Disclaimer - I do not own Naruto or Fairy Tail

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By Any Means

Chapter 13 - All Roads Lead to Rome Pt 3

Opening - No Pain, No Game by Nano

0o0o0o0o0o0

Sasuke was annoyed.

For several minutes they had just been standing there. Neither one making a move. Gauging how the other would open their attacks.

The dobe stood relaxed with his hands in his pockets with an irritating smirk that Sasuke just wanted to punch right off his cocky face. He hadn't even taken a stance. Tired of the standstill Sasuke charged forward.

It was obvious from the get go that this fight would require the use of his Sharingan. Months of watching the dobe spar against Erza, and several spars to pass the time facing off against the other, had shown him that. The dobe was always holding back, never showing what he was truly capable of. And right now, neither one of them could hold back.

Never in his life had he been so glad he had the Sharingan.

He knew the dobe was fast, but this was just insane. Before he had even reached the blond, he had witnessed the blond smirk like a manic fox before just planting his fist in his gut. He'd seen every single movement, knew exactly where the blond was aiming and he'd been completely defenseless. It was like being run over by a train.

Was this what it meant to be a shinobi?

Was this the strength of a shinobi?

One punch in and already he wanted to just give in. The pain spreading through his abdomen was immense. Was Kakashi capable of this as well? Had he been cheated such incredible power? Was all his training, all his days of agony in the backwoods of Magnolia meaningless? Learning to harness his family's taijutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu in secret had been difficult to hide from the Master. His clan's taijutsu was among the most difficult to counter and the blonde had simply plowed right through him.

No.

This wasn't the strength of a shinobi.

This was the strength of a battle-hardened warrior. Naruto had experienced entirely different battles than he ever had. The difference of going to beat up some mage thugs versus war.

Sasuke wasn't stupid.

That tattoo on the dobe's left shoulder blade marked him as a member of the Hagoromo. He was fighting against a true warrior. One that he would never face in Fiore normally.

If this was what a true warrior was like then he had to step up his game. He had to think differently. This wasn't a spar. The was life and death.

The question was did he want to live? Or die?

White hair and an incredible laugh that he would never grow tired of hearing filled his mind.

0o0o0o0o0

Naruto watched as pain contorted Sasuke's face with little care.

He was tired, drunk, and just did not want to deal with Sasuke's shit right now. He'd backed off, put distance between him and the now crouched teme. He put everything he had into that punch and could tell he'd shaken Sasuke's resolve. "Had enough? I thought you were going to beat what you wanted to know out of me? Or have you realized the difference between us?"

Sasuke's shoulders started to shake, and Naruto grew confused.

"Are… are you crying?"

The mage didn't answer, merely stood up, his fist clenching in front of him. "Fuck you," he said, Sharingan spinning wildly as he stared at the blond.

"Are you okay? I didn't think that'd break you-Woah!" Naruto cut off as Sasuke charged forward, throwing punch after punch. Slipping through the barrage, Naruto tried to figure out the adopted Hatake. "After taking that hit, he knows he can't fight me. And it's not like his life is on the line here…"

Seeing an opening, Naruto went to deliver another full powered punch, only to have Sasuke turn at the last second, barely avoiding the hit. The pressure from the attack split Sasuke's shirt, and Naruto was left off balance at the lack of contact. Capitalizing on the moment, Sasuke aimed a high kick at the blond's face. Just as the kick would've hit though, the shinobi's hand locked around his ankle, completely arresting his movement. With a flex, the blond flipped the raven into the air and landed a double fisted hammer blow into his back, the impact driving him into the ground and creating a small crater.

Seeing Sasuke writhe in pain in front of him, Naruto frowned. "Is that everything? If you're really that weak, then there's no way I could let you in on this. You'd be dead on your very first assignment."

"...up."

Naruto cupped a hand around his ear. "What was that?"

Bringing his arms underneath him, Sasuke began to slowly push himself up. Getting to his knees, he spit the blood filling his mouth off to the side. "I said, shut up!" Sasuke pushed himself the rest of the way up, before entering a more defensive stance.

"So you're waiting for me to come to you this time? Fine."

The blond rushed forward, left arm leading. As Sasuke began to move, his Sharingan anticipating his movement, Naruto changed his attack mid motion. Instead of a punch, he grabbed Sasuke's defending arm and used it to throw his defenses wide open. The raven desperately tried to gain some distance by backpedaling, but the blond wouldn't allow it. He stuck on Sasuke, sending punch after punch into the mage's exposed torso, knocking his arms away every time he tried to reset his defenses. Finally, he ended the combo with an uppercut that caused Sasuke's head to snap back, almost causing him to backflip before hitting the dirt.

"Had enough yet?" Naruto asked, placing his hands on his hips.

0o0o0o0o0

Sasuke landed with a grunt. Everything hurt. From his skull to his legs, everything was in pain. "Kuso! How is he that strong!? Even Erza's never outclassed me like this! WHAT THE HELL HAVE I BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME!?"

"Had enough yet?" Naruto asked, placing his hands on his hips.

Had he? It would be foolish to continue. When he challenged the dobe he had thought he'd gauged the difference in their strength from the few spars they'd had and watching the dobe fight Erza all the time, he was positive he could take him on. But for him to hide so much strength like he had been all this time… how was it even possible for him to beat that?

"How? How are you so strong? What makes you so different from me? Why is it you received such power and I didn't!?"

Naruto just shook his head. "You know, sensei told me about this. He said the Uchiha were narcissists of the highest order, and obsessed with power. I didn't think it would be this bad though. After all, Kakashi took you in." He looked at Sasuke, pity in his eyes.

Sasuke's eyes blazed, his pent up feelings finally breaking free. "Kakashi? He's just an overprotective hack who was witholding my true birthright from me! If I had been trained as a shinobi, I would be stronger than you!"

Naruto's eyes darkened as he listened to Sasuke. "You think merely a difference in training is what makes me stronger than you?" His form flickered, before reappearing right in front of Sasuke's prone form. He reached down and grabbed a fistful of raven hair, harshly jerking the other man to his feet. He leaned in, almost laying his head on the other's shoulder.

"Don't be so full of yourself." He slammed Sasuke back to the ground, face first.

"This power I wield is nothing so trivial. It was gained through blood - mine and that of the many people I killed. I've done many horrible things Sasuke." Naruto ground the mage's face into the dirt. "I've killed children in front of their mother's, I've slaughtered entire families whose crime was nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time, just to get at one person." He finally released Sasuke, taking a step back.

"You want the power I have? Then you have to suffer and fall into the darkness like I have." Naruto's eyes flickered red briefly. "I'll even help you. Why don't I go and kill your girlfriend? Surely that would motivate you."

Sasuke's world froze at that. "Why don't I go and kill your girlfriend?" The words rang through his mind in a never ending chant. He could see her now, sleeping peacefully in her bed, her angelic white hair splayed across the mattress as the blond killer slowly crept up to her, knife in hand. She wouldn't even be able to defend herself, not given the chance to fight for her life. A rage burned through his core as his own mind showed him the image of Naruto killing her, stabbing her over and over again. "If you touch her, I'll-"

"You'll what? Kill me? We already know the outcome of that. There is nothing you could do if I decided to go after her. In fact…" He turned around, back toward Magnolia, before looking back at Sasuke, red eyes glinting in the darkness. "No time like the present, right?"

"Stop it! Naruto!"

The blond just walked away, back toward Magnolia, back toward home, back toward Mirajane.

"NARUTO!" Sasuke screamed, his entire being focusing on a single thought. "I need to stop him!"

Suddenly, his left eye burned with an unholy pain. It felt as if someone was shoving a flaming poker into his brain. He tried to close his eyes, but the left was being held open by some unknown force. At the same time, his field of vision sharpened incredibly, solely focusing on the blond's back. Almost instantaneously, the blond was engulfed in a blaze of black flames.

As suddenly as it started, the pain stopped, and Sasuke's eye snapped shut as he laid there panting. His right eye reopened after a few seconds, and he stared at the space where the blond had been, seeing only a black conflagration.

"...hah...hah… What was that?" he mumbled out, trying to comprehend what had just happened.

"That would be the Amaterasu."

0o0o0o0o0

Naruto silently panted as he watched his clone burn to death before poofing away, the memories of the worst kind of burning filling his senses. "The mangekyou… did… did I really push him that far?"

"To think he would unlock that just by threatening his girl. I'm going to enjoy tormenting him."

"Just stop it! Leave him out of this..." Naruto half threatened half pleaded.

"You and I both know it's too late for that now. You can't protect him from his birthright and you certainly can't protect him from me."

With a monumental force of will, he managed to shove the voice into the back of his mind, just in time to hear Sasuke speak up.

"...hah...hah… What was that?"

"That would be the Amaterasu," Naruto answered revealing himself behind the mage

"You're… alive?" He turned his head, staring at the blond incredulously.

Naruto snorted, trying to hide how shaken he was. "Despite your best efforts, yes. Shocking isn't it?"

Ignoring his quip, Sasuke asked another question in between pants. "What's the Amaterasu?"

"The highest level of fire release. It's black flames are impossible to put out. I haven't seen it for quite some time." Naruto watched as the black flames danced back and forth.

"How… did I do that?"

"The mangekyou, the final evolution of the sharingan. It's unlocked when an Uchiha experiences a high level of emotional stress. The need to protect Mira was so strong you unlocked yours. The powers it gives are always different. The Amaterasu is just one of several abilities you now have."

"Several?"

Naruto sighed, annoyed at Sasuke's ongoing questions. "Yes, several. What they are, I don't know, go train somewhere and find out. I, on the other hand, am going to… kuso," Naruto sighed as he started to walk away before remembering the Amaterasu flames needed to be dealt with. "I really hate those damn eyes," he whispered under his breath. He requiped a scroll pouch and pulled one out, unrolling it and placing it before the flames. "Fuuin!" In a puff of smoke the pitch-black flames disappeared. Standing up Naruto began to head inside.

"Naruto!"

The blond stopped, not looking back.

"Don't think we're done. You think you can just threaten Mira like that and walk away!?"

Naruto sighed as he turned back around and looked Sasuke in the eyes, something he hadn't done all night. "You wanted to know how I got power, I showed you. Sasuke, the road I took to get here is not one you can just skip through. I didn't get a comfy life at a guild where I could fool around and find love, ...know love. I was beaten, stabbed, burnt, and turned into a killer, and that was before I joined the Hagoromo, before I turned 10 years old. You say if you had received the training of a shinobi you'd be stronger. The truth is, if you had received that training you'd be dead. What our parents never told us was the truth of what they did. How it changes you, kills you inside. I don't even know if I can even call myself a human anymore." Naruto stopped briefly to let what he was saying sink in with the mage. "If you want this power I have, it means sacrificing everything you have. Sacrificing her, because she'll hate you. She'll hate what you'll do for this. So if you think you have the resolve to follow through, find me when we get back and I'll show you what it means to be a Shinobi." Naruto turned and left.

Sasuke felt his strength fail as the blond disappeared and the world faded to black, but not before he heard a feminine voice. "Master certainly likes to leave messes behind for me to clean up."

0o0o0 The Next Day 0o0o0

"What happened?" Sasuke groggily sat up in his futon, his body sore but otherwise fine. Memories of the night before flooded his brain and panic settled in. "Naruto!" He threw the covers of his futon off and rushed out of the room.

He immediately bolted for Naruto's room and found it empty. "Where is he!?" Turning around Sasuke rushed through the hotel in search of the blond. He ran around for five minutes until he heard Naruto's voice coming from the dining hall. "Naruto!" Sasuke barged in, seeing his guildmates sitting around a table enjoying breakfast with the bastard.

Naruto stared back at him with a bagel in his mouth giving him a confused look.

"You bastard!" Sasuke lunged at the blond, causing him to flail and flip his chair over backwards, inadvertently dodging the enraged raven.

"Sasuke!" Erza stood up, a scowl on her face.

Lucy gasped bringing her hands to cover her mouth while Gray, Natsu, and Happy stared on in confusion.

"You stay away from them, you son of a bitch!" Sasuke yelled, "Just stay away from them!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Naruto questioned from his crouched position.

"Don't you play dumb with me! What the fuck did you think was going to happen! That I would just forget!?"

"Sasuke what are you talking about? What happened?" Erza asked moving forward only for Naruto's sudden burst of laughter to stop her.

"Hahahahaha! Oh man, I must've hit you harder than I thought!" All eyes turned to him.

"You two fought!?" Erza yelled now glaring at both of them.

Naruto waved her off. "It's no big deal, we were simply settling a matter that needed to be dealt with is all. We came to an understanding, didn't we Sasuke?"

Sasuke looked at Naruto incredulously, but Naruto's final words from the night before came back and he relaxed, if only slightly so. "Hn, I still haven't forgotten dobe and don't think I will anytime soon either." Sasuke then turned and left, returning to his room to make sure his things were packed.

Anger swelled within him. He knew better than to pick a fight with the blond while the others were around, but his body had just moved on its own. Not only would he need to make use of his ninjutsu, but that would force Naruto to use his ninjutsu as well. Plus, he would be outting himself as a shinobi to the guild. That was something he couldn't allow. He'd lost one family already, he wouldn't let the blond bastard make him lose this one as well.

He needed to train. He needed to catch up to Naruto.

The only question…

Was how?

0o0o0o0o0

Naruto sighed as he looked at Sasuke's retreating back. "That was close. Jeez, did he really think starting a fight now was a smart thing to do? Though I suppose I did take things a little too far..." The blond glanced over at the others before putting on a smile which did little to remove the scowl on the red-head's face, "Oh don't give me that look Erza-chan! He'll be back to his usual grumpy self before we know it, which isn't much different from how he is now but still, his usual grumpy self nonetheless!"

Erza just continued to stare at Naruto for a few moments more, causing him to fidget nervously, before she sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "Boys will be boys, I suppose," she began, Naruto relaxing. "-but don't do it again." Her voice had deepened at the end, and a menacing aura began emanating from the redhead.

Quickly nodding his head, Naruto rapidly snapped a salute and shouted "Yes ma'am!" before he zipped out of the room, eager to not give Erza anything else to complain about.

Lucy, Natsu, Happy, and Gray were all frozen halfway out of their chairs, still trying to process what had just gone on. Natsu was the first to recover. "AH! Hey wait a minute, that's not fair! Erza always beats us up when me and the icicle fight."

"What was that, charcoal breath?!" Gray rebutted slamming his head into Natsu's.

"Uh, guys, I don't think you want to-" Lucy began, only to be cut off as Happy placed a paw on her shoulder.

"It's too late," the cat remarked, his other paw pointing to behind the unaware duo.

"Oh? So you think I just beat you up, huh?"

Natsu and Gray froze as a hand clamped over the top of their heads.

"Mommy."

0o0o0 Akane Resort 0o0o0

The six Fairy Tail mages and their blond friend were all staring at the magnificence of the resort, stars in their eyes.

"Awesome! This place is huge!"

"I wonder what kinda food they have here?"

"Hn."

"I-is that a giant toad head?"

"Now everyone," Erza began, "Let's stay together. We need to go check in and…" She trailed off, noticing that Natsu had already run off, pulling Lucy along with him with Happy directing from the air. The redhead sighed, before turning to Gray, Naruto, and Sasuke. "Let's get checked in then. Gray, would you take Natsu's bags to his room?"

"What? Why do I have to take flamebrain's stuff-?" He cut off as Erza's gaze sharpened. "I-I-I mean of course, right away!" He grabbed the Dragonslayer's bags and dashed ahead, looking for the check-in area.

"Well, let's meet up in the hotel lobby then, eh?" Naruto offered brightly.

"...If you say so," Sasuke grunted out, walking off suddenly.

"...He doesn't like me much, does he?" the blond asked, a small cloud raining on him.

Erza placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, noticing him tense up but not reacting. "It's fine, I think you must have injured his pride in that little spar you had. He'll come around."

Shrugging, the blond re-shouldered his pack, looking to Erza. "Lead the way then, Erza-chan!"

0o0o0o0o0

"Natsu, slow down!" Lucy screamed as her body came to screeching halt, crashing into the pinkette that had been dragging her around the resort.

"Let's go over there!" Natsu pointed over to the packed water park, and before she could protest he was dragging her along.

"Natsu it's not going anywhere, slow down!" Lucy cried as she was once more pulled along. "Why me?! If any of the girls saw this they would be laughing at how I can't control him. Seriously does he have to drag me everywhere? And I literally mean drag?!"

"Natsu, Natsu, over there! That one has a shorter line!" Happy called out, getting a bird's eye view of the water park.

Spying the line Happy was pointing at, Natsu made to rush to it only for him to feel a deadweight in his hand rather than the usual lightweight Lucy that he could just pick up and go. Turning he saw Lucy had grabbed a lamppost and was holding on with all her might. "Lucy?"

Seeing she finally had his attention, she let go of her death grip on the lamppost and straightened herself before giving him a pointed look. "I know you and Happy are excited Natsu, but you haven't even given me the chance to change into my swimsuit! I'm excited as well but the ride isn't going anywhere. Please, just slow down a bit and I promise we'll have a lot of fun. Plus, um, well I got a new swimsuit and Sakura helped me pick it out and… ah I'll just go head to a changing booth now!" Lucy's face heated up as she dashed off, leaving a confused Natsu and Happy behind.

10 minutes later she found them sitting on a bench looking bored, both already in swim trunks. She coughed to get their attention. "Well what do you think?" she asked, striking a pose and winking at the two. She stood before the two in her new pink two piece with a yellow flower etched into it,doing her best to not look nervous.

"Finally! Happy find a short line!" Natsu stood up and made to grab her hand only to stop short as he noticed her depressed look. Instead he tried to remember the manners his sister had beat into him, and offered it to her instead. "Let's go!" He smiled brightly at her and tentatively she moved her hand into his and closed her eyes, expecting to blast from where she stood.

When nothing happened she opened her eyes to see Natsu standing still and waiting for her. She blinked once or twice before she smiled and began to drag him along, "Come on, before that mangy cat ditches us!"

"Happy's not mangy, he's Happy!"

0o0o0o0o0

"Hit me!" the dashingly dressed Ice Make mage called.

The next card flipped over, revealing the jack of diamonds. "Ooh, 22 total. I'm afraid that's a bust," the dealer announced, sweeping the bets in.

"Che, whatever. Let me get a drink and I'll be back for my money," Gray said, before moving over to the nearby bar. He had just ordered a drink when a light voice came from behind him.

"Gray-sama?"

He turned and was stunned to see Juvia of the Element 4 standing before him.

She was wearing a dark blue bikini with a sarong wrapped around her lower half. She stood blushing, not expecting to have run into him yet, much less at the bar she'd been planning to order from before tracking him down.

"Er, you're that phantom woman right?" Gray didn't know what to think of the bluenette as she slid onto the stool next to him. The last time he'd seen her she'd been attacking his home. Of course that was under orders from Jose, but she'd still done it nonetheless. She was also the one that originally took Lucy when the war between Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord broke out. And here she was, sitting next to him as if none of that had occurred.

"So… I heard Phantom was disbanded." Gray mentally kicked himself. "Seriously of all things to say I start with that?"

"Yes. Juvia is now a free mage. I, well Juvia is hoping that, maybe,..." she was not ready for this. Not yet. She had planned on stunning him with the new dress she'd bought and the Fairy Tail medallion she had crafted to show her desire to join Fairy Tail. As well as find any Fairy hussy that would dare look at her Gray-sama with any kind of need and end them. But that was beside the point. She wanted to take the day to prepare herself for confronting the man of her affections and be whisked away to be married and have his children.

"I see." It wasn't hard to tell what she was requesting. Gray took a sip of his scotch before continuing. "Unfortunately that sort of thing isn't up to me. After all that… happened, I dunno." Juvia looked down slightly as he spoke. "But I'm sure the others here wouldn't mind getting to know you... and if you make a good impression I don't see the Master turning you down. He usually doesn't most of the time anyway. How else would that Flamebrain get in the guild?"

"Oh Gray-sama, Juvia will do anything!" Juvia cried out, elated that he was willing to give her a chance.

"I wouldn't say things like that," he said more to himself than her, knowing just how weird his guildmates could get with newbies. "Later on we're meeting at the beach. Why don't you join us there?"

"Are you sure?" she asked hesitantly.

"Yeah, it should be fine." He stood up and began walking back to the card table. "And now to get my money back!"

"Gray-sama!" Juvia swooned, staring at his retreating back.

0o0o0o0o0

"So now that our bags are taken care of, what are we doing now?" Naruto asked as he followed along behind Erza, hands stuffed into the pockets of his cargo shorts.

Erza crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side. "Hmm. I hadn't really made a plan besides 'Enjoy the day.' So whatever catches my eye, I suppose?"

"Shouldn't that be 'our eyes?'" the blond rebutted.

Erza sent a pointed look at her companion that had him glancing off to the side and whistling while fiddling with the zipper of his hoodie. "Right, whatever catches your eye. Got it."

Aimlessly walking around the park, Naruto's ears picked up the sounds of people screaming. Glancing up, he noticed the rollercoaster track that circled the park was passing by overhead.

"Hey Erza."

"Hmm?"

"How about that?" he asked, pointing at the tracks overhead.

Panning her gaze to where he was pointing, she studied the tracks for a moment. "I see. Well, why not. It doesn't look that bad."

0o0o0 30 minutes later 0o0o0

"Ugh. My stomach…" the redhead moaned out, her face pale as she sat on a bench.

Naruto chuckled as he handed her a water bottle. "I can't believe it. Erza Scarlet, Fairy Tail's Titania, done in by a mere rollercoaster?"

"S-shut up! I just wasn't prepared for it!" Erza riposted, blushing.

"Oh really? Then after riding it once, you should be prepared to go again, right?" the blond challenged, face contorting into a vulpine grin.

"W-what? Again?" Erza's bangs shadowed her eyes as she leaned forward. Suddenly, she shot up. "Of course! This is nothing!" She confidently declared.

"Then why are your knees shaking?"

Blushing once again, the mage grabbed Naruto's hand and began dragging him to the rollercoaster line. "L-let's not waste any time!"

0o0o0 30 minutes later 0o0o0

"~blegh~"

"Look, if you didn't want to do it, you could have just said so," Naruto said as he rubbed the redhead's back as she continued to be sick into a wastebasket.

"..." Erza mumbled something, too low for him to make out.

"What was that?" he asked, cupping his other hand to his ear.

Suddenly, her hand shot out and grabbed a fistful of his shirt, hauling him in close to her, her eyes glinting demonically.

"No one ever finds out about this. EVER." She then proceeded to release him and turned back to the wastebasket just in time.

"~blegh~"

Naruto sweatdropped, one hand going back to rubbing her back while the other discreetly tucked away the photos he'd gotten from the ride booth.

"Maybe I'll hold on to these… Just in case."

Erza's stomach settled down after a few more minutes, and the two were now walking around the park, looking for something else to occupy their time when the loudspeakers situated all around activated.

"Ehem, testing, testing… 1-2-3… Attention all park goers! Our annual couples scavenger hunt is about to begin! If you'd like to participate, head on down to the beach area and get signed up!"

Naruto sweatdropped at seeing the mob of people that began racing toward the beach. "Wow, this must be a pretty popular contest."

Erza nodded in agreement. "Yes, I've heard it has some fabulous prizes."

"Oh?" The blond raised an eyebrow at that. "I could play the part of boyfriend if there's something you want…" he teased the redhead.

Erza scoffed, fighting down a light blush at the suggestion. "Fabulous prizes, yes, but nothing I cannot obtain on my own."

"...And this year, the first place prize is a pair of tickets to the famous Muflier Rouge! Normally, it takes reservations months in advance to even get in, but they have graciously provided us with two tickets redeemable at any time!"

Naruto whistled as the crowd increased in size. "Wowza, that sounds pretty fancy. Is that place really that famous Erza?" Hearing no response, he turned back the redhead, only to find her standing there with stars in her eyes.

"...Um, Erza? ...Titania? ...Erza-chan?"

"Naruto!" the Fairy Mage suddenly yelled out, hands clamping down on his shoulders.

"H-Hai?!" he squeaked out, freaked out by Erza's behaviour.

"We're joining this scavenger hunt!"

0o0o Outside Hargeon o0o0

Crouching on a branch among the treetops, Shikamaru sighed as he dug through his bag looking for the communication lacrima. "Troublesome woman, asking us to check in all the time…"

Raising a hand and adjusting his glasses, Shino stared at his fellow shinobi. "It is only logical. Why? Because if something were to happen on our mission, we need to have someone to report back to Naruto-san."

"I get it, I get it." Shikamaru waved him off as he finally pulled out the lacrima. "Well, let's get this over with." A few fiddles and an application of magic later, the orb was blinking, waiting for the recipient on the other end to answer.

After a few blinks, the orb glowed solid, before fading to reveal an impatient looking redhead. "What is it shithead?"

"...Really? That's what you open with? You're the one who told us to check in when we begin the mission," Shika said, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

Tayuya waved him off. "I'm a businessperson fuckwit, I don't have time to remember everything I tell you to do."

"..." A vein began to throb in Shikamaru's temple.

Seeing his comrade's plight, Shino cut in. "We will be beginning the exploration of the current area to find the location of Gato Corp. Once located, we will infiltrate and find physical evidence linking the shipping company to shinobi powers. We will then exfiltrate and rendezvous back at your location to contact Naruto-san with our findings."

"Right, right," Tayuya deadpanned. "Anyone tell you that the way you speak is just like a fucking robot? I mean, you could give the Terminator a run for the money."

Shino's glasses flashed, but he remained silent.

"Look, we're done here. We'll contact you again when we make it out. Don't accidentally kick the bucket while we're gone."

"Why you dumb fucking shi-" The lacrima shut off, Shikamaru cutting the flow of power. "Troublesome," he sighed, tucking away the lacrima.

"Agreed."

0o0o Several hours later outside the Gato Corp compound o0o0

"So we have, in grand total, over 2 dozen guards, what appear to be several magic turrets, a barbed wire fence, and one dog to get passed."

"So this is going to be like a repeat of that one academy test?"

"In essence, yes."

"...Did anyone ever clear that without levelling the building?"

"Not to my knowledge, no."

"..."

"No, that is not an option this time."

"Fine, let's get this over with then." Shikamaru placed a hand Shino's shoulder. "This may feel… unpleasant for a moment, but bear with it."

"Is it anything like having thousands of kikaichu crawling throughout your body constantly, each buzzing and humming leading to a cacophony of noise that would be enough to deafen a person if I didn't dampen it with chakra?"

"...Okay, this should be like a pleasant dip in the pool then. Just don't get separated from me."

"Affirmative."

Upon Shino's assent, the two began to sink into the surrounding shadows, completely disappearing from view within a few seconds.

After a brief moment, the shadows in an unused room of the second floor deepened, before the two shinobi climbed up out of them.

"First stage: success. Now to find out the floor plan. Shino?"

With a nod, the other man released a small burst of chakra, causing a swarm of his kikaichu to take flight. They buzzed with acknowledgement of their task, before the cloud dispersed.

The two waited in silence, and, only a few minutes later, the swarm reappeared before rejoining their host.

"There are at least 3 sub-basements here, filled with various manner of machinery. Beyond that was an airtight entranceway, so I could not proceed further. It seems the CEO's office is 2 floors above us. There is an armory located on the 1st floor, along with the entrance to a warehouse. The rest of the upper floors consist mainly of typical office space."

"Let's hit the… warehouse first. I doubt they're stupid enough to leave anything out in the open, but it won't hurt to check," Shikamaru said, his hands up in his concentration pose. "After that we'll head to the office. From what little I've been able to grab on Gato, he's paranoid enough to probably want his most important documents near at hand. That's probably where we'll hit the paydirt."

"So we ignore the sub basements?"

"They're an opportunity target. If we get the chance, sure, we can take a look," the Nara said, rising and checking the hallway right outside the room. Seeing the coast was clear, he waved Shino to follow him.

Avoiding the few guards patrolling the hallways with ease, the two eventually slipped into the warehouse unnoticed.

At a look from Shikamaru, Shino once again called forth a swarm of his kikaichu, sending them to inspect the various containers.

"I must admit, Shikamaru-san, I am feeling a bit uneasy." Shino pushed his glasses up with his index finger. "Why? Because even though this is supposed to be a legitimate business, the security seems too light. It was entirely too easy to traverse the building."

"Normally I'd agree with you Shino," the other shinobi said, inspecting a nearby crate. "But on the other hand, we both are pretty are pretty skilled, and the important stuff is probably kept somewhere away from general employees." Moving to the next crate, Shikamaru paused as he noticed some of the kikaichu returning.

Raising a hand, one of the bugs alighted on Shino's finger while the rest hovered nearby, awaiting instructions. After a moment, Shino looked at Shikamaru, a strange look on his face - what was visible of it anyway.

"I believe I might have found something. Check the containers in Row K."

Quickly heading over there, Shikamaru pulled out a kunai and wedged open the top of a crate in the indicated row. As the lid popped off, he stood there, his face blank. Row after row of kunai glittered in the dull lighting.

He quickly moved to another section and popped the lid off another container, this one filled with ANBU body armor.

"..."

"..."

"...I stand corrected. I think we should be very worried now Shino. If I may?" With the other man's assenting nod, he grasped his shoulder, and the two quickly sunk into the shadows.

A few seconds later, the shadows in the CEO's office deposited the two shinobi right inside the door.

"Shino, check for any hidden compartments. I'll take the desk." Putting action to words, Shikamaru began heading for the desk. "We need to get our evidence ASAP and get out of here."

Shino nodded, his kikaichu spreading along the large room while he himself began examining several expensive looking vases.

Unfortunately, mere minutes into their search, the door to the office opened and the CEO himself walked in.

The three stared at each other for a moment, stunned into inaction by surprise.

"H-hey! What is this?! Robbery! Guards! Help m-!" In the middle of yelling, the shadows by the doorway came to life, wrapping around the short CEO and silencing him, as well as closing the door.

"...New plan. Shino, grab everything in here and seal it. I need to have a chat with Gato here," the Nara said, advancing toward his captive.

As Shino's kikaichu began to gather everything not nailed to the floor, Shikamaru willed the shadows around Gato's head to recede. "When were you approached by Kyosho no Issan?"

Gato looked up at the man fearfully. "Kyo…? Who? What are you talking about?"

Shikamaru stabbed the short man in the left hand, the shadows covering his mouth as he screamed.

"Look, I don't have time for this whole routine. Just tell me what you know, and I won't hurt you too much." The shinobi's bored tone caused the CEO to quake even more.

The shadows receded once more, Gato's whimpers filling the silent office. "P-please, I don't k-know what you're talking about. I'll give you whatever you want, just let me go!"

Sighing, Shikamaru raised his kunai again and covered the man's mouth. "Remember, you asked for this."

As his kunai began to descend, he noticed the subtlest of shifts in his target's eyes. Instinct flaring, he dropped his jutsu and threw himself into a dive, just in time to avoid a massive sword swinging through where his neck would have been.

Unfortunately, this action had been predicted as he rolled right into his opponent's jutsu, causing him to be engulfed in a sphere of water.

Seeing his tormenter trapped, Gato swaggered up to his savior, wrapping a handkerchief around his bleeding hand.

"Finally. Do you know how hard it was to just let him get away with this while you took your sweet time getting here? I pay you top-dollar, I expect top-dollar service."

The new shinobi laughed in mockery. "You're still alive, aren't you Gato? And besides, I wanted to have a bit of fun. It's not often we get a pair of shinobi rats sneaking around."

While the two spoke, Shikamaru tried to look around, the water providing heavy resistance. "What happened to Shino? Did he make it out? Or…" the Nara's heart sped up at the thought. "We are way out of our league. This guy must have taken out Shino without making a sound and captured me with little effort."

Slowly so as not to draw their attention, Shikamaru reached into one of his belt pouches. He felt around until he found what he was looking for: the emergency SOS lacrima. With a brief surge of magic, he activated it.

"Ho, looks like one of our rats is still kicking. Let me remedy that," his captor said, forming a handseal. The Suiton: Suiro began to give off a dim glow as it was pumped full of chakra, revealing the enemy's bandage covered face.

Shikamaru's eyes widened. "That's-!" His thoughts cut out as the water prison pulsed, immediately knocking him out.

Turning to Gato, Zabuza released his jutsu, Shikamaru's body flopping bonelessly onto the floor. "Don't worry. I'll find out who they're working for."

"Good. And when you're done, bring them to me." The short CEO cradled his injured hand as he sneered at the limp body. "I need to dole out their punishment personally."

0o0o That Night, Akane Resort o0o0

"Naruto may I ask you something?"

It was late now, sometime near midnight and both Erza and Naruto had yet to call it an evening, between winning the scavenger hunt earlier in the day and enjoying the other's company they had decided to take a stroll throughout the park.

"Uh… sure."

The day had been enjoyable to, if not slightly embarrassing for Erza, as upon receiving the tickets to Muflier Rouge the crowd had chanted for Naruto and her to kiss. To her horror Naruto suddenly took a hold of her waist and kissed her in front of everyone in the crowd.

Despite it being only her second kiss, the first also being claimed by the blond in front of a crowd, it had been mind blowing. It was like the world had melted away and it was just the two of them. It was incredible the feelings he brought out in her. Normally she would've delivered holy retribution to any man that would dare do such a thing but with him… with him she felt excited and tingly inside. She could never guess what he would do next or how.

Which is what brought her to the question that had been bugging her for the last week.

"What are we to you?"

Naruto's brow rose, "What do you mean?"

"The guild, Kakashi and Anko, Lucy, me; what are we to you? Are we your friends, acquaintances, what?"

Naruto just stared at her, taken back by the sudden set of questions. "Well… I'd say you're my friends. I guess, it's been a long time since I've actually had any. I had comrades and allies before, but not any friends."

"You didn't have any friends?" Erza questioned with concern. "Surely you must've had at least one friend growing up."

Naruto stopped to think for a moment, "Well I wouldn't really call him my friend necessarily, more like an older brother. He's the one who initially trained me when I was younger. He taught me how to fight and use magic. I saw him not too long ago, but before that the last time I saw him was before he ditched me with a group of weirdoes. Heh, bastard didn't even look back. But that's how he is."

"Was he also apart of your original guild?"

This time Naruto looked at her with surprise before realization dawned on him. "Tch, that Kakashi... figures he'd say something. How… how much did he tell you?"

"Not much. Mostly that something bad happened to your guild and most of the members were killed, including the children."

Naruto sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. "That's what happened in a nutshell. I was too young to understand why it happened but I do now." Erza took note of his right hand clenching tight. "My sensei and I escaped together and disappeared."

"Naruto," Erza spoke softly, reaching out and taking one of his hands in hers. "I know what it's like to lose your home. When I was young I was taken from my hometown. I…" Erza paused as she mentally prepared herself. "I was a slave for what felt like an eternity." She looked away in shame, sure that he wouldn't look at her the same anymore, but unable to let go of his hand.

Naruto felt his other arm move on its own as he reached out and gently cupped her face to make her look at him. "Hey, there's nothing for you to be ashamed of. You said you were a kid when you were taken right?" She nodded her head, enjoying the feeling of his hand against her face, "Then there was nothing you could do, just… just like there was nothing I could do about my guild." Naruto looked up at the night sky and closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. "All we can do is move forward. At least that's what I've been told."

"But it isn't easy. I want to move forward, but I can't. Not yet. All of the people I've killed… how can I just move forward when they can't? How do I just forget about the injustice against Shadow Heart? How can I let my enemies operate unopposed and destroy the land my ancestors died protecting?"

"It isn't easy. I want to believe I've moved forward but I know in my heart I haven't. How can I forget all of the others? I incited the rebellion, sparked the revolt, so why was I the only one that was allowed to enjoy freedom and the others… the others weren't? Why wasn't I the one that died?"

"How do I move forward when I know the truth? This world is corrupt, twisted. I've seen what man is truly like; behind the kind smiles and fancy clothing is nothing more than a demented beast. How can they expect me to not act? They don't deserve mercy... but does that mean I do? Am I any different? Behind my smiles and laughter is a monster just as terrible… And so it falls to one monster to destroy another? ...How fitting. I can't move forward... because I have no right to."

"But I survived. I made it through eternity and to that place Rob talked about. That wonderful place where the broken gather and become whole again. Where heroes live and legends are made. They accepted me, and taught me so much. Love, happiness, camaraderie... that it's okay to rely on someone else. Maybe I don't deserve to move forward, but for the sake of those that were left behind I can't let it end yet. I'll show them what it means to live in this world.

"Erza-"

"Naruto-"

The two separated, Erza blushing while Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "You go ahead," the blond said first.

"Naruto, I don't know everything that has happened to you, but I know you can overcome it. If you ever need to talk, I'm here for you."

He smiled wryly and shook his head. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I'll pass on that offer. This is something I have to deal with myself."

"If you're sure..."

"I am, thanks." Feeling the heaviness of his eyes, Naruto smiled at her, "It's getting late, we should head back. We can talk more tomorrow."

"Perhaps we can make use of those tickets then. You certainly seemed to go crazy over them earlier." Erza's eyes went starry eyed at the thought of the delectable treats available at Muflier Rouge.

Naruto couldn't help the chuckle that hopped out of him. "It's a date, then."

Erza snapped back to reality at the statement. "It-it doesn't have to be! It can just be two friends… going to a fancy restaurant that couples usually go to... As a couple…"

"So a date then?"

"..."

"Right. See you tomorrow afternoon!" Naruto's grin was nearly splitting his face while Erza's blush almost matched her hair.

"D-Damnit Naruto, that's not fair!"

"All's fair in love and war!" he shot back laughing as he began walking back to the hotel.

"*Urk*" Erza's blush intensified as her imagination went into overdrive, causing her to overheat and momentarily blank out.

Naruto was a few blocks away when he heard it.

It was the last thing he wanted to hear. He was… content... living in this ignorant bubble where he could make a girl blush and make plans for a date; to have friends that cared for him and thought of nothing other than to have fun and be happy. To never know the evils of the world.

His reality, his truth, his fate, had other ideas.

And as he reached into his pocket for his emergency lacrima he had only one thought.

"I am going to kill whoever is on the other end of the line."

0000000000000000000

Merry Christmas guys! See you all in the new year!