~NRK~

Naruto raised a brow as he flopped onto his bed, confusion at its peak as he heard, giggling, eeps, and rushing water from his bathroom.

From the three girls in there, Rana-chan, Chiffon-nee, and Lucy-nee-san… What the hell was going on?

Sitting in his teal pajamas, he was happy to have showered earlier but this was getting ridiculous!

'My life's become some sort of comedy, I know it!'

"Hmm, tell me, Rana-chan, your culture's very female-dominated, yes?" Chiffon asked as she rubbed the younger 'Pandora' on the back with a loofah.

"You can just say it outright, senpai," Rana said with a hum of satisfaction before Chiffon hummed, pressing a part of the girl's upper back. "T-There!" A loud 'crick' caused her body to slump. "Thank you, senpai~," The Tibetan said dreamily as Chiffon giggled a bit while Lucy observed from the side.

"Hmm… you spoke something curious, Rana-chan," the hybrid said as Lucy nodded before Rana hummed.

"You like Naruto-kun," Rana said quietly like it was the most obvious thing in the world and Chiffon blinked even as she blushed a bit. "It's not hard to see-de arimasu."

"I-Is that so?" Chiffon said with some embarrassment. "... I hope Gengo-ue didn't figure this out and plans to use it to tease me. He's rather ruthless."

"Hm, hm, Naruto-kun's been learning, I've noticed," the Tibetan said with a grin with a bit of red on her cheeks. "But you wanted to ask something-de arimasu."

"... Do I, though?" Chiffon asked with a frown. "You're right, I do hold affections for Naruto-kun… but, thinking about it more, I'm not sure if that's a good thing," she said with a shake of the head at Rana's raised brow. "Think about it, Rana-chan, my sisters and I don't age like you all do… when it comes to an end, I'm all that's going to be left behind."

"With memories," Rana said with a hum. "Memories of a love that you had and can hold precious. I believe you're right in that way, Chiffon-nee, but you also should think about the here and now, no? Wouldn't it be better to actually enjoy your life?"

"... Rana-chan… I know what you mean, really I do," Chiffon said with a smile. "But, surely, that's going to be more painful in the end, right?"

"Would you be happier not having done it, though?"

"..." Chiffon sighed, eyes closing in thought. "... I-I… don't know," she admitted and Rana grinned. "Mou~ Don't do that! That's not fair to me, young lady!"

"Hehehe~ We all lose someone, eventually… But that means we have to live on with their memory and cherish it-de arimasu," Rana said with a hand to her chest and Chiffon stared softly at the six glowing stigmata in the younger female's back. "We need those memories, senpai."

"... This sounds a lot like you're giving consent, Rana-chan."

"I mean, I'd need to meet those who want in on him to see what's real or not… and I can say it is for you, senpai," Rana said with a blush as Chiffon blushed herself but the older woman giggled a bit.

"I'd been looking into your culture and I'd heard about harems before but this is certainly the most proper way to experience it!" Chiffon said with a grin as Rana chuckled and Lucy clapped from the side. "... Still, I can't very well take from you like this, Rana-chan," the girl looked confused. "I mean, you haven't even kissed yet, have you?"

"..." Rana's eyebrows began to twitch erratically. "We haven't-de arimasu…"

"I believe you should actually enjoy being a little couply for a bit more. I can't say how far that means," both of them blushed at the implication. "But it's your right, you're allowing me in, I think, as the second-wife, that you need to make sure your place in this hierarchy is established… hm, hm, hm!" Chiffon said before breaking out into giggles. "This will be odd!"

"I don't really see it as surprising due to how often it happened in the village," Rana said with a smile. "It's just going to be talking to Naruto-kun but he's got a big heart, I know we can make this work!"

Chiffon felt an odd source of giddiness rise in her chest.

This would be fascinating.

When the three came back out of his bathroom in his pajamas like they had this morning, Naruto's eyebrow twitched while Rana laughed embarrassedly.

"Sorry for the wait!" She said with a nervous grin. 'I can't forget now-de arimasu!' Chiffon-senpai, why?!

Now she couldn't look him in the eye without thinking about kissing!

Lucy hummed before moving onto the bed and laying down at the end of it, sideways.

"... I can't…" Naruto said as the older hybrid laid across his shins. 'Well, it's certainly better than her doing it the other way.'

Why did he feel a mounting dread all of a sudden?

"So, Naruto-kun, there's one more demonstration tomorrow, right?" Chiffon asked as she brushed Rana's hair for her. "I mean, what else is there?"

"The idea is to show all the products, chat with people, and I guess hash things out with the upper brass," the blonde said with his arms folded behind his head. "I mean, there's one more thing mom and dad were working on, for me specifically, but I don't know if it's finished or not."

"?" Rana hummed. "What?"

"Well, a weapon that can utilize everything I've learned," the former jinchuuriki said. "I don't know what type of weapon it'll be but it's my quote-unquote 'Freezing Weapon'."

"Sounds curious," Chiffon said with a smile as she finished up. "I do want to see that, though. It'll be interesting."

"Yup, it should be pretty cool," Naruto said before blushing as two weights settled on his sides and arms. "... I have so many questions," he said nervously.

Rana giggled a bit, tapping his nose. "It's not something you need to really worry about if you don't want to," she admitted with a slight blush. "Some things in cultures are gonna clash, after all."

"..." He shot Chiffon a look, the Smiling Monster grinning at him. "I'll deal with this later, whenever that is."

"He's learning, Rana-chan."

"Hmph, hmph."

The blonde blushed.

~NRK~

They stood there on the cliff, eyes locked.

Satella and Kazuya on one side while Louis and Holly stood opposite them, Louis, Satella's little brother, wearing a look of complete and total rage that Kazuya reciprocated with the cold version.

"You understand?! Your place was never here! You're an outsider!" The older boy said as Holly raised her Volt Weapon, a large two-handed broadsword. "But you've tainted Stella! That's not a minor crime!"

"Save your breath! She's not some object for you to control!" Kazuya shouted back and caused the boy to grit his teeth more. "Do you think you get to decide shit? You waste of a human being!?"

"Excuse me?!"

"I'm not sorry, did that hurt?" Kazuya asked with a glare as Satella blinked at him. "... Apologies, Satella-chan, the boy before me… your brother doesn't deserve any kindness from me."

"..." Satella took a deep breath before readying Nova Blood. "This fight… I wished it didn't need to happen… but if this is what it takes to open your eyes, Louis, so be it."

"STELLA?!" Louis looked alarmed as Satellizer steeled her resolve. "... Hm, hm, hm, I see! Then all I have to do is crush that insect over there! You shouldn't be playing with bugs, sister!"

"Kazuya isn't a bug," she said back with no anger but a no-nonsense tone that her sibling grimaced at. "He's the boy who helped me become a better person, he understands me in ways that only one other does, and yet, without that other's innate wisdom, Kazuya's kindness reached me in a way that I didn't think was possible…" Satellizer blushed as she faced Kazuya who smiled at her. "... W-When this is all over… please do a Baptism with me."

The three other's eyes widened at her words.

At her confirmation of what they were, of what Kazuya was to her.

"... Holly," the Pandora jumped at the venom in Louis's voice. "When my sister is BRing down Kazuya Aoi."

The Pandora grimaced but readied herself regardless.

"... Hm, hm, are you ready, Satella-chan?" Kazuya asked as his eyes glowed.

"Yes," Satellizer said as her body thrummed, her Holy Gates or, as she liked to call them, her Wings of Light sprouting from her back.

The feeling had become familiar to her and made the rush of power comforting if not encouraging.

"We won't lose."

~NRK~

The following morning, Obito hummed as he held Su-Na close, his woman moaning into his chest as she grabbed his forearm while waking up.

"Hmm? Obito?" She said groggily and he chuckled, the vibration of his voice in his throat soothing her. "Did you just get up?"

"No, I already cleaned up," he said, naked as the day he was born sans some underwear. "You just didn't want to wake up," Obito said with a chuckle as she stuffed her face into his chest.

"I don't want to…" She mumbled, gaining more warmth the more she was awake. "Mmmm."

"Come on, it's time to-"

"Lucy, why are you there again?!" Came Naruto's voice from the room beside his… which shouldn't have been possible since Naruto's room was one over. "Dammit, are we going to be doing this again?!"

"I guess someone was awoken oddly," Obito said with a snort as he got up, much to Su-Na's displeasure. "Come now, we've got breakfast ahead."

She cooed into his chest as he picked her up and carried her to the bathroom.

~NRK~

Once again at a breakfast table with a grumble, in his pajamas, Naruto aggressively ate some of his pancakes, eyes flat as they locked onto the curious Lucy.

"I found myself there without thought, it's very warm," she said without a hint of embarrassment as Chiffon giggled.

"Chiffon, is your sister just not able to be embarrassed? I think I'd feel better if she was," Naruto said with a grumble, drinking some juice. "Like, surely, she can, right?"

"I haven't tested my siblings' limits on that account," Chiffon said with a chuckle as Rana devoured some noodles. "If anything, as you know how they are, it'd probably be very… difficult to get a reaction out of them… Lucy's possibly the most human next to me."

"Hmm, what do you like, Lucy-chan?" Rana asked and the older hybrid tilted her head.

"... Things I find pleasure in understanding?" She asked and Chiffon grinned with a nod. "... I like bats… They're such small creatures yet people fear them. Oh, as well as spiders."

Naruto's eyebrows twitched. "Well… I mean, I don't hate spiders… they're just kinda creepy."

"People find things they don't understand creepy, it's like kinship."

"Like… I guess."

"..." Rana considered her food with a blush, her thoughts focused on one thing. "... Mmm," she pouted at Chiffon who blinked.

And then she got it and grinned widely. 'Do it' she mouthed.

The Tibetan blushed harder before grumbling. "... H-Hey, Naruto-kun," she spoke up and Naruto looked at her. "I want to go somewhere today… No real place, just a little date."

Naruto blushed before nodding. "A-Alright, sure, any real direction?"

"Why not go see a movie, you two?" Chiffon asked and they blinked. "Today's demonstration is supposed to be shorter and held later, why not enjoy a good movie or two?"

"... Movie? W-Wait, isn't that that big thing with the bigger pictures?! Like when we watched 'Dark Note'?!"

"Death Note," Naruto clarified with a growing grin. "Alright, I'm all for it!"

Rana grinned as the others came into the cafeteria.

"So, two of them are grinning, the boy included, what does that mean?" Gengo asked Minato who chuckled as Menma ran up to his sibling.

"Well, he's involved this time, so I'm sure it's relatively good," Minato said with a grin.

"Relatively, huh?"

"Exactly."

~NRK~

Waking out of the train station, Naruto and Rana blushed a bit before the former took the latter's hand and they walked.

The blonde in a pair of black sweatpants and a yellow t-shirt in his blue ninja sandals while Rana wore a dark blue skirt and black dress shirt, Naruto's black ninja sandals on her feet.

Wearing her hair in the first style they'd met in, she gripped his hand back firmly, the two of them walking close.

"I-It's… kind of weird, isn't it?" She asked him and he chuckled a bit, scratching his cheek. "It feels so… different when we're alone-de arimasu."

"It does… but I definitely like it," Naruto said and Rana's cheeks shot up several thousand degrees. "It's fun being around you, Rana-chan."

Rana felt like she was on the moon at that moment, wearing a grin that Naruto chuckled at before wrapping her arms around his arm.

He burned red before grinning like an idiot.

'Chiffon-nee was right, I should enjoy this for myself some more,' Rana thought, sending a mental apology to the hybrid. 'Sorry and I'm gonna be a bit more selfish!'

She could see the older female grinning at her slyly in her head.

As they walked, they looked around at the surrounding areas.

"... Oh, there's a martial arts center?" Rana asked as they came to a stop by a large building with the title above its entrance. "We've never been to this part of Shin Tokyo-de arimasu."

"We should check this place out after the demos," Naruto said and she grinned.

"Sounds like fun!"

~NRK~

Getting to the movie theater, the two looked at the selection of showings.

"... Hmm, A Quiet Place 2?" Rana asked and Naruto blinked, looking at the picture.

It looked like a family with a woman holding a gun, all of them shadowed by something.

"... Huh," Naruto blinked. "It's a horror movie? Actually, Rana-chan, have you ever seen a movie before coming here?"

"Hmm… no, not really."

"Wanna see it?"

"Sure!"

That'd been their first mistake.

"Why?! Why?! Why?! Why?!" Naruto nearly broke through the back of his seat. "What are you doing?! What. Are. You-!" There was a squelch.

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhh?!" Rana's grip on his hand and her armrest nearly grew to super-compression levels.

Only one of the two held out as her armrest crunched underneath her grip.

'What the hell are you doing?!' They shouted at the movie, mentally, in unison.

Side note, they'd only seen 20 minutes of this damn film.

~NRK~

Sitting in a nearby bakery, recovering from their ordeal, Naruto lifted his head up from his folded arms.

"Never again."

Rana repeated his action, a haunted look in her eyes.

"Why are humans able to create something so horrifying?"

"I don't know."

~NRK~

Minato chuckled as he and his second son worked out before blinking as they were approached by none other than Commander Radox himself.

Crazy enough, the man looked… frustrated to be there.

"Radox-san?" He spoke up from the treadmill, pressing pause on it to allow the 19.5 mph to go down. "Yes?"

"Hmph… Namikaze, I need to ask you about the status of some of those Pandora Suits. How soon can you get those delivered?" Radox asked with a frown and a close-eyed grunt. "There was a project for Pandora in the works and it might be necessary for those women to make use of them outright."

'The E-Pandora Project?' This was an odd development. "I don't understand, Pandora Suits aren't exactly supposed to be made for constant use so why would they need them before even the normal Pandora would?" Radox flinched. "Sir, you said these ones would need them, they have to be different somehow."

Dammit, he was getting sloppy. "You're right, they're not the same, these women need extra support… and I want to see if you can't configure a Pandora Suit that can make them at least normal Pandora-level."

Damn you, Ohara, for making him do this… but she'd been right.

If they wanted this project to take off, to beat Gengo, they needed support. Maybe he could even coerce the man away from his enemy?

"Well… I mean, we could try but it's weird that you'd want them on all the time."

"Can they just get ones similar to your Limiter Suit Collection?"

"Oh, right," Minato chuckled a bit as the commander sweatdropped. "Well, then they could just the Limiter Suits, no?"

"... And there's no way to get them to do all of it?"

"You saw how it works, the Pandora Suits are supposed to be the extra padding. When the Limiter Suit goes away during the process."

"It won't be an issue, then. Having both on will probably be for the best. If you think about it, we should probably just do that for all soldiers," Radox considered, looking at the President of Uzumaki Arts Production with consideration.

"Actually, we tried that," Minato said and Radox sighed. "Apologies but… the thing is, the Limiter Suits can't be broken down into Volt Textures," he said and the commander blinked.

"I'm confused."

"The style we use to get it the way it is, it becomes an odd side-effect. They're going to get either one or the other, unfortunately."

"Haa," well that plan had gone out the window. "But the Limiter Suits can still be fit for them, right?"

"Yes."

"That's something, at least."

~NRK~

They spent the rest of their date going around a park, a rather fond reminder for both of them.

"Sometimes, I wonder what would have happened if we hadn't met here," Rana said softly as Naruto chuckled. "I think that we'd have spent a good bit of time passing each other… No, actually, I think we'd have found each other eventually," the Tibetan said with a giggle as the former shinobi blushed a bit.

"How so?"

"You're way too interesting," Rana said with a grin as he chuckled nervously. "You have an energy around you that's hard to ignore, Naruto-kun."

"Y-Yeah… I get that," Naruto said with a chuckle. "I just want those around me to live well, have good lives, and all that stuff. I'm not that complicated."

"There's nothing wrong with simple things…" Rana said with a smile that he grinned at.

"You're right, there isn't."

She basked in the feeling before Naruto gestured to a tree.

Walking towards it, she giggled as they sat down, the two of them leaning on one another.

"This is certainly nostalgic," she said slyly and he smirked.

"Yup, I figured a little return to the norm would be good," he said as she covered her grin with her hands. 'Has it really been only a month?' Naruto wasn't sure what the hell had happened.

It felt like time had tripled for the amount of crap they'd been dealing with. These moments were so… clear to him that he realized that he focused more on them than the fights.

Especially since Rana had come… In a way, Arthur had been right back when the year started.

The former shinobi had been hoping for affection but didn't want to admit it. Naruto wasn't sure when it'd happened but he had to assume that it began whenever he really got that Arthur and Genessa were a thing, maybe.

He wasn't jealous but he was longing for such a relationship… and Rana had given it to him. This bundle of odd culture, curiosity, and blue hair had gifted him a relationship he had come to… love.

'Am I that easy?' He thought as he held her close, Rana's eyes widening before her face caught aflame. '... I think I'm just someone who loves easily, I guess,' Naruto thought with a blush.

Kind of like an Uchiha without the super-dangerous eye powers.

"Hey, Naruto-kun…" Rana spoke up, face bright red when he looked at her. "T-There's something I've wanted t-to try, o-okay?"

"... Sure, anything."

"Close your eyes," Rana said with a determined frown that he blinked at before nodding.

When he did, Rana felt her heart thump in her ears as adjusted herself, arms on both sides of his head.

She lowered herself slowly, the sight of his closed eyes causing her blood to thrum.

Her descent ended with the feeling of his lips on hers, the feeling almost indescribable.

For one, he had firmer lips, this had matched with her research! Adding onto that, the taste of both buttery popcorn and… fruits?

'The fruit snacks from the movie theater!' Rana realized with satisfaction as she pressed his lips more, hands coming around to her fated one's neck.

Naruto's hands found her waist and the kiss became a two-sided affair that Rana felt fulfilled by.

'We're kissing?!' He'd been so shocked by her forwardness before realizing that, maybe, she'd wanted this to happen the entire time? 'I can't allow her to feel so neglected again!'

He'd messed up once and that fact alone would never allow him to do so again.

Still, this kissing thing… it rocked! Rana's lips felt so nice and plump and soft… And so sweet?

'The soda?' But even beneath all that, he tasted some savory. 'Have I been missing out on this?!' Hell, he bet Kazuya had done this before he had!

The kiss went on for several more seconds before ending, leaving two flushed, gasping, teens in its wake.

"Okay… whoa," Naruto said after a moment of rational thought before blushing hard. "I-I, uh, didn't… expect that."

Rana giggled, face as red as his but her intentions had been clear.

And the two of them loved every second of it.

Naruto chuckled a bit, rubbing the back of his head. "Well… y-yeah, I'm, uh, sorry for making you wait so long for that-dattebayo," he apologized and Rana raised a brow at him.

"You didn't make me wait, I was just happy we were the way we were. I think I just never thought about it-de arimasu."

"Well… I'm glad we've gotten that step in, ya know?"

"Hm, hm, I do!"

~NRK~

They sat in Kazuya's bed, the two of them, Satella and Kazuya, himself.

The previous day's, and this morning's, situation had been… taken care of? Kazuya wasn't really sure.

He was just glad he got to give Louis a shiner he'll remember. Along with many more if the older Limiter went back on his words.

The Aoi was currently helping the El Bridgette heir do her hair, crazily enough.

Each brush of the comb seemed to relax the year-repeater, the two of them in some casual pajamas of blue and black, both bought by the young woman herself earlier this morning.

"How are you feeling, Satella-chan?" Kazuya asked calmly as Satellizer blushed a bit.

"Fine… I'm just… I want things to be better… here… and between us," Satella said and Kazuya blushed with a chuckle.

"I want us to have a better relationship, too," he said and she nodded as he finished up. "There, all done."

"T-Thanks," Satella said with a small mumble as Kazuya chuckled some more.

"No problem… now, I… Satella-chan if you're not comfortable with a Baptism, I understand."

"... No, I want to accept you fully. Elizabeth spoke to me last night and I believe she's correct," she said, confusing Kazuya.

"I understand, Satella, really I do but I'd ask you truthfully and honestly, what do you think of Kazuya?" Elizabeth asked and Satellizer looked down in thought. "I don't want to force you to do anything and we both know Kazuya would never as well… but aren't you lacking in any form of affection?"

She blushed and Elizabeth smiled.

"Nothing like that, Satella, I mean little things, knowing looks, maybe handholding," the Mably grinned at her fellow blonde's redder face. "Come now, that's the most harmless thing anyone could suggest… unless, my word, that's rather indecent."

"I-I wasn't thinking about that!" The younger blonde said but her cheeks gave away her indecent thoughts. "I-I wasn't…" She pouted and Elizabeth chuckled.

"All I'm saying is that, maybe, you should actually indulge in your relationship in a way that both of you can enjoy."

"She did?" Kazuya asked and she nodded.

"I… I want you to also enjoy what we have, to know how much I appreciate you… I-I've just never done this before…" Satella admitted and he nodded with a small chuckle.

"Being fair, I don't know much more about this than you do… all I know is that I want to help you, to stand by your side and be there for you…" He admitted and Stella stared at him before looking down in thought.

"... Kazu-kun," she said, determined, surprising him a bit. "Please… will you do a Baptism with me, when the time is right?"

"Of course," Kazuya said with a close-eyed smile. "I'd never-"

She'd gotten him, no ifs, ands, or buts.

When Satellizer pulled her lips away, face bright red, Kazuya could only gape at her, redder than she was.

Whelp, that was certainly a way of holding off!

~NRK~

When Naruto and Rana returned, they came back to the blonde's room to find Chiffon, Lucy, his family, and Gengo within. The only ones missing being Obito and Su-Na.

"What happened?" Naruto asked and his father rubbed the back of his head.

"I believe Commander Radox wants to have the E-Pandora wear the Limiter Suits," Minato said and the blonde and his… significant other blinked.

"... Huh… I mean, in a way, I kind of get it and don't think it'd be a bad idea," the boy said as Rana nodded.

"Why not?" She asked and Gengo shrugged.

"It's not something so serious, it's just interesting that he'd seem so annoyed that he had to ask," the scientist said with a hum as he cupped his chin. "... Or he was forced to do it… either by the committee or Scarlett," Gengo looked conflicted. "Whichever one, he's not too happy with it."

"Hmm, well, nothing to really do about it, yeah? At the end of the day, this is still working for humanity," Naruto offered and Gengo shrugged once more.

"It's just more resources being out in the air already, especially for a personal project we can only hope we know the real details behind," the authority on all things stigmata said with a grunt. "We'll see in a couple of weeks, won't we?"

"I think things will work out," Kushina said with a smile. "Now, we've got one last demonstration to do!" She said with a chuckle.

"Anything special for this one?" Chiffon asked.

"Well, we did have something special for Naruto-kun," the redhead said while tapping her lip as her son perked up. "But that's not really something we'd give to normal Limiters so we'll unveil it now!" Kushina declared as Menma pulled a large briefcase out from beneath the bed.

"No way, it's finished?!" Naruto asked with a grin as Rana hummed in thought.

"... Oh! Is this that Freezing Weapon he spoke of?" The Tibetan asked, getting a curious hum out of Gengo.

"Freezing Weapon, ey?" He asked and Minato chuckled as Menma brought the briefcase over to his sibling.

Naruto kneeled and held it in front of him before undoing the latches.

When it opened, his 'age group' huddled around to look at the item within.

It was a thick spear broken up into two long pieces, the shaft being a bright silver color with a clear gem pommel on one end while the other sported the blade.

The blade's hilt was the Uzumaki spiral replicated three times over and mashed together at their sides while the blade itself was two-sided, thick, and had two small prongs at its base that shot out at its side in angles.

Taking it out, the blonde grinned as he put it together before standing up with it in his hand.

"It's taller than you," Eugene noted as Naruto did look up at the seemingly 6-foot spear. "So, how does this work?" He asked the blonde who hummed as he twirled the weapon on a pair of his fingers.

"It's in the prongs," Kushina said with a chuckle as Gengo cupped his chin at the sight of the weapon. "Activate your Freezing field and you'll see."

Naruto grinned as he stamped the weapon down before doing as suggested.

Orange hexagons spread out in a small circle around his feet before the boy blinked as the prongs of his spear sparked to life before the space between them, blade and all, burned gold and extended.

Soon, he was looking at a two-foot golden blade and Naruto hummed as he moved it around a bit before watching as its length diminished outside of the field.

"How's this work?" Naruto wondered and Gengo spoke up.

"It's accessing the energy of the Freezing field, isn't it?" He asked in some shock as Minato grinned. "Hmm, in the files you handed us, I remembered something being mentioned about the fields having entrapped energy within, is that what you're working with?"

"Essentially, though Naruto's likely the only one who can keep this weapon going," Kushina said with a smile. "The idea is to use the fields to their utmost and any energy that would slip away is going to be caught by the Koriyari to enhance its abilities."

"Well, it improves its reach and I'm assuming its power, right?" Chiffon asked.

"It does and, well, it can cause minor paralysis," Minato said as Gengo hummed with interest. "It's still Soul Energy, it does as normal fields do."

"Hmm," Rana prodded the side of the 'blade' and shivered as she did. "Y-Yep! It does-de arimasu!" She squeaked, removing her finger and shaking it, much to the group's amusement.

"I'm curious about how powerful it is," Gengo wondered. "Hmm… Lucy," he said to his fourth daughter who nodded.

Raising one of her hands, a small shield appeared over it as the numbers by her shoulder ticked down slowly 1 by 1.

Naruto nodded as he raised his weapon before prodding her hand-shield.

There was a series of small sparks from the contact and the ticking of her Soul Energy grew faster as Lucy blinked in some surprise before the field beneath the blonde faded away, leaving his spear to clink into her barrier to no effect.

"I see, that's a big energy consumption," Lucy noted and Naruto nodded as he held his spear. "We still don't know how that translates."

"Well, we're here for the rest of the week so we'll be able to check it out some time later," Minato said as Menma tapped his sibling's leg.

"Sup?"

"I'm hungry."

"... Gotcha, let's go eat!" The young blonde declared as Rana and Chiffon giggled while Eugene smirked.

"Simple is best, right?"

"You know it."

~NRK~

The demonstrations of that day had been a practice of his skills, the newest dummy Nova, and the Freezing applications.

Kouichirou hummed before taking aim with his gun at the 'Frozen' stone.

He pulled the trigger and the shot cracked against the stone face with not a hint of damage.

"Impressive. Add on, this should be the easiest thing to teach, yes?" He asked and Naruto grinned.

"Yep, all it is is just covering whatever it is you're hiding behind, that's pretty easy," the boy said as Eugene demonstrated wall walking a bit away. "I've said this a lot over the past month or so, it's all about creativity."

"I certainly won't deny that," the man said with a chuckle. "Still, this could do so much more than just increase our combat power. Just regular work life could be improved by having such techniques."

"I think so, too," Naruto said. "There's just so much good that can be done with this kind of stuff."

"Are you causing more issues again?" Radox asked as he came up to the two, Kouichirou chuckling at the man's grunting expression. "Don't patronize me, Sasagami."

"No such thing, I just think that we should think about more than just fighting sometimes," the Japanese commander said with a hand rubbing the back of his head. "It's nice to have all these new skills, Phantomheim… but it gets tiring."

Radox grimaced, crossing his arms and looking away.

"I get what Kouichirou-jiji means, being obsessed with fighting can be kind of… boring," Naruto said with his arms folded behind his head. "At some point, you'll just end up thinking every part of your life is about fighting, that person won't get to live."

Radox rolled his eyes but grunted. "I'm well aware of burnout, not everyone is as stoic as you think," he sighed, shoulders sagging a bit.

As much as he didn't like to think about it… yes, he might have felt a little more tired as of late.

Handling everything was a pain in the ass at the best of times, all this new information wasn't doing him any favors.

"God, I need a drink."

"Hmph, hmph! We should go and get some, don't you think?" Kouichirou suggested and Radox looked curious.

"Alright, after this, I could definitely use some time to unwind."

"Marvelous. Now, Naruto-kun, are there any other techniques you've developed?" Sasagami asked with interest. "Applications, quick-thinking?"

"Well, Eugene did have a cool idea when we were starting out."

~NRK~

Obito rolled his shoulders, wearing a black t-shirt and purple sweatpants, as he looked at the laptop in front of him.

The email messenger shot back several emails from 'VIPs' that were known to them as Chiffon's siblings.

Really? Mother is awake?

When should we come?

Will our brother be there?

… I'd wish for you to visit, Arcadia has been missing you

That last one got a nervous grin out of the Uchiha as he was thankful Su-Na was currently taking Kazuha and Maria shopping.

He responded to them all in that order.

I understand, I promise to come over one of these days and cook something for you all.

Finishing off that email, he sent it and hummed before blinking at the immediate response.

Obito-tou-chan, you're coming back?

Yeah, Su-Na had been so conflicted by that title when they visited the hybrids but never more so than when they'd met Arcadia who'd taken to him quickly and easily.

I want to cook with you again, chi-chi-ue.

His eyes softened and he typed back.

I promise you will.

Sending that email off, he chuckled.

Well, this would certainly be an interesting couple of weeks.

Then he sweatdropped at another email.

I require a recharge, sir, so I'll need some hugs

Goddammit.

Then the door to the home opened and he slammed his laptop shut before assuming a laid-back position as Su-Na, Kazuha, and Maria came into the home.

"We're back!" The youngest of the three said as she came over, red wig flapping about as she giggled. "It's been so long since I've done a lot of shopping!"

Obito smiled nervously.

Yep, some of these women were out to get him in trouble.

~NRK~

Naruto hummed as they finished up, the boy chatting with the constant influx of people from Chevalier who'd greeted him before handing him their business cards.

It was a lot of business cards.

He grinned nervously as another woman joked about her daughter needing a 'strong young man like him' before things finished, the last thing being a big feast at the end of this entire event.

Naruto was proud to say he wasn't going.

So, here he was in his room, talking Amelia and her friends' training session through some ideas.

-So we finally meet, oh legendary Naruto- Came the voice, and face, of Jina Purpleton, the rather energetic member of this little group getting more than a few grins out of the blonde. -Tell me, when did you meet our-Gufaw!-

-Nope!- Amelia grabbed her friend before throwing her off-screen, the other E-Pandora laughing at the antics. -Ignore her! Ideas! Please!- She asked immediately, red in the face.

"Right, right, so, for one, what's you guys' training regimen like?" Naruto asked, amused beyond words.

The group paled as Amelia nodded. -Well, a 40 km run, we have to bench twice our weights without Volt Textures, stretches, and a few other things like push-ups, sit-ups, and chin-ups- She listed off easily compared to how horrified her comrades looked.

-Its torture!-

-Who thinks this is normal?!-

-There's no way normal Pandora do this!-

Naruto chuckled. "Actually," he began, getting chokes across the screens. "Many of them do this kind of stuff for six weeks before entering Genetics."

-They what?!- Jina popped into view with disbelief written across her face. -There's no way!-

"Yup, I've asked a few of our upperclassmen, turns out it's murder before they get in."

-Grk!-

-I-I mean, that makes sense, we have to do so much and we're not even actual military yet- Amelia noted with a paler complexion. -Yikes-

"It's what it is, I've never seen it myself but we are preparing to fight aliens and crap. Trust me when I say this, fighting during the recent Nova Clash was not as easy as it could have been if we hadn't been prepared," he said with a frown.

Had him and Elizabeth not figured out the weak point so quickly, they'd have been screwed. Never mind what'd happened to Satellizer, Kazuya, Arthur, and Genessa.

Had they not had all their training, no doubt, they'd have been hurt worse.

-That's right… you fight during a Clash- Amelia remembered with a frown. -Are you really alright, Naruto?-

"We're lucky, Amelia, seriously. It's not a lie to say that if I hadn't gotten them extra training and skills, we'd have been way worse off."

-Oh, right, I'd heard about that!-

~NRK~

Amelia recalled the information.

"You passed on some form of power, right?" She asked with wonder. "Can you do that to Pandora as well?"

-It's kind of a Limiter thing as far as we know… This wasn't brought up during the demos, for good reason, but I can establish an Ereinbar Set without a Baptism-

Her eyes widened. "What?!"

"Excuse me?" Came a voice approaching from her back, allowing the blonde on-screen to be seen by Scarlett Ohara. "Young man, I believe I heard something… absurd," Scarlett couldn't believe something like that.

-Oh, well, yeah, I can establish a Set without a Baptism- Naruto explained. -It's because of my method of Freezing, I guess. Through a fistbump, I can connect with a Pandora, me and Rana do that all the time when we're in fights-

What?! They hadn't explained this?!

'... No, of course now,' Scarlett realized with a frown. "I see, you have my word, this isn't getting out any time soon," she wasn't an idiot.

The sheer magnitude of Naruto Uzumaki being capable of forming a Set on the fly would lead to never-ending hounding on a scale she shivered at the thought of.

-Thanks- The boy looked relieved and she nodded. -So, yeah, through that same way I can pass on power to my buds. I've done this with about… ten people, so far- He counted mentally. -Yup, ten-

"Rather gracious of you. We watched the last demonstration, those abilities, skills, and potential healing skills are going to be widely sought after," Scarlett said before humming. "Actually, about that, Mr. Uzumaki," Naruto blinked.

-What's up?-

"If you don't mind, I'd like to have you travel down here earlier than expected," the doctor said, surprising, and confusing, the E-Pandora. "There's something I want to talk to you about, something that might help things down here."

-Is it to do with the Suits?- He asked and Scarlett hummed.

"Commander Radox approached you?"

-No, he did to my dad. We're not against it, by the way- He said and she was relieved. -What'dya want to speak about?-

"... Something private," she insisted and he hummed.

-Well… As long as we're getting into trouble for this, I'm game-

"Thank you," she said with a slight bow of the head.

-Um, no need for that bowing stuff, like I keep telling everyone, we're in this for the long haul. We should be helping each other despite some of the words me and the Commander threw at each other-

"You what?" Ohara blinked.

-Uh, yeah, me and him had a chat and stuff, I hope he takes my words to heart-

'And you're fine?' Scarlett wanted to ask but the boy hadn't seen the slightest bit bothered by saying the man's name… 'Oh, Lord, had he argued him down?' The idea made her want to laugh but she knew better.

Radox was a sore loser.

-So, when?-

"Hmm… Next week, that should be a good time," Scarlett considered with a nod. 'And it'll be enough time to get some cells into a workable shape if he agrees,' which she had a feeling he would.

The boy seemed far too kind to be real but he existed and while she didn't wish to abuse his kindness, she'd do her best to make this project work and she was sure Naruto would care for its success, too.

-Actually, since you're here, I want your opinion on their regimen, ma'am-

"Hmph, go right ahead."

~NRK~

The following day, with all the extra guests gone, Naruto noted the Pandora at the door of the Simulation Room they were in.

'So, he did leave a few tails here,' well, it was what it was.

He wasn't hiding anything.

Wearing his demonstration clothes, the blonde stood across from none other than Yu-Mi Kim, the woman holding her polearm at her side with interest.

Wearing her gym instruction wear, the woman had not worn the visor hat so she could look at the blonde with her full attention.

In his hands was a weapon she'd not seen him wield before, a spear that got a hum out of Elize as well, her friend also wearing a coaching outfit.

"This is new, Naruto's never taken up a weapon in the time that we've known him," she said to Kushina who grinned.

"We've been working on this for an entire year, trust me, it's just been the effort taking this time and choosing a weapon for him," the redhead said. "Naruto's got super-long range, powerful close-range, and a decent middle-range. So, we want him to have a weapon that would work in his favor, a spear was one option along with a halberd or ax."

"... I can kind of see the ax more than both of the other options," Elize noted with a sweatdrop while Rana and Chiffon sparred off to the side. "Well, with this, I guess Yu-Mi can give him pointers."

Minato nodded as he observed the two getting into position.

Yu-Mi crouched low while leaning forward with her lance at the ready while Naruto held his spear in one hand while widening his stance.

At the side of both, Eugene raised his hands.

"Spar… begin!" He brought it down.

The two charged one another and Naruto made the first move, swinging his weapon sideways.

Yu-Mi brought her weapon's shaft up and stepped in before twirling the weapon as she did, knocking his weapon to the side while bringing her pommel into Naruto's chest.

He stepped back awkwardly, spear quickly brought back to guard her oncoming slam with her weapon.

The blonde pushed back before juking to the side and shooting his weapon out at her stomach.

The former Numbers member rotated and knocked his attack off-target with ease before lunging at her student once more.

'She's a fighter alright!' Naruto thought as he swung his weapon at her with one arm before skipping back from her rebuttal of a swing at his stomach, her shorter stature working to her advantage. 'This is what it's like to fight a short person!'

He'd be annoyed if he wasn't at risk of being stabbed.

Their weapons clashed several times over and Kim hummed as she swept at his feet before making a sharp twist that positioned her weapon's blade at his face.

He'd hopped back before backflipping away from her stab only to bring up a hasty set of blocks as the older fighter came in for stabs that he saw amusement behind.

The stabs were scary strong, too! He'd barely blocked one which caused him to lock up for a moment before having to do so for another. Wasn't she still just doing this normally?!

'My teachers are pretty strong!' He realized with a grin as his Maelstrom Circuit appeared around his wrists and ankles. "Coming at ya, sensei!" Naruto declared before sending out several swipes of his spear that she blocked easily with a grin.

"Not bad, kid! Try something a bit better then!" Kim shouted at him as her body lit up with Volt Textures, eyes burning green.

The blonde then barely blocked her following strike, the blow sending him off his feet.

'Okay! Duly noted!' Was this the difference between a student and a full-grown one?

What was the difference between her and Chiffon, he wondered.

They battled against one another, throughout the spar Kim giving him little tidbits and tips for his spear work.

"Every part of your staff is good for maneuverability!" She said, flipping over him with her lance's pommel before pressing down on his back with the shaft to kick him to the side. "Don't forget!"

The blonde turned his impromptu roll into a flip that ended with him in a crouching position, facing his teacher.

He grinned before rubbing the back of his head as she called their spar to a stop, letting her weapon fade into the ether.

The blonde held his over his shoulder as he came over. "How'd I do, teach?" Naruto asked before chuckling at the refreshed look on Kim's face. "I take it you don't fight often."

"Nope! Add on that I don't really get to teach the students who have my weapon type, this is refreshing!" Yu-Mi said with a proud grin. "And, for your information, you adapt pretty well to on-the-fly instructions, which seems to be your forte. You grasped the basics well enough and I can bet you'll grasp maneuverability quickly too."

"Thanks."

As they came over the bleachers, so too did Chiffon and Rana.

"I think I understand these Holy Gates more, Rana-chan," Chiffon said with a chuckle. "You're tapping into Naruto's Will, more," she said, getting an impressed blink out of Rana. "Before, your gates weres green in color but now they're gold like Naruto's Will is."

"I never saw them-de arimasu," Rana said, crossing her arms as they walked. "Still, I wonder what that means. Do you know, senpai?"

"Well… hmm, the TW was always an access to more Nova-like power," the hybrid said right before they got to the bleachers. "So, in that same vein, what kind of 'Naruto-like Power' will you get is the question."

Rana hoped it'd be kind of cool.

Her back thrummed and she almost snorted.

Someone was 'talkative' she guessed.

~NRK~

Friday came far quicker than any of them expected and, with it, came the return of some of their friends.

That included the sextet of Creo, Garou, Elizabeth, Andre, Kazuya, and Satellizer, the six looking happy and relaxed… especially Satellizer who looked to the world like her own had become a much brighter place.

"Oh?" Rana said suggestively as she saw the two holding hands as they came up to the quartet of Naruto, Rana, Eugene, and Chiffon. "Someone got closer!" She said congratulatory.

The two in question blushed while the other four chuckled or smirked.

"They've gotten chummy while we were there," Creo said as Garou chuckled.

"They've certainly seemed more intimate," he said as the two burned bright red.

"T-That's not… the right word I'd use," Kazuya said as he and his Pandora flexed their grips on one another. "But… yes," he said quietly as Satella nodded embarrassed.

"It's adorable!" Chiffon said with a grin, the four in their gym uniforms while the other six were in the clothes they'd left in. "Well, there's a lot to tell you all about!"

"So, we've heard," Andre said with a smile as Naruto chuckled. "You even shook up the hotel we went to, there were a few Indonesian Pandora who asked us questions about you. It was kind of surreal," he chuckled as Elizabeth smiled.

"As Andre said, you're the talk of the resort and airports we went through. I almost forgot I was a Mably with how little people cared," she said and shot her some finger guns. "Hmph, charming," Elizabeth said with a chuckle.

"Wait, so, is my grandfather still here?" Kazuya asked and, in a manner more similar to a horror film, Naruto's grin widened three sizes that moment as Rana, Chiffon, and Eugene grinned.

"Yo, Kazu, I want to take you somewhere this Saturday, that cool to you?" The blonde asked with excitement that even Kazuya could feel. "It's really important."

"U-Uh, sure?"

"Awesome!" The blonde said with a normal level of excitement but Kazuya's eyes squinted at him for a moment. "Just believe me when I say this, I'm about to blow your mind."

"It's true!" Rana said with a big grin as the others looked confused.

"Just know, Kazuya-kun, it's a pretty good time ahead," Eugene said. "Your grandfather will be there along with Kamui-san."

"Wait, Kamui?" Kazuya perked up.

"You know the scientist?" Garou asked and Kazuya nodded while rubbing the back of his head.

"H-He'd cook for me and my sister in the past," the boy admitted and the older Japanese nodded. "And he's visited a lot over the past four years since she passed… I haven't seen him in over a year, though," Kazuya admitted and Chiffon giggled.

"You'll find he's waiting with open arms," she said and he grinned.

"So, he's the surprise?"

"Not even close," the four school-bound students answered, getting a slight stutter out of the Aoi. "But's it's going to be AMAZING."

"I'm starting to think this is going to be a prank," Elizabeth said as Naruto smirked.

"It's probably the farthest thing from it."

"Ominous."

"Not really."

Kazuya was simply curious.

What could the four want to show him?

~NRK~

Come Saturday afternoon, Kazuya, Naruto, Chiffon, Eugene, Rana, and Satellizer were on the train towards the city.

Eugene in a white shirt and black slacks that led into white sneakers as Kazuya wore a long-sleeved white shirt, dark blue shorts, and a pair of white and black tennis shoes.

Chiffon in a blue bare-shoulder dress with a sunhat and black sandals while Rana donned her outfit from when they'd gone on the double-date but her hair was put into a long ponytail.

Satellizer had a black-laced blue bodycon dress and white heels, the young woman holding Kazuya's hand.

Finally, Naruto had on a tight orange coat with a wide collar with his pendants bumping against his chest, a pair of black pants with orange crosses on the bottom that led into his black ninja sandals, the former shinobi crossed his arms with a grin as Rana chuckled next to him.

"So, no hints?" Kazuya asked with a shaky smile as the blonde shook his head.

"Kazu, trust me when I say this, you not knowing is gonna make this something you'll always remember," the blonde said as the train came to a stop. "Come on, we've got an idea. Chiffon-nee, blindfold."

The hybrid grinned as Kazuya began to laugh nervously while Satellizer sweatdropped.

'My friends are very odd.'

~NRK~

Kazuya pouted a bit as the group came to a stop on the sidewalk, Naruto's hands on his shoulders.

"Alright, we're here, through the gates!" The blonde's voice said into his ears as Kazuya raised a brow.

'Through the gates?' Then there was a squeak that got a slight jump out of him. '... Wait, no, that sounded familiar.'

Why? Why was that familiar?

Then the blonde put his hand on a door and Kazuya froze at the feeling of numbers on the front.

"N-Naruto? I-Isn't this?"

"One more step, Kazu, trust me when I say this," the blonde's voice was soft and kind, leaving Kazuya hesitant as he reached for a knob that he knew the location of. "When you meet, you're gonna forget about all of this just that."

Meet? Meet who?

He'd opened the door to what he was sure was his old home when he heard something… something that caused his body to freeze.

Sniffling… Familiar sniffling.

Then a body slammed into his and Kazuya nearly broke right then and there as he gripped the young woman back for all she was worth, her sniffling, tears, and grip on him too familiar, too FAMILIAR!

He tore off his blindfold and his eyes trembled before they watered and pushed his face into the crux of the Hero of the Eighth Nova Clash's neck.

"Nee-san?!" He cried at the sight of familiar dark blue hair that trailed down to her back. "Nee-san!"

She gripped his tighter as Naruto, Eugene, Chiffon, and Rana grinned while Satellizer balked at the person before her.

"K-Kazuha Aoi?" She uttered in total disbelief before Chiffon and Rana placed their hands on her shoulders. "G-Guys?! What's going on?! S-She's right-"

"Yes, she is-de arimasu," Rana said with a big smile as she closed the door behind them. "There's an entire story behind this."

"... I-I understand," Satellizer said with a swallow of nervousness as she saw her. 'This is his most favored person…'

"He cares for you," Naruto said to her, shocking her out of her thoughts as he smiled. "You don't have to fear him not doing that, he cares for you more than even you thought. I know you know that."

Satellizer bit her lip before nodding slowly as Naruto shot her a thumbs-up.

"... You're right," she said as she saw another pair of people coming into the room. "... Su-Na Lee?" The Bridgette blinked as Su-Na and Obito slipped into the room.

"Kazuya! There's so much to talk to you about! So much to say!" Kazuha said with a wet smile as Kazuya held her. "Come, everyone, let's sit down, okay?"

The group did, with Kazuya barely capable of letting his older sister go as he sat down next to her, wiping his face with a couple paper towels Su-Na procured from the kitchen.

"I-I don't understand, what? How?!" Kazuya asked immediately.

Kazuha smiled, wearing a familiar blue uniform that he remembered, all of her features the same down to a 'T' save for one long blue ribbon on one of her bangs.

Su-Na held her hands in her lap, wearing a dark blue tank top and white capri pants, as Obito had one of his arms over her shoulders, the former shinobi wearing long-sleeved black top and back sweatpants.

"... I believe you and your Pandora have to be caught up," she said with a smile as Satellizer sat up straight. "I can tell… Thank you for standing by his side," Kazuha said with a deep bow that Satella blushed at before reciprocating.

"T-Thank you for having such an amazing brother!" She said and Kazuya found the energy to blush bright red at the two. "I-I'm Satellizer E-El Bridgette!" Satellizer squeaked, eyes swirls as Kazuha blinked at her.

Then she giggled a bit before wearing a sly look that Kazuya choked at. "W-Wait, nee-s-"

"So, he was attracted to girls with big boobs!"

The entirety of the room choked off to the side but no one was more horrified than Kazuya and Satellizer, the two going neon red in ways that weren't healthy.

"Ma'am!/Nee-san!" They shouted at her, the young woman grinning at them. "Inappropriate!"

"Hm, hm, hm! You haven't changed!" Kazuha said with a big grin, eyes sparkling with amusement as Naruto began to laugh with no remorse. "And, I guess for a simple explanation, Naruto-kun helped me come back to the world of the living."

Naruto barely had the time to blink before Kazuya was in full-dogeza in front of him, the speed more confusing than his actions.

"Thank you!"

"Dude, where's this hustle been for training?!" The blonde declared indignant as Kazuya sweatdropped. "Dammit, Kazu, one of these days! I'm gonna run ya so ragged, Satella-nee is gonna drag you home in an ambulance!"

"E-Eh?!"

"Hm, you two seem like good friends," Kazuha said with a smile as Naruto huffed.

"I gotta reign him in, sometimes, he's a real hassle, like you wouldn't believe," the blonde said as Kazuya gaped at him and the older Aoi grinned mischievously. "He's kind of wild."

"Don't you dare!" Kazuya said in disbelief. "I do not want to hear that coming from you of all people!"

"There's a time and place, bro."

"Now is never your time."

"Indeed," Kazuha said with a grin. "Naruto-kun was able to apply his little energy trick into my body that Obito-san helped keep alive via his painkillers."

"Huh?" Kazuya looked confused as he looked at Obito who chuckled. "Um, thank you, sir."

"There's no need to be so formal, Kazuya," Obito said and Kazuya blinked. "... Ah, right, you might know me as 'Kamui-san', yes?"

"What?!" The boy jumped to his feet in disbelief. "K-Kamui-san?! I-It's really you?!"

"Yes, I've kept my identity a secret for quite some time, you know," Obito said. "It's just not a good idea, at the time, to reveal it."

"And now is?" Satellizer asked curiously, getting a shrug for her answer. "T-This all seems so… insane," she found the word. "What is going on here?"

"That is kind of classified," Kazuha said as Kazuya retook his seat, his sibling smiling at him. "All the information that is disclosed here can't leave this home. Because it's more than just me being awake that's true," she said as Su-Na huffed.

"What do you mean?" Kazuya asked.

"... The one known as Maria Lancelot is also awake and walking around," Obito answered and the boy along with his partner gawked. "Exactly, things have changed and that means… a lot of things, actually," he said, rubbing the back of his head.

"W-Wait, Kamui… Obito-san, I don't understand why do you all know about this?"

"... Your grandfather has been keeping some things from you, for lack of a better word," Obito said as Su-Na looked at him intently. "I know, there are things he must know, Sunali."

She looked at him for a bit more before relenting, getting a kiss to the noggin for her troubles.

She huffed. "The fact remains that Kazuha Aoi had taken Obito's painkillers which freezes stigmatic tissue around the surrounded areas," Su-Na explained to the Set. "She altered it, somehow, and used it as a sort of coma pill."

"I dedicated some of my cells to empowering it," Kazuha explained to him and her sibling tilted his head at her. "Hmph, your sister's rather amazing!" She said proudly and Kazuya sweatdropped.

"You are… please explain."

"Hmm, I couldn't move after the fight, I used up all my energy and that's when Obito-san's pill kicked in," Kazuha said with a bright smile that her sibling raised his brow at. "It was able to let me keep going and be put on life support… below the school," she admitted and the two's eyes widened.

"... The Ravensbourne Nucleotide," Satella realized and Obito nodded. "They were under there?"

"Yes," Chiffon answered with a nod. "The two heroes of Nova Clashes were hidden away so we could somehow find a way to help them."

"... How do you guys know, Chiffon-senpai?" Kazuya asked. "From what was said, Naruto was the way to help them, so he just got in on this."

"Got it in one," Rana said with a smile. "Naruto used the pure energy of his fields to give them the energy to heal, Kazu-kun," Kazuya blinked before nodding.

"Thanks again, Naruto, this is… I-I don't know what to say," Kazuya said and Naruto grinned.

"Just know that we're fighting for not just the world but for your sis," he said with a grin and Kazuya grinned right back.

"Yeah."

"So, Maria and Kazuha have returned… what does that mean?" Satella asked and those in the 'know' know hummed at the question. "The heroes have returned, isn't this good?"

"It is, indubitably," Su-Na said. "But you have to think about what happens when that's known."

"If it gets out, questions are going to be asked. There are few things that ruin a secret outside of the masses," Eugene said. "The fact remains, Naruto's 'coincidental' discoveries and their awakening would be connected and Naruto's going to be hounded for more than just a few techniques. There'd be a high chance that things could get… internationally bad."

"The relationship between the countries has always been… slightly taut," Chiffon said. "Ever since the revelation of the technology to fight the Nova, Japan's always been the beginning of all new developments. There's already a good chance that Naruto, and his family, will be bothered because the company originates from Japan even though his father is half-American and his mom is half-Italian. Naruto's got so much trouble in his future."

"Oh, crap, right, I forget to tell you guys," Naruto said with a nervous chuckle as the group looked at him oddly. "So… there's this whole thing with a thing called the E-Pandora Project… Dr. Scarlett wants me to come over to Alaska next week."

"What?" Chiffon blinked. "Naruto-kun! You've gotta let us know these things!" She frowned at him with a pointed finger.

"Did she tell you why?" Obito asked and Naruto shrugged.

"She said that it'd 'help things down there' and I'm not fully sure what that means," he said.

"... Perhaps, she might want to see if you can't help the corrosion," the man said before humming at the group's total confusion. "Let us explain."

They did, the entirety of the details being explained to the others with portions told by both Naruto and Obito.

"That seems dangerous-de arimasu," Rana said. "Amelia-san is going through all of that?" She didn't like the sound of it.

"It's beyond dangerous," Chiffon said with a sigh and a hand on her forehead. "Honestly, humanity can be a real piece of work sometimes."

"I resent that… but you're not wrong," Naruto said as she smiled. "But, yeah, that's the situation."

"... So, your healing skill is probably what she's after," Su-Na declared and the teens considered it. "It's either that or that pure energy control you have, maybe she'll want to freeze the corrosion if that's even possible."

"Either way, I don't mind," Naruto said and Rana chuckled while Eugene grinned.

Chiffon hummed with a smile as Kazuya beamed and Satella nodded.

That was how he was.

"So, you're going on vacation after Golden Week, that's kind of rude to the Headmistress," Chiffon said as Eugene chuckled.

"I mean, I think Dr. Ohara could write me an out-of-class note."

"I'm sure that things will go well," Obito said with a hand on his chin. "I don't think Margaret would mind so you're probably good. People will probably write it off as you finally getting your vacation since you've been bogged down by these demonstrations."

"Hehe, hopefully things go our way," Naruto said before turning his gaze on the Aoi siblings. "But you two but have a ton to catch up on," he said with a grin as Kazuya grinned wide and bright. "Yeah, that's what I thought. So, how about we find a way to have some fun?!"

~NRK~

This one was pretty easy to get out and it comes with several revelations.

The first kiss of our lead pairs, Chiffon's feelings are said outright with Rana's culture explained, Satellizer's resolution to perform a Baptism with Kazuya to Louis's FACE, Naruto's weapon, Naruto's soon-to-do trip to Alaska, and, finally, Kazuya's reuniting with his sister.

There's a lot that's happened and you all can ask questions, un-rudely. You do you.

Now, I've gotta decide the next story I'm gonna update.

Ciao.

Words: 11.2k+

~NRK Out~