SWNOVELXO Chapter 5: Chapter 5
Danny found himself dragged into the white zone—a blank, featureless mental space that Naruto had claimed as his domain. He was unceremoniously flung onto a plush white sofa, which stood in stark contrast to the endless void surrounding them. Danny glared at his tormentor, but his body refused to move, weighed down by fear and a growing sense of futility.
"Relax on the sofa and watch carefully," Naruto ordered, his tone a blend of command and amusement. "We're going to discuss our futures."
Danny clenched his fists, his frustration bubbling over. "Damn you, demon," he muttered under his breath, though he barely dared to raise his voice above a whisper.
Naruto's sharp ears caught the insult, and his lips curled into a smirk. "I heard that," he said smoothly. "But next time, try screaming. Who knows what might happen?"
Before Danny could process the threat, a jolt of electricity coursed through his body. It wasn't enough to cause lasting harm, but it was sharp, biting, and impossible to ignore. He flinched, his breath hitching as the phantom pain lingered for a moment longer than it should have.
"Consider that a warning," Naruto said, his golden eyes glowing with an almost playful menace. "You're here to learn, not to waste my time with petty resistance."
Danny swallowed hard, his throat dry as he nodded weakly. His mind raced with curses and grievances, but he kept them firmly locked away. He had no desire to test the boundaries of Naruto's patience—or his power.
He sat back against the sofa, his body stiff with tension. The idea of relaxing was laughable, but he knew better than to argue. The weight of Naruto's gaze bore down on him, a constant reminder of his precarious position.
'This is so far from being a hero,' Danny thought bitterly, his shoulders slumping. 'I'm just a puppet—his puppet. How am I supposed to gain confidence or anything like this?'
Naruto paced in front of him, his movements deliberate and purposeful. "Listen, Danny," he began, his tone shifting to something that resembled seriousness. "I could force you to act like a hero. I could make you take every step forward, every punch, every decision. But that wouldn't be your choice, now, would it?"
Danny looked up at him, his expression a mix of confusion and skepticism. "Then why are you doing this? If you want me to change, why not just take over all the time?"
Naruto stopped and turned to face him fully, his golden eyes narrowing. "Because change has to come from within. It's easy to manipulate someone into doing what you want, but true growth—real, lasting growth—only happens when you decide to take control. I'm here to push you, guide you, and yeah, maybe scare the crap out of you. But in the end, it's your life, your choices, and your future."
Danny stared at him, the weight of Naruto's words sinking in despite his lingering resentment. He still didn't fully trust the demon—or whatever Naruto was—but a small part of him couldn't deny the truth in what he'd said.
"Now," Naruto continued, his smirk returning. "Are you going to sit there sulking, or are you ready to start taking control of your life? Because let me tell you, this world isn't going to wait for you to get your act together."
Danny hesitated, his hands tightening into fists. He wasn't sure he had what it took.
The room was warm and comfortably messy, with a few snacks and drinks laid out on the carpeted floor of Danny's room. Tucker sat against the bed, his back propped up against the frame, while Sam relaxed on a colorful beanbag to his right. Danny, however, sat in a chair near the computer, still trying to adjust to the strange atmosphere that had descended upon them. It wasn't often they hung out like this, but the air felt different today—tense and oddly formal.
Tucker raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest as he glanced between Danny and Sam. "So, I'm happy for you guys, but why invite me as the third wheel? Did you want to rub it in?"
Danny grinned sheepishly, shifting in his chair. "I thought you knew me, bro," he said, his voice light but with a mischievous undertone. "I feel so hurt by those thorny words. The thought of hurting my friends would kill me, but I definitely brought you here to feel the pain of being a single dog."
Tucker's lips curled into a smirk, and he grabbed a handful of chips, tossing them in Danny's direction. "Man, you suck."
The chips scattered across Danny's lap as Sam quickly intervened, trying to steer the situation back to something more serious. "Okay, enough playing around," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Let's not break the peace, alright?"
Naruto, sitting in Danny's body, hid his amusement behind a solemn look. If he spoke too formally, they would immediately catch on that something was off, so he enjoyed the playful banter as much as he could before shifting to the subject at hand.
"Ahem," he began, his voice dropping in tone, taking on a more serious, almost authoritative edge. "This is going to be a serious topic, and the subject will be our future."
The two of them, sensing the shift in energy, immediately quieted, their curiosity piqued.
"I have decided to change and become a model person," Naruto continued, locking eyes with both of them as if weighing each of their reactions. "With fighting skills and high life skills, I want to pursue the goal of becoming a hero."
"Like Batman?" Tucker asked, ever the jokester, clearly trying to lighten the mood. But there was a hint of genuine interest in his voice. Batman was a hero without powers, someone Danny could relate to more than the super-powered types like Spiderman.
"Yes, like Batman," Naruto affirmed. "And for this, I have been training hard and fixing my personality, because courage is required to fight enemies in dangerous situations. I intend to create a team for this task, because one man cannot achieve this alone. Nor do I believe I possess invincibility."
Danny could feel the weight of Naruto's words pressing down on him. 'I never knew I had this in me,' Danny thought, though he kept his thoughts to himself. It felt strange, even alien to think of himself as a hero, and the path Naruto laid out sounded like something out of a comic book, not real life.
"This path of heroism requires sacrifice—sacrifice of our time, our enjoyment, and it puts our lives at risk," Naruto added, his tone more somber. "I have chosen you two as my close ones, for your qualities. But I will not hold it against you if you decline this request. After all, we only have one life."
Danny paused, absorbing Naruto's words. This was far beyond the typical high school drama they usually dealt with. They were talking about real risks—real stakes.
Tucker, who had been silent for a moment, finally spoke, his voice contemplative. "We've been together for years, bro. I'm in. What do you want me to do?" He trusted Danny implicitly and couldn't see his friend leading them into something dangerous without reason. He just hoped Danny knew what he was doing.
Sam, standing behind Danny, placed her hands gently on his shoulders. Her voice was steady and warm as she said, "I trust you." Her words held an undeniable sincerity, and Danny couldn't help but feel a small surge of gratitude toward her. It was clear that she was in this just as much as he was.
"Thanks, guys," Danny said quietly, the weight of their support settling over him. "I'll make sure not to let you down." His voice was soft but earnest, carrying the responsibility he now felt.
"This is something long-term," Naruto continued, looking between the two of them. "We're not starting immediately because we need to build up our strengths and cover our weaknesses. None of us have successfully gone through a fight yet, and we'll definitely feel the pressure, which could inhibit our thinking. So we need to get ready—fast."
Sam and Tucker exchanged glances, silently processing the gravity of what they were agreeing to. Tucker, always quick to think on his feet, asked, "What exactly are we training for, though? We're not exactly superheroes, Danny. We don't have any of Batman's gadgets or his resources."
Naruto nodded, taking their concerns seriously. "That's why we'll each focus on different things. Tucker, you'll focus on the tech side—hacking, building gadgets, that kind of thing. I'll help you with the foundation, and then you'll develop your own capabilities."
Sam, leaning forward, tilted her head slightly, already thinking ahead. "And me?"
"Sam," Naruto said, meeting her gaze with confidence. "You'll focus on bio-chemistry. It's your area of interest, and it can be applied in ways like Poison Ivy has demonstrated. You're going to be the one to give us an edge in chemical warfare, biology, and creating antidotes if needed."
Danny couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement at the thought of having a team like this—each of them bringing something unique to the table. It wasn't just about physical strength; it was about brains, strategy, and finding solutions to problems that seemed impossible.
"We'll all focus on physical training too," Naruto added, with a final, serious note. "And mental preparation. Our minds will be our most important tool in battle."
Sam nodded, her eyes reflecting the mix of resolve and curiosity that mirrored Danny's. "Let's do this."
Tucker threw his hands up in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I'm in! But don't blame me if you end up with a few extra bruises, Danny."
Tucker leaned forward slightly, curiosity etched on his face as he glanced between Danny and Sam. "So, what's our team name gonna be?" he asked, breaking the silence that had followed their conversation. It was a simple question, but in this context, it felt oddly significant. They were about to start something that could change everything for them.
Danny, his posture shifting slightly as if still adjusting to the weight of the moment, looked up with a thoughtful expression. "We'll take one once we start," he replied, his voice steady but filled with a sense of purpose. The team name would come later, after they'd solidified their roles and goals. For now, the focus was on preparation.
Sam, always quick to dig deeper when something caught her interest, furrowed her brows. "How did you get information on poisons?" she asked, her tone skeptical but also a bit curious. She was beginning to feel the gravity of the situation and couldn't help but think of all the wrong things that could be involved in this path Danny had chosen.
Naruto's eyes flickered briefly, but he remained calm. "My parents have tested many things," he said, choosing his words carefully. "I picked up what could work on humans and listed it down." It wasn't a complete lie. Danny's parents, though they weren't involved in anything too extreme, had dabbled in some chemical testing over the years for various projects. Some of it had been potentially dangerous, but Naruto had gathered enough information from their experiments to make his own notes.
Sam seemed to accept the answer, though her mind still buzzed with possibilities. "Okay, I find your idea appealing," she admitted after a moment, her tone softer now. "I never thought about using my knowledge about plants like that. It sounds so fun." She smiled at the thought, clearly intrigued by the idea of combining her love for nature with something more practical—something that could be used to aid their cause. She rubbed Danny's hair affectionately as she spoke, feeling more comfortable in this conversation now that things were becoming clearer.
Tucker, on the other hand, felt a little more uncertain. He'd always been the tech guy—building gadgets, hacking into systems, and designing all kinds of tools that made them stronger. But now, with Danny throwing in these unexpected skills, he couldn't help but feel like he was missing something. "I mean, I guess that's cool and all," Tucker said, his tone a bit hesitant. "But when did Danny learn how to make anything? This isn't like the stuff we've been doing before." His mind raced with thoughts of why Danny hadn't shared this side of himself sooner.
'Did he hide it from us?' Tucker thought, his eyes narrowing as he tried to process the situation. Maybe Danny had planned to go solo at the start, keeping his abilities hidden so he wouldn't have to rely on anyone else. Maybe he didn't want to give away his identity—especially if he had already started learning things that weren't exactly normal for a high school kid.
Sam noticed the shift in Tucker's demeanor. She gave him a reassuring smile, but her own mind was buzzing with questions too. Still, for now, they needed to trust Danny. If there was anyone they could rely on, it was him—even if things didn't always add up. After all, this wasn't about them being perfect or knowing everything right away. It was about learning, adapting, and sticking together.
"Look," Sam said, her voice calm but firm, trying to bring the conversation back to a positive place. "We're in this together, and I trust Danny. Whatever he's got up his sleeve, we'll figure it out."
Tucker hesitated for a moment longer but then nodded. "Yeah, I guess you're right. It just feels like there's more to this than I know, and I don't want any surprises down the road."
Danny caught Tucker's eyes and smiled a little, trying to reassure him. "Don't worry, we're all in this together. I wouldn't keep anything from you guys."
Sam's earlier smile returned as she leaned in toward Danny, her hand still resting on his head. "We'll make it work," she said with certainty.
Tucker, still a little uncertain, finally sighed and slouched back against the bed. "Alright, alright. I'm in. Just... no more surprises, okay?" he said with a laugh, trying to shake off his unease.
The three of them sat in silence for a moment, each processing the gravity of the decision they had just made. They weren't sure what the future held, or how exactly they would become the team Danny envisioned, but they knew one thing for sure: they were in this together. No matter what came next, they'd face it as a team. And that was all that mattered.