Anna

Hey sorry for the late upload! 

I'll be free this weekend so i'll be working on the remaster and some more chapters. 

New chapter should be out Saturday or Sunday.

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Diablo found himself powerless against the unleashed might of Menma's Great Spiralling Ring.

The ensuing explosion ravaged the surroundings, obliterating everything in its path under the sheer force of the unleashed energy.

A wind tempest swept through the area, uprooting trees and scattering the Earth. Only when the storm subsided could the full extent of the devastation be observed.

The once flourishing Heartfilia clan estate had been reduced to a vast, lifeless crater.

(Think Konoha after Pain's Super Shinra Tensai)

Menma stood amidst the aftermath, a hint of surprise flickering across his features at the sheer potency of the unleashed attack. While he had crafted the jutsu during his training, he had enough sense not to unleash it within Konoha. After all, he aimed to conquer the village, not obliterate it.

Contemplating this, he descended to the ground level to inspect the results up close.

Irene, who stood by Menma's side – having been seized by him earlier – mirrored his astonishment. While she possessed the capability to unleash such a devastating attack, the effort required was monumental, and the toll it took on her stamina was significant. She turned to Menma, who appeared only mildly fatigued, and followed him in bewilderment.

As they moved forward, alarms blared in Irene's mind as a warning. In her peripheral vision, she noticed an Earth Spear hurtling from the ground directly toward her.

"No, I can't evade it!"

Irene stared at the oncoming jutsu, a fast-approaching catastrophe akin to a small fishing boat about to be swallowed by a tsunami.

"Is this the end for me?" Irene wondered, her thoughts racing.

Yet, as the notion of impending doom loomed, a sudden force from the side propelled her out of harm's way.

"Doton: Swamp of the Underworld."

Menma swiftly placed his hands on the ground, transforming the vicinity into a muddy swamp. An Earth Demon emerged in response, swiftly meeting its demise at the hands of Menma.

Still struggling to regain her composure, Irene surveyed the eliminated Earth Demon, her pupils trembling after the near-death encounter. 

The gravity of her carelessness hit her as she acknowledged the peril she had narrowly avoided. Casting a complex gaze toward Menma, Irene managed to stammer out her gratitude.

"Thank you," she uttered.

Despite their relationship's intricate nature, Menma saved her life, prompting Irene to express her gratitude.

"I'm still awaiting a return on my investment... It would be a shame to witness your demise before that," Menma laughed.

Irene couldn't explain why, but she felt her heart start to beat fast. She knew she should be terrified of this man, but every time they spoke, something seemed to claw within her, trying to break free.

"I suppose we should see if there are any other survivors within the remnants of the Heartfilia Clan..." Menma said, knocking her out of her thoughts.

"You're right... As the contemporary queen and these people's leader, it's my duty to find any survivors. Let's start with some of the houses that survived the blast..." Irene said as she quickly walked ahead, trying to suppress the feeling within her.

She had a duty to her Kingdom and people, and nothing would stop her from that.

However, she failed to notice the look that Menma gave her from behind.

"Oh, Irene... Your devotion to your Kingdom and people is remarkable, but I'm afraid it will be your downfall..." Menma thought with a smirk.

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Navigating the desolation of the Heartfilia clan estate, Menma's countenance was tainted with boredom. His steps trailed behind Irene, who meticulously combed through the remnants, searching for lingering survivors. 

To Menma, it felt like a futile endeavor and a waste of time.

Several hours had passed since the end of the battle, yet the search had left them empty-handed. 

The only remnants they encountered were a couple of stray Earth and Wind Demons who had evaded the blast by diving into the Earth or soaring into the skies.

"Seems like the surviving Heartfilias were conveniently absent during the attack," Menma mused dispassionately. 

The knowledge that some Heartfilias would endure into the future had led him to assume that at least a few would survive. However, it appeared that none of them had been involved in the assault.

Irene finished her search of the area and returned to Menma, her expression marked with frustration. 

"No one here, only two Earth Demons. There's one unchecked area on the clan's edge near the town. Perhaps some escaped there. Let's check that next," she suggested, her tone filling with hope at the thought that someone might be in the following area.

Menma responded with a cynical laugh. 

"You want me to accompany you to the town? Haha..." His laughter held a knowing undertone.

Irene frowned, comprehending the implication of Menma's amusement. 

His presence in the town was met with fear and disdain, as he was perceived as a demonic entity. Despite Menma concealing the tribal markings on his arm, the ominous aura he exuded unsettled the townsfolk. 

People would often berate him, attempting to drive him away. Irene couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt, acknowledging that she would crumble under such circumstances.

As they resumed their journey, Menma abruptly halted, prompting Irene to glance at him. 

"Hmm? Why did you stop all of a sudden?"

Closing his eyes, Menma seemed to be sensing something before a smirk played beneath his mask. 

"It appears we have a survivor over there," Menma remarked, gazing toward a collapsed house in the distance.

Irene's expression shifted dramatically upon hearing Menma's words. "Let's go quickly! There are still some straggling demons around! They could be in trouble," she urged anxiously, sprinting toward the indicated location.

"Huh..."

Menma chuckled and quickened his pace, motivated by a different rationale than Irene's.

While Irene sought to rescue potential victims, Menma was drawn by the prospect of something intriguing.

"Oh my!" Irene exclaimed upon reaching the collapsed house, where a young kunoichi stood in a precarious situation. 

She was dressed in a tight white and blue uniform, revealing her excessive curves. She had blonde hair fashioned into a ponytail that accentuated her face, rivaling Irene's appearance.

Surrounded by Earth and Wind Demons amidst the rubble, the woman looked no older than twenty.

"Can you help out?" Irene inquired, unsheathing her sword and staff. While confident in her ability to handle the demons, she was concerned about the woman being hurt during the altercation.

"Wait a moment... I feel like something interesting is about to happen. If she's in danger, then I'll lend a hand," Menma responded with evident interest in his voice.

The blonde woman extracted a key with her left hand, waving it gently as a soft incantation ensued.

"Come out, Gate of the Ram!"

A summoning array materialized on the ground, conjuring a pink-haired woman with horns.

"Ah, the renowned Zodiac Summoning of the Heartfilias? How intriguing..." Menma remarked with a curious glint in his eyes.

The pink-haired summoning swiftly crafted clumps of pink wool to restrain the advancing Demons.

"Wool Shot!"

A projectile of wool shot forth at high speed, immobilizing one Demon, swiftly dispatched by a kunai from the blonde woman.

*Rumble*

However, the Ram Spirit struggled against the simultaneous assault of numerous Demons, the wool impeding them swiftly demolished. The Spirit was forcefully flung away, compelled to return to the Star Realm after crashing through an unknown number of walls.

Gasping for air, the blonde woman signaled her waning chakra reserves. The situation had become dire.

"That's should be Anna Heartfillia..." Irene said with her pupils narrowed as she looked at the blonde woman's face.

"Oh? You know her?" Menma asked curiously.

"Not personally, but I've heard of her," Irene said slowly. 

"She is one of the strongest members of the Heartfillia Clan and often is seen all around the Kingdom helping stop Demon Attacks. People often call her the Daughter of Light." 

Menma was not interested in the other party's title but was confused about how she was the strongest member of the Heartfillia clan.

Wasn't she about to lose to a couple low-level Demons?

Voicing out his thoughts, Irene quickly replied.

"If it's her, it makes sense. She was just reported to have taken on a swarm of demons elsewhere and must have rushed back upon hearing of the attack of her clan. She must be exhausted at the moment." Irene replied, looking at the woman.

Anna continued to fight, eliminating the demons, but her injuries were also accumulating.

*Boom*

A Wind Demon shot a wind slash rushing through the air straight at Anna, and she knew she couldn't dodge it. 

Seeing the slash of wind approaching, Anna couldn't help but laugh miserably.

*Swish*

At the last moment, Anna saw a dark shadow appear in front of her in a trance.

*Rumble*

"Doton: Earth Wall"

In an instant, a large earth wall formed in front of her, blocking the slash from hitting her and her savior.

*Roar*

The rest of the demons let out a mad roar. 

Seeing their attack stopped, they all ran forward, planning to continue attacking.

"I suppose I could use a little exercise... My muscles are a bit stiff from following Irene around..." Menma mumbled to himself but was overheard by Anna.

Like a wolf in a flock of sheep, Menma jumped into the group of demons, killing all he came in contact with.

Anna couldn't help but watch in a daze. She could also deal with these demons if in a good state, but she would be hard-pressed to kill them with just Taijutsu.

Anna started to stand up, wanting to help, but was quickly stopped by a voice.

"It's okay, he will handle the rest..." The voice said.

She turned to see her head to see Irene standing next to her.

"Queen Irene?" Anna asked carefully.

"I didn't think you would recognize me... I'm sorry what happened to your clan..." Irene said apologetically.

Anna's eyes darkened upon remembering the demise of most of her clan.

"Who is he...?" Anna asked, turning her head back to Menma with a particular light in her eyes.

"He is the new protector of our Kingdom... The Fox Demon..." Irene said, glancing at the battle.

Beside her, Anna glanced at Menma in surprise.

"Let's wrap this up..." Menma muttered, staring at the last few demons.

Usually, Menma doesn't mind having some battling demons, but he was interested in speaking with Anna.

After Menma spoke, his arm lit up with a purple-green gas.

"Poison Claw"

Each strike immobilized the demons, causing them to succumb to the deadly poison lacing his hand. 

After a while, bodies began to pile up within the area.

Glancing at the last Demon, Menma quickly flickered behind before inserting his hand into its chest from behind.

As he pulled his hand out, the Demon fell to the ground with the last trace of life leaving its eyes.

Glancing at his hand covered in blood, he couldn't help but complain.

"Tsk.. Why couldn't all of you demons be made of your elements like Diablo..."

Turning around, he cleaned his hand with water as he walked over to Irene and Anna.

Seeing Irene looking over at him gratefully, he couldn't help but smile beneath his mask.

"Let's see if the strongest Heartfillia clan member is worthy of any interest... Perhaps she could become a great addition to the Uzumaki..." Menma thought sinisterly.

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