Naruto the Dark Flash

Rise to Heaven: Revelations and Suspicions

Chapter 7: Rise to Heaven: Revelations and Suspicions

Chapter 7 START

Even if the years we had lost in the death game were hell and can never be brought back…I'm happy. If I hadn't used my brother's game that fateful day, I would have never met Kirito-kun, Naruto-kun, Silica-chan, Lisbeth-chan, and so many others that I hold dear to me.

Asuna Yuuki

"Ugh…why does my body feel so sore?" Naruto said in a slurred tone, just waking up. He opened his eyes blearily with some effort, squinting when the light of the morning invaded his eyes. The blond shifted in bed slightly, turning his body over so that he could face away from the yellow lighting. He sank into his bed and sunk his head into the comfortable pillow, letting out a sigh of comfort before opening his eyes again.

"I need to train…it's already morning. I'm guessing that some clearers are already out on the new floor. But first…where am I? I don't own a house, so someone must have brought me…here."

Naruto took the time to flick his eyes around the room, taking in his surroundings quickly and methodically. When his eyes caught something, he widened his eyes in surprise.

"Good morning, Naruto," Asuna said in an agreeable tone, but there was something under that calmness. Like the calm before the storm, Asuna's current emotion seemed volatile. There was the twitch of the eyebrows, then the clenching of the fists against the chair's armrests. These pointed to her irritation, and her friendship with the blond was the only thing preventing her from blowing up at him currently.

"Ah…good morning, Asuna," Naruto said in a seemingly calm tone, yawning and stretching out before sitting up in bed. He leaned against the white-washed wall of the room, his lower body still under the bed sheets. He noticed that Asuna was in different clothing, now wearing some jeans and a short-sleeved shirt for comfort.

"Is there something you want to tell me?" Asuna asked smoothly, not letting her thoughts disturb the inflection of tone. When Naruto was still losing Health Points even though Kirito kept on breaking open Potions to heal the blond, the chestnut-haired rapier user had been afraid. It didn't make sense! How could someone lose Health Points even when they were constantly being given Potions? It was an enigma…and she knew that only Naruto would be able to explain to her. After all, he had to be the cause or at least know what the cause was.

Naruto remained silent, staring at Asuna was a sleepy yet somewhat serious expression, his blue orbs gazing at the girl. Asuna stared back, but she felt something strange; it was as if the blond were looking straight at her soul, judging her for some strange reason. She didn't recognize this Naruto. It didn't feel right. However, to maintain a strong front, she decided to press him slightly.

"Well?" She asked in a slightly demanding tone. The silence was making her patience run thin.

"Where's Silica-chan?" Naruto asked in a straight tone, completely ignoring the question. If he was going to explain, he wanted to explain to both of them. There was no actual reason to hide his energy source from them anymore.

"Why?" Asuna asked, one of her eyebrows rising. She crossed one leg over the other as she leaned back in her chair, assessing his question and the situation. Both of them were thinking about their current situation and how to approach it as delicately as possible.

"Because I have something I need to say to her if I have something to say to you," he said after a moment of silence between the two. Silence descended on the two again after he responded. Suddenly, Asuna stood up from her chair, swiping her finger downwards through the air before some clothes flashed on top of her previously loose and comfortable clothing. Naruto understood the action and did the same, putting on a white long coat and black pants that both improved his Defense and Agility. They both walked out of the inn room and out of the building.