"Please! I beg you! I'll trade my soul for it! Anything you want!"
The eighteen-year-old girl knelt on the ground, desperation shining in her soft brown eyes. Her long blonde hair flowed over her shoulders, and her white frilly dress fluttered slightly.
She was pleading before a blonde devil, a teenage-looking boy with piercing blue eyes, arms crossed over his chest, his expression dripping with annoyance.
Naruto let out a long, tired sigh.
"No."
Layla's fists clenched. "Why won't you help me?!" she cried, frustration bubbling over.
Without warning, Naruto chopped her lightly on the head.
"Ow! That hurt, you jerk!" she whimpered, rubbing the sore spot.
"Because trading your soul for a damn massage is the dumbest thing I've ever heard."
Layla pouted, stomping her foot.
"Then why won't you just massage my back!?" she whined, her voice turning dramatic.
Naruto's eye twitched. "Because you keep making those weird-ass noises!"
"It's not my fault you're so good with your hands!" Layla shot back, her cheeks burning red.
"You're a damn devil, aren't you? You should be used to this kind of thing in hell!"
Naruto ran a hand down his face, clearly regretting every decision that led him here.
"For your information, Princess," he grumbled, "it's called the Underworld, and it's nothing like what you're imagining. It's actually way more peaceful than dealing with this."
Layla huffed, crossing her arms.
"Hmph! You're just saying that." A mischievous glint sparkled in her eyes. "In reality, you just want to feel me up~"
She leaned forward, her chest pressing together just enough to tease.
Naruto's face flushed slightly, and he quickly turned away.
"You're giving me a headache…" he muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm done."
Without another word, he flicked his wrist, opening a swirling dark portal back to the Underworld.
"I'm going back. Summon me when you actually need something important."
He turned to step inside—
Only to feel a delicate hand grab his wrist.
"N-No! Take me with you!" Layla demanded, her voice laced with determination. "That's an order!"
Naruto groaned, staring at her.
"Fine." He exhaled sharply. "But just a tour. Nothing else."
Layla beamed.
"Yay!" She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck—pressing up against him more than necessary.
Naruto let out a long-suffering sigh, muttering under his breath.
"…Infuriating."
Chapter 2: Frozen Throne
The tension had been thick between them ever since that morning—or, at least, for Lucy, it had been.
She had a habit.
A rather embarrassing habit.
Whenever she slept, she tended to cling to anything—or anyone—near her like a stuffed toy.
So waking up with her face buried against Naruto's bare chest, her arms wrapped tightly around his waist, and her legs tangled with his had been beyond mortifying.
Her squeal of horror had been loud enough to probably wake the entire hotel.
Naturally, she had kicked him off the bed and screamed at him for being a pervert, despite the fact that she had been the one hugging him.
The blonde devil had simply stared at her with his usual deadpan expression, rubbing his sore back, before muttering something about her being even worse than her mother.
Now, the two were traveling toward the nearest town, where Lucy needed to buy equipment for herself.
The awkward silence had stretched on for hours, neither of them saying a word.
Finally, Naruto decided to break it.
"When did she pass away?" he asked, his voice calm but firm.
Lucy blinked in surprise.
"H-How did you know she passed away?"
Naruto scoffed. "It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. Layla was already dying when she made a contract with me."
Lucy's breath hitched. "What do you mean?"
Naruto kept walking, his hands shoved in his pockets.
"Her illness got worse when she turned sixteen, which forced her to release her Celestial Spirits. One day, she was walking along the shoreline when she just so happened to stumble across my key, half-buried in the sand."
He let out a tired sigh, running a hand through his hair.
"For two years, I experienced the true meaning of hell."
Despite his grumbling, there was a small, fond smile on his lips as he recalled old memories.
Lucy clenched her fists.
"Then why didn't you help her?! You're a devil! You can do all sorts of things, right?! You could've cured her, couldn't you?!" she snapped, her voice filled with anger and frustration.
Naruto didn't even flinch.
"She didn't want me to." His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it.
Lucy stopped walking, her shoulders trembling.
"T-Then—"
"She was stubborn," Naruto continued. "And judging by how you're acting now, I'd say you inherited that from her."
Lucy felt her throat tighten.
Her vision blurred with tears, and she clenched her fists tighter.
Naruto groaned. "Oh, for the love of—"
"Can you bring her back?" Lucy suddenly whispered, her voice barely audible.
Naruto stopped walking.
"…What?"
Lucy's eyes shone with desperation.
"Please!" she shouted, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I'll trade anything! My soul! My life! Just—"
Before she could finish, a sharp flick landed right on her forehead.
"Ow!" Lucy yelped, holding her head.
Naruto sighed, shaking his head.
"Infuriating."
Before she could react, he suddenly pulled her into an embrace.
Lucy's breath hitched.
Her cheeks turned pink as she felt his warmth surround her.
"I could bring her back," he admitted, his voice unusually soft. "But only if her body is perfectly preserved. And even if you had that, I still wouldn't do it."
Lucy stiffened.
"W-Why not…?" she whispered.
"Because devils don't resurrect the dead," Naruto explained, his grip on her loosening.
"We turn them into demons."
Lucy felt a shiver run down her spine.
The hug ended, and Naruto took a step back.
Lucy wiped her tears away and gave a small, apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry… I was just… desperate…"
Naruto sighed, placing a hand on his hip. "It's fine. You and Layla are so damn similar, it's starting to freak me out. And I'm a devil."
Lucy snorted at that, placing a hand over her lips to stifle a laugh.
Naruto smirked. "There she is."
After a moment, Lucy took a deep breath.
"Will you help me collect the Lost Keys?" she asked.
Naruto shrugged. "You're my contractor. I do whatever you say."
A relieved smile crossed Lucy's face. "Thanks!"
Without thinking, she threw her arms around him in a quick hug before quickly pulling away, a small blush dusting her cheeks.
Naruto simply sighed, shoving his hands back into his pockets.
"You're going to use the keys to bring her back, aren't you?" he asked knowingly.
Lucy didn't even hesitate. "Y-Yeah. I miss her. And I'll do anything to bring her back to life!"
She paused.
"By the way, do you know where the other keys are?" she asked hopefully.
Naruto smirked.
"It's actually forbidden for us to reveal our key's location, even to each other."
Lucy froze, then comically slumped to the ground.
"I was so close to escaping my mom's cryptic journals!" she wailed.
Naruto chuckled. "But I can sense them if they're nearby."
Lucy immediately perked up. "Really?!"
"Yep. And you're lucky you have that journal. Before, we could actually bring our contractors to the Underworld for a short time. Layla was the last one to see it before the rules changed."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"You brought my mom to the Underworld?!"
Naruto smirked. "Correction. She ordered me to take her there."
Lucy sweatdropped. "That sounds more like her."
"She met the other six, tried to pry the location of their keys from them, but when I told her it was forbidden, she found a loophole."
Naruto chuckled, shaking his head.
"She outsmarted us. She made us turn the locations into riddles and puzzles so she could solve them herself. Technically, we didn't break the rules since we never actually told her the exact locations."
Lucy's eyes sparkled. "So that's how she knew!"
She quickly opened her journal and pointed at a passage.
"It says:
'The great ice that tears the sky and meets the heavens high.
Its heart of ice cannot be thawed,
And only the warmth of anger is needed to free me once more.'
"Any ideas?" she asked.
Naruto squinted at the words.
"Something about snowy mountains?"
"I think it's referring to Mt. Hakobe," Lucy mused.
"Not my problem. I suck at riddles," Naruto deadpanned.
Lucy sighed. "That's a four-day trip… And I don't think my budget can handle that."
Naruto grinned, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry, Layla 2.0. I got you."
Lucy suddenly got a bad feeling.
"What d—Oh no! WAI—!"
With a snap of his fingers, the world vanished in a blink.
Lucy groaned loudly, gripping her stomach as it rumbled in protest.
"I'm so hungry I could eat a whole boar…" she whined, dragging her feet through the dirt road.
Naruto walked ahead, hands stuffed in his pockets, completely unfazed by her suffering.
"You just ate three hours ago," he pointed out dryly.
"That was a snack!" Lucy shot back. "You teleported me halfway across the country! Do you have any idea how draining that is?!"
Naruto snorted. "You literally just stood there while I did all the work."
Lucy pouted. "My soul is exhausted!"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Then maybe your soul should've packed a lunch."
Lucy glared daggers at him before letting out a dramatic sigh, dragging her feet even more.
They had been traveling toward Mt. Hakobe for hours now. The mountains were still distant shadows on the horizon, but the cold air was already starting to set in. The trees lining the road were getting thicker, and the dirt path was narrowing.
Lucy sighed. "At this rate, we won't reach a town until nightfall…"
Naruto hummed in thought before suddenly snapping his fingers.
A second later, Lucy found herself dangling upside down.
"WHAT THE HELL—?!" she shrieked, flailing her arms as she hovered in midair, her feet barely touching the ground.
Naruto smirked. "Problem solved. Now you don't have to waste energy walking."
Lucy twisted in the air, trying to reach him. "PUT ME DOWN, YOU DEMONIC JERK!"
"I mean, technically, I am a demon," Naruto teased, tilting his head. "So thanks for the compliment."
Lucy growled and thrashed harder, but the invisible force held her in place.
"You know, you're really lucky," Naruto mused.
Lucy paused, still dangling upside down. "Lucky?! How am I lucky right now?!"
"You have me," Naruto stated matter-of-factly. "Without me, you'd probably be dead in a ditch somewhere, eaten by some mutant wolves."
Lucy stared at him, unimpressed. "Wow. How comforting."
Naruto smirked. "I try my best."
Lucy sighed in defeat. "Just let me down…"
"Hmmm… Nope."
"WHAT?!"
"I like the silence when you're not walking beside me and complaining," Naruto said casually, looking straight ahead.
Lucy's eye twitched. "You are unbelievable."
"And you are infuriating," Naruto shot back. "See? We're even."
Lucy let out a groan of pure frustration, giving up. "Fine! Whatever! Just—at least turn me right-side up!"
Naruto sighed. "So demanding…"
With another snap of his fingers, Lucy flipped in the air, finally upright.
"Thank you!" she huffed, crossing her arms.
"See? Was that so hard?" Naruto grinned.
Lucy glared at him. "You're lucky I can't fire you."
Naruto smirked. "You're lucky I haven't thrown you into the nearest lake."
Lucy opened her mouth to argue, but a sudden howl in the distance made her freeze.
Naruto stopped walking, his expression turning sharp.
The air grew colder. The trees rustled unnaturally.
"…Wolves?" Lucy whispered.
Naruto's golden eyes narrowed. "Not just wolves."
Something moved in the trees.
Lucy gulped.
"Uh… Naruto? Maybe you should, you know… put me down now?"
Naruto just continued on walking.
"Not a chance."
Lucy groaned, dangling helplessly in the air.
"Just my luck…"
The chilling howls of the wolves echoed through the darkening forest, sending an eerie silence through the trees. The air had turned frigid, biting at Lucy's skin as she dangled helplessly in midair.
Naruto barely reacted, hands stuffed in his pockets, looking completely uninterested in the threat surrounding them.
"Uh… Naruto?" Lucy gulped, eyes darting toward the trees where glowing blue eyes flickered. "Maybe now would be a good time to, you know, put me down?"
"No."
Lucy's eye twitched. "What do you mean no?!"
"I mean no," Naruto said, monotone, his gaze still locked on the forest. "You're safer up there. Less chance of you doing something stupid."
Lucy bristled. "Hey! I—"
Before she could argue, the first wolf stepped into view.
It was huge, nearly twice the size of a normal one, its white and blue fur glistening like ice. As it exhaled, frost curled from its jaws, and the ground beneath it began to freeze over.
Lucy stiffened.
"Okay… yeah, I see your point now," she muttered, watching the frost spread.
Naruto sighed, tilting his head. "Took you long enough."
More wolves emerged from the treeline, five in total, their glowing icy-blue eyes locked onto their prey.
The alpha, the largest of them, let out a low, guttural growl, signaling its pack to attack.
Naruto groaned, cracking his neck. "Figures."
The first wolf lunged.
Without even moving, Naruto raised a hand, and the wolf froze midair—not by magic, not by force, but simply by instinctual terror.
The moment its eyes met his, it knew.
It was prey.
With a bored flick of his wrist, Naruto swatted it aside, sending it crashing into a tree. The ice on its paws shattered, and it whimpered as it scampered away.
The rest of the pack hesitated.
Lucy gawked. "That was—"
Naruto held up a hand. "Don't say it."
"But it was—"
"Shut up."
The alpha growled, charging forward—only for Naruto to sidestep lazily, kick it in the ribs, and send it skidding across the frozen ground.
Lucy stared at him, her expression deadpan.
"You could at least pretend to be having a little fun."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "I could also pretend to care, but I don't feel like it."
Lucy sighed. "You're so dramatic."
The remaining wolves circled him, their movements slower, more cautious.
Naruto glanced at them, exhausted, before lifting a single finger.
A sudden pulse of black energy rippled outward.
The ground cracked. The trees shook.
The wolves, sensing something beyond their understanding, let out pitiful whimpers before turning tail and bolting into the forest.
Lucy watched them disappear into the distance, still floating helplessly in the air.
"Wait… so you didn't even need to fight them?"
"Nope," Naruto yawned.
"You just scared them away?"
"Obviously."
Lucy groaned. "And you let me panic for nothing?!"
Naruto finally glanced up at her, expression flat.
"You panic over everything."
Lucy seethed, crossing her arms. "Put me down, now."
Naruto sighed dramatically, rubbing his temple.
"Fine. But if you get yourself killed, I'm not bringing you back."
With a snap of his fingers, Lucy dropped like a rock—
"WAIT, NOT LIKE—!"
Thud.
She landed face-first into the snow.
Naruto shrugged, stepping over her as he walked forward. "You said to put you down. You didn't say how."
Lucy lifted her head, snow stuck to her hair, face, and dress, and glared daggers at him.
"I hate you."
"Infuriating," Naruto muttered, already bored of the conversation.
Lucy spat out some snow, shaking it from her hair.
"Ugh! Whatever! Let's just—"
Before she could finish, Naruto placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Wait—what are you—"
With zero warning, the world blurred.
In an instant, the forest vanished, replaced by an icy mountain landscape stretching endlessly before them.
The air was thin, the wind howling, and the temperature had dropped drastically.
Lucy shivered violently, hugging herself against the sudden blast of cold.
She blinked rapidly, teeth chattering.
"…Did you just teleport us straight to Mt. Hakobe?!"
Naruto, completely unbothered by the cold, yawned. "You were whining about the trip, so I saved us four days."
Lucy shivered harder.
"YOU COULD HAVE WARNED ME!"
Naruto blinked at her slowly.
"…Where's the fun in that?"
Lucy growled, hugging herself tighter. "I swear, you are the worst."
Naruto conjured a warm cloak out of thin air and tossed it over her head.
"Yeah, yeah. You'll get over it, Layla 2.0."
Mt. Hakobe
Lucy shuddered violently as the cold winds of Mt. Hakobe bit through her clothes, her teeth chattering uncontrollably. Hugging herself, she stumbled through the snow, glaring daggers at the blonde beside her.
"W-Why did you t-teleport us here, you d-d-dummy?!"
Naruto barely spared her a glance, completely unaffected by the freezing temperatures.
"I already helped. Deal with it," he muttered, his tone flat and uninterested.
Lucy's eye twitched. "HELP?! I-I-I'm freezing! A-And next time, at least warn me first!"
Naruto finally looked at her, unimpressed. "It's your fault for wearing such a kinky outfit in the mountains."
Lucy's face exploded in red.
"EXCUSE ME?!"
Fueled by rage and embarrassment, she scooped up a snowball and hurled it straight at his head.
The snowball splattered against Naruto's face, causing him to stop in his tracks.
Slowly, he turned toward her, his icy blue eyes narrowing.
Lucy smirked triumphantly—until she realized he wasn't even mad.
Just annoyed.
Naruto let out a long, exhausted sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"Infuriating."
With a snap of his fingers, a warm, fluffy jacket appeared in his hands. Without looking at her, he tossed it over his shoulder, and Lucy barely managed to catch it.
She blinked, then quickly slipped into the jacket, feeling instant relief as warmth flooded her body.
"T-Thanks…" she mumbled.
Naruto merely grunted in response, already walking ahead.
Still adjusting the jacket, Lucy jogged to catch up.
"How did you even do that?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Naruto barely spared her a glance. "Devil ability."
Lucy frowned. "What kind?"
Naruto sighed heavily. "Trust me, you don't want to know."
"Why not?" she pressed.
"Because I said so."
Lucy pouted, crossing her arms. "That's not an answer!"
Naruto ignored her, choosing to change the topic instead.
"What do you know… I sense a key nearby."
Lucy's eyes widened, her complaints vanishing instantly.
"REALLY?!" she practically screamed. Two keys in two days?!
Naruto shrugged, unfazed by her excitement. "Yeah, but I can't pinpoint exactly where. We'll have to look around."
Lucy fist-pumped the air, nearly slipping on the ice. "This is amazing! Let's go!"
She took off ahead, leaving Naruto shaking his head as he followed at his own pace.
—
Inside the Frozen Cavern
The entrance to the cave loomed ahead, its jagged ice formations glowing with an eerie, crystalline light. As they stepped inside, the temperature dropped even lower, and Lucy instinctively hugged her jacket tighter.
The air was unnaturally still.
It felt… off.
Lucy frowned. "It's too quiet."
Naruto didn't reply, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead.
To navigate the cave, Lucy activated a magic lamp, casting a soft golden glow along the icy walls.
Glancing at Naruto, she noticed that he was walking confidently in the darkness without needing any light source at all.
"Must be a devil thing…"
As they ventured deeper, Naruto suddenly stopped.
"It's close," he muttered.
Lucy perked up, but before she could ask anything—
A deep, guttural growl echoed through the cave.
Lucy froze.
Something was here.
Naruto let out an annoyed sigh. "Of course there's a guardian."
Lucy gulped. "A what?"
Before he could answer, the cave floor trembled, and from the shadows ahead, a massive figure stepped forward.
A Balkan.
But not just any Balkan.
This one was twice the size of a normal one, its fur coated in ice, its breath visible in the cold air. The glowing blue veins along its arms pulsed like frozen rivers, and its yellow eyes locked onto them immediately.
Lucy's stomach dropped.
"Naruto…" she whispered.
The Balkan's ears twitched, its gaze snapping to Lucy.
Then, it grinned.
"HOOOOOOT WOMAN!"
Lucy's soul left her body.
"Oh, HELL NO—"
The Balkan charged, arms outstretched to grab her.
"KYAAAAAAAAH!"
Before it could reach her—
BOOM!
Naruto moved.
One second he was standing beside her, and the next—
His fist met the Balkan's face.
The impact echoed through the cave, and the massive beast was sent flying backward, crashing into the cavern wall with explosive force.
Chunks of ice and rock collapsed, dust rising from the impact.
Lucy, still shaking, slowly turned to Naruto.
The devil simply dusted off his knuckles, his expression bored.
"Tsk. Weak."
Lucy just stood there, stunned.
"You…"
Naruto turned to her.
"…You literally punched the monster so hard it became a part of the wall."
Naruto shrugged. "I would be useless if I couldn't protect my contractor."
Lucy exhaled sharply, her heartbeat still racing. "I'm never getting used to that…"
Naruto ignored her, walking toward the now-destroyed ice pillar. He bent down, searching through the shattered remains, but…
His bored expression deepened.
"Great. No key."
Lucy's face fell.
"Wait, WHAT?!"
Naruto held up a jagged chunk of ice, scowling.
"It's missing," he muttered. "The energy trail is faint, but it's been moved."
Lucy's excitement instantly crashed.
"No, no, no, no—where is it?!" she wailed.
Naruto sighed, rubbing his temple. "Would you calm down?"
Lucy flailed dramatically. "We came all this way, and it's NOT EVEN HERE?!"
"Infuriating…" Naruto muttered, tuning her out.
—
Before they could continue searching, a voice echoed from the entrance of the cave.
"Oy! Macao! Are you here?!"
Lucy turned, blinking as a pink-haired boy stepped inside.
Naruto immediately moved in front of her, his posture tense.
Lucy's eyes widened.
"Wait, that's…!"
The pink-haired boy's eyes landed on her, and he grinned.
"Hey! You're that girl from Hargeon!"
Lucy's jaw dropped.
"Y-You're… Natsu Dragneel?!"
Naruto didn't relax.
"Careful, Lucy… He's not human."
Lucy felt like she was about to pass out.
One moment, she was trying to survive the freezing cold of Mt. Hakobe. The next, she was face to face with a Dragon Slayer and had just—without thinking—asked if she could join Fairy Tail.
Everything was moving too fast.
But while she was fangirling internally, something else was happening.
Something tense.
Something dangerous.
Naruto and Natsu were still staring each other down, an invisible pressure building between them.
It wasn't obvious, but Lucy felt it—a primal energy in the air, like two beasts sizing each other up.
Natsu's grin stretched wider, but his fingers twitched, flexing unconsciously.
"Heh," he chuckled, cracking his knuckles. "So, you're strong, huh?"
Naruto didn't even blink.
"No."
Natsu's eye twitched.
Lucy gulped, stepping between them again. "H-Hey! No fighting! We just met!"
Natsu grinned, rubbing his nose. "C'mon, just a little spar!"
Naruto exhaled slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"…Pass."
Natsu blinked. "Pass?"
Naruto turned away, walking past him as if he didn't exist.
"Yeah," Naruto said lazily, his bored tone making it clear he had zero interest. "You're not worth the effort."
A vein popped in Natsu's forehead.
"Not worth—?!"
He lunged.
"THEN LET ME SHOW YOU HOW—!"
Before he could even reach Naruto—
Boom.
A sudden wave of energy rippled outward from Naruto's body, an invisible shockwave that slammed into Natsu's chest, stopping him in midair.
The pink-haired mage froze, mid-punch, his entire body locked in place.
Lucy gasped. "W-What just—?!"
Natsu struggled against the force, his eyes wide.
It wasn't magic.
It wasn't a spell.
It was just… pure presence.
Like an invisible weight pressing down on him, making every muscle in his body lock up.
Naruto finally glanced over his shoulder, his expression flat.
"See? Annoying."
Then, as casually as breathing, he kept walking forward, completely ignoring Natsu.
The moment Naruto passed him, the pressure vanished, and Natsu stumbled forward, nearly falling on his face.
"Ugh… What the hell was that?!" Natsu muttered, shaking himself off.
Lucy just stared at Naruto, stunned.
Natsu's a Dragon Slayer. A real, full-fledged Dragon Slayer.
And Naruto had just… ignored him completely.
Like he wasn't even a threat.
A shiver ran down her spine.
Just how powerful is Naruto…?
—
After a tense few minutes, things calmed down.
Macao—now human again—was draped over Natsu's shoulder, still out cold from Naruto's earlier one-punch KO.
Lucy was still mentally recovering from her encounter with Fairy Tail's strongest knucklehead, but her excitement to join the guild had returned tenfold.
"So, are ya guys comin' to Fairy Tail with me?" Natsu asked, still grinning like an idiot, as if he had already forgotten about Naruto shutting him down.
Lucy nodded enthusiastically.
"Of course!" she beamed. "I've wanted to join since I was a kid!"
Naruto sighed deeply, rubbing his temples. "Do I even have a choice?"
"Nope!" Lucy chirped.
"Infuriating."
—
As they walked back through the snowy terrain, Lucy took out Layla's journal, flipping through the pages.
"So, we struck out on finding the key in Mt. Hakobe…" she muttered. "But if the key was moved, then it must be somewhere nearby."
Naruto glanced at the journal lazily.
"You got another cryptic puzzle?" he asked.
Lucy nodded, reading aloud:
"Where kings once ruled and dragons fell,
A knight of ice stands, frozen in hell.
Only the flames of truth and devil's might
Shall break the chains and set things right."
Naruto tilted his head. "Sounds dramatic."
Lucy pouted. "All these riddles are dramatic! But I think I have an idea where we need to go next…"
Natsu suddenly perked up. "Oi, did you say dragons?"
Lucy blinked. "Uh, yeah?"
Natsu grinned, his interest immediately piqued. "Then we should check out Clover Canyon!"
Lucy blinked again. "Wait—what's that?"
"It's this huge valley near Clover Town," Natsu explained. "There's was a rumor that there was a dragon there but it's just junk there from centuries ago. The whole area's covered in ruins and frozen statues."
Lucy's eyes widened.
"Kings once ruled… dragons fell… a knight of ice…"
She gasped. "That's gotta be it!"
Naruto sighed again. "Great. More walking."
Lucy elbowed him. "Would you rather teleport?"
Naruto deadpanned. "yes?"
Lucy huffed. "Then we're walking!"
"Infuriating," Naruto muttered.
Lucy shot him a glare. "STOP SAYING THAT!"
The journey to Clover Canyon had been nothing short of exhausting.
Despite Naruto's insistence that he could simply teleport them, Lucy had flat-out refused, citing that "rushing through a quest ruins the adventure."
Naruto had stared at her for a solid five seconds before muttering:
"Infuriating."
And then, to Lucy's horror, Natsu had agreed with her.
"Yeah! Walking makes the trip way more fun!"
Lucy had beamed.
Naruto had nearly ditched them both.
—
Now, hours later, they had finally arrived at Clover Canyon—and the sight before them was breathtaking.
The massive valley stretched out as far as the eye could see, its deep crimson cliffs standing proudly against the icy backdrop. The terrain was an odd mix of snow and ash, remnants of both fire and ice long since faded.
Ruined stone structures were scattered throughout the canyon—broken remnants of castles and fortresses lost to time.
And at the very center of it all…
A gigantic statue of a dragon, frozen solid in ice, loomed over the battlefield like a forgotten god.
Lucy let out a low whistle.
"Wow… this place is amazing."
Naruto barely spared the scenery a glance.
"Looks dead," he muttered, hands in his pockets.
Lucy pouted. "That's the whole point! This place was an ancient ruins!"
Natsu grinned, walking ahead. "Yup! They said the Dragon Wars were fought here centuries ago! Humans and dragons fought against each other, and a lot of dragons died in this canyon. But it's just a myth."
Lucy shivered. "That's… kinda sad."
Natsu crossed his arms. "It would be if it wasn't a bunch of barnacles. These are just ruins that I explored a long time ago trying to look for Igneel"
Naruto let out a tired sigh. "Fascinating. Are we done reminiscing, or are we gonna find this key?"
Lucy huffed, flipping through Layla's journal.
"Where kings once ruled and dragons fell,
A knight of ice stands, frozen in hell.
Only the flames of truth and devil's might
Shall break the chains and set things right."
Lucy bit her lip.
"A knight of ice… frozen in hell…"
She glanced around the battlefield, her eyes landing on the massive frozen dragon at the center.
"Could that be it…?"
Natsu rubbed his chin. "Dunno. But it's huge, so let's check it out!"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "Wonderful deduction, genius."
—
As they approached the massive frozen dragon, the air grew colder.
Lucy tightened her jacket around her. "It's weird… It's already cold, but this part of the canyon feels unnaturally freezing."
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "That's because there's magic at work."
Lucy paused. "Wait—you can sense magic?"
Naruto scoffed. "Obviously."
Before Lucy could grill him for more answers, Natsu suddenly stopped walking.
"Oi…"
His voice was different—serious.
Lucy blinked. "Natsu?"
The Dragon Slayer tensed, sniffing the air.
"Something's here."
Naruto's bored expression didn't change, but his fingers twitched slightly.
"I was wondering when it would show itself."
Lucy looked between them nervously. "W-What's going on—?"
Then—
The ice covering the dragon's head CRACKED.
Lucy's breath hitched.
A low, rumbling growl filled the canyon, vibrating the very ground beneath their feet.
Then—
BOOM.
The entire frozen dragon shattered, sending a massive wave of frost and wind in all directions. Lucy was nearly knocked off her feet, shielding her face as shards of blue ice flew past her.
When the storm settled…
A figure stood in the remains of the shattered ice.
Tall. Cloaked in heavy blue armor, its body was covered in ancient frost, as if it had been entombed in ice for centuries.
Its helmet gleamed under the moonlight, and in its hands, it held a massive spear, its tip still coated in ice crystals.
Then, it spoke.
"Who dares disturb the Knight of the Frozen Throne?"
Lucy froze.
It was a guardian.
A knight frozen in time, still bound to protect this ruin.
Naruto sighed.
"Great. Another obstacle."
The knight slowly raised its spear, its glowing blue eyes locking onto them.
"The Trial of the Frozen King must not be disturbed…"
Then, with blinding speed, the knight charged—and Lucy barely had time to scream.
"MOVE!"
Time seemed to slow as the ice-covered knight lunged, his massive spear gleaming under the pale moonlight. The sheer weight of his presence sent a shiver through the air, frost spreading beneath his feet with each step.
Lucy's heart pounded. She barely had time to process what was happening before—
BOOM!
Natsu grabbed her by the waist and leapt back, narrowly dodging the knight's piercing thrust. The force of the attack sent icy shockwaves through the ground, leaving behind jagged spikes of frost where she had just been standing.
"Too slow," the knight rumbled, his glowing blue eyes narrowing as he turned his spear toward them again.
Lucy let out a shaky breath. "W-What is this thing?!"
"A pain in the ass," Naruto muttered, barely moving as his icy gaze locked onto the knight.
The knight straightened, his posture perfectly disciplined, like a soldier long past death still bound to his duty.
"You seek the power sealed within this ruin," he declared. "But only those worthy may pass. You shall face the Trial of the Frozen King."
Lucy gasped, eyes darting to the shattered remains of the giant ice dragon behind him.
"Was that the Frozen King?"
Naruto exhaled tiredly, rubbing his temple. "Great. Another self-righteous guardian."
Natsu, however, grinned, cracking his knuckles.
"Fine by me," he said, fire flickering between his fingertips. "I don't really get what's going on, but if it's a fight you want—"
He rushed forward, flames exploding around his fists.
"I'll take you on!"
—
Natsu's fire-coated fists swung forward, aiming straight for the knight's frozen chestplate.
BOOM!
The flames exploded on impact, sending a wave of heat through the freezing air. But the knight didn't flinch—he simply raised his armored forearm, blocking the strike like it was nothing.
Lucy's eyes widened. "Natsu's flames didn't do anything?!"
Naruto sighed. "Of course not."
With a flick of his wrist, the knight retaliated—his spear whipping through the air with the speed of a hurricane.
"DRAGON'S CLAW!"
Natsu barely managed to twist his body, dodging the spear by inches before swinging a flaming kick at the knight's head.
But before the hit could land, the knight simply disappeared.
"Wha—?!"
In the blink of an eye, the knight reappeared behind Natsu, the tip of his spear hovering inches from his spine.
"You fight with passion," the knight rumbled, "but passion alone is not enough."
The moment those words left his mouth—
CRACK.
The knight's spear collided with Natsu's side, sending the Dragon Slayer flying across the battlefield.
"GAH!"
Natsu crashed into a nearby stone ruin, breaking through the ancient walls with a loud BOOM.
Lucy gasped. "NATSU!"
But before she could run to help him, the knight's gaze landed on her.
"You are the one carrying the legacy," the knight said, tilting his head slightly. "Daughter of Layla Heartfilia… step forward."
Lucy froze in place.
"H-How do you know who I am?" she stammered.
The knight's glowing blue eyes flickered. "Your blood calls to the key."
Lucy felt her stomach drop.
So he was guarding the key.
But before she could respond, Naruto—who had been watching the fight in silence—finally took a step forward.
"I'm getting bored," he muttered.
Lucy turned to him. "N-Naruto, what are you—"
In a blink, Naruto disappeared.
The knight's head snapped up in surprise.
BOOM.
Naruto's fist drove straight through the knight's chestplate, shattering it like brittle ice. The sheer force of the blow sent a cracking shockwave through the canyon, splintering the ground beneath them.
The knight didn't even have time to react.
His glowing blue eyes flickered, a brief moment of shock flashing across his expressionless helmet.
Then—
His entire body fractured, thin veins of light spreading through the cracks in his ice-coated armor.
Lucy took a step back, her breath caught in her throat.
No way…
With a final pulse of power, the knight crumbled, his body disintegrating into a whirlwind of snow and shattered ice.
The sound of frozen metal clattering to the ground was the only thing left.
A heavy silence fell over the battlefield.
Naruto sighed, shaking the ice dust off his hand. "Well, that was a waste of time."
Lucy just stared at him, her mouth slightly open.
Natsu, who had just dragged himself out of the rubble, blinked in disbelief.
"H-Hey!" He pointed at the spot where the knight had been. "I was still fighting him!"
Naruto glanced at him, expression flat.
"No, you weren't."
Natsu bristled. "I totally was!"
"You were getting thrown around like a ragdoll."
"I WAS LETTING HIM GET TIRED!"
Naruto tilted his head. "By letting him stab you?"
Natsu sputtered. "T-That was strategy!"
"Infuriating."
Lucy groaned, rubbing her temples. "Can you two stop acting like children for five minutes?!"
Then, something caught her eye.
Among the shattered remains of the knight, something glimmered under the ice.
A key.
—
Lucy's heart pounded as she rushed toward the fallen debris, carefully brushing aside shards of ice until her fingers wrapped around the object.
It was cold to the touch, even through her gloves.
Slowly, she lifted it into the dim moonlight—
And her breath hitched.
It was a Demonic key.
But unlike her usual golden Zodiac keys, this one was pitch black, its metallic surface laced with intricate silver engravings resembling frost-covered chains.
At the top of the handle, a symbol of a heart was embedded within a blue gemstone, pulsing faintly as if it were alive.
Lucy's grip tightened.
"This is… one of the Lost Keys…"
Naruto let out a bored sigh. "Took you long enough to notice."
Lucy turned to him, eyes shining with excitement. "Whose key is this?!"
Naruto flicked a glance at the engraving, his face barely changing.
"Lust."
Lucy blinked. "Lust?"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "A problem."
Lucy raised a brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Naruto crossed his arms. "She's the Devil of Lust, one of the most dangerous of the Lost Keys. And before you get any ideas—don't summon her."
Lucy pouted. "Why not?"
Naruto gave her a flat look. "Because she'll break you."
Lucy froze.
Naruto sighed again, looking at the key like it was a ticking time bomb.
"She isn't just a devil. She's… a different breed. Strong, manipulative, and way too damn flirty for her own good."
Lucy felt a small shiver—not from the cold, but from the way Naruto spoke about her.
Like he was actually wary of her.
"…That bad, huh?"
Naruto shrugged. "I'm not afraid of her."
Lucy narrowed her eyes. "You sound afraid."
"I'm annoyed," Naruto corrected. "She's infuriating."
Lucy snorted. "Oh wow. You found someone even worse than me?"
Naruto gave her a look.
"Not funny."
Lucy smirked, holding up the key. "I mean, if she's so powerful, wouldn't she be helpful?"
Naruto scoffed. "You don't make a deal with Lust without consequences."
Lucy frowned. "But—"
Naruto gave her a blank stare.
"Do you want to end up as a frozen statue?"
Lucy gulped, clutching the key tightly to her chest.
"Right. No summoning yet."
—
With the key secured, their job in Clover Canyon was done.
Lucy had never felt this lucky—two of the Lost Keys in just a few days.
"Alright!" Natsu stretched, grinning. "Now that we're done, let's head to Fairy Tail!"
Lucy beamed. "I can't believe I'm finally going to join!"
Naruto sighed, hands in his pockets. "I can't believe I'm getting dragged into this."
Lucy elbowed him. "Oh, hush! You'll love it!"
Naruto doubted that.
Magnolia
After what felt like a lifetime of traveling, they had finally arrived in Magnolia.
The town was just as Lucy had imagined—warm, bustling, and full of life. The sun was beginning to set, casting a golden hue over the streets as merchants packed up their stalls and people walked home for the evening.
"Ah! We're finally here!" Lucy exclaimed, stretching her arms as she breathed in the fresh air.
The five-hour trip had been exhausting, made even worse by Natsu's motion sickness. Between his groaning and near-death experience in the carriage, Lucy was surprised he had even made it without passing out.
Naruto, as always, looked unimpressed.
"It's getting dark," he noted, hands buried in his pockets. "You should find us a place to stay. You can deal with the guild tomorrow."
Lucy pouted. "Oh, right… we do need somewhere to sleep." She turned to Natsu, bowing politely. "I'm sorry, but we'll have to find an inn first."
Natsu grinned, waving her off. "No worries! If you need directions, just ask anyone! Fairy Tail's famous around here!"
Macao, now fully awake after they left him on an inn to go to clover canyon, smiled at the two blondes. "Thanks again for saving my ass back there."
Lucy gave him a warm smile. "It was nothing!"
Naruto, meanwhile, had already started walking away.
"Let's go," he muttered, clearly more interested in getting some sleep than sticking around.
Lucy huffed, watching him walk off. "..What's his problem?"
Macao smirked. "Lover's quarrel?"
Lucy instantly turned red. "W-W-We're not lovers!"
She quickly ran after Naruto, leaving behind a chuckling Macao and a smirking Natsu.
"They'll be a great addition to the guild, huh?" Macao mused.
Natsu grinned, crossing his arms. "Yeah! And that Naruto guy… I can tell he's strong. Can't wait to kick his ass tomorrow!"
—
As they walked through the quiet streets, Lucy balanced herself on a low stone barricade, her arms spread out as she tried to keep her footing.
Naruto glanced at her, his brow slightly furrowed.
"What's with the face?" Lucy asked, catching him looking at her strangely.
"What face?"
"That face," she jumped down, pinching his cheeks with both hands. "You look like you just lost a bet or something!"
Naruto sighed, letting her tug at his cheeks without resistance.
"It's because I did lose a bet."
Lucy blinked. "Eh? What kind of bet?"
Naruto turned away, hands resting on his left wrist, as if remembering something unpleasant.
"It's about Natsu."
Lucy's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"
Naruto exhaled. "That guy back there? He's a demon."
Lucy froze. "A… demon?"
Naruto nodded. "Resurrected by Pride."
Lucy stared at him. "B-But he looks like a normal human!"
Naruto shrugged. "Appearance can change when a demon knows their true potential. Until then, they can look like anyone else."
Lucy swallowed hard. "So… what was the bet?"
Naruto finally turned to face her, his icy blue eyes locking onto hers.
"It was a game between me and Pride," he said simply. "Who could be the first to turn a human into a demon with their contractor's approval."
Lucy shivered. "Y-You guys were just playing with people's lives?"
Naruto sighed. "It's not that simple. We can't forcefully turn humans into demons. They have to be revived by their contractor's wish. Pride's contractor made that choice."
Lucy's eyes filled with concern. "Then… you lost the bet?"
Naruto nodded, his expression completely serious.
Lucy felt her heart tighten. "And… what was your punishment?"
Naruto's expression darkened as he raised his left wrist. He met her gaze, his eyes intense and unwavering.
"A slap on the wrist."
Lucy's brain shut down.
"…Eh?"
Naruto's serious expression didn't change.
"A slap. Right here," he pointed to his wrist. "Hurt like hell."
Lucy's left eye twitched violently.
She had just spent the last minute panicking over his tragic past, only to find out his 'punishment' was…
A slap.
"You… you…"
SMACK!
Lucy whacked him over the head.
"Idiot!"
Naruto clutched his head in fake pain. "You don't understand the pain of being slapped on the wrist!"
"Shut up!"
—
After some arguing, they finally found an apartment.
Only one problem—
It was Lucy's apartment, and it was meant for one person.
"Let's get some sleep," Naruto yawned, taking off his top as he walked toward her bed.
"NO!"
Lucy pushed him away, but her hands landed on his chest, making her instantly realize just how muscular he was.
She jerked back, her face turning red. "Y-Y-You take the couch!"
Naruto stared blankly. "Why?"
Lucy glared at him. "B-Because boys and girls can't sleep in the same bed!"
"But we already did—"
"THAT DOESN'T COUNT!"
Naruto sighed in annoyance and turned toward the door.
"Infuriating."
With that, he walked out of the room.
Lucy huffed, crossing her arms. "Stupid devil…"
—
Later that night, Lucy sat at the kitchen table, staring at the Key of Lust. Then the silence was broken when Naruto suddenly talked from the living room.
"Don't summon her. She's worse than you." Naruto muttered lazily while lying on the couch.
Lucy gives an annoyed sigh and just continued checking the key. She clutched the key, staring at its sleek metallic design. The tribal heart-shaped tip and glowing rose-colored accents were stunning.
She smiled, feeling one step closer to reviving her mother.
Tomorrow, they would join Fairy Tail.
But for now—
She needed sleep.
Fairy tail
Naruto stood stoically in front of the massive double doors of Fairy Tail's guildhall, his arms crossed, expression completely blank.
Beside him, Lucy was practically vibrating with excitement, her hands clenched into tight fists as she tried to contain her nervous energy.
The two had been standing there for a solid two minutes.
Naruto, who was already losing his patience, finally spoke up.
"Are we going in or not?" he asked, his voice flat and bored.
Lucy took a deep breath, steeling herself.
"Y-Yeah! Let's go in!"
She pushed open the doors—
WHOOSH—THUNK!
Lucy barely had time to react before Naruto suddenly appeared in front of her, his hand snapping up with lightning-fast reflexes to swat away a flying chair that had been hurtling straight for her head.
The wooden chair splintered against the wall, breaking into pieces.
Lucy's eyes widened.
Inside, the entire guild was a warzone.
Tables were flipped over, mages were shouting and laughing as they threw punches, spells, and furniture at each other. The brawl was so chaotic, it was as if no one even noticed the door opening.
Naruto sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose.
"So this is Fairy Tail…"
Lucy, however, was completely unbothered by the destruction.
Her eyes sparkled with admiration as she looked around the room, her gaze zeroing in on the familiar faces she had only ever read about.
"Naruto, look! That's Cana Alberona!" she gasped, pointing excitedly at a beautiful brunette casually chugging an entire barrel of beer in the middle of the fight. "She's the biggest drinker in Fairy Tail!"
Naruto exhaled. "So infuriating…"
Unlike Layla, who had always been a loner, Lucy was determined to drag him into this insane guild with her.
"Kyaaaaah!" Lucy squealed again, hitting Naruto's arm repeatedly in excitement. "It's Mirajane!"
She pointed at the white-haired beauty walking towards them, a sweet, welcoming smile on her face.
"Ara, newcomers?" Mira greeted, her voice soft and kind—
Then—
She stopped dead in her tracks.
Her expression froze, her blue eyes widening slightly as her smile faltered.
Naruto narrowed his gaze, watching her carefully.
Something was wrong.
Mira suddenly clutched her head, her fingers digging into her scalp.
The moment she laid eyes on Naruto, something had awakened inside her.
The voices…
They were whispering.
CLAIM HIM.
MAKE HIM OURS.
TEAR HIS CLOTHES AND RAVAGE HIM.
Mirajane let out a quiet gasp, dropping the plate she was holding.
Before it could hit the ground, Naruto caught it effortlessly, his blue eyes locked onto hers with quiet intensity.
Mira's breath hitched.
He was too close.
And she felt it.
A powerful pull, something dark and intoxicating clawing at her insides, whispering to her in a language she didn't understand.
Lucy rushed over, her face filled with concern.
"Mira-san! Are you okay?!"
Mira forced a smile, trying to ignore the pounding in her head.
"Y-Yes… just a headache…"
But the whispers were growing louder.
Her nails dug into her skin, her breathing shaky.
Naruto, arms crossed, stared down at her.
"You're a Take Over Mage," he said matter-of-factly. "And if I'm right… you have the Satan Soul."
Mira's eyes snapped to him, wide with shock.
Lucy blinked. "Wait, what does that mean?"
Naruto sighed, already annoyed.
"It means," he explained, "she has demons inside her."
Lucy stiffened. "D-Demons?!"
Naruto nodded.
"And right now, they're reacting to me."
Mira's face burned, and she quickly clutched her head again, trembling.
The voices weren't whispering anymore.
They were screaming.
Lucy panicked. "Naruto! We need to get her somewhere quiet!"
Naruto let out a long, dramatic sigh. "Infuriating…"
Still, he grabbed Mira's wrist and helped Lucy drag her into the guild's storage room, away from the chaos of the main hall.
—
Mira was on the floor, panting, her body burning up as she clutched her chest.
The voices had never been this loud before.
Please… stop… make it stop…
Lucy kneeled beside her, worried sick. "What's happening to her, Naruto? Should we call someone?!"
Naruto crossed his arms. "No point. She's just experiencing a demon's natural instincts."
Lucy frowned. "What does that mean?"
Naruto rubbed his temple. "It means," he said dryly, "that the demons inside her want to mate with me."
Lucy froze.
Her brain short-circuited.
"…E-Excuse me?!"
Naruto sighed again. "Demons are drawn to superior beings. Her instincts are reacting to me because, well…" He gestured at himself. "Obviously."
Lucy's face turned red.
"Y-You—you—what the hell kind of explanation is that?!"
Mira let out a soft whimper, still trembling.
"Please…" she whispered. "Make it stop…"
Naruto groaned. "Ugh. I hate dealing with this."
Lucy crossed her arms. "S-So what do we do?!"
Naruto crouched beside Mira, grabbing her chin gently, forcing her to look at him.
"The only way to calm a demon in heat," he said, "is to give it what it wants."
Lucy's face exploded into color.
"YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE SEX WITH HER?!"
Naruto deadpanned. "No, dumbass."
Lucy stiffened. "T-Then what—"
Before she could finish, Naruto leaned down and pressed his lips to Mira's.
Lucy froze.
Mira froze.
The whispers in Mira's head vanished instantly.
Her body relaxed, the burning sensation melting away. A soft warmth filled her chest instead, something… unexpectedly gentle.
Her eyes fluttered open.
She realized—
Naruto was kissing her.
Her face turned bright red, and she instantly pushed him off, her hand slapping against her lips.
"P-P-P-PERVERT!"
Lucy, now boiling with an emotion she refused to name, kicked Naruto in the ribs.
"YOU PERVERT!"
Naruto grunted, landing against a few barrels.
"Definitely Layla…" he muttered under his breath.
After calming down, Mira slowly sat up, staring at him, her face still flushed.
Lucy took a deep breath, still glaring. "Okay. Mira-san… Naruto is a devil. Please don't tell anyone."
Mira blinked, then nodded. "I… see…"
She turned to Naruto, still blushing.
"Thank you… for helping me."
Naruto groaned. "Infuriating…"
Mira smiled. "Oh! I never got your names!"
Lucy beamed. "I'm Lucy Heartfilia! And that grumpy one is Naruto."
Mira giggled. "It's nice to meet you both!" She looked at Naruto.
"Especially you, Naruto-kun~"
Lucy's eye twitched.
"Narutoo…"
Naruto sighed.
"Infuriating."
The chaos of the guildhall had finally settled, leaving behind a few knocked-out mages, overturned tables, and the lingering scent of ale and magic in the air.
Standing at the guild bar, Lucy was practically glowing with excitement as Mirajane pressed the Fairy Tail guild stamp against the back of her hand.
With a soft glow, the mark of Fairy Tail appeared on her skin.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail!" Mira beamed, officially sealing Lucy's place in the guild.
Lucy gasped in delight, staring at her new guild mark with wide eyes. "I can't believe it… I'm finally a Fairy Tail wizard!"
Mira giggled. "The master isn't here right now, but I'm sure he'll welcome you with open arms when he returns!"
The warmth of the moment was almost enough to drown out the destruction left behind by the recent brawl—almost.
As unconscious bodies remained slumped over tables, Mira turned her attention toward Naruto.
"And how about you, Naruto-san?"
Her cheeks burned slightly when he turned to her, those icy blue eyes locking onto hers like a predator catching prey.
"W-What color and where?" she stammered.
Naruto's response was immediate.
"I'm not interested."
"Eh?!"
Both Lucy and Mira spoke at the same time, their expressions mirroring shock as they looked at him.
"I can't become a Fairy Tail member," Naruto said, his tone flat. "I'm a devil."
His explanation, however, didn't land.
Lucy placed her hands on her hips, puffing up like an angry cat.
"So?! It doesn't matter if you're a devil or not! You're joining Fairy Tail, and that's an order!"
Naruto sighed, shaking his head with amusement.
"Definitely Layla…"
Then, to everyone's shock, Naruto shrugged off his jacket and pulled his shirt over his head.
Both Mira and Lucy froze.
Their brains immediately short-circuited.
Without the fabric hiding his upper body, Naruto's sculpted physique was on full display—a powerful, lean torso lined with defined muscle, scars barely visible along his toned abs. His body was ridiculously well-built, every inch carved from raw strength and control.
Mira instantly turned red, eyes snapping away.
Why am I blushing?! she thought, mentally panicking.
She had seen plenty of shirtless men in Fairy Tail before—Laxus, Elfman, Gray—but for some reason, Naruto was different.
There was something undeniably primal about his presence, something that made her stomach flip.
Lucy, on the other hand, was shamelessly staring.
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Staring is rude, you know."
Lucy immediately snapped out of it, whipping her head away with an exaggerated cough.
"S-Staring? W-Who's staring?! I wasn't staring!"
"You should be more honest with yourself," Naruto sighed.
Mira, still blushing, quickly pressed the guild stamp against Naruto's left chest, avoiding eye contact as she sealed the mark in deep red.
"W-Welcome to Fairy Tail," she muttered, immediately turning away to hide her burning face.
Naruto simply chuckled, pulling his shirt and jacket back on as if nothing had happened.
Lucy was still facing the opposite direction, her face completely red.
The moment Lucy read the mission details, she felt a deep sense of betrayal.
"Y-You tricked me!" she groaned, dragging a hand down her face in pure frustration.
The request had sounded simple enough—infiltrate a mansion and retrieve a stolen item. But what Natsu conveniently forgot to mention was that their target was a perverted old man who was recruiting blonde maids.
And now, Lucy was expected to wear a maid outfit as part of the infiltration.
"Kill me now…"
Natsu, of course, looked completely unbothered, flashing his usual grin as they approached the entrance of the town.
"We're already here, so let's just get this over with!" he cheered, hands behind his head.
Then—
Natsu suddenly paused, blinking in confusion.
"Oh yeah… where's that Naruto guy?"
Lucy froze on the spot.
Her face paled.
A cold sweat ran down her back.
"…I-I forgot about him!"
Panic set in as she quickly reached into her purse, grabbing Naruto's key.
Fumbling slightly, she whispered the incantation.
"Open! Gate of Hell—Wrath!"
—
Naruto appeared in a burst of crimson energy—mid-sip of a large beer mug.
He blinked.
Took a slow, deliberate sip from his drink.
Then finally looked at Lucy.
"You know…" he muttered, voice unimpressed, "you could have just called me telepathically instead of forcefully summoning me."
Lucy blinked back.
"…I could do that?!"
Naruto stared at her.
Then sighed.
"You forgot?"
Lucy pouted, crossing her arms. "I didn't know! I-I thought I could only summon you like this!"
"Infuriating."
Natsu turned back toward them, his usual bright grin in place.
"Oy! There you are!"
He cracked his knuckles, his excitement almost contagious. "After this mission, wanna spar?"
Naruto raised a brow, then shrugged. "Sure."
Lucy barely had time to register that conversation before she grabbed Naruto by the wrist and dragged him away.
"C'mon, we need to do something first!"
"…Why am I being dragged again?" Naruto sighed.
"Just shut up and follow me!"
Lucy dragged Naruto into a small clothing store, shoving him toward a bench near the dressing rooms.
"Stay here!" she huffed before disappearing behind a curtain.
Naruto, now seated and resting his chin in his hand, sighed deeply.
"This is so cliché…"
He stared at the ceiling, bored out of his mind as he waited.
A few minutes later—
Lucy stepped out of the changing room.
Naruto glanced up—
Then immediately looked down.
A faint blush crossed his face as he averted his gaze, pretending to focus on the floor.
Lucy's maid outfit was… dangerously short.
The skirt barely reached mid-thigh, her long legs completely exposed. The outfit itself was tight-fitting, emphasizing her curves. Her golden hair was now styled into pigtails, giving her an unexpectedly cute look.
Naruto cleared his throat.
"…Yeah, that looks fine. Let's go."
Without another word, he stood up and grabbed Lucy's wrist, dragging her toward the counter.
"H-Hey! Wait!" Lucy yelped, her face turning bright red.
"Let me change back first!"
But Naruto ignored her, pulling her along as several shoppers in the store turned to stare.
Lucy felt her soul leave her body.
By the time they arrived at the front of the mansion, Lucy was still flustered, arms wrapped around herself.
Natsu, however, grinned at her maid outfit.
"Nice outfit, Lucy!"
Lucy groaned. "T-Thanks… I'm kinda nervous about this…"
Naruto, meanwhile, casually strolled past them, hands in his coat pockets.
"Wait! Naruto, what are you doing?!" Lucy whispered harshly.
Naruto didn't even stop walking.
"Scouting the mansion," he said simply. "Just tell me if you need me."
Then, to everyone's shock, Naruto walked straight through the front gate—as if it weren't even there.
Natsu's jaw dropped.
"WOAH! HOW DID HE DO THAT?!"
Lucy just sighed. "I stopped asking questions."
Naruto walked through the lavish halls, his boots silent against the polished marble floors.
Something was off.
He hadn't mentioned it to Lucy yet, but from the moment they arrived, he had felt a familiar energy signature inside the mansion.
It wasn't just some stolen artifact.
It was a key.
And not just any key.
Stopping in his tracks, he heard the faint ringing of the doorbell—Natsu and Lucy had finally arrived at the front entrance.
His gaze shifted upward as he spotted a short, ugly man descending a large staircase, surrounded by maids that were equally unattractive.
Naruto rolled his eyes.
He had no interest in the perverted old man.
Instead, he teleported past them, phasing through the floors until he arrived in front of a locked room.
Without hesitation, he walked straight through the door.
Inside—
A large safe stood against the wall, covered in layers of security spells.
Naruto's eyes narrowed.
"It can't be…"
Reaching out, he placed his hand against the safe's surface.
The metal groaned, bending under his sheer force before completely snapping apart with a single motion.
The safe broke open, revealing its contents.
Naruto's eyes widened slightly.
Inside, resting atop a black velvet cloth, was a key unlike any he had seen before.
A Zion Key.
Taking feedbacks from long ago, the story before felt rush and I wanted more story in-between instead of getting the key at the mountain.
Till the next chapter!