Greetings, readers:
Thank you for reading this fan-made work...
"I hope you enjoy today's chapter." I, Wissumi Wizaki, wish you a happy reading
The Vongola Rings were far more than mere catalysts for Dying Will Flames. As one of the pillars of the Tri-ni-set, they operated as timeless receptacles capable of preserving the consciousness, judgment, and soul of their wielders even after death. By embodying the vertical axis of space-time, the ring not only attuned itself to the spiritual memory of the universe, but also formed a bridge between past, present, and future, allowing ancestors to guide and communicate with new generations. When Giotto placed the ring against Saruo's forehead, the space and time of the room dissolved into a torrent of mystical light.
Suddenly, physical reality disappeared. Giotto and Saruo found themselves floating within an infinite spiritual plane, surrounded by a green and golden mist. Before them stood an imposing silhouette, the ethereal figure of an ancient ape made entirely of pure natural energy.
The silhouette observed them from above. Its voice did not resonate through the air, but directly within both of their minds, deep and timeless as the earth itself:
—Saruo?
Saruo gazed at the figure with a mixture of shock and reverence. He felt a profound connection, a biological and invisible bond with that presence. He clenched his fists, his voice trembling beneath the weight of years of doubt:
—Yes, it's me. I want to know the truth... I want to know what really happened to my parents. What happened to my home?
The ape's silhouette formed a broad, serene smile. It raised a heavy ancestral wooden staff and struck the spiritual ground with great force. A pulse of green light expanded in every direction, a power that was mostly being executed by the Vongola Ring, dragging Giotto and Saruo into a journey through time, projecting them as invisible spectators thirteen years into the past.
—Observe and listen, my son, son of the jungle, son of Mihana, son of Gakuro —said the spirit as the landscape transformed around them—. This is Iwakuma Jungle... one of the purest and most natural corners of this world.
The air became cool and dense. Giotto and Saruo appeared in the middle of a sacred natural sanctuary. There was a place where the sunlight did not pass directly through the canopy, but tried to, weaving a green and golden veil. The trees were not merely inert wood: they were elders with memories of their own, whose root systems communicated beneath the earth with the patience of those who possessed eternity.
One did not reach this place by chance; it was hidden. It was the domain of the talking apes, guardians of natural knowledge who lived in absolute harmony with the natural world. I am your mother and the mother of your race.
Before Saruo's astonished eyes, the flow of memories began to reveal the figures from his past.
—She was your mother, Mihana —the spirit's voice echoed.
Saruo watched a female ape with pink fur and peaceful eyes, capable of reflecting the tranquility of the forest. He saw her teaching the young members of the clan, applying herbs to wounds.
—"Mud does not merely soil the fur," Mihana's voice said within the memory. "With the right herbs, it heals. We are all one with nature."
Then, the scene changed. An imposing ape appeared, carrying the ceremonial staff of the Uchigumo Clan.
—And he was your father, Gakuro —the ancestral entity continued—. Leader of the clan, a just man who guided his people under the Code of the Tree.
Saruo watched as Gakuro held a tiny newborn in his lap: it was him, barely two days old. The warmth of the scene tightened his chest. For the first time in his life, Saruo felt the tenderness of a real home.
But the spiritual atmosphere began to turn dark and cold.
—Iwakuma's balance was perfect... but the jungle possessed a vulnerable innocence in the face of human cruelty —the spiritual silhouette narrated—. An ape from the clan, exiled long ago for unforgivable crimes, sold the secret location of Guacure Forest to a group of mercenaries and hunters in exchange for false promises of power. And with them... came Kaien.
Saruo choked back a cry. Within the spiritual memory, the moonless night was stained with blood and fire. Flames rained down upon the sacred branches. Mercenaries stormed in with chains and nets.
Giotto watched in silence, maintaining a firm posture filled with compassion for the boy beside him.
Saruo saw his father, Gakuro, roar like the very spirit of the jungle and leap into battle to defend his people. He watched him fight ferociously until he fell, pierced by enemy swords, dying on his feet among the burning roots. He saw his mother, Mihana, chained and dragged away into slavery while screaming words of hatred at the invaders.
And then, he saw the ultimate truth.
Kaien approached Gakuro's corpse. The man, covered in mud and blood, knelt down, leaned over the fallen warrior, and deeply inhaled the scent of his neck.
—"The leader's scent," Kaien's voice said with repulsive coldness within the memory. "The warrior's. It will serve to make the child believe that his father still exists within me."
Kaien walked toward the reed cradle and took little Saruo into his arms, beginning the web of lies that would shape his entire life.
The vision ended. The memory returned to the spiritual space shrouded in mist. Saruo fell to his knees, trembling violently. Tears rolled down his cheeks, quickly transforming into blind, pure, and destructive rage. His entire existence, his loyalty, and his devotion to the man who had raised him were a grotesque illusion built upon the blood of his true parents.
The silhouette of the ancestral ape —which was nothing more than the spiritual manifestation of Iwakuma— approached Saruo and placed an intangible hand upon his shoulder.
—I will wait for you, Saruo —the spirit said with absolute solemnity—. I will wait for you in what remains of your true home, which I still keep hidden so that you may be welcomed back... But first, you will have to deliver justice and eliminate those who massacred my children and your family.
Saruo raised his gaze. His golden eyes no longer reflected the doubt of a manipulated child; they burned with fierce hatred and unbreakable determination.
—Wait for me —Saruo replied, clenching his teeth with overwhelming fury—. I'll get there... and I'll come home.
The silhouette of the ancient guardian slowly nodded before vanishing in a flash of white light.
A second later, the torrent of spiritual memory closed. The glow of the Vongola Sky Ring gradually diminished.
Giotto and Saruo opened their eyes, finding themselves once again in the austere room of the Vongola headquarters. The silence of the room was heavy, burdened by the weight of the truth that had been revealed. Saruo remained standing, breathing heavily, while the promise of revenge was etched into his heart like fire.
The silence that followed the spiritual journey was dense, almost palpable.
Saruo lay on the bed on his side, his body trembling from the emotional impact. Tears streamed uncontrollably down his face, soaking the sheets of the Vongola headquarters. His entire life, his identity, and the respect he held for the man he considered his father had crumbled within a matter of minutes. Giotto remained standing beside him in silence, watching him with a mature and serene gaze, giving him the space he needed to process the weight of the truth.
When his crying finally began to subside, Saruo clenched his fists and tried to get up abruptly. However, a sharp physical pain shot through his sides, making him let out a muffled groan and forcing him to collapse back onto the mattress.
—Hey, take it easy —Giotto intervened in a soft but firm voice, placing a hand on his shoulder—. Your body hasn't recovered yet.
Saruo raised his gaze. His golden eyes, burning with a blind rage that threatened to consume him completely, locked onto the Vongola leader.
—I have to leave... I have to go after him right now! —he growled, his voice raw.
—Hey, remember what we said —Giotto interrupted, holding his gaze without blinking—. You promised you would keep calm when you saw the truth.
Saruo gritted his teeth, feeling frustration burning in his chest.
—Why are you talking to me about this now? —he asked resentfully—. Why show me all of this?
—I showed you your past because it was your right to know. It's a truth that no one else in this world would have dared to show you, and also because I like you —Giotto replied with complete sincerity.
Saruo stared at him intently, searching the young boss's features for any trace of deception.
—Do you really... want to be my friend? —he asked in a whisper filled with disbelief.
—Yes —Giotto nodded, a warm smile appearing on his face—. And as a token of my gratitude for trusting me enough to show you that memory, I'll help you with your revenge.
The ape boy blinked, bewildered.
—Why? Why would you want to help me fight my battle?
—Because others may see you as different, but I don't —Giotto declared with deep conviction—. From what I've seen in you, you are something far more important than what this world is cultivating. I'll help you with Kaien. I'll help you eliminate him... and you'll help me in return. We will be allies and friends as we close one chapter of your story. Starting right now.
Before Saruo could respond, three sharp knocks echoed against the bedroom door. It was the only Guardian of the First Generation who had not been present at the beginning.
Giotto slightly furrowed his brow, recovering his executive composure.
—Come in.
The door opened unhurriedly, and Alaudi crossed the threshold. With his calm and distant stride, the Cloud Guardian glanced sideways at the ape boy on the bed. For a fleeting moment, his steel-blue eyes reflected surprise, but his expression quickly returned to the calculating coldness that characterized him.
—What's going on here, Giotto? —Alaudi asked, adjusting the collar of his coat—. What is he doing here?
—He's fine, Alaudi. He's with us —Giotto replied calmly.
Alaudi pieced together the situation within seconds. He shifted his gaze toward Saruo and then back to his leader.
—I see... Although I believe I just had a run-in with his people. I captured them all, and right now they're knocked out in the underground prison.
Saruo's eyes widened, and he sat up despite the pain.
—What!? The men I brought with me... you captured them?
—Yes —Alaudi admitted curtly, keeping his guard up in case the ape's presence turned into open hostility—. I knew they were enemies lurking around the perimeter, so I acted accordingly.
—Relax, Alaudi —Giotto intervened, raising a hand to ease the tension in the room—. We are allies now. But tell me, Saruo... those men in the prison, are they all loyal to Kaien?
Saruo looked toward Alaudi, remaining thoughtful for several seconds as he went over the faces of his subordinates.
—No... Some of them are Kaien's men, but others are warriors I've known personally for a long time. Men who follow only me.
—I see —Giotto nodded, crossing his arms—. You'll have to separate those loyal to Kaien from your own men. We'll head there right now.
Saruo let out an ironic laugh, pointing at his own injuries.
—You said I'm injured. How do you expect me to go in this condition?
Giotto smiled with a hint of mystery and pride in his eyes.
—Don't worry. We have someone in the Family who can heal you faster than you can imagine.
—Alaudi, please go and call Knuckle to heal Saruo —Giotto requested in a calm voice.
Alaudi clicked his tongue with obvious annoyance.
—Tch. What a nuisance... I'm neither your servant nor your errand boy, Giotto —the Cloud Guardian replied, crossing his arms and looking away.
Giotto, seeing how directly a subordinate was challenging the orders of the Vongola leader, did not know how to react. He felt slightly embarrassed and caught off guard with Saruo present.
Far from becoming annoyed, Giotto simply gave a patient smile and sighed.
—Please, Alaudi. Do me this favor, will you? Just call Knuckle so he can come heal Saruo, and Sana and Reijiro as well.
Alaudi studied him silently for a moment, evaluating Giotto's unwavering gaze.
—Fine... —he finally muttered before turning around and leaving the room with firm steps.
A short while later, the door opened again. Knuckle entered, the passionate boxer who had crushed the two giants on the battlefield shortly before. Saruo instinctively tensed, remembering the man's brutal strength.
However, Knuckle approached the bed with an entirely different attitude. He placed his large hands over Saruo's wounds, and within seconds, a warm and intense golden Flame began to emanate from his palms, enveloping the battered body of the young ape. The relief was immediate: the sharp pain began to subside, and the damaged tissues started to regenerate.
—I'm sorry, Giotto —Knuckle commented while maintaining his concentration to the fullest—. Since my Flames aren't at full strength, this is going to take a little longer.
—Don't worry. Take as much time as you need —Giotto replied calmly.
Saruo watched in amazement as that mystical Flame eased the suffering of his wounds. While Knuckle finished his work, the door opened again. This time, Sana and Renjiro entered, displaying the serious posture of those preparing for duty.
—Giotto, do you need anything from us? —Renjiro asked, stepping forward.
—Yes, boys —Giotto declared, modulating his voice with impeccable authority—. Prepare all the assault forces. We're going to put an end to this once and for all.
Upon hearing those words, Sana and Renjiro exchanged a quick glance before turning their eyes toward Saruo, trying to decipher the new dynamic. Finally, they looked back at Giotto.
Saruo, surprised by the magnitude of the order, stared at the young Vongola boss in disbelief.
—What... what are we going to do? Do you have a plan in mind? —Saruo asked, his voice faltering.
Giotto straightened his shoulders, maintaining an expression of absolute confidence and resolve.
—We're going after your false father. I don't need any elaborate plan to crush that man. We're going in with everything we've got. I know perfectly well that he doesn't have the strength necessary to stop my organization or my soldiers. I highly doubt he could stand against my Administrators... and he certainly won't be able to face my Guardians. After all, I believe you were the most formidable weapon he had kept in reserve, weren't you?
Saruo remained silent for a moment. Giotto's logic was irrefutable. With his face darkened by determination, the ape boy slowly nodded.
—That's right... —Saruo admitted.
Giotto flashed a lethal smile and looked at everyone present in the room.
—Then prepare yourselves, boys... because that man's death is very near.
Saruo remained on the bed while Knuckle's golden Flames finished healing him, watching Giotto's silhouette and deeply reflecting on every one of his words. For the first time in his life, he did not feel like a manipulated pawn, but rather like part of an unstoppable force marching toward true justice.
…
Between the Country of Ancestors and the Iron Country, right along the border, stood Kaien's hidden fortress. In the cold command room, Kaien waited for news alongside Masanobu, expecting confirmation of Saruo's successful offensive operation; an operation that had to be executed with millimetric precision to eliminate the Vongola Boss or, failing that, cripple his Guardians.
Masanobu watched his leader, who maintained an almost indolent calm. However, that calm was shattered when the heavy doors suddenly opened. A subordinate burst into the room, covered in dust and gasping with absolute panic.
—Boss! We're under attack! —the man shouted, his voice breaking—. They're taking us down far too quickly!
—Huh? Who are they? —Masanobu demanded, stepping forward with a distorted expression.
Kaien, however, did not need to hear any names. A bitter shadow crossed his features as he connected the pieces in a single second.
—Masanobu... I'm afraid Saruo has failed —Kaien murmured in an icy sigh—. Prepare yourself. We're getting out of here right now.
Without wasting another second, Kaien and Masanobu entered a secret underground passage. They hurried through the darkness of the tunnel until they reached the hidden exit on the mountainside. But as they crossed the threshold and emerged into daylight, their pupils dilated from the violent shock of fear and surprise.
Before them, atop a small hill, the entire leadership of the organization awaited. The Administrators were there, the Guardians with their weapons ready, and at the center stood Giotto, wearing his imposing First Generation cloak and radiating an overwhelming majesty. And right beside him stood Saruo. His face was a storm where ancestral pain and devastating fury battled for dominance.
Upon seeing him, Kaien felt as though the ground had collapsed beneath his feet.
—Saruo... why are you there? —Kaien managed to utter, his voice trembling with disbelief—. Is this a betrayal? After everything I did to take care of you! After raising you like a son! Why are you standing beside the enemy?
The tragic sadness in Saruo's eyes slowly began to distort, revealing a volcanic rage.
—You took care of me, Kaien? —Saruo replied, every word sounding like the rumble of thunder—. You killed my father. You enslaved my mother. You destroyed my tribe and burned down my true home. I know everything, Kaien... I know every one of your disgusting lies. And today, you are going to die.
Kaien went pale. Desperate, he turned his head toward Masanobu, but his lieutenant stood frozen, unable to utter a word in the face of the Vongola's flawless presence. Seeing that Masanobu had not betrayed him, the abyss closing in around him, Kaien attempted his final and most despicable maneuver: persuasion through emotional blackmail.
—Wait, Saruo! Listen to me for a second! —Kaien exclaimed, taking a false step forward with his arms extended and a forced, almost grotesque smile—. They're manipulating you! Those cunning and vile children have done something to your head! How can you doubt me, your father? Who healed your wounds when you were a cub? Who taught you how to fight? We were a family, son! Don't you remember when you fell from the great oak while trying to catch that bird and I told you that apes couldn't fly?
With every desperate word, with every false joke Kaien used to evoke a paternal nostalgia that had never existed, Saruo took a firm step down the hill. The ground beneath his feet creaked under the accumulated hatred.
—They're only using you as a tool! —Kaien shouted, clumsily backing away as he saw the shadow of the ape boy looming over him—. I gave you a purpose! I gave you a life! Without me, you're nothing but a stinking, homeless orphan! Please, Saruo, look me in the eyes! I'm your father!
Saruo stopped only a couple of meters away from him. The coldness in his golden eyes delivered the final sentence.
—You are not my father —Saruo declared in a sepulchral tone—. You're the monster who stole me and took my loved ones away from me. And your comedy ends today.
Giotto watched the scene with absolute serenity.
He felt the heaviness of the air as Saruo descended the hill, approaching step by step. Fear completely wore Kaien down; his rushed words and uncontrolled mouth revealed his blind terror of death and the imminent weight of his own lies. He could barely form words, and saliva spilled uncontrollably from the corners of his mouth, exposing the complete collapse of his sanity.
When he reached his executioner, Saruo rose imposingly, using his tail to make his presence even more intimidating as he faced Kaien directly.
The mercenary, desperate, began shedding crocodile tears, trembling as he extended his shaking hands.
—Son... —Kaien whispered in a broken and feigned voice.
For a microsecond, doubt and pain threatened to soften Saruo's heart. But that hesitation was the opportunity Kaien had been waiting for: with a face twisted by madness, the man lunged forward, drawing a hidden knife to stab it directly into the boy's chest.
Caught by surprise, Saruo froze, not knowing how to react.
¡SWHIIIISH!
A sharp whistle cut through the wind. Before the steel could graze the monkey boy's skin, an arrow tore through the air at a terrifying speed, cleanly piercing Kaien's armed hand.
—AAAAAGH! —Kaien howled as blood gushed from the wound and the dagger fell to the ground.
When they looked up, everyone saw G standing at the top of the hill, maintaining a perfectly still and flawless posture after releasing the string of his bow. The Storm Guardian stared at Kaien with a look of arrogance and absolute contempt.
Giotto, alongside the other Guardians and Administrators, turned his head slightly and gave a restrained smile.
—Good shot, G —Giotto commented calmly.
—You're welcome, Primo —G replied, adjusting the bow over his shoulder—. It's a pleasure to hurt that kind of human trash. Those are the kinds of vermin I truly enjoy watching fall.
Kaien, clutching his mangled hand and covered in his own blood, glared at the Vongola leadership with blind rage before turning toward the boy.
—Damn you brats! Ah! Saruo, help me! —he pleaded on his knees, crawling toward him—. Kill all these wretches! Come on, help me! Give me your hand, we're your family!
Saruo stared at Kaien kneeling at his feet. Rage, mourning for his parents, and betrayal accumulated within his chest. Then, his tail —moving with what appeared to be a living will of its own, attuned to its owner's inner fury and doubt born from his pain— lunged forward like a steel serpent and wrapped itself around Kaien's neck.
The tail began strangling him with tremendous force. Kaien brought both hands to his neck, desperately trying to break free from its grip, but the appendage did not yield even an inch. The tail seemed to understand the brief hesitation that still remained in Saruo's heart and took over the task itself, tightening with blind and relentless force.
There were agonizing seconds of struggle, lack of oxygen, and suffocation. Kaien's eyes became bloodshot until, finally, he stopped struggling.
¡CRACK!
A dry and definitive crack echoed across the mountainside as the structure of his neck completely fractured. The tail loosened, and Kaien's lifeless body fell onto the grass like a sack of potatoes.
A few meters away, Masanobu witnessed the execution completely paralyzed by panic. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, trembling from head to toe, unable to utter a word or even attempt to flee.
Saruo slowly turned his head and fixed his gaze on Masanobu: the right-hand man of the person who had ruined his life.
Saruo knew that Masanobu was the least guilty man within Kaien's circle. Although he commanded men and made cruel decisions under Kaien's orders, he had never killed a woman or a child; Saruo had noticed that since he was little. Kaien had kept him at his side not because of his cruelty, but because of the nobility of his heart, knowing that such loyalty would never break. Furthermore, in the spiritual projection Giotto had shown him, Saruo had seen with his own eyes that Masanobu had been one of the few who opposed the massacre and had not shed the blood of his tribe.
Saruo turned his face toward him with restrained coldness.
—Masanobu.
—A-ah? —the man raised his gaze from the ground, trembling at the imposing figure of the monkey boy—. Y-yes, Saruo?
—You work for me now —Saruo declared, staring directly at him—. I expect your loyalty to remain the same. You know very well how much I loved that man, but he lied to me. The loyalty you gave him, you will now give to me. I inherited his command.
Masanobu swallowed and immediately nodded, lowering his head.
—All right, Saruo... I'll work for you.
—Very well. From today onward, things will be completely different —Saruo continued, pointing toward the hill—. We will work with the Vongola. They will be our allies, and we will follow whichever path is most beneficial for our people.
Masanobu looked toward Giotto and his Guardians, surprised by the maturity and presence of those boys, and nodded in agreement.
Giotto took a few steps forward, adjusting his cloak over his shoulders as he addressed Saruo.
—Don't worry. Most of your men have already been captured. Only those who showed violent resistance at the base were taken down.
Saruo looked at Masanobu seriously.
—I want you to go after those men. Identify and eliminate the most ruthless ones, those who were blindly loyal to Kaien.
Masanobu stood up, his legs still trembling, and entered the fortress tunnel once again.
Giotto turned his head toward one of his men.
—Daiki, follow him. Make sure our men don't attack him, and supervise the work he's going to do.
—Understood, Giotto —Daiki replied, taking a couple of agile leaps as he entered the underground passage alongside Masanobu.
With the area finally cleared, Saruo walked slowly but firmly toward Giotto. He looked directly into his eyes, letting out a sigh of relief after closing the darkest chapter of his life.
—Thank you, Giotto... This was much faster than I thought it would be —Saruo said, giving a sincere smile for the first time—. And yes... from now on, you're my best friend. I officially accept your friendship.
At that precise moment, a crystalline echo resonated within Giotto's mind.
¡DING!
[SECONDARY MISSION: PHASE 2 COMPLETED]
Achievement: You have earned the genuine loyalty and friendship of Saruo Wakage.
Reward: The Vongola Sky Ring's Flame production has been unlocked.
Status: Sky Flames Channeling activated.
(Note: The advanced functions of the Vongola Ring will remain sealed until the acquisition of the Trinisette is completed.)
Giotto felt a warm current of energy coursing through his spiritual channels. The ring's gemstone in his right hand flashed once again with a pure intensity, allowing him to channel his true Flames of the Last Will once again.
Giotto gave a restrained smile and nodded, deeply relieved to regain control of his powers.
…
Two days later, the march back continued at a steady pace until the caravan of soldiers and Guardians reached an important crossroads.
Saruo stopped dead in his tracks. A shiver ran through his entire being as he gazed at the path leading into the dense forest; it was an ancestral instinct, a tug in his chest that he could not ignore.
—Giotto, I'm going to split off here —the monkey boy announced.
Giotto stopped beside him and looked at him curiously.
—Where are you going?
Saruo hesitated for a second, torn between making up an excuse or speaking honestly. But when he saw the serene look in the Vongola leader's eyes, he decided to tell the truth.
—Relax... we're friends, right? —Giotto added with a sincere smile.
Those words touched a sensitive chord within Saruo, making him give a relieved grimace.
—I'm going home —Saruo confessed, looking toward the depths of the forest—. I can feel the jungle calling me.
Giotto gazed at the path and then turned his attention back to him.
—I can go with you to see your home —Giotto offered.
Saruo turned his head, surprised.
—We're friends, right? I want to see the place where you lived, where you were born... I'm curious.
Noticing Saruo glancing sideways at the rest of the contingent, Giotto immediately reassured him:
—Don't worry, they'll continue on to the base. I'll go with you. Just the two of us.
—All right —Saruo nodded.
Giotto walked toward G, who was leading the caravan's march.
—G, please take the others back to the base —Giotto ordered—. I'm going somewhere with Saruo.
—What!? —G immediately reacted, frowning—. Primo, where are you going? I don't like this. What if that monkey is plotting something?
—G, respect him, please —Giotto requested in a firm but understanding tone—. Saruo is trustworthy now. Look at everything we've done for him... I highly doubt he'll try anything bad. Besides, you yourself did something noble for him by saving his life in front of Kaien.
G clenched his teeth, remembering the arrow shot with which he disarmed the mercenary, and let out a resigned sigh.
—It's true... All right, Primo, but stay alert.
Giotto nodded and shifted his gaze slightly toward Ugetsu. The Rain Guardian gave him a subtle nod, silently confirming that he would maintain order during the march and keep watch over the surroundings.
G felt a pang of stubbornness deep inside. He liked having the absolute responsibility of protecting Giotto and being his primary right-hand man; seeing that Giotto trusted Alaudi and now the monkey boy caused a slight sense of professional jealousy. However, he restrained his emotions and merely crossed his arms.
Giotto and Saruo entered the path, increasing their pace until they began running together through the foliage, quickly disappearing into the depths of the forest.
G watched the silhouette of his leader disappear into the distance and murmured to himself:
—I hope you take care of yourself, Primo...
…
During the three days of travel, Giotto and Saruo traversed the dense forests of the region. Saruo moved with natural agility, leaping from branch to branch with the ease characteristic of his kind. For Giotto, adapting to that vertical rhythm was an initial challenge, but thanks to his quick learning ability and control over his body, he soon began imitating his companion's leaps, crossing the treetops alongside him. Along the way, they shared competitions, laughter, and moments of rest, strengthening a genuine and unbreakable bond of friendship.
By the end of the third day, the landscape changed drastically. The air became humid, and a dense layer of fog enveloped the terrain, covering the muddy ground and moss-covered trunks.
Saruo stopped on a thick branch, and Giotto landed beside him.
—What happened? —Giotto asked, looking at the whitish horizon.
—We're here —Saruo replied.
Noticing how Giotto's expression darkened as he gazed at the dense blanket of vapor, Saruo gave him a curious look.
—Is something wrong?
—I don't like fog —Giotto confessed in a sober tone.
—You don't like it? Why?
—It's not that I hate it... It's just that it brings back bad memories —the young leader replied, involuntarily thinking of the shadow of Demon Spade.
—Seriously, huh?... Well, let's keep going.
Just as they were about to take the next step, a crystalline tone resonated in Giotto's mind:
¡DING!
[HIDDEN MISSION COMPLETED]
Achievement: You have defeated the mercenary leader Kaien and freed Saruo from his manipulation.
Assistance Reward: Mist Flame Seed.
A mystical flash floated in the air before them, materializing into a small seed of a spectral purple hue. Saruo jumped backward in surprise, gripping his staff tightly.
—Damn! You scared me! —the monkey boy exclaimed, staring at him with wide eyes—. Why the hell do such weird things always appear around you?
Giotto shrugged with an enigmatic smile.
—Relax, it's normal for me.
He took the Mist Flame Seed and carefully tucked it into his clothing. Then, he turned his gaze toward the dense wall of foliage and mist blocking the main entrance.
—How do we get in? —Giotto inquired.
—We just have to wait —Saruo replied calmly.
A few seconds later, as if Saruo's presence were being recognized by the sacred ecosystem, the mist slowly began to dissipate. The bushes and vines parted to the sides, opening a natural path through the vegetation.
—Let's go —Saruo said.
Giotto nodded, and the two followed the revealed path. As they crossed the threshold, the scenery revealed the current state of the sanctuary: a young forest barely attempting to rise again from its ancient ashes.
—So this is your true home, right? —Giotto observed in a low voice.
—Yes... —Saruo murmured, gazing at the landscape—. There are still burn marks everywhere. Fallen trunks, dead vegetation... but life is beginning to sprout again.
As they ventured deeper into the heart of Iwakuma, the emotional burden overwhelmed the boy's defenses. Tears began to well up in his eyes as he remembered the memories of his parents and the tragedy of his tribe.
They walked in silence until they reached the shores of a tranquil, crystal-clear pond. While Saruo wiped his face with the back of his hand, the surface of the water began to churn violently, generating increasingly larger waves.
Suddenly, a colossal figure emerged from the depths of the pond with a thunderous splash, causing both Giotto and Saruo to jump backward, completely caught off guard. Before them stood an enormous toad.
Saruo reacted instantly, leaping backward while wielding his staff in a combat stance. Giotto also jumped several meters back with agile movement; however, his Hyper-Intuition did not warn him of any real danger. There was no killing intent in the air, so the young leader decided not to attack and instead chose to observe the situation carefully.
The colossal amphibian before them had rough, weathered skin, wrinkled almost like a raisin, and whitish eyes that revealed advanced blindness caused by old age. It was an infinitely ancient creature. Although it could not see them clearly, its senses seemed capable of perceiving their presence and the energy of the surroundings.
The enormous toad turned its head toward the empty space where the two boys stood and broke the silence with a deep, measured voice:
—At last you've arrived... Saruo.
Saruo blinked in surprise, lowering his staff slightly as he looked from side to side.
—You... you know me?
—Of course, boy, I know you —the elderly amphibian replied—. I knew your father and mother very well.
Saruo's eyes widened at the mention of his parents.
—My name is Gamaru —the creature introduced himself with weary solemnity—. And I am the leader of Mount Myoboku, which lies on the other side of this lake.
—Wow... —Saruo murmured, scratching his head—. So you're kind of our neighbor.
—Literally —Gamaru nodded.
—And what is such a big neighbor doing around here? —the monkey boy inquired.
—I came to welcome you —the great toad explained—. Your home was destroyed. It was one of the youngest sacred domains in existence. I thought it would never rise again... but in one of my dreams, I saw that you would return, so here I am.
Saruo lowered his gaze for a moment, feeling a pang of bitterness in his chest.
—I understand... But if we were neighbors, why couldn't you save us when they attacked the forest?
Gamaru let out a deep sigh that stirred the water of the pond.
—I'm sorry, boy. It wasn't our duty to intervene. Besides, I couldn't expose my people to the outside world. You understand, right, Saruo? However... because of the guilt I've carried all these years, I've decided to train you.
—Train me? —Saruo frowned, looking at the amphibian's enormous, wrinkled body—. And how is an old toad like you supposed to train me?
—There are many more things in this world, Saruo, than your eyes can see —Gamamaru declared wisely—. I can make you extremely strong. I will teach you to become one with nature.
—One with nature?
—That's right. Your strength, agility, and all your senses will rise to a higher level. You will become a sage... the first Great Monkey Sage.
Saruo's eyes lit up. The mere idea of bearing such a title resonated grandly in his mind, although he immediately crossed his arms and let out a small nervous laugh.
—Wow... being a sage sounds incredible, but I don't think I have a sage's face. I'm just a kid, and I'm really funny. A lot of people have told me that I'm too childish for such serious things...
Hearing him speak so awkwardly before an ancient creature, Giotto placed a hand over his face and looked away, hiding a grimace that seemed to say: "Oh Lord... how embarrassing. I really don't know this kid."
Suddenly, a high-pitched voice interrupted the conversation from above.
—Hey, Grandpa! He's making fun of your offer!
Both boys looked up. Right above Gamaru's head appeared a tiny toad, standing on two legs with a rather arrogant attitude.
—Hello, my name is Gamaru... I mean, Gamamaru! —the little toad corrected himself, puffing out his chest proudly—. I'm the future chief of the toads!
Saruo stared at him for a couple of seconds, tilting his head.
—Oh, I see... Nice to meet you, tadpole.
Gamamaru imposed his imposing presence from the water to calm the dispute. When Gamamaru heard Saruo call him a tadpole, he turned red with rage and shouted furiously:
—Shut up, cylindrical monkey!
—Hush, calm down, Gamamaru —Gamaru intervened in a booming voice.
The little toad could only cross his tiny arms and look away with deep stubbornness. Saruo, meanwhile, was doubled over with laughter, roaring with amusement.
Gamaru observed the boy carefully before speaking again with solemnity:
—Little monkey, listen to me carefully. On this continent, there are several sacred and secret lands. There is Ryūchi Cave, where the snakes live; Shikkotsu Forest, where the slugs live; and our mountain, as well as this jungle that once belonged to your race. However, yours was the youngest among the great sage races. They were too peaceful; they lacked a connection with nature and did not know how to fight... It is a shame they could not defend themselves. But I am going to change that. I will train you so that the art of battle may be reborn within you, if you accept my proposal, of course.
Saruo remained deep in thought over the old man's words. At that moment, Giotto stepped forward and placed a firm hand on his shoulder.
—Go, Saruo —Giotto said gently.
—Huh? —Saruo looked at him, caught by surprise.
—I don't feel that he has any ill intentions —Giotto continued, looking toward the enormous amphibian—. You should go and fulfill your destiny. The stronger you become, the better we will be able to help each other, and the more you will be able to do for your community in the future. Don't worry about your people or your organization; I will contact Masanobu to take temporary control and make sure everything remains in order while you train.
Saruo smiled gratefully and nodded.
—All right, Giotto. See you.
—See you, Saruo.
Without hesitating any longer, the monkey boy ran forward, made a spectacular leap, and landed on his feet atop Gamagoro's head.
—All right, boys, it is time to go —announced the toad leader. But before submerging himself, he fixed his ancient white eyes directly on the young Vongola—. Boy... I sense a strange energy within you. I have a premonition that you do not entirely belong to this world.
Giotto was surprised for an instant, but immediately concealed his astonishment behind a sober and calculating smile.
—Everyone tells me that, you know? —Giotto replied lightly.
Gamaru narrowed his eyes for a moment and silently nodded. Without adding anything else, he began to sink into the depths of the pond, taking Saruo with him. The boy immediately began throwing a tantrum when he saw the cold water starting to rise over his fur.
—Agh, the water!! —Saruo squealed as he tried not to get wet.
—Shut up, you dramatic monkey! —Gamamaru shouted back from the surface before disappearing beneath the water.
—Shut up, you stupid tadpole— Saruo protested!
The pond returned to complete calm. Giotto watched the ripples on the surface and let out a long sigh. He looked around the sacred forest, scratching his head with slight confusion.
—These toads and these places seem familiar to me... —Giotto murmured, or rather Luciano to himself—. But I can't remember where from.
…
Hello everyone, welcome back!
Ah, I barely made it for this week's chapter update! I wanted to share with you all that I felt I should have expanded a bit more on Kaien and Saruo's backstory—adding more drama and depth. However, I really want to wrap up this arc since it's not one of the main storylines of the fic.
Actually, this whole idea regarding Saruo, Kaien, and this new setting came to me from another Naruto fanfiction concept I had in mind, and I decided to integrate it into this story. I have to admit that Saruo's role as an antagonist to Giotto holds a lot of potential... but honestly, sometimes I feel like my writing skills aren't quite there yet, or maybe I just wasn't inspired enough while writing this specific part of Giotto's journey.
Anyway, in the upcoming chapters, we are going to see a very important Naruto character make an appearance, and things are about to get really interesting!
This is Wissumi Wizaki signing off. I hope you enjoy the read! See you next time!