"Master Eldwin, are you sure this project will go smoothly?" Jif asked in a secluded chamber.
"The answer is a definite yes, my dear boy," Eldwin replied with certainty. "If you knew who Master Seth was in the past, you'd bet everything on him."
"But I only know him from history books."
"Don't worry. He didn't choose you out of luck."
"I'm not so sure about that…"
Eldwin assured, "I know the weight on your young shoulders, but trust me—you'll thrive." Eldwin gave him that mentor's nod.
Jif's face brightened, "Thank you, Master Eldwin. I still have a long way to go."
"Don't push yourself too hard. This is only your first year."
Eldwin suddenly gestured toward the screens, "Now, let's focus. We'll brief the team as soon as all of them arrive."
Jif nodded. Right now, Kazuma was gesturing wildly about the many wondrous things he knew of the Naruto series, while Seiya, obviously oblivious to the matter, stood rooted with his demeanor unmoved.
"They're already breaking the ice... in their chaotic way," Eldwin mused, clearly entertained.
Jif sighed, "I'll agree to that, Master Eldwin."
"Indeed," Eldwin's mask shifted slightly to a certain corner.
Then they saw it. While Kazuma enthusiastically explained Naruto lore to Seiya, the portal rippled faintly for a second.
This was a different case for Eldwin and Jif. From their perspective, a translucent figure with snake-like features made his entrance.
It was Orochimaru. Currently using his mystical power to become invisible to the eyes and presence.
Jif blinked. "Did he just…?"
"Of course," Eldwin sighed, "stealth is second nature to them."
While Kazuma's exaggerated gestures continued to keep Seiya's attention, the ninja Orochimaru maneuvered close enough to glean every word of their conversation.
Jif frowned slightly, "The butterfly effect from that would've been disastrous."
Eldwin nodded. "Fortunately, no one from that council has knocked on our doors, so we can consider this little spoiling incident to not have crossed their lines yet… Hmm… Speaking of which, did Seth leave us any notes on handling spoilers?"
A holographic screen flared to life in front of Jif. "Give me a second—found it! Sir Seth said it's acceptable for them to learn that they're characters in stories from other worlds. What must not happen is them discovering their own future."
He scrolled further. "They're allowed to know other people's futures, but never their own—unless the council or a major governing body explicitly approves it."
Eldwin nodded. "So… they can know they're fictional elsewhere, they're just not allowed to read what's ahead for them without their permission."
"Pretty much."
—
Kazuma froze in place. Did Seiya say, eavesdropping?!
Seiya's hand was already on his scabbard. "I'll say it again: since when?"
Yet Orochimaru remained unfazed, his smile curling wider. "Oh, but where's the fun in revealing that to you two?" Orochimaru's tongue flicked out briefly. "Besides, I already have more than enough to work with. He has been most... educational."
Kazuma felt his stomach drop. Brother, stop the aggro! How can you be from the same Japan as me!
Yes, these two came from the same universe.
Earlier, Jif had pulled Seiya from his time-dilated training session and introduced him to Kazuma.
At first, the two men were shocked to learn that they hailed from the same Earth and Japan. It wasn't a parallel-reality situation; they were genuinely from the same world.
Unfortunately, that initial intrigue didn't last.
Kazuma, eager to connect with someone from his old homeworld, launched a barrage of conversation starters, going through many topics just to find common ground for them to chat on.
But Seiya, ever stoic and hyper-focused, responded with only curt nods and long silences.
It was only after some probing that Kazuma found out the truth.
He lives under a rock! No! It's much worse than that! I just couldn't describe anything worse than those rocks! Still, how can a guy like him exist!?
A soft clap echoed out of nowhere. "I will give my thanks to you, young man; you have just given me enough research material for years. Of course, I'm looking forward to testing its applications."
Those words shook Kazuma to his core, knowing what this evil man could do with the key knowledge he had explained to Seiya. He realized he had just opened Pandora's box, unleashing horrors for the Naruto world's future.
Seiya's brow furrowed, "Explain 'testing its applications'..."
Orochimaru turned his gaze on Seiya, "The usual: research, experimentation."
"You mean experimentation on people?"
SEIYA! NO! YOU DON'T F*** Kazuma's blood ran cold. Of all the things he'd told Seiya about Orochimaru, that was the part he remembered.
"Do I even need to clarify?" There's a glint in Orochimaru's eye.
Seiya stood quiet, but what he exudes from his presence says it all.
An oppressive weight filled the room. Yet Orochimaru just chuckled, "Surely you wouldn't object to utilizing unforgivable criminals for the greater good." His tone was as smooth as silk.
"Criminals?"
Criminals? Kazuma noticed something off. The typical Orochimaru I knew wouldn't even bother choosing his test subjects.
Then, it clicked. Something caught Kazuma's eye: the flak jacket and ragged headband. Kazuma's eyes darted to the outfit again, then it hit him.
That outfit—THE HEAD BAND! THERE'S NO CROSS OR SLASH!!!
"HOLD IT, YOU TWO!"
Seiya and Orochimaru both paused.
He pointed at Orochimaru's outfit with shaking hands. "Oh my god, you're still THE early Orochimaru!!"
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Early?"
"Crap!" I spoke too much!
Orochimaru's smile thinned. The phrase 'early' struck a chord, bringing to mind the strange phenomenon he'd noticed earlier.
When he collected information behind their backs, certain details about what he assumed was his 'future' seemed censored, as though deliberately obscured by some external force. Yet these two appeared immune to it.
Kazuma, now a nervous wreck, stammered, "I-I mean... you're still, uh... Second Great Ninja War-era, I think? Or maybe it is… uh, the first—Sh*t!" He slapped his face.
Feigning nonchalance, Orochimaru said, "How... perceptive of you. It is a matter of fact that there is only one of me. Yet here you viewed me as a younger identity, though I wonder why?"
Kazuma shivered.
"You seem... concerned about what comes after." Orochimaru maliciously chuckled.
Kazuma waved his hand frantically. "Oh, no reason! None at all! I'm just, uh..."
"Hmm." Orochimaru's gaze lingered on Kazuma.
"Kazuma, experimenting on people, no matter who they are, is wrong." Seiya's calm voice cut through the atmosphere.
Orochimaru chuckled softly, "Seiya, do you think all sacrifices are avoidable?"
Seiya glared, "The moment you justify the sacrifice of others, you've already lost."
Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed. "Naïve, your ideals are commendable, but they are a luxury few can afford. Especially when lives hang in the balance."
Seiya's grip tightened on his scabbard. "And your methods? Sacrificing lives for the greater good? You talk as if it's to save them all."
Orochimaru tilted his head in amusement and disdain, "Save anyone? Oh, of course not, that's too high a target… the more accurate thing to be achieved from those sacrifices is purely progress. A flawed tool can still serve as a subject to be studied. And these results, while not reaching that lofty target, at least brought us closer to it, wouldn't you agree?"
Kazuma inwardly sighed. Tsk! This… gosh dang it. Orochimaru's got some point, but this is not what Seiya wanted to—Okay, these two can't be together…
Seiya frowned, "Still, they are living—"
Orochimaru's gaze cut directly to Seiya. "You'd understand if you were truly committed!"
He continued demeaningly, "Your soft, righteous views save no one! Least of all"—he gestured to Seiya—"those you care most."
"Enough—"
"FINALLY!"
The three faced the portal in unison.
A young blue-haired figure with a bulbous nose trotted forward like a beacon, flamboyantly striding into the room as if it were his stage.
"It's been years! SETH!!! THE THING YOU PROMISED ME! WHEN'S—Heh?" The figure froze mid-sentence.
Who are they? His eyes darted between the three strangers: an unassuming man looking like he'd rather be anywhere else, a stoic swordsman brimming with restrained power, and a snake-like army assassin exuding an aura of calculated malice.
"May I inquire your name?" Orochimaru got curious.
The blue-haired man adjusted his hair. "The name's Buggy…?"
Before anyone could respond, a low, guttural sound echoed from the portal.
"Kami... sama…?" A grime-soaked rag abomination suddenly littered their sight.
Looking like a filth nightmare brought to life, its presence suffused with an unrelenting aura of death and despair. And worse, the stench of carnage and rot hit them like a physical blow, forcing an instinctive repulsion.
Buggy leaped backward with daggers in his grip. Seiya poised his sword for a striking motion. Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed as energy flowed from his fingertips.
The thing was startled by the sight of their aggression. Though visibly shaken by such first impressions, its eyes showed no fear, just burned with the wary resolve of someone who had faced death countless times.
Oh god what just happened? Kazuma clutched his head.
Since he's the only one with a cool head here, "CALM DOWN EVERYONE!" Kazuma erupted.
Receiving the calm, Kazuma asked. "Please state your name?"
The figure blinked at him as if surprised by the civility. After a beat, he spoke with a hoarse voice, "Ah… It's Agatsuma Zenitsu, sir."
"Zenitsu?/ZENITSU?!"
Buggy and Orochimaru exchanged curious glances before turning to Kazuma and Seiya.
"WhoawhoaWHoa! You know Demon Slayer?" Kazuma blurted out.
That didn't make sense. When i died, the series had barely gotten past its early arcs. Popular with potential for sure—but nowhere near this well-known.
So how the hell did Seiya recognize the name?
"So it was called Demon Slayer?" Seiya looked like he had learned something.
"Hold your horses for a straight minute!" Buggy waved his daggers. "You two know this guy?"
Kazuma forced a cough. "Uh, could you reveal your face, Agatsuma Zenitsu?"
Zenitsu bowed apologetically. "Yes, yes, sorry about that." He peeled back the rags wrapped around his face, revealing a haggard young man beneath.
Seiya blinked, "Your hair…"
"Huh? What's wrong with it?" Zenitsu tilted his head.
"It's yellow."
Zenitsu's face twisted in confusion. "Yellow? Uh, I mean, I know it's dirty, but—"
"No, I mean bright yellow. Like someone dipped you in paint." Seiya clarified.
"Wait?!" Zenitsu grabbed a strand of his hair, his eyes widening. "HOLY—WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?!"
Kazuma pinched the bridge of his nose. "It was always yellow."
"No, it wasn't." Seiya shot back.
Kazuma sighed and pulled Seiya aside. "Okay, technically it used to be black, but it turned yellow after he was struck by lightning."
"Lightning?" Seiya realized something, yet he decided to keep it to himself.
Kazuma nodded, speaking in a hushed tone. "It's all in the manga. It's a long story." He hadn't gotten that far before he died.
"Oh, sorry, is this the right place?"
The group's heads snapped back to the portal again. As they could have guessed, a new figure stepped out again.
An aged man in simple robes strolled forward. Despite his unassuming appearance, a calming presence radiated from him, like a gentle tide washing away the lingering tension.
"What an interesting group Seth has brought together," the man said, his voice warm and steady. "Hmm, each of you holds magic within you, not quite like mine, but similar enough."
The tension among them eased almost involuntarily. "I presume that powerful being invited each of you here?" The old man asked.
"Yeah?" Kazuma replied.
"Then that's very fantastic. First, greetings. My name's Yajima."
"From the Magic Council, right?" Kazuma ventured cautiously, recalling the anime's lore.
"Oh, you know about the Magic Council?" Yajima didn't expect that.
"Ah! Sorry if that caught you off guard! I was informed beforehand!" Kazuma scratched his head.
"It's fine, but to be more accurate, I'm officially referred to as the 'tenth-ranked' Wizard Saint."
Tenth Wizard Saint?! Kazuma's brain nearly short-circuited. No, no, no! Yajima wasn't a Wizard Saint in the series! I think???
"Then, young lad, may I inquire your name?" Yajima's calm inquiry broke through Kazuma's internal chaos.
Kazuma cleared his throat, "Just call me Kazuma, sir."
"I see, young Kazuma," Yajima's eyes gleamed with understanding. "From your words, I gather you know more about our peculiar situation than the rest of us, since you said you were 'informed' beforehand."
Everyone else (except Seiya) stiffened, their gazes landed on Kazuma.
Kazuma coughed awkwardly. "Uh, I do, but before we get into that... there should be one more person coming through that portal–"
Dak!
A sharp clang echoed through the room. Another figure stepped out of the portal.
Ah… perfect timing. That awkward guy from RWBY has arrived… he stopped mid-thought.
The newcomer was a striking figure, clad in full-body armor adorned with monster fur. The metal gleamed with battle-worn scratches, while hidden pouches lined the less visible parts of his gear. Slung on his two hands was a massive axe, so broad it looked like it could seat two men side by side.
With a quick jerk, the axe clacked into a sword and shield as he cautiously scanned the room.
"Uh... is it safe here?" the knight asked, his grip tightening on his weapon.
Kazuma's jaw dropped. A transforming axe-sword? What kind of DLC from RWBY that I missed?!
"Kazuma, right?"
"Oh yes, buggy?" Kazuma replied.
"Is this everyone?" Buggy tossed a dagger lazily between his fingers. "Or are we waiting on a talking duck next?"
Jaune blinked, clearly out of his depth. "I don't think I'm a duck…"
THUD!
The sound echoed sharply as a round, seven-seat table materialized before them. Its surface gleamed, and at its center lay a pristine white hologram with bold, elegant writing:
[WELCOME]
Buggy waved at the bottom of the floating text, which did not disrupt it at all.
"Huh. Okay, this is uh…?" Buggy had no clue what to add.
Yajima chuckled softly, his tone calm and composed. "It seems our host has granted us proper seating."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he observed the auroric text. "Fascinating... existence itself bending to a specific shape. The possibilities..."
Jaune, still lingering near the portal, hesitated. "Uh, so... should we sit?"
"Yes," "Sure," "obviously" — they all took their seats.