Oshibana

Mizuki's foot smashed into Natsu's face sending the Dragon Slayer falling off the roof.

Akahoshi's chest glowed as a light purple magic circle appeared on his back. "Star's Might: Wings!" Akahoshi took flight coming right over Natsu who was trying to recover with the same trick as before. "You will fall Dragon Slayer!" Akahoshi held the palms of his hands towards Natsu as a light purple magic circle appeared. "Star's Might: Destroy!"

A beam of concentrated, light purple magic fired at Natsu quicker than he could possibly dodge even with his new usages of fire. Given that he didn't quite want to take that attack head on, he came up with another idea.

Natsu took a deep breath. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"

The Dragon Slayer let loose his fire pushing himself faster into the ground while his fire met the star magic head on creating an explosion. The initial movement generated from Natsu's own breath still saw the slayer slamming into the ground.

Natsu quickly got to his feet as Akahoshi and Mizuki jumped down to either side of him. "If you both want to take me on, bring it! 1, 2, 5, 10, and so on! If you want to fight, it doesn't matter. I'll take anyone you got on."

"This mage is out of his league." Akahoshi stated casually. "Should we finish this quickly?"

"This brat has dragged this out longer than I'd like." Mizuki stated. "If we take too long, there's always the chance his friends will come to aid him. That is trouble we don't need."

"Despite my words, these wizards are strong. Nowhere near as strong as Kuroma, but I'm getting nowhere holding back against them. I have no choice, but to go all out. Secret arts and all." Natsu smiled. "Let's go for round 2!"

A leaf green magic circle appeared below Mizuki. "Eight Gates: Life!"

Mizuki's skin turned red and his eyes became completely white as the green glow of magic appeared around him.

A light purple magic circle appeared below Akahoshi. "Star's Might: Dragon!"

Light purple magic radiated from Akahoshi before surrounding him in a dragon which rose into the air.

Natsu let his fire magic flow and twisted his body into position. "Dragon Slayer's Secret Art!" Mizuki and Akahoshi rushed him. "Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!"

Natsu twisted back to the right position letting loose a powerful torrent of flames at his opponents.

The green magic circle appeared below Mizuki. "Hidden Lotus!"

Mizuki used his speed to get well clear of the coming assault.

The light purple circle appeared below Akahoshi. "Star's Reinforcement!"

The purple dragon around Akahoshi gained wings and became a darker purple before colliding with Natsu's flames in a spectacular display creating a powerful explosion. Black smoke covered the area while Natsu and Akahoshi were each pushed back displaying massive damage.

"Even with all my prior training, and the power Lord Orochimaru bestowed, I only just even out with a Dragon Slayer." Akahoshi growled. "He's inexperienced to boot." Akahoshi smirked. "Since I'm even, Mizuki should have no problem ending this."

"Are these two like Kakashi and Kuroma? Is that why they're strong or are they from Earth Land. Gah, why does this have to be difficult?" Natsu was trying to recover his footing. "It doesn't matter. I don't feel the same fear as I did from Kuroma, so I have a chance."

As Natsu was kicked into the air, he tried to reverse the ascent with another fire breath. "Fire Dragon…"

"Get ready worm because this is the end." Mizuki clenched his fist. "Eight Gates: Limit!"

Mizuki's magic flared up around him and he began bouncing around the area at high speeds hammering Natsu with powerful blow after powerful blow. The first hit was even targeted to knock the wind out of the slayer stopping his roar.

"I can't keep track of him." Natsu thought as he was tossed around the field. "I can't give up. A Fairy Tail Wizard doesn't give up!"

Akahoshi noticed that Natsu was starting to flare up.

"This is the end!" Mizuki declared.

Akahoshi decided to lend his aid as he concentrated on Mizuki. "Star's Might: Protective Aura!"

Mizuki was surrounded by a light purple glow. Natsu couldn't speak, but still he had to put everything into this next attack if he wanted any hope of walking out of this.

"Dragon Slayer's Secret Art!" All of Natsu's fire went into his fist. "Crimson Lotus: Dragon's Fist!"

Summoning all his strength, Natsu launched a flurry of punches that Mizuki met blow for blow as they fell. Just as their bodies neared the ground, their right fist skimmed past each other and hit the other in the cheek. Now, this was a desperate attempt to win on Natsu's part.

While this may have been enough for a lucky knockout, at the cost of his own knockout, all it achieved was turning Mizuki's head as it dispelled the barrier around him. In turn, Mizuki's strength and speed was just too much for Natsu.

Mizuki cracked the ground with Natsu's head and rendered the Dragon Slayer unconscious. The former Leaf Shinobi had hit the ground himself before standing. His clothes were dirty and there were a few scraps, but Mizuki was fine.

Akahoshi walked over, picked up Natsu's unconscious body, and slung him over his shoulder. "Impressive as always Mizuki."

Mizuki looked at Akahoshi before crossing his arms. He would still kill his team if they ever got in the way of a mission, but the once Chunin had learned how effective teamwork could be from his memories of the original's last fight with Naruto and Iruka.

"I suppose you played your part well in our altercation." Mizuki growled. "Without you, the fight would have dragged on longer than I'd have liked." He had no doubt he could defeat Salamander himself, but it would have taken a little more time than they had. "Let's find Erigor."

Akahoshi was surprised that Mizuki of all people had thanked him in his own way, but he wasn't about to ruin it by speaking on the topic. It was best to just accept the minimal praise.

"No need to go far." Erigor drifted down and landed. "With you two defeating him, Aoi should open a portal any minute now."

At that moment, a dark portal opened behind Erigor.

"Let's get out of here." Mizuki stated. "No need for those pathetic flies mucking this up."

The three dark wizards entered the portal and it closed.

With Erza

Erza had tied up every member of Eisenwald she and Romeo defeated. Once she was sure no one in the room had been missed, the knight went about questioning every one of them on how to break Erigor's barrier.

"Just forget it lady. I already told you there's no undoing Erigor's barrier. You and your buddies are stuck."

"Erza!" Gray called out as he ran into the room.

"Gray, have you already subdued Erigor?" Erza asked.

"I haven't seen him but forget about that." Gray stated. "Eisenwald's goal was never to use the flute. It was to lure us and get their hands on Natsu. They plan of making him the host to the fire god Hephaestus which will kill him."

Erza gained a dark aura as she turned her attention on the Eisenwald member she'd been questioning. "Why didn't you tell me?" She left him as Gray came down to her level. "I presume they have their ways of getting him out."

"That's what I was told." Gray stated. "Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like my guy knew where they were taking Natsu. With the way he was talking, he'd have said it just to taunt me."

"My best guess would be that Natsu's still outside the barrier fighting or they've taken him to Eisenwald. I don't think a guild as secretive as Sound's Desire would want to risk retribution coming to their guild this soon by taking him to their guild."

"That leaves us with a huge problem." Gray stated. That wind barrier is raging all around this place. If we try to force our way through, it'll mince any of us into pieces."

Erza closed her eyes. "I've already tried, so I'm aware."

Gray noticed Erza's arm. "Whoa, is your arm okay?"

"That is unimportant." Erza opened her eyes. "What is, is getting out of here. We must stop Eisenwald before we lose Natsu forever. Wait a minute, I recall that Kageyama was the one who'd break the spell on Lullaby. We must find him Gray."

"I see." Gray nodded. "Sounds like a dispelling Wizard. With him, we could break the barrier."

"That's what I'm hopping." Erza stated. "Let's start searching."

"Right!" Gray agreed.

The wizard Erza had been questioning was left there, conscious, as Erza and Gray took off. "Karacka, how long are you going to hide back there?"

The rotund wizard that had fled phased through the wall. "I'm sorry, but I was scared."

"Forget that now. Find Kage before they do. Go now."

"No, please don't make me." Karacka pleaded. "You know I'm no good in a fight."

"Calm down. It's a simple job that even you can handle…"

With Kakashi

"After Kakashi kicked Kageyama into the ceiling, he grabbed the mage as he fell to prevent him from getting away. "You may look like a Nara Clan member, but you most certainly do not have the stealth of one."

"I thought this guy just got lucky before, but that kick had some serious power behind it." Kageyama thought. "He spoke of the Nara Clan. I most certainly am not one, but that's one of them Shinobi Clans from another world. I was skeptical, but wizards like this really exists."

"I can tell what you're thinking." Kakashi stated shocking Kageyama. "It's written on your face. Let me tell you, us Shinobi aren't the only impressive mages in this land." He got in close. "I have no reason to lie unlike you, but I'm hoping you're smarter than to do so now."

Kageyama was legitimately shocked as he could feel the shinobi's killer intent. Kakashi's killer intent was beyond anything Erigor ever gave off.

"Now, tell me where Erigor is." Kakashi ordered.

Kageyama was tempted to attack, but the man's killer intent held him in place. "He's long gone. I can tell that much. This means your fellow fly, the Salamander, is with him."

"Natsu?" This worried Kakashi. "What do you mean Natsu's gone?"

"He was our true goal this day." Kageyama admitted. "Not originally. We were going to lure in some fairies through Erza Scarlet, but she just so happened to bring our target along for the ride. By now, he's back at Eisenwald being prepped for the ritual."

"This ritual achieves what?" Kakashi asked.

"It all links back to Hephaestus." Kageyama replied. "That statuette contains the god who is currently sleeping. One of the ways to awaken him is by providing a host. In exchange for the Salamander's soul, a god will awaken with a new body to call his own."

Kakashi's mind was flooded with memories of their time as comrades. Their meeting and subsequent fight against Zabuza, Their meeting with Kuroma, and all their training. He already failed one guild member in Macao, so he refused to fail another.

"Why?" Kageyama didn't understand. "Why are you getting so worked up over a single mage? I don't get it. You should be more concerned with what I just told you about a literal god coming back. You should just kill me and move on."

"There's more to any world than life or death." Kakashi stated. "It's a constant I've always lived with. It's how I thought at various times in my life. I seem to have learned what you and the rest of your guild forgot the moment you turned away the idea of being legal.

As for why I am concerned about Natsu, it's because he's a valued comrade of mine. One of the biggest lessons I was taught is this. Those who break the rules are scum, but those who would abandon their friends are worse than scum.

That was from my comrade, but the next level is from my own experiences. Those who never valued their time with the comrades they had are even worse scum than that." Kageyama was staring at Kakashi agape. "That is what I live by."

Kageyama was rendered speechless as this man spoke with more conviction than he's ever had. Just as Kakashi was about to speak, he noticed someone rising through the floor with their arm outstretched, and, judging by the magic, going to put it right through Kage's heart.

Kageyama felt like someone was behind him and turned his head only to open his eyes wide with betrayal. "Karacka!?"

"I know someone who was far quicker than you." Kakashi's legs were coated in water as he pulled Kageyama over his shoulder. "Water Dragon's Rapid Kick!"

Karacka realized he very well messed up as Kakashi kicked his legs out multiple times. The dark wizard was rendered unconscious before being kicked clear through the floor leaving a hole in his wake.

Kakashi then dropped Kageyama and walked past him only stopping once his back was to the dark mage. "What's this guy doing?" The dark wizard looked at him. "Is he just letting me go."

"You know, for the longest time I walked alone." Kakashi stated. "I constantly pushed people away. Tried to in a certain rival's case, but that is beside the point. The few comrades I let in, ended up dying.

From then on, I thought my ideals had been solidified. All that changed was that I would defend my comrades, but I never grew close to them. Then, I started to find those I could truly value as friends. Slowly, my heart opened from the closed off state I left it in.

I came to realize how weak I was making myself. That's just a fact. Some people are strong alone, but together we all become stronger. What I'm trying to get at is that we all make our own choices. It's those choices that will define the life we lead.

If you honestly think anything will change once you have Hephaestus and Lullaby, then you're wrong. Your entire guild is flawed. You lost legal status because you refused to change your ways. You think you're oppressed, but the only one who's responsible is you."

"Why are you telling me this?" Kageyama asked. "Why would you protect me to begin with?"

"I'm not quite sure myself, but I think a certain student of mine may have rubbed off on me a bit too much." Kakashi stated. "He had a knack for finding the good in people and bringing it to the surface.

I have no idea if I have a gift like that, but I get the feeling you're not as bad as the rest of your guild. At the very least, you're not as convinced of this as they are. Perhaps, you can make better choices." Kakashi walked on. "Either way, I have a comrade to save."

"Do you think I could be as strong as you are?" Kageyama wasn't quite sure why he asked such a question, but it was the only one to come to mind.

"What makes someone strong is their conviction." Kakashi looked back at him. "I have people I want to protect and will put my life on the line to do it. You can't say the same for your own guild, but the more time I spend with Fairy Tail, the more I want to protect everyone in it."

Kakashi was about to leave him, as he needed to gather the others to rescue Natsu, when Erza, Gray, Romeo, and Happy came running down the hallway.

"Kakashi, don't let that guy get away!" Erza shouted. "We need him to help us get out of here!"

Kakashi raised an eyebrow before turning to look back at Kageyama. "What's she talking about?"

The wizards stopped behind Kakashi.

"She's talking about a wind barrier around the entire train station which is meant to keep you all here." Kageyama stated. "I have the power to break it."

"I see." Kakashi remembered what he said to Kageyama, but more importantly, he remembered his conversation with Minato. "Kageyama, how would you like to cut a deal?"

"Kakashi, what are you doing?" Erza asked.

"I'm getting us a way out and potentially securing a little extra help." Kakashi looked at her. "Considering you're here, I don't think it should be a problem. If he tries to double cross us, you can easily take him."

"What's going on here?" Kageyama asked.

Kakashi and Erza stared at each other for a good minute as they contested their wills against one another.

Eventually, it was Erza who looked away. "If you're wrong about this, I will take him down myself, and you will report such a failure to the master for proper punishment."

"Duly noted." Kakashi stated.

"I'm seriously lost here." Kageyama stated.

"I'm going to offer you the deal of a lifetime." Kakashi crouched before the dark wizard. "You're going to get the chance to experience the other side of the coin and avoid jail time all together. How does that sound?"

"What, are you trying to recruit me into your guild?" Kageyama questioned.

"I don't know about this Gray." Romeo whispered.

"I'm not much for it either, but Erza agreed." Gray whispered back.

"Aye!" Happy whispered loudly. "I'm certainly not going to cross her."

"You could say that." Kakashi nodded. "I believe I have a method to get you into our guild and keep you out of jail. All you got to do is help us out of here, rescue Natsu, and put a stop to your guild's plans."

"Gee, that's all I got to do, huh?" Kageyama rolled his eyes. "Get real man."

"I'm being completely serious." Kakashi looked at the hole he made. "Considering how your guild was willing to throw you away, do you honestly expect Erigor to treat you any better? What's more, do you think he can control a god or demon?"

"Well, I suppose not." Kageyama stated.

"At this point, you have options." Kakashi tried. "You can help us and join Fairy Tail or, best case scenario, you can end up in jail. In there, you won't get to explore your magic, you'll be confined, you'll make no money, and you'll never know how far you could have gone."

"The worst-case scenario is death. Whether it be at the hands of Erigor, Hephaestus, Lullaby, or the magic council for my crimes." Kageyama understood his predicament and gritted his teeth. "I may have a choice, but only one of them is a good one."

Kakashi stood. "If you come with us, and give this everything you got, I promise you'll stay out of jail. Honestly, I won't even force you into Fairy Tail, but you'd be welcome after helping us." He held out his hand. "What do you say?"

"I think the world may very well be on the brink of destruction." Kageyama shock his head. before taking the offered hand. "Alright, I'm in. Currently, we have under two days before your friend is dead and we got a god to deal with."

"That's two days to ensure it doesn't happen." Kakashi looked at Erza. "How long would it take us to reach Eisenwald?"

"We can be there by the end of the day." Erza stated.

"That will give us one night to rest before attacking with the morning." Kakashi nodded. "Well then, looks like you're up Kageyama."

"Once I break that barrier, I can't go back. No, once I give them what I have in my pocket, I can't go back." Kageyama took a deep breath and pulled a Lacrima out of his pocket. "I don't know if your guild has it, but you could try contacting them using this."

"Is that a Communication Lacrima?" Romeo asked.

Kageyama nodded. "We keep them to stay in contact when jobs come up that fit a specific wizard. If you're guild has one, you guys could call in some help."

"Do you think we need it?" Erza asked.

She was cautiously observing their current 'ally' for any signs of traitorous intent. No one really blamed her considering he was there enemy mere minutes ago.

"Practically all of Eisenwald is here and already beaten from what I can tell. The only man standing is Erigor from us, but there are four known Sound's Desire members that should be there as well. If this ritual is as important as I think, they may call in some back up."

"I don't want to admit it, but the guy makes a point Erza." Gray stated.

Romeo sighed reluctantly. "Yeah, and I wouldn't want to risk Natsu just because we were reluctant to believe him."

"Very well." Erza took the Lacrima as the group began running for the barrier. "Hopefully, Mira can send us some back up."

Fairy Tail Guildhall

Mira was cleaning some mugs while various wizards went about their usual business.

Suddenly, everyone heard a familiar voice causing them to freeze. "Hello! Hello! This is Erza Scarlet calling Fairy Tail for immediate assistance."

Mira ducked under the counter and returned with a Lacrima which displayed Erza. "Erza, we read you loud and clear. Is something wrong?"

"I'm going to keep it brief since we'll need to be on the road soon." Erza stated. "Natsu has been abducted by the dark guild Eisenwald and their ally Sound's Desire." Erza informed.

"Natsu was captured!?"

"No way!"

"He must have put up one heck of a fight."

"We're heading to Eisenwald's guildhall." Erza looked off screen and they could hear some muffled voice speak to her. "There's an outpost 10 miles east of the guild hall. Anyone who can come should meet us there. Don't send everyone. If we fail, someone will need to stand."

The connection cut out.

"This is bad." Mira stated. "Most of the wizards that can handle a guild like Eisenwald and Sound's Desire took jobs after Erza and her team left."

"It doesn't matter."

"Yeah, Natsu would come for any of us, so those of us here will go."

"We won't let him go like we did Macao."

"Erza said not to send everyone."

"This is one of our own we're talking about."

"I don't know what you're talking about Mira because there's a real man right here ready to go." Elfman stated. "You can hold down the rest of the wizards here while I head out."

"Elfman…" Mira stated worriedly.

She knew he wasn't as strong as he could be considering what happened to Lisanna. Even if he were that strong, she'd be wary letting him go alone.

"Don't worry Mira." Cana walked over. "I'll go with Elfman. After all, the big guy is my teammate, so it's not like I can let him go off alone." She turned to the other guild members. "The rest of you should stay here and hold down the fort."

"See, she's a real man Mira!" Elfman declared. "With us backing them up, we'll get Natsu back no problem."

Mira thought about it and nodded., "It sounds like the best course of action, but be careful you two. If Erza's calling in help, the stakes must be high." She nodded. "Also, you're going to want to get a magic mobile since I hear the trains are currently down."

"Got it Mira." Cana walked to the door. "Come on Elfman, we got a hot head to rescue."

Oshibana

The team stood back as Kageyama sat before the barrier. A golden magic circle was under him and slowly the wind barrier began to glow the same color. This seemed to make the wind barrier less deadly.

"He hasn't betrayed us so far." Erza stated. "I guess this is a good sign."

"Yeah, but why is it taking him so long to get us out?" Romeo asked. "I thought Dispel Magic worked faster than this."

"Just the fact that he even knows magic like this is impressive." Gray stated. "It's difficult to learn, so this must be as far as he's gotten into it."

"I think he's got it." Kakashi stated.

The barrier dissipated in golden particles freeing the wizards.

"That was easier than freeing Lullaby." Kageyama took a deep breath and stood. "Alright, you're free. Are we going now or what?"

Eisenwald Guildhall: Basement, Evening…

Natsu had been rendered unconscious by the ritual currently taking place. His body was laid in the middle of a drawn magic circle which glowed faintly red. Hephaestus' statuette was sat at Natsu's head and it resonated while Mizuki and Erigor observed.

"At the rate this ritual is going, the window to deal justice to those wretched, legal guild masters will be small." Erigor looked at Mizuki. "Are you sure this is the best ritual?"

"It's the only one that won't draw more attention than we have on us." Mizuki stated. "It's also the one that seems to have the best success rate according to Lord Orochimaru, and he's not one to gloss over details."

"My spell will dissipate before this is done, and those annoying flies will come straight here." Erigor stated.

"They could also break out." Mizuki looked at him. "That is why I have posted my men around your guildhall. In the case they are not enough, the two of us are here."

"I shall be here as an added precaution." A new voice spoke up.

"Lord Orochimaru." Mizuki immediately turned around and knelt on one knee as Orochimaru himself entered the room. "I am honored by your presence my lord."

Erigor did not kowtow to anyone. "So, the leader of Sound's Desire makes himself known."

Orochimaru chuckled. "Of course, Erigor the Reaper." He looked at Mizuki. "You may rise my ace." Mizuki stood. "When we are this close to the goal, I refuse to send anything less than the best I can offer. Since my ace is already here, I'm the only thing better."

"Just do not cross me, and I'll welcome you to my guildhall." Erigor stated firmly.

Orochimaru had no doubt he could easily best someone like Erigor, but why do that when they were more useful alive. If they played their part, even with arrogance, let them live. They'd have done you a service, so return the favor.

If you killed everyone once you were done with them, what incentive did others have to follow you afterward? It's not like Erigor was weak by any means. He had been a crucial piece in obtaining the Salamander.

"I do not cross people unless they plan on crossing me first." Orochimaru stated. "My original life taught me that much. Now, I shall stay here to observe Salamander. Mizuki, post up somewhere helpful. Erigor, you are an ally, so do as you wish."

"I was getting bored of watching over this fly anyways." Erigor stated before walking out.

"I will do as you command my lord." Mizuki stated.

He followed Erigor leaving Orochimaru to stare at his current prize. "Salamander, you shall die, so that I may turn the windmills of fate for two worlds. Take pride in this fact as your soul leaves you in the coming days."

Near the Eisenwald Guildhall

Madara Uchiha appeared atop a tree branch within the desolate forest looking at the guildhall before him. "So, this is where Hephaestus has been moved. I should retrieve him now, but I'll see how things play out in the coming days."

Madara moved to find a better, more hidden, post where he could watch over things. Once he was secure, he pulled out his orb to get a closer look at the situation.

Eisenwald Outpost, Night…

Erza, Kakashi, Romeo, Happy, Gray, and Kageyama entered the outpost to find that it was just a rather large, plain looking room. That said, it was well off the beaten path and in a rather dense thicket of dead trees.

As they entered, Kageyama revealed why. "I know this place may not look like much, but this is where Eisenwald tends to store all its forbidden tomes and contraband." He nodded to the table. "If you remove the rug underneath that table, you'll find a trap door which leads to the vault."

"You're certain of this, right?" Kakashi asked.

"Not that it really meant much in hindsight, but I was one of Eisenwald's strongest under Erigor and equal to Rayule." Kageyama replied. "In this guild, if you got power, you get to see more than most. Just how it works."

"Perfect." Kakashi looked to Erza. "Let me see that Communication Lacrima. Just before we storm the guildhall, I'll contact the Rune Knights and tell them of this."

"Why would you do that for him?" Gray questioned skeptically.

Granted, the guy hadn't betrayed them, but he had been their enemy earlier that day.

"I'm trying to keep him out of jail Gray." Kakashi crossed his arms. "If he screws up along the way, I'll deal with him." He shook his head. "Look, if it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't have given someone like him this chance in my previous world, but you know what's to come."

"So, you're keeping me around to fight some big bad, huh?" Kageyama questioned.

"You're not trustworthy enough to hear the details but let me tell you this." Kakashi stated. "Much like your reasons for fighting with us now, the enemy that I know is out there has the potential for destruction unlike anything you've seen before."

"This guy is as bad as a demon or a literal god?" Kageyama asked.

"The person I'm referring to practically absorbed what you may call a demon. This demon was worth 9 or even 10 demons all together." Kakashi had decided to use terms they could understand to describe what the host of the Juubi was like.

Kageyama's eyes went wide. "This guy was that powerful?"

"I'd say so." Kakashi looked from Kageyama to his fellow guild wizards. "Look, I know we can't fully trust Kageyama, but any wizard we can get, whether in the guild or allied with us, could help. That is why I choose to impart some sense of trust in him."

All the other wizards in the room looked at one another as they absorbed what Kakashi said.

Kageyama eventually broke the silence with a sigh. "I know none of you can trust me, but perhaps you don't need to."

"What are you talking about Dar… Kageyama." Erza corrected herself.

"Trust can come in two forms in my opinion." Kageyama stated. "You can either trust in the person or trust that they will do something. For instance, I never trusted my guild, but I trusted in my guild mates to never attempt to kill me."

He shrugged. "In the end, my trust was misplaced, but I at least never tried to kill them. That's not exactly the point. In the end, you may not trust me, but can you at least trust that I have the desire to live. Gods, Demons, and some mage that can hold 10 times the power of a demon.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of facing any of these things, but I'll be dammed if I sit by letting other people fight for me. If I'm going to die, it'll be swinging. I can't exactly swing from the inside of a prison cell, so I'm with your guild weather you accept me or not."

Happy decided to try lightening the mood. "Yeah, but the way Kakashi spoke, you ended up being a big chicken. Where was this conviction when facing him?"

"Can it you stupid cat." Kageyama stated firmly. "That was a completely different situation. Clearly, my heart was never aligned with Eisenwald, but hearing what the former Shinobi had to say makes me think that perhaps I can be aligned with Fairy Tail.

Even then, I'm aligned with myself and am resolving that I don't want to die a coward. Whatever happens tomorrow, I'm with your group. I don't have a death wish, but if I should die, at least I'll die fighting."

Kakashi nodded. "Until you mess up, I will believe you are being honest."

Gray sighed. "I can't say I particularly like you, but I'll lay off from here on out."

"As will I, but if you betray us, Kakashi will be the least of your worries." Erza stated.

"If you help us rescue Natsu, I may just start to see you as a true ally." Romeo chimed in.

"Aye!" Happy could agree to that. "Right the wrongs of your guild and help us rescue him shadow man!"

"I'll certainly try." Kageyama crossed his arms. "It's true that I don't want to die, but I also want to understand. How do these wizards that I once thought of as flies have so much conviction and strength? If we don't all die tomorrow, maybe I'll find out."

"For now, I suggest we get some rest." Kakashi stated. "We'll work in shifts, and you will take first watch with me Kageyama. From there, we'll work with one wizard at a time while the rest sleep. Agreed?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Matt: Karacka definitely won't be there to watch it, but Kageyama may just have the chance to be in it. As for Hephaestus and Natsu, I have some plans, but that comes next time.