Noah flew low, following the map's directions. He soon spotted a collapsed sanctuary, devoured by vegetation and time, its stones covered in moss and cracks.
He descended among the fallen walls and activated his Byakugan.
Veins bulged around his right eye as X-ray vision penetrated the earth, rocks, and rubble. And there, in a basement hidden beneath tons of stone, he found what he was looking for.
A strange sphere of energy.
He moved quickly, clearing the sanctuary's remains with telekinesis. He soon reached an underground chamber that had remained intact for centuries. At its center, on a stone pedestal carved with solar symbols, rested a crystal ball the size of a fist.
Inside, a small golden flame danced.
Noah approached cautiously. He extended a hand and channeled a small amount of his chakra into the sphere.
The flame reacted instantly. It absorbed the energy with astonishing ease, as if it were water in a desert. And when Noah withdrew his hand, he realized something that left him amazed.
—There was no loss —he murmured, his eyes wide—. It can devour energy as pure as my chakra so easily, and there was absolutely no energy loss. Incredible!
He knew the laws of thermodynamics well, even in a world where magic and chakra defied conventional physics. There was always a loss when energy transformed. But with this flame, that was not the case.
He examined the sphere more closely, using all his extended senses. He soon understood.
—When flames consume something, they normally release a large amount of energy outward —he thought aloud—. But these golden flames keep all the energy of everything they disintegrate inside themselves. To be used later by their controller.
That stored energy could be used to fuel the body and regenerate it. As long as the heart and brain were not destroyed, the flames could keep one alive, rebuild tissues, and heal mortal wounds.
A nearly divine power.
—Later —Noah decided, storing the sphere in his 4D pocket—. I will merge it when I have that thing. Now, I must return.
He opened the magic door and vanished.
---
Konoha greeted him with its usual bustle. Noah landed on the outskirts, and with a thought, his wings folded and disappeared under a concealment jutsu. His back returned to the normal appearance of any village inhabitant.
Then he walked toward the mission building.
The receptionist saw him enter, and her eyes widened in surprise.
—Nawaki-kun! You finally show up! —she exclaimed—. Miss Hana has come almost every day asking for you. You've been missing for almost two months.
Noah nodded calmly.
—Is she here now?
—Yes, she's in the waiting room. Go ahead.
Hana stood up from her seat as soon as she saw him enter. Her face, beautiful despite her worry, showed clear signs of nervousness.
—Nawaki! —she said, approaching—. Two months! Two months without any news. I was starting to think something had happened to you.
—This is normal for a mission of this kind —Noah replied calmly—. It takes time, patience, and above all, on-the-ground investigation. But I have good news.
Hana held her breath.
—You do? You found the island?
Noah nodded.
—Yes. And it's not where we expected.
He proceeded to calmly explain the island's situation and its peculiarities.
—Most likely —he concluded— the island periodically descends to the sea, perhaps every certain number of years or decades, before rising again. On one of those occasions, your father must have managed to get out.
Hana's eyes lit up.
—And can it be entered again? —she asked in a trembling voice—. Is there a way to take me there?
Noah looked at her for a moment, assessing. Then he spoke.
—Before I answer, I must explain the island's political situation. The inhabitants are divided into three groups. Those with golden wings, called the Golden Feather clan, are the rulers. Those with black wings, the Dark Feather clan, are a warlike faction that lives by raiding. And those with brown wings —his gaze settled on Hana's wings— are the civilians, the subjugated tribes who live under the Golden Feather's rule and suffer attacks from the Dark Feather.
Hana paled slightly, but her determination did not waver.
—It doesn't matter —she said—. I want to go. I want to see the place my father came from.
—Think it over carefully —Noah insisted—. It won't be a pleasure trip. The island is in constant war, and the color of your wings will mark you as a civilian. It won't be easy.
—I've thought it over during these two months —she replied firmly—. Take me.
Noah nodded.
—Pack your things. We set sail by boat to the exact point beneath the island.
---
Three days later, a small boat sailed the waters between the Land of Fire and Uzushio, carrying Noah and Hana on board.
—Are we close? —Hana asked, looking at the empty horizon.
—Yes. Right here.
Noah stood at the bow of the boat and extended a hand toward her.
—Hold on. And don't let go.
Hana looked at him in confusion but obeyed. She wrapped her fingers around Noah's hand, and suddenly, she felt something envelop her. An invisible force, gentle but firm, lifted her off the boat.
—What…? —she began to say, but Noah was already ascending, taking her with him.
—You're not the only one who can fly —he explained as they rose—. Without the ability to fly, I wouldn't have been able to find the island in the first place. It was the only way.
Hana fell silent, impressed. She watched as the sea receded, as the clouds drew nearer, as the world shrank beneath her feet. She had never flown so high, not even with her own wings. This was completely new.
They ascended for what seemed an eternity. They passed through layers of clouds, felt the air grow colder and thinner, and then, before them, the barrier appeared.
A colossal mass of storm clouds with lightning dancing inside.
—We're going in —Noah warned—. Close your eyes if you want. I'll protect you.
Hana obeyed. She felt the invisible force holding her grow denser. She heard the roar of thunder and the whistle of wind, and then… silence.
—You can open them.
She opened her eyes and held her breath.
The island stretched before her. Giant trees, immense mountains, rivers shining under a different light. And in the air, birds of unknown species soared through the sky.
—It's… it's beautiful —she whispered.
Noah guided her toward one of the Golden Feather cities. They descended unseen, hidden by his spell, and landed on a side street, away from prying eyes.
—Here my mission ends —Noah said, releasing her—. You are in your homeland. What you do now is up to you.
Hana looked at him, her eyes shining with gratitude and something more.
—Thank you —she said—. I don't know how to repay you.
—It's already paid —Noah replied—. Take care.
He stepped back and took off, disappearing into the air a few seconds later.
Hana stood alone on the cobblestone street, with her brown wings and her heart pounding. In the distance, a market buzzed with activity. People with golden and brown wings came and went, unaware of the newcomer.
Hana took a deep breath and took her first step onto the land of her ancestors.