The Summoner of Legends

Once again, Naruto found himself in that vast hall, the place that had marked the beginning of something he still couldn't fully comprehend. His heart pounded in his chest, but it wasn't fear he felt—it was an indescribable blend of excitement, wonder, and something else… Reverence? Yes, perhaps that was it. That sensation of smallness, of standing before something immeasurably greater than himself, enveloped him like a warm blanket. Oddly enough, it didn't feel crushing—it was comforting. For the first time in a long while, the universe seemed to whisper something he had never clearly heard before: there is hope.

The hall was as awe-inspiring as he remembered. Towering marble columns stretched toward a ceiling so high it seemed to disappear into the heavens, as if it had no end. The light from the enormous stained glass window dominated the space, bathing it in living hues of blue and gold. The holograms, those radiant figures that had left him so awestruck the first time, still floated and danced in the air, casting shifting shadows on the polished floor. This time, however, he didn't just glance at them out of the corner of his eye. He wanted to understand them. No, he needed to understand them.

Naruto closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath, filling his lungs with the purity of this place, a purity unlike anything he had ever known. The air here was clean, light, as if charged with a special energy that seemed to refresh both body and mind. "It's even better than I remembered…" he thought, as his footsteps echoed faintly against the marble. With every step, he felt the burdens of his worries and the dark memories he had carried for so long begin to fade, if only for a moment.

He wanted to stop, to stay there, simply soaking in the serenity of the space. But something urged him to keep moving. Perhaps it was the feeling that this place held answers, clues to what he was searching for—even though he still didn't fully know what that was. His eyes fixed on the holograms floating around him.

The last time, he had seen them as mere glowing shapes, too overwhelmed to truly take them in. But now, he wanted to memorize every detail. Each figure seemed to hum with a unique energy, and Naruto felt their presence was anything but random.

He approached the first hologram that caught his attention: a massive, broad-shouldered warrior clad in armor that gleamed intensely, even in holographic form. The armor was adorned with intricate carvings, each line seeming to tell a story—battles fought, oaths sworn, sacrifices made. In his hand, the warrior held a colossal sword that looked less like a weapon and more like an extension of himself. His face, serious and resolute, radiated an authority so commanding that Naruto felt a shiver run down his spine.

"With that look, he could lead an entire army without saying a word…" Naruto murmured under his breath, surprising even himself. There was something about this warrior that made him feel small, yet not weak. It was as though the figure were assessing him, silently waiting for something.

Forcing himself to look away, he walked toward another hologram. This one was entirely different from the last. The figure exuded an aura that was hypnotic, almost ethereal. Her hair fell in perfect waves, and her piercing eyes seemed to cut straight through the soul with an intensity that felt almost otherworldly. Her attire, sleek and elegant, accentuated a form that balanced grace and danger in equal measure. Behind her floated nine luminous tails, moving as if they were alive, swaying to an unseen rhythm.

Naruto felt a tingling sense of fascination but also a faint chill. There was something about her that drew him in, yet simultaneously put him on edge.

"She's beautiful… but those eyes…" he thought, averting his gaze for a moment. "It's like she can see everything about me—everything I've done, everything I am. The good and the bad."

He felt as though if he stared too long, something inside him would be laid bare.

The next hologram was that of a giant who looked as though he had been carved from living stone. His body, pure muscle, exuded a strength that seemed to defy the very laws of nature. He carried a massive mace slung over his shoulder, holding it as if it were a mere toy, and his malicious grin, accentuated by sharp fangs, gave him a dangerously intimidating air. Naruto swallowed hard, unable to suppress the thought that crept into his mind: "If this guy wanted to, he could crush me with a single blow."

However, what unsettled him most wasn't the giant's physical strength but the look in his eyes. It was as if he thrived on the fear of others, as though every battle was a game to him—a game he always won.

Finally, Naruto's attention shifted to the last figure. It was a young woman with an almost celestial appearance. Her light armor seemed to be crafted from solid light, reflecting the rays of the stained glass window and casting golden and silver glimmers around her. In her hands, she held a staff that radiated serene yet commanding energy, as if it had the power to create or destroy with a single motion. Her face bore a calm smile, but it was full of determination. Naruto couldn't help but feel a warm, comforting sensation as he looked at her, as though her very presence could dispel any darkness.

—"She…" —he whispered without realizing it. He didn't even know what he wanted to say, but something tightened in his chest as he gazed at her. It was hope, but also longing—a need to rise to meet something he couldn't yet explain.

He stepped back to take them all in at once. They were more than figures of light. They were symbols of something greater, something that transcended human understanding. Power, majesty, mystery, and grandeur—all of it was contained in this hall, as though it were a sanctuary built in their honor.

And then, his eyes returned to the stained glass window. He noticed something he hadn't seen before. The figures in the mosaic weren't just decorative designs. They were them: the same beings who danced as holograms before him, depicted in that massive crystal pane with a majesty that took his breath away. The lights of the stained glass seemed to move, breathing life into the images. Naruto felt as though they were watching him from above, like gods judging mortals from their celestial thrones.

—"They… are more than legends," he murmured, not even realizing he was speaking out loud. "They're living myths."

For a moment, Naruto felt the weight of destiny return to his shoulders. But this time, it didn't frighten him. This place didn't just hold answers; it held purpose.

The question now was: was he ready to embrace it?

------------------------------

He took a deep breath and continued walking through the hall, his steps driven by a growing curiosity that seemed to intensify with each passing moment. His eyes shone with excitement as he approached the door he remembered crossing the last time. There was something comforting about returning to this place, as if it were granting him a second chance to uncover what he had overlooked before.

When he opened the door, the same space unfolded before him: a kind of shop or storeroom, but not an ordinary one. It was a place that seemed plucked straight out of a dream, where the air carried an aura of mystery that sent shivers down his spine.

This time, Naruto decided to take his time. He walked slowly, letting his gaze linger on every detail. There was something new in everything he saw, as if the objects themselves had changed—or perhaps he was now able to see them in a different way.

The first object to catch his attention was a translucent jewel shaped like a teardrop, suspended in the air inside a glass case. He approached it cautiously, almost holding his breath. The jewel seemed to hum with a subtle energy, and its faint blue glow filled the air with an indescribable calm. As he stared at it, Naruto felt everything around him fade away, as though time itself had stopped. Within the jewel, a tiny swirl of light slowly rotated, drawing his gaze like a magnet.

—"It's... beautiful," he whispered, unable to look away. The sense of peace emanating from it was so powerful, it felt almost tangible. For a moment, he wanted to take it with him, though he didn't understand why. Something deep inside told him that this object had a purpose, but he couldn't grasp it yet.

With effort, he tore his gaze away and turned his attention to a short sword. It was simple, lacking any ostentatious decorations or embellishments. Its blade gleamed with a flawless edge, and the hilt, crafted from dark metal, was adorned with engravings that resembled ancient runes. Naruto reached out toward it but stopped halfway. A strange sensation coursed through him—not fear, but respect. He could feel the energy radiating from the weapon, a silent yet unyielding force, as though it were waiting for the right wielder.

—"You're different, aren't you?" he murmured, almost as if speaking to the sword. It was modest, but there was something about it that made him think its true strength was hidden, waiting to be unveiled.

He continued exploring, stopping in front of a book that seemed to glow with a life of its own. Its cover was adorned with intricate golden symbols that shimmered under the room's dim light, and its slightly open pages sparkled as though they were made of liquid crystal. Naruto picked it up carefully, and a warm tingle spread through his fingers. Holding it, he felt a current of energy flow into him, filling him with a strange mixture of awe and apprehension.

—"What secrets do you hide?" he wondered aloud, though he knew the book wouldn't answer. Something told him that opening it wouldn't just mean reading—it would mean uncovering something that could change him forever.

On another shelf, he found a different book, vastly unlike the first. This one was thick, with a dark, dust-covered cover. But the dust didn't dull the glowing runes that adorned its surface, softly pulsating as if alive. Naruto leaned in to inspect it more closely, and that was when he heard it.

He couldn't quite describe it: a soft, almost imperceptible murmur that seemed to emanate from within the book. His skin prickled.

—"Are you… talking?" he asked, stepping back. But the murmuring stopped abruptly, leaving the room steeped in an eerie silence. Naruto stared at the book with suspicion. Though it stirred an almost painful curiosity, there was also something deeply unsettling about it, as if he were standing before something he wasn't meant to touch.

Further ahead, he found a small staff with a minimalist design. It was black as the night, and at its top floated a sphere emitting a faint, nearly extinguished light. Yet, there was something about that sphere that made him feel as though he were being watched. It wasn't an oppressive gaze, but a silent, inquisitive one, as if it were carefully assessing him. A shiver ran down his spine, and he instinctively stepped back. He decided not to get any closer. That object didn't want to be touched. He could feel it.

Finally, his eyes settled on a miniature hourglass, suspended within a glass case that seemed to shield it like an invaluable treasure. Though small, its design was so intricate it resembled a masterpiece. The golden sand inside shimmered as if made of stardust, and every grain appeared to move in sync with a rhythm Naruto couldn't quite grasp. He stared at it in fascination, unable to tear his gaze away.

—"What are you?" he murmured, not expecting an answer. There was something about that hourglass that gave him a sense of absolute power, as if it held control over something as fundamental as time itself.

As he wandered among the shelves, Naruto couldn't help but feel overwhelmed. Every object in this store seemed to hold a secret, a fragment of a power far greater than anything a human could imagine. What was he doing here, in the middle of all this? What did this place mean?

Finally, he returned to the center of the hall, where the holograms still spun and the stained glass window shone with its full magnificence. He took a deep breath, summoning his courage, and approached the door he hadn't been able to open the last time. He stared at it with determination, as if it were an adversary. This time, he wasn't planning to back down.

The door was made of dark wood that seemed to glimmer softly, as though it were alive. Golden spiraling engravings traced across its surface, forming hypnotic patterns that appeared to tell an ancient story—a tale Naruto couldn't understand, yet felt must hold great significance.

The air in this part of the hall felt heavier, as though charged with an invisible but powerful presence. Naruto inhaled deeply, his chest tight with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. His gaze swept around the room, searching for something—anything—that might provide a clue as to what he should do next.

—"What is this place, really?" he thought, as his mind filled with questions. There was something profoundly familiar about this hall, yet at the same time, utterly alien. It was as if this sanctuary was intertwined with his destiny, with a path he hadn't yet realized he was meant to follow.

------------------------------

His eyes returned to the stained glass window, that monumental work towering like a luminous giant, filling the hall with its light and its stories. Now that he stopped to observe it more closely, he noticed something he hadn't perceived before: each figure was arranged in a precise, almost choreographed manner, as if they were narrating an epic battle or a crucial moment in some distant world. Every tiny detail seemed purposeful, with an intention that went beyond mere decoration.

He could see the man in the imposing armor at the forefront, his firm stance radiating leadership, the massive sword raised high as if ready to give the command that would decide the fate of everything. The woman with pointed ears and a hypnotic gaze stood nearby, cloaked in a mystical aura as the nine tails floating behind her seemed to weave a spell into the air. Then there was the colossal creature with bluish skin, its immense size and strength captured masterfully in the artwork, holding a mace that looked forged from eternal ice, poised to crush any obstacle in its path. And finally, the radiant, majestic female figure, adorned in armor that seemed woven from the very essence of light. Her staff glowed like a beacon in the darkness, a promise of hope and salvation.

Each of them seemed immersed in their own world, yet together they formed something greater—a narrative Naruto couldn't comprehend but felt was destined to intersect with his own.

—"Why are they all here? What does this mean?" —he murmured, his voice barely an echo in the vast hall.

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to focus on the feeling this place evoked in him. It was overwhelming: a sense of insignificance mingled with something deeper, something he couldn't put into words. These figures made him feel small, almost irrelevant, as though he were standing before entities that transcended everything he knew. And yet… there was something more. A latent connection, an invisible thread pulling at him, as though, in some way, he was part of this story too, even if he didn't know how or why.

He took a step toward the door, then another, his gaze fixed on the golden engravings that adorned its surface. He remembered how, last time, he had tried to open it without success, how the mere contact with the wood had been an insurmountable barrier. But now… something felt different. He had spent time exploring this place, feeling its energy flow through every corner, and he couldn't shake the thought that perhaps this space was trying to tell him something, to guide him.

With each step he took, the echo of his movements reverberated through the immense hall, mingling with the faint hum of the holograms silently spinning in place. Though he was barefoot, he could feel the cold marble beneath his feet—a strangely comforting sensation that made him feel even more connected to this place.

When he was just a few inches from the door, he reached out slowly, as though afraid to disturb something sacred. He hesitated for a moment, his palm suspended in the air, before his fingers brushed against the cold surface.

The contact was immediate. To his surprise, a faint warmth began emanating from the golden engravings, spreading across his hand and up his arm like a stream of gentle energy. It wasn't an unpleasant sensation, but it was deeply strange—almost as if the door were… alive. Naruto flinched slightly, stepping back as he stared at his hand in astonishment.

—"What are you?" —he whispered, more to himself than to the door.

Silence enveloped him—a silence so profound it seemed to carry its own weight. But there was something in that silence that wasn't empty. There was peace, a calmness that seemed to observe him, inviting him to stay, to listen without words. Naruto stood still for a few moments, his hand still hovering in the air, his gaze tracing the intricate details of the door. Every line, every golden spiral seemed to pulse with a rhythm he couldn't quite grasp, as if it were recounting an ancient and forgotten story.

He knew he should try again, but something deep within told him the time wasn't right. There was a barrier—not physical, but something far more profound. It wasn't that the door wasn't ready to open; it was him.

—"Maybe I'm not ready yet…" —he thought, slowly withdrawing his hand. There was a flicker of frustration in his thoughts, but also a sense of acceptance. No matter how much he wanted to cross through that door right now, he knew this place operated under its own rules. It would happen when the time was right.

He turned away, and as he did, he had the uncanny sensation that the entire hall was watching him. The interplay of light and shadow danced between the columns, the stained glass, and the holograms, as if they formed a language he couldn't yet decipher. A shiver ran down his spine—not of fear, but of anticipation. This place was more than a simple hall. It was a puzzle, a riddle somehow tied to him and his fate. He knew it. He felt it.

Naruto walked back toward the center of the hall, pausing once more to take in the sight of the holograms and the stained glass. For now, these figures would remain a mystery, but he was determined to solve it. No matter how long it took, no matter how many doors stayed closed, he would find the answers.

He allowed himself one last glance at the door before a small smile crept onto his face. There was something comforting in that smile, as though a fragment of certainty had begun to take shape within him. Though this place was still an enigma, though the answers still eluded him, something inside told him he was on the right path.

And for now, that was enough.