Lake gathering
Naruto and Merlin left the town they were just in to travel to Ariadne to acquire help for Naruto.
"It's a good thing we left the girls with Hector and Sayako until Ako is better" Naruto said
"Yes but there is someone I feel may be in grave danger...Nimueh" Merlin said
"Who's Nimueh?" Naruto asked
"A young girl who is particularly gifted in the use of water magic" Merlin said
"Brilliant" Naruto said
"Not to mention a summoner" Merlin said sternly
"A summoner?" Naruto asked
"Yes one of the most powerful mage archetypes here" Merlin said.
In a small crystal blue lake where you could see the very bottom of it swam a young girl the age of five with blue hair and eyes. She looked at the bottom of the lake admiring the fishes and plant life that grew there.
"Nimueh," a voice cried out
"Yes?" the girl asked lifting her head
"Come on we've rested long enough" the voice said again
"Okay Miss Setsuna" Nimueh said running out and into the dry towel that Setsuna had for her
"Enjoy your swim?" Setsuna asked
"Yep, the fish were nice enough to play with me" Nimueh said making the winged swordsman laugh. Setsuna's laughter died down soon because she still worried about her friends and if they were even alive
"Don't worry he's okay and he will soon be reconnected with the person that his heart has bonded to" Nimueh said
"Another foresight?" Setsuna asked pulling on Nimueh's multi-toned blue jacket like dress
"Something like that" Nimueh giggled.
Half an hour later Asuna, Setsuna and Nimueh were walking again
"Let me guess...the next lake we get to we stop and rest?" Asuna asked running a hand through her ember like hair
"I'm sorry about the fact I can only go a couple of hours without being in or near water" Nimueh said sadly
"Hey, it's okay" Asuna said
"If it wasn't it for us you would be gone" Setsuna said remembering how they met Nimueh.
Asuna and Setsuna had finished a bounty hunt and were walking along a desert path, Asuna was hot enough to just walk along in a tank top "You're going to get sunburnt" Setsuna said
"I know I know" Asuna said throwing a shirt on overtop, once she was finished she saw something, It was a young girl stumbling around in the desert
"Setsuna look!" Asuna said as Setsuna saw the young girl crash into the hot desert sand
"COME ON!" Setsuna shouted racing to the young girl.
Setsuna was nearly crying about how close to death Nimueh was
"Don't worry I'm fine now" Nimueh smiled "That's good" Asuna said hugging Nimueh
"You are a big sister aren't you?" Setsuna asked
"Yeah I guess I am" Asuna said before gaining the look she gets when she is worried
"Don't worry he is safe" Nimueh said smiling "How does she know these things?" Asuna inquired
"I just do" Nimueh answered.
A bit further out in the desert near the forest edge Negi, Kasumi, Asakura, Chisame, and Chachamaru were walking along
"First lake or oasis we get to we'll stop" Negi said looking at the hot and bothered group
"Thank goodness I think the sun is drying out my skin" Kasumi said
"As long as there is shade I'll be fine" Chisame replied.
"I have to agree with Chisame-san" Chachamaru added.
Traveling toward the lake from another direction a cloaked traveller walked and every now and then the wind would blow the cloak open a bit. When it did it revealed a rich scarlet lace up top, with black elbow length gloves and black pants with the ends tucked into a pair of comfortable looking boots.
"I hope my prey soon comes to me" she said as her eyes blazed with determination
"Wow this is a beautiful lake" Setsuna said noticing it had a waterfall
"Great we can have a shower, and Nimueh can have a bath" Asuna said smiling as the girls removed their clothing and stepped into the water "Wow this water is warm," Setsuna said smiling
"Yes it is because the natural temperature from the desert sand makes it nice and comfortable for swimmers and bathers alike" Nimueh said stepping in as Setsuna summoned her wings and stepped under the waterfall smiling.
On the northern side Merlin and Naruto set up their camp
"Now Naruto you have mastered fire and earth; now it is time for water" Merlin said as Naruto released Kyuchibi
"How?" Naruto asked stroking the fox chibi
"Stand in the shallows" Merlin said as he sat on a rock and pulled out his pipe, placed some tobacco in it and lit it
"I just hope Nimueh is alright" Merlin said looking to the sky.
On the southern side Negi's group changed into their swimsuits.
"What do you think?" Kasumi asked revealing her tropical printed bikini
"Nice" Chisame said sliding into the warm relaxing water
"Hey Negi I'm going for a look around" Chamo said walking off "Not too far Chamo" Negi ordered. "Okay" Chamo replied.
The cloaked traveller reached the western shore and removed her clothes revealing a violet and crimson bikini.
"This will feel great, just like the hot springs back home" she said sighing making sure her pink hair was fully under
"I can't remember the last time I had a bath, probably before coming here" Sakura said. She missed her friends and parents "I hope their okay" Sakura said sadly.
On a cliff overlooking the lake stood Tsukiyomi and her assassin guards.
"Leave the one with wings to me," she said as her captain stepped forward with his silver sash and black cape blowing in the slight breeze.
"And the others?" he asked
"Take them to Lord Fate," the girls said.
"Ma'am some of us are worried about Huntress," the guard captain said.
"Leave her to me as well," she snarled. "Of course ma'am, YOU HEARD HER MOVE OUT!" the order was called
Naruto emerged from the water. "That was easy" he declared.
"It becomes harder the further you are away from water," Merlin said smiling.
"Then I'll have other techniques to fall back on right?" Naruto asked drying off.
"Yes but remember the easiness of elements depends on what you have access to," Merlin said sitting beneath a tree.
"It felt weird though as if the water was telling me someone is nearby," Naruto said looking at the water.
"Sometimes we can feel things we would like too," Merlin said.
Nimueh was swimming away from her caregivers towards the middle of the lake.
"This is nice," she said as she reached a piece of shore,
"but where is Asuna and Setsuna?"
"Are you lost little girl?" a voice asked.
"Yes please help...me. You're one of those mean people," Nimueh panicked.
"Too bad you just had to walk on the shore in front of me," Tsukiyomi smiled walking towards the young girl who just curled up and screamed.
On the eastern shore the girls'shriek was heard "NIMUEH!" the girls panicked running to get her. On the Western shore Sakura was pulling on her shirt when the scream reached her ears "That doesn't sound good," she spoke dashing off while placing her cloak on. On the Southern side Negi's group was alerted "What was that?" Chisame asked "A girl! We have to find her" Kasumi said picking up her bag. On the northern side of the lake a sleeping Merlin snappedd awake "Nimueh, no please not her!" Merlin begged grabbing his staff "Naruto" Merlin shouted "I'm way ahead of you" Naruto said sword drawn.
Nimueh was against a rock as Tsukiyomi came forward slowly with her blade in full view
"This will not hurt at all" she said creepily. Nimueh was whimpering badly and shaking like a leaf. She covered her head with her arms and started to cry.
"Time to go" her predator said as the blade drew closer to her
Tsukiyomi swung down but before she hit the girl a new sword intercepted her's.
"Who?" Tsukiyomi asked.
"I Naruto Uzumaki, Guardian Knight of the Wind hereby announce the end of your injustice," Naruto said holding Excalibur above Nimueh.
"It's alright I intend to defend you with my life if need be." Naruto said reflecting the words of his sensei on his first mission
"I know" Nimueh smiled as Naruto kicked back Tsukiyomi before blocking her sword swing after swing. Merlin saw Nimueh sitting there "NIMUEH!" Merlin cried out "Grandfather!" Nimueh said running to her beloved grandfather
"Its okay I'm here, I'm here" he said stroking her short blue hair lovingly. Tsukiyomi was still unable to land a blow on Naruto,
"Never mind I'll just attack them" she laughed heading for Merlin and Nimueh.
"Magica Sagita series Lucia" a young man said launching ten arrows composed of light at the evil mercenary "NEGI!" Naruto cried out "Naruto what a surprise" Negi said as Chamo jumped onto his shoulder.
"Well, well, well my prey has come out to play" Huntress said
"Huntress?" Tsukiyomi said panicking at the sight of three of her most dangerous opponents
"JUSTICE TECHNIQUE TIDE CUTTER" Naruto said as water spiralled around his blade before he swung Nimueh chanted an archaic spell increasing the strength of the tide cutter.
"So long Sakura Fubuki" Huntress said flinging a kunai at her opponent releasing pieces of paper which combined with the tide cutter before exploding creating a shockwave of water towards Fates right hand.
"Time for me to go now" Tsukiyomi said fleeing into shadow
"We won" Kasumi said
"Thanks Sakura" Naruto said
"No problem" Sakura said
After the three camps joined up Naruto went to the eastern side to find some wood
"Why do I have to be the one that gets the wood?" he groaned looking about before he sensed someone behind him. He took a defensive stance when they crashed into him making him close his eyes as he skidded back several meters. Once he stopped he felt it...a warm soft feeling on top of him. He cautiously opened his eyes to see a familiar sight, there lying on top of him was Setsuna. He carefully and slowly wrapped his arms around her as if she were a dream that he was about to awaken from
"Setsuna" he whispered to her
"Naruto?" she asked "Yeah it's me" he said holding her tenderly
"I thought we weren't going to find each other" Setsuna said tears coming out of her eyes
"It's alright we're together again" he smiled before the two shared a tender yet fiery kiss
"See I told you" Nimueh appearing out of nowhere said smiling
"Okay little one" Setsuna said
"SETSUNA!" Asuna called out spotting the trio
"NARUTO!" she cried out smiling as she tackled Naruto into a hug
"We were worried about you, are you okay? Have you found Negi and if so where is he?" Asuna asked in rapid succession
"Yes I'm fine and as for the other questions follow me" he said
Back on the northern shore Merlin had started a fire and the girls were talking while Negi practiced
"So how many more to find?" Sakura asked
"Well there's still Haruna, Nodoka, Yue, Ku, Kaede, Konoka and I'm not sure who else" Kasumi said
"Ako, Natsumi and Akira's with a knight" Chisame concluded
"But what about Setsuna and Asuna?" Chachamaru asked
"I'm not sure" Sakura said. At that precise moment Naruto came back to the assembled group
"Hey guys Naruto's back" Sakura called
"And he's got Asuna and Setsuna with him!" Sakura continued "
ASUNA!" Negi cried "NEGI!" Asuna yelled out reaching her brother
"Don't ever do that again" she said hugging Negi to the point of near strangulation
"I won't" Negi said
"Now that the group is back together I suggest we move out to locate more of your friends" Merlin said with a smile on his face.
"Together" Naruto said holding out his hand "Together" the rest of the group said placing their hands on Naruto's