Naruto raised both of his eyebrows in curiosity, but still gave her a crooked grin in response. "I can do that...can you do the same for me?"
The hero replied with a small smile. "Of course."
"Good!" the shinobi nodded, before turning to the succubus. "Maria, you may be a pain in the ass most of the time...but I'm hoping that I can depend on you enough to protect yourself and Yuki. As well as accept her help."
Maria's lips grew into a large grin after his comment, splitting her face. "No worries Naruto-sama...me and Yuki-san are going to get along juuuuust fine."
The hero twitched slightly, eyeing the silverette warily...she was beginning to regret this team up already.
With that Naruto firmly nodded, leaving the train car with the little girl clutched close to his chest and heading straight to the forest, undetected by his enemies.
At least he was supposed to be.
"Human!" a distorted voice roared out in challenge.
The blond, holding the girl close to his chest, turned to see how exactly his day could get worse. His legs already primed to move in case another asshole came to dive-bomb him again.
But what he saw only convinced him of the yokai faction's ridiculous diversity more than anything else.
Blue eyes stared as a large creature; consisting of a monkey head, combined with the limbs of a tiger, and a snake for a tail charged at him with reckless abandon.
"I knew that the damn bird shouldn't have gone ahead! I will destroy you in his stead!" the beast shrieked, getting ready to bring it's enormous paws to bear on the seemingly helpless human.
Naruto was having none of that, he instead turned around and jumped straight into the forest, disappearing into it's depths, with the chimera-like creature chasing after him in hot pursuit.
Yuki, who was well hidden to make sure the strange beast didn't see her, watched her friend go, filled with conflicting emotions battling in the pit of her stomach. Intensely uncomfortable with leaving the blond with what amounted to a flare for two factions to hunt for.
But it had to be done, in her own way...she was still doing what Mio asked her to do.
Doing her part to protect him.
Although she would be lying if she said she was just doing this for Mio's sake...
"...Hey. Don't worry, he may be way too cocky...but he's got a reason to be. He can hold out, even with someone to protect." Maria comforted, patting the hero's back.
Yellow eyes locked onto the silverette, accompanied by a slightly wry smile. "What's this? I didn't know that you cared, Maria."
The succubus immediately broke out in laughter, shaking her head all the while. "Oh ho! Yes! I do actually care. I care very much about his well-being as a matter of fact. I just choose to make sure that neither Naruto-sama or Mio-sama sees me worry that much is all."
Yuki raised a single eyebrow, interested. "Why would you do that?"
Maria turned away, a small smile present on her face.
"Why indeed? Anyways, I think we should be worrying more about how to get to Kyoto. Especially since this train won't be going anywhere anytime soon. Ideas?"
The hero stared at Maria, noting the shift in topics, but acquiescing nonetheless. "We walk, we have to disassociate ourselves with this event. Otherwise the human police may detain us since we're the only conscious ones here. After we create enough space between ourselves and the train...we find a faster method of transportation."
Yuki stopped, giving Maria an apologetic look for rambling. "Unless...you have a better solution of course."
Maria just responded with a shaky smile, she had absolutely nothing.
"No...that's good."
It watched.
It has been watching for quite a while now, witnessing the failure of it's comrades, the loss of the target, and the blond man's retreat into the forested area with a yokai pursuing him.
It wished it could have intervened, but it quickly determined that the young man was too strong, his comrades on the other hand...
The two females that waited for the blond to run, quickly left the train car after the area was clear. Moving to leave the tracks before human authorities arrive.
Excellent.
It stayed still for a few moments, waiting for the small party to leave it's line of sight, then quickly left it's hiding position deep inside the forestry on the other side where the blond disappeared to.
The sun's dying light reflected eerily off of it's armor and red visor, giving it a menacing look that was meant to intimidate it's enemies and inspire fear into it's allies.
For precisely moments like these.
It entered the train car where the unconscious humans were located, then leaned down next to one of the fallen young men.
The young man didn't respond.
The red visor continued to stare at the prone man, before quickly materializing a large broadsword out of nowhere and bringing it forth down on the man's head.
The man's eyes snapped open in horror at the oppressive killing intent, watching in slow motion as the deadly blade headed straight for his throat...
Then it stopped, right above his neck.
"...Wake up."
The man's heart was beating rapidly, eyes focusing on the dark figure in front of him. "Y-You're..."
"Enough talk." the figure claimed, moving the blade away from the human's neck. "The mission is a failure, utilize your Sacred Gear to transport everyone back to Cao Cao before local authorities arrive. You will inform him of your failure personally...Georg."
Georg swallowed, intensely nervous of such a meeting as he tried to fix the glasses that were smashed into pieces. "I-I see...very well then. Ar-Are you coming as well?"
The dominating figure nodded. "Yes...I have some information for him, he definitely wants to hear this."
The young bespectacled man nodded slowly, allowing his Sacred Gear to activate.
"Dimension Lost..." he whispered, allowing a fog to envelope himself and his comrades...
Cao Cao was sitting on his seat, waiting patiently for the group that he has sent after the daughter of the yokai faction leader.
Besides him, were several prominent heroes of his organization; the Hero Faction. The group that considered themselves the 'true' heroes of the world.
The black-haired young man glanced at the familiar faces around him; the beautiful Jeanne, the loyal Siegfried, the fierce Heracles...they were the future.
Cao Cao's eyes sharpened as a fog began to materialize out of nowhere, this was...
"...Seems that they've finally returned. Finally, now all we have to do is lure Yasaka into an unfavorable position for capture..." Siegfried muttered, already thinking of possible plans for her capture.
"Yeah! It was perfect timing on our part, wasn't it? To think that we could catch the head fox's daughter with minimum security...that's gold! Now we can bribe her and force her to dance for us! Like a puppet!" Jeanne chirped loudly, hopping up and down without care.
Heracles huffed, standing up from his seat and cracking his neck. "Damn...too bad. I wanted to have a chance at fighting that monster...it would have been an excellent battle to test my fists on."
Cao Cao said nothing, eyes narrowing slightly as he watched the fog lighten...
"...Looks like you may yet get that chance Heracles." the young leader claimed calmly, getting up from his own seat and walking closer to the recently materialized group.
Several forms were on the ground, completely unconscious, with only two individuals standing upright.
"Ah...so you salvaged the situation, hmm?" Cao Cao mused lightly, regarding the menacing figure.
It didn't say anything, merely bowing in deference.
Black eyes shifted to Georg, who was seemingly looking at the leader like a small animal caught in headlights.
"...Well? Where's the faction leader's daughter? What could have possibly happened to stop your success?"
Georg shrunk a little, pushing his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose. "W-Well..."
"Uzumaki Naruto."
Cao Cao froze, eyes turning back to the still bowing figure.
"...Excuse me?" the young leader questioned.
It raised it's head to face the young man that was his master, red visor visible again. "...The one who stopped them...matched your description of Uzumaki Naruto. He's here. In Kyoto."
The young man straightened his back, face...stony.
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