Ryu called everyone for lunch and everyone came back. Jiyuu, Yasashii, Souji in his wheelchair, Rina in her wheelchair, and Kaia and Akihiro all stopped their exercises and headed toward the dining hall. Kaia glanced back at Naruto, her expression softening slightly as she followed the others inside. Naruto looked relieved and grateful for Ryu's intervention, understanding the situation better now.
Dan had already prepared a feast—grilled fish, miso soup, rice, pickled vegetables, and fresh vegetables. The table was laden with food.
Naruto's eyes went wide as he looked at everyone gathered. Everyone was tired from training, and coupled with their conditions, they all appeared a bit gloomy. But there was something else—a quiet resilience in their eyes, a strength born from struggle.
"Whoa!" Naruto grinned mischievously. "It really is a haunted house!"
Dan burst out laughing, slapping his knee. Ryu chuckled, shaking his head with a small smile.
Kaia, however, looked annoyed.
Ryu said, still smiling, "He's a funny kid."
Everyone took their seats around the large table. Naruto sat between Ryu and Kaia, looking around nervously at all the unfamiliar faces.
"Before we eat," Ryu began, standing at the head of the table, "let me introduce everyone properly."
He gestured around the table. "Naruto, meet my family. This is Jiyuu and Yasashii. That's Rina, and you've already met Kaia and Akihiro."
Jiyuu offered a shy smile, while Yasashii waved enthusiastically, his usual energy infectious. They'd heard the rumours about the boy with the demon fox, but sitting here now, all they saw was another kid who needed a place to belong. Just like them.
Yasashii leaned toward Jiyuu and whispered, "He seems nice."
Jiyuu nodded, a soft smile on her face.
Naruto waved awkwardly.
Near the far end of the table, Souji sat quietly in his wheelchair, his spoon trembling slightly in his hand as he lifted it to his mouth with deliberate concentration. Rina, also in her wheelchair, observed him with quiet encouragement.
When Naruto's gaze landed on them, Rina said softly, "Hello." Souji waved once—a simple gesture of welcome.
Souji was eating by himself with only a little bit of help. His hand and body movements were improving day by day, and he was gaining weight—progress that was visible in the determination etched on his face.
Ryu continued, his voice steady and warm. "None of us here are blood relatives, except for Kaia and Akihiro, who are twins. But we are a family."
The word 'family' hung in the air.
Naruto scanned the table, his gaze lingering on each face. He sensed it—everyone here had a backstory. They all carried some kind of weight. He was just a kid, but he still felt it in their eyes. That look. He had the same look in his own eyes when he stared at his reflection.
Naruto's face went dull, his expression vacant. His mind drifted to the harsh words villagers spat at him daily. Monster. Demon. Why don't you just die?
Kaia couldn't hear the silence that followed, but she could feel it—the shift in posture, the way Naruto's shoulders dropped, and the sudden stillness that spoke louder than any word.
Silence has its own language, she thought. But loneliness speaks the loudest.
Ryu, sitting across from them, observed the interaction carefully, noting how Kaia's usual irritation had transformed into something gentler.
Kaia noticed the shift. She saw the sad face Naruto made and the way his shoulders slumped. Her anger from earlier eased. She leaned slightly toward Naruto. "Hey... what's wrong?" she asked softly.
Naruto blinked, shaking his head quickly. "Nothing," he replied.
Ryu, observing quietly, spoke up. "Naruto, you can come eat with us any time you want."
Naruto looked up, surprised.
"But," Ryu added with a small smile, "from next time, you'll have to pay for it."
Naruto's face twisted in alarm. "But I don't have any money! And you told me you are the richest in the village!" he protested.
Ryu chuckled. "I don't want your pocket change. I want payment in activity. You need to train like everyone else in this house. You saw them, right? They're all training in chakra control. You'll have to do the same."
"Can you sit in one place and focus on your chakra without moving even for a minute? It sounds easy, but it's harder than you think," Ryu explained.
Naruto grinned widely, throwing up a thumbs up. "Piece of cake! I can totally do that! Believe it!"
Ryu's smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "We'll see about that tomorrow."
Kaia snorted quietly. She'd thought the same thing once. Sitting still was harder than any physical training she'd ever endured.
And judging by Naruto's confidence, he was about to learn that lesson too.
Ryu nodded. "For now, eat. You've earned it."
"Whenever you're hungry," Ryu added, "come back. But if you want to train seriously, come tomorrow after the academy lets out."
"Believe it! I'll be here!" Naruto declared with fierce determination.
The meal was lively. Naruto ate with gusto, stuffing his face and burping loudly.
"I'm full!" Naruto announced, leaning back with a satisfied grin.
He paused. When he spoke again, his voice was quieter, almost uncertain. "Thanks. This is... this is the first time anyone invited me to their home."
His grin faltered for just a moment. "I've never been to anyone's house before. Not like this."
Ryu observed the shift—the brief crack in the armour before the boy's walls threatened to rebuild themselves.
"You're welcome, Naruto," Ryu said simply. "And you're welcome back anytime."
After some time, Naruto stood up, bowing slightly. "Thank you for the food!"
Dan, who had been quietly watching from the kitchen doorway, smiled warmly. "Don't mention it. Come again."
Ryu gestured to Kaia. "Kaia, accompany Naruto to the door."
Kaia nodded and walked with Naruto toward the entrance.
As they reached the door, Naruto turned to her. "Big Sister. I'm sorry for earlier."
Kaia studied him for a moment, then her expression softened. "It's fine."
Naruto grinned, wider than before. "Thanks for... you know. Everything." He hesitated, as if wanting to say more, then shook his head. "See you tomorrow, Big Sister!"
He waved enthusiastically and ran off.
The table gradually emptied. Jiyuu, Yasashii, Souji, Rina, and Kaia all returned to their respective activities or rest. Only Ryu and Akihiro remained seated.
After a moment, Ryu stood slowly. "Come with me, Akihiro. Let's go to the isolation chamber."
Akihiro nodded and stood, following Ryu down the corridor. He moved ahead, leaving Ryu a few steps behind.
Dan appeared from the kitchen, his expression more serious now. He glanced after Akihiro's retreating form, then turned to Ryu.
"The ANBU guard stationed near the house will report this to the Hokage," Dan said quietly. "Naruto Uzumaki entering the Hamura compound. Sharing a meal with us."
Ryu's expression didn't change. "I know."
"They'll ask questions. The elders will object."
"Let them object," Ryu said calmly. "I did nothing wrong."
Dan studied his grandson. "You're walking a fine line."
"The best lines to walk are the fine ones, Grandpa." Ryu's lips curved into a small smile. "Besides, if it becomes necessary, I will involve the Daimyo."
Dan chuckled despite himself. "You've thought this through."
"Always."
Dan's expression grew more curious. "Have you started training for awakening the [Adamantine Sealing Chains]?"
Ryu shook his head. "No... I will start now."
Dan nodded slowly. "Good. You'll need proof of your Uzumaki heritage if they push back."
"Exactly." Ryu glanced down the corridor where Akihiro had disappeared. "I should go. Akihiro's waiting."
Dan watched Ryu walk away, then glanced toward the door where Naruto had left. That boy has no idea what kind of ally he just gained.
He thought back to the meal—how naturally Naruto had fit in with the others, despite their differences. Maybe that's Ryu's real talent. Not seals or jutsu, but seeing people for who they could be, not what they are.
Dan shook his head and returned to cleaning up.
Inside the sensory isolation chamber, the silence was absolute. No light. No sound. Only the faint hum of chakra.
Akihiro signed, his movements precise even in the dark. "Is he the child of prophecy?"
Ryu spoke aloud, knowing Akihiro could feel the vibrations.
"Yes. This kid will one day change the world. And his kid after him will protect this world after that."
Akihiro's expression was serious and thoughtful.
Ryu's voice grew quieter, more resolute. "This kid... I will make him stronger than he was in the original timeline."
A moment passed.
"Let's cut the chit-chat and raise your sword," Ryu said, his tone shifting to focus.
The sound of wood sliding against wood echoed in the darkness. They clashed in the isolation chamber with wooden training swords, their senses sharpening with every strike, every parry, every calculated movement in the absolute void.
After several exchanges, Ryu spoke between strikes. "Your fight with Itachi was easy—he was holding back enough to push you forward without truly threatening you."
Their wooden blades met with a sharp clack, the force of their clash reverberating through the chamber. "But now, you face me," Ryu continued, his eyes gleaming with intensity. "And I will not hold back."
After a few clashes, Akihiro understood Ryu was not joking. Ryu's strikes were precise and powerful, pushing Akihiro to his limits as he struggled to keep up.
Akihiro's breath came harder, his muscles burning. But he didn't ask for a break. He knew Ryu was preparing him for something far more dangerous than training.
"Real fights won't be easy," Ryu continued, his voice cutting through the darkness. "So in your free time, perfect your chakra control so we can move on to ninjutsu. And also try to keep your chakra active all the time without leaking it. Do it for however long you can manage."
Akihiro signed quickly with one hand while defending with the other. "Is that even possible?"
"It should be," Ryu replied, deflecting another strike. "It's not something I've seen mastered, but the theory is sound."
As they continued their training, Ryu's thoughts drifted.
The [Gears of Chakra Engine] technique is not safe right now—but there should be no side effects from keeping the [Chakra Engine] running, from maintaining always-active chakra circulation, other than exhaustion of mind and body. But that's something they need to overcome to become exceptional ninja.
Besides, it will eventually become easy once the [InstinctGPT] seal trains their instincts to keep the [Chakra Engine] running automatically. I'll note down its effects on me and Akihiro.
Another exchange of blows echoed through the chamber.
Since Akihiro is blind, he's always looking inward—always aware of his internal state. That gives him an advantage. It will be easier for him than the others to maintain constant chakra circulation.
Again, their wooden swords hit each other in the dark, making a thud sound.
##PoWeR StOnEs PLeaSE##
A/N :
If possible, please leave a review here. A review would mean a lot to me and help me expand the story.
Please support me on Patreon.
25+ more chapters, including 5 free chapters for everyone, are available to read on patreon. com/PageTurnerPJ.
Your support is what gets this story going, so please donate PoWeR StOnEs to the story and add it to your library.
Please keep supporting the story.