I do not own anything.

POISON DOVE & MAELSTROM FOX

Chapter 5 - Dangerous Inquiries

Even though she didn't have a carriage or chariot, Semiramis had to admit she was beginning to find travel somewhat enjoyable. Of course, it helped somewhat that she really didn't have to do that much walking and could remain in spiritual form while shadowing her Master and his master. If only a little, she was starting to understand what vagabonds and traveling merchants found so appealing about walking the land with little to no care in the world. Well, for Semiramis she did have cares, but they were kept in the back of her mind where no one would know of them. Most importantly, while she did periodically gaze at the scenery, her attention never truly left her Master.

He was just as fascinated with the outside world as she was. Semiramis remembered him telling her how this was the furthest he'd ever ventured from his home village, and for such an extended amount of time. All that said, Naruto still periodically talked about his home back in this Hidden Leaf Village. The more he and Jiraiya talked about it, the more curious about it she became. Did it truly have trees the size of mountains? What about this Hokage Stone Face monument he spoke of? In her life she'd seen her fair share of monuments and building projects, some of which still stood to the modern era and were marveled upon by modern audiences.

Semiramis had come to many conclusions regarding her Master's character and worth while others remained unanswered, but if there was one thing she knew for sure it was that he was extremely adaptive. She'd created the Kitsune-ken on almost half a whim expecting Naruto to take weeks to master their usage, but he proved her wrong. Just like that first afternoon he went full force, throwing everything he had into combating her using his newly gained weapons, slowly but surely creating a fighting style unique to him and him alone. During those training sessions Semiramis often caught brief glimpses of his eyes, whenever backed into a serious corner she'd noticed how the innocent blue would flash the color of blood, then the counterattack would come with the fury of a storm. The boundless energy he seemed to approach life with was readily channeled into his fists and legs the moment the war horn was sounded.

Jiraiya had watched and critiqued their training sessions, much to Semiramis' annoyance. Her earlier analysis that she and this man wouldn't be close associates was right, especially once she began to take true note of where his eyes wondered whenever they passed a female or attractive woman. Gods, I'm sandwiched between a buffoon and a pervert. She realized, one evening when the white-haired man slipped away and came back smelling of heavy perfume and sporting an array of markings along his shoulder.

"How often does…he…do that?" Semiramis asked, doing her best to keep her mask of civility from crumbling.

Naruto, she guessed, either had gotten used to his teacher's antics or if he simply didn't care. Semiramis would have been fine with either as long as he showed no signs of taking after his pervert mentor. "Eh, every now and then. Seriously though, just as long as there's not an angry mob chasing him or something, there's nothing to worry about." He'd replied in a nonchalantly tone, suggesting he'd been in this situation before.

"And when something like that does happen?" The Assyrian questioned, raising an eyebrow.

The grin he gave her made Semiramis want to smack the boy. Usually it was the predators that did the playing around, not the prey.

It would be another three days before they arrived at the next day, and Semiramis was somewhat grateful for that. In the meantime, Jiraiya had decided Naruto would get back to his genjutsu training, which apparently, they'd been in the middle of when some unexpected interruptions had occurred. Semiramis' ears twitched hearing him make that proclamation, and she knew Jiraiya saw her. Why else would he be standing behind the curtain of trees, watching her as surely as a lion watches its prey by the watering hole.

Around her spread out in a neat array were the materials she needed to summon her Hanging Garden, each and every piece in pristine condition. All courtesy of that old bastard Zelretch.

Semiramis knew a time would come when she'd have to use her Noble Phantasm, the only question was when. Needless to say, the gardens were nigh invulnerable, she doubted anything in this world could stand up to her thousands' years old creation, a mobile city capable of flattening a fortress and entire civilization at her command. The mere thought of sitting in her throne where she was supreme and powerful almost made her lips curve into a smile, the only thing keeping her from doing so was her unwanted watcher. It was time she did something about him.

"You can come out, or I can drag you out and hang you by your toes above an acid pit, it's entirely up to you."

"You certainly don't beat around the bush, do you?" Stated the sage, finally revealing himself. Through his mask of calmness Semiramis sensed tension, all of it completely warranted. "Ya' know, the only I can think of seeing a spread out like this was when I was reading a book about witches."

"Oh? Witch you say, tell me, does this world have witches? You've traveled far and wide so I'm assuming you'd be the expert." She coolly shot back.

"Well, I've met my fair share of dangerous women, dangerous beautiful women,"

"And somehow lived to tell the tales." Finally turning to him, she allowed her snake-like eyes to fill with silent malice as she directed every bit of her malicious aura toward the sage. To the old man's credit, he didn't bend like a willow in the wind. Once again, this old pervert proved in a small way he might have been more than she first theorized. "Tell me, do you see me as a witch?"

"I see you as someone I need to keep an eye on." Finding a soft patch of grass he sat down across from her, his face slowly gaining a serious glare that showed Semiramis he wasn't going to be pushed around by her, not without a fight. "Like I said, I've met all kinds of women, dangerous women, beautiful women, kind women, and so forth. I'd like to think I'm something of an expert." He admitted, cracking a grin.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night, old one." Snapped the long-haired Servant, fighting off a look of disgust. "You still haven't answered my question."

"That's not exactly an easy thing to answer, you can probably kill me in the time it'd take for me to blink." Spoke the toad-summoner.

"Then you know to watch your tongue least I rip that and your penis off before putting you out of my misery."

Internally, Jiraiya winced. All those training sessions with Naruto and he'd learned first how precise and fast Semiramis' chains could be. She was probably the most adapt long-range fighter he'd ever seen, and that wasn't even accounting for her poison. He'd made a mental note to get a sample of her poisons and get them back to Tsunade so she could start devising vaccines and antidotes. He couldn't see into the future, but he could prepare himself in case he and Semiramis ever found themselves on opposite sides of the battlefield. Jiraiya didn't fancy that happening so he'd tread lightly to ensure it didn't happen.

"You're a woman who doesn't want to be here, you never asked for this. I can understand that feeling, life throws us all curveballs when we least expect them. What's important is that we make the most of them."

"Uh-huh, very rousing, expect I already know that." Now she crossed her arms, the Servant's glare went from threatening to simply annoyed. "Believe me, sage, I'd experienced my fair share of unexpected turns in life, I do not need your wisdom to tell me the obvious. Only a fool sits around lamenting events that have already happened."

"Then how about you start treating Naruto a little nicer, seriously, of all the people you could have been stuck to, he's probably the best you could get."

Annoyance changed back into threatening. "Are you in a hurry to die, Toad Sage?"

"Heh, as far as death glares go, I'll give you credit, but I'm afraid an old friend of mine has you beat." Laughed the white-haired man.

"Who? This Tsunade I take it, your old flame?" Finally, Semiramis smiled seeing the momentary shock and even bitterness that crossed the old warrior's face at the mention of the name. "Your student talks a bit too much, perhaps a trait he seemingly inherited from you. Be careful, in my experience men like that tend not to last long."

Jiraiya recovered quickly and got back on track fast. "Noted, but I meant what I said about Naruto. You look at him as if he's this dangerous, never before seen animal. If I had to guess, you've never had someone treat you with genuine kindness, have you?"

The earlier blow was returned in full force, and never before had he been the recipient of such a massive amount of killing intent. Jiraiya was reminded of his old teammate, Orochimaru. He'd been on both ends of the pale-skinned man's murderous projections, and both times he'd left covered from head to toe in sweat, his legs barely shaking in fear. That was the past however, since then he'd grown and learned. The massive snake facing him down, its black and gold-lined scales bristled in darkness while its golden eyes stared down at him, seeking to get him to back down, but he would not budge.

Semiramis didn't know rather to be infuriated or impressed, perhaps a bit of both. Most men carried before her whenever she showed even a fraction of her true power, but this pervert, this old sage, he was remaining resolute. When it comes to women and money you break like a piece of pottery, but…when it involves that boy…Semiramis recognized that feeling, that look of worry and concern the old man always shot Naruto when he wasn't looking or paying attention.

For all his bolster, the old sage truly cared for Naruto as if he were his own son.

"What can that boy offer me? What can he do? What can I do? As long as he holds those Command Seals I'm his for all intents and purposes, his slave." She mocked, throwing up her hands attempting to lull the old man's guard.

It didn't work. "Let me guess, when you explained the concept of Servant using words like that Naruto got disgusted and tried to wipe the Command Seals off his hand, didn't he?"

The Assassin's body tensed. "How did you know that?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because I've known Naruto since he was a kid have an insight into how he thinks. Trust me, he hates the very concept of owning another person or persecuting someone for things they can't control." Somewhat unsettlingly, the Toad Sage's eyes locked with hers and held her gaze for a second longer than she would have liked. "You're not the only one who's desperate to prove themselves in life, to break free of the restraints that's been placed on you. Naruto won't abandon you so long as you don't give him a reason to, and if you let the kid in you may just end up with a lifelong friend, someone you can trust."

"I don't need friends!" She finally snapped, her once composed face slipping into a messy array. "What I need is freedom! That's all I desire from that boy, nothing else!"

"Fine then, but if your freedom means his death then I'm telling you right now you won't have it."

A dome of tension and silent malice fell over the ninja and the Assassin locking them in a quiet battle of wills between their eyes. Neither was going to back down easily.

"If there's a way for you to break your contract with Naruto I won't stop you, but if doing so involves harming him in in way, shape, or form, I swear I will stop you."

"You think you have the power to stop me?" Semiramis replied, wearing a smile fit for a demon. "You seem to think watching me spar with that blond fool has given you insight into how I do battle and my tactics. Surely you must realize in all those matches I've been holding back as not to harm your precious little student. You haven't begun to see half of what I can do."

"And you haven't seen half of what I can do. Besides, if we do fight Naruto's gonna get involved."

Damn him for getting to that one before she could. It was true, if they did come to blows Naruto would not doubt intervene to stop them. Though there was little doubt she could take both of them at once and with little effort the whisker-faced boy was still her Master, and if he died he'd take her with him unless she acted fast, and there was no guarantee she'd be able to survive long enough to find another suitable Master. Biting her lip in annoyance, it slammed into her once how utterly trapped she was, and she hated it. However, more than that her mind was able to vividly picture the scenario Jiraiya had spoken of playing out. Naruto would have to choose between her and his master…and who he'd choose was plain as day. Not to mention he had his Command Seals, even if he appeared reluctant to use them, Semiramis knew if backed into a corner everyone made decisions they claimed they never would.

Fixing the old sage with a glare, she silently declared him the victor of this round, but next time things would be different. She would make sure of that.

Sighing in defeat, she addressed him, "You said you were going to re-start Naruto's genjutsu training tomorrow, I take it you want me to help him."

"Yep, see, when it comes to matters outside of punching, hitting, and slashing Naruto's a bit-"

"The boy's a complete imbecile outside of battle, just say it as is." Snarled the Assyrian Servant.

"Hey, I'm trying to give the kid some credit. Still, this is serious, Semiramis. There are…certain people after Naruto for reasons I can't reveal to you yet. One of them possesses a great deal of experience and skill in genjutsu, he's so dangerous even I could have some trouble with him if, or when, he comes after Naruto."

"Hmph, if he can give you a challenge then dispatching him should be simple for you." To empathize her statement, the woman flicked her fingers sending off a few droplets of poison. Where they landed, the ground sizzled and melted. "Genjutsu is the art of illusions, correct?" Seeing his nod, Semiramis placed her fingers to her chin. She was a poisoner, not an illusionist or street performer. As far as illusions went, she preferred creating hallucinogenic poison and letting them slowly drive themselves mad from there. Sadly, she would have to go further than that. "You realize I'm a professional poisoner, right?"

"You're also an incredibly resourceful woman. I'm sure if you wanted to you could give the ninja arts a crack, who knows, you may turn out to be a natural-born prodigy."

Flattery, exactly what she needed at the moment. "Tomorrow, show me what the boy's capable of. If I dive into this headfirst I can't promise I won't end up hurting him or potentially maiming him for life. Neither of us want that."

"Noted," The smile he gave her was unnerving, as if she were about to be on the receiving end of a bad joke. She hated jokes. "I have just the thing in mind, tomorrow you'll meet one of my most reliable toads!"

Yeah, definitely she was in for some sort of bad joke.

Just as the old sage turned on his heel to leave, Semiramis spoke out. "Why does Naruto's eyes turn red? Whenever they do I feel an upsurge of demonic power, it reminds me of the mystical beasts of my homeland."

"So your home world has monsters too, huh?"

"Every world has monsters, of all shapes and sizes. What I sensed within that child is clearly not human."

Jiraiya took a moment to digest this. By Semiramis' explanation, Servants were spiritual beings even if they were able to seemingly interact with the physical world. Not for the first time he truly wished his old sensei was still alive. While he may have learned a thing or two, his wisdom still paled in comparison to that of the Third Hokage. If Semiramis was a spirit then there was a chance she could interact with the Nine-Tails sealed within Naruto; that wasn't a comfortable thought at all and something he could only pray wouldn't happen. Then again, he'd wasn't taking the fox's temperament into consideration, according to Naruto the Tailed Beast within him was grouchy and irritable, but clever when needed. Semiramis was obviously cut from the same cloth as the beast, meaning they'd either get along too well or they'd become worst enemies. One defining factor for both of them was the factor Naruto was the lock keeping them from freedom, and that was enough to make Jiraiya slightly tremble in fear.

Semiramis observed the way her Master's teacher tensed up and the look of deep thought upon his face. She'd hit a bit too close to home for him. "It makes no difference to me what the child is, he is my Master so at least I will work to secure his safety and by extension my own." She spat, seeking to end this conversation.

The two locked eyes for what was more than likely going to be the last time of the night. Both were growing rather exhausted and knew if they kept pushing, someone was going to go too far and lash back. Given the hand they'd been dealt, that was the last thing either wanted.

"Naruto is human, his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents, but the power he carries inside of him isn't. It's monstrous, demonic, a force that can easily lay waste to mountains and cities." He finally said.

"And I'm assuming this power inside of him is coveted by many?"

"You have no idea."

Inwardly, the Servant groaned. It seemed her predicament was going to continuously evolve in a way she couldn't control. "I don't suppose you're willing to give me specifics, are you?"

Standing up, the sage crossed his arms and shot her a cocky smile. "As much as I'd love to do that, I'm afraid you're asking a bit much of since we still barely know each other. It's sad because it's been almost a full month since we met."

"I could say the same for you."

"Pretty ironic since Naruto's done everything he could to learn more about you. Again, just let the kid in. What's the worst that could happen?"

Too many things…too many things, you old fool. Thought the ancient queen. "That power inside of Naruto, does he know of it? How much of it can he control?"

"He's well aware of what's inside of him, but believe me, he's a long way from learning how to control the force inside of him." Jiraiya had almost completely disappeared back into the bushes and trees when he stopped and turned his head back to her. "What's inside of him, it's classified as a living disaster, so don't get any funny ideas about trying to use it for your own gain. Greater fools than you have tried, those of our home village included."

Leaving her alone in her circle of ingredients and artifacts, Semiramis mulled over the old master's words. As much as she wanted to dismiss them, she knew better than that. She'd seen the tendrils of crimson power that swirled around the boy that preceded bursts of superhuman strength no human in her world could muster on their own. Add that together with the foxlike whiskers on his face and the shape of his Command Seals and it all pointed to one direction. Far to the east, there were stories of foxes, who, after many years of training and battle gained multiple tails, nine being the highest. If this world is truly based on that of the far east then…

Dispersing her materials in clouds of smoke, Semiramis bit back a snarl. According to word of mouth on the Throne of Heroes, that damned fox had the potential to manifest as a Beast if given proper incentive. If something like that existed in her world and was sealed within her Master then life in this ninja world was about to become far more hectic.

Zelretch, you will pay for this. I swear it.

The next day it was a clear blue sky with a dazzling sun beating down overhead. Semiramis felt as if that was a bad omen.

"Do we really have to do this again? I mean come on, can't I stick to training with Semi-chan?" Moaned Naruto, shooting his teacher a near pleading look while Semiramis watched on.

"Quit whining, you can be the best swordsman in the world, but what good will any of that be if you get caught in the grasp of an enemy genjutsu-user?" Jiraiya shot back, pricking his finger and doing the hand signs required for the summoning jutsu. "Besides, one day you and Gamariki may need to fight side by side so it's best to get the bad blood cleared up now."

"Aren't there any other toads that I can train one? One less weird looking?" The blond asked, looking like he wanted to crawl under a rock and hide.

"Oh, for Anu's sake, enough!" Shouted the Assyrian woman with an angry knot forming on her head. "Naruto, be silent and prepare yourself! Sage! Summon this blasted toad so we may begin the day's training!"

Both men looked to her with mixed expressions. Naruto silently mouthed something to her while Jiraiya merely raised an eyebrow at her sudden outburst. Their talk last night had left a bigger mark on her than him.

"You're gonna wish you hadn't told him that." The Master of the dark-haired Assassin stated, swallowing a lump in his throat as his sensei slammed his palm down.

"Oh please, another disgusting toad, what's the worst that…could…" Semiramis thought she was ready for when the smoke cleared. She was fully expecting it to be another toad, and she wasn't exactly wrong, in fact, she was right on the money. She simply misguided what kind of toad it was going to be. "What…is…that…thing?"

The light-green-skinned beast immediately swung its purple eyes at her, a sharp glare that didn't faze Semiramis so much as its appearance. "This thing was right in the middle of having lunch with a few of its associates before it was so rudely dragged away. Now then, what's your excuse, reptile?"

Semiramis felt the urge to summon one of her chains and split the summoned creature from head to toe, one part for its words and secondly to dispel the horrid image its summoning had seared into her brain.

"Told ya' you weren't going to like it." Naruto said, throwing his hands behind his back. "Don't say I didn't warn you, Semi-chan."

The newly summoned beast shot Naruto a look of pure annoyance before directing its attention towards him. Faster than Semiramis thought possible, the mouth of the beast opened and out came a tongue, all pink and slimy. It impacted Naruto in the cheek like a slingshot and sent him tumbling to the ground.

"Ah! Gross! Gross! Gross! I told you not to do that, you weird toad!" Screamed the genin, now rolling along the ground. It wasn't that the tongue lashing had hurt so much as who it was delivered by. That alone was enough to make him start rubbing dirt into his face in full view of the two males and his Servant.

Never in her life had Semiramis seen such a pathetic display, and she so dearly wished she could take back what she saw. In the back of her mind, she prayed for some stray bolt of lightning to strike her down despite the fact there was not a cloud in the sky. That, or a block of stone to spontaneously fall and crack her skull open with a luck shot.

"That's what you get for mocking me, I thought you would have learned your lesson the last time, you little jerk." Spoke the toad in what Semiramis knew was a male voice despite its…feminine-looking appearance. "On top of bad manners, you've gone and decided to associate with the worst kind of company. Honestly, of all the apprentices Jiraiya-honey could have chosen, it had to be you."

Semiramis' eye twitched so much she didn't realize she'd just been insulted. Naruto, on the other hand, heard the toad loud and clear. "What do you mean 'worst kind of company'?" He said, looking at Gamariki with narrowed eyes.

Without saying a word, the toad directed her gaze and by extension Naruto's to Semiramis. The blond was not amused. "Hey! Don't go insulting her like that! You just met her!"

"Naruto," Jiraiya warned.

"Look at her eyes, that's all I need to know about her." Gamariki scowled.

The young Leaf ninja prepared to open his mouth to counter-speak, but Semiramis beat him there. He caught her gaze in a moment of stray wondering. The shock and annoyance had faded, leaving something resembling acceptance. She told him not to get worked up, that she wasn't worth fighting over. Naruto looked at her wanting to protest, but in the end he gave up realizing it was one fight he wasn't going to win.

"Gama…riki, was it?" The Assyrian began slowly. "Can you begin the training now? I can promise you no interference on my end."

The frog-like toad didn't look to her, he looked to Jiraiya for confirmation. With his nod of approval, he let agreed to finally get the day's work under way.

It quickly became obvious to Semiramis like everything in this world, Gamariki was more than his outward looks. Jiraiya had explained the mechanics of genjutsu earlier in the morning and a couple of weeks before, but this was the first time Semiramis actually got to see it in action.

And immediately wished she hadn't.

Watching the toad approach Naruto then kiss him was perhaps the single most disgusting thing Semiramis had ever seen in her life, and that accounting for her second husband. Naruto, who'd already experience this hell once, immediately tensed upon seeing Gamariki come for him. Semiramis could understand his anxiety - it was like learning how to dodge an attack and block an attack. The former was far more preferable to some people, especially when they knew blocking was going to hurt.

"What…exactly does that do?" Semiramis asked as pink mist began to envelope her Master. Through her magical senses, she felt Naruto's chakra pathway and spiritual energy become mired in disarray.

"Make Naruto see some things he'd rather not see. Curious about trying it for yourself?" The glare the Assyrian Servant shot the Toad Sage would have cowed lesser men, but Jiraiya unfortunately was not a lesser man. An idiotic and perverted man, but weak-willed he was not. "Compared to what Naruto's going to be going up against in the future this is basic, kiddy stuff almost, no offense Gamariki."

The ancient queen shivered when the green-skinned toad turned back and winked at the white-haired man. She didn't know which was worse, the fact this beast might have been attracted to the pervert or the pervert had seemingly grown to accept it. Perhaps both.

Choosing to focus on Naruto, she synchronized his energy with hers via his Command Seal. What she felt made her stomach churn in total disgust.

"Naruto! Focus! If all you're gonna do is squirm and gag then you might as well be fish about to be gutted!" Shouted Jiraiya to his student who was making various hacking and gagging sounds.

"If you end up blasting me into a river or a tree again, you'll receive worse than a tongue lashing!" Boomed Gamariki, looking positively cross.

What does he mean by again? Thought the Servant, suddenly feeling an intense buildup of energy. "Toad,"

"Oh no."

Jiraiya acted swiftly in getting Gamariki out of the way as Naruto forcibly dispelled the genjutsu. From every portion of his body, blue chakra exploded outwards like heat from a furnace. With it came a gale-like blast of wind that rifled Semiramis' hair. Her Master was sweating bullets, looking absolutely horrified at what he'd seen.

"Had a glimpse of Irkalla, did you?" The woman drily spat, placing a hand on her hip.

"Irk-what? Sounds like a bad salad." Was Naruto's response, causing her to roll her eyes.

"How much chakra did you just use up?"

"Beats me, I just did what I did last time,"

"Yes, and almost hit me." Sniped Gamariki, crossing his arms and giving Naruto a pointed glare. "Honestly, do you even know the meaning of control? You're like a dam always bursting and surging from one place to the next. No, you're a flood! Completely eradicating everything in your path be they friend or foe!"

The jinchūriki and Servant looked on dismay as the toad continued to wave its arms about while droning on and on about Naruto's complete lack of grace or tact. While Semiramis agreed with almost every word said, she wished they were being delivered by someone a little more…acceptable looking.

I can't believe I'm going to have to do this! Again! Mentally tearing at her hair, the Servant summoned one of her dove familiars. From the sky it came and landed on Naruto's shoulder. "I have an idea that might speed this along. Cast the genjutsu again, but this time I'll be there to guide him."

Gamariki shot the slit-eyed woman a dirty look. "I thought you said you weren't going to interfere?"

"I wasn't, but after seeing how truly incompetent my Master is, I made decided to change my decision."

"Hey! I'm standing right here!"

"And thus proving my point about how incompetent you are." She fired back, never once breaking her glare with the toad. "You wish to avoid being blasted by this child's chakra, and Jiraiya, you want this boy to learn how to dispel illusions. If we maintain this current course that task will be done, but Naruto will be so exhausted it won't matter as he'll be helpless to enemies seeking to capture or kill him. Not to mention the time it takes for him to dispel the genjutsu must be cut down lest he fall before he can do so. Is that what either of you want?"

The toad and sage exchanged a look between each other. Gamariki still didn't look happy while Jiraiya was beginning to smile.

"See, I told you this woman was going to be a good addition to the team." The human male said.

The toad, though, was far less willing to issue out praise. "She's still a scaled one, and we both know how that ends. However, she raises a decent point, Naruto, go into the forest, rather than put my beautiful lips against your hideous face I'm going to try something different."

"Couldn't we have just 'tried something different' from the start? And what do you mean my hideous face? Like you're one to talk about hideous!"

"Naruto!" Barked both the queen and sage quieting the boy who did as instructed.

The new set up was established with Naruto deep in the forest, Semiramis' dove still perched atop his shoulder. Where the forest ended and clearing began sat Gamariki making a serious of hand signs while Jiraiya and Semiramis stood guard behind him.

"Water Style-Misty Delusion!"

There was a quick inhalation then came the fog-blanket form the pink-colored lips of the toad. It spread out and fanned into the forest like a curtain being pulled across the landscape. In seconds the entire tree-line and everything beyond it was covered by a thick blanket of white mist.

"I wasn't intending on using this on Naruto so early, the illusions created by this mist are a bit stronger than the Genjutsu Kiss." Admitted Jiraiya.

"You can't cuddle the boy, if he's going to be pursued by those who desire the power inside of him you must teach him to run, not walk." Countered the Servant, crossing her arms and closing her eyes. Naruto.

It wasn't hard to find him, in fact, it took the sum total of eight seconds for her mind to lock onto his.

His mind was a brimming maelstrom of chaos and madness, growing stronger by the second. From her familiar his feelings flowed into her, giving Semiramis her first true sense of whiplash as the sledgehammer called terror slammed into her hard.

Naruto! Naruto! Naruto! NARUTO!

Strengthening the connection, she saw what he saw - loss and death happening all around him.

Friends and compatriots cried out in alarm as they vanished one by one into the swirling mists. Their death cries echoing across the strange white world she now found herself in. Naruto was in a mad panic, rushing from one place to another attempting to save them. Semiramis saw their faces for the first time - his friends.

Shikamaru, Ino, Kiba, Akamaru, Shino, Tenten, Lee, Neji, Tenten, Chōji, Kakashi, and Iruka…

She saw two adult women whose figures were hard to make out, Naruto screamed their names, Tsunade and Shizune, mere seconds before an invisible force took them by the waist and dragged them into the mist causing Naruto to give chase. Semiramis attempted to reach out to stop him but Naruto barreled right past her projected form.

Gods, does this boy know how to be patient or sit and listen!? She thought now following him, her footsteps sending ripples along the water-like ground she was standing upon. What was already a strenuous task became harder as she saw two more figures appear in the far off distance, two girls with short hair.

Sakura…Hinata…

The two vanished in violent seizures that made a jolt run up Semiramis' spine. Cursing herself, she realized her mental link with Naruto was beginning to work against her. She could break the genjutsu herself but doing so would more than likely have negative feedback on Naruto which she couldn't risk. Gnashing her teeth, she increased her pace slowly bringing Naruto into arms' length. She was sure this would be it then she saw the final illusion, this being the only one she could clearly make out.

Around Naruto's age, he stood maybe a centimeter or two taller than him. Contrasting to her Masters' spiky blond hair, his was black as night with a few blue tints. His eyes were dark as well, not just physically but spiritually as well. Something within Semiramis ached, a transmitted feeling from her Master.

It was heartache.

Behind the newly formed teenager, a shadow rose - a giant serpent with eyes brighter than Semiramis', but hundred times more wicked. The beast released a sound which reminded her too much of laughter before lunging at the black-haired boy who quietly shut his eyes in quiet acceptance of his fate.

Naruto all but sprinted to stop it. Semiramis in turn sprinted towards him.

At last her hand caught his wrist, once she felt her skin touch his she pulled.

"NARUTO!"

Her voice carried like thunder. The blond stopped dead in his tracks and slowly turned around to face her. His eyes were wide and frantic, gone was the usual cheerfulness and bravado leaving only a trembling fear.

Acting purely on instinct, she cupped his face with one hand. "Focus on me….focus on me…on ME…"

She kept her hand on his face until his breathing began to subside, and even then she didn't let go. Around them the mist continued to swirl while beneath their feet the water slowly began to cool turning into ice. The ice cracked until the pair were standing on nothing more than a collection of spider-webs.

The cracks gave away, leaving them both to fall into the abyss.

Jiraiya was surprised when one of Naruto's Kitsune-ken jetted out of the mist-filled forest. Gamariki shrieked and jumped as the blade missed him by barely a foot before impaling itself the ground with a loud thud. Both toad and human looked at the weapon in awe while Semiramis at last opened her eyes. Neither of them noticed the almost melancholy look in her eyes or the aura of still-like calm that had enveloped her. She listened closely to the sound of footsteps that drew closer and closer until out of the tree line came her Master.

Naruto's cheeks were caked with sweat from his delusional nightmare and the resulting effort to break the genjutsu. In spite of that, he looked at them all and smiled. "Heh, no big explosion of chakra this time, huh?"

"No, but you did give me a heart attack. If I didn't know any better, I would swear you were aiming for me. Then again," His eyes wandered over to Semiramis who simply snorted at the toad's glare.

This time Naruto wasn't having it.

"It's because of her I was able to break out of that stupid genjutsu. I owe her." The way he looked at her, the way he smiled at her, Semiramis again felt a strange pull in her gut. It had been…centuries since she'd felt this feeling. So much time had passed she'd almost forgotten what it felt like to have someone smile at her and praise her.

"D-Don't look so cocky, it took you almost four minutes to dispel the genjutsu. That's still sloppy."

"Yep, she's a queen alright." Chuckled the sage. "Naruto, Semiramis, do you think you're up for a repeat?"

The Master-Servant pair exchanged a look between each other. Neither saw anything resembling unease or worry in the other's eyes. Still perched on Naruto's left shoulder, the dove squawked.

"Alright then, Gamariki."

Once more, Naruto tensed up as the makeup wearing toad advanced upon him, but this time he shot a quick glance in Semiramis' direction. Her golden eyes put him at easy as did the flapping of the dove's wings. Those two things in mind, he breathed in through his nose then out seconds before the giant toad's lips make contact with his skin…again.

The ancient queen had devoured her dinner with silent efficiency before moving off to her section of the forest when night finally fell and Naruto's training came to an end. Like with his blade training, Naruto seemed to be able to force Semiramis to work even when she didn't want to. She's synchronized with him as many as twenty times helping him break one genjutsu spell after another until she was sure an invisible chain now bound them together. She'd heard talk of how some Masters learned how to bind their Servants' mental state to their own in case they ever fell over some type of mental interference or delusion, apparently such a connection took long weeks and communication of the highest level.

She and Naruto had just done that in an entire afternoon.

Somewhere deep inside, Semiramis felt pride at that achievement. Dare she even say it, she was beginning to feel Naruto was truly worth more to her than she originally thought. He was easy for her to sync with, oddly enough that kind of compatibility only came with two beings who were alike in either mind or origin. What kind of compatibility did she share with that yellow-topped mass of excitement and energy. He was good and she was not.

She couldn't be good, how could a good person be sitting where she was, cooking up delusionary potions and spices meant to turn her Master into a faithful and obedient puppet?

Semiramis had watched and observed Gamariki's genjutsu even though the sight and smell of it made her want to carve off her nose and ignite her stomach juices. If she could help it never again would she get that close to that…thing that dared call itself an animal. It amazed her how a mere pervert like Jiraiya could even stand to be near such a creature. Then again…

No, the less time she devoted to thinking of the relationship between that colored up abomination and that poor excuse of a sage the better. She had bigger things to think about, namely her freedom.

If there was one thing this day's training session had done, it was give Semiramis a deeper look into the identity of her Master. Those names, those faces she could make out. As she sorted through her various poisons and ingredients, she thought back to them attempting to place them link them all up with the emotions Naruto felt for each of them.

Of them all these Sakura, Kakashi, Iruka, Hinata, and Sasuke were the strongest.

Sasuke, she wrinkled her nose at the name. Sasuke Sarutobi, the legendary ninja, how poetic. What felt she from Naruto when his illusionary form appeared, it was pain, the deepest kind of pain imaginable. Whoever he was, he must have meant a great deal to Naruto which meant she could use his vintage to aid her in manipulating him.

Still, she remembered the look when the false-formed boy faced her. Cold, dead.

Those illusions were created from Naruto's memories, if he remembers this Sasuke then…no, forget, focus on the task at hand. All I need are their faces and nothing more. His mind can do the rest.

Around her lay a small array of bottles, containers, magically created stoves, and beakers. Far away, almost a quarter of a mile from where Naruto and Jiraiya were camped out at, she'd created a small lab to cook up the first steps to the means of her freedom. For good measure, she'd thrown up a Bounded Field that would at least keep Naruto out. She had no idea with Jiraiya so she'd appointed her dove familiars to keep watch for him. They sounded the alarm she'd drop everything and deny everything.

Multi-colored liquids floated about around her while she poured various fluids and poisons into glass beakers then mixed them together. All around her rose a strange and somewhat enticing smell. As the saying went, "pretty poison", as much as Semiramis hated it she felt it truly described her. Naruto had been swayed by her beauty and in the end that was going to be his undoing like so many others.

The plan was simple, tomorrow she'd have her first outing of genjutsu. Into the poisonous mist Naruto would wonder and take his first step into the abyss. Within him the poison would linger, slowly altering his mind until after several more dosages he was her unwittingly slave. How long she'd let the masquerade go was still up in the air, but at least one of her problems would be solved. To speed up the process she'd inject a small dosage of her drug into his system as he slept. If luck held out, she'd have the whiskered blond under her thumb in a few in two weeks or less.

Semiramis could almost taste freedom, and it tasted oh so sweet.

It was when the waning moon had climbed to its highest point in the sky, just a little past midnight that Semiramis made her move. Her newly concocted vial of poison held tightly in hand, she moved through the forested area to the campsite of her Master and his master. Both were sleeping away, their loud snoring being enough to be heard when she was almost ten feet out. How the pair had managed to avoid getting eaten by wildlife was beyond her.

Her Presence Concealment worked like a charm in masking her footsteps and breathing until she was hanging directly above Naruto. His arms were spread out and his mouth hung up with a little bit of drool coming down his left lip. Screwing up her face, Semiramis took out the vial and willed the bright-blue liquid out.

So close, so close…

But then fate intervened again.

Semiramis tensed from head to toe as if some invisible force had just caught her in a death grip. She was trapped, defenseless. Panic sprouted quickly before she violently regained control and forced herself to remain calm. Wide-eyed yet tight-lipped, she searched for the source of this feeling. Peering down south she found it, and once again, the mystery that was Naruto Uzumaki presented itself to her.

Visible through his shirt was an outline, a sigil, a seal. A swirl surrounded by six jagged lines, all glowing crimson red. Semiramis recognized the color, it was the same as Naruto's eyes when he summoned that mysterious power. It was pulsating, cooking the air with raw power.

Semiramis zeroed in on the seal and saw something, an outline, a shape.

Crimson-silted eyes and a row full of teeth, teeth larger than her body and an unmistakable level of demonic mana that dwarfed her own and outclassed anything she'd known in her life. This power, this malice, it reminded her of the spawns of Tiamat, her vengeful children who longed to lay waste to all that the goddess spurned. In other words, the entire modern world.

The face of the beast froze her in place preventing her from further bending the liquid, which also froze in mid-air. Any silent motion now and Semiramis knew it would be game over.

You think you're so clever, don't you, princess? Well, sorry, but this boy's already TAKEN.

A thousand spear-tips grinding against a thousand shields, all with thunder rolling in the background. That's what the voice reminded Semiramis of. Normally she wasn't one for fear, but what she sensed behind that crimson curtain made her heart skip a beat.

And then she heard Naruto, "Semi…Semi…Semiramis?"

Silently screaming, the Servant watched in cold fear as Naruto's blue eyes fluttered open. Crimson veins dancing in his eyelids. Slowly but surely, they focused on the only thing they could - her.

SHIT!

Quite a predicament Semiramis is now courtesy of our favorite giant fox, huh?