AN: This is a long chapter. XD

(Previously)

On a dusty road, three hooded figures can be hastily walking with a sense of urgency in their every step.

"Are of sure that it was Naruto Uzumaki?" One of the hooded figures asked the shortest of the three with a nervous tint in his voice.

"Yes, I'm sure that it was him. What worries me is that he was asking the shopkeeper about you two." The shortest one replied in concern and asked, "Why is he even asking about you two!?"

"He was probably sent by the Council to arrest us." The figure stated worriedly getting a nod of agreement from the other figure.

"It doesn't matter, what his reasons are. We need to avoid him as much as possible since fighting him would endanger us getting arrested..." One of them advised getting a nod of agreement from the other two, "...and we can't afford to get arrested now, not after, what we had found three days ago."

After that, they continued their hasty retreat through the silent road. However, they suddenly halted when they saw someone leaning against a tree that was on the side of the road and lazily spinning a weirdly shaped dagger in his index finger...and by the looks of it, he seemed to be waiting for someone, specifically, them.

The three hooded figures became alarmed when they finally realized who the person was.

"You guys are surely a troublesome bunch." Naruto grimaced at the three hooded figures and glared, "Have you ever thought of just staying in one place, huh? Jellal, Ultear?"

(Present)

"It seems you were indeed correct after all, Meredy," one of the hooded figures murmured, her tone resigned as she stepped protectively in front of the group's shortest member.

Naruto straightened from his leaning position, noticing the trio's tensed reaction to his question. He squinted, trying to make out their faces from beneath their hoods, but could only discern their hair colors peeking out.'

'Quite a colorful bunch of misfits,' he mused with a touch of amusement, and in a friendly tone, he said, "You three… um, you probably know who I am and why I'm here, right? So… why not come with me peacefully?"

Given his experience, Naruto knew the chances of a peaceful surrender were slim, but he figured it was worth a shot.

"I'm afraid… we can't do that, Naruto-san," Jellal replied, his posture tense as he removed his hood. His two allies followed suit, revealing their faces and preparing for the inevitable confrontation.

"Figured as much," Naruto sighed, scratching his back with his tri-pronged kunai. He cast a disapproving glance at the trio, noting their defensive stances.

The three figures now stood fully revealed. Jellal Fernandes, with his striking blue hair and the red tattoo on his face, exuded a calm yet intense energy. As a former Magic Saint and a member of the old Magic Council, his presence was imposing.

Beside Jellal stood Ultear Milkovich. Her silver hair added to her distinguished appearance, and her composed demeanor contrasted sharply with the surrounding tension. From what Naruto knew, she was a former Council member with the ability to manipulate time.

Naruto assessed her carefully. 'I need to neutralize her first,' he thought, wary of her dangerous powers. His gaze then shifted to the last member, Meredy. With her spiky pink hair and determined eyes, she looked ready for a fight. Though he didn't know much about her abilities, he recognized that capturing her would be necessary as she was part of the group.

Naruto sighed again, letting the weight of the situation settle in. "Okay, then..." he muttered, more to himself than to them, before lifting his gaze and locking eyes with Jellal, who seemed to be the de facto leader of the group. "I don't want to do this, but you leave me no choice."

Jellal's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with strategies as he subtly glanced at Ultear and Meredy, both of whom nodded slightly in silent communication. They had been through enough battles together to know each other's strengths and weaknesses, and they weren't going to back down now.

"Ready yourselves," Jellal whispered just loud enough for his companions to hear. His voice was steady, but Naruto caught the underlying resolve in it. These weren't just ragtag groups of bandits—they were strong and experienced mages prepared to fight for their freedom, which Naruto knew would be troublesome.

"Last chance," Naruto offered, spinning his kunai with a flick of his wrist, the blade catching the setting sunlight and gleaming ominously. "Come quietly, and we can sort this out without anyone getting hurt."

Ultear stepped forward slightly, her hand hovering near her side, where a hidden weapon or a magical tool might be.

"Naruto-san," she began, her voice carrying a note of genuine regret, "we understand your position, but we have our reasons. We can't allow ourselves to be captured—not now."

Naruto's eyes softened for a brief moment, recognizing the sincerity in her, and the tension thickened; Naruto paused, lowering his kunai slightly, and asked, his tone softer, less confrontational. "And pray to tell what reason that might be? Other than..well, running away from your crimes?"

Ultear hesitated, caught off guard by Naruto's sudden shift in tone. She exchanged a glance with Jellal, who gave a subtle nod, indicating that it was her decision whether or not to go ahead. Taking a deep breath, Ultear stepped forward, her eyes meeting Naruto's with a mixture of defiance and sadness. "You wouldn't understand, Naruto-san. We're not just running away; we're trying to fix something—something we can't afford to fail at."

Naruto's brow furrowed, his curiosity piqued. "Fix something? What do you mean? If it's something that needs to be done, why not ask for help? Why risk everything by going against the law?"

Ultear's gaze hardened slightly, though the sadness remained. "Because not everyone would understand or believe us. We've made mistakes—big ones—and now we're trying to atone for them in our way by taking down dark guilds. But if we're captured and stopped now, all the sacrifices we've made will be for nothing."

Naruto could sense the weight of her words, the desperation and determination that fueled her and her team's actions. Not to mention, he already aware that the trio had helped several villages from monsters, bandits, and dark mages when he was on the lookout for them. This indicated that the three weren't necessarily bad people but people who regretted their actions and wanted to atone for their sins in their way. He could respect that, but he also had a job to do.

Jellal spoke up, his voice almost a whisper. "Naruto-san, we're dealing with forces and consequences that could destroy everything if we don't handle it ourselves. We can't risk involving anyone else— especially the magic council."

Naruto frowned at that. He could tell there was more to the story, something deeper that they weren't telling him. But he also knew that pushing too hard might only make things worse.

"You three," Naruto said softly, "I don't know what you're up against, but I do know this—if you keep running, it'll only lead to more pain, for you and everyone around you. I get that you want to make things right, but you can't do it while running from the law. If you come with me peacefully, I might be able to help you all."

Jellal and Ultear looked back at him, conflicted. For a moment, both of them exchanged glances with each other as if they were considering his offer, the sincerity in his eyes making them doubt their resolve. Ultear also glanced at Meredy, who seemed to be getting really nervous by their current predicament, with sorrow as well as a hint of hope in the eyes. But then, the reality of their situation crashed back down on her.

"I'm sorry, Naruto-san," Ultear finally answered for her team, her voice laced with regret. "But we can't stop now. We can't afford to.

"I get it...," Naruto said quietly, his tone no longer carrying any trace of annoyance or playfulness that he previously had.

The air between them thickened with tension as they all prepared for the inevitable fight. Jellal, Ultear, and Meredy all knew that their path forward would be anything but easy, especially now that Naruto Uzumaki, a Magic Saint of his caliber, was standing in their way. They had seen him fight in last year's Grand Magic Games and knew how strong the blonde was, not to mention they were still unaware of his full magical capabilities apart from the ones that they had witnessed.

Jellal's jaw tightened as he considered their options. His gaze flickered to Ultear, who was already preparing a spell, her fingers twitching ever so slightly beneath her cloak. Meredy, the youngest, but no less determined, gripped the hilt of her weapon, her eyes scanning the area for any sign of advantage.

"...that's why I came prepared." Naruto suddenly smirked mischievously and yelled, "Now," catching the group off-guard again with his shift in tone, which was a grave mistake.

Jellal eyes suddenly widened in alarm as he sensed movements under the ground and realized that the blonde had set up a trap for them, "Ultear! Meredy! Jump!" He jumped in the air and tried to warn his teammates, but it was already too late as two pair of hands suddenly emerged from the ground under them belonging to two shadow clones of their assailant that had been hiding using the 'Hiding like a mole technique' before the trio had even reached the clearing of the forest.

The two clones successfully managed to grab a hold of Ultear and Meredy's ankles, eliciting a surprise and shock yelp from the duo. The two clones then quickly used body flicker along with Ultear and Meredy in tow and vanished from the area.

'Damn it!' Jellal landed back on the ground and cursed as he witnessed his two teammates vanish within seconds, his heart racing as he scanned the area, desperately trying to sense where Ultear and Meredy had been taken. He could still feel their magical signatures, faint but present, indicating that they were alive but out of reach. His fists clenched in frustration, knowing that Naruto had cleverly separated them to weaken their group.

"Don't worry," Naruto spoke out loud in a casual manner to assure the mage, "Both of them are alright, er... ah?" The blonde paused and blushed a little as he received some feedback memories from his clones, "Well...*cough*..yeah, th...they have been knocked unconscious and immobilized by my clones, but they are alive and kinda doing alright."

Jellal let out a small sigh of relief hearing that, though he had to wonder why the blonde had suddenly paused mid-sentence, "I'm surprised that a mage of your caliber would rely on such traps, Naruto-san. I thought Fairy Tail mages liked to go head first into fights instead of opting on using such cheap tricks." He lightly accused the still blushing blonde, though there was no real heat in his voice.

Naruto chuckled slightly, his previous blush now gone, at the mage's slight accusation, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "I guess you've had some encounters with my guild mates in the past, eh? However, I don't think you know Fairy Tail as well as you think, Jellal. We fight with everything we've got, whether it's brute strength, pure guts, strategy, or a well-placed trap. I learned a long time ago that there's more to winning a fight than just charging in headfirst." He paused, his expression becoming a bit more nostalgic as he fondly recalled all the scolding that he used to receive from his friends and teachers for going headfirst into fights without any plans.

"Not to mention, it would be been reckless of me to fight you three all at once without any proper strategy." The blonde admitted with a casual smile and gave a knowing look to Jellal, "Especially against a team comprising of a former wizard saint, an S-class mage, and a wild card."

"But don't get me wrong—if it's a straight fight you want, I'm more than ready to give it to you." The blonde confidently grinned, "I just figured it'd be smarter to even the odds first. Since my mission here is not to defeat you three but just to capture you, ya know."

"That's understandable, Naruto-san," Jellal's conceded his gaze softening, understanding the underlying respect Naruto held for him and his team.

Naruto lightly let out a chuckle, though it was tempered by the seriousness of the situation. "Now that it's just you and me, Jellal, we can have a proper talk," he said, spinning the kunai in his hand casually. "I didn't want to do this, but I couldn't let you guys run around, causing more chaos among the people."

The blonde paused and gave Jellal a sympathetic look, "I know you guys are just trying to atone for your sins in your way. But, many people are still unnerved and concerned regarding your team's motives and plans. So, I'm giving you a last chance to simply surrender peacefully and come with me."

Jellal frowned, his mind racing as he tried to formulate a plan. He knew that without Ultear and Meredy, he was at a significant disadvantage. But he also knew that Naruto wouldn't be easy to defeat even if they were together. He had to think of something, and fast.

"You underestimate us," Jellal finally said, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him as he tried to think of a way to get himself and his team out of this situation. "We're not just running around causing chaos. We're trying to prevent something much worse, something that could destroy everything we care about."

Naruto's eyes narrowed, sensing the sincerity in Jellal's words. "And you think fighting me will help with that? You think going against the law, against people who might be able to help, is the answer?"

"It's not that simple!" Jellal suddenly snapped catching the blonde by surprise, frustration creeping into his voice. "You have no idea what we're up against—what we've already sacrificed to get this far!"

Naruto's expression softened slightly, but his resolve didn't waver. "Then help me understand. I'm not your enemy, Jellal. If there's something bigger going on, something that threatens everyone, we should be working together, not against each other."

For a moment, and for the second time during their whole conversation, Jellal hesitated. The weight of Naruto's words hung in the air, and for the briefest of moments, he considered the possibility of trusting him. But then, memories of the dark guilds, of the pain and suffering they'd witnessed and caused, flashed through his mind. He couldn't risk it. He couldn't afford to trust anyone outside their circle. Even if it was Fairy Tail.

"I'm sorry, Naruto-san" Jellal said, his voice filled with regret. "But I can't let you stop us. Not now."

Naruto's expression hardened, and he readied himself for the inevitable battle. "Then I guess there's no other way." With that, the two powerful mages launched into action. Jellal summoned his celestial magic, his body glowing with a faint yellow aura as he prepared to unleash his spells.

"Meteor!"

Naruto braced himself, preparing to counter whatever the tattooed mage threw at him. What he didn't anticipate was Jellal simply flying away high in the air at breakneck speed.

"He can fly!? Naruto exclaimed in surprise, " ...Wait! Is that bastard just flying away!?" The blonde incredulously shouted in disbelief, staring at his opponent's flying figure.

(With Jellal)

'Damn it! I can't see them!' Jellal thought as he scanned the forested area from his vantage point, trying to find his teammates. He could sense their magical signature in the forest, but he couldn't exactly pinpoint their location.

Unbeknownst to the shocked blonde on the ground, Jellal planned to simply locate his teammates and whisk them away using his flight; wanting to avoid the unnecessary battle with the magic saint.

After extending his sensory magic into overdrive for a few more seconds, he let out a sigh of relief as he finally managed to locate his team's exact location, which was quite far away from him, and prepared to rush with all his speed toward them and get away from here.

'How did he even manage to teleport them so far away so fast?' Jellal curiously questioned himself and looked down at the figure on the ground. However, he frowned and became alarmed when he was unable to see the blonde. 'Where is he?' he wondered as he hastily tried to get a glimpse of the blonde in question.

"Are you trying to locate your teammates and fly away with them, eh?"

"What...?" The tattooed mage's eyes widened and muttered in surprise as he heard a familiar voice right behind him.

(A few seconds ago with Naruto)

Naruto watched as Jellal soared high above, his frustration evident. "Of all the things, flying away wasn't what I expected!" he muttered to himself once again in disbelief as he continued to track the figure of the mage; which now looked like a dot in the sky. But Naruto wasn't one to give up easily. With a deep breath, he focused his chakra, gathering it at his feet.

"Let's see if I can match you in the sky," Naruto murmured before leaping into the air, propelled by his chakra, and throwing one of his tri-pronged kunai upwards. After his kunai reached its mark, which was conveniently right behind the flying figure of Jellal, he used his hiraishin technique, instantly teleporting to it.

Now airborne, Naruto locked his gaze on Jellal's back and smirked, now realizing what the mage's actual plan was, "Are you trying to locate your teammates and fly away with them, eh?"

"What...?"

The tattooed mage's eyes widened, and he gasped in surprise as he heard a familiar voice right behind him and whipped his quickly towards the voice.

(Present)

Seeing the surprised look on Jellal's face, Naruto couldn't help but let out a massive grin confidently, though it was short-lived as gravity took its course and he felt himself falling.

'Ah! Should I just go sage of six path mode on his ass to fly!?' Naruto hastily pondered as he flailed his arms, trying to control his trajectory downwards, cursing all the while, but he reasoned with himself that it would be pretty overkill, not to mention the time it would take for him to enter into that mode. So, he decided to just wing it and go with the flow like he has been doing since he was a rookie Genin, making the hand seal for his signature technique with a feral grin.

Despite his current predicament, Jellal couldn't help but sweat drop at the blonde's antics who was now trying hard to keep himself afloat while cursing like a sailor. However, the mage's reprieve didn't last for long and he prepared himself to knock the blonde down when he saw numerous clones of the aforementioned blonde pop up mid-air in the sky.

''Yosh!'' One of the clones cheered, grabbing the original hand and launching him upwards toward the flying mage with great speed.

Noticing Naruto approaching him, Jellal quickly adjusted his strategy. He raised his hand, gathering magical energy,

"Heavenly Body Magic: Pleiades!" he chanted and sent a barrage of magical blasts towards the blonde, who expertly dodged and weaved through all of them with a combination of substitution with his clones and changing his trajectory with bursts of wind chakra mid-air.

'I'll have to knock him out of the sky quickly!' A determined Jellal thought as he watched his opponent easily weave through his spell in unconventional ways. Taking a deep breath he called upon up his heavenly magic once more as a yellow aura surrounded his body.

"Meteor!" Jellal cried out and directly charged towards the blonde and his clones at a rapid pace.

"Shit! He's fast!" Naruto let out a surprised gasp at Jellal's sudden speed and quickly substituted with one of his clones in order to avoid getting hit by the streaking mage, and after getting the residual memory from the clone the blonde was glad that he did that.

"Damn, this guy is not joking at all." The blonde cursed at the speed of the tattooed mage as he was forced to again substitute himself, while at the same time making sure to let one his clones throw him upwards.

'I need to get close to him.' He thought and summoned a tri-pronged kunai as Jellal was completely demolishing his small army of clones within seconds. Though, before Naruto could react, Jellal suddenly stopped and aimed his finger at the surprised blonde and called out,

"May the Seven Stars bring judgement upon you: Grand Chariot!"

"The heck!?" Naruto exclaimed as the sky above him suddenly lit up with seven magic circles, "Ah…troublesome." The blonde groaned in annoyance as he saw seven huge beams of magical energy streaking towards him from the magic circles.

"Multi-Shadow clone Jutsu!" The blonde shouted and summoned a literal army of clones mid air to intercept the beams with Rasengan in their hands, while he deftly stepped on some on the clones head and jumped away and dodge the incoming attacks.

The clones managed to deflect most of the blasts, though some managed to explode close enough to cause shockwaves that knocked the blonde slightly off course. The interception by the clones with their rasengen also producing tone of smoke clouds in the air. Which worked completely fine for the blonde.

Jellal watched on in anticipation at the smoke clouds wondering whether he was able to knock the blonde away. What he didn't expect was for a kunai to suddenly zip past him grazing his right cheeks and opening ha small cut.

"You need to try a bit harder than that, buddy."

Jellal's eyes widened in disbelief as he heard Naruto's voice coming from behind him. Instinctively, he whipped his head around, only to find the blonde just inches away from him ready to smash his face with a Rasengan.

Jellal's heart raced as he saw the swirling, blue sphere of 'magic' in Naruto's hand, glowing with destructive power. The sheer speed of Naruto's movement had caught him off guard, and there was no time to evade, but he had to. He had seen the blonde's skills and speed during the Grand Magic Games, but this speed was insane even for him! With a flash of panic in his eyes, Jellal reacted on pure instinct and used his meteor to dodge the Rasengan and create some distance between them.

Jellal barely escaped Naruto's Rasengan, the sphere's energy grazing the edge of his cloak as he launched himself into the sky on his Meteor spell. His heart pounded in his chest, as the gap between them widened as Jellal soared higher, desperately trying to gather his composure and plan his next move. However, he wasn't offered a breather as another kunai soared towards him,

"You won't get away that easily!"

Jellal's eyes widened in alarm as Naruto materialized in front of him, already preparing another Rasengan, this one even bigger than before. He had no time to react, only instinctively raising a protective barrier of magic around himself. The Rasengan collided with the barrier, causing a massive explosion of energy that sent shockwaves rippling through the sky.

Jellal gritted his teeth as the shockwave from the Rasengan reverberated through his barrier, barely holding it together. The momentary relief of blocking the attack vanished when he felt Naruto's hand on his shoulder and the chilling sensation of something being placed on him.

"Gotcha!" Naruto grinned victoriously, his eyes full of determination as he managed to put his hiraishin marker on the mage's shoulder.

"This fight's over, Jellal!"

Before Jellal could respond, Naruto vanished in a flash, reappearing a short distance away. He formed a hand seal, and suddenly, multiple shadow clones surrounded Jellal, each with either rasengen or kunai in their hands.

"You can't escape now!" Naruto shouted as the clones lunged toward Jellal from every direction using their comrades to launch them. Jellal's eyes darted around, calculating his next move. He knew he had only seconds to act.

Channeling all his remaining energy, he extended his hands, releasing a powerful surge of magic.

"Novenary Thunder star!"

Yellow Beams of light shot out from Jellal's hands, coiling like snakes, targeting the clones. Explosions erupted as the beams struck, destroying several clones, but more kept coming, closing in on him.

The clones began getting small hits on the mage's body as they used a series of Body flickers and lightning-fast attacks, attempting to overwhelm Jellal from every angle. The mage, on the other hand, using his celestial magic, danced through the sky, dodging and countering with powerful magical blasts. The combatants moved at blinding speeds, the sky lighting up with the flashes of their best efforts, Jellal began to realize that Naruto's strategy wasn't just brute force. The clones were coordinating their attacks to restrict his movements, gradually forcing him into a defensive position.

In a last-ditch effort, Jellal poured his energy into his own body, using Meteor to try and dodge the incoming attacks and prepare his most powerful spell to try to end the fight. However, Naruto anticipated this, teleporting directly to the seal he placed on Jellal. Naruto appeared inches from Jellal, a big Rasengan in hand, ready to end the fight.

"You're not getting away this time!"

"Big Ball Rasengan!"

The blonde declared as Jellal's eyes widened in horror as the Rasengan connected, sending him crashing into the ground from the sky with tremendous force. Dust and debris filled the air as the impact created a large crater. As the dust settled, Naruto stood at the edge of the crater, breathing calmly, and stared at the battered body of the mage, who seemed to be having trouble getting up.

"Why won't you just let us go?" Jellal questioned the blonde, his voice sounding weak and desperate.

I can't," Naruto answered, his voice resolute. "Not when I know you guys are headed for disaster. Let me help you, Jellal."

"We can't.." The mage muttered breathing heavily, his forehead and cheeks bleeding quite heavily due to the impact of the Rasengan. His body trembled as he struggled to gather the remnants of his magical energy. His vision blurred, and the pain from the Rasengan still radiated through his body, but he was determined not to give up.

He whispered the incantation for Grand Chariot under his breath, his mind racing. He knew this was his last chance to turn the tide of the battle. But before he could finish, Naruto was suddenly in front of him, and he felt the blonde palms on his chest. The mage barely had time to react before he felt a surge of unknown energy flow through him, disrupting his concentration and immobilizing him completely as various markings slowly appeared on his body.

"Stop, Jellal," Naruto said, his voice firm but with a note of sympathy. "You've done enough. This fight is over." Jellal fell to his knees, panting heavily as the weight of defeat settled on his shoulders, and he slowly lost consciousness.

*Line Break*

Naruto let out a huff as he carried the unconscious body of Jellal out of the crater and laid him on the ground.

"What's taking them so long?" The blonde wondered out loud in slight annoyance as he tapped his feet on the ground impatiently for about a minute.

"Yo, boss!"

"What took you guys so long!?" Naruto yelled irritably as he saw two of his clones casually jogging toward him carrying an unconscious Ultear and Meredy on their shoulders.

"Sorry boss," One of the clones sheepishly apologized as they reached the blonde and slowly laid down the two women on the ground, "We kinda got lost on the way."

"Yup."

Naruto's eyebrow twitched in disbelief at his clone's apology and reasoning. He wanted to give them an earful but decided against it as he needed to take care of other important matters.

"Sigh…whatever," The blonde simply sighed, "Just tell me," he paused and glared at the two sheepish clones and asked, "Who was the one that groped Meredy?"

The two clones gulped and quickly pointed at one another with scared expressions on their faces.

"It was you! Not me!"

"You were the one in charge of her, not me! Don't blame me, you bastard!"

"It was just a mistake, boss!" The first clone fearfully apologized and then quickly snapped his attention towards his colleague with a livid expression, "Oi! Aren't we the same!? So if I'm a bastard, then so are you, stupid!"

"Oh…right…eh? Then that would mean you are stupid as well!"

'Sage, help me.' Naruto let out a pitiful groan as he helplessly watched his clones bicker with each other; while recalling the memory that he had received just a few moments ago.

*Line Break*

(A few moments ago with Ultear and Meredy)

The two shadow clones appeared in a clearing of the forest using the Body Flicker technique, far away from their original location. They had a disoriented Ultear and Meredy in tow, who were still groaning as they tried to make sense of what had happened. The sudden teleportation had left them completely disoriented, their senses struggling to catch up with reality.

Before they could fully recover, half a dozen more shadow clones emerged from the surrounding trees, each one moving swiftly to grab hold of the two ladies.

Ultear, feeling her movement being restricted by the clones tried to counter using her arc of time, but it was too late as she felt herself getting physically immobilsed, feeling like as if she was tied down by an invisible steel ropes.

"Temporary Paralysis Jutsu." One of the clone's muttered as he managed to hold the time mage using an academy Jutsu and signaled the other clone to go ahead.

Ultear struggled against the invisible binds, her mind racing as she tried to devise a countermeasure. She could feel the chakra-infused ropes locking her body in place, and the more she tried to fight it, the tighter they seemed to grip. Meredy, too, was caught, her eyes darting around, trying to find an opening. The clones had surrounded them completely, each one poised and ready for any attempt to escape.

"You're not getting away this time," the clone who had performed the Jutsu said, his tone calm but firm.

Meredy's emotions were in turmoil, and she tried to reach out to Ultear through their emotional link, hoping to find some reassurance. However, Ultear's thoughts were focused on breaking free, leaving Meredy with a sense of dread.

The clone who received the signal stepped forward, he knelt down to look Ultear in the eyes, his voice firm but not unkind. "I know you're strong, and I know you could probably break out of this if you had more time. But it's over. There's no need for this to go any further. You can end this now."

Ultear's eyes narrowed as she glared at the clone. "You think this is over? You don't understand what you're dealing with."

"Maybe not," the clone admitted, "but boss doesn't want to hurt you. He just wants to end this fight before anyone else gets hurt." The clone paused a little and placed a sealing tag on the bound mage uncovered stomach area, "Magnet Release: Seal." The clone muttered doing the ram hand seal as the seal slowly took effect.

The sealing tag activated with a faint glow, spreading its intricate black marking across Ultear's abdomen, which slowly spread to all her body.

The seal's was a creation of Naruto to immobilsed his opponents. The tag had the magnet release Jutsu sealed inside it, however the tag only works when the opponent is caught off-guard or weakened.

The seal's purpose was clear: to temporarily suppress Ultear's magical abilities, preventing her from using her Arc of Time to escape or attack. Ultear's eyes widened as she felt the familiar rush of magic within her being forcibly sealed away, leaving her powerless and she felt her consciousness slowly slipping away. Meredy, witnessing the sealing of Ultear's abilities, felt a wave of panic surge through her. Her bond with Ultear allowed her to sense the older woman's fear and frustration, amplifying her own emotions. She struggled harder against the clones holding her, but their grip remained firm, unyielding.

"Don't worry," One of the clone's holding the pink haired girl down assured her, "She is alright. She is just unconscious."

This didn't really assured the girl, as she gritted her teeth angrily and tried to gather her magic with all her might, emitting a pink aura from her body which caused her bindings to loosen.

Noticing this the clone eye's widened and tried to put the sealing tag on her stomach area quickly, but the girl stopped him by grabbing his wrist.

"You're quite strong," the clone grinned as he felt the strength of the girl on his wrist, "but you still have a long way to go." He winked good naturedly.

Meredy, glared at the clone, her eyes blazing with determination. Her grip on his wrist tightened, but the clone remained unfazed, his expression still friendly and calm. "You won't get away with this," Meredy hissed through clenched teeth, her magic surging as the pink aura around her intensified.

The clone's grin widened. "You're a tough one, I'll give you that. But we're not here to hurt you. We're just trying to stop you from causing any more harm."

Meredy's magic flared, and the bindings around her began to crack. The clone could feel the pressure of her magic, but he remained steady, focusing on his task. In a swift movement, he used his free hand to flash the sealing tag toward her. With a determined cry, Meredy unleashed a burst of her magic, trying to push the clone away. The clone's grin didn't waver as he anticipated her move, but instead of resisting, he allowed the force of her magic to send him flying back. As he sailed through the air, he skillfully threw the sealing tag, aiming it directly at Meredy. The tag landed on her chest, seeing this Meredy tried to remove it but she her eyes widened as she felt a hand land on her chest.

Meredy's eyes widened in shock and embarrassment as she felt the clone's hand firmly placed on her chest in a gropping manner, right over the sealing tag. She could feel her magic surging, but the tag seemed to pulse with chakra, disrupting her focus as the black markings of the seal slowly started to spread across her body. Her cheeks flushed a deep red, caught between the sudden proximity and the realization that she was now sealed as she felt her consciousness slipping away.

The clone, still grinning, quickly retracted his hand and stepped back, holding up his hands defensively. "Sorry about that," he said, his tone sincere despite the situation. "Had to make sure it stuck."

She glared at the clone, trying to regain her composure, but she was clearly rattled. "You…," she stammered, struggling to find the words. "This isn't over. "The clone just gave her a confident nod. "I wouldn't expect it to be," he replied. "But for now, you're not going anywhere." He declared with a small smile as the girl dropped on the ground loosing consciousness.

"…"

"…"

"What?" The clone confusedly asked as he saw his fellow clones giving a knowing look.

"Dude, don't act so nonchalant," One of the clone replied, "You clearly intended to grope her, didn't you?"

The clone's face turned beet red as he waved his hands frantically in denial. "No way! I was just trying to knock her out, I swear!" But his protest only fueled the teasing. "Yeah, right," one of the clones said with a smirk. "You conveniently decided to knock her out right as she was about to fall, huh?" Another clone chimed in, laughing, "Next time, just admit it. We're all you, remember?"

The accused clone groaned, rubbing the back of his head. "You're all impossible…"

As the clones continued their teasing, the embarrassed clone scowled, waving his hands defensively. "Seriously, you guys are the worst!" he huffed. Despite the lighthearted banter, they all knew they had a job to do.

"Alright, alright, let's not keep the boss waiting," another clone said, still smirking. One by one, the clones dispelled, sending the memories and information back to the original Naruto, leaving only two clones and the unconscious form of Ultear and Meredy in the clearing.

*LINE BREAK*

(Present)

Ultear groaned and groggily opened her eyes, her body feeling extremely weakened. She tried to push herself up but found her arms and legs cuffed by chains, specifically, magic suppression chains. The battle, if she could even call it, had taken a toll on her, and every muscle in her body ached as if she'd been through a grueling trial. Memories of the fight flashed through her mind—Naruto's speed, the trap and….

She blinked a few times, trying to clear her memory and vision. The surroundings were unfamiliar, a dimly lit space with the smell of earth and wood filling the air. It wasn't the battlefield, but a small carriage of some sort. The only sound she could hear was the spinning of wheels against the rough terrain, a low, rhythmic creaking that echoed through the enclosed space.

She turned her attention to her right and almost sighed in relief upon seeing Meredy and Jellal, both slumped against the wooden walls of the carriage, chained and unconscious. Despite their current state, their chests rose and fell in steady rhythms, indicating that they were unharmed, just deeply asleep or perhaps knocked out. The dim light cast long shadows on their faces, highlighting the tension in their expressions, even in unconsciousness. She noticed that Meredy didn't had any visible injuries, unlike Jellal, whose head was wrapped with bandages.

"Yo, it seems you are finally awake," a familiar voice broke the silence, causing her to tense up. Turning her gaze forward, she found Naruto leaning casually against the opposite wall of the carriage, somewhat hidden by the shadow of the carriage, casually slurping down a bowl of ramen.

Ultear tensed at the sound of Naruto's voice, her eyes narrowing as she locked onto the blonde Magic Saint sitting across from her. The sight of him casually eating ramen, as if they weren't enemies, was almost surreal. The shadows played tricks with his features, making him look both relaxed and alert, ready for anything. Naruto's blue eyes flicked up to meet hers, a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I made sure not to rough them up too much," he said, his voice calm but with an underlying seriousness. "They'll be fine once they wake up. You all put up a good fight, but it's over now.

Ultear's mind raced. She could feel the lingering effects of whatever spell he had been used on her, dulling her senses and making her movements sluggish. It wasn't like her to be caught off guard, yet here she was, captured and at the mercy of someone she barely understood.

"Where are you taking us?" Ultear finished her question, her voice laced with both curiosity and worry for her teammates. Despite the situation, she refused to show fear.

Naruto finished the last of his ramen, setting the bowl down with a satisfied sigh. "Magic Council prison, duh," he replied, his tone still relaxed.

Ultear's eyes narrowed, her mind quickly assessing the situation. Being handed over to the Magic Council was a fate she dreaded. She knew what awaited them—imprisonment, or worse. Her mind raced, thinking of escape routes, potential spells, anything that could give them an edge. But Naruto's presence, his unwavering confidence, made her doubt if they had any chance at all.

Naruto's voice cut through her thoughts like a sharp blade. "Don't even think of escaping," he warned, his gaze locking onto Ultear's. "I can see it in your eyes. You're already planning a way out. But trust me, it won't work. This carriage is being led by a team of experienced rune knights, not to mention, myself…so yeah, don't even think about it."

Ultear bit her lip in frustration, the reality of their situation finally hitting her full force. She wanted to scream at the blonde, but knew that it wouldn't help.

Naruto gave the time mage a look of sympathy, seeing the look of frustration on her face and said, "I know this isn't how you wanted things to turn out. But you should understand, this isn't personal. I'm just doing what I have to do." His tone softened slightly, though his eyes remained steely.

Ultear's frustration was evident, her fists clenched tightly. "You think you're doing the right thing? You have no idea or understand what we are dealing with."

"Then make me understand," Naruto calmly replied, giving her a steady gaze. "Explain to me what's going on. What are you guys so hell-bent on fighting against?" He paused, taking a deep breath and putting a small smile on his face. "Then I'll see whether I can help you guys or not."

Ultear looked at Naruto with a mix of surprise and skepticism. Her anger began to ebb away as she saw the sincerity in his eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to steady her thoughts. She glanced at the unconscious forms of Jellal and Meredy, weighing her options—what would be best for her and for her team.

After collecting her thoughts for a moment with a heavy sigh, Ultear looked at the expectant eyes of the blonde and began, "Fine…"

*Line Break*

(Two days Later, Magic Council Headquarters, Era)

In the grand chamber of the Magic Council, tension hung thick in the air, crackling like the prelude to a thunderstorm.

Naruto sat almost nonchalantly in his chair, his posture relaxed, yet his eyes betrayed a restlessness that belied his outward calm. The council members around him were embroiled in a heated debate, voices rising and falling as they argued over the fate of Ultear, Meredy, and Jellal. For over an hour, the room had been ablaze with conflicting opinions, each side vehemently defending their stance on the trio's punishment.

Despite his composed exterior, the blonde's mind was far from tranquil. Ever since he had brought the three to Era and ensured their secure imprisonment, sleepless nights had plagued him, his thoughts a swirling maelstrom of doubt and unease. Ultear's revelations and information had cast a long shadow over his perception of Earth-land, and the weight of it all bore down on him like a heavy cloak.

As the council's debate raged on, Naruto leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant as he absently traced the patterns on the chamber's ornate ceiling. The opulent surroundings, with their grandiose architecture and intricate designs, only seemed to amplify the discord within the room. Naruto's thoughts drifted back to his homeland, the Elemental Nations, a place where war and strife were as common as the air one breathed a few years ago. Compared to that, Earth-land had initially seemed like a haven, a world where the conflicts were smaller, more manageable.

But now, after nearly three years in this world, Naruto's rose-colored glasses had been thoroughly shattered. Ultear's words had peeled back the layers of peace he had admired, revealing the darker undercurrents that flowed beneath the surface. It was a harsh reminder that no world, no matter how seemingly idyllic, was free from suffering and conflict.

Demons? Dark Lord? A whole goddamn Organisations of Demons!? The blonde shook his head at the absurdity of the situation.

'I guess… even in this world, there's no shortage of evil groups wanting to dominate the world, eh?' Naruto mused bitterly, his thoughts drifting to a certain group from his own world—a group that had once sought to plunge everything into darkness for their own twisted purposes.

Finally, the council's debate seemed to be reaching its climax. The voices, once a cacophony of arguments, began to quiet as the members moved toward a consensus. Naruto's attention returned to the room, his blue eyes sharpening as he prepared for what was to come.

Gran Doma, stern and imposing as ever, stood at the head of the chamber, his gaze sweeping over the council members. The room fell into a tense silence, the weight of the moment pressing down on everyone present.

"After much deliberation," Gran Doma began, his voice carrying the authority of his position, "the Magic Council has reached a decision regarding the fate of Ultear Milkovich, Meredy, and Jellal Fernandes."

But before he could continue, Naruto quickly raised his hand, his expression suddenly serious getting the attention of the council members. Naruto's usual carefree demeanor was replaced by a sharp, almost commanding presence. He had seen enough councils and deliberations to know when words needed to be spoken. His gaze, usually bright and mischievous, now held a depth of experience that few in this world could comprehend.

"Before you make your decision," Naruto began, his voice calm yet carrying a weight that silenced any potential interruptions, "I have some important information that I would like to share."

"I think we can hear about it later, Saint Naruto." One of the Council members interjected wanting to get over this meeting quickly.

However, the blonde's hand remained raised, his expression unreadable as he locked eyes with the council member who had spoken. The air in the chamber grew even more tense, as if the very walls were holding their breath. The council, usually so quick to assert their authority, found themselves unnerved by the silent command in Naruto's posture. This was not the playful, easygoing man they had come to know for the past few months.

This was a warrior, one who had faced darkness beyond their comprehension. "With all due respect," Naruto began, his voice steady but carrying an unmistakable edge, "this cannot wait. The fate of Ultear, Meredy, and Jellal isn't just about their past crimes or even their potential for redemption. It's about something much bigger."

The room fell into an uneasy silence. The council members, seasoned mages and political figures, were not accustomed to being spoken to in such a manner, yet none dared to interrupt. Naruto had earned their respect over past few with his duties as a Magic Saint, but this was different. There was a gravity to his words that made them listen.

Naruto took a deep breath and stared directly at Grand Doma, choosing his next words carefully. "During my… encounter with them, Ultear mentioned something that should concern all of us—something called Tartarus."

The name hung in the air like a dark cloud, unfamiliar to most of the council members but filled with ominous weight. Naruto noticed the flicker of recognition in a few of the older members' eyes, especially, Gram Doma and Org, though they remained silent.

"Tartarus according to Ultear is not just some dark guild," Naruto continued, his voice growing firmer. "It's something much more dangerous. From what she hinted at, they are a guild made up entirely of demons from some sort of book called 'Books of Zeref'. If that's true, it means they're directly tied to Zeref himself, and we all know what kind of threat that represents."

Murmurs broke out among the council, the name "Zeref" causing a ripple of fear and concern. Naruto scanned the room noticing even the most seasoned members looked uneasy at the mention of the Dark Wizard.

The blonde didn't knew much about the Zeref guy, but Old man Yajima had once told him that the guy was some sort of bogeyman in this world. The name alone was enough to instill fear, a reminder of an ancient evil that had once nearly brought the world to its knees.

"I understand that you want justice for the crimes Ultear, Meredy, and Jellal committed," Naruto continued, his tone softer but no less serious. "But they might be our best chance to learn more about Tartarus and stop them before they become an even bigger threat. If we ignore this, we could be facing something far worse than anything we've ever dealt with before."

The council members exchanged glances, the weight of Naruto's words sinking in. This was no longer just a question of guilt or innocence; it was a matter of survival. The idea of a guild made entirely of demons, connected to the most feared Dark Wizard in history, was enough to give even the most jaded members pause.

Finally, Org spoke up with a hint of seriousness in his voice. "If what you say is true, Saint Naruto, then we may indeed be facing a greater threat than we anticipated. But how can we trust the word of criminals?"

Naruto nodded, expecting the question. "I don't trust them blindly, and I'm not asking you to either. But Ultear, Meredy, and Jellal… they've seen the darkness in this world, just like I have. They've fought it, and in their own way, they've tried to change things for the better. They could be valuable allies against Tartarus, but only if we give them that chance."

Another council member, a younger man with a stern expression, leaned forward. "And if they betray us? If this is just another one of their schemes?"

Naruto's gaze hardened, and his voice took on an edge that brooked no argument. "If they betray us, I'll be the first to bring them down. But right now, we can't afford to let fear guide our decisions. According to Ultear Tartarus is coming, and we need every advantage we can get."

The room fell silent once more, the weight of Naruto's words settling over them like a heavy shroud. The council members, for all their experience and wisdom, found themselves grappling with the gravity of the situation.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Gran Doma spoke up with authority, "We will take your words under advisement, Saint Naruto. This council will need to discuss this further before a decision is made. But know this—if we agree to spare them, it will be on your head if they betray us."

Naruto nodded, his expression resolute. "I understand. And I'll take full responsibility."

With that, the tension in the room eased slightly, though the sense of unease remained. The council members began to file out of the chamber, their expressions a mix of concern and contemplation. Naruto let out a long breath which he didn't knew he was holding, his thoughts still racing, but a small part of him felt a glimmer of hope for the trio. He just hope that the Council would see the merits of his reasoning and come up with a positive judgement for them tomorrow.

*Line Break*

( 7th April, X790)

In the bustling guild hall of Fairy Tail, the air was filled with laughter and chatter as the members gathered to celebrate a special occasion.

The usually rowdy atmosphere was even more festive today, for it was Asuka Connell's 7th birthday. The little girl, with her wide, curious eyes and infectious smile, was the center of attention as everyone in the guild doted on her.

Here we find the Ace of the guild, Naruto, casually sipping a glass of Orange juice by the large table laden with food and gifts. He couldn't help but smile as he watch the little birthday girl, perched on the shoulders of her father, Alzack, giggled as she reached out to grab a brightly colored present. The blonde watched with a warm smile, feeling a sense of peace amidst the joyous celebration.

"Hey, Naruto!" called out Laki, waving him over to where she and Yukino were setting up a game for the kids. "Why don't you come join us? We're about to start the piñata!"

Naruto grinned and made his way over, his hands holding another glass of Orange juice, "You bet! Can't let the kids have all the fun, right?" As he approached, Asuka's eyes lit up when she saw him.

"Big brother Naruto!" she exclaimed, reaching out to him eagerly. Alzack carefully lowered her to the ground, and the little girl ran over, hugging the blonde's leg.

"Happy birthday, Asuka-chan," Naruto said, crouching down to her level. He adjusted her oversized cowboy affectionately. "Are you having fun?"

Asuka nodded enthusiastically. "Look at all my presents, big brother! And there's cake, and everyone is here!"

"Well, of course," Naruto replied with a chuckle. "We wouldn't miss celebrating the birthday of the coolest kid in Fairy Tail."

As Naruto knelt down to Asuka's level, his warm smile mirrored the little girl's excitement. Her wide, eager eyes sparkled as she looked up at him with pure adoration. "Big brother, what did you bring me?" Asuka asked, her small hands clutching the fabric of his pants. There was an innocent curiosity in her voice, a hint of anticipation that made Naruto's heart swell with affection.

"Well," Naruto began, reaching into his pocket with a playful glint in his eyes. "I thought long and hard about what the perfect gift for you would be, and I think you're going to like this."

Asuka watched with bated breath along with some nearby guild members like Yukino and Laki as Naruto pulled out a small, intricately wrapped box. He handed it to her, and she quickly untied the ribbon, her fingers trembling with excitement. Inside was a delicate silver necklace, the pendant shaped like the Fairy Tail emblem. It glimmered softly in the light, but what made it truly unique was the small, subtle symbol etched into the back—a Hiraishin seal.

Asuka gasped, her eyes growing even wider as she looked from the necklace to Naruto. "It's beautiful, Big brother!"

Naruto's smile softened, and he gently took the necklace from the box, clasping it around her neck. The pendant rested just above her heart—though it looks quite big for her— the Fairy Tail emblem catching the light as it swayed slightly.

"There's something special about this necklace, Asuka-chan," Naruto said, his tone suddenly a bit more serious. "If you ever find yourself in trouble or scared, all you have to do is hold onto it tightly. No matter where I am, I'll be there in a flash to protect you."

Asuka's eyes filled with awe as she lightly touched the pendant, feeling the cool metal against her skin. "Really? You'll come to me, just like magic?"

Naruto nodded, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "I promise. You're part of our family, Asuka-chan, and I'll always be there to keep you safe.

Bisca, who had been watching the exchange with a fond smile, placed a hand on her daughter's head. "You've got quite the protector, Asuka-chan. But remember, we're all here for you too." Asuka beamed, a smile so bright it could rival the sun. "Thank you, big brother Naruto! I love it!"

Naruto stood up, his heart full as he watched Asuka show off her new necklace to everyone nearby. He took a sip from his glass of orange juice, feeling a deep sense of contentment and went toward Laki and Yukino to help them with the piñata. Amidst the joyous celebration, he was reminded once again why Fairy Tail was more than just a guild—it was a family.

As the celebration in the guild hall continued on for a few more minutes, the piñata was finally brought out, Alzack took charge, lifting his daughter onto his shoulders so she could have the first swing. The other children gathered around, cheering her on as she giggled with delight.

"Alright, Asuka-chan," Alzack said, holding her steady. "Give it your best shot!" Asuka closed her eyes and swung the bat with all her might, missing the piñata by a wide margin. The crowd laughed good-naturedly, and Naruto who was standing close by spun around dramatically, pretending that the missed swing had knocked him off balance.

"Whoa! You're too strong!" he exclaimed, making Asuka giggle even more.

Meanwhile, not far from where the kids were playing with the piñata, Macao and Wakaba were leaning against the bar, each nursing a drink and watching the interaction between Naruto and the guild members with fondness.

"You know," Macao began, his voice thoughtful as he swirled the drink in his hand. "When Naruto first joined, I didn't think much of him. Granted, he seemed strong as he was recommended by Yajima-san, but I just thought of him as another kid with a lot of energy and big dreams."

Wakaba nodded, taking a puff from his pipe. "Yeah, but he's proven himself more times than we can count. He's not just strong—he's a real leader. The way the guild has grown since he arrived… it's like he was meant to be here.."

Macao glanced over at Wakaba, a serious expression settling on his face. "I've been thinking… we need someone like him leading us. The brat got a way with people that this guild need. I have done everything in my power to lead the guild during our turbulent days, but now…I think it's time for me to step down."

Wakaba raised an eyebrow, blowing out a cloud of smoke. "You're not suggesting…?"

"I am," Macao said firmly. "I believe Naruto should be our next guild master. He's got the heart, the strength, and the wisdom beyond his years. It's time we look towards the future."

Before Wakaba could respond, Macao turned and made his way toward the center of the hall, where Naruto and Kinana were now helping Asuka and the other kids with collecting the sweets from the piñata.

Clearing his throat loudly, Macao called out, "Hey, everyone! Can I have your attention for a minute?"

The room gradually quieted down, and all eyes turned to Macao. Naruto, still holding the piñata stick, looked over in curiosity.

"First of all, let's give a big round of applause to Asuka-chan for being the most awesome birthday girl!" Macao started, earning cheers and claps from the guild. Asuka beamed, waving at everyone.

"And second," Macao continued, his tone growing more serious, "I want to take a moment to talk about our guild's future. We've been through a lot together, especially during this past six years, and we've always come out stronger because we stick together like family. But every family needs a strong leader to guide them, especially with the challenges we've been facing."

Some of the senior members like Alzack and Bisca eyes widened slightly as they began to realize where Macao was going with this.

"That's why I think it's time for me to step down from my position and name a new guild master," Macao declared, his voice carrying through the hall. "Someone who's proven their worth time and time again. Someone who's got the strength, the heart, and the spirit of Fairy Tail."

This made the guild members murmur among themselves, curious about the next possible master of the guild. Though, most of them already had a rough idea as to who it could be.

"And I can't think of anyone more suited for that role than our guild's Ace Naruto Uzumaki."

The hall fell into a stunned silence for a moment, before the guild erupted in cheers and applause.

Naruto blinked, momentarily taken aback by the declaration, "Who?...me!?" He exclaimed completely perplexed by the turn of events and glanced around, seeing the approval and encouragement in the eyes of his guild mates.

"Naruto! Naruto! Naruto!" the chant began, with even Asuka joining in, her small voice ringing out among the others.

Naruto stood up slowly, a mix of emotions running through him as he looked around at the people who had become his family. He didn't knew how to react, on one hand, he was touch that they even thought of him being the guild master…. However, the problem was…he wasn't going to be here permanently at all!

'But…' the blonde contemplated internally as he took in the joyous expressions of his friends, 'It is possible that I could be stuck here for some more years,' he reasoned with himself, 'Kurama hasn't even yet recovered six tailed worth of his chakra…so it could take him another two or three years to wake up…'

The blonde took a deep breath, finally coming up with his decision.

"Oh, well…I'll just go with the flow."

He stepped forward, raising a hand to quiet the room.

"I… I don't know what to say," Naruto began, his voice thick with emotion. "In my short time here, I've always seen myself as a part of this family, and to even be considered for something like this… it's an honor. But I want you all to know that no matter what, I'll always give everything I have to this guild. Fairy Tail is my home, and I'll protect it with my life. Believe it!"

The guild roared in approval, and Naruto, feeling the weight of the responsibility and the warmth of their support, smiled. "Well, if you're all sure about this, then I guess I better do my best as your new guild master!"

"Let us all raise a toast for the Fifth Guild master of Fairy Tail!"

The celebration picked up where it left off, even more energized by the announcement. Naruto, still slightly overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, was immediately surrounded by his friends, offering congratulations and good-natured teasing.

As the festivities continued, Macao and Wakaba watched from the sidelines, satisfied smiles on their faces." You made the right call," Wakaba said, raising his glass in a toast to Macao. The fourth guild master clinked his glass against Wakaba's. "Here's to our new master, and here's to the future of Fairy Tail."

*Line Break*

(15th June, Year X791)

Naruto, sitting at his desk in the guild master's office, sighed deeply as he scanned through the latest reports. His normally cheerful demeanor was replaced by a look of frustration as he read about the chaos caused by some of his guild members—Max, Droy, Jet, and Laki—during their recent missions. The papers in his hand detailed property damage, complaints from townsfolk, and the amount of jewels that would need to be paid in reparations.

"These guys really need to learn how to hold back," Naruto muttered to himself, rubbing his temples. He knew they had good intentions, but their reckless actions were becoming a recurring issue these days. He stood up, pacing back and forth in the room. "I'm gonna have to talk to them. We can't keep causing this much trouble everywhere we go. We're supposed to protect people, not wreck their homes!" He clenched his fists, determined to address the issue directly with the responsible members. Otherwise, it would greatly stretch out the guild's finances.

Naruto decided to gather Max, Droy, Jet, and Laki for a serious conversation. He hoped that with a bit more guidance, they'd learn to control their powers and focus on the mission without causing unnecessary destruction. They were even starting to influence Yukino and some of the new guild members like Romeo with there constant habit of causing unnecessary property damage during every mission! The last thing he wanted was for Fairy Tail's reputation to suffer because of a few overly enthusiastic members.

The blonde groaned as he took note of another pile of papers on his desk, "Damn it!" he let out a curse and got back on his chair with a huff of frustration.

The past fourteen months as Fairy Tail's guild master had been a whirlwind of challenges and growth, and he found himself contemplating the journey so far. He thought back to the day he first took on the role, the weight of Macao's responsibility on his shoulders.

The blonde could still vividly recall his friends enthusiasm and support for him when he took up the mantle. He couldn't help but smile at the progress they had made since then. The debt that once seemed insurmountable was nearly cleared, thanks to the collective efforts of the guild.

Members had shown incredible dedication, working tirelessly on missions, and the once-dire financial situation was now a distant memory. Not to mention the reputation of the guild has also positively skyrocketed, thanks to him being a Wizard Saint and Yukino being a S-class mage. All the guild members had also greatly improved in their magical abilities and strength, helping in increasing the guild reputation even more.

Granted they weren't a top 5 guild as they hadn't participated in last year Grand Magic Games, due to the members feeling that they weren't ready for it yet. But Fairy Tail was still considered among the strongest guild in all of Fiore.

Oh well, it wasn't like he cared what some unknown people thought about his guild. To him and to the guild members, Fairy Tail was the strongest guild!

Naruto's gaze shifted to the lively atmosphere in the guild hall. The camaraderie and enthusiasm among the members were stronger than ever. They have also gotten some new recruits like Romeo, taking the total number of members to 30; which is almost double compared to when he first joined the guild two years ago.

He had also brought certain changes in the operation of the guild, particularly in handling of missions/jobs to the members. Instead of the members just taking whatever jobs that they wanted to do like before, now he handed them the jobs based on their skills, capabilities and their team's forte like how a Hokage would.

He also held training evaluations once every two months, in order to train the members in hand-to-hand combat, their magical creativity and to assess their improvements and potential rankings.

Before the blonde could go deeper into his thoughts, he had to looked up as the door to his office slowly creaked open. Standing in the doorway was Yukino, her calm and composed demeanor a stark contrast to the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in his mind.

She held a neatly bound job report in her hands, which she offered to him with a slight bow.

"Master," Yukino greeted with a soft smile, "My team has completed the mission in Onibas and brought back the report, as promised."

Naruto nodded, momentarily pushing aside his frustration as he took the report from her.

"Thanks, Yukino-chan. How did it go? Did Max and Alzack caused any property damage?"

Yukino straightened up trying to hold back a giggle as she noticed their master almost ready to blow up, and responded with her usual professionalism, "The mission was a success. We were able to neutralize the group of bandits without causing any collateral damage. The townspeople were relieved, and they've expressed their gratitude to Fairy Tail."

Naruto couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief and smile at her words. "That's good to hear. It's a relief to know not all our missions end with us having to pay for repairs."

The Celestial mage chuckled lightly, sensing the undercurrent of stress in Naruto's tone. "I understand your concern, Master. Some of the newer members still have much to learn about controlling their power. But with your guidance, I'm confident they'll improve."

Naruto leaned back in his chair, flipping through the pages of her report. "You've been setting a great example, Yukino-chan. The way you handle missions, your precision—it's something the others can really learn from."

Yukino's cheeks flushed slightly at the praise, but she maintained her composure. "Thank you, Master. I'm just doing my part. If there's anything I can do to help with the current situation, please don't hesitate to ask."

Naruto appreciated her offer, knowing Yukino's words were genuine. "Actually, there is something you could help with. I was about to have a chat with Max, Droy, Jet, and Laki. They've been a bit too... enthusiastic on their missions lately, and it's starting to rub off on some of the newer members like Romeo. I could use some backup to help them see the bigger picture."

Yukino nodded thoughtfully. "I'd be happy to assist. Maybe a practical demonstration of control during our next training evaluation could help them understand the importance of restraint."

Naruto grinned, his frustration easing slightly, "That's a great idea. Let's do that. Thanks, Yukino-chan."

"Anytime, Master." The girl smiled and lightly bowed as she made her way out of the blonde's office.

Naruto leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples as he tried to shake off the growing tension after Yukino had left the office. The chaos caused by the guild members were bad enough, but what really grated on his nerves was the inevitable call from the Magic Council. Those bastards were always quick to point fingers whenever Fairy Tail caused a stir, and he knew it wouldn't be long before he was summoned to explain the damage reports piling up on his desk. Those old coots didn't really offer him any mercy during those boring meetings, even though he was now promoted to the 7th rank Magic Saint. Which the blonde thought was completely unfair!

"Just great," he muttered under his breath. "As if handling the guild's problems wasn't enough, now I've got the Council breathing down my neck again."

He let out a deep sigh, leaning forward to scan the newest stack of papers on his desk. It felt like the reports were multiplying every time he blinked. With each new sheet, the weight of his responsibilities seemed to grow heavier.

He had never seen Macao having so many paper works, but he chalked it up to the guild now having much more clients and job request compared to when his predecessor was handling the mantle.

The blonde had initially thought of simply using his shadow clones to do the work, but decided against it as it might increase his workload even more due to his clones having the tendency of to mutiny and unpredictable when they were bored.

Naruto thoughts then drifted to his past as a shinobi in Konoha, wondering if this was what the Hokage dealt with every day. All those years training to be the strongest shinobi, and here he was, buried in paperwork, dealing with complaints from clients and bureaucracy.

"Did Tsunade-baachan and Kakashi-sensei have to deal with this much crap?" he wondered aloud, a frustrated groan escaping his lips. "I never imagined that being a guild master would be this… exhausting."

He had faced down literal gods and demons, but it turned out that the real challenge was dealing with overzealous guild members and the Magic Council's constant scrutiny. He could feel a headache coming on just thinking about the inevitable meeting he'd have to attend tomorrow. Naruto took a deep breath, trying to center himself. He wasn't one to back down from a challenge, and he wasn't about to start now.

Despite the frustrations, he knew that his role as guild master was important. Fairy Tail had come a long way under his leadership, and he was determined to keep pushing forward for the few years that he was here, no matter how many obstacles—or paperwork—stood in his way.

"Alright," he said, steeling himself as he returned to the task at hand. "Let's deal with this one problem at a time."

"…."

"GOD DAMN IT! MACAO! HOW THE FUCK DID YOU EVEN MANAGE TO CAUSE A FOREST FIRE IN A GOD DAMN TUNDRA!"

*Line Break*

(28th August, Year x791)

The Fairy Tail guild hall was abuzz with murmurs and curiosity as all the members gathered, wondering why Naruto, their guild master, had suddenly called for an urgent meeting even stopping them from taking any jobs for the day. The air was thick with anticipation, and even the rowdier members of the guild were unusually quiet, waiting to see what was so important.

The double doors to Naruto's office swung open, and he emerged with a stack of papers in his hand. His usual confident grin was plastered across his face, immediately drawing the attention of everyone in the hall. Conversations died down, and all eyes were on him.

The blonde walked to the center of the room, scanning the faces of his guild members. "Oi, everyone!" he called out, his voice booming. "I've got some great news to share!"

The tension in the room shifted to excitement as Naruto continued. "I'm happy to announce that all the debt of our guild to Twilight Ogre and the town council is fully paid off!"

For a moment, there was a stunned silence, followed by a collective cheer that echoed through the hall. "YEAH!"

Members started hugging each other, their earlier curiosity replaced by pure joy.

"Not only that, We'll be finally moving back to our old guild house by next week as well!" Naruto added with a shit eating-grin on his face, and the cheers grew louder, with some members even breaking into celebratory dances.

"Laki, can you believe it?" Bisca said, nudging the wood mage beside her. "We're going back home!"

"It's a dream come true!" Laki replied, her eyes sparkling.

Nearby Alzack and Bisca exchanged a relieved look, knowing that the pressure of the guild's finances had been weighing on everyone for years—especially, their guild master.

"Ow..man, but I kinda like this guild house." Jet moaned half-heartedly earning a slap on the back his neck from Droy, "Then you can keep on staying here!"

"Ah…on second thought..nevermind."

As the members celebrated, Naruto raised his hand to bring the room back to order. "But listen up!" he said, his tone more serious now. "This doesn't mean we can slack off. If anything, we need to work even harder than before! And that means no more unnecessary property damage."

Naruto's gaze fell on some of the older members—Max, Macao, Jet, and Droy, even Laki and Bisca—who looked sheepish under his stern gaze.

In the two years that Naruto had lead the guild, one thing was fully certain to the members, which was that the blonde absolutely hated property damages, including the guild's furniture's. Not because he was some sort of control freak or anything, but mostly because he had to listen to the nagging of the Magic Council and pay the repairing costs.

"Yeah, we hear ya, Naruto," Macao said with a nervous laugh, rubbing the back of his head.

"No more incidents, promise." Jet crossed his arms and grinned, though there was a hint of guilt in his eyes.

"We'll keep it under control, boss."

Naruto's expression softened into a smile. "Good. Let's show everyone that Fairy Tail isn't just the strongest guild—it's the best one too. Now, let's get back to celebrating!"

The hall erupted once more into cheers and laughter, the weight of the past struggles lifted as the promise of a brighter future filled the room.

As the celebration continued, Naruto weaved through the crowd of jubilant guild members, making his way toward Macao and Wakaba, who were both grinning at the excitement around them. The blonde's grin softened as he approached the duo, nodding in greeting.

"Macao, Wakaba," Naruto began, his voice cutting through the noise without losing its warmth. Macao turned to him, still chuckling from a joke Wakaba had just shared.

"Naruto," Macao replied, his smile wide. "You really know how to drop big news, huh?"

Naruto laughed, "Yeah, well, I aim to please."

"Macao! How many times do I have to tell you to call the kid, Master!?" Wakaba chided his friend in annoyance.

"Well, he used to call me 'old man' when I was the master. So this is just my revenge!" Macao defended himself and gave his friend a stink eye, "And I don't see you calling him Master, either! You call him 'kid' or 'brat'!"

Now it was time for Wakaba to turn sheepish and tried to defend himself, but to no avail.

Seeing the two friend's argue like an old married couple, Naruto simply laughed and decided to stop the argument in his own way, "You two old farts can just call me by name. I don't really care about being called, master, ya know." He then adopted a more serious tone. "Macao, I need a favor."

Macao raised an eyebrow, sensing the shift in Naruto's demeanor. "What's up?"

"I've got a meeting with the Magic Saints coming up. It's an important one, so I'll be away for a bit. I need you to look after the guild while I'm gone," Naruto explained, his blue eyes steady on Macao.

Macao straightened up, his expression turning serious. "You can count on me, Naruto. I'll make sure everything runs smoothly."

"Thanks, Macao," Naruto said, clapping him on the shoulder. "I know I can trust you."

Wakaba, who had been listening in, took a puff of his pipe and grinned. "Don't worry, kid. Between the two of us, we'll keep this lot in line."

Naruto smirked. "I'm counting on it. Just don't let them cause unnecessary damage to the building."

"You bet."

"Don't bet about such things." The blonde gave the chain-smoking mage a small glare, earning an awkward cough and apology from him.

As the trio stood there, watching the guild members celebrate, Macao turned to Naruto with a curious look. "So, what's going to happen to this guild hall once we move back to the old one? And when exactly are we moving?"

Naruto folded his arms, glancing around the spacious hall that had been their home for the past few years. "We'll be moving next week, once the renovations are finished, and I've squared things away with the town mayor. As for this place…" He paused, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "I've been thinking about turning it into my own house."

Macao blinked in surprise. "Your own house?"

"Yeah," Naruto replied, nodding. "I like the natural atmosphere around here, and it's got a good vibe. Plus, It'll be nice to have a place of my own. A bit of peace and quiet when I need it, you know?"

Wakaba chuckled, blowing a smoke ring into the air. "Well, you've earned it, that's for sure."

Macao smiled, nodding in agreement. "Sounds like a good plan, brat. It'll be weird not seeing you in the old guild hall all the time, though."

Naruto grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Don't worry, I'll still be around plenty to keep you all in line. I just won't have to worry about anyone breaking my stuff when I'm off-duty."

The three of them shared a laugh, the camaraderie between them evident. As Naruto looked around at his celebrating guild, he felt a deep sense of pride and belonging. The future was looking brighter than ever, and he was determined to make sure Fairy Tail continued to thrive.

However as their guild hall was in the middle of its celebration, a sudden, loud noise from outside cut through the joyous atmosphere. The members paused, exchanging puzzled looks, and quickly gathered around the doors to investigate.

One of the guild members pointed out, "It's coming from outside! Let's check it out!"

Naruto led the way as they spilled out of the guild hall and onto the street. Their eyes were immediately drawn to a large blip in the sky—the distinctive airship of Blue Pegasus, Christina. As the blip grew closer, Naruto's face fell into a groan of annoyance. He recognized it immediately: Ichiya and his flamboyant entourage.

'Not this clowns again…" the blonde groaned, trying to fight off an incoming headache.

The Blue Pegasus ship landed gracefully, and soon after, Ichiya, Ren, Ken, and Hibiki disembarked, their over-the-top personalities making an entrance. Ichiya, ever the charmer, was already flirting with Yukino, Lakin, and Kinana, causing visible discomfort among the three.

Naruto's irritation grew as he watched Ichiya's antics. He marched up to the group with a determined stride, his presence immediately commanding attention.

"Oi, Ichiya!" Naruto's voice cut through the air. Ichiya's and his companions froze in place, their faces blanching as they noticed the blonde's stern expression. They quickly straightened up, trying to regain their composure.

Ichiya, trying to mask his nervousness with his usual flamboyance, stepped forward with a forced smile. "Ah, Naruto-dono! What a pleasure to see you again, though I must admit, it's under rather unexpected circumstances."

Ren, Ken, and Hibiki awkwardly stood behind Ichiya, trying to appear as composed as possible while clearly uncomfortable with the tension. Ren cleared his throat and added, "We… we didn't mean to interrupt your celebration. We just had to inform you of something important."

Ichiya nodded vigorously, his earlier charm replaced by a more serious demeanor. "Indeed. Our ship, Christina, detected a signal from Tenrou Island. We thought it prudent to come here and inform you immediately."

Naruto's eyes widened slightly at the mention of Tenrou Island. Although he hadn't been with Fairy Tail long enough to experience the significance of the Tenrou group personally, he understood the Island's importance to the guild as well as the members that had disappeared with the Island seven years ago.

He glanced back at his guild members, who were exchanging shocked and curious looks. Naruto could see a glimmer of hope as well as uncertainty clearly in the eyes of the members who were acquainted and friends with the Tenrou group.

"Are you sure about this? Tenrou Island has been abandoned for years." Macao came forward and asked with a serious expression on his voice, but Naruto could hear the sign of hope in his voice.

Ichiya's expression grew more earnest. "I'm certain. The signal was strong, and it seemed… unusual. We thought it best to bring this to your attention."

Naruto rubbed his temples, taking a deep breath to calm himself. "Alright, we'll need to investigate this. I don't want to jump to conclusions, but it's important to verify what's going on. Ichiya, I'll send a few of our members with you to check out the situation."

He turned to the guild members standing nearby. "Wakaba, you and a couple of others are going with Ichiya and his team. We need to know what's happening on Tenrou Island."

Wakaba nodded, quickly assembling a small group of willing members. As they prepared to leave, Naruto turned back to Ichiya. "Keep us updated on any developments, and let's hope this isn't a false alarm."

Ichiya gave a respectful bow. "Understood. We'll keep you informed."

"Oh...and Ichiya." Naruto called the mage with an unreadable expression on his face making the mage nervous, "Uh, thank you for your help."

Ichiya blinked in surprise at the sudden gratitude from the guild master, and after making sure that he had heard it right a face splitting grin appeared on his face, "Oh! Mention not, Naruto-Dono!" He boisterously replied and gave a winked to the blonde, who now looked like he had eaten something sour, "My perfume of excellence will always be available to you. A fragrance as unique as mine can help in moments of intense focus and concentration, after all! I'm glad you appreciate it, Naruto-Dono!" Ichiya continued, striking a dramatic pose. Naruto, still trying to process Ichiya's eccentricity, managed a reluctant smile and nodded appreciatively, though he couldn't help but wonder what sort of effect this perfume might truly have.

As the group boarded Christina once more, the atmosphere was a mix of anticipation and concern. Naruto watched them depart, his thoughts filled with the potential implications of the mysterious signal from Tenrou Island. He just hoped that this investigation would bring some sort of closure for the Fairy Tail members.

*Line Break*

(Next Day, Fairy Tail guild hall)

Bisca and Alzack fidgeted in their chairs, their bodies shifting restlessly as though they couldn't get comfortable. Their daughter, Asuka, noticed and furrowed her brow in confusion. "Mommy, Daddy, why are you wiggling in your chairs?" she asked, tilting her head in curiosity.

Macao chuckled heartily from across the room, a broad grin on his face. "Seriously, you two look like a pair of caterpillars squirming around."

Alzack sighed deeply, his usual composed demeanor cracking under the weight of his anxiety. "We're just… anxious," he admitted, exchanging a glance with Bisca. "What if they found something? What if they finally came back?"

Romeo, lounging on a couch with a book in hand, barely looked up as he responded, "I doubt it. It's been seven years. If they were coming back, they'd be here by now."

"Don't give up hope, Romeo," Reedus interjected softly, his brush delicately stroking a canvas as he painted a serene landscape. "It might just happen. You never know."

Romeo shrugged nonchalantly, his eyes still fixed on the pages of his book. "It would be kind of awkward, though, wouldn't it? I mean, what would we do with Master Makarov if they did come back? I don't want to be mean, but I honestly like Master Naruto better."

Bisca's face hardened as she shot a stern look at Romeo. "Don't talk like that. Master Makarov wouldn't mind. He's been searching for a worthy successor for years, and Naruto fits the bill perfectly. Not only is he powerful, but he's shown he has the leadership and experience to guide our guild."

Suddenly, the door creaked open, and every head in the guild hall turned toward the entrance. Macao, expecting to see Naruto returning from his meeting, started to speak, "You're back already, Master? I thought it would take you a little longer—"

But the words died in his throat as an elderly voice, full of warmth and nostalgia, replied, "A bit longer? I thought seven years was more than enough."

The entire guild froze in shock, their eyes widening as they took in the sight before them. Standing at the entrance, bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun, was none other than the long-lost Team Tenrou.

Romeo was the first to leap to his feet, his book falling forgotten to the floor. "Natsu? Is that really you?"

With a confident grin, Natsu stepped forward, his signature fiery energy radiating from him. "You bet it's me, Romeo! Did ya miss me?" he asked, his voice brimming with that familiar, infectious enthusiasm.

Before Romeo could respond, a chorus of voices erupted in the hall as the rest of Team Tenrou stepped through the door, looking exactly as they had seven years ago.

The guild hall was plunged into a stunned silence, disbelief hanging thick in the air as they stared at the faces they had thought were lost forever.

Alzack and Bisca, who had been squirming in their chairs like caterpillars just moments ago, stood completely frozen, their minds struggling to process the impossible sight before them. Asuka, still sitting in her chair, looked up at her parents, her wide eyes filled with confusion and curiosity. Which was mirrored by some of the newer members like Yukino.

Macao, usually quick with a joke or a laugh, found himself speechless. He rubbed his eyes as if trying to wipe away an illusion, but the figures at the entrance remained solid and real. "It can't be…" he murmured, his voice barely audible.

"We're back!" Lucy chimed in, her voice trembling with emotion as she took in the changes in the guild and the faces she hadn't seen in what felt like a lifetime.

"I can't believe it… everything's so different." Reedus's brush hovered in midair, a stroke left unfinished on his canvas as he stared at the returning wizards. The scene before him was surreal, like a painting brought to life. "This… this is incredible," he breathed out, his eyes moist with emotion.

Natsu's grin widened as he scanned the familiar faces, all of whom had changed in subtle ways over the years. "Yeah, it's really us," he confirmed, his voice as fiery as ever. "Did you guys miss us or what?"

Macao finally found his voice, though it was thick with emotion. "You were gone… for seven years. We thought…" His voice broke, unable to finish the sentence, the weight of those years hanging heavy in the air.

Happy, ever the optimist, flew up to Romeo and playfully tapped him on the head with his paw. "Cheer up, Romeo! We're back now, and that's what matters."

Makarov, who had been taking in the sight of the guild hall with a mix of nostalgia and confusion, raised an eyebrow. "Though, what's up with the tiny guild?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

Wendy, her face glowing with excitement, stepped forward, her voice filled with relief and joy. "We've come back home!"

"Isn't it wonderful?" Levy added, her eyes shining with emotion.

Jet and Droy, barely able to process what they were seeing, stammered, "You… you guys…"

Max, still in disbelief, muttered, "You haven't aged a day…"

Lucy, feeling the need to explain, scratched the back of her head awkwardly. "Let me explain…" she began, her voice wavering as she prepared to recount the unbelievable events that had kept them away for so long.

After a short explanation…

Makarov perched himself on the edge of a table, as Lucy finished recounting the harrowing events of Tenrou Island.

The guild members, crowded around her, stood in stunned silence, their eyes wide with shock, trying to process the absurdity of her words.

Macao, who had been holding back his emotions, couldn't help but let a few tears slip down his cheeks. "It's great to have you guys back," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

Suddenly, a small figure peeked out from behind Macao's leg. Asuka, with her big curious eyes, looked around at the teary-eyed adults before spotting Natsu. "Hey, Uncle Macao, why is everyone crying? And who's that pink-haired-looking idiot?" she asked innocently.

Natsu, who had been standing tall with his usual confidence, suddenly stumbled forward, falling flat on his face as laughter erupted throughout the guild hall.

Bisca's face turned red as she scolded her daughter, "Asuka Connell…"Before she could say more, Erza stepped forward, her stern gaze focused on the child.

"Who's the kid?" she asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

Bisca and Alzack exchanged nervous glances before replying in unison, "That's our daughter, Asuka."

Erza's along with the Tenrou group eyes widened in shock. "What?!" she exclaimed. "You're married?!"

Bisca and Alzack both nodded sheepishly, and Erza's jaw dropped. "I missed a wedding!" she cried out, her voice filled with disbelief.

Makarov, still trying to wrap his mind around everything, turned to Macao. "So, Macao, I'm guessing you're the guild master now?"

Macao shook his head, a small smile on his face. "I was the fourth Guild Master, but I stepped down about two years ago."

Natsu, having recovered from his fall, jumped to his feet. "Who is it then?" he demanded eagerly.

Before Macao could answer, Asuka stood up proudly from beneath his leg, her chest puffed out with confidence. "Only my big brother Naruto! He's not only our Guild Master, but he's also one of the youngest people ever to receive a seat in the Ten Wizard Saints!"

Lucy's eyes widened with curiosity. "The Ten Wizard Saints? Just how old is he?"

Asuka started counting on her fingers, her tongue sticking out in concentration. "Er… he's 21!"

Makarov, who had been holding his composure, suddenly fell off his chair in shock. "Impossible… just where is he?"

Natsu's fists clenched, his eyes burning with determination. "I want to fight him! I'm all fired up!" he shouted, flames flickering around his fists.

Asuka crossed her arms, her expression unimpressed. "Like some pink-haired-looking idiot could beat him!"

Natsu glared at her. "Hey! I'm a dragon slayer! I can beat anyone!"

Asuka began hopping around, mimicking him with exaggerated motions. "Look at me, I'm a dragon slayer, I can beat anyone," she teased, her voice high-pitched and mocking.

A vein popped on Natsu's forehead, his anger flaring. The entire guild burst into laughter, their spirits lifted by the child's playful antics.

Gray leaned over, grinning at Natsu. "Look at that, not even the kids respect you anymore."

"Shut up, Gray!" Natsu snapped, his anger redirecting towards his rival. "I'll destroy you!"

Macao and some of the members tried to quickly stop Natsu, "Oi, Natsu! Don't do that!"

Just as Natsu was about to swing a punch, ignoring the warning, the room seemed to freeze as he was suddenly pinned to the ground. The weight on his back was firm, unyielding.

"I don't know who you are," a calm, commanding voice said from above him, "but I don't appreciate people fighting in my Guild Hall."

Every head in the room turned towards the newcomer. Standing atop Natsu, his expression cool and authoritative, was none other than Naruto Uzumaki, the Fifth Guild Master of Fairy Tail. The room fell silent, a mix of awe and anticipation filling the air.

*To be Continued...

AN: This chapter could have been divided into two parts but i wanted to cover up everything before beginning with the Tenrou group in the next chapter. I could have possibly trimmed the chapter but not including some parts, but I decided against it.

I know some of you might not like how i handled the situation with Jellal, Ultear and Meredy. But, i couldn't possibly right a 3v1 fight without giving myself a it is out of my writing ability.

Moreover, I think some of you might think that I let Naruto defeat Jella quite easily, but this Jellal is not the one that fought Acnologia. So yeah. He is still got a long way to go

BTW, the Temporary Paralysis Jutsu is an atcual jutsu taught in the konoha academy.

Please, do leave a review.