Here's @riojiyo131, your trusted writer.
You can now get early access up to Chapter 147 of Re: Naruto Uzumaki on my Patreon.
Up to Chapter 10 of Marvel: Star Wars System is also available on my Patreon. Each chapter averages 5,000 words.
patreon.com/riojiyo131
-----------------
The first 5 chapters of Marvel: Star Wars System are now available, completely free on my Patreon!
-----------------
"Well, we just have to kill Yomi and Mōryō's soul will disappear forever..." said Naruto as he moved further into the temple, his tone calm but firm.
Shion quickly stood up and ran after him.
For the first time in a long while, a faint smile appeared on her face.
"If Mōryō disappears..." she murmured softly, almost as if saying it only to herself, "...there will no longer be a need for a Priestess of the Land of Demons. I'll be able to leave that destiny behind... and live a normal life."
"What do you want to do when all this is over, crybaby princess?" asked Naruto, not bothering to look back.
Shion blinked, surprised by the question... and by the nickname. But a faint smile crossed her lips as she continued walking by his side.
Behind them, the rest of the group advanced in silence, alert to every corner of the temple. They didn't know what kind of traps or threats might be waiting.
Everyone walked with caution... except Naruto, who moved with total ease, as if nothing could touch him. And Shion, who trusted his strength blindly, followed him without hesitation, without fear.
"I have no idea!" Shion replied with a giggle, as if the mere fact of not knowing was liberating.
All her life she had known her destiny. Even before she could remember, she'd been told who she was, what she had to do, and how it had to end—as the Priestess of the Land of Demons, destined to sacrifice her life if necessary to seal Mōryō.
Her duty wasn't just to protect the world, but also to continue that cycle, to give birth to the next priestess, her successor, her own daughter, to inherit the spiritual power passed down through generations.
But now, for the first time, there was no marked path. There was no written duty for her.
And that... she loved.
"Maybe you could help me figure it out, Naruto..." she murmured, lowering her gaze and hiding the lower half of her face behind the long sleeves of her dress, as if trying to hide her blush as well.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, clearly catching the hint.
"Since when are you so nice...? And wait... did you just flirt with me?" he asked, almost amused.
Shion blushed even more, not daring to look at him. She hadn't expected him to notice so easily. Without saying another word, she slightly picked up her pace, walking a bit ahead, though never straying from his side.
Hinata and Reika exchanged a look, both clicking their tongues almost in unison.
Naruto barely managed to suppress a laugh.
It was obvious that seeing another girl throwing hints at him —and one as cute as Shion, to boot— hadn't sat well with them.
Both kept serious expressions, but Naruto knew them too well. Hinata was gripping the hem of her jacket a bit too tightly, and Reika had that dangerous glint in her eyes that appeared right before she did something impulsive.
They continued walking for several minutes through the inside of the temple, which resembled more a deep cave than a man-made structure.
Eventually, they reached a massive natural chamber within the mountain.
Everyone —except Naruto and Shion, who already knew what to expect— stopped, impressed by what they saw.
"The inside of the mountain is... completely hollow..." murmured Sakura, staring in awe at the walls covered in molten rock and lava formations.
"THIS IS AMAZING!! IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN A VOLCANO UP CLOSE!!" shouted Lee, utterly fascinated by the bubbling magma flowing nearby.
"I wouldn't focus on that..." warned Neji seriously, his gaze fixed ahead.
At the end of an elevated path, among rock walkways and connected platforms, stood the sealing altar.
But they weren't alone...
Sitting beside the altar was a man with long black hair, a neatly kept beard, and a worn tunic. His skin was pale, and his body trembled slightly as if even breathing took immense effort.
His presence radiated power... and decay.
"That's Yomi," said Naruto quietly, not taking his eyes off him. "He looks a lot like Orochimaru, don't you think?"
"Ugh... the resemblance is so creepy it gives me chills..." muttered Reika.
"His Chakra..." murmured Hinata, frowning as she activated her Byakugan. "It doesn't feel natural. It's like something... has latched onto his body. Something foreign to him."
"That must be Mōryō's soul," Naruto replied, crossing his arms. "Been saying it for a while now."
Shion, upon seeing Yomi —or rather, the body possessed by Mōryō— took a step back, swallowing hard.
Without thinking, she ran behind Naruto and clutched tightly to the folds of his cloak, barely peeking her head over his shoulder.
"Naruto, attack! Finish him!" she demanded, pointing at Yomi with a trembling finger.
Naruto rolled his eyes, letting out a silent sigh.
"Does this idiot think I'm a Pokémon or what...?" he thought with resignation.
"What are you waiting for?!" Shion exclaimed, urging him on. "Use that dragon lightning attack! Or the one with the electric hand, pierce his chest!"
Naruto slightly turned his head to glance at her out of the corner of his eye.
"Yeah, sure... let me grab my Pokédex first... Mōryō is an unknown Pokémon," he muttered sarcastically to himself, beginning to walk toward Yomi without much urgency. "I'm going, I'm going..."
Shion pursed her lips, unsure if he was mocking her or not, but decided not to say anything else... for now.
"Oh... how you've grown," whispered Mōryō, his voice deep and cold, resonating from Yomi's body as he locked eyes with Shion. "You look a lot like Miroku..."
"Enough talk," said Naruto, drawing his sword in front of Yomi/Mōryō.
The sharp blade gleamed for a moment before becoming wrapped in dancing flames as it left the sheath.
Naruto smiled confidently. Karin had done an excellent job replicating the abilities of the Kubikiribōchō and Hōki's Flame Sword.
Mōryō stared at him for a few seconds, then shifted his gaze to Shion, who was still hiding behind Naruto's back.
"Surrender," Neji interjected firmly. "You have no chance against us in your current state."
Everyone looked at him incredulously, even Hinata frowned.
"Neji-kun, I think it's better to just end him now," said Sakura.
Even Lee nodded in determination, unwilling to consider accepting his surrender.
After all, they all knew what Mōryō's return would mean for the world.
"I know..." replied Neji, shrugging slightly. "But it's the kind of thing you're supposed to say in these situations, right?"
"Following tradition... Any last words?" asked Naruto, raising his sword slightly as he stared at Mōryō.
Shion frowned at hearing him.
"Are you doing this on purpose to annoy me?! Just finish it already!" she scolded him, annoyed, still clinging to his back.
Naruto smirked, amused that she'd caught on.
"My last words...?" Mōryō repeated in a deep voice.
Suddenly, a thunderous, chilling laugh erupted from his throat, echoing off the temple walls.
"Die."
Mōryō's laugh cut off abruptly, and in that instant, hundreds of dark snakes burst from his body, lunging toward them like a living wave with sharp screeches and frenzied motion.
"He uses snakes too?!" exclaimed Reika, stepping back with wide eyes. "He's definitely Orochimaru's long-lost brother!"
"Watch out!" shouted Lee, leaping forward to intercept some of the creatures.
"Don't let them touch you!" warned Neji, activating his Byakugan.
Naruto raised his flame-cloaked sword, his expression turning serious. "Let's see if these vipers can withstand fire..."
A web of seals spread from Naruto's feet, extending like a spiderweb to completely cover the dark snakes... and Mōryō as well.
The creatures collapsed to the ground instantly, as if crushed by an invisible force, writhing without being able to advance even an inch. Mōryō, for his part, couldn't even open his mouth. He was paralyzed, trapped by the sealing barrier.
"Seriously, you're supposed to be a demon from another world?" Naruto mocked, crossing his arms. "This is literally the first thing they teach you in Fūinjutsu. The Light Rope Formation is beginner level... and you can't even break it."
The others didn't waste any time. One by one, they began destroying the snakes while they were immobilized.
Naruto, without further ceremony, stepped forward. He swung his sword in a clean, swift, merciless motion.
Yomi/Mōryō's head rolled across the floor.
Shion let out a sigh of relief, and a smile bloomed on her lips.
But the relief was short-lived.
From Yomi's decapitated body emerged a dark, chaotic energy—a thick mist of purplish-black color, writhing like living smoke.
It was Mōryō's soul.
For a moment, everyone held their breath.
"I ONLY NEED ANOTHER HOST!"
Mōryō's soul hurled itself toward Shion at high speed. "LET US BECOME ONE AGAIN, PRIESTESS!"
Shion took a step back, paralyzed, but before the soul could reach her... the bell tied to her waist jingled.
Clin...
A warm white light burst from her body, enveloping her like a shield. The dark energy slammed into it and was repelled.
Mōryō's soul shrieked, as if it were being burned by the very light that rejected it.
Naruto just scoffed, sheathing his sword.
"Pathetic."
But then, in desperation, Mōryō's soul changed direction abruptly and lunged at Naruto.
Naruto didn't move an inch, still with his arms crossed.
He watched it rush toward him like it was a minor nuisance. Mōryō shrieked in fury, trying to force its way into his body.
And then, it hit.
A barrier, created by Naruto, completely blocked the impact. The evil energy warped in the air, shaken by the rejection. It tried to press forward, to slide in, to sneak through any crack.
But nothing.
Naruto sighed, crossing his arms.
"Seriously?" he muttered, fed up with the situation. "This is what you've come to?"
The shadow tried once more to advance, but the barrier glowed faintly, burning the soul like salt on an open wound.
"Just disappear," Naruto added, tilting his head with disdain. "I feel sorry for the embarrassment you're causing yourself..."
Mōryō's soul screamed one last time before beginning to vanish.
Naruto watched it disintegrate, without saying another word.