Chapter XII

Shino Aburame was a teenager with a long grey hooded coat, another darker coat underneath with a high collar covering his mouth, dark pants and dark round sunglasses who was sitting underneath a shady tree watching the insects move along the outside.

Seemingly oblivious or impervious to the many insults such as, "Look, isn't he from that clan that has bugs inside their bodies?" "What a weirdo, look he's just watching those bugs," "Stay away from him, his parasitic insects could infect you too," Shino seemed content to sit and watch the ants walk and play. After a few minutes however, even Shino's aloof guards fell and he couldn't take the insults and decided to leave.

As he walked he bumped into something. When he opened his eyes he saw that the something was a teenage girl with blonde hair and grey eyes wearing a tight leather top with horizontal black and purple stripes that exposed both her midriff and her collarbone along with leather bloomers and thigh length stockings as well as shoulder length fingerless gloves with the same pattern that had multiple long threads attached to the top which ended with large curved blades that she kept stowed on her belt.

She rubbed her sore head and then snarled, "Hey! Watch where you're going!"

Shino simply looked at her in surprise as they stood.

Getting annoyed with his silent demeanor she said, "Hey buddy, you want to start something?"

Shino responded plainly, "No. It's just strange that you aren't scared or repulsed by me."

She folded her arms and asked, "And I should give a damn because…?"

Shino raised an eyebrow and asked, "Do you know who I am, or more specifically what clan I am from?"

The teen spat and said, "No, and why should I?"

"Perhaps. Many are aware of my family's special ability, the fact that we have parasitic insects that we control and that feed off our chakra. Most are afraid of my family because of this and others tend to either ignore us or call us bug people," Shino responded in his same emotionless tone.

She raised an eyebrow and asked, "And? Why should I care what odd hobbies your family practices?"

Shino nodded and said, "I see."

"I'm No. 31 Sai by the way," Sai said plainly.

"Shino Aburame," he responded.

Sai raised an eyebrow and asked, "Wait, so you're from the Aburame clan? Does that mean you collect bugs to use in your abilities?"

Shino frowned and thought, 'Wonderful, now she's going to leave like the rest.' He tentatively responded, "Yes."

Sai shrugged and said, "Whatever."

Shino looked at her in shock, though his attire made that hard to discern.

She then continued, "I actually used to collect them myself back when I lived with my sister Sekirei Shi. I usually used them to torment her since it was the least boring thing I could do in that damned facility."

Shino then asked, "So you don't find me repulsive?"

Sai scrunched her brow and said, "No, and why should I? All that means is I have a walking prank farm."

Shino sweat-dropped at her words and said, "Thank you."

Sai looked at him lightly confused and asked, "What, does everyone treat you like crap just because of the bug thing?"

He nodded.

Sai frowned and said, "I wouldn't. In fact I think having you around might make my time here manageably amusing." She then did something that the teen never could have predicted. She unzipped the part of his coat that hid his mouth and kissed him on the lips. Doing so caused several crescent shaped wings to emerge from her back and for Shino to feel a portion of his chakra get drained. After that she said, "There, now you won't feel lonely and I'll have easy access to entertainment."

Shino simply looked at her with a dumbstruck expression.

Team Ten arrived at training field ten for their normal training, that is Asuma and Shikamaru play shogi, Choji chows down on potato chips and Into fawns over a picture of what everyone assumes is Sasukem but was in fact Ino's new favorite person. But as they arrived, Ino became aware of something strange. That being the girls Shikamaru and Choji had with them. Ino investigated them in confusion. She then noticed the Sekirei crest on Yashima's dress and thought, 'What, when did they become Ashikabi?'

Shikamaru looked over at Choji and wondered the same thing; Choji was simply too giddy to care, a feeling that transferred to Yashima.

Everyone's attention shifted to Asuma when he vegan chuckling. Ino raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's so funny?"

Asuma smiled at his students and said, "It seems the entire team is now composed of Ashikabi."

That got everyone's attention, and worried Yashima and Natsu.

Asuma looked at Ino and said, "Why don't you call out your Sekirei?"

Ino nodded and turned, then cupped a hand to her mouth and shouted, "Shiina, Ku!"

On que the two exited their hiding spot, Shiina walking and Ku running before jumping into Ino's arms.

Shikamaru looked at Ino in confusion and said, "Ino."

She played with Ku and responded with a simple, "Hmm?"

"Is she your Sekirei?" he asked.

Mostly ignoring him while playing with Kusano she said, "Yup."

"Ino," he said plainly.

She turned and responded, "What?"

"She's a little girl," he said flatly.

Ino smiled with an eyebrow twitch and said, "Say no more or die."

Shikamaru sweat-dropped and said, "Touchy subject."

Asuma sweat-dropped and said, "Play nice. Anyway, it seems you've all winged Sekirei by now, though only Ino seems to have had a length of time with hers."

"Wait, do you mean Ino's been an Ashikabi longer than me or Shikamaru?" asked Choji.

Asuma nodded and said, "It also seems that she wins when it comes to numbers."

Ino laughed uncomfortably as her teammates simply smirked before a wind picked up around Asuma, followed by a small twister just over his shoulder; a sultry voice saying, "But it terms of power and sex appeal, Asuma's got all of you beat."

Team Ten's jaws nearly dropped when Kazehana appeared out of the small twister in her usual outfit, even the lazy Nara found himself having to pinch his nose.

Asuma chuckled and said, "Ah, somehow I knew you'd show up."

Kazehana wrapped her arms around him and said gleefully, "But of course, I can't just have you letting all the kiddies have the fun."

Ino pointed at the busty, purple-clad woman and asked, "A-Asuma sensei, is she…your?"

He simply nodded and said, "Yup, though how it happened is a bit…" he trailed off as an embarrassed blush came to his face, "different."

Asuma and Kazehana had been seeing each other for about a week since their initial meeting and were sitting inside one of the bars on the north side of the village, one of the most stable in terms of Sekirei conflicts.

Due to his position as elite jonin Asuma was aware of the Sekirei plan along with having discovered Kazehana was a Sekirei thanks to a duo of Sekirei that attempted to terminate her and whom were soundly driven away.

It was after that little encounter that the two decided to stop into the bar, mainly because Kazehana personally enjoyed their sake. At that moment the duo were simply speaking about Asuma's most recent training meeting with Team Ten.

"And, Choji attempted to strike the dummy with his palm, but ended up getting knocked over when it swung back," Asuma said with a slightly inebriated jovial tone.

Kazehana chuckled and said, "It at least seems life around your team is never boring."

With a small chuckle the jonin said, "That is very true. Not only that, but because each is the heir to the famous Ino-Shika-Cho trio there are high expectations from their families, so I need to push them just a little harder than the other teams I've had."

Kazehana noted the slight melancholy accompanied with the words and asked, "You don't like pushing them that far, do you?"

Asuma laughed quietly and said, "No, they're young, and they need to get a bit more motivated first. For now trying to push them just ends in a mess."

Kazehana brought a hand up to mouth and said with a chuckle, "Perhaps they need to become Ashikabi."

Asuma blinked in confusion and then busted out in laughter and said, "Right, I think it would be best to wait on that, forcing someone to mature too quickly can be disastrous."

Kazehana nodded and said, "Just like feeling heartbreak can do."

Asuma raised an eyebrow and asked, "Oh, and what would a beauty like you know about heartbreak?"

Kazehana laughed and said, "More than you'd think, the first man I fell in love with had absolutely no interest, he was already involved with another. I'm sure you can imagine what it's like to have such strong feelings for another and be denied."

Asuma's smirk lowered and he said with a nod, "While slightly different, I can understand that feeling."

Kazehana smiled sadly and asked, "Want to share with another drunk soul?"

Asuma laughed again and said, "You sure have an interesting way of wording things."

She smiled slyly and said, "So I've heard. Now, care to share?"

"That focus would be my father, though it's more of a personal problem than him, he's the Hokage after all," Asuma told her.

"At least that's what you tell yourself?" Kazehana said more than asked and then added, "That's pretty much how I felt about that man until I pretty much descended into sake."

Asuma looked at her in surprise and then smiled sadly and, with a nod, said, "I suppose. But, that's what I have my duties as jonin sensei for." He turned and said with a sigh, "Well…I need to get back to my place, got some more training to take care of tomorrow. Heheh, I want to get the hangover out of the way before I have to deal with three lazy teenagers."

He walked out with Kazehana wrapped on his arm and asked, "Want me to take you back to the inn?"

Kazehana looked up at the tall man and nodded with a smile.

The couple reached the inn soon after and Kazehana turned to him, with her arms behind her back and said, "Well, I suppose this is where we part ways."

He nodded and said, "So it is." With a wave he walked by and began to leave the premises when he heard a thud. He turned to see Kazehana collapsed on the ground. He ran over and checked on her. He sighed and gave a slight chuckle at her condition; she was passed out from alcohol consumption. Sighing again he picked her up bridal style and carried her into the inn.

He entered the front door and was greeted by Miya saying, "My, my what happened to her?"

Chuckling Asuma said, "Just drank a little much, that's all."

Miya raised an eyebrow and then narrowed her eyes but quickly assumed her usual composure with a closed eye smile and said, "I see. Well just take her to her room and I'll handle her when she wakes up."

Asuma nodded and said, "Sure." Looking down at the sleeping Sekirei he said wistfully, "She must be a handful."

Miya nodded and said, "Oh, she is. But she at least helps keep things interesting since Naruto and the others are off in the Land of Waves."

He nodded and said, "I suppose. Well I'll deliver her to her room and then take my leave."

Miya simply nodded as he made his way up the stairs. If he had turned around before reaching the top he may have noticed her delicate frown.

Deftly using his foot to open the door, and attempting not to fall flat on his ass, an act made much more difficult due to the alcohol flowing through his blood, he walked in and laid her down on the simple futon. It was then he noticed something new about her condition; her cheeks were flushed, as was expected with inebriation, but her breathing was also sharp and shallow and she sweating heavily.

He knelt down to her and placed a hand on her forehead. His eyes widened and he said, "You're burning up. I didn't think Sekirei could get sick."

"She's not sick, she's reacting."

Asuma turned to the doorway and saw Miya standing with her arms held close, a worried expression on her face.

Asuma sighed and said, "Well, that's not good."

Miya asked, "Who do you think it is?"

Asuma smirked defeated and said, "Who do you think?"

Miya then asked, "Then what makes this bad?"

"I'm not sure I can handle her along with my job as a jonin," Asuma said with a sigh. He rubbed his head in annoyance and said, "Well, what would you…suggest…" He trailed off as Miya had seemingly vanished. "What is she, a ghost?"

"Asuma?"

He looked down and saw Kazehana lying in her flushed state and said, "Why?"

She chuckled and said, "Maybe it's the same thing that caused me to fall for him. But, unlike him, I won't be letting you go."

Asuma wondered what she meant but was quickly enveloped in a kiss, swiftly relenting into it as her wings sprouted from her back in a bright display.

Downstairs, Miya was chopping vegetables and stopped momentarily, then resumed her actions.

Team Ten sat slack-jawed at the story. Ino was the first to respond with a heavy, "You've got to be joking. You can't even have a decent ending?"

Asuma laughed as Kazehana leaned on his shoulder and said, "I said it was interesting, not storybook."

Ino simply sighed and said, "Why can't I have a normal sensei?"

Team Nine reached their training grounds, one particular member walking around with hearts in his eyes.

As soon as they arrived, they all took notice of each other. Tenten saw the two girls that Lee and Neji had, and they each saw each other's Sekirei; though Neji could see plainly that Lee didn't seem to care.

A moment later and Gai appeared in the field, he too noticed his male students' new companions, although Hiruzen had already informed him of their new Ashikabi status. He looked to Lee and was about to speak when the mini-Gai shouted, "Gai sensei, I did it!"

His teammates just blinked in curiosity as Gai asked, "And what would that be Lee?"

Motioning his hands at the placid Katsuragi, Lee exclaimed, "I got a girlfriend!"

Katsuragi's face remained placid but tinted red at his exclamation.

Gai threw his hand over Lee's shoulder and said, "Way to go Lee!"

"Thank you Gai sensei!"

"You're welcome Lee!"

"Gai sensei!"

"Lee!"

"Uh-oh," Tenten deadpanned.

Neji merely grumbled and said, "Namiji, cover your eyes, you're no use to me blind."

The two Green Beasts then activated their sunset genjutsu, causing Tenten to hide behind a tree, Namiji behind Neji, and Katsuragi merely smiled at her Ashikabi's happiness, oblivious to the bloody tears from her eyes.

Neji just grumbled and said, "Ridiculous."

After ending their genjutsu and allowing their teammates/students to recover Gai and Lee returned to their normal position and Gai said, "Well, it seems Team Nine has two new members."

Tenten raised a hand and asked, "How? I don't recognize them and aren't our teams supposed to be just three plus a sensei?"

Gai nodded and said, "Normally, but this is a special case. And unfortunately I can't say more."

Tenten frowned suspiciously but relented, her unorthodox sensei wasn't one for elaboration when he had something he wanted to do none of.

With that Gai said, "Right, now let's begin training."

Team Eight convened in their training grounds, and both Hinata and Kiba were keenly aware Shino, specifically his new companion. Hinata looked at her rather flagrant outfit and became embarrassed.

Sai felt the gaze on her and said, "What, something wrong?"

Hinata shrunk back and shook her head vigorously.

Kurenai arrived on the field as well and immediately saw Sai. She frowned at the girl's obvious lack of decency and prepared to confront her, but then remember the Hokage talking about the Sekirei and saw the symbol on Sai's back. She frowned as she realized what was happening and then noticed the group in the trees on the edge of the field and noticed how they kept their eyes on Kiba. Every hair on her neck stood up when she caught not only Kujika's outfit, but what barely hid. At that point she was fuming and stomped out into the field, ready to berate both Kiba and Shino for allowing their Sekirei to wear such revealing clothing.

Her students were conversing, mainly about Sai and her connection to Shino, but stopped with a cough from Kurenai.

She looked sternly at the male sides of her squad and said, "I wish to speak with both of you."

They nodded uneasily and followed her, Sai directly behind.

Hinata simply watched in curiosity and then cringed as pained screams came from the woods on the edge of the field.

Naruto stirred from a slumber in his room in the inn, or at least that's what he thought he was doing, as he got and looked around he realized the place was deserted. Blinking in confusion he said, "Uhm…hello?"

After not receiving an answer he sweat-dropped and said, "Heheh, that's not…creepy."

He wandered around the inn for several minutes, not seeing anyone around. He knocked on Sasuke's door, slid it open slightly and peered in. He opened it fully and huffed in annoyance as no one was present. He repeated the process with every room in the inn, even Miya's, finding it too empty.

Then he realized something else, not only were the rooms empty of people but there were no items either. He stood in shock as he began to tremble and said, "N-no, this can't be."

He bolted up the stairs and over to Matsu's room. He knocked on it and shouted, "Matsu! Matsu it's me, open up!" He got no response and so he acted instantly, barging in.

His heart sank as he realized it too was empty, not even her computers.

With a heavy sigh he moved to the living room and flopped down, he then mumbled, "Where is everyone." His eyes then shot wide and he thought, "No, they couldn't have…" He then ran for the door and threw it open. He was met by the most powerful gust of wind he had ever felt. He moved his arms down from his eyes and looked out upon the village in shock.

There was a massive tornado ripping through the village, tearing up everything in its path. He looked in disbelief as the village of his home was torn asunder. Then he heard a voice say, "This is your fault."

He turned to look and just as he focused on the entity, he blacked out.

Naruto's body trembled slightly as he awoke, this time in Izumo Inn for real. Looking around he saw his many Sekirei on and around his bed. Relieved he gave a heavy sigh and said with a content smile, "Good, just a dream." After his initial relief wore off he became aware of something else. A rather peculiar sensation on his left side.

He looked down and noticed a lump under the blanket directly next to him. He couldn't identify it since whoever it was, was obscured from view. He looked around and took count of all of his Sekirei, seeing all of them and wondered in his head, 'Then who is this? Wait a minute, they're not all here. Where is Rias?' Making the connection his mind assumed it was her, and the red bits of hair sticking out from under the blanket merely confirmed that thought. But then he began to go pale as another new sensation made itself known. All along down his side and his left leg, he felt skin, not a shred of cloth. He began to sweat heavily as he thought, 'Oh crap, why the hell is she naked?'

"The hell if I know. I think she mumbled something about it before you all made your pile but I didn't care enough to listen," Kurama chimed in.

'Oh thanks, big help furball,' Naruto responded flatly.

Kurama merely huffed.

Naruto's mind then returned to the fact about Rias not only being naked, but in his bed and pressing herself right against his body. First, this had many effects, none of which he could decide were good or bad. The first was that her breast were smushed against his side, including her nipples. He swallowed nervously as he felt something else pressed against his outer thigh. All of this had one resounding effect, that effect causing a ripple in his sheets.

He began to sweat heavily as one last thought filled his head. 'What if Miya comes in and sees…Rias, naked and pressed against me. What's more what if she sees what it's doing to me. I'm starting to think letting Mutsu kill me back there might have been a wise choice.'

All of these coherent thoughts were banished as his worst nightmare started to unfold. First, he heard Miya call into his room, "Naruto, it's time for you and everyone else to wake up."

Swallowing his nervousness he replied shakily, "Y-y-yeaahh, I'll uh…er I mean we will be right uhm…right down."

After a short pause she asked through the door, "Is everything alright in there?"

Becoming frantic he replied, "YES! Everything's just fine." Naruto then had to forcefully, and failingly, suppress a moan as Rias' motions of stirring awake had quite some many effects on the blonde teen. Not the least of which being what she was unintentionally rubbing against his thigh.

As his face twisted in pleasure and sheer unbridle terror he couldn't decide if he was experiencing a facsimile of heaven or entering the doors of hell.

His answer was provided when Miya slid open the door with a worried expression and noticed his face; which was red, sweaty and trembling, although for far different reasons than she was thinking. Putting a hand up to her mouth she said in a light gas, "Poor thing, you must be sick. I'll go ahead and get your Sekirei out so you can rest."

With slight relief he began, "Yeaaahhhh, why don't you-" his mind registering Rias again he froze and said weakly, "Er, ya know what, why don't you-uuuuu-just go and-geh, get breakfast ready?"

Miya narrowed her eyes and took notice of the wriggling lump on his bed.

When Naruto realized this his complexion shifted to match Akitsu's.

Miya grabbed the covers and threw them off, exposing Rias to the world.

By this point several of Naruto's other Sekirei had awakened, namely Tsukiumi, Matsu and Toyotama, and saw this as well. Each had their own unique reaction.

Tsukiumi's was for her face to change in order to match Rias' hair while she was froze in a pointing and appalled gesture.

Matsu's was to grin devilishly and cover her mouth as her glasses glinted and laughed strangely, "Shishishi."

Toyotama wasn't sure what to make of it. While she was jealous of Rias' rather intimate proximity to Naruto's body she couldn't deny she enjoyed seeing the effects.

Miya however had a response all her own. Her confused and annoyed expression shifted as gifted, or cursed, the world with a smile so sweet sugar turned to salt that was also somehow the most terrifying thing imaginable. At the same time a dark haze began to manifest around Miya that condensed in several spots, these condensations forming into several large, evil, angry looking hannya masks. Miya then covered her mouth her left hand and sleeve and said in an extremely sweet tone of voice, "My, my. Care to explain why it is the two of you are in such an indecent position?"

Seemingly oblivious to the whole situation, Rias sat up and yawned with a stretch.

Finally breaking Naruto reached for his nose with his freed left hand, a futile effort as the blood poured out through his fingers.

Rias then said innocently, and naively, "When I sleep I need to be naked, otherwise it's far too uncomfortable and sleep won't come no matter how hard I try."

Giggling like an old pervert, Matsu muttered, "I don't think that's all that's coming."

Rias turned and asked kindly still, "What did you say?"

Matsu waved a hand and said, "Oh nothing, ignore me."

Rias tilted her head and then flinched as the extremely oppressive atmosphere seemed to register as she turned back towards Miya, whose posture and appearance was still the same. Rias then asked, "Uhm, why are you being so frightening?"

Miya then asked sweetly, "Tell me, do you know this inn's rules?"

Rias thought for a moment and shook her head.

Miya then said kindly, "Then allow me to explain. First is no conflict, I refuse to allow people under my roof to enter into physical conflicts when there are better methods. Second is that I never refuse those in need. And the third, and most important rule, is absolutely…under no circumstances…is any lewd or elicit behavior allowed."

Listening to her words, the meaning seemed to dawn on Rias as she turned a sickly shade of blue and then began waving her arms defensively as she said, "Wait, wait! L-like I said, I don't know the rules, soooo…"

Of course Naruto was beginning to turn white from blood loss, not helped from the way Rias' breast jiggled about as she flailed her arms.

Miya cracked open her eyes as the space around her bangs began to darken and she said, "I apologize, but everyone who enters is expected to know the rules. And that includes you…Rias."

Rias gulped and made a short, "Eep," sound before those wandering around outside were serenaded by the sound of dual screams and shouts of fear and agony.

Kurama watched the events from his cage and mumbled, "I think I for once pity the brat."

Breakfast that day was rather amusing as Naruto and Rias sat with equivalent expressions, their complexions pale as a ghost and their countenance weak.

Miya however sat at the head of the table with a content smile.

Naruto then sighed and said, "Well…this morning was-"

His sentence was interrupted as a cross Tsukiumi said, "Profligate, an event I personally hope is nevermore performed. If it is I personally shalt bestow righteous judgment to thee for betraying my position as thy wife."

Naruto winced at the biting tone in her words. He could tell this wasn't her normal mood swing, she was quite truly pissed. He gulped and grabbed his plate plus a few others and said, "I'll uh…clean up."

He reached for Tsukiumi's plate but his hand was grabbed, by her no less, and she said, her normal irritable blush returned, "Nay, tis the wife's duty to clean up."

Naruto shook his head and said, "Maybe, but I screwed up, I'll take care of it this time."

Tsukiumi's eyes widened slightly as he walked away. She then pulled a hand up protectively, dipping her head at the same time as her blush spread and she thought, 'He…he did not refute my claim.' Returning to normal with a huff she thought, 'But of course, I am his wife. Tis only natural he not argue the facts.'

In the kitchen, Naruto was washing the dishes from breakfast as he sighed and said, "Well today is starting off just peachy. Miya tried to kill me, Tsukiumi hates my guts, and I'm pretty sure everyone else is pretty pissed. Well, give it time and they should work it out." He then chuckled weakly and said, "Or they'll work it out by pounding my face into the dirt. Doesn't matter I guess, long as I have Kurama I can survive a hole in the gut."

"That's only if I agree to heal you," the fox retorted.

Naruto chuckled and responded, 'Aww, come on. You know you love me.'

"I love you the same way a dog loves its food bowl. Plus it's amusing to watch how badly you fuck up your own life," Kurama said teasingly.

'Hey, I'm usually not the cause of it, just the focus. Well, whatever, they're my Sekirei and I need to take care of them. If it means getting a few of Miya's beatings, which I know and am glad she holds back in, it's fine. Although I think she may have been more angry than normal this morning, and I can't figure out why,' he thought wistfully as he cleaned.

Moments later he heard a voice say, "So, how is your repentance going?"

Naruto turned to see Miya entering the kitchen and said weakly, "Good I suppose. Having a few water jutsu would make things easier."

"You could always ask Tsukiumi," Miya said.

Naruto responded flatly, "Please, the only thing she wants to do right now is chop me into little pieces."

Miya giggled and said, "You seem to underestimate their feelings?"

"So she wants to chop me into tiny pieces?" he asked jokingly.

Miya lightly chopped him on the head with the side of her hand and said, "No, I mean that no matter how angry they may be, your Sekirei will almost always do what you ask them to."

Naruto narrowed his eyes and said lowly, "Yeah, I know. That's part of the reason I feel so mad at people like Izumi. Sekirei serve their Ashikabi unfailingly, and people like him abuse that power; treating the Sekirei who desire only his affection like dirt and pieces on a board. I don't the Sekirei to be bound to anyone, to experience any kind of physical or emotional pain just because they want to refuse a twisted command. That's why I want to stop this thing before it gets even further." He then looked at Miya and said, "But you don't need to worry about that…actually, can I ask you for a favor?"

Miya tilted her head and said, "Oh, even after this morning's events?"

Naruto slumped his shoulders and mumbled, "I knew you were going to bring that up." He shook his head for a moment and then said, "Well, you see I learned how to cook some basic meals with my old sensei. I was wondering if you'd teach me how to cook some of the things you make."

Miya blinked in surprise and then gave a closed eye smile and said, "Of course. I'd be happy to. Join me when I'm making lunch and I'll show you; but don't think I'll just hand over the kitchen to you though, it's still my domain."

Naruto nodded and said, "Thanks. Anyway I'm going to go do some training since Kakashi gave us the day off because of the other day."

Miya nodded as he left. Her smile then slowly shaped into a sorrowful frown.

Naruto moved out to the rear courtyard and unsealed his katana. He looked at it seriously, then grit his teeth in anger as his fight, or rather butt-kicking, with Mutsu flashed into his memory. He looked at his reflection in his sword and said to himself, "I need to get stronger. I'm always being defended. In our battle in the Land of Waves I only won with Kurama's power, I failed miserably against Yomi and Mutsu just kicked my ass."

"Oh stop with the pity party."

Naruto instantly found himself inside his mindscape, looking at the cage for the Nine-Tails. He looked up and noticed instantly the annoyed look on the great orange fox's face.

"So you got your ass handed to you in your first few fights, so what? You're a damn genin, no one expects you to conquer the world…yet," Kurama said scolding.

Naruto frowned and said, "That may be, but I can't stand to have my Sekirei protecting me. I want to protect them, they are involved with this mess by force and so far every Sekirei battle I've been in someone's been fighting for me or I've been beaten badly. I want to get stronger so that won't happen again."

Kurama narrowed his eyes and said, "You want to get stronger? You will not get stronger as long as you're so obsessed with yourself."

Naruto looked at him and said, "What does that even mean?"

Kurama merely huffed and said, "If you don't know by now, then I have no interest in speaking to you…however there is someone else who does."

Naruto raised an eyebrow and was about to ask when he felt a presence behind him.

He turned and watched as the water several meters behind him stirred lightly before thick blue chakra began to rise up, shaping itself into a solid form. Naruto realized it was the shape of a person as the chakra rose up, seemingly filling an invisible mold he couldn't see.

It started with the feet forming under the water, slowly rising up as the legs before the two frames fused at the top as the torso formed slowly. Then the chakra formed the shoulders and then descended slowly to form the forearms and hands right before the head formed. A silhouette formed in the chakra resembling shaggy, spiked hair as clothing wrapped around the apparition. It started with opera-length black, fingerless gloves that were frayed at the top before a long, red strap with many metal studs formed and wrapped around the arms in a fast writhing motion. Then a pair of baggy black pants above a pair of brown shinobi sandals formed.

Naruto's eyes then shot wide when the incorporeal form of the chakra mass shifted into something tangible. What he saw was a person that looked almost exactly like him with only a few differences. Those differences being thicker and darker whisker marks, longer, shaggier black hair, and dark circles under his eyes.

This other Naruto opened his eyes, revealing them to still be blue, but a darker, colder blue than the bright, warm blue of Naruto's own. Naruto trembled in place and asked, "W-who are you?"

The other Naruto's face twisted in a devilish smirk as he said, "You mean you don't know? I'm you, or more specifically the real you."

Naruto scoffed and said, "As if, I don't look like that."

The other Naruto laughed and said maniacally, "Please, it's not my appearance that makes me you. I'm the you that you try to deny, all of your rage you keep hidden."

Naruto grit his teeth and argued, "What the hell are you talking about?"

"You don't really think that you're some perfect flower that's free of anger and rage do you?" the doppelganger taunted. Seeing Naruto's perplexed expression he grabbed his gut and began laughing loudly. After his laughter died down he said, "You do don't you!?" The other Naruto then stopped all laughter and scowled angrily and shouted, "Don't make me laugh! You're not some damn pure soul, you just created me, Menma, to dump all of your hatred on! I sat back, absorbing all of you rage and anger, watching as you were beaten and battered by those bastards, and you simply turned the other cheek and explained it as the projection of their fears. Tell me, you ever think that they just hate you? They do, they always did, they always will. It doesn't matter if Kurama was here or not they'd still hate you."

Naruto grit his teeth and said, "So, you're name's Menma? I never knew about you, not until now. And I think you're wrong, they don't hate me. Their hate is guided towards Kurama."

Kurama brought a hand to his mouth and coughed before saying flatly, "You two do I'm right here, don't you?"

Naruto nodded and said seriously with his back still to the fox, "Yeah, I do. I'm just making a point."

Menma on the other hand, put a hand on his hip and gave a wide grin and said, "Oh I know. Once I take care of the puissant that power of yours is all mine."

Kurama simply narrowed his eyes but didn't respond.

Menma kept his smirk until Kurama continued his silence and simply sneered in response before returning his attention to Naruto and said, "Whatever. It doesn't matter what he wants to say. All you need to know is I'm going to kill you and take over and do what you don't the balls to do."

Naruto narrowed his eyes and got into a taijutsu stance.

Menma smirked again and then said, "Sorry but that won't work." He then flowed chakra from his feet and shot off at a speed Naruto wasn't expecting.

As he neared Menma lashed out with a high kick. Naruto brought up his left arm to block and widened his eyes as the force caused him to skid.

Menma then spun off Naruto's and used a thrust kick to send Naruto flying into the wall, splintering it as well as cracking it and embedding Naruto in it.

Naruto took a second to regain his senses and wake up from his surprise at Menma's skill and strength. He managed to do so right before Menma smashed his fist into the wall at the spot Naruto's head was, rolling out of the way to dodge, before instantly turning on his heel and rushed the raven haired copy.

"Not gonna happen," Menma retorted and lashed out with a kick that Naruto caught with both hands but was still launched back.

Naruto skidded to a stop at the end of the large room.

At the same time Menma freed his arm and made a dash for the blonde.

Naruto barely had enough time to dodge the high kick aimed at him ducking and moving to the side. He prepared for his own strike but was interrupted by a left punch thrown by Menma, moving back to dodge, allowing Menma to punch Naruto in the cheek with his left hand.

Naruto stumbled back and almost fell. However, right as he nearly caught himself he was forced to immediately duck a roundhouse kick, the dodge effectively being him falling flat on his rear right as the kick stopped mid motion and became an axe kick.

Naruto was lucky enough to hurl himself out of the way as the kick landed, sending water and concrete high into the air. His eyes widened and his body froze in shock. He then thought, 'What the hell!? I thought this guy was supposed to be me, so how is he so stupid strong?!' His internal questions were stopped as Menma thrust his hand at the blonde.

Naruto rolled to the side and grabbed a kunai, immediately tossing it at his ravenette clone.

The strap coiled around Menma's left uncoiled slightly near his fist and extended forward, slapping the kunai away.

Naruto's eyes widened again as he said, "What the hell was that?"

Menma smirked and asked as his strap recoiled, "Impressed? It's an extension of my, our, chakra arms. These metal studs are made from chakra metal, or they would be in the real world, allowing me to manipulate them with great accuracy, thereby controlling the straps."

Naruto sweat-dropped and said lamely, "I can't do that."

Menma sneered again and said, "That's because you're so busy playing ninja with those friends of yours and getting jerked around by the silver haired bastard. If you had spent more time training and less time jerking around you could be as good as I am. But instead you wasted your time at that damn academy, with its half-useless curriculum, then began wasting your time playing around with that pathetic team and playing Kakashi's silly little games. I however am what you could be had you stopped dicking around and gotten to business."

Naruto smirked and taunted, "A hate-filled friendless asshole?"

Menma gave a small chuckle and then said with a smirk, "Sure, make jokes now. We'll see how much fun you're having when I rip out your insides."

Naruto scowled and said, "I'd rather not." He proceeded to rush at the ravenette.

"Tch, try something else!" Menma shouted, coiling his straps from his left arm and shooting them towards the blonde.

Naruto spun to the side to dodge and said with a smirk, "Too slow."

"Too stupid," Menma responded.

Naruto was curious of his meaning until he felt something wrap around his left leg. He sweat-dropped and mumbled, "This won't end well."

His prediction came true as the strap lifted him high in the air upside down, dangling for a moment before rearing back, flipping Naruto around, and then threw him at the large room's back wall with enough force to send him right through it and make a small crater on the ground on the other side.

Menma rewound his strap as he sauntered over confidently.

Naruto shot up out of the small crater, gasping for air. As he stood he realized his outfit was beginning to get damaged. The cuffs of his jacket were frayed as were the ends of his pants legs, and the edges of his headband had some minor damage. He looked at his reflection in the water and saw the trail of blood from the left edge of his mouth. He also took notice of his surroundings. He was outside the sewer system, which he realized was just an endless enclosed hallway inside an endless void that had a black, lightless sky and the ground was solid concrete with an ankle high layer of water as well as broken down walls and old crumbling pillars all around.

However, sightseeing was interrupted as he was once again assaulted, this time by Menma's left arm. Naruto hopped back over the crater with Menma following suit immediately then beginning a volley of strikes; a right thrust, then a left, the knee kick then left hook with a following left snap kick that Naruto couldn't dodge or block. That resulted in him getting a hard kick to the side before Menma grabbed his collar and threw the blonde towards one of the pillars with great amounts of strength.

Naruto managed to flip himself around and land feet first, using chakra to stick himself to the pillar. He winced from the force of the impact as it rattled through his body, also causing the area of the pillars near vertical surface to buckle. Sending chakra to his hands he planted them on the pillar above him, flipped his feet over top and secured them to the pillar's crumbling summit.

He immediately leapt to a new pillar when Menma's chakra enhanced punch rocketed forward, shattering the pillar into pieces. As soon as Naruto landed on the next pillar he was forced to jump again as Menma rocketed at him from his previous spot.

Unfortunately the new pillar he aimed for was just far enough way for Menma to catch up midair.

Naruto gasped and made an X guard with his arms as Menma stomped down, sending the blonde crashing into the ground and water below, he himself landing safely on the pillar Naruto had been aiming for.

Naruto pulled himself out of the newly created pool and began huffing as he gathered air. His tracksuit further damaged as he now had tears in the elbows, small holes along the sleeves and the cuffs were ragged, his pants legs having several holes as well along with frayed ends. Naruto's headband wasn't fairing much better as the extra length had become ragged as well on the edges, the plate on his forehead scuffed heavily along the edges. Naruto sighed as he had a second trail of blood on the left side of his mouth.

He then refocused on Menma who shouted, "Come on! This can't really be all you've got! What happened to Naruto the Protector? Right now I'm basically kicking your ass! If you give up now, I'll make your disappearance and death easy. Or I may even let you watch as I repay the villagers for everything they've done to us, and then let you witness me take the village as mine!"

Naruto grit his teeth and said, "They would never choose you as Hokage!"

Menma laughed and retorted, "Who said anything about letting those maggots choose?!"

Naruto scowled at his clone and reached into his pouch, grabbing one of his Flying Raijin kunai.

Menma raised an eyebrow at what his weaker half was doing.

Naruto then immediately threw the kunai with all his might.

"Tch, make it difficult," Menma said off-handed as his straps swatted the kunai away.

Naruto smirked and immediately flashed to the kunai. His blood ran cold as he came face to face with Menma. "What the…"

Menma grinned insanely and said, "I'm you dumbass! I can use it too!" Menma then wrenched the kunai from Naruto's hands and spun midair, landing a spinning heel kick at Naruto's face, sending him crashing to the ground below, digging a trench as he skidded before smashing to a halt at a broken wall, shearing it to pieces as a result.

Menma landed softly on one of the pillars, tossing the marked blade aside. His content smirk widened as Naruto stood in a strained manner.

He was beginning to truly look worse for wear. His sleeves were essentially rags at that point with two large holes at the elbows and many more along the sleeves, his headband's extra length was mostly gone, the plate had several long scratches along it and he now had a third trail of blood near the left side of his mouth. The rest of his body was covered in water, dirt and cuts as small trails of blood slid down his arms. He panted heavily and looked at Menma with ire. He then clenched his fists in pain and concentration as his pupils began attempting to become slitted as his body was reaching for Kurama's chakra as a backup.

Menma laughed loudly and said taunting, "You fool! You have access to a near infinite pool of intensely powerful chakra and you're forcing your body not to use it?! How stupid are you!?"

Naruto panted as Kurama's chakra was repressed and he said, "I refuse to use that chakra in combat. My anger takes hold and takes control when I do."

Menma blinked in curiosity before grinning madly and shouting, "Oh you're too much! Are you still all broken up because of that woman that was killed when you lost control last time!?"

The taunt cause Naruto to tremble as the images of a woman with long dark hair and fair skin, a face contorted in confusion and covered in blood, pupiless white eyes filled with fear as Naruto saw his young body covered in a thick, dark layer of malicious chakra, four foxlike tails swaying calmly yet angrily behind him.

Menma saw tears begin to fall from Naruto's face and said annoyed, "Please, that woman was just like the rest. To her you were nothing more than the beast everyone else saw, the same monster that caused the destruction of the village."

"Shut the hell up!" Naruto demanded with tears. "Hanari was different! She was one of the few people that knew of my true heritage, and saw me for me, not for the monster everyone else saw!"

Menma frowned and asked, "Then why did you kill her? If she was so great then you should not have killed her, hmm?"

"That's…that's because…" Naruto trailed off as he dropped his head and said lowly, "That's because the other Hyugas thought I had kidnapped Hinata, not rescued her. They…attacked me and my rage took over, you took over. In that state I made to kill Hiashi, and she got in the way. So…" He looked up at Menma in rage and said, "So the only reason she died is because that chakra took control of me through my hatred, and because of that Hinata had to grow up without a mother."

Menma scoffed and said, "Please, she may have acted differently but that Hyuga girl's mother still saw you as a beast, just a beast she could manipulate instead."

Naruto bared his teeth in indignation and shouted, "I told you to shut the hell up!"

Menma spat and said, "Fine. If you won't use Kurama's chakra then I'll show you what it can do." As soon as he finished his pupils became slitted and he proceeded to rush at Naruto.

Naruto regained his senses from his rage just in time to dodge the attack and then tossed several kunai and flashed hand signs before saying, "Shadow Kunai Jutsu!" The six kunai became thirty in puffs of smoke, all barreling for Menma.

Menma merely sighed and flashed his own signs and shouted, "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" He swung his arms back and exhaled a massive gust of wind that blew away Naruto's kunai.

Naruto finished up the last sign of his jutsu and inhaled, before shouting and putting his right hand as a ring in front of his mouth, "Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

Just as he predicted fire jutsu met wind jutsu and the wind style attack was engulfed in flames that used the wind as an accelerant to shoot towards the ravenette.

Menma responded by surging more chakra into the attack, causing it to become so powerful that it overpowered the flames and forced them back, essentially becoming a fast moving column of air with a wall of fire at the front.

"SHIT!" Naruto cursed loudly as he made to outrun the blaze, ducking behind one of the taller wall remnants as the attack slammed into the back of the wall.

Naruto grunted as he felt the wall heat up considerably as the flame was smashed against it and the wind pushing against it before reshaping at the other side.

After several seconds the onslaught ended and Naruto took a moment to breathe.

An action he regretted as Menma appeared before him in a flash.

Naruto gasped in shock and attempted to recover.

Menma didn't give him the chance as he buried his right hand in Naruto's abdomen, making him cough up a considerable amount of blood before pulling away and sending his cocked left fist at Naruto's jaw, sending the blonde tumbling and smashing away with a trail of blood.

Menma smirked as he approached and his body accessed more of Kurama's chakra, turning his irises red, elongating his nails into claws, extending and sharpening his canines further thickening his whisker marks as well as causing his hair to become even more wild and unkempt.

Naruto strained to stand with a groan of pain, falling to his knees before he could. His face was now covered in more blood from his nose and the middle of his forehead along with his sleeves having been destroyed. He attempted to once again stand shakily.

Menma approached and said with a feral smirk, bearing his fangs, "You see now, Naruto? The difference between us? I utilize all tools at my disposal, regardless of what happens so that I can do what I need to." As he spoke more of Kurama's chakra enveloped him, bubbling up in a thick mass from the soles of his feet, covering his entire body in a thick, gaseous layer of chakra. A malformed swaying tail soon formed from the cloud as did two approximations of Kurama's ears.

Naruto merely glared angrily at the ravenette and said, "Yeah, the difference is clear, you have no problem killing the innocent to get what you want. And I want to get what I want without anyone getting hurt."

Menma gave a mocking laugh before kicking Naruto in the chest, backing him up to the wall and planted his foot roughly on the blonde's shoulder and said, "Well then you're just an idiot. There is no innocence in this world. And the only way to truly achieve your desires is step on someone else's shoulders or to stand on their neck. Your pathetic mind refuses to accept that, however I not accept it but embrace it. And you know what else?"

Naruto responded with a growling, "What?"

Menma grinned wildly and said, "You're always complaining about how untamed your Sekirei are, but I can assure you…once I am in control they will be the slaves they were meant to be as I put them in their place. I will also ensure that they are satisfied, something you seem incapable of doing."

Listening to his rant, Naruto clenched his fists and grit his teeth so hard that both bled.

Menma then cupped Naruto's chin and said, "I'll be certain to let that Uchiha shit feel our pain too, and I'll be certain that Miya understands who is in charge now."

Naruto simply snapped at that point, his features changing to match Menma's before his cloak, although he still had his blonde hair, and he smashed a punch at the ravenette.

Menma merely smirked as he held the blonde's fist and twisted his arm before throwing him to the side.

Naruto skid along the ground as he attempted to stand once more, while also suppressing the feral chakra attempting to take control.

Menma approached as his shroud changed, its consistency became more solid, still liquid with bubbles along the outer edge as a second tail emerged. Menma also gained thick black lines around his eyes and mouth. He then said, "There is also one, last difference between us."

Naruto wiped the blood from his chin and asked, "What?"

Menma grinned psychotically and said, "I am powerful on my own, all this power is power that is me, all me that I command. However, you cannot do anything without those damn friends of yours. Without your friends you are powerless."

Naruto froze as Menma's words replayed in his mind, 'Without your friends you are powerless. Without your friends you are powerless. Without your friends you are powerless.' Naruto then slumped forward and began laughing quietly, before rearing his head back in loud laughter.

Menma raised an eyebrow as his tails swayed curiously behind him. He then asked, "Have you finally lost it?"

Naruto finished his laughter and said, "No, the opposite in fact. I've found it."

"Found what you damned fool?" Menma asked, growing annoyed.

"What I haven't been seeing this whole time. I've been wasting my time, trying to protect my friends from the outside world, trying to keep them back and fight for them. But you're right, without their help that is hopeless. I need to not fight for my friends, I need to fight with them. I've been so selfish about this, not realizing that my friends don't need my protection, they need my help. Sad as it is, you made me realize that, Menma. Too bad it's now of all times," Naruto said with an odd smile.

Menma merely scoffed and said, "Yes, too bad. Now be a good fool and die." He raised his right clawed hand and began to swing it downward. However, right when it was about to connect, Menma was sent sailing to the side, crashing and tumbling as he went.

Naruto blinked in confusion and turned to the source, his eyes widening to amazing size.

Standing there, in his mindscape, her fist outstretched from the strike, was Musubi, his Sekirei.

"M-Musubi…how are you…here?" Naruto asked in disbelief, grabbing her arm to be certain she actually there.

Musubi looked at him puzzled but then tilted her head and said with a smile, "I'm your Sekirei silly, so of course I'd help you fight."

Naruto wasn't sure how it was happening but he didn't honestly care as he attempted to stand, his body weak as Musubi slung his arm over her shoulder. He nodded in thanks as the space ahead of them exploded, revealing Menma.

He now had three tails on his shroud, it had become much more solid as the bubbles had vanished and it became more cohesive, even forming around his hair to a degree. He also had other changes, mainly how his eyes had lost their pupils and his sclera had turned charcoal black. Menma stood on all fours in an animalistic posture and shouted in a monstrous voice, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"

Not giving time for response he burst forward, running at breakneck speeds, leaving a long trail of water behind him. But just as he neared the duo he was wrapped in white cloth and thrown to the side with a crash.

Uzume then landed nearby in her battle attire with her veils swaying around her. She turned to Naruto and gave a comical salute and said, "Hey bro, what's up? You look like crap."

Naruto responded flatly, "You don't say?"

Menma then roared as he attempted to charge at the group, but found himself stuck. "What the fuck!? This water is like gel!" He turned to see the thickened water holding him in place before tossing him in the air to get slammed by a flying wall of ice.

At that moment Tsukiumi and Akitsu landed nearby.

Naruto merely smiled as he saw Menma charge again, only to have Toyotama rush in and slam him from underneath with her spear, then tossing him away, before looking to Naruto with a smirk.

Taki and Matsu soon joined as they saw Menma stand again, this time he was surrounded by a ring of black flames, he easily jumped up as they formed spears to impale him with.

Naruto then felt Rias lean on his shoulder, waving with a smile. He smiled back and said, "Thanks everyone, I wish I hadn't been quite as stubborn before."

They heard a guttural roar as Menma rocketed towards them, his mind now a haze of anger. Yet again he was knocked away, but as he was a familiar voice shouted, "Chidori!"

Sasuke then came in to the battlefield, slamming his Chidori into Menma's side, making the partially transformed doppelganger roar in pain before ripping his hand out and jumping off as a fair-skinned fist came from below and slammed him into the ground, Sakura joining Sasuke in Naruto's little group of friends.

Naruto looked around with a smile before releasing himself from Musubi and saying, "Thanks guys, I'm going to need your help stopping this guy."

Sasuke put his hands in his pockets and said teasingly, "Of course, loser, we're always here to bail you out."

Naruto responded by saying with a twitching eyebrow, "I'm going to accept that as a personality quirk and not crack your head."

Sasuke huffed amusedly as Menma made to stand again.

"Right, if I can get enough momentum a Rasengan should break through that thing," Naruto said.

Seemingly as a single unit those around him spread out, Naruto nodding to himself and running down the middle.

Sakura was the first to approach, shouting out, "Cha!" as she uppercut the ravenette psycho into the air, then grabbed Naruto by the arm and threw him up after him.

Sasuke then propelled off of a pillar and slammed a Chidori into Menma's torso, before flipping upside down, connecting his right foot to Naruto's left with chakra before both surged it simultaneously, sending the blonde ever higher after his foe.

Musubi then soared past, having punched the ground to soar that high, and kicked Menma's face then pushed Naruto by the back with all her might.

Menma, seeing the blonde approaching even higher and faster shot out a blast of fire.

A thick bubble of water encase Naruto, nullifying the water as Tsukiumi hovered nearby on a floating sphere of water before the bubble Naruto was in exploded, sending him rocketing even higher up, a fully formed and charged Rasengan in hand.

Menma grinned like mad and shouted, "Mine's bigger!" a tailed-beast infused Rasengan larger than a human in his right hand. He thrust the massive ball of destruction downwards in an attempt to grind Naruto apart.

However, out of seemingly nowhere powerful crescent blade made seemingly of air pressure shot by Menma, slicing his jutsu apart and causing it to dissipate; allowing Naruto to soar in unfettered with his own Rasengan, smashing it into Menma's abdomen and shouting, "RASENGAN!"

Menma bellowed in pain from the attack before going unconscious, Naruto tossing him downwards towards Kurama's cage room. As Menma fell, unconscious, his shroud dissipated off of his body in bubbles.

Naruto smirked, but then paled and said, "Oh boy, this isn't good." He shouted incoherently as he fell swiftly. However, near to the ground, he was enveloped in a bright light and momentarily saw a flash of a woman similar to Musubi with '08' printed on her stomach.

He then found himself in front of Kurama's cage. He turned around and saw the massive hole in the ceiling, then looked forward and saw all of his friends standing outside beyond the hole Menma made earlier.

He then looked down and saw a massive dark crater, up from which Menma's body floated.

Naruto walked along the water's surface towards him, right as his eyes snapped open, causing Naruto to flinch.

Menma glanced at the blonde and asked angrily, "How? How did you beat me?"

Naruto blinked in confusion, but said assuredly, "Because, unlike you I wasn't fighting for myself, I was fighting for my friends and the village I want to protect. I fought, and won, to protect them from you. However…I didn't do it along, I couldn't have saved them from you without their help. And it was you who made me realize that. So I feel the need to thank you."

Menma sneered as he became sinking slowly and said, "Don't patronize me. But be warned, I'm not done yet, Naruto. I will be back, and next time I will win, I will take control, and I will take revenge. I will use the near infinite power of the Nine-Tails to wreak my vengeance upon the world, and then I will be certain to let you watch as I burn down your oh so important village and destroy your friends." He then closed his eyes as his body sunk below the surface, then disappeared from view; the hole he fell into closing completely.

Without turning, Naruto gave a light smirk and asked, "You had a part in this, didn't you?"

Kurama responded by huffing and saying, "I wouldn't waste my time. Now take your sorry ass elsewhere, that battle of yours disturbed my sleep."

Naruto turned to Kurama with a wide grin and said, "Gotcha," then faded away.

If he had waited a moment longer, he would have seen the slight curling the edge of Kurama's mouth did.

Naruto snapped awake in the real world, standing out in the middle of the backyard. He then turned to the side slowly as he saw that almost every member of Izumo Inn was standing on the deck looking at him, his Sekirei with varying degrees of worry.

Naruto grinned his trademark fox grin and asked uncomfortably, "Hey, what's up guys?"

Sasuke merely turned in a huff and said, "Idiot."

Sakura sighed and walked away, Homura behind her.

His Sekirei soon dispersed as well. Last was Miya, who gave a kind smile before walking away.

Naruto looked back at his sword as it puffed away and said, "Thanks guys."

Above him, a crow watched curiously before flying off.

Naruto returned to the inn proper, making his way to his room.

The next day, Naruto awoke early, sighing in relief as Rias wore some manner of clothing, though he wasn't sure if her wearing black lacy underwear was any better or worse than nude. He also noticed Musubi and Tsukiumi were missing. He raised an eyebrow curiously when he heard noise from the courtyard outside.

Going down to investigate, Naruto was witness to Musubi and Tsukiumi both 'training' with Miya by both charging Miya in their unique ways.

Tsukiumi shot a jet of water while Musubi simply barged in.

Miya calmly raised her sword at Tsukiumi's stream of water, sending it crashing around her as effortlessly leaned forward slightly as Musubi made to punch her, causing the ditzy Sekirei to sail right over her and land face first in the dirt.

Miya then made a sharp diagonal slash through Tsukiumi's water, the force of which had the effect of shredding her clothing, leaving the blonde Sekirei to crouch down with an eep and the blonde shinobi to quickly cup a hand over his nose in defense.

Naruto shook and asked, his nose still covered, "What are you guys doing?"

Tsukiumi shrieked and shouted, "Please, husband, don't look! I can't bare thou to see me in this state!"

Musubi rubbed her sore cheek before pumping her fists and said, "We're training with miss landlady!"

Naruto chuckled and sighed as he released his nose and said, "I can see that. Miya, want help with breakfast?"

Miya put a finger to her chin before giving a sweet smile, one that didn't freeze the sun, and said with a nod, "I suppose that would help, we do have many more mouths to feed than I have had ever before."

Naruto nodded and said, "Right, when do you plan on starting?"

"Not for a little while, if you want I can give you some more kenjutsu training," she offered.

Naruto didn't miss a beat as he ran into the open field of the backyard, unsealed his favorite katana and created multiple shadow clones.

Miya brought her hand to face attempting to stifle a laugh at his enthusiasm and said, "Right. Well, we left off with you learning some of the basic moves, show me how experienced you are there and we'll move on."

Naruto nodded and demonstrated with his shadow clones and himself recreating some of the small move set Miya had taught him.

After displaying an acceptable level of skill, Miya nodded and said, "That's enough Naruto. Now, I think it's time you learn how to use a technique I learned early in my studies of kenjutsu."

"How long ago?" Musubi asked offhanded.

Miya smiled sweetly and said, "That's not something an old housewife needs to discuss."

Naruto chuckled and thought, 'She really needs to stop with the old housewife bit, that's the least she is.' He then caught himself and shook his head and mentally berated himself, 'NO, landlady, landlady.' After finishing his mental berating he sighed and noticed the three ladies were staring at him. He reddened slightly and asked, "Something on my face?"

Miya shook her head and said, "No, just an odd expression. Now, this technique is called Battojutsu."

"Battojutsu? What kind of jutsu is it?" Naruto asked.

Miya chuckled lightly and said with a wave of her hand, "No, it's not that kind of jutsu. It's a fighting stance and attack in kenjutsu."

Naruto nodded and asked, "So, what is it like?"

Miya put a finger on her chin and said, "You know what, send one of you shadow clones at me. I figure you'll understand it better if you see it rather than listen to it get explained."

Naruto nodded again and almost immediately a shadow clone appeared beside him. He pointed at Miya and the clone responded with a nod.

The clone drew its sword and rushed at Miya.

Naruto slumped his shoulders and said lamely, "I was hoping you'd do something cooler than that."

As it neared the purplette, her usually smiling face became serious. She slid her right leg forward and turned her left knee towards the inn, brought her katana to her side and had her hand poised over the hilt, facing her side to the clone.

Then, in an instant she stood in a wide stance with her sword drawn and her hair still fluttering from the strike.

Naruto's eyes widened, not just at the speed of the strike but the image it presented. He then noticed his clone, which had stopped several feet in front of her, its sword still raised above its head and a shocked expression on its face. Then all watched as its torso slid from its legs before the whole thing dispelled in a puff of smoke and Miya sheathed her blade.

Naruto's eyes lit up with stars as he said hungrily, "That was so cool! I didn't even see your sword move!"

Amidst his laughter at the incredible move, Matsu stood nearby leaning against a wall and readjusted her glasses as she thought, 'And of course she was holding back to an amazing degree. Then again if she didn't she would have sliced Naruto in half along with most of the village.' She began to laugh in her own way as she muttered, "I can't wait to see what this does to his 'stamina'."

Miya chuckled lightly and said, "Well, I suppose I'll teach you the technique starting with the basics."

Naruto nodded energetically and said, "Right, right!"

Miya raised a finger and began to speak when the doorbell rang. For a split second she frowned before smiling and placing a hand against her cheek and saying, "Oh my, it seems your training will need to wait, there is somebody at the door."

Naruto pouted but responded with a nod and said, "Alright, I can wait a few minutes."

Miya nodded and went inside the house, Naruto and the others following behind.

As they reached the front door, Miya slid the door open and Naruto raised both eyebrows in surprise at who was standing at the door.

Standing at the front door to the Izumo Inn was Ororo, the waitress from the Akimichi Grill.

"Ororo?" Naruto mumbled out loud.

Ororo laughed weakly and waved.