Upon Tails of Freedom
Page One
Naruto DXD
Mindscape
A familiar voice suddenly called out. "You are awake!"
This jerked the nineteen-year-old shinobi from his laying position on the floor, snapping up, looking left then right, before finally up at the towering beast of blue flames staring back at him, her twin tails swaying innocently. Naruto muttered. "Hey, Mata. What happened? Where are the others? Are you okay?"
Matatabi, the two tailed nekomata, and bijuu of flames, chirped happily, causing him to pause as she continued. "Naru-kun; calm down. We survived and the others are busy elsewhere, so Kurama left me to explain the situation a bit better before you awake fully."
The flaming feline drops down, lowering onto her forward paws in what many would call the loaf position, to confront her favourite male human and current host. His eyebrows raised at that; this was certainly not a normal situation if Kurama is delegating such a role to someone else.
Naruto then asks. "So, what happened? Did we kill that madman? Is the world safe?"
Matatabi smirked, replying. "Yes, and yes. But also no."
Further confusing the blond who just deadpanned, but before he could voice his confusion, she chirped again, pausing his predictable response, Matatabi continued. "Listen, then ask questions… 'kay?"
Upon his stupefied nod, that caused her to chuckle, she continued. "The final attack caused your flying thunder god to react in both a negative and positive way. First causing it to lose sight of your exit destination before said tunnel was done reinforcing. It happened in pascal seconds."
Naruto took a while to process that and the ramifications regarding it. Sure, nothing like this has ever happened before, so Naruto asked, deceptively calmly. "So, where did we end up…?"
None of his current companions blamed him for his hidden anger, they sympathise with everything he's gone through over the last few weeks. Matatabi replied with. "We don't exactly know."
The two tailed neko confesses, with a sly nod before continuing. "Kurama managed a peek out when we were falling but could only tell two things…"
Naruto folded his arm, as he was trying to get a handle on the new situation, asking. "Which is…?"
Matatabi was quick to inform him. "We are not in the Elemental Nations anymore. A new world is likely, but this world is angry and loaded with malice."
Naruto took this all in with a slow breath out, the large cat still laying still ahead of him, keeping their eyes on the same level, near enough, watching with her mismatched eyes intently staring.
It took another little while before Naruto nodded, thoughts set in a line, as he spoke them aloud. "Okay. So, we won, killing the bastard, and saved the world a third time…"
Upon seeing her nod, he continued. "Our escape via Hirishin was corrupted, destabilised before the reinforcement kicked in and so it sent us to another world. A world that itself is loaded with malice. So, what should we…?"
Matatabi had been nodding along, before cutting in. "Now, the bad news…"
This earned her very heavy sigh from the Uzumaki, mumbling about stupid bad news and always bringing it up after everything else, though he looked to her. Matatabi explained further. "A foreign entity had gained a foothold within your body somehow and is trying to alter it for unknown reasons. Thankfully though we have since managed to contain it, mostly. It is rather persistent. All the others are either working on holding it back, undoing the damage, or investigating it."
Naruto thought on that for a moment, but decided ultimately that there was nothing he could do thus, nodded. "I see. Anything else?"
"Well…" Matatabi dragged out far longer than needed, as if playing with it, head rolling with the word, her tails excitedly wagging behind her, continuing. "Seeing as everyone else is busy with that Intruder, I am your sole partner for now. Feel free to call upon my power should you need it."
This actually caused Naruto to smile softly, truly, as the other tailed beasts have often wanted to synchronise with him but by default, he falls back on Kurama. They don't mind much, he was here first, just once in a while they'd like to be called upon too.
This was as good a time as any, he guessed as he lifted his fist in her direction. Naruto smiling wide. "Good to be working with you, Matatabi!"
"Likewise, Naru-kun." Matatabi chirps back matching the gesture, a brief surge their chakra's confirming the connection that was far deeper than either were aware it would be. A connection like this was only barely surpassed by his original beast, and the birth of a legend yet to be seen.
Unknown room
Naruto awoke to find himself in a room far too alien to be true, wait a second. Sitting up he looks around to find himself in a four-post large bed, a silly red cloth covering with golden outlines and detailing. This is what greeted his currently mismatched orbs as he moaned aloud. "Argh… what, in the holy log, hit me?"
Matatabi was eager to supply an answer to the metaphorical question. "Besides your former best friend? Perhaps that space time jump? Or maybe, just maybe, it was the fall from above the clouds?"
Naruto blinked twice at that before his eyebrow began to twitch, muttering internally. "Your sarcasm is rather blunt, Mata-chan."
Matatabi replied smugly. "I have been working on it. Still, we have to find out exactly where we are… though I suspect that this room belongs to a young lady…"
Naruto whispered. "Young lady…?"
His continued observation did not tell a story he could understand, but it seems that his current backup could, Matatabi continuing. "There, on the left, beside the mirror – a uniform of some kind."
Truly enough some kind of black decorate blazer, white dress shirt, a black T-shirt, and a black dress trousers and is that a ribbon?
Naruto shook his head upon inspecting it from his sat-up position. "Nah, don't trust it."
He moved off the bed, passively checking his body's condition. Reaching the as the edge and confirms the seals, drafted upon his skin were still untouched and functional. First bit of good news thus far, but he'll take it and with a quick application of chakra a scroll appeared, labelled uniform.
Within a minute stood the Nanidim Six Path Sage, blood crimson hoari with the words 'Sage' down the back over combat Leaf Anbu attire, tanto on his lower back but lacking the mask. It broke months ago.
Looking around at himself he double checks himself in the full-length mirror off to the side. Stepping up, he gets a clearer view of himself, double checking his attire which is also when he noticed his catlike eyes with a soft glow, one olive green and the other a pale yellow. Matatabi spoke suddenly. "Meeooww... Looking fine."
Naruto smirked, nodding, before noticing what was missing, replying firmly. "Need to find my primary holsters."
Matatabi responded swiftly. "Well, judging by your nose… the trail left the room a few hours ago."
Naruto glanced to the door; eyes narrowed slit lines. "Then, lead on…"
ORC
"Bachu…? Are you still playing with those daggers?" a tall ravenette, classic Nadishiko woman with a bust size that defied logical, biological nature. This was the queen devil of the red-haired woman she was currently addressing who was idly spinning one of the metal stars between her fingers.
Her leader and best friend side-eyed her at the insinuation and corrected her misinformed remarks. "They are kunai, and these are shuriken…"
The scarlet haired woman proclaims, her sea foam green eyes gleaming in innocence, happiness and joy at the prospect she had been gifted with. "The genuine articles! He must be a real-life ninja."
"The official term is Shinobi." A new voice causing those within the room to snap towards the door, surprised they did not know he was there let alone awake.
The messy mop of sunshine blond atop an angular face of a warrior with mismatched eyes, green and yellow, that could be mistaken as crystals. Though he was staring coldly at the addressed, speaking with same frigidness. "Now, mind telling me why you have my gear…?"
"Ah well… yeah…" the redhead stammered out, allowing the tools to fall back on the table, as she tries to desperately recover her composure slightly. "I can…"
The man stepped through the room, keeping eyes on the woman, extending his hand, saying. "Hand them back. Then we'll be even."
"Umm… well…" the redhead abruptly pulled away the tools, earning a frown from the blond, though she began again. "Ahem, my name is Rias Gremory, heiress of the Gremory House of the Seventy-two pillars. These people here are my peerage, Akeno, my queen; Kiba, my knight; Koneko; my rook, Asia; my bishop, and Issei my pawn."
She began gesturing to each person around the room, earning a growing sense of dread within the blond whose eyes narrow further, rage simmering beneath the surface barely. Rias, unaware of this fact, continued on with a smile. "We are all devils."
Wings sprouting out from their backs, smiling all the while. Naruto offered no reaction, though Matatabi speaks in a whisper in his head. "Why are they telling us all this? Are you thinking what I am… oh… yes you are?"
Eventually though, Naruto replies in a forced, deceptive calm. "And you're tell me this… why…?"
Rias nodded, expecting this question thus was quick to inform her new piece. "Well, in order to save you from the brink of death I had to use my mutated Rook piece to resurrect you back to the land of the living as my servant Rook."
Pinching the bridge if his nose in irritation, Naruto let out a sigh, whispering. "I wasn't dead, nor was I going to. I was weakened, sure, but not on deaths door…"
Rias and her ORC, looked at him incredulously, the redhead muttering. "You crashed down from the sky, you know? Like, from beyond the clouds? No normal human could survive…"
Matatabi whispered, suspecting the worst. "If they saw that, then she knows your powerful. No doubt she is trying to divert your attention… is that genjutsu? Pretty complex formulations too."
Naruto takes a heavy sigh, eyes still scrunched shut, ignoring the outside world for now, responding internally. "Can you…?"
"Already done. My chakra is primed and ready to go…" Matatabi reports gleefully, as she circles around the mental projection of her host that nodded to her with a smirk.
Back in the physical world Naruto lets out a low hiss, cutting off the woman's continued ranting, with a growing level of venom, hostile intent rolling off him like water. "You actually think I'd be happy serving you, like those pests once tried, as nothing more than a slave with a leash…?"
Those words, and growing intent, put the others on edge, the more combat orientated members preparing for a fight silently at his back, assuming he had not noticed. He did but kept his focus forward as the redhead stammered over her explanations.
Rias was quick to defend her actions, waving her hands ahead of her, but growing nervous as his hostility was hard to ignore. "Well, technically, yes, but servant is such a heavy word, my house sees our servants as an extension of our family…"
Naruto's recently developed temper flares, chakra matching it, as flames of dark blue, tinted black, begin to simmer across his frame in reaction to the growing rage. He muttered lowly, but no little amount of threat. "Do yourselves a favour, stop with the attempted mind control. It hasn't ever nor will it ever work on me."
Immediately, within a neurone snapping moment a matte black tanto, recovered from its hidden place beneath his haori, was deflecting the knight's sword slash at his back. The following half heartbeat later, finds said blond knight buried in the wall at the rear of the room, via foot to the gut.
Next second a blast of lightning meeting the ground where Naruto was once standing.
A loud boom, the shockwave blowing out the windows, showering the grounds beyond with shattered shards of glass. It wasn't long before the red dragon emperor found himself punted threw the wall on that same side, blowing it out and forcing half the concrete to collapse with it. Rias calls out. "Issei!"
Akeno calls out. "Down!"
A hail of lightning strikes lit up the room, yet their flashes were interspersed with a blur of blond before a sudden loud thump was heard. Akeno's muffled cries, as she was griping the blade's handle currently in her shoulder.
This drawing the king's, Rias, attention briefly, the woman was pinned through the shoulder, down to the hilt, to the rear wall by one of the tri-pronged kunai. She steps towards her only to inadvertently intercepted a flung Kiba and the two fall from the building's first floor height.
Despite the pain, Rias and Kiba get off one another when the sound of hissing cats drew attention back to the shattered wall, now hosting a massive hole. Akeno can be heard. "Asia run! No wait, Koneko…!"
A spine-chilling crack rang out caused a collective wince from the devils currently present, and a whimpering kitten before falling silent.
"Rias!" was suddenly called out by one Sona Sitri, the other king devil on campus, acting as the school council president. Her peerage bringing up the rear, rushing over to aid the stricken party. Rias muttered slowly. "Sona…!"
Sona nodded, asking whilst turning to the recked building. "What happened here…?"
Rias spoke lowly, looking back at the building herself. "I… I think I messed up…"
Sona snapped to her, brow raised and asked. "…how…?"
The response was cut off when an abrupt heat wave blasted passed the freshly arrived drawing their eyes up to meet the shimmering dark blue clad shinobi, the light from the writhing flames at his back hiding most his features. Two tails waving aggressively behind him, though what drew their collective attention were his eyes were. One green and the other pale yellow that were glowing ominously.
Naruto's voice drew them from their observations, speaking coldly. "More slavers, huh?"
His words were than matched by an absolutely unholy amount of killing intent, according to the young devils that is, but for Naruto, it was just a yawning nekomata.
The tense silence was broken by the Sitri heiress who proudly steps forward, unhinging her magical reserves in an attempt to establish battle ground control. Her own servants, fresh and unblemished from this fight stepping up before the beaten group. Sona stating firmly. "You have raised a hand against your superior and master. I, Sona Sitri, will put you…"
She pauses a moment, recalling she never actually got his name, before glancing back at her oldest friend and rival to ask but a snort from the flaming blond drew the attention of all. Venomous was all that could be used to describe Naruto's next words. "You people make me sick. Enslaving others to do your dirty work."
"Bichu saved us!"
"…I was…" Koneko's added defence to Akeno's was halted as she was dragged up by her throat, body limp, now coming eye to eye with her fellow feline.
This also brought her into view of the other devils, the broken leg visible from their distance, Naruto speaking coldly. "Kitten, I told you to stay down, or I'll snap that pretty little neck of yours just like your femur."
He threw her back, seemingly carelessly, but she landed on the sofa, knocking it over in the process. His eyes land back on the group before him, crouching on the ledge of the ruined structure, much like a cat preparing to pounce. "So, You two are the boss ladies… got it."
As they prepare to engage, they take note of his stance, much like a cat with his two highly condensed blue chakra tails swaying at his back and now that they are looking more carefully, he has cat ears too.
Abruptly a torrential wave of water smashes into the location he was at a moment ago, only for a backlash of lightning, which registered as Akeno's, to catch most off guard causing a massive shock effect. Both peerages were hit by it.
No rest for them as, from the darkness of the former ORC room, came a single beach ball of azure coloured fire that cleared the building before splitting into smaller balls, that spread and began peppering the entire school yard, the buildings, shattering windows, and setting things alight, leaving meter wide craters with smouldering rock and concrete within.
Peeking their eyes open, the young devils were met with ice ramparts covering them all, having absorbed or deflected the previous attack, thus saved by another, very familiar voice. "Sorry we're late mi'lady…"
The red headed heiress let out a breath she did not know she was holding, her anxiety levels far too high for this crap. Rias though was more than a little releaved to hear her family maid, and sister-in-law, Grayfia Lusifuge speak again. "Lady Leivathan was being difficult."
The still shuddering and jerking Sona, perked up at the name drop, "Oni-sama is…"
A loud explosion again, cutting the Sitri heiress's response, followed by a blond missile that breaks through the barrier of solidified water, that had protected Issei, and slides across the ground with a smirk, a low chuckle as Naruto responds calmly. "So, old, small, and a pervert. No wonder you're all alone."
There was a collective wince at his words. Serafall's lack of a romantic partner was a touchy subject, and this teen managed to push that button.
"What did…" Serafall Leviathan stepping out from the shadow of the old school building, carrying a heavily wounded Akeno and a passed-out Koneko, despite her short stature. She roared out. "…you just say…?!"
Three massive ice dragons erupt from magic circles, roaring alongside their master before charging forward. Naruto smirks at the incoming attacks, so damn predictable when angered. "Gonna need your help, Tabi."
He got a very distinct mental impression of a raised eyebrow from the two tailed cat, that replied snipped. "Tabi? I have you know…"
Naruto cut her rant off. "Later. Can you just…?"
As he forms the base of the rasengan, that abruptly gained a molten azure-blue flame core, earning far more than a few raised eyebrows by those witnessing the phenomenon for the first time. Naruto calls out. "Neko Style;"
An impression of a smug cat came to view briefly, it was clear that he had been forgiven for his slip up earlier. Naruto finishes. "…infernos rasenshuriken!"
Throwing the meter-wide twin bladed star of flaming energy directly at the middle dragon, that was twelve metres tall, and half wide of solid, compressed ice.
Once in position, Naruto sent the mental command, and the flying ball of superheated death and destruction cut though the dragon as if they were made of paper before exploding dead centre destroying all three dragons and flash evaporating any exposed liquid and ice.
The explosion happened a good distance away, only about a hundred meters away from the enemy, but the resultant heatwave melted the ground it passed back over.
By the time the devils came out of the defensive positions, many had suffered pretty nasty burns, first, second and even third degrees, and various injuries to that effect. Were it not for their resilient dark imbued devil bodies, no doubt most would have been all burnt and turned to ash.
With many of the nearby buildings now aflame, the smoke blocking out the late evening sky, but that is not what held their attention at present. No, what really scared them was the much larger attack being held above the newcomer's head.
Judging by the energy being condensed within this follow up, it was at least trice the power of the last which flash boiled everything nearby, this second one would no doubt be able to wipe out the school.
Abruptly the teen was encased in a solid block of ice, his technique slowly dispersing into nothing, and a collective sigh of relief was had by the young devils.
Satan Leviathan was not having a good time, limping towards the block of ice holding the now stray devil from Ria's peerage. She would admit, he shows amazing control of Fire and wind.
Though as he used chakra in stead of demonic magic meant that he was always at a disadvantage as magic is stronger than chakra. But it also means he was a Youkai before the reincarnation ritual. He'll learn once this is settled down.
Stopping before the block, Serafall now sees the two royal blue tails with a rippling flame-like pattern running along the fur, which means this is most likely a one of a kind male Nekosho. An Ultra-rare piece that they cannot really afford to kill without trying to further subjugate him, a powerful ally going forward.
Absent-mindedly placing her hand on the block of ice, Serafall whispered as she stared at his form through her thick sheet ice. "Don't worry, we'll wipe this memory from your mind, and you'll be happy with your king again."
Crack.
The very loud crack echoed far and wide, causing Serafall to snap up, the sight of the giant crack running across the super dense, magically reinforced arctic permafrost, was nerve wrenching. She gulps. "Impossible…!"
A second loud crack, before the block erupted, in an explosion of ice shards and hissing steam, knocking back those near by, but also blocking the view of the situation with the former captive.
Out of the rising steam and ice dust came, what could only be described as, an enraged cat. Claws extended, Naruto drew first blood on Serafall with a slash just beneath her right eye down toward her ear, just as she ducked aside.
The hand-to-hand combat was horrendously one sided, Serafall is a magic type with efficient use of her staff for brief, and limited encounters up close, but it was for naught against opponents such as Naruto. His speed, strength, and agility, paired with the added flexibility and nimbleness afforded to the hosts of this nekomata.
Once again Serafall leaped back, trying to gain space after avoiding a reverse roundhouse kick with spell spinning up but within that same moment, Naruto uses the same momentum to leap forward, trailing claws igniting with Matatabi's likeness, smashing through a hastily raised ice walls without breaking stride.
A massive shockwave rushed over the small Satan, though it was due to Naruto's claws abrupt halt less then a handful of centimetres from her chest. A new arrival, holding back the no doubt dangerous attack spoke now. "I'm going to have to ask you to stop that."
The hand led up to a fairly handsome red headed Satan class devil, Sirzechs Lucifer, his normally green-blue eyes were instead a vivid red, a sign of his anger and growing power, as he glares at the blond with blue highlights.
Blue flames erupt from Naruto's wrist, beneath where the obstructive hold was, but was immediately countered by the Satan's power of destruction, Sirzechs continued in a clearly forced calm. "This rebellion is over. You will be coming to the underworld with us, and your piece will be examined before being reinforced."
"Oni... Lord Lucifer!" Rias coming over to her brother who was still subduing a statue like Naruto, she continued. "I am sorry. It's my fault. I didn't explain to Menma Maelstrom here the whole situation and he struck out."
This caused everyone to pause. Naruto falters slightly, bewildered at what they had called him. Sirzechs responds to his baby sister without breaking the stare down. "Menma huh? So that's his name?"
"According to this, yes…?" Rias pulling out Naruto's shinobi ID, though as the Elemental Nation's language is reminiscent of older Japanese, Rias and her peerage assumed it was one and the same and tried to match up the characters to familiar ones. Thus she and her peerage concluded that his name is Menma Maelstrom.
This is also how the tailed beasts are able to shield Naruto's vulnerable soul from the devil influence as it did not have access to the soulscape due to incorrect information as Menma Maelstrom is not Naruto Uzumaki, despite being the same in certain contexts.
Naruto began to chuckle lowly, a slowly forming a sly grin, as he whispered just as softly. "Man… I am so going to have to apologise to Menma whenever we ever cross paths again…"
This earned everyone's attention, but it was Serafall who noticed something was off with that sentence. It wasn't his name. Naruto continued though, fed up with allowing these slavers a chance. "Either way, I think it's time to finish this."
"Oh? And how are you going to…?" Sirzechs began before he was suddenly blasted back, the others following suit as an etherial glow now covered the rebellious Rook. Naruto takes a deep breath, getting accustomed to this new power, as Matatabi speaks up. "Just a reminder, we can't go full form until the others finish sealing off that devil item."
Naruto responds. "I haven't forgotten."
He paused before looking back at the two tailed cat at his back in the mental plane, asking. "Do you know how to gather natural chakra?"
She shakes her head in the negative causing the blond to sigh to himself. Making the choice, he nods before taking up a meditative position, Naruto informing her. "Fine. I'll gather it and refill our reserves; you hold them off."
This caused the two tails to gape at her current host at what that meant. Matatabi asking hesitantly. "Are – are you sure…? I mean. You are giving me full control like…?"
Naruto peeks an eye open, looking up at her with a soft smile. "I trust you, Mata. Just remember, disable or cripple; no maiming unless cornered."
This causing the cat to purr in delight, being so trusted like this, so Matatabi chirps. "Very well. Now to stretch my legs a bit!"
With the wind settled everyone looked upon the new form of Naruto, a sky-blue short muscle shirt that exposed his stomach that has two magatama around the six paths seal, blue fingerless gloves that reach halfway to his elbow, black Anbu trousers with glowing blue boots.
(A/N: Matatabi's Chakra mode, the blues glow softer just like the orange of KCM II, but due to her relatively lower power, she only has one mode and is equivalent to KCM II though only a quarter as strong as KCM. At least in raw power. It will have its own benefits.)
Everyone gazed upon this sight in concern, as Rias breaks the silence with a question. "Is that his true form?"
Koneko was the one to reply, having been recovered and brought over by the arriving medics who tagged along with Serafall. "No. Worse. Much worse."
Kiba glanced back at her, asking, "What do you mean worse?"
Koneko looked terrified as she looked at the knight, as she explained. "He's mixing nature energy with his own thick chakra…"
"Which means…?" Kiba questioned but the nearby Satan, who had overheard the freshmen, went pale as she understood what that meant. Looking to the white-haired girl, Serafall asks. "Are – are you sure…?"
Koneko nodded frantically, looking back at the teen standing before them, whispering. "Positive. I can sense the energy flowing into him. His reserves have already been refilled from the area again…"
Rias gaped at the news. Sure, Issei could double his strength every ten-seconds, but this Menma was quite literally powering up from the planet itself. She asks. "Unlimited power?!"
Serafall steps past them, eyes locked on this foe before them. "He is incredibly skilled to be able to maintain such an equilibrium mid-combat. Truly a great piece you have acquired if you can bring this Menma to heel."
The former Sitri heiress looks at her fellow Satan's little sister, Serafall continued. "If you can't, we may have to co-opt your piece as you lack the power to subdue him yourself."
Rias frowns, this is her rook, not theirs. Pushing herself up, Rias powers up but her brother's arm ahead of her stops her. Looking up at him, she was interrupted by his words, "Something's changed."
All eyes look at the teen ahead, he was glancing around as if trying to understand the situation. Shaking off his limbs one after the other, before looking back at the twin tails, and grinning with a nod. His eyes locked on to them, and the killing intent skyrockets, with the form of a giant two-tailed cat made of flames seemingly to be hissing at them.
They all gulp, taking a step back.
Finally, Naruto spoke but it was clear that it was a different person. "Myaah. This is so cool. Though, a bit stiff."
Naruto's voice in her head. "I can shape-shift you know…"
Matatabi paused at that, before nodding, speaking aloud again, "Oh right, then I can just…"
Abruptly a plume of smoke engulfed the form and replaced with a very familiar Kumo Jonin, though with dark blue hair, ears and tails. Stretching out, Matatabi yawned out with her tails following suit, "Myaah, much better…"
The devils looked on confused and shocked in equal measure, though one red gauntlet wilder was staring at her exposed mid-riff, and firm bulges with no little amount of lust. Matatabi then locked eyes with the two Satans, frowning. "You are messing with the wrong kitten."
Serafall and Sirzechs share a look briefly, looking back only to find her gone. They snapped around, looking all over the area only to find, Rias being held up on the ruined building by the back of her neck, as the woman retrieved the scratched-out Leaf headband, the shinobi ID, and the few trinkets stolen from Naruto when he was out cold.
This included the first hokage's neckless.
Naruto's voice echoed in her head, gratitude rolling from it, "Thank you, Mata. That almost slipped my mind."
She smiles softly, replying back in kind. "It's fine, Naru-kun. Though, any ideas on the status of the others."
Naruto went silent for a moment, responding after several seconds. "Dunno. Kurama just grunted."
Matatabi giggled aloud, freaking out the devils that were now questioning her sanity but dared not provoke the woman as she still had Rias in her grasp.
Speaking of Rias, she tried to look back at her captive, squeaking out, "Please. We can talk this out."
Matatabi looked at her, head tilting slightly to the left, questioning, "Myaah, Talk about what? About serving you? Never."
The rather rude dismissal caused Rias to take a different route, never liking resorting to this as any trust between master and servant is lost when utilised, but her options were limited. She channelled her magic and ordered with all the authority she could muster. "As your king, I order you, my loyal rook, to unhand me at once!"
Matatabi felt the surge as did Naruto causing her to freeze still. The voices of the others can be heard cursing up a storm with many words neither wanted to repeat. The woman in the proverbial drivers seat, however winced at it all.
This inattentiveness caused Matatabi's grip to loosen enough for Rias to break free, and land on the edge of the building. The two Satan's moved the next second, preparing to strike from both sides and finally subdue this new Rook, but they weren't nearly fast enough.
A pitch-black blade erupted from Rias' stomach, her lower spine severed, stunning them all, even Rias who muttered out a quick. "Huh?"
She was promptly kicked off the ledge, forcing Sirzechs to catch her, while Serafall carried on and clashed with the rogue still standing there with a cold detachment in her mismatched eyes.
Serafall finally reached the woman, but she only met air and a blue flash. Confused for all of a moment until the screams of her sister reached her ears. Snapping back, she saw her Sona missing an arm, Grayfia holding back the woman who was moving far to nimbly for the stoic maid to counter for long.
Rage. Serafall was enraged at her sister's maiming, her true form wanting to be unleashed but her few remaining thoughts allowed her to consider the ramifications of such a decision. No doubt the other young devils, along with the Angels and Fallen, who are no doubt aware of something amiss here, will get caught up in the fighting and will not survive.
A rather large explosion forced the Satan back to the task at hand, her rage forcefully pushed aside with great effort, to witness a massive azure flame ball erupt against the ice wall of Grayfia.
Frozen mist fills the area that briefly lights up in flashes of blue light, as if a thunderstorm among the clouds, but vision is at a minimum. Serafall's senses aren't making much sense as it appeared this woman was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
This went on for a full minute before a massive wave of ice erupted out and everything fell silent. The mist was blown away by the remaining members of the two peerages collective wing flapping.
As she scanned the area, she could not see their target until a flare of unknown devil energy flickered on the school's edge, that must have come from this Menma trying to sneak away but their piece is unstable and unable to leave the kings side for too long.
A lucky break.
Wings spread out and the Satan rushes past Sirzechs, who was cradling his baby sister as Asia was working frantically on her back, charging towards the spike that had again vanished. From her senses, reappearing among the young devils.
Serafall could only watch as this Menma systematically cut down her baby sisters' peerage again, this time however she did not maim them, but their wounds were deep and needed tending too or they would not make it.
Flashing back into the fight having realised escape was currently unwise by the others, Matatabi decided it was best for their chances of survival if there were less enemies on the field.
As such, the second she regained her bearings she lunges at the white-haired girl, claws running across her back. One down.
The blond of this group lashes out with a white whip of some kind, easily avoided for a cat of Matatabi's graceful standing. Ducking beneath the weapon, all fours aided the pounce that catapulted the feline into the teenager's personal space, a claw shredding up from his thigh to armpit. Two down.
Ducking beneath a wild swing from a blue haired girl, her brown eyes meeting the felines for a moment, long enough to catch the dark undertone of the grin she was now supporting. The extended arm was grabbed, cracked with a twist, then yanked from the socket, as Tsubasa Yura found herself flipped and slammed into the scorched concrete. Blood pooling behind her head. Three down.
A water blast from a brunette, was evaporated before it got close, but alerted the bijuu to her next target that she pounced on with grace unbefitting the rather twisted nature of the resulting clash. A claw strike across the left thigh, up the back, then all along the right arm in a three-swipe strike. Reya Kusaka screamed out in agony as she went down like a lump of coal. Four down.
The last was Tsubaki who was standing before her king, defensively with her gear deployed but thankfully she was saved as Serafall swooped in and the feline leaped back to avoid the attack.
Sliding to a stop, Matatabi faced down the woman in front of her, tails swaying with deathly intent as she and Naruto came up with the next course of action. Naruto speaking, "That piece reacts to that redhead we had before. What if we snag her and run?"
Matatabi contemplated it, responding after a moment, "It could work. Any update regarding that?"
A few seconds of silence, before Naruto responded, "They say they almost have it. Shukaku figured out how it's spreading so it's not getting worse anymore. Though, Kurama insists on doing a number of checks before we enter full transformation."
Matatabi frowned as the red male joins the small one, replying, "I am running low on useable chakra in this form and need to work on preservation, but the other guy just joined the fight. Any ideas?"
Naruto sighed as he was clearly listening to something else but after awhile, he whispered. "Stupid fox. What does he think we're doing out here?"
Matatabi snorted, suspecting she knew what was said. "Mah-mah, Naru-kun. Pouting is my thing."
Naruto sighed again, before replying, "If things continue going this way, we'll have to switch again, hopefully you can by us time. I can only give you so much nature chakra before it overwhelms your lowering reserves. Keep that in mind."
Matatabi nodded both internally and externally, now looking at the two devils before her, blinking owlishly as they stare back at her as if awaiting something. Her response was amusing for Naruto, as she asked. "Sorry, wasn't listening. Did you say something?"
This earned rage filled growls from both Satan's, but Serafall asked through clenched teeth, eyes a dark blue, "Why are you fighting us? We saved you and gave you a new life to…"
Matatabi giggled far to cutely to be natural, shaking her head, "You did no such thing. You are trying to control us. Our power is our own and not for your selfish desires."
She ended in a hiss, but several things jumped out at both Satans. She had said 'us' as in more than one person. Explains how the evil piece is failing to subjugate her or him. It was never designed for more than one individual. If this Nekosho is actually some kind of multi-person being, then it would explain why things are turning out this way.
Naruto suddenly spoke up, "Mata, numerous additional signatures approaching. They are moving fast, ten seconds."
Matatabi perked up, looking to her right, spotting numerous winged individuals approaching, and hissing, assuming the worst. Naruto though, continued. "I am also sensing several chakra signatures on the edge of our range, closing in. About a minute or two. Based on their current movement speed."
The Satans had followed her gaze and too spotted the incoming and kissed their teeth at this development. They cannot allow such a powerful entity to fall into enemy hands, so they both turn to the rogue Rook, Sirzechs speaking first. "This ends now."
They both abruptly blurred forward, on Matatabi in but a breath, but again, she is a cat. Reaction times are second to none. With inhumane speed, Matatabi ducked Sirzechs reaching grab, and flipped backward over Serafall's tackle. Landing gracefully, and with a playful smirk, Matatabi responded. "Meeow! Oh, how naughty."
Naruto speaks in her head again. "We have to hold out a little longer. You can do it, Mata-chan!"
He cheered and she gained a rosy tint to her pale skin, as she maintained her smirk against the approaching Satan's. Again, she went to duck but caught the purposeful opening they left this time, and instead she vanished again, in a blue flash.
The two Satan's look left then right, then up at the burning building to find Matatabi sitting on the edge staring down at them, smiling, as she recovers the three-pronged knife from the rubble.
Standing she turns back into the building and was swift in her collection of the spare shuriken still on the burning desk, and the two kunai that remained there. She abruptly ducked Sirzechs attempted bear hug from behind, sliding around the tackle by Serafall, who spins on a dime and attempts another ice capture.
The ice block appears but it was empty.
Matatabi stood over the defeated Sitri peerage, who flinch at her abrupt arrival, though watched as she picked up the dagger, she had dropped there at some point before leaping off towards the Gremory group.
Sirzechs goes for the airborne tackle, but again, she vanished in a blue flash, appearing over the stricken King, who stared back at her in absolute fear. Asia's too had frozen rigid. Wordlessly, she bent down and took the weapon from beside the heiress and recovered the single shuriken from her pocket.
As Matatabi stood, the feel of spike of ice pressed against her back, and a quick glance back showed it to be none other than Grayfia, cut up from the game in the the two shared within that mist, yet she still spoke up. "You teleport to those weapons that hold markers. Ingenious until someone realise that it is also possible to catch you unawares with enough preparation."
Matatabi only a glance back at the maid in a torn outfit, she remained silent as the news she had been waiting for finally comes, delivered by her favourite male human, Naruto saying. "Kurama is giving us the green light. We can transform on your command!"
She grinned at the news, as all watch as a red glow appeared over her chest, and slowly, the mutated Rook piece is pushed out, glowing brightly. Everyone stares in disbelief at the sight, until Matatabi takes hold of it.
Crack. Crunch.
As she parts her hand, the dull crimson crystal falls to dust in the wind, earning gasps of horror, as Matatabi chuckled. "Foolish slavers. I told you already. You messed with the wrong kitten."
She growls deeply at the end, turning into a hiss, as a shockwave of chakra blast all away, a column of chakra reaching the heavens as a blue light blocks the view of all.
When it finally dies down, all return their gaze to find the ORC building little better than rubble, the front caved in, but what all were staring at was the two-story tall, flaming cat with twin tails standing there yawning as it stretched out like all its regular sized kin are known to do.
After a quick shake down, her mismatched eyes land on the Satan's who were staring back fully determined, and Matatabi grins speaking up. "Now, let's see just how much heat you can handle."
A new voice cut in, "If I may…?"
Drawing eyes up to Gabriel, arch angel of Heaven, flanked by Matatron and Uriel and a squad of nine other angels, all with more than eight wings each.
The two tails lifts the heat in the area as a warning, Matatabi hissing, "We will not serve any of you slavers. No matter how many you bring."
The Angels of heaven all blink at that declaration, confused for all of two seconds before they realise what that meant. Yet it was another group of new arrivals who answered, "I see… so that's what this commotion is all about."
Eyes drawn to the opposite direction where Governor General Azazel was leading a similar force to Gabriel, arriving on the scene of the massive disturbance. He speaks again, "Another unwilling subjugation gone pear-shaped, huh? Still, two Satan's are struggling to hold down a youkai? Interesting."
Sirzechs speaks loud enough to be heard by all, "This is an internal matter. Please stay out of…"
Another new arrival cut him off, "On the contrary…"
All eyes looking to find one Yasaka no Yoko, stepping into the yard with her daughter at her side and an elite group of tengu and fellow fox-kin at her side. She continued, having gained the attention of all, "That nekomata is clearly one of ours. Your attempted kidnapping is unlawful, and we shall not stay silent."
None spoke aloud for a second but within the Nibi's head, she could hear Kurama and Naruto bicker about something. Oh. Kurama wants a go next, a fine vixen taking command and he must show his might. Naruto telling him to pipe down to let Matatabi handle it. This was getting tiresome. Is this how Naruto feels when they argue.
Naruto's voice cut through the thoughts of the bijuu. "Yes. Mata-chan. Understand me now?"
She sighs hard, Matatabi nodding, understanding his annoyance sometimes at them. Naruto replies though. "That aside, that woman is the one I have been tracking approaching. Her signature is on par with a snoozing Shukaku but still."
Said bijuu snorted, arms crossed as the blond looks over at the Tanuki, Shukaku muttering. "Not really a compliment. Even after all that work, I did to dismantle that thing."
Gyūki grunted, glaring at the rat. "It was a family effort, Shukaku. Even Naruto-boy was helping in here with us."
Saiken nodded rapidly, squeaking. "Yeah. It was fun working with you Naruto."
Naruto beamed up at them all. "Just like Gyūki said; It was a family effort."
A mental throat clearing brought their attention back to the world outside, Matatabi sighing hard, "You know, Naru-kun, I think I need to apologise for my rudeness."
Naruto chuckled along with the others but offered a thumbs up. "It's fine. Now, what's going on out there."
Outside, Matatabi finally paid attention to Sirzechs arguing about something. "…piece is unstable and reacted poorly. That is why we are here."
Yasaka was about to argue back when Matatabi stood, all eyes on her before her form began to droop and chakra began to form into a male form strolling away from the devils until Naruto reappeared, sage cloak and all, spotless and unharmed.
But as he was about to cross, the perceived line in the sand, Sirzechs appeared attempting to grab him. Now. Naruto had seen the last two fights his father had. He knows both the resengan and the Hirashin. So, natrually, it was only a matter of time before he pulled this move off.
And so, in true Namikaze fashion, Naruto flicked out one of his three-pronged kunai, that twirled above harmlessly, as if he had fumbled his hold on it, with a rasengan appearing in his opposing left hand. The Satan powered up his destructive magic open his own spare arm, prepared to deflect the chakra attack being formed by his target.
The second before Sirzechs hand clamped down on Naruto's form, he vanished in a flash of light. For all of a full heartbeat, none saw him, with even Sirzechs sensing around. After that beat, Naruto caught his kunai that hung just beyond the redhead shoulder, and thrusted his simmering Resengan into Sirzechs back, calling out. "Rasengan!"
The explosion rocked the ground. While the more powerful fighters were amazed at such a technique. None more than the Youkai present. They had all sensed the use of chakra, despite it hanging so heavily in the air, and yet this human seemed to wield it better than them.
Unseen to all but Naruto and his companions, as the ball dispersed, he applied a paralysis seal on the Satan's back to keep him nice and out of the way at least for a little bit. Though Shukaku's grin told of his hand in something naughty.
Strolling out the smoke, haori flowing in the wind, Naruto looked like a true maelstrom as he approached the gawking Youkai. He was interrupted again as a certain red gloved teen charged him screaming his lungs out.
Everyone, and I mean everyone, was watching this young devil charge across the battle ground of scorched concret, glassed dirt, and smoulder craters, yelling out a scream with his gauntlet up, and all wondered the same thing. Is he an idiot?
When the boy got close, Naruto just back handed him. Down he went. One and done. The tailed beasts all looked on deadpan as well. Unsure if they saw what the just did.
Naruto sighed into his facepalm had. Muttering to himself about how even he wasn't that bad.
Shukaku had to chime in here, compelled to remind him of their earlier interactions, as he was indeed, in fact, that bad. "Actually, Naruto…"
The rat was suddenly suffocated by a flaming tail, Matatabi did not want to hear it, and her glare told the desert dweller that much.
"Apologise…" was mumbled by the hazel haired kid, to which Naruto quirked a brow at, replying rather snipped. "For what? Protecting my autonomy? No chance in hell."
The boy glared up at him, lifting his face from the floor, "You... need to apologise…"
Naruto sighed again, mumbling about stubborn brats and not wanting to give up. Again, Shukaku wanted to speak up, but his sister was still glaring at him.
He pushed himself up, his gauntlet glowing brighter and brighter, before he screamed out. "Apologise!"
"Boosted gear! Red dragon emperor! Balance breaker!"
Naruto looked around for the voice confused for all of a second, before ducking a wide swing, then side stepping an off-balance punch, stepping back from a lazy kick. Upon landing the dragon armoured kid leaped back, and a red orb appeared ahead of him, he yells, "Dragon shot!"
Punching the orb, it streaks towards Naruto at speed, for most acedemy students. Not the fastest shinobi in the elemental nations who only raised a brow at it. Naruto turned inward to his longest serving tenant, "Say, Kurama. You said you wanted to show off, right?"
Kurama grinned foxily, chuckling lowly. "Oh, Naruto, I knew I chose you as my favourite vessel for a reason…"
In the real world, the ball has made it halfway across the distance, when some heard Naruto whisper a name that will not be forgotten anytime soon, "Kurama."
Naruto shot his arm forward and the speed ball of dragon magic was caught. To everyones shock and amazement held in the hands of the out of world shinobi, was a ball of condensed, usually highly volitle dragon magic. But what confused most, was the orange chakra coating his hand that had done the catching. It was dense. Overwhelmingly so. Yet overflowing with life.
Naruto however stared at the ball impassively, awaiting his partners analysis of the object in question. Kurama eventually snorted, "Weak!"
Naruto nodded, before lifting his gaze to jade slits on the helmet, speaking softly, "All that build up for this? How weak."
He crushes it in hand, as the dragon growls, all his orbs begin to pulse in sequence one after the next as the boy within calls out, "I will defend Bachuu's honour!"
Naruto sighs again, before doing a full body shrug, "Fine. You asked for this. Right, Kurama?"
That name again, and abruptly Naruto's entire form was engulfed with a golden aura, his cloak gaining a new design of nine magatama beneath a concentric circle, and nine truth-seeking orbs appearing along with his chicory in his right hand that he spins once, before slamming it down and releasing a potent wave of natural chakra to ripple from it as long as he stands proudly.
Everyone was slack jawed at the power flowing off the blonde. It was dense, warm, but most importantly, as of life itself had been given form. Who the heck was this guy?
The Youkai especially were struggling not falling asleep, lulled by this overwhelming sense of peace and serenity emanating from this man and yet they knew this was not the time for that.
Naruto stared dead in the boy's eyes, no hatred or malice presented just confidence in his strength and determination. He speaks calmly, but with no less steel in his voice, "So, you called yourself a dragon earlier, right? How do you think you match up to a true Sage of Six paths, huh?"
Everyone memorised his words. He referred to himself as a Sage, which is big news as many had believed they died out, but secondly, he said 'Of six Paths' which must be looked into.
What startled everyone though, were the numerous wild animals appearing from nearby all rushing to his side, with even a crow landing and perched on his shoulder as he stared down the ignorant dragon before him. All these creatures too seemed to bore holes into the red armoured carapace, unfazed and wanting an answer.
Not getting a response, Naruto speaks up again, steel voice turning tungsten, "Speak, Dragon!"
Said dragon boy seemed to jerk and shudder under the voice, yet it was another who spoke, the soul of the dragon itself. "Sage of Six Paths. Forgive our transgressions. We did not know of your station."
Naruto narrowed his eyes dangerously, the animals all too seemed more than ready to rip this thing apart on his orders, and many grew nervous, as if the world was glaring at the teen. He spoke lowly. "So, it would be fine if I wasn't a sage? Is that it?"
It was silent for a moment, before the armour shattered, and the boy dropped to his hands and knees as he was exhausted from the effort, his gauntlet continuing, "Not at all, Sage. My host is just rather passionate about Lady Gremory. The one you injured in your escape from captivity."
Naruto responded swiftly, "She overstepped. They all did. I responded in kind. You will not earn any sympathy from me. Now, answer my question. Is it okay if I was not a sage?"
The boy finally gathered his breath enough to speak, glaring up at the glowing man. "My name is Issei Hyoudou, pawn of the house of Gremory. You hurt Bachuu. I will bring you down!"
Naruto did not so much as twitch at that declaration, just maintained his narrowed stare. For a good thirty seconds nothing moved, before Naruto spoke, "That's your answer then?"
Finally pushing up to himself to his knee, before with a huff he stands tall, his gauntlet pulsing in response to his desire to please his lady. She will no doubt reward him for bringing this guy down a peg or two. Oh. It should be great. Fondling those giant oppai. Only thing stopping that is this guy before him.
Naruto's and Kurama's empathatic senses were picking up the general feeling of this Issei character, and were both highly unamused. Matatabi too, was rather vocal about this thing before her, groaning loudly with her tails slashing about. yet only spoke two words, rather coldly especially considering she was a feline of the flames. "End him."
Kurama grinned, though all of them nodded along with that thought. None seeing their sister this worked up in this way. She did not even have empathy and somehow knew. Must be that woman's intuition or something.
Naruto looked to the crow on his left shoulder, and it looked back, and after a moment, it cawed before taking flight. Naruto looked down and the other wildlife all scurried off again, as Naruto stared back at the dragon. "Then, Issei Hyoudou. I will end this in one strike. Win, I stand down. Lose, well. You will lose more than you could ever dream possible."
Many were nervous but the Youkai, they were certain about this sage winning. Rias was in a bad shape, and her injuries are still have not fully healed, but had been turned enough to see the duel, without causing further injury.
Serafall knew she couldn't interfere, but she damn well wanted to. Sirzechs was still down, and the children where behind her. If she moved, this sage would have a direct shot at them. To think. Rias had almost inducted a full fledge sage into her ranks. If it had succeeded, she would no doubt be the strongest dueller within the underworld.
The Angels had their eyes glued on this Sage of Six Paths. His life energy was so pure and full of life, it matched their own yet felt more natural. It held similar properties to Gabriel's all-encompassing warmth and the gentleness she was graced with. It was firm and unyielding, as Raphael was known to be.
It is not forceful yet is unrelenting in its support, much like Michael. It is calm yet fiery much like Uriel. Gabriel will not let a chance to speak to this sage slip past and so will remain silent until this duel is over.
Issei raised his fist to the sky, and called out. "Dragon shot, full power!"
A massive ball of red energy, the size of a foot ball, exploding into existence, air swiveled and spiralled around it. Issei than dragged it down, aimed it towards the glowing sage guy. Cocking his fist, Issei finished the combo. "Boost Transfer! Dragon shot times ten."
"Boost Transfer!"
He punches the simmering ball of red and green, as hard as he could, so much so he strained his arm muscles in the process, pulling a few of them.
Yet again, this time Naruto just batted away the ball, that dispersed harmlessly against his staff. Not even a wind to blow his chakra-soaked hair. Naruto frowned, looking down at this lecherous being before him, muttering lowly. "You, truly are nothing but hot air and trash."
He began strolling forward calmly, the others noticed that his foots steps left sprouting grass and blooming flowers in his footprints. Naruto did not care to notice as he stares at the glaring Issei, said boy responded. "Trash? You're the one who hit a girl?"
Naruto did not falter in his steps. "We are in a fight. All combatants are fair game. Grow up."
Issei looked stricken at that, before he charged everything into his fist, he'll strike once and only have one chance to do this. He grinned though, suspecting something. "I bet you have never had sex before, huh? Your just mad that…"
He thrusted forward just as Naruto got into range, his red gauntlet erupting in green flames, Issei roaring out. "Dragon punch!"
Naruto deflected it with his staff, forcing the arm wide and cracking the armoured glove. This stunned everyone, but not as much as a Naruto's fist punching into the boy's chest. It was quiet for a while as none knew what had happened, though Naruto and his bijuu were in a heated debate with a surprise guest.
Joint Mindscape
Naruto lay atop Matatabi's head, head resting in palm, between her ears, alongside the others, one to six tails, all listening as Kurama, Gyūki, and Chomei talk with the Red dragon emperor they have since learnt was named Ddraig.
Said dragon huffed, Ddraig informing them all proudly hinting into arrogance. "He has a good heart. That is all that matters. He can go far."
Kurama growls again, but Gyūki speaks up for them both, "Listen, Ddraig. From what we know of human behaviour, the seeds of darkness are already there. We can see them. Hidden beneath that unhealthy amount of lust. What my brother said is true. His path is one of darkness. We cannot allow a power such as yours to exist within such a character."
Ddraig growls, deep and threatening, but Kurama alone was enough to match it, then up it as he snarls, "You are a fool! You will bring further ruin to this world!"
Ddraig roared back. "Who do you think you are?! You are outsiders! Just arrived and now dare dictate…"
"The planet is hurting! Can't you sense that!" Kurama roared over the dragon. Both Gyūki and Chomei both holding the fox back, but Naruto knew if he really wanted to, Kurama could break free. What the hell was he playing at?
Suddenly Saiken slithered up, speaking softly, "Umm, perhaps a compromise?"
All looked to the six tails, who remained firm, with Gyūki and Chomei finally letting go the faux angered fox. The dragon speaks up, Ddraig responding. "Finally, one who seems logical. Speak, Lady slug."
Saiken nodded, before offering, "Umm… well, consider this a test of your hosts worthiness. We shall separate you from him and observe him for three months. If he has a good heart, he will remain unchanged, but…"
As the slug trails off Ddraig understood the premises and contemplated it. He knew his gaki was a trouble magnet, but it's only three months. Not to mention, the devils, and the sage will keep an eye on him so any trouble should be dealt with. No real harm. He asks then, "Then, if we win, I want a favour from you all."
Kurama snorted, shaking his head, "Not a chance. Take this, or we rip you from your host permanently."
Saiken spoke up. "From one of us."
Ddraig nodded, one for one, that was fair, but before he could agree, Matatabi spoke up, clarifying for all. "Naru-kun is off the table."
The sharp huff was missed on no-one. That was this dragon's play, huh. Naruto soft low chuckle was only felt by the two tailed bijuu as he was atop her head. She too was amused at the dragon thinking he could pull a fast one.
Ddraig finally responded. "In that case, we have a deal."
Back in the real world. Not even five seconds had passed.
Issei's now cracked gauntlet slowly fades to a dull dead metal grey. As if lifeless. The green orb too fades to a meek white. Naruto then pushes the boy back, and as Issei stumbles away, all bare witness to the glowing green light in Naruto's outstretched hand, the hand he had thrusted into Issei's chest.
Both types of Angels gasp, easily seeing the Soul of the Red dragon in his grasp, as Naruto's gaze flows from the light to Issei who was wide eyed, gaze flowing from his now cracked grey, lifeless gauntlet, to the green light in his opponent's hand. He muttered in disbelief, "Impossible…"
Naruto words break everyone from their shock, "The deal is struck. Be thankful Issei. Ddraig has convinced me to not claim your life. Instead. I take his."
Playing up the theatrics, Naruto cupped his hands closed over the light, chicory balanced across both, and it died down to nothing. When his hands parted, the light was gone, and there was no sight of the dragon's soul anywhere.
Issei fell to his knees, disbelieving this was a possibility. Looking down at his lifeless grey gear, he tries and fails to get a reaction. It just faded away again, a dull white light, signalling its arrival and departure. Nothing. No Ddraig. No boosts. Just a glove. Armoured grey glove.
Naruto turns to leave, none dared to stop him, as he finally powers down, allowing the younger devils to breathe a lot easier. As he approached the Youkai, they all took a knee, heads bowed, including the two vixens. Naruto orders with a bitter taste in his mouth. "Rise."
They all do so, Naruto continues, "Let's get out of here. I do not wish to stay."
They bow and just as they turn to leave, both Gabriel and Azazel land ahead of them, hands up as the fighters take up positions in defence of the sage. A tense silence dawned before Gabriel broke it. "I wish to only speak."
Azazel too, spoke just as calmly as his sister. "I too only wish to understand what just happened."
Naruto shrugged casually, not offering anything on his face, with hands slipping into his pocket. "I do not feel like talking. I am tired. Hungry and damn right irritated. So, I will go with these fine people, my fellow chakra users, and once I get food with sleep then we can talk. Okay?"
Both Angels nodded. Yasaka speaking up, "We well welcome you in a week. Please allow time for Lord Sage to settle and recover."
Again, both Angel's nodded before both taking flight promptly and Naruto let out a wary breath. Eventually he looked back up to find these chakra users staring at him with starry-eyes gleaming. He sweat dropped. Though, his attention was drawn away by the sniffing sound, eyes falling on the small Kyuubi sniffing his hand.
Naruto winced at the yapping from a certain Kyuubi in his head, demanding the kit be protected at all costs, all he will tear him limb from limb. Eventually, Naruto asked. "Something wrong?"
The young girl froze stiff before glancing up at him shyly, stammering out. "Umm… mister sage. You smell like a cat and a fox."
Naruto chuckled with a growing smile, ruffling her hair calmly. "I do huh…? I wonder why."
She pouted but smiled under the gentle caress, head lowered to hide her faint blush. Her mother smiled out of sight of the sage before moving off after the sage, who's had found himself hand in hand with the small child.
The devils watched the Youkai leave, though Serafall noticed that both sets of angels were following from a respectful distance in parallel with one another but at opposite sides of the group. They were escorting them out. No sneak attack. Though, Serafall was certain that the sage was keeping an eye on them regardless.
Sighing, she looked over the ruined school grounds. Both buildings ablaze and ruined. The two peerages were being tended to by the medics she had brought with her initially. Sirzechs too had not got up yet. They were in a bad spot. This was a loss for them.
It was a bitter pill to swallow
Kyoto Shrine
Naruto landed before the massive gate, the small Kyuubi he has since learned was named Kunou was on his shoulders, having been piggybacked the entire time by the sage. She was giggling up a storm and Kurama was cheering him on, nodding his approval.
Glancing around, ignoring the exited chatterbox by his ear, the other Youkai, the name of these chakra users, were all rather winded at the pace he kept. He was fine, they were barely moving at mid-Jonin speed for a few hours, but it seems they aren't used to such journeys.
Finally, he looks up when the small chibi tugged on his long blond hair, Kunou asking, "Say, say, can you teach me that glowy thingy move you did? Like, it was super cool and stuff."
Naruto chuckled lowly, a smirk on his lips as he glances up, "Sorry, kit, that is a trade secret."
The kit pouted. Earning a chuckle from the teenager blond as he puts her down. This is when the adult vixen, having regained her own breath, who he now knew as Yasaka, speaking up. "Lord Sage. Please allow me to welcome you to our home. Our shrine. Your new home."
Naruto smiled at that, feeling the warmth within it's intent and even the tailed beasts knew he needed to here. After everything that's happened in the last few years. Loosing his home. His friends abandoning of him. Being left to the vultures.
Tsunade's sacrifice.
The Youkai all grew concern when they spot the tears he ignored but slowly, carefully, Yasaka stepped forward, and for the first time in a while, Naruto found peace in another's embrace.
Hard to believe it's been two years since his escape from the leaf. That last hug Tsunade had given him.
The last hug.
Two years on the run from every single hidden village, the countless hours spent wondering who was coming next. The gallons of blood spilt in his self defence.
He hugged this woman firmer, enjoying her gentle warmth and allowing his tension to finally bleed away. Though, Naruto can also feel that by doing so, his fatigue of the back to back fights, the combat internally and externally that was beginning to weigh him down was lessening, so broke it before he got too comfortable and fell asleep or something.
Clearing his throat, Naruto continued after wiping his tears, "Umm… yeah. Well, thank you, Yasaka-chan. I umm… think I could with a shower and a good nights rest."
He nodded to his own statement and Yasaka just smiled in response, sensing that there was a lot more buried beneath this cracking surface of strength but decided to address it later.
Kunou appeared and took Naruto's hand, pulling him forward, attempting to at least, "Say, say, I can show you to the guest room and everything."
Naruto chuckled at the young kyuubi's antics until his resident Kyuubi roared at him to get a move on and follow the kit. Though Yasaka agreed and gestured him through the gates.
Yasaka watches her daughter guide the young sage into the building, and only after it closed, her gaze sharpened turning back to her people, "I want any and all spies routed out and executed for treason. A council meeting in an hour, and I want all patrols doubled. Now."
The twenty guards present bow swiftly, before rushing off at top speed.
Turning back to the shrine again, Yasaka knew trouble was likely to come knowing now that this Sage had arrived here with them. If that brief crack in his mask is anything to go by. He has been through more than his fair share of trails and tribulations in his journey to get here, and she'd be damned if something happened to such a valuable asset to her people.
Thanks to Kunou, who seems to be able to bypass the walls he has erected, they are far further along with establishing a positive bond with this Sage of Six Paths, he called himself, and that could only be seen as a positive first step for them all.
First on her to-do list is to find the rodents sneaking around her territory and squash them before they stumble on something they should not know. Secondly, bring her council to heel. Thirdly, ensure the loyalty of this Sage for her people. By any means necessary.
It is clear that a vixen's job is never done.
A/N: This Oneshot had two objectives. Firstly, explore how KCM could work with the other tailed beasts. Secondly, have Naruto kick some serious devil ass for a believeable reason. In this case, Naruto had escaped Konoha after the fourth shinobi war thanks to Tsunade sacrifice.
The village effectively wanted to forcibly enslave Naruto as he now had all nine tailed beasts. Thus, his venomous retorts about the devils enslaving the others via their evil piece system. This naturally resonates with his passengers who have he also been enslaved to their previous hosts, but Naruto is their family member thus, their bond deepens.
Also used this to explore other avenues for other characters, like a more cut throat Yasaka, Sirzechs, and Serafall. I think i nailed their characters in this one though. Again, just an exploratory oneshot. Though, i will not be quoted on that after my last one.
2nd A/N: One of my friends pointed out several errors. As I too listen to these Stories, I have corrected somethingfs that had annoyed me, with liht rewrites here and there. Sorry for the delay Bednar.
o7 o7
