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Naruto could feel Yushiro burning holes in the back of his head as he prepared tea for them while Tamayo went over all she knew of demons and their weaknesses, or lack thereof. With only two ways to kill them, he wondered why they weren't yet a much bigger threat known to all of humanity.

He voiced this question after Tamayo concluded her initial explanation.

"I suspect it's only a matter of time before they do become more than rumors or stories meant to scare children," Tamayo said, her concern genuine. "From what I've observed as of late, the rate in which demons are attacking is always increasing, moving from the rural countryside to more populous villages. I can't say exactly what Muzan aims to do, and though I don't believe he's building an army, I would also not be surprised if this were the case."

"So then I just have to kill him and there won't be any more new demons," Naruto concluded. Of course he was aware the solution would not be so simple, as it hardly ever was, but he saw little other resolution to the problem other than severing the snake's head. "Where can I find him?"

"If only I knew, and if only it were so simple. Do not make the mistake of underestimating him, Naruto-san," Tamayo advised gravely. "Muzan was incredibly powerful when last we met centuries ago. I can only imagine just how much more powerful he's grown since then."

Demons grew in strength the more humans they consumed. Naruto could only speculate how many innocence the first demon must have devoured over the years. The thought alone was enough to anger him.

"Do you have any leads then? Or maybe anyway for me to gather information on where to find him?" He asked.

"Beyond investigating demon attacks, I'm afraid there isn't much I can offer you in the way of leads, and extricating information from his demons is impossible because of the blood which binds them," Tamayo regrettably informed him. "If they so much as speak his name, his true name, they die."

"Then what use — " Naruto saw her eyes fell at what he was about to say and stopped himself from continuing. He took a moment to calm himself. He was aware he was quick to anger as of late, because there was much for him to be angry about, and he was angry, but the woman before him, demon or not, had been nothing but kind to him. "I'm sorry. You said you were investigating demon attacks in this village?"

"Yes, young children especially are being targeted, devoured leaving little trace of who they once were," Tamayo explained, her expression becoming pained. "It is actually why we came to Kyoto. As I'm not the most adept at combat and I can't risk exposing my existence to Muzan, I intended on passing along any information we gathered to the Demon Slayers. It's what we've been doing up until now but as you can imagine, that is also dangerous given our circumstance."

"That's where I come in," Naruto surmised. "If demons really can't be killed with anything but a nichirin katana or the sun, then how do you expect me to kill them?"

"Either you become a demon slayer, or you engage the demon, damaging them continuously until the sun rises," Tamayo said.

"Can't I just buy a nichirin katana?" Naruto asked. He left the tea Yushiro served him untouched, not fully trusting the demon glaring at him from Tamayo's side. "Or ya'know, just take one?"

"You cannot buy one, no. The Demon Slayers entrusted the formula to craft the nichirin katana to only a select few expert sword-smiths, the location of which is unknown to all except their upper ranks. As for your second question," Tamayo suddenly looked rather nervous. "Well, I suppose it is possible to take a sword from a Demon Slayer but doing so may not ingratiate yourself with them as a whole."

"If their mission really is to kill demons, I doubt they'd like the fact I'm helping you either," Naruto offered with a shrug. "I imagine they don't exactly sanction your research if you have to rely on me for help."

"As I've said before, you're oddly perceptive for someone of your age," Tamayo said with a small smile. "May I ask how old you are exactly?"

"Seventeen," Naruto answered simply.

"Seventeen," Tamayo repeated, both visibly and audibly surprised. "So young and yet… well, anyway, you are correct. I've met with only one demon slayer before to discuss my goals and as expected, she shortly thereafter tried to poison me. Though I didn't appreciate the fact she tried to take my life, I am interested in how she developed a poison capable of killing demons."

"But you said there was only two ways to do that?" Naruto said.

"That I can speak to," Tamayo clarified. "I don't think I would ever be able to recreate her poisons as my research lies in healing. So I'm afraid you're only options are sunlight or potentially joining the Demon Slayer Corps."

"How did you free yourself of Muzan's control, anyway?" Naruto asked, shifting the conversation towards her. "You said revealing information about him is enough to kill demons. If we can free them from his grasp like you freed yourself, then maybe then they could give us the information we need to find him."

"It wasn't easy, and to be completely honest, Naruto-san, it isn't something I wish to discuss, or repeat because of how long and torturous the process was," Tamayo said, averting her eyes.

"But it could mean getting information that would help me find him," Naruto pressed. "You don't think that maybe that's something we should try?"

"Back off!" Yushiro growled. "If Tamayo-sama says she doesn't want to talk about it, then she does't want to talk about it!"

Naruto barely acknowledged the boy's outburst with little more than a side glance.

"Yushiro," Tamayo warned, placing a hand on her apprentice's shoulder to calm him down.

"Fine," Naruto stood abruptly. "Since you're no help, I'll figure this out myself." Whatever her reasons, they were of no use to him, nor were they his concern. Not when he had the needs of the many to consider.

"Where are you going?" Tamayo asked.

"I need to gather information on this demon," Naruto said.

"Wait," Tamayo reached into her kimono and retrieved a bag of coins. "I really am sorry I cannot be of further help to you despite what I'm asking of you, but please take this at least. The robes you're currently wearing won't hold up in battle. I recommend gathering some supplies, maybe even a weapon, and then returning here to rest until night."

Naruto accepted the coins with a small nod but didn't offer another word.

He walked the village streets, observing just how normal everything seemed; peaceful really. Coming from a world ravished by war, it was startling, foreign almost, to see vendors selling their wares, children playing in the streets, and families enjoying the day together.

The pleasant smells of food wafted through the frigid air, carrying along with pleasant but indiscernible chatter one would expect from an open air market. For a brief moment, Naruto allowed himself to watch over the crowd with a hint of a smile as he recalled the brief moments of peace within Konohagakure. The feeling quickly turned to regret, as he wished his people could have known this tranquility.

Naruto felt something brush by him, noticing a little girl of about ten years old push past him in a hurry. She wore dirty brown robes and equally dirty matted down dark hair and had dirt streaked all across her pale skin.

She briefly glanced at him before joining a larger gathering of children, all in a similar state as her.

Naruto shook his head and moved quickly, intercepting the group of children, much to their surprise, as they encountered him around the corner, waiting for them. Before he could request they return his money, the girl shouted.

"Scatter!" She handed the coins off to a boy slightly older than herself before running away. At least she tried, finding herself being lifted by the back of her robes. She kicked her bare feet and swung her small arms but found she was unable to free herself.

She hoped her brother had at least managed to escape.

"Hey let go of me ya perv!"

In his other hand Naruto held a boy with short dark hair and dark brown eyes glaring at him. He was in a similar state of dress as the girl. Physically the appeared to be siblings, with the only real differences between them being a diagonal scar across the boy's right cheek.

He also kicked and swung at Naruto but was no more successful at escaping.

The girl knew they were in trouble.

Naruto set both children down and took his money back from the boy just as an officer approached them.

"What's going on here?" The officer asked, a quick glance at the situation had him piecing everything together. "Let me guess, you caught these kids stealing from you?"

Naruto regarded the children, the girl was on the verge of tears while the boy only crossed his arms, now glaring at the officer.

"We didn't steal anything! We were just walking, mindin' our own business when this perv tried to take us!" The boy argued.

"Shut up, brat!" The officer warned, waving his baton dangerously close to the boy's face. "Don't think I don't recognize you two street rats. I told you last time if I caught you stealing again I would - "

Naruto placed a hand between the children and the officer, putting an abrupt end to his rant. "I dropped my coins and they were just returning them," he said, staring the man down.

The officer took a nervous step back at the sudden feeling of maliciousness that radiated off the blond man. "A-Are you sure, sir?"

"I am, and I've got it from here," Naruto said.

The officer watched dumbfounded as the man once again took the children by the scruff of their robes, holding them together with a single hand as if he were taking out the garbage. Ultimately he shrugged off the occurrence, siting the fact he wasn't paid enough to care, so he went about his day.

"T-Thanks for not turning us in," the girl muttered once he set them down.

"Whatever," the boy muttered. "We coulda got away."

"Shin," the girl pouted.

"What's your name, girl?" Naruto asked.

"I'm Rika, and this is my brother, Shin," Rika introduced herself with a smile.

Naruto noted the lack of a family name. "Orphans?"

"Yeah, what of it?" Shin butted in.

Naruto ignored the boy's outburst and retrieved two coins from within the bag, unsure of what value they truly held considering he was no longer in the Elemental Nations. "I need information."

"What do ya mean?" Shin asked as he eyed the coins.

"Have any of you two heard of any children going missing recently? Most likely they were taken in the middle of the night, probably orphans like you two?" Naruto asked.

Both children looked surprised by his question, a look they briefly shared with one another.

"How'd you know?" Shin asked.

"So you do know something," Naruto said, rubbing the coins together. "Tell me and I'll — "

"It's not like you grownups ever believe us or care!" Rika snapped, startling both males by her outburst. "We've been trying to tell people us kids with no parents have been goin' missing but no one ever listens! I guess we don't matter if we don't got parents!"

Naruto regarded the two children, his default expression softening ever so slightly as he kneeled down to their level. "You may not have parents, but you do have each other."

It was obvious neither of the two expected that.

"What're ya on about?" Shin asked.

Meanwhile his sister was staring at Naruto, wide eyed.

"That's more than some people ever get. Keep taking care of each other and everything'll work out in the end," Naruto said, offering the entire coin purse to the girl, who despite her shock, took it. "Now tell me what you know about the missing children."

"Follow me," Shin said after it became apparent his sister was having trouble shaking her disbelief. He grabbed her hand and pulled her along, leading them all away from the village.

Naruto was taken just outside the village limits to a double storied home inside a clearing of thick bamboo. It was in a sorry state of disrepair with the appearance of being long abandoned as moss grew over the sides in which the sun was obscured most often, and a few of the windows had been shattered.

"You two live here?" Naruto asked, feeling his heart wrench with memories he'd much rather leave buried in the past.

"We're not the only ones," Riko said. She'd come to midway through their trek and seemed excited to show Naruto something. She pressed her fingers to her lips, whistling loudly.

From within the home a small group of twelve children of varying ages rushed out, greeting the two children happily. Their ages seemed to range from mere toddlers to a few, possibly teenaged boys and girls. Most of the older children regarded Naruto with a level of suspicion that made him wonder exactly why they all lived alone in the forest.

"Is there really no village orphanage?" Naruto asked the siblings.

"Not really. After old lady Shiho disappeared, no one else wanted to take care of us, so we've been living out here in her old house by ourselves," Shin supplied.

"Who's the old guy?" One of the older boy's asked crudely.

A girl, potentially the oldest of them all, stepped forward with a look of caution written clearly on her face. She looked to be about twelve or thirteen, with dirt brown hair tied up into a pigtail with similar colored large eyes.

Naruto could tell by the way she held herself, she was guarded and on edge. She also had one hand behind her back, likely concealing a weapon.

"Who are you?" The girl asked cautiously.

"Miya-nee!" Rika ran forward and hugged the girl briefly before showing her the coin purse. "Look, the kind man gave us all this money!"

"What did he want in return?" Miya asked, her distrustful eyes never once leaving Naruto's.

"I'm looking into the recent disappearances of children in this village," Naruto said.

"So they've finally sent someone?" Miya asked, smiling briefly before her suspicion returned full force. "You don't look like you're with the police."

"That's because I'm not with the police," Naruto admitted.

"Maybe he's a Demon Slayer!" Another younger boy exclaimed. "I knew they were real!"

"But he doesn't have a sword!" A girl added.

"Who are you?" Miya asked seriously.

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto," Naruto introduced himself with a slight bow. "And no, I'm not with the Demon Slayers either. But I am here to investigate what might be demon attacks."

"Come in," Miya said, leading him inside the dilapidated and darkened home, trying to hide the kitchen knife in her robes but he saw it. "Would you like some tea?" She asked respectfully.

"No thank you," Naruto denied equally respectfully. He looked around the darkened living area, taking notice they not only had no power, but all their bedrolls were strewn about. It seemed like they all slept in the same room. "Are you all really alone here?"

"Yes, before Shiho-sama disappeared, she took care of the village orphans, though it was never an official orphanage. Now I'm the one taking care of them," Miya explained sadly.

"Have you petitioned the village for help?" Naruto asked.

"Yes we have but the elder doesn't seem concerned with the orphaned of this village," Miya said, the spite in her words were not at all concealed. "The older children and myself try and take up jobs where we can to provide but it isn't easy."

"I'm sorry to hear that," and he truly was, but he was there for something else. "Tell me about the disappearances."

"I don't know about any other kids going missing but after Shiho-sama disappeared, we orphans started to go missing," there were tears in Miya's eyes. "I try my best to keep everyone safe but some nights, when we go to sleep, we wake up missing someone. We've lost twelve in the past year."

"Have you ever seen who or what's been taking them?" Naruto asked.

"No and believe me I've tried my best to stay up all night," Miya wiped her tears on her dirty sleeve. "But no matter how hard we try, we always somehow end up falling asleep, and when we wake up, they're just gone."

Naruto waited patiently for her sobs to subside before continuing. "And when was the last time someone was taken?"

"About two weeks ago," Miya said, her voice breaking. "I don't want to loose anyone else!"

He continued to wait for the girl to compose herself, feeling truly sorry for her and the other children, but unable to offer any comfort. There was once a time when he was known for his way with words, praised for finding ways to sway hearts and turn foes into friends. But he since learned that, while there was a time for words, action was often times more affective in bringing forth change.

"I'll be back later tonight," Naruto announced as he stood.

"Where are you going?" Miya asked.

"I need to get ready before I face the demon," Naruto said

"Are you really a Demon Slayer?" Miya asked with reluctant hope in her eyes. "Is it really a demon doing this? Are they real?"

"They are," Naruto admitted. "And no, I'm not a Demon Slayer but I plan on stopping this demon."

"Why?" Miya asked through renewed tears. "Why would you volunteer to do this for us? If it really is a demon then you could die!"

"I'll be fine," Naruto said, not answering her first question. "And I'll be back."

Naruto finished setting the last of his preparatory seals for his upcoming battle. He removed the kimono Tamayo had given him, tossing it to the side. He was by no means a seal master, but he did at the very least know the basics and he used his limited knowledge to the best of his abilities.

He channeled his chakra, revealing a multitude of seals engraved permanently on almost every inch of his body. He streaked his blood across his right bicep, unsealing from within a heavy green flack jacket and a chain-mesh undershirt. From just below that seal he conjured a pair of Shinobi pants and sandals.

Juxtaposed against what was once his trademark getup, Naruto had learned the hard way the importance of practicality and stealth. Not to mention coming by bright orange jumpsuits became difficult during war time whilst Konoha had a surplus of Jounin and Anbu attire.

Finally, from within his right wrist, he unsealed a reminder of a lost friend; an Anbu mask made specifically for him by Yugito resembling a fox. The mask had red shading around where his eyes were obscured, with six thin orange streaks to represent his whiskers. The mask itself was made of a special chakra attuned clay which allowed the wearer to reinforce it with chakra.

After securing the mask on his face Naruto sat himself in the center of the clearing, briefly looking up to the sun he observed it was just past the halfway point in the sky, indicating he would have to wait another five hours before the sun set. To pass the time he began to meditate, clearing his mind to tune into his Sage Mode.

Shinobu was traveling to Kyoto to investigate a demon sighting when she came across a most interesting sight. She was traveling via tree tops to make it before night fell when something called to her. It was almost an instinctual pull towards something; someone, and that led her to the man in the forest.

Like staring off a into a deep but beautiful canyon, Shinobu didn't feel like she was in any immediate danger, but one misstep and she would soon find herself in a world of it. That was the feeling she had by simply watching the statuesque man, surrounded by wildlife that didn't seem to share in her concerns.

Birds, rabbits, snakes, foxes, and even fawn; predators and prey alike coexisted around the man with gravity defying blond hair, the only descriptor beyond a powerful body and a most particular fox mask. He also wore a forest green jacket, the high collar and chainmail beneath made it most obvious his attire was made for battle, but there was no weapon in sight.

"Is there something you needed?"

Shinobu's eyes widened briefly. Though she wasn't far from where the man sat, she'd yet to reveal herself. The fact he somehow detected her was surprising indeed.

"Oh my, that mask of yours, are you perhaps one of Urokodaki's children?" Shinobu asked.

"No."

His voice was low and raspy, almost as if he didn't use it often. His overall demeanor and appearance were curious but not as much as the fact he remained surrounded by wildlife despite actively speaking with her, further showing just how comfortable they were around him. But Shinobu knew better than to assume he was harmless because of this.

"Then may I ask what you're doing out here… well, I suppose I can't say you're by yourself," Shinobu inquired.

"I'm waiting," he replied.

"I see," Shinobu was quickly growing annoyed by his prompt responses but of course she didn't show it. "May I ask what for?"

"No."

"Oh my, how mysterious," Shinobu smiled, knowing she would get no more answers from the young man.

Though truly curious, the sun was still strong in the sky, so he wasn't a demon. There was a definite power about him, there was no mistaken that, and yet he was not a Demon Slayer. There of course existed the possibility he was one in training, although she wasn't aware of any Hashira, present or past residing near Kyoto.

"Are you a Demon Slayer?" The man asked.

Shinobu once more found herself surprised. "So you are aware of the Demon Slayers? Tell me, are you perhaps training to be one?"

"No, but I am interested in your sword."

Shinobu's eyes widened considerably hearing his voice coming from beside her. The man she'd been speaking to, the one who was seated in the clearing, vanished in an afterimage revealing he was now standing on the same branch as her.

Her surprise continued to mount as he deflected her instinctive sword strike with a mere kunai of all things. Shinobu wasn't known for her strength but trying to push him back was like trying to push against a block of solid steel, he was unmoving and unflinching.

Finally, Shinobu jumped back, her sword poised and ready to strike, hoping dearly it wouldn't have to taste human blood.

"I don't mean to fight you, just had to see what a Demon Slayer can do," the man said, speaking so casually one would think he was describing the weather. Perhaps to prove a point, he allowed the kunai to hang limply from his index finger, resting in the palm of his hand.

"Oh my, and may I ask why you would do such a thing?" Shinobu was smiling outwardly, though inwardly she was completely on guard before the mysterious man.

"Like I said, I was curious to see what you Demon Slayer's are about, no more, no less," the man repeated. "And while you're here, I'd like to know if there's a way to get myself one of those swords. I hear they're one of the only ways to properly kill a demon."

"Before I answer your question, may I know what you gathered from that surprising little bout?" Shinobu asked.

"I'm not impressed," the man stated with a casual shrug of his shoulders.

Shinobu's smile tightened ever so slightly. "Oh my, that isn't any way to speak to a lady."

"Your sword," the man continued regardless of what she'd just said. "Where do I get one for myself?"

"Why, by becoming a Demon Slayer, of course!" Shinobu answered simply and with a shrug of her own.

"And there's no other way?" He asked with the slightest tilting of his masked face.

"I'm afraid not," Shinobu answered.

"Well that's selfish, don't you think?" The man queried.

"How ever so?" She asked.

"Why keep such a valuable weapon against demons to a single organization?" The man said. "How many lives have been lost because you all so selfishly keep this knowledge to yourselves?"

Shinobu didn't have an immediate response to that, much less a justification in her own mind.

"What if I was to just take one?"

Eight simple words were enough to immediately set Shinobu on edge again.

"We'd be honor bound to take it back," she answered, her sword glinting in the sun.

"Don't worry, I don't want a broken sword," he said, pocketing his kunai.

It had been a long time since someone was able to make Shinobu react. Though she didn't show it, her eye almost twitched with ire. Speaking lowly of her sword was not something she could take lightly. However before she lost herself to her anger, he spoke again.

"Be seeing you."

Before she could react, he was gone, disbursing into a flutter of leaves, carried away in a passing breeze.

"Oh my, what an interesting man," Shinobu muttered, sensing he was truly gone. She would definitely report this anomaly to the others but first and foremost, she had a demon to hunt.

Nightfall saw Naruto returning to the makeshift orphanage where he found the children were eagerly waiting for him.

"I told you he'd be back!" Riko cheered as she ran towards him.

Naruto held a hand out with a shake of his head, stopping her from further approaching him.

"Why are you wearing a mask?" Miya asked curiously as she comforted a now downtrodden Riko, who returned to her side.

He had briefly pulled his mask to the side to make the children aware of who he was, having since changed clothing. After doing so he placed the mask back onto his face.

"Because it looks cool. Now, I'll stay in this room with you all while you sleep. If the demon attacks tonight, I'll take care of it," Naruto said.

"But how are you going to kill it if you don't got a sword?" Shin asked. "I heard only Demon Slayer swords were able to kill demons?"

"There are other ways," Naruto answered curtly, but truthfully, he wasn't sure.

He planned on testing a few theories that night.

"Alright then, bedtime everyone!" Miya announced, to the complaints from the younger children who'd gathered around their guest to ask questions.

Naruto was simply relieved to see they'd purchased food with his money, as well as some new blankets.

"I wanna bed time story!" A young boy of about four requested. The other children cheered in agreement.

"Alright, but just one," Miya relented with a smile.

Behind his mask Naruto felt his eyes sting at the sight of all the children coming together to care for one another. The older children tucked in the younger ones before they themselves getting into bed, eagerly awaiting the story, revealing they were also very much children at heart despite the burden the bore.

He listened along with the children as Miya read by candle light the story of a mysterious hero who wondered from town to town, saving those in need without ever asking for anything in return; the tale of a hero. Once the story concluded, only a few of the older children remained awake.

Miya put the book away and moved to take a seat next to Naruto.

"Do you think you'll really be able to stop it?" She asked in a whisper.

Naruto hated speaking in absolutes, especially after having failed to keep many of his promises. In fact, his final promise was to himself in that he would never give his word to anyone ever again.

"I will," he said.

"Promise?" Miya asked after trying and failing to stifle a yawn.

In the end, he failed in that aspect as well.

"I promise," Naruto said, catching the girl as she fell over on him. Feeling his own eyes growing heavy, he realized what was happening.

Naruto held onto Miya with one hand while he used his free hand to cycle through a series of hand-signs, blowing out a heavy burst of air from his lungs, a severely underpowered wind technique. He did so purposely so as to clear the air, but not hurt the children.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto gently laid Miya down in her bed, tucking her in. He then drew his own blood, creating from it his most powerful clone.

No words needed to be exchanged as the clone knew what it was created to do. His sole objective was to protect the children.

He stepped outside into the dark and frigid forest, noting the trees were deathly still and there was a complete absence in the natural ambience. A predator lurked in the dark, soon emerging from the shadows of the tree line.

Its skin was ghastly pale, with long black hair that seemed to absorb what little light filtered through the heavy clouds in the sky, obscuring its face. It wore a dirty dark dress that pressed against its body in a manner that revealed its sex to be female.

Naruto had faced down many a horrors throughout his life, but there was a certain sickening sensation he experienced from the demon, much in the way he first sensed Tamayo. He could sense the demon's vile intend from where he watched.

Even her movements were harrowing in the way her head twitched and her body spasmed in short rapid bursts of movement. The demon stopped abruptly, revealing pitch black eyes which glared at him with almost palpable maliciousness.

"I can smell your hatred, boy!" The demon rasped.

He stepped out of the shadows to face the demon.

"You're what's been taking these kids?" Naruto said more than asked.

"They're my children and you won't take them from me!"

Naruto moved first, grabbing the demon by its hair, the ground beneath his feet shattered as he took her with him, away from the children and deeper into the forest. He came to a stop in the clearing he scouted earlier in the day, throwing the demon harshly against the tree.

The demon's bone's shattered audibly, releasing a pained screech.

He crossed his fingers, activating the explosive seal he planted on the tree. The explosion wasn't grand nor was it loud, but it was enough to tear the demon in half, as well as the tree. Naruto launched forward near the demon and tree, reaching both before either fell, he guided the timber's descent right onto the demon, adding his own force behind it.

The earth rumbled beneath his feet rattling the surrounding trees, sending birds scattering into the night.

Naruto took a few steps back and waited.

Little by little he witnessed as the demon's severed midsection began to reconnect in a gratuitous display of sinew. With little trouble, the demon tossed the tree aside as if it weighed nothing, its head hanging limply to the side.

"Why do you get in the way of me and my children?" The demon growled. "They're mine! I will protect them!"

"I guess not all of you retain your mind after you've been turned," Naruto observed as he created a Rasengan in his right hand and held it out in front of him. "Let's try this."

A clone appeared from behind the demon, grasping the demon from behind her head, he slammed her face first into his Rasengan. His clone dispersed and Naruto increased the size and intensity of his technique, completely encompassing the demon's head and some of its upper body.

Another clone appeared beside him, kicking the demon's headless body upwards. Both began to quickly run through a series of hand-signs. The clone expelled a strong stream of fire from its mouth while Naruto, a powerful jet of air. Their techniques combined to create a massive targeted flame which burned extremely hot, momentarily illuminating the dark forest.

Releasing their techniques, both observed nothing remained of the demon. At least that was the case until seemingly from out of nowhere, dark globules of black blood began to gather on the ground, eventually reforming the demon in its entirety.

"Well shit," the clone muttered. "They really can heal from anything."

"Seems that way, yeah," Naruto agreed with a sigh. "Fine, keep killing it until the sun rises while I go talk to our visiter."

"Sure, you go talk to the hot chick while I have to deal with ugly here," the clone muttered before rushing the clone head on.

Naruto shook his head as he melded with the shadows once more and quickly located the woman using his sense of hearing alone, her presence interrupting the natural flow of the wind through the forest.

He appeared on a branch above and behind the woman.

"Oh my, you're able to make copies of yourself and spit fire," the woman observed, revealing she too was aware of his presence. "May I ask how? Clearly you're not a demon yourself and yet you display arts similar to one."

"Ya'know, when I said I'd be seeing you, I didn't think it would be this soon," Naruto said.

"Well it's not like you're exactly being quiet out here," the woman said with an amused smile. "And I don't believe you answered my question."

"Trade secret," Naruto said as he dropped down to join her in watching as his clone brutally killed the demon time again. "My turn. Are most demons this weak?"

"That depends on how many human's they've consumed, but no, while this one isn't necessarily weak, I suppose it's not particularly strong either," the woman said. "I imagine you're trying to see for yourself if there's any other way to truly kill a demon beyond sunlight and a nichirin katana?"

"Yeah," Naruto admitted with a shrug. "Figured it was true, but I also figured it was worth a shot."

"I see," the woman smiled in what looked like amusement.

"You're strong. Have you considered joining the Demon Slayer Corps?" She asked.

"Well yes, but no," Naruto began.

"Oh my, how am I supposed to take that?" The woman asked, holding her cheek, shutting her eyes to smile at him.

Naruto blushed beneath his mask and cleared his throat without really needing to. He briefly wondered if all the women of the present world were so damn stunning. "I need one of those swords but I'd rather not join you guys. Now, I might consider it if one of you happens to know how to travel between dimensions."

The woman was silent for a lingering moment, her face briefly illuminated by a distant explosion. "I cannot determine whether or not you're joking."

"I'm not," Naruto said.

She hummed and continued to watch the one sided battle ensuing beneath. "No, I can't say we have such abilities. May I inquire as to why you would need such a thing?"

"No. Do you have any abilities closely resembling demon arts?" Naruto asked. He didn't miss the subtle stiffening of her posture and the minute narrowing of her eyes.

"No, I can't say we do. Our abilities lay more in science and physical power. Though some of the Hashira have been known to harness the power of the elements. None to the extent you've displayed," she said, her face glowing a brilliant blue by his clone's failed attempt at recreating a Chidori.

He blew both himself and the demon up.

'Idiot,' Naruto thought, wistfully ignoring he'd just insulted a variant of himself. He created another clone which immediately continued killing the demon in a much more meticulous manner than the previous one.

"How about this," the woman drew her sword and to his surprise, she offered it to him. "I'll lend you my sword for now. And as to your earlier comment, it's shaped that way for a reason you don't need to concern yourself with at the moment."

"You'll let me use your sword?" Naruto asked as he accepted the beautiful blade, it's blade seemed to have been halved except for the tip, with a guard shaped like the wings of a butterfly. "Aren't you worried I'd just keep it?"

"That is a possibility, I suppose," the woman said with a smile that indicated she wasn't at all concerned. "But I doubt you'd ask such a question if you'd intended on doing so."

"What an assumption, but you're right, this doesn't feel like something I'd like to carry around," Naruto said, suddenly feeling a sense of dread radiating from the ever smiling woman. "Not that there's anything wrong with it, ya'know?"

"Just give it a try, yes?" The woman ushered him along with a gentle wave of her hand. "And remember, aim for the neck to sever the head."

He wasn't sure what to make of such a sentence coming from such a pretty face.

"Sure thing," Naruto said as he jumped down towards the demon, his clone perfectly positioned the beast so that he could sever its head with no unnecessary movement. He did just that, cutting the demon down with a precise swing.

"My children!" The demon cried, sounding truly mournful. "I never… I didn't want to hurt them. I only wanted to protect them. Who will care for them now?"

Naruto kneeled down next to the disintegrating demon.

"Shiho?"

Her eyes met his, recognition flashing across them and that's when he realized something startling.

The demon was crying.

"The children… will you… will you make sure they're taken care of?" Shiho pleaded with him in her final moments. "Please young man... please keep my children safe."

"I'll make sure they're safe," Naruto whispered.

"Thank you…"

The demon was gone, and with it the feeling of lingering oppression.

"Do not allow yourself to be tricked by the demons," the woman advised as she appeared next to him. "They often spout lies in death, sowing distrust in one's resolve."

"Here's your sword," Naruto returned the blade, not having acknowledged the woman's words.

"You have no real technique to speak of and yet you were easily able to sever the demon's head. Are you certain you wouldn't consider joining the — "

They both sensed her at the same time.

Naruto deflected the attack meant for Tamayo's neck by physically parrying the broadside of her sword with his knuckles. He quickly unsealed a kunai, standing between the Demon Slayer and her natural enemies.

"Oh my, you're defending the demons now?" The woman looked at him with a dangerous look in her beautiful violet eyes. "Now that is interesting."

"Naruto-san?" Tamayo asked cautiously.

Naruto sighed and glanced over his shoulder to Tamayo and Yushiro. "You two have incredibly shitty timing."

He deflected another sword strike, pushing the woman back to put distance between them.

"Naruto, is that your name?" The woman asked.

"It is," Naruto acknowledged as he continued to stare the woman down. The air surrounding her was much different from when he first encountered her.

"Tell me then, Naruto-kun, are you aware of the Hashira?" The woman asked as she readied herself for battle, taking a stance.

"Vaguely," Naruto said, harkening back to what Tamayo was telling him earlier about Demon Slayers and their ranks.

"Naruto-san, be very careful!" Tamayo warned. "The Hashira are amongst the strongest of the Slayers!"

"The demon is correct in that much, Naruto-kun," the woman said. "You may have caught me unprepared earlier but I assure you, it will not happen again. I also assure you this is not a fight you want to have."

"Which is why you should't have come," Naruto said muttered, glancing at the two behind them.

"I was content with letting the demon kill you, but Tamayo-sama insisted we make sure you didn't die," Yushiro felt the need to add.

"Yushiro," Tamayo chastised.

"Forgive me, Tamayo-sama," Yushiro muttered.

"Oh my, look at how you all fraternize," the woman shook her head, her smile falling away for the first time. "Are you not aware of who that is, Naruto-kun?"

"Naruto, be careful, that is Kocho Shinobu, the Insect Hashira!" Tamayo shouted. "She is incredibly proficient in poisons!"

Her loss in composure was telling.

"And that is the demon known as Tamayo, one of Muzan's top demons," Shinobu said as she began to slowly circle them. "So I will give you one, and only one more chance to step aside and allow me to slay this demon. Better yet, if you're able to slay her follower after I slay her, I'll personally recommend you for the final selection."

"I can't let you do that," Naruto said as he followed her, keeping himself between the swords-woman, Tamayo and Yushiro.

"And pray tell why not?" Shinobu asked.

"Would you believe me if I said they're good demons?" Naruto asked rhetorically, playing his final hand at diplomacy. "Well, Tamayo is anyways. Between you and me, I think her assistant may not like me all that much."

"No, as there is not such a thing as a good demon," Shinobu said. "So if you will not step aside, I will have to go through you. It is up to you what that entails."

"I guess there's no helping it then," Naruto said, his own voice resolute.

Shinobu glared at him. "If you do not move I will kill you! Do you understand what I'm telling you? This is not a joking matter!"

Naruto sighed again and nodded. "Yeah, I know."

"Very well," Shinobu stopped circling them, closing her eyes. "Earlier you said you wanted to see what a Demon Slayer is capable of. Allow me to show you."

With nothing further exchanged between the two, they both charged forward.

So I wasn't actually aware how young Nezuko was until it was pointed out by a few reviewers. So if I do end up adding her, it won't be until she's older, or I might even age her up. Alternatively I could replace her. Don't know, up for suggestions on that one.

Until next time!