Chapter 4

Word count: 2,185

The rise of the sun over the horizon signaled a new beginning for the freed slaves of the tower of Heaven. The dust of the short yet violent battle settled, revealing many dead and wounded guards, along with a few wounded or dead slaves on the floor.

Those who were still able-bodied helped move bodies. The fate of the tyrants had been decided, thanks to the opinion of the one that helped inspire it all. The injured and dead guards would be bound into the center of the tower and left there to die.

The injured were given priority onboarding the ships after the few mages that had been taken as slaves were able to check that the boats were safe from traps so that they would not be forgotten. And those who had perished were buried outside of it, facing the dawn. A suggestion that was thrown by Erza, so they could always face the sunrise.

It took hours, but non complained. Midday arrived, and once they were done, the final issue became apparent.

Out of 200 slaves, not a single person knew how to navigate or had any real sense of direction. Even Naruto was completely clueless on what direction his cave was, which would at least have given him a point of reference where to begin.

"Why do we all split up?" An older slave suggested, stepping forward. "If we all just follow each other it's possible we will all just get lost… and none of us will ever see freedom. We've already made it this far, we know that there will be a price to pay. But it's a risk worth taking."

The voice was wise, and many agreed out of hand. If they split the fleet of ships some might survive the journey across the sea, even if not every craft made it. While it was more than likely that if they sailed as a flotilla they would all end up getting lost as the old man stated.

So, the decision was made.

Naruto looked at his cellmates, Simon, Sho, Erza, Millianna, Wally, and Rob. He sighed as he broke the news to each of them, "We are just one step from attaining freedom. There are 3 ships, for six of you. Simon, Sho, you two will take the ship sailing west. Millianna, Wally, you two will be heading Northeast, Rob, and Erza, you two will be going North."

As soon as he finished protest erupted,

"That's so unfair. Who made you leader?" Millianna questioned him loudly, causing the other three boys to nod in agreement, "Yeah!"

"Come on now children, don't make things difficult." Rob pleaded, "Do it for me, and the hope of finally being free."

It took a bit more prodding and convincing, but eventually, the four caved, throughout it all, Erza remained silent. But once the matter was settled she asked, "Who will you be joining?"

"Oh, I'm not gonna join you guys. I can see myself out of the Island with my magic, besides. I promised you all that this tower would fall today, and I intend to keep my word." The blond answered, scratching his cheek.

"Don't forget you have a promise to keep, young one," The elder of the group stated.

Naruto said nothing as he walked back into the place that held his… friends hostage for longer than he had been there. Once he was out of view he paused, friends? Were they his friends?

Acnologia had scoffed at the idea of friendship. Stating that everyone was below him, but for some reason. He didn't wish to let go of the group of people, especially not the red-haired girl that was three years younger. It triggered the same instinct that blared off when people intruded on his holy grounds.

He waited until the boats sailed off and were a safe distance away before he activated Aera, and floated away from the tower. Turning back to point his hand at the building as a white bullet of light shut off from his finger and upon impact triggered a large explosion that rocked throughout the Tower of Heaven.

He watched apathetically as the half-done building fell, the rubble certainly crushing all those that were inside. Justice brought at last, as he flew away.

He swooped down flying at his max speed just above the water until he was coming up on the ship containing the old man and the red-haired girl.

Though, he chose to keep his distance between them. Not alerting the duo he was on the boat with them. Instead, he stood far aft near the stern of the vessel.

The wind around him picked up as his face took on a look of concentration, Wind magic after all was his weakest and most recent acquisition. Beads of sweat began to form on his forehead, but he could feel the speed of the boat increase.

How long he remained like that, he couldn't tell, but hours at the least based on how he could feel the temperature in the air gradually beginning to cool.

"Will you join us?" A familiar voice disrupted his concentration, "Will you be coming with us to Fairy Tail?"

He sighed looking at the sky, it was already night. The black sky seemed just a tad bit darker with the absence of the moon. His curiosity sated, he had no reason to stick around much longer, thus he answered, "No, joining a guild is your dream, not mines."

"Well then! What's your dream?" Erza questioned him. Where was the distant and quiet redhead he had been told about?

"To kill my father, Acnologia, and to take his title of Dragon King." Why was he being honest?

"And after that?"

The question hurt Naruto, as he realized beyond killing his parent he had nothing beyond that. He remained silent, causing the 12-year-old female to speak up once more, "Rob told me about the promise you made. Are you gonna break his trust?"

"Your words hurt." He finally admitted, turning to question the girl, "But why are you so insistent on me staying with you two? I killed Jellal, shouldn't you hate me for that?"

It was her turn to be silent, as she pondered on her feelings, "He became a villain… no matter what my feelings are. As long as everyone else is safe… I owe their freedom and lives to you."

Cheers distracted the two, as their eyes turned to the bow of the ship. As lights in the distance gave them and the freed people hope of making landfall and end the arduous journey to freedom, they were in their final stretch. And it was further proven when familiar banners were spotted on ships approaching the vessel.

Looking up at the lights, making the winds pick up once more he spoke to Erza, "Before I can join, I must first return home. If you need me, I will make my territory in a place known to you humans as the Phoenix mountains."

She stood rooted, as more ships began to circle the boat, knights moving around and asking questions and bringing aid. But when she turned to look at where her savior had been standing just a moment before, he was gone.

Kushina, formerly Uzumaki, now Namikaze, in honor of her long-lost lover, was a very different woman from the one she was 12 years ago.

Once upon a time, she used to be a carefree, hot-headed civilian who could barely use magic.

Today, she was a proud mage, a captain of the 3rd reconnaissance division. After her husband's murder and kidnapping of her son, she had been left devastated and without a purpose. It had taken her nearly a year to be able to leave behind the self-destructive path she had thrown herself.

Amongst her division, she was regarded as the mother hen. Making sure each and every one of them were safe and sound after each mission, while she wasn't as strong as certain members of a rather troublesome guild. Her hard work and dedication had certainly paid off.

Though, if there was one flaw she possessed, was her allergy to paperwork.

She spaced off into the distance plainly ignoring the small pile in her desk, daydreaming about a nice, long bath…

"Captain! Orders from the Magic Council regarding the slaves that came ashore. We've been tasked with finding the one that took down the R-system." Her trusty assistant blurted, head poking through the door.

"Hmm?" The red-haired lady turned to look at the assistant, asking "Where would we find such a person. They obviously don't want to be found, otherwise they wouldn't have left their boat."

A week after the slave revolt

Naruto took the last of his belongings, placing it on a rather large pack. The cave that served as his room for nearly all of his life was empty and picked clean, as he did so, he wondered to himself if perhaps letting a girl three years his junior manipulate him into joining a group of humans was a good idea.

Redheads were dangerous. One bombed him into slavery, only to have to rescue another one from said chains.

Sighing, he slung the bag over his back and stepped out of his home. Beginning the trek down the mountain path.

The stroll was nice, considering it had been a while since he last been here. The gentle breeze, the forest smell.

Things he had taken for granted while living under Acnologia's tyrannical regime. Now that they were gone, and having experienced humanity. He truly could appreciate such small details in life.

That was until a loud voice interrupted his small break.

"Phoenix mountains, they said. Which part of the Phoenix mountains? North?! SOUTH?! East?! WEST?!"

Hiding behind the trunk of a tree, he poked his head out just to catch a peek of a red-haired woman wearing dark-colored robes with an ankh symbol displayed prominently in the center of the clothing item. She was accompanied by 5 others who were similarly clothed.

'What is it with red-haired women getting into my personal space?' the blond asked himself. He kept a close eye on the intruders, calculating the quickest way to kill the group.

"That girl, Erza was her name? She said he didn't leave any more hints."

His eyes widened a little, deciding to reveal himself, he walked out of his hiding spot, asking, "May I inquire about your presence in my forest?"

"Mm?" The woman turned around, only to freeze taking in the blond figure before her. She was only able to stutter out, "Na-Naruto?"

Before he knew it, a red missile shot at him, arms wrapping tightly around his waist. Making him emotionally uncomfortable, awkwardly, he slowly tried to push the human away from him stating,

"Yes, that would be. Do not wear my name out. It's the only thing I have that I didn't either have to kill for or given to me by that bastard of a father of mine."

Between tears, the redhead spoke up, excitedly repeating, "You're alive. You're really alive."

"I'm sorry. But do I know you?" The Dragon Slayer asked awkwardly, the red-haired stranger finally pulled back slightly, giving him a large smile and saying, "I'm your mother, Naruto."

"Oh, so father didn't kill you as well," Naruto states apathetically, causing Kushina to pull back face in shock as she pointed at him.

"Man with blue hair and blue tattoos around his fate?" Kushina asked, unable to comprehend the words that just came out of her lost son, or at least she hoped he was her lost son.

"And a proverbial asshole with a penchant for being abusive? Yes." The blond added confirming Kushina's previous claims.

"The captain found her lost son? I thought we wrote him off as dead?" A random soldier asked. Only for everyone present to witness Naruto raise a hand, a spell firing off from his finger as if it was a gun and blowing up, causing an explosion that rocked the ground.

As the dust settled, the Dragonslayer spoke pulling everyone from their shock, "Ain't nobody dead here cannon fodder. So, mother. What brings you to this part of my forest."

"Oh, yea…" Kushina pulled out a clipboard from her travel pack, "Someone known as the Dragon Prince…. Naruto?"

"Yes, I am the Dragon Prince," Naruto admitted, causing her to look at hint through squinted eyes.

Snapping into business mode, she read off from her clipboard, "Well, young man. We've been sent by the Council at the request of the Wizard Saints to retrieve you. You helped free slaves from illegal magic known as the R-System, and we'd like you to accompany us to the capital."

"By the way, you claimed to be my mother, but I've yet to know your name." Naruto said allowed, causing her to smile, "It's. Kushina, if you're curious, we can get to know each other on the way to the Capital."

"Yeah, sure. And you could tell me how to get to some guild called Fairy Tail."