Chapter 83

Naruto and his team stood in the grand throne room of the Demon King's palace, the weight of their mission and the conversations with Meliodas and Elizabeth lingering heavily in their minds. As the formalities settled down, Naruto seized the opportunity to request something important, his voice steady but carrying a hint of determination.

"If you wouldn't mind, I want to ask if you could allow us access to the Tree of Might," he said, addressing Meliodas with respect but also urgency. The Tree of Might had long been known for its power and the strength it could bestow, and Naruto believed it could be a pivotal element in their ongoing battle against the encroaching darkness.

Meliodas, however, seemed entirely unfazed by the request, his demeanor as carefree as ever. "I can allow you entry to the Dark Dimension, so you can bring them yourself. Though, that fruit won't help you much anymore," he replied, his eyes twinkling with a touch of mischief. He paused for a moment before continuing. "You should target the heart of the weakest Demon King or the Heart of Darkness instead."

The casualness with which Meliodas mentioned such powerful, dangerous entities gave the room an eerie tension, despite his easygoing nature. But before anyone could respond, Elizabeth's voice cut through, sharp and cautious.

"Please, darling, you jest," she said, her tone both playful and firm. "Those two items are extremely dangerous, so please avoid getting close to them. The weakest Demon King is still too strong for anyone, and the Dark Dimension is a universe for abominable beings where the weak can't survive. Even people like us aren't strong enough to become servants of a Demon King, so it is best to leave before they know about you."

She paused, her eyes locking onto Naruto's. "Please, don't let your power blind you to the truth. That world is a nightmare come to life. There is no hope or light. Everything and everyone will try to eat you alive."

"I understand, and thank you for your warning," Naruto said, his voice thoughtful. His mind churned with the implications of her words, and for the first time in a long while, he questioned his approach. He had always believed he was the one who would save the world, that he could shoulder the burden of its future. But what if it came at the cost of his loved ones? What if, in his pursuit of saving the world, he had to sacrifice those closest to him?

In that moment, Naruto realized something profound. What mattered most to him were the people he loved. Konoha, his friends, his family—they were his true strength. The world might be important, but they came first.

His heart swelled with a quiet resolve. The world comes second. He thought of all the people in his life, all the faces that had supported him, and he knew what mattered most. Perhaps he wasn't cut out for kingship after all.

Zeldris, who had remained silent during the exchange, seemed to notice the shift in Naruto's demeanor. His eyes narrowed slightly, but he said nothing. It wasn't his place to comment on the hero's internal struggles. Instead, he turned toward the team and gestured toward a corridor leading deeper into the palace.

"Come," Zeldris instructed, his voice calm but carrying a quiet authority. "I will take you to the portal."

The group followed, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the grand halls of the Demon Kingdom as Zeldris led them toward their destination. The journey was uneventful, but the air was thick with the gravity of their earlier conversation.

Upon reaching the designated location, they were met with an unexpected sight. There, waiting by the portal, was a figure who appeared to have arrived ahead of them. His presence radiated an unsettling power, and his very being seemed to stand in opposition to the serene atmosphere of the Demon Kingdom.

It was none other than Apocalypse, the feared leader of the Star Kingdom. His form was imposing, a dark aura clinging to him like a shadow. His piercing gaze locked onto Naruto and his team, his intentions unclear but undoubtedly dangerous.

The atmosphere grew thick with tension as the two parties stood in a silent standoff, each wary of the other. Apocalypse, the leader of the Star Kingdom, met Naruto's gaze with a calm but unsettling smile. His expression was polite, almost cordial, yet there was an unmistakable undercurrent of something more sinister. It was as if his very presence clung to the air with an invisible weight, and Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply amiss.

For the first time since acquiring his vast array of powers, Naruto felt an eerie sense of blindness. His ability to peer into the depths of the universe, once a tool to observe the flow of energy and the fates of those around him, failed to unveil any true answers about Apocalypse. There was no trace of him, no pattern in the cosmic web to follow—just an abyss of nothingness. The lack of information left Naruto feeling unusually vulnerable, a rare sensation that unsettled him more than he cared to admit.

A sense of danger washed over him, deeper and darker than any foe he had faced before. Even Kurama, his ever-watchful partner, was on high alert. 'I think we should leave as he might be targeting us,' the Nine-Tails rumbled in Naruto's mind, his voice tense. 'I don't like this at all. Something's not right about him, and I don't want to take chances in a place where you might be suppressed by the citizens.'

Naruto mulled over the warning but knew he couldn't just turn tail and run, especially not in the face of such an ominous presence. It went against his very nature to back down from a challenge or potential threat. 'I can't leave such a dangerous man here. I will be relying on you, partner. React when you see anything.' The thought of retreating, especially without understanding the true threat, didn't sit well with him. So, he kept his distance, his mind alert and focused, watching Apocalypse like a hawk. He couldn't afford to be blind to any sudden moves.

Despite the unsettling tension, Naruto and his team greeted Apocalypse with professionalism, masking the unease they felt. Zeldris, sensing the concern in the air, seemed content to let the situation unfold, though his eyes never left Naruto. When Gaara inquired about Apocalypse's presence, Zeldris simply shrugged, his face unreadable.

"It's up to the King," he answered calmly, his tone leaving no room for further discussion. "It's not within my authority to question him."

The conversation shifted back to their mission, and Zeldris led them toward the portal, a massive gate that had stood for centuries as the doorway to the Dark Dimension. The immense structure loomed in front of them, its surface cold and foreboding. The gate was typically closed, but before them stood a smaller entry point, guarded by multiple layers of defense mechanisms. Zeldris gestured toward it.

"This is the entry to the Dark Dimension," he began, his voice serious, a stark contrast to his earlier joviality. "It has existed for centuries, and it is both a place of immense power and great danger. To enter, all you need to do is pass through the gate. However, the moment you cross, you may find yourselves sent to any random location within the dimension. The portal will stay open only for a few minutes, so be prepared."

Naruto's team listened intently, taking mental notes. Zeldris's words were harsh, but they were the reality they would face.

"To avoid getting trapped, we will provide you with a guiding device. But it has limitations—after three days, it will no longer work, and you'll be on your own. Use it wisely." His voice lowered slightly. "The danger scale can be calculated by the visible marks in the Dark Dimension. The map will help you understand the risks, but it won't give you all the answers."

Naruto, ever the strategist, mentally prepared himself for what was to come. He was used to perilous missions, but this was unlike anything he had encountered. Zeldris's caution only deepened his wariness.

"Finally, be mindful of your surroundings," Zeldris added with a grave expression. "Keep your distance from the stars, and watch the ground you walk on. Everything there is alive... and it will eat you."

Sakura, always sharp and ready to ask the questions that mattered, raised her hand. "What about the air and water? Is the environment suitable for us or not?"

Zeldris's eyes narrowed as he addressed the question. "Isn't it obvious?" he replied, his tone laced with bitterness. "The Dark Dimension isn't suitable for anything from this universe. The longer you stay there, the higher the chance of corruption. If you don't get out in time, the dimension will make you part of it. It's a living nightmare, and once it starts to claim you, there's no escape."

The finality of his words hung in the air like a heavy weight. There was no room for hesitation. The Dark Dimension was not a place to linger, and Zeldris made it clear that the only way to survive was to enter with a clear purpose—and to leave quickly.

Sakura's face turned pale as the implications sank in. "So... people in the Dark Dimension, are they...?"

Zeldris cut her off before she could finish the thought. "They're not human anymore. The inhabitants of that world are abominations, twisted by the dark forces that permeate it. They will try to trick you, to deceive you into thinking they're friendly, but they are only out for your life."

The pain in Zeldris's voice as he spoke of the dimension was unmistakable. It was clear that the dimension had claimed many lives over the centuries, including those Zeldris might have cared for. It was personal for him, and Naruto could sense the weight of that loss in his words.

"Thank you for the warning," Naruto said, his tone sincere. The magnitude of the situation had just been made very clear to him. There was no room for error.

The group exchanged glances, each one silently acknowledging the gravity of their mission. The Dark Dimension awaited them, a place where survival would be a test of will, strength, and wits. And as if to remind them of the dangers ahead, the presence of Apocalypse loomed ever closer. The portal beckoned them, but they all knew that crossing it would change everything.

Naruto stood before the Dark Dimension's portal, his resolve clear. The whole team, despite the clear sense of danger, insisted that he bring along Kakashi and Sakura for the mission. The concerns were valid, but Naruto could feel his instincts pushing him in a different direction.

"I understand. You guys can return home, and I'll check this place out with this clone," he said, his voice firm, but even as he spoke, the unease gnawed at him. He felt a strange resistance from his team, their protective instincts kicking in. They knew that the Dark Dimension was unlike anything they had encountered before.

As Naruto began to make his decision, Apocalypse, ever the enigma, stepped forward with an almost mocking politeness. "It might take the honorable sage to make his decision, so could I enter first?" The words were laced with sarcasm, and there was no mistaking the contempt in his voice. To him, Naruto was just a young boy who had been handed power he didn't deserve. He saw Naruto's intellect and strength as little more than a fluke, a consequence of chance rather than true worth.

Zeldris nodded at Apocalypse's words, granting him the permission to enter without further delay. Apocalypse left without any fanfare, his departure leaving a lingering sense of unease in the air. The rest of the team didn't share the same confidence Naruto had, and it took a few minutes of back-and-forth for Naruto to finally agree to their request to have Kakashi and Sakura accompany him.

Despite their insistence, Naruto couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. His senses screamed danger, a gut instinct telling him that something was watching, something beyond his ability to perceive. It was a strange sensation—one that not even his newly honed powers could explain.

'Is something waiting for me? Or is it because of him?' The thought of Apocalypse lingered in his mind, and though Naruto couldn't detect any obvious threat, he felt an overwhelming sense of caution. Something was there, just beyond the veil, making him feel exposed and vulnerable.

Naruto made a swift decision. He would send a clone ahead to assess the situation. The clone passed through the portal without issue, and Naruto watched through its eyes. The path beyond was dark, foreboding, but there was no sign of Apocalypse. Yet, the feeling of danger didn't dissipate.

'It might be because of the Dark Dimension itself,' Naruto thought. There was no clear source for the unease, but he had learned that instincts like these were rarely wrong. With this understanding in mind, he felt ready to enter. If something could harm him at this point, he was confident that it wouldn't need to rely on traps or subtlety.

There was also the matter of Ai. The thought of her suffering gnawed at him, and the urgency of that weighed on him more than anything else. He couldn't afford to let her down. Excuses were no longer an option. He needed to act, to move forward. His decision was made.

Naruto quickly donned his armor, the familiar weight of it grounding him in the present. The two who followed behind him, Kakashi and Sakura, nodded in unison, their expressions set with determination. They were ready, even if they didn't fully understand what they were about to face.

Just as they moved to enter the portal, a violent explosion erupted from within the gate. The entire structure of the portal seemed to tremble, as though the very fabric of reality was being torn apart. Gaara's reflexes kicked in, his sand moving to form a protective shield around them, but even he could sense the futility in attempting to stop something of that magnitude.

Before anyone could react further, the explosion fluctuated, fading as quickly as it had appeared, leaving the air thick with tension.

As the portal fluctuated and exploded, it became clear that something far beyond ordinary was at work. Gaara and Shikamaru both understood that Naruto had some connection to the event—perhaps even the cause—but they were less concerned about him now. He had grown so powerful that his survival seemed almost guaranteed, but the rest of the world wasn't so fortunate. The aftermath of the explosion, with the sudden instability of the portal, left them all on edge.

"I assume that you don't know what happened," Shikamaru said, his eyes scanning the area, looking for any signs of danger. His gaze shifted to Zeldris, who stood poised and prepared, his armor gleaming.

"No," Zeldris replied flatly, his face betraying nothing of his thoughts. "But the King should know."

Before any further conversation could unfold, a new voice interrupted the tension. Meliodas, flanked by his Queen Elizabeth, arrived on the scene. His normally carefree demeanor was absent, replaced by an expression of grim determination. He eyed the site of the portal's destruction, as though trying to comprehend the magnitude of what had just occurred.

Shikamaru, his brow furrowed in thought, spoke next. "What happens when the gate is destroyed?"

It was a dangerous question, but one that needed an answer. He looked to Meliodas, who, despite his usual relaxed tone, now exuded a seriousness that sent a shiver down Shikamaru's spine.

"It means that someone can now open a gate to the demon world," Meliodas answered gravely. "Kazekage, Mister Nara, I require your assistance. Relay my message to your people, as we might be on the verge of total annihilation—or worse."

The weight of his words settled heavily over the group. Shikamaru's mind raced, analyzing the implications. If the gate was truly destroyed, it would open a dangerous pathway, one that could unleash horrors beyond imagination.

"Keep an eye out for human sacrifices and demonic rituals," Meliodas continued, his tone uncharacteristically sharp. "Once the gate is brought into existence, it will be nearly impossible to contain. Many lives will be lost. The gate was designed specifically to keep the portal stable, preventing others from opening it. Now, that control is lost."

The gravity of the situation hit hard. This wasn't just about the loss of the portal—it was about an uncontrolled force entering their world. The threat was massive, and the team had to act fast.

Gaara, ever the strategist, didn't waste any time. His sand cloud swirled around him as he turned to Shikamaru. "We need to warn Artoria and the others. This is bigger than any one of us."

Shikamaru nodded, his mind already calculating the steps they needed to take. "I'll get the message out. You head to the continent, make the necessary preparations. We need to ensure that no one tries to open a new gate."

Without a moment's hesitation, Gaara and Shikamaru flew off on the sand cloud, leaving the Demon Kingdom behind. Their mission was clear: to relay the warning and prepare for the worst.

Meanwhile, back at the Demon Kingdom, Meliodas turned to Zeldris. "This is no longer just about the balance between worlds. If the gate is reopened, the entire fabric of reality could unravel. We need to be prepared for anything."

Zeldris didn't say anything, but his expression darkened, and his grip on his sword tightened. The sense of impending doom loomed large, and they all knew that the stakes had just become much higher.