Chapter 6: Farewell, Forest—Hello, City Life!
The afternoon sun cast a gentle glow over the swimming pool, where the girls squealed with delight as the tiny wooden dragon, Ryu, darted through the water like a mischievous little fish. Naruto and Arche sat side by side on a worn wooden bench, their eyes following the joyful chaos.
Naruto let out a soft sigh, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "We'll be moving to the city nearby," he said thoughtfully. "I want the girls to enjoy more of what life has to offer. Is that okay with you?"
Arche raised an eyebrow and gave a small smirk. "I think that's best. Villages are charming, sure, but they lack certain... amenities. Just promise me you're not planning on breaking any laws in the city."
Naruto chuckled, a glint of mischief lighting his calm eyes. "Even if I did, nobody would know." He winked, fully aware that rules were often made without people like him in mind.
Arche shook her head but couldn't hide her grin. "Just be careful. And since you don't have an identity, taking on some adventurer work might be the safest bet. That way, you'll get access to the city and its facilities without drawing too much attention."
Naruto nodded. "Noted. And I want you to know—sometimes I'll be gone. I want to see the world, but don't worry. I'll leave Ryu in your care while I'm away. I promise I won't leave until everything is settled."
Arche looked at him steadily, her voice calm but sincere. "I don't mind. You're already treating us well. I trust your decisions."
Naruto's smile softened as he turned his gaze back to the giggling children, their laughter bubbling over like a warm melody in the air. The sight settled something deep inside him, quieting the restless pull of the road.
I didn't know I loved kids this much, he thought with a hint of surprise, or maybe it's just the desire to have a family.
With his eyes closed and heart a little fuller, Naruto let the moment wash over him—peaceful, hopeful, and full of promise.
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"Okay, little ones," Naruto said with a cheerful grin, standing tall beside Arche and Pinison, with Ryu, the tiny wooden dragon, playfully tangled around his left arm like an oversized bracelet. "Say goodbye to the forest."
The children's voices rose in a sweet, united chorus, "Goodbye, Forest!" Then, with small, eager feet, they scurried up to Naruto and wrapped their arms around him in a warm, comforting hug.
It was already well into the afternoon, and the sun cast a golden haze over the towering trees behind them. Naruto's eyes softened as he looked back at the green expanse that had been their home. But now it was time to move forward.
He had already put things in motion to ensure the forest would remain balanced. The mighty treant dragon—Ryu in his true, enormous form—was entrusted to keep the peace, along with the three guardian beasts tasked with protecting both humans and monsters. Naruto's plan was simple: foster harmony by safeguarding both sides, so humans would learn not to fear or harm the creatures of the wild, and the monsters would respect the humans' space in return.
With a gentle sweep of his hand, Naruto summoned a clone. It shimmered into existence beside him, ready and steady. "I'll carry two people comfortably," Naruto explained with a small laugh, "I could have flown us all on Ryu's back, but the poor dragon's still getting used to protecting riders. No sense in tempting fate!"
Ryu, curled around Naruto's arm, let out a tiny, playful puff of smoke—almost as if he understood.
Soon, the group took to the air, soaring effortlessly toward the nearby city of E-rental. Naruto melted into invisibility as they approached the bustling town, a precaution to avoid unnecessary attention. The city's vibrant streets buzzed with life—merchants hawking goods, children darting between legs, and the occasional curious glance toward the mysterious flying group.
They landed quietly and made their way toward a welcoming inn nestled in one of the less crowded lanes. With money from Arche's generous purse, Naruto secured two cozy rooms, enough space for everyone to settle in comfortably.
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After settling everyone comfortably in the inn, Naruto slipped quietly out the door, his cloak billowing softly behind him like a shadow dancing in the evening light. The city streets of E-rental stretched out before him, bustling with life, but Naruto's mind was focused elsewhere.
He had one important task: creating new identities for himself and his companions.
Now, Naruto had never been one to rely solely on brute strength or flashy jutsu — no, he had learned the subtle arts too. Genjutsu wasn't his specialty yet, but thanks to years of training under Kakashi and Jiraiya, and his ever-improving mastery of chakra control, Naruto was more than capable of bending weaker minds to his will. It was a delicate art, like weaving a spell of forgetfulness and compliance into the fabric of another's thoughts.
Slipping through shadowed alleys and quiet backstreets, Naruto found himself at the city hall — a towering building filled with officials busy at their daily work. With a focused breath, he closed his eyes, summoning the gentle currents of Senjutsu chakra. Like a soft whisper on the breeze, his influence brushed the minds of several officials.
The task was simple: implant memories and paperwork that would create new identities for each of his companions — names, histories, backgrounds, all perfectly tailored to avoid suspicion. A gentle nudge here, a fleeting suggestion there. The officials, their minds pliable and distracted by routine, obeyed without question.
"Easy as pie," Naruto muttered with a smirk, recalling Jiraiya's fondness for such comparisons.
Within moments, the paperwork was signed, stamped, and filed away in the city's records, binding the new identities firmly into the system. Naruto opened his eyes and allowed a small chuckle to escape.
"This should keep us safe for a while," he said to himself, feeling a surge of satisfaction. "No one's going to ask questions when you're invisible in plain sight."
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Naruto left the little ones happily tucked away in their rooms, Ryu curled protectively nearby and his clone keeping an eye on the playful chaos. Meanwhile, he set off with Arche and Pinison towards the adventurers' guild — a bustling hub where sword meets sorcery, and tales of glory echoed louder than the clanging of armor.
The moment they stepped through the guild's heavy wooden doors, a wave of noise washed over them — boisterous laughter, the clatter of tankards, and gruff voices exchanging stories of monsters slain and treasures found. Around the room, brawny men and women clad in all manner of armor leaned over tables, swapping advice or simply sharing a drink after a long day.
"Welcome! How may we help you?" chirped a young guild receptionist, her smile bright and practiced behind the counter.
"We'd like to register," Naruto said calmly, eyes flicking around the room with a quiet caution that never left him. He didn't trust easily — the world had taught him well. Most people carried secrets, and only a close meeting could reveal who was friend or foe.
"Certainly! Please fill in this form and pay a small fee of 18 silver coins," the receptionist said, passing over some parchment and a quill with cheerful efficiency. "You'll receive your adventurer tags in about ten minutes. Meanwhile, feel free to browse the quest board — as new recruits, you'll start as copper rank, so please look for quests suitable to that level."
Naruto nodded and took the forms, moving away toward the quest wall. Arche leaned in and whispered, "Naruto, maybe we should focus on the quests with more importance — it's the fastest way to rank up. And since our skills should be at least mythril rank, we can split up and tackle some individually."
Naruto gave a knowing smile. "As you wish. But keep an eye on Pinison — she's still adjusting to the outside world."
The three of them quickly selected a handful of goblin hunts and monster eradication quests, their pens scratching across the forms. After the guild stamped their papers and handed over the dog tags, the group split. Arche and Pinison headed off toward their assignments while Naruto stayed behind, eyes flicking over the busy streets.
Using his sage mode, he reached out with his senses. Beneath the cheerful surface, he could feel something darker, a prickling unease — a twisted energy gnawing at the edges of the city's heart. It was the kind of evil that made his skin crawl, stirring the rage of a world long weary of cruelty.
Finding a shadowed alley, Naruto shifted smoothly into his Kiba form — a lithe wolf, powerful and keen. He sent one of his clones forward to complete his quests, ensuring the clone passed through the city gates properly. After all, if he showed up at the guild before the clone returned, questions would rise like unwanted ghosts.
As the clone disappeared into the crowd, Naruto sniffed the wind, ready to face whatever darkness lurked beneath the city's bright facade. Because no matter what, he wouldn't let that evil touch the little ones waiting safely back at the inn.