A/N: I "forgot" to finish the next episode of Lost Fox for today. As an apology, I am giving you this. Enjoy.

Page Thirteen

Underworld

Sirzechs enters Ajuka's laboratory in his estate, to find his friend running though reports on the various peerages and anything abnormalities within the system. The green haired Satan was planning on challenging the backlog of problems that have plagued the system and needed a solid starting point.

This would be on hold as soon as the red headed Satan spoke. "I have news you are not going to like."

Letting out a wary breath, Ajuka placed down the report in hand and leaned forward on his seat with hands flat. Internally, Sirzechs flinched at the sight of his friend's face as it was clear that Ajuka likely hasn't slept or stopped since they got back from the skirmish a few days ago. He spoke softly. "We got a report earlier from Rias-tan."

The lime-haired Satan just nodded, but nothing more as he stared at his friend who continued. "She has confirmed that Menma can, and has, remove evil pieces."

Ajuka nodded again, remaining silent which was a surprise to Sirzechs but then again, he's been awake for at minimum three days, likely more, and was probably somewhat aware of this possibility. Menma had done it to himself once, so it isn't much of a stretch that he could do others.

Sages are just that powerful after all. Forces of nature, all of them.

Finally, Ajuka spoke airily. "Who's pieces did he take out?"

Sirzechs responded promptly. "Kuroka the stray."

"Did she return to full nekoshou?"

Nodding, Sirzechs replied. "According to Akeno, cross checked by Koneko, yes."

"What happened to the pieces?"

The red head shook his head, replying. "Unsure at the moment."

Nodding, Ajuka continued whilst jotting stuff down. "What piece did she have, again?"

Sirzechs replied. "Two bishops. One normal, one mutated."

Looking up from his note taking, Ajuka raised a brow and for a moment thought on it for a moment. Again, he nodded and said. "I need them. If I can study them, I might be able to figure out how he did it and prevent it from happening again."

Pausing for a moment, he began to scratch something on another fresh paper before continuing. "Or even our own version of the process for any reason we may need to recover pieces from others."

Sirzechs thought on it and maybe it would be useful in someway, somehow in the future, maybe. Though, they'll need to keep this hushed on the down low and out of even private records. He'll need to get a message to Rias or Grayfia and ask either to find out what happened to the twin bishop pieces of the Naberius family and recover them, discreetly if possible.

Grayfia should be able to handle this task and so Sirzechs, knowing she was in Kyoto right now, sends a familiar to alert her to call him immediately when able. It did not even take five seconds for a white Gremory circle to appear on his hand and he opened up a voice call between them. "Grayfia. I have received word from Rias that the rogue Rook, Menma has recovered a pair of Naberius bishops from the rogue Bishop, Kuroka. After speaking with Ajuka, we have decided that these pieces are to be recovered."

His voice lowered as he finished. "If possible, as discreetly as possible. It would be ideal if you are not suspected of recovering them, however it is not mandatory. Their recovery is a priority, okay?"

There was no hesitation in the maids response, Grayfia reports. "I understand, Lord Lucifer. I will see to it."

Sirzechs nodded despite not being seen by her and he finishes. "Good luck and be careful."

The line fell silent after that and the Super Devil looks to his fellow Satan, who was reading and scribbling into another book, sweat dropping at how focused he was. Thus decided to leave, his parting words. "As soon as Grayfia returns, I will have her deliver the bishops to you directly, Ajuka."

A grunt was the only response from the researcher earning a chuckle from the leader of the new devil faction.

Kyoto Mountain Shrine

Just after breakfast was finished, Sariel approached him and asked. "Lord Sage, may I ask for a training session for my team?"

Naruto didn't see any reason to say no so shrugged his now infamous shrug, replying. "Sure, I don't mind. All of them or…?"

The angel of death nodded firmly, Sariel stated. "All of them, yes. My Xenovia, Jorden, and Irina especially seems interested in improving their skills."

Again, as she glance at her group of young exorcists who were awaiting patiently for his response and he nods looking over at them too. Naruto gave them look over and it was clear that they were all experienced but then what he had learned about their god, his death, and how they are currently holding up.

He was impressed by their willpower.

Gesturing to the garden, he called out to them all. "Let us take this to the garden."

They all follow after him, though Kuroka and Kunou were directly after him, the latter taking up her position and clung to his hand. Kiba and Issei quickly followed too, wanting to see what was going to be a master class in swordsmanship, most likely.

Reaching the garden again, Naruto finds that both Gabriel and Benumene were relaxing together and chatting like busy bodies at the far end, in the eternal sunshine of the temple. He idly suspects that a certain goddess ensures this fine weather at all times.

Stopping half way through, the open grass area, Naruto looks down to the kit in hand and asks. "Say, Kunou… can you practice your meditation with Kuroka-san beneath the Sakura trees over there for a bit?"

Donning the dreaded kit-eyed technique with textbook precision, Kunou, for added effect, sniffled as she looked up and asked. "But… you said… that you would teach me the wind stuff…"

Naruto knew full well he never said that yet the rumours of this moves ability to rewrite history seemed to be true somehow, despite this making no sense, thus he bobbed her nose and replied. "Only when you can meditate properly for ten minutes and I might show you something cool, okay?"

Adding a heavy sniff for good measure, Kunou asked. "You… you promise?"

Kurama roared at Naruto, declaring. "You dare make her cry!"

Wincing under the roar of his uncle-figure, Naruto replied swiftly. "I promise."

Immediately she beams up, and rushes off to start her meditation earning a snicker from the nekoshou, Kuroka commenting. "You are such a pushover."

Naruto gave the cat girl a razor sharp side-eye, that shut her up and quickly departing herself. The last thing she wants is to piss off her teacher. She cannot, will not loose to that little flame of his.

Sighing, the sage turned back to see all eight exorcists in their battle gear and swords in sight. Well, the front-liners in the form of Jordan, Jason, Xenovia and Irina, have their swords. Naruto guesses that the others are ranged fighters.

Jordan was a blonde haired, blue eyed, tall teen with wide shoulders and a calm demeanour. He was clearly the appointed leader of the team, and wielded a massive broadsword and western armour reminiscent of classic knights, but only on his right side and no helmet.

Jason, a dark brown haired teenager with black eyes and squarish face but was the tallest of the group. Like Jordan, he wore knightly armour but looked stripped down to the barest minimal to maximise speed and agility. He had a small shield and sword combo.

What confused Naruto though was that both Xenovia and Irina had skin-tight suits, like really skin tight, and selective armour plates on their right shoulders and legs. Made no sense to him, as it seemed the leather armour was made to emphasise their womanly curves and not for protection in battle.

Doesn't that contradict the words of their god or something?

Naruto blinked at that, oh right. He isn't around. Perhaps someone in their organisation has a problem that really needs to be addressed and resolved. Maybe replaced as they are not fit for purpose.

Shrugging, it wasn't his problem as he finally pulled out a single three pronged kunai and asks. "So, you guys want to test your skills against me, huh? Why is that?"

Jordan was about to speak but Xenovia did, stepping forward with a massive two handed blue slab that was apparently a sword, saying. "You showed me, at least, that standing up against injustice requires strength, Lord Sage. I wish to know if I have the strength to keep fighting… even after everything…"

Naruto suspected that this had something to do with what that blonde dude said and how they all briefly lost all will to live. So, he just shrugged casually replying. "Sure. How do you want to do this?"

Jordan takes over here, speaking up. "We typically work in teams of two, Lord Sage. Will that be acceptable for you?"

Upon the sage's nod, Xenovia speaks up. "Captain, may Irina and I take first dibs to test the waters for you and Jason?"

Jordan nodded, stepping back and the two women step forward with their weapons readied and their plan set. Time to see where they measure up against the future of heaven.

Naruto vs Xenovia and Irina

Clutching her blade tighter, Xenovia's gaze hardened before she charged forward, Irina moving swiftly and silently in her shadow, moving to cover the opening clash. Naruto notes they are at mid-genin, maybe high-genin speed wise though considering that oversized sword, could be considered not too bad.

Xenovia leads with a heavy, powerful, and an overly telegraphed wide swing that Naruto frowned at before ducking beneath it swiftly. Almost as an after thought, his kunai deflects the chain sword whip things attack that was likely designed to cover Xenovia's exposed side after her opening attack.

Good team work but nothing to write home about, Naruto, who hadn't moved, leg swept the blue haired girl who leaps back, as another bladed whip came in to cover her relocation. Again, it was deflected by the kunai, forced into the ground, and Naruto gaze stared between the two of them, completely unfazed by their joint attacks.

It seemed well rehearsed, the two trusted each other clearly, but that also made it predictable. Well, considering he's had to battle against coordinated squads of Anbu, Bolt, Gem, and Hunter corps so maybe his expectations are set a bit high.

Watching them charge him again, Naruto frowned at the predictability of their movements as their intent as clear as daylight and by the log, could they not just. Letting out a tight breath, he decided to end this as it was clear their hearts weren't really in it.

Moving at speed that none could track, Naruto chock slammed both girls into the grounds so hard their weapons dropped were they were and a loud thud was heard. Both Irina and Xenovia were short breathed, dazed, and lightly concussed as he stood back up.

Everyone else took a moment to catch up to what just happened and saw the sage returning to collect his dropped kunai as he spoke. "You are clearly not ready to wield those swords of yours with that kind of effort."

Wheezing and coughing, Xenovia rolled over in an attempt to get up but was too weak to do so. Irina just curled up into a fetus position, trying desperately to get breath into her lungs.

Naruto picked up his weapon before turning back to the stunned exorcists, who were now attempting to aid their fellows and sighed, shaking his head before offering. "I know you have heard something that shattered your faiths…"

Six of the eight exorcists flinch at that, the two on the ground unable to right then so Naruto continued anyway. "Your… I think you guys say, your all father, or something. Well – yes, he died in defence of you all. I do not know the details of it all. I am not a religious type or anything, so I can't say anything about It really."

He shrugged again, though his fellow teens all look to him still, Naruto continued. "But I do know what it is like to loose a family member. I only heard stories about my folks, but in letters I got from them both…"

He decided to edit the truth here, no need to tell them about the inner workings of souls or chakra as that is need to know basis and he's giving them a lot already. Naruto stated clearly. "My own father told me that: it is a Parent's Duty to believe in their children explicitly. So, if you see your god as your father then surely he too believed that you all would carry on his work, right?"

Even Gabriel was stunned at that, gawking at such a simple reality presented by the sage to them all. Did their lord and father really believe in them all, just as they do him?

Naruto though shrugged again, adding. "For me, knowing that my parents believed in me has gotten me through my darkest days. I may not have met them, known them, but I know they love me and will always be here…"

He jabs a thumb at his heart, his face serious as he states. "Always smiling with me, loving me, and most importantly being my sun in the darkness of…"

Abruptly Naruto froze ramrod straight, head snapping to the north east, with gaze so hard that diamonds would be considered playdoe. Everyone sensed the shift of his mood, the stiffening of his frame and power slowly rising that suggested a threat of some kind.

Growling lowly, Naruto slipped his kunai back into its holster and out from his wrist seal came a katana that none present have ever seen before. It was a boarder line odachi, scarlet metal with a black leather wrapped handle and made for a simple look.

Yet the moment this weapon appeared, everyone could feel the barely restrained power within it regardless of their own affiliation and now everyone was concerned at what had the sage this worked up.

Naruto jogged briskly towards the open space of the Shrine and the others followed, either brave or stupid, it was too early to say, and saw four new arrivals talking before the bridge into the protected area.

Yasaka, with Hitomi at her side, was explaining the rules of the shrine to Grayfia, Nurarihyon and Magari, when suddenly Naruto appeared and just as she was about to call out to him when her senses locked onto his blade. A blade she had not seen before. Paired with the sage's serious expression had her concerned.

This is when the others all arrived and she asked them. "What is going on?"

Kuroka replied swiftly, handing over Kunou to her mother. "We don't know. He just suddenly stopped, summoned that sword, and came over here."

Yasaka nodded, taking hold of her daughter and watched as Naruto stood ahead of them looking left then right, as if looking for something and was clearly on edge.

Naruto was indeed looking for something. He had been tracking these two approaching since last night and now that they were close, they had suddenly vanished but he, nor his beasts, were fooled. His sixth and seventh senses were earning him about imminent danger, senses honed by being on the run from the highest of trained assassins.

In a world full of them.

He trusts his senses and thus, without his armour, has pulled on his strongest, most treasured weapon and one he has absolute faith in. His mother's katana. This was something he was not risking, and as much as he wanted to go armour up. There wasn't enough time.

All his beasts were up and ready for action with Kurama stating. "We could go straight to Six Paths…"

Gyūki replied to his elder brother. "Without knowing the extent of their strength in nature energy it would be hasty."

Saiken spoke next. "Your vitals are all green, Naru-kun. I also took the liberty of preparing your acid release and will control its output for you."

Kokuo and Son Goku spoke together. "Same with Lava/Steam."

Matatabi chimed in next. "My flames are ready, Naru-kun. Just tell me when."

Chomei offered. "In case they can fly, I too am ready."

Naruto's internal representation responded with a nod to them all as they spoke, but turned to Kurama and said. "Give me sage mode for now. Hold of on six path until we know what we are dealing with. This feels like a shinobi battle and I do not intent to lose it."

Kurama grunted as he took up a meditative pose.

Outside Naruto's senses spiked and the Youkai all sensed his channeling of nature energy climb briefly before they stopped sensing him entirely, despite seeing him. He then crouched low, legs spread and gripping his weapon tightly as if about to quick draw.

The tension was thick, none dared to breath, as they had never seen this side of the sage before and the numerous Youkai were using whatever senses they could to try and detect what the sage had. The devils and angels too but all couldn't find anything.

The next moment Naruto vanished again. Just vanished without a trace of him moving. For ten seconds not even the wind blew. For ten seconds, hearts were in throats, palms sweated, and breathing was considered optional. For ten seconds all eyes were darting around the area for something, anything to happen.

It was broken by the sound of steel clashing against steel and two crash landings with one near the last tori gate, at the top of the platform from the stairs to the shrine, and the second ahead of the observation group though it was more of a hard landing than a crashed one.

Naruto slid to a stop a few meters ahead of the others, sword back in its saya but eyes locked on the rapidly dissipating dust cloud. His posture was tight but hadn't even moved a single muscle until the figure stood back up muttering. "Damn… fast…"

Naruto asks lowly, despite the distance between them. "You actually tried to sneak in here you…"

He paused upon the parting of the dust revealing a fair skinned man with spiky, blue tinted black hair tied into a ponytail though had bangs parted down the centre causing them to frame his face. He donned a high-collared blue shirt, matching blue trousers, and a utility belt, a sword saya held within it, that securing them both together.

But what caused Naruto's freeze however, was a very familiar white and red fan on the upper red chest. His growl was nothing short of murderous as he spat a name he thought he'd never encounter again. "Uchiha!"

Spat like a potent venom, spitting off to the side a small blob of acid, that broke everyone else from their confusion and flinching at the level of malice the normally easygoing sage had spoken with.

The man's onyx eyes lock on to the blonde who had struck him, recognising the swirl he wore and equally sneered his response. "Uzumaki!"

Black flowing to red, three tomoe spinning rapidly earning a deathly snarl from the blond as his own bloodline, never before seen in this world, made an appearance as eight thick chains of solid chakra snake erupt out from his back and his chakra pressure cracked the ground, forcing those nearby to their knees.

Uzumaki vs Uchiha

Only the top levelled people in attendance remained able to witness this battle of wills as the two men stared each other down. It took a few seconds before the newcomer growled. "So, you Senju lapdogs have come here too…"

Naruto growled feral back, cutting him off. "How dare you speak their name, traitor! You and your kin are nothing but betrayers. Sacrificing all for the power of a primordial. I will not allow you to subjugate this world."

The Uchiha looked even more annoyed at being called traitorous. As far as he recalled, before that final fight with that white haired Senju, was that the Uzumaki had sided with the Senju. How can his clan be traitors if they never had an agreement? Then this nonsense of primordial power? The hell is going on.

Yet he had to block the open slash from the Uzumaki, who was faster than even his fully matured sharigan could track clearly. The follow up nearly took off his head, loosing a few strands of hair and now he knew this Uzumaki was going to push him to his limit.

Naruto pushed his offensive, slashing hard horizontally then back again and forced this Uchiha back on principle or face bisection. Upon the Uchiha's leap to the opposite side, trying for a blind spot strike, Naruto's chains shot at him, forcing a withdrawal from there.

An earth gauging flaming slash was dispersed by the chains once more, but a trench was created in its wake as the Uzumaki who decided to bring his mother's sword around, trailing acid, but the strike was defended against by a flaming sword. That did not save the ground being carved out at the Uchiha's back, causing the outerwall to crumble, and forced the fighters to leap back ince more.

Another crimson fire slash was met by its water counterpart, creating a high pressure eruption of steam that caused the ground to tremble and forced the unprepared off their footing. Naruto then leaped from the tori gate and down on the now defensive stance Uchiha.

His eight chains shot forward and forced the Uchiha back again to escape implement, but they still acted in pulling the Uzumaki to ground a faster, landing hard in the now crater from doing so. Naruto then leaped after his foe and another clash of swords slicing effortlessly through one of the outbuildings, it's corner falling off after they passed.

The Uchiha summoned his dark crimson flames over his sword once more as he clashes with the now water coated katana of Naruto. A sharp eruption of steam parted both parties and Naruto lands on the vertical side of the cut through house, his opponent on the outer wall and the two sharing a gaze with one another.

In unison, they both stab their blades into the surface they were standing and going through hand signs, gathering chakra. Naruto internally vocalised. "Water style; High pressure damage."

Blasting out a razor fast stream of purified, condensed water that was met by a call of. "Fire style; Grand flame destroyer."

The stream of almost fully clear hydrogen-dioxide met the crimson stream of flames the destroyer and the explosion blew apart half the outhouse and knocked all back, including the two responsible.

Under the cover of the superheated steam created by the two attacks, Naruto pulls himself from the rubble of the outhouse, the living quarters of the priests and priestess's. He was coughing and wheezing, covered in cuts and a few burns but nothing debilitating enough to prevent him from holding his mother's sword. He wasted not time dashing through the haze of water vapour.

Before anyone else could get to their feet, the tremors and rings of steel greeted their ears. The overwhelming chakra pressure had let up and more were getting to their feet with Yasaka barking orders to keep clear. This was clearly a fight in a league above them.

Following the scent of the bastard past the walls of the shrine, Naruto was greeted by a barrage of fireballs that he either cut through or tore apart with his chains, before again landing in a clearing directly atop the Uchiha from before, sword to sword.

The contact was brief but telling, the Uchiha forced back again thus he pulled on his blood given power as they spin to a familiar visage, at least to Naruto who hissed at the sight. "Mangekyō."

Before the common eruption of steam blasted him clear, but the blonde controlled his landing and was quick to retake his offensive stance, growling as he did so. "I have seen that pattern too. Good. I can end you quicker."

This caught the attention of the Uchiha but he wasn't given much time to ponder as Naruto unleashed a stream of acidic water at him. Before the Uchiha could react, a boulder of bedrock shot up and parted the stream around him, keeping him safe.

Clicking his teeth, Naruto detected the arrival of the second signature which was now clearly siding with the traitor thus his enemy now. No matter. They'll die too. Uchiha are too dangerous to let live. Abruptly, the rock shot forward at him, followed by two figures shooting out to the flanks.

Shooting his chains forward, Naruto was slightly surprised by the density of the rock as he couldn't break it in time thus he leaped up over and directly into the path of a fireball from his right, and another rock from the left. It was perfectly timed, the Uzumaki would admit without shame.

Too bad he has seen such move's before. Retrieving a kunai in his left hand, Naruto channels lightning through it and throws it through the rock, shattering it, before slashing through the fireball on the right, the seals on his mothers sword absorbing the chakra constructing it.

Despite the battering of loose pebbles and dirt, minor irritations as opposed to the boulder, the sound of a scream being muffled told the still airborne Naruto that his kunai struck true, and was swift to Hirashin to the marker it had. Appearing in a yellow flash, the Uchiha was swift in the defence of his partner clashing against the opening swipe from the Uzumaki.

Naruto notices the other person was a woman, about as tall as him and the Uchiha. Thick in all the ways that matter, and with ears of some kind atop her head and a button like tail. She had a bo-staff in her dangling left hand, her right covered in blood as she attempts to stem the bleeding in her left shoulder.

The Uchiha growling drew the Uzumaki's attention as he said. "That move… I recognise it from that white-haired bastard of a Senju."

This briefly confused Naruto. His Hirashin was based off his father's, optimised for distance and activation speed. His father's version was an overall refined version of the second hokage's…

His distracted state lasted only a few scant seconds but allowed the Uchiha and his companion to leap back, and cast another attack jutsu. Uchiha flames coating another solid rock. Seeing this, Son Goku snorted, which broke Naruto's spiriting thoughts, and the four tails declared. "Pathetic copy of our greatness. Show them, Naruto-boy, what true lava can do."

Chomei spoke up now, wary of their environment. "Do not be hasty. This forest is home to many diverse species."

Naruto nodded to both before replying. "Just a brief demonstration. One attack then I'll douse it and stick with water and acid afterwards. Deal?"

Chomei nodded, and Naruto returned outward as he balls up his left fist, lava style chakra building within it as he charged forward and punched clean through the flung rock. The now molten splinters were sent back to the senders.

A bright red chakra construct erupted around the duo, absorbing the molten lava raining down upon them but only became a beacon for their enemy to hone in on. Before the rib cage could expand out further, chains of chakra wrapped around it and kept it constricted in place.

Next, Naruto appeared, sword sheathed, and a rotating ball chakra in hand as he called out. "Wind style; Rasengan."

Clashing with the construct hard, cracking it further on impact, and slowly grinding away at it before the woman leaped forward and swung her staff. The chakra barrier shattered both ways and Naruto took a hit to the gut, winded him though thankfully enough of it was taken by his mesh undershirt so he did not pass out.

Sliding to a stop, the Youkai woman was on Naruto like an animal possessed, her staff slamming down with enough power to rip up and split the earth, forcing the Uzumaki to side step and then leap away as the ground rippled like water under her assault. She kept swinging, and Naruto kept out of range whilst deflecting ranged shots of crimson fire from the Uchiha.

The terrain was being torn apart enough to warrant a map redraw. Naruto did not want to take another hit from those very dangerous strikes, his experience with…

Swallowing hard, Naruto shifts his head slightly causing a chunk of rock to graze his temple, drawing blood thus forces him to make up his mind and asks internally. "Kokuo… gonna…"

The dolphin-horse snorts, cutting him off. "Already primed. Let her have it."

Grinning, Naruto back flips elegantly further than he needed this time and landed opposite this Youkai who spins her staff once as she took up stance. After a moment of silence, the two dart towards one another with Naruto speeding up at the last moment, right arm pouring off steam.

The woman moved to block his punch with her staff and could only watch as her family heirloom caved in like paper under the strength of her opponent fist. A fist that…

Before she could finish that thought, her chest felt like it was caving in, ribs cracking under the pressure as she was punched clear of the trail of destruction she wrought in his pursuit by a healthy margin.

The Uchiha cried out. "Aoi! Damn it…!"

But by the time he turned back to Naruto however, the blond already had appeared above him, his steaming scarlet sword coming down to slash. His eyes pulsed and the Uzumaki passed through him harmlessly, giving him a moment to breath.

Naruto skidded as he twirled back, his attack failed, but as he does his opponent's blade was coming at him from his left forcing him to block with his own. A kick from the created opening sent the blonde skidding twice before he righted himself and landed firmly. Looking up, the Uchiha was going for another fire technique, so Naruto, taking consideration of the local wildlife, went though his own and called out. "Steam Release: high-pressure damage."

His stream of high pressure water vapour clashed against the Uchiha's flame again, sufficiently dousing the area to prevent the chance of forest fire by the traitor's actions in this fight and even began pushing him back.

What Naruto was not counting on was the willpower of the other combatant, the one he knocked into next week, and her appearing at his back which forced him to cancel his technique early to engage hand to hand.

The woman almost steam rolled into him until he swirled around and deflected her into the tree he was standing beside, taking her head-on with that monstrous strength was inadvisable for his continued health. Slightly dazed, she lashed out with a wide, backward swinging haymaker, her short claws scratched across the her attacker's chest and forced him on to his back foot, literally.

Her following jab, was deflected, she narrowly avoided his returned jab but his knee intercepted her left jab, deflecting it with perfect timing, beneath his extended arm. Bringing her over extended right arm back to elbow him in the face, it was caught, and she was pushed back by sheer strength against the tree she ran into, steam flowing off her opponent's arms in excess.

Dazed again from her head slamming into the three, she only briefly caught her companion's arrival and now she was released, her legs shaky and loosing strength.

The fierceness of the close quarters clash has never been seen before in this world. Jabs, cuts, kicks, knees, and elbows where blocked of deflected at such speed there were shockwaves of air. None of the outside observers could follow it, just the aftermath.

It was broken by a failed kamui and a solid roundhouse kick connecting and sent the Uchiha back, tumbling towards his partner, and stopping in a slide before collision. He wheezed and coughed from the blow, a few broken ribs and yet he glared up at the approaching Uzumaki who snarled at him. "Kamui was difficult to deal with initially, however my counters have been battle tested against it plenty of times since."

Spitting blood, the Uchiha growled back as he staggered up to his feet. "You… Uzumaki… can go to hell."

Naruto slowly draws his blade once more, its scarlet metal gleaming with malicious intent, as he snarls the whole way replying. "You first."

His blade rippled within a razor, vacuumed edge, as the blonde lifts it in preparation to strike. "Tell that nut-job Madara I sent you."

The man's eyes widened at the name but before he could ask, Naruto brought his sword only for both his wrists to be caught by another new arrival and the pale, yet soft hands were gentle but unyielding. An arrival who seemed to be too fast for even the blonde to track effectively, thus getting this jump on him. He blinked once at the long Snow White hair, pale skin and large, dark-brown eyes peered back at him. A familiar face. No. A face he had seen before upon the bridge that started it all. Gave him his nindo.

All Naruto's anger and rage evaporated instantly, recognizing this person, along with his breath and strength that caused his chakra to vanish from the blade that fell to the ground unceremoniously, blade tip first. Breathlessly, Naruto called the name that came to him at the sight of this familiar soft face. "Haku…?"

Haku Yuki nodded, smiling brighter as he had recognised her as she had hoped, replying back. "It is you, right, Naruto-kun…?"

Naruto stumbled back in shock and bewilderment in equal measure as his tears welled up. Though, after his brain finished its rebooting from the sudden black out and began to out things together again, his shock faded to back to anger, rage bubbling up to engulf his frame. This impossiblity was an insult to the memory, thus finding himelf growling. "It can't be. I watched you die. Who the…"

Yet Haku, who was also just as emotional just slipped forward, to fast for him to stop, and hugged him, hard, tightly with grace and whispered. "Only when protecting your precious people, does one become truly strong. Do you remember me telling you that?"

With his breath caught in his throat, chocking back sobs, Naruto nodded as he hugged his first true friend back with all the strength he could muster, sniffling as he spoke. "I… I made it my nindo, ya know…"

Enjoying the warmth of her first friend from way back when, Haku nodded as she ran her hand up then down the broad-back of her fellow sage. She listened as he cried into her shoulder. "I did it. I protected my precious people. I became strong for them but… but…"

Losing strength in his legs, things getting too much to bare, Naruto dragged the girl down as he fell to his knees but Haku kept the embrace going as the blond continued. "They turned on me. My precious people. They turned and tried to kill me. Baa-chan made me promise to run, to not look back, and to live free but… but they chased me."

Naruto's grip on her kimono tightened, and Haku was trying very hard not to get too riled up herself at the fact that someone as kind and innocently naïve as Naruto was back then, had been forced into such a no-win scenario. The blonde continued. "I pleaded with them at first but they only wanted my submission. I cried out for them to leave but they tried to kill me over and over again. I had to… I had to…"

Haku shushed and rocked him against her body, the other two sages were silently listening on and were kind of bewildered by the sight of this Uzumaki breaking down in the arms of there fellow sage. This is when it hit them both, now that they were no longer blinded by rage or family protective instincts. This Uzumaki was the one they had come looking for.

Naruto continued crying, saying. "They all came for me. The Cloud, Stone, the Sand, even the Mist and my own home, the Leaf. I fought them all back. Then… then they called in the others. Frost, Star and even Smoke. I fought them off for three years."

Haku was now furious. How dare they! In the time it took to get here, she had realised that the "dream" she had was some kind of summoning back into a war of some kind back in the elemental nations. From what her returned self had uncovered, they were fighting against a unified shinobi army to defeat a group trying to destroy the world.

Needing answers, Haku asks. "But, I thought the world was united behind you. What happened?"

Sniffling, Naruto looked up into the brown eyes filled with warmth and fear before he whispered. "It was. We won. Sasuke and I managed to beat back Madara after casting his infinite Tsukuyomi on the world. Then, he turned into this primordial god and mother of chakra. When we beat her too, we all went home and they were scared I was too strong. That I would become a second Madara."

Haku frowned, but urged him to continue. He did. "Baa-chan warned me when the Allied Shinobi Forces ambushed our training session. Anbu, Bolt, and Mist Hunter's trying to subdue me to put me under a enslaving seal…"

He chuckled but it was hallow as Naruto explained. "An Uzumaki enslaving seal. It was to force my complete submission."

Haku was inadvertently dropping the temperature of the entire area, allowing the others to lock in on their location among the trees. She asked. "Then, how did you get here?"

It took a moment for Naruto to compose himself enough to speak again, eventually saying. "Sasuke was trying to re-summon the goddess by using the tailed beasts chakra and his rinnegan after I kept beating him over and over again after my fleeing from the leaf."

Haku growled lowly, muttering. "Damn Uchiha. I should have killed him."

Naruto shook his head, continuing. "I arrived and took back all the chakra, and fought him again. This time I didn't hold back… I didn't pull my punches..."

His hold on her tightened, whispering. "I… I saw him as a brother once. I really did… but… he was trying to destroy the world, threaten my family and me too. I promised baa-chan so I had to kill him."

Haku nodded, it was the right choice. "Then what happened…?"

Naruto responded after a moment. "I tried to flash away but his kamui knocked my space-time technique off course, I think. Next thing I remember I was waking up in some school here."

Haku nodded and cradled him tighter to her chest, as if to save him from his own pain, whispering back. "I see. Then, it was good that I came and found you. You're safe now. I will protect you as to me, you are my most precious person. My first friend."

Naruto nodded but remained silent.

This is when the other two sages limp over, drawing Haku's eyes that were glacial upon noticing the Uchiha fan. The man raised his hands, the universal sign of surrender, and said. "I mean no harm. I too have come here as a sage."

Both Naruto and Haku raised brows at that, a blonde and white, and he decided to introduce himself as he knelt down with his friend hanging off his shoulder. "My name is Izuna Uchiha, Phoenix Fire Sage."

Izuna gestured with his head to the woman in his arm, informing them. "This is Aoi Chika, a black bear earth sage Youkai. Also, she's my wife."

Haku's gaze flowed between them before replying. "My name is Haku Momochi-Yuki. Sage of Ice and a Yuki-Hime Youkai."

Naruto, despite being wary of this Izuna guy, offered. "My name is Naruto Uzumaki, exiled shinobi of the Hidden Leaf, and Nidaime Sage of Sixth Paths. Though, none outside this circle know of my name and I want to keep it that way."

Haku looked down at him with amused white brow raised. She wasn't alone as the other two looked interested too. Naruto shrugged carefully, not wanting to dislodge himself from Haku's lap he had fallen to, saying. "What? They couldn't read elemental and when the devils tried to reincarnate me as one of theirs, they called me and I quote; Menma Malestrom."

Haku snorted like a lady, Izuna bit his bottom lip, and Aoi chuckled lightly but hissed when her broken ribs shifted uncomfortably. Seeing this, Naruto sighed. He guessed he should at least hear his fellow sage's out and get answers to whatever the hell is going on here.

Reluctantly, he sat up from his lap pillows and moved towards his former enemies. Noting their tensing, Naruto waved them off, saying. "I am no medical ninja, but I know more than the basics."

At that moment, he goes through hand signs, much to Haku's surprise, and his hand erupts in a heavy green and places it upon Aoi's ribs. After a few seconds he pulls back, still maintaining the technique as he orders. "Lay her down flat, I can reset the bones but she'll still need to take it easy once I'm done. Not all that good at this as I haven't practiced in a while."

Izuna nodded, and gently lowered his wife down and allowed the Uzumaki to work. Though, a brief chakra flare drew all four sage's attention to the south east that caused Aoi to jerk up, hissing before calling out. "The kids…"

The Uchiha was on his feet in an instant, wincing at his own injuries, before stating. "I'll go get them…"

Haku stood too, stating. "I can get us there sooner…"

Immediately opening up an ice mirror and ordering. "Let's go."

She jumps in and Izuna follows, leaving Naruto to tend to Aoi's wounds.

Nearby in a small campsite among the forested hills, three young black bear Youkai, no older than ten, were being confronted by Yasaka, Kuroka, and Rias's peerage. The others had stayed behind to organise the clean up of the battle damage, tend to the wounded, and find the missing.

Yasaka was displeased to find three unknown, unattended young bears within the restricted area around her holiday home and their refusal to cooperate was testing her patients. Lord Sage is battling nearby and he may need help against this foe but she can't ignore these three either.

Kuroka was as curious as any cat about the fact that these three all had traces of senjutsu training, a base level but it was there and clearly refined. Not only that, their chakra was much denser than anyone else besides Narian's maybe. Their defensive postures of the oldest two showed training, despite their young age.

Rias was insanely curious about these three and was trying to work out what exactly they were. Though, a small part of her mind was wondering if they could be beneficial for her peerage but she was ignoring that part s the last time she jumped into that, she lost her legs and nearly her life in retaliation.

Just as Yasaka was about to ask again for their identities, a very cold mist and fog rolled in suddenly. The Youkai all knew this was unnatural as it was laced with dense layer chakra when a voice called echoed out. "You will not harm them…"

It was feminine and almost melodious but drew attention away from the huddling children that were soon engulfed by the same mist. Yasaka's eyes narrowed dangerously, growling. "Who are you…? Show yourself."

There as no answer for a long moment. The devils were tense and ready for an attack from any direction but nothing came as the mist began to disperse again. The voice echoed again. "A friend of the sage…"

They all perked up but Kuroka hissed, drawing attention to her as she spoke. "The kids are gone."

All look at their location and Yasaka growled. "How disgraceful… such a basic tactic. We should push forward. The sage is nearby."

She rushes off, her escort party following after.

Forest Battleground

Back with the sages…

Naruto has been slowly repairing the broken ribs, having just mended the last one, and moving on to the bruised organs when an ice mirror opened at his back at five people hop out revealing the three kids, Izuna, and Haku.

The kids call out in unison. "Mum/momma!"

Rushing to her side but were stopped by their father, Izuna calling out. "Stop. Let our fellow sage work."

The kids all look to the blonde, who was sweating under the intensity of his focus, then down to his glowing hands over their mother's abdomen and stepped back. Haku then dropped on his left side, beside Aoi's head, and watched in amazement as that formally lost boy, who was crying into her shoulder not too long ago, was focusing like a surgeon to save another.

Truly, she had missed a lot.

All was silent as Naruto tended to the wounded woman, allowing the wind to blow calmly through the battle scarred forest and the hair of those gathered. It was a truly tranquil moment that lasted until the green glow faded and Naruto let out a heavy breath of relief.

That level of control really takes it out of him.

The three kids, ten, eight, and five, were vibrating in their spots for the green light to move, that Naruto look to them and nodded whivh gave them just that,and they bolted to their mother, hugging her tightly.

The Uzumaki found himself smiling at the sight. It was a familiar one to him too as, despite his rather dark outlook and prospect on his life back in the elemental nations, there were scattered times where he had played the healer instead of destroyer. It was very few and far between but it did happen on occasion.

In the wakes of bandit attacks. Busting out slaves and treating their ailments to aid in their escape. Stumbling on a remote village without a doctor. Those times he understood why baa-chan did what she did. The whole reason he had kept her medical books and training to heart. Not just as mementos.

That reminds him, the blond looks to his now white-haired friend and asks. "Haku, you are still intrested in healing right?"

Haku looked back, blinking owlishly in surprise to the question before thinking on the question offered and recalling that is what she did tell him back then and nodded, saying. "I guess you could say that. I haven't really done much since I got here myself. Mainly just practicing my sage powers and getting back to my old skills."

Surprisingly, Izuna spoke next, having overheard the answer. "Ah, that does take a bit of time. Took me nearly a decade to do so myself. Took some getting used to, this sage stuff."

Naruto nodded to both, before looking back at the Yuki and saying. "When I was forced too…"

He paused, swallowing spit, then continued on. "I was in the middle of my medical training crash course from my baa-chan. I have all her notes and training plans for me still. You can study them if you want."

Haku nodded carefully, before asking. "Who is this 'baa-chan' of yours, exactly?"

Naruto blinked owlishly at that, before realising that he had met Tsunade after Haku's…

Nodding, the blonde informed. "Oh, right. I haven't said. Her name is… was, Tsunade Senju."

Haku's eyes nearly jumped from her socket, obviously knowing the name of the most powerful kunoichi and leading medical expert of the elemental nations. This was truly one of the best things that could have happened from this cluster of tragic events, and she nodded repeatedly, saying. "I would be honoured."

Izuna though, growled. "Senju…"

Naruto glared at the Uchiha, growling back. "Easy there, Uchiha. My baa-chan was the last Senju, just like I was the last Uzumaki."

He paused, correcting himself. "Well, technically speaking, there was another but she's a filthy traitor who sold me out. Likely to try impress the last Uchiha that I killed before coming here."

Izuna recoiled at the prospect of an Uzumaki being worthy of his clan name. Then again, he had long since changed his own opinion but then again, the Senju and Uzumaki are basically the same thing. Any other clan he could tolerate, just not those two. Though, he also realises that he'll have to get on with this one.

Then something hit him, recalling something he said earlier and asked. "Wait – earlier you said something about Madara Uchiha…"

Naruto fought back the snarl and bile at the name, taking a deep breath to calm himself before grinding out. "What about the man who enslaved the world and nearly destroyed it in his twisted desire to bring about the end of war?"

Izuna recoiled hard at that, asking hesitantly. "He what…?"

Naruto nodded, explaining. "He collected all the tailed beasts within an object called the gedo statue. It was actually the husk of the original ten-tailed beast, drained of its chakra. He managed to manipulate a young kid of the Uchiha clan to carry out the plan then resurrect him later to become it's host."

The adults all recoiled at that, Naruto just nodded and continued. "Once he had its power, he casted an Infinite Tsukuyomi upon the moon and used its glow to blanket the world in its effects. My team and I were the only ones spared due to my old teammates Sasunoo."

Izuna asked. "This Sasuke guy right?"

Naruto snarled at the name, but nodded and the others knew not to mention the name again. The blond continued. "He was betrayed and was transformed into the rabbit princess and progenitor of all our chakra, the primordial rabbit goddess Kagyuya."

He shuddered at the mention of the name, telling the others that she was no joke. That this was no joke. Naruto continued the brief. "We managed to seal her away again with teamwork and the power the Shodai Sage of Six Paths, Haguromo Otsosuki. It was close and after everything, Madara died again after that."

Izuna sighed heavily, wincing at the pain from his ribs but before Naruto could get up, they all look to the east and sense the rapid approaching of the Youkai and devils. Haku whispered. "That didn't take them long."

Naruto frowned, replying. "No, it did not. What should we do?"

Everyone looked to him at that, and he blinked back and asked. "What?"

Izuna replied in a deadpan. "You know them best. You should know."

Naruto frowned but it was true. After a moment, he replied. "Well, seeing as they still don't know my name, I am forbidding its use."

Haku asks. "Then what shall we call you?"

Naruto shrugged, supplying. "The devils call me Menma…"

He and all the former shinobi's lips twitch at that, Naruto continued. "The cats call me Narian – don't ask."

They all nod, so he moves along. "And the Youkai just call me Mister or Lord Sage. Take your pick."

Haku replied first. "I like Narian. Then, I want to go by Yukie."

Wincing, Naruto counter-offered. "Miyuki…?"

Seeing the look of a plea in his blue eyes, Haku nodded and confirmed. "Miyuki. I can work with that."

Izuna had been thinking on it himself. His family won't be a problem, his wife and kids use respectful titles. So offered. "Natsu will work for me then."

His wife of many, many years, Aoi snorted, replying. "Summer? Really anata?"

Izuna shrugged, replying. "It's all I could think of."

Sighing, she shakes her head, Aoi supplied. "Try Natsuo instead. It is often shortened to Nate so could be easier for us to talk openly."

Again, Izuna nodded simply, knowing better than to argue with his wife and looks to the other two who nod back. Naruto confirming for everyone. "So, you are Nate."

He looks to Haku, confirming. "You're Miyuki…"

Getting nods as Haku adds. "And you are Narian."

Everyone nodded just as Yasaka leads Kuroka around the bushes into the clearing where the sages were all gathered. The black cat called out loudly. "Narian! You're okay!"

This worked just fine for Naruto and his fellows as it gave them plausible deniability around his naming convention. As the two entered the clearing, the devils bring up the rear which is also when the Kyuubi noticed the three kids from earlier and froze but for different reasons.

Yasaka, was surprised that the children were here so quickly and clearly being comforted by one of these unknown alongside Lord Sage. For the Devils, however, it was beacuse Menma, the ultimate force in their eyes, that stood against all the Satan's on equal footing, looked worse than any time they have seen him before. Multiple wounds and bleeding with torn clothes with a general air of battle wariness about him.

Before they could ask questions none wanted them too, Naruto spoke up. "You are too loud, Kuroka. How are things back at the shrine?"

That successfully drew all eyes back to him and back on subject too with Yasaka growling at him. "What the hell was that exactly?! You just went…"

Izuna raised a hand, stating. "Ah… that was my fault."

Drawing eyes to him, and thinking on his feet, the Uchiha explained further. "As a sage, we have rules and I did not follow them so he saw me as hostile. I lost my temper slightly and retaliated. Lost myself in the fighting."

The other adults all nodded, Naruto adding seamlessly to the shinobi-grade alibi. "Me too. After we clashed back there, decided to move us further out as it has been a long time since I got to really push myself that far. Got a bit too excited."

He scratches the back of his neck as if embarrassed, earning sweat drops from the newcomers who also noticed how beaten up he was and now knew how powerful these sages were. Aoi, who had caught onto the alibi being weaved by the others, spoke next. "As I was nearby, I left my kids at the campsite and came to investigate why my husband was flinging around his fire all over the place."

She glared at Izuna after speaking, for added effect but his paling under it really sold it. Haku, smoothly picked up where the bear youkai left off. "Same from me. I was on my way to meet my idiot here…"

In a bold move, Haku openly hugged Naruto from behind, leaning her five-foot-four, slim frame that was donning supplely perky C-cups against his back, smiling warmly as she continued. "As he decided to leave me behind, and go exploring as I slept to stabilise my sage hood."

Naruto chuckled nervously as she stared at him from the side in a look that told all that she was still waiting for an excuse, reasonable explination or an apology. Everyone but one brought it. That level of familiarity was hard to fake and she was absolutely beautiful with the blonde looking comfortable in that position.

Kuroka though, narrowed her eyes on this new woman. She knows she's lying. None of the memories she got from Naruto hold her and yet for some reason he's acting like they've been friends forever.

They must all be lying but her own senses can clearly pick up the adult four are all nature energy users at a level above her own meaning they all honest to goodness sages like Naruto is. She, like everyone else, thought they had died out.

Yasaka on the other hand was very concerned about how close this new woman was with Lord Sage. Somehow, she knew him from before even the devils did. From what her senses were telling her, she was a Yuki Onna. Not just any Yuki Onna but it's rare variation of Yukihime.

Like the Nekomata and its superior variant the Nekoshou, the Yukihime's have superior senjutsu ability with an instinctive use of ice, wind, and water. They were supposed to be a myth with only one confirmed centuries ago. This one here being the second. But then, why did she have to pick Lord Sage as her destined one?

Well, Yasaka knew why she did. It was obvious but still, couldn't she leave him for her?

Rias was stunned at the news Koneko just gave her. Just like those three young bear's they stumbled across, these three others are sage's too and the one hugging Menma supposedly knew him before even they did. A genuine snow woman. A sage to boot too. Amazing.

Back to those three bear kids, they are the offspring of two sages which means they will likely become incredibly powerful in just a few years and likely follow in their parent's footsteps as sages. Oh, she'll have to make a good impression here and maybe in a few years…

A sudden scream broke through the thoughts of everyone, drawing eyes over to one Kiba Yuuta clutching his bleeding right arm, a cut running up from his hand to his shoulder. He was standing beside Naruto's dropped sword, currently blade first in the dirt and humming lightly with wind chakra that still engulfed it.

Asia was at his side in moments though all four adult sage's stared at the devil knight with cold, hardened gazes with Naruto asking. "Yuuta-san. What were you attempting to do with my sword?"

His voice was monotone yet felt like a death sentence all the same. Rias and Akeno let out wary sighs, Issei chuckled nervously as he too was thinking about checking out that really cool looking red sword himself.

Kiba though offered a smile, or tried to but his injuries made it look more like a grimace, as he replied. "I was curious about it, Menma-san. It felt powerful but not holy or divine. I was seeing if it was maybe demonic…"

Izuna snorted, remembering full well that scarlet Uzu-alloy has been the bane of elemental nations for decades and stated. "That thing is no demonic blade, despite their numerous names. No, that thing is pure uzu-steel alloy and bane to the existence of many."

He cut his eye at the blonde sage, who was grinning like a fool and stuck his tongue out at him. The Uchiha asks. "What did you name that one, huh?"

Naruto chuckled as he informed. "That one is called Benihime. It wasn't forged for me specifically but rather my mother. I inherited it from her."

Haku hug tightened briefly, her silent support that caused him to smile softly and nod, patting her arms that were loosely across his chest, before rubbing them as he looks to the sword. Izuna nodded, claiming. "Sounds about right. Honestly, those damn things are overpowered."

Aoi brought them back on subject, asking. "That doesn't change the fact that you tried to take it, devil-san. It is a sage's weapon and not yours. Why would you approach it, knowing it was not yours to touch?"

All four sages look back at the recovering teen, Asia's gear running on over time to finish closing up the large wound. Kiba bowed his head, offering. "Sorry, I was just…"

Naruto finally stood back up, Haku allowing him, and approached the sword whilst glaring at the knight, who swallowed hard. "That is no excuse, Yuuto-san."

He takes hold of the handle, pulling it free of the forest floor and swinging it around once more to clear the dirt from it with a pulse of wind chakra before sheathing it back into its saya smoothly. "Try that again, and I will show you exactly what it can do to a man. Am I clear?"

The younger blond just nodded, not saying anything more. That weapon is truly something else, way beyond anything he could ever possibly hope to conjure from his sword birth. Even when sheathed, he can feel the power barely being held back as Menma strolled back to the group.

Naruto arrives before Haku who smiled dutifully calmly and asks her. "No more black hair then?"

Haku takes up some of her long white hair, that trailed down both front and back in her old style with a pure white band in place of her old head band. Pondering on that for a moment, she looked back at the blonde before asking innocently. "Is white not my colour?"

Naruto just shrugged non-committedly, replying. "Just curious. Doesn't matter to me."

Abruptly, said hair flows from tip to scalpe back to its former dark black glory and she looks back at him with a smirk. "Better?"

Naruto sensed the release of her accumulated nature energy required for the feat, Haku's senjutsu levels dropped to barely registering now and again he shrugs, claiming. "Both suit you."

Deciding to set the tone for their relationship for the others, Haku tilted her head cutely to the side, finger resting on her lip before replying. "Oh, but back in that meadow, then later on the bridge you said…"

She trailed off and Naruto narrowed his eyes on her, earning a giggle as she could just barely make out the faintest tinting of pink on his cheeks. The blonde whispered but everyone heard. "I was twelve, Miyuki. Do not start with me."

Haku offered him a familiar shrug as she twirled away from him, chiming. "Old enough to kill…"

Naruto facepalmed, muttering beneath a breath when Izuna chimed in, adding. "She's right you know. I first saw combat what… when I was like… seven. Reaching twelve was a luxury."

Naruto, knowing this already from history, waved him off stating. "Yeah-yeah old man… don't remind us."

Izuna growled, eyes flashing dangerously. "You wanna go…"

Naruto glared right back at him, growling. "Any time you want to get your butt kicked…"

Haku grabbed Naruto by his ear, Aoi doing the same to Izuna with both ladies stating. "Enough you two."

Both male sages grumbled as they felt their ears burn under the woman's tugging, the children giggling at the sight of both men being brought to heel.

Yasaka wasn't really sure how to handle this. Three more sages. Somehow all knowing her sage and were clearly all close. Sighing, she says. "We should get back to the Shrine, now that we know Lord Sage is safe. Also, The few wounded should have been tended too by now and we need to start the repairs."

Aoi glared at her husband who pointed to Naruto stating. "It was him."

Naruto looked genuinely offended at the statement, glaring back. "Says the pyromaniac who was flinging around slices of fire like a blind civilian hitting a piñata."

Izuna was unwilling to give in, stating. "Like your high-pressure water streams were any better. You cut that building's corner off clean."

Naruto swallowed hard upon catching Haku's smile in the corner of his vision, Yasaka's raised brow and Kuroka's look of confusion. So he quipped back. "You carved up the ground and almost killed the civilians had I not intervened."

Aoi's eyes narrowed and Izuna was sweating bullets now but the smug look on the Uzumaki must not stand, cannot stand. Fortunately for the Uchiha, the Uzumaki's high smug levels had reached a point that the Yuki felt it needed adjusting and yanked on his ear, getting a yelp from said Uzumaki as Haku spoke. "Oh, is something the matter, Narian?"

Naruto saw her smile and whimpered slightly, shaking his head and she nodded before pointing the way the devils came from. "I think we should get moving, yes?"

Kyoto Mountain Shrine

As Yasaka lead the group back to the shrine, the sages walked together with the young kids loosely kept between them. The vixen had noticed immediately how close Naruto was staying to that Yuki-Onna-hime, and her sticking to him in return.

She wasn't the only one to notice this, Kuroka had been a few steps behind the two and glaring at the slightly taller woman with barely contained jealousy as she was able to touch the sage's arm without him flinching or stiffening, like he does with everyone else. Narian looked almost relaxed with this newcomer.

The devils were bringing up the rear again, Rias was hovering ahead of them all as Akeno spoke to Kiba about his actions and the danger he put himself, and the rest of them in.

By the time the party reached the top gate, everything had already been repaired and Lady Amaterasu was standing in the centre of the bridge, arms crossed. Yasaka was surprised by her arrival, she hadn't said anything about visiting before hand but then again, she's the leader of the Shinto Pantheon so she can do what she wants.

Despite the buildings being fully repaired, the trench of a sword slash remained behind and now Aoi glared at Izuna, recognising his handiwork anywhere, and so stamped her foot at the end of said trench, her chakra to flow through the earth and sealing it up, good as new.

This got a surprise look from the Youkai present but also, naturally drew the goddess of the sun's eye too and the slow dawning of comprehension was amusing to the group of sages as Amaterasu asks. "Umm… Lord Sage. Are these…?"

Naruto speaks up, assuming he was being spoken to in this instance. "Yes, Lady Amaterasu. These are my fellow sages. We have just met back up and went a little overboard in our greetings."

The deity nodded, looking from one face to the next briefly pausing on the three kids which got her four tensing sages and as much as she would like to pretend the action did not worry her, it did. The Six Path Sage alone would be troubling to put down, backed up by more of these sages and she doubts even she would get out in one piece.

Finally, the leader of the Shinto Pantheon nodded with all the dignity of her station as head of the big three. Amaterasu thus moved on to why she had come here, informing. "Well, in that case I shall leave it to you. The reason for my abrupt, and unannounced, visit is due to a slight delay to the conference."

Naruto raised a brow at that, asking. "Delay? I agreed to a week before I would get underway again."

Amaterasu inclined her head again, stating. "I am aware of that which is why I have come personally to ask for your understanding in this affair. It would seem that many of my own, as well as abroad, wish to take part in this groundbreaking project. Thus, it will take a little longer."

Naruto grunted, unsatisfied by this big deal. All that is going to happen is everyone asking him for crap and pleading to his hero complex for aid. Probably throw in a few politically sensitive marriage trying to tie him to them, yada-yada-yada.

Haku cleared her throat, drawing his eyes briefly and she nods so he sighs hard and looks back at the goddess and nodded, stating. "Fine. I'll wait."

Amaterasu glanced briefly at Yasaka's stone face, which told the Sun deity everything she needed about this new sage's impact already. Looking back at blonde sage, she continued. "Thank you, Lord Sage. As a bonus, we shall allow your guests to stay in the main shrine with you. Also, the teleportation will be allowed beyond the confines of the walls."

Yasaka nodded, confirming she understood and the other leaders present were glad too. So Amaterasu looked back to the sages and smiled warmly. "As for you all, warriors of the planet, I welcome you all warmly to our domain and hope you feel safe here. You are safe here."

The new sages nodded once stiffly, the kids remained silent, and the sun goddess simply vanished again into the beam of light back to the celestial realm.

Naruto turned to his fellow sages and stated. "We should get you settled in for now. We have nothing but time so…"

The other three nodded, then the second oldest, Tajima Uchiha, asked his new uncle figure. "Umm, uncle. What about us? We are hungry too."

Naruto smirked, stating. "Relax, Taji. Once we put your things away, I am sure dinner will be ready, right?"

He offered that last question to Yasaka who nodded with a smile, replying. "Yes. We will prepare something at once."

The cheers of the kids caught smiles upon the adults who heard and Yasaka led them all across the bridge and to chambers within the main shrine.

A/N: Three sages and new companions for Naruto.

Aoi Chika, based off the one from Kitsune Knight, a black bear and Sage of Earth, is by default a lot stronger than most, including Naruto himself. Were it not for his significantly higher speed, and Kokuo's steam release, she would have turned him to paste. She is tough and not one to mess around, being the groups momma bear both figuratively and literally. Her meeting with the Govener will be amusing as she was the one spotted by him during the great war.

Izuna Uchiha, Madara's little brother and reason for his crackpot scheme. As the Phoenix Fire Sage, he was literally reborn from the ashs of his old life and cares heavily for his family. His distate for the Senju, and by extension Uzumaki, will flare up at time but as they work together, I plan on him and Naruto being thick as theives who are all too willing to beat the other down if they get outta control.

Haku Momochi-Yuki. Her arrival into this world was uncerminal and she has only really woken up in response to Naruto's duress. Like Izuna, she was reborn into this world and maintains most of what she was and incorporated what she is as she slept. Her Edo-tensei during the war called back a fragment that returned to her making her actions there feel more like a dream.

She is and always will be loyal to Naruto first above all things, however, that might not be the best thing either and her race change will come into play here too. Originally she was going to be a regular Snow woman however after reading up on them, I decided to tweak it a bit so she is a, thought to be a myth, superior form known as a Snow Princess as explained. Her speed is second to none however as Naruto has instant teleportation and reflexes that predate precognition, it is often said that she is second to him.

The three bear cubs will be the centre of more attention than the adult four would like. More than a few heads are crushed in their defence, a devil house gets exterminated for attempting it.

2nd A/N: I may or may not bring in other "sages" but not many. Earth's Sages are typically nature based making Naruto unique and stand out further as he is considered among them but also the only one to travel over from the EN alive.

o7