SWNOVELXO Chapter 8: Chapter 8
In the early morning, the streets of Amity Park were deserted, bathed in the dim light of the rising sun. Danny's panicked screams echoed loudly as he bolted down the empty street, his legs pumping furiously. Behind him, a medium-sized brown dog gave chase, barking ferociously and baring sharp teeth that glinted in the light.
"SAVE ME!" Danny yelled, his voice a mixture of fear and desperation.
"Don't be such a wimp, boy. When I was eleven, I was wrestling bears the size of cars. And here you are, running from a dog. Disappointing."
Danny barely had the breath to respond, but his thoughts screamed loudly enough. 'I'm human! I don't wrestle bears!'
"A coward is what you are," Naruto continued, his tone cutting. "With the skill I just granted you, this dog shouldn't even be a challenge. Basic martial arts cover all creatures, not just humans. The only thing stopping you is your own pathetic fear."
'It's too scary! I could die! Please, just help me!'
Naruto sighed, his voice turning mockingly solemn. "Danny, I'll see you up there."
Danny's chest heaved as he gasped for air, the stress sending sharp pains through his stomach. His legs felt like lead, and his heart pounded so hard he thought it might burst. The dog's barks and snapping jaws were all he could hear, each sound adding to his rising panic.
Spotting a streetlamp up ahead, Danny made a desperate decision. With what little strength he had left, he leaped toward the pole and managed to grab onto it, struggling to climb. The surface was slippery, and his arms were weak from exhaustion, but he clung on for dear life.
Naruto rolled his eyes at the sight. "SO STUPID."
Danny's grip failed, and with a yelp, he slid down the pole. Before he could regain his footing, the dog lunged, sinking its teeth into his backside. Danny screamed in agony, his mind consumed by the sharp, searing pain.
Moments later, the pain vanished, and Danny found himself lying on the ground, staring at a white ceiling. Relief washed over him until a familiar, angry voice brought him back to reality.
"You will remember today the consequences of failing to follow through. Nobody refuses me," Naruto said, his tone icy.
Danny's entire body shivered as fear took hold. The pain, though gone, lingered in his memory like a phantom. 'I'm sorry,' Danny thought miserably, knowing he had pushed Naruto's patience too far.
Naruto sighed, the sound laced with a rare hint of compassion. "Only this time, I'll go easy on you. But get used to the pain—it's part of the training. Consider it practice."
Naruto turned to the trembling creature, Naruto unleashed a wave of killing intent, his gaze cold and merciless. The dog froze, its body quivering in fear as if it might die from sheer terror.
"Pathetic," Naruto muttered, turning away from the animal without another glance.
As he strolled back toward Danny's home, Naruto's expression softened, and he took in the crisp morning air. Despite his annoyance, he reminded himself of the purpose behind the extreme training. Danny had to grow stronger—and fast. Naruto had no intention of shouldering every responsibility. Danny needed to become self-reliant, and that meant breaking through his fears and weaknesses.
Naruto was already working behind the scenes, manipulating Danny's body on a molecular level to optimize his growth. The workouts were grueling, and the nutrient intake was demanding, but the results would be worth it. In a month, Danny's body would be packed with lean, powerful muscle—a physique that would draw admiration from both men and women alike.
Still, Naruto wasn't used to students like Danny. His past pupils had been prodigies—highly talented and ambitious individuals who thrived under pressure. Danny, on the other hand, was painfully average, and his cowardice grated on Naruto's nerves.
"I've become too prideful," Naruto admitted to himself as he walked. "But rules are rules. If I don't enforce them, he'll keep relying on me."
Naruto glanced at the horizon, his mind drifting to the visions he'd seen of Danny's future. The boy would develop a different kind of power, powers that would make the need for a chakra system obsolete.
"Lucky kid," Naruto muttered with a wry smile. "If it weren't for that, you'd be drowning in a river of tears by now."
Naruto arrived back at the Fenton household with an aching body, his muscles sore from the morning's intense workout. After a quick hot shower to soothe the strain, he descended to the kitchen, his nose catching the comforting aroma of breakfast.
Seated at the table were Maddie Fenton, Danny's mother, whose brilliance in science was matched only by her beauty, and Jack Fenton, Danny's eccentric and perpetually enthusiastic father. Jack's creativity often bordered on the absurd, with most of his inventions leaning more toward bizarre than practical. Also at the table was Jazz, Danny's highly intelligent older sister, deeply engrossed in a book on supernatural phenomena.
Maddie looked up as Naruto entered, wearing Danny's skin. She smiled warmly. "Good morning, Danny! I'm so happy to see you working hard. I saw you come back from your jog earlier. I'm proud of you."
Jack beamed, his voice as booming as ever. "That's my boy! Keep it up, and soon you'll be strong as an ox! Remember, don't hesitate to ask this old man for help!" He punctuated his statement with a hearty laugh before stuffing his mouth with eggs.
Jazz glanced at her brother briefly and gave a small nod, approval evident in her expression. Though she said nothing, it was clear she was pleasantly surprised by this sudden burst of effort from Danny.
Naruto, still maintaining Danny's guise, grinned and sat down at the table. He began piling his plate high with an assortment of food—eggs, bacon, fruits, toast, honey, and whatever else he could reach. The sheer quantity he grabbed drew stares from everyone at the table.
"What are you doing?" Maddie asked, her voice tinged with concern as she watched him devour food meant for three people at a blinding pace.
Naruto wiped his mouth quickly and replied between bites, "Relax, Mom. I'm just really hungry. Look, nothing's wrong!" He gestured to himself as if to emphasize his point before shoveling more food into his mouth.
"This has to be the work of an enemy ghost! TO THE BAT CAVE!" Jack roared, jumping up and darting out of the room, presumably to fetch one of his latest ghost-hunting gadgets.
Jazz stared in awe, momentarily distracted from her book. "I never thought I'd see something like this in real life," she murmured, watching as Naruto inhaled his meal with anime-like fervor.
Naruto's approach was calculated. He didn't want to hide the minor changes in Danny's behavior or physique from his family, knowing that their interference could cause unnecessary complications. As the food entered his body, he managed the energy perfectly, directing it toward recovery and growth. Despite the meal's mediocrity compared to what he was used to, it was a step in the right direction.
If I had access to beasts from back home, this body would break human limits in days, Naruto mused. But without proper preparation, it wouldn't be able to handle the energy.
For now, the current diet sufficed. The stronger Danny's body became, the sooner Naruto could transition to more powerful sources of nutrition.
"Well, reality is often stranger than fiction, Jazz," Naruto said, leaning back with a satisfied sigh. Then, he smirked mischievously. "By the way, how's everything going for you? Need help getting a boyfriend?"
Jazz arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Dan, I will slap you."
"Chill, sis. I'm serious. I love you so much that if we weren't siblings, I'd take your hand in a heartbeat. Those brutes out there are blind."
Jazz crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes at him. "Flattery won't get you anywhere, especially not with me. Besides, you're in no position to offer advice—you're a lonely devil."
Naruto grinned wider, exuding confidence. "Unfortunately for you, I've got flowers in both hands."
"Sam," Jazz and Maddie said simultaneously, rolling their eyes.
"Not much of a challenge," Jazz countered. "Get someone else to accept your words, and then we'll talk."
"You're letting pride cloud your judgment," Naruto replied with mock seriousness. "But fine. Here's the deal: I'll date you for a week and show you everything you need to know about boys—how to understand them, how to make them dance to your whim. What do you say?"
Jazz's mouth fell open slightly before she regained her composure. "You're betraying your kind."
"I was never one of them," Naruto shot back, smirking.
Jazz sighed, clearly humoring him. "Fine. If you actually pull this off, I'll buy you a PS3."
"Deal. We'll start tomorrow, though—I'm busy today."
Jazz stared at him for a moment, her curiosity piqued. His newfound confidence and strange antics made it hard for her to believe this was the same brother she had known yesterday.
What's gotten into him? Jazz wondered as she stood to leave. "Take care at school, Danny," she said, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "And try not to get bullied."
After Jazz left for school, Danny stepped outside and spotted Sam lingering by the Fenton household's front door, hesitating to knock. Her hands fidgeted nervously, her head turning slightly as though debating whether to stay or leave.
Danny, with Naruto's guidance, approached her confidently. His movements carried an ease he wasn't known for, a marked contrast to the awkwardness that once defined his interactions.
"Hey there, beautiful," Danny said, wrapping his arms around her from behind. His sudden embrace startled her, but he continued, his voice low and warm. "You just made my morning perfect with your presence."
He leaned in closer, breathing in her subtle, familiar scent, before planting a soft kiss on her neck. The warmth of the contact sent a shiver down Sam's spine, and she turned her head slightly, her face tinged pink.
"Hya—" Sam squeaked, caught off guard by her own reaction. Embarrassment turned to a quiet happiness as she leaned back into the embrace.
"I feel the same," she admitted softly. "I couldn't wait to see you."
Danny smiled, spinning her around gently so they were face-to-face. His hand lingered lightly on her waist as he gazed into her eyes with playful affection. "Of course you couldn't. Our chemistry is too strong to ignore," he teased. "Did you sleep well, or were you up all night having... naughty dreams?"
Sam's blush deepened as she smirked at his cheeky remark. "A good dream," she replied, her tone coy.
Danny grinned, leaning in closer. "I knew it. You're such a naughty little minx, my Sam." Without hesitation, he tilted his head and pressed a kiss to her lips. Sam melted into the contact, her hands resting lightly on his chest.
Naruto watched the exchange from within the white void, observing as Danny navigated the situation under his guidance. Danny wasn't acting entirely on autopilot; instead, he was in a state of shared control. While Naruto provided the framework—clear instructions and confidence—Danny's own feelings were driving the actions.
It won't be long before he fully realizes his attraction to her, Naruto mused, observing the subtle affection in Danny's movements. He had already deduced that Danny had harbored feelings for Sam for years, even if they had shifted or been buried beneath his own insecurities. Now, with Naruto's influence, Danny's confidence brought those feelings closer to the surface.
Still, Naruto had a measured approach to Danny's relationships. He wasn't here to micromanage or force his preferences but to ensure Danny didn't cause chaos or entangle himself in unnecessary complications. Teenagers tend to fall for the beautiful cover without considering what's underneath, Naruto thought.
Sam, he reasoned, was a solid option—intelligent, loyal, and surprisingly grounded despite her rebellious streak. She also came from wealth, though she was far from materialistic. Her connection with nature and her convictions made her a valuable partner.
Naruto's mind briefly wandered to other potential connections. Paulina could be trained to be useful, but that would take time. She has money and connections, sure, but lacks maturity. He considered Batgirl next, and his thoughts brightened. Now there's a perfect choice. Skilled, intelligent, and already familiar with the demands of a challenging lifestyle. Plus, her ties to Batman could be invaluable.
For now, though, Naruto let Danny enjoy his time with Sam, knowing that this phase of life—learning, exploring, and making mistakes—was a crucial step toward growth.
Sam broke the kiss, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "We'd better get going, Romeo, or we're going to be late for school."
Danny chuckled, grabbing her hand. "Right behind you, Juliet. Lead the way."
As they walked side by side, Naruto gave a satisfied nod within the void. This was progress.