Those Who Endure
Chapter 4: Tests
Ea Household
"Really? Your son actually did that?!"
"Yes, yes." Misaki answered with an embarrassed blush. "It was partly my fault since I left him unattended."
"One sip of coffee and he trashed a whole neighborhood and knocked away 20 officers?" Fuuka asked in wonder. Images of a crazy drunk Naruto plowing through the streets and officers with a demented laughter ran through the minds of the Akitsuki family including Yuu.
"Scary!" Sweatdrops slid down on the heads of the Akitsuki family.
Misaki looked at the clock and pouted slightly. "Where could that son of mine be? He's being rude to our guests right now."
"I'm sure he got caught up with something, but I can tell he's responsible…" Suzuka looked at her husband. "Unlike him who was clumsy in everything he did."
"Hey!" Yamato cried out at his wife.
"Ah love~" Misaki sighed as she looked out the window. "Be safe, my son."
TWExTWExTWE
Dueling Lane
Naruto: 4000 LP
SC: 0
Yusei: 4000 LP
SC: 0
Unknown Duelist: 4000 LP
SC: 0
"I'll go first!" Naruto looked at his hand before making his move. "I summon Summoner Monk (4/ATK-800/DEF-1600) in DEF mode. Then I activate its special ability: once per turn, by discarding one Spell Card, I can Special Summon a Level 4 from my deck." He picked the chosen card from his deck. "So I Special Summon Skilled Dark Magician (4/ATK-1900/DEF-1700) to the field in ATK mode!"
A man in dark blue/blackish robes with three orbs on its chest plate as he appeared next to Summoner Monk. He held its staff in front of him with hidden determination present on its stony face.
"I place two cards facedown and end my turn."
"Very well. Draw!" The duelist declared as the trio's Speed Counter rose by one. "I summon Sacred Knight's Spearholder (2/ATK-800/DEF-200) in DEF mode."
A long-haired knight in a grey chest-plate with long-sleeves and gauntlets, a metal-like silvery white skirt wielded a spear-like sword in its hands defensively as it faced off against its opposing monsters.
"And I place two facedowns. That ends my turn for now."
Suspicion grew in Naruto at that point when she ended her turn as Yusei declared his turn.
"I draw!"
Naruto: 4000 LP
SC: 2
Yusei: 4000 LP
SC: 2
The Unknown Duelist: 4000 LP
SC: 2
"I summon Speed Warrior (2/ATK-900/DEF-400) in ATK mode!" Out of the white circle was a machine-like monster that had the appearance of a human. It had a brown and light green protective armor and bodysuit as an oxygen mask was connected to the chest. The monster then skated alongside Yusei Go. "Then I activate its special ability: once per turn, I can double this monster's ATK until the end phase."
Speed Warrior (ATK-1800)
"Speed Warrior, attack Sacred Knight Spearholder! Hypersonic Slash!" The aforementioned monster performed a fast-spinning handstand attack at the knight.
"I activate Floral Shield!" A shield of flowers appeared just as it blocked the attack, pushing Speed Warrior back away. "This negates your attack and allows me to draw one card!"
"Hmph… I place three cards facedown and end my turn." Yusei said as his Speed Warrior's ATK decrease to its original amount.
"Here goes!" Naruto draws his card, his turn increased the Speed Counters once more. "I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior (4/ATK-1600/DEF-1000) in ATK mode." The armored red-orange Spellcaster appeared on the field as it brandished its sword. "Since Breaker was Normal Summoned, it gains a Spell Counter and its ATK increases by 300 for each Spell Counter."
Breaker the Magical Warrior (ATK-1900)
"And now I activate Summoner Monk's special ability once more." Naruto discarded a card to activate it. "I Special Summon Engraver of the Mark (4/ATK-1800/DEF-1200) from my deck to the field in ATK mode as well." The dual-wielding Zorro-like monster brandished its blades against Sherry's lone monster.
Yusei and Akiza were surprised by this, even the unknown Duelist. Naruto already has four monsters on his field and he could end this duel rather quickly.
"Battle! I attack Sacred Knight's Spearholder with Breaker the Magical Warrior! Go, Mana Slash!"
"I don't think so! Activate Trap Card!" Naruto was surprised when the facedown revealed itself to be one of the cards he possesses in his deck. "Negate Attack! This cancels your attack and ends your Battle Phase!"
"Grr… I place another facedown and end my turn!"
"My turn!"
Naruto: 4000 LP
SC: 4
Yusei: 4000 LP
SC: 4
Unknown Duelist: 4000 LP
SC: 4
"I summon Horse of the Floral Knights (3/ATK-400/DEF-800) to the field." A majestic horse with black mane and tail dressed in silver and gold armor with crimson-colored saddle galloped next to Spearholder with a neigh. "I then activate its special ability! When this card is Normal Summoned, I can draw one card from my deck."
Naruto and Yusei grew suspicious yet excited while Akiza was pondering about something that'd been bothering her.
"Why do they look so happy?" Akiza wondered after noticing the excited smirks on the boys' lips. "Something's very different about Turbo Duels. It's not like the Psychic Duels before. What is it?"
The unknown Duelist continued his turn. "Next I play Speed Spell: Overboost! This card will increase my Speed Counter up by six." His Speed Counter rose to to 10 after that. "Now I activate Speed Spell: Speed Fusion!"'
"Speed Fusion?' Naruto asked. "Could he be-?"
"Since I have more than six Speed Counters, I can now Fusion Summon a monster by fusing the monsters on my field." Naruto, Yusei and Akiza were surprised when they heard that. Fusion Summoning is rare nowadays with Synchro Summoning being the primary summoning method. "I fuse my Sacred Knight's Spearholder with Horse of the Floral Knights! Fusion Summon! Gallop, Centaur Mina (6/ATK-2200/DEF-1600)!"
Yusei's eyes widen when the monster emerged from the sphere. As its name suggested, it was a centaur with the upper body of a reddish-gray haired woman with gray chest-plate armor and arm guards and the lower part of a horse. Attached to her left arm was a rectangular shield and in her right hand was a broadsword with an eagle-like cross guard.
"A Fusion Monster… Haven't seen one of those for a while." Naruto commented with a smirk.
"Battle! I attack Speed Warrior with Centaur Mina!"
The centaur brandished her sword before charging at Speed Warrior and thrust her weapon sharply as Speed Warrior crossed his arms to defend itself.
"Activate Trap Card: Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!" Yusei revealed his facedown as a makeshift scarecrow made of scrap appeared in front of his monster. "This card negates my opponent's monster's attack and-"
"Not so fast! I activate Centaur Mina's special ability: Once per turn, this card negates a Trap Card's effect and then sets it back into its original position."
"Oh no." Yusei said when his favored Trap Card was negated.
"Hang on, Yusei. Activate Trap Card: Negate Attack!"
"Ugh!" The mysterious Duelist cursed when her monster's attack was negated. 'I meant to test Yusei Fudo's skills alone, but this guy's interference is making it difficult for me to fully determine Yusei's abilities. I must take him out first!' He declared before speaking aloud. "I set a card facedown. As of this moment, my Speed Counter reduces to one as a cost of Speed Spell: Overboost."
"Thanks for the save, Naruto." Yusei thanked the blonde who nodded.
Naruto nodded. "No problem."
"My turn!"
"Now I summon the Tuner Monster Junk Synchron (3/ATK-1300/DEF-500)!" A small robot with orange parts and hat, glasses-like apparel and a scarf around its neck appeared next to Speed Warrior. "Now I tune my Level Two Speed Warrior to my Level 3 Junk Synchron…" The tuner monster transformed into three rings that surrounded Speed Warrior before it turned into two stars within. "Gathering stars will call upon a new force! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Show yourself, Junk Warrior (5/ATK-2300/DEF-1300)!"
A machine-like warrior emerged from the intense beam of light and spun around a couple of times before it threw a jab. It looked like an adult version of Junk Synchron with purple coloring around the limbs and head as twin wing-like protrusions stuck out of the shoulders while its scarf fluttered in the air.
"Junk Warrior attacks Centaur Mina!" The monster dashed towards the centaur with its right fist glowing in gold aura. "Scrap Fist!"
"You activated my Trap Card!" One of the Unknown's face-downs activated. "Fleur Guard prevents my Centaur Mina from being destroyed in battle during this turn."
"Hmph… I place a facedown and end my turn."
"My turn then!"
Naruto: 4000 LP
SC: 6
Yusei: 4000 LP
SC: 6
Unknown Duelist: 3900 LP
SC: 3
Naruto drew his card and was surprised who it was, but thought to him-self that it was time to introduce them together on the field. "I activate the Speed Spell: Summoner's Art! Since I have more than two Speed Counters, I can add a Level 5 or higher Normal monster from my deck to my hand." Naruto declared as he added the chosen monster to his hand. "Now I sacrifice my Breaker the Magical Warrior to Tribute Summon my monster's apprentice."
"Huh?"
"Apprentice?"
"Apprentice of the master of magic; whose innocence brings warmth to those around her. With hope of her master's succession, her power grows indefinite…" Naruto chanted as he sacrificed his Breaker for his stronger monster. "Arise! Dark Magician Girl (6/ATK-2000/DEF-1700)!"
"What?!" Yusei and Akiza cried out while the unknown Duelist had to look back to believe it as the legendary and rare monster appeared on the field.
The Dark Magician Girl has blonde hair, green eyes unlike her master's blue-purplish eyes and faint pink markings on her cheeks. Her outfit was similar to the Dark Magician except it was an off-the-shoulders blue garment that extends to her mid-thighs and ends up as a skirt with pink trimmings along with blue and pink gauntlets. Her signature blue hat was pointed with a pink spiral at the end while her boots reached halfway up her thighs.
"Say hello, everyone!" Naruto said as the female Spellcaster cheerily waved her wand at everyone. "But she's not going to be alone since I'm bringing out her master!"
"You don't mean-!"
"And I got to thank you, dude. My Skilled Dark Magician's special ability includes the activation of Spell Cards by anyone and since you activated two of them and counting the one I just played…" He pointed at his monster whose three Spell Counters were glowing. "I can Tribute him to Special Summon my monster. Be gone, Skilled Dark Magician!"
The monster disappeared into streams of light with the three Spell Counters as everyone watched while Naruto chanted the summoning.
"He whose loyalty is never questioned by his king or allies; whose power is unrivalled by his peers of foes and protects the innocent; the ultimate master of magic… Come forth! Dark Magician (7/ATK-2500/DEF-2100)!"
The unknown Duelist gasped when the monster appeared on the field and floated next to his student. Dark Magician Girl looked pleased to see her master and the two Spellcasters nodded as they faced against the opposing Fusion Monster.
"I activate Dark Magician Girl's special ability. Whenever she's successfully summoned onto the field, she gains an additional 700 ATK for this turn." Naruto declared, surprising everyone in the Turbo Duel. "Plus, if Dark Magician is also summoned to the field, she gains an additional 200 ATK."
Yusei and Akiza watched as a blue aura glowed around Dark Magician Girl while her ATK increased by the total amount.
Dark Magician Girl (ATK-2900)
"No way…" Akiza said in wonder.
"Dark Magician Girl! Attack Centuar Mina with Dark Burning Attack!" The female magician pointed her wand at the centaur and fired a beam of blue magic in contrast of her master's attack.
"Not so fast! I activate a Trap Card!"
Naruto's eyes widen when the card revealed itself to have a relation to most sought-after Trap Card in the game.
"Radiant Mirror Force! If my opponent controls more monsters than I and they're all in ATK mode, they are destroyed!"
"Not so fast! I activate my facedown!" Naruto declared. "Seven Tools of the Bandit! By paying 1000 LP, this will negate your Trap Card, so my monsters are safe now!"
"You seem to forget out Centaur Mina's special ability." Akiza and Yusei's eyes widened as they remembered it. "Once per turn, I negate a Trap Card and then set it back to its original position!" Naruto's facedown returned to its facedown position, but to their surprise, Naruto chuckled at this.
"Good, because I activate my other facedown card." Naruto declared as the other card activated, shocking the unknown Duelist.
"Another Seven Tools of the Bandit?!"
"Yep, although it costs me 2000 LP total due to the previous one, but it's worth it 'cause my magicians are safe." Naruto said. "Now Dark Magician, destroy Centaur Mina with Dark Magic Attack!"
"I activate my other facedown: Slip of Fortune! This card targets the opponent's attacking monster, negates the attack and banishes that monster from play until the next Standby Phase."
"Oh no." Naruto replied in shock as Dark Magician vanished from the field soon after. "I place one facedown and end my turn." At this point Dark Magician Girl ATK reduced to 2700 after her master's disappearance.
TWExTWExTWE
(Meanwhile)
The Streets of Neo Domino City
"Any luck?" Crow asked Jack as their Duel Runners rode next to each other. A shake of the head was his answer. "Darn it. Where could they be?"
"Don't worry too much. I'm sure Yusei will find a way to get himself out of it." Jack assured his childhood friend.
"I know that, but still…"
"I understand too, Crow."
However, the two Signers still couldn't shake the nagging feeling in their minds. As they made a left turn on the upcoming intersection, Crow broke the silence with a new topic.
"What do you think of Naruto?" Crow asked and already he felt a glare from Jack. "Not good I presume."
"That guy… he had the audacity to insult me! Jack Atlas; the Master of Faster; the Sultan of Speed! I'll make him pay for that!" Jack declared.
"But what do you think of him as a Duelist?" Crow asked specifically this time. Jack pondered about this and after passing five intersections, he answered.
"He's unusual. The style of Dueling resembles the old ways before Tuner and Synchro monsters, Duel Runners and Turbo Duels were ever created."
Crow nodded. "I had the same thought too. Plus, he hasn't summoned any Synchro Monsters in his past duels. Why's that?"
"Either he's keeping it a secret from everyone until the time's right or…"
"Or what?"
"He doesn't have one." Jack finished, getting a hidden raised brow from Crow.
"Well, Synchro Monsters are already rare as they are today."
"But still."
"…I was thinking about… asking him to join our team for the WRGP." Crow stated, getting a widen-eye Jack in response. "He's a good Turbo Duelist and his style of Dueling could throw off our opponents, especially since he doesn't have a Turbo data like ours."
"I can't believe what I'm hearing! You're going to ask an outsider, someone we barely know, to join our team?! Without discussing it without everyone else?" Jack asked with increasing rage.
Crow barked back. "I'm discussing it with you first before we take it to the others. Besides…" Jack's rage lessened when he saw the solemn look on Crow's face. "He and his family might be in danger."
"The Ghost incident." Jack realized afterwards. Crow nodded in response.
"At least, with us around, he and his family can be safe. Hopefully the Crimson Dragon can see to that."
"…"
"…"
"I'm not really agreeing with it, but let's talk to the others after we find Yusei." Jack finally answered.
The two Signers continued the search for their friend and hope that they are safe.
TWExTWExTWE
Dueling Lanes
"Nice try. I must admit I'm surprised you possess such legendary cards… Perhaps I was wrong about you." The unknown Duelist said before drawing his card, "My turn!"
Naruto: 2000 LP
SC: 7
Yusei: 4000 LP
SC: 7
Unknown Duelist: 3900 LP
SC: 4
"I summon Fleur Synchron (4/ATK-400/DEF-200) in ATK mode." A pink petal-like creature with mischievous eyes appeared next to Centuar Mina as Dark Magician reappeared on Naruto's field, much to his apprentice's relief. "Now I tune my Level 6 Centaur Mina to the Level 2 Fleur Synchron!"
The Tuner monster ascended in the air before it transformed into two rings while Centaur got inside of them. "My body that's faster than the speed of light, the time for Revolution has come! Bring victory into my hands!" The stars aligned within the rings before the bright beam of light burst out. "Synchro Summon! Sparkle, Fleur de Chevalier (8/ATK-2700/DEF-2300)!"
Naruto, Yusei and Akiza stared at the new Synchro Monster on the field while their own monsters tensed up for battle. It was a female-looking monster with glossy silver/light blue knight armor and a red cape as its green eyes glowed underneath its pink rose petal head while her hand rested on her sword's pommel.
"Oh boy, looks like we have a little problem on our hands, huh Yusei?" Naruto smirked as his fellow Turbo Duelist had a smirk as well.
Meanwhile, Akiza still kept wondering about what is it about Turbo Dueling that excites Naruto and Yusei. It wasn't just them. Jack, Crow, Trudge and many others showed the same excitement Naruto and Yusei are currently showing. "The same thing could be said for him." Akiza thought with her eyes on the unknown Duelist.
"And since Fleur Synchron was used as Synchro Material for a Synchro Summon, I can Special Summon Apprentice Knight (2/ATK-1000/DEF-1000) in ATK mode!" A male knight in casual clothes of Middle Ages with a simple armor and sword in his hands. "Fleur de Chevalier, attack his Junk Warrior!"
Yusei, however, wasn't one to let things to go unfold as he countered with his card. "I activate Scrap-Iron Scarecrow to negate your attack!"
"How unfortunate for you. I activate Fleur de Chevalier's special ability: once per my turns, if my opponent activates a Spell or Trap Card, it will be negated and destroyed." Naruto's eyes widen as Yusei's Trap Card was destroyed by a wave of power by Fleur De Chevalier before it slashed Junk Warrior in half, destroying him and costing Yusei's LP by 400 points.
"I activate Miracle's Wake to resurrect a monster that was destroyed during this turn." Yusei declared as his Junk Warrior returned from the Graveyard in a burst of light.
"… I set two cards facedown and end my turn."
"My turn!" Yusei declared. "I summon the Tuner monster Blue Expense Falcon (2/ATK-800/DEF-800) in DEF mode…" A humanoid falcon with dark blue/purple feathers sans the light green upper shoulders and dark blue wings floated next to Junk Warrior with its bow in hand. "Since this card was summoned, I can Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Dragon-Type monster from my hand. I Special Summon Bright Star Dragon (4/ATK-1900/DEF-1000) to the field!"
A dragon with a diamond-covered body and sharp talons and sharp wings roared as a greeting alongside its fellow monsters with their owners.
"Since Bright Star Dragon was Special Summoned, I can increase the level of one monster by either one or two." Yusei said before choosing his chosen number. "I choose my Blue Expense Falcon and increase its level by two." The monster's Level increased to four. "Now I tune my Level 4 Bright Star Dragon to the Level 4 Blue Expense Falcon!"
The Tuner monster transformed into four rings as Bright Star Dragon entered inside it as Yusei chanted the Summoning.
"Clustering wishes will become a new shining star! Become the path its light shines upon!" The monster turned into four stars as a beam of bright light burst within the rings. "Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon (8/ATK-2500/DEF-2000)!"
The large Signer Dragon screeched with might as it floated above its owner and Signer. Naruto noticed the dragon and his two magicians share a look before refocusing on the duel, prompting him to do the same.
"Hey Yusei!" Naruto called out to his partner. "This seems like a good time for a power boost, don't you think?"
"Hai!"
"I activate my Dark Spiral Force Trap Card!" The facedown revealed itself to have an image of Dark Magician holding its staff surging with power. "Now that Dark Magician is on the field, I can choose a monster and double its ATK during this turn!"
"What?!"
"And I choose Stardust Dragon as the targeted monster!"
Yusei watched as his monster glowed in a silver aura while its ATK increased by the double.
Stardust Dragon (ATK-5000)
"5000 ATK?!" Akiza asked in shock.
"Battle! Stardust Dragon attacks Fleur de Chevalier! Shooting Sonic!" The Signer Dragon arched its long neck back before straightening it forward as it fired a powerful beam of white crystal-like energy beam at its chosen opponent.
"I activate my For Our Dreams Trap Card: by sacrificing my Apprentice Knight, this card prevents my Fleur de Chevalier from being destroyed in battle!" The duelist exclaimed as his monster grunted against Stardust Dragon's attack for a few seconds before it managed to deflected it away from herself.
"But you still take the damage from the battle." Naruto countered with a little confusion present.
"… I end my turn." Yusei said as his dragon's ATK decreased to its original amount.
Naruto chuckled as he drew his card. "My turn!"
Naruto: 2000 LP
SC: 8
Yusei: 4000 LP
SC: 8
Unknown Duelist: 1600 LP
SC: 5
"Oh yeah! I play the-"
*Boom*
"Huh?"
"What's going on?!"
"Ahead of us!" Yusei cried out as he pointed at the bridge over the lane they were in. Atop the bridge were men in suits with one in particular has a wicked grin on his face. "You!"
"You know him, Yusei?" Naruto and Akiza asked at the same time. Yusei nodded grimly.
"Yeah, he's the leader of the people who grabbed and stuffed me in that truck."
"What are we going to do about the rubble ahead of us?! We don't have enough room to stop!" Naruto said before his two magicians looked at him. "What is it, you two?" One of them pointed at themselves and the truck that's about to crush them. "Really?" Dark Magician nodded, getting a smirk from Naruto. "All right then! Dark Magician, Dark Magician Girl, destroy the truck quickly!"
By this moment, his cartouche glowed green which caught the attention of the unknown Duelist and the Signers.
Going high enough with the same glowing green aura of the cartouche around them, both Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl connected their staffs together before unleashing a combined attack of dark magic. "Twin Dark Magic Attack!" Both the magicians said telepathically.
Strangely Naruto heard it as well.
Much to their surprise sans Naruto and the thugs', the rubble was actually destroyed by the attack, clearing most of it as the quartet passed underneath the bridge safely. However, their Duel Runners alerted them about the Duel being canceled due to the lane being destroyed by some of the spared rubble that escaped from destruction.
"Ah! That sucks!" Naruto pouted a little as the monsters disappeared soon after they stopped. "Perhaps I should go up there and 'talk' to those guys." He cracked his knuckles before hearing screaming and punches landing on skin moments later. "Never mind. Sounds like someone got to them."
"Everyone all right?" Yusei asked everyone, even his and Naruto's opponent.
"I'll live."
"I'm fine, thank you, Yusei." Akiza answered politely.
"How unfortunate for our duel to end." The unknown Duelist said as he took off his helmet, shocking the trio especially Naruto.
"YOU'RE A LADY?!" Naruto screamed with a finger pointed at her.
The woman had long waist-length blonde hair with bangs curled away from her face horizontally, emerald eyes but had years of marital arts experience in them. She sized the trio up. "My name is Sherry LeBlanc and I'm here to take Yusei Fudo to join my Turbo team."
"Turbo team?" asked Naruto with confusion. Akiza answered him after taking off her borrowed helmet.
"In a few months, the first World Racing Grand Prix or WRGP is taking place here in Neo Domino City and Yusei's entering it with Jack and Crow."
"Oh…" Naruto looked at Sherry. "Why bother asking Yusei? It's obvious he'll stay with Crow and Jack. After all, they're his friends."
"Such naivety."
"It's not if it's the truth." Naruto countered back. Something else was bothering him about this woman. This subtle vibe she has… he's felt this before in his childhood. "Who are you after?" Naruto asked, getting Sherry to look at him.
However, he wasn't the only one who had the same feeling about Sherry.
"I had that feeling during the duel." Yusei remarked. "Pain. Suffering. Rage."
"Vengeance." Naruto saw Sherry glare at him. "You want vengeance. Who?"
"…Yliaster." Sherry finally answered begrudgingly. Yusei's eyes widen upon hearing that name.
"That's the same name Rex and Roman were claimed to be working for."
"Who?"
"That's right! He doesn't know about us being Signers or the Dark Signers." Akiza realized while she and Yusei shared a look. She was about to tell Naruto a lie when he got a call on Kurama's HUD.
"Hello." Naruto answered. "Hey, mom. What's going on?"
"Where are you right now?"
Naruto gulped at his mom's subtle aura, so he has to give the right answer. "Uh… I'm hanging out with Yusei and Akiza…" He glanced at Sherry. "And helping out a woman with personal problems and on how to handle it properly." Sherry narrowed her eyes at him. "Don't worry, I haven't forgotten the ingredients of the food of the gods!"
Sweatdrops slid down on the watching audience as they watched Naruto drool like a waterfall.
"H-he must really like ramen." Yusei commented with Akiza nodding.
"Yusei…" The Signer looked at Sherry who had put her helmet back on. "I hope I have your answer by tomorrow." Sherry said with a small hope.
Yusei gave her a determined look. "You already know my answer."
"I see." Sherry answered before glancing at Naruto who was arguing with his mother about the type of ramen. "Then let me leave you with this: what is it that you Duel for?" Yusei was taken aback as Sherry left them on her Runner alongside her partner who waited for her up the road.
"So…" Yusei and Akiza turned to Naruto who was smiling. "You guys up for some ramen for dinner? My mom invited you and the others." Loud rumbling rang to their ears, diverting Naruto and Yusei to an embarrassed Akiza who held her stomach. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Count me in." Yusei responded with a small smile.
After getting Akiza back on, Naruto and Yusei revved Kurama and Yusei Go respectively before leaving for the Ea Household.
TWExTWExTWE
(Two Hours Later)
Ea Household
"Whew! That was good!" Naruto exclaimed happily as he patted his bulging stomach. His guests however were stunned to speak upon seeing towering stacks of empty plates on both side of Naruto's space.
"He's like a bottomless pit!" Crow exclaimed in comedic fashion.
"We barely got any food for ourselves." Leo looked at his bowl, whimpering at low amount of food.
"Who'd thought we meet someone who really, really loves ramen." Yusei mentioned before seeing Jack finishing his 12th bowl. "Besides Jack of course."
"Darn it! Jack Atlas shall not lose to someone in the way of ramen!" Jack raised his bowl. "Another serving!" A ladle smacked him on his head. "Ouch! Wha-" His words disappeared upon seeing the tick-marked face of the deceptively sweet Misaki.
"What do you say if you want something?" Misaki was holding her trembling ladle with her twitching eye.
"P-please." Jack finally said and Misaki happily complied as her previous attitude disappeared quickly.
"Good boy."
Naruto chuckled as his friends talked while his parents spoke with Suzuka and Yamato. Meanwhile Fuuka was telling him about the day he saved her and the event on that same day. "Oh, you guys are in a band? That's cool. What are your roles or equipment?"
"Fuuka is the lead singer." Yuu answered lowly. Fuuka pinched him to speak louder. "And I'm the bass guitarist."
"That's cool. Do you guys like playing music? As a passion?"
"Of course!" Fuuka happily answered while holding Yuu's hand. "Do you have a favorite band, Naruto?"
"The Hedgehogs." Naruto replied with a beaming smile.
"That's our favorite band too!" Fuuka said with surprise as Yuu nodded.
"Really?"
"Yeah." Yuu answered this time.
"Which is your favorite song?" Naruto asked. Before he could get an answer, a tap on the shoulder directed his attention. "Yusei, what's up?"
"We need to talk." Yusei glanced around the room. "Privately." This confused Naruto, but he excused him-self while promising to discuss more about the Hedgehogs with Fuuka and Yuu. Surprisingly, Yusei invited his group as well so Naruto thought this must involve them as well.
Naruto led them up to his room on the second floor and closed the door afterwards before offering seats. Leo, Luna and Akiza took a seat on his bed; Crow sat on the chair while Yusei and Jack chose to stand like him.
"So what's going on, Yusei?" Naruto asked. Yusei shared a look between the others and they nodded. "Guys… you're acting kind of weird right now."
"Naruto. We'd like to ask you if you would join our team for the Grand Prix." Naruto's eyes widened in surprise by Yusei's question.
"Huh?"
"But before you answer, tell us this one thing..." Jack hesitated when he and Yusei shared a look as the latter nodded, "What do you know about the People of the Stars, specifically the Signers?" asked Jack.
"Eh?" Confused by the question, but Naruto still answered, "Not a whole lot, but according to research done by my dad, the Signers are people who were chosen by an entity called the Crimson Dragon and they possess dragons who are guardians and servants to it. Other than that, I don't know much else about them."
His friends except Leo shared looks before removing their sleeves or gloves, revealing marks of sorts that resembles limbs of an animal. Yusei's mark resembled a dragon's head; Jack's a pair of wings; both Akiza and Luna's were claws; and Crow resembled a tail of sorts.
"Naruto, we are the Signers." Yusei said, shocking Naruto greatly as he stared at his friends or what's behind them. He could see the translucent image of a fiery crimson dragon behind them. "Naruto?"
"…"
"Naruto?"
"…"
"Naruto?" Leo got up and stood in front of the blank Naruto. "Naruto?" He snapped his fingers in front of the blonde.
"EEEHHHH?!" Naruto screamed as he jumped away in great surprise from his spot and crashed against the wall. Everyone sweat-dropped when a framed poster hit his head, knocking him out.
After several moments of silence and poking the knocked out Naruto, Crow looked at a bewildered Yusei. "Well, that wasn't bad as I thought."
"Y-yeah." All Signers and Leo chorused.
TWExTWExTWE
(Two Days Later)
Neo Domino Duel Academy
"Ah~"
Naruto yawned as he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. The weekend went by fast due to his knocking him-self out from Yusei's revelation and processing what he actually said. This also meant that they were the ones responsible for the battle seven months back.
"I certainly wasn't expecting that, but I wonder why would they tell me?" Naruto pondered until he remembered the group Sherry mentioned. "This Yliaster bunch… if they're behind something fishy and Yusei thought to tell me this, then does that make me involved as well?"
"Yes it does." Two voices replied from behind, startling Naruto. He turned around to see Leo and Luna smiling at him.
"Leo! Luna! Don't surprise me like that!" Naruto exclaimed with a tick mark.
The older twin chuckled at the blonde's expression. "But it's worth seeing you react like that." He later chose to regret those words when he felt something hard around his head.
"Want to say that again?" Naruto grumbled with a twitching eye as he tightened his grip.
"N-No." Leo whimpered and felt relieved when the pressure ceased.
"Oh Leo…" Luna said exasperatingly before looking at Naruto. "So what do you think?"
"About what?" Luna pointed at her right arm. "Oh right." Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Well, it certainly surprised me and all, but I feel touched somehow." Naruto admitted, surprising the twins. "Pretty sure no one knows about you guys except me, right?"
"No, there are other people." Luna answered politely. Suddenly Naruto fell on his knees with a depressed cloud hovering over him. "Naruto?"
"Who?"
"Eh?" The twins spoke before a glaring and shadow-covered Naruto towered over them.
Naruto repeated the question at the shaking twins. "Who else knows?" He couldn't get an answer since a backpack chopped him on the head. "Ouch!" The blonde turned his head for the perpetrator. "Akiza!"
"Your mom told me to tell you that you should behave or else." Akiza lectured and that clamped Naruto up.
"Don't tell me-"
"Yep, I'm her eyes and ears~" Akiza hummed at the horrified Naruto with the image of a menacing Misaki above her. The quartet walked together onto the school grounds albeit not quietly.
"That's him."
"He possesses the Dark Magician."
"Roger lost to him."
"I want that card."
Apparently news of his duel and victory against Roger had spread through wildfire already over the weekend among the students.
Naruto groaned while he smacked himself in case of future challenges by the students who might be after his rare card. "I shouldn't have summoned Dark Magician in that duel in the first place, but that guy pissed me off!" He referred about Roger.
"C-calm down, Naruto." Luna said, calming the blonde down.
"Do you guys want to meet up for lunch together?" This surprised the trio, but they accepted his invitation. "Great. I'll meet you at lunch break." Naruto bid them farewell for now as he walked to his first class. The moment he stepped inside, all the chatter stopped as everyone's eyes were on him. "Yeah, I'm never going to hear the end of this."
Naruto took his seat near the windows while most of his classmates returned to their chatter although they kept glancing at him every few moments. He decided to take a nap until the teacher declares the start of class.
TWExTWExTWE
After avoiding and losing the stampede of his classmates challenging him for a duel, Naruto finally found Akiza and the twins at the secluded area in the Turbo Duel practice track and sat down with them for a nice lunch.
"Man, today's lesson was brutal." Leo complained before eating a fried cod. Luna sighed before taking a bit out of her karaage.
"Schoolwork seems to be lax by this time of year." Akiza admitted honestly.
Naruto nodded. "I second that, Akiza." He then noticed something behind Luna. It had brown, neat fur with semi-long eyelashes, a tail with a pink ribbon tied around it. A Duel Spirit. "Why, hello there." The creature hid itself completely from his sight. "Don't be afraid."
"Naruto, you can see Kuribon?" A surprised Luna asked. Naruto nodded, surprising Leo and Akiza as well. "You can see Duel Monster Spirits? How?"
"No idea." Naruto assumed a thinking pose. "All I know is I can see them recently. As for the how, I don't have a clear answer on that yet." His cartouche gleamed by reflecting the sunlight. "How long have you seen them, Luna?"
"Since I was three years old." Luna answered.
Naruto nodded and looked at Leo. "Can you see them too, Leo?" A shake was his answer. "Wait, you're not a Signer?"
"No…" Leo answered sadly for a moment before he changed his expression to a happy one. "But I will soon enough. Crow was turned into a Signer during the battle against Rex though, so the same could happen to me."
Naruto was intrigued by this. Crow wasn't originally a Signer yet the Crimson Dragon chose him to be one. Perhaps there's a requirement or the deity sees the valor within the people associated with its Signers.
"Perhaps Leo is not far off. He's enthusiastic about becoming one, that's for sure."
The blonde's thoughts were interrupted when Leo tugged on his sleeve and asked him a rather important question.
"So what's your answer? Are you going to join our team?"
Naruto could hear the hope in Leo's tone and chuckled at him. "I haven't decided on an answer."
"Oh~" Leo pouted in response.
"You would be a good addition to our team." Luna pointed out. His dueling skills aren't exactly orthodox and that's what they need for the upcoming duels against the teams they'll face in the tournament.
"What's stopping you?" Akiza asked.
"Well…" Naruto tried to find an answer, but couldn't do so. He changed the topic. "So what's on your mind, Akiza?" The beauty of the Signers didn't like him avoiding the question, but she saw him conflicted about something.
"I want to become a Turbo Duelist." Akiza finally answered after few moments, surprising her friends. "There's so much I want to learn about it. The Duel you and Yusei had against Sherry… it was unlike anything I've ever felt and I know there is much to learn about it."
"Huh?" Naruto tilted his head, causing Akiza to face-fault to the ground.
"How could you not understand what I'm saying?! You're a Turbo Duelist yourself!"
"Yeah, but I'm just a beginner compared to Yusei, Jack and Crow." Naruto admitted. Another wave of surprise washed over the trio as they stared at him.
"But you handled yourself so well against Sherry and Ghost." Akiza pointed before Naruto chuckled sheepishly.
"I'm trained in martial arts so I've learned to remain composed in these types of situation." Naruto answered. "Anyway, you want to learn about Turbo Dueling, Yusei is the man for you, Akiza." He noticed the small blush on the beauty's cheeks. "Why's your face a little red?"
The twins also noticed the reddening on Akiza's cheeks while the latter tried desperately to hide or play it off with no avail.
"Now that you mentioned it, ever since the Fortune Cup, Akiza had grown a little timid when it comes to Yusei." Leo pointed out while Luna nodded.
"S-stop talking!" An embarrassed Akiza cried out with flailing arms.
Naruto and the twins laughed at Akiza's misfortune before the quartet finished their lunch and returned to their classes for the evening.
TWExTWExTWE
After bidding farewell to Akiza, Leo and Luna, Naruto walked to the garage and reached his Duel Runner before he left the school grounds and onto the road.
As always, the freedom provided by his Duel Rider is second to none as Naruto rode through the streets while the sun was setting across the horizon. He pondered about Yusei's invitation to join their team and was conflicted internally. From the looks of it, the group have great dynamic and a strong bond that solidified after countless obstacles and battles they faced over time.
And he doesn't want to ruin that.
"I know my answer." Naruto turned Kurama to the fastest route back to Fountain Plaza. Suddenly, Kurama's alarms went off once more. "Huh?" He looked to his left where an unusual Duel Runner rode alongside him. "What the?"
It was a very sharp, beak-like shaped dark purple body with two small wheels on the sides and one main wheel at the back. The Turbo Duelist wore a cobalt uniform outlined in yellow highlights and a helmet with deep red sunglasses.
"Cool Duel Runner, man." Naruto couldn't hold his excitement at seeing such a design. "Where'd you build it?"
"I challenge you to a Turbo Duel."
"Eh?" Naruto was taken aback but accepted the challenge. "You're on, but tell me your name first."
"… Vizor."
"Naruto."
Duel Mode was activated as the two were directed to the duel lanes while saying, "DUEL!"
Naruto: 4000 LP
SC: 0
Vizor: 4000 LP
SC: 0
"I'll go first." Naruto looked at the card and smirked at it. "Time for your debut, okay. I summon Apple Magician Girl (3/ATK-1200/DEF-800) in ATK mode!"
A short black-haired female Spellcaster in a tight crimson-red body sleeveless suit that showed a little cleavage, matching boots/leggings and gloves, a sharp-pointing hat similar to Dark Magician Girl's and a pair of sky blue wings protruded out of her back. She gave a wink at Vizor as she sat in mid-air next to Naruto.
"I place one card and end my turn."
"My turn! Draw!"
Naruto: 4000 LP
SC: 1
Vizor: 4000 LP
SC: 1
"Since I have no monsters on my field and my opponent does, I can Special Summon Tech Genus Striker (2/ATK-800/DEF-0) from my hand." He placed the card on the monster field as the creature burst forth. A man in black bodysuit with mechanical parts covering parts of his body and a helmet covering the top part of its head and eyes appeared next to Vizor.
"Then I Special Summon Tech Genus Werewolf (3/ATK-1200/DEF-0) since I just Special Summoned a Level 4 or below monster." A dark brown-furred werewolf emerged from the light as it swung his mechanical left arm viciously, trying to intimidate Apple Magician Girl who simply 'huffed' while turning her head away. "Now I tune my Level 3 Tech Genus Werewolf to the Level 2 Tech Genus Striker."
Naruto watched as Vizor began the summoning chant.
"Synchro Flight Control! Limiter Removal, Level Five, Booster Injection 120%. Recovery Network Range Updated! All Clear! Go! Synchro Summon! Come on! Tech Genus Power Gladiator (5/ATK-2300/DEF-1000)!"
A spiky-haired gladiator in a leather skirt-like tunic with sharp shoulder guards while wielding a heavy axe took its place on the field, staring directly at his female opponent.
"Next, I summon Normal Summon Tech Genus Cyber Magician (1/ATK-0/DEF-0) in ATK position." A young child in chrome armor with a red cape and metal tri-corn hat spun around a couple times to showboat its emergence. "And I activate its special ability. I can tune a monster straight from my hand to my Tech Genus Cyber Magician."
Naruto was stunned by this. "Another Synchro Summon? In one turn?"
"Limiter Removal, Level Five. Booster Launch, OK! Inclination, OK! Ground Support! All Clear! Go! Synchro Summon! Come on! Tech Genus Wonder Magician (5/ATK-1900/DEF-0)!" Vizor declared as a pink long-haired female magician appeared in a light armor dress with small silverish wings forming an 'X' on her back. "When this card is Synchro Summoned, I can destroy one Spell/Trap on the field. Say goodbye to your facedown!"
Naruto flinched when his face-down card was destroyed by the effect.
"Battle! I attack Apple Magician Girl with Tech Genus Power Gladiator!"
The gladiator monster jumped high in the air with its axe readied to strike the magician with all its might, but Naruto wouldn't let that happen.
"Not so fast! I activate my Magician Girl's special ability: Once per turn, when this card is targeted for an attack, I can Special Summon a Level 5 or lower Spellcaster-Type monster from my hand…" Naruto chose the card and placed it on his disk. "So I choose my Kiwi Magician Girl 54/ATK-1800/DEF-1200)!" The said monster appeared next to Apple Magician Girl and she was quite different.
She had long ocean blue hair that flared out in the middle of her back and wore a black bodysuit with silver gloves on her arms and leggings on her legs, a loincloth and matching chest plate, and a semi-kiwi helmet on her head. On the back of her back was her silver wand.
"And the attack target for your Synchro Monster is the one I just summoned to the field via Apple Magician Girl's effect."
"But, that monster is weak against my Power Gladiator. So why?"
Naruto smirked at Vizor. "I'm not finished. The attacking monster whose target is switched by this effect… also has its ATK halved!"
"What?"
Tech Genus Power Gladiator (ATK-1150)
"Time for Kiwi Magician Girl to strike back. Attack his Power Gladiator!" The two monsters clashed with Kiwi emerging as the victor after blasting her opponent with a sky blue magic attack similar to her fellow magicians.
"Then I attack your Apple Magician Girl with my Tech Genus Wonder Magician!"
Naruto could only watch when his Magician Girl was destroyed by Wonder Magician as she screamed in pain.
"I end my turn."
"My turn!"
Naruto: 3300 LP
SC: 2
Vizor: 3350 LP
SC: 2
"I summon Magician's Valkyria (4/ATK-1600/DEF-1800) in DEF mode!" A woman similar to Dark Magician Girl appeared next to Kiwi Magician Girl with notable differences. She had light green long hair, her attire was light pink with the top slightly showing the shoulders with matching skirt and gloves while wielding a staff that slightly resembles a question mark. "And her special ability is that you cannot attack any other Spellcaster-Type monsters except this card. I also switch my Kiwi Magician Girl to DEF mode and place two cards facedown. That ends my turn."
"What is he up to? He's dueling very differently from the others. No indication of summoning Synchro Monsters whatsoever. Very interesting." Vizor thought with a hidden smirk as he accelerated, prompting Naruto to catch up with him.
"What's this guy's deal? All of the sudden, he's speeding up!" Naruto complained while doing his best to keep up with Vizor albeit with difficulty. The rushing winds pushed against him as Kurama accelerated beyond its capabilities along with the sudden sharp turns and burst of speed by Vizor. "What's he trying to do?"
"I expected Yusei Fudo and his Duel Runner to catch up, but he surprised me. Perhaps I should show him the true power of Synchro Summoning."
"This guy is no joke. I can't just rely on using the same tactics. I must change things up a bit." Naruto looked at his hand with one card in particular that caught his eye. "Synchros are the rage right now, but everyone seems to forget the Fusion Monsters opened the gate for them."
"He's unusual, but that won't save him in this duel. If he doesn't show anything intriguing, this will have been a waste of time."
"That's why I'll show him how awesome and powerful Fusion Monsters are… by winning this duel!" Naruto declared as he accelerated once more, eventually catching up with Vizor.
The two Duelists stared down at each other while translucent and shadowed figures appeared above them while facing opposite; a bulky machine-like monster above Vizor and a dragon with a scar across its right eyes next to Naruto.
"This Duel is just getting started!"
END OF CHAPTER
Another chapter is done! I really like writing this story with the story line and all. Can you guess which card Naruto has in his hand right now? I hope you all enjoy the new chapter. Please review after you're done. I would really like to know your thoughts, ideas, and/or opinions.
Chapter 3 Q's & A's:
RoyalTwinFangs (July 12): Thank you. Is there anything in particular you like about the story? Any ideas you'd like to share or suggest?
Veesmaster (July 12): I'm glad you like this story and yeah, I thought it was a good place to start the story. Although someone else and I thought that perhaps I should've started before or during the Dark Signers arc, but oh well.
Jebest4781 (July 12): What'd you like about this chapter? Any ideas or suggestions for the upcoming ones?
Ito Uchiha (July 12): Thank you. I don't think there are a lot of Dragon-Types that go well with Spellcaster-Types. Synchro Monsters are not an option for Naruto yet as he plans to fight back with a forgotten archetype as mentioned in the chapter. Not yet anyway.
Dark Magician Girl is one to consider for the pairing, so that's clear.
Lightningblade49 (July 13): Well, I hope I did semi-good with Naruto's school life. If not, I could use some help with that to make it more interesting. As for the Synchros, he won't have any yet as I mentioned before, Naruto will fight with a forgotten archetype not seen during this timeline very often.
DarkLord98 (July 13): After reading your review and the chapter, I was kicking myself for that. Thanks for pointing that out, but it does happen to all of us and we can learn from those mistakes.
GodX (July 13): I always put everyone's reviews at the end to let them know that I read and respond to them. I did put a few effects for the Dark Magician Girl and I hope you approve of them. Don't worry because there'll be one more effect for her. Yes, Dark Magician Girl is one of the candidates for him: a strong one though.
R-king 93 (July 13): Well, here are your answers. I hope you liked the new chapter.
Mrstardust (July 14): I'm happy you like it! Did you enjoy the new chapter? Do you have any ideas or suggestions in mind? Perhaps…Perhaps not…you'll have to wait and see if it happens or not.
