Original Posted On: Mar. 28, 2021
Beta Read by:
Review Response:
MonoBani007: Thank you, and I'm happy my story could be your first.
Bednarcyzkmiki: Here is chapter 2.
KukanKing: I know, none of the stories that we have for NarutoXD Gray Man focused on Naruto and Road, so it pushed me to write it.
Akuro361: Thank you, and I agree, none of the stories we have on FF are really stories.
Landon Turoski: Thank you!
Proxie885695: That will be a different story. I promise.
Samuel Santillan: I have figured out Naruto's powers, and it will be revealed as time goes on. I feel like you will like it.
A10riddick: Thank you, here is chap 2.
Dlowe2651: Here you go man.
Davidab931: It's most likely on hiatus, I don't know when it will continue.
DaDragon562: What do you mean?
OKAY, LETS READ THIS SHIT! I DON'T OWN NARUTO OR D. GRAY MAN!
"Hey" = Speaking
'Hey' = Thinking
'Hey' = Memory
"Hey"= Noah Memory/Technique
Chapter 2: Path of the Shepherd
Naruto walked behind Road as they walked around the rumored 'Rewind Town'.
"This looks like an ordinary town, Lady Road." Naruto muttered as he couldn't see why it was being called 'Rewind Town'.
"It seems like that on the surface, Naruto, but…" Road said as she took notice of a woman.
This woman was wearing her hair in a tight bun, her face was pale and gaunt looking with heavy bags under her eyes. She wore a traditional black dress as she did her laundry.
However, instead of just doing said laundry, she was hotly looking over her shoulder, as if she was waiting for something to happen…
She tilted her head to the side as a wad of dog poop was thrown through the air.
"AHA!" The woman shouted as she turned and scolded the children.
"Darn, she dodged it." One of the children stated in sadness.
"WELL OF COURSE I WOULD AFTER TWENTY-NINE TIMES!"
"Twenty-nine? Lady, we only threw the one." Another child said.
"Don't talk to Miranda, Pete. Her curse will rub off on you."
The know named Miranda stiffened as she heard this, the children banding together to sing a song about her curse.
She walked away in gloominess, turning to take a short cut home with her laundry.
"Innocence…"
Miranda looked up…
And gave a blood curdling scream as an akuma attacked her.
She collapsed as it reached out for her, its long fingers grazing her chin.
'I was following what I have done before the last twenty-nine times…' she thought.
"Innocence… where… Innocence…"
'But… if this thing is here, then that means…' Miranda thought with slight hope as the akuma was shot off of her.
Miranda turned and saw an Exorcist, evident by his jacket and the fact his left arm was a cannon.
'I ESCAPED!' Miranda thought happily as she ran.
Next day…
'I didn't escape…' Miranda mentally and sadly groaned, having lost all hope as she again for the thirtieth day in a row did her laundry.
She tilted her head to the side as a wad of dog poop was thrown through the air.
"AHA!" The woman shouted as she turned and scolded the children.
"Darn, she dodged it." One of the children stated in sadness.
"WELL OF COURSE I WOULD AFTER THIRTY TIMES!"
"Thirty? Lady, we only threw the one." Another child said.
"Don't talk to Miranda, Pete. Her curse will rub off on you."
The know named Miranda stiffened as she heard this, the children banding together to sing a song about her curse.
She walked away in gloominess, turning to take a short cut home with her laundry.
'Wait a moment…' Miranda thought as she saw the same exorcist from the day before. 'That's… he wasn't here normally, so I… I NEED TO TALK TO HIM!'
As Miranda chased after the exorcist, Naruto watched from the roof tops as Road wandered around doing as she pleased while keeping an eye on the situation in her own way.
'An exorcist.' Naruto thought as he watched Miranda cover her head in a clothe as she followed the exorcist into a small tavern. 'Does that mean more of them are here?'
Focusing dark matter, the life blood of the Akuma, into his nose, Naruto could smell the scent of Innocence.
There were three of them. Two were extremely close, most likely belonging to the exorcists, and the third one was hidden due to its scent spread across the city.
'Does this mean the third one is affecting the town?' Naruto asked as he continued to watch Miranda.
Three of the patrons of the tavern were akuma who had been summoned by Naruto and Road to help their search, and the second exorcist took Miranda with her as the male fought the three.
Naruto deadpanned as he noticed that they stopped attacking and were playing Rock, Paper, Scissors to decide how they were going to kill the exorcist, only to get shot as they left themselves open.
'Seems like you are having fun.' Road's voice said through their minds, making the Akuma freeze. 'Have you forgotten our search for the Innocence. Return to me. Naruto, keep watching the exorcists.'
Naruto nodded as the three akuma vanished before his and the exorcist's eyes.
'He is intriguing.' Naruto thought as he followed the male exorcist.
Naruto jumped over several houses and continued his mission to follow the exorcist.
After a few hours, Naruto was watching the two and Miranda.
'Hm?' Naruto thought as he took notice of Miranda entering her bed and strange clocks appearing, sucking in the exorcists before spitting them out as it suddenly turned morning.
"Lovely."
Naruto looked up as Road descended to his side with Lero.
"Mistress Road, is it okay leaving the exorcists alone, lero?" Lero asked as it was concerned.
"It is okay," Road said as she tapped the corner of her mouth with her finger. "Until they get the Innocence."
"…O-of course, lero." Lero mumbled nervously.
"May we retire for the day, Lady Road?" Naruto asked as he bowed.
"Of course, I want to get some tea." Road said before she had big eyes, like a child. "And sweets!"
Naruto smiled as Road warped him, herself, and Lero to her Dream ability's pocket dimension.
Within the dimension was multiple candles, toys, and large sweets as Road sat at a table with Lero beside her as Naruto was holding a tray with the tea and sweets.
Naruto placed the large carrier for sweets on the table, followed by the plate, and the cup.
He carefully poured the tea, applying the sugar for Road to perfection before stepping aside.
Road smiled brightly as she dug into her sweets.
"Lord Naruto, do you not wish to partake, lero?" Lero asked as it noticed Naruto wasn't indulging.
"No, I do not need to." Naruto replied as he stayed standing.
"Sit and have a cup." Road stated as a new chair and cup appeared.
"I… As you wish." Naruto replied as he took his seat, pouring his own tea.
Road smiled at him as she handed him a croissant.
Naruto accepted and began to eat the pastry.
"I have a question, Lord Naruto." Lero asked in curiosity. "When you sleep, do you dream?"
Naruto paused.
"Does seeing black count as dreaming?" Naruto asked after a minute of silence.
Lero shook its… head? Handle?
"Well, then no, I don't." Naruto answered.
"Hm, that's interesting and weird." Road said with a mouth full of food, crumbs and cream on her cheeks. "I wonder why you don't dream."
"I never wondered until now." Naruto said curiously as he cupped his chin.
"Maybe you can ask Duke Millennium when we return, lero." Lero added. "He could give you the ability to dream."
"I don't know." Naruto replied with a shrug.
"Enough of that, we have SWEETS!" Road stated as she levitated a pastry into Naruto's mouth.
Three days later…
Road, Naruto, and Lero had followed Miranda and the male exorcist, watching them as they got hired and then fired from five jobs, currently handing out tickets to a small theater as the male exorcist performed circus tricks as the female exorcist and their golden golem hid nearby, and after an hour Road turned to Naruto.
"Naruto, I want some entertainment." Road stated as she snapped her finger and a violin case appeared, being caught by Naruto. "I want you to approach them as a musician."
"Of course, Lady Road." Naruto said as he opened the case and took out the violin, making sure it was tuned. "What song do you want to hear today?"
Road thought about it for a second.
"I don't know…" She said childishly. "You pick."
Naruto smiled as he walked out into the street while Road waited with Lero.
He started to play, a sad tune catching the attention of the people, the exorcists, and Miranda.
"~Os iusti meditabitur sapientiam,
Et lingua eius loquetur indicium.
Beatus vir qui suffert tentationem,
Quoniqm cum probates fuerit accipient coronam vitae.
Kyrie, fons bonitatis.
Kyrie, ignis divine, eleison.
O quam sancta, quam serena,
Quam benigma, quam amoena esse Virgo creditur.
O quam sancta, quam serena,
Quam benigma, quam amoena,
O castitatis lilium.~"
Naruto played a solo, bringing a tear to Miranda's eyes.
The song was so sad, yet this solo seemed full of hope.
"~Kyrie, fons bonitatis.
Kyrie, ignis divine, eleison.
O quam sancta, quam serena,
Quam benigma, quam amoena,
O castitatis lilium.~"
Naruto finished the final note, blinking when he heard the people applaud him.
"Oh, thank you." Naruto said nervously as he blushed.
"That was splendid!" the theater owner stated in merriment as he approached them. "If you two keep this up, I'll probably hire you permanently. And you, violinist, you should join us, your talent and voice would make us a fortune."
"Thank you." Naruto replied as he smiled. "But I am just a traveling Musician, but I would not mind helping for a short while before I leave."
"Good enough, I'll be able to inform you more later. For now, please help these two give more tickets." The Owner said as he motioned towards the exorcist and Miranda.
"Nice to meet you." Miranda said nervously as she was keeping her excitement in. "I am Miranda Lotto."
"And I am Allen Walker." Allen greeted, not taking the large pumpkin head off of his head.
"Nice to meet you, I am Naruto…" Naruto said, pausing. "Naruto Shepherd."
"Miranda, I am going to take my break, will be back in five minutes." Allen said as he motioned for Naruto to follow him.
"How long have you been playing music?" Allen asked as Miranda stayed at the entrance.
"Fore four years." Naruto lied as he and Allen sat down, Naruto putting his violin away.
"Allen… hello…" the female exorcist greeted as she approached the two.
"Hey, Linali. This is Naruto Shepherd. He is a traveling musician." Allen introduced as Naruto bowed.
"Nice to make your acquaintance." Naruto greeted.
As Allen and Linali talked, Allen was balancing on a ball with his hands.
"I got to say, you are a good performer, Allen." Naruto pointed out.
"When I was a kid, I worked at a circus as a clown." Allen said, still wearing the pumpkin. "My foster parent was a performer, so I had to help out, who know the skills I gained from that would help with my fighting skills."
"That means you went to many countries, right?" Linali asked in excitement. "It must have been nice."
"You say that, but we barely got by." Allen shrugged. "Now that you ask, when did you join the church, Linali?"
"Church?" Naruto asked curiously, playing dumb to the fact he knew they were exorcists.
"Oh… uh…" Allen said nervously, realizing he said something he should not have.
"It's fine." Linali said as she smiled. "Naruto, Allen and I are exorcists. We are here to help find out why this town is behaving strangely."
"Oh… what do you mean?" Naruto asked, feigning ignorance.
"Don't worry about it." Linali asked as she returned her focus onto Allen. "As for your question, I have been with the order ever since I could remember."
A sad smile and somber tone etched itself onto her face, her pigtails framing her cheeks.
"I was taken from my brother when I was very young due to akuma killing our parents." Linali explained as she sat down, legs held into her chest. "I was not allowed to go anywhere, even to visit my brother. It was just like a prison."
Memories of her past flashed before her eyes.
Her being taken to the Order.
Them experimenting on her.
And eventually, after three years, she woke up to see Komui sitting as a high ranked officer of the Asian branch, smiling down at her.
"Komui is cool." Allen said as he teared up.
"So, this order, is it a bad place?" Naruto asked innocently. "Why didn't they let you see him? I mean, you should have been able to, it would have helped you."
Linali sighed as she looked at the innocent looking Naruto, who to her, looked like he was twelve years old.
"Its complicated." Linali said as she rubbed his hair.
"Siblings are a wonderful thing, aren't they?" Allen asked as he smiled.
"Ah! Hey… That Pumpkin…"
Linali, Allen, and Naruto turned to see Road with Lero, eating a big rainbow lollipop.
"Where do you go to get a ticket for 'The Pumpkin and the Witch'?" Road asked as she licked her lollipop.
"~Welcome!" Allen stated cheerfully as he shot up and turned Road around, pushing her to the front. "I'll show you. Right this way. Linali, I'm heading…"
"WHAT!"
"Huh?"
They saw Miranda on the floor with the theater owner standing above her.
"Today's sales were stolen by a pick pocket!" the Theater shouted angrily.
"So-Sorry…" Miranda stuttered as she felt immense guilt and fear creep in.
"YOU IDIOT!"
Allen frowned.
"Excuse me young lady." Allen said as he left Road alone and ran to Miranda's side. "Miranda, what happened?"
"Allen, I'm sorry. The bag of ticket money got stolen while I was helping another customer. He had a brown top and long hair…"
Allen looked around.
"Allen, I'll take to the roof tops." Linali stated as she jumped up to the roof.
"Okay." Allen replied as he took off the pumpkin and gave Miranda a reassuring smile before he ran off.
"Allen…" Miranda whimpered as her eyes started to water before she turned to the Theater owner.
"Useless…" He stated as he stared down at her before angrily leaving the heart broken woman behind.
Miranda's tears fell down her cheeks.
'I knew it…' She thought sadly. 'In the end, I am completely useless. Trying my best … like a fool. I've had enough of this…'
Miranda hunched over as she choked on her tears.
"Why am I always like this?" Miranda choked as she cried. "Why is my clock the Innocence! Why am I…"
Road licked her lollipop with a sick smirk as Naruto walked up behind her.
"So," Road said as she squatted before Miranda, who was taken back as Road got close. "Your clock is the innocence?"
As Road giggled at Miranda's fear, Allen and Linali caught up with the pickpocket, who laughed in their faces as Allen gasped, his left eye activating as the person revealed themselves to be an akuma.
"DAMN, IT'S A TRAP!" Allen shouted in irritation.
The akuma cackled.
"They took her… they have taken the female." It cackled. "The female you were protecting. Mistress Road and the Shepherd."
"Road… Shepherd…" Allen asked as he activated his Innocence and Linali activated hers.
Meanwhile…
Road smirked as she removed her hand from the wall, licking her blood-soaked fingers.
"Such an un-lady like display, Lady Road." Naruto mentioned, only for Lero to collide with his head.
"I don't care. It gets the point across, Naruto." Road stated as she whacked Naruto again with Lero.
"STOP, LERO!" Lero shouted as it was used as a make-shift club.
For on the wall, written in blood was a simple message:
FuCK yoU! ExoRciST!
Chapter 2, DONE!
Well, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and hopefully, this can be pushed further. Please leave a review if you enjoyed or disliked it, they help me become a better writer.