HSA - Allied Shinobi Force & the Final Prophesy [Part E]

But Naruto didn't agree. There was definitely something there. He could feel the weight of it in his gut — and, when he finally settled into Sage Mode, he could sense the truth of it. Less than a mile ahead, even though they could not see, was an entire continent spreading out before them — a grand city with a population of thousands.

Hinata frowned her confusion. "But how can that many people be living there and we can't see anything?"

"A special type of barrier?" Kurama surmised.

"I believe so, too," Naruto agreed, ambling forward. "In Konoha, the barrier surrounding the village is programmed more for sensory purposes than to physically keep people out — so maybe there's something special about this one, as well."

Cautiously raising a hand, Naruto touched his fingertips to the invisible barrier. There was a small ripple effect, as though the ancient sorcery would shy away from his curious touch — but, in response to the waves, the entire barrier became transparent to reveal a dark and desolated wasteland with a black sky and dreary clouds.

Subconsciously, Naruto associated this aftermath to his endeavors, should he fail in the ongoing war. And his eyes quivered in dismay — sure he had imagined what the world would be like if he didn't emerge victorious, but seeing an actual visual summoned an unpleasant hole in his belly.

All of a sudden, the clutch of pessimism swept away from his mind, like dust in the wind, when he saw a familiar face hidden in a hooded garb withdrawing from the threshold of the barren island.

The individual ran toward him happily and dove into his chest with a cheerful giggle, quickly tipping on toes to press a long kiss to the knight's cheek.

Hinata's head erupted, like a volcano, and she stood speechless.

"Shi-Shion?" Naruto exclaimed in disbelief, when the girl pulled back the hood. "What're you doing here?"

"Naruto — it's been so long! I've missed you so much! I was shocked to hear you had left with all your friends, even though you promised we would bear a child together."

Naruto felt a spell of shock at her outspoken words, and he scratched at the blush in his cheek with an awkward laugh. But, suddenly, with a deep shiver, he felt Hinata smoldering behind him — her hair curling and waving around, like a malicious fiend, her aura red and toxic.

Kurama stayed behind and ensured he kept his snout shut, certain of the catastrophe that was about to unravel itself here and now.

It's in moments like these he was glad he wasn't human.

R.I.P Uzumaki Naruto.

The princess marched forward, her pace threatening and foreshadowing inevitable destruction. But it wasn't Naruto that she had in her sights — no, it was the conniving vixen whose femininity screamed outrage in an echo of her own.

And she would not lose!

Without hesitation, our Hyūga princess retrieved the girl's hand that rested far too intimately and far too comfortably on her man's chest. She held it in a firm, accusing grasp, looking the girl over with feminine scrutiny. She was sporting an open, hooded trench coat that was sandy brown in color — this over a tube top, short skirt and boots. Her voluptuous body was threatening.

Both woman held each other's gaze with a prolonged grumble, electricity sparking between the two of them on a geothermal level. Then — suddenly, illustrated in their chibi form — both girls lunged at one another; lost to reason in a fluffy cloud of biting, scratching, kicking and pulling.

They looked like two cats in a feud.

The boys were in their chibi form, as well.

"This is the reason why I don't watch TV; I get enough drama in reality."

"Mmhmm-Mmhmm." Kurama nodded.

"Na-Naruto-kun! Who is she — and what is she doing here?" Hinata demanded exhaustedly, her face hot, her cheeks red.

Naruto tousled the back of his head. "Well... this is Shion from the Land of Demons. We met a while back."

"That's right," the girl flashed her hair with a certain flare, as if to woo Naruto and annoy Hinata in return, who had suddenly become her rival. "Naruto saved me from a cruel fate and, in turn, protected the world from the wrath of the dark ruler, Mōryō."

"...Mōryō," Hinata quirked her brows in recollection. "I remember Neji-neesan being sent on a mission in regards to someone by that name."

Naruto frowned, connecting some mental dots in his head. "The coordinates — you're the one who sent them, weren't you?"

The girl smiled warmly. "I believe a sage told you about this place, am I right?"

"Hn. The Great Grandpa Sage did."

"Then he would have been the one I had the linked-precognition with. A few days afterwards, I had another precognition and figured you would need help with both finding and undoing the seal.

I'm surprised you made it here so soon, though."

Naruto's brows descended closer to his eyes. "That only goes to show the urgency of the situation. I might have halted the progress of the war — but that won't last for long; I'm sure Kabuto's already started working on a vaccine for Sakura-chan's drug."

Hinata felt her heart tighten at that distasteful fact, but when Naruto ambled ahead of them with conviction burning in his eyes, she couldn't help but look at him with some level of reassurance.

"I want you both to ride with Kurama," he said, the ends of his forehead protector swaying in the wind. "I think it's about time we entered this place. I don't know what to expect, which is why I want you both to stick with Kurama; he'll protect you — especially you, Shion, who's most vulnerable."

The girls watched him in awe. They studied the broadness of his shoulders and the confidence in his lean stance; they could feel the positive energy permeating from him to them, and Kurama heaved an impressive grin, enthused, as usual.

"Let's go," Hinata cupped Shion's arm and ushered her toward their giant mount. The girl was a bit iffy at first, but then she could sense that the beast was a kindred spirt and allied with Naruto.

So, that's how she's able to walk on water, Naruto noted as Shion proceeded. She hardens spiritual energy into a thin round plate beneath her feet, which serves as a foothold for each step. But, to be doing it so effortlessly, you must have trained very hard.

Impressive, he smiled, pivoting his head back around to face the invisible obstacle that impeded their progress. You've grown a lot since the last time we met. But so have I...

Closing his eyes and allowing his mind to fall into that familiar pivot of focus, Naruto began absorbing Senju Energy — but with a more refined edge than usual. A filtered brand of energy that was more geared in sharpening his sensory reception rather than physical strength.

Once more, he gently touched his fingertips to the barrier, and the wall of invisible energy responded with a ripple that echoed across its entire expanse. Stopping his breath, his senses keen, Naruto concentrated solely on the vibrations — allowing his spiritual observation to flow with the waves, charting out the entire structure the barrier withheld — from mountains, trees and valleys, to walkways, underground sewer tunnels and buildings. But, more importantly... living things.

The sage's eyes snapped open, and he sucked in a lung full of the salty sea breeze. "The weakest point to the barrier is at a cape located at the northwestern side of the continent. Conveniently enough, there's a tunnel lying there, too — so, if I use enough power, I should be able to break through both the barrier and the wall leading into the cave before the barrier regenerates."

Everyone were thrilled by the news. But following in its wake was a bit of anxiety, courtesy of their wild expectations of the otherworldly terrors that could be lying in wait ahead. The complexity of the barrier was alarming enough, so what other manner of sorceries could this new world pose?

Unsuspecting to the gang was just how soon their unspoken questions would be answered. No sooner had Naruto secured their path into the cave, than they were ambushed by a mechanized guardian — the likes of which they had never seen before.

Standing roughly eight feet tall and weighing in about four-hundred pounds of heavy steel and metal, the mechanic warrior possessed a humanoid structure. It was crafted in a cylindrical design, which obviously prioritized flexibility, judging by its nimble movements.

"INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!" It responded noisily with flashing lights for eyes, like a futuristic alarm clock optimized for annoyance. And when the gang noticed its left arm transformed into a lethal blade, they knew then and there the robot wasn't planning on taking hostages.

"Kurama!" Naruto raised a signaling hand behind him. "Try to keep your distance. Remember that you have the girls on your back — and we don't know what this thing is capable of. Plus, we don't want to do anything extravagant and risk a cave in."

"Way ahead of you," the Kyuubi replied reassuringly, keeping its distance with vigilant eyes in the pale light of the cave.

Naruto paid keen attention, too — watching observantly as the robot supposedly did its own scans and arithmetic calculations before flinging itself forward with its blade-arm in front.

With quick side-steps and aerial dynamics, Naruto avoided taking any hits, but then the machine proved it was flexible, too. Its torso suddenly veering back into an anatomically impossible arch to evade Naruto's lethal right hook. In the same beat, its upper body made a one-hundred-and-eighty degree turn so that it could land a fist in Naruto's belly, sending the sage slamming into the side of the cave's wall with a loud crash.

Time and again, the robot sprung the same card — bending, stretching and twisting its body in impossible ways to land the same unsuspecting hits, wedging Naruto into the side of the wall. But, with the hard frame bestowed by Sage Mode, the warrior kept bouncing back, determined to find a quirk in the robot's moves and then a chink in its armor.

BAMMM!

Naruto slammed into the wall again, wedging deep.

"...I never thought I would see the day when Naruto is being driven back," Shion said in disbelief, the high expectations of her golden knight faltering.

"Ku-Kurama-kun," Hinata said with a frown without tearing her eyes away from the ensuing battle. "What's happening?"

"Mmm. In Sage Mode, Naruto's able to sense strong emotions — and, in battle, he's able to read his enemy's' movements because of this and respond accordingly. But, that lump of iron doesn't have any emotions, so Naruto's basically fighting blind — and that inexplicable flexibility it has isn't helping any."

"Oh, no!" Shion exclaimed. "Isn't there anything we can do to help?"

Kurama frowned. Of course, Naruto could simply use a clone to control the robot's recoil, subsequent to an attack. But, from the looks of it, he had a hard time dealing with the Raikage. He's worn out again, and even a single clone could have him collapse...

The princess tried to reassure herself with the fact that Naruto wasn't being greatly harmed — but they were in a foreign land; who's to say what madness could unfold as this confrontation prolonged. "I know Naruto-kun would be able to defeat it if he used Ninjutsu... but I guess he's concerned it might cause a cave-in."

Kurama's eyes narrowed. "He's holding back his punches, too."

"Eh? But why?" Shion asked.

"If the impact is too strong, that machine could end up smashing into the wall and causing a cave-in. Then, forget undoing the seal... we'd be dead."

Shion cringed.

Hinata started dismounting her designated guardian, a frown descending above bright crystals. "Likewise, if the force is too weak, then that thing has a better chance to avoid being hit — and, even if Naruto-kun gets one to connect, it might not be enough."

"Hi-Hime — I was told to look after you..."

She smiled appreciatively at his kind words. "And I promised myself I would look after him..."

"Hm."

Naruto was engaged in a fierce exchange with his mechanized foe when Hinata intervened by blasting the robot away with a controlled air palm. The surprised sage pivoted his head around only to see his princess ambling into his company with a blanket of mist and sparkles of frost at her beck and call, slinking graciously at her feet.

Naruto's mouth opened to form the words of his mind, when the girl stopped beside him. But, as he watched her eyes fixed on the machine, he didn't brother to say anything. He bit back the words she would surely perceive as patronizing and watched the well-seasoned kunoichi leaned into a fluid arch for her Jūken Fist, her Byakugan set on the soulless fiend.

Protection of the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!

The sudden leap in the woman's chakra spoke to the hostility of her motives, but the robot couldn't move. Both its legs were frozen in place by a small but powerful pillar of ice, hindering its escape. Hindering its mission to protect and destroy.

Abruptly — during the brief moment it took for a droplet of water to drip from the ceiling to the ground — Hinata was there, razor sharp blades of ice equipped to her middle and index fingers to enhance her damage rate, as well as to pierce through the robot's thick shell. The princess was no technician, nor did she know about any forms of robotics — but, with her Byakugan, she identified and targeted any vital-looking circuitry and wiring with her first sets of lethal jabs.

And it was effective, too.

Already the robot was screaming "System Error! System Error!" with those flashing lights again.

With one final push to end her sixty-four jabs, Hinata sent the pile of scraps flying with Naruto intercepting its trajectory and staving a wide hole through the machine's frame with a powerful Rasengan, pushing the defenseless machine downwards into the ground and to a total halt.

CRAASSHHH!

The flashing lights gradually faded. And the gang could hear as its entire system powered down — a sign portraying their victory.

Everyone felt an unwelcome weight lifted from their shoulders, and it was marvelous... for however long it would last.

Shion watched as Hinata scooted toward Naruto with an innocent demeanor and worrisome eyes, querying if the handsome knight was without harm. Her breasts bounced gloriously as she came to an halt, and the priestess couldn't help but pout in jealousy. It was apparent to her now that she had let her guard down; she should have set out for Konoha the moment she got wind of Naruto's departure and endeavored to woo him.

She blushed at the thought.

The young maiden didn't know where she would have found the courage to accomplish such a nerve-racking feat — but surely she would have eventually found a way. Hinata certainly did.

With a sigh, Shion allowed her shoulders to sag and, with that, allowed the selfish thoughts to fade from her mind. From her linked-precognition, she could tell that the fate of the entire world weighed heavily on Naruto's success in his travel here. And there was something in this region that piqued her interest, too. Beyond the gloom of the cavern, the musky, humid air, the unseen pitter-patter of water, and the thriving ivy, Shion spied what appeared to be carvings on the wall.

Quickly dismounting a curious Kurama, the girl scurried off toward the markings, the haste in her strides drawing the attention of Naruto and Hinata who, in turn, accompanied her by the wall.

"It's allegory," Shion said in wonder, hastily pulling away the ivy and slowly tracing her fingertips along the carvings.

"Can you read it?" Naruto asked in a low tone, as if trying to refrain from waking some unforeseen force dwelling amidst them.

"Long ago, in the Land of Demons, there existed a race of people called the Lytharians. They were a gifted race — and, for many centuries, these people lived together in peace and harmony.

But, one fateful day, a lone wanderer — a scientist — stumbled across the village. He was dehydrated and famished, his clothes tattered and torn as he lingered at death's door. But, being a loving people, the Lytharians nursed the man back to health — rescuing him from a cruel fate.

And so, instead of continuing upon his journey, the scientist decided to stay with the people for a while, to show his utmost appreciation for their help. Using his gadgets, he simplified the people's manual labor — from household activities to those of the outdoors. There were those who thought the man's inventions and ingenuity were fascinating, while others labelled it as evil sorcery.

Even when the man had left — expressing his gratitude to the full of his abilities — the people still bickered amongst themselves. And, as time went by, the race segregated into two halves with one leaving the Land of Demons behind.

The people who remained considered training the body and mind in search of enlightenment, the true way of life... while the others who left had now deemed materialistic power the true way of life; they preferred the convenience that machines offered them.

And so, from that point on, they called their race the Exzzodians and eventually built a great city of lights called Exzzodia, to commemorate their newly established culture."

"So, this is Exzzodia we're trying to infiltrate, right?" Kurama asked as they all ambled down a narrow chamber.

"When I was in Sage Mode, I detected that this island is protected by two broad layers of barrier. We're in the final layer from the city right now, which is the strongest of the two, so I can't sense anything at all beyond this point."

"I can't see anything with my Byakugan, either," Hinata added.

"I'm not surprised," Shion said, looking passed the ivy to the old runes that were still etched in the walls around them. "The Exzzodians went through a lot of trouble to mask their existence from this world, especially from us. If it wasn't because of my destiny to help you, I wouldn't have had a precognition with the location of this place."

"Especially from us," Naruto reiterated with a slight frown of enlightenment. "I guess that confirms my suspicions. Shion — you're from the race known as the Lytharians, aren't you?"

"H-Hn!" she nodded.

Everyone's eyes widened with surprise.

"My mother and I were the last of the Lytharians — and now, it's just me. Along with the Uzumaki clan, the Lytharians were also a race that were feared for their powers, so most of us were killed throughout the course of the Great Ninja Wars."

Naruto tried to keep his expression even, but he clenched his fists in his sudden fury. "All the more reason why we have to be successful in what we came here to do." His eyes flashed open in Sage Mode. "And be quick about it, too." He sprang into a dash, using a combination of gut-feeling and his senses to lead the way.

The girls were already with Kurama and keeping pace with Naruto's speedy career. They followed his lead until the cavern around them broadened into an ominous labyrinth filled with many dark paths — but not once did Naruto stop nor stutter. He took every turn, every ascent, as if the right directions were programmed into the forefront of his mind.

All of a sudden, they were confronted with a dead end and the girls' felt a spell of anxiety unravel in their bellies. But Naruto didn't look worried — instead, he dispelled Sage Mode and took a deep, steady breath. And, in the same beat, Kurama's body dipped into a defensive stance, as when felines were confronted with danger.

"This is it, everyone!" Naruto announced with great certitude, tightening the straps of his forehead protector. "We don't know what to expect from this place, so everyone just stick close to each other, alright."

He casted Kurama a telling sidelong glance, reminding the deity of his solemn oath to protect Hinata, especially now that she was with child — and the Kyuubi heaved a wolfish grin, reassuring the shinobi his woman would be without harm.

"Hinata. Shion. Are you ready?"

"H-Hn!" the girls nodded with confidence.

And then Naruto was facing the wall again, a massive Rasengan forming in his hand. He was ready to pave the path to their goal, even if his diplomatic efforts failed and brute force was the only choice he was left to work with.

Hours Earlier

Northwest of Exzzodia: First District

"Sir — two more missions just came in from the cap'm commander."

The man heaved a long, unpleasant sigh and then veered his eyes to the side to look at his workaholic of a lieutenant. He supposed that was a beneficial trait for himself (less work) — but the kid really needed to take it easy and find himself a good woman to settle down with, while he was still young. In the long run, this line of work wasn't going to make him happy.

"Take it from me..." the man said unconsciously.

"Sir...?"

"Bring the mission's log up on the monitor," the man instructed with a tedious frown, looking straight ahead upon his conveniently projected screen.

Accompanied by the rest of his division, the captain and his lieutenant were individually mounted inside a massive, mechanical suit with a boxy, humanoid design and embellished with the city's emblem. Their arms and legs were set in sensitive holsters used to control that of the machine's — and the suit's frame was equipped with a vast array of missiles, lasers, machine guns and tracking equipment. This was one of Exzzodia's many cutting edge and state-of-the-art technology; their pride and joy.

The Mecha-Suit.

"Mmm." the captain frowned deeper, skimming through the electronic document.

Regardless, the lieutenant started summarizing. "Apparently, there was a momentary distortion detected in the barrier centered around the northwestern coastal area. The Commander's asked us to check it out."

"Keh!" another soldier exclaimed flippantly via the intercom. "The last time a distortion was reported, it turned out to be a sea turtle trying to enter our shoes to lay her eggs."

The captain looked to the lieutenant with a hint of annoyance.

"I just decided to brief everyone at once," he explained, poking his glasses.

The captain turned his gaze back onto his monitor. "Following the king's death a few days ago, there's been a lot of unrest in the city. This report may as well be another false alarm — but Kisaku's orders are absolute. Plus, I have a gut-feeling there might just be something more this time."

"In the next report," the lieutenant began. "We're to head to the First District and apprehend Takujin. Apparently — along with the news of the king's passing — he's using the mecha-suit as a bargaining chip in his efforts to persuade and rally up the people for a revolt. And, based on the Commander's sentiments, it seems Takujin has already made quite an impression on the people; hundreds have already secretly joined his little rebel campaign."

The captain heaved a wolfish grin in his excitement, eyes popped open with unyielding malevolence. Finally, something he could look forward to. "Curse that Takujin for keeping me in suspense all this time — but I suppose this is an ideal opportunity, what with the king's untimely death."

Suddenly, there was a loud commotion over the intercom; everyone was in high expectations for the impending battle.

"Is it finally time again for us to see the captain in action?"

"I'm definitely lookin' forward to that!"

"Hell yeah!"

"We've just been on patrol duty since recently. It's high time we get to see some bloody action!"

"It's strange, though..," the lieutenant started, and everyone quieted themselves to listen. "Why did the Commander take so long in deciding that we go after Takujin? I mean, he did manage to get his grimy hands on one of our suits in a clever ambush. We should've gone after him before things got so out of control."

"The real question is" — another soldier started — "why does the First District have to be the home of those who were exiled? Why does such disgrace and filth have to be in close proximity to the capital?"

"I agree," another man added sternly. "Shouldn't those dogs be deported from the city, or at least locked away somewhere they can't be seen?"

The soldiers couldn't see their captain's face, but they could sense the seriousness and criticality in the calmness of his tone. "You're speaking to a scenario that's been strategically devised."

"Whatddya mean?" Someone queried.

"The reason for the exiles' close proximity is to ensure that they can be closely monitored. Think about it: which social group in our society are most likely to rebel and cause a problem in the city?"

"That's the reality of the situation," the lieutenant agreed. "Plus, when we know exactly what they're scheming — like Takujin's endeavor to overthrow the kingdom — we can plan accordingly, foil their plans, and incarcerate them."

Sure enough, when the soldiers got there, Takujin was glued to his crudely crafted podium — giving his eloquent afternoon speech to his fellow people. The moment the colossal gates began opening with a thunderous growl, all those who had conformed to the man's words of encouragement to rebel, anxiously fled the scene for cover.

Takujin couldn't believe his eyes; all those long days of persuasion — gone up into flames. The cowards! What about their desire for freedom?

Knowing the tables had turned well beyond his control, the man scrambled to safety inside his stolen mecha-suit, fixated on his ideal of revolution. He didn't need the people — simpletons, cowards — by his side to achieve his goals. With his mecha-suite, he would single-handedly mow down the soldiers and claimed his own freedom. Or better yet, he would extract vengeance on the bastards and then ultimately seize the throne for himself.

Hoping to annihilate the entire division with a preemptive strike, or at least to cripple their forces, Takujin fired off a barrage of deadly missiles onto the advancing troops. The shockwave sent dust and debris flying for yards, and people ran and screamed in a spell of panic.

But, quickly responding by initializing an energy field, the captain was able to protect his entire unit from harm. And he didn't look none too pleased with Takujin's act of cowardice.

"Bastard!" one of the soldiers sneered, maneuvering his mecha-warrior forward. "I'll return those missiles triple fold!"

"Don't be so hasty..." the captain obstructed with an unfurled, mechanized arm. "This might be an asylum for sinners, but it's important that we avoid unnecessary casualties."

The man heeded his commanding officer and, with a snarl, looked around and noted that people were hiding at proximities all around Takujin. If he had launched an attack, the collateral damage would have been enormous.

"I'll take care of this," the captain said in a cool, telling tone, ambling forward in his heavy machinery. "There's more to this situation than just apprehending the target."

The lieutenant pushed at the bridge of his glasses with an index finger, and the lens shimmered as his eyes gleamed with sudden understanding.

Pulling a giant blade from the back of his mecha-suit, the captain ordered the man to be on his guard for projectiles while he engaged the hostile. But Takujin wasn't about to throw down his firearms and confronted the man with a blade of his own — no, he wasn't that of a noble fighter, especially under these circumstances.

Without hesitation, he launched another round of missiles but, this time, the captain was ready; he was well aware of the impending onslaught and was already on his toes in complete readiness. Quickly initializing boosters at his ankles and back, the man whizzed his machine fearlessly into the fray, effortlessly slicing through and destroying the rockets with nimble movements.

Takujin felt an unwelcome spell of panic, and that momentary spasm was all it took for the captain to close the distance between them in a flash.

"Stay back!" Takujin scoffed.

Skillfully bypassing the man's half-assed attempt at retaliating, the captain used his mighty blade to disengage the holster of rockets mounted on the bastard's shoulder — but not without evoking his wrath. Takujin responded with an enraged roar, and then followed up with the louder roar of a powerful machine gun.

The captain teased with a mocking grin, easing backward and rotating the machine's wrist within which it held the sword, deflecting the bullets with a propeller-like wall induced by the spinning weapon.

Once more, Takujin lost his nerve — and however fleeting the moment was, the captain was able to home in close enough to dismember that right arm equipped with the machine gun and then hovered into the man's blind spot to deprive him of his left leg, too.

Screws, pins, pivots and sockets flew forth like tiny explosions from the consecutive assault, and the people looked on in horror as the man they had slowly began to confide in gradually sunk into oblivion with all his glorious ambitions.

Takujin wasn't trying to retaliate from his trauma this time — or rather, he couldn't. He had already lost, and he knew the certainty of it, however deplorable the truth was. Capitalizing on his surrender, the captain began stomping on the chest plate of the mecha-suite with a menacing and boisterous guffaw, threatening to crush the man who resided there.

The people watched in dread as sparks gashed from the steel of the mechanized suit with each time the captain brought down his iron leg of justice — and, with each stomp, the steel cage came down closer to Takujin, threatening to crush him flat. His horror-filled howls echoed throughout the open field, haunting the helpless spectators and breaking their spirt, in return.

The captain ceased his relentless tormenting and stretched the hard features of his face into a devilish grin. "Listen well, you spineless pigs!" He announced bitterly, his tone acidic, venomous. "Despite the plans you may hatch... and no matter how much you squeal and squirm and band together, you'll never escape your sentence. You'll never leave this wretched place!"

Ashamed, dispirited, people began hanging their heads.

The captain then gestured to the spectacle of the capital's skyline above the lofty walls of the district, intent on breaking the people's spirt even more. "One of the reasons why we chose the First District to be your hold is because we want you traitors to be able look upon the sanctuary that was once your home, knowing that — despite how close it is — you'll never have a place there ever again.

Wrap up the rebel and let's pull out!"

The Gang's Arrival!

Eve & the Philosopher Stone!

"That was quite the demoralizing speech you gave there, Cap'm," one foot soldiers said with a hearty grin.

"More importantly," another soldier began, a hint of petulance in his tone. "Why do I get the feeling we're just on another wild goose chase, like a few months ago, with that Tortoise?"

"That would definitely be a pain," another man agreed.

Before the lieutenant could retaliate with a verbal assault to put both men in their place, they felt a sudden tremor and heard a muffled crackling and whizzing noise in the mountain adjacent to them.

Following the ominous sound came a loud explosion — rock, limestone and dust burst forward in a rush of destruction, then spilling out was Naruto, from the dark crevice with a spell of pizzazz that put the men on edge.

How could a human possess such power without the aid of a mecha-suit?

Just who — or what was he?

The Captain didn't intend to confine in mere assumptions. "You there — state your purpose!"

"By the looks of it, they must be the law enforcers in this country," Shion said ambling forward, along with Hinata and a miniature Kurama hidden in her jacket.

"That girl..." the lieutenant began, gazing upon the female with evident curiosity. "She shares a striking resemblance to the women of this land."

"And yet... I don't recall ever seeing her before," the captain replied, then looked to the trespassers and raised his voice and aggression. "I'll ask again: how did you come to find this place — and what is your purpose?'

"I've come to speak with your leader," Naruto informed with such confidence that it masked his humility and twisted the man's favor, in turn.

"Presumptuous brat! I don't know how you found this place, but you're in no position to seek an audience with our king, based on how you decided to enter our territory!"

Shion casted Naruto a wary gaze. He's definitely gotten stronger since the last time I saw him, but I see his communication skills are still lacking.

"I don't know what political strategies you've forged and brought to this place, but our country does not negotiate with outsiders... nor do we let them escape."

By this point, both the infantry and those in mecha-suits had surrounded the gang, and a breath of hostility suddenly arrested the atmosphere.

Diplomacy wasn't an option this time.

The captain frowned. "I can tell this kid possesses a threat based on the gaping hole he left in the mountain face, so our top priority is to get rid of him. As for the females, we can throw them in the First District with all the other outcasts."

Our hero's brows creased, the once calm blue of his oceanic eyes stirred into a wild storm. He didn't mind them attempting to "get rid of him" — but he was definitely aggravated by their intention to bring harm to his woman and unborn child.

"Hinata!" He called in a telling tone, leaping upward and spewing a flood of water from his mouth unto the rocky battlefield. By this point, Kurama had transformed into his second state and made off into the sky with Shion to avoid the raging tides.

Hinata frowned in pure battle-readiness. "Ice Release: Zero Landscape!"

At her will and command, a frigid spell of ice stretched out from beneath her feet, slithering like a serpent in all direction. It held fast to everything it touched — clinging to both man and machine alike. Perplexed and powerless, the men roared in their sudden predicament, bionic and organic legs frozen in cold ice.

"What's with this ice; I can't move!" a soldier complained.

"How is this sorcery even possible?" another man yelled.

"They must be using some kind of machine," a third man speculated, maneuvering his craft's pistol toward their source of imprisonment.

Before he could fire, a pack of ferocious wolves seeped upward from the ice, driving their fangs into the joints, gears, and electrical wiring of the soldiers' mega-suits, rendering the machines immobile, frozen and useless.

Naruto looked from the traumatized soldiers to Hinata. "Damn. I think the writer of this fanfiction made you a bit too overpowered, babe."

"You're not one to talk," she returned with a quiet cheekiness that made Naruto's lips stretched into an amused smile.

Shion pouted in jealousy.

In this particularly sensitive situation, the captain calmly leaped onto the ice from atop a boulder he had found refuge, breaking the thick sheet with the several mega tons of weight that was his personalized mega-suit.

"Cap'm!" the lieutenant called in a telling tone.

"I know..." the man reassured, slowly pulling his blade from its sheath. "The woman could be a great asset to our forces, if we can get her to conform. But we have to get rid of this kid first... no matter what."

With a speed that could potentially elude any eyes but that of a shinobi, the man initiated his boosters and practically teleported into the sky with blinding speed. Using the sun's glare as a cover in his wicked descent, he brought down his massive blade onto Naruto, intent on cleaving the warrior in two. But our hero wasn't about to succumb to such an unfavorable fate.

He raised his arm coated in almost indestructible chakra, shielding against the man's sharp and gigantic weapon. The force of impact echoed in an outward ripple — summoning a vicious gust that assaulted the troops like a steel wall, and a massive, bowl-shaped cavity opened around Naruto. But, while he descended into the indentation, by no means did his advantage sink with him.

With a cool and confident visage befitting our valiant knight, Naruto flashed his arm upward with superhuman force, flicking the blade from the hand of the bionic warrior that collided into the distant barrier and was immediately vaporized.

Following up, he slowly lowered his arm and fashioned his index finger into a pistol. Then, without hesitation, fired two consecutive rounds of high density water droplets just below the cockpit of the mecha-suit. The first round penetrated the hard-outer shell of the machine while the second utterly shattered its core, entirely shutting down the formidable giant.

It fell backwards, like an old door unfastened from its hinges. The sound of the hallow thud reverberated throughout the soldiers, leaving them horrified and in disbelief. They couldn't quite fathom the reality that their captain had actually lost in a fight.

It was unimaginable!

Naruto looked to Kurama who was now a few feet behind him, both Hinata and Shion secured on his back. "You guys are okay, right?"

They nodded.

"Curse you!" a soldier shouted. "How could you do that to the captain?"

"The captain has always been overwhelmingly strong and resilient in battle; there's no way you could've defeated him that easily!" another soldier charged.

"You must have used some sort of trick, you conniving snake!"

Without a word, Naruto summoned a massive frog that appeared with such an explosive entrance you would've thought it fell from a few hundred feet in the sky. The shockwave sent everyone flying and, finally, they were now quiet.

"The reason I could defeat your captain so easily is because I've fought a similar machine before." Naruto was talking to everyone, both the troops and his party. "I studied its movements and eventually found out what its weakness was —" he was pointing now — "the main power supply for these machines are just below the passenger compartment, isn't it?"

Everyone gasped in shock.

"So, that's why it looked like he was struggling..." Kurama murmured.

Shion smiled, impressed. "I suppose he concluded he would be encountering more of these machines, so why not uncover their weaknesses while he could."

Hinata heaved a proud smile.

For a while now, Naruto's eyes were fixed with that of the lieutenant's — the man was sneering at the young intruder, cursing him to death with his cold, dark gaze. But Naruto didn't concede to the man's malice; he sustained his nonchalance, even as he leaped atop the captain's downed mecha-suit and pulled the man from the confines of the cockpit with a single hand to his throat.

Almost instinctively, everyone jolted forward from the blast they endured before. No longer were they terrified by the massive amphibian that inexplicably spawned before them — not when they saw their captain's life in danger. But they all remained still when Naruto pulled a kunai from his pouch and held it steadily at the unconscious man's throat.

"You bastard!" the soldiers began hurling threats and insults at the shinobi.

But the warrior ignored them; lost in his silent communication with the man's lieutenant.

"Na-Naruto-kun!" Hinata called in disapproval; she didn't condone unnecessary violence. Just what was he planning to do?

"I highly doubt he intends to do anything too rash," Kurama reassured quietly. "I just think, at this point, this is the only language that they're going to understand."

Naruto carefully pulled his kunai along the man's neck, inflicting a small cut that immediately began to bleed. Then his eyes were suddenly dark and grave as he looked to the lieutenant. "I need answers..."

"Well, that was a waste of time," Naruto complained in a murmur, dashing toward the city with Kurama and the girls by his side.

Oblivious to the young warrior, however, was the fact that he was the focal point on a man's computer monitor. Cloaked in the darkness of his abode, the stranger pushed at his glasses with an amused smile and then tucked his hands into his lab coat.

"My research may bear fruit, after all..."

With the crisp, afternoon breeze whipping through her hair, Shion gazed ahead at the dazzling metropolis the Exzzodians had created. For a moment, she pushed aside the fact they were criminals — wanted criminals, as soon as word got out about the soldiers — and admired the mesmerizing home the ancient race had created for themselves.

In a quiet corner of her heart, she was a tad disappointed they had flourished this much after abandoning their homeland. She was happy they had thrived upon leaving — but did that mean they were correct in their analogy about the importance of material things? What about training the mind and body for enlightenment — did that ultimately led to the destruction of the Lytharians... and her mother?

"Amazing..." Hinata exclaimed, pulling the girl from the slithering tentacles of depression. "I've never seen anything like this before — as opposed to our tiny village, the buildings here are made from concrete and different types of metal, as opposed to wood and bricks."

"Sure, their technology is amazing," Naruto began. "But have you realized there are no walls that entirely extend around the city? I'm starting to wonder if that's good or bad."

"Why would they need a wall around the city, when they have such a powerful barrier around the entire island?" Kurama added.

Naruto frowned. "If they were smart enough to build such a grand city, then, surely, they were smart enough have a secondary line of defense, too. Just in case their barrier failed... which it has."

Hinata started to feel a bit of anxiety. "Now that you mention it — with each step closer we get to the city, the more trouble we've encountered: the robot, the soldiers. I don't want to imagine the power of the machines they have protecting the inner-city halls."

Considering that horrid thought, the gang looked ahead at the alien but brilliant architectural designs that was Exzzodia, and couldn't help but lose themselves in the obscured spectacle. Each grey, lofty skyscraper had its own unique look and each meticulous detail spoke to the technical prowess of Exzzodian technology.

Straight ahead of them was supposedly the only region of the city secluded behind a wall, and engraved in red were the words: "First District". Closer observation by Hinata revealed a domed-shaped structure fenced within the walls, forged entirely of another transparent energy barrier.

Noting that the gigantic door in the wall was tightly closed, the gang made their way vertically up the side of the wall with Naruto zipping through the barrier with a lethal Rasengan. They all slipped inside before it regenerated, and safely hid behind a tower of rubble, before they were spotted by alerted folks.

"I understand these people secluded themselves for over a century but, to think their society would be so... undeveloped." Kurama looked around with a frown.

As far as the eyes could see — cluttered across the plain — where kilometers of garbage and other wastes, stacked into tall heaps. And, amidst those heaps where crudely crafted tents and shanties that housed many people.

The residents appeared far less fortunate than the environment — most were garbed in clothes tattered and torn by time, their bodies emaciated in their malnutrition, eyes dark and dreary from the desolate void in which they were held captive.

Naruto spoke, but he kept his head straight, silently peeved by the people's suffering. "Kurama... it's not what you think. Why do you think I took the risk of breaking in here? This isn't one of the cities treasured districts; this is a prison for criminals and outcasts."

Shion's eyes quivered. "So, this is the place the soldiers were referring to..."

Naruto's grip tightened so hard around the plywood he was gripping, it burst underneath the pressure. "What the hell is the government thinking?"

"Naruto-kun..." Hinata called, her voice pacifying. She rested an attentive hand over his. "I know this upsets you. It upsets me, too — but don't forget why we came here..."

"Hinata's right," Shion agreed, blinking her eyes closed and turning away from the tragedy before her. "There's so much we don't know about this place, especially about the Exzzodian's technology; we can't afford to complicate things any more than we have already."

Naruto sighed, the tension fading. "I don't plan on doing anything irrational, but we do need to get some information to have better navigation of this place."

Hinata was already using her Byakugan to scout the inner walls and the grounds of the district. "I don't see anyone resembling soldiers..."

"If they're confident no one can escape, then there's no need to spare any troops to stand guard," Naruto informed, nodding at Kurama when he transformed and hid inside Hinata's jacket. "Let's try to get some answers..."

With a leap of faith, the gang took to the open plain without any forms of disguise, trying earnestly to win someone's attention and persuade them into sharing information with them — better yet, they wanted to meet who was deemed their leader. But the people were skeptical about disclosing even a puff of breath in the strangers' company, however polite and honest they seemed.

Eventually, the crowd parted... hesitantly, anxiously, as a blind, elderly man stepped forward to meet Naruto and his party. His brows were white and bushy — a hand fast to a wooden cane he used for support.

Apologizing for his people's less than hospitable welcome, the man then turned to Shion with a peculiar gesture. He was peering at the girl through his mind's eye, silently connecting the spiritual signatures that affiliated the girl to his gene pool.

"Rest assured everyone," he said after a while. "These people can be trusted."

It was visible in the people's demeanor as their anxiety lifted. Some continued with their daily routine while others continued to linger; not readily convinced nor enthused.

Shion frowned, gazing at the man with obvious curiosity — and Naruto's sentiments were exactly the same. Sure they truly meant no harm, but how could this old geezer be so sure?

"I might be blind, but I've gained something else in return..."

"I'm grateful that you believe us, but you're not making any sense, Old man," Naruto charged impatiently.

But the man simply smiled. "We might have separated ourselves from the Lytharians long ago, but the power of the bloodline came with us, as well. Unfortunately, the power wanes with each new generation — and I am one of the elderly few who still possesses a fickle of the ancient power.

Come with me," he instructed quietly. "There was a confrontation here a while ago, and the soldiers might come back at any minute."

"Are these the soldiers you're referring to?" Naruto asked, summoning his massive amphibian partner once more that spat the men to the ground inside the large tent they stood within. The troops were all bounded together by a single rope and perfectly gagged to keep them quiet. They were smeared with frog saliva to boot.

Ugh.

The elder and his attendants gasped in bewilderment.

"...Just who are you people, exactly?"

"As you might have surmised," Shion began. "We're not from this country; we're all from the outside world and have come to Exzzodia in search of something. My name is Shion, and I'm from the land of Demons."

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto from Konoha."

"And my name is Hyūga Hinata," the princess smiled politely. "It's nice to meet you."

Kurama eyed the man warily.

Flattered, the old chief offered a slight bow to the gang, but to Shion in particular. "It's an honor to have you here in our presence, my lady. Here in Exzzodia, it's treason to conform to any religion or even speak about or practice the teachings of our ancestors.

But, since we're already in isolation, I would be delighted if you would share the old teachings of the Lytharians with me. I've always been curious, ever since I was a child."

Shion smiled a wanly smile. "I'm happy that you feel that way... umm—"

"Oh dear me, my apologies — my name is Tier."

"Tier — while I would enjoy sharing tales of my village with you, unless we urgently attain what we came here for, there will no longer be a world for us to converse in."

The man was evidently perplexed. "Whatever do you mean?"

Hinata's eyes were suddenly sorrowful and pleading. "On the outside, there's a world war taking place between the Five Great Shinobi Nations and an evil organization called Akatsuki. There are powerful and influential forces behind this dark organization, and their ambition is to alter the very reality of the world.

Unless we find what we're looking for, we won't be able to shift the tables in our favor throughout the final chapter of the war."

"In that case —" the man began with a small smile — "why don't you all remain here until the war is over? Exzzodia's barrier is impenetrable — and, what's more, the island cannot be seen. As an oppressed old man... that is all I'm capable of offering."

Kurama's eyes fixed in a nasty sneer, and his snout puckered open as words entered everyone's mind. "Keh. If this island was perfectly beneath the radar and its barrier, impenetrable, then how did we get here? I'm sure Naruto could easily destroy this whole country with a simple Rasenshuriken."

Tier and his attendants were flabbergasted.

Hinata looked to Kurama in bewilderment. "I'm sure what he meant to say was: nobody will be safe once Akatsuki decides to get serious."

"Grandpa Tier," Naruto called, his cool, silky voice winning everyone's attention, even the tied-up captain and his crew. "Before, you said you're in isolation — what exactly did you mean by that? What is the First District?"

Hinata's eyes quivered in understanding.

And Tier heaved a sigh. "District One is a prison," he admitted quietly. "Everyone who are convicted with a crime are inevitably sent here."

"But I've seen children and the elderly out there!" Naruto exclaimed angrily, his heart pounding a vicious tune in his chest. "What exactly did you do?"

"...If the convicted has dependents who doesn't have any other caregivers, then they are automatically sentenced, as well, whether it be children or the elderly. Exzzodians treasure convenience above all else — and the government supports this ideal, as well. It's like a religion here."

The gang gasped in shock.

Naruto had his head down, his teeth gritted, his fingers curled into trembling fists. He was vivid. His heart was on a rampage — blood pumping fast and hot through his veins. But, before he could explode with his fury, Hinata lunged at him, curling her tiny arms around him tightly.

"Na-Naruto-kun," her voice was muffled in his chest. "I know you're upset, but you have to think about this entire situation as a whole; if Madara gets to have his way, the people living here are going to suffer either way."

Naruto clasped her arms in his blinding rage, and he all but broke down when he felt her quivering helplessly against him. She was angry, too — and, at the same time, terrified of what could possibly become of her new family, if they were to fail in their trails here.

Naruto felt like an imbecile. How could he allow himself to become so out of control and distant, when she was looking solely to him for hope and equilibrium?

The warrior wrapped his arms around her, pulling the dejected princess into the comfort of his chest. "Grandpa Tier — what can you tell us about a deity that's sealed here?"

The captain gasped in utter surprise, but he didn't allow anyone to catch wind of his suspicious response — nor the fact that he was trying to activate a hidden communicator in his clothes using his well chiseled chin.

Tier pulled at a bushy eyebrow that completely covered his eye. "I have been in this world for many moons, but I'm afraid I have no knowledge of what you speak. The only information I can impart with you is that, Sir. Ragnus — king of Exzzodia, passed away little over a week ago and his daughter — princess Lucari, went missing a few days after.

Perhaps someone with a royal lineage could provide the information you seek. If you find her, just mention my name and she might be willing to corporate."

After instructing the man to look after the soldiers with the promise of freeing them upon his return, Naruto and the gang departed from the First District onward toward the distant capital. There they hoped to find the princess and acquire the information they sought. But already, on the outskirts of the asylum, they were being pulled into another chapter filled with disaster and peril.

Extending out and beyond was a rolling plain with a profusion of greenery, valleys, mountains and a sparking river that twined all the way down to the barricaded prison. Then, beyond the horizon boasted the veiled skyline of the capital city.

Becoming one with the trees to mask their travel, the gang soon stumbled upon a most shrilling cry. It was coming from behind some brush amongst the undergrowth, and as the wails continued, they noted it was suspiciously close to that of a baby's.

Alarmed, Naruto and Kurama leaped from the canopy of the trees and cautiously proceeded toward the rustling bush. But, the moment they got within ten feet of the sight, a mechanical creature swiftly fled from the spot with a bloodied sheet in its jaws. It was a wolf, and it sounded like an infant was wrapped up inside the material.

Without hesitation, Naruto gave chase after the accursed fiend as the nerve-wracking wails continued. But the creature had no need for a scuffle; it focused on retreating — slipping through hallowed tree trunks and bolting through undergrowth as the gang gave hot pursuit.

But, when Hinata summoned a few chakra-forged lions to aid in the chase, the mechanical creature pushed forth a miniature machine gun from a compartment in its back and began firing at its pursuers with alarming accuracy.

Naruto and Kurama evaded.

The lions were hit, but quickly regenerated and ensued their chase, biting and clawing at the creature's hard, cold structure. But that didn't slow it down.

"Naruto-kun, be careful!" Hinata said as he fashioned his hand into a familiar pistol. "The shockwave from your Rasengan could harm the baby!"

"Which is why I'll use water instead of the Rasengan," he reassured, even as he focused on his aim in between the machine's irregular movements.

PIZZOOM!

The water projectile missed its target and pierced clean through a tree and buried deep into the ground. "Damn!"

"If you're going to put that much power behind them, just ensure that you don't hit the wrong target," Kurama warned.

But, no sooner had the telepathic words left his mind, than the water bullet made impact — bursting a massive hole through the creature's mechanical body. Almost immediately, it began short-circuiting, gearing up for an explosion.

"Naruto!" Shion exclaimed.

"Na-Naruto-kun!" Hinata called.

He was already in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, seemingly teleporting with a mesmerizing golden streak toward the gashing robot. In but a microsecond, he had rescued the supposed child in the sheets and made for safety up a neighboring tree.

Simply awestruck, Shion looked up at the courageous warrior — his victorious grin, his perfectly chiseled jaw line, his silky, oceanic eyes. His brilliant glow almost overpowered that of the sun behind him, and Shion was breathless.

"Why is he glowing like that — and... when did he move?" Shion said in wonder.

"It was when Naruto-kun learned how to control the Kyuubi sealed inside him, that he attained this new power..." Hinata enlightened quietly.

Kurama heaved a wolfish grin. "At this point, we're not quite sure just how powerful Naruto has become — but he's definitely surpassed Hokage level."

Shion gasped in astonishment, gazing up at the dazzling knight once more.

"Guys — I think we've been had," Naruto said with a frown, holding up a tape recorder that he recovered from the bloodied sheets.

While Hinata, Shion and Kurama exchanged their thoughts as to what the situation could mean, Naruto turned on the limb he stood and spied a mansion sitting on the summit of a high hill outside the forest.

Curiously, cautiously, they made their way to the chateau — even more on edge when the double-doors mysteriously screeched open for them. As if they were coaxed by an invisible force, they entered the foyer of the edifice, despite the perils that could be lying in wait inside.

There was only pitch black darkness. But soon a series of lights flickered on to illuminate a hall with a red and brown color scheme. Hung on the walls were creepy wallpapers and tapestries of the human anatomy — and about and around where manikins with their organs bizarrely revealed.

"Welcome-Welcome, Honored Guests," a man said by means of introduction, a perfectly fashioned smile hiding the malice behind his words. He began descending the main staircase from the second floor. "I'm Dr. Yokotsue, and I am the owner of this humble abode."

The gang were on the offensive.

The man raised a gloved hand in an effort to dismiss their worry, his white lab coat complementing the frame of his glasses. "There's no need to be so uptight; I mean you folks no ill-will. I'm but a harmless scientist with a hopeless level of curiosity."

"So, I'm guessing you're the one behind that wild goose chase just now?" Kurama said with customary scorn dripping from his words.

With penetrating eyes, the man looked to the Nine-Tailed Fox perfectly tucked away in Hinata's jacket. "That's a very fascinating specimen you have there," the man mused. "I have many drones scanning the outside world and documenting its wildlife — but never have I seen this creature."

"Cut to the chase, Old Man," Naruto snapped. "Why did you lead us here?"

Hinata frowned. She was ready at a moment's notice to seal the man inside an icy tomb, if he threatened to harm them.

Yokotsue was but three flight of stairs from them now. "I'm the head of research here in Exzzodia — and I am also partly responsible for security." He touched his glasses, centering his attention on Naruto now. "The barrier protecting the city... it derives its energy from a power plant designed and built with high-end technology, as well as ancient magic devised by the Lytharians. Together these energy sources are also responsible for powering the entire country. I'm more than surprised you could make your way past it."

Shion frowned, perplexed. "But I was told practicing the ancient arts here in Exzzodia was forbidden?"

The man smiled, descending the final set of stairs to join them. "I'm a scientist; I wouldn't allow something as trivial as a conceited law to hinder my research.

Naruto. Hinata. Shion. In light of your daring venture into this isolated land, I feel that I must give you all a tour of my laboratory. Perhaps the unprecedented presence of foreigners is exactly what I need to dispel this brick wall I've encountered in my work."

Hinata's frown deepened.

"...How do you know our names?" Shion asked in a spell of surprise.

"So, I wasn't just imagining things, after all," Naruto began coolly. "From the moment we left the cave, I felt that we were constantly being watched — but I just couldn't decipher where those pair of eyes were coming from."

Emotions of shock and excitement flickered over the man's face — and he was gazing at Naruto again, adjusting his glasses. "From the moment you lot set foot inside this barrier, I had a pair of sophisticated aerial drones monitoring you from a few hundred feet in the sky. To think you were able to sense it from that distance..."

"If your drones have been following us around and you even know ours names, then I'm guessing you also overheard the reason why we came here." Naruto was shrewd, crude, and in a hurry.

The man tucked his hands into his pockets. "Unfortunately, I have no intel in regards to what you seek. But, come — I'll show you around my lab, nonetheless."

"Naruto-kun," Hinata called in a hushed tone. "What should we do?"

Shion and Kurama were looking at him curiously now.

Our Golden Knight blinked his eyes closed for a moment, considering his options. "I think we should take him up on his offer," he decided. "We might find some clues inside while we're on the tour."

"Splendid!" Yokotsue gave out exuberantly.

With a gleeful bounce in his strides, the old scientist guided the gang behind the wide staircase in the center of the hall, where they came across a large bookcase with a vast collection of various encyclopedias. With evident familiarity, the man tilted a book backwards on the fourth shelf, which acted like a switch for the piece of furniture to slowly withdraw to the right with a prolonged grumble.

It was a secret door — and it quickly revealed a hidden chamber.

Heightening their senses, the gang followed the eccentric philosopher into the poorly lit room. They were expecting an old, rundown and dusty basement with half-made and failed experiments. But, when the man used a voice command to have the lights automatically switched on, their negative expectations abruptly took a turn up north — Positive Avenue.

The lights came on in tandem down the line with a mechanical echo, dimly highlighting a long path ahead of them — it looked like a futuristic railway tunnel with bright neon lights casting a rusty splash of olive and aquamarine shade on the metallic walls.

Descending a long flight of stairs, they eventually entered an enchanting chamber with a vast expanse of space. It was as if they had suddenly entered into an alien realm far away from home — and it was far larger than the man's mansion above ground.

Soft neon lights were all around — some fading in and out of brightness. A spooky mist hung from the pitch blackness of the ceiling, and strange machinery, capsules and large tubes and cables were everywhere. The most breathtaking was the architecture — every arch, curve, twist and parallel design seemed as though it held a meaning greater than just mere stability. There had to be something cryptic and mysterious here... something that every mind but Yokotsue's, could not comprehend.

As the man toured them throughout his personal haven, he began telling them about his research and what his current project entailed. From the barriers to the robots, Yokotsue's forefathers were solely responsible for all the sophisticated pieces of machinery in Exzzodia — and it was he who refined them to their current glory. He also collaborated with the architects for the current design of their grand city.

But the man wasn't content. In a nutshell, instead of mechanized suits of armor that men could wear and control, he wanted to create an artificial intelligence. It was evident through study that men are flawed: they make mistakes and are swayed and distracted by feeble emotions. Artificial intelligence wouldn't make mistakes — nor would they hesitate or be compromised by the limited capacity of the human mind. These AI Warriors would take care of all the highly dangerous and unsavory tasks that would normally traumatize or over-exert the average man.

Finally, Yokotsue came to a stop before a colossal platform housing a massive orb-like structure. The curious piece of machinery was radiating a tremendous amount of energy and fenced amidst a ginormous oak tree that also glowed and sparkled with life.

The gang sighed in astonishment.

"I can sense tremendous spiritual force emanating from that tree," Shion uttered quietly, gawking up at the marvel before her, feeling some inexplicable sense of familiarity and reverence.

Yokotsue's face was cast in shadow, and he pushed at his glasses ominously, looking at the curious woman before him. "I expected no less from a Lytharian that still practices the sacred arts," he returned slowly, amused.

For a moment, Hinata felt that the man's hospitality deteriorated a tad and, she held herself at the ready, her chakra perfectly molded and held steady to burst forth upon her reckoning.

"I can feel it, too," Naruto agreed with Shion, and then he looked to Yokotsue demandingly. "What is this — and why did you bring us here?"

Turning to face his curious tourist, the man raised his arms, backing what appeared to be his most prized invention. "This amazing piece of technology behind me is a high-end generator called Eve," the man explained with smug pride. "It's a combination of science and ancient magic from the Lytharians — the orb absorbs solar energy from the sun while the tree harnesses energy from the earth. Together, they have been powering Exzzodia and the barrier around it for over a century.

But, unfortunately... as powerful as Eve is, she isn't powerful enough to regulate enough energy to fuel my AI Warriors."

Naruto wasn't enthused. "You've only answered one of my questions."

"Indeed," Yokotsue replied, his features hardening. "...How goes the war?"

Naruto's eyes narrowed to almost dangerous slits.

"District One. Didn't it ever occur to you that you could enter that high-level penitentiary far too easily? That's because I personally disabled the security systems, in order to lure you further into the city. I absolutely needed to meet you."

Naruto's sentiments hadn't changed.

"Naruto. I know what you came here seeking — but, I assure you, you've been misled. If there was anything of the sort here, I would know. Instead," he began enthusiastically, as though the young shinobi would be grateful for the fickle of hope he supposedly introduced. "Why don't you and I form a pact; you help me... and I help you."

Naruto was listening.

"The only thing preventing me from giving life to my AI Warriors is the availability of energy."

Everyone looked to Eve, and Yokotsue followed their eyes.

"Sure, this generator harnesses a vast amount of power — but it's only enough for the barrier and the city's fundamental resources, such as electricity and a source of running water for the people. If I diverted any of that power, even for a second, the barrier would be compromised.

But you, Naruto... I've been monitoring your power output since you got here and, quite frankly, I've never witnessed anything like it before. If you were to share your chakra with my robots, I could have them help you to dissolve this world war that's taking place on the outside."

"Kurama," Naruto called instructively, and the Kyuubi was already out and transformed into his secondary stage, prompting the girls to mount him. "With all due respect, we didn't come here for your help nor your opinions; we were led here by your conniving wolf. And we've wasted more than enough time already."

The gang turned to leave.

Without so much as a peep, Yokotsue took a few strategic steps back; withdrawing up a few stairs of the platform. He was wearing a lean grin, the bright glare upon his glasses concealing the treachery in his dark beady eyes.

Right then, there was a muffled click and a clunk — a sudden shifting and turning of gears below the meshed floor. A few feet before Naruto and the gang, a steel canister pushed forth ominously from below — and steam gushed from tubed valves as the hatched door began sliding open with an automated hiss.

A row of four cold, metallic fingers gripped the side of the capsule. And what slowly scrambled outside was, of course, not a man but a machine. Its anatomy eerily resembled that of a human without skin — the details of its synthetic muscles and veins clearly outlined. Its eye sockets were black and empty, like a soulless void. And, inside its chest was set a large red stone.

Hinata already had her Byakugan activated and the temperature in the immediate area began to drop. But Yokotsue didn't flinch.

Naruto was nonchalant. "Are you sure you should be exposing its weakness like that," he said raising both arms resembling a pistol. Then he fired, targeting both Yokotsue and the heart of the abomination that just surfaced from the meshed floors. But, upon hitting its target, the projectiles proved ineffective.

The conniving scientist heaved a mocking and contemptuous laugh. It was obvious now that he was hiding behind a barrier generated by Eve. "I said I didn't have enough energy to power my AI Warriors — that doesn't mean I couldn't supply enough for just one. Meet P29001 — he's a prototype, but despite how strong you think you are, I know he'll be enough to persuade you to join me."

In his confidence that the shinobi would be brought to his knees — overwhelmed by the might and raw destructive power of his awesome creation — the man prompted his guests that, inside the robot, was a jewel called the philosopher stone. It was an accursed source of power and paranormal anomalies that even he could not comprehend. But, at the very least, he could program the stone as a renewable source of fuel for his mechanical warrior — and it generated an almost impenetrable shield, as well.

Secretly analyzing Naruto's chakra capacity through a scanner installed in his glasses, which he's been doing from the very moment they met, the man watched in amusement as the robot assimilated its target and geared up for a lethal charge.

His legs apart, a battle-ready arch in his back, Naruto clapped his hands together and kept his eyes locked on the emotionless machine before him. "Hinata. Shion. Hold on tighter than you've ever had before," he instructed coolly. "I'm going to destroy that thing in an instant and bust us out of here. Then we'll charge straight for the city; I think the world being on the brink warrants some level of extremity."

"Whenever you're ready!" Kurama exclaimed, exerting his fiery chakra. His legs expanded and became taut with strength and his claws pierced into the thick metal ground. The girls' hair and clothes fluttered in the rising energy, but they clung fast to their furry mount as instructed, their eyes fixed on their orange knight.

WOOOSHH!

Naruto transformed into his Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, brightening the dark abyss with his radiant form. Then, almost instantaneously, he was mere inches away from the vile machine, shoving a Rasengan into its chest plate in an effort to destroy the philosopher stone. But the barrier it constructed was indeed proving indestructible.

"Chou... Ōdama Rasengan!"

Was all Naruto said and the sphere grew more than a hundred times its original size, threatening to shave through the robot's fleeting existence — but the philosopher stone was absorbing the sphere's chakra faster than it could deal damage. However, as soon as Naruto realized what the stone was doing, he snapped open a few of his restraint capacitors and effortlessly wrecked the mechanical fiend. Then he quickly followed up by catapulting into the air, like a bullet, tearing through both the ceiling of the laboratory and that of the mansion — paving a path toward the city.

And Kurama followed suit with the girls in tow.

"Tch! After them!" Yokotsue roared his frustration, dispatching a few dozen aerial drones to capture his humanoid source of power.

The trees and brush blurred into an endless wall of green and brown as the gang careered toward the city's capital. But still the drones were hot on their tail, firing projectiles coated with neurotoxins to incapacitate them in their tracks.

Naruto leaped high, turning his body just enough to throw his arm forward — launching a chakra-forged limb behind him at the drones perusing them. He successfully downed a few, and then a few more falls to the ground with a loud explosion as miniature chakra-based arms branches out from the first one, like wild roots.

Hinata followed up by using her Air Palm, decimating a batch of the machines that flew in single file. Shion decided to pitch in with a helping hand, as well — demonstrating her growth as a priestess by erecting a transparent barrier between two trees and obliterating the remainder of the mechanical pests.

"Way to go, Shion!" Naruto exclaimed with a wild grin, dispelling his transformation. Then, suddenly, his eyes flashed forward and he slowly came to a cautious halt.

Kurama stopped, too; sensing exactly what he did.

Without a word, Hinata abandoned her mobile fortress and made her way beside her alarmed knight, her field of vision already stretching out ahead of them. "...Someone's there," she verified quietly, her eyes unswerving even as Naruto asked why she had dismounted Kurama. "I have to protect my family, too."

He allowed a small grin, but then his face hardened as the suspicious figure a few yards ahead stepped from the concealing shadows of the trees and met with their curious gaze.

The wind gusted.

Then all was quiet.

The man's sunglasses flashed and then he started bolting monstrously toward them with a whirlwind of dust behind him.

Naruto frowned, his eyes ablaze as he raised his arms defensively. But the man with taffy-colored skin simply came to an abrupt stop in front of Hinata.

No one else mattered.

"Waah gwaan, baby!" He said sweetly as a means of greeting, holding the introvert's hands in his own, gazing into her nervous eyes through his dark shades.

"Ehhh?" Naruto squeaked incredulously.

Shion and Kurama's eyes popped.

Hinata broke out into a sweat. "Wha-What did you just say?"

"My bad. My bad," the stranger said stepping backwards, combing a hand through the silver weaved locks atop his head. "I tend to speak in tha' slang of my home country, when I'm excited," he admitted with an embarrassed grin.

"Teme!" Naruto snapped, chibi-rized, stepping in between him and Hinata with a flair that got the man's attention. "Who the hell are you? Are you one of Yokotsue's cronies?"

"Translation: "What's up, Baby!" He responded to Hinata's question. Then he was looking over Naruto's shoulder at Shion. "Raw-tid!" He exclaimed. "She's pretty fine, too. Y'know dis cud be tha' start of a beautiful harem."

Without warning, Naruto delivered a thunderous right hook in his exasperation. But the man defended by raising his forearms into an X — though, the blow was powerful enough to have him skidding a few feet backwards.

He looked menacingly through the crook of his arms.

"We don't have a moment to lose, but I won't be content unless I smack the shit out of this guy. Besides," Naruto's eyes were shrewd, his warrior's spirit flashing with silent hostility. "It's best he doesn't know which direction we're headed."

As if the sensation was contagious, the man slowly lowered his defense and assumed an offensive stance, his dark eyes burning behind his concealing shades. Faded and accentuated with an artistic design, the hair at the side of his head was dark brown, while that atop his head was dyed silver and done in tiny braids — silky locks that flowed down to his back and held together by a yellow, green and black band. And he was wrapped up in long hooded cloak.

"Challenge accepted."

Naruto took off, careful the fasteners were properly secured to the canisters that was his monumental power — sure, he was being challenged. But he didn't want to push too hard and deal irreversible damage to his opponent.

PERFECT BLOCK!

He obviously decided too soon.

The mystery man effortlessly blocked his customary Punch of Pure Recklessness with some alien form of martial arts. Then, in one fluid motion, Naruto received a back hand to the ribs and then thrown onto the ground upon his back with an iron fist dropping dangerously fast toward his face.

Decisively, he squirmed away from another direct hit, bringing up his legs in a successive string of kicks — then he was on his hands with a full air-flare of legwork. The dark stranger blocked them all, and then leaped backwards to avoid the final round of the three-hundred-and-sixty-degree assault.

He grinned, thrilled. Naruto was, too.

By this point, they had clearly read each other's motives through their initial clash; neither one of them meant any harm. But they were already caught up in the rush of their manly duel. Nothing would stop them now; they had to end what they started.

Naruto charged in again, using no weapons or chakra. And the man did the same, leaving his dual blades sheathed upon his back. They exchanged a barrage of fierce punches and kicks. There were aerial dynamics and freestyles in their effort to maintain perfect offense and defense.

Finally, our golden knight got him on the ground, and his fist came down like a jackhammer, shattering the earth where the man was but a microsecond ago.

Still rolling on the ground to make space between them, the man pushed to his feet and gathered his bearings, guard up. And his adversary was already there, smiling... always smiling. The shinobi was getting faster and stronger — no, it was he who was slowing down. Naruto hadn't broken out into a single sweat, and his punches were undeniably getting heavier, more refined.

Suddenly, amidst the heated battle, Naruto spied a disgruntled frown upon Hinata's round face. Just that fleeting instant of distraction costed him a punch square in the face. It sent him flying at Kurama who broke his fall with a wall that was plush nine tails.

And Naruto was still smiling, now grinning apologetically as he cupped the back of his head and approached Hinata.

She began scolding him.

Lost in thought, the man looked from his fist to Naruto with a mixture of incredulity and awe. Sure, he didn't coat his fist with his power, but he gave everything he had into that one punch... and yet, the stranger behind him didn't seem phased in the least.

Just how wide was the gap between them?

"Yo, Mad Dawg," he called out to Naruto melodiously as he ambled toward them. "Where're yuh ahead?"

"Haah?" Naruto turned. "Mad what?"

"It's jus a harmless expression, man," he clarified hurriedly. "More importantly, I wanna know where dis place is located."

"What do you mean?" Shion started as Kurama ambled closer to them. "Aren't you a citizen of Exzzodia, as well?"

"...Exzzodia?"

"...Who are you?" Naruto asked with a frown.

"Tha' name's Damion," the man returned coolly. "I'm from a small island called Jamaica — nevva heard of it, I'm sure. Long story short: I wuz abducted by aliens a few years ago, 'an brought to a planet called Giggas to fight in a tournament. I've been tryin' to find my way back home 'an was recently caught by a sorceress 'an trapped in dis dimension."

Kurama's expression was weary. "...After learning about Edo Tensei, I'll believe anything, at this point."

Naruto looked like his brain was run over by a steamroller and left for dead. "Okay, I think you're gonna need to run that by me a second time... but with less fiction."

"That'll have to wait," Kurama interjected tellingly. "It looks like the mad scientist had more scrap metals lying around."

Hinata was already remounting their canine safeguard, and they watched as Naruto's brows furrowed in his growing annoyance. It looked like he was weighing both the rationality and morality of destroying this entire stretch of land, including Yokotsue's mansion and his collection of inhumane monstrosities. But it was just a fleeting thought.

"Tink I'm gonna tag along wid you guys," Damion announced suddenly, directing his hand toward Naruto, curling under his fingers. "If only until I can wrap my head aroun' everyting dat's happened up to dis point. Exchangin' fists tells you a lot about a fellow warrior, 'an I feel dat I can trust you, bro."

Considering the truth of it, our orange knight turned so that they could both bump fists. This man wasn't a Jinchuuriki or supposedly even a native to their world, but he reminded Naruto so much of Killer Bee — not the fact that they were both black but, rather... both men a certain charm and vibe about them.

It was peaceful and nostalgic.

Exzzodia. It was going to be an interesting experience in this foreign country.

Naruto grinned.

Heavy boots stomped along the cobblestone streets as dozens of soldiers bustled about in search of the reported fugitives that had invaded. They were tightly garbed from head to toe in slick leather suits and gadgets. From artillery, communicators, remote controls and visual equipment, they were strapped for every occasion. They even had a folded digital monitor on their chest, which also acted like buffet proof vests.

"So... is it really true?" a new recruit asked his supervisor, who was knelt and busy checking coordinates on his chest-monitor. "Has someone really broken through the barrier?"

"I believe so," the man replied without taking his eyes off the monitor screen. "I don't think HQ would've deployed so many troops, if this was just a drill." He frowned. "And these people must be crazy-ass strong, if they were able to break through the barrier."

Unsuspecting to the men were the pair of curious ears that were propped up and tuned into the conversation that was taking place. But, the moment a lieutenant-class soldier appeared with a more well-rounded sense of awareness, the silhouettes quietly vanished from the dark alley within which they hid.

"You two!" the lieutenant called commandingly. "We have a fix on the fugitives' location! Let's go! Let's go!"

Flipping his monitor shut, the soldier kneeling down quickly pushed to his feet and then all three men made haste in joining the marching crowd as they hurried to the source of their city's turmoil.

Tragedy at Exzzodia's Palace & Princess Lucari's Desperate Plea!

Naruto and the gang have been under attack since their travels along the outskirts of the city, and even more so once they had arrived within its heavily guarded walls. Exzzodia's grand capital — this was where all their answers slept, and perchance even that of which they ultimately sought, as well.

Countless drones were still hot on their tail, and they had gone through many cleverly organized blockades amidst the streets. Quite a few soldiers gave chase, too — some perched on building tops manning their snipers, firing electrified nets and pellet-rounds at the alleged criminals.

But shinobi were not easy targets, especially the glorious golden warrior. Naruto was causing mountains of damage to Yokotsue's stock of drones with his Rasengan Refile — Hinata with her Air Palm, Kurama with his pyrokinesis, Shion with her flexible barriers, and Damion with his electricity.

The soldiers saw that, too — which resulted in the mecha-suits being deployed, and in great numbers at that. Sure, they posed no serious threat against our powerful party — but having to deal with that many machines would've been time-consuming. And time was an element they couldn't afford to spare.

Magnificent skyscrapers designed with gold, silver and chrome towered in tandem along the busy capital streets — architectural wonders that held the gang's eyes in prolonged enchantment. And Hinata, Shion and Damion couldn't help but sigh their fascination. But snipers were targeting them from the upper story windows, cutting their amazement short.

Crowds of people screamed and bolted to safety as Naruto and the gang desperately forged ahead. And then, finally, a ray of light!

Beyond a mountain of crystal stairs and the outer greenery of an orchard, they could see the outline of a prestigious edifice — surely that had to be the palace; no other building quite compared to its regal radiance and the precious metals with which it was adorned.

But, looming at the threshold of the stairs, was another effectively devised blockade with layers of armed soldiers backed by men geared in mecha-suites. An equally fierce force was advancing from behind, too — and, sure enough, there were also hordes of Yokotsue's drones in the mix.

The gang was being flanked on all sides in a clever pincer attack, and Naruto was getting desperate. But, just when it seemed all hope was lost, a pair of individuals wrapped in a dark cloak and a mask called out to them from a narrow alley. Having nothing to lose, Naruto led his party to be guided along by the mysterious duo.

The soldiers quickly gave chase with their hand guns, rifles, and swords at the ready. They flooded the alley and frantically explored the curbed route until they came across a statue of the late king, along with two other pathways that they swiftly divided into.

Uzumaki Naruto. Hyūga Hinata and Shion of the Lytharians — these were Code One criminals of the highest rank. These intruders were highly dangerous and urgently needed to be detained, questioned and perhaps executed, to prevent further panic and distraught among the people.

They would be hunted down for as long as it would take!

Kurama frowned as the lack of oxygen and the musky smell of clay tackled his faculties to no quarter. "Where are we?" He already felt a need to retrace his steps and face the soldiers instead of this underground hell.

"There is an underground tunnel beneath this stoned statue that can lead us to a safe haven," a male voice reassured quietly. "Worry not, the soldiers do not know of this hidden passageway."

"Wait," Naruto called, just as calm and collected. "Who are you?"

Hinata's neatly cut brows descended over crystalline eyes. She was on guard, ready at a moment's notice to defend her man.

"Forgive me..." a small, feminine voice rose from the other stranger in front. "We will have a proper introduction once we make it to the safe house."

Naruto thought about that for a while, weighing the honesty of the female's formal tone and the elegance of her voice. "Alright. Lead the way."

With a tinge of unrest, the gang followed their supposed saviors throughout the underground labyrinth until, finally — a velvety wave of fresh air greeted them at its exit, and light streamed into the cave as they strode forth to freedom.

Before them was a beautiful oasis with a wondrous variation of blue and green hues. It held and mesmerized its spectators, but curious eyes soon veered to the small circumference of land around them that nurtured a profusion of greenery and plant life. And, even farther beyond, they realized they were within the confines a most interesting rock formation. The wall of rigid bedrock towered roughly eighty feet high and completely encircled the patch of land. But, at its peak, there was just enough opening to allow a measure of light inside.

Without a word, the woman removed her mask and pulled back the hood from her head to reveal flowing blonde hair, and blinked at Naruto with undeniable sincerity and truth. "I apologize for the secrecy up to this point." She bowed her head repentantly. "Forgive me."

"My deepest apologizes, as well," the man followed suit, revealing his identify — well, not that the gang had the foggiest clue who they both were.

Biting back her fears, the girl pressed a hopeful hand to her chest and held Naruto's gaze with quivering, orchid purple eyes. "My name is Lucari — I am the princess of Exzzodia."

"And I am, Ekodae... the family's personal butler," he said graciously, folding himself into a respectful bow.

Shion frowned with obvious incongruity. "What is the princess of a country doing all the way out here, without her vassals and guards?"

"More importantly," Naruto began coolly. "How does the princess get off helping an alleged band of fugitives?"

The young lady looked around nervously; there was so much to say and so little time. She didn't know where to start.

"Princess," the man rested an attentive hand on the girl's shoulder, as if hoping the contact would rinse away her anxiety. This was something they both decided; it didn't make sense to hesitate now. "Why don't we continue this conversation inside. I will brew us some hot tea."

No more than fifteen summers old, the agitated teenager looked to the small cabin beside the oasis and nodded her head in agreement.

Hinata's cheeks brightened with color as she deeply inhaled the sweet fragrance of jasmine. "Ah. This smells heavenly. Thank you..."

"I am glad you like it," Ekodae's big puffy beard twitched as he smiled. Then he joined everyone around the rectangular mahogany table in the middle of the room, looping his index finger around the handle of his teacup.

Shion and Damion were enjoying the hot beverage, too. But, Naruto, on the other hand, had already gulped down his share in the prize and was busy on his feet from the heat the liquid induced in his belly. "Damn, it's hot!"

He was restless. And Lucari watched him with apprehension, knowing well she couldn't keep him without answers for much longer. Even if these people accepted their warm hospitality, it could only be a matter of time before they revealed their evil tendencies. And Ekodae shared the princess's distress in this.

With unsettling familiarity, Naruto unzipped his jacket with a sigh of relief. Then he was pacing up and about, as if he owned the place. Sure this hideaway was beautiful, but it wasn't properly ventilated.

"If you do not mind my asking... what are your names?" Ekodae invited quietly.

"Tha' name's Damion," the newest addition to the gang announced first.

"And my name is Shion. This jasmine is deliciously brewed."

"Thank you."

"My name is Hinata." The Kyuubi popped its head out of her jacket. "Oh. And this is our lovely guardian, Kurama." She smiled.

An arrow suddenly pierced the princess's heart — hot, delightful, intoxicating. He is adorable! She beamed, but quickly shook the creature's adorableness from her mind and steeled her nerves to face the one she found most threatening...in more ways than she wanted to admit.

"Uzumaki Naruto," our hero began with a nonchalance that deceived his impatience. "Thanks a lot for helping us out before. This place is definitely different from the outside world — the buildings, the gadgets, the weapons... I've never seen anything like it before." His face hardened with resolve. "Even so, we have to retrieve what we came for... no matter the cost."

The Exzzodian princess bit her lower lip. "Is it true... that you have been searching for the deity that resides here in Exzzodia?"

Naruto nodded in confirmation, his oceanic eyes curious and disarming. He was suddenly non-verbal when the topic was so important, but then who needed words when you had mesmerizing and soul-stripping eyes like his?

Lucari's eyes quivered.

He was a peculiar and distracting presence, the princess thought, looking down shyly as she tucked loose curls behind her ear. Suddenly, he was much too close beside her, as if he had hovered to close the space between them. She could see the "thick-enough" slabs of muscle that bunched and moved under his black shirt — and, through his jacket, she could tell the fabric clung to his shoulders, chest and arms, as if tailored to fit him perfectly.