Trihexia Keys (2025 Revamped)

by Kuroppy

Lucy went to her mother's room before leaving the mansion. What she found will completely change her life forever. Naruto x Lucy x harem (I think it is safe to say that this is a Naruto x Fairy Tail x Highschool DxD crossover) Revamped

13. Zero

Present day, Galuna Island (chapter 6)

Naruto stepped through the dense undergrowth, his boots pressing lightly against the soft earth. The faint crackle of the campfire ahead mixed with the distant rustling of the night wind through the trees. As he emerged into the clearing, his sharp eyes took in the three tents neatly set up around the fire.

He sighed. Erza. Of course, she would be prepared for anything. The flames flickered gently, casting dancing shadows against the canvas of the tents, and he absently wondered if Lucy, Akeno, and Gabriel had even reached the island yet.

Knowing Gabriel, she probably insisted on taking the boat ride, eager to experience something new. Naruto silently thanked every god in existence that he wasn't there to endure the endless stream of innocent, yet painfully obvious questions she would ask. What makes a boat float, Naruto-kun? Why is the water blue, Naruto-kun? What if the ocean is just a big puddle, Naruto-kun?

A ghost of a smile tugged at his lips.

He wouldn't admit it aloud, but…

He liked being around Gabriel.

There was something about her—something that reminded him of the past. Of her. The way Gabriel looked at the world with wonder, how she sought knowledge with an earnest curiosity. It brought back memories he had tried to bury.

His thoughts shifted.

Lucy.

The more time he spent with her, the more he felt the weight of the past pressing against his chest. It was uncanny—almost unnatural—how much she resembled Layla Heartfilia. It wasn't just the face or the voice, but the mannerisms, the way she carried herself, the small quirks in her expressions. The same stubborn attitude, the same drive, the same dreams.

It infuriated him.

Not because he disliked it, but because it made it impossible to forget.

To forget Layla.

To forget Ze-chan.

Naruto clenched his fist, forcing himself back to the present.

"Naruto?"

He turned slightly. Mira stood at the entrance of her tent, the dim firelight reflecting in her sapphire eyes. Her silver hair shimmered in the glow as she stepped forward, hesitating for just a moment before sitting beside him on the log.

"You're still awake?" he asked, his voice quieter now.

Mira hugged her knees to her chest, staring at the flames. "I… can't sleep." A pause. "I'm sorry for my drama earlier."

Naruto didn't look at her. Instead, his gaze remained fixed on the sky—on the endless sea of stars above them.

"Don't worry. You're not the only one who's blamed themselves for someone's death."

Mira turned to him, her expression shifting. "I… I'm sorry for making you remember something painful." She bowed her head slightly, guilt lacing her words.

Naruto sighed, the corner of his lips pulling into a sad smile. "Like I said. Don't worry about it."

Mira felt warmth against her scalp as Naruto gently placed his hand on her head. Her face flushed slightly, surprised at the simple, comforting gesture. His touch was steady, grounding, as if telling her without words that she wasn't alone.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then, hesitantly, Mira found her voice again. "D-Do you mind if I ask… who that person was?"

The warmth disappeared as Naruto pulled his hand away.

The moment was gone.

His expression darkened, shadowed by the flickering firelight.

His lips barely moved as he spoke.

"My first contractor."

And in that instant, Mira realized—

Naruto had lost someone too.

Someone important.

---

Zero

---

Tenrou Island, Year X679

That was all Zera could see when she opened her eyes.

The air was filled with smoke and ash, the distant sound of crackling flames mixing with the anguished cries of the dying. Her small body was trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building, her arms pinned, her legs crushed. The scent of burnt wood and blood filled her nostrils, making her stomach churn.

She tried to move. Pain. A searing, excruciating agony shot through her entire body, forcing a strangled cry from her lips. Her bones were broken.

Where was Mavis?

Where was her father?

Tears blurred her vision as she turned her head slightly, her voice weak and hoarse.

"P-Papa..."

No answer.

She clenched her jaw, her small hands trembling as she struggled again. The debris wouldn't budge, pressing down on her fragile frame like the weight of the entire world. She was alone.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears, drowning out the destruction around her. The pain was unbearable, but the loneliness—that was worse.

"S-Someone..." she whimpered. "Help..."

Her vision blurred again, and this time, darkness consumed her completely.

She didn't know how long she had been in this place.

A cold, endless abyss stretched before her. There was no sky. No ground. No walls. Just an infinite, suffocating emptiness.

Her tiny form curled inward, arms wrapped tightly around her knees as she sobbed softly.

This was what it meant to be dead, wasn't it?

It should have been peaceful. It should have been over.

But something gnawed at her—an unbearable, gut-wrenching sorrow.

Why was she still here?

Her village was gone. Her father was gone.

Everyone she had ever known... was gone.

There was nothing left for her.

So why?

Why wouldn't the darkness take her?

She shivered, her tears trailing down her pale cheeks.

Then, something metallic echoed through the void.

Clink. Clink. Clink.

A small, sharp sound, like steel bouncing off stone.

Her breath hitched.

What was that?

Slowly, hesitantly, she opened her eyes.

There, standing before her in the darkness, was a crow.

Its feathers were pitch black, darker than the abyss itself. Its beady red eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the void like a mirror. In its beak, it held something—a key.

It dropped the key, letting it hit the unseen ground with a sharp clink, then immediately picked it up again.

It did this over and over, watching her.

She stared, dazed, the pain in her limbs momentarily forgotten.

The crow hopped forward, tilting its head.

Something about the key called to her.

Her hand twitched. She wanted it.

She needed it.

Zera reached out weakly, her fingers trembling. But the moment she got close, the crow pecked her hand—hard.

"Ah—!"

Blood dripped from the fresh wound, pooling in her palm.

The crow didn't move.

Zera winced, but she didn't pull back. She wanted the key.

Her fingers curled again, determined this time.

The crow waited.

And then—she touched it.

The moment her fingers closed around the key, a pulse of energy surged through her body. Warmth. Relief. Power.

Her breathing slowed.

The darkness around her began to crack.

Zera clutched the key to her chest, her lips parting in a whisper—

"…Help…"

And then—

The void exploded in light.

A violet glow enveloped Zera's fragile form, crimson magic circles expanding beneath her as the very fabric of reality twisted and bent.

The air grew heavy—charged with something ancient. Something powerful.

The crow cawed once before vanishing, its work done.

And then—he appeared.

A man stood before her, his golden hair wild and untamed, his piercing blue eyes sharp as steel. His mere presence felt oppressive, suffocating—like the weight of a storm moments before it unleashes its fury.

Dressed in a dark, high-collared coat, his hands rested in his pockets as he gazed down at her. His expression was unreadable.

He had felt it.

The pull of a contract. A call for aid. A soul desperate enough to summon him from the depths of his realm.

For the first time in his existence, someone had summoned Wrath.

Naruto narrowed his eyes.

A little girl?

She was dying. Her body was battered, broken, and covered in blood and dust. Yet, she still clutched the key to her chest, her lips parted as if she had tried to say something before losing consciousness.

His gaze softened slightly.

"…Tch."

Naruto knelt beside her, placing two fingers against her forehead.

A pulse of energy surged through her body, stabilizing her life force.

"Infuriating," he muttered under his breath. "What kind of idiot calls for a devil with their last breath?"

He wasn't expecting an answer.

But weakly—she smiled.

And for reasons he couldn't understand, Naruto felt something shift inside him.

For the first time in his existence…

He had a master.

The Girl Who Called for a Devil

When Zera awoke, the first thing she noticed was the absence of pain.

The crushing weight of the rubble was gone. The searing agony in her bones had vanished. Instead, she lay beneath the open sky, bathed in the gentle moonlight filtering through the thick jungle canopy above.

She blinked. Was she… dead?

Slowly, she turned her head.

And that's when she saw him.

The man who had answered her call.

He was sitting nearby on a fallen log, arms crossed, staring into the crackling flames of a small campfire. His golden hair shimmered in the firelight, his sharp blue eyes reflecting the flickering embers. His presence alone felt like a storm—dangerous, powerful, and unpredictable.

Zera sat up with a sharp inhale.

Naruto's gaze flicked toward her. "You're awake."

His voice was deep, steady, yet filled with an odd sense of irritation—as if her survival annoyed him.

Zera swallowed. "Who... are you?"

"You tell me," he said flatly. "You're the one who summoned me."

Summoned?

Her gaze lowered to her hands, where the golden key still rested. It pulsed faintly with power, as if responding to her touch.

She remembered now—the darkness, the crow, the key… her desperate plea for help.

She had called for a savior, and this man had appeared.

"A-Are you a spirit?" she asked hesitantly, recalling the celestial spirits from the stories her father once told her.

Naruto scoffed. "No."

"Then… are you a god?"

At that, Naruto let out a short laugh—cold, amused, but not kind.

"A god?" He stood up, stretching slightly. "Not quite."

His eyes locked onto hers, gleaming with something unreadable.

"I'm a devil."

Silence fell between them.

Zera tensed, gripping the key tightly in her small hands. A devil?

Her father had always warned her about devils—beings of deception, of corruption, of destruction.

And yet, this devil had saved her.

She should have been afraid.

But instead… she was curious.

Naruto watched as the girl processed his words. Most humans, upon hearing the truth, would recoil in terror. Scream. Run. Pray.

But this one… she simply stared at him.

It was infuriating.

Naruto turned his back to her, staring into the fire once more. "If you're scared, now's the time to run," he muttered. "Not that it'll do you any good."

Zera hesitated before shaking her head. "I'm not scared."

Naruto raised a brow. "Oh?"

She clenched the key in her hand. "If you were truly evil… you wouldn't have saved me."

Naruto snorted. "Who said I saved you? I was summoned. That's how contracts work. I had no choice."

That wasn't entirely true. He could have ignored the call. Could have left her to die.

And yet… here he was.

Zera's expression darkened. Her hands clenched into fists.

"My father is dead," she whispered. "My guild is gone. Blue Skull destroyed everything. I have nowhere left to go."

Naruto remained silent.

"…So, I'll make a deal with you," Zera continued, forcing herself to meet his gaze. "Teach me. Make me strong enough to destroy them."

Naruto frowned. "A contract doesn't work like that."

"I don't care."

She stood up now, small and fragile, but with fierce determination burning in her crimson eyes.

"I don't want to be weak anymore."

Naruto sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You really are infuriating."

Zera hesitated. "Then… will you do it?"

Naruto exhaled heavily. "You don't even know what you're asking for."

He walked up to her, towering over the small girl, his aura pressing down like a weight upon her shoulders. "Power comes with a price. You could lose yourself. You could become worse than the ones who took everything from you."

She didn't even flinch. "I don't care."

Naruto studied her.

A child who had lost everything. A human standing before a devil without fear.

She reminded him of himself.

"Tch. Fine," he muttered. "But don't come crying to me later."

Zera smiled for the first time in what felt like forever. "I won't."

---

The jungle was still.

What little life remained after the Blue Skull raid had burrowed deep into the shadows, afraid of the lingering scent of blood and ash that clung to the trees. And through that haunted silence, one lone figure staggered beneath the broken canopy.

Mavis Vermillion.

Her once-bright cloak was tattered, caked with mud, blood, and soot. Her knees buckled with every step, her breath ragged, her face smeared with tears and grime. Her tiny hands clutched the last healing potion she had—cracked and half-empty.

No one had listened.

No one had come.

She had begged in the port town. She had cried to strangers, to soldiers, to passing mages. They had all ignored the frantic child who screamed about dragons and death and devils.

Now she was back.

Too late.

The ruins of the town were barely recognizable. The buildings were crumbled husks, devoured by fire and time. She limped past them like a ghost, eyes wide and unblinking.

"Zera…?" she whispered.

Her voice cracked.

Her feet led her to the place where she had last seen her.

The rubble had shifted. The debris was scorched. But there was no blood now.

Only silence.

Mavis collapsed to her knees, the bottle slipping from her hands and shattering. Her breath hitched. Her shoulders trembled.

"I'm sorry..." she whispered. "I couldn't find anyone… I tried…"

And then—

Light.

The faint flicker of orange from the nearby trees.

A campfire?

Mavis blinked, confused, her tears stopping just long enough for her to turn her head.

There—beyond the trees, past the ridge of broken stone and scorched forest floor—was a small clearing. A fire burned softly at its center. And sitting beside it, cross-legged and laughing over something unseen—

Was Zera.

Whole.

Smiling.

Laughing.

Like nothing had happened.

Mavis' breath stopped.

"Z… Zera…?"

She stumbled forward, tripping over a root, scraping her elbow as she crawled toward the fire. Her heart was a storm. Her eyes blurred. Her mind screamed that it couldn't be true.

But it was.

Zera looked up.

And when her eyes met Mavis's, they softened.

"Mavis!" Zera said, rising to her feet. "You came back!"

Mavis collapsed into her arms.

She didn't speak.

She couldn't.

She just cried.

Ugly, loud sobs into Zera's chest as her small fingers clutched at the fabric of her borrowed tunic like she was afraid she'd vanish again.

Zera held her, smiling faintly but with damp eyes of her own. "I'm okay," she whispered. "I'm okay now…"

Mavis pulled back just enough to look up, her face twisted with confusion and disbelief. "How?! I saw you—You were under the rubble—I tried to get help, and I couldn't—!"

Zera gently wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I don't know… I thought I was going to die too. But someone came. Someone saved me."

Mavis turned.

And saw him.

Naruto stood in the shadows behind the fire, arms folded, leaning against a tree like he'd been there the whole time. His coat swayed slightly in the breeze. His expression was unreadable.

He didn't speak.

Didn't smile.

Didn't acknowledge her.

But Mavis could feel it—the pressure, the weight of his presence. Like a storm holding itself just barely at bay.

"You…" Mavis whispered. "You saved her?"

Naruto gave a slight shrug. "She summoned me."

"I—I don't understand," Mavis stammered. "Who are you?"

Zera looked back at him, then at Mavis. "He's… my summon now."

Mavis blinked. "Your… what?"

Naruto finally spoke. "Name's Naruto. Devil of Wrath. Get used to it."

The flames cracked.

Mavis looked at him for a long moment. Something about him frightened her, but also…

She felt safe.

"I…" she swallowed hard. "Thank you."

Naruto didn't respond.

But he didn't walk away either.

That night, as the fire dimmed and the stars blinked back into the bruised sky, the three of them sat in silence. Zera leaned on Mavis's shoulder. Naruto leaned against the tree with his arms folded, watching the horizon.

The war wasn't over.

But for now… they weren't alone anymore.

---

A day Later

The campfire crackled gently in the clearing. Fireflies danced lazily in the night air, glowing like tiny stars just out of reach. The forest was quiet, save for the distant whisper of waves crashing against the far cliffs.

Naruto was off gathering firewood. That left the clearing silent—save for two small girls sitting side by side beneath a crooked tree.

Zera hugged her knees to her chest, her golden eyes reflecting the firelight.

Mavis sat beside her, swaying her legs over a mossy rock, humming softly to herself. Her voice was gentle, like a lullaby drifting on wind.

"…Mavis?" Zera said quietly.

The hum stopped.

Mavis tilted her head. "Yeah?"

Zera's gaze lowered. "Can I… ask you something?"

"Of course."

A long pause.

"…Why do you still want to be my friend?"

Mavis blinked. "Huh?"

Zera tightened her grip on her knees. "Back then. Before everything. I wasn't nice to you. I snapped at you. I mocked you. I always acted like I was better than you. And still… when I woke up, when I saw you again… you were crying for me."

Mavis looked down, her small hands fidgeting in her lap.

"I didn't understand it," Zera continued, her voice trembling just a bit. "Even now, I don't. After everything I did, why would you still care about me?"

Mavis was quiet for a long time.

Then, softly:

"Because you mattered to me."

Zera looked up, startled.

Mavis smiled faintly, her eyes shimmering in the firelight. "I never cared about the names or the teasing. I always thought… that maybe you just didn't know how to show you cared. But I still liked you. I wanted to be your friend, even if you didn't want to be mine yet."

Zera's throat tightened.

"I cried for you," Mavis said, voice barely a whisper now, "because you were my first real friend. And when you disappeared, it felt like a part of me disappeared too."

Silence.

Then—

Zera turned her face away, biting her lip.

"…I thought I didn't deserve you," she admitted. "I thought maybe you'd be better off with someone else. Someone nicer."

"You're wrong."

Zera blinked as Mavis reached over and gently took her hand.

"I'm glad you're still here," Mavis said, smiling through misty eyes. "Even if you weren't perfect. Neither am I. We're just… two girls who lost everything. But maybe we can start something new. Together."

Zera's lips trembled.

She couldn't hold it anymore.

Tears slipped down her cheeks, hot and fast, and she leaned sideways—burying her face in Mavis's shoulder.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered. "I'm sorry I was mean. I didn't want to lose you."

"You didn't," Mavis whispered back, wrapping her arms around her. "You never did."

And there, under a starlit canopy with the fire crackling beside them, two broken hearts beat in time—healing, just a little, together.

Naruto returned with the firewood a few minutes later, grumbling about mosquitoes and damp moss.

But when he saw the two girls sleeping curled up beside each other like kittens under a tree, he paused.

Then—quietly, gently—he sat nearby and watched the fire with his arms crossed, muttering:

"…Infuriating."

But he smiled.

…He didn't want to leave.

Not yet.

Naruto never met humans before but he heard stories. Something about these two bothered him.

Maybe it was because they were still kids. Maybe it was because they had already seen more death than they should have at their age.

Or maybe…

Maybe it was because they reminded him of a time long past.

But a deal had to be made. Otherwise, the Underworld would take him back—whether he wanted to leave or not.

His blue eyes flickered toward Zera.

She already had the key. That was enough. All he needed now was the exchange.

A devil's contract was simple: Give, and take.

"Hey."

Mavis and Zera flinched as Naruto's voice cut through the night.

He unfolded his arms, standing to his full height. In the glow of the fire, his shadow stretched over them.

"You two."

Zera turned to him warily. "What?"

"You want to live?"

Mavis frowned. "Of course we do."

Naruto smirked slightly, but there was no humor in it. "Then let's make it official."

Zera's fingers instinctively gripped the key hanging around her neck. "A contract…"

Naruto nodded. "You already summoned me. Now you need to seal the deal."

Mavis looked between them, confused. "What does that mean?"

Naruto stepped closer, crouching down so he was at eye level with them. His blue eyes burned like fire in the darkness.

"It means you give me something, and I give you something in return."

Zera swallowed. "What do you want?"

Naruto held out his hand.

"Your name."

Mavis blinked. "Huh?"

Naruto's smirk widened. "I don't need gold or power. I just need something that ties you to me. A contract isn't just about what I take—it's about what I protect."

His gaze flickered toward Zera. "You already made the call when you took my key. You just need to finish it."

Zera hesitated.

Naruto's voice lowered. "Do you trust me?"

The silence stretched.

Mavis bit her lip, watching her friend closely.

Then, slowly, Zera reached out—placing her small hand in Naruto's.

"My name is Zera!"

A surge of magic erupted between them.

The fire flickered wildly as a dark red sigil burned into Zera's wrist, marking the completion of the contract.

Naruto exhaled, his body relaxing as the invisible pull of the Underworld faded.

It was done.

Zera looked down at the sigil, running her fingers over it. "It… doesn't hurt."

Naruto scoffed. "Of course not. I'm not a monster."

Mavis tilted her head. "But aren't you a devil?"

Naruto flicked her forehead lightly. "Same thing."

Mavis pouted, rubbing her forehead. "Ow…"

Zera glanced up at him, something unreadable in her eyes.

"You're staying, then?"

Naruto's expression remained unreadable. "For now."

Mavis beamed. "That's good!"

Naruto raised a brow. "You're really okay with having a devil around?"

Mavis tilted her head. "Aren't you okay with us?"

Naruto paused.

Then, much to his own infuriation, he found himself smirking.

"…You two are weird."

Zera crossed her arms. "So are you."

Naruto let out a short chuckle. "Fair enough."

The fire crackled between them, the flames casting shadows across their young faces.

For the first time in centuries…

Naruto felt like he belonged somewhere.

Even if it was just for a little while.

A New Dawn on a Broken Land

The first light of dawn cast golden hues across the horizon, washing over the remnants of the destroyed Red Lizard Guild. Smoke still clung to the air, the scent of charred wood and ash lingering like a ghost of the past. The once-lively settlement, filled with laughter and the dreams of mages, now lay in ruin—silent and empty.

At the edge of the destruction, standing where their home once stood, Mavis and Zera took in the desolate sight.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then, Mavis turned to Naruto, her bright blue eyes filled with determination.

"What do we do now?"

Naruto, standing a few feet away with his hands in his pockets, gazed at the wreckage. A faint breeze ruffled his blonde hair, but his expression remained unreadable.

He already knew the answer.

They needed to survive.

"First," he said, glancing at them. "We find food."

Mavis and Zera blinked, clearly expecting something grander.

"…That's it?" Zera frowned. "We just got attacked by an enemy guild, and all you're thinking about is food?"

Naruto rolled his eyes. "You can't fight, you can't run, and you definitely can't live on determination alone. You're just a couple of kids. If you want to survive, you need to eat."

Mavis nodded quickly. "He's right! If we don't take care of ourselves, we won't be able to rebuild!"

Zera sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine. But where are we supposed to find food? Everything was burned down!"

Naruto stretched his arms before turning toward the dense jungle that covered most of Tenrou Island. "Easy. We hunt, we forage, and we make sure we don't die doing it."

He started walking toward the forest.

The two girls exchanged glances before quickly following.

---

Tenrou Island – Two Years Later
Year X681

The morning sun peeked over the jungle canopy, golden light scattering through the trees like liquid fire. Birds chirped. Leaves rustled. The world whispered its calm.

And then—

"Onii-chan! Onii-chaaaaaaan!"

Naruto's eye twitched beneath his arm as a pillow collided with his face.

Hard.

Again.

"Zera…" he growled from beneath the blankets, his voice low and gravelly. "You have five seconds to run."

"Too late!" she chirped, already vaulting over the hammock and landing beside Mavis, who was giggling uncontrollably.

"He's awake!" Mavis beamed. "Now we ask!"

Naruto groaned, rolling over with all the grace of a collapsing bookshelf. "What do you two want this time?"

"Teach us magic!" they said in perfect harmony, like gremlins possessed by ambition.

He stared.

Long.

Hard.

Deadpan.

"No."

"But Onii-chan!" Zera whined, grabbing his coat sleeve and shaking it. "You promised!"

"I promised no such thing. In fact, I distinctly remember saying, 'If you wake me before sunrise again, I will turn this forest into ash and blame the squirrels.'"

"You did say that," Mavis offered, finger to her chin. "But in your defense, you were half-asleep and hugging a tree."

"Infuriating."

Zera puffed her cheeks. "You fight dragons with your fists and explode mountains by sneezing! You have to teach us something!"

"I don't sneeze explosions."

"You did last week."

"That was pollen. And an accident."

"An awesome accident," Mavis chimed in, eyes sparkling. "The birds are still nesting in the crater."

Naruto sat up slowly, fixing both girls with a piercing stare. "Magic is dangerous. You think it's fun, but if you lose control—"

"We won't," Mavis said, unusually serious.

"I want to protect people," Zera added quietly. "Like you protected me."

That gave him pause.

He looked at them. Really looked.

Zera, no longer the trembling child crushed under rubble. Now standing tall (well… taller), her golden eyes sharp, her confidence blooming like fire.

Mavis, ever curious, ever kind—but now with purpose. With strength. And, unfortunately, the beginnings of an unmistakable crush she was very, very bad at hiding.

"You're both still kids," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm not exactly the warm-up coach type."

"You're our onii-chan," Zera said firmly. "That's better."

"And I'm very emotionally mature for my age," Mavis added, sitting cross-legged and nodding solemnly. "I read three books yesterday."

"None of which were about not setting trees on fire."

"That was one time!"

Naruto sighed. Loudly. Dramatically. As if carrying the emotional burden of raising two magical disasters was the curse of his eternal existence.

"…Fine."

Zera and Mavis gasped.

"R-Really?!"

He stood slowly, cracking his neck with a sharp twist, coat billowing in the breeze.

"But if you cry when you fail, I'm leaving you in the forest."

"We won't!" they shouted in unison.

"Good. Training starts now. Lesson one: how to get knocked flat on your ass and learn to enjoy it."

"…What?" Zera blinked.

Naruto cracked his knuckles, smiling just slightly.

"Welcome to wrath 101."

And somewhere, high above, a flock of birds screamed and evacuated the area—because every tree within twenty meters just spontaneously combusted.

Mavis's cheeks turned red.

Zera grinned wide.

And Tenrou trembled slightly.

Because class was officially in session.

Naruto stood before them, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

"Alright," he said finally. "If I'm going to waste my immortal afternoon playing teacher, I need to know what kind of magic you brats want to learn."

Zera raised a hand immediately. "Something cool! Like BOOM—" she punched the air, mimicking an explosion, "—and CRASH and AAHHHHH and everyone goes flying!"

"…So precision and subtlety are off the table," Naruto muttered, deadpan.

"I want to be strong," she added, her tone softening just slightly. "Strong like you."

Naruto's eyes narrowed for a heartbeat. Then he turned to Mavis.

"What about you?"

Mavis tilted her head thoughtfully, golden eyes aglow with wonder. "I want to project my imagination. Make dreams into reality. Create things that don't exist yet… but should."

Naruto blinked.

"That's horrifying."

Mavis beamed. "I know!"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Listen. My magic—Wrath—it's not something you can learn. It's not like fire or water or that weird pastry-based combat I saw in Bellum once."

Zera pouted. "But I want to punch mountains like you."

"You'd snap your arms off."

"I'll train harder."

Naruto almost smiled at that. Almost.

"Look," he continued, "my magic isn't a school of thought. It's a concept. You don't learn Wrath. You become it. You live it. You burn your soul down to ash and hope what rises doesn't eat the world."

Silence.

Zera raised her hand again. "So… that's a 'maybe'?"

Naruto facepalmed.

"No. But—" he paused, tapping his foot on the ground, "—I might have a workaround."

---

The Underworld – Trihexia's Grand Library of Forbidden Spells

A monstrous tower of obsidian and bone spiraled into the infinite void, guarded by sins, bound angels, and at least one demonic octopus with reading glasses. Inside, untold millions of tomes floated between interdimensional bookshelves—each holding spells deemed too unstable, too dangerous, or too unfathomably stupid to ever be used.

There was a sudden pop.

A swirl of crimson light.

And Naruto, now in a black cloak and fake mustache (for reasons), crouched in the shadows of the archive.

"…She'll never know," he whispered to himself.

From behind a row of shelves, a serpentine demon raised an eyebrow. "Know what?"

Naruto calmly set the demon on fire.

"Restricted section it is," he muttered, vanishing in a flash-step blur.

He reached out to the first book he saw, grabbing a glowing tome labeled "Conjuration for Idiots and Geniuses" with a little doodle of Trihexia flipping the reader off on the cover.

He threw the book away and grabbed a bunch of random tomes.

Eventually, Naruto zipped out of the library, tomes in hand, just as a massive serpentine eye opened in the ceiling.

"WHO DARES STEAL FROM THE VAULT OF—"

"Infuriating," Naruto muttered, tossing a smoke bomb made of pure sarcasm and disappearing back to Earthland.

Back on Tenrou Island – Later That Evening

Naruto dropped the tomes dramatically in front of Zera and Mavis.

"Boom. Library looting complete. Don't tell Trihexia or I'll feed you both to Ophis."

Zera's eyes sparkled. "Is this one about magical martial arts?!"

"No, that's a cursed cookbook. Don't open it. Last time someone did, a muffin tried to kill me."

Mavis gasped as she lifted a shimmering white tome. "This one lets you weave illusions into reality through willpower…"

"And hallucinate things so hard they become real," Naruto added, sipping tea like this was totally normal. "Careful—imagine a fire-breathing sheep, and guess what? There goes the jungle."

Mavis clutched the book with reverence. "Perfect."

Zera grabbed a tome for explosion magic. She pumped her fist, totally hyped. "Alright, Onii-chan! Time to learn Zera Style Explosive Combat Magic!"

Naruto side-eyed her. "That's not what it's called."

"It is now."

He sighed again. "Infuriating."

But even as he said it, a smile ghosted the corners of his lips.

Because for the first time in centuries…

He wasn't just a summoned devil.

He was family.

---

Tenrou Island – Year X681 (Training compilation)

The sun was barely rising when Mavis stood at the cliffside, eyes shut, arms stretched like wings. The book Naruto gave her floated in front of her, pages fluttering as if the magic within was excited too.

"Imagine magic: phoenix!" she declared, her voice full of hope.

There was a spark—glittering light pouring from her fingertips, wrapping around her like a cocoon.

Then—POOF.

A flaming duck appeared.

A confused flaming duck.

It immediately screamed.

Naruto spat out his tea. "That's not a phoenix, Mavis! That's poultry in pain!"

Mavis yelped and chased the duck as it waddled off toward the jungle, setting small fires with every flap.

---

Naruto stood behind Zera as she punched the air repeatedly, sweat on her brow, her knuckles raw.

"You don't need a chant," Naruto said calmly. "You need intent. Feel the magic rise from your gut. Channel it. Focus it."

Zera nodded, then turned toward the nearest boulder.

She screamed and threw a punch with all her might.

BOOM!

The boulder didn't just crack—it vaporized.

Naruto blinked. "Okay, that's… slightly terrifying."

Zera grinned wildly. "I call that one Sibling Slayer: Fist of Doom!"

"You are aware I'm the sibling in question, right?" Naruto muttered.

---

She knelt in a field of wildflowers, whispering softly to the wind.

"I want a friend for Zera… something soft. Loyal. Protective…"

"Imagine magic: Companion!"

The magic danced across the petals.

Suddenly—POOF.

A small wolf pup appeared, its fur snowy white, its eyes gentle and curious.

Zera looked at it and narrowed her eyes.

"…I shall name you 'Boom Jr.' You will be my sidekick."

The wolf wagged its tail.

Mavis giggled. "That's not what I—never mind."

---

On the beach, Zera stood before a row of sand statues shaped like Blue Skull members. Her fists glowed with a volatile red energy.

"Take this!" she cried.

KRA-KOOM!

A shockwave burst from her knuckles, leveling the entire shoreline. A coconut flew through the air and landed squarely on Naruto's head.

He didn't flinch.

He just sighed. "Infuriating."

---

At twilight, Mavis sat beside the campfire, fingers weaving shapes in the air. She imagined a floating castle made of clouds and stardust.

And slowly… piece by piece… it formed in the sky above.

Naruto looked up, lips parting ever so slightly.

Zera blinked. "Wait. Are you—crying?"

"I'm not crying," Naruto muttered. "I'm just… allergic to dream castles."

---

They trained everyday and mastered their magic with Naruto's guidance.

Zera punching through logs, then getting her hand stuck in one and yelling as a squirrel bites her finger.

Mavis levitating pebbles to form a dancing golem that trips and faceplants into a pond.

Naruto lecturing both of them while upside down in a tree after being caught in one of Zera's stray blasts.

All three of them laughing around the campfire, the stars above twinkling like they were listening in.

---

Present day, Galuna Island.

"They were reckless. Unpredictable. Infuriating… But every day with them felt less like eternity, and more like life." Naruto commented as he told his story.

"They weren't just a couple of brats…They were my little sisters."

Mira, who had been listening quietly, was moved by how Naruto once acted so brotherly and full of emotion—so different from the way he is now.

"You say you're a devil now... but all I see is a big brother who would've burned the world just to save someone he loved."

Naruto smiled bitterly because that was true.

---

Tenrou Island – Year X685, 4 years later.

The sea raged as the colossal Leviathan rose from the deep, its endless coils thrashing against the shore. Its scales shimmered like molten sapphires, each movement a tidal wave waiting to happen. The beast opened its massive jaws and let out a screech that turned the wind into knives.

And on the beach—stood two tiny girls in sunhats.

"Well," Zera cracked her knuckles, her explosion magic already flaring, "this wasn't on the swim schedule."

Mavis, eyes glowing with determination, stood beside her, barefoot in the wet sand, hair whipping in the sea breeze. "Remember what Naruto said: no overkill unless it's really fun."

"Good," Zera grinned. "Because this is gonna be really fun."

On a Cliff Nearby – Naruto, Sitting on a Rock Like a Lazy Overlord

He had a cold drink in hand and sunglasses on. Ophis had braided flowers into his hair when he wasn't looking, but he didn't seem to care.

He watched the girls with narrowed eyes and a hint of pride.

"Alright, girls," he called lazily, "Time to show me if those years of training were worth the migraines."

Back at the beach, The Leviathan surged forward, jaws wide.

"Now, Mavis!" Zera yelled.

Mavis's hands moved in a blur, threads of golden light dancing between her fingers.

"Imagine magic: Stairway of stars!" she declared.

And whoosh—

The ocean air shimmered, and from the sea itself, spiraled a glowing staircase of light, forming in real time beneath Zera's feet like something out of legend.

Zera leapt, each step exploding behind her as she ascended—faster, higher—eyes locked on the Leviathan's smug, oversized face.

Her fist crackled with scarlet energy.

"FOR SUMMER VACATION!" she screamed.

BOOOOOOOOM!

The moment her fist connected with the Leviathan's snout, the sky ripped. An eruption of magic echoed like thunder. Shockwaves blasted outward, and—

The ocean parted.

Literally.

Waves crashed away to the left and right, revealing the seabed below. Fish flew through the air, flailing in confusion. A dolphin screamed (somehow), and a crab got tossed thirty feet into a coconut tree.

Naruto casually lowered his drink. "…Well. That'll traumatize the ecosystem."

The Leviathan lay half-buried in the sand, dazed, tongue lolling out.

Zera landed like a comet next to it, a cocky grin on her face. "And that, Mr. Sushi, is what you get for interrupting beach day."

Mavis jogged up to her, beaming. "We did it!"

Zera turned to her and held up a fist.

Mavis grinned and bumped it.

"Flawless teamwork," Zera said.

"You mean sparkly genius strategy," Mavis corrected.

Naruto appeared behind them with a slow clap.

"I'm mildly impressed," he said, despite the clear glint of pride in his eyes. "Also, you exploded a sea guardian. Again. Stop doing that."

Zera shrugged. "He started it."

Naruto sighed, placing a hand on each of their heads.

"You two are trouble."

Mavis looked up with a smirk. "You love us."

"…Infuriating."

They laughed.

And as the sun dipped low on the horizon, casting golden light across the ocean they had literally parted—Naruto smiled.

The family he never thought he needed… was right here.

---

Tenrou Island – Year X686

The sun was beginning its descent over Tenrou Island, bathing the jungle in warm, golden hues. The breeze was gentle, the waves calm. It was the kind of day that felt unfairly perfect—the kind that made you believe nothing bad could ever happen again.

Zera didn't believe it for a second.

Which was why she was currently shoving a very red, very reluctant Mavis toward their onii-chan.

"Go on already!" Zera hissed, hands firmly on Mavis's back. "You've been in love with him for years! If you don't do it now, I swear I'm going to do it for you."

"B-But—what if he says no?!" Mavis squeaked, digging her heels into the dirt. "Or laughs? Or turns into a demon dragon and flees into the ocean out of sheer embarrassment?!"

Zera rolled her eyes. "First of all, that's weirdly specific. Second, have you met him? He's already a demon. The worst he'll do is sigh at you until you cry."

"I'm not ready!"

"He's right there. Drinking coconut juice. Looking like an angsty sunset poster. Go!"

Zera gave one final shove.

Mavis stumbled forward awkwardly into the clearing where Naruto sat under a palm tree, the tip of his coat flapping in the breeze, drink in hand, eyes half-closed in contentment.

He didn't even blink when Mavis skidded to a halt in front of him, trembling.

"…You okay?" he asked, without opening his eyes.

Mavis swallowed hard.

"I—I have a question," she blurted.

Naruto cracked one eye open, mildly amused. "Shoot."

Mavis wrung her hands. Her heart was thundering like a war drum.

She looked back.

Zera was behind a bush, giving her an exaggerated thumbs-up and mouthing DO IT like a maniac.

She turned back to Naruto.

"I love you," she said in one breath, eyes wide. "And I know you're… older, and grumpier, and emotionally constipated, but I really do, and I've loved you for years now, and if you say no, that's okay, but I just needed to say it and—"

Naruto held up a hand.

She froze.

He looked at her for a long moment—silent, unreadable.

Then…

He reached out and gently patted her head.

A sigh escaped his lips, soft and a little tired.

"When you're older," he said quietly.

Mavis blinked.

She blinked again.

"…Wha—huh?"

Naruto leaned back, resting against the tree again.

"You've got centuries ahead of you, Mavis. Live them. Then, if you still feel the same way…"

His eyes closed again.

"…Ask me then."

Mavis stood there, stunned. Then, slowly, a small, bittersweet smile curled her lips.

"Promise?"

"…Maybe."

From the bushes, Zera erupted with silent cheers, pumping both fists in the air.

Later that night, under the stars, Mavis sat between Zera and Naruto by the fire, her head on his shoulder, her heart fluttering in quiet hope.

And Zera… just smiled.

She was happy.

Even if…

---

The next evening

The island sky was painted in hues of lavender and gold, the setting sun dipping low behind the treetops, casting elongated shadows across the familiar forest clearing. The jungle sang softly with life, leaves rustling in the breeze, distant birds calling, waves lapping gently at the shore.

And at the heart of it, around a cozy fire built from driftwood and stubborn branches, three souls sat beneath the stars, wrapped in the warmth of each other's company and a peace they'd built with their own hands.

Zera had her arms behind her head, sprawled out lazily on a blanket beside the fire, her boots kicked off, toes wiggling freely in the cool night air. Her long, wild hair shimmered in the firelight, untamed and proud.

Mavis was curled up beside her, legs crossed, sketching patterns in the dirt with a stick, her usual wide-eyed curiosity tempered by a rare kind of stillness. Her blonde locks glowed softly under the moonlight, making her look every bit the fairy she was destined to be.

Naruto sat between them, as always, poking at the fire with a long stick. His golden coat was tossed over a log behind him, his undershirt rolled up at the sleeves. He looked tired—not the kind of tired that came from battle, but the kind earned from being surrounded by too much affection and too many overly ambitious girls for too many years.

Zera broke the silence first.

"…Hey, Onii-chan."

Naruto flinched. "Still hate that."

"You secretly love it," she grinned, kicking a small rock toward the fire. "Makes you feel important."

Mavis giggled, not looking up from her doodles. "He is important."

Naruto scoffed. "I'm a glorified babysitter with rage issues."

"You're our devil," Zera corrected, nudging him with her foot. "And you're stuck with us."

"Forever," Mavis added softly, glancing up at him.

Naruto sighed theatrically, staring at the sky like he was praying for divine intervention. "Why do I feel like I'm going to regret that contract for the rest of my immortal life?"

Zera sat up, suddenly serious. "You won't."

He turned, blinking. Her crimson eyes held a fire that wasn't there moments ago.

"We've been thinking about something," she said, sharing a glance with Mavis.

The younger girl nodded, setting down her stick.

"We want to leave," she said.

The words hung in the air.

"…Leave the island?" Naruto asked, though he already knew the answer.

"Yes," Zera confirmed. "Tomorrow. The world's out there, Naruto. Kingdoms. Guilds. Magic. Stories we haven't written yet."

"I want to see them all," Mavis said, a smile blooming on her face like spring. "I want to visit towns and meet mages. I want to learn about different spells and people and… and maybe even start our own guild someday."

Naruto stared at them.

Zera leaned forward, her tone low and determined. "We're not kids anymore. You've trained us. You've raised us. But we want to do more than survive. We want to live."

Mavis turned toward him, her hands clasped together. "But we don't want to do it without you."

Zera smirked. "You're coming with us, Onii-chan. That's not a request."

Naruto stared into the fire for a long while.

He remembered the day they found him—Zera's trembling voice, Mavis' hopeful eyes, the absurd way they both just trusted him. It was… annoying. Irritating. Infuriating.

And he loved it.

"…You really think you're ready for the world out there?" he finally asked, voice quieter than they expected.

Zera nodded. "We've been ready."

"We're not scared," Mavis whispered.

Naruto closed his eyes and let out a breath. "…Alright."

Mavis gasped.

Zera blinked. "Wait, really?"

"Yeah," Naruto said, standing up and stretching his arms behind his head. "Tomorrow morning, we leave."

Mavis squealed and jumped to her feet, practically bouncing. "I'm going to bring my spellbook! And the pinecone necklace I made! And the blanket you hate because I'm going to make you carry it!"

Zera smirked. "You're actually excited about manual labor?"

Naruto groaned. "Already regretting this."

They spent the next hour making plans—scribbled ideas on old parchment about which town to visit first, which places they wanted to see. Zera wanted to fight the strongest mages in the west. Mavis wanted to find lost libraries and ancient ruins.

Naruto just wanted to keep them safe.

"Hey," Mavis said, her voice suddenly shy, "When we find a guild, we should start one of our own. A place for weirdos and misfits and people with nowhere to go. Like us."

Zera grinned. "We'll call it 'Zera's Guild.'"

"No way!" Mavis protested. "We'll call it 'Fairy Tail!'"

Naruto blinked. "Why 'Fairy Tail'?"

Mavis smiled at the sky. "Because it's a mystery. Do fairies even have tails? A guild that represents eternal adventure. Endless possibility."

Zera stared at her for a long moment.

Then smiled.

"…Fairy Tail," she repeated.

While Naruto would forget the name, It was still a beautiful dream.

And for a little while longer…

They believed it could come true.

---

Tenrou Island — Morning of Year X687

The first light of dawn spilled over the horizon, golden beams breaking through the mist that hugged the jungle canopy. The birds sang softly. The sea whispered against the shore. Everything felt... too perfect.

Inside the small cabin nestled beneath the forest boughs, Mavis was already awake—barefoot, humming a tuneless melody as she folded up their shared blanket. Zera was still snoring softly, sprawled upside-down across the bed with one leg on the wall. Naruto sat at the edge of the porch, nursing a cup of awful herbal tea Mavis had insisted would "start the day right."

He hated it. It was infuriating.

But he drank it anyway.

And that's when the magic signatures arrived.

Three of them.

Strong. Confident. Civilized.

Foreign.

Naruto's eyes narrowed. He stood up, the air tightening around him like coiled tension. "We have company."

---

A Few Minutes Later — At the Island Path

The leaves rustled, branches parted—and out from the dense foliage stepped three mages in well-worn traveling cloaks, dusted with sea salt and forest grime. The one at the front, tall and lean with wild blond hair, blinked in surprise at the young girl waiting for them on the path.

"Uh… Hello?" he said, scratching the back of his head. "We didn't expect a welcome party."

Mavis smiled politely, her hands folded behind her back. "You're not exactly sneaky. This is a protected island, you know."

The shorter one with the sharp eyes and stricter demeanor stepped forward. "We mean no harm. We're here for the Tenrou Jade. The rumors say it lies somewhere within this island."

"The treasure," added the third—an enormous man with a kind grin and moss in his beard. "We're looking for it. It's important."

Mavis tilted her head thoughtfully, her green eyes glittering with mischief and calculation.

"You can have it," she said sweetly.

The three men blinked.

"…What's the catch?" Precht asked suspiciously.

Mavis smiled wider. "You take us with you when you leave."

There was a beat of silence.

"Us?" Yuri echoed. "There's more of you?"

Mavis nodded. "Three of us. Myself, my best friend Zera, and my…" she paused for a moment, then grinned proudly, "our devil, Naruto."

"…Devil?" Warrod repeated slowly.

Precht's grip on his staff tightened.

Yuri looked at her like she'd grown two heads. "Kid, you're—wait, how old are you?"

"Eleven," she replied cheerfully. "But emotionally like, twenty-seven."

"Uh-huh."

"You can search the island for weeks and find nothing," Mavis said, tilting her head. "Or you can let us guide you. I know where the Tenrou Jade is. But I won't lead you to it unless you agree to my terms."

Precht opened his mouth to argue.

Mavis beat him to it.

"We want to leave this island," she said, voice softening. "We've lived here for years. We're ready to see the world. So either we go with you… or you get nothing."

Yuri frowned. "You really expect us to—"

"Mavis," came a voice behind them.

Zera walked into the clearing, yawning, stretching her arms above her head.

She glanced at the newcomers, then at Mavis. "You're really doing the extortion thing already? I haven't even had breakfast."

"They'll take us," Mavis whispered to her.

"They better," Zera said with a grin. "Or I'll make Naruto punch the ocean again."

Behind them, Naruto appeared from the trees with his hands in his coat pockets and his usual grumpy face.

Yuri's eyes widened the moment he felt the pressure around Naruto. It was subtle but terrifying—like staring into the mouth of a dormant volcano.

"…Who the hell are you?" he asked.

Naruto just stared at him for a long beat. Then sighed.

"I'm the babysitter," he muttered.

---

Tenrou Island – Deeper in the Jungle

The jungle shimmered in the golden morning light, the leaves dewy and glistening. Birds chirped overhead. A soft breeze rustled the foliage.

But something in the air had changed.

Mavis walked ahead of the three mages, her tiny feet skipping lightly across mossy stones, barefoot and confident. Her green eyes sparkled as she led them through ancient overgrowth and twisting paths only she knew.

"We're close," she said, brushing aside a curtain of vines. "The Tenrou Jade lies in a chamber beneath the old guardian tree. This way!"

Yuri kept glancing at the strange patterns of the flora—how the jungle subtly parted for the girl. Precht remained silent, calculating. Warrod, ever the gentle soul, admired the scenery even as tension hummed through his bones.

Naruto had opted to trail behind them from the shadows. Watching. Waiting.

Mavis hummed as she walked.

Then—
The earth shook.

A low rumble. Faint. Distant. But unmistakable.

The party froze.

Then—

ROOOOAAAAARRRRRR!

The sky split open with sound.

A dragon's fury, ancient and unhinged, thundered across the heavens. Birds scattered in terror. Trees groaned under the pressure of the tremor.

Mavis froze mid-step.

Her blood ran cold.

"No…" she whispered.

Not now. Not today. Please—

Back at the small hut, Zera was finishing packing her stuff. Today they will leave the island to explore!

Zera had just shoved the last book into her satchel when it hit her.

The sound.

The roar.

Her heart dropped into her stomach.

She ran outside, boots crunching on the grass, eyes snapping toward the horizon.

Smoke.

Far in the distance—just past the mountains that bordered Tenrou's inner sanctum—the sky was beginning to blacken. Birds fled in flocks. The magic in the air turned violent, swirling unnaturally.

"...No." She dropped the bag.

Not again. Not another war.

She turned toward the jungle path—the one Mavis had taken just minutes ago.

"MAVIS!"

Her voice tore into the wind, but it was swallowed by the roar of the dragon.

And behind her… the earth trembled again.

---

The light died.

A chill crept through the glade as if the sun itself had been swallowed. The wind hissed through the trees, whispering warnings in a forgotten tongue.

And then—

CRACK.

The ground shuddered violently.

Birds screamed as they fled the canopy. The tree groaned, ancient branches swaying, leaves tearing free in spiraling gusts.

And then they saw it.

Albion.

He burst through the treeline in the far mountains like a god torn from a forgotten war. A dragon the size of a cathedral, his scales blinding white—like moonlight made solid—but cracked in places, pulsing with sickly violet light. His wings tore through clouds like knives, and his roar was not just sound, but madness—a herald of a mind that no longer understood restraint, reason, or mercy.

Warrod's jaw dropped. "That's—That's Albion?! The White Dragon King?!"

But Precht didn't answer. He had gone pale, frozen in place as the dragon turned its head, milky white eyes scanning the island, blind yet all-seeing—a beast once wise, now lost to the Frenzy.

Its mouth foamed. Its talons twitched. From its back dripped a molten corruption—dark, tar-like blood infecting the very sky.

Yuri instinctively stepped in front of Mavis. "RUN."

But Mavis couldn't move.

Her feet were rooted to the spot. Her eyes wide. Her heart trembling.

Because in the smoke… through the chaos… she sensed something.

Naruto.

And not far from him—

Zera.

---

The skies above Tenrou Island darkened as if the sun itself had flinched in fear.

A scream echoed through the clouds—a roar so deep, so ancient, it made the ocean still and the birds fall silent. The trees of Tenrou bent in submission. The air thickened like syrup, humming with violent magic.

Albion had arrived.

The White Dragon King, his scales the color of bleached bone, unfurled his wings with a thunderous crack. Each beat of those wings churned the skies, each breath radiated an ancient fury—the madness of a once-proud dragon now lost to Frenzy, Acnologia's cursed virus.

From the cliffs, Zera stared in disbelief, her bag half-packed, the roar still trembling in her chest like a distant drum. Her heart dropped.

"...Onii-chan…" she whispered.

Meanwhile, Deep in Tenrou's Jungle

Naruto stood still, eyes half-lidded, staring up at the monstrosity that had crashed through the forest canopy like a living meteor.

Albion.

The dragon towered above the trees, glowing veins of corrupted light pulsing through his scales. His jaws dripped with venom, his eyes no longer those of a sentient being—but of a beast.

Naruto smirked.

"Finally," he muttered, stretching his arms. "Something I don't have to hold back against."

With a flicker, the ground beneath him exploded. He launched himself into the air, fists crackling with raw energy, his coat flaring like a war banner in a storm.

The clash was instant.

Fist met claw.

Magic met fang.

Naruto slammed into Albion's jaw with a roar of his own, sending shockwaves through the island. Albion retaliated with a swing of his tail, cracking mountains. Naruto twisted mid-air and countered with a knee to the dragon's throat.

They were equal.

They were chaos.

---

"That roar..." Yuri stiffened. "That's no ordinary beast."

Mavis's hand trembled.

"Zera…"

"Hey," Warrod crouched, looking her in the eyes. "We need to leave. Now."

"No!" Mavis snapped, tears already welling. "Zera's still out there! I'm not leaving her!"

Precht's expression darkened. "Listen to me, Mavis. If we stay, we all die. We have to go. We'll come back for her, I swear."

"No, you don't understand!" Mavis screamed, struggling in their grip as they tried to pull her back toward the path. "She's my family! Naruto's out there! I'm not leaving them!"

They dragged her, her tiny fists pounding against Precht's chest.

"I promised we'd leave together! We were going to see the world!" she sobbed. "We were supposed to go together!"

Behind them, the island shook as Albion's tail cleaved a ravine into the forest. Fire and ice erupted from his mouth, colliding with a crimson barrier Naruto had created just in time.

Back at the Battlefield

Naruto laughed—genuinely, wildly.

His fists bled. His coat was half-burned. His skin was scraped raw from scales harder than steel.

But he hadn't had a fight like this in centuries.

Albion shrieked again, charging with jaws wide.

Naruto leapt.

They collided mid-air, and the resulting impact split the clouds above in two.

Tenrou Island trembled beneath the weight of two titans.

The ancient forest, normally serene in its sun-dappled silence, was now a wasteland of shattered trees and scorched soil. Mountains crumbled in the distance. The sky churned with storm clouds that weren't natural—drawn by magic so dense, it warped the air.

And at the center of it all stood Naruto.

His coat was already torn, his fists bloodied from the endless onslaught, but his grin—

Gods, his grin.

There was no trace of annoyance in his usual deadpan. No muttering curses. No growling at the world's absurdity.

No—this was something else.

Excitement. Challenge. Pure, unfiltered battle-lust.

Across from him, the once-proud dragon Albion roared—its eyes no longer sentient, no longer sane. The Frenzy Virus had consumed its mind completely. Injected through the fangs of Acnologia, this corrupted curse transformed dragons into monsters with no soul, no reason—only wrath.

And yet… Albion retained power. Rage. Purpose.

For Naruto, that was enough.

"You feel that?" he growled, cracking his neck as his fists pulsed with black-red energy. "You're not just some lizard. You're an apocalypse with wings."

The dragon shrieked, its tail lashing through stone and sky alike.

Naruto sidestepped, his boots skidding through dirt and fire, laughing under his breath.

"For once… I don't have to hold back."

His fist collided with Albion's skull in a thunderclap. The shockwave split a cliffside in half.

Albion retaliated with a roar of annihilation, fire hotter than stars erupting from its maw—but Naruto was already gone, his palm slamming into the beast's underbelly mid-air, dragging it through a mountain.

The fight was glorious.

Heaven and the Underworld could've been watching—he wouldn't have noticed. This was a symphony of chaos, and for the first time in centuries, Naruto was the conductor.

But what he didn't see—

What he hadn't realized—

Was the small figure standing far behind the battlefield, hidden behind a fallen stone pillar, eyes wide in horror.

Zera.

She had followed. She'd heard about Albion's return from Mavis and came to warn Naruto—worried for him, even knowing he'd scold her for it. She believed in him.

She believed nothing could ever hurt him.

So she came. Quietly. Just to watch.

Just to be near him.

And Albion saw her first.

---

Zera's breath caught the moment Albion's gaze shifted.

It was just for an instant—a twitch of the eyes, a flicker of madness turning ever so slightly from Naruto to something… weaker. Smaller. Unprotected.

Her.

She didn't scream. She didn't run.

Because there wasn't time.

The corrupted dragon turned, roaring with fury that had no reason, no aim—just a savage need to destroy. Its serpentine tail coiled mid-air, charged with raw, frenzied magic. The crimson veins along its length pulsed like a heartbeat.

Then—
Shlck.

The tail struck forward like a spear through glass.

Straight through her chest.

The world slowed.

The birds stopped mid-flight.

Even the wind forgot to move.

Zera didn't even register the pain at first. Just the force. The sheer, impossible force that lifted her clean off the ground, her body trembling in mid-air, impaled on a tail tipped in death.

Her mouth opened.

No sound came out.

Blood spilled down the front of her dress like falling petals.

From the battlefield, Naruto turned, still smiling from his last blow—until he saw her.

His eyes widened.

The grin vanished.

"Zera—"

But before he could move—

Albion whipped its tail back, hurling her broken form like a discarded toy, and then in one smooth motion, slammed its massive claw into Naruto, sending him flying across the battlefield with a mountainous boom, crashing through half of Tenrou's ancient cliffside.

Dust rose. Trees splintered. The air itself screamed from the impact.

But Naruto didn't feel any of it.

He didn't care about the broken ribs. The blood in his mouth. The ringing in his ears.

His only thought was—

"Zera."

Not a weapon.

Not a partner.

Not a contractor.

His little sister.

His family.

And she was dying.

---

Naruto didn't land—he carved into the earth.

The cliffside cratered as his body skidded across stone and root, tearing through ancient rock like paper until he slammed to a stop beneath a shattered tree. For a breathless moment, he didn't move. Couldn't.

Then his fingers twitched.

Then curled.

And then the world remembered what fear was.

He rose—not with a grunt or a growl, but with a silence so total it crushed the birdsong, the wind, even the heartbeat of the island. His coat was torn, his face bloodied, but his eyes…

His eyes were not human anymore.

They burned, not with rage.

But with retribution.

A hum pulsed around him. The low, vibrating growl of something ancient and infinite remembering its true shape. The scars on his arms lit up—one by one—like molten chains finally breaking loose.

The air bent around him.

The ground split open beneath his feet as raw, visceral Wrath poured from his soul unchecked. The trees around him ignited without flame, bark curling into ash just from the pressure of his presence.

And still, he didn't speak.

He didn't scream.

He walked.

Toward Albion.

Toward the thing that dared to touch his sister.

The corrupted dragon turned, sensing something—a tremor in the veil between worlds. It opened its maw to roar, but—

Naruto was already there.

One foot slammed down on Albion's foreleg with a thunderous crack, shattering bone. The beast recoiled, screeching, but Naruto didn't stop. He leapt onto the dragon's face, slammed both fists down with the weight of collapsing stars—once, twice, a dozen times, each blow burying deeper into its skull.

Albion flailed, blasted magic from its wings, tried to fly—

Naruto grabbed its horn and ripped it off.

Then used it to stab the dragon through its own eye.

Blood and corrupted aether gushed into the air like a geyser, but Naruto didn't pause. He vaulted up the dragon's neck, his coat whipping like the banner of war, and as Albion reeled in pain, Naruto reached its crown—

And slammed his bare hand straight through the top of its skull.

Flesh burst.

Bone cracked like thunder.

And then—

He ripped.

Tore the corrupted core—Albion's last sentient fragment of soul—free from its brain and crushed it in his fist like rotten fruit.

The dragon spasmed once.

Then went still.

Its massive body crumbled to the ground in a heap of ruin and rot, steam rising from every shattered scale.

Naruto stood atop its corpse.

Breathing.

Shaking.

Covered in blood that wasn't his.

His fists slowly unclenched.

Then he remembered why he'd started.

"Zera."

And just like that—he was gone, vanishing in a flash-step so fast the land itself cracked in his wake, rushing toward the girl who had called him brother.

---

The wind howled across the broken clearing.

Ash and smoke twisted lazily through the air like ghostly ribbons, but Naruto didn't feel them. Not the heat, not the trembling ground. Only the deafening throb of his heart pounding in his ears—each beat a scream, each breath a silent plea.

He reached her side.

And stopped.

"Zera…"

She lay half-curled among the shattered roots of a fallen tree, crimson spilling from her chest in a slow, pulsing bloom. The impact had snapped the surrounding ground like glass, but her body—fragile, far too fragile—remained untouched by any miracle.

The dragon's tail had speared through her.

And now—

Now her light was fading.

Her lips trembled in the faintest smile as her eyes fluttered open, barely able to focus.

"Oh," she breathed, her voice so small. "You made it…"

Naruto dropped to his knees.

His hands hovered just above her, afraid to touch her, terrified that she might vanish if he did.

"No, no, no," he whispered. "You're gonna be fine. I'll heal you, I'll call someone, I'll fix this—I can fix this—"

Zera chuckled softly. Even that made blood spill from the corner of her mouth.

"You dummy," she whispered. "Always… always trying to fix everything…"

Her fingers reached up, brushing weakly against his cheek. Her touch was cold.

Naruto's hand shot up and held hers in place, desperate to keep her grounded. "Don't talk like that. You're not dying. You don't get to die. Not like this. Not while I'm still here."

Tears trembled in his eyes—but refused to fall.

Zera smiled again, softer now.

"You always protected us, you know…" she whispered. "Me… Mavis… even when you grumbled and sulked and acted like it was a chore. You were always watching. Always ready to catch us."

"Zera—please—don't—"

"But you forgot," she said, blinking slowly, her voice beginning to break. "You forgot you deserved to be caught too."

He shook his head.

"I'm not the one who needs saving."

"You always were."

Her hand slipped from his cheek. He caught it quickly, squeezing it tightly as if that alone would anchor her to the world.

"But it's okay now," she whispered. "You found them, right? That girl who made you smile again? Mavis says you act weird when you talk about her. She's probably right."

Naruto couldn't respond.

Couldn't breathe.

"I wanted to stay longer…" she said, her voice cracking. "I wanted to see Mavis laugh again. I wanted… to see you smile like that again. But it's okay."

Her eyes, once bright with mischief and warmth, began to dim—flickering like the last embers of a dying fire.

"Because I got to be your family…"

Naruto gritted his teeth. "Don't say goodbye."

"I have to."

"No, you don't!"

"I wasn't supposed to be alive.." Zera whispered, her gaze distant. "You saved me from that rubble. You let me be a little sister."

"You are my sister," he said through clenched teeth, his voice cracking, his hand trembling around hers.

"Then let me say goodbye like one."

She smiled.

Pure. Peaceful.

"I love you, Oniichan."

And then—her body began to glow.

A light so warm it broke the rules of the world.

"No…" Naruto breathed.

Her legs dissolved first, then her arms. Magic scattered from her chest like stardust—tiny motes of her life returning to the ether.

"Please don't go…" he begged, like a child again. "Please…"

And then she was gone.

No body.

No blood.

Just light.

All that remained was the echo of her warmth in his hand.

And a void in his soul no amount of power could ever fill.

---

The air cracked.

Not just around him—but across the world.

Tenrou Island, once quiet and shrouded in misty peace, now screamed beneath the weight of something ancient. Something primal. Something furious.

Naruto didn't move.

His hand still clutched the space where Zera's hand had been only seconds ago, fingers curled tightly around nothing. Her golden particles still lingered in the wind, drifting upward like fireflies, toward a sky that dared to look down on him with its endless, indifferent blue.

His shoulders shook.

One tremble.

Two.

Then stillness.

And then—

A sound tore out of his throat.

A roar—not of pain, but of denial. Grief. And something far darker.

Wrath.

The world answered.

A shockwave exploded outward from his body, carving a deep, burning crater into the earth, vaporizing trees, splitting boulders into dust. The ocean around Tenrou surged back like it feared to touch the island. Clouds high above twisted into spirals, coiling into an unnatural vortex that swallowed the sun.

And then—

The sky began to glow red.

Not from fire.

But from something standing at the very edge of divinity.

From the heavens above, golden gates silently parted.

A thousand wings unfolded across the horizon.

Halos gleamed like miniature suns as the Army of Heaven appeared in formation, spreading across the skies like a galaxy of judgment. Seraphs. Thrones. Dominions. A whole host arrayed for war—not against demons, not against devils—but against the one soul now radiating more danger than any known threat.

A single boy.

On a broken island.

Kneeling in front of nothing, teeth clenched, eyes blind with fury.

Naruto's magic didn't simply flare.

It roared—wild, catastrophic, cosmic.

The air rippled as his black coat shredded to ribbons, replaced by energy that coiled around him like a living storm. Flames of red and crimson-black danced along his arms, twisting like the wings of something long buried in hatred.

Lightning cracked, not from clouds—but from the friction between dimensions struggling to contain his presence.

He rose slowly.

Face blank.

Eyes dead.

Not a scream now—but a promise forming in his throat.

"I will destroy it."

His voice was not his own.

It was a chorus of a thousand broken selves—the boy who had failed, the brother who had lost, the protector who had arrived too late.

"I will burn this world…"

He raised his hand to the sky as if reaching through time itself.

"…until there's nothing left to take from me ever again."

Heaven shuddered.

The angels above hesitated.

Even they—divine, eternal—feared what they saw.

This wasn't just Wrath.

This wasn't just sorrow.

This was the birth cry of a calamity.

And the world…

Held its breath.

---

The sky had never been darker.

Not during Acnologia's rise.

Not when the dragons vanished.

Not even when the gods once warred in Heaven.

No—this was different.

The air wasn't just heavy with magic. It was grieving.

It mourned.

The soil trembled beneath Naruto's knees as if the world itself feared what he might do next. His fists were dug into the earth, splinters of bone visible beneath torn skin, his breath ragged—like each inhale was a war.

The world had seconds left.

He wasn't screaming anymore.

There was no fire, no lightning, no sonic boom of rage.

There was only silence.

A terrifying, suffocating silence.

Seconds before the boy who lost everything became the monster they would all fear.

Before his wrath shattered the veil between realms and scorched the sky.

Before Naruto, the devil forged from sorrow and flame, cast judgment not just on Heaven—but on creation itself.

His hand, still trembling, rose higher—magic coiling like a divine executioner's blade. Above, the legions of angels aimed their light spears downward, not in threat… but in defense.

Michael's voice echoed across the sky, booming with terrified reverence.

"Contain him before he destroy this realm!"

But then…

There was a sound.

Not a trumpet. Not a spell. Not a battle cry.

It was the softest sound in the universe.

The patter of bare feet on scorched earth.

A child's shadow walked through the ashes.

Small toes brushing past melted stone.

And Naruto… froze.

A presence—tiny, familiar—approached from behind. No magical pressure. No divine flare.

Just a whisper in the shape of a girl.

Her arms wrapped around him from behind. Barely reaching.

But it was enough.

He shuddered.

"…Trihexia?" His voice cracked like glass. "What are you doing—"

"I'm here."

Those two words—spoken in a whisper—hit harder than any spell ever could.

"I'm here," she repeated, tighter now, her small arms trembling as she clung to him. "And I'm not letting go."

Naruto's breathing hitched. His body was shaking violently, but not from rage anymore.

From something far crueler.

From grief.

"I… I couldn't save her," he choked.

"I know."

"I was right there—I was right there, and I thought I had time—I thought I could…!"

His voice shattered.

"I thought she was behind me."

Trihexia didn't speak. She just leaned her cheek against his spine, silent tears soaking through his torn coat.

"I was laughing, dammit," Naruto sobbed. "She was dying—and I was laughing because I thought I finally found a fight worth enjoying."

His nails clawed at the ground. "I failed her. Just like I failed everyone. Just like I always—"

"Stop," Trihexia whispered.

He didn't.

"I should've died instead. She had dreams. She wanted to see the world. She loved Mavis. She loved me. She deserved more."

"You think giving up will honor her?" Her voice cracked now too. "You think Zera would want to come back to a world where you're gone?! Where everything burns because you couldn't bear to live without her?!"

She gripped him tighter.

"She chose to be there, Naruto."

He bit his lip, blood trickling down his chin.

"She followed you into the storm because she believed in you."

"…Then why didn't she run?" His voice was barely audible now. "Why didn't she save herself?"

"Because she loved you," Trihexia said, voice barely holding together. "Because she knew you'd win. Because she was proud."

Naruto was trembling again—but not from magic.

From pain.

"I would've given my life," he whispered, "I would've given anything."

And then, he turned to her. His eyes were bleeding with tears, overflowing with the kind of anguish that even the gods feared to feel.

"Please…" he begged.

Trihexia froze.

"Please bring her back," he said, voice hoarse and trembling. "Make her a devil. Use your power. Use mine. Use my life. I don't care—just bring her back."

Trihexia's lips parted.

Then faltered.

"I… I can't."

Naruto stared at her like the world had just collapsed again.

"She didn't die normally," she said softly. "That glow you saw… she was being unwritten. The backlash of a frenzied dragon's blood. Her soul was caught between this world and the void. I couldn't reach it. Not even I."

Naruto collapsed into the dirt again.

His shoulders shook.

And for the first time since the heavens first split open… he cried.

He cried like the child he never got to be.

The one who lost his home.

The one who never had a real family.

The one who was always too late.

Trihexia climbed onto his lap now, her tiny arms wrapping around his head, burying his face into her chest as if trying to protect what was left of him.

"It's not fair…" he mumbled, again and again. "It's not fair…"

"No," she whispered. "It's not."

They sat there, in the crater that had once been their home.

The armies of Heaven faded from the sky—silent, ashamed, unwilling to strike down a boy whose only crime was caring too much.

The world held its breath.

And Trihexia held Naruto.

The Beast of the End.

The Queen of Sin.

The cosmic destroyer…

…now just a girl, holding a boy who finally broke.

And for a little while, that was enough.

That was all they needed to not let the world end.

---

Mavis on the Boat — The Girl Who Couldn't Say Goodbye

The boat rocked gently on the waves, but to Mavis Vermillion, it may as well have been a prison.

"Let me go!" she screamed, kicking and thrashing in Yuri's arms. "Let me go back! I have to go back!"

"Mavis—listen to me!" Yuri grunted, barely keeping her still. "We have to get you out of here! That dragon's corrupted! You'll die if we stay!"

"I don't care!" she shrieked, voice cracking, tears pouring down her cheeks. "Zera's still there! Naruto's still there! They're fighting—they're hurting!"

On the opposite side of the deck, Precht stood stone-faced, his hand clenched around the mast so tightly it bled. His eyes, usually calm, were wide—haunted. "What kind of power is that…?" he whispered, staring toward the island with silent horror.

Even Warrod, the eternal optimist, stood pale. "The trees… they're screaming. The island is crying."

The sea churned unnaturally. Waves buckled, not from wind, but from magic—raw, volatile, angry. The air was dense with grief, the horizon pulsing with crimson light like a heartbeat on the verge of rupture.

And then—

Mavis saw it.

Her breath hitched mid-scream.

Everyone followed her gaze.

Atop the shattered cliffs of Tenrou Island, past the rising dust and the glowing cracks in the earth, stood a silhouette.

A boy.

On his knees.

Clutching something—

No.

Someone.

"Z-Zera…?" Mavis whispered.

The wind shifted just enough for her to see clearly.

Naruto was hunched over, cradling Zera's fading body in his arms.

Her form—translucent now—glowed with pale gold, little fragments of her soul breaking off like petals in the wind, dissolving into nothing. She was smiling softly, fingers limp against his chest.

Naruto was sobbing.

The unstoppable, invincible Naruto.

Broken.

Destroyed.

"ZERA!" Mavis wailed, reaching over the side of the boat so hard she nearly tumbled into the water. "ZERA, PLEASE!"

Yuri pulled her back just in time, wrapping his arms around her as she screamed. "LET ME GO—LET ME GO! SHE'S GOING AWAY—PLEASE!"

Precht turned his face, unable to look anymore.

Warrod wiped his eyes quietly, shoulders shaking.

"Why can't I hear her voice?" Mavis sobbed, curling into herself. "Why can't I hear her anymore…?"

No one answered.

The sun broke through the clouds for just a moment.

Its light touched Tenrou.

And in that light—blazing red like wrath incarnate—stood Naruto, unmoving, as if the weight of Zera's fading warmth had rooted him to the very soul of the island.

Then—

A small figure appeared behind him.

Barefoot. Pale. Familiar.

She wrapped her arms around him.

The light began to dim.

Mavis clutched her chest, her breath ragged. "It's not fair… It's not fair… I was going to show her the waterfall... we were going to have pie..."

Her tiny fists slammed into Yuri's chest, again and again. "She promised. She promised she'd always be with me!"

Yuri said nothing.

He only held her tighter as she crumbled in his arms.

The boat drifted farther.

And farther.

Until Tenrou Island disappeared behind mist.

And so did the girl who had made that promise.

They never got to say goodbye.

But neither did they forget.

Ever.

---

Present day, Galuna Island

The crackling of the bonfire was the only sound between them, its flickering glow casting long shadows across the campsite.

Mira sat beside Naruto, her hands resting on her lap, her fingers clutching the hem of her dress as she tried to steady herself. Her tears had long since stopped falling, but the weight of Naruto's story still lingered in her heart.

She had listened in silence as he spoke—not about who his contractor was, not about what his contractor had meant to him in technical terms, but about how his first contractor had changed him.

There was a melancholy in his voice, one that even his usual exasperated complaints of infuriating couldn't mask. It was grief softened by time, yet never truly faded.

And as Mira listened, she realized—Naruto wasn't the type to speak of pain so openly.

He had buried this part of himself long ago, locked it away behind his usual indifference and grumbling. He hid it because that's what devils did. They didn't dwell on the past.

But now, here he was, sharing a wound that time had never healed.

Mira wiped her tear-stained face with the back of her hands, trying to will away the emotions clawing at her chest.

"I-I'm sorry..." Her voice was small, trembling, as she tried to compose herself.

Naruto turned to her, his usual sharp eyes softened with something unreadable. And then—he smiled. A real, genuine smile, not the smug grins or teasing smirks she was so used to.

"Thank you, Mira… for listening."

Mira felt something clench in her chest.

It wasn't fair.

It wasn't fair that someone like Naruto—so strong, so untouchable, so unshaken by the world around him— had suffered in silence for so long.

It wasn't fair that the only person who had made him feel human was someone he had lost.

"I'm sure she's happy that you still care for her," Mira murmured.

Naruto exhaled through his nose, his gaze drifting toward the sky, where streaks of orange and pink bled into the approaching night.

"Yeah."

His voice was quiet, but there was warmth in it, a kind of peace Mira hadn't expected.

She looked at him—really looked at him.

This wasn't the same Naruto who teased her, who acted as if the world itself was infuriating. This was someone else entirely.

This was someone she wanted to protect.

---

Trihexia's Castle — Throne Hall of the First Sin

The throne room was quiet.

Not silent in the usual sense—but quiet in the way that only comes after something unfixable. No roaring fires. No echoing footsteps. Just the low, humming heartbeat of the Underworld itself, pulsing through the obsidian stones and blood-veined marble. The hall was vast, impossibly so, yet every inch of it felt smothered in grief.

Trihexia sat on her throne, legs curled beneath her in her small form, fingers laced as she observed the boy before her.

No… not a boy.

Not anymore.

Naruto stood at the foot of the stairs, his coat torn, his skin still stained with dried blood—some his, most not. His hands hung at his sides, unmoving. His eyes—usually vibrant, blazing, furious—were dull. Flat. Quiet in a way that didn't belong to Wrath.

He hadn't spoken since she brought him back.

Not when she opened the Void to retrieve him.

Not when she left Albion's crumpled, burning corpse to rot on the battlefield like a cautionary tale.

Not even when Zera's glowing remains had been gently cradled in his arms and scattered like ash through the skies.

He had just… stood there.

Until now.

His voice broke the quiet.

Flat. Low.

"I never asked you for anything."

Trihexia tilted her head.

He didn't look up. He stared at the floor, at the same spot his boots had been planted in since he arrived.

"I fought for you when I didn't have to. I killed for you. I died for you. I came back without memories. You shaped me into your Devil."

He inhaled slowly. His voice cracked at the end.

"But I never… asked."

Trihexia slowly descended the stairs. She didn't interrupt. She didn't try to speak. She watched—with eyes too old and too godlike to pretend she didn't understand what this was.

Naruto finally looked up. His expression was not wrathful. Not burning.

It was broken.

"Please… watch over Mavis."

Trihexia blinked.

"She's all alone now. She's… going to blame herself. For dragging Zera to the beach. For being pulled away. For not running back. She'll blame herself every time she dreams."

His fists clenched, shaking.

"I can't go back. Not without the contract. Not now."

Trihexia stood in front of him. Her loli form looked up at him—blue eyes dim, quiet. She didn't mock. Didn't tease.

She gently reached for his hand.

He didn't stop her.

"You want me to protect her?" she asked quietly. "A Seraph-slaying, soul-eating, apocalyptic demon queen?"

"I trust you," Naruto whispered. "Not because you're good. Not because you're kind. But because when I couldn't stop myself… when the wrath nearly swallowed me… you did."

Trihexia blinked slowly.

The silence between them stretched long and fragile.

"You're not asking me as my Devil," she said, almost disbelieving. "You're asking me… as her brother."

Naruto nodded.

A tear slipped down his cheek. Just one.

Trihexia didn't mock it.

She stepped forward and hugged him. Not as a monster. Not as a Queen. Just… a small girl holding someone who had finally lost everything.

"I'll watch her," she whispered.

He didn't move.

"I'll protect her from Heaven, Hell, and even herself."

Still, he didn't respond.

"But you have to live. Even if it's just to remember. Even if it hurts."

Naruto's voice came at last—so small it might've been a child's.

"…She called me 'Onii-chan.'"

Trihexia tightened her hold.

"I know."

---

Night after Zera's Death

Mavis lay in a bed far too large for her, curled into herself like a child lost in a maze with no exit.

She had cried herself to sleep.

Again.

Even in her dreams, she didn't smile anymore.

The world around her reflected that grief—twisted versions of Tenrou's forest, wilted trees with leaves like falling feathers, and a silent sky drained of color. In this strange mindscape, memories bled into dreams, and dreams into nightmares.

Zera was gone.

She had tried searching for her in every corner of her dreams. Every time, she ran through forests screaming her name. Every time, she arrived at the beach too late.

Every time, the waves swallowed the light.

Until now.

The wind shifted.

The sky above her blinked once, like an eye had opened beyond the veil of sleep.

And then—she was not alone.

A ripple passed through the air, and a figure stepped lightly into the dream.

She looked like a girl.

But something about her presence bent the dream around her, like gravity made of moonlight and something darker.

White hair fell to her knees. Her oversized hoodie bore words Mavis couldn't read. Her bare feet didn't disturb the grass. Her eyes, glowing softly blue, stared down at the child with no condescension, only quiet understanding.

Mavis looked up from where she sat, her arms around her knees.

She didn't speak.

The girl sat beside her without a word.

"…Are you a dream?" Mavis asked softly, eyes still red.

"Maybe," the girl replied, brushing her hair back with casual grace. "Or maybe I'm the thing that waits behind dreams when they break."

"…I'm not scared of you."

"You should be."

"I'm too sad to be scared."

A pause.

Then the girl looked at her, really looked—like one ancient being to another, as if age recognized itself even in small bodies.

"I made a promise," she said.

Mavis blinked. "To who?"

"Someone who asked for the first thing in his life. Not to fight. Not to win. Not even to come home."

She smiled faintly, almost sadly.

"He asked me to protect you."

Mavis's lip trembled. "N-Naruto…"

The girl nodded once. "He can't return to Earthland now. Not without a contract. But me? I can visit. Just a little. Just enough."

She raised a hand.

Suddenly, the color returned to the sky—slowly. The grass straightened. The trees began to bloom again. And overhead, stars ignited one by one like candles in a lonely cathedral.

"Why are you helping me…?" Mavis asked, hugging herself tightly.

Trihexia looked away, her voice quieter than a whisper.

"…Because you're what he couldn't save."

Mavis's eyes widened.

Trihexia placed something in her lap.

A seashell.

Warm. Familiar.

"…Zera found this once," Mavis whispered. "She said it sounded like the ocean missed me."

Trihexia stood up.

"I'll be here when the dreams turn to storms. When your light flickers. When you feel like you're the only one left."

She began to fade.

Mavis reached out.

"W-Wait! What's your name?"

Trihexia turned her head slightly, her silhouette shimmering like a celestial ghost against the night.

"…You can call me 'the big sister you never knew you had.'"

Mavis's eyes welled up again.

"…Then can I ask for a hug?"

Trihexia blinked.

For a moment, she hesitated.

Then she walked back and knelt beside the little girl, pulling her gently into her arms.

Mavis sobbed silently into her hoodie.

Trihexia whispered.

"You're not alone."

And for the first time in what felt like an eternity—

Mavis dreamed of the stars again.

---

Thanks for reading! You aren't expecting this, right? I remember planning a long chapter about Zera and I finally went through with it.

Looking forward for the people who teared up a little, See you guys on chapter 13!

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The Void

Somewhere between memory and oblivion. A silence that never ends.

The Void had no sky.
No floor.
No air.
No time.

Only silence.

And Zera… floating.

Her body did not age.
Her soul did not decay.
But her heart…

That fractured.

She didn't remember how long she had been here. Days? Years? Centuries? Time curled in on itself in this place, like a snake devouring its own tail.

Once, she had screamed.

Until her voice bled into echoes and died.

Once, she had wept.

Until her tears floated weightless like pearls and vanished into the nothing.

Now… she was simply here.

Her hair, once short and unruly, now drifted around her like a shroud of red-gold light, untamed and endless—reminiscent of another being who had once wandered this place alone. Like Trihexia, the Queen of Sin, Zera now bore the look of someone forgotten by the stars… yet too stubborn to vanish.

A faint glow surrounded her chest.

Her pendant—still warm.

Still waiting.

Her fingers curled around it as she whispered the same name, the same prayer, for the ten-thousandth time.

"...Naruto."

Her voice was soft.
Hopeful.
Cracked.

Sometimes, she saw flashes.

Flickers of warmth.
Of two small hands holding hers.
Of laughter around a campfire.
Of Mavis and her silly bedtime stories.
Of Naruto scolding her for punching a tree and breaking her knuckles.
Of their family.

Her voice trembled. "Did you forget me?"

The Void answered only in silence.

Zera closed her eyes and breathed.

"I'm not mad," she whispered, arms hugging herself. "You probably think I'm dead. You probably cried like an idiot and broke another planet. That's okay…"

She smiled faintly, eyes glimmering with unshed tears.

"Still miss you though, you dense idiot."

The Void rippled.

A flicker—so faint, she almost didn't feel it. A tremor. A heartbeat.

Her eyes snapped open.

"...Mavis?"

A warmth bloomed far away. So distant it may as well have been a dream. But it was there.

Someone was calling her name.

And suddenly—Zera remembered she was not supposed to be here forever.

That she had once lived.

That she had loved.

That a boy with wild eyes and wrath in his blood had once promised he'd always protect her.

"I'm still here, dummy," she whispered into the dark. Her grip on the pendant tightened, a single tear floating upward from her cheek. "I never left. So hurry up… and find me."

The Void pulsed once.

Then silence returned.

But Zera no longer floated like a corpse.

She waited.

Eyes glowing like twin embers.

Hair adrift like fire caught in starlight.

Because someday, Naruto would find her.

And when he did…

Hell itself would break to bring her home.