Reunion Between Two Old Friends
Everyone sat down in a private room with tea placed on the table for them.
"You can talk here. And Makky, I expect you to pay for the repairs to my restaurant." Yajima sat down beside his friend. He had to close the restaurant for now and made sure no one could interrupt them. Makarov could only sigh and nod in response. "And Erza, I don't know why you are angry with him, but you need to calm down." Yajima basically scolded Erza, who sent a small glare at Naruto briefly before calming herself down.
"Now, I need you to answer my questions. Of course, I'll answer yours after your answered mine. First of all, what is your connection with Minato Namikaze?" Makarov asked the blonde, who was surprised to hear his father's name.
"How do you know my old man?" Naruto replied, or rather questioned.
"Minato was someone I considered as a son. Of course, our paths diverged a long time ago and I have not seen in him two decades." Makarov told Naruto, though Naruto could tell he was still upset about what transpired between them.
"Well, this is awkward, but my dad never mentioned you." Naruto told him honestly. "Wait…Your last name is Dreyar? Are you related to Laxus!?" Naruto did not realise that Makarov is Laxus' grandfather.
"He is my grandson." Makarov simply said. Of course, Laxus was devastated that his father was kicked out of the guild and currently did not have the best relationship with his grandfather, but despite the strain, Laxus still cared for his grandfather the guild itself.
"Oh! That's right, he mentioned you when I met him. He wasn't kidding, you're a small thing." Naruto patted Makarov's head which only annoyed the old man, but this angered Erza.
"Hey! Show Master some respect!" Erza was about to grab Naruto's arm, but Makarov motioned her not to and then slapped Naruto's hand away.
"I do not like that, please do not do it again. I'm not a pet." Makarov sounded like he was scolding a child. To be fair, Naruto was still a child to him, especially in age and in maturity.
"My bad." Naruto simply stated and sat back down, in a more relaxed position, his right leg over his left leg. "Back to the point, what exactly is the point in interrogating me? I just wanted to ask about Wendy and Laxus."
"You don't deserve to say her name!" Erza exclaimed but a glare sent by Makarov stopped made her go silent.
"What do you mean by that?" Naruto was genuinely confused but also angry. "And the hell are you to tell me what to do?" Naruto stood back up and returned the glare.
"I'm the one who considers Wendy like a little sister. And the person who hates you for abandoning her!" Erza let her true feelings be known and her words shocked Naruto. Naruto then looked down.
"I didn't abandon her. I wanted to bring her with me, but she was safer with Fairy Tail than me. Especially since I joined a Dark Guild." Naruto told her honestly, which surprised Erza.
"Wait? Is that why you left Wendy?" Erza questioned carefully, understanding that being part of a Dark Guild was not ideal and that the authorities would not like it.
"I was a stupid kid, but at that point I needed to be in that guild to find a certain someone. But it doesn't matter anymore, I plan on seeing Wendy and Laxus, then if they don't want to see me anymore, I'll understand." Naruto told her honestly. Erza now looked down, feeling a little ashamed of antagonizing Naruto, but she also wanted to reassure him that Wendy and Laxus would not hold it against him.
"You my boy are an idiot." Makarov sighed at the boy's attitude. Naruto was indignant and wanted to reply but Makarov but his hand up. "Of course they want to see you. Just as you missed them, they missed you. Laxus already knows you are in a Dark Guild and still wants the best for you."
"Wait? He knows? Does that mean Wendy knows too?" Naruto was afraid of the answer, he did not know why but he would rather she find out from him than from someone else.
"No, she doesn't. Only Laxus, Gildarts and I know from our guild. Well technically Erza does too now, but no one else from Fairy Tail. Yajima, who is a part of the Magic Council and a few select others know. Some of them are even fellow Wizard Saints like me." Makarov took a sip of his tea.
"Wizard Saints? Grandpa Hiruzen used to be one." Naruto had an image of Hiruzen appear in his mind.
"Ah yes, he is one of the people looking for you. Glad you mentioned him, said his was going to hit you over the head with his smoke pipe when he finds you." Makarov then chuckled, but Naruto looked a little nervous.
'Uh oh. I should have left him a letter at least, but would have I written? "Hey Gramps. I'm off to join a guild a random old man asked me to so I can find my dad's killer. Bye-bye." He's going to make me bleed.' Naruto imagined angry Hiruzen. He shook his head to return to the original topic. "I will tell you everything I know about Grimoire Heart and in exchange, I'm pardoned for any crimes I committed when I was a part of them." He looked at Yajima specifically. "What do you say, council man? I already collected the bounties on several rogue wizards, and no one knows that I was ever a part of Grimoire Heart."
"I don't know. That may be a big ask, but I could pull some strings. That depends on the information you provide. Names and how long you have been affiliated in that guild for, considering you also mentioned you were a part of Grimoire Heart, then I assume that means you left them?" Yajima believed that he heard Naruto's words correctly, stating that he was a part of Grimoire Heart, as in the past tense.
"Well, if you call betraying me and leaving me for dead….Then yeah, I left them." Naruto told them, crushing his teacup. "Sorry about the cup, I'll replace it later." Naruto looked at Yajima who only sighed and waved him off.
"Well, I guess that means we cannot ask you for their location then. How long has it been since you've seen them?" Yajima asked the former dark wizard, who was now stern.
"Two years. But I'll find them and then make them suffer." Naruto had dark thoughts which worried Makarov and Yajima, but he controlled his rage. "But I'll give you more info first. Grimoire Heart was still growing and managed to recruit at least a hundred people before I was betrayed. Their most powerful wizards are in a group called the Seven Kin of Purgatory. Of course, there are other wizards who aren't a part of that group who are just as strong, if not stronger. Bluenote Stinger and the Guild Master himself is a monster." Once Naruto mentioned Bluenote Stinger, Yajima felt frightened, even Makarov did not expect to hear that name.
"Y-You have a monster like that in your guild!" Yajima exclaimed before realising his words. "My apologies, former guild." Yajima corrected himself.
"This Bluenote Stinger, I only heard mention of his name, but I cannot remember from where?" Erza interjected briefly.
"He was a former military member of the Gohra Army where he wiped out the Blue Dragon Regiment by himself during the Cabria War." Makarov was sweating a little.
"I remember now! He is said to be a powerful wizard that went rogue and someone who leaves a path of destruction." Erza was a little disturbed that they had someone that powerful amongst their ranks.
"Yep. But compared that bastard Hades, he's nothing. And they have Orochimaru too." Now everyone was disturbed by that.
"O-Orochimaru! But Kakashi already killed him!" Yajima did not expect to hear that Orochimaru is alive.
"Don't know who Kakashi is but Orochimaru is still kicking. That guy always gave me the creeps." Naruto shivered and recalled how Orochimaru used to lick his lips with that snake-like tongue.
"Okay, what about those seven guys then?" Makarov put Orochimaru's involvement to the side.
"Well, first you have Zancrow, who uses a type of Fire Magic known as Fire God Slayer Magic. He's one of the few whose magic I know about. He's the craziest out of all of them and he will attack without mercy." Naruto mentioning Zancrow's magic made them all curious, especially Erza.
"Fire God Slayer Magic? Is it like Fire Dragon Slayer Magic?" Erza questioned, thinking about how to counteract Zancrow, who may be a potential opponent for her in the future.
"Not sure, all I know is that he can eat fire and his flames are black. Then there's Rustyrose, he can summon creatures and weapons, Kain who is physically strong, but he also has this weird doll." He began recalling each of their abilities, but in truth he only knew most of their magics based on what he witnessed of them and what they told him, so he lacked any contingencies to use against them for now. "There was Capricorn, who was actually possessed by a man but he's free now."
"Wait, wait. Capricorn, as in the Celestial Spirit?" Makarov was knowledgeable in Celestial Spirit Magic, even having a conversation with one of their newest recruits, Lucy, since she utilised Celestial Spirit Magic.
"Yeah, well we always called him Capricorn but the guy who possessed him tried himself Caprico, which was stupid and obvious. Anyway, he filled me in on a few details after I escaped." Naruto took out a golden key with a symbol on it. "Now, Azuma, that guy is a monster. He can manipulate trees and create explosions. He's one of the strongest members of the guild and the last time we fought, I lost."
"Sounds like you're confident in your abilities but I recall a similar type of magic." Makarov replied and had the image of a silhouetted man with long who created a giant tree, battling another long-haired man who breathed out flames.
"Well, I do train like crazy. But like I said, Azuma is one of the strongest. Anyways, next we have Meredy, she's just a kid but she can create these type of energy swords and has another ability, able to make people feel another person's pain. Sort of like an Organic Link Magic. Her adoptive mother told me about her magic, so be careful if you ever meet her." Naruto's face then turned sour after mentioning Meredy's adoptive mother.
"You seem to be upset about Meredy or is it Meredy's adoptive mother?" Yajima felt that there was more to the story and voiced his concerns.
"Well, Meredy is the youngest and is grateful to Ultear for taking her in. In fact, she is obsessed with Ultear." When Naruto mentioned Ultear, Yajima's face turned pale.
'Ultear. Is this the same Ultear who has joined the council? There's minimal chance for anyone else to have the same name as hers. I must make sure.' Yajima gave a fake cough and spoke. "Do you happen to know any of their last names?" Yajima asked, pretending to ask for all of their last names but only wanting Ultear's last name.
"I mean, most of them don't really have last names from what I am aware of. But Ultear does. Her last name is Milkovich and she's the leader of the Seven Kin of Purgatory." Naruto told them, with Yajima being shocked to the core.
"And what is her magic?" Yajima calmed himself, he needed more information and inform Hiruzen afterwards.
"She can manipulate the time of objects, but she can also use other forms of magic, like Ice Magic. I was….close to her." Naruto whispered the last part but loud enough for the others to hear. He sounded angry, well angrier than before.
"I see, she betrayed you too. Was she your lover?" Erza asked him, making Naruto's jaw hit the floor. Makarov laughed at Naruto's expression.
"What!? No! I consider her like an older sister. She was the person I was closest to in that guild." Naruto regained his seriousness. "But back to their abilities, while I know their names and what they can do, I don't know their weaknesses. And you can be damn sure that they are way stronger than the last time I met them." 'Plus, I can't use my Crimson Darkness anymore, which could've given me the edge over some of them.'
"Well, I believe we should end this. I'm sure you want to see a certain blue-haired girl. Now Erza, don't antagonise poor Naruto here." Makarov decided to end this interrogation, with Yajima agreeing.
"I agree. I have a lot of work to do. I will inform Hiruzen of your arrival, so you better find a place to stay and not skip town." Yajima warned Naruto, who was looking forward to seeing Hiruzen again but not looking forward to a scolding. Erza then got up and placed her right on his left shoulder.
"I still do not trust you, but I will agree with Master's decision. You have given us some useful information, but if you're a spy…." She got into his face. "I will cut you down."
"I like to see you try." Naruto gave a smirk, but both were slapped by a giant hand.
"That's enough of fighting!" 'Kid acts a bit like Laxus at time. That's freaking scary.' Makarov thought to himself. "Enough! Erza, you head home. I'm taking this blonde idiot the guild with me and don't argue!" Makarov saw the look of indignation on Erza's face but gave her a stern look, as if scolding a child.
"As you wish, Master." Erza gave Naruto one last glare, thought the blonde was happy to know that he will see his old friend again.
(Unknown Location)
"What's the password?" A man said behind a door, sliding open a slot which allowed him to see the hooded figure in front of him.
"Chimichanga." The hooded figure answered in a deep voice. The guard behind the door closed the slot and then opened the door for the hooded figure.
"Come on in. Don't cause any trouble and avoid Orochimaru." The guard was scared when he mentioned Orochimaru's name. The hooded figure simply nodded and looked around, before spotting Orochimaru at the top floor. He made his ways towards him and looked around to see that the tavern was full of rough-looking people.
"Orochimaru. You're actually still alive, colour me surprised." The hooded figure removed his hood to reveal none other than Jiraiya. "And here I thought that Kakashi did you in."
"Let's just say that I feel like a new person." Orochimaru had his creepy smile, but he seemed out of it from what Jiraiya saw.
"I doubt it. But you called me here, so that means you need something." Jiraiya has no patience for Orochimaru and with good reason.
"I need your help in taking down Hades." Orochimaru got straight to the point, though if it surprised Jiraiya, the latter did not show it.
"And? I already fought him and lost. Even if we fought together, there's no guarantee." Jiraiya told him, even though he was confident in his own abilities, facing Hades changed him.
"That's why I have a plan. I am a part of Grimoire Heart, so I know a few things that you don't." Orochimaru then put his left hand up, with a waiter nervously approaching them. "One Cobra Ale and a Fire Mountain Whiskey please. You still like those, do you not Jiraiya?"
"Yeah, surprised that you remember." Jiraiya replied in a plain tone. Orochimaru then shooed the waiter away, who went to get their drinks before talking back to Jiraiya.
"It's not every day you see your former best friend strip naked and try to kiss your other former friend." Now Jiraiya's eyes widened to comical proportions after Orochimaru said this.
"I-I don't remember that! And anyways, we're here to talk about something else." Jiraiya sounded embarrassed and changed the subject. "Tell me one thing and then I'll consider teaming up with you. Where is Naruto?" Jiraiya said in a tone that would make most fearful of him.
"Unfortunately, he is no longer a part of Grimoire Heart and I have no idea where he is." Orochimaru is omitting the fact that he helped enable Hades in betraying Naruto.
"I see." Jiraiya got up. "Then we have nothing to talk about. Have the drink, but I'll be leaving." Jiraiya was prevented from getting up by feminine hand, making him look up to see Tsunade wearing a similar cloak to his own.
"Stay seated Jiraiya. Let's hear him out, then we can leave." Tsunade sat down next to Jiraiya and glared at the current Grimoire Heart. "I'll have Sake, two bottles and you're paying."
"Of course, my old friends." Orochimaru felt something off with Jiraiya, but he remained confident. "Now, let's talk about two members of the Magic Council."
(In Fairy Tail, a few hours later)
"Thanks for helping Wendy. I really appreciate it." Said a beautiful white-haired woman. This is Mirajane Strauss, the top cover model for Weekly Sorcerer's Magazine, barmaid and former S-Class wizard of Fairy Tail. Though she is known more affectionately as Mira. It was already nighttime, and everyone left apart from Wendy and Mira, both were cleaning up the mess afterwards.
"It's not a problem Mira. I like helping you, but I wish that everyone wouldn't cause you trouble. Especially Natsu." Wendy replied with a nervous smile.
"My. Singling out Natsu like that. You don't have a thing for him, do you?" Mira giggled at Wendy's flustered expression.
"N-No! Nothing like that. I think of Natsu like a brother and I….." Wendy was stopped by Mira by winking at her and the older girl placed her finger on her lips.
"I'm just kidding. I know how you care about him as if he is your older brother. I honestly think he may have a thing for Lucy." Mira then mischievously thought about setting Wendy up with someone from the guild for a joke. "So, is there anyone you like? I know a few single guys in the guild."
"N-No thank you! I already have someone I like!" Wendy revealed her secret, only realising a few seconds later before covering her mouth.
"Really? And who is this person?" Mira was now in Wendy's face, excited to know that Wendy had a crush on someone and wanted to know who. Suddenly, they heard keys and the door being unlocked. "Oh, that must be Master. He's little late though." She briefly looked at the doors and then back at Wendy. "This isn't over yet because I will find out the name of the person you like."
'That was close. I love Mira, but that was too much.' Wendy sighed out in relief. She and Mira turned around and bowed, greeting their Guild Master.
"I knew that you would still be here Mira. I didn't expect you to be here though, Wendy. But it's good timing. I thought that we were going to be late and was planning on reintroducing you to an old friend tomorrow." Makarov gave a small smile.
"You want me to meet an old friend of yours? I'm sure your friend is a nice person, but why me Master?" Wendy questioned, confused at what Makarov is saying.
"I didn't say it was my old friend, just an old friend. Yours to be exact." Makarov's smiled widened, but Wendy was further confused.
"But the only friend I had before joining Fairy Tail wa….." She finally realised who Makarov meant.
"Hey old man! I got all the ingredients!" Naruto entered, holding a few bags with cooking ingredients in them. "You haven't lived until you tried my ste….." Naruto stopped talking as soon as he saw Wendy. "W-Wendy!" Naruto stuttered, something he usually does not do.
"N-Naruto!" Wendy slowly walked towards him, sniffling and ready to cry. Before Naruto could react, Wendy jumped and hugged him, making him drop his grocery bags. Wendy was openly crying into his chest. "Y-You actually came!" She tried to stop the tears, wiping them from her eyes and looked up and the blonde.
'Is this the guy she likes!?' Mira was giddy and then took a good look at Naruto. 'He's cute.'
End. Sorry, for the massive delay, work got in the way again and it was difficult to write a follow up, but I think I did okay.
Now, whilst Naruto revealed his former guild mate's powers, that does not mean the information will help against them, skill and power are a factor. Naruto only gave the most basic information and from what he observed. He never really asked about the names of their magic, he does know Ultear's Arc of Time name, but he told them the property of the magic which is more important than the name. Now, will this information be useful to the Magic Council forces? Maybe, maybe not, they have no idea how to counter their abilities because they don't know the full extent of them.
I will write up two more chapter for this story at least before writing more for Fairy Tail: Bonds.