Chapter 41

Magnolia Outskirts - the Forest

The air in the open grassy fields was thick with tension, the sky a vast stretch of blue marred only by drifting white clouds. A soft breeze rustled the treetops, carrying with it the scent of pine and earth.

A small group of spectators had gathered at the edge of the clearing—Mystogan, Wendy, Carla in her human form, Lucy, and Happy—all watching intently.

In the center stood Naruto Uzumaki, dressed in his signature black jacket with orange stripes, paired with orange pants and black sandals. His bright blond hair caught the sunlight, but his expression was relaxed, a confident smirk tugging at his lips. He spun a kunai between his fingers as if this was just another day—though he knew it wasn't.

This was the last spar.

Facing him, three formidable opponents stood ready.

Erza Scarlet, clad in her Heaven's Wheel Armor, her piercing gaze locked onto Naruto, sword drawn.

Natsu Dragneel, crimson flames coiling around his fists—flames not just of magic but also of curse energy, an eerie blend of power crackling with untamed fury.

Gray Fullbuster, his Ice Devil Slayer Magic chilling the air around him, frost creeping across the ground at his feet.

This wasn't a simple match. It was three-on-one. A challenge Erza had set herself, knowing that Naruto could take it.

Natsu cracked his knuckles, flames licking at his arms. "You ready for this, Naruto?"

Gray exhaled, ice mist curling from his breath. "Don't think we'll go easy on you."

Erza simply raised her blade, her stance unwavering.

Naruto grinned, flipping the kunai into a reverse grip. "Tch. What kind of send-off would it be if you did?"

Then—

They moved.

The moment they moved, the ground cracked beneath their feet.

Naruto's eyes flared open—Aokugan ignited, its radiant, shifting hues casting an eerie glow over his face. The air around him distorted, not with the usual consuming Drain , but with a Repelling Aura—a force so absolute that the grass beneath him flattened, and small stones lifted into the air before being violently thrown outward.

This time, he wasn't absorbing—he was untouchable.

Erza was the first to engage, Blumenblatt activating in a flash—hundreds of swords materialized above, launching toward Naruto from all angles. At the same time, Gray struck from the side, massive jagged pillars of Devil-Slaying Ice jutting from the ground, aiming to freeze Naruto in place.

Natsu, grinning like a battle-crazed lunatic, ignited his twin flames—one side roaring with his natural Dragon Slayer Magic, the other blackened with Cursed Fire, spiraling in chaotic destruction. He leaped above the battlefield, ready to bring down hell.

But Naruto was already gone.

A flicker—a blur of pure speed—and he phased past Erza's incoming storm of blades. With a twist of his wrist, he launched his kunai straight at her, but before it could land, the force of his Repelling Aura propelled it at twice the speed.

Erza barely had time to cross her swords. CLANG! The impact sent a shockwave through her arms, making her boots skid against the grass.

"Shit—he's even faster than before!" Gray hissed.

From above, Natsu came crashing down. "Like hell that matters—!"

His fists, wreathed in blazing red and cursed black, collided with Naruto's barrier—only to be violently rejected.

BOOM!

The moment Natsu made contact, he was hurled backward at insane speed, spiraling into the air like a ragdoll. His body twisted, barely managing to reorient himself mid-flight. "The hell?!"

Naruto barely spared him a glance, turning his gaze to Gray. The Repelling Aura surged outward like an unseen pulse. The frost mage's instincts kicked in just in time—he slammed his hands together:

"Ice Devil's Avalanche!"

A wave of black-tinged frost erupted, a tsunami of freezing energy swallowing everything in its path.

Naruto stood firm—then clenched his fist.

The moment the ice touched his barrier, it shattered like glass.

CRACK! The sound was deafening, the frost disintegrating into a mist of useless particles before it even reached him. Gray's eyes widened.

He destroyed my magic—without even moving?!

Naruto exhaled, his grin widening. "Come on, you three—this can't be all you've got."

Erza's eyes sharpened. Tch. If distance isn't working…

In the blink of an eye, she Requipped into her Black Wing Armor, her speed multiplying instantly. She was upon him in an instant.

Naruto barely had time to register her blade slashing forward before—

CLANG!

He twisted his kunai up just in time, sparks flying as the two metals screeched against each other. But Erza wasn't alone—

Gray slid in from behind, a massive Ice Demon Sword forming in his hands.

Naruto's head snapped toward him just as Gray swung.

Too late.

The frozen blade collided with his aura—only to be violently rejected.

Gray's own force sent him flying backward, tumbling across the ground. "GAAH—!"

Erza, seeing the opening, twisted her blade at an unnatural angle, slicing straight for Naruto's ribs.

Naruto smirked.

And then—he let it hit.

The moment the sword made contact, a violent force exploded outward.

Erza's blade never reached its mark. Instead, she was blasted away, sent skidding across the battlefield like a meteor.

Natsu, who had finally regained control midair, saw it all happen. His fists clenched. His flames raged.

This was not the Naruto they had fought before.

This was Naruto with no restraints.

"ALRIGHT THEN—LET'S STOP HOLDING BACK!"

With a roar, Natsu inhaled deeply—his body igniting in golden, red, and black fire, his very veins glowing with raw, destructive heat.

Gray slammed his palms into the ground, ice spikes shot forward in rapid succession, each one laced with deadly Devil-Slaying magic.

Erza, still airborne from the force of Naruto's rejection, growled before calling out—her armor shifting once again.

Lightning Empress Armor activated. Bolts of electricity crackled around her, her entire body coursing with storm energy.

Three opponents. Three different angles.

Naruto exhaled—his Aokugan swirling with infinite possibility.

Naruto exhaled, his Aokugan pulsating, the air around him distorting as if the very fabric of space was bending to his will. He raised his hand, extending both his index and middle finger. Then, reality itself twisted.

A pressure—unseen but undeniable—manifested at a singular point above his fingers.

The battlefield warped.

Erza, Natsu, and Gray felt it instantly—an overwhelming force gripping them, yanking them forward as if the world itself had betrayed them.

"What the—?!" Natsu barely had time to react before his feet left the ground.

Erza's lightning sparked wildly as she fought against the force, but even with her enchanted armor, she was losing ground—her body dragged toward Naruto against her will.

Gray slammed his hands into the ground—desperate to freeze the terrain for grip—but his own ice shattered under the sheer gravitational force.

The three were being sucked in.

An invisible force unlike anything they had ever experienced—pulling them toward one inevitable fate.

A spiraling pulling sphere.

"Rasen Kyūin Gan!"

The word left Naruto's lips like a divine decree. The force intensified.

Erza, Natsu, and Gray collided midair, crashing into each other like ragdolls caught in a vortex. Their bodies twisted, their movements completely out of their control.

Naruto watched, calmly.

Then, with a single swipe of his hand, he whispered the next command.

Another invisible force but now to repel.

A spiraling force sphere.

"Rasen Kyousei Gan"

BOOOOOOM!

An invisible explosion detonated from his very being.

A shockwave unlike anything before—a force that did not burn, did not crush, but simply rejected their existence from the space they occupied.

Erza was launched backward, her armor cracking upon impact as she slammed into the grassy field, bouncing twice before rolling to a stop.

Gray spiraled like a comet, ice manifesting instinctively around him to cushion the blow, but it shattered upon impact—his body tumbling across the ground.

Natsu took the worst of it—his flames flickering violently as his body was flung into the sky, spinning uncontrollably before crashing down with an earth-shaking thud.

Silence.

The forest, once filled with the echoes of battle, was completely still.

Naruto lowered his arm, the glow of his Aokugan fading. His Repelling Aura vanished—the battlefield settling.

He stared at his three opponents—his friends—each of them struggling to move, barely conscious.

A grin tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Guess that's it."

And with that, the spar was over.

Wendy, Mystogan, Carla, Lucy, and Happy stood in stunned silence.

Mystogan's eyes narrowed. "That power…"

Wendy's hands were already glowing, ready to heal. "They—they just got blown away… like it was nothing."

Happy gulped. "Aye… remind me to never spar with Naruto…"

Carla, arms crossed, muttered, "That wasn't a spar… that was a demonstration."

Lucy, arms wrapped around herself, shivered at the raw force she had just witnessed. She had seen plenty of insane battles in her time, but Naruto's power—it was on an entirely different level.

"H-he wasn't even serious…" Lucy murmured, her hands trembling slightly.

Naruto exhaled, rolling his shoulders as his Aokugan faded away, leaving his usual blue eyes behind. His body still thrummed with energy, the aftershocks of the battle lingering in the air. He cracked his neck, a satisfied grin stretching across his face.

"Man… I really went all out, huh?"

Across the battlefield, three figures groaned in protest.

Natsu, flat on his back, managed to lift a trembling hand, his face twisted in exhaustion and mild outrage.

"Y-you think…? Bastard…" he muttered, coughing up a small puff of smoke.

Gray, face still buried in the dirt, just let out a muffled groan.

"Yeah… screw you…"

Erza, despite her bruised and battered state, propped herself up on one elbow, wiping the dirt from her cheek. A tired but impressed smile formed on her lips.

"...Strong. As expected."

Naruto smirked, eyes gleaming with mischief. "I'm surprised, though. You didn't use any of your cheap tricks… or your innuendos… or all those nasty, underhanded tactics you like pulling."

Erza's eyes widened in horror.

"GAH—don't remind me of that!" she shrieked, face instantly burning red as she covered it with both hands.

Natsu and Gray, despite their aching bodies, burst into laughter.

"STOP IT!" Erza barked, but it only made them laugh harder.

Even Naruto chuckled, watching the once fearsome warrior curl up in embarrassment, a far cry from the mighty Titania.

For a moment, she basked in the warmth of the sunlight, her past misdeeds flickering through her mind like scenes from an old, nostalgic film—dirty tricks, low blows, and cunning maneuvers she'd rather not recall.

With a soft sigh, she let her arms fall to her sides, gazing up at the sky. A rare, peaceful smile graced her lips.

"It was a good spar," she admitted gracefully.

Fairy Tail, Magnolia - Year X785

The next morning, Naruto stood in front of the request board, scanning through the available missions. He was nearing the end of his time in Fairy Tail and was picking out his last jobs before moving on. As usual, his eyes instinctively searched for the lower-reward missions—ones that were often overlooked by other mages.

These were the requests that came from small, struggling villages with barely any funds. Missions that didn't pay much but carried just as much, if not more, danger than the higher-paying ones. It had become a habit for him, something he had grown accustomed to.

And then, there it was.

"Help! Bandits!"

A group of bandits has been spotted scouting our village. Please help us before they act!

Reward: 5,000 Jewels

Naruto plucked the paper from the board.

Standing beside him, Nab remained still, arms crossed as he stared at the board with his usual indecisiveness.

"You know, Naruto," Nab spoke up, still keeping his eyes on the requests, "I respect that part of you—always going for those kinds of missions."

Naruto hummed absentmindedly, folding the request slip. "Hm?"

"I don't really have the luxury to take those jobs. I can barely afford rent, and besides…" Nab sighed. "I'm not exactly strong, either."

Naruto turned to him with a raised brow. "Didn't I give you a training wristband back then? Along with the others? Why aren't you using it?"

"Geez, Naruto, not everyone's a training junkie like you," Wakaba chimed in, puffing out a thick cloud of smoke from his cigar.

"Speaking of those wristbands," Macao chuckled from his seat, shaking his head, "I caught Romeo using one to train on his own. That boy..."

"I'll try them... maybe later..." Nab muttered, sweating under their gazes.

Across the room, Kyôka sat at the bar, idly swirling a glass of wine in her hand. Though she appeared uninterested, she had been eavesdropping on their conversation.

"You know," she mused, glancing toward Nab, "standing for hours on end and accomplishing absolutely nothing is quite a skill. A true showcase of focus and patience."

Nab stiffened as if struck by lightning. Without another word, he snatched a request off the board in haste and hurried off.

Naruto chuckled. "Sheesh, Kyôka, you've got a knack for whipping people into shape."

The Etherious woman smirked, leaning her chin on her palm. "Well, that was my specialty… until a few days ago."

Naruto walked over to the bar, taking a seat across from her. "So, how's the guild treating you, Kyôka?"

Kyôka smiled, her eyes glinting with amusement. "It's like feces, surrounded by flies."

Naruto nearly choked on his own breath. " That's quite a description. So, does that mean it stinks? Or it's just annoying?"

"Hm..." she hummed in response, offering no further clarification.

Naruto grinned, deciding to roll with it. "You know, feces can be pretty good too."

Kyôka raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"

"Think about it," Naruto said, leaning forward with a mischievous grin. "Feces nourish the ground, right? It turns into fertilizer, helping plants grow. In a weird way, it creates life."

Kyôka blinked, looking momentarily... stunned. It was as if her brain had short-circuited.

"I... That's... quite a perspective," she muttered, her usual composure faltering slightly. She then let out a small chuckle. "I suppose Master Mavis was right… there is still much I can learn from humans. Perspectives as strange as yours…"

Kyôka watched him leave, her gaze lingering even after he disappeared from sight. She didn't realize it at first, but her lips had curled into a small, amused smile.

Grimshaw Hollow

A secluded village on the outskirts of civilization, Grimshaw Hollow lay nestled beside a murky swamp, cut off from the main road. The air was thick with moisture, the stench of decay mingling with the faint, bitter scent of medicinal herbs. It was a place that had seen better days—if it had ever known them at all.

Naruto arrived in the village as per his mission orders. It was clear that Grimshaw Hollow was struggling, not just with poverty but with something far worse. The villagers moved sluggishly, their faces pale and gaunt, their coughs wracking the otherwise eerie silence. A plague had taken root here, its grip tightening with every passing day.

His client, the village elder, approached him with weary yet determined eyes. Though bandits had been spotted in the area, they weren't after mere resources. The elder explained the real target—a lone healer, a nameless wanderer who had been treating the afflicted with surprising skill. The village owed him their survival, and now, he needed protection.

Naruto followed the elder to meet this mysterious doctor. But when he stepped inside the dimly lit hut, what he saw made him freeze.

There, tending to a sick child, was a man he never expected to see again.

Acnologia.

Naruto blinked. "Eh?"

The former Dragon King looked different—no longer the godlike harbinger of destruction he once was. Stripped of his Dragon Slaying Magic and the curse that Zeref had placed upon him, Acnologia was still formidable. His magic reserves remained vast, his presence commanding, but something about him had shifted.

Naruto watched as the once-feared dragon slayer carefully adjusted a damp cloth on the child's forehead. It was ironic—almost poetic—that the man once known as the Dragon of Destruction was now a healer. A killer who had bathed in the blood of dragons was now saving lives.

Naruto let out a chuckle and patted the old man's shoulder. "I'll talk to him later."

Outside, Naruto scouted the area for any signs of the bandits. The mission was almost too easy. With a few well-placed clones, a bit of intimidation, and his infamous Reverse Sexy Jutsu, he had them all incapacitated in no time.

Their reactions were priceless. The moment they saw a group of burly, rugged men striking cute poses with twinkling eyes and playful pouts, they dropped like flies. The sheer horror in their eyes before they fainted was almost comedic.

By the time Naruto returned to the village, all twenty-three bandits were tied up behind a cart, ready to be transported to the nearest militia post. The villagers handed him his reward, relief evident in their faces.

Naruto stretched lazily before turning back to the hut. He stepped inside, arms crossed, and grinned. "Didn't expect to see you here, Acnologia."

The man looked up from his work. His piercing blue eyes met Naruto's.

"…Blue Eyes," Acnologia muttered.

Naruto chuckled. "So, I hear you've been treating the villagers."

Acnologia exhaled, his expression unreadable. "Yeah… I used to be a healer once. Before I began my pursuit of vengeance."

There was something in his tone—something tired, something almost… regretful.

"Now that my thirst for blood and destruction is gone, I returned to what I once was centuries ago. It was the first thing I did."

Naruto nodded thoughtfully. "And? How does it feel to be a healer again?"

Acnologia was quiet for a moment. Then, with a rare softness, he admitted, "It's… good. I wouldn't have walked this path if it hadn't been, after all."

A small, satisfied smile tugged at Naruto's lips. This was a change—a good one. He was glad he got to meet the man like this before heading home.

A long silence stretched between them.

Then, Acnologia spoke again.

"…Aki."

Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Hm?"

"That was my name before I took on 'Acnologia.'" His voice was low, almost hesitant, as if uttering it for the first time in centuries. "Acnologia was the name of the dragon I once devoted my life to. The one who betrayed me. The one who set me on my path of vengeance."

Naruto listened, not interrupting.

"I never thought I'd be able to return to this kind of life," Aki continued. His gaze was distant, lost in memories that spanned lifetimes. "I'm grateful… Blue Eyes."

Naruto grinned and held out his hand. "Name's Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki."

Aki stared at the offered hand before grasping it firmly.

"…It's nice to meet you, Naruto."

"Likewise."

Their handshake was brief, but it held the weight of mutual respect—the respect of warriors who had walked paths drenched in blood, only to find a way back to the light.

With that, they parted ways, each carrying the weight of their pasts, but also the hope of something more.

Fairy Tail, magnolia - Year X785

Naruto arrived at the Fairy Tail guild just past noon, stretching his arms as he took in the lively atmosphere. He had barely taken a few steps inside when an unexpected sight caught his attention—Seilah standing in the library, silently watching Reedus work on a new painting.

"Oh? You into art now?" Naruto asked as he strolled over.

Seilah turned her gaze toward him, her expression as unreadable as ever. "A little."

Naruto grinned. "That so? What else are you into? Any hobbies? Arts? Literature?"

She considered for a moment before replying, "Perhaps… a little bit of literature."

Before Naruto could dig further, another voice joined the conversation.

"To be more precise… she is particularly interested in tragedy."

Naruto glanced to the side, spotting Mard Geer approaching, ever the picture of elegance and detachment. The demon folded his arms, his gaze cool as he regarded them both.

"Oh, tragedy, huh? Can't say that's really my thing," Naruto mused. "I'm more familiar with, uh… smut. From my late mentor."

Mard Geer arched a brow. "Smut?"

Naruto smirked. "You ever read any?"

"I have a strong suspicion that I do not wish to." Mard Geer sighed, already done with the conversation. "I have more important matters to attend to." With that, he turned and left.

Naruto chuckled. "Aw, come on, man. You might be a demon, but even you gotta have some kind of reaction to it."

Turning back to Seilah, he asked, "What about you? Any interest in smut?"

She appeared to ponder the question for a moment. "If it entertains me, perhaps. But if I'm being honest, Master Naruto… I do not find human literary works particularly engaging. Real tragedies speak to me more."

Naruto hummed. "So, you're into… guro, then?"

Seilah tilted her head slightly. "What is guro?"

"It's… uh…" He hesitated. "Let's just say it's some really messed-up stuff."

"Hoh."

That single sound of intrigue made Naruto immediately regret opening his mouth.

"Oh, shit," he muttered under his breath, rubbing his temples. He hadn't even read any books from this world yet, but he was not about to introduce an Etherious to guro. Nope. Absolutely not. That was a disaster waiting to happen.

"Smut it is, then," he declared, making a quick decision.

Reaching into his ninja pouch, he rummaged through one of his stocked scrolls before pulling out a thick bundle—his entire collection of Icha Icha, every volume. He wasn't sure if Jiraiya would be rolling in his grave or proud of him for sharing this literary masterpiece, but either way, he figured it was the safer option.

With a flick of his wrist, he also produced a pair of enchanted reading glasses—one of the rare magical trinkets he had picked up from the guild's stash ages ago. They weren't much, but they had a simple and useful ability—instant text translation. A quick tap activated the runes, and the words in the book shifted, reforming into a language Seilah could read.

She accepted the collection, eyeing the covers with mild skepticism. "What is this?"

"Smut," Naruto answered matter-of-factly.

Seilah studied the first page, expression unreadable. "I suppose I could read it… though I have no expectations."

Naruto smirked. "Yeah, yeah, don't judge it till you try it.

Seilah made no further comment, slipping the books into her possession before returning to her duties.

That night, however, curiosity got the better of her. One chapter turned into two… then three… then an entire book.

By dawn, she had devoured the entire Icha Icha collection.

Jiraiya's penmanship was just that good.

Chapter End