Another Companions Joining

After a while of crying, Irene fell asleep, her exhaustion finally catching up to her. Naruto glanced at her peaceful form, noting how vulnerable she looked. He hadn't received any information from his clones yet, which meant they had yet to reach Magnolia. Deciding to move to a less destroyed area, Naruto summoned a clone and substituted himself with it to keep watch over Irene.

He then summoned a few more clones and instructed them to scout for a suitable clearing where they could rest undisturbed. After a short search, they found a clearing nearby. With a gentle touch on the clone acting as a pillow, Naruto used the Hiraishin to teleport them to the new clearing without disturbing Irene.

Naruto's stomach growled, reminding him of his hunger. He set up his cooking utensils and began preparing dinner, noting the lateness of the night. As the meal simmered, he pitched tents for both himself and Irene. He glanced at her again, thinking, "She must have been utterly exhausted to still be asleep."

Carefully, he placed Irene inside her tent, ensuring she was comfortable. He then took out a bowl and thought, "I'll cook another batch if she wakes up later." Just as he was about to dig in, he heard rustling in the bushes nearby. Naruto groaned, regretting not having learned sensory techniques, a skill he now planned to master soon.

Standing up, he walked closer to the noise and called out, "I know you're there. Might as well come out."

From the bushes emerged two beautiful women. The first had dark purple hair cascading down her back and striking red eyes that seemed to pierce through the night. She wore a dark, elegant dress that accentuated her slim figure, giving her a mysterious aura. The second woman had vibrant pink hair styled into twin tails and matching pink eyes that shimmered with a mix of curiosity and caution. Her outfit was more practical, consisting of a short dress and boots, allowing for easy movement.

Naruto eyed them cautiously. "Who are you?" he asked, his tone steady but curious.

The dark-haired woman stepped forward, her voice smooth and composed. "My name is Ultear Milkovich," she introduced herself. "And this is Meredy," she gestured to her pink-haired companion.

"We mean you no harm," Meredy added quickly, her voice softer but equally sincere. "We were just passing by and smelled the food."

Naruto relaxed slightly, though he remained vigilant. "Well, if you're hungry, there's plenty to share. But don't try anything funny."

Ultear and Meredy nodded, grateful for the offer. As they settled near the fire, Naruto served them each a bowl of food, keeping a watchful eye on the newcomers. Despite the unexpected company, he felt a strange sense of calm, trusting his instincts to guide him through this unexpected encounter.

Naruto, sensing no ill intentions from the two women, motioned for them to join him by the fire. The two ladies exchanged glances and nodded before approaching. As they settled near the warmth, Naruto casually asked what they were doing in the area.

Meredy quickly answered, "We're just travelers. We were drawn by the aroma of your food."

Naruto knew they weren't being entirely truthful, but he sensed no malice in their words. Deciding to let it slide, he watched as Meredy's eyes fixed on the food, a small line of drool forming at the corner of her mouth. He chuckled lightly, catching their attention.

"What's so funny?" Ultear asked, her tone curious but guarded.

Naruto smiled and turned to Meredy. "You must be hungry, huh? With all that drool, I mean." He handed each of them a bowl, and Meredy blushed deeply, embarrassed to have been caught. Ultear sighed and shook her head at her adoptive daughter's reaction.

The dinner that followed was quiet. Naruto wasn't particularly interested in making conversation, Ultear remained cautious, and Meredy was too embarrassed to speak. Despite the silence, there was a comfortable, if tentative, atmosphere around the campfire.

After finishing their meal, Ultear asked, "Would it be alright if we slept somewhere nearby?"

Naruto shrugged. "This isn't my property to decide, but you're welcome to stay close."

Grateful, the women nodded and were about to find a tree branch to sleep on when Naruto handed them two spare tents. "Here, you can use these."

Ultear and Meredy exchanged a surprised look before nodding in appreciation. "Thank you," Ultear said with a sincere nod.

Naruto returned to where Irene was sleeping and sat by her tent, his thoughts drifting as he gazed up at the night sky. Hours passed, and the camp was silent, save for the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl.

As he kept watch, Naruto sensed someone approaching but remained calm, allowing them to come closer. The night was peaceful, and the presence he felt didn't alarm him. He waited, curious to see who it was and what they wanted.

Eventually, the figure emerged from the shadows—it was Ultear. She approached quietly, her expression thoughtful and cautious.

"You don't sleep much, do you?" she asked softly, standing a few feet away.

Naruto smiled faintly. "Old habits die hard. Plus, someone has to keep watch."

Ultear nodded, seeming to understand. She hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Thank you for your kindness. You didn't have to help us."

Naruto shrugged. "It's no big deal. Everyone needs help sometimes."

Ultear, after a while of silence, couldn't hold back her curiosity any longer. Her expression turned serious as she looked over at Naruto, who was tending the fire. She took a deep breath, her voice steady but probing.

"I need to ask you something," she began. "What do you know about the destruction of the nearby forest?"

Naruto glanced up from the fire, meeting her gaze with a calm demeanor. "There was a fight," he admitted, keeping his tone measured. "But it wasn't exactly something I planned. Someone attacked us, and we had to defend ourselves."

Ultear's frown deepened, clearly unsatisfied with his vague response. "Who's inside the tent?" she asked, nodding towards where Irene was resting.

"A woman we encountered," Naruto replied, choosing his words carefully. "She's... complicated."

Ultear's eyes narrowed slightly. "Why did you fight?"

Naruto sighed, his gaze momentarily drifting to the darkened sky. "She attacked us first. I had to protect myself and my students. Things escalated from there."

Ultear studied his face intently, searching for any hint of deceit. "You're not telling me everything, are you?"

"I'm telling you enough," Naruto said calmly. "Not every detail is necessary for you to know."

A brief silence followed as they stared at each other, both unwilling to back down. Ultear's suspicion was palpable, but Naruto remained composed. Finally, Naruto broke the stalemate with a serious question of his own.

"Why did you approach us?" he asked, his tone firm. "You've asked me a lot of questions. Now, it's my turn. What's your purpose here?"

Ultear hesitated, her expression guarded. "I felt a massive battle happening in these parts," she said vaguely but truthfully. "I came to see what was going on."

Naruto studied her for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough," he said, his voice softening. "But if you're going to be around, it's best we have some level of trust. At least, for now."

Ultear nodded, her demeanor slightly more relaxed. "Agreed," she said before turning to walk back to her tent. "Good night, Naruto."

"Good night, Ultear," Naruto replied, watching her go. As she joined Meredy in their tent, Naruto returned to his spot by Irene's tent, feeling a mix of curiosity and wariness about their new companions. He glanced at Irene's peaceful form and then back at the fire, lost in thought about the complex web of alliances and enmities forming around him.

Morning came, and as the sun's first light touched the clearing, all of them began to wake up. Irene was the first to stir. She saw Naruto tending to the fire, his back to her, but as if sensing her waking up, he turned and greeted her with a warm smile.

"Good morning," he said.

Irene, remembering the events of the previous day, sighed in disappointment. But then she recalled Naruto's words of encouragement. Shaking her head, she managed a small smile in return.

It was still early when Ultear joined them. She approached cautiously, her expression serious. Seeing Irene and Naruto together, she narrowed her eyes. Irene returned the look, both women wary of each other. Irene was unsure of who this new woman was, while Ultear was still cautious of Irene.

Naruto noticed the tension immediately. Hoping to diffuse it, he decided to focus on something mundane and comforting.

"You girls must be hungry," he said, pulling out his cooking tools. "What do you want to eat this morning?"

Irene, trusting him after their previous encounters, simply replied, "Anything."

Ultear, still guarded but not wanting to escalate any tension, echoed the sentiment. "Anything is fine," she said, taking a seat across from them.

Naruto nodded, setting to work on breakfast. He moved efficiently, his hands deftly preparing the ingredients. As he cooked, he kept the conversation light, sharing a few anecdotes from his travels to ease the atmosphere.

"So," he began, glancing at Irene and Ultear, "I know it's been a rough start, but maybe we can make today better. Let's just try to get along for now."

Irene nodded, appreciating his effort to keep things peaceful. Ultear, while still on guard, seemed to soften slightly, her expression less tense.

As the smell of cooking food filled the air, the tension slowly started to dissipate. The promise of a good meal and a fresh start for the day seemed to offer a small respite from the uncertainties and conflicts that had marked their encounter so far.

Glancing between Naruto and Ultear, Irene was cautious of this new presence. She sensed Naruto's silent encouragement, his expression clearly telling her to introduce herself. With a sigh of defeat, she complied.

"I'm Irene Belserion," she said, her voice calm but wary.

Ultear was surprised. She didn't know who this woman was, but she could tell Irene was strong—perhaps even stronger than herself or Jellal. The fact that Naruto could get this woman to make the first move spoke volumes to her. It was clear Irene did it for Naruto and wouldn't have bothered otherwise, evident from the way she narrowed her eyes whenever she looked at Ultear.

Ultear looked at Naruto, noticing his helpless expression. She realized that Naruto had a way of making people not want to disappoint him. Reluctantly, she introduced herself as well.

"I'm Ultear Milkovich," she said, her tone measured but polite.

Naruto smiled at both of them, his expression one of relief and encouragement. "See? That wasn't so hard," he said, his tone light and friendly. "Now we can start getting along."

He took it upon himself to keep the conversation going, deftly including both women. He shared stories, asked questions, and gently nudged them to participate. His efforts gradually eased the tension, and Ultear found herself responding more naturally, albeit still cautiously.

After about an hour, Meredy finally woke up and joined the group, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Seeing the three already in conversation, she blinked in surprise but quickly sat down beside Ultear.

"Good morning, Meredy," Naruto greeted warmly. "We were just getting to know each other."

Meredy glanced around, sensing the remnants of tension but also the efforts to bridge the gap. She smiled sleepily, appreciating the effort to include her.

Naruto served breakfast, continuing to guide the conversation and making sure everyone was comfortable. As they ate, the atmosphere gradually became more relaxed, the shared meal helping to build a sense of camaraderie, however tentative.

"So, what's the plan for today?" Ultear asked, looking at Naruto.

He thought for a moment, glancing at Irene. "Well, for me I'm gonna be going to magnolia. But for now, let's finish eating and see where the day takes us."

With that, they settled into a tentative peace, each mindful of the others but willing to try and move forward together.

After finishing breakfast, Naruto packed everything up, readying for the day's journey. As he did, he noticed Irene and Ultear had moved a bit farther from the group, while Meredy watched them with mild curiosity.

Ultear had loosened up slightly, giving Irene a chance, while Irene mirrored that sentiment. However, Ultear still sought answers. She approached Irene with a series of questions.

"What do you know about the destruction of a portion of the forest?" Ultear began, her tone direct.

Irene answered truthfully, explaining the battle she had with Naruto, how their powers clashed, and the resulting damage to the forest.

"And what's your relationship with Naruto?" Ultear continued, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Irene paused, considering her words. "We just met. He... helped me realize some things about myself. It's complicated, but he's been kind to me."

"Why does it feel like you have a dark aura?" Ultear pressed.

Irene sighed, the weight of her past evident in her expression. "I've done things I'm not proud of. Horrible things. But Naruto... he helped me see a path to redemption."

Ultear was silent for a moment, absorbing Irene's honesty. Despite her cautious nature, she couldn't help but feel a sliver of empathy for the woman in front of her.

Naruto's voice interrupted them. "Alright, everyone, let's get moving!"

As they regrouped, Ultear and Irene walked side by side. Irene turned to Ultear, offering a small, sincere smile. "I understand your cautious nature. I don't mind your questions. You have your own struggles, and that shows. You should talk to him. Naruto... he's quite the therapist, I tell you."

Wide-eyed, Ultear was taken aback. She hadn't realized she was so easy to read. Or perhaps Irene had simply seen through her, recognizing the signs of someone who had endured their own hardships.

"Maybe," Ultear replied softly, thoughtful.

With that, they joined Naruto and Meredy. The group set off, a sense of tentative understanding forming between them. The journey ahead was uncertain, but for now, they were willing to move forward together, each grappling with their pasts and seeking a better future.

_____________________________________________A/N: This is quite the awkward chapter for me, I tried to write and integrate Meredy and Ultear in the story, but with Irene not being that fleshed out yet I had a difficult time trying to make her and Naruto's dynamic where Naruto is the encourager of the two, it didn't help that Ultear is a very cautious person so I kinda somewhat sped fast the awkward conversation between the three and tried to move past this one, another woman would be introduced in the next chapter. I plan to change the dynamic soon as I make the characters more fleshed out and get over their traumas but that's something that I wanna take my time with so the series would enter a very slow pace soon, I planned this from the start but the fast start kinda made it hard for me, as the series would start when they get to fairy tail.