Naruto: Shadows of the Otsutsuki

Chapter 2: Embers of Resolve

I do not own naruto in any way shape or form, this property belongs to kishimoto, viz media.

Naruto's world was black.

For a moment, he floated in a hazy void, his senses numb, his mind blank. Then, piece by piece, reality began to bleed back in—the faint chill of the ground beneath him, the weight of his own body, the aching throb in his limbs.

And then he heard it: voices, muffled and frantic, like sounds from another world. Slowly, Naruto's eyes fluttered open, his vision blurring and then sharpening as he registered familiar faces leaning over him. Shikamaru, Sakura, and Ino were there, their expressions laced with worry.

"Naruto!" Sakura's voice was a sharp blend of panic and relief. She placed her hands over his chest, the familiar warmth of her healing chakra seeping into him. "Are you okay? Can you hear me?"

Naruto tried to speak, but his throat felt raw, his body heavy. Memories came flooding back: the mysterious Otsutsuki, the battle, and then—

"Boruto." His voice came out in a hoarse whisper, the sound almost swallowed by the weight of his realization. He pushed himself up, shrugging off Sakura's support, his heart pounding as he scanned the surroundings. Boruto had been there, standing behind him just before the attack hit. The memory of Boruto's wide eyes, frozen in shock, replayed in his mind.

"Where's Boruto?" Naruto's gaze darted around, a new kind of panic twisting in his gut. He staggered to his feet, ignoring the pain that flared through his body. "Where is he?!"

Shikamaru placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, his voice uncharacteristically somber. "Naruto... you need to calm down. Boruto is alive. He was injured, but he's stable. We took him to the hospital right after we found you two."

Naruto exhaled, the tension in his chest loosening slightly. "Take me to him," he said, voice laced with urgency. He could feel Sakura's concerned gaze, but he didn't look back. The only thought anchoring him was that his son was safe—alive. But in the back of his mind, the ache of something deeper, darker, lingered.

*Konoha Hospital room*

Naruto pushed through the doors of Boruto's hospital room, and his breath hitched. Boruto lay unconscious, bandages wrapped around his torso and arms, the signs of the Otsutsuki's chakra burns evident on his skin. Hinata sat at his side, holding his hand with a fierce protectiveness, her eyes red from crying but unwavering.

Hinata looked up as Naruto entered, and her expression softened, relief mingling with the worry etched into her face. "Naruto..."

He approached her, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder, though his gaze was fixed on Boruto. "I'm here," he said softly, his voice thick with guilt.

Hinata gave a small nod, squeezing his hand. "They say he'll recover fully... but... he was so close, Naruto. It was too close."

Naruto clenched his fist, the sharp sting of shame cutting through him. He should have kept Boruto safe, kept him away from the danger. But he'd let his guard down, distracted by the Otsutsuki's taunts.

He took a step back, his eyes hardening. "I won't let this happen again," he murmured, almost to himself. But Hinata heard him, and she looked up, worry flashing in her eyes.

"Naruto, please don't blame yourself. You couldn't have known this would happen."

Naruto's jaw tightened, his gaze distant. "I let my guard down," he said simply. "And now... it's time to make sure they never come back here again."

The next morning, Naruto stood before Konoha's council, a small group of the village's most trusted advisors. The somber atmosphere was heavy as he recounted the encounter with the Otsutsuki, omitting none of the details of the enemy's cold demeanor, his cryptic words, and the ominous mention of a larger plan. The mention of "Project Ascendance" had lingered in Naruto's mind, gnawing at him.

Kakashi, his mask hiding his frown, leaned forward. "So, this Otsutsuki was different from the ones you've faced before?"

Naruto nodded. "He was stronger and... more purposeful. He spoke like he was just one part of a larger operation."

"Do you think he was probing our defenses?" Shikamaru asked, his brow furrowed in thought. "Testing how strong we are?"

Naruto crossed his arms, his gaze fixed. "It's possible. He kept saying that this world had become an 'obstacle.' Whatever the Otsutsuki are planning, it's big enough that they see us as a threat."

A murmur rippled through the room. The tension was thick—no one needed reminding of the last time the Otsutsuki had invaded their world. And this time, they had come with a new resolve, a new ruthlessness.

Tsunade, sitting beside Kakashi, spoke up, her voice steady. "If they see us as an obstacle, that means we're doing something right. But it also means they'll come back, and next time, they might not stop at just one attack."

Naruto nodded, his expression hard. "I won't let that happen. We're going to gather every scrap of information on them, uncover their plan, and find out what this 'Project Ascendance' really is."

Shikamaru's gaze narrowed, thoughtful. "That's easier said than done. The Otsutsuki operate in a way we barely understand. Their power, their technology, even their motives are still a mystery to us."

Naruto clenched his fists, a fiery determination in his eyes. "Then we'll make them understand something, too: that this world isn't theirs to conquer."

**Konoha Forest**

Later that night, Naruto found himself standing at the outskirts of Konoha, staring out at the quiet forest beyond. He'd come here alone, needing the solitude to clear his mind and focus.

He closed his eyes, reaching inward, seeking out the power he hadn't called upon in years. Kurama's voice echoed faintly within him, a comforting presence.

"Looks like things are heating up again, huh, Naruto?" Kurama's voice was rough, but there was a glimmer of pride beneath it.

Naruto nodded, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Yeah. It's just like old times. I thought we'd seen the last of them."

Kurama chuckled, a low rumble that filled Naruto's mind. "You didn't really think they'd just let us be, did you? The Otsutsuki are relentless. They won't stop until they've taken everything they want."

Naruto's gaze hardened. "Then we'll just have to make sure they don't get it."

He took a deep breath, focusing his chakra, feeling it surge through him with a familiar, reassuring warmth. He knew that to face the Otsutsuki again, he would need to be stronger. His usual techniques wouldn't be enough—not against an enemy like this.

"Let's do it, Kurama. We're not letting them lay a finger on this world."

Kurama's voice hummed with approval. "That's more like it. You've got the power, Naruto. You just need to be ready to push past your limits... again."

Naruto grinned, his eyes blazing with determination. "For them—for Konoha, for Boruto—I'll go beyond anything I've ever done."