Chapter five started ….
As they concluded their conversation, Naruto couldn't help but feel a deep respect for the old man. Roubaul had created an entire world to protect one girl from loneliness. Now, Naruto would do his part to ensure Wendy found her place and formed her own bonds with real people.
He realized that rushing back to his village empty-handed would be futile. The threat of the Ōtsutsuki clan loomed large, and in his current state, he doubted his ability to protect his home effectively. The Faux Baryon Mode was his key to defeating them, but acquiring the technique would require significant time even more so at mastering it.
In the meantime, he resolved to use this period to guide Wendy to a place she could truly call home. Looking at her, he saw a reflection of his younger self—lonely, yearning for acceptance. The thought brought Kawaki to mind, his adopted son who had also endured a troubled past. Naruto frowned, the weight of responsibility pressing heavily on his shoulders.
Wanted Bandits!
Local bandits are harassing our village!
Reward 10,000 jewels.
Naruto looked at the piece of paper Roubaul handed him. It was a mission request. "Wanted Bandits…" the blonde read its contents. "Jewels?" For a currency, it sounded fancy, Naruto mused.
"Can you accompany Wendy for this mission, Naruto?" Roubaul asked.
Naruto obliged without hesitation. "Of course!"
The late afternoon sun stretched long, casting shifting shadows along the rustic road as Naruto, Wendy, and Carla climbed into a weathered wooden wagon. Its patchwork frame—assembled from scavenged planks and mismatched wheels—creaked and rattled with every jolt as they set off on their mission. Beyond the wagon, Fiore's outskirts unfolded lazily, the quiet hum of daily life shimmering with a hint of magic.
Wendy's blue hair danced in the breeze as she surveyed the horizon. Breaking the silence, Carla—the white feline with eyes that scrutinized every detail—asked in a measured tone, "So, Mr. Uzumaki, what can you tell us about yourself?" Her steady gaze seemed intent on unraveling a hidden mystery, while Naruto inwardly cringed at the formality.
Running a hand along his black sweatshirt—its orange stripe catching the fading light—Naruto offered a laid back smile. "I'd say my magic is… unique. I come from a closed-off land, a country sealed away from the rest of the world, where I honed my skills as a close-combat specialist. My magic isn't flashy; it's all about precision and strength in every strike."
Carla's eyes narrowed in thought, but before she could probe further, Wendy interjected hesitantly, "Ummm… is it related to your… weird magic?"
"What do you mean, 'weird'?" Naruto asked, genuine curiosity lacing his tone.
Wendy's gaze dropped, and her voice turned soft. "I… feel weakened around you. It's as if my strength gets sapped the closer I get."
"Must be the seal…" Naruto mused, glancing at Wendy, whose eyes hinted at fatigue despite her determination to stay close. "That's not good." He frowned, aware that the unintended side effects of his modified tetragram seal needed addressing—even if pausing its progress might delay his breakthrough.
Noticing the subtle shift in Naruto's demeanor, Carla pressed, "There's something you're not telling us, isn't there? Come on, spit it out, Mr. Uzumaki." Though Naruto preferred to keep the full details hidden—after all, revealing too much wouldn't change his overall journey—he decided to share at least a glimpse of his dilemma.
"I'm working on a new kind of magic," he began, choosing his words carefully. "It requires me to gather and merge the magic in the environment with my own magic. As a side effect, those near me sometimes feel... weakened. It's not something I intended, but it's an unexpected consequence of the seal I'm refining."
Carla's eyes widened in curiosity. "What kind of magic is it?"
"Nuclear Fusion," Naruto replied simply. The term hung in the air, seeming almost too advanced for both Carla and Wendy. Carla tilted her head thoughtfully. "That sounds… advanced," she commented, while Wendy only managed a curious tilt of her head in response."
"Yeah… maybe…" he admitted, scratching his neck with a laid back grin. "Think of it like… trying to mix oil and fire. Works great till it doesn't."
Carla's ears flattened. "And you thought dragging this volatile experiment near Wendy was wise?"
"Hey, I'm working on it!" Naruto's grin slipped, revealing the edge beneath—the same razor-sharp resolve that had clawed its way out of Kawaki's dimension. "The seal that I made to create 'this'… magic… For starters, it takes the magic in my surroundings and my own, housing it to two different points, then it smashes 'em together till they spark. Boom." He mimed an explosion with his hands, but the flicker in Wendy's eyes—part awe, part fear—made him drop the act. "Look, once the seal has acquired enough resources for self sustenance, the drain stops, but it'll take time... Promise."
Wendy hesitated, then squared her shoulders like a soldier half her age. "Can I… help? I'm good with healing magic, I can do support! Maybe I can help with the—"
"Absolutely not," Carla snapped, fur bristling. "We're not gambling your safety on his science project."
"Alright enough about me, what about you two? What's your magic?"
Wendy brightened cupping her hands, Ethernano swirling into a miniature cyclone of sapphire light. "I'm a Sky Dragon Slayer! I can heal, and empower, and—" The wagon lurched again, her magic sputtering out as she grabbed the edge. "A-and get motion sickness…"
"Oh? There's dragons around here?" Naruto perked. The idea of dragons seemed grand after all their existence would be considered fable or a myth in their world.
Carla's expression turned somber. "Not anymore. Dragons were once numerous, but they vanished over four centuries ago…"
Naruto looked downcast; he had been eager to see one.
"Wendy's magic is unique," Carla continued, her tone softening. "Sky Dragon Slayer Magic grants her abilities beyond typical offensive spells. She can heal wounds, cure poisons, and even boost the physical prowess of herself and her allies. It's a rare and supportive form of Dragon Slayer Magic."
Naruto nodded, impressed. "That's incredible. Healing and support magic combined with combat skills…" She's similar to Sakura, he mused.
"You're quite the versatile mage, Wendy."
Wendy blushed at the compliment, her previous shyness momentarily forgotten. "Thank you, Naruto. I've had a great teacher."
To be continued….
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