. But Frieren, true to her enigmatic nature, would simply yawn and wave him off.

Then he got creative.

One evening, Naruto found Frieren sitting by the fireplace, her eyes half-lidded as she warmed her hands. He crept up behind her and began to massage her head, his fingers working through her silvery hair with surprising skill.

"Mmm," Frieren hummed, leaning into his touch.

"Pretty nice, huh?" Naruto grinned, his hands kneading her scalp. "So, about that spell…"

"Don't stop," she murmured, her voice barely audible.

Naruto hesitated. "Uh… okay. But maybe after this, you could—"

"Shhh." Frieren leaned further back, eyes closed. Moments later, she was snoring softly.

Naruto's eye twitched. "You've gotta be kidding me!"

This became a pattern. Every time he massaged her head, hoping to extract some magical wisdom, Frieren would fall asleep before he could even finish his sentence. It was maddening.

Fern wasn't much better. She had reluctantly agreed to teach him a spell, but her choice left Naruto flabbergasted.

"It's a vision-enhancing spell," Fern explained. "Quite advanced for a beginner, but useful in certain situations."

Naruto's excitement was palpable as he practiced the incantation, eager to see what new ability he had unlocked. When he finally succeeded, his jaw dropped.

"Wait a second… this lets me see through clothes?!" Naruto's voice cracked.

Fern nodded, entirely unbothered. "Yes. It's useful for identifying concealed weapons or hidden objects."

Naruto buried his face in his hands. "Oh man, Pervy Sage would've loved this. He would've killed for this."

Fern raised an eyebrow. "Who?"

"Never mind!" Naruto groaned.

The spell was impressive in theory, but in practice, it only added to his frustration. He wasn't here to learn voyeuristic tricks or clean dishes with enchanted words—he needed real power. Spells that could save lives, turn the tide in battles, or maybe even help him survive the chaotic mess that was his world.

The unyielding blizzard outside didn't help his mood. Instead of letting up, it seemed to intensify, the howling winds rattling the cabin and the snow piling so high that the windows were completely blocked.

To blow off steam, Naruto frequently sparred with Stark. The seasoned warrior was reluctant at first, worried about accidentally hurting the "mage apprentice," but Naruto's determination was hard to ignore. Their matches were intense, with Stark's raw strength clashing against Naruto's speed and unpredictability.

"You're getting even faster," Stark admitted one day, wiping sweat from his brow after a particularly fierce session.

"Damn right I am!" Naruto grinned, despite the bruise forming on his cheek.

Occasionally, Kraft would step in for a sparring match. Unlike Stark's brute force, Kraft's movements were calculated, almost graceful. Sparring with him felt more like a chess or shogi game, each strike and counterstrike laden with subtlety and intent.

"Your reflexes are sharp," Kraft observed after one bout. "But you rely too much on instinct. Think ahead, Naruto. Plan your moves."

Naruto nodded, though he couldn't help but grumble under his breath. Sparring was fun, sure, but it wasn't enough to keep him from going stir-crazy.

"I'm so bored, y'know!" Naruto yelled one evening, throwing his arms up in exasperation.

Fern, ever composed, glanced up from her book. "You could meditate."

"Again?!" Naruto groaned, flopping onto a chair. "I've meditated so much I'm starting to hear the trees snore!"

Frieren, sitting across from him with her usual detached expression, sipped her tea. "Then perhaps you're doing it wrong."

Naruto's glare could've melted the snow outside if it had any magical properties.

The days dragged on, each one blending into the next. Despite his frustrations, Naruto kept pushing himself, practicing his mana control and honing his combat skills. He couldn't shake the feeling that every moment spent idle was a moment wasted. Somewhere out there, his world might be falling apart, and here he was, stuck in a cabin, learning how to clean oil stains and see through clothes.

But no matter how much he grumbled, no matter how often he threw his arms in the air and declared he was done, he kept going. Because that's what Naruto did—he endured. And deep down, he knew that even the most mundane lessons could hold value.

Even if it took every ounce of his patience to see it.

Naruto had taken to meditating as part of his training, eventually discovering how to tap into Sage Mode. When activated, his reflexes became lightning-fast, and his strength was superhuman—he could lift tons effortlessly. His heightened senses allowed him to perceive everything in his surroundings with unparalleled clarity.

But one day, this newfound sensitivity landed him in trouble. He caught a strange, unfamiliar scent of blood coming from Fern. Being Naruto, he blurted it out without thinking.

Fern's face turned red, and before he knew it, she was chasing him around the cabin, staff in hand, yelling, "Bad, Mr. Naruto!" For a solid hour, she disciplined him, leaving him with a bruised ego and an important lesson: never comment on things he didn't fully understand.

Meanwhile, his proficiency with the oil-cleaning spell and the see-through spell had reached mastery. He could now clean anything or identify hidden objects with ease. At this point, Naruto realised things were getting out of hand. He wasn't here to become a magical cleaner or a voyeur; he needed to learn something substantial, and soon.

Determined to move past these skills, Naruto decided to double down on his efforts, convinced that the path to greatness lay just ahead—if only Frieren and Fern would stop holding out on him!

Õ—T—Õ

Naruto had been growing increasingly restless. The basics—oil-cleaning and see-through spells—weren't enough to quench his thirst for progress. The monotonous routine, coupled with the raging blizzard that confined them indoors, left him teetering on the edge of boredom-induced insanity. After countless days of pestering, Frieren finally relented.

"Fine," she said with a weary sigh, rubbing her temple. "I'll teach you the levitation spell."

Naruto's face lit up like a child on his birthday. "Yes!" he exclaimed, punching the air. "Finally! Something cool!"

Frieren didn't respond to his outburst. With her usual calm, she raised a hand, muttered a string of unfamiliar words, and began to float. Her robes swayed gently as she hovered, her serene expression unchanging. It was as though she belonged there, effortlessly defying gravity.

Naruto gawked, his mouth slightly agape. "Whoa… that's so awesome!"

Fern, who had been observing, stepped forward. Without a word, she repeated the incantation and lifted off the ground, her movements graceful and precise. She hovered alongside Frieren, casting a smug glance at Naruto.

"See?" Frieren said, her tone flat. "It's not that hard."

Naruto was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet. "Alright, my turn! What's the chant? I'll get this on my first try—Dattebayo!"

Frieren gave him a look that managed to combine exasperation and amusement. "You'll need a staff first."

Naruto froze mid-bounce. "…What?"

"You need a magical focus," she explained. "A staff. Without one, this spell is beyond your reach."

Naruto's enthusiasm crumbled like a poorly made sandcastle. "Okay, great. So, where do I get one?"

Fern crossed her arms, her tone practical. "The closest magical item shop is several days away. And that's assuming the blizzard lets up."

Naruto's shoulders slumped. "You've gotta be kidding me…"

Stark chuckled from his corner of the cabin. "Guess you'll have to wait, kid."

But Naruto Uzumaki wasn't the type to wait around when there was a challenge to conquer. That night, long after the others had gone to bed, he sat cross-legged on the wooden floor, his brows furrowed in determination. His mind replayed the dreams he'd had of being a legendary mage like Flamme, wielding a golden staff with a gleaming amethyst stone. If he could see it in his dreams, surely he could make it real.

"Alright, let's do this," he muttered to himself, extending his hands. His fingers trembled slightly, but he ignored the doubt creeping into his mind. He closed his eyes and focused.

From her spot near the dying embers of the fire, Frieren observed him for a while. She turned to Kraft, who sat nearby. "Wake me up when he's done," she murmured before retreating to her bed.

Kraft nodded but didn't take his eyes off Naruto. The boy's determination was admirable, even if the odds were stacked against him.

The hours dragged on, the storm outside battering the cabin with relentless fury. Naruto remained rooted to his spot, sweat beading on his forehead despite the chill in the air. His hands twitched as he muttered incoherent encouragement to himself.

"Come on… I've faced worse… This is nothing…" he whispered.

Kraft leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. "Kid's got guts, I'll give him that."

As the night deepened, faint wisps of golden light began to shimmer around Naruto's hands. They danced like fireflies, swirling and coalescing into an ethereal shape. It was faint at first—a mere whisper of a staff's silhouette—but it grew more defined with each passing moment.

Kraft straightened, his gaze sharpening. "Well, I'll be damned…"

Naruto's breathing grew heavier, his body trembling under the strain. The ghostly outline of the staff flickered, as if testing his resolve. Gritting his teeth, he pushed harder, pouring every ounce of his will into the summoning.

"I… won't… give up!" he growled, his voice strained but resolute.

The golden light brightened, and with a soft, almost anticlimactic thud, something solid materialised and landed on his head.

"Ow!" Naruto yelped, his concentration shattering. He grabbed the object and held it in front of him, his exhaustion forgotten in the face of his disbelief. It was a staff, just like the one from his dreams. The handle was smooth and golden, and an amethyst stone gleamed at its tip, reflecting the faint glow of the embers.

Naruto let out a shaky laugh, his lips curling into a triumphant grin. "I… I did it…" His voice was barely above a whisper as his body gave out, and he collapsed onto the floor, the staff clutched tightly in his arms like a treasured possession.

Kraft chuckled softly and rose from his chair. "You never fail to surprise me, kid," he muttered as he approached the sleeping boy. He carefully lifted Naruto and carried him to his bed, tucking the blanket around him. Naruto's grip on the staff didn't loosen even in sleep, a testament to how much it meant to him.

Kraft glanced at Frieren, who was still peacefully asleep. For a moment, he considered waking her, but seeing the rare tranquillity on her face, he decided against it.

With a quiet sigh, Kraft returned to his chair by the fire. The storm outside continued to rage, but inside the cabin, there was a sense of warmth and accomplishment.

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight peeked through the frosted windows of the cabin. Naruto stirred awake, groaning as he stretched out his sore limbs. The staff, still clutched in his hand, felt warm and solid, like an extension of himself. He smiled groggily at the sight of it, his achievement from the night before filling him with pride.

When the others woke, Frieren's eyes fell on the staff in Naruto's hand. Her expression didn't betray much, but her mild surprise was evident in the slight widening of her eyes.

"Where did you get that?" she asked, her voice calm yet tinged with curiosity.

Naruto grinned, holding up the staff triumphantly. "Summoned it! Spent all night on it, Dattebayo!"

Frieren's gaze lingered on the staff, and a flicker of recognition crossed her face. "That's… Flamme's staff."

Fern, who was rubbing sleep from her eyes, froze mid-yawn. "Wait, what?" She stared at the staff, her mouth hanging open in disbelief. "That's not possible! How could he summon something like that?"

Stark, still groggy, scratched his head and leaned closer for a better look. "Huh. Didn't think you had it in you, kid. That thing looks legit."

Naruto puffed out his chest, basking in the unexpected praise. "Told ya I could do it! All it took was determination and guts!"

Frieren's expression remained unreadable, though her mind raced. She did expect him to achieve something like this and summoning Flamme's staff was no small feat. Its golden handle and amethyst stone were unmistakable, relics of a bygone era and a mentor whose legacy she carried. Yet here it was, in the hands of a boy whose magic training was barely past the basics.

"Let me see that," Frieren said, stepping closer.

Naruto hesitated for a moment but handed it over. As her fingers closed around the staff, Frieren felt a faint hum of magic, an undeniable signature of her mentor. She turned it over, inspecting every detail. It was no imitation.

Fern crossed her arms, frowning. "This doesn't make sense. How could someone with barely any magical knowledge summon that?"

"Luck?" Stark offered, though even he sounded skeptical.

Naruto crossed his arms. "Hey, give me some credit! I worked all night on that! I didn't even sleep—well, until I passed out."

Frieren handed the staff back to Naruto. "You've done something impressive, but summoning the staff is one thing. Using it is another."

Naruto's grin faltered slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Frieren said, her tone slightly dry, "that having a staff won't magically make you better at casting spells. You still need to practice."

Fern smirked. "If anything, the spells might backfire. Better not blow yourself up."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Naruto muttered, rolling his eyes. But he wasn't deterred. He clutched the staff tightly, his determination rekindled. "Alright, so let's do this! Levitation spell, here I come!"

The group moved outside, braving the cold winds that still howled through the snow-covered landscape. Frieren stood to the side, arms crossed, while Fern and Stark watched from a safe distance.

"Repeat after me," Frieren instructed. She chanted the incantation, her voice steady and deliberate. Her body lifted off the ground effortlessly, floating a few feet in the air.

Naruto nodded, gripping his staff with both hands. He repeated the incantation, his voice filled with confidence. The staff began to glow faintly, and for a moment, it seemed like he might actually succeed.

Then… nothing happened.

Naruto frowned, gripping the staff tighter. "Alright, maybe I just need to try harder." He repeated the incantation, his voice louder this time. The staff sparked, and a faint breeze stirred the snow around him. But again, he remained firmly on the ground.

Stark snickered. "Looks like the staff's defective."

Fern shook her head, clearly unimpressed. "More like the wielder's defective."

"Hey!" Naruto shot back, glaring at her. "This is harder than it looks, okay?"

Frieren sighed. "Your problem isn't effort. It's control. You're pouring too much energy into the spell without focusing it properly. Magic requires balance, not brute force."

Naruto scratched his head, looking frustrated. "Balance, huh? Yeah, okay, but how do I do that?"

Frieren gestured to Fern. "Watch her again. Pay attention to how she channels her magic."

Fern smiled, always eager to show off to her junior. She gripped her own staff and chanted the incantation, rising smoothly into the air. She hovered there for a moment before landing gracefully.

"See?" Fern said smugly. "It's not about trying harder. It's about precision."

Naruto groaned, his shoulders slumping. "Great. Now I have to figure out how to be precise. This just keeps getting better."

Frieren gave him a rare smile, albeit a small one. "You've already done the impossible by summoning that staff. Don't let one failed attempt discourage you. Keep practicing."

Naruto looked at the staff in his hands, its golden surface glinting faintly in the sunlight. He took a deep breath, determination hardening his gaze. "Alright. I'll get this. Just watch. I'll be floating around like a pro in no time!"

Fern rolled her eyes, Stark chuckled, and Frieren watched with mild amusement as Naruto steeled himself for yet another attempt. The snow crunched beneath his feet as he planted himself firmly, ready to tackle the challenge head-on. For all his flaws, his relentless spirit was something even Frieren had to admire.

Õ—T—Õ

Author Note:

Frieren wanted to summon a magical prodigy, no doubt she hit the jackpot.

One of your questions is answered here. Sage Mode? Check. Fun fact: in my other story— 'Shinobi Who Slays', the Naruto over there has the same Sage Mode design as the Naruto in this story. (Floral marks and glowing eyes.). In 'Synthetic Shinobi', my another story, Naruto has glowing green eyes.

Hmm, Naruto's attitude shifting from the 13 years old version to the 16 years old version? That's actually me subconsciously doing so. I am trying to fix this issue.

Thanks for all your positive words and beautiful critisisms! Know that I read them all at least 5 to 6 times and I try to do so if it's within my capabilities.

Anyways, I hope you liked this chapter. Thanks for reading it. The next one will be released soon.

Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words motivate me to write better, larger and with more depth.

Till next time!