The sky was a vast stretch of endless blue, with only a smattering of thin clouds breaking up its pristine expanse. Kite Tenjo drifted effortlessly across it, almost as if he were part of the sky itself. Orbital 7, transformed into his glider mode, carried him with wings spread wide, cutting clean lines through the air. The soft hum of Orbital's engines was the only sound, a rhythmic pulse that Kite found strangely soothing against the backdrop of his restless thoughts.
"Where to today, Kaito-sama?" Orbital 7's voice buzzed in his ear, a curious lilt in his tone. Orbital always asked this, no matter how many times Kite had shared his plans in the hours before. Sometimes Kite had to wonder if there was a screw loose somewhere in the robot's head.
Kite glanced down at the ground far below—a sprawling cityscape in miniature.
"Remember what Dr. Faker told us a couple of nights ago?" he replied.
Dr. Faker. The name alone was enough to stir unease. To most, he was a figure shrouded in controversy, a scientist whose brilliance had long since veered off the rails into something darker, something desperate. Rumors swirled around him like vultures, stories of experiments that should never have been conceived, of shady connections. But for Kaito, he wasn't just the man a certain part of the world whispered about—he was the man Kaito called father. And for all his faults, for all the bitterness that simmered between them, he was also the only hope his little brother, Haruto, had left.
"About the first visit?" Kite continued. "Before the Number Cards started showing up? The entity that came before it all… the Original Number."
Orbital let out a low hum, his engines shifting into a gentler beat as he absorbed the words. "I see," he answered, though Kite could hear a thread of worry tucked behind the usual obedience. "And we're… going to visit the Original Number, then?"
"Do you remember what you said to me that night?" Kite asked, his voice quieter now. "During that duel with Yuma, you said something—about the pendant Yuma was wearing. That it wasn't from this world."
Orbital's wings shifted slightly, the faint sound of gears turning breaking the stillness. "Yes, I remember," he said, a note of curiosity creeping into his tone. "I told you it didn't match any material composition in my database. Why bring it up now?"
Kite's eyes narrowed, his focus sharpening as he leaned forward. "Because I think the pendant is the key. If it's not from Earth, then it might lead us to something bigger—something Faker didn't tell us."
"Prepare for descent," he ordered, his voice barely a murmur as he tightened his grip. Orbital 7 tilted his wings, and they began their smooth, gradual descent toward the academy.
The early morning sunlight bathed the streets in golden hues as Yuma, Tetsuo, Kotori, Cat, Tokunosuke, and Takashi strolled towards school together.
Laughter spilled from their group, the kind that left traces of warmth behind, the kind that promised a good day ahead.
Yuma was gesticulating wildly, recounting an exaggerated version of a duel from the day before, while Tokunosuke made a face of mock disbelief.
Astral floated above Yuma, a transparent blue figure that only Yuma could see. Astral's voice carried a sardonic edge as he commented, "And then you tripped over your own two feet, didn't you?"
Yuma's eyes widened in indignation, his hands balled into fists at his sides. "Hey! It wasn't my fault! The sidewalk was uneven!" he shot back, his cheeks flushing a little.
Astral only smirked, his ghostly form leaning lazily in midair as if basking in Yuma's frustration.
"You say that every time," Astral replied.
As they approached the school gates, Yuma suddenly stopped, a flicker of something catching in the corner of his eye. His gaze snapped to the entrance, narrowing slightly as he recognized the familiar figure walking towards the building.
"Naruto…?" Yuma muttered, almost whispering.
Walking beside Naruto were two girls, one with a vibrant shade of pink hair that Yuma recognized from a previous encounter. The other, a redhead, looked unfamiliar. Naruto seemed different now—a little distant, yet somehow more at ease. There was an unmistakable coolness in the way he moved, but not without warmth. When Naruto's eyes met Yuma's, he nodded in silent acknowledgment.
Testsuo immediately shifted, stepping in front of Yuma protectively. "Hey! What are you doing here?" he demanded.
Anna, one of the girls with Naruto, the redhead, stepped forward in response, crossing her arms in front of her chest, her gaze challenging. "And what's wrong with a group of students showing up to school?" she asked, as if daring him to speak up.
The tension between them thickened, the air electric for a moment.
Yuma blinked in surprise, stepping around Tetsuo to get a clearer look at Naruto. "Wait, are you… coming back to school?" he asked in disbelief.
Naruto met Yuma's eyes, a faint smirk forming on his lips. "Yeah," he answered coolly, his tone almost casual. "Figured kids like me shouldn't skip so much." His words left Yuma and the others stunned, uncertain if he was joking.
Without waiting for a response, Naruto continued towards the school entrance, his companions following, leaving Yuma and his friends in stunned silence. Tetsuo grumbled something under his breath, still tense, but Yuma watched Naruto's back, a thought forming in his mind.
A thought that even surprised himself. Even if briefly.
"Naruto!" Yuma called out suddenly, his voice cutting through the noise of students. Naruto paused, glancing back over his shoulder, his eyes meeting Yuma's once more.
Yuma took a step forward, his expression resolute. "Would you… would you like to join the Numbers Club?"
Yuma's friends gasped, the shock written across their faces.
"Are you serious, Yuma?" Tokunosuke blurted out, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.
Yuma nodded, his gaze never wavering from Naruto. "I know you're looking for Numbers too," he said, his voice more composed now, almost soft. "I don't know why, and maybe it's not my business. But I don't think you're a bad person, Naruto. If we work together, we could find the Numbers faster. Maybe… we could help each other."
Naruto was silent for a moment, his eyes studying Yuma, searching for something in his expression. Then, slowly, a smile tugged at his lips—not the smirk from earlier, but something softer, almost fond.
"Thanks, Yuma. But I'll pass," Naruto said, his voice warm, lacking any malice. He turned away, but not before letting out a small laugh. "But I'm glad you've got a group of friends who have your back."
He gave a final wave before walking off, his figure merging with the crowd of students heading towards the school building. Yuma watched until Naruto disappeared, a smile slowly forming on his face.
Kotori nudged Yuma again, her eyes soft with concern. "You okay?" she asked.
Yuma nodded, his eyes still on where Naruto had stood. "Yeah," he said quietly, a hint of determination in his voice. "I'm just thinking about the next time Naruto and I duel. I'm sure this time things will be different."
The bell rang in the distance, and Tetsuo sighed, shaking his head. "Come on, let's get going," he said, his voice gruff but affectionate. The group moved forward again, the energy slowly returning as Tokunosuke cracked a joke, breaking the tension.
They were now in P.E class.
The air was alive with the thud of basketballs, the crisp sound of a soccer ball being punted across the grass, and the occasional sharp whistle from the P.E. teacher. Students buzzed with excitement, but no one drew as much attention as Naruto.
First, the basketball court. The game was tense, the score tied. But Naruto weaved through defenders with the ease and grace of a seasoned athlete. With a final, almost casual leap, he sent the ball sailing through the air. The swish of the net was met with cheers, the sound rippling across the court. Even the P.E. teacher, a grizzled man who rarely smiled, gave an approving nod. Yuma, standing on the sidelines, fumbled his water bottle.
"Seriously?" Yuma muttered, his eyes narrowing as a group of girls on the bleachers erupted into excited whispers, some even waving at Naruto.
Yuma later tried to do the same thing. Yelling Kattonbingu as he tried to shoot the basketball. Only to miss the shot and trip on his shoe laces as he landed, crashing hard on his face.
Next, the track. The whistle blew, and the runners surged forward. Naruto was a streak of yellow and black against the track, his speed breathtaking. The other runners faded into the background as he crossed the finish line well ahead of them, barely winded. A chorus of giggles and applause from the growing cluster of admirers followed. Yuma, trailing far behind, stumbled across the finish line, panting.
"Unreal," Yuma grumbled, wiping sweat from his brow as Astral floated beside him, ever the impartial observer.
"It appears Naruto possesses a remarkable affinity for physical exertion," Astral noted. "Though I must admit, your current performance is… lacking."
Yuma shot him a glare. "Thanks, Astral. Real helpful."
Next was volleyball, where Naruto's spikes were near impossible to block; soccer, where he effortlessly maneuvered past the defense to score a hat-trick; even dodgeball, where he stood like a general commanding his team, dodging every throw with ease and delivering counterattacks that left his opponents scrambling.
Each victory brought a new wave of fans. The group of girls, once just a few, had multiplied. They now followed Naruto from activity to activity, their cheers growing louder and louder. By the time P.E. wrapped up, Naruto's name echoed across the field, a chant of adoration that made Yuma's stomach twist.
Yuma sitting on the bleachers, his head in his hands, watching Naruto being surrounded by girls.
Kotori approached, handing Yuma a towel. "Don't let it get to you," she said gently, "Naruto's… well, he's Naruto."
Yuma let out a long sigh, burying his face in the towel. "Yeah, but does he have to be good at everything?"
Kotori smiled softly, her gaze drifting to Naruto. "It's not about being good at everything. It's about how you handle it."
Yuma looked up at her, his expression softening. "Well, I guess you're right." He then looked more determined as he hopped off the bleachers. "Well, I can't fall too far behind either!"
Anna leaned back against the grassy hillside, her arms folded behind her head, eyes half-closed to the late afternoon sun filtering down over the sports field. Beside her, Luna fiddled with a loose shoelace, her face flushed from exertion, strands of her pink hair sticking to her forehead. Around them, the remnants of the P.E. class clung to their rest period, panting breaths mixing with the distant calls of other students. They both noticed the sideways glances from a few boys, lingering with a certain hesitance. But the girls chose to ignore it, keeping their conversation light.
Anna rolled onto her side, her expression somewhere between a smirk and exhaustion. "I'm going to the bathroom," she announced, rising and dusting off her shorts. Luna gave a lazy wave, her eyes drifting closed as she turned her face toward the sun.
The gym's interior hallway was dim and hollow, quite different from the sunlit field. Anna's sneakers squeaked on the polished floor, her pace casual without much of a care in the world. But as she rounded the corner toward the lockers, she caught sight of something—something strange.
A small, robot drifted along the hallway, its movements suspiciously furtive, pausing to peek around corners. Anna furrowed her brow, curiosity igniting. This wasn't the standard cleaning bot she'd seen whirring around Heartland City—no, this was something else. She crept behind the wall, careful to keep herself hidden while she watched the tiny machine.
The robot was mumbling to itself. "Kaito-sama… something's off… that Yuma kid. Now where is that ridiculous pendant he wears…" The voice was mechanical and smug, and it irritated her in a way she couldn't quite articulate.
Anna's expression hardened, her jaw setting. This was no friendly helper; it was sneaking around, intent on something malicious. The bot moved further, moving towards the boy's locker room. Anna's eyes narrowed as she trailed after it.
The robot paused by a row of lockers, its hand shifting, warping like liquid metal until it transformed into a key. The appendage slotted into the lock with a mechanical click, the door swinging open. Anna's eyes widened—this thing was stealing.
She moved before she could think, feet carrying her out from her hiding spot, her hand darting forward to snatch the pendant out of the robot's metallic fingers. "Hey! Stealing is not cool!" she said, her voice echoing off the empty hallway.
The robot whirled on her, its round eyes widening, then narrowing with fury. "You dare interfere?" it hissed, its mechanical voice rising an octave. "Kaito-sama will have my parts if I fail… Give it back, girl!"
"No way!" Anna snapped, defiant as ever. She took a step back, clutching the pendant tightly. The bot—Orbital 7 —began to change, its body twisting and expanding. One arm morphed into a massive, threatening drill, the motor whirring to life with a menacing hum.
Anna took an involuntary step back, her eyes widening in surprise. "What in the—" she started, but before she could finish, Orbital lunged forward, the drill screaming toward her.
"I won't hold back just because you're a girl!" Orbital roared.
Anna barely managed to throw herself to the side, the lockers beside her splintering as the drill tore into them with an ear-splitting screech. She hit the ground in a roll, scrambling to her feet, her heart pounding in her ears. The narrow hallway offered little space, and the robot's newfound bulk seemed to fill it entirely. Anna bolted, running faster than she'd ever ran.
"What am I doing? What am I doing?" she muttered to herself, adrenaline fueling her sprint as she raced toward the stairs. Behind her, Orbital's furious shouts echoed, the drill sparking as it dragged across the walls, chasing her like some twisted nightmare.
She pushed the door to the rooftop open with a burst of strength, the heavy metal slamming against the wall. She stumbled onto the roof, her feet finding purchase against the concrete, and then—
She collided with something solid. Or rather, someone.
Anna fell backward, landing hard, the pendant slipping from her fingers and clattering away. She blinked up, dazed, meeting a pair of cold, blue eyes. The man stood tall, his presence commanding, framed by the darkening sky. His gaze held hers with an intensity that made her breath catch—if he weren't glaring down at her, she might have even called him handsome.
"Orbital," the man said, his voice low and edged with disappointment.
"Kaito-sama!" Orbital's demeanor changed immediately. The robot moved closer, bowing its head, its earlier aggression evaporating. "I-I apologize, sir! She… she interfered. It's her fault, truly!"
Kaito's eyes didn't leave Anna, their icy focus freezing her in place. "You couldn't handle a single girl without causing a scene?" he asked Orbital, his voice quiet, dangerous.
Orbital flinched, his servos whirring nervously. "Kaito-sama, please, I…"
Kaito's gaze flicked to the pendant, lying just out of Anna's reach. He looked back at her, the coldness in his eyes making her stomach drop. "Girl," he said, his voice so calm it was terrifying, "might I kindly ask you to return what you took?"
Anna swallowed, her throat dry. The request was polite, almost too polite—but there was something behind his eyes that spoke of consequences far worse than anything the psycho robot could offer. She could tell immediately that this guy was a different level of danger.
From the background, Orbital 7 pointed an accusing robotic finger at her, his tone was supposed to sound threatening but came off exasperated instead. "That key! It is the critical component in our search! It could lead us to the Original Number!" His voice rose in pitch as he emphasized the last two words, making them sound far more ominous than he probably intended.
Anna's eyes narrowed. "The Original Number?" she repeated, her grip on the key tightening. "What do you know about it?"
Orbital 7 hesitated for a split second, then placed both hands on his hips—well, where hips would be on a human. "A classified amount! And you, young lady, are interfering with our sacred mission! Now hand it over, before things get... complicated." His attempt at menace was undermined by his dog-like appearance.
"Sacred mission?" Anna was incredulous, taking another step back. "I'm not giving you anything. Especially not to some tin can that just started attacking me!"
Orbital gasped, his robotic eyes flashing indignantly. "Tin can?! How dare you! I am Orbital 7, the most loyal and efficient assistant to the great Kaito-sama! And might I add, exquisite in design!" He straightened up proudly, his chest plate puffing out as far as it could go.
Anna raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, sure. I'm still not giving you the key."
Orbital's hands shot up to his head in exaggerated frustration. "Argh! Why must humans always be so difficult?" He spun around in a tiny circle, as if recalibrating his patience. "Fine! If you won't listen to reason, I'll simply have to—"
"Orbital."
"K-Kaito-sama! I–"
Kaito's sharp glare cut him off. "You talk too much, Orbital."
Orbital 7's robotic hands trembled as they clamped over his mouth, his digital eyes flickering in panic. "Sorry, Kaito-sama!" his metallic voice squeaked out from behind his fingers. "I didn't mean to—"
Kaito shot him a withering glare, and Orbital immediately went silent, his shoulders slumping in a mechanical pout.
Anna's thoughts raced as she stood, clenching her fists. "You're after the Numbers too," she said, her voice steadier than she expected. It wasn't a question. "Then you must know how dangerous they are. They don't belong to anyone—especially not to someone who'd use them for their own gain."
Kaito's icy stare bore into her, his smirk widening. "And what if I do?" he said coolly. "What if I already have one?"
Her breath caught, but she refused to let her fear show. "Then you need to hand it over," she demanded, her tone firm. "Numbers aren't a power to be toyed with. If you misuse them, you'll only bring ruin."
Kaito chuckled, a low and unsettling sound that sent a chill down her spine. "You talk big for someone trembling in their shoes," he said. "But I'll admit, you've got guts."
Anna felt the weight of her D-Pad in her pocket, her fingers brushing against its edge. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her nerves. "If you think you're worthy of a Number," Kaito continued, "prove it. Show me your strength."
Anna's pulse quickened. A duel with this guy?
The thought was terrifying, but she couldn't back down now. She had to protect the Numbers—no matter what. She pulled the D-Pad from her pocket, her hands trembling only slightly as she activated it. "Fine," she said, lifting her chin. "I'll duel you. And when I win, you'll hand over any Numbers you have."
Kaito's smirk turned razor-sharp. "Confident, aren't we?" he said, activating his own D-Pad. "Let's see if your skills match your bravado."
"Duel!"
A sharp, metallic crash split the afternoon air. Naruto's head snapped toward the school, his eyes narrowing. He stood at the edge of the P.E. field, chest still rising and falling from the last set of physical activity. But now, none of that mattered. His gaze locked on the rooftop, where a shimmering, almost blinding light coiled and danced like a living thing.
Then he saw it—the unmistakable form of a massive, radiant dragon.
"Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon…" Naruto muttered, his throat tightening. A familiar chill ran down his spine. He'd fought this beast before. No, not just the dragon. Its master.
It was the Numbers Hunter from that night.
His heart kicked into high gear, and before he could think twice, Naruto was sprinting across the field toward the school.
"Uzumaki! Where do you think you're going?" the P.E. teacher barked. But Naruto didn't break stride, didn't even glance back.
"Naruto!" Luna's voice rang out as she followed him, her face pale. She'd seen it too.
"That dragon…" she said breathlessly as she caught up to him. "It's that guy, isn't it?"
Naruto gave a grim nod, his jaw clenched. "Yeah. It's him."
Behind them, Yuma stood frozen for a moment, eyes wide with confusion and unease. But when he saw the look on Naruto's face—saw the urgency in the way he moved—something clicked. Without a word, Yuma took off after them.
"Yuma! Where are you going?" Kotori called out, worried.. She hesitated for a split second before running after him.
Tetsuo, standing nearby with his hands on his hips, groaned in frustration. "Oh, come on!" he muttered before joining the chase. The group tore through the school, their hurried footsteps echoing off the walls as they raced toward the rooftop.
Naruto reached the rooftop door first and threw it open with a loud bang. He skidded to a stop, and the others stumbled in behind him, gasping for breath.
What they saw made their blood run cold.
Anna laid motionless at the center of the rooftop, her face pale, her eyes wide and unseeing. Kaito towered over her, his hand plunged into her chest—but not physically. Tendrils of ghostly light swirled around his arm, seeping into Anna's body. Her soul.
"No!" Yuma's voice cracked, horrified.
Kaito didn't react. Slowly, he pulled his hand back, the light following like silk threads. In his palm, he held a glowing, fragile orb—Anna's soul, flickering faintly like a dying flame. Her body collapsed to the ground, limp, lifeless.
Kaito stared at the orb for a moment, his expression unreadable. Then his fingers curled around it, and the light disappeared.
"There's no Number in her soul," he said quietly, almost to himself. His voice was flat, but there was a weight to it, a heaviness that lingered in the air. He glanced down at Anna's body, his face momentarily shadowed by something that almost looked like regret. Almost.
"You!" Naruto's voice was sharp, furious. He took a step forward, fists clenched. "What the hell did you just do?!"
Yuma, his hands trembling, echoed the question. "You… you took her soul. You killed her!"
Kaito finally turned to face them, his eyes cold, unreadable. "Tsukumo Yuma. Uzumaki Naruto," he said, their names hanging in the air like a challenge. For a moment, he simply stood there, sizing them up.
But then he turned away, walking toward the edge of the rooftop. "This isn't the time," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "Not yet. We'll settle things another time."
Before they could stop him, he stepped off the edge.
"No!" Kotori screamed, rushing to the railing, but it was too late. He was gone.
For a moment, there was only the sound of the wind. Then, with a mechanical whir, Orbital 7 appeared below, his small frame shifting and expanding into a sleek, futuristic glider that effortlessly landed on Kaito's back. The two of them shot upward, climbing higher into the sky.
Naruto and Yuma could only watch, their fists clenched in helpless anger. But as Kaito rose into the air, Yuma's eyes widened. In Kaito's hand, something gleamed—a small pendant, unmistakable in its shape.
"My pendant!" Yuma shouted, his voice breaking. "He took the Emperor's Key! He took Astral!"
But Kaito was already a distant silhouette against the horizon, the golden glow of sunset swallowing him whole. His figure disappeared, leaving only the faint hum of Orbital's engines in the air.
Naruto stood frozen, his breath steadying as his rage simmered beneath the surface. "This isn't over," he said, his voice low, almost a growl. His eyes, hard and determined, stayed fixed on the horizon long after Kaito was gone.
Yuma clutched the front of his shirt, his heart pounding. "We'll get him," he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "We have to."