Unlimited Courage

by Nasha Rei-Kun

He stood out and Satellizer realized that she was fine with that. Kazuya always found motivation in his words, not a replacement for his sister but Kazuya was fine with that. Chiffon found this boy weird, he did way too many odd things to say otherwise... but she was fine with that. And Rana Linchen grinned, laughed, talked, and enjoyed every moment together with Naruto Uzumaki.

17. New Ways Out

~NRK~

Amelia Evans awoke early on Wednesday morning, humming dreamily as she stayed flat on her cot.

'Ohh… is this just me having a good sleep or Naruto's energy?' She thought with a low moan as she felt nice and warm, the type of rare warmth from a good night of sleep. 'Whatever it is, I'm here for it!' Amelia declared with a small giggle.

Her friend was here, her cute friend, and they were working things out, working out, going out, even if it was with their other friends, and more! He had likely given her something that would help make her entire purpose here a lot easier!

She blushed as she smiled. 'He's really as amazing as his letters were,' she thought as she got up and grinned at the feeling of her limber body. 'Okay, I'm calling it, this is definitely Naruto's energy.'

She moved to her bathroom before going back into her room to grab some clothes.

Quickly enough, she was in her shower and let out a low moan as her sore muscles… she blinked at the feeling of the barest amount of soreness in her form.

'That's definitely his energy,' she had a good feeling about that.

Grabbing some shampoo, she lathered it up in her hands before running it through her hair.

She paid attention, handling her tresses was always something she was careful with, especially due to what had happened to change them.

So, she minded the white strands before bringing the back of her hair around to comb through it with her hands… before tilting her head at the darkness at the bottom.

"Hmm?" She lifted her hair before tilting her head as she spread the ends slowly and carefully. "... Did I always have red in there?" Amelia blinked as she found some splotches of red within her locks. "..." She frowned before just cleaning it like always.

Maybe she'd had red in places that she'd never noticed before.

~NRK~

Amelia, Naruto, Rana, and Scarlett stood in the doctor's office, the three looking at her with interest an hour later.

"So, what's going on?" Naruto asked.

"Well, since we've given Amelia some time to adjust, is anything different?" Scarlett asked.

"Yes, actually," Rana said.

She explained the 'activating' of Naruto's power in Amelia's body, the former redhead nodding as she showed her Volt Textures before noticing that they were thicker than before.

"I see," Scarlett hummed in thought. '... If I mixed his cells with them… will that have some form of effect?' She was curious.

Perhaps, after the girls passed the upcoming event, she could play more with the boy's amazing blood.

Naruto's blood was utterly fascinating. T-The boy wasn't normal! It was like when she'd messed with Maria's DNA map!

He was… he was almost completely inhuman, basically. It was scary to think about and Scarlett was curious if there wasn't more he wasn't telling Chevalier.

If he was like Maria, passing his cells would do as he'd been with Rana and now Amelia. They'd be able to have the girls, hell maybe even boys as well, use his large skill set!

"This morning, I felt so invigorated!" Amelia said with a smile as Naruto chuckled. "I wasn't even as sore as I expected."

"Naruto's healing skill, yes? Maybe it's passive when not in play?" Ohara suggested. "Right now, Ms. Linchen, I'd like to take some samples from you."

It'd been quick and painless, allowing Scarlett to pluck another hair from Amelia to match with Rana's.

"Did you find anything-de arimasu?" Rana asked as the woman considered her words.

"... I did but I'm still testing something," she admitted, eying Amelia's first hair in her petri dish. "For now, I'm observing. In that same train of thought, what about you all? Have you decided to enhance the girls yet?"

"Right now, Amelia-san seems just like me," Rana said as Naruto nodded. "She's going through the stages… I want to wait one more day. If anything, I think we should check her stigmata."

Scarlett perked up. "Oh, of course, we should do that," she realized with a huff as Amelia smiled in amusement. "Quiet you. Come, we'll hit the Stigmata Lab."

They traveled from her office and down several corridors, Scarlett and Amelia leading the way.

… And, unfortunately, they came into contact with a man she really wasn't fond of.

He was of a mature age with slight wrinkles on his fair skin. His hair was light-colored and slicked back as his black eyes looked at the group with some shock.

"I wasn't aware that Naruto Uzumaki was here in the Alaskan facility," he said, his dark blue suit and dress shoes adjusting as he held his arms behind his back with a frown. "Scarlett."

"I was in contact with Commander Radox, the green light of the project," Scarlett emphasized with a neutral expression. "He was also the one who brought over some things that the Commander was able to convince his family to give to us for the project. Commander Marks Spencer."

Naruto kept on a disarming smile while frowning mentally, tapping Rana's hand with the back of his.

Connection created.

'This guy's bad news,' he said as she barely held her curious face, frowning like Naruto was. 'For whatever reason, don't let yourself be alone with this guy.'

'Understood.'

Amelia wore a nervous expression.

"Hmph, Radox certainly gets around," Marks said with a frown and cupped chin. "I'll need to confirm with him."

"Go right ahead, I have no issue with that," Scarlett admitted with a shrug. "The Suits are in the equipment lockers. We're actually going to try them out later today."

"..." Marks hummed. "I sadly can't, I have a plane to catch."

"Alright, take it easy, sir," she said with a nod. "Come along you three-"

"A moment, if you would, Mr. Uzumaki," Marks raised his hand with a calm expression, Naruto blinking at the sheer emotion that seemed to rise from the man when he said that.

'Someone's got a chip on their shoulder,' Naruto realized before greeting him back. "What's up, sir?"

"Nothing too damning but I need to know, are you on our side?" The man asked, confusing him.

"I don't… follow," Naruto said slowly. "And, if you want answers to these questions, I actually had a small interview with Commander Radox," Marks looked alarmed.

"I see, then nothing further," the man said with a soft frown and a cupped chin. 'Radox grilled him?! Then why is he so easy around my authority?!' It didn't make sense.

… unless Radox hadn't been able to weaken his spirit…

He frowned as the group of four left, walking off.

"Just a little bit more, Charles, your father has a call to make," he muttered even as Naruto's ears twitched.

~NRK~

"So, uh, that guy is a hardass," Naruto said as they walked across the halls between buildings. "He's kind of like Radox but more obvious about trying to be intimidating. He's honestly kind of annoying."

"... Haa, Marks isn't a man to be trifled with," Scarlett said with a frown. "He's a man willing to do whatever that it takes, considering the word 'sacrifices' like it's gospel and a fact of the world."

"... He's a horrible man," Amelia whispered. "B-But, if we can get this working, I don't think things will be the same, especially if we don't need to take the Mark medicine anymore."

"It's wrong," Rana said. "I just don't get what the man is thinking."

"Sadly, I wish I could say the same," Ohara said with a grimace. "He's simply too serious and high-almighty."

"The project will work, I'm sure of it," Naruto said as Scarlett nodded, both ignorant to how Rana and Amelia's forms throbbed… warmly?

Amelia blushed a bit while Rana held a hand to her chest in thought. 'Is that… his strength?' They thought in unison, confused.

It'd been the first time Rana ever felt like that. Was it because Naruto was almost something different?

She grinned and Amelia blinked before looking at her, the Tibetan blinking in some surprise.

'This might be a new thing.'

~NRK~

Their arrival brokered no audience, seeing as this was Scarlett's profession within the institute and she had no assistants.

It was a big area with another door to the far right side. In the middle of the room were three medical gurneys with several attachments on them. At the left side was a long counter with her tools and medical utilities that had several cabinets above it.

"Get on whichever one," the woman directed Amelia who nodded, going over and taking a seat as Naruto and Rana moved to the sides of her bedside.

"So, I've always been curious about this," Naruto said. "How do you guys' get your stigmata checked?"

"It's quite simple, actually," Margaret said, opening a drawing and removing a small rod with a sharp tip, getting a shaky look out of Naruto. "You big baby, this isn't for sticking, it's for testing."

"How are those different?" The girls giggled while Scarlett snorted.

"Because one will happen to you if you're not quiet," he went silent. "Good."

She came back over and pressed a button on the gurney.

Amelia was lifted above Scarlett's head before a back panel opened up.

"Ah, right," the scientist rubbed the back of her head. "Uzumaki, turn around," she said immediately as Naruto blinked before blushing and doing as he was told.

Amelia blushed before undoing her top, leaving Rana to feel some camaraderie with her similar bust-level Pandora. Amelia chuckled nervously at the connection.

Yep, they were the same in that regard, she guessed.

Laying back down, Scarlett nodded as she had all six of Amelia's stigmata in view… and she blinked.

"Rana, come here for a moment. Is this normal?" Scarlett asked as Rana and Amelia blinked before the former came around to see…

"... I don't know," Rana said as she blinked at the design that now was pasted onto Amelia's back.

It was seemingly incomplete, having a clear determined shape but it wasn't completed.

… "It looks like… the sun-de arimasu," Naruto perked up and shifted backward slowly before standing next to Rana. "Hm, hm. You can look now," she said with a giggle as Naruto ducked behind her before looking up.

"..." Naruto's reaction was hidden as best he could. 'It's… my seal?' He balked at the old-world image.

But, that wasn't the only thing, it looked like it had the Five-Pronged Seal on it, having five incompletely flame-like shapes circling the seal-like pattern.

"... Rana Linchen, do you have this on your back?" Scarlett asked with a frown and Rana blushed before covering Naruto's eyes and turning him around. 'Kids,' she rolled her eyes despite understanding this part, at least. 'I was young and worried about being naked once,' she thought sarcastically despite how true that was.

Talk about memory lane.

So, when Rana removed her top and showed her back… "Is it the same?" She asked and Scarlett let out a sigh of relief.

"Yes, though yours is complete… actually," she pressed her finger into Rana's back and Tibetan jumped. "Sorry, it's just… yours has a different set of defining marks around it… they look like… wings."

"... my Holy Gates," Rana realized as Scarlett blinked. "I have more mastery over my stigmata-de arimasu."

"So, if Amelia does as well, she'll gain a defined pattern? Or is this something each person Naruto… 'helps' gets?"

"I don't know."

"Uzumaki?"

"I don't go around and do this, ya know," Naruto said, back to them. "... But I feel like it's going to be different per person on a hunch."

"Right," Scarlett kept forgetting he was also new to all of this. "What does this mean, though?"

"Beats me," Naruto answered as Rana put her top back on. "So, what about Amelia-chan?" He asked, sneaking back over to look at the young woman's back."

Scarlett nodded before connecting the rod in her hand to an outlet via a long cord. She reached towards the girl's stigmata and simply tapped each one.

Naruto blinked as the spots flashed each time before, when Scarlett was done, four of them shined… well, two shined gold and two shined blue, for a decent set of seconds before going back to normal.

"If they light up on contact, they're active… but when they glow like that they're mature," Scarlett said with some surprise. "Before, Amelia only had two mature ones while only being able to actively use four… all six lit up and now she's got two mature ones?"

"Maybe my power changed them as well. What if that golden glow is the changed ones? So, like a hole in a fishing net. My power might have branched the stigmata," Naruto suggested and Scarlett nodded. "Still, I didn't think they got designs on their backs."

'Oh, someone's not had sex yet, that's surprising,' Scarlett noted with a shrug. 'God, they're not, like, saving for marriage, are they? That's dangerous,' still, it wasn't her business to pry.

Maybe teenagers weren't as sexually-active as she originally remembered.

They went through the same old song and dance with bringing Amelia down and had her clothed back up.

Scarlett made several notes about the entire sequence. "If this is the case, we'll need to find out everything. Right now, all we know is that Naruto's energy, so far, increases all of your capabilities. It's increased your stigmata count along with activating the rest while changing two. We don't even know if that'll stay that way, maybe you not being done means not all of your stigmata have changed."

"But Rana is complete, right? So, why hasn't she gained these skills from Naruto, yet?" Amelia asked, locking gaze with Rana who shrugged. "... Are these Holy Gates taking up your progress?"

"..." Rana considered the idea, tilting her head as she released her Holy Gates more gently. "Hmm…" She looked back at them as they hung there, glowing bright… before they flexed. "H-Huh!?" She flinched as they froze.

"... Do… do they not do that?" Scarlett asked as Naruto blinked.

"No… they've never flapped before," he said in shock as Rana kept staring at her very slowly moving wings. "That's not normal. They're not supposed to be actual wings, after all."

Rana swallowed with a nod as they looked at her wings.

She focused and they flickered before the 'wings' flapped twice, much to her disbelief.

"I-I don't get it," she said. "I-I'm moving them."

"... Come on, turn that off," Scarlett said as Rana did, feeling relief that she still could, the group going back into the Stigmata Lab.

As they went in, Scarlett directed Rana to one of the gurneys and she was soon covered by a moving scanner.

The three then moved to a nearby active computer, Rana's 3-D outline appearing on screen.

They watched as parts of it grew gold, starting from Rana's back… to thin strands throughout her body.

They blinked while it copied his Chakra Points with perfect similarity.

"... I don't understand," Amelia said. "Is this… normal?"

"... It's a network of her energy," Naruto realized as they looked at the gold's pulse. "... it's probably a thing that makes energy easier to spread throughout her body."

"... A complete network?" Scarlett's eyes widened as she turned back to Amelia. "Amelia, get on one of them."

When she was in the same position, they saw the females' images and realized that, yes, it was also happening to Amelia but the 'network' was, at best, small bumps on the gold sphere of her stigmata.

"Amelia said that the increase was incredible," Scarlett repeated. "If that's the case, this will make it more proficient if you're right about this network bringing energy all around her body… and Rana was able to reach this far in under a month?"

"Yeah," Rana said from her gurney. "All things considered, I have been getting stronger," she said. "How far is it?"

"It's almost throughout your whole body," Naruto said and she nodded, sitting up.

She then took a meditative stance and closed her eyes, activating her power.

Her wings shot out and Scarlett blinked before looking back to the screens to see the wire-like parts spread throb, spreading by millimeters the longer the young woman held her power, perhaps?

Then she saw Amelia and blinked at the sight of her own 'gold' pulsing a bit.

"Amelia?"

"Yes?" The former redhead responded. "Is something wrong?"

"..." Scarlett blinked. "Do you feel anything with the way Rana is, right now?"

"... a bit," Amelia said as she looked at Rana. "The thing is… ever since I started the changes, Rana and I could… it was weird but it felt like we were connected. Like we'd made a mental link."

Naruto nodded. "My power's philosophy is 'to connect'. To come to an understanding, I guess it's the first part," he explained as Amelia smiled.

"I know… I know," she said as Rana's eyebrows rose even as her eyes stayed closed.

'Hold on… she likes him?' Rana thought in some shock and amusement. 'Women from all over, this is so unusual-de arimasu,' and it'd still be the second-smallest amount she'd ever seen with a man in her village.

For now, she'd focus on the increase of her internal energies.

Yes, increasing. Currently, she felt herself sitting within a well of her power. It was odd, never like before when she'd been connected to the Transcendent Will.

It'd been cold and hot, unfeeling, and yet anger could well within her and she'd originally considered those emotions as hers, trying to purge them… but she'd never made much progress before.

Now? She understood more and more, her deep-down emotions had been amplified by the Will.

Even now, she did feel some of that emotion but it wasn't as drowning as it'd been before, in fact… as she focused on it… she let go.

The pain, the hurt, the anger, and the fear.

She let all of it go and fell deeper into that well, touching the ocean beneath.

Naruto and Amelia's eyes widened as the feeling passed by them, Scarlett staring at the gold Volt Lines, as she'd begun calling them, on Amelia's form and Naruto's golden form that blazed like fire with… interesting appendages.

Two middle finger-length horns came out from his forehead while a fox-like tail joined at his tailbone area. His eyes had even changed, becoming slits like some kind of predator while his cheek marks got slightly thicker and darker.

His hands had gained sharp nails, claws, while his golden form sported black marks that were… the Chakra Points.

'Is this… his full-inhuman state?' Scarlett was left choking on air at the sheer thickness of the energy in it, standing by Naruto made her body tremble before she stepped back. 'It's suffocating,' she thought as the two looked at Rana.

"Rana-chan?" Naruto spoke and the two's golden energy fell away the moment Rana released her stance and wings. "W-Whoa, that's the first time that's ever happened."

"W-What was that?" Amelia asked with a shiver. 'It was so warm a moment ago,' now she was cold, great.

"I dove deeper into my energy," Rana said with a grin as Naruto hummed.

"What'd you find?" He asked curiously.

"Well… it was interesting. I think I almost grasped that new skill," Rana said with a grin. "But I think I have a clue… there are… I think three of them," she said with a thinking expression as Naruto and Amelia blinked.

"Three of them?" Amelia asked. "Three skills that we can use?"

"Yep."

"..." Naruto considered it. 'Three skills that I might have had in my past, huh?' That wasn't, thankfully but lamely, not hard to consider. 'Sage Mode, Clones, does Yang chakra count here?' He didn't know. '... Wind manipulation… maybe the Rasengan? So, that'd be shape manipulation, right?' Now that'd be interesting!

Besides, that were normal ninja skills like the Henge, Kawarimi, and the Walking exercises.

"I can guess random stuff I might be able to do," Naruto said. "But it's not a long list."

"We can talk after we eat-de arimasu," Rana said with little energy as she held her stomach, a growl reaching the three. "I'm hungry~" She whined softly.

Naruto chuckled while Amelia blinked before giggling.

Scarlett, all the while, considering everything that had taken place.

'Three techniques from his soul?' What could the implication be?

Was this some kind of fantastical past life nonsense? Was it skills he'd get? Skills he had? What?

She had so many questions… fuck it, she was hungry, too.

"Let's go eat," Scarlett declared.

~NRK~

Obito hummed as he loaded everyone into the SUV parked in the villa's driveway, most of them dressed as they had been save for Su-Na and the Legendary Pandora, sans Cassandra, and Arcadia.

"Papa!" Arcadia smiled widely in front of Obito, wearing a pair of black tights and a black tank top with some black boots. "Can I sit in the front like last time?"

"Well, your grandfather's here, so…" Obito said as Gengo chuckled.

"It's fine, being smushed isn't the worst that can happen to a man," he said as Maria looked amused.

"They're your daughters."

"Your point?"

Obito rolled his eyes as Su-Na hummed. "You don't mind either, do you?" He asked her and she smiled, shaking her head in her long dark blue jumper dress with black tights and black slip-on shoes.

"Arcadia doesn't get to see you that often, this is fine. I have to make sure to debate down some people's choices," Su-Na said flatly as he chuckled. "Teslad, Windy May!"

The two were coming out of the house with a hurry in their steps. "Coming!" Windy May, the rosette, waved as she closed the home up, wearing a pair of black skinny jeans, white pumps, and a pink tank top.

Teslad, the other sister with violet hair, had on a short blue coat that came down to her navel, a white muscle shirt, and black slacks that led down towards her tennis shoes.

She hummed, looked at the car, and came over before taking the passenger seat, much to Obito's nervous smirk and Arcadia's pout.

"T-Teslad, Arcadia…" Obito tried to say but the look the woman shot at him was lowering confidence. "... I have an idea."

~NRK~

Arcadia pouted in her aunt's lap, the two strapped in by the double seatbelts.

"I wanted to sit alone with chichi-ue," the girl pouted, much to Gengo and Maria's amusement.

"I promise, when we get back, we'll spar, alright?" Obito said and the girl and Teslad perked up. "... Yes, you, too, eventually," he added as Su-Na snorted.

"It's surprising how they can enjoy training like that but I guess they've learned what it means to work hard and adapt well," she said as Gengo smiled.

"You two giving them more social interaction is something I'm forever grateful for," he said, kindly.

"You do still have that special vacation lined up, yes?"

"Of course."

Cassandra hummed next to her father. "... Hmm," she tilted her head and Gengo raised a brow. "... Are we going to the mall?" She asked and he hummed.

"Did you have a bad experience last time?" He asked curiously.

"... Mmm, people called Obito-kun a womanizer," Obito cleared his throat in the front seat. "Su-Na-chan wasn't happy."

Su-Na's eyebrow raised. 'I guess she is the most considerate of them all,' she rubbed the back of her head. "Yes, I wasn't happy but it's not like that was your fault."

"... Really?"

"Yes," Su-Na answered with a shrug. "If anything, that was kind of flattering," she said with a smirk that Gengo chuckled at. "Obito is quite a catch, after all."

The man in the front seat hummed with slightly red cheeks. 'At least they're getting along.'

"Hmm… I believe so, too."

"... What?"

Whelp, that didn't last long.

~NRK~

They walked the streets of a nearby brand store.

"Remember, no excessive force," Gengo reminded. "If something's amiss, come find me, I'll be waiting by the dressing rooms with Maria."

"You've never been more transparent," Obito said with a raised brow as the man grinned without a care in the world. "Alright, I can't fight that. Everyone remembers where the dressing rooms are?" He asked and got nods aplenty as Su-Na, Cassandra, and Arcadia stood by him… oh, a rhyme. "Alright, I'm sure we'll all end up by the dressing rooms. Don't get into trouble, please."

Windy May grinned before taking Teslad's hand and dragging her off.

The most neutral Legendary Pandora shot him a look that conveyed all her emotion into a stare.

This was his fault, he was sure.

He chuckled before walking off with his 'group'. "So, what are you three looking for?" He asked Su-Na, Cassandra, and Arcadia.

"I'm going where chichi-ue goes!" Arcadia declared as Cassandra hummed.

"... bras," she said blatantly and truthfully, getting chokes out of the two. "My others snapped-"

"Yes, yes! That's fine!" Su-Na pushed the mother of one away. "Dammit!"

"... Ah, too much, sorry."

"C-Cassandra!"

Obito breathed in before letting out a long breath. "Alright, Arcadia, what do you want to do?"

"Mmmm…" The short teen held his hand. "T-Toys, please," she asked with a blush and he chuckled.

"Well, I'm sure they're going to take a while," he said as they walked out of the store.

~NRK~

As the group of E-Pandora, guests, and Scarlett ate, they watched as Marks Spencer left the area with his luggage.

"Goodbye, no-fun," Jina whispered to herself as the others ate with discreet looks.

"Hmph," Scarlett shrugged as she ate. 'It's certainly going to be a lot less stressful for the rest of the week,' she thought. "Any progress on those skills?" She asked the girls besides Amelia.

"O-Oh, uh, well," Jina blushed a bit as the others cheered. "I kind of get it," she said, lifting her hand.

The manipulated Volt Lines shifted into jagged lines, like lightning, up her forearm down to the back of her hand.

"Whoa, that's… scarily impressive," Naruto said in shock as the grape-head giggled nervously. "Have you tried using it?"

"Uh, no, not without you around to heal whatever comes after," she said with finality and Rana chuckled with a worried undertone.

"Yes, that's… reasonable," she agreed.

"Then let's finish up and get down to it, alright?" Naruto said with determination.

They agreed and, in 20 minutes, they were up and out the doors with Scarlett informing them about the Limiter Suits.

"You'll be testing yourselves with them on, don't destroy them, accidentally, please."

So, ten minutes after that, the girls were all stretching in the Limiter Suits, wearing it under their normal 'training' clothes.

"Dude, one change makes this training thing decent," Jina said with awe and stars in her eyes. "And these Suits are the realest things we've ever worn since we came here!" She squealed.

"Hm, hm, I don't disagree," Rattle said with a smile touching the length of the Suit going down her arms, eyes flashing over the small hexagons that seemingly lit up, the slightest bit, every time her fingers passed. "This is so amazing…"

"It's the family secret," Naruto said with a grin, wearing orange shorts, a black tank top, and some warm socks in some boots, the rack of replica Volt Weapons at his side. "Now, it's time to see how well you can use that technique, Jina," he said as Rana brought over one of the straw dummies, wearing her 'demo' wear.

"Well, first we should see what you can do on our own," Rana said. "Just with the Limiter Suit. From there, we can focus on more specifics!"

"Alright," Jina nodded.

They all grabbed their favored weapon and stood up with Jina coming in first.

"Alright, power-up," Naruto said as she snickered before doing as he said, the Volt Lines only really appearing around her arms. "Alright, hit it with everything you've got."

She nodded before taking a low stance before slamming her staff into the middle of the straw dummy.

A decently sized hole found its place, the hole being a decent bit bigger than the end of the staff.

"Whoa," Jina grinned while looking at her hands. "That's the first time I've Kung Pao-ed something like that!"

"Alright, now, add on the Volt Control," Rana said with a smile as the young purple-haired woman nodded.

She focused and the Volt Lines around her arms shifted into that lightning-like pattern.

"A-Alright, hopefully, I'm not about to blow my arms off," Jina said nervously.

"Ehhh… if it did happen, you'd be fine," Naruto said with a wobbly grin as Jina swallowed. "... Ya know what, just hit it. We'll deal with whatever happens later."

She nodded as Amelia smiled encouragingly.

"We're all here. Trust in us and we can make this all a success!" The former redhead declared with confidence that Jina was a bit surprised by.

"... Hehehe, alright, I get it," the E-Pandora said with a nod and grin. "Alright, let's do this!"

She took that low stance once more before lunging forward, shooting her staff into the head of the straw doll-

The top half of the dummy blew off on contact, breaking apart along with half of Jina's staff.

"H-Huh?!" She balked before hissing a bit as she looked at her hand, the appendage seeming slightly sore. "W-Whoa… d-dude, I've never gotten that kind of power out of this before," Jina noted with a growing grin before sweatdropping at her… 'weapon'. "Um… well, at least it wasn't my arms."

"You did it!" Amelia said with a grin of joy and more confidence that filled the other E-Pandora. "I-If we can get this down, we could really make a name for ourselves!"

"Y-Yeah!"

Naruto chuckled before coming over and looking at her hand. 'I could tell she was going at full strength but her bruises aren't as bad as Chiffon's and Rana's were,' so did this mean they had less potent Volt Textures?

They could really work with that if they got this down.

He healed her in seconds, his Maelstrom Circuit not even used. 'I'm really getting to the point of becoming some kind of mega-medical-nin,' he realized with a grin. "Alright. Has anyone else figured this out?'

The good thing had been they all seemed to have gotten it down in their own ways and the trio of Naruto, Rana, and Amelia was proud as Scarlett watched from behind.

'The girls… they might even be able to do this without Naruto's biggest help,' and that was outstanding, she was so proud… but she wasn't sure how this would be seen. 'Marks is already a hardass about this 'project' being for the sake of mankind but what'll he do if he finds out about Naruto's involvement?' Would he convince Radox about taking him out of the system to work directly for Chevalier?

Would they force him to breed? Cause him to continuously do this via a volunteer program?

The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt because of what she knew Naruto's reaction to that would be and the fight that broke out might very well grow to an international scale.

Hell, the boy might break off his connection with Japan or Chevalier! Would they really ruin the good relationship they had now?

Scarlett watched as the group went through exercises, both physical and 'spiritual', with consideration.

'There has to be a way to ensure cooperation,' Scarlett thought before something reached her mind. 'N-No… If they learned about them, they'd take my research, I'd have nothing-'

"D-Doctor!" Scarlett snapped out of her thoughts as Jina came over with a grin, full of life, hope, and even confidence. "You've gotta see if we can't work more with something."

"W-What do you mean?"

"Well… M-Mark's not… great," Jina said nervously and Scarlett nodded. "But, well, Naruto once said that these Limiter Suits does pressure point stuff. Bringing us up. So, I was like, 'what if we could at least increase the limits of the human body', maybe? Wouldn't that be easier than trying to use the Mark medicine?"

Scarlett blinked at the sheer trust these girls had in her, the gall of them still being willing to take more test drugs and the idea that had been presented to her.

"A drug to increase the limits of the human body?" Scarlett repeated as Jina swallowed. 'Is such a thing possible?' Well, weren't they literally doing that with the still 'unknown' Nova cells?

Weren't they literally doing this more with an alien species? While the human body was far more understandable?

Scarlett considered the idea. "... I'll look into it… no, if I can, I'll see if I can't make such a temp drug in the time we still have, alright?"

Jina's eyes shined and Scarlett's will on the idea strengthened.

If she didn't want them taking Mark, why not make medicine that'd do something easier but with possibly more potential results? If she could, maybe the girls could have even gotten jobs within the Chevalier, hell the Alaska base, as mechanic work or something similar if it was successful.

But to do something like that in less than two weeks. That was beyond her abilities. She'd need more time, research, and so on.

Then she remembered a man who'd altered the way energy worked and she hissed at the idea that Kamui, a man related to Gengo Aoi, might work with her… but if it was for these girls, Scarlett might…

She groaned before nodding. "I need to make a call, take care training, and don't break something you can't fix, please," she said flatly as Jina chuckled nervously.

"We'll let you know if things get that far, h-hehe…"

"... Jina, I'm concerned," was all Scarlett said with a shake of the head before leaving. 'But it's due to that concern that I'll do what I can.'

If they'd take her Maria copies in exchange for foolishly keeping the project going… Scarlet realized she'd have no issue with that.

'I might be a weirder person than I ever expected.'

But, well, this didn't feel all that bad.

~NRK~

Arcadia doted on the half-her-size plushie within her grip as she and her chichi-ue sat by the waiting rooms with her grandfather.

Ever since learning about all of that, Arcadia had simply accepted it.

Her chichi-ue worked for her grandfather, which meant he was basically her dad!

She'd accept anything that made that realer!

Obito chuckled while Gengo hummed, eyes on one of the changing rooms with intense interest.

"Hmm, yes, I'm sure she'll look nice in that outfit."

"Your thoughts are showing," Obito said with a snort as one of the curtains opened to reveal Cassandra. "... You look amazing, Cassandra," he said as platonically as he hoped was being taken.

Wearing a form-fitting white sweater, a pair of black slacks, and some white heels, Cassandra had even allowed her hair to run down her back freely.

She really was beautiful but Obito knew how to appreciate the female form and not let his emotions get in the way.

Speaking of emotions and appreciation, where had Su-Na disappeared off to?

---

Su-Na blushed as the woman at the counter grinned slyly.

"Were you the one dating that guy or was it a group effort?" The woman asked and Su-Na blushed.

"J-Just me, now, please, ahem, the purchase,' Su-Na said as the woman grinned before pulling something else out, causing her eyes to widen.

"Ya see, what's a collar and ears without a leash?"

"I'll take it."

---

Obito shivered at some kind of horror that'd unleashed itself upon him, Cassandra sitting next to Arcadia, looking satisfied, much to Gengo's amusement.

"Something awaken in you?" He asked jokingly.

Obito scoffed. "No, I just got the weirdest feeling I'm in for something weird come the end of the week."

"Ah, yes, that feeling," Gengo began to wear an even bigger grin. "Yes, I can imagine that feeling pretty well."

"You're not going to tell me, are you?"

"Not in the least," he said before Maria came out of her dressing room in a flowy, red, dress with long sleeves. "Magnificent," Gengo praised as she smiled with a blush.

'Thank you.'

Obito ignored the re-connecting, in ways he didn't want to think about, couple as he heard his phone ring.

"Hm?" He pulled out his phone before blinking at the number. 'This phone's strictly for Chevalier work, who's calling me?' Obito thought as he got up. "I'll be right back," he said to Gengo as Windy May came out in a bikini. "... You're looking amazing, Windy May," he said quickly as he sped out of the area.

"Yes!" The woman declared with a grin as Gengo snorted.

"He's a ladykiller."

"Chichi-ue doesn't kill ladies," Arcadia said and Gengo smirked.

"Not in the way that's bad."

"I don't understand."

---

"Hello?" Obito asked as he leaned near the back of the clothing store, the area thankfully empty of people.

-This is Kamui, correct?- Obito's eyes widened at who it was.

"Dr. Ohara, correct?"

~NRK~

Scarlett was a bit surprised as she sat at her desk, observing Amelia's hair in the petri dish.

"Yes, I didn't think you'd recognize me on first word."

-I've a good memory. What's going on?-

"I was… I'm in need of someone who can ascertain energy in ways such as you," Scarlett admitted with a grimace. "Only you, at that."

-You mean not Gengo, correct?- She sighed. -I understand but aren't you supposed to be doing a demonstration in two weeks' time?- Her eyes widened.

"H-How do you…"

-I've spoken to Naruto Uzumaki before, I listened in on his conversation by mistake, apologies.-

Was this not a good thing? She hoped so.

"Then you know the deal, don't you?"

-Normal people aren't supposed to use Nova tissue, I know you understand this. I can also tell that you're trying something… something to help it along?-

She grimaced before explaining a lot of her thought process, the Mark medicine's side-effects, Amelia's condition afterward, and so on.

"I need to make some kind of drug that doesn't affect their human bodies to accept Nova tissue. I need to make one that'll increase their personal limits. With the Limiter Suits and just the skills, they've gained good boons but I want to ensure the Mark isn't needed. If I can increase their bodies by way of removing the limits on them, by a certain amount, I'm sure it'd provide better results and fewer chances of corrosion."

-...- He hummed over the line.

~NRK~

Was that possible? Obito was sure, completely so.

To increase the human body's limits was to mess with the brain, though. That was the limiter… but could he not already watch the functions of the brain through a person's skull with his Sharingan? To see things and watch them in ways no one could?

"You want my help with this… I can't say it's impossible, I have a skill set that'd help in this regard."

-So…?-

"... I'll see what I can do. Sadly, this isn't necessarily possible for this week and the next," Obito said but the woman simply sighed.

-Even then, I… I'm glad to have your support-

"No problem," Obito said as a familiar head of hair.

Several handsigns later, Su-Na stood next to him, some bags hidden behind her back.

Curious and worrying, oh no.

"So, what have you come up with, at least theoretically?"

-Well, the brain and body have limits but with their enhancements brought about by the stigmata, these limits aren't as set-in-stone. Think of it like the stigmata naturally giving them higher limits. The thing is, I want those limits for their human bodies, not for the Nova tissue-

A quick flash of his Sharingan had Su-Na up to date and cupping her chin with her free hand. 'It's not the worst idea,' she said as Obito kept their mental connection open.

'It's not,' he responded. "Not wrong… Actually, an idea. Why increase their limits instead of just changing how the stigmata are? Instead, why not make energy release slowly into their bodies. Draining them, sort of?"

-...?-

~NRK~

Scarlett blinked. "Altered how the energy in stigmata is released, you mean?"

-Essentially. Instead of altering their bodies, why not alter the stigmata? Wouldn't that be easier? And less cumbersome on them?-

She liked the idea… "Can you provide notes on that?"

-That's completely doable-

Scarlett smiled.

~NRK~

Naruto hummed as he considered the group's work.

"Since they're not as… I guess, close to Pandora in compatibility, the energy's not as potent and it's less likely to hurt you guys," he said to the group at large.

"So, it's a good thing?" Rattle asked.

"Well, in this case, it means that you can push your Volt Texture shapes more than most normal Pandora could."

"If that's the case," Amelia noted. "Maybe that means they could make more complex shapes? We'd be able to make full use of it!"

"It's possible," Rana said as she held up her arm, those Volt Line bands forming over it. "I can't use full percentage on my body, maybe 25%," she admitted as she raised her arm and flicked her finger at the wall.

A small dent found its place and the E-Pandora gaped in horror.

"H-Huh!? Air bullets?! What is this, some kind of manga?!" Jina said in horror as Rana snickered.

"... No, she did something like that in their fights with the third-years, correct?" Amelia asked and Naruto nodded. "Kuga, the Void Fang, technique from her fighting style...?!" Her eyes widened. "R-Rana, is that possible to teach?! I-If you could teach us how to do that one or the E-Enga, we might be able to do something with that and the Volt Texture manipulation."

Rana considered the idea with a wince. "I can't say 'no' but I'd be pushing it with my village's rules. Teaching the Seimon Hyakku-Ken outside of the people who live there is looked down upon ever since a few years ago," she said but Rana was surprised by how little heat she'd said that with.

Normally, the idea wasn't… pleasant but, right then, she'd felt more at ease with speaking of the fact. She'd… accepted it.

The Tibetan's eyes narrowed at an idea. "... but, I could teach you how to manipulate the heat in your bodies, m-maybe. The thing is, that requires more than a week's worth of training."

Naruto nodded before humming. "You're right. They'd need to practice over and over, gaining the experience over and over again… but what if we could cut that down by cheating?" He grinned as his field spread out from his feet, orange hexagons rolling across the field. "So, let's cheat. Rana-chan, teach them right here and now, let's see if I can't help you pass on that knowledge by using the connection with my field and you all."

Amelia's eyes widened at his words, remembering the fields. "E-Even if you just pass on her thoughts, all of our thoughts, as we try it, w-we could mentally do this almost ten times over!" She said in awe as Rana gasped at the idea.

"That's genius-de arimasu!" The Tibetan said with a big grin. "Then, let's get down to it!"

~NRK~

Come Friday morning, Amelia Evans awoke with a grin, getting out of bed and feeling amazing.

'Time for some more training!' She thought with a grin.

Ever since using that new method, they'd not only been training with the heat-control but Shape Manipulation with Naruto and Rana.

She lifted her arm and a spiral formed over the back of her fist, using 50% full-strength, a mix between her normal E-Pandora status and whatever she was now.

She was planning on revealing to the other E-Pandora what was going on with her now, Naruto and Rana weren't going to be around to help for the following week and if they were going to make this work, they'd need to know everything. Especially since Amelia was now sure that this power… this was permanent and it'd helped.

Increased stamina, durability, and healing, she'd realized that this was an amazing state to be in and she was glad to have it. So, of course, she'd let the others have their own increases. Maybe they'd change from 'E'- Pandora to 'N'-Pandora.

She giggled at the insane idea before stretching in the rather earlier morning, going for a long shower.

So, she took on, relaxing and lathering up in the off-light above, wanting to just enjoy the warmth, water, and silence for now.

Amelia finished an hour later, feeling great and giggling to herself as she put on her military uniform, never seeing the thick red color at the middle of her hair.

~NRK~

Scarlett blinked at the follicle… the completely red follicle.

'Amelia hasn't noticed,' she thought with a sweatdrop. 'Well, I'm sure her reaction will be amusing,' Scarlett thought with a smirk as she looked at the files she'd printed that Kamui had sent her.

With his words, observations, tests, experiences, and testimonies, she'd been looking into the girl's samples, blood, hair, tissue, and compared what she'd learned from the man with interest.

He'd been right, perhaps it'd be easier to change the stigmata but she'd come to a small wall in her work.

How did she gain enough manufactured stigmata without being suspicious? Sure, she could just say why she needed them… but Marks was a wicked man with an even more difficult way of thinking.

He was obsessed with one way of doing the project. If she offered this, he might very well shut down her funding.

Or, worse, cut her off from the project. She couldn't let that happen while they were still on for the demonstration in a week and some days… but then she remembered the crazy new breakthrough Naruto Uzumaki had brought to them.

Multi-Fold Simulated Training. Training where he could help them learn certain skills faster from a more experienced Pandora, Rana in this case. The sheer successes they'd had in two days made Scarlett's head whirl with possibilities but she knew to not push it.

Ignoring that Naruto and Rana wouldn't be here in a few days, the girls couldn't just immediately change their current goal.

Make them valuable to the Chevalier and the world at large. And, in that same thread, they couldn't take focus away from their current training… still, Scarlett had been relieved to know that they were basically shoe-ins for getting good funding.

The only issue, she found, was that Naruto was involved and the opponents they'd be put against but she had an idea for the latter and not the first.

No offense to the boy, most definitely not, he was a person she couldn't thank enough for his contributions… but that was possibly a detriment and she didn't even mean to herself but to his health.

At present, he'd 'changed the game', so to speak. Where before he'd not had a true effect on Pandora now that wasn't the case and he could do this for normal women. That fact alone has officially made him too important, too precious of a resource to give up.

And the things he'd shown her, his inhumanity, Scarlett knew that they couldn't just reveal these things to the Chevalier, much less the public. They'd want things from him that she feared he might not be able to deny due to whatever hold they had on him.

She'd done her research into him along with what she knew about him.

Right now, his family was considered connected to Gengo Aoi, a good thing, ironically.

That meant Gengo had 'power' to deflect a lot in this situation… but… she questioned how good that'd even be or, even worse, how long that'd last?

Gengo wasn't as well-liked in the upper-echelon, that was one of the ways that Scarlett had even been able to get in on this project. She'd learned from him but wasn't Gengo, meaning she had value that others didn't.

Back on track, Kamui was also there, another protector of sorts who was partnered to Su-Na Lee, the world's strongest Pandora. That was quite the deterrent and Scarlett had learned that Kushina Uzumaki, and even Minato Uzumaki, had been some of the best on the field for as short as that had been.

For people who were a few years in her age range, Scarlett was surprised to see how they'd changed their trajectory.

So, maybe, physically, they weren't as bothered… but financially, socially, and possibly internationally, things would get difficult for them. Maybe the other nations would grant them amnesty if they went to those ones but that came with the possibilities of also having their liberties intruded on.

Scarlett sighed and questioned why she cared for some kid she barely knew for under three weeks.

'He's too kind, too strong, too giving,' too charismatic, too open and truthful.

Perhaps the world of adulthood had truly tarnished her. Perhaps having such a simple, kind, soul made her a mushy woman…

She got up before heading towards the training rooms.

Right now, even, for now, they couldn't let Naruto change the other girls… not yet, hopefully.

~NRK~

So, you could imagine her surprise as when she reached the training hall, she heard something rather crazy.

"Y-You… don't want to?" Amelia gaped at the girls, the only ones in there. "I-I don't understand, I-I mean, look at my hair," she displayed the slowly going-back-to-red locks. "His power could help us in ways we couldn't know."

"We know," Jina said as Scarlett blinked. "But that's also why we need to do this on our own," she added with a clenched fist, looking down. "They've done so much, Amelia. It feels unreal how confident I am right now but that's the thing. I'm never going to say I'm ungrateful but at what point are we going to consider this worth it due to ourselves?"

"I…" Amelia winced as Scarlett was left speechless.

"Now, no one said we might not want his help in the future, maybe things will get too rough at some point," Jina continued with a grin. "But, right now, we need to also use our own strength. Besides, you're now our trump card," she said with a bigger grin as Amelia sweatdropped.

"I don't like how you said that," she said as Rattle rubbed the back of her head.

"The way things are going, even if we fight some of the toughest Pandora, we might still get in via effort… but making a big impression with our debut is going to be important," she said with a nod that the others copied. "So, you're our big splash. You'll be the last one to fight, Amelia. That way, no matter how good we do during our exhibition matches, you'll pull our grade curve up," Rattle continued with fire in her eyes.

"H-Ha, ha, ha," Amelia was nervous all of a sudden. 'Way too much pressure!' What was she going to do if she flubbed it?! "S-Still, are you sure?"

"A-Okay!" Jina said with a grin. "Besides, we're gonna run on manga rules! If I push it, I'm gonna be a Lancer!"

"I don't know what that means."

"Don't worry, you're not as much of a nerd as I am."

"Why are you proud about that?"

As she watched, Scarlett began to realize that these girls were more than just willing to do anything.

They had pride in what they were. They knew that they weren't Pandora but didn't wish for it, it seemed.

They needed this project but they seemingly believed in it, too… and, by extension, herself.

So, as she realized it, her eyes grew in resolve as she considered something.

How much leeway could her private project get her within Chevalier?

And how much could she haggle them for?

~NRK~

Naruto groaned at 10 am, sleeping with Rana in his arms, the Tibetan snuggled beneath his chin.

He hummed as he held her closer. 'This really is super nice,' ever since they'd kissed for the first time, well, they'd repeated it time and time again… worryingly so. 'I-I'm such a pervert,' Naruto grunted with red cheeks.

Oh, ever since then, he'd been learning that he was very attracted to Rana, in her lips, her eyes, that cool tattoo beneath her eyes.

Her dark blue hair, her powerful grin, her very decent boobs, and then the best of it all.

Her legs. Naruto was starting to realize he really had to be a leg man because, damn, those things made his stomach do flips and then incited his perversion.

Never before had Naruto felt like more of a pervert than now, where going to take a shower felt like a fight with his hand. He'd not done it, mind you, but it'd become far more tempting than he'd ever remembered. Choking the chicken, a hilarious phrase, by the way, was becoming scarily tempting.

'God, is this also a part of transforming, or am I just a pervert?' The sad thing was, he knew the answer. 'Arthur's finally infected me, hasn't he?' Naruto thought as he held Rana close.

He hadn't been in such a situation before. Was this normal? Or was he thinking too much?

Rana's immediate nuzzle back had him relaxing, smiling softly.

'Well, she calls me her 'fated one', right? I just gotta be the best I can be,' Naruto thought with finality. 'Still… uh, I'll let her decide the pace,' he thought with a blush.

Didn't want to mess that up.

Naruto was completely ignorant to Rana's slightly open eye.

'I know,' she thought, feeling his perversion and blushing a bit as she remembered her own nights of 'research' trying to learn all there was to a relationship with her fated one. 'B-But are we ready for that?' Rana didn't know.

The websites said that they'd be ready when they were but Rana didn't know what that meant!

Was she supposed to… touch herself? She'd… s-she'd already done a little of that before but hadn't ever since she came to the city, meeting her fated one had quickly made that act… well, not hard.

Most certainly not hard.

If anything, Rana had been left with more fantasies than ever before. She'd never been so… 'eager', mentally, about what she'd learned, she'd only ever just thought more normally about her fated one.

Dates, chatter in the forests, kisses, and training together… Rana blinked at all of that.

Because she'd done all of that with Naruto… like, since the beginning!

'Life really is wonderful,' she realized with a grin, nuzzling her fated one. '... but am I ready for that kind of thing?' Rana wondered with a red face.

Should she get a second opinion? Maybe she could ask Dr. Schmitz when they got back.

For now, she just wanted to enjoy this moment… for five minutes because it was clearly way too late in the morning and they had training to do!

~NRK~

So, a few good things in this chapter.

Not only does Obito get to drive a minivan, because those are nice, fight me on that, but he gets to shiver about his future without even knowing it!

Oh, and he also gets to see the LP's in nice clothes but that's not important.

Arcadia is a lot more childish than a teen because of several factors. For one, she doesn't go to a normal school, knowing what normal teens her age do.

Two, imprinting on Obito as her father-figure who she also doesn't get to see that often, she enjoys her childishness when he's around in full-burst. Cassandra treating her like a child, usually, is also a part of all this, sadly, but Arcadia still gets social skills, goes out often when Obito is around and usually he's around longer than a week but this month is full of new shocks and surprises.

So, she gets love and care from her mother but also gets a good male role model in her life who's taught her many things, giving Obito experience with children and a slight bit on teenagers. That'll be good for his future.

Onto Naruto's side, yea, the E-Pandora, with more specialties mixed between them, are actually feasible, so far. With creativity, they can use their weaker Volt Textures differently in ways that normal Pandora can't. And with Amelia gaining some insight with Naruto expanding his understanding of his body and fields, they can 'Shadow Clone Training' them by much larger amounts. That idea was actually one that shot into my brain mid-way through explaining their training.

And Rana's learning more about herself, Naruto, her energy, emotions, and the new skill she might get. She said three and the only hint that really needs to be said is that they'll be from Naruto's old life. That's essentially all his favored skills, by the way, so that's simpler for you all to consider.

And the E-Pandora do have pride and an understanding of their situation that Scarlett is considering the bigger picture of.

Because, no matter what, something is going to happen during the exhibition week. No ifs, ands, or buts, something is going down. Also, we see more of Scarlett realizing how much she cares about the girls and how willing she is to put aside her own dislike for Gengo to do right by them.

To the point she's considering… 'them', and anyone who knows the story knows what she means, as collateral for keeping the project alive. Imagine what'd happen if Chevalier realized Scarlett was able to copy Maria's DNA map.

Imagine the future enemies that could come from that! Sounds like a good way to give the upgraded cast strong opponents seeing as Naruto and Chevalier are clearly on a crash course of understanding.

So, uh, I'm considering a lot about the future of the fic and how canon is applied. The thing is if the E-Pandora Project gets green-lit, and Scarlett helps by 'convincing' them, that means there's no Amelia Arc… but there's space for more stuff!

We'll see.

~NRK~

~Golden Time Lovers II Obito x Cassandra~

He hummed, tapping away at his keyboard as his daughter peeked into the room.

"Chichi-ue, you do realize that Cassandra's easily impressionable, right?" Chiffon said to Gengo who was humming, Obito's application of his sealing 'jutsu' on his other daughters' stomachs occurring currently, at night, Cassandra watching him in the room as Gengo did so in his office. "?"

"I'm well aware," Gengo said as he chuckled. "But… I think we might have hit the motherload with Obito-kun," he explained as Chiffon hummed.

"I mean, besides his skill set, he's remarkably kind and really trying to be a good person, I know that," she said sadly. "I doubt anyone who goes through all that is unaffected."

"It's true," Gengo said, eyes looking far off into the memories that had been shared with him. "Yes… A world where war is waged on a smaller but no less destructive, technical, level. And by humans alone with powers they've trained with since birth. A world like his was a rather sad example of the human condition… but it had a bright light at the end of it. A world where trust, connection, understanding is possible because of one boy's influence on everyone. I truly wish that Ryuuchi can fulfill that role… but, tell me, Chiffon, am I being bigger than I am? A foolish old man?"

"..." Chiffon considered the question. "I think you're trying to be something you're not. You've emotions that get hurt time and time again because you believe you must become emotionless despite how ironic that is, Gengo-ue."

Gengo snorted. "I've become very clear on the irony, it's not lost on me," he said with a sigh. "Humans are just so… difficult. It's painful. Maria could show me the future threats but not the future of humanity, so I have to work towards a position where those threats are beatable."

"Even if those threats are never-ending?"

"Especially because so," Gengo said. "Humanity's wicked, make no mistake, but we're oddly competitive and that's where our beauty lays," he said with a chuckle. "I really do wonder, sometimes, if things wouldn't work out if I just… turned everything over to Chevalier. I've thought about the idea lots of times. I'd simply stay a researcher, money is nice after all, but I'd simply tend to you all, maybe finally patch things up with my son, see my grandchildren, and live out my days knowing I've done a lot for humanity."

Chiffon smiled. "But you won't, will you? It's sad but such scopes aren't something normal people can handle. Though, when you think about it, surely there are many like-minded people to yourself, no?"

"I mean, the potential is certainly not zero, that's for sure," Gengo said with a hum. "... No one person can handle all of this, I've thought about that phrase more and more ever since Obito's memories came to mind. Watching that young boy unravel into that pit of loneliness… it's incredibly heartbreaking."

Chiffon wore a sadder smile. "It is."

"But he's also helpful, here, so why not apply him to the plan, too?" Chiffon blinked as Gengo grinned before her eyes actually widened in shock. "Whatever comes… let it. Such a child could only be something his parents can understand."

"A being born between two half-humans, with a network of energy potential that could rule the world, such a child could easily protect everything we love."

~NRK~

About a month later, Obito found that he was truly getting into a routine with Cassandra.

Every day, he'd teach her something new, little things, book things, things about where he was from that she hadn't gleaned, and so on.

And, every day, he'd learn a bit more about the self-realizing woman. About how she found books only okay on certain days, on how she liked sitting in parks, and how she craved touch, seemingly.

Even at that moment, as they watched this new kind of TV that'd never really been a thing in his life, meaning not something he really understood, Cassandra was currently resting at his side, leaning onto him.

Obito had learned very quickly how much he kind of liked it… not just in the sense that an attractive woman was resting on him but also about the idea of just… having someone around when he'd never before.

Not before or after Rin's death… God, he'd not thought about those days in so long.

Even as 'Tobi', keeping an eye out for betrayal, he'd used the identity to just… gain companionship. Crazily enough, Deidara's explosive persona, his passion for his art, his blonde hair and blue eyes, that'd been the biggest reason why he'd spent so much time around him.

Because it was nice to have such a talkative person around to play off of, he even got to 'play' at being someone who didn't have the entire world on his shoulders, despite how vapid that'd been looking back on it.

Companionship had both driven him insane and kept him away from insanity. It was something he'd realized, nowadays, that he'd needed so much as a child under Madara's plan and how much the man really took from him.

He held her close with one arm and the Legendary Pandora's eyes went soft, snuggling him some more.

He'd keep his distance, eventually, he wasn't one to trample on people's kindness, not anymore.

But, for now, he'd enjoy this time.

~NRK~

It was a month later when Ryuuchi invited the two of them into his home.

Wearing some turtlenecks and slacks, black for Obito and light blue for Cassandra, they sat in the man's living room as he chatted with them, Orie making some food in the kitchen.

"Honestly, I've never seen Orie so motivated, it's interesting," Ryuuchi said with a chuckle as he could feel his wife's pout from the kitchen. "Love you, hun!"

"I know," she said with a small giggle as a young baby's voice could be heard with her. "Hmm… Obito-san, you were right about how I should do the vegetables. If it's going to go with the meat, use it with the gravy, too! Ingenious!"

Obito chuckled as Cassandra hummed.

"Obito is a good cook…" She said with a smile as Ryuuchi nodded.

"That bread he'd 'introduced' you both with, that was pretty impressive," he said with a grin. "Why, that's some of the best we've ever had."

"That's the truth!" Orie said from the kitchen before coming out with a pot of some sort, Kazuha on her back. "Now, I hope you don't mind beef stew," she said with a grin as Obito smiled before freezing with a shaky grin. "?"

"Oh, well, Cassandra isn't used to new foods, yet. So, her reaction is likely going to be… big."

"How so?" Ryuuchi asked with a smile.

---

His smile turned into a horrified gasp as Cassandra finished her fourth bowl of stew.

Note, he was on his first still.

Obito smiled apologetically. "There's a good reason why we bought so much in bulk," he said kindly as the Aois choked as Cassandra asked for more.

"... Please," she said, cheeks slightly red.

"... I-I see why father needed you to handle the funds," Ryuuchi said in horror.

"It's not easy," Obito responded. "I mean, it's nice having someone who likes my cooking, that's new, but I'm in for a wild ride when it comes to her appetite."

As Orie shared out more food, Cassandra watched intently, leaving the two men to chuckle a bit.

Well, her being a bit eccentric wasn't the worst thing.

~NRK~

As it turned out, the Aois really were kind folk and Obito chuckled as he remembered that day Cassandra ate most of their dinner. The two of them were currently standing in Gengo's villa home.

Before them, the pods containing three of the last Legendary Pandora were being prepped for release.

Gengo's hands danced across a nearby computer, the tubes the three women were in shifting down to lock into the floor, hissing coming from their tubes' pod-like section.

"So, with the three, what's the plan?" Obito asked Gengo as Chiffon prepared clothes, beds, and so on nearby. "I'm already looking after Cassandra but what have you planned for them?"

The scientist hummed. "Well, Cassandra seems taken with you, I don't plan on changing that," Obito looked surprised as he chuckled. "I… I've been very selfish for a long time… besides, a child with chakra and Volt Textures would be amazing."

Obito choked while Cassandra's eyes widened a bit as her cheeks reddened.

"Father…" She hesitated.

"I'm not here to get in your way… but your sisters are different creatures," Gengo smirked as his eldest blushed before considering her siblings.

"... Help them," she said with a smile that made Obito realize something… late.

She'd… had Cassandra been worried about potentially… 'forming a bond' with him? Had she been stressing about it that much?

And, in that same vein, what did that mean for Obito, himself? He'd decided to keep a distance between them when the time came but now he was being told to, essentially, go for it. By the woman's father, himself!

Life after death. Was it supposed to be so complicated?!

"... Wait, what did you mean about her sisters-"

The pods released their liquids loudly, cutting him off, as the ones within were revealed in all their naked glory.

Obito's eyes shut with a trembling brow. "You can't be doing this by accident, dammit, Gengo," he uttered as the man smirked as Cassandra tilted her head at him.

"... Ah, modesty," she realized and Obito grinned nervously as Chiffon snickered.

"Yes, being naked around random people isn't something everyone should just do," he said simply as she hummed in thought.

"Okay."

He sweatdropped in concern. 'Had she been… she didn't consider it at all, hadn't she?!'

Despite his incredulousness, his body warmed at the thought and Obito's eyebrow twitched with annoyance as Cassandra looked at him curiously.

She then looped their elbows together and looked pleased, leaving Obito to blush a bit.

"And there's going to be her sisters, oh, God."

"Hm, hm! Time for my siblings to awaken!" Chiffon said with a grin as Gengo snorted before pressing a button, opening the capsules' doors.

They opened and, with that, so too did the eyes of the Legendary Pandora within.

They opened slowly, blinking away the haziness of their awakening before looking around for the one person with explanations.

"Father?" The three asked in unison, leaving Gengo to chuckle.

"Good evening," the father of six said. "Come on, out with it, you all have questions, I'm sure."

"..." The one with long pigtails, Windy May as Obito had learned, looked around before locking onto the situation Obito and Cassandra were in. "?" Her head tilted.

And, horrifyingly enough, she'd walked on over naked!

Obito's eyes closed as Cassandra smiled.

"Good evening," the 1st of six said with a smile as Windy May returned it before looking at Obito curiously.

"Who's he? I didn't know father had an assistant," she wondered curiously as Obito kept his eyes closed, much to her fascination. "Are you a human who is afflicted with blindness?"

"No, you're naked," Obito succinctly, Chiffon's chuckles getting a twitching brow out of him. "Chiffon."

"Coming, coming," the second-youngest Aoi child said playfully in a sing-song tone, carrying a long set of medical scrubs. "Nee-chan, put these on. You're indecent," Chiffon whispered like it was some secret that Obito couldn't hear.

'She's just like Gengo.'

'She is,' Cassandra said and Obito didn't even feel intruded, his mental clarity was at stake. 'Is this a bad time?'

'No, though I'd ask you not to delve too deep into my mind right now,' Obito thought back with a small blush.

'Ah, understood.'

Well, this could be worse.

And, of course, Obito jinxed himself as his eyebrows rose at one of the other presences, the other Legendary Pandora, move about… closer to him!?

She ended up right next to him, copying her sister and causing his bicep to rest between a naked pair of big breasts that caused him to twitch.

'Good evening, sister,' Cassandra said with a smile, he was sure. 'This is Obito. He's been helping me.'

Was it weird for Obito to think he was a three-way call? Because it felt like he was in a three-way call.

'Good evening… Teslad?' He guessed and a small grunt came from his 'naked' arm.

'... Yes,' Teslad responded. 'I am Teslad. You've been taking care of my sister?'

'Essentially.'

"Hmm," she hummed before pinching his cheek. "... Thank you."

Well, he guessed she was that type of affection-shower. "You're welcome," Obito responded as Cassandra smiled. "Now, Chiffon."

"Hm, hm, clothes, clothes for everyone," Chiffon said with a big grin Obito could feel.

The last one of them simply watched from her pod as Gengo chuckled.

"Yes, he's quite the interesting one, Lucy," he said, reading her mind via the connection only a father and a child could have… as well as how obvious what question she could have.

"... He is," Lucy Aoi said with a hum as Chiffon came to her and handed her a familiar dress. "... Oh," her voice was… almost guilty as Chiffon frowned softly.

"... I can't really blame you for what happened," she said quietly as Lucy looked down and away before blinking as she was given clothes with a smile. "So, if we can, we can just be sisters again, alright?"

The way her fourth-oldest sister looked at her in shock made Chiffon realize that, yes, despite how hard it was, this was the right decision.

They were far different people compared to 20 years ago.

As they all got dressed, Obito turned to Gengo with his eyes still closed.

"I don't believe whatever your answer is going to be but can I open my eyes now?" Obito asked and Gengo smirked.

"Alright, alright, yes, this time there's no nudity involved.

Obito turned to Cassandra and she nodded, allowing him to open his eyes with caution.

Gengo sweatdropped. 'My daughter's authority usurped my own?' Well, good for them but he was kind of hurt.

---

Obito and Gengo watched in fascinated horror as the females in the villas devoured the food that had been made.

"N-Nee-san! You've been eating food like this for the past month?!" Chiffon asked in disbelief, horror, and utter jealousy. "I-I can't cook like this!"

Cassandra simply smiled, eating some rice noodles that Obito had prepared in as large a batch as he could but he was starting to think that sealing the Pandoras' powers caused their appetites to rise because holy hell.

They'd eaten Gengo, seemingly, out of house and home.

"Obito's a good cook," Cassandra said with a dreamy smile as Teslad ate the last of her food with an interesting frown.

Swallowing, she got up, walked up to Obito, and then pinched his cheek before giving it a little shake.

Obito was too stunned by their earlier devouring to respond.

Life had never been so terrifyingly beautiful, he guessed.

~NRK~

He leaned back on their home's couch, Cassandra leaning into his side.

"Today was quite the… 'adventure'," Obito said with a long breath as Cassandra nuzzled into his neck. "You've gotten… affectionate," he said outright, blushing a bit.

"Is it wrong?" She asked him curiously… but Obito saw something in her expression he didn't like.

There was some fear in there, something he winced at.

"No, it's not wrong… it just feels kind of unfair to you," he explained thoroughly. "I was simply someone who helped you. I just don't… get it," eloquent as always, Uchiha.

Might well write poetry.

"..." Cassandra's smile grew relieved, causing Obito to feel relief before she nuzzled into his chest some more. "I… like being around you. Does it need to be so… complicated?"

"I can never tell," Obito said with a grunt as she giggled a bit. "You've seen my life, I've no idea what is and isn't complicated in this respect."

'Not wrong,' she said mentally. 'I think being simple can also be good.'

Obito didn't disagree, hesitantly but surely placing his arm around her shoulders.

Cassandra smiled wider, lifting her head up to lock eyes with him.

And then she kissed him, the intent to not pass on information but emotion in the normal ways humans did.

Obito held her around the waist and pushed back, the two of them delighting in one another's lips for a good time before releasing.

He blushed a brighter red than she'd ever seen and Cassandra smiled beautifully.

'Whelp, my life's too good for me, sometimes,' he said as he held her close, the Legendary Pandora nuzzling into his neck. 'But I won't make you regret, I promise.'

"I know."

They laid like that for however long they felt before Obito grinned nervously as Cassandra said something… else.

"My sisters will need to feel this way, one day, I'm sure," she said with a hum. "But not yet."

What?

~NRK~

Things came to an explosive interruption when news hit the following year.

A Nova Clash. Unfortunately, the news didn't come from a Japanese location but from America.

"We can't do anything, dammit," Gengo said with a frown as Obito looked out at the night sky before his Sharingan blazed to life.

Then his eyes widened at the sight of… something up there. "... Gengo, tell me, does the Will look like a big white line in the sky?" He asked with a frown and Gengo's eyes widened.

"You can see it?"

"Yes, right now, it's a thick line close to the planet. I'm guessing when the Nova come down, it'd have to."

"..." Gengo cupped his chin. "Can you get into it?"

Obito frowned as his eyes twirled, looking for something to lock onto… his eyebrows furrowed.

"Got something," he said with a raised brow. "It's not really a 'portal' so much as an extension of itself-"

Information beamed itself into his head and Obito gripped his face as Cassandra held him, looking concerned.

"I-It's information, I suppose," he explained to ease her worry. "... I'm able to discern information, random information about the current Clash, when I look at it with my Sharingan," Obito said as Gengo frowned.

"What have you learned?"

"Well, there's one Nova and it's across the Colorado River and heading towards a village," Obito said with a frown as Chiffon was surprised.

"That much information?" She balked. "S-Still, is there anything you can do?"

Obito closed his eyes as they started to bleed, snapping open a moment later.

"I'm going to find out," he said and the air ahead of them, further into the villa's backyard, distorted before twisting open, a swirling black thing that looked ominous to their eyes.

Obito sighed as he hugged Cassandra close. "I'll be back," he said as she tightened her hold before he phased out of her grip, alarming the group. "Hm, hm, right, you all never saw that skill," he said with a chuckle before going towards the dimensional hole.

"We'll identify the hole you're entering," Gengo said seriously, eyes alight with determination. "You will come back, breaking my daughters' hearts isn't something I just forgive easily."

Obito looked back at them with a smirk as he stepped into the portal. "Wouldn't want that, now I really have to come back," he said with a chuckle before vanishing into the still-open portal.

~NRK~

Obito's eyes widened as his form seemed to fly past the sky.

The earth's atmosphere, the moon, the planets, the stars.

He traversed them all in a period of time unexplainable to come to a stop by an orb in the middle of nowhere… no.

At the beginning of the universe?

He frowned as he floated there, his form naked but sexual organs blurred out. Obito was in 'spirit form', he guessed.

He reached out with his hand and was pulled into the orb, eyes widening as he landed on a seemingly forever-stretching pane of dark blue hexagon bordered by bright blue light.

Sparks shot from in between one set to reach another, energy so potent, he felt his spiritual state charged with it, something latching onto his right forearm.

Looking at it, he blinked at a familiar set of Volt Lines?

'Did this thing just?' No, with but the energy about it… it'd given him stigmatic cells? 'This Will is more powerful than I ever imagined… Let's follow these things, shall we?'

He followed the flow of the energy for miles, walking at a speed that didn't make sense until he realized he was being actively pulled towards the core of whatever this plane of existence was.

Maybe 10 'minutes' later, he came to a stop by a small ball of light blue light. From all over it, circuitry seemed to sprout, reaching out towards the air, the ground, the world above, filling it with these circuit-like patterns.

"You… are the cause of all of this?" He asked it, hoping for some sentience.

It pulsed and he was sent skidding back. 'That's some force!' And he felt like this thing was only… well, involuntarily 'breathing', sort of. "You need to stop, the world below… why are you trying to destroy it-"

Negative Emotions.

Disruptions by 'Gengo Aoi'.

False World.

Forced Evolution.

No Contact.

More such things flowed into his mind as his Sharingan bled some more before Obito let out ragged breaths, processing it all.

'Another world?' What the hell?! 'They're sending negative emotions towards this thing…?!' His eyes widened.

No Contact, the Will wasn't supposed to interact with humans on the level it has been. That world, Eluka, the people there were causing a mess by sending negative feelings to the Transcendent Will, causing it to feel and it learned that negative feelings weren't great.

So, that's what this was all about? Because of the people of Eluka, the Will was trying to remove emotion, being bombarded with negative intent for thousands of years had taken its toll and everyone was paying for it.

"If that's the case, can't you send down a messenger? Someone to tell them what they're doing is wrong?" He asked it. "You are where everything returns to. Do you not understand, no matter what you do, it's going to be like this all over again? I've seen how you handle the souls you've taken, you've injected yourself with more of their negativity by sending down the Nova! You're going to destroy everything and yourself because of-"

He was sent skidding back, gripping the floor for a solid hold. "You can't just destroy everything you don't like! Look into my mind! I'm not from this world! I know exactly what you're thinking about!" Obito shouted in defiance as several 'circuits' shot out towards him.

Obito's mind was invaded, perused, prodded, watched, and left in a slightly confused state.

"All you're doing… is running," Obito said and its follow-up pulse didn't affect him nearly as it would want. "... Have you not seen how happy many are when they die? Have you forgotten that there aren't just negative things in the world? Is that it?"

Vivid forested scenery splayed out around them, strong, powerful, trees, kids running about and jumping from them.

He saw another 'scene' of people walking in a park, Ryuuchi, Orie, and Kazuha, he smiled softly.

Then he saw…. Obito chuckled nervously at the sight of a grown man.

His short blonde hair ruffled as he went over paperwork in large stacks, he groaned, he slumped, he begged for it to end… but he didn't stop. Because this is what it meant.

That is what it meant to be Hokage, sometimes, Obito thought with a grin.

"You can see it all, can't you? You've been hurt but you can't take that out on those ignorant to that fact," Obito said and it throbbed softly. "... Think about it, yeah? There has to be a medium… like guardian angels," he considered with a smirk. "You don't need to remove humans from the equation. If they caused a mess, let them fix it proportional to their sin. Afterward, a cycle needs to be had. A cycle of rebirth, cleansing, hell, and so on. There has to be balance."

It threw out a powerful pulse and Obito grinned nervously as the wave of energy shot against him.

His arms burned bright blue, the invasion of energy trying to overtake him.

Obito's body tensed and he fought it back. "You can't just force a change! Especially not like this!" He said, pushing back with a forward step that caused the area around them to pulsate. "It's going to be hard!" Obito grit his teeth as a dark blue pulse shot back against the light blue one. "It's going to be stressful!"

It throbbed angrily and he growled before slamming his foot down, a dark blue pulse throwing it off balance.

"But that's how you want us, humans, to be! So, don't be a fucking hypocrite!" Obito declared one last time as he grabbed the orb and it trembled. "... Haa, you can't run from this, you've clearly got emotions so I'll apologize… but it's time to stop before you destroy everything you gave life to."

He let go and the life shivered, floating away from its spot.

[...]

"I'm sure more than a few people would want to be guardian angels. I'm sure many would want to ensure their loved ones aren't bothered by the negative emotions plaguing you. So, you need to find a balance, something that can get rid of the negative energy outside of having them try to destroy Earth."

[...]

"?" Obito blinked at the information beamed into his mind. "... Well, humans have kidneys and they help purify and filter waste, why not something similar up here for negativity? My guardian angel idea, perhaps having those in the afterlife, here, help by destroying the negativity's forms up here and not by sending it elsewhere?"

It throbbed in curiosity and Obito smirked.

"Yeah, maybe I won't mind."

~NRK~

An entire day after the end of the 6th Nova Clash… and the world was forever confused by how… oddly it'd gone.

The fight in America had ended abruptly when the Nova had simply exploded into light without a life taken. Something that had never happened before and confused many in Chevalier.

In the Aoi villa, Cassandra waited outside in the backyard, fingers intertwined and fumbling around one another.

Chiffon, stepping out, smiled sadly at her oldest sibling's state. 'She really loved him,' she realized.

Of course, she understood all too well. Well, not romantically but 'love' came in different forms and she'd shown her own by taking on the name of a small singer in a village. Aurelia Fairchild would forever live on in her name for however long that lasted.

And Cassandra had probably found more than that in Obito. Where Chiffon found family outside of her own, Cassandra… most likely found a fated lover, especially one who could truly understand her on a level most humans just couldn't.

So, she understood. Love was an outstanding if not frightening thing-

There was a crash inside their backyard, shaking the ground a bit and causing Chiffon to blink as the backdoor to the villa opened to reveal Gengo looking out in confusion.

Cassandra's eyes widened as she stood up from the picnic table, gold eyes trembling as a figure groaned as he got up from his crash landing.

Obito Uchiha rubbed the back of his neck before hearing a crick pop and sighing, looking up to see-

Boobs. Cassandra tackled him, boobs-first, and he could barely catch her but it left him in a rather amazing, but desperate, position.

"Breea….!" He shouted into her bountiful chest. "Ca… Brea…!"

"S-Sister, you're smothering him," Chiffon said as Cassandra blinked before giving Obito the smallest amount of space for him to gasp for air, eyes wide.

"Y-You can't just do that to me, you almost sent me back to that place," he said in shock before flinching as the Legendary Pandora's eyes trembled.

As a man in love, he did the first thing that came to mind and held Cassandra in his arms, letting out a long relieved sigh as he said those most important words.

"I'm back, like I said."

---

The explanation of what he'd done had gotten the group to gasp at him.

"You went to the beginning of the universe?!" Gengo was shocked beyond words. "Well… if you think about it, that's the only thing that'd make sense considering it."

"Yes, well," Obito held onto Cassandra's waist as she held him close. "I hope it took my advice. If things go right, there will still be Nova but they're going to be less about destroying us and more about us helping the Will rid itself of the negativity of that other world. A very crazy concept, let me tell you."

"Another world?" Windy May asked in disbelief. "B-Besides the one you came from?"

"Yeah and I even saw my old world up there," Obito explained as the group looked alarmed. "And time has passed, goodness. Naruto's an adult with a family. I'd say… give or take 10 years have passed, at least."

"So, the time is different," Chiffon noted. "You don't feel saddened?"

"No, I've already considered that I'd never make it back, I can't very well be sad about it moving on," Obito answered with a chuckle. "If anything, it's a good thing. Moving past tragedies is important for anyone."

"Indeed," Gengo said before a ring from his work phone reached the group's ears. "Ya know, I've been waiting for this call by this point," he said as he opened the phone and put it on speaker dial. "What's going on, commander?"

-You need to look into the current situation- The commander said. -It doesn't make sense and that's not good-

"Hmm, alright," Gengo said with a stretch. "I can go tomorrow, is that fine?"

-As soon as you can, this entire thing has Chevalier up in a tizzy-

The call ended like that, leaving Gengo to chuckle.

"Well, that's going to be interesting," he said before humming and then looking at Obito. "... I'm going to need to ask you for a bit of help, you don't mind."

"What do you need?"

~NRK~

The Chevalier forces were stationed about, at the ready for large shifts in the former battle zone, only to perk up as a carrier came into view, coming to a stop above and starting its descent.

"So, he's finally here," Margaret Lindman whispered as her comrades nodded. "The Gengo Aoi."

"Hm, hm, hm, we're going to meet the doctor!" Lendy Ryan said with some awe as Margaret snorted.

"I will never understand why so many Pandora want to meet him."

"You're joking!"

As the carrier hissed once it landed, they stood at attention, saluting it as the side-haul door opened slowly to reveal none other than Gengo Aoi…?

The Pandora, the random medical crew, and even some of the pilots from the jets during the fight, all watched in confusion as a tall orange-swirl-masked man followed behind him.

"... Sir?" Margaret saluted Gengo who chuckled with a nod. "... I wasn't aware someone else was coming with you?"

"No, it's fine, Kamui-kun is a friend of mine," Gengo said in amusement. "Now, where specifically was the Nova removed from our plane?"

Margaret Lindman looked from him to the 'Kamui', who nodded to her before she nodded back.

"Right this way," she said as she and the group of Pandora led the two to the site. 'A man who Gengo Aoi trusts?' Well, wasn't this week full of interesting surprises?

As they led them over, Lendy hummed from Obito's side.

"So, tell us about yourself, sir," she said with a grin as Obito snorted. "Come on! You work with the Gengo Aoi, there's gotta be some story there!"

"Please, don't give his ego any more patting, dealing with it, as is, is troublesome enough," Obito said as Gengo smirked. "God, fame really does make your head big."

"Only for the sake of basking in it all," Gengo said.

"Right, that's what you call it."

Margaret smirked a bit. "It's truly interesting, you're a big name among all Pandora, I'm noticing," she said as Gengo looked very proud of himself. "Hm, hm, I see. Here we are, sirs."

They saw a large ditch in the ground and hummed.

"Type-F, correct?" Obito asked and she nodded. "So, it dug in…" He hopped down into the hole, much to her confusion.

When he was there, Obito looked around, Sharingan ablaze.

Looking around and up, he smiled a bit beneath his mask.

'Nothing bad, the Will seems to have really used me to get rid of it,' he thought.

As Obito was 'up there', the Will had wanted a demonstration of his own ideals and brought the Nova back up there, allowing him to fight it.

And, as he defeated it, Obito had realized that using the Nine Shadow Dragons Seal was probably the best thing. He'd even given it an idea on how to do so for itself, allowing the Will to slowly absorb the negative energy before filtering it out with another seal.

It'd been an arduous process but if it took his 'angel' idea to heart, this would be easier, hopefully.

"Well, from what I can see," he said to the others, rolling some of the dirt between his fingers. "... There's a large lack of energy here. It's like it vanished without a hint left behind."

"Hmm, that's about what we'd been told," Gengo said as he stood at the edge of the hole. "I do wonder how things will progress from here. This is likely going to be a big change."

"Positively or negatively?" Margaret asked as Obito flipped back onto the space next to them. "?" She leaned back from his acrobatic prowess. 'Were scientists supposed to be able to do that?' Maybe she should pay more attention to that kind of stuff.

"Hmm, you're a gymnast, Dr. Kamui?" Lendy asked as Obito snorted.

"I believe in being able to get out of situations, let's leave it at that," he said. "So, from what I can see, feel, and touch? The ground's not full of energy like most other Clashes. This time, things went differently, for sure."

"In that case, I'll have Chevalier send us as many samples as possible," Gengo noted with a nod. "Alright, for now, I guess we'll get all of you all's testimonies."

Margaret hummed.

~NRK~

Returning home, Obito and Cassandra caught the Aoi family stepping out of their home, Ryuuchi and Orie looking surprised at the two's new closeness.

"... So something good had to come out of this Clash, no?" Ryuuchi asked with a chuckle as Obito smirked while holding Cassandra closer to him, the Legendary Pandora smiling brightly.

"That's understating it."

~NRK~

Hoped you guys liked the Omake. It'll end on its 'Part III' so this has been fun.

Words: 16.3k+

~NRK Out~