In a gray hall, dim lamps on the sides provided a faint illumination.
There were spots where the light couldn't reach.
The hallway seemed to have lost all contact with civilization, and the dim light from the lamps showed an immaculate floor with engravings. The walls were another story; cracks could be seen everywhere. Within the walls, fresh air was circulating, and a bright blue light could be seen.
Behind the hallway, a giant hall could be seen; but without enough light, the distance that could be observed was limited.
The only thing that could be seen was a water source.
Suddenly, a starlight appeared from nowhere, disturbing the peace.
A dull sound rang out, and a figure fell.
A kid was lying on the ground, stunned.
It was Naruto.
Feeling the impact on his head, he tried to open his eyes, but the light dazzled him, and he needed to cover his unaccustomed eyes.
Suddenly, he felt a headache that almost made him faint again. It felt like he was being hit with a hammer
"Kuh..."
Covering his head with his hands, he can feel his body tremble a bit.
Seconds later he finally got used to it.
"What's happening? A second ago I was in the village..." Now with his eyes open, he saw that he was in an unknown place.
"Where am I? and where's Ego?" Naruto was confused, his body felt weird.
Then, he remembered. Today was his birthday, but he--- Hiruzen appeared and said those things to him...
Even now he was scared of it, he didn't know the bastard was trying to do something to his body… To control him.
Taking a deep breath, he wiped out his tears, but the dirt on his hands soiled his face. Once he could see again, he tried to expand his senses. It's something he has always used since he learned how to meditate. Ego told him that it was his own talent.
Trying to sense the surroundings, Naruto could feel it, no one was watching him.
The moment he realized, his body fell again, and dizziness devoured his mind.
All the tension and fear he had been feeling disappeared with the wind.
Naruto felt like vomiting, but nothing came out of his mouth, only gasps.
"Hah...hah...haaah..."
Looking at the roof, Naruto continued gasping and thinking furiously.
Noticing the lamps, he started looking everywhere to find a familiar spot.
The giant hall made him feel small.
With everything in this place being unknown, the only familiar thing he could see was a water fountain in the center of the giant hall.
Dragging his weak body, he approached the fountain and submerged his head. Cleaning his head, the relief was instantaneous.
He swallowed water until he almost drowned to feel better.
Getting his head out of the water, he started to spit out the water he swallowed before.
Doing that, Naruto sat on the floor. His lungs felt like they were going to burn; trying to recover his senses he started to breathe erratically, and then he burst into a hysterical laugh.
"Pfff-ha, hahahAHAHA!! I'M OUT! OUT OF THAT PRISON! I DON'T NEED TO PUT UP WITH THOSE BASTARDS" He didn't care where he was, the only thing on his mind was joy. He accepted his friends, but everyone else in the village was like an enemy. With the things Hiruzen did, the resentment grew.
Feeling the lump in his throat melt away, his body surrendered to the ground.
"Oh god, I didn't remember this feeling. How joyful are the others living according to their own desires. "
All these years were like walking a tightrope, but finally he could take a breath and not feel worried about being observed all the time.
"...That damned village, they hate me, but they always have an eye on me even when I'm sleeping" Feeling his body trembling, Naruto cursed.
After the horrible sensation came the relief.
It was the first time since that conversation that he felt comfortable. The things Mikoto said to him still bothered him.
"I wish I could hit all those jerks, next time I return to that stupid village I will burn it. Even that old bastard" Naruto said with rage.
Nobody who knew him could recognize him at this moment.
His bearing and his gaze changed completely.
"Now, where am I? I'm supposed to be in my house." Getting up and shaking out his clothes, Naruto continued looking in every direction.
[Oh, you're finally awake]x2
"Who?" The first voice felt familiar, but the other one was the first time he heard it.
[It's me, Ego. I took you from that place, the things they tried to do to you were unforgivable and I took action.] A calm voice came from Naruto's hands.
"Ego? Can you talk? I think you could only write. Took action? You can attack others?" Looking at his hands, there was the book.
"Yes. I can do it, but I didn't want to interfere with your growth. I used the fox inside you, he let me use his power and attack Hiruzen. He will be a good pet; you can befriend him.
Come, we need to move."
Saying that, Ego flew away following the other voice they heard before.
"Can you fly now? And befriend the fox? How am I supposed to do that?" Naruto asked, everything felt too fast.
[It's only a use of
"Mm okay. Ego, there's another voice. Do you know him? I can't feel the direction it's coming from" Naruto sees the surroundings.
Ego paused for a moment, but he replied "Yes, he's been here for a while, but I don't know if he remembers me."
Naruto started following the book and remained in silence waiting for him to explain things.
Ego didn't let him wait for long.
[We aren't in that world. I took you to another space with the lady's permission. She accepted and wanted to meet you when you're awake.]
"Then, where are we supposed to be? And who's the lady? When will I meet her?" With Ego beside, Naruto felt comfy; but his anger continued to grow, he will never forgive them.
[We are in the Tower, the zero floor. She will appear soon. And--- Don't worry about your friends, they're fine. I'll help you make them pay for everything they did to you.] Ego comforted him.
"... Thanks, Ego. Even if I was with my friends, I always felt out of place. Thank you for bringing me here, we will return later, right?" Naruto asked while he was taking off his jacket, it was dirty.
[It's impossible to feel welcomed in that place, you don't need to worry now about that. Yes, we can leave, but you need her permission to do it.]
"Mm, I want to meet her, it's the first time you talked about someone with respect." Naruto blinked curiously.
[I respect those who are great people. Like you, she accepted me a long time ago and helped me in that moment. The tower is kind to those she accepts. Now, try saying 'Hello, lady' in your mind.] Ego's voice sounded cheerful.
"¿Eh? She?" Naruto pricked up his ears, did he hear wrong?
[Aha, the tower is alive, and we can come here because she accepted us. She is the owner of this. Now, say hello to her.] Ego spoke with respect.
"..." Seeing this abandoned hallway Naruto couldn't believe that this was the inside of a living being.
"A woman, the person who accepted them to be there." Like knowing what he was thinking, Ego confirmed.
[Be polite. She is our ally, you could doubt anyone but not her. Now, greet her, she is listening to you.]
Hearing that, Naruto took a deep breath and nodded.
"Okay. I will do it."
Looking at the floor, he spoke.
'Hello, Lady. I'm Naruto, nice to meet you and thank you for helping us.' Saying that Naruto bowed while he was seeing the immaculate floor.
{Hello, little one.} A soft voice came from everywhere, but didn't feel noisy.
"Hello! Thank you for accepting us!" Naruto felt shy.
{It's okay, little one. I saw what you did at your home, it was interesting.}
{And hello once again, Ego. I hope you can do it this time.} Naruto felt calm when he heard it, he understood that Ego was from this place.
[Thank you, lady. I hope so, it's been a while since I was here] Ego 'bowed' his body too.
{It's funny seeing you in such a state. Help this kid and I will help you with your body later.} She sounded like she was holding back her laughter.
[Ah-haha... I will do it anyway, Lady. Thank you for your help] Ego felt awkward looking like that in front of his benefactress.
{Now, little one, let me give you my mark} The soft voice sounded again. As she said that, a tiny transparent door appeared in front of Naruto, and it landed on his hand.
"Mm" Naruto stood in his place; he felt something additional on his hand.
Soon he felt something moving inside him, not like a type of energy, but something deeper.
It was a strange feeling, but he felt safe.
This is the first time he can feel this way. Even a while ago when he awoke, the discomfort didn't go away. The things he went through today weighed on his mind.
But now, that feeling was gone.
"Huff, thank you, Lady. I feel better." These words came from his heart.
{You're welcome, with this mark you can come here whenever you want. I'm glad to see a cute child like you in the tower}
"Heheh, thank you. Do I need to do something?" Naruto felt shy hearing her calling him cute.
{No, just think about it and you could do it. For you I will use a 'system'. I've seen this in other places, and I've been using it for newbies. This could help you in your path to the top of my tower.
Say 'Status' in your mind, ask the blonde man if you want to ask something. I'll leave you with that.
Farewell, little one.}
"Byebye! Thank you!" Naruto waved his hand, but he didn't hear a reply.
Knowing that she was gone, he talked to Ego.
"She's kind, don't you think, Ego?"
[Yeah, she's always like that. She doesn't appear every time a newbie arrives, so, you're lucky, Naruto.] Ego sounded content.
"Hehehe, and she called me cute, you heard that?" Naruto puffed out his chest with pride
[Now, try to use the 'system'.] Ignoring Naruto's words, Ego urged him.
"Status?"
Saying that, a transparent grey screen appeared in front of him.
[Name: Naruto Uzumaki]
-[Race: Human]
-[Level:0]
[Rank: 0]
[Attributes]
[Vitality: 54% (Yellow)]
[Strength: 18%]
[Dexterity: 12%]
[Agility: 14%]
[Adaptability: 78%(Yellow)]
[Mind: 50%(Yellow)]
[Intelligence: 16(Colorless)]
[Stats]
[Mana: 0]
[HP: 810]
[Spiritual energy(mind):7(10)]
[Stamina: 18]
[Red Chakra: 15(yellow)]
[Chakra: 189(270) (yellow)---[10000(?)]]
[???]
[???]
[Weapons]
[]
[Contracts]
-[Fox]
-[???]
[Inventory]
[Location]
Naruto felt weird seeing those numbers. How could his capacities be measured only with numbers? But it looks good, eh.
He didn't understand why he had a contract with these things and the question mark felt ominous.
"Ego, there's some question marks on this. This thing looks weird."
[You need to discover that in the other world. Last time I was here these numbers didn't exist, we used another unit of measurement.]
"Is there any difference?" Naruto rubbed his hands like a fly.
[No, the tower just adjusts things to be more friendly with you.]
"Fuh, then I'll stick with this one." Letting go a sigh, he looked curiously at the status window.
[Okay, let's continue. We haven't found the other voice yet.] Ego started to fly again.
"Fine, I want to talk with you about something" Naruto followed him, now much calmer.
[I was just about to say the same thing, let me talk first. I know what you want to ask.]
"Okay, it'll be my turn later." Naruto agreed.
[Fine, it seems that you already know that some people in the village are always with an eye on you.]
"Yup, the moment I meditated for the first time, I felt it." Naruto frowned
[And you know who they are?]
"No, I only know that some people are always following my steps." Naruto shook his head and continued.
"The more I improve my meditation, the more I can feel it. At first there were only 2 people, and I thought that was all; it wasn't. But after my seventh birthday I didn't feel them again for a while.
After that I thought it would disappear, but it wasn't like that. When I was training with Sasuke and Hinata, I could feel it, their eyes were afar."
Ego agreed [Mm I gave them a warning that day, but the rats can't go against their instinct. They continue stalking.]
"You did? Thanks Ego. Also, sometimes I could see Gai-sensei giving a warning to someone when we're together." Naruto stopped and then continued.
[Gai was really helpful with it, no one wanted to go against him.]
"Hehe, is my master that strong?" Naruto's eyes shone.
[Of course, Naruto. You need to trust more in your master. After all, he's Maito Gai, also known as 'Green Beast of Prey'. He's the strongest Taijutsu master in that world and in the last centuries.]
Naruto's mouth fell open. He thought that his master was strong, but that much?
Ego continued
[Since he was young, he has fought only with his body; because of that, at this moment, he can't progress because his technique has reached its end. He just needs help to go further. ]
"That's why you gave him the advice to practice more and ask for those 'sages'?"
[That could help him to find another path. if you want to help him, grow strong and you could do whatever you want]
"Okay! I will do it! Gai-sensei was always helping me; it's time to do the same!" Naruto clenched his fists in excitement.
[Good luck with that. In this tower everything is possible]
They continued walking while chatting.
"Hey, Ego. Is he the reason why I couldn't remember anything before I was 6?" That question came to Naruto's mind, and he couldn't get it out of his mind.
[Yes, it's him and someone close to him.]
"...And you know what he wanted to do to me a while ago? He told me those things, and I couldn't move..."
[It's a technique that erases most of the recipient's emotions; the caster could decide which ones and how many. He wanted to transform you into a puppet who only knew how to protect that village without any resentment.
After all, he's the 'Professor', ha.] Ego's voice was filled with rage; he didn't know that he could do something like that.
Naruto's face turned pale. "Is that why he said I don't have the right to feel?
...That village sucks. That will of fire is only to burn others and warm themselves." Ego didn't reply but he could hear Naruto grinding his teeth.
"Ego-"
"Hey, kid. Shut up, I'm trying to sleep." A voice that sounded like a drunk man came from the front.
Calming down, Naruto followed Ego.
[We are close, Naruto.]
A few moments later they arrived at a stall, and there was a blonde-haired man covered in a blanket.
"Who are you?" Naruto didn't understand why there's a homeless man in this tower.
Hearing the voice near him, the man turned his gaze to the kid who interrupted his sleep.
"Ah, a newbie, it's been a long time since another person reached this tower. And you're just a kid" The man said and nods.
"Welcome, you boy with disgusting things on his body" Getting up from the ground, the man bowed to Naruto.
"What the hell do you mean by that?"
The annoyance he felt disappeared and only confusion remained about what this dude told him.
Ego remained in silence, floating above Naruto's head.
-----|-------|-------|------|-------|----
The moment Naruto disappeared from his home, everyone felt stunned.
"Where the hell did this monster go?"
The Anbu didn't know, but Hiruzen was in the same situation.
A few moments ago, he was watching Naruto transfor into that beast, but now? The kid disappeared without a trace.
That presence and the one who controlled it terrified him; it was stronger than anyone else he had seen before. Even the pain of losing his limbs was ignored.
Recapitulating what happened he realized, Naruto was talking with someone. No, no, not a 'person'; it was that shitty book.
"Damn it! I should have burned that thing the moment it happened!" Hiruzen feels regret. Since that year things had gone out of his hands.
"And where did that bastard take him? The village couldn't stand without his Jinchuriki." The more he thinks about it, the more upset he becomes.
When he wanted to do something, he felt a sudden pain in his whole body.
Maito Gai was burning in green flames, for he had opened the gates.
"Hiruzen! I told you! What the fuck did you do to Naruto?!" Maito Gai's eyes were filled with rage, today it was supposed to be his disciple's birthday.
Mikoto was beside him, forming a cage of flowers. Tears of blood flowed from her eyes. She started to cover Hiruzen's body in flowers.
The pain made him recover his senses. Now he wasn't just injured on his limbs; almost his whole body was about to collapse.
Damn it... Now even these bastards dare to attack me?! He wanted to retaliate, but the flowers that slowly appeared on his body reminded him of Fugaku's fate.
Feeling that the situation wasn't good, he disappeared.
Mikoto saw that Gai wanted to chase Hiruzen, but she stopped him, shaking her head as she said to him. "We just need to wait for Naruto. His friend, Ego, took Naruto with him. You can trust him."
Gai remained silent and closed the Gates. He will never forgive this
-------------
In the next second, Hiruzen appeared in the Hokage's office.
The pain got worse and then--suddenly-- roots began to appear on his body, replacing the parts that had collapsed and giving him new limbs. It looked like dead wood.
Putting on a robe, he sat down at the desk.
He started talking to himself, as if the previous incident had not been caused by him.
"It's always the same with these kids. Asuma did the same thing, going against me. They learn some irrelevant things and then they think that I'm the villain in the story" He couldn't help but compare his son's situation to Naruto's.
"Am I wrong? No, why does he need to learn about his parents? Am I not enough for him?"
Such questions scrambled Hiruzen's mind.
"This little bastard dares to call me 'old man' as if I'm indebted to him" Veins popping out of his hands.
Taking a deep breath, he started shaking his head.
"No, no, Hiruzen, you can't think like that. It's Minato's son. He entrusted me with his son"
"Watch for his house, inform me when he appears."
The office fell into silence.
Hiruzen felt dizzy.
What if Naruto doesn't appear again? What has happened to the beast inside him? And what will happen to the 'other one'?
If that book could take him away wherever he wanted, how could it stop him?
Time continued to pass, and he didn't move from his seat. His mind was made a mess.
Remembering the conversation, Hiruzen didn't think there was anything wrong with it. He just told Naruto to become the protector of the village, how could that be wrong?
"I need to have another conversation with him." Taking a puff from his pipe, Hiruzen became thoughtful. He didn't think that the kid could hate him.
Minutes passed and then he noticed him, in front of him there was one person, his son.
Asuma.
"Asuma, do you need something? You almost never come to my office" Hiruzen asked his son, pretending as if nothing had happened.
"...Yes, you know the reason. I came to inform you about a mission for my team, but it seems that you aren't in a condition. Someone beat you up, huh?" Asuma's eyes remained fixed on his father.
The relationship between them was not like father and son, it was distant.
"No, I'm fine. Just tell me if you need help with something." Hiruzen assured, shaking his head.
"Okay, I need your signature on this document. I want to take my team out for a mission," Asuma continued, giving him the document.
"These kids are capable enough and it's just a C-rank mission"
Taking the pen, Hiruzen signed his name and returned it to Asuma.
"Just be careful, don't play with the lives of these kids; their clans are behind them."
Hearing that his father wasn't worried about the kids, but for their clans, made Asuma feel like a mere mercenary. He had noticed the disaster at the Jinchuriki's house, no one other than his father would do something to him.
Containing the annoyance in his voice, he replied.
"You don't need to worry about that, I know what I'm doing."
Hearing that, Hiruzen's hand froze in the air.
"Fine. If that's all, you can go."
Asuma could see his father's gaze grow colder. It was always like that; even when he returned after so many years, the treatment he received did not change. He always thinks he's right...
In his father's eyes, he wasn't his son.
"...See you later, old man."
"..."
As he was leaving the room, Asuma spoke again.
"You did something bad again, right, old man?" Asuma asked, but his voice had a confident tone. He may not have been as powerful as the old man, but he had something that he could never have: Intuition and common sense.
Hiruzen knows it, this son always knows when something's wrong with him.
"Get out."
Asuma ignore his father.
"This isn't the first time you've done something like that."
"..."
"You're always talking about the Will of Fire, but it seems that you've never applied it.
Why's that? Ever since I was a child, you've always said that to my brother and me." Asuma grinned.
His family despises him for leaving the village, but he's fine with that. Everyone in that family took the example of this "elder".
"It's curious. Just recently I returned to the village, and it seems more lifeless than I remember. Now, even the Jinchuriki has preferred to leave so as not to see your face."
"Asuma, shut up and get out of my office." Hiruzen's voice sounded like scraping wood.
"That's it, you're always like that. Even after all these years, you still can't trust me.
No one can tell you when you're wrong, and that's why my brother is just a mere shadow of you." Asuma's voice felt heavy.
"Don't compare yourself with your brother, you know that you will never reach him." Hearing that, Hiruzen couldn't stand in silence and replied.
"You're right, old bastard. I'm better than my brother, at least I know that you're a sick bastard." Asuma shrugged.
"Perhaps you need to remember that the things you do have consequences.
You know that you have caused all this yourself." Leaving these words, Asuma left the room.
"..." Hiruzen didn't say anything for a while.
There was only silence.
"I am not sick, and I am not wrong. I do everything for the village" With firmness in his voice, Hiruzen said to himself.
The rest of the day passed, and Naruto didn't return.
Knowing that he couldn't do anything, Hiruzen left the office, leaving the robe on the chair.
With his face covered in darkness and his back basking in the moonlight, Hiruzen went to his home. Flowers cover his steps.
The darkness of the room pressed down on the faint moonlight.
-----|-------|-------|------|-------|----
Hi!
This is the first chapter of the second act: The tower.
Miss tower appeared; I want to give an explanation about the system that it's always in these towers. She didn't give a system to everyone, Ego said that she tried to make things more kind for you, that's all, she gave his help, and the rest depends on the climbers.
Hiruzen is a complicated character. From the things he always said it seems that he thought that he was the pillar of the village, but most of the things he did prejudicated the village and the people in it.
A sick person will always think that he is right and that everyone else is wrong, no matter what.
The moonlight.
Naruto is still growing; he isn't even at his full potential.
-----|-------|-------|------|-------|----
Thanks for reading.
Have a nice day.
Read advanced chapter or want to support me.
patreon.com/Olvidadizo
----------------------------------