Original Posted On Oct. 27, 2021
Beta Read by: Crowfeast
Review Response:
Calderoneric758: Close, but only one third of a cigar.
Redlox2: Yeah, I agree, the ending was perfect for chapter 49. As for the Serums, they won't. BUT they might have a successor.
Spellbat: Yes, Zest will be apart of the Harem, just not at the moment, she is a child. I like her design and I have an interesting hint to why she is a rabbit and not a monkey like Son. I don't think anyone would see this coming.
SolSparda369: I think I took an interesting direction with Zest. Zest will be very loved by her teachers and family. Nothing like an Uchiha. True, I never noticed the pattern of Naruto's kids having their issues. Thanks for pointing that out.
Al's Grey Ghost: Naruhodo? As in, the comic/hentai artist?
Children:
Yasaka
Partners:
Tamamo (Wife, Deceased), Lucoa (Girlfriend), Hilda (Girlfriend)
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 50: Spicing up Life
?, Underworld…
In an old castle owned by a deceased Devil Pillar family, multiple candles were lit on a small table, strewn with paperwork.
Outside, a gigantic rain storm raged, the violent pitter-patter of rain hitting the windows and the roof echoed through the halls of the should be empty castle.
"It seems our associate, Zolgia and his wife Zelda, have perished." A man stated to his two comrades.
"It was inevitable. Zolgia had been in poor health for many years." The other man said as he rapped his hands against the table. "I say good riddance. His obsession would hinder us more if he was till alive. Although, his research on genetics and the serum will and are valuable assets."
"Along with the chakra samples he sent us." The only female said with a callous smirk, prompting the two men to grin in agreement.
"So, since we divided all nine chakras evenly and replicated Zolgia and Zelda's notes amongst ourselves, that we are at the end of our partnership." The 'leader' said as he wove his fingers together.
"I don't think we are quite done." The woman stated as she leaned into her arm. "I say we stay in contact, so if one of us dies or is killed, our research and resources won't be taken by any unworthy individuals. Like the Satan's, the Angels, or Azazel."
"I agree, so I second her proposition." The second man said, pushing some hair out of his face. "If my sister found out about my sacred gear research, she would not hesitate to stop me. Be it by enforcement of the law, or killing me outright."
The 'leader' closed his eyes in thought before slowly opening them.
"I also agree, so this motion shall pass between us, the Collective." He stated as he stood up, holding out his arm.
The second man stood up, grasping the extended arm by the wrist.
The woman stood up and grabbed the second man's wrist, allowing the first man to grab her own wrist.
"For our goals, we, the Collective, shall put aside all differences to succeed." All three stated in unison, their wings unfurling.
The two men bore multiple devil wings while the woman held black, feathered wings.
Lightning struck, illuminating the room, allowing them all to see each other's smiling faces.
"TO THE COLLECTIVE!" the stated, arms lifted to the ceiling.
Meanwhile, Kyoto, Japan…
Naruto rubbed his face with his hand.
It had been roughly an hour since he and Hilda returned with Ophis and the newly named Zest asleep in Hilda's arms.
They had been able to dress and put Zest in a futon to sleep before Lucoa barged in, about to say something before going silent when she took notice of the young child in the futon.
Lucoa, unpredictably, had sweetly walked next to him before grabbing his neck and choking him.
"YOU BASTARD, GOING OUT THERE AND FUCKING A RABBIT YOKAI BEHIND MY BACK!" Lucoa shouted, startling Hilda.
Akasha and Harribel barreled into the room, having heard Lucoa's shout. Upon seeing Lucoa choking a blue faced Naruto, they joined Hilda in her futile attempts to get the dragon off of Naruto as Ophis laughed in the corner.
They were able to pry Lucoa's fingers off when Yasaka arrived.
After his near-death experience, Naruto had to explain all he could with Hilda to Lucoa, Akasha, Yasaka and Harribel in the dining room to let the young girl sleep.
"Oh…" Lucoa said sheepishly, fidgeting as she sat down. "I'm sorry…"
"No, it's okay." Naruto replied weakly, rubbing his still sore neck. "Next time, just… don't."
Lucoa nodded, unable to look Naruto in the eyes.
"Papa, what are we going to do with… Zest, was it?" Yasaka asked as she dismissed Harribel and Akasha, since they were not needed at the moment.
Naruto leaned into his hand as Harribel and Akasha left.
"Honestly, I… I am not sure." Naruto replied honestly to his daughter, getting a serious look from Lucoa, Hilda, and Ophis. "She was created through magic and science. She was made from Son's chakra and the eggs of the woman who created her."
"Yes, Zelda told me that Son's chakra was able to override her genetics." Hilda added as she looked at Yasaka. "Meaning she is a true yokai with tailed beast power. But it doesn't explain why she is a rabbit when Son is a monkey."
Ophis chuckled.
"What is funny, Ophis?" Naruto asked, not finding the situation funny at all.
"A devil woman's genetics were removed by a power that is only one part of what was originally a single whole." Ophis replied cryptically.
Lucoa tilted her head in confusion.
Hilda could not connect any dots no matter how hard she thought.
Yasaka racked her brain but could not come with an answer.
'Originally a single whole?' Naruto repeated in his head as he thought about what he knew. 'The only things that I know that started as a single whole are the biju, but that doesn't…'
Naruto's eyes widened.
'If… wait… it… no…' He thought as he dwelled on it. "It can't be… Ophis."
Ophis turned to look at him.
"You aren't saying that the reason why Zest is a rabbit is because of Kaguya being the origin of the tailed beasts." Naruto said in restrained concern and worry.
Ophis pointed her finger and him.
"Bang." She said as she moved her hand back like a gun. "You got it right on the first try, Ashura. Mom is proud of you."
Naruto shook as Yasaka gasped.
'Kaguya.' He thought with grit teeth.
"Naruto?" Hilda and Lucoa asked in concern. "What is wrong?"
"Kaguya was a powerful opponent that papa faced." Yasaka told them, knowing Naruto would attempt to hide it. "He and his friend Sasuke were able to seal her away. She had all nine tailed beasts sealed within a statue, which was then sealed inside of her. If Sasuke had died, Papa would never have been able to stop her."
"She was a god." Naruto stated as he calmed down. "It's like Yasaka said. If Sasuke wasn't there, I would not have been able to seal her."
He looked at his palms, seeing the sun and moon markings.
"I was given the sun," He shows his right palm. "And Sasuke had the Moon, and the Rinne-Sharingan." He showed then his left palm and opened his Rinne-Sharingan. "If I had this power all to myself, I probably could have won. If we fought now, I believe I could still win, but it would most likely be a close battle."
Naruto shook his head.
"It happened a long time ago, and the only one who could undo the seal was sealed with her." He spat out. "But knowing this…"
"You don't know how to feel about Zest?" Lucoa asked calmly as she looked at him.
"Yeah…" Naruto admitted shamefully. "She won't be 'normal'. Zest might or might not have any Six Paths powers because of this. I just… I am…"
Yasaka, having enough, walked up and bonked Naruto on the head hard enough to make his eyes bug out.
"YASAKA!" Naruto shouted in irritation and pain while a large welt blossomed on his head.
"Papa, you are over thinking this." Yasaka stated with a deadpanned expression and tone. "Just raise her. If something happens, then we will help you. It is that simple."
Naruto didn't think.
"You're right." He said as he looked away. "But I am afraid that I might not be able to 'just raise' her."
Before they could continue their conversation, there was a weak knock at the door.
Lucoa got up and opened it, looking out and seeing no one, even when she checked the halls.
"Uhm… excuse me…" a soft, childish voice mumbled, causing Lucoa to look down and see Zest standing at the door.
Zest looked up, showing Lucoa her lime green eyes.
"Where am I?" Zest asked as she looked at the strange woman.
"You are in Kyoto." Lucoa said with a soft tone, smiling as she squatted down to be eye level with Zest.
Zest started to shake.
"I… I am not supposed to be here." She stammered, eyes starting to water. "Lady Zelda and Lord Zolgia… did they abandon me?"
"No, they didn't." Naruto stated as he approached the door, staring down at the child, who looked at him, tears streaming down her face.
Naruto's heart squeezed itself as he looked at her.
Kneeling down, Naruto reached out.
Zest flinched, eyes closing, expecting to get hit.
Gentle hands caressed her cheeks, thumbs carefully wiping away her tears, causing her to open her eyes in confusion.
"Your mother didn't abandon you." Naruto explained calmly, which made Yasaka, Lucoa, Hilda, and Ophis nervous. "Your mother, Zelda, fought to protect you from Zolgia. In the end, she entrusted you to me."
"I-is she de-dead?" Zest hiccupped.
"I am sorry." Naruto replied.
Zest could barely hold her turmoil.
"D-do-does this…" Zest wiped her nose, snot smearing her sleeping yukata sleeve. "Make… you... my dad?"
"No, it doesn't." Naruto stated bluntly.
"Naruto!" Lucoa gasped.
"Be nice." Hilda scolded.
"Don't be mean!" Yasaka ordered.
All three were appalled at how Naruto was just being honest with Zest.
Naruto ignored his family as he stared comfortingly into Zest's eyes, letting go of her face and scooping her into a hug.
"I am not your father, but I am your master. You are my apprentice." Naruto stated as he cracked a small smile. "You can call me 'Sensei'."
Zest's wall broke.
She gripped Naruto's clothing tightly, letting loose a loud cry. Waterfall's burst from her eyes as snot blasted from her nose.
Naruto didn't bother as he comforted her.
Lucoa, Hilda, Yasaka, and Ophis sighed in relief.
'Kind of roundabout, but it seems Ashura figured out what he is going to do.' Ophis thought before small irritation set it. 'He is going to make her is apprentice… why does this feel familiar?'
Skip…
"Ow…" Zest mildly moaned.
"Sit still, I'm almost done." Naruto stated as he was behind Zest, washing her long hair with soap as the rest of the residents of the compound prepared to shower.
*Whistle* "I didn't expect you to be into young women, Naruto~" Yoruichi, who was scrubbing her husband's (Zuko) back.
Zuko frowned and smacked Yoruichi with his tail, soap suds that had been on his tail flying into her eyes.
"OW, SOAP IN MY EYES!" Yoruichi screamed as she shot back, smashing into Lucoa.
Lucoa jolted forward, squishing Hilda (Whose hair Lucoa was cleaning) against the wall.
Yoruichi slid down the ground, clutching her face.
"WATER!" She shouted.
Lots of hot water rained down upon the nekomata, washing the soap out of her eyes.
"How did you fall?" Yasaka asked as she and Harribel stood above her with buckets. "You know the Water Walking technique?"
"Well, excuse me when soap gets in my eyes, I panic!" Yoruichi replied with sass.
"Okay, calm down." Akasha said as she stepped between Yoruichi and Yasaka. "We aren't setting a good example for Zest if we all act like kids."
Everyone chuckled as Naruto grabbed a bucket of water and poured it on Zest, washing out her hair.
"Are we done?" Zest asked as she wiped the water out of her face.
"Not yet, you need to wash your body." Naruto said as he turned Zest around to face a mirror. "Do what I do."
Naruto grabbed a towel and bar of soap, which Zest mimicked.
He scrubbed the towel against the soap, making suds and then started to clean his body, to which Zest repeated on her own body.
"Is this the first time you have bathed?" Hilda asked as she sat down next to the young child.
Zest nodded.
"Today is the first time I have been out of the tank I was created in." Zest replied.
Naruto and Hilda blinked.
"How did you…" Hilda asked in surprise.
"Lady Zelda would talk to me." Zest stated as she stood up, ready to get into the hot spring. "She would talk to all of us, but she spoke to me the most."
"I see." Naruto said as he got up, took Zest's hand. "Let's go to the hot spring."
As Naruto and Zest walked out, Akasha watched them.
"Hm," Akasha hummed with a smirk as the door leading to the bath closed. "Seems like Naruto has another person to care for."
"Hmph, jealous?" Yasaka asked with a smirk.
"No, are you? Because she will most likely take all of his time." Akasha retorted.
Yasaka stiffened.
'Hm, guess she didn't think of that.' Akasha giggled.
The large group finished preparing and filed out into the large hot spring, seeing Naruto resting with Zest on his lap.
'Oh, that is cute!' Lucoa thought as she and Hilda approached Naruto and sat beside him.
The cool air nipped at everyone's skin, which was contrasted against the warm water.
That night…
Naruto slept with Lucoa and Hilda beside him, the three adults haphazardly strewn about on the futon, as Zest slept in the same room in a separate futon.
Unlike the adult's peaceful sleep, Zest was curled up, shivering with a panicked frown.
"No…" She mumbled, turning to lay on her right arm. "NO!"
Dream…
Zest smiled as she stood before Naruto, who was smiling down at her.
"You're doing well, Zest." Naruto said as he patted her head, making her very happy.
The sound of ceramic pottery shattering rang in Zest's ears, making her turn, eyes opening to see where it came from.
To her horror, she was back in the lab, no longer wearing the gi she had been wearing, leaving her naked.
Her heart dropped, beating loudly in her ears and throat as she turned again.
"Sensei!" Zest screamed as she ran to the door, taking a left turn down the hall.
Zest ran, her bare feet slapping against the cold stone and wood of the halls as she continued to run.
"SENSEI!" She screamed as loud as she could before a B-Troll turned a corner and grabbed her in its mighty hand. "NO! LET ME GO!"
Panic flooded Zest's body as she kicked and screamed for Naruto to come as the B-Troll carried her back to the lab.
When it turned right once, they had arrived.
The poor child was confused as she had been running for what had felt like an eternity but the B-Troll brought her back in less than a minute.
"Oh, good." A male voice stated as B-Troll neared a familiar sight. "You have done well, my dear."
Zest went cold as she turned to see Zolgia and Zelda.
"I did, but we still need to test on living specimens." Zelda said, ignoring Zest and her struggles.
"MOM, PLEASE STOP THEM!" Zest cried out, tears of fear and hope gushing from her eyes. "MOM!"
"Anyway, they need to grow for a few months before we can actively test their abilities." Zelda said with a sigh, disappointed in herself for not being able to hasten the enhanced growth for her experiments.
Zest's throat felt like it sealed itself shut as she was shoved into a case, her arms latched in place by the B-Troll.
"NO, NO, NO, PLEASE!" Zelda begged as she witnessed Zelda walk toward her. "MOM PLEASE DON'T SEND ME BACK! I'LL DO ANYTHING! SENSEI!"
Zest tried to pry her arms out of their restraints, but was stopped when a breathing mask was applied to her face by Zelda, the tube forcing her mouth open so oxygen would filter into her lungs. Her vision was obscured, barely able to see outside of to small slits for her eyes to look out of.
"We are ready for the test." Zelda said as she secured the mask tightly.
Zest shook her head, attempting to lung forward, but the restraints on her arms kept her from doing so.
Zelda stepped to the side of the tank, pressing a handful of buttons on it.
Zest heard the sound of the case closing, her eyes widening in fear as her ears slowly began to lose sound from the outside world.
A hiss was heard as the tank was sealed.
Zest frantically shook her head, attempting to beg, but with the mask restricting her mouth's movement, all she could do was thrash around.
Zelda stepped before the case, caressing it with her hand as Zest felt a familiar warm liquid fill the tank.
'No…' She thought as she started to feel hot, staring her mom in the face through the mask's eye slits. 'No…'
Zelda held no love in her eyes.
They were cold, and steeled with scientific desire for answers to her theories. The answers to her questions. And the desire for achievement.
Zest panted into her mask, her body now half way submerged in the liquid as the sweat on her body started to evaporate.
The warm temperature started to rapidly increase until it was unbearably scorching.
The feeling continued to swell inside Zest's body before it exploded.
Dream End…
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Naruto snapped out of his sleep, jumping up as he heard Zest scream, holding his hand up from the intense light Zest's body emitted as her chakra shrouded her in lava. A single, wispy tail swung behind her.
She shot up to her knees, tears flying upward and evaporating as she cried out loudly, hitting the floor, sending chunks of lava everywhere.
As the chakra spread, the lava like substance did as well. In turn the mats of the compounds floor caught ablaze, spreading a fire.
"Naruto, what… oh my god." Hilda gasped out as she looked at Zest.
"Oh, shit!" Lucoa choked out, eyes snapping open.
"You two deal with the fire, I'll calm down Zest!" Naruto yelled, taking steps toward the crying child.
Without hesitation, Lucoa and Hilda went into action.
Lucoa's hands glowed a bright blue as water covered her hands.
She got into a position and waved her hands around before clapping them together.
"Water Dragon's Cradle." She stated, the water on her hands rippling with her magic, getting bigger as it drew in water molecules from the air.
The water, as if it had a life of its own, shot from Lucoa's hands and covered both Naruto and Zest in a dome of water.
"There, that should prevent more from happening." Lucoa stated, holding her position. "Though… I can't move unless I want it to break. I need to work on my other dragon magics to get this weakness over with."
"Well, you didn't, so stop complaining!" Hilda replied in irritation as she drew her sword from her parasol, her magic flaring.
The bangs covering her left eye hovered above her eyebrow, giving Hilda her perfect vision.
With the extra perception granted to her with both eyes, Hilda wove between the inferno, slicing it with her blade.
In an instant, the fire outside Lucoa's water dome was gone, encasing Hilda's blade as she stood near the dome.
"Ha, show off." Lucoa chuckled out as she watched Hilda dowse the intense pillar of fire by impaling the dome of water. "Cutting the air itself in half, creating a gap of nothingness between it, you can cut fire and with magic, keep it along your blade."
"Oh, shut up." Hilda grunted as she sheathed her sword, looking at her burned hand. 'That girl's lava… it created flames strong enough to hurt me.' She peered inside the dome, seeing Naruto get closer to Zest. 'She has great potential she does.'
"What is going on here!" Yasaka shouted as she felt Zest's chakra and the increasing temperature of the compound.
"It's nothing!" Lucoa said in an antsy tone, doing her best to keep her concentration. "Just… just…"
"Go back to bed, Yasaka." Hilda said calmly, putting her hand on Yasaka's shoulder when Yasaka saw the interior of the dome. "Naruto is handling it. And if push comes to shove, Lucoa and I will step in."
Yasaka was forced out of the room, the door shutting in her face and locked with magic to keep her out.
Within the dome, Naruto was using Son's Lava Style chakra cloak to allow himself to get closer to Zest, who was glowing a bright yellow-white from how hot she was pushing her chakra.
"ZEST!" Naruto shouted, reaching out to her.
He winced in pain as his hand got closer.
"Naruto!" Son shouted as he and the rest witnessed Naruto's hand begin to melt.
Instantly, Naruto's arm became that of Son's, his skin resistant to heat, made the final push and grabbed Zest's shoulder.
Zest looked toward him, seeing Naruto with a look of worry on his face.
Zest lunged at him, her extremely hot body grasping onto his, cowering in his grasp.
Naruto winced in pain from the heat, but ignored it.
"Sensei…" Zest choked out as she remembered the tight enclosed space. "… don't… don't put me back…"
Her breathing started to pick up as she hugged her arms.
"DON'T PUT ME BACK IN THE TANK!" Zest screamed, expelling a massive amount of her chakra, causing lava to hit the water dome. "DONT PUT ME BACK IN THE TANK!"
Steam hissed to life as it clouded the enclosure.
Naruto hugged Zest, her face in his chest.
"DON'T PUT ME BACK IN THE TANK!"
"It's going to be okay, Zest." Naruto said in a forced calm tone, doing his best impression as he rubbed her back. "I am right here, so there is no need to be afraid."
Zest hiccupped and cried in his grasp, slowly but surely calming down.
As her mind regained ease, the heat died down slowly, and eventually, Zest's chakra cloak faded, allowing Naruto to end his own.
"Feeling better?" Naruto asked in hidden pain.
His entire torso and his limbs were severely burned with his clothes now ash.
Zest hiccupped a bit more as Lucoa undid the dome, its water rushing over her and Naruto, creating more steam as the now charred floor was instantly cooled.
"Don't put me back…" She thought, leaning into Naruto's warmth. "I'm… I'm sorry… I'll do anything, please don't…"
"It's okay." Naruto replied as he patted her head, making Zest melt into him. "We won't put you back, I promise."
'Seems like she is claustrophobic.' Lucoa thought as she looked at Hilda, who nodded.
Zest continued to weakly apologize until she passed out from chakra exhausted, mental exhaustion, and exhaustion.
"She is going to be trouble." Naruto mumbled, running his hand through Zest's long hair. "But she is worth it."
Hilda and Lucoa sighed with smiles.
"Yes, she is." Hilda said as she knelt down and took Zest from Naruto. "Now, let's go to bed."
Hilda took Zest to a different room as Lucoa peeled Naruto off of the floor.
"Ow…" Naruto whimpered constantly from Lucoa grabbing the burned parts of his body before unceremoniously.
"Oh, cry me a river, you baby." Lucoa stated as she stripped naked and crawled next to him, giggling as she wrapped her arms and leg around him, licking his neck with her serpentine tongue. "Besides, this means I get you all to myself tonight."
"Lucoa…" Naruto whined as she started to heal him.
Chapter 50, DONE!
Well, that is a hot… situation?
Okay, bad puns aside, I enjoyed this chapter. It shows what Naruto and Son will have to work with when training Zest. And yes, Son is going to be an active part of her training since he is the MASTER of Lava style and she is his daughter… in a sense.
Anyway, I plan on doing some skips, probably a handful of years so I don't need to repeat Yasaka's training. Why repeat it when we already know how to do water walking and tree climbing. Get to the good stuff, like Jutsu and Lava Style training.
When Ophis thinks, 'This is familiar' is because I was making a small call back to Return of the Golden Protector, where Ophis had created Zest for Naruto to have an apprentice.
Lucoa can use elemental magics, but her 'fighting' magic is Rainbow Magic.
Hilda basically Silver Chariot's the fire, like Polnareff in Part 3.
New art on Deviantart, Boo1194. Please check them out.
Okay, that is all I had to say today, please enjoy the story or any of my other stories.
If you enjoyed this chapter, please leave a review. If you disliked it, leave a review. It helps me become a better author.