KG: Now that season 10 has begun. I suppose I can pay some attention to one of my personal favorite stories. League lore is so enticing to me. Isn't that right, Derek? I finally got my Realms of Runeterra book. So much information! So much knowledge! Not so much guesswork!

Derek:...

KG: Sigh, I can't wait until you can talk.

Music of the Week: Chinese New Year Music by Soul Candle (Various artists).

Quote: "A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing," by George Bernard Shaw.

Within the village of Konoha, atop the Hokage Stone Faces, just a few miles away, a beam of light struck the ground. It lasted only for a moment before it faded away. In its place stood Naruto and the group of warriors he had taken back with him into this world, the world of his mother.

Each person took a step away from the array of magical seals on the ground. "Returning back to Konoha. It almost feels like the past three months were a dream," Isaribi claimed. The cool night air stung her cheek and brushed her hair.

"Agreed. A shame the night has fallen. I can't wait to return to my lab and verify the many hypotheses I have formed during my stay. I'm going to truly miss those people. I hope to study in their schools again," Yozora then said after her.

"The Ionian schools would welcome you. I hope to learn just as much in your country of fire," Irelia said. She stared at Naruto for a longer moment than she realized which drew his attention to her. She watched a smirk appear on his face before he looked away. Irelia shifted her gaze as well. A smile came to her face as well.

Isaribi, Mei, Yozora, and Akali watched the interaction. The fish girl felt a frown appear on her face. "Now I know what a third wheel feels like. I remember when those two couldn't even stand each other," she said folding her arms as she did so.

Yozora flipped a piece of her notepad and continued writing. It was rather hard given the lack of light, but the moon was a pleasant aide. "The hardships of war and battle have a way of bringing hearts together. It's a rather interesting proposal if there is thought into it. One of the most inhumane activities of man has a way of bringing people together. If I were a historian of human behaviors, I wouldn't mind researching this," Yozora said.

Meanwhile, Akali watched the Captain of the Ionian Guard and the Savior of Ionia stand together. She had been trained in both the physical and spiritual arts of the Kinkou Order. Though she discarded their teachings because of the sheer absurdity of their passivity, she still found herself relying on the techniques that had brought her up for so long.

Though faint, she could see the swirling flames of magical energy that emitted themselves from Irelia and Naruto. It was clear that the dragon child's energy was much purer, but...it seemed to mingle with the Last Xan's own energy. They twirled around each other like eternal dance partners. Had Akali not been privy to the fact that this world was the blonde's homeland, then she would have thought that these two had somehow spent their whole lifetimes together.

The former Fist of Shadow had many opportunities to meet the Blade Dancer during their war against Noxus. They had fought together on many occasions and the woman who was standing in front of her seemed so different from the usual. Despite the obvious age, a hit of attraction laid in the Xan's eyes. There was respect. There was admiration. There was faith.

Though powerful, Irelia was never one to wear her emotions upon her sleeves like this. Friendly though she was, war seemed to take away her open smile. Now, it seemed as natural as breathing. For this moment, Akali wished she had been able to see the battle between Noxus and Ionia. What sight would she have seen?

Suddenly, whispers in the wind alerted Akali to intruders. Though reluctant, she had been forced into her Sacred Duty. Utter shame only awaited her if she failed. She swiftly dashed in front of Naruto and Irelia. This surprised them both and they watched her draw blades. "Five figures are approaching," she claimed.

Irelia did not think that battle would find her so early, but she was quick to ready her blades. However, a hand stopped her. "It's alright. I know one of the chakra signatures. I figured he would show up when I got back," Naruto claimed.

Akali was surprised as well. She and the rest of the group watched as shinobi from Konoha landed in front of them. For the first time, Irelia and Akali bore witness to the people of Naruto's world. Four members clothed in black cloth and porcelain animal masks stood before them. The two could tell that all four were extremely powerful individuals. Though there was no magic coursing through their bodies, there was another energy...this chakra that Naruto had explained that they seemed to hold in abundance.

However, the fifth one, though elderly, seemed stronger than any of the Ionian elders that Irelia remembering meeting. Age begets wisdom, and wisdom begets inner strength. This elderly man held it in boundless wells. Though old, Irelia and Akali were not sure they could handle such a presence. Each step he took was like the weight of a thousand drums. To think there were four other people of such power in this world governing four other nations in this world.

"You can stop scaring them, Jiji. You're going to give them the wrong impression after all the good things I've said about you," Naruto replied.

Hiruzen lowered his presence and a bright smile appeared on his face. "Forgive an old man, Naruto-kun. It's rather entertaining to do it to those I meet for the first time. I see that you have returned safely. Along with some new additions," He mentioned. He took quick glances at the two female warriors that had come back with him.

During her time with Naruto on the journey back to the cave that had brought him to Ionia, Irelia had plenty of time to inquire about the Country of Fire and this Village in the Hidden Leaves. Naruto had spared her no detail and any question she asked was answered to the best of his abilities. She was quick to recognize that this had to be the head elder of this village. This was the...Hokage. Irelia was not sure what this meant, but it was obvious that he was considered the most powerful warrior in these lands despite his age.

She quickly presented herself to him. "May the spirits bless you, Hokage Elder. Xan Irelia inhabits your lands and I hope to learn much while here," she said. She hoped she did not appear disrespectful. She was not aware of the customs which had to be done in a land such as this.

"I am Tethi Jhomen Akali under the restriction of the Kinkou Order. I have been made to serve in my Sacred Duty which is to learn from your warrior Uzumaki Naruto until he deems me free from my responsibilities. Spirits bless you and your village," Akali said. Her voice was soft, yet firm in its tone. She had spoken merely on the premise that she should not be rude as well. She already felt the shame of being reprimanded by her mother. Such a thing should not even happen at her age.

Hiruzen looked at the two female warriors who came before him. He then looked to Naruto. The blonde rolled his eyes and just silently asked the Sandaime to go with the current situation. The Hokage cleared his throat. "My, such respectable ladies. You seem to have kept good company, Naruto-kun. I understand it is rather late, but walk with me back to the Mansion for a moment. I will need you to sign some papers that you are responsible for these two...ambassadors during their stay here. They will also need your place of residence,"

Naruto rolled these words through his head for a moment. Fortunately for him, the embarrassment of washing female clothes was pretty much gone to him from having to deal with Isaribi and Mei. Of course the former had her own...misgivings about it, but those were rather quickly stamped down. It was something she would have to live with.

"Unfortunately Jiji, I don't think my single apartment is going to fit this many people. I might have to speak with the landlord about offering up some more space," Naruto said. Even though he said this, the blonde saw a mischevious gleam in the Hokage's eyes. It made him frown for the moment, but he could not figure out why this put him off.

"There is no need to worry about that, Naruto-kun. Now please, come with me. Your friends will come as well. I can tell you've grown. You've become much stronger than you were when you left. Though, the gleaming pieces of white hair give you away," Sarutobi said. Naruto touched those strands of his hair. They still had not gone back to normal even despite the many weeks of travel the blonde had been through.

Yozora cleared her throat to gain attention. "No disrespect Hokage-sama, but perhaps I may be excused from this information meeting until tomorrow? I have been eager to return to start confirming my findings and my hypotheses. I wish to get started while the knowledge is still fresh," she said eagerly. Her eyes were practically brimming with the excitement that scientists are known to exude when they happen upon discovery.

Hiruzen acquiesced to her request. She gave everyone a full farewell. "I hope you will remember me when you return to Runeterra, Naruto. There is so much to learn and so many more things to discover. Perhaps I will put in a mission that will allow me to study the effects your body has undergone for my research. Your connection to the sun and moon speak volumes. I bid you farewell," Yozora said. She waved goodbye and dashed away without another word.

Meanwhile, the rest of the group journeyed with the Hokage back to the main building. In that time, Naruto spoke about the many different things that he had come to learn while in Ionia. It also became clear to Hiruzen that something wrong happened with the magical seals. They had not taken Naruto to where the Sandaime assumed they would. It seemed that the intricacies of magic seals were still beyond him. This would require investigation.

Nevertheless, Hiruzen found himself impressed with the story that Naruto wove and Irelia confirmed. He had not been expecting to send the recent jonin into a warzone. Not only had he handled the matter well, but he also rallied a long-standing pacifist group. Hiruzen wondered if the smile on his face was one of joy or sadness. Naruto truly was like his father and mother.

By the time they returned to his office, Hiruzen wished it wasn't so late. He would have enjoyed hearing more tales of the lands that Minato walked. One day, he hoped he would be able to do the same. However, the times that laid now would take precedence.

"Thank you for the tales, Naruto-kun. I wish I could have heard them over some tea, but alas it was not to be. You have been gone for some time. I will give you tomorrow off, but after that, I must ask that you go back on active duty. Your teammates have been working very hard on assignments while you've been away. I'm sure they've improved as well. It is lucky that I managed to pass off your absence as a series of long-term assignments for the council given your newest ranking position. You are safe for the moment," Hiruzen claimed.

Irelia remembered the tales that Naruto spun off the tier system that his village held. S-D rank assignments, listed from most difficult to least difficult. By Irelia's understand, these...D-rank assignments were something akin to the practice and performance of young soldiers. By Naruto's description, these did sound...menial, but it seemed to foster relative community reliance. That was something the Will of Blades respected, many people moving as one.

"Understood," Naruto replied. Seeing that, Hiruzen nodded and opened one of the drawers of his desk.

"Good, now then, I know you're wondering why I dismissed your concerns about your apartment. Well, some time ago, two figures came into the village requesting you. You have only been out of the village one time, and that one time was for a special D-rank mission. Perhaps you met them before, perhaps you didn't, I had no way of knowing. I'm sure you know, but anything regarding you must be handled carefully. Nevertheless, I didn't turn them away. I offered them your old apartment, and...set you up with a small compound near the edge of the Konoha Walls," Hiruzen said.

Naruto closed his eyes and processed these words for a moment. "You...set up a small compound for me? Why?" Naruto asked. Hiruzen cleared his throat and exhaled.

"Well, for one, given that your...group seems to be getting bigger and bigger, I felt it wise to upgrade your space before I ran into a bunch of complaints with your landlord. Additionally, it doesn't look well on Konoha to have the former Mizukage staying in an apartment complex surrounded by others. Though she is your responsibility, she is still a valuable political target. We wouldn't want to insult potential future communications with Kirigakure forces if she's not well-kept. Lastly, it might help that temptation does not draw near," Hiruzen replied.

Naruto's eyes widened as did everyone else's. It quickly became apparent to everyone what the Hokage was referring to. However, the one who was most shocked was Irelia. It was a brief moment, but she saw the blonde dragon's eyes turn to her. His eyes flew down and then flew back up. The Last Xan, though outwardly calm, felt a wave of magic suddenly rush at her.

Irelia was no fool in the matters of the opposite sex. However, she had not the time to pursue a Heartlight. There were too many pressing concerns to allow her to do so. Yet, she could not think of those concerns at the moment. She could only think about that brief second that passed of a powerful gaze that lingered on her. She turned her eyes away, yet she brushed a piece of hair that touched her cheek. "He stares at me with fire in his eyes. I cannot possibly be attracted to a young one such as him," Irelia thought to herself.

The gaze had been known by the other four individuals in the room. However, Hiruzen cleared his throat. As much as this was entertaining, it was still late and he still had work to do. "Yes, well you will find all of your things already in the compound. It is set up twenty rooms across five buildings. Each building has its own kitchen and washroom facilities. There are also various study rooms throughout the compound, and there are three training areas. If you wish to expand then I left you at least fifteen acres of land to do with as you wish. Naturally, you will have to pay some of the mortgage, but we can set up a plan for that later,"

"No need. I'm sure I have the money for it. Just send me the total and I'll pay for it. Though, why so much land?" Naruto asked.

"Originally, the space was supposed to be used for another section of businesses, but apparently business doesn't do well near the edges of the village. So it fell into your hands. Any more questions?" he asked.

Naruto exhaled a breath. "I guess not," he replied.

"Good. Have a good rest, Naruto-kun. I look forward to you returning to the force," The Sandaime said. He took out the house keys and threw them to the blonde. Naruto took them and his entourage bowed before leaving.

The journey through Konoha was very quiet. Unfortunately, Irelia and Akali could not do too much sightseeing since it was very late. Of course, Akali didn't mind this. She was not here to enjoy a new sight. She was merely here to fulfill the parameters of her duty as assigned by her sentence to the Kinkou Order. If nothing else, her eyes merely wandered to the shinobi warriors she saw jump across rooftops at varying times. They moved just as fast, if not faster than some of the warriors that she knew back home.

They arrived at the edge of the Konoha Walls. There, they saw Naruto's compound No one knew what the Hokage meant by 'small.' It was a wonderful series of buildings behind a large wooden gate fence. Stone walls were raised high for privacy and tall trees littered the fields behind.

"I see. So this is how the homes of this world are built. I do not sense the flow of the spirits here. It seems that there is no need to commune with what does not exist," Irelia said.

"Yup, sorry, no spirits in this world...in the sense that you're thinking. Everything is built and structured by humans. There aren't any spirits to form as we would like them to. I think Konoha still tries to show respect for nature in its own way though," Isaribi replied. Admittedly, she didn't have much to go off of. She hadn't resided here for very long, but it was obvious that the difference seemed to...unnerve the Navori Captain.

"I see. I suppose not every land has such a special connection as the First Lands do. I apologize if I seemed apprehensive. I will try to keep my mind open during my time here," Irelia responded.

Naruto took the keys and opened the front gate. Once everyone walked through, they surveyed the area. It truly was as large as they thought it was. Not only that, but the Hokage had said that Naruto had even more land to expand.

However, as nice as it was, Naruto couldn't take it all in at the moment. "Let's all just...go to sleep. We can explore tomorrow morning. We can assign rooms later. For now, everyone can take a room and that will be it," he exclaimed.

Everyone agreed upon this rather quickly, but the young dragon was not expecting for Akali, Irelia, Isaribi, AND Mei, to pick rooms that were so close to his own. They all held rooms in the main house while the four living compounds further into the area were still unexplored. He was so tired, the blonde didn't even question it. Instead, he set up the sheet to his bed, Akali's bed, and Irelia's bed. Yes, they could have done it on their own, but...it was better to be a good host.

Once everyone was settled, Naruto turned out the light to his room and fell to the bed he had assigned for himself…

"You know, if you do this, then we might as well have stayed in the apartment," Naruto said quietly to himself as Mei hugged his body and gently rubbed her head into his shoulder. He rolled his eyes but gently patted the former Mizukage's hair. A wide smile appeared on her face as she calmly dreamt the dreams in her mind. Meanwhile, Naruto continued to look at the moon outside his window. He smiled at it before he fell into slumber as well.

Next morning came quickly and Naruto had to, embarrassingly, remove himself from the Mizukage. While his body couldn't help what came...naturally, it was still rather unsightly. Thankfully, she didn't wake up to see it.

He exited his room and walked down his new stairs. Now that he took his compound in, it really did feel like something out of a fantasy novel. It was hard to believe that this was completely his once he finished making the single payment that he owed the Hokage. Many times at the orphanage, he wondered if he would own a place like this. He wondered if there would be people walking around it like there were in clan estates. For the first time, he found what it was like to be just like everyone else.

As Naruto entered the designated training grounds to perform his morning routine, a shimmer of steel flashed by his eyes. He watched in utter silence as Irelia danced in the training fields. Under the path of sunrise, her body moved as one with the blades in the air. He watched her long legs work the upper frame of her torso. Sweat from her movements lined her forehead. He could see it slowly fall down the nape of her neck. Not even her hair was out of place. Her movements embodied the feelings that rested in his chest.

Suddenly, the young dragon noticed that her movements had changed. They seemed not so gentle now. No, they seemed more...performative. She...knew he was watching. He didn't know how he knew this, but he certainly didn't mind. He took a seat and watched her work through the Ionian postures that her family had taught her.

She continued her dance for a time before she stopped. She then opened her eyes. Her eyes turned to her audience. "Will I receive praise this morning?" she asked.

No sooner than the words leaving her mouth did Irelia take a deep breath. Naruto's gaze lingered on her for a time. So intense was his gaze that Irelia wasn't even aware that he now stood in front of her. To anyone who would be looking inside, the height difference was rather...embarrassing, but the Will of Blades found herself calmly dropping to her knees. She stared into the fiery eyes of the young dragon. She felt the sweet caresses of his hands on the side of her face.

Unlike last time, she was not unaware of what was happening, but she found herself powerless to resist the wondrous embrace of magic shared by them both. Young though he might be, she was attracted to his strength. Irelia remembered the lessons from her O-ma. When two souls come together and magic binds them as one, nothing, not even one's own thoughts can stop the soul from taking what it needs. Though she heavily denied it when she first met him, still her soul called out to his own. His had merged with her own. In her chest, she could feel the burning swell of his magic. Like a massive fire, his engulfed her own, but that only made it stronger. She...longed for him. No, perhaps it was better to say she longed for what he would become, but...she was already a part of it. She...could not fight the feeling.

Her lips gently pressed against Naruto's. The soothing taste of brushed teeth filled her mouth as her hands wrapped around his neck. "Dout kornari ui sia donoap," He spoke, his body breathless as they shared this brief moment. She became aware of the draconic words that he spoke. She could feel her chest bounce with joy. When was the last time in all of her days that she felt like this?

"Wux re sia kornari mitne," she responded. She continued to kiss him thereafter. His strong, though rather young, embrace pulled her further. Love or not, she still remembered that he was a rather young male. No doubt the stimulation was welcome to them both. Unlike the many kisses she had given to her mother, father, brothers, O-ma, and O-fa, this was one that left her with a very odd sense of fulfillment. Everything seemed so small when compared to right now.

From her window sill, Akali watched the two warriors share in this intimate moment. She could see the fierce aura of magic wrapping around them both. She had gotten up early because she wished to begin her service. She had been in Naruto's service for a little while during the trip to the sealed cavern. Truth be told, she did not know what she found unsettling about him. He did not have need of her much. The only thing he constantly relied on her for was training. He had no tasked her with menial labor, or anything else that she might have come to expect.

No, he was an odd warrior. Akali did not understand it. The boy was far from a great warrior. His fighting ability was filled with exploits and weaknesses. Yes, it was much stronger than most trainees that she remembered, but what could have made Ionia sing such wonderful praises of him? Ionian soldiers who had been in the large skirmish with Noxus never seemed to run out of stories of the boy against the Hand of Noxus. Not even she was sure she could defeat him. How could he?

Yet, even more than that, how could he drive the Kinkou Order to action when she could not? Akali did not expect to know everything. Part of the experiences of beings is the ability to learn and adapt. She desired to know, but more than that she desired to learn what made such a boy so great. The fact that she did not know...made her upset. She turned away and closed her eyes. Tch, what was she getting upset about? All she had to do was prove to her mother that there was nothing this boy could teach her. Not. One. Thing!

As the sun rose higher and higher, the compound became alive with movement. While no one was watching, Naruto and Irelia had finished a morning training session together and entered the main house. She and the others were then treated to breakfast from the blonde. Almost everyone was seated at the table. This almost came in the form of Akali. She merely took the plate of food and walked back to her room without a word.

Irelia had wanted to say something, but Naruto held her disapproval. It had bothered him, but he didn't feel the need to waste the energy so early in the morning.

Once breakfast was finished, Naruto tasked Isaribi with ordering supplies for the compound. It was a very wide area and such an area was in need of a variety of specifications. He sent her out to collect these things. A groan escaped the fish girl's lips, but she followed through with the request all the same.

Aside from this, the day went by very slowly. Akali stayed in her room while Naruto and Irelia took Mei to the Konoha Hospital. During this trip, Naruto began pointing out the many sights that Konoha had to offer all the while answering any questions that Irelia could think of. She had quite a few of them as well. Each question seemed more filled with excitement than the last, but the Kyuubi jinchuuriki didn't find it tedious answering. He enjoyed her enthusiasm.

However, it was never brought to Naruto's attention that there was one question Irelia never answered him. She never asked him...why people seemed to stare at him with disdain and anger. She did not ask...why he was aware of it but did nothing. Her chest felt heavy, yet she did not know why. They looked like the eyes of many Ionians who had been scarred after the war against Noxus. They looked like the eyes of...many Vastayan tribesmen that she had met. They looked like the eyes...that she had when Noxian businessmen sought trade in the First Lands.

Irelia could feel the restless energy that seemed to drift around Naruto's form. Though he wore a face and walked with a stance of indifference, she could feel the unsettling aura around him. It was obvious. She had connected with his runic heart. She was one of his Surās. She was closer to him than anyone else. Though he pretended not to care, it was obvious that he did.

The hospital visit was rather brief, but it stunned Irelia with its advancement. Even Ionian pools of healing were not so well-kept. Of course, the air was unpleasant to smell as it is filled with the stench of medicine, but that is to be expected. The Ionian captain also noticed that not even the practitioners in the medicinal arts are capable of keeping the loathing looks from their faces. Irelia did not like this look.

Thankfully, the visit to the doctor did not take long. He ran a check up on Mei as well as gave Naruto some paperwork on the contents of the Mizukage's blood that had been taken a few months ago. This ended with Naruto apologizing for taking so much time to retrieve the materials.

Once they left, Irelia took this time to look around the village more while Naruto picked up vitamins, medicine, and prescriptions from a local pharmacy for Mei. After that, they paid a swift visit to the Hokage which Naruto paid for the compound from the money he had been rewarded with during the Kirigakure Civil War. Once this was done, Naruto suggested the compound order takeout for dinner. This would be one of the many new words that Irelia and Akali would learn. "What is...takeout?" the Will of Blades asked. The smile on Isaribi, Naruto, and Mei's faces worried her.

"By the great spirits that dwell in the life of all things!" Irelia exclaimed as she ate her dinner. She turned her gaze to the playful eyes of those watching. A tad embarrassed over herself, she cleared her throat. What she meant to say was that...it was very well-made food.

The day ended without much more concern and so did the night. It became apparent to Naruto that the two visitors who were supposed to visit him hadn't done so. He didn't know why, but if they needed time then he didn't mind waiting.

The next morning came and Naruto began putting on his shinobi attire. "Alright, Isaribi, stay and watch the compound. I guess the visitors can stay in the main living area if they come and I'm not back. Mei, remember to take your medicine and do your exercises that we talked about last night," Naruto instructed. He decided that now would be a good time to try and revitalize Mei's independence. The unfortunate truth was that he could not be around her forever. Of course, he didn't want another panic attack, so this would be done at different times.

Truth be told, Mei wished to go with him, but she was still a Kage-level shinobi. She realized that she could not go with him to every mission that he went on. Of course, it still terrified her to be alone from him. She remembered being sedated by the members of the Kinkou Order during one of her...fits when Naruto was gone. She could only hope that he came back before nightfall. Those...were the worst times.

Irelia and Akali came down the stairs. The only reason they would be going was that they were...technically considered bound to the seal on Naruto's arm. Technically, they could be considered summons, so they were allowed for combat despite their ambassador status. It would also give them both a good idea of how the combat structure of the village worked.

"I look forward to meeting your teammates. Are you sure that I need not stand on any formal ceremony?" Irelia asked. While it was not something that even Ionians did very often, it was still done out of politeness and respect.

"They'd only give you weird looks if you did. Don't worry, you'll be fine," Naruto claimed. Irelia merely accepted this statement and she felt the waves of tension flee from her body.

Naruto, Irelia, and Akali entered the streets of Konoha. The two latter watched as shinobi hopped across rooftops with expert precision. Now that Irelia had thought of it, she had seen Naruto perform this action a few times while they trained. She had seen the Kinkou Order perform some of the same actions. They hid in the trees and jumped through them with great agility.

"Do...most of the warriors in your village travel this way?" Irelia asked.

"It's one of the fastest ways. Those who aren't in a rush walk, but those who need to go in a hurry will usually go that way," Naruto explained. He turned and he saw Irelia staring at the action in silent wonder. Perhaps, he should take her roof hooping one of these days.

Naruto then looked at Akali. Not even the former Fist of Shadow was exempt from some small manner of intrigue as she watched the shinobi of the village dash away. Perhaps to someone like her, it was easy to stop them, but she wondered if the civilian populace who lived in the streets could see them. If they could, either the civilians were more capable than Akali thought, or the shinobi weren't discreet enough.

"The shinobi allow themselves to be seen because it gives the civilians security that there is also someone moving to protect the village. They could move fast enough to not be seen, but it tends to create a sense of paranoia. To the loyal villagers here, they are a constant force of protection. To the enemies who are inside, they are the bird that sees everything that moves. At the very least, that's how Iruka-sensei explained it to be," Naruto said, answering Akali's silent question.

She turned to him in surprise. She had not been aware that she was wearing those expressions on her face that could be so easily deciphered. Yet, despite her attitude, Naruto still gave her proper attention in discovering the question she had been asking herself. "I see," she responded.

When the assassin's gaze landed on the blonde, she found him still looking at her. A mighty gaze of fire burned into her that made her body shake like leaves in the fall. She was shivering? What would she need to shiver for? She had slain hundreds of men and been in the deadliest battlegrounds. So...why was this gaze fading away her consciousness?

Irelia stared between Naruto and Akali. A shake of her head came. Yes, the same thing had happened to her. An overpowering aura of magic and...chakra, was it, that left even the greatest warriors dropping to their knees. The Last Xan was no different.

After about an hour, the three left the village and entered the training areas for the genin teams. He took them to Training Ground Seven. Both were rather surprised to see a gate barring entry from the outside. "I see. So these are the training areas for the teams of new young soldiers that graduate from the school of learning. It does not seem as wide as the training fields that most masters use for their pupils however," Irelia said.

"You would have to go to the Hokage about that one. I don't know why they make them this way," Naruto claimed. Irelia placed a note in the back of her mind to do this at some other point.

At the same time, the group of three noticed two individuals come into view. They were both at the entrance of the gates with looks of disinterest on their faces. This disinterest held until they looked up and saw who was coming.

"Naruto, is that you? Naruto!" Sakura called. She then came running. Naruto could not deny it. In the weeks that he had been gone, Sakura had clearly gotten stronger. Her pink hair was still as long as he remembered, but her once skinny arms and legs were much more toned than he remembered. There was confidence in her eyes that wasn't there before.

Then came Sasuke. He had not changed much on the outside, but ever since Naruto had been taught the technique of Perception from Karma, he had been able to see, or rather feel, the inner strength of others. Sasuke had gotten stronger as well.

Sakura hugged him briefly before releasing him. He did not know why she was suddenly acting very friendly to him. They weren't on the best terms even after the special D-rank mission to Kirigakure that they had done.

"You obviously didn't return alone. Who are they? I haven't seen them in the village before," Sasuke said.

The blonde rolled his eyes. Still as blunt as ever. It seemed that whatever issues were plaguing the Uchiha had still not been resolved. Then again, considering what happened to his clan, perhaps they never would be. Naruto cleared his throat and brought them forward. "Sasuke, Sakura, this is Xan Irelia and Tethi Akali. I meet them while I was...gone. Irelia, Akali, this is Haruno Sakura, and Uchiha Sasuke," Naruto said.

"Why is her hair pink?" Both warriors thought to themselves.

"Spirits bless both of you. Your teammate has helped us immensely during his stay in Ionia. It is fortunate that I get to meet his brother and sister in arms," Irelia said. She shook Sakura's hand while she introduced herself. Sasuke did not make a move for introduction, but Akali did merely out of common courtesy. She shook hands with Sakura as well but noticed that Sasuke made no move for the same.

"Ionia? Where is that? I don't think I've heard of that place before," Sakura said.

"It is...very far away. Most ships do not sail so far," Irelia said. While she did not feel that dishonesty was needed, Naruto earlier asked her to maintain caution that he not release his dragon lineage yet. Neither female knew why, but they respected his choice.

"Well, it's good to see that your time away wasn't a waste of time. You got stronger will you were gone," Sasuke said. If one were honest, the Uchiha was silently seething with rage. He could feel the immense pressure rolling off the blonde's body. It made his own strength feel so small. He wondered what Naruto could have been doing to attain such might. Even now, it felt like his legs were just short of bending over. Had this land...Ionia produced such strength in him?! As Sasuke continued to study Naruto, his eyes drifted to Akali for a moment. His gaze tightened when he saw her staring at him like a hawk views a snake. Her eyes scanned his body for threats. She...viewed him as a problem.

"Naturally," Naruto claimed. Due to his perception, he could see the way Akali and Sasuke looked at each other. It was the same look he and Darius had given each other when they fought in the Ionian lands.

"I assume Kakashi-sensei is as late as ever?" Naruto asked. In response to his question, Sakura growled.

"Don't remind us! We've been here for the past half an hour! You know how he is!" Sakura claimed. Naruto wholeheartedly agreed. Thankfully, he hadn't dealt with Kakashi's tardiness in a number of weeks. He supposed he should have prepared Akali and Irelia for such a time.

"Patience is to be considered a righteous virtue. However, it does not look good upon a superior if he dishonors his men with tardiness," Irelia said. She knew the weight of responsibility and the pressure of carrying the hopes of dreams of so many men and women. She could not imagine being late for a battle. How many would have lost their lives if she were?

Akali frowned. If their trainer wasn't here, then they should merely use the time to practice the skills that had already been given. It seemed that the younger generation of this village were pretty lax. However, on that note, this was not different from the Kinkou Order. Students at this age were still not considered as actual warriors. At this age they were still learning the philosophies and practices of the spirit world, and the physical world. Akali was no different. Still, these two would not have made it as Kinkou warriors in their present state. At their age, she had gone through much rigorous training.

Slowly, minutes turned to hours. Sasuke and Sakura took their place back on the steel fence while Naruto and Irelia discreetly practiced the ebb and flow of magical energy between themselves. Akali had taken to the trees and busied herself with sharpening her tools.

After two hours passed, Akali's eyes darted into the plains. She could feel a great pressure heading for the group. It was not a threatening pressure, but it was enough to make her realize that this must have been the trainer of the three. Before she could even move, the pressure appeared in a puff of smoke on top of the fence.

"Well well, it seems that we have some new faces at Training Ground Seven. Sorry, I'm late everyone. I had to help an old lady carry her groceries and she lived very far away. Then a black cat crossed my path. You know, bad luck and all that. I had to take the long way around," he said.

No one said anything for a moment before Irelia turned to Naruto. "He does this a lot I assume?" she asked. The way she saw the blonde massage his temples told her enough. It was easy for her to see that no one was amused by the obvious lie that he had just told.

"Irelia, Akali, this is Hatake Kakashi, my jonin-sensei, and the worst liar in Konoha," Naruto introduced. Kakashi smiled and held up his hand.

"Greetings, ladies. A pleasure to meet you. It's nice to see you too, Naruto. Been a few weeks, hasn't it? Ready to get back to work with your team?" Kakashi asked.

While Kakashi brought his team together, Akali dropped to the ground and landed next to Irelia. "What do you think of him?" the latter asked.

"He is very powerful. Between him and the Eye of Twilight, I struggle to determine the outcome. He...has a rather jovial mood, but there is a tension in his voice that many experienced warriors seem to have. There is also this faint...aura that I sense in him. If I was to fight him evenly, I doubt I would win. Perhaps if I had time to prepare, but the one that concerns me is the boy, Sasuke," Akali said.

Irelia frowned. "Yes, I feel it as well. There is bitterness and deep-seated hate in his eyes. I have seen that look many times even in my fellow Ionians. Something has scarred his heart and disturbed his spirit. I pray he finds the answers he needs and does not go down the path that will destroy him. Oddly, he reminds me of you," Irelia said.

"I don't have plans for revenge," Akali returned.

"Everyone has hateful thoughts at some point. It's what we do with those thoughts that determine our future paths," Irelia answered.

"I don't need you to lecture me. I guess even you must have thoughts of revenge," the former Fist of Shadow said. Irelia closed her eyes. She then opened them.

"Every day," she responded, her heart heavy. She noticed Naruto looking back at her curiously. No doubt he felt the burden on her heart due to her status as his Surā.

Akali chose not to let those words bother her as much as it probably did. However, she closed her eyes. "It reminds me of someone else," she said. Irelia did not know who she meant, but...at the same time, she had a feeling that she did.

Both tuned back into the conversation in time to hear Kakashi say. "Well then, it seems we've completed the required D-ranked missions. How about we take a C-rank mission to celebrate Naruto's return?" Kakashi asked.

Based on the reactions of the three young warriors, this...didn't sound like a good idea. However, if Akali and Irelia remembered, based on Naruto's explanation, a C-rank mission shouldn't be so difficult compared to a D-rank mission. What was the worst that could happen?

KG: Not as long as I wished, but that's fine. Anyway, season 10 is...rough. Very rough. Good luck with your LP! GIMME CREAM SODA!

*(Draconian) Wux re sia kornari mitne - The light of my heart is you.

Dout kornari ui sia donoap - The path I seek is your heart.