Naruto : Transforming the Ninja World into a Harem World

When they emerged from the other side of the portal, the group was greeted by a breathtaking sight. Before them stretched endless verdant landscapes, dotted with gentle hills and lush forests. The air was pure and fresh, filled with the scents of wild nature.

Rhea was the first to break the awestruck silence. "It's... it's beautiful," she whispered, her eyes scanning the horizon.

"I've never seen anything like it," added Thalia, her voice filled with admiration. "It's as if we've been transported to another world."

Akira, who seemed little affected by the location's beauty, turned to the group. "We'll set up camp here," he announced firmly. "Begin preparations immediately."

After almost an hour of sustained effort, the camp was finally ready. Tents were erected, surrounding a central space where a campfire had been prepared. Various equipment was carefully arranged, ready to be used.

That's when Hernandez emerged from what looked like a small improvised cabin, built away from the main camp. He approached Akira with determined steps.

"I'm finished," he announced.

Akira simply nodded in response to Hernandez. Without a word, he plunged his hand into his dimensional pocket. The gesture, though simple, immediately caught Hernandez's attention, whose eyes widened in surprise as Akira began to extract its contents.

"By all the gods... where did you get all this?" exclaimed Hernandez, stunned by what he saw.

A smile formed on Akira's lips, who continued pulling out materials from his pocket, without bothering to answer. The noise of activities around the camp gradually decreased as other group members, intrigued by the unfolding scene, discreetly approached to observe.

Hernandez let out an admiring whistle. The piles of precious metals accumulated: adamantine with its characteristic bluish sheen, and mithril with such pure silvery glow it seemed almost ethereal.

When Akira had finished arranging the materials, Hernandez spoke, carefully choosing his words: "I don't mean to be rude, but... such quantities of adamantine and mithril... There's only one place where you can find so much of these precious metals: the Hunters' Association."

"That's exactly where I found them," Akira calmly replied, his face betraying no emotion.

Hernandez's face fell, as if he'd been physically struck. A palpable tension filled the air as the implications of this revelation began to sink into everyone's mind.

"Are you..." Hernandez paused, his voice trembling, "are you also responsible for the carnage that took place there?"

"Indeed," replied Akira with the same disconcerting calmness. "You'd better step aside now."

Without waiting for a response, Akira plunged his hand into his dimensional pocket again. This time, what he pulled out were the scales of Belthegus, the demon dragon whose name alone was enough to make the bravest tremble. The spectators' eyes widened in horror, and several stepped back instinctively. Only Yumi and Elysia remained impassive.

The scales emitted an unwholesome aura, but Akira, holding them firmly in his hands, released some of his energy. A bluish glow emanated from his palms, gradually neutralizing the demonic energy that permeated the scales.

Once the energy dissipated, Akira stepped toward Hernandez, who hadn't moved, as if petrified by the successive revelations. He held out the scales.

Emerging from his stupor, Hernandez accepted them carefully, his eyes searching Akira's. "What equipment do you desire in exchange?"

Akira scratched the back of his head, seeming to think for a moment. "It would be better if you saw for yourself," he said before reaching out and touching Hernandez's forehead.

A few seconds passed, during which a mental connection seemed to establish between the two men. "I see," Hernandez finally whispered, nodding. "Is... what I'm thinking also here?"

Giving no answer, Akira stepped back several paces, creating significant distance between himself and the group. With a precise gesture, he erected a protective barrier around himself. "Yumi," he called, "make sure nothing serious happens."

She nodded silently, understanding what was about to occur. The entire group, though shocked by the previous revelations, observed Akira's actions. He sat in the lotus position inside the barrier, his face showing intense concentration.

Taking a deep breath, he removed Belthegus's heart. The moment the organ was exposed to open air, a wave of devastating energy surged inside the barrier, so powerful it completely obscured the view from outside.

The inside of the barrier was tinted with blinding light, mixing shades of blood red and abyssal black. Spectators could no longer distinguish what was happening inside, but they could feel the waves of power emanating from the protective structure.

The rest of the group remained frozen in fear. Belthegus's presence, even contained within a barrier, was enough to bring up traumatic memories in some of them. Thalia unconsciously squeezed Rhea's hand, seeking comfort in the contact.

Minutes passed with unbearable slowness. The tension in the air was so dense it became almost palpable. Even the sounds of the surrounding forest seemed to have fallen silent, as if nature itself was holding its breath.