A/N: Back from the Hospital -and essentially being Isekaied via one helluva fever dream- to update this once again.
Dark has been a lifesaver, helping me update stories like this one, tales where I've fallen behind, or struggle with an angle. So grateful~! We teamed up on this one; I wrote some parts while he wrote others.
I'm on the mend, and have conquered the game, acquired the true ending...but now I feel hollow inside.
Well, at least we have DLC -supposedly- coming soon...
Fanfiction currently doesn't have a category for Black Myth Wukong yet, so I'm posting here in this category until the admins finally make one.
Just wanted to say, I appreciate you all! More feedback means faster updates! It's especially important, in these trying times, with all the glitches. Every word counts and all these reviews really keep me inspired! Looking forward to hearing from you~!
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. They're tributes to legends far greater than little 'ol me.I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time. Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that. Here's hoping~! In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~! Away we go~!
I've also been doing my research on the Spider sisters and the like...
...good heavens that's an awful lot of sisters.
As for the time period...go ahead. GUESS.
The title of this chapter is an unabashed pun, and I hope it makes you smile~!
Also a reference to the Mighty Ducks cartoon from way back in the day.
Wonder if anyone remembers that?
"What use is it to see through the game if you cannot play it? And if you do not enter the game, what is the use at all?
With life and death both predetermined, why not be bold and give it a try?
After all what's done shapes what's to come. How many can truly defy destiny?
If you could predict where you would die and deliberately avoid it, could you really escape?
There are people in this world, who would rather endure 1000 hardships than abandon their lofty aspirations. They carry a world of their own in their heart, moved by their circumstances.
One craves, food and hungry, warmth, wind, cold, rest when exhausted, love when lonely, and benefits over harm. Such is the nature of humanity.
Men, beasts, BuddhaS, Yaoguais…. each of them bears the distinct root from birth, superior and inferior. None should disturb what's decided.
Am I right…?
Or am I wrong?
The answer lies with you...
~?
Don't Croak on Me Now
"You've gotta be kidding me...!"
Of all the things Naruto had expected to find lurking beneath the snow, a dragon wasn't one of them.
He'd never seen a true dragon before.
To be fair, he had both heard, and seen attacks named after dragons, but never a true creature in the flesh, which this undoubtedly was.
Long and slender, it loomed large over him and Měilì both, scales white as snow. It seemed almost a serpent at a glance, but a second look clearly confirmed it had both arms and legs; likewise it was a great deal larger than most snakes he had seen. Piercing blue eyes set beneath a fearsome horn and above mighty jaws turned to regard him, trailing whiskers frambed by a mane of white hair. Its feathered taile cracked out furiously, sparking with lightning.
It was, all things considered, rather impressive.
Měilì gulped. "I think we made her angry, young master...
Wait, her? How did ahe know-yike!
A baleful blast of blue fire seared his way, forcing him to clamor backwards or be scorched on the spot.
"Oi, get to cover!"
Měilì, already half-hidden behind a fallen log a ways back, pumped a pale fist into the air in quiet encouragement. "Fight on, young master!"
Cheeky fox...
Another gout of flame came, hot on the heels of the first; ready to swallow him whole .Annoyed, he raised his right arm, the one he'd only recently regrown; clawed fingers flexing.
The flames withered and died against his upraised palm.
Here at last the dragon paused.
Naruto blinked. Hard.
"Sure, why not?" he began cracking his knuckles. "Never fought a giant lizard like you before, anyway. Thought you'd have wings, though...
The beast bridled and snapped its jaws at him in clear insult.
A wide grin split his face. "Wrong move, dragon breath...
The mighty beast took offense to that and lunged!
He stepped aside, caught it by the white and flung it aside. Its tail came crashing in, but he was more than prepared for that; a simple flick of his wrist diverted it to the side where it struck the snow and ice, sending a great plume of the white stuff shooting into the air. Alas -for the dragon- said action also left its tail momentarily entrapped in the tundra.
Naruto couldn't resist.
Surging in, he caught the beast's tail before it could hope to recover, planted his feet, and pivoted with all his might. The dragon made an almost human sound of distress as he began to spin it round and around rapidly, then with increasing speed, until it was all he could do just to hold; from there he spun and flung.
"So long, Lizard~!"
The dragon shrieked its fury as it came hurling down to earth at speed; it's slender body smashed the snow with such force that a great plume of white powder rose in the sky Naruto blinked, squinting through the resultant fog of war, and in that brief moment of attention, the beast lunged at him, jaw, gaping wide
No time to dodge, only react.
He stamped his feet down and grabbed it by the mouth, but that proved him a mistake, as the dragon swiftly took him into the skies, wrestling with him all the while.
Errors may have been made.
And they were his.
Alright, stopped it from eating me, but now have another problem...!
Blue fire built at the back of its throat.
His eyes bulged. "Kurama!"
His old friend didn't have a chance to react; because the beast tossed him hugh into the air with a great sonorous cry where he felt the very atmosphere thicken around him in response. Almost as though it were charged somehow, like-
Oh.
The first lightning bolt smashed into his back and drilled him into the ground. Then came the second; and yet a third; by the time the fourth arrived, he'd quite enough, and immediately flung himself aside Even then the damnable dragon didn't relent; rising high into the sky it hurled bolt after a bolt from the blue with every cry, each more powerful in the last
Maybe he had underestimated it after all.
Surely he wasn't going to lose here, not to some overgrown snake.
"Young Master!" Měilì tossed something at him. "Catch!"
Without a second thought, he did just that.
It was a stick.
Naruto swore aloud. "Whaddya want me to do with this, oi?!
The nameless dragon came back around, and he reacted as only an Uzumaki could.
He swung the staff, not as it was meant to be used, but like a baseball bat.
The result spoke for itself.
Homerun~!
His new weapon colliding with the dragon's jaw in a thunderclap for the ages, an almighty CRACK heard round the realms. With that sonorous shockwave, the great Great Beast rocked backwards, struck the ground, and kept going; tumbling end over end until at long last they lay still in the snow, much as it had been when he first found it.
Měilì hollered praises for him at the top of her lungs, no doubt thinking that was his intent from the being.
He turned back this companion and flashed her thumbs up, not having the heart to say otherwise.
She beamed happily.
Movement behind him was only warning
Much to his annoyance, the dragon was rising again, even with its jaw battered and a crack in its horn, it remained undaunted
"You dare mock me...?!"
It could talk?! No, never mind. It didn't matter. It was clearly intent on fighting again.
He didn't want to kill a wild creature for no reason...
...but he had endured...more than enough
Irritated, he stamped his staff down in the snow one arm to free up his hands, bit his thumb, and flicked through a few hand seals. From there slapped his now bloody palm down upon the ground.
"Summoning!"
A plume of smoke answered and the mighty Loong barreled headlong into a wall of amphibious flesh It promptly bounced off, ricocheting away like a flowing stone to strike the ground and carve a mighty furrow into the earth. This time it wasn't quite so quick to rise.
Měilì gasped, hands flying to her face. "Young master?! I didn't realize you were a sage!"
Naruto looked up, up, and UP some more, crowing with triumph. "HA! It still works! Long time no see, Gamabunta!"
The mighty toad boss glared down at him from on high. "Hrrm? Why'd ya go and summon me here, brat? Its too damn cold!"
"Don't worry," he reassured him, "Next time will be somewhere warmer. In the meantime," So speaking, he looked back to the dragon, dazed and stunned, yet nevertheless dragging itself upright. "You mind dealin' with that for me? I'd rather you not kill 'em, but they're being a pain..."
Gamabunta glanced the lizard's way and grunted, just once. That was answer enough.
Naruto stepped back, dragging an alarmed Měilì with him.
The reason became apparent a moment later.
In a single sweep, 'Bunta brought his blade down, using the flat of it like a giant mallet.
Dragon went up.
Dragon went down.
Dragon tried to get up again.
"Know your place!"
Gamabunta reared back with an outraged cry and repeated the process threefold, sending snow and ice shooting into the sky with each strike of his blade. Again and again and again he struck, ceasing only when the surly dragon ceased trying to crawl its way out the crater. Judging by its twitching arms and legs it yet lived, but it wouldn't be getting up anytime soon.
"There." he stowed his massive sword with a harrumph. "Summon me for a proper fight next time. Damn lizard was barely worth my time.
Naruto snapped off a salute. "Sure thing! I'll be sure and summon Gamakichi, too!
"You'd best!"
His part done, the old toad vanished in a plume of smoke.
Naruto blew out a breath, steam pluming in the air, quietly content.
Finally! Were all dragons, so damn prideful?
Měilì was watching him with wide eyes; very wide eyes indeed.
Right. He'd just pulled a crazy stunt before her very eyes, hadn't he?
"I can explain-
She jumped him.
"That was amazing~!"
He caught her halfway with a startled laugh of his own, mildly surprised by her glee.
"I knew you were strong but that was splendid!" She giggled anew, nuzzling his chest. "As expected of my master!"
The dragon shifted in the crater behind them.
Naruto heard it.
His breath misted in the crisp air, curling like faint ghosts before vanishing into the void. The battlefield was still. Too still. The echoes of their clash had faded, but the air still hummed with residual chakra—raw, untamed, and heavy enough to make his skin prickle. His aching head screamed for rest, but the heat of battle burned the pain away, replacing it with an electric edge that kept him standing.
Carefully, he disentangled himself from Měilì.
The snow crunched beneath his sandals as he took a cautious step toward the fallen dragon. Its massive form lay sprawled in the center of a crater that stretched like a scar across the frozen landscape. Jagged cracks webbed out from the impact point, the earth broken where its body had crashed down. Shattered scales gleamed like obsidian shards, some as large as shields. Steam hissed where dragon blood met the ice, releasing a scent that was ancient and primal—like ozone after a thunderstorm.
Naruto's hand hovered near his side, fingers twitching instinctively. His arm, still newly regrown, pulsed with unfamiliar energy—a reminder that he was no longer bound by mortal limits. Yet, despite his power, he couldn't shake the feeling that this fight wasn't over.
He peered down into the crater.
"Oi." His voice cut through the silence like a kunai. He tilted his head, watching the creature's sides rise and fall with strained, labored breaths. "You still alive?"
The dragon stirred, its response a low, rumbling growl that vibrated through the air and sank into Naruto's bones. Not a sound. A feeling. A primal warning. He tensed, muscles coiling like steel springs, ready to react. But no attack came.
Instead, the dragon's form... shifted.
Light pulsed beneath its broken scales, veins glowing with ethereal radiance. The air thickened, charged with unseen power, and in the space of a single heartbeat, the enormous beast dissolved into mist. Naruto blinked, the remnants of chakra prickling against his skin as the mist swirled around him like a living thing.
When the mist cleared—of course.
A woman stood where the dragon had been.
Tall. Regal. Otherworldly. Her skin was pale, almost luminous against the backdrop of snow, and her black hair cascaded down her back, catching the faintest traces of moonlight. Piercing blue eyes, deeper than any sky, locked onto his with an intensity that made his pulse quicken. She was dressed in a garment spun from clouds and frost—a red thing that clung to her form yet shifted and flowed like mist caught in the wind. A faint glow still rimmed her body, the last vestiges of her transformation clinging to her like an afterimage.
Měilì's gasp shattered the quiet.
"Y-Young Master..." She tugged at his sleeve, her fingers trembling. "She's... she's a Loong!"
Naruto frowned. "A what now?"
"A celestial dragon," Měilì whispered, her voice heavy with reverence, her eyes wide and unblinking. "Guardians of balance. Heralds of change. Their presence alone can alter the course of fate."
Naruto scratched his head, brow furrowing. "So... dragon-girl?"
Měilì smacked him lightly on the shoulder. "Be respectful! She's powerful!"
"Powerful?" Naruto rolled his eyes, gesturing toward the crater. "I just knocked her out of the sky with a frog and a stick."
"A stick imbued with ancient power!" Měilì hissed, her voice pitched higher with frustration.
Was it? Huh. The more you knew.
"Still a stick."
Naruto's grin was casual, but beneath it, his mind raced. Loong. He'd heard the term once before, buried in the scrolls Jiraiya had forced him to read—stories of beings who existed beyond mortal comprehension, embodiments of cosmic order. But they were legends. Fables. Warnings.
And yet, one was standing right in front of him.
The woman spoke at last, her voice smooth and resonant—a sound that echoed, not just in the air, but through something deeper. As if her words stirred the very fabric of existence.
"You speak casually for one who wields such strength."
Her gaze swept over him, lingering on his battered form, taking in the dirt, the blood, and his recently restored right arm. Naruto's jaw clenched. He still didn't understand how that had happened. The pain had been so intense yesterday, and then... something had filled the void. Something ancient and powerful. But now wasn't the time to think about that.
"Eh, I get that a lot." His grin returned, though there was a sharper edge to it. "Comes with the territory."
The woman's expression didn't change, but something flickered in her eyes—curiosity.
"Such arrogance." Her words were soft, yet they carried a weight that pressed down on the air. "But beneath it... I sense uncertainty."
Naruto's grin faltered. Just for a moment.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, voice quieter now.
"I was summoned." Her gaze lifted toward the heavens, where the stars glittered like shards of ice. "Drawn by a force that shakes the very balance of the world." Her eyes flicked back to him, and this time, the curiosity sharpened. "And you, mortal, stand at the center of it."
His stomach dropped. Of course. Because nothing was ever simple.
"Great." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Another apocalypse?"
"Not yet." The woman's lips curled in the faintest hint of a smile, but her eyes... her eyes were cold. "But the winds have shifted. And change is inevitable."
Měilì's voice trembled. "Young Master... this is bigger than us."
Naruto clenched his fists. He knew that. He always knew that. But hearing it aloud made it feel... heavier.
"Yeah," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I figured."
The woman took a step forward, her presence washing over him like a tidal wave of power barely restrained. "I offer you a choice, mortal."
Naruto's eyes narrowed. "A choice?"
Did she still wanna fight? No she looked weary as well; he doubted she'd be resuming her dragon form for awhile, broken and battered as it was.
"The path ahead is chaos. Darkness and light will clash, and only those who stand firm may shape what comes after." She extended a hand, delicate yet commanding. "Join me... and together, we may tip the scales before the storm consumes all."
Naruto stared at her hand, a thousand thoughts crashing through his mind. His gut twisted. He hated prophecies. He hated destiny. But something told him this choice... this was bigger than him.
"And if I say no?" His voice was steady, but the weight of the moment pressed down on him.
The woman's expression turned... distant. "Then the storm will come, whether you stand in its path or not."
Naruto's fingers twitched. Another apocalypse. Another impossible choice.
"Yeah," he murmured. "Story of my life."
He felt her gaze like a weight. Heavy. Unrelenting. It wasn't the kind of stare that sized someone up in a fight or measured chakra reserves. No—this was deeper. Sharper. She wasn't just looking at him. She was reading him. Peeling back layers. Layers he hadn't even realized were there.
Creepy.
A shiver crawled down his spine, but he masked it with a grin—an old habit, a defense mechanism that had served him well.
"Who…" she murmured, her voice softer now, almost curious. Her eyes, however, sharpened like frost-tipped blades. "Are you, exactly. I would have your name."
Naruto tilted his head, arms crossing casually over his chest as if her gaze wasn't unraveling him piece by piece.
"Name's Naruto." He kept his tone light, playful even, though his instincts screamed caution. "And you?"
For a moment, she didn't answer. Hesitation. The kind that spoke volumes. Names had power. He knew that much. And hers… it felt like something precious. Something ancient.
"...very well." she finally murmured, her voice barely louder than the wind. "My name is Kang-Jin Loong." a pause now as she reconsidered. "Or in this case, I Kang-Jin Star will suffice."
Naruto's grin faltered.
"Kang-Jin Star...?"
He repeated the name, letting it roll off his tongue, each syllable feeling... weighty. Like saying it aloud acknowledged something far beyond himself.
"Nice to meet ya." He gave a half-smile, but his mind was already working, piecing things together. A celestial dragon. A Loong. He'd read enough about them—guardians of balance, arbiters of fate. And they didn't just show up for casual chit-chat.
"Now…" He tilted his head, letting the grin return. "Mind explaining why you tried to barbecue me?"
Kang-Jin Star's expression shifted—regal poise giving way to something... guarded. The air grew colder, and the mist that clung to her form seemed to swirl, responding to her mood.
"You are an anomaly." Her words carried weight, and Naruto felt them settle over him like a chill in his bones.
Her gaze flicked past him, landing on Měilì.
"And you… are bound to him?"
Měilì stiffened beside him. Her grip on his arm tightened, fingers digging in just enough for him to notice. "He saved me," she whispered, her voice barely louder than the wind. "I owe him my life."
Kang-Jin Star's expression softened, but only slightly. Her eyes, cold and calculating, remained locked on Měilì.
"A fox guai, bound by gratitude…" She spoke the words like a scholar cataloging an ancient artifact. Then her gaze returned to Naruto, and the air seemed to grow heavier. "You fell from the heavens like a comet. The very air rippled with power when you arrived. Such disruptions…" Her lips pressed into a thin line. "…do not go unnoticed."
Naruto scratched the back of his head, and shrugged the motion more habit than anything.
"I was kinda busy getting stabbed at the time." His grin returned reluctantly, but didn't quite reach his eyes. "Didn't plan on making a flashy entrance."
Kang-Jin's gaze sharpened—like ice fracturing under pressure. "Stabbed?" Naruto felt the shift in her posture—a slight change, barely noticeable, but enough to put him on edge. Predator instincts. She was assessing. Calculating. "By whom?"
He grimaced, forcing himself to remain on guard before shrugging once more. Eh." Another shrug. "An old friend."
If you could still call Sasuke that.
Kurama huffed. "That pompous upstart Uchiha certainly isn't!"
The silence that followed was... heavy. Charged.
Kang-Jin Star's expression didn't change, but Naruto caught the faint flicker of something in her eyes—concern? Recognition? Regardless, her lips pressed into a tighter line. "You wield power that does not belong to this realm." Her words were softer this time, almost... cautious. "That alone makes you a danger."
Měilì clung to his back and dared to peek out around him. "He's a good person!"
With that, Naruto's grin faded, and his brow arched. "Lady, I just got here." His voice carried a hint of exasperation. "Ain't looking to start any wars."
"Wars are not always fought by choice," Kang-Jin murmured, her tone distant—as if she were speaking of things long past.
Naruto's jaw clenched, and for a moment, his thoughts drifted back. To Pain. To the Fourth War. To the countless lives shattered by choices that weren't his to make.
"Then what are you looking for?"
The question hit harder than he expected.
What was he looking for?
"Honestly?" His voice was softer now. The bravado bled away, leaving only exhaustion behind. "I'm just trying to find my way home."
The words hung in the air, heavier than they should've been.
Kang-Jin Star's gaze didn't waver, but the weight behind it... shifted. Something softer. Something... almost understanding.
"Home, you say?"
Naruto looked away, his eyes tracing the broken ground at his feet. Home. The word felt so... distant. Konohagakure. His friends. The ramen shop. The Hokage monument. All so far away.
"Yeah," he muttered. "Home."
For a moment, silence stretched between them, thick and unyielding.
"Your presence disrupts the flow of this realm," Kang-Jin Star finally said, but her tone was softer. "And yet… I sense no malice in you."
Naruto glanced back at her the pale beauty, eyes narrowing slightly. "That supposed to be a compliment?"
A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of her lips—barely there, gone in an instant.
"Perhaps."
He exhaled slowly, mind racing. Kang-Jin Star clearly wasn't telling him everything. But she was giving him... something.
And something, as they say, is better than nothing.
"Alright." His voice was steadier now, more resolved. "Then what happens next?"
Her gaze turned toward the horizon, where the first rays of dawn pierced through the mist.
"The winds of fate have shifted," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "And something... ancient stirs."
Naruto frowned. "That doesn't sound good."
"It isn't."
Her eyes met his once more, and this time, Naruto saw it—the weight of centuries. The burden of knowledge too vast for any one being.
He'd never been one to back down from a challenge; even if he didn't entirely know what said challenge was.
"Then I guess..." He took a step forward, his grin returning, though there was something harder beneath it now. "We better be ready for whatever's coming."
Kang-Jin's expression softened just a fraction. "You are brave, moral."
"Nah," he muttered, his gaze distant. "Just stubborn."
Měilì, silent for so long now, chirruped her agreement. "He really is!"
"Hey!"
The wind stirred, carrying with it whispers that Naruto couldn't quite make out. The world felt different here—heavier. As if unseen threads of fate coiled around him, tugging at his soul. He glanced at Měilì, her wide eyes filled with trust and loyalty. And now… Kang-Jin Star.
This is my life now, huh?
"Come." Kang-Jin turned, her mist-like garments billowing around her. "There's a village nearby. You need rest."
Naruto was about to protest, but the ache in his bones reminded him that arguing was probably a bad idea.
...fine. Lead the way, dragon lady."
(.0.0.0.)
Qīngshuǐ was a quaint village nestled between snow-draped mountains, its stone paths lined with lanterns that gave off a gentle, warm glow. The scent of roasted chestnuts and spiced tea drifted through the air, and villagers bustled about despite the cold, their movements brisk but cheerful.
Naruto's senses tingled. Something about this place felt… off.
"Be mindful," Kang-Jin Star murmured as they approached. "This village lies on a leyline, where the mortal realm brushes against the spirit world. The barrier here is… thin."
"Great." Naruto muttered under his breath. "More ghost nonsense."
Měilì tugged his sleeve. "Do not disrespect the spirits, young master. They are… watching."
Naruto gave her a sidelong glance. "What, are they gonna get mad if I don't bow or something?"
"Yes," Kang-Jin said flatly.
He blinked. "Oh."
They passed through the village gates without incident, but even so his senses stayed on high alert. The villagers cast wary glances in their direction, their eyes lingering on Kang-Jin and Měilì. Whispers followed them like shadows, dogging their footsteps.
"Outsiders," one murmured.
"Yaoguai…" another hissed.
Children pointed their way and whispered amongst themselves, delighted by the spectacle.
Naruto frowned but kept moving, even as his instincts screaming that something was off. Yet what?
Kurama offered the mental equivalent of a shrug.
"Your guess is good as mine...
In the end, they settled in an inn near the edge of the village, where prying eyes could not follow. The warmth of the fire crackling in the hearth proved a welcome comfort, but Naruto's mind refused to rest. Worry itched at him like a dog with an old bone, refusing to let go.
"Something's wrong here," he murmured, staring into the flames.
Kang-Jin Star sat across from him, her expression thoughtful. "You sense it too."
"Yeah." Naruto's jaw clenched. "It's… like a weight pressing down. Like something's watching."
Měilì, nestled close beside him, shivered. "The spirits here… they're restless."
Kang-Jin's gaze darkened. "The balance is fraying. Something stirs beneath the surface."
Naruto's grip tightened on the hilt of the stick—no, the staff. He hadn't paid it much mind since Měilì had tossed it to him, but now… he could feel something alive within it. Dormant, but waiting.
"Whatever it is," He murmured, "it's not gonna like what happens if it messes with me."
A faint smile tugged at Kang-Jin's lips. "Confidence… or foolishness?"
"Bit of both."
(.0.0.0.)
That night, Naruto dreamed.
Or perhaps… it was more than a dream. He stood in a field of endless lotus blossoms, each petal glowing softly with ethereal light. The air was thick with the scent of jasmine and something… darker. A shadow moved at the edge of his vision, a figure clad in flowing robes of deepest midnight.
"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice echoing unnaturally in the space.
The figure did not answer. Instead, it raised a hand, and the lotus blossoms began to wither, their light fading into the void.
"Balance is fragile," the figure murmured, its voice like a thousand whispers carried by the wind. "And you… are a disruption."
Naruto's fists clenched. "I didn't ask to be here."
"Yet here you are." The figure turned, and though its face was shrouded in darkness, Naruto could feel its gaze pierce through him. "The threads of fate twist around you, binding you to this world."
"Why?"
The figure's voice was barely a whisper now. "Because even the stars… fear what you will become."
(.0.0.0.)
Naruto woke with a start, sweat slicking his brow despite the cool air. Měilì stirred beside him, murmuring softly in her sleep.
Kang-Jin Star was nowhere to be seen.
Because of course she wasn't.
His senses were on high alert. Something was wrong. The air was too still, too heavy.
He slipped out of bed and moved silently through the inn, his footsteps barely making a sound on the wooden floor. The staff was in his hand before he realized he'd grabbed it.
Why do I feel like I'm walking into a trap?
Because he was.
The moment he stepped outside, the air thickened, charged with unseen power.
And then he saw them.
Shadows. Dozens of them. Writhing, shifting figures with hollow eyes and jagged claws. They moved like liquid night, pouring through the village like an unholy tide.
"Shit."
Naruto's grip on the staff tightened as the shadows surged toward him.
Almost immediately Kang-Jin Star appeared beside him, her body aglow with celestial light. Měilì wasn't far; awakened by his distress she sprang up stood at his other side, her fox form shimmering with barely contained energy.
"Seems like we've got company," Naruto muttered.
Kang-Jin Star's expression was grim. "The balance is shattering."
"Then let's fix it." Naruto's grin was sharp and fierce, the fire in his eyes burning brighter than the cold surrounding them.
The staff in his hands pulsed, and for a moment, Naruto could almost hear a voice whispering from the depths of the wood.
Awaken.
Energy surged through his veins, and as the first shadow lunged, Naruto met it head-on.
"Alright, you bastards." He swung the staff with practiced ease, channeling raw chakra into the weapon. "Let's dance!"
The battle erupted like a storm, shadows clashing against light. Naruto moved with the fluidity of a seasoned warrior, each strike of his staff sending ripples of energy through the air. Měilì darted through the fray, her movements graceful and lethal as she tore through the darkness.
Kang-Jin Star's power flared like a beacon, her attacks precise and devastating. But even as they fought, Naruto felt the weight of something… more pressing down on him.
The figure from his dream.
Watching.
Waiting.
Not today.
Naruto spun, driving the staff into the ground. A wave of chakra exploded outward, sending the shadows reeling.
"We're not done yet," he growled, his eyes blazing with determination. "Not even close."
Kang-Jin Star's voice echoed beside him, her tone laced with urgency. "We need to seal the rift. Now."
"On it!"
Měilì's voice rose in a chant, her words ancient and powerful. The staff in Naruto's hands pulsed again, and he felt the weight of destiny pressing down on him.
This was it.
A choice.
The threads of fate were tangled, fraying.
Naruto gritted his teeth.
And then… he chose.
The light that erupted from the staff was blinding, searing through the darkness with the force of a thousand suns. The shadows howled, their forms dissolving into nothingness as the balance was restored.
Naruto stood at the center of it all, the staff humming softly in his hand.
"Is it… over?" Měilì's voice was barely a whisper.
Kang-Jin Star's expression was unreadable, but her eyes… her eyes held something Naruto couldn't quite place. "For now," she murmured.
Naruto let out a breath, his body finally relaxing. But deep down, he knew this was just the beginning.
The threads of fate had shifted. And he was at the center of it all.
"Great," Naruto muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Just what I needed."
Měilì giggled softly beside him, her warmth grounding him. "You'll get used to it, young master."
Naruto snorted he had the feeling this was just the beginning. "Yeah. Suuurrre.
An ominous feeling shook him suddenly, drawing a grimace to his lips.
Why did it feel like something was crawling down his back...?
Annoyed, he reached back to scratch his shoulder, only to freeze as his hand closed around something. Something moving. Something alive. He went still as stone, body locking up, but only for a moment. Beneath Měilì and Kang-Jin Star's expectant gaze he brought his hand around and opened it now now to inspect his unexpected prize.
A small spider guai stared back up at him, no larger than the palm of his hand.
As he looked on it waved two little legs at him in greeting.
Only then did it deign to speak. "Are you the one?"
Naruto blinked; he blinked hard.
"What the hell...?"
A/N: *whistles innocently*
Should be obvious where we're headed next~! Spider Sisters, here we come~!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter, rough though it was.
As promised, this chapter was longer. And the next will be longer still and so on and so forth until we have some truly massive chapters.
So, there we go! Love it or hate it, do let me know!
Looking forward to your feedback.
Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did writing it. Well, should this remain a story? Would you like weekly updates? I've got two slots left. Or should it be monthly? By all means, speak up.
So...in the immortal words of Atlas...
...Review...Would Ya Kindly? And of course, Enjoy the previews. Potential ones...
Previews are but a few this time. Didn't want to spoil the upcoming chapters.
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
SPOILERS LAY AHEAD!
YE BE WARNED~!
(PREVIEWS)
Wukong cackled and shouldered, his staff . "Splendid, oh yes! SPLENDID! I am most amused! No, I am ENTERTAINED!"
Listen to yourself! Do you have any idea how many would give their everything for immortality?!"
Immortality? Hahaha! For that word, all realms and beings have ruined themselves!
The world these days is full of those lacking talent and virtue in ascending through flattery and trickery. Why tangle with them and sell yourself short? Aim higher-a true soul should carve their own path
"Foolish boy. You really ought to know better than to toy with spiders. They'll gobble you up."
She expected fear; prey always showed some small semblance of it before they died.
But this one did not. Far from it! He threw his head back and laughed!
Laughed! At her! How very strange!
"Ha! Lady, I've seen scarier! You're gonna have to try a little harder than that!"
She peered at him, this odd, Glowing One.
...what did you say your name was?"
"Naruto...?"
"Hmm." She took ahold of his arm, pressing herself against him. "I like you. You should meet my family...
The blond blinked at her; he blinked hard.
"Ain't we moving a little fast here...?"
Yellowbrow crashed backward, clutching his broken, bloody nose.
"W-Wait a moment!" He flung out a hand, to no avail. "Mercy! I see what you are, now! I was mistaken! Clearly, you're stronger than I!"
"Mercy? After all this, you want mercy?" The Monster stalked after him, teeth gone sharp, eyes blazing red. "I can't stand people like you...using others for your own gain...no remorse...
He tried to right himself, only for another blow to batter him down.
"You are definitely not a Buddha."
WHAM!
"You are clearly no god."
SLAM!
"You're no monk!"
BLAM!
"All you are...is a sad, strange little man! NOW GIVE HER BACK!"
EDIT: Hey, you made it! I do hope this chapter lived up to your expectations. By all means, feel free to let me know what you think!
Looking forward to reading your feedback/chatting with you when I get back from work!
Hope you have a great day!