In the evening, as the sky went dusk and as birds returned to their nests, seven heads huddled together (animals don't count). Of course they were multicolored. The teams are as follows-

1. The RED goes with the spiky PINK and Ninja BLACK. {Tank n DISTRACTION Team-A}

2. The GOLDEN goes with the animal (BLUE). {BACKUP and support Team-B}

3. The spikey YELLOW goes with Stripping BLACK and (just) BLACK. {STEAL_TH Team-C}

"So here's the plan. We must be uttermost cautious. The place we'll be going will be unlike any other missions any one of you have experienced. Natsu, Sasuke & Erza, you three will form a distraction and take head on with large barrage of enemy troops." Nero sounded damn serious. The three gave a robotic nod. "Lucy is a one ma- sorry my bad- one woman army as she can easily call for her spirits when you three get overwhelmed. And she gets the cat. Naruto, Gray and me will sneak inside the building and steal with stealth and comeback. "Nero summarized.

"So, I'll fight loads of trash on the front along with the flame boy and the Erza" Sasuke said sarcastically. "Oh yes, you will don't you wanna get stronger. The fighters you'll be taking head on will not disappoint you three. Also please don't fight with yourselves." Nero answered oblivious to the Uchiha's sarcasm.

"Umm… how do you think that I'll be okay by myself and how will I act as a 'backup'?" Enquired the blond girl as all eyes went on her.

"Lucy, you will summon a long ranged attacker and attack snipers first from a large distance before infiltration. Then you will summon a close ranged fighter to join Team-A, and call someone else if you are approached. Then Team-A will barge in through the main door while Team-C sneaks in. That's all in a nutshell. Also I necessary Team-A will reach for you if things get out of hand. Any questions?" Nero ended with a folded arms and smiling to himself. There was a long 15 second silence.

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"How many fish and types of fishes will I get for staying with Heavy Lucy? " Happy asked breaking the ice. "Stupid cat I swear I'll kill you the next time you…." Natsu butted in before Lucy could finish, "Yeah, I picked up boulders, pillars and burnt many other things, but my muscles tell that Lucy is way more heavier that those things. I think tis her ches"

Lucy "LUCY KICK: DUALITY "followed by two successive BANGs. "OOhh… CRITICAL STRIKE. That was a new record for distance travelled. I wonder how females could achieve some much momentum in their boots to project a healthy boy nearly 400 feet on the ground" Nero wondered as Natsu fell on earth with a BANG. "That… must have hurt really badly." Naruto said with an expression on his face resembling extreme physical pain.

"Nah, that happens all the time. Usually, he gets his sorry ass kicked by her more often. THIS, this is nothing compared to the previous one. So much for being born with a burnt brain. "Gray snickered at his own comment. As for Happy, he landed on an owl's nest, and KO'd Natsu.

"Enough of the plan what is our objective in this mission? And what if I refuse?" Erza questioned as she scorned at Sasuke who scorned back with equal ferocity. " I believe that three of you want to take on more number of enemies then the other two. This also will act as a tie breaker between your previous fight." Both Titania and Uchiha replied a humble 'hmm' breaking their respective sight from each other. "I'm getting fired up already." Natsu said as he met his knuckles with each other.

"Our objective is to defeat whatever force that is responsible for attaining control over corruption itself, and I assume that I know that person very personally. Team - A has an objective to breach inside using brute force and if possible either get inside the structure or fall back towards Lucy. Team – B or simply Lucy and the cat. Team – C is to stay out of sight, infiltrate the structure, complete objective, rendezvous' with team A at main entrance and escape with Team –B. Got it." Others gave a complete 'O' expression with an exception of Sasuke and Erza. Another unnatural silence.

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"So, about our deal…" all gathered heads went above as the blue exceed has returned panting "….will you agree for my supply of fish? "He ended. Everyone laughed at him as his head was more like a stencil of a bird's nest with a real world branch attached and his tail was swollen and was comparable to a banana with a texture of a walnut's interior. "What happened to you Happy? You allergic to kicks? Pfffttt..." Naruto said barely controlling himself. "I… Lucy aimed me at a Barn owl's nest. Above a Possum Ivy." His words merely fueled the laughter even Sasuke smiled with a grin over the possum ivy. "That's Poison Ivy for you." Corrected the rinnegan bearer.

Happy said embarrassedly after the laughter died down a little, "I refuse to carry heavy Lucy."

"How about a complete week of free fish?" Nero counter questioned the blue exceed who drooled instantly as he replied, "YES, YES, YES…..LITE LUCY LITE LUCY sardines, carp, hilsa tofu caviar" and his ranting continued as he flew in circles.

"Will I get free chicken and meat for a whole week without any cost?" Natsu asked intrigued. He unlike Happy fell on straight ground and kissed the soil resulting in deep brown and greenish face and teeth. Unable to laugh everybody face-palmed. "And some pork ramen for me" Naruto joined.

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"YOU GUYS WANNA BANKRUPT ME. WHAT DO I LOOK LIKE? A CURRENCY MINE. I can go with ramen at most but not meat as you take on near infinitely amount of it inside your throat which ceases to exist." Nero drabbled on losing his cool.

"Now think about it. Shouldn't I and Naruto be going along with you inside what you call a 'Structure'" Sasuke questioned the strategist thoughtfully.

"And what is this 'Structure' you speak of? Shouldn't it be a castle or something..." said the Ice-mage.

'And I thought I was losing my ground. Nevermind.' "I keep calling it a structure as where we are going and some from my experience I can say that the structure can be a building of any shape and size. Regardless of the place where we will be going it can be inside of an active volcano, or a pitch black cave, or maybe a castle as Gray spoke of." Said the strategist among the group as he strolled around explaining. He continued, "And as for teaming, it might look odd and unreasonable, but I need people like Naruto and Gray with me inside. I need to learn my weaknesses and theirs too."

"So, all I have to do is to punch some more holes then Erza and Sasuke together and keep doing that until you three emerge within the group. I got it." The dragon slayer said what he understood. Nero gave a clinical "yup" for his reply.

"What we will be doing inside the structure? I mean what will we actually do? Steal, extract, seal, or fight" Naruto said in a genuine ninja like tone. "That is … something I don't even know myself. It could be a raging bull released by someone, or perhaps a giant spider, or perhaps the slime we encountered earlier or a Chihuahua or just we have to take down a rotating crystal ball. It could be anything. Or perhaps I might see her…. ", Nero blinked twice after mentioning the girl.

"And who might be this her?" Lucy asked the guy with large eyes similar to a puppy. "And what is this 'Chuhiahia'? Is it a new type of turkey n' bacon.

"This 'her' is my arch enemy. Never engage 'her' if she approaches you. And its called it chihuahua and I just made it up. Perhaps its a cerberus dog who knows?" Finishing his words Nero looked at the sinking sun. When we finish our job from the inside I'll make an earthen dragon coming out of the roof. That it when all of you fall back and reach for Lucy and escape. SO, Guys and Girls…" he noticed a pouting exceed "…and a blue cat, Ready to rumble?" Nero said enthusiastically

"YEAH" an eight headed crowd replied, after counting the cat in the group.