Authors rambling:
Early update, simply because I got the chance to actually type the chapter up uninterrupted on a laptop instead of my phone. I might still have a chapter written for the weekend, or maybe monday, but I can't promise anything. This chapter was difficult to write at first, I don't really like combat scenes, not very good at writing them, but I've been trying to work on combining speedy updates with decent length of chapter. Something totally unrelated, but I hope you will participate...I realised there was a lack of discussion forums that were active, and I started "The Commune" which I hope some of you will decide to join.
Naruto wasn't afraid. All that he could find it within himself to feel was fury, they had traversed Web Valley expecting to find the tourists with maybe a sprained ankle, nothing particularly serious, but instead they had found corpses burned and crushed. He had wept as he kneeled on the ground, a hand closing the wide opened eyes of a dead child, who's entire lower body lay in odd angles. The lower body was utterly destroyed, only the face remained untouched, but even that was twisted in agony. Showing that the last moments of this innocent child had been of pain and fear.
He remained on his knees, clenching his fists by his sides. "Only those who are prepared to be killed should dare to kill. Tenten, whoever did this is still out here, those bastards are still about. I cannot let them away with this! Where is the justice in this? The gain, or the pleasure? They couldn't fight back, defend themselves, so we're going to find them, whoever did this, and we will show them what it is to face those who are prepared to be killed!" Naruto was shaking with rage, his blue eyes gaining a red tint.
Tenten who had shed her own tears nodded. "Evil is discriminate on who it hurts, Naruto. However, we can grant those innocent people justice, we will bring their murderer back to Era in chains, that is all we can give them. We can do nothing more but do that for them." Her voice was soft, and soothing to Naruto, as she reassured them of their goal, and reminded him to rein in his fury. His anger may be righteous, but if he didn't think with a clear mind, he would succumb to acting like a beast.
Naruto swallowed, standing tall, he stared directly at Tenten. "Lets go."
He moved forwards, eyes closed, inactivating the magical ability known as 'Secret Sage Field'. Standing still he extended the reach, past himself and Tenten, towards two brightly burning life-signs that signified strong mages. Mages had brighter signatures than civilians, a result of the magic they used, and the two that Naruto could sense - higher than normal. "Follow me!" He barked at Tenten as he began to run.
Naruto noticed a spiky maned blonde mage, standing, gazing at the sky.
"There is one of them, it seems the second one has fallen behind, I want-" He didn't get the chance to finish.
The enemy mage turned around, unleashing a huge ball of flames that was heading towards Naruto and Tenten.
As the torrent of flames roared towards them, a great iron dome sprang out of nowhere, encasing Naruto and Tenten in its protective armour. Naruto glanced at Tenten who smirked. The brown-haired S-rank mage had beads of pespiration forming on her brow, but she had her arms on the wall of her 'Great Iron Protection Dome', channelling her magic into it. By itself it wouldn't last for more than a few attacks, but with her own magical power flowing directly into it, she could keep it up against anything that had been tested against it.
Naruto turned to Tenten. "I want you to let it down, and go after the other one. He's about half a mile to the west, Tenten. Come back alive." He told her, his blue eyes meeting her own brown. She smiled grimly.
"Don't expect anything less, Commander. I have no intention to die to trash like these guys, and the same goes for you." The former Mermaid Heel mage took a deep breath, pulled her arms away from the wall of her dome, releasing the technique. Naruto watched as she sprinted away to the west, leaving him to take on the mage waiting impatiently mere feet away.
"You killed them didn't you? Mere tourists, they didn't have a drop of battle magic in them, kids, parents, just ordinary people..." Naruto grit his teeth, struggling to contain the boiling fury within him.
"Exactly," the other blonde grinned, looking at Naruto as if he had finally gotten the right answer. "Trash like that can't exist, it is a favour that I am doing them, they don't deserve to walk around so carefree. "
Horror shot through Naruto. "How can you be so callous? All deserve the right to live, even trash like you. Only cowards attack the defenceless." He roared, furiously. Naruto could see that his last comment had gotten a rise from the fire-wielding mage. He looked at the man with the mane of blonde hair, even as a grown man Naruto failed to understand the disregard for innocents. "I see words will do nothing. I'll show you why you are weak, my resolve will overcome anything you send my way!"
"Tehehehe. Now that is much more like it, blondie. It is a shame, a guy like you might've actually survived in the Word of Great Magic!" He grinned widely, eyes widening. "You know since you are kind of cool, I might just let you live if you give up! I'm kind of late."
"You can give up on thinking I would give up to scum like you." Naruto answered without thinking. "The measure of a mage is not on his power, but on how he lives. Those that take the lives of others are not true mages; when defending your ideals, your loved ones, the innocent, that is when the true power of a mage is unleashed!"
Red eyes met blue.
"Flame God's Bellow!" The cackling blonde screamed, as black flames tinged purple exploded from his mouth.
The attack wasn't entirely foreign to Naruto. It was recognisable as being alike the 'Fire Dragon Roar' that he had seen Natsu use countless times. He couldn't block it with a conventional spell in his arsenal, not if he wanted to conserve as much magic as possible for a drawn out fight. Master Makarov, your faith in me was enough to believe I could master this, pray that it works, he thought. His fists met, were pulled apart, and then raised into the air. "THREE PILLAR GODS!" He bellowed, against any caster type spell, this was the one of the maximum defense seals.
The flames were so close to Naruto, and the pillars were just barely beginning to rise, he didn't know if his practice, or high magical power level would be enough to speed it into completion. This was a magic employed by Makarov Dreyar and passed on to Naruto. His Earthland father had been a Master of it, and Naruto liked to think using it gave him a link to his alternate father, and in turn his own father, the Fourth Hokage. On his shoulders lay the legacy of great men, as well as women. He thought of his mother, her long red hair, and loving smile, and the words she had spoken to him, in those precious minutes.
The pillars rushed into completion, just as the flames hit against them. The spell crumbled, but it had done its job and shielded Naruto from them. Naruto took the pause in battle, for the blonde who was grinning with his teeth bared was looking mildly impressed. Naruto grinned, his opponent had seen nothing yet.
Naruto was a juggernaut of magical disciplines. Yet, this one was particularly special to him. "Spiraling Blade Torpedo!" He intoned, extending his arms out, he inhaled and then exhaled a great cloud of wind, it formed into razor-sharp blades, compressing together, and it sped towards his opponent. Naruto jumped back, already preparing his next attack, he wasn't foolish enough to believe it would be over so soon.
It did nothing, Zancrow's own flame attack that he had began to activate was strengthened as the flames ate up the wind attack, and the man gobbled it up
"Wind is what feeds the fire. I, Zancrow of Grimoire Heart thank you, I was getting kind of hungry!" He cackled, clapping his hands together, red eyes staring over to Naruto as he pulled himself up to his feet. "Now let me return the favour. Taste my "Flame Gods's Explosive Flame. I like to think it has quite the kick to that, nobody has survived it to tell me though, tehehe."
Naruto wished he had Natsu with him, all he'd have to do was let Natsu eat up the flames, and then set Natsu on the guy.
Grimoire Heart did sound familiar, but he was finding it heart to place the name.
That was until he saw the Guild stamp on the newly introduced Zancrow. He felt a cold bead of sweat begin to run down his back, his mouth was as dry as brittle tinder, for he now realised who exactly he was up against. He didn't know specifics, all he knew was that he would have to fight with everything he had, if he let his guard down once, he might not make it out alive.
Not to mention that Tenten must be fighting another member of Grimoire Heart.
However, he had to have faith in his comrade. Tenten was an experienced mage, just because she lost against Naruto, didn't mean he had seen her true power. He had to have faith in Tenten, in his newest friend.
Naruto had never been one to bow in the face of great power.
No, he spat on it, mocked it, and came out top.
Naruto took the attack head on, he was blasted back, smacking against the hard ground. However, he could still move, although it was explosive, he was already healing. Zancrow was the overconfident sort, he would assume Naruto was out of the fight, and go for the killing blow, but Naruto was fine, his jacket was singed, and his back hurt, nothing impairing in a fight.
He rose to his feet and kicked Zancrow in the ribs, he heard a satisfying crunch as his boot made contact. Zancrow stumbled backwards, swearing, but it wasn't enough to keep him from fighting for long. It only seemed to imbue him with anger, he was no longer grinning, instead he growled.
"Extinguishing you will be a pleasure," Zancrow announced, red eyes glaring at Naruto. "Feel the might of a God Slayer, weakling, feel the wrath of Zancrow's 'Flame God Cloud!' Fools have no place in the new order that will come." Wth that, he swiped his hand in the air, and unleashed the black cloud of flames that surrounded Naruto.
It was a coffin of flames, suffocating him, he dragged air into his lungs, but it was being eaten up by the flames almost as quick as he could greedily gulp air down.
Zancrow was strong, deserving of being a member of one of the strongest Dark Guilds, but Naruto was lauded by many formidable mages like Bob of Blue Pegasus as one of the unknown treasures of the community of mages. He was one of the more versatile mages about, and he wasn't even damaging Zancrow. Naruto knew he could defeat him, as strong as Zancrow was, he was not stronger than Naruto.
Make Magic had come easily to Naruto. It wasn't so different to what he had learned as a ninja, so he found himself like a sponge, draining the knowledge from his new friends in Earthland. Fire could be quenched by water, but also by earth which would smother the flames.
The problem was that Naruto had never learned any Earth Make spells.
Naruto wasn't known for planned strategy, his mind truly only came alive in battle, he thrived on making snap decisions.
The heavens opened as it began to rain. Grey clouds converging, blocking the sun from view, and Naruto frantically began to connect the dots for his plan before he was fully consumed by the cloud of flames. He felt faint, deprived of oxygen, but he held his ground, he was Naruto Uzumaki after all.
"Wind Magic: Storm Mail!" Naruto cried out as he crossed his arms in an 'X', manipulating the wind to spin around him, the sheer magic used to power it, pushing the 'Flame God Cloud' away from Naruto. He was completely covered from head to toe, his defensive power absolute, and his destructive power greatly increased.
Hidden by the cloud of Zancrow's flames, Naruto charged forwards, released his armour and within seconds had both hands cupping a 'Spiralling Sphere' that only grew in strength as it began to suck in Zancrow's flames, it became a ball of black fire, encased within the original orb.
He released it and it flew right into Zancrow. The God Slayer caught it on the chest and stomach, and he flew metres away, his body hit the ground, back smashing into the rock, a crunch as his head smacked against the ground. His clothes were destroyed, a hole in his chest, smaller than the original sphere, and he was either dead or unconscious.
Naruto was panting, his palms were burnt, the speed at which he had been forced to work at had left little time for coating his palms. He had won. He fell to his knees, trying to overcome the sudden tiredness, he had used a lot of magic at once. He had more left to spare, but Zancrow had been formidable and tough to defeat.
Naruto stood shakily to his feet and walked towards the other blonde, he dropped to his feet, seeing not even a shallow rise of Zancrow's chest. He checked for a pulse, doing so twice, but the result was the same. Naruto had killed him.
Bile rose up, and he looked down at the corpse.
He hadn't wanted to kill him. Not really. Not even if he had killed all those innocent people, and had probably did many more evil acts. Naruto stood, inhaled a deep breath, exhaled it, and looked at Zancrow.
"Alive meant that perhaps you would learn to feel guilt. You might've turned away from such a cruel life you were leading, but you die as a sinner. I regret that, killing stains the soul, and makes me little better than those I hunt. Maybe you will find peace in whatever comes on the passing from life into death, Zancrow, of Grimoire Heart." Naruto bowed his head, any anger and hatred he had felt for this man were gone, he was gone.
Naruto swallowed, spared one last look at the face of the man he had killed, before running to the west.
Tenten has ended her battle, and was sitting on the stomach of her opponent.
A grossly overweight man, skin as pale as that of Orochimaru, and a lack of modesty that might've turned Naruto's stomach - if he hadn't just killed a man. The man was knocked out, small daggers pinned his clothes into the ground, and Tenten was cleaning her nails.
"Mission accomplished, Naruto." Tenten told him warmly, she had some bruises, but no serious injuries.
Naruto half-smiled at her good humour. "I fought a Flame God Slayer, my last attack killed him," he admitted. He hadn't set out to kill Zancrow, his death was unfortunate, but he had been a member of an illegal Guild. Naruto was within the law to do so; the Dark Mage Elimination Act allowed reasonable use of deadly force when fighting dark mages.
Zancrow had been a member of Grimoire Heart, Naruto was likely to be lauded with praise for weakening such a dangerous Guild.
Her smile faded. "You didn't intend to kill him, did you? Answer me honestly, if we are friends, tell me the truth. If you killed him in cold blood, then I need to know, I have to know, so that if you lose yourself...I know to stop you." Naruto knew exactly what she meant. He wouldn't be the first mage who lost themselves, and became the very thing they had hunted. Tenten was loyal, but she wasn't so loyal that she wouldn't do the right thing.
"I didn't kill him in coldblood, Tenten. His magic was difficult to counterattack, and I poured a lot of magical power into my final attack. He was arrogant and didn't expect it." Naruto answered honestly. He was still a little shaken from killing, he hadn't taken a life in years, not since joining Fairy Tail, and even before that, it been only a few that had fallen by his hand.
Tenten nodded appeased. "I believe you. God Slayer is a Lost Magic, is it not? So many are popping up nowadays, it is strange to say the least." The brunette commented, punching her opponent who was beginning to stir in the head, sending him back into unconsciousness.
Naruto understood her meaning. "It isn't good, it is simply a warning, the darkness is enveloping Earthland. The last time so many powerful magics appeared was when Zeref roamed the land. It disturbs me what it may mean." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Naruto ever since he learned the Sage Arts of the Toads had a unique connection to the land. It had transferred to Earthland; there was something wrong. He just didn't know what yet, but if he could guess it would only be bad.
"How the hell are we going to lug this fatty back? I'm not carrying him." Tenten informed Naruto, jumping down from her seat on his giant belly.
Naruto shrugged.
The blonde staring at the giant Grimoire Heart mage; it wouldn't do to just leave him here to escape.
"We can drag him." Naruto decided.
Tenten splayed her arms out in an exasperated gesture. "With what? I don't have any rope, and I know that you can only Requip weapons."
"We each take a foot then," Naruto amended, glancing at the tight clad feet with wariness.
Tenten sighed. "I hope they don't smell." She mumbled as she grabbed a foot.
Naruto grabbed the other and together they began to haul the overweight man forwards, grunting loudly as they struggled to drag him.
"You have to be kidding me, his feet smell worse than, ugh, I don't even know, but it smells bad." Tenten complained loudly.
Naruto didn't blame her, a mixture of rotten eggs and rotting fish began to tease his nostrils, and he was doing his very best not to breathe through his nose out of fear of getting a noseful of it. He had planned on retrieving the body of the mage he had killed, but instead he would have to send a compliment from the nearest outpost to get Zancrow, hopefully before his body began to rot, exposed to the elements, and in the open where any animal could gnaw on it - even a dark mage deserved a proper burial.
They made it to Clovertown, physically exhausted, and in poor tempers.
A Rune Knight Unit met them as they dragged the Grimoire Heart member through the town, probably forewarned by a citizen of the Town. It was with great relief that Naruto and Tenten handed the overweight man over to them, and watched as with practiced ease they began to put magical-restraints and runes over him.
Once they made it to the outpost building. Naruto was about to inform them of Zancrow's body needing pick up, as well as the tourists who had been slaughtered, but Tenten spoke first.
"There is another one, out in Web Valley, as well as the bodies of the missing tourists. You should send a few team to retrieve them, be extra alert, Grimoire Heart is one of the top Dark Guilds, he might not look it, but that Kain Hikaru is a S-class mage. " She informed them briskly. "Don't send out any with weak stomachs, it was one of the most horrible sights I've ever had to see. It will haunt your dreams until the day you die." She warned them, and Naruto could see in her eyes that she meant every word.
He didn't know if Morta Island had been worse. All those that died had been his friends, but they had also known that they might die. Those tourists had been civilians, they had died without the means to defend themselves. There was also the image of the child, face twisted in agony, the child had been just an innocent young life.
Naruto didn't know why the image stuck in his mind.
He didn't know why his heart was twisted into a knot at the thought of the child, how they suffered, and the pointless death.
He remained silent, letting Tenten deal with the talking, he didn't feel like it.
Right now he felt like saving a life; a life such as the one that belonged to Jellal Fernandes.
The old man was like nothing he had expected.
He appeared to be about seventy-five, but he didn't seem very frail, much like Makarov really. He had a magnificent beard, and instead of formidable and judging broke out into an overjoyed smile on seeing Naruto. "My boy, you finally come!" He exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Naruto, even if Naruto probably smelled, and his outfit was damaged from his battle with Zancrow.
"Huh?" He exclaimed as the man tightened his hold on Naruto, and slapped the back of his head.
"That is for taking so many years to come visit! Gods, youth these days, no respect for their elders." He scolded Naruto, not losing the warm grin, and Naruto felt a warmth trickle through him.
"Sorry." Naruto said simply. Not quite sure on what to say, this hadn't gone as he expected so far, not that he minded, but it was unfamiliar territory.
"So, Naruto Namikaze, you sure take after that rascal of a father of yours! You have my troublesome Kushina's grin, I bet. " Duke Uzumaki declared, studying Naruto intently, but a certain softness in his grey eyes.
"I go by Uzumaki," Naruto corrected, surprised at the lack of vehemence in his sort-of Grandfathers voice. Earthland Minato Namikaze had technically ran away with his only child, he would have expected some sort of anger, or even refusal to see Naruto. This wasn't turning out like it did in the movies.
The old man raised his eyebrows. "Really? Naruto Uzumaki, I am very much honoured to meet my only grandchild, you can call me Papa." He instructed Naruto, giving the vibe of having made up his mind. "Now what do you want to ask me to do for you?"
"Huh? How did you know why I came?" Naruto didn't bother to try to lie.
The man smiled shrewdly. "I'm not a fool, young grandson. Why else would my estranged grandchild come visit me for the first time ever. I don't mind, seeing you is worth whatever troublesome task I have ahead, I'm an old man, I don't have many years left in the world. Getting this opportunity to meet the last of my blood, it completes me, and I will die with no regrets." He answered.
"It is to save the life of a good man, someone who did many bad things, but wishes to repent. He is also the dearest friend of someone I consider a younger sister, he saved the lives of my family at Fairy Tail. I don't have the influence to save him, but he deserves a second chance. A Duke, someone close to the King, you are in a position to help." He dropped to his knees, staring up at the elderly man with grey eyes. "Please, I don't want to see her shed more tears, an older brother always wishes to protect his younger siblings."
"A noble wish," was the answer he received in reply to his plea. "I will do my very best, for if she is as a sister to you, then she is of sorts a grandchild of mine as well! So stand up, child. You will never bow to me, you are my heir, and my precious daughter's much treasured child." He spoke fondly, a hand reaching out to clasp Naruto's shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.
Naruto stood.
"Thank you." He whispered.
The old man just smiled. "You are like your mother, so don't thank me, I failed Kushina...I didn't want to let my precious child go, and in the end I made her feel as if her only choice was to runaway. It is nearly time for the evening meal, grandson. Will you join me?"
Naruto nodded eagerly. His earlier hesitation in claiming his counterparts family was gone, it was perhaps morally wrong, but if his heart was filling with genuine love for this man, was it so bad? He was kind, honest, and understanding. His presence was actually soothing Naruto, and after his day, a balm on his wounds.
When Naruto had returned to the Clovertown Outpost, Tenten had been waiting solemn faced.
"The Chairman requests your presence in Era. " She informed Naruto, he could see the worry hidden beneath her attempt to hide it.
Naruto wasn't so worried. "It is fine, Tenten. He probably wants an update, or is going to brief me. Guran Doma was one of the biggest supporters of the Dark Mage Elimination Act. " He reassured her.
It wasn't as if he was eager to see Guran Doma; the man wasn't exactly pleasant. However, he did want to see Ayame, and perhaps meet her husband, poor Ayame was probably worrying about him, he had not expected to be absent from Era for so long. He wondered how she would react when he told her about meeting his Grandfather.
Appeased Tenten relaxed. "So, how did your meeting go?" She asked him curiously.
It was one aspect he had noted about her, she was always curious, and rather observant.
He smiled. "It was good, he isn't like how I imagined him to be, he was kind, and happy to see me." He informed her, his happiness a genuine sentiment. "I'll take you to meet him one day, you'd like him, he's like the Grandfather that kids dream about."
"The kid was called Jean McGarden, his only living relative is-"
"A Levy McGarden. " Naruto finished for Tenten. "Levy lost her parents when she was young, she didn't have any siblings, but she had a cousin who was raised by his maternal Grandparents. Jet and Droy, her team-mates were talking about it once, I overheard."
"A Fairy Tail mage, I take it then." Tenten replied soberly. "Once we go to Era, maybe we can go to Magnolia after, she deserves to hear it from someone who cares about her. I'm guessing you were fond of her."
"Yeah."
Levy McGarden looked up at Naruto with wide eyes.
The twenty two year old looked down at her, amusement flickering in his own. "I can't take you on this mission, little Levy." He told her firmly. "Go take a mission with Jet and Droy." He told her.
"Naruto..." she looked at him, hazel eyes widened. "Jet and Droy are fighting again, and I don't want to watch them fight, please." She had pleaded with him, and Naruto could feel his resolve dribbling down a drain. She was biting her lip nervously, staring at him with big hazel eyes, and pleading. He wasn't sure if he could withstand it.
However, Naruto was going on a mislabeled S-rank mission that Master Makarov had slipped his way under the guise of an A-rank. Since Naruto didn't want the fame of being awarded an S-rank title, and Makarov knew that Naruto would be wasted on lower-ranking missions all the time, he had devised the system of giving him specific missions.
He got the payment, nobody in the Guild would know, and he didn't get bored with few challenges.
He couldn't take a young teenager like Levy out with him. She wasn't a battle orientated mage to begin with, and Naruto couldn't be so irresponsible. Now he just had to work out how to break it to her without giving it away. "Levy, this mission is dangerous. " He told her, hoping that would dissuade the girl. She wasn't like some of the hot-headed members of Fairy Tail who would only find that even more enticing.
The small blue haired teenager wasn't put off, and Naruto found himself cursing Fairy Tail bravery. "All the more reason for me to come along with you." She informed him firmly. She crossed her arms, pressing them against her chest, and staring directly at him.
"I'll take you out on a mission when I get back, just not this mission, please don't argue." Naruto had finally said, putting some of the commanding undertone he had used back as a Captain in the Rune Knights. "It really is too risky for a young mage. Master would never forgive me if I took you, I would never forgive myself. You should go and knock some sense into Jet and Droy. Okay."
She had nodded reluctantly. "So, you'll really take me on a mission, will it be an S-rank one?"
Naruto looked at her. "Levy, only S-rank mages take them, where did you get the idea that I would be taking one?" He asked her, hoping it was just exuberance at his agreement to take her on a mission soon.
"The Master said so when he was drinking lots," she said simply.
Naruto could have smacked himself in the face. It was just like the Master to do something like that, he sighed. "Well, I am strong enough to be one, but I don't fancy the fame you get, so the Master lets me take the odd mission he approves. Our little secret, right?" He asked her, trusting she would agree to keep it to herself. He liked his guildmates immensely, but they weren't exactly known for being able to keep secrets.
"I promise." The girl said. "I take it that means no about getting to go on one with you?" She asked.
"Yes." Naruto answered, reaching a hand out to ruffle her hair playfully. "Maybe an A-rank mission if you train hard." He told her with a grin.
She nodded eagerly.
"She's a sweet girl," he said soberly. "She'll cry about it."
It was with a heavy heart he looked to Tenten and gestured with his hand that it was time for them to depart. It occurred to him he was actually glad to be going to Era first, even if it meant suffering through a lecture by Guran Doma, because it meant delaying the trip to Magnolia. He didn't want Levy to find out in a message, or a Rune Knight. He cared about her, so it had to be better for her to be told by someone who would be gentle about it.
Today had gotten worse, his lighter spirits after meeting his only living relative, his first ever meeting of a living relative had evaporated on hearing the identity of the little child that haunted his mind. At the very least he could tell Levy that the ones who did it would never do so again. It wouldn't do much, but it was still something better than going there with the news of her last relative dead.
"We can't keep Guran Doma waiting." He told her, his voice humorless.
Ever the pragmatic one, Tenten added dryly. "Well, he does pay our salaries, I suppose. Let's not bite the hand that feeds us."