Chapter 15 – Demon Country Arc: Part II

The mist curling through the trees of Demon Country was unnatural. It wasn't just the thickness or the color—it was the way it moved. As if alive. As if watching. It clung to the air and ground like a curse, a silent observer of something old and angry stirring beneath the soil.Naruto walked at the front of the group, his stride steady, his senses wide open. The pigments around his eyes were darkened in the distinctive ring of Sage Mode, but there was no outward sign of strain—just silence, and focus. Behind him, Sakura and Ino moved with practiced steps, flanking Shion in the center, while Sai trailed behind, silent as ever.They had left the capital hours ago, moving toward one of the outer shrines where the spiritual barrier had first begun to fracture. The sky above had darkened early, clouded by unnatural overcast, and no wildlife dared break the silence. Even the birds were absent from the trees.Naruto's thoughts drifted to what Shion had said the night before."I saw your death."She had delivered it as casually as if discussing the weather, and with just enough weight behind her voice to let him know she wasn't joking."You were alone. Surrounded. Crushed by darkness."She hadn't elaborated beyond that, and he hadn't asked. He didn't fear death—but he feared leaving things undone. He feared leaving his people behind without the strength to protect themselves. That was why he was here.Shion herself walked with unsettling poise just behind him, her staff gently tapping the path beneath them. Her violet eyes never wandered. She moved as if she already knew what would happen next."I don't like her," Ino muttered under her breath.Naruto smirked faintly. "You don't like most people.""I liked her even less when she said she saw you die."Sakura said nothing, her eyes scanning the horizon. But the tension in her jaw was telling.Sai's voice broke the silence. "We are approaching the first shrine. Topography indicates ruined terrain and decayed wildlife. The corruption here may be partially spiritual, partially environmental.""Stay sharp," Naruto ordered.⸻The ruins emerged from the fog like a broken memory—jagged stone columns snapped at their midpoints, broken obelisks choked by crimson vines, and a shattered shrine at the heart of it all. The structure was ancient, older than anything Naruto had seen in the Land of Fire. Its roof had long since caved in, and the prayer stones around it had been overturned or worn down to smooth nubs.The air hummed. Even without Sage Mode, Naruto would have felt it. The ground buzzed with corrupted energy, like the earth itself was trying to whisper warnings."Wait," Ino said. "I sense—"Black tendrils burst from the soil, shrieking as they rose like serpents from the underworld.Naruto didn't hesitate."Sakura—protect Shion! Sai, cover the perimeter!"He slammed his palms together and created two Shadow Clones, both bursting into motion instantly. One took Shion's flank, the other sprinted forward, forming a Rasengan in his hand that began to crackle with enhanced energy.Sage Mode Rasengan. A technique he had trained to refine after he master sage mode . Not flashy—but brutally effective.The clone rammed the Rasengan into the first spiritual mass. Instead of dispersing it, the corrupted spirit shattered—splitting into arcs of dark vapor that fled screeching into the mist.The others hissed in retreat.Naruto stepped forward and formed a hand seal.Wind Release: Gale Palm.The technique amplified his momentum as he launched forward, catching two spirits mid-slither. He struck with precision, using Sage-enhanced strength to crush the unstable spirits with a single blow each—never once calling on his bloodline. Not yet.Sai's ink tigers lunged through the darkness to intercept other spirits circling the ruins. Ino stood over Shion, hands aglow with sensor chakra, warding off anything that slipped past.Sakura muttered. "He's finally fighting like a normal shinobi."Naruto landed in the center of the shrine and scanned the battlefield. The enemy wasn't overwhelming—just persistent. They were testing him. Trying to see his limits to exhaust then overwhelmed him... heh idiots picked the wrong target.A few minutes later, the last spirit dissipated with a final shriek, melting into the ground like spilled ink. Silence returned.Naruto turned back toward the group. "Everyone okay?""Bruised ego," Ino muttered. "But fine."Shion stepped into the center of the platform, her staff already glowing with a soft violet aura. "This place is the first of four. Each one anchors a corner of the spiritual barrier. If these fail, the demon's spirit—Mōryō—will no longer be sealed."Sai tilted his head. "And you are the only one who can repair them?"Shion nodded. "The bloodline of priestesses who sealed Mōryō runs through me. Only I can complete the ritual. But I need time to perform it.""You'll get it," Naruto said, forming a protective circle of clones around the platform.Shion began the chant, her voice rising in a language none of them recognized. Ancient symbols lit up beneath her feet, glowing with a golden hue that bled into the ground and up through the vines.⸻An hour later, the seal was restored. The corrupted mist receded.But the tension didn't.Naruto noticed Shion staring at him more than once. Not in awe—but curiosity. Like she was trying to see something deeper than just his strength.When he caught her staring again, she didn't look away."You held back," she said quietly.Naruto didn't answer."You could've wiped them out with that tremor power of yours."He stiffened."You know about that?" he asked carefully."I've seen pieces. Dreams. Whispers. You carry something ancient—like an earthquake given form."Naruto's voice lowered. "Don't tell the others.""I won't," she said. "But you should know—if I could see it, others will too."⸻They made camp a short distance away. Sai drew. Ino sharpened kunai. Sakura prepared rations.Naruto sat alone by the fire, staring into the flames.Shion walked over quietly and sat beside him, folding her legs beneath her."I meant it," she said. "About your death."Naruto didn't look at her. "It wouldn't be the first time someone predicted that.""But I'm different," she said. "I've seen a lot of people die. Most of them I couldn't stop. But you…" she trailed off, her voice softening. "You don't fight for yourself. That's why it scared me."He turned to her now, meeting her gaze. "What exactly did you see?""You were surrounded. Bleeding. You smiled anyway. And then you were gone."He didn't flinch. "Then I'll make sure that vision doesn't come true."Shion didn't look away. "You can't stop fate, Naruto.""I can sure as hell punch it in the face."That made her laugh—a genuine one.Ino watched from across the fire, eyes narrowing slightly.Sakura glanced at her. "You okay?""I'm fine," Ino snapped.Sai, without lifting his eyes, muttered, "Jealousy level increased."Sakura snorted. "Shut up, Sai."⸻By the time morning came, the shrine was glowing faintly, its purification complete.Naruto looked out toward the horizon. The next shrine would take them deeper into cursed territory—where the cultists still lingered, trying to gather remnants of Mōryō's shattered spirit.He could feel it. The deeper they went, the more dangerous it would become. And next time… he might not be able to hold back.He only hoped he wouldn't have to make that choice too soonThe mist curling through the trees of Demon Country was unnatural. It wasn't just thick or heavy—it moved like it had a mind of its own. As if alive. As if watching. Each step they took further into the forest brought a pressure that settled in their chests like the weight of invisible hands.Naruto walked in front, his senses sharpened, Sage Mode active. He didn't speak, didn't need to. The tension in the air said enough. Behind him, Shion moved silently, her ceremonial staff clinking softly with each step. Ino flanked her on one side, Sakura on the other. Sai followed at the rear, drawing idly in his notebook with his usual unnerving calm.The group had already sealed one of the corrupted shrines. It had taken everything to hold off the spiritual manifestations of Mōryō's influence while Shion performed the ritual. The enemy wasn't just physical. It was spiritual. Ancient. Insidious. The air itself felt hostile.They were now moving toward the second shrine. According to Shion, this one had been the most heavily corrupted of the four."This mist," Ino murmured, her chakra threads flicking out around them like invisible sensors. "It's not just hiding chakra—it's muffling it. I can't get a read more than twenty meters out."Sakura glanced sideways. "Think it's natural?""Not a chance.""It's spiritual," Shion said, not even turning. "Mōryō's influence is leaking through the broken seal here. The spirits don't want to be seen… but they want to watch."Naruto didn't look back. "Let them watch. They'll get a good show."Ino looked at him sideways. "You're… unusually serious."He didn't respond.Sakura spoke quietly. "He's been like this since we left the capital. Since Shion said—""Don't," Naruto interrupted. "We've got a job to do. Focus."Shion had told him two nights ago that she'd seen a vision of his death. It wasn't the first time someone had predicted his end, but this one felt different. She'd looked him straight in the eye when she said it. No fear. No malice. Just certainty.And yet… she had also said she didn't believe in fate. That meant something.⸻The second shrine was buried deep in a rocky gorge, the trees giving way to cracked earth and jagged stone. An old stairway descended into the valley, flanked by weather-worn statues of forgotten gods. At the bottom, surrounded by black ivy and mist, was the ruin: an ancient temple collapsed in on itself, only half-standing against the cliffs.Naruto stopped at the top of the stairs. "Sai, take the high ground. Keep your eyes on the perimeter. Ino, expand your sensory field as far as it'll reach. Sakura, prep anti-spirit seals. I'll go in first.""You sure?" Sakura asked. "You could be walking into an ambush.""I can handle it."He descended alone.Every step into the valley felt like sinking deeper into a grave. The air was thick and cold. The mist clung to his skin like oil. His Sage Mode picked up faint traces of movement—shifts in the soil, currents in the wind. Whispers.He reached the base of the shrine. It was worse than the first. The seal site was completely fractured. The altar had been shattered, and in its place floated a black, jagged mask—suspended by nothing, vibrating with hatred.Naruto stepped forward slowly. The ground groaned beneath his feet.Then the shadows came to life.From the walls, the floor, and even the mist itself—figures emerged. Half-solid, half-spiritual. Their forms twisted with claws and masks like those of the cultists they had fought in the first shrine, but these were more corrupted. Less human.Naruto didn't waste time.He flashed through hand signs and released a burst of Wind Release: Gale Palm, launching himself upward just as one of the spirits lunged at him. He formed a Rasengan mid-air—no clone necessary—and slammed it into the creature's head.It didn't just explode—it dispersed, like mist caught in a hurricane. That was the power of Jiraiya's training. He didn't need to rely on his bloodline. Not yet.Three more rushed him from different directions. This time, he didn't hesitate."Wind Release: Rasengan Gale Cutter!"The sphere that formed in his palm wasn't like the traditional Rasengan. It shimmered with precision—its core spinning faster than the eye could track. Around it orbited thin, slicing arcs of wind chakra, resembling bladed halos.When he drove it into the center of the enemy group, it didn't explode. It cut. A silent, devastating slice tore through all three spirits. The air howled. The shrine cracked. The spirits fell apart into ribbons of vapor, dissolving into the mist.From above, Ino gasped. "What was that?""Custom jutsu," Sakura muttered, shielding her eyes. "Never seen him use it before."Shion stepped closer, peering down the stairs. "The air itself was pulled into it."Naruto exhaled and turned to the mask. It was still pulsing, reacting to the destruction of the spirits. He walked toward it, his steps echoing in the ruined shrine.He didn't need to use his bloodline.But if he did…He raised a hand—and for a moment, just for a moment—the air around him rippled, like it was trying to fracture. The faintest shimmer of a crack appeared in the mist.He clenched his fist and forced it back down.Not yet.Instead, he reached into his pouch, pulled out a scroll, and unfurled it with a snap. Jiraiya's hand-seal notes for binding and containment flashed across the parchment.He formed the necessary signs, focusing natural chakra through his limbs."Earth Style: Seal Binding Pillar!"A column of hardened earth rose from beneath the mask and trapped it midair. Symbols flared across its surface. The mask screamed—an unearthly sound that rang inside his bones—but it couldn't escape.Sakura arrived first, breathless."What did you do?""Used a technique Ero-Sennin taught me. It's crude but strong enough for something semi-physical like that."She looked at the pillar, eyes wide. "He really did teach you a lot, didn't he?"Naruto nodded once. "More than I realized."The others caught up shortly, flanking the shrine as Shion stepped into the center."This place is clean enough for the ritual," she said quietly.The others took up defensive positions.Naruto stood watch by the entrance, alone.⸻The ritual was long. The air didn't return to normal, but it no longer fought them. That was as much of a victory as they could ask for here.Naruto didn't relax. Not even once.As Shion chanted, he stared out across the mist-choked valley, Sage Mode still active. Something was watching. He couldn't see it. Couldn't sense it. But it was there.When the ritual ended, Shion stumbled slightly. Ino caught her."That's two down," she said, trying to smile.Naruto turned back. "How many more?""Two," Shion said. "And the next one… is occupied.""By what?""Not what. Who."The mist swirled ominously behind them, as if responding to her words."They've been waiting for us."Night fell fast in Demon Country. There was no twilight—just a sudden shift from gray mist to black fog, as if someone had thrown a veil over the sky.Naruto stood watch at the edge of the clearing they'd chosen for camp. The second shrine's corruption had been cleansed, but that didn't mean they were safe. If anything, it had only provoked whatever forces lay ahead.Sai perched in a tree just above him, pretending to sketch but clearly observing. His eyes flicked down occasionally, taking stock of Naruto's posture, his chakra flow, his interaction with the environment. Naruto could feel it—his subtle surveillance.But he showed nothing.He kept his breathing even, his chakra smooth. As far as Sai would see, Naruto was nothing but a competent shinobi leader with no unusual techniques or bloodline. The cracks in the air that had flickered during the earlier fight? Easily dismissed as chakra residue from a wind technique—at least, Naruto hoped Sai would interpret it that way.He couldn't afford a slip.Behind him, near the fire, Ino and Sakura were bickering in hushed voices."You didn't need to keep grabbing his arm like that," Ino hissed."I was stabilizing his chakra," Sakura snapped. "You want him to blow his own hand off with another one of those slicing Rasengan things?""He didn't need you. He was in control.""I'm the medic.""And I'm his teammate too, in case you forgot."Naruto sighed. This again.He turned around just as Sakura folded her arms and stalked toward the fire. Ino sat down heavily beside Shion, glaring into the flames. Shion, to her credit, said nothing—though the amused twitch at the corner of her mouth didn't help."I'm going to check the perimeter," Naruto said, stepping past them.Sakura looked like she wanted to say something, but hesitated.He vanished into the mist.⸻Naruto moved carefully between the trees, letting the quiet wrap around him. He allowed himself to relax only slightly, feeling the pulse of Sage energy flow through his system.This land was full of whispers. Spiritual echoes. But underneath all that, something was gathering."I saw your death," Shion had said."You were alone. Surrounded. You smiled… and then you vanished."He wasn't afraid of dying. But he was afraid of failing.Of failing his friends. His team. The village.He thought of Tsunade—how she had looked at him before he left. Fierce and worried, motherly in that oddly gruff way of hers. She hadn't wanted him to go. Not just because of the Akatsuki. But because she knew what this mission would demand of him."You're strong, Naruto. But strength isn't just power. It's knowing when to hold back—and when to act."He'd promised her he'd come back.And he meant to keep that promise.⸻By the time he returned to camp, the others were half-asleep. Sakura sat closest to the fire, eyes closed but alert. Sai was already dozing against a tree with his ink beasts coiled like guards around him. Ino was lying with her back to Naruto—but not asleep.Shion, surprisingly, was still awake. She sat at the edge of the firelight, gaze turned upward."Your chakra feels… heavier tonight," she said as he approached."Because I'm tired.""No. That's not it." She turned toward him. "You're thinking about what's coming."He didn't answer.Shion rested her chin on her knees. "There's something inside you. Not just the Nine-Tailed Fox—I mean something older. Something that even the spirits fear."He looked at her now, sharp. "What do you mean?"She met his gaze. "I don't know. Just… sometimes when you fight, the earth trembles. I've felt earthquakes before. But not like that. That isn't chakra. It's something else."Naruto was quiet."Whatever it is," she said softly, "you hide it well.""I have to."Shion stood, brushing dirt from her robes. "If you ever decide to stop hiding it… I hope we're on the same side."Naruto watched her go, the firelight casting strange shadows behind her.He looked down at his palm, then clenched it."Quake Release," he whispered to himself."That's what I'll call it."The name felt right. Heavy. Honest. A reflection of the power he still barely understood.And tomorrow, he might have to use it.To be continued...