Chapter 4
Several shurikens spun through the air, curving and moving into the gaps between the ice mirrors.
Clang! Clang!
They hit each other and deflected into the masked ninja's face.
Due to the suddenness of the attack, the ninja couldn't switch mirrors in time so he was forced to eject himself. That didn't save his mask however as one shuriken had successfully sliced into his mask, creating a shallow groove.
He immediately got onto his feet and raised his forearm to block a roundhouse kick, aimed at his face. His feet shifted and shuffled as he moved backwards whilst he leaned away from, blocked, and flipped over his adversary's attacks. He saw an opening and spun, breaking his opponent's attempt at latching onto him before driving an elbow into his gut.
Puff
"A clone!" he thought in alarm, recognising who had entered the fray.
Several blurs shot through the mist, charging forward with coordination that was extremely unnatural as if multiple entities were one. With coordination in likeness with limbs of the same body. A pair of clones ran past him whilst the other charged him head-on. He was surrounded.
He took advantage of his superior reflexes and martial arts abilities to fend them off. This only lastest for a few seconds due to how impossibly coordinated the clones were and as such was forced to break the engagement.
He then leapt into the air and made several hands signs his opponent failed to recognise. "Hijutsu: Sensatsu Suisho," thousands of water needles were formed from surrounding ponds and were all launched to promptly destroy the clones. The ninja landed and quickly phased into the dome surrounding Sasuke.
A man wielding a large got a little distracted.
"Zabuza-san! I will take care of the kid!" he announced as he located the original.
Naruto was wary of his opponent from the start, after all, he had managed to corner Sasuke, a genin who was considerably stronger than he was. Naruto knew very well it would be extremely difficult to take this one down head-on so he opted for guerilla tactics. After his first group was dispatched, he quickly jumped and moved under the bridge before spawning another group of individuals which immediately charged at the dome that the Hunter-nin had retreated into.
They were able to run past Kakashi and Zabuza because the boy had announced that Naruto was his opponent and as such the Executioner Blade wielding ninja ignored him and focused on the copy ninja. "Naruto, be careful!" Kakashi called out as he parried slashes from Zabuza's giant sword.
"Right!" the clones responded in unison before they were destroyed and replaced by another group. They kept being destroyed by ice needles shot from the mirrors. "Sasuke!" a clone called out. "I can't, their mirrors are unaffected by my fire jutsu," he responded as he desperately moved his body, only dodging a few dozen of the hail of needles raining on him.
They pierced into his body and were promptly ripped out before they could do any damage. After all, they were ice needles. The needles he dodged would turn into the water before relaunching themselves as ice needles. Quite a dire situation which was fortunately supported by the dual tomoe, crimson eyes he possessed which allowed him to read chakra content in the water, allowing him to tell when they would transform.
He had already copied the water version of the technique and attempted to hijack control of the water to lessen the burden but his enemy's experience with the technique stopped him from doing so.
An ice mirror formed behind Naruto. "Oh shit!" Naruto attempted to move but was kicked with great force into the dome located a dozen meters away. He thought he was perfectly concealed but his massive reserves of chakra acted like a beacon. He was normally skilled at hiding his chakra but he wasn't skilled at suppressing his chakra whilst moulding it.
And as such he and his teammate were stuck in a nightmare.
He didn't know how much time had passed, how many needles he had received and how much water ejected itself from his wounds. The ice needles melted, injecting fluid that would invade his body like poison and explode into balls of spiky ice, rupturing blood vessels and the like. Sasuke had the Sharingan which allowed him to predict which would liquify and rip them out in time or send chakra to neutralize the enemy's chakra before the jutsu's second form appeared, and he had the Kyuubi to act as a chakra immune response.
The battle had reached its climax. Naruto was on his back, looking up in horror as Sasuke had become what resembled a pin cushion. The mist thinned slightly in one area, creating a path that allowed one to see several meters ahead with ease. It was a great coincidence.
No. It was on purpose. Naruto eyes widened in horror as he heard a scream followed by a rush of footsteps signifying someone had left their post. "What! The!?" Tazuna cried in surprised as he felt a rush of wind passing by him. His guard was gone.
"Sasuke-kun! No!"
"Sakura stop!" It was too late. Her head parted from her neck as her body stumbled then tumbled before twitching. Her head continued rolling, moving into the dome and stopped at Narutos feet. Her horrified eyes stared into his.
A pause.
"Sa-" He choked on his tears, feeling an overwhelming sense of grief, hopelessness, melancholy and most of all... Wrath.
He felt warmth on both his hands, grasping them tightly. Helping lessen the burden on his heart.
His body twitched uncontrollably as he broke out in a bellow of laughter. It was hollow, there was no happiness to be found within it. The world had done it again. He continued laughing until said laughter collapsed into sobs. The world took someone from him once more.
He had failed. "Tell me, how does it feel to be weak," his enemy mocked as his voice echoed through all the dome as if multiple people had spoken. Almost like the whispers he had endured as a child. This one was successful in killing Naruto's spirit... Temporarily atleast. Naruto felt alone in that dome. He could no longer comprehend anything. No sound or pain reached him as he cried out in a fury.
The warmth tightened around his hands as if trying to comfort him.
He staggered to his feet, ignoring Sasuke's corpse."I'll destroy everything," he whispered before a pillar of red light exploded from his body, forcing cracks and fissures to appear on the bridge, shattering the dome with ease. The masked boy felt an invisible force slam into him, sending him flying. The bridge then caved in and fell apart.
Screams could be heard as Kakashi took this opportunity to create clones which grabbed Tazuna and caught Sasuke and went off with them. "The seal! Is it compromised?" he questioned as his hand moved toward his pouch, retrieving a tailed beast suppressing tag, given to him by the Sandaime.
"What the hell!? He is just like that bastard," Zabuza grimaced as he moved to cushion his partner, all while watching the boy become a monster.
Hate! Kill! Destroy!
Naruto was surrounded by a red bubbly cloak as he stumbled to his feet with an empty look in his eyes.
Kill
His eyes moved to the masked boy who was caught by Zabuza
KILL!
He charged.
Then there was darkness. Emptiness. He was alone once more, floating in an abyss.
"Your fate is a quite interesting boy," stated the Otsutsuki as he moved closer to the shinobi before sneering. "I tell you this o great God of Shinobi, if you do not let go of that which you have burdened yourself with, you will lose everything," Momoshiki closed his eyes as his astral projection began fading. "And I warn you, those who have killed gods can never remain normal after all, there is much you don't know, much you have never seen," he smirked, "all shall be revealed to you," he disappeared with those chilling words.
Naruto was back to the real world as if he were never in the astral plane in the first place. Naruto's eyes were then drawn to the navy blue, diamond-shaped mark that had appeared on his left hand after his battle with Toneri.
He was back in the abyss once more. Just floating. His mind vacant, his body still as if trapped in a timeless void.
"I love you." an unknown voice pierced the abyss.
His body twitched as shadows crept onto it, latching onto it like leeches. "I love you," the voice announced once more. The shadows didn't consume, instead, they comforted, they held him, assuring him he wasn't alone.
He stirred and moved his body to a fetal position. "Leave," he commanded coldly. They did not obey.
A single pulse of power was all it took. They were sent into oblivion.
A woman in a dress of shadows stood far away from the blonde. Just observing him because she knew she couldn't get close. So she waited. And waited. And waited.
He was alone once more. Just... Existing. He sat there or was it everywhere. The place in which he was in was far too anomalous to be definitely defined by reality. Or rather, reality had no place there.
It was supposed to be a place where he could run away from reality and live his greatest dreams. A never land if you will. A place of mysteries and fantasies. It bore a great sense of adventure, where he could explore and find joys in existing. A positive place.
It was until his reality had finally caught up to him. Like an army, it invaded, pillaged and took over. It destroyed everything and so it became empty.
"Please, forgive yourself. You don't have to be sacrifice," the voice begged
He didn't respond.
He and the world disappeared.
Blink Blink
The God of Shinobi stirred. "Weird dream," he thought as he gained an uncomfortable look on his face. He clenched his fist tightly and took a deep breath before opening his eyes once more.
"This isn't my ceiling," he yawned slightly, covering his mouth. He slowly sat up, scratching his lower back as he looked around. "This isn't a reset nor is it the afterlife," He thought, taking in his surroundings. He was in a rather spacious room with a large bed able to easily fit 5 people in it. The room was fancy enough to host nobility or at least Naruto assumed. He never knew this world's high standards could be in the opposite direction from his.
"This definitely isn't a hospital," muttered Naruto as he swung his feet over the side of the bed. He then pushed himself to his feet before catching himself, nearly tumbling. His legs felt very weak as if he had been asleep for a significant amount of time. "Was I in a coma? I should be dead. Did Emilia find a way to save me?" he questioned as he used the bed to keep balanced whilst walking around its perimeter.
He could finally feel his legs again. "How much time has passed since then?" he stood with shaky legs that were gradually becoming stronger. He then began moving his upper body a little, working to shake off the dullness present in his limbs. "Hope my clothes are still around. They weren't messed up too bad during," he kicked his feet around lightly. "Good evening to you too Junior," he chuckled as he felt his wood pressing against his own.
Naruto crawled back into his bed and curled up, waiting for Emilia or whoever was taking care of him to arrive which was gonna be in a few hours... Probably. His eyes closed...
He tossed and turned...
"I'm bored."
He rolled out of bed, walked up to the door and opened the door before walking out.
He couldn't see the end of the corridor. He blinked in surprise as he took everything in. "Hey. This place is huge," he thought as he delicately walked down the corridor. The silence was a little surprising for the shinobi. For a place so large, you'd think the corridor would have at least two people in it.
Perhaps he was overthinking it, it was night time after all. He was unsure of what the time was as there was nothing to indicate it. He wasn't outside so he couldn't exactly determine what time it was.
"Hey what the hell! Is someone manipulating Space-Time?" his eyebrow twitched in annoyance. He had come across that painting and vase for the second time and he knew they wwre the same ones he saw earlier because of minor details only a trained eye would spot.
He reached for the door facing the oil painting.
A book archive with a little girl.
"How do you-"
Click!
"Arrogant loli with a massive pole in the ass," he sighed before turning away, he had dealt with that type of bullshit numerous times. He wasn't in the mood. Naruto walked away from the door. "Now which door was the room I came from," he asked himself as he walked back to where he came. Naruto finally found his destination and reached for the knob.
He paused.
He could feel Space-time being manipulated behind that door. Naruto walked to the next door. The feeling had travelled from his door to the one he was about to open. He stopped for a moment, feeling irritation welling up within him. He dashed from door to door, hoping to outmanoeuvre the phenomena.
It was winning.
He opened the door.
"You have some nerve huma-"
Click!
He closed the door and moved to open his own.
"Sto-"
Click!
He really wasn't in the mood to deal with shitty nobles. "The hell is with this girl," he sighed before opening his door once more, revealing a room more than twice the size of the one he woke up in. The smell of ink and paper lingered heavily in the air. The room was lined with several shelves that were packed with books and non of them had characters he recognized. He frowned recognizing them as the characters he had seen in the royal capital.
"What a rude creature you are. Not only opening my door numerous times without knocking but sighing at that. You must be trying to offend, I suppose."
"Hey, what the hell? What's a kid doing in a library? Come on little princess, it's past bedtime. All children need their sleep to grow up to be big, strong and beautiful. See what's happening to your face? You aren't smiling, that's what not going to bed does to ya," Naruto observed the strange girl seated before him.
Her eyes narrowed, "Such insolence will not be forgiven I suppose!" she responded acerbically, furrowing her eyebrows causing the books in the shelves to rattle. "Ho?" Naruto responded with a raised eyebrow, completely disregarding the hostility emanating from the girl he had just insulted. Well, he had a hunch her age did not correlate with her appearance.
She had the appearance of a lovely young girl around the age of twelve. She was dressed in a frilly ornate dress with white trimmings and an exposed front that left her legs visible which were covered in pink and purple vertical-striped tights. On her cream-coloured hair which was long and tied to frilly vertical drill-shaped twin tails, she wore a petite crown which was located on the right side of her head.
"Tell me, what's a legal loli want with me?" he inquired whilst looking her over. "I do not know what a legal loli' is but something about that term irritates me, I suppose," she sneered, glaring at him.
"Betty tires of seeing your pathetic face. Get out I suppose," she demanded, standing up from her stool in a threatening manner. The now named Betty showed great disinterest in Naruto and desire to rid her domain of his presence.
"Hmmm. Kay. But first, mind telling me where this." he put up a show of looking around and absorbing information like an explorer in a jungle. Betty advanced towards him taking advantage of his line of sight shifting off her frame.
The teenage looking boy then shifted his attention back to Betty, looking down on her as she was now in front of him.
"This is my archive, my sleeping quarters... My private chambers, I suppose?"
"Hm. That's pretty sad if you ask me. There is a huge mansion outside of those doors with who knows how many rooms. Wow. That's pretty silly if you ask me," Naruto covered his nose and snorted causing the little girl to twitch.
"For someone with such a plain face, you talk a lot I suppose," she hissed with a red face and puffed up cheeks. "My forgiveness has reached its limit human," she placed her hand on his stomach.
Naruto blinked.
She furrowed her eyes brows in irritation as she looked like she was concentrating on something. As time flew by the look of concentration increased in intensity. "Dude, your hand is too close to my crotch," he almost whined.
Suddenly her dress's sleave spontaneously shredded itself and the skin underneath up to her hand got lacerations. Her hand also appeared to have been burned, slightly ground up and stunned as if electrocuted. Her butterfly-shaped pupil shrunk as her body exploded into a sweat as she fell onto her butt.
The library contorted, the books rumbled with some falling to the floor. "W-W-W-WHAT ARE YOU!?" she whispered, staring at him with teary eyes, crawling away desperately.
Naruto merely got a despondent look as he gazed at his exposed, pale left hand, recalling Kurama's last words to him.
"You are no longer my jinchuuriki kid, so I can't put a stop to this process anymore," Kurama heaved as his tails began fading. "W-What do you mean!? Actually, forget that! Is there a way I can stop Ishikki from doing this to you!? Kurama, if we don't hurry, you are going to die!"
The fox shook its head. "There is nothing we can do now. It's too late," the fox sighed.
"No, wait! There are still promises I have gotta keep to you! We still haven't pranked every Kage alive yet and you haven't even tasted Ichiraku ramen yet. 'Naruto' We haven't gone to other planets to explore the beautiful structures nature created or... or... or... You are still a virgin! You haven't even taken a human form yet. If you chose to be a boy then I'd take to you to meet 'Naruto' the finest ladies in the land and if you chose to be a girl I'd have my fun with you! Kurama. You haven't met someone to fall in love with yet. 'Naruto!' You are way too focused on your duties as the overseer to care for yourself. And.. and... and. "UZUMAKI NARUTO! YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME RIGHT NOW!" the titanic beast roars, freezing the desperate man.
"Kid, listen. This is extremely important and we have no time. Ever since you fought that Toneri brat, that mark has been present on your left hand. Its nature is slowly converting the host's DNA and morph them into them like Orochimaru's cursed mark. The mark on your hand is a backup unit that contains his genes and a fraction of his consciousness. I managed to delete the part where his consciousness hijacks your body and transforms you into him. This mark will unfortunately take your humanity away from you one day. Well physically at least."
Naruto's eyes widened in shock as he stared at the pale blue mark on his hand.
"It will be dormant for a while but don't be surprised if you suddenly wake up with horns one day or have white hair. I am unsure of what you will look like but you need to watch out kid. You will be a candidate to be used as the Ten tail's food so tread carefully brat. I want to see you again you piece of shit. If you aren't an old prune by the time we meet again, I'll definitely take the appearance of a woman." The fox grinned in a mischievous manner as it disappeared.
"Something about that worries me." he smiled as tears ran down his cheeks. The silence that invaded his mind scape was ridiculously loud and so he screamed, unleashing his grief.
Naruto looked at the shivering girl at his feet and opened his mouth, "I am, what I am not," he responded before raising his arms in a disarming manner. "I have particular demons to deal with. And those demons did funny things to me so I don't even know what the hell is wrong with me," he shrugged, lying smoothly whilst trying to figure out what she was doing to him. He felt her trying to interfere with ...Something in his body. His experience with chakra allowed him to resist quite easily but he took it too far and caused her to try and interfere with his chakra.
This caused an auto-immune chakra response which attacked her body. It was extremely fortunate he was so so weak because if he was at his strongest, she would have been sent into oblivion. That wouldn't be good at all. Imagine trying to explain how he accidentally killed a little girl to Emilia. She could have been close to Betty so that would have caused a huge problem.
Naruto didn't know how long he had been he been out but the amount of chakra he could access increased slightly. He had enough to stimulate his muscles to increase his physical abilities slightly or walk on walls for about 56 seconds and on the water for about 26. That's worse than the average first-year academy student. It was fortunate his version of storage seals were designed to detect a ninja's chakra even when they were experiencing chakra exhaustion.
With a sigh, he got to his knees and reached out.
She jumped back as the shelves warped even more. "Relax. I won't hurt ya. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't," he approached her calmly and took her hand with his left. She wanted to pull away and shout but she stayed, she felt that if she resisted, her fate would be worse. He summoned a first aid kit.
"This is gonna sting," he warned before applying alcohol.
She winced as she felt a sting. He then took some bandages and wrapped them around her hand.
"You'll be fine." He unsummoned his kit and stood up and turned to the door and yawned.
"Ciao," he waved as he left the room.
Her eyes never left his frame, reading him, trying to find openings in his seemingly unguarded form. What she felt was... Terrifying to say the least. Incomprehensible to the point she felt like a human trying to understand infinity.
She didn't know what it was that harmed her or how it was structured. All she knew was that it was inside of him and didn't like being disturbed. Her feelings were like that of someone on a gruelling expedition through a jungle only to find a pleasant place to rest in. Then Boom! They get jump scared by a panther and are not given time to register what attacked them. They were already dead.
Betty felt exactly like that except she could comprehend something was thereafter she was attacked. Like the fear she was supposed to feel which she didn't have come around the corner and slammed into her like a truck.
"What was that?" she wondered whilst wincing in slight pain as the wound began to heal. She then stared at her wrapped hand for a prolonged period of time.
"Still..."
Despite the intense fear she felt, she did feel gratitude about the fact that he decided to treat her despite knowing she was going to attack. She was willing to let him off the hook this time, after all, she was not above being grateful for other people's efforts just as her mother taught her.
"Is Betty a spirit like Puck?" Naruto pondered as he entered the room he woke up in. "Oh well, I'll worry about that shit in the morning," he yawned as he crawled to the ridiculously comfy bed.
Light snores invaded the room's silence
Morning
Naruto stirred.
He sat up, rubbing his eyes before stretching slightly. He hated getting out of bed but years of training and discipline preventing him from falling into bed. Still, sleeping once in a while was a nice activity for him.
"My, it seems he has awakened, Sister."
"Yes, Rem. He is awake."
"Hmmm?" He covered his eyes as the sun's blinding rays invaded his sensitive sun. "Fucking hell. I hate that thing," he scowled at the ball of fire millions of light-years away.
"Dear guest, it is now Seven Solar time."
"Dear guest, it is about Seven Solar time."
Naruto turned toward the pleasant voices and paused as his eyes looked them over. There was silence. He gasped loudly as he was enraptured by their appearance or rather their clothing. It is said a shinobi's greatest weakness is a beautiful woman serving them or being submissive to them as they were always on the front lines and never had comfort. Everything was typically against them and had to work extremely hard for little reward so having a beautiful woman typically raised their spirits.
And what better way to embody servitude than cute frilly maid outfits. They were loved by a fraction of the ninja community to the point that a few highly trained shinobi would feel their emotions being tickled. Naruto was no exception to this rule.
The voices' owners stood at about 150 cm. Their big eyes, pink lips, and soft, youthful loveliness made them really adorable. The way their hair was parted and the fact that one had pink hair and the other blue were the only visual clues to tell them apart. Also their boobs. The blue-haired one had bigger boobs.
Also, their hair was cut in neat bobs.
"No ways! There are maid outfits here? Damn, I'm a huge fan!" he nearly exclaimed in excitement, shaking in a giddy manner. He blinked and immediately composed himself. "My apologies, that was unbecoming of me," he closed his eyes.
"S-sister, dear Guest's head has been filled with obscene and degrading thoughts with you as their subject."
"This is dreadful, Rem. Right now, Dear Guest's head has become filled with completely disgusting thoughts about you."
That was strange. He didn't recall making any sexual suggestions.
"Now, now ladies, you both are in my fantasies. I can handle two at once ya know," Naruto nodded with finality. They both recoiled in shock at what he said and wrapped around each other releasing their hands and pointing at each other at each other. The reason was that...
Naruto Jr was awake.
"Goddamnit Junior," Naruto cursed under his breath.
"Good morning to you Junior," Naruto thought with a slight deadpan look.
"Please forgive me, Dear Guest. Let me go and defile sister instead."
"Please stop this, Dear Guest. Let me go and humiliate Rem instead."
Naruto merely raised his eyebrow at how quickly they sold each other out."I should probably hide this..." Naruto paused and looked at the maids causing them to take some steps back until their backs were against the wall.
"W-we beg for your mercy Dear Guest."
"Y-yes Dear Guest, please hold back your lustful urges."
They began shaking in fear causing Naruto to sigh. "Look what you have done dumb Jr," scolded Naruto. "Sorry," it twitched.
Knock, Knock. The girl stood inside the open door, tapping it softly while looking at the three of them.
"Couldn't you wake up without scaring the life out of everyone? Also, what's wrong with your crotch?" Emilia had appeared through the door was curiously looking at junior, not knowing who or what he was.
"Oh damn! It got harder! Look at them legs! Fuck Junior, calm down!"
Her skirt was pretty short and Naruto appreciated how it showcased her long legs.
"The one who chose that outfit has fantastic taste."
The silver-haired girl- Emilia- gawked at Narutos unexpected praise.
"... I'm not sure what you mean but I'm preettyyyy disappointed that I know it's meaningless.," she shook her head before her eyes moved to his... "Seriously, what going on down there?" she pointed at his... Tool. Naruto froze at her curiosity before nearly shouting.
"What the hell? Don't you know what the morning phenomenon is?"
"Morning... Phenomenon?" she tilted her head whilst placed her finger on her chin.
"What the hell? What is she? 10?" Naruto was visibly perplexed. "Naru?"
"No, uhhh, don't worry about it," he sighed once more causing Emilia to tilt her head again.
"By the way, you weren't awake last night were you?" she regarded him with a suspicious gaze.
"Maybe," he stroked his temple like a certain cat.
"What did you do to Beatrice? She looked really disturbed this morning," she asked, approaching his bedside.
"Didn't do jack. She kept doing this funny thing with the doors and we later talked and she hurt herself," Naruto responded with an uninterested tone, waving off her worries. "Hmm. I see," Emilia nodded as she took a seat on his bed, giving him a small but charming smile.
"Please listen lady Emilia. This person was terribly humiliating. For Sister, that is."
"Hear this, Lady Emilia. This man has trapped and violated girls. Rem, that is."
"We recommend you stay 1 000 meters away from this man," they finished in unison.
"Hmmm, that does sound like something Naruto would do 'Oi!' but I don't know him enough to confirm if he would really do such a thing. Don't tease him too much, okay?"
"Yes, Lady Emilia. Ram shall reflect on this."
"Yes, Lady Emilia. Rem will reflect on this."
Despite their statements, the twins didn't appear to mean it even a tiny bit. They still kept their distance and Emilia showed no signs of objecting to their attitude; perhaps she was simply used to it.
"Anyway, Naruto, you doing alright? You not feeling weird anywhere?"
"My dick."
"My body feels like I was in a coma," he replied dryly, frowning slightly.
"Well, you were asleep for 3 weeks after all. You had me worried sick," she moved her hand into her beautiful silver hair, brushing it back. "But I am really glad you are okay," she gave him a gorgeous smile. "Three wee- WTF! How much training did I miss," he agonized internally before finding comfort in her bewitching looks.
"Your beauty is comparable to fairies."
"Hey! Even I will get offended if you say that. Learn a little class. So rude," she pouted, crossed her arms and turned away.
"Goddamnit, a pick-up line ruined by the difference in culture," he sighed audibly.
"Pick-up?... What really? Are fairies in your culture good?" she turned back to him.
"Yup. They are practically angels."
She blinked.
He blinked.
They all blinked.
She had a slightly troubled face but nodded. "I really appreciate the words you said that time," she reached out and took his hand and clasped it tightly. His thumb freed itself from her hand and it stroked her knuckles. "Well, someone has to say the truth," he gave her a pleasant look. It wasn't a smile but the look somehow gave her positive vibes.
"Hey, since you went out last night., you up for a little stroll?"
"Bet."
"Bet?"
"It means sure."
"Oh," she nodded as she stood up and turned to face him.
"Let's go then."
"Aight." He moved to get of bed but immediately face planted.
"Naruto!" Emilia panicked as she and the maids moved to help him. "It's okay, it's sturdier than a horse," his muffled voice rang out causing the maids to give him disapproving looks. Naruto pushed himself to his feet and stumbled slightly before finding his balance.
"What's it?"
"My nose," he responded as he wiped the dust off his nose. The maids' eyes widened in shock as his outfit was completely different from the one he wore before falling out of bed. He was dressed in grey shorts, a dark black tank top with a bright yellow spiral on the back. He also wore yellow training wristbands. On his feet, he wore navy blue crocs. Nice.
"Those are some odd shoes," they all thought as they stared blankly.
"Eyes up here ladies," he walked towards the door then stood next to it.
"Lead the way Emilia-tan," Naruto directed her towards the door. "Tan?" Emilia exited the room and Naruto promptly followed.
And they soon arrived.
Naruto was pretty impressed by its massive size. "Damn, I can practice low powered jutsu here without harming anything," he whistled, enjoying the fresh air licking his skin. He always loved being outside, even as a kid. He was truly blessed to live in the village is hidden in the leaves as nature was quite abundant there.
Naruto began stretching, preparing to do this morning sword routine and also making sure his coordination wasn't off.
"Those are some odd moves. What are you doing?" she looked at his moves with curiosity.
"Warming up. I'm preparing my body to do a bit of exercise," he responded as he bent over to touch his toes.
"Oh! I understand it isn't good to make sudden movements." She nodded and watched with great curiosity. She eventually ended up following along in doing the exercises. Naruto didn't say anything but he did sneak a peek at her beautiful legs moved.
"Hehe," he thought before frowning slightly.
"Keep your legs straight and don't cheat. It's important to do it right. At the very least it will waste your time and at worst you can get injured," he corrected as he moved over and fixed her form.
"R-r-right!"
They continued for another 3 minutes.
"There you go, your muscles are ready for activity now," he pat her back as she recovered from the light workout. Her muscles felt weird, oddly energetic which is different from how they usually are. Interesting.
Emilia reached out into her pocket and pulled out a green crystal from her pocket and showed it to Naruto.
"Hey, it's Puck's vessel," Naruto regarded the crystal with recognition to which Emilia nodded. The crystal released a fluorescent light which then condensed and took up the shape of a certain cat. The light faded and left behind a grey cat on Emilia's palm.
"Heya. Morning, Naruto. Nice weather."
"Sup," Naruto raised his hand in greeting.
"Good morning Puck. Hope you ready for another day of work."
"Good morning Lia. No way, I don't feel like studying. I'll hang out with Betty or something," the cat stroked his cheeks as it turned to the blonde human. "You really had us worried sick ya know. Using such a dangerous move, you could have died you know," the cat scolded as it flew to Narutos face level.
"Perhaps, but if I didn't, the princess over here would have been killed. That crazy lady had the ability to regenerate so I had to put her down," he shrugged nonchalantly before waving his left hand and summoning a wooden single-edged sword. "Hmmm, but you know you are pretty suspicious. Why would a total stranger risk his life for someone he doesn't know, hmm" the cat proceeded to get into Naruto's face.
"I wonder why as well. But hey, I'm human and we humans are strange impulsive creatures," he responded lifting his sword above his head before bringing it down. "That is true." The cat placed its palm on its cheek.
"Where are you from?"
"No idea."
"How old are you?"
"Don't worry about it."
"You are suspiciously elusive."
"Well... Not like I faced people who could steal your soul if you uttered your most used word or seal you in a pot if you responded to your name," he replied sarcastically as he twirled a bo staff which he had summoned after he was done with his sword. The duo looked visibly surprised by his retort
"Hmmm, you don't seem to be lying."
"Maybe."
"Puck! Leave him alone, asking him so many questions and distracting him from practice is rude," Emilia chastised her father figure. "Aight. Just looking him over. He is rather emotionally detached, far more than most people but still kind. Doesn't seem to have negative intent on him but I am having trouble reading his thoughts. Like something his blocking me," Puck reported.
"Oh my, don't tell me you faced enemies that could read your mind and still information, hehe," Emilia joked. Naruto paused his training briefly before continuing. "What really?" Emilia gaped.
"No comment."
"No comment?"
"Yes."
Puck sighed and rubbed his temple and moved closer to Naruto. "Well, I owe you something. I wonder if there's anything you want. Anything I can do, I mean."
The shinobi paused again and the weapon in his hand disappeared. Naruto gained a slightly embarrassed and ashamed look. "Ah... Well, I'd like to touch your fur to my heart's content."
Puck and Emilia's eyes went wide. His reply was just that outlandish.
"W-wait. Shouldn't you consider other options because Puck is extremely powerful?"
"Dude... There are way better things to do than going around nuking people. Besides, I happen to enjoy feeling fur. Particularly cat and fox fur. Feels like the world's finest fabrics." Naruto smiled as he thought about Kurama's ridiculously comfy fur. The fox always shouted at him for using his takes as a makeshift bed but the fox ended up giving up as its container was far too stubborn.
Naruto indulged his left finger and stuck his finger onto Puck's belly, chin and ears. He looked to be in a pleasant mood as the little session went on.
"Your fur is way better than I thought. Quite addictive in fact, I could be here all day."
"Your surface thoughts are slipping out. Hearing you say it out loud though. Wow."
"Uh-huh."
Puck purred and growled from his through as Naruto continued indulging himself.
Emilia sighed in resignation as she watched the aloof boy transform into someone else. At least he was capable of conversation.
"Okay boys, I am going to talk to lesser spirits, then... It's fine if you two play, but don't interfere, okay?"
"We got dumped."
"Yup, we totally got dumped."
They both slumped their shoulders making Emilia shake her head. She softly went to a corner of the garden before giving the ground a light brush and sitting down. She close her eyes as familiar pale lights began to surround her.
"Lesser spirits, huh?"
"That's right. Most are classified as lesser or greater spirits...though a lot are outside of those categories."
"I see," the blonde nodded as he watching the spirits frolick around Emilia. "Please explain spirit contracts," he requested, watching Emilia's face smile from time to time.
"Well... Where to start. It's basically forging a covenant. You see, a Spirit Master can't use spirit spells unless she makes a pact with spirits first. The details of the pacts differ according to the spirits. Still with me?"
"Yes. Please continue."
"Right. So, individual spirits want different things...but minor spirits like that just want pacts with simple conditions like contact with the caster."
"I see. Well, so lesser spirits are sentient huh? What could cause spirits to seek someone out?" he inquired.
"I take it you are asking about the phenomena you caused back then?"
Naruto nodded.
"Spirits may seek out someone if they feel that the person can satisfy their needs or something. Spirits are individuals ya know, it's probably different for each one," Puck explained, giving the inquisitive boy a warm look. "Would you be willing to share what it was you did back then?"
"Just some hidden techniques I learned from somewhere. I can't give details because my contract with them states that I am not allowed to reveal the contents of what I have learned to anyone that isn't another obligee. If I do tell you, it could activate a curse that could affect either me, you or Emilia. Curses range from extremely bad luck to impotency to being transformed into a toad or even spontaneously being covered by the Flame of Samadhi," Naruto explained carefully.
"Flame of Samadhi?"
"A fire that burns so strong that it's completely unaffected by winds or rain. In fact, even if it was completely submerged it would keep burning," he elaborated causing Puck's eyes to widen. "Oh my... That is... quite dangerous"
"That is the nature of my contract. It's probably terminated but I have no way of confirming so I'll just play it safe."
Puck nodded.
Summoning contracts are typically signed on scrolls but some gain distinct features like Orochimaru's tattoos or Konohamaru's pale thumb.
The summoning contract allows users to summon creatures to their location to aid them in whatever it is that they are doing. As most summoning creatures were created by Kaguya during the days when she attempted to impress her husband, their chakra systems are "Outdated".
Kaguya did give them the ability to adapt but she inhibited their ability to evolve which caused them to have terrible chakra circulation systems. Most lived in another dimension created by Hagoromo and they constantly fight for territory which is where the problem arises.
These animals couldn't generate chakra quickly enough which lead to a lot of them dying out from chakra exhaustion and as such had to look at other options for gaining chakra. The answer was humans. They were the most chakra efficient creatures out there and as such could be a viable source but the problem is that humans were very capable of retaliating which would be catastrophic.
An opportunity came at their doorstep when Asura Otsutsuki requested their help in stopping his elder brother Indra. This lead to Asura working with the toads from Myoboku and the slugs from Shikkotsu to create a contract that was a combination of Sealing Arts, Cursed Sealing Arts and Space-Time Ninjutsu. This later spread to the other summoning animals lands.
So these contracts allowed them to form symbiotic relationships with humans which allowed them to fight for humans with humans compensating with their chakra, making up for the summonings' chakra deficiency. The dimension the summons reside in is very close to the humans' own dimension and because of that chakra cost for travelling through space-time wasn't high at all. In fact, Asura made sure of this by creating a connection between the dimensions using his divine powers.
Like spirits, each summoning animal requires different things from their summoners such as the snakes which either require a specific type of chakra or a bunch of human sacrifices or the toads that sometimes desire snacks, a lot of chakra etc.
Since contracts are also created with Cursed Seals, breaking them can have nasty consequences for the former obligee. That is why overseers exist, which is to punish those who dare break the contract and these overseers are typically the elders who were alive during Kaguya's reign.
If contracts are deleted by causes that were not the obligee's fault or completely out of their then they will not be punished for the crime. Instances of this include an enemy using the contract seal to sever the user's summoning contract
Also performing a summoning jutsu without a contract can lead to the person being reverse summoned to the animal they have an affinity for. (Think nature affinities).
This phenomenon occurs because these animals were made from parts of the shinju tree and some people were trapped in the shinju tree long ago making their chakra similar in a way kinda like quantum entanglement. This lead to them having a specific affinity for the animal that was made from that part of the tree. Then thousands of years later, lots of descendants giving some people animal affinities.
"Well... Anyways, it's hard to satisfy a spirit with a mind of its own like me. I'd like to give to the pact maker as good as I take... but my conditions with Lia are pretty strict."
"I see... Lia is a really cute name."
"Your Emilia-tan's even cuter, though. I should call her that, too"
"Denied." he responded sharply.
"Ho?" the cat looked to be on the brink of bursting out in laughter.
Emilia cut into their conversation. Her spirit time was over.
Naruto stopped practising with the nunchucks in his hands and made them disappear.
"You enjoyed your talks?"
"Yeah," Emilia nodded, smiling at Naruto. "Though I had to ask them to keep it short. We have things to discuss today," she continued, opening her palm allowing Puck to land on it. "I confirmed my earlier evaluation. He is a pretty good kid. It's really hard reading into his psyche but I didn't sense a shred of malice."
"Hmm, isn't saying that in front of him a little hurtful?" she turned to look at him.
Naruto didn't say anything and just tilted his head.
"You are quite the naughty boy, taking advantage of my mind reading like that when you could have blocked me out," the cat stroked its whiskers. Naruto merely looked at a near by tree.
"Let's get along Puck," Naruto gave a smile as he wrapped his finger around Puck's neck like how bros wrap their arms around each other's shoulders making the cat a shock. It grinned.
"It's been a while since I got this kind of treatment. I like it," he wrapped his arm around Naruto's finger, accepting the gesture of friendship. And so the two were on the path to becoming bros.
"You two.." Emilia broke out into giggles and felt a hand stroking her hair. "You're beautiful," Naruto complimented in a shy manner causing Emilia to give an appreciative smile. "Thanks," she turned her back to him and saw the twins coming down. "Hey, she trusts me enough to give her back. I feel pretty happy," he thought as he also looked at the maids coming down from the mansion.
Both arrived and gave formal bows before Naruto and Emilia, speaking in perfect stereo, not off by the slightest bit.
"-Master Roswaal, lord of the manor, has returned. Please come this way."
Naruto took note of their change of demeanour.
"I see. Roswaal... We'd best go see him, then."
"Yes and he said to bring our Dear Guest as well, should he be awake."
Emilia's face stiffened slightly and Puck wriggled into her hair.
"This lord, does he cause you discomfort?"
Emilia noted the slight chill in his voice.
"Roswaal... Well... He is... You'll understand when you meet him,"
"What is he so plain you can't describe him?"
Emilia, Puck, Ram and Rem all replied in unison...
"No, the opposite."
"Strange"
He shook it off as they were lead to the dining hall
Dining Hall
Emilia had parted ways with him mid-way, had to change her clothes. He would have loved to see that... Sadness. Now he was stuck in this room with the annoying loli who seemed too intimidated to say a word.
Her sleeve was back and her wounds healed as if never there in the first place. He was worried his chakra could have cursed her or something along those lines. How fortunate, if something bad happened to her, Emilia would probably hate him and that wouldn't be good at all.
Well. It was better that she didn't speak, the silence was comforting and so he took a seat and relaxed. He had changed from his previous attire to grey shinobi pants taped off at the ankles with blue ninja sandals. He wore a black jacket with 3 orange rings wrapping around his wrists. He had a red spiral on the back and on the front he had white stitches forming the outline of a nine-tailed fox and said the fox was depicted flying upward as if eating the zipper.
Its nine tails flowed from the zipper area and wrapped around his torse with the end their tails seemingly on fire. On list left breast he had kanji which translated to "Kiss the ninja god". This jackets origin is pretty hilarious but that's a story for another time.
"I will ask you again I suppose... Who are you?"
"I am who I am not," he gave the same answer as last time. She frowned, "You are the most annoying human I have ever met, I suppose."
"Pretty ironic coming from the loli that keeps yapping her trap," he responded with a disinterested look on his face. He just wanted to stare at Emilia not deal with this kid troublesome curiosity.
"That term. what does it mean I wonder? I have never heard it yet it feels unpleasant," she gave him a withering gaze. "It means you are a baby... Far below my strike range," he snorted as he watched her gape in shock.
"Y-you filthy."
"Good grief, what kind of parents do you have? Teaching a kid such offensive and disgusting words. Leave it to big bro Betty, I'll clean that unpleasant mouth of yours soon."
It took all it had for her not to cast Minya on this stupid mortal. Not only was he extremely disrespectful, but he also looked down on her and treated her like a child
"I can hear your internal monologue. It's internal, keep it you know... internal." his voice rang out in the background.
"Silence, I suppose!"
"Hmmm, make me loli," he grinned.
Annoyed Beatrice Noises
"That's fucking adorable," Naruto's cheeks flushed slightly at the heavenly noise emanated by the child-looking spirit.
"Okay, okay. I apologise. I don't know anything about table manners but since you all grown up and a big girl you know this stuff. How bout it, wanna teach me?" he wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
Her eye twitched as she raised her hand and began gathering mana. She then froze and remembered the previous night and immediately shrunk back. She couldn't control the irrational fear she felt. When she looked at him, she wouldn't just see his physical form but his astral representation. It was a creature completely incomprehensible. All she could tell was that it had the shape of a fox.
It was waiting for her. Waiting for an excuse to get rid of her. She didn't want to disappear not while she hadn't completed the task her mother assigned to her. But her feelings were more complex than that in the sense that death had a sweet alluring voice. It was a seducer, calling for her, inviting her into its quarters.
She felt like she was going to break but held on regardless. She had to endure but she didn't know how much more she could take before she snapped and broke down. She didn't run away and seclude herself in her domain like she usually did, instead, she emerged to face that which was causing her great distress.
What she desired were answers so she could move forward. Maybe this creature had the answers she needed and so she came.
Naruto returned to his stoic self was currently resting his head on the palm of his hand. "You suck Betty, book," he let out a dispirited jeer whilst raises his left hand making shooing gestures. She did not respond and merely looked at her feet.
"You acting like someone who has never had a nightmare before," he pointed out in a tasteless manner. "Please be silent, hearing your voice is an extremely unpleasant experience," her tiny voice barely came out as a whisper.
"Ooooo... Toxic."
The doors opened and the twin maids came in, pushing a cart.
"Pardon us, Dear Guest. I shall set the meal."
"Pardon us, Dear Guest. I shall set the tableware and the tea."
And it was done promptly.
Naruto laid eyes on the expressionless Beatrice, "What's got her acting like that?" he questioned, watching her. He could feel how intimidated she felt when she saw him as if he was a trigger for some sort of nightmare. He was pretty confused but held back on questioning her. After all, her pain was none of his business. He did nothing to her so he was not obligated to empathise, to feel bad for what he didn't do, to try to comfort her. She was not his friend neither his friend nor his ally. She was just a wild card.
He wasn't too concerned because as a shinobi having the ability to sympathise was a huge weakness that caused hesitation and hence caused one to lose time. Besides, this girl was doing this to herself, she felt lonely but never sought out company in a mansion with people willing to converse with her. He could guarantee that Emilia would talk to the girl till sunset and sunrise. Rem and Ram probably would too.
The people he met so far weren't the oppressive type so her feeling of alienation was completely on her as if she was like a soldier who never questions just followed commands without question. How silly. But either way, he didn't care or at least convinced himself he didn't.
He instead focused on his next task. Investigating the perpetrator of Emilia's murder. He had no hatred for the person but he was concerned about Emiia's safety. He couldn't comprehend his own feelings or why he was like "okay, I like this girl, now I will put in all my efforts to make sure she is safe." Ridiculous human feelings. So unorthodox.
But his actions could be to how he feels like a failure, how useless he felt. Perhaps he just wanted to be the best tool he could be so that he wouldn't be tossed away. He knew that everyone was a tool for someone else's improvement and that life was a huge game and so he told himself he would make Emilia win at any cost. Maybe seeing her on top would make him feel happy. Appreciated even.
"Oh myyyyyy, aren't you a despondent one?"
"Isn't it a little too early to be so spry," he shot back earning a chuckle from the owner of the voice. Naruto looked up and nearly gasped. "No way man," he thought as he looked at the extremely weird-looking man... Well, he had seen far worse in the form of hideous eyebrows or the bathroom incident. (We don't talk about that shit... It may or may not be explained in later chapters... All you need to know is... Naruto was traumatised)
If the man had a snake wrapping around he would perfectly resemble Orochimaru. He wore make up for some reason, he could see his wrists were nowhere near as pale as his face.
He was a tall man with long blue hair that covered his back. "Oh great. Another Mr. Steal Yo Fro." Naruto nearly dug into his hair in frustration. More potential rivals. Unacceptable. His heterochromatic eyes didn't help at all. Blue and yellow. More Orochimaru vibes. Fan-Fucking-Tastic.
"Who's the clown?"
Beatrice actually snorted.
"Oh my, it is raaaaare to see Beatrice here. Is it not fortuitous thaaat you decided to share a meal with after so looong?"
"I came for Puckie and Puckie alone!"
Emilia entered the room.
"P-puckie! She got off her seat and rushed to Emilia's side. "Woah you okay Betty you seem really worn out" Yeah... Naruto didn't care he was more interested in the angel that entered the room. He observed her gorgeous form through his peripherals. "I can see you staring at me you know? What a silly boy you are," Emilia giggled at his amusing yet poor attempt to look at her. Naruto ignored her and looked at the clown once more who was now on a chair. At the head. What the hell?
"Seriously, who's the clown?"
"Myyyyy, how blunt," the jester's voice echoed once more. It was the type that was perfect for getting into people's nerves.
"Uhhh... You should introduce yourself to Naruto," Emilia said.
The clown spread his arms out wide.
"Tiiis I, lord of this manor, Roswaal. It is goooood that you find comfort under my roof Naruto Uzumaki."
"Hey uhhh, you didn't happen to kidnap a child or two whilst exterminating their whole clan, family members and friends did you?" The twins had a weird sense of deja vu. Roswaal twitched slightly. "What a strange boy." he thought, sweating internally on how he had unknowingly flew right into the bullseye.
"Naruto!" Emilia chastised.
"What? Seems like something Orochimaru would do," he responded quickly.
"Who is Orochimaru?"
"Don't worry about it."
"Hmmm"
"Hmmm"
"Hmmm?"
"You are cute."
"Aren't you the merry one this morning," she pouted thinking he was making fun of her.
"How old are you?"
"How rude."
Emilia began giggling whilst Naruto gave a smile.
"Myyyy, aren't you two the cutest. I could juuust eat you uuupp."
He got a withering glare, courtesy of Naruto.
And so breakfast began.
"This is fantastic," Naruto gave his approval at the remnants of salad and soup. Roswaal nodded back, taking personal pride in Naruto's approval of the cooking as he looked at Rem.
''Mm-hmm, iiindeed, indeed. She may not look it, but Rem's cooking is quite."
Naruto looked at Rem and she made a fox sign with a hand. Naruto didn't know what it meant but it probably this world's version of making a v with your fingers.
Naruto nodded in approval and went back to eating.
"You can give me any vegetables you don't like Emilia-tan," Naruto said after he swallowed his food.
"All right, you have my green bepper." The green bepper disappeared from her plate making her blink in slight surprise. She really wanted know how he was able to store away objects and pull them out but felt it would be rude so she stayed silent.
"Mr Mathers."
"Yes?"
"Are those two the only ones working here? I didn't see anyone else this morning or hear any activity."
"Yes, Rem and Ram are the only ones left," he started before gaining a glint in his eyes "You truly are a mystery, having come to the house of Mathers at the far reaches of the Kingdom of Lugunica, yet you do not know the circumstances? Amazing you made it past royal customs."
"I'm an undocumented immigrant... Kinda."
"You shouldn't say stuff like that so easily, bad people will make mincemeat out of you."
"Hmm... Wouldn't be the first time I dealt with types," he shrugged carelessly.
"You really shouldn't be that carefree. Hey, tell me something... Is everyone where you came from like this or is it just you?"
"My education is especially lacking... Well, by the kingdom's standards at least. Where I am, I am considered highly educated. We use a completely different form of writing than the Kingdom or what I have seen so far... My village has always kept us in the dark... So I really don't know anything about what's going on in the kingdom," he explained quickly and clearly.
"Huh? Really? That explains why you seem like an educated enough child..."
"What about you Emilia-tan, stuff like polite words seem to throw you off," he pointed out to the elf causing her to shrink. Naruto raised an eyebrow and places his hand on her back and rubbed.
"Yeeessss, Lady Emilis is cuuuurently studying such things, you see."
"Hmm. Understood. Could you please fill me in on the current situation?"
"Why yes of course."
"You see, the kingdom is without a king," Roswaal started causing Naruto to furrow his eyebrows.
"I see. Didn't the king have any heirs or is there some kind of succession war?"
"Neither, the rooooyal family is extiiiinct. A plague struck inside the castleeee walls half a year agooo."
Roswaal proceeded to explain that the disease only affected those of a particular bloodline which was extremely strange. Naruto wondered what the king's guards were doing to allow such to occur. Did they not have any quarantine procedures to take care of the epidemic. Well, that was unless they all got infected at the same time which was pretty unlikely given Naruto's image of royal family lifestyles. After all, those people tended to be away from the castle, ruling other regions or something.
"Can't the kingdom just shift to become a democracy and elect a prime minister?"
"I do not cooomprehend the latter part of your statement, but presently, a Council of Elders manages the affairs of the country, formed from great families decorating the kingdom's history. The country will continue to operate. However.."
Roswaal grew tenser.
"A kingdom must have a king."
"I see." Naruto sighed.
"So you understand what this means correct? You areeee a smart boy after all."
"You are in an international isolation and someone like me appearing is highly suspicious," the atmosphere grew heavy as the occupants except Naruto and spirits tensed. Roswaal raised an eyebrow at how relaxed the boy was but didn't comment on it.
"Tell me, does this have a connection with Emilia. You have been addressing her with honorifics as if she were a higher rank than you," Naruto looked at the jester with a critical eye, dropping the '-tan' to emphasize how serious he was getting.
"Uhhh you see Naruto... My current title is royal candidate, one of those seeking to become the forty-second ruler of the Kingdom of Lugunica...with the backing of Roswaal's House, that is," Emilia cut in and explained.
Naruto blinked.
"What hell?"
"Sorry that surprised you," she smiled sheepishly.
"You need not apologise my lady."
"H-h-hey, don't go all formal on me. I'm your bud, remember?"
Naruto blinked again recalling his last moments before going into a coma that night. She had said she was his friend. "I'm sad."
"Maybe... Anyways let's get to the point," Naruto changed the topic, noticing Emilia's chagrin.
"You telling me Emilia-tans a royal candidate... Well, I suppose it isn't bad. Well based on my head not flying off my shoulders."
Roswaal whistled and Emilia looked satisfied that he had a read on their intentions.
"What will become of me?" he asked.
Emilia pulled a familiar badge.
Roswaal then proceeded to explain how the dragon on the emblem was significant to Lugunica, going over how castle wars and weaponry had the dragon emblem on them.
Naruto looked at Emilia with a disappointed gaze and she flinched and looked at her hands. "Emilia-tan should take care of that thing way better. You could have taken some precautions whilst defending like having Puck be next to it at all times," he scolded the girl who looked really ashamed. "You should really train to have your body react as well. Knowing you, you must have stopped and gaped as she made away with the badge."
"Ack!"
Naruto sighed. "Good grief, you gonna make Puck's fantastic fur go bad." he shook his head, expressing his disapproval. "To think losing such a thing could cause such catastrophic consequences. Jeez... I hope that girl keeps her mouth shut," he sighed, frowning at the image of a certain blonde girl.
"Roswaal... Was it you who set Emilia up?" Naruto contemplated internally, not letting his expression change in the slightest. Naruto looked at the suspect and focused his empath ability on him.
"Hmm... Desperation, loneliness, wrath" he thought.
"Well, I suppose I averted a huge incident," he said in a joking manner.
"Yeah, you're right. You've been a huge help to me, Naruto. So much that merely saving your life isn't enough. That's how much this means to me."
She brought her hand to her breast, giving Naruto a serious look. He nodded.
"What are doing?"
"Hmm, your hair has to have the best sensation I have ever felt and I've been to really strange places." He gently and somewhat obsessively ran his hand through her flowing locking of hair. He looked to be in a better mood than when he touched Puck's fur and his joy was making itself present on his face.
"Yes... I don't consider myself greedy. If I ask for anymore, it would be too much," he had a pleasant smile on his face.
"...You stroked Puck's fur, too. Naruto, do you have some kind of hair fetish?"
"Maybe."
"Besides, hair and fur are two different things. Your hair is pretty," he complimented for like the 70th time that morning. Emilia gave a slightly pained look but gave Naruto an appreciative look.
"So, what's this about sponsoring Emilia," Naruto was now behind Emilia running his head on her scalp.
"Ahh."
"Pain?"
"No."
"I see"
He continued indulging himself, holding in the urge to grab her hair and take a nice long whiff.
"You really aaare rather observant. You've picked up the preeevious matters quite well, though this is all second nature to anyyy human born and raised in the city."
"I've been told."
"Well, it is not something II was trying to conceal. My title is the Kingdom of Lugunica's... I suppose technically I am the lord of the outer regions, but my role sounds better expressed as... court magician, perhaps?"
"Damn."
"He's the foremost magic-user in the entire kingdom"
"This clown!?"
"Oh my hooow hurtful, oh boo," Roswaal feigned depression.
The occupants gave him a deadpan look.
"Emilia-tan I worry about you. You sure this guy's the one?"
"Can't be helped," she shrugged, "He's the only one in the kingdom I can ask for support. In the first place, only meddlesome eccentric like Roswaal would help someone like me, so..."
"Ah, I see."
"Quiiite a conversation you two are having in front of your patron, if I may say so..."
It was clear Roswaal had thick skin as he had been slandered time and again. Instead of raging he merely gave off an adult chuckle.
"Wait... Did you guys let an airhead like Emilia 'HEY!' just wonder off..."
"Yes, unfortuunnnaaately, Ram was with her but let her slip."
"Emilia..."
"I got distracted and...," her ears were bright red. "You got lost..." She nodded shyly.
"Kids," he sighed causing Emilia to pout. She was ignored.
"I have a desire ..."
"I seeeeee... The lady is worth far mooooreee than my personal fortune. It iiiiss appropriate that you seek a reward from me her sponsor."
"Yes. I don't believe you are in the position to refuse, after all, I not only saved her life but I also guaranteed her place in the selection. That girl fears me after all," he explained with a mischievous glint in his eye. Naruto stopped stroking Emilia's hair and instead placed his elbow under her chin and used his pointer finger to seductively draw lines and circles on her cheek causing her to flinch.
Puck looked on with curiosity and didn't do anything because there was no hostility, he wasn't even locking her with his elbow.
Emilia shivered, feeling his breath. She felt both comfortable and uncomfortable in his embrace. She didn't resist knowing that Naruto was often dramatic so he was probably staging this. Probably.
"I muust admit that is the truth. Now, then, would you care to elaborate."
Roswaal rose from his seat, looking down on Naruto with his superior height. Emilia made a face filled with discomfort as she was the centre of the highly tense atmosphere.
"Now tell meee! What is it that you seek, saviour of laaady Emilia? I must acceepptt your request if only to prevent this matter from being publicized. Whaaat is it that you desire myyy booyyy!"
"Good. Good. A man doesn't take back his word!"
"That is quiiiite a saying! I see, a man should make no excuses. No reneging his word."
"Good... "
Naruto began pretending to think.
Naruto tilted his head as he rummaged through his mind for what he could desire. His lips curved upwards as he found what he desired. He looked Roswaal in the eyes and placed his hands on the table to help establish how serious he was and to signify that he had nothing to hide, that he would only speak the truth. What was in his heart.
"What I desire is to work here..."
Silence
The maids were visibly shocked by his statement. Whereas Beatrice looked seriously perturbed. As for Emilia...
"I-it's not for me to say, but that's kind of..."
Naruto went back to stroking her hair, ignoring how her beauty lost its power due to her wide eyes.
"Hoooo? Tell me, what are your qualifications? I neeed to know so I can assign work approooooopriate to you." Roswaal sat down, placed his elbows on the table and rested his chin on the backs of his gloved hands.
"As I mentioned, we write differently but this was my registration card. Oh and I may need an education," Naruto produced a card from seemingly out of nowhere and handed it to Roswaal. Roswaal looked down at it with curiosity and noted how high quality it was. It had strange characters on it which he couldn't understand. He looked over Naruto's picture.
"In my village that registration card contains all necessary information about its inhabitants. However, what is relevant to you is this" he directed Roswaal to a particular set of characters at the bottom.
"These here are mission rankings and how many I have completed. The character here is called a D, this one a C, this one a B, this one an A and this one an S. Basically D rank missions involve chores like weeding, cleaning and any form of domestic work. C means the mission involves untrained bandits to weaker warriors. There is little chance of entering combat against experienced warriors.
B ranked involves combat with enemy warriors. Examples include guarding people, espionage and eliminating other warriors
A concerns village or state-level matters and trends. Examples include guarding nobles or suppressing enemy forces.
S-rank concerns state-level confidential matters. Examples include assassinating nobles or transporting highly classified documents."
Roswaal's eyes widened as he stared at the card. "130 D-rank, 120 C-rank, 424 B-rank, 250 A-rank and 124 S-raaaank he read." Roswaal looked away from the card, "Teeell me, young man, how do I know you didn't forge this?"
"Roswaal... I fought with him and watched him in action. The amount of completed mission explains a lot. He is ridiculously skilled and confirms my suspicion... He seems severely weakened somehow. This child is the most skilled human I have ever met, his technique, his intuition and his ability to react to opponents much faster than him," Puck vouched for the blonde shinobi rendering Roswaal speechless.
"I must ask... When were your included village's forces"
"When I was 12."
They gave him disturbed looks. Well except Roswaal, Puck and Beatrice.
"What? There were lots of people who were included and were highly successful at the age of 5."
"What in the world!" Emilia exclaimed standing up. Naruto shrugged as he watched her seethe.
"To think there could be a complex society under our noses. This is quiiite suspicious. The book did not inform me of such," Roswaal nodded and handed the card back to its owner who made it disappear.
Now. One might wonder why Naruto chose to reveal such information about himself which seemed extremely unwise but he had a good reason to do so. He taking a page from Sun Tzu's book if you are close make them think you far and if you are far, make them think you close.
This applied to this situation as well. He is weak so he is making himself seem strong so he wouldn't be picked apart. After all, nothing was stopping Roswaal from quietly getting rid of him so this was a precaution. He wanted to make Roswaal believe he was in a tough spot so he could end up cracking allowing Naruto to confirm his suspicions that Roswaal had set Emilia up.
The desperation he felt in that man's heart was outstanding, far greater than the will to survive that he typically felt from other shinobi. This man was scheming something, and that plan could harm Emilia, so he had to stay close.
Not to mention his Astral body, it was faint but he could just about detected when he touched Roswaal when retrieving his card. Something was very off with this clown.
He didn't know what it was, but he knew that Roswaal had the potential to be an extremely dangerous enemy.
Why did he choose to be a mere man servant not something grandiose like a knight? Well, that was very simple. Since Emilia was universally disliked because of her appearance, her chances of winning the selection were hampered significantly so the only option was to gain the publics favour.
Surely it was known that Roswaal was sponsoring Emilia and by working for Roswaal, people would also associate him with Emilia. So if he becomes famous for something, Emilia's attractiveness would increase in the public's eye. He felt that he could make up some back story about how Emilia saved his life and all that and for her, he would become amazing and stuff.
He basically desired to be what he hated the most... A hero. Someone who would make Emilia seem less demonic instead makes her seem more like an angel. Someone who would bring out Emilia's self to the public and cover up what made her hated.
He swore he would make her win. That was his desire. Being a manservant meant that he could be taken on trips and the like and that would allow him to establish himself and gain the favour of other people that will be of use to Emilia. His plan was far from perfect but it was a start and he would make sure it would succeed.
"Wait! Naruto shouldn't you think more about this."
"Silence woman, I have decided," he stuck his tongue out causing her to puff her cheeks. "Don't say it like that, people will get the wrong idea," she frowned in a childish manne4
Naruto blinked at his behaviour. It wasn't like him.
"Man, the girl I like is making me a child," he sighed in annoyance. "Hmm? Which one's your type, Rem or Ram?" said Emilis completely missing the mark.
Everyone else suppressed the urge to sigh