Capítulo 22: Chapter 22: The Spirit Realm
Chapter 22: The Spirit Realm
Shinji stirred, feeling a soothing warmth seep through his body as he opened his eyes. He was no longer in the bamboo hut he had first woken up in but in a sunlit clearing surrounded by towering trees that glowed faintly with a soft, otherworldly light.
Sitting across from him was the humanoid rooster who had helped him earlier. Now that Shinji could see him clearly, the rooster—no, the rooster-man—looked peculiar yet oddly endearing. He had bright plumage of amber and white feathers and wore a loose robe cinched at the waist.
The rooster's sharp eyes studied Shinji intently as he adjusted the oversized glasses perched on his beak. "Ah, you're awake! How do you feel? Those herbs worked wonders, didn't they?"
Shinji tested his arms, rolling his shoulders before rising to a seated position. "I feel fine, thanks to your help." He glanced down, realizing that his wounds had fully healed. "You really saved me there. By the way, what's your name?"
The question startled the rooster-man, and he blinked a few times before replying. "Oh! Right! I forgot to introduce myself—how rude of me! The name's Taka Kamakura. And you are?"
"Shinji Uzumaki," Shinji said, his voice calm.
The name seemed to hit Taka like a bolt of lightning. He froze, his eyes wide as his feathers fluffed up in shock. "W-What did you just say?"
"My name is Shinji Uzumaki."
Taka began pacing frantically, muttering to himself. "Uzumaki... an Uzumaki? And human too? By the feathers of my ancestors!" He abruptly stopped, spinning to face Shinji. "Are you serious? You're a real human? Not some illusion or lost spirit pretending to be one?"
"Yeah, I'm human. Is that so hard to believe?" Shinji asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Hard to believe? Hard to believe! An Uzumaki human appearing here after all these years? This is monumental! Historic!" Taka exclaimed, flapping his arms wildly as he dashed around the clearing like, well, a headless chicken.
Shinji watched the bizarre display with a deadpan expression. "Are you always like this?"
Taka froze mid-dash, coughed awkwardly, and straightened his posture. "Ahem. Apologies. Sometimes my excitement gets the better of me. Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Taka Kamakura—botanist extraordinaire, expert swordsman, and your local guide to the Spirit Realm. At your service, good sir!" He gave a dramatic bow.
"Right..." Shinji replied, skepticism clear in his tone. "If you're my guide, mind telling me where I am exactly? And why did you freak out when I mentioned I'm an Uzumaki?"
Taka grinned and plopped down next to Shinji. "Ah, where to begin? First off, welcome to the Spirit Realm! Specifically, you're in the Eastern Forest of Satori no Mori—roughly translated, it means 'Forest of Insight.' Beautiful, isn't it?"
Shinji looked around, taking in the ethereal glow of the trees, the gentle hum of energy in the air, and the strange, calming presence of the forest. "It's... different."
"That it is!" Taka said with a chuckle. "Now, about the Uzumaki thing. My ancestors were some of the first spirits to interact with humans—specifically the Uzumaki clan. They were your clan's guides and allies, helping them navigate the Spirit Realm when they discovered its existence. It's said your ancestors left quite the impression on us spirits."
Shinji's curiosity deepened. "If that's true, can you prove it? Show me something that links the Uzumaki to the Spirit Realm."
Taka's beak curved into what could only be described as a smile. "Oh, I thought you'd never ask! Wait right here!"
He scurried into another room of the bamboo hut, returning a few minutes later with a thick, ancient book. Its leather cover bore the unmistakable spiral crest of the Uzumaki clan.
"Here. Take a look," Taka said, handing the book to Shinji with reverence.
Shinji hesitated before accepting it. As he opened the cover, his breath caught. The first page contained a faded photograph of two figures—one was unmistakably Ashina Uzumaki, the legendary patriarch of his clan. Standing beside him was a humanoid rooster with striking red and green plumage.
"This is..." Shinji began, his voice trailing off.
"That's Ashina Uzumaki, of course. And next to him? My great-great-grandfather, Hans Satoshi. They were great friends back in the day. Our families have a long history together."
Shinji stared at the photograph, his mind racing. "So it's true. The Uzumaki had connections to the Spirit Realm. And now... I'm here."
Taka puffed out his chest proudly. "Exactly! And as your official guide, it's my job to help you navigate this world."
"Fine," Shinji said, closing the book. "If you're my guide, I need answers. Start with the basics—what is this world, and how do I get back to mine?"
Taka nodded, his tone becoming more serious. "Alright, listen closely. The Spirit Realm is divided into three major sections: the Upper World, the Lower World, and the Middle World. We're in the Middle World right now. Each section is ruled by powerful spirits we call Guardians or Kings. In the Middle World, there are eight Guardians. To return to your world, you'll need a key that only a Guardian can give you."
Shinji's eyes narrowed. "And how do I get one of these keys?"
"Well, the Guardians don't just hand them out like candy. You'll need to earn their respect or prove yourself in some way. Luckily, two of the Middle World's Guardians were friends with your ancestors. Unluckily, they live in the southern region of this realm, which is a long journey from here—months of travel by foot, at least."
"Months?" Shinji muttered, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior.
Taka shrugged. "That's the Spirit Realm for you. But look on the bright side—there's plenty to see and learn along the way!"
Shinji rubbed his temples, feeling a headache forming. "Great. Just great. One more thing—this energy I've been feeling since I got here. It's calming but... strange. What is it?"
Taka's expression brightened. "Ah, that's Prana! It's the life energy of the Spirit Realm. Everything here—trees, rocks, the air itself—is filled with Prana. You might know a corrupted version of it as natural energy in your world, the kind used for Sage Mode. But here? It's pure, untainted, and incredibly powerful. If you form a contract with a spirit, you can tap into their Prana and use it yourself!"
Shinji's mind raced with possibilities. This world was more than just an obstacle—it was an opportunity.
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To Be Continued...
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder