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Chapter 17 - New Mission

spending what felt like hours exploring my system—every tab, every hidden submenu, every secret skill—I suddenly felt it. A signal. Not just any pulse of mana, but something deep, ancient, and familiar. It resonated through my inner world like the toll of a bell, soft yet commanding.

The source was far away—near the great river that flowed through the center of my world, without hesitation, I teleported.

Light enveloped me, and in the blink of an eye, I reappeared at the riverbank. The air here was dense with energy—soft golden mist rolled over the crystalline waters.

Standing by the river was the goddess. Her long hair danced gently with the wind, reflecting the faint aura of divinity that surrounded her like sunlight breaking through stained glass. She wasn't alone—Igami was there too, standing by her side with a hand over her chest, speaking softly in that calm, respectful tone that always seemed to soothe even the most chaotic situations.

When I stepped closer, Igami immediately turned. Her eyes lit up with a subtle glow of affection and relief, and without a second thought, she went down on one knee before me.

"Master" she said sweetly, her voice carrying that perfect balance between devotion and warmth, like music carried on a calm breeze.

The goddess glanced at her and gave a small approving nod. That single gesture was enough for me to understand that something significant had happened. I felt the change before I could even see.

She was altering something within the loyalty parameters of my system—something I normally had no access to because of her divine lock. And just like that, I knew. The connection had been redefined. Me and the goddess… we now shared the same level of importance within the system's hierarchy.

That realization made me smile faintly. It was a quiet, proud kind of smile—the kind that said I've come far.

The goddess turned to me fully, her expression soft but filled with authority, her eyes glowing faintly like a galaxy contained within them. "I believe you're well rested now, my dear" she said in that mellifluous, honeyed tone that could melt even the hardest of hearts. Then her lips curved into a playful grin, the kind that always came before she said something unpredictable. "And since I enjoy surprises" she said with a teasing spark in her voice "I won't tell you the name of the next universe you'll be visiting."

Her laughter—gentle and melodic—mingled with the sounds of the running river.

"Yeah, that sounds like you" I said, smiling as I met her gaze. "Always keeping me guessing." I shifted slightly, glancing at the way the light caught the water. "And yeah… I'm well rested now. More than ready, actually."

The goddess smiled at that, almost fondly, her gaze softening as she stepped a little closer. For a moment, she didn't look like some celestial being beyond comprehension. She looked… human. Warm. Familiar.

Just as that thought settled in, my system suddenly opened by itself, glowing faintly blue. A notification blinked at the center of my vision, lines of radiant script unfolding across the air.

[New Skill Acquired: Commanding Shot]

The description was clear, concise, and utterly dangerous:

A skill that grants the user the ability to issue a single absolute command to any target. Once the command is given, it can never be used again on the same being, that command will forever be activated, main use is to force relationship.

I stared at it, momentarily stunned by the implications. One command—absolute and irreversible. The potential for control, for mercy, for destruction… it was staggering. I could almost feel the weight of it pressing against my chest, like a responsibility I hadn't expected but couldn't refuse.

The goddess, of course, noticed the shift in my expression. Her eyes sparkled knowingly, her lips curving into that faint smile that was equal parts amusement and wisdom. She always knew when I was overwhelmed, even before I said a word.

"Use it wisely" she said softly, her gaze drifting back toward the glowing river.

I stood silently beside her, the goddess of creation, our reflections dancing together across the gleaming surface of the river. The water shimmered with the same ethereal brilliance that always seemed to follow her.

The goddess slowly lifted her gaze from the river, her eyes drifting toward the sky above—an endless blue. For a brief moment, her expression softened, and a small smile graced her lips. Then, without a word, she brought her hands together and clapped twice.

Reality itself trembled at her command. The colors of the world bent and folded inward, collapsing into spirals of white and silver. My vision blurred as the ground beneath me dissolved into nothingness.

And then darkness.

I didn't know how long I was unconscious, only that when I finally began to wake, the first thing I heard was life. birds chirping, leaves rustling, a breeze threading through grass. My body felt heavy, unfamiliar even. Slowly, I opened my eyes, squinting as sunlight poured mercilessly into them, sharp and blinding after the void.

"Ugh…" I groaned, blinking rapidly until the world came into focus.

Then, as if sensing my return, a familiar blue glow appeared in front of me—the interface of my system. Elegant and precise as ever.

[Notification: Multiversal travel was a success. The Goddess wishes you good luck.]

She tossed me in another universe without warning.

Damn...I need to marry her, have a lot of kids too! I said in my mind.

My eyes finally adjusted to the light, and before I could even get my bearings, a voice reached my ears—a voice I knew instantly.

"It's as I'm saying, Naruto. Your training's really paid off. I think everyone's going to be surprised to see you" said Jiraiya, his tone carrying that mix of pride and amusement that only he could manage.

My heart froze for a second. Naruto? My head snapped toward the voice, and there he was—Jiraiya, the Toad Sage himself, standing tall with that familiar grin, arms crossed, white hair fluttering in the wind. The forest around us looked straight out of the Hidden Leaf—green, warm, alive.

She sent me to be Naruto himself, interesting.

I blinked, still processing.

So this would be a semi tutorial huh, She wants me to live through this universe as the main character.

My system must've been tuned to link my soul to his, meaning… I was living his life now.

But then another thought struck me, something that made the back of my neck tingle. If I was Naruto… then what about the demons? Who were they possessing now?

Before I could even finish the thought, the system responded instantly, as if reading my mind.

[Answer: This universe differs from the first one you visited. Here, the demons have chosen to possess only the villains, enhancing their intelligence and strategic reasoning significantly. Their physical power remains relatively stable, with modest increases to chakra reserves, overall IQ, and battle acumen. Similarly, the forces of good have received proportional enhancements.]

I let out a low whistle. Well, that's… interesting.

Villains with brains and battle instincts to match? That would make things a lot more dangerous—and a lot more fun. These would be enemies who think, who plan, who adapt. A true challenge and my first actual dimension too.

"I'm excited to see how Konoha's changed!" I said aloud, partly to Jiraiya and partly to myself, feeling the thrill of anticipation bubbling inside me.

And that's when I noticed it.

My voice.

It wasn't my voice. It was Naruto's. The cadence, the youthful energy, even the tone—it was all his. I reached up, touching my throat in disbelief. My reflection in the nearby stream confirmed it: a super bright yellow hair, blue eyes, whisker marks. I really was him—down to the last detail.

So I'm Naruto through and through...Which means…

My eyes narrowed with sudden realization.

…Kurama's is here too.

Kurama is sealed within me, that will be a problem depending on what's happening inside the sealed space.

I exhaled, steadying myself as a smirk tugged at my lips. I'll check that later.

After we'd been walking for a good while, Jiraiya suddenly slowed his pace and glanced back at me. There was something thoughtful in his eyes—something almost fatherly.

"Tell me, Naruto… how do you think everyone will see you now?" he asked, his voice calm but carrying weight. "You've grown stronger—much stronger—and you've shown you're capable of things most shinobi your age can't even dream of."

I kept my gaze on the path ahead, watching the sunlight filter through the trees and paint shifting patterns on the ground. I felt my lips curve into a small, genuine smile.

"Even if some of them still don't believe in me" I began softly, "or if they still look at me and only see that monster sealed inside me… I'll keep trying. I'll keep pushing forward and show everyone how much I've grown. I'll prove I'm more than what they think I am."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jiraiya's expression shift—his usually goofy face softened with pride. It was subtle, but unmistakable. He could tell I'd matured, that there was something steadier, stronger in the way I spoke now.

We walked a bit more after that, letting the quiet settle around us. The forest's sounds filled the silence—birds calling, leaves rustling, distant running water. Then, Jiraiya stretched his arms behind his head and chuckled.

"Alright, enough marching for today. Let's take a break." He pointed ahead. "There's a little spa around here. Not a famous one—barely anyone comes through—but it's cozy enough. I'm heading straight to the hot springs."

Before I could even respond, he vanished in a puff of that white smoke, specifically from the Shunshin no jutsu (body flicker technique)

I made my way to the small room assigned to me. It wasn't grand or anything, but it had a warmth to it: wooden walls, a single lamp glowing softly, and a bed that practically invited me to collapse onto it. I set my things down by the bedside, took a second to breathe in the comforting scent of clean sheets, and finally let myself fall back onto the mattress.

The bed was surprisingly comfortable—almost too comfortable. My muscles loosened immediately, the weight of the long journey drifting off as I melted into the softness. For the first time since arriving in this universe, I felt myself relax completely.I stood up slowly, the room still quiet and warm from earlier, and pointed my hand toward the wooden floor. There was a strange sense of anticipation in my chest—this was the first time I'd do this in this new universe. My first summon here.

"Alright…" I murmured under my breath.

[Summon!]

A glowing spell circle spread across the floor, intricate lines of light spinning and layering over one another. From the center of it, a figure emerged. When the light faded, a young woman stood there—plain, unremarkable at first glance. No overwhelming aura, no distinct presence. Just a normal-looking girl, like someone you'd pass on the street without a second thought.

Almost immediately, my system reacted.

[Notification: Baseform detected.]

[You may edit this being freely. Once editing is finalized, changes will be locked unless divine power is used.]

[You may begin editing now.]

I let out a quiet breath, more focused than excited. Alright… let's do this properly.

I began carefully. First, I granted her access to all chakra natures—every elemental release, no limitations. Then I moved on to something more advanced: an Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. I added sensory boosts, reaction speed, combat instincts, survivability—layer after layer of improvements. Some things I chose consciously; others the system filled in automatically, optimizing and balancing in ways only it could.

Once everything was complete, a confirmation prompt appeared in front of me, asking if I wanted to summon her immediately. I was just about to accept when something felt… off.

Someone was outside my door.

I paused, my attention sharpening instantly. Whoever it was hadn't knocked yet. That alone made my instincts flare. I stood up and quietly walked over, positioning myself just beside the door, ready for anything.

Before I could act, my system intervened again.

[You have received a summon request.]

My eyebrow lifted slightly. A summon request? That was new. Curious—but cautious—I accepted it.

The room was suddenly flooded with blinding light, brilliant and overwhelming, shifting through every color imaginable. The air heated instantly. When the light finally faded, a woman stood before me—no, commanded the space.

She was strikingly beautiful, the kind of presence that pulled attention without effort. Her hair was wild and full, her posture confident and sharp. Around her right arm was a black armband marked with the unmistakable symbol of the goddess. Her eyes were piercing, calculating—dangerously aware.

She glanced at me briefly, then turned her gaze toward the door. The instant it began to open, she flicked her wrist.

A dagger flew.

There was a dull sound as something hit the floor outside, followed by silence. A thin line of blood slowly crept under the doorway and into the room.

"Greetings, Grandmaster" she said calmly. With a casual gesture, she cast a spell—the body vanished, and the blood transformed into tiny insect-like constructs that fluttered away and dissolved into nothing.

I blinked once. "…Uh who are you?"

She smiled, clearly amused that I'd asked. She stepped forward and bowed deeply, with a level of reverence that felt almost excessive.

"I am Victoria Valeza" she said smoothly. "Headmaid. I command all maids under divine authority—including Igami, whom you seem to share a rather… close bond with."

Before I could reply, she reached out and lightly tapped my forehead with her fingertip.

[Force Sleep]

I didn't even have time to resist. My consciousness dropped instantly into darkness.

Hours later, I woke up to the sound of gentle cooking. The scent alone made my stomach twist with hunger. I lifted my head and saw Victoria moving effortlessly through the room, using utensils that had been pulled straight from my system inventory. She moved with absolute confidence—like she owned the place.

I noticed the active spells immediately.

[Silence Room] — not a sound escaped.

[Absolute Lock] — even a god would struggle to break through that door.

She finished cooking after a few minutes and placed a plate in front of me. It looked unreal—perfectly arranged, steaming, rich with aroma. I didn't hesitate. I started eating. She took a seat across from me and joined in, just as calmly.

"I will be available for summoning from now on" she said casually between bites. "I was unavailable earlier due to the goddess renovating her castle. She… accidentally destroyed part of it."

She said it like it was the most normal thing in the world.

"…Wait" I said slowly, swallowing. "When I summon someone, I don't summon the original, right? Just duplicates?"

She nodded, dabbing her mouth before answering.

"Correct. However, for a summon to succeed, the original being must be available. Mortals always are. Divine beings, on the other hand, can restrict that access." She took another spoonful of food. "We can… toggle our availability, we would never deny you, of course."

I leaned back slightly after finishing the meal, still savoring the lingering warmth and flavor. It was one of those dishes that stayed with you—not just because it was good, but because it felt thoughtful, like it had been made with intention rather than obligation. I wiped my mouth and finally turned my full attention to her.

I studied Victoria for a moment. The way she sat, the way her presence filled the room without effort—it was obvious she wasn't here by coincidence. Someone like her didn't just wander into a place like this.

"So" I said calmly, meeting her sharp gaze, "what's your objective here?" I paused, letting the implication hang in the air. "I doubt the headmaid of all divine maids is taking a casual stroll through this dimension."

She let out a soft giggle, light and almost playful, completely at odds with the lethal efficiency she'd shown earlier. Rising from her seat, she walked toward the window and gently brushed the curtain aside, peering out as if measuring the world beyond the glass. Sunlight traced the edges of her silhouette as she spoke.

"Well" she replied, her tone smooth and assured, "the goddess herself sent me. She decided I would serve as your aide while you're in this dimension." She glanced back at me, her eyes gleaming with something between excitement and duty. "According to her, this world is… rather difficult."

I gave a slow nod, letting that sink in. The goddess wasn't the type to exaggerate. If she considered a universe dangerous, then whatever lay ahead wasn't just stronger—it was clever, persistent, and capable of putting up a real fight.

So this won't be a walk in the park, I thought, a faint smile tugging at my lips.

A few moments later, faint knocks echoed against the wooden door—soft, deliberate, just loud enough to be heard through the quiet of the room. I turned my head toward Victoria instinctively. She met my gaze and gave a small nod, calm and composed, as if to say everything is fine.

I stood and walked over, opening the door. Jiraiya stepped inside, filling the doorway with his tall frame and familiar presence. He gave me one of his easygoing smiles, the kind that always made things feel lighter than they really were.

"So" he said, looking me over from head to toe, "did you rest well, Naruto?" He crossed his arms casually. "We're about to get moving again. The Leaf Village isn't that far from here."

I scratched the back of my head and let out an exaggerated yawn, slipping into a more Naruto-like tone on purpose. "Aaah, already? We just woke up, ya know…"

As I spoke, my eyes drifted briefly toward Victoria. She was standing right there—unmoving, perfectly visible to me. And yet, Jiraiya didn't so much as glance in her direction. No reaction, no hesitation. Nothing.

That was strange.

I activated my analysis instinctively, and the system responded at once.

[Spell Detected: Spell Amplification – Invisibility]

[Description: Spell Amplification]

- Creates an empty amplification circle.

- When a spell circle is formed within it, the empty circle perfectly mimics the runes.

- The resulting effect greatly amplifies the original spell's potency and efficiency.

Victoria remained perfectly still, her expression unreadable, her existence completely erased from Jiraiya's senses.

I turned my attention back to him, keeping my expression relaxed and natural.

Jiraiya rubbed the back of his head slowly, his elbow jutting out as he gave me that familiar, half-teasing look. "You really are as lazy as ever," he said, letting out a short laugh that carried no real bite to it—more affection than criticism.

He turned and stepped outside the small inn, the wooden floor creaking softly under his sandals. Just before leaving my sight, he glanced back and added in a firmer tone, "Alright, let's go. Pack your stuff and we'll roll out."

I nodded and headed back into the room, closing the door behind me. I began gathering my things, moving more efficiently than I let on around Jiraiya. As I did, I noticed Victoria was already there, assisting me.

"Master" she said gently, looking up at me with calm, attentive eyes "shall I prepare a teleportation circle for us?"

I shook my head almost immediately. "No, no" I replied. "I'm going on foot with Jiraiya. I need you nearby the entire time...to keep an eye on things, to make sure nothing happens to us. Can you do that?"

Without hesitation, she stepped back, lowered herself onto her left knee, and placed a clenched fist against her chest in a formal, almost knightly gesture.

"Yes, Master!" she said firmly.

About thirty minutes later, my patience finally snapped—at least, theatrically. I shot Jiraiya an exaggerated glare and pointed an accusing finger at him.

"You said it was close!" I protested, my voice filled with clearly fake outrage. "You totally lied to me!"

Jiraiya didn't even slow down. He just laughed, that deep, carefree laugh of his, and kept walking as if my complaint was nothing more than background noise. After a few steps, he glanced over his shoulder, a smug grin spreading across his face.

"Oh yeah?" he said casually. "Well… don't you want to eat Ichiraku ramen?"

I froze mid-step. Blinked once. Then again.

…Damn. Naruto really was easy to win over.

The irritation vanished instantly, replaced by renewed motivation. Without another word, I fell back into step beside him, and we continued down the road. The forest slowly began to thin, the path widening, and then—rising above the trees in the distance—the massive stone faces carved into the mountain came into view.

The Hokage Rock.

Before I even realized what I was doing, a huge smile stretched across my face, and the words burst out of me on pure instinct.

"We're here! Finally!"

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