Chapter 2
Chapter 2: New Friend
“Naruto?” The woman’s voice, soft but tinged with exhaustion, caught the child’s attention as she knelt beside her, her small hands glowing with green chakra. Naruto nodded slightly, her brow furrowing in concentration. The healing technique Tsunade had taught her was challenging, especially on someone as injured as this woman, Ellen. Her hands trembled, but she didn’t stop.´´ I can do this... I have to.´´
Ellen watched the little girl in awe. Her determination was clear in the way she worked despite her evident fatigue. “You know,” Ellen began, her voice weak but steady, “it would be quite a problem for me if anyone from your village found out about me.” She attempted a smile. “Given your world’s history, they might rip me apart and study me.”
Naruto’s eyes flickered with fear and confusion. She looked up at Ellen, momentarily pausing her healing. “Are you... an alien?” Naruto’s voice wavered, uncertainty and a hint of childish curiosity mixing in. “I mean, in the movies, aliens are always evil... they destroy everything. You’re not here to gobble us up, are you?”
Despite the pain, Ellen chuckled softly. Something was endearing about the young girl, her innocence clashing with the seriousness of the situation. “I suppose you could call me an alien,” Ellen admitted, her smile widening. “But no, I don’t plan on gobbling anyone up or destroying your village.” She paused, watching Naruto’s reactions carefully. “Actually, I owe you my life.”
Naruto bit her lip, her hands once again focusing on healing Ellen’s wounds. “I don’t know,” she mumbled. “You don’t seem like the aliens in the movies... but still.” She tried to shake off her nerves, but the weight of responsibility settled on her young shoulders. ´´What if I’m wrong? What if this woman is dangerous, and I just invited her into the village? Maybe I’m being too trusting...´´
As Ellen’s wounds began to close, she slowly pushed herself into a sitting position, the pain still lingering but manageable. She glanced around the quiet, deserted area. “Do you know where I can stay? Somewhere... hidden?”
Naruto blinked, realizing for the first time where they were—the Abandoned District. It was the part of the village that had never recovered from the Nine-Tails' attack a decade ago. Empty, broken homes filled with the ghosts of memories. “This... this is the Abandoned District,” Naruto said softly with a hint of bitterness. “No one comes here anymore.”
Ellen’s gaze softened as she took in the wreckage around her. “Abandoned... why?”
“Ten years ago, the Nine-Tails attacked,” Naruto explained, her voice trembling slightly. “A lot of people died. Some of the houses were never repaired... people say the area’s cursed.” Her eyes wandered to the crumbling buildings, imagining the lives that had once thrived here. ´´This is what a Biju does... no wonder Mom and Dad focus so much on Menma and Natsuki.´´ The weight of those thoughts bore down on her, pressing her small frame even lower. ´´They don’t need me.´´
Ellen’s sharp eyes noticed the shift in Naruto’s mood, but she didn’t press. Instead, she pointed to a still-standing house ahead. “That one looks, intact enough.”
Naruto nodded, leading the way. The house had seen better days, but it was better than nothing—the roof mostly intact, one wall caved in, but enough shelter to protect Ellen from the elements. “It’s not much,” Naruto mumbled, looking down at the ground. “But... it’s safe.”
Once inside, Ellen straightened up, her expression shifting to something more serious. “I’ll need to stay here until I can figure out a way to contact my people,” she said, more to herself than to Naruto. Then, she held her hand out in front of her, and her voice took on a commanding tone: “Barrier Jacket, off.”
The gem on her uniform blinked to life, responding with a mechanical, “Yes, Sir!”
Naruto’s eyes widened as the air around Ellen shimmered with energy. Her sleek black uniform—her Barrier Jacket—dissolved into a shower of light, revealing a simple civilian outfit underneath: a worn leather jacket, a gray t-shirt, and dark pants. It was almost like watching a transformation out of a movie. “Ehh?! It talked!” Naruto exclaimed, her face lighting up with a mixture of surprise and excitement.
Ellen laughed softly, watching Naruto’s reaction with amusement. “That was Star Gazer,” she said, holding up the star-shaped gem that hovered nearby. “He’s my Intelligent Device. He helps me cast spells and protect myself. Think of him like an advanced A.I. with a bit of personality.”
Naruto’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as she studied the floating gem. “Wow... You're so cool, Star Gazer, a fabulous name too!” she said in awe.
Star Gazer chimed in, his voice soft but clear, “Thank you.”
Naruto jumped back slightly, startled by the response. “It talks back too?! It’s... alive?”
Ellen chuckled. “Not exactly. He’s aware but doesn’t have a soul. Though sometimes,” she smiled, “I swear he’s got more personality than I do.” Naruto looked at Star Gazer with newfound respect. “That’s awesome,” she murmured, reaching out cautiously but pulling back at the last moment. Ellen gently ruffled Naruto’s hair, a rare, playful gesture. “Let’s set up a barrier for protection.”
With a wave of Ellen’s hand, a yellow magical circle appeared beneath them. Soon, the entire house was surrounded by an invisible barrier. Naruto watched in amazement as the spell took effect. So mages can do seals too?!
“You should probably go back now,” Ellen suggested gently. “Wouldn’t your family worry?”
Naruto shook her head, her voice quiet. “It’s fine... they won’t notice.” There was a bitter edge to her words, but she quickly changed the subject. “Besides, I wanna learn more about your magic!”
Ellen smiled warmly at Naruto’s eagerness. “Alright, but before we get to that...” She paused, a serious look crossing her face. “Naruto, may I scan you? I sensed something... unusual about you earlier.”
Naruto hesitated but nodded. Ellen placed a hand on Naruto’s forehead, and for a moment, her eyes glowed faintly. After a few seconds, Ellen pulled her hand away, her expression one of shock.
“You have... a Linker Core,” Ellen murmured, her voice filled with disbelief. “And chakra. That’s... incredibly rare.”
Naruto blinked, confused. “A Linker Core? Does that mean... I’m like you, A mage?”
Ellen smiled softly, shaking her head. “Not quite. You’re still a ninja, bound by your world’s chakra system. But your Linker Core... it’s why you sensed me. You have potential, Naruto. You still have a long way to go as a mage.” There was something in Ellen’s tone that made Naruto feel important in a way she never had before.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Naruto felt seen—truly seen. Not as a burden, not as an outsider in her own family, but as someone who mattered.
“I’ll come back tomorrow with some food!” Naruto waved as she ran back home, excited for the future. “Star Gazer, her mana levels are off the charts! It’s almost like she was destined to meet me... funny, right?”
“I think so too, Sir,” the device blinked back.
Meanwhile, Naruto made it back to the Namikaze house, clutching her bag with newfound confidence. Climbing the fence quietly, she tiptoed to the tree next to her window. Just as she was about to climb in, a voice behind her cleared its throat.
“So, look who decided to come home finally!” Turning around, she saw her father, hands on hips, his expression a mix of concern and relief.
“Dad!” she exclaimed, her heart racing. Minato’s eyes softened for a moment, and he approached her, looking at her forehead. “I hope you didn’t do anything troubling!”
“No, I went out to buy presents for Natsuki and Menma! Look!” Naruto held up her bag, her eyes shining with excitement. “I had a detour; a tourist needed some guidance, so I helped them!”
Minato looked at her sternly but sighed, visibly relieved. Ruffling her hair, he said, “Sorry I was worried sick. I’m glad you did something good... I assumed wrong, Naruto. Let’s head inside.”
´´Am I being seen, finally?´´ But as they entered for dinner, walking beside her dad, her hope of recognition dwindled. Naruto realized how out of place she was in the family. Eating quietly, she watched her family banter and joke, their laughter echoing in her ears while she felt like a ghost among the living.