Human World – Unknown Location
Listening to the sound of the waves, Naruto stretched before feeling something soft and a presence.
He abruptly opened his eyes only to meet a pair of warm green eyes staring right into his.
"Welcome back. I didn't know you were so warm—you wouldn't wake up to anything."
The stranger spoke with a soft voice, making Naruto blush. He didn't know if she was an elf or something else, since she gave off no magical presence, yet he felt something in her.
"Right, I haven't introduced myself, and it must be confusing to speak without knowing our names… I am Gaia. What's your name?"
The stranger introduced herself, while Naruto frowned, unable to connect her with anything he knew.
Gaia noticed his frown but said nothing.
Naruto: I'm Naruto, nice to meet you, Gaia… – he introduced himself as well, without giving his surname.
Gaia nodded softly.
Gaia: What are you looking for here? You seemed lost… – she said gently, getting straight to the point. She wasn't going to insist on his surname, clearly Phoenix, since she had already checked while he was asleep.
Naruto sighed. She wasn't dumb, and her gaze told him it was better to play it safe.
Naruto: I wanted to see the human world… I'm a demon from the Underworld, of the Phoenix house… – he answered honestly.
Gaia raised an eyebrow. She thought he would keep his identity to himself.
Gaia: Why reveal your identity to me? Don't you know the human world is dangerous? – she asked curiously.
Naruto blinked, still resting on her lap.
Naruto: I… don't know. You feel so… familiar, and I feel like I lose nothing by telling you my lineage. My destiny is already in your hands. It's impossible for me to escape… it all depends on whether you let me go or do something with me… – he explained honestly, his worldview where power was everything clear in his words, and here, he had none.
A beautiful smile appeared on Gaia's lips as she sighed.
Gaia: Thank you for your honesty, little one. You're not wrong… but I won't harm you. I wasn't planning to… well, maybe just a little… – she said softly, making Naruto swallow dryly.
Gaia laughed and shook her head.
Gaia: Nothing bad… it was just a fleeting thought. You see, I've just lost everything, and I was here wondering if I should destroy what I built… until you appeared… – she explained calmly, while Naruto blinked.
Gaia: Let me tell you… – she began softly, sharing her family troubles with Naruto without revealing her true identity, as in her eyes he wasn't ready. Besides, he seemed to know nothing of Olympus.
Naruto listened silently, without interrupting.
Gaia continued, sharing how she had felt about everything.
After a while, Gaia finished her explanation, with Naruto processing what she had said before he reached a point.
Naruto: They don't deserve you, none of them… You only wanted a family, but they all abused your trust… every last one of them… – he emphasized, while Gaia fell silent, averting her gaze.
Naruto tried to sit up from her lap, only to be quickly pulled into a hug, pressed against two soft, pleasant mounds that reminded him of his mother, though different in scent and size.
Hearing a soft sob, Naruto sighed. This wasn't what he expected when coming to the human world, but helping a little wouldn't hurt.
Adjusting as best as he could in the awkward hug, Naruto sat facing her lap and hugged her back.
Gaia held him tightly, finding the boy's embrace warm and comforting.
Underworld – Astaroth Territory – Streets
From the carriage window, Marianne gazed silently at the streets of the Astaroth territory, until she suddenly frowned.
Marianne: Someone's trying to win over my Naru-chan… – she thought seriously. When she returned, she would investigate. Her baby was hers and no one else's, not even that little girl's family.
Her secretary, sitting across, swallowed hard at her lady's cold, sharp gaze. She knew that look meant someone would disappear—or that Marianne was already planning how to make it happen.
The secretary wiped the sweat from her forehead, praying she was doing a good enough job to live long enough to enjoy her pay.
Human World – Unknown Location
After several minutes of venting her pain, Gaia smiled, feeling better after being listened to and hugged—not by blood or kin, but by a demon, someone different.
Gaia: There… I feel better now, thank you… – she said softly, as Naruto gently pulled back from the hug.
Gaia wiped her tears away and smiled tenderly at Naruto, whose golden eyes sparkled.
Gaia: Tell me… – she began gently, catching his full attention.
Gaia: Would you like to be my son?... – she asked directly, making Naruto blink in confusion before replying.
Naruto: I already have a mother… – he answered calmly.
Gaia: But you could have two… be my son… – she insisted. She didn't want to be alone, and this child was so adorable, so different from all her past mistakes.
Naruto leaned back slightly, but Gaia clasped his hands, a glimmer of longing and almost obsessive desire shining in her eyes. Though she wasn't holding him tightly, her gaze sent chills down his spine.
Naruto swallowed dryly.
Gaia: Please, I'll be the best mother… I'll fulfill your wishes, help you, support you… all I ask is that you love me… – she said softly, trying to sound gentle, but that glow in her eyes made Naruto weigh his options.
Naruto sighed.
Naruto: Are you strong?... – he asked curiously.
Gaia: Very strong… – she instantly replied, biting her tongue before revealing she could stop the rising biblical tension itself.
Naruto nodded.
Naruto: Fine, I accept you as my mother… but never abandon me, never betray me, and always make me your priority… – he said, not really knowing why, but if Gaia wanted him as her son, then he must be her top priority above all else.
Gaia nodded firmly.
Gaia: I swear… – she said, and a pleasant breeze blew around them, making Naruto smile softly and nod.
Gaia smiled from the heart. She felt her own heart beat again, aflame with hope. This time, she would do it right. If blood was the problem, then she would have a child who was not her blood—or fully hers.
Gaia: So, you wanted to see the human world… – she said softly, and Naruto nodded.
Gaia: Not now, darling. It's too dangerous for you. Many gods walk the world right now. You were lucky to find me, or you could've died… – she warned, hugging him tightly, fearful of what might've happened if he'd met other gods instead.
Naruto agreed. His instincts told him meeting Gaia was luck beyond compare.
Gaia: But that's what I'm here for. If my son wants to explore the human world, I'll take him. I'm very strong… – she said with a smile, lifting Naruto in her arms, making him sweat.
Naruto: Don't treat me like a baby… – he muttered with a frown, only making him look cuter in Gaia's eyes as she pressed him back against her chest.
Naruto sighed.
Gaia: Well, the day will soon end, and night will come. We need a place to sleep in case it rains, and fire to cook. Tomorrow, we'll explore the human world. This island is uninhabited aside from animals—no humans here… – she explained, setting him down carefully. Naruto nodded.
Gaia: Now, go gather firewood. Can you use fire?... – she asked curiously. She could, of course, but she wanted to know about her son.
Naruto: I can… – he replied, igniting his hand with flames. Gaia nodded with a smile, and the two began preparing for the night.
Naruto: This is like that survival book Lucifer wrote about the nine circles of Hell, but… very different… – he mused, carefully gathering branches before returning to Gaia, who was building a hut. Clearly, she wasn't normal.
Naruto watched in awe as she moved huge logs with just her hands, arranging them with leaves into a shelter.
Gaia: I'll teach you how to do this later, darling. Put the wood over there, near the rocks… – she instructed. Naruto quickly obeyed, lighting the wood with a finger flame, making it blaze.
Gaia crushed hollow logs with her fists into small pieces, setting them by the fire to keep it going later.
Satisfied, she then walked toward the sea.
Gaia: We'll eat fish. Do you know how to swim?... – she asked. Naruto shook his head.
Gaia suddenly appeared behind him, hugging him.
Gaia: Then I'll teach you, just in case… – she said with a smile, guiding him into the sea.
Naruto: She's too fast; I didn't even see her move… – he thought, as he was pushed into the water without even taking his clothes off.
Gaia swam further, driving away sharks from the area.
Gaia: Alright, you just need to hold your breath and dive, moving your arms and legs… – she instructed, gently letting him go. She knew not everyone could breathe underwater like her, and she wouldn't risk her son's life.
She began teaching Naruto, who quickly picked it up, to her delight. Soon, they were hunting dinner underwater.
Gaia enjoyed doing this with him, and they returned with several fish and shellfish. A gust of wind dried them instantly before they started cooking.
Naruto watched with genuine curiosity as Gaia gutted the fish and shellfish, cooking them over the fire, and the smell was wonderful.
She smiled, handing him the first fish. Naruto bit in, only to get pricked, and Gaia explained how to eat it.
Taking notes quickly, Naruto soon learned how to eat this new thing called "fish."
Time passed, and soon Naruto was asleep, resting on Gaia peacefully. His breathing was steady, showing he was deeply asleep.
Gaia stroked his hair with affection while the firelight flickered in the hut.
Gaia: This is something I won't let anyone take. Whoever tries will die, along with their blood and allies… – she thought darkly. She would leave her hatred for her son's sake, but whoever touched him… would die.
Yawning, Gaia closed her eyes, hugging her beloved son against her.
Naruto slept peacefully, nestled against her chest, unaware of the primordial goddess he had gained as a mother through sheer luck, at just the right moment.
New Day
Morning – Alba Longa – Hill
From atop a hill, Naruto and Gaia watched silently as barbarians pillaged a village—death, violence, sex, alcohol.
Gaia: Humans… – she muttered calmly, not noticing the change in Naruto's expression.
In his eyes, the flames and screams of the conquerors were reflected as they committed atrocities against their own kind, drunk with power.
Naruto: If they are like this, why shouldn't we use them like the animals they are? Why does Elohim protect them, fight for them?... – he wondered, truly unable to understand why God valued these humans, such inferior beings.
Naruto shook his head solemnly, turning back to his mother.
Gaia tilted her head curiously.
Naruto: I want you to train me to become stronger, mother. Strong enough that no one can sense my magical power unless I allow it… – he said seriously. He knew his mother was strong. Despite never sensing any magical signature from her, she had done things that clearly required magic… she must be very powerful.
Gaia blinked in confusion.
Gaia: Train? I don't train… I've always been strong. Besides, I don't know how to train… – she admitted softly, biting her lip in frustration for not being able to help her son.
Naruto blinked.
Then Gaia's face lit up.
Gaia: Oh, but I do have a friend who can help us… – she said with a smile before pulling Naruto into a hug, making him sweat. Together, they vanished—without any magic circle or ritual.
Underworld – Gremory Territory – Gremory Castle – Lord Gremory's Office
Inside sat none other than Lord Gremory, patriarch of the Gremory house, holding a wine glass in one hand and a letter in the other. He let the letter drop onto the desk, revealing the family seal.
"Feast for the Prince of the Underworld."
"Hmn…"
TO BE CONTINUED.