Disclaimer: Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto and Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima. Anything I write in this story is purely from my thoughts

Chapter 10

"It's been two weeks and I still haven't found transportation to get to them," A white haired beauty complained aloud after getting rejected yet again. "Is it really that scary to go there?"

Mira walked past more fishermen and sailors along Hargeon Port. More rejection slapped her in the face as she continued to look. Her patience was wearing thin making her this close to using underhanded tactics to procure a ride.

Just as she was about to give up, she spotted an unusual crew of mercenaries preparing to board a boat. They were heavily armed, ready to face a whole army. They definitely didn't look like they belonged in this place. Her suspicions were definitely raised and her interest was piqued by what she saw.

"Oh, what's this?" she asked to no one in particular.

"COOOOOL!" A loud voice cheered from right behind her.

She turned to see a short young man with blonde hair that sticks up in the middle. He was wearing a pink shirt, blue jeans, brown shoes and black sunglasses. He was carrying a satchel with him and a black camera.

"Oh, dear god…" She muttered to herself. "Why now?"

"COOOOOL!" The blonde repeated himself.

Mira adapted a professional look on her face and smiled. "Uhm, hi! Fancy meeting you here."

"SO, COOOOOL!" He repeated for the third time that day. "Imagine meeting THE Mirajane Strauss here! Can I get an interview? Will you? Will you? Will you?" He said with every repetition of the word he got closer and closer to Mira's face.

The white-haired model politely pushed the interviewer away and gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry! I am on a quest today. Maybe next time okay?"

Instead of feeling down, he burst out again saying, "COOOOOL! To think I would meet a Fairy Tail Wizard in the middle of a quest!" causing the model to sweat drop; his act is getting old by the second. Despite being used to the spotlight, there was one thing she hated about her chosen career: the paparazzi. Besides, she had a boat to catch.

She turned to look at the crew. Just then, a lone mercenary struggled to catch up to them and her eyes widened by what she saw. She turned back to the reporter who was once again cheering out loud. This gave her an idea as an evil smirk spread right through her face.

ON THE BRIDGE, SOMEWHERE ON THE OCEAN

NARUTO VS SANDAYU

Both fighters skidded back as once again their blades collided and they were able to push each other back. Despite having the smaller blade, Naruto was able to block the strikes from the giant cleaver wielded by his opponent.

"What's wrong?" Sandayu taunted. "What happened to those glowing red eyes you used earlier?"

"Trust me. You wouldn't want me to use them," Naruto answered.

"Whatever you try, won't change the outcome," Sandayu said as he was surrounded by a purplish demonic aura.

Naruto just sighed. After all the opponents he has fought over the years back in the Elemental Nations, he was bound to hear the same words spoken to him. It was just getting old.

He raised his blade ready for another bout, but he didn't expect his opponent's body to flicker out of sight and appear right beside him ready to slice his head off, but he had fast reflexes. He managed to raise his kunai to defend himself.

CRACK!

His eyes widened as his blade was broken from the force of his blow. The weight of his strikes definitely increased once he achieved this power boost. Fortunately for him, he had a mark on his opponents back to teleport to just as the cleaver was going to cut him.

Naruto appeared right behind Sandayu with his fist cocked back ready to strike. The assassin anticipated this and moved his head just a little to avoid the fist by just a hair. Then, a wave of energy burst forth from the assassin knocking the blonde back.

"You won't win against me if you continue to hold back!" Sandayu berated the blonde.

"The bridge won't survive if I did!" Naruto countered.

"Then this shall be your end!"

As soon as Sandayu said that, he disappeared from sight.

Naruto waited and anticipated where his opponent would appear. He moved his body to the right, just in time for the huge cleaver to slice the air from where he had been standing. He spun in order to kick Sandayu away, but he moved his arm to block his foot making him skid a few feet back.

Once again, the assassin flickered and reappeared, this time behind him ready to chop his head off, but Naruto ducked and rolled forward to put some distance between him and his opponent.

This continued on for a while with Naruto always managing to dodge the giant sword wielded by the assassin he was fighting. He knew he couldn't dodge after their earlier bout just after the other's power boost.

"I got you now!" Sandayu roared as he took advantage of the blonde's distraction.

"SHIT!" Naruto was broken out of his thoughts as the metal hovered over his head ready to slice him to half.

Time seemed to slow down for the blonde as he watched the blade near his head. But then, a smirk slowly graced his lips as he felt a familiar energy enter his system. He raised a hand catching the blade and effortlessly broke the blade.

Sandayu's eyes widened.

"What is this?" He spoke in surprise.

Naruto didn't answer. Instead, he attacked with an onslaught of strikes taught to him by one of the Great Toad Sages.

Sandayu couldn't keep up. Even if he thinks he dodged the blonde's attack, an invisible force would knock him back. He was getting frustrated.

With one final kick, he was sent back down flat on his back. He couldn't move. His arms bled from wounds a pair of kunai that pierced his sides. There was no blocking the final attack now.

Then came the sound of the blonde's spell. (Well, he thought it was a spell.) A strange blue energy began swirling on his palm. He was still in the air, so he let gravity do the work and bring him closer to his prey.

WITH LUCY AND YUKI

"Come one," The ice wizard prodded her opponent. "What are you waiting for?"

"I…I…" Lucy tried to form the words. "Are you sure?"

Yuki nodded resigning herself to her fate.

"But…But…Why?" The blonde asked.

"I have failed to defeat. Therefore, I am no use to my master anymore," Yuki explained.

"The assassin?" Lucy asked. "He doesn't own you. You are your own person!"

Yuki shook her head. "I have dedicated my life to him ever since he found me in the ruins of my home village. I am but a tool for him to use and do his bidding."

"But it doesn't have to be this way!" Lucy reasoned for her to reconsider. "There has to be another way, right?"

"No," Yuki said with finality. "Hurry up and finish me!"

"I-I can't!" Lucy protested. "Even if I wanted to, the only weapon I have is this whip!"

Yuki sighed. She placed a close fist on an open palm and formed a dagger made of pure ice lying in front of Lucy.

"Now, kill me! Kill me now!" Yuki pushed further. "Isn't that your job? To defend the builders from the assassins?"

Lucy regarded the dagger, but she didn't pick it up. "What you're asking is too much. You're asking me to take a life. I just…I just can't."

"Tsk," Yuki clicked her tongue and shakily walked forward. She picked up the frost and forced Lucy to hold it in her hands. Once the dagger was in her grasp, she pointed it to her own jugular. "Now, do it!"

Lucy shut her eyes. Her hands shook as she held the weapon.

"It's okay," Yuki's voice was calm despite the weapon pointed at her vital point. "My pain would be quick…"

She let go of the blonde's hand and Lucy's hands shook even more as she held the weapon ready to slice Yuki's neck open.

The younger girl's eyes shot open. She sensed danger coming from the other fight, the duel between her master and the other wizard. She slammed her fist into her palm again to activate her spell. And then, she disappeared.

Lucy's hand slipped and she accidentally drove the dagger forward. She was expecting resistance and blood splattering everywhere, but there was none of that happening.

She slowly opened her eyes only to see her opponent was no longer there.

WITH NARUTO AND SANDAYU

Naruto was in the air holding a spiraling sphere in his hand and adjusting himself in the air so he could fall down to his opponent who was lying down on the ground unable to move.

He was ready to slam his attack on the assassin, but he didn't get to deal the blow.

His eyes widened as he saw ice forming in front of his opponent and the familiar features of the ice wizard peel herself of the ice's surface. She stood over her master with her arms outstretched.

Flashes of the past appeared in Naruto's mind. It reminded him of the same gesture of Haku throwing his life away to defend his master. A lone tear trailed over Naruto's face as he remembered the past.

At the last second, he dispelled the orb and braced himself for the impact.

He caught the girl and they both rolled in the ground with wrapping his arms around her protectively.

"Why didn't you—" She tried to ask but she passed out from her earlier fight.

"That was close," Naruto said as he lay on his back the girl resting on his chest.

"Why did you stop?" Sandayu asked. "Why didn't you finish the job?"

Naruto stared at the sky. "To be honest, you two remind me of people from back home, y'know. Believe it or not, this whole job has happened before, not the whole of it, but most of it happened before"

"What happened to them?" Sandayu asked. "Your magic council must have taken them into custody."

The blonde shook his head. "Their employer betrayed them after losing to us. And the student died in the hands of my sensei."

"So, they were losers then," The assassin teased.

"No, I wouldn't say that," Naruto chuckled. "They died freeing themselves from their employer who treated them as tools. At least, in the end, they died on their terms."

"I see, but you still haven't answered my question," he prodded further. "Why didn't you kill us?"

"Because, they didn't get a chance to live and change their ways," Naruto explained. "The battlefield doesn't only show us who our allies and enemies are. Sometimes, it also shows you who your nakama are, your true comrades, y'know."

"After everything I did, you still think there's goodness in me?" Sandayu asked.

"Hey, I'm not one to talk, y'know. I almost gave in to my demons, but after someone believed in me and saw as who I was, I came into the light," Naruto explained. "Maybe you just need someone to believe in you."

"Hmph," Sandayu huffed.

"What? I'm serious!" Naruto protested. He thought the assassin wasn't buying what he was saying.

"Your words hit deep in the heart, kid. That's some sharp tongue of yours," Sandayu commented. "What's your name?"

"The name's Naruto Uzumaki, y'know!" Naruto introduced himself. "What're yours?"

"I'm Sandayu, and the girl's named Yuki," the assassin told him their names.

Before any of them could say anything, Lucy came running towards them yelling the blonde's name. "Naruto! Are you alright?!"

"We're right here!" Naruto called out.

The celestial wizard's footsteps gradually came closer. The two wizards on the ground couldn't believe that their fight brought them this far away from the others.

"You two are both down!" Lucy gasped as she saw what the two were doing.

"Nah, I'm good!" Naruto said. "I'm just lying down."

"Oh, thank god!" Lucy sighed in relief after confirming her partner's wellbeing. She immediately fell on her but and rested on the bridge walls.

Although, the Celestial Spirit Wizard couldn't help but stare in jealousy at the young girl who was resting peacefully on Naruto's chest. She could have sword she saw the younger girl snuggle tighter to Naruto's arms and brought her tongue out as if she knew Lucy was watching. Lucy shook it off her mind blaming it on her fatigue. But then, caught herself staring and looked away with a pink tinge on each of her cheeks. Fortunately for her, none of them saw this.

TACK TACK TACK

The sound of something pounding on the cement ground got the attention of everyone present.

Lucy turned to the source of the sound and squeaked at what she saw. "Eeep!"

"Oi!" A gruff voice cleared his throat to get the attention of the two lying down.

"Tsk, what is it this time?" Naruto clicked his tongue in annoyance after hearing the newcomer. "Can't you see we're resting?"

"Take us seriously, you brat! Or else, I will make you suffer before you die!" The voice said, then after a pause he continued. "Well, well, well, the big and mighty Sandayu had finally fallen. My how have things turned."

"What's it to ya?" The blonde answered back.

"No, Naruto," Sandayu told the Fairy Tail Wizard. "I know these people. They are the mercenaries who work directly under the Duke."

Naruto sat up to see the owner of the voice. It was a bunch of mercenaries as Sandayu had said. They were armed to the teeth with all sorts of weapons and magical staves.

"Here to finish the job I presume?" Naruto asked.

"I see you have resigned to your fate," The lead mercenary said. "I do apologize. No one leaves the bridge here alive. We'll start with you, cocky brat."

"You are not laying a finger on the builders!" Lucy retorted defiantly.

"Too bad we couldn't see them here before we got to you," The lead mercenary answered.

"I guess we're having dessert first, ey boss?" The mercenary on the right said.

"It seems so," A murderous grin spread from the lead mercenary's lips. "After we kill you, we'll hunt every last one of them."

Cheers rose from the enemy's ranks.

Naruto stood to meet them and drew a dagger from his pouch. Before he could do anything though, Sandayu stood up and walked ahead of Naruto.

"Let me do this kid," Sandayu said. "Think of it as my way of leaving my past behind."

"Does that mean—"

"Yes, kid," Sandayu nodded without turning to Naruto. "Now, quit dawdling and hand me a dagger."

Naruto sighed and threw the weapon to the assassin who caught it with his mouth.

"But how will you fight?" Lucy asked.

"I don't need my hand to finish them all off!" Sandayu declared.

"Do you still have magic left, Lucy?" Naruto asked.

The Celestial Wizard nodded.

"Then let's guard his back, okay?"

That was the last thing that was said before all hell broke loose. Lucy was amazed at the skill the now former assassin was displaying. He expertly avoided any attack the mercenaries threw at him. The ones he didn't though, were knocked away by Naruto and Cancer, another one of Lucy's spirits.

When the blonde shinobi was about to punch one of their lights out, he frowned and stopped his attack midway as soon as he recognized the magical signature.

"Mira?" Naruto said. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, hey Naruto!" Mira greeted Naruto as she changed back to normal revealing her original beautiful self still wearing the signature dress the Fairy Tail Wizards have grown accustomed to.

"Don't tell me you're a mercenary too!" Naruto accused.

"No, silly!" Mira waved off Naruto's statement. "We just hitched a ride with them to get here. You wouldn't believe how many times I've asked to get here."

"How many?" Naruto asked which he immediately regretted.

Mira gained a scary look that spooked even Naruto, one that rivalled Naruto's old captain, Yamato. "168, Naruto, 168. I have been asking for two weeks. Do you know how hard it is to get a ride here?"

"Geez, geez, Sorry for asking," Naruto apologized and Mira returned to her normal cheerful self.

"It's no biggy!" Mira said.

Naruto sweat dropped at the sudden change in attitude. 'Wasn't she making a big deal before?' Naruto though deciding not to ask lest she regain the scary look she had on her face. Then, he remembered Mira's earlier statement. "You said we? Who are you with?"

"Oh, are you jealous?" Mira said causing Naruto to look away with a blush.

"Just teasing," The white-haired beauty giggled. "It was just Jason."

Mira gestured over to her companion who was dressed like the others but looked like Jason from Sorcerer Weekly, but both of their eyes widened when he was almost skewered by Sandayu.

"Wait!" Naruto warned. "That guy's with us!"

"Pft, don't get in my way next time!" Sandayu spat and moved on to the others.

"We'll talk later," Naruto said. "We have to wrap this up first."

LATER

Naruto knocked the last of their enemies into the next century. They stood over the bodies of the mercenaries. Their bodies ranged form slashed, broken, burnt, or wet from the waist down.

He stretched to get the knots out of his muscles after the back-to-back fights.

*Blearg* Jason puked not used to seeing guts and blood. Lucy was faring much better, but she was getting queasy.

"Psh, what are you doing with them if you can't take even a little blood?" Sandayu berated the reporte

"Don't be like that, man," Naruto said. "I'm sure there's a pretty good reason for Jason to be here, right Mira?"

"Oh, well yes," Mira explained. "He had this uncanny resemblance to one of these mercenaries. He was our ticket going here."

"Is that so?" Naruto couldn't believe it. I mean what are the odds. "I guess we should thank him for that then."

"An interview would be good," Jason said in between bouts of puke.

"Maybe later," Naruto answered, then he turned to his partner who looked like she was slowly losing the color in her face. "How about you Lucy? You okay?"

"I've been better," Lucy answered as she clutched her stomach.

"Why don't you and Jason go back up to town and show him around?" Naruto said.

"Are you sure?" Lucy asked. "We're not done with the job yet."

"I'll take it from here," Naruto smiled. "Besides, Mira's right here."

"Alright," Lucy said. "Come on Jason."

Naruto and Mira watched as the two walked back to the town up in the mountains.

As soon as they were out of sight, Naruto turned to Mira and asked, "So, uhh…You haven't answered my question. What are you doing here?"

"Master was worried about you. He sent me here to bring you back, since the job unexpectedly became S-class due to some people," Mira explained giving Sandayu a look to which the latter ignored. "But since I see you have handled things here well, I guess his worry was for nothing."

"D-d-did you say S-class?" Naruto asked.

"You heard me right, Naruto," Mira nodded. "Why? Is something the matter?"

Naruto pumped a fist and cheered out loud like a little kid getting told he was going to a carnival. He was like that for a few seconds unlit he opened his eyes and saw that his companions were staring at him.

He cleared his throat and fixed himself, "Uhh, I knew that…"

Mira opened her mouth to speak and was stunned for a moment. This newbie here with another newbie for a partner knew that things in their 'Protect the Builder from Bandits' Job has escalated to 'Protect the Builder from Assassins', an S-class Job no less, but they still continued on with the job.

"Why?" Naruto asked.

"Wait," She finally spoke. "So, you knew that client was lying? And yet you still went on the job?"

"Yes," he simply answered. "Tazuna told us the truth. The village couldn't afford a harder rating for the job, so they lied about the difficulty."

"My god, Naruto!" Mira scolded. "What were you thinking?"

"Uhh…I couldn't just leave him to go home by himself!" Naruto defended himself.

Mira smiled at his answer, then sighed. "Well, at least you two are alright. Nothing's going to stop you once you made up your mind, right?"

"You bet!" Naruto answered.

At that moment, the chatter from the builders could be heard approaching.

"Let's clean up this mess so they can get back to work!" Mira ordered. "You two Mr. Assassin!"

"Mira…" Naruto looked at her with awe. He thought she was going to demand that they go home, but looks like he was wrong.

"See something you like?" Mira joked seeing Naruto was staring.

"I…uh… I'll get to work right away!" Naruto said shaking himself back to reality.

HARGEON PORT

"Urgh," A man who looked suspiciously like a certain reporter groaned as he nursed his head. "What happened?"

His eyes opened and adjusted to the sunlight. When he was finally able to see, he saw the fishermen and other passersby at port looking him over making a scene.

"Are you okay, son?"

"What happened to you?"

"When's the next issue coming out?"

Those were only some of the questions they asked him. The man, not understanding what was happening, backed himself into the wall making the stuff on him slide to the ground. He didn't know what to say.

As the last bit of clutter fell off the man, the crowd gasped and backed away from him. The women who could see him scrambled to cover the eyes.

He looked down to look at his body. Now, he knew why it was unusually chilly. He was laying in his birthday suit! Seeing this happen, he grabbed the nearest cloth he could find and with a yell that could be heard until the mountains, he covered himself up as best he could.

TOWN HIDDEN IN THE MOUNTAINS

It took just a few more days for the construction to complete. They had finally connected their town to the mainland. It was now accessible for carriages and magic mobiles to pass through to make the trip to the town. Jason had been having a field day interviewing the locals in the town and taking different pictures.

The mayor had been busy contacting and begging the old investors and business owners to give their town a shot. While most were too scared to give them a chance, there were those that took a leap when they learned that there was a reporter from Sorcerer Weekly present. It was what gave them a push that this time, it just might work.

In those few days, those same investors and business men came and inspected the place. The businessmen began setting up their stalls in preparation for the customers. It turned out that the word of mouth from these people was enough to attract some tourists. I guess it helped that rumors spread that Mira was present in the Town at the moment.

As for our heroes, they were sitting in the mayor's office as the said mayor thanked them for the job.

"I can't thank you enough for protecting the builders," The mayor turned from the window and bowed to them in gratitude. "And now that the duke's mercenaries are all gone, I have high hopes for our small town."

"It was our pleasure after the hospitality you showed us while we were here," Lucy answered.

"No, no, that was the least we could do," The mayor said. "After all, you gave back hope to our home that all but given up."

"Don't mention it," Naruto said. "As much as I hate to say this, but it's time for us to go…"

"I would have wanted to try the hot springs some more," Mira sighed. "I can't let Lucy hog Naruto-kun, can I?"

Both Lucy and Naruto blushed at Mira's statement.

'Why'd he have to tell Mira, too…' Lucy thought.

"I heard things were heating up between you two before I got here," Mira pressed further. "So, is it true?"

"N-n-no! It's not like that!"

"I-i-it was an accident!"

Both wizards in question scrambled to clear up the misunderstanding but that only managed to confirm that the events really did happen.

Mira giggled. "You two give yourselves away so easily."

"And thank you for our new town body guard," The mayor added after watching the wizard's banter.

"Oh, I didn't do

ON THEIR WAY OUT OF TOWN

As the wizards walked through the town, the townspeople showed their gratitude as they passed. The town was looking

*sigh* "Lucy complained as she thought of the long hike they would have to take. "It's going to be a long walk home.

"It's not so bad," Naruto shrugged her complaint off. "It's good exercise, y'know."

"Are you saying I've gotten fat?" Lucy gave incredulous look.

Mira gave him a similar glare.

"N-n-no!" Naruto tried to explain under both of the females' gazes. "I'm saying it's good for the body. It gets the blood pumping, y'know!"

Mira sighed. "You should really watch what you say, Naruto, especially in front of a lady."

"S-sorry!" Naruto rubbed the back of his head.

After that exchange, the wizards found themselves at the arch that led out of town. The builders were just about putting the finishing touches on a new town sign. At the arch, there was also Zabuza standing guard. He was dressed with a uniform that the mayor, but the sleeves were torn off revealing his biceps with the town emblem replacing his old guild mark.

"Oi, Naruto!" Tazuna called out from the builder's group. "Check this out!"

The wizards walked over to him to check out what he wanted to show.

"Oh guys," Naruto said sheepishly. "You didn't have to."

"It was the mayor's orders since it was thanks to you guys that we are back on our feet," Tazuna explained.

"Still, it was sweet of you guys," Lucy added.

"And it was our pleasure to help you out," Mira said.

"No, you came to our aid, even when we lied on the job request," Tazuna argued.

"I told you, we couldn't leave someone in need behind," Naruto argued back.

"Well, for that we are indebted to you," Tazuna bowed in gratitude with the other builders following his example.

"You are very welcome," Lucy said. "I do hate to leave this place though."

"We can always come back when we're not busy," Mira suggested.

"You are welcome anytime," Tazuna said.

With that they waved their final goodbyes and were on their way home.

Tazuna looked at the sign and took in every letter they have built on to it. It symbolized the town's hopes for a brighter future.

It read:

BALLONLEA

The town built by the fairies

A/N: Hey, I'm back. How was Christmas and New Year. I really didn't feel the Spirit of the Holidays. It was just like any other day. And before you know it the days flew by and my vacation was gone. *sigh*Now I'm refreshed. So haters, if you ever want to flame me, do a better job cause I curse myself everyday and it would make a sailor cry.