naruto : beyond the limits of darkness and light

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After the court trial, Naruto was told to not cause trouble unnecessarily, a precaution that Makarov knew that for the first time someone would actually listen to as Naruto went on a few missions and despite his poor treatment, he actually was the first to bring absolutely no trouble back at all. Not even one stone was destroyed as he managed to complete the mission and it was then Makarov knew that Naruto was a godsend in his stressful life.

He usually went about a usual routine, getting up, training and if Gildarts was around then he would train with him, and then getting a mission while trying to keep Kurama from starting any fights with his verbose insults, then finish that off while brushing off most of the hate and then wrapping the day up and having to make sure that he didn't get scammed and return back to Fairy Tail to his "warm welcome". Hurray.

But one thing good came out of the few months, he trained himself to the bone knowing that enemies could use any chance to get the drop on him and Naruto at this point was about A class in strength and he managed to reach this level with torturous training with Gildarts. Even Kurama had gotten stronger and by training with Naruto, they were a fluid fighting machine! And the last several months had been nothing but training. How did this happen?

June X776
Conatus Woods

"Pant, pant" Naruto was on his knees as he was breathless and exhausted and Gildarts was completely unfazed.

"You sure you aren't pushing yourself too far?" Gildarts asked Naruto who picked himself off the ground. They were at the woods outside Gildarts's house and Naruto was holding onto a tree to pick himself up and Kurama managed to crawl back up as well.

"I *pant* can keep *pant* going" Naruto managed to get out before almost falling over again.

"Why?" Gildarts asked as he sat down and Naruto looked at him,

"Why what?" Naruto asked.

"Why are you pushing yourself this far?" Gildarts asked him seriously, Naruto asked him if he could train Naruto for the time he was around so that he could get stronger, but not just Light Magic training but actual combat experience and training in fights and Naruto stood up again.

"Pant, pant" Naruto was breathless as his mind was blank, why was he pushing himself this far? When he trained with his father he wouldn't fully advance in combat training, no matter how much Zeref tried to remain serious in their practice fights, there was always that one thing constantly in his mind. This was his son, so naturally he held back each time they fought and hesitated each time he was about to strike a blow, a mistake a real enemy wouldn't make.

"Just tell me why" Gildarts told him and Naruto caught his voice again.

"To surpass my father" Naruto told him and stood up again and Gildarts sighed.

"You tell me that, but I know you're lying" Gildarts shook his head and Naruto's eyes narrowed at that, what did he mean?

"What? But that's all Naruto talks about" Kurama voiced out his thoughts as well.

"I know this is about something else" Gildarts told him, "You're in no rush to surpass your father, you've always been growing at a steady state and in several decades you will surpass your father, so just tell me what it is that you are doing? Why are you trying to get more power?" Gildarts asked and Naruto was silent as his mind was blank.