Son of the Suns

Chapter 8

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

"You have a really nice place," commented Naruto as the lady led him to her BnB.

The bed and breakfast turned out to be a building with a traditional Japanese theme, making it resemble a small Ryokan in a way. There were Shoji doors, Tatami mats, and the communal dining room even featured a Kotatsu.

"You can rest at the table," said the woman, "I'll prepare some dinner for you. The first room at the top of the stairs is yours for the night."

"Thanks again," said Naruto, "sorry I don't have any money to pay you with."

This wasn't completely untrue, as he did have some emergency Drachmae, but his mortal money had been spent buying dinner over the past few days. Who knew that ramen stands in New York were so expensive? Teuchi and Ayame never charged him that much for ten bowls of Miso Char Siu Ramen.

"As I said earlier," said the woman with a smile as she headed for the kitchen, "I'm sure we can work something out. You're a fit and able young man. I'd be willing to waive the fee for some help around the house. I should have dinner ready soon."

"Awesome," said Naruto as he had a seat at the table.

Naruto found himself enjoying the atmosphere here in the BnB, the traditional Japanese décor strangely reminding him of Konoha, though he wasn't completely sure why, and it wasn't long before the woman returned with a tray holding rice, grilled fish, some soup, and tempura, along with a cup of tea.

"Here you go," said the woman, "eat up, and let me know if you need seconds."

"Itadakimasu," said Naruto happily as he dug into the meal.

"Ara ara, you must have been hungry," said the woman with a musical laugh.

"You have no idea," replied the Son of Apollo, "this food is great."

"I'm glad you like it," said the woman, "I cooked everything myself."

"You're really talented," said Naruto as he put down his utensils and stifled a yawn.

"You must be tired from your long day," said the woman as she hid a smile behind her hand, "I recommend that you get some sleep. I'll wash up and you can work off your debt in the morning."

"Sounds good," said Naruto with another yawn, "thanks again for everything."

As Naruto tiredly made his way to his room, he didn't see the smile the woman was sporting shift into something more sinister.

xXsceneXx

"You've really done it now, Gaki," growled the Kyuubi from his cage as Naruto suddenly found himself in his mindscape.

"What do you want?" groaned Naruto, "I was just starting to relax too."

"Your carelessness will be your downfall," snarled the demon fox, "You are in grave danger right now and need to escape! You're lucky I was able to bring you here to warn you before it was too late."

"What are you talking about?" asked Naruto, "I'm just resting in that nice lady's place."

"Ignorant brat!" roared the Kyuubi, "That is no mere human! She reeks of spiders much like Orochimaru reeks of snakes! Her intentions towards you are certainly malicious!"

"What do you care?" scoffed Naruto, "Wouldn't my death benefit you or something?"

"Tch," spat the Kyuubi, "Your bastard of a father tweaked the seal binding me and tied my existence to your own. If you die, then my life will end as well, thus it is in my best interest to keep you alive until I can one day escape."

"Fine then," said Naruto, "but how do I wake up from here?"

"That thing drugged you when you ate," growled the fox, "If I hadn't pulled your conscious mind here before you completely went under, you may have never woken up again. Whatever she dosed you with is strong, but if I channel enough of my Chakra through the seal and into your body, I should be able to force your metabolism to start burning it off."

"Do I have a choice?" asked Naruto with a frown.

"No." said the Fox with a smirk, "This might sting a bit."

Naruto grit his teeth as the Kyuubi let out a roar, causing a red tide to flow out through the water and surround his feet before flowing into him. It was then the pain started.

As the Kyuubi's Chakra flowed into him, it Naruto felt like his nerves were on fire, filled with molten lava, and connected to a live wire that was discharging hundreds of volts into his body. As he let out a yell, he suddenly found himself being pulled away from his mindscape and the dark sewer tunnel faded away to black.

xXsceneXx

Naruto let out a pained gasp as he was jolted into waking, but as he tried to get his bearings, he suddenly found that he couldn't move. Looking down at his prone form, Naruto found, to his horror, that his body had been wrapped in a cocoon that was being woven by hundreds of tiny spiders. Looking around, he saw even more spiders covering the walls and scampering across a large web that had been woven through the room, with his gear scroll hanging from one of the strands.

Focusing, he began to call on the Bijuu Chakra that his 'tenant' had been pumping through his body, transforming him slightly as his whisker marks became more pronounced and his fingernails extended into claws as a fox-shaped shroud of caustic crimson Chakra formed around him. Using this shroud, he burned away the various spiders crawling over his body and allowing him to tear his way out of his bindings with the enhanced strength the Chakra Shroud gave him.

Breathing heavily, Naruto forced back the Kyuubi's Chakra, causing the shroud to fade as the mild burns on his skin from the caustic nature of the Chakra began to heal. Quickly grabbing his things, he unsealed the sword his father gave him and made for the exit, but a voice from above him made him freeze.

"Oh my," said the voice of the woman from earlier, but now it had a slight distortion, making it sound more akin to that of a monster's, "you certainly have spirit, little one. Good. I enjoy a meal with some spice to it."

Naruto spun around and looked up to see the woman from earlier, except she had undergone a drastic change. Her skin was now bone white and her fingers had grown sharp claws. She had gained four new eyes on her face and all six were glowing bright red and her mouth was now filled with razor sharp fangs that dripped with venom. Finally, her lower body was replaced with that of a giant spider, with its eight legs clinging to a web that lined the ceiling.

"I told you she smelled of spiders, ningen," growled the Kyuubi from within the seal.

"What the hell are you?!" yelled Naruto as he took a step back, inching towards the door.

"I am a Jorōgumo," answered the now identified monster, "and boys like you are the perfect food for me and my children. I shall indeed savor this meal."

"Not if I can help it," said Naruto as he made a hand-seal, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu!"

Naruto created several copies of himself and they leapt at the Jorōgumo, blades in hand, but the Yokai simply spat webbing from her maw that snared the Kage Bunshin, allowing her to pull them in close and dispel them with slashes from her claws. She then turned her attention towards the original, and was forced to scamper across the ceiling to dodge several arrows wreathed in golden flames that Naruto had quickly fired from his bow.

"A feeble attempt, young one," spat the female monster as she inspected the damage done to her web, "but ultimately futile. However, you will pay dearly for what you've done to my home!"

The Jorōgumo then spat out several globs of webbing at the Demigod, forcing Naruto to dodge as they impacted against the tatami mats and remained stuck there as hazards, he would have to avoid. Naruto quickly unsealed a few Celestial Bronze Kunai and threw them with deadly speed and precision, causing the Jorōgumo to shriek in pan as they stabbed into her shoulders.

Quickly making several more Kage Bunshin, Naruto had them rush the monster while he hung back with a final one and prepared another attack. Focusing on what he had learned before leaving the Elemental Nations, Naruto began to gather Chakra around his hand while the Kage Bunshin at his side focused on shaping and containing the spiraling Chakra as it formed a spherical shape in his hand.

"You are beginning to annoy me, young one," growled the Jorōgumo as she ripped the Kunai out of her body and tossed them aside before spitting webbing out of her mouth that strung up the Kage Bunshin attacking her, leaving them open as the monster impaled them with her claws, dispelling them, "you will die now and I will feast on your remains!"

"We'll see about that," said Naruto as he dispelled his final Kage Bunshin and jumped at the monster with the spiraling sphere of Chakra in his hand, "RASENGAN!"

Naruto slammed the sphere of Chakra into the stomach of the monster, causing her to let out a shriek of pain as the attack blasted her upwards through the roof of the building as the sphere grinded away at her torso, carrying her into the sky before finally tearing her body apart before finally dissipating. Naruto breathed hard as the adrenaline began to subside and he began to feel the effects of pushing his body so hard, as well as the effects of forcing the Kyuubi's Chakra through the seal to burn off the drugs he had been dosed with. As the monster's remains crumbled to ash as they fell to earth, Naruto decided to make himself scarce before any mortal law enforcement came to investigate the fight. Unsealing his map, he jumped through the hole he had made and continued on his trek to find the entrance to the Underworld.

To be continued…