Naruto : Transforming the Ninja World into a Harem World

[ First person POV ]

As the rift opened, I was the first to step out, hands casually tucked in the pockets of my sweater. My footsteps echoed on the stone floor. Behind me, Yumi emerged, her long hair cascading down her back. Finally, Elysia appeared, her pale complexion and wide eyes filled with fear and confusion. Her panicked gaze frantically scanned the surroundings, desperately trying to make sense of the situation.

We found ourselves in a vast room adorned with an impressive collection of weapons and armor. Gleaming swords with razor-sharp blades stood next to massive shields adorned with sparkling gemstones. Complete suits of armor, ranging from simple leather breastplates to imposing full plate armors, were neatly displayed on mannequins.

"So this is the Association's weapon workshop? Truly impressive," I commented nonchalantly, letting my gaze wander around the walls.

The intimidating yet fascinating decor was enhanced by the light reflecting off the polished blades of the swords, giving them an almost supernatural gleam. The precious stones embedded in the handles sparkled brightly, capturing every ray of light. Despite the enchanting beauty of this arsenal, none of it truly piqued my interest.

With a nonchalant step, I ventured into the warehouse, deliberately ignoring my companions. My eyes quickly assessed the power of each weapon they landed on. I discovered formidable instruments of death and destruction. Yet, I continued to move forward, guided by an intuition.

Reaching the back of the room, I found myself facing a pile of iridescent gemstones. Skeptical, I furrowed my brow. Something was off. A sudden thought crossed my mind.

"Elysia!" I called out without taking my eyes off the stones.

"Y-yes! I'm coming right away!" she replied, startled, her voice betraying her nervousness.

I turned my head in her direction and saw her hurrying towards me, Yumi close behind. Once by my side, I questioned her:

"Tell me, what are these stones exactly?"

Elysia looked at the gems I was pointing at. Her eyes widened in astonishment and she stood speechless for a moment before stammering:

"It's... It's mithril and adamantine... Two of the rarest and most precious materials there are!" Her voice vibrated with barely contained excitement. "It's so rare to find them that only seven weapons in total have been forged from these stones... And to think there's such a quantity here..."

Her envious gaze did not leave the stones. I could almost see the gears turning in her brain, already imagining the full potential of these materials.

"I see," I nodded, my suspicions confirmed. "But why do you look so surprised?"

"It's just that... I never would have thought there could be so many in one place. It's unheard of! But at the same time, coming from the Association, nothing should surprise me anymore..." Elysia replied, a hint of bitterness in her voice.

I observed her in silence, her face expressing a complex mix of emotions. I could have easily given her some of these stones, but what would be the point? In just a few days, her fate would be sealed. Refusing to waste any more time, I took out a dimensional bag from my pocket and methodically started collecting the stones.

"W-What... What are you doing?" exclaimed Elysia, astonished by my actions.

"I'm taking everything," I replied laconically, focused on my task.

While Elysia and I exchanged words, Yumi, as if drawn by an invisible force, decisively overtook us. For the first time since our arrival, she spoke:

"Tell me, Elysia, how long ago was this building constructed?"

Elysia took a few seconds to respond, searching her memory.

"I can't remember exactly but I think it dates back to..."

Her sentence was left hanging, her face suddenly losing all color. Swallowing hard, she turned to me, a glint of anxiety in her eyes.

"Just out of curiosity... What exactly are we here for?" she asked in a trembling voice, her anxiety clearly palpable.

Ignoring her question, I gathered the last stones in my bag before heading in the direction Yumi had taken, Elysia following me. We found Yumi standing in front of a massive reinforced door, resembling a bank vault door.

"The energy emanating from behind this door is incredibly dense... It manages to seep out despite the thick protective barrier," Yumi observed, lightly touching the energy field that enveloped the surface of the vault.

"It must be incredibly dangerous to require such a massive barrier," I commented, furrowing my brow.

Activating my Byakugan, I scanned the other side of the door. What I saw brought a smile to my lips. Adrenaline began to flow through my veins, my heart accelerating with anticipation.

"And now? What do we do?" whispered Elysia in a barely audible voice, starting to understand the reason for our presence here.

"We're going in, obviously," I replied, advancing towards the door.

With assurance, I placed my hand on the energy barrier. Despite its apparent fragility, it offered surprising resistance. But it didn't matter. Focusing my energy, I plunged my fingers into the energy field, which exploded with a deafening crackle. I paused, all my senses on high alert.

"They'll be here any minute now," I warned, tearing the door off its hinges with a fluid motion.

At that moment, a wave of dark and oppressive energy flooded the room, engulfing us in its malevolent power. Out of reflex, I erected a shield of my own power around Elysia, protecting her from this sinister aura. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw her pale face, sweat beads forming on her forehead as she trembled like a leaf, paralyzed by this dark force. Without further delay, I crossed the threshold.

Inside the vault, resting on a large cushion that occupied the entire space, were three thick plates and a dozen smaller ones, all of identical shape and ink-black color. At their center, pulsing with an unhealthy glow, lay a massive core, larger than a balloon. It resembled magical stones but emitted a unique aura. It was the heart of Belthegus, the source of this lugubrious energy that seemed to want to engulf me with every step I took towards it.

"Very well, I accept your challenge. But we'll settle this later," I murmured to myself, a predatory smile on my lips.

Without wasting a second, I seized the plates imbued with this dark energy that must surely be Belthegus's scales and carefully stored them. Once done, I focused my attention on the core, pensively observing it for a brief moment. Then, with a swift motion, I took it in my hand. Immediately, its sinister energy coiled around my wrist like a serpent around its prey. Satisfied, I slipped it into my dimensional pocket with the rest of my loot. As soon as it disappeared, the oppressive energy saturating the air dissipated, as if it had never existed.

"They'll be here any minute now," Yumi chimed in cheerfully, apparently amused by the situation.

Elysia gazed at us both, completely lost, silently begging for explanations. It was then that the door exploded with a deafening crash, sending debris and dust spiraling through the room. Elysia jumped violently before casting a panicked look at me.

"No need to linger, I'm done here," I declared, approaching her.

With a swift motion, I knocked her unconscious with a sharp blow to the back of her neck. Her body slumped limply, and I caught her before she hit the ground. In the meantime, Yumi had already opened a new dimensional passage, hidden so that no one could see us. Eager to leave the premises, I entered without a backward glance, Yumi on my heels. The next moment, the rift closed, leaving no trace of our passage.

********

[ Third person POV ]

The dust slowly began to dissipate in the back room of the Association's weapon workshop. President Smith and Steeven quickly made their way through the debris and smoke, their urgent footsteps echoing on the stone floor. Their faces were tense with worry and anger as they hurried.

When they finally reached the vault at the back of the room, they stopped abruptly, stunned by the scene before them. The heavy vault door, meant to be indestructible, lay torn off its hinges, twisted and deformed as if a superhuman force had forced it open. Fragments of the magical barrier that protected the entrance still faintly sparkled on the floor before fading away.

But the most shocking sight was inside the vault itself. Where the heart of Belthegus, the most precious and dangerous relic of the Association, should have been, there was only an empty space. The cushions and displays that contained the plates were in disarray, stripped of their contents. A deafening silence prevailed, the dark and oppressive energy that usually emanated from the heart now gone without a trace.

President Smith clenched his fists, his face turning red with rage. His eyes frantically scanned the room, as if expecting the stolen items to suddenly reappear. The veins on his neck pulsed dangerously.

"How is this possible?!" he roared, his voice echoing against the stone walls. "This vault was supposed to be impregnable! No one should be able to break through these protections!"

Beside him, Steeven remained silent, his analytical mind working overtime to understand what had happened. His sharp eyes examined every detail, searching for clues. The disconcerting ease with which the vault had been breached left him perplexed.

Steeven slowly approached the gaping entrance of the vault, carefully avoiding the debris. He crouched down, running his fingers over the jagged edges of the metal. The damage seemed to have been caused by an incredible brute force rather than magic.

"Mr. President," he began calmly, "it seems that our security system has been completely bypassed. Whoever did this possesses a power that surpasses our current understanding."

He stood up, dusting off his jacket with precise movements. His mind continued to work, trying to piece together the puzzle.

"The heart of Belthegus and those scales that accompany it represent immense and corrupted power. In the wrong hands, it could have catastrophic consequences," he continued gravely. "We must find them at all costs."

President Smith froze, slowly turning to Steeven. His eyes sparkled with barely contained rage.