A:N: This one is also quite a long one. However, i'm not that really happy with how this one turned out. Cuz i feel like i drag out this chapter, unnecessarily as i didn't know how to stop the chapter, lmao.

you'll know when u read it. XD

(Previously)

"Master Naruto," she began, her tone carrying the weight of someone who had seen too many brawls to count. "I trust we're not going to be sparring inside the guild hall?" She crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering as she looked at Naruto, her skepticism evident.

Naruto met Erza's gaze with an amused smile, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were sharing a secret joke. "Erza," he started, his tone light but firm, "you and the others should know that there's only one thing I hate almost as much as bad ramen—"

"Burnt ramen?" Natsu interrupted, earning himself a light thump on the head from Gray.

"No, you dolt," Gray muttered, shaking his head in exasperation.

Naruto chuckled, shaking his head, "Close, but no. It's fighting inside the guild hall." He paused, letting his words sink in, before continuing, "That's why I've had an area built specifically for this kind of evaluation. You'll be sparring there, not here."

The Tenrou group collectively sighed in relief, although some, like Natsu, looked a little disappointed that their usual battleground was off-limits.

Erza, however, seemed satisfied with Naruto's response, her serious expression softening slightly. "So, where exactly is this place?" she asked, still a bit cautious.

The blonde grinned mischievously. "You'll see soon enough. But I can guarantee you it's sturdy enough to handle even some of your enthusiasm." He shot a pointed look at Natsu and Gray, who were already squaring off again, oblivious to the conversation.

Erza raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but still cautious. "Sturdy enough, huh? We'll see about that," she muttered, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, as if preparing for a challenge

Naruto then turned to the excited and clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, that's enough tension for now! I want everyone to rest up before we head out. Trust me, you're going to need it."

(Present – A few hours later, Fairy Tail Training Area)

The golden rays of the afternoon sun filtered through the dense canopy of trees, casting dappled shadows on the forest floor as the Fairy Tail guild assembled in a vast clearing. The sunlight bathed the scene in a warm, golden glow, creating an almost ethereal atmosphere far removed from the bustling guild hall. The clearing, just a short ten-minute walk from the guild, felt like a hidden sanctuary where the guild could unleash their full power without restraint.

Towering trees encircled the open space, their leaves whispering in the gentle breeze, carrying the earthy scent of the forest and the distant murmur of a stream. At the center of the clearing stood four small pillars, each inscribed with strange, glowing runes that pulsed with latent energy. The pillars marked the boundaries of the field, enclosing an area roughly 70 yards wide—ample space for Fairy Tail's more explosive tendencies.

The Tenrou group, still adjusting to a world that had moved on without them, looked around in awe. This place was entirely new to them, and its scale and the mysterious aura surrounding it left them momentarily speechless. Makarov, with his arms crossed and bushy eyebrows raised, studied the clearing with a mixture of curiosity and admiration. Even in his long life, and living in Magnolia for so many years, he had never encountered a place quite like this. His sharp eyes narrowed as they landed on the pillars, sensing a subtle, unfamiliar energy radiating from them.

Perched on Makarov's shoulders, Asuka giddily bounced, her small face beaming with excitement. "This is going to be so much fun, just like last time!" she exclaimed, her tiny fists clenched in excitement.

Makarov glanced up at her, bemused. "How so, Asuka?" he asked.

Asuka stuck out her tongue playfully, her eyes twinkling. "Just wait and see!" she teased, clearly relishing the anticipation.

Gildarts let out a low whistle, his usual nonchalant demeanor giving way to genuine curiosity. "Now this is something," he remarked, running a hand through his messy hair. "Didn't expect to find something like this so close to home."

Makarov turned to Naruto, curiosity evident in his gaze. "Brat, where did you find such a large area? I don't recall ever coming across this spot."

Naruto, standing a few steps ahead with the sunlight catching his spiky blonde hair and making it glow like a halo, turned to face the old master. A wide grin spread across his face as he replied, "This area was a gift from the town mayor. After I helped him with a particularly tricky job, he granted it to me and Fairy Tail. I decided to turn it into our personal training ground for evaluations and practice. Now we don't have to worry about any property damage whenever we need to let loose."

Makarov nodded thoughtfully, a pleased smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You've thought of everything, haven't you?"

The blonde chuckled, rubbing the back of his head in a familiar gesture of modesty. "Just trying to make sure we're all prepared for whatever comes our way. Plus, I figured it was about time we had a place where we could really cut loose without worrying about leveling half the town."

Gildarts grinned, clapping Naruto on the back with enough force to make the younger man stagger slightly. "You've outdone yourself, kid. This place is perfect for us."

The guild members who had been around during the Tenrou group's absence were already vibrating with excitement. They knew what was coming and could barely contain their grins. Whispered conversations buzzed through the crowd as predictions were made and bets were placed on who would come out on top in whatever challenge Naruto had planned.

Natsu, ever the impatient one, was bouncing on the balls of his feet, his fists clenched in eager anticipation. "This place is awesome!" he exclaimed, his eyes gleaming at the prospect of a good fight. Beside him, Gray smirked as he casually rolled up his sleeves, already preparing for the inevitable.

"Don't get too excited, flame-brain," Gray quipped, though his own eagerness was barely concealed. "We haven't even started yet."

Erza, however, remained calm and focused, her sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. Her earlier skepticism had given way to a growing respect for the blonde guild master. She glanced at Naruto, who was inspecting the pillars with a relaxed posture, yet there was a quiet confidence in the way he carried himself, as if he knew something they didn't.

"This place…" Erza muttered to herself, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword as if preparing for a challenge. "Sturdy enough, huh? We'll see about that."

Naruto clapped his hands together, the sharp sound cutting through the chatter and drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, everyone!" he called out, his voice strong and clear. "I hope you're all rested up because it's time to put your skills to the test!"

The guild members quieted down, their excitement palpable. Even those who usually preferred to stay on the sidelines, like Levy, Lisanna, and Wendy, leaned forward in anticipation.

Mirajane, who had been quietly observing, raised an eyebrow with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. She leaned towards Kinana and Yukino, who were already grinning. "What kind of test do you think he has in store for them?" she asked, clearly intrigued.

Kinana, barely containing her excitement, answered with a knowing smile. "You may have already known by now, master Naruto got a knack for creative challenges. Whatever it is, it's bound to be fun."

Yukino, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm, nodded in agreement. "I'm excited to see what he's come up with this time. His evaluations are always interesting."

Naruto continued, his grin widening. "This is where we'll be conducting the evaluations," He explained, gesturing to the pillars around them. "These markers define the boundary of the field. Inside this space, you can go all out—just like you would in a real battle. But remember, this isn't just about who's the strongest or who can throw the biggest punch." He paused, letting his gaze sweep over the group. "This is about strategy, skills, and how well you can think on your feet."

Natsu grinned, his fists crackling with flames as he practically vibrated with excitement. "Bring it on! I've been waiting for a real challenge!"

Naruto chuckled, shaking his head at Natsu's enthusiasm. "I thought you might say that. But trust me, you'll need more than just brute strength to get through this." His eyes twinkled with amusement as he added, "And don't worry, Erza. This place is more than sturdy enough to handle whatever you can dish out."

Erza gave a small, determined nod, her grip tightening on her sword. She was ready. They all were.

Naruto took a deep breath, his grin widening as he saw the excited expression of all the members and prepared to reveal the details of the evaluation. "Alright, everyone," he began, raising his hands for attention. "Here's the thing. If we were to evaluate each of you in a one-on-one sparring match, it would take quite a lot of time. So instead, I've decided to use one of the tests I've used with the other guild members before. This way, we can evaluate each of your skills and strategies more efficiently."

The Tenrou group exchanged curious glances, their anticipation growing. "What kind of test are we talking about?" Erza asked, her voice tinged with both interest and wariness.

Naruto's grin grew even wider, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Ah, if I told you now, it wouldn't be much of a test, would it?" He gestured toward the clearing with an inviting sweep of his arm. "All you need to know is that it'll involve all of you—except for Gildarts. I've got a special test planned for him, considering he's more of a solo act."

Gildarts raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Oh? What's this special test you've got for me?"

Naruto gave him a wink. "You'll find out soon enough, Gildarts. For now, just know it's something that suits your style."

Gildarts shrugged, seemingly satisfied with the answer. The Tenrou group, however, was not as easily placated.

Naruto then gestured for the Tenrou group to step inside the barrier's boundary. The members, though skeptical, moved towards the marked area. Erza, ever the leader, led the way, her gaze scanning the perimeter with a mix of curiosity and caution. Gray followed with a smirk, nudging Natsu who was practically vibrating with Gray followed with a smirk, nudging Natsu who was practically vibrating with Cana, Elfman, Bickslow, and the rest made their way in, each displaying their own unique mix of apprehension and eagerness.

The blonde watched their reactions with a mischievous grin. Once everyone was inside the marked area, he made a dramatic ram seal with his hands and declared with a flourish, "Sealing Technique: Uzumaki Special cool sturdy Barrier!"

Several members of the Tenrou group, including Makarov, stopped in their tracks. Makarov's eyebrows furrowed in a mix of confusion and exasperation as he muttered, "Uzumaki Special cool sturdy Barrier? What kind of name is that?"

The barrier's activation was accompanied by a burst of orange light, and the four pillars began to glow intensely. A large, circular barrier enveloped the area, its edges shimmering with intricate runes that pulsed with energy. Inside the barrier, Freed and Levy, who had a keen interest in rune magic, looked on with awe.

Levy, eyes wide, whispered to Freed, "This barrier… it's incredible. I've never seen anything like it."

Freed nodded, equally impressed. "It's definitely something. I wonder what other tricks master Naruto has up his sleeve."

Outside the barrier, Kinana, Bisca, Romeo and Laki groaned collectively. Laki muttered, "He still hasn't changed the name of that technique. Always the same."

Romeo added, "I guess some things never change with our master."

Inside the barrier, Naruto turned back to the Tenrou group, his grin widening. "Alright, everyone! Inside the barrier, you can go all out. The barrier will keep everything contained, so don't hold back. Show me what you've got!"

Natsu roared with excitement, flames erupting from his fists. "This is gonna be awesome!"

Gray cracked his knuckles with a smirk. "Time to see what this barrier can handle."

Erza unsheathed her sword, her eyes sparkling with determination. "Let's see if this barrier can keep up with us."

Outside the barrier, Makarov look visibly touched by the barrier's potential, wiped a tear from his eye. "Such a useful barrier… why didn't we have something like this before?"

Asuka, perched on Makarov's shoulders, tilted her head, puzzled by his reaction. "Why are you crying, Grandpa?"

Makarov sniffled, attempting to compose himself. "It's just… it's just so nice to see that the guild has such a thoughtful and practical leader."

Asuka patted his head comfortingly. "Don't cry, Grandpa. It's just a barrier."

Inside the barrier, Naruto was busy stifling a laugh as he watched the Tenrou group prepare for what they believed would be an intense showdown. Their determination was almost palpable, and he couldn't help but feel a twinge of nostalgia. 'Oh, they are so going to regret this,' he thought mischievously, trying to keep a straight face.

Clearing his throat, Naruto addressed the group with an air of exaggerated seriousness. "Alright, listen up! This is the legendary bell test, a test that has been passed down from generation to generation."

The Tenrou group exchanged puzzled glances. Natsu tilted his head, scratching his ear. "Uh, what's a bell test?"

Erza, ever the serious one, narrowed her eyes. "It sounds like some sort of ancient warrior ritual. We must approach this with utmost caution."

Bickslow rolled his eyes. "It's probably just some weird training exercise. How hard could it be?"

Levy, ever curious, adjusted her glasses. "But why bells? What's the significance?"

Naruto smirked as he raised one silver bell from his pocket to show it to them, "The rules are simple: as you all see, there is one bell, and your job is to get it from me by using any means. But here's the catch—there's only one bell for the lot of you and you all will only get 30 minutes to get the bell. Not only that, but the person who gets the bell will also get the chance to accompany me and Wendy on that S-class mission as well."

The group's eyes widened in surprise and excitement. They were already sizing each other up, trying to figure out who would be the lucky one to snag the bell.

Naruto chuckled at their enthusiasm. "Moreover, I'll be grading each of you on your skills, strength, and overall performance. The way you handle this test will determine what kinds of jobs you'll be assigned for the next two months. So make sure that you all give your best in this test."

Meanwhile, outside the barrier, Jet, Droy, Macao, Wakaba, Vijeeter, and Max could barely contain their amusement seeing the excited reaction of the Tenrou group. They'd all been through the Uzumaki Special bell test and knew exactly what was coming.

Jet leaned back against the pillar, smirking. "Natsu's definitely gonna be the first one down. He's already itching to start."

Droy shook his head, chuckling. "Nah, I'm telling you, Erza's gonna lose it when she realizes she's gotta fight her own teammates for that bell."

Macao puffed on his pipe, a grin spreading across his face. "Don't underestimate Gray. The moment Natsu does something stupid—and he will—Gray's gonna snap and go after him. It'll be chaos."

Wakaba joined in, his voice filled with amusement. "You think they'll figure out the trick behind the test, or are they gonna just keep trying to out-muscle Naruto?"

Max, still leaning on his broom, laughed. "I'm betting they won't. Naruto's way too fast for them. He's gonna have them running in circles."

Inside the barrier, the Tenrou group stared at Naruto, their anticipation mingling with a hint of confusion.

Evergreen, her arms crossed and her brow furrowed, eyed Naruto skeptically. "Wait a minute," she said, her voice carrying a touch of disbelief. "You're planning to fight all of us at once? Isn't that a bit unfair? Aren't you worried you'll be overwhelmed?"

Naruto, unable to hide his amusement, leaned back with a casual shrug. "Oh, I'm not worried at all. I've been in tougher spots. Besides, I'm pretty confident in my abilities. Think of this as a test of your strength and strategy. And don't worry, I'm not going to hold back." Well, he was going to hold back by a lot, but they didn't need to know that.

The Tenrou group exchanged glances, their curiosity growing. They had never seen Naruto in action, and the confidence he displayed made them even more intrigued.

Bickslow scratched his head, clearly perplexed. "Yeah, but what exactly makes you think you can take us all on at once? We've got some pretty strong members here."

Naruto's grin widened. "Well, you're about to find out. I've got a few tricks up my sleeve. Just focus on getting the bell, and you might stand a chance."

Elfman, his excitement palpable, grinned. "Man, it's so manly of our new master to take on all of us at once! He's a real beast!"

Freed, ever the strategist, raised a hand. "And what happens if Wendy wins this time? She's already won the last test. Does that mean she'll be going on two S-class missions?"

Naruto chuckled and shook his head. "Oh, no, no. If Wendy wins again, it doesn't mean she gets two missions. It just means she's a really lucky winner. I don't think she'd want to do two S-class missions back-to-back anyway. This test is about proving your skills and teamwork. The winner of the bell test will still get to accompany me and Wendy on the mission we have planned."

Wendy, standing among her fellow guild members, couldn't help but smile at the prospect of proving herself once more. "I'm looking forward to it," she said confidently.

Outside the barrier, Alzack and Bisca, standing together, chuckled at Evergreen's skepticism. Bisca said with a grin, "They have no idea what they're in for."

Alzack nodded, "Yeah, they're about to get a real taste of Naruto's skills. This is gonna be fun!"

Jet, Droy, Macao, and the others continued to watch with growing amusement. Jet snorted, "Looks like Naruto's ready to give them a run for their money. This should be fun."

Vijeeter grinned, "I can't wait to see how they handle it. Master got a knack for turning these tests into something memorable."

Macao puffed on his pipe, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I'll bet they're all underestimating him. Just wait until they see what he's capable of."

Wakaba, leaning against a tree, nodded in agreement. "Yep, they're in for a real treat. The brat is always full of surprises."

Makarov and Gildarts exchanged impressed glances, already somewhat getting the real meaning behind the test.

Makarov chuckled, "Now that's an ingenious test. It seems, the brat is not just testing their strength, but their ability to work together."

Gildarts nodded, watching the scene inside the barrier in interest, "Yeah, it's a great way to show them how important teamwork really is."

Happy, Carla, and Panther Lily were cheering enthusiastically for their respective partners. Happy was flapping his wings, "Go, Natsu! Show him what you're made of!"

Carla, with a smirk, called out, "Don't let him underestimate you, Wendy!"

Panther Lily, sitting with a puffed chest, added, "Yeah, give it your all, Gajeel! We trust in you, well…mostly."

Inside the barrier, Natsu, his excitement barely contained, called out, "Enough talk! Let's get this started!"

Gray cracked his knuckles, a determined glint in his eyes. "I'm with Natsu. Let's see what this barrier can handle!"

Erza, now fully focused, drew her sword with a determined expression. "Ready when you are, Master Naruto."

Naruto grinned widely, stepping back with an open stance. "Alright, let's get this party started! Oh, and remember one thing: if you want even the slightest chance of getting the bell from me," he paused dramatically, fastening the bell to his belt with a theatrical flourish, "…then you should come at me with the intention to kill."

The Tenrou group went silent, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. The playful nature of Naruto's challenge seemed to drop away, replaced by a tense, serious atmosphere.

Erza's eyes widened slightly, her grip tightening on her sword. "Did he just say…?"

Natsu, always one to dive headfirst into a challenge, frowned, his excitement turning into a steely focus. "Is he serious?"

Freed, normally cool and collected, looked taken aback. "This isn't a joke, is it?"

Lisanna, her hands shaking slightly, took a deep breath and steadied herself. "We can do this," she murmured, her resolve hardening.

Naruto's grin remained, though there was a glint of genuine seriousness in his eyes. "Absolutely. I'm not holding back, so neither should you. Show me what you've got."

Erza, still taken aback by Naruto's declaration, took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. Her mind raced as she recalled Macao and Kinana mentioning that Naruto was a Wizard Saint. She had seen the prowess of former Saints like Master Makarov and Jose; if their new guild master was anything like them, his challenge was not to be taken lightly. Despite his youth—his confidence and aura was palpable, and she realized that Naruto's words were not just bravado but a serious warning.

She glanced at her team, her expression shifting from shock to determination. "We can't charge in blindly. There has to be a strategy. He's not just some opponent; he's supposed to be a Wizard Saint, so we should all first try to come up with a plan."

Most of her teammates nodded in agreement, their expressions reflecting a mixture of concern and determination. Most of their initial doubts regarding the blonde fighting against all of them at once, now completely dissipating after the bold declaration.

As the group began to huddle together to strategize, the mood was abruptly interrupted by Natsu, whose enthusiasm could not be contained. With a wild grin and an explosive shout, he charged forward, his fire magic erupting around him like a blazing inferno. There was no way that he was going to let anyone take the chance of going on a S-class mission away from him! "Let's do this!" The fire dragon slayer roared.

Gray and Elfman, never ones to shy away from a fight, surged forward behind him. Gray's fists crackled with icy energy, his eyes narrowed in fierce determination. Elfman, his muscles coiled like springs, prepared for close-quarters combat with equal resolve.

Naruto observed the trio's approach with a knowing smile, his eyes twinkling with amusement. As Natsu barreled towards him, flames roaring in his wake, the blonde stood his ground, an aura of calm confidence radiating from him. He noted the widened eyes of some of the other guild members and their shout for the trio to stop their charge, in order for them to first come up with a strategy.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"

As Natsu's flaming fist hurtled toward Naruto, the blonde barely blinked. With a fluid, almost lazy motion, he sidestepped the blazing punch and casually caught Natsu's wrist mid-swing. For a split second, the fire dragon slayer's eyes widened in surprise as he found himself whirling through the air, a helpless passenger in Naruto's impromptu flight lesson."Wha—?!" Natsu barely had time to react as he was launched like a fiery projectile straight at Gray and Elfman, who were charging in right behind him.

The icy mage's eyes widened in disbelief. "Natsu, you idiot—!"

Elfman, ever the manly man, instinctively braced himself for impact, but even his bulk couldn't stop the force of Natsu's airborne body slamming into him. The three mages collided in a chaotic tangle of limbs and magic, tumbling back toward the rest of the Tenrou group in a heap.

The remaining Tenrou members looked on, torn between exasperation and amusement. Lucy facepalmed, muttering under her breath, "Of course this is how it starts…"

Erza, who had been in the middle of strategizing, could only stare in disbelief at the pile of her teammates groaning on the floor. Her expression shifted from shocked to stern as she crossed her arms, her brow furrowing in irritation. "I told you not to charge in blindly!"

Bickslow snickered, crossing his arms as he leaned against his puppets. "You'd think they'd learn by now."

Wendy, ever the healer, rushed over to the downed trio, "Are you guys okay?"

Natsu, ever the stubborn fighter, grunted as he pushed himself up, his eyes blazing with determination even as his hair was singed from the brief scuffle. "I'm not done yet!" he declared, though his wobbly stance suggested otherwise.

Naruto chuckled, casually brushing off his coat as if nothing had happened. "You know, I could do this all day," he teased, his tone lighthearted yet carrying a hint of challenge. "But if you're serious about taking that bell, you might want to listen to Erza and come up with a plan."

Gray finally untangled himself from the mess, glaring at Natsu. "This is why we can't have nice things," he grumbled, dusting off his pants.

Elfman, undeterred, flexed his muscles and stood tall. "A real man never backs down from a fight!" he proclaimed, though his voice held a touch of embarrassment at how easily they'd been swatted aside.

Yukino, watching the scene from the sidelines, covered her mouth with a hand, stifling a laugh. "Looks like Master's going easy on them," she mused, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Naruto's smile broadened as he watched the group slowly pick themselves up, their earlier bravado now tinged with a bit more caution. "Alright, who's next?" he called out cheerfully, the bell on his waist jingling lightly as he took a relaxed stance, waiting for their next move.

Erza, now more determined than ever, shot a glare at the rest of her team, silently daring anyone else to act rashly. "Listen up! We're not losing this to recklessness," she ordered, her tone brooking no argument. "We need to work together if we want to stand a chance."

As the group huddled once more, this time with a bit more urgency and a lot more bruises, Naruto couldn't help but grin. It was going to be a fun day.

Erza's sharp gaze locked onto Freed and Levy, who both visibly stiffened under the pressure. "Freed, Levy, we need a strategy now," she ordered, her tone leaving no room for hesitation.

Freed adjusted his glasses, his usual calm demeanor faltering slightly as he felt the weight of Erza's expectations. "O-Of course, Erza," he stammered, trying to gather his thoughts. Levy, equally flustered, quickly flipped through the pages of one of her books, searching for any useful tactics.

But just as Freed opened his mouth to suggest something, the group suddenly felt a presence disturbingly close to them. They looked up to see Naruto casually leaning into their huddle, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Hey, guys," Naruto greeted, as if he were just another one of the team members. "You know, in a real mission, your enemies won't just stand around and let you come up with a strategy." He winked, his tone friendly but with a clear edge of challenge.

The group collectively froze, their faces ranging from shock to disbelief.

Levy nearly dropped her book. "H-How did you—? When did you—?" she sputtered, completely thrown off, as just 2 seconds ago the blonde was almost 20 meters away from them.

Freed, whose usually impeccable composure was in shambles, stared at Naruto in astonishment. "That's… completely unfair!" he protested, though his voice lacked any real heat, more flabbergasted than angry.

Erza, who rarely found herself at a loss for words, blinked in sheer surprise before her expression shifted to one of annoyance. "Master Naruto!" she snapped, her arms crossing in frustration. "You're supposed to be giving us a chance to strategize!"

Naruto chuckled, backing away with his hands raised in mock surrender. "I'm just trying to keep things realistic," he said innocently, though the twinkle in his eyes betrayed his amusement.

"Realistic?!" Natsu, who was still recovering from his earlier flight lesson, sputtered indignantly. "You didn't even give us a warning!"

"Well," Naruto said with a grin, "the enemy won't warn you either."

As the group scrambled to regroup, the scene quickly descended into chaos. Gray, still grumbling about Natsu, attempted to get everyone to listen to Erza, while Elfman loudly proclaimed that "real men don't need plans!"—earning him a glare from Erza that could melt steel.

"Why do I even bother?" Lisanna groaned at her brother antics, face palming again as she tried to wrangle Natsu into cooperating. "This is turning into a complete disaster…"

Naruto, watching the disarray with a broad grin, casually tossed the bell from one hand to the other. "You know, this might actually be more fun than I thought," he remarked, loud enough for everyone to hear. "But you guys might want to hurry up—time's ticking!"

Erza, finally managing to regain some semblance of control over the group, shot Naruto a look that promised retribution. "Alright, enough! We're doing this together, and we're not letting him get in our heads!" she declared, her tone brokering no argument.

The group nodded vigorously, finally rallying under Erza's command. But just as Freed opened his mouth to propose a new plan, Naruto's voice interrupted once more, sounding closer than it should have been. "You guys better hurry up… again."

They turned to find Naruto suddenly in the center of their huddle, a wide grin plastered on his face. The group let out a collective scream of frustration as Naruto casually strolled away, laughing to himself.

Erza, now fully riled up, pointed her sword at Naruto with a fierce determination. "This is it! We're not losing this!" she shouted, and the group, now finally on the same page, charged at Naruto in unison with still no proper plan or strategy in place.

Naruto, still grinning, braced himself for the next round. "Now that's the spirit!" he called out, his heart light with the joy of the moment.

Outside the barrier that enclosed the training area, the group of spectators watched the chaotic spectacle with varying degrees of amusement. Makarov, Gildarts, Wakaba, Romeo and the other members were standing together, their laughter echoing through the air as they observed Naruto's antics and the Tenrou group's increasing disarray.

Wakaba, puffing on his pipe, shook his head in disbelief. "I haven't seen them in this much of a mess since Natsu and Gray's last brawl in the guild hall!" he chortled, wiping a tear from his eye as he amusedly recalled the brawl that happened almost seven years ago.

Gildarts, his broad shoulders shaking with laughter, clapped Makarov on the back. "You sure know how to pick 'em, Macao! I knew this Naruto kid was strong, but this… this is something else!" His usually relaxed demeanor was replaced by sheer delight as he watched the Tenrou group scramble around, trying—and failing—to keep up with the blond's relentless teasing.

Romeo, standing beside his father, could barely contain his own laughter. "They look like they're chasing a ghost!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide with awe as Naruto effortlessly dodged another combined attack, sending the group tumbling into each other again—mostly, Natsu, Erza, Gray, Elfman and Gajeel.

Makarov, though chuckling himself, had a look of astonishment on his face. "I knew the brat was powerful, but the way he's handling the Tenrou group… it's beyond impressive. They're some of the strongest mages we've got, and he's making it look easy." His voice was tinged with pride as he watched his the new guild master of his beloved guild display such skill.

A short distance away, a picnic blanket was spread out, where Yukino, Mirajane, Laki, Bisca, and Kinana sat together, enjoying the sunny day while watching the chaos unfold. Asuka, nestled comfortably on her mother Bisca's lap, sipped her juice with wide, sparkling eyes, completely engrossed in the spectacle before her.

"This is better than any show I've ever seen!" Asuka declared, her tiny legs kicking in excitement as she watched Natsu get launched into the air—again—by a casually executed kick from her brother.

Bisca, gently patting Asuka's head, smiled warmly. "You're right, sweetheart. It's not every day you get to see something like this. Your brother sure knows how to keep everyone on their toes."

Mirajane, who was leaning back on the blanket, laughed softly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "He's definitely got a knack for this. I've never seen Natsu, Gray, and Erza so off-balance. It's like they don't know what to do with him!"

Yukino, sitting beside Mirajane, nodded in agreement, her own smile bright. "It's like watching a master teach his students a lesson, but in the most playful way possible. Master really knows how to push any of his opponent buttons."

Laki, always one for a bit of mischief, giggled as she watched Erza fume after another failed attempt to land a hit on Naruto. "I wonder how long it'll take before they realize they're not just fighting him—they're learning from him too."

Kinana, sitting close to Yukino, chuckled as she reached for a piece of fruit from the basket. "Master's always been good at that—teaching without really teaching. He just… gets people to figure things out on their own. It's part of what makes him such a good master."

Back on the training field, Naruto was once again effortlessly dodging the latest coordinated assault from the Tenrou group, his grin never faltering. As they stumbled over each other, trying to regroup, he turned and shot a quick wink at the spectators outside the barrier, causing another round of laughter to erupt from Wakaba and Gildarts.

Gildarts, wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, shook his head. "I can't wait to see what happens when they finally start working together instead of tripping over each other. This is pure gold!"

Makarov, still smiling, nodded in agreement. "He's pushing them to their limits, but that's exactly what they need. This exercise is more than just about who gets that bell. It's about them growing stronger as a team—and I have no doubt they will."

Back in to the field, Naruto, still grinning from ear to ear, expertly sidestepped Erza's powerful sword slash, sending a burst of wind that barely missed grazing his cheek. With a playful chuckle, he flipped backward just in time to avoid Evergreen's Fairy machine gun and Juvia's water slicer, which exploded harmlessly behind him.

Meanwhile, a charging Natsu was sent soaring once again courtesy of a kick from the blonde, his body twisting in mid-air before crashing into the airborne Evergreen, who had been unfortunate enough to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. The force of the collision sent Evergreen yelping, "Why me?!" on the ground.

As the dust settled, Naruto couldn't help but watch the scene unfold with amusement. He turned his attention to the remaining members of the Tenrou group who were on the sidelines, trying to avoid getting caught in the chaos. Wendy, Lisanna, Lucy, and Levy were watching with varying degrees of concern and apprehension.

Naruto, grinning widely, casually placed his hands on his hips. "So, are you guys going to join the fray or just stand there looking pretty?" he called out, his tone light and teasing.

"Um…" Wendy nervously stammered glanced over at her teammates for help. Her eyes were wide with a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

Lisanna, meanwhile, was trying to stifle a giggle as she watched Natsu flail about in the air.

Lucy, arms crossed and brow furrowed, looked ready to jump in, but her attention was divided between Naruto's antics and her friends' chaotic attempts to corner him. She turned to Levy, who was furiously scribbling notes and mumbling to herself.

Levy, her face flushed with nervousness, looked up at Naruto and said, "I'm trying to come up with a strategy, but it's kind of hard to focus with everyone in a tangle like that."

Naruto chuckled and put a hand to his chin, as if contemplating their predicament. "Well, I'm impressed by your dedication. It's not every day you see a group of mages trying to take down their guild master and tripping over each other in the process."

Wendy bit her lip and gave a small nod, stepping forward hesitantly. "We're just trying to figure out how to handle this. It's... it's a lot."

Naruto gave them an encouraging smile. "Don't worry, you'll get it. Think of it as a chance to learn how to work together. Sometimes, the best way to solve a problem is to see what doesn't work first."

At that moment, Natsu landed awkwardly near them, still groaning from his latest flight. "Seriously, why do I always get kicked around!?" he exclaimed, looking up at his friends with a mix of frustration and embarrassment.

Levy sighed and shook her head, but she couldn't help but smile at the absurdity of the situation. "Alright, let's regroup and actually come up with a plan."

As the group huddled together, Naruto watched with interest. He could see their determination starting to build, and he knew that the challenge was beginning to bring them together. He started to twirl the bell that was fastened to his belt, making a show of it.

"You know, it's not just about the bell," Naruto said loudly enough for everyone to hear, deciding to just tell them one of the main aim of the test, "It's about how you handle pressure, work as a team, and learn from your mistakes. So, take a deep breath, come up with a strategy, and show me what you've got!"

The group exchanged determined looks, and Levy finally spoke up with a shaky but resolute voice. "Alright, we've got a plan. Let's see if we can make this work."

As they prepared to put their new plan into action, Naruto clapped his hands together in anticipation, now simply deciding to give them a breather. "That's the spirit! Let's see what you've got!"

Outside the barrier, the spectators were practically rolling on the ground with laughter. Gildarts wiped his eyes and leaned against Makarov. "I swear, this is the best day ever. Watching them try to keep up with Naruto is comedy gold."

Makarov nodded, his eyes twinkling with pride. "It's moments like these that remind me why I love this guild so much. They've got heart, and Naruto's helping them find their rhythm. This is what Fairy Tail is all about."

Inside the barrier, Levy, her nerves steadying, stepped forward with newfound determination. "Alright, everyone, we've got a plan! Coordination is key. Natsu, Gajeel, and Elfman, you'll engage Naruto directly. Lucy, summon Taurus to help them. Wendy, use your wind magic to support us. Juvia and Gray, be ready with your combined attacks. Lisanna, you and me will provide backup, Freed start spreading some runes on the ground to trap him. Bickslow, Evergreen, and Cana, support from the sides. Erza, you'll be our wild card."

As they all nodded and began to position themselves, Naruto couldn't help but chuckle at the serious expressions on their faces. "Let's see what you've got then!" he shouted, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"Ready?" Levy called out. "Let's do this!"

The tension inside the barrier was palpable as Naruto watched the guild members ready themselves. Levy's strategic plan had set the stage for what promised to be an entertaining display of teamwork.

Natsu and Gajeel, looking slightly disheveled but grinning with unrestrained enthusiasm, took center stage. Their confidence was almost tangible as they locked eyes with Naruto. "Let's see you handle this!" Natsu shouted, his fiery determination matching his flame.

Gajeel, ever the brooding figure, nodded in agreement. He and Natsu positioned themselves, cupping their hands in front of their mouths. Magic circles began to form, swirling with elemental energy. The air crackled with anticipation.

Levy glanced at the pair, her nerves steadying. "Here it comes!" Natsu's voice roared through the air, "Fire Dragon Roar!" Flames erupted from his mouth, curling into a fierce torrent. At the same time, Gajeel bellowed, "Iron Dragon Roar!" and a wave of sharp, metallic shards flew forth.

The two dragon roars converged in a blazing spectacle. The fire mixed with the iron shards, creating a massive fiery inferno engulfed in swirling dust and debris. The combined force of their attacks roared towards Naruto, who, with a dramatic flourish, spread his arms wide and grinned.

"Impressive!" Naruto shouted, his excitement evident. "But let's see if you can keep up with this!"

As the fiery storm bore down on him, Naruto moved with an agility that left spectators in awe. In a blink, he vanished from sight, reappearing high above the attack, perched on a nearby tree. He looked down at the smoldering wreckage and waved at the astonished guild members below.

Before Naruto could offer any taunting comment, he had to leap away from the tree as he noticed Bickslow's strange puppets spinning in a circular fashion above him. "Those things are kinda creepy," he muttered to himself, his usual confidence unwavering but tinged with a hint of playful annoyance. As he shifted his position, Naruto also spotted Evergreen and Freed on his right and left, respectively, both readying their own spells.

Bickslow's grin widened, his puppets echoing his eerie chuckle as they spun faster, forming a formation. "Baryon Formation!" he called out, launching a large green beam of energy straight at Naruto from the center of the puppets. The beam crackled with intensity, lighting up the area like a twisted festival of lights.

Evergreen wasn't about to be left out. Waving her little fan with an air of smug superiority, she exclaimed, "Fairy Machine Gun: Leprechaun!" In an instant, numerous needles made from concentrated dust shot towards Naruto at rapid speed, the tiny projectiles whizzing through the air with deadly precision

Meanwhile, Freed, now somewhat airborne with a pair of rune-composed wings, made a calculated slash with his sword. He lightly called out the name of his spell, "Dark Écriture: Slay," sending an X-shaped purple wave of pure runic energy rushing towards the blonde with a sinister hum.

Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Now you guys are really trying, huh?" he said, dodging the green beam with a swift flip, narrowly escaping the barrage of needles by zig-zagging through the air. The needles embedded themselves in the ground where he had been just moments before and causing a light explosion, while the beam obliterated a tree behind him, leaving it smoking.

As Freed's runic wave closed in on him, Naruto grinned mischievously. "Time to up the stakes!" With a burst of speed, he charged straight towards the purple X, much to the astonishment of everyone watching. Just as the wave was about to hit him, Naruto disappeared from the spot using Body Flicker, the wave crashed in to the spot and obliterated it forming a large X Shape on the ground.

Freed blinked in surprise as Naruto reappeared right next to him, casually resting his arm on Freed's shoulder. "Nice wings," Naruto commented, as if they were just chatting over a cup of tea. "But you might want to watch your back."

Freed's eyes widened as he realized what Naruto meant. The next moment, Naruto vanished again, just as Natsu and Gajeel, who had recovered from their earlier attack, came crashing in with twin roars, their combined flames and iron shards narrowly missing Freed.

"Oi! Watch it!" Freed shouted, ducking just in time as the two Dragon Slayers' attacks collided where he had been. Natsu and Gajeel skidded to a halt, looking equally surprised to see Freed there instead of Naruto.

Naruto barely had a moment to enjoy the confused expressions of Natsu and Gajeel before he sensed another threat closing in fast. He glanced up just in time to see a flurry of flaming cards raining down on him from above. "Aw, come on!" he groaned, flipping and twisting his body mid-air to avoid the fiery projectiles. Each card that missed him exploded on impact with the ground, sending up small bursts of flames in a chaotic pattern.

"Seriously? Flaming cards now?" Naruto muttered to himself, dodging another volley with a graceful backflip. He kicked off a nearby tree, using it as leverage to propel himself higher, narrowly avoiding a card that singed the tips of his hair.

"Why doesn't he let us hit him once!" Cana yelled in frustration, watching as Naruto effortlessly avoided her attacks. She had been trying to catch him off guard, but the blonde just wouldn't stay still long enough for her to land a direct hit. "You're making this way harder than it needs to be, you know!"

Naruto chuckled as he landed on a nearby branch, his feet barely making a sound. He looked down at Cana with an innocent grin. "Well, I can't just let you hit me, can I? Where's the fun in that?" He stuck out his tongue playfully, clearly enjoying himself.

Cana rolled her eyes and hurled another set of cards his way, her annoyance only growing. "I swear, you're like a hyperactive kid dodging chores!"

Naruto's grin widened as he somersaulted out of the way of the exploding cards. "Hey, I'm just keeping you on your toes! Plus...Oi!" The blonde momentarily paused as he saw a massive humanoid bull charging at him, while swinging a huge axe, "What the heck!?"

Naruto's mind raced as he narrowly avoided the glowing bull's axe, the force of the swing sending a gust of wind that nearly knocked him off his feet. "Seriously, a bull with an axe now? What's next, a flying pig with a sword?" he muttered to himself, spinning on his heel to dodge another swing from the bull.

He was about to retort when the sound of metal slicing through the air caught his attention. Instinctively, he ducked just in time to avoid a sword aimed at his head. He looked up to see Erza, illuminated in a fiery red glow, her eyes fierce and determined. But it wasn't her usual armor that caught Naruto off guard—it was the bizarre cheetah-themed bikini she was wearing.

Naruto blinked, his brain struggling to process what he was seeing. "Uh, Erza… What… what are you wearing? Did I miss a guild-wide beach party memo or something?"

Erza didn't respond, her face as serious as ever as she swung her sword again, forcing Naruto to backflip out of the way. "Focus, Master Naruto! This is a battle, not a fashion show!" she chided, although her choice of armor was making it hard for him to take her words seriously.

Before Naruto could regain his footing, Lisanna leaped at him from the side, glowing with a pink aura, her hands now transformed into sharp claws. She was wearing what seemed to be a cat-themed bikini armor, complete with ears and a tail. The sight was so unexpected that Naruto momentarily froze, his brain short-circuiting.

"Wait, wait, hold on a second!" Naruto yelped, raising his hands to block the flurry of swipes from Lisanna. "Since when did we start raiding the costume department for battle gear? And why is everyone glowing like a neon sign?!" He barely managed to deflect Lisanna's attacks, his arms crossed in front of him as he retreated.

Lisanna giggled, her playful demeanor contrasting with her fierce attacks. "Don't you like it, Naruto? I think it adds a bit of flair to our fight!"

"Flair?!" Naruto echoed incredulously, jumping back to avoid another swipe. "I think I just stepped into a carnival!" He couldn't help but grin, despite the ridiculousness of the situation. "Alright, alright, I get it! You guys are pulling out all the stops!"

As if to prove his point, the bull reared up behind him, readying another swing of its massive axe. Naruto quickly ducked under the swing, only to find himself face-to-face with Erza again. Her sword was already mid-swing, and he could practically see the determined glint in her eyes.

The blonde sighed in exaggerated defeat. "Fine, you guys win! But seriously, next time, can we do this without the wardrobe malfunction?"

Erza's stern expression cracked just a little, a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips. "You're the one who said to try harder, Master. We're just giving you what you asked for."

Naruto chuckled, shaking his head as he weaved between the attacks. "Okay, okay, point taken. But you've got to admit, this is a bit over the top, even for Fairy Tail standards."

The scene turned almost comical as Naruto continued to dodge the glowing bull, Erza's bikini-clad attacks, and Lisanna's cat claws, while also having to dodge some wild charges and spells from the two dragon slayers, Cana and the thunder tribe, all while laughing and throwing playful jabs at his guildmates.

Despite the ridiculousness, Naruto couldn't deny that he was having a blast. Not to mention, he also noticed Erza being a bit more faster than before, causing him to glance at their guild cute dragon slayer with a bit of approval. Somewhat guessing that the 'neon' glow that the trio were sporting was the effect of her spell.

Though, as he was forced to dodge another slash from the red head, he couldn't help but wonder whether they have forgotten the main goal of the test, as he had noticed none of them were trying to grab the bell fastened to his belt.

"Alright, guys, let's see if you can keep up!" he shouted with a grin, his excitement reignited as he vanished in a burst of speed, leaving his guild mates scrambling to keep up.

(A few minutes ago)

As Naruto continued to dance around their attacks, Levy, Lucy, Wendy, Juvia, Elfman and Erza stare at their new guild master with a mix of awe and trepidation. His movements were so fluid and precise that he seemed almost like a blur, evading every spell, strike, and projectile with ease. To them, it felt like they were fighting against an impossibly fast and skilled opponent who knew their every move before they even made it.

Erza's eyes widened as she observed Naruto's effortless grace to doge the Thunder Tribe combined spells. The way he slipped through their onslaughts, dodging and weaving with an almost casual air, was both impressive and a little terrifying. She had seen many strong mages in her time, but Naruto's speed was unlike anything she had ever encountered. Her concern grew as she noticed he hadn't even begun to use his own spells or shown any sign of his magical abilities. He was purely relying on his agility, quick reflexes, and that strange trick of substituting himself with logs.

A nagging voice in her head made her doubt their chances. Even if they were to go all out in this spar, would they truly be able to challenge him? Naruto's defensive stance and occasional playful kicks, like sending Natsu flying into the air, suggested that he was holding back, just enjoying the spectacle of their efforts. He had yet to display any serious aggression or use of his own magic, which made Erza question just how powerful he truly was.

Was it possible that the gap between their abilities and his was this vast? Had the world changed so much in the seven years they had been gone, or was the blonde simply that exceptional? Erza's thoughts raced, bitterness mingling with her admiration. She remembered the days when Fairy Tail's strength was unquestioned, and now it seemed like they were struggling just to keep up with their new guild master. The disparity was jarring, and it left her feeling a mix of frustration and reluctant respect.

Levy was the first to shake off the amazement, quickly regaining her composure. She glanced at her teammates, noticing their stunned expressions. "Alright, enough gawking! We need to move on to the next plan," she urged, her voice snapping all of them back to reality. They nodded in unison, determination replacing their earlier shock.

Erza, now fully focused decided to take charge and immediately switched to her Flight Armor, her body glowing with a crimson light as her new armor materialized. The lightweight armor granted her two short words and increased her speed significantly. "I'll match his speed and keep him occupied," she declared, her wings flaring out as she prepared to launch herself at Naruto.

Lisanna followed suit, using her Take Over Magic to transform into her Animal Soul: Cat form. Her body shrunk slightly, becoming more agile, with feline ears and a tail appearing. Her senses sharpened, and she flashed a confident grin at the others. "I'll move in with Erza. Let's catch him off guard!"

Lucy, always ready to support her team, swiftly pulled out a golden key from her pouch and raised it high. "Open, Gate of the Golden Bull—Taurus!" she chanted, and with a burst of light, the massive, muscular bull spirit appeared. Taurus grinned widely, his eyes instantly locking onto Lucy. "Lucy, it's been so long! It's good to see your body… I mean, see you're okay after so long!" he exclaimed, his eyes lingering a bit too long on her chest.

Lucy and the others couldn't help but sweatdrop at the spirit's usual perverted antics, but she quickly shook it off. "Focus, Taurus! We need your strength right now!" she said, pointing toward Naruto, who was still effortlessly evading the attacks from the others.

Wendy, ever the supportive member of the team, stepped forward and began casting her enhancement spells. She spread her arms wide, her voice clear and firm. "O swift wind that dashes through the heavens… VERNIER!" she chanted, a purple magic circle forming beneath Erza, Lisanna, and Taurus. The light from the circle enveloped them, enhancing their speed. "And, O strength of arm to cleave the heavens… ARMS!" she continued, another circle forming and imbuing the three with increased physical strength.

With their newfound speed and strength, Erza, Lisanna, and Taurus charged at Naruto in perfect sync. The blonde barely had time to process the sudden increase in their speed as Taurus charge toward him, his huge age gleaming in the light. Erza followed close behind, her two swords in hand and with a new vigor, while Lisanna zipped towards him ,her cat-like agility making her movements unpredictable.

(Present)

On the sidelines, Mirajane watched the scene with an amused smile. She rested her chin on her hand, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "They're really giving it their all now, aren't they?" she commented, her tone light and teasing.

Yukino, standing beside her, nodded with a small smile. "It's nice to see them working together like this. Though, I wonder how long they'll last before master pulls something unexpected again."

Happy and Pantherlily were floating nearby, both of them wincing as they saw Natsu and Gajeel, who had recovered from their earlier surprise, charging at Naruto from opposite sides. The two Dragon Slayers yelled in unison, aiming powerful punches at Naruto.

"Get him, Natsu!" Happy cheered out, flapping his little wings frantically.

But Naruto was already a step ahead. With a grin, he ducked at the last second, causing Natsu and Gajeel to miss their target completely and slam into each other's heads with a loud thud. The two Dragon Slayers stumbled backward, clutching their heads in pain, while Naruto chuckled mischievously.

"Why do they always fall for that?" Pantherlily muttered, shaking his head with a sigh.

"Natsu and Gajeel sure have a hard head, huh?" Happy added, rubbing his own head sympathetically.

Meanwhile, Makarov, Gildarts, and Vijeeter stood on the other side, watching the battle unfold with a mixture of admiration and amusement. Max, Jet, and Droy were beside them, their eyes wide as they observed the Tenrou group's newfound coordination.

"You've got to hand it to them, they're really starting to work together well," Max commented, his voice filled with respect. Jet nodded in agreement, his eyes fixed on the chaotic battle. "Yeah, it's like they're finally in sync. They might actually land a hit on Naruto this time."

Droy, however, furrowed his brow as he noticed something. "Hey, did anyone else notice that Elfman, Juvia, and Gray haven't moved yet?"

Gildarts stroked his beard thoughtfully, his wise eyes narrowing as he observed the trio. "Hmm, you're right. They're just standing there, watching. I wonder…"

Makarov chuckled, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "My guess is that Levy told them to hang back and wait for the right moment. She's always been the strategist."

Vijeeter nodded in agreement. "Smart move. With Master Naruto being so fast, it makes sense to bide their time until they see an opening."

Back on the battlefield, Bickslow's puppets swiftly arranged themselves into a V formation, their eerie grins matching their master's. With a dramatic flair, Bickslow pointed a finger at Naruto and bellowed, "Victory Formation!" In an instant, numerous V-shaped energy slashes materialized, cutting through the air and homing in on Naruto with frightening precision.

"Everyone, move!" Bickslow yelled, his eyes glowing with excitement.

Erza, Lisanna, and Taurus barely had time to leap out of the way as the energy blasts zoomed toward Naruto. For a moment, it seemed like Bickslow had finally cornered him.

But Naruto, with a mischievous grin, casually backflipped out of the path of the incoming slashes. As some of the blasts closed in, he quickly performed a substitution jutsu, swapping himself out with the legendary "almighty great log," which appeared out of nowhere— like the dozens time that he had done in this fight. The log took the brunt of the attacks, splintering into pieces as the slashes collided with it.

The substitution went unnoticed by the some of the Tenrou group, who were too focused on the chaos. When the dust settled, all eyes were on the shattered log.

Bickslow's face lit up with triumph. "Did I get him? Did I actually get him?!"Before anyone could answer, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Not quite!" Bickslow's eyes widened in shock, and he slowly turned around, only to find Naruto standing right behind him, completely unscathed, and wearing an amused grin.

"Nice try, Bickslow," Naruto said, patting him on the shoulder before casually walking away, leaving Bickslow frozen in place, mouth agape. The rest of the team was similarly flabbergasted.

Erza blinked, still holding her swords, and muttered, "How does he do that?"

Lisanna, still in her cat form, frowned in confusion. "And where did that log always come from?"

"Forget the log, how does he keep dodging everything?!" Natsu exclaimed, rubbing the bump on his head where he'd collided with Gajeel. Meanwhile, Gajeel was rubbing his own head and muttering something about "damn logs."

Levy was watching the whole ordeal closely, waiting for the perfect moment. "Okay, this is it," she said, gathering Elfman, Juvia, Gray and Freed. "We'll strike now while he's distracted!"

Elfman pumped his fist, ready for action. "Time to show him what a real man can do!"

Gray, however, couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Can you stop saying that for once?"

Juvia nodded determinedly, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Juvia is ready to assist Gray-sama in this strategy!"

Levy turned to Lucy and Wendy, who were still staring at the shattered remains of the log in bewilderment. Wendy tilted her head, trying to make sense of it, while Lucy was rubbing her chin thoughtfully.

"Get ready, you two," Levy said, snapping them out of their daze. "Lucy, I want you to be prepared to summon Aquarius or Virgo, depending on what happens next."

Lucy blinked in surprise, her usual confidence suddenly wavering. "A-Aquarius? Are you sure about that, Levy? I mean, wouldn't Virgo be, you know, just fine?"

Levy simply gave her a look—a mix of resolve and urgency that brooked no argument. "Trust me, Lucy. We might need Aquarius's power if things get too chaotic."

Lucy sighed, still a bit nervous. "Alright, but if Aquarius gets mad, I'm blaming you for all the water damage!"

Across from them, Natsu, visibly frustrated at their jovial opponent, let out a loud roar that echoed through the battlefield. "Alright, that's it! I'm done with these games, you blonde bastard!" His voice was filled with a mix of anger and determination. Sparks of lightning crackled around him, intertwining with fierce flames that danced and swirled. The dramatic transformation was something to behold, and it caught everyone's attention.

Naruto couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the sight. Natsu's fiery, lightning-charged aura gave him an imposing presence, and the sheer intensity of the attack was almost palpable.

Natsu's declaration came with a fierce glare as he charged at Naruto, shouting, "Lightning Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" With an explosive burst of speed, he aimed a powerful punch imbued with both fire and lightning at the blonde.

Naruto's eyes widened momentarily in surprise at the sudden increase in speed. He pivoted gracefully, sidestepping the fiery fist with a fluid motion. Natsu's punch whizzed past him, the heat and lightning creating a sizzle in the air. Naruto narrowly avoided getting scorched by the intense flames, though he could feel the heat radiating from the attack.

As Natsu swung wildly, Naruto's nimble movements allowed him to dodge every strike with ease. He swayed left and right, his movements a blend of grace and amusement. Despite the fierceness of Natsu's assault, Naruto's face was lit up with a playful smirk, clearly enjoying the challenge.

Natsu, frustrated by Naruto's evasive maneuvers, roared again and redoubled his efforts. "Stop dodging and fight me already!"

Naruto, still sidestepping and dodging with a cheerful demeanor, called back, "Is this really all you've got, Natsu? I thought you were better than this!"

As Natsu's punches continued to miss their mark, Naruto sidestepped with a playful grin, clearly enjoying the display of frustration. The intense aura around Natsu only seemed to amuse him more. With each dodged attack, Naruto called out casually, "Natsu, you really need to stop swinging so wildly. It's predictable! Try to think about your movements a bit more."

Natsu's eyes widened in disbelief. "Predictable? You're dodging everything like it's nothing!"

Naruto dodged another fiery punch with ease, his movements fluid and almost dance-like. "Exactly. If you just keep swinging without any strategy, it's going to be too easy for your opponents to avoid."

The Tenrou group watched with a mix of awe and amusement. Evergreen and Freed exchanged incredulous glances, while Lisanna and Cana's eyes were glued to Naruto's nimble movements. Freed, still in shock, muttered, "Last time Natsu used this magic, he was able to defeat Laxus. But look at him now—Naruto's handling him like a child."

Evergreen nodded, her eyes wide. "I didn't expect anyone to make Natsu look so ineffective."

Natsu, clearly fuming, let out another furious roar and prepared to unleash his "Lightning Fire Dragon Roar" from point-blank range. He chanted the spell, his cheeks puffing up with intense concentration, but just as he was about to release it, his eyes widened in shock. Naruto had vanished from his line of sight in a puff of smoke.

In a heartbeat, the blonde reappeared behind Natsu, crouching low with his fingers clasped in a tiger hand seal. He grinned mischievously, calling out in a dramatic voice, "Konohagakure Hiden Secret Taijutsu Technique: One Thousand Years of Death!"

Natsu barely had time to register the words before he felt the unexpected and rather forceful poke in his rear. The entire battlefield fell into a stunned silence, with Natsu's fiery aura extinguishing as his eyes bulged in shock. Then, with a painful scream, he was launched into the air, his yelp echoing as he was propelled skyward by the sheer force of Naruto's prank.

Erza, who had been watching with a steely gaze looking for any openings, blinked in disbelief, a little blush adorning her face. She exchanged a bewildered look with Lisanna, who was torn between shock and laughter. Wendy, meanwhile, was caught between worry and the overwhelming urge to burst out laughing, her hand covering her mouth to stifle the giggles. Even Freed, usually composed, was left wide-eyed and speechless, his brain struggling to process what he had just witnessed. Elfman, ever the voice of manliness, exclaimed, "That's such an unmanly spell!"

While Gray look like he was having the time of his life, as he witnessed his sworn rival hurled to the sky. Even Taurus look like he was about to bust out laughing.

Outside the battlefield, the spectators erupted into roaring laughter. Makarov, clutching his sides, nearly toppled off his seat while Gildarts threw his head back in sheer amusement. Jet instinctively grabbed his own backside, his eyes wide with alarm as Droy and Max exchanged knowing glances, both grinning ear to ear.

Happy, who had been flying overhead, shrieked, "Natsu!" His little body quivered with concern, tears welling up in his eyes. Mirajane, however, could barely contain her laughter, trying her best to comfort the distraught Exceed. "Don't worry, Happy," she chuckled, patting the poor cat on the head. "Natsu will be just fine… probably."

Asuka, perched on Bisca's shoulders, was thoroughly entertained, her cheerful voice ringing out as she cheered for Naruto. "Go, Naruto-nii! That was awesome!" She was beginning to like Natsu-nii, but Naruto-nii was still her favorite brother.

Meanwhile, Carla, ever the voice of reason, merely shook her head in exasperation. "I swear, these people are going to be the end of me," she muttered at the childish move, though the corners of her mouth twitched in a reluctant smile.

The laughter and cheers from the crowd only grew louder as Natsu came crashing back down to the ground, groaning in pain and embarrassment. Naruto, standing triumphantly nearby, gave a cheeky grin and called out, "See, Natsu? That's what happens when you let your guard down! You've gotta keep your wits about you in a fight, or you might get… well, you know."

Natsu, still reeling from the surprise attack, could only glare at Naruto, his face flushed both from the pain and from sheer mortification. "I-I'll get you for that!" he sputtered, trying to regain some semblance of dignity as he struggled to his feet.

But Naruto just laughed, waving him off. "Sure, sure. But maybe next time, focus on strategy instead of just power. You'll be unstoppable then, I promise."

But before Naruto could continue chiding the groaning Natsu, he heard the telltale sound of sharp steel cutting through the air. Instinctively, he ducked, narrowly avoiding a swing from Erza's sword. "Who in the world came up with such a ridiculous name for a move?!" she demanded, her voice tinged with shock. A small blush of embarrassment colored her cheeks as she recalled the childish move Naruto had just used on Natsu.

Naruto simply grinned, sidestepping another overhead swing from Erza. In one swift motion, he grabbed her wrist, disarming her with ease. "Sorry, Erza, but '1000 Years of Death' is a name that had been pass down from generation to generation," he joked, tossing her gently toward Lisanna, who had been sneaking up behind her.

Lisanna yelped in surprise as Erza crashed into her, both of them tumbling to the ground in a heap. The once-bright aura that had surrounded them began to fade, signaling the end of Wendy's enhancement spell. Erza quickly scrambled to her feet, flustered but still determined, while Lisanna lay dazed on the ground, her eyes spinning comically.

"Erza, you need to warn me before you go flying into people!" Lisanna groaned, rubbing her head as she tried to regain her composure.

Erza, her usual composed self slightly cracked, muttered an apology while eyeing Naruto with a competitive glint. But before she could take a step forward, a sudden shadow loomed over them.

Naruto, who had been chuckling at the scene, suddenly felt the ground shake as Taurus, with his massive axe raised high, came crashing down towards him.

"Moooo-ve it!" Taurus bellowed, his muscles rippling as he swung the axe with all his might.

Naruto, reacting on instinct, leaped high into the air just as the axe buried itself into the ground with a resounding thud. "Close one!" Naruto called out from above, standing on Taurus's head with his trademark cheeky grin.

"Nice try, big guy!" he teased, preparing to jump away and deliver a taunt. But before he could make his move, a sudden flash of motion caught his eye.

Elfman, glowing with an unmistakable aura of Wendy's enhancement spell, had appeared in front of Naruto, his arm now transformed into 'Beast Arm: Black Bull' form swinging toward the blonde with incredible force. "A REAL MAN NEVER UNDERESTIMATES HIS OPPONENT!" Elfman roared, his voice echoing across the battlefield.

Caught slightly off-guard, the blonde barely had time to cross his arms in defense as Elfman's punch connected, sending him flying backward with a powerful shockwave. Naruto skidded across the ground, his arms flailed slightly as he tried to regain his balance, but the impact was clear—Elfman's punch had definitely landed. He shook his head, trying to clear the ringing in his ears.

Lucy, Wendy, and Levy watched in anticipation, their cheers growing louder as they saw Naruto hit the ground for the first time in the spar. Lucy turned to Levy, a wide grin on her face. "Your plan's actually working, Levy! This is the first time Naruto's been hit!"

Levy's cheeks puffed up with pride as she glanced at the battlefield. "I knew we could do it!"

As Naruto finally pushed himself upright, he barely had time to react before he was struck from the side by Gajeel's Iron Dragon Lance. The force of the attack sent him flying sideways, skidding along the ground once more

Naruto chuckled despite the impact. "Good work, everyone!" he called out, his voice still light-hearted. But Gajeel, his confidence brimming, just smirked and pointed downward.

The blonde glanced down and saw that the ground beneath him had turned into a solid sheet of ice. Gray's voice echoed from behind, "Ice Make: Ice Field!" The icy tendrils had firmly ensnared his feet, making it impossible for him to move.

"Nice one, Gray! Finally decided to join the fray, eh!?" Naruto shouted, trying to lift his feet with little success. Just as he was figuring out how to escape, Levy's excited voice rang out, "Now, Juvia, Wendy!"

Wendy puffed her cheeks, gathering her magic, while Juvia summoned a massive blue magic circle in front of her. Wendy launched her 'Sky Dragon Roar,' sending a torrent of air rushing toward Naruto. At the same time, Juvia's 'Water Ray' combined with Wendy's spell, forming a colossal wave of water and air that hurtled toward the immobilized blonde.

The spectators outside the barrier, including the Tenrou group, watched with bated breath as the combined spells roared toward Naruto. He simply grinned at the impressive teamwork.

Instead of simply teleporting away, Naruto decided to showcase his skills a bit. He channeled his chakra into his right palm, raising it with a proud flourish. As the massive spell approached, Naruto brought his hand down in a decisive slicing motion. "Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique!"

True to its name, the technique created a large, razor-sharp blade of wind that sliced through the oncoming torrent of air and water. The powerful gust split the spell in half, the combined attack rushing harmlessly past him. Naruto's clothes flapped wildly as he was briefly drenched by the water, but he stood unharmed, a satisfied grin plastered on his face.

The Tenrou group, especially Wendy and Juvia, balked in surprise at the ease with which Naruto had nullified the powerful spell. Their jaws dropped collectively, the shock evident on their faces.

Naruto couldn't help but grin as he saw their reactions. "What's the matter?" he teased, brushing a few wet strands of hair from his face. "You didn't think I was going to let that hit me, did you?"

Before he could fully bask in his victory, a sharp voice rang out from across the battlefield, "Lightning Card!" It was Cana, her arm outstretched as she launched a glowing card straight at Naruto.

Naruto's instincts kicked in, and he swiftly raised his hands to block the incoming attack as he really couldn't jump out of he way due to his feet still being trapped. However, the card didn't strike him directly. Instead, it landed on the drenched, icy ground at his feet.

Naruto's eyes widened as he realized what was about to happen. "Uh-oh..."The card sparked with electricity, sending bolts of lightning crackling through the water that soaked the ground—and Naruto. The blonde barely had time to mutter, "This might hurt a bit," before the electricity surged through him. His body jolted as the current flowed, his hair standing on end and his teeth clenched.

The Tenrou group watched in a mix of concern and amusement as Naruto twitched comically, the static electricity causing his hair to spike up even more than usual.

Finally, the shock subsided, and Naruto stood there, smoke gently wafting from his singed clothes. He blinked, his eyes wide, and then, with a twitch of his lips, he said dryly, "Well... I guess that was a shocking turn of events."

Cana burst out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer. "Gotcha, blondie!" she called out, clearly pleased with herself.

Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "Alright, alright, I'll give you that one. But don't think I'm done yet!"

But as soon as Naruto finished his sentence, the icy ground beneath him began to glow ominously. His grin faded as a purple barrier materialized, encircling him with a shimmer of magical energy. The runes inscribed on the barrier glowed brightly, casting eerie shadows across the blonde's surprised face.

Levy and Freed exchanged satisfied nods from across the battlefield. "Looks like it worked," Levy murmured, her eyes gleaming with pride.

Freed crossed his arms, a rare smirk curling on his lips. "A trap fit for the guild master himself," he remarked, pleased with the intricacies of his rune magic.

Naruto, now fully enclosed in the barrier, glanced around at the glowing inscriptions. He squinted, trying to make out the runes as they shifted and danced across the surface. His brow furrowed in concentration, but despite his best efforts, the complex symbols remained a mystery.

"Alright, what have we got here?" Naruto muttered, reaching out to touch the barrier. The moment his fingers brushed against it, the runes flared, sending a pulse of energy through the enclosure. Naruto yelped and jerked his hand back, shaking it as if he'd been stung. "Okay, note to self: don't touch the glowy thing."

Across the battlefield, Natsu grinned, pumping his fist in the air. "Yeah! We've got him now!" he shouted, his voice brimming with excitement.

Erza, ever the composed one, kept her cool but couldn't suppress a small smile. "It's not over yet, Natsu. We need to be cautious."

Meanwhile, Juvia leaned closer to Wendy, her eyes wide with anticipation. "Do you think he'll be able to get out of that?"

Wendy, her gaze fixed on their guild master and bit her lip nervously. "I'm really…not sure.."

Naruto, still trapped in the glowing barrier, chuckled softly, his earlier surprise replaced by a calm confidence. He met the triumphant gazes of Levy and Freed with an amused twinkle in his eyes. "You guys really think you've won, huh?"

Levy, her usual nervousness replaced with newfound confidence, crossed her arms and nodded firmly. "That's right, Master! We've got you this time," she declared, her voice carrying a hint of pride.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Oh? And here I thought you knew the rules. Remember, you still need to get the bell to win."

The Tenrou members, who had been celebrating their supposed victory, suddenly paused as they all noticed the blonde teasingly jingle the bells tied in his belt. They exchanged uneasy glances, the realization sinking in. Did they have to fight each other for the bell now? The thought of turning on one another made the moment awkwardly tense.

Natsu, never one to think too deeply, clenched his fists and shouted, "I'll take you all on! That bell is mine!" with Gajeel and Elfman nodding along.

Erza quickly intervened, her tone sharp but composed. "We should think this through before charging in blindly, Natsu."

Freed, still confident in his trap, shook his head and addressed Naruto. "There's no need for that, Master. You might as well surrender now. Just place the bell on the ground, and we'll settle this among ourselves. After all, you can't escape this barrier. Not with magic, not with brute force. It's designed specifically to contain even the strongest of opponents."

Gray, standing tall beside Freed, crossed his arms over his chest and added, "And don't forget, your feet are still stuck in my ice. Even if you somehow get out of the barrier, you're not going anywhere."

Naruto's grin only grew wider as he looked down at the ice binding his feet. He ignored Gray's comment entirely and turned his attention back to Freed. "Freed," he began, his tone suddenly serious, "Rule number one of setting a trap: never, and I mean never, tell your opponent how it works."

Freed's smirk faltered, his confident expression giving way to confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked, a slight unease creeping into his voice.

Naruto's blue eyes sparkled mischievously as he leaned back, still very much trapped but now looking more like a man on vacation rather than someone in a precarious situation. "You see, when you explain the details and intricacies of your spells or traps, you're handing your opponent the keys to their own escape."

Freed's eyes widened in realization, and his confidence wavered. "But… this barrier…"

Naruto let out a light-hearted laugh. "True, it's impressive. But you've given me too much information. You've underestimated me. And that's something you never want to do."

He looked at the barrier with a curious expression, his grin turning slightly devious. "You mentioned this barrier prevents the use of spells or brute force, but you didn't say anything about teleportation."

Freed and Levy exchanged confused glances, clearly unsure where Naruto was going with this.

Before they could voice their doubts, Naruto summoned a tri-pronged kunai in his right hand. The kunai appeared with a flash, causing Erza's eyes to widen in surprise. "Requip magic?" she thought out loud, trying to make sense of how Naruto had summoned the weapon without using a single incantation or magical circle.

Internally, Naruto mused, 'Not to mention, I don't use any magic'. Out loud, he continued with a playful tone, "All right, brace yourself, Levy."

With a wink, Naruto threw the kunai. It moved at a rapid speed, seemingly phasing through the barrier as if it weren't even there. The kunai flew straight towards Levy, who watched in horror as it closed the distance in a split second. She tried to move, but found her legs not cooperating, deciding to just accept her fate she closed her eyes tight, bracing herself for the inevitable impact as kunai was now just inches away from her face. The tense silence was broken only by the sound of her friends' shouts and the rapid approach of the weapon. She squeezed her eyes even tighter, expecting pain.

But instead of a sharp sting—or worse—Levy felt a light, yet oddly firm, flick on her forehead. The impact sent her stumbling to the ground with a soft squeak of surprise. As she gingerly rubbed her forehead, she opened her eyes cautiously to find Naruto grinning cheekily at her, while casually twirling the kunai in his left hand.

Her gaze darted around, taking in the sight of the barrier now conspicuously empty. Freed and the others stared at Naruto with their jaws dropped, their disbelief palpable. Naruto's playful grin seemed to grow even wider as he gave Levy a mock salute.

Levy blinked, still in shock, her mind struggling to process the sudden change. "How?" she managed to stammer, her voice barely a whisper as she tried to make sense of what had just happened.

Naruto winked at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "It's simple, really. You were so eager to show off your trap, you forgot to consider that I don't rely on conventional methods. Sometimes, the best way to get out of a tight spot is to not play by the rules you've set."

Levy, still rubbing her forehead, couldn't help but feel a mix of relief and exasperation. Her friends, having regained their composure, were now exchanging incredulous looks. The sight of Naruto standing there, having seemingly defied all logic, left them speechless.

Freed scratched his head, his confident demeanor evaporated. During the last 20 minutes or so, they have seen their guild master insane agility and speed, but what they witness just now was completely impossible, as everything happened in just a blink of an eye. "I… I don't understand. How did you—"

Naruto laughed, cutting him off. "Like I said, never explain your traps or even your spells in detail. You never know what your opponent might use to surprise you."

Naruto's eyes sparkled with amusement as he saw Freed, Levy, and the others struggling to grasp what had just transpired. The barrier, which had seemed so impenetrable moments before, was now completely irrelevant. His grin widened as he saw Levy's face flush from the mixture of shock and embarrassment.

"Alright, folks," Naruto said with a dramatic flourish, "now that we've had our fun, let's get down to business." He shifted his tone to something more serious, though his playful glint remained in his eyes. "There are only about 8 minutes left in our little exercise. So, let's see how well you handle yourselves on the defensive end."

Lucy blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of Naruto's words. "Defensive end? But we thought—"

Naruto cut him off with a chuckle. "Yep, exactly. I've seen enough of your attacks. Now, it's time for me to see how you defend. And trust me, this will be a bit more challenging than it looks."

He tossed the kunai up into the air, catching it deftly with his left hand as he began to pace around them, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Consider this a little test of your adaptability and quick thinking. If you want to join me on that S-class mission, you'll need to be able to handle surprises. And believe me, I've got a few left."

As if on cue, Naruto's demeanor shifted back to playful. He dramatically tapped his chin, pretending to think deeply. "So, let's see what you've got. Brace yourselves!"

The group exchanged nervous glances readying themselves for a tough and confusing 8 minutes.

Outside the barrier, Makarov and Gildarts watched in stunned silence as Naruto demonstrated his astounding speed and agility. Makarov's eyes widened as he muttered under his breath, "Was that… teleportation?"

Gildarts, equally bewildered, nodded slowly. "It sure looked like it. How did he move so fast?"

Macao, who had been sitting beside them, chuckled softly. "Yep, that was indeed instant teleportation. I was just as confused and astonished the first time I saw him use it. He uses the kunai as a marker, and no matter the distance, he can teleport to it in the blink of an eye."

Makarov's curiosity was piqued as he observed the kunai Naruto was casually twirling. "So, he needs to use that kunai for his spell to work?"

Macao shook his head with a grin. "Not really. He can do it without the kunai, but he hasn't explained exactly how he pulls it off. Always, dramatically saying how a shinobi never gives away their secrets."

Gildarts raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "So, he's just not going to share how it works?"

Macao shrugged, still amused. "Seems like it. Some things are best left as mysteries."

Meanwhile, back inside the barrier, Naruto was setting up the next phase of his challenge. The blonde's playful demeanor masked the intensity of his skills, and the atmosphere within the barrier became charged with anticipation. The guild members, who had already witnessed his incredible speed and agility, were now on high alert. The energy in the air was palpable as they braced themselves for the next phase of their guild master challenge.

With a casual flick of his wrist, Naruto tossed the kunai high into the air, and every pair of eyes in the barrier followed its arc. As it descended, Naruto caught it effortlessly with his left hand, his grin widening as he addressed the group. "Alright, let's get this show on the road!" he called out, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "Remember, this is a test of your defensive skills. You're going to need to think on your feet and adapt quickly."

The guild members Exchanged uneasy glances. Natsu and Gajeel were practically vibrating with anticipation, their eagerness to face Naruto again almost overwhelming. Erza and Gray, on the other hand, were more focused, their stances reflecting their readiness for whatever Naruto had planned. Cana, Bickslow and Freed, usually more composed, couldn't help but feel a hint of nervousness creep in as they prepared themselves for the unknown.

Without warning, Naruto's playful grin turned into a sharp focus as he swiftly threw the kunai toward the hovering Freed. The speed of the kunai was almost too fast to follow, a blur that cut through the air with precision. Freed's eyes widened in surprise, and he instinctively raised his sword to swipe it away. However, just as his blade was about to make contact, something unexpected happened.

The single kunai suddenly multiplied itself into dozens, each one flying toward Freed from different angles. The sheer number of kunai caused his mind to momentarily blank out as he tried to process what was happening. With a desperate swing, he managed to deflect a few, but most of them simply phased out as they reached him, vanishing harmlessly. Only one kunai—the original—managed to graze his cheek as it passed behind him, leaving a thin, stinging line.

Before Freed could fully comprehend what had just happened, there was a bright flash of yellow light, and Naruto appeared behind him in an instant. The suddenness of his appearance left Freed stunned, his instincts struggling to catch up. He tried to turn around, but before he could react, Naruto delivered a cheeky karate chop to the back of his head.

Freed's eyes widened as the force of the chop caused him to drop his sword, his grip loosening as he fell to the ground. The impact wasn't enough to knock him out, but it was certainly enough to disorient him. He groaned as he hit the ground, more out of surprise than pain, and looked up at Naruto, who was now standing over him with a satisfied grin.

"Gotcha!" Naruto said with a playful wink, his tone teasing but with an underlying note of respect for Freed's abilities.

The other guild members watched in stunned silence, the display of Naruto's skill leaving them in awe. Even Natsu and Gajeel, who were usually quick to jump into the fray, found themselves momentarily speechless.

Erza narrowed her eyes as she analyzed the situation. "He's not just fast," she muttered to herself. "He's thinking several steps ahead, making us react to his moves rather than the other way around."

Lisanna, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "His ability to multiply the that weird knife like that… it's almost like magic, but it's something else entirely."

Naruto, meanwhile, had already moved on to the next phase of his challenge. He twirled the kunai in his hand once more, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he prepared for the next attack. "Alright, who's next?" he called out, his voice filled with excitement.

Natsu, unable to contain himself any longer, stepped forward with a fiery grin. "I'm ready, Naruto! Let's see if you can handle me!"

Naruto's grin widened as he turned to face Natsu. "Alright then, let's see what you've got, brat!"

As the fire dragon slayer charged forward at Naruto with fiery determination, his fists ablaze and his battle cry echoing through the barrier. The air around him shimmered with the intensity of his flames, and the guild members couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and anxiety as they watched the impending clash.

Naruto, however, remained calm, his posture relaxed as he pretended to wait for Natsu's attack. Just as Natsu's flaming fist was about to connect, Naruto casually sidestepped with a fluid motion, effortlessly avoiding the blow. The suddenness of the dodge left Natsu off-balance, and before he could react, Naruto delivered a sharp slap to his back, causing the Dragon Slayer to stumble forward.

In that brief moment of contact, noticing something in his peripheral, Naruto deftly threw his kunai across the battlefield, targeting the unsuspecting Cana. The blade sliced through the air with precision, and before Cana could fully grasp what was happening, the blonde appeared in front of her in a flash of yellow light. With a quick flick of his fingers, he delivered a firm tap to her forehead, causing her to yelp in pain and stumble backward.

"Focus, Cana!" Naruto chided, his voice carrying a blend of amusement and sternness. "Don't let your guard down in the heat of battle. That's how you get caught off guard."

Cana rubbed her forehead, wincing from the stinging sensation, but she nodded in acknowledgment, realizing her mistake. The others looked on, in respect as well as in anticipation as they saw how their guild master effortlessly switched between opponents, never letting anyone get the upper hand.

Meanwhile, Natsu, who had been momentarily disoriented by the slap, whirled around to find that Naruto had vanished. The Dragon Slayer's eyes darted around in confusion, trying to locate his opponent. It all happened so fast that Natsu couldn't even comprehend where Naruto had gone.

Before he could gather his bearings, there was another bright flash of yellow light, and Naruto reappeared behind him, using the Hiraishin marker he had placed on Natsu's back when he slapped him earlier. Without giving Natsu a chance to react, Naruto delivered a powerful kick to his right shoulder, sending the teen sprawling sideways across the battlefield.

Natsu hit the ground hard, rolling a few times before coming to a stop. He groaned as he pushed himself up, shaking his head in disbelief at how easily Naruto had outmaneuvered him.

The guild members gasped, the swift and decisive nature of Naruto's attacks leaving them in awe.

"Come on, Natsu!" Naruto called out, his voice carrying over the distance. "Is that all you've got? You're gonna have to be quicker than that!"

The Dragon Slayer just let out a cough in response as he tried to catch his breath, his stubborn determination refusing to let him stay down for long. Naruto's grin widened, knowing Natsu wouldn't give up so easily.

However, before Naruto could fully enjoy the moment, he caught a flicker of movement in his peripheral vision. His keen instincts kicked in just as a voice rang out, "Ice-Make: Lance!"

Naruto turned to his right and saw a massive Lance made of ice hurtling toward him with incredible speed, courtesy of Gray Fullbuster. Without missing a beat, Naruto executed a fluid flip, twisting his body acrobatically in mid-air as the icy projectile sailed past him. The Lance crashed into the ground behind him, shattering into countless shards with a sharp crack. But there was no time to pause; another spear followed almost immediately, honing in on him with precision.

Naruto's reflexes were razor-sharp as he jumped sideways, narrowly evading the second spear. He landed lightly on his feet, eyes already scanning for the next move. Gray, standing a few meters away with his hands outstretched, was already preparing his next attack. The cold air around the Ice-Make wizard seemed to crystallize as he summoned more ice to his command. With a determined look in his eyes, Gray thrust his hands forward and shouted, "Ice-Make: Ice Hammer!"

Above Naruto, a massive magic circle appeared, glowing ominously as it summoned an enormous chunk of ice shaped like a spiked hammer. The icy construct began to descend rapidly, aiming to crush Naruto beneath its immense weight. The guild members watching from the sidelines held their breath, their eyes fixed on the impending impact.

But Naruto, as calm as ever, simply twirled his kunai between his fingers before launching it with pinpoint accuracy toward the ice mage. The blade cut through the air with deadly precision, and Gray's eyes widened in realization. He had seen this move before. The kunai was more than just a weapon—it was a beacon for Naruto's instant teleportation. Gray knew that if he didn't act fast, Naruto would reappear right next to him, and this time, he might not be able to counter. Gritting his teeth, Gray quickly summoned his magic, chanting, "Ice-Make: Wall!"

A thick barrier of solid ice erupted from the ground, forming a formidable defense between him and the oncoming kunai. The blade embedded itself deep into the icy wall, the sound echoing sharply through the battlefield. Just as the massive foot of ice was about to slam down on where Naruto had been standing, a flash of yellow light signaled Naruto's teleportation.

The blonde appeared on the ice wall, standing sideways as if gravity had no hold on him. The guild members were once again awestruck by his seamless movements. Naruto casually reached out and pulled the kunai from the ice wall, his grin never faltering as he defied gravity, hanging on the vertical surface as easily as if he were standing on solid ground.

Gray, not one to back down, immediately shifted his stance, his mind racing as he prepared another attack. The ice wall provided some distance, but he knew it wouldn't be enough to keep Naruto at bay. As if sensing Gray's thoughts, Naruto's playful grin turned into a challenging smirk.

"Not bad, Gray! But you'll need more than a wall to stop me!" Naruto called out, his voice echoing slightly in the cold air.

Without waiting for Gray's response, Naruto pushed off the ice wall, flipping gracefully through the air before landing lightly on the ground. The instant Naruto touched down the ground , his instincts screamed a warning. Without a moment's hesitation, he vanished in a blur of yellow light toward the marker that he had placed on Natsu, just as a barrage of sparkling, explosive beams rained down from above.

The ground where he had just been erupted in a series of detonations, sending shards of rock and debris flying in all directions. Evergreen's Fairy Machine Gun: Leprechaun and Bickslow's Victory Formation worked in perfect tandem, their coordinated attack designed to obliterate anything within the blast radius.

For a brief moment, the battlefield was engulfed in a cloud of dust and smoke, obscuring the view of those watching from the sidelines. Guild members shielded their eyes from the bright flashes, their hearts pounding with the anticipation of what might have happened to their guild master. Had Naruto been caught In the crossfire?

"Did we get him?" Evergreen muttered, her eyes scanning the smoky battlefield as she hovered in the air, her wings of shimmering light fluttering behind her.

Bickslow, floating beside her with his eerie, grinning dolls circling around him, narrowed his eyes, trying to pierce through the haze. "I didn't see him throw that weird dagger of his," he commented, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "Maybe we finally caught him off guard?"

The smoke began to clear, and the tension among the guild members was palpable. The battlefield, once chaotic, revealed the aftermath of the explosive assault. Debris and scorched earth littered the area, but there was no sign of Naruto—at least not initially.

Then, the tell-tale sound of a sharp blade cutting through the air shattered the silence. Erza's eyes widened in alarm as she spotted the glint of a kunai zipping through the clearing smoke. "Look out, Evergreen!" she shouted, her voice cutting through the haze with urgency.

Evergreen, hovering in the air, barely had time to react. Her eyes darted toward the incoming kunai, which was hurtling straight at her with deadly precision. Instinctively, she raised her arms to defend herself, her wings fluttering rapidly as she attempted to conjure a protective barrier.

The kunai, gleaming with deadly intent, sliced through Evergreen's hastily erected barrier, its trajectory unwavering. Time seemed to slow as the sharp edge of the blade approached her. Evergreen's eyes widened in terror, but before she could react further, a sudden flash of movement appeared.

In the blink of an eye, Naruto materialized beside the kunai, his expression a mix of playful mischief and focused determination. He snatched the kunai out of the air with a swift, practiced motion, the blade now safely in his grasp. His eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement as he surveyed the wide-eyed Evergreen, who had been frozen in shock.

Without a moment's hesitation, Naruto's hand shot out, delivering a precise karate chop to Evergreen's head. The impact was sharp and surprisingly forceful, eliciting a yelp of pain from her. Evergreen's wings faltered as she lost her balance, plummeting to the ground in a tumbling descent, her expression a mix of surprise and discomfort.

As Evergreen tumbled through the air, her wings beating wildly in a desperate attempt to regain control, Naruto turned his attention toward Bickslow. The Thunder Tribe member hovered anxiously, his concern for Evergreen evident as he watched her fall. The momentary distraction was enough for Naruto to seize the opportunity. His eyes locked onto Bickslow with a focused intensity that left no room for doubt.

"Bickslow, focus!" Naruto's voice cut through the lingering haze with a commanding authority. Bickslow's eyes snapped to attention, the worry in them giving way to a steely resolve. He quickly conjured his Victory Formation, the eerie grinning dolls assembling in a straight line formation in front of him. The puppets' metallic limbs shimmered menacingly, their 'jointed bodies poised to strike in unison.

Naruto, still suspended in mid-air, took note of the incoming threat. Without hesitation, he pushed a surge of wind chakra into his feet, propelling himself forward with incredible speed. The gust of wind whipped around him as he darted through the air, his body weaving and dodging with unparalleled agility. The puppets' synchronized attack was precise, but Naruto's quick reflexes allowed him to navigate through the deadly line of dolls effortlessly.

In a flash, Naruto closed the distance between himself and Bickslow. His form became a blur as he twisted in mid-air, narrowly evading the remaining doll's grasp. With a deft movement, Naruto reached out and delivered another sharp karate chop, this time aimed at Bickslow's midsection. The strike landed with force, sending Bickslow spiraling downward, his expression one of shock and pain as he plummeted toward the ground. The battlefield fell silent once more as Bickslow hit the ground with a heavy thud, skidding across the scorched earth.

As Naruto landed gracefully on the ground, his sharp eyes scanned the battlefield for his next target. But before he could even lock onto a new opponent, a thunderous roar echoed through the air, "Iron Dragon's Lance!"

Naruto barely had time to react as a massive iron pillar shot towards him with incredible speed. With a quick twist of his body, he swerved just in time, the iron pillar crashing into the ground where he had been standing, leaving a deep crater in its wake. He could already feel the next attack coming before the dust from the first had even settled.

"Ice-Make: Arrows!"

The cry rang out, followed by a barrage of icy projectiles whizzing through the air toward him. Naruto's eyes widened in surprise, and with a burst of speed, he flipped backward, narrowly dodging the deadly ice spears that embedded themselves in the ground around him, leaving behind a trail of frosty mist.

Naruto barely had a moment to catch his breath when a loud, bellowing voice called out from behind him, "You're not getting away this time, Master!"

Naruto turned just in time to see Elfman and Taurus charging at him, the two muscle-bound men looking like a pair of rampaging bulls. Taurus, the celestial bull spirit, swung his massive double-headed axe with surprising speed, the blade slicing through the air with a dangerous whoosh. Meanwhile, Elfman, with his transformed beast arm, was right on Taurus's heels, his fist drawn back for a powerful punch.

Naruto's expression shifted from surprise to sheer delight. "This is getting interesting!" he muttered, a playful grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he noticed Gajeel and Gray joining the two men…well, one bull and one man.

The blonde stood on high alert, his senses finely attuned to the chaotic battlefield. The intensity of the spar was exhilarating, and his grin widened as the next wave of attacks came rushing in. Just as he began to anticipate his opponents' next moves, he saw Gajeel charging at him with a ferocious expression.

"Iron Dragon Club!" Gajeel roared, swinging a massive iron rod directly at Naruto's head.

Naruto instinctively ducked under the lethal swing, the iron club whistling harmlessly over him. Without missing a beat, Naruto delivered a swift kick to Gajeel's midsection, sending the Iron Dragon Slayer staggering back. Before Gajeel could recover, Naruto was forced to flicker away in a blur of speed as Gray's voice echoed through the battlefield.

"Ice Make: Hammer!"

Naruto flickered and reappeared a good distance away, just in time to see a colossal ice hammer crash into the spot where he had been standing moments before, shattering the earth beneath it into a spray of icy shards. He barely had time to catch his breath before Gajeel, undeterred, was back on the offensive.

"Iron Dragon's Roar!" Gajeel bellowed, releasing a torrent of iron shards from his mouth.

The iron storm surged towards Naruto with terrifying speed. Acting quickly, Naruto pressed his hand to the ground and called out, "Earth Release: Earth Wall!"

A towering wall of earth erupted from the ground, intercepting the iron shards with a thunderous crash. Dust and debris filled the air, creating a thick cloud that obscured the battlefield. Naruto's opponent cautiously stare at the dust cloud, wondering when and how the blonde will emerge to restart their spar.

While the others on the sidelines watch on in interest as they witness their guild master showcase another of his magic spells.

As the dust began to settle, the glint of a kunai zipping through the air caught Gajeel's attention. The Iron Dragon Slayer now already aware by the kunai real purpose, grinned widely, his body immediately hardening with an impenetrable layer of iron scales.

"Iron Dragon's Scales!" Gajeel's body transformed into a metallic fortress, each scale gleaming with a steely luster.

In a flash, Naruto teleported to the kunai, appearing right in front of Gajeel with a roundhouse kick already in motion. The impact was solid, but instead of sending Gajeel flying, Naruto felt an intense shockwave reverberate up his leg.

Gajeel barely moved, the iron scales absorbing most of the blow, though he did skid back slightly from the sheer force.

Naruto, however, grimaced and hopped back on one leg, shaking out the pain in his right foot.

"Ow, ow, ow!" Naruto winced, rubbing his leg. "What are you made of, a steel factory?!"

Gajeel chuckled, his grin as wide as ever. "You bet, Master! I've got a harder head than you think!"

On the sidelines, Gray, Elfman, and Taurus all paused, momentarily taken aback by the strange mix of camaraderie and combat happening before their eyes. But the brief lull in the action didn't last long.

Elfman was the first to recover. "Don't get too comfortable, Master! Real men don't back down!" he shouted, charging forward with Taurus in tow.

Taurus, still swinging his massive axe with wild enthusiasm, bellowed, "Mooove over, Elfman! This one's mine!"

Naruto, still nursing his sore leg, now deciding to enhance his strikes by chakra whenever he hit Gajeel, glanced over just in time to see the duo barreling towards him. His grin returned as he readied himself for the next round.

"Alright, round two! Let's see what you've got!" he shouted, his voice full of excitement.

Just as the two bulls of muscle closed in, Naruto vanished again, leaving them to crash into each other in a tangle of limbs and flying dust.

Gray face palmed from the sidelines, "Seriously, you two!"

Gajeel, now recovered and still grinning, cracked his knuckles. "You heard him! Let's show the boss what Fairy Tail's really made of!"

But before they could begin with their next round, a new threat made itself known. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Natsu barreling towards them, his entire body engulfed in roaring flames.

"Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" Natsu bellowed, charging with the full force of his attack, his eyes locked onto Naruto. "I hope you haven't forgotten about me, Naruto!"

The blonde couldn't help but chuckle at Natsu's relentless spirit. "Hardheaded as ever," he muttered, amusement dancing in his eyes. Just as Natsu closed the distance, preparing to unleash his fiery attack, Naruto calmly raised his foot, channeling chakra into his leg. With swift precision, he brought his foot down in a devastating axe kick.

The impact was immediate and powerful. Natsu's charge was abruptly halted as his head was slammed into the ground with a resounding crash. Dust and small rocks erupted from the earth as Natsu groaned, momentarily dazed by the sudden and effective counter.

"Don't always call out your attack names, brat," Naruto chided with a smirk, pulling his foot back and watching as Natsu slowly, and somewhat comically, struggled to stand up. "Try to take your opponents by surprise. Otherwise, you're just giving them enough time to prepare."

Natsu groaned, rubbing his head where Naruto had landed the blow, clearly feeling the effects of the well-timed lesson. His flames flickered slightly as he staggered to his feet, his usual energy momentarily dampened by the hit.

As Natsu got back to his feet, Naruto turned his attention to the other four men—Gray, Gajeel, Elfman, and Taurus—who were blankly staring at Natsu, their previous momentum halted by the sight of their fellow Dragon Slayer being so effortlessly countered.

Naruto's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with anticipation as he took a playful stance. "Shall we begin?" he asked, his voice light but carrying an underlying challenge.

The four exchanged glances, each of them mentally preparing for the next round. Gray cracked his knuckles, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Alright, no more holding back."

Gajeel, ever the fighter, simply grinned, his iron scales shimmering as he readied himself. "You got it, Master. Let's see if you can keep up."

Elfman and Taurus, still slightly disoriented from their earlier collision, shook off the dust and squared their shoulders. Elfman pumped his fist in the air. "This time, we'll take you down like real men!"

Taurus, brandishing his massive axe, bellowed, "Let's do this! Mooove it, boys!"

With that, the four men launched themselves at Naruto, with a recovered Natsu quickly following them, their combined power and determination creating a whirlwind of energy. Naruto, still grinning like a fox, dodged and weaved through their attacks with a mix of skillful precision and playful agility, while also kicking or punching them away.

Across from the chaotic brawl, Erza, Cana, Levy, Lucy, Wendy, Juvia, and Lisanna stood together, their expressions a mix of awe, trepidation, and growing determination. The five men—Gray, Gajeel, Elfman, Taurus, and Natsu—were giving it their all, throwing every ounce of their strength, magic, and resolve into the fight/spar. Yet, even in their combined effort, their new guild master was effortlessly keeping up with them. His movements were fluid, almost casual, as if he was merely dancing through the chaos rather than engaging in a battle. Every time one of them came close, the blonde would either dodge with minimal effort or counter with a precise, almost surgical strike that sent them sprawling across the clearing.

Lucy winced as she watched Natsu's latest attempt, a roaring punch fueled by his dragon fire, be skillfully deflected with just a flick of Naruto's wrist. Her heart raced as she noted the shift in Naruto's demeanor, even though it still had a hint of playfulness. "You know," she whispered, her voice laced with a mix of admiration and nervousness, "I think Naruto was serious when he said he was testing our defenses. He wasn't kidding at all. He's hitting a lot harder now than before when he was just dodging or tossing them around."

The girls nodded their heads in silent agreement, as their eyes darted towards Gajeel, who had just been kicked squarely in the head despite his iron dragon scales. The force of the blow was so powerful that it sent him crashing into a nearby tree, leaving a deep dent in its bark. The sound of the impact made the girls wince in unison.

Levy, always the observant one, narrowed her eyes as she watched the exchange. Something in the pattern of Naruto's movements caught her attention. "Hey, everyone," she whispered, loud enough to catch the other girls' ears. The group turned towards her, curiosity piqued. "I think I've noticed something about our new master's fighting style."

Their interest deepened, and they leaned in closer as Levy continued, her voice steady and confident. "Whenever someone launches a straight spell or attack at him, he tends to dodge by jumping upwards. It's almost like a reflex."

Erza, still clad in her Flight Armor, felt a spark of excitement ignite within her at Levy's analysis. The other girls, too, shared eager glances, their earlier trepidation beginning to melt away as they realized they might have found a way to gain an edge in this wild battle.

"That's a sharp observation, Levy," Erza said, her tone serious. "If we can predict his movements, we might be able to land a coordinated strike. It's time we joined the fight and gave the boys some backup."

Erza then turned to Wendy, her eyes firm yet encouraging. "Wendy, we'll need your speed enhancement spells. We're going to need every bit of extra speed if we want to keep up with him."

Wendy nodded, her determination matching the rest of the group's. "Leave it to me!" She began to weave the spells, her magic circling around the group as they felt their bodies grow lighter and faster.

With a newfound confidence, the girls huddled together, quickly forming a plan.

Meanwhile, Naruto stood at the center of the battlefield, his movements a blur as he effortlessly dodged, blocked, and countered every punch, kick, axe, head-butt, and even bite thrown his way. His grin only widened as he saw the determination in their eyes.

Gray and Gajeel, unfazed by their previous failures, decided it was time to step up their game by taking the blonde by surprise when he was busy with the other three. Gray's hands began to move rapidly as he called out, "Ice-Make: Battle A—" but before he could finish his spell, their target vanished from sight. Gajeel, not missing a beat, prepared to unleash his own attack. "Iron Dragon So—" Yet, just as quickly, Naruto reappeared between them, his movements swift and precise.

The two barely had time to register his presence before they were both hit with a devastating split kick. Gray went flying to the left, crashing into a pile of bushes, while Gajeel was sent careening into a nearby tree, leaving another deep dent in its bark. The force of Naruto's kick made Gajeel's head spin as if he had just collided with a speeding wagon. Despite his iron scales, the impact felt unnervingly strong. What Gajeel didn't realize was that Naruto had channeled chakra into his kicks, allowing him to bypass the iron dragon slayer's defenses.

"Damn it!" Gajeel growled, rubbing his head as he shakily stood up, his pride more bruised than his body. He shot a glare at Naruto, who simply shrugged, his grin still in place as he went back to handle Taurus, Elfman and Natsu—who look like he was about to explode. Gray, meanwhile, groaned as he tried to pick himself up and deciding to just lay on the bushes to catch his breath.

Natsu, seeing Gray and Gajeel kicked away like ragdolls, let out a guttural growl, his frustration boiling over. "That's it! Fire Dragon: Brilliant Flame!" Flames erupted around his fists, casting an intense heat that made the air shimmer. With a mighty roar, he launched the blazing attack straight at Naruto.

But the blonde guild master was already ahead of him. In a blink, Naruto substituted himself with a log, the flames scorching it to ashes in an instant. Natsu, eyes wide with disbelief, watched the charred remains fall to the ground. "Come on!" he roared in frustration, but before he could react, Naruto reappeared in front of him, delivering a swift, hard knee to his chest. Natsu's eyes bulged as the air was knocked out of him, and he was sent crashing backward, skidding across the ground like a pebble on water.

Meanwhile, Taurus, determined not to be outdone, came charging in with his massive axe, bellowing, "Mooove over, everyone!" He swung the weapon down with all his might, but Naruto simply ducked under the swing with ease. With a quick leg sweep, he knocked Taurus off his hooves, the bull-man toppling over with a surprised moo. Before Taurus could even hit the ground, Naruto followed up with a well-placed punt, sending the celestial spirit skidding across the battlefield until he came to an abrupt stop against a tree, dazed and seeing stars.

Elfman, undeterred and eager to prove his manliness, roared as he charged forward with his Beast Arm now transformed to 'Iron Bull' . "I'm not letting you off that easy, Master! Take this!" His fist, now resembling that of a beast, aimed to deliver a punch that could level a building. But just as he was about to connect, Naruto vanished again, leaving only a faint gust of wind behind.

Elfman's eyes widened in shock as the space in front of him was suddenly occupied by none other than a kneeling Gajeel, still trying to recover from the earlier kick. Gajeel's eyes went from confusion to sheer horror as he realized what was about to happen. "Oi… wait!" he managed to yell, but it was too late.

Unable to stop his momentum, Elfman's fist slammed into Gajeel, who, despite being clad in his iron scales, was sent flying into the ground, creating a deep crater as he crashed. The impact left Gajeel dazed, a mixture of stars and spinning trees in his vision. He groaned, his pride now thoroughly battered. "Damn it… I didn't sign up for this…"

Elfman quickly ran and stood over the crater, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Gajeel, man, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—"

Gajeel, still half-buried in the ground, groaned, his iron scales dented from the impact. "Just… shut up, Elfman…"

Before Elfman could respond, his eyes widened in alarm as a familiar grinning blonde appeared at his side in a flash. "Never take your eyes off your opponent, Elfman!" Naruto cheerily chided the muscle-bound man, who barely had time to register the words before Naruto's elbow came crashing down on the side his head. "Uzumaki Elbow!"

With a loud thud, Elfman was sent flying across the battlefield, his massive frame crashing into a nearby tree, which groaned under the impact and snapped in half. The tree's branches rustled as Elfman slid down the trunk, landing with a heavy thud on the ground below, dazed and seeing stars.

From a distance, Natsu, who was still struggling to get up from his earlier beat down, managed to croak out a complaint. "Hey, didn't you just say not to call out your spell names?!"

Naruto, standing in the middle of the chaotic battlefield with his hands on his hips, shot Natsu a cheeky grin. "Well, if your attack name is as cool as mine, there's some leeway!"

Natsu's eye twitched in annoyance. "That's not fair!" he protested, trying once again to push himself up from the ground to engage the blonde. But his legs wobbled like jelly, and he promptly collapsed back down, the frustration evident on his face.

"Life's not fair, kid," Naruto quipped, his tone playful as he turned his attention back to the others.

Gajeel, who had finally managed to drag himself out of the crater, shot a glare at Elfman. "You big oaf, you're supposed to hit the blonde, not me!"

Elfman, still dazed from the "Uzumaki Elbow," mumbled an apology, his eyes swirling comically as he tried to focus. "Sorry… I didn't mean to…"

Naruto, watching the interaction with amusement, shook his head. "You guys really need to work on your teamwork. That's two friendly fires in a row!"

He then glanced over at Taurus, who was still sprawled against a tree, his eyes spinning as he muttered something about seeing pretty stars. "And you, Taurus! Next time, maybe try hitting something other than the ground!"

"Mooo…," Taurus groaned in response, too dazed to muster up a response.

Naruto's gaze shifted to Gray, who was taking an involuntary nap atop a pile of bushes. The ice mage's body was covered in scrapes and bruises, and Naruto couldn't help but laugh at the sight. "Good job taking a breather, Gray! Just don't get too comfortable!"

As Naruto took in the scene, his 'new' guild members scattered across the battlefield in varying degrees of disarray, he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. They might have been rough around the edges, but they had heart—and that's what mattered most.

"Alright, anyone else wanna take a swing at me?" Naruto called out, his voice full of playful challenge as he turned toward the remaining fighters. The girls, minus Evergreen, who was off taking a breather in a corner along with Bickslow and Freed, exchanged determined glances, readying themselves for their shot at their new guild master with their new strategy.

Naruto's eyes sparkled with genuine excitement as he observed the girls exchanging determined glances, clearly forming a plan. "Oh? Looks like you ladies have something up your sleeves," he teased, his voice brimming with playful challenge. His stance was relaxed, but the anticipation in his gaze betrayed how seriously he was taking their teamwork.

Levy, with a confident smile that held a spark of cunning, turned to the others. "Alright, everyone, remember the plan. Just hold him off until he jumps, and then we'll strike together."

The girls nodded, their bodies glowing faintly with the azure energy of Wendy's Alvairis spell, enhancing their speed and reflexes. Wendy stood slightly behind them, her hands glowing softly with magic, ready to support her friends. Lucy positioned herself on the edge of the group, her whip coiled in her hand, waiting for the right moment to strike. She wasn't planning on getting too close to Naruto; she'd seen what he could do up close and had no desire to be tossed around like the others had been.

Naruto's grin widened as he felt the shift in their determination. "Come on, then. Show me what you've got!"

With a battle cry, Erza, clad in her Flight Armor, was the first to move, darting forward with blinding speed. Her twin swords flashed in the light as she aimed for Naruto's midsection, but he was faster. With a fluid sidestep, he dodged her strike, his reflexes razor-sharp and eyes focused. The thrill of the battle lit up his features.

Lisanna, in her Cat Soul form, followed Erza's lead, her agile body moving with feline grace. She swiped at Naruto with her claws, aiming for his torso. Naruto ducked under her attack effortlessly avoiding the strike.

"Nice try, you two!" , Naruto complimented, his voice carrying a note of amusement, only to find himself suddenly facing Juvia.

Her eyes narrowed in concentration, and with a swift motion, she unleashed a barrage of Water Slicers—razor-sharp blades of water—directly at him.

"Impressive!" Naruto commented, his voice echoing with genuine admiration as he sidestepped the water blades with ease, each one narrowly missing him and slicing cleanly through the foliage behind him.

Juvia wasn't done yet. Her hands moved fluidly as she channeled more of her magic. "Water Ray!" she cried out, releasing a focused beam of high-pressure water aimed directly at Naruto.

With a flash of recognition, Naruto's eyes sharpened, and he quickly channeled wind chakra to his right hand. As the water ray shot towards him, he slashed his hand downward, the wind chakra slicing through the beam with a clean, decisive motion, dispersing the water into harmless droplets.

Juvia didn't miss a beat, surging forward with determination. She transformed her body into water, her form becoming a fluid, flowing entity that defied normal physicality. Naruto's eyes widened slightly at the unconventional approach. "Interesting," he muttered under his breath, genuinely intrigued by her strategy.

Juvia flowed around him, her body becoming a swirling torrent of water that encircled Naruto. He instinctively threw a punch at the watery figure, but his fist passed through her harmlessly, splashing water onto the ground. He quirked an eyebrow, impressed by the cleverness of her approach, but before he could react further, Juvia's water form surged upward, trying to envelope him in a tight Water Prison. However, not wanting to test how long he can hold his breath underwater, the blonde quickly body flickered out of her grasp.

The Instant Naruto reappeared, Erza was already charging at him once more, her twin swords gleaming under the guild hall's lights. Her movements were swift and precise, the force behind each swing leaving trails of wind in their wake. Naruto, unfazed, swiftly pulled out a kunai and met her blades with a sharp metallic clash. Sparks flew as steel met steel, their weapons grinding against each other in a display of raw power.

Naruto's eyes slightly narrowed in concentration as he parried Erza's strikes. His kenjutsu skills might not have been on par with the redhead, but his reflexes and speed more than compensated for it. Erza's relentless assault kept him on the defensive, each swing of her swords a testament to her unwavering skills with them. Despite the ferocity of her attacks, Naruto remained calm, his sharp eyes analyzing her every move, looking for an opening.

But Erza was no easy opponent. She adjusted her stance, her grip on her swords tightening as she pressed forward with a powerful downward slash aimed at his shoulder. With a fierce roar, she poured her strength into the strike, determined to break through his defense. Naruto met her blade with his kunai, the clash of steel echoing through the battlefield. The sheer force behind her attack sent a slight tingling up his arms. The determination in her eyes was clear—Erza wasn't holding anything back.

"Not bad, Erza," Naruto complimented, his voice steady even as he felt the weight of her strike.

"Let's see how you handle this!" Erza retorted, her voice filled with resolve as she pushed forward with a roar, her strength intensifying.

But the blonde was quicker. With a sudden, fluid motion, he spun to the side, narrowly avoiding her next swing. In one swift move, he delivered a powerful kick to her stomach, sending her skidding backward. Erza's feet dug into the ground, leaving deep grooves as she struggled to regain her balance. She grimaced, clutching her abdomen momentarily, but her fiery gaze never wavered.

Before Naruto could fully recover, Cana charged in, her hands glowing with vibrant magic as she unleashed a barrage of elemental cards. Flames, water, and wind surged towards him in a deadly combination, forcing the blonde to leap high into the air to avoid the attack. The searing heat of the fire, the sharp sting of the wind, and the crushing force of the water all missed him by mere inches.

"Now!" Levy's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and excited.

As Naruto reached the peak of his jump, the ground below him shimmered with an intense blue light. The word 'Gravity' glowed beneath him as Levy's Gravity Magic took hold, pulling him down with a sudden and powerful force. Naruto's eyes widened in genuine surprise, the abrupt shift in momentum throwing off his balance. He struggled to adjust mid-air, and though of simply using Body flicker to get out of the gravity trap.

But the girls were ready for this. As their guild master struggled mid-air, Wendy and Lucy had already positioned themselves for the next move. Lucy, with a determined glint in her eye, snapped her whip forward, the cord wrapping around Naruto's right leg with lightning speed. The sudden tug disrupted his momentum, and Naruto's eyes widened in surprise as he felt the pull.

"Got you!" Lucy exclaimed, her voice triumphant as she anchored him in place.

"Now, Wendy!" she and Cana called out, their words carrying urgency.

Wendy was already prepared, her eyes fixed on the blonde with a fierce determination that belied her usual gentle nature. Without uttering a word, she unleashed her Sky Dragon's Roar. A powerful vortex of wind magic shot from her mouth, roaring through the air with the force of a hurricane.

Naruto assess the situation with a sharp gaze staring at the vortex of air. As Levy's gravity magic pulled him down with unexpected force, and Lucy's whip hold him in place, his mind raced through his options. He could teleport away using Hiraishin and avoid the blast entirely, or he could use the Body Flicker Technique to dash out of the way, leaving the girls' combined efforts futile. But then, a mischievous grin spread across his face.

'No,' he thought. 'I'll let them see how far they've come.'

With that decision made, Naruto channeled chakra throughout his body, reinforcing his muscles and enhancing his durability. The familiar energy surged through him, forming a protective layer just beneath his skin. He braced himself as Wendy's Sky Dragon's Roar raced towards him with devastating speed.

The moment Naruto's feet touched the ground, Wendy's attack struck him with full force. The powerful vortex of wind magic engulfed him, whipping around his body with the ferocity of a raging storm. The force of the wind howled through the area, causing dust and debris to swirl violently in the air. The girls watched in a mix of hope and anxiety, unsure if their combined efforts would be enough to faze the guild master.

For a few tense moments, Naruto disappeared within the vortex, his form obscured by the sheer power of Wendy's spell. The ground beneath him cracked and trembled under the immense pressure of the wind magic, and the air around them buzzed with the energy of the attack. Lucy tightened her grip on her whip, ready to act if needed, while Erza and Lisanna prepared themselves for whatever might come next.

As the dust began to settle and the wind died down, the girls watched with bated breath, straining to see through the lingering haze. But instead of seeing Naruto standing where they expected, they found nothing but an empty space. A sudden realization struck them all at once—Naruto had somehow managed to disappear.

Cana, exasperated, threw her hands up in frustration. "Where did he go this time? Did he really manage to dodge that too?"

Lisanna groaned at the prospect of starting all over again. "This is getting ridiculous. How does he keep slipping away?"

Before anyone could respond, Lucy let out a startled yelp. Her eyes widened in shock as two hands suddenly emerged from the ground beneath her, grabbing hold of her legs. With a swift tug, Lucy was pulled into the earth up to her neck, leaving only her head above the surface.

The girls spun around, their eyes going wide as they saw Lucy's teary-eyed, shocked expression. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, her body comically trapped beneath the ground.

"What the—!" Levy exclaimed, her voice trailing off as she tried to comprehend what had just happened.

"Lucy!" Wendy gasped, momentarily forgetting about the ongoing battle. But before she could take a step towards her friend, she felt a presence behind her—a chill ran down her spine. She didn't have time to react before a light flick to the back of her head caused her to stumble forward awkwardly.

The girls turned just in time to see Naruto slowly rising from beneath the ground behind Wendy, a mischievous grin on his face. His playful expression belied the intensity of their previous battle, and his eyes sparkled with amusement at their reactions.

Naruto chuckled as he straightened up, dusting off his clothes as if nothing unusual had happened. "You all did well," he praised, his voice carrying a tone of genuine admiration. "But you should never lose focus in the middle of a fight.

"Wendy, still recovering from the light flick, looked over her shoulder at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and admiration. "You… you were underground the whole time?" she asked, her voice filled with awe.

Naruto nodded, a proud smile on his face. "Earth Release, I mean, magic can be pretty handy for situations like this. But seriously, Wendy, that Sky Dragon's Roar was something else. That honestly hurt quite a bit, ya know."

Cana, still staring at Lucy's trapped form with a mix of concern and amusement, sighed. "Can you at least let Lucy out before she starts crying for real?"

Naruto laughed and with a quick series of hand seals, the ground beneath Lucy softened, allowing her to pop back out with a dramatic gasp for air. She immediately fell to her knees, panting and glaring at Naruto.

"That wasn't funny!" Lucy complained, rubbing her sore legs.

Naruto winked at her, still grinning. "Maybe not for you, but it was pretty entertaining from where I was standing."

The girls couldn't help but chuckle at Lucy's indignant expression, and even Lucy herself eventually broke into a smile. Despite the playful antics, they all felt a renewed determination.

Erza, her fierce determination shining through her eyes, stepped forward with a steely resolve. "We're not done yet, Master. Prepare yourself." Which was mirrored by the others.

Before Erza could make her next move, Natsu, with his usual fiery enthusiasm, erupted from somewhere with a battle cry. "I'm not letting you off this time, Naruto!" His fists were ablaze as he charged at Naruto, his intensity leaving barely a moment for the others to react.

In a flash, Naruto vanished from his spot. He reappeared behind Natsu with practiced ease and, with a swift motion, pinned Natsu to the ground just like he had done during their first encounter. "Nice try, brat," Naruto said with a playful grin, "but you're still too reckless."

Natsu wriggled furiously, his protests muffled by the dirt. "Let me go! I almost had you!"

As Naruto effortlessly held Natsu down with one hand, he cast his gaze across the battlefield. The rest of the Tenrou group, their fatigue seemingly vanished, were emerging with renewed determination. Their eyes were alight with a fiery resolve, ready for another round. However, Naruto simply chuckled and shook his head.

"You know," he began, his tone light yet instructive, "I'm really proud of you all for starting to work together as a team. Which honestly, was the main goal of this test."

The Tenrou group, along with Natsu still pinned to the ground, listened intently. They were eager to hear more.

"But," Naruto continued, "none of you even tried to grab the bell from my waist." He tapped the small bell hanging from his belt, making it jingle softly. "That was the second goal of this test. You were so focused on trying to beat me that you completely forgot the mission parameters. This could be quite detrimental during real missions, ya know. "

A collective realization hit the group like a ton of bricks. They exchanged sheepish glances as they had completely forgotten about it after the blonde had gone on the offensive, even Erza, usually so meticulous, looked slightly embarrassed. Natsu, still struggling beneath Naruto's grip, let out a frustrated groan. "But we were just getting started!" he argued, though his voice was more whiny than fiery.

Naruto sighed, clearly exasperated. "I wanted to see more of your skills," he admitted. "But it's time to end this spar. There's only one minute left."

"One minute?!" Lucy exclaimed, her eyes widening in disbelief. "But we still haven't gotten the bell!"

The rest of the group quickly joined in, pleading with Naruto to extend the spar. "We can get it, I swear!" Natsu insisted, though his voice was muffled from the ground.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, amusement dancing in his eyes. "And how exactly do you plan to get it with just one minute left?" he teased, though his challenge was clear.

Erza, ever the leader, straightened up and drew her sword with a determined glare. "We'll do whatever it takes," she declared. "Everyone, focus on the bell! We can't let this chance slip away!"

With a renewed sense of purpose, the group rallied together, their earlier embarrassment forgotten. Even Natsu, still pinned, grinned mischievously. "You're gonna regret giving us that extra minute, Naruto!"

Naruto couldn't help but laugh, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "I don't think so, brat. As this spar is already over."

Before the group could react, Naruto vanished in a flash of yellow. In an instant, the entire team felt a sharp, simultaneous karate chop to the top of their heads, sending them sprawling to the ground in a daze, clutching their heads with exaggerated groans.

"What just happened happen?" Juvia moaned in pain, her eyes teary and bump on her head growing rapidly.

"Where did he go?" Gray muttered, rubbing his sore head and looking around bewildered.

"Did he just—" Lucy began, but her question was cut off by her own groan.

"Moo…" Even Taurus looked teary eyed as he nursed a large comical bump on his head.

Natsu, still on the ground, let out a frustrated wail. "How is he moving so fast!?"

The group looked around, their confusion only deepening as they nursed their heads. They had no idea that Naruto had cleverly marked them all with his Hiraishin markers while he'd been flicking them on the forehead, karate-chopping them, or even while blocking their attacks.

Naruto appeared back in front of them, a satisfied smirk on his face. "Sometimes, you just need to be reminded of the basics. Now this also means that none of you will be getting the chance to go on that S-class mission," he said, chuckling as he watched the bewildered and sore members of the Tenrou group. The playful glint in his eyes suggested he was enjoying every moment of their baffled expressions as the barrier around them slowly started dissipating, signaling the end of their evaluation.

As the shimmering barrier dissipated, the Tenrou group remained sprawled on the ground, still groaning and rubbing their sore heads. A gentle breeze rolled across the field, carrying with it the sounds of distant chatter from the other guild members who had been watching the spar from the sidelines. At the forefront were Makarov, Gildarts, Macao, and a few others, who had been observing the entire spectacle.

Macao, ever the commentator, crossed his arms and let out an impressed whistle. "You know, for their first ever evaluation, they did pretty good, considering they were up against Naruto and his infamous bell test," he remarked, nodding in Naruto's direction, who was still grinning like a fox.

Gildarts chuckled, leaning casually on a nearby tree. "That's putting it lightly," he said, scratching his scruffy beard. "The kid's been running circles around them the whole time. But I have to admit, it's not easy to keep up with someone that fast. Heck, I probably wouldn't have done any better at their age."

Makarov, standing on his little perch, nodded sagely. "They certainly showed a lot of heart," he said, his voice filled with pride. "But it's clear they've still got much to learn. Naruto's teaching them more than just brute force. He's instilling discipline and strategy, and that's something this guild could always use more of."

Macao rubbed his chin amusedly. "Yeah, but it's gotta sting a bit, having the new guy wipe the floor with them like that." He paused, then added with a smirk, "I bet Natsu's gonna be sore for a week."

Back on the battlefield, Naruto clapped his hands together, signaling the official end of the spar. "Alright, everyone, get up! You're not gonna just lie there all day, are you?"

Erza, always the first to regain her composure, forced herself to her feet despite the obvious pain from the earlier blow. "Master Naruto," she began, still holding her head, "I admit, you've... taught us a valuable lesson today. But next time, we'll get that bell for sure and that S-class mission as well."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Next time, huh? I'll be looking forward to it, Erza. But maybe try working on not getting karate-chopped to the head first."

Gray, limping slightly as he stood up, shot Natsu a teasing glance. "At least I wasn't the one pinned face-first in the dirt twice."

Natsu, still on the ground but now sitting up, glared at Gray. "Shut up, ice-brain! I'm just warming up! Next time, I'll roast him for sure!"

"Sure, sure," Lucy muttered, picking herself up with a sigh, "because it worked out so well this time, right?"

Nearby, Wendy looked around with a slightly embarrassed smile. "I guess we really did forget about the bell... again."

Juvia, still rubbing her head with teary eyes, looked at Gray with a determined expression. "Next time, Juvia will make sure to support Gray-sama properly! Together, we'll defeat Naruto-san!"

Naruto, overhearing Juvia, couldn't help but chuckle. "You guys are too much. But seriously, great job today. Just remember—strength isn't everything. You need to use your heads a bit more." He tapped his temple playfully. "Otherwise, you'll just end up with more bumps like this." He gestured at their heads, where comical lumps had formed.

As the group shared a collective groan, Makarov's voice boomed from the sidelines. "Naruto's right! You all showed heart, but strategy is key in every mission. If you don't start thinking ahead, you'll never reach your full potential!"

Macao nodded in agreement. "Yeah, but I gotta admit, watching them get smacked around was pretty entertaining." He let out a hearty laugh, earning a disapproving glare from Erza.

Gildarts grinned. "Reminds me of when I was younger... though, maybe not that many bumps." He ruffled Natsu's hair as he passed, making the dragon slayer grumble in frustration.

Naruto, feeling the playful energy of the group, turned back to the Tenrou members. "Alright, enough moping! How about we all head back to the sidelines? It seems Mirajane and Kinana-chan has some refreshments for the lot of you."

The group perked up instantly at the mention of refreshments, their exhaustion seemingly forgotten. "Finally! Now you're speaking my language!" Natsu exclaimed, leaping to his feet and pumping his fist in the air. "I'm starving!"

Lucy rolled her eyes, but a small smile crept onto her face. "When aren't you hungry, Natsu?"

As the Tenrou group limped toward the sidelines, their bodies sore and heads still throbbing, they were met with a chorus of amused chuckles from the rest of the guild. The sunset bathed the field in a warm orange glow, casting long shadows as the defeated members trudged along, with Taurus returning to the Celestial realm.

Mirajane and Kinana were waiting for them, their faces full of sympathy and amusement. Mirajane held out trays of juice and snacks with a radiant smile, while Kinana carefully distributed the drinks, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Good job, everyone," Kinana said sweetly as she handed Lucy a glass of juice. "You all held up much better than I expected."

Erza, still nursing the bump on her head, was handed a small slice of strawberry cheesecake by Mirajane. The redhead's eyes immediately lit up as she gratefully accepted the treat, her usual stern demeanor softening. "Thank you, Mira. This is exactly what I needed."

Nearby, Laki, Yukino, and Bisca, with a giddy Asuka perched on her shoulders approached the weary group, offering their own brand of encouragement. "You guys did great out there, especially for your first spar with Master Naruto," Laki said, her voice laced with approval.

Yukino nodded enthusiastically. "It was impressive to see how you all worked together!"

"Honestly, not bad at all," Bisca added with a knowing smirk. "Though… I have to say, Naruto was definitely holding back by a lot."

Natsu, sprawled out on the grass, groaned dramatically. "Yeah, but if we had just a little more time, we totally would've gotten that bell," he mumbled, stretching out his sore limbs.

Bisca's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms with a deadpan expression. "Natsu, if Naruto was even a bit serious, you'd all have been knocked out within the first 30 seconds."

Natsu sat up, his mouth opening to retort, but Erza stepped in, silencing him with a stern look. "She's right, Natsu," Erza admitted, her voice calm but resolute. "Master Naruto was testing us, and if he had wanted to, he could have ended the spar before we even realized what happened."

The rest of the Tenrou group, though begrudgingly, nodded in agreement. Gray scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, while Lucy sighed in embarrassment, recalling how none of them had even focused on the bell. Wendy, always the humble one, simply smiled shyly, accepting the lesson with grace.

Jet, Droy, and Max, standing off to the side, couldn't help but tease their newly returned friends. "You guys really thought you could take him down, huh?" Jet laughed.

Droy shook his head with a grin. "Honestly, I would've liked to see you get the bell, but watching Naruto run circles around you was kinda fun."

Max chimed in, "You'll get him next time… maybe."

The Tenrou group gave them a half-hearted, somewhat sheepish thanks before collapsing under the shade of a large tree, the cool grass beneath them a welcome relief from the day's chaos. The evening breeze rolled through the field, rustling the leaves as the sky deepened into a rich orange, the sun dipping closer to the horizon.

Macao, slowly walking towards the group, chuckled softly as he addressed the group . "You all showed promise today," he called out. "But this is just the beginning. Under Naruto's guidance, I can assure you all that you'll learn more than you ever imagined."

Natsu, still lying on the grass but with a renewed sense of determination, clenched his fists. "Next time, I'm not holding back! We'll definitely get that bell!" His voice, though tired, was filled with fiery resolve.

Gray rolled his eyes. "Yeah, because that worked so well the first time."

As the bickering between them began again, Erza closed her eyes, savoring the last bite of her cheesecake. "Next time, we'll be ready," she muttered, more to herself than anyone else, already planning out new strategies in her mind.

Mirajane laughed softly as she watched the group, handing out more drinks and snacks to the guild members. "Looks like they're going to need a lot more training."

Naruto, slowing walking towards them, couldn't help but grin as he watched the scene unfold. "They've got a long way to go, but they'll get there," he mused, his voice filled with warmth and pride.

Kinana, handing him a glass of juice, nudged his arm playfully. "You went easy on them, didn't you?"

Naruto chuckled. "Maybe just a little. Gotta give them some hope, right?" He turned to her with a grin. "Next time, I won't go so easy."

Kinana giggled as she looked over at the groaning Tenrou group. "I don't think they're ready for that."

As Naruto gulped down his glass of juice, savoring the refreshment, Asuka leaped down from Bisca's shoulders and darted towards him with wide, starry eyes. "Naruto-nii!" she called out, her little legs moving as fast as they could. "You were amazing! You showed all of them how awesome you are!" She beamed up at him, tugging lightly at his sleeve.

Naruto grinned warmly, kneeling down to adjust her oversized cowboy hat. "Thanks, Asuka! I'm glad you enjoyed the show."

Asuka puffed out her chest proudly. "When I grow up, I'm gonna be just as strong as you!" she declared, her voice filled with pure determination. Naruto chuckled at her enthusiasm, giving her a thumbs-up.

"I have no doubt you will, kiddo. You've already got more guts than half the people here!"

As Asuka ran back to her mother, Naruto stood up, stretching his arms and looking towards the sidelines where Gildarts was chatting and joking with Macao and Wakaba. He cracked a mischievous grin and called out, "Alright, Gildarts, now it's time to evaluate your skills. I hope you're ready."

The entire guild members turned their heads in unison, suddenly very interested in what was about to happen. The air was thick with anticipation as whispers spread through the crowd.

Gildarts looked over, raising an intrigued eyebrow. "Oh? My turn already, huh?" His grin widened as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Can't wait to see what you've got in store for me, blondie."

Wakaba, always the cautious one, took a puff of his cigar and called out, "Hey, Naruto, shouldn't you take a break first? You're looking like you're sweating there."

Naruto blinked and wiped his forehead with his palm, realizing it was damp. He rubbed it playfully, then declared with a smug grin, "This? Nah, it's just water from Juvia's spells. This brats could never make me sweat!" He cast a teasing glance toward the Tenrou group, who shrank in embarrassment, some of their face turning pink. The guild burst into laughter, Gildarts and Makarov laughing the loudest enjoying the look of embarrassment of the Tenrou group.

Gildarts clapped a hand on Naruto's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze. "Well, sweat or no sweat, I'm ready for whatever you've got!" His eyes sparkled with excitement, the kind that only came when a good fight was brewing.

Naruto handed the empty juice glass back to Kinana, who winked at him with amusement. "You've got this," she said softly, watching him with admiration.

"Thanks, Kinana-chan," Naruto replied, before turning back to Gildarts. "Alright, let's get this show on the road." He motioned towards the sparring area, gesturing for Gildarts to follow. As they stepped inside, Naruto activated the barrier once more, its shimmering edges encasing the two powerful mages.

The crowd watched with bated breath, knowing full well that a match between Naruto and Gildarts would be no ordinary spectacle. It was going to be a clash of titans. Natsu, Gray, and Erza in particular leaned forward in anticipation, eager to see their legendary senior take on their new guild master.

Gildarts rolled his shoulders, stretching his arms as if warming up. "I've been curious about you, and your magic, brat. Let's see if I can force you to reveal them during this test."

Naruto chuckled, his blue eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh, don't worry. I'll make sure you get the full experience."

The forest was alive with energy, murmurs of excitement rippling through the crowd. Even the Tenrou group, still licking their wounds from earlier, watched in awe, eager to see just what kind of test their new guild master had in store for their 'Ace'.

Gildarts stretched his neck, the joints cracking audibly as his grin widened. "So, what kind of test are we talkin' about here, Naruto?" he asked, curiosity piqued as the crowd leaned in closer.

Naruto simply chuckled, taking a moment to let the tension build. "Well, Macao and Wakaba told me you like to go on jobs solo, no matter how tough the mission is. As your guild master, it's my responsibility to make sure you're ready for anything, no matter how difficult." He paused, letting his smirk grow. "So today, I'm testing your strength and durability… in a one-on-one spar."

Most of the guild members erupted Into cheers, their excitement skyrocketing. The thought of watching Gildarts, the guild's ace, go head-to-head with their new guild master sent waves of anticipation through the hall. The Tenrou group, already wide-eyed from their earlier spar with Naruto, could barely contain their excitement.

Gildarts let out a hearty laugh, eyes gleaming with interest. "You really know how to get my blood pumpin', brat." He clenched his fists, a crackle of magic sparking around his knuckles. "Throw everything you've got at me!"

Naruto's grin only widened. "Oh, I won't hold back, old man. But remember, the spar's only ten minutes. So make sure you impress me before time runs out."

"Same to you, brat," Gildarts said with an amused chuckle, clearly relishing the challenge.

Without missing a beat, Naruto clapped his hands together and declared, "The match starts now!"

The atmosphere inside the barrier shifted instantly. Gildarts' magic surged out like a tidal wave, pressing down with an almost unbearable weight. The ground beneath his feet cracked under the immense magical pressure, sending fissures through the arena. The sheer force of it caused the spectators to gasp in awe, a few of the younger members and new members even stumbling back from the intensity.

"Whoa…" Max muttered, his eyes wide. "This is gonna be insane…"

Macao crossed his arms, eyes narrowed. "Yeah, no kidding."

Makarov watched intently, now even more excited as well as anticipating to see more of his successor abilities. "This will be a true test of Naruto's abilities."

But as the oppressive force of Gildarts' magic filled the air, Naruto didn't flinch. He stood there, completely unfazed, a confident smirk tugging at his lips. "This is going to be interesting," he muttered to himself, eyes locked on his opponent.

Some of the older members that knew of Gildarts immense power murmured In disbelief. For someone to withstand Gildarts' magic pressure so effortlessly… it was no small feat.

Gildarts' grin grew even wider. "Heh, still standing, huh? Good… that makes this even more fun!"

Naruto's blue eyes gleamed mischievously as he rolled his shoulders, ready to dive in. "Don't get too comfortable, old man. The real fun's just getting started."

As the tension mounted, the guild members could hardly stay seated, eagerly awaiting the first clash. Every pair of eyes in the sidelines was glued to the barrier, where two titans of Fairy Tail were about to collide.

The countdown to chaos had begun.

The end...

A/N: Honestly, like i've said, i wasn't able to cover a lot in this chapter. I actually wanted to cover Gildarts fight as well, but i simply couldn't find a proper way the end the bell test.

i also want to apologise for not giving every tenrou members proper time to showcase their skills or magic. if i did that the chapter would be even longer.

Also, most of them didnt actually went all out. like Freed for example didnt really transform in to a demon. even Elfman didnt do a full body takeover, though i think he still doesn't have full control over it so...

Oh, some of u also mentioned to not sideline the characters like Bisca, Max and Jet. Dont worry they will get their time to shine. there's still Grand Magic Games, The Team Natsu training and other arc's ya know.

also, if you are wondering where is Laxus, dont worry, u will find him next chapter.

next chapter, ill try to cover Gildarts spar, Team Natsu first day training for the GMG and a little portion of Naruto's and Wendy's S-class mission, along with a small surprise.

Anways, next chapter.

peace out.

please, do leave a review.