A/N: I initially wanted to post two chapters on Christmas, but I was very dissatisfied with how they both turned out. So it involved whole lot of fixing and revisions. The changes definitely changed it's tone of the chapters. So, here's two chapters. Have a happy holiday everyone!
"I realized the most painful thing in this world. That I was unnecessary." Haku, chapter 29.
Overdo.
They returned later that day. Naruto wasn't really interested in doing much else, to her disappointment. The beds and the other things were to be delivered to the apartment later today.
"I'd just like to relax for the rest of the day." He had said.
The train back was spent in silence. A comfortable one, and she started reading the book she had bought earlier. They arrived at their apartment. Though, there was something interesting at the apartment when they did.
"Naruto, there's people here. Hiya, everyone." She said. The table was stocked full of people. There were four of them, three men, and one girl. Wendy wasn't around, but Juvia was busy settling snacks and water on the table for the guests. Naruto was still walking down the stairs when she said so.
"Really? You know what? I'm not even surprised anymore." Naruto replied. He walked through the door and a flash of recognition appeared on his face. "Oh."
"Hello, we've never actually introduced to one another, did we?" A large man with a metal plate on his jaw said.
The teenage girl, who very much dressed herself that resembled a cat suddenly bounded off the chair and quickly went up to Naruto. "Wow! You really do have whiskers! Aren't you just a cute-y kitty-kitty."
She suddenly grabbed a hold of his both of his cheeks.
"Ah! What the heck woman!"
Cute-y Kitty-kitty? Lucy couldn't help but laugh. The scene was just so…out there. Then there was the nick name.
"M-Millianna! That's not fine and dandy at all!" A person who…had a unique physical appearance. Different blocks made up his appearance.
"Millianna, I think you should come sit back down."
The girl known as Millianna frowned, "There's nothing embarrassing about this at all." But she complied all the same and sat back down.
"So, I suppose…It's nice to see you again?" Naruto said, uncertain. He rubbed his cheek. Lucy was curious on how he knew these people. Were these his old team like he said earlier? "I'm not sure…not after what Millianna did."
Before anything else was said, Naruto walked into the living and put down the plant that he had bought where there was plenty of sunlight.
The large, olive skinned man spoke. "Yes, it's a bit strange. I assure you it's a neutral visit."
Naruto sat on the armrest of the couch, crossing his arm as he looked at the newcomers. She stood beside him.
"Yeah, like your names."
"Forgive us. My name is Simon."
"Millianna!"
"Shô" A blonde guy stated.
"Mine is Wally." The blocky guy said.
"Naruto."
"Lucy." She gave a little wave.
The introductions were over, and Naruto spoke again. "So, how did you guys even find me?"
"This!" Millianna brought up a worn magazine, it was the one that featured them both, as well as The Titania and her team. To think that was back in July, and in another week, it was October.
Wow. That seemed soooo long ago!
"That thing again? To think that it would give me so much trouble." Naruto sent her a look.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Lucy replied. He shrugged again, "Anyways, how do you guys know each other?"
Naruto and the four all gave each other looks. Like he was trying to confirm something. "It was some time ago, about a month or so before I made Fireshadow. They're all from a tower that I destroyed and no, they weren't in it when it fell."
"That's…another thing we came here for." Simon said. There was a bit of silence.
"Is it about Jellal?" Naruto said quietly.
"Yes. We wish to know what exactly happened to Jellal. I was able to convince the others of exactly who Jellal became, and of his plan, otherwise Millianna wouldn't have introduced herself that way."
Suddenly, that relaxed atmosphere turned tense. This was a lot more serious than she anticipated. Lucy would rather have that other one.
"He's dead, I buried him."
Lucy didn't expect that response, it was…she didn't quite know. She glanced at him, but he was emotionless. There was a palpable silence. Everyone coming to terms as to what was said. Everyone that sat on the table had different expression, but all seemed to have expected that answer. There was something that lingered in the back of Lucy's mind.
Was it possible that Naruto…
"It was something that we all thought, it just confirmed our suspicions." Simon said. Lucy felt nervous, and Juvia leaned against the kitchen counter with her arms crossed that overlooked the guests. "If you wouldn't mind, can you show us where you buried him?"
"No, I wouldn't mind at all." He replied. "When would you like to leave?"
Naruto was able to act normal. What exactly did this mean? That he wasn't at fault? It was something she wanted to know, but was afraid of the answer. Maybe she was looking far too much into it.
This was just… so surprising to know.
"Thank you, we would like to leave in the morning if that's no problem." Simon replied.
"That's okay, and there's no need to thank me."
"Then we'll stop by tomorrow morning, by nine." Simon stood up, and everyone else followed suit. "Thank you Juvia, for letting us wait inside."
"Juvia thinks it's no problem."
"Yes, thank you for the dandy treats." Wally tipped his hat towards her guildmate. Milliana gave a small wave of goodbye and an apologetic smile. While Sho simply walked out of the apartment. They left, and the door clicked closed and the numerous steps until there was no more.
Naruto scratched his neck, "No rest I guess."
"Naruto?" Lucy frowned. There was nothing to be gained from conjecture, and she wanted to know.
He looked at her. His eyes seemed to how lost their warmth. "Yeah?"
"What happened to Jellal?" She found out she wasn't brave enough to ask him directly as to what was plaguing her thoughts. When she asked this question, he did not hesitate in the slightest. He saw right through her. For the first time, she really did not like his blunt nature.
"I killed him."
It really did change how she looked at him, those blue eyes still stayed the same. "Did you have a good reason?"
"Of course, I did."
"What was it?" She couldn't help but notice how her heart beat was a little faster.
"He viewed human lives as nothing more than some pieces in a game. The tower he built was made by slaves."
"Those people that came, were they slaves or- "
He nodded, answering her question. Then he frowned. "I'll see what comes from it. Anyways, I forgot to have my items checked out. I'll be right back."
He pretty much ended the conversation, but she wasn't sure what else to ask. Naruto quickly got his pack before he walked out too. Lucy sat back down on the couch, sighing loudly. She heard the plates and cups being placed in the sink, the fridge being opened. Juvia was still in the kitchen.
"Isn't this weird Juvia? Who would have thought he could actually do that? Even for a good reason I suppose…" Lucy looked at her, and Juvia was silent for a moment before she replied.
"Juvia thinks…that Master Naruto is still a good person, everything Naruto did was to help us."
"Yeah but, don't you find it weird? I'm not saying he's keeping secrets or anything, it's just…He's just so cheerful, and maybe a bit lazy. Who would have thought?"
"Juvia knows. Naruto is just like us, that he doesn't pretend to be someone he's not." She gave a giggle. "Even when he says he's the greatest."
She smiled, "Yeah, that's just him being full of himself. Anyways, I need to distract myself. Is Wendy in Naruto's room?"
Juvia gave a nod, and Lucy went off down the hall. She knocked on the door to Naruto's room which was quickly opened after a nervous shout of her coming to the door.
"Hey Wendy, how are you?"
Wendy gave a smile, which was a good sign. Lucy still didn't quite know what happened, but it was definitely recent. She might as well wait until she opened up, or until Naruto came back and told the story. "I'm doing well."
"Good news, Naruto got you a bunch of stuff for the room right next to this one, your own bed, drawers and some other stuff."
All from out of his pocket too. Just for Wendy.
"Did he? He didn't have to do that!"
"Yes, he did Wendy. He's the reason we're here in the first place." Carla said.
"But, you know what master Roubaul said. He's the one-"
"What do you guys mean?" Lucy asked.
Carla was standing on the bed, her…paws angrily placed on her hips. To be honest, her angry demeanor was slightly lost with being a cat.
"Naruto appeared and destroyed our homes when he fought with this other jerk. Then-then…" Carla looked to the ground, her earlier energy disappearing. "He said that he hated what Master Roubaul did and that he wrong, when Master Roubaul was just trying to protect us. He just spat all over..."
Carla went silent, still seemed to be fuming. So much for trying to distract herself. "Is this true Wendy?"
She looked at her, before meekly nodding once. To think that a couple hours ago, she was crushing hard on Naruto over his comment. It was a different side to him. It was almost funny in a way.
In the hallway, she heard the echo of the apartment door being closed and Naruto talking with Juvia. He wasn't kidding when he said he would be right back.
"Can you come with me Wendy? Come too Carla."
She heard the conversation that was going on in the kitchen. "You know what I would really like Juvia? You calling me by my name, nothing attached to it. It would mean a lot."
"R-Really?"
"Yes, that is what a friend calls me."
"…Then, Juvia will call you, Naruto."
Naruto and Juvia noticed them enter, Wendy and Carla stood in the living room. "Hey guys."
"Naruto, can I ask something?" She asked.
"Sure."
"How exactly did you end up with Wendy?"
"Oh that?" He replied, "Roubaul ran his guild near a place I was searching, it was completely filled with copies of himself- "
"That's not what was going on, and the guild is Cait Shelter!"
Everyone looked to the outburst, it was Carla that shouted. Naruto continued despite it.
"Yeah… Cait Shelter, I noticed pretty quickly that the old man-"
"His name was Roubaul, don't you have any respect? How can you be so insensitive?" Carla screamed.
"What else do you want me to say?" Naruto replied calmly. "This was just a lie that he made up for you?"
"No," Wendy stood, and suddenly Lucy that they had broached upon a really sensitive subject. She saw the tears forming in the young girl's eyes, "Master Roubaul…said that they were all real people. That he knew all of them."
Naruto took a few steps forward, and Carla stood defiantly in front of Wendy.
"Naruto…" Lucy muttered.
"I'm just going to talk to them Lucy."
Naruto's eyes had an icy look to them. His voice carried a hard edge.
"Wendy, your twelve, right?"
She didn't reply, but responded with a nod.
"Then I'll tell you now, that you will come across people that won't agree with you. Who you can't possibly understand as to why they do the things they do. So, I'm one person who disagrees as to what Roubaul did to you two."
Wendy gasped and took a few steps back. Carla screamed for him to be quiet but Naruto silenced her with a look. So, why couldn't she stop this? It was like her feet were stuck, and her lips were sealed.
"A man I once knew tried to do something like that, just on a much bigger scale. What I know was that it was a fake, nothing more than a huge lie. So, it really makes me furious knowing that Roubaul did the same. The way I see it, Roubaul could have easily lied just to spare your feelings."
Lucy finally found her words, "Naruto stop it, Wendy is just-."
Naruto eyes centered on her, and his words were firm. "Stay out of this."
Anything else that could be said died in her throat. There was something about being on the receiving end. "No." She replied. "Don't you see what you're doing?"
"Please…Stop." Wendy cried. Carla was in the same state.
He looked at them, before his hand tugged on his hair in frustration, his features turning into what Lucy could describe as shame. A large sigh erupted from him.
"I'm sorry, Carla, Wendy…" His voice went soft. He sat back onto a chair, and took another deep breath. "Sorry for being such an idiot, for being an asshole. It's okay to feel the way you do, to be angry and hurt, to feel lost. When I lost those close to me, I felt that way too."
"I'm sorry, I'm letting my hatred talk. I'm doing the same thing that my enemies did to me, and you're suppose to be my friend, jeez…" He shook his head, and he bore a frown. There was something enthralling, that she could only stand and witness.
"I try my best to understand others. It's definitely not easy an thing to do when hate gets involved. You thought of them as your family, that's one thing I can't deny."
Both Wendy and Carla looked at him, tears still present in their eyes.
"He entrusted me with your care, I'm honestly confused about that. Even If I disagree with what he did, I could see that Roubaul was a good man, so perhaps he just done what he could. Maybe he did what he thought was best, I hope it was. That's just what I believe though, what about you?"
Lucy witnessed Wendy rubbed her tear trodden face a few times before she spoke. "I-I believe they were real, or, at least at one point."
Naruto gave a small warming smile. "What I'm saying is, people will believe in different things, they might even challenge you. If you believe it, then who am I to say otherwise?"
"I just…" Wendy could barely speak. "Miss them so much."
Naruto closed his eyes, "It gets a bit better, but you will always miss them. My master was a massive pervert, but he was… one of the greatest people I've ever met. I miss him everyday, and I always wonder what advice he might give me."
…Her mother. Layla Heartfilia. All the letters that she wrote to her, that her mother would never read.
Naruto continued, "Honestly Wendy, you're pretty resilient. If I was in your situation, I'm not sure…if I could ever handle it."
She looked towards the ground. "I'm…I'm not strong."
"You didn't give up. That counts."
Wendy's face was flushed red, and she wiped her face free of the tears. Her eyes still looked towards her feet. Naruto stood up and placed his hand on her hair and messed it up a little.
"I made a promise to the old man that I would at least find you comrades. If you want to stay here, and join the guild, you can go ahead. If you want to go off on your own, uh, well, I might have to go with you to make sure my word is kept."
"I-I understand." Wendy said thickly. "I want to stay here. You helped Master Roubaul, when you didn't have too and he was really happy when you said yes. It's okay, I forgive you for being, a-a- "
"An idiot?" Naruto said. Was that awe? It was replaced by a happy grin. "You know what Wendy? I think we're going to be good friends and when you have friends that are willing, you never have to bear anything alone."
"Juvia will help too!" Juvia shouted.
"We're…here for you Wendy." Lucy said. What an awkward situation. How did it turn to this?
"That- "Wendy looked ready to cry, "It means a lot!"
Her wiped her face of the tears that were threatening to form again. Naruto spoke again, "Wendy, do you know what we all have in common? We're just a bunch of lost idiots."
"Idiots? I'm no idiot." Lucy whispered.
"Juvia is your lost idiot Naruto." Juvia said.
Wendy let out a smothered laugh from her emotions. "Really? You're all older than me, so I thought…"
"Well, I'm sure lots of other people try and find their way. Would you want to join us Wendy, Carla?"
Lucy couldn't help but say something, it was nearly sarcastic, but she was glad of the lightening mood. Even if it was odd at how it had reached this state. "Doesn't that mean she'll be lost with us?"
It was Juvia that replied, "But, Juvia and everyone will be lost together… That's better than being alone."
Lucy couldn't deny that.
"Carla?" Wendy said.
"It's not like we can anywhere." Carla huffed out.
"Then, we'll join."
Naruto gave a smile. "Sorry again, same to you Carla. How about we get this stupid paperwork out of the way?"
Lucy retired to her bedroom quickly after that. She flopped down on her bed and took a deep sigh. How did that get so…weird? It was intense.
Still, there was another two to add to this small guild. This apartment was getting smaller.
"Oh, hey Naruto, you know this is the first time I see you up early." Lucy said. Naruto was in the kitchen, and he glanced at her before focusing on the stove.
"I said I would help them. I better be ready." Was his response. "I'm making scrambled eggs, did you want some?"
"Sure, that sounds decent."
"Don't expect anything to what Juvia makes."
She smiled and filled herself a cup of coffee, she talked a little as he cooked the breakfast. It was very simple. Scrambled eggs with some toast. It was true, definitely plain in comparison to Juvia's. She thanked him, it saved her from cooking. They ate for a while, and she thought about what happened yesterday with Wendy.
"You're…a bit different then I thought." He blinked, then she realized that she had voiced her thoughts. "The other day I mean."
He shrugged. "I'm not from here remember?"
"Right. Where is that anyway?" She asked.
"The village Hidden in the Leaves."
She looked down, seeing the leaf symbol on her hand. That made a lot of sense. Though the name Fireshadow still didn't quite match it.
"That's a unique name." She had never heard of it. "Where is it?"
"I guess, but I would honestly rather not say much else about my home." Naruto said, his tone still very casual.
"Why?" She asked. He had a faraway look in his eye as his fork was frozen above his plate.
He focused on her quickly. "Thinking about home just brings up too many questions I don't know the answer too, so it's better to not think about it."
"Sorry, I didn't mean-"
"It's nothing like what you might be thinking. Just worries of mine, and a few promises to keep. So, no need." He gave a reassuring smile.
Well that was good. She didn't mean to make things awkward. She was nearly finished her plate when he did, he gathered his used dishes and washed them. They didn't really talk much after that. It pretty much died when the door was knocked on, Naruto called for them to open, and it revealed the people from yesterday.
"Good morning Mister whiskers!" Millianna shouted. She wasn't actually seen, at least not until she jumped up a few times behind the imposing visage of Simon.
"Uh, that isn't my name. It's Naruto."
Despite the news yesterday, she still called him that. "Okay Mr. Kitty-kat."
"You know what? I like the other one better."
Lucy held in a smile, it was amusing. Naruto, some one armed, capable guy being called a Mr. kitty-kat. Though, this was still another weird situation.
Simon, the large guy interrupted. "Are you ready?"
"Yeah, I'll be out in a minute."
"We'll wait outside." Simon nodded, and then closed the door.
Naruto was pretty much ready, the only thing he did was put on his sandals, put on his overcoat, and shouldered his pack. He clipped on some small bags onto his pants. Like all the other times she saw before, he done it with little difficulty.
Some of his words yesterday echoed in her head. How people had different beliefs, how he said he try and understand. If she could describe him, it would be…Actually, she didn't really know. He was a bit all over the place.
One thing that she did know was that Naruto was her friend.
"I'll see you later." He said, after he had gathered all his gear.
"Okay… be safe, right?"
He looked at her, and gave a half smile. "Thanks."
The majority of the journey was in silence, or talks that he was not a part of. Simon talked to him a little, so did the crazy obsessed cat girl. He could have made a clone, but that wouldn't be very courteous. Then there was the tower that he had to redestroy once again, thanks to Ultear, if she was telling the truth.
The slowest part of the traveling would be spend getting there. They took the train, then walked, then took the carriage as far as it went. Walking. Now it was walking again, and it was a long one. They continued throughout the day, and he saw the Tower in the horizon, settled on the small island that it was built on.
"It's…rebuilt." Simon said.
"We're going to destroy it, right? We need too." It was Millianna who said that, with a hardened look in her eye. Hatred.
No wonder.
"How far is it?" Wally asked him.
"It's on the mainland." Naruto said, know what he was referring too. His fight with Jellal had carried them that far.
To be truthful, he was very much expecting one of them to attack him. Just thinking about this whole situation was very…he couldn't quite put it into words right now. They walked some worn trail by the beachside, and the tower occasionally broke through the trees.
The others were behind him, talking. They weren't very loud, but they weren't quiet either, but he doubted he was supposed to hear them. Most of it was uninteresting.
Someone approached from behind, calm steps, but he was sure to keep an eye. Simon was the one who approached.
"Hey,"
"What's up?"
"Wanted to say thank you for showing us."
"There's… no need." Naruto replied. He wasn't sure if he was lying. "Can I ask why?"
"Closure, I suppose, for a friend. It would be better this way." He was silent for a long while. "Do you know anyone from Fairy Tail? I realized they're pretty renown, and that you have done something with them if the news article was of any indication."
"Not at all really, the only name I remember is Makarov. The paper saying, we worked together didn't really happened, I just got rid of some demon while they were hanging around."
"I see. Erza is a member of the guild, and all of us became friends when we were slaves, even Jellal."
"…Jellal was a slave?" Naruto felt nerves build up in his stomach. Twisting, contorting.
"Yes. Even if he had changed, I couldn't help but miss who he used to be. He was a friend."
"How did he become like he was now?"
"I don't quite know. Perhaps he was always like that, or maybe something changed him. He was punished when we tried to escape...Sorry, I'm just thinking of bygone days. Even if they weren't especially pleasant."
The twisting in his stomach heightened and he couldn't help but think about the new information he just received because of all the possible-
He took a very slow, deep, quiet, breath.
How did Jellal even turn out the way he did? He sighed. Was there any use thinking about it? The past mattered, but there was nothing he could do to change it. Thinking about what ifs was a waste of time.
He done what he thought was right at the time.
There was always the possibility of picking the wrong choice.
Such as when Black Zetsu destroyed that artifact some time ago. There was the possibility of that item bringing him home. Doing something else had hinged on his mind. If he had been able to save it, perhaps he could have been back, or maybe it wouldn't have. There was just no use thinking about it, all he could do is learn.
"After this, what are all of you going to do? You've been in that tower for a long time haven't you?"
"Visit our friend. After that, Sho and Millianna want to travel and experience the world. I don't blame them."
"What about you and Wally?"
"We'll go with them for now, but both Wally and I will try and find our siblings, so it works for all of us."
"You guys have siblings? That reminds me, hey Wally?"
"How can I help you?" He replied.
"You know a guy named…uh." Who was it again? Midnight? No… Cobra? No he was the one with the snake. "Hoteye. He… well he looked similar to you. Like, shape wise."
"Hoteye? I don't know him. My brother's name was Richard. Honestly, I'm not even sure if my brother is even alive."
"The same could be said of my sister." Simon said.
It was a morbid thought.
"I understand." Naruto replied. "There's something terrible about not knowing…That's why, I want to help you guys. If there's a small chance, then you have to take it."
"You'd help us?"
"It's the least I can do. Do you guys have any communication Lacrimas? In case I have to contact you."
It was Simon that spoke, and he dug into a pack that he carried with him and pulled out a communication lacrima. "I got one earlier."
"Cool, I don't know why they make them so big." Naruto said. He angled his pack on his belly, and pulled out his own and linked it with Simon's. "There, Hoteye might come to my place in the next few weeks, or at the very least someone who knows him. I'll contact you then."
"Thank you, you're a bit more dandy then I thought you were." Wally then tipped his hat.
If there was only twelve golden keys in the world, then it would be in Angel's interests in get them. If her desire for them was as strong as Lucy's.
"How about you Simon?"
"My sister's name is Kagura Mikazuchi. She should be sixteen by not." He paused. "It's been so long."
"Well, it would have been too much of a coincidence if I met someone with her name." He replied. "I travel a lot, maybe it will happen one day."
Maybe, maybe not. He rarely talked to people on his travels. Still, maybe he could come with something. Then he was reminded by how he was actually found out.
He snapped his fingers. "You could actually get a journalist or something to help you. They might help. You can direct your sister to your friend or me."
"That's a good idea, but… there's a chance she might not see it."
"There's a chance she might. Any chance is worth it, especially if there's not a lot of options."
"I suppose, I'll take you up on that."
"Fairy tail, or Fireshadow." He repeated. The continued, and the location of the grave he had set for Jellal drew near.
Simon spoke again, "There's something else I want to ask. Do you think you can destroy the tower again?"
"It's something you don't have to ask for. From my experience, bringing someone back to life has a cost." Naruto replied.
"All for the dark mage that was Zeref." Simon said.
Rinne rebirth had the potential to resurrect someone, there were so many factors in it that depended on it's sacrifice. Length of the person dead, the deterioration of the physical body, or if there was even one. Plus, there was the issue of chakra that the user possessed. He studied a lot of the rinnegan techniques, so perhaps he wanted to feel like it mattered in some way.
Yeah, he studied. On those long and lonely days since he came here. There was not much else to do really.
"One life for another, simple as that." Don't get him started on the technique that was reanimation.
"Something like that shouldn't exist. I can't imagine what sort of magical power is required to use it nor do I know how it was even rebuilt."
Naruto could power it himself, or maybe not, he could barely use the various magical items that this dimension had. That communication lacrima had taken a long while to even use properly.
"Yeah, I'm wondering about that too." He replied. Ultear had said she rebuilt it. He didn't know how she managed that, and truthfully, he didn't really care. "I'll make sure it won't be rebuilt. When did you all become slaves? If you don't mind me asking?"
Simon was silent for a while. "We were all kids when we were brought to work on the tower. Eventually, all of us fought back. Jellal seemed so different back then. He cared so much for us all, and he always seemed so cheerful…"
Naruto felt that nothing could be said. He had no answer to that. The only thing were questions that he had already asked himself. He went quiet as they walked, lost in his thoughts.
It would something he would have to live with. The thoughts of 'What if'. It wasn't a new concept to him, but it didn't make it any less troubling. He couldn't turn back time, he would just have to keep going.
They traversed through some shrubbery. He stopped them when he could see the marked grave he placed. He mentioned towards it, and soon they all saw it. Naruto walked away, he took a hesitant step before he turned around. They all looked to him, somber, or stone-faced expressions.
"I know it's not enough but, I'm sorry for taking away a childhood friend. Maybe, he was just lost. I just never gave him a chance to find his way, or to be helped."
Did they want to help him?
They didn't look at him, and he couldn't look at them either when he left.
Naruto heard the waves crashing against the coast, the wind howling. The wind would be more obvious, he was floating above the tree line. He looked at the expanse of the tower. It's title was lost on him. It was very much like a castle. Some of the sections on the ground level were destroyed, and the areas around it were also still demolished from it's previous destruction.
Other than that, it wasn't the pile of rocks that he had left it in. So, he would leave it in even worse condition. His senses caught nothing, no signatures, no negative emotions… No wildlife.
Naruto flew up into the sky, higher than the trees, higher than the tower. He recalled the fight he had with Jellal, all those words he said.
People being nothing more than pieces to be played, to be discarded, to be sacrificed. Like Naruto, or Jellal himself.
It was game. Just a game.
He frowned. Naruto felt his knuckles tightened until it hurt. People's lives were nothing like that. He wouldn't be in this situation if he was never brought here in the first place.
Of every attempt that he tried to not be affected, it was impossible. Trying to not remember names of people helped, but, he still remembered the places and the lessons and the solitude.
He would rather not be stuck here.
Damn it.
Damn it all.
When the day came when he caught Zetsu. He would tear him limb from limb. It wasn't just simply revenge, it was also for all those that fell, and to destroy an apocalyptic ambition.
Naruto gathered the chakra needed for another Truthseeker ball. He focused intently before it finally finished. It hovered over his hand, and he formed another technique. It would have be smaller than usual, a mini one, or so he'd dubbed. A small yellow rasenshuriken formed above his hand, before he melded it together with the Truthseeker ball. Now, it was now black in appearance.
Naruto held it above his head, and he heard the whine of the technique as he flew further higher. He knew what it was capable of. With a grunt, he threw it at the base of the of the tower. It pierced through the stone and any other types of mass. He willed it to burst.
He heard the sound first, then he witnessed the destruction. Anything caught within was vaporized as it exploded. He placed his arm in front to block any small pieces of debris that came his way. The entirety of the island was consumed by the blast, he watched as the tower fell first, succumbing into the black sphere.
The aura of destruction stopped soon after, and the water rushed to cover what little of the island remained.
"Maybe, that was a bit overkill." He said. As he watched the water calm after a few moments. "But it did help me feel a bit better."
The thought of ramen came to his mind.
He thought a lot about why he was restless. Rest and work. At least work kept him busy, kept him from thinking too much.
Yeah. Ramen did comfort him. It reminded him of home, but they were just memories.
Even the memories and nostalgia that ramen granted him was a small boon. Memories weren't enough. It was only a temporary reprieve from his fears.
That there was no escaping from this prison.
A/N: A few fun facts about the changes.
1. Naruto was a bit more ruthless to Wendy, and non-apologetic. I sat on the original for a while, wondering what was wrong. So, this version came to be, I found this a whole lot better.
2. Simon and the others were not in the original draft. It was Lyon and his team. So, that changed quite a bit, including future chapters. I was losing interest, and Lyon being there didn't make a whole lot of sense. I considered him joining the guild.
3. Jellal's status was something I kept ambiguous throughout, because I was still toying with the idea and wasn't sure how I wanted it to be. The reason I decided this course because I thought it was more interesting.
I also didn't want to maintain that Naruto is a completely positive influence on the world. That he could do no wrong. That he could only make things better. I didn't want to follow canon with him inserted and occasionally saying something. I wanted him to make things different.
To me, it makes for a more interesting story. Because, well, I have to write it. If it keeps my interest, then I continue.
Thank you for those that review.