disclaimer: naruto = kishimoto; nanoha = seven arcs; grand chase = kog

foreword: long, long delay, but I'm going to try and get back in the writing groove to get the updates flowing faster. also, computer screw-up destroyed my Arcane Heart rewrites of chapters 5 to 8, so there's working on that AND Moeagare Toushi's next chapter, so...

...and Team Fortress 2 was made free-to-play, so...

...not to mention playing through Billy vs. SNAKEMAN...

...anyway, that's no excuse, just an explanation as to why I took too long. Just read on and enjoy.

Warning for incoming Yagami Hayate hijinks!

Once again... boldface is for jutsu and emphatic speech, italics are for thoughts, bold/italics are Device or bijuu talking.


The raised blade sharply cleaves tomorrow open...

...but whatever the guarantee, nothing is what it seems!


Naruto: Twin Fates

Chapter Seven: Stars, Lightning and Leaves 3: The Aftermath


She's avoiding me... with good cause.

Precia Testarossa spent a sleepless night thinking about her daughter.

Make that... daughters.

Fate had returned, it seemed - and had made contact with Alicia.

The Toad Sage said that even though the seven-point Spiral Matrix had long since dispelled, Alicia had built up a resistance to the memory blocking in a very unique way - during one of his routine assessments of Alicia's seal, he found out that a rarely-used subroutine activated, allowing the girl to shunt off the memory backwash by sending it to her dreamscape.

It smacked of the simplicity of genius, if you asked Jiraiya.

Maybe that's why Alicia's become indifferent.

She still... loves me as her mother... but she wants something from me I cannot give her... until today.

She wants Fate to be part of the family again...

And now, I'm both ecstatic at the chance to make things right and mortified that Fate will... hate me.

Come to think of it, all this seemed too simple.

That woman from the Bureau came along, straightened out what she called a misunderstanding (ha! A misunderstanding that came with Devices, combat cyborgs, familiars and the infamous Wolkenritter? Please.) and dropped the bombshell that Konohagakure as a whole had been hired by the Time-Space Administration Bureau for the purpose of searching for a set of dangerous and very powerful artifacts.

Of course Precia would be stuck in Konoha teaching the remedial genin and offering whatever information she could on this very risky and politically treacherous set of missions (goodness knows what else would happen if I took to the field, Precia thought).

Not to mention the fact that she'd be put under surveillance by one of said Wolkenritter to see if she really was on the stable side now.

Oh, well. I spent four years here under ANBU supervision, what's a few more sentient magical fighting machines going to do?

She sighed when she thought about the past; she had been in the shoes of that man before, and whereas she had a second chance... this one... didn't, and died in her arms because of it.

Maybe that's why she was thinking about accepting the Hokage's appointment to head a revamped version of Councilman Shimura's ROOT division - as he always used to say, "the leaves may flourish in the sunlight, but the roots keep the tree stable in the shadows".

Perhaps it would work, perhaps it might not.

Why the hell not? After all, she'd seen the Councilman's mistakes and her own. She wouldn't stumble down that road again. Not when all eyes were on her at this point.

Sighing, she spent her sleepless hours writing down lesson plans for the remedial genin. After all these weeks, they still didn't find the link between book learning and practical learning...


So... this feeling...

Uchiha Sasuke was currently locked in an epic staredown contest with the new arrival after knocking out that strange redhead with yet another lucky shot - something that was quickly becoming a trademark of his. Even if the shinobi handbook did say that it didn't matter if the race is won by an inch or a mile, pulling out victory from those strange opponents was not without its attendant costs, as both his teammates were out of the fight and Kakashi-sensei was inapacitated from battling that man with wolf ears to a standstill.

He thought everything was just as peachy as the unexpected can be, but when the pale-haired young woman with the book, the black wings, and the staff appeared...

...I can't move.

...everything changed.

The aura of pure power the woman possessed froze him in his tracks, and he didn't even feel the familiar buzzing behind his eyes whenever the Sharingan activated. He opened his mouth, but neither words nor sounds would come out.

This... this isn't fear.

Unlike that time when his Mangekyo (should I still call it the Mangekyo after those months in Spring Country?) awakened, there were no thoughts of impending mortality and the regret that the vengeance of the clan would not be personally delivered.

It was as if there was nothing... nothing but the young woman standing before him.

A gust of wind passed, sending black feathers drifting towards him.

More like... staring the Shinigami itself in the face. It's... inevitable...

"This is Leader 2. Prepare a return warp... for Stars 2 and Knight 1," the young woman announced. For someone who carried around enough power to nearly flatten him under the pressure, she had an unexpectedly ethereal - if oddly accented - voice.

As she pointed the ornamental end of her staff at him, Sasuke's training took over. His hands flashed through seals, the sound of chirping beginning once more as he completed the sequence for his team's trademark technique.

Moments passed between the Uchiha and this being of unimaginable power, and he grew uneasy with only the crackling sound of the Chidori breaking the silence.

I'm going to go in. One quick approach should do it.

Only the slightest tensing of his stance betrayed his intent to charge in as soon as his opponent tried to pull anything off. As the golden cross that was on the end of this strange woman's staff began to glow, Sasuke was already committed to beat her to the punch...

...until a warm hand clasped onto his shoulder, breaking the fey mood.

"Stand down, Uchiha," a familiar voice said.

Hokage-sama is here? Sasuke thought in confusion, but the order to stand down had priority, so he dispelled the Chidori and looked - with confused eyes that had returned to their black hue - at his Hokage and then back at the young woman with black wings.

The oppressive weight of the young woman's aura seemed to lessen the moment Senju Tsunade made her appearance; but what followed afterward baffled everyone.

"...This wasn't in the plan. You promised no one would get severely hurt by this," the young woman said, sparing a look at the redhead before meeting the Hokage's eyes.

"An unexpected development, but as we shinobi like to say, 'no plan survives contact with the enemy'."

"Are we your enemy then, Senju Tsunade-san?"

"No... Yagami-san. It just means that we've been trained to expect the unexpected," the Hokage said as she slowly strode towards the fallen redhead, causing Sasuke to gape.

"Hokage-sama... what is this?"

"...You'll find out shortly, Uchiha. For now, cover me."

He bit back a vicious retort meant for the last member of his rival clan, but that wasn't warranted at this time. They couldn't afford to show any hint of dissension, not in the face of this kind of power. "Yes," he answered, going into a regulation combat stance, eyes turning red once more on instinct as he covered his Hokage against incoming enemies.

Hayate gasped as the Fifth Hokage clasped Vita's broken jaw with hands that began to glow a pale green light.

"Unbelievable..." she whispered as she could sense the bones knitting together and the bruises fading, "one of my Knights could learn a lot from you."

"There we go," Tsunade said, "all good as new. And tell your Director that I accept the proposal she and I worked on. Both of you would have to come back here and iron out a few last-minute details, but the deal still stands - you can use Konoha as your second base of operations."

This time it was Sasuke's turn to gasp.

"Hokage-sama!"

He was about to add, "they drop in and start getting rowdy. And now we're working together... just like that?", but a quick warning glance from her, and his objection died in his throat.

"You're clear to go," she said as an ANBU appeared behind her. "ANBU, broadcast Shield Protocol on all engaging teams."

"Thank you," the young woman said, nodding.

This is Leader 2... we're all clear up in here.

This is Leader 1. You've got a lot of explaining to do.

Director Gracia's on her way to the Eden. My apologies, but I was acting on her set of orders as well as yours, Admiral.

I knew it. Anyway, we've already prepped the infirmary for Vita.

Just a bed and some mana restoratives will suffice; apparently, our new associates from here have helped out.

"You're welcome."

The young woman named Yagami bent forward in a ceremonial bow to the Hokage before gesturing, and she and her companions the wolf-man and redhead faded from sight, something like a Shunshin without the leaves.

"Excellent performance, Team 7," Tsunade said as the odd hue of the sky returned to normal in the wake of the interlopers' departure, "you managed to hold off several unknown assailants. Uchiha, are you fit to move?"

He let out a relieved breath, the tension draining away from him and his eyes returning to their usual dark brown. "I'm still good, Hokage-sama."

"Glad to hear. ANBU, please follow us with Kakashi and Akamaru. I'll pick up my darling apprentice, you carry Kiba."

"Understood, Hokage-sama."

Before leaving, Sasuke had to glance back to where that young woman named Yagami appeared from, and thought for a moment.

All that power... I didn't even blink...


This is Director Carim Gracia. All members of Mobile Assault Force 6 are to cease combat and return to the Eden immediately. All containment magic is to be dispelled. Retreat to a defensive position to facilitate a warp back to the Eden.

Most of them were in the midst of battle when the order came, and promptly put aside their confusion to activate their retreat protocols.

On one end of Konoha, right above the Ninja Academy and near the Hokage Mountain, a fierce exchange of swordplay and firepower was ongoing when the retreat order came.

Precia had just swapped with a log to escape Nanoha's attempted Bind, and after faking left then circling right, swung at her opponent hard with Hrist in Dual Sword configuration - Nanoha was quick to anticipate this set of moves and slid out of the way after using a soft guard on the two swords slashing simultaneously, diverting it instead of taking the attack head-on.

So this is where Fate-chan's fighting style comes from. It's slightly different, but... I've sparred with Fate-chan so many times - it's almost second nature to me; I know how you think.

The order came just as the white-clad mage was about to spring her second set of binding spells. Firing off a set of Accel Shooters to delay pursuit, Takamachi Nanoha backpedaled quickly.

"Leaving so soon?" Precia asked, swatting down the last of her opponent's pink projectiles as she sensed an incoming transport spell.

"I think I already know the score," Nanoha replied, "but with what's going on right now, I'd better go straight to the source and see just what's going on."

"That's sad," Precia answered, "Just when things were getting good, it ends abruptly. A shame."

"Don't think this is over. We're not done."

"If this is what I think it is, don't worry; you'll get another crack at me," Precia said, shrugging. "It's not like I'm going anywhere or doing anything in the near future."

"Fair enough. Oh, and Fate's here, too. You might want to see her before she goes... or maybe not."

That parting shot by Nanoha before she vanished left Precia Testarossa so deep in thought that she did not notice the Dimensional Prison dispelling.

Meanwhile, one Sarutobi Konohamaru plopped down onto the ground, all but spent.

"That was one fast mother hubbard," he told himself. The fight had been all but even until that redheaded bastard used one of Alicia-oneechan's special moves - he had been this close to revealing his elemental manipulation just to break even when the boy named Erio stopped short, went on the defense and sent him flying with a powerful strike before finally disappearing.

"Hayate-sensei! Udon! Moegi!" he called, and shortly his teammates and jonin-sensei ambled over to him looking none the worse for wear.

"Konohamaru, what happened to you? You look like you went ten rounds with the Hokage," Moegi said, causing everyone else to start snickering; "not even remotely what I meant," she added sullenly.

"That Erio fellow was fast. Just as fast as Goku - maybe a bit faster. But I could have handled him easy."

"Yeah, but it looks like he handled you back," Udon replied. "Hayate-sensei managed to get that dragon-thing away from the girl. She's pretty good, and we were pressing our advantage when..."

"...both dragon and girl vanished?" Konohamaru asked, to which he received nods in reply.

The Konohamaru Corps (feat. Gekko Hayate) swept their eyes skyward, seeing that the strange haze had now lifted.

"Sword Leader to Sword 4, come in," Hayate said into his communicator.

"This is Sword 4," Hyuuga Hanabi's voice came in. "Time-space jutsu has been dispelled, three-fourths of all civilians are present and accounted for."

"Good work, team," the sword-wielding jonin said. "Let's write up our reports. The Hokage will need to know this."

"Roger!" the team replied in unison before moving out.

Elsewhere, Hinata had just taken one of their opponent's shoulders out with a Gentle Fist strike - this was the blue-haired girl with the white ribbon and the mechanical gauntlet that reminded her of that chunin from Kumo who got promoted here three years back. She was about to give the other shoulder the similar treatment when another girl with a mechanical gauntlet - this time, on her left hand - suddenly glided up to her and threw a punch which she barely blocked in time.

As she was sent flying by the force of the blow, Hinata could clearly see some sort of energy trail underneath the girl's feet, something she had noticed all battle long - those mechanical shoes with wheels on them may be the ones making those trails, she thought.

She easily reversed her momentum - twisting in the air and landing cleanly - knowing that her fellow Konoha-nin - the very, VERY girly Haku - would take up the slack she left. And slash he did, taking a swing at the long-haired girl the interlopers had been calling Ginga.

What had surprised her was that the other one backed up instead of continuing on the offensive - based on their speed, Haku would be overwhelmed quickly if they attacked in tandem during the momentary disadvantage in numbers. By the time she had returned to the fray, the interlopers had gone on the defensive, the blond boy and the wolf-girl throwing a barrier to cover their escape before the entire group of infiltrators disappeared in thin air...

"Everyone peachy back there?" Anko called out after the coast was clear.

Shino and Haku immediately went to Hinata and took up defensive positions while she extended the range of her bloodline limit.

"The time-space jutsu I sensed has been dispelled - all civilians displaced by its effects have returned to their previous spots. No signs of hostiles. Team check?"

"I'm okay over here, Hinata-san," Haku answered. "Took a few blows, but I'm otherwise great."

"Likewise," Shino answered. "That girl with the guns seemed to be able to disrupt most of my kikaichu techniques, though. Her shots from those strange weapons almost always managed to hit and disorient the drones I use to coordinate my swarms' actions."

"Anyway," Anko said, "the worst seems to be over."

She signed to a tree in the distance. "Not only that, we've scouted these invaders as well as they've scouted us. Team 10's got a lot to give Intelligence to digest. Good work, guys - let's get to the debriefing - but keep your eyes open."

"Roger!" Team 8 replied in unison before quickly vacating the training ground where they diverted the invaders to, Team 10 quickly following suit.

Shika's gonna have a lot to mull over, that's for sure, the gathered nin thought. We all have a lot to mull over.


"Everyone in good shape?" TSAB Admiral Chrono Harlaown asked his operatives as soon as they warped back in, trying hardest to mask his frustration at what the situation degenerated into. This is supposed to be a quiet pickup, and then all this has to happen.

As the RF6 squad members walked towards the infirmary - with Zafira carrying the still-unconscious Vita on his back - Chrono waited until Yagami Hayate passed him by.

"You two went around my jurisdiction?" he asked.

"Chrono, the Forwards, my knights, and I have no personally vested interests and prior involvement in this," Hayate began, "I even had Aria and Lotte read up on things - things that you, apparently, shared only with Nanoha, Fate and Yuuno. Your mother, too, even though she's officially retired."

"You don't know who we were dealing with back then."

"You mean, the five of you were expecting something and it ended up something completely different," his adjutant replied. "I had to go to the Director myself with this - it's a good thing we cut this cleanly, this quick; otherwise our cover would have been blown, or worse."

"With someone like Precia Testarossa on the loose?"

"Admiral, I admire your devotion to your sister, but sometimes it can cloud your judgment... it happens to the best of us."

"And you and your knights are going to make sure that neither event happens?"

"Why not, Admiral?" Hayate asked, with a shrug. "Still, we will be finishing this... conversation at a later time, though. Debriefings and all that."

With that, she turned on her heel and calmly walked out of the Eden's bridge.

Smooth, Chrono. Real smooth.

The RF6 commander fished around in his desk for a bottle of aspirin while gathering his thoughts about the matter.

Yes, this could have ended badly if she didn't go on ahead of us... but what about Nanoha, Fate and that ferret? I'm sure this is a part of their lives they say they've moved on from, but it was never really concluded decisively.

I hope the Director and Hayate know what they're doing...


Maybe we'll meet again.

In dreams.

Yes... in dreams.

Fate opened her eyes, and no, it wasn't a dream.

The tree, the grass, the meadow.

Nothing changed.

Except...

...she was here again.

...with Alicia.

"...onee-chan..." she whispered, looking up, their eyes meeting.

Alicia smiled.

"I never stopped believing we'd meet again, Fate," Alicia whispered. "Still..."

"I see you in my dreams, onee-chan."

"As do I," Alicia answered. "It's so good to know that you have friends dear to your heart who take care of you as a family should."

"...and Mother?"

"Mother..." Alicia replied. "It would be best if you asked her yourself."

Fate's eyes grew frightened.

"It's something you have to do, Fate," Alicia said soothingly, petting her sister's head as she lay on Alicia's lap. "Don't worry, your big sister will walk you through it every step of the way..."

"Alicia... onee-chan... who was that girl? The one with the white eyes?"

"That's a long story," Alicia said as the sky turned back to its usual blue.

"I have to go now," Fate said, slowly standing up. "I'll see if I can come back soon."

"I'll be waiting."

It took Alicia five minutes to realize that Fate had left and that she had been crying. Sadly, she got up and made her way back to Konoha proper to report on what happened.


"Director, I would like to have an explanation as to why you went down this road. While we're all on the same side here, any future crossing of jurisdiction will have to follow the chain of command."

"Admiral, you do know that when things like this happen, there's a lot more going on behind the scenes than even I can say. And if you're going to throw down any charges, put them on my tab," the TSAB Director answered. "Even Hayate had her doubts about this whole thing."

"That tab of yours is getting bigger," Chrono said. "Also, you're pulling the 'Rabbit Hole' argument this early? It must be some sort of background event to get you to admit that."

"What IS important is that we've averted is not only announcing our presence to all of these people, but we have also gained allies instead of making enemies," Carim Gracia answered, seated comfortably in the Eden's conference room. "Striking a deal with the 'Village Hidden in the Leaves' was the smartest course of action."

"You don't think that Precia Testarossa has turned this 'Village Hidden in the Leaves' against us?" Chrono asked.

"All the stress of the job is taking its toll on your memory, Admiral. Try to remember exactly what the events were that brought Precia Testarossa under the jurisdiction of your mother - former Admiral Harlaown."

"Very well then, I'll play your game," Chrono replied. "According to the record, the whole set of incidents involving the Garden of Time was caused by Alicia Testarossa's accidental death, which led her mother undertake unethical and dangerous to the point of unraveling-the-very-fabric of-space-and-time research on how to revive her. Still, I don't know how that has to do with our intervention here."

The Director shrugged.

"And you're wondering why right now, Fate has her comm off?"

Crap.

Chrono closed his eyes briefly and did a spot check on the Eden personnel.

Fate's still back down there... talking to Alicia.

He opened his eyes to see a grinning Director.

"There's a line between caution and paranoia, Admiral," the Director began, "and if you check the contract I had signed with Konoha on your behalf, you'll see that the Testarossas are the last thing you're going to have to worry about."

"What do you mean by that, exactly, Director?"

"If the Testarossas are here," the TSAB officer said, "then it should be logical that the Lost Logia you had pursued all those years ago would be here, too. In fact, that's the primary reason for RF6 being here and not to apprehend two hardworking ninja in the service of Konoha, right? Besides, appointing Konoha as our liaisons might start a few territorial disturbances, but based on our analysis of this world's political system, it's going to be short-term."

"Short-term? We've basically allied ourselves with them!"

"But not in the way that most think. We're not giving them equipment and/or Devices, heck, we're not even contractually obliged to assist them in any way! We just need a local base of operations - when we get to the last piece of Lost Logia, we shake their hands and fly off into the sunset - it's a done deal."

"Things are never as simple as that," the Admiral replied.

"That much is true - and that's precisely why I selected Konoha," the Director said. "They are in the geographical center of the region, a perfect logistic location to start a base of operations from which to begin the search for the Jewel Seeds."

"What are we supposed to give Konoha in exchange anyway?"

"...the intangibles, of course," Carim said, smiling. "You know how crucial the intangibles can be in situations like this."

"...because this is a powder keg and it could all turn into a massive clusterfuck the likes both the people here and the Bureau have never seen before, am I right?"

"Admiral, any operation involving Lost Logia can potentially turn into what you call a 'massive clusterfuck'. Isn't it better for us to be neutral and/or friendly to the natives just in case the worst comes to worst?"

"So you're going to let Precia Testarossa get away with everything, is that it?"

"Who says she hasn't started doing penance for her crimes, Admiral?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Like the Hokage likes to say back there, try to look 'underneath the underneath'," the TSAB Director said. "You could do your own digging at your own time, of course - there is still a lot we don't know, and anything we can do to prevent your 'massive clusterfuck' from taking place at best, or damage control at worst, would be prudent."

"I'll have Mr. Scrya on the job, then."

"That's a good choice. He can back up the Lieze twins."

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a ferret to chase," Chrono said, grinning.

"Good luck with that," Carim replied before the Admiral left the conference room.

Barely five minutes had passed before a sound reverberated from the tablet computer the Director carried with her.

"Open comm," the Director intoned, the tablet transforming into a communication link to the home office - a blonde woman and brunet man both wearing TSAB uniforms occupied the screen.

"So, Sergeant Granscenic," Carim asked, "how has your investigation been?"

"I've caught onto a major breakthrough, Director. If I may ask, ma'am, I'm still wondering why you've held such a high interest in an open-and-shut case like this?"

"You can chalk it up to gut feeling, Sergeant," the Director answered. "These consecutive cases have a common thread. Your major breakthrough?"

"Runessa, show the Director what you found."

Carim Gracia was not one who surprised easily, but she had to let out a frightened gasp as the Enforcer-in-training pulled out an evidence bag from her satchel and showed it to the Director.

"This... this is..."

"I know, Director," Vice Granscenic said. "Should I make my way there, too?"

"Not at the moment," the Director replied, her composure mostly returned. "I'll need investigators over on that end. Call on Cinque, Nove or Otto if you need additional backup. Over and out."

Of all the things to happen... well, it seems like RF6 is a magnet for trouble, Carim thought, the last image still lingering vividly in her memory.

Inside the evidence bag was a forehead protector with the symbol for "Grass" scratched through the middle.


"So the setup is, Nanoha and Fate head to Stone Country; Subaru, Tea and Ginga to Lightning and Erio and Caro go to Sound?"

"Yep," Hayate said. "The Wolkenritter, along with myself, will be a liaison between the Bureau and Konoha. We've got a large array of useful things to gain from this partnership, so I insisted on bringing all of you along - you and Signum for weapons, Zafira for unarmed combat, and Shamal for medical techniques. Of course, we'll also add useful bits of our knowledge to Konoha's data banks."

"Signum already has her hands full with whipping the higher-leveled ninja here into shape, and you said I was useful with weapons," Vita began, "so when do I get to take a part?" Vita asked.

"Based on Erio and Caro's scouting report, the increased amount of enrollees in the Ninja Academy will require someone to overtly mingle with the student body and at the same time covertly aid the faculty," Hayate said, causing Vita's face to fall.

"Oh no, I know where this is going," Vita said indignantly. "Just because I'm built like a child, you're going to have me pose as an Academy Student?"

"We can also gain a lot of knowledge about this place; their history, basic techniques, logistics, plus anything that could give us a lead on where to find the Jewel Seeds."

"But that doesn't mean I have to go to school like some kid and sit through all that! I might serve you in any capacity as your Cloud Knight, but this is just pushing it, Mistress Hayate! I'm not going to the Ninja Academy, and that's final!"

Later that day, Umino Iruka introduced a new student to one of the Academy classes, a redhead with a pout that put the recently-graduated Hyuuga Hanabi's to shame.


"Onoki is either a senile idiot," the purple-haired horned man said, cursing at the bad timing and self-centeredness of the Sandaime Tsuchikage, "or he's a freaking genius. Right now, I can't tell."

Still, he put himself in the old Tsuchikage's metaphorical shoes. Rattling sabers would most likely shake things enough for the other Elemental countries to take notice. Iwagakure was, even after all these years, still smarting from one man putting a stop to the conflict - the Yellow Flash of Konoha and later Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato - and chafing at the bit to put paid onto Konoha's account.

"Why would you say that, Master Dio?" Rekka asked.

"Because I've been around for much longer than that old bastard, and that even worse will come about shortly. The writing is on the wall."

"Akatsuki?"

"Yes... and no. They are merely... the catalyst."

"For what?"

"Don't try to think about it now, wayward student. Just focus on your forms. You have the Stygian aspect nearly perfected. We shall move onto the Drakar aspect soon."

The Iwa-nin's eyes sparkled at that.

"Yes, Master Dio."

The Asmodian chuckled at how predictable his apprentice was. This is not only a test of your skill, young one. Onoki or whoever his successor will be will try to make an attempt to bind you and your power to them. This is more than just Iwagakure and its ambitions...

He hefted the reaper's weapon and beckoned to the young Murasaki to head towards the training grounds... they had a lot to cover if the apprentice was to become part of history repeating itself.

Their training had continued in earnest when Rekka began to smell old death in the air. When he had told his master of this, Dio knew that it was time.

The boy could already smell the taint of Chaos in the air... they had no more time left.

It would a mere cosmic hiccup before the fires of Chaos would scorch the land anew - it would make what Onoki had planned for Konoha look like simple vandalism.

"The stench of Conflict and Death is slowly growing stronger, Master," Rekka observed as master and apprentice reached the base of the canyon that was their training ground.

"Pay it no mind for the moment, my apprentice. Mastery of the Stygian aspect is within your reach," the Asmodian replied. "Now, the final test: come at me with everything you've got."

He pointed his scythe at his apprentice. "...And then some."

Weapons clashed in the idyll that was the rocky canyon named after the Nidaime Tsuchikage...


"If I knew that the paperwork here was just as bad as the paperwork back there, I wouldn't have taken this job on," Yagami Hayate said, sighing. "Anyway, Shamal - what's the last appointment for the day?"

"One Uzumaki Naruto to see you, Mistress," she said.

"Send him in, then," Hayate replied.

As soon as the door opened, in walked a blond, blue-eyed ninja wearing a black-and-orange ensemble.

"Welcome. You must be that boy Signum fought before... Naruto, is it?" Hayate asked, successfully hiding a giggle at the memory of ramen toppings.

"Yes," the young man replied.

"What can I do for you?"

"Could you please close the door? This is a... sensitive matter."

Hayate's thoughts briefly strayed to arms sweeping the table's contents to the ground before... but quickly discarded it as her Knight closed the office door, the boy, meanwhile, forming hand seals.

"Can I ask what this is about?"

"It would be better if I just showed you, ma'am," Naruto replied as the room's privacy seals switched on, an orange Ancient Velkan circle blazed to life under him...

...and a small - tiny, even - silver fox appeared on top of the TSAB officer's table.

"Hello," it said, waving at the Lieutenant Colonel.

"Well, hello to you too," Hayate replied. "You're just Rein's size, give me a moment..."

A white set of Velkan runes appeared under her, and it was Naruto's turn to be flabbergasted as a very little girl appeared from the runes the nice lady cast.

"Mistress, is there any problem?" the tiny girl asked, causing Naruto to step back.

"Unbelievable..." he whispered.

"Oh!" the tiny girl exclaimed. "Another Unison Device! What might your name be?"

The equally-flabbergasted fox took a moment to reorient himself before replying. "Once, I was known as the Kyuubi. Then I was 'The Monster Formerly Known as the Kyuubi'. But you can call me Reynardine."

"I'm Rein, short for Reinforce Zwei," she said, walking right up to the fox and running her fingers through its fur. "You're cute! Mistress Hayate, can I keep him?"

"Er, sorry, Rein... Reynardine is that boy's Unison Device."

The tiny girl immediately looked crestfallen at that.

"Anyway, any reason why you summoned your Unison Device here?" Hayate asked.

"Well, the last time I used it, your mere presence caused it to go bonkers," Naruto answered, his hand on his chin as he remembered.

He did catch the quick glance Hayate gave her own Unison before turning to him.

"It's a usual problem with Unison Devices... tell me, was this the first time you used Unison?"

Naruto nodded.

"But you have run simulations, have you?"

"Everything went perfectly back then," Naruto replied.

"If that's the case, then your Unison Device's configuration is not applicable to your current situation. Signum told me about the modified Velkan array you use - you're holding back a lot of power, aren't you?"

Naruto nodded, again.

"Well, that explains a lot, then. Your Unison Device should be configured as a control-type - Rein's been sending me your simulation logs. Apparently, you've stuck with default configs - Unison Devices are usually given the initial set that's more applicable to giving more power to the user rather than helping the user control something he or she already has. There's another that improves elemental control, but with those wind element techniques I've seen you throw around - what do you call them? Right, jutsu - you don't actually need that kind of Unison. So, when I'm done with the day's business, I'll have Rein give Reynardine a copy of her control configuration files. It should help you out."

Both Naruto and the fox smiled at that. "Thanks!"

"Don't mention it," Hayate said. "Will that be all?"

"Yes, ma'am, I was wondering... where's Signum?" Naruto asked. "I'd like to have a spar with her."

"Ah, young boys are so predictable," Hayate said with a chuckle, forcing his face to turn red instantly. "I know what you did to her back then..."

Naruto stood stock-still immediately while his Unison snickered at his predicament.

"I'm just teasing, silly," Hayate said. "Don't worry, I'll mention it to your Hokage. Anything else?"

He shook his head a bit too quickly at that. "None. None at all... all. I'll... see myself off."

"Until next time, then," the TSAB liaison said just before he left the office - was that a sultry tone of voice she used? he asked himself.

As soon as he left the Hokage Tower, with his Unison Device back in his storage space, that was when he heard the chuckling.

So that's how you manage to resist kunoichi seduction specialists, Lass began in between laughs.

Yep. Apparently, you're such a nice guy that the techniques either don't work, or you appear to dump them into friend territory faster than they can whip their fishnet off!

Oh, shut up, you guys, Naruto replied. I really do want to have another spar with that Signum lady.

As we never stop reminding you, Naruto - keep telling yourself that, his Devices said in unison before dissolving into laughter.

Grumbling, Naruto tuned his Devices out before heading off to a Training Ground to vent a little.


"To change into Wolf Form is to tap into the primal nature of your spirit..."

"...to change into Nephilim Form is to go beyond your primal nature: to tap into the power of your bloodline and become the wrath of Nature herself..."

"...but the last transformation... even I have not managed to reach that goal."

"Why not, Vanessa-sensei?"

"I never had the time to aim for that - I am bound to guard this place. Also... the spirit of your Device has attained the final transformation. You would do well to heed his counsel."

"Yes, sensei."

"Now, let us cross weapons one final time, to see just how much you have grown since stepping into this sanctum. Then, and only then, can I allow you to see my master - the God of Origins, Zen."

Hikaru barely registered a flash of movement before the Guardsman was on him, swinging her crescent blade downward. She brought Fafnir up to block, using the momentum of her guard to swing the axe forward continuously.

"Twin Blade", her Device intoned as the shockwave of her weapon sent Vanessa hurtling back.

"Good," the Guardsman replied, "it's good to see you finally realize just how precarious this situation is. However..."

A reversed swing of her crescent after dashing in sent the former Grass kunoichi flying into a wall.

"...you'll need more than that to withstand the God of Origins."

Slowly, Hikaru got up and braced herself for the next exchange of attacks.


Fourteen days, but so far, three Jewel Seeds had been collected. Nanoha and Fate had snagged one, narrowly missing an encounter with who they later learned was the infamous Iwagakure no Ankoku Daishogun and his apprentice the Devilhand.

Konoha, meanwhile, had put together a team of ninja to try and scout ahead for any locations in the Land of Fire; running into a forest of mutated animals had them call on the Wolkenritter, with Signum's newest student in the sword arts Uzumaki Naruto the one sealing the Lost Logia.

The last one took the help of one Yugito Nii as a berserk Cloud-nin was the one directly influenced by the Jewel Seed's power; when the man was finally stopped, the Cloud jonin gave the Lost Logia to Subaru's team, grateful for their help in preventing another mishap from happening to their still-rebuilding Hidden Village.

"We've made faster progress in retrieving Lost Logia before," Hayate had said during their weekly meeting to discuss their mission so far, "so I wonder, why have we seemed to hit a brick wall? First week we recover three of them. Now, nothing seems to show. It's as if the Lost Logia have hidden themselves."

"...It could also mean that someone or something is hiding them," Nanoha replied. "Speaking of which, how has your data gathering worked out?"

"Going very well, actually. Aria and Lotte have done a great job cross-referencing a lot of the material there with the ones we've found in Konoha."

"I heard Yuuno's started his own research project over there. Admiral Harlaown's riding him like a dime-store pony, if you ask me."

Hayate giggled, and it was back to being friends instead of colleagues. "I can imagine. How's Fate holding up, by the way?"

Nanoha shrugged. "She's stepping around her issue with Precia. Alicia's trying to get them to talk, but hasn't made any headway so far."

"I have an idea," Hayate said, grinning evilly.

"Do tell," Nanoha asked, imagining a light bulb go off on top of the Lieutenant Colonel's head.

"Bring Vivio here."

As she imagined how the encounter would go, Nanoha soon sported an evil grin that matched Hayate's perfectly.

"50 bucks says she turns to a puddle before going over to her granddaughter."

"Raise you 50 more if she actually squee's before doing that."

"Sucker bet, Nanoha."

The two women shared a laugh before going back to work.


Meanwhile, Chrono had sent Yuuno back to the Infinity Library to assist the Lieze twins in their own reading. Based on whatever the Director had found on her own time, he had the sinking feeling that there was something bigger going on, bigger than the Jewel Seeds.

Normally, she'd try to negotiate her way from the worst of the penalties for any diplomatic or administrative gaffes - this was straight off the Scaglietti case, but taking it on the chin?

Admiral Harlaown put aside the business of what to do with this administrative slip and carefully monitored Yuuno's work. The librarian was currently digging up everything he could on the infamous "Grand Chase" and the history of the Elemental Countries with the help of Gil Graham - and now Hayate's - two familiars.

He carefully weighed the facts of what happened and what didn't happen - they had gone in without sufficient intelligence and were battled to a standstill by a few Device users and ninja. If they ended up unprepared for anything else that came after that, Chrono would eat his Admiral pauldrons - believe that!

He also perused Yuuno's abstracts with a severe eye - if the clue he was seeking was somewhere in the Infinity Library, he'd find it.

Director Gracia's sudden interest in the whole affair set off a lot of red flags in his mind - while nothing had actually happened yet, it would only be a matter of time before Murphy's Law would rear its ugly head and strike where they least expected it - by then, he hoped RF6 would be ready.


A few days later, during the team's day off, Hayate decided to spend it by heading towards the biggest onsen in Konoha with her Wolkenritter in tow. It need not be said that her eyes erupted into sparkles the moment she saw that a significant percentage of Konoha's who's-who were also easing the week's stresses away.

Shamal sighed as she saw a small trail of drool go down their Mistress' chin as she stalked her way over to the Konoha contingent - the Hokage, her assistant, two of the higher-ranked ninja and their kunoichi underlings, the Sunagakure ambassador, a kunoichi working at the cryptography department, and a Hyuuga who Naruto mentioned was from the Branch House.

"Eep!" cried the librarian girl - Shiho something-or-other was her name, according to Vita - she'd been to the codebreaker once or twice to get a handle on how the basic cyphers in Konoha worked.

"...Mistress, do you really have to do that?" Signum stage-whispered, pretending not to notice that Hayate already had her hands full.

"Shiho, right?" Hayate asked. "You should go to a medic-nin. I felt a lump here."

The codebreaker stiffened before nodding solemnly, making a mental note to have it checked out after this.

After giving her a smile, Hayate immediately peeled herself off the green-haired girl and sauntered over to the red-eyed one, giving her only a cheerful grin as warning before slipping behind and grabbing her with speed that reminded the older ones in the bath of the Fourth Hokage's famous Hiraishin no Jutsu.

"Kinda tender," Hayate noted to herself, thoughtful as she saw the woman's face redden. "Sensitive, too. You're either ovulating or pregnant."

After a sputtered series of denials from the woman and laughs all around, Hayate moved onto that Hyuuga branch member, who despite being subject to all sorts of tactile examination, retained the trademark Hyuuga Clan stoicism.

All this while her knights and the Hokage's assistant were looking on, flabbergasted.

"...is she always like that?" Shizune asked Signum, who nodded.

"Even when she was young," the General of Blazing Flame replied.

"How young was she?"

"Nine years old."

Shizune's jaw almost clattered to the floor. "So she's been..."

"Yes... yes, she has," the pink-haired bodyguard to their TSAB contact said, sighing at the pleasant feeling and the strange treatment she and her fellow Knights were subjected to by their mistress. "It still is uncomfortable, but we've managed to get used to it."

"So she does it to the others? Like Nanoha-san? And Fate-san?"

Shamal nodded. "Well, if you ask her, she's doing it as a sign of affection. Maybe because before we came along, she was basically living by herself."

That's sad, Shizune thought. And maybe that can explain her fixation, if my ninja psychology is correct. Something to symbolize parenthood... "I can imagine. Never saw Shishou's face like that before..." Shizune said, gaping as Hayate did what no one else could pull off and snuck behind Tsunade, beginning her hands-on appraisal, muttering all the while, "wait... is she doing a running critique? On Shishou's breasts?"

"Our Mistress always does that... doesn't it bother you, Miss Hokage's Secretary?" Vita asked as she joined the others, ditching her towel before lowering herself gingerly in the steaming hot water of the onsen.

"...It's just strange, that's all... I'm also her senior apprentice; and my name is Shizune."

"If you don't mind me asking, Shizune-san, who's your junior?" Shamal asked.

"Haruno Sakura. Pink hair, red dress..."

"...throws punches that leave craters in their wake?" the redhead asked before letting out a satisfied sigh, submerged up to the shoulders in the steaming water. "Yeah, I know her - got in a tangle with her and her team. Even though I had one of my best shields up and it was a glancing hit, still hurt like no one's business."

"I can imagine, as I sparred with her and her team day before yesterday," Signum answered. "Anyway, how was the Academy?"

Vita bristled, and her fellow Wolkenritter had to grin. It took a moment of comfortable silence for them to just settle in and let the warmth of the bath help release the stress they had been building up over the past week.

"Oh my," Shizune could only say as the TSAB liaison went from her hands-on appraisal of the Hokage towards a certain Mitarashi Anko.

"Better get used to it," Vita replied as the purple-haired jonin looked a lot more amused than annoyed at the TSAB liaison's quirky behavior.


"Amazing..." Deidara said. "To think such a small artifact could hold that much power."

"Indeed," Sasori answered. "And it's a lot easier to procure than a living, breathing, fighting jinchuriki or rampaging bijuu."

Channeling just a little chakra through that blue gem allowed Sasori the power and control over a thousand combat puppets just as the two Akatsuki were training - a small enough test to know that what they had was the real thing.

And now Sasori passed the acquired artifact to the Akatsuki Leader's counselor - a young woman who elicited a lot of speculation from everyone - how did a waif like this manage to get into the Akatsuki's inner sanctum?

"Yes, this is one of the Jewel Seeds. Good work, Sasori; Deidara... Leader-sama sends you his regards."

"Say, when do we get to meet our Leader-sama?" Deidara asked. "Someone who can lead this joint has got to be that damn awesome, eh?"

"In time," the woman replied. "...in time. You need to accumulate more awesome missions in our service before you can meet the Leader, though."

"Fair enough," Sasori answered, wincing slightly at the spokeswoman's adopting Deidara's favorite word. "Where will we strike next, if I may be so bold as to ask?"

"You're heading to the New World," the Akatsuki spokeswoman said. "A Jewel Seed is causing various spacetime fluctuations in Swamp Country. Neutralize the threat and retreive the Jewel Seed."

"It will be done," the former Sand-nin said, bowing courteously before they left the office, leaving the woman to her thoughts.

She spent the next few minutes perfectly still, one hand to her forehead as she gathered her thoughts. And then, she pressed a button on her console, bringing up the face of another one of her Akatsuki operatives.

"Kakuzu," the spokeswoman began.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Bring that... man with you to Grass Country. Our sensors have detected Jewel Seed activity within the outskirts of Kusagakure."

"Understood."

As soon as the comm came offline, she sighed. "Duel Pon Zec Avenger... I wonder... why did you decide to cast your lot in with us...?"

Chapter 7 - END


author's notes:

And here we have the really big reason why I bumped this rating to M - Yagami Hayate running amuck in Konoha, teasing ninja, groping the kunoichi, groping the Hokage... and getting away with it. There will be another, bigger reason for the M rating, and it will come soon.

Also, the big Rain invasion that prompted the Konoha pursuit team and the Sound Five to start working together in Arcane Heart? Yes, that was a coup. It took the efforts of the Sannin, three students of one of the aforementioned Sannin (hint: I said three, not two), the misdirection that was the Sound/Sand "invasion", a lot of sleight-of-hand, and help from unlikely places to pull it off.

Some of you may ask if I'm following series canon or The Battle of Aces canon. My answer is - just wait and see.

I skimmed over a Nanoha/Fate vs. Dio/Rekka skirmish here, so I'll add that in the next chapter as a flashback.

Finally, certain events in the Nanoha universe will be pushed up on the schedule to turn what will be a 'massive clusterfuck' into a 'colossal clusterfuck' - but wait, there will be more!

By the way, here's the "swordsman" joke Naruto told his teammates (that amused Hinata and annoyed Shino - because somehow, three innocent flies were involved):

A high-level diplomat made a little contest to see which swordsman he would choose in an important mission - three swordsmen from different ninja villages were the finalists.

The Kumo swordsman showed off by bisecting a fly.

The Iwa swordsman showed off further by quadrisecting another fly.

The Konoha swordsman slashed at the third fly, but nothing appeared to happen.

The diplomat was about to disqualify the Konoha swordsman, but the two others surrendered at the Leaf swordsman's "skill". When asked why by the diplomat, they answered, "killing is easy, circumcision is hard."

Character Bio

Name: Murasaki Rekka

Rank: Jonin

Age: 23

Affiliation: Iwagakure

Elemental Affinities: None

Team Role: Weapons. Summoning ancient and powerful weapons is his specialty, as well as some time-space techniques. The wide variety of weapons at his beck and call allow him to take on a more general role within a team.

The apprentice of the Asmodian Dio, Murasaki Rekka proved his worth during the clan purges that served to further consolidate the Third Tsuchikage's power. Iwagakure was wracked with infighting in the wake of the Third Ninja World War, and it is only recently that (with Dio and Rekka's help) that unity through force was achieved within Iwa...

He was actually transformed into an Asmodian by Dio and trained to become his apprentice and successor because of an experimental jutsu gone awry.

Suggested VAs:

Otsuka Hikaru - Kawasumi Ayako
Kururugi Seiryuu - Sakurai Takahiro (as if it could be anyone else)
Musashi Ranmaru - Hoshi Soichiro (to further ram the sameface point home)
Murasaki Rekka - Sugita Tomokazu
Mari Ming Onette - Noto Mamiko
Dio - Koyasu Takehito
Vanessa - Asakawa Yuu