Chapter 22
Chapter 21: The Fox Festival - Arc 3
As they walked through the crowd, Morgan instinctively grabbed Itachi's hand, wincing as she accidentally brushed against people. Upon reaching the booth she had been searching for, she quickly apologized.
“Sorry, Itachi-san! It’s just that I’m small, and it’s easy to get lost in the crowd, and—” She waved her hands in panic.
The 16-year-old Uchiha shrugged and smiled gently. “It’s fine. No harm done. Plus, I used to hold Sasuke’s hand when he was small too... sometimes I escorted lost children to the station. I have to hold their hands when they get lost.”
Han smiled at their interaction. As they approached the booth, he pointed out, “It’s a quiz-type game. You have to answer questions to win books. I wonder who besides you likes books, Morgan?”
Morgan clarified, “The plushies are for friends my age, but the books are for someone a bit older. He’s a librarian, and he helped me a lot...” The Uchihas raised their eyebrows in surprise.
“You know a lot of adults. They say when you hang around older people, you become wise...” Obito pointed out.
“You think so? True, Yunoo has taught me a lot, and he’s wise...” she murmured, staring at the line of people in front of the booth.
Yunoo was the head librarian of the TSAB, an organization that oversaw many planets and galaxies in the name of peace. He was one of the few people who knew existence of her planet. Yunoo was an important figure in the TSAB, managing information and gathering data on diplomacy. He was essentially the bridge between various factions.
Sitting down in the front row with several other contestants, Morgan spotted Kakashi but chose to ignore him as the booth owner spoke up. The quizmaster asked, “What’s Jiraiya-sama’s famous book?”
Morgan flinched, and the other contestants thought deeply before answering in a cold voice, “It’s The Tale of a Gusty Ninja.”
Morgan was awarded a point. She could feel Kakashi’s eyes on her.
The next question made her flinch again, earning concerned looks from the Uchihas and Kakashi, who looked at her, confused.
“What’s the protagonist’s name in The Tale of a Gusty Ninja?”
“Naruto,” Morgan spat with venom, recalling a name she had abandoned long ago. She hated the book and Jiraiya. She had been named after the book, but that part of her life—her life as Naruto—was long behind her. Itachi gently squeezed her shoulder, worried.
Two points.
“Last one. How many children does the Fourth Hokage have?” The woman operating the booth looked at Morgan as she coldly replied, “Two... does that mean I win?”
“Yep, pick three books you like!” the woman said, handing her a ticket as the other contestants groaned in frustration, waiting for the next round. Morgan could still feel Kakashi’s concerned gaze on her.
Morgan calmed her heart. She had managed to win three books for the librarian—a small victory. Suddenly, a tremor ran through the street. Screams erupted, followed by panic. Looking around, she spotted a strange figure floating above the village and felt a magical barrier being put up.
Everyone but her was frozen. She was the only one unaffected—it seemed this barrier did not affect her, as she was the only one with both chakra and magical energy.
“Master! Hostile enemy approaching,” Avalon, her intelligent sword-shaped device, blinked.
“I know I sense it! Try contacting the TSAB,” Morgan replied, focusing her magical energy. She wrapped it around herself like a blanket and lifted it off the ground. Meanwhile, she felt Avalon blink and make contact with TSAB headquarters. Flying was easier with magical energy than chakra. Her red hair fluttered in the autumn breeze above the endless sea of trees in Konoha no Sato. As she dashed through the air, she felt the strange figure pursuing her. She realized she was the target and needed to battle outside the village to avoid causing any more destruction.
Storing the books she had won inside Avalon’s storage, she came to a halt. Looking around, she realized she was far enough from the village. Morgan turned to face the approaching attacker, who was closing in fast. The 11-year-old took a deep breath—this was her first battle.
“Let’s do it. Avalon, apply the adult form: Avalon Star Gate, SET UP!”
“Stand by. Ready!” Avalon responded.
In a flash, Morgan felt her entire body age up to about 22. Magical energy enveloped her as she transformed. When the light vanished, she looked down at her barrier jacket. She never stopped being amazed by it. It resembled a blend of mage-knight and shinobi attire, and her hair had been tied up in a ponytail. The base of her barrier jacket was a navy blue qipao-style dress with silver armor across her body and a black belt. Underneath, she wore a black tracksuit. Her shoulders were armored, and her hands and feet were reinforced as well. Her gloves were dark blue and black, and her feet were protected by heavy armor boots that reached her knees, adorned with small cylindrical slots designed for cartridges on her hands and boots, similar to those she had seen on Ellen’s and Nanoha’s devices. On her palms were crystals shaped like stars, and on the tops of her boots was an additional pair of crystals. She also wore a helmet-like piece on her head with a dark blue visor concealing her purple eyes, which displayed information only visible to her. In her hand, she wielded Avalon in a sword-staff-like form.
“Cartridge reload, Combat ready!” Avalon confirmed as cartridges loaded and a shell fell to the ground, causing her sword staff to steam after reloading a magic-infused shell. The magical energy was strong. Morgan, now a bit older, stared at her attacker as a screen popped up:
“Morgan, Avalon, send me what happened. That guy is a high-ranking criminal called Author, Ranked Triple S. He has arrest warrants in one galaxy and three dimensions. He has no intelligent device, but he is a strong mage and enjoys tormenting mages and stealing their linker cores! We’ll be there in a few minutes, so hold your ground!” It was Admiral Chrono. “Please immobilize him. He has many warrants and wanted posters across three dimensions and one galaxy!”
“Avalon, you heard it! Sword form!” Morgan commanded.
“Yes, Captain!” Avalon responded, blinking, and the device clacked as it transformed. Spikes emerged from the top of her head, forming a trident shape that became the hilt of an enormous, iridescent mana blade, causing the device to resemble a claymore. She gripped the sword tightly, ready to face the attacker.
“Oh, how beautiful! I can’t wait to destroy you!” The attacker wore red armor. His eyes darted at her frantically as he raised his hands and charged at her blade. “Enhanced fist!” He dashed toward her, his fist coated in magical energy as they engaged in air combat. After delivering a strong kick against him, Morgan disengaged and created some distance.
Morgan furrowed her brow. Adult mode was quite difficult, but it gave her a huge boost in power, and she was glad Vivio had taught her how to use it. Swinging her blade, she stepped back and created an iridescent, round-shaped magic formula that spun with power. “Star Slicer!” she shouted as she smashed the formula with her mana blade, producing a huge beam of light that shot forward, striking Author, who laughed and quickly erected three triangular protective shields covered in runes.
“YES! THE DRILL OF BATTLE! I should use it now!” With a flicker, he summoned a strange-looking piece of paper.
Chrono's voice full of shock pierced through Morgan’s screen:"He’s about to use his IS (Inherit Skill)! TITLE! It allows him to manipulate anything he wants as long as he writes it on that paper and pours blood on it. It takes 5 minutes to charge!"
An IS skill, huh? Morgan had learned that an IS skill, or Inherit Skill, was like a Kekkei Genkai, but different from the bloodlines of chakra users on her planet. IS skills were unique to one person and not hereditary. She gritted her teeth. She needed to knock that bastard down quickly!
The guy smiled, “Your planet is amazing to kill, slaughter—heck, even train young kids to be soldiers. I wish my planet was as fun!” His laugh was vile as Morgan glared at him and spat, her much more mature voice in her adult body carrying anger. “You HAVE NO IDEA! Do you think we shinobi love fighting wars and terrible deaths?” She felt Chrono on her screen look at her with concern.
“I am jealous. You’re from Strat. I can tell from your armor. Your planet is a relatively peaceful one, registered even, unlike mine. Most people die from old age... You’re lucky to be born in such a beautiful world!” she spat angrily. Author looked at her, smirking. “How boring. Your world is so much more fun, full of bloodshed!”
Morgan’s forehead twitched in anger as she floated there in the air, her heart beating fast, while below her, the silent trees of Konoha no Sato swayed in the wind. She recalled a memory from the summer holidays.
Flashback
Morgan watched Vivio draw and scribble, practicing some tai jutsu. Mid-jabbing and kicking the air in the room, she was staring when she asked:
"Vivio, is there something you want to do besides being a combat athlete?"
The girl, with her heterochromatic eyes and blood-red hair, looked over with a beam:
"Yes, I want to be like my mom—a TSAB agent who saves people with a smile helps those trapped in rubble, and arrests criminals!"
"To save people with a smile... Do you think I can be one too? I mean, I am just a ninja, not even an official one. I still have a lot to do before I can be a Genin..." Morgan asked nervously, rubbing her bruised hands and stopping her movement as she listened to her friend.
Vivio smiled as she pointed at her rabbit-shaped intelligent device, Chris, and Avalon.
"You have a linker core, a good relationship with the TSAB. You're skilled; you can do anything. Trust me!"
Morgan looked away nervously. "If a weak person like me can dream... Yep. I decided. I want to become a decent ninja, maybe rise to the Jonin rank, leave my home planet, and become a TSAB agent just like Ellen-sensei and work with you!"
Vivio’s eyes sparkled as she raised her pinky. "Let’s promise to work hard and never lose to anyone!"
"Me... me too!" Einheat, with mint-colored hair, joined the two, her heterochromatic purple and green eyes meeting theirs. She quickly jumped from her bed and linked their fingers together.
Flashback End
"I made a promise. I won’t lose to anyone!" she muttered.
"Avalon Stargate Reload cartridge!" she commanded. Her device blinked. "Yes, Captain!" The sound of mechanical clicks was heard. Her mana sword pulsed violently as more shells fell. As Author cracked a smile, she summoned every ounce of energy as a magical ball of iridescent light grew before her.
"Energy hard-hitter spell: Star—" Chrono's voice on her screen was mouth agape. "No way, NO WAY, ELLEN TAUGHT YOU THIS ADVANCED BOMBARTMENT SPELL?"
"Light Breaker!" With a roar, she released the stray mana she had gathered, completely destroying Author. The area flared with iridescent light. She was glad she had put up a barrier to avoid harming anyone else. The area affected by the power spell slowly calmed down.
Floating down to the unconscious Author, she sighed. "Barrier jacket off!" With a flash, the armor part of her barrier jacket vanished, leaving her with the dark blue qipao dress base, boots, and gloves. Raising her hand, she muttered, "Bind!" Ropes of iridescent light wrapped around him. Performing hand seals, iridescent chakra chains shot from her back, tying him up further: "Admarine Chain: Seal of immobility!"
"Whew, I’m glad you’re not an enemy of ours..." Chrono shuddered behind her screen. "Thank you for your cooperation. I’ll transfer the bounty money to your device. Also, Morgan... Thank you."
The girl, now in her adult form, turned around with a smile. "It was no problem, Admiral. I’m glad I was able to help!" After a small spaceship picked up the criminal, she watched them vanish into space as she headed back home. Tomorrow, she would travel to Milchidan to drop off her souvenirs.