As Naruto stepped into the dimly lit shop, the scent of incense and aged parchment filled the air. The humble yet mystical ambiance of Madame Xanadu's domain always carried a sense of the past and the future intertwined.
Sitting at a round table, Madame Xanadu—Nimue Inwudu—was waiting for him, exactly as he had expected.
Her long, silky black hair cascaded over her shoulders, complementing the elegant purple and white dress she wore. In front of her sat two cups of coffee, still steaming—one meant for him.
"Welcome back, Naruto. Your trip seems to have been fruitful."
Her voice was calm, knowing.
Naruto smiled, taking in the warmth of her hospitality. Madame Xanadu wasn't just an ordinary seer—she was someone who understood the weight of time itself.
"Thank you for your assistance," he said sincerely as he took the offered seat. "Without your help, we might have had many deaths on our hands." His blue eyes softened with gratitude as he looked at her. "Is there anything I can do to repay this debt?"
Xanadu simply waved off the notion with a gentle smile.
"There is no need to consider it a debt. I simply wish to help the world and atone for my past sins."
Her voice carried the weight of centuries, but in her expression, there was only kindness.
"If it will make you feel better, then simply consider me a friend. Come visit when you have time. In this quiet place, I am happy among normal people, but sometimes... I do miss the company of those like us."
She took a slow sip of her coffee before adding, "You can also bring your other friends if they don't mind talking to an old lady."
Naruto felt a spark of warmth at her words. There was no deception in her eyes, no hidden motives—just the genuine wish for companionship.
"I'd love to," Naruto agreed. "And I don't think it would be a problem to bring someone along. Raven, for one, would love to talk to you."
Xanadu hummed in acknowledgment, a knowing look passing over her face.
"Ah, yes. The child of Trigon."
There was no malice in the title, just an acknowledgment of truth.
"We would definitely get along," she mused. "And I am pleased that you have guided her onto the right path. Had you not intervened, she might have fallen by now."
Naruto listened carefully, but her next words carried even more weight.
"Your methods may be unusual and time-consuming, but they have prevented countless disasters. Keep it up, Naruto. You are doing the right thing."
She lifted her cup in a small toast of respect.
"Sometimes, people just need someone to talk to, someone who understands them. Yet, mental struggles are often ignored by the world—only noticed when it's too late. But you…" She smiled at him. "You have changed the world and addressed this problem at its core. That is a rare and precious thing."
Naruto blinked, momentarily taken aback.
Compliments like these always caught him off guard.
The world had indeed changed. Villains no longer just appeared from societal neglect or corruption. Heroes now watched over the root causes, ensuring that no one was pushed into darkness out of despair.
And yet…
He had never thought of it in such a grand way.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," he said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish chuckle. "But I'm just doing what anyone could do."
Xanadu tilted her head slightly, her expression turning amused yet firm.
"Not anyone can do it, Naruto," she corrected. "And the ones who can—don't."
She leaned back, her piercing gaze holding his. "There's no need to be so humble. Just accept the compliment."
Naruto let out a small laugh, rubbing his neck in embarrassment.
"Haha… thanks."
It was a simple moment, but for someone who had spent so many years yearning for acknowledgment, every genuine word meant something.
Kushina had been showering him with praise lately, so he was getting used to it.
But still—it felt nice.
Madame Xanadu's mysterious smile deepened as she watched Naruto. Today was a good day—things were moving in the right direction, and she always enjoyed talking to the young man.
Unlike many heroes, Naruto had an aura that was both powerful and kind, a rare combination. His presence was warm, yet there was an unshakable will beneath it. She liked that about him.
"Now, I assume you came for a reason?" she said, swirling her coffee cup as she met his gaze.
Naruto nodded, leaning forward slightly. "Yes, I believe you already know that I am from another world."
Xanadu gave him a knowing look and nodded.
Taking that as confirmation, Naruto continued, "I've come to realize that my arrival here must be connected to Gaea, and I want to know how I can meet her."
The air grew a little heavier at his words. Xanadu's expression remained calm, but her eyes sharpened with curiosity.
"Your assumption is correct. Your arrival has everything to do with Gaea."
She took a deliberate sip of her coffee before asking, "But are you sure you want to meet her? What is your purpose?"
Naruto didn't hesitate. "I want her to give me access to my world."
Xanadu arched an eyebrow and smirked. "Why didn't you try asking me?"
Naruto gave a small chuckle. "I assumed that she had closed off all paths so that I wouldn't leave."
Xanadu laughed softly, nodding. "Hehe, correct again. Gaea is a meticulous woman. She has indeed blocked off all exits. You would need someone on her level to find a way back."
She set her cup down, her tone becoming more serious. "Meeting her, however… I cannot say what it would be like. There are no accurate descriptions, and I cannot see it."
Naruto remained calm, unwavering. "I don't mind. I trust that she doesn't have bad intentions since she was the one who brought me to this world."
Xanadu tilted her head, considering his words. "That would be a reasonable assumption. But immortals—or beings on their level—are rarely predictable. Who knows what she is thinking?"
She paused, then said, "Your goal is achievable… but very difficult."
Naruto nodded, already expecting the challenge.
"Unless Gaea herself calls for you, the only way to reach her is through Olympus."
The word Olympus made Naruto frown slightly. He already knew where this was going.
"To reach Olympus, you need permission from Zeus."
Xanadu's voice carried the weight of those words.
"Getting that permission is a game of chance. He will either agree without much issue or give you a task."
She leaned forward slightly. "And trust me, these tasks are very dangerous."
Naruto sighed, rubbing his chin. "I figured as much. Is there no other way?"
Xanadu shook her head. "No. Unless Raven experiences a sudden surge in power and gains deeper knowledge of divine domains, you will not reach Gaea."
Naruto fell silent for a moment.
He had heard about the Olympians directly from Diana, Donna, and The Queen. They were bad news.
Even now, many of them were still involved in their old, destructive habits—Ares constantly stirring up conflict, Aphrodite toying with mortal emotions…
Still, Naruto wasn't afraid.
"Thanks, Madame Xanadu." His voice carried unwavering confidence. "I'll get in contact with them and find my way to Gaea."
He didn't even consider failure.
In his mind, there was only success.
Nimue didn't press Naruto further on his determination. She had seen enough of him to understand his nature.
She had witnessed him at his strongest and his weakest, when he was whole and when he was broken.
He was someone who never backed down—a rare kind of person, one who faced even immortals without hesitation.
Instead, she simply gave him a useful tip.
"I would advise talking to Hephaestus. He might give you a helping hand."
Hearing that name, Naruto immediately recalled what he knew about the Olympian blacksmith.
Hephaestus, the son of Zeus.
A child who had been cast out by Hera simply because he was "too ugly" for her tastes.
Naruto felt his jaw tighten.
"That woman is just as disgusting as her husband-slash-brother. immortals, I would love to break her mind for that mindset."
Suppressing his irritation, he asked, "Where can I find him?"
Xanadu took another sip of her coffee before answering.
"Near Themyscira. Talk to Hippolyta, and she will tell you."
Her words were careful.
"It is not my place to share this information, as she is your friend."
Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly.
That kind of phrasing meant that whatever this secret was… it was something dark.
His mind worked quickly. He already had some suspicions, but hearing this from Madame Xanadu confirmed them.
"It has to do with the boys, doesn't it?"
Naruto's voice was calm, but there was an edge of sadness in it.
This was one topic he had not yet spoken about with Queen Hippolyta.
He had been too busy with other matters, and truthfully, he had been waiting for the right time to bring it up.
But he knew.
He had heard whispers.
And now, with Xanadu's confirmation, it all clicked.
"The Amazons don't just pop up out of the ground or nowhere," Naruto muttered, his eyes darkening.
"They are born just like humans.
"The women seduce men out at sea, get impregnated, and then kill them.
"They throw the boys into the sea.
"But then… Hephaestus took them in. Right?"
A pause.
Then, Madame Xanadu smiled.
"You have grown sharper with time, Naruto."
Naruto exhaled, closing his eyes for a second.
"I've seen similar things back home," he admitted.
There had been a certain ninja village that practiced something similar.
The knowledge left a bitter taste in his mouth, but he wasn't surprised.
Humans—and even immortals—were capable of such cruelty.
When he opened his eyes again, they were calm, but filled with resolve.
"Thanks for the suggestion," he said, his voice steady. "I'll talk to him."
He couldn't change the past, but that didn't mean he couldn't do something about the present.
"He doesn't seem like a bad guy. He probably just needs a friend to talk to."
Naruto truly felt sad for Hephaestus.
Being thrown aside… for something so stupid.
A baby should never be blamed for anything.
A baby was a pure creature, without fault.
Yet here was a immortaldess—the so-called "immortaldess of Marriage and Birth"—contradicting those very domains for her vain desires.
And Zeus?
His father barely did anything for him.
Zeus had just used Hephaestus as a smith, a pawn, a tool.
It was disgusting.
But Naruto let out a breath and shook his head, pushing those thoughts away for now.
Dwelling on them wouldn't change anything.
"It is nothing," Xanadu said, her voice gentle. "I just wish for your success."
Then, her lips curled into a warm smile.
"Now… would you like some cake?"
Naruto blinked. "Cake?"
"Yes."
Xanadu's eyes twinkled playfully. "I baked some while I had time. It would be a waste not to eat it fresh."
Naruto felt a small grin creep onto his face.
"Is it vanilla and chocolate?"
Xanadu chuckled.
"Yes."
She already knew what he liked.
Ramen would have been his first choice, but… he was definitely in the mood for something sweet.
"Then let's eat." Naruto leaned back with a smirk. "I could use some sugar."