Original Posted On Jan. 6, 2023

Beta Read by: Darklord331

Review Response:

Nathair1: In a sense, yes, Coriana wants Naruto to have a good time. LOL, Sabo is a prankster and a fun big bro. I had a lot of fun writing Naruto's dream.

NaruLemon Stories: Thank you.

Sullaz16: Thank you. It is fun writing and setting things up before season one, which is canonically two years away.

PkmntrainerCam: Yes.

Shadowbloodedge9396: I had a difficult time writing that part, you'll see. Couldn't do anything… Lemon… like since they are 12-13, and I am not pulling a Stephan King. It is Kratos from God of War 4, telling Atreus to close his heart to suffering. Nope, the holiday stuff didn't ease up until New Years finished.

Redmen6blight: I'll try to humiliate Hidan.

Phillyitalian: Lightning Bolt Eyes? Kuisha does discipline Coriana about it, when she catches her that is.

Borello: Thank you, sorry for the long wait.

PLEASE READ: Yeah, I'll fix the measurements, and thanks for pointing it out.

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 27: Temporary Home

?...

Hidan and Kakuzu hit hard ground, which didn't hurt them in any meaningful way, but it hurt.

"FUCK!" Hidan screamed as he couldn't move, his body being damaged to the point of paralysis.

"You two did excellent work out there against those two CP0 agents." Their savior said as the small orange haired individual said.

"We like the skills you showed off while fighting." The taller, bald one said in a similar dull tone.

"What is it to you?" Kakuzu asked as his wires reattached themselves properly, allowing him to stand shakily, his limbs feeling stiff after being cut.

A third member approached from behind Kakuzu, his eyes widening.

Hidan started to feel a cold sweat cover his head, the rest of his body unmoving due to his paralysis.

An immense pressure becoming stronger with each sound of the steps.

*Pain's Theme*

"Because…" A serious tone spoke from behind the two men. "You two will work for me from now on… and all shall know pain."

"O-only…" Hidan gasped out. "If I get to kill that mangy wolf!"

Deva Pain nodded.

"Agreed, but first, let's heal your wounds." He said as another Pain approached, a King of Hell appearing before the group, opening its mouth.

It's split tongue grabbed Hidan and Kakuzu with the hands on the tips before pulling them into its mouth.

Next Day, Clinic…

Jabra chuckled as Kaku glared at his comrade while a nurse drew blood from the giraffe.

"Shut up, mutt and finish writing your stupid kenpo for Naruto." Kaku snapped as the nurse finished drawing the necessary blood.

"Whatever…" Jabra snickered as he held the journal in his hand, closing it. "I just finished."

Jabra got up, lazily leaving with a quick spin, flipping Kaku off with a shrewd cackle.

Using his keen sense of smell, Jabra found Naruto in a separate room with a doctor showing him X-rays of his leg.

"… thank Lucifer your comrade had Phenex Tears." The Doctor said with a gigantic sigh of relief. "If he didn't, then your leg would have been lost and prosthetics would be needed."

Naruto barely, BARELY, nodded his head as he dully looked at the ground, ignoring the X-rays.

His ears and tail were drooped.

"Can I go home now?" He asked softly in a whisper.

The doctor didn't answer right away, jotting down notes on a clip board.

"Yes, you are dismissed… You don't need your…" The doctor started to say before Jabra entered the room.

"He can go home, I'll inform Lucci." He said as he knelt down to Naruto's level. "Sup, brat, got your book. I added my Tekkai-Kenpo."

He handed the item to its owner, who accepted it with barely any acknowledgement.

Jabra frowned, having expected a better reaction.

'It doesn't feel right for a kid his age to be like this.' He thought as he stood up, ruffling Naruto's hair. "Go home, eat… or shower, do something to relax. You've earned it."

Naruto nodded again as he got up, walking out of the hospital without a word.

Gremory Mansion…

With music playing from her phone and a speaker, Koneko got out of the shower, the warm water dripping from her hair as she exited the tub and wrapped a towel across her body then a smaller one being used to dry her hair.

'I need to get it trimmed again.' She thought as she noticed it starting to be a bit to long for her taste.

Koneko's attention was pulled when she heard her phone go off.

'A text?' She thought as she looked at the screen, drying her hand well enough to touch it. 'From Sairaorg…'

Phenex Mansion…

"… FETCH!" Ravel shouted as she threw a massive rubber ball as far as she could.

Loona took off after the ball, but skidded to a halt, to only miss the ball as Onimaru smugly caught it with ease.

It was Ravel's daily play time with her familiars, Loona and Onimaru, and she never missed it.

Even when she went to the Bael house, she would always spend an hour with her familiars.

Danjuro smiled as he poured Ravel's tea, noticing her phone go off as Onimaru trotted over to Ravel, giving her back the ball.

"Who's a good boy?" Ravel asked as she cupped her Tenko's face and kissed his head. "Who's a good boy?"

"Lady Ravel, you have received a text from Lord Sairaorg." Danjuro called out from the gazebo.

'Why would he text me?' Ravel asked as she walked to her Bishop and took her phone.

Fifteen Minutes Later…

"He has been in the gym since he got back and hasn't left?" Koneko asked in confusion.

"Yeah, he hasn't eaten since… well, we don't know, but he refuses to talk about what happened." Kuisha said with worry as she looked toward the closest door which led to the gym.

"And you want us to try to convince him to stop, am I correct in this assumption?" Ravel asked as she looked toward the door, concern written on her face.

"That is the plan." Kuisha said as she walked to the door. "Just… expect resistance."

Kuisha opened the door, Koneko and Ravel's sense of smell was hit by a pungent and thick odor of sweat as they entered.

Naruto was COVERED in glistening sweat as he was getting off a treadmill, his arms and legs having arm/leg weight bracers.

His haggard breathing showed he has consumed barely any water as he swayed.

"Naruto…" Kuisha called out, Naruto's head whipping around to stare at her, seeing his friends, revealing thick bags under his eyes, showing he barely slept.

"Koneko… Ravel…" He gasped out, wiping the sweat from his eyes.

"They heard you were back and…"

"I'm busy." Naruto said shakily as he walked toward the pullup bar. "You two… you two…"

Naruto's eyes quickly became fogged as his head started to spin.

His knees buckled.

Few Minutes Later…

Naruto's head lay in Koneko's lap as she fanned him with Ravel next to her as the trio sat outside in the shade.

Ravel pouted as she held up a glass of water.

"Here, you need the water." She said as she brought it to his lips.

Naruto tiredly drank a little of the offered water.

"Why were you doing this?" Koneko asked sternly. "You were seriously dehydrated and did you get ANY sleep last night?"

Naruto stayed quiet, curling up tighter as he avoided the gazes of Koneko and Ravel.

"Naruto," Ravel said softly as she reached out and gently brushed some of his hair aside. "What happened on your mission?"

Naruto shuddered, his tail bristling, as Koneko helped Naruto sit up, allowing him to bury his head into his arms.

"My mission, with sensei…" He mumbled.

"…yes…" Ravel asked slowly.

Naruto closed his eyes.

"I… I…" Naruto tried speaking.

He remembered his blade, emblazed with fire, cutting Shigure's chest open.

Koneko took his hand and squeezed it reassuringly.

"I killed someone." Naruto replied. "Kaku and Jabra were fighting the ones who we were hunting, but… a third person was with them. Sensei told me to fight… but I froze… I fucking FROZE IN FEAR!"

Naruto stood up quickly, shame filling his body.

"I WAS SCARED TO FIGHT! LIKE A DAMN COWARD!" Naruto shouted as he punched the nearby tree, splintering it into toothpicks. "I WAS SCARED OF DYING, AND KILLED OUT OF FEAR, NOT… not because…"

Naruto shuddered again.

"I failed as a fighter. I should have digyaaaah…"

Koneko's hand steamed against Naruto's skull.

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED WHILE FIGHTING!" Koneko screamed, turning Naruto around to stare him in the eyes as she grabbed his shirt, forcing him to her eye level.

Naruto's eyes widened when he saw tears swelling in her eyes.

"IF… If you died…" Koneko shuddered with a quivering lip. "I'd be sad…"

Naruto wrapped his arms around Koneko, hugging her tightly.

Ravel hugged Naruto and Koneko, feeling Naruto's tail wrap around her waist.

"I'm sorry…" Naruto mumbled into Koneko's hair.

"Just don't say you'd die, ever." Koneko sniffled.

"I won't…"

"Promise?" Ravel asked.

"Yes."

Ravel and Koneko sighed in relief.

Naruto settled into the hug, before his eyes bugged open.

"OH CRAP!" He shouted, forcing his way out of the hug. "I NEED TO GET MY STUFF PACKED FOR SCHOOL!"

One Hour Later, Bael Mansion…

"…You got this from killing that Shigure guy?" Koneko asked for the umpteenth time as she looked at the ring sword propped against Naruto's wall as he and his clones packed as much of his belongings as possible.

"Yes, Koneko it is." Naruto huffed, looking around. "Where is Ravel?"

Meanwhile…

"… you are going to Kuoh as a student too?" Sairaorg asked as Ravel nodded.

"Yep, and with the permission of the Satan's, I am one of three owners of the territory with Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri." Ravel explained in restrained excitement.

"Excuse me, Sairaorg." Gandoma said as he entered the room, a package in hand. "But Iv… I mean, a special guest dropped by and dropped off this for…" Gandoma reread the name. "Koneko Toujo."

"Give me a second." Sairaorg told his Rook before returning his attention to Ravel. "We will pick the conversation up later."

"Understood." Ravel said with mild irritation. 'Damn. I thought this would wield results this time.'

"Alright, let's go give this to Koneko." Sairaorg said as they walked to Naruto's room.

The trio walked to the kitsune's room, finding the door open and the room stripped of most of its belongings.

"AAAAND Done…" Naruto gasped as he lay across his bed, mentally exhausted.

"Don't forget your porn." Koneko said as she held up a small magazine.

"That isn't…"

"Ahem…"

Naruto and Koneko turned to see an irritated Ravel with Sairaorg and Gandoma.

"Sup/How's it going?" Naruto and Koneko said as the trio entered the room.

"A package came in," Sairaorg said as he held up the package. "For Koneko."

"For me?" Koneko said in confusion as she tilted her head in confusion as Sairaorg gave her the package.

Koneko started opening the package as Ravel walked up to Naruto and grabbed his arm.

A tick mark appeared on Koneko's forehead as she finished.

'What… are these?' Koneko said as she lifted the lid off.

It was a pair of gauntlets.

They have fabric with white metal on the back of the arms and the back of the hands with a knuckle cover. They are white with a purple stream like design like black panther with a purple cat paw pad on the back of the hand.

Koneko pulled them out to look at them, causing a piece of paper to fall out.

"Instructions?" Koneko said as she looked at the paper, seeing a bullet point list on it. "Hm…"

"These are really nice, but who is the sender?" Naruto asked as he took one of the gauntlets and slipped it on.

The leather/fabric stretched to fit tight, but enough to not cut circulation.

"Wow, like Black Panther." Koneko said with giddiness.

"What is like what?" Ravel asked in confusion.

"Black Panther is a Marvel Comic Book Hero, and he has the abilities of a Panther, but more so, his body armor absorbs concussive energy, stores it, then the user can use it in their attacks." Koneko said as she put the other one on. "Naruto, hit my hand with that one."

Naruto and Koneko balled up their armored fists, and hit them hard enough.

The purple highlights started to glow purple, the brightest part being closest to the elbow.

"And then…" Koneko said as she read the paper once again. "Oh… bad idea to do that in here."

"What do you…" Naruto asked as Koneko opened the window, and held her hand out.

She snapped her finger… and a concussive force of energy visibly shook the air.

"Oh… I see." Naruto said as he stuck his hand out and did the same.

"These are gonna be great help." Koneko said with giddiness as Naruto gave her the second gauntlet.

"Whoever sent them must have known, but I am curious, why did they send it." Ravel asked as she looked in the box, and found a second piece of paper.

All it had was the kanji for 'Kuro' on it.

Confused, Ravel kept it to herself.

'Well, at least she isn't completely useless now.' Ravel thought as she watched Naruto and Ravel look at her new toys.

Next Day…

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAT!" Vulcan screamed as she held the Rinka Enreki-tō in her hands. "You want to give this to me!"

"Yeah… I already have the swords I require," Naruto said with his ears ringing. "So, keeping it would be a waste. Let someone who wants to use it buy it, you know?"

"But…but… this is a treasure…" Vulcan stammered. "You won this, so just giving it to me is stupid. Here," She walked over to her register and opened it. "I'll give you…"

"Vulcan, I don't want any money…"

"Nonsense!"

"Seriously, I don…"

"Then what do you want?" Vulcan huffed, glaring at the younger yokai. "I won't take that weapon without compensating you."

Naruto cupped his chin and closed his eyes in thought.

"How about we put it under an IOU for now, Vulcan." Naruto said as he opened his eyes.

Vulcan deflated.

"Fine, I will take it. Just remember I owe you one." She said as she took the Ring Sword and put it in a display in the back.

"Thanks, Vulcan."

"Not a big deal for my favorite customer."

"Well, I am leaving soon…"

"WHAT!" Vulcan screamed again, grabbing Naruto. "Where are you going!"

"Uh… Kuoh, Japan…"

Vulcan gasped.

"And you'd leave me here alone…" She asked in a sad tone, depression lines over her head.

"What? No, I'd visit…"

"Yeah, only for sword maintenance." Vulcan 'cried'.

Naruto couldn't immediately respond, a look of 'oh fuck' on his face.

"See, you don't care or see me as your friend." Vulcan cried in sadness. "Wait…"

She wiped her eyes before walking behind her counter, rummaging through some paperwork.

"What are you…"

"Yes, here it is." Vulcan said as she popped back from under her desk. "I found my summoning seal."

She placed it in Naruto's hand, a bright smile on her face.

"If you need maintenance or want to talk, use this and summon me." She said with a cheerful tone and bright smile.

"…okay." Naruto said in defeat.

Skip…

It was early morning, the sun barely up in the sky as Naruto stood with Ravel, Danjuro, Manami, Koneko, Kiba, Akeno, Rias, Sona, and Tsubaki at the train station with Naruto saying goodbye to his peerage.

"It will be boring without you here, li'l man." Coriana said as she hugged Naruto goodbye.

"See you, bro." Regulus said as he and Naruto fist-bumped before hugging.

Ravel watched patiently before turning to Sairaorg.

"Ravel Phenex," Sairaorg said seriously as he pulled what appeared to be a piece of leather and placed it in her hand.

Ravel mentally gasped when she realized it was a Substitute Acknowledgement Card.

"I entrust you with my Pawn. With this card, you can allow him to Promote." Sairaorg explained, smiling.

Ravel's eyes were wide as she held the card in her hand.

"I accept this responsibility, Sairaorg." She said with a bow, her heart fluttering. 'Beat that, Toujo.'

"Yo, the train is going to leave if we don't hurry." Naruto called out as he heard someone on the train mention it.

Sairaorg and his peerage watched the younger devils scramble to get their luggage and tickets ready to board.

"You think he is ready?" Kuisha asked her King.

"Even if he isn't, he has friends to keep him in line." Sairaorg said as the train started to move, a window opening to reveal his Pawn.

"LATER EVERYONE!" Naruto shouted as the train picked up speed. "FORGET TO WRITE!"

Naruto pulled himself back into the train, closing the window before he made his way to sit down next to Ravel.

Currently, he was with Ravel, Danjuro, and Manami in their train car while Koneko was with her peerage.

"Would you like some sweet ginger tea?" Danjuro asked Naruto.

"Sure, Gentle."

Danjuro poured Naruto his tea and handed it to the kitsune.

"Thank you." Naruto said as he blew on the tea a few times before he started to drink.

Ravel was smiling so brightly it was like sitting next to the sun, which Naruto had noticed.

"What has you so happy, Ravel?" Naruto asked his friend as he put his tea down.

"Well, Sairaorg trusted you to me." She said as she pulled out the Substitute Acknowledgement Card. "So… it's like I'm your King now."

"Alright." Naruto said nonchalantly, which made Ravel happy he didn't mind working with her.

"Also, Naruto, since you are under my care, would you like to live in the house my parents have bought for us to use?" Ravel asked slightly nervous, her guts tightening with worry.

"Oh, that will be much easier than trying to find an apartment. Yes, I'll take your offer." Naruto jumped onto the idea quickly.

Some time passed, and Naruto was leaning into Ravel, eyes heavy with boredom.

"Naruto…" Ravel whispered as she leaned into him. "Can I ask you something?"

"Go ahead." Naruto replied as he rubbed the tired from his eyes.

"Do you trust me?" Ravel asked sincerely.

"What do you mean? Of course I trust you." Naruto said as he didn't understand the nature of her question.

"Well, you and Toujo have known each other since childhood, so I feel like there are things you two keep from me." Ravel explained. "I just don't want there to be any secrets you know…"

Naruto bit his lip.

'Granny Misla said to never tell anyone of my family… but…' Naruto thought, remembering Misla telling him to be careful so long ago.

Naruto motioned for Ravel to get closer.

She leaned in and Naruto cupped his mouth.

"My true name, that is what I am keeping secret." He whispered barely. "I use Bael to protect myself. My true name… is Uzumaki D. Naruto."

Ravel pulled back, staring into Naruto's eyes with shock and surprise.

'Uzumaki… like the Ashura and Red Death?' She thought as she thought about the Hero's of the War that they celebrated during the Festival of the End.

Her eyes opened further when she realized who Naruto's parents were.

"You…"

Naruto's hands covered her mouth, his eyes BEGGING Ravel to not say anything.

Naruto used one hand to motion a 'shush' motion.

Ravel nodded.

"Safe… with me…" She said slowly and softly as Danjuro and Manami re-entered the cart with lunch. 'He trusted me with this, and I will keep it safe.'

The door to the train car opened, Koneko entering with an irritated look on her face.

"I finally broke through that magic barrier, Phenex!" Koneko declared in an exhausted tone. "Now, GET AWAY FROM NARUTO!"

Koneko pounced onto the blonde female, pushing her way between Naruto and Ravel.

The fight between them lasted an hour, all the while Naruto ate lunch with Danjuro and Manami.

Several Hours Later…

'It has been so long since I've been to Japan.' Naruto thought as he and his group exited the train station. 'It feels good to be back home.'

"Naruto, our home is this way." Ravel said as she took his hand. "Come on, we don't need you getting lost."

Koneko death glared at Ravel at this action.

She took a few steps forward before a hand gently grabbed her shoulder.

"Come on, Koneko." Rias said as she pulled her Rook the opposite direction. "We are also in a hurry."

'You win this time, Phenex.' Koneko thought as they left. 'Don't get comfortable, though.'

Chapter 27, DONE!

Koneko's Gauntlets look like the Silver/Gold Gauntlets from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time if you want a clearer idea of the look.

Sorry it took so long, this chapter… was excessively difficult to write because nothing really happens in it, and thus difficulty was assured.

I hope it is decent to say the least.

If you liked or disliked the chapter, let me know so I can become a better author.