The wind whispered softly through the trees outside Naruto's small apartment. The morning light shone pale and silver, the air still cool from the night before. Naruto sat cross-legged on the floor, his eyes closed, his breathing slow and steady.
For three days, he had been meditating — not by choice, but because Shax insisted he needed to master his spirit energy before opening the second book.
"Still can't believe I'm sitting here doing nothing," Naruto muttered, scratching his head.
"Meditation is not nothing," Shax said calmly inside his mind. "It is listening to what cannot be heard."
Naruto groaned. "You sound like one of those old monks from the temple."
"They learned from us," Shax replied simply. "Now, focus. Your energy is unstable. If you open the Book of Silence before your spirit settles, it may consume you."
Naruto sighed but obeyed. He closed his eyes again and tried to feel the wind — slow, patient, always moving. He let it brush against his thoughts, calming the storm inside.
Time passed slowly. His heartbeat steadied. The faint hum of energy inside him — the mix of chakra and spirit — began to pulse together in rhythm.
When he finally opened his eyes, he felt lighter. The air seemed clearer, colors sharper, sounds cleaner.
He looked at the floor where the Book of Silence rested. Its dark leather cover was still smooth, its lock still sealed shut with a silver thread.
Naruto took a deep breath. "Alright, Shax. I think I'm ready."
"Then begin."
The Book of Silence
Naruto placed his hand over the book. The ring on his finger warmed instantly, responding to the presence of another ancient energy.
"By name and bond," Naruto whispered, "I seek the truth within the silence."
The lock on the book clicked softly. The silver thread broke and dissolved into light. Slowly, the cover opened.
A soft wind filled the room though the windows were closed. The air shimmered. The pages glowed faintly, words and symbols appearing as if written by invisible hands.
Naruto's breath caught in his throat. "It's… beautiful."
"Be careful," Shax warned. "The spirit within this book is old — older than even I. His trials are not of battle, but of truth."
Naruto frowned. "Truth? What's that supposed to mean?"
"You will see soon enough."
He turned the first page. A single name appeared in gold letters across the parchment:
PAIMON — KING OF SOUND AND WISDOM.
Naruto read it aloud. "Paimon."
The moment the name left his lips, the candle flames in the room bent inward, as if the air itself was being sucked away. The light dimmed, the air grew heavy.
Then, from the center of the book, a whisper began — soft at first, then clearer, melodic and haunting.
"Who calls to the King in silence?"
Naruto straightened. "Uh, me? Naruto Uzumaki?"
"Uzumaki…" the voice echoed, deep and resonant. "The name carries the wind of storms. Why do you disturb my sleep, child of the broken seal?"
"I didn't mean to disturb anyone!" Naruto said quickly. "I just… wanted to learn."
The voice hummed softly. "Learn? Many seek wisdom, few are ready for it. You bear the ring — the mark of the Magus. You seek to awaken what sleeps within. But every awakening demands a price."
Naruto swallowed. "Yeah, I've heard that a lot lately."
The book glowed brighter, and the room around him began to fade. His vision blurred — and suddenly he was no longer in his apartment.
The Illusion of the Mind
He stood in a vast, empty field of white sand. The sky above was gray, without sun or cloud. The wind blew gently, whispering ancient voices.
Naruto looked around. "Shax? You there?"
No answer.
"Great," he muttered. "Now I'm stuck in another weird spirit place."
Then, a figure appeared ahead — tall and thin, wearing a flowing robe of blue and gold. His face was hidden behind a mask shaped like a lion's head. His movements were graceful, almost like a dance.
"I am Paimon," the figure said, voice echoing in multiple tones. "Spirit of sound, memory, and truth. You seek my knowledge, yet you do not understand what truth costs."
Naruto frowned. "If this is another test, fine. I'll take it."
Paimon tilted his head. "You are bold. The last who bore that ring trembled before me."
Naruto smirked. "Yeah, well, I'm not the last guy."
For a moment, the spirit was silent. Then, soft laughter filled the air — cold but amused. "Very well, child. Face my three truths, and if your spirit does not break, I will grant you my name."
Naruto nodded. "Deal."
"Then let us begin."
First Truth: The Mirror of the Past
The sand beneath Naruto's feet rippled. The gray sky darkened, and images began to form around him — scenes from his own past.
He saw himself as a small boy, sitting alone on a swing while the other children played. He saw villagers whispering, glaring, pulling their kids away from him.
He saw nights where he went hungry because shops refused to sell to him.
He saw himself pretending to smile while crying inside.
Naruto's chest tightened. "Why are you showing me this?"
"This is your truth," Paimon's voice echoed. "The loneliness you hide behind laughter."
Naruto looked away. "That's not fair."
"Fairness is a human illusion. You crave love, yet you push others away with noise and jokes. You hide pain behind smiles because you fear being seen."
"Stop!" Naruto shouted.
"Denying the truth does not erase it."
The images surrounded him, hundreds of versions of himself — all lonely, all pretending to be fine. Their eyes were hollow.
Naruto fell to his knees, trembling. "Yeah… maybe I was scared. But I'm not anymore. I've got people now. Iruka-sensei, Teuchi, Ayame… even Shax, I guess."
The images flickered.
"I'm not alone anymore!" Naruto shouted. "So stop showing me who I used to be!"
The figures dissolved like smoke. The field was empty again.
Paimon's voice softened. "First truth accepted. Pain acknowledged becomes strength."
Naruto stood slowly, wiping his eyes. "One down. What's next?"
Second Truth: The Shadow Within
The sky darkened further. A cold wind blew. From the sand rose a shape — a perfect copy of Naruto himself.
But this version's eyes glowed red, and a cruel smile twisted his face.
"You are your own enemy," Paimon said. "Face the shadow of your heart."
The other Naruto laughed. "You think you're a hero, don't you? You think power makes you special."
Naruto clenched his fists. "You're not real."
"Oh, I'm real enough," the shadow said. "I'm the part of you that likes it — the power, the danger. You like how they look at you now, afraid instead of disgusted."
"That's not true!"
"Isn't it?" the shadow whispered. "You could destroy anyone who ever hurt you. You could make them kneel. Isn't that what you wanted all along?"
Naruto hesitated — just for a second — and the shadow grinned wider.
"See? You do want it. The power, the control. You're no hero, Naruto. You're just a lonely boy who finally found something to make him matter."
Naruto's breath shook. "Maybe I was that once. But not anymore."
He took a step forward. "Power isn't for revenge. It's to protect. I don't care how strong I get — I'll never become someone like you."
The shadow's smile faded. "We'll see."
The copy lunged forward, but before it could reach him, it shattered into dust.
The wind grew warm again.
"Second truth accepted," Paimon said. "Darkness faced without surrender becomes light."
Naruto exhaled heavily, his knees trembling. "You spirits really don't make anything easy, do you?"
"The third truth awaits."
Third Truth: The Burden of the Future
The sky turned white again. The sand beneath Naruto's feet turned to glass. Reflections appeared everywhere — thousands of Narutos, each one older, each walking a different path.
In one reflection, he wore a Hokage cloak. In another, he stood alone on a battlefield surrounded by ruins. In another, he was a shadow among demons, his eyes glowing red like Shax's.
Naruto stared at them all. "What… what is this?"
"Possibility," Paimon said. "The futures you may choose. Each one carries a price."
Naruto stepped closer to one reflection — the one where he was surrounded by light, his friends smiling behind him. It looked peaceful.
"Peace is earned only through sacrifice," Paimon whispered. "Are you willing to lose everything to protect what you love?"
Naruto looked at the reflection of the ruined battlefield, the one where he stood alone.
"I don't want to lose anyone," he said quietly. "But if I have to… I'll bear it."
"Even if it breaks you?"
Naruto nodded. "Even then."
The reflections began to fade, leaving only one — his current self, standing strong but uncertain.
"Third truth accepted. Acceptance without fear becomes wisdom."
The white field vanished.
The Gift of Paimon
Naruto blinked, and suddenly he was back in his room. The Book of Silence floated before him, glowing softly. The air smelled like ozone and rain.
From the pages rose a shape — a faint figure made of light and gold, with a calm, regal presence.
"You have faced your truths," Paimon said, his voice now soft and kind. "You have not broken. Therefore, I grant you my name."
The figure extended a hand toward Naruto. "With my wisdom, you shall hear what is hidden and speak what is true. Lies will not touch you, and falsehoods will fall before your voice."
Naruto stared. "Wait, are you saying I can… tell when people lie?"
"Among other things. My power flows through sound and truth. You will hear beyond words, and in battle, your voice may command the air itself."
Naruto blinked. "Command… sound?"
"Yes. The whisper of truth can shatter mountains or heal hearts. Use it wisely."
Paimon's form began to fade back into light.
"Hey, wait!" Naruto called. "What happens now?"
"Now," the spirit said gently, "you walk between wind and word. The path ahead will show you the cost of knowledge."
The light vanished, and the book closed on its own.
Naruto sat there, stunned. The room was quiet except for the faint rustle of the wind outside.
Then Shax's voice broke the silence.
"Impressive. Few mortals ever pass Paimon's test."
Naruto smiled weakly. "That was… rough."
"Wisdom always is."
Naruto looked at his reflection in the window. His right eye — glowing faintly red — now had a faint ring of gold around the iris.
"What's this?" he asked.
"A mark of balance," Shax said. "Wind and sound — freedom and truth. You now hold both."
Naruto grinned. "Guess that makes me twice as cool, huh?"
"Or twice as cursed," Shax said dryly.
Naruto laughed quietly. "Yeah… probably both."
He stood up and looked out at the night sky. The stars seemed brighter, the world clearer. He could hear the distant murmur of people in their homes, the rustle of trees miles away, even the faint heartbeat of the village itself.
Everything was alive, connected.
And for the first time, he didn't feel small.
He felt… part of it.
"So what now?" he asked softly.
"Now," Shax said, "we prepare. The other spirits have felt Paimon's awakening. The ring's power will draw them — and not all will come in peace."
Naruto clenched his fist. "Let them come. I'm ready."
The wind blew gently through the window, and a faint echo — almost like Paimon's voice — whispered through the air:
"Truth is never kind… but it will set you free."
Naruto smiled. "Guess we'll see."
Outside, the moon hung full and golden, and far beyond the forests surrounding Konoha, other ancient forces stirred, sensing that the Magus had taken his second step.