A/N; I just uploaded ch 10 if your reading this on day of publishing. Just saying.

Chapter Seven; Shinobi's Way

Japan; Kyoto City

As Naruto and Mio were satisfying their lustful natures, Yuma was with Shirone giving her a crash course on Nekosho culture and etiquette. It wasn't going well. Sighing Yuma dropped onto the sofa, hr charge staring at them pop quiz before her with only a fifty percent mark, "Tomorrow is going to suck."

"Why?" Asked Shirone who was generally really confused at the statement, "We gotta meet the clan. You, a fifteen-year-old, lack any manners or considerations of the race. Sure, some might see that and take pity, others an insult." Looking at her charge with half lit eyes, "Sure, Naru might be able to save you, but I don't think you want that do you?" Upon the white-haired girls head shake, she nodded "…but to bring you up to an acceptable level in such little time…" breathing a heavy sigh, she was surprised by Shirone's suggestion "Can we ask Oni… my sister, for help?"

Looking back at the teen, who was clearly unsure if it was a good idea herself, Yuma thought it over before shrugging, "Worth a shot…" getting up and reaching her gear, she takes out the prisoner scroll that shows the charge had dropped to seventy percent. Biting her thumb, spreading it in a pattern, the scroll unfolded, and Yuma placed it flat on the ground. Shirone, being as curious as any other cat, came over and watched but upon seeing the unknown marking in the centre of the large square, she got annoyed for some reason. "Annoying, isn't it?" Yuma muttered; her tail swaying indicated she too was annoyed looking at the mark. "What does it mean?" Shirone asks but the older of the two just shrugged "I do not know. Naru never told me. Though he had that prankster smirk on his face." I feel insulted for some reason."

"Me too." The two sat there glaring at the paper scroll, unaware that the symbol meant 'Cat' in elemental, the language Naruto speaks natively and unknowingly taught it to Matatani who had grown up with it.

Puff and there she was, still sleeping and bound in rope looking like she just got out of a fight, Kuroka the Stray in all her midnight haired glory. Shirone was hesitant about this, apprehensive even, but this is the choice she's made to learn the truth. Together Shirone and Yuma take Kuroka to the sofa and lay her down, normally she could do this alone with little effort but with her Rook strength sealed she struggled a bit.

Instead of waiting for her to wake up, they ordered room service which arrived some thirty minutes later with a fine selection of the top-quality items of salmons, sword fish, and herring to name a few of the delicacy that had been delivered. The smell of the fine fish seemed to awaken the snoozing nekomata, who's nose twitched before she shot up and looked around at the unfamiliar scenery, her sensory abilities not responding to her will nor her chakra and now her body felt heavy and sluggish.

Before Kuroka could process the feelings completely a gentle soft drew her attention to the table laden with the food that she was smelling, but what caught her attention more than anything was the two white neko Youkai currently dining at said table. More accurately, the younger one who was staring back unflinchingly whilst chewing down on a fillet of tuna, "Come and eat, Kuroka-san." The older one spoke as she stood up to retrieve another plate from the kitchenette.

Slowly, steadily, and with no small amount of apprehension, Kuroka did just that and joined the the duo at the table and upon taking the offered plate, served herself from the pallet of food on display. The silence that had settled upon the room in response to Kuroka's awakening was broken by Yuma, "…how do they feel? Have you gotten used them yet?"

"I have. Though, it still feels a bit much like walking through water. I am no longer struggling." Shirone responds after swallowing her mouthful, "What level are you on yours?"

"I reached four last month. I could go up to the next level of resistance, but with the clan meeting tomorrow I didn't want to waste my strength." Yuma's response as she picks the last steak of deep-sea tuna, "speaking of which, are you ready? I know you've had to change your fighting style but…"

"Not a problem. The captain has promised me a training spar in the morning before we head to the clan compound." Shirone reports earning a chuckle from her fellow white-haired woman, "Don't hold back, if you aren't careful, he will get carried away and put you in your place."

"I was told that by Xenovia. Hopefully his sister will step in if things get that far, or maybe Mio-san." Shirone responds, "I'll be there too, Shirone-chan, so worst case…"

"Shirone?" Kuroka, who had been silently listening intently to the conversation, piped up this time hearing the name she had gifted her sister come from another, "Yes?" Said sister responded flatly, now the rogue nekomata had noticed that her sisters cat features had been out this entire time "You go by Shirone now?"

"Yes. I…" taking a breath to calm her rising temper, "…I was made aware of certain things recently and left the Gremory peerage to find out the truth." Kuroka gasped at that, "You went stray? But.. how… why…?"

"In order…?" Yuma swallowing her mouthful, looking to the stray, "When we were leaving Kuoh, she managed to track us down to the bus station and asked to join us." Shirone nodded along with that "Why? Is pretty obvious. The devils hid the massacre of the devil-based part of the Nekosho from her, claiming that no Nekosho had lived there. She wants answers and wasn't getting any from the devils." She shrugged grabbing the next piece of fish from her plate before "So she joined us to get them. Her plans after that are her own…"

"But your rook piece! Your demonic power… you don't know senjutsu to…"

"Sealed." Shirone responded before pulling down her shirt enough to see the seals upon her chest, one was of unknown origin, at least to Kuroka, the other was of a rook encased in a solid circle, "Powers won't go out of control." Releasing her shirt which Kuroka noticed the insignia on the left chest, but didn't recognise it, "Still, you joined a group of random…"

"She did." Yuma announced before sucking the juice off her thumb, "We giving her bread and board, training in her native abilities, and a chance to travel whilst we kick but and take names."

"Oh? And who are you exactly?" Kuroka speaking hotly, still rather miffed that her sister had left the safety of the Gremory peerage to join a rogue group of some kind. The cocky grin upon Yuma's face was infuriating, "Now – now… that would be telling."

"I will cut you with my…" Kuroka paused upon being unable to call upon her chakra, or senjutsu, and froze in shock and horror "…my power… my chakra? My senjutsu?"

"Sealed." Shirone commented as she reached for the apple sorbet, her sweet tooth demanded it, "HOW?" Screeched the now hysterical stray, "The captain is a master of many arts." Yuma comments as Shirone were nearly inhaling the frozen dessert and unable to respond, "Only he has the key to your freedom. We weren't even supposed to let you out, let alone feed you."

"Let out? What do you mean by…?" Kuroka paused upon Shirone pointing to an open scroll laid out on the floor, "Sealed." Before reading for the raspberry frosting cake next, as her sister gulped at the sight of the empty square. "I was sealed in there?"

"Yep. It's been like over two weeks since the tri-faction battle that we caught you trying to infiltrate." Yuma revealed causing Kuroka's stomach to do an uncomfortable flip, "Two… weeks?"

"Yes." Shirone confirms coming up for air after the raspberry treat had cleared her windpipe, "Tomorrow, take you to clan for trail."

"Trail? What have I done against the Youkai?" Kuroka hissed only to receive blank stares from her company, "We were just told to retrieve you. That's what we did." Yuma waved the comment off, as she began idly picking her long canines with a toothpick, "The clan head is the only one who knows what to do with you."

"I see." Kuroka finally sitting back in her seat, her tails limp too as she realises that she was powerless right now. She had been taking discreet glances around the room for an exit strategy but couldn't find any thing useful, so she just looked up at her sister who was staring at her blankly, "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you leave me behind?" And there it was. The really meat of the situation, the curiosity of the cat she"d been trying to deny herself for so long. Despite going rogue too, Kuroka was proud her little sister was beginning to embrace her nekomata heritage. A little late but she'll take it. Sitting up straight, Kuroka matches the intensity of her sisters' gaze "Where should I start…?"

The following morning, Naruto awoke first to find another war zone of a room with his princess in his arms and snoozing comfortably against his chest. No mattress this time, just a load of cushions from every sofa and chair from the room. Glancing around, oh found the mattress, or what was left of it, Naruto sweat dropped at the damage on display. They really need to get a handle on this whole lust thing. Then again, they keep going extended periods without it so, maybe regular upkeep would work better?

Switching with a shadow clone, as to not awake the sleeping demoness, Naruto strolls into the bathroom and sweat dropped again, the sink was busted. Looks like a claw went through it. Choosing to ignore that for now, the shower thankfully survived their lust filled night with only a few cracked tiles and the water flowed warm. Great.

His clone popped a few minutes into his showering, resting his head beneath the running water and the wall, and surely enough hands wrapped around his form "Morning Naru-koi."

"Morning my scarlet demoness." They enjoyed the silence for a long while before she spoke up again "We wreaked the place."

"We did." He confirmed and sighed, "We shouldn't wait until we are so pent up to satisfy ourselves or this is going to get costly." Feeling her nod, he turns in her embrace, and they share a kiss, "I'm tired."

"Then sleep. I have things to do so you can sleep in longer. Join us later." Naruto smiled at her and sane nodded lazily, "I'll head to my room after showering. The bed here is…"

"Shredded. I noticed." Naruto chuckled but she was still to tired and somewhat sore all over. They really went at it hard. Were it not for their increased durability, they'd broken their hips a few dozen times over.

Japan; Kyoto Region

Naruto stands opposite Shirone in a field far from the city for their little spar, the sun was barely peaking over the horizon as the wind flowed between them. Both had minimal combat gear on, Naruto with his armoured grieves, integrated kunai holsters filled with the tools, and arm guards as he knows the Nekosho fighting style revolves around the use of their natural claws.

Shirone only has her new armoured gloves, specifically designed to accommodate her claws whilst protecting her hands from slashes and the like. Naruto also gave her, what he called, shinobi sandals to allow her to user her claws while offering minimal protection but a firm grip regardless of their angle of attack. The rest of her gear hasn't been finished yet as they haven't had the time to with all the travelling around and such, and Yuma was here with a surprise guest of Kuroka who Naruto had glared at the two Nekosho for disobeying his orders to wait for him before unsealing.

As the two face off, Naruto decides that he allow her to witness the fighting style he, Kiba Inazuka, and the Kyuubi came up with. The fox paw style. It was Kiba's idea actually when he witnessed Naruto spar one time using the basic Kyuubi mode that lacked the cloak, and his claws were slightly longer than his during his beast's transformation jutsu. Swirling his demonic energy into his hands, his devil physiology reacted to his will and his claws extended out from his fingertips much like his initial jinchuriki transformation then turned a crystal blue.

Seeing this, Shirone channeled chakra into her own claws and they shot out to full length and she lowered her centre of gravity, tail already priming to counter balance her movements. On an unspoken signal the two charged. Meeting in the middle, Naruto slashed high, Shirone went low slashing out to his leg that was lifted clear due to his forward shoulder role, using his momentum to carry him to his feet, and leap after her. Not wanting to be out done in the agility department, Shirone side leaped aside before pouncing on the sliding devil, who uses his claws as a pivot to alter his position beyond her acrobatics range.

Using his dug in claw as a launching point, Naruto lunges at the landing kitten, who rolls beneath him as soon as she landed lashing out with a slash against his armoured thigh, not even scratching it she back heels the still airborne captain. The same captain took the two hits, unfazed, as he rolls over to his hands and feet. Grinning like a fox, he leaps forward again but just as he expected, Shirone attempted to leap to the left, right into his suddenly altered path, using his left hand as a pivot again and landing a double kick to her chest.

Shirone rolls back a good twenty metres before flipping onto her feet, and side spinning from the follow up drop kick. That cratered the ground. It cratered the ground. Danger senses raising, Shrone ducks the wide swipe, slashing the arm only to meet armour again, lashing out with a full powered jab that only slightly destabilised her opponent and not even for a full second. Leaping clear of the second swipe she lost a few loose strands of hair too.

Landing on her feet, knees bent she bends back beneath the double slash, transiting to a back flip, that Naruto dodged narrowly as her feet claws came into play. His retaliation came in the form of a back handed swipe that was dodged and countered with a slash to the elbow. First blood. A punch came down and again, Shirone ducked back, the ground shattering from the impact.

Reacting first, Shirone leaped forward forcing Naruto to try strike out with a low jab but the kitten was ready and already darted barely past the closing in fist. By the slimiest of margins before executing, what will later be known as her calling card, a slash to the arm, then armpit, then a long slash across his back. The three pronged take down. She was suddenly mule kicked, and sent flying back to the start point with a loud thud.

Winded, and hurting, Shirone curls in on herself as she coughs and wheezes whilst trying to get breath back into her system. When a shadow looms over head, and she peaks an eye open to see her sister standing over her protectively, "Enough! She's down already."

"I know." Naruto's voice could be heard which stopped the hissing her sister was doing outright, her tails frozen from their aggressive swaying, "Huh?"

"This was only a light spar to show Shirone how she needed to fight now." Naruto now appearing in Shirone sight, a soft smile and a hand offered. Her sister moved and allowed her to take the hand "You seemed to understand now, right? That three-hit combo was damn impressive." Naruto informs as he pulls her to her feet, Shirone smiling at that, but it was strained "You kick hard."

"Only because you thought I was defeated and stopped." Naruto frowned at her and she flinched, "Whenever you do something stupid, you get hit harder for it." He explained and Yuma shuddered recalling her first few training sessions. Shirone nods in understanding, not stopping means the enemy can't surprise you if your expecting them to strike "Understood."

"Good." He clapped, smiling as he ruffled her hair to which she smiled under, enjoying his ruffling as her tail swayed at the touch. It was clear he has knowledge on the right way to do so. "I have a question…" Kuroka asked but when Naruto looked to her, she froze. It was subtle but his body screamed danger just by looking at her. She gulped before his eyes flowed to the other cat nearby "Time?"

"We still have it. Do you want to get there early?" Yuma questioned and Naruto nodded, "As much as I loathe too."

"More training?" Shirone proposes slightly purring as he had yet to cease his head pat, Naruto ponders this for a moment before looking to Yuma who shrugs.

Japan; Kyoto Nekosho Compound

Yuma lead the party of Naruto, Shirone, and Kuroka into the compound of her birth and childhood. Kuroka had tried to slip away only twice, the first her sister caught and full on tackled her down until Naruto grabbed her. The second she managed to avoid her sister, only to fall flat on her face when she got beyond fifty metres of Naruto. He used that as an excuse to throw her over his shoulder, keeping the paralysing effect of the seals to prevent her from escaping again. No matter how hard she tried, her body wouldn't respond to her will.

Shirone would not admit it, to anything less than a death glare from the captain, that she found it rather funny that the sister she was so afraid of until last night was as helpless as a newborn in the face of the captain. Although he was a hard task master, the training was good too. She learned how to move like her name sake, strike when an opening was made due to her natural agility and reaction time, forcing attacks through the slightest of openings at speeds normal humans, devils, and angels could only dream of. This was her power. Not the power that the devils gave her but her own. She was fast, agile, and quick. The loss of her normally reliable strength and tank worthy defence is taking time to adapt to, but she's gained much more than she lost.

As they were welcomed in, they were guided to the office of the clan matriarch, as expect, and entered upon prompting to see Magari there in her feline form, all seven tails out on display, "Ah, boyo. You've returned…." Glancing at her progeny, "…with my runt too. I hope she wasn't too much trouble."

"On the contrary…" he places a hand on the subject woman's lower back, offering his silent support, "…she a vital supporter and field officer. I'm happy to have her." No one missed the satisfied smile on Yuma's face, nor the slight reddening of her cheeks as she dropped her head to masked it, idly playing with her longer hair.

"Intreasting." The old timer comments with a tilted head to the side, "I didn't think she was a combat type."

"You'd be surprised. It was thanks to her we have this stray here." Naruto dropping the limp form of Kuroka down, her eyes scanning the room before landing on the seven tailed feline staring back her with an intensely sharp eye, "She's suffering from paralysis?"

"Good eye." Naruto nods as he raises his hands in the horse sign and her body went rigid as she regained control, about to bolt when she was jabbed in several pressure points that reapplied the affect but knocked her out too. "Good." Magari nods before looking back to see the other Nekomata "…and the other kitten? What's her role here?" Naruto looks to Shirone, who glances back at him and upon his nod, she steps forward, "U… Lady elder. My name is Shirone Toujou."

"I know of you, child. Speak up."

"I wish to know the truth." Shirone rushes out, and Magari stares at her for a long while before nodding "I see. You came here for that yes?"

"Yes."

"I am sure you've noticed already…" Naruto drawing attention to him, "…but she is still a devil, evil piece and everything…"

"Yes but it seems to be suppressed… perhaps…?" The cats head tilted aside studying this conundrum before her, "…and sealed, yes." Naruto nodded "She and I are the only two with the key to unlock it, it right now she wishes to learn more of herself and her heritage."

"You wish to learn our ways the way you were supposed to, child?"

"Yes, lady elder." Shirone bowing her head, "I wish to know the truth."

"Very well. That can be arranged." Magari looking to the devil and her last runt, "Show her to your room, boyo. I wish to speak to my runt."

"Has it not been reassigned?"

"No. It is yours until death. Our doors are always open to one such as you. You saved the last of our kin from the underworld. Bowl and board are always here for you." The clan head states and Naruto actually smiled at that, bowing his head "Thank you. I think your getting soft though."

"Remove yourself before I show you my claws." Raising her paw, extending the fine razor edges to emphasis her point.

Upon the two leaving, heading to the bunks, Magari turns to her daughter, "Report?" only to receive a shrug from her daughter, who folds her arms and gives her grandmother a flat look "You have no doubt heard about everything already." Upon the cats nod, she continued "Nothing more to add really. I am apart of his inner circle, working with him on several internal matters that make me integral to the team."

"Good, then when the time comes…"

"When the time comes for what, grandma? You planning on strong arming him?" Yuma narrowing her eyes at the old coot, who glared right back "Remember your place, runt."

"No, you remember this… old mat." Stepping forward with previously unseen anger towards her senior mother, "If I ever have to choose between us and you, I will choose us."

"You wouldn't dare…"

"I admit… in the beginning, when I was following your instructions to try and entice him, I did so without much thought. He was a hot blooded male, and I as a Nekosho have a seductive lessons from a young age." She chuckles hollowly, "…should have been easy. What we failed to take into account was his own morals. We assumed him a typical run of the mill devil, seeking power, fame, riches, and women." Strolling back towards the door, unafraid of her clan heads stare, "We were wrong grandma. So very wrong."

"So, what are you tell me exactly?" Magari poses as her daughter stops at the door, "I know I am not the strongest, fastest, smartest, or a prodigy in Youjutsu like the others. I was called a failure by everyone, a spare part in some occasions and you did nothing to prevent it." Glancing back over the shoulder at her mother, "During the battle, the captain said something I didn't know I needed to hear. He said, 'That he will show what a proud failure can do.' And went and levelled the area. I don't know where he is going but I do know, that as a fellow failure, that I will be at his side the entire time, and no one. Not even you will stop me." She smiled a crocked smile, pulling the door open, "After all, I'm a proud failure too."

With her runt gone, Magari pondered her words and surely enough smiled, "'bout time you showed your claws, kitten." Chuckling to herself as she gazes down on the criminal asleep before her, "Now… what to do about you."

After showing Shirone to his old room, surely enough it was untouched with even a few of his old trinkets still laying about. Dropping off Shirone's backpack, he sent a clone to fetch anything left in the hotel, he took her back to the courtyard where Yuma reappeared with a lazy wave, as she fell in step beside the other two, waving at the numerous Nekosho who were more than a little curious of yet another new face Naruto seemed to have picked up.

Reaching his favourite spot, the willow tree beside the lake he and Matatani used to train their control on. Taking a seat at its base, he looks out over the water, Shirone stood beside him for a brief moment as Yuma immediately sits beside him, elegantly folding her legs and sat causally beside him "Beautifully peaceful right?"

"Hai, Captain." Shirone reports before looking to him, an unasked question on her face, it he maintained his gaze over the gentle flowing lake with a content smile "I once explained it to my sister, as a nekomata, you will have a much deeper connection to nature then your fellow Nekosho. When you think nature, most think of the forests of trees and the wildlife that call them home. Most do after all."

"Is it not?" Shirone asks now fully invested, "Shirone. When was the last time you just sat and listened to nature all around you?" He asks instead as he remained perfectly still in the early morning sun, the breeze enveloping him, the sound of the rippling water ahead which gave the young nekomata a momentary pause for consideration.

Looking back at the lake, Shirone took a look at everything but nothing and just let her senses take everything in without even so much as twitching. Everything even seemed to become more vivid just by relaxing. Unbeknownst to her, she had inadvertently slipped into the initial stage of senjutsu like a child touching the surface of a lake. Not enough to fall in, but still get wet.

It took a second before she turned back to see a smiling Naruto looking at her, gesturing to come closer to which she childishly does so and drops beside him "Congratulations. You entered the initial level of senjutsu." Her eyes widen at that, "…but… the…"

"Relax." He ruffles her hair again which forces her focus on his hands, "We have a lot to cover and not much time to do so."

"You… your going to teach her?" Yama looking to him with a raised brow, he shrugs smoothly before leaning back on the tree, "Just the basics."

"How? You can't…" before Yuma finished, her eyes widen, sensing the build up of nature energy from Naruto, Shirone too looked wide eyed at the captain who now had whips of chakra flowing off his raised fingers, a small spiralling ball of chakra forming briefly between them before fading but returns a moment later the size of a tennis ball with a soft pulsating hum to it.

All eyes were glued to the floating orb, oblivious to the number of foes that haven fallen to this seemingly harmless performance, "All me to introduce to you all…" looking up to the the two ladies before looking up in the tree to see his little sister equally surprised with Konu alongside her, "…to the rasenegan." Glancing to his right where an equally stunned nine tailed vixen, eyes locked on the orb.

"How…?" Yasaka muttered and he chuckled, "It took the original creator three years to perfect, he trained his sensei and student, both took two and four months respectively to learn." He looks to her, "Took me two weeks." Chuckling to himself he looks back down at it, "This is not even its final form."

"What do you mean, Tou-Nii?" Asked an intrigued kitten above him, and he smiles "Glad you asked…" pumping in his wind chakra into the technique, just enough for the blue orb to fade to a brilliant white, miniature wind blades appearing around it, "Stage two; Wind style; Rasengan."

"Elemental chakra? Without Youjutsu?" Gawked Yuma who was in shock, and Naruto nodded, "Youjutsu takes to long." Matatani states, "Just tell the chakra to do it, much faster."

"Is that possible?" Shirone questioned as Naruto abruptly climbed to his feet, all eyes watching him as he approached the lake, everyone looking on as he raised it above his head. Suddenly the ball suddenly glowed brighter and expanded in size with the blades now taller than the two kids, the wind hissing and whining, a ringing that traveled far and wide, as a small wind funnel appeared above it.

Jaws where dropped but Yasaka moved before the kids, prepared to deploy a barrier if needed, "Stage Three; Wind style: Rasenshuriken." He threw the attack out across the water, that parted as it approached, skimming the water before abruptly shooting up after reaching the middle of the lake. With his fingers he counts down from three. When the last digit drops a massive white explosion of chakra erupts in the sky, the shockwave reaching them a full eight seconds later.

"Is it you…?" A voice abruptly spoke in Naruto's head but it was so quiet, he dismissed it as Yasaka stepped towards him "That was dangerous."

"I had it handled, Lady Yasaka." Naruto comments dryly, "It wasn't even at a quarter strength." She paled slightly, "You mean…?"

"That was at like, twenty percent or so. Didn't want to risk rearranging the local maps or anything," he shrugged, "Wait, you've rearranged maps?!" Yuma yelled, in horror, whilst Matatani screamed it in joy. Before Naruto could respond, Yasaka smacked him atop the head, "Don't go teaching my student landscaping level techniques."

"Like your one to talk." Naruto snapped back, glaring at her "No doubt you plan on doing the same." The flustering of the vixen earned her a foxy grin from the former shinobi, that earned him another slap to the back of his head "Enough of that."

"Why do you keep hitting me…?" He grumbled and she smiled sweetly, so sweetly that he got nervous for some reason, "Oh… did you say something? Speak up… I didn't catch it…" the visible gulp was missed by no one, "No ma'am. I didn't… say anything."

"Good." Before turning to the group, "Now, Kittens…" Yasaka began, "…and vixens…" Naruto added but a glare from that adult vixen shut him up, "Today we are going to evaluate you all."

"Me too?" Asked Yuma confused at the prospect of tests, "Yes." Naruto replied in place of Yasaka, knowing his seconds nature to laze around whenever she can, "This was originally only for Shirone here…" geatuing with his head to newcomer, "…but I haven't tested you Matatani and I want to see how far you've come."

"Questioning my teachings?" Yasaka glaring half heartedly at him to which he shrugs, "Dunno yet. That's why I'm doing this." The black blur known as Matatani strikes at once, but her foot was caught by her father/brother figure effortlessly without even looking. He threw her off towards the beach, landing on all fours, looking up at her most precious person. Only to find he was gone. Spinning on the balls of her feet, slashing with her claws, her arm was caught, and she was tossed onto the ground, arm pinned against her back "I didn't say go now did I." He smiled, always wanting to try that on someone. Yes. He will totally channel his inner Kakashi this go around.

She'd stops her struggling, and he nods, "Now then…" standing up, and pulling out a set of two bells connected by a blue cord, "This is known as the bell test. I am giving you an hour to try getting them from me."

"By, you…" Yuma asks and Naruto realises and sighs, knowing her, she'd get the rug rats working like a veteran Anbu team somehow. Best leave the lazy neko out. Take her on one on one. "Matatani, Konu, and Shirone against me." Said three were surprised, none more than Shirone as she was much older than the other two but dismissed the notion as they've been trained by the strongest Youkai, and new generation devil respectively.

Standing up, Shirone was joined by Konu who hopped out the tree beside the nekomata in perfect step as the three ladies lined up before the captain who smiled at them approvingly, "Oh… before I forget…" as he ties the bells to his belt, looking at them with a blank, aloof smile "…come at me with the intent to kill, or you won't get anywhere."

"Umm… lord leviathan…" Konu speaking up, "Just call me Naruto… or Captain. I like Captain actually…"

"Umm… captain…"

"Yes Konu…"

"Wouldn't we hurt you if we did…?"

"No." Shirone informs getting into her feline grace, what Naruto dubbed in his head, fighting style's open stance, "He's too strong."

"Yeah… Tou-NiI is the strongest." Matatani getting into the flaming paw, Yugito's stance, she learned from Matatabi "He won't be hurt by us."

"Okay… if you say so…" stepping back the Kit takes up the supportive position, preparing her limited Youjutsu arsenal. "On Lady Yasaka's signal." Naruto informs not taking any kind of stance. "Begin!" Yasaka looking at her watch, before returning to watch Naruto play with the kids.

No one moved, both sides seemingly looking for an opening and the air was growing tense so when Naruto's hands moved behind him, they all tensed waiting to see what he'll do next. Out comes a manga he swiped from Yuma a few days ago, much to everyone's surprise and an indignant "Hey." From whom it belonged to.

The three girls glared at him, watching as he flicked the first page open and began reading. He was reading, mid fight, and openly, in front of them. Matatani actually hissed and charged first. She always was a hot head. Though when he left her, she had begun to exhibit signs of his prankster tendencies, so he ducked beneath her wide swing, blocked the continuation of the attack of the reverse heel, all whilst reading the book. A flurry of swipes were ducked and side stepped and effortlessly blocked with his one hand. She went for a surprise headbutt but was stopped by the book that bopped her minds eye. Stunned, Naruto pushed her with his book that caused her to stumble backward into the lake.

One down.

Shirone was next, blurring forward at full speed, and again Naruto ducked and weaved around her swipes, blocking with the manga more often than with Matatani. Her attacks where far more refined and adaptable, but the lack of his own attacks meant that there were no counterattacks to exploit, which her style resolved around. Abruptly he leaps back, and thinking she had a shot she leaped forward only to be knocked over by a flying Matatani, still soaked from her trip in the lake, "Damn. Thought I had him!"

"Did you forget who trained you?" Naruto whispered into her ear and she froze in fear, tears immediately appearing in the corners of her eyes, "Papa… I'm sorwy…"

"Ahh… you're not four anymore…" Naruto eye smiled, when did he get that face mask, "Secret art; Hidden leaf technique…" poke "…a thousand years of death!" The chakra flare sent the girl flying into the tree Yuma was sitting beneath, screaming the whole time until impact, said Nekosho whistled "Got some distance on that."

Naruto ducked beneath the roundhouse kick from Shirone who got behind him, he knew she was their obviously, but he had to manage this fun somehow. Oh, the bad guys monologuing his entire plan to the heroes. Naruto hopes over the sliding tackle, a cute little flip in the process. As he lands he shifts his head to the right, the unmistakeable claw of Shirone that tries to chop his neck, how cute. The power of manga, reinforced by chakra, stops that dead and his hand grabbing her hand allows an overhead slam. A pinch was all it took.

He was saved again by the Manga as he bats away a fox fire ball, from Konu, she charges up another but before she can fire again, a tap on her shoulder distracts her and it vanishes. Glancing back, another Naruto eye smiling at her, "…and dead. You must remain vigilant in combat." She snapped forward and the Naruto ahead of her shimmered out like a mirage, an illusion. When did.

The knocked out Matatani was rescued from the tree, a drenched Shirone, laying in the sun and the timeout Konu pouting by her mother side. How did she, a fox youkai, be caught in a simple illusion? Foxes are predisposed for the illusionary arts. She is still fuming mad at that and her mother knew it and was silently laughing at her daughters antics. Still even she would admit it was a cleverly crafted illusion, nothing she's even seen before. Naruto lacked the heart to tell them it was the E-ranked technique, considered to be useless outside the shinobi academy, the bunshin. He can finally do it after two life times. Better late than never huh.

Naruto now stood opposite Yuma who looked like she really, really, really, and did she mention, really didn't want to be here right now. The sun was out, no clouds in the sky and the breeze was just right for a nap under the shade of a tree. "Tell you what…" Naruto proposes gaining her slight attention, "…impress me… and I'll give you back the manga I confiscated."

"Promise?"

"Promise. I'll sweeten the deal." Naruto with a challenging smirk, causing her to narrow her eyes further, "Every three hits, I'll buy you new one. No questions asked."

"See, Captain, you get me," Yuma taking up her light paw stance, her name for it, it was similar to his Fox paw style that he took up, his claws coming out to play this time as he grew very serious "Upon Lady Yasaka's go. Let's say, all out for ten minutes?"

"Seals off for five?" Yuma's counteroffer earning a raised brow from her captain, "You sure?" Upon her nod, he nods back, and two power flares put the gathering audience on edge. Magari appeared beside her fox counterpart, "I was wondering when you'd come and greet me." Yasaka comments whilst watching the proceedings, "…or perhaps you are to see how much progress you've made."

"I was disposed dealing with an internal clan affair. I meant no disrespect." The old cat assures, "As for the my kitten out there, I have no claim to her based on our final words. She has nothing to prove to me. Though I am curious to see how far she's come after all these years of being away."

"In that case, I shouldn't keep them waiting…" Yasaka then raises her voice, "Begin!" and immediately both vanish to the young, the older ones were having trouble but the elders and leaders track it fairly easily. Shirone was only seeing blurs, unsure if she'll ever match those speeds.

In the fight, Naruto ducks then back arms the thrusting side slash across his frame arching back to avoid her summersult kick, that drew blood from his chin. Her elegant finish earned an approval from her captain who nodded at her, "Didn't think I'd have to do this… but to keep up with you…" using his transformation seals, recalling the feeling from before he awoke and suddenly his chakra exploded out and smoke engulfed his frame.

As it cleared there, stood a three tailed silver kitsune with sharp violet eyes grinning with his whisker marks, but what surprised everyone was the tails that he was clearly controlling, as they extended and retracted. Naruto stretched out a bit before retaking his stance, far lower than before now he had the counterbalance to help him shift his weight.

Yuma gulped, the look he held now was one of intense focus, much like the kitsune he was pretending to be. Actually, is he a kitsune? He is way too good at this. Even his smell is of a kitsune. What's going on. She takes her stance, going nearly all the way down, allowing her more feral instincts to surface. She'll need them.

They charged again, clashing arm to arm, a shockwave ripples out from the impact but she buckled first, before she could react, her body did, ducking right as one of his tails lashed out, shattering the ground on impact, she then leaped left, over the first tail to dodge the second, leaping at him only to be taken out by the third, knocked towards the lake that she skips atop. She slides to a stop but remains atop the surface ducking aside from the pouncing Naruto, the two clash in rapid claw swipes seemingly evenly matched, but to those who could see every movement, it was clear that Yuma was being worn down.

Said Nekosho narrowly avoided the heel kick, his claws grazing into her side, but could not evade the follow-up roundhouse. Skipping like a stone again, she rolls over from her back and landing back on her feet, she uses both hands to redirect the straight, pushing it aside as the incoming haymaker was directed outward, both her hands slam down against the raising knee, pushing herself up and over, slashing against his shoulders, before landing with a side shift to avoid the snap back kick.

A jab to the thigh forces that leg down, and she ducks under the elbow from behind in her blind spot, thank you enhanced hearing, she unleashed a one two straight that he catches the first, deflects the second before spinning around her, in preparation to throw again, but she flips around her caught fist, and tries to break free, but is instead wrapped up in his tails, arms pinned at her sides with a fist at the side of her temple. "Yield."

"I yield." Yuma announces before sighing hard, her claws retract as she releases her feralisation. Naruto releases her gently, and she slowly adjusts to the water and stands atop it beside him "Here…" Naruto presenting her manga, "…but I…"

"Impressed me a great deal." Naruto informs with a hand on her head, rubbing the neko who was only a few inches shorter than himself, about five nine he estimates, earning a purr from her as she smiles a small true smile.

For Yuma, she doesn't even recall the last time she had been petted like this, it doesn't help being one of the tallest in the clan but even when younger. This was nice. "Come on. I'm sure we have questions to answer," Naruto breaks her from her blissful trance, "Umm… cap… Naruto…" this caused him to freeze as he was about to dispel the transformation, she hasn't called him by his name in awhile so must be important, "Before we go back, and everyone will overhear… I just… I need to tell you; I want to be a proud failure like you!" That triggered a long forgotten memory of a young bluenette, pale eyes, telling him that she believed in him.

He dared not fight the fond smile, a true one aimed solely at the Nekosho, "Yeah…? Then, I will be counting on you for now on." She beamed at him, slightly flustered at the solo attention. Before she would have pounced him, like the last time they were here, but in the time away she had gotten perspective on her Captain. He cares. He is kind. He is also smart, and no doubt detected something amiss, and purposely shut her down knowing that she herself didn't want it. Now, that she is being herself and standing alone, "Yes. I look forward to it. Thank you, captain."

It would later become common knowledge that Naruto Leviathan is a dangerous devil, an expert in aerial combat, second only to the seraphs of heaven, master of ice and water, and all-around powerhouse. That challenging Xenovia to a sword fight no better than asking a god to smite you in their true forms, but only the truly observant will tell of the third member of their team considered to be the most dangerous. The unassuming Nekosho who supports them silently from the shadows, or beneath a tree bathing in the sun. Very few know of her, even fewer still can identify her, and those that can name her don't exist for very long after. Allegedly.

Once the duo reach the shoreline and the crowd erupted into cheers, squeals from the two children who just watched an epic fight, or tried too, atop the water of a lake. The fact that Yuma had figured out how to do so based on observations of her Captain showed her innate intelligence was something of great note. As expected, her clansmen crowded around her to try and learn how she managed too, as many had tried to replicate Naruto and Matatani after witnessing their training numerous times, but none had managed it till now.

Naruto heads towards his starry-eyed sister, slack jawed student, and blushing clan leader "Am I interrupting?" Breaking all three from the trances, "That was…" Shirone looking lost afford words, "…freaking awesome!" Cried out Matatani, Konu nodding along "…you were like whoosh and wham, then she was all like swoosh and pop, then super spin in the air, and bang." The girls continued excitedly, complete with hand motions and sound effects under Naruto's chuckling.

"I think you need to explain that little trick you pulled out there." Yasaka who was almost glaring at this point, Naruto meeting her gaze dead on and he sighed, gesturing to follow. They reached a small out of the way area, before he pulls out a small privacy barrier, and activates the bubble around them. He looks to her "That fighting style was one that I and a friend came up with in the elemental nations." She nods and he continues "He came from a clan of…" thinking of a way to translate, unable to find anything he shrugs "Demi-humans I guess you could call them. They had claws like dogs, and they all worked alongside the same ninja canine their entire lives."

"You mean to tell me, there were dogs trained in the way of the shinobi?" Yasaka cutting in, disbelief written all over her features to which he nodded, "Also, shinobi cats, turtles, oh… I can't forget kamakura, the sickle Wesel. A damn fine wind user."

"What about…?"

"I was getting to that." Naruto cutting off the predictable question, "I and this friend came up with this fighting style and based it loosely on his clans' basic stances but geared more to flexibility and misdirection… just like…"

"A fox." She beamed, and he nodded, "My first genin team all had bonded Kitsune, and they learnt well, and the last I recall, only four had been lost to enemy action with another two forced into retirement from injuries out in the field. The third generation of shinobi kitsune were truly amazing…" Naruto's smile was soft as he recalled seeing the kits playing around in his backyard, shaking his head back to the present "…I taught that style to my kitsune to use whenever they transform into human to assist in a fight. It also works well when I was powered up by Kurama, so I tended to use it a fair bit myself."

"So why did you transform into a kitsune then if you can use it so freely?" Yasaka presses and he sighs, "The style requires a high degree of rapid vector shifts, and abrupt changes in speed as well as mid second adjustments that require enhanced balance control."

"Our tails…" to which he nods at, "In my powered-up state, I gained chakra tails that allowed me to use the more advanced forms of the Fox Paw and why I would typically fight as a three tailed form. It's why I chose a three tailed form out there. I was more familiar with it than any other number."

"Very well." Yasaka nods at the explanation, accepting it but now comes the fun part, "I don't suppose you could teach me and Konu it?" Naruto raised an eyebrow at that, "Don't you already have your own taijutsu style?"

"I wouldn't call it a form as you put it." She sighs, "It's just kind of self defence via overwhelming speed, power, and control." Naruto snickers at that description, which basically meant, "An elegant brawler huh?"

"So? It works."

"No, no… I know it does. In the beginning of my shinobi career I was nothing more than a brawler myself. I can't knock it. I don't want to be tied down too long but I will write out the forms and help you with the basic forms. You will have to adjust it for the extra tails." She looked at him blank faced, and he face palmed, she wasn't fully listening to him, "Lady Yasaka, I just told you, that I perfected it for three tails. You have nine."

"Oh right…" she stuck her tongue out childishly and he let an exasperated sigh, "Troublesome."

In the pure lands, one specific Nara smirks whilst watching the clouds, chewing grass with his rotund best friend at his side munching chips, "I agree, blonds are the height of troublesome."

"What was that…?"

"Nothing. Just got a feeling see…"

Naruto suddenly the urge to growl at a certain Nara who is currently out of reach for now but shook it off as he sits back in his seat on the bus back to Kyoto central, Shirone had stayed behind to train under Magari for a time. Perhaps when they return from the UK, they'll join forces again. Glancing around, He finds himself sitting beside Yasaka, the kids were all in the back talking a mile a minute, Yuma directly behind him, snoozing no doubt.

He himself was about to close his eyes to follow his seconds lead when his senses spiked, his reaction was instant as an ice sheet covers the front of the bus, blocking the drivers view but taking several magic strikes and then the bus is flipped from an impact.

Crunch.

A/N; Naruto trained Ninja foxes in the tijutsu style he and kiba came up with. Now, Shirone is learning her clan techniques, Yuma reaffirms her position to both her mother and Naruto, borrowing his line from the fight against his mother, that he burrowed from a certain heiress.

o7

*Sneak peak*

"Basara! Basara!" One red haired demoness slides to a stop atop the rocky ground, the hero laying their still loosely holding his silver sword despite the hit he just took. "Oh please still be..." her fingers find a pulse on his neck, but he isn't looking to good, he needs help but "Ojo-chan... step away, this is anninternal hero matter." The steady steps of Shiba Kyouichi, his armour rattling each one he took, his ever present smile was frustrating. Stepping up, she extended her hands, "I'll kill you a thousand times over..." magic circle and her gravity magic coscades toward the rogue hero he deflects the attack rushing sideward.

Unwilling to allow her Basara to fall here, she unleashes another blast which Shiba avoided as he turned into charge directly at her, weapon raised. Mio notices his ring, still on her forefinger, she knew she should have thrown it out after removing it from her ring finger but... 'I know i don't have any right to, but... just this once... please...' and she shouts his name "Naruto!" Out of a the resulting circle flew opa figure that clashed against the rogue hero's own, neither budging, "...and you are...?" Shiba questions but Mio knew that back, she has spent many a time resting against it, still so broad and comfroting even after everything shes done "You came..." her whisper carried and the hero was pushed back through strength alone, a first if his face was to be believed, "...even after everything."

"You made your choice Mio." He didn't turn to look at her form, he didnt have the strength to see someone else in her arms, to see her love another, "I have no right to complain. Sit tight." He took up that stance, his sword was already smouldering in ice, "I will save you... one last time..." he charged forward, this human would face all this wrath he needs to let loose.