Disclaimer: See chapter 01

Chapter 13: Adjustments pt8, A Meeting, And A Solution to Another Problem

Lily stared at the four-armed insectoid before her, then looked back to Naruto standing behind her. Her first day of training as a Knight for the young man, and he gave this as an opponent? A giant freaking beetle?!

"You have got to be kidding me."

"Cocytus is really quite good," Naruto assured the white-dressed knight. "Tier-chan and Aayla regularly make use of him as a sparring partner. So do I for that matter. His help has been invaluable in learning my bladework."

"He's got three swords and a pike!"

"Halberd, actually."

"It doesn't matter what kind of polearm it is!"

"He's got four arms, Lily," Naruto pointed out evenly. "Of course he's going to maximize the number of weapons he uses."

"Single weapon? Sure, faced those by the hundred. Dual-wield? Not nearly as common, but I've faced my fair share." Lily admitted, her voice a note shy of hysterical, "But four arms on one person is outside my experience!"

"Think of it like a battlefield," Naruto said helpfully. "Each weapon belongs to another enemy, and they each rotate out or combine with another from similar angles."

Lily stopped freaking out and considered his idea. "That could work," she mused.

Honestly she wasn't really freaked out by the situation, it was just fun to act that way. And she wanted to see how Naruto would try to calm her down, partly as revenge for being so blasé about not only already having the sheath they were supposed to look for, but also the visit from the two arguably most powerful archangels. She liked surprises sometimes, but that was a little much for her first day on the job! So to pay him back she'd make him work at keeping her "calm".

It had taken her three days to fully get used to her new body, which was both lighter and stronger than her original. During those three days she had visited the library in the mansion to begin looking for information on the eight pieces of the broken Excalibur, did a meet-and-greet with her new peerage members, was introduced to the maids, had a few talks with Naruto about their respective pasts, and was allowed outside far enough to visit Titania's charger, Van. Oh, Lily just loved that horse! He was white, beautiful, powerful, and a handsome member of his species. She had always liked horses, often going to the trouble of volunteering to help out in the stables even when she was king. Lily didn't know what it was about them that drew her, but she knew she liked taking care of them.

Lily was brought out of her thoughts rather harshly by a violent kick to her midsection. Looking up from the ground where she was bent double, she saw what she could only guess to be an annoyed or pissed off giant blue beetle.

It's not fair! He's got no face! How can I tell what he's thinking if I can't see any expressions?!

"Would you feel better if Aayla and I joined you?" Naruto asked.

"Marginally," Lily admitted. Honestly she wasn't quite certain what to think about this new life of hers, let alone her new contemporary in Aayla Secura. The blue skinned woman was an alien from yet another universe, which had thrown Lily for a bit of a loop at first. But the twi'lek woman's friendly personality won Lily over quickly, and her helpful advice on where to try looking for information on the Excalibur pieces only pushed the blonde further into liking her.

"Very well," the blonde man said as he retrieved his double-bladed sword. "Aayla, if you would? I believe we will be starting off with team tactics."

A strange snap-hiss came from the cylinders in Aayla's hands as two different coloured blades came into existence, one blue the other green. "Seems like a solid idea, Naruto. My earlier workout doesn't seem to have been sufficient, perhaps this will allow me to work up a true sweat."

Cocytus for his part looked completely unfazed by this series of events. Of course given his general amount of experience in combat there was little doubt he had faced such numbers and odds before... though he found himself glad that the lightsabers Aayla brought into the match possessed a lower output feature for sparring. Cocytus had a tough set of natural armour, but he'd seen her warp and otherwise destroy a perfectly good block of Umbral Steel. While only about half as durable as Orichalcum, Umbral Steel was nothing to scoff at, and as such the damage done to it by those tools of the jedi-turned-devil was rather astonishing.

Then five more bodies added themselves to the array against him, and Cocytus found himself wishing for sweat glands. Tier's Tiburon was powerful weapon, Titania's new poleaxe was bright and shining and ready to draw new blood, Pyrrha's Milo and Akuou were obviously ready for use, and Rias with her not-so-little kris actually looked a little frightening. Even Akitsu had stepped up in this weapons-only spar, a bow and quiver of arrows in hand. Apparently since she decided to dress like a miko, she felt the need to equip herself like the old stereotype for them as well. Not that anyone was complaining, at least she'd chosen something that fit her battle style of keeping her distance, and while she didn't necessarily need to have real arrows- she could just make them out of the ice she controlled –they would be better for her against another being of ice like Cocytus.

Though the Knight of Gressen was glad that of all his opponents, Lily was using an approximate physical copy of Gram rather than the sword itself. HE did not possess her or Aayla's ability to shrug off the touch of a Holy Sword. Gram could possibly still kill him if it scratched him, and he had no desire to try it to find out for certain.

"If it is team tactics you desire to learn, Naruto-sama," Tier said calmly, "I believe we should all get in on this."

Naruto thought about for a second, then shrugged. "Works for me. After all, I'm a shinobi, and if we aren't taking every advantage we can, we just aren't trying hard enough."

Eight on one? Oh, this was going to be interesting.

And fun, Cocytus could never forget fun. He lived for the thrill of a good fight.

"I believe that if you are going for Team Tactics, Master, then we should be of aid to Cocytus."

Naruto twitched as Albedo and Shalltear joined the fray. Well, this just got harder. Then Sebas stepped up, and their chances dropped to "None" because "Slim" just left town on a bullet train.

XxXxXxXx

"Alright, considering how many Pieces I've used, I felt it would be a good idea to touch base with each other, and see how we can get along outside of battle," Naruto said a few hours later in a large sitting room, after their unanimous beatdown at the hands of Cocytus, Albedo, Shalltear, and Sebas.

Eight on four, and the most we could do was make them work for their win. Not too surprising, I suppose, but damn that stings!

Tier, at her accustomed place behind him and to his right, asked, "In what way do you mean, Naruto-sama?"

Leaning forward and folding his hands in front of him, Naruto replied, "I mean that aside from knowing each other's battle strengths, we should get to know each other on a bit more of a personal level. We've managed thus far only because we were a fairly small group, now, however, we are eight strong. Our schedules are going to begin to conflict, and we are bound to begin seeing more of each other, sometimes in times where we would rather not. This is also for Lily's benefit as she can meet all of you at one time and ask questions."

"How do you suggest we start, my King?" Lily asked from another couch, one she shared with Aayla and young Rias.

"I mean to learn certain landmines, our likes and dislikes, and maybe a bit more," he explained. "Example: Naruto Asmodai, formerly Uzumaki Naruto. I like ramen, training, my peerage, and helping others. I have an extreme dislike for traitors, arrogant assholes, wilful stupidity, and perpetuated ignorance. I find myself beyond fortunate to have the attentions and affections of no less than three beautiful women, and hope that I can prove myself worthy of them in time."

"Excuse me, my King," Lily interrupted, "but did you just indicate that you have a harem of women?"

He pointed to Tier, "It was her idea apparently. Due to the old method used to change me into a devil my mind, the actual physical brain, was not properly prepared for the increased hormone levels, so she decided to take matters into her own hands and started the idea of a harem. Beyond that, I'm not really sure what was going through her head, but I learned long ago that arguing with a woman was damn near impossible."

Lily narrowed her eyes, this complicated things a little bit. "I see. Continue, please."

Naruto shrugged, "Nothing much more to tell, really. Or rather there is a great deal more, but it's all detail on what I've already said. The only thing left would be a dream, and I'm kinda still reworking that one, the last one no longer really possible. Though I suppose I still wish to have a large family." He took a glance around the room, "Who'd like to go next? Just a few basic facts is all that's needed."

Tier cleared her throat, "I will, Naruto-sama. Tier Harribel, Queen to our Master, formerly Tres Espada of Aizen Sosuke. I had no true likes before entering Naruto-sama's peerage, but have come to find myself in love with him and his ideals. Thanks to him I am no longer a Hollow woman, his emotions have filled my emptiness and sparked my own. I loathe cowardice and traitorous actions. My only dream is to follow Naruto-sama for the rest of my days, and to be of whatever use to him as I may."

What does she mean, 'Hollow Woman'? Lily wondered, not realizing the true importance of the statement. She wasn't given time to think about it, though, as the youngest in the room jumped up while waving a hand in the air wildly.

"OH! Oh! Me next! Rias Gremory, formerly the heir of the House of Gremory, one of the remaining 34 of the original 72 Pillars, now Bishop to Naruto-sama! I like anime, magic, Naruto-sama, and my friends! I don't like those who make fun of me! My dream is to make lots of friends and eventually fall in love!"

Lily blinked. "What's anime?"

Rias gasped theatrically, placing one hand over her heart. "You don't know what anime is?" She got a strange glint in her eyes, "That's it! Time for a Girl's Night! I'll be sure to introduce you to the awesome that is anime!"

Naruto smiled tolerantly. Rias sure had come a long way from the despondent and somewhat bored girl from when she joined his peerage. Granted that was partly his fault, his mental training had been partly passed on to her through the bishop piece now residing within her, but it was good to see her acting like a kid again.

"Okay...?" Lily wasn't really sure how to respond to that, but she liked the girl's enthusiasm.

"Ah... Akitsu, formerly Sekirei number Seven, now Bishop to Naruto-sama. I love our Master, and dislike anyone who would try to hurt him. I will gladly freeze anyone who makes the attempt into a living icicle. I am one of the three women to share his bed at night. My dream is to live with him and bear his children."

Lily shied away from the monotone, yet she found herself admiring the ice woman's dedication. Surely they would be able to come to an understanding, seeing as they served the same King. Then the final sentence echoed in the knight's mind.

"Wait, one of the three?!"

"Yes."

"You?!"

"Yes."

"Why?!"

"I am Naruto-sama's Sekirei. I live to love him."

"Ah, Lily?" Naruto interjected before anything else could be said, "It's a feature of her race. It is technically a form of parasitism, where they need love and affection from another person to continue living."

Lily blinked again, and got the feeling she'd be doing more of that. "Oh."

The blue skinned woman cleared her throat, "Ahem. My name is Aayla Secura, former Jedi Master turned Knight to our Master. I am of a race called the Twi'lek. I enjoy meditation, sword practice, hunting, reading, and occasionally cooking. I have also come to like serving under Master Naruto, as he always tends to end up in interesting situations and watching him get out of them is usually entertaining." Somewhere in another little pocket dimension as certain Lady laughed at finding another who enjoyed watching other people's misery. "I dislike traitors and those who refuse to try to better themselves. I am not one of the women sharing Master Naruto's bed. My dream? I suppose I want to see true peace achieved."

Again Lily found herself blinking. "Okay..." She didn't quite know how to deal with this woman who shared her position within this group. She seemed incredibly polite and self-controlled, despite the small smile on her lips there was almost no emotion in her statement. A strange woman indeed, and yet Lily found herself willing to trust her.

The red haired woman in armour stood up from her place beside Aayla and gave a crisp salute. "Titania, once of the Crimean Royal Guard I turned to the Greil Mercenaries due to personal reasons and am now, currently, the only Rook of our leader. I enjoy reading, learning new things, meeting new people and cultures, and training. I dislike bigotry, arrogance, and racism. I am also not one of the women sharing Master Naruto's bed. My dream is very simple: I want to meet as many new cultures as possible, and learn from them."

Lily shared a nod of recognition with Titania as the woman sat back down, one soldier to another. This was a woman she could understand. There was no double meaning to her words, she said exactly what she meant, and she was blunt without being rude or impolite. Yes, Lily felt she would easily be able to make a friend out of the red haired knight.

Lily's eyes drifted to the last woman of the group, sitting on the third couch on the other side of Aayla. A young lady that looked to about their lord's age in grey and gold armour stood up to properly introduce herself, hand outstretched.

"Pyrrha Nikos, formerly of Vale's Beacon Academy for Hunters and Huntresses, I am now currently the only Pawn of Naruto. I, too, enjoy reading, training, and meeting new people. I have fallen in love with our King, and am the second woman to share his bed. I dislike bigotry, racism, and those who would spread rumours for no reason and without proper information. My dream at the moment is to see where my love with Naruto will take me."

Lily shook the girl's hand, "second woman? I assume that the first is not in this room, then?"

Pyrrha chuckled, "Oh no, she's definitely in this room."

The blonde blinked, then it clicked. It was Tier's idea, therefore, logically, she would have been the first one in line. Lily felt like kicking herself for missing that detail.

Clearing her throat to help push down her embarrassment, Lily said," I suppose it's my turn. I am Artoria Lily Pendragon, former King of England, now Knight to our King. I like animals, especially horses. I, too, dislike traitors and arrogance. I am proud of my achievements as a human, but my dream is to find love, get married, and have a family."

Pyrrha stared, "Wait, Pendragon? King of England? You're King Arthur?!"

"I have no idea how they got my name wrong in history," Lily scowled.

"'History is written by the victors', Lily." Naruto quoted. "In this universe, in this timeline, it is fully possible that you were, in fact, a man by the name of Arthur. It is also possible that due to story of Mordred, all of the mentions of you being a woman were seen as typos, as 'everyone' knows that two women cannot make a child together. I suppose I could ask someone about it, pretty sure Demiurge or Sebas would know."

Pyrrha sat back down heavily, her mind blown. One of the most powerful and influential figures in history, and they turned out to not be a man as legend says, but a woman? Yeah, Pyrrha isn't coming back any time soon, so let's move on...

With the teenage redhead out of commission, Lily turned her attention back to her new King. "What now, my king?"

"Well, you might have noticed a general theme so far with your fellow peers," Naruto said humorously.

"You mean how, aside from young Rias and Akitsu, we all seem to be some sort of knight?"

"And me, Lily. I'm not a knight either."

"Then what are you?"

"Basically? I'm an assassin."

Lily's pale complexion drained of even that little bit of colour. "An assassin?! Like, sneak around and kill people without them knowing?"

Naruto shrugged, "that's certainly somewhere in the job description, I suppose."

"I'm following an assassin?!"

Naruto frowned, "Hey, it's not like I've taken a job since I gained my new position. And the few times I've killed someone while on the job they definitely saw it coming."

Lily blinked, her hyperventilation calming down. "You mean you never stabbed someone in the back? Slit their throat from behind? Anything like that?"

"Nope," he responded cheerfully.

"Then how are you an assassin?"

"I said 'basically', didn't I? I am a shinobi, a ninja," he explained dryly. "But since, like you all, I come from a very different world, the meaning of it is a little different than what others are used to. If I was to get right down to it, at the base I'd say we're more like mercenaries that can cover absolutely any field. Long range bombardment, close combat, mid range support, assassination, murder, protection, etcetera. It is simply that we started as individual clans in a warring time, and as such we tended to default to assassination since, on the whole, it's much neater and quieter."

"How can murder be considered neat?" The white knight asked in curiosity.

Naruto deadpanned at her, "because only the target dies, instead of everyone else that gets in the way on top of them."

She coloured a little, "Oh."

He smiled gently at her and Lily felt her heart skip a beat. "Lily, you must remember, just as we have no right to condemn your world, you do not have the right to condemn ours. The circumstances behind each of them makes us unique. If I could have brought peace to my world, I would have done so. However, due to the cycles of war, hatred, and revenge, we were locked into a course of self-destruction. My own home town was destroyed because a man went mad and declared that only when all of humanity was dead would they truly understand the idea of peace."

"The peace of the grave, perhaps," Aayla muttered quietly, but it was loud enough that everyone heard her.

Naruto nodded, "That was pretty much my reply when he told me. He didn't even try to deny it, instead he gloated, and we fought for a bit... Or rather, I should say I fought, and he played with me?"

"What do you mean, Naruto?" Pyrrha asked, finally snapping out of her... 'broken' state? Yeah, we'll go with that.

"I mean that I was about mid-chunin level at the time, and he was definitely above me." Naruto admitted without candour. "So I'd say it's safe to say that he was playing around."

"I'm sorry," Lily interrupted, "'mid-chunin'?"

"Ah, right. The shinobi ranks of my world went kinda like this: Academy Student, Genin, Chunin, Jonin, Anbu, Kage." He explained, "You could liken them to... um... good question. How would one liken those to the medieval knights? Anyone?"

"One could say it works like Squire, Footman, Mounted Cavalry, Knight, Knight-Errant, and King," Aayla supplied.(1)

Understanding flooded Lily's eyes, "So you weren't quite at the level of a knight, but you would have been part of the staple forces."

"Pretty much, yeah."

"I see. Please continue."

Naruto shrugged, "Not much more to tell. He was about to kill me when Melanie and her sister intervened, then a few moments later he fell over, like a puppet with it's strings cut. After that, a few other things happened, and I was brought here along with Yugao and Konan."

Lily gave a blank stare to her king, "You suck at storytelling."

He pouted, "I don't really, it's just that most of it is... weird, even for me."

"How so?" She asked curiously.

"Unintentional drugging, the fact that I was fully human at the time, getting both Yugao and Konan pregnant because of said drugs, having my false right eye replaced with my mother's, becoming a devil through an ancient ritual that didn't format my brain correctly to deal with the new incredibly high hormone levels, and more besides."

"Wait, back that up, you were human?"

It was Naruto's turn to blink, "Yeah, didn't I mention that in the past few days?" Lily shook her head. "Huh, I usually lead with that somewhere in my opening speeches. Oh well, yes, I used to be fully human. Is that a problem?"

"Well, no, but I thought you were born this way," Lily admitted.

"You mean a devil? Nah, technically I'm a half-devil, half-human, with my human blood suppressed into near dormancy," Naruto said. "At most I think I get some passive talents from my mother's human blood, the rest of me comes from my devil father's blood which replaced that of my human father."

"Oh." Well, that was certain forthright of him to say.

"Though, my devil father has played the biggest prank, or outright lie if you want to quibble about it," He said with a grin. "Damn near every devil thinks I'm his illegitimate son with some human woman. Only those in this house, or who knew him better, are aware of the truth. And I'm in no hurry to spill the beans."

"Why do I get the feeling that you're a prankster, my king?"

Naruto waved a finger, "Tut, tut, my dear Lily. I am not a prankster, I am the Prank Master!"

She just deadpanned at him. Of course he was. Why would her new master be anything less than a master of pranks on top of being an assassin by profession?

He grinned, "Think about it this way, Lily. If, as a child, I could get even a Kage with my pranks, could I not then get even a Kage with my blade? What is a prank but a non-lethal trap?"

Lily blinked again, "I hadn't thought of that."

Naruto's grin turned wry, "Even among the shinobi, few did."

That statement caused everyone else to understand the level of their master's cunning. If even in a village of trained killers his pranks, his potential murders, went unseen as anything but something to laugh at... it was a terrifying thought.

"However," Naruto continued, "even though the job description entails silent killing, I was more of a trap-specialist and assault-type. In other words, I'm front-line and support/capture."

Lily's eyebrows shot up along with a number of others, Akitsu and Tier the only ones who didn't react. "An assassin on the front lines?"

"I told you, we were better described as mercenaries." He said with a grin.

"Apparently," she muttered.

"Hm?" Lily suddenly thought of something she really wanted to know. "My king, will you answer me this...?"

XxXxXxXx

Several minutes later Naruto and his peerage stood in front of the Mirror of Remote Viewing, Kurama off to one side taking a nap. Looking down into the eyes of Lily, Naruto asked, "Are you certain, Lily? Do you truly want to know?"

She nodded firmly, her action echoed by the rest of the peerage. Naruto sighed, closing his eyes as he turned back to the mirror. His eyes opened a moment later.

"So be it, I promised to keep nothing from my peerage as I would need their trust and loyalty," the blonde said as he reached out to the mirror to set it looking in at a particular world. "If that same peerage wishes to know, then they may gaze upon it, the world I came from!"

The mirror lit up at the declaration, and the images within cemented upon a bright and beautiful world. But its beauty was torn asunder by enormous scars that littered the land, great craters and massive trenches carved into the very earth as though a god was having a tantrum. Naruto's peerage seemed both awed and dismayed at the destruction of what was otherwise a gorgeous world. Kurama opened one eye and took a look at the state of their former world, and snorted at the stupidity of it all before closing his eye again.

"What happened to it?" Lily asked in dismay.

Naruto shrugged, "My bet would be on a bunch of humans throwing a tantrum when they found out their plans weren't going to work."

"This is your world?" Aayla asked in disbelief. How could such a kind and hopeful man have come from such a wasteland?

"It wasn't always like this," Kurama said quietly, opening his eyes again, pain hidden within the depths of his crimson gaze. "There were times of peace and prosperity, the most notable during my creator's time. The time of Ninshu, before it was corrupted into Ninjutsu."

"Corrupted?" Rias asked.

"Yeah," Naruto replied. "According to Kurama, ninshu, the origin of ninjutsu, was meant as way for people to come together in understanding for peace. With the passing of the Rikudo Sennin, the creator of both Ninshu and the Bijuu, it wasn't long before someone discovered that using chakra was effective for murder, and thus was born ninjutsu."

"That's horrible," Pyrrha said, hands held to her lips in distress. "Is there even anyone left alive?"

Naruto's brow furrowed, "I don't know. Let's see..."

His other hand rose to touch the mirror and he focused his mind. The image of the world blurred, shortly refocusing on a mountain castle, manned and protected by what appeared to be both samurai and shinobi. Naruto's eye twitched in tandem with Kurama's as they both managed to catch glimpses of multiple village headbands.

"Seriously?" Naruto demanded of no one in particular. "It seriously took the ending of their very way of life for everyone to band together?! I'm starting to regret that Konan killed that guy!"

"You and me both, Brat," Kurama growled, his hackles rising.

Naruto blinked as something occurred to him. "Wait, why is there only one window? I was searching for all signs of human life..."

Kurama understood at the same instant that Rias and the others did. "That's because, for whatever reason, this is the last bastion of human life left in that world. Not even seven months and they've almost completely destroyed themselves. Wonder what did it?"

"Hey, Kurama, doesn't that castle look kinda familiar?"

"Hm... it looks like that one you saw from a distance in Oni no Kuni, the one with that priestess who could supposedly see people's deaths."

Zooming in on the image, Naruto saw a few familiar faces as well. "Gaara and Temari, but no Kankurou... I see Koyuki-hime? Isn't she the Daimyo of Haru no Kuni? What the heck?... Hey, those are Kiri headbands! I thought that was one of the first places Pain hit? Must'a missed a few... Oh shit."

Kurama took note of Naruto's now pale face, followed his gaze, and started laughing. "Oh man! Who'd-a thought that Nadeshiko chick would survive with a good portion of her village?!"

Lily and the others looked confused, "Is there a problem? Is she some kind of enemy?"

Kurama's laughter slowed to a chortle as he replied, "Not really. She was after the Brat because their mentors promised to have their students fight to determine a winner. Naruto won, but Nadeshiko village had this interesting little law about a female losing to a male..."

"If she loses, she must bring him back home and make him her husband," Naruto filled in hollowly.

"Look on the bright side, kid, no village means no law." Kurama said optimistically.

Naruto gave the fox a deadpan stare, "take a good look at her and tell me she doesn't look like she'd keep to it anyway."

"Hm, don't even have to look. She'd definitely keep to it."

"Exactly, whether out of duty, obligation, or just to keep part of her village alive." Naruto grimaced.

Kurama eyed the young devil, then sighed heavily. "Yet you're thinking of trying to save them even now."

Naruto smiled wryly and didn't bother to say anything. His posture proved Kurama correct, and no one in the room would deny it.

"Um I have an idea, Naruto," Pyrrha said. "You keep going on about something called Rejection, but doesn't the Underworld accept all existences?"

Naruto smiled, "indeed it does. Even better, despite the power of chakra, they're human, and humans are welcomed in damn near all variations of the universe. Albedo!"

The door opened a small bit and Albedo stepped through with a small bow, "You called, Master?"

"Get whoever you need and prepare a large reception circle! I'm going collecting."

"As you wish, Lord Asmodai."

XxXxXxXx

Gaara stood on a balcony overlooking the remnants of life of his world. He was one of the two most powerful shinobi left alive, Terumi Mei, the Godaime Mizukage, being the other. He still barely believed the damage that had been done to his race, even he had died at one point, but through the self-sacrifice of Elder Chiyo of his own Sunagakure he was returned to life.

The sound of soft footsteps reached his ears as another person joined him. He didn't look at them, he didn't have to. He knew who it was already.

"Shion-san," he greeted the Priestess and nominal ruler of Oni no Kuni, or at least what was left of it. "Are you sure this is really the best place to be? The hordes of Zetsu may very well get through the barriers soon."

"Yes," Shion replied softly, her eyes never leaving the skyline. "This location is our only hope. It is here that I have seen a powerful figure arrive to save us, though we will be forced to make a choice."

Gaara finally turned to look at her. Her profile was beautiful he supposed, but he didn't really have much appreciation for physical attributes, though she certain had some good ones. Long platinum blonde hair was set loose in the breeze, her figure otherwise shrouded in the robes of her office, and the crown of High Priestess upon her brow. Her skin was porcelain white, her eyes a pale lavender, and her features angular, but not overly so.

"What choice?"

"Will we abandon this world, or stay? It is something each of us will have to decide for ourselves."

Gaara returned his gaze to the courtyard where the tents housing most of the remaining population of the Elemental Countries were. He could see the despair and hopelessness. It practically wafted off the men, women, and even the few children down there.

"Can't imagine too many would choose to remain."

"I imagine that there are some who would not wish to leave the only world they knew," Shion countered.

"And those would be the ones we wouldn't want with us," another woman said as she joined them at the railing.

"Mizukage-dono," Gaara acknowledged the newcomer. A beautiful woman in her own right, curves many women would kill for, long auburn hair held in a herring bone style, a blue combat dress that left just enough to the imagination that it caused most men to drool on sight, and a hint of playfulness in her jade green eyes, Terumi Mei was what every kunoichi aspired to be: lovely and deadly.

"I suppose you are correct on that, Mei-san." Shion admitted. "Yet I am loathe to lose so much as a single person of those gathered here, for we are all that remain of our people."

Mei sighed, and shared a look with Gaara. "I understand, Shion-san, I really do, but if we must lose some, then there is no recourse. We cannot waste time and energy trying to save those who do not wish to be saved."

"Agreed," Gaara said. "However, I truly wonder if this help you prophesied will actually come. Not that I doubt your ability, Shion-san, but as a shinobi I do no believe in a predestined future anymore. Not since one man took it upon himself to teach me that I could change it. Even if said man is now dead..."

"You might be surprised, Gaara!"

It was a voice that he hadn't heard in years, and he never expected to hear it again after the fall of Konoha. Gaara whirled around, and there, standing not fifteen feet away from him, was an oddly-dressed Uzumaki Naruto... maybe. The hair was right, the general height and muscle build, too, but the eyes... the eyes were wrong. Naruto had pure cerulean blue, not this silver-flecked ice staring at him.

Gaara frowned, "Who are you? You have the voice of a man I know, but the form is off. If you are a transformed enemy, you did a poor job on it."

The blonde in front of him laughed, a rich laugh that sent sent shivers up his spine. That laugh was right.

"I'll give you that much, my friend," the blonde said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "If I was a transformed enemy, whatever it is that's trying to kill you all, this would definitely be the wrong form to take. I mean, come on, the eyes are a dead give away, right?"

"Yes, they are."

The blonde shrugged, "Yeah, that's because I'm not Uzumaki Naruto anymore. I'm now Naruto Asmodai, head of the Asmodai devil family."

Gaara raised a curious eyebrow while Mei licked her lips, she liked what she saw. "Devil family?"

"Yeah, not demon, devil." The blonde teen grinned in a very familiar way, "Believe it or not, there's actually a difference."

"So you will claim to be my old friend, Uzumaki Naruto, adopted into a new family, and changed by them somehow to this new appearance?"

"Pretty much."

"Then I will be asking you a few questions to ascertain the truth."

"Fire away."

"Who were my teammates in our Chunin Exam?"

"Your sister Temari and brother Kankurou... by the way, what happened to him? I've been out of the loop for the last several months."

"Died to poison."

"That had to suck for him."

Gaara blinked, then shook his head. "No more questions needed, only Naruto could have that little tact."

"Gee, thanks." Indignant, thy name is Naruto.

"Are you certain, Gaara-san?" Mei asked doubtfully.

"Does it really matter?" Naruto asked quietly, "Whether I was Uzumaki Naruto or not, does it matter who or what I am now? I'm here with an offer to get you people out, to new lives where you'll have the opportunity to grow again."

"So long as we swear fealty to you, you mean." Mei said, just an inch shy of cynical.

Naruto shrugged, "Honestly, I don't care about that. This world was my home until the destruction of Konoha, and while it pains me to leave it behind I have new responsibilities I must attend to. This act of mine right here, right now, is my last effort to save something of it. Take my offer or not, I'll simply take those who agree to go."

Shion stepped forward, "Unfortunately there is are at least two others who lead our forces who must hear your offer before we can hope to give an answer."

"There is no need," an older man in samurai armour said as he came around the corner of the balcony with a young woman in tow. "We heard the offer, and Koyuki-sama has a question for this young man that can cement his identity."

"Yuki-hime," Naruto grinned. "It's been a while."

"If you are indeed Uzumaki Naruto, then yes, it has been," the woman replied evenly. Her short black hair contrasted her tanned skin well, her eyes were expressive and her lips were full and glossy. Her outfit was befitting a princess, yet utterly practical. Naruto wondered how she managed that one.

"So, what is the question?"

"It is not one I relish the answer to, but only a few could know the answer, and of those few the rest are dead." Koyuki said, her posture regal. "What was my reaction to your mission involving me?"

Naruto blinked, "Which one? The running away on the horse, the drunken stupor, or the world-class tantrum?"

The old man and Shion looked astonished at Koyuki as she blushed in embarrassment. Gaara... was Gaara, never changing his expression by so much as a hair. The former actress just hid her face in her voluminous sleeves while Mei giggled.

"Gotta be Naruto-kun, no one else could have put it so bluntly." She wailed from her sleeves.

"Indeed," Gaara agreed. It was the same thought he'd had earlier.

The old man stepped forward a half-pace and gave a short bow. "We have not been properly introduced."

Naruto returned the bow, causing Gaara to finally break his blank expression for shock. "Indeed we have not, but your reputation precedes you, Mifune-dono of Tetsu no Kuni. I am Naruto Asmodai, head of the Asmodai devil family, formerly Uzumaki Naruto of Konohagakure. It is an honour to make your acquaintance."

Koyuki peeked out from behind her sleeves, "He learned how to be polite?"

Naruto grimaced, "I had to. My new position puts me among the top-ranked figures of devil-kind. Had to be polite or I could land into more trouble than it was worth."

Gaara quirked an eyebrow, "didn't stop you when you were younger."

"I know," Naruto agreed with a grin. "And you have no idea how much I wish I could back to those times."

"I'm the Kazekage."

"Okay, then you might have an idea."

"And I am one of the five people responsible for these few hundred remaining human souls."

Naruto shrugged, "and I am now responsible for several thousand devils, plus nearly sixty-one million humans."(2)

They blinked and Mei asked, "Are you a Daimyo or something?"

"Yes, and no. I am one of the remaining thirty-four Pillars of the Underworld, my territory is just that damn large. My family used to be one of the Devil Kings, yes, but that title has become mostly ceremonial now, though I have put it to use with some of my dealings."

"How did you become the head of a devil house?" Gaara asked, intrigued. "Last I knew you were as human as I was."

"And so I was," Naruto shrugged. "But with the use of an ancient ritual half of my blood was changed out for that of my new devil parent... who passed on a few months back. If you want to get technical about it, I'm a half-devil with suppressed human blood."

"Something tells me you have to explain that a lot," Mei murmured.

"Eight times now," he agreed readily. "And I foresee another... possible seven."

"Why only another possible seven?" Koyuki asked.

"Because few people actually need to know, and eventually it just won't matter anymore." Gaara supplied, the shinobi in him easily seeing the answer.

Naruto nodded. "Now, I think you five have quite the question ahead of you: do you wish to leave this world and try anew in another, or will you remain? I have my people creating the transfer glyphs now, one-way, one-time use. They'll be large enough to accommodate everyone, but like I said: I'll only take those who wish to go."

"And what is a transfer glyph?" Mei asked.

"Think of it like a larger version of Namikaze Minato's Hiraishin, without the battle use." Naruto explained, "It will take us all from here to a prepared area on my family's grounds. Unfortunately I have something of a time limit, while the glyphs won't be ready for at least two hours due their size and complexity, I also cannot spend much more than three hours here. As I said, I have duties that require my attention."

Gaara nodded, "very well, we shall speak with the people and have those who agree gather. Where shall we go?"

Naruto smirked, "There's a nice hidden cavern behind the waterfall that can easily accommodate everyone here. My people and I are building this world's glyph in there."

Surprised, Shion asked, "how do you know about that cavern?"

"Because I arrived here half and hour ago, and like any good shinobi I did some recon."

XxXxXxXx

"You know, honestly I expected maybe a few dozen to take me up on the offer and for the rest to be stubborn about it." Naruto noted blandly to Gaara who stood beside him an hour later.

"A chance to get away from certain death? My friend, I think underestimate the human resolve to live." The redhead replied.

"Yeah... that's not like me, but neither is jumping ship like this."

"True enough, but it's jump ship or drown in virulent water."

"Given those options, it's not really so surprising," Naruto finally acknowledged. Gaara was gracious in his victory and simply went silent.

A few minutes passed by in silence as the two of them watched the entirety of the remaining peoples of the Elemental Nations entered the cavern. Each of the were being instructed to stand in the glowing golden circle on ground that lit up the space.

"I have a proposal for you and your sister," Naruto said quietly.

"You aren't my type."

"... I walked right into that one."

Gaara turned his gaze to the blonde. "Jokes aside, what is it?"

"I have need for representatives, both in the Underworld and in another human world. You and Temari would probably be well suited the to the positions."

"..." Gaara returned his attention to the refugees. "I will speak with Temari, but I make no guarantees."

"I wouldn't expect you to."

Another few minutes passed, then Gaara broke the silence. "You could have summoned a toad to prove your identity."

"Only you and Temari knew me with that ability."

"Ah." Gaara was quiet for a few more minutes as the refugees continued to pour into the cavern. "Terumi-dono will have more questions for you, and is quite the determined woman."

Naruto grimaced, "I figured. Her expressions remind me of one of my new servants on the other side."

"Dedicated?"

"Like Oonoki and his fence."

Gaara had the grace to wince. He read easily between those lines. A zealot would be less dedicated than the person Naruto was thinking of. The Kazekage was filled with sympathy for his friend. Then a thought struck him, and he glared at the blonde dryly.

"You intend for me to shoulder that burden, don't you?"

No reply was forthcoming, but the evil grin on Naruto's face spoke volumes. The expression was enough for Gaara to rethink accepting the offer to leave. He didn't know how, he didn't know why, but he shuddered at the thought that this could very well be the largest prank the blonde had ever pulled off.

Naruto slapped him on the back, "Don't worry so much, brother. Everything will be just fine."

Gaara was still weighing his options when he took his own place in the circle and everyone was transported to a new, uncertain future.

XxXxXxXx – Ending Notes

1- Okay, it doesn't quite equate like that, but it was the closest I could come to it. That's because there really isn't a proper way to compare the two lists.

2- The current population of Italy is about 60.8 Million. Italy is his original territory in the human world, so he's technically responsible for them.

Current Peerage (and Familiars)

Queen: Tier Harribel (Undine)

Bishops: Rias Gremory (Devil Bat/Magic Bat), Akitsu

Knight: Aayla Secura (Gryphon), Saber Lily

Rook: Titania (Celestial Charger)

Pawn: Pyrrha Nikos (Magic Wolf)

Now, I've had people ask me about what I was going to do about the Elemental Nations, and some have said that Naruto wasn't the type to just give up on his homeland like that. True enough, but that is CANON Naruto, not mine. So here is what I have imagined for the "Fate" of the Elemental Nations.

~Dreaming of the Phoenix