"Ah, back in Konoha at last. Home sweet home!" Naruto smiled.

The Titans looked around curiously at the ninjas' village, noting with relief that the portal door had taken them to a quiet, isolated part of the village where there were few people. Naruto was beaming from ear-to-ear, looking round at his home as if he hadn't seen it for months. The other ninjas were noticeably relaxed now, just obviously pleased to be back home.

"Follow me," Kakashi told the Titans. "I'll take you to Tsunade-sama now."

Starfire and Beast Boy were seldom at a loss for words, and kept up a merry conversation throughout the walk to the Hokage's mansion. Even being in a completely new dimension wasn't enough to deter their cheery, chatty nature. Sakura and Naruto seemed to have taken a liking to them, and readily joined in the talk, laughing at Beast Boy's arsenal of jokes and riddles.

"Looks like BB finally found someone to laugh at his jokes," Terra grinned.

"Yeah, that is, until we've parted ways," Raven sighed. "Then it's back to picking on us again."

"Aw, it isn't that bad," Terra smiled.

"Easy for you to say that," Raven muttered. "You and Beast Boy spend so much time together that nothing he does can irritate or surprise you anymore."

Other villagers swarmed around them now, looking at the Titans with open curiosity, obviously interested in their odd-looking clothes. Several young children even ran up to Starfire to tug her long red hair, giggling shyly.

Starfire laughed with pleasure and knelt down to play with the children, speaking fluent Japanese to them. The children made another comment, and Starfire laughed again before getting up, excusing herself politely.

"You speak very good Japanese," Hinata said.

"Oh yes, I can absorb languages by physical contact," Starfire said. "That is how I learned English the first time I came to earth."

"First time you came to earth?" Sai echoed.

"I am an alien, from planet Tamaran," Starfire explained. "We do not speak English there at all."

"From another planet? Really?" Sakura asked, interested. "Why did you come here, then?"

"I arrived here by chance when fleeing my captors. I met my Titan friends in the city, and after defeating my captors together, I decided to stay with them."

"Have you ever returned to Tamaran to see your family?"

"A few times, yes."

They went on in this way for some time, making friendly conversation until Kakashi announced at last that they had reached the Hokage's mansion. Raven tilted her head upwards to get a better look at it, reaching out with her mental senses to ensure it was safe. Caution naturally came to her whenever she was in another dimension. In seconds, she was able to determine to it was entirely safe.

Kakashi led them up the stairs to Tsunade's office and knocked on the door. Tsunade's voice beckoned them in immediately, as if she was expecting them at that very moment.

"Tsunade-sama, we're back." Kakashi and the ninjas bowed politely. "And we've brought with us the girl with the gem."

"Good work, all of you. Where is this girl?"

"Here." Kakashi beckoned to Raven, and she stepped forwards, inclining her head politely.

"What's your name?"

"Raven."

"Hmm." Tsunade studied her for several minutes before asking, "The gem is safe?"

"As long as I'm standing, it will remain safe, I assure you."

"Do you have the gem with you right now? Can I take a look at it if you do have it?"

How am I supposed to answer? Raven grumbled.

You could tell her the truth, Nightwalker suggested.

You know I can't! It's best if the truth about the gem remains a secret for the time-being.

Well…you have to say something that'll satisfy her without lying.

Tsunade cleared her throat impatiently, leaning forward slightly. "Raven-san?"

"I'm afraid I can't do what you asked, my lady. Not in the way you wish."

"Do you not trust us?" Tsunade enquired bluntly.

"It's got nothing to do with trust. This is related to safety purposes, and secrecy. No-one must know anything about the gem yet for the moment."

Tsunade was not used to being disobeyed so openly, and frowned hard. Raven felt the Hokage's ire rising, and tried to find the right words to say. "My lady," Raven said politely, "I'm the one who knows most about this. Believe me when I say that it's best if the gem remains a mystery to everyone for now."

"And what about the ninjas sent to your world to find you?" Tsunade asked.

"They won't be bothering us anymore, Tsunade-sama," Sakura assured the Hokage. "Raven-san already took them down and sent them to another dimension."

"Another dimension?" Tsunade's eyebrows nearly disappeared into her yellow hair. "Do you mean Raven-san here has powers like Madara Uchiha?"

"She does," Kakashi replied. "Only they work a little differently from his."

"Explain that."

"Unlike Madara, Raven-san can open a portal independently without having to warp herself into the other dimension, like Madara."

Tsunade nodded, quietly storing up all this information. "What else have you found out while you were in her world?"

"A man named Slade is the informer, apparently. Or so Raven-san says."

"Who is this Slade?"

"An enemy of Raven-san and her friends. A very powerful man not easy to find."

Tsunade turned to Raven with a fiercely thoughtful expression. "Tell me more about this Slade."

"He knows certain things about me that I prefer not to disclose," Raven replied. "And he knows where exactly the gem is, I'm afraid."

"What?" Tsunade spluttered, jerking upright to her feet, slamming her hands down on the table. "How…you just told me the gem is safe!"

"He knows where it is, but he won't be able to get his hands on it yet," Raven answered truthfully. "I told you, as long as I'm standing, the gem will remain safe."

"How can you be so sure?" Naruto demanded, shocked by this revelation. "With Slade being so powerful as you said, he could easily steal the gem anytime! What's to stop him, now that he knows where exactly is it?"

Raven gazed calmly into Naruto's agitated eyes, still calm as ever. "I'm not going to repeat myself so many times," she replied patiently. "Slade may know where it is, but it won't be easy to get his hands on it. The moment he's too close to the gem, I'll know it."

"Are you sure?" Neji demanded.

"Perfectly sure," Raven answered, so calmly and confidently that the ninjas felt they had no choice but to believe her.

"So, the gem is well-hidden enough, then?" Tsunade asked.

"You could say that, yes."

"Give me a straight answer. Yes or no?"

"You can't get a straight answer for a question like this. Lady Tsunade, kindly stop asking me so many questions about the gem. Believe me, the gem is safe."

"What now, then?" Naruto asked.

"Raven-san, I'd like you and your friends to stay here in Konoha until this problem is over," Tsunade said. "Every single ninjas here knows about this situation, and will happily agree to guard you."

"Heh." Naruto's lips curved into a smile. "To be honest, I doubt Raven-san needs anyone to guard her."

"Nevertheless," Tsunade said, "I'm taking no chances. The fate of the entire ninja world possibly lies in her hands. If the gem were to fall into our enemy's hands…we're all as good as dead."

Raven shrugged. "I've no problem with staying here," she answered, and turned to the Titans. "But that doesn't mean you guys have to stay here with me. Jump City needs you."

"And so do you." Robin stepped forward and laid a hand on Raven's shoulder. "We're not leaving you like this. Jump City already has the Titans East, and other brave superheroes. We're sticking with you until this has all ended."

"We all will," Nightwalker agreed.

"Thanks." Raven did not smile, but her somber expression lightened up slightly.

"Alright, now that things are somewhat settled, it's time we plan the next move," Robin said. "Lady Tsunade, do you anywhere highly secure for Raven to live in?"

"I've already prepared a place specially for her and you," Tsunade said. "It's in a fairly well-hidden area, and will be guarded by several Jonin ninjas 24 hours a day. Kakashi will show you there afterwards."

"Then when can we go home?" Starfire asked. "When will all this be over?"

"I've already instructed some ninjas to spy on the enemy and capture the ones responsible for all this trouble," Tsunade replied. "Once they've brought back all those responsible, we'll decide if the situation is under control. If it is, you'll be free to go home. That's all for today. You're free to wonder around the village whenever you like, but Raven-san must be guarded at all times. Is that clear?"

"Yes, my lady."

"You may go. Kakashi, stay back for a while. There's something I need to discuss with you in private."

With the exception of Kakashi, everyone else bowed and left together. Raven's expression was more somber than usual, and Nightwalker didn't fail to notice.

What's up?

This matter about the gem and the demon it'll release is far beyond what Lady Tsunade and the others are capable of understanding. I know they're trying their best to avert disaster, but in the end, they can only succeed in delaying HIS ascension, no more.

You're not usually this pessimistic.

I'm telling the truth. These matters are beyond our control, and you know that. Not even I can avert what will ultimately happen. Delaying it can give us more time to prepare for what's coming, but in the end…

I know, I know. HE will ascend anyway, and bring the end of the world. Oughtn't you tell this to Lady Tsunade? It would save so much trouble if they realized that in the end, they can't truly stop HIM from coming.

There's no use. They won't understand. The only thing they know is that they must stop the gem from falling into their enemy's hand. Even if I told them about the prophecy, they'd just try their best to stop it from happening anyway, without believing it's something that can't be prevented, no matter what we do.

So…

We go along with their plan for now. It's all we can do for the time being. And in the meantime…hope for the best.