Author's Notes: Again, please don't be amazed by my upload speed. I wrote a lot of the story before I posted it up, and progress has ground to a halt since a few days ago :( Pre-college matters have been stressing me out, and I really need to find a job so as to not waste my days before college begins. All of that has cut into my writing time and driven away the fire that burnt so brightly two months ago, when I started writing this story. I'm so sorry guys! Chapter 15 will be the last you see of this story for what might be a very long while :(:(:(
I've only just read my reviews, and I saw one that informed me that I had portrayed a 'don't like, don't read' attitude in my author's notes, which comes across as quite conceited. If anyone else feels angered in the same way, a thousand apologies! I never meant it that way; I just wanted everyone to know that there's no need to get worked up over my story (like some reviewers seem to have), because it's not worth it. There are far better stories out there that demand your loving attention and faithful readership. It's great to see reviews of any kind, because that means that you guys care enough to spend time crafting a response to my story. But there's no need to feel any sort of disappointment or irritation! Please don't let my story affect you in any negative manner. I never want that to happen :(
I hope I never end up offending anyone again, accidentally or not. If you feel like I'm being standoffish/sardonic/arrogant or just plain horrible in any way, please tell me, and I'll try and clear the air with you! Like I said, I just want people to enjoy my story. If you don't, don't let my poor writing get to you! Enjoy your day reading better stories out there! :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Fairy Tail.
Chapter 12: Wizard Saint (X784)
Naruto hoped Makarov had the sense to pass off his contributions to the guild building restoration as the guild master's own work, as he lounged about in his apartment in Era. In the night before his arrival in Era (a low key Hiraishin straight into his apartment, thus avoiding all the Rune Knights anticipating his appearance at the entrances), he had used his Kage Bunshin to fix up a good section of the main structural frame, and helping dig out the swimming pool he knew Makarov had been planning to add. He only made the brief visit to talk to Mystogan and to help the restoration of the guild headquarters a little; ever since he left Makarov to deal with Jose, he had been staying in Era.
As for Kurama, the fox was sorely disappointed by Naruto's decision to leave. It was mainly because bust sizes have ballooned since the girls were hit by puberty; Kurama rather enjoyed being snuggled into soft, squishy boobs, and now, he couldn't melt into the sweet nirvana that was Mirajane's hugs. The sulking animal had refused to talk to Naruto since he found out about the man leaving Fairy Tail, and was following Mystogan around now; the crimson animal was trying to cajole the blue-haired mage into drooling over girls in bikinis, as they tracked down an Anima near the Akane Resort.
Left to suffer in the silence of an empty apartment, Naruto found himself hating the dreariness of his Era residence, given how he was so used to the vibrant life in Magnolia Town. But it wasn't the time to reminisce the wonderful times he spent in Fairy Tail, nor was it the time to regret his actions. He didn't regret giving the rest of the guild hope of finding Lisanna once again, and he certainly didn't regret hiding that factoid in the first place. It would be cruel irony if Lisanna was dead in Edolas, but Naruto had faith that one day, she would return to her family safe and sound.
Shaking the sullen thoughts from his mind, Naruto shrugged on a fresh navy cloak, bereft of the Henge seal he designed so long ago. It would be unnecessary to fake his looks today, as he had planned on revealing his identity. There was no need to hide it anymore, given his departure from Fairy Tail. Any announcement made by the Council with regards to his allegiances would identify him as an independent mage anyway, because he knew that they would be worried about the backlash of hiring a Fairy Tail mage to do their work. It was well known the Magic Council was not the biggest fan of Fairy Tail and how their mages left behind a trail of heavy collateral damage everywhere they went. It would be a huge blow to their pride if they told the world that their go-to guy was a former member of the legal guild they detested the most.
Heck, if he were ordered to, he would have no qualms removing his mask either. For all the bullshit he spouted to Ikaruga about hiding his features for the safety of his precious people, his mask was just as recognisable. Sure, using his real face at times could provide another guise, but that was not a substantial reason for the use of the mask. Everyone in Fairy Tail associated the mask with him; that made usage of the cloth rather pointless for hiding his identity.
No, the true reason for the cloth mask was merely homage to Kakashi, just like the position of his Fairy Tail emblem was a tribute to Jiraiya teaching him the Rasengan. Inventing cock-and-bull stories about himself was also something inspired by Kakashi, who never failed to come out with ludicrous (and looking back, hilarious) excuses for being tardy.
Stepping out of his apartment, Naruto sucked in a deep whiff of the cool morning air. Era was seated in a valley surrounded by snowy peaks and lush forestry, and the air was exceptionally fresh. It was quite early in the day, and hence the streets were relatively empty. That meant less attention on Naruto, as he strolled casually through the paved walkways towards the gratuitous fake mountain the Council headquarters sat upon. It was, to Naruto's knowledge, a dirt mound that the Council had raised with the help of a powerful Earth Magic user. The entire thing reeked of arrogance and self-indulgence.
The entire city's inhabitants were all screened thoroughly by the Rune Knights before they could live in the vicinity of the Magic Council. Naruto only managed to get himself an apartment through a fair bit of embellishment. To Naruto, Era was merely a way for the Magic Council to preen; before their establishment in the area, it was a sleepy town nobody gave a second glance to. All their work seemed to point to a crippling need for a prim and proper, high and mighty image. Hence, Naruto didn't have a high opinion of most members of the Council, no matter what sort of credentials they possessed. He would accuse them of being incompetent since they allowed Jellal Fernandes into the Council under an alias, but given that few had the sort of information he did (namely, that Jellal is not twins with his alter ego as the man had suggested to Erza), and he didn't actually share that information, he could ignore that oversight.
With regards to Jellal, he was still in the dark as to what the man's end game was. He knew of Jellal's involvement as a slave forced to help build the R-System, and while Erza was tight-lipped about what really happened before she escaped the Tower of Heaven, Naruto figured her attempt to attack Siegrain before meant that Jellal was a villain. Infiltrating the Magic Council must have been for an important cog of Jellal's plan; it was a risky venture that could have been blown by Erza right from the start, even if Jellal had managed to keep himself away from prying eyes for years. But Naruto didn't even know if Jellal was aiming to finish the R-System or something else entirely; there was no lead he could trace. He couldn't find the Tower in Fiore either, and since Erza stayed mum about it, there was nothing Naruto could do.
That meant he gave up on his investigations on Jellal early on. He kept the thought of Jellal's villainy in the back of his mind, and went on to do more productive things. Those productive things ended up putting him on the Council's radar though, which was why he was now staring up at the gaudy hill the headquarters sat on, a set of winding paths circling up the hill leading to the top before him. He was not really into the whole recognition thing any more; he had gained his acknowledgement a long time ago, and he learnt that you didn't need to be elected as the most important person in the world to protect your precious people.
Frankly, the idea of becoming a Wizard Saint was distasteful, almost abhorrent to Naruto now. He may not have been the most ninja of ninja back in the Elemental Countries, but he was practically shrouded in darkness by Earthland standards. Espionage work was something he could sink his teeth into without facing any sort of competent competition, and he found it quite fun. It was like pulling off big, messy pranks that yielded important intelligence, intelligence that could help take down dark guilds. That, and he learnt the importance of information in any world. Knowledge is power. Asking him to be a public figure was basically collaring and leashing him, telling him that no, the Council doesn't need you for your work anymore; you can be our new cover model instead.
He wondered if he could argue down the nomination. But if the notoriously prickly Chairman approved of it, Naruto doubted there was any hope for that happening. Of course, in the grand scheme of things, being a Wizard Saint didn't actually impede any of his intelligence work. Infiltrations were all done under disguises anyway, and Maelstrom was so well known in Fiore that he was practically a Wizard Saint already. He relied on Trinity Raven for all his information these days, and was only actively maintaining one alias, in Raven Tail. But he still didn't like the idea of being any more shackled to the Magic Council. He always had problems with authority, and the Council was one of the worst sorts of authority; reeking of arrogance, overly image-conscious and full of bureaucratic bullshit.
Trudging up the path to the top was a slow business, because while Naruto could toss a Hiraishin kunai and teleport, or even just fly up there, he didn't think the guards would appreciate his grandiose entrance. The Rune Knights had a small, permanent outpost of elite guardsmen protecting the headquarters and within, their commanders. Naruto knew the current commander wasn't exactly a big fan of his, even if there was grudging respect. He would be under arrest and thrown into a jail cell if he so much as sneezed at the wrong moment. Hence, he decided to save himself the trouble, and be on his best behaviour for the duration of the visit.
At the end of his path, there stood a giant archway built into the ivory walls that surrounded the edge of the plateau the Council building was seated upon. The imposing entrance was not overtly guarded, but Naruto knew that through placement of magical runes, he was supposedly under observation already. Of course, those runes were only triggered by a magical presence, or visible movement. Naruto didn't have a shred of magic in his veins; he was only detectable by such sensors if he used Sennin Mōdo. It was like a cheat code for snooping around, one Naruto gladly took advantage of, along with Tōton Jutsu. It was no surprise that no one had any clue as to how he skulked around, or how he suppressed his magical powers.
The wide-open space before the Council headquarters was bereft of any sentient presence. Naruto supposed it made more sense to guard the dignitaries instead of the well-trimmed meadows, but it still felt awfully inviting for an attack. If he were in charge of the Rune Knights, then he would at least instruct his men to put up as many runic wards as the space would allow. Putting the defence protocols of the Rune Knights out of his mind, he walked up to the large sheltered patio, passing the two tall statues of hooded men. The massive double doors were wide open, with one of the amphibian creatures that the Magic Council hired standing in the way. This particular one was a shade of viridian green, with various dark spots all over its smooth head.
"Maelstrom-sama," the creature croaked. "Please follow me."
His guide brought him winding through the wide marbled hallways of the headquarters, occasionally passing small patrols of Rune Knights. Naruto already knew the layout of the place by heart, and could guess where they would be meeting, but allowed his escort to lead him. The two stopped before a large set of double doors, decorated with intricate designs of angels and warriors. Naruto only wished they put more effort into governing than interior design, as the guide pushed the doors open, ushering Naruto into a large antechamber.
Another set of doors barred their way, which was a whole lot of pointless posturing again. In the antechamber were two rows of red velvet armchairs, lined up against the walls on either side. It was presumably for seating guests before they met with the Council for whatever matter could concern them. The amphibian cracked the second set of doors open, slipping through them to speak with whoever was on the other side. Naruto waited patiently in the middle of the antechamber, briefly admiring his reflection in the white and black rhombic marble tiles that shone beneath his feet. His escort returned briefly, crooking a finger at Naruto.
The blond nodded succinctly, and strode forwards. The guide pushed the doors open as he did so, allowing him to pass through the doorway rather grandly. As Naruto suspected, he was greeted by the Magic Council in what Naruto termed as a throne room in his head. It was a massive hall, with two columns of white marble pillars stretching from one end to the other. To the right was a balcony that stretched the length of the hall, allowing sunlight to bathe the entire place in its warm glow. The white ceiling was sculptured with great love and care, the Council having hired the best sculptors across Fiore to carve the masterpiece by hand. Various statues of winged women, reminiscent of those that stood along the path to the building, were arranged between each pillar.
The members of the Magic Council were seated at the end of the hall, a long rectangular table separating them from their guests. The table was an elaborate wooden piece, and from rumours, carved from a single massive log imbued with great magic. High-backed chairs cushioned with royal purple velvet gave the entire place a more regal aura. All of this was elevated a foot off the ground, seated on a raised dais with steps all around the platform. As Naruto walked towards the Council, his feet moving noiselessly across the marble, he noticed that there were only nine members there to greet him. The Chairman of the Magic Council was conspicuously missing, which injected some doubt as to what Naruto was really here for. After all, even if he were nominated and recommended by all the Councilmen to be a Wizard Saint, it would still need a final nod of approval from the Chairman.
There was a final seat in the hallway, one that was facing the Council. It was a carbon copy of the armchairs in the waiting antechamber, a far simpler armchair that dispensed with the comfort and extravagance the Councilmen's seats possessed. The height of the platform ensured that the seated mage would have to look up to face the Councilmen addressing him or her. Scoffing at the bloated egos that filled the seats on the dais, Naruto slipped into the seat provided for him, allowing his face to be shadowed even as Org, second seat and deputy of the Chairman began speaking.
"Maelstrom. I can't say it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person," Org rumbled, staring down at the hooded figure. "But I have to respect your contributions to the Council over the last decade."
Naruto remained silent, allowing Org to continue speaking. "Do you know why you have been summoned here today, Maelstrom?"
"No," was the terse reply.
Org laughed smugly as he folded his arms across his chest. "Well, it looks like even the infamous Maelstrom is fallible! Some people think of you as omniscient and omnipotent, but you are a mere mortal, and mortals have limits too. No one is flawless!"
"Is this merely a session for you to demonstrate to me that you possess more political power than I do, or are we discussing Jose Porla and his now empty Wizard Saint position?" Naruto commented in boredom, making a show of buffing his nails on his cloak and observing them.
Siegrain and Ultear burst into peals of amused laughter, while the older members of the Council were red-faced with fury. Michello stood up from his seat, pointing a finger at Naruto. "Enough of your disrespect, Maelstrom! You are in the presence of the great Magic Council! Hold your tongue, or face incarceration!"
"And you believe you are capable of stopping me from escaping your clutches?" Naruto scorned, crossing his legs as he leaned back into his seat. "Please don't make a further mockery of yourself or your esteemed counterparts, Councilman Michello-sama. Everyone in this room knows of my deeds, but do any of you know what I'm truly able to accomplish? I have the schedules of every single important individual living in this building, down to the minutes. For example, Belno-sama has a case of constipation, and uses the bathroom at eight o'clock every morning, with the aid of some laxatives."
Said Councilwoman blushed in embarrassment and ire at her daily bowel movements being recounted for everyone on the Council to hear. Naruto shrugged, folding his arms. "I'm sure your Rune Knights are fully capable of imprisoning me in this monolithic waste of expenses you call home. Go on! Call your Knights in here to arrest me for my misdemeanours as you wish so dearly to do. We'll test your theory about holding me prisoner in your cells."
"Enough!" Org shouted, quelling any noises from his fellow Council members. "Please refrain from being so crass. I believe we can continue our discussions…civilly."
"Very well. Proceed with whatever you wish to speak with me about," the navy-cloaked man waved his hand blithely.
The grey-haired Org had to restrain his simmering wrath, taking a few deep breaths to suppress his temper. "You are right to assume that we are discussing Jose Porla. After rigorous questioning, we have concluded that the seventh-ranked Wizard Saint and guild master of Phantom Lord was culpable for the guild war between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord. Phantom Lord has since been disbanded, and Jose Porla stripped of his title."
"When the Council convened to elect a new mage as a Wizard Saint, Yajima, Seigrain and Ultear nominated you," Michello continued, clearly disgusted by the decision. "Your inclusion into the elite group has been mooted for years, but due to your reclusiveness, we deemed you unsuitable for the position."
"However, as there is a dearth of capable mages with the right attributes to receive the title of Wizard Saint, we have fallen back on you as an option," the white-hooded Leiji sneered snidely. "As much as it dismays me to say this, but you have a sterling reputation and a strong rapport with the citizens and mages of Fiore. You are seen as a beacon of hope, a warrior of few equals and someone who is willing to risk life and limb to ensure our world is a safer place to live in."
"While these platitudes from the people do not impress us in the least, we recognise the positive impact of choosing someone as well respected as you," Belno remarked snootily. "Your name, synonymous with bravery and chivalry, will reflect well upon the Council should we select you as Jose Porla's replacement."
"You ought to thank Yajima-dono for his support, Maelstrom," Siegrain added, lounging languorously in his armchair. "It seems your constant correspondence with him has left quite the indelible impact. Ultear and I only threw in our names in support because we wanted these old codgers to blow a gasket at the thought of you being a Wizard Saint."
"That, and we want to know who you are," Ultear smirked, leaning her chin on steepled fingers. "So, our condition for your recognition as one of the Ten Wizard Saints is for you to reveal your identity to us. Will you comply, or do we have to force that hood off your head?"
"I don't suppose if I choose not to reveal myself, I can decline the position?" Naruto responded, to Ultear's amused giggles.
"No, unfortunately. Though we might not seem like it, but everyone at this table is powerful, and Siegrain is a Wizard Saint as well. Defeating you might be difficult, but removing your hood will be a far simpler task for us."
"I don't see why you need a replacement for Jose Porla so urgently," the golden-haired ninja pointed out.
"Our wisdom has been questioned in the wake of Jose Porla's activities. People believe we are incapable of properly assessing mages for such a coveted and respected position," Yajima answered honestly. "You have been touted by the people as a perfect candidate, and your name was in the running for the place Siegrain now holds. We need to regain the citizens' confidence in us, and do so swiftly and effectively."
I'd say. You have a potential disaster in the making sitting right there, Naruto mused within. Outwardly, he cleared his throat. "So basically, I have no choice in the matter, and you just want to make it look like I've accepted your generosity with gratefulness and humility."
"It is a very generous offer, Maelstrom, make no mistake about that," Org bit back, annoyed at Naruto's dismissal of the prestigious title. "Many better men and women than you have come and gone, and never had a chance to receive this honourable recognition of mages with great ability and character."
"I have another question before all this is concluded," Naruto spoke, pausing to stare pointedly at the empty seat in the middle. "Where's the Chairman? Is he not the one with the final decision as to who becomes a Wizard Saint and who doesn't?"
"He is away on business, but he had given his reluctant approval before he left," Org answered. "He sees you as an asset that can do much good for the world. It is in your best interests to accept the title, and with it all the clout and acknowledgement a Wizard Saint holds."
"Very well," Naruto conceded, although he had long weighed the pros and cons of accepting the title. He removed the hood off his head, exposing his mop of unruly blond hair, cerulean orbs and a dark mask that covered the rest of his features. "My name is Uzumaki Naruto, also known as Ráfaga Remolino of Fairy Tail."
"Fairy Tail?!" Org and several other Councilmen exclaimed.
Org turned to Yajima, face contorted in a rictus of fury. "Did you know, Yajima?!"
"Yes, but he requested me to keep that association secret, as he fears for the lives of his comrades," Yajima replied genially. "Remember the copycat incident, Org-sama? He informed me of his allegiance only because he needed to earn my trust. Please judge his actions on their own merit, and not in view of his guild affiliations. After all, he has completed many missions for us, and achieved great success without causing the trouble you so often denounce Fairy Tail for making."
"That…I…" Org stumbled over his words, the offer now up in the air. They were blindsided by the information, information that may have impacted on the Chairman's final verdict. After all, most of the Council held no love for Fairy Tail and its mages.
Siegrain, enjoying the situation far too much, smirked deviously as he cradled his cheek in his hand. "Well, if you people are so adamant on crucifying Fairy Tail and all their members, then maybe Uzumaki-san should leave Fairy Tail? That should solve all your problems, no?"
"We do not make decisions based on our personal opinions. We are above judging a mage based on his affiliations," Belno sniffed haughtily, a statement that elicited an outpouring of murmured agreements.
Org cleared his throat, silencing the rest of the Council. "Yajima has shown staunch support for you, and his opinion, while possibly tainted by his former status as a Fairy Tail member, is highly regarded amongst his peers here. Of course, as the leaders and role models of the magic world, we always honour our words. As Yajima says, we should judge a mage by his accomplishments and not the people he surrounds himself with."
"If you are so concerned about my connection to Fairy Tail, then you should be pleased to hear that I left the guild a week ago," Naruto commented offhandedly, stunning everyone. Yajima, in particular, was completely dumbstruck.
Ultear, the first to recover from her shock, addressed the blond man. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but what brought this on?"
"Notice how I introduced myself as Ráfaga Remolino of Fairy Tail? I've been hiding things from my own guild too, and they didn't take it too well when I revealed some truths. I thought my departure was for the best," Naruto replied dryly. "If you think it's an indication that I am not a trustworthy individual, so be it. I have no designs on the title of Wizard Saint anyway."
"I think it's a bit too late to back out of this now," Siegrain grinned mirthfully. The whole meeting had been entertaining, to say the least. "You are indeed a special sort of mage, Uzumaki-san. To go through all the trouble of hiding your real identity from everyone, even your closest comrades…do they, perchance, know of your exploits as Maelstrom?"
"Not a clue. I deemed it a security risk for anyone to know. Fairy Tail mages, by and large, are rather chatty," Naruto answered blithely. "No offence meant, Yajima-dono. It's a fact you can't deny."
"A man who is ruled by logic, and can make the difficult decisions with a clear head and a ruthless heart," Ultear remarked, her eyes filled with interest. "Now that is a man I can admire. You have earned my respect, Uzumaki-san. You have my full support, and I suppose Siegrain-sama is of the same opinion?"
"Indeed," Siegrain chuckled. "Org, maybe you should present him with his medallion now?"
Grumbling under his breath, Org slipped his hands into his voluminous robes, and retrieved a black velvet box. He gestured from Naruto to come forward, and pushed the box across the table. Naruto slowly walked up the steps, and as he reached the table, Org opened the box, revealing a round medallion nestled in red cloth. The second seat of the Council snapped the box shut, giving it a little push towards the newly instated Wizard Saint. Naruto took the box, slipping it into his own cloak.
"That will be all, Uzumaki Naruto," Org declared. "Keep the medallion on you. It has enchantments that allow for the Council to communicate with you if there is such a need."
"I shall take my leave then, honoured Councilmen," Naruto bowed, before he disappeared in a swirl of flaming leaves.
The Councilmen spluttered as ash flew into their faces, inducing a round of laughter from the two younger Council members. Siegrain struggled to hold back his chuckles as he stood to leave. "I like this guy. I like him a lot. C'mon Ultear, let's leave these old farts to their miserable griping."
"Tata!" Ultear waved cheerily, as the two sauntered out of the hall.
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Naruto had been so overcome with boredom for the past few days that he had been drawing up plans for pranking the Rune Knights. There was even a dark period when he was prepared to gawk at his collection of Ikaruga's nudes. Resisting the urge to do so was a triumphant moment for the man, who refused to succumb to his subordinate's wiles. He had no choice but to think about her, however, when a missive was sent to his apartment, informing him that Jellal Fernandes had hired Trinity Raven, and they were posted to a completed Tower of Heaven as guards.
As he was still stationing himself in Era, he could easily have told Yajima about the crisis situation that was developing away from the Council's notice. However, Siegrain would be present at meetings, and there was no guarantee he could stop Jellal's plans by informing the Council beforehand. He might even work it into Jellal's favour, as he still had no idea what his position in the Council contributed to his plan. So he listened in on Council meetings, clinging onto the ceilings of their meeting hall to eavesdrop on them. Watching the discussion going on beneath him, he was infinitely glad there was no room for him on the Council.
Siegrain's insistence on using Etherion caught Naruto's attention, and from then on, things just went downhill as the Wizard Saint convinced the Magic Council to go through with blasting the hell out of the Tower of Heaven. Only Yajima had the sense to vote against the gesture, which was incredibly stupid when they had no idea what they were up against. A good recon of the Tower, and unravelling Jellal's plan before things got too dicey was a far better option. Unfortunately, everyone was scared stiff by the mention of Zeref, and that was the clincher for Jellal.
It was impossible for Naruto to connect with any member of Trinity Raven with Telepathy over such a large distance of land and sea, but he had Ikaruga carry a Hiraishin kunai in case there was ever a need for her to summon him. To escape the Tower with his lackeys in tow, however, was a bit trickier. Due to the lower density of Ethernano compared to natural energy, Hiraishin was far harder to execute in Earthland. The technique involved travelling through a separate dimension opened with chakra between the user and the tag. Ethernano couldn't support the dimensional opening as well as natural energy did, which meant he could only safely transport one sentient being at any one time. Otherwise, someone might lose something in the process.
That said, he could use Hiraishin for non-sentient objects with impunity, given they had no feelings or thoughts or parts they would feel bad about losing. Hence, using Hiraishin to bring Trinity Raven out of a tower that was about to be obliterated was an endeavour that would require a bit of thought. Thankfully, though, Naruto had planned for such emergencies.
The thing about Hiraishin was, it's not just that the user could move to his tags, bringing anything he was holding along with it. He could also teleport things from one tag to another, regardless of whether he was at the starting tag or the destination mark. It was how he summoned Kurama to his side each time; he simply inverted the way his chakra flowed, sucking Kurama through the tag that was on him, to the tags Naruto carried on his body. To send Kurama from his side to a specified tag elsewhere was even easier; it was just the regular use of Hiraishin no Jutsu. It was not the easiest thing to do, learning how to manipulate one's chakra in the complete opposite of how one learned the original technique, but Naruto had the ultimate training cheat code in Kage Bunshin no Jutsu.
Ikaruga was the only one with a permanent Hiraishin marker on her though, which meant that Naruto would have to find all his underlings individually, tag them with Hiraishin seals, and send them back to his apartment. Naruto didn't think Jellal would be sticking around the Council when he was done with the Tower of Heaven, which meant that there could be trouble brewing right in the Council headquarters. Naruto resolved to personally rescue Trinity Raven (because they were far more important to him than a bunch of old people), while he made a clone to keep a vigilant eye on Jellal in Era.
Ensuring that he had made the necessary preparations for all eventualities (including subordinates on the verge of death), Naruto cast his mind out, seeking the Hiraishin tag that Ikaruga was told to carry on her at all times. Locating the tag, Naruto paused as he realised his oversight; the final R-System tower was not within the boundaries of Fiore. He had assumed that Erza found her way to Fairy Tail because the R-System tower she was enslaved at was within Fiore's borders, but judging by the relative distance between Ikaruga's tag and the rest of the Hiraishin markers he had planted across Fiore, the Tower of Heaven was definitely not a part of the country.
Putting aside thoughts of how Erza managed to get to Fairy Tail, and why she didn't go to some other guild instead, Naruto moulded his chakra. Noiselessly, he vanished from his apartment, appearing inside a long hallway. He had no interest in the architecture, however, as he found his kimono-clad subordinate lying on the ground, blood pooling beneath her. A long cut from a sword ran along the front of her torso, from the edge of her right breast to her hip. Blood was bubbling from her wound, and more of the crimson liquid trickled from her lips. Despite the deep slash, her split obi somehow managed to keep her kimono intact.
Naruto kneeled beside the woman, ignoring at her surprised expression, as he pressed his palm on her stomach, away from her wound. Two clones popped into existence, disappearing off to track down Fukurō and Vidaldus, even as Naruto planted a temporary Hiraishin tag on her, and whisked her back to his Era apartment via reverse Hiraishin. Standing in the large hallway, Naruto noticed the chunks of armour that were scattered about the impromptu battleground. Though, upon closer inspection of the place, with all the shrine-like gates and carpeted walkway (and the sakura petals Ikaruga scattered about), it was probably less impromptu and more consciously selected by the swordswoman for the most romantic setting she could find.
As for the metal, Naruto could tell at least two different makes that were shattered by Ikaruga's lightning fast blows. The only person he could think of that would consider using more than one suit of armour in combat would be Erza. That meant that Fairy Tail members were still in the building, and given Jellal's former ties with Erza, she must be a part of his plans. He was fully prepared to go after Erza and handle Jellal, but something held him back. It could be the lives of Trinity Raven that were hanging in the balance, or that he was no longer a part of Fairy Tail.
Erza needs to settle her score with Jellal on her own, or she will never find peace in her heart, Naruto mused, as his clones informed him telepathically that Fukurō and Vidaldus were retrieved, both unconscious but alive. He grabbed Ikaruga's weapon off the ground, sheathing the fine blade. I ought to have faith in them, especially since they managed to take out Trinity Raven, no?
With a final, silent wish of good luck to his former comrades, Naruto and his clones disappeared, leaving only a single kunai behind.
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Naruto was extremely glad to have picked up some basic skills involving medical aid, as he deftly stitched up Ikaruga. The other two members of Trinity Raven were bruised and battered, but not exactly in any condition that would demand medical attention. Ikaruga, on the other hand, seemed to have suffered mild internal damage along with the nasty gash across her body. Naruto supposed Erza's magic infused blades must have been responsible for the extraneous damage the cut seemed to have inflicted.
The blond man hoped the woman wouldn't mind the scar that would surely form without magical healing. He couldn't possibly bring her to a doctor or a mage capable of healing magic, not when she was an infamous and wanted criminal. If she didn't establish such a huge reputation with her team, then there might be people who wouldn't recognise the beautiful woman. But she made sure people remembered her for her skills as much as her beauty, and there was no conceivable way for Naruto to get her to a doctor without an arrest waiting afterwards.
To Naruto's consternation, his Sleep Magic wore off a bit too early, as Ikaruga's eyelids fluttered open while he was still bandaging her up. She moaned in pain, a husky voice more suited to the confines of the bedroom than the treatment table. Fixing her unfocused gaze on Naruto, she seemed to think he was an enemy in her groggy state. She fumbled around the bare table for her sword, a weapon Naruto had helpfully taken back. No sense leaving the priceless and powerful sword to be evaporated by Etherion. Her other hand came up to push against his chest weakly, trying to shove Naruto away from her.
"It's me, Naruto," the blond man murmured, as he easily brushed aside her offending hand and finishing wrapping the woman up. "You're safe now."
Her eyes unclouded as the last remnants of the Sleep Magic wore off. She took a quick look at Naruto, who was peering into her eyes with unadulterated concern. Then, she stared down at her bandaged midsection, the wound burning fiercely. Suppressing her instinct to grab at the throbbing injury, she then noticed her state of undress. To reach for her wound, Naruto had no choice but to remove her kimono down to the waist. The woman smirked as her uncovered breasts bounced enticingly with every harsh breath of air she sucked in.
"Naruto-sama, I never thought you were the type to take advantage of vulnerable women," she purred teasingly, her hand slithering onto Naruto's hand on the table. She pretended to wince in hurt as she reached for her wound with her left hand, her forearm 'conveniently' supporting and enhancing her voluptuous bust. "You could have just asked."
"Enough of that," Naruto mumbled irritably, ignoring her flirtatious advances. "I'm no doctor, so I don't even know whether my stitches will hold. I couldn't just take you to a doctor, so you'll have to make do with this. Do you have someone you can go to for medical needs?"
"There was never a real need for medical attention for us," Ikaruga replied more seriously, her tone somber. "We're a dark guild that specialises in assassinations. If we fail, it's death anyway. And Trinity Raven have been successful in every mission bar this one."
"So I guess you'll just have to live with the scar then," Naruto sighed, arms reaching around Ikaruga for the hem of her kimono that was splayed out on the table. She accosted him by snagging his lips in a searing kiss, but he extricated himself before she could use her tongue, pulling her kimono loosely over her shoulders to protect her modesty. "Please stop that. You're not doing any favours to your body."
"Mmm…but I'd like to do you a couple of favours with my body," Ikaruga smiled saucily, before Naruto's knuckles tapped her on her forehead gently.
"Stop flirting. Shouldn't you have realised I'm not falling for your charms when I haven't responded to the hundreds of pictures you've sent over the years?"
"I have conjectured that either you are homosexual, which I highly doubt given your general response to physical intimacy from me, or you are already in a relationship," Ikaruga answered matter-of-factly. "If the latter is true, then I must confess that that only raises the sky high esteem I hold you by. I am a woman whom you can take as a mistress with little fear of discovery, given your proclivities for misdirection and anonymity. Yet you reject my advances so firmly, it begs the question of whom my competition may be, to snare a man of your ilk so thoroughly."
"I assure you, I am neither gay nor in a relationship. I burnt most of my bridges recently, so maybe if you remain charming enough, you might sway me to your side," the blond ninja said, his smile bitter.
Ikaruga huffed irately as she slipped her arms through the sleeves of her kimono. "I will not be second best, Naruto-sama."
"And being a mistress isn't?" Naruto cocked an eyebrow.
Ikaruga smirked lusciously as she dragged a fingertip up Naruto's forearm sensuously. "Oh, being a mistress means you'd rather share a bed with me than your other partner. That means I'm a better lover."
"That made a disturbing amount of sense," Naruto commented wryly, before his eyes turned glassy. Concerned, Ikaruga was about to give Naruto a shake when he shuddered lightly. "Something happened at the Magic Council headquarters."
"Do you need to intervene?" Ikaruga queried.
"No, I'm too late. Ultear is in cahoots with Jellal, and she just took down the entire building with her magic. I think I heard Org say something about Arc of Time," Naruto shook his head slowly. "I guess it has something to do with manipulating the lifespan of objects, seeing as my clone basically dispelled from running out of chakra when it shouldn't have, not for a good week at least."
"Chakra?" the swordwoman murmured, perplexed.
"Nothing you need to know," Naruto replied primly. He scooped her up in his arms, drawing out a soft giggle and a playful nip to his earlobe. He deposited her on his bed, Vidaldus and Fukurō occupying two futon in the cramped bedroom. He pressed his calloused palm to her forehead, forcing her head down to rest on the pillow. "Now, rest. Don't open the door for strangers."
"As you command, Naruto-sama," she whispered sleepily, Naruto's Sleep Magic sending her drifting into a dreamless sleep.