Ch 48 Part 2

Falbium sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Figures. You drag me out of a perfectly good nap for interdimensional chaos. Typical."

Naruto turned to Aethra, motioning toward Shikamaru with a subtle gesture. "Aethra, meet Shikamaru Nara—also known here as Falbium Asmodeus, Commander of the Devil Army, and the sharpest mind in my world. If anyone can help untangle this mess, it's him."

Shikamaru gave a lazy wave to Aethra, his expression as casual as ever despite the weight of the introductions. "Pleasure to meet you," he said, his tone carrying a trace of dry humor. "I've already heard everything, by the way. Shadows are great listeners."

Red, who had been observing with a grin, raised a clawed hand in greeting. "Shika! Good to see you, lazybones. Still solving everyone else's problems?"

Shikamaru gave Red a faint smirk. "Someone's got to keep you out of trouble."

Aethra, however, regarded Shikamaru with open curiosity, her silver eyes narrowing as she studied him. His demeanor, relaxed and unassuming, contrasted sharply with the titles Naruto had listed. Her intrigue deepened when Astrid's voice whispered into her mind, feeding her data on the man standing before her.

Entity: Shikamaru Nara/Falbium Asmodeus. Title: Strategist Supreme, Commander of the Devil Army. Notable attributes: unparalleled intellect, mastery of Barrier Magic, extensive knowledge of interdimensional constructs. Threat level: highly variable based on context.

Aethra's gaze lingered on Shikamaru, her thoughts a blend of curiosity and caution. Before she could ask more, Shikamaru stepped forward, addressing the 'room' with his characteristic blend of pragmatism and precision.

"So," he began, his hands slipping into his pockets as he surveyed the group. "Let me get this straight. Your world's falling apart because Naruto decided to drop in unannounced, and now the machines are making their move. Sounds about right?"

Aethra nodded, though she hesitated slightly. "It's… more complicated than that. The disturbances have disrupted the balance—"

"Yeah, yeah," Shikamaru interrupted with a wave of his hand. "I've got the gist. What you need is a solution, not a recap."

Naruto arched his brow. "And you've got one?"

Shikamaru's lips curled into a faint smirk. "Of course. That's why you brought me, right?" His gaze shifted to Aethra. "You need someone to help you stabilize the realm. Someone who can navigate the chaos and tip the scales back in your favor."

He gestured toward Naruto, his tone matter-of-fact. "Naruto's staying here. You're not dragging him off to fix your world when we've got enough problems on our plate. But Kurama—he's perfect for the job."

As if summoned by his name, Kurama materialized beside Naruto in a sudden surge of energy. The immense fox's form coalesced with an ethereal brilliance, his ten tails flicking lazily as he regarded the room with an air of bored authority. His crimson eyes glinted, sharp and calculating, as he turned his gaze first to Naruto, then to Shikamaru.

"Figures you'd volunteer me for this," Kurama grumbled, though his tone lacked any real annoyance. He straightened, his massive form towering over the group as he glanced at Aethra and Astrid. "So, who's the new audience?"

Aethra took an involuntary step back, her silver eyes wide with a mixture of awe and disbelief. Astrid's voice immediately chimed in her mind, relaying a flood of information.

Entity: Shinju Kurama. Title: Eclipse Born Tyrant. Threat level: Kilonova. Attributes: immeasurable chakra reserves, mastery of destruction and regeneration, symbiotic connection with Uzumaki Naruto. Potential for both devastation and creation.

Astrid's analysis continued, detailing Kurama's abilities and their implications, but Aethra barely registered the words. Her gaze remained fixed on the massive fox, her cosmic senses overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of his presence.

Kurama smirked, his sharp teeth glinting as he met her gaze. "Take a picture, princess—it'll last longer."

Aethra blinked, regaining her composure with visible effort. "You… are unlike anything I've encountered," she said softly, her voice tinged with awe.

Kurama chuckled, his tails flicking lazily. "Yeah, I get that a lot."

Shikamaru stepped forward, cutting through the tension with his usual efficiency. "Kurama's your best bet," he said, addressing Aethra directly. "He's powerful enough to handle whatever's waiting for you, and he's got experience dealing with interdimensional chaos. Plus, he's got a knack for keeping things interesting."

Naruto glanced at Kurama, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "You up for it?"

Kurama rolled his eyes but nodded. "Fine. But don't blame me if I end up taking over her world while I'm at it."

Aethra hesitated, her gaze flicking between Naruto, Shikamaru, and Kurama. Finally, she nodded, her voice steady despite the storm of emotions swirling within her. "If this is the solution, I'll accept it. But know this—my world is on the brink. We don't have much time."

Shikamaru smirked faintly, his sharp eyes gleaming. "Then let's not waste any more of it."

He then turned to Naruto, his usual relaxed demeanor tempered by a spark of curiosity. "All right, genius," he said, folding his arms. "How exactly are we going to pull this off? Sending Kurama with Aethra—what's the plan?"

Naruto raised a brow. "You're the one with all the answers. I thought you had a plan."

Shikamaru gave an awkward smile, scratching the back of his neck. "Well, I figured we'd go with something simple. A shadow clone? Maybe a blood clone? I mean, Kurama doesn't exactly need the full package to get the job done, right?"

Naruto sighed, crossing his arms as he turned to Aethra. "How turbulent is the journey going to be? Are we talking subtle shifts in energy, or are we bracing for the apocalypse on the way?"

Aethra's silver eyes flickered with thought, her expression growing serious. "The path we must take is deeply unstable," she admitted. "The dimensional boundaries are fractured in places, and the turbulence is… extreme. Any vessel sent with me will have to endure immense strain. Only the strongest forms could survive such chaos."

Naruto nodded, frowning slightly. "That's what I thought," he said, glancing back at Shikamaru. "Shadow clones and blood clones are strong, but they're not designed for that kind of punishment. They wouldn't last long enough to get the job done."

Before either of them could say more, Red's booming voice broke in, his tone as casual as if he were suggesting what to have for lunch. "Why don't you just make a proper vessel?" he said, grinning. "Use your blood, Uzumaki. Mix it with mine. My flesh is tough enough to handle anything, and combined with yours, it'll make something perfect for Kurama to inhabit."

Naruto blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion, but before he could respond, Shikamaru's mind went completely blank, his sharp intellect overwhelmed by the implications of Red's idea. Slowly, his eyes widened, his thoughts racing as he envisioned countless possibilities.

"A vessel made from Naruto's blood and Red's flesh…" Shikamaru muttered, his tone distant as he processed the implications. "Durable enough to house Kurama's power… resilient in extreme conditions…" His voice trailed off, and then, almost as if on instinct, he straightened and pointed decisively at Naruto. "I'm calling dibs on it once Kurama's done. That thing's mine."

The room fell silent for a moment, and then Naruto, Red, and Kurama all turned to look at him, their expressions ranging from amused to incredulous.

"Seriously, Shika?" Naruto said, arching a brow.

Shikamaru shrugged, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "What? You don't see the potential? A vessel like that could revolutionize everything. You wouldn't just be sending Kurama—you'd be creating something unprecedented. Durable, powerful… and reusable."

Red barked out a laugh, his massive form shaking. "I like it! The strategist sees the big picture. You've got ambition, Shika. I respect that."

Kurama, for his part, narrowed his crimson eyes at Shikamaru. "Let's not get ahead of ourselves, lazy genius. You're talking about me here. Don't go making plans for my ride before I've even left."

Shikamaru raised his hands in mock surrender. "Hey, I'm just saying. Once Kurama's back, the vessel could be… useful."

Naruto sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose before shaking his head with a small, exasperated smile. "Fine. Whatever. Let's focus on getting Kurama to her world first."

The trio—Naruto, Red, and Kurama—exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the absurdity of the situation before turning their attention back to the task at hand. Aethra, though still processing the casual banter, found herself nodding in agreement.

"Very well," she said, her voice calm but resolute. "If this is the solution, then let's begin."

The tension in the air shifted as Naruto, Red, Kurama, and the others began to focus on the task at hand. The light banter faded, replaced by the heavy anticipation of what was to come. Aethra and Shikamaru stood back, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension as Naruto and Red prepared to combine their essence—blood and flesh—to create the perfect vessel.

Naruto stepped forward, his emerald gaze locking with Red's molten gold. The two shared a silent understanding, an unspoken agreement to see this through. Red stretched his massive form, his wings flicking lazily, and then turned his full attention to Naruto.

"All right, Naruto," Red said, his tone carrying both amusement and a hint of excitement. "Let's make some history."

With a fluid motion, Red extended his massive tail, curling it slightly to reveal a cluster of crimson-hued scales shimmering with faint embers of draconic energy. Without hesitation, he lashed the edge of his tail downward, a few of the shimmering scales peeling away and falling to the ground. Each scale pulsed faintly, radiating the raw power of his essence.

Naruto stepped forward, his emerald eyes gleaming as he knelt beside the scales. With a kunai flicking into his hand, he made a clean slice across his palm, crimson blood welling up against his skin. Holding his palm over the scales, he let the blood drip onto them, watching as it seeped into the shimmering surfaces. The reaction was immediate.

The scales began to glow, their crimson hue deepening as Naruto's blood merged with Red's flesh. A low hum reverberated through the Dimensional Gap, a sound that carried weight and power, resonating in the very fabric of their surroundings. The scales began to change, warping and melding together into a smooth, rippling mass of crimson and gold that hovered above the ground.

Aethra's silver eyes widened, her celestial senses attuned to the immense surge of energy radiating from the mixture. Shikamaru, standing beside her, leaned slightly forward, his sharp mind already cataloging the phenomenon with a mix of fascination and calculated analysis.

"This is…" Aethra began, her voice trailing off as the light pulsed, growing stronger with each beat. The mingled blood began to coalesce, forming into a swirling orb of crimson and gold, its surface rippling like liquid fire.

"A perfect vessel," Shikamaru finished, his tone low and awestruck. "Their power is harmonizing. The balance is… flawless."

And Cut!

That's it for this part folks.

As always, let me know in your reviews and do share your feedback and suggestions!

I'm very delighted to share that you can now read next 25k words of the story on my patron page. My user name is same BlackInfinity1289 on patron website.

Note: They are early access only, they will be eventually released here as well.

Also, if you want discuss about the story or the ideas, you can join my discord server. I go by Henry there, give me a ping to say hi.

link: discord. gg / SPsSwAcq4b

Hope to see you there!

Thank you for reading.

Good Day!

Black Infinity 1289,

Ja Ne.