Ras' beast was first to deliver a blow. He pummeled a clawed fist into Naruto's stomach, forming a rumbling sensation at the center as it sent him sprawling backwards, falling to the ground with a grave impact. The blood moon pack cooed as they moved back, giving more space to the fighting beasts, and as their Alpha stood tall and proud with flaring stunt risen upwards.

Shikamaru's brows lifted. Bad start, Naruto.

Don't start with me.

He could hear Naruto's growl through the mind link as his beast staggered to his feet, glaring at the Alpha beast with contempt.

Ras was quick. He went after the Beta and pounded a powerful punch unto his chin, consistently hitting him without giving him a chance to recover. Then he mustered all his strength to his calf and kicked Naruto hard by the ribs.

Naruto was sent flying again, breaking through tree trunks until his back fell against one and he slumped to the ground. Before he could get to his feet, the Alpha was already in front of him, raising a claw. On instinct, Naruto brought his limbs to his face to shield it but Ras was able to land a deadly punch, breaking few bones. Helplessly, Naruto let his hands fall to the side and watched as Ras speedily hit his face.

He staggered back, breathing heavily. Blood dripped from his stunt and mouth, but he wasn't concerned about it.

The blood moon pack cheered as their Alpha squinted his eyes at the beast before him, irritated.

Naruto knew that look. He needed no one to tell him. The Alpha was undermining him as usual but it didn't infuriate him as the thought of Ras not apologizing to the villagers for his wrong doings.

Naruto's brows drew together ferociously. Don't look at me like that.

It was quick. Nobody expected it. They only saw two shades of colour, and that was all.

Naruto had recovered quickly and had rammed a fist into Ras' jaw, sending him staggering a few feet back. And he didn't stop there.

He headbutt so him hard that blood spewed out and clawed at his face and body. Ras got a hold of himself and caught his claw, hitting him fast with his own. He grabbed his head and smashed it to the ground, pounding it until it was merged with soil and blood.

Ras raised his limb to offer a finishing blow but was cut short when Naruto held it, mustering all his strength to keep it captive as he sunk his claws into the skin of the Alpha.

Ras staggered back lightheadedly, staring at Naurto as he rose to his feet. A moment of silence passed between them as they stared and growled at each other.

Then they rushed in, pulling out their claws. Ras reached out first, digging his claws into Naruto's face and pulling out a chunk of flesh from his cheek. He pushed another into his stomach and pierced it until his hand came out from behind.

Naruto coughed, spilling out thick dark blood, but as he stared at the smirk on Ras' face, he thought. This idiot will not learn his lesson if I die here.

As Ras twisted his hand in Naruto, laughing at the Beta with his eyes as he cried out, he took hold of the Alpha's arm, tightly securing his hand over his arm and forcefully ripping it apart from the joints.

Ras let go of Naruto's insides instantly. He moved away from him and stared in disbelief at his ripped limb on the ground and the blood that was pouring out from his flesh.

Naruto didn't give him time to think. Hastily, without showing regard to the blood streaming out of the hole in his stomach, he launched himself at Ras and held his neck in a tight grip.

Ras, self-conscious, dug his claws into Naruto as he struggled to free himself from the Beta, making shallow holes in his body and encouraging blood flow, but all those did not faze the Beta.

He gripped the Alpha's neck harder and, after few seconds, snapped it into two.

Panting, he let the Alpha fall to the ground. He transformed to his human state as he staggered back, catching some breath as his life flow began to recede, but all he could do, was drop to one knee.

He wasn't dieing yet. He winced as he stared at the large injuries and claw marks that covered his body.

You're bloody all over.

Naruto chuckled faintly and hissed in pain when a sharp pain shot through his spine. He struggled to his feet and turned around to see Shikamaru standing behind him with his usual bored expression.

I know. He replied the Gamma, feeling faintly out of breath. He staggered again but Shikamaru was there to keep him from collapsing.

Shikamaru looked over his shoulder at the Alpha's beast that lay still. "He's not dead?"

"He still has to apologize to the villagers." Naruto managed to say.

Shikamaru's lips stretched to the side a little. "And here I was thinking you were merciful." Lycans had wonderful regenerative abilities. Ras would have to live with the shame of being defeated by a mere Beta, the worse thing that could happen to an Alpha, assuming he heals, that is.

A large group of people walked towards them, drawing their attention. They turned around to see the Blood Moon pack dropping to one knee in synchrony and pledging in chorus. "Hail the Alpha of the Blood Moon pack!"

Naruto's eyebrows went up and he turned to Shikamaru, speaking slowly as he felt his life drawing further from him. "Shikamaru..."

"What do you need?"

"I'm suddenly craving ramen."

An irkmark formed on Shikamaru's temple, and annoyed, he hit Naruto on the head, making him unconscious.

Eating ramen won't be the only thing you'd be doing now, Alpha of the Blood Moon pack. His lips stretched into a relieved smile. Good work.

The Royal court, father's court, was a place where the King's crucial meetings with the Lords and Ladies were held, a place where they discussed the issues regarding their country, a place where they punished serial criminals and the innocents combined. It was a place where nobles were most likely to attend because it provided the presence of the Supreme Alpha, a place where they could gossip in the disguise of discussing important matters.

It was a place he despised. Seeing those faces brought displeasure and annoyance to him. Standing here now, with his brother, it seemed that they were the topics for the day.

The court was large and wide. There were compartments up which were held by long, sturdy podiums. The King had a separate conducive compartment. He would sit on his throne with his personal advisor standing behind him as he listened to the words of the nobles.

Sasuke made quick eye contact with his father before looking at the man behind him. His father was dressed, royally pampered as usual and the man behind him was nothing better.

Sasuke looked away. He's still the same. Danzo. The side of his face was still covered with white linen and he still wore that grey kimono.

A long time ago, the King's advisor had been in the battle against the vampires. He had come home with hideous scars on his body and one of his eyes had been sliced off.

"Greetings to the Lords and Ladies gathered in the court today. Your majesty." Itachi began gently, bowing his head. He straightened and looked at Sasuke questioningly, who rolled his eyes.

A woman with lengthy brown hair and big dark eyes, wearing heavy makeup and pampered with jewelries in her hair, dressed in a pink japanese hanfu stood up and bowed to the King. "My Lord, may I?" At the King's nod, she turned to the men, looking down at them with a steady gaze.

"How has the search for the girl in the prophecy been, Alpha Sasuke?"

Sasuke held her gaze. "It's still in progress, Rikana." He replied calmly.

It's Lady Rikana to you. The woman smiled but an irkmark was displaying on the side of her temple. "And you are back in Isekai? Do you mind explaining why you abandoned your mission and came back?"

"Yes."

Rikana clenched her fists by the sides of her dress but the smile never left her face. He minds?! THIS MANNERLESS... "Ah." She faced the King and bowed. "That will be all, my Lord."

"I was called to court." Sasuke said, facing the King. "I request to know the reason."

Straight up to the King. That is his father. He doesn't have any shrill of respect. People began to whisper.

Gracefully, the King spoke, and the chattering died down. "What is this I hear about you finding your mate?"

"I don't think you should be surprised giving the fact that you had someone spy on me."

"Alpha Sasuke, you shouldn't answer the King like th..."

Sasuke's eyes flickered to the man who had spoken as he told him calmly. "You, shut the hell up, I wasn't talking to you."

The Supreme Alpha hummed. "She's human, your mate."

Sasuke looked at him. "Yes."

The King squinted his eyes at him as people began to whisper in quiet hushes. Then he rose to his feet and everyone, on alert, rose with him. "Sasuke, what is the rule regarding human mates?"

Sasuke clenched his teeth hard but he maintained eye contact with the King. "Humans can not be considered as mates, or they die."

Silence flowed in the court.

"It's a stupid rule."

"Master Sasuke!" The King's royal head guard spoke up from beneath the King's compartment. "I will not have you speak to the King that wa..." Sasuke looked at him and he swallowed the rest of his words in annoyance.

What's changed? Nothing. They're stupid if they don't know my state of sanity in the royal family.

"Hmm." Itachi whispered subtly to him while looking around. "Kakashi san isn't here."

Fugaku almost sighed. A little time, Sasuke, you should've held your irritable side until I've told you of the new rule. "Why haven't you accomplished your mission? Time is running out for us. The demons are causing destruction everywhere they go."

You THINK I don't know that? "I ran into a necessity along the way."

"Is it regarding your mate?"

"I don't believe I have any right in telling you that."

What.. What!

"Your insolence is aggravating, Master Sasuke!" The royal head breathed hotly.

Sasuke glanced at him, saying gently. "I swear to Selene, I will..."

"What are the terms since you know about his mate, your majesty?" Itachi said, cutting his younger brother off. "Stay composed, little brother. The topic of your mate is building blocks of anger inside you." He whispered to Sasuke.

"The terms are as you know it, Itachi." Fugaku replied. "She dies."

On instinct, Itachi placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, feeling heat wave radiating from his body.

The King lowered his eyes. "But there's been a change in the rules."

Itachi's brows rose in amusement as his hand dropped from his brother's shoulder. Sasuke frowned confusedly.

"Humans can now be considered as mates." He paused. "Their lives will no longer be shortened for the cause."

Unconsciously, Sasuke unclenched his hand as his mind railed. He didn't know if to be relieved or confused. Humans can now be considered as mates... as mates.. He frowned in anger. "What brought this up?"

"My Lord." The lycan behind the Supreme Alpha stepped forward and at his nod, began speaking. "We've rejoiced in the deaths of the humans for so long and it has caused us plagues of the likes. It's not benefiting us in any way." Danzo held Sasuke's gaze. "Alpha Sasuke, we might not be able to take back the time we spent destroying them, but at least, if we are to repent, we should do so wholeheartedly."

This was supposed to sound relieving but for some odd reason, Sasuke felt poisoned by those words. Nothing good was going to come out of what Danzo says.

"After all," the advisor continued, "the humans will still be at death's doorstep when bearing our offspring. Why coat our hands with filthy blood when Fate can help us?"

There. There it was.

The rest of the meeting was discussed on topics regarding the suspicious movements of demons and of their own progress so far. It seemed like, even after having two third of Isekai in alliance, they still were no match for the seven deadly sins. They had no right to undermine and underestimate their efforts. They also gave Sasuke the end of the full moon to fulfill his mission or he'll be faced with severe consequences.

At the end of the meeting, Itachi told him to come to his territory in few days time with his mate. "I need to tell you about the arrow of Leviathan and the issues surrounding it. I thought Lucifer was only concerned with attacking areas in Raikanrando and the neighboring countries, I didn't know it was a trap. He just wanted me to be preoccupied with something. He has the globe of Death now."

That information had shocked Sasuke. It left him deep in thoughts even as he walked into the royal castle. He had come because his father had sent for him. He wanted to speak with him personally, they'd said. He also wanted to see his mother. They had taken him to his former chambers but he was too deep in thoughts to take note on the changes in the room.

Where was Kakashi then? Sasuke frowned as he stood there in the balcony, staring into the dark starry night.

The new rule had surprised him. "...humans will still die when bearing our offspring." An irkmark formed on Sasuke's head as he recalled Danzo's words, and as much as he hated to admit it, the old lycan was right.

He almost killed Sakura.

His gaze softened and the irkmark dissipated as bright green eyes with crazy bubbly personality crossed his mind.

Sakura. He looked down at the top of the minkas, traditional japanese huts, in the town. He was high up in the castle and all that met his eyes were red floating sky lanterns and lit porches. He remembered the state he'd seen her in back at the shrine.

He shouldn't have brought her... Hell, he shouldn't have carried her along... She was innocent. She knew nothing, and he had used that to his advantage. He didn't give her any chance to run away when she wanted to. He had kept her close to him, and because of that she'd almost died.

He frowned. What am I thinking? It was rare. He can't go a whole day without thinking about her.

He should have destroyed the mate bond a long time ago.

The thing is... he can't.

I blame you, Selene. It was a good thing that the mate rule had been revoked but... father knows. Infact they all know. They knew he'd brought his mate. Sasuke noticed at the court, from the way Lady Rikana was strong headed on that question of his home coming and the way his father invoked the rule right there and then. He could've said it another day, he could've said it in another meeting.

Sasuke closed his eyes. Sakura is in more danger than she has ever been.

He shouldn't have come back...but she would've died..

The Alpha pinched the bridge of his nose. You just love to freaking play with me, huh Selene?

It must've been his senses. No, it was definitely the atmospheric pressure, but that didn't make any sense either.

But it did make his insides churn nervously. There was a whiff of Sakura's scent in the air. It was faint. He dismissed it when he could no longer sense it. It might've all been in his mind. The bond is taking a careful hold on me again. He said to himself, not amused. I should've brought whiskey.

A knock came at the door of the room before it was opened.

Sasuke sighed annoyingly. Most servants moved around the halls in the castle, looking for the higher-ups that didn't need their service, at least, he didn't. "I don't recall requesting for room ser..."

"Sasuke?"

He stopped, mid-sentence as his breath caught in his throat but he didn't turn around. His gut exploded into various fits of emotions and his heart beat quickened violently.

Sakura.