Chapter 12:

Baba Yaga's Castle:

Naruto strolled down the hallway towards the dining room. Arachne, Giriko, and Mosquito were already there. Mosquito was bowing to his mistress. "Forgive me, Arachne-sama, for my blunder. It will never happen again."

Arachne filled a glass with wine for him. "Do not let it happen again. Do you need more blood, Mosquito-kun?" He raised his glass to her, then drained it. Giriko took a swig from his beer.

"What good are you if you screw up like this?" Mosquito turned to the chainsaw buki. "No need to make a fuss, filthy chainsaw boy." Giriko slammed his transformed leg into the table, cutting it in half.

"How 'bout I sharpen my saw blades on you then, eh?" Mosquito flipped over the table to stand in front of Giriko. "Indeed. I'll drain you dry and leave you a husk on the floor!" His needle-like nose extended.

"Polis Stinger!" His body began spinning around like a top; only his head and hat remained visible. He flew up into the air and circled around. Giriko turned in his chair and raised his chain leg. Mosquito dived down to attack.

Right before they connected a certain masked buki appeared between them. He transformed his arms into spikes and blocked both attacks.

"Does this happen a lot, Arachne-sama?" Naruto said calmly while he held back Mosquito and Giriko. "Naruto-kun, how are you?" Arachne questioned with a smile on her face. As the two combatants settled down, Naruto moved over to the wall.

"Enjoying myself, really." And he had been. The castle itself didn't appeal to him very much, but being in Arachne's presence more than made up for it. They often discussed how the world changed in 800 years, he living through them, she observing everything through her spiders.

Naruto had bonded with the other members of Arachne's group. Mosquito had been surprised at how observant and polite Naruto was, and the buki was impressed by the loyalty shown to their mistress.

Giriko was another story. They hadn't been able to finish their fight, but something seemed to bother the chainsaw buki. Privately, Naruto thought Giriko was upset that he wasn't the only independent buki, with Justin Law and Naruto both rivaling his abilities.

Naruto got along with the troops well enough; he didn't exactly try to get to know them, but he treated them well and was polite to them.

The cry of one of his subordinates drew him out of his thoughts. "Arachne-sama!" The spider witch turned. "What is it?" The cloaked figure bowed. "Someone here to see you, Arachne-sama."

Giriko snorted and returned to his seat. "Some other time, eh?"

In Arachne's Throne Room:

Naruto watched from the shadows as a small blond girl approached his mistress. The madness swirling around him was familiar. 'So she survived after all.'

"My, my. Such an adorable form you have now, Medusa." Arachne stared down at the form of her sister with a smirk. Medusa smiled innocently up at her elder sibling. "I'm so glad you remember me, even after 800 years."

Naruto focused on ignoring Medusa's madness, immersing himself in the soul wavelength of his mistress. Being so close to two distinct souls was somewhat taxing, but he could manage. He turned his attention back to the conversation between sister witches.

"800 years ago, when I fought the Reaper, I recall someone betraying me at the very end." Naruto narrowed his sightless eyes at the snake witch. 'She's dead.'

"You think you can just show up and leave with no consequence?" Medusa smiled up at the spider witch. "Don't be silly! We should be friends! Both of us sisters were just revived, after all."

Naruto had had enough. He stepped forward, noticing Giriko, Mifune, and Mosquito arrayed around Medusa. She frowned as he approached. 'He joined Arachne, but refused me?'

"Naruto-kun. It's been a while." She looked back at Arachne. "How wonderful for you, sister, to have Naruto-kun at your side." Arachne glared at Medusa but said nothing.

Medusa pulled up the hood of her jacket and walked back the way she had come. As she passed Naruto she paused and looked up at him.

As she stared she examined his soul. The shifting patterns she had seen back in Shibusen had disappeared. Instead, an overlay of purple lines resembling a spider's web covered the sphere's surface. Every once in a while arrow marks would appear, only to quickly fade away.

"My offer still stands, Naruto-kun." He didn't even respond, his mouth set in a grim line. She turned back to her sister. "I'll see you soon, dear sister." She began walking again. As a cloaked member of Arachnophobia led her away Naruto looked up at Arachne.

"Should we let her go, Arachne-sama?"

Arachnophobia Entrance:

After Medusa gave Eruka Frog her orders, she flew away on her borrowed broom. As she flew toward Death City she pondered her sister's newest companion. 'Naruto has left Shibusen and Shinigami, then. This will be to my advantage in retrieving Crona.'

She scowled. 'When this is over, you will be mine, Naruto-kun. My sister can't give you what I can.'

A/N: Well, here is the next chapter in my story. I'll try to get these out in a timely manner, but be patient.

Also, for a description of Naruto's soul look back at Chapter 9.