Hey lads!
How y'all doing? It's been a while.
Now I know you're all happy to hear from me, but let's face it, we're here for this chapter.
So without further ado, let's begin!
Start:
The iron gates swung open with a low groan, and from within, Naruto Phenex stepped forward, his steps steady and unhurried as the sound of the crowd hit him like a wave. The noise was deafening—a thunderous mix of cheers, chants, and shouts that echoed off the towering walls of the coliseum.
"PHENEX! PHENEX! PHENEX!"
The chant grew louder, reverberating through the air as thousands of devils cheered for the man walking into what they believed to be an impossible challenge. Banners bearing his name and image rippled across the stands, while others watched with skepticism or even quiet disdain.
Naruto didn't flinch under their gaze. His blue eyes remained fixed ahead, calm and unwavering.
His steps were deliberate, but his mind was elsewhere. The roar of the crowd, the fiery energy of the arena, and even the sharp auras emanating from Lord Furcas and his peerage couldn't break through the wall of his thoughts.
Ahead of him, Lord Furcas stood tall at the head of his peerage. His silver armor gleamed under the enchanted light of the arena, and his sword rested casually over one shoulder. His peerage mirrored his confidence, standing in disciplined formation like soldiers prepared for war. Their energy pulsed with controlled strength, their eyes locked on Naruto.
Furcas smirked cockily, raising his blade slightly as Naruto approached.
As far as the older devil was concerned, he had already won.
Even if his opponent was the strongest devil in history, said devil couldn't defeat both him and his peerage together.
That much was certain, and with that in mind Lord Furcas's gaze gleamed maliciously, his aura sharpening and flaring, an attempt to intimidate—but Naruto barely noticed. His thoughts had already moved past Furcas. The match ahead was a step forward, nothing more. His mind, however, was fixed on the bigger picture.
The crowd erupted again as Naruto came into full view of the arena. He slowed to a stop in the center, standing before all without a hint of shame or weakness.
Furcas finally stepped forward, his voice booming over the noise. "Naruto Phenex! Do you truly think you can face me and my peerage alone?"
Naruto's gaze shifted to Furcas for the first time. His expression didn't change, his calm demeanor unshaken by the warrior's taunt. "I think," Naruto said evenly, his voice carrying despite its softness, "you're asking the wrong question."
Furcas raised a brow. "And what's the right question?"
Naruto's lips curved into a faint smile. "How long will you last?"
The crowd roared even louder, most in cheers, with a few in shock at the casual confidence in his words. Furcas' smirk faltered for a moment, anger momentarily surfacing before he recovered quickly, stepping back to rejoin his peerage.
He couldn't hold himself back from sneering though as he glared at the younger devil.
The announcer's voice boomed across the arena, amplified by magic. "Ladies and gentlemen! Devils of the Underworld! Welcome to the first match of a historic challenge! On one side, we have Lord Furcas and his mighty peerage, renowned for their precision and discipline!"
The crowd cheered, though it was nothing compared to the eruption that followed the next words.
"And on the other side, we have the devil who dares to face it all alone, LORD NARUTO PHENEX!"
The sound that followed was deafening, shaking the very ground beneath Naruto's feet. Still, he didn't react. His eyes remained ahead, scanning the peerage with a faint air of detachment. They were strong, undoubtedly, but they weren't the challenge that lingered in his mind.
The announcer's voice boomed once again, echoing through the vast coliseum. "Before we begin this momentous match, I have the honor of introducing a very special guest! One of the Four Satans, the brilliant and unrivaled genius of the Underworld… Ajuka Beelzebub!"
The crowd erupted in an uproar of cheers, claps, and roars, their fervor shaking the air. A swirl of green and silver energy formed midair in the coliseum, shimmering brightly before materializing into the imposing figure of Ajuka Beelzebub. His emerald hair caught the enchanted light of the arena, and his calm, confident smile exuded the authority of a ruler and the intellect of a scholar. Draped in regal attire adorned with intricate silver embroidery, he looked every bit the Satan of legend.
Ajuka raised a hand to quiet the crowd, and the noise subsided almost instantly. "Greetings, devils of the Underworld," he began, his voice carrying effortlessly across the arena. "Today, we witness a rare and historic moment—an unconventional Rating Game that could very well redefine what it means to challenge the established norms of our world."
He glanced at Naruto and Lord Furcas, his expression thoughtful. "Before we proceed, I must explain that this Rating Game will be… different. Unlike the traditional matches you've grown accustomed to, the arena for this game has been set in a specially crafted artificial dimension. There, the usual safety protocols will not apply."
A murmur rippled through the crowd, a mixture of intrigue and alarm. Ajuka continued without hesitation, his tone calm but firm. "This means that the participants will not simply be transported away upon sustaining critical injuries or surrendering. Any death within the dimension… will be permanent."
The crowd's reaction was instant. Gasps of shock and whispers of disbelief surged like a tidal wave through the stands. Even within the VIP rooms, the gathered lords leaned forward in their seats, their expressions ranging from amusement to grim acknowledgment.
Ajuka's gaze sharpened as he looked at the competitors. "This match, therefore, carries far greater risks than any typical Rating Game. It is not just a test of strength or strategy, but of resolve. And so, before we proceed, I must ask: do you accept these terms?"
He turned first to Lord Furcas, who stepped forward with a confident smirk, his voice booming across the coliseum. "Of course, I accept! I will show everyone here that I, Lord Furcas, am not only a warrior but a victor in the truest sense!" His declaration was met with a mix of cheers and hesitant murmurs. Among his peerage, however, there were visible signs of unease. A few of his knights exchanged nervous glances, and a sorceress near the rear of the group clenched her staff tightly, her knuckles white.
Ajuka nodded at Furcas's response and turned his attention to Naruto. "And you, Lord Phenex? Do you accept these conditions?"
Naruto stood motionless for a moment, his calm blue eyes meeting Ajuka's unflinchingly. Then he nodded. "I'm not backing down."
His voice was steady and quiet, but it carried across the arena with the weight of absolute certainty. The crowd erupted once more, their excitement palpable. Naruto's words seemed to strike a chord, and even those who had doubted his resolve began to reconsider.
Ajuka's lips curved into a faint smile, his gaze briefly flickering between the two combatants. "Very well. With both competitors agreeing to these terms, let this match serve as a testament to their will and courage. Remember, what transpires here today is being watched by all of the Underworld. Fight not only for victory but for the ideals you wish to uphold."
The Satan raised a hand, and intricate magical circles began to form beneath Naruto, Lord Furcas, and his peerage. The symbols glowed with radiant energy, their light intensifying until it engulfed the participants. A moment later, they vanished from the arena, transported to the artificial dimension.
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The artificial dimension was a vast, sprawling expanse that mirrored a rugged battlefield. Jagged cliffs, dense forests, and wide-open plains created a landscape that promised both opportunity and peril. The sky above was an ominous mix of swirling dark clouds and faint, unnatural light, casting eerie shadows across the terrain.
Naruto stood alone on a rocky outcrop, the wind tugging at his cloak as he surveyed the battlefield. Far in the distance, he could see the silhouettes of Furcas and his peerage assembling in formation, their energies pulsating faintly like stars against the bleak horizon. The landscape between them was vast, filled with treacherous terrain and hidden dangers.
In the coliseum, the crowd gasped as the magical projection of the battlefield appeared in the sky above. Through intricate enchantments, every devil in the arena—and the Underworld beyond—could see the unfolding events as though they were right there in the artificial dimension.
The announcer's voice echoed once more, infused with the tension of the moment. "And so, the Rating Game begins! Both sides have been transported to the artificial dimension, where strategy and strength will determine the victor. Remember, this is no ordinary match—death here is final!"
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Lord Furcas barked out orders, his voice sharp and commanding. "Spread out! Take control of the high ground and prepare defensive wards. The Phenex boy might be strong, but he's one against all of us."
His peerage moved swiftly, though some members hesitated, their nervous energy palpable. The thought of permanent death had shaken their confidence, but under Furcas's watchful gaze, they dared not falter. They began setting up their positions, casting protective spells and preparing their arsenal.
Naruto, meanwhile, remained still,
Let's get this over with.
With a small step forward, his aura flared to life, and the battlefield erupted into chaos.
But even as he stepped forward into the midst of battle, his mind, for just a split second, flashed with the memories of events that happened so recently, last night in fact.
Flashback no jutus:
Naruto stood on the edge of the skyscraper, his gaze fixed on the sprawling cityscape below.
The cool night breeze brushed against his face, carrying the faint scent of rain. He exhaled slowly, savoring the momentary peace.
"You've chosen quite the view, Naruto."
The voice, cool and sharp like a blade, sliced through the tranquility. Naruto didn't flinch, though inwardly his heart skipped a beat. He didn't need to turn to recognize the voice. It had haunted his memories ever since he had awakened to the memories of his first life.
"Grayfia," he said softly, swirling the wine in his glass without looking back. "I was wondering when you'd show up."
Her footsteps were barely audible as she approached. "You knew I'd come?"
"Of course," Naruto replied, his tone calm but tinged with something heavier. "Tomorrow is the first match. If you were going to see me, it would be tonight."
The recent clan lord felt a smidge of pity for Raven, only being able to imagine the terror that he had no doubt been struck with tonight from being confronted by his former lover.
Grayfia stepped into view, her silver hair shimmering under the moonlight, while her silver eyes bore into him, cold and unyielding, as if she were staring into his soul and finding it wanting.
"You expected me," she said, her voice even, though there was a faint edge to it. "But were you hoping I wouldn't come?"
Naruto chuckled softly, though it lacked humor. "Regardless of what I answer, I know you wouldn't be happy with it.."
Her lips pressed into a thin line, and for a moment, she regarded him with the same unflinching intensity she had always carried. "You shouldn't be here," she said bluntly.
Naruto raised an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly. "On the rooftop? Or in the Underworld?"
She scoffed unamusedly. "You've spent two centuries away, Naruto. Two centuries while the Underworld changed, while its people struggled. And now you return, acting as though you have a right to fight for its future?"
Naruto didn't flinch, though her words hit harder than he cared to admit. "I'm not acting as if I have the right, Grayfia. I'm fighting to earn it."
"Earn it?" she repeated, her voice laced with scorn. "You abandoned us, Naruto. You abandoned me. And now you think your grand gestures will make up for two hundred years of silence?"
Ah…
So it wasn't about the underworld… but about them…
The seventh hokage sighed tiredly and painedly at that, his eyes softening as his gaze remained locked on to the icy pair of his former lover, remaining soft even after knowing what was most assuredly going to come.
"I'm not trying to make up for anything," Naruto said, his tone steady but quieter. "I know what I did. I know how much it hurt you."
"Hurt me?" Grayfia's voice rose slightly, her icy composure cracking. "Do you even understand what you did? You didn't just leave, Naruto. You severed every bond, burned every bridge. You didn't even say goodbye. You left me with nothing."
Naruto looked away, unable to meet her gaze. "I couldn't stay," he admitted softly. "Not after what happened. Not after losing them."
Her eyes narrowed, her voice trembling with barely restrained anger. "You weren't the only one who lost family. You weren't the only one who was suffering."
"I know," he said quietly, finally meeting her eyes again. "But I couldn't face it, Grayfia, not back then."
Her breath hitched at his confession, but she quickly masked it, the icy walls around her heart solidifying again. "You're a coward," she said coldly. "You always were when it came to facing your emotions."
Naruto remained silent for a moment before replying. "That I was, but I'm not the same person as I was back then."
The admission only seemed to anger her further. She stepped closer, her presence radiating a cold fury. "You don't belong here, Naruto. You never did. Go back to the human world, to whatever corner of it you've been hiding in. Leave the Underworld to those who stayed."
He exhaled slowly, his eyes narrowing. "I'm not leaving."
"You should," she said sharply. "You have no right to fight for a future you abandoned."
"I'm not leaving," Naruto repeated, his voice firm but calm. "Because if I leave, then people like Bael win. The Underworld doesn't change. It stays the same broken system it's been for centuries."
Grayfia's hands clenched at her sides, her composure visibly cracking. "And you think you can change it? You, who walked away for two hundred years? Who couldn't even face the people who loved you?"
"Yes," Naruto said simply. "Because someone has to."
Her eyes blazed with anger, but she didn't respond immediately. Instead, she took a step back, the distance between them growing not just physically but emotionally.
"You think you can fix this, Naruto?" she said finally, her voice trembling with both rage and something unspoken. "You're just setting yourself up to fail. And when you do, you'll hurt everyone who's foolish enough to believe in you."
"Like I did." Grayfia added spitefully.
Naruto's expression shifted into pain momentarily before it reverted back to neutrality. "Maybe I will fail. But at least I'll know I tried. I can live with that. Can you?"
Now in hindsight, he knew what was coming.
Even if he would taken a thousand different routes with his words or intention, they'd all inevitably lead to the same place.
Such was the pain that he had shamefully inflicted on his former fiancé with his callous treatment of her in the weeks after the loss of his first parents.
And with that pain that never truly faded away, came with it a smoldering fury that still burned brightly.
Grayfia's eyes burned with an intensity.
He knew the storm was coming—he could see it in her trembling hands, the taut set of her jaw, and the unsteady rise and fall of her chest.
But when it came, it was still a shock.
"You arrogant—!" Grayfia's voice cracked as she moved faster than he could react, her open palm connecting with his face in a slap that sounded like a whip's crack in the night. Naruto staggered backward, the force throwing him off balance, and he hit the rooftop floor with a dull thud.
Pain radiated through his cheek, but Naruto didn't move to defend himself. He refused to do so.
This… was a long time coming.
He looked up at her from where he lay sprawled, her silhouette towering over him, framed by the glow of the city lights. Her fists were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white, and tears shimmered in her furious grey eyes.
"You have no right!" she screamed, her voice hoarse. "No right to talk about trying or failing! Not after what you did—not after how you left!"
Naruto's lips parted, but no words came. He stayed where he was, sprawled on the floor, as Grayfia stepped closer, her movements jerky, her breaths ragged.
"I loved you," she said, her voice breaking. "I gave everything to you! And you… you turned your back on me! You left without a word, Naruto. Without even a goodbye!"
He sat up slowly, his gaze steady but filled with regret. "Grayfia, I—"
"No!" she snapped, cutting him off as her booted foot slammed into his chest, knocking him flat again. She followed with a swift punch to his face, her strength making his head snap to the side. Blood sprayed from his mouth, and the metallic taste filled his senses.
"Do you have any idea what it was like?" she continued, her voice rising. "To wake up every day wondering where you were? Wondering why I wasn't enough for you to stay?"
Another punch landed, and another. Naruto's vision blurred, his face throbbing with each blow. But he didn't resist. He lay there, taking each strike, his arms limp at his sides.
Grayfia straddled him, her fists raining down mercilessly. The sharp pain of her knuckles meeting his flesh was nothing compared to the ache in his chest as her words tore through him.
"I waited for you!" she yelled, her voice raw with emotion. "Years, Naruto! Years! I defended your name when many called you a coward, a deserter! And what did I get for it? Silence! Nothing! Two centuries of isolation and pain!"
Naruto coughed, blood dripping down his chin, but he didn't raise a hand to stop her. "I… I know," he said hoarsely.
"You know?" she repeated, her voice venomous. She grabbed the collar of his shirt and yanked him up slightly before slamming him back down. "No you don't know! You don't know what it's like to have the one person you trust the most rip your heart out and disappear!"
Her fists slammed into his chest again, the sound of breaking ribs echoing faintly in the night. Naruto winced, the sharp pain slicing through him, but he made no move to fight back.
"I hated you," Grayfia hissed, her voice trembling with barely contained rage. "I hated you for what you did to me. And now you think you can just waltz back into the Underworld, into my life, and pretend it never happened?"
Naruto's chest rose and fell heavily as he met her gaze, his voice soft but steady. "I don't pretend it didn't happen. I've lived with that guilt every day."
Her fist froze mid-air, her breath hitching, but the fury in her eyes didn't waver. "And yet you never came back."
She pushed off him abruptly, standing over him as she wiped her bloodied fists on her dark cloak. Her chest heaved with the effort of her breathing, her face a mix of anger and something deeper—something she refused to let surface.
His face, a mess of bruises and cuts, began to heal as his Phenex regeneration kicked in. The discolored patches faded, and his bones realigned with faint cracks. Within moments, his features were back to their unblemished state.
Grayfia sneered at him, her fists trembling at her sides. "Convenient," she spat. "You can heal all your wounds in seconds. But some wounds don't heal, Naruto. Not in two seconds. Not in two centuries."
Naruto slowly sat up, his movements deliberate. He didn't try to approach her, didn't try to offer any solace. He knew better.
"I know," he said quietly. "And I'm sorry, Grayfia. For everything."
She turned away sharply, her silver hair whipping around her. "Sorry doesn't change anything. Sorry doesn't undo the pain you caused."
"No, it doesn't," Naruto admitted, his voice filled with regret. "But I can't change the past, Grayfia. All I can do is try to make things better now."
…
Silence soon settled between the two, uncomfortable, tense, and unpleasant.
Naruto exhaled deeply, his gaze steady yet softened as he watched Grayfia's taut, trembling form. The city lights around them flickered like distant stars, their glow unable to pierce the storm of emotions between the two. His voice, when it came, was low and steady, tinged with regret.
"I'm sorry, Grayfia," he began, the words heavy on his tongue. "For everything."
Her posture stiffened at the sound of his apology, her hands still clenched at her sides. She didn't turn to face him, but he could see the slight tremor in her shoulders. It was subtle, but it was there—a crack in the icy armor she had meticulously rebuilt.
"For how callous I was to you back then," Naruto continued, his voice raw. "For severing what we had like it didn't matter. For leaving the Underworld without a word. And even after I came back, for not coming to you—"
He paused, his throat tightening. Grayfia's silence was cutting, but he pushed forward.
"—I wanted to," he admitted. "Every day since I returned, I've thought about coming to you. About apologizing for how I hurt you. But I didn't know how… or what to say. I was lost, Grayfia."
Her head turned slightly, just enough for him to catch a glimpse of the beautiful eyes he had loved so much, that he still loved deep inside despite all the years that had passed, though her expression remained unreadable. Encouraged, Naruto took a tentative step closer, his voice softening further.
"You didn't deserve any of it. Not the way I treated you, not the way I left." His gaze dropped to the ground for a moment before returning to her. "You were one of the most important people in my life. You still are."
Grayfia flinched. It was slight—barely perceptible—but Naruto caught it. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. She turned her head back to the cityscape, her hair cascading over her shoulder like a silver waterfall.
"I know I have no right to expect anything from you," Naruto continued, his tone steady yet filled with quiet emotion. "I don't deserve your forgiveness. I don't even expect it. But I need you to know… even if you never forgive me, that won't change how much you mean to me. How precious you are to me."
Her fists unclenched, her arms falling to her sides as she let out a slow, shaky breath. Naruto saw her eyes glisten briefly in the glow of the city lights, though she quickly blinked the moisture away. Her face was a mask of neutrality, but the way her lips pressed together betrayed the turmoil beneath.
"I…" she started, her voice faltering. Then, with a sharp shake of her head, she straightened her posture. "This changes nothing, Naruto. Nothing."
Without another word, Grayfia turned away from him, her figure stiff with suppressed emotion. The air around her shimmered faintly, and with a burst of energy, she disappeared into the night, leaving only the faint trace of her presence behind.
Naruto stood alone, the cool breeze ruffling his hair as he stared at the empty space where she had been. His heart ached, but he made no move to chase her. Instead, he leaned back against the ledge, his gaze drifting over the peaceful city below.
"I meant every word," he murmured to himself, the weight of the encounter settling over him. As much as it hurt, he knew he couldn't change the past. All he could do was carry it forward, one step at a time.
And truth was, even if he could go back in time… he would change nothing.
How could he?
It was because of those same actions that he had eventually found Hinata, had three rambunctious children he loved deeply in the form of Boruto, Himawari, and Kawaki.
For all the mistakes he had made, he would never change them.
He did regret hurting Grayfia.
But he would never regret leaving and finding a family that he so deeply loved back in the elemental nation.
Even if they had sadly passed away.
…
Naruto looked up, his gaze tired but not broken, still brimming with life and energy despite the exhaustion.
He was only going to be better from here.
Flashback no jutsu end.
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One minute prior to Naruto's entrance to the arena:
The VIP room was a study in power and control, a room suitable only for the highest authority and order in the entire underworld. At the center of it all sat Lord Bael, his imposing presence filling the space despite his silence.
And seated on either side of him but a bit behind was his inner council minus Lord Furcas.
The enchanted glass pane before them stretched from floor to ceiling, offering an unfiltered view of the arena. The coliseum was alive with energy, its stands overflowing with devils of every rank and house. The roar of the crowd below reached the VIP room as a distant, muffled tremor, not enough to disturb but impossible to ignore.
Bael's dark eyes were fixed on the iron gates at the far end of the arena. They remained closed for now, concealing the challenger who had stirred the Underworld into a frenzy over the past month. Behind him, the other members of the Inner Council murmured among themselves, their tones ranging from idle curiosity to calculated disdain.
Lord Zepar, his crimson robes glinting faintly in the dim light, was the first to speak with any volume. "He's late," he said, the words laced with mockery. "Perhaps he's reconsidered this little stunt of his."
"Doubtful," Lord Agares replied, his voice as soft as a whisper but carrying a weight that silenced Zepar's smugness. "Naruto Phenex isn't the type to retreat. He's already made that clear."
Zepar sneered, shifting in his seat. "And yet he spends a month parading his return like a performer in a circus, but makes no meaningful alliances, no overtures of loyalty to any house excluding the ones his predecessors had made. What does that tell you?"
"That he's reckless," said Lord Sallos, his tone measured. He leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes narrowing as they traced the still-closed gates. "He doesn't respect the structure of the Underworld. He doesn't understand what it took to build it."
Bael, still silent, lifted a glass of aged wine to his lips. His gaze remained on the arena, his thoughts hidden behind an inscrutable mask.
Suddenly, the crowd's roar surged, its volume shaking the very walls of the coliseum as the gates opened, with Naruto Phenex not a moment too soon stepping into the light.
The young devil walked with an unhurried grace, his golden aura faintly shimmering around him. His eyes, impossibly blue and calm, scanned the arena without flinching. He moved like a man untouched by the pressure of thousands of eyes, the weight of legacy, or the sharp presence of Lord Furcas waiting at the opposite end.
Bael's gaze sharpened, studying every detail. Naruto's stride was deliberate, his posture relaxed but unyielding. The crowd's deafening chant of "PHENEX! PHENEX!" barely seemed to register with him, his focus unwavering.
"He's… calm," Sallos remarked, his tone tinged with mild surprise. "Too calm for someone walking into what should be an impossible challenge."
"Calm or arrogant?" Zepar sneered, though his words lacked the usual bite. Even he couldn't ignore the gravity of Naruto's presence.
Agares tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Calm. And not because he underestimates Furcas, but because he's already thinking beyond this match."
"Beyond this match?" Zepar repeated, incredulous. "He hasn't even begun, and you're giving him credit for a victory?"
"Do not be a fool Lord Zepar" Agares sharply rebutted, earning a cold glare from said lord. "Naruto Phenex is considered the strongest devil in all of devil history for a reason. He may very well win even if he's facing Lord Furcas and his peerage by himself."
The council's attention returned to the arena as Naruto reached the center. The golden aura around him flared faintly, drawing gasps from the crowd. Across the battlefield, Furcas stepped forward, his silver armor gleaming and his massive sword resting casually on his shoulder. The veteran lord's expression was one of cold confidence, his peerage standing disciplined and ready behind him.
"Furcas will destroy him," Zepar said, though there was an edge of uncertainty in his voice. "He has to."
Bael finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Lord Furcas is capable, but Lord Agares is correct, Naruto Phenex is the strongest devil there is."
Zepar turned to him, surprise flashing across his face. "You believe that upstart has a chance?"
"I believe," Lord Bael said slowly, his eyes never leaving the arena, "that this match will not be decided by strength alone."
The council exchanged uneasy glances, their discomfort growing with every passing moment. Below, the announcer's voice boomed across the coliseum, introducing the competitors with dramatic flair. The crowd erupted once more, their excitement reaching a fever pitch.
Lord Agares gaze remained locked on Naruto, inwardly hoping for his victory.
End.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, my bad it took long to update.
Wasn't too sure how to write the scene with Grayfia.
It took a while, but we finally had the reunion. Even if it wasn't pleasant.
Now with that said, I'm going to let you all go.
Take care lads.
Peace.