The Summoner of Legends

The sun had just begun to filter through the curtains of Naruto's small apartment when he opened his eyes. He remained still for a few seconds, staring at the worn-out ceiling as his thoughts tried to clear from the haze of sleep. His muscles were stiff, a constant reminder of the training he put himself through every day. Despite the morning chill, he forced himself to get up, placing his bare feet on the cold floor. A slight shiver ran through his body, but he ignored it. It was a passing discomfort, something he couldn't afford to let slow him down.

Like every day, he began his morning routine. A series of exercises, each movement calculated and precise, pushing himself to give his best even when his mind was elsewhere. Sometimes, he wondered if all this effort was really worth it. But deep down, he knew he had to be prepared—for anything. Even if he had yet to awaken the powers he believed he had, staying strong was his way of holding on to hope. It was a silent promise he made to himself every day.

By the time he finished, he was breathing heavily, but a slight sense of satisfaction filled his chest. He made himself a simple breakfast: a couple of toasts and a piece of fruit. It was more of a routine than a real enjoyment, a way to remind himself that, despite how complicated things seemed, there were still some aspects of his life he could control.

Once he had freshened up, he grabbed his notebook from the dining table and sat by the window. The notebook was his sanctuary. Every page was covered in scribbles, theories, sketches, and possible methods to unlock the powers that felt so close, yet so unattainable. He ran his fingers over the pages, reviewing the notes from the previous day. Something inside him told him he was overcomplicating things.

—Maybe I'm focusing too much on the complex... —he muttered, jotting down the thought in the margin of a page in small, precise letters.

He spent most of the day with the notebook in hand, searching for information online, devouring articles and forums about the Justice League, metahumans, and special abilities. He thought about the heroes he had admired since childhood—how some of them had discovered their powers in unexpected ways, sometimes under extreme circumstances. What made them special? Why could they do it, and he couldn't?

—If they found their way, I can too —he told himself, trying to reinforce his determination.

However, his enthusiasm began to crumble with each failed method. He tried several of the ideas he had written down, but one by one, they all failed. No matter how much creativity he put into his attempts, he made no progress. The sun began to set, bathing the apartment in a soft orange glow, and with it, his patience ran out. Finally, after trying the last method on his list without success, he let the notebook fall onto the table with a heavy sigh.

—It's useless… —he muttered, running his hands over his face. His voice sounded hollow, as if the weight of his own words was crushing him. The feeling of failure was familiar, a shadow that loomed over him every time he felt closer to giving up.

But deep down, he knew he couldn't give up. Not after coming this far.

------------------------------

When he checked the time on his phone, he realized it was already late. Deciding to at least stick to his routine, he went to prepare something light for dinner. But as he reached for the small medicine cabinet where he kept his tranquilizers, a sharp pang of unease hit his chest. He extended his hand toward the box, and the moment he picked it up, he felt its unusual lightness.

It was empty.

Naruto held the box in his hands for a moment, staring at its hollow interior as if refusing to accept what he was seeing. He turned it over, checking every corner, hoping to find a stray pill stuck at the bottom. But there was nothing. The realization hit him like a bucket of cold water.

—This can't be happening! —he thought, his mind racing as he opened drawers and searched every possible spot. Nothing. He had been so focused on his research and theories that he hadn't noticed he was running out.

He let himself drop onto the edge of the bed, still gripping the empty box. He needed those tranquilizers. Ever since his last crisis, he had increased the dosage just to sleep without being haunted by the nightmares—nightmares that weren't just disturbing but left behind something darker.

—I can't let this happen… Not again —he murmured, his voice trembling slightly as his thoughts spiraled. The idea of spending a night without the pills filled him with fear. Not because of insomnia, but because of what he might face if he dreamed of Nocturne again.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath to steady himself. He knew what he had to do: go out and buy more. But as he reached for the box where he kept his savings, the relief he had hoped for was quickly replaced by a harsh reality. His hands trembled slightly as he counted the money. What remained wasn't enough. Between the pills and the materials he had bought over the past few weeks, he barely had enough to get through the month.

—How could I be so careless? —he thought, clenching his teeth as a wave of frustration coursed through him. For a moment, he considered not buying the pills and just enduring the night. But the idea of facing the nightmares—or worse, Nocturne—sent a chill down his spine.

He stood up, gripping the little money he had left in his hand.

—It's necessary… —he told himself in a quiet voice, as if trying to convince himself.

------------------------------

With the exact amount of money in his pocket, Naruto left his apartment, closing the door behind him. The night was cold, and the streets were deserted, illuminated only by a few streetlights that cast long shadows on the pavement. He walked briskly, feeling the unease growing inside him. Every sound, every distant movement, seemed amplified in the silence of the night.

—Just get this over with… —he muttered, clenching his fists inside the pockets of his jacket.

The cold air wrapped around him, but what truly chilled him was the weight of his own thoughts. How much longer could he keep depending on those pills? And what would he do when even they were no longer enough?

------------------------------

When he arrived at the pharmacy, Naruto handed over the forged prescription he had managed to obtain some time ago. He held his breath as the clerk examined the paper, hoping everything would go smoothly. To his relief, the woman didn't ask any questions; she simply turned, grabbed a bottle from the shelf, and handed it to him. Naruto paid quickly, his heart pounding.

As he held the medication in his hands, he let out a long breath, as if he had just narrowly avoided disaster.

—I did it… —he murmured to himself—. Now I just need to get home.

He tucked the bottle into the inner pocket of his jacket and stepped out of the pharmacy. As he walked through the empty streets, his mind wandered, occupied with thoughts of new methods to unlock his powers. He was so absorbed that he didn't notice the figures watching him from the shadows of a nearby alley.

------------------------------

Naruto walked briskly, gripping the bottle tightly inside his pocket. Even though the night air seemed calm, an uneasy feeling began to settle in his chest, as if something was wrong. Every so often, he glanced over his shoulder, but the streets were empty, barely illuminated by the flickering streetlights.

Still, that feeling wouldn't go away. It was as if someone was watching him.

He picked up his pace. His instincts, sharpened by weeks of tension and paranoia, were screaming that something wasn't right. The knot in his stomach tightened with every corner he turned until he finally took a shortcut through a narrow alley that led straight to his apartment.

Then, he heard them.

Footsteps.

They weren't his own. Of that, he was sure.

A chill ran down his spine. He stopped abruptly, turning his head to try and spot whoever was following him.

—Who's there? —he called out, his voice firm but carrying a slight tremor that betrayed his nerves.

The alley remained silent, save for the distant murmur of the wind. The shadows danced beneath the dim streetlights, stretching like ghostly figures.

Then, suddenly, a noise behind him made him spin around.

A faint crunch.

And then, he saw them.

A figure emerged from the darkness, dressed entirely in black. A mask concealed their face, leaving only a pair of cold, calculating eyes visible. Before he could react, two more figures stepped out beside them, blocking his path.

—Look what we have here —one of them sneered, his voice dripping with amusement—. A kid who looks a little lost.

Naruto took a step back, his mind racing to assess the situation. Three against one. He wasn't carrying anything valuable—just the bottle of tranquilizers—but he knew he couldn't afford to lose it.

—I don't want any trouble —he said, forcing his voice to remain steady, though his heart pounded violently in his chest—. Let me through.

The men exchanged glances before chuckling among themselves. One of them pulled out a knife, the blade catching the glow of the streetlight.

—That's not up to you, kid. Empty your pockets.

Naruto felt the adrenaline start to course through his veins. He had never been in a situation like this before. He had no real experience dealing with these kinds of threats, but his survival instinct told him one thing: he couldn't show fear.

—I don't have anything you'd want —he replied, stepping back once more.

The man with the knife stepped forward, a sinister grin spreading across his face.

—Then I guess we'll just have to check for ourselves.

------------------------------

Without warning, one of the attackers lunged at him. Naruto reacted purely on instinct, pivoting on his heel and shoving the man to the side. But the other two weren't far behind.

The second assailant threw a punch straight at his ribs. Naruto raised his arms to block, but the impact knocked the air out of his lungs. Pain shot through his body like lightning, forcing him to stumble back.

"I can't fall here. Not again."

Images of his last encounter with Nocturne flooded his mind. The darkness. The helplessness. The fear. He had been frozen back then, unable to do anything. But this was different. This wasn't some supernatural being in a strange world. This was something real. Something he could control.

The second attacker grabbed for his arms, but Naruto reacted fast. He drove his elbow into the man's jaw, making him grunt in pain and stagger back. Seizing the moment, Naruto put some distance between them, taking quick, steady steps.

—You little bastard! —the man with the knife snarled, storming toward him—. You're gonna regret that!

Naruto took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. His body trembled, but not from fear. It was something else. A surge of energy, bubbling beneath his skin, waiting to be unleashed.

When the knife-wielding man attacked, Naruto dodged with a swift, fluid motion—almost instinctive. In the blink of an eye, he caught the attacker's wrist and twisted it sharply. The knife clattered to the ground with a dull thud. Naruto kicked it aside, making sure it was out of reach.

—What the hell…? —one of the other men muttered, startled by the skill Naruto had just displayed.

Naruto didn't wait. Before they could react, he drove a punch straight into the gut of the closest attacker, following up with a kick that sent him crashing to the ground.

The third man, witnessing the scene, took a cautious step back, clearly reconsidering if this fight was worth it.

Naruto stood there, breathing heavily, his fists clenched, his entire body buzzing with tension. The energy he had felt earlier was still there, like an electric current coursing through his veins. For a moment, he felt like he could take on anything.

The last attacker hesitated, eyes darting between his fallen companions and Naruto. Then, with a curse under his breath, he turned and bolted, disappearing into the shadows of the alley.

Naruto remained still, watching as the man vanished, his heart pounding in his chest.

------------------------------

—This isn't over! —the leader shouted as he helped his companion to his feet. His eyes burned with fury, but there was something else in them too—doubt. They staggered backward into the shadows of the alley, trying to salvage what little dignity they had left—. We'll see you again, brat!

Naruto remained still, watching them disappear into the darkness. His breathing was heavy, uneven, and his fists were still clenched tight. The leader's threats echoed for a few more seconds before fading, leaving the alley in near-total silence—broken only by the frantic pounding of his own heart.

He waited a moment longer, scanning every shadow, making sure they weren't coming back. Finally, he let out a deep sigh, allowing his body to relax. The trembling in his hands hadn't stopped, but it wasn't just from fear. Not entirely.

Leaning against the cold brick wall, he tilted his head back and closed his eyes. His chest rose and fell rapidly, the crisp night air filling his lungs. He tried to steady himself, but his mind kept replaying every second of the fight. Every strike. Every movement. Every decision.

"What was that?" he thought, his mind swirling with questions. He remembered how he had disarmed the man, how he had dodged their attacks with a precision he had never displayed before. It wasn't just luck. It wasn't just reflexes. It was something more. Something he couldn't explain.

He opened his eyes and looked down at his hands. The dim glow of a nearby streetlamp bathed them in soft light, but to him, they felt almost foreign—like they weren't entirely his.

It wasn't the first time he had felt that latent energy, that electric current beneath his skin. But this time, it had been different. This time, he hadn't just felt it.

He had used it.

Naruto swallowed hard, his mind filled with questions he couldn't yet answer.

Was this what he had been searching for all this time? That strength? That instinct?

If it was… what did it mean? And what else could he do with it?

A shiver ran down his spine, though he wasn't sure if it was from the cold night air or the weight of what he had just discovered.

------------------------------

Without further delay, Naruto stepped out of the alley. He walked briskly, avoiding looking around, as if afraid the shadows might come to life again. His hand clutched the bottle of tranquilizers in the inner pocket of his jacket, gripping it tightly as if it were the only thing anchoring him to reality at that moment.

When he finally reached his apartment, he locked the door behind him—twice. The sharp click of the deadbolt sliding into place gave him a fleeting sense of security. But as he leaned against the door, a long sigh escaped his lips.

His legs trembled slightly, and when he caught his reflection in the mirror by the entrance, he barely recognized himself. His hair was disheveled, his face glistened with a thin sheen of sweat, and his eyes… His eyes held something wavering between fear and confusion.

He made his way to the couch and let himself collapse onto it, dropping the bottle onto the table in front of him. Running his hands over his face, he tried to process everything that had just happened. The adrenaline still surged through his body, but beneath that frantic energy, something else was beginning to emerge—a spark of hope.

There was something about that fight that had shaken him, beyond the immediate danger. He had faced something real, something tangible, and not only had he survived—he had won. And more importantly, he had felt that energy inside him. A force that hadn't just protected him but had seemed to be waiting for the exact moment to awaken.

—Maybe… —he murmured to himself, his words barely a whisper in the dim apartment—. Maybe I'm closer than I thought.

He lifted his gaze to the ceiling, letting the silence of the room settle over him. Despite everything, the fear was still there, lurking in the back of his mind. The fear of not understanding what was happening. The fear that this energy wasn't just a tool but something dangerous—something he might not be able to control.

But even with those doubts, he couldn't ignore what he had felt.

For the first time in a long while, he had a small certainty: he was getting closer to discovering what he was truly capable of.

Adjusting himself on the couch, Naruto closed his eyes, letting his breathing slow. The images of the attackers still flickered in his mind, but this time, they didn't fill him with terror. Instead, they served as a reminder.

A reminder that there was something inside him, something that was awakening.

And now, more than ever, he was determined to understand it.