Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Highschool DXD if I did this story would not be here

Vermilion Devil

Chapter 6: Friends?

"Don't hang around that kid."

"Stay away from him."

"You're not welcome here!"

"Get out of here you monster!" Villagers screaming at a young Naruto from all sides. Naruto dropped down to his knees and covered his ears. "Please, stop!"

"You don't belong here!"

"You'll never be a leaf ninja let alone the Hokage!"

"Just get out of here already!"

"MAKE IT STOP!" Naruto screamed. At his words a flash of white appeared before him, next thing he knew everything was silent. When Naruto opened his eyes he found himself at a setting where two stone statues facing each other with a large waterfall between them. Naruto looked down to find himself being jacked up by someone with a lightning filled hand. This person was his former teammate and his former best friend.

Sasuke Uchiha

"Naruto, you pathetic loser, you don't have what it takes to beat me, and you wanna know something? YOU NEVER WILL!" Sasuke screamed as he moved to plunge his chidori into Naruto's chest but before it could land Naruto's vision was clouded once again in white. When he opened his eyes again he found himself back in the hidden leaf but it was destroyed and people were dead. When he looked around he saw everyone he cared about laid on the ground in their own pools of blood.

"Sakura?" No answer. Naruto looked around once more. "Kakashi-sensei?" Once again no answer. "What's going on?" Naruto looked around one more time, only to look on in horror to see the girl that sacrificed herself for him. "HINATA!?" Naruto tried to run to her but he felt himself pinned down by a black rod. Naruto tried to free himself but no matter how hard he tried the rod just wouldn't budge. "What's happening here!?"

"Do you hate me now?" A voice said. Naruto looked up to see the leader of the Akatsuki staring down at him. "PAIN!" Naruto hissed.

"What will you do now? All you held dear is gone. Your home, your friends, and even your sensei. Do you understand pain now Nine-tails?"

Naruto gritted his teeth. "Bastard. What did you do!?"

"It's not what I did, Nine-tails. It's what you did."

"What are you talking about?"

"Their deaths are on your hands Nine-tails, they are in this situation because they are protecting you. If you weren't in this village I wouldn't have attacked and they would still be alive."

"No you're lying, you're just talking nonsense SHUT THE HELL UP!"

"Seems like you still don't understand, very well." Pain then took a black rod and prepared to stab Naruto with it. "Know pain." He said before plunging the rod towards Naruto. Naruto tried moving again but was helpless as the rod held him firmly in place.

No…NO…NOOOOOOOO

Naruto jolted awake screaming. He held his head in his hand while taking heavy breaths to compose himself. "It's just another nightmare." Naruto looked at his clock, he's only been asleep for a few hours, nowhere near time for school. Deciding he wasn't gonna get anymore sleep, Naruto got up out of his bed to brush his teeth. 'I saved the village from the akatsuki, I saved everyone right? So then why does my mind show me that I didn't?'

"Their deaths are on your hands Nine-tails, they are in this situation because they are protecting you. If you weren't in this village I wouldn't have attacked and they would still be alive." Naruto replayed the words in his nightmare. Is he really a danger to his friends? I guess he was indirectly responsible, being a jinchuriki and all. Naruto shook his head to clear his thoughts before finishing up in the bathroom.

Naruto opened up his cabinet for something to eat. His cabinet was practically empty much to his dismay. "Damn, looks like I'm going hunting today." Naruto looked back at his calendar. His rent was due in a few weeks and he was also running low on ingredients for his ramen shop. Last time he checked he only had enough money for rent and ingredients so food will have to wait. Great. Naruto sighed before grabbing his fishing rod and bait and heading out the door.

It took a few minutes but Naruto finally reached the spot he uses for fishing. He was surprised to see someone already sitting there. It was a man that looks like he's in his twenties with mostly black hair with his bangs being gold. He also had a goatee. Naruto decided to just ignore the man as he sat down and threw his fish hook into the water. It was silent for a little while until the man spoke up. "Yo."

Naruto looked up from the water to face the man. "You come around here often?" The man had asked him. Instead of giving a verbal answer Naruto only shrugged his shoulders. "Sometimes huh? It's nice to have some company every once in a while right?" Naruto only nodded his head. Naruto was confused when the man started laughing out of nowhere. "You don't talk much do you boy?"

"Sometimes." Was Naruto's only reply.

"Oh so you do talk. So what are you doing out here?"

"Shouldn't that be obvious? I'm getting fish." Naruto was only further confused when the man started chuckling again.

"You're a funny one, boy."

"Huh?"

"Anyway, since you don't come here often you picked a good spot for fishing. Not a lot of people come around here so there's plenty of fish."

Naruto only nodded his head in response. The man didn't say anything else so the duo sat in a comfortable silence.

After a few hours the sun was up and Naruto was sitting in his shop, deciding to skip school all together today. During his trip to the fishing spot he learned something about the man there. Apparently he was a researcher of some sorts. He didn't really go into detail about what he did research so he's assuming it was something perverted. Before he could dwell further on the topic two people came into his shop. Naruto groaned inwardly when he saw the two girls that've been constantly finding him for the past week.

Rias Gremory and Koneko Toujou

Rias waved at him when she saw him. "Hey Naruto."

"Hello Naruto-senpai." Koneko said. Naruto nodded his head at the two girls in response.

"You didn't come to school today." Rias said. The way she said it was more of a question than a statement. Naruto just shrugged his shoulders.

"I didn't feel like coming today."

Rias sighed at his words. "Naruto you can't just skip school just because you don't feel like coming."

"Whatever you say, Rias." He said. Naruto felt a tug on his sleeve before looking at Koneko who was showing him her free ramen pass. Understanding what she's asking, Naruto rolled his eyes before getting out of his seat to head to the kitchen. Rias tilted her head "A ramen pass?"

"It was part of our deal, Buchou."

"I see, Is the ramen good?" Rias never really ate ramen as it was considered an unhealthy food plus the chefs back home never cooked it either.

"I don't know Buchou, this is my first time trying it." Koneko said while watching Naruto make her food in the kitchen. After a few minutes of silence Naruto came back with the ramen in his hand. He placed the bowl in front of Koneko. "Thanks for the food." Koneko said as she broke a pair of chopsticks in two and tried out the ramen. Her eyes widened a little bit and started to eat it at a faster rate. Naruto inwardly smirked at this. He then turned to Rias. "Did you want a bowl, Rias?" When she didn't answer, Naruto asked her again. Once again he received no answer. This caused Naruto's eyebrow to start twitching as he then started snapping in her face.

His snapping finally caught Rias's attention as she looked at him. "Huh? Sorry Naruto, what did you say?" Naruto raised his eyebrow at her. "I asked if you wanted a bowl like twice already." Rias nodded her head at him in response.

Already finished with her bowl, Koneko sat her bowl down and looked at her president in concern. "Buchou? Are you alright?" Rias looked at her rook and nodded her head. "I'm fine, just thinking about things." Koneko nodded her head and decided not to push the issue. Naruto soon came back with another bowl of ramen and gave it to Rias. Koneko then handed her bowl back to Naruto asking for seconds.

Naruto gave her a surprised look. "You're finished already!? I just gave you that two seconds ago!" Wow she ate that faster than he ever did.

"It was good." Koneko said. Naruto groaned before taking her bowl out of her hands and walking back to the kitchen. At the rate she just finished her first bowl, Naruto was already regretting giving her that free pass.

Rias giggled a little bit at the interaction. "Is it really that good?" Koneko nodded her head before answering. "Very good." Taking her word for it Rias broke her chopsticks apart and tried the ramen. Her eyes widened when she finished tasting it. "Wow it really is good." Koneko just nodded her head in agreement.

A couple of minutes later the duo finished their food. As they set their chopsticks down Rias spoke to Naruto. "You are coming by the clubroom later right?"

Naruto frowned at her words. "Do I have to?"

"No, but we would appreciate you stopping by, you still have yet to give us an answer you know."

Instead of giving her a verbal answer Naruto just sighed and nodded his head slowly. Rias then smiled at Naruto before paying for her ramen. The duo got up to leave. "Thanks for the food Naruto." Rias said while waving at him.

"Bye Naruto-senpai." Koneko said before leaving with Rias. Naruto gave them a lazy wave. Once the girls were far enough away Naruto sighed before slamming his head on the table. Naruto was feeling conflicted right now. He did say that he had no interest in joining Rias's peerage and he meant it but he couldn't say the same about joining the Occult research club. He was starting to not mind the group's company anymore. Rias and the others seemed like they really wanted him to join. Rias and Koneko certainly have been trying their best to convince him this past week, The others also tried to convince him (With the exception of Issei) but not as much as those two were and despite what he told himself these guys were starting to grow on him. If he was being honest with himself he was getting tired of being alone again.

And he wasn't sure if he hated that fact or not.

Issei was riding his bike to one of his summons when his mind started to drift off. He didn't understand why Buchou could want someone like that blond bastard on her peerage. Ok so maybe he didn't like the guy because he was being mean to Asia. I mean come on how can you be mean to Asia of all people, she's the sweetest girl Issei ever met, and he didn't even apologize! But then again he hasn't really hung around the man so maybe he had a reason to be mean to her. Asia did tell him about what he did for her a week ago so maybe there was someone nice under that cold demeanor.

On a different note, Buchou seems to be out of it lately. She's been spacing out more often as well as starting to train him and Asia, for what? Issei did not know but if he had to become stronger for his journey to become the harem king he would not complain. When Issei got to the address of the person who summoned him, Issei knocked on the door.

Issei didn't know what to expect when that door opened but it definitely was not a big burly dude in a magical girl outfit.

Issei took a step back to look up at the…man? Girl? He didn't really know. "Um, did you summon a member of the Gremory household…?"

"Correct nyo, I have a wish nyo."

"And that would be?" Issei said with fear creeping up into his voice.

"Make me into a magical girl nyo!" Issei sweatdropped

Why oh why did he get the weird one?

Rias was just about to explain the importance of a familiar to Issei and Asia when Naruto walked into the clubroom. Only giving the group a nod, Naruto went into one of the corners of the room. While she was still a little disappointed Naruto was distancing himself she was glad he came all the same.

"Ara Ara Fishcake-san are you that scared of us?" Akeno teased. Her teasing had hit its mark as Naruto scowled at her though before he could retort Rias intervened. "Leave him alone Akeno." Akeno just giggled which caused Naruto to grumble even more.

"As I was saying, Having a familiar is a fundamental part about being a devil. They're used to help their master as well as relay information,even in pursuit." Rias said while looking at Issei, Asia and Naruto. Truth be told, Naruto shouldn't even be hearing this as he was still human. But she was letting him stay for this conversation so that she wouldn't have to explain it again should he change his mind about joining her peerage.

'So in short they're like summons.' Naruto thought.

After Rias had finished speaking she summoned her familiar. In a small white cloud a bat appeared flying above Rias's hand. "This is my familiar. Issei, you've met her before, correct?"

Issei took a few seconds to recall his memory but when he came up blank he shrugged his shoulders. His memory was then jogged when the bat transformed into a young lady with brown hair that stood out at the sides and a red dress. Issei snapped his fingers. "Now I remember, she was the one who gave me that flyer."

Rias nodded her head. "That's right Issei, I sent her to give you that flyer." Akeno then summoned her familiar, which was green imp. Koneko followed suit as a white cat appeared in her arms. "Here's Shiro." What happened next was something no one in the room was expecting. All the familiars started shaking in fear as Rias's familiar reverted back to her bat form and hid behind her, Akeno's imp hid behind her leg while Shiro buried itself into Koneko's arms.

Never has this happened before. Confusion was radiating from every member as they tried to figure out just what the familiars were afraid of. Questions started forming in each of the members' minds when Rias scanned the room. When she turned in Naruto's direction the familiars started to shake even more. This did not go unnoticed by either Naruto or Rias but before she could ask questions the clubroom door was knocked on. The members sent their familiars away before Akeno answered the door.

'So even here nothing has changed.' Naruto thought as Sona and the rest of the student council came into the room. "Excuse us." Sona said.

"Hey wait a minute isn't that?" Issei started but never finished

"Um, who might that be?" Asia asked.

"That's Shitori Souna, president of the student council. Beside her is the vice-president, Shinra Tsubaki. As a matter of fact every member of the student council is here." Issei answered.

Rias stepped forward to Sona, the recent incident momentarily forgotten. "What brings you all here?"

"Both of us have just recently increased the numbers of our servants, so I thought we should exchange greetings again." Sona said

'I knew it, so she was a devil as well.' Naruto thought with narrowed eyes. Just how many devils were in this school? When Naruto found out about the supernatural he quickly connected that the strange feeling he got from this group and Sona's group was because they were devils as well, and this confirmed it. That's also another thing that had changed when Naruto came to this world. He started using his brain more. While he was sure Baa-chan, Kakashi-sensei, and Ero-sennin would be proud of him, he hated it as he was more of an action type of guy. The thinking part was more of Shikamaru's thing.

"Wait, you mean she's a devil too?" Issei asked, though now that he thought about it he did hear Buchou saying something about her a while ago.

"Mhm, The lady's real name is Sona Sitri. She is the next head of the Sitiri, an upper class devil family." Akeno answered.

"So there are other devils at this school?" Issei asked. At his words the only male of Sona's group started to smirk.

"Rias-senpai, you didn't tell him about us?"

"Saji, we do not interfere with each other's affairs. It's only natural he wouldn't know about us." Sona reprimanded him.

"You're the guy who recently became a student council member, um what was your name?"

"Sanji Genshiro, pawn." Sona answered. Rias held her hand to her side to introduce her two new members. "My pawn, Hyoudou Issei, and my bishop, Asia Argento."

Sona raised an eyebrow. "No third?" She asked. Rias gave out a slightly annoyed sigh. "He's still a work in progress." Naruto didn't know how to feel about being referred to as 'a work in progress' but he decided to keep quiet for now.

At Rias's words Sona gave Rias a challenging smirk. "So he's still up for grabs then?"

"Um Kaichou, who's 'he'?" Saji asked

"The school's newest student Naruto Uzumaki." Sona answered

Naruto's eyes narrowed even further. So they both were trying to get him huh? Then again he does remember that Saji guy saying something about the student council a while back, though he couldn't remember what.

Rias had a slightly annoyed expression on her face. Still a little annoyed at Naruto's reluctance to join her. "You can try if you want but I doubt you'll get far with him."

Akeno nodded her head to her king's statement. "Fishcake-san is quite the stubborn one."

"Stop calling me that!" Naruto said, finally making himself known to Sona's peerage. It was clear by the surprise on Sona and her peerage's faces that they did not know he was there. Well at least he knows he hasn't gotten rusty when it comes to his stealth. Gathering his composure Naruto stepped out of the corner and greeted the Sitri peerage with only a nod of his head. Sona's eyes locked onto Rias's.

"Rias, if he isn't a part of your peerage he shouldn't be here." Rias however waved off her concern. "Naruto is a special case." When Sona raised her eyebrow Rias said she would explain later.

"I see, in that case, Saji." Sona said. Saji nodded his head and went to greet Issei and Asia

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Saji-san." Asia said while shaking his hand Saji eagerly returned her handshake with a smile on his face. "The pleasure is all mine, it is very nice to meet a girl like you."

This caused Issei to jump in and start to crush Saji's hand. The two Presidents just sighed and apologized to one another.

The next day Naruto was sitting on a bench in the park watching a family of three stroll by. The little girl noticed him and waved at him with a big smile on her face. Naruto put on a fake smile and waved back at the little one. His actions seemed to please the little girl as her smile got even bigger while the parents smiled softly at their daughter. When the family walked past him Naruto's smile dropped into a frown. Seeing the family brought back some thoughts he hadn't thought about in a while.

Just how different would his life have been if he had parents? Would he be stuck in this world? Would he have had friends as a kid? Sure meeting his dad was nice and all but it didn't take away those thoughts. In fact all it did was enhance them. He was so deep in thought that he didn't notice Koneko sitting right next to him. When he finally noticed her, he nodded his head. "How'd the match go?"

"It was a draw, Buchou was a little annoyed that you didn't show." She didn't show it but she was a little disappointed that he didn't show up to the match.

Naruto scoffed. "Rias is always annoyed when I don't do something. Besides, peerage matters do not concern me."

"We're having a dodgeball match to settle it at the gym tonight."

"Is this an invitation?" When Koneko nodded her head, Naruto groaned. "From you or Rias?"

"All of us, we want to be your friends, Naruto-senpai."

"And I've told you all time and time again that I don't need friends. The only reason I'm at the club was because I made that stupid deal." After a few moments of silence Koneko got up from her seat and started walking away. When she got a few steps away she looked back at him to give him a nod "Goodbye Naruto-senpai." She looked at him with eyes of understanding? Pity? Naruto did not know but when she left Naruto put his hands through his hair and sighed. He wasn't sure whether to punch himself or pat himself on the back. It's ironic when he thought about it. All his life he worked hard to gain friends and now he was working hard to NOT have friends.

Who saw that coming? Definitely not him.

That night in the gym the Gremory team was stretching for the match when Naruto walked in. When Rias saw him she gave him a smile to which Naruto rolled his eyes and went to an open space. Koneko walked up to him. "You came." she said. Naruto gave her a small nod. "Yeah but don't get your hopes up yet I'm only spectating."

"That's good enough for now, Naruto." Rias said while walking up to them. "Koneko can you help Issei stretch?" Koneko nodded and went to help Issei. "I'm glad you came, Naruto."

"Hmph, you guys are very stubborn, you know that." Rias just let out a small chuckle. Rias looked at her peerage with warmth. Naruto watched as the warmth in her eyes faded into sadness. She looked to be lost in thought. Naruto gave her a few minutes to sort her thoughts before she spoke again. "Naruto, can you answer something?"

"Depends on what the question is but shoot."

"How do you feel about being with the person you love?"

Naruto took a few seconds to think about his answer. "I think being with the person you love is great, I mean no one wants to be stuck with someone they don't like right?"

Rias nodded her head at him "Thanks for answering Naruto."

"Can I ask why you would ask me something like that? I'm sure you could've asked one of your friends."

Rias looked at him with a look he really couldn't determine. "It was something I was thinking about lately and I wanted an outside opinion." Rias answered. Naruto nodded his head in understanding. He knew she was keeping information, he wouldn't be a good ninja if he didn't know when someone was lying or keeping information, but he knew it wasn't his place to pry. They weren't friends after all so she had no reason to tell him. His younger self definitely would've butted his head into her problems though.

A couple of minutes later Issei called the group over to present the headbands he made. Each of the head bands had the words 'Occult Research Club' written on them. "I stayed up all night making them. You all have been trying so hard for Asia and I that I wanted to do something for you guys."

"These are great, Issei." Rias complimented

"They are unexpectedly well made." Koneko said

"Ara Ara, How gorgeous Issei." Akeno complimented. While the other members were focused on Issei, Asia walked up to Naruto and handed him a headband. However this headband was different from the others as the words on it said "Honorary Occult Research club member" and the headband was black. Naruto raised his eyebrow. "What's this for? I'm not playing."

"W-Well we ran out of white cloth a-and even though you're not playing, y-you have been visiting the club more. Issei-san helped me make it too." Asia said. Noticing that Naruto was hesitant to take the headband, Asia's eyes started to get a little watery as a thought came to her head. "N-Naruto-san, d-do you dislike us?"

Naruto's luck strikes again because of course that had to be the sentence everyone heard. Every member looked at him as he suddenly became the center of attention. "I get that Issei-san doesn't like you very much b-but I tried to convince him you're a good person. B-Buchou and Koneko-chan have been trying their best to make you feel welcomed and-" As Asia kept talking Naruto inwardly started to panic and so he thought fast. Asia's rambling stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

"Listen, it's not that I hate you guys, it's just that-" Naruto took a few seconds to choose his words carefully. "I'm not used to receiving gifts." His answer didn't seem to satisfy Asia so he just sighed and let go of her shoulder. "Fine, I'll take it." Asia smiled and handed him the headband before walking back to the peerage.

Naruto took a few seconds to look at it. The headband really reminded him of the one he lost during his trip to this world. Naruto just shook his head before putting the headband in his pocket. The rest of the peerage smiled at the scene, glad he was starting to come around. A few minutes of stretching later Sona and her peerage came into the gym and the match was on. Sona was still a little hesitant about Naruto being there but was assured by Rias that he could handle it.

A lot of magic enhanced throws later the game was in its later stages. Sona just threw the dodge ball at Issei. Issei tried to dodge the ball but it kept following him everywhere. Naruto was pretty sure a heat-seeking dodgeball was cheating even with this type of game. Naruto watched as the ball chasing Issei took a downward trajectory.

Oh no

Naruto cringed when the ball slammed right into Issei's manhood. Issei squealed in pain as he fell over. Yeah he was definitely out of this one. They may not be friends but Naruto could wholeheartedly say he felt bad for the pervert.

Getting hit in the balls sucked.

Despite Issei's pain he managed to crawl towards Naruto and tag him in. "I will take back everything I said about you if you avenge me." He said. Naruto looked up at the rest of the members to see that they too wanted him to join. Naruto sighed before nodding reluctantly and taking off his blazer. So much for being a spectator When he stepped on the floor he noticed that there was quite a few of Sona's peerage left. Naruto cracked his neck, knuckles and arms before getting into a ready stance. The whistle was blown and the game was back on.

"Sitri-style Backspin Shot!" Sona called out as she launched the ball straight at Naruto

'That again?' Naruto thought as he started to run, just like before the ball started to follow him. Naruto skidded to a halt and ducked as he let the ball pass him. As expected the ball made a b-line for his back.

"Naruto, that's the same move that hit Issei. Dodge it!" Kiba warned him. Naruto however stood there in place. Rias was about to move to intercept the ball when Naruto turned around fast and caught the ball with one hand stopping it in its tracks. Sona stared wide eyed at Naruto.

"Out!" The referee called out. Naruto turned around to look at Sona's peerage and smirked. "I guess it's my turn."

After the dodgeball game Naruto was in his apartment taking a shower. After the Occult Research Club had won the game they went to celebrate before going to the familiar forest as Rias called it. They invited Naruto to celebrate but he declined. His mind drifted back to what Rias had said and done before he left.

Flashback

Rias took a step forward to Naruto. "It's a shame you won't celebrate with us so I'll just do this." Rias took another step forward and brought her arms around him. Naruto's whole body froze when she did this. "You didn't have to come and help us today but you did, and for that I thank you Naruto." Naruto didn't know how to react, He can't remember the last time he received a hug. At least not the one she was giving him. Was he blushing? Probably. Naruto slowly nodded his

head. "Y-Your w-welcome." When she let go it took him a couple of seconds to compose himself. He nodded his head at the rest of the members before parting ways.

Flashback end

Rias had caught him off guard, way off guard and she was acting a bit strange today as well. At the ramen shop and at the gym, the question she asked him was weird too. Naruto turned off the shower, stepped out of the small tub, and grabbed a towel to dry himself Despite what he told himself, he found himself starting to worry about her. After thinking about today's events Naruto shoved his head into his towel and groaned. He tried to deny it but there was no denying it anymore. The Gremory peerage were slowly becoming his friends.

Damn it

Chapter end

Alright, that looks like a good place to stop. Y'all should be able to guess what the next chapter is gonna be about. I hope y'all liked that I decided to make Naruto's past haunt him more than it did in the show. Also I know this story is not really diverging from canon rn but I wanted to make this a slow pace story. Remember Naruto is trying to stay out of it so there's no reason for the story to drastically change just because of him being there except for small changes here and there until the plot picks up. Thanks for reading this chapter let me know your critics or suggestions in the reviews. This is The Devious Duckling signing off.