NARUTO: The Saga of Crimson Monarch

Chapter 26: The Meteor's Descent: A Phantom in the Night



The forest was tranquil, the faint rustle of leaves carried on the cool night breeze. Ares sat cross-legged by his campfire and his companion resting, its glow casting dancing shadows on the surrounding trees. The night sky, a vast canvas of stars, was his only company. He stared at it, allowing the quiet to wash over him. Tomorrow, he would resume his journey, but tonight was his brief moment of rest—a fleeting respite in a life defined by endless preparation.

Suddenly, a streak of light tore across the sky, shattering the calm.

Ares's eyes snapped upward, narrowing as he tracked the meteor hurtling down, its fiery trail illuminating the heavens. For a moment, he didn't move. Then, in one fluid motion, he stood, his body tense and his senses sharpening. Without hesitation, he teleported to the tallest tree in the vicinity, landing silently on its swaying peak. He squinted, scanning the horizon for the meteor's destination.

When his eyes locked on the far-off glow of its impending impact, his breath caught.

Kaguya...

He didn't need confirmation. Ares had prepared for this moment, knowing it would come, but the reality of it sent a chill down his spine. The moonlit forest seemed darker, the air heavier. His instincts screamed at him to be cautious. He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply, and exhaled slowly, forcing his racing mind to calm.

Focus. You've trained for this.

Ares descended the tree with ghost-like grace, landing softly on the forest floor and Ely and others where shocked because they don't understand why Ares is so serious. With a flick of his wrist, his campfire extinguished, leaving the clearing cloaked in darkness. He quickly gathered his belongings and stored them in his inventory box, his movements precise and methodical.

He couldn't afford to waste a second.

Breaking into a full sprint, Ares blurred through the dense forest and so his companion's follow him seriously, his speed leaving only a whisper of disturbed leaves in his wake. The forest seemed to stretch endlessly, but his focus never wavered. The air grew warmer, tinged with the faint scent of scorched earth as he neared the impact site.

When they reached the edge of a massive crater, they stopped. The scene before them was both beautiful and ominous. The ground was charred and cracked, steam rising from the smoldering debris. At the center stood a figure—ethereal, otherworldly, and unmistakable.

Ares's heart pounded as he activated Aura Control, suppressing his presence to an almost undetectable level and so his companion's follow. A faint shimmer enveloped him as he turned on his Invisibility skill, his form vanishing into the shadows. He crept closer, careful to keep his movements silent.

From the concealment of a nearby ridge, he crouched low, his piercing eyes fixed on the alien goddess. Her silvery hair cascaded around her, glowing faintly under the moonlight. Her movements were slow and deliberate, as if she were acclimating to this new world. The air around her seemed to warp, heavy with her overwhelming presence.

Ares watched intently, his mind racing.

This is it. The beginning of her plan. The catalyst for everything to come.

He didn't dare interfere—not yet. Kaguya's presence was a cornerstone of the timeline, and disrupting it could unravel everything. But he also couldn't leave her unchecked.

Kaguya raised her head, her pale eyes scanning the forest as if she sensed something—someone. Ares held his breath, his muscles taut like a coiled spring.

Suddenly, she spoke, her voice soft yet resonant, echoing in the stillness.

"This world... It will become my garden."

Her words sent a shiver down Ares's spine. He knew what they meant. He could feel the weight of her power pressing against the very fabric of reality.

But what caught him off guard was the faint flicker of something in her expression. Loneliness. It was fleeting, gone as quickly as it appeared, but it left Ares momentarily shaken.

As Kaguya began to move, her elegant yet imposing form gliding across the crater, Ares shadowed her. He matched her pace, his movements synchronized with the rustling leaves and shifting shadows.

He watched as she examined the terrain, her delicate fingers brushing against the scorched earth. With a flick of her wrist, she began to channel her power, the ground beneath her glowing faintly. Ares felt the surge of her chakra, a wave of energy so immense it nearly disrupted his focus.

But he held steady. This wasn't just a test of his skills—it was a test of his resolve.

As the hours passed, Ares continued to observe, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. He remembered Hans's teachings:

"Strength isn't just power—it's control. The ability to act when needed and to hold back when it's wise."

Ares clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms. He had the power to act now, to confront Kaguya and perhaps alter the course of history. But he also knew the price of such interference.

His thoughts drifted to Naruto and the battles to come.

"This is their story. I'm just a shadow, ensuring they have the chance to shine."

The weight of his self-imposed responsibility settled on him like a cloak.

Hours turned into dawn as Ares maintained his watch, his body still and his mind alert. Kaguya remained in the crater, her actions deliberate but enigmatic. He could feel her power reshaping the land, preparing it for her grand plan.

As the first rays of sunlight pierced the forest canopy, Ares finally moved, retreating into the shadows. He would remain close, a silent guardian in the dark, ready to act if necessary.

For now, the world would turn as it was meant to. But in the depths of his heart, Ares knew that his role was far from over. The Crimson-Haired Asura, the phantom in the night, would continue his journey—watching, waiting, and preparing for the battles that lay ahead.

Standing on a distant hill, Ares watched the forest, now bathed in morning light. He whispered to himself:

"Kaguya... The games have begun. But don't think for a second I'm not watching."

And with that, he vanished, his crimson hair the last trace of his presence before the wind carried it away.


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