IMPORTANT: I made a poll for Naruto of the 458th Universe, NOT FIREBRAND. This is VERY important. Mainly it's whether Naruto gets it on with a few before settling down for one (main) girl or the same thing without the getting it on part. As teens/men, we tend to either fool around with other girls like a bachelor or stay single and finally find that one special person.

For Naruto of the 458th Universe, he will have girls interested in him so it's very important I get these votes, mainly so he does not look like that fuck Makoto from School Days. We all know about fuck Makoto and what happened to him so yeah.

Overall, it's about whether he plays the bachelor and gets it on before deciding to stop and be responsible or a reserved person who saves himself for that one special person. This is very important and every vote counts. You'll find the poll on my profile page.


Maki's Promise List

1. Go camping (Done)

2. Try out a bikini (Done)

3. Go to an amusement park (Done)

4. Go to space

5. Go sing karaoke (Done)

6. Meet Kaito's family

7. Order the Royal Sovereign Burger at Burger Queen (Done)

8. Go to a beach

9. Learn how to dance (Done)

10. Visit a zoo

11. Hike in the mountains

12. Scuba diving

13. Seeing the Milky Way in a clear night sky (Done)

14. Wing-suit flying

15. Spelunking

16. Watch 2001: A Space Odyssey

17. Go trick-or-treating

Need 3 more for the list. Do this for Maki!


OP3: NEVER SURRENDER by 水樹 奈々

Wednesday (6/8)

Kuoh Academy

"Izakaya Nobu?"

"Yes, Shinkawa-kun invited me to have lunch there today." With a smile, Naruto told her the restaurant served very delicious food. "You've been there before?"

"Yeah, I went with Maki and Eu one time (Naruto, Maki, Eu, and Ange ate there in Part 1 Ch 3)." When asked if he wanted anything, Naruto told her he was okay and to have a good time. After saying goodbye to her, Naruto hangs up before entering the classroom.

With Issei

Classroom

As Issei laid his head on his desk, he wondered how today will end. Not only did he find out his childhood friend Irina Shidou was a chick and a member of the Church, she and her friend were coming after school to speak with Rias. His mysterious client assured him things will turn out the way he wants them to while they were fishing last night, though he wasn't sure about it. He also started worrying about the arrival of the Vanishing Dragon, Albion, and his wielder. Just who was this new wielder Ddraig told him about? And how strong was he? As he kept thinking to himself, Issei's teacher told him to pay attention, throwing her chalk at him, hitting the top of his head.

With Shino

Izakaya Nobu

Lunch

"Mmmm...The food here was so good," Shino said to herself as she stretched her arms. "Thanks for inviting me, Shinkawa-kun." Kyouji smiles as he told her it was no trouble at all. "Perhaps I should take my mother here when she comes to visit. I bet she'd love the food here."

"I bet she'd love it too." Getting up, Shinkawa tells Shino he needs to use the restroom and that he'll pay for the meals.

"A-Are you sure?"

"Of course, my treat after all," he told her before leaving to the men's restroom. As she waits for her friend, she hears the door open. Turning to her right, Shino's eyes widen in fear as Hoshikari, wearing casual clothes, entered the restaurant.

"It's him!" Shino thought to herself, recalling how he and Zellmon kidnapped her. Looking her way, Hoshikari, though not showing it, voiced how surprised he was to see her after so long.

"Never thought I'd see you again, Girl," he told her as he took a seat next to her, scaring Shino. "I wonder, how have you been since our last encounter?" Shino says nothing, not even making eye contact with him. "Hmm, it's rude not to respond to a question, and it's rude not to make eye contact with someone trying to have a casual conversation with you."

"I...I'm fine..." she told him as she turned to look him straight in the eye. "What...are you-"

"doing here? I'm simply here to order and take out some delicious food I plan on enjoying myself. I heard people say this place served some of the best dishes in Kuoh Town." As he finished his sentence, Shinobu came in and asked him what he'd like to order, a smile on her face, unaware of the danger Shino was in.

"I'd like an eel bento and a bottle of water to go, please," he told her with a "smile". After Shinobu left, Hoshikari discards his fake smile and resumes his conversation with Shino. "I'd like to apologize for kidnapping you. I was following a direct order from someone I was working for. Since she longer lives, I have no reason to go after you. Be relieved to hear that from me."

"Is that so..." Shino tensed when Hoshikari reached out and took off her glasses. "Hmmm, you have one of the most beautiful eyes I've ever seen. "He" is lucky to have you..."

"H-He?" asked Shino. Realizing who he meant, her eyes widen. "How do you-"

"Oh? It seems I've revealed something I shouldn't have..." he said to himself before apologizing to her. "I made the mistake of telling you before he could...Oh well, the cat was bound to come out of the bag sooner...With the truth you've been given, how will you proceed I wonder..."

"Hey..." Turning around, he sees as scared Kyouji looking at him.

"Shinkawa-kun, don't come near..."

"What...What do you...do you think you're doing to to...-" Hoshikari sighs as he tells Kyouji he's stuttering and shaking a lot.

"If you must know, I'm having a small conversation with Ms...I'm sorry, what is your last name? No first name is needed."

"A...Asada."

"Right, I was simply having a small conversation with Ms. Asada here. Isn't that right?" asked Hoshikari as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Yes...We were only having a small conversation..." Shino assured her friend, sounding frightened. As tension filled their surroundings, it halts as Xenovia appears behind Shino, pulling Hoshikari's hand off of her. With a confrontational tone in her voice, Xenovia tells him, "You're scaring this girl and her friend. Back off." Her very presence scares the one-winged Fallen Angel, who finds her high magic power intimidating.

"This girl's magic..." As Xenovia stared Hoshikari down, all tension ceased once more as Shinobu comes in and hands Hoshikari his bento and water bottle.

"Thank you," he told her as he hands her more than the amount the meal costs. "Keep the change..." Getting up, he says goodbye to Shino and makes his leave. As soon as the front door closed, Kyouji went over to his friend and asked her if she was okay.

"I'm...I'm fine." Turning to Xenovia, she thanks her for intervening. Taking a good look at the bluenette, she couldn't help but find her beautiful while finding her choice of attire weird to look at. Was she cosplaying? Looking at her face closely, Shino asked her if they've met before.

"No, we haven't," she told her as Irina comes into the restaurant and asked her if she got their table reserved. "Yes, I did."

"Why do you sound-"

"Because you overslept, Irina." With a nervous smile, Irina apologized, blaming the bed they slept on last night for being so comfortable. "You kept me here waiting when I could've-"

*GROWL*

Xenovia's face turned red as she puts her hands over her growling stomach.

"I apologize for making you wait, Xenovia. Let's go order, shall we?"

With Moka

Unnamed Church

"Moka, why are we going to a Church?" Archer asked while following her Master.

"Of course. From what I know from Mother, one of the members of the Church is in charge of the churches here in Kuoh Town. They're usually aware of what's happening behind the scenes," said Moka as she opens the church doors and enters with Archer.

"If you're here for confessionals, you'll have to wait for a-" Turning around, Caren sports a surprised but amused expression on her face as she makes eye contact with Moka. "Hmmm, a vampire has entered these doors." Moka had a look of surprise when Caren immediately noticed what she was.

"Either this has become an unholy place, or..." Walking towards the vampire girl, Caren inspects the girl's energy. "...Now I understand...You must be part of a clan of vampires who are considered "abominations" to their own kind." Archer got angry when Caren called Moka's family an abomination.

"Archer, it's fine, really." Moka and her family were from a rare and long line of vampires that could survive staying in sunlight and were immune to the effects of holy weapons like water, silver, and crosses. They could even enter houses unannounced and eat garlic. However, to be able to live without the usual vampire weaknesses were considered a taboo, and her ancestors were banished from their homeland. The family was able to make a nice living in America for generations before the current family, led by her father and mother, decided to move to Japan after Moka and Kokoa were born.

"But-"

"It's not important right now," Moka interrupts, letting her Servant know what they were here for.

"What sort of business do you have with me?" asked Caren.

"We're looking for someone. A girl, with blue hair, with a green fringe, and...What else?" Archer adds that the person they're looking for wore a black trenchcoat and carried something wrapped in a cloth. "We're wondering if you have any news of her or-"

"Of course, you're talking about Xenovia," Caren interrupts. Having a lead, Archer praised her Master, earning a blush from Moka. "If you wanted her, you should've come yesterday. She arrived here with a friend on urgent business from the Church in Italy."

"What sort of business?" asked a curious Moka.

"That's none of your business," Caren told them in a calm but rude manner.

"Do you know if she plans to show up later?" asked Archer.

"I don't think she has plans to show up any time soon, or at all for that matter." Moka sighed as she heard Caren's answer. Archer puts an assuring hand on her Master's shoulder, letting her know they at least had a bit of a good start.

"Yeah..."

"...Whatever your reason for looking for her, I bid you good luck. Now please get out and continue your search elsewhere little lamb." Moka frowned at the girl once she rudely asked them to leave as she turned away. Didn't her father teach her any manners? If only Moka knew who Caren's father was. Exiting the church, Archer asked Moka what her next plan was.

"Hmmm...Let's go to the same place you first met her. Near that ice cream stand downtown."

"Sounds good, Moka...About what she said, about your family being-"

"Archer, it's fine. Come on, let's go." As Moka took the lead, Archer had a look of worry towards her Master.

With Naruto

After School

"I'll see you tomorrow Naruto, Maki," said Joichi as he went to hang out with Seiko.

"What's your plan for today, Naruto?" asked Maki.

"I plan to go looking for Hoshikari before he adds any more monsters like the ones you fought yesterday to his side. If we can kill Elana and those other two, then-" Before he could say more, Naruto gets a call from Shino and picks it up. "Hello?"

"Naruto, where are you?"

"I'm with Harumaki right now. We just got out of the academy. Why-"

"Can you and Maki come to my house right away?" asked Shino.

"Sure..." he told her as she hung up. Turning to Maki, he tells her what Shino told him.

With Issei

Occult Research Club

Issei, Asia, Kiba, and Koneko stood behind the couch Rias and Akeno were sitting on as Xenovia and Irina prepared to tell them about their situation. From the way Kiba was glaring at the two exorcists, Issei compared him to a ticking time bomb. The Gremory Knight could go slashing at them at any moment. Irina breaks the silence as she explains how three of the seven Excalibur fragments were stolen by the Fallen Angels, killing several exorcists during the theft. Once Xenovia revealed her Excalibur Destruction, Issei felt a very cold feeling course through every pore in his body. With a touch, a Devil would die instantly.

"The one I hold is Excalibur Destruction," said Xenovia. "It's one of the seven, as you already know."

"And mine is Excalibur Mimic," said Irina as the band around her left arm transforms into a katana in her hands.

"So what does the stolen Excaliburs have to do with Japan?" asked Rias, her arms resting under her chest.

"The ones that stole them escaped to Japan, and brought them to this town," Xenovia responds.

"It seems this territory is full of incidents," Rias comments, sighing before asking the bluenette who stole the Excalibur fragments.

"The Grigori." Rias's eyed widened at the answer.

"They were taken by the Fallen Angel Organisation?" Xenovia and Irina nod in unison before the former revealed the main culprit who planned the theft: Kokabiel, one of the leaders of Grigori. "Kokabiel…I never expected to hear the name of the one that appears in the Bible."

"A couple of the priests in this town got word of this and attempted to contact us, but they were killed," Xenovia added, including the part where one of them was a teacher at Kuoh Academy. Everyone's eyes widened when they found out the teacher who died was a priest for the Church.

"So why are you here? asked Issei. "Did you come to ask for our help?"

"No. Our order is to not to have any devils intrude in the battle between us and the Fallen Angels. In other words, we came here to tell you not to interfere with this incident," Xenovia told Issei.

"Are you thinking that we might collaborate with him? With Kokabiel?" asked Rias, feeling offended and sounding a bit pissed.

"It might not be impossible," Xenovia adds, pissing the Gremory King off a bit more. "That's why we're giving you a warning. If you form an alliance with THE Kokabiel, then we will eliminate you all, even if you're the little sister of the current Lucifer." For the bluenette to say that so casually without caring about Rias's glare. Was this girl brave or stupid was what Issei wondered as his King and the bluenette exchanged glares.

"In the name of the House of Gremory, we will not form an alliance with Kokabiel. Never will I, Rias Gremory, do something that would tarnish the name of my brother!"

"Is that so..." Xenovia smirked before telling Rias, "Hearing that is good enough. I had to warn you just in case that Kokabiel is hiding in this town along with the three Excaliburs. Well, we won't ask for cooperation. If you were to form an alliance with God's side temporally, then it would affect the balance of the three factions." After hearing Xenovia's response, Rias calmed down, earning a breath of relief from the Gremory Pawn.

"So is it just the two of you? Are you going to retrieve the Excaliburs from Kokabiel with just the two of you? Are you trying to die?"

"Die? Don't be absurd. I don't plan on dying. Not until I-..." Feeling Irina's hand on hers, Xenovia stopped mid-sentence. Picking up on this, Issei wondered what she was going to say.

"Do you have a secret weapon in hand?" Xenovia answered with a "Maybe." as she and Irina got up to leave. Before they could, however, Xenovia took a glance at Asia and said, "When I saw you in Hyoudou's house I thought that maybe it was you. Are you "The Witch" Asia Argento? I never expected to meet you in a place like this."

Asia's body shook after she was called a witch. Irina turned around and, noticing Asia, found herself surprised to know who she was.

"Are you really?" she asked the Gremory Bishop. "I hear you have the power to also heal Devils and Fallen Angels? I also heard you were sent somewhere after getting exiled, but I never thought you became a Devil."

"…Umm…I-I…"

"Do you still believe in our God?" Xenovia asked Asia, the girl unable to respond.

"Xenovia. There's no way she, who became a devil, still believes in God," Irina told her friend, but Xenovia thought otherwise.

"No, I can smell the "belief" from her. It might be an abstract way of saying it, but I'm sensitive to these things. There are people who betray the teachings and still have guilt within them because they couldn't forget the teachings. I can feel something similar coming from her," Xenovia informed Irina, who asked Asia if she still believes in God, even if she turned into a devil.

"…I just can't put it aside. I believed in it my whole life…" Asia responds, looking sad as she answered the question." Without warning, Xenovia took Excalibur Destruction out from the cloth and pointed its blade towards Asia.

"Is that so? Then you should be cut down by us this instant. If it's now, I can cut you in the name of God. Even if you have sinned, our God will forgive you." Anger grew inside of Issei once Xenovia said those words to Asia. As the bluenette approached her, Issei went to the Gremory Bishop's defense and stood in front of her to protect her.

"Don't touch her. If you come close to Asia, I won't forgive you. You called Asia a "Witch" didn't you?"

"Right now she is a being at least fit to be called so," Xenovia responds.

"Not a single person helped her when she needed it!" Issei shouts. "Those who can't understand Asia's kindness are a bunch of idiots! It's also wrong that none of them tried to become her friend! None of you know what she went through! What God!? What love!? That God didn't do jack shit when Asia was in a dangerous situation!"

"What are you to Asia?" Xenovia asked the Pawn.

"Family. Friend. Comrade. That's why I will help Asia. I will protect Asia! If you try to lay a hand on her, I will turn all of you into my enemies."

"Is that a declaration to us…?" asked Xenovia, a(n Esdeath) grin on her face. "Something big coming out from a single devil. Gremory, I think you didn't educate him enough."

"Issei, sto…" Before Rias could finish, Kiba interrupts her.

"That's good timing. I will be your opponent," he said as an enormous aura of intent to kill came out of his body.

"Who are you?" Xenovia asked, sounding uninterested.

"I'm your senpai. Though I apparently was a failure," Kiba told her with a smirk. Right after he said that a countless number of demonic-swords appeared in the club room. Despite seeing this display of power, Xenovia remained unimpressed. The Gremory Knight had no idea who he was about to face.

Outside of the Occult Research Club (Backyard)

Enveloping their surroundings was a barrier made from devil energy, made by Akeno, that limited the damage to within its vicinity. As Kiba and Issei prepared to fight, Xenovia threw off her jacket before removing the gun holsters from her attire and placing them on the ground. Since this was a match involving swords and magic, guns were out of the picture. Issei couldn't help but notice the curves of their bodies along with their tight hips as Xenovia took out Excalibur Destruction, Irina revealing her Excalibur Mimicry.

"I look forward to testing the strength of the great Rias Gremory's servants. I'm also interested in the strength of my so-called senpai. Let's hope that you're able to back up all that talk." Xenovia also added that the battle they were about to have wouldn't be reported to the Church, as long as it wasn't a fight for life.

"Even if it's just a match, be cautious of their swords!" Rias warned her Pawn and Knight, the former simply nodding as the latter started laughing, Xenovia asking him why he was doing so.

"The thing I wanted to so hopefully crush has appeared right in front of my eyes," said Kiba as he formed a smile on his face that made the atmosphere cold. "For me to encounter it this early..."

"Sword Birth huh...The possessor can create any demonic-sword they imagine in the user's head. It's unique among the Demonic-sword related Sacred Gears… I heard there was a "subject" that avoided being disposed of by the "Holy Sword Project"… Is that you?" Kiba didn't answer the bluenette's question as he directs his killing intent towards her. With a sigh, Xenovia grabs the cloth and rewraps it around Excalibur Destruction, confusing the others.

"What are you doing?" asked Kiba, angry at the bluenette as she puts down her Excalibur. Was she planning to fight with her fists?

"I simply had a thought. It'd be a waste to use Excalibur Destruction's power against a Devil like you..." Kiba clenched his teeth in anger, his whole body further seething in it when Xenovia said that. "At best, a pale imitation shall suffice."

"What?"

"Trace...On!" To everyone's shock, Xenovia produced a replica of Excalibur Destruction in her hands.

"She...She made an exact replica of an Excalibur Fragment!?" said Rias, voicing her disbelief.

"As you can see, I can create a near-perfect copy of my sword. The only catch is that its power is slightly lessened a bit. However, there's nothing that says a fake can't rival the real thing..." said Xenovia as she readied her blade. "Let's see if your demonic swords can go up against this complete forgery..."

"This is bad. She can create copies of legendary weapons with just a thought..." Rias' body trembled at the thought of facing someone like her.

"Xenovia, that was quite a risk you did, tracing a holy object like your Excalibur. Are you sure that's-"

"Of course, Irina. As long as I don't mass produce it or overuse my magic, I should be fine...Now then...Let's go!" As Xenovia engaged in a fast-paced sword fight with Kiba, Issei was left fighting Irina.

"Please tell me you don't have the same power as her," said Issei, relieved when Irina said she didn't.

"Aaah, this also must be a trial that God has given me! The land that I haven't been back in for so long! A harsh destiny where my childhood friend has turned into a Devil! The way time moves is harsh! But by moving forward, I will turn into someone with the true belief towards God! Now Issei! I will give judgment to you with this Excalibur! Amen!" Even though Irina was shedding tears, she still pointed her sword at her childhood friend.

"Activate Boosted Gear!"

"Boost!" Issei produced a red glow as a gauntlet appeared on his left arm. It also made a sound at the same time and increased doubled his power for about 10 seconds as Irina came at him with a downward diagonal swing, the Pawn narrowly avoiding it.

"Sword Rebirth, "Boosted Gear, Twilight Healing. All of them are Sacred Gears that are said to be a heresy to us. Maybe it was natural for you to turn into a devil," said Xenovia as Kiba went on slashing towards her. Xenovia lets out a smirk after blocking Kiba's last strike.

"My power is also the power made by my comrades' hatred, who were killed while filled with regret! I will beat those with Excalibur with this power, and I will destroy that imitation Excalibur!"

Irina rushed in slashing towards Issei, almost managing to land a cut on him. Moving back a bit, Issei starts boosting his power again after his limit expires. Noticing her friend's lecherous face, Irina asked him why he was making it.

"Please be careful. He has the power to blow away the clothes of women he touches," Koneko informed Irina, the latter going wide-eyed at this piece of info.

"Koneko!? Why are you revealing my move to the enemy!?"

"You're the enemy of all women, Issei," Koneko told the Pawn while directing her attention towards him.

"What a lowly technique! Aaah God. Please forgive this sinful pervert!" Irina said while praying.

"I can't help being who I am Koneko, and I am a pervert through and through!" yelled Issei, sounding proud of who he is.

"Issei-san! If you were craving for a woman's body, then you could have said it to me! I wouldn't mind sacrificing my body for Issei-san," Asia told the Pawn as Xenovia took notice, who effortlessly kicked Kiba away from her to create distance.

"I see. The mass of sexual desire. I think it's a fitting action for a devil that has such strong greed," Xenovia told Asia as Kiba created two swords. One of the demonic swords created a whirl of flames while the other one made a cold air and silver frost.

"TOO NAIVE!" yelled the bluenette as she swung her copied sword and shattered the blades in Kiba's hands as it struck the ground, making a small crater as well as make the place around them rumble. Issei lost his balance and kneeled on the ground as clouds of dirt covered their surroundings. Kiba made a bitter expression when he saw the large crater.

"…Such a destructive power when it's not even the real deal..." Kiba thought to himself.

"What's wrong? I thought you said you would destroy this imitation Excalibur..." Xenovia flashed another smirk on her face as Kiba got angrier and started creating another sword to use.

"Geez! I'm all covered in dirt because you destroyed the ground, Xenovia!" Turning to Issei, Irina quickly avoids his hands, knowing if he touched her, he would strip her naked. Because of his desire of wanting to use Dress Break, Issei was able to slowly keep up with Irina's movements, a feat that surprised Rias and Akeno. As soon as he cornered the twin-tailed exorcist, Issei jumped towards her as if he was diving.

Before Issei reached Irina she ducked down. Instead, the Pawn's hands touched Asia and Koneko's shoulders before he fell to the ground and accidentally snapped his fingers, stripping the two naked. Asia became super embarrassed as she attempts to cover herself while Koneko looked annoyed, covered her small breasts with her left hand before sending Issei flying with a punch. As the Pawn lied on the ground, Irina lightly tapped him to see if he was okay.

"I think that punch of hers is divine punishment for creating such a move. With this, you should have learned that you have to seal lecherous techniques like that. Okay?" Issei replied with a no as he got up and prepared to fight her once more.

"It's the technique I created by putting all of my talents at magic into it… I'm going to continue blowing away girls clothes… I seriously had a hard time choosing between this move and a move that lets me see through girls' clothes…I'm going to continue fighting until I blow away girls' clothes just by looking at them!" he yelled before running towards her.

"To be able to fight just for those motives! Something is definitely wrong with you!" Irina yelled as she swung at Issei, who quickly dodged the blade.

"Sexual desires are a source of power! It's justice!" Issei yelled as he lowered himself to avoid the horizontal swing of Irina's blade. The pawn attempts to kick Irina in order to make her fall from below, but, aware of this, Irina did a small jump. Planning ahead, Issei kicked the ground so he could get up fast!

"Here's my uppercut!" Irina made sharp eyes as she avoids the Pawn's attack before swinging her katana horizontally. Issei quickly avoided it by jumping backward.

"Looks like I was taking you a bit lightly. You have good movements. Though..." Before Issei knew it, he fell down onto the ground as he felt his boosted power felt power leave out of my body.

"I seriously have no strength left… Shit…what's happening…" When he looked at his stomach, there was smoke emitting from a small horizontal cut! Was this the damage caused by the Holy Sword!? It just grazed him and turned out like this…

"It's the damage caused by my sword. Devils and Fallen Angels get their power and existence erased by receiving damage from it to their bodies. If it were a bit deeper, it would have been critical."

"It was just a graze! Does it take that much power from me that I get down on my knees!?" Issei thought to himself. Not only did he not have the strength to move at all, but he lost, making a fool of himself in front of Rias and Asia, especially Asia.

"The destructive power of that copied holy sword or the destructive power of my demonic-sword! We will see which one is stronger!" What appeared in Kiba's hand was a gigantic sword, holding it with both hands while releasing an ominous aura. It was big. Longer than Kiba's height (2 meters). Kiba then swung it with force. As the slash reached Xenovia, she lets out a disappointing sigh as she swung her blade upward and broke the Knight's sword. Quickly, with the pommel of the copied holy sword, Xenovia hits Kiba in the stomach. It was a simple move, yet it created a shockwave. Kiba fell onto the ground after he coughed out blood from his mouth.

"Even if it's not a hit with the blade, that hit just now will be enough to stop you for a while." Xenovia told Kiba as the copied Excalibur Destruction faded from her hands. Turning around, Xenovia went to put her gun holsters back on before putting on her trench coat and picking up the real Excalibur Destruction.

"…Wa-Wait!" Kiba reached his hands towards her, but everyone here knew that the match was over as Akeno unsealed the barrier.

"Senpai, I suggest you fight with coolness the next time we fight. Rias Gremory, I trust you with the talk from earlier. Also, you should train your servants a bit more. There's a limit for polishing their battling style," Turning to Issei, Xenovia told him, "The Vanishing Dragon has already awakened." This made Issei's eyes widen.

"You will meet him eventually, but in your current state...you're bound to lose..." Finished, the expressionless Xenovia left as Irina followed behind.

"Tell me whenever you want to get judged Issei! Amen!" Irina yelled to Issei before quickly catching up to the bluenette. Watching afar, Mest couldn't help but feel awed by Xenovia and Irina's abilities as exorcists. If Xenovia were to break free from his memory control abilities, he wouldn't win. Mika watched in silence before telling Mest they should continue their observation.

With Naruto

Shino's House

40 minutes ago

Entering, Naruto and Maki found Shino looking out her window before she turned to them. As soon as Naruto closed the door, Shino asked them to have a seat in the living room. Nodding, the two Devils took a seat on the couch opposite of the Asada girl.

"...Tell me...are you Firebrand?" Naruto's eyes widened when she asked the question. "I knew it...it's all over your face." Turning to Maki, she said to her, "I once asked you if you were bringing anyone else into your activities, and you told me no. You swore to me you didn't."

"I know, only because I knew you'd react like this," Maki admits to her.

"...When did you find out?"

"The Fallen Angel who kidnapped me, he showed up at the restaurant Shinkawa-kun and I were eating at and told me on accident."

"So it was Hoshikari, huh..."

"Tell me everything, Naruto...Don't keep anything hidden." With a sigh, Naruto told her about Infernus and how he became Seekvaira's Rook. He also told her of the many jobs/missions he took. Assassination, Bodyguarding, Infiltration, all of it was on the table. Naruto also told her he knew Shino had a Sacred Gear she couldn't control.

"So you've killed..."

"It was hard to get used to it...but now I...I don't think twice, at least not all the time. I only kill bad people, Fallen Angels, Stray Devils, Stray Exorcists."

"Have you almost died before?" Naruto admits there were a few times where he almost lost his life, from his first and second fight with Xenovia, to his fight with Manus, then the fights he had with Hoshikari, and finally his fight with Hazama.

"So...Where...do we go from here?"

[Fate Zero OST - Grief Ver 2]

"Why...Why does it have to be you?" asked Shino. "From what you've told me, there are several Devils in this town. Out of all of them, why can't you let them handle things!? You have a second life, live it and let the others handle it."

"Shino-"

"I was afraid...I was afraid you'd turn out to be a Devil. And now that it's true...I don't want you putting yourself in danger." Naruto and Maki's eyes widened when she said that.

"When my father died...When he died, my mother and I were there. We couldn't help but watch as he died. She was traumatized by the event and became very frail, easily hurt even!" Shino yelled as she teared up. "After Hoshikari revealed that you were a Devil, I started wondering, "What if one day, you came to me hurt, unable to be saved?" You may have all these powers, but what if it's not enough one day? What if I go through what my mother did?" The blond looked down on the floor as his girlfriend wept. Maki simply watched, unable to say anything to handle the situation.

"That is why... I want you to stop what you're doing. Stop being Firebrand. Just be Naruto Namikaze...Let the others do the rest and live your life. Don't involve yourself in any more trouble. Or..." Shino had given him a choice. Stop involving himself in the world of the supernaturals, or don't and lose her.

"I...It's not that easy..."

"Just think about it...Eventually, I'll need an answer from you...Right now...I want you to leave. Maki as well..." Saying nothing, the two got up and left the girl's home, though not before giving her a look of sadness.

[Music End]

"It's my fault for not protecting her when Hoshikari..." Maki clenched her fists, knowing it was her fault for Shino figuring it out. "If only I was more cautious, I-"

"No...It's not...You don't have anything to blame yourself for...Harumaki...I...I have a lot to think about so..."

"I understand...I'll see you tomorrow..." Before she goes, Naruto thanks Maki for coming with him. "Of course..."

With Caren

Unnamed Church

Caren's right eye twitched as she wondered why Xenovia and Irina were lying on the Church floor, the latter holding a fake painting.

"Oi...What do you think you're doing lying there like a couple of dead animals?" she asked them. Xenovia explained how Irina foolishly bought a fake painting of a saint.

"So Ms. Shidou here is the reason you're both suffering huh?" asked a now-sadistically smiling Caren. Oh, how she loved looking at their troubled faces (This is her actual canon personality XD).

"The painting has the drawing of someone who looks like a saint! That's what the person in the exhibition said!" yelled Irina.

"Then do you know who the person in the drawing is? I certainly don't," Xenovia countered.

"…I think it's…Saint…Peter…?"

"Don't mess around. Saint Peter wouldn't look like that," said Caren as she looked at the painting.

"No, he must have looked like this! I'm sure about it!" After she said that, Irina's stomach growled along with Xenovia's.

"Caren, you think you can fix us up something?" asked a hungry Xenovia.

"I could...but...the kitchen's closed," Caren told her. "Just sleep it off and cook something in the kitchen tomorrow. You're both capable enough to handle your own troubles. Also, one night without dinner won't kill you."

"You're the worst," said Irina, with Caren smiling, taking it as a compliment.

With Moka

Akashiya Residence

With a sigh, Moka entered her home with Archer following behind.

"I would've thought Xenovia would be easy to find, but by the time we get to where people told us she was going, she's already gone." Moka had even checked with Caren the second time, only to hear that the bluenette didn't show up (They showed up 20 minutes before Xenovia and Irina went to her XD).

"...Moka?"

"Yes?"

"I'd...I want to talk about earlier when that girl called you and your whole your family-"

"Abominations? I told you already, I'm fine." Hearing her answer with the same reply, Archer asked her how she could be fine with it. With a smile, Moka tells her Servant her reason.

"Because, if I wasn't one, I wouldn't have been able to be with those I care about under the Sun or understand the warmth of its rays." Archer had a surprised expression on her face as Moka continued. "If I wasn't one, I wouldn't have come to this land that I love. If I wasn't one, I wouldn't have met Naruto. Everything I've experienced until now is because I'm an abomination, and I don't care about being called one. Because I can experience what most vampires couldn't. That is why I said I was fine."

"Moka...You truly are a kind soul...Can I...Can I hug you?" Moka turned red when her Servant asked for a hug. Once Moka said yes, Archer wraps her arms around her Master. Sniffing the air, Moka asked if Kokoa was cooking in the kitchen. Entering, the two were surprised to see Mary making mapo tofu for them.

"Mary?"

"Oh, hey there. When did you two get home?" Moka tells her they arrived two minutes ago before asking her why she was cooking dinner.

"I figured I'd cook something for you both since I'm kind of freeloading until Keito wakes up," said Mary, Moka thanking the Servant as she and Archer sat down at the table. "This was Keito's mother's recipe. He loved to serve this to our customers every day." After serving them two separate bowls, both Master and Servant tried it, finding it delicious as Mary lets out a satisfied smile.

Thursday (6/9)

Kuoh Academy

Break Time

10:30 am

"Sorry to ask this of you Naruto, but do you think you can copy the rest of the notes for our classes today? I need to go to work early today."

"Of course..." said Naruto, sounding both sad and tired.

"...You okay Naruto?" asked Joichi. Trusting him, Naruto tells his friend about Shino, surprising him. "She...She knows?"

"Yes...and she wants me to either give up fighting or..."

"I see...What have you decided?" Naruto tells him he has yet to decide. "Hmmm...Whatever it is, I hope you find an answer..."

"Thanks, JoJo." Joichi gave him an assuring smile before running off to work.

"Man...Seeing you all emo...Makes me glad I'm not dealing with this shit. Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever dealt with the shit you're going through..." Not hearing the usual fuck off from Infernus, this was serious. With a sigh, he decides to keep quiet.

With Issei

Kingdom Sweets

As he sipped his cola alone at a table for four, Issei heard Saji approach him, having asked the Sitri Pawn to meet him outside of the academy. When he asked Issei what he needed from him, he explained the situation from beginning to end.

"Hell no, are you even serious!?" yelled Saji.

"As a five-hour boner," Issei responds.

"You want to go after those Excalibur fragments with those exorcists!? When they told you and your peerage to not interfere!?" Saji whispered to his fellow Pawn. "Our Kings will punish us for doing this behind their backs. I don't know about Rias, but Sona is...She is scary. Sorry but I'm-" Before he could run, Saji is caught by Koneko.

"I agree with this plan of Issei's. To ask those girls to give us permission to destroy the fragments," said Koneko. "The more the better...Besides..." At this point, Joichi, who was just serving a couple their food, overheard Koneko telling Issei and Saji how the ones who stole Excalibur killed her homeroom teacher.

"What?"

"The goals may be different, but they achieve the same result," said Issei. "We just need to find those two exorcists."

"Agreed," said Koneko. Narrowing his eyes, Joichi decides to ask his boss to leave early. While his boss was against it, he relents when Joichi promised him he'll work the upcoming weekend without pay.

With Xenovia

Kuoh Town

Lunch Time

As she waits for Irina to arrive, who wanted to help Caren at her church a bit, Xenovia sat at a bench alone under a tree, observing a boy shyly telling a popular girl he liked her. From their uniforms, she knew they went to the same junior high together. As she observes the two, she remembered wanting to tell Naruto the same thing, though she dismissed these thoughts as soon as she recalled her reason for coming to Japan. To her surprise, she quickly said no, telling him he wasn't her type before telling him what sort of guy she was into: Athletic, rich, and strong.

"Somehow I knew this would happen when he confessed." Turning to her right, she saw Shizune watching them while holding a couple of warm cup ramens she got from a stand. "She doesn't consider what's inside. All she cares about is what's outside and the riches that come with the package. The boy is kind, shy, unable to speak to pretty girls, and now he's heartbroken. However..." Paying attention, Xenovia noticed a new girl appearing behind the boy as she taps his shoulder. From his expression, he must know her. The new girl tells him she loved him and has always loved him since last year, too afraid to confess until now. As the two talked, Shizune continues chatting with the bluenette.

"No matter the heartbreak, someone is bound to show up and mend the pieces back together."

"Mend the pieces...back..." Watching the couple, she saw the boy embrace the new girl in a hug.

"Fate has a strange way of bringing people together through bad times. It may not happen now, but if they're patient enough, someone will come and save them," she told her with a gentle smile.

"I...I don't believe in that...Not anymore..." Shizune directs a look of sadness towards Xenovia before smiling once more.

"Don't be so gloom...Perhaps you need someone to save you." Xenovia tells the woman she can save herself. "Are you sure about that?" This question puzzled the bluenette.

"Seriously, where is he? I told him I wanted to have lunch with him. He does know that Ichiraku has a stand now, right?"

"Sorry I'm late, Shizune. I had to go grab lunch for Seekvaira before..." Looking over Shizune's shoulder, Xenovia had a shocked look on her face. At the same time, Naruto, being the person Shizune was waiting for, had the same look on his face as they stared at each other.

"Oh fuck, girl troubles have been getting worse for you," was Infernus' reply as Xenovia glared at the blond, the intent to kill him welling up inside her.

"You were saying?" Looking at Shizune, he apologized to her before telling her they should eat their ramen while he escorted her back to the hospital. "Oh, you don't have to-"

"No, I...I want to hang with you a bit more," said Naruto. When asked about his school, Naruto told her it was fine since he was a genius and he wanted to make sure she went back safe.

"You're acting fairly sweet today Naruto." Turning to Xenovia, she asked her, " Isn't he great?", oblivious to the bluenette's "relationship" with the blond.

"Yes, he is..." said an angry Xenovia. She wanted to kill him right here and now, but with all these people, she had no chance.

"A good student with perfect grades and-"

"Okay Shizune, let's go," Naruto interrupts as he took Shizune and left with her, though not before she thanked the bluenette for keeping her company. Before Xenovia could go after him, Irina showed up, with Issei, Koneko, and Saji with her.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, but Issei and his friends have something to tell us." Looking back at the direction Naruto and Shizune were going and then back at Irina, Xenovia clenched her teeth in annoyance and asked the Gremory Pawn what he needed to see them for. Sensing her killing intent, the three devils wondered why she was so angry. She calmed a bit after Issei suggests buying them lunch. From the looks of it, Xenovia needed to calm down a bit more than she already has.

With Issei

Benny's

1:35 pm

Issei, Koneko, and Saji's eyes looked like they were going to pop out as they watch Xenovia and Irina scarf down several plates of food that appeared in front of them. While they had breakfast, it wasn't very filling, and they wanted to save food for those who need it more than them at Caren's Church. Once they were done, they each had 30 empty plates at their side.

"Now, to order dessert." Irina agreed with Xenovia as Issei wondered when their appetites would cease. "As we're ordering...Why did you come into contact with us?"

"Aren't you here to get the Excalibur fragments back?" asked Issei, the bluenette confirming it. "To be straightforward...We need your help to destroy them." The two girls went silent before they looked at each other and wondered how to answer. Finally, Xenovia responds.

"Very well, I guess it's okay to leave one sword to you guys. That is...If you can destroy it." The bluenette's answer surprised the Devils, as well as Irina, who asked if it was really okay. "They just have to make sure that their identities aren't revealed. We also don't want our higher-ups and enemies to think we are connected to you guys. Also, to be frank, I want to finish this mission as soon as possible so-"

"Hey, I have an idea!" yelled Issei. "We should go seek out Firebrand!" Xenovia'a expression turned sour when Issei mentioned Naruto's vigilante name. "We just need to find him and-"

"No, absolutely against it," said Xenovia, emitting her killing intent.

"O...Okay..." What was the girl's problem with Firebrand? Issei assumes she was one of those people who were against Firebrand being a vigilante.

"Back to what I was saying...I want to finish this as soon as possible so I can deal with my own personal objective. Also, Irina, this Issei is an old friend of yours. I would've thought that you would trust him for one." Hearing this, Irina sighed. She got her there.

"Great," said Issei. "Now, I just need to call Kiba and we can continue.

1 hour later

"To tell the truth, I feel unsatisfied when the wielders of the Excaliburs are giving me the permission to destroy it," said Kiba, having calmed down after what happened yesterday.

"So you do hold a grudge regarding the Holy Sword Project. Against the Church and the Excaliburs," said Irina, Kiba confirming it before Xenovia spoke next.

"That incident became one of the worst cases among us and people felt disgusted about it. The person in charge of that project at that time was said to have a problem with his belief. So he was charged with heresy. Now he's one of those people on the Fallen Angels' side."

"What's the name of that person?" asked Kiba, taking interest in the identity of the person in charge of the Holy Sword Project.

"Valper Galilei. You know him as the Genocide Archbishop," said the bluenette.

"…If I go after Fallen Angels, I can reach him…Then it looks like I have to share information as well. On Monday, I was attacked by a person who had the Excalibur. At that time, he killed a priest-"

"Two priests," Xenovia corrects the Knight.

"...The one who was killed is probably from your organization, Freed Sellzen." This came as a surprise for Issei and Koneko.

"Freed Sellzen. Former exorcist of the Vatican. The genius who became an exorcist at the age of 13. He had lots of big achievements because he kept on eliminating Devils and mystical beasts," Xenovia informed the Devils. "But he overdid it. He even killed his allies. Freed never had any beliefs towards our God from the start. The only thing he had was fighting instinct and killing intent towards monsters, and an abnormal obsession for battles. It was a matter of time before he'd be charged for heresy...Anyways, let's move onto the cooperation strategy." Unknown to them, Joichi had listened in on them as he ordered a drink.

"Tonight, huh..."

With Naruto

Kuoh Academy

2:55 pm

As Naruto focused on his school, he thought about the choices Shino gave him. Everything was made worse once Xenovia arrived. He originally wanted to let Issei and the others handle it. However, with the bluenette, he knew the situation with Hoshikari and his father was becoming bigger and bigger. Would the Pawn and his peerage be able to handle it?

Remembering how he came back to life, he recalled originally wanting to keep living as a "Human", only to get involved in the business of the Devils. Soon, he was part of their world. Hearing the bell ring, he got up and got ready to go for work at Agares Corp.

With Keito

Akashiya Residence

4:15 pm

Opening his eyes, Keito found himself shirtless and laying in a cozy bed in the guest room. Looking at the clock, he wondered how long he was out for. Hearing the door open and a bowl of water dropping on the floor, he turned to see Mary staring at him, slowly developing tears on her face before running to him and hugging him.

"Keito! Keito! My Keito..." said Mary as she buried her crying face into his chest. Keito simply smiled as he gently puts a hand on her head.

"I'm awake, Mary..." As Mary and Keito are about to kiss, Moka opens the door, ruining the moment.

"Uhhhh, am I interrupting something?"

6 minutes later

"You were out since the fifth. It's now the ninth of May."

"I see...Mary, let's go see my sister. Caren needs to know I'm alive. We also need to tell her what we know so she can inform the Church before looking for Xenovia," he told his Servant lover as he finished dressing up, Moka surprised to hear they knew Xenovia.

"Wait..." Turning to Moka, he is surprised to hear she wanted to come with.

"Like you, I need to find her as well." When asked why she tells him of her Servant's lost memories and how they were tied to the bluenette. "Very well. You both helped nurse me back to health, so I know you're both good people. Now, where's your-" Before he could finish, the three turn to see Archer enter the house.

"Archer, we're heading out right now," Moka told her, a smile on her face.

With Naruto

Agares Corp Building

Naruto's Office

5:10 pm

As Naruto worked on a new car engine that would help replace the engines in today's cars, producing clean energy, he wondered about the choice Shino gave him.

"Ever since I got out of that hospital, all I wanted was to go back to how things were...But after Seekvaira came into my life...I found myself being part of something greater. Is it wrong for me to admit I don't want to give this up? After being in this world from when I became Seekvaira's Rook till now?"

"It's not wrong to admit that," said Infernus.

"And here I thought I'd have my thoughts to myself..."

"With whatever choices we make, each decision has a consequence, a sacrifice...a risk. Depending on what you choose, one person or many will be affected, for better or worse...I'm not going to help you choose your answer. This is all for you to make." As he worked on a circuit board, Naruto sensed Freed's Excalibur Rapidly, immediately stopping what he was doing.

"He's shown himself once more..." Transforming, Naruto teleports away from his office.

With Moka

Unnamed Church

5:30 pm

"Hmmm, so that's what's going on huh..." Keito nods as Caren sighs. "To think that Fallen Angels would make Kuoh Town their target. To make matters worse, there are enemies within the high ranks, and the only ones we know about are Esdeath and most of her Neo Jaegers. I shall contact the Church immediately, let them know about Esdeath. As for the rest of you, what exactly do you plan on doing?"

"Right now, we're going to go find Xenovia and-" Without warning, they sense a clash of two powerful forces. One was Xenovia's, the other..."

"That's Firebrand's power..." said Moka.

"So it's that time..." said Keito, knowing full well that Esdeath's brainwashing was taking full effect.

Turning to Archer, Moka tells her, Keito, and Mary to get ready as she opens a sling portal while the two Servants get into their Servant Forms.

With Issei

Kuoh Town

20 minutes ago

Wearing priest uniforms, Issei, Koneko, Kiba, and Saji conducted a search on the East part of town while Xenovia and Irina took the West. With Kiba's suggestion, the four decided to head to an area with fewer people around. To their surprise, Freed had come to them.

"Oh, what a strange reunion, isn't it!?" asked Freed, standing on the edge of a building to their right. "So, has your dragon power improved? Is it time for me to kill you yet?" Taking off their disguises, the four prepared to fight the stray exorcist. "It's a shame you don't have that Firebrand fellow with you. I would've loved to pay him back for touching my Excalibur Rapidly! I had to scrub my sword extra clean to get rid of the filth that was Firebrand. Oh well, since he's not here, it makes killing all of you little devils a walk in the park!" Quickly, Saji activates his Sacred Gear, Absorption Line, and sends out a blue line to ensnare his leg, only to miss as Kiba jumps into the air and performs a downward slash. Freed only smirks as he swings Excalibur Rapidly and breaks Kiba's sword. The Gremory Knight narrowly avoids getting his head cut off before by constantly forming demonic swords to parry Freed, with no time to counterattack. Koneko, knowing they'll need Xenovia and Irina to help out with Freed, decides to contact the bluenette on her phone, using the number she gave them at Benny's.

"You're open!" yelled Freed as he prepares to swing his blade down on the Gremory Knight.

"HEARTBREAKER!" In an instant, Freed felt an invisible fist hit him in the face, knocking him to the ground. However, being Devils, Issei, Koneko, Saji, and Kiba were able to see Joichi's Stand. "Looks like I made it in time..." Turning around, the Devils are surprised to see Joichi behind them. "So this is the guy who killed our teacher, huh Toujou..."

"Tch, another annoying brat I have to get rid o-" Freed stops mid-sentence as Saji ensnared the stray exorcist's right leg, leeching his power.

"Argh! Just how annoying can you people with Sacred Gears and weird powers get!?" yelled Freed.

"Kiba! I'd like to kick the shit out of this guy, but I can't risk it! Please take him out while he's vulnerable!" yelled Saji.

"Not quite how I wanted to do this, but you're right Saji...I might as well take what I can get," said Kiba as he prepared two swords. Joichi tells him to let him have a piece since he wants to avenge his homeroom teacher. "You're free to join in Joi-"

"Oh? It's the Sword Birth Boy..." Looking up at a building to their right, a short, bespectacled elderly man with gray hair, a mustache, black eyes, wearing a priest outfit, looked down on them.

'Who the hell is that guy?" asked Joichi.

"Valper...Galilei!"

"In the flesh. Freed, What do you think you're doing?" asked the man known as Valper.

"Old Man! This stupid dragon is getting to be a problem!" said Freed, talking about Saji and his Sacred Gear.

"What an immature Excalibur Wielder you are. Just infuse all your energy into the sword," said Valper.

"Oh, like this?" said a smiling Freed as the blade of his sword glows brightly before he swung it, cutting the blue line that was leeching his energy. Before preparing to attack Kiba, however, his blade is stopped by Xenovia's Excalibur Destruction, knocking the stray exorcist back as Irina stands with her friend and prepares to fight alongside her. Watching from where he was standing, Valper became amused by the arrival of several powers.

"Freed Sellzen...Valper Galilei...You will pay for the lives of priests and exorcists you've killed!" yelled Xenovia as she raised her blade at him.

"Oooh, this party has gotten even more interesting!" yelled Freed as he prepares to swing at the bluenette, only to be sent flying back when Naruto arrives and hits him in the stomach with Igneox. This makes Freed angry as he lunged at the blond Rook and thrusts his blade forward. Without breaking a sweat, Naruto caught the blade, surprising everyone, especially since, unlike last time, the blade wasn't burning him.

"That...That's Firebrand?" said Irina, surprised by the Agares Rook's resistance to Excalibur Rapidly's holy power. Seeing Naruto helping them, Issei thought, "Talk about perfect timing! With Firebrand on our side, we can win this!"

"It took you long enough to arrive," said a smiling Joichi.

"Chaaa! How dare you lay your filthy hand on my-"

"It's not your sword you delusional fuck!" Naruto interrupts, headbutting Freed, breaking the stray exorcist's nose as he knocked him back. As Xenovia watched, the commands that were imprinted in her head activate, feeding her anger towards Naruto. "To call it yours makes my blood boil! A vile fiend like you, holding a piece of King Arthur's sword...This I can't allow!"

"Tch, this has become problematic," said Valper. "If this Firebrand can resist Excalibur's effects, then-" Before he could finish, to everyone's shock, Xenovia rushed in and attacked Naruto. Sensing her killing intent right away, Naruto quickly turns around and blocks her attack with Igneox.

'Xenovia!?"

"Freed, let's get out of here, now!" Naruto repels Xenovia and quickly tries to go after Freed, only for the bluenette to appear in front of him and clash with him once more, letting the stray exorcist and Valper escape.

"Xenovia, what are you doing?" Naruto asked her. "You're let-" Without saying anything, the bluenette quickly spins her body counterclockwise and kicks him down before going in for the kill. As she swings her blade down, Joichi's Stand comes in between them and catches the blade between its hands, though the bluenette is unable to see Heartbreaker.

"Damn, this girl has quite the strength!" Joichi thought to himself as his Stand struggled with holding the blade. With one hand free, Xenovia pulls out one of her IWI Jericho 941s and shoots the invisible Stand in the left leg, injuring Joichi as he winced in pain. Joichi quickly calls off his Stand as Xenovia prepares to strike Naruto again, only for the Rook to tackle her to the ground, holding her arms down.

"Xenovia stop! I'm not-" Xenovia doesn't let him finish as she headbutts Naruto in the face, knocking him back before grabbing Excalibur Destruction and swinging it, sending a wave of destructive energy at the blond. Naruto swings his staff diagonally, destroying the attack before rushing at her, clashing with the bluenette.

"This time, I end you! By the end of this night, I will kill you, Naruto Namikaze (Fact: Esdeath gave her the command to kill Naruto Namikaze, hence why she says his name. Since Naruto and Firebrand are one and the same, the command still applies)!" Everyone's eyes widened when the bluenette revealed Naruto's identity. Repelling Naruto once more, Xenovia prepares a horizontal strike, only for Irina to ensnare Xenovia's Excalibur Destruction by its blade, having transformed Excalibur Mimicry into a rope form.

"Irina, what are you doing? Have you decided to betray me and the Church!?" yelled an angry Xenovia. "What happened to you supporting my decisions!? Was that a lie!?" Irina didn't look the bluenette in the eye when she said that. As she slowly struggled to stop Xenovia, Saji helps out by using his Sacred Gear to sap Xenovia's strength. Naruto puts away Igneox and used his unnamed cage technique to further restrain her, only to find her slowly resisting the joint effort to as Joichi, Kiba, Koneko and Issei hold her back.

"Ddraig!"

"BOOST!" Issei tightens his grip on Xenovia's right arm, stopping it in place. When it looked like they finally held her down, the Devils are surprised to see the bluenette activate all the magic circuits within her body.

"LET GOOOOO!" Xenovia released a powerful surge of magic, knocking back Irina and the others as she charged Naruto, thrusting Excalibur Destruction forward as Naruto caught the blade between his hands.

"Naruto, this girl...Something's not right with her."

"What do you mean?" Infernus informs him of her unnatural brain patterns, comparing them to brainwashing and/or mind manipulation. "You mean...someone-"

"Yes, someone has tampered with her mind. She is now a killing machine bent on destroying you." Naruto clenched his teeth in anger at the thought of someone messing with the girl's mind.

"Xenovia, listen! You're-"

"NO! NO MORE!" yelled the bluenette as she activates the magic circuits on her hands and thrusts the blade forward. Naruto narrowly avoids being stabbed, only receiving a cut on his right shoulder as he performs a combat roll and avoids another strike.

"We'll be creating too much collateral damage here if this escalates into the open. You have to move the fight elsewhere, minimize the destruction or else she'll get innocent people involved..." Agreeing with the demon, Naruto has Xenovia chase him to an area where they can fight with no people around.

"You're not getting away!" she yelled as she chased after him. As she watched Xenovia go after Naruto, Irina wondered why she was acting like a revenge-crazed maniac.

"Damn, that girl is something," said Joichi as he tried to stand, his leg wound slowly healing, hinting at his Hamon abilities.

"We should follow them and back Naruto up," said Issei as he and the others went after them.

"Hey, wait for me! I can't fly or run fast for shit!" yelled Joichi as the others left him. "Fucking Devils and their supernatural endurance." Joichi sighs as he runs after them. "Look at me, I am a human being. I can sock you in the jaw with my Stand and stop time, though the last thing tires me out..." As Joichi continued running at them, he continued to talk to himself, sounding irritated.

[Fate/Zero - Dogfight]

Naruto found himself jumping from rooftop to rooftop as he avoids Xenovia, who had just pulled out her twin pistols and fired at him. Some of them he had to deflect with his chain. Looking around, Naruto sees a parking garage and decides to lure her there.

Parking Garage

Landing on the fifth level of it, Naruto quickly turns around and steps back to avoid Xenovia's sword. Swinging his chain, Naruto ensnares Xenovia's Excalibur Destruction and disarms her. He swings again to wrap it around her, only for the bluenette to vault over it before pulling out her pistols again and firing at him. The Agares Rook spins the chain clockwise in front of him, deflecting the bullets and wrapping his chain around one of Xenovia's arms.

However, this would be a bad mistake as Xenovia pulls him towards her and kicks him, knocking him down and disarming him of his chain before shooting at him. Naruto avoids the shots and rolls into cover, in the form of a red convertible. Xenovia continues firing at him as bullets penetrate the car and shatter its glass windows. Moving out of cover, Naruto fires creates a sphere of light between his hands that explodes into a large scale flash.

Xenovia throws her jacket forward, protecting herself from the blinding light and firing her guns, destroying her jacket as a few bullets hit Naruto in the chest. In pain at first, Naruto's healing kicks in as Xenovia reversed the guns in her hands and struck him in the face with the gun handles. Naruto fires a non-lethal fireball at close-range and knocks her back, running at her while she's open and disarming her before putting her in a full nelson.

"Xenovia stop struggling! I'm trying to help you!" The bluenette doesn't listen as she runs back and smashed Naruto into the wall behind them several times, only for the Agares Rook to tighten his hold on her.

"I don't want to hurt you, but if you're going to be difficult, I'll be forced to dislocate your arms!" Naruto told her.

"Tch!" Angry, Xenovia joins her hands, moves her hips to the side, and puts her right leg behind the Rook before she grabs him by both legs, and lifts him up, surprising him. (Check out KRAV MAGA TRAINING involving How to escape a Full Nelson. It'll blow your mind)

"Did she just escape a fucking full nelson?" asked a surprised Infernus as Xenovia smashed Naruto to the ground. As Xenovia traced a sword and prepared to cut down Naruto, Moka arrives and kicks her away from the Rook, knocking her into a green SUV.

[Music End]

"Looks like I made it in time, Firebrand," said Moka as Naruto got up.

"Glad you did, Huntress..." Following her arrival, Keito, Mary, and Archer arrived.

"Looks like we made it in time," said Mary as Naruto turned and noticed Archer. "Wait...Krista?" Moka's eyes widened when Naruto said her Servant's fake name.

"Right now, you just said..." Taking off her mask, Moka confirms her identity to a shocked Naruto.

"Moka?" Naruto's flaming hair returns to normal, the two speechless as they look at each other. Seeing Xenovia get up, Keito yells her name. Seeing him, the bluenette's eyes widen.

"Keito? But...Naruto killed you..."

"Xenovia, you've been lied to! Esdeath has manipulated-" Before Keito can finish, Mest appears and uses an upgraded version of his memory-altering magic to send magical tendrils to stab into Xenovia's mind. Using his abilities at full power, Mest gives her the command to kill Keito and the others, making the bluenette scream in pain.

"It hurts! It hurts!" said the crying bluenette. Seeing Xenovia cry as Mest alters her memories once more, Naruto gets angry and lunges at him, only for Mika to block his punch before kicking him back.

"You bastard!"

Finished, Mest has the further brainwashed Xenovia attack Naruto. As the bluenette traced Kanshou and Bakuya in her hands, more of Archer's memories started flashing in front of her as the Servant grabs her head in pain.

"Archer!?" Moka yelled, worried about her Servant.

"I'm sorry, but I am not of use at the moment! Don't worry about me! Focus on the fight!" said Archer as she her memories come flooding in. Reinforcing the twin swords, making them Kanshou and Bakuya Overedge, Xenovia attacks Naruto, only for Moka to catch her arms and knee her in the stomach, kicking her back after to keep her distance. Xenovia stabs the blades into the ground to stop herself before running at Moka.

Keito and Mary attempt to get to Mest, only to end up fighting Mika, who is able to predict their every moves with her Teigu, Spectator. Mary throws three dirks at Mika, who quickly catches them and throws them at Keito, who takes out three black keys for each of his hands and deflects the daggers.

Outside, Issei, Koneko, Irina, Kiba, and Saji stop outside of the parking garage. As they prepare to enter and help them, they stop to see Hoshikari slowly but calmly walk towards them.

"I'm sorry, but I've been tasked to take that Excalibur Mimicry of yours..." said Hoshikari as he readied his katana.

"Who is this guy?" asked Issei as Hoshikari appeared in front of him and swung his blade.

Back inside the parking garage. Moka dodged left as Xenovia swung the sword in her right hand. She then ducks the bluenette's horizontal slash before striking Xenovia's right shoulder, then her left, and finishing with a strike to her chin. Naruto gets in front of Moka and blocks the next sword swing with Igneox, striking the bluenette in the chest with the blunt end of his staff after. As Xenovia prepared another attack, Moka vaults over the Agares Rook and spun her body in the air, bringing her left foot down on the bluenette's head and making her drop her swords.

Recovering quickly, Xenovia dodge a spin kick before punching Moka in the face with her right fist and catching Naruto's right punch, tracing a small dagger in her left hand and stabbing him three times in the right side and leaving a large diagonal cut on his chest.

As Naruto temporarily reeled back in pain, Xenovia switched hands and held her dagger in a reverse grip, preparing to strike his heart. Moka stops her as she comes from behind and used a suplex on her. However, Xenovia lands on her feet and performs her own suplex on the vampire girl.

"Owww..." Moka groaned as Xenovia plants her right foot on her neck.

"Moka!" Naruto charged at Xenovia, knocking her away from the vampire girl with his shoulder and helping the latter up as Xenovia traced Kanshou and Bakuya again.

Back with Keito and Mary's fight, Mika throws a Nissan GT-R at them, the duo rolling out of the way as they both came at Mika at the same time and, boosting their speed with magic, quickly overwhelm Mika before Mest decides to jump in and attack Keito with a punch. Keito throws three black keys at the mage, only for him to teleport behind him and kick him to the floor.

"I may not look like it, but I'm not completely helpless..." said Mest as he prepares to fight alongside Mika.

"It's about time you jumped in. So says Mika." Angry, Mary throws two Dirks at them, though they were immediately deflected by the Designer Baby.

Getting knocked into a Prius, Moka rolls out of the way as Xenovia splits the car in half with a traced katana. Swinging at the vampire girl, Naruto stops one of the strikes using Igneox's new katana mode, surprising Moka.

"You actually went with my idea!" said a surprised Moka as Xenovia jumps back and readies her blade.

"She is not going down that easy, and even if we want to restrain her, she finds a way to free herself," Moka told her friend. "If she wanted to, she could've traced more advanced and legendary weapons, so why is she only using basic weapons?"

"Because she can only trace weapons that are C-Rank. If she does higher rank ones, it costs too much energy, injuring her body..." Turning around, Naruto and Moka are surprised to see Archer walking past them, a serious expression on her face.

"Archer? How do you..." Looking at her hands, Moka, Naruto, and Xenovia turn wide-eyed when she traced Kanshou and Bakuya in her hands.

"I'll explain after. For now...Let me handle the rest, Moka, Naruto..." she told them with a smile before turning serious.

[Fate/Stay Night: Heaven's Feel OST - Into the battle]

Archer appears in front of the bluenette in an instant, catching her off guard as she swings the short sword in her right hand, breaking the Xenovia's traced katana when she brings it forward. Quickly, the bluenette traced the same weapons and engaged the Servant, However, with another swing, Archer shatters both of Xenovia's blades before kicking her in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her a bit as she skids back.

Xenovia rolls out of the way as Archer's blades stab into the ground. The bluenette summons a bow and fires a longsword as an arrow. The Servant reinforced her swords as the projectile hits, shattering the blades. Tracing another sword, Xenovia fires again. Archer quickly moves to the side as the "arrow" destroys two cars before rushing at the bluenette.

"You're not ready for this power..." said Archer as she swung at Xenovia. Archer leaves a small scratch on Xenovia's right cheek, then her left leg, before breaking the bluenette's bow in two when Xenovia used it to block her kick.

With Archer handling Xenovia, Naruto decides to go after Mest, quickly catching him by the throat with his right hand and slamming him against a wall, cracking it, surprising Keito and Mary.

Mest tries to teleport away, only for Naruto to keep his hold on him, no matter where they teleported. Looking into his soul, Naruto saw the Neo Jaeger altering Xenovia's memories as Esdeath watched the bluenette plead and cry to not alter her memories. His flames turning bright red in response to his anger, Naruto tightened his grip on Mest. Mika tries to help her ally by jumping at Naruto. The Agares Rook quickly turns around catches her fist with his free hand, using his powers to burn away Mika's energy, knocking her out before focusing on Mest once more.

"You...Not only did you forcefully change her memories, you made Xenovia cry...and you feel no guilt for it..." As Mest attempts to get away, Naruto imbues his left hand with his flames, making it glow as he grabs him by the head and slowly microwaves the Neo Jaeger's brain. Mest could only scream, tears flowing down his face as he tried to remove Naruto's hand from his head.

"You're going to experience the pain she felt, only instead of wiping your memories, I'll be cooking your brain until it blows up like an egg..." he calmly told the helpless Mest.

After 30 seconds of slow but growing pain, the back of Mest's head explodes, his brain matter spraying the wall as the Agares Rook drops Mest's dead body.

[Music End]

Xenovia pants as she struggled to trace Kanshou and Bakuya, the blades forming halfway before shattering. Archer still had a lot of energy to spare as she told the bluenette to give up.

"If you continue, you risk doing more damage to your body..." Xenovia clenched her teeth as she prepared to fight with her fists.

"Were we really this stubborn back then?" Archer asked herself as she slowly approached Xenovia. "We never did refuse to back down, ever..." As Xenovia threw a magic circuit-enhanced punch, Archer sighs as she spins around the bluenette and holds her in place.

"Keito said you were brainwashed...It's a good thing I have just the remedy for that..." said Archer, tracing Rule Breaker and stabbing the blade into her head, painfully removing Esdeath's kill command and undoing Mest's mind-altering spell. Finished, Rule Breaker fades in Archer's hands as Xenovia passed out in the Servant's arms.

"Xenovia! Is she..." Looking at Naruto, Archer smiles as she tells him, "She'll be fine. She's a little bit battered, but she'll live. I also undid the spell that altered her memories." Grateful, Naruto thanked the Servant for helping with the bluenette before asking her if he can hold the bluenette.

"Of course," she told Naruto as she hands the bluenette to him. The blond uses his energy to heal Xenovia as Moka walks towards them.

"Archer...About you...What you...How did you know about her magic?"

"Because Xenovia...is me..." Keito and Mary's eyes widen as they turn to the Servant.

"Xenovia...is you?" asked Moka.

"To be more accurate...I am her, but from an alternate timeline..." Archer adds. "One where I killed all of you, including the one person I..." Archer remembers the feelings she felt from doing the deed as a sad expression appears on her face. "I'm...glad I was able to help before my young self could do it..."

"How in the world did you become a Heroic Spirit, Archer?" asked Keito.

"I made a contract with the World and became a Counter Guardian, giving birth to Xenovia, the Heroic Spirit." Hearing her story, Naruto admits he finds it hard to believe.

"While I remember who I am and how I became a Heroic Spirit, I don't remember how I died, and...I admit, there are still fragments missing..." Turning red, Archer asks everyone to keep helping her regain more of her memories as she lives with them. Smiling, Moka goes over to Archer and tells her, "As your Master, I'll always help you..." As she said that, Xenovia slowly opened her eyes, finding herself in Naruto's arms.

"...Is this a dream?" she asked herself. With a smile, Naruto told her it wasn't and that it was real. Hearing the Agares Rook's answer, Xenovia's eyes widen.

"Then you're..."

"Yeah, I'm here." Xenovia tears up as she recalls how she attacked him and the other who were trying to help her.

"What did I almost..."

"Don't worry about it...After all, what matters now is that you're okay..." Naruto told the bluenette, a gentle smile on his face. As Moka, Keito, Mary, and Archer watched, their faces turned red.

"Uhh, Naruto?"

"Yes, Xenovia?" Looking down, Naruto noticed his right hand was feeling one of the bluenette's breasts. With a shy tone in her voice, Xenovia asked the blond if he could put her down.

"O-Of course," said Naruto as he gently sets the bluenette down. Looking at Mika, Mary asked the others what they should do with her as they walked towards her and Keito.

"Take her with us," said Xenovia, surprising the Master-Servant couple. "She's just a little kid, and it'd be wrong to leave her here."

"But she tried to kill me and Mary," said Keito. "She also-"

"Even so, I still want to take her with us," Xenovia interrupts. "I don't think she's a bad person. She's just on the wrong side..."

"...Very well," said Keito as he decides to carry the unconscious Mika as Naruto and the bluenette pick up their respective weapons. Coming out of the parking garage, the group noticed the beaten bodies of Issei, Saji, Kiba, Irina, and Koneko lying on the ground. Rushing to Irina, Keito asked her what happened.

"Keito? But you're-"

"Nevermind that, what happened here?" asked Keito.

"A Fallen Angel...with one wing...he defeated us and...he..he took my Excalibur Mimicry..."

"He was crazy strong..." Issei adds as he struggled with his wounds. At the same time, Joichi arrives, tired from all the running.

"Geez, you guys are...so fast...But I...Oh, the fight's over?" Turning to Moka, he's surprised to see her.

"Oh, Joichi, you ran all the way here?" asked Naruto.

"Nevermind that, what happened here?" asked Joichi.

"We should be asking the same thing..." Everyone turns to their left to see Rias and Sona.

"This is quite a gathering here..." Infernus told Naruto.

"Bu-...Buchou?"

"President Sona?"

Agares Corp Building

Naruto's Office

6:45 pm

As Rias and Sona took the respective members of their peerages to be healed, Naruto, after promising the Gremory and Sitri Kings they'd eventually meet his King, left with Xenovia, Irina, Keito, Mary, Joichi, Moka, and Archer and went to his work, lying to Rias and Sona about going to his house. Right now, the small group was sitting around in a circle made of chairs as Kotomi, Fujino, and Maki entered. Mika was peacefully asleep on one of the work tables, a blanket over her, though for extra precaution, Naruto tied her up with a rope that would leech at her energy if she tried to use magic.

"Where are the doughnuts?" asked Kotomi, Naruto pointing to the box at his desk. Happy, the pixie runs over and grabs the whole box before sitting with them as Fujino and Maki go over and sit down as well.

"Well, this is not how I pictured tonight to go..."

"Me neither, but it's now or never...Well...since we're all here...I figure it's time we be more open...to each other. To start, My name is Naruto Namikaze. I became a Devil and a Rook for Seekvaira's Peerage after getting shot protecting my cousin. I am also the host of a demon named Infernus, who not only allows me to control flames but also talks about sex almost every day."

"Oh my..." Moka comments, her face red. "Wait, when you appeared in my room 'that time', he..."

"Yeah, he saw you naked as well," Naruto confirms. Stuttering, Moka tells the demon to forget he saw her naked.

"Sorry, your perfect boobs are etched into my memory," said Infernus, though no one was able to hear him.

"Anyways, I'm also the vigilante Firebrand, using my abilities to kill those who do the greatest evils. I am also hired to do missions around the world for the ruler of the Underworld."

"No wonder why you never had time to hang out..." Moka whispered.

"Moving on, Kotomi Uchida is a pixie familiar I saved from a hydra, and she's been living with me for a good while now. Harumaki is a fellow member of Seekvaira's Peerage, as a Pawn. She wields a sword that prevents healing, a sword that extends, and a sword that kills with a single cut."

"A single cut!?" yelled Joichi, Maki nodding her head to confirm this.

"Huh, almost like my poison touch," Mary adds, Keito nodding.

"As for Fujino..." Turning to Fujino, Naruto tells her it was okay to tell them what she wanted them to know.

"My name is Fujino Asagami, I'm Naruto's Reserved Bishop until he rises to high-class status. I possess Mystic Eyes which allow me to twist and rip apart limbs. I can also use...telekinesis..." Proud of Fujino, Naruto pats her on the head, earning jealous looks from some of the girls (Moka, Maki, Xenovia, and Kotomi). Turning to Moka, everyone wonders what she was going to say.

"Where should I start..." said Moka, fiddling with her pointing fingers. "My name is Moka Akashiya, I'm a vampire who can survive staying in sunlight, and is immune to the effects of holy weapons like water, silver, and crosses. I can even enter houses unannounced and eat garlic." With a smile, she told them, "My family and I are considered abominations in the vampire community..." After saying that, everyone wondered how she can be smiling. "As...most of you know, I am the Master of Archer...Who is an alternate future version of Xenovia..." Xenovia and Irina's eyes widened as they turned their heads towards Archer.

"Xenovia...you grow up to be a bombshell!" yelled Irina, both the bluenette and Servant turning red and looking down on the floor in unison.

"Yeah she does," said Infernus, Naruto telling him to fuck off.

"I am Joichi Johjima, but since we're all trying to get along, you can now call me JoJo. Anyways, I'm new to this, since I activated my Stand, which is a manifestation of my...spirit. If it gets injured, I get injured. It can freeze time for 3 seconds, but it tires me out if I overuse it..." In their minds, Xenovia, Irina, and Keito, stars in their eyes, wondered what it looked like, wanting to see it for themselves. Clearing her throat, Mary decides to introduce herself and Keito.

"My name is Mary Kotomine, I'm an Assassin-class Servant for my boyfriend Keito. We've been together for over two years. Also..." Wrapping her arms around her lover, she informed the others, "we're going to be husband and wife one day!"

"When we get permission," Keito adds. "Now...Xenovia, Irina, you're the last ones."

"...I'm Xenovia." When Joichi asked her what her last name was, she told him she wasn't deserving of her last name. "For starters, I want to apologize for trying to kill you Naruto...Moka..." The vampire girl assures the bluenette everything was fine since she wasn't herself.

"I also want to apologize for...stabbing you "that one time"..." said Naruto, making everyone's eyes widen, with the exception of the bluenette.

"Damn Naruto, what exactly went down with you and her?" asked Joichi, the Rook and the bluenette not willing to explain.

"I've been an exorcist since I was about 8-years old. I can wield holy swords and use magic, like my future counterpart. We're here to retrieve the fragments of Excalibur and stop a war from happening."

"My name is Irina Shidou, I'm an exorcist like Xenovia. I am a childhood friend of Issei Hyoudou, who originally lived in Japan."

"My Naruto, it seems that your little gathering is off to a great start..." Naruto became tense as he slowly turns around and sees Seekvaira looking down on him with an intimidating demeanor as she smiles. The look on her face scared everyone in the room. "Especially when you're giving out secrets to so many people...Here's a secret of my own...When I get really angry at someone, I tend to blast them out of a room with my magic...Can you guess who's about to get it?" Naruto sweats as Seekvaira gathers magic into her right hand and blasts him through several walls, making everyone's eyes widen.

"That's Seekvaira?" Xenovia thought to herself, sweating in the face.

"Hello everyone, I'd like to borrow my Rook for a second, is that okay?"

Seekvaira's Office

6:55 pm

"I leave for a meeting in Fuyuki City in the afternoon and come back to see you telling those people you're Firebrand. Let me guess, others outside this building know as well?"

"Xenovia said my name out loud. Also, Gremory-senpai and Sona-kaichou now know..." With a sigh, Seekvaira told him how she wanted to keep the Rook a secret a while longer so she could freak them out when she reveals to them that her Rook was the powerful Firebrand.

"I'm sorry, Seekvaira," Naruto told his King, bowing his head as Seekvaira looked at her phone. "...That girl with the blue hair was Xenovia huh...She is pretty. I can see why you took an interest in her."

"Yeah..."

"...How did it feel to see her again?"

"It was hectic since she was brainwashed to kill me earlier...Now...it felt nice to see her again, and she looked happy to see me..." Naruto told his King.

"That's good to hear...Sirzechs sent me the details involving the Excaliburs and the Fallen Angels earlier, through my e-mail. I just forgot to look at it until now. He wants us to help Rias out any way we can with Kokabiel." Seekvaira sighs, having blasted her Rook for nothing.

"With the Fallen Angels using the Hidden Gap to build up powerful allies, we were bound to be involved with the stolen Excaliburs..." Seekvaira agrees with her Rook, noticing Naruto's hands balling up into fists after.

"Naruto...are you okay?"

"Seekvaira, can you leave me alone?" Understanding, Seekvaira tells him to take as much time as he needs as she left the office, though she quietly eavesdropped to find out what Naruto was about to do.

[Accel World - ByeBye (Extended)]

Picking up his phone, Naruto calls Shino via video call.

"Hey, Shino...Are you busy?"

"Hello, Naruto, Shirabi and I just met up with a friend of mine (Kazuto) at Kawagoe. We're having dinner with him and his sister. You?"

"Just finished talking to some new friends I made and finished a meeting with Seekvaira..."

"It's nice to hear that you made some new friends...Did you call about..."

"Yes and...Shino, you know I love you right?"

"Yes..."

"...Listen...I understand that you want me to be safe and not involve myself with what's going on with...you know...No matter how much it'd make you happy to see me safe and have a normal life...The truth is...I can't do that for you. After my accident, I was...I was never going to have a normal life." Saying this, Naruto began to tear up.

"I wish...I wish I could give this up...but I can't...Even if it hurts like hell to tell you...I know I promised to help you make moments that would make you happy together...I'm sorry I couldn't-"

"Naruto...I understand...Thank you for telling me. Just promise me you'll take care of yourself, okay?"

"Yeah...I'll do that...You too...Shino Asada. I love you..."

"I love you, Naruto Namikaze...and...goodbye..." As tears streamed down Shino's face, she and Naruto kissed their screens before hanging up. Finished with the call, Naruto cries. Behind the door, Seekvaira started tearing up after hearing the phone call her Rook had with Shino.

With Shino

Kirigaya Residence

As Shino cried, Shirabi, Kazuto, and Suguha consoled her.

[Music End]

With Xenovia

Naruto's Office

As everyone took time talking and getting to know each other, Xenovia found herself with Moka, the two girls unsure of what they should talk about.

"So...Naruto stabbed you huh?"

"He was on a mission in Rome...While I took some time to know him before he...stabbed me, he told me about you." Moka had a surprised look on her face when Xenovia said that. "He said...a lot of nice things about you."

"Oh...He did huh..." Looking down, Moka forms a smile on her face.

"He told me about the times he'd get beat up protecting you..." Xenovia adds.

"That's Naruto...my Loser Hero..."

"Loser Hero?"

"It's a name I gave him. No matter how many times he lost...He always got back up...always standing up like a hero. That's why I call him a Loser Hero. However, he doesn't lose any more, so he's simply my Hero...Crazy don't you think?" Xenovia smiles as she agrees with her. "Please don't tell Naruto this. It's quite embarrassing..."

"Swear on it...Is he...Is Naruto single?" Moka had a surprised look on her face when the blushing bluenette asked her if the blond was in a relationship or not.

"Well..." Before Moka could say anything, everyone, with the exception of Joichi, could sense Kokabiel's immense power slowly advancing towards Kuoh Academy. Following this, Seekvaira enters.

"Everyone, as of now, there's a Fallen Angel who's about to stir up trouble at Kuoh Academy. If it's okay with any of you, I would like to ask for your help..." said Seekvaira.

"You don't need to ask, Ms. Agares," said Keito as he summons his scythe. "We were planning to stick around and make the bastard in charge pay for killing many of our exorcists." Mary tells the Agares King she goes where Keito goes once he finished.

"I go to Kuoh Academy with Joichi, along with a few of the people in here so I'm willing to kick some ass," said Moka.

"I will help out as well," said Archer, "It's time I showed others all the tricks I have at my disposal," she adds as she looks at Xenovia.

"Our mission is to retrieve the Excalibur Fragments," said Irina, "Though I may need a weapon to use. "Using her magic, Maki hands Irina Wailing Dark.

"I will need that back after," said the Agares Pawn as she takes out Kiriichimonji. Joichi comments on how he's been waiting for some serious action. He barely did anything when Xenovia was brainwashed. But now, he could finally do more. Not seeing Naruto, Moka asked where he was. Before Seekvaira could say anything, Naruto arrives, having finished with his personal call.

"Well then, if you would be so kind..."

"First..." Going over to Xenovia, Naruto puts his left hand on her shoulder and begins chanting.

"Gib dem wandernden Vogel das Trinkwasser der vom langen Weg kommt. Benutz den Vogelrahmen in dem der Schlüssel nicht angewendet wird. Ich spinne den Regenbogen in neuem selbst. Heites Wetter, Regen, Wind, Schnee, Krieg, Ende, ununterbrochen. Nimm an, ohne anderer Meinung zu sein, ohne ze fallen. Es nimmt an, ohne zu fürchten, ohne zu Zwei feln. Sig im Freund, der auf eine Reise Entfernt geht." Suddenly, the bluenette felt a surge of power coursing through her body. She and the blond also saw each other's memories, from the day they were born up until now. Seeing Takumi's true colors, Xenovia's eyes widened when she saw the truth through Naruto's eyes. She also saw Naruto's break up with Shino.

"I...I made a temporary mana pact with you. You should be able to temporarily use your projection magic to its full potential. Only use it as a last resort, okay?" Xenovia lightly smiles as she nods her head. Ready, Naruto opens a sling portal to the academy.

Elsewhere

Sensing it was time, the girl with bright white hair threw off her robe. She wore a sleeved black dress that went down to her thighs with small shoulder pads. She also wore white and black gloves with armor on the fingers and knuckles. The crown that covered her eyes was replaced with a silver mask. Her legwear consists of thigh-highs and thigh length heeled boots, the back parts of the boots both fitted with crescent-shaped blades. A pair of sheathed katanas (Frayed Blade and Darkdrift) levitated behind her, moving wherever she went.

"It's time..." she said as she opens up a portal of her own.

TO BE CONTINUED...

ED3: 哀愁トワイライト by 水樹 奈々


This took a huge while to finish, mainly because I had to write and rewrite things over and over like how Xenovia was going to see Naruto again and how they should meet. I originally wanted to have a huge fight between Naruto and Xenovia at Agares Corp but it'd have several people, citizens, wondering what the blazes was going on. After watching Fate/Zero, I decided to move the fight to a parking garage.

Yes, everybody knows, because Esdeath messed with Xenovia, causing her to reveal the Rook's identity. And yes, Seekvaira wanted to reveal him when it was time to so she could see the reactions from their faces when they find out Firebrand was a part of her peerage. However, it seems that she may not get that reaction...FOR NOW. XD

Caren's personality is pretty much the same as her canon counterpart if anyone is wondering why she is written that way.

There'll be a bit more monsters that Elana will showcase, one of them being the Taurus Demon. Originally I wanted to introduce it in this chapter, but I thought it wouldn't be a good time so it will appear in the next one.

Mika lives. It was planned. You're not going to kill/hit a little girl. I originally wanted Naruto to knock her into a car by backhanding her but I decided on the energy burning technique since it would be too weird to have Naruto hit a kid. Mika may become a good person.

For the fight with Kiba, I felt that having Xenovia fight him using a copied Excalibur Destruction in their fight served as a way to insult the Gremory Knight.

Naruto has broken things off with Shino. It took me a while to figure out how I wanted them to do it, but I think this went okay. For what happens next, I plan to have Kirito and Naruto meet as they help Shino move out of the house across from the Namikaze Residence and move to a place close to where Shirabi lives.

For the break-up call, I ACTUALLY cried when I wrote this while listening to the OST for that scene, I will admit it.

So, I don't know if everyone knew about it already but I'm gonna say it: Archer is XENOVIA. Like Archer, Xenovia would continue fighting for what she believed and for those she cared about, but as time passed, she lost people and eventually made a contract with the World, or Alaya, and became a Counter Guardian. There are still mysteries behind her, mainly her demise.

There were SOME fics where Archer XENOVIA was going to be planned, but they never managed to get this far. It both angered and saddened me. So, as of now, I'm (probably) the first to reveal her in a fic. Just putting it out there.

Archer may also reveal one of her Noble Phantasms. By now, everyone should be aware of what it is.

The way Mest died had several ideas but I thought since Mest messed with Xenovia's brain, Naruto would do the same to him, but instead of rearranging his brain, he'd microwave it in a way that would force him to feel the pain the bluenette felt before ultimately dying.

Finally, Naruto and Xenovia are reunited and everyone has opened up about their secrets. The part with Naruto having this gathering at his office was based on interventions/AA Meetings/therapy sessions in real life. I wanted a moment where everyone was gathered in a circle and put their secrets out in the open. I felt it helped establish new friendships and repair/improve old ones in the process.

Joichi will finally get to show a bit more in the next chapter hopefully.

Also, the white-haired girl finally decided to appear. She will make a pretty big entrance when they need her the most.

The next chapter and the chapter after that will complete this arc before moving on to the next arc.