The shrine's cavern trembled with a low groan, as if the mountain itself resented what lay trapped within. A sickly violet miasma pressed against the seal at the chamber's center, distorting the air with its malice.
Naruto felt it scrape at his skin like claws of ice. Even without Kurama's senses, the sheer weight of the chakra was suffocating.
Inside him, the fox's voice rumbled.
That pathetic thing dares call itself a demon? Kurama scoffed, disdain sharp. Compared to me, it's nothing but mold festering in the dark.
Naruto didn't argue. He kept his gaze locked on the writhing energy straining against the seal, hands curled into fists. Even mold can spread if left alone. Better to burn it out now.
At the shrine's altar, Shion knelt in formal robes, her voice steady as she chanted. The ancient incantation flowed from her lips, weaving chakra into the carved seal lines etched across the stone. Sweat gleamed on her brow, but her lavender eyes never closed.
Hinata stood a few paces behind her, Byakugan active, scanning for threats. Kiba and Akamaru paced the cavern's edge, ears pricked. Shino's kikaichū hovered near the walls, a living shield against intrusion. Kurenai watched them all, silent but vigilant.
The seal shuddered suddenly, light flickering. Shion gasped, shoulders shaking as the miasma pressed harder.
Naruto was at her side in an instant, dropping to one knee. "Don't let it push you back. You're not alone."
Her chant faltered. "It's… it's too strong—"
He placed his hand firmly over hers. His chakra surged outward, mingling with hers. Her eyes widened as strength flooded her body.
"This is—your chakra?"
"Don't think about it. Just keep chanting," Naruto said, voice firm. "I'll reinforce the seal with you."
The lines carved into the floor glowed brighter under his touch. Kurama's chakra laced within his own, weaving into the priestess's spiritual power. The two forces—holy and demonic—met, not clashing but bolstering, pressing back against Mōryō's thrashing will.
From the miasma, distorted faces formed, howling silently, trying to claw free. Naruto's jaw tightened. He remembered his own battles with Kurama's hatred—but now he was no longer a vessel resisting the fox. He was its master, and he refused to bend to another parasite's malice.
The cavern floor cracked as something struck from behind. The enemy had returned—bloodied, robes in tatters, but eyes burning with obsession. The rogue shinobi staggered forward, his body scrawled with dark seals, chakra flaring with desperate malice.
"You won't have it!" he screamed, hurling black energy toward the altar.
Kiba and Akamaru intercepted with a spinning Fang Over Fang, scattering the blast into shards of rock. Shino's insects swarmed, latching onto the man's chakra and forcing him back a step.
But still he laughed, wild and manic. "Mōryō is mine! You can't stop destiny!"
Naruto's voice cut through the cavern, sharp as steel. "Shut up."
He didn't even rise from Shion's side. Instead, a single shadow clone burst into life, sprinting forward faster than the eye could follow. Its fist slammed into the enemy's gut, the crack of impact echoing. The man coughed blood, body flung into the stone wall, where he crumpled and lay still.
The clone dispersed with a puff of smoke. Naruto didn't spare the enemy another glance. "Focus," he told Shion softly. "We're almost there."
Her trembling eased under his certainty. Their voices—her chant, his silent chakra reinforcement—rose in unison. The seal lines pulsed once, twice, then erupted in radiant light.
The mountain shook one last time before falling silent. The violet miasma shrieked soundlessly, then collapsed inward, dragged back into the prison from which it had clawed.
Shion's body slumped forward, her voice fading. Naruto caught her before she could fall.
"It's over," he whispered.
Her eyelids fluttered, exhaustion pulling her under. Just before she lost consciousness, she breathed, "You… you're not like the others. Thank you."
Naruto held her until the shrine attendants rushed in to bear her away.
The return journey through the Land of Demons was quieter. With Mōryō sealed once more, the air itself felt lighter, as if the land exhaled relief.
But Naruto's thoughts lingered on Shion. Her face—her eyes—had resembled Hinata's so closely that it unsettled him.
Hinata caught him staring once, her cheeks flushing crimson. She pressed her fingers together nervously, unable to speak. Naruto quickly looked away, scratching his head with an awkward grin. Still, her small smile lingered, and it warmed him more than he expected.
Konoha welcomed them back with the comfort of home: the bustling main street, the scent of ramen from Ichiraku, the Hokage Monument watching silently from above. After the team reported to Tsunade, they were dismissed to rest.
Naruto, stomach growling, wandered through the village when Sakura spotted him.
"Naruto!" she called, jogging over. "You're back already?"
"Yeah," he grinned. "Mission wrapped up sooner than expected."
She hesitated a moment, then said, "Do you want to come to my house for dinner? My mom's been wanting to see you."
Naruto blinked. Sakura rarely invited him home. "Eh? You sure?"
She smiled faintly. "She says she hasn't seen you in ages. And… I think you could use a proper meal."
Naruto rubbed his cheek sheepishly. "Heh, if you're offering, I won't say no."
Sakura's home glowed warmly in the evening light. The smell of simmering broth drifted from the kitchen. Her mother, Mebuki, greeted Naruto with a wide smile.
"Naruto! Look at you, you've grown so much. Come in, come in."
He bowed politely. "Thank you for having me, Auntie."
Dinner was lively. Sakura's father, Kizashi, filled the room with booming laughter, while Mebuki fussed over Naruto like a long-lost son. The table was full of simple but hearty dishes—grilled fish, rice, vegetables, hot miso.
"You must be working so hard these days," Mebuki said, topping his bowl again. "Sakura tells us you're on important missions now."
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, moaning, "I just do what I can."
Kizashi leaned forward with a grin. "Mark my words, this kid will be Hokage someday. You'll see, Mebuki."
Sakura groaned, rolling her eyes. "Dad, don't embarrass him."
But Naruto only laughed, warmth blooming in his chest. He had once eaten alone, ignored by the village. Now he sat at a family's table, welcomed like he belonged. The feeling was so foreign, so precious, he almost didn't trust it.
When dinner ended, Mebuki pressed a bundle of leftovers into his hands. "You're always welcome here, Naruto. Don't be a stranger."
He bowed deeply. "Thank you. I'll come again."
Outside, the streets glowed with lantern light. Beside him, Sakura walked in silence until she asked, almost shyly, "So… what did you think?"
Naruto smiled, clutching the warm bundle of food. "It was… nice. Really nice."
Her lips curved in a small smile. Then his tone shifted, serious.
"Sakura… can you teach me medical ninjutsu?"
She blinked, startled. "Medical ninjutsu? You?"
He nodded. "Yeah. I need to learn it. There's stuff I want to be able to do. To protect people, I can't just rely on raw strength anymore."
Sakura studied him for a long moment. In his eyes, she saw no trace of the reckless boy she used to scold. What she saw now was determination—solid, unwavering.
Her chest tightened, but she smiled. "Alright. I'll teach you."
The night air carried their breath in faint clouds, and for a moment, the world felt full of quiet promise.
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