Rise of the Uzumaki Clan

Written By: Rave Rose of Twilight

Warning: I don't own Naruto and I definitely don't own High School DxD.

Chapter Seven: Educating New Devils: Introduction to the World of Devils

The morning couldn't have come soon enough. As the girls of Naruto's peerage approached the clubhouse, they noticed Ino and Sakura were both standing at the door, waiting for one of them to unlock the front door. Hinata approached with the keys, but it wasn't necessary.

The door opened wide, revealing a little blond-haired, golden-eyed girl wearing a miko outfit with nine blond tails behind her sitting on Naruto's shoulder.

The girls all eyed Naruto cautiously. Naruto chuckled to himself. "Hey, girls. Sorry about this, but I'll explain Kunou-hime's presence after we get this meeting started. Just take a seat while I make some tea. Okay?"

The girls all nodded and took their seats wherever they were comfortable. Ino and Sakura were sitting on the love seat together, though Sakura looked worse for the wear, Ino's hand on the young pinkette's seemed to sooth her frazzled nerves. Naruto came back, the young girl still perched on his shoulder, with several cups of fresh green tea. As he passed them out, he noticed Sakura's hand wouldn't stop shaking, even as she took a sip of the soothing tea.

"Alright. First order of business is to answer all of Sakura-chan's questions and provide her with some straight answers." Sakura nodded and took another sip of tea.

"What happened last night," she asked directly. "Was that some kind of weird dream or did all of that really happen?"

Naruto sighed. "Everything you felt, heard, and saw last night was absolutely real. You and Issei were stabbed in the stomach by a Spear of Light, a weapon employed by Angels and Fallen Angels to kill Devils...like myself and the other club members."

Without warning, Naruto and his peerage extended their bat-like wings as proof, which got a fairly common reaction from Sakura. She looked to be in shock, awe, fear, and a mild sadness radiated from her body. "Ino-chan found one of my fliers in your backpack and made a wish on it. She wished for me to save your life. Normally, that wouldn't be possible, but Devils of my caliber are given something called Evil Pieces to recruit humans, Youkai, and other Devils to our side. Everyone in this club is both a devil and a member of my peerage. People who have accepted an Evil Piece and essentially have become my servants. Under normal circumstances, I would have much rather asked you to join my peerage of your own free will. Everyone here except for you and Kunou-hime willingly accepted the piece, though Kunou's mother accepted her being placed in my peerage in her stead. You were my first revival via an Evil Piece."

"So...I'm your servant? Your slave," she asked hysterically.

"Never my slave," Naruto said firmly. "When I asked you to join the club, I was indirectly offering you a chance to join my peerage. I'd much rather have your permission than to simply raise you from the dead and give you no choice in the matter. I will never make you do anything you don't want to do, but you will have certain duties to attend to as a member of my peerage."

"Does that mean Ino's in your peerage," Sakura asked, seemingly calmed down by Naruto's honest answers.

Naruto shook his head. "No, but I did tell her that she had 'Follower's Rights' should you join that she could join as well, but I believe she has something to tell you first."

Ino looked a little miffed at being put on the spot, but she did thank him before turning to Sakura. "I never wanted you to find out about this, but as we grew closer, I've been slowly trying to find a way to tell you." Without warning, Ino unveiled her silver-gray wings. "You see...my name is Ino Yamanaka and I'm a Fallen Angel Hybrid."

"Hybrid," asked Sakura.

"Her parents weren't both Fallen Angels. I even suspect that her mother is human and her father is a Fallen Angel," Naruto said, catching the two off guard. "It's not uncommon to hear they exist, but it's not exactly something you come across often. Your mother...was she a psychic?" Ino nodded. "That explains the powerful mental defenses you showed as well as your ability to create and fight with Spears of Light without needing to touch them. It's a very unique ability...psychokinesis and telekinesis. The ability to infiltrate the minds of others and the ability to manipulate objects from a distance. For someone your age, you're very strong in both your psychic abilities and you Fallen Angel skills."

"So...what's this about Fallen Angels and Devils?"

Naruto sighed as he sipped his tea. "In the old days, Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels fought against one another. They were mortal enemies during a time known as the Great War. However, thousands of casualties on each of the three sides made the three factions stop fighting and try to bring their numbers back. For Devils, it's known as the Evil Piece system. It's based on the game of Chess and has fifteen pieces total. Hinata-chan is my Queen. Karin-chan is my Bishop. Yugito-chan, Haku-chan, and Hanabi-chan are 3 of my 8 total Pawns. Finally, you, Sakura-chan, and Kunou-chan are my two Rooks."

"So does that mean that I can never be with Ino-chan...now that I'm a Devil," she asked sadly.

"No," said Naruto and Ino together before Naruto continued. "That was back in the old ages, Sakura-chan. While some Devils and Fallen Angels might look down upon your relationship, nobody in my peerage will and neither will I. You two care deeply about one another. I'm not going to keep you from being with her simply because our races might have been enemies at one point long before I even existed."

"Then, can you make Ino-chan a Devil too," Sakura said hopefully.

Naruto nodded with a smile before looking at Ino. "You can become a Devil, if you want. Sakura seems to really want to keep you around, but it's your choice."

Ino nodded without hesitation as tears fell from her face. "Yes. If it will keep me near Sakura-chan, then I'll become a Devil."

"Good," Naruto said as he fished out a red Pawn from his pocket before handing it to her. "As of this moment, you have accepted the offer to become my servant. You are to keep Sakura-chan safe and ensure her happiness as best as you can. Do you accept the terms and conditions of this contract, Fallen Angel Hybrid Ino Yamanaka?"

Ino nodded. "I accept the terms and conditions you have stated, Devil King Naruto Uzumaki."

"Then rise, Ino-chan, as my selfless Pawn. May happiness find its way into your heart as you continue to serve me for the rest of your days." The Pawn melted into her skin and her body glowed red. In addition to her silver-gray wings, a pair of bat-like wings appeared below them, giving Ino a sense of power flooding her body like a warm shower or a trip to the hot springs.

Ino rose and bowed politely, giving her new master a barely obstructed view of her C-Cup cleavage. "Treat me well, Master," she said with a giggle before sitting back down with Sakura placed on her lap.

Naruto grinned at the sight before Kunou decided to give his golden locks a tug, reminding him of her presence. "Now that that's settled, I guess it's time to explain Kunou-hime's reason for being here and why I made her my second Rook."

Naruto sighed tiredly. "Well, as soon as I got here last night to try and turn in, I was met with Son Goku-sama about a serious matter. Apparently, all nine of the Demon Lords will be at a secret meeting. However, since I contain Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Demon Lord, his wife, Yasaka, approached me to inform me that she will be taking his position. By doing so, she would be inadvertently leaving their only daughter, Kunou, in charge of Kyoto's Youkai population. Feeling her to be too young, she asked me to allow Kunou to join my peerage and to help her become the leader that Yasaka-sama believes she will eventually become once she becomes older. Until then, she will be living, eating, training, and performing duties with us as my second Rook."

The girls all nodded, though Sakura raised her hand again. "Is it common for a parent to leave their children in the welfare of a Devil?"

Naruto shook his head negative. "Not entirely, but if a Youkai or a Devil is doing something they believe is too dangerous to leave their children on their own, they know that some Devils, like myself, will keep them safe and help them grow stronger in their absence."

Sakura and Ino both nodded, still mostly unaware of the way Devils function. "For now, I think it would do us well to meet up with another Devil's peerage. Make some new friend, ya know?"

For an instant, Karin's eyes widened. "Don't tell me you..." But she was interrupted by the sound of a doorbell.

"That must be them. I'll get it, Haku-chan," he said, strolling off toward the door and causing Haku to sit back down in curiosity.

The sound of the door opening and Naruto's warm greeting got the other girls rather curious as to who this Devil King was...

...until they spotted Rias Gremory, all grown up, walking arm-in-arm with Naruto followed by her peerage that consisted of two boys, one of which was easily identified as Issei Hyoudou, and two girls walked in behind them.

Hinata, recognizing Rias quite easy enough, got up from her seat and wrapped her arms around the girl. Standing back for a moment, Hinata looked Rias up and down, comparing her to what she looked like as a child.

"Oh my," Hinata said with a small blush. "You've grown up so much since we were kids, Rias-chan."

Hanabi walked over and began to grope Rias' sizable chest before absentmindedly squeezing her own B-Cup breasts. A tiny cloud formed above Hanabi's head as she walked to a corner and began to mope about Rias having big boobs while she was stuck looking like a loli. "So unfair."

Rias simply giggled before pressing her bust into Naruto's arm...until Karin began floating toward her before inspecting her, much like Hinata had earlier.

"Looks like you've finally grown a pair, Miss Mosquito Tits," growled Karin as black sparks ignited over her hands.

Rias growled as a black fire-like aura appeared around her own hands. "And you still have the brain the size of a peanut, you big breasted whore!"

Naruto began to stifle a chuckle before just bursting out laughing so hard he fell to the ground as tears fell from his eyes. Everyone except for Hinata, Haku, Hanabi, and Yugito looked at him like he was insane, though that was mostly because Karin was glaring at Rias at the moment. "Just like when we were kids," he said as he wiped a tear from his eye and got back to his feet. "You two will never change."

Issei approached him momentarily. "Why aren't you trying to break them up? They could destroy your clubhouse if they aren't stopped soon."

Naruto grinned as he pointed to a glowing blue seal beneath the two. Without warning, the two arguing girls were encased in a glacier. "I've known Rias and Karin for ages growing up. They'd always fight like that until Hinata-chan or Haku-chan would keep them from doing anything worse than glaring at each other. I'm actually happy they haven't changed much. Deep down inside, they acknowledge the other as their greatest rival. By acknowledging one another, they force themselves to grow stronger so as not to be left behind by the other."

Hinata and Naruto's peerage sweatdropped, knowing that they were only fighting one another for his heart.

"Now, how about we allow Karin-chan and Rias-chan to defrost before we introduce ourselves to one another," Naruto said with a warm smile. "Haku-chan, can you go get our guests some snack and tea for me?"

Haku bowed wearing her French Maid outfit, flashing her C-Cup bust to her master and guests. "Right away, Master," she said with a warm smile before gliding across the room to the kitchen.

"Does she do that on purpose or do you make her call you Master," Issei asked again, hoping for some kind of help when he became a Harem King.

Naruto felt his head grow heavy as he released yet another sigh. "She does it on her own. Karin-chan does it too, but the feeling behind it is different between the two. Haku genuinely seems to prefer calling me Master even though I always ask her to call me Naruto or Naruto-kun. I guess after years of hearing it, I just try and tune it out when one of the girls slips and calls me Master instead of Naruto-kun."

"So all of these girls...how do you do it?"

"Do what," Naruto asked in a genuine confused manner.

"Get all of these smoking hot girls to join your peerage," Issei finally said with a hint of jealousy in his voice.

"I've been friends with Hinata-chan, Hanabi-chan, Karin-chan, Haku-chan, and Yugito-chan for ages. Sakura-chan, Ino-chan, and Kunou-chan all joined recently." Kunou hid behind Naruto's pant leg and tugged gently. "What is it, Kunou-chan?"

"That brown-haired boy's a pervert, Papa," she said simply, causing everyone to laugh and Issei to feel like an idiot for having a little girl point out he was a pervert.

Naruto chuckled. "I know he is, sweetheart. Just try to remember: if he does something pervy around you, tell Karin and she'll zap him so hard his heart will explode within his chest. Okay?"

Kunou smiled happily before nodding. "Okay, Papa!" With that, Kunou skipped off to play with Hinata.

"For the record," he said as a couple of Rias' peerage were beginning to open their mouths, "I'm not her real father. I just...look like him enough that Kunou can't really tell the difference." Everyone except Rias, who was about halfway thawed, accepted the explanation rather easily.

Rias, however, was able to see what he wasn't telling them and nodded to herself in acknowledgment.

A few minutes later, once Rias and Karin had defrosted and gone back to their individual groups, though Karin was cuddling closer to Naruto under the guise that she was still feeling a bit cold from being frozen earlier. Of course, everyone could tell she was lying, but didn't contest her on that out of fear of being zapped like a bug in a bug zapper...

...a bug zapper with huge boobs and wearing a very skimpy Kuoh Academy uniform with a few buttons undone on her blouse. One that Issei constantly got too close to if his smoking, charred corpse in the middle of the room was anything to go by.

"Alright. Now, let's introduce ourselves," Naruto stated happily. "Rias-chan, you and your peerage can go first." Rias nodded to her best friend before turning toward Sakura, Ino, and Kunou, who was sitting on Naruto's lap as he stroked her blond hair.

"My name is Rias Gremory," she said plainly. "I'm a High-Class Devil like Naruto-kun and act as the King of my peerage. I like playing chess and spending time with my friends. I also can't fall asleep unless I'm naked. My goal is to become a strong Devil and eventually have a strong family with a certain boy."

Everyone looked to see Naruto's reaction, but were disappointed and oddly astonished that the young Devil was so clueless to such an obvious and direct hint as he simply continued to smile and pet the cute blond girl curled on his lap, taking a nap.

A black-haired girl with a marginally bigger bust than Rias giggled, but caught herself before she did as Naruto had earlier. "My name is Akeno Himejima. I'm Rias-buchou's Queen. I enjoy helping Rias-buchou in her duties as a Devil. My goal is to serve Rias-buchou to the best of my ability until I find someone to share my heart with."

Next up was a blond-haired boy with bright blue eyes that looked to be able to pass as Naruto's older brother. "My name is Kiba Yuuto. I am Rias' Knight. I hate Fallen Angels. I like my friends and helping out. My dream is to kill a certain group of people."

Ino and Akeno seemed to flinch, though only a small handful of people noticed save Kiba. Naruto, however, reacted in the most surprising way by frowning lightly. However, he refused to say anything about what was bothering him.

Next up was a white-haired loli with hazel eyes eating a piece of chocolate. "My name is Koneko Toujou. I'm Rias' Rook. I like chocolate and my friends. My dream is to find my sister, Kuroka, and bring her to justice."

Naruto's frown only barely lifted after hearing Koneko say she wanted to bring her sister to justice rather than outright hating her or wanting to kill her. "You're a Nekomata, aren't you, Koneko?" Koneko looked a bit stunned before nodding and revealing her cat ears and tail. "Don't worry. You aren't the only Youkai in the room. You'll find out later who the Youkai are though."

Issei was about to speak up next, but Naruto quickly silenced him. "Issei, everyone here knows who you are and I have a feeling that if you tell us your likes and dreams, you won't make it out of the building alive...or unharmed...or on your own power."

"Kunou-chan and that blond girl don't know me," Issei countered.

"His name is Issei Hyoudou. He likes boobs and peeking at the girls' changing room in the gymnasium. His dream is to build his own harem of girls to serve his every desire," Naruto said, earning him a glare from Ino and a light glare from Kunou who was just starting to wake up. Issei looked around and noticed many of the girls in Naruto's peerage looked ready to kill him the moment he got within a few feet of them. "See? They already want to kill you. Now, if you were to say that, you would be frozen, electrocuted, burned, stabbed, beaten, and generally pummeled until you could barely stand under your own power. Do you believe me now?"

Issei looked a bit afraid and nodded, though his body was shaking heavily as he backed away from the large group of angry girls. "I forgot to mention that he is my Pawn," Rias stated.

Naruto nodded before motioning to Hinata to go first. Hinata nodded and bowed to the group. "My name is Hinata Hyuuga. I'm Naruto-kun's Queen and a Mid-Class Devil of the Hyuuga Clan and its heiress. I like spending time with Naruto-kun, my friends, and the rest of his harem," she stated, giggling as Naruto choked on some of his tea.

"It's not a harem, Hinata-chan," Naruto stuttered, though there was some blood that dripped from his nose. Hinata giggled harder.

"I also like cinnamon buns. My dream is to become strong enough to help my clan rise in the 72 Pillars community and help Naruto fulfill his dream."

Karin nodded in acknowledgment before taking her place standing up beside Naruto. "My name is Karin Uzumaki-Carmilla. I'm half vampire and half succubus, making me a dhamphir. I'm Naruto's second cousin and his Bishop. I like flirting, teasing, and seducing my Master," she said with a growl as she brought her body closer to Naruto's. "I don't like Miss Mosquito Tits who seems to have finally grown a proper pair of breasts since I last saw her. My dream is to help my Master bring the Uzumaki Clan back to its proper place, have many Uzumaki sons and daughters, and helping my Master with his dream."

At this point, Naruto had practically passed out from the serious advances of his beloved Bishop. Sakura, the pinkette, stood up next, though Ino stood with her, her lithe arms wrapped around the girl's waist and her head on her shoulder. "My name is Sakura Haruno and I'm new to this Devil thing. I'm Naruto-kun's Rook. My likes are learning and my beloved girlfriend, Ino-chan. I don't really have any dislikes. My dreams...well, I guess it's to help Naruto out with his dream, but I don't know what it is yet. And to live a happy life with Ino-chan, Naruto, and his peerage."

Issei was on the ground with a massive nosebleed from having perverted thoughts of the lesbian couple running through his head. Kunou yawned to herself and stretched her arms above her head before taking a piece of toast and nibbling on it. "My name is Kunou. I'm Papa's Rook too. I'm a Nine-Tailed Fox and a Devil. I like my Papa, my Momma, and my friends. My dream is to grow up, get stronger, and learn how to lead the Kyoto Youkai under Papa's leadership and guidance!"

Rias and Akeno giggled at the girl's enthusiasm. Yugito, the fourth blond-haired girl in the room, though only different due to her dark black eyes. "My name is Yugito Nii. I'm Naruto-kun's Pawn. I'm also a Nekomata, Matatabi's only daughter, and a Devil. I like Naruto and my friends. I dislike perverts, though there are some exceptions to that rule. You, Issei, aren't one of them," she added pointedly, causing Issei to grow slightly depressed. "My dreams are to eventually learn and master Senjutsu and Youjutsu and help Naruto fulfill his dream."

For a brief instance, Koneko looked at Yugito in fear hearing how she wanted to learn and master such a horrible, in her mind, art. The events that led to her sister's exile still felt quite fresh. Sakura raised her hand. "Naruto, what are Senjutsu and Youjutsu?"

"Senjutsu is an art that allows Youkai, like Kunou, Yugito, and Koneko, to enhance their bodies using the natural energy of the planet by drawing it into their bodies. However, Senjutsu is a very dangerous art that, while it increases your overall power and abilities by a hundred fold, it also forces you to experience all of the hatred the world has built up. It's incredibly difficult to learn unless you have someone who has mastered it to help you along. Youjutsu are demonic spells and skills that are practiced by certain Youkai. For instance, as Matatabi-sama's daughter, one Youjutsu skill allows Yugito to enhance her blows with a blue, ghostly fire. With further training, she could even use that blue fire to project as a powerful attack or enhance it to the point that nothing it touches will ever pass through it."

"Then who is Matatabi-sama," she asked as a follow up.

Naruto smiled at the girl's inquisitive nature. "Matatabi is known as the Two-Tailed Hellfire Cat and one of the nine Demon Lords of the Underworld. She is on par with an Ultimate-Class Devil and could possibly, if it ever came down to it, defeat Serafall Leviathin, one of the Four Great Satans, in a battle, though she wouldn't come out uninjured. While strong by most Devil's standards, Serafall Leviathin is supposedly the weakest of the Four Great Satans."

Sakura nodded to herself before sitting down on Ino's lap. Haku rose next and bowed to their visitors, something that Issei took advantage of by staring deep into her dress at her breasts until he was almost skewered by a rogue ice sicle.

"My name is Haku Sitri. I'm Master Naruto's Pawn and self-appointed maid. I'm a Mid-Class Devil of the Sitri Clan and the youngest of three sisters, Sona Sitri, our student council president, and Serafall Leviathin, one of the Four Great Satans. My likes are my Master, pleasing my Master, helping my Master, and ensuring that my Master is well taken care of. My dream is to eventually marry my Master, give birth to a few children of my own, and ensure my Master's dream becomes a reality."

At this kind of introduction, everyone saw Naruto's head fall repeatedly as though he was banging his head against a wall...or an invisible table. Even more blood seemed to be trickling down Naruto's nose as he continued to do this. Eventually, Haku sat down and Hanabi stood up.

"I'm Hanabi Hyuuga, Hinata's twin sister," she said firmly. As Issei began to open his mouth, Hanabi's glare caused it to snap shut. "If you say that we don't look like twins because by boobs are smaller than hers, I'll personally rip off that pathetic lump of flesh you call your penis and shove it so far down your throat you'll choke to death on your own testicles!"Akeno seemed to blush upon hearing such vulgar threats being made against her best friend's Pawn, but did nothing to stop it. Even Issei paled at the very vulgar and violent threat made against him and shut up quickly.

"I like spending time with my sister and the rest of Naruto's peerage and I hate how much of a whore Karin acts like when Naruto's anywhere in a five mile radius of her." Karin snorted indignantly as she muttered something about wanting to consummate her relationship with her true love. "My dream is to get married, have kids, and help Naruto with his dream."

Last up was the third blond-haired, blue-eyes person in the room, though this one was a female. "My name is Ino Yamanaka. I'm Naruto's Pawn and also a Fallen Angel Hybrid. My father is a Fallen Angel and my mother is a powerful psychic. I like spending time with Sakura-chan and learning all I can about Devils, Youkai, and other things that my teachers may have lied to me about during my training. My goal is to grow old with Sakura-chan as my wife, to get to know Naruto-kun and his peerage better, and to eventually help Naruto with his dreams."

"That's it for my peerage," Naruto said standing up while Kunou climbed up to her perch on his shoulder. "I suppose it's time for my introduction. My name is Naruto Uzumaki. I'm a pure-blood Devil of the Uzumaki Clan. I am also the last of my clan, designating me as its heir and the clan head. My clan's power is known as the Power to Subjugate Hatred. While not a combat-oriented Power like Rias' Power of Destruction, my power has its uses. It was first used by Mito Uzumaki in combination with her husband's ability to create trees from nothing to subjugate Kurama, the Nine-Tailed Fox and the strongest Demon Lord to ever exist. He is also Kunou's father. He was sealed within Mito Uzumaki with the hopes that she would continuously subjugate the hatred within him from his failed attempt at learning and mastering Senjutsu. Sadly, that didn't happen. By the time she was on her death bed, she had to choose another Uzumaki to contain Kurama and hopefully subjugate his built up hatred. This new Uzumaki was my mother, Kushina. A woman heralded as the strongest female Devil in the Underworld and candidate for Satan Red, the strongest member of the Four Great Satans."

"Sadly, as she was giving birth to me, someone came in and forcefully unsealed Kurama from her body. Because Kushina and Mito had slowly whittled away at Kurama's hatred, he was significantly weaker than he would have been. My parents were forced to use me, the last of our clan with the Power to Subjugate Hatred flowing through my veins, as Kurama's guardian and to drain it of all of the hatred built up within its body until he was able to return to the Underworld with his mind free of all of the hatred his Senjutsu practice had built up." Kunou sniffled hearing the story and hugged Naruto's head.

"For now, my goal in life is simple. To get rid of the rest of Kurama's hatred and free him to finally be with his family again. My dream once that's finished is to get married, rebuild the Uzumaki Clan, and become one of the Four Great Satans so that I can bring peace to the Underworld."

Koneko's fist tightened before she charged Naruto and punched him in the face, though instead of sending him flying, his head simply turned violently to the side. Koneko's eyes were filled with tears and she ran away from the room. Naruto's eyes were wide at first, but softened considerably. Rias bit her lip and bowed to Naruto apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Naruto-kun," she said. "I'll bring her back to apologize later. There was no sense in her striking you."

Naruto chuckled and waved it off. "Don't worry. I've been seeing cues as to what her problem is. I probably shouldn't have said as much as I did about my power." Everyone's eyes widened. "She first reacted shocked when I asked if she was a Nekomata. Nekomata have a powerful connection with Senjutsu. The second was when I recalled her dream a moment ago. Her sister must have practiced Senjutsu and she hurt someone in her rage. The third was when Yugito commented on her dream of learning and mastering Senjutsu and Youjutsu. She became afraid of what would happen meaning she'd seen or heard of the results first hand. If I had known...back when her sister used Senjutsu, I would have tried to fix it, but she had no knowledge of that. She only knows that I have a power to almost subjugate someone under Senjutsu-induced madness and that I did nothing to stop it. If I were her, I probably would have done the same thing. In fact, I'd have been incredibly upset if she didn't lash out. It would mean she was bottling up her anger. Never a good thing. It's better just to let it out at once doing something constructive...like writing...or drawing...or training on some poor, hapless sap who is practically nothing more than a living, breathing training dummy."

At this point, Issei felt like he wanted to disappear, knowing that comment was pointed solely at him.

"So you're just going to let her get away with hitting you," called Akeno.

Naruto nodded. "Yep. Pretty much."

"You're not going to chase her down, chastise her, or try to talk some sense into her," asked Kiba.

"Nope."

"Why," asked Issei, sure that he asked the question on everyone's minds.

"Because of my Power," Naruto said simply. "My clan, the Uzumaki Clan, has the Power to Subjugate Hatred, as I've no doubt you remember. We also have the ability to absorb any hatred directed at others onto ourselves. It's what makes our clan so durable, whether it be physical or emotional, we've been able to endure all kinds of hatred and animosity directed at us by others. It's how we've made so many friends over the years. Truth be told, Yugito actually tried to kill me the first time we met...thinking I was just another Devil out to ask her mother to join my peerage. That was when I was five. Well, after a year of being spiteful at me, she finally asked me why I still played with her even after all she'd done to me. That was my answer. Because I knew I could take it."

Yugito looked mildly abashed at his choice of story to explain how his Power worked, but it served its purpose.

"So you're just going to wait it out," Akeno asked, though it sounded more like a statement. "You'll just wait it out until she decides to get over it? You may be waiting a long time before that happens."

Naruto nodded. "That's sometimes the best way. Let her hate me. Abhor my existence. Get in a couple of shots. Let her wear herself out until she gets so tired that she's willing to listen." Naruto chuckled to himself quite loudly. "Either that or hunt down her sister, tie her up, and bring her to Koneko for interrogation, though I doubt I could survive going head-to-head against someone of Kuroka's caliber just yet. Especially if she's still using Senjutsu or is still in a Senjutsu induced rage."