Note: After reading through the new reviews and taking it to heart, I have decided to tweak/change a few/many things.


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

18. Participate in a kendo tournament

19. Get a motorcycle license

20. Own a pet

With this, the promised list is full! You won't see it in the next chapter and so on.


OP3: NEVER SURRENDER by 水樹 奈々

Saturday (6/11)

Morning

Rome, Italy

Naruto felt a bit nervous, having set foot in Rome after so long, minus the disguise. Ayano had to assure him they'd be okay as they stepped off the jet.

"What makes you think that?" asked Naruto as Xenovia, Irina, Keito, and Mary exit the private plane, the latter two carrying the Excalibur fragments, along with Valper's corpse.

"If they wanted to kill you and me, they'd have sent people here with weapons drawn," Ayano adds. Keito tells the two he got permission from Lord El-Melloi II to have the Devil and his partner set foot as long as they don't cause any trouble.

"Let's go. The Vatican is expecting us," said Keito. As the others made their way to meet up with their driver, Naruto turned to see how Xenovia was holding up. The bluenette still had that blank but sad expression on her face. Worried, Naruto was about to speak to her until Keito calls them over, their ride having just arrived, with Bols behind the driver's seat.

Bols's Car

"Why do you still keep that mask on?" asked Mary, the former Jaeger telling her it was a habit of his and he felt embarrassed to show his face. "Still?"

"The customers don't mind," Bols adds before talking to Naruto. "So...you're Firebrand huh?"

"Yes, I am he." Bols thanks Naruto for not killing him in Germany, telling him how happy he was now that he left the Jaegers and started a successful restaurant with his wife, and how he was able to see his daughter go to school. "I am glad you left it behind."

"Same here...Hey, how about you kids come eat lunch at my restaurant before heading to the Vatican? Everything will be on me."

"Are you sure? We have a dead priest in the trunk, will it be fi-" Naruto stops mid-sentence once Ayano's stomach growled. "...Well, it's not like Valper's going anywhere anytime soon."

"Do you serve doughnuts?" Everyone in the car starts freaking out when Kotomi, in her pixie form, appeared out of nowhere, Bols swerving around a bit before regaining control of the wheel.

"What the!? Kotomi!? How'd-"

"We made a contract, remember? Because of this, I am connected to your energy, meaning I can come to your side at any moment, no matter how far you are." When asked about Shizune finding out, the familiar told him she placed a harmless mind-altering spell that made her think the pixie already went with Naruto.

"You really thought things through, Kotomi..." Kotomi had a proud look on her face as she asked her master if she impressed him. "A little bit...I wonder, how's Hoshikari doing at home? Whatever it looks like now..."

With Hoshikari

Night

6:25 pm

Konoha General Hospital

"Thank you for coming in to help...Hoshinori?" Hoshikari corrects Shizune before telling her, "You're welcome", setting down some medical equipment after.

"I wonder if Naruto and Kotomi are going to be okay in Italy...Oh, I hope they bring some souvenirs back."

"I'm...I'm sure they would." Looking at Shizune's desk, he noticed a portrait of herself with Minato and Kushina at a baseball game and picks it up. "This photo..."

"Oh, that? It was when I came back from America for that event. I'm a huge baseball fan. Our team won that game, and Minato won a huge bet with Kakashi..."

"This man, Minato, is his father?" Shizune nods yes to answer his question. "What kind of man was he?"

"He was one of the nicest people you'd ever meet...also one of the most passionate. He'd buy a whole round for his friends, crack ridiculous jokes, and care for those he didn't know," answered Shizune, a smile on her face. Hoshikari then asked what his relationship with Naruto was like. "Seeing the photos in the house, and seeing how Naruto has grown, I can tell that he and Kushina loved their son very much." Hoshikari pictured Naruto getting along with his father, compared to his and Kokabiel's relationship.

"He's lucky...To have parents who loved him..." Hoshikari whispered to himself, Shizune wondering what he said.

"Well, let's head out for dinner. Akame's staying at her senpai's (Pekoyama) place for her club, and I don't feel like going home just yet. Go wait out for me at the front and I'll go get my car," Hoshikari nods before leaving the room.

Exiting the hospital, Hoshikari, sensing Fujino's presence, asked her to come out of the column she was hiding behind before asking her why she was following him whenever she got out of school. Fujino says nothing as she narrowed her eyes at him.

"If you think I plan on harming your King's...parent, I have no intention of doing so. I am no longer an enemy."

"I find that hard to believe," Fujino told the fallen angel.

"To go through all this for a Rook with a Pseudo-Peerage...Could it be...that you love him?" Fujino had a look of surprise before her face turned red. "I was right..."

"So...So what if I was?" said Fujino, sounding defensive.

"I'm curious...You never showed any signs of affection towards him whenever he's around...You must be something to keep yourself so reserved..." Hoshikari adds, just as Shizune arrived in her Ford Gran Torino. "Oh hello, Fujino. I wasn't expecting to see you here. Did you just come out of the hospital?" Fujino lies, telling her she was "checking up on someone" and just got out and decided to talk to Hoshikari. "How about you join us?"

"No, I'm-" Fujino stops when her stomach growls, embarrassing her. With a smile, Shizune tells the two to get in, knowing a good place to eat out at.

Midori's Floating World Cafe

"What...What am I supposed to do with these?" Hoshikari asked himself, one eye twitching as he looks down on the ingredients in front of him. Looking at Shizune and Fujino, he sees them quietly making their own separate okonomiyaki, the former having a smile on her face. Looking at the fallen angel and back at her cooking, Fujino has a smug look on her face that slightly annoys the usually calm Hoshikari.

"Do you need help?" asked Shizune.

"No, I will handle this myself," he assured the woman as he mixed everything together, eggshells and all, resulting in a horribly-made okonomiyaki. Seeing the results of his "cooking", Shizune asked him if he was sure he wanted to eat it. "Of course I'll eat it..." Hoshikari makes a disgusted face as he eats his okonomiyaki, only making it halfway through before Shizune decides to switch meals with him, to his surprise.

"Are you sure?" Shizune assures him she was sure as she eats it and makes a face as Hoshikari watched, taking a bite out of Shizune's okonomiyaki, finding it delicious. After they finished eating, they ordered more, Shizune deciding to make his for him while telling the fallen angel she should see if he can learn to cook without setting the kitchen on fire.

With Naruto

Lunch

Bols's Restaurant

"Welcome to-" Turning around, Ritsuka's eyes widened when he saw Naruto and the others enter the restaurant. "You're-"

"They're guests, Ritsuka," Bols interrupts, telling the young exorcist to seat them, finishing his sentence with 'please'. "R-Right away!" After taking their seats and ordering drinks, Naruto complements the fantasy theme of the restaurant, which reminded him of the "Monster Hunter series". Keito tells him he helped decide on it and made sure it matched with Bols's vision. As everyone looked at the menu, Naruto noticed there were several eyes trained on him.

"We're in wolves' territory now..."

"Don't mind them," Keito told Naruto, "They're just keeping an eye on things and making sure you behave yourself.

"Please, I don't bite." As Naruto and Keito started becoming more buddy-buddy with one another, Irina decided to ask her friend why she wanted to bring Naruto, a devil, along, after what he did to her. But the bluenette did not respond. Figuring it was to have him answer for his crimes, Irina decides to drop it, not wanting to ruin lunch.

90 minutes later

"Thank you for the lunch, Bols," said Naruto as he bowed his head. The former Jaeger told him if the factions ever decide to go for peace, he should come back again. "Sounds great."

"Ritsuka, are you going now?" asked Bols as the young exorcist came out dressed in casual clothes consisting of a red t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans.

"Yeah, I promised to meet up with Mash in half an hour," he told Bols before the latter told him good luck on his date. "Bols, you weren't supposed to say it out loud," he told the Ex-Jaeger, red in the face.

"Was it a secret!? I'm so sorry. Still, good luck." Bols immediately went back to work after finishing his talk with Ritsuka.

"Hey..." Turning to Naruto, Ritsuka wondered what Naruto wanted from him. "Sorry about punching you through a castle wall..."

"Oh...apology accepted...Who am I supposed to address you by?" Naruto tells him his name before the exorcist thanks him properly.

"Ritsuka, if I may, you're a part of the Jaegers," Keito interrupts. "Caren informed the Church and the Mage's Association of their betrayal, I'm surprised you're walking free. What happened?" Ritsuka tells them he used to be part of the group before explaining the rest.

"The Church immediately sent exorcists to take Esdeath in after Caren told the higher-ups about her involvement in Kokabiel's plans. They sent several exorcists to her headquarters...There was so much resistance from her, her Neo-Jaegers, and the Jaegers. Some of us, including myself, out minding our own business, were immediately taken to headquarters for questioning. I and a few others were lucky to come out without any trouble. But those loyal to Esdeath...They were either arrested until the Church decides what to do with them, or killed if they continued to resist."

"Is there anyone we know who managed to come out of it free and...okay in the head?" Keito asked.

"Wave and Run...along with half of the new and young recruits." When Naruto asked about Kurome, Ritsuka turned silent for a bit. "She was at the headquarters...Esdeath, Kurome, the Neo-Jaegers, those loyal to her...They escaped."

"What?"

"Someone tipped them off. Someone higher up, don't know who," Ritsuka adds.

"Kurome's with Esdeath?" Naruto had hoped to meet with her and try to talk to her. To hear that she was with Esdeath...

"Wave...Wave's taking it hard with her leaving. I tried to call him, but he never answered. The Church is doing their best to find out who tipped Esdeath and where she and her...followers are. I don't know anything else." With a smile, Keito thanks him for informing them before letting him leave.

"Xenovia and I are going to leave you guys to see the Vatican. We need to head back to-"

"I'm going to the Vatican with Keito." This reply surprised Irina, who asked her for a reason after. "I just need some questions asked is all...We'll just drop you, Valper, and the fragments off and we'll be continuing on."

"Okay...will you be back soon?" It worried Irina when the bluenette didn't answer her. Looking at her, Naruto had a look of worry on his face.

Church Headquarters (Main)

Once entering the main halls, several exorcists wielding spears appear and point their holy weapons at Naruto, Kotomi, and Ayano. Keito and Mary also had weapons drawn at them. When Naruto asked why they were pointing weapons at them, Keito tells them he and Mary were very unliked at the Vatican. Going forward, Xenovia tells them they were her guests and that they needed to put their weapons down. Though hesitant, they nonetheless put down their arms and let them pass through. After ten minutes of walking through the long hallways and stairways, Kotomi resuming her pixie form (after only 3 minutes) so she could rest in her Master's jacket pocket, they made it to the Great Hall, where 2 (Ewald and Diethelm) of the 10 top officials sat (Vasco, Griselda, Dulio, Kiyotora, Honest, Kotei (Basically The Emperor from Akame ga Kill!), Aultcray Melromarc XXXII, and Mirellia Q Melromarc, are the ones not in the room).

"We've been expecting you, especially the Devil who gave the Fallen Angels a way to slip in and kill several of our good exorcists," said Ewald.

"It wasn't my intention to give information to them when I first came to Italy," Naruto explains, "I can't do anything to bring them back, but the best I can do is say I'm sorry for the many lives the Church lost."

"While we accept your apology, I can't allow someone like you to go fr-" Ewald is topped by Diethelm, who puts his hand up to shush him.

"Calm down Ewald. This young Devil didn't mean to give the Fallen Angels a way to bypass the detection field, and it wasn't like he participated in the killings. He also sympathizes with our losses," Diethelm explains. "His eyes don't lie."

"He killed Takumi, along with some of the exorcists we sent out to Ger-" Again, he is interrupted by Diethelm, who tells him Takumi was found guilty of his crimes after finding some evidence of them, courtesy of Lord El-Melloi II and his assistant, Gray. This served to annoy Ewald, who clench his fists before sighing and unclenching them.

"What Firebrand did was wrong, but if it meant that more girls would be saved from Takumi's grasps, then he did what he had to. And may I remind you that we found evidence to the Jaegers' illegal experiments out in Germany? Using Humans as-"

"I understand...But I don't think it's wise to forgive a Devil for-"

"I know that Ewald, but this Devil...he's not like most...I can sense a kindness to him, one I've rarely seen in a fairly long while," said Diethelm. "What he did may be perceived as evil, but he did so for the good of others. Why punish him for doing things for others than for himself?"

"...I don't like it, but..."

"My observations about him are not wrong."

"...Fine, it's useless to argue with you once you've made your choice. Now, let's get into the real problem, involving Esdeath and the exorcists who are now on her side," said Ewald. "For starters, the betrayal of Esdeath and her Jaegers has affected our forces. However," Looking at Keito, Ewald tells him, "If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have known of her betrayal, and we would've had another Great War in our hands."

"I am glad I was able to help, despite...problems in the past involving my father," said Keito. "Now, I believe there's another matter we need to discuss."

"What matter?" asked Diehthelm. Keito tells them it was better if Xenovia asked it.

"Thanks, Keito. During the fight with Kokabiel in Japan...He told us...God is dead. Is it true?" Ewald and Diethelm shot looks of worry towards one another in response to the exorcist's question. "So it's true..."

"Unfortunately, it is," said Diethelm. "He really did perish during the Great War..." Xenovia looked sad when he confirmed the truth to her.

"Who else knows?" she asked them, Ewald telling her only the top officials of the Church are aware of it, including Griselda.

"We are sorry that you had to find it out the way you did..." Diethelm told Xenovia, a look of sympathy on his face.

"...This is truly unfortunate. You, Keito, and Mary finding out. What about Irina?" asked Ewald, the bluenette telling him Irina was unconscious at the time. "For finding out the truth, we have no choice but to excommunicate the three of you." Naruto's eyes widened. The three were just labeled as heretics, and all it took was a truth the world as a whole couldn't know.

"Excommunication huh..." Keito smiles at this, telling himself, "I guess that means Mapomine's is moving." Looking at Xenovia, Naruto shot a look of sadness towards her. Popping her head out of her Master's jacket pocket, Kotomi tells Naruto to say something.

"Xen-"

"How long do we have to stay?" asked Xenovia. Ewald tells them they have until tomorrow noon to pack up and leave."Will you also need Durandal?" Diethelm tells the bluenette, since she's the only person who can wield it, the Holy Sword rightfully belongs to her now. "Thank you, we shall take our leave now." Naruto says nothing as the others turn and leave.

St. Peter's Basilica

Xenovia's Room

As Keito went to his place to pack is things with Mary, with Kotomi helping them, Naruto decided to help Xenovia pack her things as Ayano waits outside of the room. The blond was visibly surprised by all the systems she owned as he carefully packed them. Finished, he decides to help clean her desk. As he puts things into her suitcase, Naruto comes across a picture of her when she originally had long hair, smiling at it as he recalled how he wanted to see the picture of it.

"You look really nice with long hair in here..." Naruto told her, though the bluenette didn't respond, too focused with her packing to stop and make short conversation with him. Outside, Ayano found herself talking to Sif as Naoko walked towards them.

"Oh, you've made a new friend?" she asked the wolf, Sif telling her he knew the girl through barking. "You've met her before?"

"Sif and I only saw each other twice. I knew his owner."

"Then-" Naoko is interrupted by Xenovia and Naruto exiting the room. "Oh, Xenovia! You're back, and you're...packing with a guy I...Have we met?"

"I'm...Firebrand." As Naoko prepared to bring out her halberd, Xenovia tells her he was okay and that he was helping her pack. "What? Why?"

"I've been excommunicated, Naoko. I'm no longer part of the Church and...I'm leaving Italy tomorrow." Xenovia's response shocks Naoko, who asks her why the Church would excommunicate her. "I cannot say. Please don't ask further, for your own good..." Turning to Sif, she tells him to follow as the wolf barks and walks beside his owner. Turning to Naruto, the girl asked him if he knew what happened to her.

"No, I "wasn't" in the room with her...Sorry," he told her before telling her to have a good day and leaving with Ayano.

"Xenovia..."

On the way to Mapomine's

"I'm surprised to see Sif alive and well," said Infernus as Naruto walked behind the wolf and his owner. "To think she adopted him as a pet. Could've sworn he perished."

"Well, it looks like YOU were wrong."

"...Do you plan on talking to her? I mean, she's not part of the Church now and-"

"I think it's best that I don't say anything and give her some time to-"

"Hey..." Naruto stops as the bluenette, without looking at him, tells the blond, "Tonight, meet me alone at the Basilica of Saint Clement at 9:30 tonight. Don't let the others know..." Saying what she needed, she resumes her walk.

With Hoshikari

The fallen angel and Fujino found themselves waiting for Dr. Karnstein, aka Ayumi, to arrive, Shizune getting drunk and passing out a few minutes after a guy made advances towards her and asked her out, only for her to defeat him in a drinking contest so he'd leave her alone. Appearing in a burst of red energy, Ayumi asked them what happened. Waking up suddenly, the happily drunk Shizune told her she outdrank a guy and that she had an amazing teacher (Tsunade) to thank for it.

"Alright, get her into the passenger's seat so I can drive you all back home." Fujino looked bothered, having to sit next to Hoshikari in the back. Noticing this, Ayumi told her to suck it up and sit with him, telling her, "Who knows, maybe you and him can become the best of friends."

"I don't see that happening," said Fujino as she enters the car, with Hoshikari agreeing but entering anyway. As the vampire nurse drives, Hoshikari does not take his eyes off of the sleeping Shizune.

"Your King...Naruto Namikaze...He's lucky to have parents who loved him."

"If I remember the info Seekvaira gave me, you're the son of Kokabiel am I right?" Hoshikari nods yes to answer her. "I take it you and your parents weren't all-loving towards you?"

"Children never get to pick their parents...My mother, she...was forced to bear him a child, giving birth to me. She died from bringing me to the world...Once I was old enough to wield a sword, I would always find myself beaten half to death by him, every day, every night...all to master the talents I was born with. I remember not wanting to fight, to kill, but it was all beaten into my wounds..."

"How cruel..." said Ayumi, her eyes narrowing as she focused on the road.

"Not knowing a mother's love, I decided to try and get my father to love me, no matter how many times I was beaten. I trained, and I killed, all for a love I hoped would come...But it never came. Up until the end, I never received it...After the fight with Naruto, I've come to believe that the concept of "Love" was as vague as "God." I believe that someone like me, born from parents that lack love...comes out missing something. Earlier, Shizune told me about Naruto's relationship with his parents...Hearing what she had to say...It made me realize that he was a boy...who'd grown up beloved by his parents, right until their very end...Looking back on my life until now, and comparing it to his, I wonder...Is there a chance for me to be happy, too? To find the one thing I've been missing?" Hearing Hoshikari's story, Fujino found herself feeling sorry for him, a look of sympathy in her eyes.

"If you want an answer, then it's a yes," said Ayumi. "You have that chance now. To start over, to be better than your father. Don't let him stop you from finding your happiness, Hoshikari. You are now in control of your own life."

"I control my own life, huh..."

"Damn straight."

Namikaze Residence

Thanks to Seekvaira, the Namikaze Residence was now a large four-story terrace house with two basements. Seekvaira made sure to keep Jiraiya's Office the same since Naruto instructed her to keep it that way, and she also made sure to not get rid of anything of importance.

Entering, Ayumi tells Fujino and Hoshikari she'll help Shizune to her room as the drunk women says good night to them before walking up the stairs with the latter, leaving the fallen angel and the Bishop alone.

"...I'm sorry." Facing Fujino, Hoshikari had a surprised look on his face. "About your hardships...I'm sorry you never received the love you wanted from your father...and I apologize for still seeing you as a threat, even after-"

"It's fine...I'm past that. Tomorrow, I start anew. For now, I shall go train..." As Hoshikari prepared to go down the basement, Fujino decides to join him, wanting to improve both her Mystic Eyes and her telekinesis.

With Naruto

The First Roma

9:25 pm

After helping Keito, Mary, and Kotomi pack all of their things, Naruto used a sling portal to put their luggage in his private plane, everyone agreeing to leave tomorrow morning after breakfast. Since it was nighttime, Naruto decided to rent a luxury room for all of them to sleep in, Sif sneaking in via sling portal. As soon as everyone was asleep, Xenovia, making sure everyone was asleep, dressed up in her exorcist battle suit before leaving through the balcony. Opening his eyes, Naruto knew it was time. Getting up, he noticed a suitcase that had a sticky note telling him to, "Open it and put it on." Opening it, he's surprised to see his first Firebrand suit. How did she obtain it? Putting it on, Naruto figured she'd tell him before leaving. Unknown to him, Ayano, having been awake the whole time, gets up from the couch she was sleeping on and decided to follow them.

The Basilica of Saint Clement

9:30 pm

Arriving, Naruto found Xenovia standing at the center of the room, Durandal in hand, her gun holsters strapped to her body.

"Mind telling me how you got your hands on my first suit?" Xenovia tells him she secretly hacked his controls while he was talking to Seekvaira in her office. "I take it you taught yourself how..."

"Yeah..."

"So...The Basilica of Saint Clement, huh..."

"This is where I first fought you, after you..." Xenovia stops as she recalled their first fight. To think it started with a misunderstanding. "Ever since you drove that blade through my stomach, I would always recall that moment every night. It made me angry at you, but it also made me afraid...conflicted..."

"On the way here, I figured that was the case..." said Naruto.

"You were a Devil in disguise, taking the name Hiro Yoko, while I was an exorcist with no idea of the happenings behind the scenes. I recall you taking me to the place your father proposed to your mother, the ramen we ate after the concert...All of it, in perfect detail..."

"Xenovia-"

[Fate/stay night - Sorrow]

"Shut up and listen will you?" said a calm Xenovia, Naruto respecting the bluenette and allowing her to continue. "Skip forward weeks later, we meet and fight again in Oolacile, which ended with me and you teaming up against that monster we accidentally unleashed, ending with you leaving and me feeling conflicted once more after stabbing Syura for hurting you. Then after a couple or so months, I find myself a puppet of Esdeath's after she brainwashed me and told me Keito was dead, coming all the way to Japan to retrieve the Excalibur Fragments and fight you the third time, ending with me finding out I become a Servant in some alternate timeline, finding out Keito was alive, and finding out that I hated you for no reason. After that, I found out God was dead and...coming back here...I find myself a heretic for knowing the truth..."

"Xenovia..." Naruto's eyes widened when she turned to him. She was crying.

"I'm frustrated...at everything that's happened...all because I couldn't see the truth...and it hurts knowing about it..." she told Naruto as she clutched her chest with her left hand. "That's why I've decided to sort through my feelings now. That's why..." Wiping away her tears, Xenovia's eyes narrowed, determination in them as she readies Durandal.

"You're going to fight me. Right here, right now..."

"Wait, fight? But-"

"You shouldn't be caring about destroying property, and neither should I. After all, you're a Devil..." In an instant, Xenovia appears in front of a surprised Naruto as the bluenette prepares to swing her sword down on him. "and I'm a Heretic."

[Music End]

[Goblin Slayer OST - Call from the past]

Naruto quickly avoids the attack before trying to tell her to stop.

"Don't try to stop this! Transform and fight me!" she yelled as she sent a crescent wave of holy energy at him, Naruto narrowly avoiding it as it destroys part of a wall behind him. Xenovia lunges at him, sword ready as she swings it down at him. Moving to the side, Naruto grabs her hand, telling her he wasn't going to hurt her, only to receive a headbutt from the bluenette, making him reel back in pain. Quickly recovering, Naruto catches the blade between his hand and disarms her. However, Xenovia kicks him in the chin in retaliation.

Naruto, recovering, plants his hands on the ground as he performs a backflip kick, knocking the bluenette down as the Rook stands back on his feet. Moving towards her, Naruto offered a helping hand, only for Xenovia to pull out one of her Jericho 941s and shoot at him, making him move back.

"Don't you dare worry about me!" she yelled as she got up. "Just fight! What the hell's your problem, Naruto!?" Xenovia yelled. "The first fight, the second, the third, you always held back on me...Just because you didn't want to hurt me...What bullshit reason...Are you just going to do the same and run away!? Am I not strong enough to take you seriously!? Am I just not good enough?" Naruto's eyes widen. She was right, Naruto always went easy on her, all because he never wanted hurt her. All those fights, he never gave her his all in it, while she gave it 100% in their fight. He was denying closure to someone who was emotionally hurt by him and everything that was happening. To pick this place, where it all began...

"If this is what you want..." Naruto finally transforms, flaming hair and all as Xenovia gets back up, pistols ready. "Then I will respond to your feelings in full force..." Naruto quickly pulls out Igneox and deflects the bluenette's bullets before teleporting behind her and swinging his staff.

Xenovia rolls out of the way and fires at him with the pistol in her left hand. The Rook moves to the right to avoid the bullets before striking the floor with his staff, sending erupting flames at her. Xenovia activates her Reinforcement Magic to increase her body's defense as she dashed through the flames and tackled Naruto, knocking him down the stairs leading to the excavations beneath the church. Xenovia quickly retrieves Durandal and goes after the blond devil in the lower levels.

Due to the darkness, the bluenette enhanced her sight with Reinforcement just as the blond fired an explosive shot from his shotgun. Xenovia quickly blocks the shot with Durandal, the power of the shot making her slightly skid back. Using a sling portal, Naruto fires another shot at her only to have it miss when Xenovia used Time alter - triple accel to block what was supposed to be an impossible-to-miss shot before charging through the portal, thrusting her sword forward.

"She's improved her Innate Time Control!" Naruto quickly moves to the side and fires a 火-shaped blast of fire at point-blank range (Reference to Fire Blast in Pokémon), knocking her into a wall. Putting away his shotgun, Naruto activates Igneox's double-blades staff mode and engaged the bluenette in close quarters in the dark lower levels of the basilica, the strike of their blades creating sparks that briefly lit the darkness around them. In between clashes, parts of their suits were cut from the arms, legs, and waist, minor injuries instantly healing. Changing it up a little, Naruto had Igneox transform into katana mode. Reinforcing Durandal's blade, Xenovia swings it upward as Naruto's flaming blade glows an intense blue.

"Dragonaut Strike!" Naruto shouts as he swings his sword downward. The resulting clash destroys the ceiling above them, leading to the forecourt.

[Music End]

The First Roma

Feeling the clashing of two powers from where they were, Keito and Mary wake up, noticing the blond and bluenette were not in the room with them. Realizing they were out fighting each other, Keito, worried for the both of them, tells Mary to get dressed as they go check the basilica, leaving Sif and Kotomi to rest.

The Basilica of Saint Clement

From outside the basilica, Ayano could feel the amount of power they were giving off as she stood on one of the roofs, light rain pouring down on her. Down at the bottom levels, the small rain droplets poured down on them. While Xenovia's hair got wet, Naruto's flaming hair and blades produced a steady amount of steam.

"To think she'd be able to keep up with me like this at 20%...You may think you're not good enough, but the truth is...you are, maybe greater...I always thought you were...However, I can't tell you that with words. Only through my actions can you understand me..."

Narrowing their eyes, they close the distance as they engage one another once more, swinging their weapons at one another at blinding speeds. However, during the next swing, at the last second, Xenovia used Time alter - square accel to increase her speed, using that moment to use a reinforced strike that destroys the part of Igneox that emits the energy blade, surprising Naruto before the bluenette spun her body counterclockwise and knocked the partially destroyed Igneox from his hands with a kick, disarming the Rook and going for a horizontal strike as he's wide open. Naruto quickly plants his hands on the floor and kicks upward, disarming the bluenette as Durandal's blade flies up to the surface and lands in the fountain at the center of the forecourt. Stepping back, Xenovia takes out her pistols and fires at him.

The Rook puts his hands forward as a heat shield blocks the bullets before the shield's sent flying towards her. Putting her pistols together, she infused some of the energy into them and fired twin-charged shots, breaking through the shield, to Naruto's surprise, as they pierce his right shoulder. In that instant, Xenovia appears above him and, performing a vortex-like spin, rains hundreds of bullets upon the blond. Naruto managed to avoid the surprise attack as his injured right shoulder healed at a slow rate. Taking out his chain, he wrapped it around his left hand before running at the bluenette, blocking her shots with his chain covered hand and closing the distance with a flame-enhanced butterfly twist kick.

Naruto's attack missed as Xenovia aimed her right pistol at his face. The Rook quickly moves her hand before she pulls the trigger, missing her shot before aiming her left pistol at him. Naruto ducks the shot and executes a cartwheel kick to knock the gun away from her left hand. Xenovia backflips two times to distance herself from the Rook as she fires three shots at him. Naruto unravels his chain a bit and swings it, deflecting the bullets. When Naruto goes for his shotgun, Xenovia shoots it out of his hand before the blond disarms her of her remaining pistol and swung his chain again.

Xenovia dodged to her left to avoid it before going right to avoid the next swing. Naruto quickly changed the direction of his chain, ensnaring her right arm and pulling her towards him. The bluenette avoids Naruto's left fist, planting her feet on the floor and reinforcing her arms to increase her strength and used Naruto's own chain against him, swinging him around like a flail. Naruto hits the floor, walls, and columns hard, though it does little to damage him. Regaining his footing, Naruto infused his flames into his chain to force the bluenette to let go, but Xenovia infused her energy into it to counteract it, resulting in the chain's destruction.

"I liked that chain..." Naruto thought to himself as Xenovia traced Kanshou and Bakuya and ran at him, swinging the black blade in her left hand (Kanshou). Naruto manages to disarm her of Kanshou and kicks her away, wielding the black short sword in a reverse grip.

Holding Bakuya in her right hand, Xenovia holds it in a reverse grip as well as she and Naruto run at each other and engage in fast-paced, one-handed swordplay, swing their respective weapons at one another while alternating which hands they were holding their weapons in. Outside, Keito and Mary had just arrived, seeing the damage the two were making.

"Mary, we have to-"

"Don't interrupt," said Ayano, getting the couple's attention. "There's nothing for you to worry about. Let them finish their fight."

"But-"

"Trust me." As soon as she said that, Naruto and Xenovia came out of the large hole, still fighting, this time in the forecourt. Locking blades, they lock eyes with each other as the latter quickly knees the Rook in the stomach before holding Bakuya in a forward grip and striking Naruto's forehead with the bottom of the sword's handle, making him reel back, stunned a bit. As Xenovia went for a diagonal swing. Naruto recovers and kicks her into the air.

Recovering, Xenovia prepares a magic circle to act as a platform to propel her self towards Naruto as she performs a thrusting strike. Naruto reinforces Kanshou with his flames, making it Kanshou Infernedge before putting the blade in front of him as Xenovia reinforced Bakuya midway through, making it Bakuya Overedge. As soon as the reinforced blades connected, a powerful concussive force accompanying it as it lightly pushed Ayano, Keito, and Mary back.

As both opponents struggled with one another, Xenovia, noticing Naruto's blade cracking, applied more power to her attack, making the crack bigger every second. With one loud roar, the bluenette breaks Naruto's blade, her white blade stabbing into the Rook's left shoulder as she lands on top of him in a position that made it look like she was straddling the blond. The two looked at each other as they heavily breathed.

"I...win..." Xenovia told Naruto as she heavily breathes before clenching her teeth. Following that, tears flowed down Xenovia's face, the drops falling on Naruto's face as he exits his transformation. The traced weapons also fade away. "I've...beaten you..."

ED 3 Finale: グレイ by sajou no hana

"Yeah...you beat me..."

"Mm..." Burying her face into his chest, Xenovia cries as Naruto said nothing, the light rain still pouring down on them.

"Does this mean that you've sorted through your feelings?"

"Mm..."

"That's good..." he told her as he placed his right hand on the crying girl's head and stroked her hair. "This may be very late, but...I'm sorry for leaving you "that night"...and I'm sorry for leaving you in Oolacile...Can you forgive me, Xenovia?"

"Mm..."

"Do you...still want to kill me?" Xenovia answers with a simple no. "I see...Do you think you can get off?"

"No..."

"Is there a reason why?" Instead of answering, Xenovia looks up at the blond and initiates her first kiss with him, surprising the blond. Feeling the sensation of her lips, Naruto gives in to the bluenette's kiss. After 10 good seconds, the two part lips before the teary-eyed girl tells him, with a blushing smile, "Because I want us to stay like this for just a while longer, okay?"

"If that's what you want, then-" Xenovia shuts Naruto up with another kiss, inserting her tongue in his mouth as Ayano, Keito, and Mary watched.

"See? Nothing to worry about..." When Keito asked if it was okay for them to be doing that in the rain, Ayano assured them it was fine since Naruto was heating up their bodies, preventing the two from getting sick.

The next day

Sunday (6/12)

Morning

Villa D'Este

Naruto places a bouquet on the edge of the Neptune Fountain before both he, Xenovia, Keito, Mary, and Ayano each tossed a quarter into it. As they finish, Kotomi calls out their names, telling them they should hurry to the plane while Sif happily barks at them.

"Let's go, Xenovia." The bluenette smiled at him as she walks beside him, hand in hand, signifying their status as a couple.

Sunday (6/12) - Wednesday(6/15)

Late in the afternoon, Naruto, Xenovia, Kotomi, and Sif arrived at the Namikaze Residence, the blond found himself flabbergasted by the size of his renovated home. Entering the house, they are greeted by Shizune, who was left surprised when the Rook told her he and the bluenette were dating and that she and her pet were going to live with them. Curious, she asked them if something happened while they were in Rome, the two turning red before telling her it was a secret. After Shizune welcomed the bluenette to her new home and gave her a tour of it, Naruto was again surprised when he found Hoshikari cooking in the kitchen, with Fujino helping him. Asking them if they became best buddies with each other, the two denied it. He also got a notice telling him that Illya, Maki, Ange, Eu, and Chitose had moved in, Illyasviel wanting Naruto to be a big brother to her and take care of her while Irisviel was away with her husband, earning a sigh from the Rook.

Keito and Mary stayed with Caren until they found a nice empty building to rebuild their restaurant and find a nice place to live in.

On Monday, Xenovia enrolled in Kuoh Academy as a first-year, deciding to become the Agares Rook's Knight. She also started becoming best frenemies with Moka. At the same time, Naruto, no longer hiding his identity as a Devil, starts coming to school without his glasses, earning the jealousy of many boys as girls rushed at him and asked for his number. His classroom also had a new teacher, by the name of Rico Brzenska, start her first day at the academy, the teacher finding herself attracted to him. On that day, Issei called him the Conqueror of Women, to his annoyance. In the afternoon, while helping the Master/Servant couple move into the roof apartment Maki used to live in, Keito decided to become Naruto's Bishop, who was more than happy to accept him into his peerage.

The day after, Hoshikari enrolled at the academy, taking Shizune's last name and earning himself the attention of a few girls. Ayano also decided to enroll there, having a "duty" to stay close to Naruto, knowing it'd piss off Infernus.

On Wednesday, after school, Naruto helped Shino pack her things up, meeting Kazuto Kirigaya and his sister, Suguha, becoming fast friends with the siblings. Before she left, Shino gave him a big hug before she got into a moving truck rented by another friend of hers named Andrew Gilbert Mills (Agil). Before they left, Naruto made Kazuto promise him to take good care of Shino, the latter promising him before shaking hands with the thankful blond. As the moving truck left, Naruto looked on, a smile on his face as he turned and walked across the silent street to his house. Entering the dining room, Shizune welcomes him as everyone finished setting up the table for dinner.

"I'm home, everyone."


Post Credits

Dinner

With everybody seated, Shizune informs Naruto that she, Hoshikari, Xenovia, and Akame cooked the meals together, Naruto telling them he was looking forward to their dishes. As everyone is about to eat, Jiraiya enters the dining room, yelling, "Hey everybody, I'm..." Jiraiya stood where he was, silent before looking at Naruto, a serious look on his face.

"Naruto, who are all these girls? And who's that guy?"

"They're...friends I've made who are going to live with us?"

"First, I come home to a large mansion, and now this...WHAT DID I MISS WHILE I WAS GONE!?" Jiraiya yelled, a comical look on his face. After that, Eu wrote, "Yes Naruto, what did he miss while he was gone?" on her notepad and showed it to Naruto.

"It's a very long story..." Naruto could tell that Jiraiya was in for a huge explanation.

Agares Mansion

Study Room

Seekvaira rests her head on her desk as Alivian wondered what was going on.

"Not only did those girls decide to move in with Naruto, it seems that my Rook has a new girlfriend in the form of his new Knight, and his new Queen, Moka, is also getting the same attention from him as his new girlfriend...I wish I could find a way to get closer to him like them. I envy their school life..."

"You can try enrolling there," Alivian suggests.

"Please, I'm too smart for school. There's no way I'd...Wait...I GOT IT!" Rising from her chair, Seekvaira slams her hands on her desk before turning to Alivian and telling him, "I'M GOING TO BE A TEACHER'S ASSISTANT!"

"...Eh?"

TO BE CONTINUED...


グレイ by sajou no hana

Surely, everyone's dreaming

Of a world full of dazzling tomorrows

Surely, without my concern

The world will be filled with a color that never disappears

Why am I crying, I wonder?

Am I just supposed to accept someone's hatred?

When did it become like this?

There's no answer anywhere

When I ride the feelings that emerge

I gently pierce through a light blue

The words that begin to overflow

I'm singing them again

Since when did my heart start unraveling?

Surely, everyone's dreaming

Of deciding the color of the world by yourself

Surely, before long, they'll notice

I'm standing still in the corner of the stage

We have already given up

Being a sweep of someone's hatred

Before I noticed, my emotions have become cloudy

And I had become gray

The sky is smiling at me

I missed that blue

If I could live like you do

How many times have I wished for it, I wonder

Surely, being loved is scary

So I escaped into an achromatic room

I want to try to live in the colored world again

When I ride the feelings that emerge

I gently pierce through a light blue

I am singing out again

The overflowing words

When did it began?

My long-frozen feelings

Are becoming colored again


Finally, now I can focus on what comes next. I was constantly wondering how should this arc end, but after seeing Mob Psych 100 Season 2 Episode 1, after hearing this song, I finally decided on a fight that ended with Xenovia winning, thus releasing all her feelings and start things anew with Naruto. I also had this song in mind when I wrote the ending part. There were so many choices but eventually, kissing under the light rain became the winner.

The way Xenovia was acting, I reread some chapters of My Hero Academia, observing how Bakugou felt after All Might's retirement.

I also had to look up the building plans for the basilica they have their fight in. The reason I picked the basilica is that well...What better way to end it than finishing it where it all began?

If you're wondering, no Naruto didn't go easy on her in this fight. He was actually having a hard time fighting the bluenette. The times Naruto and Xenovia fought, the Rook held back, not wanting to hurt her. In this, I felt them going out was a way for them to vent out everything that has happened to them in one large duel. At first, I wanted to end with them having sex after the fight, but that was the pervy me talking, so I decided to save the ecchi for a later time.

For those wanting blood, it pains me to say that Esdeath has escaped and that she's somewhere, plotting...waiting. When the fight comes, I want her to be a force to be reckoned with. I want her to be an actual challenge to Naruto. You'll see Kurome at some point during the Peace Treaty Arc, her own personal things going on. Akame may face her, eventually gaining Murasame from Maki somehow who knows. There's also Honest and Kotei, who "run" the Church. I may or may not introduce a priest from Rising of the Shield Hero at some point, still debating. At that part, I may introduce Sayaka Kirasaka and the cast of Strike the Blood in a small crossover. Gotta think of the future, ya know?

In between, or in some chapters of their own in the next arc, I want to, hopefully, add Night Raid, who request Naruto's help on a few occasions. Maybe they'll appear during the Peace Treaty as guards?

After re-thinking things, I have decided to change Xenovia becoming Rias's Knight to Naruto's. After all, since she eventually goes with Issei in the canon light novels, why not give her to Naruto right away? I also decided to change her to a first-year as well.

Jiraiya makes a return...AND HE'S SO CONFUSED! Next chapter WILL continue where this left off.

With Hoshikari being told he was in control of his own life now, I felt this was him moving forward and begin filling his heart with love, with help from the people he will slowly come to see as both friends and family.

Next chapter will be some downtime with a little violence/action here and there. Moka and Xenovia also get moments (hopefully). I'd like to experiment with their rivalry now that Naruto knows that she loves him, and Moka knowing he feels the same. Next chapter will also have everyone's parents visiting the academy, leading up to the peace talks between the three factions.

Seekvaira being a teacher's assistant...I originally planned to have her be a student, but a forbidden student-teacher's assistant relationship is pretty hot so...I went with that. Issei and Naruto will also (hopefully) interact more since their lives as reincarnated Devils have merged. I also want to try and fit in more interactions with others in order to build more to the many friendships/relationships the two make along the way.

Archer and Xenovia may start to interact more, the Servant deciding to teach her younger self how to master her abilities. I'm debating whether to have Archer be low on mana, forcing her to kiss her younger self, Naruto, or Moka in order to replenish it or not. However, I, and/or we, will cross that bridge eventually.

Shino is out for a fairly or very long while. You'll see Shirabi, but Shino will be mentioned on rare occasions.