Chapter Seven; Will of Fire

Issei's DreamScape

Strolling through darkness, Issei is seriously confused. He went to bed not long ago and awoke in this place. An empty black area that seems to go on forever. Taking a deep breath, he focuses on the energy within, which he has since dubbed his will of fire, and abruptly the darkness lights up with flames all over. Surprised, Issei looks left, then right, behind, and up. Flames all around, but they weren't burning him, but rather comforting.

"Haaa… you are an interesting one, Issei Hyoudou." A deep bellowing voice. The teen's gaze snaps up to the left, where a massive red-armoured dragon lands, its eyes a bold green, staring down at him. That's when it clicked. The boy pointed at the winged lizard, "You're the dragon within me, right?"

"How perceptive of you, young one."

"Yeah, well, I have a good teacher," Issei shrugs before pausing. "Actually, I have many of them. I call them friends too. Maybe even comrades." He chuckles nervously. "Though, they seem to be bailing me out more than anything."

"So I have seen." The dragon seems to lower down, curling around its host, "Although until now I have only been partially aware of the surroundings, I am aware of your trainer and, 'The Will of Fire' they taught you."

Those words caused the flames all around to rage purer and larger. "To protect the future generations, we fight. For they are the king we lay our lives to protect." Issei informs, causing a gentle chuckle from the legendary beast. "Indeed. Though I prefer the other one, about the flames."

Issei smirked, "Where the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames, for the fire's shadow will illuminate the village for the buds anew."

"Close enough." A new voice drew both beings' attention, gentle footsteps as Issei gaped at the casual form approaching casually through the sea of orange, hands in pockets."Sensei? How?"

"I told you during training, Issei," Naruto appears from the flames, unharmed, with his nine tails swaying calmly. "I am probably the single best trainer you could have ever had." Shrugging, "Besides, of course, you Red Dragon Emperor, and your previous hosts."

"You are brave to come here, young Kyuubi," the dragon's tone was unreadable. "Oh, but you knew I would, didn't you?" Naruto's tone was jovial, borderline cheeky, earning a huff from the giant lizard. "I know what you are after, boy,"

"Then, that makes this easier," Naruto responds, looking at Issei. "After all, it's the host's desire that drives it all, right?"

"Indeed." The dragon looked to his host, who promptly pointed to himself, "Me?"

"Longinus Gears follow the desires of their hosts," the dragon informs. Naruto continues, hands still in his pockets, "So, if you want to be – say, the first chakra-wielding, dragon shinobi…?"

"I have to will it?" Issei finishes, earning two nods from his sensei and partner. "Normally," the dragon speaks up, "this wouldn't work. It's already a miracle that, as a normal human, you haven't gone insane with my power flowing through you."

Issei paled at that, but Naruto snorted, drawing attention to himself. "I admit the power has potential, but nothing a small seal can't handle." The dragon's eyes narrowed on the kitsune. "Seal?"

"An art from a now bygone era, I suppose. My family were masters of it." Naruto informs, looking to Issei. "Though, I would agree with him. If his power flowed into you unfiltered or unaided, you would have difficulty in controlling it. But ever since Tenten taught you about that Will of Fire trick, you feel better, right?"

"Well, yeah. We meditated together a lot before school. She even painted the flow of energy on my body on the third day." Issei confirms, and Naruto nods, "That energy flow technique is a modified technique from our world, adapted as she studied my family's arts and came to understand how sacred gears work."

Issei gaped at that, and Naruto chuckled, "She doesn't act like it, but she is a genius, but only when it comes to weapons and combat equipment. Those are her passions." He put on a more serious visage, looking at the dragon, "He's going to need a second gauntlet. Can that be done?"

"Easy enough. Can you supply…?"

"Already primed and waiting for him," Naruto informs, and together they look at Issei, who is already focusing on the image of his sensei in his full shinobi setup. He has only seen his teammates in their gear once, but he burned that image into his mind for this very occasion. "Well, I'll be…"

"Not bad. This, we can work with…"


Kyoto Shrine

Naruto awoke from his meditation, eyes glowing golden in the darkness of the early morning. Soundlessly, he stands up, stretches out, and heads to the door, passing the still snoozing duo, and exits.

Slipping out of the shrine was child's play. Through the dark corners and shadows, he moved like a specter, trained to be. He lands on the wall of the outer clan compound, not even disturbing the wind itself as he perches, awaiting his student's arrival.

It didn't take more than ten minutes. To see Issei's glowing green eyes coming over the distant hill before the gate. Naruto finds himself smirking, why? Issei's chakra reserves were low Jonin. It worked. His student now had both draconic magic and Draconian chakra. Seems the old lizard only knew the basics on how it worked. This chakra signature was certainly unique. It felt hot to the touch, almost like a hot stone, but also unyielding. Thankfully, it wasn't as thick or dense as Tenten's, let alone his own. It would be a nightmare to train if it was.

Appearing in his student's shadow, he grabbed his shoulder, and before the dragon boy could react, they vanished in a yellow flash.


Secret Training Ground

"Welcome to the world of Chakra Issei Hyoudou," Naruto announces as they appear in an unknown area, and much to the young dragon's surprise, he doesn't feel sick this time around. "You may have already noticed how much more stamina you have," Naruto continues, and the boy now focuses on his senses. "Now that you mention it."

"Chakra. The version I showed your gear to replicate is the same as that of High-humans like Tenten and myself before my incident ."

"Incident?"

"Need to know basis," Naruto barked. The kid straightened up. "A quick rundown is this: Yin is your mental energy, Yang is your physical. When these are combined, you get chakra."

Issei's eyes widened, and Naruto smirked, "You get it now, huh?" The brown-haired teen nodded frantically. "Then, for the entire morning, I shall teach you every basic chakra technique required by IAP for all field agents like you and me."

"Awesome!"

"You will have to get them to at least chunin level before you can run solo," Naruto informs, earning a nod from his student. "Activate your gear."

"Hi!" Issei responded as two gauntlets appeared, earning a smirk from the kitsune. "Good. From what I understand, your boost amount is halved, but the delay is split between them. Keep that in mind."

"Hai!"

"Now then, I will teach you the basics, as I said before, but it will be up to you to master them. Understood?" Naruto instructs, and Issei nods. "Then, grab a leaf…"


Kyoto Shrine

Kunou threw open the door to Naruto's room and froze. Her new daddy wasn't there; instead, only Onee-chan was present. "Onee-chan...? Where's...?" Tenten had just come from the bathroom when Kunou barged in. "Naruto? I haven't seen him yet. I know he has a meeting with Yasaka this morning though. Be patient and go wait at breakfast..."

Kunou pouted, "No fair."

Tenten chuckled at that, "How about we go together, neh? We haven't had much time together as Naru's been away on business." The girl nodded rapidly, "Can you show me more of those scrolls?"

"Later. For sure. When I am done with you, Kunou…" said the young Kyuubi, feeling a shiver up her spine at her big sister's weird chuckle.


Naruto flashes into the clan office, holding Issei and Nagai in human form. "Is this everyone?" he asks, glancing around. Sure enough, only Yasaka was missing. "Dragon boy, you seem..." Kosaku murmurs, but Izuhara snaps to Naruto, who smirks, giving a victory sign, earning a chuckle from the dark-furred Kitsune. "I don't believe it actually worked."

"It was a long shot, I admit," Naruto comments as Nagai moves into the corner behind him, trying to look as inconspicuous as possible, a natural instinct of hers. "But it pulled through. He is well on his way to becoming our first dragon shinobi."

"Congratulations, man," Kosaku shook Issei's hand and immediately sensed his reserves. "Respectable reserves for your age. Not bad."

"What kind of reserves does everyone else have?" Issei asks innocently enough, but everyone looks to one another. Naruto sighs, "Issei, you can't just..." Tenten appears at Naruto's side, leaning back against the wall while sitting on his desk. Nagai is actually surprised she didn't feel her enter; she just appeared. "Chakra levels are considered a measure of power. Asking that is in bad taste."

"She's right," Yasaka parted the door, and the room stood and saluted, "Lady Yasaka."

"At ease." Stepping past as Naruto vacates the seat and stands with his team, Nagai joins them, while Tenten stands beside the youkai leader. "Okay, let us get your report, Team...?"

"Seven, ma'am." Everyone but Yasaka reported, causing her to sweat drop, "Right, Team Seven. Report."

"Well, it was pretty standard up until we came back to camp to find dragon boy missing," Naruto began, his fellow kitsune nodding and the said boy blushing along with Nagai.


-Flashback- Hokkaido Region -

"No signs of a struggle," Kosaku glances around their regroup point. "There's no drag points, but I got a scent," Izuhara comments. Naruto nods, looking at the black-furred comrade. "Let's get moving then. Keep an eye out for tracks as we hunt."

"Sir,"

We proceeded to the east, by northeast, trailing the weak scent of Issei, but whoever abducted him was covering it gradually as they traveled, and it was getting difficult to catch a whiff of it.

Well, yes, I was worried that one of my sisters might catch wind of my plan, so I was wrapping as I traveled. Normally, I would wrap then travel. But I was short on time.

Right, well. That's when we heard a young call for aid. Like really young. We all snapped our heads in that direction and charged over to find, who we would later find out to be Tomita, being wrapped in silk by an Arachnid. We naturally tore her to pieces. Leaping from the small hill, Naruto grabbed her neck, we grabbed her torso and bulbous, and tore her to bits.

Izuhara burnt the corpse as Naruto spoke with the kit. "Kit, what are you doing out here? Where is your skulk?" he almost growled at the end, the thought of someone being so irresponsible with one so young. "Umm, the thing is, umm, are you really here to save us?" The kit was clearly shaken up. Naruto took a deep breath, channeling nature energy to calm everyone down before breathing out and lying down. "Kit, what is your name?"

"Tomita, Mama said I was in charge until she got back or someone with nine tails came. Our relative. But it's been a week, so I came to look for her and found that spider nest that Mama told us never to go near."

Naruto glances at Izuhara, who nods, signaling Kosaku, and the two head off to find this nest. Naruto turns to the kit and asks, "Tomita, where are the others? Are they safe?"

"Yeah! Mama told us to hide, but we're getting hungry." Tomita reports, and Naruto nods, standing up, grabbing Tomita by the tail and placing her on his back. "Show me."

Tomita giggled the whole way back to the lair, having never traveled that fast before. When I arrived, the other five were huddled around the door. As she hopped down, she said, "Look! Just as Mama said! Uncle is here to save us."

"Really?"

"Oh! He has nine! More than mama!"

"He must be strong! Maybe mama can be saved?"

The chatter continued, but it was Tomita who brought a letter for Naruto to read.

-Flashback Pause-

A puff of smoke, and Naruto steps forward, handing over the letter to Yasaka. "I think you should read it. It was addressed to you after all."

Yasaka and Naruto hung their heads. This shouldn't have happened, but it did. Once this is over, he'll track down those requests and figure out why they never reached the shrine. It's one of the things he plans on having Nagai help him with.

Yasaka actually let a tear run down her cheek. An old friend of hers had been trying to get help for these children. Despite her own chakra poisoning, she fought against these Arachnids, hoping the last message got through—for the kit's sake.

"Thank you, Team Seven, you did well in rescuing the children," Yasaka states, and they all nod, saluting. "They are the future, right?" Issei beat Naruto to it this time, a proud smirk upon his face. Yasaka and Tenten nod at that, and the latter responds with a smile, "Indeed."

-Flashback Resumes-

"Do you guys know where the secret base of the spider people is?" Naruto asks. They all look like they don't want to get in trouble, looking away whilst stuffing their mouths with the food Naruto had unsealed for them to eat. Finally, Tomita spoke up, "I do."

"Can you take us?" Naruto asks, and she nods leading the standing up,. Fukui, another three-tailed snow fox, jumps up, and rushes back to grab something. "Naruto." Izuhara calls out, and Naruto jumps up, rushing to the lair entrance, where he finds his two men. "Issei's probably with those arachnids. They are pretty much crawling all over the area," he says.

"Damn it. We can't leave the kit's undefended."

"Just bring them with us, no?" Kosaku says, drawing his fellow team members to him. "That is…" Izuhara murmurs, "Lady Yasaka will kill us, you know that, right?" Naruto offers his two Yen, "Assuming Lady Tenten doesn't skin him alive." Izuhara adds, to which Naruto gulps, "I heard she's looking for a winter jacket."

"You wouldn't," Kosaku asks somewhat fearfully. "Kosaku, we are brothers in all things, but female wrath is the only thing you're on your own for. Have you not read the bro code? It's like number five?" Izuhara informs, and Naruto nods before sighing. "Without enough sealing supplies, and these Arachnids hunting anything that moves, we can't leave them, but we have two targets of interest in those nests."

"Two?"

"Yeah. Two. Their mother figure, an eight-tailed vixen, is currently suffering from a chakra disease and came out here to die in peace only to stumble upon these kits she's been raising," Naruto informs, earning a nod from his fellows. "If they brought down an eight," Izuhara murmurs, "Although there is a big difference between eight and nine, I would not want to risk it either." Naruto comments, almost indignant at the comparison, his pride at being a nine-tailed making a very rare appearance. He eventually sighed hard, "I am so going to get an earful from Tenten for this shit,"

-Flashback Pause-

Naruto gulped at the sight of one of his three-pronged kunai twirling around Tenten's finger, death-con three up in here. Yasaka had a very sweet smile upon her face, sweet enough to kill honeybees. "So, you took preteens into an active battle zone, huh, Naruto-kun?" Tenten asked seemingly casually, but that kunai twirled around her finger even faster than before.

Issei wondered why they didn't just lie, but he would later wish he had kept his mouth shut.

"I wouldn't call it a battle zone, per se…" Naruto offered, earning the room's attention. But the feral grins upon the three kitsune's faces earned raised brows, and Nagai's cold sweat was noted. "It was more of a barbecue."

Yasaka caught the feral smirk, "Oh, do tell…" sitting forward. It is so rare that they get to really let loose a good flame attack and cause extensive fire damage with long breaths of flames. Based on the present Arachnid, she must have witnessed at least part of it, and the mere thought of it makes her skittish. Oh, this has to be good.

-Flashback Resumes-

The kits directed us directly to an entrance. It wasn't that large, so we shrunk down to enable us to fight more effectively. "Kits, stay behind us, and if anything touches you, bark." Naruto orders, and they all yip once. "It's time for a hunt."

Izuhara went first, Naruto behind, then the kits with Kosaku in the rear.

Ten minutes down, the light was at zero, and the three of us were using senjutsu to cover the group. We got a hit on the kitsune signature not too far ahead. We sped up, and we ran into the first of many soon-to-be ashes. Izuhara got the first blood with the quick-draw fire blast.

A tail clap.

Her death scream alerted the whole damn hive, so we forwent stealth and went in full power. I made a pair of shadow clones to defend the kids while we went ahead to draw them away from the kits.

The first open space we found contained six nesting Aracnids. One tried to trap us with a net upon entry, and we blasted right through.

Landing in the center, tail to tail, Naruto, Izuhara, and Kosaku stood against six, growling the whole time, "Intruders! Kill them!" echoed through the cavern. "I smell kitsune just ahead," Naruto reported, and the other two nodded. "Yeah, we caught that too," Kosaku growled. "Normally I would be against this, but I recommend..."

"Let's show them why you don't mess with us kitsune," Naruto growled, orange flames already leaking from his maul. "Right," the other two brought blue flames. Naruto breathed a storm of flames forward at the two ahead of him, both jumping to the roof. His maul followed them until they were coated with flames, burning everything along the way.

Izuhara leaped left, around a pouncing widow, his tails coated in chakra, slashing low enough to force her to buckle from the impact before unloading a five-second burst of pure flames into her face. Her hair was engulfed in flames, slowly spreading across her body as she ran about, trying to put them out.

Leaping up, he intercepts a thrown arachnid from Kosaku and tail slams her down, before being hit by a web blast that pinned him against the ceiling. The skittering feet of the approaching crab spider alert him to the danger, but she is hit by a flame-covered widow, followed by three blasts of flames. That gives him enough time to break free of the web, land on a new black widow's back, and tear her neck off with his jaws.

As it drops, he sees Kosaku dispelling the fireball, and the two share a nod. Naruto spits out a torn spider leg, "Are these eggs?"

"Probably," Naruto mumbled as he proceeded further in. "We have to move; the smell is just up ahead."

"Sir!" The three rushed deeper into the spider nest, vaulting across a ravine, and in the next room, we found what we assumed was the queen, a massive creature, about twenty meters tall, sitting on a pile of bones and husks.

She hadn't seen us yet, so we located our fellow, when our eyes met. Hers lit up with life. Seeing all nine tails swaying, but before she could ask, "Lady Yasaka sent us. We've rescued the kits. They are safe." Naruto whispered and she smiled with tears, "Thank you," were the final words she muttered aloud as her life force flickered out.

From what we could tell, she had been injected with numerous poisons, which she was suppressing with sheer force of will and her little remaining chakra, which was obeying her. Lady Sei Muika. I wish I could have known you.

Just as we sealed her body away, Ebizo wandered in, "Did you find Mama?" That alerted the big Mama spider to our presence. As she turned and screeched at us, I summoned another clone to pick up the kit and get him to safety. "This bitch dies," Naruto growled in rage. "DAMN STRAIGHT!" roared Izuhara and Kosaku. Her daughters began showing up, and this was going to be our first S-rank fight.

-Flashback Pause-

"How did Ebizo cross the ravine?" Tenten asked, confused. "Or sneak up on you?" Nagai questioned, only for the three present to shrug. "Kit has stealth skills down pat," Izuhara commented. Yasaka provided the most important information: "Most runts of litters tend to develop expert hiding skills, and agility, as they tend to be the target of pranks from their elders. It isn't that surprising."

"Damn, I missed a boss battle," Issei mumbled from the side, sulking alone in the corner as he could picture the scene looking absolutely epic: a large cavern, spiky rock outcroppings, three Kitsune facing over a towering eight-legged monster, as loads of Aracnids climb down hidden holes within the darkness.

"It's probably how you're imagining it, Issei." Kosaku chuckled lowly, arms crossed, as Naruto and Izuhara nodded, recalling the fight. "Please continue."

-Flashback Resume-

Team Seven all entered senjutsu mode; Naruto's eyes glowed a vivid gold, Izuhara's a dark purple, and Kosaku's, a smoky orange. "Kitsune art: Hell flames." All three sent a sea of bright yellow flames forward, incinerating the air itself, and anything unlucky enough to get caught in it. Three down. "Buy me time. I've got something special for big bitch and butt ugly back there," Naruto ordered. "Sir!" The four tails lunged forward over the magma-like floor, leaping off of melting outcroppings with chakra-enhanced leaps.

Landing on the roof of the cavern, the two moved like it was the ground, as a well coordinated machine of claws, fangs, and flames. "Gatsuga!" Kosaku tunnels through a pack of three, forcing two to fall, only one caught herself before landing on the molten ground, but her line was set aflame by Izuhara before ducking beneath a claw swipe, paw swiping his opponent's lounging fang, tail wrapping around her waist, swinging clear a fire blast at the one behind Kosaku before yanking his captive clear from her position, spitting another blast of fire and watching her fall to the ground ablaze.

"Get back!" Naruto called, the two both called out, "Gatsuga!"

And using the move that made the Inuzuka famous, they managed to escape the massive net launched by Big Mom, that shattered the cavern roof it hit causing a minor cave in. Just in time, as they skidded down beside Naruto, who had all his tail tips above his maul, a hyper-dense ball of chakra that had cracked the ground around him.

The ball condensed again, and the gravity around the nine-tailed beast quintupled, yet he simply ate it. His fur puffed out as steam began to flow from his mouth. "Naruto… you…" muttered Izuhara, as light began to emanate from his mouth. Before anyone could react, a beam of pure death and destruction punched right through the massive beast's exoskeleton, imploding it, and dragging its corpse several kilometers back down its tunnels. A massive eruption of chakra rocked the cave shortly after.

Naruto growled, "A gift from my father." His growling became ten times more threatening upon seeing the remaining Aracnids staring at him wide-eyed. "Leave or die," he snarled. Those that remained scurried back into the darkness. "Naruto, that move...?" muttered Izuhara. Even Kosaku was looking at him warily, but Naruto was still snarling in rage.

-Flashback End-

"You actually used a freaking Bijou-dama?" Tenten looked at Naruto incredulously. Naruto chuckled nervously, "I was mad. Mad that they took one of our own from us. Mad they kidnapped and threatened the kits, mad they took one of my students." Shrugging after the fact, "You one-shot mother." Nagai was bewildered by that, "No wonder my sisters were panicking, telling the kitsune are evil."

"This Bijou-dama, Tenten called it..." Yasaka spoke as casually as possible, but Tenten could see her tails swaying excitedly, and she groaned, "Yeah, it's my old man's favorite attack. Could level cities with it if fully powered in my full form. The one I used was suppressed in comparison." Naruto informed the group, "Yes. Is it possible to learn it?" Yasaka batted her eyes elegantly at her fellow kyuubi.

On the other hand, Issei was cursing for getting distracted by Nagai's heavenly mounds. That battle sounded so fucking epic. Fighting on the ceiling, flames that melted through rock and spider alike, and a final finish with a super uber move to end the big bad in a single strike. By the grace of Sasunoo, it sounds freaking awesome.

Naruto shrugged, "Dunno. Could give it a shot, I guess." All the kitsune pumped their fists; a super attack for them was finally here. Tenten facepalmed. These kitsune were pyromaniacal, destructive nutcases posing as noble guardians of peace. Sure, give them the ultimate power of the Bijou's. What's the worst that could happen?

"Putting aside the mass dissemination of WMDs," Tenten moved the ball along, "Then what happened?"

"Well," Naruto shrugged again, "Tomita popped up and we searched for Issei, found him shielding Nagai over there," pointing to the spider girl sweating bullets in the corner, "who agreed to come with us, joining the IAP, as a trial operative. If things go well, I'll extend the offer to her surviving sisters. Then we came back."

"I see." Yasaka nodded in acceptance, but it was Tenten who gave the expected response, "Just another Team Seven-level mission."

Naruto shrugged again. "Yeah, a simple C-Rank search and recovery mission turning into a S-Rank raid and recovery mission."

"You shouldn't be proud of that, Naruto," Tenten sighed, not getting it. "Even in a new world, the Team Seven curse is still alive and well."

"Next time, dragon boy over there will get a shot at it too though." Kosaku chuckled, looking to Issei, who nodded rapidly, "Without a doubt." Naruto, however, pulls out two separate scrolls, placing them on the desk.

Upon sight of them, Izuhara and Kosaku both stood at attention. Tenten, recognizing the signs, followed suit quickly, which led to Issei following, "Lady Yasaka, within these scrolls are the bodies of Lady Sei Muika," hand resting on the silver scroll on the left, "and Chunins Mita Keita, Mita Henmi, Mita Natsu, and Mita Inaba." Hand on the right scroll.

He leads the bows. "We have brought them home,"

Yasaka stood and took both scrolls. "I have them. They will be returned to their families. Excellent work." Everyone rose and stood at ease. "Team Seven. Dis..." before she could finish, Naruto's phone went off, and he swiftly answered it. "Kuroka? Where are...?"

"You can spank me later, I need help."

"Where?"

"Kuoh. Naruto, they might be trying to make it, that thing you feared."

Naruto went stiff as a board, eyes wide in disbelief, "Are – are you sure?"

"From what I have discovered, the devils are trying to counteract our senjutsu. Isn't that…?"

"Yes," Naruto growls, the other kitsune following suit, "Not only that, but it also seems the fallen are up to something. This isn't Grigori though. Some kind of splinter faction. Things are heating up and I need help."

"I am with Lady Yasaka right now," Naruto began but said woman cut him off, "Go. Team seven you are to go help her."

"You hear that kitten? Team Seven is on the way, if things get dire,"

"I heard that, and yes. I have that weapon of yours."

"Good. We'll be there soon." Click.

Naruto looks up to see his team ready for action and smirks, "No rest for the wicked, huh?"

"Apparently not," Yasaka snipped. Tenten sighs, "Another S-ranked already."

"Bill this one to the devil," Izuhara commented, Naruto and Yasaka nodding. "Grigori too," Kosaku added, "Either way, we need to arm up. Sounds like a heavyweight fight on our hands." Naruto informed, getting the group to nod, "What about you, Nagai? You coming or staying?" The team leader turned to the lone arachnid, who shrugged, "Could be interesting."

"Fine," Naruto nodded, gesturing to follow, "Let's get moving. If we're lucky, we'll be back for dinner."

"Good luck, Team Seven," Yasaka says, and they wave back.


After they left, Yasaka turned to Tenten, "This curse you mentioned that Team Seven has...?"

"It's the reason why those teams became legendary back home," Tenten informed. Many nations kept tabs on that team whenever they were confirmed to be part of it. Sighing again, she took a seat on the desk. "They'll either rise to the challenge or they won't."

"Will Naruto…"

"He'll be fine, it's the others I'm more concerned about." Tenten looked to her boss, "So, who's going to tell Kunou about Naruto?"

Yasaka sighed as she slumped back in her seat, and Tenten looked on in pity.


Training Compound

Team Seven enters the training compound. As Issei knew it, "Hey guys, why are we here? Should we go to headquarters or something?"

"Issei, do you even know where Headquarters is?" Kosaku asks with a raised brow. The boy pauses as he thinks about it, slumping down upon realizing, "No."

"Then, how do you think we'd get there?" Kosaku asks as they head into the small building. "Get changed. Full combat gear," Naruto orders, opening the locker at the end. His gear is miraculously in a bag. Both Kosaku and Izara do the same with random lockers, heading into the changing room.

Emerging only a minute later, in fresh Jonin attire, fully supplied with a sword, kunai pouch, shuriken holders, and all their pockets holding scrolls. Placing the now old gear back in the lockers, Naruto writes a note and places it atop his own gear before closing the door.

"Issei? Why are you just standing there like an idiot? Grab your gear," Naruto says before ordering at the end. Issei ran to his locker, and upon opening it, he found a duffel bag with his gear. He then changed into a standard-issue Chunin uniform, despite not officially being one. While he was changing, Naruto reopened the locker where he had placed his gear, pulled out the smaller bag, and threw it to Nagai. "Get changed. It should be your size."

Said Arachnid was surprised, and caught on that this must be a supply point for their operatives disguised as a locker room for the training ground. Naruto smirked at her, telling her to keep that to herself, and she nodded, "At once, Naruto-sama." And she scurried off to change.

By the time Issei exited the building, the whole team was geared up and ready. "Ready to run, Issei?" Kosaku comments with a grin, confusing the chakra dragon. "Run?"

"You have chakra now, right?" Kosaku comments, earning a nod from the youngest present. "Then, you won't need a ride anymore. You can practice your control this way too."

"You're serious!"

"It'll only take about four hours to get to Kuoh at mid speed," Naruto commented. But as he thought about it, "Tenten did it in two though."

"Damn. How fast is she?" Izuhara commented. Naruto thought about it and said, "I don't know. She was never known for her speed back home. That was my department."

"How fast…?"

"Probably full out, an hour. Probably less. Never needed to though." Naruto cut off Izuhara, who nodded in contentment. "Just Nine-tailed things." Kosaku chuckled as Naruto stuck his tongue out at him. "Now, Issei, you remember how to channel chakra to each part of your body, right?"

"Yeah,"

"Then, during our run, you will be alternating between each leg at fixed intervals. We will keep a steady pace so you can practice, but as you get better, we will increase the speed. Understood?" Naruto informs as he removes his hands from his grey Jonin vest.

"Understood," issei responded as he followed after his team.


Kuoh Town

A half hour before…

"I guess I have no other choice," Kuroka sighed as she sat on the sofa of her inn room, the exorcists at her back. "No choice?" Irina asked as she watched the youkai woman pull out her phone. "I'll call my boss, get yelled at, and hope I don't get demoted to desk work or something." She sighed, and the other two women flinched. As fighters, they'd hate being relegated to desk jobs. "Are you sure? You said that..."

"That seal won't last forever," Kuroka comments, glancing back at the duo. "Not only that, if I suddenly call him to a fight without prior warning, he'd skin me alive after saving us."

"Sounds rough," Irina says, but the black-haired woman sighs, almost dreamily. "It's because he cares for everyone. The rules are to protect us. To give us the best chance of coming home alive," she looks from one girl to the other, "I may complain and moan about the stupid rules, but even I know that much."

With that said she presses call and within moments, "Kuroka? Where are…?"

"You can spank me later, I need help."

"Where?"

"Kuoh. Naruto, they might be trying to make it, that thing you feared." She noticed he seemed to fall silent. "Are – are you sure?"

"From what I have discovered, the devils are trying to counteract our senjutsu. Isn't that…?"

"Yes," Naruto growls out, "Not only that, but it also seems the fallen are up to something. This isn't Grigori though. Some kind of splinter faction. Things are heating up and I need help."

"I am with Lady Yasaka right now,"

"Go. Team seven you are to go help her." Kuroka heard in the background, "You hear that kitten? Team Seven is on the way, if things get dire,"

"I heard that, and yes. I have that weapon of yours." Kuroka breathing out a breath she didn't know she was holding, "Good. We'll be there soon."

Lowering the phone, she looked to her two guests. "A team is being dispatched. It shouldn't take longer than six hours at the absolute latest."

"Earliest?" Xenovia questioned from the bed. "An hour." Kuroka shrugged, and they gaped, "An hour?" And the feline Youkai nodded, "Maybe two. Yes, two seems reasonable."

"That's still rather quick," Xenovia murmured. Kuroka shrugged. "I'll make a final food run. I suspect when the others show up, it'll be showtime."


That evening…

Rogue Cade class Fallen Angel Kokabiel and his army of a hundred various fallen have been battling the forces of the Sitiri and Gremory Heiress, backed up by the visiting Phenex. The devil forces have managed to defeat just under a quarter of them but are exhausted from the battle, with only the high-class devils still in fighting shape.

Koneko was panting, but she was one of the few still on the frontline alongside her fellow Rook, Isabela. Karlamine, the last knight of the three peerages, Akeno and Tsubaki, and Momo were also present. All three Kings are up, but the others are being tended to by Ravel at the rear.

Despite this, Koneko decides to call for her sister's aid, though she might get in trouble from bachu later, but they need it. Flaring her chakra three times, as she stepped forward during one of Kokabiel's speeches, Akeno turned to her junior, "Koneko? Those energy blasts? What were they?"

This drew the attention of both Sona and Rias. Riser was fighting off another two attacks. "I sensed my sister earlier. If she senses my chakra flaring, she will come to investigate and get involved. We need help."

"You knew she was here?" Rias gaped, but Akeno frowned. "Has she met with you?"

"No. I… maybe. I think it was a dream." Koneko was unsure of herself. Though as she said that, her sister appeared in a twirl of leaves, "Shirone?"

"Nii-sama. We need help." Koneko, not even caring at this point, as her sister looks over the battle ground and sighs, "Figured it would come to this." The black cat, with folded arms, says, "Though, what is stopping me from just kidnapping you, Shirone? It's not like anyone here could stop me?"

"Oh?" Rias comments, raising her magic power. "You have some nerve, Stray cat Kuroka?" Sona threatens, but the so-called 'Stray cat' merely snorts at their attempts. "Please, Nii-Sama," Koneko bows towards her sister, who sighs. "Fine," she steps forward onto the battle line, "But I am more of a supporter. I'll have to call in the big guns for this." Lifting a strange three-pronged blade with a script on the handle from a leg holster, she says, "Shirone, channel your chakra as I begin the summoning." Kuroka holds the lower end of the handle.

Kuroka knew she didn't actually need to, but misinformation is key after all. Some fake Youjutsu will throw them off Lord Naruto's trail a bit. Koneko, not hesitating a second, grabbed the top of the handle and they both channeled chakra before letting go and letting the blade stab the floor.

The instant the blade stopped, everyone felt it. Kuroka and the others took a few steps back from the glowing weapon, and a bright yellow flash announced the arrival of the cavalry.

"That was interesting," a new voice said to Kuroka as her boss now spots her. "Kuroka, give us the situation?" Quickly, the black cat takes a knee, fist to floor. "Naruto-sama, Rogue Cade class Fallen Angel Kokabiel is attempting to restart a second biblical war, and using Japan as the first strike with the death of the two who study here, that happen to be related to the sitting Satan's."

"Okay, we'll bill them later. Enemy numbers?" Naruto asks even though he has been counting them, "Just over eighty left. Allied forces are barely hanging on." Kuroka reported dutifully, "Sounds like a decent warm up." Izuhara comments offhandedly, earning a snort from Kosaku, "For you maybe."

"Enough. We'll use formation three," Naruto interrupted his fellow kitsune, all three hiding their extra features before they needed them. "Got it," Issei, Izuhara, and Kosaku responded. Naruto then turned to Nagai, "Nagai, stick to the shadows. If anyone tries to escape above the buildings, feel free to snack." Her eyes seemed to glow in anticipation. "My pleasure, Naruto-sama," she said, and then she was gone. Just gone.

Turning to Kuroka, "Kuroka, cover our backs."

"Consider it done," Kuroka nods, and he nods back before passing by the devils who were near enough to drool over the power this man was exuding, the confidence he had to command his troops, and the strength he seemed to have. "Okay. Whoever has the lowest enemy count, buys dinner for the team," Naruto orders, and the tension spikes. "Yes, sir."

Turning to the devils, "Could you guys keep count? Things could get a little chaotic, so an outside observer would be appropriate."

"Do you really think…?" Rias began, but Sona cut her off. "We shall take talley." Naruto nodded and smiled. "Thanks." Every female among the devils heard that thump in their chests at that smile.


Battle of Kouh

"Team Seven; MOVE!!" Naruto ordered, and they blurred. Not even the high-class devils saw them move; they just blurred.

"Gatsuga!" was yelled, and three twisters of fangs and claws smashed through the enemy's lines, starting the melee in earnest. Naruto ducked a flung spear, kicking it into another, just as he bent forward and Kuroka leaped off it, landing a roundhouse. Her target was knocked into two others, who crashed to the ground just as Kosaku knocked another three atop, and Izuhara blasted the pile with flames.

Nearby, Naruto was fighting hand-to-hand with a six-winged lady, whom he kicked back, only for her to draw two light daggers. Without missing a beat, two three-pronged kunai met his grip, wind coating them, and their clash continued. Issei just side-stepped one wild haymaker and used a simple one-two punch to the face, boosted, then delivered a knee to the gut, before going for a sweep kick, boosted, swinging around to knock aside a flung light spear with his gauntlet. He was suddenly stabbed from behind, "Got ya, you stinking human,"

Abruptly, Issei puffed into a log, covered in explosive notes. Boom.

Appearing behind another angel, he punched them in the lower back, stunning them, before choking them out. As they lost consciousness, he placed them down, only to be stabbed in the back. He quickly moved away into another log. The thrower was confused and promptly knocked out with a chop to the neck. Naruto immediately landed beside him, riding a bloody six-winged babe, "Sensei, I get it."

"Get what?" Naruto looked at his student, "Praise be the holy log." Issei, with stars in his eyes, only for Naruto to raise his fist, "You have come around, my student," Issei bumped fists, and both took hits to the back, proofing away into logs.

"Piercing Fang!" Kosaku roared, spinning across the ground, tearing through wings, flesh, and concrete alike, before sliding to a stop back-to-back with Izuhara, whose flames just tapered off as Naruto and Issei both drop-kicked the same angel, landing with the group. "How many left?"

"We got about half of them, Captain." Izuhara states, but Naruto leads their gaze upward, where at least ten were hanging in cocoons of webbing. "When did she?" Issei gaped, earning a chuckle from Naruto. "Let's regroup with the...

A man screams, and Naruto vanishes, catching the crashing male devil and sliding to a stop beside the heiress, with so much style it only causes more heart fluttering. "Medic!" Naruto calls out. Placing the man down, as he stands, Kuroka suddenly appears beside him, "It's minor light poisoning. Give a few minutes, and he'll be up again."

"Got it." Naruto left her to it. Before stepping back to the front of the wounded rear line, he said, "So, you're the troublemaker Koko or something?" Addressing the fallen cadre who looked annoyed at his name being shortened to simple four letters, "You dare mock me human! I am Kokabiel! Cadre…" he stopped upon noticing Naruto talking to the busty black-haired glasses-wearing devil.

"Then, I tell you, we were battling all these spiders right, and the kid comes out of nowhere…" Tsubaki giggled at the retelling of the last mission he was on, not that she knew, of course. "HEY! I'M TALKING TO YOU!" Kokabiel roared, gaining the group's attention. "Huh? Did you say something?" Naruto drawled, and the devils swore they saw actual fumes coming from the man's head. "No matter! We shall end you all soon enough. This will be our glorious first strike…" as he began to monologue, Naruto turned back to the pair of Kings and their Queens, "Focus on recovering your magic. Leave the frontline to my team. You'll know when to strike."

"Got it… umm… what should…?" Sona began, but Naruto waved her off. "Just call me captain. My team does." Just then, the Phenex began to stir, catching the kitsune's attention, and he headed over.

A hand was offered for the downed man who took it and was pulled to his feet, coming face to face with someone unfamiliar, "Phenex right?"

"Riser Phenex, yes, you?" The man looks back at the cackling madman, before nodding and turning back, "Naruto, part the cavalry." Releasing the man as the two turn to the ten-winged crow with hardened gazes, "Well, how powerful are you? That thing needs to die after all."

"I agree that Warhawk needs to die. Guess we should stop holding back." Glancing at the high-class devil, "You still got gas in the tank?"

Riser snorted, "He might be a fallen, but I am a Phenex." But upon seeing Naruto's deadpan expression, Rias's facepalm, Sona adjusting her glasses, and the other devils looking away, he sighed, "Though, I hate to admit this crow is powerful. I may need help."

"Figured," Naruto turned and led the Phenex to the battle line, "I guess I should stop limiting my team too." Raising his voice, he said, "Guys! Time to go all out and finish this."

"Yes, sir!" was returned, and Issei appeared at Naruto's side. Just then, nine long, thick, orange tails erupted from Naruto's tailbone, ears sprouted from his head, and his canine teeth lengthened. "A Kyuubi?" The devils gasped. He smirked, looking back at them, "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

The local devils gulped as he turned back to the front. "A Kyuubi? A worthy ally." Riser nodded, only for a snort opposite him. Peaking around revealed a human with two red gauntlets of draconic design, a sacred gear of some kind. "...And you are?" Riser asked with narrowed eyes. "Issei Hyoudou. Dragon in training," Issei informed, before pointing to the Kyuubi. "Also his student."

"Issei Hyoudou, as in the 'Perverted Trio' Issei?" spoke the Gremory heiress from the back of the line. Issei glanced over his shoulder, a foxy grin on his face, and gave a thumbs-up. "Right here, in the scale-male."

"Where have you been? You suddenly vanished," Rias continued, only for Issei's face to darken. "It is good to see you all again, Gremory-san, but do not play me for a fool." His eyes glowed green as he met her stare, and she froze. He knew what she was trying to do. "Focus, Issei!" Naruto's voice broke their stare-down, and he stiffened, snapping forward just in time for Kokabiel to begin his death predictions. "So, more cattle for the slaughter? Perfect. End them!"

As the remaining thirty or so angels began charging beneath the invisible webbing spread about by Nagai, who was funneling them perfectly for her Naruto-sama to deal with. "Say, Riser..." drawing the devil's glance, "...I think it's time to introduce these pests to the joys of the flame." Opening his hand to reveal an orange-blue fox flame dancing across his palm. Seeing this, Riser smirks as his own flames light up across his arms, burning from a bright orange to a duller yellow. "I like the way you think."

"Care to join us for drinks after this? I think it'll be well deserved, no?" Naruto offered, and Riser looked tempted. So, Naruto dangled the carrot: "I came across a '36 sake from a reputable owner. It pairs perfectly with freshly smoked tuna."

"Sounds delightful," Riser said, looking forward as the angels finally leveled out. Naruto nodded before glancing opposite. "You wanted a boss battle, Issei. You ready?"

"Hi, sensei!" Issei confirms, channeling chakra to his gauntlets, causing them to engulf in flames, bright red trailing into green. "Got my flames too." His grin was a clear sign of his growing pyromaniac tendencies, common among both the Phenex devil house and the Kitsune of Kyoto. "This is going to be epic!" Taking up his basic strong fist stance, Naruto muttered, "A dragon, a devil, and a Kyuubi, huh?" Riser seemed to smirk harder, "Can't deny that."

"Let's go!" The underworld resident declares blasting forward, leading the other two into the fight, the second team of Kuroka, Izuhara, and Kosaku, hot on their heels. Not wanting to be left out, Koneko charged forward, Isabela, and Karlamine backing her up as a third team.

"Dynamic entry!"

"Gatsuga!"

"Phoenix drop!"

Boom. The Devil/Youkai team tore through the fallen lines with three tornadoes of claws, two flaming fire kicks of dragon and phoenix origin, and nearly a third of the enemy was torn asunder. The melee started anew.

Issei's flying kick, scored through two double-winged chicks, and knocked them into the buzz saws that were Izuhara and Kosaku, the latter presenting a foothold for the young dragon, with a smirk. Taking it, Issei was thrust up, fist first into a six-winged who hadn't noticed him until the fist hit flesh.

He then got a good look at the webs as his victim was pushed directly into it, and he managed to flip, on instinct, and push off the now captured fallen, and push down directly into another two-winged, clipping and breaking her wing. Continuing his journey to the floor, he finds himself sliding down the school buildings wall with chakra, leaping off and drop-kicking another enemy, saving the cat chick from Gremory's peerage.

Issei's sudden arrival stunned Koneko, but it didn't break her stride. As he slid to a stop, his footing was ready, and a quick glance was all she needed. The boost up, paired with his boosted transfer, and Koneko damn right exploded the six winged angel on impact. As she flipped and landed, she crushed one going for her sister, who flipped another and smashed its face into the dirt. Another Youjutsu, and they vanished. Boom.

Riser and Naruto were playing off each other like they had been doing it for years. Naruto slipped beneath another angel, drawing the attention of said enemy. Just as Riser grabbed their wings and set them alight, he flipped them over and cracked their neck. He landed on his feet just as another body dropped behind him, with two kunai in its throat and heart. Naruto landed at Riser's back, saying, "You aren't half bad."

"Same to you, Phenex." Both running toward the big fish, their teams can handle the remaining small fry.

Riser was pushed aside as Naruto caught the quick light spear that would have punched through the devil's chest. "You got some speed, boy," Kokabiel commented as he hovered above the duo. "Koko, listen. You really can't win here," Naruto began, earning snickers from Riser, and a tick mark from the fallen cadre. "I am quite literally on par with your boss, twice over, or..." A tail shot out and caught both light spears aimed at both him and Riser, crushing them. "Really? Is that all you have?"

"Excalibur!" The cadre calls out, and the two pieces of the holy sword appear, merging into a single blade. "I shall end this all!" Slamming the blade into the ground, a pulse of holy magic spreads but is immediately canceled out by Naruto, Izuhara, Kosaku, and Kuro's senjutsu from their various positions around the battle site. It was then that the devils struck. Riser from the front, Rias, Sona, Tsubaki, and Akeno from all around.

Boom.

As the smoke cleared, the bastard was still breathing, but just as Naruto was about to end it, a new arrival burst forth, posing a danger to the kings and queens. Moving with speeds never before seen by devil kind, Naruto grabbed all four ladies in his tails, clearing and sliding to a stop just clear of the boom.

Riser appeared at his side, having sensed it in time too.

"Impressive." The new arrival glanced at the kitsune, currently holding four heiresses in eight of his tails, at his back and still able to move at speed. "Perhaps you are worthy of my attention, kitsune."

"Albion, huh? So, you are a half-devil," Naruto comments, earning gasps from every devil in attendance. Despite the blushing ladies currently being suspended in the air by two very warm, fluffy tails, "How perceptive. Maybe I should kill you now. Save me the trouble of hunting you down."

"Bitch, please," Naruto snarled. "You are a hundred years too young to take me on." That actually stunned the dragon and the devils at the action. "Besides," he continued, still growling, "I'm training your better, right, Issei?"

"Yes, sensei." Issei appeared casually, smoothly only being noticed now for maximum points. Yes, he is loving the whole shinobi gig. It's so cool. Another gasp from the crowd as none had sensed him until Naruto called out to him. "He is right, Albion. Your container may have started off superior, but mine is far better trained." The gauntlets speaking up now, "Ddraig, huh? Is that so?"

"We will see next time we meet," Ddraig responded. "Very well," the white gauntlet replied as the white dragon took flight. "I'll be seeing you soon, my rival."

"Not if I don't want you to," Issei responds without even glancing back at the white one, earning a chuckle from said half devil who promptly took flight with their quarry over shoulder.

With the enemy defeated and the last straggler dealt with, Naruto let down the four girls. Riser let out a breath as he looked to Naruto, "About that drink?"

"Word," Naruto nodded before turning to Issei. "Gather the team..."

"You are welcome in our clubroom. We have tea and refreshments," Rais offered. Naruto looked from her to Riser, who shrugged. Then, he nodded, "Okay."


Occult Research Clubroom

All four teams fell into various roles around the small school building, with the leaders all landing in the main clubroom. Naruto pulled off his Jonin vest and threw it on the arm of the sofa before pulling out a scroll and unrolling it on the table. The devils were naturally confused until he placed it down and channeled chakra. Poof.

Two bottles of the promised '36 sake, a dozen saucers, and three perfectly smoked tuna, still warm. Naruto served as if perfectly rehearsed and handed them to Riser, Izuhara, Kosaku, Kuro, and Issei, sharing a sip and bite of fish. It hit the spot, and they all sighed in blissful satisfaction. Naruto smirked at them, "So?"

"Where can I find this for my own manor?" Riser asks carefully, savoring the taste of it. "Well, this bottle I actually got from a friend, but I will ask if any more fine quality comes across my attention," Naruto informs as he takes a sip himself, not willing to tell that it was Lord Sasunoo who gifted them to him.

"I see." Riser nods as Sona and her queen enter the room. "Is that sake?"

"It is." Riser and Naruto spoke, the latter offering a sample of it. "After a fight like that, it helps. Eases the edge off."

"The smoked tuna is a perfect compliment in my opinion." Kuroka comments from her perch on the sofa. Sona stared at it for a long time, before shrugging, "As long as we don't go overboard, right?"


A/N: What a ride.

Reading through the comments, I decided to release this chapter as I have already finished, and uploaded, the next so I have something in reserve. I can tell you a few things on my mindset for this storyline. Kuroka's current mindset and attitude is solely for the purpose of impressing Naruto. He addresses this later on, and she returns to a more flirty nature. Just with him though.

Yoshinori will be making a return, much to the annoyance of a certain nine tailed vixen who is further annoyed as the snow kits take to her more than her. Naruto manages to cool the tension though. As for why? She looks like their mama, just younger and less tails. This helos bring Yoshinori out of her shell a bit, and pushes her to get stronger. She will eventually make it to eight tails, a glimpse of the future.

Rias does eventually end up with Naruto. Calm down. Relax. I said eventually. She'll be like the last one to end up with the foxy knuckle head. The relationship will be a long one, with shifting titles and allegiances, from pranker and pranked, to teacher and student, to mentor and menteed, friend to foe to friend. Eventually it'll end in lovers, maybe spouses (Haven't decided) but it is a long way off as she has a lot of growth ahead, and Naruto has little love for devils atm.

Asia's introduction to the story is already significantly different, and probably happen during the build up with the three faction summit that takes place in Kyoto in this fic. Why? Simple. You do not host a fucking international treaty negotiations in a fucking school, no matter how prestigious said school is. Huff.

That being said. Heaven and Grigori push for a more secure neutral ground, Azezel suggest the Youkai and thus yeah. Asia is a part of Raynare's team, their moscot of sorts. This is how Issei meets her as Team Seven meet their Fallen counterpart. Yes, Counterpart. Azezel lifted the team naming system of the Youkai and applied it to his own forces. Raynare, upon finding out that Naruto leads Team Seven with Issei within, demanded the position of Team Seven completely unaware of the mess she was now liable for.

As for those like Rossweisse and Xenovia, I am undecided on them currently. From my other story, Demon Uzumaki, you all should know I am a Xenovia fan, but this version of her is still rather stiff, faithful, ignorant, and with a hint of battle lusting arrogance. After all, she hasn't heard the big news. Yet. Rossweisse will probably follow Sona back to Kouh for a time, then join her in her many trips to Kyoto for training, and eventually join Naruto's group then. No plans beyond that yet.

sigh - Writing this all this out in a A/N was somewhat therapeutic. Curious. Thank you for reading and the comments. I do read them all. Translations and all.

2nd A/N: For those curious, I am writing out Crushing Waves right now. Finishing ch 3 of Phantom Blade is my next goal. Then back to Sin's Forgiveness for a cold plate of payback served with a side of a diplomatic back hand. Young Eclipse has had some work done, but only after my current list and a surprise return of another side title. (30/10/24)

o7