Fairy's Ace

'Thoughts'

"Normal Dialogue"

~ With Naruto ~

~ X783, with Naruto ~

"998. . . 999. . . 1,000. . ."

If a person walked onto the scene, they would be able to see a young boy with a mildly toned body currently doing push-ups.

The boy's small frame showed the early signs of transformation – the baby fat once easily found on his face was slowly fading away, while his once skinny body was now leaner and beginning to show faint traces of muscle.

Over the past year, Naruto had only been training his body physically.

Not because he was prohibited from learning magic, nor was there a benchmark he had to reach before he could train his magic. Instead, it was because of his magic.

Or rather, his lack thereof.

~ Flashback ~

When Warrod returned from Magnolia, the first thing that he had Naruto tested for was his magic affinity.

However, when they used an empty Lacrima on Naruto, the results produced varied responses from the both of them.

For Naruto, he was excited and curious to see what the results would mean for him going forward, whereas for Warrod, the results elicited a confused expression from him.

When Naruto used the Lacrima, nothing happened.

Normally, when a person with the aptitude to become a mage uses a Lacrima, the Lacrima would light up in a specific colour.

Depending on the magical reserves of the person, the Lacrima's glow would either be bright or dim, while the colour would give an indication for the type of magic the person possessed.

However, if the Lacrima did not provide any form of reaction, then it could mean one of two things.

The first being that the person's magical reserves were simply too huge and/or their magic was far too complex for the Lacrima to identify.

Only two people were publicly known to have such a result when using an empty Lacrima – Fairy Tail's current Ace, Gildarts Clive, and the current first ranked Wizard Saint, God Serena.

The second reason, and the one that Warrod thought to be most likely, was that the person did not possess any aptitude for magic.

This happens because the person's body would not absorb the Ethernano in their surrounding to store them in their Magic Core, thereby they would not be able to use magic at all.

"So, what does it mean Koboku-jiji? Does it say how awesome I am?" Naruto cheerfully asked.

Warrod, being the kind man that he was, did not have the courage to tell Naruto of what he thought. He did not want to hurt Naruto's feelings, nor did he feel that he had the right to tell Naruto that he could not pursue his dreams.

"I'm going to be the number one Wizard Saint -ttebayo!"

However, seeing the jubilant smile plastered on Naruto's face, Warrod was immediately taken aback.

Even if he did not have the courage to do so, he needed to tell Naruto the truth.

He would not lie to such a pure boy.

"Naruto, I'm sorry. But. . ."

~ End of Flashback ~

"I think you missed the first 997, Naruto." A familiar voice rang out to Naruto.

Taking a brief pause from his workout, Naruto looked up to see the figure of his adoptive grandfather, much like how Hiruzen had once been, walking into the training ground that Warrod had created behind their home.

"Koboku-jiji! You're back!"

After telling Naruto the truth a year ago, Warrod surprised both himself and Naruto when he subsequently told Naruto that despite the results of the Lacrima, he still believed that Naruto would one day be the first ranked Wizard Saint.

The initial sadness and depression that enveloped Naruto was quickly replaced by a new sense of purpose with the words of Warrod.

He would not fail his dream. That was a promise that Naruto made to himself and to Warrod on that day. A promise of a lifetime.

Since then, Naruto began committing himself to physical training, while Warrod would look around to see what he could do with Naruto's situation.

Naruto remembered hearing once in the Shinobi Academy about an elite jonin who could not use Chakra and only specialized in Taijutsu.

He figured that if that shinobi could overcome his situation with hard work and determination, then so could he.

In fact, even Warrod supported his decision, going as far to offer a green training suit for Naruto – which was appropriate as Warrod was simply green personified, but was swiftly rejected by Naruto, who preferred his current outfit more.

Speaking of Chakra, that was another disappointing fact that Naruto quickly discovered. He could feel the dormant Chakra within him, yet he could not summon it.

He knew that it was Chakra, because he learned how to connect with it and did basic Chakra controlling exercises while in the Academy, though he was horrible at it.

What he could not understand was why he had Chakra.

Naruto was not in disillusionment to his current reality. He understood that the body he was in now, was not the same body from the Elemental Nations.

So, logically speaking, he should not possess Chakra.

Yet he did but could not use it.

Which only served to further motivate him. No magic and unable to use his Chakra? No problem. He was still going to be the greatest mage who ever lived.

"Indeed, and I come bearing good news, Naruto." Warrod revealed. Hearing this, Naruto perked up.

"I visited an old friend of mine. She's likely the foremost medical expert that I could think of who might have a clue as to how to solve your situation." He continued.

"Really?! Is she coming here?! Or do we go to her?! Are we going now?!" Naruto could not contain his excitement.

"Woah, slow down my boy." Warrod chuckled. "She's a little busy right now with a different patient, but she'll drop by sometime next month to do an initial check-up."

"YATTA!!!"

"I wouldn't get too excited right now, Naruto. First, we'd have to hear what she thinks of your situation. Also, she may come across as a mean person, but don't worry too much about it. She just needs a little warming up to."

For Naruto, it did not matter what the person was like. A friend of his jiji, was a friend of his.

"Now, go on and wash up. It's about that time of day again." Warrod spoke.

Instinctively, Naruto tensed. Before he could turn to run, a vine had already found its way onto his ankles and held him in place.

Sweat dripped from his forehead as he tried pleading with his soon to be tormentor.

"Koboku-jiji, I've been feeling a little under the weather today. I think I should be resting instead of-"

"Nice try, Naruto. But you should think about expanding your excuses instead of using the same one every time." Warrod smirked.

More vines found their way onto Naruto's arms, who was then lifted up and brought home to clean up.

"NOOOOO! You will not take me alive!" All the while, Naruto half-heartedly attempted to escape.

Later that night, in the cold comfort of his room, Naruto laid on his bed after another gruelling session of studying with Warrod. A new light present in his eyes this time around.

"I swear, one day I'll be the one writing books instead of reading them." Naruto promised himself.

~ End of Chapter 08 ~