"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Chapter 4: Questblessed

(Fairy Tail)

Naruto stood before the large mission request board in the Fairy Tail guild hall, his gaze sweeping across the various postings. His brow furrowed in concentration, golden hair catching the soft morning light that poured through the windows. Overhead, Aquarius floated lazily, arms crossed as she eyed the selection of quests with thinly veiled boredom.

"How long are we just going to stand here?" Aquarius muttered, her water-like form rippling slightly as she hovered above him. "Just pick a damn quest already."

Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I don't know what to take. Every job looks the same to me right now. I'm not used to picking a job. Work just kinda found us in the past."

"Well if they all look the same it doesn't matter what you pick."

"You're not being all that helpful right now."

As he continued to deliberate, a cheerful voice broke through the noise of the bustling guild hall. "Having trouble picking a quest?"

Naruto turned to see Mirajane, smiling warmly as she approached. She was carrying a tray of drinks, but her usual friendly demeanor was present in her sparkling blue eyes. "It's your first time taking a request, right? Don't worry, it can be a bit overwhelming at first."

"This is beyond miserable." Aquarius scoffed, crossing her arms. "I'd rather be dragged back into the Celestial Spirit World than sift through this mess."

Mirajane giggled softly. "I'm sure you'll find something. We all had the same problem starting out."

Naruto gave a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of his head. "Yeah… I just don't know which one's a good fit. I guess I'm kinda lost."

"Well have you done any work before?" Mirajane asked thoughtfully.

"I mean not officially." Naruto replied with a nervous laugh. "We mostly fought monsters and dark wizards during our travels. So me and Aquarius both are at a loss for this quest ranking system. Like what's the best rank and reward I can take?"

"Don't include me on this. I said just grab a quest and be done."

Mirajane's eyes flicked between Naruto and Aquarius before she nodded thoughtfully. "You know, I think I might have the perfect quest for you." She set the tray down on a nearby table and pulled one of the mission slips from the board. "It's not too dangerous, but it will require a little… subtlety."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Subtlety?"

Aquarius scoffed. "That's not exactly his strong suit. Or is it? You're freakishly stealthy when you wish to be."

Mirajane smiled kindly. "Well, it might be a good learning experience. Something to broaden your skill set for the future. The job is to infiltrate a mansion owned by someone named Everlue and retrieve a certain book in his collection. It's a retrieval mission, and the client is willing to pay well."

Naruto leaned in, reading the details over her shoulder. "Infiltration, huh? Never really done something like that before, but… it could be interesting."

"More interesting than the usual run into the bad guy followed by swinging me all around the place " Aquarius chimed in with a hint of approval. "At least it's something different."

Mirajane nodded. "It'll challenge you in a new way, but I think you'll handle it just fine. Plus, if you run into any trouble I'm sure you'll manage together!"

Aquarius sighed dramatically. "Great, more babysitting."

Naruto rolled his eyes but couldn't help but smile. "We'll take it."

"Great!" Mirajane beamed, handing him the mission slip. "Good luck with the job! You should probably let Master Makarov know you're taking a quest."

Naruto tucked the mission slip into his pocket, glancing at Aquarius who gave a half-hearted shrug. "Might as well tell the Master." He muttered, his footsteps carrying him toward the bar where Makarov sat perched on a stool, his small form nursing a drink almost as big as he was.

Makarov glanced up as Naruto approached, his eyes twinkling with curiosity. "Ah, Naruto! Decided on a job already?"

Naruto grinned. "Yeah, Mirajane helped us pick one out." He pulled the mission slip from his pocket and handed it over. "We're going to check out this Everlue guy's mansion and retrieve a book."

Makarov took the slip and squinted at it, his bushy eyebrows furrowing. "Ah, a retrieval mission, huh? Not what I expected with your reputation." He chuckled, looking up at Naruto. "Think you can handle that?"

"Retrieval isn't exactly my specialty." Naruto admitted with a sheepish grin. "But I'm willing to give it a try. Aquarius here says I'm freakishly stealthy when I need to be. So maybe practicing stealth more would jog some old memories!"

Aquarius snorted from above his head, crossing her arms. "That or we learn you're just an idiot savant when it comes to getting out of trouble, not avoiding it."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Buzzkill."

Makarov chuckled, amused by the banter. "Well, the Everlue job isn't too bad for beginners. Just be careful. The man's known to be… difficult."

"Difficult how?" Naruto asked, brow raised.

"Let's just say he's eccentric and doesn't take kindly to strangers. There were also rumors a few years back of him being involved in a disappearance." Makarov explained, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "But I'm sure he's nothing you can't handle."

Naruto gave a nod. "Got it. Any other advice?"

Makarov set down his drink, hopping down from his stool to look Naruto in the eye or as close as he could manage, given the height difference. "Trust your instincts, Naruto. You've handled far worse than a rich man's mansion, and you've got a sharp mind for battle. This is just a different kind of battlefield."

Naruto smiled. "Thanks, Master. I won't let you down."

"You'd better not. You're a Fairy Tail wizard now after all!" Makarov waved him off with a grin. "Now go on, get out there. You've got a job to do."

Naruto nodded, turning to leave, Aquarius floating along beside him. As they made their way toward the door, Aquarius spoke up.

"Are you sure about this? Infiltration takes more planning than what you're accustomed to."

"I know." Naruto said with a shrug. "But how hard can it be? We get in, grab the book, and get out. No problem."

Aquarius rolled her eyes. "You say that now, but it's never that simple. Just try not to get yourself killed, alright?"

"Don't worry, Aquarius. I'll make sure we get through this one without any disasters. Probably."

"Probably?" Aquarius glared at him. "That's not reassuring!"

Naruto laughed, walking ahead with a carefree grin. "Relax! What's the worst that could happen? It's just some rich dude."

Aquarius groaned, already regretting agreeing to this mission. "I hate you sometimes."

As Naruto and Aquarius walked toward the guild's main doors, they were suddenly stopped by an energetic voice.

"Oi! Naruto!"

Naruto turned around to see Natsu bounding toward him, Happy flying by his side with his usual cheerful grin.

"Naruto! Heard you're going on your first quest!" Natsu said, his fiery enthusiasm impossible to miss. "What kind of mission is it?"

Happy floated down, landing on Naruto's shoulder. "Aye! Tell us! Are you saving a princess? Slaying a monster? Maybe even a fish tasting mission!"

Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "Nah, nothing like that. It's actually an infiltration mission. We're supposed to sneak into some rich guy's mansion and steal a book."

Natsu's eyes widened in surprise, his excitement not fading in the slightest. "Infiltration? That doesn't sound like our usual kind of job." He scratched his head. "Weird... but it could be fun!"

Aquarius sighed, hovering beside Naruto. "Fun? You lot think breaking into a mansion is fun?"

"Totally!" Natsu grinned. "Besides, sneaking in sounds interesting! Maybe we can blast our way in and catch them off guard!"

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Pretty sure sneaking and blasting are two different things."

Natsu waved off the comment. "Details, details. So, mind if we tag along? It's been boring lately, and I could use some action after saving Macao yesterday!"

Happy flew into the air again, doing a small spin. "Aye! We can help! Natsu's great at being sneaky... sort of."

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, glancing at Aquarius, who was glaring at Natsu and Happy. "Uh, you guys sure? It's not the most exciting quest, and it sounds more like a test of patience."

Natsu grinned, his fist igniting with flames. "Patience, fighting, whatever! I just wanna go!"

Aquarius groaned loudly, rolling her eyes. "This is going to be a disaster."

Naruto let out a sigh but couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. "Alright, fine. You can come. Just... try not to burn the place down."

Natsu grinned, his eyes shining with excitement. "Awesome! This is gonna be fun!" He threw an arm around Naruto's shoulder, dragging him toward the door. "Let's go get this book!"

Happy cheered, flying ahead. "Aye! We're gonna be the best infiltrators ever!"

Aquarius floated behind, grumbling under her breath. "This is a terrible idea."

Naruto couldn't help but laugh. 'What could possibly go wrong with Natsu involved?'

And with that, their unconventional team set out on the mission, unaware of just how chaotic things were about to become.

(Everlue Mansion)

The sun had just started to set by the time Naruto, Aquarius, Natsu, and Happy arrived at the outskirts of Everlue's mansion. The large estate loomed before them, nestled behind high walls and wrought iron gates. The mansion itself was an ornate, towering structure with tall windows and ivy creeping up the sides. A large water fountain stood in the middle of the circular driveway, its gentle trickling sound filling the otherwise quiet atmosphere.

Naruto stepped forward, stopping a few feet from the gate, eyeing the mansion with a mix of curiosity and determination. "So, this is the place, huh?" He muttered, arms crossed over his chest. "Doesn't look too bad."

Aquarius floated beside him, her expression one of disdain. "Tacky." She remarked, glancing toward the fountain with a raised eyebrow. "What kind of person has a fountain that big in front of their house? Overcompensating, much?"

Natsu cracked his knuckles, a grin already forming on his face. "Who cares? Let's just get inside and find this book! No need to waste time staring at a fancy fountain."

Happy landed next to Naruto, gazing up at the mansion with wide eyes. "Aye, but it does look kinda... rich. Are we sure there aren't a bunch of guards?"

Naruto sighed, focusing on the task at hand. "Most likely, but if we are cautious they won't be an issue."

Aquarius rolled her eyes. "With Natsu here, that's inevitable."

Natsu punched his palm, a small burst of flames sparking from his fist. "I'll be on my best behavior!" he declared, though the grin on his face said otherwise.

Naruto rubbed his forehead. "Let's at least try to keep things quiet. We're supposed to sneak in, remember?"

Natsu shrugged, already scanning the walls for a way in. "Sneak, fight, same thing."

Aquarius crossed her arms. "This is going to end horribly. I can feel it."

"Well the mission request mentioned that Everlue was looking for a new maid. You could always take a more human form Aquarius. Then dress up like a maid and sneak us in!" Naruto began, but froze the moment he caught his spirit's icy glare.

"Again, please look towards that fountain."

Naruto arched his brow. "Okay?"

Aquarius forced a smile. "Try to place me into a maid uniform and I'll fucking drown you in it."

"Scary!" Natsu and Happy yelped together, while Naruto merely nodded.

Naruto cleared his throat, quickly shifting focus back to the task at hand. "Alright, plan B it is. We'll sneak in through the garden wall. It looks low enough for us to hop over without much trouble."

Natsu raised his hand eagerly. "And if we get spotted?"

Naruto rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "We'll stick to the shadows, and if we do get caught-."

"Fight?" Natsu's eyes lit up.

"No, run." Naruto corrected with a pointed look. "We need to stay quiet, grab the book, and get out. The last thing we want is a huge fight drawing attention to us."

Aquarius floated beside him, unimpressed. "This plan sounds absolutely horrible, but sure, I'll pretend to go along with it."

Happy chimed in, flapping his little wings excitedly. "Aye! I'm good at sneaking!"

Naruto sighed but managed a determined nod. "Alright, we sneak in through the garden, find the library, and grab the book. Everyone clear on that?"

Natsu gave a thumbs-up and used his scarf to conceal his face like a makeshift mask. "Got it! Stealth mission!"

Happy grinned. "Stealth mission!"

Aquarius simply groaned in response, but Naruto decided to take that as approval. "Alright, let's move."

They made their way toward the garden wall, using the shadows cast by the fading sunlight to keep out of sight. As they reached the wall, Naruto motioned for them to stop. "Okay, I'll go over first. Keep watch."

With a quick leap, Naruto vaulted over the wall, landing gracefully on the other side. He crouched low, scanning the garden for any signs of guards. 'So far, so good,' he thought, waving for the others to follow.

Happy flew over effortlessly, while Natsu climbed the wall with less grace, nearly knocking over a potted plant on the other side. Aquarius floated over, rolling her eyes as Natsu nearly fumbled.

"Okay." Naruto whispered, pointing to the mansion. "We will get in and search for a library. Then find the book we need."

"Yeah stealth!" Natsu chuckled a little too loudly.

"Stealth." Happy mimicked, which made Naruto roll his eyes.

They crept toward a side entrance, managing to avoid detection from a patrolling guard. Naruto carefully opened the door and peeked inside. "Looks clear." he whispered, stepping through.

Just as they entered, a loud crash echoed behind them. Naruto froze, slowly turning his head to see Natsu standing over a shattered vase. "Oops."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Natsu!"

Aquarius facepalmed. "This is why taking him with us was an awful idea."

Before Naruto could say anything else, the sound of heavy footsteps echoed down the hallway. "We've been spotted! Run!" Naruto whispered sharply.

"Run?" Natsu asked, already clenching his fists, flames sparking at his knuckles. "Or fight?"

"RUN!" Naruto shouted, grabbing Natsu by the scarf and dragging him along.

The group bolted down the hallway, weaving through corridors in a desperate attempt to lose the guards. Happy flew overhead, shouting directions. "Left! Right! Wait, no! Straight!"

They rounded a corner and barreled straight into a small group of guards. "Intruders!" one of them shouted.

"Okay, not straight!" Happy yelled in surprise.

Natsu grinned, his fists igniting. "Finally! Time for some fun!"

Before Naruto could stop him, Natsu let out a powerful flame attack, sending the guards flying into the walls. The impact shook the entire hallway, knocking paintings and furniture over in a loud crash.

Naruto groaned, rubbing his temples. "This was supposed to be a quiet mission."

Aquarius hovered above them, glaring down at the chaos. "Told you this was going to fail, but do you ever listen to me? NO!"

Happy landed on Naruto's shoulder, giving him a sympathetic look. "Aye! At least we're not hurt?"

Naruto sighed, nodding in resignation. "Alright, new plan. Let's find the library before this whole mansion comes down on us."

With that, the group charged ahead once more, leaving behind a trail of chaos and destruction that would certainly be noticed, but at least they were still on the move.

Naruto and his crew finally arrived at the vast library of Everlue's mansion. The towering shelves were lined with books of every size and shape, and the air was thick with the scent of aging paper. Naruto took a deep breath, knowing their objective was close.

"Alright, Natsu, you stay here and guard the exit." Naruto said firmly as he glanced back at Natsu, who was bouncing on his heels, clearly itching for a fight. "You already blew our cover back there and probably set the mansion slightly on fire."

Natsu rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Hehe… my bad. But hey, at least we didn't have to sneak around anymore!"

Naruto sighed. "Yeah, but now we've got a mansion full of guards on high alert. So just stay put, alright? Keep an eye out while I find this Daybreak book."

"Aye, sir!" Happy chimed in, mimicking a salute.

Naruto shot them both one last look before heading deeper into the library, eyes scanning the titles. His mind raced, knowing the job seemed too simple, yet something felt off.

Meanwhile, Natsu leaned against the door frame outside the library, his fingers drumming impatiently. "Guard duty… pffft, boring. I'm more of a 'punch through problems' kind of guy."

As if on cue, a deep voice echoed from the shadows. "Looks like we've got ourselves some intruders."

Natsu's eyes lit up, and he pushed off the wall, grinning. "Finally, some action!"

From the opposite hallway stepped two figures: the Vanish Brothers. The first was a short, bald man wielding an oversized frying pan like a weapon, his muscles bulging beneath his shirt. The second, taller and just as menacing, had spiky black hair that jutted out like stars, his eyes gleaming with wicked intent.

"You're causing quite the commotion. So we're gonna show you my Mr. Everlue pays to keep us around." said the bald brother, twirling his pan with surprising agility.

Natsu's grin widened. "That's the spirit! I was hoping for a good fight!"

Without hesitation, the brothers lunged at him, and the battle began.

Inside the library, Naruto was scanning the shelves, his sharp eyes searching for the title "Daybreak." His hand brushed against one spine after another until finally, he spotted it. An unimpressive, worn-out tome shoved into a corner.

'This is it?' Naruto thought, pulling the book off the shelf. The title looked mundane, but as soon as his fingers touched the cover, he felt a faint hum of magic. His brow furrowed as he focused, sensing the concealed spell within.

Flipping through the pages, Naruto's eyes widened. It was nothing more than a dull, poorly written book filled with ego-stroking tales about Everlue. But as he skimmed further, something caught his attention. Hidden in the clutter of words, barely noticeable, was an embedded magical signature.

Naruto concentrated, his hand glowing faintly as he activated his magic. The hidden spell unraveled, revealing an apology written between the lines. A desperate message from the author to his son.

The words were heartbreaking. Everlue hadn't just commissioned a book from this famous author. He had kidnapped him, forcing him to write this drivel while keeping him away from his family. The author, unable to escape, had hidden his true feelings in the book, begging his son for forgiveness.

Naruto's jaw clenched in anger. 'This bastard… he took someone's life and made them write this?!' His blue eyes flickered with intensity as the weight of the truth sank in. The kidnapping wasn't just a crime. It was an insult to the writer's talent and the bond he had with his family.

"Naruto." Aquarius mumbled with concern overhead.

Slamming the book shut, Naruto's fists shook. "This Everlue makes me sick. I'm gonna make him pay."

Aquarius knowing Naruto's feelings about his memory loss and his desire to remember his family zipped by his side. Of course Naruto would be enraged by someone stealing someone else from their family. Aquarius herself was enraged by association, as despite everything she truly cared for her wizard.

"We are going to make him pay."

Back outside the library, Natsu was trading blows with the Vanish Brothers. The bald one swung his pan like a giant club, while the spiky-haired brother dashed around the open space with remarkable speed. Despite the chaos, Natsu's fiery attacks were keeping them at bay.

"Is that all you've got?!" Natsu roared, his fist igniting as he dodged a swing from the pan. "I'm just getting started!"

"Don't underestimate us!" the bald brother growled, his pan crackling from blocking some of Natsu's fire attacks.

Just as Natsu was about to charge, Naruto burst from the library, his face twisted in fury.

"Natsu! We're done here!" Naruto shouted, his voice cutting through the battle.

Natsu paused mid-attack, looking back with confusion. "What? Already?"

Naruto's eyes were blazing with a fire Natsu hadn't seen before. "Yeah. I found what we came for. But now, we've got a new target. I'm going after Everlue. So takes these punks out already!"

The Vanish Brothers tried to lunge again, but Natsu grinned, eager to wrap this up. "You heard him! I'm done playing around!"

With a burst of flames, Natsu knocked the brothers back, sending them crashing into a wall with ease. Showing the Dragon Slayer was just enjoying the fight and could have ended it whenever he wished.

Happy swooped down, landing on Natsu's shoulder with a triumphant "Aye!"

Naruto stormed past the fallen brothers, gripping the Daybreak book tightly. His mind was set. Everlue had made this personal.

"Let's go," Naruto said, his voice cold. "We're finding that scumbag."

"Wait, how come?" Natsu asked as he jogged up to Naruto's side.

"He kidnapped the author of this book and forced him to write it." Naruto explained with a snarl in his voice.

"That's horrible!" Happy cried out.

"What a bastard!" Natsu roared loudly with fire gathering at his fists.

"Yeah. That's why I'm gonna personally deal with this jerk!"

Naruto, Aquarius, Natsu, and Happy charged through the gaudy hallways of Everlue's mansion, their footsteps echoing as they neared the heart of the estate. Naruto's mind was focused, his anger building after learning the truth about the famous writer's plight. He wasn't just here to retrieve a book anymore. He was here to right a terrible wrong.

They kicked open the doors to the grand room, where Everlue stood, a smug grin plastered on his face. The room was extravagant, with expensive furniture and paintings, all reflecting Everlue's grotesque sense of self-importance.

"I see the rats have finally arrived." Everlue sneered, his beady eyes narrowing. "Did you really think you could waltz into my mansion and get away with stealing from me?"

Naruto's curealan eyes burned with fury as he held the Daybreak book tightly. "This isn't about stealing, Everlue. You kidnapped a man, forced him to write a book glorifying you, and destroyed his life!"

"You're a sick disgusting little man!"

Everlue laughed, a grotesque sound that grated against Naruto's nerves. "That fool was beneath me. And you're about to be as well. You think you can challenge me? You'll regret this, boy."

With a wave of his hand, a bright light filled the room, and suddenly, a figure emerged from the glow. A tall woman with pink hair dressed in a maid's uniform, her chains wrapped around her arms and legs. Her expression was blank, her posture submissive.

Naruto's breath caught in his throat. His mind was practically ablaze at seeing the giant monstrosity of a woman. Aquarius, feeling Naruto's change in mood, glanced at her wizard with a careful gaze.

"Woah she's huge!" Natsu cried out in surprise.

"Where did she come from! Happy added in.

"How interesting." Aquarius mumbled with a flick of her tail.

"Meet my Celestial Spirit, Virgo!" Everlue said with a smirk. "She's my loyal servant that cost me a pretty penny! She'll deal with you in no time."

But Naruto wasn't listening anymore. The moment Virgo appeared, a rush of memories flooded his mind. Blurry, foggy memories from his childhood. He saw himself as a young boy, running in the Heartfilia estate laughing alongside Virgo. Yet the Virgo in his memories was nothing like the monster before him.

The image was faint but unmistakable. Then, the memory shifted, and he remembered being attacked, his key stolen from him. Virgo had been his. Taken at a moment when Naruto was at his absolute weakest. His most vulnerable. His most hollow.

Naruto's eyes widened as the pieces began to click into place. "Virgo..." He whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

Virgo's head snapped up, her usually blank eyes locking onto Naruto's. For a moment, she didn't move, as if processing what she was seeing. Then, shock flashed across her face.

"Master... Naruto...?" She said, her voice trembling as if she could hardly believe her own words. Her voice was soft and didn't march her hulking form whatsoever.

Everlue frowned, clearly confused by the exchange. "What are you doing, Virgo? Attack them!"

But Virgo didn't move. Instead, her entire body shimmered, her form shifting into a smaller, much slimmer version. Her features turned soft and delicate with an expression of pure devotion, she knelt before Naruto.

"You've grown so much." Virgo said softly. "I'm sorry I allowed myself to be stolen from you, my true master. Naruto Heartfilia."

"What!" Happy and Natsu screamed together.

Naruto's heart pounded in his chest as he took a shaky step forward. "Virgo… I've forgotten so much."

Everlue's face twisted with rage. "What is this nonsense? You serve me, Virgo! Attack him!"

Virgo rose to her feet, turning to face Everlue with a cold, defiant stare. "You are no master of mine. My only master is Naruto Heartfilia." She raised her hand, and the ground beneath Everlue began to crack. "You will pay for your crimes."

Everlue's expression shifted from anger to fear as the floor around him began to crumble. "What? What are you doing? You belong to me!"

"I never belonged to you!" Virgo said icily.

Naruto watched in awe as Virgo, his true Celestial Spirit, shattered her bonds and turned on Everlue. His memories were still foggy, but he knew one thing for certain. Virgo was his, and she had been taken from him. Now, she has returned.

Everlue backed away, fear in his eyes. "No! This can't be happening!"

Virgo's power surged, the ground around Everlue crumbled as she trapped him in a sinkhole. She glanced back at Naruto, a soft smile on her face. "What are your orders, Master?"

Naruto, still processing everything, took a deep breath. "We bring this monster to justice, but most importantly." A smile danced across Naruto's lips. "We get your key back."

Virgo nodded, her smile widening. "As you command, Master." The spirit replied before punching her hand into the ground by Everlue. Only ripping her hand out to retrieve a golden key. A key she happily gave to Naruto.

Naruto clutching the key close to his chest smiled wide. "I'm glad to have you back."

Virgo nodded with her normal absent expression. "I'm glad to see you've returned to your usual self master!" The spirit began as she craned her neck to Aquarius. "Was that your doing?"

Aquarius huffed. "He has been a challenge these last few years. That's for sure."

Virgo nodded with a knowing expression. "Typical master."

Naruto blinked. "Wait, what do you mean by my usual self?"

Virgo frowned at the question. "You really don't remember anything do you?"

"No, I don't remember anything! Please Virgo, help me remember!"

"Well… I don't have many answers, but I can tell you what I do know." Virgo began as her eyes drifted to Everlue. "But before that. We should turn this man in and give that book to who it was truly written for."

Naruto nodded. "And then you'll tell me all you know?"

Virgo nodded. "Of course Master!"

"You damn bastard!" Everlue screamed with foam and spit flying out of his mouth. "I'll have your head for this!"

Virgo glaring at the man who looked at Naruto with a look she didn't appreciate. "Master, can we punish him together?"

"Um sure?" Naruto mumbled before to his surprise Virgo flickered into a ribbon of light that rocketed into his hand. Light that quickly took the shape of a long black whip. Filling Naruto's body with an odd semblance of familiarity.

"Woah, another weapon!" Natsu roared with stars in his eyes.

"That's awesome!" Happy cried out with just as much enthusiasm.

Aquarius merely huffed and glanced to the side. "Big deal. A trident is much more elegant."

Cracking the whip, Naruto watched the weapon take unnatural movements of its own. Burrowing into the ground and tightening around Everlue's torso. Then with a strong pull, Naruto yanked the vile man into the air. His small body flying directly at Naruto. Who simply punched Everlue right in the jaw. Knocking him unconscious and sending him flying into a wall.

"That's for taking Virgo from me." Naruto began softly as he locked his eyes onto the whip in his hands. "Now let's get out of here."

(Kaby's Home)

The sun had retreated, casting a cool dark hue across the quaint house where Kaby, the writer's son, lived. Naruto, Aquarius, Natsu, and Happy stood at the doorstep, their faces reflecting a mixture of relief and weariness. In Naruto's hands was the Daybreak book, now freed from Everlue's clutches and ready to be returned to its rightful owner.

Kaby opened the door and looked down at the book with disbelief. "You... you actually found it?" His voice trembled with emotion.

Naruto nodded, holding out the book. "Yeah. We managed to get it back. And there's more. There's an apology from your father inside. He wanted to make sure you knew how much he regretted not being able to be with you."

Kaby's hands shook as he accepted the book. He opened it gently, revealing a hidden message magically concealed within its pages. His eyes scanned the heartfelt words, and he choked back a sob. "He... he really did care. I thought I'd lost him forever."

Aquarius floated beside Naruto, her usual aloof demeanor softened. "l hope you know this wasn't a free service."

Natsu and Happy stood nearby, watching the emotional exchange with a mix of understanding and awkwardness. Natsu finally broke the silence, giving Kaby a reassuring grin. "Hey, don't mention it. Just glad we could help. Besides, this was way more interesting than just another routine mission."

Kaby wiped his tears, managing a grateful smile. "Thank you. I don't know how to repay you all for this."

"Money. That's a good start."

Naruto sighed. "Aquarius be nice."

"We need rent."

Kaby nodded with a tear filled laugh as he held a small pouch for Naruto to take. "It's not much, but please take this as a reward for a job well done!"

As Kaby stepped back inside, Naruto and his team headed back to the street. They felt a sense of accomplishment and relief as they walked away from Kaby's home. A small pouch of reward money gripped tightly in Naruto's hands as he smiled. A smile that was cut short from a loud Dragon Slayer.

"So what's my cut?" Natsu asked with a chuckle.

"Nothing you moron! You almost ruined the whole mission!"

Naruto laughed at his spirit. "He still helped Aquarius. We can give them half for their help!"

"And what about rent? I will not be a homeless key again!"

"We can just take another job!"

"And we will help!" Natsu roared with excitement.

"Aye!"

"When I thought life couldn't get any worse."

"It could be worse, but let it go. We need to talk to Virgo. There's still so much to discuss."

Aquarius nodded, floating beside him. "Yes, let's summon her. It's time we figured out some of the gaps in your memories."

Natsu stretched, a bit of fire crackling from his fists as he looked around. "Man, this is so exciting!"

Happy hovered beside Natsu, his usual cheerful demeanor back. "Aye! Virgo's back with Naruto, so things might get even more interesting."

Naruto raised his hands to the sky, channeling his magic. "Open the gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"

The portal to the Celestial Spirit World opened with a swirl of light, and Virgo stepped through, her elegant, serene form shimmering in the fading light. She looked at Naruto with a mix of reverence and relief. "Master Heartfilia. I am at your service once again. It feels wonderful to have you be the one summoning me again."

Naruto took a deep breath, his emotions still swirling from the day's events. "Virgo, there's so much we need to talk about. I need to understand everything. So please start from the beginning."

Virgo nodded, her eyes softening. "Of course, Master. I will explain everything. Or at least as much as I can. It all started when mistress Layla asked to borrow my key."

(Chapter End)