Chapter 27

Hina's confusion deepened as she lay in the strange world, the shattered glass of memories reflecting a fractured version of herself. The vast emptiness and distorted land masses around her created an unsettling sense of isolation. She felt lost, both mentally and emotionally, with every step she took pulling her further from clarity.

Her heart ached, the absence of Naruto consuming her thoughts. "Naruto, where are you?" she repeated over and over, the words becoming a desperate plea as tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn't bear the thought of being alone in this distorted place, and the loneliness gnawed at her. She knew this was all connected to him—somehow—but the pieces of the puzzle were scattered, and she had no idea how to fit them together.

As Hina moved through the desolate world, her every step heavy with sorrow, she saw a faint silhouette in the distance. The sight of it sent a surge of hope through her, and she rushed toward it, desperate to reclaim the connection she had lost. "Naruto!" she screamed, her voice breaking through the void.

But the figure vanished before her eyes. Her heart sank, and with it, her hope.

Her mind, already unstable from grief, had failed to notice the subtle difference. The figure that had briefly appeared had blonde hair, not the familiar black locks of the man she longed for. It was a trick, a manifestation of her own fractured state of mind. But her desperation clouded her judgment, and she continued to chase after the illusion, unaware that it was leading her further into her own torment.

As she ran, the world around her began to distort even more, cracks appearing like shattered glass, the reflections of herself splintering in every direction. Confusion and fear gripped her as she approached one of the shards, her curiosity compelling her to touch it. The moment her fingers brushed against the sharp surface, her vision shifted, and she was no longer standing in the bleak, grey world.

Instead, she was thrust into a vivid memory, one that didn't belong to her.

In the new vision, she saw Akainu, his stern face twisted in disappointment. The memory was so vivid it felt as though she had stepped into Naruto's body, experiencing everything he had. She heard the words Akainu spoke, harsh and final: "I am disappointed, Naruto. I had heard about you and would have taken you in as a subordinate, but this destroys everything. So according to the command, receive your execution."

It was like living through the moment herself. She felt Naruto's defiance, his refusal to submit, and the bomb that was released to buy him time. But what struck her the most was how Naruto, despite the situation, had seemed so resolute in his purpose. It was clear that Naruto had never cared for the lives of innocent civilians in combat if it meant securing a win. Hina didn't judge him for it; to her, it was a legitimate tactic in the heat of battle. But even so, the scene broke her heart. She was witnessing his final moments from an outsider's perspective, a painful truth about his fate that only deepened her grief.

And then, as if the world itself couldn't stand the weight of that memory, everything shattered. Hina was back in the grey, empty space, trembling with the aftermath of what she had just experienced.

"These are Naruto's memories," she muttered, her voice distant. "They might help me save him." But there was something else, a feeling deep within her that longed to understand more about him. Not just for the sake of saving him, but because a part of her wanted to know him better, wanted to bridge the gap between them.

She reached for another shard, bigger this time, hoping it would offer more insight into Naruto's life. What she saw was different, and it filled her with a mixture of anger and confusion. She saw a woman—Bellmere—and the two little girls. The image was so unexpected that it left her heart heavy with betrayal. "He had another woman on the side?" Her thoughts spiraled. "Was I not enough?" But even as jealousy and pain bubbled up inside her, she shook her head. "No, this isn't the time. I need something useful."

She moved toward the largest shard in the distance, her mind racing with determination. She knew this piece held more—something important. Something that could help her understand Naruto's fate and how to free him from this twisted existence.

But as she touched the shard, everything changed again. The pain that shot through her mind was unbearable. "Aaaah!" she screamed, collapsing to the ground, clutching her head as her emotions spiraled out of control. Every piece of despair, fear, and uncertainty that had built up inside her came crashing down. She saw nothing but darkness, broken images, and the overwhelming weight of a past that she could not fully understand.

And then, through the chaos, a voice reached her. Gentle, feminine, and calming. "It is still not time. Become stronger. What you might see will either shatter you or make you stronger."

The words pierced through the storm of emotions within her, soothing the pain and settling her soul. Hina's eyelids fluttered as the anguish that had once consumed her began to melt away. She felt a sense of peace, albeit temporary, wash over her.

"Who are you?" Hina muttered, her voice weak as the exhaustion from the emotional turmoil began to take its toll. Her mind grew heavy, and before she could receive an answer, she fell into a deep slumber, her body finally at rest.

But even as she slept, the world around her shifted, preparing for whatever the future might hold—whether it would lead to salvation or destruction.

The tension in the air was thick as Naruto, now fully consumed by the grudge and the chaotic forces at play, moved like an unstoppable force. The threads that had once seemed to be under his control were now acting on their own, reflecting the state of his mind—a fractured, enraged version of the man Hina had once known. His actions were not of his own volition, but a twisted echo of the power and the hatred that had festered within him.

Adam watched as the armored beast before him, a grotesque and distorted version of Naruto, glared at him with burning red eyes, its guttural mutterings filling the air. The creature's thoughts were unclear, and the overwhelming bloodlust only served to heighten the sense of danger. Adam, however, was unwavering, understanding that the Naruto he knew was lost somewhere within this beast, trapped under the weight of his own unresolved emotions.

"Naruto, let the poor girl go," Adam said in an unexpectedly jovial tone, trying to break through the anger and chaos. His reasoning was simple—Naruto, in this form, was better than being dead, and he was willing to endure the consequences of facing this monster if it meant finding a way to bring the man he had once known back.

The creature that was once Naruto growled and lashed out, its mind completely consumed by the compulsion for bloodshed. Adam could feel the murderous intent radiating from it, and as much as he tried to maintain his calm, he could tell this was beyond a simple grudge. There was something much deeper at play—something horrific in the memories that had shaped this twisted form of justice.

Adam moved forward, determined to stop Naruto's rampage. "Hey Naruto, where do you think you're going?" His voice, though strong, carried an undertone of concern. "Naruto, go back to sleep. This isn't you."

But before Adam could even react, the creature swiped at him, its overwhelming strength sending him crashing through the wall. The impact was brutal, his body slamming into the far distance, and the realization hit him hard: Naruto had become something unrecognizable, a mindless monster controlled by the vengeance that had consumed him.

"Obstacles, remove," the creature muttered, its voice cold and detached, as it continued its destructive path.

Smoker and Drake, who had been observing from a distance, rushed in as soon as they heard the crash. They were alarmed by what they saw—Adam being thrown aside like a ragdoll, and the monstrosity that had once been Naruto tearing through everything in its path.

"Did Adam just say that was Naruto?" Smoker thought, his eyes narrowing as he saw the familiar mannerisms in the creature before him. "It's probably Naruto, his soul is possessing Hina. We need to stop him; he doesn't seem to be in the right mind."

"damn, a ghost. Naruto, only weird things happen when we're around you," Drake muttered under his breath as he transformed into his dino form, ready to engage.

But the moment they attempted to strike, Naruto's threads exploded outward, catching them effortlessly and throwing them aside as if they were nothing more than distractions. The monster's movements were swift and unyielding, its strength and power far beyond what they had expected.

"Obstacles, time waste. Need blood," it muttered, its twisted sense of purpose driving it forward as it continued its destructive march.

Adam, from where he lay after being tossed aside, analyzed the situation with a grim expression. "Great grandma's powers have grown too much. How many people did he kill to gain this kind of strength?" he thought, watching as Naruto easily dispatched Smoker and Drake with nothing more than his threads. Adam could see it—this was no longer a fight of mere willpower or skill; this was a battle against a force that had consumed Naruto, body and soul.

Only Z, with his strength and resolve, had a chance to face this head-on. Adam hoped that Shiro, equipped with her red armor, could hold her own against the rampaging force that was Naruto, but even she might not be enough to stop what had been unleashed.

"Only Z can handle this. I hope you're okay, Shiro," Adam muttered as he slowly got up, his eyes fixed on the direction in which Naruto, now a monster, was heading. He couldn't waste any more time. The battle for Naruto's soul was just beginning, and the stakes had never been higher.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm glow over the village as Bell Mere sat alone in her house, her mind heavy with worry and longing. She had spent the last few days trying to hide her true feelings from Nami, but it wasn't easy. Nami had noticed the changes in her, her perceptive instincts picking up on the subtle shifts in Bell Mere's demeanor. It was the effect of Haki, she realized. But despite everything, Bell Mere forced a smile as her daughter approached.

"Mommy, why are you gloomy?" Nami's innocent voice broke through the silence, her big eyes filled with concern. Bell Mere's heart ached as she looked at her little girl, who, despite her youth, had an uncanny ability to sense the emotional currents around her.

"Huh?" Bell Mere was momentarily taken aback by Nami's perceptiveness. She hadn't realized that her emotions were so transparent to her daughter. But even then, she quickly composed herself, offering a soft smile. "It's nothing, sweetie. It's just that Naruto will be away for a very long time."

Nami's face fell, her brows furrowing as she processed the information. "Father's not coming back for long? Why? Didn't he promise to come next month?" The disappointment in her voice was clear, and Bell Mere's heart shattered at the sound of it. Nami had been eagerly awaiting Naruto's return, excited to show him how much she had grown and to receive his praise once again.

Bell Mere sighed softly, gently touching Nami's cheek to comfort her. "Sorry, he just became busy suddenly, that's why he couldn't tell you. But he'll be back soon, I'm sure of it."

Nami, ever the determined child, nodded seriously. "I understand. But I will definitely beat him once he's here for making you sad."

Bell Mere couldn't help but chuckle at her daughter's declaration, feeling a small sense of relief. "Thank you, my little warrior princess." She ruffled Nami's hair affectionately, watching as the girl scampered off to join Nojiko, her spirits lifted by her playful declaration.

But as the house fell quiet again, Bell Mere's smile faded, and she slumped into a nearby chair, staring out the window with a distant gaze. "Why did you have to die, Naruto?" she whispered to herself, her heart aching with the weight of her thoughts. "You promised to take care of us... why did you have to leave us like this? Why did you make me fall for you, only to feel this pain?"

Tears welled up in her eyes, and she let them fall, the grief threatening to consume her. But then, just as she was about to break down completely, something shifted. A presence. She felt it before she saw it—the intense, unmistakable stare that Naruto had often given her, the one that always held a depth of emotion she couldn't quite put into words.

She turned, her breath catching in her throat as she saw him standing in the doorway, his armor gleaming under the light. For a moment, she was paralyzed, disbelief and hope swirling within her.

'Is he alive?' she thought, her heart racing.

"Naruto, Naruto!" she whispered, rushing to him, her arms outstretched. But before she could reach him, she saw the strings floating menacingly in the air, a chill running down her spine. 'Is he trying to kill me?'

But even then, Bell Mere refused to believe it. She trusted him. She had to. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, holding him tightly.

"I was so crushed when I heard that you died," she said through her tears. "Why couldn't you have sent a message if you were okay?"

She cried into his armor, her heart overwhelmed with relief and joy. "But it's okay... you're here now, and I'm so happy. Please, just stay for some days, make me feel better."

The figure in the armor stiffened, and the voice that came from it was not the Naruto she remembered, but something distorted and cold. "Not a threat. No rule broken, cannot take action."

Bell Mere frowned, confused by his words, not understanding the full depth of what was happening. "What are you saying?"

The air around them began to shift, and the tension in the room slowly began to dissipate. Bell Mere felt something familiar, something comforting, even in the coldness of the situation. It was the same feeling she had always gotten when Naruto was near, when he was being caring, when he was trying to protect her.

'He must have been angry because of the loss,' she reasoned, trying to make sense of the strange behavior. She didn't know what had happened to him, but she was sure that he was still there, still fighting to return to her.

Inside the armor, Hina had just begun to stir. Her mind, still clouded with confusion, slowly began to process her surroundings. She stared at Bell Mere, the woman who had once held a place in Naruto's heart. The thought filled her with fury, and her mind erupted with hatred.

'So this is the whore that seduced my Naruto,' she thought bitterly, her emotions spiraling. She could feel Naruto's influence on her, guiding her thoughts and actions, and as she spoke, the voice that came from her mouth was Naruto's, distorted by the rage that consumed her.

"Sorry for not contacting you," Hina said, the words feeling foreign in her mouth, but somehow, she knew they were what Naruto would have said. "I had been injured, so I was unable to do such activity. I am here to inform you that I will be unable to come by as usual, as I am not in a good position now. I will be a pirate from now on, so I will visit when it is appropriate."

Bell Mere, still reeling from the shock, nodded slowly, trying to calm her racing heart. "It's okay, I understand," she said, her voice trembling. The fear she had felt earlier had melted away, replaced by the belief that Naruto would return to her when the time was right.

"Can you take off your helmet?" Bell Mere asked gently, reaching up to touch the smooth surface of his helmet. "I want the usual intimacy, can't I?"

But Hina, channeling Naruto's voice, shook her head. "Sorry, my face has been melted into a terrible shape. I will need some time to heal it. So, wait for that day."

Bell Mere's heart sank, but she smiled softly. "Sorry for reminding you of that incident."

"No problem," Hina replied, though there was a coldness to her tone. "But I need to leave now. I don't want them to associate you with me."

She let go of Bell Mere's hand, turning to leave. Bell Mere stood in silence for a moment, her eyes fixed on the figure of Naruto—no, the figure of the thing that had once been Naruto—as it turned away.

"I will be waiting for you, so please do your best," she called out to him, though a sense of unease gnawed at her heart. "And don't do this again."

Hina, still consumed by her jealousy and hatred, seethed inwardly as she heard Bell Mere's words. 'Damn bitch,' she thought. 'It was so annoying seeing Naruto even play with her. Why did he need her?'

As she floated away, her mind caught onto Nami's presence, and a dark thought formed.

'He wants the kid, but did he need the woman?'