NARUTO: The Saga of Crimson Monarch

The trials of Aelio Island were over, but their echoes lingered in Ares' soul. The scars etched on his body and spirit were a testament to the battles he'd fought—not just with beasts and malice, but with himself. On the island's serene side, where the crystalline lake mirrored the stars, Ares began the next phase of his journey.

This wasn't just a pursuit of strength. It was preparation for a future he couldn't yet see but knew was coming. A future filled with monstrous enemies, shadowed conflicts and conspiracy, and a world desperate for salvation.

Ely flitted beside him, her emerald glow a soft contrast to the twilight. "You're pushing yourself too hard,My Liege Ares," she said, her voice tinged with concern. "Even you can't shoulder the weight of the world alone."

Ares smirked but didn't look up from the scroll he was studying. Symbols of complex jutsu sprawled across its surface, each one a piece of the puzzle he was determined to master. "If I don't, who will?" he muttered.

Fenrir, lounging by the lake's edge, raised her massive head, her golden eyes gleaming with quiet wisdom. "Strength without purpose is a blade without a wielder. Tell me, My Liege, what drives you to chase power like this? Is it glory? Fear? Or something greater?"

Ares paused, the question striking a chord. His mind drifted to the trials he'd endured—the despair of facing his dark self, the cunning battle with Fenrir, and the crushing malice he'd overcome. And then to Hans, the man who'd taught him to face even death without fear.

"It's neither fear nor glory," Ares said finally, his voice steady. "It's necessity. The world is broken, and the enemies I'll face won't stop until everything is ash. If I don't prepare now, I'll be no better than the weak, scared boy I once was."

Ely landed softly on his shoulder, her tiny hands resting near his neck. "And what happens when the weight of that responsibility breaks you?"

"It won't." His gaze was unwavering. "Because I've been broken before, and I know how to rebuild myself. I've mastered the Brilliant Mind skill, created countless jutsu—some forbidden even by this world's standards. Every failure has been a lesson, every mistake a step closer to perfection."

Ely's brows furrowed in quiet concern, but Fenrir chuckled, her deep voice resonating. "Bold words, My Liege. But remember, power for power's sake is a fool's errand. True mastery comes not from how much you can destroy, but how much you can protect."

Ares nodded, his determination unshaken. "That's why I'm doing this—not for myself, but for the world. For the people who'll need me when the Ragnarok come. And for the two of you, who stood by me when I could've fallen."

Ely's glow softened, her admiration for him clear in her emerald eyes. "You're impossible, Ares. But I suppose that's what makes you… you."

The days stretched into weeks as Ares delved deeper into his training. He mastered techniques from every corner of the jutsu spectrum—elemental styles, sealing arts, shadow manipulation, and more. Even the forbidden jutsu he became the very first Creator of all this jutsu , those too dangerous for most to wield, became tools in his arsenal. He didn't seek their power recklessly but as a necessity, knowing that the enemies he'd face would be monstrous beyond imagination.

Ely, ever the guiding light, watched him with a mix of awe and concern. "You're creating things this world has never seen," she said one evening, her voice tinged with wonder. "But you can't lose yourself in it, Ares. Remember why you started."

"I haven't forgotten," he replied, his voice resolute. "Every jutsu I master, every skill I refine—it's not for me. It's for the people I'll protect. The enemies I'll face won't hold back, and neither will I."

Fenrir, pacing nearby, offered a rare smile. "You're starting to understand,My Liege. Strength without wisdom is chaos. But strength with purpose? That's what legends are made of."

As the trio sat by the lake one evening, the stars beginning to twinkle in the night sky, Ares looked at his companions. Ely, with her boundless energy and quiet wisdom, and Fenrir, the embodiment of strength and cunning—they had become more than allies. They were his family.

"I'll keep growing stronger," Ares said quietly, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "Not for power's sake, but for the battles ahead. For the people who'll look to me when the world is falling apart."

Ely's smile was soft but filled with pride. "And we'll be here, My . To guide you, to fight beside you, and to remind you of the man you're becoming."

Ares reached out, gently ruffling Ely's tiny head, earning a playful glare from her. Fenrir let out a low chuckle, her golden eyes gleaming with approval.