A/N - Okay, first thing's first: I'd like to offer an apology to those of you who read this chapter. I know I said I would try and get through the rest of the Time & Eternity arc in this chapter...but unfortunately, this chapter was becoming too long, once again, and I had to cut it off where I did. So the entirety of this chapter, once again, takes place in the world of Time & Eternity.
With that out of the way, I'd like to say something else. I've been getting tons of flames and shit for a few of my stories, especially A Beautiful Curse and To Love Naruto. I've even been told by people to go die and various threats and shit like that. Normally I can deal with that kind of crap, but after getting so much of it...it can wear on a person's psyche. I was highly tempted to just quit writing completely, it got that bad. I've said it before and I'll say it again: if you aren't enjoying a story, then just drop it and go read something else. NOBODY is forcing you to read a story you don't like. And no story is so bad that you have to tell the author of that story to go and jump off a fucking cliff or something! It's as simple as hitting the back button if you don't like a story. Find something else to read.
Anyways, now that I've got all of that out of the way...I truly hope you enjoy this chapter and are looking forward to what comes next. Enjoy!
Chapter 10 - The Something Four
Naruto frowned in thought as they approached the first sign. "I wonder what kinds of questions he'll ask of me. What if I don't give the kinds of answers he's hoping for?"
Towa sighed as she stopped walking, causing the others to pause as well. "When I first came through here with Zack and Toki, I didn't quite understand some of the questions. But after having all this time to think back on them...well, let's just say Olden's a massive pervert that would love to have some of Master Jiraiya's novels to read. However...I don't want you to answer the way you think he wants you to. Just be perfectly honest in your answers and I'm sure it will all work out. Okay honey?"
The whiskered teen nodded slowly in acceptance of that. "Alright. Olden seems like a good person, regardless of that little quirk. I just hope I don't let you girls down."
As they approached the first sign, they could hear Olden's voice speaking to them. "Alright folks, I'm going to do things a bit differently than what you remember, Towa. Rather than giving you a choice A and a choice B for each of mah questions, I'm going to simply ask you the question and I want you to answer it as truthfully as you can. And don't go tryin' to hide anything from me either, 'cause I'll know. Now, are you ready for question number one, Naruto Uzumaki?"
Naruto nodded once in acceptance of this. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, Olden-san."
"Good. Now, here's your question: "Your bride-to-be has fallen unconscious before your very eyes. What do you do?" Remember Naruto, take your time and answer honestly."
"Hmm…" Naruto thought over the question, trying to figure out exactly what he would do in such a situation. Depending on the reason why she fell unconscious, I might do any number of things. But the question is rather vague and leaves a lot to interpretation. So, if she just suddenly fell unconscious for an unknown reason...what would I do? He pondered.
After a couple of minutes, Naruto looked hard at the sign and shook his head. "To be perfectly honest, I'm not sure what I'd do. Depending on why she suddenly fell unconscious, I could do any number of different things. But, for argument's sake, let's say she just suddenly fell unconscious and the reason why is an unknown variable. If I suddenly saw one of my brides-to-be fall unconscious without knowing the cause...the first thing I'd do is check for a pulse. Afterwards, I'd attempt CPR and give her mouth-to-mouth in an attempt to resuscitate her. And if that didn't work, I'd rush her to the hospital where the doctors and medic-nin could, hopefully help her."
Olden could be heard humming to himself as he took in Naruto's response and thought it over. After a while, Olden piped up again. "You pass the first question. I like your answer, Naruto Uzumaki. Though I think posing a hypothetical question to ya is important for me to get to know you a little better."
"Alright, shoot. What's this hypothetical you've got for me?" Naruto questioned curiously.
"Should an enemy be responsible for your gal falling unconscious, by means of an attack of some kind, whether it be that genjutsu stuff or poison, what would you do?"
The blue-eyed teen's eyes narrowed and he clenched his fists at his side tightly. "If an enemy was responsible for my fiance being rendered unconscious, the first thing I'd do is send a Shadow Clone to distract them while I check on my bride-to-be. If it was a genjutsu, I'd break it and ensure that she was alright after being subjected to it. If it was poison…" Naruto looked at Sakura for a moment before looking at Rikku. "Depending on the situation and whomever it might be, I'd get Sakura-chan or Rikku-chan to deal with it. If they weren't available for whatever reason, or if they were the ones poisoned...I'd do everything in my power to cure them using every possible way available to me. If...if it was worse than that…? I...I don't know Olden. They mean the world to me and if I were to lose them...it would hurt worse than anything done to me ever could."
"I see. So you have the desire to protect those closest to you, and your heart burns for them hotter than the flames used to heat a cattle prod. Hoo-whee, that's quite the answer boy! I could feel your passion burning from here! Congratulations! You've successfully passed the first question. Now get yer butts on over to the second one pronto! I'm eager to learn more about ya, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Thanks, Olden." Naruto said before he began following Towa to the next sign with everyone else in his party. Naturally, they were forced to fight a variety of different monsters along the way, but soon enough they came upon the second signpost, where Olden's voice greeted them once again.
"Question #2: When it comes to your relationship with your lovely young brides-to-be, what's the question you find yourself asking the most?"
Naruto once more paused and began to stroke his chin in thought. It could be a question I ask myself a lot, but it could also be a question I ask them, I suppose. But no...it has to be something I ask myself. So what's the question I tend to ask myself the most when I'm with my girls?
After a moment, his eyes widened in realization as he looked around at each of his girls. Quietly, he said, "Am I worthy to be with them?"
Before any of his girlfriends/fiances could say anything, Olden's voice sounded once more, "That tends to be the question when a pure-hearted person such as yourself ends up with someone they feel they aren't worthy of. Well, to that question of yours, I saw 'Pshah!' If you weren't worthy of their love, then gosh darn it, I don't know who else would be! They picked you, after all! So buck up and act more confident in yourself Naruto! You are, indeed, worthy of their love. You pass the second question. Get goin' down to the third one. I'll be waitin'!"
Naruto made to walk off towards the next sign, but a hand on his arm caused him to freeze. He flinched at the contact and turned around to see each of his girlfriends looking at him with concern. "Naruto-kun, you really think that way?" Sakura questioned sadly. "We love you. It's just as Olden-san said. No other man will ever be worthy of us."
"I...I know that. And I understand what you're saying. But…" Naruto began to say, before Towa interrupted him with a kiss.
"No but's, Naruto. We won't hear any complaints or any of your needless worrying. You're stuck with us, so you'd better get used to it." she said before she began to lead the way to the next sign.
"Thank you...all of you." Naruto said before he began to follow them. I'm so lucky to have you girls.
Upon reaching the third sign, Towa groaned and brought a hand to her face, shaking her head from side-to-side slowly. "I remember the third question. Prepare yourself, Naruto."
Nodding slowly, Naruto stepped up to the sign and listened as Olden began to speak. "Question #3: If your lover were to say: "Would you like a bath first? Or me first?", what would your response be?"
Naruto blushed terribly at this and looked around at his girls. Oh Kami, what the hell am I supposed to say?!
Yamato couldn't help but smirk in amusement at the predicament his student was currently in. Just by looking at the other women in the group, he could tell that this question irritated some of them. Some of them actually didn't seem to care, while a couple of them were clearly imagining that kind of scenario playing out in their heads. Looks like Olden's not the only pervert here. He thought with a chuckle.
Taking a deep breath, Naruto closed his eyes and answered. "If...if one of my brides-to-be said something like that? Heh, I have to admit I'd be pretty shocked, but also pretty happy. I...well...if it came down to those two choices? I'd pick my fiance before a bath, though we could, erm...enjoy some time in the bath together. The best of both worlds, essentially."
Olden could be heard chuckling loudly. "I like you boy! What a terrific answer! Question #3 is a pass. Hurry on over to the fourth one."
Naruto looked at his fiances and chuckled nervously. "S-sorry if my answer bugs any of you. I'm just being honest."
Towa smirked at him. "So, the best of both worlds, huh? At least now we know one of your fantasies." she teased.
The whiskered blonde blushed worse and glanced away. "Sh-shut up. I'm allowed to have fantasies that involve you girls. It's only natural! I mean, you're all so beautiful and wonderful and...and...I love you all very much. My mind can't help but wander sometimes."
Meru grinned and gave her boyfriend/fiance a kiss on the lips that took his breath away. Afterwards, she leaned in and whispered, "Well, I'll let you in on a little...secret. We think about you in that way too sometimes. As you said, it's only natural."
Naruto blushed deeply, but before he could say anything in response, the girls began walking off towards the site of the next question. Is...is that true? He wondered to himself as he followed after them.
As they walked, they started to become a tad annoyed with all the monsters that kept attacking them. They didn't pose a serious threat, but they were so numerous that they began to wonder if this was how it always was in Olden's Garden. When asked, Towa explained that each of the four Gardens were inhabited by monsters and it was just something they'd have to get used to in her world, as monsters were practically everywhere.
Upon reaching the site of the fourth question, they waited for Olden to speak. "Question #4: "Where would you go on your first honeymoon?"" he questioned.
"First honeymoon, huh? That's...a damn good question. Since...since I plan to marry Rikku-chan first, no offense intended to the rest of you, I think I'd very much like to take her to her world and have a relaxing vacation of sorts. Watch some Blitzball games, enjoy the cozy life on Besaid Island, even visit the Zanarkand Ruins and the Baaj Temple, the place where Rikku-chan was taken from Spira. Essentially, I'd do everything I could to make our honeymoon something special in her home world." Naruto admitted honestly.
"Ah, to be young and in love. That's a great answer! You've passed the fourth question. Mosey on over to the fifth and final question. I'll be waiting!" Olden exclaimed joyfully.
Rikku smiled happily at her fiance and hugged him tight. "You're so sweet Naru! Thank you. Oooh, I can't wait to show you around Spira and introduce you to everybody! It'll be a blast!"
Naruto smiled and hugged her back. "Anything for you sweetheart. Now c'mon, let's go and see what the last question is. Have to admit, I'm a bit nervous." he said with a chuckle.
Upon reaching the last sign, they listened as Olden began to speak again. "Speaking honestly, which of those lovely ladies you're with do you like best, hm?"
It didn't take Naruto long at all to come up with an answer to this particular question. "I can't choose between them like that. They each hold a special place in my heart. Each of them is lovely and unique in their own ways, and I'm happy with each of them."
Olden chuckled a bit. "I'm glad to hear that. If you were able to pick just one of those ladies as your favorite, then this situation you're in with them just wouldn't work. You're in a delicate situation with these ladies, Naruto Uzumaki. Continue to treat them with respect and cherish them for the rest of your life, and I'm sure you'll be happy together. Now c'mon and see me at the end of the path. I've got your prize for ya."
Naruto breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at his girlfriends. "I'm glad that's over with. Let's go see Olden and get Something Old. I just hope the other three items that make up the Something Four aren't too difficult to get. This test was stressful enough."
Towa couldn't help but smirk as she looked at her boyfriend. "Just wait. The worst part's yet to come." she said mysteriously before she began leading the group to where Olden was waiting for them.
As they walked, battling monsters as they appeared, the group couldn't help but wonder what Towa meant. After all, what could be so bad that she wasn't telling them?
When they reached Olden a short while later, he floated around Naruto a couple of times before settling in front of him. "Well darn tootin', you sure passed this test with flyin' colors, Naruto! I knew I saw somethin' special in ya. Now, as promised, I'll just push out Something Old for ya and you can be on your way to iNew's Garden to get Something New. Now...just hold on a second and, erm...you might wanna close yer eyes fer this one."
Naruto raised his brow in curiosity before he complied, shutting his eyes as the others did the same. The next thing they heard was, "Hnnnn! Hnnnnggghhhhhh!" It sounded like Olden was trying to poop something out, he was grunting that loudly.
When they finally heard a plop sound, they opened their eyes and saw Olden holding out Something Old for them to take. "Phewie! That never gets any easier, let me tell ya! Anyways, here ya go Naruto, Something Old. Careful now, it's still warm."
Looking over the object being held aloft by Olden's tentacles, they could see it was shining brilliantly and looked to be in pristine condition. They weren't quite sure how to describe what they were seeing, but they each admitted that, despite the method Olden used to 'push it out', it looked perfectly clean and ready for use. So, somewhat hesitantly, Naruto reached out and took Something Old into his hands.
True enough, just as Olden said, the object was warm to the touch. Holding it in his hands, Naruto could sense the power held within this tiny object and couldn't help but smile as he thought about what the full power of the entire set was like. If they're all like this...maybe getting rid of the Kyuubi isn't such a farfetched thing to imagine, after all. I...could finally be rid of this burden.
"Thank you Olden. Truly." Naruto said as he looked into Olden's eyes. "You have no idea how much this means to me."
"Don't mention it Naruto. Just be sure to collect the other pieces and make a wish for whatever your heart desires. Whatever you decide to do, I truly believe that you'll make the right choice. Now git, boy! You can't waste anymore time here."
Naruto simply smiled at the old sage before turning to make his way out of the Garden. Yamato, however, lagged behind for a bit. He and Olden just stared into one another's eyes for a time before the leader of Team Yamato spoke up. "I still don't think he should erase the Kyuubi from existence, but...it's a burden that was unfairly placed upon him just hours after his birth. And...considering he has the Akatsuki after his life, perhaps erasing the Kyuubi from existence might be for the best, as it would likely save his life should they ever capture him. Olden-san, you said you trust Naruto to do what's right. I'd like to believe in him as well, but…"
Olden nodded his head in understanding. "You're concerned that, because he's a young'un, he can't really see the big picture. True, the Kyuubi houses great power and, if they learned to work together, Naruto could become something truly great. What you fail to realize, however, is that Naruto Uzumaki is powerful enough without that beastie, and he's only going to continue getting stronger. Try to have a little more faith in the boy, Yamato. If he chooses to get rid of the Kyuubi, then you need to believe that he made the right decision. He's your teammate and a trusted comrade, isn't he?"
The brunette frowned in thought for a moment before nodding his head slowly. "You're right. I think what it really comes down to is that I'm afraid of what the council will think once they realize the Kyuubi is gone. A lot of them view Naruto as a weapon, rather than as a person. Still others think of him as the Kyuubi itself, despite Naruto proving time and again that he and the Kyuubi are two separate beings. However, once they realize the Kyuubi is gone, they'll treat Naruto as if his value to the village has decreased drastically. They can make his life even more of a hell than it already is…"
Once again, the sage nodded slowly in understanding. "Makes sense. If they push him too far, he may retaliate. Or...he may simply leave for greener pastures. Who can really say how he'll react once people start to show their true colors?" Olden made a motion as if he was shrugging. "When it comes time to choose a side: your village or Naruto, I wonder what you'll choose." And with that, Olden vanished, leaving Yamato standing there alone, lost in his thoughts.
iNew's Garden
After leaving Olden's Garden, the party ventured quickly to the new Garden on the list: iNew's Garden. Upon arriving, they immediately set out through the Garden towards where Towa remembered iNew residing. Once they reached him, the majority of the group quirked their brows in surprise. iNew looked exactly like Olden! Then again, they supposed they shouldn't really be surprised by such a revelation. They weren't exactly 'human', after all.
"Ah, welcome to my home! I bet you're looking to get your hands on Something New, am I right? Mmm, I can imagine why as well. Just looking at you, I can sense something totally dark inside of you." he said, looking straight at Naruto's belly. "You want to get rid of that nasty thing, am I right?"
Naruto shook his head. "I don't know for sure just yet. After...after I collect the Something Four, I want to try talking to the Kyuubi one more time. If...if the conversation doesn't go like I hope...then yes, I'll probably use the Something Four to erase the Kyuubi from existence. It would throw a serious wrench in the Akatsuki's plans and keep them from achieving their goals. On top of that, I'd be freeing myself from the burden that was placed on me by my parents, namely my father. So...chances are that I'll probably be erasing the Kyuubi from existence...though I wish I didn't have to. It's a living being as well, but it…" Naruto sighed, unable to finish his sentence as his thoughts were a jumbled mess.
iNew nodded slowly. "Well that makes sense. I'm sure that whatever you decide to do, it will be for the best. Buuut, before I can give you Something New, you're gonna have to prove yourself to me. First though, I never got your name."
"Oh, it's Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki. Nice to meet you iNew."
"Cool. Now, here's what you're gonna have to do. Towa should remember this quite well." he said, looking at the blonde princess for just a moment. "You're gonna have to fight me. And before you get any ideas about coming at me with your team, that's not gonna cut it. I want you to fight me one-on-one, fair and square. It's you I'm testing after all. Not them. I warn you now, I won't be taking it easy on you. So, come at me with everything you've got, Naruto Uzumaki."
Naruto nodded his head in understanding before looking at the others. Giving them a smile, he watched as they stepped away, giving iNew and himself enough room for their fight. Looking back at iNew, the whiskered teen nodded again. "I'm ready. I swear I'll prove myself to you, iNew."
"Glad to hear it! Now...let's rock!" iNew exclaimed before suddenly appearing right in front of Naruto, his tentacles flailing as he struck out at Naruto.
"Shit!" Naruto exclaimed as he narrowly avoided the attack. Crap, he's fast! I barely had time to dodge!
"Surprised?" iNew asked, sounding very amused. "I told you, Naruto Uzumaki, that I'd be taking this seriously. Now...prepare yourself!"
Naruto watched as iNew sent a large fireball speeding his way. Quickly avoiding it, he kept his eyes on his opponent. Okay, of course he has magic too. He's not going to be an easy opponent, that's for sure.
In the blink of an eye, iNew was upon him again, a couple of his tentacles lashing out and striking Naruto in the stomach painfully. Holy crap that hurt! Then again, he's a sage. What the hell was I expecting?
When iNew went to attack him again, Naruto dodged and struck the bizarre person in what was typically the chest on a normal person. iNew floated back a bit and smiled at Naruto. "You've got some strength behind those punches of yours. Good. Now, let's kick things up a notch, shall we?"
Once more iNew disappeared in a burst of speed, appearing behind Naruto. Out of the corner of his eye, Naruto could see iNew spin around like a whirlpool, aiming at his back. The blonde quickly dodged before focusing as hard as he could on his magic. After a brief moment, he narrowed his eyes and cast his spell to slow time around him. He hoped that this would slow iNew down enough that he could launch a counterattack of some kind, but…
Naruto's eyes widened as iNew moved at a normal speed, striking him in the stomach with his tentacles again. Grunting in pain, Naruto stumbled back a couple of steps and narrowed his eyes at iNew. Okay...so time magic isn't going to do me any good in this fight. At least, not my Slow spell. My other time spells might help me a bit though…
iNew smirked at his opponent. "Nice try Naruto, but trying to slow me down isn't going to do you any good. Go ahead and try something else though, if you think it'll work."
The blue-eyed blonde took a calming breath and decided to try something a bit different. Focusing on the Lady Luck dressphere, he underwent a spherechange, a bright light emanating from his core. When the light died down, iNew got a good look at the new outfit his opponent had donned.
Instead of the orange and black getup he was in before, Naruto was now garbed in a pretty snazzy black suit. While the majority of the suit was black and gray, it came with a neon orange bow tie around the collar. On his feet were a comfortable pair of dress shoes and he had a gold bracelet around his left wrist. Dangling from his ears were a pair of earrings in the shape of a kunai and a shuriken, both were emerald green in color. Finally, his usually spiky hair was now combed back and smoothed out. Naturally, as this was the Lady Luck dressphere, his weapon of choice was a deck of razor sharp playing cards.
"Let's have some fun iNew." Naruto said as he activated his Four Dice ability, tossing four large dice into the air. When they hit the ground and stopped rolling, the total came out to be 18. Grinning at this, Naruto fanned his deck of playing cards out and said, "Oh, so sorry iNew, but looks like luck's just not on your side today."
Before iNew could ask about the significance of the dice, he was suddenly struck repeatedly by an invisible force 18 separate times. Each hit seemed to hurt more than the last and it left iNew feeling a bit winded once it was all over. As he went to move, he groaned in pain and rubbed at his body with a few of his tentacles. "Okay...I'll bite. What kind of super cool move was that?!"
Bowing slightly to the great spirit, Naruto offered him a small smirk. "That would be an attack called Four Dice. The number that appears is how many times you get hit. It felt something like a sledgehammer hitting you over and over again, didn't it? Don't worry, the pain will pass. But first, let's see what the Magic Reels end up revealing about your future, shall we?"
iNew began to sweat nervously and lunged to attack Naruto, but he simply dodged out of the way and raised his hand. What appeared to be the reels of a slot machine appeared and began to spin in place. Naruto, continuing to avoid iNew's attacks, pressed the buttons beneath each reel and smirked at what they revealed. "Awww, sucks to be you iNew. Looks like a little bit of...lightning is in your future."
Once more, iNew went on the attack, successfully striking Naruto in the back of his left knee, forcing him onto the ground. However, Naruto quickly performed a backflip to get away from his opponent and raised his hand. "Thundara!"
iNew winced in anticipation of the attack, as he knew he wasn't in a good position to dodge. When the lightning bolt struck him, he screamed out in agony for a while before slowly collapsing to the ground beneath him. "Okay. Okay! That's enough for now! I think it's safe to say you've got some scary luck, kid. That's fine though. Sometimes a little luck is just what you need, whether it be to survive a tough encounter or win big in a casino or somethin' like that." Realizing he was about to go off on a tangent, iNew shook his head before offering the whiskered teen a smile. "Point I'm trying to make is that you passed my test. Good job! Now, let me just push out Something New for ya and you can be on your way to Burrough's Garden. Oh, and you might want to close your eyes for this, it's not a pretty sight."
Once again, the group closed their eyes and listened to the grunting that accompanied 'pushing the object out'. "Hnnn! Hnngghhh! Hnnnngggggggggggghhhh!" Just listening to the sound effects taking place had their skin crawling, but they couldn't deny that, as disgusting as it sounded, the power each of these objects held was astounding, even if they only had Something Old at the moment.
"Okay...phew! You can open your eyes now." iNew said, watching as they each opened their eyes. Bringing a few of his tentacles up, he revealed to the group Something New. "I present you with Something New. Congratulations! Go on, take it! Oh! But be careful, it's warm."
Naruto slowly reached out and grabbed the mysterious object, cradling it in his hands once it was in his possession. True enough, it was warm to the touch. Naruto couldn't help but marvel at the beauty of the powerful object, once more wondering how these things could look like this if...well, he figured it was best not to think about it.
Pocketing Something New, Naruto bowed to iNew and offered him a smile. "Thank you iNew! I really appreciate this. I swear, I'll figure out what to do before the time comes for me to use the Something Four. I promise that whatever choice I make, it will be the right one. I refuse to believe otherwise."
iNew smiled at Naruto and nodded his head. "Of course, Naruto. Now off with you. Go see my sister, Burrough, and talk to her about borrowing Something Borrowed. Good luck with whatever test she puts forth, however. It's not going to be a simple task, getting ahold of that object."
Naruto and his party nodded their heads in understanding before they turned and began to make their way out of iNew's Garden. Once again, however, Yamato lagged behind, turning to look into iNew's eyes. "iNew-san? The Something Four...do they really have the power to erase the Kyuubi from existence?"
iNew just stared at Yamato for a time, thinking over how best to answer the man's question. After a while, he finally said, "Of course they do. Let me guess, you've thought of something. You already figured the Something Four would hold that kind of power, so what is it you're really trying to ask me, Yamato?"
The black-eyed man brought a hand to his chin and rubbed it as he thought over how best to phrase his question. His thoughts were going a mile a minute and he was trying to make sure he had everything straight in his mind before he spoke. After a brief period of silence, Yamato looked into iNew's eyes and voiced his thoughts. "Back in the Elemental Nations, there's a group of incredibly powerful criminals known as the Akatsuki. Their goal is to capture the jinchuriki, which Naruto happens to be, and extract their bijuu for some unknown purpose. The process of doing this would kill the jinchuriki. Now, you and Olden have already assured me that the Something Four can erase the Kyuubi from existence, but my question is this: is the Something Four powerful enough to erase all of the bijuu from existence at the same time? I mean completely erase them too. I'm asking this because the jinchuriki don't deserve to die, just because of a burden that was placed on them when most of them didn't even ask for it. Right now, they're essentially cursed, and if the Something Four can somehow give them some divine protection of some kind…"
iNew stroked what was essentially his chin with one of his tentacles. "Hmmm, that's a good question. Unfortunately...I don't think the Something Four have that kind of power. Besides that, in order to attempt such a thing, you'd have to take the Something Four back with you into the Elemental Nations. And I'm afraid that, as much as my friends and I would love to help you, we cannot permit you to leave our world with the Something Four. However, I can promise you this: if Naruto uses the Something Four to erase the Kyuubi, it will remove all traces of the Kyuubi from existence, even those left behind in your world. The Kyuubi would truly be no more. That's the most that I can promise you, I'm afraid. I'm sorry I don't have better news for you."
Yamato nodded in understanding. "That's alright, iNew-san. It was a feeble hope, and I knew better than to get my hopes up. Even if it's just the Kyuubi, that will throw a wrench in the Akatsuki's plans and hopefully keep Naruto safe. So thank you. Take care of yourself, iNew-san."
"You as well. Make sure to look after Naruto for us! He's a good kid." iNew said with a smile as he waved goodbye with one of his tentacles.
Burrough's Garden
Thankfully, this Garden was smaller than the others and it didn't take them long to reach Burrough. They weren't surprised to see that she looked just like Olden and iNew. "Well hello there. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting guests today. What brings you all here to see little old me?" she questioned with a bright smile on her face.
Towa smiled at Burrough and said, "We're here to ask if we can borrow Something Borrowed. Do you think you could loan it to us for a short time?"
Burrough looked at Towa curiously for a moment before her eyes lit up in recognition. "Towa! My word, it's been far too long since we last saw each other. I thought you were gone!"
"I was. Zack chose Toki over me and I was pretty much erased from this world. But...Naruto here, he gave me a new chance at life and I couldn't be happier with him. He's the one that made it possible for me to return to this world."
Nodding her head in understanding, Burrough looked Naruto over for a moment before smiling brightly once again. "My, such a dashing young man. You're quite lucky indeed, Towa! Now, you said you wanted Something Borrowed, correct? You never did tell me why."
Naruto looked down at his stomach for a moment before looking straight into the great spirit's eyes. "I was told that the Something Four have the power to get rid of a powerful entity that's inside of me. It's a burden that was placed on me shortly after my birth, and it has caused me no end of grief. When I use its power, I run the risk of losing control of myself and my actions and could very well hurt those dear to me. So if you can help, I'd truly appreciate it Ma'am."
"I see. Now that you mention it, I do sense a great darkness inside of you. Poor thing. You've been scorned by those you've been sworn to protect, haven't you?" When she saw Naruto flinch, Burrough nodded her head sadly. "I figured as much. Anyways, I'd very much like to loan you Something Borrowed, but I'm afraid somebody already borrowed it from me and has yet to return it."
Towa sighed and nodded her head in understanding. "I figured as much. Who borrowed it this time, Burrough? Hopefully it's someone that will listen to our plea and allow us to return it to you."
Burrough hummed in thought for a moment before saying, "It was this nice old lady. I believe her name was Anna. Does that sound familiar to any of you?"
The amber-eyed princess' eyes widened in shock. "My grandmother?! I wonder why she'd want Something Borrowed? I promise we'll return with Something Borrowed soon, Burrough. Naruto, everyone, let's go! My grandma must have a reason for this."
Naruto and the girls nodded, while Yamato looked as if he was thinking hard about something. Noticing this, Rikku asked, "Captain Yamato? What's up?"
Noticing that everyone's attention was now on him, Yamato offered them a reassuring smile. "It's nothing important. I'm just wondering...do you think your grandmother knew we were coming and borrowed Something Borrowed so we'd come and talk with her? I'm wondering what she wants exactly. After all, it's as you said, she must have a reason for why she has it."
Towa frowned as she thought it over. "It's certainly possible. Grandma's always been incredibly wise and knows far more about things than she lets on. I wouldn't be at all surprised if she foresaw our visit and prepared this just so she could speak with us. Or, more specifically...Naruto."
Yamato nodded slowly. "I can't help but wonder what she wants with Naruto. Don't get me wrong, I trust her intentions are pure and I know she's a good person, but when it comes to Naruto and his burden, I can't help but worry."
The amber-eyed princess nodded in understanding. "I'm not offended, don't worry. Let's just go see what she wants. I'm sure she means no ill will towards Naruto. She probably just wants to speak with him about something." And with that, the group departed Burrough's Garden to return to Kamza.
Kamza - Castle
When they arrived at the castle, the party were directed to go to Toki's room, where Anna was apparently waiting for them with Toki and her child. Upon arriving at Toki's bedchambers, Naruto knocked on the door. "Um, Anna-san? We're here to see you."
"Please come in. We have some things to discuss, you and I." Anna replied. Shortly afterwards, the door opened and Team Yamato entered the room and took positions throughout the room, each getting comfortable in their own way. Looking straight at Naruto, Anna smirked as she held up Something Borrowed. "You came for this, correct? Well, before I hand it over, I'd like to chat for a bit, Naruto."
"As you wish Anna-san. What do you want to discuss with me?" he questioned curiously.
Smiling kindly at him, Anna pointed at his gut. "I'll be blunt, Naruto. I want you to delve into your mindscape and speak with the beast sealed inside of you. I want you to try and make peace with it. If the Kyuubi refuses and decides to be a pain, then I think you'll have reached your decision about what to do with the Something Four. However, should the beast be willing to cooperate with you and work with you on some level...I want you to consider its feelings and come to a decision about what would be the best thing to do. So, will you try to make peace with the Kyuubi?"
Naruto frowned at this and looked down at his stomach again. "I...see. I suppose this is a long time coming, then. Alright, Anna-san. I'll try to speak with the Kyuubi. But...I really don't know how this conversation is going to go."
As Naruto sat himself down and began to meditate, delving into his mindscape, Yamato stepped a bit closer and prepared to act if necessary. Looking at him, Anna smirked. "Try to have more faith in your student, Mr. Yamato. Everything will be fine, and he'll soon have his answer. I just hope you can accept his decision, whatever it may be."
Yamato nodded slowly as he looked down at his teammate. "I trust that he'll be fine. It's the Kyuubi I'm worried about. My talents are important in keeping the beast restrained, should it try anything. That's part of why I was assigned to this team in the first place."
"I understand that. A simple precautionary measure put in place to ensure the safety of Naruto and his family. However, I don't think that role will be needed anymore after he obtains the Something Four and makes his wish. I just wish the Kyuubi was a more cooperative, peaceful creature."
"It sounds as if you already know what's going to happen. I'm assuming, based on what you've just said, that the Kyuubi isn't going to cooperate with Naruto?" Yamato questioned.
Anna nodded sadly. "The Kyuubi is a prideful beast and would sooner curse Naruto's existence rather than work with the poor boy."
"If that's the case, why'd you want him to speak with the Kyuubi in the first place?" Rikku questioned. "It's not safe to confront that thing!"
The elderly time mage looked at Rikku and shook her head. "It was necessary for him to meet with the Kyuubi. Naruto was unsure about what to do when he got the Something Four. He needed to overcome his indecision and make a choice about what he was going to do. This will help him in the long run."
The girls didn't look too happy about this revelation, but they nodded in understanding regardless. Almost as one, they looked towards Naruto and waited to see what would happen.
Naruto's Mindscape
Naruto found himself frowning deeply as he looked through the large bars, straight into the Kyuubi's eyes. He was unsurprised when the Kyuubi thrust a claw between the bars, stopping just short of skewering the blonde. He stood there, unflinching, simply staring into the beast's red eyes. "Hello Kyuubi. It's been a while since we saw each other."
"Not long enough, if you ask me. Why are you even here?" the Kyuubi questioned grumpily.
"You should already know the answer to that, Kyuubi. You are a sentient being with your own feelings and thoughts. Unlike some people I've met, you're an intelligent creature. I'm sure you're already well aware that I've come across a means of removing you from the picture. I wanted to see if we could, perhaps, bury the hatchet, so to speak. You may be a grumpy ball of fur and hate, but I wanted to give you a chance. So...will you work with me and come to some kind of compromise with me, or…?"
The Kyuubi raised a brow and chuckled darkly. "Work? With you? That must be some kind of joke. You aren't worthy of my time, let alone my power. You've used my power as a crutch, without my permission, and now you expect me to just throw your transgressions against me to the side and cooperate with you?"
Naruto sighed and shook his head. "I know I've wronged you in the past, Kyuubi. For that, I apologize. But...if you don't cooperate with me now, then I'll use the power of the Something Four to erase you from existence. That's a last resort move that I don't want to make...but…"
"Like you really care about me. Face it, you're dealing with a guilty conscience and don't want my death to haunt you. Even now you're only thinking about yourself. Screw what I want, right?"
Scowling at this point, Naruto pointed a finger at the fox's face. "Damn it Kyuubi! Of course I'm thinking about you! And about the other jinchuriki and the other bijuu. I'm also thinking about the threat that the Akatsuki poses to those like me. Part of me knows that if you're gone for good...then they can't win. After all, they want all of you for some unknown plan. We can be sure that it's nothing good, though. But even still, at risk to my own well being...I'm willing to give you a chance, Kyuubi. That has to count for something!"
The Kyuubi scoffed at this. "Too little, too late fleshling. You're no better than my previous containers. Granted, I'm allowed a bit more freedom compared to my previous prisons, but that's of little importance right now. As for what that Akatsuki group wants with us? Heh, I have an idea of their ultimate goal, or at least what that fake 'Madara' might be after, but why should I tell you? No, it's best to let you find out for yourself what they're up to. I can say this for a fact though: I want NOTHING to do with you. I won't help you. So if you're going to erase me, feel free. At least I'd finally have some freedom in death."
Naruto let out a heavy sigh as he closed his eyes and shook his head in disappointment. "That's a real shame, Kyuubi. I had hoped we could become partners of a sort. Friends, maybe. But…" Steeling himself, Naruto looked into the Kyuubi's eyes with a grim expression on his face. "If it means the Akatsuki won't get their hands on you...possibly subjecting you to something worse...then I'll go through with the plan to erase you from existence. You deserve your peace, at least. Though...I'm not entirely sure if the afterlife is what you'd be expecting. Still...at least you'd be free." And with that, Naruto left his mindscape, quite possibly for the last time.
Hmph. Stupid fleshling. Friends? With him? What a ridiculous notion. The Kyuubi thought to itself before laying down inside of its cage. Goodbye, Naruto Uzumaki.
Toki's Room
Naruto opened his eyes and sighed sadly. Looking around at everyone, he shook his head a couple of times. "He's...not going to cooperate. I told him I wanted to try and understand each other...to be friends. The Kyuubi is far too stubborn though."
Towa smiled sadly at him. "Grandma told us as much while you were busy speaking with him. I'm sorry Naruto."
"It's fine. But this does make my decision easier. Even though the Kyuubi isn't the nicest thing around...he doesn't deserve to suffer at the hands of the Akatsuki. So, to keep the Kyuubi safe, and to give him some peace...I'm going to have the Something Four erase him from existence." Naruto said, finally coming to a decision on what he wanted to do.
Anna nodded her head in understanding. "I'm sorry I made you do this, Naruto. However, it was needed to help you come to a decision. I know it wasn't an easy decision to make, but I do believe this is for the best."
"Thank you Anna-san." Naruto said softly. "For everything."
Anna smiled sadly at Naruto. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry you've had such a burden placed upon you, Naruto. Despite everything you've been through, you've become a truly fine young man. I'm sure your parents would be quite proud of you."
Toki decided to add her two cents as well. "On top of that, you're exactly the kind of role model Towa needs. You helped us, and didn't even ask for anything in return for doing so. I'm glad to have met you."
Naruto had to wipe away the building tears before he spoke. "Thank you. That means a lot to me. Um…" Thinking on it for a bit, Naruto looked into Anna's eyes and asked, "Was there anything else you wanted from me, Anna-san? We came here hoping to get Something Borrowed from you, but…"
The elderly woman smiled and nodded her head in understanding. "Yes, there is something else I'd like to ask of you. There are people in your world that would seek to do harm to this one, as I'm sure you're already aware. So, when you return to your world, I want you to anchor the wormhole in a safe location, one where those that would do us harm cannot reach. Just as I would have you anchor the wormhole leading from here to your world in a safe location, away from monsters and the unsuspecting citizen. Can you do this for me?"
Naruto nodded slowly. "Of course. I'm still trying to get the hang of my magic, but I believe I can anchor the wormholes properly. But...where would I create the wormhole on this end? I already have a good idea of where to anchor the wormhole in my world, but here? I'm going to let you decide on the best place to do that."
Before anyone could say anything, they heard a voice speaking to them. "So, you're the one responsible for screwing with the fabric of space and time? I was wondering who was responsible for screwing around in my domain. Have to admit though, wasn't expecting you to be such a cutie."
Towa easily recognized the voice and scowled. "Moebius!"
True enough, Moebius appeared before the group, a smirk on her face. "Bingo! Long time, no see, Towa. And hello to you as well Toki. I'm sure you don't remember me, but I sure remember you. And that Zack fellow you used to be with, he was always entertaining. Too bad he screwed with your heart, huh?"
Towa scowled at the time goddess. "What the hell do you want, Moebius? If you're just here to screw with us, then please leave."
"Aww, and after all we've been through together? This is how you treat an old friend? That hurts!" Moebius questioned, a pout on her face. After a moment though, she smirked and began to laugh. "Ha! I suppose your hatred of me is justified. Though you have to admit, I did save you from being with that jerk, Towa. Besides, look at you. You're clearly happier now than when you were stuck with me. You should be glad I sent you through that wormhole. You've got a hunky new man, and things are grand, right?!"
Toki frowned as she looked at the stranger curiously. "I...I'm afraid I don't recognize you. Should I know who you are?"
Towa sighed and shook her head. "Toki...this is Moebius. She's a time goddess and used to be sealed within that hourglass you wore around your neck. She's also a major pain in the butt."
"That's not a very nice thing for you to say about me, Towa. But it's true, I did cause you two no end of grief. Then again, you kind of brought it on yourselves, trying to get married to that asshole, Zack. I was really just trying to do you both a favor." Moebius said with a shrug of her shoulders. "Enough about that though…" turning to Naruto, Moebius walked up to him and grabbed his chin, turning his head left and then right as she got a good look at him. "Hmm, how is it you came to possess such phenomenal powers? It's not every day that somebody manages to access my realm in such a way."
Naruto looked into Moebius' eyes calmly and said, "I'm not entirely sure how I came to have this power, Moebius-san. Nobody else in my world has magic...at least not that I'm aware of, anyway. It's a mystery to me."
Nodding in understanding, Moebius released Naruto's chin and paced around for a moment. "Hmm...if I had to guess, I'd say it's something unique to that clan of yours, the Uzumakis. They were a rather special bunch, weren't they?" she asked with a grin. "You see, I've been watching you on and off since Towa arrived in your world. I'm still rather curious about those jinchuriki fellows. Whose bright idea was it to seal those bijuu things up in people? And even worse, the very people that make them into jinchuriki then treat them like monsters. It's enough to make me look like a saint! It's sickening!"
Yamato sighed after hearing this. Closing his eyes, he folded his arms across his chest and said, "Shodaime-sama was the one to give away the bijuu like that. I admit...it may not have been the best decision, but he was still a good, respectable man. As for how the jinchuriki are treated...I have no words to speak about how regrettable their fate is. They didn't choose to have the bijuu sealed within them, but they're treated like social pariahs whose worth is less than dirt. It shames me to admit that most people either see them as the bijuu themselves...or as weapons to be used and then discarded when they're no longer of any use."
"That's true. It really does make Moebius seem better in comparison, but I wouldn't call her a saint." Towa said, a deep frown on her face. "But...I am curious. Why do you think his clan is the reason for his magic, Moebius?"
"Just a gut feeling." Moebius said with a dismissive shrug of her shoulders. "Now, Naruto...I have a small, teeny tiny favor to ask of you. Willing to hear me out?"
Naruto frowned in thought for a moment. He had heard about Moebius from Towa before, and he was naturally wary of this woman. Still… "Sure, I'll listen. What exactly do you need?"
Clapping her hands once in excitement, Moebius stepped up to Naruto again and placed her hand on his chest. "It's quite simple, really. I just want you to continue to entertain me. But more than that, I'm fascinated by you. I'd like to offer you my services as a teacher. I'll help you learn more about your space/time magic in exchange for one thing. I want you to continue visiting other worlds, not just those tied to your friends here. The more worlds you explore, the more you'll learn. But, more than that, think of all the entertainment you'll be providing me! Oh! And, since I'll be teaching you, that means you have to let me come with you! Sooo...deal?"
The whiskered teen thought carefully about what she was proposing. While Towa would be annoyed by Moebius' presence, no doubt, he couldn't deny that studying under the time goddess would be quite beneficial in the long run. Still, something about her proposal caused him some concern. "There's something else you're not telling me...isn't there?"
The silver-haired time goddess smirked at him devilishly. "My, you are a perceptive one, aren't you? I like that. Okay, there is one teensy tiny little thing I left unsaid. You see, I want an heir, a child. I'm typically a genderless being, but I happen to like this form quite a bit. So, in you, I'm seeking a husband and father of my child. Or, if time permits, children. Think about it, you'd be my equal in everything, an essential time god! Plus, you'd have bagged yourself one sexy as hell time goddess, don't ya think?"
As Naruto blushed, Towa scowled and pointed angrily at Moebius. "Oh hell no! I am not sharing him with you! Find yourself somebody else to father your child!"
The red-eyed goddess turned to Towa and pouted at her. "Towa, that's mean! Think about all that I'm offering him before you make such a rash decision. All he has to do for me is continue doing what he's been doing and be my husband. That's not too much to ask for, is it? Besides, you already snagged his virginity for yourself, what more could you want?"
Towa blushed a deep red at this and could feel the piercing stares of the other girls without even looking at them. "T-that's...that's not important right now!"
Rikku pouted at Towa. "No fair! I wanted to be his first! I can't believe you beat me to it!"
Meru smirked at Towa. "So bold of you, snatching his first time like that. I didn't think you had it in you, Towa. You'll have to give us details later."
Moebius smirked at Towa. "Ahhh, you hadn't told them yet. Shame on you, Towa. Oh well. The point stands that I'm putting my foot down on this. Naruto needs my guidance, and I need a husband and heir. Besides, I haven't even done anything to you to warrant such a reaction."
"But...why does it have to be Naruto? It…" Towa sighed and hung her head. "It's not fair…"
"Towa, you should know perfectly well by now that life is hardly ever fair." Anna chastised her granddaughter. "You should know that this is a great opportunity for Naruto. All that Moebius is asking for is to be a part of the family you and your sisters are building with your chosen husband. I know you've had your differences in the past, but you can't let that cloud your judgment here. Moebius is not an evil entity, and I'm sure you can sense no ill intentions from her, just as I can. So what's stopping you from letting her become a member of your family?"
The blonde princess shook her head and sighed sadly. "I'm, admittedly, letting the past affect my judgment here. I know that. But I already have to share him with my new friends. I was hoping that it would be just us…"
Naruto walked up to Towa and hugged her close to him, letting her cry into his chest, not at all minding that she was getting his shirt wet. "Towa-chan, it's okay. Everything will be alright. I won't accept if it bothers you that much, even if I could use the help. I don't want you to be hurt because of this."
Towa hugged him back tightly and mumbled something into his chest. When he asked her what she was trying to say, the princess looked up into his eyes before capturing his lips in a tender, loving kiss. "I said...I just...I can't trust her. After everything she did to Toki and me...it's just too damn hard to have any faith in her. I'll admit that her keeping me from marrying Zack was for the best, but...Toki and I were torn apart because of her. I know you'd be able to advance in your magical studies quicker with her help...but…"
"I understand sweetheart. As much as I could use more guidance, you're far more important to me than mastering my magic. Moebius…" Naruto turned to face the time goddess and bowed to her. "I'm truly sorry, but it looks like you're going to have to find another man."
Frowning at this, Moebius looked at Towa and sighed. "Towa...I'm going to make you a deal. I'll teach you everything I know about time magic if you let me join this little family of yours. You have a great deal of potential, and it's going to waste right now because you lack a certain spark of creativity. I can help you become a true master of time magic if you'd let me. I can't promise that I won't screw with you a bit though for giggles."
Towa's eyes widened in shock. She's offering to teach me? But...this has to be a trick. I… Sighing, the amber-eyed woman looked hard into Moebius' eyes and shook her head. "I...appreciate the offer, Moebius. But...I can't help but think this is a trick just so you can steal Naruto away from us or something. After everything you've done...it's hard to trust you, just like that. So...I have to refuse. At least...at the moment I refuse. Who knows what the future may hold?"
Moebius frowned for a moment before releasing a heavy sigh. "I see. Well, I'll let the offer stand. I can wait as long as I have to for you to share him with me. It's a bit much to take in right now, I imagine. But, this is important enough to me that I'm willing to wait until you're ready. Anyways…" turning to Anna, Moebius said, "Anna, give Naruto Something Borrowed so he and his groupies can get going. I want Naruto to get rid of the Kyuubi so he can focus completely on bettering himself rather than worry constantly about that dumb beast taking control away from him."
The elderly woman nodded slowly and stepped up to Naruto. Reaching out, she grabbed his wrist and then placed Something Borrowed in his hand. "Don't forget to visit Burrough one more time before you go after Something Blue. I don't know what Draquoise will ask of you, but I'm sure you'll succeed. Moebius, will you be going with them?"
The time goddess shook her head. "No. It's obvious I'm not welcome just yet. Good luck Naruto." she said before kissing him on the cheek. Afterwards, she winked at him and waved goodbye before she disappeared.
Naruto couldn't help it as he began to chuckle a bit. "Have to admit, I never thought a goddess would take an interest in me. I'm actually kind of flattered."
Rikku walked over and punched him in the arm. "Don't go getting a big head now, Naruto." she teased. "Anyways, we should get going to Draquoise's Garden and see about getting Something Blue. I'm looking forward to getting that beastie out of your gut!"
Nodding in agreement, Naruto bowed to Anna. "Thanks again Anna-san. I truly appreciate everything you've done for me. We'll be back soon, I'm sure. Until then, please make sure that Toki and little Towa stay well."
Toki smiled sweetly at him and said, "I'm more concerned about you right now, Naruto. Be safe, okay?"
Offering the beautiful redhead a smile, Naruto gave her a salute before he left her room, his teammates following after him. Once they were gone, Anna smirked at her granddaughter. "Seems you're warming up to him rather well, Toki."
The red-eyed girl nodded in agreement with that assessment. "Towa adores him already, and he seems like a really good person. I can't help but want to be closer to him. Just as friends though! I'm not ready for a relationship of that kind yet!"
Chuckling softly, the elderly time mage nodded in understanding. "I understand. He's a good man that's been dealt a cruel hand in life. Still, rather than let his torment break him, he's risen above the pain and become a truly respectable young man. I have to admit I'm proud of who he's become."
"What exactly has he been through? You seem to know something about it…"
"I only know a little, but it's enough. If you want to know more about him, just ask him when he returns. You have plenty of time before he returns to his world." Anna suggested.
Pouting a bit at being denied the knowledge that her grandmother possessed, Toki eventually found herself nodding slowly. "Alright. I will then! I just hope he's willing to open up to me a little…"
Draquoise's Garden
Upon arriving at the fourth and final Garden, the party was pleasantly surprised to see that, like Burrough's Garden, this one was rather small and simple in structure. Therefore, despite having to battle the occasional monster, they reached Draquoise rather easily.
The group were expecting Draquoise to be like the other three great spirits, but when they laid eyes on him, those expectations were thrown out the window. Floating before them was a huge blue dragon whose size was at least as big as the Hokage Mountain, if not slightly bigger.
Looking up into Draquoise's eyes, they listened as he began to speak. "I know why you have come. You're seeking Something Blue, correct? For what purpose?"
Naruto took a step forward and began to explain. "Draquoise-san, I am Naruto Uzumaki. I've sought out the Something Four because of a being sealed inside of me at the time of my birth known as the Kyuubi. As it stands, its very being threatens my comrades and I because if I lose control, the Kyuubi will take over and...let's just say it isn't pretty. Its power also harms me in a rather severe way if I draw on too much of its power."
Before Draquoise could interrupt, Naruto took a breath in and continued. "There is also a group known as the Akatsuki that are seeking to extract the Kyuubi and its siblings from people like me. If the bijuu are extracted from us...we die. So...my goal is to erase at least the Kyuubi from existence to not only keep the Akatsuki from taking him...but also to give the Kyuubi peace in death that it never got in life."
Draquoise closed his eyes and nodded slowly as he hummed in thought. "Hmm, I see. I'm afraid that the Something Four cannot erase all of the bijuu from existence, especially considering you are an otherworlder. At best, you can erase every piece of the Kyuubi from existence, unable to ever be used again. And before you ask, no, we will not permit you to take the Something Four from this world into your own. You will simply have to settle for giving the Kyuubi its peace and freedom in death."
Naruto nodded in understanding. While he felt for the other jinchuriki and their bijuu, he knew better than to push his luck. Then, something about the way Draquiose said that caught his attention. "Does this mean you'll lend me Something Blue?"
The mighty dragon shook his head. "No. You must first pass my test before I give unto you Something Blue. I refuse to simply give it away without first testing what kind of person you truly are, Naruto Uzumaki."
"Ah, understandable." Naruto said quietly. "What's the test?"
"I'm going to give you an easy task to complete. Though it may sound simple, it's likely something you're not used to doing. I want you to bake me the most delicious cake I've ever tasted. If need be, you can learn how to do so from somebody else, as there is no time limit on this test of yours. However, you must be the one to make the cake. Do this one, simple task for me, and Something Blue is yours. Get going."
Naruto's eyes widened in horror as he repeated the request over and over again in his mind. The best cake he's ever tasted?! Couldn't he just fight me like iNew did?! I'll never get Something Blue knowing my pathetic cooking skills! Yes, Naruto was in a bit of a pickle.
A/N - Okay, as you can see, I tried to put a bit of a twist on each of their tests. Olden was a bit more serious this time, iNew tested Naruto's combat skills, Burrough's was a tad different, and Draquoise? Heh, his might be the hardest of the Something Four to obtain.
Anyways, since I know it wasn't mentioned in the chapter and you might be wondering about it, yes, Naruto and the group went and talked to Burrough after they got Something Borrowed. I would have included that scene, but I didn't think it was important enough to mention that they went and told her they got it and then immediately leave again. So I skipped that bit and went on to the next Garden.
Okay, with all of that said, I do hope you enjoyed this chapter. I don't know what I'll work on next, but I hope you're looking forward to whatever's coming up next! Peace!