Welcome to my next chapter and my favorite one to date. Tomorrow's my birthday! I worked really hard on this one and decided that I will be coming to the time-skip pretty soon. The pacts will be made and the Journey of Regeneration will start. I still don't know about making Itachi a main character since I had originally planned on Naruto and Sasuke alone. But now that I read the latest manga chapters, I really like Itachi more as a character than I ever did. He's probably my favorite one now...But I'm not sure yet... Anyway, I hope you guys continue to enjoy this story and I'll continue to write it. I hope I get a lot of reviews today.

Naruto, Sasuke and Itachi will be wielding weapons and using artes as well. But the problem is, I can't think of a good weapon for Naruto to use other than gauntlets. Either that, or I can have Lloyd and Naruto know how to fight like that, just have Naruto better at it since I don't want him to be useless to the group. Tell me your opinion on this or tell me what would be a good weapon for Naruto.

I don't own Tales of Symphonia, Tales of the Abyss, Final Fantasy VII, Naruto, or Devil May Cry.

Lloyd stared at Sheena, and sure enough, tears were falling from her eyes. Lloyd immediately ran over to her and hugged her. He thought it was the right thing to do at the moment.

"What's wrong," Lloyd asked her worried. He stared into her eyes and waited for an answer. Sheena sniffled trying to wipe her eyes.

"It's nothing, I just remembered something," Sheena said. Lloyd shook his head.

"It's not nothing. I never thought I'd see you cry like you did. Is this about the pacts," Lloyd asked. Sheena looked at the ground. Lloyd got his answer. "Sheena...What happened? The hatred, your sadness, the Summon Spirits. Something happened," Lloyd said. Sheena started to sob again and Lloyd wasn't sure whether he regretted asking or not. He held her close to him. "Sheena...You can trust me. Sometimes, you have to cry when your sad. I'm not usually good at this, but...If you ever need a shoulder to cry on, or someone to listen to you. I'm always here and I always will be," Lloyd told her. Sheena slowly wrapped her arms around Lloyd and let out all her tears. Lloyd felt strange standing there. He saw her tears and her frown. He couldn't stand it. He never wanted to see them again. He'd do everything to prevent it. It was always like this when it came to women, even ones he didn't like. But seeing it on Sheena was even worse, it was the last thing he wanted to see. He couldn't explain why. Sheena finally broke away with a light smile on her face.

"Th-thanks, I needed that Lloyd," Sheena said. Lloyd gave a light grin in reply.

"Anytime, you can always come to me," Lloyd replied. Sheena stared at Lloyd. She almost was starting to lose herself when she looked into his eyes. She felt weird. She turned away and sighed.

"I should explain everything," she said. Lloyd was listening intently. "A long time ago, when I was seven, I learned that I could make pacts with Summon Spirits like Corrine. The village was so proud of me. My grandpa was the Chief of the village," Sheena explained. Lloyd was shocked, he didn't know that. "We were going to increase our technology but we needed a special mana, the lighting Volt produces. I could make a pact with him. My grandpa, me, and half of our village went to the Temple of Lightning to form the pact. I didn't know what I was doing. We tried to form the pact, but..." Sheena began to hesitate. She started shaking up. Lloyd saw the tears build up in her eyes again. He almost didn't want to know what happened next. "Volt went out of control, and started to kill us all," she finished. Lloyd's eyes widened. He saw tears fall from Sheena's eyes again. "Everyone there had died, my grandpa fell into a coma, all because I couldn't defend myself." She started crying again. Lloyd hugged her again. He felt bad about what happened, he knew what she would have to do really soon. "I can't do it...I'm too weak," Sheena said. Lloyd shook his head.

"That's not true Sheena. You were only seven. I don't even know why they would prepare you for something of that magnitude when you were so young," Lloyd said. "You're so much stronger now, I bet you could easily take Volt down," Lloyd reassured her. Sheena shook her head violently.

"I can't. You guys would get hurt," Sheena replied. Lloyd smiled.

"That's not true. I believe you can do it. I know you can do it," Lloyd said smiling. Sheena stared at him.

"What if Volt goes berserk again," she asked him. Lloyd let go of Sheena and faced the Temple of Lightning. He unsheathed a sword and swung it in Volt's direction.

"Then I'll cut him down and that'll be the end of it," Lloyd exclaimed with confidence. Sheena stared at him, she wanted to believe him, but she couldn't. But still...

"I'll try..." Sheena said her voice obviously filled with doubt. Corrine appeared. Next to them.

"Don't worry Sheena, I know you can do it," Corrine said. Sheena had a distant look on her face.

"Yeah...sure," she replied quietly. Lloyd stared at her worried as she made her way into the base again. He grit his teeth. He realized the source of the limitless hatred the villagers held for her.

"That's right Lloyd. The villagers blame her for what happened on that day," Naruto said surprising Lloyd. Lloyd turned to Naruto and saw the same disgusted look that he himself had. "But, a lot of them lost a lot of their families that day, so don't judge them too harshly," Naruto said.

"But she was only seven! How could they hate her for something they pushed on her," Lloyd exclaimed. Naruto grinned.

"You know, the more I get to know you, the cooler of a guy you seem to be. You're really cool," Naruto said. Lloyd's gaze softened. "I don't know, but the villagers have hated people for worse reasons," Naruto said darkly. Lloyd remembered that they hated him too. Lloyd didn't get it. "Just because you're so cool, I'll tell you why they hate me someday. Hopefully, you won't hate me after I tell you," Naruto said confusing Lloyd. Lloyd shook his head.

"Listen, I don't know whether they hate you for something that you did or not but...I believe that everyone has the right to atone for what they did, not that what happened was your fault or anything," Lloyd said. Naruto smiled.

"It's official, you're the coolest dude I've met in a long time," Naruto said jokingly. Lloyd grinned at the light joke. "Come on, we got crap to do," Naruto said walking back into the base with Lloyd following shortly behind.

Lloyd and the group were flying back to Mizuho on the Rheiards. They agreed to meet Yuan in a week and travel to Temple of Lightning. Now they had six Rheiards. Enough for Kakashi and Sasuke as well. Lloyd shared one with Presea. Naruto had a little difficulty flying it at first, but was much better off than Lloyd on his first time. Itachi easily mastered it, even flying better than Sheena. They arrived at Mizuho and walked into the village. Lloyd and Itachi decided to make the report to Tiga.

"I see...so we'll have to make pacts...I assume you got Sheena to agree," Tiga stated. Lloyd nodded with a sad smile on his face. Tiga looked at Lloyd curiously. "Sheena thinks of you very highly. No doubt you must be a good friend, she wouldn't do this otherwise. Please don't push anymore than you have to," Tiga said. Lloyd nodded genuinely. Tiga looked to Itachi. "Itachi, I have a S-Ranked mission for you. You must accompany Lloyd and Sheena to each seal and help with the Summon Spirits. You two are dismissed," Tiga said. Lloyd and Itachi bowed slightly before leaving the room. Lloyd stopped at the door. "Is there something you'd like to ask me Lloyd," Tiga asked. Lloyd sighed.

"Can Naruto and Sasuke come as well? It might be nice if she had some friends she grew up with to help as well," Lloyd said. Tiga smiled at this.

"I will take this into consideration," Tiga replied. Lloyd smiled.

"Thank you," he said before leaving the room. Tiga smiled, Sheena and Naruto found a really good friend in Lloyd. All he wondered about was where Sasuke stood in all of this. He sighed, sometimes the village could really complicated when it didn't need to be.

Lloyd walked out wondering about what happened earlier. The tears he saw on Sheena, the villagers contempt for her, and Volt. What would happen was what he wondered. He knew and believed in Sheena's ability to win. He wouldn't let that happen to her again, even if it meant dying.

He was also worried about his exesphere, it was his mother's life. He didn't know if he could continue using it. He knew Itachi would tell Sheena but he needed to know what would happen if he used it. He knew of it's untold power.

"Mom...would you hate me if I continued to use this," Lloyd asked it hoping for a reply. He closed his eyes. He would of been defeated a long time ago had he not had it. He couldn't just get rid of it. He wondered what would happen, what he would want if he was an exesphere. Instantly, he grinned. "That's it! I'll stop this cycle, so nobody will become exespheres anymore! Then I'll destroy all the exespheres!" Feeling satisfied with himself, he continued on with his walk to Sheena's home. "I vow, that one day, nobody will be sacrificed for anyone else ever again. Everyone has the right to live!"

Lloyd, Sheena, Itachi, Naruto, and Sasuke stood in front of Tiga. Ready for the Temple of Lightning, it had been a week since their meeting with Yuan, and Sasuke had been informed of the situation. He took well to saving the world. He despised that Itachi would be there as well. He'd need to outperform him to gain any respect.

"Now, you all are nearly ready, this is a gift from Yuan. Knowing where these come from, they make me sick...But you'll be needing these. I'm sorry," Tiga apologized. He handed each of them excluding Lloyd and Sheena an exesphere with a Key Crest attached. Presea was sent back home to Ozette and Lloyd would be over there after the pact making. There was an extra Key Crest in the gifts that Yuan sent. He knew it was for Presea. Everyone attached the exespheres to find that their mana supply nearly quadrupled along with their physical capabilities. It's power was amazing. They all saddened at the thought of where they come from but Tiga was right. They would need these for the Summon Spirits. They each took a slight bow before leaving. They arrived at the gate.

"Yuan said he would meet us at the temple. Lloyd, Tiga appointed you and Sheena as the leaders of this S-Rank mission. Your orders," Itachi asked. Everyone stared at Lloyd, none more so than Sheena. Lloyd looked back and forth between them before grinning.

"My orders? We give Volt hell if he doesn't cooperate, that's what," Lloyd replied in a cool tone that had everyone smirking, with the exception of Sheena. She shook her head, Lloyd didn't know what he was getting into. Corrine frowned at her.

"See Sheena, everyone believes in you. And if anything happens, I'll protect you," Corrine said to her. Sheena shook her head.

"I don't think you're strong enough Corrine," Sheena said. Corrine's frown deepened as Sheena walked away.

"Sheena..."

The group boarded the Rheiards and flew towards the Temple of Lightning. Ready to overcome whatever would happen. They were all determined ready for the journey to save the world. The only one who wasn't confident was Sheena. She still doubted her abilities. Lloyd looked at her worriedly. They arrived at the temple to see Yuan standing outside of it with Botta.

"Good, you're all here, I'm here with Botta to inform you that while I can help you get through the temple, I can't help you form the pact with Volt," Yuan said. Lloyd glared at him angrily.

"What do you mean you can't help," Lloyd asked. Yuan looked at Lloyd like a small child that had no brain.

"Well, for starters, I use the element of lightning. Volt so happens to be a Lightning Summon Spirit. I'd be making things worse, that's why Botta's here," Yuan replied like talking to a mentally retarded person. Lloyd twitched.

"Why you..." he started but Sasuke placed a hand over his mouth.

"That's enough. Let's focus on the matter at hand," Sasuke said. Yuan smirked.

"I'm glad to see that Lloyd is the only idiot in your group," Yuan insulted him. Lloyd grit his teeth. He calmed down and looked at Sheena. She was already horrified by walking into the temple. He smiled sadly and held her hand, squeezing it gently.

"It'll be fine. I promise," Lloyd said. Sheena looked at him before sighing. They all walked into the temple, with Lloyd and Sheena hand in hand. They walked through the entrance and saw all the monster the place held. They saw the Seal and knew that some fighting would be required if they wanted to get in. Yuan and Itachi stepped to the front of the group.

"Leave this to us. We'll handle the monsters," Yuan said. Itachi pulled out a katana and faced his enemies. Yuan held out his hand and in a flash of lightning, a double blade appeared in it. He threw off his cape.

"Don't worry about us. You'll do well Sheena," Itachi said smiling at her. Sheena took a deep breath and walked forward. Lloyd, Sheena, Sasuke, Botta, and Naruto walked towards the Seal. Yuan explained that the Summon Spirits refused to take on more than four people at a time, so one of them would have to sit out. Naruto agreed that he'd distract any monsters Itachi and Yuan missed, so Sheena could form the pact. Corrine sat on Sheena's shoulder, trying to encourage her, but nothing he did would work.

They made it to the seal and stood in front of it. Suddenly, a large bolt of lighting struck it and a purple ball of lightning with red eyes floated in front of them majestically. Sheena took a step back in fear, a single tear fell from her eye.

Meanwhile...

Yuan and Itachi stood back to back, in the midst of all the monsters. Snakes with human upper bodies, floating sword engulfed by electricity, and birds made of lightning itself surrounded them by the hundreds. Yuan grinned.

"Well, there wasn't so many last time, I might break a sweat this time around," Yuan said. Itachi smirked.

"Against this many? You're obviously getting old," Itachi joked with a serious tone in his voice. Yuan smirked as well.

"You just might be right about that," Yuan replied. At that, they leapt at their foes. Soon after, Naruto joined in.

That's the end of this one. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Tomorrow is my birthday. I promise that there will be another update then, make sure to read it! Later! Don't forget to review about your opinion on Naruto's weapon.