Chapter 13

Fairy Tail, Magnolia - year X784

In the grand yet cozy office of Fairy Tail's master, Naruto found himself standing before Makarov, the old man's sharp eyes studying him with the kind of scrutiny only a seasoned leader could possess. The air carried a mixture of pipe smoke and old parchment, a setting that felt oddly nostalgic to the blonde.

"Ahem—So, how's our guild treating you, Naruto?" Makarov finally asked, his gruff yet warm voice cutting through the silence.

Naruto grinned, scratching the back of his head. "Great! It's a fine guild, a fine one really—" He paused, the smile faltering ever so slightly as a distant look flickered in his blue eyes. "Reminds me a lot of home."

Makarov didn't miss the shift in his expression, his own face softening. He had seen that look before—the expression of someone lost in a world not their own, yet determined to make the best of it. He took a puff from his pipe before exhaling slowly.

"You've met Mystogan, yes?" The question was pointed, as if testing Naruto's awareness.

Naruto nodded, his face quickly regaining its usual exuberance. "Yeah, we talked a bit. He told me you were aware of his situation... But I guess you already have an idea about mine too."

"Indeed," Makarov confirmed, setting his pipe down. "Considering Mystogan's origins and the lack of information on you prior to your arrival in Cait Shelter, it wasn't difficult to put two and two together."

Naruto hummed in acknowledgment. This old man was sharp—no wonder he reminded him of the Third Hokage. The same wisdom, the same fatherly presence, yet... Makarov felt more approachable, less restrained by formalities. That kind of trust came instinctively.

"As of now, I am aiding Mystogan in his endeavors, though my responsibilities as master and council member limit how much I can directly assist him," Makarov continued, folding his hands together. "Naruto, Mystogan carries a heavy burden. He's... a difficult child when it comes to forging bonds. Aloof, but not cold."

Naruto nodded in agreement. Mystogan had been distant during their conversation, but he could tell there was no malice in the man—just hesitation, a wall built by circumstances.

"As someone who shares a similar fate," Makarov continued, his voice laced with a rare sense of seriousness, "I ask you to accompany him. Perhaps your presence might be what he needs."

The answer was immediate. "Of course!" Naruto beamed, his energy infectious. "It's not every day you meet someone dealing with the same 'unique' problem, after all!"

A small chuckle rumbled from Makarov. "I expected no less from you."

A moment of silence settled between them before Makarov's face grew darker, his normally jovial expression shifting into something far more grave. "Currently, while Mystogan is handling his fair share of missions, he is also investigating the disappearance of a phenomenon called Anima."

Naruto nodded his brows furrowed.

Makarov continued. "Without a doubt, even if there are no immediate signs now, the day will come when your world comes looking for you. And I know for certain... it won't be a peaceful transition."

Naruto clenched his fists at that, his mind racing. He had learn a couple of things about interdimensional travel between different universes— Celestial Magic and Anima. He had always known that being here was temporary, that his world still existed somewhere beyond the horizon of magic. But now, for the first time, he was being confronted with the reality that returning might not be what he's expecting to be, a simple journey through a portal may not be what he's going to end up in.

Anima.

He took a deep breath before flashing Makarov a confident grin. "When that time comes, I'll be prepared, I swear I won't allow any harm to come to our guild— this world. You have my word Gramps."

Makarov smiled, though the worry did not leave his eyes. "Good. Just remember, Naruto—you're part of this guild now. No matter what happens, you're not alone."

Naruto's eyes curved into a warm smile

Fairy Tail, Magnolia - Guild Hall

Naruto stood in front of the guild's massive Request Board, scanning the various missions available. With Wendy and Carla currently working under Erza's team, he figured this was a good chance to take on something solo. Just as he was about to make a choice, a sudden gust of wind blew past him, and he felt a piece of paper slip into his left pocket.

He blinked. That's weird.

Reaching inside, he pulled out the note and immediately sensed a faint but familiar magic signature.

"Sheesh, how secretive is this guy?" Naruto muttered with a sweatdrop, already knowing who it was from.

With his Sage Mode constantly active, he traced the lingering magic from the paper and followed the trail, his feet instinctively leading him to the rooftop of the guild. The winds were stronger up here, rustling his cloak as he stepped forward.

Standing at the edge of the roof, unmoved by the breeze, was Mystogan—his ever-mysterious presence exuding an aura of quiet authority.

"You're here," the S-Class wizard greeted, his voice calm and unreadable.

Naruto crossed his arms. "You needed help with something?"

Mystogan nodded slightly. "Normally, I'd handle this mission alone, but Master insisted you accompany me."

Naruto gave an understanding nod. "What's the mission?"

Mystogan turned his gaze toward the horizon, his expression unreadable. "It's about the remnants of the dark guilds that once operated under Oración Seis. While their main force has been dismantled, some of their subsidiary guilds are still active. The mission is to subjugate what's left before they start regaining numbers—especially after the recent battle at Worth Woodsea."

Naruto exhaled sharply. "So, clean-up duty, huh?" His lips curled into a grin. "Sounds like my kind of work."

Mystogan remained silent for a moment, then nodded. "We leave at dawn."

The first location they approached was a hidden encampment nestled deep in the wooded outskirts of Fiore. Their targets, a remnant faction of Shrouded Claw, specialized in shadow-based magic and guerilla tactics.

The moment Naruto and Mystogan stepped into their hideout, the dark wizards sprang into action. Magic circles flared, shadows contorting into spears and jagged claws lunging toward them.

Naruto blurred forward, sidestepping incoming attacks with seamless footwork, with a flicker of movement, he weaved through the barrage of shadow constructs, closing the gap between him and the first enemy. A vicious roundhouse kick sent the dark mage sprawling into a tree. The moment contact was made, Naruto felt the familiar pull of his natural drain ability activating—the mage's magic being siphoned away, leaving him utterly drained and unconscious.

More came at him. One conjured a thick fog of darkness, obscuring sight. Another launched a barrage of jagged shadow tendrils meant to impale him.

Naruto smirked. "Cute tricks."

Before the tendrils could reach him, Mystogan took action. With a wave of his staff, he dispelled the shadow fog, revealing Naruto already within arm's reach of the attackers.

The first went down with a brutal elbow to the gut, the second caught a spinning backfist, and the last tried to retreat, only for Mystogan to strike his staff against the ground, causing the air itself to ripple. The dark wizard collapsed, incapacitated by the overwhelming pressure of Mystogan's magic.

It wasn't long before the guild was completely subjugated. The Magic Council's enforcers arrived shortly after, hauling the defeated members away.

Their next destination was a ruined temple where Crimson Vale, a guild composed of fire and metal magic users, had made their base. Unlike Shrouded Claw, these mages were more aggressive, meeting Naruto and Mystogan head-on with a barrage of molten spells and razor-sharp metal projectiles.

One fire mage conjured an enormous flaming serpent, sending it hissing toward Naruto. The blonde darted forward, dodging the serpent's snapping jaws before leaping onto its back and running along its fiery spine. He lunged off at the last second, landing a devastating knee strike to its summoner's chest.

Another enemy wielding steel magic came at him, hands transforming into massive blades. He swung wildly, but Naruto slipped past each strike with minimal movement, effortlessly dodging before driving a hammer fist into the man's shoulder, shattering his balance. As soon as contact was made, Naruto's drain took effect, rendering the opponent unconscious in seconds.

Meanwhile, Mystogan handled his side with precise efficiency. With a simple twirl of his staff, he manipulated gravity, causing several enemies to collapse under their own weight. When one desperate mage attempted a sneak attack from behind, Mystogan vanished into thin air, reappearing behind them with his staff already mid-swing.

The battle ended swiftly. Another guild neutralized.

The last stronghold was the most fortified. Abyss Fang, composed of powerful dark and holder-type magic users, had barricaded themselves within an abandoned fortress. The duo infiltrated the base, but it wasn't long before alarms were raised, and they were swarmed by dozens of enemies.

Naruto found himself in the thick of it, darting between multiple opponents, weaving past dark tendrils and enchanted chains meant to bind him. He retaliated with a flurry of devastating blows— an uppercut that sent a mage airborne, a spinning kick that sent another flying, and a brutal shoulder charge that shattered a wooden barricade along with the enemy behind it.

Mystogan, in turn, used his magic to nullify the battlefield itself. With precise waves of his staff, he disarmed enemy spellcasters, silencing their magic before knocking them unconscious with swift, calculated strikes.

One final enemy stood—a particularly strong mage wielding dual enchanted scimitars crackling with electric energy. He lunged at Naruto, blades slashing in rapid succession. The blonde dodged, narrowly avoiding each strike before countering with a perfectly timed palm thrust to the solar plexus, disrupting the enemy's breath and flow of magic. The scimitars fell from his grip as Naruto drained the last remnants of his power.

With that, Abyss Fang fell.

Campfire - Forest, near the fallen stronghold of Abyss Fang.

The crackling fire flickered against the dark forest, casting long shadows across the clearing. The remnants of their mission—the subdued dark guild members—were already bound and sent off with the Rune Knights. The air still carried the lingering scent of battle, but for now, it was quiet, save for the distant sounds of nocturnal creatures.

Naruto stretched his arms behind his head, sighing as he turned the skewered fish over the fire. "Man, this takes me back. It's been a while since I last did something this simple."

Across from him, Mystogan remained standing, his masked face hidden under the cowl of his cloak, watching the fire as though lost in thought. His presence was always distant, withdrawn, as if he carried a weight Naruto couldn't yet see.

"You know," Naruto began, "you're pretty non-discreet for someone who tries so hard to stay private." He raised a brow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

Mystogan tilted his head slightly. "How so?"

Naruto gestured lazily in his direction. "Your whole… aesthetic. The cloak, the mask, the staffs, the way you avoid people—kinda makes you stand out more. Haven't you ever considered wearing something a little more... sleek?" the blonde recalled his rival's fashion choices—Sasuke was similar, though more restrained, yet still utterly ridiculous.

Mystogan let out a small exhale—maybe a sigh, maybe the ghost of amusement. "I suppose you have a point, but my appearance serves a purpose."

Naruto observed him for a moment before his expression turned more serious. "It was Jellal's, wasn't it?"

The S-Class wizard remained silent.

Naruto poked at the fire with a stick, eyes thoughtful. "I met him back on our mission against Oracion Seis. From what I've heard, he did a lot of terrible things, but… he seemed remorseful about it."

Mystogan's posture didn't change, but something in the air between them shifted. Naruto wasn't just making idle conversation—he was offering understanding, even if unspoken.

The fire crackled, filling the quiet space between them.

The S-Class wizard remained silent for a moment before giving a small nod. "Yes," he finally admitted. "It's to avoid unnecessary confusion…"

Mystogan's hands tightened slightly over his staff. "He made lots of enemies and at the same time connected with other wicked individuals. Considering that I share the same face as him it's best for me to hide as for the other people not to connect his- Jellal's connections with Fairy Tail. It is to protect the guild."

"And now he seeks redemption, though whether he will ever truly find it…" He trailed off, shaking his head slightly. "It is not an easy road."

Naruto hummed in thought. "Redemption, huh? I guess I get that. I've seen plenty of people struggle with their past, trying to make up for it. Some get there, some don't… but what matters is whether they keep walking forward." Sasuke's image comes to his mind.

Mystogan regarded Naruto for a long moment before finally sitting down across from him, the firelight reflecting off his mask. "Perhaps you're right."

"Don't you feel lonely sometimes?" He asked the masked man to take his share of the cooked fish.

The words hung in the air, and for the first time that night, Mystogan seemed to pause in genuine contemplation. Then, to Naruto's mild surprise, the masked man reached up and slowly removed his disguise.

Naruto had expected it, but seeing it with his own eyes was different. The firelight illuminated a face identical to Jellal Fernandes—yet different. The expression, the posture, the presence he gave off… this was Mystogan, a man who had lived a completely separate life, burdened by different struggles.

Mystogan accepted the offered fish with a quiet "thank you" before taking a bite.

Naruto could sense it—however small, a weight had lifted from the blue-haired man's shoulders.

The two bonded as they sat by the fire, their conversation meandering through battle experiences, odd missions, and their respective journeys through this strange new world. Naruto recounted his adventures, from facing odd wizards to stopping sinister plans of some minor dark guilds, his voice laced with the same unwavering energy that defined him. Mystogan, in turn, spoke of his silent struggles—of the weight of responsibility that came with being the prince of Edolas, of the burden of knowing his existence was tied to a man whose past still haunted the world.

It was a rare moment of openness for the S-Class wizard, and Naruto could sense the hesitance in his words, as if each confession chipped away at a wall Mystogan had long built around himself.

Eventually, the conversation drifted to someone they both knew—Wendy.

Naruto leaned back on his elbows, staring up at the vast, starlit sky. "So, Wendy... You said you left her in Cait Shelter?"

Mystogan gave a slow nod, gaze still locked on the fire. "Yes. I found her when she was just a child, lost and alone. She had no memories of where she came from, only that she was waiting for someone who never arrived."

Naruto frowned, his fingers tightening slightly around the stick he had been using to poke the fire. "Hmmm. So, you took her in?"

"For a time." Mystogan's voice was quieter now, tinged with something Naruto couldn't quite place—guilt, perhaps? "But I knew I couldn't be the one to raise her properly. I was constantly traveling, chasing after the anomalies of Anima, trying to prevent unnecessary chaos. Keeping her with me would have been cruel."

"No wonder she sounded desperate then…" Naruto murmured recalling their events from the subjugation of Oración Seis, of Wendy's desperate call to Jellal as if reaching out to him.

Mystogan's grip on his staff tightened slightly. "She was? I—" He hesitated, his gaze dropping toward the fire. "I left her…"

Naruto sat up a little straighter, studying him carefully. He had seen that look before—on himself, on Sasuke, on people burdened by the weight of regret.

"She doesn't hate you, y'know," Naruto said, his voice softer than usual. "But… she does need closure. Now that she's here in Fairy Tail, you owe her that much."

Mystogan remained silent, the flickering fire casting shadows over his masked face.

Naruto sighed, tossing a twig into the flames. "Look, considering we don't belong to this world, we'll probably return back to where we belong sooner or later. Before that happens… don't you think she deserves some kind of reconciliation?"

For a long moment, Mystogan was lost in thought, the only sound between them the crackling fire and the distant hum of the forest. Then, at last, he nodded.

"…I'll reconsider," he said quietly.

Naruto grinned, rubbing the back of his head. "Heh, that's a start."

With that, they returned to their meal, the warmth of the fire warding off the night's chill as they ate in comfortable silence.

After spending the night under the stars, the two made their way back to Magnolia. As soon as they reached the outskirts of town, Mystogan, ever elusive, vanished without a word—disappearing long before the guild's building even came into view.

Naruto smirked at his sudden departure, shaking his head. "Typical," he muttered.

With his hands stuffed into his pockets, he strolled into Fairy Tail, heading straight for the bar. As expected, Mirajane was already preparing his usual ramen, greeting him with a warm smile.

"Rough mission?" she asked, sliding the steaming bowl in front of him.

"Nah," Naruto said, plopping onto a stool. "Just had a long night… and a pretty interesting talk."

He picked up his chopsticks, twirling them between his fingers before digging in. Whatever happened next, he figured Mystogan would come around in his own time. For now, all that mattered was the warm meal in front of him and the familiar chaos of Fairy Tail around him.

"NA. RU. TO!"

A familiar voice bellowed across the guild hall, and before Naruto could even react, a flaming fist was already rocketing towards him.

Without breaking his rhythm, the blonde shinobi casually caught Natsu's fiery punch with a single hand—his fingers closing around the dragon slayer's knuckles like a vice. Strands of noodles dangled from his mouth as he slurped up his ramen, not even sparing Natsu a glance.

A brief silence filled the room.

"Eh?" Natsu blinked, his energy draining at an alarming rate. His once fiery aura flickered and sputtered out like a candle in the wind. His limbs suddenly felt heavier than ever, his knees buckling under an invisible weight.

"Ough—I feel weak…" he muttered before collapsing onto the floor with a dull thud.

The guild members turned their attention toward the scene, a mix of concern and exasperation on their faces.

"That's what you get for blindly charging in," Gray muttered with a smirk, crossing his arms.

Happy landed beside the fallen dragon slayer, tugging on his vest with his tiny paws. "Sheesh, nothing's changed at all," the blue Exceed sighed before his ears twitched at a presence nearby. His eyes widened as he spotted Carla in her humanoid form, standing beside Wendy.

"Carla!" Happy perked up immediately, his tail swishing with excitement.

Carla, however, simply turned her head with an elegant hmph, feigning disinterest despite the slight pink dusting her cheeks.

With that, she joined Wendy and took a spot beside Naruto, who sat casually at his table.

Meanwhile, Erza approached the scene with her usual commanding presence, her crimson hair flowing behind her. "You're finally here, Naruto," she said, arms crossed. "Master told me you were on an urgent mission with Mystogan."

Naruto swallowed the last of his ramen and wiped his mouth. "Yeap, it took longer than expected." His gaze sharpened as he met Erza's eyes.

The atmosphere shifted.

The spar.

It was an unspoken understanding between them. Ever since Naruto joined the guild with Wendy and Carla, Erza and the rest of the guild held a curiosity of the blonde's strength. Though he was not S-Class the guild considered his skills like one, he was the famed Orange Leech after all, his flawless feats were regarded as exemplary within the council and Naruto along with Wendy and Carla was considered the ideal on their time as Cait Shelter. Still outside his feats, the guild's curiosity stemmed from the fact that they haven't seen him go all out.

Erza, Gray, Natsu, Happy and Lucy had an inkling of it, he was the man that defeated Brain no— Zero, the leader of Oracion Seis. He held him off while they dealt with Nirvana and when they met up with him again nothing had changed, not even a bruise from his battle from Zero, all they've seen was Zero unconscious on a large crater dug on a foot of a mountain and Naruto unscathed, on the same state as they had left him as if nothing happened.

Gray straightened up, rolling his shoulders. He was next in line after Erza. His fingers twitched in anticipation, already forming a thin layer of ice along his knuckles.

"Then let's not waste time," Erza said, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she turned on her heel.

Naruto cracked his neck before shoving his hands into his pockets. "Lead the way."

The group—Naruto, Erza, Gray, Wendy, Carla, Lucy, and Happy, who was struggling to lift Natsu's limp body with his Aera magic—all made their way to the outskirts of Magnolia. The open fields beyond the city were the perfect battleground, ensuring that no buildings or innocent bystanders would be caught in the inevitable destruction.

From a distance, a shadow trailed them.

Cana, sipping from her ever-present barrel of alcohol, followed discreetly.

The spar started slow, with Erza summoning a single sword. Naruto, holding a single kunai in a reverse grip, met her strike with a casual flick of his wrist, deflecting the blade effortlessly. The metallic clash echoed through the clearing, his reflexes razor-sharp as he redirected her attacks with pinpoint precision.

But as expected, the battle escalated.

One sword turned into two. Then four. Then an entire armory materialized at her command, surrounding her like a deadly storm. Each weapon—swords, spears, axes—came at him from every angle, striking with the force of a warrior who had spent her life mastering steel.

Yet, Naruto never faltered.

His kunai became an extension of himself, weaving between the rain of blades like a whisper in the wind. Every strike that sought to carve into him was parried, deflected, or dodged with movements so fluid they seemed almost effortless. Sparks flew as steel met steel, but Naruto remained untouched.

It was a defensive masterclass.

No wasted movements. No unnecessary force. He wasn't overpowering her—he was outlasting her.

Erza could already feel it creeping in—her stamina draining with every clash. It was subtle, almost unnoticeable at first, but undeniable. The rule of Naruto's drain was simple: the longer he stayed in close contact, the more his opponent's energy bled away.

To counteract it, Erza began adjusting her approach—her strikes became shorter, her weapons shifting before they could linger on impact. She never let him trap her in prolonged contact, never let him sap too much in one go.

Naruto, however, was patient.

"You're quick," he admitted, twirling his kunai between his fingers. "But let's see how long you can keep this up."

The moment Erza moved, Naruto moved with her.

Swords rained down in a storm of steel, but Naruto wove through them like water. His kunai flicked up, parrying a blade before guiding another off course with the back of his hand. A spear lunged for his ribs—he twisted just enough to let it graze past, his kunai slashing the shaft in half before it could fully retract.

Erza noticed immediately—she had to limit her contact with him.

Every time she struck, even if it barely touched him, she could feel her stamina subtly slipping away. The longer she remained in close combat, the heavier her body felt.

Her mind raced. She had to shift tactics.

Then—Clear Heart Clothing.

A brilliant flash engulfed her as she cast off her heavier armor, replacing it with a sleeveless, form-fitting black robe. With less weight, her speed skyrocketed—her swordplay now refined to its purest form.

Naruto's grin widened. "Now we're talking."

She shot forward. Faster than before.

Her blade became a blur, slicing through the air with near-impossible precision. Naruto barely had time to react.

He raised his kunai—Clang!—but the force of her attack sent him skidding back. For the first time, he could feel the weight of her strikes pressing down on him.

She was fast.

Faster than anyone he had seen in this world—

But not enough.

Naruto was constantly in Sage Mode, his body reinforced even without Chakra or Ethernano. The raw physical enhancements alone gave him an edge in close combat, letting him keep up where others would have faltered.

The battle escalated.

The ground beneath them cracked under the force of their clashes. Each impact sent shockwaves through the field, stirring up dust and debris. The onlookers—Gray, Lucy, Wendy, and the others—watched in awe, struggling to keep up.

Despite blocking every attack, Naruto could feel the increasing force behind them. His arms tingled, the pressure of her strikes undeniable.

Yet, he remained calm. Relaxed. Unshaken.

Erza panted lightly, her sharp eyes locked onto him.

He's still holding back.

She could feel it. Despite everything—despite her fastest armor, despite her relentless assault—Naruto wasn't even close to using his full power.

The realization only made her more determined.

"Don't hold back," she demanded, her grip tightening on her sword.

Naruto smirked. "Didn't plan to."

In a blur, he moved.

Faster than before.

On that instance, Erza saw death.

"Draining presence, goat-like eyes, the orange blur that he leaves. So this is… how he was called—"

"Orange Leech."

Time seemed to slow as she braced for what she thought would be a lethal strike. But instead of the devastating impact she had anticipated, a light tap landed against her gut.

Naruto had appeared in front of her within a fraction of a second, his signature fox-like grin in place as he gave her a playful wink. "And that's the end of the match."

Erza stood still, letting the tension in her muscles ease. She closed her eyes and looked up at the sky, accepting her loss with grace. The overwhelming gap in their strength was undeniable, but there was no shame in it—only the understanding that she had witnessed something beyond the realm of normal combat.

"Damn, it's that huge, huh—" Gray muttered, wincing at the realization of just how much stronger Naruto was. The idea of his own spar didn't seem as appealing anymore, and he suddenly lost all motivation to step into the ring with him.

Lucy simply covered her mouth in sheer awe, the same can be said with Happy whose fish has fallen to the ground, his mouth wide open. Wendy and Carla stood in amazement, they were the closest to him after all, despite that— the two did not expect he'd be on another level than the famed Titania of Fairy Tail..

Natsu, now fully recovered, noticed Gray's hesitation and immediately latched onto it. "What's wrong, Ice Prick? Scared?! HAH!"

Gray scowled but didn't respond. Natsu, on the other hand, grinned wildly and cracked his knuckles. "Alright, Naruto! Since Gray is wimping out, I'll take his place!" The Fire Dragon Slayer smirked, fire already flickering around his fists.

Naruto stretched his neck and rolled his shoulders before casually moving to another open area, giving Erza the space to gather her thoughts in silence.

"Come." Naruto accepted the challenge, his voice steady, his stance relaxed yet unshakable.

Natsu needed no further invitation. With a fiery burst, he rocketed toward Naruto, eyes alight with the thrill of battle. Unlike before, when Naruto had taken him down with a single antic, this time, Natsu was ready to go all out. No sneak attacks, no reckless lunges—this was a true fight.

And this time, he had a different approach.

Instead of charging in headfirst, he skidded to a stop, planted his feet, and inhaled deeply. His chest expanded, his lungs brimming with raw heat. Then—

"FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!"

A colossal wave of fire erupted from his mouth, a roaring inferno that devoured everything in its path. The sheer force of the attack sent a scorching wind ripping through the clearing, searing the grass to ash beneath it. The heat was unbearable, even from a distance.

Naruto didn't move.

Hands still in his pockets, he stepped forward—straight into the flames.

For a moment, all was fire. The sky burned crimson, the air warped with heat. The onlookers, Team Fairy Tail included, felt the sheer intensity of Natsu's attack sear against their skin. And yet… something was wrong.

The fire—was shrinking.

Like a dying star collapsing in on itself, Natsu's flames twisted unnaturally before vanishing, as if something were devouring them. Naruto's presence seemed to distort the very energy around him, the raging inferno siphoned away like water down a drain.

When the flames finally dissipated, Naruto was still standing. Unscathed. Not a single scorch mark on his cloak, not a single hair out of place.

Natsu gritted his teeth. "Tch. Figures."

He had seen Naruto's drain in action before, but watching it completely erase his flames was beyond frustrating.

Naruto smirked. "C'mon, Natsu. You're holding back."

That was all the provocation Natsu needed.

With a growl, his hands ignited once more, magic surging like magma beneath his skin. He swung both arms forward.

"FIRE DRAGON'S WING ATTACK!"

Two crescent-shaped waves of flame shot toward Naruto. Again, he advanced, completely unbothered, the flames vanishing the moment they neared him. It was like watching a wildfire swallowed by the void.

But Natsu refused to stop.

Blow after blow, flame after flame—everything he threw at Naruto was erased before it could even land. Yet, despite the futility, he kept going. Refusing to give up.

His fire, once an unstoppable force, sputtered. His attacks grew sluggish. The relentless storm of his magic waned into flickering embers.

And then—his flames died.

With nothing left, Natsu clenched his fists and charged.

No fire, no magic—just raw willpower.

He cocked back his fist and threw one last punch—a simple, unenhanced right straight, the weight of his spirit behind it.

Naruto caught it.

His open palm met Natsu's knuckles, stopping the attack cold. The impact sent a sharp gust through the battlefield, but Naruto barely moved.

For a brief moment, the world was silent.

Then—he felt it.

A flicker. A lingering heat.

Naruto's eyes widened slightly as he glanced at his palm. No burns. No marks. And yet… something had singed him.

Something deep inside Natsu had bitten back.

And then—Natsu collapsed.

The battlefield fell into a hushed stillness. The embers that once raged against the sky were gone, the suffocating heat replaced by a cool evening breeze.

Naruto stood over him, expression unreadable. He wasn't gloating, wasn't mocking. Just… watching.

Because there it was again.

That power.

Something buried deep within Natsu. Something not quite magic.

No—this was older. Viler.

A monstrous force, not necessarily evil, but something primal. Something that reminded Naruto of—

Kurama.

His gaze lingered on Natsu's unconscious form. The Dragon Slayer lay there, utterly drained, and yet—despite everything—he smirked.

"D-damn it… next time… for sure…"

Naruto exhaled through his nose, his smirk fading.

"Good fight, Natsu."

He turned away, but his thoughts lingered. His expression darkened ever so slightly.

That wasn't normal fire.

And if he was right about what he felt—

Then Natsu Dragneel was anything but normal.

Chapter End