Apple For Eternity
Naruto sat in the dimly lit hut, the crackling fire casting flickering shadows on the walls. The villagers, seated around him, spoke with a mix of reverence and sorrow as they recounted the history of the world he had left behind. Each word felt like a heavy stone sinking into the depths of his consciousness.
"The legendary Uchiha clan... near extinction," one of the older villagers said, his voice somber. "Itachi Uchiha, the prodigy, killed them all. Every last one of them... except his younger brother, Sasuke. And then, Sasuke killed him."
Naruto's fingers tightened around the cup of tea he held. His heart clenched at the thought. Why would Itachi do something like that? He had always admired the Uchiha, their strength and loyalty to their clan. But he held his tongue, nodding silently, his expression unreadable.
"And the Third Hokage?" Naruto asked after a pause.
The elder sighed. "Dead. He fell years ago. He fought bravely, but... age catches up with everyone, even the strongest among us."
Naruto's head dipped slightly, a moment of respect for the man he had once called his leader. "Hiruzen was old. He deserved to rest," he murmured, though a flicker of bitterness lingered in his thoughts. Even if he betrayed me unintentionally.
"Tsunade took over as the Sixth Hokage after him," the elder continued. "And Kakashi followed her as the Seventh after the Fourth Great Shinobi War."
Naruto's gaze snapped up. "Another war?"
The room grew still. The weight of the villagers' collective memories seemed to press down on them.
"Yes," the elder said gravely. "The Fourth Great Shinobi War. It was against Madara Uchiha. He wanted to put the entire world under an infinite genjutsu, the Infinite Tsukuyomi. He even revived the Ten-Tails to achieve his goal. But..."
"But?" Naruto prompted, his voice tense.
"Kaguya Ōtsutsuki," the elder whispered, as if invoking her name might summon her. "She was revived. A celestial being. The old tales you must have read..."
Naruto's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. So, the Ōtsutsuki clan truly exists. Kaguya was not just a legend...
The elder continued, his tone softening. "But Menma Uzumaki stopped her. He defeated her, saved the world... and then, he faced Sasuke Uchiha in a final battle."
The fire crackled, filling the silence that followed. Naruto stared into the flames, his emotions a whirlwind. He was proud, yet ashamed. He had always known Menma was destined for greatness. He had wanted a peaceful life for his younger self, one free of the burdens of war and leadership. But fate had other plans.
"Menma became a hero," the elder said, his voice tinged with admiration. "He was hailed as a saviour across the globe. He became the Eighth Hokage, married Hinata Hyuuga, and had two children—Kawaki Uzumaki and Himawari Uzumaki."
Naruto swallowed hard. A lump formed in his throat as conflicting emotions churned within him. Pride for Menma's accomplishments. Sorrow for the path he had been forced to walk. And guilt... guilt because Naruto had left it all behind.
But the elder's next words struck him like a lightning bolt.
"Menma is dead."
Naruto's heart stopped. He stared at the elder, his breath caught in his chest. "What?"
"Menma was killed," the elder said, his voice heavy with grief. "By his own son... Boruto."
Naruto felt the world tilt beneath him. "Boruto?" he echoed, disbelief lacing his tone.
The elder nodded grimly. "Boruto is on the run. The village is in chaos without Menma. Kawaki and Himawari are left behind, caught in the middle of everything."
Naruto clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. His nephew and niece, innocent children, were now living in a world of turmoil. He couldn't let this stand.
Naruto listened quietly as the villagers recounted the events of the past, their voices heavy with the weight of history. Though he already knew of Menma's death, the details they shared painted a clearer, more painful picture.
"And then..." the elder began, his tone sombre, "Menma... he was betrayed."
Naruto's gaze dropped to the flickering fire in the centre of the room, his hands gripping his knees tightly.
"By Boruto," the elder continued. "Menma's surrogate son."
Naruto's jaw clenched. Boruto... his son? An outsider? He thought back to the limited information he'd gleaned upon his return. It made sense now, though it left a bitter taste in his mouth.
"The boy wasn't from the Uzumaki bloodline," the elder explained. "But Menma took him in, raised him as his own. Boruto was like a shadow in Menma's life, always there, always watching. And yet..."
The elder's voice cracked slightly, and another villager took over. "He killed him. Stabbed him in the back, quite literally, and fled the village. Since then, Konoha hasn't been the same."
Naruto's thoughts spiralled. Boruto... the boy must have been deeply trusted by Menma. To be raised as family and then betray him? He shook his head slightly, trying to reconcile this with the image he had of Menma—strong, determined, and unyielding.
The elder's voice cut through his thoughts. "Kawaki and Himawari are the only ones left of Menma's family now. But the chaos Boruto left behind has shaken the village to its core. People whisper about a curse... about the Uzumaki legacy crumbling."
Naruto's hands tightened into fists, his knuckles white. He forced himself to speak, his voice calm but firm. "Tell me more about Kawaki and Himawari. How are they holding up?"
The elder hesitated. "They say Kawaki is... strong, but quiet. He seems determined to carry on Menma's legacy, but the burden is heavy. As for Himawari... she's still young. Too young to have lost so much."
Naruto closed his eyes, the weight of their words settling on his shoulders. His heart ached for the children—his nephew and niece—left to navigate a broken world.
"I need to go to Konoha," Naruto said finally, his voice resolute. "I need to see them."
The elder nodded, his expression solemn. "The village needs guidance. And those children... they need someone who understands."
Naruto stood, bowing slightly in gratitude. "Thank you for sharing this with me. I'll do what I can."
As he stepped outside, the cool night air hit his face, clearing his thoughts. He glanced at the stars above, his mind swirling with emotions.
For now, he had to accept what the world believed: Boruto was Menma's surrogate son, an outsider who betrayed him. But deep down, Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to this story—a truth hidden beneath layers of pain and illusion.
He had to find that truth. For Menma. For Kawaki. For Himawari. And for the legacy of the Uzumaki clan.
Y~Y
He decides to take the road by foot rather than teleportation. He always loved walking.
As he passed, he could sense many sorts of chakra in the environment. All new. Some vile, some dark and some weird.
The world did change a lot.
As he passed by a village, he sensed...something unsettling.
The village was tricky to get in, but he manages it anyway.
He entered the small village, they looked...primitive. Even compared to his own standards.
However, what shocked him was...
A young girl, brown hair and chocolate eyes, tied to a... Cross.
What?
The man, the executioner, raised his scythe.
The girl cried out. "Somebody, please!"
Naruto appeared in front of her, grabbing the scythe with his hand and breaking it.
The crowd roared in anger, ready to throw stones at the stranger when Naruto emitted a bit of his dense chakra.
They froze. Fell on their knees and threw up.
He looked at her, who was looking at him with shock. "Are you hurt?"
She didn't answer.
He looked at the villagers. "One second. Talk."
"Who are you?!"
"Kill the witch!"
"Go away!"
Naruto sighed, brushing off his red bangs. "Why were you doing such a barbaric thing?"
"She's a witch!"
"Kill her!"
Naruto tilted his head, his sapphire-blue eyes narrowing slightly as he studied the crowd. Their cries of "witch" echoed in his ears, each one dripping with fear and hatred. He didn't flinch, but inside, he felt a familiar pang of disappointment in humanity's darker tendencies.
He turned to the girl tied to the cross. Her small frame trembled, her chocolate-brown eyes wide with terror and confusion. Her lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to speak, but no words came out.
"She doesn't look like a witch to me," Naruto said, his voice calm yet sharp enough to cut through the noise.
"She cursed our crops!" a burly man near the front of the crowd yelled, his face red with anger. "Ever since she was born in this village, nothing has grown right!"
Another voice joined in. "My son fell sick because of her! She's brought misfortune to us all!"
The crowd roared in agreement, their fear twisting into a dangerous frenzy.
Naruto raised his hand, and the villagers instantly quieted, as though his very presence demanded their submission. He stepped closer to the man who had spoken first, his gaze piercing. "And did you see her curse your crops? Or your son?"
The man faltered, his anger wavering under Naruto's scrutinising stare. "W-Well... no, but—"
"But nothing," Naruto interrupted, his tone firm. "Blaming her for things you can't control? That's cowardice. You think killing her will solve your problems?"
The man opened his mouth to argue but quickly closed it again, his face paling.
Naruto turned his attention back to the girl. Her wrists were raw from the ropes binding her, and her face was streaked with tears. He gently placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch light yet reassuring. "It's okay. You're safe now."
She stared at him, her lips quivering. "Why... why are you helping me?"
"Because no one else would," Naruto said simply.
The crowd began to stir again, murmurs of discontent rippling through them. One particularly bold man stepped forward, brandishing a rusted pitchfork. "You can't just waltz in here and tell us how to handle our own! This is our village, and we'll do what we see fit!"
Naruto sighed, his patience wearing thin. He raised his hand, and a crystal barrier erupted from the ground, encasing the villagers in a translucent wall. They gasped and pounded against it, their fear turning to panic.
"Listen carefully," Naruto said, his voice carrying a weight that made even the bravest among them shrink back. "I don't care about your traditions or your superstitions. What I care about is protecting those who can't protect themselves. This girl isn't going to die today. Not by your hands."
He turned back to the girl and sliced through the ropes with a kunai, catching her as she slumped forward. She clung to him, her small hands clutching at his cloak as if it were a lifeline.
Naruto knelt down to meet her gaze. "What's your name?"
"Kaede," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
"Kaede," he repeated, offering her a small smile. "You're going to be okay now. I promise."
He glanced over his shoulder at the crowd, still trapped behind the crystal barrier. "You should all think long and hard about what you've done here. Fear makes people do terrible things, but that doesn't excuse your actions. If I hear about anything like this happening again..."
His voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken threat hanging in the air. The villagers shivered, their eyes wide with fear and shame.
With Kaede in his arms, Naruto began to walk away from the village. The crystal barrier dissolved behind him, and the villagers stumbled forward, too stunned to follow.
As they walked, Kaede looked up at him, her eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and curiosity. "Who... who are you?"
Naruto glanced down at her, his expression softening. "Just someone who doesn't like seeing innocent people get hurt."
She frowned slightly. "You don't look like just 'someone.' You... you're different."
Naruto chuckled, the sound light but tinged with sadness. "Yeah, I get that a lot."
They walked in silence for a while, the tension of the village fading into the background. Kaede clung to him tightly, as if afraid he might disappear at any moment.
Finally, she spoke again. "Thank you... for saving me."
"You don't need to thank me," Naruto said, his tone gentle. "Just promise me one thing."
"What?"
"Don't let fear or hatred change who you are," he said, his gaze distant. "It's easy to lose yourself in a world like this. But you're stronger than that. I can see it." .
Naruto's steps slowed as a group of villagers moved to block his way. Their faces twisted in defiance, though the lingering fear from his earlier display of chakra was still evident. One of the men, braver than the rest, stepped forward.
"If you leave this village with her," he said, his voice trembling slightly, "she'll be branded an outsider! A sinner! And you, blood-haired boy—you'll die for harbouring her!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. He glanced down at Kaede, whose grip on his sleeve tightened. She swallowed hard, her lips trembling as she whispered, "I… I don't want to bring you misfortune."
Naruto let out a heavy sigh. His patience was wearing thin. "Alright," he said, his voice low and calm. "What's your deal? What do you want me to do?"
The man smirked, clearly expecting to win this exchange. "It's simple. Either you kill her, or…" He paused for effect, casting a sly glance around the crowd. "You marry her."
The villagers murmured in agreement, some chuckling darkly. They clearly thought this suggestion would make Naruto back off.
Kaede's eyes went wide with fear. "What?" she gasped, her voice barely audible.
Naruto remained calm, his sharp gaze fixed on the man. He took a moment to use his sensing abilities, focusing on Kaede. That's when he noticed it—an unusual flow of chakra in her eyes. A dōjutsu. Huh, interesting. He didn't have time to dig into the specifics, but he made a mental note for later.
He looked back at the man and the smirking villagers. "Alright," he said with a shrug, "I'll marry her."
The entire village fell silent. Jaws dropped. Eyes widened. Even Kaede stared at him in disbelief, her cheeks turning a deep shade of red.
"W-what are you saying?!" she stammered.
But before anyone could react further, an old woman hobbled forward, her hands trembling as she held a steaming cup of water and an apple. "If you're serious," she said, her voice raspy but steady, "then drink from this cup at the same time and share bites of this apple. That's our way."
Naruto resisted the urge to roll his eyes. These ridiculous traditions… But he wasn't about to waste time arguing. "Fine," he said, taking the cup and apple from the woman.
Kaede, to his surprise, didn't object. She looked nervous, but there was a strange acceptance in her eyes. She stepped forward hesitantly, her hands shaking as she held the other side of the cup.
Together, they drank.
The water was hot and bitter, but Naruto didn't flinch. He took the apple next, biting into it before handing it to Kaede. She hesitated for a moment before taking a small, timid bite.
The villagers erupted into cheers and laughter, clapping and shouting in celebration. "The witch is saved!" one woman cried. "She'll finally leave us in peace!"
Naruto frowned, his annoyance growing, but he forced himself to focus. He glanced at Kaede, who seemed utterly overwhelmed by the situation.
"Well," Naruto said, loud enough for everyone to hear, "I guess this makes it official. I, Naruto Uzumaki, son of Minato Namikaze, hereby take you—Kaede—as my bride."
Kaede's face burned bright red as she stammered, "I… I a-accept."
The villagers cheered even louder, their joy almost deafening.
Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose. This was getting absurd.
Kaede tugged gently at his sleeve, drawing his attention. "Can we… um, go to my hut?" she asked quietly.
Naruto nodded, and the two of them slipped away from the crowd. She led him to a small mud hut on the outskirts of the village. Inside, it was sparse but clean, with only a few basic belongings.
"I need to gather some things," Kaede said softly. "And… there's a place I need to visit."
Naruto leaned against the doorway, crossing his arms. "Take your time," he said.
Naruto waited outside the small mud hut, leaning casually against a tree. His gaze wandered to the sky, the sun casting warm hues across the horizon. The silence was punctuated only by the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant chirping of birds. After a few minutes, Kaede stepped out, carrying a simple cloth bag slung over her shoulder.
She hesitated for a moment before walking past him, heading toward a patch of bushes. Curious, Naruto followed at a distance. He pushed aside a branch to find her kneeling in a small clearing, where two gravestones stood side by side. The markers were simple, carved from rough stone, but the care put into maintaining them was evident.
Ah.
Kaede sat down in front of the graves, her hands resting in her lap as she began to speak softly. Naruto stood a respectful distance away, letting her have her moment. Her words were low and muddled by emotion, but the pain in her voice was clear. She cried quietly, her shoulders trembling as she clung to the memories of whoever rested beneath the stones.
Naruto shifted awkwardly, unused to comforting people in moments like this. When her sobs quieted, he finally stepped forward, his white haori brushing against the tall grass.
"You know," he said gently, his voice low, "it's hard to leave family behind."
Kaede looked up at him, her face streaked with tears. "It's… um… I cannot bring them along, you see, um…"
"Kaede?"
"Um, yes, Milord?"
Naruto sighed, crouching beside her. "It's Naruto."
"It's Milord for me," she mumbled, averting her eyes.
Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose. "Listen, Kaede, that was a fake wedding. Just to satisfy those fools back there. Got it?"
She didn't respond, her eyes fixed on the gravestones.
"Anyways," he continued, brushing his hair back, "do you want to visit them every day?"
Kaede hesitated before nodding slowly, her gaze lingering on the names etched into the stones. "…Yes," she whispered.
Naruto stood and cracked his knuckles. "Then allow me."
He took a step forward, drawing a sealing scroll from the folds of his haori. The scroll unfurled in his hands, its surface covered in intricate calligraphy glowing faintly with chakra. Kaede watched, her breath hitching as Naruto performed a series of hand signs, his movements fluid and precise.
The air around the clearing grew heavy with power, a faint hum resonating as Naruto placed his palm against the ground. A glowing circle of seals radiated outward from his touch, surrounding the graves in a soft, golden light.
"Fūinjutsu: Eternal Preservation Seal."
The earth trembled slightly as the light enveloped the gravestones, lifting them gently from the ground. The grass and soil parted seamlessly, leaving no trace of disturbance. The stones floated into the air, cradled by Naruto's chakra, before being drawn into the scroll like water flowing into a vessel.
As the sealing completed, the scroll rolled itself up with a satisfying snap, the glow fading into its surface. Naruto tucked it securely into his haori and turned to Kaede, who stared at him in stunned silence.
Her lips trembled. "T-that was…"
"Sealing jutsu," Naruto said with a shrug. "It's nothing fancy, but it'll keep them safe."
Kaede shook her head, her eyes wide. "That… That's magic!" she breathed, her voice filled with awe. "I've never… None of us have ever seen anything like that!"
Naruto smirked faintly. "Well, now you have." He patted his haori where the scroll rested. "Don't worry. I'll keep them safe for now. You don't have to feel tied to this village anymore. Let's go."
With that, he turned and began walking away, his white haori swaying with each step, the red flames at its hem catching the light. His crimson hair glinted like fire under the sun.
Kaede stood frozen for a moment, watching him leave. Her fingers clutched the fabric of her bag as she stared at the man who had just rewritten everything she thought she knew about the world.
Swallowing hard, she took a deep breath and followed him.
Y~Y
Kaede's eyes widened in wonder as they exited the dense forest that surrounded her village. For the first time in her life, she saw trees beyond the towering canopy she had known all her years. The light filtered differently here, casting golden beams across the ground, and the air felt... freer. She tried to contain her excitement, clasping her hands tightly to her chest, but the small, delighted gasps escaping her betrayed her emotions.
Still, she kept her mouth shut, casting wary glances at Naruto. She didn't want to do anything to anger her "Milord."
Naruto walked ahead, silent as ever, his white haori swaying lightly with each step. He didn't seem to care much for her awe, his focus steady on the path ahead. However, his sharp eyes caught the weight of the small bag tied around her neck, bouncing awkwardly with every step she took.
He stopped suddenly, turning to her. "That thing looks heavy."
"H-huh?" Kaede blinked, clutching the bag protectively. "N-no, Milord, it's fine—"
"Give it here."
Her protests were silenced when Naruto's hand reached out, his expression calm but firm. Hesitantly, she untied the bag and handed it over, her eyes lowering in shame.
Naruto inspected it briefly before pulling out another scroll. With a flick of his wrist, he unrolled it, and Kaede watched in disbelief as glowing symbols shimmered to life once more.
"What are you doing?" she stammered, stepping back slightly.
Naruto didn't answer. He placed the bag against the scroll, murmured something under his breath, and the bag vanished in a flash of light, absorbed seamlessly into the scroll. He rolled it back up with the same casual grace, tucking it into his haori.
Kaede's jaw dropped. "M-magic again…?"
Naruto smirked faintly at her reaction. "Not magic. Jutsu." He started walking again, his tone light but uninterested. "It's sealed now. You won't have to carry it anymore."
Kaede stood frozen for a moment, staring at his back in astonishment. "Jutsu…" she whispered to herself. Her heart raced with a mixture of awe and fear. Just who was this man who could bend reality with a flick of his fingers?
She hurried after him, clutching her hands together nervously as she trailed behind. "T-thank you, Milord," she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
Naruto didn't look back, his voice calm and steady. "Stop calling me that. It's Naruto."
Kaede nodded timidly, but in her heart, she couldn't help but think: He's more than just Naruto. He's… something else entirely.
As Naruto and Kaede walked along the winding path, the sunlight filtering through the canopy above, he finally broke the silence. "So, Kaede," he began, his voice light but tinged with curiosity, "what's the story with you and... your eyes? The whole seeing-death thing. Born with it?"
Kaede hesitated, clutching the hem of her dress. "Y-yes," she murmured, her voice soft. "I was born like this."
Naruto glanced at her from the corner of his eye, sensing her discomfort. "Go on," he prompted gently.
She took a deep breath, her footsteps faltering slightly as she gathered her thoughts. "When I was little," she began, her tone distant, "I didn't understand it. I just... saw things. Shadows around people. I thought it was normal, you know? Something everyone could see."
Naruto nodded but didn't interrupt, letting her continue at her own pace.
"When I was about six," Kaede said, her voice trembling slightly, "I told my father not to go hunting one day. I... I saw something around him. Something dark. I begged him to stay home, but he just laughed and said I was imagining things."
Naruto frowned, already sensing where this was going.
"He didn't come back." Her voice cracked slightly. "They found him two days later in the forest. A wild boar had gored him. The villagers called it an accident, but I knew... I knew it wasn't."
She paused, swallowing hard. Naruto gave her a moment before gently prodding, "And your mother?"
Kaede's shoulders slumped. "She got sick a year later. A fever. I told her... I told her she wouldn't make it." Her fists clenched at her sides. "She just smiled and said I was being silly. She died a week later."
Naruto let out a slow breath, his expression softening. "That must've been hard for you."
"It was," Kaede admitted. "But the villagers... they were awed by me at first. They thought I was some kind of prophet. They'd come to me, asking when they'd die, how they'd die. And I told them."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "And they just... accepted it?"
"At first," Kaede said bitterly. "But curiosity turned to fear. They started avoiding me. Whispering behind my back. Parents wouldn't let their children play with me. I became... a pariah."
She sighed, kicking a small stone on the path. "The only one who didn't treat me like that was the village chief. He let me stay in his house, gave me food. But he was old, and... well, he died a week ago. After that, there was no one left to protect me."
Naruto stopped walking, turning to face her. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, his touch firm but gentle. Kaede flinched slightly, looking up at him with wide eyes.
"Kaede," he said, his voice steady and reassuring, "you don't have to deal with that kind of treatment anymore. I'm sure you can find a good place for yourself in my village. Konoha."
Her eyes widened. "Konoha? You mean... your home?"
"Yeah," Naruto said, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It's a good place. Plenty of people, plenty of opportunities. And we don't treat people like they're cursed just because they're different. You'll fit in."
Kaede stared at him for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, slowly, she nodded. "Thank you... Milord."
Naruto chuckled softly, removing his hand from her shoulder. "Come on, now," he said, turning back to the path. "Let's go."
Kaede followed, a small spark of hope flickering in her chest for the first time in years.
Y~Y
A/N:
I stopped reading Boruto manga after chapter 11.
I didn't...like it.
You may disagree but the ridiculous power levels, character design, k-pop-like clothes... kinda' disturbed me. Not to mention the toxic Boruto fanbase that constantly disrespect the older generation and so on.
It isn't anything ninja-like anymore. Their attires are ridiculously loose, revealing, unnessary things and so on.
Oddly, some argue Boruto is not Naruto's sequeal but a seperate anime altogether— clearly newbie anime fans.
I hate how they downplayed Naruto, ruined his design, his cloak, how— in order to show Himawari's badassary— made him miss his own Hokage Inaugration and currently locked him away.
Disgusting.
I respected Boruto anime, now, I am neutral about it. I don't care how 'peak' the manga is, I won't read it. If they bring back Sasuke and Naruto, I'll watch THAT PART. Otherwise, just like everyone else, I'll say:
"'Boruto'? You mean Madara's successfu Infinite Tsukuyomi?"
Thus, only a few Boruto manga characters will be used in this story. Like Jura, Code... you get it.
Thanks for reading this chapter. The next chapter 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!