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Chapter 4: "Humanity"

(Year: X776)

Naruto took deep breaths. He concentrated on the air around him. The air, the wind, and the sky…he could feel them now. Before, it was noticeable, but now he could feel the warm fingers of the sky brush against his cheeks. It was everything he imagined.

From his spot on the hill, Naruto reached out. With his eyes still closed in a meditative state, he tried to touch the fingers that danced around him. He couldn't reach them, though. No matter what he did, the hands of the sky seemed to allude his grasp.

The jinchūriki never stopped trying, though. Every day, he reached out and tried to grab the hand of freedom. It never worked, and according to April, it never would.

According to his sensei, he was too emotionless to ever have a true understanding of the heavens. After all, it is the sky that brings down the rage of hurricanes. It is the heaves that cry deeply without any regret. It is the bright blue day that allows the joy of the sun to shine its brightest.

'Damn…' Naruto frowned. 'What am I missing?'

'Humanity, Kit.' Kurama spoke. 'It was your lack of humanity that led me to like you in the first place. You kill without remorse. You refuse to care for any other mortal. You don't allow yourself to feel anything. You refuse to be a human. You are a weapon, a jinchūriki.'

'That is not who I chose to be.' Naruto argued.

'Maybe not, but it doesn't change who you are.' Kurama shrugged. 'You're a heartless bastard with no care for other people.'

'That's a rude thing to say.' Naruto noted.

'But it is true.'

'…' Naruto had no argument.

Opening his eyes, Naruto peered at the blue sky above him. From the top of this hill, he had a great view of the sky. Not only that, he could see the town down below and April's house past the edge of the town. It was a beautiful view, and Naruto often came here to meditate.

His progress in Sky God Slayer magic was minimal. His sky magic gained a slight black tint to it, but it never had the force behind it that the notes said there should be. It was frustrating to say the least. He could feel it, though. Each day, he was getting closer.

"Naruto!" April called from the side of the hill. She had a basket in her hand and a sunhat on her head. The wind moved her pure white sundress and golden hair. This allowed emphasized her feminine figure in ways that most teen boys Naruto's age would find pleasing.

Her heart shaped face shone in the sun. The woman's pure blue eyes sparkled. A beautiful smile graced her lips. In that moment, Naruto thought that she looked truly angelic.

"I'm going to town to buy some food for dinner!" April called. "Do you want to come?!"

"…Sure!" Naruto called back and stood. He quickly approached his sensei. "What are you planning on making?"

"…A dish I haven't made for a while." April mentioned.

"Oh? Is it that weird puffer fish thing?" Naruto questioned.

"No…It was a dish I ate a long time ago, but haven't made for a while." April noted. "It was always my favorite though."

"Why did you stop eating it, though?" Naruto questioned.

"Because I never had a reason to cook it." April began to walk down the hill.

"What is it?"

"Ramen."


"Good afternoon, April!"

"Ah! It's the angle of Trafalgar!"

"It's great to see you again, Kazen-sama!"

April waved and greeted the townspeople. She was well known, respected, and loved in this town. Her kindness and generosity was well known. The woman always used her sky magic to heal the sick and injured, and she did it for free.

Naruto never really understood this, but he didn't question it. It was just part of her weird morality. Besides, it have him good practice on using his healing sky magic. He didn't really care for others, but it healing magic could also heal his wounds, so that was an upside. Now, he didn't have to completely rely on Kurama.

"It's good to see you, April." An elderly woman named Sofia smiled. "How have you been?"

"Fine. Been having to deal with this brat, but besides that…" April giggled.

"You're more of a brat than I am, April-sensei." Naruto mentioned.

"You take that back!" April grabbed his whiskered cheek and pulled it. "I'm the definition of maturity!"

"Fine, fine." Naruto slapped his hand away. "Just don't do that. It's annoying, dat…"

"Huh?" April grinned teasingly and cupped a hand behind her ear. "What was that last bit?"

"…Nothing." Naruto looked away. He hated the verbal tick. Apparently, he got it from his birth mother. That was just a great trait to get from a woman he never even met for real.

"If you say so." April did not drop the grin, though.

"Oh, you two." Sofia laughed. "You're always fun to be around."

"Whatever…" Naruto shrugged with a neutral look. He was quick to gain his composure.

"So, what you gonna buy, Aunty?!" A head popped out from behind the stand that they were at. She was a brown haired little girl with a pink bow in her hair. Her green eyes sparkled in mischief.

"Just some vegetables." April looked at the produce on the stand.

"Well, pick out whatever you want. After you healed Sora last weak, you get everything free today." Sofia stated.

"Thank you, but that's not necessary…" April smiled. "I still have plenty of money saved from my days as a mage."

"Yes, you were a member of Fairy Tail, right?" Sofia eyed the guild tattoo on the Sky Magic user's hand. "What made you quit, anyway?"

"I…decided I needed a change." April answered.

"But didn't you like it, Aunty?" Sora walked from out behind the stand.

"Of course I did. I love all my friends from the guild." April patted the girl's head. "There was just too many reminders of the past."

"Huh?" Sora was confused.

"Forget it, Sora." Naruto spoke up. "It's complicated."

"Okay, Naru-nii!" Sora beamed up at the boy.

"Don't call me that." Naruto sighed.

"But it suits you, Naruto-nii." Sora stated. "After all, you let me play dress up with you all the time."

"That means nothing." Naruto stared down at the little girl in the blue dress.

"Of course it does!" Sora smiled. "We're friends! That's why I made you this!"

Sora held out a crown made of flowers. It was colorful and pretty. This did not suit Naruto at all.

"…No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pweeeeeeease?" Sora's eyes went big and filled with tears.

"Damn…" Naruto bowed his head and let the little girl place the flowery crown on his head.

April laughed. "I love it! How adorable, Naru-chan~"

"…" Naruto was silent

"Now a piggy back ride!" Sora demanded.

"…Fine, but don't cry this time."

"Then don't jump from the rooftops!"

"Oh, I hate when they do that." Sofia frowned. "Sora could get hurt."

"Trust Naruto a little." April smiled. "He has excellent coordination. He won't drop her."

"You have a lot of faith in your student." Sofia noted.

"Of course." April nodded.

"And I noticed…" Sofia gave the woman a knowing look. "You have been much happier with him around."

"…I always wanted a son." April admitted. She gripped her stomach tightly. "But I never had one properly."

"Oh? Never found the right man?"

"No…It's not that…" April gained a saddened look. "I just can't have one."


"It's always nice to speak to everyone in town." April noted as she and her apprentice began their trek home.

"I guess." Naruto shrugged. He was carrying the basket full of food that they bought.

"You know, Sora just adores you. I think she has a crush on you." April smirked at the boy.

"That's nice, I suppose." Naruto didn't seem to care.

"I think it's sweet." April chuckled. "Maybe in ten years when she's eighteen, you'll get married."

"Married?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Where did that come from?"

"It's a woman thing. We like to think about such things." April giggled. They passed by Conner-san's farm and made sure to wave at the farmer and his family.

After they passed the farm, Naruto spoke up. "I don't like the concept of marriage. It seems like something that restricts freedom."

"Well…It kind of does." April admitted. "But it's an expression of devotion and commitment to another person."

"No thanks then." Naruto frowned. "I don't want anything to hold back my freedom."

"You'll change your mind when you fall in love." April noted.

"Doubtful. Even though I was young, Danzo-sama made sure that I began my training to resist seduction." Naruto mentioned.

"That's not what I meant…It's not about lust. It's about love." April mentioned.

"And you think I'm capable of loving someone so much that I would restrict my own freedom for her?" Naruto scoffed. "Not likely."

"Perhaps you will change your mind one day." April shrugged.

"…April-sensei." Naruto spoke up.

"Yes?" April turned to look at the boy.

"Were you ever married?" Naruto questioned. "You speak with such passion about it, but you don't wear a ring and you don't have any wedding pictures."

"I…I do have all those things. They're in the attic." April gained a sad look. "I don't want to think about them though. Marriage is only until death after all."

"…How did he die?" Naruto questioned.

"He…was killed on a mission." April explained. "We were on the mission together, but…we were separated and I couldn't get to him in time to save him."

"…I'm sorry." Naruto stated. "I didn't know."

"It's fine." April smiled sadly. "It happened a long time ago."


"…" Naruto looked up from his notes to look over at April who was cooking dinner. "April-sensei, may I ask another personal question?"

"Oh? You're very inquisitive today, Naruto." April noted as she worked at the stove. "Very well, what is it?"

"You talk about Fairy Tail a lot. You clearly loved your guild. Why did you leave?" Naruto questioned.

"Many different reasons." April noted. "Too many empty bedrooms at my old home, the constant looks at pity, the dreams I knew would never come to be."

"Dreams?" Naruto took notice of that.

"Yes." April nodded. "I always wanted to be guild master, just like the first one Master Mavis, but…I knew after what happened, I could never do it."

"Oh?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Why's that?"

"I had many reasons." April sighed. "It started when I found out I was infertile…then my husband died…and then I tried…a forbidden form of magic. It ended badly. Master Markarov was angry, but forgave me. He said we could move past it…but I couldn't. There was too many bad memories. So I left and came here."

"Hmm…I see." Naruto nodded slowly.

"Aren't you going to ask what forbidden magic I used?" April turned to him. She had a sad look on her face.

"No…I can see that talking about it upsets you." Naruto shrugged. "Let's just move on."

"…" The woman stared at him for a moment, then began to giggle. "Hahahaha…Oh, you really have grown. You never used to be sensitive to how I felt…"

"If I annoy or upset you, it will come back and bite me. So, it's better to avoid it all together." Naruto closed his eyes and crossed his arms. "That's all."

"Sure it is, you big softy."

"…Whatever…"

"Okay, okay, I won't tease you. You can come back out of your shell." April placed a bowl in front Naruto along with a pair of chopsticks. "You need to try this after all."

Naruto's eyes snapped open. He looked down at the bowl in front of him. The boy could feel his mouth begin to water. "That…smells really good…"

"Of course it does." April smiled and set her own bowl on the table. "Ramen is the food of the gods after all."

"I see…" Naruto bowed his head. "Itadakimasu."

He then began to eat. The noodles flowed into his mouth. After one bite, Naruto paused for only a brief second and then began to eat as quickly as possible.

"Hahahahaha…" April ate at a much more subdued pace. She enjoyed her meal too, though. "I'm glad you like it."

"It…is amazing…" Naruto mumbled between bites.

"I'm glad…" The woman smiled in joy.


A week later, the duo was once again training.

"Sky God's Fist!" Naruto rushed toward April. A combination of black and regular wind danced around his fist. The blonde boy sent a punch at the woman, but the fist was caught.

"Sky Drop." April whispered. The air around Naruto became incredibly heavy. He fell the to the ground in a heap. It felt like the sky itself was pushing on his shoulders.

"You can't just use partial magic like that." April noted as she stood over Naruto. "Trying to combine regular and god sky magic weakens them both. Don't do things by halves. It will get you killed."

"I…know…" Naruto groaned under the force what felt like a mountain. "But…it's the only way I can make it work…"

"Then that means it doesn't work at all." April dropped the pressure. "Your infinity with the wind gives you skill in regular sky magic, but…Sky God Slayer magic is different. It is far more potent and powerful. It is the ability to contain the power of a hurricane into a bottle."

"But…" Naruto pushed himself to his feet. "You're monstrously strong, and you can't use Sky God Slayer magic?"

"It takes a certain type of person to do so." April noted. "You must have absolute control, but an uncontrollable passion. You must be strong as a mountain, but as penetrable as a puddle of water. You must have all the potential in the world, and the drive to use it. I lack all the qualities needed. Only a select few can use regular sky magic. Slayer magic, however, is on a whole different level."

"So what am I missing?" Naruto questioned.

"You'll know when you figure it out." April smiled.


"April-sensei, how strong are you?" Naruto questioned as he helped his teacher hang up some laundry on the clothesline outside their home.

"Strong enough. Why do you ask?" April gave him a curious glance.

"You are the only mage I have ever met." Naruto stated. "Thus, I don't know the true amount of power most mages have."

"Well, I doubt most mages can keep up with me." April giggled. "I was considered to be one of the strongest of Fairy Tail. Right after the master and the dumbass womanizer, but I think I could have handled Gildarts."

"So you are at the top?" Naruto questioned.

"Yes." April nodded. "I like to think so at least. Of course, there are always people stronger than you."

"And how strong am I? I can't gauge that against you because I can never get close to hurt you." Naruto mentioned.

"Stronger than I was your age." April smiled. "I'm sure you'll surpass me one day."

"Hmm…" Naruto looked at the basket in his hands. "Are you planning on hanging your bras and panties out here?"

"Sure, why not?" April shrugged.

"I can give you plenty of reasons." Naruto rolled his eyes. "First one, if I hand them to you, you'll call me a pervert for touching your underwear."

"Yes, that's going to happen." April nodded.

"Second, when we come back to get them later, you'll call me a pervert. In fact, if I look out the window facing this way at all you'll call me a pervert." Naruto stated.

"That's going to happen too." April laughed.

"Third, most of the panties are embarrassing. Hearts and flowers? Really?"

"Pervert, what are you doing looking at my underwear for?"

"So you're just trying to put me in a situation that will let you tease me?" Naruto sighed.

"Yep." April grinned. "This is the only way that I can get under your skin after all."


"My answer is no." April stated as she put down her cup of tea onto the kitchen table.

"What?!" The Magic Council representative yelled out in shock. "But you've been summoned?"

"I am no tool for the government." April glared.

"You don't have a choice in the matter!" The representative glared. "They'll have you arrested."

April just laughed.

"What's so funny?!" The man snapped.

"Who would they send?" April noted. "I could mow down almost anyone."

"You…"

"Not the mention the bad publicity they would get from trying to arrest me." April noted. "I can hear the rumors now… 'Why's the Magic Council attacking the innocent Sky Mistress?' 'She's been living alone after that tragedy for years! Now they arrest her for no good reason?!' 'Are they going to do that to everyone they don't like?' Yeah, I'm sure that will go over really well."

"Gah…" The frog man representative of the Magic Council trembled in anger. "Do you not care about the safety of this country?"

"I do, but what they speak of is of no consequence to me or the people of this country." April shrugged.

"It's been two whole years!" The representative jumped from his chair and glared. "Two years since the massive power surges, the biggest of which happened not too far from here! Yet there has not been one consequence, not one thing too out of the ordinary. For all we know, nine bombs could go off at any minute!"

"I doubt that will happen." April shrugged. "Besides, I'm sure what the Magic Council sensed was a glitch."

"You think nine power surges more than powerful enough to level cities…countries…continents…were a glitch?" The representative glared.

"Yes." April maintained a cool look. "After all, no one in this small town saw anything. Nor did anyone else across the country."

"That's not true." The frog man shook his head. "One surge appeared in a desert, and people keep disappearing in there. It has to be related."

"Mabye, maybe not. I don't care, though." April shrugged. "I'm done with my life as a mage. I just want to live in peace now."

"So you don't care at all that one of those surges happened right near Fairy Tail?"

April froze as she raised her tea cup to her mouth. "Did something happen to my old guild?"

"No, but…"

"Then I don't care. You can leave now."

"But…"

"I said get out." April glared. The air pressure in the room began to drop.

"Fine! Fine!" The frog man walked to the front door and walked out. "But I'll be back!"

Slam!

April sighed and went back to her tea.

"Sensei…" Naruto opened the door to his room. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." April nodded from her spot at the table.

"I understand why you hid me…" Naruto walked over to the table and sat down. "If the Magic Council knew about me and when I became your apprentice, they would become suspicious."

"Yes…" April looked tired. "I can't let them take you…"

"Sensei…" Naruto frowned.

"I don't have much, Naruto." April sighed. "And I refuse to lose what little I do have."

"…I know…"

"Naruto…I haven't asked you much about your home out of respect, but…" April stared at him. "I think I need to learn more about what happened and what exactly it means to be a jinchūriki."


It was close to a month later when something else happened.

"Well, son of a bitch…" An orange haired man with a dark cloak noted as he walked up to April and watched what she was looking at.

"Hello, Gildarts." April did not turn to the man.

"You really did take an apprentice." Gildarts looked shocked. "I thought after everything that happened, you wouldn't want to see a child again."

"…Why are you here?" April questioned as she gazed out to the fields to see Naruto training.

"Master wanted me to check up on you." Gildarts mentioned. "He still gets your letters, but…he worries."

"I know." April nodded. "You can tell him that I'm fine."

"Yeah…I can see that…" Gildarts looked her over. "Are you feeling okay?"

"No worse than usual." April sighed.

"And him? How is this famous Naruto?" Gildarts questioned.

"He is making progress." April noted. "Both magically and emotionally. He is a hurt child."

"And how did he take the news when you told him?" Gildarts questioned.

"…" April was silent.

"You didn't tell him?" Gildarts's eye widened.

"No, I did not wish to worry him." April stated.

"But if it gets worse and then he finds out, all your progress with be for nothing." Gildarts glared.

"I know that, but…" April grabbed her flat stomach. "I just wanted more time. This is always what I wanted...Well, I imagined my husband here too, but."

"I see…" Gildarts sighed. "You know…The guilds got a few children now. A boy named Gray and a girl named Cana. I think there will be more soon too. Being with children his own age…might be good for him."

"I won't be able to get him to leave even if I wanted to." April noted. "I see the way he looks at me. He's not willing to go yet."

"So you're not willing to let go of eachoter." Gildarts nodded. "I understand that, but what happens when you run out of time? He will be alone again."

"What are you saying?"

"Move back to Magnolia." Gildarts suggested. "We've kept your house in shape. That way, you two can stay with each other, he can build bonds with others, and…"

"And father can keep an eye on me." April sighed.

"I wouldn't put it that way…" Gildarts rubbed the back of his head.

"I would." April gained a sad look. "I don't know if I can go back, though. Too many memories."

"I get it." Gildarts nodded. "I'm just saying…if you really think of him as your son, maybe you should think less about what you want and what's best for him. After all, it's our job to look out for the next generation."

"Yes…It is…" April nodded slowly.


"…What?" Naruto had an alarmed look.

"I'm very ill, Naruto." April explained from across the kitchen table. "I have been ever since I met you."

"But…You never showed any symptoms. You never even coughed or sneezed before." Naruto stated. His voice cracked ever so slightly.

"I'm a sky magic user. I can heal any of the symptoms." April gained a sad look. "But internally, I'm dying. Very slowly. I don't know when, but one day I'll go to sleep and I won't wake up."

"But…But there has to be a way to help you." Naruto clenched his fists. "What disease do you have?"

"It's not a normal disease. It's a consequence of Lost Forbidden Magic." April stated. "That is the consequence I have for my actions as a youth, and now I'm dealing with them."

"Is nothing that can be done? We use magic, for Kami's sake." Naruto argued. "There must be a way to stop it."

"I've looked, Naruto. There isn't." April stated. "I accepted my fate a long time ago."

"But…"

"Until recently that is." April noted. "Lately, I've been resentful of my illness because…I'm not ready to die. I don't want to leave you yet."

"You don't have to." Naruto stood. "I'll heal you. Sky God Slayer magic is one of the most potent healing magics in the world, right? With enough energy, it can heal almost any wound or illness. When I master Sky God Slayer magic, I'll heal you."

"Naruto, we don't have that kind of time." April stated.

"Then I'll do it now." Naruto argued. "I've been practicing for over a year. I know I can help you."

"No you can't Naruto." April shook her head. "You still need practice, and that will take time. At best, I probably have a year."

"I can do it by then." Naruto reasoned.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not." April smiled. "Either way, we're moving."

"What?" Naruto questioned.

"We're going to Magnolia." April stated. "We're going to live there, and you're going to join Fairy Tail."

"I don't want to join a guild." Naruto mentioned. "I want to stay here and live in peace."

"I do too, but…this is for the best." April took a shakey breath. "That way, you can have friends around you when I pass."

"No you won't!" Naruto actually roared. "I won't let that happen. I promise you, I'll heal you. That's a promise of a lifetime."

"Naruto." April felt tears in her eyes.

"I won't lose you…" Naruto walked over to her. He reached out slowly and grabbed his shoulders awkwardly. "I'll go with you to Magnolia, but you have to keep fighting, because I will heal you-"

April pulled him into a hug. "Thank you."

"…Don't mention it."


'Kit…You know you suck at healing.' Kurama noted a few days later. They hadn't moved yet. They were sill packing and prepping for the trip. It was late now, but Naruto wasn't at home. He was on his usual hill that overlooked everything. 'How do you plan to get good enough at it to heal an incurable disease?'

'I practice and train my ass off.' Naruto mentioned. 'It doesn't matter how long it takes or how much work I have to put into it. I won't lose her.'

'…You really care for her, huh?' Kurama questioned.

'I do…'

'Hehehe…You're different now.' Kurama laughed. 'Actually caring about someone. I never thought I would see the day.'

'I suppose even I am human.' Naruto argued.

'I suppose you are. I don't know if I should be relieved or disappointed.' Kurama stated. 'But you're still pretty much a heartless bastard to everyone else, so it's a small change. Not like you're going around screaming about the power of love, or some hippy shit like that.'

'No…it's not.' Naruto nodded. He paused and looked up from his book. He smelled smoke.

Down below in town, he saw a dull blaze that slowly began to grow. As this happened, smoke rose from the burning buildings.

"What happened?" Naruto questioned as he jumped to his feet.

"There! A boy! Grab him!" Naruto heard a voice yell.

"He'll be a good slave!"

"For the cult of Zeref and the return of our master!"

Naruto saw a group of robed individuals running at him. The all head weapons and creepy looks on their faces.

"Sky Drill!" A tornado appeared around the group of men. The cultists were sent flying away into the forest. "Naruto!"

"April-sensei, what's happening?" Naruto questioned as he ran up to his teacher at the bottom of the hill.

"These cultists are attacking the town." April noted.

"Why?" Naruto asked.

"They're gathering slaves." April stated. "I've heard of these guys. They raid town and take people as slaves. No one knows why, but they leave destruction in their wake. We need to stop them. You go down to the town and help the people."

"What about you?"

"I'm going to deal with another problem."


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