Sacred Gear Shadow Light

Naruto felt the ground vanish beneath Kivren's feet as the light enveloped him. His body glowed with the same intensity as the beast, the runes etched into his skin blazing with golden fire. For a brief, agonizing moment, time seemed to freeze. Kivren's mind was flooded with memories—his siblings' laughter, his experiments, the lessons of creation and failure.

Kurama's voice cut through the silence, softer now, laced with a rare note of respect. "He didn't run. Even with that thing tearing everything apart, he stood there and fought to hold it."

Naruto's gaze lingered on the memory, the final fragment of clarity before it dissolved into pure light. He heard the thought that pierced through the chaos, a whisper of defiance: 'I can't let it end here.'

The brilliance intensified, swallowing everything. The cavern, the seals, the beast—all dissolved into a void of blinding light.

And then, silence.

.

.

.

The searing light of the cataclysm faded, leaving behind an eerie silence and an overwhelming emptiness. Kivren's body, battered and strained, lay motionless against the unfamiliar ground. Slowly, his senses returned, the oppressive weight of existence creeping back like a tide reclaiming the shore.

The air was foreign—thicker, heavier, and tinged with a peculiar energy that thrummed against his being. The ground beneath him was coarse and cracked, radiating faint warmth. Kivren's fingers twitched, his body instinctively pushing itself upright, every movement accompanied by the dull ache of exhaustion.

As his emerald eyes opened, the world around him came into view. It was vast and desolate, a barren plane stretching infinitely in all directions. The sky above was a chaotic swirl of dark, churning clouds, illuminated by streaks of crimson lightning. There was no sun, no stars—only a pervasive, ambient glow that seemed to emanate from the land itself.

"Where… am I?"Kivren murmured, his voice hoarse, the sound barely audible over the low hum of the strange realm. He tried to piece together the fragments of memory that lingered, but they slipped through his grasp like water through a sieve.

A deeper realization settled over him, cold and unrelenting: he didn't know who he was.

His name, his purpose, the faces of his siblings—they were all gone, scattered like ashes in the wind. He clutched his chest, his breathing quickening as the enormity of the void within him pressed down like an iron weight. The question burned in his mind, threatening to unravel him.

Who am I?

Before the tide of uncertainty could drown him, a sound shattered the silence—a guttural, earth-shaking roar that ripped through the realm like a primal force of nature. Kivren's head snapped up, his instincts flaring to life.

The beast.

The monstrous entity loomed in the distance, its colossal form coiled and writhing as it shook off the remnants of the shattered seal. Its six heads moved with terrifying coordination, each one bellowing its fury into the chaotic sky. The malice that radiated from it was sharper here, unfiltered and raw, saturating the air with a palpable sense of dread.

Kivren's body moved before his mind could catch up, his instincts guiding him with precision. The uncertainty, the void of his identity—none of it mattered now. His focus locked on the beast, and the knowledge buried deep within him surged to the surface.

With a wave of his hand, he summoned tools and materials from the ether, their forms crystallizing in flashes of light. Shards of luminous crystal, celestial alloy, and condensed energy hovered around him, pulsing faintly in time with his thoughts. The knowledge was instinctual, as if it had always been a part of him. He didn't question it—there was no time.

The beast lunged, its massive claws tearing through the ground as it charged. Kivren's fingers moved in swift, deliberate motions, inscribing glowing runes into the air. Golden light flared as the symbols interlocked, forming barriers that slowed the creature's advance.

"Stay down!,"Kivren commanded, his voice steady and sharp. His words carried weight, laced with the authority of one who had wielded creation itself.

The beast roared again, its six heads snapping and writhing as it tested the barriers. Cracks spider webbed through the golden lattice, but Kivren was already moving, weaving new layers of containment around the creature. Every rune, every thread of light, was placed with precision, each one tightening the noose around the beast's malice.

It fought viciously, its claws and wings lashing out, but Kivren was relentless. The knowledge flowed through him like a river, guiding his actions with an unyielding certainty. He poured his essence into the seals, golden light radiating from his body as he reinforced the lattice.

Finally, as the last anchor fell into place, the cavernous roar of the beast began to wane. The runes coiled tighter around its form, their glow intensifying until the creature's massive body was bound in an intricate web of golden chains. Its movements slowed, its heads drooping as the malice was drawn inward, contained within the unyielding framework.

Kivren stepped back, his breathing ragged but even. The beast let out one final, guttural growl before falling silent, its immense form sinking into an eternal slumber. The seals pulsed faintly, their light a testament to his triumph.

As the tension ebbed, Kivren's body swayed, the exhaustion finally catching up to him. He knelt on the cracked ground, his gaze fixed on the slumbering colossus. "It's done,"he murmured, his voice heavy with finality. "You're not free… but you're at peace."

The memory faded, its sharp details dissolving like mist as Naruto returned to the present. He stood motionless, his arms crossed as he processed what he had just witnessed. The connection between the past and the present began to crystallize, each fragment falling into place with a clarity that left no room for doubt.

"That's where it started," Naruto said quietly, his voice steady. "After that… Kivren was gone. And the one they called YHWH came to light."

Kurama, who had been watching the memory in silence, finally spoke, his tone begrudging but tinged with respect. "The kid didn't just seal that thing—he became something else. That roar snapped him into action, and now I get why you're carrying this weight. It's not just a Sacred Gear. It's a legacy."

Naruto's lips pressed into a thin line. "A legacy… and a responsibility. That seal didn't destroy the beast—it chained it."

The cascade of memories and revelations finally ended and what felt like lifetimes, yet when Naruto returned to the present, he realized it had been only the blink of an eye. Barely a heartbeat had passed, but within that fleeting moment, a torrent of knowledge had swept through him. He felt it in the core of his being—the ancient memories now settled, the faint resonance of something more than himself stirring within.

And something else.

There was a shift, subtle but unmistakable, happening in his body. It wasn't merely the weight of understanding that he carried now; it was physical. The very essence of the Sacred Gear's Light, long dormant and contained, had begun to flow through him in a way it never had before. It was as if the boundaries within him had been redrawn, the energy moving freely, seeping into his every fiber.

The warmth was distinct, unlike chakra—it lacked the steady, familiar hum of the life force he had long mastered. Instead, it was deeper, older, carrying with it a sense of purpose and inevitability. His veins pulsed with it, a gentle rhythm that felt like it resonated not only with his body but with something beyond him, something tied to the memory of Kivren and the ancient legacy he had glimpsed.

Naruto flexed his fingers subtly, testing the sensation. His muscles felt denser, his movements more precise, his senses sharper. Even the air around him seemed different, more vibrant and alive, as though his very presence was attuned to the currents of energy in this space. He was changing—not in a way that was immediately obvious but in a way he could feel, down to his bones.

He let the thought hang in the air, his cerulean gaze fixed on the iridescent colours of the gap. "Let's keep moving," Naruto said finally, his tone firm. "If this legacy is mine to carry, then I'll see it through." His words were quiet but resolute, a vow spoken to no one in particular but one that reverberated in the air nonetheless.

Switching to the outside, Naruto's gaze shifted to Aethra, and he found her watching him with a focus so intense it was almost tangible. Her silver eyes shimmered, catching the faint light like twin mirrors reflecting the cosmos. They brimmed with emotion—hope so raw it was almost painful to see, longing that seemed to span eons, and a faint, unspoken fear. Her lips, soft and slightly parted, quivered as if caught between the desire to speak and the fear of shattering the fragile moment. The light of her celestial presence framed her in an ethereal glow, casting her pale, regal features in an otherworldly radiance.

Naruto inhaled deeply, letting the grounded calm he had cultivated over decades steady him. Just as he prepared to address Aethra, a telepathic voice cut through the quiet.

"Yo, Naruto. Still in one piece? How's the reunion going?"

Shikamaru's voice carried its usual casual dryness, but there was an undertone of curiosity—and perhaps mild amusement—woven into it. Naruto's lips twitched faintly, his mental reply carrying the calm weight of someone who had long mastered the art of understatement.

"Still standing, though it's a bit intense. I'll get you in once things ease up—and once I feel your body can adapt to the potency in this place. For now, stay on standby."

Shikamaru's response came back almost immediately, a note of humor lightening his tone. "Sure thing. You know, these shadows of yours remind me of clouds—they're quiet, they go where I tell them, and best of all, they don't complain when I lie down. Honestly, I wouldn't mind staying here and catching a nap."

Naruto huffed softly in amusement. "Of course you wouldn't. Guess you've finally found the perfect audience."

Shikamaru's mental chuckle was low and lazy. "Damn right. Let me know when you need me to wake up and deal with something."

Before Naruto could reply, a faint movement caught his attention. Aethra had moved forward, the quiet intensity in her eyes pulling his focus completely. Her approach was measured, her celestial radiance catching the faint, shimmering light of the sealed space, casting soft reflections across her features. Her silver eyes locked onto his, glistening with an almost unbearable depth of emotion. The tears that had threatened to fall earlier now welled at the edges, though she held them back with a practiced strength.

Naruto exhaled slowly, the connection to Shikamaru fading as he severed the link. His focus sharpened, the faint echo of Shikamaru's casual wit lingering for a moment before dissipating entirely. His attention turned to Aethra, who stepped closer with a quiet intensity. The warmth within him, the hum of light from the Sacred Gear, grew stronger, as though responding to her proximity. It wasn't intrusive—it was steady and deliberate, a reflection of the changes subtly unfolding within him.

Before speaking, Naruto turned slightly and gave a nod to Red, as if recalling his attention. The dragon tilted his massive head, his molten-gold eyes narrowing with deep, silent curiosity. Red said nothing, but his thoughts churned as he observed Naruto carefully. He could sense the shifts happening within the man—the subtle but profound changes in his energy. It was no longer purely mortal.

Red felt the faint tendrils of divinity creeping into Naruto's chakra and magic. It wasn't a sudden, overwhelming surge, but rather a steady integration, a merging of the Sacred Gear's essence with Naruto's own. Divinity didn't manifest like ordinary power; it reshaped the very nature of energy, elevating it into something more refined, more absolute. Red's sharp senses picked up on this evolution, and though he didn't voice his thoughts, they settled in the back of his mind, a quiet acknowledgement that the Naruto he had known was becoming something greater.

'This isn't just the Sacred Gear reacting,'Red thought. 'It's him. His energy's adapting, taking on attributes no mortal should wield this easily. Is this his path now?'

Naruto's nod held meaning beyond words—a confirmation that he was aware of Red's silent observation, his curiosity. It was a subtle, unspoken acknowledgment, but it was enough. Satisfied for the moment, Red remained still, his molten gaze steady as he continued to watch.

Naruto turned fully to Aethra. She stood a few paces away, the soft glow of her celestial presence framing her in radiant light. Her silver eyes held his, filled with a raw depth of emotion that seemed to encompass both hope and a fragile, unspoken fear. Her lips parted slightly as though she meant to speak, but no words came. Her hands, folded neatly at her sides, trembled faintly despite her composed posture, betraying the storm roiling beneath her serene exterior.

Naruto stepped closer, his emerald gaze unwavering as he met hers. The changes in his body—the energy threading itself through his being—faded to the background. What mattered now was the connection in front of him, the truths waiting to be uncovered.

"Aethra," he began, his voice steady and calm, yet carrying the weight of someone prepared to face the burdens of the past. "Let's talk."

And Cut!

That's it for this Chapter folks.

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