~NRK~
Friday seemed to blur by for them and, soon enough, Naruto and Rana were watching the helicopter carrier come down along with Amelia and Scarlett.
"Hmph, one week and you'll be back here again," the doctor said with a snort as the teens chuckled. "Honestly, you two should focus on not getting into trouble, please. The last thing we need is more trouble."
"Of course," Rana said with a grin as Amelia smiled back. "You all have everything you need, all that's left is to practice!"
"We will, that's a guarantee," Amelia said before the two of them hugged it out. "It feels like we knew each other longer than we did."
"Yep!" The younger teen said with a sly grin before maneuvering around Amelia to place her in front of Naruto. "Come on, childhood friends, time to say goodbye for now!"
Amelia blushed a bit at that as Naruto chuckled.
"Hehehe, I guess Rana's really taken a liking to you," Naruto said with a grin. "With everything that happened, we never did get a good chance to catch up, normally."
"After all of this, we should," Amelia said with red across her nose. 'For now, romance is on the backseat, we've got to focus,' she'd focus all her energy on this! "Still, you should introduce me to all your friends when you get here!"
"Duh! From what I know, you'll be meeting six, maybe eight, of them," he said as he held out his arms. "Come on… bring it in~"
She laughed at that but gave in regardless, hugging the life out of the younger teen.
Huh, Amelia had never considered his age before. It was weird.
Naruto felt like he was her age if not older than her with how he was, curious.
"We'll see you in a week and change," she said as they held one another at arm's length. "With what we know, we'll be taking our training to the absolute limit."
"Gotcha, don't burn yourselves out, though. I'm sure you've got this!"
She nodded as they let go, Naruto and Rana walking off towards the helicopter carrier with waves back at them.
"We'll be back, promise!" They said in unison as they went inside.
And, soon after, the air vehicle took off, leaving the gathered group of E-Pandora and Dr. Ohara.
"... We're going to make it, doctor, I know we will," Amelia said with determination as Scarlett nodded.
"Of course, you've all given up too much, trained too hard, to let yourselves lose," Ohara agreed. 'No matter what,' they all had a way to make this project a success.
For now, they all had some things to work on.
~NRK~
Watching the Alaska base vanish in the distance, Naruto nodded next to Rana, holding her hand and she did the same.
"So, how'd you like this trip?" He asked her as they leaned back in their seats. "I was glad to see an old childhood friend but I don't know how you felt about being dragged here."
"I wasn't dragged anywhere, I was happy to come!" She said with a kiss to his cheek, the boy blushing as he grinned like an idiot. "Honestly, I'm glad we came when we did, I want to help them in any way we can. I just hope we did enough."
"Same, for now, we just have to do our best and trust in them."
~NRK~
They returned to West Genetics on Saturday morning, the two departing from the helicopter with smiles aplenty, the duo greeted by a familiar 'Smiling Monster'.
"Welcome back," Chiffon said with a chuckle as they grinned.
"Thanks."
~NRK~
The days continued like always until Friday hit.
The gathered members of the willing student body waited in the Simulation Room as Elizabeth and Chiffon nodded at the front, the entire group in their gym uniforms.
"So, I'm sure you all know this but come next week, the top two Pandora-Limiter pairs are going to be gone along with Naruto and Rana. With that, the top spots are going to be 'open' for a week," Chiffon emphasized as the crowd grew rowdy. "Usually, we'd never really worry about this, all things considered, the student body's usually pretty well-behaved… but that doesn't mean we don't know that you all get super-rowdy. With our leaving, Ticy Phenyl will be taking the main 'leader' role for the Pandora while Abel Rotomaster will handle the Limiters. Any questions?"
A few raised their hands.
"Yes?"
"Well, why them? What about everyone else in the student council?" Someone asked and Elizabeth nodded.
"Abel and Ticy have shown good communication skills with you all, have they not?" The Mably asked and the students did nod. "That's why. Right now, we need good communication between the years and they're good at it while having the highest skill levels at the moment. So, in that regard, they'll also be informing us of what happens while we're away," she smiled like a viper and the gathered students felt a chill down their spines. "Yes?"
"YEAH, WE WON'T DO ANYTHING!"
"Hm, hm, perfect. Now, go on, do your usual activities. We'll still be having our soccer game tomorrow, so be prepared!"
The gathered students slipped into their favored groups before going through their paces.
"Hmph, so, what'll we be doing today?" Naruto asked as their group came together. "Or should we talk about what's gonna happen on Sunday?"
"Hmm, well, you told us you didn't like the man in charge there," Chiffon tapped her chin in thought as Naruto sighed with a nod.
"Marks Spencer, I don't trust him, he seems a bit… willing to do anything," he found the phrase as the group hummed.
"Do you think he'll do something?" Satella asked.
"Well… I don't like what he's got to say to my face but he's not done anything crazy yet," the boy said as Kazuya hummed.
"Well, we can just be ready for anything," the Aoi said. "We'll be representing the years from our school, what'll happen if we get into a fight due to miscommunications?"
"We'll have to either try talking things out or… fight," Andre said with a shrug as Kazuya chuckled nervously. "Honestly, though, I can't think of any nation that has an issue with us… maybe," he said with a shaky grin as he looked at Naruto who chuckled nervously. "With how things have changed over the past two months, what do you guys think will happen?"
"He might get approached," Genessa said. "I bet there will be a few other Chevalier bases who will wanna speak with 'im," she said as Rana nodded.
"Naruto-kun is likely going to be the center of attention in a lot of ways," the Tibetan said. "All things considered, it'll be like every other time, yes?"
"Hopefully, it stays uneventful," Arthur said shakily as Abebe hummed.
"Then representatives from Japan… that'll be interesting to see the reactions of," the Frenchman said as Garou hummed.
"What'll you do if they ask you to train their own Limiters in your skills?" The large Japanese boy asked and Naruto hummed.
"I mean, I can't just jump all over the world, ya know? Hell, I've barely been here, and think of the number of people who've asked me to go to other places in the world already. I was literally just in Alaska and we're going back, this is kind of ridiculous."
They all realized that, yes, that was kind of obscene.
"You might end up going around the world more than any student here has," Eugene said with small laughter. "Geez."
"It's the price of fame, yeah?" Arnette said as Creo nodded, Ingrid and Leo stretching with Attia and a reluctant Mark in the background. "You just kinda have to let it die down and deal with it. It's still true, you've got a lot to teach all kinds of people."
"You're not wrong," Naruto said with a look of focus. "Right now, though, with everything, all I should focus on is getting stronger… and, likely, there's some stuff that I'll need to tell you guys after this whole trip," he said as those 'in the know' hid their looks of surprise.
"Yeah, what about?"
"Just some stuff going on with me and how different I am as a Limiter. Basically, just consider it more craziness that's from the source. I.E. me."
"Oh, so nothing different?" Eugene asked and Naruto slumped.
"Yep."
~NRK~
Marks Spencer frowned as he sat in his villa in France, looking out the window of his study in some robes, sighing.
The door to his office creaked open and he smiled softly as a familiar head peeked in.
A young woman in her later teens, she was short for her age, had fair skin, blue eyes, and blonde hair that sat against her head with two long bangs coming down to her chin.
"Father?" She asked as she came in, wearing a white dress shirt and a black skirt. "You've been holed up in here for a bit, is something wrong?"
"Hmm? No… Charles, tell me, what do you honestly think of my work?" Marks asked her as he kept looking out the window. "Right now, you've heard of him, haven't you? The boy making waves right now?"
The young woman, Charles, frowned. "He's disturbing the order of things and offending the hierarchy," she said with a grimace. "... but his new teachings and techniques are… they're useful, I guess," she looked like she'd just taken a bitter pill. "His philosophy could be fine-tuned but it's not wrong on a fundamental level… still, he's clearly got a big head."
"Oh, you believe so, too?" Marks asked with a chuckle as she grinned. "Well, I can say your assessments aren't wrong, the boy's grown too powerful, too fast. He's being bombarded with connections and the like in a manner that would leave a normal man bloated with greed. He likely doesn't understand how the world works… He was at the Alaska base last week when I left," she looked surprised. "Commander Radox had seemingly gotten his family to part with a few of those Limiter Suits for the E-Pandora Project."
"... Is that good?"
"It should be. From the results Scarlett has given me, those women are gaining a powerful unity along with skills," Marks frowned. "The skills, meanwhile, are worrying. I don't understand where they could have possibly gained the expertise to pull them off."
A video played on his computer and Charles hummed softly as she watched those former-civilians efforts.
"Hmph, they're not bad. They might be good enough to beat a few Freshmen at Genetics."
"That's honestly decent praise."
"Maybe but they're not up to snuff… even if it's only been a year," Charles said. "Father… sir, how fast is this project projected to be put into effect?"
"The idea is to make it as usable as possible… right now if we get the full support we need, I'll be immediately bringing in another batch the following week after the demonstrations," he said with a frown. "This is the power of humanity… Yet I fear that boy has tempered with things," Charles looked confused.
She frowned. "What do you mean?" She asked.
"They never had these skills before, as I told you. While the Suits are aiding them, clearly, in some way, the ways they use their Volt Textures is concerning. That's only been seen once and it was by the Number 1 Pandora third-year, Chiffon Fairchild. The boy had to heal her hand afterward so how are they doing this without such a drawback?"
"... Hmm," Charles observed with a hand cupping her chin. "I don't know… I've considered trying some of what we saw them do with Citroen and we're having some success due to not fully understanding the process. There's the need for mature stigmata, that's known, but the concepts of some of his so-called techniques elude us in a few ways."
"It might be because of this power he's spoken of passing on to those boys."
"Oh, yes, that weird nonsense," Charles frowned. "I'm going to be honest, the more we learn about him, the more concerned I get," she grimaced. "He seems to have had all of this figured out to the point of passing around power without a care, that seems unwise. He's dangerous and too wild."
"Yes… he is…" Marks frowned. "... Charles, I'm going to need to reign him in, for the betterment of the world at large, he needs to be considerate of our mission and how immediate these new powers should have been brought to Chevalier's attention."
Charles simply bowed. "Yes, sir."
"For humanity."
"For humanity."
~NRK~
Saturday evening, Naruto, Rana, Kazuya, Satella, Chiffon, and Eugene visited the Aoi home, Kazuya letting them in before they were greeted by Kazuha.
"Welcome back, how's school?" The older Aoi said as Kazuya chuckled.
"That's actually what I'm gonna tell you. Remember that trip I told you about?" He asked as she nodded before choking.
"W-Wait, that's tomorrow?!" Kazuha squawked as Kazuya chuckled.
"I knew you'd forget."
"Yeah, right now, the top two Pandora-Limiter pairs, as well as me and Rana-chan, are going to head on over to Alaska," Naruto said as the group sat in the living room. "We're leaving early tomorrow morning to get there by 5 pm."
"Oh, man, you and Obito-san," Kazuha whined as the group looked surprised. "...? You guys didn't know? He's going to be going with you secretly."
"What for?" Chiffon asked. "... Oh, it's in case anything goes awry, right?"
"Yup."
"So, we have to keep quiet about that, gotcha," Eugene said. "Honestly, this whole event is turning into something bigger than it is, it feels like. Naruto and Rana have trained with them, that medicine, their backgrounds, the amount of high-level Pandora, and now this? It feels like we're waiting for this egg to burst open."
"It does feel kind of concerning," Satella grimaced as she bunched up her dress in her hands. "... Should we prepare something just in case?"
"Hmm? Like what?" Naruto asked.
"Well, I guess she means a message, right?" Rana considered as Satella nodded. "Or like a code! B-But then who'd we send that to?"
"... m-my family, maybe," Satella said with her eyes on her skirt. "... No, definitely our families. If there's anyone who could bring a possible insane situation to heel, it'd be our families."
"Considering the amount of power that'd be, it'd certainly be a formidable back-up," Chiffon said. "Chi-chi-ue, Howard El Bridgette, the Mably family, Naruto-kun's rising star family, and possibly… a lot of good potential back-up. If things got too insane, we'd be good."
"Even with you there?" Kazuha asked with a small giggle as Chiffon snickered a bit.
"Well, you're not wrong. If things get down to it, myself, Naruto-kun, and everyone else are probably more than enough to bring things to a heel."
"... That's a terrifying sentence," Kazuya realized in horror, sweat falling down his cheek. "D-Did things actually become that crazy?" He asked his partner in disbelief, Satella smiled nervously.
"... I think so. I don't remember when it got like this," Satella said. "I feel like our group simply has so many powerful players within it that we never realize it's a formidable gathering."
"Y-Yeah."
"So, what will the 'code' be?" Eugene asked. "I think Obito-san can bring Gengo-san into this no issue. Su-Na-san will probably hurry over there at the first chance. So, that'd leave you guys."
Naruto nodded. "... I've got a way of doing it blatantly… it'll probably be the best way to know I'm in some kinda trouble I can't handle, ya know? Well, that or I disappear for a large amount of time."
"I feel like that should be a hint about any one of us," Rana said. "I can't expect my village to travel across the world to reach us, sadly."
"... A code," Satella considered it. "... I-I might just leave a video message," she said. "I don't ask my parents for a lot of things… I think this could work."
"With that, now you have contingency plans," Kazuha said. "If it comes down to it, your big sis will hurry on over!" She said with determination as Kazuya chuckled shakily.
"Hopefully, things just go well."
~NRK~
Twenty-four hours later, the group was on the helicopter carrier towards their location, the Alaska base coming into view.
"So, this is it," Arthur said as the sounds of other carriers reached their ears, the group seeing several already landed ones while they were coming in with several following their example. "I-It's kind of crazy how big this is!"
"It is," Genessa said with a whistle. "You think we'll be asked to fight?" She asked Satella who tilted her head with a frown.
"If it's a set of exhibition matches… I'd assume maybe," the Bridgette said as she looked at Naruto. "Naruto? How many E-Pandora are there?"
"Oh, I think it was ten," Naruto said. "Of them, Amelia-chan and Jina-chan are the strongest, followed by a girl named Rattle. So, out of everyone here, they'll likely fight ten out of the crowd."
"It'll be rather awkward if I get called down," Chiffon said with a giggle as the group sweatdropped. "I doubt anyone is really going to call that a match to solve anything."
"Correct," Elizabeth said with a huff. "... Though, I do think I'd like to fight with the strongest one. From what you told us, this 'Amelia Evans' is actually incredibly talented. Especially with your potential little additions," she added as Rana hummed.
"Well, just know, she's far stronger than the others for a good reason," she grinned. "I wonder how much they were able to improve."
"You used that new training method, yes?" Andre asked Naruto who nodded. "It's a really genius technique. By sharing emotions, images, you can help increase their mental awareness of skills as they watch, try it themselves, and watch each other do so. You really just upped their training by maybe two months if my math is correct. Especially since your connecting style is far more effective."
"I'm sad I only considered it at the end of the week," Naruto said as they began to land. "Right now, they've gotten as much training as we could give them," he added as the group got up and the side haul door opened to reveal a waiting Amelia standing there in the chilly weather, looking fine. "Oh… someone's been training in the cold weather," he said with a grin as she reciprocated.
"Hi, Amelia-chan," Rana said with a giggle as the two embraced. "Yes, you've a good grasp on the control of your body's heat," she praised as Amelia nodded.
"Ever since we got the basics of it down, I've practiced it every way I could," Amelia said. "Cold showers, light-clothed exercises, even helping out here in the cold, just things I can do while trying to control my internal heat."
"So, you're the Amelia I've heard so much about," Elizabeth said with a smile as Amelia blushed a bit, rubbing the back of her head bashfully. "Oh, none of that. While Naruto helped, it was clear you were skilled beforehand, you should take pride in that."
"Y-Yeah, well, I'm getting used to it," the redhead said… wait. "Hm, hm, you noticed?"
Naruto and Rana balked as the pure-redhead grinned.
"I-I guess things went better than… better," Rana said in awe as Amelia nodded vigorously.
"Alright, I think we've been waiting too long!" Genessa said with a shiver. "God, how can you all just love this cold?!"
"Oh, sorry, Genessa-nee," Naruto said as he spread out his field, the slight pulsing of energy warming the group up.
"Oh, this is new," Chiffon said with a giggle as Andre let out a nice warm breath. "But it's not hard to understand. Condensed energy increasing heat is known science."
The group followed Amelia into the building, the redhead leading them all to their rooms.
"So, tell me, Ms. Evans, how do you feel about your new skill set?" Eugene asked as Amelia smiled.
"It's something that we can make the most of and we haven't let a day go by without using it for long periods of time to practice and up our experience levels. I feel confident with these skills," she answered.
"Sounds like everyone's getting something out of the past month," Genessa said as her fellow redhead nodded. "So, what's on the itinerary?"
"Well, after we show you to your rooms, there will be a large debriefing. Following that, you all can rest or roam as we save the big events for tomorrow," Amelia said as she gestured to a long line of rooms on both sides of the hall. "These are your rooms. They're numbered so just pick one to rest in."
The group did, moving about to choose a number.
Naruto and Rana chose Room 09, the blonde grinning at the number as they put their things down.
Amelia had also informed them of the fact that they could dress how they pleased for the briefing and the group was thankful to know ahead of time.
Walking down the hall, Naruto had on a pair of black pants, his black ninja sandals, an orange shirt, and a black and orange coat that came down to his elbows, the boy walking with his arms behind his head as his weapon holster jingled at his lower back.
Rana had worn a white tunic with a large yellow tiger-themed sash coming over her shoulder. The sash and tunic were tied at her waist by a white cloth belt as she wore thick-looking white pants and her usual boots.
"Feels good to wear my own clothes," Naruto said with a chuckle as Rana hummed, cloth bindings around her forearms and palms. "I feel more comfortable than wearing a suit."
"Yep!"
Kazuya chuckled in a gray sweater, black slacks, and black boots as Stella walked by his side, wearing a blue high-collar sweater, a long white skirt, and her usual brown boots.
"I know how he feels," Kazuya said as Satella nodded before they both blushed as their hands intertwined. "O-Oh! Yes, well," he stuttered as their hands gripped one another's well. 'This is nice.'
Chiffon giggled in her brown jacket, yellow shirt, and faded dark blue skirt, her short brown boots clicking against the tiled floors.
"It's precious," she whispered to Eugene, the young man smirking similar to her.
"It is."
Wearing a black jacket, white turtleneck, and similar slacks, he had on some brown dress shoes as a gold bangle sat on his left bicep.
"Satellizer has been far more comfortable for the past week," Elizabeth said with a small chuckle, Andre nodding next to her. "It's cute."
Wearing a dark salmon-colored skirt, brown high heel boots, and a black long-sleeve blouse with a white scarf around her neck, she grinned victoriously as Andre crossed his arms in his white blazer, black dress shirt, and black slacks, his brown dress shoes matching his Pandora in timing and step.
Finally, bringing up the rear, were Arthur and Genessa and the two were far more formal compared to the others.
Arthur in a gray cloth vest over a white dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and black pants, the only informal part of his attire being his black boots.
Genessa, meanwhile, was wearing a pair of black skinny jeans, crimson open-toed heels, a red dress shirt, and a black vest to finish it off.
Amelia led the way in her light blue, sleeveless, denim dress shirt, knee-length white skirt, and black boots.
Navigating down several hallways, the group broke through one last set of double doors to reach the banquet area.
"Hmm, it's a good thing you told us ahead of time," Rana said with a nervous giggle as Amelia nodded.
"I hope all the other guests knew ahead of time," the redhead said as the group moved into the area before finding most of the other E-Pandora. "Everything go well?" Amelia asked and Jina grinned with a nod.
Wearing a pair of blue jeans, a wide-collar white shirt, and black heels, she waved at the group with interest. "Yep, all things considered, I don't feel nearly as nervous as I thought I would. Having a resting bitch face probably wouldn't be a good idea," she said with a laugh as Naruto snorted. "So, welcome oh sensei and friends, how's it hangin'?"
"Nice to meet you," Elizabeth said politely as Jina looked at her in surprise. "A bit formal, I can understand."
"N-Nah, I just never thought I'd see the Mably heiress up-close! It's weirder in real life!"
Andre covered his chuckles with a fist as Elizabeth sweatdropped.
"I-Is that so?"
"This is our crew," Amelia introduced the others. "It's honestly a good idea to build good relations, huh?"
"Sounds about right," Kazuya chuckled. "Kazuya Aoi."
"Satellizer El Bridgette," Satella introduced.
"Andre Franciose."
"Chiffon Fairchild."
"Eugene Alabaster."
"Genessa Roland."
"Arthur Crypton."
Amelia introduced each member of her team as the group mingled.
The lights went out minutes later, the groups focusing on a lone stage light shining down on a familiar doctor.
"This is where it begins," Amelia said as Elizabeth, Naruto, and Rana nodded.
"I'd like to welcome and thank all the Pandora, Limiters, and Chevalier personnel who decided to believe in our project," Scarlett said with a determined stare, nodding to the groups. "I'm Doctor Scarlett Ohara, the chief researcher for the E-Pandora Project."
The murmurs around them really got the group's attention.
"Hmm? Dr. Aoi isn't handling this project?"
"I'm surprised. Usually, things like this would be overseen by him."
"And a woman, too. That's oddly progressive."
More of such things were passed around, the group humming or frowning at them.
"It's only fair, you know," Chiffon said. "Consider how much Gengo Aoi has done for humanity. He's been there every step of the way for Pandora-related matters, this will be the biggest step away from his influence."
"The true name for the project is the Evolutionary Pandora Project. A set of methods focusing on the activation of quote-unquote 'Pandora' from the masses at large," Scarlett continued. "The system we currently rely on has served us well ever since it was first established. The Limiter system was added years after that, the men and women of our country stepping forward to protect our lives, liberties, and homes as human beings. To this day, we've found more and more inventions to help us, the Pandora Suits, the new system being developed in France, and as of recent developments, Freezing Skills developed by none other than Naruto Uzumaki. The boy's family has provided more potential aid in new Suits for Pandora and Limiters alike. Each new step has bolstered our strengths and the most recent Nova Clash was fended off thanks to the developing skill set from those in West Genetics."
The West Genetics groups blushed or smiled as a light fell on them, the group at large accepting the immediate applause with as much grace as they could.
"Thank you, to all of you. You've helped us step forward and fend off the threat of the Nova… but if it's not obvious to everyone here let me set it straight. At present, the Nova Clash came out of nowhere, we couldn't plan for it, especially since it ignored the original trends and that's why I'm pushing forward this next step in our forces against the Nova. To not find 'wastes' from compatible women in the world. Women who shouldn't have to force themselves in as intense of a situation as the brave women in the world and in this room decided to dive into. You all are what keep us going but having more comrades, having more options, I want to find that possibility and that's why we're here. We've endured up until now, sacrifice after sacrifice, all to give humanity its safety, protection, and will to keep on living! I'd ask you to endure with me and the E-Pandora so we can create another solution to the oncoming threat of the Nova!"
The area went silent in awe before Naruto chuckled and began to clap.
Then Rana did and soon after their group gave the spark for the entire venue to give their own applause.
Scarlett smiled at that. 'Even now, you all are helping,' and she'd not mess this up.
This was their chance, dammit!
Things got underway as the lights came back on and the groups were allowed to eat with cheer.
Well, most of them were anyway.
Naruto grinned nervously as he leaned back a bit from some women who were asking him questions he was happy to answer but was finding their intent increasingly worrying.
"Y-Yeah, that's a company secret and all."
"To whom?~"
Okay, he needed his Safety Rana immediately!
Rana's eyebrow raised as she ate without a hint of concern, the others sweatdropping at her behavior.
"This must be that iron will of trust, right?" Jina asked Amelia who looked at her flatly before rolling her eyes. "Hey! Don't say it doesn't exist!"
"Hm, hm, hm, Jina isn't wrong," Chiffon said with a sly grin as Rana chuckled. "But life's a bit crazier than that."
"N-No, no, please, I'm fine. Enjoy your day with your husbands," Naruto said as he broke away from the gravitational pull that was interested women. "I don't think I handled that well at all."
"Did you promise them a dance?" Andre asked with a smirk.
"I'm stupid, not that stupid."
"Curious words, man of the year," came the voice of a woman coming up to the group, a grin on her face. "Why, I can understand you down to a 'T'."
Naruto took one look at the Pandora who came up to them before shooting finger guns. "Nice hair."
The woman let out a bark of laughter as her Limiter smirked.
"Don't worry, yours is too blueberry."
"B-Blueberry?!" The Limiter choked as his Pandora started laughing harder.
"Oh, God, you're a gem."
She was a young woman of average height with magenta-colored hair that had two long partings of her hair that curved around to the front of her neck. She had fair skin and dark blue eyes full of amusement as her Limiter's countenance fell.
Wearing a strapless faded red dress, black open-toe heels, a short black coat with rolled-up sleeves, and some jewelry around her neck, the woman wiped a tear from her eye as she pat her boy on the back.
"Come on! He's being nice! Your hair is a nice blue color!" She said to the Limiter who grunted.
"A-A pleasure, Uzumaki-san," he said. "My name may be a bit confusing but I'm the Limiter of Roxanne Elipton," he gestured to the woman next to him. "Shi-Jing Hong, at your service."
As Naruto had noted, the older Limiter had blue hair, dark blue, that fell straight down on the sides of his head, one of his long bangs being longer than the other. His skin was white and his eyes black, the boy wearing a white dress shirt with the top three buttons undone to show a small necklace similar to the jewelry around Roxanne's neck with black slacks and black dress shoes.
"Nice ta meetcha, you know my name but Naruto Uzumaki, at your service," Naruto greeted back as the older boy wore a shaky smile. "This is my partner, Rana Linchen."
"Nice to meet you," Rana said with a smile as Roxanne hummed.
"Hm, hmm… you two certainly have an interesting energy about you," the young woman said as she observed them. "Honestly," she looked at the murmuring people around them with a flat gaze.
"Hmm? Why are they so talkative?" Arthur considered.
"... Wait," Genessa stalked on over and got a good look at her fellow slightly-off-red young woman. "... A-Aren't you the Number 1 third-year in America?" The German said in disbelief as Roxanne grinned into a bow.
"Yep. Roxanne the Immortal, at your service," she reintroduced herself before looking at the chuckling Chiffon. "Chiffon, it's been too long."
"Last we met was at the last world meeting two years ago," Chiffon said with a chuckle.
"Man, some of these nicknames are getting crazy," Naruto said as Shi-Jing chuckled nervously. "The Immortal, The Smiling Monster, geez. Next, you're gonna tell me there's someone called The Zombie."
"Oh, that's another name I got!" His head slumped as Roxanne owned it like it was a brand-name purse. "You'd be surprised how many nicknames I've got!"
"R-Right."
"Sorry for her, she's… proud," Shi-Jing said with a sweatdrop. "The reason for her name is due to how she can heal herself."
"Hmm? Really?" Kazuya blinked before leaning back as Roxanne looked at him with a smirk. "U-Um, yes?"
"Kazuya Aoi, right?" Roxanne asked and he nodded unsurely. "Dr. Aoi's grandkid. Well, you have my support in your endeavors, I bet being in his shadow's pretty tough but, hey, I respect ya for yer work."
"H-Huh? Do you know my grandfather?"
"What, naaahhhh," she grinned. "I just got a real respect for you Aoi guys, your granddaddy, you, and your belated sis. A real grand hero that one," Roxanne said.
Even as those 'in the know' began to sweat. 'Kazuha would totally get a big head out of this,' they thought in group unity.
"E-Excuse me, you're a bit close," Satella said as she pulled back on Kazuya's arm, the boy blushing a bit even as he grinned like a million bucks. "Hmph."
"Hooooo?" Roxanne's eyes shined in the dark shade of her bangs. "Who's this cutie?"
"Don't assault my underclassmen, please," Chiffon said as Roxanne chuckled harmlessly. "... You're not gonna listen to me, are you?"
"Huh?"
"Of course," Eugene chuckled as Chiffon huffed. "These are my fellow classmates. The Number 2, Elizabeth Mably, and her Limiter, Andre Francoise," said young woman bowed.
"Charmed, Number 2," the Mably said.
"Seconded," the Frenchman added.
"Eugene, my Limiter."
"Good evening," Eugene said with a chuckle as Roxanne hummed.
"I bet being ol' Chiffy's partner is a heck of a time."
"It is."
"Hmph," Chiffon pouted a bit as the others snickered. "These are the Number 1 and 2 of the second-years, Satellizer El Bridgette and Genessa Roland."
"Hmmm," Satella's eyes lowered as she held onto Kazuya's arm.
"Heheh, you've awoken the tiger," Genessa said with a snicker.
"And these are their Limiters, Arthur Crypton and, as you know, Kazuya Aoi," Chiffon finished for the Genetics students.
"Hope the day's treating you well," Arthur said with a bow.
"N-Nice to meet you, again," Kazuya said.
"Man, you guys are a BIG group, geez," Roxanne said as Amelia and the E-Pandora observed her in awe. "... Oh! Sup, normies?!"
The group of women sweatdropped. "N-Normies?"
"Well, I guess you're not 'normies' but… well, 'not normies'."
"How is that any better?"
Roxanne chuckled nervously. "... I'm bad at this, soz. It's just… well, how do you guys feel about all of this?" She asked kindly.
"... I think we get what you're thinking," Amelia said with a nod, eyes closing. "And, yeah, this is probably pretty sketch."
"You said it, not me," the Pandora said with a frown. "Seriously, though, you good?"
"Yea, it's a bit extreme," Jina said as the others nodded. "But this is kind of, like, a miracle option for us, we can't just give up that shot. Besides, I got to meet my gal-pals!"
Roxanne snorted but smiled all the same. 'They're likely not allowed to show distaste, maybe,' though they did seem rather happy.
No ire, no jealousy, no pained looks. Roxanne realized these women were all brimming with casual confidence in who they were, what they were, and how they felt.
She didn't think this was right, honestly. Bringing the very people they promised to protect didn't sit right with her but if she looked at it like the military, she could find the logic.
Still didn't mean she was sus about the whole thing.
~NRK~
Getting back to their rooms, Naruto collapsed onto his bed with a look of relief.
"Full and off my feet, doesn't get that much better," he said with a chuckle as Rana giggled a bit, sitting down on his bed edge. "It'll take place tomorrow, yeah?" The blonde asked his partner who nodded.
"The results of their training are going to be on display," Rana answered as he nodded. "Hmm… do you think-"
"We can train right now? I'm all for it!" He finished and she grinned.
They hurried to leave their room only to find a person there.
Charles Bonaparte frowned at the two with her arms crossed, the young woman wearing a cream-colored sweater, a black skirt, white socks, and brown loafers, the Ereinbar Set raised their brows at her headphones.
"So, you're Naruto Uzumaki, huh?" She asked with a look of disapproval as Naruto tilted his head at her. 'The troublemaker isn't what I expected,' despite her reservations, he seemed rather amicable.
"Sup… you…" He said with a nervous grin as her eyebrow twitched while Rana rubbed the back of her head.
"Apologies-de arimasu. We don't know everyone here," the Tibetan said as Charles scoffed.
"Yes, well, I'd hope you looked up the Top Five Third-Years, right?"
"Oh, wait, you're in them?" Naruto asked in surprise as she smirked… before her eyebrow twitched. "N-Not saying anything, promise!" He wore a shaky grin as she shot him a dark look. 'Dammit, I'm not even trying and I'm making enemies!'
"Can we help you, ma'am?" Rana asked. "Ah, Rana Linchen, nice to meet you," she smiled and Charles hummed at her.
"The partner, huh? Well, I'm here to ask for a spar. The name is Charles Bonaparte, the Fourth Strongest Third-Year in all of the Genetics," she said with a smirk. "So, Naruto Uzumaki, will you take me up on my offer?"
"Yeah, sure!" Naruto grinned as she shot him a weird look. "I've been wondering how the other Top Five compare to Chiffon-nee," he said and Charles's eyes widened.
'Wait, what?!' Was he telling her he fought Chiffon Fairchild?! "I… I-I see. You've fought with the Number 1?"
"Well, more like sparred," Rana smiled. "We both have. Chiffon-nee is an amazing opponent you don't just find often, we got in as many rounds as we could since we started being better friends!"
Oh, that was concerning. "... The spar?"
"Alright, sure. We were wondering if we were allowed to train or not," Naruto said and Charles nodded slowly.
"Of course, you are. All Chevalier facilities are dedicated to the sake of providing our soldiers with all the necessary equipment and chances to improve."
"Hmm, where are you from, Charles-senpai?"
"... France. Though, my father isn't, though."
"That so?" Rana said as they made it down a hallway, passing a pair with a familiar young woman in it. "Wait… C-Cassie-san?" She asked with a grin as the woman's head snapped to them before she grinned. "How's everything-de arimasu?!"
Cassie Lockheart chuckled in a pair of black jeans, a sleeveless white dress shirt with a black tie, and some black boots. The boy at her side, peeking around her in shock.
"It's you," he said in awe as he walked up to Naruto and held out his hand. "Kyouichi Minase, I'm forever grateful for helping sen… Cassie," Kyouichi corrected himself as his Pandora blinked and then blushed.
"K-Kyouichi!"
Naruto and Rana chuckled.
Kyouichi was a year older than Naruto and looked rather laidback but passionate. Bearing feathery dark brown hair that came down to his nape, fair skin, and brown eyes, the boy wearing white slacks, brown dress shoes, and a blue polo with a white collar.
He and Naruto shook hands and the blonde grinned. "I don't need to be thanked for that, I'm glad we could help our senpai," he said as Rana nodded. "Naruto Uzumaki and this is my partner, Rana Linchen."
"Hmph," Charles raised a brow at the chummy atmosphere. 'Cassie Lockheart, the Godspeed. So, he did help her out,' it'd been said but Charles preferred to know the actual specifics. "Didn't expect to see you here, Lockheart."
"Hmm? Oh, well, I was cleared, medically, two weeks ago," Cassie said with an embarrassed giggle as Charles nodded. "I've mostly been bringing myself back up to my proper speed."
"Cassie's been training harder than ever," Kyouichi said with a proud grin as Naruto chuckled. "Actually," he whispered. "She's reached a whole other level of speed over the past two weeks."
"I'd love to see it," Naruto said.
"Hmm, I guess you were coming to say 'hi', right-de arimasu?" Rana asked and Cassie nodded.
"It's been a while and catching up sounded nice. I still need to meet with Satellizer and Genessa," she said. "Where are you guys heading?"
"Training room," Naruto said with a grin. "Time to spar with a big-shot."
"Hmph. Come, we'll need sleep still," Charles said as she walked off.
"We'll catch up, senpai!" Rana said as she and Naruto hurried after the Frenchwoman. "It was nice to see her again."
"Yup," he grinned.
'A large rapport with some of the highest potential Pandora,' Charles considered with a frown. '... Father, will this end well?' She'd looked over the files of Naruto's recent activities.
Kouichirou Sasagami wanted him for an abroad program in his next year, Scarlett Ohara had convinced Radox Phantomheim to send him over for some reason. The boy had helped out the E-Pandora, she and her father figured.
Connected to Gengo Aoi and his grandson, he had good relations with the Mably and El Bridgette family heiresses, was pioneering a new set of investments for Chevalier through his family's business, and more.
The boy was stacked in 'allies' and that made him more of a wildcard than they could consider. He needed reigning in, his abilities were vast, yes, but Charles was sure she had the right equipment and skills to pull this off.
Cow him in his categories and he'll become more tame… supposedly.
Speaking of connections, as the three of them made it to the training area, the trio found a group of familiar women within, each of them going through their paces, exercises, or sparring.
"Oh, I guess they wanted to get in that last bit that might give 'em an edge," Naruto said as Charles scoffed. "What, not impressed?"
"For normal civilians, they are impressive, that's hard to deny but for Pandora, they're weak," Charles said with a frown. "I've seen their past scores and matches, they're not good enough."
"Hmm, well, they've only been doing this for one year," Rana frowned as Charles kept her own up. "I don't think anyone can really say that's a fair assessment. You'd probably say the same thing about Freshmen."
Charles's eyebrow twitched. "They need to be worthwhile warriors."
"Yeah but no one becomes some demon on the battlefield in a year, that's kind of crazy," Naruto refuted as Charles sighed heatedly. "I mean, I can bet that you weren't as good as you were when you were a newbie," she flinched. "Exactly. Instead of seeing it as the 'strong' and the 'weak', you should consider them less experienced than you. You've probably fought far better opponents than they have."
"T-That's… that's not the point. There's a reason they need the Mark medicine, it's not some pity party," Charles fought back. "Hmph, I'm getting annoyed, get into an arena, we're doing this immediately."
"... Wait, can I change?" Naruto asked with a sweatdrop.
"... Fine," why did she say it like he was asking for money? "This is called mercy."
"Mercy?" Naruto repeated in disbelief as she walked away. "Uh, tell me I'm not the only one feelin' she's a bit… rough?"
"Hmph, she's rather rude," Rana said with a frown.
"Yeah, she's the model soldier she is," came a familiar voice from behind them, the two turning to see a waving Roxanne in a red muscle shirt, black shorts, and some sneakers. "It's definitely an acquired taste."
"Yeah, we can definitely tell," Naruto said as he shed his jacket and placed it on a nearby coat rack "Whelp, let's work out some problems," he said with a chuckle as he pulled a familiar folded spear weapon out from it before depositing his holster by his coat. "And finally see what this is like in an actual spar."
"Oh? What's that?"
"A new type of weapon that'll hopefully work out well," Naruto said as he walked after Charles.
The two followed him as Amelia noticed them out of the corner of her eye.
Finishing up with Rattle, she gestured to the quartet and the two of them walked over, grabbing some towels from nearby benches by the sparring area.
"What's going on?" She asked Rana and Roxanne who chuckled.
"Charles wants to spar with Naruto over there," the odd-haired woman said as the four of them focused on the two.
A Freezing field spread over his weapon, Rattle, Amelia, Charles, and Roxanne looking surprised as an energy-like spearhead came from the two prongs around the blade. "That's new," Amelia said.
"It uses the energy in his fields-de arimasu," Rana said. "Naruto-kun has been working on trying to manage it for the weeks before and after we came here, Amelia-chan."
Amelia was intrigued. "So, is he any good at it?"
"Being honest? He's decent but he's not as good as you."
Amelia blushed at the praise while Rattle chuckled a bit.
Inside the ring, Charles's eyebrows rose at the spear. "... Is this another thing you didn't tell Chevalier?" She asked with a frown as Naruto shook his head.
"This isn't even a perfect product, yet. I'm the test run," the blonde boy said as she grunted. "You do realize my family doesn't have to tell Chevalier everything, right? Last I checked, the Limiter project wasn't told until it was workable."
"Your situation is different."
"How?"
"You've continuously sprouted new ideas time and time again, there are likely some you've clearly kept for yourself."
"... Maybe."
"And you think that's better?"
"I think it's easier to figure out how to actually spread that out. Besides, none of them are even close to doing the better stuff yet. Not even my friends who've been at this for over a month."
Charles disagreed vehemently and would make that known.
They circled one another with their eyes locked. "The first true blow?" She offered him.
"Sure, take your best shot," he shot back as her eyes narrowed.
Naruto twirled his staff into a block, Charles's Volt Weapons, a pair of dual-sized knuckle knives, the tips of the weapons pushing against his spear.
His form was pushed back before he activated his Maelstrom Circuit's first level, a ring of energy around his body spinning into existence before forming around his ankles and wrists.
Charles's eyes narrowed before she stepped back and vanished from sight.
Naruto swung around at his back, a loud 'clank' reaching his ears as Charles blocked his weapons.
"Hmph!" She swung one of her knives off the shaft towards his shoulders only to struggle as the boy flipped over her, his weapon and body's weight pushing down on her as she smashed her Volt Weapons together to handle it.
When he landed she tilted her head out the way from a backhand before slashing up with her right-hand weapon, his spear's shaft coming around to block it just in time.
She dropped her weapon and grabbed the spear with a grin, leg shooting towards Naruto's face. He leaned back and yet she pulled herself over the weapon along with her kick, foot inches away from his face.
His eyes narrowed while hers widened as she was moved along with his spear's shaft, the boy throwing her to the side with a flick of his weapon, tossed into a tumble.
Charles recovered easily and had another pair of her Volt Weapons in her grip but hissed as she barely dodged a stab of his speartip, stumbling to the side before her leg swung around at his head awkwardly, Naruto blocking it and pushing forward, sending her more off-balance.
She gave in to it and just rolled back onto her feet, eyes narrowed.
"You're pretty good," Naruto said with a competitive grin as she scoffed. "Hey now, it was a compliment."
"Save those for someone who needs them," Charles said as she closed her eyes before taking a calming breath. "Your oddities won't matter here," she declared as her eyes opened, Volt Textures flowing up her body. "Don't think this is me going all-out, I don't need that much."
"Same," Naruto said as he went up to the next level, a familiar cloak of blue power with fox ears and a tail. "Bijuu Cloak Version 1 Redux."
The rotating ring around him stayed from the previous state before shrinking to his waist.
'This is the form from when he first fought McMillan… yet 'Redux'?' What did that mean? "... This Maelstrom Circuityou coined for another hidden technique. You're mixing the two together."
"Yep. This isn't even close to my best but it's gotten better and probably a good step-up from my previous max," Naruto grinned, pupils slit-shaped while his birthmarks glowed with Soul Energy. "Thanks for letting me test it."
His spear's point had grown thinner before being surrounded by a ring of light itself, the boy grinning at that.
"..." Charles's eyes narrowed.
She crouched and Naruto cleaved through the Tempest copy that had launched at him.
"You're a Tempest-Type, huh?"
Charles blurred towards him.
Her slash at his temple was knocked off-target before Naruto rotated back and slashed up, dodging one of her Tempest clones and cleaving through it.
He lunged with a thrust and she coiled around his spear before kicking up at his chin only for Naruto to catch her ankle.
The boy threw her to the side and wasn't bothered that she recovered mid-air.
Charles's form buzzed before she began to walk around him, three clones copying her actions.
Naruto smirked as he bounced back and forth on his heels.
He closed his eyes and Charles's eyes narrowed.
She and her copies lunged at the same time, knives slamming against one another's weapons as Naruto's form had jumped in the air.
His spear lunged towards the real Charles only for one of her clones to grab it, the other two slashing at his sides.
The foxy boy pulled himself towards Charles along his spear's shaft to kick at her hastily raised block, sending her tumbling back as he landed behind her clones.
His two astral tails lashed out and the three were dispersed, the younger blonde resting his weapon over his shoulder with a cocky grin.
"I'm waiting."
Roxanne whistled before chuckling as Amelia smiled and Rana grinned.
"Loving his energy right now," the Immortal said with a sly smirk. "And Charlie knows she can't just get her way so easily! It's a two for one special on fun things!"
"Hmm, he still has that one form, though," Rattle said.
"... She's the Tempest Phoenix, hon. She's not even going all-out when it comes to her Volt Textures. Never mind her new Pandora Suit or it's 'Mode' now," the others looked surprised.
"Pandora MODE?" Rana looked confused as Roxanne chuckled.
"Your boytoy's family may have been working on Pandora Suits but those in other places have been trying to get those discontinued," the young woman said with a smirk at Rana's small blush but curious expression. "So, his family might face some conflict in the future."
"Worrying-de arimasu."
"It's business, I guess," Amelia said. "Why's she called the 'Tempest Phoenix'?"
"It's due to how she can use Tempest Turn. Charles has made it her own with her own method and process."
The short Frenchwoman made it apparent as she went after Naruto time and time again with Tempest Turn that could range from 3 to 5 in seconds. She shifted the number on the fly, doubled them up at key points, and even doubled down on her focus with three multiple times.
And yet the boy wasn't deterred nor wounded as he fought back with his 'tails', quick reaction time, legs, arms, and spear. Naruto's fighting style seemed to shift from practiced and wild without hesitation and it worked. He had a slight animalistic feel to how he fought at times and yet could feel like a practitioner of practiced arts the next.
"He's pretty good, though," Rattle said as Roxanne nodded.
"You're not wrong. Charles is literally the fourth-best of all the third years in the world and he's fighting her on equal grounds despite her not using her musical talent yet."
"Huh?" Rana blinked at her. "What's music have to do with this-de arimasu?"
"Hehe, she might actually use it here, she's getting pissed."
Amelia raised a brow at that as they turned back to see Charles's eyebrow twitching as Naruto fended off her copies with a focused gaze, 'tails' and spear lashing out and dispelling them with effort.
"Hmph," Naruto nodded to her as he crouched low… before standing back up with some nervous laughter, confusing Charles. "So, do you want to keep going at this?" He asked her as she raised a brow.
"Why? Tired?" She asked invasively but his shake of the head confused her further. "Why?"
"Well, we've been at this for over 15 minutes, that's not that long but we can't go all-out here, right?"
She winced before sighing, Volt Textures dropping as Naruto's cloak fell away.
"You may have a point," Charles said as Roxanne grinned from off to the side. "Ugh. Don't bother me," the Frenchwoman said as she and Naruto hopped out of the ring. "... You're relatively impressive."
"That hard to say 'pretty good'?" Naruto asked with a snicker as Charles rolled her eyes at Roxanne, Rana, Amelia, and Rattle's accompanying snickers. "All of you, God," she walked off. "Not dealing with this, good night."
"Hmm, so, how'd it feel to spar with her?" Amelia asked Naruto who nodded.
"She's good, I can really see why she's in the Top Five of the world. Her ability at using Tempest Turn is no joke," he said. "She's better than Creo and she didn't pull out some android skill."
"Hmm… I get it," Rana crossed her arms with a tilt of the head. "It was so seamless. Reducing, adding, and their positioning, Charles-senpai has an amazing understanding of the Tempest skill."
"Yep. Don't let her small stature fool you, she's quite a petite beast!" Roxanne chuckled. "Now, come on! Let's hit some reps!"
The four chuckled before following after her.
It was a good workout, too.
~NRK~
The technician personnel typed away at the computer in his cap, blue overalls, and orange sweater with black boots.
"Hey, you're one of the helpers, right?" Another man asked, wearing a similar outfit, as the typing technician nodded. "Well, we need to make sure to run some last-round checks for the systems of tomorrow's matches."
"Understood, sir," the technician said as his black hair settled around his head in smooth locks. "So, what do you think of this place?"
"Eehhh… I don't get paid enough to give an opinion," the man said with a sigh before looking around, the Pandora guards by the garage door gaining his concern. "Just don't cause trouble here, that Spencer-boy up there is a hardass on his best days. The less you say about any screams you might hear, the better."
Obito's eyes shined beneath his cap, the man adjusting it.
"Understood."
~NRK~
Getting back in form for this fic and its chapters. Outlined the rest of the arc, too.
So, these chapters should be easier to write for the arc so that's nice.
Next, we get a more in-depth beat for all the points of the Alaska arc.
One, the return to the Alaska base comes with a warmer reception compared to the canon where Amelia greets and welcomes them, Rana and her being a bit closer due to the link they kind of share.
Two, Arthur and Genessa are here! Like, it's obvious why, in the original, they weren't so we changed that. The actual 1 and 2 of the second-years comes, Genessa Roland.
Three, minorly, the group get to dress up before dinner. Said dinner is a far more warm situation that Elizabeth doesn't need to break the ice of. Here, they're more confident and capable, which shows in a person. Roxanne, meanwhile, gets a bit more screen time without molestation involved, for now, and her Limiter gets a bit more personality I pulled from the Pair Love Stories.
Four, well… Charles is going to be… well, I'm going to be transparent, I REALLY didn't like Charles in canon. Her friendship with Roxanne, I dug it, I did, but Charles up until then was just… a mega-cunt and it always rubbed me the wrong way.
My perspective, just yesterday, was shifted a bit from a comment on her wiki page. Charles's loyalty is, in fact, one of her strong suits and that's true. I don't hate someone who's loyal and it helped make me appreciate her a bit but… WHY IS SHE SUCH A BITCH FOR NO DAMN REASON?
I know, I know, everything to do with her father but it's like she doesn't think for herself to the point that I feel like I'm just talking Mark's right hand.
… For now, let's just say I'm gonna have a harder time writing such a character but I'll do my best.
For now, look forward to the Mock Carnival.
Onto the Omake.
~NRK~
~Omake: Golden Time Lovers III ft. Obito x Cassandra~
A year later, Gengo had made a decision.
The group of Gengo, Obito, and the Legendary Pandora siblings walked out of the large van in front of a familiar apartment complex.
"Are you sure about this?" Obito asked the man who shrugged. "It's a big step in trust, I know it's the right thing, I'm just wondering if you're alright with it."
"I've been doing this duty for a long time… and you seem to have solved a big part of it," Gengo said with a soft, tired, smile. "I think it really is time for me to try and fix some part of my family before we continue with future endeavors."
"Fixing, ha-ha-ue," Chiffon grinned as Obito chuckled, Cassandra's elbow in his. "Now that I'm sure is a lot less stressful."
"Oh, definitely," Gengo said as they ignored the passersby who gawked at their little entourage. "Speaking of stress, what about your arm?" He asked Obito who looked at the limb.
The energy within the Transcendent Will's realm had done more to his body than he could have accounted for.
With the Will following up by making a change permanent, Obito could now travel to the end of the universe to see it, crazily enough. The thing had deemed it necessary to give him passage back into that world of its.
"I feel fine, honest," he said as he looked at the circuit-like marks on the visible part of the back of his hand. "All things considered, it's basically just a ticket," Obito chuckled as Lucy tilted her head.
"Another realm ticket," she said and he nodded. "Hmm…"
"It seems so!" Windy May said with a grin as Teslad slunk over to Obito's other side, shooting him a look that he could barely decipher.
"I can tell you're nervous," Obito said as Teslad's expression cracked a bit.
Neutral eyes looked down nervously while the ends of her lips dipped into a frown, her fingers gripping the back of his top tightly.
Obito was thankful he knew how to make his own clothes because a regular top would have ripped from just that pinch… well, one level up from her current strength would.
So, for now, it was just a strong tug that he could deal with.
They made it to the front of Ryuuichi's apartment door before Obito knocked.
There was ambling was heard.
Moments later, Ryuuichi Aoi answered the door with a curious look before smiling at Obito and Cassandra only to double-take at his father standing there with a smile.
"D-Dad?! Huh? What's going on?" Ryuuichi asked as Obito smiled nervously.
"There's a lot of things to explain to you," Gengo said with a sad look that Ryuuichi looked away from. "But those same things helped make some things a lot easier to deal with… and makes me want to try harder… with you…" He said nervously as Ryuuichi's eyes widened and they snapped back to the nervous Gengo. 'Oh… that look certainly doesn't help,' why'd he look like he'd just said something shocking?
Gengo was worried that he really messed up his son with the way he was looking at him.
"... O-Obito, ummm… C-Come in," Ryuuichi said nervously as Obito nodded.
And yet that's not the biggest shock of that moment for, as the group came in, Windy May pinched his cheek with a grin.
"Thank you, otouto," she said with a smile as Gengo grinned nervously at Ryuuichi's twitching eyebrows, his head mechanically turning towards his father.
"D-Dad?"
"That's a big part of it, just let us explain. Is Orie home?"
"N-No, she's out at a neighborhood-Why'd that woman call me-"
"Her younger brother? Well, that's because you are our younger sibling," Chiffon said with a patient smile as Ryuuichi's head looked at her.
"..." He turned around, walked towards a recliner, and collapsed into it. "... What?"
"Come on, let's sit."
For the next hour, Gengo, Obito, Chiffon, and Cassandra gave him the TRUE story of everything that was going on.
Obito's origins, the Legendary Pandora's origins, his true mother, Gengo's hidden motives, everything.
It all came to a head with Obito's final act being replayed to him via his weird eye powers?!
"..." Ryuuichi looked at the gathered group of nodding individuals in disbelief. "T-That's… y-you're an alien?" He asked Obito who chuckled nervously in a couch between Cassandra and Teslad.
"Well… partially? And, in the context of this world, yes?" Obito said as Ryuuichi sat there, floored. "I know this is a lot."
"..." Ryuuichi grimaced before holding his head in his hands. "So… I have test-tube siblings?" He asked his father who shrugged.
"Essentially," Gengo said as Ryuuichi grimaced.
"How can you just say that?! They're living people!"
"You're right, again," the man said as he and Ryuuichi stood up, eyes locked. "I'm not going to make excuses here… I can't, not when the truth is, the truth. I…" Gengo winced. "I knew, I'm not an idiot, I knew what I was doing. I know this is bigger picture than you wanted me to be but I wanted to save humanity which includes you."
"So, what was I?" He asked and Gengo blinked. "What was I to you?" Ryuuichi asked with a downtrodden look.
Gengo flinched at the question.
What was he to him? His son?
"... A savior," Gengo said softly. "I haven't been a good father to you, likely barely even a father, I understand that. I'm both a foolish man and a logical one. We needed someone to help pave the way to future, Ryuuichi."
"Why plan to tell me when I have a family? Did you honestly think that was going to end well?"
"... I wanted you to truly understand what you were protecting," Ryuuichi grimaced. "I don't want to manipulate you when I say this, I mean it, but you also want to protect them, don't you? Your wife? Your daughter? Whatever potential future children you'll have, right? That's the same thing for me, stopping the Will back then wasn't just because I was trying to destroy everything. You saw it, didn't you?" His son sighed. "... I never asked Obito this, I think his view on things is far more otherworldly than our own… but what would you have done if you knew this?"
Ryuuichi was silent as his clenched fists grew slack, form sitting back down. "... I-I don't…"
"You likely understand it like I do… we're more alike than we both think sometimes," Gengo said as he sat back down next to a smiling Chiffon. "It's just not… I couldn't, wouldn't, stand by while that happened. I love humanity too much to do that."
'More than your own family,' Ryuuichi wanted to say, he really did… but unfortunately… he got it.
As much as he hated it, as much as he despised the path his father went down… he understood and was left there with no true response to this.
"I know."
"... Well… I'm glad you do, I really do," Gengo said. "It's not going to fix everything, I have enough intelligence to figure that out but I do want us to have an understanding."
Ryuuichi sighed once more before leaning back in his seat. "So… it's over?" He asked.
"Hopefully," Chiffon inserted as Ryuuichi grew a bit embarrassed. "Hm, hm, hm, no issue, no issue. It'll take time to even reconcile with the things you already had a connection to. Us springing up out of the blue likely doesn't endear us to you."
"It's… no… no you're right," he said as he looked at them all. "... Why do all of them have such weird hair colors?"
"... Um," Chiffon grinned nervously. "... I don't know."
"... Right," the Aoi son grunted softly before looking at Obito with a shaky smile. "I don't know how you view all of this… is this normal?"
"It's not," Obito said with a shake of the head. "But, at the end of the day, it's on you both to work through. Still, if you need to talk, I'm here."
"Yeah, thanks, for a lot," Ryuuichi said before sighing. "So… you're going to focus on waking Maria Lancelot?"
"Yes," Cassandra said with a smile as Ryuuichi gawked a bit.
"No wonder we had thought you looked familiar," he said as she nodded, Gengo looking confused. "Around when Cassandra first came here, I and Orie thought she looked familiar," Ryuuichi said as the scientist made an understanding sound.
"I guess even without seeing them, you could tell," he smirked as Ryuuichi rolled his eyes but rubbed the back of his head.
"Yeah, well…" He looked at her. "So, we were siblings this entire time, huh?"
She nodded with a smile as Teslad tilted her head with a nod, amusing the man a bit.
"... Haaa, this is going to take some time getting used to it," the young father of one said. "I guess… I guess things will be different from here on out?"
"I want them to be, very much so," Gengo said with a smile as Ryuuichi looked down in embarrassment.
"Yeah, well… Kazuha's birthday is coming up," the man said with a bashful look. "You should come."
Gengo grinned. "Of course. Your birthday is also coming up," Ryuuichi looked surprised. "It's not like I forgot, I sent you a card every time I could."
"Y-Yeah, I got them… God, this is so weird," he said as the door opened to reveal Orie with Kazuha strapped to her back.
"... Hmm? Gengo-san? What's-"
"They're my sisters," Ryuuichi said flatly as Orie's head turned to him and then to Gengo. "... Yes."
Obito chuckled nervously as Orie balked at him.
"So, that's why she looked so familiar?" She asked and he smirked.
"You guys just have good senses."
~NRK~
Obito rested on his and Cassandra's bed in their home.
The past year had made this part of the 'getting together' process simpler and yet so much more effective.
Night had fallen and Obito and Cassandra had welcomed the Aoi family members into their home to rest in.
With the two guest rooms, Obito was sure that they had enough space. So, when Cassandra arrived came out of their bathroom in her pink pajamas while he laid down in a pair of blue shorts and a black tank top.
She hurried over, got on the bed, and quickly crawled over before he chuckled as she leaned onto his chest, eyes closing as she listened to his heartbeat.
Obito held Cassandra close and smiled softly as she melted into his side.
Yeah, things were going to be fine-
Teslad appeared in their doorway in an open dress shirt, his, that draped down past a pair of her sister's short shorts.
And that was it, as in, she had on no bra or shirt?!
"?!" Obito choked as the most neutral-faced Legendary Pandora walked into the room and got into bed with them. "T-Teslad?!"
"Hm," she laid her head on the shoulder opposite the one Cassandra was laying on.
And would the surprises never cease? Cassandra's eyebrows furrowed.
She reached out and held his side by Teslad's side while stuffing her head into the crux of his neck as Teslad's eyebrows lowered.
Obito's eyes closed as the two pressed their very developed bodies against his arms, his hands in very warm places as they did.
Then the two saw his 'rising attention' down below and Obito's cheeks reddened.
"That's not something we should-"
He hitched as they grabbed it in unison.
The ninja never did get much sleep that night.
~NRK~
The second child of Ryuuichi Aoi grinned as he ran about in the field of his grandfather's villa.
"Come on, nee-chans! Nii-chan!" The boy said with a wide grin as a three kids followed after him
One of them, a seemingly older Kazuha, the young girl grinning as she and she, another girl, and one boy ran after the younger male. "Kazuya! You're not gonna get away this time!"
"Hehe~" The youngest boy, Kazuya, snickered as he held his position by the water.
"H-Hey, now, let's not go near the water," one of the two other kids with Kazuha said, the two a year or so younger than she was.
The boy was sporting feathery dark purple hair with one of his eyes visible as the other was covered by a combover. His fair skin and black eyes twitching as he looked at the water behind Kazuya.
"..." The girl at his side smiled, long, smooth, pale-blonde hair falling down to the back of her knees as her dark skin contrasted versus her siblings. "Kazu-chan," she said kindly, heterochromatic black-and-yellow eyes looking at Kazuya who grinned. "Hmm," she vanished and he squawked before giggling as she held him in her arms, the two falling back into the water of the lake.
"H-Hey!" The only boy on land squeaked before Kazuha grinned and jumped right in. "D-Don't you know water sucks!?" He groaned before inching over and falling in plank-style.
From the back of the Aoi Villa, Obito snorted as he leaned on the railing of the back porch, Ryuuichi, Orie, Teslad, and Cassandra with him.
"Be careful!" Orie called out to the kids who popped out of the waters with giggles aplenty. "I know they're much stronger than they look but I'll go over and make sure no one drowns. Especially Tsuki-kun," she said to Obito and Teslad who nodded with smiles.
"Thank you," Teslad said before following after her, much to the human woman's amusement.
As the two walked out, Windy May came out onto the porch with Chiffon helping her, the pink-haired woman rubbing her big stomach.
Ryuuichi shot Obito a shaky grin as the former ninja grinned back just as nervous.
"You're gonna keep pumping them out, huh?"
"The three of them wanted children, I'd be hard-pressed to not give it to them."
"Yu-huh, after you gave it to them."
"Ryuuichi, we both know my response."
The two chuckled at that while Chiffon snickered.
"She's kicking!" Windy May said with a look of euphoria as Obito and Cassandra perked up, the two of them coming over to feel her stomach. "Hm, hm! I like the name May-May."
"It's an amazing name," Obito said with a grin as Cassandra chuckled a bit. "I'm sure she'll be full of overwhelming energy like her mother."
With how things had gone, Obito realized that Cassandra's little blurb from years back now made more sense. Well, it had a few years back with Teslad but he'd accepted it fully when he'd impregnated Windy May.
So, as they led Windy May out onto the grass, from above on the villa's recently made balcony, Gengo Aoi chuckled as he and a familiar woman held one another's sides.
~NRK~
Obito nodded to the group of kids as they and their families said their goodbyes.
"Alright, alright, take your time, alright?" Orie told them all as she ruffled Kazuya's hair while Kazuha grinned from beside her and their father. "Remember, you all have each other in down times and are some of the brightest, proudest, most athletic children around."
"Yes, mom," the three said.
"Don't hurt anyone too much, please," Obito said with a shaky grin as his two teenager-aged kids grinned, much to his concern. "Nu-huh, none of that. You can claim that top spot but no needless bullying."
"Yes, dad," the three said in unison, again.
"Hmm, let us know if something… comes up," Cassandra said with a smile as she pinched the three's cheeks.
"Yes, mom."
"Sometimes, I really do wonder about them," Gengo chuckled as Maria grinned from beneath a large sunhat. "They say that to anyone of them."
Ryuuichi chuckled as the train came into the station.
This life had taken a decent amount of rough edges, time, and counseling but… yes, this was his life.
This was his family.
He chuckled as Obito nodded, one arm around Teslad, the other around Cassandra, and Windy May hugging him around the waist from behind, a small girl at her side.
And, well, he had a big family..
~NRK~
No real words. It's an Omake Epilogue.
I hope to see you guys in another chapter soon.
Ciao.
Words: 13.0k
~NRK Out~