Sage of Legend

by Bratja Rasa

I lived my life as a Shinobi and died in battle. I died as a human. Truths were revealed, and I was granted a second life. I suffered, and I lived. I was alone, so scared. However, my family will be my cornerstone, and I live for them. Protecting them. God-Like Naruto, Lemons. Rewrite of Return of the Golden Protector.

8. Tipping the Scale

Original Posted On: Dec. 24, 2020

Beta Read by: Heckelman88, Crowfeast, Tachyon99, xhope14x, Neostardustdragon101

Review Response:

Hdiaktoros: Thank you, and wow, really? I have been told my skills with suspense is garbage.

Gamerman22: What? Well… yeah, he will get his Six Path powers back.

18Andrew: Its still up in the air at this point. But keep expectations low, that way you're never disappointed.

Jonalefm: I have reworked a lot of stuff from the original, but the final part I would temper expectations.

Guest: What would you have done differently?

Lilhuesos: Thank you and I will keep going.

SPBRX: I know, many people hate me for that one decision.

Dlowe2651: Been a while man, how've you been? Thank you for the support.

Animecollector: Death Note is over rated. Akame Ga Kill made me cry, and I have never heard of the last two. I am still thinking about the adoption part, it could work for this story, but I still need some time before I make a concrete decision.

SPark681: Yeah, really bad timing on her part.

Darkimortal: Fair Points, now counter question: Do you think I care?

Redlox2: Finally, someone sees what I was trying to do with Miko's character. Oh finally, someone sees what I am going with for Naruto. Like, seriously, does no one enjoy the slow burn story telling approach anymore?

Claderoneric758: I don't know much about the form, so for now, I am going to say no.

VincentVanCoco04: Yep, we are getting closer to Naruto's 'revival' and see how he copes with the fact he was not born in this universe.

XenoBlaze: Thanks? Yeah, I know no one is going to let me live that shit down, but it is getting old, real fast.

Current Harem:

Children:

OKAY, LETS READ THIS SHIT! I DON'T OWN NARUTO OR HIGHSCHOOL DXD!

"Hey" = Speaking

'Hey' = Thinking

'Hey' = Memory

"Hey"= Sacred Gear/ Communication link/ Tailed Beast

Chapter 8: Tipping the Scale

One Year Later, Muromachi Period, Kyoto, 1349…

The faction war, which had been going on for centuries in the Underworld, had been uprooted and placed in the human world.

All who were non-combatants were scared for their lives and their families.

Many fled to remote areas.

Most stayed home and hoping their leaders would protect them.

"General Iroh, we need to take action!" One of the war council demanded angrily. "The faction war is at our borders, our citizens cower in fear, and all you say we will do is build our defenses!"

Iroh glared at the council member who said this.

"It is because our empress does not wish to join this pointless war." Iroh stated as he looked at the table, which was a massive map of Japan, key locations marked and many small buildings and ships. "It does not concern us, so we shall defend our borders with our brethren."

"Speaking of whom, where is our leader?" one of the less blood thirsty council members asked.

Iroh paused.

"Because she was needed elsewhere and I offered to be here in Lady Tamamo's place." Iroh replied.

Doctor's office…

"Like the last check up, Lady Tamamo," The doctor said as she looked at the paperwork. "Your womb and ovaries have been damaged. The chance of you bearing a child is close to zero, but not impossible."

Tamamo's ears drooped and lay on her head, her tails between her legs as she heard the grim news for the third time.

"Lady Tamamo, are you doing alright?" the doctor asked as she noticed the bags under Tamamo's eyes and the paleness in her skin.

"Yes, just a bit stressed due to the factions fighting near us." Tamamo laughed as she waved her hand with a false smile. "Thank you, I won't bother you again, doctor."

"But…" the doctor started to say before Tamamo left.

Tamamo walked through the capitol, receiving bows of respect as the citizens moved out of her way.

Smiling and thanking them, Tamamo was emotionally drained.

'These children.' She thought as she saw a group of young yokai of various heritage running along the street, subconsciously touching her own stomach. 'Ours could have been like that, so carefree and happy.'

Tamamo had to hold back her tears.

She was the Empress of Kyoto, she could not show weakness right now with the devils, fallen, and the angels fighting.

She had to be strong to give her people the hope of survival.

"I'm home." Tamamo said to no one in particular as she arrived at the compound she shared with Naruto and Iroh.

"Tama, welcome back." Naruto said as he walked in the garden.

Tamamo felt a spark of happiness flicker as she saw her husband, hugging him with her ears perked up and her tails wrapped around him.

Naruto blinked as he felt Tamamo's negative emotions.

"Tama, what's wrong?" Naruto asked as he pulled back a bit, their arms still around each other. "You… your sad."

Tamamo cutely blinked and tilted her head in 'confusion'.

"What? Why would I be s…"

"Does it have anything to do with your check up?" Naruto asked, cutting her off as she tried to avoid the question.

Tamamo felt herself nearly slip into a confession, but caught herself as she laughed, a big smile on her face.

"Oh, that's not why…" Tamamo started before she went quiet from the sad look Naruto had on his face.

Naruto reached up and cupped her cheek, making her nuzzle his palm as she touched his hand with hers.

"Tama, please, tell me the truth?" Naruto asked calmly and softly.

Tamamo cracked.

Her lip trembled as tears started to fill her eyes. Ears on flat on her head, tails shaking as they bunched up behind her.

"The doctor said I most likely won't be a mother." Tamamo confessed, gripped her beloved's hand tightly. "On top of that bad news, the faction war has been ravaging our borders. Everyone is scared. The council wants to get involved, but that would cause more of our people to die."

Naruto said nothing, hanging off of every word she said as tears streaked down her face.

"I-I-I-I don't know what to do." Tamamo cried as she pulled Naruto into a very tight hug, her tears soaking their clothing. "I am so lost. I never wanted this to happen! Grandpa is doing his best to shoulder this burden, but it hurts knowing he is doing this despite being retired because of my incompetence to make a decision!"

Naruto hugged his wife, rubbing her back as she bawled her eyes out.

"I thought we would have had a child right now, a new born. The next prince or princess of our home. But here I am, a disappointment to my ancestors!" Tamamo cried out, nearly bowing Naruto's eardrums out.

Naruto still said nothing as Tamamo heaved in oxygen.

"I-I'm sorry…" Tamamo said as she felt mucus ooze from her nose. "I'm sorry I'm…"

She felt Naruto's hand on the back of her head, his fingers gently rubbing across her head, grazing the base of her ears.

"It's okay." Naruto said softly as he closed her eyes. "If your ancestors consider you a disappointment, then they are the disappointment in my mind. You are doing the best you can, and in doing so, you have protected many lives, while we do screw up here and there, we are learning."

Tamamo gripped his back as she pulled back and kissed Naruto deeply.

'Oh god she has mucus on her lips!' Naruto mentally screamed as he tasted it.

"I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you!" Tamamo chanted as she kissed him.

"Okay… Okay…" Naruto gasped out.

Tamamo cried as she kept kissing him and didn't stop for an hour, and didn't let him go.

That night…

"I see." Iroh said as the three sat at the dinner table. "I am sorry to hear that, dear."

Tamamo nodded as she ate some of her dinner.

"But there is still a chance of a child." Naruto said calmy and sort of nervously.

Tamamo frowned a bit before pointing her chopsticks at him.

"You fucking another kitsune for a child is not going to happen, pervert!" Tamamo stated clearly and scarily.

Naruto swallowed a lump in his throat as he shook his head quickly.

"No, no, no, no!" Naruto said in a panic. "I mean we could adopt if we can't have our own chapter!"

"Oh." Tamamo replied, any anger and tension gone, making Iroh chuckle. "Okay, that makes… more sense…"

Naruto let out a breath he was holding in.

"Let's keep the baby talk between you two, okay?" Iroh asked as he didn't want to bust his guts laughing at them.

Naruto and Yasaka nodded.

"Also, there is something else I want to talk about." Naruto continued as he looked at Iroh and Tamamo's eyes. "Why haven't you allowed me to help out at the borders?"

Iroh and Tamamo looked at each other and then him.

"We don't want to lose you, Naruto." Iroh stated in a tone that said it was obvious.

"And with what has been going on, we don't want to put you in danger." Tamamo finished in the same tone as Iroh.

Naruto deflated a bit.

"Well, that does make sense. But this is my home too, I want to help and staying here isn't helping anyone." Naruto replied calmly as he understood their reasoning.

"I understand that, dear." Tamamo replied as she sipped some of her soup. "But I am afraid I'll…"

"Then give me something that isn't dangerous to do." Naruto urged. "As long as I am doing something. Like, I can help with the refugees from the borders with my shadow clones. I can help take care of them, feed them, and keep their spirits up."

"I think that is a lovely idea." Iroh said before Tamamo could speak.

Naruto smiled as he started to think of what he could do to help them.

Skip, One Month later…

Many children were laughing as Naruto's shadow clones performed tricks.

"This is really fun." Naruto said to Domamaru, who had volunteered to help Naruto with the refugees.

Currently, they were stationed in Amagi, Kagoshima, and the two of them with fellow volunteers cooking a massive meal for everyone.

"Yeah, it is." Domamaru replied with a big smile.

Their main goal was to help the people, however, Naruto and Domamaru with a select group would go to the border and enhance it with their chakra every night for the last month.

Before Naruto could speak, he was overwhelmed by the immediate flood of negative emotions.

"DRAGONS!"

Kyoto…

"DRAGONS!" A general shouted as he barged into the war council hall, getting them all in a frenzy. "OFF THE SHORES OF AMAGI! AND THEY AREN'T ALONE! THE FACTION LEADERS AND THEIR ARMIES ARE TRYING TO KILL THEM!"

Upon hearing that, Iroh took off, his sage mode activated as he leaped great lengths of distance.

'Hold on Naruto, I'm coming!' Iroh thought with intense worry.

Amagi…

Naruto and Domamaru turned to the coast line before the barrier rippled and shook from two colossal dragons, red and white respectfully.

They were all surrounded by devils, angels, and fallen angels.

'They are fighting dragons together?' Naruto thought as a sea of fear and cries echoed through the air.

"EVERONE, FOLLOW ME!" Domamaru shouted as the shadow clones popped while Naruto stood there, staring wide eyed at the two dragons as fire and energy bloomed before the barrier, making it shake even more.

'Amazing…' Naruto thought as he saw them fighting their attackers as citizens ran past him.

The devil kings, the arch-angels, and the Grigori were all present and all attacking the dragons.

"ENOUGH!" The white dragon shouted as its blue magic covered its body and smashed through the barrier.

Naruto ducked down as dust and debris flew in every direction as the dragons fled within the barrier before it closed, shutting out the factions.

Their wing beats destroying the settlement, trees being uprooted from their positions, animals fleeing as the injured dragons landed on the ground dozens of meters away from Naruto's position.

"Now…" The red dragon said as the dragons turned on each other. "Our fight is no longer being interrupted, Albion."

"Alright, Ddraig." Albion replied as he and Ddraig powered up, their bodies covered in cuts and burns as the devils, fallen, and angels watched through the barrier.

Naruto was numb.

He could heart his heart beat as he stood still to gather nature energy to enter sage mode.

'I need to see if there are anyone else here, and save them if there is.' Naruto thought in a panic as his body was nearly pushed off the ground from the strong winds the dragons created.

The moment after Naruto entered sage mode, he sensed a tiny chakra signature close to them.

'SHIT!' Naruto thought as he gripped the ground with his chakra and ran towards them.

"NARUTO!" Naruto heard Domamaru shout from the distance as the kappa saw Naruto running. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"

Naruto didn't reply, how could he?

The earth shook beneath Naruto, the water on the beach being pushed outward to the open ocean, most of it boiling into steam from the raw power of the dragon's magic.

"I AM HERE TO HELP!" Naruto shouted as he neared the person.

He found the yokai trapped under some trees and boulders.

"RASENGAN!" Naruto shouted as he used the jutsu to turn the boulder to dust and then picked the trees up with his bare hands. "Come on, let's go!"

The yokai in question was a young female tanuki and she quickly took Naruto's hand and got up, doing her best to ignore the pain her body was in as Naruto helped her stand.

Ddraig punched Albion, his chest getting cut open by Albion as his power was drained and added to Albion's own.

"USELESS!" Ddraig shouted as he raised both hands above his head and slammed them into Albion's neck.

Albion hit the ground, pushing Naruto and the tanuki to the ground from the shockwave.

'Shit, we are going to die.' Naruto thought as his breathing got heavier, his skin sweaty and covered in dirt. 'No, I am going to save her.'

He crossed his hands, making four shadow clones.

"Come on, let's go." Two said as they helped the woman up.

"T-thank you." She called out as the clones took her away.

Naruto smiled nervously as his heart beat loudly in his ears.

"Forgive me, Tamamo." Naruto apologized to no one. "Forgive me, Grandpa. But I have to save everyone."

Naruto and his two clones put their hands together.

'Please… work.' Naruto thought as he himself created the Rasengan in his hand. 'Spinning, wind, and shape.'

His jutsu spun faster, and as it picked up speed, it warped and blew up in his hand, destroying his clones as chunks of his hand were blown off.

Naruto cried out in pain as he collapsed, his blood splashing on the ground.

'Spinning, wind, and shape.' He thought again as he remembered the shuriken jutsu. 'Come on, I can do this. Chakra form and chakra nature. Form in a shuriken, nature of wind.'

He shakily crossed his hands again, his right hand shaking worse from the injury as he created two more clones.

'What am I doing wrong?' Naruto thought as he put his hand with the clones. 'One is the core, who makes the shape… one is spinning, and one is adding wind.'

Naruto gasped as his head pulsed in pain.

After the pain subsided, Naruto spun his chakra, but did not complete the Rasengan.

The clone on his left started to spin his hands around Naruto's, slowly completing the Rasengan while the clone on Naruto's right was adding the wind element to the chakra the other clone was using, turning the blue chakra white.

'Now, turn it into a shuriken.' Naruto thought as the now white Rasengan started to become a shuriken, followed by the high pitch noise as the blades cut the air at a faster rate.

Ddraig and Albion turned their attention on the noise, seeing the jutsu being raised above Naruto's head with his damaged hand.

"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!" Naruto shouted as his clones popped and he threw it, the jutsu flying at the dragons at a speed faster than the two lizards could react before the jutsu expanded and cut deep into their bodies before it detonated, showering them in a dome of wind chakra slicing them on the cellular level.

"Oh, Lord." Michael said as his eyes watched the two dragons hit the ground.

"That is impossible. No way a single yokai could have done that." Lucifer said as he watched in awe, along with Leviathan, Asmodeus, and Beelzebub nodding in agreement with their leader.

"Damn, and here I thought I saw everything." Azazel said in amusement, glancing at the leaders of the factions, before turning to look at Naruto. 'I bed dear old dad would be amazed at this guy.'

Naruto, meanwhile, fell to his knees, gasping for air after having used all his sage chakra, as his eyes returned to normal and the rings vanished.

'I did it…' Naruto thought weakly as he looked up at the factions behind the barrier. 'Shit, the factions are still… here…'

Naruto's body became cold as Albion and Ddraig got up, wailing and roaring in agony as they stood up, their anger focused solely on Naruto.

"PETULANT CHILD!" Ddraig shouted as he gathered his magic, glowing green.

"FOR THIS INSULT, YOU SHALL DIE!" Albion roared as his blue magic covered his body.

Albion and Ddraig finished charging their attacks and fired their magic from their mouths, the magic from each dragon meeting and merging together to eradicate everything into ash.

Before any lives could flash before someone's eyes, Iroh appeared before Naruto, arm extended and connecting with the immense power Ddraig and Albion had used.

"Grandpa…" Naruto called out weakly, his eyes widening a bit as he realized what Iroh was doing. "Hey…"

Iroh pulled the magic within him, his flesh tearing itself apart as holes appeared as the energy flooded his system, rendering his arm useless.

Iroh grunted as he used chakra to force his arm to move as he finished assimilating the attack into himself, magic and chakra cracking across his body as blood floated through the air with chunks of muscle and skin.

"Grandpa…" Naruto called out as he reached forward weakly.

Iroh made his hand move the magic through his torso to his left arm, further ruining his body, biting his lips with his teeth very hard to keep focus.

"Grandpa!" Naruto shouted as Iroh pointed his left hand at the stunned dragons.

"Naruto…" Iroh said in massive amounts of pain as blood sprayed from his mouth and into his beard. "I love you, and tell Tamamo that I love her too."

"GRANDPA!" Naruto shouted as he finally made his legs move to stop Iroh.

Iroh set his stance, and let loose the magic he had gathered.

The dragonic magic burst from Iroh's fingers as Lightning chakra, splitting into two paths as they left his body.

Ddraig was struck in the face as Albion was impaled through the chest, both electrocuted with their own magic which they couldn't counter.

Iroh felt his vision blur as his body lost all feeling.

Holes covered his arms and torso as blood leaked from them as he ran out of blood, making him lose his balance.

'Marco, Lu-ten, Yoshimaru, Miko…' He thought with a calm smile as he was caught by Naruto, who Iroh saw yelling for help, but he could no longer hear. 'I am coming home, as a little soldier boy…'

"GRANDPA!" Naruto shouted as he held Iroh's body, so panicked he looked for anyone who could help. "ANYONE, PLEASE, WE NEED MEDICAL HELP!"

No one heard him.

No one came.

The only people who could have helped were the factions, and they were outside the barrier, unable to help.

Naruto started to hyperventilate.

'He isn't dead. He can't be…' Naruto thought as he failed to stand, falling over Iroh's tails, now lifeless and unmoving. 'Grandpa is going to be okay…'

His hyperventilation worsened as Albion grunted as he tried to stand, while Ddraig didn't budge, knowing he would not survive even if he did manage to flee.

Naruto's eyes widened in fear at the dragons.

'How did they live?' He thought as he wanted to run, but his body was not responding.

Tears flooded his eyes as he hit the ground.

Albion, using the remnants of his strength, drained the barrier of its power and opened it again.

'This… isn't the end.' He thought before he was beheaded by Michael.

"ALBION!" Ddraig shouted before he was also killed, this time by Azazel.

"That takes care of that." Azazel laughed as he walked next to his brother as the angels started to hack the dragon's corpses into pieces to take back to their father, who had desired to turn them into sacred gears.

"Indeed, and now our war can continue." Lucifer said as he floated above Michael and Azazel.

"WHY!"

They turned and saw Naruto on the ground, unable to move.

"A human?" Lucifer asked, amazed as he realized that it was a human who weakened the dragons. "And General Iroh of the Yokai Faction."

"Why did you guys have to fight?" Naruto demanded, pointing at the faction leaders. "You… you all did this! You are the reason why we put this barrier up! It's all your fault so many had to die!"

Michael, who had also realized that Naruto was the origin of the shuriken, immediately felt grief.

"I am…"

"SHUT UP!" Naruto shouted, his voice cracking and becoming high pitched. "I AM NOT LOOKING FOR YOUR APOLOGIES! I JUST WANT YOU GONE!"

Naruto recoiled when Lucifer appeared before him.

"Don't push your luck, boy." Lucifer stated as his glare bore straight through Naruto.

Naruto shook as sweat covered every segment of his body as the Satan loomed over him and Iroh's body.

Lucifer looked at Iroh's face, seeing the smile.

He closed his eyes and turned, his cape whipping behind him as Naruto hit the ground, three long cuts at vital points opened spraying his blood on the grass, his eyes glazed white.

"Lucifer…" Azazel and Michael stated in disagreement. "He was just a boy who had nothing to do with…"

"He is an enemy." Lucifer replied as he regrouped with his fellow Satan's. "On the battlefield, there are comrades and enemies. Now that the dragons are dead, we no longer have a common goal, meaning all here who aren't devils are my enemy. And the boy will suffer a painless death."

Lucifer signaled for all his men to retreat, and thus the devils left Japan.

Michael ran to Naruto, intent on healing him, but was stopped in his tracks.

'Sand?' He thought as he saw lumps of sand running along the deep lacerations on Naruto's body, red chakra coating the wounds as the blood flow was stemmed.

Azazel whistled in amazement as he watched.

"This is the kid who has chakra that we heard about." Azazel said with a chuckle as Baraqiel, Shemhazai, and Kokabiel rounded up their forces. "Anyway, brother, you need to get your forces to gather the dragon parts before any yokai reinforcements come and think we killed them."

Michael knew Azazel made a good point.

"I will return them to Kyoto." Michael stated as he used magic to coat and carry Iroh and Naruto. "It is the least I can do."

Azazel shrugged.

"Have it your way." Azazel stated before he and his forces left.

"Lord Michael, we are ready to return to Heaven." An angel said to Michael.

"Please, return to father, I will be taking these two men home." Michael replied, unfurling his wings and flying towards Kyoto.

Chapter 8, DONE!

MERRY MOTHER FUCKING CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Once again, thank you all for another year of supporting me, I am really happy I was able to complete some of my goals this year.

I know the year has been tough, but I believe we will make it through.

For anyone wondering, Amagi is a real place in Japan, and I did research. Walking to Amagi from Kyoto would take over fourteen hours, so for Iroh to move between the two locations that fast shows his incredible speed, especially since he is in sage mode.

Please leave a review if you enjoyed the chapter, and if it wasn't up to your liking, please let me know what was wrong so I can do better.

Poll up, very important to the story, please check out.