NARUTO: The Saga of Crimson Monarch

The narrow stone corridors reeked of death and despair, each step echoing softly as Ares, Ely, and Fenrir ventured deeper into the lower prison. The gruesome sights before them were enough to make even the strongest waver. Bodies, broken and battered, lay strewn across the floor or slumped against the walls, their chains rattling faintly with the stirrings of the barely living.

Ely, her tiny hands trembling. "This... this is worse than I imagined." Her voice cracked, heavy with sorrow.

Fenrir growled lowly, her sharp eyes reflecting a rare hint of sadness. "How could anyone do this?!"

Ares remained silent, his crimson eyes fixed forward, his expression grim. He inhaled deeply, the scent of blood and rot clinging to the air like an unwelcome specter. "Focus. We're here to help the living. Not to mourn the dead."

They pressed on, breaking chains and tending to the wounded where they could. Ares moved with calculated precision, his movements shadow-like as he carried the frailest prisoners to safety. Ely worked tirelessly, her healing chakra a glimmer of light in the suffocating darkness. Fenrir, ever vigilant, kept close, her small frame masking a protective fury that simmered beneath her fur.

One man, barely more than skin and bone, reached out weakly to Ares, his cracked lips forming words. "Please… there's… there's more of us. They were taken..."

"Where?" Ares knelt beside him, his tone urgent yet calm.

The man's face twisted in pain, his voice a hoarse whisper. "I heard ,they call it a fortress… a place where people… never come back"

Ely's wings faltered, and Fenrir snarled softly. Ares clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. He wanted to rage, to demand answers—but he didn't. Instead, he forced his voice to remain steady. "Rest now. You're safe with us."

As they escorted the survivors out, Ares thoughts burned with resolve. This isn't just a rescue. This is a madness. And I'll make them pay for every life they've destroyed.

The forest was dark, the only light coming from the flickering flames of a small fire. Ares had carved a cave into the rock, providing a temporary refuge for the rescued prisoners. Ely fly among them, Fenrir circled the camp, her nose low to the ground as she worked to cover their tracks.

Ares handed out small portions of food, his movements methodical but filled with care. "Eat. You need to regain your strength."

The prisoners ate in silence, their faces haunted. One young woman clutched her knees, her body trembling.

"What happened to you is over," Ares said softly, sitting beside her. "But I need to know what you've seen. Anything that can help me stop this."

At first, there was no response. Then, an older man spoke, his voice heavy with grief. "They… they torture us. To destroy who we are. That other place… it's not a prison. It's a grave for the living."

A younger prisoner whimpered, clutching his head. "Don't make me remember! Don't make me go back!"

Ares knelt beside him, his voice steady and kind. "I know it hurts. But I need to know. If I don't, more people will suffer. I'll protect you. That's a promise."

The man hesitated, tears streaming down his face. "The Pit of Agony… it's where they torture the strong. They break their bodies… their minds…" His voice faltered, the weight of his words choking him.

Ares bowed his head, his hands tightening into fists. "Thank you. Rest now. You've done enough."

As the survivors fell into an uneasy sleep,Ares sat by the fire, staring into the flames. Ely landed on his shoulder, her soft hands illuminating his face.

"You're taking on so much, My Liege" she said, her voice tinged with worry. "Can you handle this alone?"

Ares eyes didn't leave the fire. "I'm not alone," he said. "I have all of you. And that's enough."

.....…......

[The Reluctant Heir ]

Meiji sat in his dimly lit room, his head buried in his hands. The weight of the world seemed to rest on his frail shoulders. Every decision, every moment of inaction, felt like a nail in the coffin of his people.

"I never wanted this," he whispered. "I just wanted a quiet life... away from all this madness."

The door slid open, and Yuusei, his father's loyal samurai, entered. His presence was commanding yet gentle. "Meiji-sama," he said, bowing. "The villagers are safe for now. We've given them food and shelter. But…"

"But it doesn't matter," Meiji sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "For how long, Yuusei? My brother won't stop until he's burned this land to the ground."

Yuusei stepped forward, his expression stern. "And that's why you must act, Meiji-sama. The people need a leader to stand against him."

"I'm not a leader!" Meiji snapped, standing abruptly. "I can't even hold a sword properly. What good am I to anyone?"

Yuusei's eyes narrowed. Without warning, he grabbed Meiji's by his collar and punch him.

"Enough of this cowardice! Do you think those people out there have the luxury of giving up? Look at them—children without parents, families without homes. They're still fighting to survive because they have no choice!"

Dragging Meiji out to his tent, Yuusei pointed to the camp below.

"Do you see them? They're waiting for someone to guide them. They don't need a warrior. They need hope. They need you."

Meiji stared at the scene below, his heart heavy. The sight of children huddling together, of the elderly tending to one another despite their frailty, brought tears to his eyes. he didn't want this responsibility, but the truth was undeniable. His people were suffering, and his brother's madness could not be allowed to continue.

As Yuusei spoke, a small girl approached Meiji. She was thin, her clothes tattered and worn, and a scar ran down the side of her face. But despite her frailty, she smiled brightly as she offered him a small bread.

"Here, big brother," the girl said sweetly. "Eat this. Everything will be alright."

Meiji stared at the girl, his eyes full of sorrow. "Why are you smiling ?" he asked, his voice shaky. "Look at yourself... You're starving. You're hurt kiko."

The girl's smile remained, unwavering. "My Okasan said I should always smile. She said that as long as I live, I can see another day. And someday, a hero will come and save us all."

Meiji blinked, stunned by her words. "A hero?" he murmured, his mind racing.

The girl nodded, her eyes bright with hope. "Yes. Okasan used to tell me stories of a crimson-haired hero. She said he would save us one day."The little girl clutched the bread tightly, her voice trembling but resolute. "Because as long as we live, there's hope. And maybe, it was you elder brother a hero to save us all."

Meiji felt a pang in his chest. "I'm not a hero kiko," he whispered. "I can't save you. I'm not strong enough."

But kiko shook her head. "It's okay. I'll protect you instead, big brother."

Meiji's heart clenched. He knelt before the girl, placing his hand on her head. He remembered his mother's words, the ones he had pushed aside for so long.

"When you grow up, Meiji, you should help others. Protect them, Because that is your destiny, you have a strong heart, Meiji " she had told him. "Even if you're weak, Meiji . That's what makes you brave just like the hero you aspire to become The Crimson Haired Asura."

Tears welled in Meiji's eyes as he touched kiko's head. He realized that, despite his fears, he had to rise above them. For them. For the people who needed him.

"I will stand and fight," Meiji said, his voice firm, for the first time in a long while. "I will help you all, even if it costs me everything.

Meiji turned to Yuusei, his voice steady for the first time. "Send a message to my brother. In two days, we'll meet on the western plains. This madness must be end.!"

Yuusei, watching from behind felt a swell of pride. "I will serve you, my lord," he said, his voice trembling. "Even through hell, I will fight by your side."

The other villagers, hearing his words, dropped to their knees. "We will serve you too, our true king. We will follow you to victory."

Meiji stood tall, his heart heavy but resolute. **"I accept your allegiance. I may not be strong, but with all of you by my side, we will fight. Together, we'll bring justice to this land."