Chapter Text
Erza was just enjoying her strawberry cake while cataloging what she had in her kitchen to make ramen for dinner tonight when Master Makarov announced that some members would be going to Konoha with other guilds to show a "faith of friendships", to make an alliance easier to complete. She wanted nothing to do with it, but the Master said she was going with her team, Gajeel, Levy, Cana, and Mirajane to Konoha. She wanted to bang her head on the table but knew she couldn't.
She hated her luck sometimes.
Later at night, Natsu visited her to see how she was about the whole "Going to Konoha". He knew that the redhead came from there and that her name was Naruto Uzumaki, a blonde blue-eyed teen that had to flee from her home to protect it. He only knew thanks to being a demon himself, so he was able to sense the Kyuubi sealed on Erza. Of course, the pinkette confronted her, she told her history and in response, he told Erza his, they promised each other to keep their secrets. Since then they were like siblings, Natsu even told Erza about the deal with Zeref and the exaggeration about his black wizard status, the girl was saddened about the tragic history and promised to help to find a way to break the curse.
The only other person that knew what happened to her was Jiraiya, who helped the redhead to use the jutsu to hide from Akatsuki.
She still could use her ninja skills if she wanted, but didn't want to attract attention to that little fact, or that she taught Natsu how to walk on walls and on water. Oh, the chaos... Makarov sure would cry of despair.
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She and the others were getting near Konoha when some leaf-nins stopped in mid-step to look at the redhead like they had seen a ghost. With Erza would not blame them, since she became a girl, she looked like an exact copy of her mother if she was alive. Erza was as scary as Kushina then, which Konoha would find out.
-Can I help you?- Erza asks feigning confusion.
-Erm... Oh! Sorry about that, you just look like someone else...- The unnamed ninja says. -What is a group of mages doing here?- He asks.
-Were here as a show of "faith" for an alliance between mages and ninjas.- Erza explain, hoping that the information wasn't classified.
-Oh! So you're the group that we been notified...-The ninja says.- I'm Shizune, nice to meet you.- Shizune says.
-I'm Erza Scarlet, nice to meet you too.- The redhead says.-These are my comrades... Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, Gajeel, Levy, Cana, Gray, Mirajane, Happy, Carla, and Pantherlily.- Erza says, pointing at each person she mentions at a time.
-Shall we go then? I can show you the ways to the Hokage Tower.- Shizune asks.
-Thank you for the generosity, we shall follow you.- Erza says, taking the leadership mantle.
Shizune showed the mages the ways and helped to get them inside the village faster and to their destination, Erza made sure that no fight broke out between Natsu and Gray, which would look bad on them. Erza still got some weird looks thanks to her hair, but she ignored it and feigned ignorance. She was surprised when her old sensei ended up hitting his face on a pole when he caught sight of her and stopped paying attention to where he was going, she was amused when some Hyuuga activated their Byakugan to look at her, of course, she didn't show it, but damn she wanted to laugh.
Natsu being Natsu, laughed for both of them.
But no one approached them.
When they finally got into the Hokage's Office, they just wanted to find somewhere to eat. Oh... how Erza wanted ramen and strawberry cake right now.
-Sorry I'm late, some old codgers didn't want to let me leave...- A blonde woman that could have passed as Lucy's mother said, entering the room and sitting behind that table.-I gather that you are the group of mages that was sent here, right?- The woman asks for confirmation.
-Yes ma'am.- Lucy says.
-I'm Tsunade Senju, The Fifth Hokage.- She introduces herself, prompting the mages to introduce themselves.
-I'm Lucy Heartifilia.- Lucy introduces first.
-Natsu Dragneel.- Natsu says shortly.
-I am Levy McGarden.- levy introduces herself calmly.
-Gajeel Redfox.- Gajeel follows Natsu's way.
-Cana Alberona, nice to meet ya'.- Cana says in her friendly and lazy way.
-Erza Scarlet, a pleasure.- The redhead says seriously.
-Mirajane Strauss, call me Mira for short.- Mira says with a soft smile.
-Gray Fullbuster, pleasure.- Gray says, unknowingly taking his shirt off.
-I'm Happy.- The blue cat says.
-Carla.- The white one says curtly.
-Call me Lily.- A obvious male black cat says in a deep voice.
-Now with introductions out of the way, you're going to be sharing an apartment complex, which going to have to share with one other person, and you're going to participate in D-rank missions with other ninjas on different teams. The teams in question going to meet at a ramen restaurant tonight so they can meet you.- Tsunade inform them, making sure that they understood.- The senseis are also going to be there to make sure nothing happens, and Shizune and my apprentice, Sakura, are going to show you where you're going to stay.- The woman adds.
-Thank you for your hospitality, I will make sure that my comrades don't step out of line.-Eza says, maintaining her serious mask.
-Should I be concerned?- Tsunade asks.
-Some of our friends here like to fight a lot and sometimes start brawls back at the guildhall.- Lucy explain, making sure that the woman knew so they wouldn't anger her.
-I... understand... I think.-The Hokage says slowly.
-And we end up causing a lot of damage and the repair costs make gramps cry.- Natsu adds his two cents.
-I should probably go look at my bank account now...- Tsunade says after she hears what the pinkette says.
-Sorry for any inconvenience...- Levy says lowly and a little ashamed.
-Don't worry Levy... were have a duo that already causes a lot of damage when training or when they make bets.- Tsunade console the light bluenette.
After a little more talk, a pinkette teen girl and Shizune took them to the complex where they left their baggage and then showed them around so they knew key places like the market, restaurants, and bath house. Of course Sakura, the pinkette, meet some of her friends while showing the Fiore group around and roped them to help her. Luckily, thanks to the mages paying attention to the ninjas and the ninjas didn't know Erza well, they didn't notice how she wasn't paying attention.
In reality, she was feeling relieved that her old friends were fine and safe, she couldn't bear the thought of them getting hurt or worse. She knew she probably would need to be careful of what she said or else they would find out about her "transformation". She wanted to tell them and apologize for disappearing, but she knew she could not.
It was getting dark when they finally arrived at Ichiraku's Ramen, a place that Erza missed a lot, but didn't say anything about.
-huh? ramen? that sure would make you Erza's best friend.- Lucy thinks out loud.
-huh?- Sakura eloquently says.
-Gray, your clothes.-Cana calls out.
-DANMIT!!! Not again!!- Gray yells out, looking around to get sight of his clothes.
-Erm... does this happen often?-Sakura asks the closest person, Erza.
-Unfortunately, yes, now if you excuse me... I have to teach someone to not strip.- Erza says.
-Oh boy...- Natsu says, hearing Erza while helping his boyfriend find his clothes.
After Gray's lesson AKA beating, they enter Ichiraku's Ramen stand and order the dish they want. While waiting for the other ninjas they would meet. Natsu was asking Rock Lee about the training grounds with Gajeel and Gray paying attention, Levy and Lucy talking about Lucy's book and whatnot, Sakura was talking to her friend, Ino, while Mira and Erza talked, Cana joining Ino and Sakura's conversation when the two girls started to talk about "happy juice". Everyone was entertained and talking while the teams and their senses came in duos or alone to introduce themselves.