Announcement!
Hello everyone! Apologies, but this isn't a chapter, rather, this is an announcement that I have to make to everyone that has been reading and following this story. An important one that I've been meaning to make for a while, but didn't really know when.
Ok...now, due to recent events that have been occurring in my private life, I have decided to take a drastic step in the course of my daily existence.
I have joined the military, and I'm gonna be shipping out on October 4th.
Now, as I'm sure that you've all guessed by now, that makes it extraordinarily difficult for me to update my 2 stories. (Yes, I have 2.)
And that's the announcement; as of Oct. 4th, I will temporarily be on hiatus from fanfiction for, at worse, 4 months or so.
At best, 2. But that's a rather optimistic outcome since I'd only be armed with a phone to actually type anything with. Which ain't easy, mind you.
Anyway, I was planning on getting out 2 more chapters before I went on hiatus, and this is a hiatus, not me backing off from fanfiction permanently. Boy, I've suffered from authors leaving me hanging before, and I don't want to do it to you guys. But, of course, this time I've got no choice in the matter.
So I'd like to apologize for the abrupt announcement, as I don't want to make this announcement, and I don't want to stop writing, but I've made a commitment and I can't bail on it. I hope you all understand.
Now, this announcement isn't all doom and gloom. I wanted to ask you lot a few questions before I make my leave for a while.
First; since I'm gonna be gone for a while, it's likely that a lot of you will forget what the hell is going on in this story after such a long time gap.
So I had a thought; why not make a recap chapter for you lot after I get my hands on anything that could possibly let me write again? I mean after the hiatus, of course.
It'd be set up in a funny chibi manner too, with familiar characters having more knowledge of the plot than their 'real-life' counterparts so that they could comment on what's going on? Maybe some 4th wall-shattering hijinks too!
But, I got the original idea of this little recap chapter by a follower of this story (you know who you are) as that person noted that they were lost in what was going on.
Basically, the idea was to make a recap chapter to cover everything that has happened so far *now* rather than later, for those who were lost too.
So here's the thing, I don't want to make two recap chapters, definitely not. It inflates my chapter and word count, as well as inconveniences those that are managing to follow the story just fine, as it takes precious time to make new chapters after all.
Basically, my question is this; do you all want the chapter recap to happen for the next chapter (for those that are lost now) or do you all want it to happen after I get back into fanfiction? I won't do it twice.
Another thing; and this applies for next chapter.
I'm gonna be adding an ost (Original Soundtrack) onto a scene in the next chapter, just to test out whether I can incorporate it into what's happening. There will only be one, and hopefully it will increase everyone's reading pleasure as the soundtracks sets the mood.
Of course, it's optional, but I hope that it will help. Tell me how it is next chapter if you can. :)
Lastly, while you don't have to do it now, you could also contact me via PM or review about any suggestions or criticisms about the route that the story is going while I'm gone. It could give me something to think about as I have my head slammed into the ground by a drill sergeant. As I'm fully aware that some are a little peeved about giving other characters more...screen time I guess?
Idk how you would call it if it's in s story, but basically people want more Naruto, which is understandable. But a 'why' would be helpful in fully understanding opinions.
That being said, if you have no problems or are just generally supportive of the direction, then go ahead and tell me, as I don't want to change my mind on something due to the loud voice of a minority after all! XD
...Sorry, I'm just rambling ideas off here, apologies for the poor structure, but yeah, I'm really gonna be gone for a while. And it's also likely that no one will hear from me for at least a month and a half until I get my phone back after going through basic training.
So...yeah, sorry for laying this all for you so suddenly. Hope that you all have a great day (or night), and I'll see you all later for the next chapter!
Anyway, to make you all feel a little better...
Here's a preview for the next chapter!
Mio bit her lip, eyes downcast as she tried to find her inner balance, idly noting that her foot was incessantly tapping onto the floor. Her restless energy obvious.
In frustration, she raised her foot and then slammed it into the ground, hoping that the excess energy was spent.
It wasn't.
A snarl made her bare her teeth as she was just about ready to-
"Mio-san."
The red-head froze up, forgetting that there were others in the same room with her, as the soft voice of the nun reminded her.
Asia placed her hand onto the half-devil's arm, steadying her slightly, despite the fact that the she wanted nothing more than to snatch her arm away.
"...If you're feeling troubled, you can talk to me, if you want?" the human girl hesitantly offered, her emerald eyes shining in worry.
Mio didn't respond, all at once wishing to hug the girl and to get up and run away from her.
She chose the middle option.
"...Thanks, but I think that I'll just go and rest in my room for a little bit." the daughter of Lucifer responded softly, getting up to go and do just that, wanting that isolation for a bit to think.
She wasn't given the chance, as another hand latched onto her arm, stopping her short.
It wasn't Asia's.
"...You...? You're Naruse Mio, right...?"
Mio snapped her eyes backwards, recognizing the voice that was referring to her.
Her pink eyes met the bleary -but quickly sharpening- violet gaze of the once-unconscious fallen angel.
"...I'm not sure what has happened since I lost consciousness..." Raynare said, her gaze snapping around to take in her surroundings as best she could, frowning. "But there's something else that I've got to know first."
Her violet gaze focused back onto the red-head's pink, serious, despite still being a little sleepy.
"Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri...you know them, right? Or at least, a little bit?"
Mio nodded slowly, already figuring where the fallen angel was going with this.
So, predictably, she asked the inevitable.
"...Can you take me to them? I need to speak with them, urgently." Raynare requested, trying to be polite as she slowly moved to get out of the couch she was laying on.
"...Yuki-san, those two...they're both carrying powerful weapons. I can feel it. So much so that my skin is practically tingling just by being next to them." Maria whispered to the hero, as she shot a quick glance at the two women that they were taking to Kuoh Academy.
The young human female raised an interested eyebrow, her wariness of the newcomers growing by the second. "What kind of weapons?"
The succubus spared one more look at the two teenaged girls, nervous. "...Holy weapons. Powerful ones at that."
Yuki's yellow eyes narrowed, her focus sliding towards the two human girls, unable to see the weapon that the woman known as Shidou Irina was carrying.
But she could see that her friend; Quarta Xenovia, was carrying...something.
The girl with blue hair had a wrapped up item that almost looked like a cross on her back, completely hidden from view, but patently obvious.
She was almost embarrassed that she didn't focus on it before.
...But if Maria-san was right, that these people were holding holy weapons, and they wanted to go to Kuoh Academy where the devils just so happened to go to...
Well, that was quite the coincidence, wasn't it?
Naruto suddenly locked up, feeling his body naturally react to what it perceived to be a threat, his instincts taking over before his head could truly grasp the situation.
The shinobi jumped into the air, backing up as someone appeared in front of him, cutting him off from his trek back home.
At first, it just a ripple in the air in front of him, barely visible, but still there.
But then that ripple opened into some kind of portal, one that made his eyes widen to the size of saucers.
It looked just like-!
"...Found you."
A monotone voice echoed in the rocky area that he has stopped at, coming from the small figure that was -without a doubt- making his sense of danger go haywire.
To be specific, it originated from a small girl, with soulless eyes, which just so happened to be trained on him, and nothing else.
Naruto licked his dry lips, keeping his legs bent in order to accommodate for quick action lest this get ugly. "So...nice portal ya got there."
Damn, that was a stupid way to start a conversation, even for him.
And it seemed that the little girl agreed with him, since she completely ignored that forced greeting.
Instead, she just voiced out what her intent was.
"...Naruto..." the small girl started, her voice droning. "I've come to take you."
It wasn't a query.
It wasn't a suggestion.
Rather, it was framed as a matter of fact.
Needless to say, Naruto didn't like that one bit.
AN: And that's your preview for next chapter, if it's not a recap anyway. Sorry for the long dump, it was necessary since I didn't want to tell you all last minute.
Hopefully the next chapter will be done soon! :3
P.S. I didn't re-read this, so hopefully not too many grammar mistakes here.
-RekkingPride