The bell attached to the front door jingled as Naruto stepped into Wiz's shop once more.

The moment he entered, Yunyun perked up, practically beaming with excitement as she clasped her hands together.

"Naruto, this is perfect! Vanir-san just left the shop saying something like 'moi must be present for tonight's show', so you have plenty of time to talk with Wiz-san!"

"You… Really want this to happen, don't you?"

Naruto blinked, his brow furrowing slightly. Also, what was that masked devil up to? Was he going to watch some kind of play?

Yunyun's smile twitched, her gaze darting away before she took a sudden step back toward the door.

"W-well, you know… You said it yourself about potentially asking Wiz out, and… I-I just thought you two should have some alone time!"

She sputtered, before making a quick escape out the exit.

Naruto sighed, rubbing his temples. He understood his friend's excitement, but… There was a process to stuff like this, wasn't there? Also, he still didn't even know if Wiz wanted the same thing.

Shaking his head, he made his way to the back of the shop, pushing the door open to find the Lich sitting at her desk with a small book in her hands.

The moment she noticed him, she brightened instantly.

"Ah, Naruto-san! Welcome back!"

"Hey, Wiz. You feeling better?"

"Yes, much better! Although… I suppose I'm still a failure as a shopkeeper."

Wiz chirped before glancing to the side, her expression becoming slightly sheepish.

Naruto frowned. It always bugged him when the girl said such things. While it was true she made some questionable business decisions, this time was actually different.

"Wiz, come on, that's not true."

"But the Manatite-"

"That wasn't your fault. It's my fault for messing with the economy by taking all the quests in the capital. Otherwise, you probably could have made a huge profit there through a contact of mine."

Naruto interjected when the Lich tried to insist.

That also begged the question… Would the Magic Scrolls still sell? Vanir said something about the adventurers in the capital being stingy with their money for the next few months, right?

Not that it bothered him much. After all, they had a fortune since Darkness's family debt had been forgiven. He still didn't even know what he was going to do with his share.

Wiz's eyes widened slightly, then softened with amusement.

"All of the quests in the capital… What a very 'Naruto' thing to do. Even during my adventuring days, such a thing was unheard of. I'm curious as to what brought this on."

"Yeah, it's a long story… I was kinda desperate at the time."

Naruto scratched at his whisker marks awkwardly, taking a sudden interest in the bookshelves.

The dim lantern light was giving the Lich's pale skin an almost ethereal glow, and her soft voice carried an almost soothing warmth which was making him really nervous for some reason.

Why was he noticing these things now all of a sudden? This was the same old Wiz, the clumsy shopkeeper he'd spent countless hours with.

Although, he hadn't really been spending too much time here ever since Vanir showed up. Did something change within him during their time apart?

Naruto blamed Yunyun for putting weird thoughts in his head.

But as he watched Wiz smile at him, that strange tension in his chest eased.

That's right, he was overthinking this.

Just as Kiki had said, Wiz was his friend, and she wasn't the kind of person who would easily discard their friendship.

He had been making it way more complicated than it needed to be.

Naruto opened his mouth to speak when Wiz suddenly spoke first.

"By the way, Naruto-san. About Sylvia… I heard she passed on yesterday."

"Ah, yeah. She did…"

Why was Wiz suddenly bringing up Sylvia? They were fellow Demon King Army Generals, but Naruto couldn't imagine them being on friendly terms. Not with the way the Chimera used to be.

Wiz's eyes flickered with understanding as she gazed at him with a gentle smile.

"I've said this before, but you truly are a kind person, Naruto-san. Knowing you, you probably befriended her."

"T-that obvious?"

Having been exposed, the shinobi chuckled awkwardly.

"That's just the kind of person you are… You change the people you meet… Even me, if only a little bit."

She said the last bit in a whisper, and Naruto almost didn't hear her. But something about her words really struck a chord. He still wasn't sure where this was going to lead, or if there was anything really to explore here but-

"Naruto-san, are you busy tomorrow night?"

Wiz suddenly asked, causing Naruto to blink.

"Uh… no, I don't think so. Why?"

"I'd like to go on a walk with you. Just to catch up."

A walk? That was perfect! No fear of Vanir randomly showing up to make fun of them… Unless he tailed them.

Aqua could also appear out of nowhere, which was something she tended to do at the worst possible moment like back in the capital. That would definitely end with Wiz nearly getting purified.

Would that goddess convince Yunyun to tail him again? Given how excited Yunyun has been about this matter, the mage probably wouldn't need much convincing…

Then there was Kazuma, Megumin, and Darkness-

He was definitely putting Kiki on surveillance duty.

"Sounds good to me! Wanna meet at the park in the center of town?"

"Yes, that's perfect!"

Wiz chirped, and the shinobi turned on his heel to leave for the night.

"Alright, it's a date!"

With that, Naruto waved goodbye, stepping out of the shop.

The moment the door clicked shut, Wiz blinked.

"Eh? Date?"

As Naruto walked up to the mansion, he was greeted by Kiki, who was patiently sitting by the door. Her fluffy tail swished idly as she stared at him expectantly.

"So… you done sulking?"

Naruto teased, and Kiki's golden eyes flickered toward him for a brief moment before she looked away, her ears flattening slightly.

'This one has brought shame to mine title as your subordinate, mine master...To be struck by Elementary Level Magic of all things… Such disgrace.'

"Come on, don't be like that. Also, you're not my subordinate. You're my partner, and you played your role perfectly that night."

Naruto said with a chuckle, ruffling the fox's head affectionately.

Kiki's ears twitched, and for a moment, she remained silent. Then, with a small sigh, she closed her eyes in content.

'…If that is mine master's decree, then this one shall accept it.'

But just as Kiki seemed to relax, her ears suddenly twitched again. Her sharp gaze focused on him intently.

'…Mine master's thoughts are riddled with the Lich.'

"...!"

Naruto stiffened, and he quickly averted his gaze.

Kiki's eyes narrowed slightly, her tail curling in curiosity.

'Something good happened?'

"…I, uh… I'm going on a walk with Wiz tomorrow evening."

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly feeling exposed under her piercing stare. But then again, how could he hide anything from the Kitsune? Not only were they bound by their Beast Bond, but the damn fox could read his thoughts with Telepathy.

A grin stretched across Kiki's face, her sharp canines peeking out in amusement.

'Oh my… Mine master appears to be quite eager. This one is jealous, though, more so surprised that you would accept the invitation of that Lich before making a move on the Crusader.'

"W-what's that supposed to mean? We're just going on a walk to catch up, is all. Also, what's Darkness got to do with this…"

Naruto's eye twitched as he looked away, his face warming slightly.

'Mine master is quite stubborn when it comes to this sort of thing… But fear not, this one shall take on surveillance duty as you so wish. It is appropriate to fear that masked devil making a surprise appearance.'

Kiki thought with a sagely nod.

"Thanks…"

He may have said it as a joke earlier, but this wasn't really a date… So why did he feel like a lot was riding on tomorrow night? Would it be better just to stay home?

No no no… That way of thinking was no good. He was no Kazuma.

Letting out a sigh, Naruto walked into the mansion.

He would worry about it tomorrow. For now, he had dinner to prepare.

The morning sun hung high over Axel as Naruto and Darkness made their way back home from their morning jog. Poor Yunyun was too sore from the day before and couldn't muster the strength to get out of bed.

Perhaps it might be time to try that new skill…

Darkness, as usual, looked invigorated from the morning exercise. But even as they came to a stop, she looked like she was ready for more.

"Naruto, are you planning on doing any more training today?"

She asked eagerly, a slight glint of excitement in her eyes.

Naruto glanced at her, already sensing where this was going.

"You mean if we're going to continue where we left off at Alderp's villa?"

"Y-you did promise, and everyone's still sleeping, so there's no one to stop us from going all out!"

Darkness replied, her face getting closer and closer to his as she spoke. But the shinobi put a hand on her face and pushed her out of his personal bubble.

"Don't say it like that, you're making it sound like we'd be doing something indecent. Although, knowing you, no matter what kind of training I put you through will become indecent one way or another…"

Naruto bluntly replied with a flat expression, causing the girl to hug her form and shutter.

"Anyways, serious training starts tomorrow. I've got plans tonight, and I wanna prepare."

"Plans?"

Darkness blinked, her excitement briefly faltering.

But before she could press him for details, a distant scream cut through the peaceful morning air.

"NARUTOOOOO!"

Both turned toward the commotion to see Kazuma charging toward the mansion at full speed, leading a small army of angry men.

For a moment, Naruto thought he was seeing things as many of the men looked like they were crying tears of blood.

His smirk grew in realization.

"Hey, Kazuma. How was your night out at the inn?"

Naruto asked with a casual tone, and Kazuma skidded to a stop in front of the shinobi, his face twisting with rage.

"What have you done to-!?"

He froze mid-sentence when he suddenly noticed Darkness standing right beside the boy looking bewildered.

His face paled instantly.

"What is it, Kazuma? What did I do? I'm sure Darkness would love to hear all about it. She is the temporary lord of the land now, after all."

Naruto asked, his tone dripping with amusement.

Kazuma stiffened, and in an instant, the men behind him followed suit.

It was as if someone had drained the blood from their faces.

They all started muttering anxiously amongst themselves.

"What do we do?"

"Damn it, we forgot! That bastard's basically untouchable right now!"

"I heard about the Forbidden Love Triangle… Lalatina will have his back no matter what."

Darkness stiffened, her face going bright red.

"W-What nonsense are you all saying!?"

She barked with clenched fists, causing the men to flinch.

"S-she's angry!"

"The lady-like Lalatina looks like she's about to burst!"

"The normally docile Lalatina who would never abuse her family's influence is gonna throw us all in the slammer for threatening her man!"

"Enough of this idiocy! Get back to your homes, or I'll beat you all up myself!"

Darkness barked, her embarrassment overtaking her usual patience. The nerve of these people! Also, to think the rumors from the capital already made it here… That had been far too quick.

Faced with the terrifying wrath of the noblewoman, the men grudgingly retreated, leaving the one leading the charge by his lonesome self.

Kazuma shrunk within himself when Darkness's gaze centered on him.

"So? Care to tell me what's going on? Why is it that those men knew about the Forbidden Love Triangle?"

"I-it's not my fault! Naruto did something no man should! He tampered with the dreams of the men of this town! As a man of the people, I had no choice but to splatter mud all over his name as retribution!"

"So you admit to spreading those rumors here! You shameless man! Did you even consider how that might affect my reputation as a noble!?"

Darkness crossed her arms, her face red with both frustration and embarrassment.

"What reputation!? The one that you seemed to disregard by flirting with that man in front of Claire and the others? Naruto told me all about the trial… You just couldn't help making goo-goo eyes at the man that heroically tried to pay off your family debts, huh?"

Kazuma growled, causing the Crusader to hide her blushing face in her hands. But the boy didn't stop there.

"Naruto came back from your little talk that night looking quite flustered, I bet his shonen protagonist vibes made you swoon! Thirstiness!"

"Y-you shut your mouth, or I'll shut it for you!"

Darkness tried to swat at her party member, but the teen deftly avoided it.

"What's wrong, Eroness? No comeback other than violence? As expected of our resident musclehead whose thoughts only consist of pain and delusions of forbidden courtship with her so-called tormentors!"

"Kuh…! As expected of one of the men I hold such high hopes for! Naruto's got you beat in the physical category, but Kazuma's merciless verbal lashings are good too…"

Darkness moaned as she squirmed in her armor.

Kazuma halted in his ranting, his finger drooping to his side. He'd gone overboard again, and now this pervert was getting off on it.

Naruto stared at the Crusader flatly, having expected this conclusion the moment Mount Kazuma had erupted.

"J-just look at those expressions! You both are probably thinking 'ah, that slut is hopeless' while looking at me with such pitiful gazes… What, are you going to team up on me again just like that one time at my family's home? Naruto knows about my secret… Surely he's already told Kazuma all about it… Don't tell me-!"

Her eyes suddenly widened, and she took a step back in fear(?).

"While everyone's asleep, you plan to drag me back to my room! I'll kick and scream, but you'll use Kiki's magic to silence me! Then, after sealing the door, you'll take turns experimenting with those hidden items! Kuh…! Inviting Naruto to live at the mansion was such a wonderful idea!"

. . .

"Hey, Kazuma? Do you think they would let us buy Alderp's villa? Somehow, I don't feel safe living under the same roof as this girl."

"I feel the same. Also, it would be nice to live closer to my little sister."

Naruto and Kazuma idly started chatting about moving to the capital, prompting Darkness to fall flat on her face.

"A-anyways…! Just what did Naruto do to make so many people angry? I assume it was another one of his pranks?"

Coughing into her hand, the Dustiness heiress tried to move on with the conversation.

"Hey, Kazuma? Why is this girl acting like she wasn't just spouting a whole bunch of perverted nonsense?"

"Shh… Let's try to be a little more gentle, okay? The stress from being the temporary landlord is probably stressing her out. As the one who's in charge of all things lewd, this is her way of relieving stress."

Naruto and Kazuma continued their chat, their expressions softening as they looked at the noblewoman who was trembling from embarrassment.

But what pushed her over the edge was when the door opened, and a mop of blue hair stuck her head out.

"Hey… What's with all the shouting? Did Naruto reject the idea of making Darkness his maid again? That's okay, Darkness… I have a spare uniform you can try on. Come on, I know you secretly like to try on cute things. I don't care what the others say, I think you look cu-Geh!? D-Darkness! Why!? I was being nice-!"

Aqua, who couldn't read the mood to save her life, struggled against Darkness's death grip.

As the girls struggled against one another, Kazuma blinked in realization.

"Ah! I was distracted by Lewdness, but don't think this is over! You better go back to that shop and make things go back to the way they were!"

"Why should I? That lot seemed pretty happy when I showed them Naruko's true form."

Naruto said with a shrug, his smirk returning in full.

"Happy!? Happy!? Do you even understand the depths of the psychological damage you've inflicted on this town!?"

Kazuma bristled, his face contorting into a mix of rage, frustration, and deep-seated trauma as he jabbed a finger at Naruto.

"Well, that's what you all get for dreaming about a man."

Naruto grinned smugly, arms crossed.

Kazuma flinched, his body visibly shaking. He grabbed the ninja by the collar, his eyes filled with unspeakable horror.

"Listen to me, you damn shinobi… You have no idea what it's like to dream of a woman that perfect, only to realize, mid-act, that she's packing something she shouldn't be!"

"So what? A real Naruko fan would accept Naruko in all forms."

At least, that's how the Succubi felt about his alter-ego.

Kazuma physically recoiled, his grip on Naruto's collar tightening.

"You… You absolute monster."

Before the blonde could respond, a new voice cut through the tension.

"Hey. What are you two whispering about?"

Darkness, who had finally released Aqua from her hold, had turned her gaze onto them with genuine curiosity.

Naruto and Kazuma immediately went stiff, and the Crusader narrowed her eyes at their awkward silence.

"You're acting suspicious. What exactly did Naruto do to anger the men of this town?"

"Oh! Oh! What did Naruto do this time? Whatever it is, it must've been really bad if it got a whole crowd of men riled up! Spill it!"

Aqua, still rubbing her sore head, perked up upon hearing about the drama.

Naruto glanced at Kazuma.

Kazuma glanced at Naruto.

A mutual, unspoken agreement passed between them.

Protect the Succubi.

"Well, you see, Naruto was just… uh… pulling a Vanir!"

Kazuma declared, earning a strange look from the noblewoman.

"A… Vanir?"

"Yeah! You know, that thing Vanir does where he pretends to be a beautiful woman and then transforms back right before things get good."

Naruto continued, having caught on to what his friend was getting at.

Exactly! He thought it would be a good prank! He took it too far and crushed the dreams of many men in town!"

Kazuma shivered, wiping a manly tear from his eye.

"I mean… it was kinda funny."

Naruto admitted while scratching at his whisker marks, and Kazuma shot him a glare.

Darkness crossed her arms, unconvinced.

"Hmph… that sounds exactly like something you two would make up to cover for whatever really happened."

"Y-you're imagining things! But more importantly, shouldn't we be talking about how suspicious Darkness has been acting lately? Aqua, you noticed it too, haven't you? Like, why did Darkness invite only Naruto to go see her bedridden father? What are we, her party members, chopped liver?"

Kazuma redirected their attention to Aqua, and the Crusader's eyes widened.

"Oh no you don't! We are not turning this back on me again! Aqua, don't listen to them! They're just trying to distract us!"

"...Naruto, you shouldn't be copying the things that disgusting devil does, okay? I'll go with you, so let's properly apologize to those men later."

Aqua said in a scolding tone, prompting the shinobi to lower his head. It wasn't in shame, but rather, to hide the bubbling laughter that threatened to spill out of his mouth.

The Arch Priest then turned to Darkness, whose face paled as she realized she had been doomed from the start.

"That's right! Darkness has been acting a lot weirder than usual! What was this about a conversation you had with Naruto back in the capital!? Did you try to seduce him with your slutty body when he offered to pay for your family debt!? How shameless! You know exactly the kind of man Naruto is, so you must have known what you were getting yourself into!"

"S-slutty…!? Aqua, calm down! You just said some really amazing things just now! Also, how much did you overhear from earlier!?"

Taking this as their opportunity, Naruto and Kazuma snuck past the shouting girls and ducked into the mansion before Darkness could turn her wrath on them.

But as they went their separate ways, Kazuma's eyes bore into the ninja's back.

'This isn't over, Naruto… Justice for Naruko-chan!'

Later That Night…

"What do you mean you're going out? The sun's already setting."

"I'll be back later, I'm just going out on a walk is all."

Aqua complained as Naruto threw his new sage cloak over his shoulders, taking a moment to admire the familiar look in the mirror next to the entrance.

He knew he was going to meet with some resistance on his way out, but he was prepared.

Darkness had locked herself in her room after the goddess drove her over the edge again, and Kazuma and Megumin had just returned from their daily scenic walk. That just left Aqua, which was child's play to handle for him these days.

"Tell you what, if you feed Jerry for me, then I'll make us some nice snacks to go along with some fancy wine that I'll pick up on my way home."

"Deal!"

Aqua eagerly snatched the Storage Scroll that contained the Giant Toad's dinner and bolted out the front door. Jerry had returned to the little burrow he'd made on the side of the mansion, and only ever came out when it was feeding time.

Grinning at his successful plan, Naruto turned around to wave goodbye to Yunyun, who was sitting at the dining room table with a book. The mage tried to be nonchalant as she waved back, but the glow in her eyes revealed her true feelings.

After all, it was finally time! Naruto and Wiz were going out on a date!

'Ah, I guess Naruto said it technically wasn't a date… But an evening stroll through the park is textbook romance!'

At least, that's what it said in the books that she read.

It was going to take her all not to follow after them, but her friend had been adamant that she kept an eye on the others. Especially Kazuma.

Speaking of-

"Hey, where are you off to all smiles like that?"

Kazuma asked from his spot on the living room couch.

"Going on a walk, then picking up some wine for snacks when I get back. Want me to bring back anything specific?"

Naruto offered, but the boy narrowed his eyes, his instincts tingling as he shifted on the couch to get a better look.

"Just a walk, huh? You're acting way too smug for this to be just a walk."

"What? I can't go out for some fresh air?"

The sage asked with a raised eyebrow.

Kazuma stared harder, suspicion creeping in. That guy was being awfully relaxed right now after everything he did to the men of the town.

Whatever it was, he was going to find out.

"You're up to something… I don't know what it is, but you've been weirdly secretive all day. What exactly are you plotting?"

Wait, that guy wasn't planning on going to that shop to mess with the dream scripts again, was he!?

Kazuma was already gripping the fact that he wouldn't be able to enter that shop for at least another day or two to get over the trauma he'd experienced last night. The only comforting thought was that he could always go back to his safe backup dream made him feel better.

But if the rest of the dreams were compromised… Was it even worth living in this blasphemous fantasy world anymore!?

Naruto sighed, rubbing the back of his head.

"I don't know what sort of strange conclusion you're coming to in that head of yours, but you're clearly overthinking this. I'm just stepping out for a bit."

"Mmm… I dunno. My gut is telling me something's going on here."

"U-um… K-Kazuma-san?"

Just as Kazuma was about to press further, a soft voice chimed in. He turned his head to see Yunyun standing beside the dining table, fidgeting slightly.

Oh?

The mage shifted in place, playing with the edge of her sleeve, her cheeks slightly pink as she struggled to get out her next words.

"D-do you… want to p-play a game with me?"

She asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kazuma froze.

His instincts screamed at him to be suspicious. Something was definitely off here. Naruto was trying to leave unnoticed, and now Yunyun was suddenly offering to play a game with him?

But then, something else occurred to him.

The sheer normality of this moment.

For once, he wasn't being screamed at, chased, punched, or dragged into some insane situation.

For once, there was no exploding loli, no perverted crusader, no scamming goddess.

Instead, there was just… Yunyun.

A shy, nervous, but undeniably cute girl, looking up at him with hopeful eyes and an awkward, endearing fidget.

Kazuma swallowed and looked around to confirm that those three problem children of his were nowhere to be seen.

Aqua was feeding Jerry and would likely have to bathe afterwards, Megumin was currently using the bath, and Darkness was holded up in her room brooding over what had happened earlier.

With Naruto stepping out, it would just be Yunyun left.

Having dealt with so many crazy women with hopeless personalities, the idea of just sitting down and playing a game with this cute mage who had a decent personality sounded like an absolute godsend.

"Yes."

Kazuma agreed, throwing all suspicion out the window.

Shut up, instincts! His sanity needed this moment after all he went through last night!

Yunyun brightened, nodding quickly as she rushed off to grab something.

Naruto grinned and gave a lazy solute before walking out the door.

All according to plan.

"I-is this really necessary, Naruto-san?"

Wiz asked as she nervously stood with her hands clasped. She was wearing her usual attire, which consisted of a dark cloak that covered a lavender dress.

"Yes. I have to make sure you're not secretly Vanir in disguise trying to mess with me."

Naruto replied as he and Kiki inspected his friend from different angles with his now glowing yellow irises.

'The Lich checks out, mine master. Now then, this one shall return to the rooftops to continue our surveillance.'

Kiki confirmed with a nod before hopping down from his shoulder and scaling a nearby building.

"Looks like we're good to go. Sorry about that. The town would have been in trouble if Vanir pulled another one of those pranks, so I just had to be sure."

"I understand. Vanir-san can be… Wait, why would the town be in trouble?"

Wiz tilted her head in confusion when she realized the boy had said something strange.

"Don't worry about it~! Anyways, shall we get going?"

Naruto waved his hand nonchalantly as he led them onto the lantern lit street.

The quiet, dimly glowing roads of Axel felt worlds apart from the bustling, crowded nights of the capital, where music and laughter spilled from every corner.

He found himself appreciating the peace here, where the only sounds were the soft clatter of footsteps as people returned to their homes and the occasional breeze rustling through the trees.

"Naruto-san's eyes earlier… Was that a new skill?"

Wiz asked as they walked side by side.

"Oh, that? Yeah, it's something I picked up back in the capital with Sylvia-chan's help. It's called Synchronize. It lets me borrow Kiki's senses and abilities, and she can do the same with mine. Comes in handy when you're trying to keep track of trouble… or when you suspect a certain masked devil might be lurking around pretending to be a poor, innocent shopkeeper."

Naruto replied, shoving his hands into his pockets.

Wiz giggled behind her hand, though there was a hint of curiosity lingering in her gaze.

"That's incredible… Sharing power like that with a companion must require an extraordinary bond. Is it difficult to maintain?"

"Nah, Kiki and I have been working hard to strengthen our bond. We were already connected through our Beast Bond, so this was just taking it a step further. Honestly, sometimes I forget where her instincts end and mine begin."

"That sounds… kind of wonderful. To have someone so in tune with you that your strengths and thoughts just naturally blend together… It must make you feel less alone."

Wiz murmured, her gaze drifting toward the sky in thought.

Naruto glanced at her, noticing the way her expression softened, almost wistful. He realized she looked like that a lot more recently, although she was always quick to mask it.

"Yeah… I guess it does. Helps remind me I'm not handling everything by myself anymore. Guess we both know how easy it is to fall into that habit, huh?"

"I suppose we do…"

Wiz agreed with a warm smile.

For a while, they just walked, the golden glow of the lanterns casting soft shadows on the stone path ahead.

"I'm sorry for not stopping by the shop as much lately. I'd like to say I've been busy, but… that's a pretty weak excuse."

Naruto muttered, scratching at his whisker marks with an awkward smile.

Wiz blinked in surprise before quickly shaking her head, her hands waving in front of her.

"N-no, please don't apologize! You're an adventurer... and a Hero Candidate, no less! I understand how demanding that can be."

She glanced down, lightly pressing her fingers together.

"But… I'd be lying if I said I haven't felt a little lonely. You used to visit so often… I guess you spoiled me with your company. This might sound selfish of me, but… I miss those quieter days when it was just the two of us, Naruto-san…"

"Wiz…"

Naruto frowned as the girl confirmed his suspicions. So it really was like that, and he was the root cause of it all, wasn't he? Neglecting his friend… Hasn't something like this happened with Yunyun in the past?

Was he actually a bad friend?

Shaking his head, Naruto brought his hands to the back of his head in a lazy fashion.

"I guess I have to make up for lost time! I'll be in town training for the foreseeable future, so I'll make sure to stop by your shop everyday like I used to!"

Naruto declared with a foxy grin.

"Y-you don't have to visit everyday… Vanir-san might give you flack for not buying anything. He and Aqua-sama get into constant fights when she visits."

Wiz stuttered while looking away. But a small smile crept its way onto her face.

"Oh? What's this? Are you saying you'd get tired of me? And here I thought you missed me."

Naruto grinned slyly, leaning in just slightly.

"N-no! That's not what I meant! I-I'd never get tired of Naruto-san's company… I just meant… um… I'd feel bad if you went out of your way like that…"

Wiz quickly shook her head, her hands flailing in front of her. If the blood in her veins still moved, her cheeks would be flushing right now.

Naruto laughed quietly, the sound relaxed and genuine.

"Relax, I'm teasing you. But seriously, I'll stop by more. It's the least I can do."

"Oh you..."

Wiz pouted, but she smiled as they continued their walk.

A comfortable silence settled over them for a few moments, the soft glow of the lanterns reflecting off the cobblestone street.

After a bit, Wiz tilted her head, curiosity flickering in her gentle gaze.

"So… Naruto-san, how were your travels? It sounds like you've been through so much lately, I imagine it must've been exhausting."

"Ugh… You don't know the half of it! Where should I even start? We parted ways back in Alcanretia, right? Guess I'll start there-"

As Naruto went on to talk about his adventures, Kiki watched them with a sly expression from the rooftops. It seemed like things were going well.

Something suddenly caught her eye though, and the Kitsune focussed her gaze on a small group of people that were approaching from the south.

'So… They've arrived.'

Kiki thought and scurried off to investigate.

A/N: Naruto and Wiz's not-date has begun! They sure get along swimmingly, don't they?

But it seems trouble approaches… Will Kiki be able to prevent the inevitable disaster that awaits? Will Naruto and Wiz cross a line on this Wonderful night? Guess we'll find out next week~! ;)

As always, review and let me know what you all thought!

Spirit out.