Okay, I know this goes up on Sunday, but nothing stops me from replying to your comments a couple of days early, because gods, I really have to yell at a couple of you from time to time.
Let's go in the order they were made.
Ren Hatori: Actually, she's not mute, she's just Berserker. Her Saber version can and does speak. In fact, even Berserker can talk, since in her fight with Mordred she speaks clearly, but you know, Madness Enhancement spell. And even so, remember Naruto uses Cosmos, and let's recall what Shaka does with Mu, meaning speaking directly to his Cosmos. Naruto could teach her to do that.
AzureMask: Believe me, you're not rambling as much as I am. Regarding your suggestions, except for Scathach or Cu – as I already said, the first is a goddess who came out before Fate got the brilliant idea of Divine Spirits, and Cu is a man – the truth is they are all good ideas.
dragonkeeper10: Well, it's not that Delta kills Fenrir as such, it's more like she finishes him off. Since Naruto was literally the only one at that moment with enough strength to both hold him down and kill him. Delta had the technique strong enough to kill him but not to hold him down, and Natsumi was useless in that particular fight because, as she herself said, "Fenrir is immune to everything I can do." Because depending on the myth, Fenrir literally has phases of burning fire and is completely immune to ice, being a Jotnar... I think that's how you spell it.
Yurt: I'm pretty sure you haven't suggested anyone to me because I searched through the 100 comments and didn't find any from you. Either that, or I really need to find a way for Fanfiction comments to stop being blue on a white background because damn, I killed my eyesight looking for your comment.
raidentensho: Okay, I have a question first... why does everyone assume Naruto wants to conquer? The guy is the son of freaking Kenjaku; regardless of his mother, politics gives Naruto hives. In his own words: "Yeah, right, I'll waste my life and youth behind a desk while Natsumi nags me for not wanting to work a job that will suck my life and soul away." Naruto seeks two things: a family and unraveling every single secret of the universe. Regarding familiars, they don't really have any so far, although Delta gets a couple soon.
VlackLotuzs: First, you really named yourself Black Lotus but misspelled... damn, I wish I had your courage, and I'm not kidding, Magic fans are one of the most intense fandoms ever. Second, Medaka scares me; that chick is from one of the verses that scales the most because of Medaka and her damn ability to copy techniques and boost them to 120%. I don't want to break the power system, that's why I never use her. Regarding Maki... I already have a tomboy, and one that I actually like. Yeah, I don't like Maki; she's too masculine for my taste.
And finally, we get to the guy who made me want to scream... and who, if I knew how to ban someone on Fanfiction, I'd go straight there.
1110Mateo López.
...Look, I don't give a shit that you don't like Mordred. I can't stand Hinata, and Americans for some reason love her, and that's fine, it's an opinion, but... telling me your suggestions are better than mine just because you don't like the character, that's crossing the line and frankly stupid. And for starters, I don't like Soi Fong because besides being a bootleg version of Milo from Scorpio and having a rather questionable relationship with another character I dislike, Yoruichi, she really doesn't have anything going for her. Akame is just 'Meh'; I don't dislike her, but I don't like her either.
Now, that's not what made me angry and want to ban you. What really pissed me off was the Bishop thing. Let's see how I explain this... oh, I know, let's start with the main point. I know I said hating a fictional character is stupid, but... I break that rule with Merlin. She is... a bitch in the worst possible sense of the word. Any story she touches goes down the drain because people like you don't understand how unpleasant and toxic she really is, being willing to kill her best friends – whom she doesn't even see as friends – because she's a bitch who doesn't understand the value of human relationships, all for something she wants at that moment. She has no empathy, no way to develop it because she's a monster, plain and simple, she's a monster without a soul or heart. She's a waste of creativity and humanity's collective imagination. I don't want to see her anywhere near anything; she's the worst character in Nanatsu no Taizai, and ever since she appeared, the series' quality dropped so badly they had to resort to numerical power scaling to save it, and they failed miserably.
Regarding Keres, are you really stupid enough to think that a member of the Bael clan – known for, with the exception of Sairaorg for being a Pariah, being full of conceited idiots who think they're Lucifer's gift to the underworld because they have the Power of Destruction in their veins – would accept being a miserable, disgusting Pawn? Keres was already annoyed enough being a Bishop and not the damn Queen, and she only accepted it because Natsumi basically gave her a beating to take her down a peg.
And finally, the most important thing: that you think Shun of Andromeda – a character who represents a man with the capacity to feel empathy, who can still be a man, be a warrior but also peaceful, who allowed himself to be possessed by a god like Hades to sacrifice his life in exchange for ending the god – works better as a woman... makes it more than clear to me that you genuinely are an imbecile and that I'm wasting my time replying to you, but I need to do it to get the anger your comments provoked out of my system.
Slenjeff: Do you have any idea what you're asking me, man? I've already said three times that I have Asperger's syndrome and anxiety disorder. Believe me, I already try hard enough not to ramble or be redundant... I am barely able to function, and basically, you're asking me to change completely just to make reading more comfortable for you. Man, this is literally my form of therapy. If I share it, it's because writing just for myself is horrible. Yes, I understand your situation, but honestly, I can't and won't change my style just to please one person, especially not one who has literally blatantly ignored that I write the way I do because of autism and anxiety.
N/A: Well, I suppose that, before anything else, I apologize. Now that you know my condition, Asperger's and the anxiety disorder that accompany me, perhaps you will better understand my tendency to react with... vehemence to certain comments. Anyway, I suppose it's time to start shaping Chapter 12.
Chapter 12:
The Seventh Sense
Shortly after leaving Odin's imposing throne room, Naruto and his companions were led by Rossweisse directly to the chambers they would occupy during their stay in the Father of the Æsir's palace. To the slight confusion of the three, they found a wardrobe full of outfits that, due to their design and functionality, they assumed were the standard training attire for the valkyries, at least in the case of Natsumi and Delta. Naruto, for his part, found a suit that bore a striking resemblance to the one worn by that red-haired colossus who had remained in stony silence beside Odin.
Naruto did not stop to elaborate on the suitability of that attire. Lacking a shirt at that precise moment, any protection against the icy breath of Asgard seemed like a heavenly gift. Therefore, he promptly donned one of the suits they had provided.
To be completely honest, the garment boasted nothing glorious. It was, in essence, a long-sleeved tunic and tight leggings, woven with a material that, without a doubt, must have been a secret jealously guarded by the Asgardians. His Six Eyes, capable of unraveling the most intricate mysteries of magic, remained in utter ignorance of the nature of those fibers.
For a moment, the idea of also putting on the armor that accompanied the outfit crossed his mind. However, the prospect of sacrificing comfort in moments unrelated to training seemed repulsive to him. Furthermore, he doubted that Thor, with his imposing presence, would dare to impose an instruction session on him as soon as he crossed the threshold of his new home.
Once dressed in the garments, Naruto walked slowly to the austere sofa that presided over the room, where he collapsed with a sigh laden with bewilderment. The confusion that gripped him was, in his honest opinion, deeper and more overwhelming than the one that had assailed him on the day of his exile. A disturbing normality was taking hold of him, and he completely doubted that such a thing was healthy.
He could not specify the exact moment when he got completely lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts, nor the time that passed during his self-absorption. However, the subtle touch of a delicate finger pulled him from his introspection, returning him to tangible reality, where he met the gaze of his... assistant... babysitter... In the honesty of his confusion, Naruto still struggled to define the peculiar relationship that bound him to the little Valkyrie named Rossweisse. In reality, nothing in the intricate plot of that situation was understandable to him now… and it would probably take a long time to understand anything again.
Upon observing her carefully, his Six Eyes unraveled a myriad of details. The tunic worn by the valkyrie, similar in design to his, with its long sleeves and loose cut, contrasted with the amplitude of Naruto's. Her pants, made of that enigmatic fabric that defied the penetration of his Six Eyes, clung to her silhouette with a discreet elegance.
"I still think you're an angel," he muttered distractedly, his voice imbued with an involuntary sincerity. The young woman's beauty was undeniable, and the depth of his musings had stripped him, at least for a moment, of his usual self-control.
Just like the first time he had, indirectly, dared to compare her to a celestial being, presupposing that the human essence of her soul would have found refuge in the ethereal abode of heaven upon beholding her beauty, Rossweisse was assailed by a wave of heat that tinged her cheeks with a subtle crimson. Her lips parted slightly, in a vain attempt to articulate a response, perhaps a reprimand for the audacious frankness of that comment. The young woman struggled to define the nature of his words. He, in his peculiar way, had been simply frank, pouring out his admiration for her beauty with a sincerity devoid of all caution.
And perhaps it was that very absence of artifice, that lack of the calculated courtesy that usually surrounded her, that had completely disconcerted her. In her fifteen years of existence, not a suitor, not even a renowned warrior bold enough, had dared to court her with such audacity. The lineage of Brunhilde and Siegfried, imposing and legendary figures, heroes whose deeds resonated in the sagas, erected a formidable barrier, dissuading even the bravest from approaching with romantic intentions.
In the end, a sigh escaped her lips, laden with a contained resignation. Every reprimand, every correction, vanished before the palpable vulnerability she perceived in him, a fragility that contrasted with the imperturbable coldness he usually displayed.
"Are you alright?" Rossweisse inquired, her voice trying to sound casual but betraying genuine concern. The truth was, she had come for that: to feel out the terrain and get to know a little more about the people she was going to be looking after... if they survived the first day of training with Thor.
Naruto let out a sigh, filled with bitter irony. "I was exiled from home two months ago, my friends and family are like ghosts now, my therapist is... let's say, unorthodox in his methods, and to top it off, I don't understand what the hell is going on here." He paused, and then added, in a strangely subdued tone that was unsettling for its lack of his usual acerbity, "And worst of all, I feel... normal."
"I don't think that indifference is healthy," Rossweisse murmured, a shadow of deep concern coloring her voice, as her eyes searched Naruto's for some sign of the storm she witnessed within him.
"Probably not," Naruto admitted, his voice tinged with a tired resignation. But, to be completely frank, he was too exhausted from all the poison that had distilled his life in the last two months to even give a thought to his apparent indifference to everything he felt at that precise moment. "Did you want something?" he inquired with a calmness that contrasted with the hurricane raging inside him, seeking in the question a foothold to rescue him from the whirlwind his mind had become.
For a few fleeting moments, Rossweisse weighed the idea of explaining her true intention: to start a conversation to get to know him better, considering the whole year that, presumably, they would spend together in Asgard, not counting the possibility that Lord Odin would decide to extend their stay even further, as well as Natsumi's and Delta's. However, upon looking into his eyes, those orbs so intense but simultaneously so laden with deep defeat, she sensed that this was not the right path to take at that moment.
For brief seconds, her mind wandered in search of a way to initiate a genuine conversation with the young man, without prematurely revealing her real motives. Finally, an idea arose, although she immediately dismissed it as inappropriate for the palpable atmosphere that enveloped them. Thus, in the end, she simply articulated the first words that came to her mind.
"I just... came to talk," she said, her voice soft, almost a whisper, "and I saw you so absorbed in your thoughts that I couldn't help but worry."
Inside, Rossweisse harbored a sharp uncertainty about whether her excuse would have managed to persuade the young man with piercing eyes. Even so, she placed a faint hope that it would.
"Worry... about a complete stranger?" Naruto inquired, one eyebrow slightly arched, denoting a barely veiled skepticism.
"My grandmother always said that a stranger is just a friend you haven't met yet," Rossweisse replied, offering a slight smile that tried to convey warmth and sincerity.
"That's from Disney... and it's a terribly naive message considering several things," Naruto commented dryly, the shadow of a bitter experience coloring his words. "I mean, kids were told 'don't take candy from strangers' for a very specific reason."
For a fleeting instant, Rossweisse's smile wavered, like a flame threatened by a gust of wind. In the end, a sigh escaped her lips and she fell with a resigned softness onto the austere sofa, right next to Naruto, who watched her with growing perplexity, unable to decipher the sudden change in her expression.
"Lord Thor is a very different deity from your brother," Rossweisse explained, her tone now imbued with palpable seriousness. "He will truly fulfill Lord Odin's order to turn you into the precise warrior to defeat Fenrir, or die trying... and that's assuming you manage to survive his training."
"It can't be that... bad, right?" Naruto asked, although the slight upward inflection at the end of the sentence failed to conceal a deeply ingrained skepticism.
(Author's Note: If you're wondering about my absence these past three days... besides the persistent Asperger's that intensifies my susceptibility to criticism, perhaps more than other authors, it has been the exhausting training. Finally... I decided to structure the montage inspired by a story of Virgo Golden Saint Naruto, adapting it to my own style and the current situation of the plot.)
He was wrong. The magnitude of his error resonated in every aching muscle, a mistake so palpable that the simple word felt insufficient to describe his naivety in ignoring the seriousness in Rossweisse's words about Thor's training.
To begin with, what had initially felt like a mere morning warm-up now blurred in his memory, overshadowed by the relentless brutality that had followed. The god of thunder, a corpulent figure whose mere presence denoted overwhelming physical strength, lived up to his reputation with unwavering dedication. For a month that had stretched like a slow agony, his training had become a methodical demolition of their physical capabilities.
In that span, Thor had not limited himself to defeating them in uneven three-on-one combats. Each confrontation left them exhausted and bruised, struggling to stand due to aching bones and internal organs that protested with every movement.
But even in that state of extreme exhaustion, with muscles tense and torn, and a dull pain that constantly accompanied him, Thor made sure they completed a daily circuit. Regardless of their condition, they had to perform the repetitions: one hundred push-ups that strained their arms and chest, one hundred sit-ups that contracted their abdomen until it cramped, and one hundred squats that made their legs tremble with the effort. And as if the grueling routine wasn't enough, every day they had to run one hundred kilometers across the icy and rugged terrain of Asgard, with the ferocious wolves Sköll and Hati chasing closely behind, adding the constant fear of their pursuit to the already unbearable physical fatigue.
If they miraculously managed to avoid bites on their heels (or, in Natsumi's case, on her six swaying kitsune tails, particularly tempting targets for the sun and moon-devouring wolves), the redhead subjected them to the control of his magic. This was an incredibly arduous task for the three of them, considering the vast reserve of magical power they possessed: Natsumi, as a six-tailed kitsune; Delta, a survivor of the traumatic phenomenon of possession; and Naruto, a demon of the prestigious House Gremory.
Worst of all was the relentless progression of the training. As soon as the god perceived a glimmer of adaptation in his apprentices, he increased the demands without hesitation. The repetitions went from one hundred to one hundred and fifty, the running distance extended by an additional fifty kilometers... and to top it off, he added Garmr to the chase. Naruto couldn't help but wonder if that monstrous canine shouldn't be guarding the shadowy gates of Helheim instead of chasing them across the Asgardian plains.
And as if the physical exhaustion and the constant threat of the beasts weren't enough, at some point during their meager hours of sleep, Freya, under Thor's orders, had tattooed runes on them with an amplified gravity effect. Their bodies felt incredibly heavy, a constant burden intended, according to the god, to increase their natural strength. Naruto silently swore that if he managed to survive the training or avoid being devoured by the fearsome Fenrir, he would strangle Thor with his own beard. If he didn't succeed, well, during Ragnarok, Jörmungandr would have a vengeful ally in the afterlife.
The only glimmer of light in all this torture was the physical result. At the end of that first month, Naruto and his two companions possessed exceptional condition. Natsumi even appreciated the firmness of her stomach, as she had gained some weight in the Underworld due to her fondness for sweets. Their bodies had transformed into perfect machines for speed and powerful blows.
"Alright, my adorable students," Thor's detestable voice boomed, causing the three teenagers, lying on the ground after surviving the first month of training, to simply groan. They were too exhausted to even lift their heads and glare at him.
"Delta... Delta will support the serpent," the young therianthrope murmured, her voice barely a thread of sound. Even Delta, normally the most energetic and enthusiastic when it came to physical challenges, couldn't help but harbor a fleeting desire for the god before her to suffer a fate similar to that of their exhausted bodies.
"And I'm sure she'll appreciate said support," Thor commented with an amused grin, as if the mere idea of his formidable adversary accepting the help of a therianthrope struck him as comically absurd... because, in his peculiar divine perspective, it was damn funny. "Anyway, get up. It's time to move on to the next phase of training... I'll teach you to awaken the seventh sense."
"Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like this?" Naruto complained, his voice filled with a foreboding that ran through his core.
The answer to his question manifested with a visceral violence that resonated in every fiber of his being. Thor, in a display of methodical cruelty, had decided to guide him towards the seventh sense by emulating an infamous method: the annihilation of his primary senses. The analogy with Phoenix Ikki's training by Virgo Shaka was not coincidental, but the subtlety of the "Treasures of Heaven" was replaced by the palpable brutality of Thor's fists. Each blow was a seismic discharge that shattered the clarity of his vision, silenced the echoes of the world, nullified the taste on his tongue, erased the texture under his fingers, and suffocated the air in his lungs. Pain became his only and omnipresent sense, a constant throbbing that reduced him to an almost catatonic state, an inert body stripped of the windows to the outside world.
Ironically, his previous mastery of the cosmos, although considerable, had become an obstacle. His Six Eyes, those portals of perception that unveiled the secrets of the universe around him, had generated a dependence that atrophied his ability to feel the cosmos in a deeper and more intuitive way. Meanwhile, Natsumi, with her inherent divine essence as a kitsune, and Delta, whose talent for battle seemed etched into her soul, had transcended that barrier long before him. Naruto faced the frustrating need to unlearn the intricate dance of his habitual cosmos, to silence the avalanche of information from his eyes, in order to feel the true essence of his inner power, a lesson imparted through a painful symphony of blows... in the most literal way possible.
However, in the crucible of that torment, a faint light began to emerge. His cosmos, although still far from reaching the fullness of the seventh sense, now vibrated at a frequency more harmonious with his being. This nascent attunement manifested in a palpable improvement in his physical capabilities. Thor, with a hint of recognition in his deep voice, had placed him at the "level of an average Bronze Saint of the ancient era." To an untrained ear, the label might sound mediocre, but Naruto knew the legend of those warriors capable of unleashing forces that could devastate entire cities. It was, in reality, a significant compliment, although Thor never missed an opportunity to point out that Natsumi and Delta still outpaced him, free from the "crutch" that his omnipresent Six Eyes represented.
Of course, Thor granted them some occasional respites… pauses that, for some reason beyond Naruto's comprehension, Delta took advantage of to launch herself against Sköll and Hati. She would mutter something about getting revenge for the repeated bites on her tail, but Naruto preferred not to delve into the labyrinths of his agile companion's mind. His own weariness and frustration were too heavy a burden to spend his scarce moments of rest unraveling the mysteries of Delta's behavior.
Instead, he chose to dedicate his free time to two main activities. The first consisted of requesting Rossweisse's help to relieve his sore muscles, a request that the valkyrie attended to with a diligence that Naruto found, in his exhausted mind, slightly less embarrassing than his second objective: learning runic magic. In this latter endeavor, his progress was noticeably slower than in the first. The second activity consisted of exhaustively reviewing his repertoire of combat techniques. He sought to understand them at a fundamental and literal level that had eluded him until now. He had made significant progress with "The Great Horn" and the "Infernal Waves," the latter thanks to his demonic nature. However, more complex techniques, which manipulated the laws of reality and absolute forces like the Aurora Execution and the Stardust Revolution, still remained beyond his grasp of understanding.
Runes, in comparison, proved to be a much more accessible field of learning. Once he convinced Rossweisse to share the limited knowledge she herself possessed, Naruto was able to understand their functioning at a basic level. It was undeniable that the Six Eyes represented an obstacle to the full awakening of his cosmos, but they proved to be an invaluable tool for other types of knowledge, and runic magic was just one of them. By the time Odin learned of his progress, the one-eyed god simply let out a resounding laugh and commented that he was on the right track, although he still had a long way to go to be considered a true expert in the art of runes.
Resuming the truly crucial training – that is, the awakening of the seventh sense based on Thor's relentless blows – the constant threat of being devoured by three giant wolves with cosmic appetites – Sköll even had a reputation for being able to swallow a star – and any other torture that the thunder god's sadistic mind conceived of on any given day – including, but not limited to, serving as a punching bag for Thor's burly sons, Magni and Móði, cleaning Sleipnir's filthy stables, and the occasional troll hunt – finally… after almost a cursed year of being tossed around like a rag doll and repeatedly plunged into blindness, deafness, muteness – and although he didn't remember the exact term for the loss of taste and smell, he had also experienced them so many times that he had lost count after the third month – Naruto had achieved complete mastery of his seventh sense. This momentous conquest came after an entire month in which Thor stubbornly refused to restore his sight, forcing him to establish a deep and genuine connection with his cosmos. Naruto was convinced that the god had not forgotten about his blindness, but had simply refused to reverse it, strictly forbidding anyone else from doing so.
The positive side of this grueling experience was that he had finally perfected almost his entire arsenal of combat techniques. He still struggled to master the "Treasures of Heaven," as well as the Agyō and the Ungyō, something that Thor had described as "a blessing from the universe." The god had argued something about the unnecessity of a deranged redhead with homicidal inclinations towards his own beard mastering the sound that initiates the end of everything and the light that symbolizes the beginning of the universe.
Finally, the ultimate test loomed over them: a three-on-one confrontation against the damned wolf. Deep down, Naruto yearned to unleash the beast from its chains, not out of compassion, but with the fervent hope that its jaws would close on Thor's throat. The fact that the god had ripped shreds from his latent potential, forcing him to understand the subtleties of his cosmos through unimaginable pain, did not generate gratitude, but a cold and persistent bile. He still reveled in fantasies where his hands tightened around Thor's robust neck, the reddish beard twisting under his grip, while his hammer, Mjolnir, served for a much more intimate and painful revenge.
"Well, lads, the moment has arrived. You embark on the journey that brought you to the domains of Asgard. And listen to me well: return victorious, or I will personally descend to the depths of Helheim to drag you back and subject you to it all again," Thor boomed, his voice resonating with a mixture of authority and a mischievous glint in his eyes. Despite his gruffness, a peculiar bond had formed with the stubborn little demon and his two attractive companions... even with the diligent Rossweisse, whose genuine concern in alleviating their wounds after each unilateral beating had not gone unnoticed.
"After disintegrating Sirzechs down to the last atom and scattering his remains across the galaxy... you're next on my list, empty-headed oaf," Naruto spat, the edge of his words barely concealing the bitter certainty that, while he could inflict cosmic damage on his half-brother, Thor moved in a sphere of power that completely transcended him.
"Aha... yeah, sure, pup. We both know you still have a long, long way to go to even scratch my power... although, I must admit, I will savor every second of the day when you can truly face me without ending up as bait for Fenrir," Thor replied, his mocking grin revealing the pure enjoyment he derived from the young man's impotent threats.
"Delta will tear off that ridiculous beard of yours and use it to jump rope until your teeth fall out, you idiot," the young therianthrope growled, her amethyst eyes flashing with a contained fury that, although less cosmic in its scope than that of her king, was no less visceral in its intent.
"Come on, come on, Wolfie," Thor said, directing the same sardonic smile at Delta as he had at Naruto. "Didn't I convince Father to let you keep your flea-bitten friends?" He found it an inexhaustible source of amusement that the black-haired, violet-eyed teenager had developed a damn affectionate bond with Sköll and Hati, of all creatures.
"Do I even need to ask?" Naruto whispered to Natsumi, who was struggling to contain a laugh at the peculiar dynamic unfolding before them.
"It's a long story, Naruto-sama... a story so long that you would doubt the existence of time itself," the kitsune whispered, her ancient wisdom preventing her from wasting energy on empty threats against a god who, in their training, had limited himself to his brute strength. Deep down, she was profoundly grateful for it; the mere thought of facing Mjolnir or the power of Thor's belt of strength made her tremble.
"Anyway... the truth is, despite all the chaos and pain of these months, I really enjoyed my time with you, brats," Thor said with a broad smile that crinkled the corners of his eyes, an expression that, although tinged with his usual mockery, possessed an unexpected warmth.
"I want to strangle you with your own beard, you sadistic piece of idiot," Naruto hissed, resentment bubbling in his voice. An entire month of forced darkness still burned in his memory, a month deprived of the visions he so cherished: the ethereal serenity of Rossweisse's face, the increasingly pronounced curve of Natsumi's hips that effortlessly caught his gaze, or the mischievous and loyal gleam of Delta's smile. The idea of having "enjoyed" Thor's company struck him as a cruel mockery.
"Sköll is a complete idiot for wasting his energy chasing the sun instead of focusing on a much more... rewarding target," Delta growled, her amethyst eyes fixed on Thor with a predatory intensity.
Thor let out a resounding laugh at the wolf therianthrope's comment. "Looks like our little savage is still trying to convince her friends that I have an exquisite flavor," he said, amused by Delta's persistence in her peculiar plan.
"Thank you for your time, Lord Odinson," Natsumi said with a slight bow of her head. Her tone, although formal, lacked the warmth of sincere gratitude, but at least it represented a courtesy that contrasted with the open hostility of her companions. In her mind, she reviewed everything she had learned, weighing the pain against the undeniable growth in her power.
"Well, at least someone here shows a minimum of manners," Thor commented, his voice resonating with clear amusement at Natsumi's forced formality.
"It's more of a developed sense of self-preservation... I also want to kill you, of course, but I'm aware enough of my current limitations to utter a direct threat. Instead... perhaps I'll simply freeze your heart while you sleep," Natsumi replied with a slight shrug, her casual tone contrasting with the chilling nature of her insinuation. In her amber eyes, a cold determination flickered, a silent promise of future revenge.
"Ha!... I like that attitude, fox girl." Thor let out a thunderous laugh, his face illuminated by the pure entertainment provided by his students' veiled threats. He seemed to revel in their audacity, interpreting it not as an offense, but as a sign of their growing warrior spirit.
For a considerable time, silence was the only echo that resonated after Thor's booming laughter. None of the four present seemed to have anything more to add, at least nothing that wasn't about veiled threats of murder directed at the thunder god, or equally mocking responses to said lethal intentions. This peculiar dynamic had permeated the atmosphere with a palpable tension, a latent discomfort that no one seemed willing to dispel.
"I see you're still cultivating friendships as... peculiar as ever, brother," broke in a voice that none of them expected to hear at that moment, seemingly emerging from nowhere. The four turned simultaneously, searching for the newcomer.
He was a man of almost as imposing a build as Thor, sharing his characteristic red hair and wearing similarly cut garments, with the notable addition of a heavy cloak made from the skin of an unknown creature, draped over his broad shoulders. His face, although with severe features, did not bear Thor's sardonic smile, but a more contemplative and reserved expression.
"Lord Vidar," Natsumi greeted with a respectful bow, her education and good manners instilled by Grayfia prevailing even in that tense situation.
"Silent idiot," was Naruto's concise and unfriendly greeting. Seriously, doesn't he care at all that I just threatened his brother with death? All these Asgardians are the same, with that stupid calmness that irritates me to the core.
"Shoe guy," Delta blurted out, her tone completely flat and expressionless. Seriously? A magic shoe? she thought to herself, struggling not to burst out laughing at the ridiculous disparity between the god's imposing figure and the seemingly trivial nature of his legendary weapon. Thor with his hammer, Odin with his spear... and this guy with... a magic shoe. It was so damn hilarious.
"That's a new one," Thor commented, an amused smile curving the corners of his wind- and battle-weathered lips. It was the first time Delta had referred to his stronger brother by his peculiar magic footwear, the intricately worked leather skíðblaðnir, instead of alluding to his almost palpable aura of silence that seemed to absorb the sound of the surroundings, or his unsettling ability to appear literally out of nowhere, like a fleeting shadow at the edges of vision.
"I don't particularly care," Vidar replied with a shrug that moved the heavy fur cloak over his taut muscles, denoting an indifference hardened by constant repetition. Honestly, the taunts about the seemingly mundane nature of his divine weapon were so frequent, coming even from the golden halls of Valhalla, that they had ceased to have any effect on his stoic facade.
For another tense five minutes, silence, almost tangible as a heavy blanket, re-established itself in the room. The golden light filtering through the high palace windows cast long, dancing shadows on the walls adorned with tapestries of heroic deeds. Finally, after a brief pause in which he seemed to weigh his words, Vidar considered it the opportune moment to convey the message that the Allfather had entrusted to him, an invisible weight on his silent shoulders.
"Weird eyes," the god said, his tone deliberately slow, almost as if savoring the slight sting his words would inflict. Naruto's carefully shaped eyebrow, dark and defined above his intense blue eyes, twitched almost imperceptibly, a micro-movement that betrayed his irritation. He detested that damn nickname, a crude simplification of the brilliant complexity of his vision. His eyes were not weird, they were windows to the very fabric of reality. "My father sends me to tell you that if you happen to die in this endeavor, he himself will descend to the icy depths of Helheim and train you personally, stripping you of any vestige of weakness. And that if you think Thor was demanding, his discipline will be a thousand times more relentless, a test that will push the limits of your very soul."
"I'll bring him the head and hide of that damned thing as a trophy," Naruto affirmed, a confident, almost predatory smile curving his thin lips. His eyes gleamed with unwavering determination, anticipating the final confrontation.
"What shall we do with its body?" Delta blurted out, her face showing a complete lack of seriousness at the transcendence of the moment. She was probably wondering if the wolves would want to share it or if they could use its bones to play something.
"We'll think of something," Naruto replied with a slight shrug, his mind already focused on the task ahead, before turning and beginning to walk with determination towards the location where Fenrir was held.
"You remembered to give them the map of the hidden paths that cross Jötunheim, right?" Thor asked his younger brother, a hint of genuine concern peeking out from beneath his carefree facade, although veiled by his usual mocking tone. Vidar simply offered a slight, enigmatic smile, his lips barely curving in a silent promise.
"No one threatens my older brother with death and goes unpunished," Vidar replied with an unsettling calmness that contrasted with the implied fury in his words, provoking a loud laugh from Thor, who leaned back, moved by his brother's peculiar loyalty. Whoever said that revenge was a purely violent and bloody act clearly did not know the patient and often deliciously petty nature of the reprisals plotted by Vidar.
End of chapter.
fine note: sorry if the training montage is simple but honestly speaking that is something that either you extend a lot, and the few that I saw taught things that Naruto already knew, are completely redundant, or in the worst case they don't really teach him anything, mine at least is concise and makes it clear that Naruto generated hatred for Thor for leaving him blind for a whole month.