Disclaimer: The following is a fan-based parody. Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, and Boruto are owned by Masashi Kishimoto and Highschool DxD is owned by Ichiei Ishibumi. Please support the official release.
Chapter 9: Catching Up
"Wow, you really got the literal short end there, ne Shukaku?" Kurama commented with a snicker.
The guards of the palace escorted him to the entrance where the very 'outspoken' person was present for his attention. Amaterasu allowed the guest to come through the gates and step into the inner courtyard with Kurama's permission. If any trouble did break out, which likely would, the goddess had enough trust in the crimson-orange kitsune to handle it with minimum damage. Kurama himself believed that Shukaku will only go so far as to spout some crass words to get him riled up like the old days.
As tall as he was, Kurama had to look straight down just to meet the gaze of familiar golden eyes twitching in irritation at his wide grin. He expected to see Shukaku more burly and grown in some humanoid version of himself as a bijuu. How unfortunate it was that Shukaku's reincarnation as a Yokai coincidentally took more inspiration from his last jinchuriki host. The tanuki even looked like Gaara to the lean form, facial structure, and a height of only 5'3" compared to Kurama's impressive 6'4" showcasing solid muscle. Instead of Gaara's red hair and pale skin, Shukaku had sandy brown hair and a much more tanned complexion. Stretching from his lower back was a giant raccoon tail matching Shukaku's height raised over his head.
Another eye twitch followed by a snarl from Shukaku as he spoke. "Shut up, teme. I bet I can kick your ass."
If there was any improvement in the years they haven't seen each other, it would be that Shukaku had a better lid on his chakra. Normally his chakra would be spilling out violently due to his ill-temper, causing anyone lower than High-class in strength to struggle under the pressure of his power. This was the same issue Shukaku had as a Tailed Beast in the Elemental Nations radiating out his chakra in such amounts that Kurama could feel it across the continen. Not to mention both of their power have increased with the shared chakra from their late siblings and the possible growth they have achieved in this new life. Now despite how Shukaku seethed right now in envy at Kurama's height his chakra was not exploding outward.
"You've gotten better with how controlled your chakra is." Kurama complimented, giving Shukaku a smile. "I'm so proud of my little brother."
"Maybe just enough to beat you." Grumbled Shukaku, looking down to hide his embarrassment.
It was still surreal for the tanuki for Kurama to show genuine affection after their last life. In the Elemental Nations, they both hated each other with Shukaku wanting to get on up on Kurama and the kitsune wanting to obliterate his little brother to get him to stop annoying him. He definitely didn't hate it; it was actually a nice feeling. Not when it was their father who took care of them.
Something landing on his head and ruffling his hair pulled Shukaku's attention to reality. His golden eyes looked up and widened seeing Kurama's arm outstretched messing up his hair in a playful manner. There was no mischief or wicked smile, but one born out of love for his sibling.
"It's good to see you, Shukaku." Kurama said softly. "I really mean that."
"You've really mellowed out in this world." Mumbled Shukaku, his raccoon ears flicking at Kurama's touch. "And... it's good to see you back... Kurama-nii."
Kurama chuckled behind his lips. He promised to himself to be nicer to Shukaku in this new life. It was a bonus that the tanuki wasn't as rabid as he was in the Elemental Nations, otherwise there would be pools of sand all over Kyoto.
"Yeah." Kurama said, gesturing Shukaku to the front. "Walk with me, little brother. Let's catch up."
Shukaku raised a brow but complied anyway. Side by side, the former bijuu descended down the steps of the palace back to the city. Soon, they found themselves walking in the streets of Kyoto blending in with the humans and Yokai bustling through the streets to meet their everyday chores.
"Do you have any idea what's going on with Matatabi and Son Goku?" Kurama asked.
Shukaku shrugged. "Not much. Son Goku lives far out in the continent of Asia with the local Yokai there. He rarely visits Kyoto. Something about becoming the next Sun Wukong. Matatabi is in better touch with me as her clan is still part of Kyoto and the Shinto pantheon as a whole. But with this 'cold war' going on with the devils, she has to devote more of her attention at her home in the Underworld to protect her family in case of a preemptive attack. Honestly with how these devils act with everyone else in the world, I wouldn't put it past them. Since then, I haven't seen her in months."
Kurama stayed in silent ingesting the news about the rest of his siblings. Out of the two, it seemed Matatabi had it worse as she has bonded to the Nekoshou clan she has been born in. More pressure was put on her since she is the heiress of the Nekoshou clan and would fight tooth, claw, and fire to keep her family safe, war be damned. As for Son Goku, it was interesting that he was considered to become the next Monkey King. In this world, his brother was born as a descendent of Sun Wukong and Kurama knew enough of the Buddha's mythical legend that shook the entire Hindu/Buddhism pantheon going as far as to challenge the original Buddha himself, the first man who ascended to godhood through enlightenment. A being that Asura himself had his respect towards and that was saying a lot.
"Everything's looks so grim all of a sudden." Kurama said. "Is there anyway we can help with Matatabi? Try to ease the burden?"
"Since the Nekoshou live in the Underworld, they could be swarmed by devils at any moment." Shukaku answered. "Matatabi's been using Genjutsu and this world's Yojutsu for defense, but nothing to actually repel intruders. And it's not like they can just leave. For some reason, the Nekoshou view their place in the Underworld as sacred, and that just doesn't make any fucking sense to me. Maybe a barrier around their home would work, but we don't exactly have something like that unless you somehow learned magic or fuinjutsu."
Kurama looked away so his brother couldn't see the complicated expression on his face. Technically, he did know fuinjutsu from his first host Mito Uzumaki, one of the strongest of her time and the greatest seal master in Konoha's history. Unlike Kushina and Naruto to an extent, she allowed the bijuu to see the outside world through her senses. This allowed him to see Mito working on her fuinjutsu extensively and he remembered every single calligraphy of the sealing arts that she wrote on paper. Unfortunately while Kurama had a vivid memory of Mito's fuinjutsu seals, he lacked the creativity to utilize them in his own style. At best, he can replicate the fuinjutsu seals Mito made, but can't make any himself.
"I'll think of something." Kurama muttered.
"Better be good." Shukaku replied. "From what I've heard of devils, I'm always expecting for them to teleport and try to lord over me as the 'lesser being' as they would say."
"Why haven't they tried that?" Kurama wondered. "You know, teleporting straight into Kyoto?"
Shukaku scratched his head. "I asked that, but everyone, especially the pious ones, say it's because of 'Amaterasu's protection upon the land' or some shit like that. Honestly, I'm inclined to believe it when I saw her. She feels a lot like that bitch Kaguya, but even when using Indra's pinwheel eye Pops gave us I can't even get a sense what I am seeing from her. It's even weirder when I use Senjutsu cause I actually feel her presence in the natural energy. It's so freaking weird."
"Japan is not just her territory, it's part of her domain." Kurama added. "It's how the power of deities work. They don't need to exert energy and instead simply use their will to do what they need, provided that it is in the scope of their authority. Amaterasu is the chief goddess of the Shinto pantheon, so her influence over Japan is absolute. What she's done is prevent what she deems outsiders from entering her territory, not without force at least and still that will catch her attention. After, it's not called the Land of the Rising Sun for no reason."
"You seem to know a lot how these things with deities and their powers work." Shukaku noted.
Kurama curled his lips. "I've been living with the strongest god there is in this world for over ten years. I was bound to pick up some facts. As for why you feel Amaterasu in Japan's natural energy, remember there were never really any gods in the Elemental Nations. It makes sense you would do so since the land is a part of her will."
Shukaku growled. "Damn, it's so fucking confusing. At least back when we were bijuu it was never that complicated, even when were sealed into humans for some stupid way to use our power. Now we are stuck in this world with so much bullshit with fucking gods and magic. I'm gonna put sand in my brain if there's somehow a magic for girls that make them glitter and sparkle like a damn rainbow because of some bullshit excuse of 'friendship'."
"Then better get used to it, little brother." Kurama said with a snicker, patting the shorter man's back. "This is our home now. A chance for us to live how we want. I for one want to use it to protect this place that has given me the closest to a childhood."
"Oh?" Shukaku said, a smirk growing on his lips. "It wouldn't be because of a certain golden vixen, is it?"
Kurama didn't answer. The large kitsune simply stopped in the middle of the street awfully still. He was just ahead of Shukaku that the tanuki was unable to see his face and the many expressions it was making. His mind suddenly went back to Yasaka, remembering their short but heartfelt reunion. The kitsune's mind was focused on the wonderful smile on her face full of relief to see him again and the soft giggles that tingled something in Kurama's heart.
Shukaku continued, his tone teasing. "Oh yes, it is quite noble for you to put yourself in to protect these people you hardly know. But it certainly can't be because of a beautiful golden wonder that has caught your eye, hmmm? You definitely weren't coming back to see the kitsune girl you've played and laughed with as you grew up, but now you're finally back only to be dazzeled to see how much she has blossomed into one hell of a woman. I mean, seriously, have you seen the pair of giants on her chest!? She has to have back muscles strong enough to cave in blocks of steel if she can stand as-"
Kurama's hands snapped to Shukaku's mouth, shutting it closed from speaking another word. The tanuki glared at being interrupted so rudely and trailed his eyes up only to widen meeting Kurama's eyes. His slit crimson pupils morphed into the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan glowing an ominous bloody red intensifying the death stare Shukaku was receiving. It made him feel so much smaller in comparison, and he wasn't talking about when they were still Tailed Beasts.
"It would be kind of you, Shukaku," Kurama spoke lowly, leaning into Shukaku's ear, "to not make anymore crass comments about Yasaka. Otherwise, I would be obliged to show all that I have learned to their full effect."
An audible gulp was Shukaku's response followed by repeatedly nodding in agreement. After a few seconds staring down at his brother, Kurama let go of Shukaku and canceled his EMS back to his normal eyes. A part of him was cursing himself for lashing out at Shukaku like that, but Kurama was not going to stand there and let the tanuki say things like that about Yasaka. Certainly not about her breasts; Kurama didn't want to have another perverted degenerate like the ones two of his hosts have been surrounded by.
Thinking back to Matatabi, Kurama could not keep down his worry. His sister was stuck all the way in the Underworld practically surrounded by devils. Yokai didn't have any real means of dimensional travel like how devils teleport themselves with their magic circles unless a Yokai had the capability of using magic, which were in the minority as a people whose power derived from chakra. Their most used form of teleportation between worlds was gods like Amaterasu and Shinigami setting up a tube-like tunnel, and this was available to the Nekoshou clan exclusively given their home in the Underworld. He could possibly use his eyes to transfer himself to the Underworld, but it was a shot in the dark since Kurama has never been to the Underworld.
'Matatabi, hope you're doing alright.' Kurama thought, trying to direct his mind to another topic such as how to spend the rest of his day.
(Nekoshou Estate; Underworld)
Within the Underworld, it may seem like Earth's night and day but that was the result of the Four Satans changing the sky through highly advanced illusion magic to resemble day and night cycles. It was put into effect when the new devil regime started reincarnating other people to heal their population. Once long ago, the skies used to roil in dark hues of purple and sometimes blood red if there were lightning storms. They were days where the Underworld was truly an untamed landscape just a step away from becoming what Hell was.
At least, that was what Matatabi would hear from her mother, Fujimai, when she went on a rant about the old days. She did not care at all really about the 'old days' of what the Underworld looked like. Instead, her priority was keeping her clan - her new family - safe. Relations between Shinto and the Underworld have worsened and with the Nekoshou clan bordering the devil's territory her family was in the red zone for a potential start of war. All of this starting from tensions built up years ago would be putting a lot of pressure on a child who would become the next head of the clan. Fortunately, Matatabi was far from the mentality of a child on the day she was reborn and she took this on with her head held high.
Fellow Nekoshou within the estate would say these troubling times have forged the young girl they once knew into a strong and beautiful Yokai woman. The former two-tailed bijuu would be found in her private quarters in a very spartan room with wooden floors and paper walls. There in the center Matatabi sat in a meditative stance surrounded by candles lit in blue flames. Resting on her lap was a sheathed Japanese blade almost as long to be considered a nodachi, built with a dark purple handle and a circular guard, and sheathed within a wooden scabbard colored a scorched red.
She had blossomed from the little girl into a beautiful woman to make heads turn. Her dark blue kimono wrapped in a yellow obi held close to her hourglass figure. From her neckline, the garment split in a 'V' to give a peek to her well developed breasts that surpassed a certain blonde the former bijuu used to know when Yugito of Kumo was her host. Matatabi was not simply gorgeous, but obviously athletic with a flat belly and strong limbs coiled with trained muscle. Her hair was a startling dark blue like a pond's reflection of the night sky and grew to reach her wide hips. The Nekoshou's face had matured to develop features full of grace similar to a royal with a blue bang of her hair dangling over her left eye. A pair of cat ears on top of her head twitched occasionally, their similar color blending in with her hair. From her behind stretching from the confines of her kimono was a set of nine cat tails, denoting her as the most powerful Nekoshou in history. It was enough of a cause for celebration in both the Nekomata and Nekoshou households as Matatabi had become the first to have grown nine tails at all and at such a young age before she even turned thirty.
Matatabi couldn't wait to rub this in Kurama's face. He was going to be scathing and so confused when he realizes he no longer is the only one with nine tails.
Currently, Matatabi was in a deep trance of Senjutsu as noted by the paint-like markings of onyx on her face, making patterns of three prongs on her forehead and branching out from her eyes. It was odd that the Underworld's and Earth's natural energy were the same as she had expected using Senjutsu in the Underworld would be much more chaotic to control. It was as if the two dimensions were merely reflections of each other. She was using the art to stretch her senses across not just the Nekoshou household but also the acres of land they owned. In this way, Matatabi's senses monitored the borders of her family's territory always on the lookout if the devils made an alarming approach. Devils could try and teleport themselves directly into the estate, but Matatabi's use of flooding the land with her chakra through Genjutsu and Yojutsu made such ways impossible with the interfering energy. Occasionally, Matatabi would get blips of activity, possibly spies from the devil's side.
She could go on with this for days monitoring her home to make sure of its safety and only forced out by worried family members. Such actions always made Matatabi surprised, having not received strong familial affections in her long life as a Tailed Beast. It made Matatabi treasure these people all the more, reincarnated or not.
A knock on her door loosened Matatabi's concentration, but not so much she completely lost her hold on Sage Mode. Mismatching eyes of yellow and green blinked open and turned to the entrance where she noticed a shadow beyond waiting patiently. Matatabi sighed, knowing what it was about based on how empty her stomach felt and the dryness of her throat. She nearly skipped a meal, a very bad habit she was making ever since starting this watch on her territory's border.
"Come in." Matatabi called after clearing her throat so her voice didn't sound so hoarse.
The doors slid open, revealing her visitor to be a fellow Nekoshou of the estate and like most in the clan was female. In supernatural terms, the Nekoshou was ordinary but still very beautiful with flowing brown hair, a heart-shaped face, blue eyes, and a sizable bust. Her garments were ordinary with only a kimono of a white and black scheme, and like most Nekoshou she possessed cat ears and two tails swinging behind her back. In her hands was a tray of food consisting of freshly roasted fish and fresh water.
Matatabi graced her fellow Nekoshou with a kind smile, beckoning her inside. Despite the Nekoshou's youthful appearance matching the heiress, the apparent servant was much older. The former bijuu can attest to that as this very Nekoshou of the clan played a part in raising her as she grew up, becoming like an older sister. In truth, the Nekoshou was over fifty years old, but the immortality perks of Yokai were guaranteed to always keep a graceful appearance.
"Evening, Lady Toujou." The Nekoshou greeted in a polite bow. "You missed lunch, so I've brought it here for your conveiniecne."
"How many times do I have to say it, Kahori." Matatabi said, getting into a more comfortable position. "Just call me Matatabi."
"That would be uncouth of me, Lady Toujou, as you are the heiress to our clan." Kahori replied back as professional, but Matatabi could feel the amused smile she was hiding.
Matatabi pouted. "Mou~, Kahori-nee-chan. You don't have to be so stuck up. Relax a little."
"Not when I have a duty to perform as your servant, Lady Toujou." Kahori shot back with that same professional tone. "Besides, isn't hypocritical on your part? You've kept yourself cooped up in here for hours on end without coming out for food. I, for one believe, you are the one that needs to relax. Don't try deny it, my lady."
Matatabi made an exasperated groan at Kahori's persistence. She had the most insight into what Matatabi felt at any given time. The former bijuu simply could not hide it from this woman who has dedicated herself to protect her. As Matatabi sighed in defeat, Kahori took that as her cue to approach the future matriarch of the Nekoshou clan. She kneeled down to Matatabi's level and presented the platter before her. Once Matatabi eyed the food before her, her stomach growled in want and she had no choice but to swipe it close to her, digging into the delicious fish her feline nature adored.
'So good~.' Matatabi squealed in her head.
As being of her age that was mostly formless energy, taste was a new pleasure for the bijuu in this new life.
"Thank you." Matatabi said in a pause before proceeding to devour the jasmine rice soaked in shellfish curry.
For a moment, Kahori's professional expression broke into a worried frown before she spoke. "Lady Toujou, I really must insist that you take a break from these long watches with your Senjutsu. We barely see you outside of this room while you have all of your senses focused on our borders alert for an attack. I know you mean the best of us, but please you must stop. At least for a moment."
Matatabi stopped in her motions as she finished gulping down her water. Her lackadaisical smile diminished into a miserable frown. Her cat ears drooped down on her head and her nine tails slumped down to the floor. In this state, Kahori saw her charge for what she truly was: a woman carrying too much weight, but could not stop due to the love for the love of her family. Kahori saw the crushing fear flashing in her mismatched eyes that would then occasionally flash into a crimson-black pattern Matatabi called her Sharingan, glowing with untold power.
"I can't..." Matatabi whimpered. "I can't stop. Not when you're all in so much danger. You're not just a clan, you're my family, and I'm not going to 'relax' when you could be threatened at any moemnt. Not when you could all be swarmed the instant as a start to a war."
"But war hasn't happened yet." Kahori retorted, taking Matatabi's hands gently. "And even if the devils attack, the defenses you have set up will hinder them long enough for reinforcements to come and the noncombatants of the clan to escape to Kyoto. All of us in the clan know how much you want to protect us, but you can't do that if you exhaust yourself like this."
A scoff almost escaped Matatabi's lips. Exhaustion wasn't in her vocabulary. With her chakra reserves even greater than they were when she was a Tailed Beast, Matatabi could go on for weeks on end using Senjutsu and her chakra to rejuvenate herself. Though a part of her mind knew that was not healthy to do so, especially with a body of flesh and blood.
"Then tell me this, Kahori." Matatabi said. "If I am not here and the devils attack, do you believe you can last? Do you think the clan can survive against the force of one of their pillar families, much less their main military? Can you say you can live through that?"
Kahori could not hide the grimace on her face, struggling to answer her mistress. Nekoshous were a stronger variant of Nekomata Yokai and were greater practitioners of Senjutsu and other chakra arts. However, the clan was small in its numbers, not counting those that have not settled in the estate, and their powers were limited in their destructive capability compared to the magics of devils that were mostly designed to inflict damage. An invasion from devils was always the fear of the clan living in the Underworld. Only when Matatabi was born and grew up into the sheer powerhouse realized by the clan, expressing levels of chakra to rival God-class beings, use of it in a destructive manner with the elements, and the bizarre powers that her eyes had. To the clan as a whole, Matatabi was a blessing from Takama-ga-hara born to be bring a new age to the Nekoshou clan, along with unique individuals such as the last tanuki, Shukaku, and the descendant of Sun Wukong, Son Goku. The problem was that she was one person capable of warding invasions upon the Nekoshous while the rest of the clan were not so well versed in the art of warfare.
"I... I don't believe so, milady." Kahori admitted. "As strong as we are, we cannot hold ourselves if an entire noble family of the devils would descend upon us. Not without your power, of course. But that doesn't mean you have to keep watch like this. If an invasion ever occurs, we are not going to forsake our lives. What I am saying, Matatabi, is that you can take a break, and that I and the rest of the clan are insisting you do so for your own health."
Matatabi's left eye and cat ears twitched as the only sign of her irritation. She could not find a way to argue back, or rather she didn't have the heart to. This was not just Kahori but the entire clan that wanted to repay Matatabi by relieving the nine-tailed Nekoshou of her self-imposed duty. Such were the complications of family.
"Fine." Relented Matatabi, the flames of the candles burning out and the Senjutsu marks on her body disappearing. "I will take a break."
"Not so fast, milady." Kahori interrupted with a raised finger. "We believe that you deserve not just a break, but also a vacation for extended time to relax."
Matatabi widened his eyes. "Now hold on-"
"The clan view this not as a gift, but something desiring to your health." Kahori continued, raising her voice. "Your overall mentality and physical health is also a priority to the clan as you're the heiress and the most powerful Nekoshou in history. And to be quite honest, you really do need a vacation."
Matatabi growled, throwing her hands up in frustration. "Okay, then I'll just hang around the more recreational parts of the estate. Maybe play with the children and help out with the crops."
"Nope." Kahori denied, making Matatabi do a face fault. "With your track record, it can't be left to chance that you will suddenly find yourself occupied checking your Yojutsu placements over and over. I believe a trip to Japan will do you more good."
"Then who is going to look after the clan while I am gone!?" Matatabi exclaimed, gripping handfuls of her hair.
"Your mother of course." Kahori answered. "She still is the clan head after all. While you may argue about her pacifist views, we both know that Lady Fujimai looks out for the best of the clan."
A feline's hiss escaped Matatabi's lips and her nine tails stood on end. Coming to a peak, Matatabi gave a strangled cry, throwing her head back and lying down on the floor. A sweat drop appeared on Kahori's neck, having witnessed this comical fit when Matatabi was quite pissed when she was younger.
"Where would I even go?" Matatabi said through gritted teeth.
She didn't know how to 'do' a vacation, never actually understanding the concept of it.
"Why not Kyoto?" Kahori suggested. "It is quite lovely this time of year. Lots of Yokai to mingle with and perhaps you might be able to see a grand wedding that will happen soon."
"Kyoto, huh?" Matatabi muttered, her gaze aimless for a moment.
She hasn't been back there for several months, and the only worth in going there was Shukaku. Kurama and Son Goku were across the planet with the latter only having been seen once in the ten years apart. Matatabi didn't just hope; she dreamed to see all of her siblings. Yet she was always disappointed not to see Kurama or Son Goku there. It wasn't like Shukaku was insufferable as the tanuki had mellowed out and made decent company for Matatabi. But the whole time Matatabi really missed having all of her siblings at once. They may not be related by blood, but their origins kept them as close.
"You win." Matatabi said, lifting herself till she was standing a full height of 5'6". "I'll go pack my things and enjoy this gift of a vacation. But, I swear, Kahori if I hear that-"
"Do not worry so much." Kahori assured, smiling with a waving hand. "We are in a cold war for now. If in the slim chance we are attacked, you have Shinigami to send you down here as soon as possible. After all, your pact as his priestess grants the lands of our claim his watch as well. There is no reason to be paranoid."
"To me, there is no such thing as being paranoid." Matatabi retorted, picking up her sword and securing it to her back with a strap. "Though, it would be nice to see the devils' faces when they meet the ire of the Lord of Death himself."
Kahori chuckled. "My, that would be interesting to watch."
Matatabi sighed. "I guess I should get myself ready."
"Allow me to collect your possessions, milady." Kahori said, standing up to leave before giving her charge a wink. "After all, this is your vacation, so relax."
Matatabi gave a grunt of acknowledgement, letting Kahori leave the room to herself once again. It was just now that Matatabi realized how stiff her joints were after meditating in Sage Mode for so long. As a powerful Yokai, she needed to move more often as her feline instincts demanded. Perhaps she could really use this vacation for just a week. Yet at the same time Matatabi could not get rid of this gut feeling that something incredible was going to happen on this trip to Kyoto... and she couldn't help smile about it.
'At least it won't be boring, I guess.' Matatabi thought.
A bit short, but this chapter was to introduce Shukaku and Matatabi as they are now. Matatabi is under pressure as heiress and impending danger upon her family situated in the Underworld. The reason I made it such a big deal about the Nekoshou's being in the Underworld was because I don't know how teleportation works for the Shinto faction without magic. DxD Senjutsu does not cover such fields, and I am not sure they are any chakra techniques besides Summoning and whatever bullshit the Rinnegan can do with dimensional travel. I would think that certain 'gates' connect Yokai across dimesions operated by their gods that have that capability, and if so choose those people to teleport between the Underworld and Earth.
Up next is Chapter 10: Monkey Sage of the Fire Mountains
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