Hello everyone, Marshalanime here. I've been meaning to make this story for a while now but never got around to it. I've been constantly revising the story ans set up in my head and feel like I've finally settled on a version I like. Hopefully I'll be able to update regularly but I can't make any promises with it being the holiday season and all.
Hope you all enjoy the story!
(Marshalanime does not own Naruto or Nurarihyon no Mago)
Ukiyoe town at a glance seemed like any other you'd come across in the region. It wasn't until one looked past the people going about their daily routine, past the bright world of humans and delved deeper into the shadows that they'd see what made Ukiyoe so special. It was in this town where the main house of the Nura, a clan of powerful yokai resided. Nurarihyon was the man responsible for gathering these yokai under his command so many generations ago and now he looked forward to the day that his grandson would take over his position and become the third supreme commander of the Nura clan.
Another night had past for the yokai that inhabited the old compound of the Nura clan, the building itself being older than some of it's long living residence. This morning they had all gathered at the request of Nurarihyon's hopeful successor, Naruto Nura.
"Is everyone here?" the young boy asked as he looked over the many yokai present. To most the sight would instill terror but to him it was comforting to see them all. His bright blond hair came off as unruly and messy, his almond shaped eyes were were deep blue, and on his cheeks he bore whisker like birthmarks. He stood before them in his black school uniform with his bag hanging from his left shoulder.
"Yes, every member of the Nura clan is here" a monk garbed in black answered. Following shortly after the large yokai kneeling along side him thanked the young boy for assembling them. "We couldn't be more honored as your retainers" the monk added after his friend finished.
"It is fitting that you, as the third, have called us all together. Yes, yes indeed" a small human like black bird commented as he fluttered in front of the boy. For Naruto's part he rolled his eyes at Karasu Tengu's way of putting it. He didn't really feel like it was all that big a deal.
"Okay Master Naruto," a girl's voice spoke up bringing Naruto's attention down in front of him. Like the rest of his most trusted guardians she sat at the front of the group. Her hair was long with a very dark blue being it's main color while a very light blue spread out from the top of her head. "Who are we up against? Give us the order and we'll go kick their butt" the girl said with a bit of enthusiasm behind her words.
"Nah, it's nothing like that" Naruto said with a small grin. It had been a while since they went out to deal with someone but that's not what he wanted to talk about. "I called you all here to make a request" the boy told them.
"Request?" the girl repeated, a bit surprised.
"You have a request for us?" a man with hair a similar shade to Naruto's asked, his head floating above his shoulders with only a scarf to help conceal his lack of a neck.
"Yes" the boy told them before continuing. "I'd like it if non of you went to the old junior high school building tonight. Me and a few friends are going there tonight and I don't want them freaking out if they saw one of you" the blond told them. Sure, his friends are going there for the purpose of seeing yokai but their still just ordinary middle school students, he didn't want them getting too scared.
"So we can't go... because your friends will be there?" the monk asked, a part of his long hair falling between his eyes.
"Eh, more or less" Naruto said with a small, nervous chuckle. "Sorry guys" Naruto started as he turned to walk off. "It'd be a hassle coming up with an excuse if they say a yokai" he told them. Turning his head back he then calling out to them as he left, "Don't worry, we'll head out tomorrow night. I've been hearing rumors that some yokai have been causing problems around town so it should be fun".
With that out of the way it was off to school. "Oh, Naruto" a woman with long red hair said as she turned a corner to see the blond running by. "I just got a message from Iruka. There's a big test at the end of the week and missing its not an option" she told the boy as he ran past her.
"Thanks mom! I'll be sure to be there" Naruto told her without skipping a beat and continuing on his way.
"Have a good day at school sweaty!" Kushina called out before giving a thin smile as the boy disappeared around the corner with a "I will!".
"Please wait a moment master!" Karasu Tengu called out as he caught up to the blond at the main entrance. Flying over the blond as he but on his shoes Karasu Tengu suggested that he take a sword with him.
"It's too hard to hide a sword" Naruto told him as he finished with his shoes and stood up. Karasu was about to insist upon it when the blond cut him off with a kunai pulled from his sleeve. "Calm down, it's not like I'm unarmed" the blond said with a grin at the look on Karasu's face. "Besides" Naruto started as he put the weapon away "I'm only going to school. I doubt I'll even need this much".
With everything ready Naruto set out for school, only to stop half way to the main gate when he saw who was walking through it. The man wore a purple shihakusho lined with white cloth and a green haori. His hair had a grey tone to it at the top that became black towards the tips. The right half of his face was covered by his hair with a few loose strands that hung over the left side and hooked around his ear and had a bit of stubble running across his jaw and chin.
"Good morning Gyuki-sensei" Naruto greeted the man with a short bow. Since he was young Naruto wished to become strong for not only himself but also the clan and village that he loved. One day he had witnessed Gyuki handle an assassin with ease and begs the man to train him. Training under Gyuki was not ease, the man pushed him past his limits every time. On the few occasions he'd gone to Gyuki's mountain he'd always return battered and bruised after the trip but every time he went there with a smile knowing he'd be stronger for it.
"Hello young master" Gyuki greeted in kind as he came to a stop in front of the boy. "I'm glad to see you are looking well today Naruto. Nothing could please me more" the man said with a bow of his head as the boy raised his.
"Yes, I'm glad to see you're looking in good health as well" Naruto told the man.
"Will you be attending tonight's meeting?" Gyuki asked and watched as the boys grin died down.
"No, I already have plans so I can't attend" Naruto told the man.
"I'm sure the subject of your succession with be brought up. It usually is" Gyuki told the boy. "Perhaps it would help convince everyone if you were to attend" Gyuki suggested to the boy. Like the others he too had concerns for the clan's future after the Second past away. The supreme commander was not what he once was and Naruto was still such a young child at the time. Even when the boy came of age there were worries over whether someone with only a quart of yokai blood in his veins could lead the clan, but he'd seen the boy's strength with his own eyes. Even without his yokai form Naruto would be able to lead the Nura clan as his father and grandfather did before him.
"I doubt it" Naruto responded with a sigh accompanying it. "You know as well as I do that those old yokai won't agree to my succession as I am" Naruto said with a sagely nod. If he knew how to take on his yokai form there wouldn't be any question about his succession but he hasn't been able to do that since the incident four years ago.
Coming out of his thought the blond once more glanced up at Gyuki. The man may known for his stoic image but the boy had spent enough time around him to know what he was thinking, most of the time anyway. "Don't worry so much about it. It's not a matter of 'if' but 'when'" Naruto told the man. "My goal hasn't changed, with or without my yokai form I will become the third" Naruto told him before stepping aside so he could continue on his way to school. "Just give it some more time, they'll come around eventually" the blond said as he walked past Gyuki.
Left standing there Gyuki had one thought running through his head, "There was only so much time left".