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-Lyngarth Underground Tunnels-
"Okay, this is… cleaner than I expected," Rosemary commented.
Jumping into the dark hole made by Thyme's magic made her tense up. That and seeing the elf conjure a magic circle which moved apart the ground, allowing them to hop into the sewer system. Like Anise rightly guessed, their targets had used the pathways built below the streets to their advantage. Richly historical architecture greeted them with the light of the sun to display the gothic passages people walked over. If an understandably tense situation like the current one wasn't happening, Sage might have wanted to look at the arcs, columns and walls. However, the mage was as serious as the archer and dwarf, if still nervous.
"Let me light the place," Sage told the others with her broom up, casting a circle with one end to summon a glowing circle. From the light emerged a glowing blue orb which flew on bat wings, illuminating the dark and giving her some comfort, "It's… eerily quiet. Do you think they're too far?"
"I will find them," Thyme retorted with her bow on her hand, crouching to inspect the ground. She tapped the floor on a small footprint, then traced a path forward with a finger towards one of three heavy metal doors, "Quick footsteps. Hurried. They walk barefoot, so the dust will stick to their soles. Leading… over there."
"Already on it," the dwarf walked to the door Thyme pointed to, pulled the handle to reveal it was locked, and then knocked on it. "Reinforced iron."
"Meaning it's Sage time!" Rosemary beamed with a starry-eyed expression. "Just leave this to her and she'll wipe an unlocking spell to-"
Parsley's hammer swung once and the heavy iron door flew off its hinges into the wall to the other side. Rosemary's jaw hit the floor upon seeing that while Sage's eyes bulged out with her pupils shrinking. As the tiny blacksmith hefted her weapon on her shoulder, a passive Thyme walked past the swordswoman and mage. The elf said nothing but motioned for them to follow.
"Did you think these guns are for show?" Parsley quipped and flexed her arm, displaying the enticing bulge of her bicep. "Every dwarf is basically compressed muscle. Our bone and muscle density is far thicker than that of other species… I could bench-press an anvil when I was five."
"Remind me to never make you mad," Rosemary whispered in awe while unsheathing her sword, following closely.
Descending down the dark hallway, the girls watched over the shadows for possible ambushes. Everyone had their senses working overtime for any sign of the fox. Thyme's ears twitched every other step to try to find any sign of his voice. Parsley inspected the walls by patting them for any hidden entrances. Sage herself checked on the shadows cast by her light spell. Rosemary… actually sniffed around.
"Have you picked something?" Sage asked upon noticing her friend inhaling in a particular direction.
"Smells like real good dough," the pink swordswoman noted, holding her chin with one hand, the other resting Iron Thorn on her shoulder. "Definitely whole wheat stuff…"
"What are you, a dog?" Thyme blanched at the idea.
"Come over to my dad's bakery, and you will know bread," the pink girl beamed, rubbing a finger under her nose. Then, she blinked, "Huh, it smells somewhat fresh…"
"Bread…" Parsley recalled her meeting with the fox. Immediately, her face lit up, "Rosemary, Naruto had bought some just this morning. Do you think you can track him?"
"Yeah," the tomboy nodded enthusiastically.
Taking a deep inhale, the pink-haired swordswoman led the group forward while Thyme arched a brow, "How? I'm only going to ask that. Just, how?"
"Oh, she really loves her dad's cheesecake," Sage half-explained with a smile. Using her free hand, the mage conjured another spell over the guiding light, splitting it into four glowing orbs which followed each girl and illuminated the tunnels, "Here, this ought to make it easy for everyone."
Eventually, the quartet reached a stone wall, with Rosemary scratching her head in confusion, "Well, the trail leads here, but I see no baked goods."
Leaning her head towards the wall, Thyme focused for any sound which could come from behind it, "I've got nothing…"
Reaching forward and placing a hand on the wall, Parsley smirked, "It is not hollow, meaning…" she hefted her hammer on her shoulder and narrowed her eyes, "…we've got company."
Turning around, the girls prepared for the worst, observing the walls for any incoming attack. Thyme already pulled her bow's string, an arrow at the ready. Rosemary gripped the hilt of Iron Thorn, waiting for the right opportunity to turn her weapon into an ideal form. Sage was already casting a magical circle with her free hand, her broom glowing with magic. Parsley tensed her body, ready to swing. A second passed…
"Get them!" the ground beneath their feet burst through!
All four girls yelped when female goblins jumped out of trapdoors with wooden clubs at the ready. The green ambushers snickered as they rushed at their current targets, some already glaring at the dwarf girl. On that same instant, just as they were about to be dogpiled, all four guardian hopefuls countered the attack. It was chaos right then and there, with not much of a clear line of sight. Sage's light spell managed to give her friends a chance. However, as indicated before, it was an ambush.
"Ah!" Thyme exclaimed once two she-goblins landed on her shoulders, pinning her down with their weapons ready.
Clenching her jaw, the elf singlehandedly used her bow to block the first attack, and swiped at the other attacker with the arrow in her free hand. She heard the second goblin shriek and drop her weapon when the arrowhead cut the back of her hand. Despite the average goblin having the intelligence and strength of a child, having two atop one was not ideal. Even less when they were already on the attack. Fortunately for the archer, she wasn't just a ranger for using one single weapon.
"Long-ears slave for me-me!" yelled the she-goblin with the wounded hand, wanting to punch Thyme.
Reacting quickly, the redhead pulled out a small dagger hidden inside her the wrappings of one leg, a simple, double-edged weapon with a white wooden handle and a silvery blade which she used to cut upwards. A draft hit the two she-goblins before they yelped and let go. Both jumped back and covered their large breasts upon realizing Thyme had sliced the rags they wore as tops. Eyeing such large melons caused the elf to internally growl in jealousy, but she pushed the doubts aside and prepared for another round.
"Don't touch my- hey!" Rosemary yelped when two she-goblins latched themselves on her back, with a bisexual tunnel dweller groping her chest.
Blushing up a storm, Rosemary tried to shake them off while they attempted to pry Iron Thorn off her back. Fortunately for her, the lessons at the academy for hand-to-hand combat kicked in. Remembering what she practiced with the kitsune, the swordswoman closed her eyes, grabbed the green assailants by the wrists, and threw her body forward to slam them forward. Using that judo throw allowed her to pull out her blade with renewed confidence… or she would have if a third goblin didn't jump right in front of her.
"Me want bladey!" the she-goblin sneered while grabbing Rosemary by the lapels, ready to smack her in the face with a club.
Yelping, Rosemary reacted quicker than she thought she would and parried the tiny green woman's arm with her own. Reacting quickly, she hooked her wrist around it and, while not having a chance to sweep her off her feet, she recalled how it felt to twist someone's joints from her spar with the blond boy. In one swift motion, she not only threw the she-goblin off balance by twisting her arm, but flung her off. She took a moment to inwardly praise and thank Naruto and her teachers for that move before she pulled out Iron Thorn.
"Back off!" Sage screamed nervously, holding up her broom.
Unfortunately for her, she was face to face with a goblin shaman. The female sorceress had the same dirty clothes as her kin, but donned a goat skull atop her head and another on her wooden staff. Grinning with as nasty intentions as she could muster to frighten the girl, the shaman spoke in a dark tongue. From the ground, rocks levitated and floated around the goblin spellcaster before hurdling them toward the mage. A squeak of fright from the blue-haired girl later… and the stones stopped when hitting a light barrier cast by Sage.
"Use mage as new chair, yes-yes!" the she-shaman crowed to taunt and intimidate the girl.
Gulping and yet glaring at such declaration, the blue-haired girl quickly cast her own spell. Two magic circles illuminated the tunnel as the two sorceresses locked eyes. Sage was nervous and yet she forced herself to look determined while the she-goblin gave her a crooked grin. A bead of sweat rolled down the mage's cheek while the shaman licked her lips. Both whispered under their breaths, casting the necessary incantations for a clash of power… and thrust forward their staves!
"Pepper Breath!" Sage intoned when a dozen fireballs flew forward.
"Dark Fire!" the shaman cackled as a stream of flames clashed with the other spell.
And yet, the magic circle casting the fireballs didn't stop shooting more projectiles, keeping the jets of flame cast by the shaman at bay…
"This is for my five uncles, you trollops!"
For her part, Parsley was far more active. Allowing one dagger-wielding she-goblin to jump at her, the smith knight in training merely brought up an arm. In that same instant, her attacker let out a shocked gasp when the short blade not only didn't pierce the skin, but it bent… and broke! The female dwarf's body was tough on the inside and outside, but she could still take damage as another member of the horde leapt at her. Every green-skinned attacker had a natural hatred for her, so it was no surprise the best went out for blood.
"Dwarf tramp!" a muscular female goblin yelled and swung her weapon at her.
Dodging an iron mace to the head, Parsley gritted her teeth when the wall next to her cracked. She immediately spun her hammer and swung it at her attacker, but the she-goblin did the same as the two weapons collided. Both stepped back and the dwarf girl realized that she was seeing not a regular goblin, but a hybrid. Given her stature and physique, she growled in anger upon easily deducing what she was.
"Whose dwarf husband did your mother steal, hussy?" Parsley nearly spat venom.
"Better man-meat than she-tramps can get!" the female dwarf-goblin snarled back.
"Get your own men!" Parsley snapped.
"Nah, goblin snu-snu is best for all man-meat!" the hybrid growled.
Charging at each other, the two kept swinging back and forth, their weapons crashing with thunderous impacts and sparks of iron flying around.
Rosemary jumped in, holding her weapon out, "Iron Thorn: Sprouting Saber Mode!"
Steel morphed into a large, wide, and thick single-edged blade the size of an ironing board. It parried the mace with great effort, the pink-haired girl grinding her teeth from feeling the joints in her arms threaten to crack. Planting her feet firmly, she did her best to not back down, and stomped forward with a loud battle cry.
In that instant, the head of the mace flew off and into the ceiling, ending up inside the crack it made, and thus Parsley finished it off, "Go to sleep!" the dwarf roared as she hopped over Rosemary and swung with the force of a bear to send the dwarf-goblin right through a wall behind her, making it crumble, "Thanks!"
Blinking in surprise, Rosemary nodded without believing what she saw, "Uh, you're welcome, but what was all that-"
"We've still got problems!" Thyme reminded her when dashing around other goblins, taking quick swipes with her dagger to disarm and incapacitate them. "Questions can wait!"
Meanwhile, Sage and the shaman continued their little magic duel with the two's chants getting increasingly complex…
"Oh father of light and life, the guiding radiance which casts away the shadows…" Sage growled with sweat dripping down her brow.
"Charred be enemies, bones turn to coal, flesh become ashes…" the shaman sang with dark glee.
Opening her mouth wide and using all the air in her lungs, Sage exclaimed, "Sunburst!"
Giggling darkly, the shaman thrust both her hands forward, "Inferno!"
Both a wall of flame and a dozen miniature suns burst from each other's spell circles, lighting up the entire tunnel and forcing the goblins and girls to back off. However, the moment Sage saw Rosemary stare right at her, a few words crossed her mind. If the pink-haired swordswoman found strength thanks to her… then it was up to her to show it off. Naruto's voice echoed in her head, renewing her with vigor.
"SUN!" yelling through clenched teeth, Sage stomped forward as her eyes shone brightly, "BURST!"
At her command, the girl's magic circle irradiated more light as a giant fireball shot out, consuming the shaman's flame!
"Yipes!" the she-goblin shrieked and jumped to the side in time to see the wall behind her not only break, but the solid bricks were partially melted. "Ah… ah… blue tramp strong… too strong…"
Once she let out her declaration, the shaman collapsed, fainting from the fear and shock while the other she-goblins panicked at the loss of their leader and best fighter.
"Cheating tramps!" they sobbed while picking up their fallen comrades and beating feet. "Not forget! Make babies with foxy man-cub and get revenge on tramps!"
"Get back here!" Parsley shouted with a raised fist, but Thyme halted her chase with a hand on her shoulder.
"First, let's help her," the elf tilted her head to an exhausted Sage, who'd have fallen to her knees if not for holding her broom and having Rosemary's shoulder to lean on.
However, the mage's childhood friend was not too worried, "That was freaking sweet! Sage, that was beyond amazing! How can you be so cool?! When did you learn that?! And-"
"Rose…" the tired if happy mage giggled with a weak smile, a thin layer of sweat coating her face. "I… I could use a breather."
"Sorry," the other girl giggled and helped her sit down. "Still, that was incredible! Now I really need to kick up my training if I am to be your partner…"
Giggling at that, Sage recalled another thing Naruto told her, "Well… I wouldn't have done it without you to cheer me up… Thanks…"
Intense heat covered the then red-faced Rosemary's face, getting an awkward chortle from her, "N-No worries… Again, I'm not as cool as you were…"
Leaning against her friend, the blue-haired girl sighed contentedly, "I think you're still the coolest…"
Chuckling nervous but happy, Rosemary was about to take the compliment, but decided to let her friend rest while Thyme and Parsley regained their bearings.
"That ambush was planned," Thyme started matter-of-factly while sitting down, pocketing her dagger. "Either whoever has Naruto is really prepared or… they know of us…"
"Do you think they wanted Whiskers for more than… you know, goblin nesting?" Rosemary asked, trying not to think of what the green underground dwellers would do.
"Ever since we've been on this quest, Naruto and I knew we'd have to find someone pulling strings," the ranger started and intertwined her fingers, resting her chin atop her hands. "I didn't expect them to prepare to face us like this… Let alone prepare for you two, as well."
"Huh?" Rosemary tilted her head to the side.
"We've faced a shaman and a melee specialist," Thyme stated coldly. "Rosemary… do you know anything about snake demons…? Have you heard of something called the Ouroboros Circle?"
A breathless gasp escaped the pink-haired girl's lips at that name, her eyes and Sage's widening…
-Underground dungeon-
"Wasn't it enough to backstab the old-timer, you had to use yet another person's body like a skin-suit?" Naruto growled at the Orochi-possessed Lavender.
Snickering, the former knight nodded, "Fufufufu… I am a demon on a mission, boy. Alas, you are here because of your usefulness, so I shall spare you the details."
"You're the scaly parasite sucking up all the life in the elven woods!" Naruto snapped while struggling with the magic shackles keeping him glued to the wall.
Tracing a hand across the air, Orochi nodded, "Indeed I am, but I grow tired of that forest… The elves would provide good fertilizer, but that may be it for that fountain of magic."
"Let it go already then, you sick-" Naruto was mad enough to truly curse, but was cut off when Orochi grabbed him by the neck, choking him slightly.
"Don't talk as if you care, boy," Orochi told him with a wide smile. "After all, the blood of a true demon king flows through your veins…"
"Feel free to take a knee, then," Naruto growled defiantly, which made Orochi tighten the grip on his throat.
"Charming," Rosemary's mother said with an amused hiss and a dark smile. "Tell me, little prince, why care for those mortals? Last I recall, you had nothing to do with the woman I'm using…"
"I am just going to call things how I see them, and you're a b-" once more, Naruto was cut off by the hand clenching his vocal cords.
"Fine, be that way," Orochi let go and walked off, allowing the fox boy to cough and scoff. "Either way, I need time to release your true form and get your fur. Once that is done, I hope you enjoy in this goblin nest… Hm, or mayhaps I shall see if kitsune flesh is any good for cooking once they grow tired of you…"
"Kiss my furry hide," the blond growled, defiant to the end. "Either do that or stop talking in riddles. I know you want all magic because you're a parasite, nothing else. So, why use Rosemary's mother?"
"Because she was too close to finding me," Orochi explained while inspecting a nearby table with countless tools, vials filled with colorful liquids as well as animal body parts, and magic tomes. "Of course, she just happened to be at the wrong place and time… for her. She makes a perfect body, but, ah, she just has such love for her child…"
"Huh?" Naruto blinked.
"Should it make you feel any better…" Orochi smirked widely. "I can tell the soul of the woman lives inside this body… and thus, I can't help but want to test it. Like having a new pet, you just want to see what you can teach it… So, what better way than testing with something she is attached to? Or rather, how far I can push her?"
Naruto was so mad that his entire body froze in rage, his eyes the epitome of fury while his sharp teeth were bared in primal anger in a desire to tear the demon hiding inside Lavender.
And it was what Orochi wanted to see, "So, that rage can bring out the real you… Good to know."
"Ripping you out of that face is natural," Naruto growled as his nose flared, showing he was livid.
"Good, good, so you are attached to the daughter of this foolish knight," Orochi commented and slid a hand down Lavender's face. "I shall admit, that was a welcomed surprise. After your father's defeat brought by that fossil of Sarutobi and his friends, I was almost worried… Mind you, I hoped the poison I used on that fight would've been more effective on everyone…"
"What?" Naruto's eyes widened at that.
Cackling with a mad smirk, Orochi nodded and pointed to a fang which popped out of the demon's current vessel's lips, "Yes, I was quite happy that my venom had lost its potency. Imagine my delight when even a demon of such high caliber like your father withstood it. Granted, it was even more of a delight to see it slow him down and make it easier for those shinobi to die."
For a brief second, Naruto's eyes flashed a bright red while his pupils turned into slits at those words, his teeth growing sharper at those words…
"Does that anger you, child?" the snake taunted him. "Is that old village chief precious to you? Or… maybe you fear what I shall do to the four coming for you…"
Rage was traded for confusion and eventual shock upon realizing who the parasite talked about, before the fury returned tenfold, "Touch a single hair on them and-"
Orochi dashed forward with a syringe in hand, aiming to inject a vial filled with the same dark purple goop the Rot was made of…
However, the parasitic demon's current hand never reached the fox child, for the blond boy's fury was too much to be contained…
"Dear me…" the possessed Lavender started to sweat at the miscalculation when the boy's right arm broke one of the magical shackles as fur grew over it. "I made a mistake…"
-Goblin nest-
Everyone taken to a goblin nest would see exactly what was expected of them in a large open space with several columns supporting water tracks and the ceiling far too high to be seen in the darkness. Tents made of rags and furs surrounded fires or magical sources of light. Several of those tents were filled with the sounds of she-goblins eating meat or plotting what cute male they saw to kidnap and have babies with. Not a male goblin was in sight as the female dominated tribe had their fun. A couple were guarding the entrance to the nest, an arch linked to the tunnels and acting as a gateway. Both were bored out of their minds, impatiently waiting to return to the outside to grab some virgin-looking boys who struck their fancy. If they could, they'd be at the dungeon checking out the cute foxy boy with the cute blue eyes.
"Fox boy still no free for snu-snu?" one asked her friend.
"Nah, snake-boss want reh-search first, then we mate for new goblin batch," her horde-sister grumbled.
"Haven't had man-meat in too long," the first groaned in frustration. "Breaking new mates fun-fun."
"Especially dwarf man-meat to make dwarf-tramps cry-cry," the other giggled.
"Really?" asked a third voice seemingly out of nowhere.
A glaring Parsley had seemingly appeared out of nowhere with her hammer ready, swinging it once to knock one of the goblins into the other and send them crashing into a wall. Fortunately for her and the rest of the High Guardian Academy students, the other tribeswomen heard nothing. Sage let out a deep breath and lowered her hand, causing a veil which floated around the quartet to vanish.
"Good, the Silence spell worked," Thyme coolly praised the mage. "Do you think you could lend it to me to do some scouting ahead?"
"I wish…" Sage breathed out, holding onto her magical broom for support. "So far, the best I can do is this barrier version."
"Don't apologize, you did great," Rosemary cheered her up. "Now, how do we get in?"
"Maybe we should ask the one with a grudge against goblins," Thyme narrowed her eyes at the blonde dwarf, who sighed.
"Sorry…" the blacksmith ruffled her hair. "I really don't like these green trollops."
"Bit of an understatement," Thyme commented dryly.
"Look, my kin and theirs don't get along because we tend to steal each other's males for loving…" Parsley looked away with some heat on her cheeks. "Some of my uncles have goblin wives while some of my aunts had their boyfriends stolen by goblin girls… And, yes, I did have a few crushes taken by them…"
"Oh, okay…" Rosemary nodded slowly, not knowing what to say. "But, aren't you like related now?"
"We dwarf women and female goblins don't look eye to eye," Parsley told her with an uncharacteristic frown.
"Now that I recall," Sage rubbed her chin in recollection. "In history class, the teacher said that the male goblin population has been in such a decline that the females have had to step up and thus, well… They need males to make babies with."
Frowning deeper, Parsley groaned, "It doesn't help that they like to, ugh, have snu-snu with men, so many guys don't mind getting kidnapped."
There as an uncomfortable silence at that and Rosemary broke it, "I don't think Whiskers is that kind of guy, though."
"RrrraaaaarrrGRRRAAAAARRRGH!"
Rage unlike anything they had ever imagined before bellowed from all over them. Every goblin jumped in high alert with their weapons drawn and eyes wide.
And then… he appeared…
One claw burst from the floor in the middle of the nest, scaring away the horde.
Yellow fur, black claws, and a vulpine aspect to the hand reaching for a fast shadow were the first things to register in everyone's mind.
Orochi landed behind some tents, grinning in amusement with a chuckle, "This boy truly is the son of that fearsome fox… Oh, how wonderful my research shall be…"
Meanwhile, the four guardian trainees gulped when a fox broke out of the hole in the floor and stood crouched on… two legs. Thyme blinked in surprise when once golden fur turned a deep orange, almost like dried blood, to cover a humanoid figure with lean muscle standing even taller than Aloe by a head. Sage swallowed in fear when those bright red eyes scanned the floor for the anthropomorphic fox's target. Parsley felt her hands loosen up their grip at the nine-flowing tails behind the creature popping over familiar black hakama pants. Rosemary gaped for a moment before drawing her sword on instinct, her body tensing up.
"Who…?" the pink swordswoman was about to ask the shadow, but the cloaked figure merely waved at the goblins.
"Ladies, it's time to earn your keep," the parasitic demon said before bursting into a cloud of smoke, leaving behind the underground dwellers to deal with the snake's mess.
"Hunky foxy man meat on menu!" one of the she-goblins cried mid-jump towards the demon fox.
Crouched and snarling, the real demonic form of Naruto seemingly ignored the short-stacks lunging lustfully after him.
Nine tails swung all around him, forming flashes of reddish light from their speed as they lashed at every angle, and in that same instant every single goblin was sent flying away!
"Did you see that?!" a shocked Sage asked her friends as she backed away.
"I felt that…" Parsley winced when a goblin smashed into a column and bounced down to land on her face, twitching but not daring to move further.
Hunching over, the feral side of Naruto turned to the girls… and then walked to the other side, "Huh?!" all four exclaimed in shock as he completely ignored them, sniffing the air to find his target, and causing the elf ranger to gasp, "Naruto's still conscious… Or maybe he's still got some reasoning left in him."
"Did you hear that roar?" Rosemary disagreed in a worried whisper. "That was the same battle cry a pack of hungry dire wolves let out when they're intent in biting your head off. How is he still thinking?"
"Maybe he's doing neither thinking or acting on pure animal fury," Parsley commented, clutching her hammer.
"Close enough," Sage gulped, feeling the cold sweat building on her forehead. "Cousin Anise told me of when animals do this. It's their instinct. Naruto's become a creature of pure instinct."
"Like a man-wolf of sorts?" Rosemary questioned her, still nervous about the walking demon fox strolling through the goblin nest.
"Kind of," the mage took a few deep breaths. "It's like how Chompy gets protective and looks for threat, which means-"
"Ah, he's about to break that pillar!" Rosemary yelped when seeing the fox stand in front of a particular structure and rear back a fist.
One second later, a column twice as thick as an oak tree collapsed in front of him, creating an echoing creak and rumble from the underground. Groaning rock indicated that the architectural structure needed a lot of maintenance. Considering where they were, if too many supports and walls came down, then not only would they be buried but the entire city would collapse and sink in.
Everyone stopped thinking when realizing what Naruto would do in his current state, "Oh sweet biscuits, we've got to stop him…" Sage winced at the idea. "This is not going to be good…"
Parsley clenched her jaw, forcing a grin, "Hey, we can make it up to him once we're done, treat him to a good meal for all the trouble."
Rosemary gulped and held Iron Thorn in its saber form, "Y-Yeah, he better get ready for a good time and… We're totally getting creamed, aren't we?"
"Yup," Thyme nodded while notching a blunt arrow on her bow, "but I'm not willing to lose the idiot." Once she took aim after a quick prayer, Thyme caught the fox's attention with a hit to the back of the head which bounced off the back of his skull, "Needless to say, I am already regretting this. Look alive, everyone."
"No need to tell him twice!" Rosemary yelped when Naruto turned to them, the boy's feral side causing the demon fox to snarl like the beast he was.
Just to be expected, the demon fox flew at the girls at high speeds… and soon Thyme found herself pinned between a wall and the finally taller Naruto. Gulping, the elf girl found herself shivering when a furry hand hit the wall behind her. The fox sneered at her, and then sniffed the archer, causing her to shiver. Was he…? Fearful, the red-haired ranger looked at the demonic spirit and gaped when he locked eyes with her. He wasn't intending on pummeling her or the others, he was hungry… and he wasn't looking for something to fill his belly.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me, Whiskers…" Thyme groaned with a deep blush as the demon fox pressed himself against her, letting her feel furry pecs against her face while he examined her.
"Should we terrified or relieved he's acting like, well, an animal?" Parsley questioned the others, and yelped when the fox blurred out of view and reappeared in front of her. "Ah! Hey! Oh, that tickles!" she started to giggle when the feral Naruto took a whiff of her neck, his hot breath hitting a sensitive spot, "Ahn, stop that… I… I…"
Seeing the dwarf pant had Sage blush deeper, "Um, girls, if he's acting like a beast, does that mean he-"
"Wait, no, don't finish that thought!" Thyme exclaimed with a brighter blush than before.
"Why not?" Rosemary asked, getting sniffed next by Naruto, which had her squirm. "Oi, back it off, buddy! We only get this close when sparring!"
"Uh, I think we should be thankful it's not worse," Sage commented… only for the demon fox to appear before her in another blur of speed. "On second thought, I'd rather fight him…"
"Grr…" Naruto snarled and stood up, then he just… walked away.
"Did he just ignore us, again?" Parsley sounded a tad disappointed and miffed, ready to go after the fox with her hammer up. "Come on, you can't see four beautiful girls and brush them off, buddy!"
"Count your blessings," Thyme hissed at her, pulling the dwarf back. "He's registered us as anything but enemies, meaning he doesn't want to harm us… Naruto's still there, but we need to wake him up."
"I'm still going to be mad," Parsley pouted.
"Look on the bright side, at least he didn't see you as a threat like the goblins," Rosemary pointed out with a sheepish grin.
"Fine, he's forgiven," the blonde said calmer. "So, if he doesn't want to attack us, what then?"
"Making him remember us…" Thyme said… and readied another ball arrow.
"Wait, is that a good idea?!" Sage yelled in shock.
Her words fell on deaf ears when the arrow hit Naruto again, bouncing off his head and making him turn to Thyme, who fired yet another blunt arrow at the demon fox's face, right between the eyes.
"Alright, we've got the attention of an annoyed demon, what now?" Rosemary held her sword at the ready while Naruto walked to them.
"By any means, we wake him up," Thyme pointed out, then glared at the fox before saying the one thing which would work.
Even Sage could only gulp as she realized what she'd say, "Oh boy, this won't be pretty…"
"You're still short."
The tension in the underground was palpable enough to need a divine blade to cut through as Naruto's body stiffened in fury, his muscles bulging slightly while his fangs were displayed in primal rage. He looked at the four girls and dropped down on all fours, digging his claws into the floor. Each girl readied their weapons, minds, and bodies for what was going to be a brutal test of survival. Once Naruto locked eyes with the ranger, he leapt at her, and it was then that chaos ensued as everyone attacked as one.
Parsley readied her mallet in good enough time when eyeing a piece of broken pillar, shooting it at the fox like a cannonball.
Thyme pulled her dagger and waited for the attack, allowing Naruto to focus on her in his mad dash towards the archer.
Rosemary hefted her sword on her shoulder for a wide swing, attempting to use the blunt side to smack the fox boy.
Sage had started to conjure a barrier spell, bracing herself for the impact and putting as much of her magic as she could in it.
It was over as soon as it started…
One single claw swipe was all it took to crush a chest-sized rock into pebbles, slice the barrier, and send Iron Thorn flying into a wall!
No girl could believe it, and the elf had to bite her bottom lip when the fox pinned her into the floor, her dagger up…
And yet, she failed to move it to any vital point, to attack the boy, to harm the stupid idiot who despite their differences had chosen to help her.
With a heavy heart, she could see Naruto's face in the fox, making her hand shake…
Right then and there, she closed her eyes, preparing herself to be bitten and mained…
However, after five seconds passed, she realized the demon kept his jaws away from her neck, growling despite having his maw opened as if to attack…
"Naruto?" Thyme asked in shock.
Growling, the humanoid fox stood up, grabbing his head with guttural grunts and groans of pain…
"By the almighty, he's fighting it!" Sage exclaimed in shock.
"Kick your evil side's butt, Naruto!" Rosemary cheered.
"Come back to us!" Parsley urged him.
Even Thyme joined in, "Get back to normal, Whiskers!"
"RrrAAAARRRRGGGRRR!"
Howling in a deep, unfiltered state of madness, the fox turned away from the girls and punched the ground hard enough to crack it… and then he turned with his fangs once again exposed in a furious snarl.
"Oh-kay, he's not waking up easily…"
Each guardian in training turned to see Anise and Aloe walk in with the former conjuring a couple spell circles and the latter doing the same singlehanded with her gold spear resting on her other hand. And they were accompanied by none other than Wyverna who carried a pitch-black rapier on her left hip and an amused smirk across her lips.
"Points for effort, girls, but you should know when you bite off more than you can chew," the devil woman said before turning to the high elf. "He is like his father in regards of presence and power, but he is still a tad too young to use and abuse that bloodline. What do you say?"
"It would seem this poor child requires not just kind words, but harsh actions."
"Agreed, babe," Anise turned to the girls and smirked. "You kids can walk it off, we guardians can do our fair part now."
Unsheathing her rapier's obsidian-like blade, Wyverna agreed. Aloe's spear floated next to her with the blade aimed at the demon fox, and Anise's spell had summoned a couple of ethereal blue wolves who growled at the demon. If the girls had any doubt that they were professional guardians and proper fighters, they wouldn't have to wait long to see how wrong they had been. Finally, Naruto took on a more offensive stance when seeing the opposition and sensing the difference in power. Suffice to say, the young demon fox could smell trouble in the air.
"Ready for a lesson in manners, boy?" Wyverna slightly taunted the fox, cooing with her blade aimed at the fox.
Roaring in response, the demon fox dashed forward in a blur of speed at her and swung his claw. With the dexterity of a ballerina despite the high heels, the devil teacher weaved around the strike, spun around a wide-open fox, and slammed her sword's pummel on the back of his head. In that same instance, Aloe's spear flew and tripped him up which gave Anise's spectral wolves a chance to bite and latched onto the fox's wrists and ankles to pin him down. All it took was five seconds for the experienced guardians to do what the girls struggled with…
Or did it?
"You make it look so easy," Sage gasped in awe…
"Ugh…" Anise winced, holding her hands forward. "Not quite… He's… getting madder…"
"Rage…" Aloe sucked in a sharp breath at the realization. "I can almost taste its foul burning desire for destruction… Don't tell me…"
Gulping herself, Wyverna held up her rapier in a defensive stance, "Yes, I can't believe I was foolish enough to hope that side of his father wasn't in him…"
Cold sweat dripped down all the women's faces as Naruto did what any child throwing a tantrum would and smashes his feet and hands on the floor… sending the wolves flying and crashing through more pillars! A shocked group of girls stepped back when the fox bounced onto his feet, glaring at the ones to humiliate him. He was obviously growing angrier and angrier at that, and he was having trouble keeping it all in check.
"A demonic kitsune was rather unusual, so of course this one had to be a rage demon," Anise clenched her jaw.
"Can you explain what's that mean?" Rosemary asked, getting Iron Thorn back into her hands for what was sure to be a difficult fight.
"He's the son of a primal embodiment of mankind's darkness," Aloe started. "Born from a being whose hatred is his sole existence as a creature born from everything negative in mortals… Meaning, he's not just a demon, but practically a demigod."
"Oh…" all the girls said in frozen, silent shock, their eyes bugging out soon after as they exclaimed. "He's a what?!"
"We can talk about his status later," Wyverna said.
Using her footwork, Wyverna was quick to dodge wild swipes from the demonic fox, dancing around him and seeing herself forced to attack. Much to her dismay, her attempt to strike Naruto in the joints without any harm to his vital areas was halted when the kitsune took the hit… and simply held it back against his elbow! Seeing her rapier stop against his arm was shocking enough, but the devil teacher could barely move an inch, let alone pierce the skin under the fur. It was made even worse when the feral boy readied his claws to strike… and it hit air!
"Grr?" Naruto turned to see Wyverna had slipped into a portal, a magical gateway made of dark fire and smoke.
"Alright, I managed to create the link!" the devil woman said, disappearing into the portal as Naruto tried to give chase…
Only for a golden spear to smack him on the face, "We'll hold him back while reinforcements come!" Aloe exclaimed in the middle of what seemed like a wild arm dance, her moves precise and calculated with her hands directing her weapon against the demon fox and thus giving the devil teacher a chance to run, "Anise!"
"Right behind you!" the other woman smirked in the middle of drawing a magic circle on the floor, slamming her hands on it to summon forth an ethereal bear which charged at Naruto.
As the spear smacked him at high speeds like a possessed hummingbird, the demon fox barely registered the bear until it decked him across the face. The bear's claw even sailed further and hit a nearby log which had once held up a goblin's tent. It was a strike which obliterated the wood, sending splinters flying…
To see Naruto take the punch without flinching, barely moving his head to the side, had the two women shiver, "Oh dear…" Aloe ground her teeth in worry.
Yet again, the fox's tails flailed around him, the feral-minded boy captured the spear and bear before sending both flying back and right through a wall.
"If we work together, maybe we can be-" Sage offered, but her cousin turned to glare.
"Pain in my behind is all you'd be, just like this fox brat."
"Come on, let's hear him out, I'm sure he had a reason."
"Didn't you say he had a chance when it came to making friends?"
Everyone turned to see Hemlock, Oleander and Foxglove walk in, the Triad looking positively undisturbed by the appearance of a demon who was annoyed at the attacks of two guardians and a teacher. Hemlock's scoffing remark at the end was interrupted by the ever chipper Oleander while Foxglove told her older self to remember what she told them. Naruto glared at the sight of the eldest, his fur standing on end.
"Of course I recall that, but it doesn't mean that old Hiruzen doesn't owe me a date for this," the grumpy woman growled.
"Speaking of, we should tell him about the friends this boy's made already!" Oleander beamed as she turned to the four girls.
"After we knock some sense into this poor boy," Foxglove corrected her before nodding to the students. "Thank you for trying to help him, but…"
Hemlock growled at the quartet, "Don't think you're not in trouble for being fools marching to your deaths!"
"Yeah, that is pretty irresponsible, even if your hearts were in the right place," Oleander had to agree with a disappointed sigh.
"For now, let's do our job," Foxglove said firmly as she and the others held out their hands.
Oleander twirled a magnificent wooden staff adorned with a green gemstone while roots and branches formed a handguard of sorts for the youngest Triad. Foxglove called forth a rock staff with several glowing gems on all sides and a single magical blue orb atop it, holding it gracefully in her hand. Hemlock clicked her tongue as her own staff materialized, a bronze pole with a golden diamond resting on a cage-like top.
In one second, all three slammed their staves into the floor.
Vines and roots shot out all around the fox, capturing him with ease.
Rocks and dirt merged into a pair of giant hands to hold him in place.
Metallic plates flew and fused themselves with the pile, preventing any escape.
And, at last, Wyverna returned with a face the girls didn't recognize, "Naruto… I wish we could've met in a happier moment."
The girls gaped when seeing none other than Sarutobi walk in, the elder having left his robe behind to walk in a traditional shinobi outfit, a black ensemble complete with a rather unusual weapon. On his left hand was a large red bo staff far too thick to be wielded properly by any regular man. However, he had no problem throwing it in the air… and letting it land on the solid cocoon sealing Naruto.
It was when the enormous bo staff hit the structure that the girls realized how strong the old man was, for there was not just a loud echo in the underground system…
Everything ended up shaking! From the pillars to the walls, and obviously the floor, the entire tunnel system shuddered from the weight of the weapon which was pinning Naruto down!
"Holy…" Rosemary gasped while the fox snarled and growled uselessly.
"Showoff…" Hemlock looked away, not wanting Hiruzen to look at her blush.
"I'll make it up to you, I swear," the old man sighed and looked at the students while Naruto uselessly growled in his prison. "Ah, I see you four are the ones keeping him company here."
"Oh, yeah, I… I guess?" Rosemary tried to speak up, too in awe to say anything coherent. "Are you, um, Naruto's uncle or grandpa or-"
"Caretaker and mentor," Sarutobi answered with an amused smile and chuckle.
"So, wait, you're his village chief?" Sage asked in awe. "You trained Naruto?! Can you help him?! Please, if you need help, tell me-"
"Dear child, I can wake him up, don't worry," the elder said, surprised by happy to see such concern. "You must really love him."
"Like a good future husband, am I right?" Parsley tried to quip, but found herself blushing and giggling childishly. "Sorry about the joke, I-"
"Worry for him, I see," Sarutobi nodded. "Hehehe, it does good to my heart to see that he's made friends, but-"
"Can you get to the part you snap him out of it?" Thyme asked irately. "I know you're his chief, but you can clearly see he needs help! Now!"
Partially expecting that, the old man lowered his gaze and nodded, "Fair enough, but first I need him to tire himself out. Just forcing him to reverse to normal isn't going to do him any favors. Unless you're impatient enough to try a fairy tale solution."
"Name it," Thyme didn't even hesitate, her hardened eyes meeting Sarutobi's calm ones.
And then, he named the solution, "Kissing."
"What?!" the elf jumped back, causing the old man to snicker.
"Sorry, I couldn't resist," he chortled. "Anyway, don't worry, I've done this before and it will be over once he's spent and realizes he can't move or do anything about his anger."
"How long will that take?!" Thyme snapped, furious about the joke the elder pulled on her.
"Give it a day," Sarutobi sighed tiredly. "I haven't seen him unleash such fury before, so exhausting him was our best option. Locking him here will work better as no magic could-"
"Screw it…" Thyme walked forward, ignoring the old man.
"Hey, I-" Sarutobi tried to stop her, but the elf made her way to the demon fox.
"You better know this, Whiskers," Thyme looked him in the eye as the kitsune breathed raggedly. Shutting her eyes tight, she held the fox's head in her hands, "Before we met, I didn't see anyone as anything but a useful person. Everyone made connections for their own good, to feel good about themselves or to get something out of it. And yet you… you…"
"Grr…hyme…?" the fox growled softly, Sarutobi's jaw hanging low at that.
"Alright, Naruto," Thyme kept her eyes tightly shut as she continued. "You're a pain, but you're honest about it. Everything you tell me is your honest truth, and while you never had any reason to help me, you… If you hadn't come along, I don't know where I'd be after that fight. After I hid so much from you, after the way I treated you, after all my demands and what you learned about me, you were… you… So, please, let me see the stupid boy who chooses to do good even for a mess like me."
Having said her piece, Thyme leaned forward… and kissed a wide-eyed Naruto's fully human lips.
Opening her eyes widely at the realization that there was no fur, the elf pulled back to see a gaping blond boy whose face and hers were equally red.
"What did I just miss?!" Naruto exclaimed with Thyme still holding his head, her eyes focusing on nothing while the entire room around her felt like it was spinning…
Everyone else watched in shock - or amusement in Oleander, Aloe and Parsley's case – as the elf and fox looked at each other clearly embarrassed…
And then, she kissed him again!
-TBC-
And that's my rap!
To answer a few things and put others into perspective.
-The Triad in this case are equal to Sarutobi, being the overseers and highest authority in an organization for peacekeeping means you better be able to pull your weight.
-Some references to Sun Wukong with Sarutobi like it was hinted in his fight with Orochimaru.
-Naruto's demon form is practically a were-fox, but he's still sentient enough to recognize friend from foe since Sarutobi's been training him to control his rage. So, yes, he aimed all his fury on Orochi.
-Power of love!
Swordslinger out!