New Devil of The Gremory House

by Master Attlon

He was thrown into something new. He gave up, he didn't want to be a part of anything like this anymore. But maybe these people could become something new for him to care for. Something new to fight for.

35. The

New Devil of The Gremory House

Life 35: The

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The wolf's claws had swung down and easily tore through his barrier of wind. It had cut through the constricted orb of wind paths and violent torrents as easily as natural air. He knew the beast was powerful but it looked like it could just keep summoning more and more power.

He quickly jumped back before the wolf could get any closer. Looks like they were going to have to make a plan and prepare for the worst with this thing. Looking back at the others he was getting ready to follow the orders of Azazel and Odin, people more familiar with the enemy they faced-

But they were all screaming at him. Yelling at the top of their lungs and run his way. Rias called out to him with tears pricking her eyes as she reached out. For some reason he couldn't actually hear them call out or say anything.

'Kurama, is something wrong?'

The fox was talking to him, he could feel it, but for some reason he couldn't hear him. Curiously he looked down and prepared to summon his Sacred Gear.

That's when he realized that one of his arms had been cleaved off at the elbow. And the other one was mangled with clear chunks of skin, muscle, meat, vein, and bone having been shredded away at the claws of the wolf. And between them were several deep, bloody gashes through his torso that spewed his lifeblood.

Oh. That explained it.

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"NARUTOOOOOO!"

Rias and Koneko quickly broke rank and ran to the whiskered Devil. Xenovia had gathered a massive amount of aura around Durandal and released a powerful slash against Fenrir to force it back.

The attack didn't even cause the wolf to shirk or stray away from its spot.

"Bastard! Dragon Shot!"

Issei released his own attack at the giant wolf and this time Fenrir thought to counter, giving a short but mighty roar that dispersed the attack before it could reach.

"Naruto! Naruto!" Rias cried out as she dropped to her knees and looked down at her beloved. His eyes were wide and his mouth was moving but no words came out, his system going into shock from the damage and blood loss. Tears filled her eyes, "Asia!"

"Y-Yes!" The blonde [Bishop] was already running over and channeled her Twilight Healing. She closed her eyes and focused as her breathing quickened from the panic, "T-The damage is terrible. A-And his arm-"

"Here." Koneko came back to their side, her hands stained red as she held the arm that had been severed by the claws. She laid it by his side and pressed it against the stump as the freshman cried, "Will this work?"

"I'm not sure. I've never-" Asia took a deep breath, shedding her tears before her eyes hardened and she nodded, "I will help Naruto-senpai! I promise!"

"Hold them back!" Azazel commanded as he weaved Light around his hands and released a myriad of attacks up at the God over their heads. He, Baraqiel, Akeno, Irina, and Xenovia all started attack Loki in order to overwhelm him. But the God simply stretched out his arm and blocked their combined efforts with a series of magic circles and his bare hands.

On the ground Issei continued to throw powered up blast after blast at the giant wolf across from him. Fenrir saw the mighty attacks that could rend through mountains and obliterate other opponents and did nothing. The Dragon Shot impacted against the wolf's snout and split around it harmlessly, failing to leave any damage or lasting impact on the mighty beast. Once the attack had finished Fenrir hunched down and growled at him like a predator.

"Sword Birth!"

Yuuto summoned a field of swords under the beast to skewer its paws. And the metal of those blades folded like paper before erupting into pieces of shrapnel by its gentle walk forward. Yuuto yelled and continued to summon weapons in hopes of impeding the massive canine but still it stalked forward without pause.

"W-Watch out!"

Gasper, in a momentary swell of courage and bravery, stepped forward to face the oncoming beast. His eyes flashed like gems as his Forbidden Balor View activated, capturing the giant wolf in a single point of time as it froze in place. The young Dhampir smiled in joy and relief as he saw his power work.

Only for it to shatter an instant later as Fenrir continued. Gasper stumbled back in fright and tried to focus again only for his panic to be too strong. Fenrir growled and lurched with a swing of his paw-

"Gasper!"

Issei grabbed the young [Bishop] and put himself between the claws of the wolf and his junior. He tried to avoid the attack but one of the claws had gotten too close, tearing through the Scale Mail and ripping out part of Issei's back. The perverted brunette let out a pained wail as he stumbled forward and felt blood pour down his back.

"Issei-kun!"

"Issei-senpai!"

"Issei-San!"

"No!" He called out to Asia when he saw her about to stand up. His vision was starting to tunnel but he grit his teeth and focused, "Focus on him, Asia! I-I'll be okay!"

"B-But-"

"Don't worry." Issei collapsed on one knee and immediately turned over, hissing in pain and aiming another ball of Demonic Power at the approaching wolf, "I-I can handle him."

[Partner, this injury is bad.]

"Y-You think I'll survive?"

[With some help? Yes. Fighting Fenrir like this? Never.]

Issei looked around and saw people fighting Loki, healing Naruto, and trying to help him fend off Fenrir. But at the moment it didn't seem like things were looking in their favor. Issei's vision was starting to go hazy and his back was starting to feel hot and cold. He didn't want to consider that this...this might be-

Through his blurry sight he saw a flash of silver and white light blind everything around them before receding away. The blurry sight of the giant wolf and taunting God over them shifted, as if they were forced to move away before they were attacked.

Issei closed his eyes, took a breath, and tried to clear his sight again. He heard a faint something in his ears before he opened his eyes again and saw Fenrir and Loki had vanished. Instead a glamorous figure in resplendent white and silver armor stood lording over him.

"You're injured and dying again, but this time you've stood against a foe as grand and fearsome as Fenrir the God-slaying wolf. I must say, Issei Hyoudou, I'm impressed in how far you've come in such a short time."

Of course Vali showed up when he was bleeding out and on his knees. Why would he expect anything else?

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"-ke yet? Are you awake? Are you awake? Are you awake? Are you awake? Are you there? Can you hear me yet? Hurry up already. Can't you-"

"Ugh, stop. Stop." Naruto groaned as he blearily opened his eyes and looked up at his fox companion. He realized he was back in his inner mind space and sat up in the water, "Why are you talking so loud in my ear man?"

"Finally you wake up!" Kurama exclaimed as he shook his head, "It was weird seeing you like that. First time you were in here with me and you weren't responding. I was freaking out. In the end I just kinda resorted to nudging you and repeatedly asking you to wake up."

"Were you really that bored?"

"I was. I was really, really bored."

The whiskered blond shook his head and sat up to look over himself. He scratched his head and turned to Kurama, "Something bad happened, right? I remember fighting a…wolf? Yeah a fucking big wolf and it…attacked me. And after that I…shit what happened?"

"Its claws tore through you like wet paper."

"Through me?" The [Pawn] pointed at himself as the fox nodded, "But I was in Sage Mode."

"Yep."

"I'm stronger in that form."

"Yep."

"I fell off a mountain and didn't get a scratch!"

"And that thing's claws cut through you like melted butter." Kurama shrugged, "Don't know what to tell you Naruto; that wolf is seriously bad news. If I still had a body and was faced with that thing I would be very careful about where I step around it."

"Dammit." Naruto sighed, "So it attacked me and I got hurt but what about the others?"

"You got it the worst by a wide margin. The wolf's claws tore through your chest and part of your arm."

"Oh crap. Well at least I'm still alive-"

"And tore off your other arm too."

"OH SHIT!"

Naruto's eyes snapped open as he returned to the real world. He instantly regretted that decision as the pain, soreness, and exhaustion he was avoiding in his subconscious were now assaulting him directly. Closing his eyes he tried to sit up but felt a strong pressure on his body. He then tried to feel his arms, moving his fingers to make sure they responded, but realized he couldn't move his arms anymore. Was this that phantom pain thing he heard about? Did he seriously lose his arms?!

But with a crane of his neck Naruto looked down and realized his arms weren't missing. They were just covered by heads of blue and white hair. Xenovia and Koneko were seated on either side of his bed and had fallen asleep on his arms waiting for him to wake up. After the wolf and Loki had attacked they had apparently brought him back to the hotel to sleep in one of the rooms.

When he moved he felt the tight bandages and wrappings that covered his chest and arms. Although there were no clear injuries left on him there was still a pain that lingered and his body ached just to move. However it seemed like even that small movement was enough to stir the girls resting on him.

Xenovia stirred a little and Koneko yawned as she lifted her head. The young Nekomata rubbed the sand out of her eyes and blinked before looking at him. Her eyes widened in shock, "Senpai?" He gave her a tired, weak smile and she immediately jumped up, "Senpai!"

"Bwuh?" Xenovia let out a quick mumble and yawned before smacking her lips and looking his way. Her eyes widened as well before they settled into soft relief at seeing him awake, "You're finally up. Thank Michael-sama you're awake."

"And I feel absolutely terrible." He said jokingly as he looked at the relieved [Knight] and the fretting [Rook] that gave him a once over to make sure he wasn't hiding some other terrible injury. He tried to sit up but winced at the effort while they helped lay him back down, "How long was I out?"

"Less than a day. Asia-senpai was able to heal your injuries and mend the damage." Koneko clarified.

"Then why do I still feel like I've been sleeping under a boulder?"

"You could be feeling a lot worse." Xenovia nodded towards the young white-haired girl on his other side, "Koneko has been using every spare moment she can to treat your exhaustion and stamina. It's probably why you feel like your body's been crushed and not - you know - cleaved into pieces."

She had already been helping him and he was still this uncomfortable? Geez, he didn't want to think what it would have felt like waking up without her help. He looked over at Koneko and smiled, "Thank you Koneko."

Her cheeks heated up and her ears twitched softly as she looked down. Naruto finally noticed that there were signs of a trail down her cheeks and the corners of her eyes were red. Koneko stepped up to his side and leaned over to embrace him, making sure not to squeeze too hard or hurt him, "I'm glad you're okay."

Despite how his body cried out for him not to move, he wrapped an arm around her tiny shoulders in return and squeezed back, "I'm sorry if I worried all of you. But in my defense I seriously didn't think that stupid mutt was gonna cut through me that swiftly. What happened after I went down?"

"We tried to fend off Loki and Fenrir to the best of our ability but we weren't able to do much. Issei was badly injured and nearly died of blood loss before Asia got to him. No one else got hurt." Xenovia said when she saw the question lingering on his tongue, "We returned to the hotel to try and formulate a plan."

Naruto looked around before tilting his head, "Where's Rias?"

"When she's not spending every moment hovering over your bed worried about you, she's trying to strategize with the others on what we need to do next. After Loki's surprise attack and the fact he has Fenrir at his side, we've had to seriously reconsider how we want to proceed with this matter. It's all they've been discussing for hours."

"Is that wolf really that dangerous?"

"It is said that Fenrir the God-slaying wolf is destined to kill Odin-sama and bring about Ragnarök, the end of everything." Koneko pulled back and looked dejected having to explain how bad this was to him, "That wolf's claws and fangs have been recorded as some of the most terrifying weapons in the wolrd – strong enough to tear through the flesh of Gods with ease."

"It's one of the strongest creatures in the world. Even stronger than the Maous, Azazel-sensei, Michael-sama, and more on the level of the Two Heavenly Dragons. The fact you lived after being swiped by it is nothing short of a miracle."

"I thought I dodged it entirely but I guess even the wind pressure from that thing's claws is bad enough." He didn't want to think how much of a mess he would have left if he didn't have Sage Mode and dodged at the last second. After a moment he blinked and looked around, "Wait if that thing is so strong then how come Issei and I are the only ones who got hurt? How did you escape?"

That question left strained, very complex expressions on the girls' faces as they struggled to answer. He hesitated to ask, "What happened?"

"We got lucky. But whether it was good luck or bad luck is…"

"Let's just say you aren't gonna be happy with the answer."

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"They have a fridge! A fully stocked, full functioning fridge!"

"I don't usually like to watch television but I can't help but marvel at just how much of it there is. So many choices and so little time to – is Issei Hyoudou singing a song about breasts?"

"Ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh~, fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccccccccckkkkkkkkkkk~, nnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaaaaa~. Leave me on this couch and let me die happy, nya~."

"It's been quite a while since we've had use of any facilities. Do you think it would be improper for me to take the opportunity to use a shower or wash my clothes? We did help them and they have plenty of spare rooms I can use."

Naruto wasn't sure what he expected when he came out of his room. When Xenovia and Koneko told him to brace himself he thought they were just talking about the fact he was still a little shaky on his feet. This world was strange and different from the one he knew, so what could have aided them againt Loki and Fenrir in the eleventh hour could have been anything in the world.

But even then the blond ninja didn't expect to walk out to find Bikou raiding their fridge, Vali flipping through channels, Kuroka melding into a couch as she blissfully moaned in delight, or Arthur debate whether it would be rude to raid a room and wash the grime off himself.

"What the fuck am I watching right now?"

That was all he could bring himself to say. And that was apparently enough to garner the attention of the four super criminals wanted by every faction while they enjoyed themselves in the hotel's private lounge.

"MM!" Bikou waved at him from his spot by the fridge, his arm carrying a bunch of other snacks and meals with an apple in his mouth. He pulled the fruit out with his tail and smiled, "Hey Naruto Uzumaki! Glad to see you up and about on your feet again after that nasty little run-in with the God-slaying wolf. I swear I did not think you were gonna live with all those bits and pieces missing from you. Also all the blood. You were losing a lot of blood."

"That just shows the usefulness of a Sacred Gear like Twilight Healing." Arthur followed up as he dipped his head inside one of the rooms to inspect its bathroom, "It was able to mend the severe injuries and allow his body to replenish blood. I'm sure your sister also had a hand in his speedy recovery, Kuroka."

The black-haired Nekomata was still sprawled out over the couch but she was looking at the Gremory Devils by peeking over the couch arm. Her eyes were narrowed spitefully at the whiskered blond before her gaze lingered to Koneko. She looked between them a few times before huffing and slipping back down into the couch for a comatose level of sleep. To Naruto that had to be the most cat-like behavior he had seen so far; barely registering his existence before going back to napping.

"You were fortunate we arrived when we did. Any longer and Fenrir would have been picking his teeth with your bones." Vali pried himself away from the surreal sight of the Oppai Dragon fighting off the Lazy Sage while a melody of admiring breasts played in the background. The Hakuryuukou stood up from the table and turned towards Naruto with a cocky smile, "But I guess your luck doesn't end there, Naruto Uzumaki. For the time being it would appear that our goals are-"

"That can wait." He interrupted with a wave of his hand, "What the fuck are you doing?"

"We're waiting." Bikou answered between mouthfuls, "Apparently the Gremory heiress is discussing with the Norse God and the Governor-General about what they should do with us. On one hand we're wanted criminals sided with the Khaos Brigade, who should either be apprehended or executed on sight. On the other hand, we swooped in and saved your collective asses when you needed it most. So that's gotta count for something."

"No I know that. I mean what are you doing?" He pointed between them all, "Stuffing your faces? Showers and washing machines? TVs? Couches? What is up with you? Are you wanted criminals or vagrants enjoying the luxury life?"

"I take offence to the implication that those two things have to be mutually exclusive."

"Bikou."

"Am I wrong? We can be fighters who shake the balance of the world and still be hobos."

The whiskered blond just blinked in shock before turning to Xenovia and Koneko for clarity. The two girls looked disappointed as they shrugged, "As it turns out the group of the White Dragon Emperor live a fairly…Spartan lifestyle."

"Despite the pleas of those that followed him."

"We don't need extravagant lifestyles or an abundance of the unnecessary." Vali said resolutely as he stood tall and proud, "We find meaning, purpose, and relief in the heat of battle and the conquering of powerful foes. That is all we need to sustain ourselves."

"Is what he says for himself." Bikou added on, "Personally I'm enjoying the access to an abundant source of free food-"

"That food's not free."

"-and the fact we don't have to keep jumping from place to place, living in abandoned buildings and surviving off ramen alone."

"Ramen is amazing and you will shut up."

To everyone's shock it was Naruto and Vali who said those words in tandem. The blond and silver-haired boys glared at each other silently before turning their heads away in frustration.

"Well you two freaks can live on broth and noodles as long as you want. I'm making myself a sandwich."

"Indeed." Arthur nodded, "I also appreciate the amenities at our disposal-"

"They're not at your disposal."

"-and will take this opportunity to wash myself and clean my clothes. I feel like with the machines at hand I can take a little of the burden off Le Fay at least."

Naruto stared gobsmacked as Vali's team continued to indulge in the lifestyle they seemed to have thrown away when they made enemies of everybody. With a grumble and shake of his head he turned to Xenovia and Koneko instead. In the face of those fools, a natural airhead with a complete lack of subtlety and a quiet girl who always hid her true thoughts were like a breath of fresh air, "We can't seriously be about to work with these idiots."

"They're strong."

"They smell and probably have fungus growing out parts of their body."

"We should be ready to accept any help we can."

"I think I hate them!"

"We all hate them, and they hate us as well. But between them and Loki who would you rather deal with?"

"..."

"Senpai."

"Naruto."

"I'm thinking!"

A door popped open as Rias entered with the others following behind her. She spoke to them before she noticed him standing on the opposite end of the room. The redhead immediately ran over, pushing Bikou out of her way and spilling all of his food as she jumped over the couch and kicked Kuroka's legs in the process. Despite the whines and hissing behind her she came to a stop in front of him; eyes frantically looking him over and looking like she was forcing herself to stay off him.

He smiled softly and opened his arms.

She took that opportunity to jump into his embrace and hug him. He winced and ignored the pain that rushed through where they connected. With a slight chuckle he squeezed her back, knowing how important it was for her to feel him actually respond, "You idiot." She whispered with the relief clear in her voice, "We were so scared."

"It's okay." He squeezed her tightly, "I'm alright."

"Already on your feet?" Odin's condescending tone cut through their moment as the old man walked in and took a seat. The seat he took was on the couch where his hand reached over and copped a feel of Kuroka's butt before she jumped and hissed at the old God, "Be honest kid, what was it like getting cut by those things? I'm gonna be slain by that thing in the future and I'd like to have an idea of what's in store for me."

"It's been explained to me that I got sliced like hot butter."

"Hmm, that does paint a picture." Odin shrugged, "I bet I'll leave a huge mess when I get carved up."

"O-Odin-sama, don't talk like that!" Rossweisse yelled as she ran up to her master's side, "We're still here, ready and willing to fight for your safety!"

"Yeah but now Loki's got the fleabag at his side so our chances are pretty much shot. The Sekiryuutei got his back carved out and the only reason they retreated was because the Hakuryuukou got the jump on them. That only works once. Now he'll be expecting it, the wolf will be on guard, and we don't have much hope when the Two Heavenly Dragons of this generation still haven't graduated from their diapers."

"You should watch what you say, Odin-dono." Vali spoke up with an edge in his voice, "I'm not sure about Issei Hyoudou but I promise I can hold my own in a fight and I certainly don't need diapers."

"I DON'T EITHER! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU IMPLYING, VALI?!"

"Okay I think that's enough." Azazel stepped up and calmed things down before any more chaos could grow rampant. The Fallen Angel turned towards the young upstart he had raised and sighed, "Guess going out into the world hasn't done anything to curb that confrontational spirit of yours, huh?"

"Did you expect anything less?"

"Missing the luxury apartments and food yet?"

"I've managed to survive without it." Vali snapped his fingers and pointed sharply at Bikou before the Youkai could pipe up and ruin his moment. The monkey Sage sighed and continued to eat his stolen meal as the young Lucifer turned to his former guardian, "Still trying to fight war and unify the unwilling?"

"Heh, did you expect anything less?"

"Nyaaaa~, they love each other~."

Vali stared blankly at his Nekomata comrade and her playful snipe before she shrugged uncaringly. The young man sighed and grabbed the remote to the TV, "So I'm sure there are a few things we need to discuss and strategies we need to agree on. Yet I feel like I can't do anything without first asking…" Vali flicked the television on and stared in disbelief at the program, "What is this monstrosity you have playing on here?"

"You lose Sage! Now return to your master and the dark hole you crawled out of and remember! I shall protect the people and all the breasts of this kingdom until my dying breath!"

"Whatever. I'm gonna go take a nap-"

Rias stomped over and turned off the TV as her character appeared in a skimpy, very revealing dress a princess should never wear. Vali and the others were watching with quiet interest before the Gremory heiress had turned it off. Vali nonchalantly turned it back on only for her to scamble to shut it off again. This exchange continued for several seconds-

"YAH!" Rias shoved her hand through the screen with a miasma of Destruction over her hand and broke it. She yanked it out, huffed angrily, turned to the wide-eyed gazes being sent her way, and pulled the hair out of her eyes, "Can we please stay on topic."

"The Princess is right," Azazel agreed, not letting the chance to tease her pass by as he looked at Vali and his team, "Vali, what exactly are you hoping to accomplish here? It sounds like an admirable goal but I doubt you and Issei have suddenly decided to bury the hatchet for Albion and Ddraig."

"No."

"I'm not gonna work with this asshole!"

[Nothing would displease me more.]

[I've made it a past time to bathe in the blood and tears of the white one's hosts and I don't feel like stopping that now.]

"Figures. So then why did you come to help us with Loki and Fenrir?"

"The fact you all are involved with this is just a coincidence, I assure you." The White Dragon Emperor walked around the room, his teammates joining him at his side as he spoke confidently, "We're actually here because we have an interest in Fenrir."

Rias groaned, "I feel like I should ask what you would want with the God-slaying wolf, but then again I'm pretty sure I just answered my own question."

"Claws and fangs that send Gods back in fear with even the mighty Odin-dono considering his death?" Vali shrugged, "I find a resource like that very interesting."

He wanted to take Fenrir's claws and fangs to use against Gods he planned to fight in the future. If they were all as strong as Loki or even stronger, then it made sense to plan ways to fight them in the future. What better way than weapons that are recorded as cutting down Gods and keeping them fearful of ever crossing the Northern beast.

It looked like Azazel had already predicted what it was his former charge was after, because instead of a loud and explosive denial he just sighed and rolled his eyes, "Vali, you understand how it can be a little problematic to get your help protecting a God when it might mean you end up fighting or killing even more Gods in the future, right?"

Bikou nodded, "True but consider this; isn't it more important to protect Odin which will definitely prevent Ragnarök even if it might mean some other Gods that don't matter as much could end up getting the boot?"

"I think it's super important that we protect Odin at any cost and fuck the other Gods." People stared at Odin accusingly for his piping up, "What? I agree with the monkey boy."

"Ugh, it pains me to say it but while I'm not up for them joining just so they can use us to get to Fenrir, we can't turn down the extra muscle they offer."

"Yes we can." Naruto argued, "Watch this. Hey, fuck off! We don't want ya! Don't make me get the spray bottle!"

Vali's team looked unamused as Kuroka's eye twitched angrily, "I feel like that's aimed at me in particular."

"Don't take it personally. I'm shooing away all of you filthy little assholes before you stink up the place."

"You know, Naruto Uzumaki, we were going to engage in this fight one way or the other." Vali warned, "We can fight Fenrir and Loki together, or our team can fight them while also fighting all of you. Your choice."

Naruto glowered at them before he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Azazel sigh and nod his head. With a groan the blond turned and flicked his hand in the air to say he was fed up. Azazel turned back around and nodded towards Vali and the others.

They smiled, "I look forward to us working together from now on."

"Can we at least set some ground rules so they don't spread fleas everywhere?"

"Motherfucker you looked at me when you said that, nya!"

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"Rias we need to take off all the bandages."

"I know."

"You said you'd help with that, right?"

"I did."

"So shouldn't we start?"

"One more minute."

With a deep sigh Naruto resigned and gently ran his hand through the hair of the girl in his chest. Apparently she had been hoping to be there when he woke up and was running back and forth between meetings and his bedside until this point. He hadn't meant to make her worry but in the end he did, so he felt the least he owed her was a moment to enjoy a hug.

Once she had satisfied herself she pulled back and smiled, wiping a tear from her eye, "You're okay?"

"Soreness has started to lighten up." Rotating his arms and shoulders around to show he was more mobile than before, he smiled, "I promise I'm okay." He then picked at the end of some of his bandages and ripped the fabric, "So can you help me get this stuff off?"

"Sure." She took the tear and pulled on it, yanking out a strand of the bandage as it unfurled from his body. Circling around his chest and off his arms, Naruto breathed a little easier as the tightness of the wrapping was removed and Rias checked him over. Content to see there were no apparent injuries or infections from where he was healed she let out a breath of relief, "Asia is a miracle worker."

"I feel bad making her push herself to fix me up. I guess it must have been really bad." He sat there for a moment before looking over his shoulder as Rias kept unwrapping, "It was really bad, wasn't it?"

"We thought that was it." Rias said in little more than a whisper, "It was terrible. Worse than ever before. We were all in a panic. Xenovia went mad and started swinging at Loki. I was just screaming your name and trying to make sure you stayed awake. Koneko...she carried you arm back over."

"She did that?"

"Yeah." The image of that poor girl standing over him with the arm he was missing was a harrowing sight, "I think she was the most relieved to see you get up again."

After he had been freed from his mummifying bindings, he moved his body and tried to regain some comfort to his sore form. As he took a deep breath and felt his chest expand and constrict with it, he realized he was going to have to do some training in order to limber up properly, "I really didn't mean to risk it like that and scare you all. I had no idea that wolf was gonna be that strong."

"If we meet it again you can't charge in to fight it." She squeezed his shoulder gently but he felt the small shaking in her hand while she did so, "None of us are enough to fight that thing and I don't want you getting caught in its reach again."

Because he wasn't strong enough to do anything.

She didn't mean it like that and he certainly wasn't the only one who need to be careful of the beast. But he couldn't help but feel bitter at the fact he was once again reminded that he was lacking the strength needed to stand up to threats like this.

[You need to put a little more time into that technique you've been developing.]

'There's no way I'm gonna perfect that move between now and the next time they attack.' He could only make so many clones at once in Sage Mode so the usual method of making an army and hammering out the finesse of a technique wouldn't work like this. He needed time, and time was something they didn't have with this matter.

He would have to figure something out. With a shake of his head he rid himself of those self-deprecating thoughts and looked to the redhead beside him, "I should probably apologize to Xenovia and Koneko for making them waste their time looking over me."

"Do you think they were really wasting their time?"

"Well I guess wasting it is a bit much but they could have used that time to rest and recuperate. Instead-"

"They stayed by your side, watching over you and waiting to see when you'd wake up." Rias leaned in and looked deep into Naruto's eyes as he seemed confused and startled by what she was saying, "Because they care about you, and they want to make sure you're okay. It's what you should expect from people who love and care about you."

Naruto looked at her stunned before seeming confused by what she said, "What...what do you mean when you say-"

"Well I'm not sure if love is the correct term, but affection and care for you in particular are definitely appropriate. Didn't you say they approached you the other day in the bedroom looking for something?" His cheeks dusted with a hint of red as she gave a resigned chuckle and shook her head, "What exactly did you think they were doing then?"

"I-I'm not sure. I mean Xenovia is crazy and unpredictable when it comes to stuff like that. And Koneko," He paused and tried to rationalize why his young friend would do that, "I don't know. Maybe she was curious or confused-"

"Certainly curious. Not confused." Rias corrected, "I know you might see her like a young friend or even a little sister, but that isn't how she views you. You aren't a big brother who looks after her. You're a man who treats her like an adult and not some child who needs to be protected constantly. Who acts like an equal and takes notice of what she says. Who acts like a dear, true friend she can get along with and be honest around. Who helped her face a part of her past she was scared of and prepared to lock away forever and pushed her forward along the way. After all that how could she just look at you like a friend. I don't think she could because after you did that all for me, I couldn't think about not being more with you." Rias admitted and kept him stunned, "As for Xenovia she may very well be approaching you out of curiosity, but only you because she trusts you and believes you can understand her better than most others around her. Hehe, even though the results may vary from time to time."

He was shocked by this revelation. The blond shook his head and tried to comprehend what he was hearing, "I didn't mean…I-I didn't know…"

Rias just smiled, not one of joy or relief but of understanding as she ran her hand through his hair, "I'd call you stupid for not noticing, but sometimes these things can go unnoticed unless we're made aware of it."

"But they know that you and I-"

"Devils have a habit of forming multiple relationships at once. It's not uncommon. In fact many people in power do it. My father included." Rias' casual way of stating that shocked him to no end, "I know it's rather embarrassing to say but...well it's true."

"But I thought only nobles or high Devils or whatever could do something like that." Naruto remembered hearing how many Devils of nobility and high ranking had formed harems, both male and female. It was the main reason Issei aspired to become a better Devil. He looked down into the sea foam eyes of his girlfriend, "I thought you could do something like that."

"Yes but I'm not drawing the eyes of boys around me and gaining their affection."

"I promise you are. Multiple people at school and even that bird dick can attest to that." They shared a strained laugh before Naruto's smile lowered. He reached over and wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in. She put her arms around him as well as they looked at each other, "But when I think about you being with other people I feel annoyed. I'm not sure I'd like it. What about you?"

"Can't deny it. I'm the jealous type." Rias admitted with a mirthless chuckle before shaking her head, "I'm not sure how good I would be at sharing anything. I was always the type to throw a fit when my toys were taken away from me."

"Not sure how I feel about being compared to a toy."

"You get what I mean." She knocked her fist gently on his chest, "I don't know how I'd feel if you suddenly weren't just looking at me. But I do remember what it was like when I realized I have feelings for you. How wonderful and relieving it was to spend time with you and find out more about what this was like." Hearing her say that left a warmth swelling in his stomach and chest, "So the idea of me shooting down this feeling to people close to me, my own servants at that, leaves me feeling depressed."

"But shouldn't I have a choice here?"

"Yes, you do." Rias looked up at Naruto and pressed her hand over his heart, "Don't get it mixed up Naruto; dealings with peoples' feelings, accepting or rejecting them, and what you think is right is up to you. If you don't want to reciprocate their feelings then that's fine. But I know you cherish the people around you and you want to make sure they're happy. So whatever you think needs to be done, please think about it carefully."

He squeezed her hand in return, "I feel like there's no good or easy answer to this."

"I don't think there is either."

"And you're sure I'll know the right thing to do?"

"I'm sure you'll make the choice you think is right."

With a sigh he hung his head and groaned, "I just can't believe. I mean are you sure Koneko-"

"Trust me Frogger, as loathe as I am to agree with the sentiment, Shirone's got it bad for you. Makes me worry."

Naruto and Rias flinched, going into a defensive guard as they turned towards the voice. Suddenly standing there in the room with them was Kuroka, the black-haired Nekomata leaning against the wall with her arms tucked under her considerably unrestrained buxom.

"When the fuck did you get there?!"

"I slipped in while you two were probably about to do the same." The cat woman teased with a coy smile at the glare Rias aimed her way. She pushed off the wall and sashayed over to the bed, her chest bouncing along the way. The action drew Naruto's eyes despite his best efforts, and earning a sharp pinch from Rias on his arm. Apparently getting what she wanted, Kuroka gave a cat-like giggle and faced the two Devils, "Truth is I came here to inspect the place and see if there was a chance for me to torment/kill you."

"Still bitter about me whooping your ass, huh?"

"You took a chance from me to reunite with Shirone, so I'll be bitter about that forever."

"Do you honestly think Koneko was ever going to run back into your arms after what you did?"

Kuroka's eyes turned to Rias after her harsh words as the two women met each other's gazes. They refused to yield against the other before Kuroka closed her eyes and sighed. Looking back at the two lovers critically, the Nekomata continued, "Regardless, I can't help look at my darling little sister now without noticing that she's smitten."

Smitten? Was that true? The insinuation that his young friend was that infatuated got his cheeks heating up more than he'd like to admit.

"I hate you for keeping her away from me, but if you string her along or hurt her? I'll kill you and make it last." She leaned forward and stuck her finger into the center of his chest, glaring deeply into his eyes, "Got it?"

Naruto remained silent and just matched her intense stare with one of his own.

Kuroka looked away first, just to see Rias eyeing her cautiously while the dangerous Nekoshou was so close. Kuroka's expression quickly changed to a teasing grin as she giggled, "But if you're worried about losing your man then maybe you should do a little more to get him focused on you?"

"H-Huh?" Rias balked, her cheeks lighting up, "What do you mean-"

"Although I guess considering it's this guy we're talking about, there isn't much to be excited about." Naruto's eyes twitched at her mocking before he felt a twist against his chest. He looked down as Kuroka turned her finger up and quickly flicked it along his sternum. When she was done she stood up and nodded proudly, "Yep, that should do it. Don't worry Heiress-chan, now you should have more than enough incentive to get him looking at only you." She turned to the door and walked away with a far too friendly wave, "Bye, nyaa~."

Naruto and Rias watched her leave their sight before they relaxed. Even then it was with an air of tension still around them as Rias frowned, "I don't like that woman. What she did to Koneko is more than enough reason, but coming here trying to win her back and threatening you too? I'll need to keep an eye on her from now on."

"If nothing else you can at least be relieved that she'll watch out for Koneko." He had to look for the silver lining of keeping the black-haired Nekomata that had it out for him around for the time being. Touching the spot her finger had pressed against he raised his eyebrow, "What was she talking about anyway?"

[She's done something to you Naruto. She's shifted and redirected your energy.]

"She has?" Naruto was cautious and touched his chest, expecting his heart to grow too big or explode in his ribs with her meddling. After a moment of nothing happening he made to stand up, "I should ask Koneko if something..."

"Naruto?" Rias saw her boyfriend try to stand up before dropping back down on the bed. She looked at his face and saw his eyes were wide and shaking, "What is it?" She followed his line of sight down and looked at his lap. And that caused her to blank, "D-Did she-"

"She shifted my energy around." Naruto groaned, trying to shift around and move but realizing that no matter what he did, that would still be impeding his movements. He let out a sharp breath before shaking his head, "Yeah, that isn't going down."

"What…what do we do?" Rias asked, confused and unfamiliar with this kind of problem before she whispered almost to herself, "S-Should I help do something or-"

"Are you crazy?!" Naruto yelled, hearing her muttering and shaking her by the shoulders, "If you do anything to it while it's like this then she wins!"

"I'm pretty sure just the fact you are uncomfortable and freaking out means she's won already."

"Just give me a second! I-I'll figure out how to fix this!"

There was a knock on their door and after a moment Koneko opened the door and peeked her head in, "Senpai, are you okay? I thought I saw Onee-sama walk by her earlier and-"

"Koneko! Great timing! Your sister messed me up and now I'm having a hard time walking! Can you come in here and help me figure out how to work with this thing?!"

…

Koneko blushed and Rias palmed her face.

Naruto blinked before sighing, "Perhaps context would make this a little less awkward."

||||||||Devil||||||||

"Alright everyone, thank you for gathering here today." Azazel announced to the room, calling in loud enough a voice to silence everyone and get their attention towards him and the whiteboard he stood by, "I know there's a lot of tension about the subject matter and the groups gathered here aren't exactly...thrilled to work together."

"Hey, where did you guys buy these chips? They're delicious!"

"First, why are you asking when we all know you're penniless bums slumming it wherever you can go? Second, shut up and sit down!"

"Rias, I can't believe you have criminals squatting in your hotel. What would Lucifer-sama and Onee-sama say if they knew about this?"

"I'm ashamed enough as it is, Sona. I don't need to think of the reactions those two would have at this, or worse, the lack of proper reactions to the absurdity of this situation."

"Odin-sama, we're having a meeting to discuss how we plan to protect you from Loki-sama and Fenrir! Can you please not scratch yourself like that?"

"Oh get off my back woman. I haven't been allowed out of this place in days! I have an itch that needs scratching! I thought you of all people could sympathize with that."

"Hentaigami, stop dragging down Rossweisse and bitching about your dick!"

"Nyaa, what's up Sekiryuutei-chan? Like something you see~?"

"AH! MUST NOT BE TEMPTED BY BIG-BREASTED CAT GIRLS! Must focusssssss - ow, Asia don't pinch!"

"Damn you Hyoudou, getting surrounded by beautiful women like that."

"Saji-senpai, if that's how you feel then I don't mind-"

"~DRAGON DRAGON OPPAI DRAGON~, ~GROPE-GROPE SUCK-SUCK PAFU-"

Everyone covered their ears and weathered through the extremely loud rendition of the Oppai Dragon song. Azazel slowly lowered the volume until the whole room was silent and watching him, "Anyway, we're all here today to go over our plans for the upcoming fight. Now usually with enemies as powerful as this we'd alert the appropriate forces from our factions to help us deal with them. Unfortunately we aren't so lucky this time because the Hero faction of the Khaos Brigade has decided to pull up their diapers and rampage on all sides."

"With Heaven, the Underworld, and other mythologies being besieged at the moment we can't get the proper help we need." Sona clarified, "So for the time being we have to figure out a strategy with the forces at hand."

"Which include two Fallen Angel Cadres," Azazel pointed to himself and Baraqiel, "A Valkyrie warrior," Rossweisse nodded with determination, "The Gremory peerage and Michael's Ace," The ORC sounded off, "The Sitri peerage," The StuCo nodded, "And the Super Homeless Brigade."

"Damn you Azazel." Vali and his team glared at the Fallen Angel despicably.

"Now I'm sure many of you are thinking that these numbers and fighters wouldn't be enough to handles threats like Loki and Fenrir. And you'd be right!" Their enthusiasm wilted with Azazel's honest admission as he looked around, "So we're going to need to think about strategies and tactics of how to properly deal with them. Thankfully, Odin-sama reached out and came back with a way to help us with this problem. All yours old man."

The Chief God stepped up in front of everyone and nodded, "Now Loki and his freaky little crotch spawn Fenrir have been a pain in my ass and for everyone else in the north for millennia. You don't get a name like the Trickster God without being a prick to everyone and everything you meet. And Fenrir by itself would be a horror to deal with. Luckily, the Norse has been around long enough to find certain ways to handle pains like these two." Odin grabbed the helm of his robe, "Now this weapon has existed in the Norse for untold eons, becoming its most famous and powerful weapon. Its power is unmatched. Its strength is unrivaled. Those that have had the misfortune of coming across it have found themselves struck down with little hope to live."

"I swear if he pulls open that robe and flashes us-"

"That too is a weapon of unmatched prowess, but I was talking about this." Odin pulled open his robe, grabbed a piece of paper that started to burn with a blue fire and tossed it to the floor. The flames took on a shape before all the fire vanished and instead there was a tool in its place.

A hammer on the ground.

Some people looked confused by the summoned weapon while others leaned forward and marveled at what they saw. Vali was the first to speak, "Is that what I think it is?"

"Depends. Do you think that is Mjölnir, hammer of Thor and the strongest weapon ever forged by the Dwarves? If so then yes. Well to be specific it's a replica of Mjölnir – because there's no way in Hel Thor would ever give up his precious little toy – but it does pretty much the same thing so yeah."

"The legendary hammer."

"The weapon of Thor."

"It's amazing."

"B-But can we even use it? I thought you had to be worthy to wield the power of Thor-"

"Oh I swear if you kids keep getting this shit wrong – no, that's just in the movies and comics! You don't need to be worthy in order to lift the hammer."

"Awesome!" Bikou exclaimed, tossing his food aside as he leapt over the couch and ran up to inspect the replica of the legendary weapon, "Man I've always wanted to get my hands on a baby like this!" The monkey Youkai reached down and grabbed the handle of the hammer, "Well time to see how this baby works!"

Bikou yanked up to pull Mjölnir off the floor. With a fierce, straining growl through his mashed together teeth he pushed up with his legs and tried to lift it up. Everyone watched as the monkey Sage's face started to turn red and his feet actually started to creak against the floor, "I thought you said we didn't need to be worthy to lift this stupid thing!"

"You don't have to be worthy. It's just really fucking heavy." A echo of groans and curses surrounded the Elder God as he raised his hands defensively, "Hey I never said this was easy! You didn't think you'd get to wield one of the mightiest weapons in existence just because we're desperate did you? The only people here who can fight with it are probably the Two Heavenly Dragons, and even then it'll suck to lug it around."

"I don't need it." Vali quickly added on, "I'm plenty strong without Thor's weapon to bolster my power. Issei Hyoudou on the other hand-"

"I'm sorry," The brunette [Pawn] scoffed and looked at his eternal rival, "Did you just do the smug, cocky version of 'not it' to drop this thing on me?"

"He did. He totally did."

"Alright, Issei will be in charge of lugging Mjölnir around," The pervert wanted to raise an argument but Azazel quickly moved on, "So earlier we were able to make contact with Midgardsormr, one of the five Dragon Kings and another of Loki's spawn. He was able to give us a little insight into how his father and brother work when they attack. So now that we have the professional opinion we're going to be making a battle plan. Any questions?"

Naruto raised his hand.

"No."

"I didn't even ask anything."

"Not all of Loki's children are animals. One of them is his daughter, looks like a normal God, and is the ruler of Hel - not our hell."

"Okay well that's everything I wanted to ask. Let's get to it."

||||||||Devil||||||||

"Nyaaaaaaaaannnnnn~, this is the best!" Kuroka flopped down in another couch and melted into it in a dressing gown after indulging in the indoor bath a few floors over, "I can't believe these jerks have such a nice place!"

"I know!" Bikou patted his stuffed belly and burped in satisfaction, "I think I've finally eaten enough to make up for all the missing meals and nutrients from the last few months."

"I still think you've been complaining far too much. You knew what this was when you joined us so there's no point in griping." Vali said, poring through the ancient tome about Norse history and their magic. He had already gotten into it quite a bit and he was quite intrigued by what Norse magic had to offer, "Just don't get too comfortable. Once we're done with this fight we're leaving this ridiculous den of debauchery as quickly as possible."

"Sounding pretty optimistic there Vali. Almost sounds like you're expecting us to live through a fight with the God-slaying wolf."

"I'm fully expecting victory for us and I refuse to accept anything else."

"Stubborn but I suppose there was a reason we followed him." Arthur mused as he emerged from down the hall, a basket of clean clothes in his hands after a fresh wash. He dropped the basket down in front of his teammates and sighed, "We need to apologize to Le Fay when we get back. This was a lot tougher than I expected."

"You better not have shrunk my kimono! That's hand-washed only!"

"It went in and you'll live with it."

"Don't be upset Kuroka," Bikou chuckled, "What'll go wrong; your clothes will be even tighter and you'll show even more boob? Sounds perfect for you. Also we have company."

The group followed the Youkai's finger to the side to see Koneko, Gasper, Naruto, and Xenovia standing over by the hall. Once they had been spotted the group of Devils stepped up to confront the group of criminals they would be reluctantly working with. Vali closed the book with his finger still on the page, "What brings you all here? Shouldn't you be preparing for the fight tomorrow?"

Naruto glared at them, "We are, but I came here to ask you a few questions."

Koneko stepped up, "And I'm here to make sure no one does anything weird to Naruto-senpai."

"I-I'm here as emotional support for Koneko-chan!" Gasper added, cowering behind his friend for protection.

"And me," Xenovia stepped forward with determination in her eyes, "I'm here to get a look at the woman who gave Naruto this unyielding erection I heard so much about." The whiskered ninja palmed his face and cursed as Bikou doubled over with laughter. Xenovia walked in with purpose, stopping by the couch and staring down at the lounging Nekomata. Her eyes rocked over the black-haired cat's form with great attention as she nodded, "I see."

"Um, can I help you, nya?"

Without warning Xenovia reached down and pressed her hand firmly against one of the protruding mounds coming out of Kuroka's gown. The villainous Nekoshou stifled a surprised gasp and forced down a moan as the swordswoman squeezed with just a little more energy. Everyone in the room watched the odd interaction with their full attention as the groping bordered on a minute long.

Finally Xenovia pulled her hand back and Kuroka actually showed some timidity by covering her chest in defense. The blue-haired [Knight] stared down at her hand in disbelief and shook her head, "That had to be the softest, squishiest thing I've touched in my whole life. And that Valkyrie looked like she had a really great pair too. Damn, the enemies are piling up."

...

"Alright." Naruto drawled, stepping past Xenovia and looking at Bikou, "I have a question I want to ask you about how you use natural energy."

"Senjutsu?" Bikou nodded, "Okay shoot."

"I'm trying to figure out how to use some different techniques with my Demonic Power." He summoned a ball of fire to his fingers, offhandedly noting how much easier is was now compared to when he first struggled to even form them, "I noticed when I'm in Sage Mode that even small power like this is more explosive and potent."

"Yep, natural energy is eager like that." Kuroka stretched out, "It usually exists around us at all times so when it's channeled and allowed to play, it plays hard. That's why Sage attacks are so strong."

"Yeah, I figured that." Sage Mode and natural energy was why his original techniques became so much more powerful. It also explained why his Demonic Power techniques were harder to control than the Rasengan ones; at least his jutsu had a shell and form to pump his natural energy into while his demonic elements were wild and uncontrollable. He seriously needed to remember what Kakashi and Jiraiya said about shape control, "So do you have any advice for how I could put more natural energy into this? Or how I can control it better?"

"No such luck, nya."

"It's difficult for us to describe controlling that energy when we use it in such different ways. You build it up and use it explosively in one big burst like a battery, while we charge up with it whenever we can like we're hooked up to a charger. You use it to bolster your strength, and we use it to wield new techniques. Maybe you should just keep focusing on using it like you always do."

"Well this was a waste of time." Naruto lamented, "You just told me to do things the exact same way I've been doing them!"

"I don't know man! Pump more energy! Less! Do better!" The descendent of Sun Wukong shrugged helplessly, "I mean you're taking all that energy in through your body so have you ever thought of pushing it out somewhere other than your hands?"

...

Bikou and the others waited for Naruto to complain or explode on the monkey Youkai with a scathing insult. However the whiskered [Pawn] simply stood in silence and seemed lost in thought as he considered something.

"Can't believe that actually worked." Kuroka scoffed in disbelief before looking towards her little sister who steeled herself under her gaze, "What about you, Shirone? Got any questions you wanna ask about Senjutsu? Any tips you wanna give your beloved Frogger? Onee-chan's more than willing to help."

"No thank you, Onee-sama." Koneko answered quietly while making sure not to fall pray to her sister's teasing or goading, "I have a lot to learn about Senjutsu but I'm trying to learn on my own. Besides I have other things I need to focus on training with right now." Her eyes changed and her body became hotter as the members of Vali's team looked at her in surprise, "Using Matatabi's power should take more of my attention right now."

"Whoa! How are you doing that Shirone?! Teach me! Teach me!"

"That's actually quite impressive."

"Nice look kid."

"Hmm," Vali hummed, watching the faint blue flames dancing off the young girl's hands so effortlessly. The silver-haired youth actually cracked a small smile at the sight of the power she wielded before chuckling, "So those things have actually started getting out in the world. About time."

That little sentence was enough to pull Naruto out of his thoughts as he rounded on the Lucifer descendent, "What did you say? Did you know about Matatabi and the others? How did you know about the Bijū?"

"I wasn't aware that they were called Bijū, but yes I knew about them. I've known about them for a long time. A tanuki, a cat, a turtle, a monkey, a horse, a slug, a bug, a bull/octopus hybrid...and a fox." He finished with a little smirk, "They were pretty much inert since they were collected but suddenly they were lively and making noise. Wasn't that a surprise?"

"You know about them? You knew!" Naruto lurched forward and grabbed Vali's collar, yanking him out of his chair and almost on his feet with a hiss. Kuroka, Bikou, and Arthur immediately prepared for a fight as Koneko, Gasper, and Xenovia made to intercept. Their stalemate lasted as long as Naruto didn't throw fists, and he looked on the verge of attacking, "Where are they?"

"I don't know."

"Vali!" Naruto snarled, grinding his teeth as he stared the boy down, "Don't test me on this! If you know where Kurama and the others are right now, tell me. Otherwise I don't care who is stronger, who you have on your side, or what eternal rivalry you are a part of. I will make you suffer for anything that happens to them."

Vali smirked, "I would like to see what that looks like, but don't worry yourself. I don't know where they've been for a long time and I have no idea where they're being kept. Ophis liked to move them around and the Khaos Brigade loves to pass around their new toys."

"Vali-"

"We're on the same side for now, remember?" Vali squeezed his hand and removed it from his collar as he sat back in his chair and read, "There's no reason for us to go to blows again so soon. Let's just prepare for the battle ahead and to have each other's back."

Naruto was seething with anger as he stared at the half-Devil. His tone pissed him off beyond belief, but he couldn't sense any deceit or falsehood in his words. With a growl he turned, walking towards the hall to exit as the other Devils watched him and then followed his lead.

"Naruto Uzumaki," Vali called out, making the blond stop before he left the room, "I hope you end up finding your tailed friends again. I hope when you do...we can have a real fight, you and I." Naruto's shoulders rose and fell before he silently walked away with the others. Vali smiled and went back to work learning his new magic.

||||||||Devil||||||||

Tomorrow was a big day. They were going to make their stand against Loki, Fenrir, and whatever else they ended up fighting against.

Plans were made. Strategies were formed. Teams and attacks and methods were determined. Now all that remained was resting for the fight tomorrow so they were all in peak condition. There were some of them that were no doubt restless and worrying about what tomorrow had in store. Sleep must have been difficult for them.

For Akeno, it was damn near impossible.

The young [Queen] aimlessly walked through the numerous halls and rooms of the hotel. Her long black hair rolled down her back like a curtain freed from its restraints, and her loose white gown hung over her body and allowed her massive breasts some freedom under her linen. It was in this state that she should have been most comfortable and find it easiest to drift asleep.

But sleep escaped her.

She tossed and turned in her bed hopelessly. Her breath caught and her heart beat too fast for her to actually rest. She even felt sweat forming on parts of her body until her gown had started to cling to her form.

Akeno was scared of the battle they would have tomorrow. She was afraid that they were all going to die.

Their first fight with Loki and his wolf had been disastrous. Naruto had been gutted and Issei was carved up while the rest of them floundered uselessly against the wayward Norse God. They had help on their side now, Sona's peerage offering their support and Vali's team coming to aid, but now Loki and Fenrir weren't planning an ambush. It was going to be a full-on assault.

There might be fewer people coming home tomorrow than there were today. Maybe none of them would survive this.

Those morbid ideas wouldn't stop pervading every thought she had.

Since she had joined Rias' peerage she had been a part of many fierce and terrifying fights. Many of them were against foes that greatly overpowered and outclassed them in every way. Honestly Akeno had experienced many close calls with death after becoming a Devil, but somehow they always made it out the other side alive. By a miracle, or luck, or coincidence, or sacrifice, or newly realized strength they somehow survived.

But this felt different. Loki and Fenrir didn't feel so much like an uphill battle as a...as a death sentence they were all just waiting for.

Her friends would die. Her father would die. She would die.

Where would she go when she died?

She was a Shinto priestess in practice, but a Judeo-Christian Devil in being.

Would her soul just cease after she died?

Would she go to heaven? Did hell claim her soul? Would she return to the earth or be reincarnated as something else?

Would she see her mother when the light faded from her eyes?

Would she welcome her with open arms if they met again? Would she be happy?

Would she turn her away? Would she be disgusted to see her again?

Wouldn't that be what she deserved?

Her eyes pricked with tears as she closed them and thought back to the warm, welcoming memory of her mother brushing her hair and running her hands through it.

They snapped open when she realized it wasn't just a memory.

She snapped forward and looked back to see Rias in her dressing gown as well, still up late at this hour just like her. Akeno quickly rubbed her eyes clear and struggled to put on a fake smile to appease her oldest friend's worries, "Oh, Buchou, what are you doing up at a time like this? Shouldn't you be getting your rest for tomorrow?"

"I couldn't sleep." Rias stared at her unflinchingly with sympathy and sadness, "Hard for me to convince myself to rest when I know you're suffering like this."

"S-Suffering? Why would you-" Akeno paused, closed her mouth, hardened her eyes in betrayal and anger, and turned to look over her other shoulder to the end of the room, "What did you tell her?"

"What I needed to." Naruto answered without pause as he leaned by the wall and didn't flinch under her spiteful glare, "She needed to know what you said."

Akeno was glaring daggers his way but they quickly eased when Rias stepped in front of her, "Akeno, I knew about your feelings towards your father but why didn't you tell me about your thoughts concerning your mother?"

"Because those were musings I gave under duress while being pressured by a nosy, loud-mouthed idiot. They don't mean anything." Akeno sharply stated, quickly pulling herself up and out of the chair before she was surrounded, "We shouldn't be out here so late when we have so much to do tomorrow. Time for bed."

"Akeno," Rias reached out in an attempt to grab her dearest friend before she walked off, "If you're worried about us then what about yourself? Why don't you get some rest?"

"You can't sleep, can you?"

Again Akeno stopped and took a sharp breath through her nostrils at Naruto's observation and bluntness. She turned on him, any pretense of civility or pleasantry she wanted to convey washed off her face as she bristled with anger, "Why...why must you always be the one to say something?"

"Because we can't either." Rias admitted, slowly stepping forward and getting her [Queen's] attention before she flew off the rails, "Naruto's staying up trying to iron out the details for a new technique and I'm..." She gave a faint chuckle, clutching her own arm in an attempt to stop her shaking, "I can't sleep without my mind wandering." The crimson-haired Devil slowly stepped up to Akeno's side and touched her shoulder, "Why can't you sleep?"

"I can." Akeno deflected, gently pulling Rias' hand off her and avoiding Naruto's eyes as she walked back down the hall and towards her room, "You should try and relax Buchou. Otherwise-"

Akeno felt a rough grip on her arm and she was yanked back before she could walk away. She turned and prepared to berate the whiskered blond, but clammed up when she realized it was her [King] grabbing and glaring at her. Rias' frown grew more pronounced as she reached for a door, threw it open, and dragged Akeno inside. Naruto watched in suspense before he followed them inside and closed the door behind him.

"Rias!" Akeno's restraint finally failed and she yelled at her [King] as she yanked her arm away, "What is wrong with you?!"

"What is wrong with you?" Rias yelled back, growling and refusing to back down, "You won't talk to me! You won't give me an answer! You'll barely even look at me!"

"I-I just want to be left alone!"

"How can I leave you alone like this?!"

"It's not your concern!"

"Everything that bothers you is my concern! You're my partner! My [Queen]! My best friend! I can't just look away when you're clearly hurting!"

"I'm scared!"

"Of course you're scared! I'm scared too! We're all scared! You don't have to be scared alone!"

"Rias!" Akeno shrieked, quickly realizing her volume and trying to control herself. But despite her efforts her face was flushed with a wave of heat and her breath was labored. The Devil/Fallen Angel hybrid found her control waning and her barriers collapsing when confronted by Rias and Naruto. Her breaths caught with sobs and her voice cracked as she whispered, "We're going to die."

Naruto looked surprised by what she mumbled as Rias' eyes widened at the way she sounded. They both watched Akeno as her eyes started to water and she took rapid, shaky breaths through her nose. Even Rias felt like she could cry at the expression she was seeing as she shook her head, "Akeno, don't say that. We're not going to die."

"We're up against a God and a wolf that kills them for fun. We've been up against monsters and enemies that have nearly killed us dozens of times before, but we've barely managed to scrounge by then. B-But this time," Akeno shook her head, "I just don't think we're going to make it."

"You can't say that." Rias gently grabbed Akeno's shoulders and persisted when she tried to shimmy away, "You can't just give up like that. We don't know what'll happen tomorrow-"

"If we go up against them then we'll be walking into our death sentence." Akeno's shook her head, "And if I have to watch you, Otou-sama, and everyone else die before me, t-then I don't know what'll happen. I can't handle that. Even just thinking about it-"

"We won't let that happen. No one is going to die tomorrow." Naruto finally spoke up, his voice solid to counter her shaky uncertainty, "Talking like it's already going to happen makes you sound defeated. It's ideas like that which will make them come true."

Rias looked perturbed by Naruto's tactless approach to the topic. Akeno's turned aside, wiped her eyes, and shook her head, "Better to sound defeated than to lie to everyone and myself like you do."

"What did you say?"

"You say no one will die. That nothing will happen. How can you say that so certainly?" Akeno turned to him, her eyes still teary but a fierce, confrontational turn to her voice that refused to yield, "What's changed now since our last meeting with Loki? Issei has Mjölnir which he can barely lift? Vali and his crew have joined our side for however long it's convenient for them? What about you?" Akeno stomped forward, forcing Rias to stand between her and Naruto before anything could happen, "What's changed for you since you last fought? You understand what happens when you cross that beast's claws now, right?"

"Akeno-"

"That's right. I do know how strong that wolf is now and how dangerous it is! Which means I can be better prepared for whatever it tries to do and I can protect everyone better!"

"Naruto-"

"And how many times do you have to be gouged open by its claws for you to figure out how to beat it? How many more times do you have to be roasted alive, disemboweled, or overwhelmed by your enemies until you understand that you're running into your death?! How many more times does Rias have to sit by your bedside and cry over your motionless body until you learn that you can't fight this threats?!"

"Well I can't just give up! Giving up is signing the death certificate for all of us without even putting up a fight!"

"Running into the fight like that is what's going to get you killed! But you just seem to refuse to admit that you could be beaten or killed!"

"I know I can be beaten or killed! But just laying down and rolling over is the worst thing we can do!"

"T-That! That stupid, boundless confidence or arrogance that makes you think you can survive anything as long as you say you can! How many more times will you have to promise Rias you'll survive and not get hurt, and then you'll just-"

"STOP!"

Rias' yell silenced the room and caused each of them to stop and catch their breath. Naruto's face was red with anger as Akeno panted with furious tears in her eyes. Rias looked on the verge as well as she looked between her servants and friends with disgust, "What is wrong with you two? How can you yell and argue at each other like this? We're friends! Comrades! Family!" The crimson-haired Devil turned to them both with a frown, "Stop yelling at each other and just start talking! Say what you need to say!"

Naruto and Akeno both looked at each other as they considered Rias' words. They stood in silence for a moment before the whiskered blond spoke, "I'm not trying to break my promises. I don't want to worry Rias or you or anyone else when I get into a fight. I mean it when I say I don't want to risk my life or die in battle. I want to come back here with all of you and live my life. But sometimes we get into a fight where we need to risk all we have just to get through it and I've been ready to do that for a very long time. I've lost people too." Naruto said, voice shaking as he stared at Akeno, "Sometimes when they were far away and sometimes when they were so close I could touch them. Some of them risked their lives without me even knowing and others died right in front of me so I could live."

"I've suffered that loss too, so you aren't alone." Naruto pleaded, clutching his chest as he confessed to Rias and Akeno what he felt, "I broke from that loss and loneliness. For the longest time I believed I could survive anything as long as I had my friends and comrades around me but the moment they were gone, the moment I was alone with this life that others had sacrificed and died for so that I could keep living, I didn't know what to do. Now I have those people again - that support and relief from you both and the others, and I refuse to lose it again!" He pulled his hand away and let it rest at his side in a fist, "I need to do whatever I can to stop anything that threatens us. It might seem like I have a death wish, but it's the furthest thing from that."

"It's maddening, watching you and the others face down these threats we find ourselves against." Akeno whispered as she clutched her bicep tightly while she talked, "These are disasters and monsters that could kill us without a second thought. Kokabiel promised after he was finishing killing all of you he would take Rias away and hurt her forever. Shalba Beelzebub was prepared to slaughter us and present our heads to Lucifer-sama as an act of war. And now Loki barges in wanting to bring about the end of the world with us standing in his way." She shook her head, "It seems simple to just say we'll stop them and not let anyone die along the way, but what happens when that isn't enough?"

"We run into death so frequently that I'm scared we're going to start treating it without the attention it deserves. Not everyone is like us. We're the privileged few. There are thousands - millions of people who die and deserve the chance to live again but don't get it." A phantom image of her mother appeared in her eyes again standing besides Rias before she shook it away, "And this second chance we have is our last. Once it's gone we won't be able to come back. And if that happens, a-and everyone-"

Akeno's shoulder was squeezed so tightly she had to look up. The crimson-haired Devil looked at her sadly and sniffled before pulling her in tightly. The black-haired girl could only gasp as she felt the warm embrace of her oldest friend envelop her while she whispered, "You won't be left behind again. I'll make sure you're never alone. It wasn't your fault what happened to your mother, and it won't be your fault for whatever happens tomorrow."

"I-I-"

"I know how scary death is. I've seen it in the faces of the people I now hold closest to me as friends and family." She had found most of her peerage at their lowest moments and just steps away from death's embrace. When she thought back to their sad expressions - their resignations or defiance at the end of their lives - she resolved herself never to let that despair take them again. She gently ran her hand down Akeno's hair, mimicking the movement she had done over and over when she first took the girl into her home and helped her calm down when she woke up crying. She led Akeno over to the bed and lowered her to the edge before sitting beside her, "It's okay to be scared. It's okay to be afraid. That fear isn't going to hurt anyone, because we'll all be feeling the same way."

"R-Rias."

"I know you might not think he keeps his promises, and he does make us worry," Rias looked up at her boyfriend, her eyes a little red but a confident smile on her face, "But that's why we'll be there. To make sure he follows through with his word and comes back alive. If there's anything he can't do, I'll be there to help, and maybe then we'll make sure everyone makes it out okay."

Naruto chuckled and shook his head, "We forget just how stubborn Rias can be. You and I argue like cats and dogs but compared to her we're tamed."

"M-More like whipped." Akeno cracked, showing a faint smile before wiping her eyes. She looked between the [King] and [Pawn] before shaking her head, "What will we do when we face them tomorrow?"

"Silly girl." Rias whispered comfortingly, "Instead of fretting about how it can all go wrong, why not imagine what happens when we get back? When we all come home."

"Yeah, focus ahead on what we can do tomorrow. When we come back," Naruto paused, mulled over his thoughts, and then stepped forward. He knelt down and looked up at Akeno and Rias, "If we make it back alive, all of us, then please stop pretending to be who you aren't." Her violet eyes widened as he continued, "Stop hiding behind a smile and just relax. Don't let yourself keep hurting. Don't force yourself to suffer for what happened in the past. Whatever you feel...whatever you want to do...just let yourself be whoever you really want. Please."

Akeno sniffled and giggled behind her hiccups, "You're being quite demanding of a girl having an emotional crisis."

"Heh," Rias chuckled and gently hugged her friend, "Maybe you two can work out actually being friends when this is over."

Naruto knew he failed to reach Sasuke in his time of need in the past. And he recognized that Akeno was in a similar state of crisis. So she needed a friend that would never stop reaching out for her and trying to bring her back. But that wasn't him.

Rias was the friend that pulled her back from the edge. And he was glad to see she was having better luck with it than he did.

||||||||Devil||||||||

It looked like everyone had trouble sleeping properly last night. Although it was probably better than he, Rias, and Akeno did. They talked all last night, trying to formulate plans and strategies, and when that was over just resorted to talking until they felt tired. Unfortunately by that point it was morning and everyone was getting up.

What followed were a lot of odd looks and glances as the three young adults exited the same room together, tired and exhausted and having spent the whole night revealing everything to each other.

Issei cried tears of blood saying he couldn't believe Naruto got so lucky the night before they might die. Koneko looked devasted and Xenovia looked annoyed that she missed out. And not to mention Baraqiel was catatonic while Azazel considered reporting this to Sirzechs.

Naruto almost felt like just walking away from it all before he realized it was a necessity to clear things up.

And now they were here. In a large parallel space on top of the Arashi Heights with barrier over it so that any damages that occurred wouldn't spread out over the rest of the area. And considering the people gathered...it was bound to be a spectacle.

The ORC, Vali's Team, Saji, Rossweisse, Baraqiel, and Tannin the Dragon King had all gathered together to raise a front against Loki and his incoming forces. Among them all great weapons were drawn, Sages and Bijū power were being channeled, Holy Lightning was gathered and a massive, lumbering hammer was positioned on Issei's shoulder for his earliest convenience.

It was the calm before the storm.

"Are you prepared?" Naruto already sensed Vali in his Scale Mail form float down beside him as they waited for the rogue God to appear, "I would have thought you'd try and get a good rest before this fight."

"I tried." The blond Sage monotoned as he loosened his muscles in preparation, "But there were some things we needed sorting out that took precedence."

"Well here's hoping that exhaustion doesn't drag you down. I'll be busy with the fight and I'm certain Kuroka won't be sticking her neck out for you. Arthur won't care but Bikou has taken a liking to the hotel so if saving you means he can eat-"

"That's real comforting."

"Vali." Issei came over as well, slogged down by the weighty hammer on his shoulder but persisting until he was by their side. Once he was faced with his eternal rival the pervert summoned something to his hand and held it out, "I meant to give this back to you yesterday but things were too hectic."

"What is it?"

"It's a piece of your armor." Issei held out the broken blue crystal from one of Vali's orbs, "It snapped off during our fight with you when we hit you with that big move. Azazel-sensei gave it to me saying I should use it for something but I don't know what he's thinking about. You really piss me off but I figure any chance we have to make this fight easier is one I should take."

"Well I fixed myself up a long time ago." His sparkling silver armor didn't have a single mark, dent, scratch, or imperfection over it, "You should hang on to it. You might find an idea during the heat of battle."

"Doubt it," Issei grumbled as he handled the hammer that had changed size so easily when introduced to his Demonic Power, "This damn thing is gonna slow me down so freakin' much. If anything happens to the others because I'm slow-"

"Don't worry." Naruto drew his knife and looked along the blade, extending and retracting the blade with his Demonic Power to test its response, "You and Vali are taking the vanguard so the rest of us will be support and guard." He stressed the point to make sure Issei knew that Asia would be protected at all times during the fight, "That's the plan at least."

"No plan survives first contact." Vali added.

"You really know how to ruin the moment, huh?"

The was a crack in the air that drew the attention of everyone. The crack exploded and from that hole emerged Loki and Fenrir. As the giant wolf lowered itself in preparation to attack, Loki looked around with a disdainful gaze, "No Odin. Of course the bastard would slip away and hide. What did I expect? And he's left all of you as sacrifices for my son to gorge himself on."

"Loki-sama," Rossweisse stepped forward and addressed her fellow northerner, "I offer you one last chance to abandon this path of destruction and step aside. If you leave now you will not be pursued or hunted. We do not wish to engage you in anymore fighting-"

"No." Loki interrupted, raising his hand and starting to gather power, "You do not."

"HAAAAA!"

Before Loki could attack, Issei roared and slammed the replica of Mjölnir down. What followed was a terrifying, overwhelming show of power as storm clouds suddenly materialized and thunderbolts started to rain down from above. Everyone covered their ears and shielded themselves from the raging thunder that crashed down on the rogue God.

"That shriveled old shit." Loki bristled, his hand raised up to block the onslaught of lightning bolts from cooking him alive. The God of Mischief snarled and glared at the offending weapon in the Devil's grip, "He'd even abandon his dignity and offer a counterfeit of that accursed weapon to pretenders and Devils? Is he so scared he can't even face me?!"

"NOW!"

On that order, everyone other than Issei and Vali spaced out across the field. The supporters ducked back to avoid the battle and the second line charged in towards the giant wolf. Loki watched them move around him and he quickly swiped his hand to create a multitude of magic circles to attack with. Powerful elements started to release from his circles-

"Half Dimension."

The attacks withered in size and intensity until they floundered into nothing. Vali lowered his hand as his wings glowed with an overflow of energy, "Your magic won't be nearly as powerful in the face of my Divine Dividing."

The people surrounding Fenrir kept their distance and made sure not to approach the beast. It growled and ferociously whipped its paw, causing furrows to dig into the ground around it. All the people surrounding the beast were nearly blown off their feet by the sheer force of its swing.

Naruto weathered the rush of wind and crossed his fingers, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Several clones appeared at his side and then separated to join other groups. He surveyed the area before spotting Kuroka dodging and dancing around the air slicing through the battleground. He dashed forward in a burst of speed, scooping the black-haired Nekomata off her feet as he leapt through the air. She looked surprised before glowering at him, "We need to get in close to it!"

"I know, but I didn't need your help with that."

"Are you complaining while I'm trying to make this easier for you?"

The SS-Class criminal pouted with a twitching eye before swinging out her hand. From her sleeve she released a massive chain that flew over the head of the wolf. When the end of the chain had cleared over the wolf's head, Yuuto dashed in and grabbed it before sliding under its belly. When he made it across the ground he turned and threw the chain up again.

What followed was an unprecedented level of teamwork and cooperation between former enemies and unfamiliar companions. Bikou knocked it towards Xenovia who circled the chain around its legs. She then tossed it to Irina who yelled when Fenrir bit at her but was preoccupied by Baraqiel's shocking attacks. The chain then landed in the hands of Naruto's clones who tossed it between each other with startling accuracy before the chain had no more room to give.

"PULL!"

Everyone grabbed a piece of the chain and yanked it, pulling the massive wolf back and down as it struggled against the chains formed by Dwarves. Even with the nearly two dozen strong forces pulling on the specially made chain against the unsuspecting wolf, it was difficult to determine who held the advantage in this tug-of-war.

"Saji-kun," Rias yelled as she struggled to hold her grip, "Do it!"

"Right!" Saji let go and rounded the side of the beast before his Sacred Gear materialized on his arm, "Absorption Line!" A thread ejected out of the mouth of the black weapon in his arm and connected with the wolf. It started to glow as energy was sapped from the wolf, "I've got him!"

"Great!" Bikou yelled as he held the chain tightly, "How long until this damn thing goes down!"

"I'm not sure!" Saji answered as sweat formed on his brow, "I can usually get an idea for something's resources when I connect like this, b-but this thing," He shook his head, "I don't think there's a limit to its strength."

"Hold on Vritra!" Tannin roared as the Dragon King dropped down and punched Fenrir across the head while it was prone. It survived the devastating punch but the dragon took the chance to throw punch after punch into the snout of the wolf, "We just need to hold out a little longer!"

Fenrir reared back and roared. The sonic blast was so intense that it was nearly deafening, some people losing their grip to cover their ears while others struggled through and held on for dear life. The ground cracked under the force as even the barrier around them strained. A barrier created by Rossweisse, perfected by Azazel and Odin, and enforced by all the members of the StuCo besides Saji could not hold against the wolf's power.

"Hmm?" Loki flew through the air, dodging the hammer swing from Issei and matching the magical output thrown by Vali. He clicked his tongue at the sight, "Even the Dwarves have meddled in this affair, huh? It appeared my son is in quite the precarious situation. Well then..."

The God snapped his fingers and two holes in reality appeared on either side of him. From the two holes, two figures rushed out and towards their enemies wielding the chains.

Naruto, Kuroka, Bikou, and Koneko felt their approach incoming and yelled, "Move!" The forces holding the chains quickly released their grasp. Some dodged in time while others were grabbed and pulled away before the two figures slid to a stop with the chains in their mouths.

They loosened the chain enough to give Fenrir greater movement. The massive wolf took that chance to take the almost unbreakable chains that bound it down and snapped them between its teeth. Once it did the wolf stood tall, with two smaller wolves flanking it and glaring down the foes that had bound their father down.

"Sköll and Hoti, so very loyal to their dear father." Loki mocked as the two smaller wolves growled and barked at the foes around them, "They don't appreciate you attacking him like that. They may not share their father's level of strength, but I promise you they aren't anything to shy away from."

"You dick!" Issei yelled in anger as he rushed forward, "I'm gonna-"

"Issei Hyoudou! Back!"

Vali's warning came in time for Issei to stop and looked aside as a large, long figure opened its jaw and prepared to snap down on him. His jets pushed him forward and avoided the snapping maw of the long serpentine creature. The being swirled to a stop around Loki, coiling its long body behind him as the beast hissed at the two dragons.

"Midgardsormr-San? W-Why are you-"

"You fool, that's not the Dragon King of the Norse." Vali corrected at his side, "The real thing was large enough to nearly fill this whole space, remember? This is just a pale imitation of it."

"True I can't make something as good as my original son," Loki admitted with a smirk, "But my copies are still quite impressive."

"C-Copies?"

"Yes." Loki smirked, "Plural."

Several smaller identical copies of Midgardsormr emerged from his shadow and landed across the field. With the nearly a half dozen copies of the Dragon King, the two spawns of Fenrir, the God-slaying wolf, and the rogue God that commanded them all...

The tide had quickly turned in the battle.

Xenovia and Yuuto slid to a stop in front of Asia and Gasper with their swords drawn. Koneko, Akeno, Baraqiel, and Irina were grouped together and ready to fight back all the monsters that now surrounded them. Tannin dropped out of the air, Saji, Arthur, and Bikou all taking up arms at the foot of the Dragon King as they were faced with Fenrir itself. Naruto stood defensively in between Rias and the twin wolves, with Kuroka and Rossweisse at his side ready to fight.

Loki faced down the Two Heavenly Dragons, gave them a lopsided smile, and whispered faintly into the wind...

"Kill them."

The menagerie of mythical beasts all lunged ahead at his word and started to attack. Loki cackled psychotically as he started attacking Issei and Vali in unison.

The Midgardsormr clones started to slither around the battlefield, carving up trenches in their wake as they circled their prey. Xenovia and Yuuto roared, dashing in towards the closest one and stabbing their blades into its scales as it dragged their swords along its body with its rapid movement. The dragons roared in anger and snapped at them, forcing them to dodge and evade.

Bikou cracked the ground underneath Fenrir and Arthur sliced up whatever came out in order to ruin the beast's foothold. While Saji's line continued to drain the wolf of energy, Tannin flew up to the wolf and grabbed it from behind. With a powerful flap of his wings he lifted himself and the Norse wolf up into the air. He flew up there for a few moments before slamming the wolf back down into the ground hard enough to crater it.

Rias weaved her Destruction around and threw it at the wolves. The two beasts withstood the rush of power and pushed through to the other side, having a few injuries but still ready to kill. Naruto summoned clones to his side again and charged in to fight the wolves as Rias turned to the Nekomata and Valkyrie, "Go help the others and take care of those serpents! We won't be able to get any advantage if all of the ground is being taken from us!"

Kuroka and Rossweisse quickly flew up and joined the closest team. They dropped down by Koneko, Akeno and the others as they were circled by a pair of dragons. Akeno yelled over the sounds of battle, "Where's Buchou?!"

"She's back there with Naruto-kun! She told us to take care of the clones!" Rossweisse yelled.

Akeno immediately unfurled her wings and flew over.

"Akeno!" Baraqiel called out as he chased after his daughter.

"Rossweisse-San," Koneko looked up at the silver-haired Valkyrie with mismatched eyes, "Fire and water."

The older woman nodded in agreement and allowed Isobu's influence to flow into her, covering one of her eyes with her bangs as water formed in her hands. The two Neo-Jinchūrikis stepped forward and released columns of flame and water from their hands over the circling dragons. The beasts cried in pain as they were wreathed in flames and rapidly cooled down with water until their scales and skin started to blister and crack.

Akeno looked down from above as she saw her friends struggle to defend themselves against the monsters. Her stomach twisted and turned at the sight of their side being overwhelmed by the monsters before she spotted her best friend holding back one wolf while Naruto combatted the other, "Rias!" She immediately summoned her Holy Lightning and tossed it down on one of the wolves.

It writhed and screamed in pain as lightning tore through its system. Naruto leapt back from Sköll's slashing claw and looked over as Hoti was electrocuted. He turned back to the wolf in front of him and focused, forming a Rasengan and filling it with his fire before he charged forward. Hoti lunged forward and bit for his head but he ducked underneath, twisting his body and slamming his attack into its chest, "Set! 5x! Fire Demon's Rasengan!"

[LOOP!]

The short wolf was enveloped in fire before it was blown back entirely. When he had the chance he turned and looked up at the Fallen Angel in the sky, "Old man!" Baraqiel looked down as Naruto raised his hand, "Get ready to his this fucking thing with all you've got!"

Baraqiel nodded and started to gather bolts in his hand in preparation. Naruto slid under Sköll's belly and slammed his palm into the fur, sending a shockwave into its stomach with Frog Kata that caused the beast some discomfort. Closing his eyes he focused...

The light traveling down his arm and into his hand. That light came out of his palm and formed into wind. But now the energy that enveloped and coursed through his body was gathering around and bolstering this power into something so much more.

"HA!"

A violent tempest released for an instant around Naruto's body and launched the wolf high into the air. While it flew towards Baraqiel the blond threw his hand up and summoned Remote Looper, "Set! 10x!"

"Take this!" Baraqiel slammed his hands down on Sköll's back and released the lightning bolts gathered in his hands.

"GAAOOOOOWWWWWWW!"

[LOOP!]

"GGGAAAAAAOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWW!"

The wolf disappeared in a overwhelming shock of electricity for nearly a minute before it finally subsided. The wolf child dropped to the ground with a meaty thud as its singed body laid prone with smoke coming off it. Naruto and Baraqiel looked at their work and nodded before stepping over to join Rias and Akeno. The two girls looked relieved to see they were okay-

Naruto's eyes snapped open as he felt something move behind him. He looked back and saw the charred body of Sköll lifting itself back up with a growl. That thing had taken thunderbolts 10 times over and been reduced to a burnt husk and it was still alive. The blond took a stance between it and the others before it could attack-

His eyes widened, "RUN!"

Rias and Akeno looked back to see Hoti back on its feet and charging at them. The two Devils quickly tried to evade as the wolf raised its claw and swiped down at them.

Blood flew out wildly as its claws shredded through flesh.

"OTOU-SAMA!" Akeno cried out as she caught her father as he fell, his back cleaved open after jumping in to protect her. Rias threw out a whip of Destruction between them and the wolf before it could lunged forward to finish its prey. The red-haired Devil dropped down to her [Queen's] side to inspect the damage the Cadre had received, "Otou-sama, stay awake! Don't leave me!"

Naruto panicked and wanted to dash over to help them but felt Sköll rush towards him. He turned back in time for the burnt wolf to leap on him and pin him to the ground. The smaller wolf wasn't nearly as strong as Fenrir, but its strength was still staggering and its claws and teeth were sharp. Naruto pushed back against the paw pressed down on his chest. Sköll leaned down and bit him, Naruto raising his arm to protect himself as its fangs dug into his arm and grazed along his head.

The Sage and the wolf pushed against each other as blood seeped down Naruto's face. He could hear Akeno screaming for her father to hang on while Rias tried to protect her.

All around him he could feel the tide of battle turning.

Irina was hurt and Kuroka was winded, while Rossweisse had exhausted herself using Isobu's power and Koneko was pressing on valiantly.

Xenovia and Yuuto were exhausted fighting the dragons that were trying to kill Asia and Gasper.

Issei was still swinging Mjölnir around and Vali was throwing around absurd amounts of magic. But even so Loki was unperturbed and pressed on in order to kill them.

Tannin had fallen, his wings and stomach sliced open by Fenrir's claws as the wolf was deciding if it wanted to eat the other fighters trying to hold it back.

As Naruto felt everything around him, the pressure from Sköll's fangs increased and dug further into his arm and cranium.

[Naruto, calm down! We have to figure a way out of this!]

"Kurama," He strained through his effort to hold the vicious beast back, "I can't move! If I let up this thing is gonna tear my face off!"

[I'll think of something! I'll contact Matatabi's host so she can get over here and help!]

"Koneko is pinned down! I have to help her!"

[You need the help first!]

"Fuck!" He cursed as the fang dug in and the pain grew unbearable, "I can't let this happen! I-I promised I would keep them safe! I promised I would bring them back alive!"

[We will! We just need to-]

"AH!"

Rias!

He felt one of the Midgardsormr clones slither across the battlefield in an instant and barrel through the defensive line Rias was trying to make. It coiled itself around Rias, Akeno, and the injured Baraqiel as it bared down on them. It was going to indulge itself in a treat for all its hard work.

It was going to eat them.

He had to help them. But he was here! Pinned down and being chewed on by some pathetic little pretender!

He promised he would help them!

He need to save them!

He wasn't going to let it happen again! He had the power once to save everyone he loved and he still failed! But he said he'd never let that happen again!

But it was!

They were going to die and he was too weak to stop it!

[Naruto-]

Why couldn't he find the power he needed to help them?!

[What's happening?]

He had it once and it slipped through his fingers!

[Something's going on-]

If he just used it better - if he had the chance-

[Naruto! I think-]

"RAHHH!" Naruto roared at the top of his lungs, spittle flying out of his mouth as he screamed at the wolf pinning him down. His body had started emanating a bright, blinding light before-

[RETURN!]

The glow exploded in an orange light that cracked the ground and blasted Sköll away. The light disappeared into an orange blur that vanished towards the dragon.

An orange trail of energy appeared over the clone's body as something ran down it's coiled body and into the center where it kept its captives surrounded. The dragon clone hissed and snapped down to eat the interrupting prey-

Another orange blast knocked the monster away so it could land roughly on the ground.

Rias hugged Akeno and Baraqiel tightly, shielding them from the jaws that threatened to eat them. But the orange glow in the corner of her eye grabbed her attention as she realized they were no longer trapped. She slowly looked up, her frazzled red hair sticking up in every direction, and stared at figure standing over them.

It was Naruto.

And his body was covered in orange flames and black marks.

||||||||Devil||||||||

Done

I'm just going to answer you now because I'm sure someone is gonna write a snappy review about it.

No, Naruto isn't just going to give up on looking for a new power to call his own.

It's just...sometimes things don't go as planned and you find yourself reunited with an old friend.

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Thank You and Bye