Chapter Text
Rooftop, Kuuvaki Experimental Design Bureau, Nod Krai - Midnight
The wind was chilly this time of night. He enjoyed the cold sting upon his flesh. How he shivered from the bitter cold that radiated from the steel below his rump.
Alone at the top of this massive monument of infrastructure on Paha Island in Nod Krai, a weary young man, roughly in his twenties, sat. He wore a simple black uniform jacket adorned with traditional Snezhnayian patterns sewn in over baggy orange pants with white tape wrapped around his ankles.
Despite his life as a shadow, he couldn’t kick the habit of wearing orange. Something about the color felt right, so he wore it.
His master paid no heed to the matter. As long as he was strong, that was all she cared for. Strength was all that mattered in his new home. The strong could determine that actions, even defying the Tsaritsa, if it meant breaking one’s code or honor. She respected the strong and gave them free will to chase after their desires…
Only occasionally did she need to rein them in. That was why it was now his job to keep them in line. Now, he had more reason to be even more thorough in his job. Didn’t want another incident like what happened to Rosalyne to occur. He was still processing what had happened, wishing he had been there.
Naruto might not have gotten along with Rosalyne, but she was a comrade. And she was one of the few people his friends felt they could talk to openly.
…Hopefully, her funeral would commence soon with Inazuma’s borders opening. Perhaps he should check on Sandrone.
With a loud sigh, Naruto looked upon the false moon as he sat on the top of the Design Bureau built over the island. His sun-kissed spiky blonde locks fluttered untamed in the cold night air, his wild locks having grown and become unkempt over the years. A set of black goggles flattened the front layer of spiky locks as he wore them like a headband.
As a kid, he had always wanted to wear the headband of his people. Then he learned the truth of why everyone hated him… And he ran. And kept running until he fell into that endless void…
Only to be found soon after by his master.
Naruto exhaled once more. That was a memory he long since washed away. A past that could not follow him here. People of his world were just as susceptible to the Abyss as they were here. Only a few could resist it. Even fewer were immune to its taint or could harness its power for their own ends.
So, it was safe to say, the odds of someone from his world finding him here in Teyvat were extremely low. Not impossible, but the probability of it happening was astronomical.
His life was here now. Naruto had devoted his life to serving the Tsaritsa. To stand by the few friends that made his life here on Teyvat so much more bearable…
“Naruto!” Sandrone’s voice resonated from the loudspeaker located below where Naruto sat.
“What? I’m busy here,” Naruto responded with a hint of annoyance. Even if the moon in the night was false, it still had a charm to it. And for Sandrone to interrupt this serendipitous moment of thought and reflection…
“Hardly. I need your assistance. I’m calibrating Pulonia’s combat efficiency and could use your able body to test his upgrades.” Sandrone scoffed from over the intercom.
Naruto glowered, scrunching his brow before huffing. “Not interested.”
“Oh, I can make it worth your while,” Sandrone childishly chided from the other end before voice lowered an octave. “I could always give you a hand to ease that loneliness.”
“I’ll pass. Rather not have a cold automaton hand stroking me off.” Naruto shivered from the thought of a cold, lifeless robot doing the act…
Instead of a hot, fiery goddess… With corrupted, demonic hands…
Maybe he didn’t need a hand after all…
“Hmph, I’ll have you know my hands are far from cold.” Sandrone scoffed, clearly being offended by Naruto’s dismissal. “Hurry to the lab. I’ll have tea ready for you when you arrive.”
“Coming,” Naruto repressed the urge to yawn as he stood up. Leaping down and landing on the catwalk, he slowly strolled toward the entrance, absently waving his hand toward a camera monitoring the door. “Throw in a thing of ramen for me when I arrive, and we’ll call it a deal.”
“Uh, you and your unrefined tastes. Fine. I’ll have some ready when you arrive.” Sandrone clicked in disgust.
“I’ll be there shortly,” Naruto said as he stepped into the premises, through the sliding door, making his way through the cold steel of their research base.
This was his life now. Despite his dreams as a child, Naruto wouldn’t change this for anything. This, in some weird, demented way, was what he had always wanted.
Friends… Even if they were twisted in their own, unique way.
Thirty Minutes Later, Robotics Experiment Laboratory
“You dreadful wretch! You maimed him! You were supposed to help test his efficiency! Not break him!” Sandrone whined as she stood before Pulonia with a few extra dents and dings in him.
“Mah, he’ll be fine. Those will buff out.” Naruto smugly retorted, bowl of ramen in hand, rolling his eyes as he sat on a nearby turret drone. Pulonia was no worse for wear than he would be after any other scuffle or test.
Savoring the first bite of ramen the Marionette had prepared for him, Naruto observed as Sandrone fawned over the last relic of her creator. He could relate to and understand that. Naruto could also wish that she didn’t enjoy being so smug and feeling superior all the time, despite knowing she had quite the soft spot under that brazen personality of hers…
Or at least wish she would stop making weird passes that he couldn’t make sense of. Sandrone was a robot. Although her model was closer to what Scaramouche was, there was still something odd about it. Could a living machine even lust after a human? …Or was that some sort of taboo…
…Best not to think about that too much.
“You inscrutable ruffian! It’s not as simple as that!” Sandrone sneered, glaring up at Naruto with a sour expression. With a huff, she turned her attention back to Pulonia. “I asked you to help test his efficiency, not break him! You’re almost as bad as that little brat of Arlecchino’s!”
“Hey, you wanted me to help test his battle efficiency, and that’s exactly what I did. You’re lucky I’m not as bad as Lynette. I have to put effort into breaking what you build.” Naruto loudly retorted. His grin broadened upon seeing her bristle at his mention of the destroyer of her equipment.
“Gah, that reminds me. Arlecchino will be bringing the brat and her brother with her in a few days.” Sandrone lamented, her demeanor subtly faltering as she began to work on Pulonia. “Rosalyne’s body was recently returned to Snezhnaya. It took a few favors and the work of the Traveler in convincing the Shogun to open Inazuma’s borders, but her funeral procession can finally be held. It will be held in a week.”
“Surprised that the Shogun was quick to open the borders… It really shows the power the Traveler has as a Descender to convince someone as stubborn and unmoving as her.” Naruto mused, his shoulders slumping at the loss of their comrade, the taste of his ramen slightly dampening. His gaze wavered as he looked down at Sandrone. “How you holding up?”
“Your concern is unwarranted. Rosalyne is far from the first person who can make me laugh that I’ve lost. Organic life is fickle. Even with the power of the Abyss and magic to extend your puny lives, mortals are so fragile. It’s a shame, but I’ve grown accustomed to it.” Sandrone cuttingly responded while working on Pulonia.
“I suppose that’s true. But even if you have grown used to it, it doesn't mean it doesn’t affect you.” Naruto frowned before exhaling, the taste of his ramen feeling bland. “Rosalyne may have only been a comrade for me, but it is still numbing that her life was snuffed out in the manner it was. Can only imagine how it is for you, given how often you invited her for tea time.”
“Your persistence is annoying.” Sandrone blandly retorted. She clicked in further agitation at Naruto’s look and gave him a sharp glare. “Her death, while lamentable, was not an unexpected outcome. She made a reckless decision before the throne of the Shogun and paid the price, unaware Scaramouche had already successfully obtained the Gnosis. Only someone with the martial might that can match the battle-tested Archons, such as yourself or the Captain, would have been capable of making such a gambit successful.”
“As flattering as that is, this ain’t about me right now,” Naruto snorted and glowered, not biting her diversion, wanting to stay on topic.
“Then I shan't speak any more about this matter. I am not in the mood for talking.” Sandrone gave Naruto a frigid stare.
“Fine, thought I'd take this opportunity to check in on ya.” Naruto set his finished bowl of ramen on the turret drone before he jumped down. Slowly departing, he gave a simple wave. “I’ll spread the message to prepare for other Harbingers to stop here on their way home. I imagine if Arlecchino is stopping by, Columbina will be stopping for tea.”
“Has the offer for tea been withdrawn?” A delicate and gentle voice resonated as the shutters to the lab doors opened, causing Naruto to snap his head to the door.
There before Naruto stood the Frost Moon Goddess, gently hovering over the steel floor with the flow of water gathered underfoot.
Naruto simply blinked, caught unaware. He somehow hadn’t felt her presence. In fact, he still barely could feel her presence despite standing in front of him. She had grown so weak that all this was all Columbina could do to sustain her own existence…
“I’m busy. If you would like, the pot is still warm. The pain in my ass here that won’t leave me alone to repair Pulonia can pour you a cup.” Sandrone jabbed her thumb in Naruto’s general direction.
“Ah, I see what has happened.” Columbina, eyes closed behind her x-woven, cloth mask, faintly smiled before her attention turned toward Naruto expectantly.
“Yeah, yeah. Follow me. Just surprised to see you have already arrived.” Naruto grumbled at being appointed to serve Columbina. He was the Tsaritsa’s enforcer! Only she could order him around!
“Is that so? But I’ve been here since this morning. Did you not sense my arrival? Curious.” Columbina responded with a hint of curiosity.
“I wouldn’t have been surprised otherwise.” Naruto repressed the urge to scowl. Had Columbina really been asked to sacrifice so much of her power for Lady Tsaritsa?
That was…
“That’s… Concerning.” Sandrone paused in her maintenance, verbally finishing Naruto’s thought. She momentarily glanced over toward Naruto for confirmation before her gaze fell onto Columbina. “If your power has drained to such a significant degree, perhaps we should put more of a focus on claiming the Moon Marrow…”
“No. Do not inconvenience the Frostmoon Scions more than they already have been. They have enough issues to deal with in the modern day.” Columbina immediately shook her head, her voice still as gentle as it was before, yet held a commanding tone to it.
“If you say so…” Sandrone narrowed her eyes before scoffing. “However, I would still desire to acquire it for my own research purposes. And from the sounds of it, after this new experiment in Sumeru wraps up, Dottore wishes to study it as well. So, whether you approve it or not, it will be collected sooner rather than later.”
“I see. Thank you for the information,” Columbina softly responded, her displeasure evident despite her tone, but her thanks were genuine.
Naruto couldn’t repress the urge to scowl. While his position of being the Tsaritsa’s left hand had him traversing Teyvat almost constantly, Nod Krai was one of the regions he most liked to frequent… Along with Fontaine… And Natlan… Occasionally Liyue.
Wherever those he considers his friends were located, although the latter was simply a favor for his master. Had to check in on and keep an eye on his master’s other pupil.
Tartaglia was quite compulsive…
Whelp… Use my power. Your bitch needs it. The voice of the demon within, the demon Naruto had subdued with his own power, Kurama spoke in an annoyed growl.
Call her that again and see what happens. Naruto internally snarled, offering his right hand toward Columbina. The Nine Tails chakra burned in his stomach and channeled through his system. And through the training of his master, he filtered the chaotic energy of the demon’s power with his divine aura.
“Oh,” Columbina tilted her head, perplexed at the offer at first. Her lips pursed before she simply nodded, extending her hand and hovering it over Naruto’s, collecting the energy he was offering. Her face contorted slightly before pulling back her hand after absorbing the gift. “Thank you. This can sustain me for a while longer.”
“Mah, think nothing of it. We’re just lucky you can at least use my spark of the Sun to refuel your own power.” Naruto sheepishly rubbed his neck before gesturing for Columbina to follow. “Now, how about that tea?”
“Best not to let it get cold, ya know?”
Hours Later, Naruto's Quarters
“Ugh,” Naruto groaned as he sat at his desk made of Yumemiru wood in his dimly lit quarters.
His quarters, no matter the region where they had an active base station, were always sparse of decoration. The only thing that set them apart was that he preferred certain aesthetic elements of Inazuma. Despite having run away, Naruto supposed there was still a sense of longing for what if he had stayed.
Yet hardly a soul cared. There was the old man, sure. But that was his job. There was Teuchi and Ayame, and while the old cook and his daughter always treated him with respect, even when he first met them, their relationship was mostly transactional.
Maybe Iruka could have been someone if he hadn’t kept running. He had protected him from Mizuki and told him to run…
Naruto followed that order and never stopped.
With a sigh, Naruto shook his head. The old man looked after him out of duty. He never got the chance to form a potential relationship with Iruka. Naruto paid Teuchi, and Teuchi gave him ramen. A win-win for both, but alas, if that was truly his best relationship in Konoha… It was pathetic.
His master had made him see that during their training. Took him to this place and opened his eyes. Here, he at least had people whom he could call friends. A few others were simply comrades…
…A couple he didn’t want to associate with… One who he would rather be on the other side of the planet than anywhere next to him…
Without ringing the life out of him and all his doppelgangers.
Naruto shook his head. His life had changed for the better after his master took him in. She trained him to his absolute limit and beyond to grasp the power she felt inside of him. To take that power and crush the Nine Tails and force him to obey.
Only opening up to him after learning more about the demon. Unfortunately, the demon still had a semblance of control over its power, so Naruto could not wield its full strength. But soon, he would have a breakthrough and wield his power unconditionally.
It was only a matter of time.
“And maybe if I had that power, I could have prevented this,” Naruto darkly muttered, scanning the reports and mail on his desk with a dutiful purpose.
His friends may not have shown their sorrow outwardly, but he felt the negative intent dwell within. Rosalyne’s loss hurt Sandrone. Cause Columbina discomfort. He knew Arlecchino would show her typical cold, guarded demeanor, but the same negative energy would dwell within her.
Alas, all he could do was support his friends… Which was harder said than done.
At least he could make Sandrone laugh. He could tease Arlecchino. He could make Columbina smile.
For now, that would be enough…
“Hm?” A knock on his door brought Naruto away from the cluttered papers on his desk. “Who could it be at this hour?” Naruto frowned as he stood up from his desk, making his way to the door. He opened the door with much hesitancy, having sensed the presence of an ordinary soldier on the other side. And while her nerves were to be expected, he was the Tsaritsa’s Left Hand after all, but she also seemed rather alarmed about something happening. “What’s the matter? Did something happen? Is it the Wild Hunt?”
“Um, sir, we have a bit of an issue,” The Gvardiya anxiously responded, lowering her head shamefully. “A unit ran across a mysterious individual roaming nearby, suspiciously close. Acting as if she were looking for something. When questioned, she refused to answer. Force authorized… And we have now had several units completely wiped out. No one has seriously been harmed, and we’ve retreated, but the individual continues to roam around our facility.”
“And?” Naruto raised his brow, attempting and failing to understand why this issue was brought to his attention. He may have been the Left Hand, but he wasn’t in charge at this research station. “Why is this information brought to my attention and not the Marionette? She’s your boss, not me. She only answers to me if she’s done something the Tsaritsa frowns on.”
“I did… She told me to brief you on the situation and allow you to handle it. Said you would know how to deal with her.” The Gvardiya winced, ashamed of her own failure to handle the situation.
“Her?” Naruto gave the woman a ludicrous glance before his features fell, and he cursed. “Oh, son of a bitch!” Naruto grunted, pushing the Gvardiya from his door entrance, slamming his door shut. Gnashing his teeth, Naruto could feel his agitation rising as he stormed through the corridor. His sight set on the presence that he could clearly feel nearby.
There was only one person who had a signature like that. The better question was…
Why was his master here?
Later at the Docks
Naruto couldn’t help but repeatedly blink, stupefied at the scene he had come across.
Standing at the docks, looking upon the ocean as its waves crashed into the island, was his master. Her long white hair flowed past her hips, its length reaching her calves. She wore a strapless black leotard under an equally strapless, short, lavender dress. She wore detached, white sleeves and a cape of the same color to contrast the night sky blue, long-sleeved gloves, and tattered stockings she wore. And in her hair on the left side of her head, she wore a blue feather hairpiece.
“Master,” Naruto addressed the woman as she looked almost longingly into the sea surrounding the island. He waited for her to turn and her fuchsia gaze to meet his before Naruto gestured around them. “Did you really need to throw them around? They’re just doing their job.”
“Your subordinates are weak. I expected better,” Skirk replied, crossing her arms over her chest, unamused.
“Mah, they’re not my subordinates. I don’t command anyone. I’m the Tsaritsa enforcer, you know that.” Naruto glowered, feeling insulted for his comrades in arms.
“Hmph, your girlfriend’s troops are weak.” Skirk seamlessly corrected herself.
“And she’s not my girlfriend!” Naruto snapped, feeling his blood boil at his master’s assertion.
“Strange? Given how she acts with you, I thought she was.” Skirk shared a rare frown, musing over her thoughts. “I could have sworn the Moon Goddess and the Crimson Moon were also…”
“I’m not in a relationship with any of them!” Naruto lambasted his confused master for considering he was dating any of them, much less all of them!
Naruto did not have a death wish!
“Any why not?” Skirk frowned, placing her hand on her hip. “I specifically left you in the Tsaritsa’s hands to form bonds and grow stronger. As a Herald of the Sun, your strength intensifies by forging bonds…”
“Yeah, I know! I know! I am! I just don’t know if I want a relationship like that right now, okay?” Naruto exclaimed.
“Hm? You aren’t?” Skirk visibly looked baffled. “I could have sworn you were sexually attracted to women… Could it be you are…”
“No! I like women! I’m just not ready for a committed relationship!” Naruto loudly proclaimed, his expression faltering as a hint of understanding crossed his master’s face. “I might be strong, but it’s difficult to balance work with life, ya know? Still working on it.”
“Ah, the conundrum we all must face at one point in our lives. A choice one cannot make too hastily.” Skirk nodded, accepting his reasoning. “I was beginning to worry… Because if you have a problem with her body, we could steal the designs of the same body the Shogun uses for your girlfriend to upgrade her if need be…”
“I have no interest in being with that idiot! None! Get that nonsense out of your head!” Sandrone’s voice screeched over the intercom system, alerting everyone in the area to precisely what kind of discussion was happening between Naruto and his master.
“That’s gonna be a hard rumor to kill…” Naruto muttered, palming his forehead at the hardship he would soon be having to face.
“See? She’s madly in love with you. To a woman like her, that’s her love language.” Skirk simply gestured toward the speaker.
“I do not! Shut your mouth, you bitch!” Sandrone wailed over the intercom.
“Why are you here, master?” Naruto released a pitiful sigh of exasperation, his form slumping forward as he did.
“I came to check in on your progress. Ensure you have continued to grow stronger. My master is hopeful that he may have an opponent to test himself soon, once you have completely harnessed your power and that of the demon within.” Skirk honestly replied.
“He’s growing impatient?” Naruto frowned, extrapolating the possible context from his master’s statement.
Worrying about what that could entail if he did something drastic.
“He’s just excited, but is more than willing to wait. He has all the time in the world, after all.” Skirk shook her head, alleviating her student’s concern.
“Oh… That’s good to hear. From the sounds of it, here in Nod Krai, we already have one Sinner we’re gonna have to deal with sooner rather than later.” Naruto grimaced, aware of all the reports the Fatui on the field had been gathering.
“Indeed. That is a test my master is most looking forward to seeing how you handle.” Skirk nodded, turning to the side, and with a wave of her hand, an Abyssal portal tore open. “Seeing you are fine, I’ll take my leave… But before I go, my other disciple should be heading this direction soon. Ensure he has been taking his training seriously and not lusting purely for the fight.”
“That’s just who he is…” Naruto muttered, knowing precisely what Tartaglia enjoyed doing more than anything else.
He simply assumed, upon reading that report, that his battle against the Traveler was the consolation prize in his attempt to collect the Geo Gnosis. Knowing him, he’d likely have wanted to fight that ancient God to test his limits…
“I’m well aware of how reckless he is. Temper it the next time you meet,” Skirk exhaled, stepping through the portal, leaving Naruto without so much as a goodbye as it rapidly closed behind her.
Something quite typical of his master.
Naruto let out a deep sigh. This had been a long night…
Was that a Fatui ship approaching in the distance? Ugh?! He swore if that was Arlecchino’s boat, Naruto was gonna scream!
Dealing with Sandrone was hard enough. Adding Columbina and Arlecchino all at once? After this painful visit with his master that Sandrone broadcast his desire to all of the Fatui who were awake to hear it?!
Why did the Heavenly Principles hate him so?!