I didn't mean to post a new story so soon, but I had this idea last night and I had to write it down. Hence, we got here. I think IsseixKushina is becoming one of my favorite crossover pairings. And to be clear, Minato is dead.

Kushina walked down the street with her umbrella, fully enjoying the weather. It wasn't ideal, but she liked an occasional rainy day.

Inevitably, a few drops landed on her hair, but it seemed to serve to make her even more beautiful. Even after having a child, she still looked the same young woman that she was before.

The day was calm, apart from the rain. She had decided to go around her niece's territory, to see how she was doing and to also take the opportunity to look around the city.

Everything was fine until...

A young man showed up as she turned around the street. His breathing was ragged, he was soaked from the rain, and his shirt was soaked in blood.

He seemed to be walking for a long time, aimlessly.

But what the most eye-catching thing for Kushina, was the red gauntlet on the boy's hand. A boy that should be almost of the age of her niece and son.

The Boosted Gear, one of the 13 Longinus.

Hyoudou Issei, having just lost his family to a Stray Devil, barely surviving in the process. His eyes showed the trauma, but also the resignation. At that moment, he wondered if, after failing to protect his family, does he even had a reason to stay alive?

His answer came through that woman with crimson hair.

"Hello."

Kushina said without thinking twice.

...

The small ray of sunlight that came from the window, that manage to pass thanks to the tiny opening in the curtain, was enough to wake Kushina up. She blinked a few times, remembering the dream she just had. Her first encounter with her Pawn.

Kushina only needed to slightly turn her face to see Issei, who was sleeping peacefully next to her. It was a vast contrast to the state he was in when they originally met.

She gently runs her index finger across the Sekiryuutei's cheek, who continues to peacefully sleep. The redhead couldn't resist the smile that formed on her face, after all, it was good that things had calmed down, if only for now. At least, Issei was arguably, much better than before.

At that time, having just awakened the Boosted Gear and lost his family, he was confused, scared and aimless. And Kushina was someone who understood the pain of losing a loved one, but she also understood that, the Red Dragon Emperor in that state was an easy target for either being slaughtered or captured by other factions. Letting that happen to him, who had already lost enough, was not something she was going to accept.

"Want to become a devil?"

She asked three days after they met. One of the benefits of having her niece practically run the city, and being from one of the wealthiest families in the underworld, is that she was able to pick and choose wherever she wanted to stay in Kuoh.

On the first day Issei didn't react much, mainly because of the shock. He started to improve by the second day, doing some basic activities around the house. It was at the third day, when he didn't look as bad, that Kushina stopped to explain to him the basics of the Supernatural.

"What?"

And after all that explanation, she asked the question, which left the already confused and lost Issei even more confused. Looking back at it, maybe it wasn't the best decision to ask the question right after all the explanation.

"AND! If you join my peerage, you will be under my protection."

She almost commented on how that would turn him into her family, but after what he'd been through, that part was best left for later.

"But... I don't know... Ddraig told me about the White One. Won't I be causing problems? And after you help me..."

It was clear that he was filled with doubts, but also guilt over what had happened. Kushina couldn't help but compare Issei at that moment to a lost puppy.

"Don't worry."

She said, pulling him into a hug, which caught the user of the Boosted Gear completely off guard.

"But, but..."

At first, Issei even tried to get away from the hug, but Kushina's strong grip, plus the soft feeling of her body being pressed to his, made him give up quickly.

"Shhh, it's going to be okay..."

She said, running her fingers through his hair. Issei wasn't sure when, but at some point, he started to cry.

"P-please... I don't want to be alone..."

Kushina didn't respond, she just continued to run her finger over Issei's hair to calm him down. She had already made her decision.

...

The fact that it took six pieces to transform Issei took her by surprise. Even though she was an Ultimate class devil, it still took almost all of her Pawn pieces. It just showed the power and potential of a Longinus. Potential she intended to explore to the limit, and further.

Issei was in his first year of high school, but he would be out of school for some time, to recover from what happened.

"A healthy body means a healthy mind!"

Kushina said proudly, with crossed arms.

Issei just looked at her, not knowing how to respond.

"What?"

A vein threatened to pop on the redhead's forehead, but she ignored it and continued.

"Ise, now that you are part of my peerage, I can't let you stay as you are. Hehehe, turning the Red Dragon Emperor into a battle monster is going to be fun."

Issei felt a shiver run down his spine, and for some reason he felt like he should prepare for an excruciating amount of physical pain.

At least Kushina's smile made him believe it would be worth it.

'I don't want to disappoint her!'

He thought to himself, with slight blushes on his cheeks.

"Let's go then?"

The redhead asked excitedly.

"Yes!"

Issei felt that if it was for her, his savior, he would be capable of anything.

...

"I DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS ANYTHING!"

It didn't take long for the chestnut to understand what that bad feeling he had felt was. At the moment he was climbing a mountain, with giant hawks, with talons that could cut him like paper, behind him. And all the while, Kushina climbed up the mountain as well, just a few meters ahead, to keep an eye on him.

"Come on Ise! You're doing well! You didn't die yet!"

She said, looking like she was in high spirits.

"AND THAT IS A COMPLIMENT?"

BOOST

As soon as the Boost's announcement was given, he threw himself to the side, going at least five meters to the right of where he was before. In the second after he did that, the place where he was is attacked by one of the hawks, causing a cut, that was probably a meter long, to form in the wall.

"Argh! Horse!"

Before, as he was promoted to Rook, he had some facility climbing the mountain, but now changing to Knight, firstly he found it harder to keep gripping the rocks, but at the same time he felt more agile. This agility, which added to the previous Boosts that were about to end, allowed him to at least climb a few more meters.

There were some cuts on his back, arms and legs, but no deep injuries that would really stop him, because Kushina would have already stopped the training if that had happened.

But, as his Boosts would only last for a few more moments, the training would end there. There were a few meters left for him to reach the entrance to the top of the mountain, but Kushina thought that it would not be possible, in his current condition, for him to continue.

'Even so, he did really well. I didn't expect him to make it this far on the first day.'

The redhead thought to herself, smiling, proud of Issei.

"Ise, it's already good-"

"Bishop!"

But just because it was enough for her didn't mean it was enough for him. Issei refused to do anything that didn't meet or exceed his master's expectations.

Although, according to Kushina, he had the most ridiculously low amounts of demonic energy she had ever seen, using Bishop along with his Boosts allowed him to have a decent amount.

The redhead also felt draconic energy coming from him, and she already had plans to make him focus on that instead of trying to use demonic energy. She even had the perfect person in mind to train him in that regard.

The elder Gremory watched with curiosity to know what Issei's next move would be, especially since he didn't have the backing of a Rook's strength or a Knight's agility.

But when she saw Issei just let go of the rocks and start to fall, she nearly had a fit. She was about to jump, and probably break the mountain in half in the process, to save him, when she saw him gathering what must have been all the demonic energy he had, in the palm of his hand.

"HAMEHAAA!"

The energy went downward and served as a booster of sorts, throwing him meters into the air until he landed in the edge of the mountain top.

The Boosted Gear disappeared from his arm, his lungs burned as if they were on fire, every single one of his muscles screamed, having been used to an extent they had never been before. And even with that, Kushina saw on Issei's face, the biggest and most sincere smile she'd seen since they'd met.

"I did it..."

He declared victoriously, making a peace sign with his right hand.

"I know. I'm proud, Ise."

And for Issei, that was all he needed to hear.

When he woke up again, he was still on top of the mountain but his body felt much better. He also noticed that his head felt like it was on something soft, just as he felt soft and gentle fingers running through his hair. It didn't take long for him to realize that his head was lying in Kushina's lap.

"I'M SORRY!"

He said, jumping off her lap, and feeling his face burn like it was on fire.

"So, you woke up Ise?"

Kushina's voice sounded sweet and peaceful. Issei took a deep breath and calmed down, turning to face his master. Who actually had fire in her eyes and a furious expression.

"WHAT WAS THIS IDEA OF THROWING YOURSELF? DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT WITHOUT WORRYING? WANTED TO GIVE ME A HEART ATTACK? WELL, I CAN'T EVEN HAVE ONE!"

She screamed, and said much more, all while dragging Issei from side to side, so that she would have the opportunity to let her frustration out.

"YOU UNDERSTOOD?"

After what Issei guessed was at least half an hour, she finally stopped screaming, with her face only millimeters apart from Issei's. Though that made him even redder, the proximity making his heart beat like crazy, he firmly nodded his head.

"Yes! I'm sorry, I just didn't want to disappoint you."

He spoke the last part, looking away from her.

Kushina frowned at that small reaction, but for the moment she let it aside. She placed her hands on his shoulders, and made him face her again.

"Ise, I know you won't let me down."

She sighed.

"I also exaggerated a bit, it's normal to take risks, just... try to minimize them, or let me know beforehand."

He nodded.

"All right... and thank you, Kushina-sama."

The redhead rolled her eyes and lightly flicked his forehead.

"Call me Kushina, fool."

She spoke, grinning at him. And Issei felt his heart skip a beat. Horrible things had happened, but he couldn't say he hated what was happening now.

...

"What are you thinking?"

A sleepy voice pulled the redhead from her memories.

She turned to see Issei rubbing his right eye, doing his best not to wake up Asia who was sleeping on top of him, and the other girls who were sleeping around him.

Kushina tilted her head, allowing her lips to meet Issei's. They enjoyed the kiss for minutes, exploring each other, until Kushina pulled her head back, smiling.

"Just remembering a few things."

I will update my other DxD story this following week, maybe if I have time tomorrow already. But I have all intentions on updating both of these continuously.