Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.
You can now get early access up to Chapter 134 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon.
Up to Chapter 45 of Satoru Senju: Conquering the Omniverse is also available.
Lastly, I've launched a new story titled Marvel: Star Wars System, which already has 7 chapters published. Each chapter averages around 5,000 words.
patreon.com/riojiyo131
I won't bother you any further—hope you enjoy the chapter…
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The first 5 chapters of Marvel: Star Wars System are now available, completely free on my Patreon!
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"Kusuna…" one of the remaining members murmured, barely audible, eyes fixed on the corpse lying at Naruto's feet.
Naruto glanced toward Shion, who was lying on the ground a few meters behind him. Her clothes were splattered with fresh blood, though thankfully, it didn't seem to be hers.
Slowly, he turned his eyes back to the Band of Four… or rather, the Band of Three from now on.
"Leave," he said coldly, giving them the chance to walk away and keep their lives.
A tense silence stretched between them.
"Get out of my sight… before I change my mind."
Now that they were in front of him, Naruto was finally beginning to remember them. The pieces were slowly falling into place in his mind.
Their faces. Their voices. Their names.
At last, he remembered them all.
Standing before him were Gitai, Setsuna, and Shizuku.
Naruto observed them in silence, letting his memories do the work.
Gitai was a tall and muscular man, with skin as white as snow and hair of the same color. His red eyes made him look like a creature out of a nightmare.
Though honestly, he reminded Naruto of the Rabbit of Caerbannog, the killer rabbit from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail… a cult-classic of trash cinema.
Naruto remembered that Gitai's chakra had an affinity with Earth and Fire elements.
Setsuna had straight, shoulder-length blue hair. Her eyes were the same color. Her affinity was with the Wind Element.
Shizuku, for her part, was a pale-skinned woman. Her sand-colored hair reached her neck, and her dark eyes held a cold glint. She controlled the Water and Fire elements.
Naruto watched them for a few seconds in silence.
"So… what will your decision be?" Naruto asked, his voice firm. "Stay and die like your friend… or leave and live?"
He paused briefly, tilting his head slightly.
"What will win…? Stupidity, or fear?"
His tone wasn't mocking but oddly sincere, as if he truly wanted to know the answer.
Gitai, Setsuna, and Shizuku exchanged a quick glance before turning and running, vanishing into the distance within seconds.
Naruto smiled in amusement, lowering his guard a little.
"Huh… looks like fear won this time," he muttered, almost disappointed.
Then Naruto turned to look at the Priestess of the Land of Demons, Shion.
She was sitting on the ground. She showed no fear, not even nervousness. She watched him with genuine curiosity, as if she knew that today wasn't the day of her death.
"Are you okay?" Naruto asked, raising an eyebrow.
Shion nodded slowly, getting up from the ground and approaching him at a slow pace, as if she were waiting for something.
Naruto frowned. "Do you need something…? I already saved you. Go find your protectors or something."
Naruto hadn't come here to babysit. He had saved Shion; his job was done. Now he just had to deal with Yomi to free Mōryō's soul.
Without a vessel for its soul, Mōryō would disappear forever.
But to do that, Naruto had to stop Yomi from taking Mōryō's soul to the Land of Swamps, where its real body was sealed.
Carrying Shion along the way would be a hassle.
Besides, he still had to find Naoto's father, Shūen Uzumaki.
"I twisted my ankle. I'm waiting for you to carry me," said Shion, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.
Naruto brought a hand to the bridge of his nose, visibly exasperated.
"I don't know who you think I am, but I'm not one of your servants. I'm not carrying you anywhere."
Shion raised her eyebrows, looking at him in surprise.
No one had ever spoken to her so informally before.
"Also, don't you feel anything for all the people who died protecting you?" Naruto added, casting a glance at the bodies scattered across the field. "You didn't even look at them."
Naruto noticed that Shion wasn't sad or worried at all; she hadn't even looked at the many corpses around them.
Men who had tried to protect her life at the cost of their own.
Shion briefly glanced at Taruho's lifeless body not far away, then turned her focus back to him.
"The fact that I'm still alive is already a reason for them to be satisfied. I don't need to feel sadness."
Naruto clicked his tongue.
He himself didn't care about the people who had died, but that was because he didn't know them.
He simply couldn't feel grief for someone who wasn't close or important to him.
But her?
She had been raised by those very men. Her mother, Miroku, had sacrificed herself to seal Mōryō and wished for her daughter to have a normal life. She had kept her from learning about her power, and the guards, overprotective and obedient, had spoiled her.
Also, due to people's fear of appearing in her predictions, she had spent her life isolated from others.
Naruto clenched his fists. He wanted to hit her. But he held back.
He knew Shion's true personality. She believed that showing emotions would be disrespectful to those who died for her.
And for that alone, he decided not to do it.
At least… not yet.
"Are you going to carry me or not?" she insisted, bluntly.
Hearing her, a vein popped on Naruto's forehead, bursting like a popcorn kernel in a microwave.
"Tch. Fine," he allowed reluctantly, crouching so she could climb onto his back.
Deep down he knew that if he left Shion in that place, it wouldn't be much different than killing her himself.
After all, Gitai, Setsuna, and Shizuku could come back as soon as he left.
And about that vision of his own death, which Shion had predicted in the original story… Naruto didn't give it any importance.
After all, dying over something like Mōryō… was simply impossible.
Naruto had barely taken a few steps with Shion on his back when two figures emerged from between the trees, stopping right in front of them.
Neji Hyūga frowned upon seeing Naruto.
"Naruto…" murmured Hinata, with a radiant smile, taking a step forward.
Her pace steadily increased until she began running toward him.
Hinata didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around Naruto, hugging him tightly.
"Hinata?" Naruto looked at her in surprise, placing a hand around her waist and smiling tenderly.
Shion raised an eyebrow at the change in Naruto's behavior. His voice had completely changed, becoming warm and welcoming.
"What the hell happened here, Naruto?" Neji asked, frowning as he looked at the destruction around them.
"A few overconfident idiots," Naruto said dismissively, focusing on Hinata.
Naruto didn't hesitate to let go of Shion, gently dropping her into Neji's arms without even asking.
"You handle it," he said simply, dusting off his hands like he was ridding himself of a burden.
Now that someone else was available, he had no intention of carrying her another second.
Shion looked away, crossing her arms without saying a word, though her frown betrayed some annoyance. She wasn't used to being ignored so easily.
It was then that three more figures appeared: Reika, Rock Lee, and Sakura.
"Naruto!" Sakura called out, waving from afar.
Rock Lee raised his arm enthusiastically from a distance, completely ignoring the bloody scene.
"The power of youth burns in this place! Naruto, we knew you'd be here facing evil with passion!" he shouted, stopping dramatically next to Neji.
Naruto rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Very youthful, Lee," he said sarcastically.
Naruto didn't even bother asking what they were doing there. He knew perfectly well that Tsunade had sent them as reinforcements to escort Shion.
Reika also walked over, trying to appear indifferent. She kept her arms crossed and looked away, as if she didn't want to be there… though the faint blush on her cheeks betrayed her façade.
Naruto watched her with an amused smile.
"Aren't you going to come hug your adorable and heroic boyfriend, Reika? Don't make me come hug you…"
Reika didn't respond, didn't even look at him, but Naruto noticed the blush on her face deepened. After a few seconds of hesitation, she slowly walked up to him and hugged him.
"Oh, my dear tsundere…" Naruto said teasingly, gently stroking her hair.
Reika frowned at the nickname but didn't pull away. Instead, she raised her face, looked into his eyes for a second… and then closed them, waiting.
Naruto raised his eyebrows, surprised.
"Since when are you so affectionate…?" he thought.
But he didn't object and leaned in to kiss her.
Just then, an indignant voice burst beside him.
"That's not fair, Reika! I want a kiss too!"
Hinata stepped forward quickly, her cheeks red and her brow furrowed. Neji, not far away, sighed and covered his eyes with a resigned expression.
Before Naruto could react, Hinata gently pushed Reika aside and kissed him too.
Rock Lee, who had watched everything with shining eyes, raised a fist into the air.
"The power of youth burns within Naruto! Not only youthful… but incredibly manly!"
Then Rock Lee turned excitedly to Sakura, eyes sparkling with emotion.
"I want a kiss too, Sakura-san!"
Sakura looked at him for a moment… and without saying a word, slammed her fist against his head with a sharp blow.
"Idiot!!" she shouted as Lee flew into some nearby bushes.
"That was not very youthful…" he muttered among the leaves, dazed but still smiling.
Naruto let out a laugh, watching the scene with amusement.
In his arms, Hinata and Reika hugged him tightly at the same time, each vying for her place, jealous but happy.
Naruto couldn't help but think how good life was...