Re:Shinobi – Bound by Death
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Naruto x ?
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Author's Note
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Early chapter releases in the usual place. Everything will eventually be here though or on A03.
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Story Start
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Naruto awoke with a jolt, as though pulled from the edges of consciousness by an unseen hand. The sky above him was a pristine blue, tinged with the dusky purples of late afternoon. Buildings of brick and mortar loomed on either side of a narrow cobblestone street. Merchants shouted in an unfamiliar language, hawking wares from open-air stalls. Exotic scents—spice, sweet pastries, and the musk of horses—wafted through the bustling crowd.
He blinked.
This definitely isn't Konoha… or anywhere else in the Elemental Nations.
The man who was once Seventh Hokage stood in the middle of the thoroughfare, wearing orange-and-black robes, reminiscent of his old Hokage cloak—although now they were patched and worn from decades of service and multiple battles in his homeworld. A swirling red spiral on the back served as a symbol of the Uzumaki clan. His blond hair he had let grow out in his old age sprouting out just slightly more than his teenage years.
Around him, pedestrians paused at the sight of this strange newcomer with three whisker-like marks on each cheek. Eyes flicked from his bright outfit to the tanned skin of his hands.
Wait a minute. His hands, they were…they looked so smooth. His hands going to his face he know longer felt the faint deep lines of age or creases.
Naruto reached out with his chakra sense and sensed… almost nothing. There were traces of energy, similar yet different to chakra, floating in the air like gentle motes of mana. But no prominent shinobi presences, no concentrated jutsu, no meld of nature energy beyond the slightest wisp.
He tried to recall how he ended up here. He had been in Konoha—no, not quite. Maybe it was after… the final, terrible conflict with the Ootsuki grand elder and the last remnants of their family. The memories flickered hazily. The last thing he recalled was a moment of sacrifice. Then, a voice—soft, female, and achingly sad—whispering his name:
"Naruto… Finally… you are here."
A cool wind drifted down the street, carrying with it the excited chatter of locals. Naruto drew in a steady breath, old instincts resurfacing. He'd adapt; that was what he always did. If this was some new dimension or an afterlife, he'd figure things out and help anyone in need.
He took a step forward—then froze as a shrill scream rent the air from a nearby alley.
Naruto sprinted down the tight alleyway, boots splashing in shallow puddles from a recent rainfall. He felt the faint thrumming of aggression—malicious intent. Once he turned the corner, he saw three men harassing a silver-haired young woman, who held a small cat-like spirit hovering above her shoulder. The cat spirit's eyes burned with a faint blue glow, but it looked as startled as its mistress.
The girl herself looked no older than twenty. She wore a fitted white-and-purple outfit—a long-sleeved tunic that flared into a short skirt, accompanied by white stockings that ended in light, practical shoes. Around her neck was a small, amethyst crystal that seemed to pulse in tandem with the cat spirit. Her face was delicate, her eyes a shade of violet that reflected both fear and quiet resolve. Most distinctive was her long silver hair, cascading down her back, framing slightly pointed ears that marked her as a half-elf.
When the men turned, Naruto saw their ragged attire: mismatched shirts and trousers, grime-stained cloaks. Knives glimmered in their hands. Thugs, by the look of them.
"Got no money, half-witch?" one of them hissed, stepping closer. He flinched when Naruto arrived—the blond man's presence seemed to radiate something like an aura of command. Another lifted his knife toward Naruto, face twisted in anger. "Back off if you know what's good for you!"
Naruto's eyes hardened. "I've never been good at backing off," he said quietly. Over decades, his voice had deepened into a calm, authoritative tone. The decades of being a leader had resulted in Naruto to better read situations instead of being impulsive. Yet that old spark of good humor lingered in his grin. "Now, how about you leave her alone?"
The men, typical bullies, tried to intimidate him. One rushed forward with a wild slash. Naruto simply stepped aside, the knife missing by a wide margin as if guided away by the slightest slip of Naruto's foot. With a gentle push at the man's wrist, he disarmed him effortlessly. A second thug came at him from the side, but Naruto sidestepped again, hooking his arm around the man's. The thug's momentum carried him into a broken crate near the alley wall.
The final ruffian, seeing the display, dropped his weapon and bolted. The first two scrambled after him, shooting terrified glances back at Naruto. Within seconds, the alley was empty save for Naruto, the silver-haired girl, and the small cat spirit.
Panting softly, the girl tried to collect herself. "That was…" She paused, gaze flicking to the swirl of red on Naruto's jacket. "You handled them so easily."
Naruto chuckled. "I've been around a while. And I don't like seeing people get cornered. Are you alright?"
She inhaled, let out a slow breath, then offered a slight bow. "Yes, thank you. My name is—" she paused, a hesitant look crossing her face. "—Satella," she said at last, voice quiet.
Something about that name reverberated in Naruto's mind. Satella. A swirl of memory from nowhere: Witch of Envy. The voice that whispered in his mind. The presence that had drawn him here. But this girl in front of him… she appeared kind, earnest. Could she truly be that dreaded figure?
The cat spirit purred, tail swishing. "You can call me Puck," it said, voice high and mischievous. "Thanks for the assist, big guy."
Naruto's confusion flickered across his features, but he kept his composure. "I'm Naruto Uzumaki," he answered with a smile. "Happy to help."
The silver-haired girl repeated his name softly—"Na-ru-to"—as though testing its sound. "I'm… sorry," she began, "but have we met somewhere?"
He shook his head. "Pretty sure we haven't."
"Strange," she murmured, her purple eyes unreadable for a moment. "I just… had a feeling."
She then turned her attention to the alley exit. "I should get going. I lost something important, and it was stolen from me." She paused, looking a bit embarrassed. "I—if it's not too much trouble, might I ask for your help? I'm looking for a small badge—an insignia with a dragon emblem."
Naruto's grin widened. "Of course. Helping people is what I do best."
The girl brightened. "Thank you. Then let's leave this alley." She hesitated again, glancing at the tall blond stranger. "If you really don't mind."
"Hey, don't worry about it," Naruto said. Something about her presence put him at ease, as if there was a gentle warmth despite the peculiar name she'd given. "Let's go find that badge of yours."
They emerged onto the main street of Lugnica's royal capital. The capital was a bustling city of elegant stone buildings, many crowned with vibrant, sloping roofs. Spacious plazas opened periodically between market streets, each teeming with stalls and passersby. Closer to the center loomed the silhouette of the Royal Palace—a grand structure perched atop the highest elevation, its spires piercing the sky like slender blades.
Naruto took in the sights: fruit vendors calling out deals, children laughing as they ran past with pastries, knights in gleaming armor patrolling in pairs. The roads were relatively clean—impressive for a medieval-style setting—and lined with tall streetlamps that would likely be lit by magical means at night. Naruto's keen senses noted the swirl of that unusual energy in the air. Mana. This world's version of spiritual power. He noticed small crystals embedded in the lamps, presumably for illumination.
As they walked, the silver-haired girl kept a modest pace. Her attire drew curious stares; half-elves were a rarity, and not always welcomed. She didn't flinch from the attention, though her posture remained subtly tense.
Naruto smiled reassuringly. "Don't sweat it. I've been stared at most of my life, too."
She seemed surprised, but quickly returned his smile. "Thank you, Uzumaki-san."
Smiling gently he uttered, "Please, call me Naruto, I'm not one for formality unless necessary."
They passed a group of demi-humans—canine-eared merchants bartering with a dwarven blacksmith. Naruto observed them with fascination; if he hadn't lived through the Fourth Shinobi War and encountered the Otsutsuki, he might have been more shocked. But he simply acknowledged them with friendly nods. Having already met aliens and dealing with other entities as the summon spirits meeting these new beings were par the course.
Puck, perched on the girl's shoulder, glanced at Naruto's swirling chakra cloak (faint though it was) with curious eyes. "Your mana manipulation is… unusual," the cat spirit observed. "It doesn't feel like magic from this world. Are you some sort of spirit arts user?"
Naruto scratched his head. "It's called chakra where I'm from, but yeah, I guess you can think of it like your mana."
Before Puck could probe further, the silver-haired girl sighed. "We should split up. I can search the east side. If you could take the west side near the slums, maybe we'll cover more ground?"
Naruto shrugged. "I don't mind searching alone, but are you sure you'll be okay by yourself?"
She held up a hand, from which Puck raised his tiny paws in a playful boxing stance. "I'll have Puck with me. We'll be fine. But time is of the essence. The thief might try to sell my insignia quickly."
Naruto nodded. "Alright then. Let's meet back here in two hours. Sound good?"
She agreed, and with a graceful step, she was off, weaving through the crowd with Puck perched elegantly on her shoulder. Naruto watched her go, a sense of deja vu tugging at him. He couldn't shake the feeling that the name "Satella" meant more than she let on.
Naruto made his way westward, where the roads gave way to shabbier districts. Buildings became cramped; their wooden walls and patchy roofs sat in stark contrast to the capital's polished stone plazas. Old crates lined the alleys, stray cats slinked in the shadows, and the smell of garbage mingled with unwashed bodies. Here, fewer knights patrolled, and the people gave Naruto suspicious glares from behind half-shuttered windows.
He recalled his youth, painting graffiti on Konoha's monument and scrounging for respect. His heart tugged with sympathy. Like him, these folks had probably been pushed aside by society.
At a corner, Naruto spotted a lithe, short-haired blonde girl dart across the street, rummaging through discarded items for anything of value. She wore rough, tattered clothes—a worn-out leather vest over a thin tunic, patched shorts, and boots nearly falling apart. Despite her petite stature, her movements were swift and self-assured, like a thief who knew these streets intimately.
She noticed him and froze, glaring with bright red eyes. "What're you lookin' at, old man?"
Naruto couldn't help but laugh, be on the other side of that insult was never something he thought he could mark off his bingo list. "Old man, huh? Well, I guess I've been called worse. I'm Naruto. I'm looking for something stolen—a dragon insignia."
Her expression briefly flickered with recognition. Quickly, she masked it. "Never heard of it."
A swirl of subtle chakra sensing told Naruto otherwise. "I'm not here to arrest you or anything. Just want to make sure it gets back to who it belongs to." He offered a grin. "Maybe we can work something out?"
Felt narrowed her eyes. "If you're with the knights, I'll gut you. And if you're with that half-witch…" She glanced away, spitting on the ground. "Then I really don't care."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. Half-witch? Is that what they call her? He recalled the negative stares the silver-haired girl received. The hostility in Felt's voice told him she either had a deep prejudice or had been taught to hate half-elves.
"Look," Naruto said, raising both hands in a peaceful gesture. "I'm not with anyone. I just promised I'd help return that insignia. It's important to her."
Felt scoffed. "Important because she needs it for some shady deal, no doubt. Probably for the Royal Selection or whatever nonsense the nobles are up to." She crossed her arms. "Anyway, if you want it, you're gonna have to come to Old Man Rom's loot house later. That's where I'll be. Bring your money or don't show up."
With that, she darted away in a flash of nimble feet, disappearing into an alley so narrow Naruto doubted he could pass through without turning sideways.
A grin tugged at his lips. So she had it, after all. He would find her again, hopefully soon enough to get the insignia back without violence.
Following the directions gleaned from the girl's parting words, Naruto ventured deeper into the slums until he reached an old warehouse—or "loot house," as she called it. The structure seemed half-collapsed in places, with boarded-up windows and a door that looked ready to fall off its hinges. A sign hung lopsidedly, the painted words long since chipped away.
Naruto stepped inside. Dim light filtered through cracks in the walls, revealing crates of random junk: broken furniture, tattered clothing, some rusted weapons. At the back sat a giant of a man, Old Man Rom, who dwarfed even Naruto in height. He had a thick gray beard, an eye patch over one eye, and wore heavy furs despite the moderate temperature. He was nursing a large gourd of what smelled like cheap alcohol.
Felt stood beside him, arms crossed defensively, the dragon insignia glittering between her fingers. She seemed more confident with Rom at her side.
"You actually showed up," Felt said. "Didn't think you had the guts."
Naruto offered a small wave. "I made a promise to get that insignia. But I'm not here for a fight." He noticed Rom watching him warily. "I'm Naruto. Nice to meet you, uh, Old Man Rom."
Rom snorted. "Huh. Bold one, aren't you? Fine. If you want the badge, you better have coin." He held out a massive hand, calloused and scarred.
Naruto scratched his chin, sheepish. "I kinda don't have any money."
Felt nearly burst a blood vessel. "You came all the way here without a single coin to pay for it?!"
Rom grunted, taking another swig. "Then you wasted your time. This insignia is worth a fortune. We got an interested buyer coming soon."
Naruto frowned. "An interested buyer?"
Felt smirked. "That's right. They'll pay a nice sum for this. Enough to get me out of these slums." Her bravado faltered as Naruto's expression grew concerned.
He stepped forward, placing a hand lightly on a crate. "I get it. Trust me, I do. But that insignia is really important. The girl it belongs to—she needs it for reasons beyond just money."
Felt rolled her eyes. "Oh, sure. The half-witch needs it to get her way with the stuck-up nobles."
Naruto's gaze hardened. "You don't know her. She's just a kind person trying to—"
"She's a half-elf, isn't she?" Rom interjected. "They're trouble."
Naruto's fists clenched involuntarily. He remembered how people in his own childhood spat words like "demon fox" at him. "You have no idea who she really is."
Silence fell. Finally, Rom sighed. "If you're so set on it, maybe we can—"
The door slammed open with a sudden force. A tall woman stepped into the loot house with unnerving grace. She wore a form-fitting, backless black outfit that revealed a pale midriff. A dark hooded cloak trailed behind her. Most striking were her crimson irises and the twisted smile on her lips. She had raven hair cascading down her shoulders in silky waves, framing a face of lethal beauty.
Felt visibly paled. "You're… early," she said, clutching the insignia tightly.
This newcomer's voice was as smooth as velvet. "I do like to arrive ahead of schedule. It allows me to… ensure my needs are met."
Naruto felt a chilling aura from her. Not quite like a typical rogue shinobi, but something predatory. He thought of Orochimaru or some of the more sinister foes he'd faced—there was an undercurrent of sadism. She introduced herself with a mocking bow. "My name is Elsa Granhiert, though most know me as the Bowel Hunter."
Rom rose to his full imposing height, brandishing a heavy iron club. Felt stepped back, fear prickling across her features. Naruto kept his eyes on Elsa.
She turned her gaze on Naruto, and her lips curved into that same chilling smile. "You're not who I expected to find here. And you smell… delicious."
Naruto's instincts screamed caution. He let a faint swirl of chakra envelop him. "Not planning to be your dinner, lady."
Elsa's grin widened. "We'll see."
In the blink of an eye, she lunged. Her form blurred with astonishing speed, a dagger materializing in her hand. Rom swung his massive club, but Elsa twisted gracefully beneath it as though dancing. She darted forward and sliced across Rom's side, drawing blood.
Felt yelped. "Rom!" She scrambled for cover behind a large crate.
Naruto dashed in. He was used to dealing with quick adversaries, but Elsa's movements were unnaturally fluid, as if guided by an otherworldly sense. He channeled chakra into his limbs, augmenting his physical speed. He intercepted her next attack with a raised forearm, the dagger scraping against the faint golden glow that manifested as a thin layer of protective chakra.
Elsa's eyes flickered with intrigue. "Oh, that's new. I've never tasted someone like you before."
Naruto exhaled, stepping in with a swift palm strike aimed at her torso. She twisted just enough to avoid a direct hit, but the grazing blow still forced her back several feet. She landed lightly on her toes, black outfit shifting with each graceful movement.
Rom clutched his wound, grimacing. Felt rushed to his side, pressing her hands to the bleeding injury. "Hold still, old man."
Naruto was caught between wanting to protect them and confronting Elsa. "Why are you after the insignia?" he asked.
Elsa's face remained a mask of sadistic amusement. "I've been hired to retrieve it, of course. And the best part is…" Her gaze drifted to the cowering Felt, then lingered on Rom's injury. "I get paid extra if I tidy up loose ends."
Naruto's jaw tightened. "So that's it. You're working for someone else."
Elsa tilted her head. "You're quite astute." She lunged again, dagger flashing.
Naruto blocked, countered, feeling her inhuman strength vibrate up his arms. The dagger's blade, carved from what appeared to be some enchanted material, resisted the chakra pulses he sent back. She slid around him, aiming for his vitals. Naruto spun, forming a single-handed seal: "Wind Release: Gale Palm!" He sent a burst of compressed air at point-blank range.
Elsa's eyes widened. The wind attack hurled her back, crashing her into a stack of broken crates. She flipped to her feet almost instantly, a small trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth. Rather than anger, her eyes shone with twisted delight.
"Now, this is interesting," she purred. "Perhaps I'll have to open you up first."
The battle raged. Naruto was mindful of the environment—he didn't want to level half the building with an overpowered jutsu. Rom was gravely injured, but still conscious, while Felt clung to the insignia and tried to stop his bleeding.
Elsa moved with unnerving speed, akin to a dancer weaving through a storm. Each slash, each stab of her dagger, came within a hair's breadth of carving Naruto's flesh.
Naruto unleashed a Rasengan, swirling chakra coalescing in his palm, its blue sphere crackling with power. He charged, aiming center mass. Elsa's eyes narrowed.
At the last possible instant, she twisted aside, letting the Rasengan tear through her cloak and graze her ribs. The blow flung her across the loot house, smashing her into a wooden beam. The entire structure rattled with the impact.
Panting, Naruto prepared to press his advantage. But Elsa rose, her lips curved in a near-manic smile despite the blood staining her clothes. "That was wonderful," she breathed, seemingly in ecstasy from the pain.
Naruto's expression turned grim. "Stay down, or next time I won't hold back."
Elsa's grin only widened. She darted forward once more, daggers raised. Naruto caught her blades with his forearm guards of compressed chakra. He heard a terrifying scraping noise—her blade actually slicing into his protective aura. A surge of dark energy pulsed from her, momentarily disrupting his chakra flow.
She seized the opening, slipping beneath his guard to drive her dagger deep into his abdomen.
Naruto's breath caught. Decades of battle reflex told him to twist away, but the blade had already found flesh. Hot pain radiated through him. He coughed, feeling blood rise in his throat.
Across the room, Felt screamed. Rom shouted in rage, tried to swing his club, but he collapsed with a groan, his wound too severe.
Elsa held Naruto's gaze, her own red eyes shining with a cruel satisfaction. "Your insides… how do they look, I wonder?"
Naruto, face contorted in pain, mustered enough chakra to attempt a final blow. "Damn it," he whispered. He formed a shadow clone behind her, but Elsa sensed it, spinning to slash the clone before it could strike. The clone evaporated in a puff of smoke.
"I'm sorry, big guy," Elsa murmured, leaning in close as if sharing an intimate secret. "But this is the end."
She twisted the dagger, and Naruto's vision exploded in white-hot agony. He collapsed to his knees. The swirling world blurred and faded, the last sound he registered being Felt's desperate cry. Then darkness.
0000000000000000
A heartbeat later—Naruto's eyes snapped open, and he found himself in the middle of a bustling street yet again. Same cobblestones, same lively chatter. He grasped frantically at his abdomen—no wound, no blood. His cloak was intact.
He stared around, heartbeat hammering. I was… I died. That memory was vivid: the blade sinking in, the helplessness, the excruciating pain. Yet, here he stood, uninjured.
Then that soft voice from before murmured in his mind, a gentle, loving sound:
"I'll always bring you back… my savior…"
He exhaled, ignoring the swirl of confused onlookers who wondered why a random blond man was panicking in the middle of the street. No matter how many monstrous foes he'd fought, death was new to him. But… this was reminiscent of a power. One that had been rumored in certain fragments of the Shinobi world's legends—a loop in time?
The reality sank in: He had traveled back somehow. This was a reset to an earlier point in the same day. Possibly triggered by that mysterious voice.
For a moment, Naruto thought of all the times he'd survived by sheer will alone. But this was no normal survival. It was a temporal regression.
"I have to save them," he whispered. The events of that night—Felt's terror, Old Man Rom's injury, Elsa's sadistic pleasure—played like a horror reel in his mind. If he did nothing, they'd die again.
But now he had a chance to stop it.
Knowing what awaited him at the loot house, Naruto quickly sought out the silver-haired girl. In the previous timeline, they had split up. This time, he wanted to gather more information first.
After some searching, he found her in almost the exact same alley where she'd been harassed—only now, the confrontation with the thugs hadn't happened yet. She was walking cautiously, scanning the crowds for clues about the stolen insignia.
Naruto approached, waving. "Hey!"
She turned, startled. Puck materialized on her shoulder, his cat-like ears perked in alarm. When she saw Naruto's face, her eyes reflected confusion and… a flicker of recognition? "Naruto?"
He smiled, relieved she remembered his name—if only faintly. "Yeah, it's me. About that insignia you lost—I have some information."
She blinked in surprise. "You do? But we only just met—did we?"
Naruto held his breath. Time to explain without sounding insane. "I, uh, overheard rumors in the slums about a stolen insignia matching your description. There's a place called the loot house—"
Before he could finish, they were interrupted by the arrival of a tall, red-haired knight in gleaming white armor etched with golden patterns. He had a noble bearing, with sharp blue eyes and a friendly smile. A sword hung at his side, the hilt intricately decorated. This was Reinhard van Astrea, one of Lugnica's greatest knights.
"My lady," Reinhard said politely to the half-elf, then nodded to Naruto. "I noticed you seemed troubled. May I be of assistance?"
The girl offered a courteous bow, though she still appeared guarded. "I'm searching for something that was stolen from me."
Reinhard's gaze flicked to Naruto, who gave a friendly nod. "Naruto Uzumaki. Just trying to help her out."
There was a certain air about Reinhard that reminded Naruto of some of his old allies in the Shinobi Alliance—honorable, capable, and somewhat too polite. Naruto recognized formidable strength in the knight's posture. The man radiated an aura of calm confidence, akin to how Kakashi once carried himself but without the laid-back aloofness.
Reinhard smiled. "If it's a stolen item, I can certainly rally some knights to assist in the search."
Naruto thought back to Elsa. "We have to be careful. There's a dangerous assassin after that insignia, too."
The mention of an assassin made the silver-haired girl's face darken. "Assassin…?"
Naruto gave her a reassuring look. "Let's do this carefully. If you could come with me and Reinhard, we can confront the thieves at the loot house. If she—if that assassin—shows up, we'll handle her together."
The girl hesitated. "But this is my fault. I don't want anyone else getting hurt."
Naruto's voice was firm. "You're not alone in this."
Reinhard bowed slightly. "I shall lend my sword. My lady, please do not worry."
At last, she nodded, though Naruto could see the anxiety in her eyes. He placed a hand lightly on her shoulder, offering a supportive squeeze. "We'll figure it out, Satella."
Her gaze softened at his sincerity. "Right. Let's go."
They arrived at the loot house shortly before sunset. The building looked the same: dilapidated, creaking wood, the interior lit by a single flickering lamp. Old Man Rom stood at the back, rummaging through crates. Felt was perched on top of a broken table, examining the dragon insignia in her palm.
At the sight of three newcomers—Reinhard in shining armor, the silver-haired girl looking determined, and Naruto's imposing presence—Felt immediately jumped to her feet. "H-Hey, what's going on?!" She clutched the insignia protectively.
Old Man Rom dropped his crate, scowling. "Knights, huh? This is trouble."
The silver-haired girl stepped forward. "Please, that badge is mine. It's precious to me. I came to ask for it back peacefully." Her voice was gentle yet resolute.
Felt sneered. "Precious, sure. But it's worth a fortune. You want it back, you pay!"
Naruto held up a hand. "We can talk about price, but we need to do it quickly. There's someone else—an assassin—coming here tonight to get that insignia by force. If we don't settle this now, we're all in danger."
Old Man Rom snorted. "An assassin? Like I'd be scared of—"
But Reinhard stepped forward, and the sheer nobility in his stance made Rom hesitate. "Sir, this threat is real. If you hand over the insignia peacefully, I promise we'll see to it you're compensated fairly."
Felt wavered, exchanging looks with Rom. "Fairly, you say?"
At that moment, the door creaked open, revealing Elsa Granhiert, clad in her black form-fitting attire, cloak swirling at her feet. Her pale face formed a lethal smile upon seeing the group assembled. "Well, well," she purred, her voice echoing softly in the warehouse. "It seems I have an audience."
Elsa's red eyes gleamed. "You saved me the trouble of finding you all. And you've brought friends. How sweet." Her gaze traveled from Naruto to Reinhard, then lingered hungrily on the silver-haired girl. "I suppose I'll have to kill all of you now."
Reinhard stepped protectively in front of the half-elf. "You'll harm no one else tonight."
Elsa only grinned wider. "Oh, a knight of the kingdom. I do love a challenge."
Elsa wasted no time. She lunged, dagger aimed at Reinhard's throat. His sword flashed from its scabbard with blinding speed, parrying her strike in a shower of sparks. The sound reverberated through the loot house.
Naruto quickly ushered the silver-haired girl and Felt behind a sturdy crate. "Stay down. We'll handle this."
She nodded, eyes wide. "Be careful…"
Old Man Rom grabbed his club. Felt stayed close behind him, insignia clutched in a trembling fist.
Reinhard and Elsa's battle was a blur of steel and swirling black cloth. Every time Elsa struck, Reinhard countered with impeccable precision, his shining sword arcs leaving afterimages in the dimly lit room. Yet Elsa's reflexes remained terrifyingly swift—she danced around each blow, her lithe movements reminiscent of a serpent striking in the dark.
Naruto joined in, utilizing short bursts of chakra to speed his motions. He threw a volley of kunai formed from pure energy—chakra constructs shaped from his own reserves, since he lacked physical weapons here. Elsa weaved through them with only minor grazes. She hissed at the sting of chakra, an unfamiliar burn upon her pale skin.
"The two of you are quite impressive," Elsa said, voice laced with excitement. "I wonder… which of you will taste better?"
Reinhard's usually calm face hardened with resolve. He pressed forward, driving Elsa back with a flurry of sword strikes that left shimmering lines in the air. For a moment, it seemed she might be overwhelmed, forced to retreat. But then she deflected a thrust with her dagger, performed a balletic spin, and slashed at Naruto, who had been circling behind her.
He blocked the slash with a chakra-coated forearm, but the impact jarred him. He remembered how she'd managed to slip her blade between the layers of his protective aura in the previous timeline. He wouldn't let that happen again.
A faint golden glow radiated around him as he tapped into deeper chakra reserves. Not quite Sage Mode—he needed more time for that—but enough to give him a formidable edge. "Reinhard, let's hit her together," he called.
The knight nodded, reading Naruto's intentions instantly. "On three."
Naruto counted aloud. "One… two… three!"
They surged in unison—Reinhard from the front, sword aimed at Elsa's chest, Naruto from her flank, forming a Wind-Style Rasengan that shimmered with violent air currents. Elsa's eyes widened in genuine alarm. She flicked her wrist, launching a hidden throwing knife at the silver-haired girl behind them to force a distraction.
Time seemed to slow. Naruto saw the projectile arcing toward the girl—he could feel the cold promise of death in the blade's trajectory. Without hesitation, Naruto vanished in a burst of speed, intercepting the knife inches before it reached her. The metal scraped across his palm, drawing blood, but he managed to knock it away.
"Are you okay?" he asked the silver-haired girl.
She nodded, shaken but unharmed, Puck hovering protectively at her side.
Reinhard, left without Naruto's support, clashed with Elsa alone. She side-stepped his blade, twisting her wrist to slice at his armor's exposed gap. The steel plating deflected the blow.
As the fight continued, a presence stirred in Naruto's mind, the same warmth he'd felt upon reviving. A voice—loving, desperate—whispered:
"Be careful… you must win… my savior…"
He felt an odd surge of energy, as if the world itself was giving him a gentle nudge.
A protective aura that seemed to gather at Naruto's core, merging with his chakra. He glanced at the silver-haired girl called "Satella," wondering if it was truly the same person who whispered in his mind. Perhaps not. The real Witch of Envy? Possibly.
For now, it fueled him with renewed determination. He rejoined Reinhard, launching coordinated attacks against Elsa. With two formidable fighters pressing her, Elsa finally found herself on the defensive. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her black outfit torn in places where sword or jutsu had struck. Blood stained her side, though her smile remained unbroken—if anything, it grew more crazed.
"Such fun," she purred, blood trickling from her lips. "But I may have overstayed my welcome."
She glanced at the insignia, still clutched in Felt's hand. Then she tensed, about to make a final dash for it.
Naruto predicted this move. Channeling wind chakra into his feet, he propelled himself forward in a blur, intercepting her path. Reinhard mirrored his movement from the opposite side, sword at the ready.
Elsa paused, scanning for an opening. Her lips curled. "I'll be back for that trinket… and your bowels… another time."
She flung a handful of small black knives to create a temporary diversion. Shadows flickered. When the debris cleared, Elsa was gone—vanished into the night.
Felt collapsed to her knees with a trembling sigh. "W-we… we won?"
Old Man Rom leaned on his club, breathing heavily. "Or she just left. Either way, we're alive."
Reinhard kept his sword out for a moment longer, scanning the corners. Satisfied she wasn't going to return immediately, he sheathed it with a metallic ring. "We should consider that a victory. Next time, we'll be better prepared."
Naruto let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Despite Elsa's escape, they had prevented any deaths—unlike in the previous loop. Relief washed over him, tempered by the knowledge that Elsa remained a threat. His instincts were far too dulled from decades of peace. He was definitely going to start training and getting back in shape.
Inside the loot house, tension lingered like a heavy fog. The silver-haired girl finally approached Felt and Old Man Rom. "About that insignia…"
Felt swallowed, glancing up at Naruto, then Reinhard. She tossed the insignia to the silver-haired girl with a begrudging scowl. "Take it. It caused too much trouble anyway."
Old Man Rom placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Kid… that was our chance to make a better life." His voice was weary rather than accusatory.
Felt's fiery red eyes flicked uncertainly. "We almost died. Guess a fortune's not worth that."
The half-elf bowed her head. "Thank you. If you ever need help, come find me. I'll do what I can." Her sincerity made Felt flush with embarrassment.
Reinhard took a step forward, observing Felt with intense scrutiny. "Your name is Felt, correct?" He narrowed his eyes as if noticing something about her appearance. "Forgive me, but… that hair, those eyes…" He seemed on the brink of a realization.
Naruto raised a brow. Was there some significance to Felt's lineage? For now, Reinhard shook his head as if deciding it wasn't the right moment to speak.
"Regardless," the knight said, "I'm glad no one was seriously hurt."
Naruto turned to the silver-haired girl. "So… do I get to know your real name now?" He asked gently.
She hesitated, cheeks coloring slightly. "I… apologize. Telling you my name earlier would have been… problematic." She averted her eyes. "My real name is Emilia. And… thank you, Naruto-san. You saved me."
A wave of relief washed over Naruto. So it wasn't the Witch of Envy after all. "Emilia," he repeated, smiling. "That's a pretty name. Suits you better than Satella."
She grimaced, clearly aware of the significance that name carried, but grateful he didn't press the issue. "I'm sorry for deceiving you. But I had to be careful."
"No worries," he said lightly. "Just glad we got the insignia back."
Reinhard suggested they relocate to a safer spot—Crusch's estate or the knight headquarters—but Emilia was reluctant to impose or spark political drama. Instead, they decided it best to part ways for the night.
Felt and Old Man Rom watched them go, a swirl of uncertainty in Felt's eyes. Reinhard stayed behind a moment, speaking quietly with the two. Naruto suspected it had something to do with the Royal Selection and Felt's identity, but he didn't intrude.
Leaving the loot house, Naruto and Emilia walked side by side under the starlit sky. City lamps glowed with faint magical crystals, illuminating the worn cobblestones. She held the insignia close, as if it were an extension of her being.
"You must have a lot of questions," Emilia said softly. "Why an insignia is so important, who I really am, why someone would call me… that name."
Naruto shrugged, offering a gentle smile. "I won't push you to tell me everything at once. I'm just glad we stopped that assassin from hurting people."
A ghost of a smile touched her lips. She looked away, silver hair catching moonlight. "Thank you for trusting me anyway."
He reached out with his chakra sense, feeling that faint presence—the one that revived him after death. The voice that called him savior. Did it truly belong to the infamous Witch of Envy, or was there more to it? Naruto was no stranger to burdened souls. He thought of Kurama, sealed within him for years, eventually becoming his ally. Could something similar be at play here?
For now, he decided not to dwell on it. His priority was to ensure Emilia's safety and find a foothold in this new world. He had a fresh start—a second life—and he intended to make the most of it.
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Early the next morning, Naruto and Emilia found themselves greeted by a magnificently garbed figure in flamboyant clothing that clashed with all conventional fashion sense. Roswaal L. Mathers. He wore a purple suit with swirling, colorful patterns, a cape that draped elegantly to one side, and face makeup reminiscent of a theatrical performer. His heterochromic eyes—one blue, one yellow—shone with curiosity and amusement.
"My, my," Roswaal drawled, dragging out his syllables in that characteristic fashion. "Emi-li-a-sama, you're quite safe and sound, I see? And you've brought a friend."
Emilia inclined her head. "Roswaal-san, this is Naruto Uzumaki. He helped me retrieve my insignia."
Roswaal's lips curved into a graceful smile. "Narrru-to… Uzumaki, you say? A pleasure." He extended a hand. Naruto shook it, noticing the surprising strength in the man's grip.
Puck floated near Emilia's shoulder, tail swishing. "He's from far away—very far away."
Roswaal's gaze sharpened with interest. "Fascinating. Well, if you aided Emilia-sama, then you have my thanks. In fact, I'd be delighted if you accompanied her to my manor for a while. I'm sure she could use the company, and we have matters to prepare for… regarding the Royal Selection." His smile had a hint of mischief.
Naruto glanced at Emilia, who met his gaze with a hopeful expression. "We owe you a great debt," she said. "And I… I wouldn't mind having you around, if you don't have anywhere else to stay."
It was true; Naruto had nowhere to go in this world—no money, no home. The thought of staying with them, especially to keep supporting Emilia, appealed to him. "Alright," he agreed. "If you're sure I won't be imposing."
Roswaal gave a theatrical laugh. "Oh, not at all. I insist." He turned, cape fluttering, and began leading them to a colorful carriage drawn by a scaled ground dragon with bright plumage.
0000
Roswaal's mansion stood in a wide clearing, surrounded by rolling fields and distant forests. The estate was grand, with tall windows, a regal roofline, and ornate gardens meticulously cared for. Inside, the hallways stretched elegantly, lined with paintings and lavish curtains. Servants moved about with polite efficiency.
Naruto couldn't help but stare at the opulence. In all his time as Hokage, he'd never seen a manor quite this flamboyant—it matched Roswaal's personality perfectly. For his part, Roswaal simply drifted through the corridors like a peacock, occasionally humming.
They eventually reached an expansive library: towering shelves stuffed with ancient tomes. There, Naruto noticed a petite figure with drill-like, fluffy twintails of pale cream hair. She wore a frilly pink dress and held a massive, ancient tome in one hand. Beatrice.
"Who are you, I suppose?" the little girl demanded in a haughty tone, glowering at Naruto. Her eyes were large and pink, her features doll-like, but her expression was thoroughly unimpressed.
Naruto grinned. "I'm Naruto. And you are?"
"Beatrice," she replied curtly. "I keep the library. You will not bother me unless you have something worthwhile to say, I suppose."
Roswaal chuckled. "Beatrice, be niiice. He's a guest." The spirit mage only huffed, hugging the tome against her chest.
Emilia ushered Naruto along with a patient smile. "Don't mind her. She's… moody."
Though prickly, Beatrice's aura reminded Naruto of old librarians he'd known—devoted to their books and wanting minimal intrusions. He made a mental note not to pester her unless necessary.
Later that afternoon, Naruto stood on a balcony overlooking the mansion's grounds. Rows of hedges formed decorative shapes, and flowers of every color swayed in the breeze. In the distance, the sun cast warm rays across verdant hills.
Emilia joined him, her expression thoughtful. "So… what do you think of this place?"
He leaned on the railing. "It's definitely something. Feels like I'm in another world." He paused, chuckling. "Well guess that's how anyone feels when they travel to a different city or country."
She laughed softly, then her gaze turned serious. "You've helped me so much already. I don't even know how to repay you."
"You don't owe me anything," Naruto said gently. "I'm just glad I can help. Back home, I always believed in protecting my friends and working for peace. It's just… second nature now."
She studied him for a long moment. "I can see that." Her purple eyes drifted to the insignia in her hand—she'd been clutching it all day. "You must wonder why this is so important."
Naruto didn't deny it. "It's tied to the Royal Selection, right?"
Emilia inhaled softly. "Yes… you see, Lugnica's throne is vacant, and the insignia is proof I'm a candidate. I'm… well, I plan to become the next ruler."
Naruto stared, then grinned. "That's a big goal. But if anyone's determined enough, I bet it's you."
She blushed slightly at his confidence. "I'm doing it for the people, not for myself. I have… a lot to prove. Half-elves aren't exactly loved. But Roswaal-san insists I have a rightful claim. So… I'm trying."
He laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "I know about wanting acceptance. People once hated and feared me, too, because of something inside me." He thought of Kurama, who used to be sealed within him, and how the entire village scorned him as a child. "You'll make them see who you really are."
Her eyes glistened with gratitude, a smile touching her lips. "Thank you, Naruto."
In that moment, he felt a quiet sense of belonging, as if fate had guided him here not just to fight assassins, but to stand beside Emilia in her quest to bring hope to this kingdom. The voice that whispered in his mind—Satella—it was a mystery he'd eventually unravel. For now, he would focus on doing what he did best:
Protecting his friends, forging peace, and never giving up.
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A Private Audience With Roswaal
That evening, Roswaal invited Naruto to a private meeting in one of the smaller sitting rooms. The flamboyant lord reclined on a chaise lounge, idly swirling a glass of wine. Naruto sat across from him in a cushioned chair, feeling slightly out of place among the lavish decor.
"Na-ru-to," Roswaal began, smiling as he drew out each syllable. "I am deeply curious about you. You appear out of thin air, defy an assassin of Elsa's caliber, and command a power quite unlike our world's magic. And all the while, you speak of wanting to protect Emilia-sama. My, my, you are an intriguing puzzle."
Naruto offered a lopsided grin. "I guess you could call me an outsider."
"Oh, indeed." Roswaal placed his wineglass down and steepled his fingers. "Emilia-sama can use all the help she can get. She's earnest and pure, but she lacks… experience in some of the kingdom's darker complexities."
Naruto's smile faded. "Politics, you mean."
Roswaal's eyes twinkled. "Precisely. The other candidates in the Royal Selection will try every tactic to undermine her, especially given her heritage. If you can stand by her side with that unwavering spirit of yours, you might be the pillar she needs to weather the coming storms."
Naruto recalled the intricacies of leading the Shinobi Alliance. Yes, he understood politics better than one might guess from his brash youth. "I'll do everything I can," he said firmly. "Emilia-san deserves a fair chance."
Roswaal smirked. "Then I look forward to your performance." He leaned in, voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And about that presence lurking around you—well, let's just say… do keep an eye on it, hmm?"
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Oh, nothing too pressing." Roswaal waved a hand theatrically. "Just that I can sense a certain… anomaly around your soul. No doubt tied to how you came here."
Naruto's thoughts drifted to Return by Death. "I can handle it."
"Splendid," Roswaal said, standing in a graceful sweep of robes. "Now, do get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll start our preparations in earnest."
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That night, Naruto lay in a lavish guest room, half-dozing. He stared at the ornate ceiling, the plush bed around him feeling almost too soft. He was used to simpler accommodations, even as Hokage.
He pressed a hand against his abdomen, recalling the fatal stab from Elsa in the previous timeline. The memories were vivid—the pain, the terror, the darkness. A cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He exhaled, letting his chakra flow to calm his nerves. He refused to be haunted by fear. Instead, he focused on gratitude: a second chance had allowed him to prevent unnecessary deaths.
In the quiet, that gentle voice—the voice of the so-called Witch of Envy—echoed again, faint but comforting:
"I love you… my savior…"
Naruto furrowed his brow. He didn't sense malice this time, only a deep sorrow, as though she craved his presence not out of jealousy, but out of a desperate need for salvation. If there truly was a tormented soul behind the entity known as Satella, then Naruto would do what he'd always done:
Try to understand them, and save them if he could.
A faint smile touched his lips. He drifted into sleep, the hush of this strange new world lulling him, a world where he had died once already but returned—and where he intended to fight for hope and protect those who needed him most.