Talk-No-Jutsu Kagura and Ultear

After a few hours of traveling, the group had settled into a somewhat comfortable routine. Ultear and Irene made small attempts at conversation, bridging the gap of initial distrust. Naruto's lighthearted nature helped ease the tension, and Meredy's cheerful demeanor added a touch of warmth.

As they walked through the dense forest, a young woman with long purple hair and striking blue eyes approached them, her expression curious rather than aggressive. She carried herself with an air of quiet strength and intrigue. It was Kagura Mikazuchi, drawn by the distant roar she had heard earlier.

"Excuse me," Kagura said, her tone calm but inquisitive. "I heard a loud roar yesterday coming from this direction and came to investigate. What happened here?"

Naruto stepped forward, his expression open and friendly. "We had a bit of a misunderstanding with some magic, but it's all sorted out now. We're just passing through."

Kagura nodded, her gaze lingering on Irene and Ultear. "I see. The roar was quite powerful. It piqued my curiosity."

Naruto's eyes softened with understanding. "We didn't mean to cause any alarm. We're just a group of travelers helping each other out. If you'd like, you're welcome to join us. It could be safer to travel together."

Kagura considered his offer, her eyes scanning the group. "That's generous of you. Thank you. I was actually searching for my older brother, Simon. He might be somewhere in this area."

Naruto's expression grew serious. "It's good that you're looking out for him. Maybe we can help you find some leads. Traveling together might be beneficial for all of us."

As they continued walking, the group tried to make Kagura feel welcome. Ultear, despite her initial discomfort, made an effort to converse with her.

"So, Kagura, how long have you been searching for your brother?" Ultear asked, her tone cautious but friendly.

Kagura glanced at her, sensing her unease but appreciating the effort. "It's been a while. Simon and I were separated when we were younger. I've been following any leads I can find."

Irene, sensing an opportunity to connect, added, "Family is important. I hope you find him soon."

Kagura smiled slightly. "Thank you. It's been difficult, but I won't give up."

Naruto, wanting to keep the conversation light, chimed in, "Well, with all of us working together, I'm sure we'll find some clues. And in the meantime, we can enjoy each other's company."

As they walked, the group slowly began to bond. The initial tension between Ultear and Kagura eased as they shared stories and experiences. Naruto's natural charm and optimism kept the mood light, and even Irene found herself more at ease.

By the time they made camp for the night, there was a growing sense of camaraderie among them. As they sat around the fire, sharing a meal, Naruto looked around at his newfound companions.

"It's been quite a journey already," he said with a grin. "I'm glad we can all travel together. Who knows what we'll find along the way?"

Kagura nodded, her earlier wariness replaced with tentative trust. "Thank you for letting me join you. I appreciate it."

Naruto smiled warmly. "We're all looking for something. It's better to do it together."

As the night wore on, the group settled into their tents. Kagura, feeling a bit more hopeful about her quest, glanced over at Naruto, who was still tending the fire.

"Naruto," she called softly.

"Yeah?" he replied, looking up.

"Thank you," she said simply.

Naruto nodded, his expression sincere. "Anytime, Kagura. We're in this together."

With that, Kagura turned in for the night, feeling a sense of belonging she hadn't felt in a long time. And as the stars twinkled above, the group drifted off to sleep, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Irene took the responsibility of keeping watch for the night, insisting that Naruto finally get some rest. Before he could fall asleep, he was bombarded with memories from his clones. They had safeguarded Magnolia and decided it would be better if at least one clone stayed to look after the group while they slept. The clones had explained the situation to Macao, the guild master, and Naruto, sighing in relief, was finally able to sleep soundly.

Morning came, and Naruto was still asleep. This was understandable for the group, but Kagura, curious about his long sleep, asked Irene, who seemed the oldest of the group, why he was still resting.

"He hasn't been sleeping properly for about a day now," Irene explained.

Kagura nodded, understanding. They let him sleep, but guilt gnawed at Ultear as she looked at Kagura, who was oblivious to the fact that her brother Simon was already dead. Ultear felt compelled to rectify this immediately.

"Can I speak with you for a moment?" Ultear asked Kagura, her voice steady but urgent.

Kagura, curious, followed her a little distance away. "What is it?"

Ultear took a deep breath. "I need to tell you something about your brother, Simon."

Kagura's eyes widened, her heart pounding. "What do you know about Simon?"

Ultear hesitated but knew she had to be honest. "Simon... Simon is dead."

Kagura's expression turned from shock to disbelief. "What? No... that can't be true!"

"It was Jellal," Ultear continued, her voice trembling. "He was the one who... who killed him."

Kagura's eyes filled with rage. "How could you say that? Why would you tell me this now?"

"It's something you should have known a long time ago," Ultear admitted, her own guilt evident.

Kagura, consumed by grief and anger, drew her sword. "You're lying! How can you prove it?"

At that moment, an explosion echoed through the forest, waking Naruto abruptly. He rushed out of the tent to see Irene and Meredy looking at the rising smoke in the distance.

"What's going on?" Naruto demanded.

"Ultear talked to Kagura and went to where the smoke is coming from," Meredy explained. "Then that happened."

Naruto immediately ran towards the source of the commotion, with Irene following close behind.

Reaching the scene, they found Kagura with her sword raised, ready to strike down Ultear. Without hesitation, Naruto jumped in, catching the blade with his bare hands.

"Kagura, calm down!" Naruto said sternly, his grip on the sword unwavering.

Kagura's eyes were wild with grief and rage. "She told me my brother is dead. That Jellal killed him!"

Naruto held her gaze, his voice steady but gentle. "I know it's hard to hear, but killing her won't bring Simon back."

Kagura's eyes filled with tears. "How can you understand? You don't know what it's like to lose someone so close."

Naruto's expression softened. "I do understand, Kagura. More than you know."

Kagura's grip on the sword loosened as Naruto continued. "I've lost many people I cared about. I grew up alone, ostracized by my village. I had no family, no friends. The people who were supposed to protect me treated me like a monster. I know what it's like to feel pain, to feel loss, to feel anger so deep it consumes you."

Kagura's shoulders began to shake as the weight of his words sank in. "But... what am I supposed to do now? How do I move on from this?"

Naruto gently lowered the sword, his hands still holding it. "We find a way to honor those we've lost by living our lives in a way they would be proud of. We carry their memory with us and let it give us strength."

Kagura's tears flowed freely as she dropped her sword, collapsing to her knees. "I don't know if I can..."

Naruto knelt beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You can. And you won't have to do it alone. We're here for you. I'm here for you."

Irene and Meredy joined them, offering silent support. Ultear, her own guilt still heavy, stepped forward. "I'm so sorry, Kagura. I wish there was more I could do to make this right."

Kagura looked up at her, the anger in her eyes replaced by a deep sadness. "Just... help me find some closure."

"We will," Naruto promised, looking at each member of the group. "We'll face this together. No one has to carry their burdens alone anymore."

With that, the group stood united, ready to face whatever came next, knowing that together, they could find strength and hope even in the darkest of times.

After a while, Naruto took each one of them and teleported back to camp. He realized how emotionally unstable these people were but also knew they had good hearts, something that always gave him a soft spot for them. As they sat down in a circle, Kagura was visibly uncomfortable being near Ultear and scooted closer to Irene. Seeing this, Ultear could only look down in shame for what she had done.

Naruto, not allowing the awkward atmosphere to linger, clapped his hands to get everyone's attention. "Let's break the ice a bit. I'll start with my story."

Naruto shared his past: the loneliness, the ostracization by his village, the grueling training, and the pain of losing those he cared about. He talked about how he overcame those struggles by striving to prove himself and eventually gaining the respect and friendship he had longed for.

When Naruto finished, Irene decided to share her story with the group. "I was once a queen, known as the Scarlet Despair. I turned into a dragon to protect my people during the Dragon King Festival. But as time passed, the transformation became permanent, and I was feared by my people. I lost everything, including my humanity. It was Zeref who helped me regain a semblance of control, but I still struggled with the darkness within me."

Seeing what Naruto was trying to do, Meredy shared her backstory. "I was orphaned at a young age and taken in by Ultear. I joined Grimoire Heart, believing in their mission to create a better world. But after its fall, I realized how misguided we were."

Meredy nudged her adoptive mother, encouraging her to speak. Ultear took a deep breath and began, her voice melancholic. "I was once part of the Magic Council, but I became obsessed with time magic and sought to change the past. I joined Grimoire Heart and later manipulated events from the shadows. My quest for power led to many atrocities, including the manipulation of Jellal and the death of Kagura's brother, Simon. I've been trying to atone for my sins ever since."

Finally, they all turned to Kagura, who fidgeted under their attention. Despite her discomfort, she shared her story. "I lost my brother, Simon, during a dark time. He was taken away from me, and I've been searching for him ever since. I haven't found any leads yet. I heard a roar from this direction and came out of curiosity, hoping it might lead me to him."

Naruto nodded, absorbing each story with empathy. "Thank you all for sharing. It takes a lot of courage to open up like this. We've all been through a lot, but the important thing is that we're here now, together. We can support each other and move forward."

Kagura, feeling a bit more at ease, looked around the circle. "So, what's our plan now?"

Naruto smiled. "How about joining a guild together? We can support each other better that way. I was thinking of Fairy Tail."

Ultear looked uncertain. "I'm a wanted criminal. Joining a guild isn't exactly easy for someone like me."

Naruto looked toward Ultear's solemn expression and took her hand. Ultear, surprised, looked at him with wide eyes.

"I know you've done bad things," Naruto said gently, "things that I probably know nothing about and are probably wanted for. But trust me, it's better to move forward with friends than alone. The world can be a cruel place, and when you fall down, it can try its best to keep you down. But you don't have to be alone. Your friends can help you get back up."

Ultear's eyes teared up a little. "Do I truly deserve that?" she whispered.

Naruto patted her head and smiled warmly. "Of course you do."

The atmosphere of the group slowly turned warm from this, but Naruto wasn't done. He turned his head toward Kagura and smirked. "That means you too, missy."

Kagura, surprised, pointed at herself, confused. "Me?"

"Of course you," Naruto replied. "No more moping or burdening yourselves. We're here. And if the others don't want to hear about it, I'm here." He pointed at himself proudly. "I don't care if it's night or day, if it's a good time or bad. Remember, I have ears to listen and a shoulder you can lean on. You can depend on me."

Naruto closed his eyes and smiled brightly. Everyone else couldn't help but smile as well, while Kagura nodded, her eyes starting to water.

"We're all in this together," Naruto continued. "We've all got our pasts, our pains, but we can support each other and move forward."

Kagura wiped her eyes and smiled softly. "Thank you, Naruto."

Ultear, still holding his hand, nodded. "Yes, thank you."

Naruto's words hung in the air, their warmth gradually spreading through the group. Irene, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope. She had seen countless battles and endured endless struggles, but this—this simple act of kindness and understanding—felt like a new beginning.

Ultear took a deep breath, her gaze steadying as she met Naruto's eyes. "I will try. I can't promise it'll be easy, but I'll try."

Naruto's smile widened. "That's all I ask. Just take it one step at a time."

As the morning light filtered through the trees, the group began to prepare for the day's journey. Naruto took charge, efficiently packing up their camp. Irene and Ultear, despite their initial wariness of each other, exchanged small, tentative smiles.

Kagura, standing a little apart, observed the interactions with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. She had come here out of curiosity, following the sound of a mighty roar, but had found something she hadn't expected—a chance at companionship and understanding.

While they worked, Naruto glanced at Ultear. "So, what do you think about joining a guild with us? It could be a fresh start for you."

Ultear hesitated. "But I'm a wanted criminal. Joining a guild might put them in danger."

Naruto shook his head. "If you want to atone, start by accepting help. We can face any danger together."

Kagura, listening in, felt a pang of sympathy for Ultear. She stepped forward. "If you're willing to try, so am I. We can find strength in each other."

Naruto nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit."

With the camp packed and ready, Naruto led the group forward. They walked in comfortable silence for a while, the morning sun warming their backs. Kagura found herself walking beside Ultear, who still looked a bit uncertain.

"I know it's hard," Kagura said quietly. "But maybe this is the start of something better."

Ultear gave her a small, grateful smile. "Thank you. It means a lot."

As they continued their journey, the group's bonds grew stronger. They shared stories and laughter, their burdens feeling a little lighter with each step. They knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but for the first time in a long while, they felt hopeful.

Naruto, walking at the front, glanced back at his new companions. He felt a deep sense of satisfaction and determination. They had all been through so much, but together, they could face anything. They had found a family in each other, and that made all the difference.

_____________________________________________A/N: I think I wrote Ultear and Kagura a little bit better here compared to how I wrote the interaction of Ultear and Irene, that's also a reason to why Irene kinda took a step back from this chapter so I can focus on Ultear and Kagura, and adding Naruto to the mix to act as a glue to the group, I realized that how I write Naruto is similar to a therapist albeit a bad one it's a therapist nonetheless but hey it is what it is, I enjoyed writing a Naruto like this, not too childish but hasn't lost the light in his eyes unlike majority of the works I've read, it's either Naruto changes so much that there is nothing that can linger to the og Naruto but I wanna try to mature him by a lot but not remove his kind and understanding nature and this chapter should have told you generally when Naruto is in right now.