Page Eleven

Kyoto Mountain Shrine

Under the full moon, Naruto sat hidden among the foliage in the garden looking up at the twinkling stars and was just pondering things. He could sense one of the hunters nearby sticking close but at a respectful distance, no doubt sensing that he needed some alone time.

Though, Naruto wasn't thinking about that but rather about his own feelings in recent history, ever since coming to this world the others refer to as Earth. It is far different from what he is used too, more advance than anything he saw in Spring, towers that dwarf even the towers of Rain, and yet the wars here are no where near as scarring as back home.

Is it because they are more advanced? More civilised? Nah. Even shinobi drew the line when slaves are concerned. A pause as his face darkened, recalling that was dependent on the level of said shinobi. Those of the big five wouldn't, the minor seven might, and those not considered of note would.

Hidden Frost was once one such village. Key word being 'was' as it no longer exists.

No, but those Devil's… correction, New Faction Devils, are enslaving others to bring them into their ranks. Though, according to Rias, a member of said faction, it is only to boost their numbers and her peerage backed her up in that.

The look Katerea gave them suggested that certain information was being omitted. He will have to ask her for a fuller, albeit slightly bias, picture at some point. Sighing, Naruto realised he had been falling back into his old ways of helping others without reward again.

Just like back home, even on the run, he smashed any slave rings he came across. Bandit raids he stumbled upon were broken up and camps blown apart, missing ninja cut down for the safety of others. Made the sage realise that the peace he had fought so hard for only existed in the five great nations.

What a farce that was.

Naruto's thoughts were broken up by the arrival of that cat, Kuroka her name was, and her approach that he watched, feigning obliviousness until she reached him. He spoke up when she got within whisper range. "Can I help you, Kuroka-san?"

If Kuroka was surprised at being detected, she didn't show it as she transformed into her human form and sat with the sage silently for a moment. Matching his gaze, she too looked up at the stars above that twinkle brightly and oblivious to their earthly issues. For a moment, even her twin tails fall still as she asks. "Who betrayed you?"

If Naruto was surprised, he did not show with practiced ease. Instead he maintained his stiff posture for a moment, before asking himself. "Why does it matter? Nothing you can do about it. Nothing either of us can."

Kuroka's hazel-golden cat eyes glistened as they turned to the form of the sage and studied his form. At first, she would admit that, he was only a means to an end and when she had heard he had hurt her sister she wanted to tear him apart.

But, in this short time she had been in his presence and fought alongside him, she realised that this sage is far more than someone who struck out against her sister and master. Not a berserker to be tamed, that the devils had tried, nor a force of nature that the sages had been made out to be.

From what she had heard, he was some sort of Long-Lost True Hero-King who turned to the path of the Sage. A man who took out the Red Dragon Emperor when he failed to answer him correctly and had passed judgement against the devil's.

No, Kuroka knew this Sage – no, this man was none of those things but rather a broken hero trying to find something. Something he isn't sure exists but is searching for regardless. Helping those around him or condemning those who cross him.

She could respect that. Thus asks, despite the circumstances. "It may do some good to get it off your chest, nya."

Naruto finally glanced to her, brow slightly raised at the unusual speech quirk and questioned. "Nya?"

Kuroka pouted with her whole being, snipping back. "Don't question it nya."

Naruto rolled his eyes before looking back up at the stars again before commenting. "Fine – but you came here to ask me for something right? The reason you searched me out isn't to ask how I am doing, right?"

Kuroka masked the physical flinch but Naruto is a shinobi with empathic abilities. He caught it still and thus stated. "Don't be so surprised. You aren't the first, nor the last so just ask me already. It annoys me when people beat around the bush."

Sighing, Kuroka sat formally at his side before bowing, head pressing against the grass as she asks. "Please – if you could…"

Naruto glanced over at the sight but listened as she pleaded. "Please take out my evil pieces. I had heard that you took out your own. It was the talk of the underworld. So, yes, I searched you out to ask if you could do it for me or teach me how to. Please. I will do anything to be rid of this curse of mine. So please…"

The sage didn't hesitate in his response, though did make a mental note of this against the new faction devil's. "Fine…"

Kuroka snapped up to look at him, disbelieving it was that simple, and asks. "Are… are you…?"

Naruto shrugged, cutting her off. "Compared to most, that is an understanding request. Though, from what you have said, it seems these evil pieces aren't typically removable, right?"

She nodded rapidly, Kuroka supplying. "You were the first recorded and confirmed removal in its centuries of use."

Naruto's eyes seemed to harden at that, glowing faintly with wisps of chakra flowing from the blue slightly morphed eyes as he muttered. "Is that right…?"

Again, the nekoshou nodded rapidly and was slightly scared of the sage right now with the amount of power she could sense bubbling beneath the surface.

Letting out a slight growl, Naruto takes a deep breath to calm himself and calm his anger at the enslavement of countless over the years. That will be addressed and sorted out. Right now, he mentally prods both Shukaku and Matatabi. Both respond in kind, telling him that they were now paying attention.

Looking back at Kuroka, Naruto nods and says. "From what I understand, these pieces are in your chest next to your core, right?"

She nodded and immediately, without being told, slipped off her signature black kimono and held it just above her healthy sized chest for modesty's sake. Idly though, Kuroka was surprised at the Sage's high-level of self-control at not even stumbling or flustering at the sight of her flawless creamy skin or large chest.

Most dream of glimpsing this much of her assets, others drool at the thought, and a few other may have had unfortunate accidents due to them. She was proud of her body, her two girls especially, yet the sage did not even hesitate at the sight. Maybe he swings the other way.

Within Naruto's head though things were chaotic. Everyone had been awoken by the sudden rush of anger earlier, and the actions of Shukaku, Matatabi and Saiken. The six tails had slammed her younger brother's head into the dirt after the Tanuki made another inappropriate comment about the kitten's knockers.

Matatabi was giggling up a storm, until she detected her fellows feline's attraction to her favrouite human and was now groaning loudly in defence of her territory.

Saiken, having put her idiot brother in his place, was now monitoring and adjusting Naruto's own pheromone and chemical reactions to keep his head in the game directly. She would not allow a single hussy, she has not approved of, to sway her host's opinion with their sweet words or contemporarily attractive bodies. He is too good for that.

Chomei, Gyūki, Ddraig and Kurama were discussing the procedure with Naruto overhearing their idea's and suggestions but was completely focused on the task.

Externally though, Naruto's focused stare at the pale chest, completely disregarding her voluptuous figure and large breasts. No, he was focused on what his senses were suggesting within her core. With his right hand lifting up, more than a few eyes were on him, having sensed the power build up and came to investigate.

After a deep breath, Naruto nodded to himself and his hand engulfed in the familiar golden aura, notably subdued but still just as potent that spread up to his elbow, just in case. Another breath, then he looked up into the cat like eyes of his patient and whispered. "You will need to stay calm and focus on your breathing. Do you understand?"

Kuroka's heart was beating rapidly, nervousness, fear, and anxiety were running rampant which was completely understandable. She thinks that the calming power coming off the sage was the only reason she wasn't fidgeting right now but she heard his words and began to meditate. He asked her to stay calm and focus on breathing.

Her dream of being free of her taint is at hand, and she will not allow herself to fail at this final hurdle. Calming, deep breaths. After a solid half a minute, Kuroka whispered. "I am ready."

Naruto, along with his tenants, could sense the faint traces of nature energy now flowing through this woman's body and adjusted accordingly. The golden aura took on a more blue highlight, and whiffs of flames seem to flicker across the raised arm. His eyes too became more feline like, olive green and a pale yellow staring the hazel-golden.

For a moment, nothing moved until the sage's hands slowly and steadily moved forward towards her chest. Upon contact of his fingers, Kuroka's eyes widened along with Naruto's as both saw the other's lives. The sage powered on, shunting the memories aside for later consideration, as his hand entered the nekoshou's core and began to detach the two pieces.

Kuroka though was lost in the torrent of emotions. Memories of a man facing down his oldest friend, turned enemy, battling against friend and foe alike. Betrayal upon betrayal. No place to call home. Friends killed or turned foe. Forced submission.

The final promise of a lifetime and those final shared words. "Do not turn back, Naruto. Please. Promise me here and now that you will not surrender. That you will stand prideful and never give up. Make me a promise of a life…"

The face of a blonde haired woman came up but the amethyst diamond was the last thing she noticed before she was cut off by an unknown force but the raw emotions ran rampant in the nekoshou's head and heart. Unbeknownst to Kuroka, but tears were running down her cheeks as she stared at the hero before her blankly. Yet before she could say anything, the sage had pulled back causing her to blink again.

Slowly, she looked down and saw two bishop pieces in hand of the sage's grip. The Youkai hadn't even noticed the feeling of their removal, she was too busy with what she was seeing.

Kuroka's gaze was broken from them however when his hand closed upon them, Naruto's voice soft but low, breathless and catching her attention. "As payment for this, I need you to keep what you saw to yourself, Kuroka."

Eventually, she tried to speak but instead he covered her lips with a single finger and shook his head. "That should not be spoken aloud. It will remain our silent secret."

Silently she nodded, and he nodded back before pulling back his finger but Kuroka abruptly hugged him. Caught off guard, Naruto stumbled back on his ass allowing the feline to straddle him but as he collected himself, he heard her own breathless whisper. "You are strong, Naruto. I promise I won't betray you."

This created a sense of panic to flood Naruto's mind, almost shutting him down until he heard the hiss of a certain Honō no Kaibyō which brought him back and he hissed back, eyes blazing in rage. "What did I just say…?"

Kuroka just tightened her hold on him, seemingly unfazed by the cat like behavior as she continued. "That was the first and last time, nya. But, I am making my claim too little flame. You can hear me right, nya?"

Within Naruto's head both Isobu and Shukaku backed up from the blazing flame incarnate that was hissing up a storm at the cheek of this kittens taunt. Matatabi hissed lowly, flames burning up the grass. "Oh, this wench… wait until I get her alone."

Even Kurama and Ddraig were impressed with the amount of malice contained in that threat. Kurama had no idea she had it in her, she was one of his calmer siblings, and far more tolerant of mankind than him.

Ddraig though, he has seen this type of temper before between his kin. When female dragons were on the prowl and two crossed each others paths. Why else do you think Great Red retreated to the gap?

Kuroka noticed the chakra flare in Naruto's body in response, knew she had hit her fellow feline's buttons and couldn't keep the smirk from her face so just kept hugging the sage tightly as her tails swayed victoriously.

She was pleasantly surprised when she felt Naruto's arms wrap around her and his own whisper back. "I… I will overlook that on one condition."

His breath on her exposed neck sent shuddering shivers down her spine, it was pleasure inducing however she hummed and he continued. "Explain things to your sister."

That caused Kuroka to freeze stiff, eyes widened in shock. Naruto feeling her tense up let out a soft chuckle and answered the unasked question. "What…? You thought that I wouldn't see your memories as you did with me, huh, nya?"

She shot back, gripping his shoulders with a dark glare that lacked any heat, or threat, but he just smirked like a cat and she growled lowly. "You're mocking me, huh, nya?"

Naruto offered a shrug that lacked commitment, but pulled her back on subject. "What will it be, Kuroka? The truth or will we be having a very long, and no doubt heated discussion."

When he emphasised heated, his eyes glowed brightly with green and yellow eyes that told Kuroka who 'we' were exactly. She had no desire to talk with that particular cat right now as she was no doubt furious. She would be if someone moved in on her turf so brazenly and then gloated about it.

Sighing, the brunette cat nodded and grumbled. "It is not that simple, Narian. She hates me. Brainwashed by those damn…"

Naruto, although initially surprised by the name she chose to address him with, cut in here. "The slavers?"

Kuroka's ears perked up at that, and nodded before saying. "Yeah, the slavering scum corrupted her mind. Though that was after…"

Naruto cut in here again, recalling the memories he had gotten from her. "They planned on executing her for crimes she was innocent of. I recall."

Kuroka's tails fell flat in shame at that, her face grimacing but Naruto just pulled himself up to a sitting position with the woman now on his lap and staring into his eyes as he spoke. "Take things one step at a time. The truth hurts…"

Naruto sighs after that, before adding. "More than anything. But, it also helps us to move on and heal. We have to keep moving forward or we'll lose our way."

Kuroka's features all drooped and she exhaled hard, slowly she nods before meeting his gaze again and asks softly. "Will… well…"

Naruto let out another sigh, ignoring the muttering of the other troublesome cat in his life, and replied. "Fine. I will help you with confronting her but have to keep your word."

Kuroka's whole form seemed to brighten up and she hugged him tightly, squishing her larger than Matatabi's chest against his chest armour and purred loudly. Naruto sighed again, hearing Isobu and Son Goku struggling to hold down their youngest sister, that was surprisingly well versed in curse words.

Eventually the sage called out. "Come on, Kuroka. Time to sleep. I am tired."

She pouted and whined. "Oh, but can't we just sleep here or…"

Naruto cut her off swiftly. "No. I was offered a good bed and I will have to get used to it. We have a full week here so relax. Go get a bath and a good book to unwind with and we can start your senjutsu training tomorrow."

That caught the attention of the Youkai listening in, and Kuroka perked up and asked. "Wait, for real?"

Naruto shrugged, replying casually. "Well, your current level is great, mines still higher than yours. Plus, I can teach you a new fighting style that compliments your particular skill set whilst I am at it."

Beaming, bouncing and grinding at him, Kuroka smirked sultrily commenting. "Oh, Narian. I didn't know we were talking dirty. My – my, I will most definitely not skimp out in rewarding you."

Naruto sighed, hard enough to spread around the not so secretly listening group that earned a sweat drop from the equally aware Kuroka who muttered. "Really…?"

Naruto just nodded, before getting up and forcing his passenger to stand beside him. This is when the sage realised how she was only about five-foot-three, but dared not even think about it as he headed back towards the main shrine at a deliberately slow pace.

The secretively listening had to make it back first after all, and beating them back would be rude. The cat girl fell into step with him and asked below a whisper. "Are you…?"

Naruto nodded, replying casually with his infamous shrug of non-commitment. "Nothing of importance was overheard. Though, you may be grilled at breakfast tomorrow as no one wants to annoy me so you are the likely choice."

Kuroka shuddered at the prospect of the eyes but grinned, replying. "They can try, nya."

Naruto did not smile, but when they parted ways, he caught the fading glow of one of Shukaku's curse seals that was perfectly masked into her chakra signal. Expereince is a bitter teacher, betrayal ever hanging in the back his mind at all times and he was not feeling about taking that risk.

Naruto's Room

Reaching his room alone, Naruto shut the door and proceeded to scan the room with his standard sweeps as normal. It was a moderately spacious room but not overly so. Natural woods made up the entire room, a double bed this time instead of that massive one in the last place. Red covers, white sheets, and four regular posts. None of that noble stuff.

No wardrobe though, two low chests of drawers with one beneath the window and another at the end of the bed. Their were two doors on either side of the room. Approaching the one on the right, pulling it shows a basic shower and toilet.

Testing the soaps like last time. Saiken reported crisply. "All clear."

Naruto nodded, as he returned to the main room and headed to the opposite side and pulled it open to reveal a walk-in wardrobe. Well, half wardrobe and half armoury by the looks of it. The room was half the size of the main room but on one side were cloth racks and storages.

The other side seemed to contain numerous weapon mountings, armour manakin's and maintenance tools in the corner. But what drew the sage's eyes was a familiar looking weapon among the empty sword racks. Kind of hard to miss it as it was the only weapon present.

It was a kodachi, around fifty centimetres long based on the rather simple saya that looked like it was made from willow and treated with a clear lacquer. Attached to it was a letter.

Naruto ignored them both as he left the room, commenting. "At least the wardrobe isn't on wheels here."

Earning chuckles from those within but Shukaku speaks up. "I am ready when you are ready."

Naruto nodded as he channeled his tanuki friend's power and slammed it against the floor. It didn't take long for the room to be fully sealed off in all measurable ways.

Ten puffs of smoke later and eleven people sat around the room all with serious expressions on their faces. Naruto continued to disrobe his cloak and armour with Kurama, sitting on one of the two lounge chairs present, taking the lead on this discussion. "How long before she takes notice, Ddraig?"

The human form dragon was by the window, looking out at the forest that barely blocks the view of the skyscrapers, and sighs before looking back, Ddraig commenting. "Who knows? This group of hers seems like trouble and no doubt has their eyes on us. That I can tell."

Chomei, leaning against the wall by the main door, pushes up his rimless glasses, his compound orange eyes narrowed on the dragon as he comments. "That is obviously the case. This dragon god is what we need information on."

Ddraig shrugged, leaning against the window carefully, replying. "Even for me, it's a monster. Earned the name infinity dragon god for a reason. Normally, it doesn't care for whatever happened in this realm and stayed within the void known as this dimensional gap."

Chomei, Gyūki and Kurama nod to that, the latter speaking up. "All to reclaim the silence is what she said to that kitten. How big is that void exactly?"

Ddraig shrugged, replying. "How big is infinitely?"

Gyūki chuckled, offering. "Good point."

Chomei clicked his tongue, muttering. "Diplomacy will not work with one so stubborn."

Kokuo thought his thoughts aloud. "It sounds like I could get a good run there."

Son Goku rolled his eyes, as did most the lower tailed present. Kurama looks to the dragon again, his abnormally proportional ears twitching, as he gets comfortable in this human form and chair. "We'll likely come to blows with any of your kin that side with her. Can you fight them?"

Ddraig snorted, waving him off. "Oh please. I am called Emperor for a reason. Only the dragon gods are above me. Anyone of my kin stupid enough to stand against me deserves the ass kicking."

Kurama chuckled at that, as Gyūki and Chomei smirked or nodded respectively. Ddraig paused for a moment before looking to Naruto, who just entered from having his shower, and asked. "Perhaps you could let me have a bit of a long leash tomorrow?"

Naruto, who had just finished shaking out his wet hair, looked to him with a raised brow and so the human form dragon elaborated. "There is a subspecies of dragons I think will ally with us if we reach out. They aren't too far from here and I figured I could go hit them up."

Naruto pointed to Gyūki, stating. "Run it by Gyūki. I trust his judgement in that."

The bulk of a man nodded to Naruto, before meeting Ddraig's gaze and asking. "So, who are they?"

Ddraig reported promptly. "Think of them as Sea Dragons. They can't fly or anything but are just as fast beneath the waves and can come on land just have no real incentive to do so. Other dragons shun them for not being able to fly so, figured we could ask them to aid us."

Gyūki thought on that for a bit before looking to the child like form of Isobu and asked. "Thoughts, Isobu?"

Isobu's form somehow managed to pull of the innocent ten-year-old boy, and fifty-year-old war veteran look at the same time with the only difference being the position of his eyebrows. Though, his shaggy dark grey hair covered one of his eyes as he spoke. "Sounds like fun. Should I go too?"

Ddraig shook his head, explaining. "Let me handle it for first, and probably second contact. On third we'll bring you in and go from there. Sound fair?"

Chomei didn't realise his brow was raised when he pointed out. "You've put some thought into this."

Ddraig looked offended, but it lacked any depth, and nodded. "Of course. I have a long list of things to make-up for whilst we fix the world. This is one of them."

Kurama chuckle carried, asking. "You were one of those looking down on them, huh?"

Ddraig grimaced as he nodded, replying. "I was arrogant. It is time for me to make amends."

Naruto offered back. "Sure, one step at a time right?"

Ddraig looks over to his host, who smiles back Naruto continuing. "Good luck with negotiations…"

The dragon nodded, as Naruto yawned Matatabi noticed this and headed over while Kurama commented. "So, that snake we took from the kitten. We'll keep it locked away for now. See if we can come up with a counter for it."

Naruto nodded, stating. "Yeah. Shukaku, time to work off the rust and get working on our sealing ability again."

The tubby looking eight year old, nodded, rubbing his hands together with a grin, Shukaku stating. "Ahh… space-time seals. How spicy."

Naruto yawned again, but pointed out. "More space than time. Keep that in mind."

Shukaku nodded firmly, already thinking of sealing formula for the task at hand. Matatabi however had begun massaging Naruto's back earning a soft sigh of relief and his tension fell of heavily, almost falling straight to sleep.

Seeing this, Kurama orders the others. "Alright guys. Either the seal or animal forms. Chop-chop."

All of them puffed away leaving Kurama and Matatabi out allowing the fox to speak to his younger sister, Kurama asks. "Mata… you like him, right? More than a simple container."

After tucking the sleeping Naruto in, Matatabi sighed as she figured her oldest brother most likely would see through her so offered. "I think so, not entirely sure."

Kurama nodded, understanding that much as these human forms are a blessing and a curse as it gives them a new perspective. A human perspective. Stretching out his limbs and getting clicks, he finally responding. "Think on it – I think in about six months he will be ready to attempt the full power creation of all things and give us full on bodies free of the seal."

Matatabi nodded slowly sighing again, before meeting his gaze and whispered. "One good thing of this world, huh?"

Kurama nodded, with a grin, so she continued. "We can hide here in plain sight. Among these Youkai."

Again, the fox nodded before offering. "You are right, there is that but things are moving on all levels, Matatabi. That cat girl seeing as much as she did was a surprise but if she betrays us…"

Matatabi's eyes seemed to glow in fury, her feline territorial nature kicking in full force as she hissed. "That hussy better keep her paws off him."

Kurama chuckled all the way to the seal, leaving the protection detail to his little sister who had slipped into the bed beside their host and Matatabi placed her head on his chest.

She semi-fell asleep and rested while keeping an eye out for any signs of trouble or danger to her family but more importantly. Her host is hers and no hussy kitten's.

Underworld

A knock on the door before Sirzechs enters the office of his friend and fellow Satan, Serafall. Looking up at him, the former Sitri smiled softly and asked. "What brings you here, Sirz-tan?"

Dropping into the sofa on the side, the leader of the new faction lets out a heavy sigh and mumbled something. Serafall tilted her head, peaking around the stacks of evil paperwork and asks. "What was that?"

Sirzechs grumbles before speaking up. "Menma Mealstrom. Whatever he did to me is still affecting me and I can't settle down because of it."

Serafall recalls that last battle and nodded, realising that she still did not ask what it was that the rogue Rook had done. She asks. "What are the symptoms?"

Sirzechs waved her off, not wanting to get into it. "Don't worry about it. We just have to make nice with him during the Pact conference in a week."

Serafall let out a tired breath at that, looking over the stacks of request that claim most the real estate of her desk and whines. "We just announced it and it's already a headache. What made you so insistent about going?"

Sirzechs shrugged, claiming. "The old faction is siding with Sage. Not only that, they have an edge over us in terms of relations with a being capable of growing forests and life wherever he damn well pleased. Couldn't let that go unchallenged."

Signing off another contract, the leviathan seat holder could understand that much. One of the Underworlds biggest problems is the lack of bio diversity and a large percentage of the soil is unfit for cultivation. The sage clearly has the power to change that, and if the old faction is able to sway him then they will gain more legitimacy than them.

A complete and utter disaster for the new faction.

Idly, Serafall wonders if the sage truly knows what kind of evils the old faction has been apart of or its history. She pauses her penmanship at that. Is Katerea working alone or does she have Rizevim Lucifers backing?

Looking to her red headed friend, Serafall asks. "Say, is Katerea working for the old faction or the Leviathan house?"

Sirzechs looks over in confusion, so she elaborates. "Think about it. Since when does the proud devil's of the old faction work with others? That does this sound like something that Rizevim Livan Lucifer would approve? Working along side a human? Sage or not, Menma is still a human."

Sirzechs's eyes gleam in understanding, as he ponders that. It is very much something that Rizevim would detest the notion of. Working with a human probably could be excused if they were useful, but the pact includes the likes of pure and fallen angels. Again, dragons could be overlooked but not then Youkai. They were beneath him.

Nodding along with his thoughts, he eventually responds. "You know – now that you mention it."

Serafall nodded though added. "Not to meantion, Menma seems to be an advocate of freedoms of all to the point he has condemned the Evil Piece System, labelling it along the lines of slavery. Surely, the crimes of the old faction would weigh heavier than that, no?"

Sirzechs nodded repeatedly at that, and a realisation had hit him then causing him to voice out. "He doesn't know of them, most likely…"

Serafall nodded with a smile, replying. "Nope! That we can now use against them to stop him from siding with them and see that we are the better option."

Sirzechs nodded as he leaped up, in far greater spirits than when he entered and asked his friend. "You are right, Sera-tan! I have an idea that will be in our favour."

Upon seeing her nod, he continued. "Contact Lady Yasaka and inform her that I will be sending Grayfia to…"

He paused for a moment, bouncing the idea around for a bit before swallowing hard and hoping this would not bite him in the back of his ass later. Sirzechs aqua-green eyes meet the purples of his friends as he finishes. "Request her that Grayfia and Millicus wish to spend time with Rias's peerage. I will handle the rest."

Serafall raised a brow in inquiry but not getting anything as he had turned to leave, she offered. "I'll send it first thing."

Halfway out the door, Sirzechs looks back with a forced goofy-smile and responds. "Thank you…"

Kyoto Mountain Shrine

Naruto awoke to a knock on the door and yet his grumbling was drowned out by a loud, familiar hiss that jerked him to full awakened mode. He was successful at grabbing Matatabi before she leaped at the door and was thankful the barrier was soundproof.

Struggling, Matatabi hissed out whilst glaring at the door. "Narian. Let me go! Don't stop me! I will."

As he had her in a sitting bear hug on his lap, Naruto's whisper surprised her. "Mata…"

The tone used broke through her morning rage, it was cold and tired with a hint of steel that brokered little argument. Eventually, now clear minded, Matatabi whispered back. "Naru-kun…?"

Naruto let out a tight breath, this was way too early for this shit and so he whispered again. "Get back in the seal and calm down or…"

He left it hanging to let her ponder for a moment and realise she was about to graduate from the irresponsible teenager category. Her mix-matched eyes widened in horror at being stuck there and looked back up to her favrouite human, turning the adorable factor to maximum as she asks. "Oh, forgive me. I don't suppose you will…?"

Naruto adds dryly. "Overlook this…? Depends on your behavior today. Now, to the seal and keep an eye out for me please."

With a simple nod, Matatabi was back within the seal silently and was smirking viciously as she had spent most the night marking her host with her scent. That hussy will know her place.

Moving to the beds edge, Naruto muttered internally. "You know I can feel that smirk from out here, right?"

The feline just poked her nose up, not caring either way.

Sighing again, something he's been doing a lot recently, Naruto moves to the door and partially lifts the barrier. Moments later he pulls the door apart and is greeted by a furiously blushing Yasaka. Too tired to care, Naruto asks. "Yasaka…? What is it, I was sleeping."

To the vixens credit, Naruto's chest was bare and he only had on loose trousers. His perfectly muscled chest was visible without any barrier's, no clothes let alone armour plates blocking her view. He had an honest to goodness eight pack.

Yasaka's eyes track back up to see his perfect proportioned pectoral muscles but she is snapped out of her daze by the only scar on his body, directly over his heart, jaggered and fraying out. It would have been a mortal wound yet here he was.

She was startled by a kicking finger in front of her, eyes snapping up to the amused smirk of the Sage who asks. "Are you done ogling my body?"

Flushing like a school girl she never was, Yasaka nodded and stated quickly. "Yes, breakfast is being served. I came to wake you."

Nodding, Naruto informed her. "Be there in a moment."

Before closing the door again, leaving the stunned vixen to dwell in her fantasies that her gently swaying tails told all that they were not to be spoken of aloud and the erotic nature of them. Though, a part of her dazed mind noticed that she could no longer sense within the room, just like before, and pondered whether she should ask him about it.

Then his scent fully registered and her eyes narrowed dangerously. A feline scent that she doesn't recognise was intermixed with his own rather kitsune-laced scent. That was another thing, she muses as she makes her way back to the ground floor. Why does the sage smell so heavily of kitsune?

Yasaka hadn't had a chance to dwell on it last time, far too busy with dealing with his arrival and trying to keep him in place. Now though, it is rather curious that he smells like kitsune so heavily despite being human himself. Another mystery around the sage. Hopefully, he hasn't done something unbecoming of his station.

She doubted that very much.

Back in the room, Naruto was arming up as always when Matatabi spoke to him softly. "Naru-kun…"

Naruto secures his Anbu-style trousers as he responds to the feline, asking. "What is it Mata?"

Swallowing softly, the two tailed cat asks. "Maybe – you should leave the armour here?"

Naruto froze at that moment and his panic set in, replying incredulously. "You are joking right? We have to be ready to…"

Matatabi cut him off. "Run? I thought we had covered this, Naru-kun?"

Naruto hesitated, looking at the armour laid out before him. Hidden Leaf Anbu armour given to him during his training to become hokage. Part of it required him to serve in the elite forces to understand their role in the Leaf's military. A military he was being trained to lead.

He had yet to been sworn in as an official member of the force but they had given him the equipment and mask as it was a foregone conclusion that he would join. He was to serve under his old protector, Kat, who was rather excited about the assignment.

He could tell despite the mask and monotone she spoke with when she was told.

Naruto sighed again, recalling their last interaction. A joint Anbu-Bolt-Hunter ambush in the Land of Tea. Kat was among the Anbu portion. He had hesitated to strike her. She didn't. Her blade sliced his, unironically given, fox mask in half where the nose was and the follow up clean through where his eyes were and the mask was cut through cleanly.

His retaliation was harsh but not life threatening, breaking at least three ribs in his punch and likely a bruised spine with the way she hit the tree. The last clone memory of her showed her holding the broken pieces of fox mask to her chest.

Naruto knew at that moment, that Kat had purposely aimed for only his mask and hated every moment of their fight. She still cared for him.

He would later find out from other Anbu he had battled and slain that captain Kat had resigned from Anbu after what he had 'supposedly' done to her with his Bijuu powers.

Holding the armour in hand, Naruto whispered to himself. "This… she gave this to me. It hasn't… it still protects me. She still protects me."

Matatabi nodded, knowing of whom he was referring, but adds. "You have to move forward, Naruto. She would want that too. It has done its job so far so, time to set it aside."

Tracing over the numerous repairs and scratch marks from the uncountable number of kunai and shuriken it has saved him from, Naruto reverently places down the chest piece and replied nervously. "Okay, Mata-chan. I… I will try."

Matatabi nodded pleased by this and the others also had soft smiles, letting their sister handle this and pretended to stay asleep.

Taking a heavy breath, Naruto grabbed the rest of his ninja gear, a single kunai pouch, tanto on the base of his back, Caliburn and, using his sage obe, secured to his hip. Looking into the mirror, he looked like a heavily armed civilian with his mesh undershirt only covered by his black short sleeved Uzumaki t-shirt, black Anbu trousers, and ninja sandals.

Matatabi spoke up, slightly concerned. "Umm… Naru-kun. We aren't going to war but breakfast."

Naruto nodded simply, replying. "I know. I don't see the issue with this normal load out."

His tone and face were flat, hiding his unease at being so under armoured and lower weapon load-out due to it. Hearing her sigh caused him to frown and continue. "What…?"

Matatabi just gave him that look and it became a battle of wills, his deadpan was strong but her pout was the stuff of myths. It lasted longer than most expected.

Naruto was nervous. Matatabi had put a very firm flaming paw down and now he lacked both his sword but he had outright refused to leave behind his kunai pouch. Fully loaded with three pronged kunai. Despite the fact that Caliburn was resistant to being left behind, they managed to keep the sword within the room and safely sealed behind Shukaku's barrier.

Now, here he was strolling towards the food hall with his Hunter's escorting him, Jenny and Felix strolling a step behind him. Passing over the bridge out of the protected area of the shrine and now heading towards the hall.

Naruto was purposely playing ignorant of the fact that his escorts had been flushed cheeked since they met on the stairs down. Also the fact that all the priestesses he passed were equally as red cheeked. He felt uncomfortable being without his armour and in the open like this.

Being so lightly armed and armoured that he feels like he's vulnerable, unprotected and unable to defend himself. His weapons so far out of reach. A dangerous position for any rogue. Sure, in his case, he could probably handle anyone present with his bare hands, as he has done countless times in the past, but since coming into his own with swords and kunai, it hasn't really been the same without them.

Guess he can chalk that up to being an Uzumaki. Not that that fact means much here.

Mess Hall

Finally reaching the hall, the preistess at the door pulled it apart and bowed with her cheeks a flaming pink which went ignored. His entrance to the hall did not go unnoticed by anyone and all subtle chatter fell silent upon it. Naruto sighed out breathlessly. "Troublesome."

At the devil table, that held the Gremory Peerage and Lady Leviathan, it was Koneko who perked up and looked to the door, leading the others to the entrance of Menma. Rias, Akeno, Asia and Katerea all had decent blushes upon seeing this un armoured, relaxed form of the infamous sage.

He stood at six-foot, his spiky blonde hair, that was like captured sunshine in its radiance, framed his face and ran down to his shoulders rather messily, adding to his roguish air that seemed to cling to him. His dark blue eyes were cold and disinterested, but Rias and Akeno knew better. It was a front, a mask, and yet it fit so well.

His whisker marks donned his face only added a feral quality to his look. The light t-shirt he was wearing did well to hide his form but the toned muscles on his arms give much away. Though, they also took note of the only prominent feature of it being a red swirl. It was unfamiliar them but might mean something to him.

Similar reactions happened all over the hall. The only exceptions where Serial, Benemune, Gabriel and Yasaka, the latter due to seeing it earlier and having calm down whilst preparing herself mentally.

Naruto himself moved to the head table where Yasaka sat, joined by Kunou and Kuroka, the black all cat had a sultrily expression on and her tail's flowing suggestively at her back. That halted upon him sitting down, allowing the nekoshou to catch the smells surrounding him.

Kuroka's eyes narrowed on him, a little frown marking her visage as she could practically feel the smirk of the hidden feline of flames from within. She wasn't wrong with her assumption as within the seal, Matatabi had the cattiest smug smirk upon seeing that kitten's expression through Naruto's eyes.

As the food was served, everyone began to chow down and all was surprisingly calm despite the various factions present and their history with one another, Yasaka noted. Even Kunou was eating as a perfect the perfect lady, a princess even which was amusing to the older vixen.

Though, what brought a collective gasp and face faults is when Kuroka spoke causally. "Nya, Narian…"

Naruto responded. "Kuroka-san?"

Kuroka replied. "Who's smell is that on you right now, huh, nya?"

The sage shrugged casually, swallowing his rice before responding. "Who's to say…?"

The cat woman hummed, chewing on her fish and then after she swallowed, Kuroka asked. "Then, this training you offered?"

Naruto nodded, replying. "Cat-based. I'll show and instruct you on it."

Many reeled at that, none more than Yasaka, at the thought of the sage, or Narian, knowing of a fighting style meant for Neko races. Though Naruto continued distractedly as he was focused on his food, it was good. "A friend of mine taught it to me. I'm not as good as she was, but you may find it easier to use so…"

He shrugged at the end and Kuroka nodded but remained silent, allowing a thick tension to build in the growing silence.

It was broken by Yasaka, who muttered. "Narian? Is that your name?"

Naruto glances over at her, swallowing his mouthful before replying. "Umm… what?"

His look of confusion and bewilderment was Oscar worthy, Kuroka would hand it to him and would have praised it if it wouldn't clue the other in. She didn't know why he was hiding his name but he was so she'll follow his lead.

Yasaka asked promptly, seeing his confusion. "Kuroka-san just called you 'Narian' did she not? Why is that?"

Naruto shrugged, feigning innocence in his response. "Why are you asking me?"

The vixen was getting irritated by this runaround and thus looked to the no longer hybrid nekoshou for answers. Kuroka offered a familiar, Naruto-issued, shrug and replied. "He wouldn't tell me his, so I chose that one for him."

Naruto would admit that the black cat's lying was shinobi-grade smooth. Doubt even politicians could lie better. Though, he was hoping she kept this up and kept to their deal or it would be a waste of good life.

Sighs of disappointment filled the silent room, the mystery of the Sage's name remains unsolved still and none would admit it, but this was eating away on the nerves on more than a few of them.

Noticing this, Naruto smirked in amusement, sharing a look with the grinning Kuroka which told Yasaka she hadn't been lied to but it also was not the truth either. She knew something had happened between the sage and the stray, she saw their rendezvous last night.

It seems that Kuroka is ahead of her in regards to the Sage. Yasaka finds herself lagging behind and somewhat annoyed at the arrival of the thieving little cat. She, like everyone else, tuned back in when Kuroka asks. "Narian, do you know any Youjutsu?"

Naruto's response was quickly delivered. "Never heard of them."

All the Youkai raised brows at that, looking to the sage who looked back at his black haired companion, Naruto asking. "What?"

Kuroka broke out from her shock, responding slightly annoyed. "Nya, you're pulling my tails…"

Naruto glances at her blankly until she huffs and looks away. Though, Yasaka spoke next, recalling what she had sensed before he remade the forest. "Then, what do you call those strange hand signs when you repaired the forest?"

The sage looks to the Kyuubi, brow raised. She elaborated. "I was standing next to you and noticed the way your chakra flow had a structure to it."

Naruto shrugged, replying. "Who knows…"

Earning a room wide sigh though there was a giggle from Gabriel, far too innocent to get annoyed at not hearing of what made the strength of the sage.

Main Garden

As everyone was heading out into the garden, Yasaka brought Naruto aside and whispered lowly. "Lord Sage. I have to return to my home shrine and guide my councillors. Can I ask of you to protect my daughter during your time here?"

Naruto didn't need to think on it, Kurama would kill him if anything happened to the kit, and so nodded, replying. "Not a problem."

Yasaka smiled and brought him into a hug, ignoring his stiffening but was relieved when he embraced her back and it was firmer than last time. Internally, she was dancing a happy dance as his scent flooded her nose, the sound of his thumping heart filled her ears, and her senses filled with his warm fluffy yellow chakra that covered her within a warm coat.

After a full two minutes, Yasaka reluctantly pulled away, leaving the blanket of chakra, and stood tall and smiled as she spoke. "Thank you, Lord Sage."

Naruto nodded before moving off whilst she watched him leave, Kunou safely clinging to his hand with her own as she skips alongside him. For the leader of the new United Youkai faction, Yasaka was looking forward for all her people and now, she can see her own in the form that was currently walking through the flower beds.

Picturing herself along side her two fellow blondes.

As Yasaka departed Naruto passes through the flowers around the garden with the kit holding his hand, swinging and just being happy. It doesn't take him long to reach the smirking Kuroka, already sitting in beside a tree nearby, and awaiting her training session.

Glancing down, Naruto asks. "Okay, Kunou, I am going to ask you to play with that blonde haired lady over there…"

He gestured to Gabriel, who perked up at the announcement, but Kunou pouted, a dangerous weapon-grade attack that could destablise nations, as she whispered. "But… but… I wanted to play hide and seek again."

Naruto bent down, meeting the young girls eye level and explained. "Well, in that case, I can't say no now can I?"

Her eyes light up, until a tap on her opposite shoulder drew her attention to a second Naruto who smirked. "Let's leave the dummy and play hide and seek with that lady?"

Kunou's head was moving between the two Narutos and was confused, bewildered, and genuinely stuck by indecision.

Naruto handed her hand over to his clone, who nodded and said. "I'll keep her safe."

The sage nodded, replying. "I know you will."

Before moving off towards Kuroka who watched the whole thing in amusment. Rias and her peerage watched it too and were slightly enamoured by that technique. Though, one Koneko Toujou was watching him like a hawk and noticed something shift as he approached her sister.

As he neared, Naruto called mentally. "Mata… may I?"

Nodding, Matatabi began flooding her chakra into his system and like before, his eyes shifted colours, his whiskers thinned, and hair gained a slowly fading in blue streaks.

Again the Gremory peerage all swallowed upon seeing this minor transformation, recalling the getting their ass handed to them by it, and now it was returning before them.

Kuroka suddenly lost her smirk, seeing the form taking shape before her and now knew she might have made a mistake by teasing hidden rival. Then again, seeing Naruto take up a form of her kin began to turn her on more than one might think. Meow, oh the naughty little cat she could become for such a cat.

What surprised the others though were the thick flame patterned, azure furred tails that came from the sages back as only the devils had seen this form before and it held its own charm.

Stopping opposite of his fellow feline, Naruto smirked a cat-like smirk as his claws slowly extend from his fingernails and says. "Myaah – are you ready, little kitten?"

Stretching out as he spoke, and Kuroka's eyebrow twitched at that whole sentence knowing full well that was a jab at her verbal tick. Though, she studied his form and those very dangerous looking claws. She takes a few steps clear of the tree and smirks dangerously. "Nya, for you? Always."

The tension built up around the garden, all the parties watching this confrontation with keen intreats at the edges of the large garden with even the priests and priestess's eyes were on the duo. None more keen than the remaining Gremory Rook.

Naruto lowered down, one hand out front, ass and tails up, both swaying dangerously and Kuroka knew this was about to get real, deploying her own much shorter claws then matching him.

Naruto vs Kuroka

Both felines fell into motionlessness, even their swaying tails had stopped as they stare at each other and the tension spiked. Nothing happened for nearly twenty seconds before a barely, to even devil standards, imperceptible twitch of Kuroka's left eyebrow became the signal to start.

And start they did with Naruto launching forward, as a blur, yet Kuroka leaped aside, dug her claw in and went for a side tackle. It didn't work as Naruto had pivoted with his foot, and successfully got into range of her with his slashing claw.

Despite her own feline instincts, Kuroka only barely managed to pull her face back enough for his claws to merely glance her cheek and not drawing blood despite their velocity crossing her skin. Using her twirling motion gained in the evasion, Kuroka swing back a low to high kick to his chest, and surprisingly, for her, Naruto seemed to have anticipated it and was already mid-kick back to escape her range.

Flipping in the air, Naruto smirks as he lands on all four and perched like a cat ready to strike. Because he was. Kuroka, head now in the game, let out a very dangerous hiss then groan as she near enough lowered to the ground with eyes a line and narrowed. Her tails puffed as he lowered down too, a low groan from her, and this is when the audience realised they have likely forgotten that they were there.

Again, the sage was the first to strike but the nekoshou moved with him, and when he went low, she went high. As she flipped over his head, a slash down his back looked certain but again, her opponent barely ducked further beneath the attack.

The second paw hit ground, Kuroka darted forward and slashed left, then right, then left again before executing a very tight, rapid, backflip double slash. Naruto ducked and weaved, feeling the wind of each strike and the sting of the close shaves, before leaping out away from that double slash.

Sliding to a stop, claws digging into the soft grassy ground, Naruto would rate her at high-chunin speed, agility and dexterity at around mid-Jonin but as he hasn't taken a hit, nothing on her strength and so he would likely have to measure that next. Pfft, yeah no.

Guess it's time to up this to Jonin speed and see how she handles it.

Darting forward at mid-Jonin speed instead of mid-chunin, Kuroka had little time and thus followed her instincts, leaping back once then immediately to the left. Naruto, again, showed excellent proficiency in high-speed combat, as he was quick to follow and his opening high-slash led into a middle to high.

Kuroka ducked the first strike, and went to counter, but found his knee rising and blocked it with both hands and was caught off guard by the power behind it as she was lifted up.

With speed that Kuroka could barely follow, Naruto slashed both her arms with a double slash but his high kick was blocked and forced the nekoshou to the edge of the garden when she crashed down.

Getting up, Kuroka inspected her wounds. They were purposely light and not really disabling based on their locations which means it was a show of speed and precision. He's showing off, how cute. Guess she has to call upon her fighting spirit. Abruptly, Kuroka was covered in a whitish aura and got down again low.

Naruto sensing this aura was sensing life force flowing thickly but not much else, but supposed this was a power up of some kind. Good. She was getting serious. Though, he idly noticed that their spectaculars had gasped and explained that this was called tōki, or fighting spirit. Overall power boost.

Good to know.

Erupting forward, Kuroka moved at break-neck speed, faster than most the devils present to keep track of but for Naruto, it was about mid-Jonin. Not bad in all honesty.

He ducked aside, watching as the black cat sailed past him and ducking beneath the tail whip from his blind spot. Sneaky. The second she touched down, Kuroka was back on the sage with rapid, calculated strikes and each one was avoided. She was growing frantic the longer this went on.

Naruto though, could see her form growing sloppy and wasn't in the business of trampling the innocent or hardworking, thus allowed himself to stumble.

Thankful for the opening, Kuroka launched a double slash at her opponent's chest and put her weight in on this. Though, it was far too late when she saw his smirk and her mind tried to come up with an escape from his trap.

As if in slow motion, Naruto controlled fall backward and Kuroka's lunge forward at him shifted slightly, and in her panic, unknowingly hooking one of Naruto's tails with both her own, Kuroka stunned the man on the way down.

The contact sent a minor, unexpected shudder up Naruto's spine as he hadn't thought that the dense chakra constructs could feel nor would send such a sensation through his body. This led to his mind, and body, going blank for a fraction of a second and allowed his opponent's attack to land true.

The ripping of the bottom half of his T-shirt seemed to echo over the garden as much as Kuroka landing on his Naruto's form, having overcommitted to her strike.

Unfindable Grove

A modest two story cottage within a hidden grove that cannot be found beyond those who inhabited it, or those of the same persuasion, the two adults who called it home look on in silent mourning as it had just been fully secured and emptied.

The ones who called it home, the seemingly young family were gathered out front, travel bags slug up, and the adults are two beings of nature and the elements. One human and the other Youkai but both of chakra and nature nonetheless.

They had met a century ago, traveled the worlds of the humans and underworld throughout and had kept a low profile. They had only settled down here two decades ago, hidden from all, and spent that first decade finishing their studies before their eldest came along.

Their three kids altered their prospective of time, clued them into regular time frames instead of years and months flashing by with little concern. They struggled at first but now were grateful to return to mortal timing.

For they have sensed the arrival of another of their kin. A sage. Far stronger than most and now that the signal has settled down in one place, they will venture out of their protected home and meet them.

All they could sense, from their mediations, was a young male with great mastery of the Winds and Water. Skill in Lightning, and Earth. But there was something about him that almost called to them. They had discussed it at length for the last three months and now they were heading to meet their fellow.

It was time for the Sage's to return to the world at large.

Unreachable Lake

In a land frozen for the last millennium, unreachable to those who are not one with the life of the land or blessed by the planet itself an entity awoke beneath one of the many ice planes that dot the permafrosted tundras.

It has been so long since she was born here, yet this signal was familiar to her and for some reason she knows that this man needs her help. An image of a crying blonde over a body. Her body. Laid beside her father. Snow coming down. Her unshed tears.

Stretching out within her cacoon of solid turquoise aqua, her blood flow increasing along with the anticipation of her heart, an appearing mirror, made of ice, reveals her new figure and frame but it is soon replaced by something far more familiar to herself and to him, beside the obvious snow-white hair. Idly, she wonders if he will remember her; recognise her?

It has been… how long has it been?

Memories of battling the familar teacher came back to her now. Was that a dream? Her father was there too, fighting at her side like always.

No matter. As the sage of stillness, it is time to rise and show the world that this planet still had teeth. But, also, she wants to protect him. If it is him. He still is, of course, a most precious person.

A flick of a wrist and the ice mirror now showed a town of some kind. Any journey starts with a single step. She takes hers here and now.

A/N: The not so Stray Cat has achieved part of her dream, released from the shakles of her past. The devils are plotting their next move. The origin of Naruto's anbu armour and what happened to the mask it was issued with. The silent, hidden war between cats. Training and the arrival of a new group draws closer.

2nd A/N: In a bit of a roll here and got Page 12 uploaded already. Starting on thirteen. It's a day early, but I hope you enjoy.

3rd A/N: Admittedly, I wanted to do a time skip forward a week but some new plot ideas, opportunities for ground work for future events, and ways to cover parts of the near three-year gap between the end of the Fourth war and now, came up. Took it.

o7