Huff... huff... huff... Heavy breaths rasped from his dry throat, his face and body slick with sweat.
He bent over, both hands on his knees. "We're finally out of that forest," he said, relieved.
His gaze shifted to his party members, now sprawled on the green grass, exhausted after running out of the woods.
Kazuma opened his backpack and pulled out four water pouches stored inside. He tossed three of them to Megumin, Aqua, and Darkness.
"Thanks, Kazuma," Megumin said.
Kazuma scanned the surrounding landscape. As far as he could see, there was nothing but wild grass and a few trees. He didn't see any roads or settlements.
Isn't Amegakure known for being a country that's always raining? Why is it like this? The thought crossed Kazuma's mind. The scene before him was completely contradictory to how Amegakure was described.
Amegakure was depicted as a country that was constantly raining with a gloomy atmosphere, full of towering skyscrapers made of steel. But what he saw was a vista of beautiful grassy fields.
"Kazuma, explain to me what you meant earlier!" Megumin said angrily when she asked the question.
Hearing that, Kazuma sighed deeply. "Yeah, like I said before, we're not in the same world anymore."
"That's what I don't get. So, what does 'We're not in the same world anymore' even mean?"
"Yeah, that's what it means, dummy!" Kazuma replied, gently thumping Megumin on the head.
"Yaa, what does it mean!?" Megumin protested.
Kazuma's expression darkened at that question. "Are you seri-" Before he could finish, his eyes caught a glimpse of a girl in a red cloud robe standing next to him.
Reflexively, Kazuma, Megumin, Darkness, and Aqua jumped away from her.
She's fast. I didn't even notice her getting next to me, Kazuma thought, panicking.
Darkness brandished her sword forward, ready to take on the girl.
This person... Aqua narrowed her eyes, staring sharply.
The girl was beautiful and cute. Her skin was pale with orange hair. Various piercings decorated her face, making her look both beautiful and cold. She also had the same pupils as the guy they met in the forest. Megumin looked at the girl with a serious expression.
On the other hand, Kazuma looked at the girl with a weird expression. This girl is definitely Nagato on the inside. Does he not feel weird using a woman's body?
So that's it… I thought Nagato was letting us go... Guess not! And then, that awful scream we heard in the forest earlier... If it's not from a Bijuu, then it must've been from the Gedo Mazo Statue! Kazuma's eyes widened.
This guy… don't tell me he's planning on resurrecting the Ten-Tails right now? That thought sent a shiver of fear down Kazuma's spine. But this is only year 80! The resurrection of the Ten-Tails should happen next year, and it's not Nagato who does it, it's Obito. This isn't the Naruto world I know!
Cold sweat poured down Kazuma's face. His heart hammered like a war drum. Both of his hands clenched into fists until his knuckles turned white. Panic gripped his heart as he thought about that possibility.
"No need to be on guard, it's me," she said in a gentle tone.
A question mark popped up in Aqua's mind. "What do you mean? We've never even met before. How are we supposed to know who you are?" she demanded sharply.
"Oh right, I forgot, I'm using this body right now. It's understandable that you wouldn't recognize me." The girl in the red cloud robe smiled faintly. With a slow but graceful movement, she placed her right hand on her left chest, while her left hand was stretched behind her back. The posture was a sign of royal respect.
"Allow me to introduce myself." Her soft voice was like a melody caressing the eardrums. "I am Nagato vi Erlania, the man who spoke to you in the forest. Currently, you see me in a different body that I'm using to speak."
Her previously friendly gaze now sharpened, as if trying to pierce their souls, which were shrouded in doubt. The icy glare of her eyes seemed to intimidate the four humans in front of her.
An awkward silence hung in the air, until it was finally broken by the mocking voice of the blue-haired one—Aqua.
"Huh? You're the guy from the forest?" Aqua looked Nagato up and down with a gaze of open disgust.
"Disgusting!"
"Hey, dumbass, what are you saying... I'm sorry, she was just kidding." Kazuma whacked Aqua on the head while apologizing with a nervous tone to Nagato.
"Kazuma-kazuma! Why'd you hit me?!" Aqua pulled on Kazuma's shirt, her face crumpled with tears.
"Yeah, this is Kazuma," Kazuma said lazily.
He then spoke softly to Aqua, "Aqua, this is serious. You need to stop acting like an idiot. We've all lost our magic and skills. Meaning..." His gaze shifted to the girl standing not far from him.
"If she kills us all, it will be a real death! You should have realized that by now, right? Since we came to this place, the scenery and everything that happened has become far more realistic and serious. And now, I can feel my mind is much clearer, not foggy like it was before I came here."
Aqua nodded, understanding after hearing his explanation. She'd also felt the same sensation since arriving in this place. The world was much more realistic and serious, even when she was active in the realm of gods, she'd never felt anything like this.
Boom!
Suddenly, Darkness was thrown far back, her body slamming into the ground and wild grass.
Kazuma, Aqua, and Megumin only realized what had happened when they heard the shockwave caused by Nagato's punch.
"Darkness!!!" Kazuma, Aqua, and Megumin yelled reflexively.
Nagato, on the other hand, looked at the event with a bored expression. She was now standing where Darkness had been, her right hand extended in front of her in a horse stance.
"Don't point your sword at me. If you don't want to end up like that girl," she said in a cold tone.
Her punch was powerful enough to kill an African elephant. If she was lucky to survive, Darkness would suffer a permanent injury that would prevent her from ever standing straight again.
Megumin rushed over to where Darkness had landed in a panic. "Darkness, are you ok-" Her sentence was cut short when she saw the horrible state that Darkness was in.
"Aqua, get over here now! Darkness's wounds are really bad! Heal her!" Megumin shouted hysterically, calling out to Aqua.
A normal attack shouldn't have caused this kind of damage to Darkness who has a high level of defense. This proved that all of their abilities were gone. Aqua stared in horror at the horrific wound that Darkness had suffered.
"I'm sorry, Megumin. I can't heal Darkness. I can't use my healing abilities anymore," Aqua said in a trembling voice, trying to hold back her tears. Her white, beautiful face was now red with tears welling in her eyes, disappointed that she couldn't do anything in a situation where her help was needed the most as a Healer.
Megumin stared blankly at that confession, then her gaze shifted into one of disbelief. "No way…" Her voice weakened to a desperate whisper.
Aqua's lip trembled, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." She bit her bottom lip hard, trying to stop the tears from pouring down her cheeks.
A chilling silence fell over them. Only the sound of wind slapping their faces echoed through the air, like a death knell accompanying their deep sorrow.
Kazuma stared in a daze at the gaping wound in Darkness's stomach, exposing her organs. He felt nauseous.
Her wound is terrible. If she's left like this, Darkness will die from blood loss and internal organ damage. That punch must've been really strong. If I had taken that hit, I would have been dead instantly. Kazuma's gaze at Nagato was filled with hatred.
The only hope to save Darkness was now in Nagato's hands. Though he hated to admit it, Kazuma ran over and prostrated himself at Nagato's feet.
"Please heal her! Forgive her rude attitude. I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it. Please save her, she's my precious friend! I'll be your slave or whatever, just save her!" Kazuma's shouts were filled with earnestness, without a trace of dishonesty. It was all to save his friend.
Tears poured down his cheeks. Both his hands clenched tightly, causing blood to trickle out. "I beg you, please save her," Kazuma wept bitterly.
Hearing that plea, Nagato's heart was moved. Actually, even if Kazuma hadn't asked, she would still have healed Darkness. Her punch was just to demonstrate the difference in strength between her and them, while forcing them all to work for her.
The other reason was that she wasn't too happy with Darkness's gaze which was like she was looking at her like a piece of trash and something dirty. Unlike Aqua, Darkness showed an expression like that from the beginning, even when they first met in the forest.
Nagato opened her mouth, "Alright, I'll heal her. I won't ask you how you knew I have medical ninjutsu."
She would use Jigokudō's abilities in Pain Chikushodō's body. Nagato jumped over to Darkness's body, seeing the horrible wound she had taken. She was a little surprised that Darkness was able to stay alive after taking that punch.
Was it because of her armor? Who knows... Her punch was enhanced with Chakra, which is why it caused a shockwave. The action of strengthening a punch using Chakra is called a Monster Strength Technique. It was one of the Taijutsu techniques created by Tsunade.
Not every Shinobi can perform this technique. Only Shinobi with perfect Chakra control can perform this technique. A Shinobi could also die instantly if they're hit by this attack. So to deal with it, they are required to use a basic body defense technique called Ryu.
Nagato extended her right hand then said, "Jigokudō!"
Slowly, a strange creature appeared next to her. The creature looked like a Shinto priest with a pair of Rinnegan eyes. On its forehead was engraved the Japanese character meaning 'King'.
That creature was the King of Hell.
"What are you going to do?!" Megumin asked with a hateful stare.
This language barrier is a pain. I don't understand what Megumin's saying, Nagato thought.
She ignored Megumin's shout and continued with her actions. The King of Hell's tongue slowly pulled the dying Darkness into its mouth. As long as the wounded are still breathing, it can save them. But if that person or creature has stopped breathing, it can only restore their body back to its original condition.
In Megumin, Kazuma, and Aqua's eyes, Darkness suddenly disappeared. As if she was swallowed by the earth.
Did she use some kind of space magic? Aqua wondered suspiciously.
On the other hand, Kazuma breathed a sigh of relief. With this, Darkness had been saved. Though that damn Nagato was definitely going to ask for something in return. His gaze then turned to the orange haired girl.
After one minute passed, Nagato pulled Darkness's body out of the King of Hell's mouth. It was clear that her wounds were gone and even her damaged armor from the punch was completely intact.
Darkness opened her eyes. "Where am I?"
Megumin ran over to Darkness, who had just regained consciousness. "Thank goodness you're back. I was worried I'd never see you again, Darkness," she cried, tears streaming down her face.
"Amazing! It even repaired her broken armor?" Aqua exclaimed in amazement, looking at the scene.
The Rinnegan's power is incredible, Kazuma thought.
"Alright, as you promised, Kazuma. From now on, you all will work for me." She said with a smiling expression.
"Wait a minute! 'You all,' isn't it just me? Why are they involved too?" Kazuma replied in a panic.
Nagato's eyes narrowed. "You're so naive, Kazuma. You think you're more valuable than them?" Her finger pointed towards Aqua, Darkness, and Megumin.
"From the first time we met, I was confused as to why you weren't using ninjutsu to fight me. Turns out you can't use ninjutsu at all. It's such a pity with talents like that, that you don't know how to control chakra. Especially that girl in the red and blue clothes. The amount of chakra they possess is huge for civilians," Nagato explained to Kazuma.
I see, so the reason why we can't use magic and skills is because they've been replaced with chakra. This is good news, Kazuma thought relieved.
"So I will teach you all to be Shinobi. Of course you're free to choose to become a Shinobi or some other job that I'll tell you about later. For now, explain the situation to them. And I'll ask for your explanation about the adventurer town of Axel later," Nagato said softly.
Kazuma nodded, understanding.
"Good. Then, let's leave this place for the capital of Erlania, Amegakure." After saying that, Nagato immediately formed hand seals.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu."
Suddenly, a huge cloud of white smoke appeared, covering them.
"What's this?" Aqua said angrily.
After the cloud of smoke dissipated, a giant bird over 15 meters tall was revealed. The bird had a weird appearance with a prominent yellow, serrated beak. It had three legs, two below and one on its back. It also had a giant black rod attached to the right side of its back and another one attached to the left side of its neck.
The bird also had the same pupils as the girl and the guy in front of them.
Why do they all have the same pupils? Megumin wondered suspiciously.
"We're going to ride on this bird," Nagato said, leaping high onto the giant bird's back.
She then commanded the bird to lower its body so Kazuma, Megumin, Aqua, and Darkness could climb on.
Its feathers are so soft, Aqua thought in awe.
After seeing that everyone was on board, Nagato nodded. "Hold on tight."
The giant bird began to flap its wings, then slowly flew off towards Amegakure.
To be continued...