Chapter 6-Enter Tsukiumi

Time past relatively quickly for Naruto and his loving flock of Sekirei, as they did their daily routine of eating, sleeping, training, working (Naruto's job), and of course the love making at random points during the day. Occasionally, one or more Sekirei would be released from the labs of M.B.I. with a text getting sent out, and naturally the hunt for these wandering birds began by the eager Ashikabi wanting to increase their numbers and power in the game.

And naturally, Naruto would dispatch his Sekirei to ensure these unwinged Sekirei found their rightful Ashikabi. Soon, word got around Shinto Teito of a new Discipline Squad, which had the M.B.I. seal of approval, and was ensuring ALL of the rules in the game were strictly enforced. Some tried to oppose Naruto and his Sekirei. Claiming the rules he had his Sekirei enforcing was bogus and meant to be followed by losers afraid to get their hands dirty.

Naruto knew all about getting his hands dirty. His profession years ago kind of made it part of the job requirement.

Of course, this response by these Ashikabi required an immediate response to let the rest of Shinto Teito know there was more then one Discipline Squad in the city to fear. His actual response you ask? Naruto's response was having his Sekirei deactivate theirs and then proceed to tie up each Ashikabi of these defeated Sekirei upside down and leaving there...naked.

He also had the words like "Laugh at me, I'm a total asshole!" or "I have a tiny dick but I act like a big one to others!" written on their bodies for good measure.

Needless to say, these idiots never showed their face in Shinto Teito after that, and since they were out of the game because of him. It didn't really matter to M.B.I. in terms of what these people did once they were out of the Sekirei Plan. A few well placed threats from the company, a flexing of muscle to prove the point, and these losers in the game fled the city with the firm belief of keeping their mouths shut about the Sekirei Plan.

Good stuff.

Sadly, all good things come to an end sooner or later, and right now this was one of those times...or rather days.

How you may ask? Well as it turns out, Naruto was walking along the hospital's gardens where patients, and even some Doctors like to walk around. After being surrounded with so much sterile surroundings and death, the sight of life mixed with beauty was not a bad thing to see.

It was quite a shame such beauty would have to be ruined right now thanks to Higa's two prized Sekirei bloodhounds. Fortunately, they appeared after Chiho had been discharged from the hospital, and Naruto had seen her off after taking a picture in the gardens for her to keep. The poor girl was all dressed up, ready to take on the outside world, and got into a taxi to take her to the airport where her plane was waiting. She wanted to see the world and all the beauty it held now with her health restored to normal.

No sooner was Chiho and the taxi out of sight did they appear, smirking at Naruto in an arrogant fashion, and he knew playtime was over.

"Hello. How may I help you?" asked Naruto while trying to be civil despite himself.

"You had Higa-sama fooled for awhile. Not many people can do that and live to tell the tale," commented Ichiya while Naruto raised an eyebrow at her.

"Fooled? I...don't follow," commented Naruto with Toyotama scoffing at him.

"Don't you dare try lying to us. We know who you really are...Uzumaki Naruto. The all fearsome 'Phantom Ashikabi' and part of the secondary Discipline Squad," said Toyotama with Naruto deciding to play dumb a little longer.

"Uzumaki Naruto? Phantom Ashikabi? What is an Ashikabi?" asked Naruto while trying to play himself as a confused person to these two.

"So you want to play dumb huh? Fine! We were hoping you would. Higa-sama did say not to hurt you too bad, but I'm sure he won't mind if you're stabbed near the ribs," said Toyotama while smirking evilly at Naruto.

"Remember, Higa-sama doesn't want his hands or face damaged," remarked Ichiya while the two charged Naruto and expecting him to either fight and lose or take the hits like the weak little human he played himself out to be to their Master.

What did happen was not what they expected.

They were the ones taking the hit. And not just any hit. An invisible hit. They were so shocked, the two Sekirei didn't even hear Naruto whisper the words "Shinra Tensei", or notice his hand slightly outstretched when he did. The force behind the invisible attack sent Ichiya and Toyotama flying back through several trees before they rolled onto the grass and were out cold. Naruto knew he should probably deactivate them, but that would just confirm Higa's suspicions of him, and send more trouble his way.

Besides, leaving those two alive wasn't going to hurt him much. Yeah, they would report to Higa saying they were attacked by him, and no doubt the man would want proof of this from them. Asking what Naruto did? How they were attacked? So on and so forth. When they tell him they were sent back by an invisible power while he just stood there, it would make him distrustful of his Sekirei, think they were idiots, if not incompetent, and they were making up excuses. No doubt he would remind them that only a Sekirei would have the power do what they would claim Naruto had done and Naruto was not a Sekirei.

"Why is it all the evil masterminds of the world always have dumb subordinates under their command? They could have smart ones if given the chance. You would just have make sure the minions under your command have no ambition to usurp you," remarked Naruto to himself before walking back into the hospital like nothing happened.

And ignoring a shocked Kakizaki watching from above with his cell phone in hand.

(With Higa)

"What do you mean they lost?!" demanded Higa while frowning at what he was being told by his most trusted subordinate.

"They lost Higa-sama. I saw it myself. They moved to engage him per your instructions and in the next second they were simply...thrown back! By some kind of power. I wouldn't believe it unless I saw it for myself. I don't know if Menma did it or if something else was involved in knocking them back," replied Kakizaki while sensing Higa was frowning and would have been indeed correct in his assumption.

"The man is not a Sekirei. Kochou has been through the database at M.B.I. regarding all 108 Sekirei. None of them are named Naruto. None of them remotely resemble Naruto or Menma for that matter," said Higa in frustration.

"Could he be protected by a third party? Maybe a Sekirei watching him in the shadows and protecting him until she is ready to be winged?" asked Kakizaki since it was possible a Sekirei would do that.

"Possibly. It wouldn't be the first time this has happened. Continue to watch him from a distance for now. Recover Ichiya and Toyotama. I want them healed and brought to my office to explain their failure to me," ordered Higa since he would be having words with those two and decide how to punish them depending on their answers.

Shame he didn't realize his phone was being hacked and everything said on it might be recorded by a third party.

(With Naruto)

"Did you get everything?" asked Naruto on his cell to Matsu.

"Yep! Every word. Higa is stumped by what you did!" exclaimed Matsu, who unlike Higa when it came to cell phones, had modified Naruto's cell phone so it couldn't be hacked by outside third parties, and had detection software installed to shut the cell down the second it was hacked.

"As he should be since the man doesn't understand what his mind can't comprehend," said Naruto calmly since he had put himself on break for lunch and decided to head to a nice little ramen stand.

"I'll keep an eye on things from here. Just be back home soon Naruto-tan. Matsu needs some of your hot DNA to calm her dow-OUCH!" exclaimed Matsu with the sound of someone hitting her on the head.

"Bad Matsu. Talking dirty to Naruto-sama on the phone is forbidden. Not to mention improper of a lady," came the voice of Musubi over the phone.

"Since when? And why are you talking like Miya-tan?" asked Matsu while rubbing her head since Musubi had hit her with a ladle.

"I visited her the other day and asked for some sparing lessons. She taught me all about being a proper woman and how I should keep you in line," replied Musubi while Matsu slumped her head.

"Even when Miya-tan is not here, Matsu still gets punished for being Matsu," remarked Matsu with a sniffle while Naruto sweat dropped.

"Musubi, leave Matsu alone. Miya's way of being a proper woman should not be forced upon you no matter what. Besides, if you followed Miya's way of thinking, how would I be able to please you, Matsu, Akitsu, and Uzume when in the mood for love making," remarked Naruto while imaging Musubi thinking about his words completely stumped.

"I think you broke her mind Naruto-tan. Ouch!" said Matsu while rubbing her head again.

"He did not! Musubi will just have to try balancing out what Naruto-sama wants with Miya-sama's teachings," said Musubi, as she walked off to take care of some cleaning that needed her attention.

"She even hits like Miya-tan with that ladle. When did she even get it?" asked Matsu to herself before Naruto sighed and closed his cell so he could eat his ramen.

His Sekirei could be so weird at times.

(Shinto Teito-At the Moment)

Staring down at the city below, an imperious long blonde haired woman wearing a short white skirt, white shirt, black belt, and black coat. She also had knee high boots and black leggings going up even farther while sporting an incredible female bust most women would be envious in having. This woman in particular was scowling with both her hands on her hips, standing in a pose meant to intimidate anyone who saw it. Not that anyone could at the moment since she was so high up and no one really looked up for the Hell of it.

All in all, she was posing in an intimidating fashion for nothing.

"The fiend is here. I can feel it in my bones! When I find that foul monkey, I will drown him with my powers, and show I do not need an Ashikabi to be the strongest!" exclaimed Tsukiumi to herself while wondering where her target was located in the city.

"Talking to yourself again Tsukiumi?" asked Homura, as he was behind her, and startled the woman for a second.

"Homura! How dare thee sneak up behind me in such a dishonorable fashion!" exclaimed Tsukiumi while pointing at Homura.

"I didn't sneak up on you Tsukiumi. You were so distracted from your desire to mentally drown the city in water you didn't hear me walk up behind you. I could have deactivated you," countered Homura before he dodged a blast of water aimed at him by her.

"So thou wishes to test me in combat, even though you are unwinged. Fine! I shall show thee the difference in our power," declared Tsukiumi with Homura now panicking.

"Wait! That's not why I am here!" protested Homura, but had to dodge once more, and kept on dodging while Tsukiumi was relentless in her water attacks against him.

"Silence! You have been a constant annoyance to me. Claiming repeatedly I should have a monkey for an Ashikabi. Yet you do not have one yourself! Thou came here boasting about how you could have deactivated me, yet you dodge, and flee from my attacks like a coward! Fight me thou spineless bastard!" exclaimed Tsukiumi while flooding the roof with water and forcing Homura to leap to the next one.

Only to be pursued by the angry busty blonde woman.

'Why do I feel like this has happened before in a time long ago?' thought Homura, as he felt this event had happened before in a similar yet different event in time, and in that outcome...the man got really messed up.

Cue a certain Ero-Sennin in the afterlife sneezing before mentioning a hot angel must be talking about him and getting super punched by Tsunade for it.

In any case, Homura knew he couldn't fight Tsukiumi. The lack of an Ashikabi aside, he wasn't ready for such a fight. Or rather his body wasn't stable. It was getting increasingly unstable everyday. The more he used his power surrounding fire in a combative manner, the greater the overall chance of it getting out of control, and turning on him in a painful fashion. In fact, the only reason that didn't happen was because of Tsukiumi ironically enough, as she had stopped it once before in the past by soaking him in water to cool him off.

And now she was trying to kill him with her power. Oh joy! What fun he was having today.

"Just who is your Ashikabi anyway? I know you're reacting to someone," said Homura, as he had seen Tsukiumi around Shinto Teito, and notice the woman had been reacting to someone strongly enough to bring about such anger at him.

"That is none of thy business!" exclaimed Tsukiumi since she was launching wave after wave of water at him in a relentless manner.

"I know, but if you plan to kill your possible Ashikabi, it will only bring down the wrath of the secondary Discipline Squad led by the Phantom Ashikabi," said Homura while he saw Tsukiumi pause in her motion to launch water at him.

"The Phantom Ashikabi. How do thee know of him? Speak!" demanded Tsukiumi, as she grit her teeth, and glared at Homura.

"I don't know him per se. I only really met the guy once or twice in passing. Why are you even...asking...about...him?" asked Homura before he pieced it together and his eyes now went wide in shock.

"Such a vile and bizarre monkey will not claim me. I am the strongest of all the Sekirei in this game and do not need an Ashikabi!" declared Tsukiumi in a passionate voice.

"Yeah well, if you break the rules, it will only be matter of time until he comes looking for you," remarked Homura before creating a small wall of flame to blind Tsukiumi long enough to escape her sight and hide.

"Come back here fiend. Face me in honorable combat!" demanded Tsukiumi, but found Homura was nowhere to be found.

No matter. She would find him later once her monkey of a future Ashikabi was killed and show him the might that came from smiting fiend.

(With Naruto)

Naruto sighed knowing his lunch time was over. A shame really. The ramen here wasn't half bad. Not good like the kind he had in the past, but close enough. Paying for his meal, Naruto was walking back to the hospital, and wondered what else could happen to him today? Another probing attack by Higa? A Sekirei violates the rules on the command of the Ashikabi? Mikogami has been silent for a bit since the incident in the park though Matsu surmised Karasuba may had a hand in that due to her killing one of his Sekirei the stupid blonde girl with a whip should have run.

"Get out of my way monkey!" exclaimed a commanding female voice above Naruto and a shadow covered his form to make him realize someone was about to land on his body.

Or would have if not for acting quickly and caught the woman's body despite the fact a normal person would have collapsed onto the ground from the sheer weight of the living projectile. As things stood, the only proof Naruto had caught this person from high up was the pavement underneath him leaving a deep imprint of his feet before he yanked them out with considerable effort.

"You know it was rather fortunate that such a nice guy like me caught you despite being called a monkey," commented Naruto while the blonde beauty in front of him huffed and puffed at his words.

"I told you to move. Thou is lucky I do not smite thee for putting thy hands upon my person," countered Tsukiumi with another angry huff.

"Really? And just what exactly would have happened if I didn't catch you? You would have hurt yourself. Sekirei or not," remarked Naruto with Tsukiumi looking at him in shock.

"Thou know of the Sekirei Plan?" asked Tsukiumi in surprise and found herself feeling weird in his presence.

"I do. I also know that a Sekirei tried to do what you just did not that long ago and would have hurt herself if I wasn't around to catch her. She at least had the decency to apologize for the action of jumping on me," replied Naruto while leaving out he actually winged said Sekirei later on in the day.

"Well unlike the strumpet thou saved, I did not need to be saved by thee so I do not have to apologize," replied Tsukiumi while moving her hair back.

"Well excuse me Miss High and Mighty, but considering no sane person ever leaps off a building in the middle of the day unless they want to die, I sorely would disagree with that statement," countered Naruto with Tsukiumi blushing red with embarrassment and anger while not liking his tone.

"How dare thee speak to me in that manner! I demand thy name before I smite thee with my power!" exclaimed Tsukiumi while getting in Naruto's face.

"The name is Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto," said Naruto and his name made Tsukiumi's eyes widen in shock.

"Uzumaki Naruto? As in...the Phantom Ashikabi?!" demanded Tsukiumi while leaping back away from him.

'Damn it. Minaka must have let my name spill out to go with my stupid title the bondage twins came up with for me. That explains how Higa's Sekirei knew my name and title were connected,' thought Naruto while seeing Tsukiumi looking ready to launch an attack on him.

"Stay back fiend! I will not let thee wing me and use my body for thy perverse schemes!" exclaimed Tsukiumi with Naruto shaking his head.

"If I'm not your Ashikabi, then I have no intention of winging you. If its a fight you are looking for, I would suggest we do it elsewhere away from the public eye," said Naruto with Tsukiumi looking shocked at not only having no intention of forcibly winging her, but was also offering her a chance to fight him in honorable combat away from the other filthy monkeys in the city.

"Very well. If thou wishes to meet thy death in honorable combat, then so be it," said Tsukiumi before she moved to a place earlier that was perfect for them and cast a glance back at Naruto to see him following her while on his cell phone.

"Matsu. Its me. Inform work that a personal matter has come up and I can't make it back into today," said Naruto since he knew this was going to be troublesome.

"Okay I will. Which number are you with right now? Sounds like she is a real pistol to me," commented Matsu while focusing on his location via satellite.

"I didn't get her name. Blonde hair, fierce eyes, and speaks Ye Old style," replied Naruto while he was sure Matsu was zooming in on his location.

"I see her now. Let. me. see. here," said Matsu while she brought up Tsukiumi's face onto the screen with Akitsu, Musubi, and Uzume now behind her.

"Hey! I know about her! Homura mentioned this one to Miya the day before I got winged by Naruto. Her name is Tsukiumi. Sekirei # 09. The Water Sekirei," said Uzume since she recalled Homura coming back to the Inn. one night from his duties and told Miya about his small fight with Tsukiumi.

"Oh dear. I just brought up her profile Naruto-tan. She is a very violent short tempered Sekirei. Apparently, she hates the idea of having an Ashikabi and if the rumors are true about her...Tsukiumi intends to kill the one she is reacting to," said Matsu before her eyes widened along with Uzume's and Musubi's when they pieced it together.

"Ah...she wants to kill Master," stated Akitsu though she kept her emotions on the matter in check since she knew Naruto would not be bested by someone like Tsukiumi.

"We should stop her!" exclaimed Musubi since she didn't want Tsukiumi to fight their Ashikabi.

"You will do nothing Musubi. I will handle Tsukiumi myself so don't worry your pretty little heads. I won't hurt her and I will make sure she won't hurt me," replied Naruto into his phone while sensing his girls nod in understanding.

"Be safe Naruto-tan," said Matsu before hanging up much to the irritation from the others since they didn't get to say anything to him.

Tsukiumi eventually stopped in a nice little clearing within an alley with plenty of room to fight and instantly called water to her form. Naruto however, just stood there while looking at her with a sense of surprise since the only person capable of command water to that degree and been Senju Tobirama. Though from the looks of things, Tsukiumi could give the man a run for his money in terms of commanding it the way she was doing.

Not only that, but the act of calling so much water to her picked up a little bit of wind around the woman's short skirt, and Naruto could easily see Tsukiumi's panties.

"Any last words before I smite thee with my power?" asked Tsukiumi while glaring at Naruto, who revealed his true form to her, and shocked the woman for a second at seeing what he really looked like.

"I do want to ask you a question. But I doubt you want to hear it," replied Naruto with the woman in front of him scowling further.

"If thou has a question thee wishes answered before meeting thy death, then I will gladly answer it truthfully. Speak it post haste!" commanded Tsukiumi while still poised to kill him with her attack.

"Why do you hate Ashikabi? Or the idea of having an Ashikabi? Surely someone who is as beautiful and intelligent as you has seen the power a Sekirei can get from having an Ashikabi?" asked Naruto while seeing the woman blushing from his compliment about her intelligence and beauty, but was angry with him all the same.

"I have seen what thy vile monkeys do with the Sekirei once winging them. You treat us like toys and slaves to cater to your perverse desires. All to win in a game where we have to fight for you. I will fight for myself and stay unwinged to prevent my body from being defiled by the likes of you or any other monkey seeking advancement in this contest," said Tsukiumi while the water around her whipped violently around the woman's form.

'Ouch! Usually a woman turns the man down after he asks her to go out on a date with him. Well at least she isn't hitting me like Sakura did when I was a kid,' thought Naruto while admiring the view Tsukiumi was unknowingly giving to him for free.

"And now that I have answered thy question about myself, I will smite thee here and now to free myself from thy filthy presence! 'Water Celebration!'" exclaimed Tsukiumi before launching her water based attack at him.

Only for Naruto to move his head to the side and let the water fly by without even hitting the tips of his blonde hair.

"Your aim isn't half bad. Not entirely good. But not bad considering you were aiming for my head," said Naruto with Tsukiumi getting angrier for not only missing her target, but the fact he had the nerve to comment about her aim.

Insulting! She would drown him with his own words and her power.

"Insolent monkey! See if thy can dodge this attack again. 'Water Celebration!'" exclaimed Tsukiumi while shooting another ball of condensed water at Naruto.

Only for him to phase out right when it hit him squarely in the chest.

"This is your last chance Tsukiumi. Fail to hit me this time and I will fight back," warned Naruto while he secretly enjoyed Tsukiumi's bafflement.

"I do not know what sorcery thy used to evade my attack this time, but I assure thee it will not happen a third. 'Water Celebration!'" exclaimed Tsukiumi before she threw yet another ball of water at Naruto, who batted the projectile away like it was nothing, and looked unimpressed.

"Not bad. Back in the day before my ascension to what I am now, such an attack would have put a hole in my arm, or body depending on where you hit," remarked Naruto while seeing Tsukiumi looking at him in shock and a hint of fear.

"Back away! I will not be defiled by the likes of you!" exclaimed Tsukiumi while taking several steps back and the water around her whipped around them both violently.

"Calm down. I don't forcibly wing Sekirei. If you don't want to be mine just say so right now and I will leave you alone," replied Naruto with Tsukiumi jerking her head back like she had been punched in the face.

"Y-You...You don't want me?" asked Tsukiumi in an almost hurt like tone.

"Its not that I don't want you. It is just I won't wing you against your will. Even if you are reacting to me like you claim. Its a matter of choice. I am giving you the choice to walk away from this here and now without any problems between us," replied Naruto since he wanted to keep this civil without hurting the woman.

"Walk away? Like a coward! I will do no such thing!" stated Tsukiumi angrily at him.

"And she has taken my words out of context," mumbled Naruto while more water flowed around the woman like a violent river.

"I am Sekirei # 09 Tsukiumi! The Water Sekirei and the strongest of all the Sekirei in this plan! I will not be talked to by the likes of you!" exclaimed Tsukiumi before moving to launch all the water she had under her command at him.

"I was being polite and she takes it as an insult. Unbelievable!" Naruto mumbled while he brought out his trusty staff yet again.

"Water Dragon!" exclaimed Tsukiumi before launching a massive wave of water shaped just like a dragon at him.

'Nostalgia much,' thought Naruto since this brought back memories before pointing his staff at the dragon and saw it fall to the ground moments prior to getting his feet wet.

"How did thee...? What did thou...? I don't...!" said Tsukiumi, who was at a loss for words when seeing him stop her attack like that.

"Enough Tsukiumi. You lost. I won. Nothing in your arsenal can stop me," said Naruto with Tsukiumi's face blushing red since not only was he right, but his power brought out a sense of longing she had tried to stamp down on, and failed miserably at doing.

"Stay away!" said Tsukiumi, who nearly yelled it this time.

"Make me," taunted Naruto while walking toward her, as he got a really great, yet really bad idea on how to knock some sense into Tsukiumi, and knew his girls were not going to like it.

"I said stay back! Stay back or I will end thee!" exclaimed Tsukiumi while her vision was blurring and her heart raced faster with each passing second.

"You say you are the strongest Tsukiumi. Then prove it. Right here. Right now. Prove it by hitting me dead center with your power. Unless of course...you don't have the strength or the stomach to do what you boasted doing to me. Maybe...you are all talk! All bark and no bite!" taunted Naruto with Tsukiumi now seeing red and called upon it to focus her power one more time.

"I'll show thee my strength! Die vile monkey! 'Water Celebration!'" exclaimed Tsukiumi before she hit Naruto point blank right in the chest with her attack and unlike the one time when it made contact...he didn't phase out.

A large circular hole was in his chest area leading out of his back where the spot behind him in the clearing was now a mix of blood and water.

"Well will you look at that. It appears you do indeed have the stomach to do it after all," commented Naruto while looking down at the woman's handy work like what she did was normal when it was most certainly NOT!

"I...I...I...," said Tsukiumi, as it was all she could say while staring at the hole she made into the man she was reacting to, and would have called Ashikabi if winged by him.

Tsukiumi had thought by ending the man, her problems would be solved, and victory in the game was assured. Word would get around that she killed her Ashikabi and all who would challenge her would flee on sight. All would tremble at the sound of her name. Sekirei # 09 Tsukiumi: The Ashikabi Killer!

So why...why did it hurt her so deeply knowing she did this to him? Why was her heart aching? Screaming at her to beg for forgiveness? Why was it hurting and not helping like she first thought?

The action and realization of what she just did must have taken a heavy toll on her mind because it seemed to shut down from the stress of it all. Upon falling unconscious, Naruto had caught her easily, his injury already healing like it was nothing, and quickly used a Water Jutsu of his own to wash away the bloody mess behind him before using Kamui to vanish back home with the busty blonde haired Sekirei in his arms.

(Naruto's Hotel Suite)

To say Naruto's Sekirei were upset was an understatement. In truth, they were pissed off! Not at Naruto. Well...maybe a little, but not entirely since he didn't want to hurt Tsukiumi for her misguided views surrounding Ashikabi. The one they were super upset with was in fact Tsukiumi, as they had been watching the hacked satellite feed, and saw the woman put a hole in their Ashikabi's chest. A fact Matsu had deleted from the satellite's memory banks and proceeded to cause the technological marvel in space to self-destruct. Which happened after giving it an overall memory wipe and virus to basically render all data still lingering to be corrupted beyond recovery.

As for Tsukiumi herself, she was in the main bedroom asleep, and lost in a dream of her own making that was neither a dream nor a nightmare. Personally, most of his Sekirei he had winged up until now felt the need to smother Tsukiumi for what she did to Naruto with one of the pillows in the bedroom, followed by throwing her dead body out of the window, and watch it go splat on the ground.

Naruto put a stop to that saying he didn't do what happened earlier just so they could get their ten pounds of flesh for his actions, which provoked the woman into acting. Like it or not, the blonde haired woman was staying, and he intended to fix her views of him so this wouldn't be an issue at all in the off chance he did decide to wing her.

Speaking of the busty blonde Sekirei...she was now waking up.

"What? Where am I?" asked Tsukiumi before she saw Naruto sitting in a chair not far from her and his Sekirei standing behind him with scowls on their faces.

"Welcome back Tsukiumi," remarked Naruto while smirking at the shocked woman.

"How did thee survive my attack? How did I get here? Where is here?" demanded the shocked and slightly angry Tsukiumi.

"Seriously? You are demanding things from him? After what you did earlier by putting a hole in his chest?" asked Uzume with her hands on her hips.

"Silence wench! I do not answer to the likes of you," said Tsukiumi with the two glaring at each other.

"Calm down Tsukiumi," said Naruto while hoping she would.

"I will not calm down! I have been taken against my will by thee in an attempt to defile my body," said Tsukiumi while finding herself hesitating in calling upon her power with so many Sekirei near their Ashikabi with power beyond her own.

"It looks like your idea of Tsukiumi putting a hole in your chest to get the anger out of her system backfired Naruto-tan," commented Matsu while adjusting her glasses slightly.

"So it would seem. So temperamental. Its actually a good thing she is reacting to me. Any other potential Ashikabi would be killed now," remarked Naruto with Tsukiumi blushing at his words and yet was seething at the same time.

"You...You...You heathen!" exclaimed Tsukiumi before shooting a ball of water at him.

Only for it to be blocked by a wall of ice.

"Ah...bad Tsukiumi. Master will need to spank you later," remarked Akitsu while Uzume sweat dropped, Matsu giggled perversely, Musubi whimpered, and Naruto sighed at her words.

Tsukiumi looked somewhere between angry and horrified with a cherry red face.

"Akitsu, I haven't winged her yet. And even if I did, I'm willing to overlook this in order to get her to come around to the idea of being my Sekirei," replied Naruto while Akitsu seemed to think it over.

"Ah...can I take her place and be spanked then Master?" asked Akitsu with Naruto now forming a sweat drop of his own.

"Akitsu-tan really loves to get spankings. But then again, so does Matsu-tan when she's been naughty," remarked Matsu while laughing and drooling perversely.

"Well talk about that later Akitsu. Right now, we need to focus on helping Tsukiumi with her issues," said Naruto while Tsukiumi looked happy yet insulted by him yet again.

"I do not have issues! I simply don't want an Ashikabi. I do not need one anyway. I am the strongest of all the Sekirei in the Sekirei Plan," remarked Tsukiumi while Naruto raised an eyebrow at her.

"Strongest? But isn't Miya-sama the strongest since she is Sekirei # 01?" asked Musubi while Uzume and Matsu smacked their hand into their faces.

"That's not something you should be telling people off hand Musubi," remarked Uzume while Musubi was a bit confused and saw Naruto nodding in agreement with Uzume.

"We'll talk about such things later in one of your lessons Musubi-chan. Don't worry," said Naruto since he had been teaching his Sekirei different things where required.

And in Musubi's case...just about everything.

"Okay Naruto-sama!" stated Musubi in her usual cheerful fashion.

"I do not know this Miya you speak of, but I assure you all I am the strongest Sekirei here and I do not have an Ashikabi," said Tsukiumi confidently though the feeling in her heart that was longing for Naruto seemed to grow stronger.

"Prove it," remarked Naruto since a new idea came into his head to help Tsukiumi see the error of her ways and get the woman to come around to being winged by him.

"How?" asked Tsukiumi with Naruto smirking.

"Simple. You face each of my Sekirei here in honorable combat. A friendly spar if you will. No attempt at deactivation of course. You win against all four of them, you can walk out the door of the hotel suite, out of the hotel, and be on your merry way," said Naruto with Tsukiumi looking at him with suspicion.

"Not that I will, but do thee gain should I lose?" asked Tsukiumi with Naruto smirking at her.

"You acknowledge that having an Ashikabi makes you stronger and since you are already reacting to me...you will become my Sekirei," answered Naruto with Tsukiumi looking from him to the four behind him.

"Uh...Naruto-tan, I am a Brain Sekirei. I can't fight in combat situations like everyone else can!" remarked Matsu nervously while Naruto smirked.

"Which means Tsukiumi is already ahead 1-0. She just needs to win three more fights," said Naruto since he had no intention of having Matsu fight and knew the red head would bring it up.

"Fine! I will fight these three wenches and prove myself their better. Starting with this one here with the sleepy expression on her face!" exclaimed Tsukiumi before pointing to Akitsu.

"Very well. Follow me to your chosen sparring area I setup here in the suite. I made it so I could help my Sekirei in private without prying eyes," said Naruto while motioning the girls and Tsukiumi to follow.

"You're so lucky Akitsu. You get to fight a strong opponent. I wanted to fight her," said Musubi while slightly pouting.

"Ah...you will her fight next if I lose," replied Akitsu since she felt bad for Musubi.

"Really? Hooray! Thanks a lot Akitsu-chan!" exclaimed Musubi before hugging the ice Sekirei.

"Okay you two. Here are the rules. They are very simple. You can use your powers, but keep them in the nonlethal category, and make NO attempts at deactivation on any level. They are not allowed. Am I understood?" said Naruto with Akitsu and Tsukiumi both nodding.

"Ready to lose harlot?" asked Tsukiumi while Akitsu frowned slightly.

"Ah...even if you do become Master's new Sekirei, you are not be worthy of his love," replied Akitsu since she didn't think Tsukiumi was worthy after the attempt at killing Naruto earlier.

"How dare you! I will teach thee a lesson thou will not soon forget!" exclaimed Tsukiumi before she launched a barrage of water at Akitsu, who raised up a thick wall of ice to block it.

"Ah...not worthy. Weak without Ashikabi," remarked Akitsu while seeing Tsukiumi's face getting angrier with her words.

"Silence! Thou knows nothing! Behold my power!" exclaimed Tsukiumi before shooting wave after wave of water at Akitsu.

Only to be blocked each time with ice.

"Ah...too easy," remarked Akitsu calmly while barely feeling this was a challenge to her at all.

'How? How can she deflect my attacks so easily?! I am a single digit Sekirei same as her! She maybe winged, but even her powers should be stronger then mine regardless. Even Homura is not this strong with his fire, yet he is stronger then myself, and hasn't been winged either,' thought Tsukiumi, as she liked to think of herself as the strongest female Sekirei in all of the entire Sekirei Plan, and Homura was the strongest male.

"Ah...not winged. Without an Ashikabi, you will continue to get weaker. Not stronger. Master winged me when it shouldn't have been possible and my power has increased greatly ever since then," said Akitsu since she could see what was going on in Tsukiumi head.

"No! I refuse to believe that! I can be strong without an Ashikabi! And I will prove it!" exclaimed Tsukiumi in denial, but her heart was already crying out to stop ignoring the feelings she had, and just accept Naruto.

But damn if Tsukiumi was anything if not stubborn.

"Ah...then defeat me," challenged Akitsu with Tsukiumi preparing to fight her, but for some reason she felt herself stopping, and just looking at the ice Sekirei before glancing at Naruto.

'He's so confident in Akitsu winning. I can tell he believes in her. That she will prevail over me. I wish for that. Maybe...Maybe I...no! I will not be swayed! Not with someone with so many other Sekirei at his beck and call!' thought Tsukiumi before she renewed her attacks with vigor until the attacks kicked up so much debris that Akitsu's form was not seeable to the blonde woman's eyes.

"Ah...you lose," remarked Akitsu from behind Tsukiumi seconds later while ice now encased the blonde's shapely legs.

"No! I can still fight!" protested Tsukiumi, but saw Naruto shaking his head, and walking over to her.

"You lost Tsukiumi. Accept it," said Naruto while Tsukiumi glared at him in defiance.

"I will not! And thou cannot make me!" exclaimed Tsukiumi while Naruto sighed with a hint of frustration.

"Fine! I give up! I tried to be nice about this. I tried to be caring. I tried to help you see the error in your ways, but its clear to me your pigheadedness will be your undoing. So by all means leave. You want to walk around unwinged? Go ahead, but I guarantee you it won't be for much longer. Akitsu, release her legs from the ice," said Naruto while staring Tsukiumi right in the eyes with the woman looking shocked and hurt by his words.

"Y-You...You don't want me?" asked Tsukiumi with hurt in her voice.

"Considering you made it quite clear that you would rather be free, I see no reason to rob you of your dream of being alone in your quest to be at the top of the mountain when it comes to the Sekirei Plan. Personally, I felt standing at the top all alone with no one to share in the glory with to be rather...cold," answered Naruto while seeing Tsukiumi flinch at his words and saw the other Sekirei around him nodding.

"You had your chance Tsukiumi-san. If being without an Ashikabi means that much to you, then Naruto-sama won't wing you, and show what it is you are missing out on," said Musubi in a show of rare maturity.

Naruto assumed Yume had a bit of influence or hand in that moment.

"Ah...foolish," said Akitsu while pointing at Tsukiumi.

"Ditto," said Uzume and Matsu at the same time.

"The point is Tsukiumi, I could have winged you anytime since we met, even before I knew you were reacting to me. Yet I held back because I wanted you to be the one to make the first move. Since you won't, I have no further need, or desire to keep you here any longer," said Naruto with Tsukiumi now looking like she was ready to cry and her heart was wailing at the sheer stubbornness created by her brain.

"No! I was wrong! Please reconsider. I'm sorry!" said Tsukiumi, as she grabbed onto his arms, and held him tightly while pressing her face against his chest.

"Oh now she is sorry," mumbled Uzume sarcastically.

"Not to sound mean or anything, but you had your chance Tsukiumi," commented Matsu in a rare serious tone.

Ashikabi had bent over backwards to get this woman to see the light and only now when he basically was a mere moment away from breaking the connection with the blonde did she want to be his Sekirei.

"I say give her another chance Naruto-sama. Tsukiumi is sorry for how she acted toward you. I can feel it deep within my heart!" stated Musubi, as she did not want one of her fellow sisters to be denied an Ashikabi, and hoped Naruto would take her as one of his own.

"Ah...one more chance," said Akitsu, as she knew her Master was a kind man, and would most likely give Tsukiumi one more chance.

"Well Tsukiumi. It seems two of my Sekirei want you gone and the other two believe you deserve one final chance. Which means I am going to be the one who breaks this little tie since their happiness is my happiness," remarked Naruto while lifting Tsukiumi's head to have her look up at him.

"Please forgive me. I...I wish for one more chance. Let me be thy Sekirei. Let me be thy wife," whispered Tsukiumi while her eyes were now filled with tears running down her face.

'Wife? Since when did she come to that conclusion? Do the others...ah forget it. I will just wing her and work from there. And if it is some kind of marriage for them...well then I am one lucky husband,' thought Naruto before he smiled at Tsukiumi and kissed her on the lips to make the connection.

'This feeling. This warmth. My heart, which once fought this feeling...now it embraces, and yearns for more,' thought Tsukiumi while feeling the vast well of power from the man who was now her Ashikabi.

'I really need to find out why she was all resistant against having an Ashikabi. Its clear she was taught in some manner to resist the winging,' thought Naruto before ending the kiss to see the glazed look in Tsukiumi's eyes.

"This water represents my pledge, purify the evil residing in my Ashikabi!" declared Tsukiumi before she found herself looking at an amused Naruto's face.

"Feeling better?" asked Naruto with Tsukiumi going red in the face and jumping away while unable to look him in the eyes.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I be better? I am truly the strongest now!" declared Tsukiumi hotly while still looking embarrassed.

'Some things never change,' thought Naruto before giving the woman a loving hug that made Tsukiumi shift nervously in his embrace.

"Husband, does thou...does thou truly love me?" asked Tsukiumi with Naruto smiling down at the nervous woman.

"Would have I gone through all that trouble to get you to see things clearly if I didn't?" asked Naruto while Tsukiumi held onto him tightly.

"I see thy point. I was a foolish woman. Thou are the strongest Ashikabi in the Sekirei Plan. Thou has the strongest heart. A caring heart. I am honored to be thy wife," said Tsukiumi before kissing him again lovingly.

"Wife? What is that?" asked Musubi curiously while Uzume smacked her hand into her face.

'Great. This will turn out well,' thought Uzume while Matsu giggles perversely.

'Oh yes. Such a soap opera. The naughty Sekirei wives,' thought Matsu while wondering how to make this even more entertaining.

"Ah...I am Master's wife," said Akitsu while blushing heavily since she knew of the term and what it represented to those bonded together.

Cue Tsukiumi's angry tsundere personality.

"No! I am Naruto's one true wife. Thou are all concubines!" stated Tsukiumi angrily at hearing this and pointing at them.

"Says the only one among us yet to have her wedding night," countered Uzume while Tsukiumi growled at her.

"Silence! I have just been wed to my husband. We will have it now and without thy four strumpets here to interrupt us," stated Tsukiumi while pointing an finger at Uzume.

Only to squeak in surprise when Naruto's hand sneaked down to her ass and gave it a nice loving squeeze.

"None of that Tsukiumi. I care about you on the same level as them. They are my Sekirei. You are my Sekirei. We are all family. Show them some respect," said Naruto in a firm tone with Tsukiumi looking down slightly embarrassed.

"Very well. Thou are my husband and I am thy wife. I will comply as a true wife should," said Tsukiumi while Naruto smiled further and gave the woman's butt another squeeze to make the woman's face get redder from the intimate touching.

"What is a wife?" asked Musubi while still confused by what Tsukiumi was referring to regarding what she was calling herself.

"I'll explain it to you later Musubi. We better go and let the two have their time together," said Uzume while using her clothing to drag her and Matsu out of the room since she was sure Matsu would corrupt the fist fighter with her interpretation of it.

Akitsu however, merely locked eyes with Tsukiumi for a few seconds before looking at Naruto, nodded in understanding, and left the room without a word.

"It seems you are going to have quite some competition for my affection after tonight," remarked Naruto while Tsukiumi huffed kept holding him tightly.

"I have no competition. I am the strongest. No Sekirei can match me. Not anymore. Not with thee by my side," replied Tsukiumi before kissing Naruto again and moaned at the sensation caused from the connection.

"We'll see Tsukiumi. We'll see," remarked Naruto while leading a now happy Tsukiumi to the bedroom where they would soon consummate their "marriage" as the busty blonde woman had called their winging.

If winging Sekirei did represent a form of marriage like Tsukiumi thought...he was in for one Hell of a marital ride with all of his Sekirei.

(A/N: YAY! Another update. Hope it was a good read. I found it was a tad difficult to write how Naruto and Tsukiumi would meet. As you can tell, Higa suspects something about our hero, but without any solid proof, he can't make a move, or at least attempt to blackmail Naruto. Not that he would succeed mind you. Until next time...PEACE!)