Author's Notes: Woah. Looks like I have plenty of reviews that I can reply! And all your reviews are so positive. I feel so loved ;) Thank you all! For those amazed by my upload speed, I'm sorry, but my updates are only that quick because I wrote all this stuff long before I posted the first chapter. I mentioned it to some reviewers (and on my profile), and was requested to upload all of it. So once it hits chapter 14/15, it's going to slow down and depend on my writing speed like every other story :(
Oh, and I think it's probably best I take down that harem label, since it's only promoting confusion. I initially thought it was a pretty smart idea...
Divebomb Crow: I think it's pretty obvious, no? It's blatant, but it seems cooler to foreshadow, no matter how I write it :D
Alter Avans: I tried to make my Naruto less Gary-Stu, but it can be tough to keep his power levels down. I mean, ever since Sennin Mōdo appeared in canon, Naruto's power has been climbing exponentially, even worse than the Sharingan. With Kage Bunshin and ten years pre-canon to train, he can be insanely powerful. I tried to tune him down (which was incredibly hard), and I hope he doesn't feel too Gary-Stu in later chapters!
That's the main reason why I removed Kyūbi from the story. Looking at canon now, if Naruto kept that Bijū Mōdo, he would eat everything but Acnologia and possibly Zeref alive. Bijūdama is too damn broken. So no, I don't have plans for Kyūbi, but if an idea that doesn't break the power ceiling in Fairy Tail comes to mind, I'll throw it into the story.
SusanoosUltimateDefense: Not a flashback. Check the dates. Canon Fairy Tail begins in X784. From the prologue through to chapter 7 will be pre-canonical stuff. It gives me more room to weave Naruto into the world, and room to add content as I see fit ;)
Dragonking20: Sorry to disappoint you, but no S-class trials ahead, so no Cana/Erza/Mira/Mystogan promotions :( I didn't think it added that much to the plot, given that Naruto would most certainly not participate (as he's sandbagging). Plus, I was anxious to get to canon. The Laxus scene is a flashback scene taken straight from manga, before he fights Mystogan.
TheAFGNCAAP: I just thought it was the most appropriate thing to do, leaving him with chakra. I actually have another crossover idea where the Fairy Tail world is the same world as Naruto, just across the seas/beyond the lands and in the future. The Jūbi, defeated, becomes the One Magic (which Hades called evil). Naruto then gets revived to become a champion of the gods (with god slayer powers, obviously), to make sure no god slayer turns into an Acnologia...
Anyway, for the Naruto/Mirajane thing, I pondered a while on the age gap thing, but when re-reading the manga for reference, I noticed Wakaba flirting with Mira. That in itself doesn't mean much, but Wakaba is in his thirties, and was in the guild when Mirajane arrived. So despite watching her grow up (and bully him), by canon, he sort of sees her as a grown woman. So I thought, 26 is not an issue at all, and left it at that.
Straider: Well, there are consequences for every action, including keeping secrets. Isn't emotional dialogue part of character development anyway?
Forgotmypassword: Cute :P
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Fairy Tail.
Chapter 6: Trouble (X780)
Out in the forests that surrounded Magnolia Town, two individuals were training hard. Actually, that would be a bit of a misnomer; one of them was putting in the hard yards and improving himself. The other was halfheartedly sparring with his far younger opponent, only taking care not to injure his protégé. Suddenly, the older man faltered in his tracks, receiving a painful jab to the stomach for his momentary pause. When he didn't react for the next ten seconds however, it got his student worried. His eyes, usually bright and clear, were clouded over, his pupils dilating heavily.
"Naruto-sensei?" Mystogan prodded the stock-still man with his staff gingerly. "Are you okay?"
The man underwent a full body shudder, before his misted eyes cleared. Shaking his head, he ruffled the Edolas prince's hair genially. "Sorry kiddo, but it appears I'm going to have to leave a Kage Bunshin here to train you. There's something up."
"What happened?" Mystogan queried, his wide eyes conveying his curiosity. "Do you need any help?"
Naruto bit his lip, before providing the preteen a wide grin. "No. It's safer that I do this alone. It involves Maelstrom anyway. Keep working on your bōjutsu. I'll be back by tomorrow. Watch over the house for me, will you? I trust you more than Cana-chan to keep it secure. That girl's going to be the death of me, I swear."
Mystogan watched with an awestruck gaze as his sensei formed an identical copy of himself, who stayed behind to train him as the original man disappeared without a whisper. He knew very well he was still a long way from matching his teacher's capabilities (and perhaps never, given how much he knew the man trained out of sight), but to be able to teleport around Fiore with such impunity was just ridiculous. He consoled himself with the thought that he was leagues ahead of other kids his age thanks to the instructions of his sensei, and that he didn't give Naruto headaches like Cana did with her imbibing. Mystogan knew Naruto truly regretted offering to cover twenty percent of the guild's drinking tab, having felt responsible for Cana's drinking habits.
Now the girl more often than not stumbled to bed drunk as a skunk, even if she was improving her alcohol tolerance at mind-boggling rates. Mystogan reckoned Naruto would need to pick up an SS-rank mission every fortnight if he continued to pay for her drinks. Mystogan ended up being their unofficial (and hidden) house custodian because of Cana's constant inebriated state, which he didn't mind in all honesty. He could peer at Naruto's documents in his room while he was out; extensive and garbled notes on jutsu, thick manila folders detailing information on practically every mage (legal, dark or independent) in Fiore, and a set of naughty books that Mystogan found out were written by his sensei's godfather and teacher.
Just because he had to shun people due to his circumstances, didn't mean he wasn't a young man, damn it!
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He grinned menacingly as he smashed the door to the apartment open, his mouth salivating at the murderous thoughts that raged through his mind. Stretching his hands downwards and crossing his wrists, he then swung his hands in an outward circular motion. A blast of smoke obscured him, before three people stood where one was previously. The first mage on the scene was coated in thick black makeup around his eyes and lips, with unhealthy pale skin that bordered on bone white. Long raven hair trailed to his feet, with two bangs that reached his waist framing his face. His clothes comprised spiked shoulder guards and forearm bracers, coupled with leather pants and a skull-buckled belt. He also wore flame motif greaves and black boots, while carrying a heavy metal guitar designed like a horned skull. A large tattoo of the word 'skeleton' stretched across his pectorals.
The second member of their group was just as conspicuous as his team member. Bearing the body of a large muscular man, he had the head of a brown owl instead. Two large rockets were strapped to his back, and he wore green shorts held up by a belt. He wore sneakers decorated with the same logo as his belt buckle, and on his bare calf, a flame tattoo could be seen. He also wore wristbands and armbands that had long bird feathers attached to it, akin to wings.
The last of the trio was a beautiful woman, dressed in a loose white kimono. A beauty mark existed under each eye, and her bright red lipstick caught as many eyes as her light pink hair, tied into two ponytails that looped above her head before trailing to her waist. A black and red obi was wrapped around her waist. Her kimono was adorned with skull and abstract flame designs, and a decorative goat skull was pinned to her obi. A black choker was affixed to her neck, and a red nodachi held in her hand. It was this last member that first spoke, gazing fearlessly at the lone man who stood in the middle of the bare apartment.
"Such is the fate of those who live and die by the blade," Ikaruga remarked. "That my admiration for Maelstrom must be expressed in death."
The navy cloak of the man shifted slightly as he raised his head to study his three opponents. "I should have known it would be the three of you. Death's Head Caucus reports to Tartaros after all. You are Trinity Raven, I presume? Ikaruga, Vidaldus Taka, and Fukurō, one of the best assassination teams available for hire."
"That's right, Maelstrom!" Vidaldus exclaimed, swinging his hair wildly. "We're here to send you to hell!"
The man snorted, clearly unbothered by the presence of three top-notch assassins. "I'm not even here. This is a similar technique to Thought Projection. You think I wouldn't know when Tartaros uncovered my spy? You think he didn't inform me that one of the three most powerful dark guilds is after my life? I've been preparing for this fight for a while now."
"Befitting a mysterious man of myriad talents," Ikaruga murmured, bringing her sleeve to her mouth. "And which auspicious location shall bear witness to our glorious battle?"
"I will be waiting thirty miles due west of here," Maelstrom informed.
"The bringers of justice will arrive there shortly," Fukurō hooted. "Be ready for your punishment, evildoer!"
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Naruto had expected the day to come when his espionage efforts were finally unearthed by the dark guilds. They didn't just survive in the world; they thrived, and that meant that the members weren't stupid. Firepower was important in asserting a guild's strength, yes, but one didn't just thrive as a criminal purely by using brawn.
Naruto was pretty pleased his various infiltrations had lasted so many years; he was not the subtlest of people as a child, and his skills at espionage were more of a necessity than something he was innately good at. He never managed to gain a foothold in either Grimoire Heart or Oración Seis; one was mobile and impossible to find, while the other was too small and hard to join without raising suspicion. But Tartaros he could join quite easily, and it was no surprise that the dark guild was the first onto him.
He had been a middling member in Tartaros, and that suited his purposes just fine. But from what he understood when his interrogator blabbed, the dark guild Infernum was working for Tartaros, and Naruto's demolition job had destroyed the research that Tartaros wanted to get their hands on. They had a sensor type as well, and by studying the chakra residue Maelstrom left behind at the battle, they matched it to his alter ego.
Luckily, it was only a Kage Bunshin deputising, and it popped before Naruto could get any more memories of mind-scarring torture. He knew they would be after him now that he proved he was capable of infiltrating even one of the most powerful dark guilds. At first, he was just a nuisance to the Balam Alliance; attacking the small dark guilds that the Magic Council found with their vast resources was not a challenge for any powerful S-class mage. But for him to be able to reach the inside of these guilds was a recipe for disaster that even Tartaros didn't want to take chances on.
He had been fully expecting Tartaros to send their top guns to destroy him. But it seemed they didn't really see his infiltration as a dent to their pride, or they would have personally intervened to regain their lost honour. From what he saw in Tartaros, they didn't seem too averse to admiring enemies and their skills. If it had been Ivan and Raven Tail, Naruto was sure he would have been paid a visit by all the members of the guild Ivan felt were necessary to humiliate Naruto in the worst way possible. He was pretty impressed with their pragmatic thinking. Sending another dark guild to do the dirty work ensured the safety of their members. It also gave the dark guilds under their command some measure of pride, to be relied upon against the greatest of threats. It fostered loyalty and could even help breed a little competitive spirit as well.
But all of those observations would be moot if he failed to survive, even if he was pretty confident of his chances against Trinity Raven. Of course, he could have led them on a merry chase around Fiore, but Naruto didn't see the point. He was easily capable of hiding from them for a long time; no one knew who he was anyway, and tracking him via his energy signature was going to be more luck than finesse.
Since the dark guilds have gotten wind of his espionage, he was going to drop his infiltration gigs anyway. There was no point in doing so when the guilds would now be actively looking out for his presence. He planned on just beating the assassins after him, and sending them back with a message of peace. He was pretty sure the dark guilds would accept his olive branch, especially if Tartaros was as savvy as they seemed. Also, they'll have their eyes on the assassins to see if they were turned, which would draw their focus away from him.
And obviously, there was an opportunity here too. He could use the assassins for counterintelligence, and even buy them over to his cause. Trinity Raven and their guild, Death's Head Caucus were known for their specialisation in assassinations, but that didn't mean they didn't accept money for other jobs. Naruto had saved up plenty; he could easily hire them to spy on their own, and the blond man was confident they wouldn't have any qualms doing so too.
Finally, he had the urge to fight some worthy opponents. Hiding his abilities as Ráfaga meant he didn't get a challenge as a Fairy Tail member, and Maelstrom wasn't getting as many missions involving fighting as of late. The last big battle he had was with Ivan, and he was a pushover. Trinity Raven promised to be a decent fight, given their impeccable record at assassinations. If they were back in the Elemental Countries, Naruto reckoned they would be welcome at any village.
That speaks so much about the lifestyle my people led, and the lifestyle I'm demanded to lead now, Naruto mused nostalgically, as he stood in the middle of a perfectly circular clearing he recently made just for that very battle. It was easy to just sink everything into the ground with Doton: Yomi Numa and harden the earth once more with a simple fire technique. It was a travesty to nature and beauty, but the younger Fairy Tail members like Natsu destroyed far more through collateral damage anyway. It didn't take long for Trinity Raven to arrive at the scene, the trio landing adroitly across Naruto. Vidaldus looked excited at the upcoming battle, and Fukurō was unreadable thanks to the owl head he had. But Ikaruga had a strange expression on her face.
Naruto frowned, unable to decipher her thoughts. He wished he could, but he never learnt how to read women. Jiraiya told him it was a skill most men would chop their arms off to possess. Given how he never noticed Hinata's love for him until she confessed to him in battle, or be able to pick up Sakura's moods, he was inclined to agree. No one ever told him that he was just plain dense not to see their thoughts despite how transparent those two girls were with their emotions, but the point remained.
Steeling his heart in preparation for possibly hurting the beautiful woman, Naruto, dressed as Maelstrom, bowed. "I hope the travel here wasn't too tedious."
"Have you trapped the area, by happenstance?" Ikaruga tittered, slowly unsheathing her nodachi. "Though I hoped for an even fight, it would make sense to counter our might."
The cloaked man shook his head. Snapping his fingers, a light blue, cylindrical barrier flickered into existence, trapping all four within the clearing. "I didn't trap the area, but I felt a bit of containment might be useful. None of us can leave until I bring down the barrier, which means you'll have to defeat me to leave. No running off to grab hostages or anything underhanded like that."
"We are the warriors of justice!" Fukurō declared. "We will not stoop to your level, criminal!"
"That's fine with me, we'll send you to hell anyway!" Vidaldus laughed maniacally, getting into his head-banging routine. "Prepare to die, Maelstrom!"
Vidaldus was first to attack, strumming his guitar. As he cackled and unleashed his magic, Naruto only stood there, completely unaffected. Baffled, Trinity Raven stared at their target, who returned their gazes unflinchingly. Then, Naruto sighed. "Look, it's pretty obvious this is a bad matchup. Can't you guys just quit?"
"How in the seven hells did you avoid my Rock of Succubus?" Vidaldus roared, strumming his guitar even more fiercely. Naruto could only shrug nonchalantly at his opponent. "I saw the guitar, and guessed your magic revolves around it. I'm sure one of you has researched my magic, and know that I use Wind Magic. How difficult do you think it is for an S-class Wind Magic user to prevent sound from reaching him when he doesn't want it to? Sound uses air as a medium after all."
Vidaldus gritted his teeth in anger as he shifted his guitar to his back. Swinging his extremely long hair around, he manoeuvred it towards Naruto's position. The hair cracked down, smashing the ground to bits as Naruto hopped into the air, avoiding the attack. This gave Fukurō an opening, as he crouched, and unleashed his rockets, flying towards Naruto with his hand cocked back. The owl-head shouted out some gibberish about justice as he tried to punch the midair Naruto, but failed as the blond somehow pulled reflexes most people could only dream of having, pushing against the top of Fukurō's fist and directing the man downwards while he somersaulted safely over the assassin.
Ikaruga swung her blade, too fast to be seen by most. A wave of fire emerged from her nodachi, hurtling towards Naruto. The man raised his left palm, and seemingly absorbed the entire wave, before Ikaruga's Garuda Flame emerged from his right palm, flying straight at Vidaldus. The man paled, but relaxed when Ikaruga cancelled her own Garuda Flame with another blast of magical fire. Fukurō circled the clearing once, before landing beside his teammates, visibly irked by Naruto dodging his Jet Ho Ho Hou. The cloaked man landed silently back where he first stood, completely unharmed.
Ikaruga's visage turned serious as she crouched slightly, slipping into a kenjutsu stance. "Vidaldus, support. Fukurō, fly up top and wait for an opening."
The pink-haired woman flashed forwards, intent on cutting Naruto in twain. Her blade, bristling with magic, was able to cut down even the toughest of defences. When she unleashed her full prowess, she had never failed to cut down an opponent. No one could see her swordsmanship because of how fast she was. Hence, she was thoroughly surprised when a puff of smoke heralded a huge zanbatō that managed to hold off her katana.
The man in the navy cloak looked completely at ease wielding the ungainly blade as he shoved Ikaruga backwards with it, showing no visible signs of strain. Ikaruga regained her vigour and started a long combination of cuts and slashes guaranteed to kill her opponents, and yet Maelstrom didn't falter, countering her every move with a blade far bulkier and less manoeuvrable than hers.
She continued the barrage, and occupied Maelstrom as Vidaldus tried to at least disorientate their target with his Guitar Magic fruitlessly. Fukurō had been forced to watch helplessly, his speed and skill no match for the two combatants dancing in a deadly tango of steel. Realising it was useless to continue, Ikaruga ended her assault, jumping back to regroup. Naruto leaned Kubikiribōchō on his shoulder casually, a broad smile on his shadowed face. He had been actively improving his kenjutsu since he watched Erza practicing swordplay and rediscovered his childish desire to look cool. He didn't regret the decision; it was exhilarating to fight against someone of Ikaruga's caliber. Only with his Sennin Mōdo did he have the speed and reflexes to cope with her skill
"That was fun," Naruto chirped. "Any more skills you guys would like to demonstrate?"
That was Trinity Raven's cue, as they all launched their attacks. Vidaldus swung his hair, and a torrent of water gushed from his locks, roaring towards Naruto. Fukurō jetted straight up, before doing a sharp turn and dived nose down at Naruto. He cocked his hand back, and gathered magic in his fist before he threw it forwards, unleashing a beam of energy. His Judgement Hou was then combined with his Missile Ho Ho Hou, as he launched both rockets on his back at Naruto, the man tumbling to the ground. Ikaruga rode the waves, her nodachi raised. With a loud cry, she performed an overhead swing, firing off a massive wave of near invisible energy that split the waves before her, making them crash into Naruto from two angles.
The resulting explosion from all the attacks colliding rocked the ground violently. The three assassins backed off, carefully surveying the cloud of debris that had been thrown up by their combination. It cleared suddenly by a gust of wind, revealing their enemy to be completely unharmed. He had a spinning dome of wind surrounding his body, the sharp whistling noise produced by the technique making Trinity Raven wince. The winds died down in a snap, and Maelstrom's cloak fluttered in the light breeze that followed behind.
"That was good," Naruto praised the trio, clapping sincerely. "I see how you gained your reputations. But now, it's my turn."
Naruto dashed forwards, his first target being Vidaldus. The man was too slow to react, unable to pull his guitar to parry Naruto's waist high swing of Kubikiribōchō. Ikaruga was there to save the day, needing the strength of both arms and all of her body weight to hold off Naruto's monstrous Sennin Mōdo strength. Naruto kicked the Sword Magic mage in the abdomen, her body bending nearly in half from the blow as she flew backwards, taking Vidaldus along for the ride.
Naruto stabbed Kubikiribōchō into the ground as he ducked, his sensory abilities telling him of Fukurō's presence behind him. Naruto kicked backwards, his foot caught by a large fist that threatened to crush it with an immense grip. As Fukurō tried to break Naruto's ankle, the shinobi spun with Fukurō's twist, before blasting a jet of wind from his soles.
He landed on his back, watching as Fukurō careened through the air, before regaining some form of control with his reattached rockets. Flipping to his feet, Naruto aimed a palm at the onrushing torrent of liquid Vidaldus sent his way, before aiming the other palm at Fukurō. The owl-man hybrid tilted his head in confusion as Naruto acted as an intermediary, transferring all of Vidaldus' attack right at the flying assassin. Fukurō squawked as he flew around to dodge the jet of water, ended prematurely when his guitar-using teammate stopped the attack. The momentary distraction from her two partners gave Ikaruga the opening she needed, as her blade sliced Naruto's back, cutting through his cloak easily.
Naruto groaned loudly as a loud pop indicated his Henge coming off. The sword had drawn a thin line of blood from left shoulder to right hip, but Naruto was otherwise unharmed. He had Sennin Mōdo to thank for that; he would have been cut into two had it not been for his sage chakra. Naruto pirouetted, and Ikaruga responded, angling her blade to slice off Naruto's hand. As her katana touched the man's gloved palm, it disappeared from the pink-haired assassin's grip, reappearing in Naruto's other hand. The blond took advantage of her momentary astonishment, summoning Kubikiribōchō to hand. He began to spin, a veritable whirlwind of death as Ikaruga backed off, seething at the loss of her blade.
Senses wide open, Naruto estimated Fukurō's position. The man was preparing a Judgement Hou, now that Ikaruga was not in the way. Before the self-proclaimed warrior of justice could fire off twin beams of light from both fists, he was forced to cut power to his rockets, dropping down to avoid Ikaruga's katana being flung like an arrow at him. The sword clattered against the barrier with a mighty clang, before falling to the ground. Ikaruga slid underneath the blade, catching it by the hilt. Trinity Raven regrouped once more, gathering their wits to figure out a way to defeat their adversary. Naruto, on the other hand, only sighed as he sealed Kubikiribōchō back into the storage fūin on his wrist. The assassins relaxed their guard slightly at the sight.
"Your valour is admirable, but your defeat was inevitable," Ikaruga sighed, a tinge of disappointment and relief in her voice. "Surrender is understandable, though I wish you were more able."
"Oh, no, I'm not surrendering," Naruto shook his head. "I've won."
Before Ikaruga could open her mouth to question Naruto's words, the blond disappeared from his location, instantly materialising before her face. She only felt the barest whisper of two fingers jabbing her neck, before she fell unconscious. The remaining two members of Trinity Raven had only begun to move when Naruto vanished once again, teleporting to Fukurō. The heavyset man was harder to knock out than his team leader, but the only member of Trinity Raven with reflexes to avoid Naruto's blows was Ikaruga. There was no neck to speak of, and hence no pressure points to hit. Naruto improvised, smashing a fist into the man's stomach, before pressing his palm to the owl head. His Sleep Magic took over moments later, sending the man into a deep, dreamless slumber.
Vidaldus trembled, taking shaky steps backwards as Naruto approached him slowly. He didn't manage to plant any Hiraishin seals on the rocker as he did Ikaruga and Fukurō when he kicked them, but he didn't need his father's trademark technique against Vidaldus. He had an overwhelming advantage over the Guitar Magic user given his Wind Magic proclivities. A quick Shunshin later, the man was down on the ground, joining his teammates in unconsciousness.
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Yajima was pretty sure the Council was pleased with the current state of events. He had just received an urgent missive from Maelstrom; so urgent, the man appeared before him to personally hand him the letter. He had not spoken a word to prevent identification, but Yajima cared little for that now. For Makarov to praise him as an integral part of Fairy Tail he couldn't do without, Yajima had little wish to expose the man and destroy the status quo.
Bringing Maelstorm's message to the Magic Council in an emergency meeting, Yajima expressed a desire to aid the man against the assassins that were being sent after him. The rest of the Council shot that idea down immediately. Maelstrom was useful but expendable, and the Rune Knights were growing from strength to strength. There was no longer a pressing need for Maelstrom's services, especially since the man himself had made dark guilds less profitable and riskier ventures.
The elimination of Maelstrom would bring some fear into the hearts of citizens, given how they adored the man who did so much good, but the Council hated the non-accountability of Maelstrom anyway. They were even pleased that the dark guilds would be the ones to attack Maelstrom; they didn't even have to dirty their hands and sully their reputation to imprison the man for his work as a vigilante.
Maelstrom himself didn't seem too concerned about the imminent assassination attempt (which the letter described as happening right then). He was more worried about his intelligence gathering efforts being undermined now that Tartaros discovered his deception. The Magic Council told Yajima to simply relieve Maelstrom of his current contracts to monitor the dark guilds. They had gathered more than enough invaluable evidence and information to launch attacks against the dark guilds, although they would not risk their necks in a war they knew they could lose.
Realistically, they didn't have the power to counter any of the three big dark guilds of the Balam Alliance, let alone all of them and their subsidiaries. Even using Etherion was not a guaranteed victory; two of the three leading dark guilds had less than ten core members that actually mattered, and were far more mobile than legal guilds and their fixed headquarters.
It was difficult not to blurt out Maelstrom's legal guild connections to try and convince the rest of the Council of the importance of preserving his life, but Yajima managed. Stowing his tongue, he decided to have faith in the man who so willingly shrouded himself literally and figuratively, all for the sake of his guild. The diminutive old man had no clue what drove Maelstrom to do all that work when he didn't need to, but he was glad for the man. Fiore had become a better place to live in by virtue of Maelstrom's presence, and many people could see the difference in their lives. Great men who were destined to help carry the weight of the world didn't die that easily; Yajima was sure of that.
Hence, he left a letter detailing the Council's plans for him on his desk, and left the room. It was noon when he did so; when he returned by nightfall, the letter was gone, replaced by a letter from Maelstrom expressing his gratitude towards Yajima's support.
Makarov's old teammate couldn't help but smile broadly.
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Ikaruga moaned as she awoke, her head throbbing painfully. Her eyes fluttered open, fully expecting to see herself seated in a dark, dank cell at any one of the mage prisons of Fiore. Instead, she was completely unbound, her back leaning against the rough bark of a tree. Her nodachi sat beside her, sheathed and pristine. Flanking her were the other members of Trinity Raven, both of them still unconscious. Fukurō hooted softly just as Vidaldus' head lolled to the side, the dark-haired mage snoring loudly. Ikaruga palmed her face in embarrassment. Correction: her teammates weren't unconscious; they were asleep.
As she cast her gaze forwards, she could see the entire clearing they were fighting in before her. Seated in the middle of the empty circle was their target, legs crossed in the lotus position. He looked to be deep in meditation, unaware of the world around him. Looking over herself, she noticed that beyond the dirt that was smeared on her kimono from the fight, she was relatively intact. There were parts of her body that ached slightly and would bruise by morning, but there was nothing that would call for a healer's attention. Our levels of strength are as far apart as heaven and hell, she thought, her hand squeezing the sheath of her katana tightly. Indeed, he deserves the fame he garnered.
"You're awake, I see," Maelstrom spoke, his eyes still shut. "You are not too injured, I hope?"
"N-No," the woman stuttered, startled at the man's apparent omniscience. "Nothing a warrior cannot endure."
"Good. I was afraid of hurting you too much," the man sighed, his eyes snapping open. His hood cast a light shadow over his face, but Ikaruga could see the bright, almost glowing blue eyes that met her gaze. "My master was a connoisseur of women, and he would be rather cross at me if I marred your beautiful body."
"I am a warrior, not a princess," the woman huffed indignantly, a light blush dusting her cheeks.
The cloaked man chuckled throatily, his voice warm and inviting. "Indeed you are. I shall remember our battle for a long while yet. But that does not mean you are not a beautiful young woman. I think killing one as radiant as yourself will be quite the regretful endeavour for me."
"A compliment borne from sincerity is worth a thousand hollow flatteries," Ikaruga smiled, inclining her head gracefully.
"Not so much a compliment as the truth," the Wind Magic mage replied easily. Withdrawing a scroll from his sleeve, he unfurled it and shaped his hands into various symbols Ikaruga didn't recognise. A small puff of smoke covered the top of the scroll, and when it cleared, she was greeted with a low table and set of china. There seemed to be already steaming hot tea within the traditional teapot, as the man poured the liquid into two cups. He gestured for the kimono-clad woman to join him at the table. "I am uneducated in the ways of chadō, but I do know some good tea. Please."
A quick consideration of her situation told her that there was nothing to lose from accepting his tea. He wouldn't have poisoned it, not when he could have just slit their throats before they woke up. It would also be rude to refuse the offer. Nodding in assent, she made her way to the middle of the clearing, sitting in seiza across her target. She murmured a work of thanks as she sipped the tea, surprised by the richness of the flavour. While flavoursome, it was a soothing taste that caressed her taste buds, not overwhelming like some Western drinks she had the opportunity to taste. While she was not too picky about her beverages, she could appreciate a good tea
"I shall cut the chase here," the man remarked, sipping his tea slowly. "I wish to hire Trinity Raven."
"Oh?" Ikaruga hummed, intrigued.
Maelstrom let out a few chuckles. "Is that surprising? Do you truly believe I am that sort of man that looks down upon your work? I was raised differently from the mages of this world. While I am practically a legal mage here, I am of the opinion that working in the shadows can be far more effective. I stopped killing a long time ago, but I believe you know the reason for your mission, yes? I do more than just dabble in the dirtier aspects of our world. I revel in it."
"To falsify your identity and fit seamlessly into one of the three strongest dark guilds speaks volumes of your skill," Ikaruga commented. "But it tells me nothing of your inclinations or methods of accomplishing your goals, Maelstrom-dono."
"Perhaps, but in any case, now that Tartaros has caught wind of my activities, it will be near impossible to continue my espionage work," the hooded man said, leaning his head forwards. "This is where Trinity Raven comes in."
"Even one of the shadows can possess honour and dignity," she spoke darkly, her eyes flashing in muted anger. "Do not presume we can be swayed by the mere promise of money."
Maelstrom leaned back, peals of laughter shaking his lean frame. Puzzled, Ikaruga stared as the man chortled with all the cheer of a carefree child. "A true swordswoman indeed. Your loyalty to your guild in unquestionable, despite the less tasteful work you do. You have been with Death's Head Caucus since its inception, yes? And your first lover is the guild master, Hattori Karasu, correct?"
A gleaming blade was tickling Maelstrom's chin before he could blink, the woman before him trembling with ire. "Do not speak of his name so casually, Maelstrom-dono. You know nothing of our relationship, and that should remain so."
"But I do know of his affairs, of your neglect, of your increasing despair at the broken love," Maelstrom whispered, pressing his throat against the sword as he leaned forwards. Ikaruga looked furious, but didn't speak a word as the truth tumbled out of Maelstrom's mouth. "Hate and love is such a fine line, but your loyalty to him is absolute, no? No matter how much you believe he should be punished for his indiscretions, no matter how much you believe you hate him…you still harbour feelings for him. That's why you won't betray him for me."
"And if you know me so well, why make this offer to me?" Ikaruga asked, her rage evaporating like the morning dew. "Why draw my ire so readily?"
"Because I am not asking you to provide me intelligence on Death's Head Caucus," the navy-cloaked man pushed the tip of her katana aside with his finger. "Your guild doesn't do anything but assassinations. There's no strategy, no ambition, no goal. I don't need to know of your activities, because they only involve men whom other men want dead. I care for a far bigger picture. No, I want to know what other dark guilds do, what they wish to do, and what they can do. Your guild is safe from my interventions."
"An intriguing offer, from an intriguing man," Ikaruga smiled, almost predatorily as she sheathed her blade. "But even a gentleman must give guarantees."
Maelstrom fell silent for a moment, before he let out another throaty chuckle. "If I were any less informed, I would have been thoroughly fooled. Your acting is top-notch. How did you know I was testing you?"
"A man of your caliber cannot possibly be as ill informed as you pretended to be," Ikaruga giggled, hiding her lips behind her sleeve. "My admiration for you has risen to another level, Maelstrom-dono. To go through such a thorough examination for a simple mission brings me great faith in your leadership."
"Your slaying of Hattori and his many lovers was quite the story in underground circles," Maelstrom remarked, downing the rest of his tea in one gulp. "A jilted lover and her revenge is nothing to scoff at. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, right?"
"Maelstrom-dono has learnt the lesson Hattori never did," the pink-haired swordswoman tittered, pouring tea for Maelstrom. "A toast is in order, Master."
The two clinked cups, and swallowed their cooling tea in one mouthful. Smacking his lips in appreciation, Maelstrom leaned his elbows on the table as he placed his fingers in a steeple. "So, shall we discuss terms of employment, then?"
"Of course," the pink-haired assassin nodded.
"You may continue your regular activities as Death's Head Caucus. That I have no real issues with," Maelstrom began. "Perhaps you can be a bit more selective as to the type of people you assassinate, but I don't care either way. Now, all I need is information about the other dark guilds, and perhaps some of your employers. You may tell Tartaros that I will be no threat to them for now, and I know their predictions of my actions will be similar. Trinity Raven's survival will be my olive branch, one which they will take with only the mildest of suspicions."
"Your actions will be under scrutiny for some time, but as I said, you can continue your various missions without fear of my disapproval," Maelstrom continued. "That should deflect their eyes off Death's Head Caucus easily enough. Beyond that, I cannot say what I may ask of you, but rest assured, it will pose little danger to you or your guild. In return, I can provide some measure of protection for your guild should the Council turn their attentions to you. Of course, I will also provide funds for the regular operations, but the prices can be negotiated at a later date."
"That is a far more attractive offer than that of Tartaros, who have provided nothing but non-aggression and irregular employment," Ikaruga remarked, placing her folded arms on the table and casually leaning her bosom against them, enhancing her prodigious cleavage. "We do not need the money, so in exchange, may I have the honour of knowing your true name and face, Maelstrom-dono?"
"I suppose my offer will be declined if I do not accept?" Maelstrom said teasingly, hand already clasping the edge of his hood. At Ikaruga's sly wink, he shook his head in amusement as he threw his hood back, revealing a map of striking blond hair and deep cerulean eyes. Tugging his mask down, he unveiled a roguishly handsome face, with three whisker marks adorning each cheek. A disarming smile was perched on his lips as he spoke once more. "You know, you are one of only four people to have seen my real face in this world. Uzumaki Naruto, at your service."
"So Maelstrom is your real name, just in a different form," Ikaruga laughed in mirth. "What a mischievous and marvellous disguise you have created, Naruto-sama. I must say, however, I am astonished at your willingness to reveal your true features to me. Is there a reason for that?"
"I hide this face from everyone in the light, for fear of their safety," Naruto smiled wistfully. "But you and I, we belong in the dark. Your fate is now intertwined with mine, and your betrayal will be as good as your death, be it at the hands of others or mine. There is no pressing need to hide my looks from you. Plus, a bit of trust can go a long way for people who dabble in the dark, no? If our roles were inverted, I would be far more willing to work for you should you show me your faith in my abilities and my loyalty in this manner, even if it is a little impractical and silly."
"You have an understanding of my thoughts and ways that would inject much fear in me, if I were not working for you now," Ikaruga stood up, ready to leave. "Thank you for the tea and the generous terms of employment. I look forward to our next meeting, Naruto-sama."
Naruto stood up as well, a hand outstretched for a handshake. Ikaruga reached out as well, but instead of grasping his hand, she grabbed his wrist while her other hand reached for the back of his head. Stunned, Naruto couldn't react as she placed his large, calloused hand on her voluptuous chest while her luscious red lips met his for a sensuous kiss. She let go after a moment, licking her lips as she savoured the feeling of victory. She sashayed towards her sleeping teammates, making sure to sway her generous hips hypnotically as she grabbed her comrades and disappeared in a swirl of sakura petals. The blond man groaned as he tried to wrap his mind around that farewell, his mind unwittingly replaying Makarov's jibes about his lack of a girlfriend.
Does she like…that can't be right, this is our first meeting…but why would she…is she just teasing? But she…
Good lord, what I would do for some top-notch girl advice right about NOW.