The Black Lion , the Golden fox and the Blue Raven

by Naruko Hyuga 24

The Konoha 12 are sent to the academy at Garreg Mach in a foreign student exchange program in order to build relations with the people of Fódlan. This is a crossover between Naruto and fire emblem three houses/three hopes Naruto and Hinata have a harem if you don't like than don't read

9. Red threads

Chapter 9 red threads

13 days since the shy girl squad victory

Ingrid was training alone in the arena with three practice dummies surrounding her. She visualized being surrounded by enemies and with her wooden spear, she struck the first dummy hard on the shoulder. Moving to her left, she struck at the lower legs, knocking it down, and then elbowed the third dummy. It was only a matter of seconds, but she knocked them all down with ease. It wasn't satisfying; these practice dummies didn't teach her anything, and she was frustrated.

She then heard footsteps behind her and saw that it was Hinata who noticed her agitation.

"Is something bothering you, Ingrid?" asked Hinata, concerned.

Ingrid couldn't show that she was jealous; she had to be supportive.

---

"These practice dummies just aren't doing it for me. I need a real opponent to spar with," Ingrid confessed.

"I agree. It's fine to use practice dummies to refine a technique, but when you need a real-life opponent to practice your skills with, they become useless. I wouldn't mind being your sparring partner, Ingrid San," Hinata said as she walked into the sparring ring.

They had been sparring almost every day; it was their way of communicating their feelings. Fighting against Hinata was like fighting against a mountain; the gentle fist was like no style that she had ever fought against before. It was scary in a way.

No words were shared because none were needed. Hinata got into her stance, and Ingrid got into hers. There was a minute of silence before Ingrid made her first move. She struck at Hinata's right side, and Hinata blocked with her right palm. It looked painful, but not as painful as it would have been if it were a metal lance instead.

Ingrid didn't show any signs that she was in pain. Hinata countered by hitting Ingrid at the chest, causing her to be pushed back. Hinata made her move; she was fast, even faster considering it was their day off. They were more free to use more of their strength due to not having to worry about conserving it. Ingrid dodged left and right, but Hinata was extremely quick with her strikes. The gentle fist was a difficult style to counter with hers.

She wasn't able to counter all of Hinata's blows. She had to eventually strike; if she didn't do a counter-strike, she would lose the battle. The height difference between them gave Ingrid an advantage, but that didn't do any good if she wasn't able to strike.

She did what she always had done in their sparring matches; she waited for an opening, saw one, and took full advantage of it. She struck Hinata hard on the back, but Hinata smiled as she grabbed onto her spear with her right arm and used her Eight Trigrams Air Palm, knocking Ingrid back and causing her to fall to the floor.

"She was on her back she knew she lost there was no way she could find a way to get a victory out of this one they were both sweating the sparring match didn't last long but it felt intense.

"Damn you're strong. It's difficult to keep up," Hinata lied down on her back alongside Ingrid. They both looked at the sky.

"You and Naruto are both difficult to beat. I have to train extra hard if I'm ever going to have a chance to be able to keep up with both of you," Ingrid said but then turned away. She didn't want to talk about the elephant in the room.

"I enjoy the sparring sessions Ingrid San. I feel like I've gotten to know you better. I feel like I understand why Naruto Kun feels the way he does about you. I mean..." Hinata looked like she wanted to say something.

"Do you hate me Ingrid San?" asked Hinata with a pleading look. They both had feelings for the same man. It was difficult, but she couldn't hate her. How could she?

"I don't know how I can hate you. You're kind to everyone, you treat everyone with respect. You're honorable and faithful. Why would I hate you? Those attributes are what we admire the most in my homeland," Ingrid answered.

"I'm ashamed to say this, but I was tempted to hate you at first. I know I shouldn't. Naruto Kun being happy with anyone should make me happy, but I would be lying if I said that I don't agree with that completely. Unless I know the person will treat him well, I'm not sure if I could ever bring myself to be happy with Naruto Kun being with them. I'm sorry, I..." Hinata didn't know what to say. Ingrid had no idea either. It did make her feel better knowing that Hinata was human like the rest of them.

"I think you're perfect the way you are. I don't think you have to change, Hinata. I can see why Naruto speaks as highly about you as he does. I mean, you're an amazing person. I mean, I..." Ingrid had no idea what else to say.

Ingrid couldn't show that she was jealous; she had to be supportive.

17 days since the shy girl squad victory

Naruto was in his usual training routine. A lot had happened in the past 17 days; it was hard to even consider how things were just a month ago. Hinata is his girlfriend, and Ingrid had become Hinata's friend, spending a lot of time with her in between classes. He didn't want to get in between them; he wanted to try to have them become friends before confronting the elephant in the room. How would he deal with both of them? They both liked him, and he liked both of them. He didn't want to choose, and he didn't feel like being part of their sessions would do anything but make unnecessary tension.

He heard his companion inside him get annoyed by his thoughts.

" For crying out loud, Kit, they're not going to have a cat fight over you. It would not hurt for you to join in with them. It gives the wrong message to both of your potential mates, especially Ingrid. It's not fair for her if you're going to make things work out between you. You have to spend time with both of them, not just one." Kyubi said with annoyance.

He was watching Ingrid practice her moves with her Lance and couldn't help but admire her movements every time he sparred with her. He decided to approach her rather than have his companion chastise him. Hinata was there along with Dorothea, her friend. Ingrid smiled when she saw Naruto.

"Naruto I'm sorry I didn't notice you were there." Ingrid said apologetically.

"If anything, I should apologize to you, Ingrid-chan. We haven't sparred in over two weeks. I was wondering if you would like to spar right now?" Naruto asked her. She lit up as if that was exactly what she wanted to hear, which caused his Fox companion to just smugly tell him, "I told you so."

"I warn you, Naruto. Hinata and I have been sparring for almost 2 weeks now. I'm a lot stronger than I was before. I may be too much for you." Ingrid said with a cocky smile, which caused Naruto to also smile.

"Well, if Hinata-chan is your sparring partner, then you're definitely going to get stronger, but I'm no pushover, as you well know. I won almost as many times as you have." Naruto said as he got into his stance.

"Yes, I have, but I'm a lot stronger now than I was before. Let's test it out, shall we?" Ingrid said with confidence. Naruto knew he couldn't take her lightly. Hinata was strong, and so was Ingrid. They stood there, waiting for the announcer to announce the start of their sparring match.

The professor of the Black Eagles motioned for the sparring match to begin. Naruto did not hold back, and neither did Ingrid. She struck to Naruto's left, and he blocked with his wooden shortsword. He kicked her side, which knocked her back. Naruto knew he shouldn't press the advantage, as she would keep him at a distance, which would definitely be to her advantage when it came to her weapon of choice. Though it didn't go as he expected, she used her feet to knock him down. Naruto quickly recovered, not wanting to lose quickly.

He had to think of a way to win. He heard Kyubi praise Ingrid.

" Such a strong warrior. This one is definitely a worthy choice. Beautiful and strong. Careful, Kit, or she may end up being a better fit than you for Hinata's protector." Kyubi joked.

Ingrid's strikes were quick. She attacked to his left, to his right, and then an upward strike. Naruto was cut off guard by this. She had gotten much stronger since she transferred. This was a battle that was difficult for him to keep up with. What had this professor done to bring out this strength from her? He wasn't going to lose. Kakashi had trained him a lot.

He did a hand sign for his shadow clones, which caused Ingrid to look at him as if she knew this technique. What she didn't know was that Naruto didn't create a few clones; he created 20 clones. He couldn't beat her if he fought her one-on-one as he was now, but he could distract her long enough to win. She knocked clone after clone down. As Naruto, with its other clone, helped him form his signature jitsu, which he had never used on her before. Though he used a way weaker version of it so he wouldn't hurt her, she was knocked back. Naruto offered her his hand, and she took it. She knew she lost but accepted her loss gracefully.

"I didn't know you had such a technique. How come you haven't used it until now?" Ingrid asked curiously as he lifted her up.

"I didn't think it was necessary not to mention I haven't fully mastered it yet. I can't do it without using a shadow clone, and in our sparring matches, you wouldn't give me enough time to use it anyway. Also, it's potentially really dangerous; it can be fatal. I had to use a version that's so weak that it barely did anything to you. Trust me, you do not want to be on the receiving end of my Rasengan." Naruto said as he demonstrated how his technique worked, which caused everyone in the Black Eagles to look in amazement.

"Wow, and you used a weaker version of that?" Asked Edelgard, amazed by Naruto's technique that he used.

"Yeah, well, this jutsu was invented by the Fourth Hokage. It's a powerful technique that requires precise chakra control. Some users, like Jiraiya, the man who taught me the technique, can use it with one hand. I struggle to do it with my chakra control, so I use a shadow clone to make the Rasengan faster. It's a very powerful technique that requires a lot of time and effort to control and master. There are various steps required to learn such a technique." Naruto explained, which caused Edelgard to look at him with fascination.

"Wow, that's awesome! A shame you're not in our class." said Caspar, who was impressed with Naruto's techniques.

"You would be a worthy opponent to spar with," said Petra, who was impressed by Naruto's skills.

"I must admit, you are much smarter than you appear. It's a shame you're not in our class." said his former classmate Lysithea.

"I was wondering, Ingrid Chan, if you mind if I join you and Hinata Chan for lunch today." Naruto asked nervously. Hinata smiled and nodded in approval, and Ingrid did as well.

"Of course, Naruto. You're always welcome." said Ingrid, happy with his presence. As if on cue, the bell rang, and all the students were heading to the cafeteria. Naruto, along with Ingrid and Hinata, went with him, but he didn't notice the jealous look on Dorothea's face.

This was the first time Hinata was with Ingrid and Naruto alone, with nobody else. They were at the cafeteria, and nobody was disturbing them. She thought there would be tension between her and Ingrid, but her fears were unfounded.

"Damn, Hinata-chan, Ingrid-chan, is so much stronger now, thanks to you. I'll have to train extra hard." Naruto said, happy about what had happened earlier.

"You don't give yourself enough credit, Naruto. You're strong, too." Ingrid said.

"The very fact that both of you are so strong now makes me motivated to train. If I'm unable to protect both of you, I might as well be useless, and I refuse to let that happen." Naruto said, determined to get stronger. She had been training; she knew he had. She had sparred with Naruto quite a few times, though not to the extent she sparred with Ingrid, due to her and Naruto spending their time doing other things than training.

"Did you two do this back home?" Ingrid asked curiously.

"We did sometimes, when we weren't on missions, and when my clan wasn't watching over me on everything I did or didn't do." Hinata said with bitterness when she thought about her clan.

"Hinata, you don't have to hide anything. You know it's just the three of us." Ingrid said, knowing that she had more than she wanted to say. They had sparred so many times now that there were things that Ingrid knew without her telling her.

"Those people in her clan are assholes," said Naruto, which she couldn't help but agree with.

"Well, regardless of what anyone thinks, you're the strongest woman I know, Hinata. All the times that we have sparred, I've never encountered anyone like you." Ingrid turned away, blushing. Why was she doing that? Didn't she have a thing for Naruto?

"I agree with Ingrid-chan, you're strong, Hinata-chan, just the way you are." Naruto said, smiling. He held her hand tightly, and Ingrid did the same. She felt her heart beating when she looked at Ingrid. Why was she feeling this emotion towards her? It was not possible. She decided to shove that thought deep into her mind. Right now, her main priority was focusing on her lunch with her friend and boyfriend.

She gave her boyfriend and Ingrid a portion of the meal that she had made, which was big enough for three people. This time, it was a simple rice ball; she didn't have anything else to work with. It didn't have to be anything fancy as long as she had soy sauce; it was good enough for her. Ingrid, like Naruto, savored the food that she had made.

"If you don't mind me asking, Naruto, what is the Hokage?" Ingrid asked, something that Hinata was surprised Naruto hadn't told her about, despite them being friends for almost 4 months.

"The Hokage is essentially the leader of Konoha. My aspiration to become the Hokage is for my village to acknowledge me." Naruto answered.

"But why do you need to become Hokage to be acknowledged? I don't think you have to prove anything to anyone, Naruto. I think you're fine as you are, and anyone who says otherwise has never tried to even get to know you. I don't think you owe anyone anything." Ingrid said, not understanding why Naruto desperately wants to be acknowledged. Hinata can't help but agree with her sentiment, though she would never say it out loud.

"I've been asked by Edelgard, Demetri, and Claude about why I want to be Hokage. When I first came here, at first I thought I would be able to answer them, other than just acknowledgment. I don't know what I want. Well, there is one thing I want more than anything." Naruto said, looking at Hinata and Ingrid.

"What would that be?" Hinata asked, genuinely wanting to know.

"I wish to have a family of my own. I wish for someone to greet me when I come home, something simple like that. I would like that more than anything, even more than being Hokage." Naruto said quietly, only loud enough for Hinata and Ingrid to hear.

Ingrid put her hand on his shoulder, along with Hinata. She couldn't bear to see him depressed like this. As if Ingrid could read her mind, she spoke what Hinata was thinking.

"You don't have to be strong with us. It's just the three of us." Ingrid said in understanding.

"Thank you, both of you," said Naruto, grateful that he didn't have to wear a mask, which he wears when he's around others. This was the real Naruto; she had known this about him since she was a girl. There was one thing that bothered her, though: why did the village hate him so much? What did he do to deserve such hatred? she would like to know she doesn't think it's right nor didn't do anything wrong. she would like to find out one day when Naruto is willing she would ask him but until that time she and Ingrid would enjoy each other's company along with Naruto. Ingrid she thought she clenched her chest what was this feeling?

19 days after the shy squad vctory

Hinata and Dorothea were studying for a really hard exam. Dorothea requested Hinata's assistance because the subject matter was far beyond her abilities. Hinata suspected this may not have been completely true, but she didn't ask the question due to her not having any desire to. She was looking for any excuse to spend time with her friend, no, she was something more, even though it was irrational. It was difficult for her to concentrate because the subject matter they were studying was the same boring subject she had already studied thoroughly before she came to the monastery.

"If they want to bore us to death, they are succeeding, God, this is so boring, I had already studied this." said Dorothea, who was similarly bored like Hinata. They were in Hinata's room, this was the second time they spent time together alone. She didn't mind this, she enjoyed her company, just like Ingrid.

"I'm sorry, Hinaa, if I'm not the person you want to spend time with right now." She said, thinking that Hinata didn't enjoy her presence. No, she had to make it known that she did.

"Dorothea-san, I enjoy your company, I just don't feel like studying this boring subject right now." Hinata said honestly.

"I didn't think you ever got bored." Dorothea asked, perplexed.

"Believe me, I get bored plenty of times, I just am not vocal about it. This history of the founding of the monastery, I've already studied this when I was 12 years old. I know this history, there's nothing I'm going to learn that I don't already know." Hinata said, hiding no pretense that she wanted to get this subject done and over with and learn something new.

"I didn't think they expected you to study this much. Nobles are usually spoon-fed and have others do the studying for them." Dorothea said, with contempt of her own experience dealing with incompetent nobles, which is something Hinata can relate to, dealing with the superficial aristocratic boys who do nothing but look on the surface and never beneath it. It's one of the reasons she has grown to despise them, and she doesn't blame Dorothea for feeling the same.

"Even though I'm no longer my father's heir, I was still required to study the history because I was expected to know the culture of this continent before I set foot here. Not to sound arrogant, but most of the subjects, even studying up into this point, are stuff I have already studied thoroughly years ago. I could say for certain that I probably know more of this place's history than even those who were born here. That's how much I was required to study. It left me much time to do anything else, unfortunately." Hinata said, thinking about the times between missions where she wasn't allowed to see her friends or even do anything but study. Study, study, study. A lot was expected from her, and she's grateful for the knowledge, but she didn't feel like she was able to have a childhood because of her harsh upbringing.

"I could see why you and Ingrid spar so much because it's something different." Dorothea said, but Hinata shook her head, saying that was not the reason why.

"I spar with Ingrid-san because I enjoy her company, just like I enjoy your company. It's hard for me to explain." Hinata said, stuttering, not understanding why she was doing that. It's not like she was developing feelings for her; that's ridiculous. Three people? No, that's impossible; it's absurd, but she couldn't deny that she enjoyed her company and enjoyed their sparring sessions and other things they did together.

"I hope you're not falling in love with Ingrid as well. That may make things complicated for you and Naruto." Dorothea joked, but Hinata thought it was ridiculous, falling in love with Ingrid. It was absurd, but she couldn't help but admire her and find her beautiful in a way she doesn't find herself beautiful.

"She's quite something. I can understand why Naruto-kun likes her so much. She has a strong spirit; she's kind and loyal to her friends and would die to protect those she loves. Those are qualities I greatly admire. I can see in a different life." Hinata froze, not realizing what she was about to admit out loud.

"In a different life, you would?" Dorothea asked, surprised by what Hinata was about to reveal.

"It's nothing, Dorothea-san. Let's just focus on studying." Hinata said, changing the subject. She buried that thought deep inside. She couldn't even consider the possibility.

Sasuke was in the sparring ring practicing with his wooden sword. His usual sparring partner, Dimitri, had not shown up yet. He was training heavily with it, his sword, as a warm-up for the real exercise for the day. He had heard footsteps from behind him, looked, and saw it was none other than Ingrid, his former classmate. He wondered what she was doing in the sparring ring.

"Shouldn't you be sparring with Naruto or Hinata-san?" Sasuke asked, the girl didn't react to his comment.

"Sasuke, you've known Naruto longer than most. You must know something that others do not. He won't tell me because he doesn't want me to worry, but you're not the kind of person that is worried about telling people how it is. What is Konoha really like, and why does the village treat Naruto like they did?" Ingrid asked, wanting to know about the way they treated his friend. Sasuke had no idea why, though he did suspect it had to do with the nine-tailed fox, but he had no proof.

"I have no answer to your question, Ingrid-san. I cannot answer because I do not know. Naruto would be better to ask than me." Sasuke answered honestly.

Ingrid took out her sparring weapon, and Sasuke took that as a challenge. He had never sparred with Ingrid before due to not seeing any need to do so, but since Dimitri wasn't here yet, he figured it wouldn't hurt.

"You know I'm not going to go easy on you just because you're a girl." Sasuke said warningly.

"Please, I've sparred with Naruto plenty of times, and he's never held back on me ever." Ingrid replied as she got into her stance. Sasuke knew she was not an opponent he could underestimate; he could lose if he let his guard down. She did almost beat her professor, after all.

The arena was silent until the sound of Dimitri's arrival broke the tension, and the match began. Sasuke was cautious around Ingrid; she was not like other opponents. She was patient and waited to strike at the right time. Sasuke knew that if he left any openings, he would lose in an instant. She didn't have the strength of Dimitri, but she had other attributes that made her a dangerous opponent: her speed and guile.

Just as Sasuke was about to strike at her side, she deflected the attack and countered with a horizontal motion, striking Sasuke's side. He almost dropped his weapon, which would have signaled the end of the match. He wasn't down for the count yet, but if he was hit by a blow like that again, he would lose.

"I underestimated you, Ingrid-san. For that, I apologize. Now, I'm going to go all out." Sasuke said as a form of respect. He fought with everything he had, moving with speed and precision. Ingrid had a difficult time keeping up with his attacks. Sasuke was right behind Ingrid, and with a swift strike, he knocked her to the ground. He aimed his blade towards her neck, and she admitted defeat by surrendering.

Sasuke offered her his hand as a form of respect. She took it, and everyone looked in awe. Ingrid had never been defeated except by a handful of opponents. Sasuke had never fought her before and regretted that he hadn't, as he could have learned a lot from her. To think that she had won against Hinata almost as many times as she had lost; they were close in terms of strength. Sasuke knew that he would have lost the battle had he not used his quick thinking.

"You are skilled, Ingrid-san. It's a shame you're not in our class," Sasuke said respectfully.

"I can say the same about you, Sasuke. I think you would have benefited greatly from my professor's instruction," Ingrid replied with the same level of respect.

If there was one thing Sasuke learned about Ingrid, it was that the more you sparred with an opponent, the more you understood them. He didn't understand Ingrid that well, but he understood one thing from his sparring match with her: she was determined to get stronger, to be strong enough to protect the people she cared about. She had joined the Black Eagles for that very reason. Sasuke thought she was too good for someone like Naruto, but that wasn't for him to decide.

"That was a good match, Ingrid. You've gotten much stronger. I would like to spar with you again when the opportunity arises." Said Dimitri, who was silent in the whole exchange.

"Thank you, Dimitri. I would like that as well. As much as I would like us to catch up, I have to meet my friends somewhere." Ingrid said as she bowed to Sasuke as a form of respect and went towards Naruto and Hinata. Sasuke couldn't help but notice the look in her eyes as she talked to Hinata when they went to the cafeteria.

No, he disregarded it. It was probably nothing. The idea was absurd.

"I don't know about you, Sasuke-kun, but I'm hungry." Said Mercedes. Sasuke was about to retort, but his stomach growling hurt, which caused everyone in the Blue Lion to laugh, except the Banshee, who was rolling her eyes.

"I wonder what the chefs are going to serve this time." Said Annette, who was walking besides Sasuke and Mercedes. Felix was not too far behind.

"It doesn't matter as long as it's edible." Said Sasuke, not caring one way or the other.

"you wouldn't be saying that if that was Mercedes cooking would you?" Sylvain teased which cause Sasuke to turn away in embarrassment.

"Come on, Sylvain, he's going to die of embarrassment," said Dimitri, who joined in. Sasuke's face couldn't get any redder than it was at that moment. He couldn't deny what they were saying; there was some truth to it, but it was embarrassing. He really did enjoy cooking with Mercedes, but everything about her. Things would be so much better if he could just spend time with her alone.

"Well, I think the cooks will do their best, so we shouldn't waste anything they make. The goddess would not be pleased," said Mercedes, trying to save Sasuke from blushing further.

"I agree, it would be a waste," Sasuke said, agreeing with her to save face. Sylvain was about to say something but was elbowed by Dimitri, and everyone laughed when he complained.

Sasuke, included, he couldn't help but think how much he had changed in a short amount of time. He felt more comfortable the more time passed, and he was more confident in the choice he had made when Dimitri offered him his hand at the start of the year.

The goddess part of him believed in her because there was one thing that she did that was good. He looked at Mercedes; that smile of hers brought him to Mercedes, his friend. Then he disregarded that thought immediately; it was ridiculous. It hadn't even been a month yet, but he couldn't deny the feelings that were growing.

It was nothing more than a crush, he said to himself. It couldn't change to anything more than that; it would interfere with his mission. He put aside his thoughts for now and decided just to enjoy the moment with his friends. Yeah, he like the sound of that.

21 days after the shy girl squad victory

Ingrid and Naruto were doing their chores; they were doing the most tedious and dreadful of all, guarding, but Naruto didn't seem to mind. This was the first time that they were alone since Naruto and Hinata started dating. She couldn't understand her own feelings towards both of them; she enjoyed both of their company, but there were things about Naruto and Hinata that she could see that others didn't. Naruto, she knew that he wasn't as confident as he acts; he has a deep insecurity, and she could feel that he feels completely inadequate when it comes to his relationship with Hinata, like he isn't good enough. He didn't have to say anything for her to know this.

Hinata, on the other hand, she doesn't give herself enough credit. She's strong, beautiful, and brave, attributes that she does not see in herself, and she thinks it's a shame. She doesn't feel jealous towards Hinata; she feels something else, and she doesn't understand what these feelings are when she thinks about her. Her heart beats and aches, and she couldn't feel this way about Naruto; she knows for sure. She loves them both, but she cannot feel that way about Hinata. They've only spoken to each other 23 days ago; there's no way their relationship could have developed anything resembling love, but how can she explain it?

The red threads of fate, she had heard of it. She saw something for him, between her, when she first laid her eyes on her, the night that she spoke to her for the first time. And the threat had only gotten tighter between them; even her thread with Naruto wasn't this tight, like it was for her. Why did she feel this way? Naruto wasn't that far behind, and neither was Dorothea, but why was Hinata's thread stronger? She would like to get an answer. She wants to throw the shovel that she's currently using, and frustration, between the tedious task that she was working on, combined with her growing feelings for Hinata, it was hard for her to concentrate.

Naruto noticed her turmoil.

"Are you all right, Ingrid Chan?" Naruto asked her, concerned. She didn't know how to answer. She wanted to be honest with him, but she couldn't tell him how he would feel knowing that. Now, it's ridiculous.

"It's nothing. It's just that things have been really hectic lately. We've barely had time to do anything outside of training and chores. It would be nice if..." She didn't know what to say. She had to choose her words carefully.

"It would be nice if..." She was struggling to get the words out. She wanted to tell him her honest feelings, but how could she? It would make things even more awkward. Dorothea was right, but in ways she didn't know. Her feelings for Naruto... She had felt this way about him even on the first 23 days of their friendship. She didn't realize her feelings until she started to spend more time with Hinata. She couldn't explain it. Her feelings for both of them... No, she couldn't be in love with Hinata. It was impossible. It was just childish nonsense. She had to get the words out. She couldn't just be dishonest with her friend.

"You know, it would be nice if the 4 of us were able to do something together outside the monastery." Ingrid said, without realizing she said "4" instead of "3". Naruto had a look of surprise.

"You mean Dorothea as well, right?" Naruto asked. She couldn't back out now, considering she blurted out "the three of us". She took a deep breath. Here goes nothing.

"Well, it would be nice if you and Dorothea were able to be friends. I mean, I believe you two would be able to get along if you both gave each other a chance." Ingrid said, not knowing if she could actually mean that. Dorothea couldn't stand Naruto, and Naruto had never spoken to her up until this point, but she wanted to believe it was possible.

"She's one of Hinata Chan's friends. She speaks highly of her when we go out on our dates from time to time. She sounds like an amazing person." Naruto said with his boyish grin. If only he knew... if only he knew it was a foolish hope, but she was hoping they would at least find a way to get along, just like Ingrid and Hinata did.

"We could try inviting her." Naruto said as he continued to work on his side of the garden.

"I will do it when given the opportunity" Ingrid replied.

She heard her stomach growl, which caused her to blush. Why did that have to happen at a time like this?

"Can't wait to get these chores done. I wonder what Hinata-chan has made for lunch this time?" Naruto asked Ingrid, who couldn't help but smile. She always looked forward to Hinata's meals; they were amazing. She clenched her heart; this feeling... How would Naruto react if he found out how Ingrid feels? She wasn't ready to talk to him about her feelings towards Hinata when she wasn't even sure. She put her thoughts aside about her growing feelings for Hinata and her love for Naruto and decided to focus on the task in front of her, which is something she could do something about.

The red thread of fate, what did it mean for her?

28 days since the shy girl squad victory

Byleth was grooming Sora. It was everyone's day off, and it was early in the morning. It felt relieving to have a break after teaching for almost a month. These days, where he was able to relax and rejuvenate, made doing his current job easier. He wasn't used to teaching; teaching was hard, a lot harder than he originally thought. He was not used to being a leader or being in any leadership role. He was always a follower up until recently. Whenever his father told him to do something, he did it. He was so used to doing what somebody else told him to do that being in that same position that he was in, not too long ago, was not something that he thought would happen. Of course, it was naive of him to think that he would never be in a leadership role himself. His father trained him as such, but he didn't think it would happen so soon.

It didn't do much to erase the loneliness that he felt. Yes, he did more now than just being a mercenary, but other than Sora and, recently, Marianne, he didn't really have any friends that he could really speak of or anyone that he could confide in. He kept his thoughts to himself whenever Marianne and he spent time together. Seeing her smile and seeing her happy with her friends, he didn't know what this feeling was. He put his right hand on where his heart would be. He didn't particularly dislike the feeling, but he didn't understand it either.

He tried to read about it, but that didn't give him any answers; it opened up the doors for even more questions. He didn't get a chance to indulge in his thoughts for very long when he heard footsteps behind him. He didn't need to turn around to know that it was his friend. Nobody else would come to the stables; nobody else talked or understood animals like he did.

"It's a nice day, isn't it?" asked Marianne. He couldn't help but agree with her.

"Yes, it is. The weather is nice. We have nothing to really worry about until tomorrow." Byleth hesitated; he couldn't come up with the words he wanted to say. He didn't know what he wanted to say next.

"I'm sorry, but do we have to... you know." Marianne was hesitant about the next thing she was going to ask, which was about the upcoming mission. He knew it was coming.

"I don't want to kill anyone. I know that's what will be required of us, but am I wrong for not wanting to take another life? I don't know if the goddess would want me to do such a thing." Marianne, he knew she didn't relish violence. He understood that. He turned around and faced her. He didn't know what was coming over him. He felt protective of her more than any of the other students. He put both of his hands on hers and made her face him.

"I don't relish in violence either. If I had a choice, I wouldn't want to go on any mission or kill anyone, but it's required of us because that's what we are here to do." He didn't know if he was trying to convince Marianne or himself, but Marianne saw right through him. It was the former and not the latter.

"Are you trying to convince me, or are you trying to convince yourself? Byleth, I know you don't relish in it either. You don't want to do it. You don't have to try to convince anyone. I know you feel the same." Marianne said, their faces inches apart.

He didn't know what was coming over him. He had a strong desire to comfort her, to let her know everything would be all right. He felt her hands trembling, or was it his hands trembling? He did not know.

"You know, I would like to spend this day outside the monastery if that's okay, Mari," Byleth asked softly. He felt like a mess when he was around her; his emotions were messy, and he didn't understand them, nor did he fight them. He didn't hear anything from his companion the entire time, and part of him was grateful due to wanting this moment between the two of them in private.

"I would like that," Marianne smiled, and it melted all his doubts. If there was one thing he could never resist, it was her smile. It was radiant, and it was like the sun itself shined on him. He felt the most confident when he ever saw her smile. He didn't know what this feeling was, these growing feelings. He would ask Hinata later. He decided to just enjoy the moment. She went on Sora with him. Usually, they would take both of their horses, but Dote, for some reason, wanted to stay this time. His reasoning was to give the both of them privacy, whatever that meant. He did not know.

He heard his companion laughing at his ignorance of what that entailed, which irritated him, but he pushed it down. This was his and Marianne's time alone together, a minor inconvenience from Sothis.

Hinata can see it in their eyes, the longing she knew from the very start where their relationship was heading. Byleth and Marianne didn't just spend a lot of time together after hours, but their eyes—everything about their eyes—said everything. What surprised her most of all is how quickly it was happening. She knows about the red threads of fate; on those who find their thread, tend to fall in love the fastest and the hardest, but even then, she had not witnessed what she was witnessing currently with her professor and Marianne. She thought it was cute, the socially awkward professor and her friend confiding in each other, though not everyone was supportive of the potential romantic match. She could see it in Hilda's eyes that Hilda did not approve, in fact, she outright resented it. She didn't have to say anything for Hinata to know.

Normally, on days like this, she would be with her boyfriend, but he wasn't available due to his obligations with Claude and his Golden Deer classmates. The Black Eagles, as a whole, had their own obligations. Well, Ingrid didn't; Ingrid was witnessing the same thing she was, as their professor, and Marianne left the monastery. She was wondering if Ingrid had something to say; she had a look on her face that had a mixture of emotions.

"They couldn't have made it more obvious than they tried that they're infatuated with each other." Said Ingrid in a tone that showed neither approval nor disapproval.

"It's a little fast, though, isn't it, for them to be falling in love?" Ingrid asked. As her and Hinata were going to a different training spot today, they shouldn't be training, but Hinata was going to do something different. She was going to show Ingrid her favorite way of training, though they would be doing it away from the monastery for reasons that she didn't want any peeping Toms.

"You told me the other day about the nearby lake east of Garreg Mach, which might be a perfect place to do the kind of training that I have in mind." Hinata said, excited at the prospect of getting out of the monastery, even for a few hours. Naruto doesn't know the surrounding area very well, or Fodlan in general, and with Ingrid to guide her, they can find their spot with no time at all, especially with her Pegasus, who is happy to be able to fly outside.

"Grian, we're going outside today. Me and Hinata would love for you to give us a ride, and while we're training, you could fly around as much as you want." Ingrid said soothingly to her partner.

"It's a shame Naruto would never be able to ride her. I guess this is something only you, I, and Dorothea will be able to appreciate." Ingrid said, smiling. Hinata couldn't help but do the same. It was one thing that was unique and an experience that none of them would be able to share with Naruto.

"Is there any reason why pegasi don't let men ride them?" Hinata asked Ingrid, always puzzled by why such a beautiful creature only allowed women as their riders.

"It's because maidens are considered pure, at least that's what is told in the folklore of my homeland." Ingrid answered.

"Yes, but is it possible for someone of an evil heart to have a pegasus?" Hinata asked, not liking the idea and hoping that Ingrid would answer no.

"I don't know. I've never met anyone or known anyone with an evil heart who had a pegasus. Wyverns, on the other hand, are not as picky about their riders. I'm not as familiar with wyverns as I am with pegasi and horses, because that's what I've raised my whole life." Ingrid explained. Hinata wasn't surprised. There was a lot that she didn't know. Ingrid got everything ready, all the supplies they would need. She was the first to get on the back of her pegasus, lifting Hinata up as if he were a prince lifting his princess. Hinata was amazed that she was going to ride a pegasus. She had dreamed about this since she was a child. Her mother had told her about everything it was like to ride on a pegasus. She was about to experience what no one in her homeland would get a chance to ride on a pegasus. She wrapped her arms around Ingrid as if holding tightly to her.

"I won't let you fall by princess you're completely safe with me."Ingrid said with her cheeks turning pink Hinata nodded in approval. it felt like an eternity until Grian with her strong wings took flight. she had felt the win on her face she couldn't believe what was happening it felt like the monastery was at a great distance and it was only less than a minute Ingrid was flying higher and higher as high as she possibly could Hinata didn't know whether to be excited or terrified or a bit of both? she didn't want to close her eyes she didn't want her friend to think that she was scared when she looked down she looked in awe of the sites around her the entire continent as far as her eyes can see she thought it was beautiful.

"East of here is my family's territory." Ingrid aimed her right index finger. Hinata couldn't believe what she was seeing from that far away distance, even if it was a blip, she saw Ingrid's own homeland.

"It's beautiful, Ingrid-san," Hinata said, not realizing how moved she was emotionally, looking at the beauty around her. She had never seen anything like this in her homeland. In the sky, she felt nothing else mattered; she felt free.

"It doesn't compare to you, Hinata," Ingrid said without hesitation. Hinata couldn't tell the look on her face because she was burying her face in her back.

"So when are we going to go in that lake that you talked about?" Hinata asked, not noticing the grin on Ingrid's face.

"Oh, it's right over there," Ingrid pointed out, which caused Hinata to blink. Oh no, she didn't?

Not giving her a chance to say anything, Ingrid commanded her Pegasus to do a fast dive. Hinata was screaming bloody murder because of the sudden action. She couldn't believe what was happening. Ingrid was laughing, and Hinata didn't know what was funny. It was as if they were both going to die, and she thought Ingrid was insane. They were getting very close to the lake, and water was splashing. When they were done she ordered her Pegasus to lend on the nearby shore.

"I'm sorry Hinata, if I told you I was going to do it, you wouldn't let me do it." Ingrid said apologetically. Hinata knew she was right. Hinata smiled despite what she felt. They both got off Grian. Ingrid told her to fly around the area, and Hinata was ready to do what she was planning on doing with Ingrid for a while, showing her the training method she prefers to do.

Ingrid was wondering what kind of training Hinata had in mind. She was told by Hinata on multiple occasions that her preferred training method was something she didn't do because the monastery didn't offer her a place to do it without anyone peeking. Ingrid was wondering what Hinata meant by that. When she saw Hinata start to undo her clothing, she understood exactly what she meant, which caused Ingrid herself to blush a deep shade of red. She did exactly what Hinata did and placed her clothes next to Hinata's. It's not like she hadn't seen a woman naked before; she's seen Dorothea's body when they made love for the first time, but that was 2 years ago. When she saw Hinata's body, she couldn't help but feel inadequate. It was perfect in every way, and she couldn't stop looking at her. Hinata noticed her staring at her body and then blushed herself.

She undid the braiding in her hair to let her hair down, as she saw no point in keeping it up, considering what they were about to do. Her hair was even longer than Hinata's, which caused Hinata to look at her hair in amazement.

"I should have warned you in advance. I mean, I'm sorry. It's embarrassing." Hinata said, stuttering.

"There's nothing to be ashamed of, Hinata. You're beautiful." Ingrid said. Hinata took a deep breath. She wondered why Ingrid was doing that.

"You're beautiful, Ingrid. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Your body is perfect as is." Hinata said. Ingrid did not even realize he was as nervous as she was. They were both attracted to each other; that was obvious. She was wondering if this was a good idea at all.

"Do you think Naruto would mind?" asked Ingrid. She couldn't believe what she was thinking; it was ridiculous.

"I don't think he would mind at all, Ingrid-san." Hinata said as she was about to show her her method of training.

She saw Hinata doing erotic movements; the way she moved her body and the way she moved her legs, it was like watching a dancer from a play. She couldn't help but be mesmerized by her movements, and that's not all she did. She jumped high in the air, higher than she had ever seen anyone jump, and she spun around and then landed gracefully on the body of water. She was so enthralled with Hinata's movements that she didn't realize she was looking at Hinata in a way that she shouldn't.

She couldn't let Hinata notice her gaze. She had to focus on the training that Hinata was showing her. She walked towards Hinata in the body of water, shivering, but Hinata grabbed her hands with her own. She wanted to know how Hinata was able to walk on water. She knew how to deal with a jitsu that she had learned, but she wanted to know how to do it herself.

"For this time, we're going to do something fun. In the future, I'll teach you how to walk on water, so we'll be able to do more advanced movements. But how would you like to dance on water with me, Ingrid Chan?" Hinata said to her ear, and she didn't know why it was causing her to shiver. She knows she shouldn't feel this way; she shouldn't feel excited. But this was a moment between the two of them. Whatever feelings she thinks she shouldn't have, she stopped fighting them and let herself give in to them.

"Of course, I would love that, Hinata." Ingrid said as Hinata started with a basic dance movement. She held on to her tightly so that she and Hinata wouldn't fall into the water. She knew that whatever she was feeling was wrong, but she pushed those thoughts away. The feelings that she felt didn't feel wrong to her; they felt right. She didn't even care about the consequences of what they were doing or what it would do to them later. Right now, all she wanted was to enjoy the feel of the moment.

Naruto is spending time with his classmates, who all found it unusual that he was spending time with them instead of his girlfriend. Naruto wanted Ingrid to have a chance to spend time with Hinata alone on their day off, for once, because Hinata wanted to show Ingrid her training method that she prefers to do without outsiders watching. He has seen her do it before, though he hasn't told Hinata that.

" She has developed quite nicely, if you know my meaning?" said Kyubi teasingly.

"If she found out I peeked at her, it would be the end, I don't think." He had heard the fox laughed.

" I doubt she would care. In fact, she probably would prefer if it was you. After all, she crushed on you for ages. You admiring her body would have led to interesting situations sooner, well, considering that what you have done already in the past almost month." Naruto did not allow him to finish.

"You perverted Fox, you didn't watch us." Naruto asked, which caused Kyubi to sigh in annoyance.

"Naruto, are you talking to someone?" asked Claude, who was wondering why Naruto was talking to thin air. Raphael, Ignatz, Choji, and Shikamaru were as perplexed as he was, along with Hilda, Ino, and Leonie.

Thinking fast, Naruto responded, "Sorry, I was thinking out loud." Naruto lied, hoping they would buy it, which caused Kyubi to laugh at his carelessness.

"So, what are we doing today?" asked Ignatz, curious. Naruto was wondering what Claude had in mind.

"Well, considering that Naruto hasn't hung out with us as much since he started dating Hinata, I thought we could play a game," Claude said with his mischievous smile. Naruto didn't know if he was excited at the prospect of what Claude had in mind or terrified that it would be something awful.

"It better not be a prank, Claude, that you want us all involved in. There's no way I'm going to get in trouble for that," said Lorenz, who knew exactly what Claude had in mind.

"Oh, come on, it would be great." Claude said, which caused everyone to leave the group, leaving Naruto and Claude alone.

"Okay, you want us to do a prank. I have no issue with that, but I don't want the prank to be so bad that I have to run for my life." Naruto said, shivering at the idea of being on the receiving end of Kakashi's "thousand years of death."

"I was wondering, with all the jutsu that you have at your disposal, don't you have one that could, you know, change your appearance?" Claude asked. Naruto didn't know if he even wanted to show him that jutsu. The "harem jutsu" was the last thing he wanted to unleash onto the world. He knew that Claude, when using it, would have no control over who became affected.

"I was thinking of doing a contest. Whoever can do the best prank wins." Claude said. Naruto couldn't help but take that as a challenge. She wasn't going to lose.

"Oh, you definitely are going to lose this one, Claude." Naruto said, with an excited tone. He may not be spending time with his girlfriend today, but that doesn't mean he can't do something fun with his friend.

"All right, partner. We're going to unleash some terrors that the monastery has never seen before." Claude said. Naruto grinned. He had no idea what Claude had in mind. He may be able to use the harem jutsu, but the kind of "harem jutsu" Claude had in mind would be a version that no man would be able to resist.

"You better be prepared to lose, Claude, because I don't intend to lose the title of Prank King." Naruto said with a cocky grin.

"I highly doubt you could beat me. I love to see you try." said Claude challengingly.

"Are you sure you want to bet on that?" Naruto asked his friend.

The rest of the class signed in annoyance as the pranksters were going to have a pranking contest. Naruto felt sorry for those in the monastery in a way, but it would be mostly harmless pranks unless Claude pushed him. That was the way he was not going to lose, especially when it came to pranks.

"I'm confident I'm going to win, aren't you?" Claude asked with his cocky grin.

"You're going to regret this, Claude," Naruto replied. The two of them said nothing as they turned their backs on each other and went their respective directions. Oh, Naruto would do an ultimate prank that would put Claude's to shame. Little did he know he was being watched by Rhea and Seteth.

"So much like Kushina and Tiana" remarked Seteth regarding the children of students that he personally taught two decades ago; the resemblance between their parents was uncanny. Claude had his father's looks but his mother's personality. Tiana was always a prankster and got into a lot of trouble; she and Kushina were considered the pranksters of terror, though they were from different houses. Unlike their children, they still were good friends.

"It seems like the friendship between Kushina and Tiana has passed on to their children; amazing how time flies." Rhea said with sadness about her own daughter, Sitri. No matter how much time passes, the pain doesn't go away; no pain compares to losing your own child. Even her mother's death didn't compare to Sitri's.

"Their friendship may transition generations, but that doesn't mean they're going to be immune to punishment. What do you suggest I do, Lady Rhea?" asked Seteth, knowing what he had in mind.

"I'll leave that decision up to you; I have other matters to attend to." she said as she left Seteth to his duties. Yes, friendships can transcend generations. Even the friendship with Naruto, Hinata, Ingrid, and Dorothea has transcended generations. Well, Dorothea and Naruto are not on speaking terms yet, but she feels like it will happen. Little does she know, things would not be the same for the generation of the children currently enrolled in the monastery.

Claude and Naruto didn't really get a chance to do much of their pranks when they were caught red-handed. Seteth was looking at them with a stern look that didn't leave any room for argument.

"Oh, come on, Seteth-san, it's not like we did anything to cause permanent damage or anything. Come on, this is excessive." Naruto said, complaining.

"You caused a ruckus on a day where everyone is supposed to relax and not to mention studying for their exams. You'll be spending the rest of your day working in the kitchens and cleaning them. I'm not here for any complaining. It's your fault that you both decided to pull pranks, and this is the consequence. You should be grateful that I stopped you because it would have been worse, much worse. I could tell you that much." Seteth said in a firm tone that didn't leave any room for any sort of argument or counterargument. Claude wasn't even going to bother.

"Sorry, Seteth, we won't do it again." Claude said, but he didn't believe that anymore than Seteth did. He didn't even dignify a response.

"Both of you get to work now, and you, Naruto, you are forbidden to use your Shadow Clone technique. No easy way out of this; you will do it the old-fashioned way." Seteth ordered. They didn't argue with him. They both went inside the kitchens and got to work. It was tedious, Claude had to admit, but nothing that he hadn't done before. Naruto was forbidden to use any of his shadow clones, which meant that a task that could have been completed in 20 minutes now would take an hour.

"Man, this sucks," said Naruto as he started to scrub the floors.

"Well, that's what you get for doing a pranking contest. What were you thinking?" asked Hilda, not happy that she was dragged into it, along with the rest of the Golden Deer.

"At least we're doing it together," Naruto said, trying to look at the positive, which didn't do him or Claude any favors.

"No offense, Naruto, but this is not how I wanted to spend my day off," said Raphael, annoyed that he had to do the same punishment Claude and Naruto were forced to do. This was done to discourage them both from doing any pranks in the future.

"Just think of it as training, Raphael, and it won't be so bad," said Naruto, trying to cheer his friend up.

"Yeah, I hardly consider this training when I have to scrub the floors, wipe all of the counters down, clean the ovens, and everything that the cooks use. This is not training; this is boring and tedious. I'd rather be training," Raphael rebuked.

"I don't know; it's kind of fun. The whole class is together doing something, even though it's not something any of us want to do. At least it's," Ignatz didn't get a chance to finish due to another mess being made. This time, it was done by Lorenz, who was not used to doing hard labor.

The flower was spilled all over the floor, which caused everyone to clean it up. It took them almost 20 minutes to clean that particular spot, and now it would take another 20 minutes. Barely anything was getting done because of Lorenz's carelessness.

"Damn it, this is bullshit," said Leonie annoyedly by Lorenz.

"It's not my fault," he blamed. Hilda hit him on the upside of the head, along with Ino.

"You're the one who was careless with how you were dealing with the flour. Now we all have to clean up a mess we've already cleaned because of you, damn it," Leonie said annoyedly as she started to clean up the spot that was recently cleaned again.

"Hey, things could be a lot worse. We could be dealing with the banshee," said Naruto, which caused everyone to curse Naruto for even bringing her up.

"Working with her would be hell. I'm glad she's not in our class," said Hilda, unaware of how awful she is.

"Can we focus on this damn task so we can actually enjoy our day off?" Leonie asked the group.

"Sure, let's just focus on that," Naruto said, intimidated by Leonie's anger. They focused on cleaning, and it did not take as long as it could have. They did screw up a few other times, but Claude, in his eyes, didn't think it was so bad. This gave the Golden Deer a chance to do something together, even if it wasn't what they would have wanted to do.

Though he was disappointed Naruto and he didn't really get far at their pranking game, maybe another time.

Mercedes looked at the golden deer and couldn't help but feel bad for them. Sasuke, her friend, was walking with her, who had an indifferent expression.

"Wow, it seems like Naruto was trying to pull the kind of pranks he pulled back at home. Well, that didn't pan out, did it?" Sasuke said amusingly. She saw the class arguing, but she could tell from the corner of Claude's face that he actually was enjoying doing what they were doing. It was a punishment, sure, but they were doing something together. Those eyes, she could see the loneliness in them. She could relate in a way.

"So, where are we going this time?" Sasuke asked curiously. Despite being at the monastery for almost four months, he still didn't know his way around. She wanted to help rectify that by showing him other places besides the obvious training grounds. She wanted to show him other parts of the monastery.

"I was actually hoping we could go outside this time." Mercedes said, which caused Sasuke to look at her in surprise.

"Outside? You mean like Byleth and Marianne?" Sasuke asked her curiously. She didn't want to tell him the real reason; she just simply wanted to be alone with him, away from the monastery, where it's just them and nobody else watching them.

"Yes, but it won't be too far, just far enough away where we can easily go back, but far enough where we could have some privacy. I was hoping we could continue our lessons alone without any witnesses." Mercedes said looking away.

"Of course, I would like that too." Sasuke replied.

The two walked in silence, and they heard comments directed at them.

"Those two look cute together," said one of the students, a girl who was around the age of 14.

"Lucky bastard," said one of the male students who was around the age of 26.

She ignored them. Her and Sasuke were just friends; just because they spent a lot of time together doesn't mean they're boyfriend and girlfriend. The idea was absurd; they have only spoken for about a month, not enough time for them to develop feelings for each other. It was impossible.

She kept telling herself that the more she told herself of those feelings, the harder it was for her not to clench her heart every time she thought of him. When she was alone, she had to maintain her dignity. She couldn't appear like some fangirl crushing over Sasuke. She wasn't one of those shallow people, and she refused to act the part of one, even if she did find him attractive.

They passed by the gate. The gatekeeper greeted them. Sasuke waved his hand at him, and they went outside. This was the first time she had been outside the monastery since she had set foot in it at the start of the year, which was 2 days before she met Sasuke, before her life changed.

No, she had to disregard those thoughts. She had to not think about it. They continued to walk until Mercedes ordered Sasuke to stop. They were by a tree near a road that was close to the ancient castle, and they both sat down. She was wondering what Sasuke was going to teach her this time.

He took out a book that was in his language. It was not the same one they went through the last time, due to Sasuke being done reading it. What surprised her was that it was a translation of the teachings of Sothis and Sasuke's native tongue.

"I can't believe it," Mercedes, with Sasuke's permission, took the book from his hands and went through the pages. She couldn't read any of it due to her being unable to read Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. She was amazed by all the characters that she was seeing on the first page. She knew what it was saying due to her memorizing the book by heart, though she couldn't read it, and Sasuke's native language. She knew what it said in her own language.

"I figured if I'm going to help teach you my language, it would be easier if it was using the Saigen translation. I can learn about your religion, and I could teach you my language at the same time. I think." Sasuke turned away, trying to hide the pink on his cheeks.

"I would love that, but you don't have to go through this trouble, Sasuke-kun. We could do this with the Sage of Six Paths, the native religion of your homeland. We don't have to do mine." Sasuke shook his head.

"I want to know about your religion, Mercie. I feel like if I study it alone, I won't understand the wisdom of the goddess, but with you, I feel like you can explain it to me. I mean, if you don't want to." Sasuke said, turning away. She did want him to learn about her religion, but she didn't think he cared that much.

"Of course, I would love to. Most people wouldn't care. You're something special, Sasuke-kun." Mercedes said generally, meaning it. She didn't know what was coming over her.

"You're the one that's amazing. You're patient and kind to everyone. I feel like I don't deserve your friendship. I feel unworthy. I feel like if I learn about the goddess, I feel like I get to know more about you. I want to learn. I don't want to learn it from anyone but you." Sasuke said, not realizing how close they were. As if self-aware, Sasuke pulled back. She was disappointed but understood why this was going too fast. Her heart was beating. She didn't object to him about to kiss her, but pulled back at the last minute. She wanted that too, but why?

It didn't make any sense. They had just met about a month ago. It couldn't be. No, no, no, no. She shoved that thought deep into her mind. She can't be in love with him. They're just friends.

To salvage the situation, Sasuke opened the book and started reading, much to her relief. Hearing him reading it in his language and then asking her questions after reading it again in her language, Mercedes explained patiently the opening passage of the first chapter along with everything in the first chapter. Sasuke listened patiently as she explained what all the words meant and what their meanings were. Sasuke wasn't bored when she explained it. In fact, Sasuke was listening intently. Nobody did this when they were studying the goddess. Teaching Sasuke about her religion helped her when she had nowhere else to go. It was the goddess that helped guide her to where she was. Sasuke read the words again. He didn't quite understand the meaning, but it would take time. She knew that she couldn't expect Sasuke to understand it in the span of a day, but it was a start.

Sasuke did what Mercedes instructed and prayed exactly how she told him to. When she heard the words from his mouth, she knew he wasn't just saying it. He meant it.

"May Sothis bless us with her light. May she look after us in the darkest times. May she forgive me for my sins." Sasuke said, which was what a follower of Sothis says for the first time always says when they pray for the first time. She could feel it in his voice. He meant what he said. He said again in his own language. It sounded beautiful in his language. It made her sad. After he read it in Uchihan, the native language of a dead clan, a tear fell down.

What would she give to see him smile and never be sad again?she didn't know what these feelings were she wants to ask Hinata maybe she will understand what she was scared she doesn't want to acknowledge the feelings that are growing in her heart it terrified her The L word she doesn't think she would ever get lucky and for anyone to feel the same to look at her as herself not what she has inherited from her father her crest the damn thing that she despises and hates of every fabric of her being.

"Are you all right?" Sasuke asked, noticing her distress.

"I'm fine," Mercedes said, hoping that he wouldn't ask any questions. The sun was setting, and she didn't want to go back to the monastery yet. She wanted to stay out for a little bit longer. She laid on Sasuke's lap and closed her eyes, feeling Sasuke's hand through her hair. She didn't mind. They said nothing; they didn't have to say anything. For Mercedes, it was perfect, this silence.

She fell asleep, imagining a future where she could simply be herself, with a family that loves her and a significant other who loves her for who she is.

Marianne was lying on the ground next to Byleth. It was nighttime, and they didn't want to go home yet. The moonlit sky was shining on them, and she could stare at the stars for hours. Her hair was down, and they were silent for hours, not saying a word. She didn't have to say anything, and neither did Byleth. She had never felt this happy, except when she was with Hilda, but this was different. This feeling, she clenched her chest, her friend's eyes were closed.

"You know, I wish this would last forever," said Byleth softly, and she couldn't help but agree. This moment of silence, this peace, it felt like a dream.

"I don't feel like I deserve this happiness with you," Marianne replied.

"You deserve the world, Mari. You deserve all the happiness. Before I met you, I didn't know if there was anybody else. I felt alone," Byleth said with a hint of loneliness in his tone. She knew that when she first met him, he was a lonely soul, a sad soul. This feeling, she couldn't explain it. These growing emotions towards her friend...

"This happiness doesn't feel real. I sometimes just want to cry because I may wake up and find out none of this is real, that it's all a dream," Marianne said, and a tear fell. She felt Byleth's hand on her cheek, and their faces were inches apart.

"This feels like a dream. I know what that is like, Mari. I never thought I would meet someone like you. You're one in a million. You don't have to change. You are." Byleth didn't know what came over her. She didn't care if it had been only a month. These feelings were strong. She couldn't control them. She felt his lips press against hers, passionate. They switched positions, and she was on top of him. The passion intensified. She felt his hands on her waist, and she wanted more. She wanted to do more, but then stopped and realized where they were. They breathed heavily, not believing what they had just done.

"We should be heading back," Byleth said, disappointed that it was over. She was too. They got back on Sora, and the ride back was silent. They had nothing to say. She couldn't believe what they had just done, but she didn't want it to stop there. She wanted to take it further. She didn't care about every rational part of her mind telling her this was happening too fast.

She wanted this. After Sora was put back in her stable, they walked to where his room was. Marianne's was further. She looked to see if the coast was clear before he could close the door. Marianne pushed herself against him. She was in his room, and she closed the door, making sure to lock it. She couldn't believe she was getting this bold. There was no turning back. This is what she wanted.

"Would it be all right if I... if we...?" She couldn't get the words out. He put his hands on her waist and then kissed her again, more passionately than before. The lovers in their forbidden passion didn't care about the ramifications.

she was on her back on his bed, he was on top of her and kissed her again. She didn't pay attention as he started to strip her of her clothes; she did the same to him. She knew this wasn't proper for a student or a teacher to be doing, but it didn't matter to her; the world did not exist except for them.

Neither one of them paid attention as they stripped each other of their clothing, bit by bit, until there was nothing but their undergarments. Her professor had a look of lust in his eyes but also affection. Her black undergarments with a taint of light blue made her blush. She was not used to being admired like this by anyone.

No words were needed as he gently rubbed her chest, he pressed them together. She closed her eyes, not being able to imagine how she could feel so good now. She had not known what it was like to have someone make love to her before; she heard about it from Hinata, but she never thought she, of all people, would experience such wonders. She resisted the urge to moan his name; she was trying not to be loud, but she failed. His words left her lips.

"You don't need to hold back," Byleth said in a soothing tone. She didn't hold back as he continued to massage her chest. He kissed her on the neck and put his fingers through her hair, as a feeling, every part of her he was exploring every part of her body through his hands while pleasing her with his mouth. She felt him undoing the loose straps on her bra, which made it easier for him to remove it and toss it to the other side of the room. Feeling his hands on her bare chest, it wasn't like anything she'd ever experienced. He wasn't gentle, nor was he rough; it was perfect.

"B-Byl," Marianne said in a low whisper as he continued to massage her. She felt herself getting wet by his mere touch. She couldn't believe what was happening; she felt like she was in heaven. She wondered what it would be like if they both became one.

She felt liquid come out and screamed in ecstasy; she never imagined such pleasure. She had never done what other women did and pleasured herself due to her upbringing; she had nothing else to compare it to. She could only imagine how much better things could get from here. She wanted to become one with her lover. As if reading her mind, he removed the last of his undergarments, along with hers. Both of them were completely nude.

She couldn't help but admire his body, perfect, she thought, muscular, and lean in the right areas. Under different circumstances, she would be passing out and embarrassed, but this wasn't normal. These were special circumstances.

"I don't have any experience doing this. I don't want to hurt you, Mari. We don't have to do this; we could do this another time." He said as he gave her a way to stop. She didn't want to stop; she wanted to go all the way. She wanted to finish what they started outside the monastery.

"I'll be fine; the pain will pass. I want to be your first." Marianne said as he slowly inserted himself into her entrance. It hurt; she had heard about it from Hinata when she first made love to Naruto. She was told that it would be painful the first time, but the pain would pass. However, she didn't feel much pain; she felt a mixture of both pleasure and pain. Both of them were breathing heavily, nervous, and wanting to satisfy the other, not wanting to be an inadequate lover.

"You can go a little faster," Marianne said, giving him the signal to start moving. She felt tears falling. She was in pain, but that wasn't the only reason. This was a special night, and she hadn't experienced anything like this before. She felt his right hand on her cheek and looked into his eyes, which were like staring into the ocean.

She wanted to see a smile on that face, the lonely man that she sees in front of her. She wanted to make him feel less alone. He went faster, and she kissed him, and he returned the kiss. The passion was unlike anything she had imagined. She would have moaned in pleasure if her lips weren't pressed against his. Their bodies were mashing against each other, and it was clumsy. Neither of them had any experience, and they were both learning as they went along.

He didn't need to know what she was about to request of him; her voice guided him as he gradually went faster, and their positions changed. She was on top, and he grabbed her hips, moaning her name. She did the same, finding it difficult to distinguish between pain and pleasure, but it didn't matter. They both knew they were at their limit, but she didn't want it to end, wanting to prolong the experience. However, they had to consider their early morning classes.

As they reached their limits, he pulled out, causing him to moan as he released his fluids on her, with her not far behind. They were both covered in sweat, laughing, not believing what they had just done. They collapsed on the bed, laying on their sides, still in disbelief about their actions, which many would look down upon.

"I have no words," Byleth said, speechless about what they had just done. She felt his hands wrap around hers, their faces close.

"Neither do I," Marianne said, feeling happy and at peace. She struggled to keep her eyes open, not wanting to fight the feelings she was experiencing.

No further words were needed as Byleth covered them with his blankets, recognizing the boundary they had crossed. She didn't care about the rule against relationships between professors and students; she valued Byleth's kindness and their connection. She didn't want to hear any criticism about him from anyone who didn't know him.

she fell asleep dreamlessly Happy of the day that they had spent together hoping in the future they could be something more than just friends.

Sasuke didn't want to wake Mercedes, who was peacefully sleeping on his lap. They had been in their spot for hours, and he didn't want to move, but he knew they had to get back. He wasn't sure how he was going to do it, but he was determined. He made sure to get everything he had on him into his bag before he lifted Mercedes up, bridal style, making sure to properly support her neck and being careful not to wake her. He didn't want to disturb her peaceful sleep.

He opened his door and gently placed Mercedes on his bed, covering her with his blankets, and locked the door. This situation was awkward. She was sleeping in his room, yet he couldn't sleep outside, despite it being Uchiha tradition not to disturb a woman's sleep by sleeping in the same room unless they were sharing a bed. He was caught between a rock and a hard place. He couldn't sleep outside due to the rules, but his clan's traditions didn't allow him to sleep in the same room as her unless they were sharing a bed and she was his significant other.

He decided to honor his clan's traditions and take his chances with the faculty. He went outside his dorm, shut his door, and laid in a garden position to protect Mercedes from anyone who might do her harm, even though that was irrational since she was safe. He looked at the sky and couldn't help but think about the feelings he had for her. What were these feelings, and what did they mean?

At first he ignored it as something nothing more than admiration great admiration but it was something else entirely he didn't know who to talk to about this him and Hinata are not really friends and it would be weird asking her this question none of the other blue Lions could help him either well there was two people that could Felix and Annette but between the two he would rather ask Annette these feelings he was having were strong he had strong feelings for her even before they started talking when he admired her from afar.

But since they've been on speaking terms, it only has intensified what was this feeling exactly? His mother once told him when he was a child about love at first sight, when someone finds their red thread, and it's someone that their heart aches for without any rationale. The love that they feel towards that person is genuine; it isn't just simple admiration. Sasuke can't feel that way towards Mercedes; it's impossible. They have barely spoken.

Though he couldn't deny his feelings towards her, he wanted to protect her smile, he wanted to hold her and tell her everything was going to be okay. He felt like he was getting soft; this woman was one in a million. He couldn't ponder on his thoughts as he was falling asleep, thinking about what it would be like to have a family with someone like Mercedes and smiled at the idea, but also felt sad because it would never happen, not with someone like him. Mercedes deserves better, Sasuke thought as he drifted off to sleep.

Ingrid and Hinata were back from their training trip. There were no words; they had trained for hours. She had a fun time, and she never thought she would experience training in the way that Hinata had shown her. He was getting late, and Ingrid and he mostly traveled in silence, not saying anything. She couldn't believe that Hinata spent an entire day, which she normally spends with Naruto. Part of her felt wrong for doing such a thing, like she was taking away their sacred time together. But part of her was happy to be alone with her, for them to share moments that she could have that Naruto and Dorothea couldn't have with her. Why did she feel this way? It was confusing.

Her hair was down; she didn't change it back to how she normally has it. She felt good for once, that she didn't have to tie her hair back, and it could flow freely. They were at Hinata's room, sitting on her bed. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't. Her heart was beating rapidly. What was this feeling? Even with Naruto, she didn't struggle to form words out of her mouth with him to this extent.

"Ingrid Chan, I really enjoyed our time today." Hinata said, the first thing she had said for almost 2 hours.

Ingrid felt the same. Their faces were inches from each other, and it was like this multiple times when they were training. When Hinata held her by the waist, her desire was becoming unbearable.

"Hinata, I appreciate you taking your time to train with me. I never thought I would ever experience the kind of training you do. I could watch you for hours." Ingrid said without hesitation, not caring how it came off. She truly mean it. Seeing her dance, seeing her body's movements, it was mesmerizing to her. It was so confusing. What were these emotions she was feeling towards Hinata? She never thought she would develop these strong emotions towards another. Naruto and Dorothea were one thing, but she had a difficult time breathing when she came into the realization that she had just come to.

"Are you all right?" Hinata asked, picking up on her distress.

"I'm..." She couldn't get the words out; she didn't know what to say. She didn't expect this to happen, not so soon, not again. Two people in such a short amount of time... How could she fall so hard for Naruto, and then, shortly after, she befriended Hinata, and it happened with her as well. Her heart felt like it was being crushed by the rejection. Why did this have to happen?

"Please say something," Hinata said, noticing her hesitation.

"Hinata, I..." She couldn't say anything; the word wouldn't leave her mouth.

"I'm sorry, I need to get some sleep. I'll see you tomorrow," Ingrid said as she left Hinata's room. When she was in the privacy of her quarters, she cried. Why did this have to happen? Her heart was more conflicted than ever. She felt like her heart was being pulled by three people, and she couldn't have any of them. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to choose, as it would tear her apart.

She cried herself to sleep.

Byleth opened his eyes and saw a sleeping Marianne in front of him. She looked so beautiful, he thought, so sweet and so innocent. He put his fingers through her hair; she was perfect in every way. He wanted to protect her more than ever, especially after what they had done last night. He wanted to make sure she never cried again and never had a look of sadness. Her happy smile was everything to him, and he wanted to protect it. He didn't care what anyone thought; this feeling was new to him, and he didn't understand it. He wished she could talk to his father and ask the question that had been on his mind since he first met her. Whenever he got the chance, he either lost his nerve or his father was on a mission for the church.

The next time his father was around, he would be on his own mission, he knew. This only made it more frustrating, as the feelings he was experiencing were confusing. He liked the way he felt around Marianne; with her, he could just be himself. He never thought someone like her would have such a strong hold on him, and he didn't understand these feelings. He would do anything she asked of him without hesitation, but he didn't know who to ask for guidance. He had never felt this confused before.

He didn't get a chance to indulge in his thoughts further when he heard Marianne wake up. She had a smile on her face but also a deep shade of red, knowing what they had both done.

"I can't believe we." She said, stuttering, not believing what they had done. She was so cute, he thought.

"Yes, it was amazing. You were amazing. It felt like..." He didn't have the words. Marianne's radiant smile had his own cheeks turning pink.

"I'm glad I was your first." Marianne said, he was glad too, for him to be her first. He didn't want to get out of bed, and he knew she didn't either.

"You know, fortunately, we have another day off, Byleth. If you don't mind, would you like to continue where we left off last night?" Marianne asked, blushing a deep shade of red at her boldness. Another round, he didn't mind, though it caught him off guard that he was more shy about asking her this sort of thing than she was.

" Shy girls tend to be more bold in the bedroom, if you know what I mean." His companion said teasingly. Inside him, he wanted to tell her to shut it, but he didn't get a chance to when Marianne started to kiss his neck.

"Last night, we had a night to remember. Right now, I'll make it so we both have a morning to remember, too." Marianne said with a seductive smile. He was powerless, but that wasn't a bad thing. They made love in the morning, and it was more intense than the first time they did it.

This feeling, he was happy. Yes, that was the emotion he felt. The other was something he did not understand, and he would have to ask his father when he had the chance. But that was for the future. Right now, he was focusing on the present, on him and Marianne's first time in the morning. He didn't care what the staff thought. Marianne was the only person whose thoughts mattered in his eyes.

The two lovers were in their own world. It didn't matter what the world thought of them. Being together at this moment was enough, and that was what mattered to him. Nothing else.