Naruto found himself adrift in his dreams, wandering through vivid yet disjointed memories and scenes. The war raged before him, a cacophony of despair and determination. He saw himself in the final battle against Sasuke, the so-called best friend he had spent years chasing after. Yet, as the scenes replayed, Naruto's perspective shifted. The bond he once thought mutual now felt painfully one-sided. Sasuke had been lost long before that fateful clash, his descent into darkness complete.
Naruto's expression softened with sadness as he relived the moments, but his reflection was interrupted when he noticed a figure clad in light green, moving through the visions as though searching for him.
"Who is that?" he murmured, squinting to discern the figure's identity, but the dream offered no clarity. The scene shifted again, pulling him into a new vision.
A necklace, shaped like a lightning bolt and brimming with pulsating power, hung around the neck of a determined young boy. The boy fought fiercely against an unseen foe, each strike enhanced by the necklace's electric energy. Naruto's chest tightened at the sight.
"That should be mine," a voice within him cried. The realization left him hollow, as if something vital had been stolen from his soul. Anger stirred, a fire suppressed for far too long.
"Hoo," Naruto thought, determination blooming alongside his frustration. "I'll get it back, but not blindly. I need to understand more before making a move. I won't let anyone manipulate me."
The vision dissolved, replaced by an unfamiliar and surreal perspective—space. Naruto floated above a planet that he instinctively knew was not his own. The vast emptiness of the cosmos spread out before him, overwhelming in its silence.
"Why am I here? Is this Gaia's doing? What does it mean?" he wondered, the dream's randomness unsettling him.
Suddenly, the void darkened, and a voice resonated through the silence, powerful and incomprehensible.
"Don't go overboard, child."
The voice struck Naruto's very core, filling him with a primal fear unlike anything he'd ever experienced. Not even Kaguya had exuded such presence. The sheer weight of it crushed his spirit, leaving him gasping for breath as he awoke with a scream.
Naruto's body trembled uncontrollably, his eyes darting around the park as he searched for the source of the voice. Ella, startled by his sudden outburst, leapt into flight, her wings flapping in a panic. The wind nymphs who had been gathered nearby scattered like leaves in a storm, their murmurs of curiosity turning to fear.
Gaia, who had been quietly watching Naruto sleep with a gentle smile, rushed to his side. Her expression turned to concern as she saw the terror etched across his face.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
"I... I don't know," Naruto stammered, his breathing shallow. "I saw visions—first my world, then I was in space. It was strange, but manageable. Then this voice spoke to me. It was so overwhelming... it affected my soul. I've never felt fear like that, not even against Kaguya. I don't understand."
Gaia's face darkened, her wings drooping slightly as she processed his words. She floated closer to him, patting his head in an attempt to soothe him. "Don't worry, Naruto. Nothing will happen to you. Just heed its words. Stay cautious, and you'll be safe."
Her comforting tone betrayed a hint of helplessness, which Naruto picked up on immediately. His breathing slowed as Ella landed back on his lap, wrapping her wings around him for reassurance. Gaia and Ella hugged him tightly, their presence grounding him.
Naruto exhaled slowly, his trembling easing under their care. "What was it? That presence—was it a primordial?"
Gaia hesitated, her silence confirming his suspicion even if she didn't say the words outright.
"So it's either a primordial or something even higher," Naruto concluded, his mind working to piece the puzzle together. He glanced at Gaia, whose expression told him she wouldn't offer further details. "Whatever it was, it wasn't random," he thought. "There's a reason for this."
Though he didn't yet have all the answers, Naruto resolved to face whatever lay ahead with the same determination that had carried him through countless battles.
Leo:
Leo sat in the quiet of his cabin, the artifact resting heavily in his palm. It was a curious thing—intricately designed, with a faint, fiery glow emanating from its core. Its edges were sharp yet smooth, a paradox of craftsmanship. As he gazed at it, conflicting emotions churned within him: happiness at finally receiving a personal gesture from his father, and unease at the artifact's mysterious nature.
"What is this thing?" he thought, his brow furrowing. "It seems like something of immense value. Why would Father give it to me now, out of the blue?"
He turned the artifact over in his hands, examining every detail. It felt alive, almost as if it pulsed in rhythm with his heartbeat. The aura it exuded was both inviting and unsettling. His mind raced with questions.
"Father has always been distant, bound by laws and duties. For him to go out of his way to give me something so precious... it feels unlike him. Should I be grateful? Suspicious?"
A gnawing feeling in the back of his mind whispered doubts. "Could this be a trap? No enemy could breach the camp, and Father wouldn't hurt me… right?" Yet the negative energy surrounding the artifact made him question everything.
Unable to resist, Leo attempted to test the artifact's resilience. His golden flames danced around his fingers as he brought them closer to the object, their heat intense enough to melt steel. But to his surprise, the artifact remained unscathed, its glow unwavering.
"Of course," he thought, smirking at his own naivety. "It's flame-resistant. Makes sense if it's supposed to enhance flames. That was a dumb move."
Shaking his head, Leo resolved to trust his father's intentions—at least for now. "Maybe I'm overthinking. He gave this to me for a reason, and I doubt he'd risk me if it was dangerous. He's never shown affection outright, but this… this feels genuine."
Taking a deep breath, Leo slipped the artifact around his neck. The moment it rested against his chest, he felt an intense surge of energy course through him, like fire flowing directly into his veins. It was exhilarating and terrifying all at once. His connection to the artifact went deeper than he anticipated—it wasn't just an accessory; it had latched onto his very soul.
"What the—" he muttered, gripping the edges of the artifact. It felt like it was melding with him, becoming an extension of his essence.
The sensation left him breathless, yet something dark lingered beneath the surface. A faint whisper—inaudible but palpable—gnawed at his mind. The artifact wasn't just powerful; it was something more. Something… dangerous.
"I don't understand," Leo thought, his initial excitement dimming. "Why do I feel like I've made a mistake? This energy—it's overwhelming, but there's something malicious hiding within it."
Unaware of the artifact's true purpose, Leo could only sit in the dim light of his cabin, the weight of the gift—and its mystery—bearing down on him. For now, he resolved to learn through experience. The trust he placed in his father was fragile but firm.
"If this artifact has a purpose, I'll find it. And if there's a danger… I'll face it head-on. I just hope I made the right choice."