Initial Author's Note:
Well, the moment has arrived... the moment to respond to your comments. ... In my mind, it sounded more dramatic. Bah, it doesn't matter. For now, there has only been one comment. At least, one at the time I'm about to write Chapter Four. But I promise to answer them all. I am pleased to interact with my readers; it helps me preserve my sanity, which, let's face it, is a scarce commodity. And as for you, YouTube viewers, if you ever deign to write something more substantial than a simple "I like the video," know that you will also receive my attention!
Anyway, let's get to the point.
Dragonkeeper10:
I understand your point of view about Naruto's ambition in the canon. Perhaps the pursuit of recognition can be interpreted as a form of ambition. In any case, the key difference between my Naruto and the Naruto of the canon, beyond the presence of the Six Eyes, lies in that my version lives for and to unravel the secrets of the universe. And, of course, to replicate the Cosmos. It must be recognized that Rias had her moment of usefulness in showing him what, in Naruto's own words, is "the most stupidly broken energy in fiction... and I want it for myself." That is also the motivation behind his research on magical metals. Although, let's admit it, he suffers from a small problem of dyslexia in ancient Greek, which is why he read "Galium" instead of Gammanium. But leaving that aside, I prefer not to spoil more than I have already revealed.
Regarding your suggestions, the idea of Sakuya and Ruby appeals to me greatly. Imagine the combination: a Sakuya and a Ruby imbued with the Cosmos. They would be beings of unimaginable power, although, in Ruby's case, with an overwhelmingly adorable nature. But monstrous, after all. I also like Nora, but I don't know her well enough yet. I prefer to reserve her for a future story set in the RWBY universe, since that would force me to fully immerse myself in the original work, starting from volume one.
My apologies for the error. I understand now that the information about the searches for "Naruto and Natsumi in Siberia" was not relevant to you and that it was a note you needed me to edit.
Here is the clarifying note, edited, enriched, and with the style we have been using:
Edited Clarifying Note:
And, before continuing, allow me to make a small clarification, a digression that I consider of utmost importance for the understanding of my narrative vision. The power scale in this story... is carefully conceived, structured with meticulousness and internal coherence. What do I mean by this? Well, I reject any hint of exaggeration or inconsistency. Sirzechs, for example, a certainly formidable demon, does not sit in the select group of the top ten. Moreover, his power is much further from that peak, perhaps he doesn't even come close to the top thousand, even if he has Bael blood in his veins. That's why, despite his undeniable power and the connotations that his lineage implies, he does not hold the power level of the Seven Princes of Hell, much less that of the golden angel fallen from the heavens. Thus, I hope to have clarified my position on this matter.
Questions for the Readers:
Dear readers, before delving into the new adventures that the chapter that is about to begin has in store for us, allow me to give free rein to a concern that, like a thorn in the heart of the plot, deserves to be exposed to your consideration. A few questions, which, to be honest, accumulate more text than my own electrical engineering final exams.
First of all, as you have probably deduced, our dear Naruto is a fervent admirer of the Saint Seiya saga, to the point of giving Natsumi rigorous training in the icy techniques of the Ice Knights, with the ultimate goal of reaching the elusive absolute zero. And, of course, I can't fail to mention his obsession with finding the Gammanium metal, a name that, due to a translation error (resulting, perhaps, from my poor command of ancient Greek), he interpreted as Galium. But that's a separate issue. The important thing here is the following question: given Naruto's obstinacy in achieving his goal, what form should the armors that he so yearns to create take? Should we limit ourselves to the rich imagery of the traditional mythological bestiary, evoking legendary creatures such as Typhon, Fenrir, or Cerberus himself? Or could we allow ourselves to expand our creative horizon, also embracing the beasts of more recent culture, such as the imposing Rajang from the Monster Hunter saga, or even my personal favorites: the colossal Kaiju from the Toho universe?
Secondly, I must confess that, so far, Naruto's peerage has a partial conformation: two confirmed members and two candidates in the evaluation phase. Faced with this situation, I address you, my dear readers, to request your suggestions and recommendations on the positions still vacant.
The current configuration is as follows:
Queen: Natsumi
Knight: Ruby Rose (not a sure candidate)
Knight 2: No candidates
Bishop: Sakuya Izayoi (not a sure candidate)
Bishop 2: No candidates
Rook: Delta
Rook 2: No candidates
All pawns: No candidates
I await your wise and creative contributions... and if I only adopted this pretentious and dramatic tone because I'm incredibly bored, my business is going well and I have nothing to do now that I have a manager... and no, I'm not going to say what business it is, I like my privacy.
That said, let's get on with Chapter Four.
Chapter 4
Almost two months had passed since Naruto and Natsumi ventured into the icy lands of Siberia, and since then... the truth was that life, in appearance, had remained in a peaceful monotony. It is true that Naruto inevitably had to return to the Gremory territory. His superiors (and patient) brothers had only granted him two months to provide training to his beloved queen, a period that, in his eyes, seemed insultingly short to mold a diamond in the rough like Natsumi was.
But beyond that brief interruption in his particular Siberian exile, hardly any notable events had taken place. Well... perhaps there was one exception: the exponential growth of the jealousy that Rias Gremory felt towards the newly recruited Delta, who, to be honest, did everything possible to win Naruto's admiration.
And Naruto couldn't blame Rias for her flourishing feelings of envy. Delta, in a training combat of an almost obscene brutality (combat that Zeoticus had prepared for the two incipient peerages of his younger children), had resoundingly humiliated poor Koneko. The confrontation, in reality, had greatly disturbed Naruto himself. Delta's brutal exhibition caused him a feeling of sadness. It could not be denied that, for her, this training was a survival fight for her hierarchy in the family. The unequal encounter had been a terrible idea from the beginning. Koneko, despite her strength, was an innocent girl, and Delta, on the other hand, not only belonged to the Therianthrope race, but was, in addition, a damn wolf. The combination, from any point of view, was savage and aggressive, too much for any rival.
Of course, there was also the matter of the queens, a confrontation that, in terms of equality, turned out to be even more unequal and desolate than the brutal display of strength between Delta and Koneko. And it is that Natsumi, despite the intensive training, had not managed to master the concept of cold in its entirety. She had reached a superficial mastery of its most basic aspects, but not enough to be considered truly competent in Naruto's eyes.
In contrast, her mastery of heat had flourished with surprising intensity. Add to that innate skill her instinctive mastery of fire (a natural ability for a kitsune, and a four-tailed one, to boot), and the result was overwhelming. Let's just say that Rias Gremory burst into a pathetic tantrum upon seeing Natsumi triumph over her queen. Rias argued that Akeno should have prevailed against a novice. A petty reasoning that ignored two crucial facts: first, Natsumi had received two months of training in extreme conditions and under the tutelage of a madman like Naruto, who threw her without mercy into the icy hell of Siberia. And second, the incompetent Akeno had only resorted to throwing lightning randomly, a strategy that, by definition, lacked strategy.
Okita, to the delight of his sense of humor, found the situation incredibly humorous, a reaction that earned him a stern reprimand from Sirzechs. Naruto, in his usual honesty, would later recognize that his older brother was undeniably partial in favor of his sister, a favoritism that, in reality, was public knowledge in the darkest corners of the underworld.
But beyond these family disputes and Rias's subsequent tantrum, the truth is that absolutely nothing of relevance had happened. A monotony that allowed Naruto to resume his desired research topics, now that Natsumi had once again submerged herself in the lessons that Grayfia imparted to her with a firm hand.
A strange intuition whispered inside Naruto that those lessons would be about moderation and situational awareness. Ironies of fate, knowledge that he himself could hardly transmit to his queen, since, surely, he was not the most moderate being in the world. In fact, his tendency to take things to the extreme was a characteristic trait that defined him.
As for Delta...
"Boss, what are you going to train me in?" the young Therianthrope inquired, bursting into Naruto's office and posing in front of his desk with an expression of vivid anticipation. Her vibrant violet eyes scrutinized her young master with an almost childish intensity.
The Therianthrope's logic was simple, but forceful. If Natsumi was receiving direct instruction from her boss, wasn't it logical that she, in her role as a newcomer, also deserved a personalized training program? A logic undeniable in its simplicity.
"I'm not even sure what the hell you're capable of doing... What's more, I wouldn't even dare to estimate how much magic you possess," Naruto replied dryly, without taking his eyes off his notes, plagued with information about the various magical metals he had been obsessively studying for the past two years. A fruitless search until now for the elusive Galium.
"Delta is strong!" the Therianthrope chirped with overflowing joy, slightly flexing her muscles in a demonstration that completely lacked subtlety.
"I have no doubt about that," Naruto commented, his tone again imbued with dryness. The image of poor Koneko being tossed around like a rag doll by the raging Therianthrope persisted with a disturbing clarity in his memory. An image that, certainly, he would not forget in the near future.
Now, knowing with absolute certainty that Delta had no intention of giving him respite in the near future (a lesson that Naruto had learned the hard way during the second month of Natsumi's training, where the young Therianthrope had adhered to them like a leech, even despite her recent healing from possession), Naruto was forced to interrupt his arduous work and allow Delta to settle on his lap, while he sank into deep reflection.
His thoughts, at that moment, revolved around two issues of utmost importance, although of markedly disparate nature.
...if it was a short chapter. The first of these, a somewhat ridiculous social matter, consisted of the imperative need to select girls who did not possess animal traits for the remaining positions in his peerage. If he didn't want to carry the stigma of "furry" once he reached adulthood (a label that, to his surprise, genuinely worried him), he had to be extremely careful in his choice.
The second issue, of a much greater magnitude and with much more transcendent implications, revolved around Delta's potential. To be completely honest, he reincarnated her because possession was almost always an unequivocal sign of a powerful piece. Even the detestable Raizer had obtained one of the most powerful queens of his generation, Yubelluna, precisely because she had been the victim of possession. And honestly, Naruto felt a deep curiosity to explore Delta's true capabilities.
However, if there was something that Naruto valued even above discovering new and fascinating things, it was his own integrity. And therefore, he was very clear that he was not going to verify Delta's capabilities by subjecting her to combat.
After a prolonged period of reflection (during which he allowed himself the luxury of stroking Delta's hair with a nonchalance bordering on treating her as a pet), Naruto finally came to a conclusion. It was time to embark on a journey. Well, rather, a visit to Ajuka Beelzebub's laboratory.
A few hours later, in Sirzechs's majestic office, the silence was interrupted by the Maou's curiosity.
"So... you wish to visit Ajuka?" Sirzechs asked, his gaze fixed on his younger brother. The request itself was not strange, but the image that accompanied the request was, to say the least, peculiar. Naruto, with an unusual tranquility, carried his new rook on his shoulders, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. A detail that acquired an unsettling nuance, especially if one considered the convalescent state of poor Koneko, still bedridden recovering from the unequal beating she received. Sirzechs couldn't help but feel a pang of concern at the possibility that Delta, as Naruto had insisted on calling the young woman, possessed enough strength in her thighs to rip off his younger brother's head.
"It's either that, or venture to test Delta's real capabilities on my own," Naruto replied, his voice maintaining a studied calm.
Sirzechs felt a chill run down his spine at the mere suggestion. If his younger brother, famous in the castle for taking things to unsuspected extremes, preferred to refrain from testing Delta's capabilities, then it was an unequivocal sign that the potential consequences were of a fearsome caliber.
"Do you feel capable of going alone?" Sirzechs asked cautiously. He was not willing to allow Okita to escort his younger brother anywhere again for the next few months. In his eyes, that was the appropriate punishment for daring to mock his beloved little sister. Besides, Ajuka did not reside far away, and his friend, for some strange reason, appreciated his younger brother much more than Rias, a fact that lacked all logic for him.
"I know the way perfectly. And we both know that I asked permission out of mere courtesy," Naruto replied dryly, his tone cutting. Sirzechs was aware that the statement was true. For some reason, Naruto was able to enter and leave the mansion without being detected, even when his absences lasted for days. The permission was a mere formality, a show of courtesy, especially considering that Naruto was about to visit a Maou, a visit that, by protocol, required prior notice. Especially if it was Ajuka, who used to experiment with highly dangerous elements in his laboratory, seeking constant improvements for the Evil Pieces system.
Therefore, and not perceiving a real obstacle in Naruto's request to visit his friend, Sirzechs agreed without further inconvenience. He knew well that, if anyone was capable of studying the capabilities of a tower as powerful as Delta in a safe and controlled manner, that someone was, without a doubt, his best friend, the brilliant Ajuka Beelzebub.
Having received permission to begin his journey, Naruto simply nodded, a sign of contained and elegant approval. He then prepared to leave his older brother's office, heading towards the laboratory of one of the few demons whom he professed genuine respect for in the entire underworld.
End of Chapter.
Author's Note:
This chapter, dear readers, represents a small interlude, a respite between the whirlwind of events of Chapter 3 and the storm of emotions and revelations that Chapter 4 has in store for us. This last one will delve into the depths of the demon world, exploring in greater detail the complex relationship that Naruto maintains with one of the few demons who, in his own words, has earned his respect. And for those who are wondering if that lucky one is Sirzechs, I regret to disappoint you. Naruto's contempt for that character is far surpassed by his aversion to Falbium, whom Naruto himself, with his peculiar eloquence, describes as "a damn lazy goat."