Chapter 4: The Holy Grail, the World's Nicest Monster, and a Very Troublesome Future
Illyasviel von Einzbern
Somewhere in the snowy forests surrounding Fuyuki City stood an enormous castle. Its towers pierced the grey winter sky, its ancient walls were decorated with elaborate carvings, and its halls were large enough to make even the wealthiest noble feel slightly inadequate.
It was the sort of place where fairy tales usually began.
Unfortunately, Illyasviel von Einzbern wasn't living in a fairy tale.
Unless, of course, you counted the ones where the princess was destined to become a human sacrifice.
In that case, congratulations! She had practically won the lottery.
Illya sat beside a tall window, watching snowflakes drift lazily toward the ground. Her long white hair fell over her shoulders, contrasting beautifully with her crimson eyes. She wore a collared purple shirt, a matching scarf, a white skirt, and purple boots.
She looked like a girl of ten.
She was considerably older than that, though appearances were rather unreliable when your family specialized in manufacturing artificial humans.
Illya was a homunculus.
More specifically, the Einzbern family's greatest achievement.
Unlike most homunculi, she had been born naturally to loving parents. Unfortunately, being born into a family of magical researchers came with certain disadvantages.
Like being treated as a tool.
Or having your entire existence dedicated to a ritual that would eventually kill you.
Minor inconveniences, really.
"The war will begin soon," Illya murmured.
Standing behind her was a giant of a man whose muscles probably had muscles of their own.
Heracles.
The legendary Greek hero.
Currently employed as a Berserker-class Servant and personal bodyguard to a girl who barely reached his waist.
"I wonder what my little brother is like," she continued. "What do you think, Herc?"
Heracles responded with a low rumble.
Illya looked over her shoulder.
"That's not much of an answer."
Another rumble.
She sighed dramatically.
"You're terrible at conversations, you know."
Heracles remained silent.
At least he was consistent.
Illya returned her attention to the snow.
Her little brother, Shirou Emiya, was somewhere in Fuyuki City.
She hadn't met him yet, but she knew enough about his existence to feel a rather complicated mixture of curiosity, jealousy, and resentment.
Her father had left her behind.
And Shirou had received the family she had wanted.
Why?
It was a question she had asked herself countless times.
Had her father stopped loving her?
Had she done something wrong?
Or had there been something about that boy that made him more important?
Illya hugged her knees.
She wanted answers.
She also wanted to meet Shirou, although she hadn't quite decided whether their first meeting should involve a friendly greeting or an extremely large Greek hero.
Perhaps both.
That seemed fair.
Her eyes drifted toward the phone lying beside her.
Now, there was another mystery.
Earlier that morning, she had witnessed something extraordinary.
An unfamiliar rectangular device had appeared through a distortion in space and merged with her phone.
No incantation.
No magical circle.
Not even the slightest indication of a familiar summoning ritual.
It had simply appeared.
Which was exactly the sort of behavior that made any reasonably intelligent magus suspicious.
Illya had considered several possibilities.
A magical artifact.
A trap.
An assassination attempt.
Or perhaps some incredibly bored magician had invented a new way to irritate people.
She hadn't touched it since.
But curiosity was a powerful thing.
Especially when you were a girl who had spent most of her life surrounded by servants who couldn't hold a conversation.
"Herc?"
The giant turned toward her.
"If something happens, you'll protect me, right?"
Heracles answered with a reassuring growl.
Illya smiled.
"Good."
She picked up the phone.
Its screen illuminated immediately.
There was a new application.
Heroes Chat Group
"Heroes?"
That was an interesting name.
She opened it.
And discovered that someone had apparently decided to turn a messaging application into a personal library.
Hundreds of messages filled the screen.
Training instructions.
Diagrams.
Photographs.
Voice recordings.
And conversations between people with extremely unusual usernames.
Neo One for All.
Hybrid.
Ruin Princess.
Golden Vixen.
Grand Scholar.
Illya raised an eyebrow.
"These names are ridiculous."
Then she noticed another.
Lord Seventh.
The mysterious individual seemed responsible for most of the information being shared.
According to his messages, everyone in the group belonged to different dimensions, and he had created the network to exchange knowledge and help those who needed assistance.
Illya frowned.
Different dimensions?
That was a rather enormous claim.
Even the greatest magi couldn't casually travel between universes. Such feats belonged to the realm of True Magic.
And yet...
Her phone had appeared through an impossible spatial phenomenon.
Perhaps there was something to this after all.
She selected a voice recording.
"Hello, everyone! I'm Lord Seventh. This group exists so we can help each other. I know quite a few things, so if you've got problems, don't be shy about asking."
Illya blinked.
That was unexpected.
She had imagined someone with an ancient, terrifying voice. Perhaps an immortal sage who lived atop a mountain and spoke exclusively in cryptic riddles.
Instead, this fellow sounded remarkably cheerful.
Almost friendly.
More importantly, she could sense something extraordinary within his voice.
A presence.
The amount of energy behind it was difficult to comprehend, yet it carried no threatening intent.
For some reason, listening to him made her feel safe.
"He's nice," Illya murmured.
Heracles shifted beside her.
She glanced up.
"Don't worry, Herc. You're still my favorite."
The giant gave a satisfied rumble.
Or perhaps he was simply breathing.
It was difficult to tell.
Illya returned to the messages.
An idea had begun forming in her mind.
Maybe he can help me.
The problem, naturally, was payment.
Powerful magi rarely did anything without demanding something valuable in exchange. Illya knew that better than most.
Her own body contained generations of Einzbern research.
Perhaps she could offer its secrets.
The thought made her uncomfortable, but she wasn't exactly overflowing with alternatives.
Once five Servants died, the Holy Grail would begin taking over her body.
Eventually, Illyasviel von Einzbern would cease to exist.
She didn't want that.
She wanted to live.
She wanted to meet her brother.
And she wanted to find out why her father had never returned.
Taking a deep breath, she changed her username.
Holy Grail.
There.
Perfectly discreet.
Surely nobody would find that suspicious.
She began typing.
Holy Grail: Hello, Lord Seventh. It is an honor to be included in this group.
A reply appeared almost immediately.
Lord Seventh: Hello, little one! Nice to meet you. Need help with anything? I'm pretty free right now.
Illya stared.
Free?
Someone capable of manipulating dimensions apparently had enough spare time to chat with strangers.
Well, perhaps powerful people simply had very strange hobbies.
Holy Grail: I have a serious problem. I am a homunculus created to serve as the Holy Grail in an upcoming war. Once five Servants die, my body will begin transforming, and eventually I will die. I require assistance.
She followed the message with a voice recording explaining the Holy Grail War.
Servants were heroic spirits summoned from the Throne of Heroes and manifested as powerful familiars. Each was bound to a Master, and their abilities depended partly on the limitations of the summoning system and the magical energy available to them.
Illya explained the seven classes, the competing Masters, and the purpose of the ritual.
Then she waited.
Lord Seventh: Wow. That's an interesting system.
Her heart sank.
Interesting?
She had just explained that she was going to die!
Fortunately, the next message arrived.
Lord Seventh: But what they're doing to you is horrible. That's human sacrifice with a fancy name.
Illya blinked.
Lord Seventh: Don't worry, little one. I'll help. First, I need to scan your body to understand how everything works.
Just like that?
No demands?
No threats?
Not even a ridiculous magical contract requiring her eternal loyalty?
Holy Grail: You don't want anything in return?
Lord Seventh: I'll learn something from examining your magical system. Knowledge has value, doesn't it?
Holy Grail: That's all?
Lord Seventh: Pretty much. Besides, helping a kid isn't something I need a reward for.
Illya read the exchange twice.
She wasn't accustomed to kindness coming without conditions.
"Do you think he's telling the truth, Herc?"
Heracles looked down at the phone.
For a moment, the Berserker remained motionless.
Then he gave a quiet rumble.
Illya smiled nervously.
"I hope you're right."
She typed her answer.
Holy Grail: Okay. You have my permission.
Lord Seventh: Great! Don't panic when the scan starts.
Illya frowned.
"Don't panic?"
She looked at Heracles.
"Herc, I think—"
Golden light erupted around her.
"KYAA!"
Heracles moved instantly.
His massive weapon rose, his body shifted into a defensive stance, and the atmosphere trembled beneath the pressure of his presence.
Unfortunately, there was nothing to attack.
The energy simply surrounded Illya.
She stiffened.
Then her expression changed.
The light was warm.
Comforting.
Almost familiar.
It reminded her of something she hadn't experienced in years.
Being held by her mother.
Hearing her father's voice.
Feeling safe without having to worry about the next demand her family would place upon her.
Illya lowered her hands.
"Oh..."
Her eyes became wet.
Heracles watched the golden energy carefully. Whatever it was, it wasn't injuring his Master.
If anything, her body was becoming healthier.
Illya closed her eyes.
For a little while, she forgot about the Holy Grail War.
She simply enjoyed the warmth.
And on the other side of the dimensional connection, Naruto Uzumaki's smile slowly disappeared.
The Seventh Hokage
"She's just a kid."
Naruto's voice was unusually quiet.
Through the connection, he had seen fragments of Illya's life.
Her parents.
Her childhood.
Her years of isolation.
And the ugly circumstances surrounding her creation as the Holy Grail's vessel.
There were details the girl herself didn't understand, especially concerning her father's departure, but Naruto wasn't about to reveal them through a text message.
That was a conversation requiring considerable care.
"Something wrong?"
Kurama's voice interrupted his thoughts.
Within Naruto's inner world, the Nine-Tailed Fox was entertaining himself by manipulating several spheres of condensed energy.
Each sphere contained complicated reactions occurring on a microscopic scale.
Kurama had developed quite an interest in molecular manipulation and nuclear physics over the years.
Apparently, being a living mass of chakra wasn't enough for him anymore.
Now he wanted to understand exactly how everything worked.
"Another child caught up in something terrible," Naruto answered.
Kurama stopped his experiment.
"Can you fix it?"
"Yeah."
"Then do it."
Naruto smiled faintly.
"Already working on it."
Kurama examined the information flowing through their connection.
"Hmm. Interesting energy system."
"Right? It reminds me of chakra networks, but the principles are different."
Naruto studied Illya's Magic Circuits.
They functioned as a secondary nervous system capable of converting life force into magical energy. The circuits also connected their owner to Thaumaturgical Foundations, vast collections of magical formulae embedded within the world's supernatural structure.
To a magus, casting magecraft involved sending energy and instructions through those circuits.
To Naruto, the process resembled a particularly elaborate form of Fuinjutsu.
Only instead of placing every formula on a physical seal, the world itself carried the foundations.
"That's clever," Naruto admitted.
He examined how the foundations interacted with ley lines, geographical locations, and collective belief.
There were limitations, of course. Some forms of magecraft became less effective when performed too far from the foundations supporting them.
But the overall system fascinated him.
"Orochimaru would love studying this."
Kurama snorted.
"Please don't give that snake another reason to lock himself in a laboratory for six months."
"He'd enjoy it."
"That's what worries me."
Naruto chuckled.
He already possessed methods of creating artificial bodies that were considerably more efficient for his purposes. Shadow Clones and the techniques developed through years of experimentation offered advantages the Einzberns would probably consider miraculous.
Still, Magic Circuits could prove useful as an additional source of energy.
There was plenty worth learning.
First, however, he had a patient to help.
Naruto examined the mechanisms connecting Illya to the Grail.
His expression darkened.
"That's nasty."
The girl's body had been designed to surrender its existence as the war progressed.
What made the arrangement particularly disturbing was how carefully the Einzberns had engineered the process.
It wasn't an unfortunate accident.
It was intentional.
Naruto shook his head.
"Well, that's not happening."
Golden chakra flowed through the dimensional connection.
Complex Fuinjutsu formulae formed around Illya's magical pathways, identifying the structures responsible for maintaining her life and separating them from those designed to consume it.
Naruto combined his sealing knowledge with reality alteration, rebuilding the damaged and incomplete portions of her body.
He stabilized her Magic Circuits.
Corrected the abnormalities restricting her development.
Removed the fatal consequences of her connection to the Grail system.
And made sure that future changes in the ritual couldn't reverse his work.
A few moments later, the final seal settled into place.
Naruto studied the results.
Everything looked good.
Illya could live normally.
She could grow older.
And her body no longer had an unavoidable expiration date.
"Done."
Kurama glanced at him.
"You're going to give her something extra, aren't you?"
Naruto grinned.
"Naturally."
"Of course."
"She gave me valuable knowledge."
"You would have helped her anyway."
"Probably."
Kurama sighed.
"At least don't give her anything too ridiculous."
Naruto considered that.
Then opened several additional sealing formulas.
Kurama stared.
"Naruto."
"What?"
"That's not what I meant."
"Relax! I'm making sure she can protect herself."
"You're giving her enough protection to survive a nuclear explosion!"
"Exactly. Very safe."
Kurama looked at him for a long moment.
Then shook his head.
Sometimes arguing with Naruto was like trying to explain mathematics to a particularly enthusiastic brick wall.
Only the brick wall could warp reality.
Which made the whole experience considerably more frustrating.
Naruto continued.
He enhanced Illya's physical strength and durability, granted her control over numerous elements, and provided advanced illusion techniques powerful enough to overwhelm exceptionally strong minds.
He also established an automatic defensive system and enhanced her eyes with perception and analytical abilities resembling the Sharingan.
The gifts were integrated into her existing magical system, allowing her to use them naturally.
Naturally, he included instructions on controlling them.
After all, accidentally setting your bedroom on fire while learning elemental manipulation was rarely a pleasant experience.
Especially when your bedroom happened to be inside an ancient castle.
"Alright," Naruto said, checking his work. "That should do it."
Kurama inspected the completed modifications.
Then he closed his eyes.
"I pity the other Masters."
Naruto laughed.
"Hey, if a little girl can stop the war without getting hurt, I'd call that a success."
"You're impossible."
"Love you too, buddy."
"Idiot."
Ilya:
Illya opened her eyes.
Something was different.
She had spent her entire life aware of her body's unusual construction. Her Magic Circuits were far more numerous than those of an ordinary magus, and their activity placed a constant burden on her.
Now, however, everything flowed smoothly.
No discomfort.
No instability.
Not even the familiar strain that accompanied the operation of her magical systems.
She looked down at her hands.
"What happened?"
Her phone chimed.
Lord Seventh: All done! Your body's been repaired and stabilized. You can grow normally now, and the Grail can't sacrifice you anymore.
Illya froze.
She read the message carefully.
Holy Grail: You mean I won't die?
Lord Seventh: Not because of the Grail War. I've made sure of that.
For several seconds, she couldn't move.
Then her hands began trembling.
"I'm... going to live?"
Heracles watched her.
The little girl slowly raised her head.
"Herc."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"He fixed it."
Her voice cracked.
"I'm not going to die."
The giant lowered himself.
Illya threw herself into his arms, laughing and crying at the same time.
For once, Heracles seemed to understand exactly what she needed.
He simply held her.
After a while, her phone chimed again.
Lord Seventh: I also gave you some abilities for protection. Check the information package when you have time.
Illya wiped her eyes.
"Abilities?"
She opened the attachment.
And stared.
Physical enhancement.
Elemental manipulation.
Advanced illusions.
Automatic defenses.
Enhanced perception and technique replication.
"..."
She scrolled down.
Then back up.
Then slowly looked at Heracles.
"Herc?"
The Berserker tilted his head.
"I think Lord Seventh just made me ridiculously powerful."
She examined the explanations.
Her physical enhancement alone would allow her to survive an atomic explosion.
Her defensive system could withstand similarly devastating attacks.
And her eyes could analyze supernatural techniques with extraordinary precision.
Illya blinked.
"That's..."
She paused.
"That's completely unfair!"
A mischievous smile spread across her face.
Then, almost immediately, another message appeared.
Lord Seventh: Be careful with the dangerous abilities. They're for protecting yourself and others, not hurting people for fun. Start with the basic exercises before trying anything complicated.
Illya puffed out her cheeks.
"Hmph. I'm not a baby."
She glanced at Heracles.
"...Well, maybe a little practice wouldn't hurt."
Holding out her hand, she concentrated on the instructions she had received.
A tiny blue flame appeared above her palm.
Her eyes widened.
"Oh!"
The flame danced gently between her fingers.
Illya laughed.
"Herc, look!"
Heracles leaned closer.
She closed her hand, extinguishing the flame, then extended her other palm.
A small sphere of water formed above it.
"Wonderful!"
She manipulated the sphere into the shape of a little rabbit.
It wobbled.
Its ears collapsed.
And the whole thing splashed onto her skirt.
Illya stared at the wet fabric.
"..."
Heracles rumbled.
"Don't laugh!"
The giant's shoulders shifted slightly.
Illya narrowed her eyes.
"You're laughing, aren't you?"
Another rumble.
"Hmph!"
Despite herself, she giggled.
It had been a long time since she had enjoyed learning something without worrying about what would happen if she failed.
Her phone chimed again.
Lord Seventh: Remember, Illya. You're one of the heroes of your world. If you can stop that war and save people, then do it. Believe in yourself.
Illya's expression softened.
A hero?
She had been called plenty of things.
Homunculus.
Vessel.
Master.
But never a hero.
Holy Grail: I'll try my best. Thank you for everything, Lord Seventh.
She hesitated.
Then added another message.
Holy Grail: Thank you for treating me like a person.
The reply arrived moments later.
Lord Seventh: Of course you're a person, little one. Don't ever let anyone convince you otherwise.
Illya held the phone against her chest.
She didn't know what to say.
So, for once, she didn't say anything.
Instead, she looked toward the distant city.
Shirou Emiya was out there.
Her little brother.
She wanted to meet him, and now she could do so without the countdown to her own death hanging over her head.
Perhaps she could finally learn the truth about her father.
And perhaps, just perhaps, she might find the family she had been missing.
"Herc."
The giant looked down.
"We're going to Fuyuki."
A rumble.
"We'll find Shirou, and then we'll stop this stupid war."
Heracles straightened.
His enormous weapon rested against his shoulder.
Illya smiled brightly.
"And if someone tries to hurt us..."
The Berserker released a deep growl that made the windows tremble.
Illya giggled.
"Exactly!"
The Fifth Holy Grail War hadn't even properly begun.
Already, its balance of power had been thoroughly destroyed.
And somewhere in Fuyuki, several unsuspecting Masters were about to have a very unpleasant surprise.
Naruto Uzumaki — Konoha
"Well, that went nicely."
Naruto leaned back in his chair, looking rather pleased with himself.
Kurama sat on his shoulder in the form of a miniature golden fox.
"You're enjoying this too much."
"What's wrong with enjoying helping people?"
"Nothing. I'm talking about the smile you made while giving her enough power to flatten that castle."
Naruto chuckled.
"She'll be fine."
Kurama shook his head.
He had known Naruto long enough to recognize that this argument was going nowhere.
Instead, he glanced at the information gathered from Illya's world.
"That world's magical structure is unusual."
"Yeah. It's almost like the planet has its own supernatural operating system."
Naruto studied the dimensional data.
The interaction between ley lines, magical foundations, and the world's underlying laws suggested something considerably more sophisticated than an ordinary collection of magical techniques.
He wanted to investigate further.
Unfortunately, the chat group's current functions were somewhat limited.
Text worked.
Voice recordings worked.
Information packages worked.
But video?
Absolutely nothing.
Which was irritating.
Naruto had created a communication system capable of connecting entirely separate universes, yet the blasted thing couldn't manage a video call.
Somewhere, a technologically competent twelve-year-old would have found that hilarious.
Boruto certainly would.
Naruto frowned at the screen.
"I need to fix this."
Kurama looked suspicious.
"Are you going to experiment again?"
"Obviously."
"Should I warn Katasuke?"
"Not yet."
"That means yes."
Naruto laughed and stood.
His paperwork was finished, and sitting inside the Hokage's office wasn't particularly appealing anymore.
With a casual step, he vanished.
He reappeared above the Hokage Tower, standing in the open air with Konoha spread beneath him.
The modern city stretched toward the horizon, its buildings surrounded by parks, gardens, and carefully maintained green spaces.
Advanced transportation systems carried people between districts, while shinobi moved across rooftops with the same casual confidence their predecessors had possessed.
Naruto watched a group of children racing through a playground.
One tripped.
Another helped him up.
Then both immediately resumed their argument about who had won.
Naruto smiled.
Some things never changed.
High above the atmosphere, the planetary Fuinjutsu network maintained its silent watch.
Its defensive barriers protected the world from external dangers, while the rehabilitation system ensured that people approaching genuine acts of wrongdoing were intercepted before anyone could be harmed.
Those already responsible for crimes had received rehabilitation addressing the causes behind their behavior, with monitoring seals remaining until their recovery was confirmed.
The whole system reflected the philosophy Naruto had spent his life developing.
Understanding people mattered.
Helping them change mattered.
And prevention was considerably better than waiting until someone suffered.
His reality-altering technique, All the World's Good, had also made him absolutely immune to evil and corruption. Naruto had taken that precaution deliberately; he possessed far too much power to risk becoming corrupted by it.
He was satisfied with what he had accomplished.
Not because everyone obeyed him.
People were perfectly capable of making their own decisions.
He was satisfied because they could finally live without the constant threat of violence and war.
And he had done it without abandoning his belief in second chances.
Of course, peace presented another problem.
Naruto was bored.
Terribly bored.
"Maybe I should visit Gai-sensei," he muttered.
Kurama snorted.
"Last time you did that, you two spent three days arguing about whose training regimen was more effective."
"That was educational."
"You destroyed seven mountains."
"They grew back."
"Because you restored them!"
"See? No problem."
Kurama decided not to continue.
Naruto suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Right! Shika!"
His voice carried across the rooftop.
A shadow stretched along the ground.
A moment later, Nara Shikamaru emerged from it, looking as though someone had interrupted a particularly wonderful nap.
Which, knowing Shikamaru, was entirely possible.
"What is it now?"
Naruto clutched his chest.
"Shika, my friend! Such a cold greeting!"
"I've known you long enough."
"That's hurtful."
"Good."
Naruto grinned.
"I need your advice."
Shikamaru's expression immediately became suspicious.
"On what?"
"Something I've been working on."
"How troublesome is it?"
"Not troublesome at all."
Shikamaru stared at him.
Naruto smiled innocently.
"...Fine. It's a little troublesome."
"Of course it is."
"Come on. Let's talk somewhere private."
"Your office is private."
"Too boring."
"There's a meeting room."
"Even worse."
"Naruto—"
"Field trip!"
Naruto grabbed his shoulder.
Shikamaru had just enough time to realize something terrible was about to happen.
"Wait, you idi—!"
They disappeared.
A fraction of a second later, Naruto stood in the darkness of space, with the Earth shining brilliantly beneath him.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
Silence.
Naruto turned.
"Shika?"
His friend was floating beside him.
Unconscious.
"...Oops."
Kurama burst into laughter.
"YOU DID IT AGAIN!"
Naruto scratched his cheek.
"Maybe I moved a little too fast."
"You think?"
Shikamaru's protective seals had kept him perfectly safe from the environment, but they hadn't prevented the sudden acceleration from overwhelming his senses.
Naruto tapped his forehead.
"Wake up."
Shikamaru's eyes snapped open.
He looked around.
Saw the stars.
Saw the planet.
Then looked at Naruto.
For several seconds, he said absolutely nothing.
Naruto waved.
"Hey!"
Shikamaru took a deep breath.
"Are you trying to kill me?"
"Of course not!"
"Then WHY DID YOU DRAG ME INTO SPACE?"
Naruto shrugged.
"Seemed like a nice place to talk."
Shikamaru closed his eyes.
He counted to ten.
Then twenty.
It didn't help.
"Next time, ask."
"Sure, sure."
"And don't move so fast."
"No promises."
"Naruto."
"Fine!"
Shikamaru sighed.
"What's the problem?"
Naruto floated onto his back, folding his hands behind his head.
"I've connected with people in other universes."
Shikamaru stared.
"...You what?"
"Created a communication network connecting different dimensions."
"Of course you did."
Naruto explained the Heroes Chat Group.
Shikamaru listened with growing interest.
The ability to communicate between universes had enormous implications. Knowledge from entirely different civilizations could revolutionize technology, medicine, and supernatural research.
Not to mention the diplomatic opportunities.
And the disasters.
Knowing Naruto, there would definitely be disasters.
"So," Shikamaru asked, "what do you need help with?"
"Video."
"...Video?"
"Yeah. Text and voice work fine, but video calls don't."
Shikamaru stared.
"You created interdimensional communication, and you're upset because you can't make video calls?"
Naruto nodded enthusiastically.
"Exactly!"
Shikamaru rubbed his forehead.
Sometimes he wondered whether Naruto's greatest talent was overcoming impossible obstacles or making perfectly intelligent people question their sanity.
"Have you considered the Magic Lantern Body Technique?"
Naruto blinked.
"The Akatsuki technique?"
"Yes. They used it to project chakra-based images across enormous distances. Since your phones already establish a connection, you might be able to transmit a holographic representation through that link."
Naruto stopped floating.
Shikamaru continued.
"Or work with Katasuke. Convert the visual information into chakra-compatible data, then reconstruct it at the destination."
Silence.
Naruto slowly smiled.
"Oh."
Shikamaru immediately became wary.
"Don't."
"Shika..."
"Naruto."
"You beautiful genius!"
"Don't you dare—"
Naruto lunged forward and hugged him.
CRACK!
"ACK!"
Naruto immediately released him.
Shikamaru drifted backward, clutching his ribs.
"YOU BASTARD!"
Naruto winced.
"Sorry!"
"CONTROL YOUR STRENGTH!"
"Your healing seals are working, right?"
"THAT ISN'T THE POINT!"
Kurama was laughing so hard that he nearly fell off Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto gave his friend an embarrassed smile.
"Anyway, thanks! You're the best!"
"Naruto, if you leave me here—"
Too late.
Naruto vanished.
Shikamaru remained floating in the silent darkness.
Alone.
Again.
He stared at the empty space where his friend had been.
Then he looked down at Earth.
For a long moment, the genius strategist contemplated his life choices.
"...Troublesome idiot."
His shadow spread around him, forming a dimensional passage.
A moment later, he disappeared.
And somewhere in Konoha, Katasuke was about to receive a very enthusiastic visitor.
His afternoon was officially ruined.
----------------------
Shion and Hinata — The Dark Dimension
There were certain places in the universe that nobody visited voluntarily.
The dimension Shion Uzumaki currently occupied was one of them.
A blood-red sky hung above a landscape of broken stone. Dark energy seeped from cracks in the ground, and twisted creatures prowled through the shadows.
Some had too many legs.
Others possessed mouths where mouths had absolutely no business being.
And a few looked like someone had assembled several different nightmares without bothering to read the instructions.
Shion stood among them, perfectly composed.
Golden-white chains stretched from her hands, binding several monstrous creatures that had attempted to invade the human world.
The chains glowed with purifying energy.
The creatures struggled.
Then their corrupted forms dissolved, leaving behind concentrated spiritual essence.
Shion collected it.
"Honestly, don't you ever learn?"
A massive creature lunged at her from behind.
Without turning, she sent another chain through the air.
The monster struck the ground hard enough to create a crater.
"Rude."
A second pulse of purification reduced the threat to harmless energy.
Shion sighed.
"At least try being polite before attacking someone."
A portal opened nearby.
Hinata Uzumaki stepped through, dressed casually despite the rather unpleasant surroundings.
Her pale lavender eyes swept across the battlefield.
"Shion?"
"Oh, Hinata. What brings you here?"
"I was looking for you."
Hinata glanced at the remaining creatures.
"Are they still trying to cross into our world?"
"Unfortunately. You'd think they'd get tired of failing."
One of the monsters cautiously emerged from behind a boulder.
It spotted Hinata.
Then Shion.
It immediately turned around.
Shion raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, now you want to leave?"
A chain caught the creature before it could escape.
Hinata sighed.
"They certainly are persistent."
"At least they give me something to do."
Shion dismissed the remaining chains and dusted off her hands.
"Otherwise, I'd end up like our husband."
Hinata smiled.
"Naruto?"
"He's spending all his time playing with that phone."
Hinata giggled.
"I heard he made some sort of communication system."
"Yes. Apparently, he's talking to people from other dimensions now."
Shion shook her head.
"I thought he had discovered a powerful enemy when I saw how excited he was."
"Well, he does enjoy meeting new people."
"He enjoys causing trouble."
Hinata laughed softly.
"That too."
The two women shared an affectionate smile.
Naruto's tendency to become excited over new discoveries was familiar to both of them.
But they also understood why the chat group fascinated him.
For someone who had spent most of his life facing extraordinary challenges, their peaceful world offered very little opportunity for adventure.
And Naruto loved adventure.
He wanted to explore distant planets, discover unknown dimensions, and encounter opponents who could genuinely challenge him.
Unfortunately, he also refused to leave Earth for extended periods.
His family and the world's safety mattered too much to him.
Shion looked toward the dark horizon.
"He really wants to explore."
Hinata nodded.
"I know."
"Sometimes I wish he'd stop worrying so much."
"He wouldn't be Naruto if he did."
Shion chuckled.
"True."
A brief silence followed.
Then Hinata's expression grew thoughtful.
"Shion, can I ask you something?"
The priestess turned toward Hinata, noticing the seriousness in her voice.
"Of course."
"Have you seen anything about the future? About why Naruto refuses to leave Earth for too long?"
Shion's expression grew thoughtful.
She had attempted to examine that particular future several times, but something always interfered. It wasn't a simple matter of fate being uncertain. She was accustomed to uncertain futures.
This was different.
It felt as though something was waiting on the other side of her visions.
Something that knew when she was looking.
"I've seen fragments," Shion admitted. "Nothing clear enough to understand."
"Could you try again?"
Shion considered refusing.
Her instincts warned her against it, and when a priestess whose entire existence revolved around predicting disasters began having bad feelings about a prophecy, ignoring those feelings generally wasn't a brilliant idea.
Still, Hinata deserved an answer.
"Alright. But stay close."
Hinata nodded.
Shion closed her eyes.
Her spiritual energy stirred, spreading outward in delicate threads of white light.
At first, she saw nothing but darkness.
Then the darkness parted.
And she saw Earth.
Beautiful.
Blue oceans, green continents, white clouds drifting peacefully across the atmosphere.
For a moment, everything seemed perfectly normal.
Then the sky split.
Not from lightning.
Not from any natural phenomenon.
Space itself opened, and figures descended from the heavens.
Tall beings dressed in pale robes, their skin almost unnaturally white. Strange eyes observed the planet beneath them with the indifference of farmers examining a field ready for harvest.
The Otsutsuki.
Shion recognized them immediately.
Her spiritual energy trembled.
No...
The vision shifted.
She saw Konoha.
People walking through its streets.
Children playing in the parks.
Families enjoying their ordinary lives.
Then an enormous shadow fell across the village.
Something was growing.
A tree.
Its roots tore through the earth, spreading beneath cities, forests, and oceans. Its trunk rose higher than mountains, its branches stretching toward the heavens.
And everywhere its roots reached, life began to disappear.
Shion watched in horror as the world's chakra was drawn toward the monstrous growth.
The forests withered.
The oceans became lifeless.
Animals collapsed.
People fell where they stood.
She saw shinobi fighting desperately against the invaders.
She saw powerful techniques striking the enormous tree, only for its roots to continue spreading.
And above it all stood an Otsutsuki whose presence made the others seem insignificant.
A crowned figure.
The King.
Shion couldn't properly perceive his existence. The power surrounding him was so vast that her prophetic senses struggled to comprehend it.
It was as though she were trying to measure an entire universe with a ruler.
The King looked down at Earth.
Not with hatred.
Not with anger.
With indifference.
To him, the planet wasn't a home.
It wasn't a place filled with families, dreams, and countless individual lives.
It was nourishment.
Another world to be consumed.
And when its energy had been harvested, the Otsutsuki would simply move on.
Shion tried to pull away from the vision.
She couldn't.
Something held her attention.
The enormous tree bore fruit.
And the last traces of life vanished from Earth.
No laughter.
No voices.
No chakra.
Nothing.
Then the vision changed one final time.
She saw three children.
Leona.
Boruto.
Himawari.
The scene lasted only an instant.
But it was enough.
"NO!"
In the real world, Shion's body jerked violently.
Hinata immediately stepped forward.
"Shion?"
The priestess didn't respond.
White light erupted around her, illuminating the entire dark dimension.
Then her lips parted.
And the prophecy began.
Her voice was no longer entirely her own. It echoed with an unnatural resonance, as though the future itself were speaking through her.
"When the pale gods descend from heaven,
And the sky is torn by hands beyond the stars,
The earth shall become their garden,
And its children shall become their harvest.
"From the wounded land, the sacred tree shall rise,
Its roots shall drink the breath of every living soul.
The mountains shall crumble, the rivers shall fall silent,
And the green world shall surrender all that it holds.
"Upon the highest branch, the fruit of a stolen world shall bloom,
Beneath the gaze of the crowned one whose power spans the heavens.
He shall not come to end creation,
For creation is the feast upon which his kind survives.
"And when the final fruit is taken,
No mother shall embrace her child,
No father shall return to his home,
No voice shall answer another.
"The sun shall rise upon an empty Earth,
And not one soul shall remain to greet its light."
The final words rang through the dimension.
Then Shion screamed.
Blood flowed from the corners of her closed eyes.
Her spiritual energy spiraled out of control, and the ground beneath her feet began cracking.
"SHION!"
Hinata activated her Byakugan.
What she saw terrified her.
Shion's spiritual pathways were being overwhelmed by the strain of witnessing a future far beyond her normal limits.
Hinata caught her shoulders.
"Stop looking! Come back!"
She poured her own chakra into Shion, reinforcing the priestess's damaged pathways and severing the unstable connection to the vision.
For several seconds, Shion continued trembling.
Then the light vanished.
Her legs gave way.
Hinata caught her before she struck the ground.
"Shion!"
The priestess gasped for air.
Her eyes fluttered open.
For a moment, she seemed unable to recognize her surroundings.
Then she looked at Hinata.
And began crying.
"They're going to die."
Hinata felt her stomach tighten.
"Who?"
Shion grabbed her arm.
"Everyone."
Her voice broke.
"I saw the Otsutsuki invade Earth. They planted something, a terrible tree that drained everything from the planet. I saw people fighting, Hinata. I saw them trying to stop it."
She swallowed.
"Nobody survived."
Hinata remained motionless.
The prophecy's words echoed in her mind.
No mother shall embrace her child.
She thought of Boruto.
Of Himawari.
Of Leona.
Her hands tightened around Shion.
"Was it certain?"
Shion hesitated.
That was the terrible thing about prophecy.
A vision revealed what could happen, but understanding whether a future could be changed was another matter entirely.
"I don't know," she whispered. "But it was clearer than anything I've ever seen."
Hinata drew a slow breath.
"What about Naruto?"
Shion lowered her gaze.
"I couldn't see what happened to him. Something interfered whenever I tried."
That worried Hinata even more.
Naruto's strength was extraordinary. Their world had been protected from threats once considered impossible to defeat.
But this was the Otsutsuki.
And the King was something else entirely.
Shion shuddered.
"The one wearing the crown..."
She pressed a trembling hand against her chest.
"Hinata, I couldn't even understand his existence. The others were powerful, but he..."
She searched for the right words.
"He felt like a universe contained within a single being."
Hinata's expression hardened.
"Then Naruto needs to know."
"I don't want to frighten him."
"We can't hide something like this."
Shion looked away.
"I know."
A familiar voice interrupted them.
"I already know."
Both women turned.
Naruto stood several steps away, his expression unusually serious.
Kurama rested on his shoulder, his golden tails completely still.
"Naruto..." Hinata whispered.
He approached and knelt beside Shion.
"First things first."
His hand glowed with warm chakra as he examined her damaged spiritual pathways.
"You shouldn't force your abilities that far."
Shion managed a weak smile.
"You're one to talk."
Naruto chuckled softly.
"Fair point."
He finished healing the damage before helping her stand.
Then his expression became serious again.
"I know about the Otsutsuki."
Hinata looked at him.
"All of it?"
"Not everything. But enough."
He glanced toward the dark sky.
"They've been devouring worlds for an incredibly long time. They plant God Trees, harvest the chakra of entire planets, and move on to the next."
His voice hardened.
"And the King is powerful enough that even I have to be careful."
Shion frowned.
"You've encountered him?"
"Not directly. I've learned enough about him to know what kind of threat we're dealing with."
Kurama finally spoke.
"A universal-level being. And unlike the fools who destroy things simply because they can, this one has a purpose."
Naruto nodded.
"Exactly. The Otsutsuki don't want to erase the universe. They need worlds to exist so they can consume them."
Hinata looked troubled.
"Then Earth..."
"Is a valuable target," Naruto finished.
A brief silence followed.
Shion looked at him carefully.
"Is that why you've stayed here?"
"Partly."
Naruto folded his arms.
"I've built defenses around the planet, but leaving for too long when an enemy like that exists would be irresponsible."
He paused.
"And before either of you asks, no, I'm not planning to spend the rest of my life hiding from him."
Hinata almost smiled.
That certainly sounded like her husband.
Naruto continued.
"I want to know how strong the King really is, what the Otsutsuki are planning, and how to stop them before they get anywhere near Earth."
Shion lowered her gaze.
"But the future I saw..."
"Hasn't happened."
She looked up.
Naruto smiled.
Not his usual mischievous grin.
Something gentler.
"Remember what you told me years ago? The future isn't something we have to accept just because someone sees it."
Shion's eyes widened slightly.
Naruto rested a hand on her shoulder.
"You saw what could happen if we fail. That means we know what we need to prevent."
Hinata stepped beside him.
"And we won't let you do it alone."
Naruto looked at her.
She met his gaze without hesitation.
"You have us. You have Sasuke, Shikamaru, and everyone else. We're not helpless, Naruto."
Shion nodded.
"She's right."
Kurama snorted.
"And you have me, obviously. Someone has to provide the brains in this partnership."
Naruto turned toward him.
"Brains? You spent three hours yesterday trying to prove you could make an explosion hotter than the sun."
"That was scientific research!"
"You burned your own tail."
"It grew back!"
Hinata let out a surprised laugh.
Even Shion couldn't suppress a smile.
Naruto grinned.
"There. That's better."
Then he looked toward the distant horizon.
The Otsutsuki King remained a danger they couldn't afford to underestimate.
And Shion's prophecy had confirmed something important.
Earth could fall.
Even with all their power, victory wasn't guaranteed.
But that didn't mean the future was decided.
Naruto reached into his pocket and retrieved his phone.
Kurama noticed immediately.
"Oh, what now?"
Naruto examined the Heroes Chat Group.
"Just thinking."
"That's usually when the trouble starts."
Naruto chuckled.
"Maybe."
Across different dimensions, individuals with extraordinary abilities and completely unfamiliar systems of power were beginning to gather in the group.
Naruto had originally created it out of boredom.
Now he was beginning to recognize its possibilities.
Knowledge.
Friendships.
Allies.
People who might understand things that even he had never encountered.
Hinata leaned closer.
"What's that?"
Naruto smiled.
"Something that might help us prepare."
Shion raised an eyebrow.
"The phone you've been playing with?"
"Hey! I've been doing important research!"
Kurama rolled his eyes.
"That's what he calls it."
Naruto ignored him.
"But first, I need to get the video function working."
For several seconds, both women stared at him.
Then Shion sighed.
"Of course you do."
Naruto laughed.
And somewhere beyond the familiar stars, the Otsutsuki continued their endless search for worlds to harvest.
They had no reason to suspect that the Seventh Hokage was already preparing for them.
Which, considering Naruto's history of ruining the plans of supposedly superior beings, was probably going to become a very unfortunate oversight.