Chapter 24: Beyond Strength
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The path outside the district was much quieter.
The sounds of the city were left behind until they gradually faded away, until only the two of them and the silence of the outside remained.
When they reached an open area, with the wall stretching into the distance, Mikasa felt a strange sense of calm.
The day before, she had experienced the most horrible moment of her life. But now, walking beside Naruto, she felt different.
Especially away from the constant stares that always seemed to fall upon him.
She didn't fully understand the feeling, but ever since they had arrived in Trost, something inside her had changed.
She glanced at him from the corner of her eye.
Naruto continued walking completely naturally, utterly unaware of many of the things happening around him.
Mikasa remained thoughtful.
There were still many things she didn't know about him. But above all, there was that strength that seemed to come completely naturally to him.
However, after what had happened in Trost, she had already understood something.
Naruto truly didn't know why he was like this. He wasn't hiding any information from her. He simply didn't remember.
Mikasa lowered her gaze slightly. Perhaps that was why she had decided not to ask him anymore. She didn't want to force him to constantly think about something he had lost.
There would be time to discover the answers.
For now, it was enough for her to walk beside him while the wind swept across the fields and, for a moment, the two of them could leave the weight of the world behind.
The forest stretched out before the two children in complete silence.
Mikasa watched Naruto for a few moments, while her curiosity about his strength remained in her mind.
Naruto didn't carry that strength like someone who wanted to prove his superiority.
He simply used it when necessary.
He never talked about it.
He never bragged.
He never seemed to expect recognition.
He acted first and then simply moved on as if nothing had happened.
It was strange.
In a world where people were judged by their ability to survive, he seemed completely indifferent to how others saw him.
Mikasa lowered her gaze slightly.
Naruto was different from the people she had known. Even after facing those men, he hadn't shown any pride or satisfaction.
He had simply kept walking.
That was difficult for her to understand. Because, in some way, it made everything seem... simple.
The wind rustled the treetops as the two continued along the path.
Naruto looked up at the forest.
"It's so peaceful here..."
Mikasa nodded slightly.
"Yeah."
For a few seconds, neither of them said anything.
The silence no longer felt uncomfortable.
On the contrary.
It was a silence they could share.
One that didn't demand words.
Mikasa glanced at him again.
Perhaps she still didn't know his past or understand where that impossible strength came from.
But she was beginning to discover something much more important.
Who Naruto Uzumaki was now.
With all those thoughts in mind, Mikasa slightly adjusted the scarf Naruto had given her and continued walking beside him.
This time, without keeping her distance.
Naruto noticed, but simply continued moving forward.
The forest remained peaceful.
Far from the walls, all that could be heard was the wind moving through the leaves and the occasional singing of birds.
Naruto and Mikasa continued along a small dirt path.
As time passed, the sun reached its highest point.
The shadows of the trees grew shorter and the heat increased.
Mikasa looked up at the sky. A few beads of sweat escaped from her forehead. Then she looked at the blond.
"Naruto."
He turned his head, seeing Mikasa hesitate before speaking.
"Can we rest for a while?"
Naruto looked up.
The sun was directly above them.
Before he could answer, Aetheria's voice sounded.
[Mikasa Ackerman's suggestion is appropriate, Naruto. A brief rest will be beneficial.]
Naruto raised an eyebrow.
[Additionally, you still need to work on controlling your strength.]
Naruto remained thoughtful for a moment.
"Okay."
Both children moved away from the path until they found a massive tree whose canopy covered the ground in a wide area of shade.
Naruto sat down against the trunk, while Mikasa did the same a short distance away.
For a few moments, they remained silent.
It was a strangely comfortable silence. Then, Naruto extended a hand.
With a simple blink, several objects began to appear.
They were the provisions Mikasa had bought during their stay in Trost.
Naruto calmly placed them on the ground.
The girl took the canteen, drank some water, and quietly began eating a little bread.
After a few bites, she looked up.
Naruto was still sitting without touching the food, calmly observing the scenery before them.
The girl took a piece of bread and held it out to him.
"Here."
Naruto looked at her for a moment.
He was about to refuse, since he wasn't hungry at the moment, but Aetheria's voice sounded again.
[Accepting Mikasa Ackerman's actions could strengthen the trust she is developing toward you.]
[Additionally, even if you don't feel hungry, your body is still consuming energy.]
Naruto simply reached out toward Mikasa.
With a small smile, she placed the piece of bread in his hand.
"Thank you."
Mikasa blinked.
That word had come from Naruto so naturally.
It wasn't anything extraordinary.
And yet, for some reason, it gave her a small feeling of satisfaction.
The two began eating calmly.
Naruto remained thoughtful for a few seconds.
"Aetheria."
[Yes, Naruto?]
"I want to ask you something."
[About your strength?]
Naruto nodded.
"Yeah."
He looked at his own hand.
"You already told me that my body was like this before I lost my memories."
[Correct.]
"But if my body knows how to do those things..." Naruto slowly clenched his fist. "Why do I feel like I don't know how to do them?"
Aetheria remained silent for a few moments.
[Because possessing an ability and consciously understanding and controlling it are two very different things.]
Naruto listened attentively.
[Your body retains abilities acquired throughout your past, but your current mind does not possess the memories or conscious experience associated with them.]
Naruto lowered his gaze slightly.
"Then..."
He looked at his hand again.
"I don't know how to use my own strength?"
[Not optimally.]
Naruto remained thoughtful.
[You possess extraordinary physical strength, but you currently do not know its exact limits or how much force is necessary to perform everyday actions.]
Naruto remembered the stone he had crushed with ease.
Then he remembered the things he had done over the past few days.
Opening doors.
Moving objects.
Knocking people down.
Everything seemed to have been far too easy for him.
"So I can do a lot of things without realizing it."
[Exactly.]
Naruto remained silent for a few seconds.
"And how do I learn?"
[By training.]
The answer came immediately.
[You don't need to start by performing great feats. First, you need to learn how to control simple actions.]
Naruto slowly nodded.
"I understand."
Mikasa watched him silently.
From her perspective, Naruto seemed to be talking to someone she couldn't see or hear again.
At first, it had been unsettling. By now, however, it seemed normal to her.
For Naruto, talking to Aetheria seemed completely natural. As if he truly had someone accompanying him at all times.
Mikasa didn't understand how it was possible. Finally, she lowered her gaze toward the bread she was holding in her hands.
'Naruto...'
He really was a very strange person. But, somehow, those strange situations were beginning to become part of the routine they shared.
Naruto remained seated beneath the shade of the tree.
Aetheria's words were still present in his mind.
He looked at his right hand.
He slowly opened it.
Then he closed it again.
It was a simple movement. But now he understood that even something so simple could require control.
"What should I do?"
[We'll start with simple actions.]
[Take that fruit.]
Naruto's gaze shifted toward one of the apples Mikasa had bought in Trost.
Naruto reached out and tried to pick it up carefully.
Crack.
The apple was slightly crushed between his fingers.
Naruto blinked.
He looked at the fruit.
Then at his hand.
"..."
Mikasa watched him.
Naruto tried again. This time, he used even less force. But the fruit was marked once again.
Mikasa tilted her head slightly.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm training."
Mikasa looked at the fruit.
"It doesn't seem to be working the way you want."
Naruto looked at the apple.
"No."
He sighed.
He took another one.
He tried to hold it with even less force. The result was practically the same.
Naruto remained silent. It wasn't as simple as he had thought.
Aetheria spoke again.
[It's normal.]
[Your body became accustomed to using far more strength than necessary for a long time.]
Naruto set the fruit aside.
"Then..."
He looked at his hand.
"How did I do it before?"
There was a brief silence.
[You don't need to remember in order to learn.]
Naruto slightly raised his gaze.
[Your body already possesses the ability. Now you must teach your current mind to use it consciously.]
That answer left Naruto thoughtful. He didn't need to recover his memories to learn. He could start from the beginning. As if he were discovering his own body for the first time.
Naruto took another fruit.
He took a deep breath.
And tried to remember the sensation he had felt when transforming into the Attack Titan.
He remembered nothing. But he did manage to recall the feeling of contained strength.
He tried again.
This time, the fruit remained intact.
For a second.
Naruto's eyes widened slightly.
He had done it. But when he tried to move his fingers, the fruit broke again.
Naruto stared at the remains for a few seconds.
"...Almost."
Aetheria replied in a tone that seemed to hide a hint of satisfaction.
[Much better.]
[You've already taken the first step, Naruto. Now you just need to repeat it.]
Naruto looked at the destroyed fruit.
He wasn't disappointed.
He had managed to keep it intact for an instant. That proved it was possible. He just had to learn how to do it consistently.
A few steps away, Mikasa continued watching him in silence. She didn't fully understand that strange training. But she did understand one thing.
Naruto wasn't just strong. He was also trying to learn how to control that strength. However, there was another problem at that moment.
One caused by him.
"Naruto."
Mikasa's voice made the blond raise his gaze.
Little Ackerman was holding the bag where they kept the food. Her expression remained calm, although her voice carried a slight tone of concern.
"I think you should stop using the fruit."
Naruto tilted his head slightly.
Mikasa pointed toward the destroyed fruit beside him. Several of them could no longer be eaten whole.
"Because we're going to run out of food."
Naruto looked at the crushed fruit. Then at the bag. Finally, he looked back at her.
"I understand." Naruto simply nodded. "I'll find something else to train with."
Mikasa nodded. She gathered the fruit that could still be salvaged. She took one and began peeling it skillfully before cutting it into small pieces.
Naruto watched her curiously.
"You know how to do that?"
Mikasa nodded.
"My mother taught me." The little Ackerman paused briefly. "Not just this. Other things to help around the house, too."
When she finished, she separated several pieces and held them out to Naruto.
"Here."
The blond stared at the fruit for a few seconds before looking at her. Then, a word left his lips almost instinctively.
"...Thank you?"
Mikasa was surprised. She hadn't expected Naruto to use that word in that way.
But her surprise soon turned into a small smile.
Naruto, without giving it much thought, began eating slowly.
Every movement was another opportunity to practice controlling his strength.
The fruit was fresh and sweet.
Beside him, Mikasa ate her own slices, still wearing that small smile on her face.
Although she still didn't understand the feelings that were slowly beginning to grow inside her.
She didn't understand why such a simple word as "thank you" could make her feel this way.
It was something small. But coming from Naruto, it seemed different.
As they ate, Mikasa realized that Naruto was slowly changing.
They were small changes, almost imperceptible.
But she noticed them.
Now Naruto was beginning to ask questions.
To accept help.
To express gratitude.
To try to understand his own body.
And, above all, he was beginning to accept that he didn't have to figure everything out all at once.
Perhaps because it meant that Naruto was beginning to reach out to the world.
And she wanted to be a part of it.
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