Heh heh. Happy to get chapter 15 done as fast as I did and now posting this chapter. I am also about to post a new version of The Magic Fletcher as an experiment on both A03 and FFNet... As well as have a lighter tone story going to help balance out the dark with this story and Wayward, Baneful Souls. I thankfully have a lot of chapters for it as it was a prototype story for The Magic Fletcher and I just had to do some editing to make them ready for posting. However, my main focus is Rising of the Shield Ninja right now, so posts for this other story will be slow outside the first posting. I plan to release five chapters with the first two being similar to the original The Magic Fletcher. For now, still working out the new title, but once I figure that out I will post it. For now, let's get to the main show! I hope you all enjoy reading this chapter!

"What is this meeting about?" Gaara-sensei asked as all the ninja gathered in the Old Man's tent. "We aren't Konoha ninja. We only got dragged into this by taking a shortcut through Fire Country."

Gaara and his teammates stayed close to their sensei. Itachi and Kisame were thankfully far away from Sasuke and Zabuza, but the latter kept glaring the two former down. Hinata was beside Neji, both their eyes a bit bloodshot with the cremations of their clan members finished. Add in the glares from a lot of the ninja at me and I say this is one proper ninja meeting as I had both Ren and Itsuki with me.

'"We are curious of the ninja from your world."' They said and I let them in on the meeting. Partly hoped that they break free of their hero delusions with a dose of reality from my world.

"Naruto found a problem due to this world's… workings." The Old Man sighed out smoke from his pipe. "A problem we need to fix."

"What did that liar fox find?" A Jonin huffed with heat.

"This world has a unique magic called Status Magic," I spoke up, unphased by the increasing heat and cold in people's eyes. "It seems our world once had it as well, but with it you can see your abilities in the form of numbers. And there's a limit to how strong you can get in this world before you need to 'Class-Up'. I already found Zabuza, Tsunade-sensei, and the Old Man Hokage has hit the level cap. I need you all to focus right about here in the corner of your vision." I motioned where my closed-up status was at.

I fought not to laugh as slowly everyone discovered their status. Especially with seeing the Old Man go crossed-eyed at finding his status.

"Now. If you have a star next to Lv, which is your level, you are at the level cap. We will need to get you a Class-up to be able to allow yourself to easily get stronger due to the threats of the Waves. I will be paying for it."

"Huh? Why?" Itsuki looked at me oddly. "Our parties got theirs for free."

"But not all these people are in my party." I rolled my eyes at the two heroes. "Plus, the Three Heroes Church controls the Dragon's Hourglass. Guess which heroes they don't worship?"

"That's not right," Ren growled before snapping his fingers. "If they won't let your teammates and others get class-up, then Itsuki and I can put pressure on them to get the Class Up."

"Thanks… But I would rather not start a civil war." I groaned while nursing my forehead.

"Why not go to another country?"

"Again, trying not to start a war." I shook my head at the duo's confused expressions. "It was in the book. I rather avoid that route, so I'm trying a different approach."

"Oh! Like a redo!" I really wanted to whack these two across the heads. "But it's still unfair. Why is your storyline so complex?"

"Maybe because you two never explored your options in the game?" That seemed enough to get the duo to understand in a roundabout way. "Think of it this way. If you keep on the same track, it may not happen the same due to me going against my… storyline."

"Hence the lost battle against a hidden boss." Yeah. Go with that.

"Sorry about the tangent." I sweated at the frustration on everyone's faces. "But I need to know who has a star to make a list." I opened one of my seal books for our various funds. That way I could guess the price the priests and priestesses would charge and put aside an amount of gold and silver coins for it.

Itachi held up his hand along with Kisame. Got Zabuza, but I was surprised Kabuto and Shizune meekly raised their hands. Jiraiya, Gaara's sensei, Gaara, Kakashi, otter-masked ANBU, Gai, Hinata's sensei, Ino's sensei, and a few Chunin and Jonin I didn't have names for… About twenty in total.

"Add in Iruka-sensei and my team… That's twenty-five people… So, if I am to guess how much the Church will try to charge… Probably a gold coin each…" I flinched as I unsealed our bag of gold coins…. Damn. Only twenty gold pieces. I unsealed several bags of silver, each holding a hundred coins. "Good. We got enough." And a little extra. I might need that at the Pharmacist Guild for Tsunade-sensei and other medic-nin. "Who are all medic-nin?"

Tsunade, Shizune, and Kabuto… Uh-oh.

"There are only three?" I felt my stomach drop. "What about the civilians? Did any medicine specialists end up here with us?"

"Not even students." A Chunin reported. "They either died or…"

"Escaped elsewhere," I added for the pale man. The problem was silently understood by all the ninja.

"Why are you asking, F-Uzumaki." The sunglass-wearing Jonin asked while adjusting his sunglasses.

"The King knows I work with medicines." I sighed. "Hence cracking down on medicine makers to try and remove my income source. Thankfully for me, Doc-sensei already registered me to the Pharmacist Guild. However, it is best to get Tsunade-sensei, Shizune, and Kabuto registered as well to avoid issues."

"An issue you caused." A Chunin snipped at me. "Why are you helping missing-nin, too?"

"... No. I did not start this." I spoke coldly back at the shocked Chunin. "And do not pull my or other's status into this. I already know I have no right to order you all around. However, at the same time, you all don't have the right to keep dissing me because of my status. I'm no longer the Fox. I am Uzumaki Naruto, Shield Hero and medic-nin. I've been through enough bullshit because of this stupid country we are in now. All because the people in charge are shitheads. I understand a lot of you lost a lot due to that night. I only now understand a fraction of your loss with losing one of my… dear friends who I saw as a brother to me."

"Shut it, Fox! That-"

"No! You need to understand the dangers this world is in! We need every possible ounce of strength just to survive! Think about it, if I, the Nine-Tailed Fox, is telling you something that may save your life and you keep ignoring it because of who I am, you'll end up de-"

"Enough!" I was even shocked by the Old Man's outburst. "It seems I made a great mistake that I need to make right by seeing how far it has twisted the truth."

"Lord Hokage, you are-"

"Uzumaki Naruto is the child of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina, the latter being the host of the Nine-Tailed Fox before someone broke it free during the weakness in the seal during childbirth." Almost every Konoha ninja went pale. "Naruto was used to seal the Fox as only an Uzumaki's chakra can handle containing the fox… A job handled by the First Hokage's wife, Uzumaki Mito before Kushina took over the role at Mito's deathbed."

"My grandmother was a human sacrifice?" Tsunade-sensei gasped out in shock. "Why didn't-"

"It has been a village secret kept to only the Hokage, elders, and the Uzumaki involved. Which ended up turning out to be a grave mistake for Naruto. He was just born at the wrong time and place. Yet, I will not allow you all to keep treating Naruto as the Fox, including Naruto himself. He is Konoha's last Uzumaki and son of the Fourth Hokage and should be treated with more respect." The Old Man then looked at Itachi. "The same to you, Itachi-kun. Because of my inaction, you were forced into the position you are currently in."

"What the hell," Sasuke roared out. "What do you mean-He murdered the Uchiha-"

"Because of our distrust of the Uchiha due to the Sharingan's ability to control tailed beasts, the outcast Uchiha clan planned a coup." Sasuke bit his lips as the Old Man continued. "I tried to keep the peace between the Uchiha and the village… But an elder went behind my back and ordered Itachi to wipe out the clan."

"I did not murder all the Uchiha clan." Okay. What the hell? "I had help from… Uchiha Madara. I made a deal with him to spare the village if I helped him take vengeance on the clan. He likely is the one who controlled the Nine-Tailed Fox to attack twelve years ago."

"So… You're a double agent?" Kisame said with a frown and a hand on his huge sword thing.

"In a way. Not that I can do much against the real leader of the Akatsuki." Itachi sighed. "However, I think the Hokage is trying to make a point clear. We are no longer in our world and can't rely on past secrets without clearing the skeletons from the closet."

"So, your loyalty is-"

"To Konoha and my brother Sasuke." Sasuke looked at Itachi in shock. "I only agreed to Danzo's assignment as it allowed me to spare my little brother. Not that it kept me from ratting him out to Lord Hokage after the deed was done."

"And hence dismissed him from my council of elders." The Old Man sighed. "But chances are Danzo clawing his way to the title of Hokage is strong and I don't know what he might pull with this situation."

"Wait… Maybe we can." I changed my shield to Crystal Orb Shield. "I can scry like you, Old Man. It's how I knew I was marked as missing-nin."

"Focus on the Konoha Council. You remember them." I nodded and focused my chakra on the crystal ball. "Crystal Ball Jutsu!" I made sure to project the image out like a movie projector. Aunt taught me that during our trip to the crystal cave.

"So, you know nothing of this spirited away incident?" Oh! It's the Fire Daimyo! He was with the Konoha Council, some other Fire Country officials, and some bandaged-up guy. I recognized the bandaged guy as the creepy guy who walked the Hokage's Tower with the other two elders.

"Sadly, no. We lost the Third Hokage and a good deal of our forces to the spiriting away incident." The bandaged guy, I guess Danzo, spoke up. "Our investigations have only come up that the method used to do it left behind lightning and scorched marks in its place. I believe several of the fire incidents that happened across the country may also be connected, but all evidence is gone. The lack of chakra in the area makes it clear something absorbed the chakra along with spiriting away people."

"We know some are likely dead as the Hyuuga informed us of activating the Caged Bird Seals on the Branch members who disappear," Koharu spoke up. "Though cruel, the amount of missing Hyuuga was too much of a risk and I sadly agree with their call. The last Uchiha and several clan heirs also disappeared."

"Is your hidden village strong enough?" The Fire Daimyo fanned himself. "Thankfully, much of our military and navy was spared. However, we lost a lot of farmers and such. From what my advisors told me, we can't waste our resources with this setback."

"We still have a sizable force." Homura sighed. "We are revamping the training of Genin to prepare for any foreign invaders trying to use this situation to take down Konoha. We are also thinking of training our youths in the academy more than before just in case."

"Though, what about the Hokage?" The Fire Daimyo snapped his fan closed. "I like that Jiraiya fellow and heard much about a Kakashi fellow from my advisors."

"Both are confirmed MIA with other missing ninja." Koharu huffed. "Sadly, the clans of Konoha are on edge due to the amount of missing people in the village their leaders agreed none of them should become Hokage to prevent a power shift."

"Instead, I offered myself to become Hokage," Danzo said with a stern expression. "At least till we can figure out what happened to the Third Hokage and others missing or find a better replacement."

"You don't look that strong." An advisor spoke up. "You look half way in the grave."

"I am still a strong shinobi. However, I also have more experience when it comes to wars and battles than younger ninja who haven't faced such threats." Danzo frowned at the Fire Daimyo's fan tapping the table. "Is there something wrong, Daimyo-Sama?"

"It sounds more like you are ready for war." The Fire Daimyo sighed.

"No. We are preparing for the possible outcome of this incident." Danzo smirked, "As long as Konohagakure keeps up our strength, we can avoid unnecessary deaths through unexpected conflicts with other forces."

"Then you won't mind if we take some funds set aside for Konoha to assist in our incoming food situation?" One of the advisors asked. "We can't go without food, including you ninja."

"Could we instead use the mission system to have ninja assist in the food supply? Jutsu can be used to-"

The sound of the door slammed open to the meeting room. A mail-nin rushed into the image.

"Dai-Daimyo-sama!" The mail-nin rushed over to the Fire Daimyo. "Urgent news!" He held out multiple scrolls to the Fire Daimyo's servant next to him. The servant looked at the scrolls and paled with each one he read.

"What is it?" The Fire Daimyo asked with an annoyed huff.

"It seems the Land of Fire wasn't the only one hit by the spiriting away incident." That shocked everyone in the room. "More around the land of Kusagakure, but a worrying note from several hidden villages."

"What worries do you mean?" Danzo demanded.

"It seems that not only have several shinobi and kunoichi disappeared… It seems also that several human sacrifices disappeared from their villages."

"What of Konoha's human sacrifice?" The Fire Daimyo narrowed his eyes at the Konoha Council and Danzo.

"Sadly, Uzumaki Naruto defected from Konoha roughly three months ago." Danzo shook his head with a click of his tongue. "Hiruzen tried to keep it quiet, but we have gotten nowhere in locating where he had disappeared with another traitor. Hence I put all the ANBU on high alert and raised his missing-nin rank to S due to the potential danger he is to Konohagakure and the Land of Fire… Upping his rank might be a good thing."

"Why is that?"

"There has been a new organization of missing-nin you might have heard of." Danzo smiled. "They call themselves the Akatsuki. I have a sinking suspicion Uzumaki Naruto has either joined or been captured by this organization."

"And you assume the missing human sacrifices are due to them?"

"Possibly. Hence why I am planning to investigate this Akatsuki to see what they are after. Especially if it involves human sacrifices."

"Ok… You will still need the Jonin to agree, but I will appoint you as Hokage. Especially now that there are living weapons of great power missing including the Nine-Tailed Fox's hum-."

I dropped the signal and collapsed to my knees. It felt like something was twisting my stomach into a literal knot. I faintly heard voices before I found myself before a large set of bars. I noticed the lock had a tag on it, but the lock underneath looked like a shield merged with it.

"This chakra that summons me… I recognized it." I forced my eyes open to see Father snarling behind the bars. "How did that Uchiha bastard get Madara's summoning contract?! That bastard has been long dead!"

Damn. Father's actually pretty huge.

"W-What do you mean, Father?" I asked, fighting not to puke from the pain.

"Listen carefully, Kit." Father lowered his muzzle to the…ick. There was water all over the floor. "The Madara who was mentioned is a fake, but don't tell those stinking apes that Uchiha is such."

"A fake?"

"Yeah. He unleashed me from your mother's seal and took control of me with his Sharingan." I bit my lip.

"So, he… murdered my parents?"

"No. I did." I went wide-eyed at Father. "Damn duo protected you from my claws when I tried to kill you when they tried sealing me into you…I'm not sorry about it."

"No… Thank you for your honesty." I laughed out loud. "No point in worrying about the past. I can't change it, so there's no point in caring about it."

"Still, be wary. That Uchiha Madara may be a fake, but he is still very dangerous. The fact he just tried summoning me makes it known you are still alive and me kicking in your cell."

"Right." I closed my eyes and opened them to people crowding around me. "Someone tried to summon Ku-the Nine-Tailed Fox. He could sense it." I croaked. Ow. My throat throbbed… Was I screaming or something?

"It must have been Madara." I heard Itachi speak. "Kisame and I were assigned to capture the Nine-Tailed Fox and in the Land of Fire when we got spirited away to this world."

"Can we still contact the Akatsuki?" Kisame asked before he gagged, "What the?! My ring is gone!"

"You are only just noticing that." Itachi sighed. "If my hypothesis is right… The rings were what helped bring that clone of the Ten-Tails to life as I don't think the Demonic Statue of the Other Path was taken from the Akatsuki."

"You got that much from so little?" Kisame scoffed. "How did you figure out what the statue was?"

"It was not hard due to the secrets the Uchiha clan has that only those who unlock the Mangekyo Sharingan can see. As well as I know someone tampered with it, so I know some parts are lies."

Kisame whistled, "I'm gonna take a guess… Madara?"

"Maybe, no clue."

"So this Madara I assume is the real leader of the Akatsuki?" The Old Man looked at the duo.

"Yeah. Pein runs the organization in the light while Madara leads in the shadows." Itachi sighed, "Both are very powerful and should not be underestimated." Itachi warned.

"Hey, if you-"

"Kisame, we are currently in another world. We may never return to our world." Itachi shrugged at the shark man. "We can't help the Akatsuki here. We have to decide on our fate. For me, I will do everything in my power to make sure my little brother and the Konoha ninja that landed here survive."

"Heh. Ain't that the truth." Kisame laughed. "Though you might not be able to help."

"Possibly, but I won't know til I try."

"So… Uzumaki, what do you mean 'he' sensed being summoned" The sunglasses-wearing Jonin asked with a stern frown.

"Heh… I was trying to keep it simple by saying I was the Fox." I confessed. "F-Kurama had corrected me… While also helping me try to figure out why I aged based on my levels like a demi-human. If I die, he dies, so we work together even with Tate-chan limiting what Kurama can do."

"So… You are the seal, not the Fox?" A Chunin asked while being pale."Like a sealing scroll holding an item."

"Yeah. Don't worry about the seal, though. Tate-chan strengthened it." Or, at least, I think so from what I think I saw was the seal. "But I am not asking for you for forgiveness for the mistakes and such. I kind of fanned the flames of your hatred from my innocent actions. So instead, all I ask is that we start anew to help each other survive in this world." And, if I suspect that this world is too late to save, I will find a way to evacuate as many people as possible back to my world.

"...Hm?" I felt the blood drain from my face. Everyone was giving me strange expressions I couldn't read. Did I say something wrong? Sure, I was not asking for forgiveness, but I still hate the villagers and these people's guts for making my childhood so miserable!

I am trying to be professional here! As well as not let the past keep fucking me over!

"Ah, Sir Shield Hero, are you in here?" Ah! Saved by Aunt! I turned to the magic shop owner and she beamed at seeing me. "Ah, good! I was wondering if you could show me that alchemy of yours! That old man from the apothecary shop said you made some medicine to cure a curse!"

"Ah. Sorry, Aunt, but we are kind of in a meeting." I clapped my hands while apologizing. "Though, if you can find someone willing to sell me an old caldron, I can see if I can show you as we travel back to Castle Town soon."

"I see. Also, that merchant wanted to pass on to you that he was returning the carriages you two rented. He says he will meet you later in the Pritze domain where his company runs out of."

"That's good. We can get good supplies from there along with selling what we got merchandise-wise." I turned to the Old Man. "Sorry for the sudden tangent, but is there a way to see who all has items they wish to sell for the currency of this world?

"Sure… But why?"

"Well, I have made a name for myself as The Saint of the Heavenly Beasts due to being a traveling merchant. I want to help those who have gotten displaced by giving them the means to support themselves in this world even after I go back on my journey."

"Eeeeeh!?" Huh? Both Ren and Itsuki looked at me with shock. "You're that healer we've been hearing that has been curing the sick?!"

"Well, yeah. I'm a medic-nin, so of course my main wares as a traveling merchant is medicine." Ah, right, best help them unlock… Wait a moment. "Oh, right! We best give you some of the Ten-Tails clone… What did I unlock from that?

…

False God Tree Shield 0/100 R

Ability locked:

Equip bonus: skill "Chakra Absorb Shield Prison," chakra resistance(large), chakra attack resistance(large), HP up, MP up, Low Grade Potions Alchemy Recipes, Mid-Grade Potions Recipes, High-Grade Potions Alchemy Recipes, Special-Grade Potions Alchemy Recipes

Special Effect: Chakra Eat, HP and MP recovery(medium)

Mastery Level:0

Ether Effect: Plus Range, Effect Plus++, Heal All

"What… the fuck is this?" What was this broken shield? As well as what the heck was the Ten-Tailed Clone?! "Jiraiya! We need to go out and unseal that corpse now!"

"Eh? Why so urgent?" Jiraiya flinched as I slammed my hands on his shoulders.

"Don't question me, creep! This is the fate of this world we are talking about!" Jiraiya paled at me as if I was Father himself glaring at the man.

Who cares! Anything to increase the chances of surviving the ways was a must! Even if it is strengthening those two delusional idiots of heroes!

"Things are too quiet." I shuttered as we walked through the streets of Castle Town. Our trip back to this place was peaceful. The guards let us in with no issues outside needing to fill out paperwork for my group of ninja. Even getting to Aunt's and getting the magic thread Filo, Lial, and I produced to the weaver went without a hitch.

I even made some Monster-Warding Potions which made the trip even easier as the monsters ran away from the liquid after several failures trying to just recreate the recipes of Low-Grade Potions. It oddly used making containers with mana than using a cauldron, though it helped me focus.

"You are just being paranoid," Itsuki sighed. "Though, people are looking at us oddly."

"Uh. Maybe due to the three of us heroes being together in front of the church." Ren sighed while I used my expanded vision to check out around us. Indeed, the townspeople were sharing looks of confusion and concern.

'Thank goodness Doc made those eye drops. I guess I need to get used to these eyes as I don't know if I can make the same eye drops.' I sighed, looking up at the Church of the Three Holy Heroes. "I am surprised the King hasn't caused anything. Hopefully, it's due to him ensuring his side is in control rather than scheming something."

"So, this is where we get this class-up thing?" Gaara's sensei asked while the other Class-Up candidates looked around with uneasiness in their postures. Though…

'Why is this Gaara guy sticking close to me?' I saw Filo and Lial glaring daggers at Gaara as he kept an emotionless frown on his face. I would say he was a cool bean if not for seeing the small twitches and eye glances he was doing. Gaara and Kabuto were the only ones close to my age who needed a class up. It took a lot to convince the teams of the sensei in the group to stay behind in Lute. Thankfully, Ebisu, the sunglasses-wearing Jonin, offered to train the group with being just shy of reaching level cap. Sasuke was even harder to convince to stay, but he oddly accepted my request to look after the others while we were gone.

'That adds to the odd peacefulness.' I sighed before focusing back on the Church before us. Even the priests and priestesses didn't seem bothered by me this time as we entered the Church. It made me on edge.

"Ah, what a surprise. It is good to see you, Sword Hero Ren and Bow Hero Itsuki." A man wearing mostly white walked up. He had an odd hat that reminded me of Daimyo's hats.

"Father!" The priests and priestesses quickly slightly bowed to the man.

"What brings you to our holy space today?" The man asked.

"Naruto is here to class up his party along with several adventurers who are looking to help all of us heroes out," Itsuki spoke out with pride. "Is there a problem with that?"

"My… This is quite a crowd… Are all of them demanding a Class Up?" The man looked confused over my group.

"If I must pay for it, I will. These volunteers wish to assist in protecting the innocent from the Wave. I am hoping the King will allow his knights to do the same to keep up with the Waves."

"I see." Huh? A priestess rushed from the side of the Church into the area where the Dragon Hourglass was held. I wouldn't have caught it if my vision wasn't roughly 360 degrees right now. It seemed the man didn't notice the priestess. "I am sorry to say, but the cost of a Class-Up is 15 Gold coins."

"WHAT?!" I shouted in shock. "15! Isn't that-"

"Allow me to explain, Sir Shield Hero." The man held up his hand calmly. "Due to the waves, we have been having a higher demand of people asking for Class-Ups. However, we can't just let anyone do so. It would cause an imbalance of power if too many people get them. Especially if they are thieves and others who wish to use their newfound power for unholy things."

"Just like those bandit's Class-Up bodyguard." I groaned. I knew something was gonna come back and bite me in the ass. I just never thought it was such a roundabout way. "So… You schemed with the King to put a high cost on Class-Ups so only those who can afford sponsors and such can get it."

"Indeed. As well as keep foreigners from trying to sneak a Class-Up. Quite a few criminals from other countries have been seeking Class-Ups as well." The man then motioned to Ren and Itsuki's parties, "I can waive the cost for the heroes. But I think this is a little too much. Where did these people come-"

"From my world." The man's brows shot up from my words. "You might want to be wary of trying to send any of the heroes home early. The mini-Wave that hit was due to someone trying to return me home." Damn. Could Kakashi feel the glare I was giving him even with him at my back? He shuttered and looked away shamefully.

"I see… This is unheard of." The man said while scratching his chin. "Why are you seeking Class Ups for your people?"

"To ensure the weaker of my people can survive without my assistance," I answered honestly. I couldn't just let them die. Then I would feel like an ass. I was already mad. I didn't want to add more regret to that equation. "They have set up camp at Lute and assisting them with the recovery of that village. Some have decided to join my party, too."

"Again, I can do you party, but-"

"Father! Wait!" The priestess I saw earlier ran up with a royal scroll in her hands. "We can do it. A decree came from the King. He told us to do whatever we can to help the heroes."

"Hmm… If King Aultcray is okay with such a thing, I will allow it." The man turned to me. "However we do a discount and do it for a price of our highest Holy Water, 1 Gold Piece for those not in your party. The donation will be greatly appreciated."

"Sure." I already budgeted for that price anyway and pulled out the bags of coins from my shield's storage seal.

"Right this way, then." The man led us to the Dragon's Hourglass. The priestesses were rushing around, likely preparing for the Class-Ups. "All you need to do is stand at the base of the hourglass and the nuns shall perform the Class-Up. Thankfully, it is easy to do multiple people at one time."

"Okay." I parroted the man's directions to the ninja. " Iruka-sensei, Matthew, Raphtalia, Filo, Lial. I will be making sure you have the choice of what class you want."

"Ah, right. The crests." Iruka-sensei groaned. "Are you sure you want to-"

"Yes. It's unfair if I don't." The man raised a brow at me as the ninja and my party walked onto the pedestal that the Dragon Hourglass was held up by.

"Alright. We are performing the ritual, now!" A… nun as the man called the priestesses shouted out once everyone was on the pedestal. I could see mana begin to gather around the hourglass as the nuns poured a mana-filled liquid into grooved paths in the stone. I saw what Aunt told me was a magic circle light up at the base everyone stood on as the liquid spread out.

"The people standing here before us have chosen to relinquish their own powers in order to walk a new path!"

What? I felt my blood run cold.

"Powers of the world!"

"Stop! Everyone out of there!" I rushed forward and landed on the pedestal. I grabbed onto one of the Jonin and tried to throw him.

Huh? Both our feet stuck to the magic circle!

"Naruto!" I heard shouts and something landed behind me.

"Grant them the chance to find that path!"

Everyone glowed and I felt something pulsed inside me. Something glowing came out of my forehead right at the hairline and shot up to the red orb of the hourglass.

Fairy King's Blessing a activated.

Class Resets Confirmed.

A blinding flash engulfed us all, blinding me due to my more sensitive visions. I collapsed to my knees as I felt… so odd. My body began to shrink. It oddly came with no pain, but I felt odd… Almost energized as the light started to fade.

"What the hell was that?" I turned and my blurry vision saw Ren and Itsuki trying their best to stay up right behind me. Ren pointed his sword shakingly at the man.

"A Level Reset." The man breathed out before his face twisted with fury. "Capture the heretics who committed this evil deed!" I watched as Shadows decked in white quickly captured the nuns who did the ritual. The one nun with the scroll pushed towards the man. "Tell me, what is Lord's name have you done?!"

"The King ordered we cannot help the Shield Hero with upgrades." The scroll holder opened it to the man. I managed to see through it and saw it was indeed a declaration that banned me from Class-Ups for my party. "However, the King also states to help the other heroes. By weakening the Shield Devil's allies, doesn't that help the heroes?" She looked hurt at the reaction from the man. "Father, wouldn't you do the same?"

"No. One must be merciful to even thy enemies. How could… What the?" I stood up, blinking to try and clear the blurry vision. My clothes hung off me and I felt my chest plate and other armor pieces hit the ground while trying to move.

"Master Naruto?" I turned to Raphtalia's voice and blinked.

"Sakura?" I asked as my vision finally cleared. No… Though, Raphtalia sure looked a lot like Sakura with her hair now a pastel-like pinkish red. Her ears and tails reflected a similar pinkish hue with darker pinks… And she stood there in her ten-year-old glory. Thankfully, her dress was modified from her old ones and made it just look like it was a bit too big for her.

"Father!" A pinkish-white Filolial chick and… a feathery pastel pink baby dragon ran to my feet. Both were in tears. "What happened?!" Filo squeaked as she hopped around while wailing.

"Oh, no… Naruto?! You got your level… Wait… You are younger?" Itsuki gasped while covering his mouth.

"Of course! I'm twelve!" I growled at the idiot as I ruffled my hair. Huh? "What the hell?" I felt three strands of hair sticking out of my forehead. Long ones at that and they seemed to curl up.

"You have an ahoge?" Ren asked and I felt my eyes twitch.

What the hell was an ahoge?!

"What the?!"

"M-Master Naruto?" I looked at Matthew and was confused. A teenage boy with white hair with pink ends looked at me with utter amazement. He had rabbit-like ears and held a perfectly normal right hand… Wait…

"Matthew?!" I gasped. "Why… Everyone's a kid?" I whispered in horror as everyone managed to stand up and look at each other. Instead of a bunch of ninja at different ages… Now everyone looked to be Gaara's and my age! I could only tell who was who by the loose clothing that made them look like they were pretending to be who they were.

"Naruto… Is this a Class-up?" The Old Man… he looked so young. Almost like another person with tanned skin and dark brown hair.

"No… They performed a reset." I glared at the nun before the lead priest. "Tell me. Was this your doing or the King's?!"

"Confess now for mercy from the Lord himself." The man growled out. "For lying in front of the Lord himself is an unforgivable sin."

"It… It was my idea! I heard the Shield Hero's party needed a class up while delivering the decree to the Hourglass Nuns!" The nun pleaded. "Please! All I was doing was protecting the kingdom and people from the Shield Devil and his minions!"

"You level reset three heroes!" The man roared out. The nun looked at us and paled with pure horror on her face. "It doesn't matter who it was, you reset the levels of three of the four Holy Heroes! What you've done is a grave sin to us all! Take the heretics to the knights! I will speak with the King about your punishments!"

"No!" The white Shadows took the nuns away.

"Naruto… You have wings?" Itsuki gasped as I shifted and my back became exposed.

"Wings?" I expanded my vision and found the odd limbs on my back. "You mean the mana limbs? You can see them, too?" I moved the mana limbs to be sure I was seeing right…

Wait. I don't feel the veins around my eyes. Nor could I see anyone else's mana limbs.

"Nine wings… Is he-"

"No, remember… It might be a side effect."

Side effects on my ass! How were my mana limbs visible?! Wait… That message before. I looked to my status for an answer.

Naruto Uzumaki

Class: Fairy King Shield Hero LV 1

"What the fuck is a 'Fairy King?!'" I shouted before I looked at my stats… No, I looked at my whole party's stats!

"Naruto!" I looked at the boy that ran up to me. He had the same scar as Iruka-sensei. "Naruto! Calm down! You're hyperventilating!"

Was I? But… But, our levels said 1… But our stats were double that before the level reset! And now a younger Iruka-sensei was shouting at me, his grip on my shoulders hurting.

I don't know what came first, the shouts or the darkness when I lost all feeling in my body and collapsed to sweet darkness.