Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Highschool DXD if I did this story would not be here

Chapter 2: A Taste of the Unknown

The bell above the bakery door rang, filling the cozy shop with a soft chime. The setting sun cast a warm, golden hue across the small space, illuminating the rows of pastries behind the counter and reflecting off the floor's polished tiles. Naruto and Sasuke looked up from their tasks—Naruto finishing up some last-minute preparations for the day, Sasuke cleaning out the coffee machine. The shop had a pleasant aroma of fresh bread and brewing coffee, a familiar comfort for the two shinobi.

"Welcome!" Naruto's voice broke through the soft hum of the shop as he moved from behind the counter to greet the newcomer. His blue eyes lit up with a welcoming smile as he approached the girl who had just stepped inside—a girl with long chestnut hair tied into twin-tails, her violet eyes scanning the cozy interior with a mix of curiosity and hesitation. She wore a simple white blouse and a long blue skirt, carrying a satchel that bounced against her hip with each step.

"Um, hi," the girl greeted, her voice barely audible over the soft background music. "I was just passing by and...I saw the sign. I thought maybe I'd take a look."

"Of course! Welcome," Naruto said again, his tone friendly and open as he gestured towards a small table in the corner of the shop. "Come on in, make yourself at home. We have some great pastries and coffee. My treat."

The girl hesitated for a moment, looking around as if weighing her options. She nodded slowly and made her way to the table, sitting down cautiously as Naruto pulled out a chair for her. "I'm Naruto," he said, his voice warm as he settled across from her. "This is my bakery—though I guess you probably figured that out."

"Thanks," the girl replied softly, her eyes still scanning the array of pastries on display. "I'm Irina. Irina Shidou."

"Shidou, huh?" Sasuke said from behind the counter, his tone neutral as he looked up, sizing her up with a critical eye. "You're not from around here, are you?"

Irina's gaze flicked over to Sasuke, then back to Naruto as if seeking reassurance. "No, I'm not," she admitted, her fingers curling around a lock of her chestnut hair. "I moved here recently...with my family."

"Where from?" Naruto asked, placing a cup of coffee and a plate of pastries on the table in front of her.

"England," Irina replied quietly, taking a sip of her coffee. "I moved here a few months ago."

"Ah, that explains the accent," Sasuke commented, finally looking up from his work to meet her gaze. "You sound different."

Irina laughed softly, her fingers tracing the edge of the cup. "Yeah, I guess so," she said, her eyes softening a little. "It's been a while since I was back in Japan."

Naruto watched her closely, sensing that there was more to her story than she was letting on. "You said your name was Irina Shidou?" he pressed gently, his tone encouraging her to talk. "That's a...unique name around here. Any relation to the Shidou family?"

Irina nodded slowly, her fingers brushing against her hair again. "My father is a pastor and exorcist," she admitted, her eyes clouding over as if lost in thought. "He's traveled a lot for his work. I...grew up in the church."

"An exorcist?" Naruto repeated, his brow furrowing slightly. "Like, the same kind of exorcists who fight devils?"

"Yes," Irina said softly, her eyes meeting his for a moment before looking down at her hands. "I trained to be one too. My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps."

"Which you did," Sasuke noted, his eyes narrowing slightly as he reached for a pastry. "Exorcists usually have some kind of...sword, right?"

Irina nodded, glancing down at her coffee cup. "I was given Excalibur Mimic three years ago," she said, her voice barely a whisper. "It's...a holy sword. My father used to wield it."

"Excalibur Mimic?" Naruto repeated, his curiosity piqued even more. "So, you're a real deal exorcist, huh?"

"Yeah," Irina admitted, looking up with a small smile. "I guess you could say that."

"Did you come here looking for...trouble?" Sasuke asked, his tone blunt as he set the coffee pot down on the counter. "Or did something...draw you here?"

Irina hesitated, her fingers curling tighter around her coffee cup. "I don't know," she said quietly, her eyes distant. "It's...hard to explain. I just felt like I needed to be here."

Naruto leaned forward, his expression serious. "You're not in any danger, are you?" he asked, his voice low and steady. "If you need help...if something's following you, you can tell us. We might be able to help."

Irina hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "No, it's nothing like that," she said softly. "I just...felt like this was where I was meant to be."

"Sure," Sasuke replied skeptically, his eyes narrowing again. "And you just...happened to find this place?"

"I guess," Irina said with a small shrug, her smile returning as she took another sip of her coffee. "It's a nice bakery, though. I've never been in one before."

"Well, now you have," Naruto said with a grin, raising his coffee cup in a mock toast. "Here's to trying new things, right?"

Irina laughed softly, her shoulders relaxing as she joined in. "Yeah, I guess so," she replied. "Thanks for letting me stay for a bit."

"Anytime," Sasuke said, his tone softer than before as he leaned against the counter. "Just...be careful who you talk to around here. This city...it's not like any other."

"I know," Irina said, her smile faltering slightly. "I'll be careful. Thank you...both of you."

As she finished her coffee and pastries, the two shinobi watched her leave the bakery, a sense of unease settling over them. They knew they were different—more than just people from another world—but they were also starting to feel like they belonged, if only a little. And as they watched Irina walk away, Naruto and Sasuke knew that their new life here was only just beginning.

As the door closed behind her, Naruto turned to Sasuke with a contemplative expression. "Do you think she's telling the truth?" he asked, his voice low.

Sasuke shrugged, his eyes still on the door. "I don't know," he replied, his tone thoughtful. "But there's something about her… something more than just being lost."

"Yeah, I feel it too," Naruto admitted, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the countertop. "Like she's here for a reason… like we are."

"Maybe we're not so different after all," Sasuke said, his eyes finally meeting Naruto's. "Maybe we all ended up here because of… something."

Naruto nodded slowly, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. "Yeah, maybe. But for now, we should keep an eye on her. Just in case."

"Agreed," Sasuke replied, turning back to his work. "Better to be cautious."

"Always," Naruto replied, picking up the broom to sweep the floor. "Besides, it's nice to have something different happening around here for a change."

Together, they returned to the familiar rhythm of the bakery, their thoughts lingering on the girl who had walked in and out of their lives so quickly. For the first time in a long while, they didn't mind that feeling of uncertainty—they were ready to embrace whatever came next.