Original Posted On May 28, 2022

Beta Read by: Darklord331

Review Response:

Borello: Thank you. Hopefully this is an entertaining chapter.

Davidab931: Hm, if I continue Fallen Chimera, you could get that over there. But I don't know. That story just felt off the last few chapters, which is why I haven't touched it in a while.

Guest: Thank you, hopefully this chapter is entertaining.

PauloPT90: Yes, later on, in a moment of defiance or statement to a villain, Naruto will proclaim himself as Uzumaki D. Naruto. Fishmen are yokai, but also a part of any culture that has fish monsters, look at HP Lovecraft's Deep Ones. But yes, they are yokai in themselves, not a subspecies. I mentioned the warlords in chapter 4, but to reiterate, they are just a handful of people who have no allegiance to any faction that are extremely strong, and Jinbe is one of them, and we meet another Warlord here in this chapter. Yes, Naruto will have an Awakening, hopefully a better one because… I am not happy with the course of Awakenings I gave him in Werefox. I feel so stupid.

Calderoneric758: Naruto doesn't know anything about Kuroka, so he can't say she is innocent because he isn't even sure, but he is smart enough to know he only has one story to go off of not the whole story. I actually have an idea, Koneko will learn Rokushiki… and Fishman Karate? What do you think? Will give her an edge in many fights, and I know when she is going to learn it.

BusGrunts: I'll see what I can do, but hopefully, I can mix/mash them together so they can work in harmony. Please, enjoy the chapter.

PLEASE READ: Interesting, I'll try to mix/mash them together to get a hopeful harmony.

Smilix: I'll try that, but chakra might slip in.

Midoriya D. Izuku: Cool name. Hm, naruto won't have a peerage, but I know someone who will and could have Jinbe join them. No, it won't be Rias or Sona.

Harem:

OKAY, LETS READ THIS SHIT! I DON'T OWN NARUTO, ONE PIECE, HIGHSCHOOL DXD OR ANY OTHER ANIME I MAY REFERENCE!

"Hey" = Speaking

'Hey' = Thinking

'Hey' = Memory

"Hey"= Sacred Gear/ Communication link

Chapter 11: Bonds

Lucci's fist embedded itself into Naruto's stomach, the young kitsune gasping, his throat burning as a small amount of vomit shot up his esophagus from the force of Lucci's attack.

"I told you," Lucci stated in irritation as Naruto collapsed, clutching his stomach as he heaved. "Tekkai is defensive. You have to tense your muscles and use your chakra to harden them to be like iron through chakra. Now get up."

Naruto nodded, barely able to get up, his head swimming in pain and nausea as he stood.

It has been over a week since Naruto started training under Lucci, and he has been punched close to a thousand times trying to master the Tekkai power.

Naruto spread his legs, bending them slightly as he positioned his arms beside him.

"Tekkai!" Naruto shouted as he clenched his muscles, flooding his body with chakra.

Lucci raised his fist, punching Naruto in the face…

Naruto went flying backwards, his nose bleeding as it was broken.

"FUCK!" Naruto shouted in pain, grabbing his nose, which Lucci proceeded to grab, snapping it back into place.

Naruto hissed in pain.

"Get back up." Lucci ordered.

"Sensei…" Naruto gasped out, blood soaking into his clothing. "I have a suggestion to speed up my progress…"

"We don't have time for…"

"I can make Shadow Clones." Naruto interrupted his master.

Lucci's ears perked at this.

"Hm, that would speed up the process." He mumbled as he looked at Naruto as he stood up. "Fine, but you need to limit it to five clones, don't want to destroy your mind."

"Yes, sensei." Naruto said as he powered up to his hybrid form, crossing his fingers together.

Five clones appeared of Naruto, and in unison, they took their stances.

"Tekkai." They spoke together.

Lucci raised his fist.

Bael Mansion, Dusk…

"Here." Lucci said to Sairaorg as he tossed an exhausted Naruto toward Misteeta, the young mage catching the kitsune. "Tomorrow is Friday, his day off. Make sure he rests."

Lucci walked past Sairaorg, heading to his own room to rest.

"Naruto, are you okay?" Misteeta asked the Pawn.

Naruto had large, nasty bruises covering his body, blood covering him, especially his face from his nose being broken several times.

"Eh…" Was all he could say before he was taken to his room to get healed by one of the servants… or at least help him quicken his healing, since the bruises were starting to heal on their own.

"What in the world is that guy doing to Naruto?" Kuisha asked Sairaorg as he sat down.

"Training." Sairaorg said as he sighed. "I… I want to spend time with him, try to build a bond, but he has been rebuffing everything we try."

"Well, I don't think this is a good idea, but," Beruka stated. "We could make him do it. By force."

"Now that…"

"I know, it could backfire." Beruka said with his hands up. "But if Naruto won't participate willingly, we need to make him with force."

Sairaorg sighed in irritation.

He loved his peerage, and wanted what was best for all of them, but with Naruto being unwilling to be around them, then he would probably have to force the kitsune.

"I have an idea, cheap, but an idea." Coriana spoke up.

"What?"

Coriana smiled deviously.

Next day…

'Got to work on my body.' Naruto thought as he was out in the nearby woods, pulling handles on a pully system he built with supplies he asked for.

He was shirtless with a pair of jean shorts as he pulling large rocks in his human form, sweating as he pushed himself.

'Grandpa left the schematics for these in his journal,' Naruto thought as he glanced over at the currently closed book. 'He used this to help him master his Santoryu, and so will I.' (1)

Sweat covered Naruto's body, which ached in pain from the previous days training.

Ignoring it, Naruto continued to train as nearby he had ten clones training.

Five of said clones would use Tekkai, while the other five would hit them with thick branches to not waste chakra or risk popping themselves.

The mental strain was hard, but being stubborn and young, Naruto continued to push through it.

"Hey, Naruto."

Naruto didn't stop as he turned his head to see Regulus walking toward him.

"Lion." Naruto panted as he continued to train.

"Regulus." Regulus corrected, not liking being called lion, even though it was what he was. "Anyway, you doing some training?"

Naruto nodded.

"Any reason to why?" Regulus asked as he glanced over at Kurama's journal.

"It is how my gramps trained, so I am doing the same so I can get stronger." Naruto grunted, his arm hurting.

"Didn't you just train yesterday?" Regulus asked as he saw four of Naruto's clones' pop. "Shouldn't you rest for today? Get ready for tomorrows training instead?"

"I can't." Naruto replied as Regulus sat down. "Because if I don't take opportunity, I can fall behind…" Naruto winced as the fifth clone popped, its experiences becoming his own, making him nearly drop. "And I can't have that."

Regulus nodded.

Honestly, he thought Naruto was crazy to do this while still injured.

But he could not help but admire his determination.

As a Sacred Gear turned Devil, Regulus didn't need to train, so he didn't.

"You want my help?" Regulus offered.

"Sure…" Naruto said in a strained tone, struggling to lift the stone now after several hours of working out. "Just… hit the…"

"I think he is trying to say," One of the attacking clones stated to Regulus. "You can help us with our Tekkai training."

"Okay, so what do I need to do?" Regulus asked as he got up from his spot.

"Hit us." The clones said as five more appeared. "Tekkai."

Regulus watched them entered a stance, feeling their chakra be manipulated in a certain way.

Shrugging, he hit one of the clones, popping it with slight resistance.

Evening…

"Thanks… I guess." Naruto gasped as he lay on his back, sweating into the ground as Regulus stood beside him. "You really helped."

"It was nothing." Regulus said as he carefully picked Naruto up, grabbed Kurama's journal, and began walking home. "Hey, want to hear a story?"

"Uh… sure…" Naruto replied weakly, not seeing a reason to say no.

"Many centuries ago, I was a lion in Greece." Regulus told him, putting Naruto on his back. "I was very strong, no one could pierce my hide with any weapon."

"Okay, so what made you become a devil?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Don't jump ahead of me now." Regulus laughed as he walked through the woods, the embers of light shining through the gaps in the trees. "As I was saying, I was a feared creature, and soon I was named the Nemean Lion due to living in Nemea at the time."

"Wait… you are a mythological creature!" Naruto gasped as he realized what story Regulus was telling him.

"Yep, and one day, I was in my den but then I was smoked out by the original Heracles." Regulus continued. "I attacked of course, but the bastard got me in a choke hold, and would not let go. So, I died, he skinned me, and that was that. Or at least it should have, because God had another plan in mind for me."

"What did he do?" Naruto asked, completely enthralled in this story.

"My soul and corpse were harvested, and by God's own hand, I was reborn as the Regulus Nemea, a Longinus Sacred Gear." Regulus explained.

"I have heard of those. They can contain animal spirits and be used to fight." Naruto chirped.

"Yes, but I am a special case, as I was a very strong figure in Greek Myth, so I became one of the strongest." Regulus boasted. "However, many years ago, my previous master was killed, but instead of re-entering the reincarnation cycle for Sacred gears, I manifested and killed my master's killer."

Naruto was stunned silent.

"Several days passed, I was nothing more than an animal, wounded, aggressive…" Regulus continued, his tone becoming sad and somber. "I had no purpose…"

Naruto's eyes widened.

"It wasn't until Master Sairaorg arrived, and with effort, calmed me, gave me a place by his side." Regulus said with a smile, remembering that day. "I became his Pawn, knowing that as long as I had him, I would be able to have a purpose."

Naruto stayed silent as he thought of himself.

'Do I have a purpose?' He thought while thinking of Lucci. 'Do I have a reason to become stronger? To make my parents and family proud? But what would they think of me becoming a devil? Would they still be proud of me?'

These thoughts rushed through his tired brain, and due to the slow movements of Regulus walking, Naruto dozed off, his head against the Lion's shoulder.

'Hm, he fell asleep.' Regulus thought as he picked up his pace. 'Hopefully, this is the crucial first step for all of us to become friends.'

Evening…

Sairaorg and the peerage ate dinner in peace, small chat filling the silence as Sairaorg glanced at Naruto, who was questioning what he was looking at.

"Something wrong?" Sairaorg asked his Pawn.

"No… I just…" Naruto prodded his dish with his fork. "Don't know what it is…"

"It's Sunday Roast." Sairaorg explained. "It's an English dish."

"I'm Japanese." Naruto deadpanned replied.

Sairaorg snorted at Naruto's deadpanned delivery.

"It's good, Naruto." Regulus said as he leaned over his fellow Pawn's shoulder. "Here, this dish is made up of roasted meat of any kind, in this case beef."

"Okay…" Naruto replied.

He liked beef.

"Then there is roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, stuffing, vegetables and gravy." Regulus finished as he ate some of his own. "Just give it a try, buddy."

Naruto frowned as he used his fork and knife to cut some of the beef, a potato, some broccoli, and stabbed it with his fork, coating them in Yorkshire pudding and some gravy.

He hesitated, but eventually took the bite.

"Itsh good…" he mumbled in surprise, chewing what was in his mouth before continuing to eat like a starved beast.

"Ugh, how uncivilized." Kuisha said in disgust from how Naruto ate. "You need to learn some etiquette."

"What's it to you…" Naruto asked with a mouth full of food. "It's how we ate in Kamabakka."

"Well, that is not how we eat here." Kuisha stated sternly. "I will be over seeing that tomorrow."

Naruto blew a raspberry at Kuisha, causing a small amount of his chewed food to fly out of his mouth and hit Kuisha in the face.

Kuisha's eye twitched in anger as she stood up.

"YOU LITTLE BASTARD!" She shouted, only to be further taunted by Naruto when he used his spoon to flick a potato at Kuisha, which she caught in her hand and threw back at him.

It was as if time slowed, Naruto saw it move toward him.

His muscles tensed, and Naruto unconsciously used his chakra to stimulate and harden his body.

The potato smashed itself against Naruto's forehead, Naruto himself not budging.

'Did I succeed?' Naruto questioned as he pulled the potato off of his head. 'It was brief, but it felt different… like I was actually doing Tekkai…'

"GYA!"

Naruto grasped his aching head, which started to swell and steam from Kuisha smacking him in the head, hard.

"You don't play with your food, young man." Kuisha stated, which made everyone chuckle at her antics with Naruto.

"Okay, let's calm down." Regulus said as he stepped between Kuisha and Naruto. "Naruto, you should apologize."

Naruto grunted as he looked at Kuisha.

Taking a deep breath, he sighed.

"I am sorry, Kuisha. I will try to eat more appro… aprop…"

"Appropriately?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, that." Naruto said as he pointed at her.

"Well, apology accepted." Kuisha said as she walked back to her seat. "I apologize for hitting you."

"You're… forgiven." Naruto replied.

Misla smiled brightly as she glanced at Sairaorg, who smiled just as bright.

'This is a good start to building friendships.' They thought as the peerage continued to eat, Naruto getting along well mostly with Regulus.

Two Days Later…

"You have gotten better." Lucci said as he hit a clone, which didn't pop immediately before it hit the ground, popping on contact. "But you need to keep practicing. We have another month and a half left before we move to the next power."

"Yes, Sensei!" Naruto exclaimed as he got back up.

Lucci struck Naruto and his clones in quick succession with ease.

Naruto was able to stay standing, Lucci's fist still pressed against him.

"OWWW…" Naruto said in the most strained, pain filled tone as he collapsed, clutching his chest.

'This kid has gotten much better.' Lucci thought as his hand stung ever so slightly with the fainted pink on his knuckles. 'He might be a good student after all.'

Evening…

Koneko sighed as she sat at a desk, Rias standing before a chalk board with Kiba, Akeno, and a phone in her hand talking to her Bishop, Gasper, going over strategies for future Rating Games.

'Naruto…' Koneko thought in mindless thought as she swayed her feet. 'I wonder what he is doing right now.'

*Knock, knock*

"Come in." Rias said as she took off her glasses as the door opened, revealing one of the maids.

"Lady Rias, Koneko has some visitors." The maid said with a bow.

"Who?" Koneko asked as she got up, her nose catching a familiar scent before the door opened revealing Guts and Casca.

Koneko closed the distance and hugged Casca, who spun on the ball of her foot as she hugged the nekoshou.

"We missed you, squirt." Guts said as he patted Koneko's head. "You holding up well."

"Of course, now more than ever before." Koneko said as she hugged Guts.

"Nice to see you again Guts, but I must ask…" Rias told her fellow King as Casca and Koneko started walking to Koneko's room. "Why do you visit so often? I understand that you three are close from the time… her sister… was apart of Griffith's peerage, but aren't you trying to build your peerage?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Guts asked her as his one eye looked at her as he scratched his head. "I made a vow to keep an eye on Shi… I mean, Koneko."

Rias quirked an eyebrow.

"Who was this vow made too?" She asked.

"I made it to myself." Guts told her, not faltering. "Look, Rias, I know she is your Rook, but you don't know her like Casca and I do, and ever since that incident, she isn't the same. I am going to be there for Koneko, she is my friend."

Guts turned and quietly walked toward Koneko's room, leaving the King, Queen, and Knight perplexed.

"Do you really have an issue with Guts, Rias?" Kiba asked as he got up. "From what we know, he is a respectable King, and since he knows Koneko, having him around is beneficial to her growth, especially with Naruto."

"Indeed, Rias." Akeno interjected.

"Its because that he knew her before the death of Griffith." Rias told them as she sat down. "I don't mind him visiting, but if his and Casca's presence cause a relapse for Koneko, I won't be happy."

"Oh, I see." Akeno said in concern. "It would be bad… but we don't need to worry, as Kiba said, Naruto is here too."

Koneko's Room…

"I'm happy that your friend is alive and well, Koneko." Casca said as Koneko put on some music to fill the air. "He must have been happy to see you again after so many years."

"Yes, he was." Koneko said with a blush, thinking about Naruto.

This was accompanied with a smile, but it faltered as she became saddened.

"But currently, he is being trained by someone, and so I won't be able to spend as much time as I want to with him." Koneko admitted.

"Sorry, squirt." Guts apologized as he entered the room. "Your King wanted to speak with me."

There was an awkward silence as Koneko stared at Guts' arm, which was covered in fresh bandages, his right eye closed permanently due to his eye being punctured beyond repair.

"How… hm… how are you doing… with those…" Koneko nervously asked, a strange mix of guilt and false responsibility sinking into the marrow of her bones.

"Oh, these?" Guts asked as he tapped his eye and arm. "Very good, actually. Still weird as I can 'FEEL' it, but it isn't there."

"Phantom pain and senses are a thing, Guts." Casca stated with a chuckle.

Guts rolled his eye and shrugged.

"Anyway, Koneko, you don't need to worry, I am having a replacement made currently by Rickert." Guts explained as he sat down. "So, what music are we listening too, Squirt?"

"Gorillaz." Koneko said as she turned the dial up, increasing the volume.

Meanwhile, Somewhere in the Ocean…

Kuroka was nervous.

She stood beside Iva, Inazuma, and two warriors of Kamabakka on a secluded island several miles away from Kamabakka for a meeting with a rival country.

'The Snake Princess, a Warlord…' Kuroka thought as she saw the boat of the Kuja tribe draw closer, being drawn by two gigantic sea snakes. 'She is known for her unappareled beauty and Gorgon powers. Is she truly like Medusa of Myth? Or is she someone like her? And as a Warlord, does she know about the others? Does she know them personally?'

Kuroka could feel great powers on the boat as it docked.

Two Kuja warriors stepped off the boat, followed by the trio who ruled the Kuja on Amazon Lily.

Boa Marigold.

Boa Sandersonia.

Boa Hancock.

Marigold was a large, wide woman with orange hair, wearing pink standard Kuja attire with a cape. In her hand she held a halberd.

Sandersonia was a tall, thin woman with a snake like tongue sticking out of her mouth. Her head was misshaped, but didn't matter as she was a snake like being, with long wavy green hair. She wore a green version of the Kuja attire with a green cape like Marigold.

Hancock was the most human looking out of the three.

Long black hair, hour glass figure, regal clothing to show her status as the Leader.

She wore a cape over her shoulders, with her snake ally, Salome, behind her.

"Iva…" Hancock stated as she approached the leader of Kamabakka.

"Hancock." Iva stated in irritation, his female body tense with barely hidden aggression.

A table was brought off of the ship and put between Hancock and Iva, with a chair being given to Iva while Salome coiled beneath Hancock before she gently sat on him.

"May our meeting between Okama and Kuja begin." Iva and Hancock stated, both holding barely hidden contempt.

"Before we start talking about anything else," Hancock said before the paperwork could be produced. "Why does this fat nekoshou have Wado Ichimonji? It is the weapon of my Blood-Sister, Kushina, so why is it in your possession?"

Hancock turned her angered gaze to Kuroka, who froze under said gaze.

"Well, speak up, girl." Hancock ordered Kuroka, not wanting to be kept waiting.

"Uhm… it's a long story." Kuroka mumbled nervously.

Chapter 11, DONE!

1 Naruto is doing Zoro's training from when he was at the Dojo he trained at. So, any other kind of training for swordsmanship Naruto goes through is Zoro's training. To a degree.

Well, this was a slow chapter, but I feel like the next few chapters will be focusing on Naruto's training for each power, so next should be…. Shigan, the Finger Pistol. So, if you have an idea for how this technique works, please help… HELP!

Besides that, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, seeing Naruto bonds with the peerage are starting, so hopefully I can at least have a few of them get better over the next few chapters because after the training chapters are done, I am jumping to a scene I have been looking forward to.

If you enjoyed, please leave a review, if you disliked, leave a review anyway because it helps me become a better author.