Sorry for the long wait. Also, dialog heavy chapter. More action in the next one!

Naruto returned to their room to find all was quiet. Tamayo was at a desk, writing in a journal of sorts while Yushiro sat crossed on the floor near her, writing on a small slip of paper that reminded him of a seal, if a bit more ornamental in construct. Finally, on one of the two beds, Shinobu was sleeping, his binding seal still set on her forehead.

Tamayo greeted him first, stopping her writing to smile at him, pressing a finger to her lips, she glanced to the slumbering Demon Slayer. Naruto followed her eyes, looking between the two a few times before allowing the supplies he had slung over his shoulder to fall roughly and quite loudly onto the floor, earning him a look of disapproval from the demonic woman.

Shinobu's eyes snapped open, frantically roaming the room before settling on him, before her expression became a glare aimed at him to the best of her ability.

"You're still alive?" Naruto asked in a deadpan. He approached her, kneeling down to inspect her. "But how's that possible?" He glanced at the two demons from over his shoulder. "Why haven't you two evil demons eaten her yet?"

"Naruto-san," Tamayo was reluctant to chastise him for reasons she didn't give any credence to, but she was certainly disappointed in his mocking of the poor girl.

"I don't eat trash," Yushiro dismissed simply, never once looking up from what he was working on.

"Ooh, that was mean," Naruto removed his mask and set it to the side of his face to reveal a smirk. "You hear that? Doesn't seem like you're all that appetizing after all."

"Go die," Shinobu continued to glare at him, impressively conveying her distaste of him despite her limited movement.

"Well that's just rude," Naruto said with a shake of his head. He stood, deciding he'd sufficiently irked the woman. He regarded Tamayo. "Seriously though, what do you wanna do with her?"

"We'll be freeing her, of course," Tamayo said with her own frown in place. "In fact, I would have done so had I known how."

"Maybe it's a good thing I didn't show you then," Naruto said as he turned back to Shinobu. "What'll you do if I free you right now?"

"Why, kill you all, of course?" Shinobu said, momentarily reverting back to her cheery disposition.

"Yeah, that's what I figured," Naruto looked to Yushiro next. "And what about you? What do you think we should do with her?"

"I could use a test subject for a new talisman I'm working on," Yushiro supplied, continuing his work undeterred by the happenings around him.

"Yushiro."

"But of course I'll do anything Tamayo-sama wishes," Yushiro finished without breaking his cadence.

Naruto hummed. "You hear that? Sounds like Tamayo's saved your life," he held up his his index and middle finger, counting them. "I think that makes twice already."

"What are you saying?" Shinobu sounded both cautious and confused.

"After you poisoned me, I was gonna put a Rasengan through your heart but Tamayo specifically asked me not to kill you," Naruto said, opening the palm of his hand to conjure the technique, bathing the room in a blue hue. "I know it looks really cool, but trust me when I say this isn't something you want touching you. Ya see, you almost killed me and I don't appreciate that, so just know that if it were up to me, I'd get rid of you before you could try again, but I'm gonna respect her wishes. So, ya'know, looks like a demon saved your life a second time; healed you too. Who would have thought?"

"Naruto-san, this really isn't necessary," Tamayo insisted.

"I think it is," Naruto moved quickly, bringing his Rasengan within inches of Shinobu's face. He was aware of the fact Tamayo had abruptly stood up behind him, knocking her chair out from beneath her. His peripherals revealed her claws were pressed harshly against her own wrist to the point of drawing her own blood.

Yushiro was on his feet as well, looking between his master and the two humans, conflicted. It was obvious she aimed to save the Demon Slayer, whereas Naruto looked ready to end her life. He wouldn't exactly mind it if he did so, but ultimately he would always side with his master, no matter how against her intentions he could be at times.

"Do not hurt her, Naruto-san," Tamayo warned.

Naruto recognized her words were not a request. He looked down at the beautiful woman beneath him, her equally beautiful eyes surprisingly fearlessly fierce in their regard of him. "I think that technically makes three," he said, cancelling his Rasengan to hold up three fingers, poking her larger than average forehead with them.

She almost reminded him of Sakura in that moment. Their glares were almost identical.

"What is the meaning of this, Naruto-san?" Tamayo asked uncomfortably once it became clear he would not be hurting the Demon Slayer. She didn't appreciate his sudden pension for violence or just how ready he seemed to take another life. Though she couldn't exactly blame him considering the Demon Slayer had just attempted to take all theirs. "She's defenseless."

"Just trying to show her who the real monster is here," Naruto said with a shrug. "So I'll ask again, will you try killing us if I let you go?"

Shinobu was conflicted. She couldn't be sure whether or not Naruto and the demon had previously conspired to put on a display in an attempt to sway her beliefs. Although something, her instincts possibly, informed her this wasn't likely to be the case. But to believe a demon of all things had been responsible for saving her life from a human wasn't something she couldn't exactly accept so easily.

Demons, all demons, killed and devoured selfishly. She'd witnessed this personally when they took her sister from her and when they orphaned each and everyone of her little butterflies. There was no such a thing as a good demon. Her training and experiences instilled this into her from a young age.

Even so, it was really quite difficult to ignore the very true fact the demon Tamayo had saved her from Naruto's wrath. Also, the way in which she spoke out against Muzan planted yet another seed of doubt in her mind as much of the intelligence she offered on the head demon matched their own information.

Knowledge many a Slayer had given their lives to obtain.

Had their sacrifices been in vain then? Of course not, but a nagging voice in the back of her head wondered if things would have been different had they known of Tamayo sooner. Her information would have saved many lives. Depending on what else she had to day, it could save many more yet.

The thought certainly gave her pause.

"Even if I do not personally kill you, that doesn't mean there won't be others who won't try in my stead," Shinobu muttered, looking away. In doing so, she missed the look of genuine surprise Naruto displayed.

He didn't exactly believe he would be able to get through to her.

"Is there nothing you can do to stop that?" Naruto asked, pushing forward. "Doesn't it make more sense to work with us than against us? Just imagine what can be accomplished if Shinobu is able to find a way to turn demons into humans again; the lives we'd be able to save."

"The ultimate goal of the Demon Slayer Corps is not to turn demons back into humans, but rather to kill Muzan so that no more are created," Shinobu said, still reluctantly defiant.

"Why can't we do both?" Naruto asked with frustration leaking into his words. "Don't you think it's at least worth it to try?"

"What I personally think is neither here nor there because again, it is not up to me," Shinobu said.

"Well then who the hell is it up to?" Naruto asked, clenching his fists at his side, unsure entirely unsure as to why he cared so much. The current world wasn't his own, but then again, there was no guaranteeing his return to his own, so the threat of demons was one he wouldn't be able to avoid nor would he ignore.

"I cannot and will not tell you that," Shinobu said, her words coming out contrastingly soft. "Even if you do torture me again."

Her words made Naruto flinch, feeling a conflicting sense of annoyance and guilt. He felt justified in his actions considering she did try to kill them, and yet, that didn't lessen the pit in his stomach.

"Fine," Naruto sighed as he ran a hand through his hair, reminding him he needed a shower. "I'll just have to figure this out on my own; kick Muzan's ass into the sun or something."

"It won't be that easy, Naruto-san," Tamayo warned reluctantly. She wondered why Naruto seemed so worn, sounding almost defeated in that moment in a way that seemed to go beyond the Demon Slayer's resolve.

"Yeah, I guess it never really is," Naruto said, approaching Shinobu again. "Alright then, I'm gonna let you go now. Just… if you're gonna try and kill me again, can you at least do it after I've had something to eat? If I'm gonna die, I'd rather go with a stomach full of ramen. Man am I glad they actually have it here."

Both master and student approached with great interest to see just how a technique could be undone, both silently wondering and hoping Naruto would pass along the knowledge. Tamayo herself was personally curious to see all that he could do and what he was capable of, along with discovering exactly what made him different from the other humans she'd tasted.

She did have a theory.

Naruto noticed his audience, his expression growing completely serious. "Watch closely you two because this is something that requires the upmost care and expertise."

Shinobu herself began to worry at his tone and wondered briefly if it would hurt."

Naruto kneeled to her level, clenching his hands a few times, his joints popping as he did so, and took a few breaths to steady them. For a brief moment, all three of his observers held their breath.

That was until, much like pulling a bandage, he yanked the seal off with little care, casually crumbing it up into a ball which he tossed over his shoulder.

All three stared at him with varying faces of confusion as he stood, yawning, and continued following him as he walked over to the pack he brought with him, puling out a cup of instant ramen.

"Been too long," Naruto said with a relieved sigh. It had been a long time since he enjoyed a nice bowl of ramen. Instant was never as good as freshly made, especially ramen crafted from the Ichiraku's, but beggars could never choose. "Do we have a way to heat any water around here?"

"Naruto-san!" Tamayo's expression was stern.

"You filthy cretin!" Yoshiro spat.

"You piece of — "

"Woah!" Naruto expected some reaction from his little jest, but not to that extreme considering the three now glaring at him were some of the most stoic people he'd ever meet since Sasuke.

Shinobu and Tamayo both did a rather good job of wearing their masks but he could see hints of what they both hid beneath. Yoshiro on the other hand, did nothing to hide his distain for anyone and everyone who wasn't his master, and on some level Naruto respected that.

"All they had to do was pull the paper off?" Shinobu was the first to express her issue with him.

"Well it's not really just any piece of paper but… " Their expressions remained the same. "But I guess that's not the issue. Yeah, it's all you had to do."

"Don't you think that maybe that was something you should have mentioned to us?" Tamayo demanded.

"Probably?" Naruto relented, feeling oddly off-put by just how further her lavender eyes narrowed.

Upon closer observation, he noticed just how alike Shinobu and Tamayo actually were in appearance. Their eyes were very similar in color, with Shinobu's eyes being a shade darker, while their faces, while shaped differently, also held some resemblances. If he didn't know any better, he may have confused them for siblings.

Two incredibly beautiful and very angry siblings.

"Probably?" Tamayo repeated.

"Well you didn't ask," Naruto supplied with a shrug. He regarded Shinobu directly. "And you're free now, so, ya'know, scram, get outta here, shoo," he finished, waving her away as he continued his search for a way to boil water.

Shinobu's eyes began to twitch. "Did you just shoo me? You… You… "

"Ya'know, you were oddly nicer to me when you were trying to kill me," Naruto observed, doing a double take, his eyes trailing down, realizing now her lack of dress with no blanket to cover her.

Taking aback by the reaction, Shinobu followed his gaze, her cheeks turning red when she realized her modesty was barely covered by bandages and her undergarments.

"Get out," she growled.

"You seem to forget this is our room," Naruto said, crossing his arms. "Why should — "

"Naruto-san," Tamayo inserted herself into the conversation, moving to stand in front of Shinobu. "You must always respect a woman's modesty."

Naruto sighed as he, along with Yushiro, were promptly evicted.

A few minutes later and Naruto was loudly slurping on his noodles as Shinobu stared at him, her eye twitching with every other particularly loud slurp. Despite enjoying his meal, he was still very much aware of the demon Slayer's Every movement, never once allowing her out of his line of sight.

"Well, will you come with me or not?" She asked him impatiently.

Naruto looked to Tamayo, who appeared troubled as she too awaited his response. He turned his head in her direction. "Ya'know, they'll probably just try to kill me if I go with her. Strength in numbers and all that."

"That… is a possibility I have considered," Tamayo was reluctant to continue her line of reasoning. "But I do believe this is the best way to broker an understanding between us and the Demon Slayer organization. I imagine they'll be more inclined to hear you out than I"

"Will they?" Naruto asked Shinobu.

"I cannot guarantee anything, but if a nichirin katana is what you're after, I could sponsor you to become a Slayer at the next year's final selection," Shinobu said.

Naruto finished the last of his noodles, washing them down with a glass of water. Sure enough, they nowhere near as good as what Teuchi and Ayame were capable of, but it certainly beat rations and the abominations Sakura subjected him to during the war.

"Well?" Shinobu pressed.

"Why the sudden change of heart?" Naruto asked without any reservation. "Earlier you were pretty dead-set on killing me and Tamayo, so you can imagine it's hard for me to believe you're doing this with no underlying motives."

"While I wouldn't shed a tear if you were suddenly struck down by a stray lightening strike, I would be remised to admit the Demon Slayer Corps would benefit greatly from your skillset," Shinobu said after a pause.

Naruto hummed and regarded Tamayo again. "Ya'know if I do this, I'll probably be gone for a while."

Tamayo steadied her expression, nodding. "I understand that, but you see, Yushiro and I have been looking for a place to settle for some time. If you were to seek out those directly under Muzan's command for their blood, we wouldn't have been able to come with you either way. Yushiro and I aren't all that powerful compared to even some of the lower moons. I'm afraid we'd only be a hinderance to you."

Yushiro didn't seem particularly happy to hear that, but the way in which his head dropped indicated he agreed.

"Besides, I believe you owe me for breaking my katana," Shinobu added.

Naruto ignored the comment as he considered what was proposed. He wasn't in a hurry to join an organization who, despite having a surface level noble goal, he knew next to nothing about. In fact, his only information came from their natural enemies, two demons, and a member of their who just tried to kill him.

But he also couldn't ignore the benefits of being backed by an established organization in a world unfamiliar to him. Not to take away from Tamayo, but a demon living in the literal shadows could only help him so much.

If he were to find a way home, the Demon Slayers maybe his better hope. Naruto didn't particularly appreciate this.

"Fine," Naruto finally agreed. "I'll do it, but since I don't trust you any further than I can throw you… " He paused to closely study Shinobu again, noting she was rather petite and that he could likely throw her rather far.

"Please refrain from looking at me with your leering eyes," Shinobu muttered.

"Fuck I'm getting old," Naruto grumbled, regarding the use of that phrase. Jiraiya had said it on a couple of occasions. "Anyways, if I agree to this, I just want you to know one thing. If you betray me, if when we arrive they try to kill me; or they send people to kill Tamayo and Yushiro, I won't hold back. I will kill you all."

Despite maintaining her outward composure, Shinobu almost shuddered at the promise his words conveyed and just how calmly he spoke. Whether or not he was capable of carrying out his threat, he certainly seemed to believe it and that was more than enough to put her on edge. "Did you… were you holding back?"

But Shinobu knew the answer to that. She'd gotten lucky in poisoning him. The way in which he easily invaded her space to disarm her proved as much. In a way, it was because of his own reluctance to take her life, along with the demon Tamayo's intervention, that she continued to live.

"Do we have an understanding?" Naruto asked, ignoring her question.

Shinobu only nodded.

With that decided, they planned on spending another night in the village before departing the next morning to avoid demonic encounters considering Naruto had shattered Shinobu's sword, a fact she still seemed rather sore about. Beyond that, both humans had strength to recover, Shinobu from her fight, Naruto from coming from a world at war, having slept a combined four hours in the past week before even arriving to the current.

Upon waking the next morning, Naruto discovered Shinobu had gone out early to retrieve some supplies, leaving him alone with the two demons. He decided to settle some of his concerns.

"I doubt she actually changed her mind," Naruto said, speaking to Tamayo.

"People can change, Naruto-san," Tamayo offered, but the explanation seemed weak to even herself.

"She's probably sending word to her people now. I wouldn't be surprised if they came looking for you two," Naruto said. He wouldn't play into her delusions. "I'll leave a clone with you but you really should get going as soon as night falls."

"I greatly appreciate your concern, Naruto-san," Tamayo said with a small smile and a bow. "But on the subject of your abilities, I am curious as to how you're capable of such feats."

"We probably don't have a lot of time before she returns so I'll let my clone explain everything once we're gone. Just know they're alive and they're extensions of myself. But it will eventually dispel once it runs out of chakra," Naruto said as he bit his thumb, conjuring his strongest clone. "Make sure you've left this village well before that happens."

Without saying a word, his clone disappeared into the restroom.

"Do they have to use the restroom as well?" Yushiro asked with disgust.

"Ya'know, I don't actually know," Naruto admitted. "But that's not what he's doing. Again, once we're gone, feel free to ask whatever questions you have. Just know she can't know he's with you."

"Thank you again for your consideration, Naruto-san," Tamayo said, pressing a delicate hand to her own cheek with another smile.

Naruto cleared his throat without needing to, wondering why this woman of all people made him feel uncomfortable with a smile alone. "It's nothing."

Tamayo, in return, offered him a scroll with the potential locations for safe houses she and Yushiro intended on scouting out, offering rough estimates of how long they planned to be in any one place so that he may find them. The gesture alone spoke to how much the woman seemed to trust him considering the information, in the wrong hands, could lead to her and her apprentice's deaths.

Little else was exchanged between them upon Shinobu's return. She had the remnants of her blade wrapped in white bandagings, slung over her shoulder. Aside from a small pack hanging on her pack, she remained in her tattered Demon Slayer robes.

With little fanfare but the promise of meeting again, the humans and demons parted ways.

They had been traveling for a few hours at a sedate pace when a crow began to circle them overhead before finally landing on Shinobu's shoulders.

"Low level Demon Slayers requesting back up from a Hashira for a high level demon threat!" The bird screeched in an oddly human voice.

"Of course it's a talking crow," Naruto said, uncomfortable as memories of Itachi flashed through his mind.

Shinobu didn't care to question exactly what he was referring to as her crow landed on her shoulder to deliver the rest of its message.

"Hashira Mitsuri currently in route, further assistance required until further notice. Head west to the village near the sea!" The crow squared out before bursting into the sky.

Naruto watched it fly away, disappearing behind a curtain of trees. "What was that?" He asked.

"It's a messenger crow. We all get one upon making it through the final selection. You'll have your own if you make it. It's how we receive our orders," Shinobu informed him.

It was also likely how they sent messages to one another.

Naruto suspected this and was now more than ever confined she likely made the Demon Slayers aware of their situation. For the moment, he wouldn't allow himself to worry about it too much considering he had a contingency in place should his suspicions be proven correct.

"We gonna answer the call?" Naruto asked rhetorically.

"There is no such a thing as denying an order," Shinobu said, turning on her heel to move in a new direction.

Naruto followed her, weighing out his options in his mind. According to the crow, there would be another Hashira meeting them along with potentially other Demon Slayers. He knew better than to assume all the Hashira were on the same level of Shinobu, who herself, almost managed to kill him.

Even now, he kept his distance from the Poison Hashira, making sure he was, at all times, up wind of her. He did nothing to hide this and it was more than obvious Shinobu was well aware.

That's how they traveled, in complete silence, lost in their own thoughts while never once dropping their guard around one another.

It was evening by the time they arrived at a small fishing village that reminded Naruto of Wave when they first arrived on his first real mission. Closed shops lined the main street while homes with beautiful bones lay in general states of disrepair in the distance, indicating the village may have at one point been prosperous. The few villagers they crossed regarded them wearily, they themselves appearing just as worn and despondent as their surroundings.

"We must find this village's lodgings. I imagine that's where we'll find the Demon Slayers currently dispatched here, assuming they're still alive," Shinobu announced.

Naruto nodded and followed Shinobu to a large inn that, itself, appeared to have seen better days. Within they found a small bar that sat weary fishermen who upon entering, became silent to stare at them with the same suspicion everyone else had shown them thus far.

"What can I get you two?" A young woman asked them upon taking a seat.

She almost reminded Naruto of Ayame in her unassuming beauty. She had shoulder length brown hair tied back into a pony's tail, with similar colored eyes and a slim figure.

"Two waters and some information," Shinobu said as she set a few coins down on the table.

The young woman seemed weary at this response.

"Who are you people?" She asked, taking the money regardless of the accusation in her tone. "We don't need anymore false hope around here. Or liars for that matter."

"I imagine someone else's already asked you this?" Naruto said.

"Yes, a cocky kid in here asking about our recent disappearances. He claimed he came to save us from the monster at sea."

Naruto and Shinobu shared a look between them.

"This young man, did he offer a name?" Shinobu asked, knowing he likely hadn't.

"No, but he was dressed like you," the young woman said, indicating to Shinobu, her eyes briefly glancing her wrapped sword. "And he carried a blade as well. I haven't seen him since yesterday. Probably ran off with our money, too."

"He accepted payment?" Shinobu asked.

Naruto noticed the slight creasing of her eyes on her otherwise pleasant mask and wondered exactly how Demon Slayers were compensated.

"Yes," the girl said, affronted.

Just then a big gruff man took his stand, his chair scraping noisily along the wooden floor in an otherwise silent room. The atmosphere went from sullen to on edge immediately. Naruto leaned back in his seat, ready to take action should he need to and he noticed Shinobu turn her head ever so slightly.

The man was large and appeared well fed, juxtaposed to the other patrons, with scars both fresh and old. Naruto didn't detect any real threat from the man other than that he could pose to the untrained. His stride was aggressive but he seemed to lack any real sings of discipline, his arms large and crossed as he reached them, glaring down at Naruto specifically.

"These two bothering you, Shana-chan?" The man asked.

The woman, Shana, seemed annoyed by the man, taking a step to the side from him.

"No, Shiro, they were just ordering before going on their way," Shana said, her words more of a demand than a suggestion.

"You look like that idiot from the day before," Shinji said, staring Shinobu up and down with a leering intent. "Though I admit, you're easier on the eyes."

"Oh my, thank you for the compliment," Shinobu said with a false, closed eye smile.

Naruto rolled his eyes and he noticed this.

"You got something you wanna say, pretty boy?" Shiro sneered.

"Oh my, thank you for the compliment," Naruto's grin was sarcastic and his comment earned a few restrained chuckles from those around.

"You want to take this outside you little shit?" Shiro challenged, as he forced his chest to become more pronounced.

Shana rolled her own eyes at the situation, but otherwise appeared impartial to the happenings. It was almost as if wasn't the first time such a scene played out.

"No thanks, I prefer more lovelier company," Naruto said, winking at the woman.

Pink dusted Shana's cheeks as she tried to fight a smirk.

This seemed to set Shiro off even further.

"I won't allow some punk grifter to take anyone money from us!" He declared loudly, bringing in those around. "So you're going to return the money Shana-chan paid, or I'm gonna kick your ass and take your bitch as mine!"

"You hear that?" Naruto said, raising both his eyebrows in mild amusement towards the Demon Slayer. "Should I defend your honor, dear?"

Shinobu's pleasant expression briefly fell away.

"The fact you have to ask that!" Shiro once more boldly proclaimed to his audience, who jeered and lanced their own insults. "What's a beautiful woman like you doing with a spineless punk like this? I can show you how a real man behaves!"

"Oh my, I suppose you're right," Shinobu said, turning to smile sweetly up at the man. "Why don't you show me how a real man fights?"

"My pleasure," Shiro grinned viciously at Naruto. "But I think it's best you stay in here with Shana-chan. You might not want to see what I do to him."

"My hero," Shinobu said, smiling at Naruto this time around. "You hear that, honey? Will you be able to defend my honor, I wonder?" Her words were sickly sweet.

"Guess I've got no choice now. Let's go then," Naruto said following a sigh. He stood and followed after Shiro.

"Do not kill him," Shinobu warned in a whisper as Naruto walked past her. A casual shrug of his shoulders indicated he'd heard, but not necessarily that he agreed.

Shana now looked concerned and looked down at Shinobu with slight disgust. "Shinji may be a meathead but he really does know how to fight and is known to be violent. He may very well kill your husband, if not severely injure him."

"Oh, he isn't my husband," Shinobu said, unconcerned.

"Boyfriend, friend, whatever! You should stop them before he gets hurt!" Shana warned.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," Shinobu dismissed with another smile. "Now I believe you've yet to fill my order."

Shana threw a final look of concern in the direction the men retreated, noting Shiro's crew following close behind, already drawing their blades. She was truly concerned for the blond man's safety but there was nothing she could do.

When she returned with the drinks a few moments later, Shana was surprised to see Naruto re-enter, looking as if nothing happened with the exception of the blood staining his knuckles. She was stunned into a momentary state of inaction as he grabbed his drink, still on her tray, before taking his seat again. He downed all his water in one long pull before she reacted.

"Did you talk your way out of it?" She asked, flabbergasted. Shana had never known Shiro to be one for words, much less reasoning. The blood on his hands was another indication of otherwise but she simply couldn't believe he'd bested the village's most vicious fighter.

"Probably should have tried that, but no, not this time," Naruto said as he indicated to the towel hanging around her waist. "Mind if I borrow that?"

Wordlessly, she offered him the towel.

"Thanks."

"The information," Shinobu pressed the poor girl. On some level she sympathized with her considering she herself was only very recently taken aback by the blond's capabilities.

"There's something in the waters that have been taking our fishermen," Shana began, half in a daze before becoming refocused. "Who are you two?" She asked again.

"What's important is that we're here to help," Shinobu said pleasantly. "And rest assured we won't be charging you. Truth be told, you shouldn't have been charged to begin with, so I do apologize for that. But if you wouldn't mind, we'll need to know everything about what we'll be facing."

"But before you start, do you serve ramen here?" Naruto asked, feeling hungry again.

"No," Shana said after a brief pause.

"Ah, well," Naruto palmed his knees and leaned back in his seat with a silent sigh.

In a near parallel to Wave, the small fishing village of Mizusu, a once prosperous port that saw a sharp decline in travel once ships began to sink under mysterious circumstances. However, in place of a money hungry tyrant, rumors of a monster lurking in the waters, along with the disappearances of entire shipping companies, deterred travel and business.

That was the rumor, at any rate. Not many lived to tell the tale of what they encountered out at sea and the few that had were labeled either superstitious, or simply crazy when they claimed they encountered a beast of legend, with tentacles nearly a mile long.

Shana's own father had recently been lost at sea, prompting her to reach out for help to whoever would listen. Though not many did, and the few who did answer the call either never made it back to report, or they'd simply taken her offerings and disappeared without even making the attempt.

"I fear I may soon have to close the inn if this continues," Shana finished sadly.

"We'll do what we can," Naruto said, with Shinobu nodding along. "We'll need a room to wait for nightfall."

"Of course, but wouldn't it be safer to go out during the day when you can search for the monster?" Shana asked.

"These attacks, I'm to assume most took place during the night?" Shinobu asked.

"Yes, how did you know?" Shana asked.

"It was a mere supposition," Shinobu said, standing. "We've preparations to do. We'll be back by a little later before nightfall."

"Thank you," Shana said, though she didn't exactly sound grateful.

Naruto suspected she'd had the current conversation more than once.

As they began to leave, Shana followed after them. "Do you need one room or… two?"

Outside the inn, on the street was Shiro and his four cronies, all stacked on atop another beneath a nearby tree, looking various stages of bruised. That in itself was a sight to behold, but what added to the oddity of the scene was the voluptuous woman crouched beside them, giggling as she poked them with a stick, drawing pained groans from the men.

She had bright pink hair with green tips, ending in two large tails. Her black Demon Slayer's outfit, below a white shawl, ended in a short skirt, with a wide opening in the chest revealing a fair amount of hers, and green knee high socks.

Naruto couldn't help but stare until he felt Shinobu's glare on him.

"What? I didn't kill them, and I was even nice enough to put them in the shade. I don't know who she is though. She wasn't here earlier," Naruto said.

"Heya, Shinobu-chan!" The woman waved at her with a bright smile and a twinkle in her soft green eyes.

"That would be Mitsuri, the Love Hashira," Shinobu said with a sigh and looked to a still shocked Shana. "Make that three rooms, please."

"Love Hashira?" Naruto muttered as he considered what exactly that meant. Shinobu being named the Poison Hashira was self explanatory, leaving him wondering exactly what the admittedly beautiful woman specialized in.

Whatever the case, Naruto couldn't help but think Jiraiya would have loved to have seen the world he currently found himself, if Tamayo, Shinobu, and now Mitsuri were any indicator of the women that inhabited it.

"Mitsuri, long time no see," Shinobu greeted with a false smile, returning her wave.

Naruto looked at her oddly.

"Who's the blond cutie?" Mitsuri asked Shinobu as she bound over to them.

Naruto regarded her dryly before turning to Shinobu. "Are all of you Hashira's weird?" He asked.

Shinobu struggled to keep her smile in place but she could already feel a migraine coming knowing she'd now have to work the the second most annoying person she knew. Naruto occupied the number one spot in her long list thus far.

"I'll explain everything later," Shinobu said, speaking to Mitsuri. Her falsified expression still in place. "I believe we've a job to do."

I deeply apologize for the long wait. I've recently moved and work has been tough lately. As much as I love writing, work does come first. Just know i'm always working on my stories with the little free time I have.

Again, this chapter was more dialog heavy but I promise the next chapter will have more action, and will hopefully be out sooner.

Until then I thank you for your patience and continued support.

Until next time!