Hey, everyone!

Here's another one! Guest reviewer, I can understand your confusion. We had plan for the enormous pale hand to guide Naruto into that specific memory belonging to his master. But we changed our minds and want beings like gods and aeons to have as little show time as possible. So, we just put it like that.

The idea of Jiraya's memory, we wanted Naruto to know how great his name is after he had just recovered his past. As how we stated in the summary, no one, we meant no one can help him regain his memories except for one and it has been continuously following him around since the beginning. Sorry, if this isn't enough because we can't explain any further without spoiling some events.

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

Chapter - 8

In the depths of the underworld, where the air was thick with the scent of earth and the echoes of distant mining machines, the miners of Belobog had just been given a second chance at life. The massive cave-in that threatened to bury them alive had been miraculously averted by a young man named Naruto.

Naruto, limbs splayed and face serene in slumber, lay nestled on Natasha's lap. He was a picture of exhausted contentment, a stark contrast to the turmoil that had just unfolded. He had thrown himself into the chaos, a whirlwind of golden energy and unwavering determination, single-handedly clearing the rubble and rescuing every trapped miner. They had hailed him as a hero, their gratitude raw and heartfelt.

But the peace was a fragile thing. It shattered with the heavy tread of armored boots. Silvermane guards, their faces grim beneath their helmets, descended upon them like a storm front. They were the representatives of the overworld, of Belobog's rigid order, and their presence felt like a suffocating blanket.

"What is the meaning of this?" Natasha's voice was low, a dangerous edge to it. She tightened her hold on Naruto, a protective instinct overriding her usual pragmatic composure.

"By the authority of the Architects, the individual known as Naruto is to be apprehended," a captain announced, his voice as cold as the metal of his armor.

Natasha's eyes sharpened with rage. She tightened her grip on Naruto, her fingers tangling in his spiky blonde hair. "Apprehended? On what charges?" Her voice was sharp, honed by years of dealing with injustice.

"That is not relevant. He is to be taken for questioning." The captain's words were inflexible, not an ounce of room for argument.

"Questioning? For what? He just saved countless lives!" A miner, his face streaked with grime and relief, stepped forward, his voice filled with outrage. Others joined him, their murmurs of protest growing into a chorus of defiance. They formed a loose line in front of Natasha, their gnarled hands clenching into fists.

"He's a hero! Leave him alone!" Another shouted.

The guards were unmoved. "Stand aside. Failure to comply will be met with necessary force." Their voices were cold, devoid of any empathy.

"Absolutely not," Natasha said, her grip on Naruto unwavering. "He is exhausted and needs rest. You will not take him like this."

The guards advanced. One reached for Naruto. Without hesitation, Natasha's hand shot out, her fingers gripping the guard's wrist with surprising strength. He grunted, trying to wrench free, but she held firm.

The lead guard, his face obscured by a helmet, remained impassive. "He is to be arrested. Step aside, Doctor."

"Do not touch him!" she hissed.

Ignoring the warning in her eyes, a guard stepped forward to take Naruto. Natasha's grip turned to steel, her knuckles white as she refused to relinquish him. "He's had a terrible ordeal! He needs rest!"

She pulled him closer, hoping the sheer ferocity of her protectiveness could ward them off. But the Silvermane guards weren't swayed by pleas or emotions. They were trained to follow orders. They moved with practiced efficiency, forcefully grabbing Natasha's arms. A cold hand gripped Naruto's arm trying to yanked him away.

"Protect Naruto!"

'Don't let those overworld scum win!"

The Underworld miners, still sore but alive, surged forward, a tide of anger and protectiveness. A chorus of shouts erupted, a mix of fear and rebellion. They were ready to fight for the young man who had risked everything for them.

At the forefront stood Oleg, his white hair a stark frame for his burning eyes. He pushed his way through the crowd, his fists clenched. "What is the meaning of this?" he roared, his voice resonating with the power of a seasoned fighter. "He saved us! Risked his life for us while you were nowhere to be seen when the mines were collapsing! You did nothing to help! This kid,this kidrisked his neck for us, and now you're dragging him away? For what?!"

His voice was thick with anger and a burning sense of injustice. The other men who had fought alongside Naruto, their clothes torn and faces bruised from the mining accident, echoed his sentiments. They surged forward alongside Oleg, a ragtag band of hardened miners facing down the disciplined force of the Silvermane.

"We're not letting him go without a fight!"

More of Oleg's companions, hardened by years of hardship in the Underworld, joined him, forming a makeshift barricade between the Silvermane guards and the entrance to the mines. They were not trained soldiers, but they were driven by fierce loyalty and righteous indignation.

Oleg's fists flew, striking the armored forms of the guards with bone-jarring force. The other miners followed his lead, their makeshift weapons clanging against the Silvermane's shields. It was a chaotic brawl, a desperate struggle against an overwhelming force.

The guards, unimpressed by their ragged attacks, moved with a practiced brutality. They pushed the miners back, their shields forming an impenetrable wall, their batons striking with painful precision. People cried out in pain, falling back as the guards pressed forward, their faces grim and unyielding. Even with Oleg's strength, the miners were no match for the trained soldiers.

Natasha, her heart pounding, was forced to release her grip on the struggling guard as another moved to restrain her. She fought back fiercely, her medical knowledge translating into surprisingly effective pressure points and strikes. But they were too many. She was shoved aside, stumbling and catching herself on the rough cavern wall.

Oleg fought with a desperate fury, fueled by his friendship with Naruto and the raw injustice of the situation. He landed a solid blow on one guard, staggering him, but another immediately countered, a swift kick to his ribs that sent him sprawling. He gasped for breath, the air knocked out of his lungs.

Ignoring the pleas and the struggling people, two guards finally reached Natasha. Gently, but firmly, they pried Naruto from her lap. She cried out, reaching for him, but her fingers grasped only air. Naruto stirred slightly in his sleep, a frown furrowing his brow, but didn't wake.

Finally, with a last, brutal push, the Silvermane guards broke through the miners' line. They stood, triumphant, their armored forms casting long shadows over the battered figures sprawled on the ground. Naruto, still unconscious, hung limply in the grasp of a guard.

The captain, his voice echoing with cold authority, spoke to the crowd. "This is a final warning. Do not interfere with the operations of the Architects. Your interference will not be tolerated!"

He didn't need to elaborate. Everyone understood the implied threat. The Overworld's authority was absolute.

The guards turned and marched back towards the city limits of Belobog, their boots crunching on the loose stone. Naruto, the hero of the Underworld, was gone. Oleg lay on the ground, his chest aching, watching the dust settle in the wake of their departure. Natasha, her face etched with worry and a quiet fury.

Silence descended, broken only by the sobs of the wounded and the ragged breaths of those who had fought. The air hung heavy with a bitter mix of despair and righteous anger. They had been saved from the depths of the mine, only to be dealt another blow by the callous hand of the overworld. And Naruto, the boy who had saved them all, was now in their hands, for reasons they couldn't even begin to fathom.

The echoing clang of metal boots on stone was the first thing that registered in Naruto's consciousness. He groaned, his head throbbing like a kicked melon, and his limbs heavy and unresponsive. The last thing he remembered was a wave of exhaustion washing over him after the ordeal in the mines. He'd emptied his reserves of chakra and physical strength, pushing himself to the absolute limit to clear the cave-in and pull those poor folks out of the darkness. Natasha's warm hand in his hair was the last thing he recalled before oblivion claimed him.

He blinked his eyes open, expecting the harsh, flickering lights of the mining tunnels, the dust-choked air, and the anxious faces of the miners he'd just pulled from the brink. Instead, he was met with soft, warm light filtering through frosted glass panels. This room was clean, sterile even, with polished surfaces and the glint of cold metal. A table, two chairs, and a single window high on the wall – a window too small to escape through. His hands and feet were chained, restricting his movements. He tugged at them, the cold metal biting into his skin. Where was he this time? And why?

His body protested with a chorus of aches and stiffness. This was… different. The previous interrogation room he'd been in, after inexplicably waking up in this strange, frozen world had been cold, sterile, and frankly, terrifying. This one was downright… welcoming.

He ran his chained hand through his perpetually unmanageable blonde hair, his blue eyes taking in the details of his surroundings. Where was he? How long had he been out?

"What the hell?" he croaked, his voice rough from disuse and fatigue. "Where am I?"

The door clicked open, and two figures entered, their faces grim. They wore the pristine white uniforms and silver shoulder pauldrons of the Silvermane Guards, the enforcers of Belobog's overworld administration. The taller of the two, a man with a steely gaze, stepped forward, pulling out a datapad.

"You are Naruto?" the taller one with another data slate said, his voice cold and devoid of any warmth.

Naruto tilted his head back, the chains pulling uncomfortably. "Yeah, that's me. What the hell is going on? Where am I? Why am I chained up?"

The shorter guard scoffed, "Silence, criminal. You are in the custody of the Belobog Overworld Administration. You will be judged for your transgressions."

"Naruto," he said, his voice clipped and devoid of warmth. "You are being detained on suspicion of… unauthorized interference and instigating unrest within the Underworld."

Naruto blinked. "Unrest? I saved their lives! That cave-in was gonna kill them all!" He strained against the chains, fury bubbling beneath his exhaustion. "I pulled them all out, every single miner! Ask them! Ask Natasha!"

The guard with the datapad raised an eyebrow, his expression unchanged. "We are aware of your actions within the mines. However, your presence there, your interference with the safety protocols and the established societal structure, are all under review."

"Safety protocols?" Naruto sputtered. "The 'safety protocol' was waiting for the whole damn place to collapse! I saw it, I felt the tremor! They were going to die! I wasn't about to just stand by!"

The tall guard tapped the data slate, his eyes scanning the information displayed. "Your actions, while seemingly benevolent, pose a threat to the established order. You possess… an unusual energy signature. One that requires investigation under the authority of the Architects."

"The Architects?" Naruto frowned. He knew of them, Natasha and Vache once told him they were the enigmatic beings who shaped Belobog's destiny from their lofty perch. "What do they care about me? I'm just a regular guy, I… I saved people!"

"Your power is not 'regular', inmate," the shorter guard spat, his hand resting on the hilt of his energy blade. "It is disruptive. Potentially dangerous. You will be tried before a panel of adjudicators."

His frustration grew with each carefully constructed, bureaucratic word. He thought of the miners, their terrified faces, and the desperate hope he'd seen in their eyes as he pulled them to safety. He thought of Natasha's gentle smile as he laid his head on her lap just before… this. He tried to recall the last of events, the flash of silver and the shouting, but it was all too hazy.

"Your position is very unusual and it would be in your best interest to be obedient. No making any rash actions." The tall guard once more stated it clearly as he glared at Naruto.

Naruto's breath hitched in his throat. He remembered the frantic faces of the miners, the gratitude in their eyes as they'd been pulled from the rubble. He remembered the tearful thanks of Natasha, her relief tangible. How could saving them be a crime?

"But… but the people from the Underworld…" he began, his voice laced with a desperate plea. "They saw, they know what happened. They'll tell you, I was just trying to help!"

The tall guard shook his head. "The testimony of the Underworld is deemed unreliable. Their history of dissent and insubordination render their opinions irrelevant. Your fate will be decided by the Architects and the Belobog Administration alone."

Naruto's heart sank. He understood then, the chilling reality of his situation. He wasn't being judged for what hedid, but for what hewas. His seemingly boundless power, his unknown energy signature, made him a threat, an anomaly to be contained and controlled.

He looked around the sterile room, his jaw clenched. Exhaustion was a veil, and the hunger an even greater gnawing in his gut. But something else stirred within him, a familiar spark of defiance. They might have stripped him of his freedom, but they wouldn't break him.

He met the gaze of the Silvermane Guards, his blue eyes burning with an unyielding fire. "Trial or not," he said, his voice low and resonant, "I won't be anybody's puppet. You should all know that. You might be chaining my hands, but you can't chain my spirit."

"…" A silence occurred as both sides did not let their glare to one another falter.

"The people of the Underworld… were trying to stop us, you know?" The taller guard, a hulking man with a permanent frown, spoke for the first time with annoyance. His words were flat and accusatory. "They tried to reason with us, told us you were innocent. It took considerable 'effort' to subdue them. Your actions have caused quite a disturbance."

Naruto's heart sank. He wasn't surprised that they had tried to help, the miners he helped were good people, people who he had grown to care for. He was furious with these guards for hurting them.

"You hurt them? Those people helped me, they were good people, why would you hurt them?!" He yelled at the guards in anger.

He was met with silence. The guards looked at each other, and then simply turned away.

"Your case is being reviewed. You will be informed of our findings," the shorter guard stated coldly, then both of them move to exit the room.

"Where do you think your going?" He was filled with rage, he wasn't just let things slide, "You think I'll just stand down after what you just told me?!"

The guards, oblivious to the shift in his demeanor, simply ignored him.

That was it. The last sliver of reason shattered. Years of training, hardened by countless battles, honed to a razor's edge by the fire of his will, surged to the surface. Naruto didn't even think. He acted.

"HEY!" His body moved with a speed that surprised even him. Before the guards could react, before they could raise their hands to defend themselves, he'd twisted, the iron chains snapping like twigs. With a guttural cry, fueled by pure, unadulterated rage, he lashed out. His first punch connected with the jaw of the guard closest to him, sending him crashing into the wall, unconscious. He barely registered the dull thud.

He spun, a blur of furious motion, and the second punch slammed into the face of the remaining guard, the sickening crunch of bone echoing in the small room. That guard followed the first into oblivion.

He was out of breath, his chest heaving, his limbs screaming in protest. He didn't care. The exhaustion, the pain, was overshadowed by a righteous fury that consumed him. He staggered, his body still screaming for rest, but he knew he couldn't stay. Not yet. Not when his precious people were in danger.

He swayed, his breathing ragged, as he stumbled out of the interrogation room. He didn't have the strength for full-fledged combat, but he had enough. His gaze swept over the stunned faces of the Silvermane officers outside the door, their faces slack with disbelief.

"Listen well!" he rasped, his voice hoarse but filled with a dangerous conviction. "You come near them again, you touch them, you even think about messing with my precious people? You'll have hell to pay!"

The other guards outside had their guards up but remained impassive, their silence only fueling his resolve. He was trapped, vulnerable, and alone. But he was also Naruto Uzumaki, a man who had always found a way, no matter how insurmountable the odds. He wouldn't surrender. He would fight, and he would make them understand that saving lives wasn't a crime, it was just who he was. And no Belobog administration, no Architects, could change that. The fight for his freedom, and for the vindication of his actions, had just begun.

The biting chill of the lock-up room seeped into Naruto's bones, a stark contrast to the room he had under the clinic. Just cold stone, the metallic tang of unseen machinery, and the oppressive quiet that seemed to hum with judgment.

"Damn it," he muttered, the sound echoing in the stark space. He lay sprawled on the cold floor, staring up at the single, narrow window. It offered a sliver of a sky that looked impossibly pale, mirroring the bleakness in his own heart. This was the second time he'd been thrown into a cell in this new, strange world, a world he only had a rough understanding of.

After beating up a bunch of the guards in the interrogation room he was brought here, disoriented and exhausted, with the only thing holding together from this cold room was his anger.

He hadn't quite understood why he was taken here when the only reason they gave him was something he wouldn't consider a crime. He was still piecing together the strange customs and the rigid social structure of this "Belobog."

This time, though, it was different. He wasn't just confused; he was worried. He'd helped Doctor Natasha and her people – the miners and outcasts of the underworld – when they had tried to keep the overworld authorities from taking him. They had all been clear on what was going to happen to him once the authorities managed to capture him. They knew what was about to happen once he was brought here.

He clenched his fists, the memories flooding back. The clang of pickaxes, the determined faces of the miners, Natasha's sharp, intelligent eyes, her gentle hands as she cleaned his wounds. They had fought hard, even knowing the cost. And now, because of him they were now hurting, probably jailed too.

"I hope they're okay," he whispered, the words a fragile breath against the oppressive silence. He pictured them, bruised and battered, probably in similar cells to his, or worse. The thought twisted his gut with guilt. He'd seen glimpses of the power the overworld held, the sleek, imposing architecture, the emotionless faces of the "Architects." He knew they wouldn't be lenient.

He ran a hand through his spiky blonde hair, frustration rising. What was he accused of? He hadn't even been given a reason. They'd simply descended, their uniforms as stark and cold as the city itself, and dragged him away. He was a variable, an unknown, and in Belobog, unknown meant dangerous.

"…"

His thoughts drifted, chasing the hazy outlines of a past he'd only recently regained. Konoha, the Hidden Leaf Village. The name, once a distant echo, now resonated with a bittersweet clarity. So much had happened since he'd woken up in this strange world that he hadn't had the chance to delve into his past, to truly feel it.

He closed his eyes, and a flood of images washed over him. Laughter echoing in Ichiraku Ramen, the savory steam filling the air; sharing a popsicle with Jiraiya, the warm, sticky sweetness melting on his tongue; the familiar faces of his friends – Sakura, her determined gaze; Sasuke, his aloof indifference masking a deep bond; the gentle smile of Hinata… He remembered them all, their voices, their quirks, the unique melody of their presence. "I miss you guys," he whispered, tears welling in his eyes, a knot of longing tightening in his chest.

He desperately wanted to go back to that life, to the friends he considered family. For the first time since awakening here, he grasped the profound truth: he had a home, a place he belonged. Joy bubbled up, quickly followed by the chilling understanding that accompanied the recollection of his death. He remembered the Fourth Great Ninja War, the brutal fighting, the hard-fought victory, and the final, overwhelming exhaustion that had led to his demise. He'd fought his heart out and won, brought Sasuke back, but then... he had faded. He was gone. He had died. "I died..." The weight of that revelation settled on him, a crushing burden.

"There's no way back," the words were a whisper at first, and then grew into a crushing realization. His throat tightened, and he let out a soft sob, the sound swallowed by the cold air. He was caught in a cruel sort of purgatory – remembering a life he could never reclaim.

Unseen, unnoticed, a dark, swirling bubble materialized near his head and vanished just as quickly, leaving a small pouch near his sprawled form.

"Then what the hell am I supposed to do now!?" he roared, his voice raw with a mix of grief and frustration. His efforts to recover his memories had only amplified his sense of displacement. He had no home, no place to truly belong.

*BAM!* He surged to his feet, anger fueling him, and slammed his fist into the steel bars of his cell. The metal buckled and dented under the impact, a testament to his strength, a protesting groan as the force of the blow created a wave of air.

"!?" To his surprise, a figure stood on the other side of the bars, someone he recognized. It was Serval, the first person he had connected with in this confusing world. Her expression was one of worry, not fear. The air current made her hair flutter.

The sound echoed, drawing attention. Serval, her blonde hair a splash of warmth against the cold, grey surroundings, stood outside his cell, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and concern. The sight of him, a usually energetic whirlwind, now slumped with despair and fury, had clearly startled her.

Her voice was soft, tinged with a quiet sadness, "You're crying."

"…"

Naruto, startled out of his rage, whipped his head up. He hadn't even noticed her standing there. Embarrassment and a surge of something akin to shame washed over him. He scrubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand, the raw sting a welcome distraction from the ache in his chest.

Both stood in place, silent, neither knowing what to say. Naruto, fear of what she might think of him after witnessing his anger and tears. Serval on the other hand was reluctant to say anything scared she might hurt him even more with her silly communication skills.

Silence hung in the air between them, broken only by the faint hum of the facility. Then, with a hesitant smile, she said, "Hey."

Naruto echoed her greeting, "Hey."

He slumped to the floor, leaning against the bent steel of his cell, trying to appear nonchalant despite the dented bars and the tear tracks on his face.

Serval didn't look convinced. She took a tentative step closer to the bars, her hand hovering near the distorted metal. "That… that was you?" she asked, her voice laced with awe and a touch of apprehension.

Naruto avoided her gaze, focusing on the grimy floor. "Yeah," he grunted. He didn't want to explain.

"So, Naruto." She mirrored his position on the other side of the bars.

"I heard," she began, a playful chuckle in her voice, "you remembered your name." She had been worried when she had first met him when he had lost his memory, but she was also happy for him that his memory came back.

"Yeah," Naruto replied, his voice flat. Yes, he remembered his name, and everything that came with it, and he wished he could have remained in his prior ignorance.

"Then what's wrong? Shouldn't that be a great thing?" she asked, confusion wrinkling her brow.

He looked away, the weight of his memories pressing down on him.

She nudged closer to his back.

"…" He convinced himself how hiding it to himself wasn't gonna make anything different.

"At first, it was." He let out a long sigh, the air escaping like a deflated balloon. He remembered his first feeling of his memory returning, remembering his name, his friends, his loved ones, it propelled him to do his best and to rescue everyone within the mines, but then the horrible truth came to light and everything fell apart. He couldn't possibly explain to Serval why he felt so hopeless, so... disconnected. "I remembered everything... but..."

Serval seemed to understand the unspoken weight of his words. "You don't have to tell me the bad parts, you know. You can just tell me the good parts. I'm not that overly curious, Naruto." Hearing her say his name felt unusual, it wasn't a name he expected in this world but she liked it.

Naruto met her gaze, a flicker of something akin to hope in his eyes. "Then... I'll tell you about my first day as a ninja."

Naruto leaned back against the cold steel, a small smile gracing his lips as he started his tale. "Well, the very first mission we had as Team 7… it was supposed to be just catching a cat. Not just any cat, mind you, but the daimyo's wife's spoiled pet. That thing was fat and fast! We chased it all over the village, me and Sasuke. Sakura just mostly complained." He chuckled, remembering the absurdity of it. "Turns out, that was Kakashi-sensei's way of testing us, seeing if we could actually work together."

Serval listened intently, her blue eyes wide with curiosity. "A cat? That's your first mission as a… ninja?" She couldn't quite wrap her head around the concept of ninjas, but Naruto's enthusiasm was infectious.

"Yep!" Naruto grinned. "Sounded easy, right? But Kakashi-sensei was full of surprises. After that, things got way crazier. We had to protect this bridge builder, Tazuna. Turns out, he was being targeted by a really dangerous guy, Zabuza. He was a missing-nin from the Hidden Mist, a real powerhouse with a giant sword. We thought we were just bodyguards, but we ended up in a real fight for our lives."

Serval gasped softly. "A giant sword? Was it as big as… as the rifle held by the guards?"

Naruto laughed. "Bigger! Way bigger! It was like carrying a whole slab of metal. And Zabuza… he was ruthless. That was the first time I really understood what it meant to fight for something you believed in. We were protecting Tazuna, but it felt like we were protecting the idea of people being able to live peacefully."

He continued, weaving tales of daring rescues, intense training sessions, and the quirky personalities of his teammates. He described Sasuke's cool demeanor and hidden kindness, Sakura's sharp wit and secret strength, and Kakashi's ever-present mask and surprising wisdom. He even told her about the time they had to climb a tree using only chakra, a strange energy that flowed through him.

Serval listened with rapt attention, her initial sadness replaced with genuine interest. She leaned closer to the bars, her chin resting on her hand. "Chakra? That sounds like extracted Geomarrow stones, the energy that powers our city."

Naruto paused, thinking. "Maybe it's something like that. It's the energy ninjas use to do all sorts of cool stuff." He demonstrated a quick hand seal, a flicker of blue energy dancing at his fingertips before fading. "Like that."

Serval's eyes widened. "Whoa! Do you think you could teach me?"

Naruto chuckled. "Maybe someday. It takes a lot of training." He sighed, a hint of melancholy returning to his voice. "But back then, it felt like anything was possible. We were young, full of energy, and we were going to change the world."

A comfortable silence settled between them. The cold of the lock-up room seemed to lessen, replaced by the warmth of shared stories.

"You know," Serval said softly, breaking the quiet, "Those stories… they sound like you had a lot of friends. Like you belonged somewhere."

Naruto nodded, his gaze fixed on the distant window. "Yeah. We were a team. A family, in a way." The memory of his bond with his teammates, though bittersweet, brought a sense of warmth to his heart.

As he continue recount his stories. He told her of the haphazard formation of Team 7 again and their other sides, of Sakura's temper, and Sasuke's cool indifference. He described how they finally became a team. He told of the countless battles they faced, the people they had met along their journey. Serval listened with rapt attention, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and fascination. His stories were incredible, unlike anything she had ever heard.

"That is so amazing!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine wonder. The stories were a whirlwind of action, camaraderie, and impossible feats.

"You, my friend, had one of the most amazing adventures I've ever heard of," she said, playfully poking his cheek through the bars. Her expression was a mixture of awe and playful envy. "I am so jealous, Naruto. I want to have amazing adventures like that."

A small, sheepish grin spread across Naruto's face. The dark cloud that had settled over his thoughts began to dissipate, replaced by a flicker of warmth. He remembered a moment, a lesson from Kakashi-sensei, not from a grand battle, but from an ordinary day. The memory surfaced unbidden. "Kakashi-sensei, I think I remember what you told me."

"People should really need talk to other people every day, even if it's just small talk," he murmured, almost to himself. "Otherwise, their hearts grow dark and solemn. Talking to others builds bonds, friendship, and camaraderie. It broadens the mind and makes you feel grateful to be alive. That's the kind of creatures we humans are."

He trailed off, lost in the memory, unaware that his quiet recitation hadn't been entirely private.

"Äh-hem!" Serval fake cough to get his attention.

"Did you hear that?" he asked, slightly alarmed.

Serval grinned, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Every last line. Hehehe."

She burst into laughter, backing away from the cell with a teasing grin. Naruto's face flushed crimson. "Shut up! Don't you dare tell anyone I said that!"

"Oh, it was so cringy!" Serval wheezed, clutching her stomach, tears of laughter welling in her eyes. She pointed at him, still chuckling.

She erupted in laughter, calling him cheesy. They went back and forth for a while, until they were both completely out of breath and laughing.

After a few minutes of exhausted laughter and playful accusations, they both sat back down, a comfortable silence settling between them. Serval finally caught her breath. "Sorry," she said, though her smile still lingered. "It was a little cringy, but… I actually love it. It makes sense, you know? I never thought anyone could actually put it into words like that."

Naruto could only smile, a genuine smile that reached his eyes.

"So," Serval said, her curiosity piqued once more, "I gotta ask. Where are the animal ears and your nine fluffy tails?" She looked genuinely disappointed at their absence, admitting, "I almost didn't recognize you without them."

"Oh, that," Naruto grinned, a familiar spark returning to his eyes. He went through a series of familiar hand seals, maintaining the Transformation Jutsu he'd instinctively been using since he'd woken up in this place. He let the illusion drop, and with a puff of smoke, a pair of fox ears sprouted from the top of his head, twitching slightly. Behind him, nine magnificent, golden-orange tails swished gently.

"Gimme!" Serval extended her arms, her eyes sparkling with delight. Naruto complied, enlarging the tails and moving them closer. "Ha!" Serval breathed, her eyes shining with delight as she hugged the soft, voluminous tails. They were surprisingly clean, and even smelled faintly of sunshine, a residual effect of his chakra.

"Why do you hide them?" she asked, her voice muffled by the fur.

"I learned pretty quickly that I'm the only one here with these kinds of features," Naruto explained, his fox ears flattening slightly in annoyance at the memory of the stares he'd received. "Besides, the last person who saw them like this fainted. Can't let that happen again." He shuddered. "I might even get experimented on if any creepy scientists found out about them." He vaguely remembered Orochimaru's unsettling experiments from his past life.

"But it's so fluffffy!" Serval giggled, immersing her face deeper into the warmth of his tails, her eyes twinkling.

"Well, thanks," Naruto said, chuckling as he watched her enjoy herself.

"So, did your friends also have fluffy tails like you?" she asked again while still enjoying her moment.

"Ah…" Naruto paused, his thoughts drifting back to his memories. "No… No, they didn't." He tried to recall any instance of his friends having similar features, but all he could remember was the raw, untamed power of the Kyuubi, not this inherent part of himself. "Hmm…" He tried to dig deeper, but the memory was hazy, incomplete. He sighed, giving up for now.

"So, Serval, what are you doing here?" Naruto inquired, "I'm happy to see you again, but isn't this a prison and also why am I the only one here?" He scanned the empty cells lining the corridor.

"Oh, I'm a guard here," she responded nonchalantly.

Naruto blinked, thoroughly confused. A teenage girl as a guard? "For real?"

"Yeah, remember my dad?" She gave him a playful nudge with her elbow.

"Yeah…" He remembered Serval's intimidating father, the head of administration, and the unfortunate incident involving a misplaced amount of force and a chipped front tooth.

"This is his way of punishing me for trying to follow my dreams. Hehe." Serval's expression was a mix of annoyance and resignation. Naruto nodded understandingly, though the whole situation was still bizarre.

"Don't worry, it's only for today," Serval assured him, hopping to her feet and striking a mock-authoritative pose. She tugged at the ill-fitting guard uniform. "And besides, you're my only inmate. So, if you misbehave, I might have to use this." With a flourish, she pulled out a short, black baton crackling with blue electricity she had made herself, her face daring him to test her.

Naruto's face fell. He remembered that shock stick. He'd experienced its… persuasive qualities firsthand during his initial, memory-less confusion. He gave her a pathetic look. "Please don't."

Serval sighed, her playful demeanor fading. "So," Serval said, finally breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them, "miners saved, underworld not-so-under anymore, Belobog…somewhat grateful, yet here you are." She punctuated her statement with a click of her tongue. "Quite the pickle."

Naruto sighed, a familiar sound that seemed heavier now, burdened by fatigue and the ghost of past traumas. "You don't have to tell me."

"But I want to understand," Serval persisted, her youthful face creased with genuine curiosity. "The accusations… they're flimsy at best. Some nonsense about unauthorized entry, inciting unrest, potential disruption to the energy grid, etc – all while conveniently ignoring the fact you pulled those poor souls out of a collapsing mine. If I were you," her platinum blonde head tilted, "the moment I woke up in this drab little room, with powers like yours… I'd be gone. Poof. No goodbye, no thank you, just a cloud of smoke and a very confused guard."

She gestured to the broken chain on his arm. "You could still do it now. This place… you owe them nothing. You're not even from here."

Naruto's gaze drifted to the broken links. He traced the jagged edges with a calloused fingertip. "Yeah," he said softly, his voice carrying a weight that belied his youthful appearance. With another sigh, he looked up at Serval, his blue eyes holding a depth that surprised her. "My strength… it means nothing if I just go around smashing things. I warned those Silvermane guards. I told them to stay back. But…" He trailed off, a flicker of something dark passing over his features.

"But?" Serval prompted gently.

"But I was still scared," he admitted, the confession surprisingly vulnerable. "If I just… disappeared, caused trouble, the first thing they'd do is go back down. To the underworld." He met her gaze, the intensity in his eyes unwavering. "Natasha. Vache. They helped me. They're good people. I can't risk them suffering because of me."

Serval's eyebrows rose. "So, it's about them?"

"It's always about protecting the people you care about," Naruto said, a hint of his usual determined spirit resurfacing. "Even in a new place. Especially in a new place. My power here… it's an unknown quantity. It could be the answer to everything, or it could just make things worse. If the cost of my freedom is their safety… then it's no freedom at all."

He leaned back in his chair, the movement making the metal creak. "And as for the sentence…" He shrugged. "Frankly, Serval, I've faced worse. This… this is just frustrating bureaucracy. I have ideas. I could probably fake my own death and be sipping tea in a quieter district by sunset." A wry smile touched his lips. "But right now… I'm just… tired."

He ran a hand through his spiky blonde hair, his fingers tangling in the strands. "My memories… they've been coming back in pieces. Not all good ones. It's like reliving old battles, old losses. Mentally… I'm not exactly a hundred percent right now. Running, fighting… it's exhausting even thinking about it."

Serval observed him, her usual playful smirk replaced by a thoughtful expression. She'd initially seen him as just another troublemaker, albeit one with an incredibly potent energy signature. But the vulnerability he was showing, the genuine concern for others despite his own predicament, was unexpected.

"You know," she said slowly, tapping her pen again, this time against her chin, "for someone who could level this building with a sneeze, in theory of course, you're awfully… considerate."

Naruto chuckled softly, a low, rumbling sound that lacked its usual boisterousness. "Considerate… or maybe just scarred enough to know the consequences of being reckless." He wasn't always like this but he learned his actions had consequences and no human can solve everything from the amazing friends and family he had now lost.

Serval Landau found herself strangely impressed by the powerful, yet weary, man sitting across from her. He wasn't just strong; he was burdened, and in that burden, she glimpsed a kind of strength she hadn't encountered before. "Then I'm lucky to have you as my friend.

"Yeah…" Naruto's mood plummeted again, her words were very thoughtful but he remember the brief respite offered by his memories and Serval's company evaporating. "Got any advice for me?"

Serval began to list the various trials individuals faced in this world, but in Naruto's case, his unknown origins and extraordinary powers were the main sticking points. She also mentioned the accusations leveled against him for the destruction of the mines and other incidents, charges she knew her father had fabricated, clinging to the memory of his broken tooth.

Serval thought for a moment. "Don't worry, I have a friend. She has a say in things, on certain conditions," Serval reassured him, her eyes filled with determination. "I'll talk to her."

"Thanks… Serval," Naruto said, offering a defeated smile.

"Well, until then," Serval said, trying to inject some levity back into the situation. "Wanna check out my new guitar? It's still an experimental instrument though."

"So awesome!" Naruto's eyes lit up as Serval produced a gleaming metallic guitar, its surface adorned with vibrant hues. Despite the weight of his past and the uncertainty of his future, a spark of childlike wonder ignited within him. Even in this strange, cold prison, a flicker of hope, fueled by the unexpected friendship of a teenage guard, remained alive.

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

Multi-Shadow clones

Fire manipulation and ignition

Transformation technique (How he hid his fox features.)

Bye!