Ch 44 Part 3

Week Later

The atmosphere at Kuoh Academy is palpably electric. Rias, with her crimson hair cascading down her back, stood in the training room of the Occult Research Club. Her aquamarine eyes darted over her peerage members, mentally assessing their strengths and formulating strategies. "We've only got a short time left," she stated with determination. "Naruto isn't just any opponent. We've all seen what he's capable of. We need to be prepared for anything."

Sona, on the other hand, is in the Student Council room. Various chess pieces were laid out on a board in front of her. As per their pact, Naruto played chess with her this month just the previous day, when Sona had come so close to beating Naruto. She recalled the moment vividly: the focus in his eyes, the slight surprise when she moved her bishop to corner his King, and the eventual win he secured unpredictably. That game had been a testament to her growth and strategic acumen.

She still had the set as it was, observing how well she could do better. Her peerage watched her with admiration. "Kaichou, you've come so close to beating him yesterday," Tsubaki remarked, her eyes reflecting pride.

"Yes," Sona mused, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "But chess is just a reflection of the real battlefield. If I can predict Naruto's moves on the board, perhaps I can predict them in our spar as well."

Back at the ORC room, Rias convened with Akeno. "I heard about Sona's matches with Naruto," Rias began, a hint of concern evident in her tone. "If she's getting that good at predicting his moves, we need to up our game."

Akeno nodded in agreement. "Sona has always been a strategist. But Naruto is unpredictable. Even if she gets a read on him during a game of chess, it doesn't necessarily mean she'll be able to outmanoeuvre him on the battlefield."

The two peerage leaders, though friends at heart, recognized the importance of the upcoming spar. It wasn't just about winning or losing; it was about proving themselves, about showcasing their growth and capabilities.

As the time of the spar neared, the two groups intensified their planning, each wanting to give their best against the formidable Naruto. The stage was set for a showdown that would be remembered for ages.

The sun was beginning to dip towards the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over Kuoh Academy. The vast open area behind the Occult Research Club building had transformed into a bustling hub of activity, as members of two peerages convened for their much-anticipated spar.

Sona's peerage was already there, arranging the equipment, their faces a mix of anticipation and determination. The Sitri members - Tsubaki, Tsubasa and Momo - chatted among themselves, occasionally stealing glances towards the entrance of the ORC, awaiting the arrival of the Gremory team.

It wasn't long before the familiar figures of Rias and her group appeared. Rias, with her elegant stride, led the way, her crimson locks shimmering in the evening light. Beside her, Akeno shared a mischievous smile with Koneko, the petite girl's cat-like eyes shining with excitement. Kiba, ever the gentleman, offered polite nods to the Sitri members.

And then from the Ninja Club building walked Naruto, with Reni, Alice, Kazehana and Saeko by his side. The team emanated an air of calm strength, drawing the attention of nearly everyone present.

Everyone was surprised by the sudden jump of members by Naruto's side. Usually, it's just Reni by his side as she is his Vice President and the acting Queen. But seeing most of his peerage like this surprised them.

Coming to peerages, they didn't know how many members Naruto's peerage had. There are rumours about the magenta-haired rook of Jiraiya-sama living with Naruto, but none know the truth. Not to mention the other blonde woman who fought on Naruto's side in Kyoto.

"Yo!" Naruto greeted them enthusiastically.

"Good evening, Naruto," Sona spoke, giving a nod to others behind him.

"Hello, Naruto. It's a surprise seeing all these beauties by your side." Rias teased, acknowledging others with a nod of her own. All women gave their respectful nods to Sona and Rias, greeting their peerages.

"What can I say? I'm a chick magnet." Naruto said with a shrug.

"A quality inherited from Jiraiya-sama I suppose, ufufufu, how naughty." Akeno mused and received Naruto's smirk.

"I forgot to introduce my Peerage to you," Naruto exclaimed sheepishly. "Allow me to do the honours. The lovely young lady dressed in elegant purple is Kazehana, my Rook. Next, we have the majestic lavender beauty, Saeko, my Knight, and lovely lady Alice, my Pawn. And, of course, you're already familiar with the elegant, mesmerising, and kind-hearted Reni-chan, my Bishop!" Naruto introduced them with dramatic flair, eliciting some embarrassment from the women behind him.

Sona, with her ever-poised demeanour, subtly raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the diverse and powerful group that Naruto had managed to amass in such a short time. Her peerage, especially Tsubaki, tried to hide their surprise but couldn't quite conceal their glances of admiration towards the introduced members.

Rias, on the other hand, looked genuinely flabbergasted. Her usually composed face morphed to utter surprise with her eyes widening in astonishment. The members of her peerage, already familiar with Naruto's unpredictability, exchanged a series of amused and bewildered glances.

Akeno couldn't help but chuckle at Rias's reaction, while Koneko mused aloud, "Naruto-sama is full of surprises." in her plain tone.

But it was Rias's exclamation that filled the grounds, her voice a mix of disbelief and sheer excitement. "Naruto!" she almost shouted, "How in the world did you manage to gather so many strong members in such a short time?"

Her tone was a mix of envy and genuine curiosity, her competitive spirit peeking through, always eager to learn from the unexpected twists and turns Naruto brought into their lives.

Naruto chuckled, his cerulean eyes glinting with mischief. "Oh! Rias, I've had many adventures and made many friends along the way. These wonderful ladies recognized a good opportunity when they saw one," he replied with a teasing smirk, emphasising the word 'good' while pointing at himself.

Rias huffed, playfully rolling her eyes at his theatrics, but her curiosity remained. "You always have a way of drawing people to you," she murmured, a hint of affection evident in her voice.

The scene then transitioned to the Ninja clubroom, a more subdued atmosphere, yet it brimmed with a different kind of energy. The space was decorated with various ninja tools and scrolls, capturing the essence of Naruto's world.

On a plush sofa in the president's office, Naruto and Grayfia lounged comfortably, their eyes fixated on the activity in front of them. Soft light filtered through the window, and the scent of freshly brewed tea wafted through the air. Naruto and Grayfia sat opposite each other, each cradling a cup of tea in their hands.

After a few moments of comfortable silence, Grayfia, ever the astute observer, raised an eyebrow, her silver eyes studying Naruto intently. "Naruto," she began, her voice melodic yet laced with curiosity, "I find it hard to believe you called me here just for a simple tea party. There's always a reason in your mind. What is it you're truly after?"

Naruto took a leisurely sip from his cup, his cerulean eyes locking onto Grayfia's. A sly grin formed on his face. "Grayfia, you always see right through me," he mused. "Yes, there's more to our meeting than just tea."

Naruto's gaze twinkled with mischief. Without any warning, he performed a swift hand gesture. A snap of his fingers. Suddenly, in a puff of smoke, multiple identical versions of Naruto appeared around the room, each clone taking a distinct pose or position.

Grayfia, usually composed and unflappable, blinked in surprise. Her silver eyes darted around the room, taking in the multitude of Narutos. The genuine shock on her face is a rare sight. "I've never heard of a solid cloning ability, this is... unexpected," she admitted, her tone a mix of amusement and awe. She pinched one of the Naruto's closer to her and he gave her a mischievous wink.

One of the Naruto clones chuckled, "Impressed, Grayfia?"

She took a moment to regain her composure, sipping her tea with a renewed sense of intrigue. "You never cease to amaze me, Naruto," she replied, addressing the original Naruto, "But beyond the theatrics, there's a reason we're here."

Naruto, dispersing his clones with another gesture, nodded, his demeanour shifting to a more serious tone. "Indeed," he began, "But sometimes, a little demonstration is necessary before diving into grave matters." The atmosphere grew solemn once again as they prepared to discuss the pressing issues at hand.

He leaned forward slightly, his expression turning a tad more serious. "I've made a decision, one that will affect many, but I wanted to discuss it with you first."

Before Grayfia could probe further, Naruto added, with a hint of mischief, "Oh, and I also wanted to plan our second date."

Grayfia blinked, momentarily taken aback. The sudden shift from a sombre revelation to a playful proposition caught her off guard. However, the slight blush that tinted her cheeks betrayed her surprise and interest. She leaned in, her posture indicating her heightened curiosity. "A second date, you say? And what might this entail?"

Naruto leaned back, his grin widening. "Well, that's for me to know and for you to find out," he teased, thoroughly enjoying the playful banter.

The atmosphere in the clubroom, while still relaxed, was now filled with palpable tension and anticipation, hinting at the possibilities that lay ahead.

Grayfia and Naruto sat together, happily watching the unfolding spar with the distance between them decreasing as time passed. "Don't you think this is too much even to pretend?" Naruto asked, almost gasping for air.

"Shush you. You should enjoy it, as I'm graciously allowing it." Grayfia said in a high and mighty tone as she pushed the 'plushie' Naruto deep into her breasts.

Meanwhile

The spar was in full swing as the 2 peerages tried their best to outdo Naruto's, amid the intense atmosphere of the sparring arena, a sudden disturbance caused everyone to falter momentarily. A shimmering magic circle appeared in the very centre of the arena, and Diodora Astaroth, driven by obsession and arrogance, stepped forth, expecting to take everyone by surprise.

'YES! I'M HERE! YOU WILL BE MINE RE-'

However, his timing couldn't have been worse.

In that split second, multiple spells, unleashed from various directions as part of the ongoing spar, converged upon the unexpected intruder. A torrent of lightning from Akeno, a crystal lance from Saeko, an ice shard from Reni, and a stream of blood from Alice all found their mark simultaneously.

Diodora, who had anticipated making a grand entrance and seizing control of the situation, was instead caught completely off-guard. The amalgamation of attacks slammed into him with unrelenting force, causing a massive explosion of energy that sent shockwaves throughout the arena.

The dust and smoke from the explosion hung thick in the air. When it finally cleared, the sight that greeted everyone was one of utter disbelief: Diodora, one of the most well-mannered younger Devils, lay sprawled and severely injured amidst the remnants of his misjudgment.

The participants of the spar, momentarily unified by this unexpected turn of events, exchanged bewildered glances. The audacity of Diodora's entrance, followed by its instant, unintended consequence, left the arena in stunned silence. The implications of this unforeseen twist loomed large, and the atmosphere was thick with uncertainty.

Unfortunately for Diodora, this caught Naruto's attention and with no mercy, a shadow ensnared the Astaroth Heir, banishing him from the Arena as sudden as he appeared.

"Continue," is the only reply Naruto gave.

And Cut!

That's it for this Chapter folks.

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