Chapter Eleven; Queen's Blade

United Kingdom; Seekvaria Estate

Xenovia stands at the foot of her Captain's bed. He has never looked this bad before, covered head to toe with bandages. Were it not for Seekvaria, he'd probably be in casts for the next couple of months. Her own injuries, although painful, were relatively light considering the heavyweight fight they were in. That initial barrage of his cleared out all the big guns near her. She had far more room to breathe after it, room she had used to the maximum.

Then, when the stolen seals self-destructed, the shockwave knocked the two who had knocked her down off their feet, giving her time to get back up and raise her sword. It was so chaotic, yet he took on the strongest enemy alone, as always. Looking at him, she made a vow, "I will protect our family too. You are my rock, Captain."

""How's he doing?""

"Why do you want to know?"

"Well… he's…" She froze as Xenovia turned and glared at the angel. "Where were you, huh, Irina?"

"Well…"

"Not here! That's where! Now come here and…"

"Xenovia. I wasn't supposed to interfere. I can't…"

"Leave." Xenovia rubbed the bridge of her nose, took deep breaths, and now realized why the captain does this when trying to calm down. "Don't bother coming back until he calls."

"…but…" Irina had never been glared at by her best friend like that. Her throat got tight, and she nodded meekly and vanished into a beam of light. Sighing hard, she looked to the second bed where one-armed Yuma lay. Things were a mess, and she didn't even know where to begin clearing it up.

Seekvaria was staring out at the front yard, ruined and still. The outhouse had caved in on itself, but there was nothing she could do about that right now. Their defenders were down, and the manor was far too dangerous to remain in. Logically, a tactical retreat was in order, but where? Home? They would start parading around the fact that the leviathan heir was among their number at their earliest opportunity. This would cause more headaches, as no doubt, there would be no small number of attempts on his life or life essence on an hourly basis.

Then there are the Satans. They will chain him while he's weak and throw him into another hellscape. They don't like him. That's clear as day. The old faction. Probably the same. With how flaky both types of Angels have been recently, neither the fallen nor heaven will be of use.

The rookie four. She winced at that, no. Rias will deny it, but she's having a slight brother complex, and ever since she got hold of the red dragon emperor, her superiority complex has never been so obnoxious. Sona, too, by the books, will report the fact that the leviathan heir is in a coma, and the Satans would be here before lunch. Sairaorg? Little he could do.

She sighs, before recalling something Naruto had said to her, "Being alone is terrifying… huh?" She manages her choice as she sat down at her desk and decided to do the only course that seemed plausible moving forward, "Time to be an anchor for a lost ship." A magic circle spins up on her desk and after a while, "What a surprise…?"

"Mother, Father, I need your help..."

As Seekvaria stands front and center, Xenovia and Alivian at her sides, she wonders if she's done the right thing. Naruto may be mad at her, but she's doing this for him. She saw how terrified he was at being alone and forgotten, how being without help or letting his family down was his truest fear. As the field is lit up by magic circles of various houses, hers being the most prominent, it dawns on her that it's too late now to back out, as her mother and father appear, followed by all four Satans, a squad of Sitiri medics, guards from the Gremory, and a detachment of soldiers from the Phenex.

As they all surveyed the area, they were surprised by the amount of devastation. Truly, a war had taken place here, and Ruvel Phenex was already barking orders to lock the place down. The four Satans approached the trio. "Where is he?" Sirzechs asked firmly. But Seekvaria turned to her father. "I am sorry, dear... I didn't want to cause any trouble."

"Figured," she muttered beneath her breath, before addressing the red Satan, "This way." And she led them, along with the medical team, through the house and directly towards the improvised medical rooms. At the door, they found Shirone guarding it, and as soon as she spotted the Satans, she went blank-faced. Seekvaira nodded at her, and she went inside, ahead of them. For the Satans' part, they noticed how beat up the young nekomata was, but Serizechs and Ajuka noticed how her evil piece seemed to have been subdued somehow.

Following the heiress in, they found the two beds, being guarded by Maya, who was also blank-faced as she shot a look at Seekvaria, who tried to apologize with her eyes. All the medical personnel rushed to do diagnostics on both patients, and the list they came up with was not pretty. As much as the boy had pointed out their flaws, the Satans had nothing against him. Perhaps he was a bit arrogant, but he never directly challenged them, just how they handled things, which they pretty much had ignored until this point. He was strong, far stronger than the other devils in his age range, no doubt a result of his heritage. But to be so soundly beaten and put into a coma. Not only that, but this enemy also attempted to abduct him? It's a good thing he was a quick thinker.

"'How bad?' Serafall asks her mother, who was leading the medical team. 'I think it would be easier to say what is not wrong with him.' A collective wince. 'He's a fighter, to be sure. Any less of a man would have died from half these injuries. I must praise Agares' first-aid skills, or we wouldn't be having this conversation.'"

"Right. This area is to be locked down until further notice. If someone even sneezes funny, I want a report on my desk within the hour. Anything shows up that isn't supposed to be here or without my explicit verbal permission, turn it away. Am I clear?" Sirzechs rounded on Ruvel Phenex, who nodded, "Yes, Lord Lucifer." Before exiting, he added, "The second he's awake, I want to know about it. If there is someone out there that could deal this much damage to one of our strongest upcoming youths, abducting them."

"Hai!"

"'As promised, he is under the protection of the Agares and the four of us. I hope he listens to your proposal or things will get dire for him.' Serizechs addressed Lord and Lady Agares, who nodded."

"'How are you even standing right now?' A nurse called out as everyone looked to see Shirone standing sentry over her clanmate. 'You have a concussion, a fractured arm...'"

"Fine, just check her," Shirone orders as Lady Sitiri steps in. "Do not fret, Koneko…"

"Shirone." Xenovia calls out, drawing everyone's attention to the holy sword wielder. "Stand down. Let the medics see to you. The captain would be mad if he saw you now." The nekomata hung her head. "Hai, vice-captain…." Then passed out, directly into Lady Sitri's arms. "Man… that girl has some will power…" Falb said, watching the medics tend to the little Nekomata. "Only allowed herself to faint after being ordered to. I could use ten more like her."

"Her evil piece is being suppressed somehow…" murmured Ajuka, looking over at the young girl. "I noticed too. Probably the Leviathan heir's doing. To prevent her from losing control," Sirezechs commented as his wife arrived and gestured into the room where she spotted the battered and beaten form of Naruto Lusifuge. Glancing at her husband, who nodded, she proceeded in to aid in whatever way she could.

Unknown space

"you lost."

"…I know," the boy said, taking a deep breath. He stared up at the endless white sky, still as a statue. "What are we going to do now?"

"I… ummm…" Suddenly, a conversation with a greenish-blond came to mind. Before he lost it, he said, "I think… I should go home."

"Home? Where is that?"

"… I don't know that yet. Maybe… back in Japan. With my sister. That sounds nice."

"…but… what about… her?"

"…"

"Know you are hurting right now."

"Of course. Who wouldn't..."

"Are you going to get revenge?"

"Why would I…?" He shrugged, ignoring the wet feeling down his face. The pooling liquid went unacknowledged; he had no energy to care. "Revenge only begets more revenge. The circle of hatred is born."

"Are you going to forgive them? Let them get away with it?"

"I said I wouldn't get revenge. I did not say anything about forgiveness." A barely audible breathless chuckle, "I just… want my mom right now. She'll know what to do. I am tired. Always pretending to know what's best, that I have all the answers, when really… I am just guessing. I'm powerful. I let that get to my head."

"So you're not giving up?"

"Give up? I have never given up, nor gone back on my word." He sighs again, "I promised to live a full, and happy life. I am only eighteen years in and already tired of all the stupidness of youth."

"You sound like an old man."

"Been there done that." He chuckles, it was wet and lacked mirth before he fell silent for a long moment, eventually speaking up after swollowing the lump of anxiety in his throat. "I should go back, right?"

"You should."

"Thanks for listening." He breathes out softly, her voice never held any preconceptions of him, though, he supposed that was to get him to help her in return. "I will come visit when I can."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I'll do what I can with my mediations too. Clean things up a bit." He hoped that smile was real, even though its his face he didnt kmow if it was a full smile he gave.

United Kingdom; Seekvaria Fortress

The sound of that insistent beeping let Naruto know exactly where he was. A hospital. He was sore all over, probably from just being here or the beating he got. As he tried to stretch, he realised how week he felt, and opening his eyes he was thankful the ceiling wasn't a blinding white. Glancing down, he see's Xenovia on his left, Shirone curled up by his legs and Seekvaria on his right. Further observations suggest they ate here last night, and probably chatted so long they fell asleep.

A quick cycle check of his chakra, his injuries are bad but not good either, though with his consciousness back, he can help out actively. It is then he noticed and Shirone right ear twitched. Cycling his chakra towards the left, and the left ear twitched. He smirked. As he cycled it again, her eyes flickered open, clearly scanning the room for dangers, before curling back up on his leg, gripping it tightly. With great effort, his hand rested on her head which awoke both Shirone, who received the pat, and Seekvaria as she had been resting on said hand.

Upon realising that Naruto was finally awake, they both jolted up, which in turned awoke Xenovia and they all cried out in joy, asking a question a second, far to quickly for his drugged mind to handle right now. Thankfully his ever perceptive second in command, was right there, "Keep it down would ya… the captain just woke up."

Moving his head aside, eyes meet his second favourite cat, "Hey, Lazy Kitten." Yuma smiled, he hadn't called her that in years "Well, seeing as I am up before you…" she chuckled as she limps over, using a crutch and Naruto immediately noticed the flapping left sleeve and he sighed, "How bad we get hit?"

"We're barely standing." She whispered barely any breath behind it, no emotion either and the others just stayed silent as the two began to catch up, they've known each other longer than the rest. "Our weapons are gone. I managed to seal all the extra armour away before they got to it. Though, I am told that fire claimed them too. They got to the whole vault of seals."

"I blew them before they escaped with them." He managed to inform whilst lifting up to a seated position, and she nodded calmly while taking a seat on the bed, with the two face to face."We got scraps. That is all we have left. Scraps and ribbons." Her voice was soft a put hollow, filled with remorse and it was clear she herself was hardly holding herself together. He gestured for her to come closer, and she did, just enough for him to bring her into a hug against his chest, managing with great effort to rub her head, "We're alive. I am right here. You must have been so scared." And the dam broke.

The always calm, collected, lazy, lady known as Yuma cried into her captains chest, she was so worried about him but couldn't let that out when he was so defenceless. Even her own injuries were put on the back burner but now that he was awake and talking, she could finally rest easy knowing he'll be okay, so they'll be okay. After all he's the captain, "They… they took everything…" sniffles, "…they tried to take yoou… they hurt everyone and I was so scared. I just wanted to…"

"I know. I know… it's okay now, we survived. So, we'll do better next time…"

"But… but…" his head petting kept her from totally loosing it, but she was so damn close "Look at me…" she looks up from his chest, and he smiled goofily, "…we failed… so what? Aren't we supposed to be proud failures? So, stop mopping and start to think about our problems now and let's get to it, neh?" How could she forget. "Proud… failure…" she keeps her head on his chest and nods, the patting continued as her tails slowly began to sway again, that catches Naruto's attention, "you got you second tail…" she nodded not trusting her words right now. "Congratulations, see… keep moving forward." As he pats her head, he notices something new, on his finger, narrowing his eyes he looks to the heiress who suddenly looked very nervous. Not that most would notice with her impeccable poker face but Naruto had his empathy so he just stared. And stared. And stared.

She snapped, "Fine. You win." Strolling forward, she sat on the side of the bed, opposite Yuma drooped form, and looked directly at him, "In the last talk we had before everything went to crap, you told me how lost you felt, how dangerous things are without something to anchor you to reality and to help you stay on the straight and narrow." He nods as she continued, both ingoring the surprised expressions from the others beside Yuma. "After the dust had settled I generally had no idea what to do. Our defences were down, you and Yuma were in coma's and everyone was injured one way or another." She lifted her sleeves on her left arm showing a scar up the side of her arm, "So, I followed you advice and pulled on my lifeline for help." She sighed at that, "Unfortunately, things transpired as I feared they would. My parents blabbered to half the underworld that you and I, are to be wed soon enough."

"The Satans came right?"

"They did." She confirmed, "Due to my parents big mouths, half the underworld believes we are to be wed so the Satans can't touch you as you are under our clans protection, or risk upsetting the general populace and clans both."

"By the log, a catch twenty-two?" He mutters and Yuma giggled from her spot on his chest, though the heiress looks at him strangely, "By the log?"

"It's a sage thing," Naruto didn't explain, "Go on."

"Long story short, the Satan's are offering you two choices as they suspect the truth im that I am only harbouring you. They gave us both an ultimatum; Wed, or…"

"Right. Not really a choice." Naruto sighs hard, mauling over their non existent options, for a good thirty seconds before he looks down and pokes Yuma's head. She sighs, "Take it. We had a good run but I believe that we can't escape this any further."

"Just making sure we came to the same conclusion." Naruto responded flatly, before withholding the head pats, "For that attitude, no more head pats." He could feel her pout, Shirone looked ready to swap places with the older cat the second she makes as a move to get up. Her twitching tail is so adorable.

"Ahem." Naruto's attention returns to the blond, and he sighs again, "I accept the proposal set forth by the Agares clan heiress, and to all which it entails." But then looks up at her, "is what I'd like to say but there are a few things we need to clear up first, and those outside might want to come in for them. Seeing as we are playing for the same team now, apparently."

Immediately Sirzechs, Serafall, Ajuka, and Greyfia appear through the doorway, Seekvaria's parents and the other rookie kings, the three others young heir/heiresses of the underworld of this current generation. A generation he is technically apart of. "Is the door shut?"

"Yes." Grayfia reports and Naruto nods. He pokes Yuma who gets up and Naruto flexes his fingers briefly, confirming his range of movement and speeds, before going through twenty separate hand signs, abhorrently slow for a shinobi of his calibre but what he can currently manage. "What is he doing?" Whispered Rias before she noticed Shirone in the corner and her breath hitched, "He's channeling magic through those seals and constructing… something…"

On the twentieth sign his right hand glained purple flames on each finger tip, surprising everyone until he slowly placed it on the wall beside his bed. Kanji script spread across the wall, floor, and ceiling until connecting up at the other end. Ajuka noticed it immediately, "Some kind of security barrier. No sound in or out."

"Correct." Naruto nod at the professor, "Also destroyed any listening, recording, and confuses any familiar within its confines." He put his out to his right and Shirone hands him two listening devices that had been fried, frowning before looking to his friends parents who looked away. Sighing he looked to the Nekomata. Looking at one another he nods, and she climbs in beside him, and he starts petting her like a house cat and she purs contentedly, much to the jealously of her previous master. "Now, we get into the nitty gritty little stuff, have you gotten any more control yet?"

"We are working on it," Sirezechs comments seemingly casual but naruto sensed his irritation, not just with him personally but the whole thing. "Just like Azezel is, we are working on it."

"Then again, there are only one type of Fallen. Many types of devils." Naruto murmurmed but all heard him. "Well, I think we shall call in our last guest…" gathering his chakra.

"And who might that be?" Serafall questioned hesitantly, still rather fearful of that stare where she was eaten and torn to pieces by the Leviathan itself. "First off…"

"You're stalling." Shirone murmurs and Yuma nods and he sighs, "fine. But let me say…"

"Anything within the security seal is to be considered secrets of the heist degree or S-class." Xenovia recites dutifully and he play scowls at her, she smirks "I learnt…"

"No more clones for you." He growls before sighing and suddenly out of his hip popped a scroll, which he hands to Yuma, "Please unseal this on the other bed. On the promise nothing leaves this room." Giving a side eye to everyone beside his party.

"We promise just get this over with." Rias grumbles but Naruto was looking pointedly at his soon to be father and mother in laws, everyone follows his gaze and the pair gulp, nodding along and he nods as Yuma finishes unrolling the scroll and raises an eyebrow, recognising the kanji, looking back at him he nods once and with chakra running through the scroll out pops a very familiar woman who begins to stir from her slumber.

All eyes widen upon recognising who she was and the very nasty scar where her heart would be, evidence from her final fight, "Isn't that…"

"Katerea leviathan…? But how…? You killed her!" Serafall shouted jolting the woman awake, looking around confused for all of about five seconds, she was about to growl upon seeing Ajuka but sensing her baby nearby she saw him in a hospital bed, pretty banged up, "Sochi? What happened?"

"Got into a fight. Lost badly." Naruto chuckled nervously, and she scowled as she strolled over, looking at his charts, "Then, why didn't you unseal me earlier? How long has it been since...?

"Two weeks."

"I just woke up like ten minutes ago. Got the low down of what I've missed and basically being told to marry into the Agares family or face whatever the Satans can come up with." He shrugs, earning a groan from the dozing kitten, "figured you'd want your two cents heard."

"Damn right I would." She turns on the gathered crowd, Serafall stepping forward, "How did you survive?"

"I didn't." Katerea responded flatly, pulling down her top enough to see the massive scar where her son's claw went through her chest, "I was dead for a full seven minutes and twenty-three seconds." Looking back at said boy, "I still haven't spanked you for that."

"Mom!" He flushes at that, but she smiles before sighing, "the fact that I am here with all of you, I guess everything else is to be aired out."

"Yeah, we are joining the same team so…"

"What has Yasaka said about this?" Katerea questioned arched brow up, and Naruto paled, "I just woke up…" looking to Yuma, "No one's told her, I don't think…" looking to Xenovia who shook her head, "Nope." Shirone spoke without prompting, not even dignifying her response by opening her eyes.

"What does the Youkai have to do with you?" Serizechs questions to which Katerea answers for her son, "Quite a bit actually, seeing as he is part of her clan by their laws."

"What?" The devils all yell only for to she nod smugly, her baby was connected "This is where things get a little wonky." The look on her face seemed to say it all and many took seats wherever they could, listening in to this long story.

It was a long story. A story about a warrior who grew up alone, was trained to kill from a young age, fought enemy after enemy just to protect his friends and home, to survive another day. Fighting in an all out war. Befriending nine, in local terms, Super-ultimate class level diyoukai. Saving a world.

Waking up as a son to a lost noble family. The misunderstandings within the family. The abandonment from the family. Raising himself and his sister. The trails of such a life. Adventures throughout Japan. Discovering a link between him, the Youkai, and the Shinto gods. The big bombshell about his chakra. The even bigger revelation that Katerea, Shirone, and Xenovia have chakra networks of various types.

"That sure is a lot to take in." Ajuka comments rubbing his head, "A chakra wielding human ninja, fighting in a war that sounds like something out of a manga…" Rias adds, and Naruto chuckled, along with his mother, "I saw the fights with my own eyes. Though his memories. He's used to fighting for his life. That was his life at one point."

"Is that why you're so strong? Because you've been fighting for two lifetimes now?" Sairaorg asks but Naruto shook his head, "My hand-to-hand combat, thrown weapons, and sword skills are all things I recall doing with pin point accuracy but I," he shakes his head, "This body of mine didn't know how to do so. I worked my wings off to get as strong as I have. I had to learn magic from the fundamentals up as, unlike you all, magic doesn't come Natrually to me. Chakra does. So, all those spells you see me throw around? I had to learn from the very basics and fight my inborn instincts the whole time to fall upon my chakra techniques. It can be rather taxing at times."

"The fact that you have chakra is astounding." Serafall speaks up softly, Ajuka nodding his agreement "I am aware. So are the Youkai, which is why I am not going to be the one to explain this to Lady Magari or Lady Yasaka." Everyone paled at that, at leadt those who knewof the temprememt of one or both of said women, "…let's not for get Matatani." Katerea informed and all colour drained from the room, "How strong is she anyway?" Asks Rias getting narrowed eyes from Naruto, brother senses tingling dangerously, "Beat me." Shirone mumbled as Naruto inadvertently increased head rub speed, "…and she's ten?" Sona comments but Shirone sat up and scowled "She cheated!"

"Now, now, Shirone-imoto. What have I kept telling you?" Naruto chides, and she sighs falling back against his chest, "Only idiots fight fair." That caused the room to go strangely silent. Eyes looking from one person to the next as they contemplated those words. It was Ajuka who broke it, "A valid point."

"Indeed," Sona adds with a new prospective on things, "That's just how Shinobi fight." Naruto shrugged, "My first Sensei said; 'If you find yourself in a fair fight, you've done something wrong."

"Rather cowardly." Sairaorg comments from his place on the wall, arms folded, and Naruto snorted, "I am a shinobi, not a samurai. We've mastered the art of fighting cowardly and made it a profession."

"Just so we are clear here…" Sirzechs gaining the rooms attention, "…You are Naruto Kyuubi Leivathan-Lucifuge, Son of Katerea Leviathan. Adoptive son of a kyuubi other than Yasaka…"

"…god son of Lady Amaterasu…"

"…god son of… hold up what?" Serizechs stumbled and Naruto Shrugs again, "I won a bet, let's leave it at that."

"Umm…" Naruto looks to his mother who fidgets. Everyone looks but to their shock, they both speak in a language they can't understand, "Shouldn't we tell them my actual name?"

"I like that it's our little secret Sochi." Katerea mutters just when Xenovia speaks up, "Wait, Naruto isn't your actual name?" Her eyes narrow, "Seriously?" Yuma piped in and Naruto sighs, "I really hate giving you those damned clones." Naruto looks from his mother to his team, then back to his mother and speaking Italian so everyone can understand again, "It's your choice. You are my mother, and house head, I follow you."

"We can tell the girls later, but I don't trust them. Sorry Sochi." Katerea still speaking elemental and Naruto just shrugs, not caring either way, he looked to Xenovia who nods, arms folded, then to Yuma who gave a thumbs up "Then, at least help me with the puppet for the muppet." Looking to a Yuma who scowls but his mother got a gleam in her eyes, "That, I can do…" the grin on her face was priceless.

Ever since his mother saw Konkuro's puppet mastery, she wanted to give it a go. When Naruto explained plenty of Suna shinobi, former and active, have puppet prosthetics that act like their lost ones due to chakra she grew even more intrigued.

"This also explains it." Seekvaria comments suddenly seemingly coming out her thoughts, inadvertently becoming the centre of attention, "Why your morality is so vastly different from your mothers old faction, and our new faction."

"Well yeah." Naruto nods, "You briefly mentioned that, in your previous life and world, that they also had bloodline limits and clans like we do houses." His nod and she continues, "So when you see us trying to create new ones, or the old faction purposefully trying to out match us, you've already seen similar attempts fail in your world right?"

"Yeah more often than not, the child produced had one for the other. A few had neither. I think the maths said something like a one in a hundred thousand chance of gaining both if everything was favourable." Naruto informs shocking the group, "Long odds." Ajuka comments earning nods from the others, "And from what I've gathered from the archives mum kept, you barely understand where your powers originate."

"How so?" Ajuka questioned intrigued by this trail of thoughts, Katerea too was paying attention when Naruto began again, "In my world bloodlines were split into three main categories." Holding up three digits, "One was known as Dojutsu, or the power of the eyes. These gave their users altered vision of some kind. One I was familiar with allowed three hundred- and fifty-nine-degree vision when active."

"Damn." Muttered Sona, "it could also see through walls, and other solid objects and reach as far as a kilometre in range," Naruto continued causing a few to go blank face at that, Ajuka chuckled, "Sounds useful."

"You'd think so, right? Their limited number of medics were the best in the field, their scouting could spot a hidden enemy before the enemy even knew they were being hunted. I still pranked them in their homes though." Naruto stated earning sweat drops from the crowd.

"How?"

"I'm a shinobi, I don't fight fair. They're enhanced vision is able to see chakra within ones body, useful right?" Everyone nods imagining that, "What happens when your in a dark room and someone lets off a flash bang?" Everyone pales at the thought of such and they nod, "Every technique has a weakness, every jutsu has a flaw. That is the life of a shinobi... but I digress."

Shifting slightly so Shirone can get more comfortable as she sleeps, still absentmindedly patting her purring form, he continues "Two, chakra, or in your case, power-based bloodlines. These are selective mutations within the core of a clan that allows them use of a unique form of power manipulation. Kinda like the POD you red heads use, or the ice Lady Grayfier and I use. We can't use POD and you can't use ice."

"Well put." Ajuka was recalling finding this interesting and clearly wasn't the only one, "Incase you ae wondering, yes, I had a chakra base bloodline before. It is probably why I am rather comfortable switching between ice and Water. Its instinctual and familiar to me. Took a lot of work to get used to the dynamic of it but I got there in the end." Just as he says that water seemed to gather from nowhere, partially freezes to create a cup then fills said cup with water and he takes a sip so causally most had to blink a few times to make sure they saw that.

Serafall and Sona jumped up together and both shouted, "How the hell you do that?" Shirone hissed at them forcing them to take a step back and Sona at least sits down, but her curiosity could not be quenched, but it was Ajuka who offered his two scents first "It's because you had to learn magic from the very founding principles as you had no instinctive grasp on magic like other devils do, right?" Naruto nods at that, "You all rely on magic circles to power your magic the way you want it to go, like blueprints for how it is to work." Naruto produced one he got from his mother, with the leviathan seal and everything, "Now say, if I pointed this at you Sona, you would know what spell I was about to perform right?"

"A water gun shot. If I'm reading this circle correctly."

"Very basic spell, took me ten minutes to learn." Naruto comments off handedly though both Sona and her sister shared a look, to them it wasn't a basic spell and certainly didn't take ten minutes to learn "When I was four?"

"Three and nine months," Katerea speaking up as she finishes examining the coils of Yuma"s shoulder, "Right. Anyway…" everyone was shocked that even before Naruto was four, he was using the beginning level water magic, and learnt it in ten minutes, "…with my spell broadcasted, surely you'd no exactly what was coming, and how to counter and what beat to fight back with, right?"

"Yes. Combat one oh one." Sairaorg nods to which Naruto sighs at, "You guys lack imagination."

"What do you mean?" Ajuka was basically hanging off his seat as he understood that statement had way too many depth to it, Sirzechs and Grayfier too knew this. "I just said, that magic circles are blueprints to a spell, yes?" They nod, "Then…" like talking to children and it took a good few seconds and it dawned on Seekvaria, "All spells can be cast without if you manipulate the magic the way the circle does."

Pin drop silence.

The amount of face palms caused a rolling echoe and snorts of amusement from Naruto's team, as they watched everyone whisper among themselves about this realisation with Sona attempting it on a small scale with a very basic spell. It was different and differcult to do but she could do it. She beamed. "This is something worth look into."

"How'd you come up with this theory?" Ajuka was way to into this Naruto muses, "In my old world, instead of magic circles we used hand signs. You saw me do a few of them earlier." They nodded, "A technique is only considered mastered when you have it down to less than five handguns to perform it. Each hand sign helps mould the flow of the technique differently, just like the magic circles, however some techniques we had have upward of sixty, hand signs. For reference…" Naruto produced an upper middle tiered circle, slightly above Sona's current level of ability, "…which would produce something like this." The circle fades "So in order to reduce the number of signs needed, you had to understand the flow of your own internal energies." He shrugged "Same process except with magic circles. Once you understand the flow of magic within one to perform the technique…" he uses a magic circle, dark blue, gather the water, while a white one turns half the water into another glass before the water is dropped into the glass.

"This is groundbreaking stuff," Ajuka has been writing notes none stop since the talk on bloodlines began "Your strength is well earned." Naruto shrugs, "In the shinobi world, you learn fast or die young. This stuff had to beaten into me, sometimes literally."

"How did you practice this whilst on the road?" Grayfier asks curious about this and Naruto smirks, holding out his unoccupied left hand, and a soft humming came and before you know it Shirone opened her eyes, from recognising the sounds of a rasengan, but different as it had a water stream and an ice stream flowing around the outside. Without thinking, having just woken up she reaches for it and simply lifts it out from his hand and he lets her as she holds it she can feel his chakra and they she feels her own slipping into it and a flame takes the place of the ice. "Seems Shirone has fire natured chakra," Naruto muses aloud when his mother sighs, "Did you honestly have to use an A rank assault technique for chakra testing?"

"If I say no…"

She bonked him, "Stop doing stupid things. You could have blow up this entire room if you're careless."

"Moooom…"

"Don't give me that." Katerea nags and he sighs "Fine… spoil sport." Dismissing the death ball as everyone now knews it be. "Everything else I would rather keep between myself and my clans."

"You've given us plenty." Sirzechs nods, his animosity towards the boy forgotten replaced with respect for his now comrade, "I take it that the house of Leviathan is returning to the fold then?"

"Not yet we aren't." Katerea says drawing their eyes to her, Naruto nodding too as they all awaited the explanation, "We have a goal we must clear before we 'rejoin the fold' as you put it."

"Which is?" Serafall narrowing her eyes at this not trusting her old enemy. "The locating and recovery of our third member." The brown haired devil responds rather flatly. Everyone went wide eyed at that, "Another Leviathan?" The shortest Satan, by choice, squeaked and Naruto nod, "All we know is the old faction has her somewhere. By opposing you so openly they wouldn't be so wary of me. Pushing my recruitment/elimination off for a time."

"He was meant to be building a team capable of fighting against the likes of Rizevem and that old bat Beal." Katerea informs and the eyes widen at the thought, "My team doesn't have any sacred gear users for that reason. We all use our strength to fight and not a tool we build our strength around. It's also why I saved my mother…" Naruto not giving them the actual, selfish reason he went out of his way, at great risk, to save her. He may be helping the, now, but that can change before the hat could drop.

"So, what you are saying is…" Ajuka comments, "You want our help and loyalty, find our missing member and House Leviathan will stand with you." Katerea explained to them and that caused murmurs between the Satan's as Sairaorg stepped up, "You said that you fight with your own stength. You've shown your magical knowledge, how about your physical?" Naruto grins, he had inquired about Sairaorg and Yasaka had told of his plight.

He was similar in many ways to Rock Lee. Worthy of respect as a genius of hard work, "I can explain that but not in present company as it touches on Leviathan clan techniques enough for me to be nervous letting outside parties in on it." This earned a raised eyebrow from his mother, who didn't deny his claim, "…but the Youkai have told me of you Sairaorg after the race. I will trust you with our Houses secrets and think we can work together to increase our strength through our hard work and perseverance." His grin was youthfully flaming, eyes ignited at the prospect of harder training, something Sairaorg seemed to be infected with and he to grinned, "Well said my new rival!" Holding out his fist, "I look forward to it!"

"Dear Satan…" Rias mumbled, "Another Sairaorg?" Sona adds but before the two devils of training could get started Sirzechs interjects, "We will set to work on locating your last house member and when we locate her, you will be informed. In the meantime, what will you do?"

"We will offer the Agares limited support, subject to change depending on how develop between the heirs of both houses. From what I recall, they are a small but decent house with limited political power despite the efforts to the contrary." Katerea taking over as this just turned into of political office. Naruto will let his mother handle this, "What of the Lusifuge half?" Grayfia entering the game, drawing the leader of house leviathan to her, "As we two are the last of that pillar, and as I am, by technically house head as the elder of the two, I wish for it to be restored. My children will be of House Gremory, so…"

"Political marriage then? Between my grandchild, with the greatest inclination towards ice magic, and yours of reasonable age. With their union, house Lusifuge can make a return among the seventy-two."

"Hol' up…" Serafall interjected, hands waving around, "That would mean the Agares will lead an alliance of…"

"Correction; it would be a Leviathan-Lucifuge-Agares alliance, yes." Katerea was clear on this point, shooting a stare at the Agares couple in the back, trying to hide their joy at moving up the political ladder, "It is no different from your, Gremory led Gremory-Sitiri-Phenex alliance, is it?"

"Well…"

"Nor the fact that, the little crimson princesse over the…" gesturing to Rias who was shocked at being singled out, as she had been staring at the interaction of her rook and the Leviathan heir, "…has the Red Dragon emperor wooing more and more noble ladies. No doubt he will gain enough influence within the underworld to create his own house."

Rias blushes at that, twirling her finger through her locks at the prospect of helping her Issei create a whole new house, but then her Greed Aspect reared its head, she wants him alone but knowing him…" sighing as all eyes fall on her, Sirzechs coughs and she snaps to him, "Is this true, Rias?"

"Issei-kun's dream…"

"Pervert." Shirones automatic response works even when asleep it appears, earning sweat drops from everyone else but Rias's blush made her hair look tame, "Like Naruto is any different! His entire team is made up of women too!"

"All by choice, Rias-san." Xenovia moving in with the defence, "He hasn't forced us to do anything. He gave us the choice to stay or leave. Offered us friendship and a shoulder to cry on until we can stand on our own."

"He has never made any inappropriate comments, movements, or anything despite our own desires to do." Yuma adds from her bed, "He has put his trust in us. We are just making sure our friend doesn't get himself in over his head." She glared at him then, and with a hiss, "As he tends to do more often than not."

"Haha… yeah…" hanging his head, Naruto mumbles out, "I am sorry." Only for Seekvaria to suddenly rub his back soothingly, "With all this in mind, I don't see why our alliance is a problem." Katerea comments with folded arms, with Serafall glaring being halted by Sirzechs "As long as you do not oppose us directly, we have jurisdiction over clan matters. That being said, we are still trying to wrestle control from the council led by the Bael clan."

"Yes. We have no desire to serve that fossil." Katerea comments though she looks at Serafall with a frosty gaze, matched by her son and this is when Serafall suddenly found herself very nervous, "With that said, for our return, I expect our name to do so too." Eyes widen at that, all eyes looking to said Satan, who was growling something fierce, "I earned this title. I will not…"

"My mother may have been consumed by her hatred and rage…" Naruto speaking up, his intense gaze upon the short Satan of Sitri origin, "…but she did have a point on the fact that going around using our name whilst acting the childish fool leaves… much to be desired."

"I will not…"

"It's a title used as an homage to the original four. Surely…" Sirzechs trying to be diplomatic about it, "Then, if I were to go around introducing myself as a Gremory, picking fights with the church and fighting against the fallen acting the fool the entire time? Would you appreciate the negative consequences that would produce?"

"Well…"

"Personally, I do not care for titles, my team can vouch for that, never have either, however when people I meet assume that I have a connection with the Satan of the same name. The childish one, I have to hold back my wrath and it's taxing enough in normal circumstances. Either you clear up your act, Serafall, or loose the title." Naruto state's coldly enough to get a subtle nod of agreement from his cousin in the back. It would be helpful if she didn't have too continuously reign in them both.

"No! I earned the title, and I will not abandon it! My brand is…"

"A disgrace." Katerea informs with narrowed eyes, "Seems we must remind you what a true leviathan can do. Rest up and prepare. For when we come, either you will be defeated or the Leviathan house will cease to exist." Katerea announces shocking everyone, including Naruto, "No." Sirzechs releasing a portion of his power bringing the younger ones to their knees, the red Satan glaring at the unaffected Katerea, "You cannot do that."

"It is our name!" The woman yelled, her wrath flaring up big time "Mother…" Naruto's warning and she stopped and focused on her breathing, releasing that her rage was consuming her again. Looking back at her still bedridden son who smiled at her reaching for her hand that she promptly offers, and she focuses on that connection.

Naruto then looks at the two Satans, "This will be a point of contention, I am sure. My mothers Pride aspect is her driving force so be warned. As her son, I support her regardless of my personal take thus I asked that she clean up her act. I have not seen her show, as I never watched it as a child, and, thanks to Yuma, my tastes are in the Japanese animation style, so its effectiveness on the young is unknown to me." Unbeknownst to him, Seekvaria and Rais gave discreet thumbs-up to the Nekosho, drawing another into their secret passions, who was confused at the gesture, "However when dealing with certain people in certain places, in certain circumstances is a hassle due to your antics."

"Rather vague of you." Ajuka comments and Naruto shrugs, "No comment." Eyes landing on the childish one, "My mother will continue to call for our name back, I have no intention of going against that, however I will stop her from going overboard as long as you start taking things seriously. Your actions affect my own." Eyes narrowing at the scowling woman, a brief but potent and aimed blast of killing intent "Am I understood?"

"Fine…" Serafall ground out, gritting her teeth, "…but you have to acknowledge…"

"Not a chance in heaven."

"I didn't even…"

"I, nor my house, will ever call you anything other than Serafall." Katerea states, returning to the conversation, "you are not us and we are not you, let's leave it at that. For now."

A knock on the door broke the chain of conversation and Naruto glanced out the window, it had gotten pretty dark, much to everyone's surprise "Well, I guess we should part for the day." Ajuka announces and everyone gets to their feet, said Satan though moved forward, and Katerea tensed, gripping her son's hand tighter and said son responded with a hand up, pausing the green haired man's approach, "Ajuka. Please understand that you aren't exactly welcome to get any closer. Considering your actions are somewhat responsible for our houses current condition. It was war… I know. Still, the fact that my mother hadn't come out swinging for your neck is a testament to the love she has for me. Not out of restraint for her own actions." The man looked from him to his mother than to him and nodded and silently walked away. It didn't need to be said. The relevant parties knew happened and there was no need to reopen old wounds. Was there?

With the 'guests' gone, Naruto turns to his guardian, "Xenovia…" said girl looks to him, smiling "…thank you." She smiled back slightly that is when he noticed that the blue slab of holy metal was absent but an elegant long blade, a more potent holy element within causing him to frown, "Another Excalibur?" Following his eyes, Xenovia looked upon Excalibur Ruler, "Ah this? Yeah. It's quite the story."

"Do tell…" Katerea also looking upon the weapon of the lord, her son's friend held with her persons, "Well, it was about two weeks after everything went down…" Xenovia began to tell the story of hers in which she led a strike team against the 'Paladins' they were having problems with.

Flash back; Two Weeks post Hero assault

Xenovia steps out into the field to see the encampment of soldiers mulling around, some training, others on their flight patrols and some grabbing food or sleeping. Pretty standard affair. Again. Walking across the front path she briefly looks to their still ruined dwelling, sealed off until the captain awakes to help shift through it without triggering any surviving traps or seals. Prevent scavengers from the devil army too.

"Quarta-san…" drawing her attention to one Ravel Phenex, temporarily commanding the troop stationed here, "…may I have a word?"

"Yes, sir." Her swift response, slipping back into her stiff structured upbringing habits, "The thing is, I have a few reports of armoured soldiers and the like attempting to get close, a few just watching our patrol patterns…" the second she heard 'Armoured soliders' Xenovia mentally sighed, she had forgotten about the 'Paladins' after the heroes assault on the ground.

Nodding, "Paladins, we were investigating them before the attack and got distracted. They seem to want me, a natural holy sword wielder for their agenda. We tracked them to a church on the outskirts of town."

"Hmm… I see. Have you contacted the church yet? See if they can…?"

"Again." Xenovia cut in here, "We got derailed by the attack. If it weren't for that, we would have been done with them already." The commander of the army nods, whilst in thought, "I will see if we can pass it over to…"

"No need." A new voice causing them both to glance to the left, against the wall was Raphael arms folded and foot against the cream brick wall, "Lord Raphael… to what do we owe this pleasure? The captain is indisposed right now." Xenovia's voice was monotone, perfectly neutral to give away nothing. The arch angel didn't even look phasaed and spoke up "They are not acting on our behalf. Will not stop. Are rogue. Take them out but do not spill blood upon our lands and we will look away."

"That's a surprise." Ravel comments with a stern look, drawing attention, "Just one time. No blessing. Remember, no deaths. We will retrieve them afterward." And the angel was gone.

For a few seconds neither responded before Xenovia swirled on the balls of her feet, heading back inside the manor, "Where are you going?" Phenex asks. "To arm up. Inform the others." She stopped at the door, looking back at the ultimate class devil, "Then wipe out this threat to my friends."

Entering Naruto and Yuma's room finds Xenovia face to face with Shirone, no longer bandaged up, Maya, who has been flying back and forth for Azezel recently, and Seekvaria who had only popped in to check on them all "You are all here – good. We have a mission."

"A mission? From who?" Maya asks and Xenovia looks at each lady in turn before looking to Naruto, "I will follow the captain's lead and protect my friends with all the strength I have."

"All well and good…" Maya playing devils advocate here, not a strange place to be for her but still needs to know what the sword wielding nut job was playing at, "Raphael just paid me a visit." That caused the tension to spike, the angels had been scares since Xenovia shewed off her friend the night after the attack, "He says those Paladins are not acting under their orders. Thus, we are to take them down without spilling blood within their holy lands. If we manage that, they'll over look any transgressions against them during said raid."

"I'm in." Shirone informs already reaching for her gear, "I am going whether or not you decide to come." Xenovia tells Maya as she pulls out her weapon scroll from her rucksack, unfolding it and with a puff Durandal was there in its specialised holster. After equipping it on her back, adjusting her still damaged armour, she turns to see the four-winged angel already armoured up, even having Naruto's sword on her back "Let's get this…"

"Me too." Steps in Seekvaria with the grace of the heiress she was, training bottoms and a leather jacket of Naruto's, she acquired at some point, that was probably the most protective stuff she had, "I know I am not part of his 'family' yet but I need to prove with actions my intent. With everything that's already been decided for him without his knowledge, I believe it is only natural for me to prove I intend to do what is required of me to keep him safe."

"Good speech." Maya comments off handedly as they proceed to the door, "If you are coming, then come…" stretching out fully as she exits the room, the butler now stood sentry, "…no need to make a sing and dance about it."

"I'll lead us there." Xenovia comments and the party of four soon find themselves in the courtyard of the grounds, Phenex and a dozen others awaiting them. "Sir…?"

"We are your backup." Phenex states his faced stern and not taking no for an answer, "These people are a threat. All threats should be throughly dealt with in a timely manner. This is to ensure we do so."

Church

The double doors were blown in, startling the secret order there as they were reporting in for the day, and the exorcist led Devil squad charged into the holy grounds. To ensure no blood was spilled, all their weapons were tied into their holsters to create blunt force against slashes.

Pastor Nick was stunned the least, rushing to his hidden chamber as his Paladin order rushed to confront the enemy. An enemy that was throwing these fakes around like children in a playground. The real crusaders were a well trained and organised bunch, a real danger to normal devils but these were special forces. This was normally beneath them, but it was better than polishing their armour for the tenth time that day.

Another fifteen appeared only for their formation to be broken by a swooping down Maya, feet first, and with their line disrupted by such a daring move, Xenovia led the push, time froze briefly, and she broke through the enemy's line, before speeding back up. "Go get that priest. We will stop them from following." Maya states to Xenovia who nods and rushes down deeper into the church.

Passing through to a small mess hall, strolling through it, she reaches the priests office she finds it empty. Sighing to herself she walks to the desk and pulls the small figurine of the holy manger on the desk and the secret passage in the side opens up, "Predictable."

In this secret passage she walks through the paved base meant and again face palms at the numerous bookshelves', "Truly stupid." Pulling the only Latin book on the right shelf and the path head grinds open. A now dirt and rock path, hanging moss from the low ceiling she ducks beneath but continues on to find an oasis, a beautiful visage of moss and rock, the luminous ice clear water was as still as the air she was breathing bathed the area in soothing blue hue as she reached the edge. Looking around before sighing again, she sides stepped the obvious lunges from behind, "Pastor Nick. I really not in the mood for your, holier-than-tho ramblings and just surrender. The angels and saints will always welcome you back into the folds of…"

"God is dead! We only have his…" abruptly he drops to the floor, out cold and she smirked, "Saved me the trouble, Seekvaria."

"Yeah well." The greenish blond adjusts her glasses, shuddering slightly, "I am really not fond of this place. Too much holy energy." grabbing the unconscious man, and dragging him back the way they came, "Everything is secure. We can…" the levels of holy energy spiked and now the devils goose bumps wee now like lumps and snapped her head back to see someone standing in front of Xenovia, atop the water holding out something that the bluenette was reaching for.

All her devil senses could tell that sword was dangerous, the lady more so, and wanted nothing more to leave and never return but the only words she could make out was "…treat you right."

Flashback end

"…so, the lady of the lake gave you Excalibur ruler?" Naruto with an arch brow to which Xenovia nodded, he suspected their to be more to this but trusted Xenovia. He paused. He trusted her too. No. Bad Naruto.

"What was it she said? Might be important." Katerea asks but Xenovia just smiles and places the sword back on her back silently before looking directly at Naruto, "All things go back and forth, truths and lies may poison or break the spells, trust and love are one and the same, treat others the way you treat yourselves and everything will treat you right." she'd quotes and the others smile at that, "Well, said…" Naruto nodded his agreement but something was nagging at him for some reason. Something.

"Alright, everyone should get some sleep it's late…" Katerea says clapping her hand, and they all move towards sleeping bags around the room, huh, when did they get there.