Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing Naruto going off on his own Scan Quest, with a very interesting result and learning some new things, that have yet to be. So, without further ado.

I own nothing

Naruto looked around Skeletal Springs, confused and unnerved at the rather dark Location, even more so, given the fact it was located in the OverWorld.

"Seriously, this place seems like it'd be better suited in the UnderWorld, next to Fear Valley." Naruto muttered, while pulling out his Scanner and scanning the Location, still surprised to find a such dark Location in the OverWorld.

Given all his trips to Perim, OverWorld Locations were more vibrant and full of life, while this place looked more like a mass graveyard, found in the UnderWorld. Since UnderWorld Locations tended to be darker and foreboding, not always, but generally they were.

Once he got his scan, Naruto began exploring Skeletal Springs, wanting to familiarize himself with the Location, before using it in a DromeMatch. So, he'll know where any good hiding spots or ambush locations can be found, either to use against his opponents, or to know where they would be hiding from him.

'I wonder what Creatures could have left behind these bones.' Wondered Naruto, looking at the gigantic skeletons, amazed that there used to be Creatures that size, where they could swallow a person whole.

Though, Naruto was pulled from his thoughts, when he looked ahead, and was surprised to see a stone obelisk in front of a large mound, with numerous openings in it. Not only that, but the whiskered blonde could also make out a glowing blue figure, floating next to the obelisk.

'Who's that?' Naruto thought, curious of who the Creature was and what they were doing here, before walking up to them to find out, while also keeping his guard up, just in case they weren't friendly.

"Uh, excuse me." Said Naruto, getting the Creature's attention, with the Chaotic player being surprised, when the Creature turned and looked at him.

The Creature was ethereal in nature, being entirely composed of light blue energy, with a featureless face, horned head, three-fingered hands, and wearing a cloak.

While initially freaked out at the Creature's ghost-like appearance, Naruto relaxed a little, when they didn't immediately attack.

"Uh, hello. I'm Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto introduced.

"I, am Rhaden." Replied Rhaden, in an equally ethereal voice, with a slight echo, before turning back to look at the mound, with Naruto turning his attention to it as well.

Curious of what the place was, and why Rhaden seemed to just be staring at it.

"So, uh, what is this place?" Asked Naruto, while looking back at Rhaden.

"This is Kirvak Mound. A place where tomorrow has passed, and the past is yet to be." Rhaden answered, cryptically.

'Well that doesn't sound ominous, at all.' Naruto thought, looking back at Kirvak Mound, his curiosity only growing of what the place is.

"Well, would it be alright if I scanned you?" Naruto questioned, hoping to get a scan of Rhaden, and find out more about Kirvak Mound.

"No. Once you enter Kirvak Mound, you will understand why I am here, and why you cannot scan me." Said Rhaden, fully aware of Naruto's intentions of wanting to scan him, and that he'll still explore Kirvak Mound, despite his warning.

This made Naruto frown in annoyance, as it's obvious that Rhaden was familiar with Kirvak Mound, and likely knew it inside and out. So it would be good to check it out, in the BetaDrome, rather than exploring a potentially dangerous Location, on his own. But Naruto also didn't want to risk making an enemy out of him, by crossing a line, that he shouldn't.

Knowing he'll be doing this on his own, Naruto pulled out his Scanner and ported back to Chaotic to upload his scan of Skeletal Springs.

*Port Court*

Appearing back in the Port Court, Naruto went over to docking table to upload his new scan.

'Could Kirvak Mound be a Hidden Location?' Thought Naruto, remembering what Takinom and Intress told him about Hidden Locations, when they accidently fluxed to the Chamber of Waves, that Hidden Locations had unique affects on Creatures that fought there.

It made him wonder if that's what Rhaden meant, that Kirvak Mound had a unique effect on Creatures.

'Maybe it's like an endless maze, where you could get lost inside, if you don't know your way.' Naruto thought, while taking his Scanner back, once Skeletal Springs was uploaded, knowing there's only one way to find out what Kirvak Mound was.

Luckily, if he does end up getting lost, he can just as quickly port out and try again.

*Skeletal Springs*

Porting back to Skeletal Springs, Naruto saw Rhaden still floating next to the obelisk, looking at Kirvak Mound. The Uzumaki walking past the Creature, towards the mound, doubting he'll get any further answers out of him.

Entering one of the caves, it wasn't long for Naruto to soon reach an intersection, where numerous caves connected together.

"This is a definitely the kind of place someone could get lost in, and the perfect place to really ambush an opponent." Naruto said, while pulling out his Scanner and scanning the Location, knowing even if it didn't have an effect on Creatures, the various caves and tunnels would be good to get the drop on opponents.

With his new scan, Naruto went down another tunnel to continue exploring Kirvak Mound, knowing it'd definitely be good to become familiar with this Location.

Though, when Naruto saw that the tunnel he took was leading him back outside, he was fully expecting to see Skeletal Springs again. Only for the whiskered blonde's eyes to widen in shock, when rather seeing the bone covered land, he was now looking at a lush, green jungle.

"What the actual hell?" Naruto muttered, looking around in amazement at where he was, as he exited the mound and began exploring the forest, his mind racing to understand what just happened and how it went from Skeletal Springs, to this forest.

'Could Kirvak Mound exist in multiple Locations at once? So that entering it in one Location, would bring you to another.' Thought Naruto, wondering if that's what happened, that he traveled to another version of Kirvak Mound, located in a different part of Perim.

He then remembered what Rhaden said about Kirvak Mound, "A place where tomorrow has passed, and the past is yet to be".

'Tomorrow has passed, and the past is yet to be.' Naruto thought, stopping for a moment to look around, and think on Rhaden's words.

"The past is yet to be…" Naruto muttered, while looking around, with his eyes widening as he began realizing just where he was, or more specifically, when he was.

"This is Perim, thousands of years ago." Said Naruto, realizing he hadn't been transported to a different Location, but all the way back to Prehistoric Perim.

As if on que, Naruto felt the ground start shaking, and heard something roar from within the trees. With it not being long, before a large goblin/lizard looking Creature, covered in red fur, came rushing out of the trees. The Creature throwing its head back and roaring, right before it came straight towards him!

'Shit!' Thought Naruto, tensing up, ready for a fight, given since he's now in his Prehistoric Perim, any Creatures he encounters are likely little more than animals acting on instinct, so there's no worry of having to hide his powers.

But before Naruto could use his abilities to fight off the Creature, someone beat him to it.

"Rock Wave!"

Naruto was surprised, when large rocks shot out of the ground towards the Creature, slamming into it and knocking it back into a tree.

"Vine Snare!"

Dozens of vines then shot down from the tree and ensnared the Creature, effectively binding it, but Naruto could see it thrashing about to escape. Naruto then saw his unexpected savior arrive, and grab his arm.

"We need to hurry now!" The stranger said, with Naruto surprised to meet a Creature, since they were obviously a Creature with their blue skin, that could talk, not expecting to find one who could, this far back in time.

Normally, Naruto would be suspicious of this stranger's sudden appearance, but he could also sense they weren't an enemy or had ulterior motives. Plus, he did also save him from that other Creature.

So, Naruto nodded, and the two took off running from the bound Creature, putting as much distance from it as they could. With it not being long, before they stopped running, when they saw they had escaped the Creature and any others in the area.

With them now safe from being attacked, Naruto got a good look at his savior.

The Creature was a young man with blue skin, blue eyes, and long white hair that fell just past his shoulders. His attire consisted of boots, gloves, and a tunic, which Naruto could tell was likely made from the hides of other Prehistoric Creatures, along with carrying a wooden staff. And going by his stance and frame, Naruto figured this guy's been here for a while, and had to fight off his fair share of Creatures.

"Thanks for the help, back there." Said Naruto, with the Creature nodding.

"I'm glad that I got there, when I did. Also, this may seem sudden, but you're a Chaotic player, correct." The Creature said, with Naruto looking at him surprised that he knew about Chaotic.

"Uh, yeah I am. How exactly do you know about Chaotic?" Asked Naruto, confused as to how a Creature from the past could know about Chaotic.

"That is a very long story. One better told, when we're safe from potential predators. Come on, I'll take you to my campsite." Said the Creature, with Naruto nodded as he began following him.

"By the way, I'm Naruto, Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto introduced, holding out his hand, which the Creature shook with a small smile.

"My name is Afjak." Replied Afjak.

*Later*

After some time, Naruto and Afjak had soon arrived at the latter's campsite, which was built in an area that the Prehistoric Creatures couldn't reach or destroy.

"So, how did you know I was a Chaotic player? How do you even know about Chaotic, in this time?" Naruto asked, as the two sat down.

"I met a Chaotic player, many years ago, or I will meet him…forgive me. Even after years of being here, time travel still confuses me." Afjak said, rubbing his temples, while brushing his white hair out of his face, a result of stress of having to survive in this time period, for years now.

"It's fine, I'm still surprised that this is even real. How about starting from the beginning." Said Naruto, with Afjak nodding in agreement, as that seemed like the best place to start.

"Of course. I'm sure you've realized it, but I'm not from this specific time period, I come from a time that's hundreds, possibly thousands, of solons from now. I was the apprentice of the Wise One of Kiru Village, Najarin. When one day, a group of Chaotic players arrived and met with our leader, Kiru. One of them returned a few days later, and I brought him to meet my master. His name was…Tom, yes, that was his name." Afjak said, taking a moment to remember, since it's been years since he thought of that time, being more focused on survival, since sending himself here.

This obviously shocked Naruto, to learn that Tom, and possibly Sarah, Peyton, and Kaz as well, had somehow traveled to the past and met a younger version of Najarin, along with the founder of Kiru City. Though he didn't say anything, wanting to hear what else Afjak had to say.

"Anyway, Tom had told Master Najarin, that he and his friends had traveled to the past using a Location known as Dranakis Threshold, an isolated Location floating in the sky. Which in reality, was a portal through time, when one aligns the slabs in the center to the notes of the Mugic, Enigmatic Etude. After overhearing this, along with where Dranakis Threshold was located, I desired to see it for myself, and uncover its secrets. But instead, all I had accomplished was trapping myself here, in the past, with no way back." Afjak said, sighing at the reminder of his own desire to prove himself to his master, now all he wished was to return home.

But he didn't dare risk trying to use Dranakis Threshold again, not wanting to risk sending himself even further back in time. Along with the fact, that he wasn't even sure it was still in the same location, as his time, with how different Perim was.

This only shocked Naruto even further, that there was another Location, that could transport someone through time, one his friends obviously found out about, somehow.

"That's…really something. But Afjak, I'm friends with Tom, along with the others that traveled to the past. As far as I know, none of them have found some time portal and if they did, they wouldn't have kept it a secret me." Naruto said, believing his friends would have told him something like this, with Afjak looking at him in surprise, before frowning in thought.

"If what you say is true, then it's likely you are from before they traveled to the past, so none of them are aware of it yet. Speaking of which, how exactly did you end up here, Naruto?" Afjak asked, wondering how Naruto ended up in the past, if he was unaware of Dranakis Threshold.

"I ended up here, after going through Kirvak Mound, a Location in Skeletal Springs. I was curious about it and entered it, only when I went through another tunnel, I ended up here, while realizing that I had been sent back in time." Answered Naruto, surprising Afjak to hear of another Location, that can send people through time.

"Dranakis Threshold and Kirvak Mound. Is it possible, other Locations exist, that can people through time?" Afjak wondered out loud, wondering if it was possible for similar Locations to exist throughout Perim, knowing there are still many unexplored and mysterious regions of Perim.

"Well, if you want, I could take you back to the present, when we get back to Kirvak Mound." Offered Naruto, wanting to help Afjak get back to a better time period than this one, and figured that Najarin would like to see his apprentice again.

The offer surprised Afjak, and he would have gladly taken it, but he was also unsure, since it wouldn't be his time period. And even if he somehow did found Dranakis Threshold again, he couldn't use that to return either. Since if Tom and his friends haven't discovered the truth of Dranakis Threshold yet, then his past-self is likely still in Kiru Village, as well.

And while Afjak would like to warn him, to prevent this from happening. Who knows what kind of chaos would unfold, with two of him existing in the same point of time. Plus, knowing his past-self, Afjak was sure his warning would just have the opposite effect.

'And if he's as close to Tom and his friends as he says he is, then why wasn't he in Kiru Village with them, when they first arrived?' Afjak wondered, while giving Naruto a glance.

While on one hand, Naruto could have simply been doing something else at the time, when they arrived in the past. But on the other hand, what if Afjak's own trip to the past was the cause of this, having bigger consequences than he originally believed. With his actions having created an entirely new timeline, as a result.

Before Afjak could delve too deeply into those thoughts, he shook his head and looked at Naruto.

"Alright, then let's go." Afjak replied, accepting Naruto's offer, as while it wouldn't be his time, any time would be better than this one.

"Great, then let's get going, before any more Creatures show up." Said Naruto, with Afjak nodding in agreement, more than eager to finally leave this time.

With that, the two set out to return to Kirvak Mound, with Naruto thankfully remembering the way he came from. As well as which way, he and Afjak had traveled after escaping from the Creature.

Unfortunately, the two were stopped, when they heard snarling and hissing. Before suddenly, they were surrounded by a pack of Creatures with gray fur covering their bodies, and long brown hair on their heads, going all the way down to their tails. With Naruto being able to tell that the leader was the one with a white streak in its hair, and had scars covering its body.

"Oh, this isn't good." Naruto muttered, with Afjak shaking his head.

"No, it isn't. Stay back, I'll handle them. Pebble Storm!" Shouted Afjak, unleashing a blast of pebbles at the Creatures, making back away from the assault, with Afjak then jumping into the air.

"Rip Tide!" Afjak said, aiming his staff at three of the Creatures, releasing multiple tendrils of large swirling amounts of water at them, throwing the Creatures back into the trees.

"Rock Wave!" Said Afjak, as he landed on the ground, slamming his fists down, unleashing a giant wave of stone that buried two more of the Creatures, with Afjak then quickly turning around, just as two more Creatures tried leaping at him, from behind

"Power Pulse!" Afjak shouted, while throwing a punch at them, launch a green fist-shaped blast at the Creatures, knocking them back.

'Woah.' Naruto thought, amazed at seeing Afjak fighting the Creatures, seeing the power, skill, and ability he was displaying.

He'd even compare Afjak to Maxxor in that regard, having seen the way Tom fights as the OverWorld leader in matches, and believed Afjak might even rival him.

Though Naruto then noticed the Alpha Creature was sneaking up from behind Afjak, while he was busy fighting it's packmates, intent to take him down from behind. Seeing this, Naruto quickly went through some handsigns.

"Water Style: Water Trumpet Jutsu!" Naruto said, holding his hand up to his mouth, before shooting a blast of water at the Alpha Creature, knocking it back into a tree.

This also getting Afjak's attention, as he looked at Naruto in surprise.

"How did you do that?!" Asked Afjak, not expecting to see such a thing from a human.

"I'll explain later, once we're out of here. For now, let's deal with these guys." Naruto said, while running and jumping to slam his foot into another Creature's head, while Afjak nodded in agreement.

"Right. Delirium!" Said Afjak, blasting a Creature with the attack.

The two continued battling the Creatures, with Naruto being even more convinced in Afjak's power and skills being on the same level as Maxxor's, the more he saw it.

Thankfully, it wasn't long, until all the Creatures were taken down, with Naruto and Afjak looking around to make sure there weren't any more hiding. Once they saw they were in the clear, the two looked at each other.

"You fight very well." Afjak said, surprised at Naruto's own abilities.

"Same to you. Now come on, before anymore show up." Said Naruto, as the two continued to Kirvak Mound.

It wasn't long, before they arrived back at Kirvak Mound, where Naruto saw Rhaden floating in front of the entrance.

"Rhaden!" Naruto called out, getting the OverWorlder Muge's attention, with Rhaden not reacting to Afjak's presence.

"Naruto Uzumaki. I see you have survived your journey to the past." Stated Rhaden.

"Yeah, though I have Afjak to thank for the help. Listen, Afjak isn't from this time, and I offered to bring him back to the present. Would you be able to guide us back, through Kirvak Mound?" Naruto asked, not wanting to risk them getting lost inside, and somehow ending up even further back in time, or even going too far into the future.

"Afjak? You were the apprentice of Najarin, correct." Rhaden said, looking at Afjak, though already know the answer, who nodded.

"I was, I ended up here, due to my own impatience and desire to prove myself." Replied Afjak, with Rhaden looking at the two silently for a moment, before nodding.

"Very well, I shall guide you back to the present." Said Rhaden, before flying into the tunnel, with Naruto and Afjak following close behind, neither wanting to get lost in the tunnels.

Thankfully, with Rhaden guiding them, the three soon emerged back in the present, with Naruto being relieved to see the normal Skeletal Springs again.

Once they were out, Rhaden pulled out a Mugic, and activated it with his Mugician.

"Song of Translocation!" Rhaden said, as the Mugic activated, with Naruto also quickly grabbing a scan of it, just as the three were covered in a bright light, and vanished.

*Lake-Ken-I-Po*

When the three reappeared, Naruto looked around, seeing they were on the shore of a lake with a giant castle, built on an outcropping over it.

"Where are we?" Naruto asked.

"Lake-Ken-I-Po, where Najarin's Castle rests." Answered Rhaden, with Afjak looking at the castle in amazement, not believing his master now lived here.

As if summoned, Najarin himself flew down from his castle, having sensed the appearance of the three. The OverWorld High Muge initially annoyed at the appearance of his uninvited guests, while seeing that two of them were Rhaden and a Chaotic player. Though when Najarin looked at the third one, his eyes widened in shock and hope.

"A-Afjak?" Najarin said, tears appearing in his eyes at seeing someone he never thought to see again, with Afjak smiling at his master, with tears in his own eyes.

"It's good to see again, father." Said Afjak, stepping forward, with Najarin moving forward and hugging his son tightly, which Afjak gladly returned.

"Afjak!" Said Najarin, crying tears of joy at once again seeing his son and student again.

"Master, I'm sorry, I'm sorry for what I did, leaving like that. I just…I wished to prove myself so much, that I ignored your advice on patience, and went to Dranakis Threshold without considering the consequences." Afjak said, his own tears falling as he hugged his father, with Najarin pulling back and putting his hands on his shoulders.

"No, my boy, I am the one who should be apologizing. I had sought to train you the same way that I was trained, through patience and time, that I did not consider your own thirst for knowledge. Not seeing it was my own actions, that pushed you to Dranakis Threshold." Said Najarin, before Naruto stepped forward, not wanting to interrupt the reunion between father and son, but also didn't want them blaming themselves, or each other, for what happened.

"Uh, excuse me. I know it's not my place, but neither of you are at fault for what happened. You both simply did what you both believed was for the best, neither of you could have known what would happen. But what you can do, is just be glad that Afjak is back." Naruto said, with the two looking at the Chaotic player, before nodding in agreement.

*Later*

After Najarin and Afjak reunited, the father/son duo and Naruto had gone up to Najarin's Castle, going to the High Muge's living area, while Rhaden had returned to Kirvak Mound.

With Naruto explaining to Afjak and Najarin about his abilities, telling them the only other ones who knew were his friends, Intress, Maxxor, Takinom, and Chaor. With both of them now knowing, as well.

"Hmm, so you are the boy that Intress told me about, the one who assisted her and Takinom in escaping the M'arrillians." Najarin said, having heard of Naruto from Intress, when she came to him with orders from Maxxor to find all information he can about the Deep Ones.

Nothing specific, only that a Chaotic player had helped them escape.

"That's right." Naruto replied, with Najarin humming in thought, intrigued at this new knowledge.

"I take it you are not from the same realm, as the other Chaotic players." Stated Najarin, with Naruto nodding in confirmation.

"Yeah, I'm from somewhere else, entirely." Said Naruto.

"Amazing. Well, be rest assured; we will keep this knowledge a secret, Naruto." Afjak said, amazed to learn there was another realm, besides Perim and Chaotic.

"Indeed, it is the least we can do." Said Najarin.

"Thank you, I appreciate it." Naruto replied, glad they'll keep his abilities a secret.

"Naruto Uzumaki, it is we, who should be thanking you. If not for your help, Afjak would still be lost within Ancient Perim. And for bringing my son home, I am in your debt." Said Najarin, knowing he'd be eternally grateful for what Naruto has done for him, while Afjak nodded in agreement.

"As am I. If there is any way I can repay you, I'll do anything in my power, to do so." Afjak added.

"Well, would I be able to get a scan of you?" Naruto asked, having wanted to get a scan of Afjak, after seeing how he fought the Prehistoric Creatures.

"Of course, you may scan me, if you wish to." Replied Afjak, with Naruto smiling, before pulling out his Scanner and scanning the former Past OverWorlder.

Once Naruto saw his new scan, Naruto looked at Afjak's stats, and was amazed at them.

"Wow I was right, you're really as strong as Maxxor." Naruto said.

"Who's Maxxor?" Afjak asked, not knowing who that was, before looking at his father, who put a hand on his shoulder.

"Maxxor is the leader of the OverWorlders, he's one of the strongest and wisest Creatures in all of Perim. For you to have become as strong as him, is a great honor." Said Najarin, with a bit of pride in his tone, to learn his son has grown as strong as Maxxor, himself.

"But of course, while you have grown in strength and power. Perim is a very different place from your own time, and the Ancient Perim you resided in, Afjak. You will need to be re-educated, and brought up to date with everything that has happened." Najarin added, knowing his son will need to begin his education, again.

"It'd be an honor to learn under you, once again, Master Najarin." Said Afjak, now ready to really listen to his father and master, and take his advice to heart, this time around.

Glad that he was able to reunite the father and son, Naruto traded farewells with the two OverWorlders, before porting back to Chaotic.

So, what did you think, good. Yep, Naruto has met Rhaden and discovered Kirvak Mound, along with it's ability to send people through time after ending up in Ancient Perim, where he's nearly attacked by a Prehistoric Creature, only to be saved by the surprise appearance of Afjak! This one being after Tom and the others traveled to the past through Dranakis Threshold, which hasn't happened yet, along with Naruto confusingly not having been with them at the time. Also side note, don't expect Naruto to use Dranakis Threshold to time travel any time soon, since while he knows how it works he doesn't know the notes of Enigmatic Etude. Anyway, Naruto then offers to bring Afjak with him to the present which he accepts, only for the two to run into trouble with more Ancient Creatures, leading to Afjak showing the results of how he's survived in Ancient Perim as long as he did, with Naruto also jumping in to help. Finally afterwards, the two meet up with Rhaden who guides them back to the present before teleporting them to Najarin's Castle, where we see the reunion between father and son, with both of them also learning about Naruto's abilities, the two agreeing to keep his abilities a secret after everything he's done for them, with Naruto also getting a scan of Afjak. So, review if you like go away if you didn't.

Storm out