Chapter 14

"S-CLASS?!"

Lucy's panicked shriek echoed through the Fairy Tail guild hall, making nearly every member pause and glance her way. Happy, caught off guard by the sudden outburst, fluffed up like an alarmed cat, his blue tail bristling in surprise.

"Lucy, why are you screaming?" Natsu asked, tilting his head as he stuffed an entire chicken leg into his mouth.

Gray, standing beside him with arms crossed, sighed. "She's probably freaking out over the 'S-Class' part."

Indeed, Lucy had her hands on her head, staring at Erza with pure dread as the redheaded knight calmly held up the mission paper. The bold letters S-Class Request practically burned into Lucy's retinas.

"That's right," Erza declared, her scarlet hair flowing dramatically as she waved the parchment. "We're going on an S-Class mission!"

Lucy nearly fainted. "Are you serious?! Those are dangerous!"

"Exactly." Erza smirked. "Difficult, but not impossible. It will be training." Her eyes burned with determination, a renewed vigor that wasn't present before.

Lucy blinked. "Training…?"

Erza's gaze subtly shifted to the side, where Naruto sat at the bar, casually slurping down a steaming bowl of miso ramen. There was an intense glint in her eyes as she stared at him, though it wasn't exactly hostile.

Lucy followed her line of sight, then gasped. "Wait—don't tell me… This is because of your fight with Naruto, isn't it?!"

Erza stiffened, but a small twitch in her brow betrayed her. She had accepted defeat in their recent spar, yet something about it had clearly ignited a fire inside her.

Mirajane, ever the mischievous bartender, chuckled as she placed another bowl of ramen in front of Naruto. She leaned in with a teasing smile— a subtle tint with the way she phrased it. "Oh my~ Seems like you didn't just give Erza the bait but the hook, and whole sinker as well~"

Naruto, mid-slurp, nearly choked. He coughed violently, barely managing to keep the ramen in his mouth as he frantically waved his hands. "M-Mira! I'm a married man, y'know?!"

Mirajane giggled, playfully tapping his shoulder. "Oh, I know~"

Lucy smacked her forehead. "Great. We're all gonna die because Erza got Naruto-motivated."

Meanwhile, Erza ignored the playful banter and rolled up the mission paper with a sense of finality. "We leave in an hour. Gather your things."

"Wha—NOW?!" Lucy shrieked as Happy latched onto the back of her shirt and started dragging her toward the door.

"Aye~! No time to waste, Lucy!" Happy chirped.

"I'M NOT READY!" Lucy flailed helplessly as she was hauled away.

Naruto continuously slurped down the steaming miso ramen Mirajane had cooked for him, savoring the rich, savory broth as he sat comfortably at the guild's bar. The familiar warmth spread through his body, but his mind wandered elsewhere. Between bites, his sharp golden eyes flicked around the bustling guild hall, searching for two specific people. Despite his sage mode constantly active, he relied on visual cues out of habit.

"Wendy and Carla are out on another mission," Mirajane informed him casually, wiping down a glass as she observed him with a knowing smile.

Naruto paused mid-slurp before slowly lowering his chopsticks. "Oh."

He wasn't sure why, but hearing that made him feel… weird. Not a bad kind of weird, but a mix of pride and something close to nostalgia. Ever since Wendy and Carla had transferred here, they had grown a lot—stronger, more independent. They were thriving.

And yet…

Naruto sighed dramatically, rubbing the back of his head. "Man… why do I feel like some old geezer watching his kids move out?" He exhaled deeply, shaking his head. "Ugh… I feel conflicted."

Mirajane hummed, her soft yet mischievous voice laced with amusement. "Hm~ If you're that sentimental, we could always make one of our own, y'know?~"

Naruto nearly choked on air. His whole body stiffened as he turned to her with a slow, incredulous expression, a single eyebrow cocked. "...Hah?"

The teasing glint in her eyes grew sharper as she leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a whisper only he could hear. Whatever she said next sent an immediate shockwave through his entire system.

His eyes widened to the size of ramen bowls, and an uncontrollable shiver ran down his spine, sending goosebumps crawling over his skin.

"Mira~" Naruto visibly shuddered, pulling his jacket tighter around himself like it would somehow shield him from her words. "Ya shouldn't tease a married man, y'know…?"

Mirajane only chuckled, her smile full of dangerous amusement as she rested her chin on her palm. "Oh, but it's just so fun~"

Naruto sighed heavily, turning back to his ramen. "I swear, I ain't safe in this damn guild…"

Mirajane giggled, happily continuing her work while Naruto hurriedly stuffed his face with more ramen, trying not to think about whatever sinful things had just been whispered in his ear.

Footsteps approached him. The distinct sound of confident yet slightly unsteady steps echoed through the guild hall, and Naruto's body tensed. He was still recovering from Mirajane's recent mischief, his nerves frazzled, his body still on high alert.

He jerked around dramatically, throwing up his arms defensively like a man bracing for an ambush. His face was still slightly pale, a nervous sweat trickling down his temple as if he had just survived a near-death experience.

"W-What now?!" Naruto yelped, eyes darting toward the incoming figure.

It was Cana.

The guild's local drunkard, the ever-relaxed, boozy, card-wielding mage. And yet… something was off.

Naruto blinked rapidly, his earlier panic faltering as he registered her posture. Gone was her usual laid-back, boisterous presence—her usual smirk, her air of effortless confidence. Instead, Cana Alberona stood in front of him looking... hesitant.

Meek, even.

That was strange.

Naruto's nose twitched, and for some reason, a single strand of snot decided to betray him, drooping out from his nostril in the most unceremonious way possible. He quickly sniffed it back up, forcibly regaining his composure.

He was about to ask what the hell was up with her, but something about the way she stood—the slight shift in her weight, the way her fingers subconsciously fidgeted with the edge of her cloak—made him stop.

"…What's up?" he asked, this time more serious.

Cana inhaled deeply, as if bracing herself, before finally meeting his gaze.

"Naruto… can you help me train?"

Naruto's brows raised, slightly taken aback by the request.

Cana wasn't the type to ask for help, especially not in a way that seemed so… earnest. She wasn't weak—far from it. Her magic was powerful, and she had skill, but she had always been the kind of person to handle things on her own terms, rarely seeking guidance from others.

He eyed her carefully.

"…You sure?" he asked after a beat.

Cana nodded, her fingers gripping the strap of her satchel slightly tighter. "I heard you've been training Wendy and Carla."

So that's where this was coming from.

Naruto scratched his cheek, his expression softening. "Heh, well… yeah, ever since I've joined Cait Shelter."

Cana glanced away for a second before sighing. "Then… can you train me too?"

For the first time, Naruto saw something different in her eyes.

Not just determination.

A silent desperation.

And that's when he realized—this wasn't just about training. Something was weighing on her.

"…Alright." Naruto exhaled, crossing his arms. "I'll bite—why?"

Cana was quiet for a moment. She looked down, her fingers twitching at the hem of her cloak before she finally spoke.

"The next S-Class Trials are coming up." Her voice was firm, but there was an underlying tension in it. "And this time… I have to pass."

Naruto raised a brow. "S-Class, huh?" He whistled, leaning back slightly. "Didn't take you for the type to stress over that kinda thing."

Cana's grip on her cloak tightened.

"I've taken the trial four times already," she admitted. "And I failed every single one." Her usual playful mask was gone—what remained was someone deeply frustrated, someone who had been pushing herself but never quite reaching her goal. "This time, I can't afford to fail again."

Naruto studied her expression, the way her jaw clenched slightly, the flicker of something painful behind her eyes. It reminded him of his back on his academy days.

"…This important to you?" he asked after a beat.

Cana nodded, inhaling sharply. "Yeah."

A moment of silence passed between them. Then, Naruto smirked.

"Well, you're in luck," he said, cracking his knuckles. "'Cause I don't do half-assed training."

Cana blinked before a small, determined smile finally tugged at her lips.

"Good," she said, rolling her shoulders. "'Cause I don't plan to half-ass it either."

Magnolia Outskirts - the Forest

The towering trees of Magnolia's outskirts swayed gently, leaves rustling against the cool breeze as Naruto and Cana stood in the middle of a clearing. The scent of damp earth and fresh foliage filled the air, the natural stillness only disturbed by the occasional chirping of birds and the distant rumble of the town behind them.

Naruto had brought her here for one reason—to see exactly where she stood.

Cana cracked her knuckles, rolling her shoulders as she prepared herself. She wasn't weak, that much was obvious. Naruto could already tell that she had the power to be S-Class, her control over Card Magic was polished, her attacks precise and tactical, and her ability to read the battlefield far above the average mage.

But something felt off.

She wasn't confident.

And in a fight, that was the difference between winning and losing.

Naruto rubbed his chin as he watched her. His mind drifted, running over the upcoming S-Class Trials and the high-caliber competition she'd be facing.

Natsu. A walking nuclear explosion of raw power and instinct.

Gray. Tactical, versatile, and tough as hell.

Wendy and Carla. They were getting stronger by the day—he'd seen it himself.

Gajeel. The Iron Dragon Slayer, a relentless tank of a fighter who'd wreck anyone in close combat.

Levy. She was on a roll with Shadow Gear, constantly evolving her magic into something more practical for battle.

Elfman. Take Over User, who was on a roll lately, steamrolling, far too motivated than he was once and that's saying something.

Juvia. The Water Woman, someone whose abilities thrived in combat and had an affinity for overpowering opponents with sheer adaptability.

Yeah… this year's trials were going to be insanely stacked.

And with that level of talent all competing against her, Cana was going to feel it.

Naruto's brows furrowed.

Lack of confidence was one thing—but if she didn't have an edge, if she lacked the sheer will to break through, then it was all going to crumble.

And it wasn't just that.

She had failed multiple times before. The weight of past failures must've been crushing—and now, with a lineup of powerhouses standing in her way, the pressure was suffocating.

Naruto exhaled.

…It reminded him too much of himself.

Of his academy days.

Of being the underdog.

Of failing, over and over again, watching people leave him behind—desperate to prove that he was worthy of standing beside them.

And suddenly, he knew exactly what she needed.

His lips curled into a dangerous smirk.

A memory flashed in his head—Jiraiya, standing over him with a smug grin before shoving him off a massive cliff just to force him into summoning Gamabunta.

Naruto cracked his knuckles.

Extreme measures it is.

The air felt heavy as Cana stood in front of Naruto, her heartbeat pounding in her ears. The blonde had a look in his eyes—one she immediately recognized.

This was going to be hell.

And yet, despite the creeping anxiety in her gut, she refused to back down. Her fists clenched at her sides as she forced herself to nod, her chocolate brown eyes burning with determination.

"I need this," she said, voice firm. "I can't fail again."

Naruto tilted his head, watching her carefully. Her resolve was solid. That was good. But resolve alone wasn't enough—she needed more.

"Good," he said, nodding. "One second."

Cana blinked as Naruto reached into the small ninja pouch strapped to his lower back. He dug around for a moment before pulling out something small and black—a wristband.

It looked unassuming, but Cana knew better than to judge Naruto's weird stuff by appearance alone.

"This," Naruto said, holding it up, "is gonna be your new best friend… or your worst nightmare."

Cana swallowed hard. Definitely hell.

Naruto smirked, flipping the wristband between his fingers.

"This thing? It's what I had Wendy and Carla use when I trained 'em. It's got a seal on it—based on my modified Tetragram Seal, tweaked for training purposes with some of my best sealing techniques."

Cana raised a brow. "And what's it do?"

Naruto's grin widened.

"It syphons your magic and increases your gravity. The more magic you use, the heavier it gets. Your body adapts, recovers, and grows stronger. The cycle repeats every time you rest—so every time you get back up, you're carrying more weight than before."

Cana's eyes widened.

Wendy and Carla trained under that?!

Naruto tossed the wristband toward her. She caught it, feeling the faint pulse of chakra-infused seals humming from it.

"Put it on," Naruto said. "Training starts now."

Cana hesitated for only a second before securing the wristband onto her left wrist. She expected something—a pulse of magic, a jolt, anything.

But nothing happened.

She blinked. Did it even work?

Before she could ask, Naruto gestured with his thumb.

"Now, infuse a little magic into your free thumb," he instructed, "and press it against the seal. Like a switch."

Cana did as told, a small pulse of magic gathering at the tip of her thumb. As soon as she pressed it to the wristband—

"—?!"

Her stomach dropped. It was like something latched onto her very core, syphoning her magic bit by bit.

Then came the weight.

At first, it was like a heavy backpack settling on her shoulders. Manageable. But then—it grew.

Her knees buckled. Her limbs trembled.

"HOLY SHIT! NARUTO—" Cana's voice spiked in alarm as she felt herself sinking under the invisible force.

"Not yet," Naruto's tone was firm, but not mocking. "Stay still. Get a feel for it."

Cana gritted her teeth, her jaw tightening as she tried to fight against the crushing weight. Every breath felt shallow, labored.

A moment passed.

Then another.

Sweat dripped down her temple. Her magic reserves were draining faster than she expected, and the encumbrance was unlike anything she'd ever felt before.

"Nghhh—" Cana winced, her entire body screaming at her to just tap out. She felt drained, sluggish, completely wrecked.

Naruto watched, eyes serious. "Can you go on?"

No teasing. No sarcasm. Just a test of will.

Cana wanted to say "No."

She really, really did.

But she had failed the S-Class Trials too many times. She had seen her friends—Natsu, Gray, Juvia, Gajeel, Wendy, Carla, Levy, Shadow Gear—all improving, all surpassing her.

She refused to let this break her.

With whatever strength she had left, Cana forced her head up and yelled through gritted teeth:

"YES! I CAN DO MORE!"

Naruto's expression didn't change, but a small flicker of approval passed through his eyes.

"Good." He nodded.

"Now—start moving."

Cana gasped. "Move?! In this state?!"

"For starters, just walk," Naruto said casually, crossing his arms. "Then escalate. Move at your own pace."

Cana clenched her fists, her body screaming in protest—but she took a step forward.

Then another.

And then another.

Every movement felt like pushing against a mountain.

But she kept going.

The first few steps were hell.

Cana's body resisted, her muscles strained, sluggish, and screaming at her to stop. She could feel her magic being pulled at a steady rate, as if the wristband was feeding off her energy like some greedy little parasite.

Yet, she pushed through.

The dirt beneath her boots felt heavier, the wind thicker, like the entire world was suddenly fighting against her movements.

One step.

Then another.

Then another.

The forest around them was quiet, only the occasional rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds filling the air. The weight pressed down on her, but slowly… she adjusted.

Naruto, meanwhile, stood with his arms crossed, watching her without saying much.

He knew this feeling all too well. The weight. The exhaustion. The slow, grinding progress.

Hell, this was his entire childhood.

As Cana struggled forward, Naruto found himself nostalgic. He remembered the times he was the underdog, the one left behind while others soared ahead.

The academy days…
When he barely scraped by, watching Sasuke and the others excel.

The Chunin Exams…
When everyone thought he was just a loudmouth idiot.

Jiraiya's training…
When he was tossed into a canyon and told, "Figure it out."

Yeah… he had been exactly where Cana was standing right now.

And just like him back then—she had no choice but to push through it.

Cana, on the other hand, was deep in her own head.

She wasn't an idiot—she knew Naruto was holding back.

Not in terms of power, no—this was a legitimate training method, and he was treating it seriously. But she could tell he wasn't pushing her yet.

This was just the warm-up.

She glanced at him, sweat dripping down her forehead. "Oi… how long am I supposed to do this?"

Naruto smirked. "Until you stop thinking about it."

Cana groaned. That was some cryptic mentor bullshit.

Still… she didn't stop moving.

Minute by minute, the exhaustion turned into routine.

Her legs still ached, her arms still felt heavy, but… her mind was adjusting. The weight was becoming a part of her.

They fell into silence again, a mutual understanding forming in the stillness of the forest.

Time flew by in a blur of agony.

Cana had no idea how long she had been moving, only that her entire body screamed in protest.

At first, she walked.

Then she stumbled.

Then, when her legs refused to hold her up any longer, she crawled.

It was pathetic.

Her pride told her to stop. Her ego whispered that this was humiliating.

But she grit her teeth and kept going.

Somewhere in the haze of exhaustion, she heard Naruto's voice.

"Alright. Stop."

The words barely registered in her mind, but as soon as she did, her body collapsed. She didn't even fight it. The moment the command was given, her limbs folded beneath her, and she hit the ground, panting.

And that's when she noticed it—the sky had turned orange.

Dusk.

Had she really been doing this all day?

Her fingers dug into the dirt beneath her as realization sank in. She had done nothing but move for hours, barely covering any distance.

And yet… she didn't regret it.

It was hell.

It felt like she had been dragged to the underworld itself. Every fiber of her being was sore, shaky, and drained.

But when she turned her head, looking up at Naruto, he was just standing there—watching.

Not a single sign of mockery.

No teasing, no smug remarks, no "I told you so."

Just a simple, patient gaze, waiting for her to breathe.

Cana swallowed hard.

So this was what Mirajane meant.

That swift sense of maturity hidden beneath his usual laidback self—the same presence that made people trust him without question.

She wasn't sure what to say.

So instead, she just lay there, catching her breath, staring at the man who—despite everything—believed in her enough to put her through this.

Cana felt the words slip from her lips before she even realized it.

"...Thanks, Naruto."

It was barely a whisper, a breath carried away by the evening wind. Her throat was raw, her chest heaved from exhaustion, and her entire body still felt like lead.

She wasn't even sure if he heard her.

But somehow, Naruto did.

He glanced down at her, his expression unreadable for a second. Then, a small, almost imperceptible smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Don't mention it."

His voice was casual, but there was a certain weight to it.

Cana blinked up at him, still lying flat on the ground, wondering if he truly understood just how much she meant it.

This wasn't just gratitude for training.

It was for taking her seriously. For pushing her without looking down on her. For not treating her like a lost cause.

Her fingers twitched, gripping the dirt beneath her. She wanted to say more—to explain what this meant.

But her body refused.

So she settled for breathing.

With him in her corner, maybe—just maybe—she had a real shot at the S-Class Trials.

Next Day, Noon – Fairy Tail Guild Hall

Naruto sat comfortably at the bar, devouring another bowl of Mira's miso ramen. The warm broth soothed his homesickness, its savory flavor reminding him why this guild had become his second home. As he slurped his noodles, his mind briefly drifted to Wendy and Carla—they were taking their sweet time on that mission, no doubt facing a tough challenge.

Just then, a voice—sweet yet unmistakably mischievous—rang out behind him.

"Oh Naruto, seems like you gave Cana quite a pounding~"

Naruto choked. He nearly toppled off his stool as his chopsticks slipped, and a stray noodle smacked his cheek before falling back into the bowl. He whipped around, wide-eyed and utterly caught off guard.

And, of course, it was Mirajane—the local menace. She stood there, hands neatly folded in front of her, smiling too innocently for someone who'd just dropped an innuendo bomb in the middle of lunch. A few nearby guild members snickered, already in on the joke.

Naruto's face scrunched in dismay. "Mira, ya shouldn't say those kinds of things, y'know—it might turn heads," he groaned, shaking his head as he could almost feel the gossip-hungry eyes of the guild on him.

Mira giggled softly, resting her cheek on her palm. "Oh? I was just talking about training… What were you thinking about, Naruto?"

His eye twitched. He was fighting for his life, and she knew it.

Chapter End