The sun was just beginning to rise over the verdant ruins of Uzushio, painting the sky in hues of soft pink and gold. Akari, her fiery red hair framing a face still marked by the confusion and miracle of her resurrection, held Kaien's hand tightly. Her son, appearing as a teenager but whose grip was that of a three-year-old, walked beside her, his Eyes of Infinity taking in the world with insatiable curiosity.
"Where are we going, Mama?" Kaien asked, his voice light and joyful. He bounced with every step, like a toddler discovering a new playground. Gravity, to him, was merely a suggestion.
Akari smiled—a smile tinged with melancholy. "We're going to Konoha, my love. It's a big village, far from here. We'll be safe there."
She didn't yet know how she would explain her return from the dead, or the nature of her son, but she had to try. Konoha was the only place where she had family, a thread of belonging.
The journey was long. They passed through dense forests where the trees seemed to whisper ancient secrets, across rivers with shimmering waters, and through open plains swept by the wind. Though Akari had been restored to her full vitality, she felt the weight of lost years—and the immense responsibility pressing on her shoulders. She watched Kaien with a mixture of awe and fear. He pointed excitedly at flying birds, was fascinated by insects on leaves, and burst into laughter whenever a butterfly landed on his nose.
His childlike mind was evident in every moment. He asked simple questions, marveled at everything, and his thoughts were driven purely by instinct. He didn't understand danger, hunger, or fatigue. He was a being of pure energy, and the world, to him, was one vast playground.
After several days of walking, Akari felt loneliness creeping in. She had found her son, yes, but the world she once knew was gone. The familiar faces, the laughter of her clan—everything had turned to dust. She sighed, a sigh heavy with sorrow.
Kaien, with the intuitive sensitivity of a child, sensed his mother's sadness. His Eyes of Infinity picked up the faint ripples of her chakra, the subtle shades of her emotion. He suddenly stopped, tugging on Akari's hand.
"Mommy is sad?" he asked, his innocent face frowning with worry. "Why is Mommy sad?"
Akari knelt down and pulled him into her arms. "It's nothing, my heart. I just… feel a little lonely sometimes."
Kaien thought for a moment, his eyes swirling with cosmic colors. "Mommy wants friends?"
Before Akari could answer, Kaien raised his hands, palms open. A soft, shimmering light began to emanate from them, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. The infinite energy of his dimension, which he wielded effortlessly, materialized in the air.
Before Akari's astonished eyes, the light condensed and took shape. First, a tiny glowing sphere, then translucent wings appeared, followed by a delicate body, and finally a miniature face of ethereal beauty. It was a small fairy, no larger than the palm of a hand, her iridescent wings fluttering gently, leaving behind a trail of stardust. Her hair was as red as the Uzumaki's, with golden highlights, and her eyes were a vibrant emerald green. She floated in the air, giggling joyfully.
"For Mommy!" Kaien said brightly, beaming with pride. "She can hug you when you're sad!"
Akari stared at her, tears welling up in her eyes. This wasn't a genjutsu, nor an illusion. It was a creature made of pure energy—alive, breathing, created entirely by her son. The fairy flew toward Akari, landed on her shoulder, and nuzzled her cheek with her tiny head, emitting a soft, comforting hum.
"Thank you, Kaien," Akari whispered, her voice choked with emotion. It was a gift of unimaginable purity and power.
But Kaien wasn't done. "And a friend to play with!" he said, extending his other hand. This time, the energy gathered more intensely, taking on a more solid, imposing form. Shimmering scales appeared, sharp claws, membranous wings. In seconds, a small dragon, no larger than a kitten, but carrying the majesty of a legendary beast, materialized. His scales were a deep green, his eyes molten gold, and tiny wisps of smoke curled from his nostrils. He beat his miniature wings, hovering with surprising agility.
The dragon let out a small roar—more of a mewl—and rubbed against Kaien's leg, wagging its little tail.
"His name is Ryuu!" Kaien announced, stroking the dragon's head. "And she's Fae!"
Akari looked at the two creatures, then at her son. A mentally three-year-old child who had just created life from pure energy, with unsettling ease. It was both beautiful and terrifying. These creations weren't summons—they were living beings, tied to Kaien's essence, and by extension, to her own.
They continued their journey, with little Fae fluttering around Akari and the tiny dragon Ryuu trotting happily alongside Kaien, puffing out miniature clouds of smoke. The presence of these beings, born from Kaien's love and innocence, brought a comforting warmth to Akari.