Original Posted On: April. 25, 2020
Beta Read by: Heckelman88, Crowfeast, Tachyon99, xhope14x
I found out something.
Sairaorg's last Pawn piece is a Mutated Pawn. So, that can partially explain why Naruto is crazy strong, physically that is. So, yeah, Naruto is a Mutated Pawn.
Also, I have an idea. For the harem, Animal theme (Duh) and I'm having a hard time deciding on what to do for Ravel and Irina. Please help me. I'm begging you.
Review Response:
NinjaFang1331: Thank you.
Calderoneric758: Esdeath is used often, and this is strictly a NarutoXDxDXOne Piece story. And Robin because she is the opposite of Vali, thus they attract.
Fresh Prince1: Now, that question may not be answered in our lifetime.
Draegoon: Thanks for the info, no I have a place to go. Thanks man. Lol, that Vergo-Vergil thing made me laugh.
TheEternalSage18: Yes, it is the second time, but the first time was stopped by Kakashi, thus it was put on hold. So, this is the continuation of that confrontation. Yes, you are correct, I should have done it differently.
Darkmaster10000000: You are a dragon? Cool. I never told anyone this, but I'm a Lovecraftian Elder God, its why my writing sucks at points.
Fairytail'sstormking: Thanks man, hopefully, you can enjoy this chapter too.
Demon87: Thank you.
Oksanhik717: it will go on for as long as it will.
Guest: Yes and No. yes, he had the right to attack Griselda, but no because, look at where he was. A place full of innocent people. So, yes, Naruto was to blame for that.
TheB: yes, she was caught off guard, believing Naruto would calm down. That sounds like a great idea for his punishment, on top of what I have decided.
BigBoySpartan: thank you.
Silvanium: You get it. And I see your point, I did make the adults like that, HOWEVER, Azazel wasn't like that. He is the reason why Griselda is questioning her actions and is why she was able to ask Naruto, even if he was out cold, for forgiveness.
T-B-R: I don't get it?
Harem:
Kunou (When she is 16), Koneko, Ravel, Kuroka, Xenovia, Irina
OKAY, LETS READ THIS SHIT! I DON'T OWN NARUTO, ONE PIECE, OR HIGHSCHOOL DXD!
"Hey" = Speaking
'Hey' = Thinking
'Hey' = Memory
"Hey"= Sacred Gear/ Communication link
Chapter 27: Steps Towards Living
Underworld…
"God, that was exhausting." Kuisha yawned as she and everyone else in the Peerage of Bael finally returned home.
They had spent the last two days climbing the Dragon Mountains looking for the special herb for Magdaran.
They had just dropped it off and watched Magdaran, whose hands were swelled to comical proportions, made the antidote and took it, in hopes of reducing the swelling and risk of him dying.
'Finally, I can relax.' Kuisha thought as she took her shoes off and started to undress, intending to take a shower.
*RING, RING, RING*
Kuisha groaned in irritation as she heard her phone go off.
"Hello?" She said in a tired, gruff voice.
"Kuisha, it's me, Kakashi."
"I know, what do you need? Did Naruto get in trouble again?" Kuisha asked as she continued to get ready for her shower.
"Yes, but…"
Kakashi explained what happened.
All of it.
…
…
…
Sairaorg and the rest of the Peerage were in their rooms, licking their wounds if they had them and resting their tired bones.
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!"
They all jumped up, ignoring the pain in their bodies, and ran to Kuisha's room, covering their eyes as Kuisha was partially naked.
"Kuisha, what's going on?" Sairaorg asked his Queen with worry.
"NARUTO ATTACKED GRISELDA!"
Kuoh, Phenex House…
Breakfast… was a quiet affair.
Naruto sat between Yasaka and Kunou, Xenovia sat between Koneko and Ravel while Lee had already eaten and was taking a morning run.
Ameyuri and Gilga ate their breakfast with their usual gusto.
"You chased after Griselda, fought her, and then were knocked out. That's all you remember?" Xenovia asked, slight worry and anger evident in her tone.
"Yes." Naruto replied as he tore chunks of his bread and fed them to Nero, who ate them as he offered them. "I'm sorry."
Yasaka put her hand on Naruto's head.
"Naruto, it is fine. You did over react, but both parties are accountable." Yasaka explained softly.
Naruto looked at her hand.
No one who didn't know would never guess that the specific limb he was looking at had been removed the day prior.
"If you say so." Naruto replied, enjoying the feeling of Yasaka's hand on his ears.
Kunou leaned into his arm and Nero fluttered up and Nested in his hair.
Xenovia, Koneko, and Ravel watched this scene unfold.
'They look like family already.' Koneko thought, a memory of her and Kuroka when they were homeless flashed through her mind, making Koneko shake her head a bit.
"I actually don't want to go to school today." Naruto mentioned in his slightly dazed state.
"What, why?"
"I… I just don't have the mental fortitude to go…" Naruto replied.
"I feel like you should go, Naruto." Koneko stated.
"Why is that?" Naruto asked.
"Hey, if he doesn't want to go, then he doesn't need to go." Kunou growled at the nekoshou.
Koneko, glanced at Kunou with the corner of her eyes, ignored Kunou.
"Because after school today, Gasper is going to be released from his seal." Koneko informed them.
'Who is Gasper?' Ravel and Xenovia collectively thought.
"NO WAY, REALLY?" Naruto shouted in excitement.
"Yes, Lord Lucifer said he wants Rias to unseal him, believing she can handle him now." Koneko continued. "I would like it if you came with us tonight, Naruto."
"Sure." Naruto said cheerfully, his tail wagging back and forth so fast that it could have broken the sound barrier.
"What about us?" Ravel asked, motioning to herself, Xenovia, and Lee.
"Not invited." Koneko said sternly.
"What?" Ravel shouted as she stood up, looking down at the Nekoshou.
As the argument continued, Yasaka couldn't help but chuckle at the antics of the teens.
"Sorry to interrupt, but we will be going now." Yasaka said as she stood up from the table.
"What, we are leaving?" Kunou whined as she didn't want to leave… at all.
"We don't want to wear out our welcome here." Yasaka stated as she looked at her pouting daughter. "We will come back at a later date. Remember, we have the faction meeting coming up in a few days."
Kunou perked up a little bit but wasn't happy in the slightest.
"Fine." Kunou snipped before she turned to Naruto.
She grabbed his shoulder, prompting Nero to take flight to her nest, and pulled him to her level and smacked her lips onto his.
"Hey, that's…." Ravel started to say before she blushed at how intense Kunou kissed Naruto.
Xenovia and Koneko didn't even say anything as they watched their shared boyfriend suck face with another girl.
Kunou was in control of it, and she forced his mouth open and stuck her tongue in his mouth.
Naruto, when he snapped out of his stupor, pushed Kunou off of him, thick amounts of saliva dripping out of their mouths, which he wiped off.
"Kunou, I said you can't…" Naruto started to say before Kunou hugged him, tightly.
"I love you Naruto." Kunou said sternly. "I am your fiancé, so I get special privileges."
Naruto tried not to groan, but it escaped his mouth and he was slugged in the gut by Kunou.
'Why…' He thought as he fell out of his chair.
Kunou glared at Koneko, Xenovia, and Ravel.
"Listen here you three." Kunou declared as she pointed to the small group. "Just because you are older and live with Naruto doesn't mean you can marry him before I do. If I find out that that happens, I'll kill you myself."
Yasaka put a stop to this when she pinched Kunou's ear.
"Don't mind her, she is just protective." Yasaka apologized, tightening her pinch grip on Kunou's ear with chakra.
'More like territorial.' Xenovia thought with a wince as Kunou desperately tried to escape her mother's grasp all the while crying in pain.
With that, Yasaka and Kunou left through a chakra teleporting portal, taking the form of the of the Dharmachakra.
"Is she gone?" Naruto asked timidly, glimpsing over the chair seat.
"Yeah, they are." Koneko said as she squatted next to Naruto. "So, you going to get twelve-year-old spit taste out of your mouth? Do you need help?"
"Well, I'm…" Naruto started to say before he got up. "I'm sort of used to her doing that, much to my chagrin."
"You allow this?" Ravel asked in slight agitation.
"Well, she is royalty, and I'm not, so how could I force her to stop without risking death?" Naruto asked, a mix of honest unsurety and sarcasm.
"You going to wash your mouth, or do you want to swap spit with me?" Koneko asked flirtatiously, trying to get off the topic of Kunou.
Naruto blushed a bit.
Koneko was surprised when he walked up to her and kissed her, without her making him do it.
Koneko wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he put his around her waist.
Ravel angrily grit her teeth while Xenovia covered her mouth with her eyes wide in surprise.
'I want a kiss too.' Xenovia thought as Naruto and Koneko separated.
"Well, am I doing better?" Naruto asked bashfully.
"Yep, much better." Koneko replied before she licked his cheek, making him purr.
"I'M NEXT!" Ravel shouted as she separated the two yokai further and stealing Naruto's lips for her own.
Naruto mentally groaned.
'Why do they feel the need to compete.' Naruto thought as he kissed Ravel back. 'I love them all, so why be competitive?'
Ravel separated herself from Naruto, her body all tingly and bothered.
"Naruto, can I get a kiss?" Xenovia asked, closing her eyes and puckering her lips.
Knowing it wouldn't be fair to her to be left out, Naruto pecked Xenovia's lips.
Despite being annoyed, Naruto was actually enjoying himself when he kissed them.
The girls knew this, evidence being his loose shorts getting a tent, which he tried to hide with his tail.
"Alright, I'm going to shower, and then get ready for school." Naruto said as he removed himself from Xenovia, heading for the bathroom.
The three girls, the grim, and Nero watched Naruto bolt out of the room.
"He is so cute when he is bashful." Xenovia giggled.
"Yes, he is." Ravel said as she started collecting the dishes. "Irina is so lucky that she won last night's contest."
"Yeah, but she won fair and square." Koneko replied as she picked up Ameyuri's and Gilga's bowls, needing to be cleaned.
"Speaking of which, we need to help her get ready." Xenovia explained. "She doesn't have a dress."
Meanwhile…
Irina sneezed.
'Ouch, that was a gut punch.' Irina thought as she wiped her nose. 'It is spring, so the pollen must be getting to me.'
Irina, currently, was at home in her apartment about to eat breakfast.
'Lord, bless this mealOW…' Irina thought, a powerful headache striking her head like lightning. 'That I am about to enjoy.'
The headache subsided, allowing Irina to take a bit.
'Hm, to think, I am now in a… harem…' Irina thought, a shiver going down her spine. 'Even more surprising, I'm the first one getting a date.'
Flashback…
Last Night…
"Okay, why did you call me over so late?" Irina inquired as she made herself at home at the Phenex house.
Naruto, Yasaka, Kunou, and Kakashi had gone to sleep, the first being out cold and the second recovering from blood loss.
"Well, we have important business to discuss and now is the best time." Koneko explained. "With what has happened, from what Xenovia told us, Naruto is going to be in a foul or sad mood for a while. I know from experiences. We need to come up with a plan to cheer him up, and I have a plan in mind that all of us need to hear."
"Alright, what is it?" Ravel asked as she brushed her hair.
"We… all go on dates with Naruto, like in Date A Live." Koneko declared.
Irina and Ravel went stiff as boards while Xenovia nodded her head.
"An excellent idea, if I ever heard one." Xenovia said with a smile on her face. "But that begs the question, who goes first."
"Well, like our decision on who sleeps with him first," Koneko said, ignoring the uncomfortable red face Irina was making. "We play a game to decide who goes out with him first."
"Speaking of the… sex order." Ravel said, her face steaming from embarrassment. "Should we let Irina try her hand at the high score challenge to determine her placement?"
"What?" Irina asked, so out of the loop and embarrassed.
"A while back we discussed who would sleep with Naruto first out of the three, now four, of us." Xenovia explained to her best friend. "We played Donkey Kong: Arcade to determine who would go first, so you need to play real quick and then we can decide who goes on a date with him."
"O-okay…" Irina responded.
"Actually, lets decide date order first." Ravel interrupted. "It is faster."
"Alright, then what should we do?" Koneko asked, itching to put these teens in their place.
"We will play a staple of Japan." Ravel said, Mt. Fuji appearing behind her, cherry blossoms fell, and there was festival music. "We will play Jenkan."
Koneko deadpanned and face palmed.
"Okay, I will defeat you." Xenovia declared as she stood up.
"I won't lose." Ravel stated.
"I will crush you into nothing." Koneko exclaimed.
"Alright… I'm game." Irina whimpered.
All four of them prepared themselves.
"Jen… Kan… SHOOT!"
Flashback End…
'I somehow survived that bloodbath and came out victorious.' Irina whimpered as she remembered how it came down to her and Koneko, her victory being so sweet it was sickening.
Irina checked her clock and saw that she needed to get ready for school.
As she prepared to shower, Irina realized her hair had grown a bit.
It was similar to Xenovia's, but the sides and back were shorter still while her bangs had grown back in completely.
Irina ran her hand through her hair, and smiled a bit as she felt the difference.
'Am I… no, I am making progress.' Irina thought confidently as she turned on the water. 'Now, the hard part is asking Naruto out on a date.'
Skip, Kuoh Academy, Student Council Room, Lunch…
Naruto, despite what Koneko had initially believed, was very giddy about Gasper's eventual release from his seal.
Everyone in the Student Council could see it in Naruto's eyes as he ate his fried chicken.
"Naruto." Lee declared as he entered the room. "I have a challenge."
"Lee?" Naruto asked as he munched his food. "Can't it wait?"
Lee sat at the table, elbow on it and hand out.
"I want to arm wrestle." Lee continued. "Simple, non-destructive, and its pure strength."
Naruto swallowed his food and grinned.
"Sure, my rival." Naruto said sneakily.
'YOSH!' Lee thought with tears of happiness flowing down his eyes. 'Naruto's youthfully accepted me as his eternal rival. This is a joyous day that is in need of celebration.'
Naruto grasped Lee's hand.
Saji, who was nearby, put his hand on top of theirs.
"I want a good, clean match." Saji, now dressed as a referee, said. "No sneaky business."
Both Naruto and Lee nodded.
'This won't be good.' Sona thought as she decided to watch, interested to see who would win.
The Werefox or the Oni.
"And… Begin." Saji said as he removed his hand.
Every member of the Student Council watched.
'They aren't moving.' Tsubaki thought. 'Are they even trying or were they just messing…'
Tsubaki stopped that train of thought when she saw the veins in Naruto's and Lee's foreheads bulge.
Both were currently giving it their all.
Both were so strong that at their all, it didn't even look like they were trying.
'Gate of Life… Open…' Lee thought tensely.
Naruto felt his hand jerk towards the table, two inches from it as Lee's horn appeared and his skin turned red.
In turn, Naruto entered his hybrid state, now Lee's hand was near the table top.
'Second Gate… Open…'
Lee's muscles, all over his body, grew bigger, straining his clothing, which were about to burst off of him.
They were again dead even.
At this point, there was a mass of pressure pressing against the Council.
None of them were standing at this point, they could barely breath and Sona was about to pass out.
'Third Gate…' Lee thought before he felt a tug on Nature's energy get pooled into Naruto, more specifically, his arm.
Lee couldn't activate the Gate fast enough before he felt his hand slam into the desk and then the floor, cracking it.
"E-enough…." Sona tried to call out.
Thankfully, this didn't fall on deaf ears as Lee and Naruto immediately powered down, the pressure vanishing, and they were on their hands and knees.
"WE ARE SO SORRY!" they said in unison.
All the members of the SC started gasping for air.
"It's…. alright…" Sona gasped, wiping the sweat from her brow. 'That was so intense. We need to get in better shape.'
Lee and Naruto ran around the room like headless chickens trying to figure out how to fix the floor before the bell rang, prompting Sona to use magic to fix it.
"Sorry." Naruto and Lee apologized again, heads down in shame.
Sona flicked them in the heads.
"Just be careful next time, okay." Sona replied with a laughing smile.
Naruto and Lee left for their respective classes, as did the SC members.
On the way to his class, Naruto hummed the Zelda theme as he smiled happily.
'Gasper is going to be released in a few more hours.' Naruto thought with childish glee. 'I can't wait to spend time with him, outside of his room.'
Naruto was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't realize he had bumped into Irina, who was exiting the restroom, until he hit the ground.
"Naruto, you okay?" Irina asked in concern, not bothering with herself as she didn't fall.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Naruto said as he sat up and saw her hand extended.
Naruto took it and was helped up.
"You not hurt?" Irina asked again, checking him over to be sure.
"I'm fine." Naruto urged, flexing. "Fit as a fiddle."
Irina giggled at the joke.
'Wait, now is the perfect time to ask.' Irina thought, seeing as no one else was around. 'Okay, go on, Irina, ask Naruto… out… on… a… date…'
Each word she thought made her face more crimson.
"You okay, Irina?" Naruto asked as he took notice of her red face, and the fact he could hear her heart beat increase.
"I'M FINE." Irina responded hastily.
Naruto jumped a bit from the suddenness of her response.
"So, Naruto…" Irina said, her hands behind her, her feet shuffling a bit. "Do you have any plans after school any day this week?"
"Hm…" Naruto pondered, scratching his chin. "Besides tonight with Gasper, no, I don't have any plans. Why?"
"Well, you see…" Irina said softly, rubbing her hands together. "I was wondering… if maybe… afterschool, you and I could… go… o-out…"
Naruto looked at her confused.
He blinked.
Recognition.
Slight panic filled his body, before it flushed out of his system as fast as it came.
"S-sure." Naruto stuttered. "I would be willing to go on… a… Date?"
"Yes, a date." Irina responded.
"Okay, I'll have to go home and change out of my uniform. What time do you want to meet up and where?" Naruto asked quickly because he was panicked and both needed to get to class.
"Oh, meet me at my house two hours after school." Irina responded just as quickly before both sped off to their classes.
The first domino has been tilted.
Let's see if it causes an effect.
Skip, After School, Twilight…
The Peerages of Gremory and Phenex stood outside of the Forbidden Room, where Gasper resided.
"Usually," Rias said as she started to undo the seal. "Gasper is allowed out for an hour, at midnight, but usually stays in here."
"Hm, I wonder what this person is like." Issei said curiously.
"Gasper is the one with the most requests." Akeno stated, getting Issei to blink. "Using a computer to communicate with the clients."
"Amazing." Issei said, imagining a very charismatic person who could easily do that.
Naruto was nearby, bouncing on the heels of his feet.
"Now the seal is…" Rias was interrupted when Naruto shoved her out of the way and opened the door.
"GASPER!" Naruto shouted, turning into a fox before landing in the timid arms of Gasper Vladi, who was sitting within a nice coffin.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Gasper cried as he clung to Naruto. "TO MANY PEOPLE!"
Issei gasped.
"Another blonde beauty, like Asia." Issei said, very excited as he saw the cute and timid Gasper clinging to Naruto, who was rubbing his tiny head against Gasper's cheek in an attempt to sooth him.
Koneko smirked evilly.
"Sorry to break it to you, Pervert, but Gaspy is a boy." Koneko said cockily, relishing the look of shock Issei gave her.
To prove her point, Koneko used Shave to get besides Gasper's skirt, revealing a pair of plain white panties with an obvious bulge, showing that Gasper, in fact, was a male.
All the girls blushed, Issei screamed blood, Kakashi looked away slightly disturbed, and Lee looked away trying to get the image out of his head.
He still looked forward to getting to know Gasper though.
Gasper, panicked and now extremely embarrassed, screamed and within a blink, he and Naruto were gone from everyone's sight, including Koneko.
"What happened?" Asia asked in confusion.
"I see." Kakashi said, dropping his human illusion as he entered the room, and saw a box shoved into the corner with the white furred tip of Naruto's tail sticking out of the handle hole. "Gasper, are you in there?"
"Yes."
"SH!"
"I mean, no."
"Step aside, I'll handle this." Koneko said as she 'rolled up her sleeves' and ripped the box open, revealing the tiny dhampir and Naruto huddled together within the box. "Here, have some garlic."
Koneko threw some cloves at the duo.
"EEEEEP!" Gasper screamed as he jumped out of the box to and vanished again.
"What is happening?" Ravel asked, scared and confused.
"That is Gasper's Sacred Gear: The Forbidden Balor View." Akeno explained as Rias entered the room, having found Gasper in the opposite corner. "It is also called 'the Evil Eye that Stops Time'."
"So, he is like Dio from Jojo Part Three with The World, but instead of stopping time as a whole, its only the people or things in his field of vision." Naruto explained as he was snuggled by Gasper, who was currently in Rias's arms.
A huge plus for Naruto as Gasper and Rias both petted him.
"That is a pretty fair judgement of his power." Kiba said, curious to how he never thought of that, being a fan of Jojo.
"But the problem is, Gasper's gear is so powerful, he can't control it." Akeno explained sadly, looking at Gasper with melancholy. "It was why he was sealed, he would randomly stop people, and it got him cast from his home."
Gasper looked away as everyone looked at him as they heard that.
"Please… go away…" He said timidly, squeezing Naruto tighter. "I don't want to hurt anyone anymore."
"Gasper, it is time that we allow you outside." Rias explained softly, rubbing his hair. "We are ready to help you."
Gasper closed his eyes and shook his head.
"Come on," Issei said as he walked up to Gasper, taking his wrist. "Buchou wants us to help you, so the first step is leaving this…"
He no longer had Gasper's wrist in his grasp.
"Please, it's too scary." Gasper shouted, now in the box again, the garlic being removed.
Naruto, however, was in Rias's grasp.
"Okay, this is getting out of hand." Kakashi said as he opened the box with one hand, the other moving the coverage on his Sharingan.
"No…" Gasper whined as he faced Kakashi.
Gasper gasped. His deep magenta eyes took the form of the Sharingan before it vanished.
"What did you do?" Rias demanded, panicking from the sight she witnessed.
"Calm down, Rias." Kakashi said as he lowered his eye cover. "I simply applied a jutsu to Gasper. It will help with his control, just a little bit. He will need training to get control of it."
Rias didn't believe Kakashi at first, but the look on Gasper's face, riddled with panic, confusion, fear, and uncertainty as he looked at everyone.
He still reacted normally, however, no one was freezing.
"YOSH! You did it Kakashi." Lee cheered as he jumped in the air, getting frozen mid jump, a purple haze like affect over his body.
"It won't contain that level of anxiety, but enough to where he can be around normal people." Kakashi explained as Lee returned to normal, never noticing he had been frozen again.
"T-thank you." Gasper muttered weakly.
"Don't mention it." Kakashi replied, notably and visibly tired. "Now, if no one has objections, I'm heading home."
Kakashi vanished with that statement.
'Kakashi…' Lee thought, knowing that Sharingan made Kakashi tired easily.
"He mentioned training, Buchou." Issei said, a smirk appearing on his face and blood pouring out of his nose. "Can I take over his training?"
Short time later…
"Come on!" Lee shouted in joy as he ran with Gasper. "Exercise is the best way to help jump start body control."
Gasper cried as he ran, exhausted from the activity and Lee's enthusiasm.
"Hey, calm down a bit, Lee." Naruto hollered as he watched his rival chase his buddy. "I know we need to accelerate his training, but this isn't it."
With Naruto, sat Irina, Issei, and Asia.
"This is a bit much." Irina added, sweat dropping as Lee ignored them.
Everyone else had gone home for the evening.
"Well, well, now this is peculiar."
"Saji." Naruto called out as he waved, getting a wave back.
"Sup, Naruto." Saji said as he saw Lee and Gasper, a smiling gasp gracing his lips. "Another blonde beauty like Asia."
Asia nervously chuckled.
Issei clamped a gentle hand on Saji's shoulder, a serious/sympathetic look adorning his face.
"Sorry, Saji, but Gasper is a boy." Issei informed his fellow pervert.
Saji's blood curdling scream echoed, quite loudly.
"It's going to be alright, Saji." Naruto said as he patted his friend on the back, handing him a few napkins to wipe the blood from his eyes.
"Th-Thanks, Naruto." Saji muttered dejected as he took them.
Lee and Gasper continued to run while Issei and Asia chatted with Irina.
"Naruto," Saji said, seriousness pouring from his words and body language. "Can… can I talk to you about something?"
"Sure, what's up?" Naruto asked as he looked at his senpai.
"How… how did you do it?" Saji asked.
"Do… what?"
"Get the girls?" Saji asked, not in desperation, but one of genuine worry. "I mean…"
"You want Sona to notice you?" Naruto filled in.
"Yes…" Saji said, going stiff as a look of shock fixed itself to him before it returned to what it was previously. "How long have you known?"
"Ever since I met you." Naruto pointed out. "I mean, you are overly polite, you do what you can to make her laugh, and you take Sona's punishments like a man, even though they are painful."
Saji grimaced at the memories of his punishments, though it had been a long while since his last one.
"If you want me to tell you how, I don't really have an answer." Naruto continued. "Xenovia, Koneko, Ravel, and Irina… they gravitated towards me, and I reciprocated those feelings. So, if I was to give you advice, I would say, have some patience, and let the opportunity come to you. Don't look or force one, ya know?"
Saji nodded in understanding and rubbed Naruto's head.
"You are pretty wise for someone younger than me, Naruto." Saji said with genuine happiness. "Thanks, I can do that."
"Anything for my…" Naruto started before he got a whiff of an unfamiliar scent and then felt the person's presence get stronger.
"Well, look at what I have here today."
Issei recognized the voice.
"Azazel!" Issei said angrily as he summoned Boosted Gear as the man entered the area.
Saji summoned his, Lee took a fighting stance, Naruto prepared to fight, and Irina summoned Hiramekarei.
Asia hid behind Issei, her Twilight Healing out in case she needed it, and Gasper hid behind a tree.
"Hm, Boosted Gear, Twilight Healing…" Azazel muttered as he saw Issei and Asia's gears. "And Forbidden Balor View as well for Gremory."
He glimpsed Irina and Saji.
"Wow, one of the Seven Swords of Kyoto." Azazel said in fascination. "And a Vritra type gear, the Absorption Line."
"What, it has a name?" Saji asked, looking at the tiny black and purple dragon covering his hand.
"What?" Azazel said in faux hurt. "You don't know? That gear holds a part of the Evil Black Dragon King. It can use the dragon's cursed flames and drain magic and disperse it to whoever it is attached to. The grappling/attaching ability is another perk."
"Amazing, its… stronger than I thought." Saji said in amazement.
'Is it funny that Azazel know that… or is it stalker-like creepy.' Issei thought as Azazel looked at Gasper.
"Hm, I see, you can't control it." Azazel mentioned, before he saw the Sharingan pattern appear briefly. "I see Kakashi or Obito have started helping you. Anyway, I have a suggestion for you. Either drink the blood of the Red Dragon…"
Gasper gasped, clenching the tree bark.
'Blood…' He thought fearfully.
"Or use Absorption Line drain the power as you train to learn the amount of power you need." Azazel finished, taking notice that Naruto, in full Hybrid form, stood before him, shaking like a leaf in the wind.
"Leave him… alone." Naruto said shakily.
He could feel how strong Azazel was, and currently, no one here could defeat Azazel if he attacked.
Azazel lifted his hand, Kushina's pelt in his hand.
Naruto's eyes widened as he tapped his sides, realizing it was indeed in Azazel's hand.
Every cell in Naruto's body screamed at him to attack as his blood started to boil.
"I'm sorry, Kushina." Azazel said before Naruto could say something.
Naruto's boiling blood calmed.
"What?" Naruto asked, still on edge and prepared to fight, wanting to so badly to get Kushina back.
"I never knew her personally, but your mom was a good woman, Naruto Otsutsuki." Azazel said without thinking. "Sorry, I meant Bael."
"Again, what?" Naruto asked, everyone getting closer to him, incase Naruto snapped.
"It will be explained later." Azazel informed as he handed Kushina back to Naruto. "You have taken good care of her."
"Of course." Naruto replied, still on edge as he wrapped the pelt across his waist. "She raised me, so it is natural that I take care of her."
Azazel sadly smiled.
"Naruto, I want to apologize." Azazel said as he, the GOVERNOR-GENERAL of the Grigori, got on his hands and knees, and pressed his head on the grass.
Everyone was confused.
"About what?" Naruto asked as he powered down.
"Kokabiel was the one to poison Kushina, but I am the creator." Azazel admitted as he sat on his knees. "It was an experiment that he stole from me, and I want to beg your forgiveness for my carelessness, but more importantly, the part I played in your mother's death."
Naruto became as still and breathless as a stone.
He clenched and unclenched his now sweaty palms as he looked Azazel in the eyes.
No dishonesty in them or his words.
Naruto shook with internal rage that was becoming an inferno as his eyes turned red and his nails became claws.
Naruto gripped his pelt.
'Mother…'
Flashback…
"Griselda…" Naruto growled with his eyes full of tears. "I will never forgive her… nor Durandal…"
"Little Maelstrom," Kushina muttered tiredly, her eyes becoming heavy as her adrenaline ran dry. "Don't hold a grudge…"
Flashback End…
Naruto bit his lip and clenched his clawed hands so hard that his lip split open and his claws impaled his palms.
"I… I…I-I-I-I-…." Naruto stuttered aggressively, his eyes closing, trying to speak, but not shout and lash out. "I… (SHARP INHALE) A-accept… Your… apology…"
Azazel could tell it took everything Naruto had.
"Thank you." Azazel responded with a bow before he stood up. "I'll take my leave now. Have a good night."
Azazel walked off, Naruto shaking.
His body… no, he wanted to attack.
Azazel's back was wide open, he could kill this man now.
'… but it won't bring mom back…' Naruto thought as his hair covered his eyes, his teeth gritted, and his bleeding palms and lip trembling. 'Did… did I do good, mom?'
Lee and Irina hugged Naruto, followed by Issei, Asia, and Gasper.
No words were exchanged.
They weren't needed.
Chapter 27, DONE!
Well, Naruto… showed some maturity.
Kakashi helped Gasper a little bit, similar to how he helped Sasuke restrain the Curse Mark. It is strong as long as Gasper believes it works and is tempered by his emotions, so if he gets overwhelmed, then it doesn't work. Does that make sense?
What about Naruto's reaction to Azazel's connections to his mother's death? Does it show maturity, or just another child withholding anger?
Also, My GF, Boo1194, drew the picture of Kushina. It's my current cover art. And, in anticipation for Irina and Naruto's date, I went and drew them together. Both drawings are on her deviantart page.
As usual, please leave a review, even if you hated it.