Chapter 8

In the midst of the bustling and chaotic Heroes Chat Group, a quiet connection was forming. Illya, a lonely homunculus with a heartbreaking past, felt a surge of warmth as Naruto's chakra enveloped her. It was something foreign yet comforting—a feeling she hadn't known for so long. The warmth spread throughout her body, as if she were being held by a protective force, something she hadn't felt since her father's abandonment. Her heart fluttered, and tears, unbidden, began to well in her crimson eyes.

Naruto, on the other hand, wasn't simply extending his chakra. With a simple connection, his power allowed him to peer into Illya's life, uncovering the fragments of pain and loss she had carried for so long. His mind touched upon the tragedy of her life, the absence of familial love, and the sense of loneliness that had haunted her every moment. She had been created to serve, to fight in a war with no promise of a future.

"No matter where we go, such tragedies continue to play their tune," Naruto muttered softly, his voice taking on a solemn tone as he reflected on the harsh realities of life. As a ruler who had conquered so much, he had seen countless broken lives, but Illya's resonated with him more than most. Her pain was like his own, something neither of them had deserved, yet it bound them together.

It was in this moment that Naruto felt the weight of his own journey—the journey of justice and unity that had become his guiding principle. His mind drifted to the world Illya inhabited. His presence, the sheer weight of his control over the multiverse, was a constant force for peace and stability. To him, everything outside of his reach was chaos, filled with suffering and injustice.

"What happened?" Kurama, who had been amusing himself with energy molecules, turned his attention toward Naruto. The golden fox's tails swayed lazily, though his expression was filled with quiet curiosity. The powerful energy Kurama was manipulating was making the air around him vibrate with potential, but for now, he seemed more focused on his companion's emotional state.

"Nothing much, just another sad case," Naruto replied, his voice tinged with sadness but also determination. He understood the pain all too well and wanted to fix it—but the road to doing so was long and full of obstacles.

Kurama's expression softened, and he gave a knowing smile. "It's just a matter of time. We will conquer them and bring happiness to them," he said, his voice full of quiet confidence. His mind raced with thoughts of enemies he could crush, of battles where he could flex his considerable might. His fusion with Naruto had elevated him to unimaginable heights of power, and with that strength came the belief that he could one day end all suffering in the universe.

Naruto chuckled softly, shaking his head at the playful expression on Kurama's face. Despite their immense power, it was easy to forget that Kurama could still be like a child at times, his desire for battle and adventure clear in his eyes.

"Thanks, bro," Naruto muttered as he gazed at his partner. The lightness of their connection had been enough to lift his spirits, if only for a moment.

Kurama nodded, his tails flicking lazily behind him, a contented smile curling at the edges of his mouth. They both knew the path ahead was fraught with challenges, but together, they were unstoppable.

For now, they would take comfort in their shared purpose—to bring peace to a fractured universe, one soul at a time.

Naruto felt a sense of satisfaction as he completed the scan on Illya's body, understanding the vast complexities that lay within her. The magical circuits, the intricate nervous system of a magus, were far beyond the capabilities of most, and yet, Naruto saw potential. It was clear to him that these circuits were a source of immense power, far too valuable to waste.

"Her body has many abnormal things, and it's producing a lot of energy. This isn't exactly normal according to Illya... Majority of her body is these magic circuits," Naruto thought, taking in all the information from the scan. It was clear that Illya's body, while extraordinary, was a finely-tuned system of energy manipulation and magical foundation. However, the power within her could be refined and used far more efficiently.

Naruto had already mastered many forms of power in his own world, and while magical circuits were an interesting addition, his empire had far more efficient systems at play. Clones, like those perfected by Orochimaru, worked better in most cases. But still, this was something new. The concept of Magic Circuits intrigued him, and there was always room for improvement.

Naruto's mind absorbed the intricacies of Magic Circuits, a concept foreign yet fascinating to him. He had seen countless magical systems in his travels, but the way the Magic Circuits operated intrigued him. These circuits were not mere conduits of magical energy; they were woven into the very fabric of a person's body, acting as a pseudo-nervous system. In a way, they defined a magus—without these circuits, a person could never access the magical prowess needed to wield thaumaturgy, the system of magic itself.

The Magic Circuits served two core functions. First, they converted a person's life force into magical energy. This conversion was essential for sustaining a magus's ability to cast spells, as it relied on the user's vitality to fuel their power. Second, and perhaps more intriguingly, they granted access to the Thaumaturgical Foundations, complex structures that allowed magi to perform greater magic. This was the essence of a magus's abilities: the link between the material world and the astral plane, enabling them to manipulate the laws of nature itself.

To perform a Mystery—an advanced form of magic—a magus would send both a command and a surge of magical energy through their Magic Circuits to a Thaumaturgical Foundation. This foundation was essentially a series of prewritten spells, much like a computer program, each one tailored to a specific purpose. Upon activation, the magic would unfold, transforming reality according to the magus's command.

A Thaumaturgical Foundation was not a single spell or magic formula; rather, it was a complex system made up of multiple formulas that interlinked, each running a distinct magical program when activated. The magus would connect their Magic Circuits to this foundation, sending the necessary commands and energy to trigger the magic. The strength of this magic was not solely dependent on the individual; it was influenced by the strength of the foundation itself, which was often engraved into the Ley Lines of the world, where the fabric of reality itself was most malleable.

The more a magus was distanced from their Thaumaturgical Foundation, the weaker the effects of their magic became. It was as though the further they moved from the original source of their magical power, the more diluted their connection became, weakening the potency of their spells. This phenomenon demonstrated the deep connection between a magus, their magic, and the world around them—magic wasn't just an individual's power; it was a relationship between them and the forces that governed reality.

More intriguing was the way these Thaumaturgical Foundations interacted with the world's Ley Lines, a network of mystical energy that flowed beneath the surface of the planet. The power of a Foundation could be heavily influenced by the collective faith and unconscious belief of the people. If a Foundation was born in a land rich with faith or ancient belief, it could tap into the Ley Lines with great potency. However, if a Thaumaturgical Foundation was weak in faith or distanced from its place of origin, it might falter or even fail to work at all.

Naruto could feel a strange resonance with this system, not just in its magical aspects but also in the way it connected to the flow of energy throughout the world. This system reminded him of his own empire—where unity, belief, and faith in the shared purpose of his people drove the strength of their collective power. What if he could create a system of his own, similar to these Magic Circuits, but tailored to his empire's unique power structure?

As he thought of the possibilities, Naruto imagined a network of knowledge and techniques that could be accessed by the people of his empire, a kind of "magical system" that worked through a shared consciousness and belief. Each individual would tap into this system, drawing strength from the collective will of his empire. Just like the Thaumaturgical Foundations, this collective power could grow and evolve, influenced by the faith and belief of the people within his empire.

By creating a foundation that was connected to the world's Ley Lines, he could tap into the collective unconscious and elevate his people's abilities to unimaginable levels. They would not only harness their magical energy but would be able to manipulate reality itself, all while fostering a deeper unity within his empire. The more they believed, the stronger their connection to this foundation would grow, pushing them ever closer to transcendent power.

Naruto's mind raced with the possibilities as he began to piece together how he could make this system a reality. It was clear that the power of Magic Circuits was not just in the individual, but in the connection they held to something larger—the world, the people, and the belief that flowed through them. This was an idea that could change everything.

His empire's power had already reached staggering levels, but this system, this collective belief-based magic, could push them beyond even their current limits. It was not just about raw strength; it was about unifying the potential of every individual, weaving them together in a greater purpose that could shape the very fabric of reality.

If he could replicate such a system for his own empire, it would open up vast new potential for growth and power. He would no longer have to rely solely on personal mastery for strength; the entire population of his empire could tap into this knowledge base, evolving faster than ever before.

By using his reality manipulation, Naruto could amplify the effectiveness of these skills based on the collective unconscious of his people. Their belief, their faith in the system, would directly influence the power they could draw from it. This would not only allow his empire to access powers that surpassed their natural limitations, but it could push them even beyond their current boundaries.

Naruto could already feel the immense power of his empire, with members capable of planetary destruction and even galaxy-shattering abilities. Yet, the empire had been stagnating. The progression had slowed. This knowledge base, however, could reignite that fire, propelling his people to even greater heights.

He envisioned a system where the foundational knowledge of his empire—its techniques, its powers, its abilities—was encoded into a vast, accessible library. This would be more than just a repository of knowledge; it would be a living, breathing entity. With the help of his reality-altering powers, he could shape this knowledge base in such a way that it would actively feed the minds of his people, continuously evolving and improving.

As belief in the system grew, the power of the knowledge base would amplify. Those who accessed it would find their abilities expanding beyond their wildest dreams. A simple combat technique could evolve into something capable of destroying an entire star system. With each new person who believed in the potential of the system, the power would multiply exponentially.

"Imagine a system where every person in my empire could tap into the collective knowledge and grow at an accelerated pace. Not just in strength, but in wisdom, understanding, and mastery over their own abilities," Naruto thought to himself, feeling the excitement grow. "This could take my empire to new heights. We've only scratched the surface of what's possible."

Naruto's thoughts drifted back to the Magic Circuits, the way they connected individuals to higher realms, to the very essence of the world around them. His system could do something similar, except with his own empire's techniques. Instead of relying on individual mastery, he could foster a collective consciousness where everyone contributed to and benefited from the system.

The potential for growth was staggering. If the people of his empire could access these powers and grow in accordance with their beliefs, they could reach levels of power that would make them a force unlike anything the multiverse had ever seen. And it all started with a simple connection—a base of knowledge that Naruto could shape with his reality manipulation.

"This will be the next step," Naruto muttered to himself. "The path forward isn't just about raw strength; it's about unifying the knowledge and belief of my people. Together, they can accomplish more than any single individual ever could."

The possibilities stretched out before him like a horizon waiting to be explored. As he began to formulate a plan for implementing this system. A new age of power, wisdom, and unity was about to begin. And it would start with the belief of his people.

He decided to gift Illya something of equal value for her cooperation. He could sense her instability, and it troubled him to think of her existing in such a fragile state. With a thought, he began to work his power. His chakra spread through her world, mending and enhancing her very essence.

"Thank you for your cooperation," Naruto said, his voice resonating through her. "I'll work on your problem and, if anyone else has input, I hope they'll respond. I've learned much from the scan, so now, I'll gift you something in return."

Illya felt the change immediately. She could feel her body stabilizing, growing stronger and more powerful. She felt her form aging normally, not trapped in an unchanging state. She was now truly alive, free from the constraints that had bound her before.

He enhanced her further, bestowing her with physical abilities that far exceeded human limits—enough to survive the most extreme forces, like an atomic bomb. With a wave of his hand, Naruto gave her a mastery over all the elements, something that would make her a formidable force in any battle. His mind linked with hers, and she felt her very being shift. Her mind, now empowered with illusionary abilities, could break the strongest of wills with a mere thought.

But it didn't stop there. Naruto granted her magical eyes that would allow her to copy techniques, much like the Sharingan. She could now learn at an unprecedented speed, adapting and perfecting herself with ease.

As Illya absorbed these gifts, she couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the generosity. "Thank you for the assistance... and for this wonderful gift." Her voice trembled with joy. The overwhelming power coursing through her made her feel invincible, and she couldn't help but imagine how easily she could dominate the Fifth Holy Grail War. She had the tools to rewrite her fate, to save her brother, and maybe even confront her father. The weight of those unresolved questions no longer seemed impossible to answer.

"Good. Now go and stop the war. You are the hero of the world, Illya. Believe in yourself," Naruto said, his voice warm and encouraging.

Illya was taken aback by his words. "Hero of the world?" The thought felt surreal, yet Naruto's confidence in her was unwavering. She had been used and manipulated for so long that the idea of being a hero, of having purpose, felt like a dream. But if Naruto believed in her, maybe it was possible. She nodded, a new fire lighting up her crimson eyes.

"I will try," she whispered, her voice filled with determination.

Naruto smiled softly as he saw Illya's resolve strengthen. It was a beautiful thing to witness—someone finding hope where there was none, someone finding a friend when they had been abandoned. In a world full of endless challenges, moments like these reminded him why he fought. The hope he saw in Illya's eyes mirrored his own, and he knew that this was just the beginning.

As he watched her, Naruto could sense the complexity of her world. Unlike the lifeless worlds he had been to before, Illya's dimension had a system, a pulse of life that resonated with him. It was a living world, one that could be shaped, nurtured, and changed.

With that thought, Naruto's connection to Illya's world deepened, and he silently vowed to watch over her, knowing that this would not be the last time their paths crossed. For now, however, he had done what he could—given her the strength to face the trials ahead.

"Good luck, Illya," Naruto whispered to himself, a soft smile on his face as the chat group continued to buzz with life, full of heroes and champions from every corner of the multiverse.