"Igor, there is something wrong with me." Naruto said worriedly as soon as he sat on the chair.

"Hmm? How so?"

"I-I'm not acting like myself. Sometimes, I find myself doing or not doing things I usually wouldn't do."

"For example?" Igor asked, unworried.

"Saying hurtful things to people I wouldn't usually. Holding back on saying things I would. Fighting… defensively. And I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have talked to anyone the way I did with Ami."

"Wouldn't you?" Igor replied. "I think you would, if given the chance."

Naruto was going to argue, but held back. He didn't notice any influence from his Persona, unlike from the other three cases he mentioned.

"Alright, I'll give you that one. But what about the things I said to Sakura-chan, or stopping me from making fun of Kakashi-sensei, or fighting like that?"

"Did you say anything you weren't thinking?"

Naruto thought back to it, then shook his head.

"Do you disagree that holding back was the best action?"

Naruto slowly shook his head again.

"You see, your Persona is you. An externalized you, an you that sees things from a third person point of view. It can use this unique view to offer you advice on what you would think is best if it was you watching someone else.
Advice, nothing more."

Naruto nodded. It made sense.

"Well, if I answered your main doubts… You were expected here for… other reasons." Igor said, steppling his fingers. "Do you remember how to increase the power of your Personas, I take it?"

"By using it more and interacting with others." Naruto nodded.

"Yes. Usually, enough meaningful interactions would allow your persona to evolve… However, you seem to be able to utilize a most wondrous ability… Tell me my dear guest, what do you know of the Arcana?"

"Absolutelly nothing!" Naruto said happily.

Igor let escape a quick laugh.

"Ever heard of Tarot?"

"Yeah, it's those cards used to read the future, isn't it?"

"It has been used as such," replied Igor, amused. "Each card has been given an esoteric meaning in the tarot deck… including personalities."

"And by personalities you mean Personas?" asked Naruto.

"Yes. Many people's personalities, and thus their possible Personas, can be classified through the main 22 cards of the Major Arcanas of the tarot deck.
For example, you."

"Me?" Naruto asked surprised, pointing to himself.

"Yes. Freedom. Spontaneity. Creativity. A little bit of chaos and madness. Inexperience, meaning space to grow. Exuberant and not afraid to show how you enjoy life. Full of faith and charisma. Listens to your heart and takes risks. And most important, you are open, doing your best to understand others even if they would not do the same to you. My dear guest, there is only one Arcana I believe fits you."

Naruto got closer, paying total attention.

This Arcana represents the beginning, and infinite potential. It is versatile, being able to utilize almost any abilities while other Arcanas usually specialize.

He got to the edge of the seat…

"Arcana number zero: The Fool!"

He fell from the seat!

"Fool?!"

"Do not be mistaken due to it's literal meaning. Fools are spirits in search of experience, and thus are open to the world itself. As does the number zero, as it can become anything."

"I guess, when you put it like that…" Naruto agreed, sitting back in his chair. "But, that's about my Persona, right? You started talking about these Arcana to tell me about something else?"

"Yes, my dear guest." Igor agreed. "You see, your… openness also allows you to utilize this ability to its full potential.
The ability to switch Personas." Igor finished, grandiosely.

Naruto just stood there, confused.

"Why would I do that? I mean, don't I have to train my Personas to get better at them? Doesn't that mean focusing on one would be better?"

A bit frustrated by such a lackluster response, Igor explained:

"Different Personas have different abilities, as well as different strengths and weaknesses. By unlocking your Persona you gain the benefits of such abilities, but also the disadvantages of their weaknesses. For example, your current Persona, Kitsune, has resistance to Wind attacks, but is vulnerable to Fire."

"I see…" said Naruto, sadly. It had seemed too good to be true.

"By changing Personas, you can use the most useful at the time."

"That does sound useful, but what does it do to me? Will I start acting like Sasuke if I use a Persona like his or something?"

"Oh no, you misunderstand… The new Personas are still a part of you, but their view of the word is slightly influenced by what you understand of people of that Arcana. By changing Personas, you are just changing your viewpoint. They may direct you to behave a little more like someone of their Arcana, but that's it."

"I see…" that was a relief, not having to change how he acted to be able to use another Persona… or worse, be forced to change how he acted. "And how do I get a new Persona-tebayo?" he asked, excited.

"The same way you do to get them stronger: interacting with people with personalities of that Arcana."

"Cool! I can't wait to get some new ones and check what they can do!"

"Oh, you already got some." Igor guaranteed with his usual grin. "Look here."

He moved his hand along the table, and where it passed a card appeared. Most had a number but were empty, but six showed their image.

The Fool, the Empress, the Chariot, the Hermit, the Tower and the Sun.

"The problem is, most of these are too strong for you to use yet. You would probably collapse before being able to summon all but the Chariot's initial one.
I advise you to look for more people to relate with, to increase your choices."

He then waved his hand, and the twenty cards levitated to in front of Naruto in a neat stack.

"Uh. I wonder who I got a card from."

He picked the first card, the Fool, and looked at it…

And soon saw a picture of himself with his team.

"Your journey for growth and knowledge is the first step on the way to unlocking your full potential."

He picked the other cards. The blank ones held no picture, but the ones filled did. Ino as the Empress, Kiba as the Chariot, Shikamaru as the Hermit… Ami? Apparently their talk was enough for her to be the Tower. And Chouji was the Sun.

He guessed he still didn't know Shino and Hinata enough for them to get a card. Or Sakura-chan.

He really should work at least on Sakura-chan. At least trying to find out why she broke her friendship with Ino, to be able to try to bring it back. It was clear even to him Ino suffered a bit with that.

"Any other questions?" Igor asked, smile still on his face.

"I guess none right now… Oh wait, how do I change Personas after all?"

"Oh, you just need to concentrate. You may find it easier if you imagine a card of the Arcana you wish to use."

"Thank you Igor."

"It was no problem, my dear guest. My mission is to assist. Well then, for now, farewell."

The lights began shining brightly around Naruto, and the next think he knew he was back at his apartment in front of that blue door, feeling like having just woken up from a nap.

In his pocket was a pack of tarot cards.

Curious, he imagined a copy of the chariot card in his mind breaking down into mist and becoming a Persona.

He felt himself becoming a bid more confident, a bit more harsh. But he also felt his own self under it.

He tried summoning his Persona like he did with Kitsune, and was a bit shocked. What appeared was a blue-green blob, with angry eyes and a mouth. "Slime", he thought, and somehow knew that it was resistant to physical attacks but weak to fire like Kitsune.

It was also a bit harder to manifest than the small fox, but having the Persona in his mind was only a bit heavy at first. Curious, he tried imagining Ino's card, Empress.

He quickly grabbed a chair nearby to try to keep himself upright. He couldn't even focus on the Persona to figure out the name under the headache.

He quickly let go of the card in his mind, and the pain was gone, just a dull ache for now.

By his side, Kitsune manifested itself. He barely noticed the strain of it anymore but for when using a technique with it, and having the small fox by his side helped him calm down.

So, that was it. Using a Persona was a chore on his mind, he was strong enough for Kitsune and Slime but any other would be too hard for him for now. Like using a weapon, he could only use what he was strong enough to, any more would be too much a strain. And that Persona had been too much to just hold right now, much less attack with.

He pulled himself to bed and let himself go, too mentally exhausted to even prepare an instant ramen. He would rather be hungry than awake right now. He had to force himself to adjust his alarm clock to about half an hour before six, and went to sleep still clutching it.

IIIII

Yakiniku Q was no Ichiraku, but again they were different: while Ichiraku got you your ramen ready on the counter by a friendly and smiling waitress, Yakiniku Q had tables with griddles so the client could roast the barbecue at their taste, but you barely saw the waiters.

In other words, Ichiraku was great for a personal meal with a friend, but for a gathering Yakiniku Q was better.

Not that Naruto would ever admit it. But he wasn't the one who chose it anyway.

Teams eight, ten and Sakura were already there when Naruto arrived. Sasuke wasn't though.

"Hey, where's the bastard?" he asked, sitting on an empty chair.

"He didn't arrive yet," Sakura answered, sounding a bit worried.

"He probably isn't coming," replied Kiba. Sakura and Ino looked like they were going to disagree, but the fact was he wasn't there yet and he was usually punctual as far as they knew.

"Hey, are you alright Naruto?" asked Chouji, worried. Naruto was looking a bit pale and holding his head from time to time.

"Not really. Didn't have breakfast and woke up early because of the test. And then when I got home I tried a new thing I learned about my Persona that was too much for me so I ended up skipping lunch."

"What does this Persona thing do, afer all?" Sakura asked, curious. "I mean, it said it was you, so it is some kind of cloning technique like you did at the exam combined with transformation like that perv one?"

"Nah, it's a Yamanaka technique," Ino answered for him, "Persona is a manifestation of a person's personality, which for those able to summon lets them use special abilities."

"Wait, so that fox is Naruto's mind? But it is so cute!"

"I know! So unfair…"

"Oi!" Naruto interrupted. "That hurts girls. Right here," he said, pointing to his chest.

They all laughed, even Hinata a bit (probably Shino too, they couldn't tell), and their meat was delivered.

"It is not so surprising, however." Shino said as the food shizzled.

"What do you mean, Shino-san?" asked Hinata, in her shy way.

"Kitsunes are tricksters considered very good at shapeshifting, particularly on female forms, and many illusions and enchantments, including illusory fire. Although, they are also supposed to be wise…"

"Ouch, come on man, even you?"

Another round of laughter ensued.

"But seriously, the only abilities my Persona has until now are a strong bash of its tails and cutting winds."

"Maybe you just need to make it stronger." Shikamaru replied. "Or maybe you'd be good at genjutsu if you ever learn it."

"Our new teacher is said to be good at those," Kiba said. "Maybe she could help check?"

"That'd be nice." Naruto said, getting a piece of meat to see if it seemed cooked enough. It did, so he took a bite. "I'll ask Kakashi-sensei tomorrow to see if there isn't any problem. Could you guys ask her for me if he agrees?"

"Sure," Kiba shrugged.

"So, how were your tests?" asked Chouji.

"We were told to locate and capture our sensei before the time limit. All three of us could locate her, but we had to work together to capture her even though she was clearly holding back." Shino answered.

"Same here but for the locate part. We had Chouji fight him physically until he was in position for me to capture him in my shadow jutsu so he couldn't avoid Ino's body control one," Shikamaru said in turn.

Naruto nodded, mentally noting the information about those jutsu. Could always be useful.

Noticing it was their turned, he turned to look at Sakura, who was looking at him.

Sighing, he started:

"Ok, let's just say ours was different. For starters, it was supposed to begin at 5 in the morning, but the bastard of a teacher…"

IIIII

After a while, it was time to go. Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji lived near each other, so they left together. Kiba went with his teammates too because he was a group person like that.

Which left Naruto alone with Sakura. Something he usually would be quite happy to be.

But not today. Not with the look of sadness and longing on her face as she watched Ino going home with the other two.

"Hey Sakura-chan," he said quietly as they walked, which surprised the girl; she couldn't remember he ever being this quiet. Well, when they were at the test, but it was a different kind of quiet.

"What is it Naruto?" she asked suspicious, "If you are going to ask me on another date—"

"No, no. Well, not this time. I just wanted to ask…"

He swallowed. He was probably overstepping his bounds asking this, but he couldn't help it.

"Why aren't you and Ino friends anymore?"

Sakura stopped, surprised by the question. Naruto stopped at her side.

"I… Ino and me both like Sasuke-kun, so we couldn't be friends anymore."

"But all girls in class seem to like him too, but they are still friends," he pointed out.

"I… you just wouldn't understand."

"Do you?"

The girl looked down, biting her lip.

"I… I…"

"Sakura-chan, can't you two be friends again?"

"Why do you care?"

"Because I like you, and Ino is my friend. I want you to be happy."

The girl just stood there, looking at anything but him.

"It is too late."

"Sakura-chan, I'm sure that—"

"I had to choose between love and friendship and I chose love. You never had either, so you wouldn't know how I feel."

Hearing that from her hurt, but not more than the hurt look she could see in her eyes.

She quickly went away, leaving the boy behind. But not before hearing his words:

"And why did you have to choose?"

IIIII

Sakura entered her room in a bad mood and quickly covered her head with her pillow to muffle her sobs. She was angry. Angry at Naruto for asking that. Angry at herself for purposefully trying to hurt him like that. Angry at Ino and Sasuke for the situation she was in.

Not for the first time, she wished she still had a friend to talk to. But she had no one.

IIIII

Naruto looked sadly at the now filled card, Sakura's card, the Lovers symbol mocking him for what he now knew it meant for her.

With a sigh, he went home.

At least he could use this one's Persona already.

IIIII

The man rose, his purple eyes opening full of happiness.

He had been blessed by his god once more.

As he raised his arms, his eyes shone a sick yellow, and blue mist took form in front of him.