"Uh! Thanks for not trying to kill me." Aoto replied with a bit of humor.
"Well you used magic to time travel so I believe I wouldn't have been successful anyways." Ned said.
"Uh.. Yeah. That.." Aoto didn't refute him because in a way he was right but it will take time to explain what was actually going on.
"So why are you here again you said? To save me?" Ned remembered what Arya spoke before.
"Yes father." Arya said.
"Tell me more." Ned now sat with them on the lower table and asked for more explanation. Arya then proceeded to tell him about the future, about how he would be made Hand of the King and at the end it would lead to his death after the death of Robert.
She also spoke how Winterfell would fall on the hands of their enemies. Arya felt bad but she still spoke how Rickon and Robb would die and how later they would be attacked by the Night King.
"The Night King? You meant the ones who died thousands of years ago?" Ned had heard about it as it was written in the annals but he always believed them to be some stories. And though the Wall was there as a testament, he never believed them.
"Yes he is real." John said as he could remember what had happened, as if it had happened just yesterday. His struggle beyond the wall, losing the love of his life and everything.
"Then what you want me to do?" Ned asked.
"Night King isn't the problem actually." Aoto said. Ned looked at Aoto, wanting more explanation.
"Your daughter killed him when she didn't know magic and now we have more power than the Night King could ever have. I think the better question is how will you save yourself because once you die then the North would just crumble. And your loyalty would just make everything more chaotic." Aoto said. Ned went into deep thought but then he said.
"It's been too much for me and you have traveled far and wide to come here. I heard that you came with more friends. Why don't you bring them here later and talk while I think of a way to get out of the situation. I will need to consult with the other houses if I need to make a move and detach from the Kingdom." Ned said. He really was a bit overwhelmed and needed time to process what he had just come to know.
Knowing that he would die didn't impact him the way he came to know that his own wife and two children died under the hands of traitors. This infuriated him more than ever and wanted to just kill those people.
"Father, I will not let anyone harm you." Arya said as she could also vividly remember that day in King's Landing, and how she had to run away. She didn't want to live that situation again.
"Hahaha.. I never expected my own daughter to be my bodyguard. I am now curious, did you really learn magic." Ned asked. In response, Arya just moved her hands and the sword on the main table just vanished from there and was now on her hand. Ned was astonished but also happy.
He almost had tears of joy.
"You are not disgusted that I learnt magic?" Arya asked. Magic was something of a bit of taboo so she wasn't sure how her father would take it.
"Why would I be? My children now can protect themselves and that is all I care." Ned said.
"I think we should leave. Talking more will make the people around more anxiety." Aoto said. Ned nodded and his two children changed themselves with the previous disguise. Ned smiled seeing at it. He rarely did smile now a days but looking at his accomplished children would always make any parent smile.
When Ned hollered for the guards to come in, they barged in like some kind of evil was happening but when they saw Ned smiling and talking with the three people, they were dumbfounded.
"Lord Stark is smiling? Have you ever seen him smile?"
"No.. I have never seen one."
"What the fuck did they do?"
"I want to fucking know too."
The guards and Ser Cassel, including Maester Luwin was curious about the conversation but he didn't say a word and just said that they should fulfil any wish and trade they needed to do in Winterfell with no questions asked.
"But Lord Stark.." Maester wanted to convince Ned to think about it but instead Ned shut him down instantly saying
"I have already decided on it Maester Luwin. I can't tell you at the moment of why I am doing this but one day you will understand. We have a lot of work of to do and I need to go through the books and records." Ned said.
"The books.. You are welcome to see them Lord Stark." Maester Luwin said as he was more confused now. Seeing the books and giving a free reign to the foreigners. What the hell was going on?
Meanwhile, the trio left for the tavern. Arya and John had a happy face as they had fulfilled a long lost wish and they wanted nothing but to change the whole history of this alternative timeline.
They were soon back to Konoha. Both Arya and John were a bit emotional to continue with their day so Aoto gave them a day off. Aoto went on to work on his shop as usual.
It was evening when Fugaku suddenly showed up at their home. At that time, Naruto was already in the library. In fact everyone was in the library including Aoto learning from Loki, but Fugaku showing up at his home alarmed the system. So he had to come out.
"Fugaku-san, you need to let go of the habit of coming late." Aoto said as he opened the door for him.
"I am sorry Aoto, I needed your advice and thus came to you." Fugaku said.
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