I require someone to figure out when the Short Stories, DX Novels, Volume 13, and EX take place, like when did they happen, after let's say the Rating Game between Rias and Riser, or before the Peace Treaty between the Three Factions. This way I can fill in some gaps into FIREBRAND. It's very important that I know where all of these extra story chapters are taking place so I can add them to FIREBRAND. In short, any volunteers to look into each of these short stories and determine their point in the DxD timeline?
I have been taking time to write other stuff that I want to write, like Journey to Now Part III and updating previous FIREBRAND chapters. There will be day skips involved but I like exploring more days as it helps build things, which I won't go into detail, because it can either be bad or worse, one of them being a small focus for one character in particular. All you need to know is that it is very complicated, and possibly a bit much since someone is definitely going to whack it.
I'm also figuring out the sex scene between Naruto and Xenovia, who is dressed as a boy during Crown Savers, which may be considered canon, or what I'd call a true route for those who prefer this small scene over the other one. It's like what "BTOOOM!" did for their endings, where the dark one is the true one and the light one is the one most manga would have as an ending.
Responding to (some) reviews
Guest
:Is it just me or is this fic confusing as hell?
First off: Why tf is Naruto such a cheat? (He literally f* Sona and her Bishop has multiple relationships, but still calls only 1 Girl his GF).
2.: Why is it, that he gets beaten by characters who are coming out of nowhere? And where were they before?
3.: Why is the Main Cast so goddamn weak (Villains and Protagonists alike)?
Otherwise the Story is quite entertaining.
A:
1. Issei has his own harem being developed throughout the LN but Naruto can't have one and get it on with some of them? Between him and Issei, Naruto goes forward with it and goes for the sex, most of the time at least. As for Xenovia, it's okay to have a relationship out in the open, especially when Rias is by now Issei's girlfriend, or rather is but hasn't make it known to the academy that she is taken.
2. These characters have their own things to deal with outside of the story. For Hoshikari he was working for Raynare and by extension his father, Zellmon included before Hoshiari switched sides. For these sort of characters, Naruto's emergence as this powerful Rook brings them out of strange places, and would not be known by the canon characters of DxD. To put it short, they were occupied with their own duties before Naruto caught their radar. With Naruto Namikaze, you would need people like them who have a sort of fortitude to go up against him besides the Hero Faction and Khaos Brigade.
3. They'll get there gradually, just not right away, I believe they still have room to get stronger, they just need experience that will push them to go further. With Issei, it's about him trying to live up to expectations as best as he can while also dealing with the pain and trauma he bears witness to as a result of his powerlessness. Akeno and I believe Koneko get a moment to shine in Part III, Maki is always developing but I believe no one has noticed yet. I mean for me, developing as a character for Maki is her getting stronger, especially now that she's a lot more open with Seekvaira and her peerage. Moka will get her own development in Part IV or V, that's for sure. When it comes to the Rias and Sona Rating Game, I will do my best to make it show how both sides have developed, though I will say this, Xenovia vs Tsubaki will be crazy.
Thank you, I hope I can continue to have you entertained with FIREBRAND as chapters get posted.
Guest
And now Xenovia, who beats Naruto, lost against Kurome this easily? And Akame won easily against her?
A: She is still Akame's sister, she doesn't want to do harm on her, and she was occupied with trying to stop Kurome from killing Akame, who was resting at the ORC Building and was vulnerable to getting killed somewhat.
Akame was always strong, even stronger than Xenovia in terms of skill, especially with the katana and martial arts. Her memories may have been gone prior to becoming part of the Namikaze family, but her skills were still there subconsciously, which were refined by and kept fresh with help from taking kendo and practicing martial arts with Kushina.
Guest
Dude, this is just ridiculous. In ehery goddamn training fight naruto lost.. Xenovia, Seekvaira, Akame... following the Logic of this fanfic, this three could easily wipe the floor with Villains like Kokabiel or Vali... This is complete Bullshit and you know it (especially with Akame who never really trained before and just now began training). Please: Stop with this bs Power Scaling and make Akame and the Peerage Members of Seekvaira weaker. Otherwise it wouldn't make any sense.
A: People like Alivian, Scáthach, and Ayano are really strong, Alivian because he's not Seekvaira's Queen for nothing. Scáthach was already a god killing immortal before she met Seekvaira, and Seekvaira really wanted her to join the Peerage, knowing she has very useful skills and abilities that would benefit her. Naruto is only able to utilize 20% of Infernus' power, plus he always has room to grow if he has them to train him. With Seekvaira's Peerage, when it comes to strength, a large majority of it is mostly based in skill, Maki with her life as an assassin, Irisviel with healing and wire magic, Rinne with her life as an MMA Fighter, Ange as a spy who utilizes a ball that manipulates gravity and other sorts of old-style weaponry, Eucliwood as a Reaper, and Pekoyama as a member of a clan of samurai. Only Alivian and Scáthach are based on both strength and skill. They may be strong, but only in skill for a good majority of them, and they still train to keep in fighting form and shape.
While Akame is strong, she has only been on one mission which was during her days as an exorcist, one she couldn't fulfill due to knowing the target. It's hard to say who would fight on par with her or would be able to give her a fight, especially when she has yet to get any sort of action following Part II and now.
It is rare for the whole peerage to come together since they all have responsibilities that don't allow some of them to assemble. Iri being a Mom to Illya and dealing with more diplomatic situations are why she isn't always around.
majikss
why did naruto fail this game if he's been training
A: He's still working on his throwing, which aren't always going to land. He's fairly good with a shotgun though, and later a pistol. This is during Part 0, which is still Naruto in training.
majikss
why are you bringing fate/stay shit into this
A: More Fate/GO than fate/stay night. Also, this universe is heavily rich in magic so Fate was going to be expected, especially since Alaya (The World) is rooted in almost every part of the multiverse.
OP5: Burning Soul by GARNiDELiA
Wed (8/13)
11 days until Rias vs Sona Rating Game
With Kiba
Bael Territory
8:04 pm
"Good work today as usual, Kiba. I am proud to say you've gotten most of your touch back, a good change from when you came to me following the announcement of the Youth Devil Rating Game Tournament and your King's Rating Game with the Sitri heiress. I found it a bit horrifying when you revealed to me that you had fully adopted Western sword techniques, forcing me to start teaching you from square one. You really let your skills go dull a bit, but surely that shine is starting to come back." With a smile, Kiba thanked his Master for today's session before apologizing for forgetting the teachings of Tennen Rishin-Ryu.
"You relearning the Tennen Rishin-Ryu is apology enough. Truthfully, you are free to use whatever style suits you, just as long as you never forget your origin. DO remember that you can adapt Tennen Rishin-Ryu to your preferred style and create something unique only to you."
"I understand."
"Good, I also must point out that your overall progress in your training has slowed down a bit the past seven days."
"It has..."
"On those days your progress slowed, it looked like your mind was elsewhere. Would you like to talk about it? We have some time before you have to go." A little panicked, Kiba told his Master it wasn't anything important to talk about, and that if his progress is making results despite the slight decrease in the pace he was going, then it wasn't that big of a deal. "You may believe it, but whatever it is that's slowing it, just hope it won't turn into a big one if you don't confront it as soon as possible."
"Thanks for your concern, but I would like to handle this myself. Please put your trust in me, Master." While not buying his answer, Kiba's Master allowed his student to handle his own problems, though not without telling him once more that he should resolve the problem and not have it make trouble for himself and for others who may potentially get involved in it. Kiba's Master then bids him a good night and lets him go back to his King's Mansion after.
Gremory Territory
Gremory Main Residence
Living Room
8:39 pm
"Welcome back, Kiba," Rias said to her Knight after he appears in the living room via spell circle. "How was training?"
"I'm progressing at an exceptional pace. My Master says I've gotten my touch back as well."
"That's good to hear, Kiba. I'm sure when Xenovia comes back from her mission, you two can discuss how to-" Rias stops as soon as she hears Kiba yawning, she apologizes to him. "I shouldn't keep you up after the long day you had."
"Perhaps we can talk more later tomorrow?"
"If time allows. Good night Kiba."
Kiba's Room
Lying in his bed, Kiba's forehead started sweating, letting out quiet gasps as to not let anyone with good ears like Koneko hear him.
Thurs (8/14)
10 days until Rias vs Sona Rating Game
Gremory Territory
Backyard
7:45 am
On the way to meet his master for training, Kiba found Xenovia training by herself, the difference being she was wielding a katana, and was practicing on singular slashes. Kiba couldn't help but be amazed by how well-executed each one was. Her posture, along with her breathing control had been further improved upon, possibly the result of training with Archer and Maki (Harukawa), or perhaps by Griselda before she (Xenovia) became a Devil.
"Hey Kiba! Heading out now!?" Issei asked him, startling the Gremory Knight and alerting Xenovia of their presence. "Oh, it's Xenovia! Hey!"
"Hey to you as well, Issei," the bluenette said to Issei as she waved hello to him, with a smile to go with it. "You too Kiba."
"When did you get back?" asked the Gremory Pawn, Xenovia telling him Naruto and her returned at around 6 in the morning today.
"He used a portal to send me here before he left. Since then I've been training by myself while waiting for Kiba. I really want to go see this Master of yours, possibly learn something from him before Archer arrives tomorrow to help me train."
"So that's why..." When asked what other reason would there be for her to wait for him, Kiba asked if there had to be any other reason.
"Just wondering, since we are going to be working together in this Rating Game. You might have been eager to plan some maneuvers to better deal with Sona's peerage," she tells Kiba. "Reasons aside, where does this master of yours live?"
"About 45 miles from here," said the Gremory Knight.
"Are there any roads that lead us to where he is?"
"Yes, why?" Xenovia had a huge grin on her face in response to Kiba's question. Gesturing the two to follow her, she shows them the dark blue Honda Nighthawk 250 Irina's Mom gave her, having decided to take it with her to the Underworld to ride around. Getting on and putting on her helmet, Xenovia offers the other helmet to Kiba while telling him to get on. Putting on the helmet and sitting behind the bluenette, Kiba is asked if he ate breakfast yet.
"I had some toast and orange juice." Thinking about it, Xenovia happily decides to take a detour to grab some breakfast, recalling a diner in Bael territory she heard Koneko talk about during one of their training sessions. "See you later Issei."
"You too, Xenovia." With that, the Namikaze Knight rides off with Kiba.
Bael Territory
Unnamed Diner
Seeing Xenovia happily humming to herself while figuring out what to order, Kiba still couldn't believe that was the girl who beat him. Though 2 months had passed since the fight with Kokabiel, he had yet to get used to, or even process the change in the girl's personality, even when they were at school. Catching him staring, Xenovia asked him if she was taking too long to figure out what to order.
"These things take time, especially when trying out a new restaurant, ya know."
"It's not that, I'm just...unlike the other members of my peerage, I'm still getting used to seeing you so carefree and..." Xenovia gives him a bothered look, making him go silent.
"You are a weirdo Yuuto Kiba," Xenovia tells him. "If anything, I find it hard to believe you're Kuoh Academy's Prince by all the girls. I even think you secretly like guys since in all the times I've seen you interacting with your fangirls, you're always looking at Issei when he's around."
"It's not like that," said Kiba. "I do have interests in girls, but I put my friendship with my King's Peerage and Issei first."
"That's a shame to hear," Xenovia says to him as she pulls out an erotic one-shot out of nowhere. "Because I wrote this for the academy's Manga Club's series, "Prince x Beast". I put a lot of work into it during a weekly contest where anyone could submit a chapter idea. I even got Jiraiya's help on making this happen. The girls in that club chose it out of the other thirteen entries." Seeing the book in her hands, Kiba looked shocked that she not only thought he was gay, but she wrote an erotic chapter for "Prince x Beast" as well.
"To think you see me like that..." Suddenly, Kiba hears Xenovia let out a laugh, confusing him.
"Relax, I know you're not into guys...yet."
"Yet?"
"You never know. As for this one-shot, Naruto wrote it during our time in London. I did help add some tweaks into it." Kiba had a strange look on his face that told Xenovia the boy was flabbergasted to know the Namikaze Rook was the one who wrote the one-shot.
"He wrote that?"
"The story behind it is a very strange one but I'm not going to go into details," Xenovia answers. "I am sorry to have done this evil to you."
"It's...fine really."
"...You know, you remind me of someone I used to know before I became an exorcist."
"I do?"
"Yeah. He almost looks like you, save for the eyes. Yours is blue, but his was green. He was kind of like Naruto, thought about the needs of others as well as his own. Once I started my training as an exorcist, I never saw him again." Curious about this, Kiba asked her what happened to the boy she knew. "He and another friend were taken to receive training under Church Official Quinella."
"You believe you'll see him again?" Finished figuring out what to order, she puts down her menu brochure and tells Kiba she wasn't sure about it, looking a little sad when talking about the boy, wondering if he was okay or still alive, but she held onto hope that he was and would see him again one day. "I wonder how he'll look like when I do see him."
"What was his name?"
"Eugeo."
"So I look like him..."
"Could you be related to him?" Immediately, Kiba tells Xenovia he had no siblings.
With Naruto
Agares Territory
Unnamed Mountains
11:20 am
[Jujutsu Kaisen 0 OST - Practice]
Seekvaira uses her light whips to swing around her surroundings and avoid being hit by Naruto's fireballs as she tries closing the distance between them, using her axe to knock away some when she couldn't avoid them. Swinging high up into the air until she was above him, she throws her axe at Naruto, catching him off guard when she sped up the time it took for her axe to fly towards him using her magic, finding its blade now deep into his right shoulder.
Naruto quickly but painfully pulls out the axe and throws it aside, allowing his injury to heal instantaneously under the effects of the Sun as Seekvaira sprouts her wings and flew straight at him. When he is about to throw a concussive punch, Seekvaira sped up her own time, instantly appearing below Naruto to grab her axe as soon as her Rook executes his attack. Using Skip, a spell that allowed her to perform certain actions using time magic to shorten them to an instant, Seekvaira, axe poised over her head, appears above Naruto again, smiling as she lets out a whistle.
"Shit!" Naruto turns himself into flames and moved back to prevent the swing from hitting him. He casts Agilao, forming a fireball near Seekvaira that is about to explode. The King puts a shield rune in front of her, protecting her from the spell before it shatters, the force of her Rook's attack knocking her back as Naruto forms a staff made out of flame and flew towards her.
Seekvaira countered Naruto with her axe as he swung his flaming staff at her many times trying to get a hit in. Finding an opening to counterattack, she kicks his staff upward with her left foot, then hits him with her left shoulder. This would be a mistake as Naruto had applied a thin layer of heat over his chest which absorbs the impact and sends the strike back at her. While unscathed, Seekvaira found the top left side of her clothes were blown off, exposing her light green lacy bra.
The Agares King puts her left hand in front of her as a light mandala forms and stops the flame staff Naruto hurled at her as a spear before it disappears.
Putting his left hand forward, four glowing orbs of flame form in front of his four fingers (pointing to pinky), Naruto pulls the orbs of heat back, making them stretch back, and released his hold on them, sending them flying towards Seekvaira in the form of guiding arrows. In her head, Seekvaira took the time to express how the way he fired them was cool, putting her axe in front of her to block the four projectiles before they hit her. Lowering her axe, Seekvaira's eyes shot wide open when Naruto conjured an ethereal fox head that exhaled flames at her.
"That's a new one!" Seekvaira uses Shield Magic that was constantly being reinforced with Light of Luceras to protect herself from the flames before it's immediately broken through by an explosive blast released by her Rook after the flames had stopped. "And that's an even newer one!"
Naruto followed the attack up by enveloping himself in flames and lunging forward while spinning in a corkscrew manner, managing to knock Seekvaira into the side of one of the mountains. As Naruto flew straight at her, Seekvaira coughs from the dust around her before telling Naruto, "Alright, you win, we'll have omurice for lunch in Japan." This response makes Naruto stop mere inches away from her, the blond giving her a smile.
"I know just the place."
"Just let me go back and change first." Naruto adds on to it, saying they will also need to bring Sayaka with, much to Seekvaira's annoyance at having the observer around, which showed on her face in the form of an unhappy frown. "Have to, plus I think she's mellowed a little after I came back from London."
[Music End]
Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan
Kanda Tamagoken
1:20 pm
"Never thought I'd be glad to have lost a fight against you," a satisfied Seekvaira told Naruto, the two having finished five separate servings of the 8 lb Omurice Challenge, with Sayaka having an omurice with tomato & hashed beef sauce. "This was way better than my idea to go to the Heart Attack Grill in Vegas."
"Told you." When asked if he wanted to order anything else by the waitress, Naruto decides to go for an omurice with veggies as Sayaka asked for one with creamy mushroom sauce.
"...You can do explosions now?" asked Sayaka, wanting to make sure she heard it right.
"Yeah."
"Fire, Heat, and now Explosions," Sayaka says to herself, massaging a migraine. "Do not get me started on what your girlfriend wrote for me while she was with you in London."
"Naruto?" Turning around, Naruto looked surprised to see Shino, with Shirabi waving hello to him, Seekvaira, and Sayaka.
1:35 pm
While Shirabi ate with Seekvaira and Sayaka, the Agares Queen and the observer ordering more food for themselves, Naruto decided to eat with Shino at a separate table to catch up with her in private, the girl looking amazed by Naruto's appetite, having witnessed her ex consuming two 8 lb Omurice Challenges.
"You're really packing all that in," Shino said with a smile before taking a bite out of her omurice with hamburger steak. "Any plans to try competitive eating? You'd be able to break the streak of 9 time eating champion Choji Akimichi with no problem. There's an eating contest happening two hours from now."
"Not in my life," Naruto answered, earning a chuckle from bespectacled girl, the Rook ordering an omurice with hashed beef sauce and beef. "I don't need to outdo him to get back at him. I am okay just being here."
"You know Choji Akimichi?"
"We used to go to elementary school. We were classmates, though not official friends. He was okay, until he left me alone to be with an already formed circle of friends." Having gotten new details on Naruto's elementary school days regarding his lack of friends, Shino apologized for bringing Choji up.
"It's fine. I am...over it. What about you? How have you been, Shino?" Naruto asked while waiting for his order. "How's your Summer been so far?"
"I've been doing good both at school and in my personal life, the latter which I won't go much in detail. As for Summer, it's been lively, thank you for asking," said Shino. "My Mother is making good progress with her therapy. I've even went with her to some of them. I am really looking forward to November, when we'll be able to live together again."
"It is good to hear you're doing well."
"Thanks. I've also been keeping up with my gaming in "Fatal Bullet". Did you know that Zaskar is planning to rename it and make major changes to the game next month?"
"What?"
"Yeah, they plan to get rid of a large majority of the melee weapons in the game to make room for more guns that will be introduced after the update and to expand the story." Naruto looked bothered by this, knowing he'd have to say goodbye to his in-game chain whip. "They will compensate Players for the changes that will be made."
"Do you know what they plan to call it after these changes?" asked Naruto.
"Gun Gale Online."
"...I liked the previous title better."
"Same, but everyone will get used to it, eventually. That is, if players like the changes...Xenovia's been playing with me a bit during her breaks when she isn't training. She told me you were going to fight someone to promote a Rating Game Tournament?"
"Yeah, it's a very tall guy who can manipulate earth." When asked if he thinks he can win, Naruto tells Shino he wasn't sure, having seen what he was capable of. "The best I can do is fight with everything I have."
"I am sure you can beat him. You managed to beat that one-winged fallen angel who's now living with you, and you stopped a war from starting and helped get a treaty signed. I'm willing to believe you'll win."
"How much did Xenovia tell you?" Shino takes the time to have a sip from her cup of tea before saying she told her everything including his trip to Okinawa. "There's nothing wrong with your ex hanging with your current girlfriend, is there?"
"N-Not at all..."
"...Hey Naruto?"
"Yeah?"
"Shirabi is in need of some extra hands at her shop. Her uncle injured his back and is recovering for today. Do you think you have some time to come help me and her run the shop before my friends (Kazuto, Asuna, Lizbeth, and Suguha) come tomorrow to hang out for the Summer and also help out? Maybe ask a few more to come help, like Joichi?" Naruto tells her he'll need to ask permission from Seekvaira to help out, the Agares King, having listened in on their whole conversation, telling him it was okay.
"As for Joichi, he's out on a family trip for the Summer, so I'm going to ask Xenovia. She's been meaning to check out Shirabi's shop. She got into collecting swords after seeing Kagura's collection, along with sports equipment."
"For her, I believe Shirabi's willing to give her a discount, if she finds the right words to say to her."
"When she wants, she can be very smooth talking."
"Where is she by the way?"
With Xenovia
Bael Territory
2:05 pm
Kiba's Master, revealed to be Souji Okita stood in place as he watched Kiba and Xenovia swing the katanas the Lucifer Knight gave them, wanting to see their ways of fighting and how well Xenovia could wield the weapon. While there was some work needed to be done to improve the bluenette's fighting technique, something Kiba excelled in, he gave her credit for having excellent breathing control, finding hers to be better controlled than Kiba's. He concluded that her explosive swings were not only from the strength of her weapon, but also from inhaling the maximum amount of oxygen within a specific breath pattern to raise her physical and mental prowess to their utmost limits, then releasing them through her sword swings which could either be explosive or precise.
"Stop." Having heard the words telling them to stop, Kiba and Xenovia face Okita, wondering what he had to say to them.
"Xenovia-chan, besides your breathing control, your techniques with the katana, while impressive, seem limited. Who is your swordmaster?"
"A Servant who is me from an alternate future." The Knight's response surprises Okita, not expecting her teacher to be a Servant.
"What class is she?"
"Archer."
"An archer, who is you from another timeline, who can wield a katana?"
"She can wield a wide assortment of weapons, which she can create out of thin air." Now understanding how she came to have the fighting style she now used, Okita tells her to continue improving upon her sword techniques, stating she was getting close to being a great Knight.
"You think so?"
"Probably not as great as Kiba, but great enough to stand at the same level." Out of nowhere, Naruto appears in front of them using a sling portal.
"Sorry for popping in out of nowhere Xenovia. Are you busy?"
"I was just about to leave soon after talking to Kiba's Master. Why?"
"Shino asked me to grab you and some others to come help her run Shirabi's shop. If you have plans I can ask someone else."
"I can help. We still have ten days left before the Rating Game." Facing Kiba, Xenovia asked if he wants to help.
"Me?" Kiba asked, pointing to himself.
"Sure, it'd mean a lot to Shirabi," said Naruto.
"Kiba would be glad to help out," Okita said to Naruto, Kiba asking his Master if he was sure he should go. "I am sure. You still have days left to train, and I am confident that you'll be ready before "that time" comes."
"Then I'm off." Watching them as they leave and the portal closed, Okita formed a worried frown on his face.
With Issei
A shirtless Issei fell to his knees after firing off a Dragon Shot at the Blaze Meteor Dragon Tannin, who had swatted it aside with his right hand, noting a small scratch on his forearm to the Gremory Pawn.
"Playing Hide-and-Seek with me every days has improved your stamina, and your Dragon Power has certainly improved since the time we first met. You've done well to be where you are now. Though judging by the look on your face, you are not satisfied with the results?"
"It's nice that both my stamina and magic power were boosted, but I still can't manage Balance Breaker. I am grateful for your help, but I can't help feeling frustrated. In the end, I couldn't achieve that goal, for Koneko, Asia, and the others."
"Young Pawn of Rias, do not fret about this. A power like yours works in all sorts of mysterious ways. You may not have achieved it since we started, but it will find a way to come forth."
"You may be right," said Issei, recalling how Naruto went into "that form" and killed Kokabiel with it. The Rook couldn't assume it whenever he needed it, like he with Balance Breaker. It showed just how much space the two still had left to grow. If he can achieve it, what would Naruto think of him?
With Rias
Gremory Main Residence
Rias' Office
"You can't spare Eu or Irisviel? Even Asagami-chan?" Rias found herself in quite a predicament following Asia being sent to the hospital by Malty. Because of the former official, Rias was down a Bishop and was asking Seekvaira through a magic communication orb, for another member loan.
"Rinne and Xenovia are the only ones we agreed to lend and only lend, especially since you already submitted the final roster after the gathering, and the higher-ups won't allow you to change it, at least until your fight with Sona is complete. Even if I could, Iri can't because of her responsibilities as a Mother and as a leader of her own territories, and Eu refuses to work under anyone but me, with Fujino being the same with Naruto."
"What am I going to do Seek-chan? There's only ten days until the game and Asia still hasn't woken up. Can't you just let Namikaze-kun heal her?"
"Rias, I care for you as one of my oldest friends, but you need to figure this out yourself. You are the King of your own Peerage, therefore the responsibility for Asia's recovery lies with you and your Peerage. I among others like that Irina girl won't always be so gracious as to help out out of the goodness of our hearts. I really hope you can figure something out and Asia wakes up before the day of the Rating Game, or Sona's going to win by default."
"Me too..."
"Truly this is quite a predicament you have on your hands, Rias," Azazel tells the Gremory King as he entered soon after the call with Seekvaira ends.
"Were you eavesdropping on our conversation Azazel?" Rias asked with a questioning look on her face.
"I honestly just came in, but from the few words you exchanged with Seekvaira, I can tell you are in a huge pinch."
"...I can't switch out Asia with another Bishop, and unless Asia wakes up, we won't be able to do the Rating Game with Sona," said the Gremory Queen, sounding frustrated while clenching her fists to go with it. "I should have stopped that fight that time, but if I didn't...I can't back out of the Game, I cannot allow it Azazel, not when the others worked so hard to get ready for it."
"I understand...You'll need quite a miracle to get through this. Real shame we can't pray for one." While Rias conversed with Azazel, Issei was listening in on their conversation, his teeth clenched to hold back the urge to cry from hearing how dire their situation was for the Rating Game.
With Issei
Exiting the residence, a deep in thought Issei stops in his tracks when Naruto appears before him through a sling portal.
"So this is where you've- Oh, hey you okay man?"
"I'm good, Naruto."
"You don't look okay. Something happen during your training?" Issei answers saying it didn't involve his training. "Asia?"
"...Yeah."
"Hmmm...You want to step out for today?" Issei looks at Naruto, wondering what he had in mind. "I was hoping to ask you to come help out at Shirabi's shop, but if you aren't feeling well I can go and-"
"No, I'll go," said Issei. Shooting a questioning look towards the Pawn, Naruto wanted to make sure the Gremory Pawn meant it. Once sure, Naruto and Issei enter the sling portal, the blond closing it behind them after.
With Naruto
Gozen's
"My, I never expected to have these hands helping around," said a happy Shirabi, seeing Issei and Naruto manning the front desk with Shino as Nero, Sayaka, Xenovia and Kiba welcome the customers and show them around the shop.
"Here you go, a toy sword for your son," Xenovia said to a father as she hands his seven-year old son a plastic katana.
"This shop sells toy weapons to kids now?" Naruto asked Shino as the seven year old boy gratefully takes the toy from the bluenette's hands.
"For 800 yen," Shino tells him with a smile. "Shirabi figured since there are times where customers tend to bring their children in here, the shop might as well sell toy weapons."
"Hey gorgeous, I couldn't help but notice you as I walked into this-"
"Either you make a purchase or you turn around and leave," Sayaka told the confident boy. "By calling me gorgeous, you already failed your attempt to hit on me. Had I not stopped you, I would have given you a letdown that would destroy your confidence far more than I did within the first two sentences. I would call a friend to help you get through the pain of getting rejected as soon as you leave this shop." Finished speaking, Sayaka finds the boy frozen in place with his mouth still open from trying to hit on her.
"Can anyone deal with this rejected boy? I'm going to go help another customer." Nero quickly heads over, lifts the boy up and carries him out the shop.
"Sayaka?" Turning her head to face Shino, the observer sees the girl gesture her to come to her with a smile. Walking over to the counter, Sayaka asked Shino if there was something she could help with. "Switch with me."
"Is there something I did wrong?"
"No, I just feel it best to keep you behind the counter, no reasons why needed." Once Sayaka went behind the counter, Shino quickly instructs her on how to work the register then leaves to help a customer who just came in.
"You're going to be bringing a child in to this world in a week?" Xenovia asked a customer who was getting a present for his wife, who was a sword instructor at a dojo in Nagoya.
"A second one. It's a girl." Putting on a smile, she walks over to grab a dark green katana that would suit the occasion. "This one will be perfect for your wife. As you can see, the pierced tsuba displays a water garden with a lotus flower and tree and inlaid beneath the knotted grip wrap are a silvered frog and snail menuki to symbolize good fortune and fertility. The overall craftsmanship of this sword embodies the essence of the Summer season."
"This is perfect, thank you so much."
"Glad I could be of some help, sir."
6:30 pm
"Thank you so much for coming to help you guys!" says a grateful Shirabi, bowing her head to them alongside Shino. "Now, as thanks, allow me to treat you all to a nice meal!"
"Oh, you don't need to treat us," Kiba told Shirabi, saying he and everyone else were just glad to help.
"No, I insist!" said the silver-haired girl, sounding adamant. "You all sacrificed your time to come, so let me do this for all of you."
"I could go for something not very elegant or extravagant," Naruto says everyone, referring to the meals served at the Agares and Gremory households. While the dishes served were delicious and well-prepared and plated, right now he wanted a meal that was toned down and didn't require proper etiquette to eat them. Xenovia raised her hand, admitting it was hard to eat meals with etiquette without resorting to how she wants to eat them.
"...What do you think Issei?"
"If she insists on paying for all of us, I'm not refusing." With Issei onboard, Kiba agrees to eat with them. "What sort of place do you have in mind?"
Rice & Circus Takadanobaba (Second Floor)
Shinjuku
Issei, Kiba, and Sayaka went pale, seeing customers inside the restaurant chowing down on some dishes that had insects in them.
"How many people?" the waitress asked Shirabi.
"Eight!" she happily told the waitress, who then guides them to their table. Xenovia looks and, to her surprise, finds Keito and Mary eating at a small table next to theirs and calls their name.
"Oh, Xenovia, hey!" Keito says in a greeting tone as Mary happily puts a spoonful of silkworm chawanmushi into her mouth. "What a surprise to see you all here."
"We just got done helping Shirabi, who brought us here."
"Pull up a chair everyone, this is some really good stuff."
"Hold on a second!" Issei says in a loud voice. "Naruto, you realize this place serves insects in some of their dishes right?"
"Yeah. It doesn't bother me. I did get grossed out eating insects for a while, but now I tolerate them." With a smile, Shino adds how she had eaten here with Shirabi a few times and enjoyed the food, including how she was used to it after consuming them in "Fatal Bullet".
"Don't worry, they mainly serve other stuff like crocodile tempura," Shirabi assured Issei. "Now, let's sit down, all this talk makes me hungrier. With everyone seated, Shirabi orders for the rest of the table, the cooks serving them dishes like scorpion with onion, Boiled grasshoppers in soy sauce, Ant egg omelet, Ant friend rice, a Six insect variety platter (grasshoppers, silkworms, scorpions, grubs, scarab beetles, diving beetles), Todo sashi (Sea lion meat sashimi), Wani no tempura (Alligator tempura), Rakuda niku no tonpeiyaki (Camel meat tonpeiyaki), Usagi niku no shikoji karaage (Deep fried rabbit meat with salted rice malt), Uzura no marugoto isobeage (Whole, isobe fried quail), fried giant isopods, and Ahiru no yude tamago (Duck balut).
Issei, Kiba, and Sayaka avoided the insect dishes, with the others happily chowing down on them with no problems at all. Xenovia found herself ordering several platters of scorpion with onions, enjoying the crunchy texture of the shell and the beef jerky taste that had a slight taste of fish in it. Seeing the three avoiding the insect dishes, Xenovia told them they should try the dishes they were doing their best to avoid.
"The cooks worked really hard on these dishes. To not try them is very insulting to them. What if the three of you were in a situation where you need to survive and there are only insects to eat in a situation where you need to forage for food?"
"Like that would ever happen!" Issei told Xenovia.
"...Very well, I shall try some," said Sayaka, sounding brave while picking up a plate of ant fried rice, and while showing a look of disgust tries a spoonful. Her eyes abruptly opening, the observer's cheeks flush in delight at how good it was, silently eating the dish.
"Just like that!?" Issei shouts. Picking up a fried giant isopod, Xenovia told Kiba to eat it. Looking at it, then her, and then back at it, he takes it off her hands and pops it in her mouth. Like Sayaka, Kiba too had a delighted look on his face, to Issei's horror.
"EVEN KIBA'S FALLEN UNDER THE SPELL!" the Gremory Pawn shouts again. Immediately everyone's eyes go to Issei, Naruto telling him to surrender himself, holding in front of him a fried diving beetle. From there everything went black for Issei.
7:45 pm
"I can't believe I ate insects...and they tasted good." Issei thinks to himself as he and the others exit the restaurant, stuffed and satisfied.
"From here, Shino and I are going to split and go to my place. You all have a nice night."
"You as well, Shirabi, Shino." As soon as the two left, Keito tells Naruto he and Mary were going to come with them to the Underworld, having temporarily closed Mapomine's Japan to go have a break, and maybe get inspired to make a new dish. Raising her hand, Xenovia volunteered for becoming his taste tester.
"Sorry Xenovia, but I am and will always be his taste tester," Mary told the girl, who suggested he makes room for her.
"Denied." With a pouting face, the Namikaze Knight called them a couple of meanies.
"You can try my stuff when I start-" With a blank face directed at him, Xenovia told Naruto while she loves him, his cooking has the potential to kill people. "I meant my nonalcoholic drinks!" While everyone was watching Naruto and Xenovia having a small banter regarding the odd drinks the Rook made, Keito noticed Kiba was staring at Xenovia in a way he did not like. Putting on a smile, Keito asked Issei if he could borrow him (Kiba) for a second, wanting his help with a project he was working on with Caren.
"Sure," said the Pawn. Quickly, Keito pulls the Gremory Knight away from them to have a chat.
"What's this about-"
"That was a lie. Now answer, are you in love with Xenovia?" The question makes Kiba go silent for a second, denying that he had any feelings for her after. "You are a horrible liar, Yuuto Kiba."
"How would you know if I am lying or not?"
"That look you gave her a minute ago are the same ones I used to have on her." The answer Keito gives Kiba was a huge surprise to the latter. "Yes, I used to be in love with Xenovia, back when we were younger of course. I'm not going to go into details, since this is not about me and I have made peace with it, with her, and with Naruto dating her, and have moved on. Don't tell me you do not harbor feelings for her when I already caught you staring at her the way I used to." Kiba could only frown at Keito, unsure of how he should respond. Letting out a sigh, he tells him he was right. "...When did these feelings start?"
"It was during a training session with me and her for the upcoming Rating Game. Under my King's suggestion, she had me and Xenovia work on team combos for a few days before I went to train with my sword master. During a conversation I had with her while having a bentos together, she told me she was trained in the use of a katana. I called her out on it, stating I had to see it with my own eyes to believe someone who mostly wields oversized swords could handle a weapon like the katana, so she projected one and displayed her swordplay to me to prove herself. I can still remember it. The control of her breathing, the way she swung that blade, the sound the blade she held produced with each swing, it was...Before I just saw her as a tomboyish girl who had humiliated me in a fight with a forgery Excalibur sword, now..."
"Yep, that will do it...You need to tell Naruto, Xenovia too." Kiba had a "What?" expression on his face following the Bishop's response. "They both need to know. Keeping silent may be your go-to, but how long is that going to last?"
"I'll tell them, just not now. There's too much going on to-"
"Those words that came out of your mouth are empty and not very assuring, Yuuto Kiba. Let me make this very clear to you, making excuses like that and keeping silent about those strong emotions of yours...will only make your situation fester the more you do it," Keito interrupts, sounding very serious as he said those words to him and continued. "I won't tell her, and I will respect your decision to continue as you are, foolish as it is. What's to say that Naruto has noticed it, but is waiting for you to tell him?" Looking at Naruto, Kiba wondered if he knows about it, and asking him was out of the question. What if Infernus knows and has already told him about it?
"Do consider what I have told you, because after this, if you do "that" while thinking of her during the night, I promise you it won't be a pleasant one like the last time you did it, and I hope you struggle to sleep tonight. And if down the line you ever do something she doesn't approve of, I won't forgive you, and neither will he." After Keito finished speaking with him and left to rejoin the others after patting the Knight twice on the shoulder, Kiba was left standing by himself.
"I'm going to call it a night and go back to the Underworld," Xenovia told Naruto, a takeout bag of bug dishes in hand she was planning to share with Akame and Moka. "What about you?"
"I'm going to go get some dessert before returning." Xenovia tells him to not stay out for too long. "I'll try." After receiving a kiss on the cheek from her, once they found an alley to go in, Naruto opened up a sling portal back to the Underworld, Xenovia walking through it with Keito and Mary before it closes up. "Alright, what are you guys feeling!?"
"I have been informed of a magical place that came from the West which serves 31 flavors from Moka!" Nero happily told her Master, Naruto knowing what place she was referring to.
"Baskin-Robbins? Sure, what about you three?" Sayaka and Issei were quick to agree to go to the ice cream restaurant, while Kiba remained silent following his talk with Keito.
"Whatever this project Keito is working on with his sister is too big of an order and he isn't sure if he is the right person for the job!" Nero assumes. "Perhaps the partaking of the 31 flavors will make him feel better!" Looking at the Gremory Knight with suspicion, Naruto takes the lead and tells the others to follow him to the Takadanobaba Station, where it'll take them to their destination within 11 minutes.
Baskin-Robbins
Kinokuniya Shinjuku Main Store
8:25 pm
Naruto, Sayaka, Issei, and Kiba at their ice cream at their own pace as Nero took the 31 flavors challenge, the blond Rook having to spend over 7000 yen for her to take it. Seeing her get a brain freeze, Naruto told Nero to not eat them so fast.
"...You two." Issei and Kiba face Sayaka, who asked them what was going on with them.
"Nothing's going on. We just have a bit of an off-day."
"Off-days wouldn't stop you from ogling at or whispering things like, "The female employee manning the front desk of this Baskin-Robbins has a nice rack and I made being indecisive on what flavor(s) to get to continue staring at them," or something of that sort since Naruto Namikaze brought you with to help out at a friend's shop. Surely there is something that is ruining your mood. I don't know what the Knight's problem is, but it may as well be something equally as problematic as yours."
"Even you?" asked a bothered Kiba.
"Was there someone before me who noticed your baggage?" Sayaka asked. "Would have thought the incident involving Valper Galilei would have been closure enough. What could possibly have you acting the way you are now?"
[Persona 5 OST - Tension]
Before things could grow into a confrontation, Naruto informed everyone that Nero couldn't go on eating the remaining 16 flavors and that she needs help finishing them. This brought the three's attention to the Servant, who had given up after receiving a stomach ache from eating too much ice cream.
"Forgive me... I failed to live up to your expectations..."
"It's fine Nero, we'll take care of the rest," Naruto told his Servant, giving four flavors to the other three and taking four for himself to finish.
"Ugh, I hate cotton candy," Sayaka told herself. "Any of you like the flavor?" Issei takes the cotton candy flavored ice cream off her hands and trades off an ice cream cup with Jamoca Almond Fudge flavor in it.
[Music End]
"Nero, here, water." Looking grateful, the Servant thanks Naruto before taking the plastic bottle of cold water from his hands and gulping it down.
"I feel better now, Praetor." Looking at the others, Nero apologizes to them for making them gain a few pounds helping her finish the rest of the ice cream. Kiba lets her know it was no trouble at all, stating with a little excessive training, the calories will burn away.
"We should call it a night and find a good spot to get back," Sayaka tells Naruto.
"Pardon me?" Turning their attention to their right, the group see a male beggar in his 50s asking them for some spare change. Without saying any words Naruto, Sayaka, and Nero each gave him all the change in their pockets, receiving words of thanks from the grateful beggar.
"You guys, are you sure that's a good idea?" asked the Gremory Pawn. Whenever he saw people begging for change, he felt sorry for them, but never had the willingness to give them anything.
"Issei, have a heart," Naruto said to him. "You too, Kiba."
"Me?"
"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention."
"...Alright." Digging into their pockets, Issei and Kiba hand the beggar the change they had in their pockets, receiving thanks in return for their generosity. "There, happy?"
"Oi, you're not supposed to give to make me happy Issei. I give because I want to."
"Excuse me?" Facing the beggar, Naruto and Issei wonder what he wanted to say to them. The beggar points at Issei, telling him he looked troubled. "Me? Troubled? What makes you think that?"
"I can tell by your mood and your body language."
"There's no way-"
"I have noticed you've been very troubled the whole time," Naruto interrupts. "I just didn't want to ask you about it and risk ruining the mood." Nero raised her hand after her Master finished speaking, saying she too could tell there was something in Issei's thoughts that made him unperverted today. Finally, Sayaka told Issei he was a very horrible liar.
"I may not be able to do anything major to help, the smallest thing I can do is listen to your troubles. Young man, it is not wise to keep what you're feeling inside, or it'll only serve to hurt you more." Looking really unsure of whether to tell the beggar his problem or not, Issei decides to do so, only after telling the others he wanted to tell only the beggar about it. Understanding, Naruto pulls everyone away to give Issei his privacy.
[TSUKIHIME -A piece of blue glass moon- OST - 月姫-re]
Able to say what was wrong, Issei breaks down in tears.
"Buchou...Rias...She's going to lose something that she and all of us have been working so hard for, all because of that Church official. Someone precious to me, she is in the hospital and unable to wake up, because I couldn't save her...I couldn't do anything but stand and watch as her body and her mind was bruised and beaten...I promised her, after "what happened to her" before she became one of us, that I'd protect her. There's only ten days before what everyone's been working towards begins, and I don't know what to do. I wish I could go back in time to prevent what happened, but I can't. What is the use of having strength if Asia continues to get hurt, and Buchou has to suffer?"
"Young man...It must be frustrating to not be able to change the past, and I am sorry this Asia girl and your Rias are dealing with the aftermath of it all. I wish I could do something about it, but I am but a man with nothing."
"It's fine," Issei assures as he wipes the tears away with his hands. "All I can do is hope that everything will work out...It was nice to tell someone, even if it's to a stranger I don't even know..."
"...Can I give you some advice that may help?" asked the beggar.
"Sure." The beggar gestures with his hand for Issei to come closer, the Pawn responding by leaning his left ear to the beggar's mouth.
"If you want to help your friend Asia, go talk to Sister Caren of the Church. She knows of someone who can heal her in time for this special thing you and those you care about are looking forward towards." Issei's eyes go wide from hearing the information the beggar just gave him.
"Someone who can heal Asia?"
"You have to go see her alone, and you cannot let anyone you know...know. Not even the Rias girl." This was all too convenient for Issei. A healer who could help Asia recover, someone only Keito's sister knew. The only catch at the moment was that he couldn't tell anybody, not even Rias. Thinking about it, he couldn't rely on Naruto to help him, the Rating Game was in ten days, and the game won't happen without Asia. With determination in his eyes, Issei decides it was worth trying, even if he had to do it behind everyone's back. Grateful for the info, Issei hands the beggar a 5000-yen note, who happily thanks him for it, waving goodbye to Issei as he reunites with the others.
[Music End]
"You got everything out?" asked Naruto, Issei assuring him he did, thanking Naruto for making him pay the beggar.
"Would have been nice if you did it out of nothing but kindness."
"I believe I'll be able to sleep well when we get back," said Issei, Nero loudly stating how being kind to someone in need must have done good for his soul and for his mood.
With Xenovia
Agares Residence
Hallway
"Thank you for procuring this for me, Keito." Xenovia said as she stores away a mysterious weapon using her Storage Magic. "I'm amazed your sister allowed you to take it."
"The Seventh Holy Scripture? Yeah, she had no use for it, and other Executors couldn't handle it. I have to ask, but having this is a bit overkill don't you think, considering this is just an upcoming Rating Game?"
"I don't plan to use it again until I relearn how to wield all its forms. May have gotten rusty with handling it after not utilizing it for over five years. For now, I'd like it if you can reteach to me how to utilize the Black Keys before the big game, sharpen my skills further."
"We will get to that, the day after tomorrow. Right now I need some rest, Mary as well. We've been a bit overworked before we decided to go on temporary break."
"Sounds good, I shall patiently occupy myself until you're well," Xenovia happily tells Keito while she repeatedly pats him on the back. "...I can't believe this is you. You've come a long way from who you were before...I remember what you told me when I told you I loved you."
"Keito, that love you have towards me will only go to waste, for I feel nothing hearing those words. You're better off telling them to someone better-deserving of them. Now let go, I have a job to do." Finished recalling those words she told him back when she was only 11, Xenovia told Keito she was very tired that time, traumatized and even stressed, having not only returned from a mission, but finished besting Dimaria for the umpteenth time. "Even without those reasons, I really didn't like myself. I only focused on the duties of being a member of the Church, I mostly looked like a boy, even though I'm a girl, and I couldn't understand anything girls enjoyed, like watching boys, going on outings, and music. My views were all so...narrow."
"But now those views have been broadened after meeting "him"," said Keito, Xenovia smiling in agreement. "Always thought you'd have higher standards, like someone with very good looks like Yuuto Kiba from the House of Gremory."
"Me and Kiba? No way," Xenovia told Keito, putting her two pointing fingers in front of her in an x shape to add to her response. "I don't like him that way." Even if she didn't use that hand gesture, her friend could tell there were no lies in her response.
"If Kiba were to receive this, he'd be as devastated as me when I tried it..."
"Also, Naruto isn't good-looking enough?" Xenovia asked, raising a brow at him. "While others may think otherwise, he meets my standards, plus those whisker marks on his face give him a very wild and cute look, something I consider a bonus. I can see why Koneko likes to pull at his cheeks."
"Since you brought those up, what's the story behind his whisker marks? They don't look like they came from getting scratched by an animal or a knife, so what's their story?"
"Those? Not sure. I asked him about it one time. Even he doesn't know himself. All I know is that he was born with them," The Namikaze Knight responds, just as Naruto, Nero, and Sayaka walk in on them. "Welcome back."
"Thanks Xenovia. What have you two been talking about?"
"Nothing but the past, as well as old and new love," Keito told Naruto before telling him he's going to head to the room Seekvaira allowed him and Mary to stay in before patting the blond twice on the shoulder and walking off, Nero and Sayaka telling the blond Rook they were going to get ready for bed, and would be waiting for him in his room, leaving him alone with the bluenette.
"Want to sleep in my room?" Xenovia asked Naruto, the blond quickly accepting the invitation, knowing both Nero and Sayaka instantly fall asleep once their heads land on a pillow, and the two wouldn't be able to wait too long for him. Before they head to her room, Xenovia suddenly but gently pulls at Naruto's cheeks, the latter asking her why she was doing it. "Hmmm, wild and cute indeed." Xenovia would then lean forward to plant a (genuine) kiss on his lips. After parting lips, Xenovia walks forward and happily hums to herself as an equally happy Naruto follows behind.
Gremory Territory
Gremory Main Residence
Kiba's Room
Bathroom (Shower)
While warm water was being sprayed on him via showerhead, Kiba was angrily tugging his dick in the shower with his right hand as he tried his best to fantasize about the Namikaze Knight, only for Keito's words to plague his mind.
"Do consider what I have told you, because after this, if you do "that" while thinking of her during the night, I promise you it won't be a pleasant one like the last time you did it, and I hope you struggle to sleep tonight. And if down the line you ever do something she doesn't approve of, I won't forgive you, and neither will he." After constantly pushing Keito's words aside to continue his fantasizing, Kiba lets out a grunt as he shoots his load on the ceramic wall in front of him. Finished, Kiba took time to catch his breath before washing the cum away with the showerhead.
Fri (8/15)
With Issei
Mount Miyama Shopping District, Miyama Town
Koushuuensaikan Taizan
2:29 pm
9 days until Rias vs Sona Rating Game
"This is where I am to meet her?" a confused Issei asked himself as he looks at the Chinese restaurant in front of him. Despite being a regular shop, it felt more like an ominous dungeon to him, reinforcing that thought when he saw a few potential customers run the other way after seeing it.
"Remember why you're here..." With determination in his eyes, Issei approached the restaurant and slid the door open, getting the attention of Caren, who was the only customer inside and was having a plate of mapo tofu.
"Hm? You're finally here, Hyoudou? I came early, so I have already started eating. Come, have a seat" After closing the door behind him, Issei took a seat across from Caren, who resumed eating her meal. The spicy aroma it gave off was enough to overcome his sense of smell, and watching her eating the spicy dish without stopping for a drink of water as she's sweating made him a bit nauseous.
"Is she being stubborn? She's eating it way too fast. That dish has dangerous amounts of spice."
"Maybe that dish is good," Ddraig said to his host. "The spicy oil and red peppers smell as though they were cooked together for a hundred years just to be in that dish." Stopping as she has only two mouthfuls left before she was done, Caren asked if he wanted some.
"I don't want any!" Issei shouts in fear of the dish, making the priest frown at him before she finished the mapo tofu.
"Here's your mapo tofu-aru!" says Batsu, the Little Manager of the restaurant, who sets down two more plates of mapo tofu down in front of Caren before taking her finished plate and walking off to the kitchen.
"She ordered more!?"
"You sure you don't want some?"
"I don't want to get tongue melted off." Issei's answer earned a creepy smile from Caren, voicing her desire to see that happen. "What is with you and your brother loving mapo tofu?"
"I'd answer, but that is not why we are meeting behind the backs of those you know and care about, is it?" After taking a spoonful of mapo tofu into her mouth, Caren begins to sweat a little. putting down her spoon for a second, Caren pulls down the zipper of the jacket she was wearing, stopping above her cleavage as heat is steadily released from her body. "You are here because a beggar told you to talk to me about a healer who can help the Argento girl, yes?"
"Yes."
"...Issei Hyoudou, how important is the Argento girl's life to you, and how important is this Rating Game you have coming up? How much are you willing to offer for them? Do not answer with, "Enough to do this behind their backs," I tire of that answer after doing this sort of business enough that it's become stale. Also, if you say, "I'd offer up my life to ensure the Argento girl and Rias Gremory were both taken care of", I'd laugh at you. After all, how would Rias Gremory even have her Rating Game if you were to offer up your life? You'd only end up taking Asia's place in making her lose." After what Caren asked her questions and told him of what not to say, Issei was left unsure of how to answer both questions, panicking as he tried to find the answer(s) that would satisfy Caren.
"You have until I finish my two dishes to answer. If I don't hear one once I am finish or I am left unsatisfied with your response, I'm afraid both will suffer. Sure the Argento girl may recover even without coming to me, but the unsureness of when...If she wakes up and finds out both her carelessness and absence were the reasons Rias Gremory lost the Rating Game, what will that do to her I wonder. Tick tock, Issei Hyoudou." With each spoonful of mapo tofu she put in her mouth, Issei continues to struggle with an answer. As he did, he could picture the distress in Asia's eyes in a possible future where she woke up too late to participate, and the disappointed looks Rias would receive from losing only because she couldn't have her full roster ready for the game. The thought of what the two could experience made the Pawn feel nauseated from the pressure of Caren's questions, which was further enhanced by the spicy aroma of the mapo tofu. Before he knew it, Caren was finished with her two plates of food, clapping her hands twice to snap him out of it. Now back to reality, Issei looked down and saw her two finished plates, then focused on a smile on Caren's lips.
"Batsu, your mapo was delicious as always," she told the Little Manager as soon as she (Batsu) came to pick up her empty plates and spoon. "As for you, Issei Hyoudou, I enjoyed seeing you feeling pressured with figuring out what words to say to me, and you looked utterly pathetic when you were overwhelmed by the aroma of my meal. Truthfully, you didn't need to answer, for the questions I asked were just a means to let me see how you'd react."
"You're saying I panicked over nothing!? Just to entertain you!?" Issei asked in disbelief, Caren hearing the anger in his voice but thinking little of it.
"You already know the answer to that, why would I waste some of my breath answering that question?" Issei clenches his hands hard, doing his best to calm down, managing to within a count of ten. "...There is importance in asking the third question though. Just how much are you willing to offer for the Argento girl's life and Rias Gremory's Rating Game? Just so it's clear, I'm talking about money, so don't be cheap, or it'll be an insult to her."
"How much?..."
"Again you're not sure...How old is she?"
"Asia? She's 17."
"There. You need to come up with 17 million yen for the healer's service." At first, Issei thought he'd only need to ask Rias to lend him the money, making it sound like he was going to get a few gifts he thought the Gremory Bishop would love, only to comically turn to stone when Caren told him he himself had to come up with 17 million yen.
"M-...Me?"
"This healer you want to help the Argento girl, he can be very particular with how he gets his money. Getting someone involved in getting the money for the girl will attract troublesome attention, attention he doesn't want. You do that, the job you want him to do won't be the only thing that will be terminated..."
"Just who...is this healer?"
"You're asking me that when you should be figuring out how you're going to put together 17 million yen without letting anyone know?" Caren asked as she gets up to leave. "As soon as you get the money, or anything of that value as a whole, text me and he'll see you. Just one last thing."
"Yeah?"
"You're to not look at this healer. I don't need to remind you what would happen if you do out of a foolish sense of curiosity." Finished speaking, Caren closed the restaurant door behind her while making her exit.
"17 million yen...How am I supposed to come up with 17 million yen without Buchou or anyone else knowing?"
With Naruto
Underworld
Unnamed Mountain Range
4:55 pm
Sayaka had no words to say. She couldn't find them as she viewed the destruction Naruto had created within twenty seconds alongside Akame and a proud Chitose. Naruto was smoking a little as he asked Chitose how he did.
"Exceptional. Would be nice if you could manage that form for more than 20 seconds without the Sun constantly (re-)energizing you, but that should be enough to at least get you out of a pinch. Would be too risky to use it in a fight until you can stay in that form indefinitely, unless you build up your endurance."
"Too...fast...All that in 20 seconds..."
"Seems your new form has broken Sayaka," said Chitose. "Not surprised considering you can produce miniature explosions, and do this now."
"That was incredible Naruto!" Akame happily told her brother. "I can't imagine what it's going to be like once you can stay in that form longer!"
"And it's all thanks to Chitose. I am grateful of your tuelage and your patience." Receiving praise from her King, Chitose formed a thankful smile on her face.
"With that new form, while I don't need to keep watch over you, do inform me of anything you come up with involving its handling." The blond Rook promises Chitose he'll let her know before trying anything new, receiving an understanding nod from her before she left to have tea with Akeno, having promised to have it with her at 5 pm sharp in Gremory Territory, the maid quickly blitzing through the mountain range and leaving a trail of lightning with every step she took.
"What is next for you then, Naruto Namikaze?" asked a recomposed Sayaka.
"I practice in the form to build up endurance and continue training in base," said the blond Rook. "For now, I can take it a bit slow, starting by relaxing in my room, train at my own pace for the remainder of the days left. There are a few seasonal animes I've been dying to watch after focusing my time on training and helping Ange. I also plan to buy "Cyberpunk 2077" at some point. I read the company that made it released a patch that likely fixed the game. Want to join?"
"Me?"
"Yeah, I plan to ask others who are available to come watch. Make it a small watch party. Not a problem if your job is to watch over me, right?"
"...It is not."
"A small watch party, sounds relaxing." Turning around, Naruto, Akame, and a surprised Sayaka are approached by the new representative for the Church, Riesbyfe Stridberg. After returning from Italy, Naruto had a short run-in with Riesbyfe hours before his fight with Seekvaira yesterday, the blond being told that Sayaka was unlike how she usually was before, calling her being assigned to observe him a nice change, and asking the blond to continue being patient with her.
"Stridberg-senpai!?"
"I was on my way back to Agare-sama's after a long meeting with the Underworld higher-ups, but decided to check up on you to see how your job is doing. I am glad to see you aren't stressing yourself too much with looking after Naruto Namikaze."
"If you could see what he could do within twenty seconds, you'd be stressing a bit, especially when I have to write a report about it," Sayaka told her senpai, who then asked her what he did in twenty seconds. Naruto answers by pointing at the destruction he made and said, "I did that."
"In twenty seconds? Impressive. I am curious to see what you did to cause all that destruction within that time-frame." After receiving a thanks from Naruto, Riesbyfe asked if she could join in on the viewing party of his.
"Yeah, though are you sure you're able to?"
"I have taken care of the responsibilities I was given for today. While work is satisfying in its own way since it takes my mind off things when needed, I prefer to do nothing at all."
"I can relate to that to some level, Stridberg-san," Naruto told the Church representative. "Akame, think you can invite people we know to join while Sayaka and I grab snacks for the watch party?"
"Sure," Akame replied. "Be sure to grab me some Chocolate Bamboo Biscuits while you're out shopping."
AEON Supermarket
Chiba, Japan
"Once more, I want to thank you, Naruto, for being a bit patient with Sayaka," Riesbyfe says to Naruto as they go along the snack aisle and drop whatever snacks were written on the list on the rook's phone. "You know she's hard to deal with, but if you stick around with her longer, she's a good girl underneath all that stubborn and confrontational attitude of hers."
"I may need more days around Kirasaka to see the sides of her I haven't seen already."
"Not a problem. You are considered a potential world-ending threat after all."
"...Of all the people who could observe me, why Kirasaka?" asked Naruto. "You could have just assigned either Irina Shidou or Naoko, even Reia."
"Shidou is in the middle of a big change on her end. Naoko is off on a promotional mission with an Integrity Knight to become one herself." When asked what an Integrity Knight was, Riesbyfe told him to pay it no mind. "For Reia, her kindness would get in the way of properly doing her job, when I mean that I mean the possibility of you tricking her with kindness was something we take note of as a precaution. Sayaka was perfect to since she suspects bad intentions from people she is assigned to observe. Sayaka was originally the observer for a vampire who was close to being on the same strength level as a Primogenitor named Dimitrie Vatler, but was reassigned to observe you after Dimitrie was killed by an assassin, who has yet to be caught, much less profiled."
"Now that you let that out in the open, I do better understand why she was chosen to observe me...As for the assassin, what can you tell me about the one who did that Vatler guy in?"
"From what Sayaka told me, they were too fast for Dimitrie to hit, and for her eyes to catch, and they had this shield they couldn't penetrate no matter how much strength Vatler put into destroying it. They also wielded a katana, which did Dimitrie in."
"Do you believe it was someone from the Khaos Brigade?" Naruto asked, Riesbyfe saying it was possible they could have been from the Khaos Brigade, since the higher ups had yet to figure out how many factions the organization had under them. "Should also consider they hired an assassin from a guild."
"If so, the questions would be who this assassin is, who hired them, and how this assassin was capable of fighting Dimitrie and make him look like a pushover."
"They sure as hell didn't leave a means to trail them, making the assassin very cautious about having anyone learn anything from left behind that would prove useful."
"I doubt there'll be another encounter with this assassin, but if there is, it'll be a stroke of bad luck." The two stop their conversation when Sayaka calls them over to help figure out what ingredients to get for the curry Akame was planning to make for it."
"I can come over to help. If I'm right, the list she texted you has no vegetable in them."
"She didn't send you a list?" Sayaka asked, Naruto telling her how she'd send only one person the list without his knowledge in hopes of having an all-meat curry.
"Only Chelsea would let her get away with it."
After finishing their shopping, Naruto, Sayaka, and Riesbyfe stand behind a long line waiting for their turn, spotting Issei and Koneko getting ready to get in line. Naruto calls out to them, getting their attention. The Pawn and Rook of the Gremory Peerage walk over to them, asking the three what they were here for, Naruto informing them of a watch party he (Naruto) was hosting in his room. When invited to join them, Issei and Koneko decline, wanting to focus on training for the Rating Game.
"Some other time?" Naruto asked them, Koneko nodding her head yes while Issei responds with a yes. The blond's phone suddenly rings, who takes it out of his pocket and responds. It was Ayano, who requested aid in clearing part of the Hidden Gap in Koto City, Tokyo. When asked where, Naruto froze in place when told it was on top of the Unicorn Gundam Statue. Excitement started to fill Naruto as his body tingled at getting to touch the Unicorn Gundam, something that wasn't allowed for viewers, whether they were locals or tourists.
"I'll be there as soon as I can."
"Can you also bring some backup just in case?" Looking at the others, Naruto asked Issei if he could join him in helping with Hidden Gap business.
"Are you sure?" Naruto assured Issei it should be fine since he's gotten stronger than how he was when he (Naruto) saved him from a Bell Gargoyle.
"...Koneko, you think you can-"
"Sure, let the girl carry all of these groceries herself while you go off dungeon crawling." Issei's skin went pale when the Gremory Rook voiced her displeasure in having to carry all the groceries they were shopping for by herself, even if she was capable of doing it herself.
"Koneko, don't be mad at Issei, I am the one asking him to come help me," said Naruto. "I'll treat you to some sweets tomorrow evening."
"...Then he's all yours."
Unicorn Gundam Statue
Koto City, Japan
6:25 pm
"This is very exciting," Naruto told Issei as they walk towards the statue while they both carried an invisibility run in their pockets, courtesy of Seekvaira. "Illegal, but exciting. I've always wanted to touch the statue whenever I come to the Gundam Café, but never could due to the border separating it from the people."
"I am glad you're enjoying these few minutes before going into another world full of death and depression."
"The Hidden Gap has its moments of beauty, if you know where to look," Naruto told the Pawn as they climb up the statue while invisible. "Also need to mention the many material I find there, which I use to bring to Shirabi for upgrading."
"Now standing on the shoulders of the statue, Naruto voiced his desire to take a picture of himself sitting on its shoulder, but brushed it aside to focus on the tear.
Hidden Gap
Crystal Cave
Jumping out to the other side of the tear, the two find themselves on a large crystal walkway in a cave full of crystals, the location surprising Issei, this being his first time inside the Hidden Gap. With a grin, Naruto says, "I told you the Hidden Gap has its moments of beauty, if you know where to look."
"There are so many crystals here. If I can collect some, then maybe...What do you suppose Ayano needs from us?"
"I have an immediate answer for it, I just need to confirm it for myself. Let's go." Making their way to Ayano, Issei spots a very large green butterfly in the sky, Naruto warning Issei to not provoke it, or it'd make trouble for them as they continue on. Upon reaching Ayano, they see her gathering the crystals around the cave, a pair of golems laying dead beside her.
"Oh, you both made it," said the girl. When asked why she called them if she could handle herself, Ayano, with a big smile told them she needed help mine out most of the crystals in the cave, and loot it of its treasures.
"I knew this was the case," said Naruto, his immediate answer confirmed.
"I've already killed most of the monsters on my way here and took what they had. With these sorts of resources, I can fetch a very great price from the black market, and also use them for new materials. I called you both to help quicken the process, and split everything evenly between us three."
"Unbelievable."
"Oh don't be like that Naruto. Unlike the other times you entered here, this time you don't have to fight anything, since I took care of most of the monsters along the way, save for the large butterfly. That way, we can just mine as much as we want and go home with large wads of cash in our pockets."
"...It's a really great deal, Naruto," said Issei. "Plus she'll split what we get between us. And I can use my share to help Asia."
"...This is a nice change of pace." With a smile, Ayano tossed over two pickaxes and told them to get started. "Are these really necessary?"
"Helps get a good workout in." The three spend about a half hour mining the cave of its titanite. While close to being finished, Issei gets startled by a small lizard with a large chunk of Titanite on its back and kills it, though Naruto and Ayano are horrified by this act. It didn't help that Issei killed another one five minutes later, having been startled again. Once a third one appeared, Naruto stopped Issei from killing it and took it in his arms, deciding to give it to Seekvaira when he gets back.
7:25 pm
"Look at all the stuff we nabbed from this place," Ayano says out loud as she and the guys look at the large pile of varied titanite they collected, as well ass the two dead Crystal Lizards next to Issei. Looking at them, Ayano called the Pawn a monster for killing them when they were harmless creatures. "They startled me."
"You're really not used to being sneaked up on yet, especially when it comes to the girls that are around you, longing for that Boosted Gear of yours, and I don't mean the Sacred Gear in her left arm." In response, the surviving Crystal Lizard bites onto Issei's left pointing finger, the Pawn shouting in pain as he flailed his left arm up and down, while it still has a hold on him.
"It's a girl." Ayano says out loud, Naruto asking her how she knows as Issei looks at the lizard still having her teeth wrapped around his right pointing finger while she's dangling high above the ground. "Alright, as promised, let's split all these up, starting with Issei taking the two dead crystal lizards."
"Really!?"
Koto City, Japan
"Mmmmm That was a nice workout," said a satisfied Ayano, who was stretching her arms as Naruto wondered what materials to keep and to sell. Looking at Issei, Naruto asked him what he planned to spend his share on. "Me? A present for Asia, and...for Buchou."
"None of the other girls?" Naruto asked. "They deserve a little something special, don't you think? Also Kiba-senpai and Gasper deserve something too."
"R-Right. What are you going to spend your share on?"
"Don't know yet, but I'm sure the answer(s) will come to me in time. Well, I should head back to Seekvaira's. By now the curry's done and is being hauled over to my room for the watch party. Speaking of, Ayano, want to come?"
"Yeah."
"Issei?" The Pawn tells Naruto he's going to stick around Koto City and try the Gundam Café. "Good choice. I suggest trying Char's Zaku Rice with Creamy Scrambled Eggs." After suggesting what meal to have at the Gundam Café, Naruto and Ayano leave to find an alley to sling portal back to the Agares Residence. Now alone, Issei texts Caren, letting her know he's got materials that totaled up to 17 million yen and sends the message.
"That takes care of it, now-"
"Issei Hyoudou?" The Pawn froze in place when a mysterious young man (JP: Junya Enoki, EN: Christian Banas) behind him said his name. While he couldn't sense any magic from him, Issei felt terrified of the young man behind him, enough to let him know that turning around wasn't a given. "Answer."
"Y-Yes."
"Do you have the materials?"
"Yes." The young man tells Issei to find an alley for them to be alone so he could collect the materials without being interrupted As Issei walked, he couldn't shake the overwhelming terror he was feeling. He couldn't feel his energy, yet he could instill so much fear into him. Just who was this healer? Once the two entered an alley, the healer told him to stop. "Now drop all the materials." Issei said nothing as he dropped what he collected from his dimensional storage. As Issei stood in place, the healer inspects the materials in silence for a few minutes. Once he was done, the healer tells Issei he was finished, telling him the rest he didn't collect was his to keep.
"The girl, where is she?"
"In a hospital located in Sitri Territory in the Underworld. Are you really a healer?"
"Healer? Think of me as...a Doorman." As soon as he finished answering, the healer disappears. Alone once more, Issei takes the time to take a large breather, having felt suffocated from talking to the healer. After collecting himself and the materials he dropped, Issei looked up to the starry sky and wondered if Asia will wake up as soon as the healer was done with her.
Sitri Territory
Hospital
Asia's Hospital Room
The healer appears in Asia's room through the window, and approached the unconscious girl. He was a fair-skinned Korean male with unkempt wavy white hair that had tinges of faint green at the end of the tips and green eyes who wore a long white overcoat over a green shirt hoodie. He also had on white with white tips for his fingers and a pair of grey jeans and a pair of grey and black sneakers. On his back was a regular katana with a forest green handle wrap. Putting his right hand over the girl's forehead, the healer assessed the damage, looking disappointed by it.
"17 million yen, for this much damage? This is how much her life is worth to him, it seems." With a small bit of magic energy, the healer fixed Asia's psychological damage and leaves just before she wakes up, the girl hearing the window on her left closing without making a thud sound.
Agares Territory
Agares Residence
(Naruto, Seekvaira, Akame, Maki, Kotomi, Fujino, Chitose, Illya, Sella, Leysritt, Moka, Keito, Mary, Riesbyfe, Ayano, Sif, Unnamed Crystal Lizard)
8:04 pm
The watch group sat quietly on the couch and on the floor as they watched the first episode of "SPY x FAMILY" while eating plates of chicken curry. The girls all went "Awww" when the little psychic girl bursts into tears and begged not to be thrown away by her newly-adopted father. The crystal lizard, laying next to Seekvaira, paid no attention to the show as she focused on helping herself to a large bowl of curry.
"She's a good bargain don't throw her out," Moka said to the TV screen.
["Stop crying, I'll buy you some peanuts!"]
["Peanuts!"] The girls in the room felt better after the little psychic girl was promised her favorite food, awing again when the adopted father carries the sleeping little girl while they make their way home. Naruto's phone buzzed, taking his attention away from the show as he takes the call.
"Hello?" he answered in a quiet voice to not ruin the watch party. "Issei? You're catching me in the middle of...She's awake? You're all going there to see her now, and you're just calling to see if I want to go see her?" Weighing in on the options, Naruto decides not to go, wanting to give the Gremory Peerage their alone time with Asia. After hanging up, he goes back to watching anime with the others. Once it was 1:30 pm, everyone thanked Naruto for letting them watch anime in his room, leaving to go back to their own rooms to rest.
Sat (8/16)
Sitri Territory
Hospital
9:15 am
Having arrived at the hospital with Sayaka, after treating Koneko to sweets like he promised earlier, Naruto heads over to where Asia was sitting as Sayaka stood in waiting. While Issei and Rias were taking care of paperwork for the Gremory Bishop's release, Naruto congratulates her on her recovery with a mango crepe he bought for her, along with a large green storage container full of mapo tofu Keito made to help her recover more of her strength.
"Thanks Naruto. Give Keito my thanks when you see him."
"I will."
"To be honest, I wouldn't have been able to recover on my own. Thankfully, a nice stranger healed me." Naruto raised a brow, asking her what stranger she was talking about and if she knows their face. "No, I didn't get to see their face. I only know the feeling of their energy, and that they left through the window in my room when I was just waking up last night. I wish I knew who they were, I would've liked to thank them."
"Who knows, maybe you'll get the chance to one day," Naruto says with a smile, patting her on the shoulder. "Asia, listen, if you ever need anything, should Issei or anyone else in Gremory-senpai's Peerage are unavailable, let me know, or just shout my name if you can without being embarrassed." The Gremory Bishop chuckled at the last part Naruto told her to do should he need him, then tells Naruto she'll remember that.
"Well, I'm positive you won't need to call for my help, since you have good people like Issei around to protect you." Finished, Naruto and Asia hear Issei and Rias calling Asia over to go back to Gremory Territory.
"I should let you go now. Before I do, despite what you went through, you were brave, even against an opponent you couldn't beat. I want you to know that."
"Thank you..." After giving the blond Rook a hug, Asia runs over to Issei and Rias, Naruto leaving with Sayaka.
Bael Territory
11:30 am
"Xenovia!" Stopping her training with Kiba and Okita, the Namikaze Knight happily turns around and sees Naruto approaching them with thirty hand-made bento lunches he asked Kotomi, Leysritt, and Chitose to help prepare along with five curry dumplings that were being carried in a plastic bag, and a bottle of Dassai brand sake he bought for 843,750 yen (8,026 US Dollars). Sif had also came with him, wanting to go see his owner, along with Archer to continue the blue-haired Knight's training from yesterday. "Sif and I came to have lunch with you, and offer some to Souji-sama and Kiba-senpai. Also..." Naruto throws the bottle of Dassai brand sake to Okita, who catches it in his left hand and grins at the offering he was given.
"How very considerate of you, young Rook of the Agares House, buying the most expensive sake and offering me dumplings." After handing Okita the bag of dumplings, Naruto had lunch with Xenovia and Kiba. It was hard for the Gremory Knight to eat when Naruto and Xenovia were sharing some of the foods in their bentos with each other. Behind them, Sif was having a cuper-sized bone-in ribeye steak Chitose cooked for him. For Archer, she wasn't feeling hungry at this time and was busy working on her form.
"Mmmm, Sella-san makes the best fried chikuwa...Oh, almost forgot." Rummaging through her bag, Xenovia hands him her hand-made bento, receiving thanks from the blond. Noticing Kiba stopped eating, Xenovia told him he needs to continue eating his fill to get stronger.
"R-Right!" Looking at the bentos they had left to open, the bluenette hands him one filled with chicken karaage, telling him to eat up as much as he needs to get even stronger for the Rating Game, telling him the importance of having protein. While the three resume eating, Okita observed his student's interaction with the two, looking displeased at how Kiba was dealing with his emotions.
12:00 pm
"Thank you for the meal, Kotomi, Leysritt, and Chitose," a satisfied Xenovia said after clapping her hands three times in thanks to the ones who prepared the food.
"I should get out of your hair and let you two continue your training. I have an "errand" to run, so-"
"Before you go, can I request you spar with Kiba?" The Gremory Knight's eyes grew wide when Okita made that request to Naruto. "I would like to see his overall progress with the skills he had to reacquire under my training."
"If it's to help him, I will be glad to help."
"Master, what are you thinking?" Kiba wondered while Naruto asked him what he can or can't do in the fight.
"You are both free to fight how you like, but be sure you don't accidentally kill each other. Additionally, Kiba, you must utilize the Tennen Rishin-Ryu with your way of fighting."
"I can do that," Naruto told Okita as he transforms in front of him and hands Xenovia his shotgun and pistol, along with a glowing yellow bullet Naruto told her to use in the case something were to go wrong during the spar. The Agares Rook and Gremory Knight then walk ten feet away from each other as they get into their battle positions while Okita, Xenovia, Archer, and Sif stand on the sidelines.
"Ready...GO!"
ED5: Agapanthus by 麻倉 もも
I am aware that there isn't a skip to the gathering, but next chapter will skip to it, truly. I won't George R.R. Martin it. Also, big changes in real life, hence the reason for the long wait for this full chapter.
I wanted to have Naruto talk to Issei about the healer in this chapter, but figured it'd be better to do it in Stronger IV, since figuring out fights take long, and I wanted this chapter to be one free of fighting until after Asia awakened. I am hoping the fight between Naruto and Kiba and the fights after are done well. I do get stressed about figuring fights out.
Aside from training under Archer and learning new techniques from Okita, Xenovia will also be retaught by Keito in using the Black Keys, and she gets a new weapon. In the next chapter, she may request from Shirabi a new suit, which will be the one Ciel wears in her Powered form, a great difference from the attire she wears as Issei's Knight in the LN. I feel that I unconsciously based some parts of her and the Xenovia of the 458th Universe on Ciel, which is crazy considering this chapter is being released on Ciel's birthday. Coincidence?
Besides power, and great magic circuits, among other things unique-ish to her, Xenovia does have good breathing control, or else those wings wouldn't really have a lot of power in them. With blades like a katana, it's rare for her to show well-executed swings. With Archer's help, she is skill in the advanced use of the katana, but gradually gets to a master level. Comes to show there is more she can learn and get stronger from.
Unlike SAO, it is Xenovia who knows Eugeo, and they have history that will be explored a little in EXORCISTENCE, among other stuff in Xenovia's past. There may be plans to include additional content that couldn't be done in FIREBRAND, like the days Naruto spent in Italy being extended, and more, depending on well...me.
Yeah I killed of a character in "Strike the Blood", but it had to be done to explain more as to why Sayaka is observing Naruto.
Kiba having a thing for Xenovia was something I was going back and forth about, since I wanted to eventually have Kiba paired with Tsubaki Shinra, but this takes time. I also think that Xenovia attracts attention towards some boys, not all of them. A certain amount of them, even girls. I feel Kiba can be interested in girls, but as stated somewhere, he puts his friendship first. It really doesn't help that the girl he's interested in is already taken so when it comes time for him to actually tell her, and Naruto, since he has to know, I wonder how that will turn out.
Does Naruto know about it?...Maybe. Xenovia...Possibly. Anyone else aware besides Okita and Keito?...We'll see.
Yeah, Naruto meets Xenovia's standards. While it's nice to have someone who is hailed as a prince-like figure at their school, it can be problematic and hard to deal with. For being Naruto's girlfriend publicly, there was a time where he was being eyed by lots of girls, but that died down to regular levels after a week, something both Naruto and Xenovia don't mind as long as their time together isn't showered by praises and jealous eyes during their somewhat normal school life. I figure Naruto's removal of having to wear glasses is like Peter Park ditching them after receiving powers. While he is still plain Peter Parker, his confidence has attracted some nice girls to him. Even when things died down, there are a small amount who still like him, like Aika for example.
Will Naofumi and his peerage make a reappearance? Yes, they will. It's been leading up to the gathering and the Rating Game.
Yes, Keito used to have feelings for Xenovia, and he has made peace with it. Yes he told Naruto about it, and Naruto was glad that he told him, which helps not make anything awkward between them and makes them good friends.
Will Joichi return in the next chapter? Possibly, but the re-rentry will be bad on his end.
Yay, Shino made a small reappearance! It's nice to show that Naruto and Shino can still talk in person from time to time and help each other out, well mostly Naruto helping her. At first I wanted to have her be the one to notice Kiba was interested in Xenovia, but felt it'd complicate things since it'd mean she'd have a fair amount of control over her Sacred Gear, and she'd already know that Shirabi was a Servant, hence why Keito was the one instead.
Now, for the healer, or Doorman, this character will play a VERY major role later on, in Part V or VI. He'll be quite something, given he was enough to instill fear into Issei.
Question, how does everyone feel about Vali and Kuroka? I have been requested to add Kuroka in to the...harem, but perhaps something different? I personally think Vali could grow to love Kuroka, since besides a nice pair of breasts, she has a really nice ass, and we all know Vali likes girls with nice butts. Yay or nay for Vali x Kuroka?
