Landing with a thump, Mirajane untangled herself from Naruto's grip with a frustrated grunt and trudged off without so much as a glance back. Naruto scratched the back of his head awkwardly, his mouth opening and closing as if trying to find the right words.

It hadn't taken her long to drag the truth out of him about the diary. Once the confession spilled out, she'd shut down entirely, her lips pursed in a pout that had persisted throughout the trip. Apologies? Useless. Attempts to steer the conversation away? Met with puffed up cheeks and an exaggerated huff. It was like trying to reason with a storm.

Watching her disappear into the dense trees, Naruto let out a heavy sigh. 'What I'd give for Lisanna or Elfman right now. They'd know what to say.' He glanced back at the spot where she vanished and ran a hand through his spiky hair in frustration.

For a moment, the silence pressed in, broken only by the rustling leaves and distant cry of a seabird. The blond considered chasing after her, but he really didn't know what he'd say. If it was Sakura, he would have let her have some space to blow off steam before trying again. Deciding that was the best course of action for the moment, Naruto took the opportunity to absorb the scenery, something he'd barely noticed during his attempts to placate Mirajane.

Tenrou Island wasn't particularly vast, perhaps no larger than Magnolia, but its rugged, untamed beauty more than made up for its size. Towering cliffs jutted upward like jagged teeth, rocky spires and cascading waterfalls scattered across the landscape. The central peak, an enormous mountain dominating the skyline, rose above everything else like a sentinel watching over the island.

At its base, lush rainforests spread like an emerald carpet, vibrant and alive, their bright green canopies stark against the muted greys and browns of the cliffs. The coastline, however, seemed like it belonged to a different world entirely. Pristine white sands shimmering like powdered glass, kissed gently by rolling turquoise waves. His skin prickled as he surveyed the majesty of the island, goosebumps running kisses up and down his arms.

'Must've been an ancient volcano or something,' Naruto mused, shielding his eyes against the midday sun as he scanned the terrain.

His gaze naturally gravitated to the crown jewel of the island—the massive, otherworldly tree dominating its peak. If the mountain itself was impressive, then the tree was positively awe-inspiring. Its gnarled, twisted trunk looked as if it had once been several individual trees, fused together over centuries into a single, colossal organism.

Thick, rib-like roots broke through the rocky cliffs, intertwining with the landscape as if the island itself were an extension of the tree. They plunged into the ground and out of sight, as though holding the entire island together in a protective embrace. Konoha may have been the village within the leaves, but there was nothing like this at home to even begin to compare to.

Whistling softly, Naruto floated upward, pushing off the ground to get a better view. The trunk alone was monumental, but the canopy? It was something else entirely. The tree's crown spread wide, dwarfing the island below it. Winding branches stretched and twisted through the thick foliage, almost as if they were playing games of tag amongst themselves.

Naruto hovered in the air for a moment, staring in awe. "Now that's a tree…"

Taking a wide, lazy circle around the island, he let his eyes drink in the alien terrain. It was breathtaking—rugged cliffs, looping vines, and towering rock formations rising from dense rainforests. But his focus wasn't just on the scenery. As he floated, ideas bubbled up in his mind, places to set traps, ambush points, and misdirection opportunities. The island was a perfect canvas for his pranking genius, its topography eerily similar to Konoha's.

But something else gnawed at him, that prickling sensation running along his arms like goosebumps was still there. Frowning, Naruto paused mid-flight and closed his eyes, letting his senses expand.

What hit him next nearly knocked him out of the sky.

With his eyes closed, the island's magic was no longer subtle—it was alive. The golden glow of Ethernano coursed through Tenrou like rivers of light, emanating from the massive tree and spreading through every root, branch, and stone. He could see the foundations of the island disappearing down into the murky depths of the ocean clearly, the golden glow unlike anything he'd ever experienced before. It wasn't just magic; it was a heartbeat, a living, breathing presence. Tendrils of light brushed against him, warm and inviting, as if the island itself was welcoming him. Even with the light opening of his mind to the energy, he felt his Senjutsu (Sage Technique) immediately snap into place. Never had he experienced such a rapid uptake of the technique, nor such an easy balance of his internal energy. It was almost like the island was helping him stabilise things.

Naruto gasped, snapping his eyes open as he clutched his chest, releasing a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. The sensation was overwhelming—like trying to drink the ocean with a single gulp. "If Ma and Pa were here," he whispered, wide-eyed, "they'd freak out."

Taking several moments to compose himself, eventually the only thing he could think of was to find Mirajane and talk with her about it. Surely she must have recognised the unfathomable amount of power flowing from this place since mages from this world were always open to it.

Actually spotting her energy signal amongst the brightness of everything was a bit of a challenge, but after a few minutes Naruto was heading towards her. He dashed into the forest and nearly bowled her over with his surprise entry.

"Wha – Naruto? What's happening? Where did you come from?"

Eyes wide, the blond helplessly flapped at everything around them. "I was just circling the island to try and work out where I'll set my traps for the trials but then I had goosebumps on my arms and when I tried to sense the Ethernano I was nearly knocked over by the power of this island, it's insanely powerful, like more powerful than anything I've ever felt before so I had to come down here and see if you'd noticed it because I couldn't handle it any longer –"

Mirajane's hand clamped down over Naruto's mouth, cutting off the frantic babbling and causing his wide eyes to focus in on her. "Breathe Naruto, breathe! I can't understand what you're saying! Firstly, is everything ok?"

She didn't remove her hand, so Naruto could only haplessly shrug.

"Ok that's a start," she replied. "So, are we in danger?"

A shake of the head.

"Is the island in danger?"

A pause, then another shake.

Frowning, Mirajane considered the pause. "Are you sure the island is ok?"

Naruto shrugged again, his eyes calmer, but still furrowed and overwhelmed. "Ok, I'm taking my hand away," the girl cautioned, "but I'm going to need you to speak slower. Deal?"

Naruto nodded and sighed as her hand was removed. Stepping back, Mirajane crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. "Right, so what's happening?"

The boy took a deep breath to make sure he didn't rush everything. "It's… it's the island!" He rubbed a hand through his hair as he stared unfocusedly at the ground, brow furrowed. "It's… I've never felt anything like it before."

Stammering, the teen tried to explain the phenomena. "I was just scoping out the island, trying to figure out where to put traps, when I felt this... this prickling sensation. So I used my Senjutsu to get a better look at the Ethernano, and... and it was everywhere. It's like the island is glowing… and it… it was just so bright! Like, is this where all the Ethernano in the world comes from? This island? I'm sitting here, looking around, and everything is just so… so gold and overwhelming… I don't even know where to begin…"

Frowning as she tried to understand what Naruto was saying, Mirajane chewed over the info mentally. "Naruto, the Master hasn't had a chance to tell you what this place is, has he?"

Wordlessly, the teen shook his head. Sitting down on a log, Mirajane patted beside her. "Let me tell you something of a guild secret then, something only revealed after a mage achieves S Rank."

Silently dropping beside her, Naruto's fingers unconsciously grabbed a piece of Mirajane's skirt for comfort as he stared at the world around him. "Naruto, this island, it's what we call the guild's holy ground. Fairy Tail was conceived here by the founding members. This is where the history of our guild all began."

Unsure of how much he was listening, Mirajane nevertheless pressed on. "The first Master of Fairy Tail was purportedly drawn to this island by the intense magical energy flowing from it. Rumour has it that the island had never been found beforehand due to a natural barrier of sorts that this Ethernano creates around it. The first Master, she was incredibly powerful and deeply in tune with magic. Word through the guild records hint that she was called to here by the island itself."

Gently prying Naruto's fingers from her skirt, she began hoisting the material up. So overwhelmed by everything, Naruto didn't even react, instead just watching silently as the fabric was pulled high up over her thigh to expose the Fairy Tail crest just below her left hip. Finding Naruto's own crest stamp on his palm, she pulled his hand down beside her own and waved her fingers over them. Each crest lit up with a very soft glow, so faint that if they weren't paying attention, they easily could have missed it.

Seeing Naruto's eyes focusing on the light, she continued. "The Fairy Tail crest isn't just a symbol of unity to the guild, it also is our key allowing us to reach the island. Without it, no one can find this place. Other mages have tried, but to this day none from outside Fairy Tail have set foot here."

Gently lowering her skirt back down, she took Naruto's hands in hers. "I understand what you're seeing must be overwhelming, even if I don't fully comprehend what you're experiencing right now. The magic here is… tremendous, that much I can agree with you on. But it's not something I've ever seen; certainly not the way you're seeing it."

Her fingers brushed lightly against his cheek, her thumb grazing the edge of his orange-rimmed eyes. "The way your energy works… it's different. Maybe that's why you're experiencing something none of us ever have. Not even Master Makarov has described anything like this." She smiled faintly, though her expression was tinged with curiosity and wonder. "I should probably be jealous."

She withdrew her hand and let it rest in her lap. "Whatever the reason, I need you to know this: you're safe here, Naruto. If the island didn't want you here, you wouldn't have made it past the shoreline. Tenrou chose to let you in, just like it chooses to let in any member of Fairy Tail."

As she spoke, Naruto felt the overwhelming presence of the island become more manageable, the fear of the unknown replaced by the awe of respect for such a powerful location. Swallowing, the blond took a shaky breath and allowed his composure to return slowly. As it was, the golden light everywhere was still a bit too intense to deal with so he let Senjutsu subside. Funnily enough, he got the strongest impression of petulance from the Ethernano, almost as if it didn't want to be removed from him.

Almost instantly, the Kyuubi cloak surged to life, wrapping around Naruto in a warm, shimmering embrace of latent energy. The golden aura pulsed faintly, and Mirajane gasped, instinctively stepping back with her hands raised in surprise. "Naruto… are you alright? Did you mean to summon this?"

Naruto glanced down at himself, taking a moment to absorb the familiar sensations. His longer nails, sharper teeth, and more pronounced whisker marks stood out against his glowing golden skin, while his even more unruly hair swayed gently in the translucent currents of energy. Despite the feral appearance, his smile was calm, his mind steady. He lifted his gaze to Mirajane and shook his head softly. "No… this wasn't on purpose. But I'm not worried anymore." His voice was even, a quiet confidence threading through it. "It's been a long road, but with Master Makarov and Old-man Yajima's help, I've finally figured it out. It's not dangerous anymore. I promise." His eyes softened, though a flicker of apprehension lingered. "What does it feel like to you?"

Mirajane hesitated, drawing in a slow breath to steady herself. The raw power emanating from him was undeniable, and it prickled against her senses like static before a storm. Still, she knelt down slowly, her movements careful but not fearful. "Well…" she began, her voice measured, "it still feels dangerous, like the first time I saw this… shroud. But it's different now. It doesn't feel like you're going to attack me. It's more like…" She paused, searching for the right words. "Like standing on the edge of a cyclone. That tension before it hits… the power and wildness of it. It's untamed, yes, and frightening. But…" Her lips curved into a gentle smile. "It doesn't feel cruel. There's no malice in it."

Naruto's expression shifted, relief flickering behind his golden eyes. "That's... as much as I hoped it would feel," he murmured. But when Mirajane reached out, his eyes widened in alarm. "Wait! Don't touch it—it can burn you!"

Her hand froze mid-air, and she met his worried gaze with a calm, reassuring look. "It's alright… just let me try," she said softly.

Cautiously, she moved her hand closer, her fingers brushing against the flickering flames. She winced slightly, her face twisting at the unfamiliar sensation, but she didn't pull back. Naruto, on the other hand, grimaced and looked away, his chest tightening at the thought of her getting hurt.

The gentle weight of her hand on his arm a moment later made him glance back, his heart thudding nervously. He looked down, half-expecting to see burns marring her pale skin. But instead, her hand remained unscathed, the flames licking harmlessly around her touch. His eyes then climbed to Mirajane's, her warm smile offering him comfort.

"See? It's alright. The Ethernano is protecting us," she explained, her tone soft but confident.

She shifted closer, wrapping her arms around him in a tender embrace. "I'm not afraid of you, Naruto. I know you're still you. And I know you'd never hurt me."

Naruto let out a shaky sigh, relief flooding his system as he buried his face into her shoulder. "Yeah," he murmured, his voice muffled but steady. "I'd rather die than let that happen."

Mirajane's hold tightened briefly, her smile softening. "I know," she whispered.

The held onto each other for a bit before Mirajane suddenly cleared her throat. Looking over questioningly, Naruto blinked up at her in confusion as she pushed herself back and crossed her arms. "Now that that's cleared up, don't think I haven't forgotten to be angry at you about your diary!"

"Ah, right, I forgot about that." Naruto began, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. "I know you're mad, but I didn't think it was such a big deal…"

Mirajane turned her head slightly, just enough for him to catch the pout tugging at her lips. "Didn't think it was a big deal? Naruto, I asked you to keep it because I thought it might help you get home! And you just… threw it away?" Her voice wasn't sharp, but the hurt in it made Naruto flinch.

"I mean, yeah, I tossed it, but only because it wasn't really working," he said quickly, trying to cover his actions. "I figured I'd focus on what's actually gonna get me back, like… y'know, training and finding clues. Writing in a diary just didn't seem… useful."

Mirajane crossed her arms, her fingers tapping lightly against her elbow as she let out a sigh. "It wasn't about the diary itself, Naruto. It was about taking a moment to reflect. You've been so focused on the big picture that you're not giving yourself any time to… just breathe. I thought maybe writing things down would help with that."

Naruto scratched his cheek, looking down at the dirt. "Ah… right. I didn't mean to… y'know, make you feel like your idea didn't matter. I'm sorry."

Mirajane's pout softened, but she kept her arms crossed. "I'm not mad because you threw it away. I'm upset because you didn't even tell me. You could've said something instead of just… ditching it."

Naruto winced, rubbing his neck again. "Yeah… you're right. I should've told you. It was dumb of me not to. Can I make it up to you?"

Mirajane's lips twitched into a small smile, though she tried to hide it. "You can start by finding that diary and giving it another shot."

Naruto's eyes widened. "What?" He then cringed. "I mean, I would but… it's probably buried under a ton of dirt at this point."

"Oh, so you're okay throwing away my idea but not okay getting a little dirty to make up for it?" she teased, her tone lighter now.

He groaned but couldn't help the grin tugging at his lips. "Fine, fine. I'll go find it. But if I'm buried alive, I'm coming back to haunt you."

Mirajane giggled, finally uncrossing her arms. "Deal. And maybe next time, talk to me before making decisions like that, okay?"

Naruto nodded, giving her a sheepish thumbs-up. "You got it, Mira-chan."

As the tension eased between them, Mirajane smiled softly and turned toward the forest. "Come on, let's see what's out there. I haven't been here in years and we need to find you your route to trap."

Dusting his pants down, Naruto followed after her, his steps lighter now, both figuratively and literally. He might've messed up, but at least he'd been given the chance to fix it.

XxXxXxX

The final night before the challengers were due, Naruto and Mirajane lay together under the stars arm in arm. Both were in their swimmers, Naruto in a pair of blindingly orange board shorts and Mirajane in an equally orange bikini. The boy had nearly burst into tears when Mirajane revealed she'd bought it specifically for him.

A warm fire crackled in the sand, the light throwing dancing shadows around them in a dreamy dance. Crickets chirped in the forest behind them and the occasional magic beast rumbled past them. Those were particularly weird creatures, large and deformed, but mostly harmless and quickly cowed into submission after Naruto asserted his dominance by belting a few unconscious on the first night.

Mirajane had her eyes closed as her head rested on Naruto's chest. Naruto meanwhile was absently twirling a lock of her hair around his fingers, tying up the strands in knots before deftly undoing it. His free arm supported his head as he gazed up at the endless expanse of stars, his thoughts as quiet as the night around them.

Feeling Mirajane stir, he looked down and found her wide, luminous eyes staring up at him. "So," she asked softly, "you're all ready to go? Everything's fitted and tested?"

Naruto rolled his eyes and sighed as patiently as possible. "Yes Mira-chan, for the tenth time, everything is ready to go. I promise. You even tested the traps yourself, remember?"

The girl frowned and stuck her bottom lip out. "I'm just making sure! This is your first S Rank and I want it to be perfect since it'll be the last…"

She trailed off, not wanting to finish the sentence. Over the past week, Naruto's summons had grown increasingly powerful, the toads responding more easily with each attempt. Gamakichi, a toad of considerable size and stature, was nearly within reach. It was proof that the dimensional gap between the worlds was closing—and that his time in Fiore was running out. This led into some sorrowful moments for Mirajane, so Naruto had opted to do his summoning away from her as to not upset her more.

Eyes softening, Naruto dropped her hair and squeezed her shoulders into his side. "Don't think about it," He murmured. "You yourself told me to trust Levy any time I brought it up. Maybe you should follow your own advice?"

Mirajane hummed softly, her grip on him tightening. "I know. I don't have an excuse. I'm still scared."

Looking at the girl for a moment, Naruto contemplated something before speaking. "Tell you what, if you ignore that problem tonight and just enjoy the moment, I'll personally bundle up Levy when she arrives and find out how she went. Deal?"

"And what, terrify the girl in the process?" Naruto blanched as Mirajane giggled softly. "I'll check in with her first. If she's worked through her issues, I'll bring you in. Deal?"

Grumbling, the blond quirked his lip but couldn't refute the plan. The fact Levy was still skittish around him had slipped his mind.

He breath huffed slightly as Mirajane gave him a comforting squeeze. "It'll be ok. She's tough. I already told you she took a while to warm up to me at first too right? She'll come around, I promise."

Knowing Mirajane had had troubles with the small girl had indeed helped when Naruto had voiced his concerns earlier in the week. The two women were now solid allies, so of everything that had been said, that had offered Naruto the most comfort that everything would be fine.

Dragging a finger across Mirajane's forehead, Naruto brushed back part of her fringe and gently rubbed the bridge of her nose with his thumb. "Ever the optimist, aren't you?"

She giggled and rubbed her cheek against his chest. "Only the most optimistic for the most optimistic, right?"

Chuckling, the teen bundled her up in his arms and squeezed her till she squeaked. "Damn right. Now, let's get back to watching the stars, otherwise I might just be tempted to cover you in kisses."

Smirking coyly, the girl raised an eyebrow and replied, "You say that like it's a bad thing?"

Returning the smirk, Naruto drew her closer. "Well then, don't mind if I do." He lifted her gently, their lips meeting in a slow, deliberate kiss as the flickering firelight cast its soft glow, their shadows intertwining on the walls like a dream unfolding in the quiet of the night.

XxXxXxX

Perched high in a tree, Naruto and Mirajane spent the morning tidying up their camp and preparing for the roles they were about to play. Mirajane had swapped into a simple pink skirt that fell to mid-thigh, while Naruto sported his bright orange board shorts, paired with a black shirt left entirely unbuttoned.

The pair kept watch over the ocean, eager for the contestants to arrive. They'd been up there for a couple of hours, taking turns scanning the horizon and passing the time with idle chatter. Eventually, during Naruto's turn, his sharp eyes caught a faint smudge in the distance. Excitedly, he slapped Mirajane's thigh. "Oh, oh, I see them! They're here!"

Mirajane instantly perked up, shifting closer. Moments later, a small figure launched from the boat, rocketing toward the island at an impressive speed. Squinting, Naruto shaded his eyes against the sun, finally making out Natsu's unmistakable form being carried by Happy. Pointing at the rapidly approaching duo, he asked, "Is that even fair? Shouldn't they wait until they land?"

Mirajane shook her head, her voice brimming with excitement. "That's not how this works! The battle starts before they even touch the island. It's a race as much as it is a fight. Mages are encouraged to use everything they've got to gain an edge!"

Naruto grinned, his competitive spirit flaring to life. "Well then, guess I'd better take my position!" Leaning over, he kissed her cheek, then held out a fist with a determined smirk. "Don't hold back on whoever ends up facing you. Show them just what kind of monster my girlfriend really is!"

Giggling, Mirajane bumped his fist, a mischievous glint in her eye. "I will!" Her voice dropped to a low growl as a hint of her Satan Soul seeped through. "And you'd better give anyone foolish enough to pick your route absolute hell!"

Naruto winked confidently. "Oh, you know I will."

The two embraced briefly before dropping from the tree in perfect sync. Without hesitation, they dashed off toward their respective positions, each ready to greet the challengers with everything they had.

XxXxXxX

Levy and Gajeel stood at the entrance to the labyrinth of tunnels, their route options laid out before them. One of the passages was already sealed off, marking the path chosen by an earlier team. Still dripping from their swim ashore, Gajeel wrung out his soaked hair, while Levy's sharp eyes darted between the remaining entrances. Her mind raced as she tried to discern which path might offer the least resistance, or at the very least, the least danger.

Gajeel stomped up beside her, raising a spiked eyebrow. "You keep thinking this hard, and your brain's gonna overheat," he teased.

Huffing, Levy shot him an exasperated glance. "I'll have you know, this test isn't just about brute strength! It's a test of strategy and intelligence. If we pick a route that avoids facing any of the S-Class mages, our chances of passing increase significantly."

Snorting, Gajeel crossed his arms. "Avoid them? Tch. I'm itching for a good fight. Any one of those so-called monsters would be just fine by me."

Rolling her eyes, Levy fired back, "Oh, sure. Big words coming from the guy who got his ass handed to him by Naruto. You really think you'd last five minutes against any of them?"

Gajeel's eyebrow twitched, his scowl deepening. "Funny thing, shorty, you'd last even less time than me!"

Levy rolled her eyes again, waving him off. "Why thank you, Captain Obvious, for that astute insight. That's why I'm trying to avoid them. Now stop distracting me and let me think!"

Grumbling under his breath, Gajeel suddenly clamped a hand on her shoulder and started dragging her toward the nearest entrance. Levy squawked in surprise and kicked her legs about futilely.

"G-Gajeel! Let me go! You're hurting me!" Levy clawed at his iron grip, but it was like trying to move a mountain.

Ignoring her protests, Gajeel stomped through the entrance, his steps heavy with purpose. As they crossed the threshold, a shimmering magical barrier flared to life behind them, sealing the tunnel off from the others. Satisfied, Gajeel finally released Levy.

Rubbing her shoulder, Levy whirled on him, eyes blazing. She stamped her foot as hard as she could as she demanded, "Why didn't you wait like I asked? I almost had it figured out! This is my test, not yours! Why are you stomping all over my decisions?"

Gajeel cocked an eyebrow, jerking his thumb toward the entrance. "You mean you didn't notice how close those other guys were? If you'd taken any longer, we'd have been forced into a fight before we even got started. You did say you wanted to avoid that, right?"

Levy opened her mouth to argue, but the words faltered as the rise of voices and footsteps from outside the cavern reached her ears. She glanced back at the sealed entrance, her frustration softening into reluctant acknowledgment. "… You could've just told me," she muttered.

Shrugging, Gajeel turned toward the dark tunnel. "Yeah, well, I'll keep that in mind for next time. For now, let's move. Time's wasting."

Still grumbling under her breath, Levy bit her lip and took the lead, trudging into the shadows. Gajeel followed a few steps behind, his sharp eyes scanning the walls for any signs of traps.

They hadn't made it far when Levy's foot snagged on something. "Huh?"

The unmistakable click of a latch sounded, followed by the sharp twang of a bowstring.

"GET DOWN!" Gajeel roared, diving at Levy and pulling her into his chest as an arrow shot past, embedding itself in the wall where she'd just been standing.

Levy shrieked, clutching at Gajeel's arms as he rolled them to safety. His iron grip cradled her head as his eyes darted around, scanning for further threats. Silence settled over the tunnel, save for Levy's shaky breaths against his neck.

"You okay, short stuff?" Gajeel asked, his voice low and steady.

Levy nodded weakly, unable to find her voice. Gingerly untangling herself from his embrace, she wobbled to her feet, dusting herself off. Gajeel rose as well, his gaze fixed on the arrow embedded in the wall. White, sticky goo oozed from the impact site, pinning the shaft in place. A rolled-up note was tied to it.

"Looks like this one's for you," Gajeel said, jerking his head toward the note.

Levy hesitated before stepping forward, her hands trembling slightly as she unfurled the paper. She held it up to the faint light emanating from the tunnel walls.

Welcome to your first test, oh lucky one! It is none other than the number one prankster, Naruto Uzumaki, at your service!

Reading over her shoulder, Gajeel snorted. "Figures this kind of underhanded crap would come from him."

Ignoring him, Levy continued.

While this may be my first time joining the S-Class Trials, I've been on plenty of S-Rank missions. And here's a little secret: it's not always about who's the strongest. Sometimes, the brain saves the day.

So, today, you're the brain! This tunnel contains three more traps, each tougher than the last. This first one was just a warm-up, so don't take it too seriously.

'Hold up, but what if it did catch me,' I hear you ask? Unfortunately, if that's the case you're definitely not S Rank material and your journey ends here. Sorry-not-sorry! Better luck next time!

However, if you managed to either dodge it or disable it, congratulations! You are one step closer to passing my test! If you successfully navigate my traps and I see you at the end of the tunnel, I'll be sure to give you a crisp high five as a reward.

With love,
Naruto Uzumaki

Levy's cheeks flushed at the cheeky note. If Gajeel hadn't saved her, she'd have been stuck to the wall like a bug on flypaper. Did this mean she wasn't ready for the S-Class Trials?

Before she could spiral further, Gajeel snatched the letter and ripped it to shreds. "Tch. Little bastard thinks he can scare us with this?" He turned and shouted down the tunnel, his voice echoing. "Oi! If I didn't think Levy could handle this, I wouldn't have partnered with her! You hear that, blondie? She's gonna breeze through your stupid traps—and when we're done, I'll kick your ass for wasting our time!"

Levy's jaw dropped in shock. That was… unexpected. Words of support as vehement as that were the last thing she was expecting to hear from the bully.

From somewhere deeper in the tunnel, Naruto's voice floated back, smug and taunting. "Big talk for a glorified mascot! Save the threats for when you actually get nominated for the S-Class Trials. Unlike Juvia, you didn't even make the cut this year."

Gajeel's teeth ground audibly, Naruto's words striking home. Levy bit her lip, torn between frustration and sympathy. Finally, she placed a gentle hand on his arm. "D-don't listen to him. You're more than strong enough for the Trials. Just… let's focus on finishing this. Together."

Relaxing slightly, Gajeel glanced down at her and snorted. "Fine. Lead the way, fearless leader."

Smiling faintly, Levy nodded and turned back to the tunnel. "Let's go."

Warily, the two of them began tiptoeing further into the tunnel, the walls beginning to press into them as they made their way deeper. While wide enough for the both of them to walk side by side, they opted for single file so Levy could keep an eye out for the traps while Gajeel protected from any surprises from behind.

A sudden click froze them in their tracks. Both whipped around at the noise, only for a smoke bomb to explode in their faces. Thick, acrid smog enveloped them, sending them into fits of coughing. Tears streamed down their cheeks as they stumbled forward blindly, desperate to escape the choking haze.

Finally escaping, Levy dropped to her knees and heaved violently, expelling the last of the smoke from her lungs. Gajeel dropped to the ground beside her, fury written all over his face even as tears streamed down his eyes.

"I'll kill that prick," he snarled out. "If it's the last thing I'll do, I'll kill him!"

Gasping as clear air filled her lungs again, Levy wiped away the tears and pushed herself back into a sitting position against a rock. Getting her breath and pulse back under control, she wiped her nose and looked up. She suddenly froze in shock and kicked Gajeel. Grunting, he whipped around, snapping, "What is it, wench? What are you staring at?"

Ignoring the insult, Levy just pointed. Quirking an eyebrow, Gajeel followed the finger and his eyes widened in disbelief.

Pointing right back at them were two perfect replicas of them, copies so exact that even the smudges on their clothes were identical. Horrified eyes stared into their own, the shock of what was going on rendering them speechless.

Slowly pushing himself up, Gajeel warily eyed the duo and held a hand out to Levy. "Come on short stuff, I don't know what this is, but I don't like it. We need to move."

Letting herself be gently pulled to her feet, she looked back as Gajeel started leading her down the hall. Suddenly, her replica called out urgently, "G-Gajeel, w-where are you going? I'm me, the real Levy! What are you doing with that copy?"

Eyes snapping down to her, the Gajeel leading her narrowed his eyes. "What's she mean? Are you a fake?"

The other Gajeel by this stage had pulled himself up, growling and yanking his partner up. "What do you care? You're just as much a fake as she is! Now get out of our way and let us through!"

Distrust skyrocketing, Levy's Gajeel held an arm out to shield her, though he was throwing hesitant eyes down at her. "What's he saying? You're the real one, right?"

Nodding vigorously, Levy responded, "Of course I am! I was beside you the whole time, right? How could I have been swapped out so fast?"

Reaching out, she patted his arm. "I'm as real as you are! See?"

That seemed to pacify him for a moment, until the other Levy did the same with her Gajeel. "I don't know what that fake is talking about! I'm real, see?" She rapped her knuckles off his arm. "She's just sprouting crap! Can we please get going already? I don't want to be stuck here with them! Can you help me get past them?"

Eyes narrowing, that Gajeel started tensing, his arms glowing and dematerialising before reforming into a pair of wicked looking steel posts. "I have no idea what the hell is going on right now." He snarled. "However, this should scratch my itch to bash someone's head in though!"

Letting out a mighty roar, he suddenly attacked, his arm extending dramatically as he approached, almost smacking Levy's Gajeel in the face. Dodging to the side, an identical grin stretched across the man's mouth and he lashed out a blistering punch at his copy's face. "Couldn't have said it better myself! Let's dance!"

Screaming as the two made contact, Levy covered her head and dropped to the floor in a squat as sparks and rocks flew around them. Her copy did the exact same thing, matching her perfectly. Her eyes were wide and shimmering as tears threatened to fall, but her mind was positively racing. 'I have no idea who is the real Gajeel! Obviously that 'me' is a fake, but how do I confirm to the real Gajeel that? What do I do?'

Watching as the two powerhouse mages fought, Levy struggled to even pick who was originally standing beside her. Their lust for battle, the rage in their eyes, the wide grin across each of their faces, it was freakishly perfect. There was no way to tell them apart, even their magic seemed to be the same! That being said, it was difficult to tell as they were moving so damn fast their fists were nothing but blurs.

Sparks shot from around them as their fists collided, the staccato booms filling the small tunnel with a painful level of noise. By this point, each of them were lost in the thrill of the battle, ignoring the two Levy's for the delightful exchange of blows with their counterpart.

Suddenly, Levy heard the sound of running and she looked up to see her copy having made a break for it and dashing past the warring twins. Finally on the other side of them, she turned and screamed at the pair, "I don't care which of you comes with me, one of you just break off and help me! We can still beat this!"

Bursting back in a shower of sparks, the Gajeel with metal poles as arms scowled in fury. The other Gajeel bobbed tauntingly, fists raised intimidatingly and beckoning him back into the fight. "You seriously going to just run away and cower with your tail between your legs?" His voice then raised so their tormenter could hear further up the path. "Don't mock me Naruto! I'm not that much of a bitch, am I? You seriously think having a fake run away like that would be enough to make me stop?"

Eyes flashed and Gajeel roared in fury. "I'm a bitch? I'M A BITCH? I'LL SHOW YOU WHO'S THE BITCH!"

Sucking in a stupendous amount of air, Gajeel's chest billowed outward as he readied an attack. Right as he was about to launch it, the Levy on that side of the fight rushed up and grabbed his arm. "No, don't!" She shrieked, "If you unleash that in here you'll bury us all!" She started tugging on his arm urgently. "This thing is just a fake! Save it for the real Naruto, you can tell him exactly how you feel once we're out of here!"

Smoke billowed from his nostrils as his eyes flashed lividly. All the instincts in the world were telling him to vaporise his infuriating twin, but even through that fog of anger he heard Levy's reason. Swallowing the attack, he let out a viscous bark as metal filings flew out of his mouth.

"You hear that you bastard?" He screamed into the air. "I'm coming for you and I'll make you rue the day you were born!"

Turning, that Gajeel then ran off with the other Levy, leaving the original girl shivering on the floor with the other Gajeel standing protectively over her. He finally sighed and let out a breath, keen eyes watching them leave. Looking back down at his ward, he asked softly, "You doing ok, midget?"

Unable to reply, Levy just watched her chances of passing the test run off into the dark. Her eyebrows drew together in desperation as she started hyperventilating. 'No, this can't be happening! I don't want to lose, not like this! Not to some… fake!'

In anguish, a sudden flash of inspiration hit her square between the eyes and she scrambled to her feet. Snatching up her magical pen, she suddenly screamed out, "Solid Script: Magnet!"

Writing the word in the air, a towering metal rendering of "Magnet" materialized with a resounding thud, filling the height of the tunnel. From ahead came a startled gasp followed by a string of furious curses that made Levy's cheeks burn, and with an earth-shaking CRASH, the real Gajeel collided with the magnet, sticking to it instantly.

Wrenching himself around on it, he roared out, "What the blazing hell is this? I'll kill the next freaking person to test me, MARK MY WORDS!"

Pushing past the fake Gajeel standing over her, Levy rushed to the original's side and clung to him desperately. "Gajeel, it's me, the real me! I know it's the real you because the other one didn't get stuck to the magnet! That's how I figured it out, the fake one couldn't be metallic as you're the only metal dragon slayer in the world!"

Dispelling her magic, Levy let Gajeel drop to his feet behind her as she turned to face the impostors. "Now, all we need to do is take care of these two and that will be… enough…"

Feeling a sharp blade on her shoulder, she looked up fearfully as the real Gajeel looked down at her suspiciously. "And how do you intend to prove you're real and not a fake?"

At a loss for words, Levy's eyes shimmered in despair as she spluttered out, "B-but m-my magic, she c-couldn't copy that, c-couldn't she?"

Even so, Gajeel's eyes narrowed. That was abruptly cut off though as the other Gajeel started clapping. Another clap accompanied that one from further down the hall as that Levy walked back.

"Well done on passing test number one!" she exclaimed. "Being able to recognise your team even in disorientating situations is a massive part of being the leader of a mission."

"Yep, really well done," said the fake Gajeel. "Good thinking with using a magnet to work out who was who."

Blinking owlishly at the pair, Gajeel looked from them to the girl he had trapped under his arm. Suddenly bursting into a flurry of movement, he yanked his arm back from the girl's shoulder and quickly returned it back to its normal state. Not totally understanding why everything suddenly ended, he stammered out, "Wh-what's happening? Why are you stopping now?"

The two copies let out a bark of laughter as they exploded in a puff of smoke, revealing two Naruto clones. "Well dur," one drawled, "this is Levy's test. She worked it out, so the test finished. No need to drag it on any more than we have to."

"Right?" Quipped the other. "You still have two more tests to deal with. You guys' better hop to it, don't wanna get stuck in here and get left behind by everyone else!"

Eyes widening, Levy gasped. "They are so right! Gajeel, let's go, we gotta get a move on!"

Dragging the totally befuddled man behind her, the clones watched them dash off before dispelling and relaying their memories to the original.

XxXxXxX

Sitting comfortably in a hole in the wall, Naruto's eyes cracked open and he smiled. "Well done, Levy! That's the genius I'd expect from you. I hope you are able to tackle the next one just as well."

XxXxXxX

Running away from the last battle, Levy panted as she ran, a sense of exhilaration filling her chest. She'd passed the first test, one that she knew would trip up any number of the other contestants. 'I can do this; I can do this! Naruto might be way above my level of power, but this trial is perfect for me!'

Squeezing Gajeel's hand, she let out a small laugh. 'And with this big oaf, I should be able to overcome anything!'

Said oaf suddenly began pulling back on her hand, forcing her to slow her pace and turn back. "Hold up shortie, we run any more and we could run straight into the next trap. Keep your head about you."

"Ah right." Blushing slightly as her thoughts had gotten ahead of her, Levy nodded and let go of his hand. "Sorry. And thanks."

Grumbling, Gajeel ran a hand through his hair as he looked around. "I really hope the next test isn't as confusing as that one. I'm so glad this is your challenge, I can't stand these kind of thinking exams."

A tiny smile quirked Levy's lip. "Looks like you picked the perfect tunnel for me after all. I'm sure when it's your turn, you'll pick the perfect route for you."

Casting a curious glance down at the girl, Gajeel opted to remain quiet and just followed her as she took point again. The two walked in silence a little longer before a shape began to materialise out of the darkness further down the tunnel. Holding a hand out, Levy stopped them both and tried to make out who it was. Gajeel meanwhile snarled and his fists slammed together in challenge, his keen dragon slayer eyes instantly realising who it was. "Ok blondie, time for some retribution."

The figure waved at them. "Perhaps, but maybe not just yet. You might wanna look around you first."

"Huh?" Turning, the pair noticed pieces of paper stuck around them to the walls of the cave. They were positioned in just such a way that unless you were looking for them, you wouldn't have noticed them. Eyes narrowing suspiciously, Gajeel barked out, "And what are these meant to be? Why would I care for some scraps on the wall?"

Even as Naruto spoke, Levy tentatively made her way forward with Gajeel in tow. "Oh, they are a little more than just decoration. They're this totally awesome development from my home! They're called Kibaku Fuda, or in this language, exploding tags. They're amazing! One well placed tag can level a house if you know what you're doing." The frustrating teen then motioned to all the tags about them. "Imagine how much damage this many of them could do!"

Fighting off the fear of the boy, Levy came to a stop several meters before him. He was confidently stood before a large granite wall that was blocking their way, arms crossed and smirk on his face. Behind him, explosive tags completely covered the wall. In the middle of it though was a small piece of paper stuck to the wall. It had some odd writing on it which Levy couldn't make out.

Seeing her spot the focus piece, Naruto motioned to it. "Next test is simple, solve this!"

Growling, Gajeel stamped a foot challengingly as he advanced menacingly. "What's just stopping us from breaking you in half and busting though this thing?"

Naruto laughed and raised three fingers. "Oh, you could try but it wouldn't go well for you. For one, you trigger any one of these tags and you'll unleash a chain of explosions that will bury us all in here forever. Second, you only get three attempts at solving this riddle. You fail and the seals become permanent, the granite is locked in place and you gotta walk home." He then threw a wink at Levy. "I made a few changes specifically for you. Can't have it too easy after all!"

"But, that's not fair!" Exclaimed Levy. "It should be the same for everyone!"

The teen shrugged, unphased. "That's just life, things don't always go your way. Lastly!"

He then held up a cross with his fingers and smirked. "I'm not even here. I'm just a clone. Good luck with it!"

Naruto then disappeared in a puff of smoke leaving the duo in silence.

"DAMN THAT MAN!" Lashing out in fury, Gajeel punched the floor, the only place not riddled with explosive tags. Even so, the whole chamber shook with the impact and Levy scrambled to calm him down.

"Please, be gentle!" She cried. "I know you're frustrated, but just let me work this out! You'll get your chance to fight him, I promise! For now, just trust me, I'll work it out!"

Teeth clenched together, Gajeel could barely hold himself back from punching the ground again. Nevertheless, he took a very deep breath and exhaled slowly. Dropping to lean up against a stone, he crossed his legs and arms and closed his eyes irritably. "Well, better hop to it. That thing won't solve itself."

Sighing in relief, Levy held her hands out placatingly and backed away. "You got it Gajeel. I won't be long."

Once assured he wouldn't do anything rash, she turned and walked up to inspect the note. Her eyebrows furrowed together as she saw the note written in something indecipherable. "Hmm?"

Quirking an eyebrow, she reached out and turned it one hundred and eighty degrees. "Oh!"

Suddenly, she realised it was a note written in Naruto's home tongue. Ripping it from the wall, she found a rock to sit on and crossed one leg over the other as she started studying it.

The note read:

影に潜み、月を欺く。
砂とともに消え、風に舞う。
鉄の刃も届かぬもの。
我が名を言え。

Biting a fingernail, the girl dipped into her satchel and dug about for her translation page. Deftly pulling it out, she got to work inscribing the lettering into the paper. While her progress with Naruto's home language was rapid, this was still far too advanced for her to read without assistance.

Eventually, she wrote down the last character and the paper glowed blue. Absorbing the words, it then revealed the translation, which read:

To move forward, speak the tongue not your own.
The first breath of the morning greets the land,
Yet fades before the sun stands tall.
Call its name, and the way shall open.

Clicking her tongue, Levy pondered the possible meanings of the riddle. Breaking it down, she came to understand it was a verbal password that would open the path, as indicated by, 'Call its name, and the way shall open.'

"The first breath of the morning…" quirking an eyebrow, Levy pondered the possible meanings. "Could it be talking about the morning breeze?"

Twirling her pen around her thumb absently, she muttered to herself, "No, I don't think it would be the wind, that's always around. Maybe the dew?"

Eyes rising to the wall, she called out, "Dew!"

Waiting a moment, she frowned as nothing happened. She tried again, hoping to get a reaction. Nothing.

Grunting frustratedly, she looked back to the note. "To move forward, speak the tongue not your own. When the first breath of the morning… wait, speak the tongue?"

Eyebrows rising in realisation, she quickly jotted the word 'dew' down onto her translation page. The interpretation came back and Levy called out, "Tsuyu!"

The tags around the wall suddenly lit up in a warm red glow. That was all that happened though as they faded back to dark. Internally fist pumping, Levy got to thinking about other words that could fit the riddle. 'Ok, ok, that was one reaction. Good. It didn't work, so I have two attempts left. What else could it be…'

She ran through option after option in her mind, birds, clouds, mist, fog and so on all considered and discarded. None seemed to quite fit the theme of the riddle and she wasn't willing to risk her limited attempts.

"First breath… first breath… first breath?"

Scribbling down an answer, Levy called out the translation, "Asa!"

The tags glowed red again and the girl cursed uncharacteristically. One attempt to go and the translation of 'morning' wasn't the answer.

Sweat beaded on her forehead as she racked her brain for the answer. "Come on Levy, you got this! Naruto isn't as smart as you, so the answer should be obvious! Maybe I'm trying too hard? What's a simpler answer than 'morning' or 'dew'?"

Tapping her pen against her brow, Levy chewed the inside of her cheek as rolled the riddle around in her mind. 'First breath of the morning… greets the land… what fades before the sun stands tall… standing tall could indicate noon… hang on, what about 'dawn'?'

Sweating as she made her last attempt, she took a breath as the translation for dawn came through. Taking a breath to steady her nerves, she paused, then called out, "Yoake!"

To her everlasting relief, the seals suddenly lit up green before exploding in puffs of smoke. The huge wall that was blocking their way exploded with smog, a clapping Naruto smiling at Levy. "Well done! That was much harder than the last test."

Levy beamed under the praise as both she and Gajeel got to their feet.

"Sometimes, you don't have all the answers to a mission and you need to be able to decipher difficult messages on the fly," the teen instructed. "Good job on working through that one, I knew you could do it!"

Giggling bashfully, Levy twirled a lock of her hair shyly and ground a toe into the floor. "Oh, you know, if there's one thing that's my strength, it's words."

Striding past the girl, Gajeel glared at the still smiling teen and poked him in the chest. "So what would have happened if she'd got it wrong, huh? You honestly think risking her life for your stupid brain game was worth it?"

"Her life, huh? That's cute you're so protective of her!" Levy's eyes widened and she looked down at the floor with a blush. Gajeel's cheeks coloured ever so slightly at the implication too, the reaction drawing a smug smile from the annoying blond.

Allowing Gajeel to save some face though, he didn't press the issue. "As far as those tags are concerned, they were just all my clones transformed into tags, same as me transformed into this wall. If she'd have failed, I'd have disqualified her and let the Master know my decision." He shrugged nonchalantly. "Adding a little tension into the mix just makes things more exciting, wouldn't you agree?"

Growling, Gajeel lashed out and Naruto nimbly danced back, narrowly avoiding the attack. "Woah there!" Straightening his shirt, the teen shot Gajeel an annoyed look. "This isn't your test, dattebayo! Calm your tits."

Growling threateningly, Gajeel almost snarled something back but felt Levy's soft hand on his shoulder. Looking down, he saw her shaking her head. "Don't… don't rise to his provocations. He's not worth the effort, not yet at least. This one is probably a clone too… right?"

She glanced up and Naruto cocked his head acceptingly. "Ah, ya got me. The real me is down that way with the last test. I'll see you there!"

Exploding in a cloud, the clone dispersed itself and left the two in silence once more. A rumble from Gajeel's chest reverberated through the room and he wrinkled his nose in disgust. "I think I hate him. I think I actually, wholly, hate him."

Rubbing her companion's arm comfortingly, Levy sighed. "I can't say I totally understand what you mean, but I can certainly say I don't like him very much right now. These challenges, the mental strain, he's not playing around." She looked up at her tall partner. "I'm honestly so thankful this is just a test. I'd hate to face him as an enemy in real life."

Snorting, Gajeel was uncharacteristically quiet. He then quietly murmured, "He's one hell of a force to be reckoned with. Of that, I am one hundred percent sure."

Realising it to mean that time when Naruto fought him at Phantom Lord's guild, the girl nodded slowly. Choosing not to comment though, she just slipped her hand into his and began leading him down the tunnel as sunlight very slowly began to illuminate their path.

It was only a short walk, and five minutes later they reached the end of the tunnel, greenery and nature just beyond beckoning to them. Unfortunately, stood in their way was Naruto, stance wide, arms crossed and his face hidden by the light behind him.

Calling out, Gajeel confirmed, "You're the real one, right?"

Naruto nodded affirmingly, calling back, "Ya finally got me. Ready for the last test?"

Swallowing nervously as goosebumps began running over her skin, Levy steeled herself and nodded. "Bring it on! We are ready!" She squeezed Gajeel's hand to comfort herself. What she didn't expect was the gentle squeeze in reply. Smiling softly, her gaze solidified. "Together, we got this!"

Uncrossing his arms, Naruto squared himself. Suddenly, a fearful feeling washed over Levy as a dreadful pressure started growing around her. "No… oh no, no, not this again…"

A very soft, golden light began to illuminate Naruto, the glow only just being visible against the light behind him. "Are you sure?"

Gajeel grinned, slamming his fists together. "You're damn right I am. I've been waiting ages for this moment. What's the test?"

A gust of wind slammed into the duo as killer intent spiked all around them. Levy screamed in fear and even Gajeel's eyes widened in surprise, a bead of sweat trickling down his brow. Naruto's eyes started glowing dangerously as he began slowly walking forward into the tunnel, the bright light from his aura illuminating the walls around him.

"This test is simple." His voice started growling as his vocal cords thickened. "We fight. One survives. The other does not. You sure you're ready?"

Levy's breath faltered as Naruto drew to a stop several meters before them. His presence was positively terrifying, waves upon waves of furious intent crashing against them like waves against sand. Gajeel, while shaking, held up against the onslaught admirably, a nervous but resolute grin on his face. "So that's how it'll be, huh? Finally ready to settle the score for real?"

Looking down at his quaking partner, he placed a reassuring hand on her head and gave her a thumbs up. "Don't you worry, even if this takes me out, I'll still wound him enough to let you get through. It's a promise."

Tears beading in her eyes, Levy shook her head wordlessly as she tried to stop him. Letting her go, Gajeel turned to face his opponent, arms slowly becoming encased in thick, black steel. Taking a deep breath, he readied himself. Naruto meanwhile only grew fiercer and more menacing, the viscous flames of his golden cloak violently stirring up a storm in the confined space. Two thick, writhing tails of gold chakra whipped up behind him, lashing about agitatedly. Vicious eyes glared down on the mage, sharp teeth poking through his lips as he spoke. "You actually ready for this? Willing to bet your life on it?"

Laughing humourlessly, Gajeel crouched. "Tomorrow ain't promised to no one. May as well go out with a bang."

Frowning, Naruto just growled, a deeply animalistic rumble that echoed ominously throughout the cave. Readying himself, the duo nearly sprung into action when Levy suddenly dashed between them. Her arms were held out to both men and the poor thing was shaking like a leaf.

Tears ran down her face and she sobbed openly, the fear of Naruto's form and the violence to come reducing her to a bawling mess. However, she stood firm and locked eyes with Gajeel, a broken acceptance written all over her face. "D-don't fight him! You'll b-be killed! Can't you feel it? You d-don't stand even a s-second's chance!"

Eyes widening in surprise, the mage looked from Naruto's ferocity to Levy's desperation. "I… I don't understand?" He struggled to work out what she was doing. "Why quit now? You're so close to the next step?"

She shook her head, snot and tears flying everywhere. "I don't care about the stupid test if it means you could die! We can try again next year, this isn't worth a life or death fight!"

"You're seriously going to forfeit this?"

Gajeel growled furiously even as Levy turned to face the demon incarnate. Scared anger furrowed her eyebrows, even as she trembled before Naruto. "Y-yes, I surrender! I w-will not risk Gajeel's life o-over something so stupid!"

Naruto's eyes narrowed, wind wildly whipping his hair and clothing around. "You mean it?"

Squeezing her eyes shut, Levy sobbed brokenly and nodded, not willing to face the consequences. All her hard work… all her progress up to this point… all of it, rendered useless in a single moment by an overwhelming force.

Seeing her resolve, the fury of Naruto and the terrifying bluster of his fox's cloak subsided quickly. Letting out a slow breath, he walked up softly to Levy, ignoring the hostile glare from Gajeel and placed a very gentle hand on the trembling girl's shoulder. "Well then, you pass."

Gajeel's mouth dropped open in shock, his arms flopping to hang uselessly beside him. Levy's eyes snapped open, her wide astonishment taking in the soft smile of her tormentor. "I… I pass?"

Naruto nodded comfortingly. "Yup, you pass."

Levy's knees buckled and she fell to the floor, brows creased together in confusion. "I – I don't understand? How?"

Naruto looked up at Gajeel and smirked. "You were willing to throw away your mission to save your friend. You don't even realize how valiant that is." His expression softened, touched by memory. "My first teacher had a saying about that: 'In the ninja world, those who break the rules are scum, but those who abandon their friends are worse than scum.'"

With a fond smile, he reached down and helped Levy back to her feet. "Human life will always be more important than any mission. That's a fact. You should never put success above the lives of your companions. I learned that lesson early."

Making sure she was steady, he let her go. "As a leader, you have to be willing to let go of a mission's success if it means saving your friends. If you ever find yourself facing an enemy that could kill you, don't stand and fight. You run. Regroup, plan, and try again when the odds are in your favour if you must."

Turning to hold Gajeel's stare, Naruto's tone turned firm. "Sometimes, you won't have a choice. There will be fights where it's life or death, and when that happens, you fight. And you win. No other option." Then, looking back to Levy, he placed a reassuring hand on her head. "But if there's any chance to retreat and try again; any other path you can take, you take it. You can't change nothing dead. ALWAYS aim to survive."

Stepping back, he gestured toward the path ahead, a warm pride in his eyes. "That's why you pass. Well done, both of you."

Such was their shock that neither mage said anything for several long moments. Eventually though, Levy managed to break her trance and she swallowed. Stepping back, she gently took hold of Gajeel's hand and led him towards the exit. She shook as she passed Naruto, glancing to look up at his sad smile.

"Levy…" his soft voice caused her to pause. "I'm really sorry for doing that to you. However, I'd rather you go through this now in a controlled environment than have something like this catch you unready on the field." He sighed, hand running through his hair as he looked away. "These S Rank missions, they're no joke. I do believe you have the capacity to be an S Rank mage, but you must know of the risks." Still, he held out a hopeful hand to her. "I wish you all the best with the rest of the trial."

Eyeing the hand, Levy sucked on her lips before nodding. While fearful, she recognised the truth in his words. Holding out a hand, she gripped his firmly and shook it. "Th-thank you, Naruto. I won't forget this lesson. I promise."

Chuckling, the blond nodded. "Yeah I doubt you will. This can be a horror story for future contestants you can scare them with."

Giggling, Levy nodded, even as she pulled herself closer into Gajeel's side for support. "I suppose I could. I wonder if anyone else had to deal with anything even remotely this bad!"

Naruto shrugged haphazardly, not knowing the results of the other challengers.

Suddenly, Levy's eyes twinkled in remembrance and asked, "Will you come out with us? I have something for you."

Naruto's heart started thumping in his chest, anticipation rising even as he tried to keep his cool. "You… you think you made it work?"

Nodding hesitantly, Levy looked at the floor. "I think so, or at least I hope so. I'll only know after we try it out."

His breath hitched in his throat and Naruto just nodded. "Yeah, yeah I'll come out then! I can't wait to see what you've come up with!"

Falling into step beside them, Naruto barely had a moment to relax before a massive metal pole came out of nowhere, slamming into his side with bone-rattling force. The impact sent him crashing into the rocky tunnel wall, embedding him deep with a resounding crunch.

A strangled gasp tore from his throat as he struggled to catch his breath, his vision swimming for a moment. Levy let out a startled cry, smacking Gajeel's arm in outrage. "Was that really necessary?" she snapped, nerves still badly frayed.

Gajeel, arms crossed and utterly unrepentant, just grinned down at his handiwork. "That," he muttered to himself, relishing the moment, "was so damn satisfying."

Leaving a groaning, dust-covered Naruto to pry himself from the wall, Gajeel simply grabbed Levy, ignored her indignant protests, and strode forward, dragging her with him into the daylight.

XxXxXxX

Omake

Following the Guide into the next room, Naruto's eyes burned with anticipation as he took in his surroundings. The space was enormous—so vast that the walls and ceiling stretched far beyond sight, vanishing into the distance. Orbs of light floated overhead, stretching in every direction, their glow casting an almost otherworldly ambiance.

Letting out a low whistle, Naruto squinted as he gazed around. "This is kinda disorienting, isn't it?" He came to a stop beside the Toad, glancing down just as the amphibian bowed its head. "So, what's the next test?"

Holding its bow, the Toad answered, "This one is simple, escape the room."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, jerking a thumb over his shoulder. "Can't I just walk out the way we came?"

The Toad shook its head. "That would not count."

Pursing his lips, the blond tilted his head. "What if I just followed you out?"

Again, the Toad shook its head. "I am to remain in here as long as you."

"Really?" Naruto frowned. "What about if we get hungry? Or need to poop?"

Pausing, the Toad shook its head once more. "It does not matter. You must escape. If anything… unmentionable was to happen, your privacy will be maintained. You will have an hour to work out how to leave this room."

"Ok, I got you." Crossing his arms in thought, the teen looked down at the Guide. "Any help on what I'm looking for exactly?"

Despite being peppered with questions, the Toad remained respectful. "All I can say is you're looking for a door. How you come up to that, is up to you."

Nodding acceptingly, the boy looked around. "Right, a door… well, let's start by seeing if there's an end to this place."

Crossing his fingers, four clones appeared. They immediately took off at an incredible speed, one left, one right, one straight ahead and the other straight up. Within seconds, they had disappeared from view, swallowed by the endless expanse to leave the original two in silence.

Looking about curiously, the Toad Guide quirked an eyebrow as it noticed Naruto standing with his arms crossed and eyes closed. It wasn't allowed to ask any questions in this part of the test, but curiosity was a teasing thing.

Eventually, Naruto opened his eyes and chewed his upper lip. "Well, that's that."

Seeing the questioning gaze of his Guide, Naruto elaborated, "Oh, my clones just went to check out how far the room went. They just travelled over twenty kilometres in every direction and found nothing."

Eyebrows shooting up, the Toad swallowed in shock. "T-twenty kilometres you say?"

"Yup." Scratching his head in thought, the blond mused out loud, "Which means this place obviously isn't that big."

Now that was confusing. The Toad voiced as much. "Uh, how do you mean, Mr. Naruto?"

"This isn't just some infinite space," Naruto reasoned. "Something like that would take more magic than the entire council combined. That means this is either an illusion or some kind of spatial distortion."

He shrugged and interlocked his fingers. Pushing his arms out palms first, he then raised his arms to the sky as he stretched. "We're about to find out in any case."

Holding up the hand sign 'Rat', Naruto began pooling his chakra. "Hold on to something, this might look weird."

Baring down on the intense pooling of energy in his hara, Naruto grunted before crying out, "Kai (Release)!"

A pulse of energy surged outward, rippling through the room like a shockwave. The very air shimmered and distorted as reality twisted upon itself. Though the ground remained still, the warping effect was so intense that the Toad lost its balance, toppling over in a daze.

All around, a large number of stunned mages were revealed, gasping as their illusions shattered, their crystal tools crumbling in their hands.

Naruto's sharp gaze swept across the now-visible figures, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. "Ohhh, so that's where you guys were hiding! I knew I felt people in here, but that Genjutsu (Illusionary Technique) of yours was pretty damn strong. I'm impressed! It was tough to pinpoint any of you!"

His eyes flicked across the room before lighting up. "And there's the exit! Come on, Toad, let's get moving. I'm starving. I wanna finish this then eat."

The Guide could only watch in bemusement as the blond strolled toward the door, completely unfazed by the awestruck mages around him. Muttering to itself, the Toad pulled out its clipboard, scribbling down a note:

Passed: New fastest time achieved.

Sighing, it shook its head and dutifully followed after him.

XxXxXxX

A/N – we have a thinking chapter! Not bad if I do say so myself. It was really fun creating something more analytical than just punch-and-win. I really tried to show Naruto's development as a ninja from his time with Jiraya, his understanding of the importance of missions and his homage to Kakashi. I hope everyone enjoys it!

On that, who was able to work out the answers to the traps before they were revealed? Drop a review and let me know if you were able to outsmart me!

Next chapter, we will finally meet everyone I'm sure you're excited for. The big, bad, flying boat is on the way and they bring with them a whole world of trouble. I wonder how this will play out and how Naruto will fit into the mix?

Time shall tell!

Until then,
Lanky Nathan