Chapter 2: Bonds and Contracts

After a week with speaking with Kurama and Kendra, Naruto is now living in Ryuchi Cave until he can become a Genin without being judged by his inner companions. And later earn the Chunin rank and gets his parents' inheritance. No matter what, the Civilian Council would not stop Naruto. Right now, he was staring at a little chicken egg that was being sat on by a black and orange toad. Gerotora, who was paralyzed by one of the Snake Summons to not move and escape to Mount Myoboku. His fate was sealed a few days ago when he answered the Monkey Summons message from Sarutobi.

Flashback

"Third Hokage, why have I been summoned when you could have called any other toad to send a message to Jiraiya?" asked Gerotora.

"Apologies, Gerotora. But we have an emergency. Naruto has made contact with the Biju and now knows of his lineage and his burden. We need to see the key to the seal in case there is a crack within the Kyuubi's seal." Explained Sarutobi.

"I doubt the boy is ready to handle exercising the Kyuubi's chakra. However, Jiraiya has instructed me that when he makes the boy his apprentice, he will summon me when he feels ready to handle the chakra and be a worthy summoner of the Toads." Gerotora replied skeptically.

The Third Hokage frowned at this as he had Anko and Naruto step out from the shadows with another woman who appeared to be a priestess. "Unfortunately, Jiraiya has not even attempted to meet Naruto, nor fulfill his duties as the boy's godfather. For that, Naruto has been hurt by the villagers for thinking he was the Kyuubi and he has gained help from another summons. Can you give the key to the seal to Tagori-sama(A:N I did say I would shorten the three snake attendants names from the 'Rise of Uzushio' story) so Naruto can get the help he needs?"

His plead was met with the cynic toad yelling in anger. "Never! The Toad Summons are the best summons to help the child of our previous summoner! No other summons is fit to help Naruto reach his full potential!"

"And how do you know what Naruto's full potential is?" Anko growled. Naruto was angry, but his eyes were covered by a blindfold to hide his unique dojutsu.

"He must be a prodigy like his father, Minato. Also the prophecy we gave to Jiraiya is centered on you being his apprentice to make big changes to our world." Gerotora quickly covered his mouth at revealing such sensitive information that Naruto was not ready for.

"Oh, you naughty, naughty Toad…" Tagori giggled under her sleeve to hide her growing snake fangs. "The gods decreed that all animal summons must not share significant revelations bestowed upon their leaders to their contracted summoners unless given express permission by the deities or the contractors have passed the 'trials'. Otherwise humans will get the stupid idea to try and bend prophecies to their own desired ends. Has your current summoner passed the trials, or has even Gamamaru been given permission to share such things? Kami or her siblings have not visited the realm for some time. Only the Shinigami appeared when the foolish mortal used the Reaper Death Seal, but not to share any prophecies."

"H-How do you know about that?" Gerotora shook and prepared to poof back to Mount Myoboku. But was stopped when Tagori's neck lengthened and she bit Gerotora, causing him to be paralyzed.

"Because I am one of the trial masters of Ryuchi Cave, foolish frog." Tagori's voice changed and her snake features began to show on her eyes, skin, and teeth. Gerotora's eyes widened with fear at soon he will be eaten by the Toads' hated rival.

"Wait, Tagorihime. I need him alive." Naruto commanded in parseltongue.

"Ah. But I haven't had toad meat for so long, and he just looks so tasty." Tagori licked her lips in hunger.

"Kendra-sama says that she needs this toad for her to be reborn. Just take the key seal from him and give him to me. I will bring him to Ryuchi Cave with me as you, your sisters, and the rest of the residents of the snake realm can witness the birth and creation of the mighty Basilisk. Without letting the pedo-sage finding out." Naruto informed Tagori. His answer calmed the snake priestess down as she looked forward to seeing the prophesized Snake Queen that Kami had shared with their White Snake Sage more than a hundred years ago. It was only for the Snake Summons in answer to their prayer of becoming a great summoning clan.

After rolling out Gerotora's scroll belly and copying it onto another scroll, Tagori had Naruto open his mouth wide and forced him to swallow the scroll down his throat. Anko chuckled and thought of using that technique on the prisoners by thinking they are forced fed an explosion tag or something that could go off unless they sung like a bird. The Third Hokage had to keep his distance from Anko's torture dream look.

Once Naruto had finished digesting the key, he and Tagori took Gerotora and reverse summoned themselves back to their home. Leaving the Hokage and the Snake Mistress to continue their work in Konoha village.

Flashback End

"How soon till she hatches?" a little snake asked as many of the snake summons gathered around The White Snake Sage's shrine.

"Patience, hatchling. The time is soon upon us." Said the White Snake Sage.

"Not soon enough. Why should we be seeing the birth of some half breed that is hatching from a chicken?" said Manda. Aggravated at no longer being considered the strongest of serpents now that a basilisk was about to be born.

"You watch your tongue, Manda! Although strange the birth of our next most powerful member, she is still one of us. You will be her strongest champion should the Toads try to come take back the boy. Still clinging onto that prophecy that was not meant to be shared yet." Refuted the Master of the Snake Summons. Manda calmed down and grinned at the coming rematch against Gamabunta and his ilk.

Suddenly, the sound of cracking was heard, and the cave went silent. No hisses could be heard from any of the snakes. Kendra's tiny head popped out of the tiny eggshell, having bluish-green colored scales and a crest of spikes atop her head like a crown of thorns. Her eyes were a bright yellow as they stared hungrily at the soon to be dead Gerotora.

Kendra soon began to grow at an accelerating rate, thanks to the nature chakra of Ryuchi Cave working symbiotically with her inner magic, until she was as big as a young ball python. Big enough to devour the toad headfirst and all. All the snakes shivered in fright and awe at her mighty gaze that blinked at her surroundings. Her death gaze being turned off since she's had nearly a thousand years in training to shut off her powerful eyes' abilities.

Naruto walked up to the newborn Kendra without fear and slowly petted her crowned head and ridges along her back while she continued to digest her first meal in this realm. "Happy Birthday, Kendra-chan!" Everyone hissed in agreement and reverence at their newborn queen.

The snakes held a celebration as a feast was prepared with lights and music playing to commemorate the birth of their new queen (A:N Think what Ryuchi Cave looked like during the Boruto episode when they first saw it, even though this one is no genjutsu). Manda had stuffed his mouth of a large boar(A:N hey a big snake like that needs more than human sacrifices to fill his belly), while other snakes had rice bowls of chicken, beef, and surprisingly spiders which were Kendra's favorite snacks(A:N most likely dreaming of eating that one grown up arachnid that was raised by the half-giant). They washed their food down with rice sake and water, thanks to the offerings from Manda's loose connection with Orochimaru in Rice Country, when not asking for sacrifices. The water was naturally clean thanks to their cave system that filtered out their surrounding wetlands.

After eating his fill, Naruto looked at Kendra in his lap as he caressed her smooth scales. Much to the reborn basilisk's delight. "So Kendra-chan, what now? Are you going to start training me with the snakes' help so I can be a strong ninja? Or am I going to practice with my cool new eye powers?" Naruto asked excitedly.

Kendra lazily raised her head to look at Naruto in the face as she pulls off his blindfold with her tail to look into his protected green filtered eyes. "Your training will soon come, my Little Storm. But first, you and I must have a stronger connection to access more of my gifts I will grant you. You must see my life as I've seen yours, so that our bond may be deeper and stronger. For that to occur, you and I must perform a familiar bond."

Naruto squinted his eyes in confusion at what Kendra had said. "What's a familiar bond?" he asked curiously.

Kendra gave a hissing chuckle at the child's eagerness to learn. "A familiar is any kind of animal or animal spirit that serves a magic wielding witch or wizard in many ways. Whether it be spying, serving our witch or wizard, sending messages, and more. It's like the shinobi that have animal summons already in this realm. But familiars have a deeper bond to their contractor. For you to fully be bonded with me, I must bite you. My venom is the most powerful toxins ever, but when used in a bonding manner, the magic in my venom will share my thoughts and feelings as you strive to endure the pain my venom will do when it courses through your veins."

Naruto shivered at having to experience more pain, even when he now is far away from the mobs that tormented him. Kendra saw his pained look that she flicked her tongue in tickling his whisker marks. After getting him to laugh, Kendra continued.

"Fear not, Little Storm. I know that you will not succumb to my venom. And once the pain passes and the bond is complete, you will be blessed with being immune to all manner of toxins and venoms. As well as having heightened senses to taste your dangerous surrounding smells that cannot be sensed by just your nose alone. Your body shall sense vibrations and heat signatures better when you're not using your eyes. If you want to learn more about your gifts of sight, you must pass the test, my Little Storm. I don't want to give any more spoilers." Kendra wiggled her tail as if she were wagging a finger.

Naruto narrowed his eyes in determination as he gazed into his sensei's golden eyes. Still in his torn orange jumpsuit and jacket, Naruto rolled up his left sleeve to show his bare arm. Signifying that he was ready.

Kendra struck quickly as her jagged teeth and fangs bit into his arm. She slithered back to see her slanted oval shape of her 24 bite marks, with four of them being slightly bigger than the others to show that those were her upper and lower fangs. Naruto felt sluggish immediately as he fell to the floor, lying on his back as searing pain rushed through his body. His eyes became foggy before blacking out to unconsciousness.

Naruto awoke in his mindscape as a green current slithered from him and led him to the Kyuubi's den. However, the current turned left as part of the wall changed to look like an ancient stone archway decorated with snakes while the entry way was filled with light. Naruto looked at Kyuubi in concern as the towering fox simply sat in his barred den uncaring.

"This is your trial, Naruto. Yours alone. I can't interfere…Don't tell me you're now thinking of chickening out now?" Kurama grinned while still having his eyes closed.

Naruto growled at first, before taking a deep breath to look at the gateway and entering Kendra's mindscape. After passing through, the gateway disappeared, and it turned back into the rest of the damp mind wall.

Scene Change

Naruto found himself on the shores of large black lake that was surrounded by a shady forest of hills and mountains all around and a lonely cliffside along one side of the lake. The young Uzumaki then spots a boat riding across the still waters with a lantern in front of it and four people riding it till they reached the shore near where Naruto stood. The four adults came to shore without using any rowing oars as the first two to touch the sandy beach were two men. One having a mane of red hair that matched his beard, wearing a dark red robe, gloves, and a cape with a silver sword dangling off his left side. The other was mainly bald on top with pale blonde hair flowing down from his sides and having a triangle trimmed beard, while sporting a dark green robe that showed his pale hands. One hand having a silver ring shaped like a coiled snake with a green gem in the center, while the other seemed to be petting a tinier version of Kendra. The men then gentlemanly bring the two ladies to shore as they gauge their surroundings.

"I must say, Rowena. Your vision has led us to quite the scenery. Perfect for a little feast." Said the orange wearing woman that held a golden goblet in one had while her other pulled out a stick, which were wands from what Naruto could guess, and summoned a large blanket that held all sorts of foods for the four friends to eat from.

"Verily, Helga. This is where the warthog with warts from my dreams led me. I know for certain that this would be the sanctuary for our children and other magical children to learn and grow in their magics. Away from the persecution of commoners and their inquisitors." Rowena Ravenclaw spoke in a calm and soothing voice.

"Hah! Let those foolish non-magic folks come! I will drive them away with my dueling skills with a wand and my blade!" boasted the red head.

"Calm yourself, Godric. It will take more than just our wands and your blade to secure the safety of our soon to be castle." Said the wizened green one.

"Indeed, Salazar. Our skills in charms and runes will make it so that our school cannot be found or disturbed in any way." Said Rowena Ravenclaw.

"But I worry when the muggles use deception to get children that are gifted by magic but are not among our magical families. They would return to their masters and alert them to our location. I think we should hold off on allowing those children to intermingle with ours." Salazar Slytherin continued to stroke Kendra under his sleeve to keep his paranoia in check.

"Salazar, if we do put off allowing gifted children to enter, then we are no better than our present persecutors. We will teach them to survive and handle the world we live in." Helga Hufflepuff lowered her goblet to scold her old friend. Rowena rubbed her diadem on her forehead before sharing a thought.

"Then Hogwarts will need a guardian. A little monster to frighten away those who would unworthily use magic for ill." She gave the wizened Salazar a knowing look as he thought of Kendra hidden in his sleeve.

"Hm, agreed. However, it will be the duty of my descendants to care for and call on my little princess should the case be dire. Verily, she will be an excellent obstacle along with our spells and safeguards to handle our enemies should an army march at our front door." Salazar agreed, but still having his paranoia whispering in the back of his mind.

"Hmph, although if something were to force the little monster to attack the innocent within our walls, my blade will have to put her down, Salazar. Basilisks may live for a long time, but time can befuddle the deeds we make present. If that were to occur, my descendants must give my sword back to the goblin makers that crafted it." Godric Gryffindor warned as his hand went to the hilt.

Kendra hissed in anger at the man's faith in her abilities. It was only the soothing hisses of her caretaker that calmed her down as the four sat to where Helga made the feast. As they ate and talked, Salazar had his three friends give a magical oath that they would not disclose in memory, word, or writing, that Kendra's lair and his secrets would die with them. The three agreed to calm the growing obsession within Salazar. After eating the four founders of Hogwarts raised their wands in the air and consecrated the land around them.

Naruto was in awe as he saw time fly around him and a tall castle formed and stood atop the cliffside. Naruto was then spirited into the castle walls as he flew past moving staircases, talking pictures, and glowing torchlights. It was then Naruto came to a girl's bathroom on the first floor. The sink magically opened to reveal a trapdoor that led down into Kendra's dark chambers below. He passed by a circular door made of metal snakes until he reached the innermost chamber of the Chamber of Secrets.

He saw that Kendra became beautiful queen that did her duty in protecting the school for over 900 years. The chamber became flooded somewhat when Naruto watched a young man calling himself Tom Riddle, later Lord Voldemort, and forced Kendra to attack the kids within the castle to show bloodline purity and supremacy. Kendra was angry that a descendant of her caretaker would indulge in this madness. Using a spell that targeted her mind to make her more obedient as she only thought of killing and ripping things.

Naruto ached inside at seeing Kendra forced to do things that she did not want to do, that were not okay in her father's eyes. It made him think of his situation, that his supposed family member, the godfather, had conspired with the Toads to change Naruto into Konoha's attack dog to show the Leaf's superiority, as well as Jiraiya's and the Toads greatness. Just like Voldemort did in making Kendra a monster while promoting his superiority.

All that changed when 50 years later, Naruto saw a 12-year-old boy with black hair, green eyes behind round glasses, and a distinctive lightning bolt scar on his forehead, running into the chamber to save an unconscious girl. Naruto watched in awe as the one called Harry Potter, faced Kendra and the ghost of Tom Riddle with nothing but Godric's magic sword and a red bird that was immune to Kendra's eyes. A stab in the mouth was all it took to release Kendra from her tormented slavery.

But then, Naruto noticed that the memory continued even after Kendra's end as he saw Harry climb down the statue's head and slowly walk to the girl's body. Letting the bloodied sword fall to the ground while he secretly held one of Kendra's fangs in his left hand. The young wizard pulls out a black book that was in the girl's arms, and proceeds to stab the thing to death. Causing black ink blood to spill on the floor as the ghost of Voldemort was sent to the Shinigami's realm.

Suddenly, the memory disappeared. Leaving only a rising Harry Potter to turn and stare directly at Naruto Uzumaki. "I honestly did not expect to see you this soon. But I am in the presence of the most unpredictable ninja in the world."

Naruto gawked at this before slowly pointing at the older boy wizard. "How do you know who I am Harry Potter? And how are you here?"

"Well, when you become the bloody Master of Death, you find yourself in all sorts of things that defy logic. Meaning that I am now part of the gods that govern our separate realms. I even still have my 'saving people's thing' which is sometimes such a pain. However, when your dad summoned Death to seal the Biju, I saw an opportunity, and answer the call because of my bloody title. Also its my way of apologizing to Kendra for stabbing her through her head back then." Harry simply shrugged as if this was his normality.

Naruto's mind whirled at what Harry had just said at being there when his dad sealed Kurama and Kendra inside him. "You were the Shinigami!?" Harry used his wand to change his shape to look like the purple skinned demon with razor sharp teeth before giving a dramatic bow. He then changed back to his regular human form to laugh at Naruto's bewilderment.

"Ah, it never gets old being a Marauder. A master prankster." Harry commented to himself.

"Well, Thank you, Harry-sama. Without you, I would never have met Kurama and Kendra-chan. Also having cool abilities like talking to snakes and sticking it to my toad of a godfather that my destiny is beyond his control also helps." Naruto bowed respectfully

"Please, call me Harry. None of that 'sama' nonsense. Plus I needed a way to put those amphibians in their place. Merlin, I also had to deal with an ugly toad in my lifetime. Except she was a woman tried to hide her ugliness by being a cat person and wearing pink. Ugh, just thinking of her makes my hand ache." Harry flexes his left hand after the shudder.

"Well, Thanks again, Harry. Um, would it… be okay… if I called you niisan? You act like an older brother who protected me by giving me Kendra to work with Kurama. Plus now we have the same colored eyes, only yours looks normal then mine." Harry chuckled at Naruto's comparison. He forgot that he could turn his eyes when in Shinigami mode. But having a little brother like Naruto would be a treat since he had no good relatives growing up in London.

Harry walks up to Naruto and gives him a warm hug that he really needed. Naruto hugs him back at having another member to the family. Naruto and Harry pull back from each other when Naruto asks a random question.

"Harry-niisan? What happened to that redhaired girl you saved back in the chamber?"

Harry let his eyes wander across limbo a bit before answering. "Ginny lived, and years later after I defeated the Dark Lord that tried to kill me as a baby, we married and had children of our own. After our mortal lives expired, she still sticks with me, even when she is confined to cabin in the afterlife as I do my duties as the Master of bloody Death. Why?"

Naruto blushed in embarrassment but gave an honest answer to his brother. "Because I want to know if I have a chance at finding love like you did. Do you think there is someone out there who for me who will like me and my unique looks?"

Harry chuckled at Naruto was still a child. He would probably figure it out once he graduates from ninja academy. "Little brother, I know that there is someone out there for you. In fact you may have more than one that likes you for your eyes and for who you really are. Its your choice when it happens. I think your Hebi-hime could be one of them… Trust me… But for now, your magical bond with Kendra has finished and soon you will wake up again. See you later, Naruto. And Good Luck."

Harry vanished as a bright light filled the space around Naruto. He woke up back in Ryuchi Cave with Kendra lying on his lap. He slowly rose up as Kendra had tears coming from her now reddish yellow eyes.

"Naruto! You had me worried, Little Storm. After waiting for you for more than an hour, I thought my venom may have killed you."

"Its alright, Kendra-chan. I got to see what you went through by putting up with that Riddle-baka. So, did it work?" Naruto asked as he and the little basilisk looked at where she had bit him.

The bite mark had changed, forming into a turquoise basilisk tattoo coiled around his arm from his wrist to his shoulder. The head of the basilisk tattoo had an open mouth with a narrow golden eye with a red Uzumaki spiral swirling inside the eye. Naruto now had his own summoning tattoo to legitimize his connection with the Snakes than just having his name signed in the summoning contract with Anko and Orochimaru.

"Awesome, dattebayo! Now Manda and the others can remove that pedo-sage's connection with them…So what are my new powers that my eyes can do? Other then killing anyone on sight or petrifying them." Asked Naruto.

Kendra smirked as she told him. While also remembering another ability a basilisk can have. "Other than that, your basilisk eyes have the ability to see heat signatures, or infrared vision, as well as see in the dark. Nothing can hide within the shadows of your gaze! Oh, I just remembered, you also have my feature of creating poison breath that can cause any living thing in the proximity to wither and die."

When Naruto heard that, he mumbled a bit remembering times when the Ichiraku duo told Naruto that he had to watch his bad breath after eating so much of their ramen. "Does this mean I should wear a face mask most of the time?"

Well here it is, the second chapter of the 'King of Snakes'. With work and getting lost in my imagination, it took a while to find my muse again. Now I am wondering If I should keep this story a Naruto x Anko or make it a harem by adding some of the girls from the snake's village/Rice Country (Kin Tsuchi is always a good choice). See you again. Remember, Stay Healthy and Stay Safe. Especially by wearing your face masks when it is required.