Chapter 6: "Of Steel and Soul, and Courtesies Shared at Twilight"
Scene: A moon-dappled glade, where the breath of leaf and loam mix with sweat and steel. Lo, our wild-hearted prince, Naruto, doth return to the arena of his forging, where nature herself yieldeth not to gentleness but tempers with claw and fang.
Enter NARUTO, with fire in his gaze and purpose writ upon his brow.
NARUTO:
Good Lee, thy spirit singeth still of motion?
Art thou not wearied by the beasts' harsh love?
The hour is short, but the night still young.
Wilt thou once more dance with shadows that bite?
LEE, rising though sore of limb and broken breath, gives nod with fervent flame.
LEE:
Aye, my Lord of the Whirlwind, I shall not flee!
For what is pain but the tutor of men?
Each blow a sermon, each scar a verse—
The beasts are fierce, but wisdom hath fangs too.
Let them strike, and I shall learn.
NARUTO:
Then go, Lee of the Leaf, and strike thy path anew.
The jaguar awaits—the night-walker, shadow-born.
Let him test thy mettle, as steel meets storm.
[The BLACK JAGUAR steps forth—sleek as ink, silent as sin. The glint of murder doth swim in its eyes.]
CHORUS (aside):
O sing, muse of the unseen war,
Where speed meets mortal will!
The jaguar, born of twilight's claw,
Hath danced with demons still.
[Battle commences. The Black Jaguar, swift as despair, vanisheth into the gloom. Only flickers betray its path—a rustle here, a shimmer there.]
LEE (aside):
Mine eyes betray me; mine ears alone
Shall be my lantern in this murk of bone.
I cannot wield chakra's grace or song—
Yet let mine limbs prove that they belong.
[He closes his eyes, listening. The jaguar strikes! A graze upon the shoulder. Lee reels—but learns.]
LEE (panting):
A step too slow! I hear thee now, feline fiend.
Another try, another scar, another truth.
[The Jaguar leaps again, and again. Lee turns, ducks, counters with a palm—not to harm, but to learn. His movements grow sharper, like a sword being drawn.]
Enter TENTEN and RIAS, silent observers beneath the trees' trembling veil.
TENTEN (softly):
He hath no need to spar—he's already bled.
Yet still he strives, though overmatched by far.
This beast, tamed by Naruto's hand, would make
Short work of me.
RIAS:
Indeed. And see their leader now—
Not in glory clad, but in quiet trust.
He testeth them not to boast, but to build.
To shape comrades from coal with fire and will.
TENTEN:
I had thought him a fool with strange ideals—
A dreamer clad in chaos.
But now I see a craftsman forging not just blades,
But bonds.
[Naruto, ever watchful, passes Tenten a scroll with quiet pride. Tenten opens it. Her brows rise with each line.]
TENTEN:
These diagrams… these traps… this madness!
Yet there is method 'neath this madness, too.
He hath not only walked the path of strength—
He builds it for others to follow.
RIAS (nodding):
Aye. 'Tis easy to be strong oneself.
To make others strong? That is a immortally art.
[Meanwhile, Lee is struck again—harshly. Blood paints his lip. Yet he stands, and this time—he dodges the next blow.]
LEE (shouting):
HAH! I saw thee! I heard thee!
And this—this pain—is but the toll I pay
To earn thine respect, o Panther of the Wood!
[The Black Jaguar halts. A gleam of acknowledgment flickers in its spectral eyes.]
CHORUS:
Thus doth man and beast entwine,
In pain, in pride, in mutual sign.
A team is not of blood alone—
But of those who fight, fall, and grow.
[Naruto smiles, proud not of victory, but of progress.]
NARUTO (quietly):
He learns. Not just to strike, but to see.
To adapt, to endure.
A true comrade—not one of many, but one of mine.
Curtain falls, though the sounds of battle echo still—less cruel, more familiar. A rhythm of growth, pain, and kinship beneath the stars.
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Enter TENTEN into the Verdant Maw, that twisted cradle of traps and artifice, where NARUTO hath laid his mind bare in runes and wires invisible, in death unseen yet ever looming.
SCENE: A forest of monstrous green, dappled in murk and light, where nature's breath and man's wrath entwine.
TENTEN, with measured step and furrowed brow, doth make her way 'cross thickets grim and roots like dragon's veins. She bears in hand a scroll of her own making, yet 'tis curiosity that guideth her more than blade.
TENTEN:
Now mark this wild grove, where beasts and silence dwell—
But more than fang or claw, here lies the snare
Of man's design, craft born not of mere hate
But cunning, like the fox that lends him name.
Naruto… thou art a storm in scroll disguise.
She pauses, kneeling 'fore a tree where bark bears seal-mark like serpent's scale. Her fingers brush the rune and lo—
A shimmer fades. The earth before her yawns—a pit of sharpen'd death! Spears of bone and chitin rise in grim salute, and crawling things of venomous hue do chitter in hunger.
TENTEN (aside):
O trick most foul! Had I but stepped one pace
As led by sense and not by wary mind,
My limbs had been devour'd 'fore I knew
The grave beneath wore shadow's mask.
She steps past, and lo—a wire sings silent 'twixt branch and trunk. Her touch disturbs it not, but a stone, cast gently, breaks its sleep. Instantly, the wood doth howl:
—Arrows whistle forth like a thunderstorm of teeth. Some burst with fire, some sing with poisoned breath, and others still release a mist so foul the very leaves curl back in dread.
Tenten leaps, her shield unfurled from scroll like blossomed steel, deflecting death with skill born of war. Her brow is damp, her smile faint.
TENTEN:
He plays at death, this golden child of storm—
Yet every snare is writ with studied hand.
No jest nor chance doth build such labyrinth,
But purpose sharp as any blade I wield.
Farther still she walks, where earth is marked with signs arcane—mines of chakra sealed in wood and stone. A twig broken, a breath misplaced, and the world does change.
—One trap doth blind with holy light, and from the brilliance flies an army of insects, stingers glistening red. Another bursts with lightning, a clap of heaven's wrath bound into mortal glyph. Yet another—
A moment too slow, and ethereal chains like moonlight grasp at her legs, trying to pull her to the earth. With a roar, she slams her mace into the sigil and breaks the binding.
TENTEN (panting):
These seals—nay, these traps—are works of dread art.
Were I thy foe, sweet fox, I'd know no sleep.
For none but devils or immortals trap light and sound,
And thou art neither—yet closer to both than man.
She enters a region of deeper dark, where even the sun dare not intrude. Sound dies like breath in winter. Here, the very world seems muted and the air thick with magic.
Her steps slow. Her heart alone speaks to her in thumps like war-drums. Her blade glows faintly, seeking foes unseen. Nothing stirs. Not wind. Not beast. Yet danger sings within her bones.
TENTEN (whispering):
A void within a world of living green—
He hath made silence a prison most dire.
Should battle come, no scream nor clash would flee—
Only death, unnoticed by time or fate.
And yet, amid all horror, all devices cruel and intricate, she smiles. For such genius in deathcraft is not born of malice, but of desire—to protect, to build, to prepare.
TENTEN (aloud, resolute):
This is not my field, I wield arms, not runes.
But I see now that the boy is no mere spark.
He is fire caged and guided by his hand—
And in his traps, a world of thought laid bare.
She unrolls her scroll, revealing sword and shield, gun and lance, cannon and mace. Weapons not of stealth, but of declaration.
TENTEN (proudly):
He hath his art, and I, mine own.
Let trap and steel walk side by side,
For if the fox lays snares, then I shall strike—
And we, together, shall shape the world anew.
--------------------------------------
[Scene: The forest clearing, lit by fading amber glow. Rock Lee and Tenten, breathless but upright, stand amid the embers of challenge. Nearby, Naruto, his arms folded, gives command.]
NARUTO:
"Enough for now, the night hath drawn its veil.
To meat and mirth, not muscle, turn thee hence.
Gather thy limbs, for even iron bends
When strained too long 'neath heaven's mighty weight.
Return, anon, ere midnight's watch is struck—
For we shall train 'til stars doth fade from sight."
LEE (bowing):
"My thanks, great sir, whose beasts bear fangs and flame!
Each blow a tutor, every bruise a tome.
In pain I see thine art and craft most fine—
And vow, by leaf and soul, to grow thereby!"
TENTEN (aside to Rias):
"Strange is this path, yet strangely does it draw.
What man commands such monstrous, loyal pride?
Not just a fighter, but a weaver too—
Of strength, of bonds, and fate itself it seems."
[Scene shift: The streets of Konoha at twilight. Naruto walks beside Rias. His countenance lightens in this quiet time, away from growl and claw. The village still hums softly around them.]
NARUTO:
"Come, lady fair, I'll show thee where I rest—
A humble perch atop the village crown.
Not much, but high it stands above the fray,
And grants me space to breathe 'twixt storm and sun."
[They arrive at a tall apartment complex. A modest building with aged paint, but clean and sound. He leads her up the outer staircase, past each empty floor.]
RIAS (aside):
"Strange how the village clears a floor for one.
Is it for fame, or fear, or fate unknown?"
NARUTO:
"The roof is mine, a quiet sky-bound keep.
Few dare to dwell 'neath storm's own second name.
Yet children still do peek through alley cracks—
And whisper tales of laughter, pranks, and scars.
I do not hide, but neither do I beg
For hands to hold mine wounds as trophies bright."
[Inside, the apartment is modest but well-kept. Sparse decoration, but spotless. Stacks of scrolls, storage seals, journals penned in tight, crisp ink. A single bed and a wide living room, opening to the stars.]
NARUTO:
"Be at thy ease. The floor is wide and warm.
I've mattress spare—or, if thou feelest bold,
There's space for two, though I do bite at times."
[He smirks, pulling open the fridge and withdrawing juice and sweets. The air carries the scent of vanilla and childhood simplicity.]
RIAS (dryly):
"Thy humor's sharp as kunai 'tween the ribs.
I'll take the couch—my virtue needs no test."
NARUTO (chuckling):
"As thou dost will. I jest, not press the point.
Yet know—my bark oft hides a weary howl.
This cake? 'Tis sweet, and sweeter still when shared."
[He sets a plate before her: vanilla cake, freshly chilled, and a tall glass of strawberry milk-juice. The kind of fare that would make a noble scoff, yet somehow feels homely.]
RIAS (accepting):
"My thanks. Though appetite lies sleeping yet,
Thy offering brings warmth beyond mere taste."
[They sit in silence a moment—moonlight peeking through the window, casting silver bars upon the floor.]
RIAS (softly):
"I thought thee beast, but thou hast hearth and soul.
A warrior, aye—but one with roots still deep."
NARUTO (eyes distant):
"Roots must grow strong, else winds will tear them free.
And beasts? Even beasts dream of home and peace."
-----------------------------------------
[Scene opens: A humble rooftop under a waxing moon. Upon it, two figures sat—Naruto, child of storm and shadow, and Rias, a crimson maiden from lands afar.]
Enter Rias and Naruto, seated with modest fare betwixt them. The world below breathed, slumbering in its ignorance, as revelation stirred above.
Rias:
"Prithee, sweet knave, whose silence bears a storm's weight,
What lands be these that whisper war through wind?
Where doth thy kind walk freely, and where tread ye not?"
Naruto (chewing solemnly):
"Mark me well, for I speak of Chakravartin—
A world fourfold in body, fractured in soul.
Yonder lies the heart of shinobi, where chakra reigns like lords o'er peasants.
Empires vast: of Flame, of Sand, of Stone and Storm,
With blades and seals they carve the heavens red."
Rias:
"Fourfold, thou say'st? What more beyond this land of ninja brave?"
Naruto (gaze distant, eyes hard):
"The Scarlet Line—aye, a belt of broken lands,
Where man doth walk without our spirit's flame,
Yet in his veins mutations dance, fierce and free.
They wield Ki, that ancient spark, raw and unrefined,
As if the body itself were temple and weapon both.
There rules a titan—Whitebeard by name,
Who with a quake can crack the sky in twain."
[Rias leans forward, intrigue flickering in her crimson gaze.]
Rias:
"And thine third land, where do spirits flee?"
Naruto:
"The Dead Zone, fair lady, a cursed breath of death.
No leaf doth stir, no beast doth howl, no babe doth cry.
It lies beyond hope, a place where even dreams turn to ash.
Some claim it be born of immortal wrath—
The War of immortals who could not die, nor bear peace.
Or mayhap it always was—a wound upon the world's flesh."
[He sips from a cracked cup, the silence between them stretching like a blade drawn.]
Naruto (quietly):
"The last be the Myriad Beast—home of monsters old,
Where ancient terrors crawl and fly and speak in roars.
'Twas there the beasts fled, fleeing man's unholy war,
When sons of sages sundered heaven's law."
Rias (somber):
"This world… it weepeth."
Naruto:
"Aye, it bleeds. And yet it liveth."
[He lifts a hand, conjuring flame between his fingers—an idle trick, yet to Rias it seemed a sermon in fire.]
Naruto:
"On our land, called Elemental by tongue and scroll,
Empires clash like immortals in children's guise.
Each with shinobi fangs, secret arts, and grudges old.
The Five Great Villages—Konoha, Kumo, Kiri, Iwa, Suna—
Stand as blades ever drawn, eyes ever watching.
Peace be a tale for fools or babes.
The truth? Bandits roam, beasts hunger, rogues rise."
Rias (growing pale):
"And thou, of this broken world, bear within thee… the fox?"
Naruto (nods, face darkening):
"The Kyuubi. Nay, not fox. A immortal of wrath and ruin.
Nine tails of flame, nine dooms in each sway.
It shattered mountains on a moonless night,
And Konoha did bleed and burn.
To this day, babes cry when red fills their gaze."
[Rias stiffens. Her mind conjures images of carnage and crimson, of lands torn asunder by a beast made of rage.]
Rias (whispers):
"In mine own realm, we spoke of devils in stories…
Yet none bore this… terror, this hell.
If such a beast walked through our gates—
The lands would weep, kingdoms fall like autumn leaves."
[Naruto said nothing. His silence was the silence of graves.]
Rias (after a long pause):
"And thou… thou art its vessel?"
Naruto:
"Aye. The jailer. The scapegoat.
The child cursed for the sins of immortals."
[The rooftop wind shifted. The moon, once silver and proud, now hid behind a cloud, as if even it dared not watch.]
Rias (quietly):
"I… I did not ken the depths of this world's pain.
Mine own entrance—so bold, so blind—
Would have ended not in glory, but in shame.
Thine people are not as mine.
They walk with blades for tongues and beasts in their hearts."
Naruto (nods once):
"This world is fire wrapped in smoke.
And we… we are the sparks yet to decide—
To burn or to light."
--------------------------------------------
Enter RIAS and NARUTO, seated beside a crackling fire, the sun now but a crimson ghost bleeding into the horizon. The air hangeth heavy with shared secrets, a silence pregnant with curiosity and steel-bound trust. NARUTO hath just finished his tale of a sundered world, its scars and monstrous truths. Now, the lady of scarlet doth speak in kind.
RIAS:
Now list thee well, brave soul of tempest birth,
For I shall trade thee truth with tempered tongue.
Thou speak'st of Kyuubi's wrath and deathly cries,
Of worlds once whole now split by immortally ire—
Permit that I do show my mirror'd fate.
In mine own realm, not borne of chakra's weave,
There dwell the Devils—kin of night and fire,
Not fiends as oft the mortal bards proclaim,
But clans of ancient might and noble name.
We rule from depths beneath the waking world,
Our power tied to pact and lineage bold.
The Demons—those of hellish ilk and scorn—
Are beasts unbridled, far from courtly grace.
They speak in flame and act in storm and spite,
And from the deepest pits their horrors rise.
Yet not all bear foul will nor wicked grin;
Some walk the veil with motives shrouded thin.
And lo! The Fallen, angels clipped of wing,
Who once in Heaven's choir their chorus lent—
Now darken earth with silver tongues and lies,
Their hearts a mix of sorrow, lust, and pride.
They weave their schemes with blades wrapped in silk speech,
And oft their truths are traps in honey steeped.
NARUTO (aside):
(He listeneth close, eyes lit like rising dawn,
As if the wind itself had kissed his soul.)
What fire be this that speaketh so of night?
A lady bold with lore and stormy heart!
RIAS (observing him softly):
Dragons too doth soar in our high-borne sky—
Of wrathful breath and hoarded truths they sing.
Some slumber still beneath the mountain's yawn,
Whilst others in the battlefield do dance.
Pride is their coin, and strength their only law,
Yet wisdom ancient glows in scale and claw.
Ask what thou wilt, for I shall answer fair,
Though caution binds the tongue of nobles true.
No warrior yields their home's deepest hand
To stranger eyes, though friendly they appear.
(She smileth faint, as words continue flow;
Yet in her breast, the dancer's heart did stir.)
NARUTO (gently):
Thy words, they fall like leaves of autumn gold.
No empty boast, no fear-stained tale I hear,
But measured truth from soul of midnight flame.
(He leaneth in, his face a child's delight—
Not from naivety, but deep respect.)
NARUTO:
Thy world's a forge of strange and splendid fire,
Where wings and horns and ancient roars collide—
How fair it is to see thy pride held firm,
To guard thy kin, thy realm, thy sacred name.
(And here he smiles, so rare, so deeply cast,
It melteth walls the lady never knew she built.)
RIAS (softly, within):
What light is this? Not chakra, not my flame—
But something warm, unspoken, and profound.
That he, of all, would look at me this way…
What devil's jest or fate's soft trick is this?
RIAS (aloud):
Mayhap, brave son of storm and ninefold dread,
Our worlds are not so distant as they seem.
NARUTO:
Then let the gulf be bridged with word and will,
For I would know thy sky, and share thee mine.
-------------------------------
Scene: Upon the roof where starlight danced with silence, a crimson-haired lady and the blond tempest of Konoha sat side by side — a twilight symposium of wonder and world.
[Enter RIAS and NARUTO, seated beside a small brazier where food doth simmer sweet.]
RIAS:
Now hark, good sir, thy questions rise like eager winds before a storm.
Thou wouldst know of might, of magicks vast and strange,
Of marvels bred in battle's breath and lore of ancient page.
Then lend thy ear, and I shall speak, though not too deep —
For even the moon keepeth secrets from the sun.
NARUTO:
Sweet lady, speak — thy words do drip like honey from the vine.
Each truth thou sharest be a feast for thought,
And I, a starving man of curiosity.
[RIAS gives a gentle nod, and with voice smooth as velvet's glide, begins.]
RIAS:
In lands where I do reign, there walk three kindreds borne of might —
Devils, Demons, and the Fallen Ones of Light.
We devils, chained by contract and desire,
Do wield our power through symbols etched in will —
Our magic born of bloodlines deep and dreams unfulfilled.
The Demons, once lords of primal wrath and flame,
Are vanished now — relics of a purer age.
The Fallen, they of Heaven's cast,
Wear wings like ash and seek redemption in ruin.
NARUTO (with widening eyes):
A world so brimmed with fire and lore!
Pray tell — what of dragons? Do they soar?
RIAS:
Indeed, scaled immortals doth sleep or rage in secret dens.
They are titans of chaos and cunning both.
Some rule, some hide, some plot 'neath Heaven's eye.
Yet all who know their breath dare not mock the fire.
[NARUTO leans closer, excitement crackling like kindling flame.]
NARUTO:
Thy world is wondrous strange — a tapestry of shadows stitched in light.
Yet still I yearn for more — speak of their crafts and contraptions!
What might the human realm command of steel and smoke?
[RIAS smirks, amused and charmed.]
RIAS:
So be it. Know then the Earth of mortals holds strange might.
They soar in jets, metal birds that scream 'cross sky.
They hurl fire — missiles that shake the bones of mountains.
Rockets do pierce the veil of space and dream of moonlit soil.
Machines walk and think — aye, robots of code and iron breath.
And bombs — curses woven in atoms' thread —
Do promise death to immortals should wrath be called.
NARUTO (in awe):
Such weapons! Such dreams made real in iron flesh.
They lack chakra, yet their will is fierce.
[RIAS pauses, noting his interest gleams like starlight on blade.]
RIAS:
Wouldst thou hear of stranger things?
Of heroes made in fable's fire — born not of flesh, but ink and voice?
NARUTO (grinning wide):
Aye! Let the mind fly free — for who art man if not dreamer bold?
Imagination be my wind, my will the sail — I'll make their fancies flesh.
[RIAS laughs softly, delighted by his passion.]
RIAS:
Then hear of Gundams — giant steel men that war like immortals.
Of Superman, who drinketh sunlight and leapeth stars.
The Flash, who outruns thought itself.
Of Wolverine, with claws of unbreakable fate.
Of Ironman — a man in shell of gold and cunning.
Of Bleach — where souls clash in spectral wars.
Of Pokémon, creatures kept in spheres, each a miracle of might and myth.
[NARUTO listens, eyes alight like dawn breaking 'cross storm.]
NARUTO:
By Ramen's sacred steam! This world of thine is rich beyond all gold.
I'll make these visions real — in time, I'll craft a Gundam of my own!
[He stirs the pot, cooking as she speaks. The scent of stew wafts in the air — warm, wild, and home.]
RIAS (quietly):
Thou art strange, Naruto. Most men scoff at fiction,
Yet thou dost build empires in thy heart from it.
A madman... or a king of dreams.
[NARUTO scoops stew into boxes, wrapping them with care.]
NARUTO:
When the world doth mock the dreamer, 'tis only because they lack the dream.
Come, Rias — the night is deep, and food awaits thee when hunger stirs.
In battle or in talk, let no stomach go unfed.
[She accepts the offering, touched despite herself.]
RIAS (softly):
Thou art not devil nor beast, but something else entirely.
I wonder what thy true story shall become.
[Exeunt, their silhouettes etched 'gainst the moon — dreamers, one of magic, one of storm, sharing food and fable beneath the stars.]
-----------------------------
Scene opens with the soft hush of leaves, a tender breeze rustling the verdant canopy. A makeshift hearth crackles with gentle fire, and two souls—of vastly different worlds—sit in its quiet glow.
NARUTO
(placing a wooden tray down)
Good lady, partake with me a modest meal,
For though my hunger scarce doth stir this hour,
My heart doth crave communion in thy presence.
RIAS
Thou eat'st but crumbs, fair sir. Art thou not famished?
Or is this feast no more than jestful show?
NARUTO
Nay, noble Rias, I am bound by bond—
A vow to kin to share the day's true fare.
Yet courtesy doth guide my hand to dine
A little here, for thou art guest and friend.
They eat in companionable silence for a moment, the quiet punctuated only by the distant whisper of cicadas. Then Naruto, eyes alight with an eager gleam, leans forward, voice brimming with boyish wonder.
NARUTO
Let us speak now of blades beyond the veil,
Of souls entwined in weapons born of will.
Hast thou heard tale of Zanpakutō, the swords
That whisper to their masters—voice and name?
In realms of 'Bleach', where reapers don the black,
Each warrior wields a blade that sings with self.
Rias listens, eyes half-lidded in intrigue, her chin perched upon her hand as he continues with animated passion.
NARUTO
To awaken such a sword is not but strength—
It needeth bond, resolve, and soul laid bare.
When heart and steel align, a name is called,
And in that name, a world is born anew.
Now think, what if our chakra took such shape?
A soul-forged weapon, molded from our might?
Rias smiles, struck by his fire. She watches him as one might a sunrise, slow and full of warmth.
RIAS
Thy thoughts are bold, dear Naruto, and vast.
But prithee, speak more of thine own devices.
Thou seemed drawn to crafts of metal flight—
To Gundams, and their ilk of iron and fire.
NARUTO
Aye. In Suna's sands, where puppets stalk like immortals,
Great constructs walk the dunes with chakra veins.
Yet none hath dreamt of thrusters made with fire,
Nor suits of armor forged with science's breath.
This 'Iron Man'—a knight enshrined in steel—
Might such a dream be shaped by chakra's law?
I crave to know how fuel and spark combine,
How power flows from atom, not the soul.
RIAS
Then hear me well. In realms where humans reign,
There are no threads of chakra in their veins.
Instead, they wield the atom's endless might,
Unleashing suns in bombs and jet-born flight.
I spoke of drones, of cannons swift and wise,
Of robots ruled by minds or programs deep.
And thou did'st say—let imagination fly!
NARUTO
Indeed, for I believe with all my heart—
Imagination is the soul's own jutsu.
Let others say 'tis fiction, childlike dreams—
To me, 'tis blueprint of the immortals to be.
Draw what thou wilt: gundams, mechs, and beasts,
Craft visions wild of flying suits and drones.
Show them to Tenten, forge them by design,
And those I deem with promise—I shall fund.
In trade, I give thee arms thy heart desires,
Be it sword or cannon, mace or gun.
RIAS
(surprised)
Thou'lt pay for mine own dreams to rise like dawn?
To shape the myths of manga into steel?
NARUTO
Aye. Such is the pact 'twixt kindred minds.
Let passion guide thee, Rias, and fear not.
For those who dream, and dare to make it real,
Shall walk 'mongst stars, and not be chained to earth.
The fire flickers, shadows dancing around them like ghostly sentinels. Rias gazes at Naruto, struck not just by the promise, but by the quiet power of the man who spoke it. A boy of storms and silence, who offered her a piece of the future with naught but trust.
RIAS
Then I shall draw. And thou shalt see, brave soul—
That devils, too, can dream as bright as immortals.
-------------------------
Scene opens in Naruto's humble dwelling, lit by firelight and quiet conversation. The air smells faintly of cooked rice and scorched soy, the ghost of their shared meal lingering like the warmth of fading camaraderie.
[Enter NARUTO and RIAS. A table laid with remnants of food. Silence wraps the room like a woolen shawl.]
NARUTO:
Now, fair lady, our discourse draws to close.
Thy mind, a well of questions deep and wide,
Hath drunk full measure of this world of mine—
Its dragons, blades, and fancies wrought in steel.
But now, I bid thee rest and take thy ease.
Let not thy noble brow be furrowed more.
Eat as thy will commands, or if thou wouldst
Be pleased by tales of yore upon the screen,
The choice be thine, and wholly thine alone.
[He gestures toward an old color television, large in bulk, its screen slightly dulled by age. Nearby, a gray console rests—a PS1 relic from forgotten times.]
NARUTO (cont'd):
No anime of present glows therein—
Their reels be lost, or never made anew.
Yet still, the Sage of Ages past doth speak
Through cinema, and fabled sons of his,
Though woven more in myth than gospel truth.
Or if thy spirit finds delight in games,
There lies the ancient console of old mirth.
Though crude its frame, and slow its moving sprites,
The joy it bore remains, untouched by time.
RIAS (smiling with grace):
Good sir, thy kindness humbles me. I shall
Choose then to gaze upon this Sage unknown.
If tales may lie, yet lies may whisper truth,
Then let me sift through legends for the gold.
NARUTO (nods, then turns, his voice gentled):
Yet mark this well—the film is but a tale,
Not scripture wrought from fact, nor canon's hand.
The truth of that forgotten age is dim,
Its light obscured by time and guarded tongues.
The ones who know speak not, nor will they share—
Their silence deeper than the ocean's grave.
But even fragments may inspire the heart.
[He walks to the door, his hand resting on the frame.]
NARUTO (softly):
Now fare thee well. I go to kin and hearth—
The Ichirakus, whose warmth doth call me home.
Yet be thou safe, and take what peace thou can.
This night is thine, and stars keep watch o'er thee.
RIAS:
Good night, Lord Naruto. Thy world is strange,
Yet strangely kind. I thank thee for thy grace.
[Exit NARUTO, the door closing with a quiet thud. A soft silence falls. RIAS turns toward the screen, a flicker of light catching her crimson eyes as the film begins.]