A/N:

Naruto + Highschool DXD

I do not own anything from Naruto or Highschool DXD

Chapter 3 of The Crown of Thorns is here! More to come soon. For anyone wondering about my other stories, updates are coming, but probably not as fast as you would like. When I first started creating these fics I had some extra time on my hands to write. Unfortunately, life is crazy and the time I had then is now virtually nonexistent. Updates will come, eventually…

Thank you.

Chapter 3: What Are You?

*Kuoh Academy*

To the students of Kuoh Academy, transfer students were quite common, ever since the transition from an all-girls school to co-ed, new students had been showing up on a regular basis. The school's high academic standards and a sterling reputation for fostering successful students had brought in a large number of aspiring teens, as well as some perverts. It was to be expected with the extremely high number of female students that enterprising perverts would apply in hopes of creeping on or getting with one or more of the numerous girls. The school board was actually against transitioning the school to co-ed and it was only at the behest of the school's largest donor that the transition was approved. Under the pretext of bettering the school and donating even more money, the donor was able to get the school board to agree to nearly everything that they requested. While the school's funding and admission rose, the board was clueless to the hidden intentions of Zeoticus Gremory.

It was also because of donations that the Occult Research Club was given complete control over the old school building that sat on the campus grounds. Such a small club did not need such a large building and yet extravagance and indulgence were the norms for devils. As a front for a devil peerage, the Occult Research Club needed a suitable and private location to conduct their meetings and business, while maintaining their 'human' image.

Currently sitting in the comfy chairs of the old school house's main room were two beautiful teens, each looking over reports and forms that they were required to read over and fill out as 'owners' of Kuoh territory. The rest of their peerage members were out on commissions or tasks assigned to them, leaving the two young girls alone in the large clubhouse. The entire peerage was close-knit and cared for each other intensely but as the two long-time friends sat in private they were able to work and relax with a more natural peace and companionship between them with some tea and snacks to share.

Sitting with a cup of tea next to her and a report in her hand was Rias Gremory, daughter of Zeoticus Gremory and Venalana Bael-Gremory. Even sitting in a relaxed and slouched manner her form was spectacular with large bountiful breasts, a slim waist, wide hips, a plump round ass, and thick thighs. Wearing the Kuoh girl uniform which hugged her form and flashed her panties, the young girl was supernaturally beautiful, the envy and admiration of all of the students and teachers of the school. Her creamy skin, blue-green eyes, and brilliant crimson-red hair added to her allure a beauty, standing out amongst the other people of Japan.

Sitting next to her was another stunning girl, with the appearance of a Yamato Nadashiko, Akeno Himejima the queen of Rias's peerage. Even while she was munching on a small cookie and looking over a small folder of documents she still looked the part of a supermodel. With vibrant violet eyes and long and luscious black hair tied into a ponytail with a small orange ribbon, she was near equally desired and praised by her peers. Much like her king Akeno wore the Kuoh uniform which didn't do much to hide her luscious legs, bubble butt, wide hips, trim waist, and large breasts that even beat out Rias's.

The normality and more relaxed time they were spending together was actually quite rare for the king and queen as school, devil duties, and most of all Rias's unwanted engagement often left the two stressed or busy. Alongside the standard reports and paperwork that they were looking over Rias and Akeno were also looking over and discussing two peculiarities that were potentially valuable to their intentions. It was actually a pervert and a new student that were the topic of discussion for the two beauties, two people that were both somewhat of a mystery.

The pervert, Issei Hyoudou, who despite being average in looks, average in physical fitness, and below average in intelligence, was actually a person of intrigue. Most would say that the only thing of note about Issei was his perversion, which was even greater than any other pervert around. His perverse thoughts and actions were so well known around the school and the town of Kuoh in general that even someone who had never met the boy knew he was a pervert. His level of pervertedness was near to that of insanity, the boy craved and desired a woman's body, especially her breasts, like a drug addict needing his next fix. It was only due to Rias's intervention that Issei and his two perverted friends were not expelled from the school, or in jail. Due to his severe perverted desires, the devil knew that it would only take some light flirting and promises of a peek or perhaps touch for a woman to get him to do anything that she wanted. Rias herself had intended to use this weakness for her own benefit should she have to, as it seemed the girl 'Yuuma Amano' was doing now.

Most normal people would question why a cute girl like 'Yuuma' or a drop-dead beauty like Rias would desire anything from such a bland and perverted boy like Issei, yet what they did not have the capability to realize is that the brown-haired boy possessed a Sacred Gear. Rias and her peerage had been scouting Issei for quite a while now and had finally confirmed that he possessed one of God's creations, it was so well hidden inside of him that it was a miracle they were even able to feel it at all.

The signature that his gear possessed was extremely hard to detect, most likely made even more difficult by how abysmally small his magic capacity was, and determining which of the numerous types of sacred gears he possessed was near impossible at the time. Rias's rook Koneko, who was by far the best sensor of the group was not even able to determine which sacred gear it was, only that it had given off a light draconic feel.

The energy signature that exuded from his body, while still extremely low was ever so slowly increasing in strength, which would explain how he drew the attention of the Fallen Angel 'Yuuma'. The intrusion of fallen angels and their ex-church lackeys in devil territory was a concern, yet they could be of use, they clearly believed that they were hidden yet that was not the case. Rias had her familiar and various members of her peerage observing the group from the moment they entered into Kuoh. They had yet to do anything of note other than trespassing, so Rias had decided to simply observe them for now. Apparently, they had decided to make their move and one of the fallen had disguised themselves as a young and cute girl to gain the attention of Issei, who appeared to be their target of interest.

Rias was planning to make a move against the group that was camping out in the old abandoned church now that they were making a move, but not immediately. Allowing their plans to play out could lead to discovering even more of their plots and more about Issei's sacred gear, it was a risk but was a risk that she was willing to take.

Sure most people would say that it was cold and possibly even evil of her to use Issei as bait in a situation that was potentially deadly and that he had no idea the true scope of, but she was a pure-blood devil, who had a vastly different set of moral ideals. Allowing the fallen angels to go through with their plan enabled her to gather more evidence to record in case the Grigori thought to raise a fuss if she killed the group of ex angels and it also gave the crimson-haired girl an opportunity to see Issei's potential and if he could awaken his sacred gear and possibly allow her to add him to her peerage.

The second topic of Rias and Akeno's current discussion was even more of a mystery, Naruto Uzumaki, the newest transfer student to Kuoh Academy, the admittedly handsome blond was a complete conundrum. Rias, her fellow devil king Sona Sitri, Akeno, and Sona's queen Tsubaki Shinra first met the boy around two weeks ago when he showed up as a new student in their class. As soon as he was introduced by the teacher the four devils were instantly on alert as they felt a completely bizarre energy coming from the boy, even when they spent the entire class observing him and reaching out to his energy they were unable to find out what he was, they only ended up getting in trouble for not paying attention to the teacher.

After classes were over for the day both Rias and Sona sent one of their peerage members to follow him and try and figure out anything that they could about him. Once again relying on her best sensor Rias sent Koneko out alongside one of Sona's bishops Momo Hanakai, following him off the school grounds and to an apartment building. Unfortunately, even after following him nearly every day since he came to Kuoh, Koneko was unable to confirm anything about him.

While the entire situation was concerning it was also quite funny for Rias and Akeno to see Koneko's confused frown and her frustrated snack-munching when she came back empty-handed. From her reports Naruto's daily schedule was extremely plain and entirely consistent, every day he would wake up, get prepared, go to school, and go directly back home after classes ended. Unlike most teens who would hang out with friends and enjoy their lives, the blond seemed entirely uninterested in any of that, not socializing with anyone and spending his time at home alone, simply doing his homework and then watching tv and playing video games.

Unlike his boring social life, his energy was anything but plain. Koneko had great sensing skills and was even trained extensively in the underworld by both the Gremory servants and a member of Rias's older brother Sirzechs peerage to be even better at sensing. Even with all of that training, the cat-like girl was still completely stumped when it came to the blue-eyed boy. His energy signature was honestly the most confusing thing the rook had ever felt, and she was actually extremely embarrassed when she returned with so little to report.

The feel of his energy was very strange, according to Koneko it felt as if Naruto was a mixing pot of different supernatural entities, yet with a sort of interference over top of it. The small amount of power that could be sensed from him was a swirling and chaotic maelstrom of different powers that were either undeterminable or against everything that was known about the supernatural.

Demonic power, pure holy power, and human magic were the only signatures that Koneko was able to detect and confirm that Naruto had. When Koneko was observing him and later on reporting her findings to her king these answers only brought about more questions.

While Koneko could not detect what the other powers he possessed were she could tell that he had quite a few different signatures. It wasn't unheard of for beings to possess more than one nature, especially with the creation of the Evil Pieces. Akeno, for example, was a half human - half fallen angel, now turned devil, who possessed demonic energy, tainted light energy, and a small sliver of human magic. Yet even the most diverse supernatural creatures only possessed around three or four natures, not the large number that this questionably 'human' boy possessed.

Of possibly even more worry was the natures that Koneko was able to sense. Demonic power and Pure Holy power were not complimentary natures. It was universally accepted that they could never mix, God would never allow it. When an angel fell and joined the ranks of the Grigori they retained their use of light but it became tainted, different than the pure and holy light of the angels, and when a fallen was reincarnated as a devil that light power was tainted even further. To find someone with both demonic and holy power was inconceivable, and it made Rias want to know more and gain Naruto as a member of her peerage.

As Rias read over her rook's report her mind was filled with questions. "Naruto Uzumaki, what are you?"

7/17/2023

Notes -

Yes, Naruto will be a little bit of a loner, at least temporarily. He has been through a lot he's bound to be at least somewhat messed up. (more will be revealed in coming chapters).

Naruto is not a Nephilim. Since the time skip Koneko is able to detect multiple different energy types coming from Naruto, but is unable to determine what they all are due to Gabriel's blessing and the energy fighting itself inside Naruto. (more will be revealed in coming chapters).