AN: Well, once again, I find myself aggravated that my insanity has birthed yet another new story, and for all those that have the question. It's a Naru/Hina (Not set) story, so if you don't like that pairing, I suggest stopping right at the summary.

Summary:For as long as mankind can remember, the nine demon beasts have been sealed inside the bodies of human hosts to ensure that the demons will not return to wreak havoc on the world. These hosts are treated as the very demons they contained, and are kept away from the respective village that sealed the demon. Naruto Uzumaki, the last of his families, is the host for the most powerful demon of all. He is feared above all others, yet no one has seen him since the day of his birth and the sealing of the Nine-Tailed Fox within him.

Lately, lower demons have been acting out around the Hidden Leaf village, and the people fear that the young lord is displeased. The ninja clans of the village, in an attempt to quell the people's' fears, and placate the Demon Lord, a young maiden is chosen from the village, and surrounding homesteads that rely on the village for protection. Like the young lord, the maiden will be taken from the village, and given to the Demon Lord in hopes of quelling the rise in demon activity. But how does one placate someone that they know nothing about?

1: To Meet a Demon Lord

"You're suggesting that I send my eldest daughter into the hands of a demon?!" Hiashi roared, his fists coming down on the table, cracking the wood beneath them. "This is an outrage! She's to be my heir!"

"You have another daughter," the Hyuuga elder before him said, "And from what we have seen, the younger child is the better child. Hinata does not meet the requirements to be the next clan head in your place."

"He is correct," said another elder, "Or would you rather have the Caged Bird seal placed on one of them?"

Hiashi growled as he nursed his bruised hands, "Still, the very idea of that monster taking my child as his - "

"We know," sighed a third elder in sympathy, "No one should lose a child like this, Hiashi, but the vote was rather unanimous among the clans...The Hyuuga clan must give up their eldest child to please the Demon Lord, or these attacks may never stop!"

Hiashi sighed and sat down in his chair, "We are a ninja village, military tactics run deep in our roots, yet we can do nothing against a few demons?" He shook his head, "I pray that the kami will take mercy on my daughter...send word to the Hokage that I will escort Lady Hinata in the morning...just let me spend one more night with my daughters as a family."

"We will do that," the elders chorused sadly.

Hiashi rose once more, running his hands over his face, "How am I to tell my daughters that they must say their good-byes?"

Some hours later, two young women, one a fifteen year old girl wearing a lavender kimono with silver crescent moons patterns, and the other around ten wearing a similar kimono except her's was embroidered with small bursts like fireworks, sat stunned at their father's words. Hinata, the oldest, cast her eyes down, "I see...I'll do whatever you ask, Father."

"What?!" Hanabi cried, standing up, "Why!? Why does she have to go!"

"We have no choice, my dear," Hiashi sighed tiredly, "Do not think I do this without conscience. We are one of the last noble families in the Leaf aside from the Kurama, and Uchiha clans. It falls to us to make the tithe."

Hanabi was not convinced, "You just want her gone so she doesn't have to be branded!"

"Hanabi!" Hiashi snapped, quieting the child into huddling back next to her sister. "Yes, you are correct. One reason I am sending Hinata is that she would have to be sealed, by Hyuuga clan laws, while you would ascend as clan head...call me a fool, but I cannot watch one of my precious daughters be sealed by that wretched curse mark."

"And you think making her the bride of a demon is better?" Hanabi choked as tears sprang to her eyes. Hinata reached out and hugged the girl, patting her head.

"I-it's f-fine, Hanabi," Hinata said, smiling reassurance, "P-perhaps t-this demon lord is k-kind."

Hiashi sighed at that, "Though I do not know much about him, it is said that he was birthed here in the village from the previous demon lord before she passed. I knew her to be a kind woman...perhaps he is like her as you say, Hinata."

x-Across the Land of Fire-x

"And they believe this to be my fault?" The young man asked of the white-haired man in front of him, "Just because the demons are looking for food?"

The old man shrugged, "People will place blame where there is none to place, kid, you know that."

The "kid" was a young man of sixteen with long, spiky blonde hair that was pulled back into a short pony-tail with two bangs hanging down to from his face. His eyes, slitted like a fox, and a startling cerulean blue, brought out by the stark contrast to his hair, were full of annoyance. He wore a red and black kimono, black flame designs along the cuffs of the sleeves and bottom. At his hip he wore a long, black katana, the sheath wrapped in red and black as well.

"I really don't see how sending me a woman is going to call off the attacks," Naruto sighed, scratching the back of his head, "I'd much prefer that they left me alone. Can't you do something to stop them, Pervy Sage?"

"Nothing's gonna stop them," Jiraiya huffed at the nickname, then he grinned perversely, "Beside, I bet they pick the most beautiful of all girls to send to you!" He began to drool, "Just picture it, Naruto, a lovely young thing with skin as fair as snow, and a set of nice, big - "

Naruto was turning as red as his kimono at the older man's words, "Okay, that is enough!" Naruto snapped frantically, "The last thing I need is a woman running around here, especially with those damned spasms coming so frequent now, its especially dangerous for her!"

Jiraiya sighed, "You don't need to worry about that, Naruto. You know I gave your father my word that I'd help you with the fox."

"And I appreciate that," Naruto sighed, smiling, "But it's still getting harder and harder for me to fight him. I'm surprised I've lasted this long! I've tried to reason with him, but he just won't listen to me!"

Jiraiya sighed in turn, "You haven't been drawing on his chakra, so that must mean he's trying to force you to do so. But you know you don't have to worry about that. As long as you keep him at bay, he won't be able to hurt you or anyone." He said, "You've been keeping up with your sage training, haven't you?"

"Of course," Naruto sighed, "But keeping myself from feeling rage and hate is hard enough without that damned fox reminding me at every damned turn of the evening that I was forced into this. And that I'll never be accepted by...normal people, ninja or not...so what hope do I have that this girl is going to be any different?"

Jiraiya nodded in understanding, "All of those are fair woes and worries, kid, but I really don't have the answer for you. The Nine Tails is the strongest of all demons, but your mother once told me that he could be tamed by love...how, I don't yet know. But she had faith in you, or else she never would have allowed the demon to be sealed inside you."

Naruto stepped down the hall, the massive shiro castle that was his home still amazed him at times. For all his woes, he lacked for nothing, really. Once a year a tithe was sent to him, food, silks, gold and jewels for the most part, even a few animals that he'd released into the wilds around the castle. The only thing he really lacked for was human company. His godfather had been with him for most of his life, but that was all except for a few short visits from the old sage's former teammate, Tsunade.

Thinking it over as he walked, Naruto thought that the coming of the girl might not be so bad...if she didn't mind what he was. "When will she be arriving?"

Jiraiya shrugged, "We are far away from the Land of Fire. Our little island is about week's worth trip all around, and that's if the person coming is on foot. Then it's a two day trip across the bay, if the travelers don't get caught in the whirlpools. It's already been seven days since I got wind of the arrival, so it should be...well any day now."

Naruto sighed, turning to a window to look out over the island, the ruins of the Hidden Eddy village a grim reminder of what he had lost during the second war. It had once been a rich little island that his clan had resided on in olden days. Now the once proud village was nothing but rubble. "How I wish I could rebuild my home."

"We would need a lot of support for that, kid," Jiraiya smiled, "But that's a wonderful dream." The boy grinned at him. "Look, Naruto, don't be so down about the village, or the girl...in fact she could turn out to be a blessing. If her family are rich, then perhaps she can help you build a new village. One you can rule as a good man."

Naruto smiled at the thought. "Maybe..." He sighed, looking out toward the sea. His eyes widened as he caught sight of something on the horizon. "I don't believe it!"

Jiraiya stepped up next to him and peered out to see, spotting a ship rocking along on the thunderous waves, "Well, that's not good. Looks like they're having bad luck with the whirlpools."

Naruto sighed, "Better get out there, Pervy Sage, or else they might go down."

x-Out at Sea-x

"Is this really what it's always like out here?!" Hiashi yelled as he tried to keep his footing on the deck of the ship. The whirlpools surrounding the ship were too small to pose a threat, but that didn't mean an easy ride for the Hyuuga, or the crew.

"Afraid so, Lord Hyuuga!" Roared the captain, "Tis a trecherous journey across the bay."

Down bellow deck, a young woman was clinging to her bunk, her stomach churning from the motions of the ship. Suddenly, the ship lurched hard, and she was sent tumbling to the floor. She rolled across the floor unable to regain her footing, "Why is the sea out here so rough?!" Hinata moaned to herself as she picked herself up, "Hanabi? Hanabi, are you alright?!"

The door to her cabin opened and her little sister stumbled in, barely able to keep herself up, "Sis! I don't like this!"

Hinata knelt down so she could steady her, holding her close, "It's going to be fine, Hanabi, you'll see!"

Hanabi still looked frightened, "Is the demon lord doing this?"

"No," Hinata said quickly, "This is the Land of Whirling Tides, so these are natural whirlpools, but they're small, and won't hurt the ship."

Her words of comfort were soon shattered as a shout of "Maelstrom!" was heard above them. Hinata stiffened. Hanabi looked up at her sister, "What's a maelström?"

"Nothing," Hinata whispered, holding onto her sister, "It's nothing at all." Hanabi heard her sister's heart quicken. She was lying. Hinata knew that they were done for. Maelstroms were monstrous whirlpools that no ship could escape. Hanabi shook with fear and buried her face in Hinata's chest to hide her tears.

Above deck, Hiashi was feeling the same fear. The whirlpool was enormous, almost twice the size of their ship. "Kami help us."

"Hahahahahaaaa! Ask not Kami for help, but the great and powerful Toad Sage of Mount Myoboku!" Shouted a boisterous voice. Hiashi looked up from the sea just in time to see a massive tongue shooting toward the ship.

"WHAT?!" He looked across the water, seeing a giant red toad wearing a hiori sitting on the shore, "Where did that thing come from?!" He yelled as the tongue wrapped around the ship, hauling it out of the water.

"Bring'em in, Bunta!"

"Shtop yellin' in ma earsh!" Croaked the the toad as the was pulled toward the shore. Hiashi nearly lost his grip on the railing as the ship lurched.

"What's going on here?!" Hiashi roared, "What's the meaning of this?!"

The toad glared at him, "Want me ta put ya back in ta wadder?"

Atop the toad's head was a man dressed in kabuki attire, with stark white hair, grinning like a mad man, "Oh, I wouldn't upset Mister Gamabunta, he has a worse temper than some women I know!" He cackled as the ship neared the shore...and the toad's massive mouth!

"Wait!" Hiashi all but screamed, "Don't let him eat us!"

"Feh," spat Gamabunta, as he set the ship down in the shallow waters of the island, "The last time I ate a human, I got heart burn for a week. And I still have a bad taste in my mouth!"

"Maybe you just missed a bit of him in your teeth?" Joked the man on his head.

The toad rolled both his massive eyes up at him, "Moron, I don't have any teeth!"

Jiraiya cackled again and lept from the great toad's head, careening down toward the ship. The people gathered on deck watched in amazement as the apparent mad man crashed down on the deck, splintering the wood. "Thank the heavens for your good fortune friends, for you have had the pleasure of being rescued from certain death by none other than Mount Myoboku's legendary Toad Sage, who's manly physic and charm make women swoon and fall at his feet," he yelled as he struck a pose (Imagine his pervy shuffle from the anime/manga), swinging his head around, his palm thrust out, "Yes, I am the ever gallant Jiraiyaaaa!"

Even the waves seemed to stop for a moment as Jiraiya finished his introductions, all the while Gamabunta was shaking his massive head with one webbed hand over his face.

"How the hell did I get stuck with this guy?" Gamambunta asked of no one in particular, looking down at the ship, "What that old pervert is trying to say is that we don't mean any harm." He crouched down, facing a still flummoxed Hiashi, who recognized the the sage from the history books as one of the three Sannin of the Hidden Leaf village. "The island's master sent us out here to help once he saw that maelstrom forming. You really should have done your research before coming out here this far. It's high tide, and when the tides come in, the whirlpools around here get bigger and more violent." Explained he the toad.

Shaking himself of his shock, Hiashi turned to Gamabunta with a slight bow, "I'm in your debt for helping our ship, Lord Gamabunta, you and your summoner...er...Master Jiraiya, isn't it?"

"AHA!" Crowed the Sannin, "So you have heard of me?!"

"Only because you were such a loudmouthed kid in your youth," said Gamabunta, pulled a pipe from his robes and placing it in his mouth, "In any case, would you happen to be here to see the lord of the island?"

"We are," Hiashi nodded, "Is it possible to speak with him?"

Jiraiya stepped forward, his geta clicking on the ruined deck, "It is, but know that he is a little skeptical about this...arrangement. He's not the most sociable of people."

"I understand," Hiashi said, sighing, "We will meet with him at his discretion...my daughters are rather nervous about this, though...he is civil, isn't he?" At this, the Hyuuga lord noticed the cold glare of both the toad, and his summoner. Apparently the demon lord was well liked by the two.

"He is as civil as the next person," Jiraiya clarified, "He is simply unused to people visiting him on his island. Being banished and all, you understand."

"O-of course," Hiashi stammered, bowing again, "My apologies, I'm...merely as nervous as my daughters. I've never even been in the presence of a summoning creature such as Lord Gamabunta."

The toad and Sannin both shared a laugh, "Well, you and your daughters are about to be in the presence of a very powerful man, even without the demon's power."

xXx

At the moment, Naruto was watching the scene unfold from the balcony of his castle. Thankfully, he noticed, Jiraiya and Gamabunta had saved the ship. A smile played at his lips as Bunta turned toward the castle, many more people atop his head now, and started a slow, for a toad his size at least, trek home. Naruto then turned and stalked down the hall to the stairs, preparing to meet his very first guests since Tsunade's last visit.

xXx

Hinata was slightly shocked to see the castle. It was well known that the demon lords were cared for well in their isolation, but she hadn't realized just how well. As they crossed the bridge over the small moat, she noticed that the trees dotting both sides of the moat were Sakura trees, though they had long since bloomed there last and were now skeletal compared to how the normally looked.

When the spring came again, she knew that the land would be beautiful when the trees bloomed. As Jiraiya led them, he stopped at a large gate, and gave the double doors a push. To everyone's shock, the swung right open without much resistance. The Sannin grinned over his shoulder at them, "Not bad for a fifty-five year old geezer, eh?"

Hanabi giggled beside her sister at the man, "He's funny."

The castle was then within reach, and Hinata found herself breathing faster, her nerves catching up with her. All too soon, they were at the castle doors. Jiraiya led them inside. "Please don't touch any of the art work. Lord Naruto did many of the paintings himself, and he's fairly protective of them." The paintings were massive portraits, they found out, of none other than the fabled Nine Tailed Fox itself. Many, much to the fear of Hinata's little sister, were of the fox in terrifying battles, destroying the land with his fiery breath.

"The lord of Whirl Castle did these?" Hinata breathed out, another portrait catching her attention. This one was special, she knew. It was probably the latest work. The Nine Tails, Madara Uchiha atop his head, was facing down Hashirama Senju, the first Hokage of the Leaf.

Jiraiya nodded, "It's his way of passing time. As to why they all portray the fox, it's because it keeps the fox calm for a time while he takes the time to put detail on his form."

"They are magnificent," Hiashi muttered, his attention also on the paintings, "Such detail is unheard of when portraying one of the nine demons. Has he seen it?"

Jiraiya stopped then, turning his attention to the clan head, "It haunts him. It's only because he tries to reason with the beast that he hasn't cut the link on his seal, and blocked the fox's voice from his mind."

There were no more questions after the Toad Sage said this, and the Hyuuga leader and his daughters were led further in until the hall opened up into a larger room where a veil obscured what looked like a small throne. Behind it sat the shadow of a man almost as tall as the Hyuuga clan head, except, Hinata noticed through the thin veil, that he wore a black Inari mask, concealing the up half of his face, leaving only his mouth exposed. The three Hyuuga could also feel a pressure coming from the figure, an ominous presence that dwarfed them, as if some monstrous creature stood before them, ready to pounce a moment's notice.

Hiashi approached, Hinata and Hanabi behind him, side by side, and dropped to his knees to bow, the sisters following suit.

Jiraiya stepped up to the right side of the screen, not bothering to bow. "Presenting Lord Naruto Uzumaki of Whirl Castle, Demon Lord of the Nine Tailed Fox, and master of seals." He gave a pleasant smile to the masked figure as he gestured to the three Hyuuga, "My lord, may I present Lord Hiashi of the Hyuuga clan of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, and his two daughters."

"Raise your heads," Naruto intoned, and Hinata was surprised. His voice sounded so...small. Hiashi and the girls did as they were told. "I'm told you bring a daughter of your house in hopes of quelling recent attacks on the village?"

Hiashi nodded, "We have, my lord, many of the villagers believe you would be able to help us."

Naruto, behind his screen and mask, grinned, "Well, you are wrong. The demons don't listen to me anymore than the Nine Tailed Fox does, which is often not at all. Why would you think that I had anything to do with the lower demons?"

Hiashi frowned, "Because they are foxes, my lord, and we only know of one demon lord among the fox tribes."

"The Nine Tails," Naruto growled, Do you have something to do with these attacks, Fox?

A deep rumbling voice sounded in the back of his mind, almost like it was laughing at him, Well, well, the brat decides to take initiative and speak to the prisoner.The fox growled, Though it is of little concern of your's, the fox clans of the world do look to me as their leader. Without my rule, they run wild and without care as foxes tend to do. If they invade a village, though, it will not be for no reason as we tend to keep away from people unless necessary. Your kin must have done something to upset them.

Naruto grimaced, How so? I was only in the village long enough to learn to take care of myself. You would know the layout better than I would.

Indeed I do, as a matter of fact, not far from the outskirts of the village walls, there once stood a shrine to Lady Inari, my once wife, and a great leader among us. Ask if the shrine still stands. Said the demon, Naruto catching a glimpse of the beast sneering from behind the bars of the seal.

"Outside the village there stood a shrine to the goddess, Inari," Naruto said, and he noticed that the Hyuuga man flinched, "Does it still stand?"

Hiashi sighed, "I know of the shrine, and no, it no longer stands. Some months ago, just before the attacks started, a small group of ninja attacked the village, attempting to infiltrate the village, while a group of our ninja met them. The shrine was caught in the crossfire between the two forces."

The Nine Tailed Fox laughed loudly, making Naruto wince, Oh, this keeps getting better and better, Brat! That shrine was sacred to my people, and if its been destroyed, then they will not stop until they are either wiped out, or another shrine is built, and maybe not even then!

Naruto's grimace grew into a frown, "This is not good."

"My lord?" Hiashi asked.

Naruto rose, much to Jiraiya's surprise, and stepped out from behind his screen. Hinata and Hanabi huddled close behind their father as they saw the black and red mask on his face, "The shrine must be rebuilt," he said, motioning for Hiashi to stand. "Though I don't know if this will stop the attacks. It may please them well enough to listen to reason, and make peace."

Hiashi stood, still taller than the boy in front of him, "You are certain this will lessen the attacks?"

"Perhaps," Naruto nodded, looking down at the two girls, "Now, in regards to your daughter - "

"Please," Hiashi said quickly, stopping the young lord out of surprise, "My lord, you must understand, my clan is...harsh to those that are weak. When the main branch of the family produces two heirs, one must be branded with a curse mark of servitude!"

The slits in the mask for the eyes of Naruto's mask lit up crimson for a moment. "You mean to ask me to take her so that she can avoid this?"

Hiashi looked ashamed for the first time in the girls' lives. The Hyuuga were proud, and powerful, Hinata knew this as a member of the clan. Weakness was not tolerated by them, and now she saw her father displaying something the elders would consider weak, and unforgivable. He dropped to his knees, and bowed his head. "I do not ask, my lord, I beg of you. The mark has already cost me more than you can know. I cannot put my daughters through such a trial!"

Naruto sighed, seeing the resolve from the man. Nothing he could or would say wouldn't change his mind. But being a seal user himself, Naruto found himself curious. "This seal, what does it do?"

Hiashi raised his head, "It is a monstrous construct that the founding members of my clan created for weaker Byakugan users. We grew in numbers, and the branch family was feared because they were more than the main family, so the elders created a seal to be placed on the head, inhibiting their Byakugan, and subjecting them to great pain, or death if they disobeyed the main branch." He hung his head low, "I lost my brother to the seal, and his son was sealed when he turned six, just before he passed."

The crimson returned to his eyes, "You condone this?"

"No," Hiashi snapped, "I hate the way my clan treats it's fellows! I would have done away with the mark long ago if I could! But the elders out vote me every time!"

Naruto looked down at the two girls again, a mistake. The eldest was looking at him with the largest, gentlest eyes he'd ever seen, perhaps the only eyes he'd seen besides Tsunade's or Shizune's. She was pleading with him in her own way. the little girl by her side was looking up at him with fear. She was terrified of him because of what he was. But there was no fear coming from the her sister. She was, if Naruto could say, the most beautiful...person he had ever seen. Her hair was long, well down her back, and her skin, much to his surprise as Jiraiya was right, was pale and fair as snow...the rest of her...

Thank what ever gods there might be that he was wearing a mask, if anything it kept the blush hidden on his face. Jiraiya had also been right about her figure, or at least what he had imagined before Naruto had cut him off. She was a beauty.

"What is your name?" Naruto asked.

"H-H-Hinata, my lord," she said shakily.

Naruto nodded, "Do you agree with this? I know you must not like this arrangement."

The girl blushed prettily, "I...I don't know what to think. B-but I understand why m-my father wishes to avoid branding one of us. My clan, as Father said, is harsh in its treatment of weak members, or families with more than one child. I don't want to see that happen to my sister, so I would voluntarily take the seal if I could save her. A-as it stands, I am weaker than she is, so I would be sealed, regardless."

"And staying here?" Naruto asked. "I am considered a demon by many, including your clan."

Hiashi was watching the exchange with interest. Hinata rose from the floor, Hanabi rising with her, and stood straight. She stood just a little shorter than he, the top of her head leveled out with his eyes. She lifted her small, gentle hands to his mask. Naruto didn't move as the mask was lifted away, revealing his face to her. The blush returned as she took him in. His face was round, and had an almost childish look, accept there was a maturity in the angles of his cheeks which were mark by three whisker-like markings on each side.

His eyes were what held her. Never before had she seen such eyes, like rough-cut sapphires. The slitted pupils only made him more exotic looking to her, as did his blonde hair.

Jiraiya was grinning away at the sight. She's not afraid.

"You don't look like a demon," Hinata smiled, "Even if you don't take me for a wife, will you let me stay here...for my little sister?"

Naruto, seeing no way to refuse, smiled, "You may stay." Hinata and Hanabi beamed at him, "But the Hyuuga clan must do something for me in return."

Hiashi smiled, despite the blind offer, "Name it, and if is within my power, it shall be done."

Naruto smiled in turn at the man, "Oh it is. I'm not the sort of person that asks for the moon." Naruto said, stepping over to the wall where yet another portrait hung. This one was of a sprawling village with the castle in the background, "What I want from you is aid in rebuilding my ancestral village of Whirling Tides."

Naruto held out his hand to the Hyuuga clan head. "Do we have a deal?"

Hiashi smiled genuinely as he reached out and shook the young lord's hand, "We have an agreement."

As you can see, this is a different take on the Naruto series. No idea if it'll turn out to be good or not, I just needed to get it out of my head before it drove me even crazier than I already am. So, do you like this prospect? Do you not? Leave a review!