High School DxD/ハイスクールD×D, Naruto 1. The Beginning

**Well here is a Naruto/High School DxD idea I thought up. I can't guarantee I'll continue it since I'm rather fickle and undisciplined, but I wrote so much I felt I might as well publish it. Tell me what you think.**

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"Naruto-sama!"

Naruto let out a groan as he heard that. What did he do to god for him to punish Naruto so? He's a hero for goodness' sake. Saved his world. Sacrificed his life to kill Madara. So why has he been cursed with this horrible trio? Naruto lifted his head from where it had been resting on his arms to glare at the approaching trio that had become the bane of Naruto's high school existence.

Okay, that might have been a bit exaggerated, but still overall true. The three were known throughout Kuoh Academy as the 'Perverted Trio.' Put into simple terms, they were like three little Jiraiya's. No, worse. Jiraiya had been things besides a super pervert. He'd been a sage, a writer, a ninja, a spy master, etc. While it had been one of his biggest traits, being a pervert was only one of his traits. These three were like 100% perverts. They really had no other redeeming qualities…Okay, that might be a little bit harsh. They aren't that bad. Their lives just seem to revolve around perversion.

The trio consisted of Matsuda, Motohama, and Issei. Matsuda was a former jock and sports star who apparently gave it all up in favor of his perversion, which made no sense to Naruto since girls loves guys who are good at sports. It's like putting down a sword to jump into a sword fight. Giving up your biggest weapon before it even starts. He was usually referred to as 'Perverted Baldy' or 'Sexual Harassment Paparazzi.' He was also a self-proclaimed lolicon. Motohama was usually referred to as 'Perverted Glasses' or 'Three Sizes Scouter,' due to his apparent ability to calculate a woman's three sizes just by looking. The final one was Issei Hyoudou who was…pretty average. Besides his ridiculous libido and obsession with breasts. He was also the one Naruto preferred the most, if only because he seemed to scream about his perverse thoughts less. It was clear he had them…all the time, but he was less likely to announce it as shamelessly as Matsuda or Motohama. Motohama literally once screamed 'I'll rape all you girls in my mind.' That's just creepy.

Truthfully Naruto could have overlooked their rampant perversion. He had a lot of experience dealing with perverts from his training trip with Jiraiya. No, it wasn't their perversion he didn't like. It was because they damn near fucked up his reputation within ten minutes of him starting here.

Naruto had started at Kuoh Academy as a second year. It hadn't been Naruto's idea either. He had not wanted to attend school, not in the least. It didn't matter if Kuoh's school population was about three quarters female. It was still school in Naruto's mind. Naruto owed the person a favor for saving his life though, and they wanted him to attend Kuoh. Sometimes Naruto hates being so good-natured.

So he'd reluctantly applied and been accepted. He'd transferred in just two weeks after the start of the year. He'd had the misfortune of being in the same class as the Perverted Trio. He'd only needed to say his name before the three stood up and screamed out his most shameful secret.

He'd woken up from a coma in a different world. His money didn't count here. The person to save him didn't have money for obvious reasons due to their identity. He'd needed money to pay for an apartment, food, school tuition, and other miscellaneous stuff in order to repay the person who saved him.

So he published Icha Icha. He'd found a reputable publishing company and done it. He'd only had two of the series in the sealing scrolls that survived the journey over here. Even those two were only there because he forgot about them, since he hadn't liked the series enough to carry them all around on him. He wasn't Kakashi after all. Those two had still been worth enough for Naruto to live the next ten years comfortably.

It gave him bad karma though, which quickly came to bite him in the ass. Naruto had published them under the pseudonym 'Jiraiya Sennin,' but he hadn't made it too rock solid. He hadn't expected anyone to investigate…He shouldn't have underestimated how determined heavy duty perverts can be. Within a week of the books hitting the shelf, all three members of the Perverted Trio had managed to dig up that the real author of Icha Icha was apparently a sixteen year old, Scandinavian looking boy named Uzumaki Naruto. So when Naruto introduced himself to their class within days, their reaction was clear.

Declaring that he was the author of Icha Icha to the world, and then bowing before his greatness as the 'ultimate pervert.'

Kuoh Academy is like 70-80% female, so being referred to as the ultimate pervert by the three most perverted students in the school was quite possibly the worst way to start his school life in existence. No one believed him when he claimed that he had simply published books his godfather had written either. Apparently something about Naruto screamed 'pervert.'

It was thankful Naruto had thick skin. Yeah, he would have preferred being accepted as another average student in the beginning, but it wasn't like he was going to cry in a corner about his fellow students calling him names. He was Uzumaki fucking Naruto. He faced down Uchiha Madara when he was the Juubi jinchuriki without fear. Call him names and he'll just laugh in your face before pranking your ass.

In the end, Naruto viewed this as a similar, easier form of the Konoha he endured as a child. Just deal with everything, stay positive, stay true to himself, and eventually everyone's perceptions will change. He had absolute confidence in that.

It proved true. Perceptions changed far faster than those in Konoha had, although that probably had to do with the difference in initial loathing. A pervert and a jichuriki are two entirely different things. Naruto was still considered a pervert by most of the student population, but they had eventually accepted that there was much more to him.

Like his prankster side. That might be the thing Naruto likes most about going to this school, probably even more than the many beautiful girls all around. Once he had become a ninja, Naruto had reluctantly been forced to stop doing pranks. Something about professionalism and image. Now that he could once again prank to his heart's desire, well…it was like an early Christmas to Naruto. All Kuoh became his playground. He had to make sure to keep it safe and minimize the damage, except to people's pride, but that just made it more fun. No one was safe from him. He's even started pranking entire clubs at a time.

Otherwise he'd sort of settled into the role of an ordinary student. His grades were below average, since Naruto had never been one for book work. Not to mention the ninja academy didn't quite teach them the stuff they learn here. So Naruto basically lacked the middle school education of this world. The only subject Naruto excelled in was physical education, for obvious reasons. Even in his weakened state, Naruto was in fantastic shape. Easily the most fit kid in the school.

His social life was even better. Even if Naruto has been widely accepted as a pervert, he was charismatic enough that people generally can't hold it against him for long. It wasn't even a conscious thing. Naruto didn't consider himself smooth or charming, and thus didn't even try to be. He was just completely honest with himself, which had a certain charm to a lot of people who felt they had to hide parts of themselves. It also helped Naruto was probably one of the most empathetic and overall kind individuals in the world.

Even his romantic life was pretty good, considering he was widely considered the most perverted kid in the school. He was even kind of popular with the girls. He was kind, funny, and caring. He also wasn't that bad looking. Girls weren't willing to drop their panties whenever he smiled, like a certain princely bishounen at the school, but most would agree his looks were on the higher end of the spectrum. He apparently had the 'roguish, free spirit' look to him. He hasn't had an official relationship, but he has had…relations with a number of girls.

What? Don't judge him. Naruto was a straight male. Not to mention he was a bit of a pervert. Being the apparent author of Icha Icha also sort of doomed any desire for chastity he might have had. It was a turnoff for most girls, but there were the rare perverted females. They tended to volunteer as models for his next book, as well as offering to provide him 'inspiration.' Once again, Naruto was straight. So he simply couldn't refuse offers like that. Aika Kiriyuu was a regular, providing him inspiration once a week. Things snowballed from there since it quickly spread around the school that Naruto was a very, very accomplished lover. Seems plenty of high school girls don't mind the idea of starting a casual relationship with a person gifted in the bedroom arts as long as it remains on the down low…Totally awesome. Even Naruto couldn't deny that.

Back to the Perverted Trio. The three seemed insisted on treating him like an icon. It was actually annoying. Not to mention they bothered him incessantly for dating advice or asking him to set them up with some girls. It was like they thought he owed them for outing him as the author of Icha Icha, or empathized with them due to their supposed 'similar' personalities. Naruto just wanted them to leave him alone. He did not get his wish.

"Naruto-sama," Matsuda practically screamed before getting on his knees and clasping Naruto's hand. He then continued, "As always, I give praise unto your name for the blessings you have bestowed upon this world. Yes, Icha Icha is truly the greatest blessing this world has ever seen. I worshipped your work all last night."

Naruto just gave him a disgusted look. It grew even more disgusted when he looked at how Matsuda was clasping his hands. Naruto had no doubt of what those hands had been doing last night, and Naruto did not want them touching any part of him. Roughly ripping his hand away from Matsuda's, he then commented in irritation, "Great, now I need to wash my hand. Thoroughly…With industrial strength cleaning products. I don't care if my skin in burnt off. The very thought of where those hands have been is nauseating."

His words sent Matsuda crying in the corner, but Motohama quickly filled in the gap by questioning with an intensely serious face more fit for one going to war, "Please, Naruto-sama. I know you have refused to answer 127 times before, but I must know. What is the current progress on the next Icha Icha? And what is the main theme? Icha Icha Journey included many different women, and a variety of sexual fetishes. It was aimed at everyone. Icha Icha Slave was an exploration of masochism, with the main character interacting with far fewer females. It was aimed at a smaller, but more devoted fan base. Can we expect a more wide ranging book like Journey, or a more fetish focused book like Slave?"

Naruto growled as he face palmed. He asked this everyday. Sometimes twice a day. Naruto was already ashamed he had finally caved into writing a third Icha Icha because of pressure by the publishers. He didn't need this type of pressure during the process of writing it. Writing porn was really hard! Especially since Naruto wasn't a pervert on the level of Jiraiya, who could get off on just about everything. Naruto couldn't even read Icha Icha Slave due to how much he dislikes the idea of being a masochist. It makes him nauseous just thinking about it. Naruto could only write stuff that fit with his own preference, which he was rather embarrassed to admit. The idea of people reading erotica that he wrote himself was even worse than people thinking he wrote the previous two. So Motohama bringing it up everyday was just plain stressful.

Stressful enough that Naruto kicked him away roughly before ordering, "Stop asking me this for the next six months and I'll tell you how far along I am."

"Deal," Motohama replied instantly, completely uncaring of the footprint on his chest.

Grunting, Naruto told him reluctantly, "I'm about a quarter of the way through. My deadline isn't for six months. Then it will probably take a month or two before it hit's the shelves."

"Seven or eight months?! That's too long! Please, let me read what you have. I can give you expert advice on it," Motohama quickly declared as he grabbed Naruto's legs while crying pitifully.

"Geh. Get off me you perverted leech," Naruto grunted out as he tried to kick off the pervert, who proved Naruto's insult to him by sticking like a leech. Once Naruto finally managed to remove him, he said bluntly, "No way. The publisher is strict on me letting people read it before the release, not that I would have showed you anyway. And advice? You're still a virgin, so you certainly can't give me 'expert advice.'"

With Motohama now joining Matsuda in the corner, Issei stepped up. Realizing Naruto didn't like them touching him, he just leaned close and informed him with a perverted leer, "Hey, Naruto-sama. We're going to go peep on the kendo club. With a match coming up, they're practicing during the lunch periods. It's a beautiful sight. Wanna join us?"

Naruto gave him softer look than he had the other two, since he at least seemed to realize he didn't like them touching him. He still told him bluntly, "No way. I don't peep." That's a bit of a lie, but Naruto was far more subtle about it. He never got caught on the rare occasions he does, unlike the Perverted Trio who are caught every time. The claim also has helped heal Naruto's reputation around the school. They just think he's a total pervert in the sack instead of the type that constantly has sex and boobs on his mind.

Issei deflated slightly before arguing while shaking his head, "That's a shame, Naruto-sama. The female form is the most beautiful thing in the world. Peeping is simply a way to worship it as it should be worshipped."

"No, it's a way for guys who have no chance with girls to sate their lust for boobs and asses," Naruto deadpanned. Not completely true since Jiraiya used to peek, and Jiraiya was surprisingly smooth when he had actually wanted to seduce a woman. He just claimed to enjoy the 'art of peeping.' Naruto personally believed he just liked getting caught and beat up. Icha Icha Slave was a bit too detailed and heartfelt for Naruto to believe Jiraiya didn't have a huge masochistic streak in him. Back in the real world, Naruto's direct statement about their lack of success with girls seemed enough to send Issei to the corner with the other two. Naruto's kind nature quickly seeped through though since he honestly liked Issei. He was the one that reminded Naruto of Jiraiya the most. A good guy with way too much lust, and way too little control over it. So Naruto pat Issei's head with a sigh before telling him, "Sorry. I'm just a bit stressed today. I'm sure your luck with women will improve someday, Issei."

Issei's attitude quickly changed, and he looked at Naruto with stars in his eyes. Naruto wasn't surprised by it. Strong emotions in this world seem to result in sparkles, stars, shapes, and other stuff to form around people. It was weird like that. Usually they were better looking people than Issei, but Issei's perversion was strong enough to make up for that.

…Why is Naruto's mind wandering like this? He really is stressed.

Back to Issei, who still had the sparkles in his eyes. He quickly asked, "So you think I'll eventually get my harem?"

That made Naruto sweat drop. Issei and his harem. You at least had to admire the kid for being upfront about it. It isn't impossible either. Naruto probably would have ended up with a harem if he had managed to stay in his own world during the final battle with Madara. Sure, he may have been a hero, but he had been a loser and pariah as a kid. Who's to say Issei might not become a hero in the future. This world seemed a bit more against that sort of thing, but it still isn't too out there. Just rare…Very rare.

"It is…possible," Naruto told him hesitantly.

Issei clearly didn't notice, or didn't care about, the hesitation in Naruto's statement. He just fist pumped while declaring loudly, "Yes. With an Ero-God like you on my side, I'm sure to eventually succeed."

"I'm not an Ero-God," Naruto muttered, but was ignored. So he just sighed and stood up. He then started stretching as he claimed, "There's another reason I can't peep with you."

Issei looked at Naruto stretching before asking in resignation, "Who did you prank?"

Naruto grinned before answering gleefully, "The football(soccer) club. They are also practicing during the lunch period since they have a match coming up. I put some press and stick photos of men posing naked on their sports balls. Permanent photos."

"That's just disgusting. You would have had to special order those. What did you do? Search the web for pictures of naked men?" Issei questioned with a sweat drop.

"Yep," Naruto answered without hesitation. Seeing the disgust on Issei's face, Naruto rolled his eyes before claiming, "Oh, grow up. They're just dicks. You see one every time you go to the bathroom. I'm confident in my sexuality, and confident with what I was born with. Very confident in the latter. I don't need to shy away from seeing a naked man for my own self-esteem."

"Hey! I'm confident in my sexuality and tool too," Issei announced, clearly insulted by Naruto's insinuation. He then finished while shivering, "It's not lacking confidence. It's disgust. Men are just plain disgusting to look at."

"True that," Naruto admitted, acknowledging that point. He then continued, "But plenty in life is distasteful to do. Just bear with it like when you eat your veggies."

Tilting his head slightly, Naruto commented, "ETA…14 seconds. Time to go." Naruto moved to the window and opened it. He then jumped out, uncaring of the fact that they were on the second floor.

No one else in the class reacted either. Naruto's preferred method of leaving the class was using the window. It was like his interactions with the Perverted Trio. Just an everyday occurrence to the class. Although the short topic of naked men and dicks today had made a few of the girls blush.

They also didn't react when seconds after Naruto left, they heard the sound of a large group running towards them. Naruto had great hearing, so he always knew when people were approaching. When a pissed off football club opened the door roughly, everyone in the class pointed at the window and announced in unison, "Jumped out the window." The football club immediately turned and moved to start the chase that inevitably followed one of Naruto's pranks.

Ten minutes later Naruto was cackling like a maniac. Partly due to his own amusement. His main pranks against a club were meant to make them chase him, but he was more than willing to do several smaller pranks during the chase itself. That includes trip lines, paint balls, stink pellets, even a few acid pellets designed to eat away clothes. Watching the football club grow even more annoyed throughout the chase was hilarious. Mainly the cackle was for the entertainment of the spectators watching the chase though. If your going to be chased throughout the entire school, you might as well make it entertaining. Needless to say, watching fifty kids in various states of dishevelment, from dissolved portions of clothing, covered in pink, orange, and yellow paint, and stinking like a sewer, all chasing after a single kid cackling like an insane character from an anime was an interesting spectacle. It never failed to make the surrounding students laugh, especially since Naruto had a tendency to mix it up. The videos of the billiards club with their head shaved and painted to look like billiards balls, the karate club in chicken suits, and the art club painted like clowns still circulated among the students. Yeah, everyone was eventually a victim of Naruto's pranks, but 99% of the time you just got to laugh at the other victims. It spiced up the school life. Or at least Naruto claimed that.

The chase eventually entered one of the many buildings comprising Kuoh Academy. Naruto was fully entertained by this point, and calling back taunts to the tiring pursuers. Even with outnumbering him by fifty to one, they still couldn't catch him. Naruto was too fast and agile. At least the numbers made it fun for Naruto.

So he barely reacted in time when he turned the corner. Sensing two people right in his way, Naruto pulled off a desperate spin. He felt his skin run along the uniform of the closer one, but successfully managed to avoid colliding with her. Oh yeah, Uzumaki. That was totally awesome.

His self praise was abruptly ended when one of his feet slipped and he face planted on the ground. Naruto had always been a rather clumsy person. Even when he became a bonafide badass he was far from the most graceful ninja. Apparently trying to pull of a spin at full speed at the last moment was a bit beyond his current abilities. He just laid there for a second as he silently bemoaned his mistake. Yeah, real smooth.

It wouldn't be Naruto though if he didn't immediately bounce back. Within a second he jumped to his feet. He paused for a second as he grasped his spinning head, since he had face planted rather hard.

"Are you okay, Uzumaki-san?" a voice asked as he was trying to recover from his possible concussion.

"Yeah, I'm good. I'm pretty durable. Just give me a second," Naruto muttered. He finally recovered enough to open his eyes to look upon the person he had avoided running into. The first thing he saw was red. Acting without a moment of thought, Naruto stepped forward and grabbed a strand of the crimson red hair. He then looked the girl in the face and commented with a wide smile, "Wow. Your hair is such a beautiful color."

Rias Gremory just blinked. She didn't mind that he'd intruded on her personal space and grabbed some of her hair, since she didn't much care for such things. It was his words that surprised her. She'd never heard that before…Okay, she had, but never as the first thing. Most people complimented her body first(at least mentally if not out loud). Her eyes second. Her flawless skin or face shape third. Her hair was usually the fifth or sixth thing a person complimented. Yet this guy did it immediately after seeing her. It was…different.

Her surprise gave Naruto enough time to realize what he'd just done. He was naturally a blunt and improper person, saying what he thought. No hesitation whatsoever, but he did know proper manners on some level. So he knew plenty of girls would be creeped out or intimidated by him suddenly intruding on their personal space, grabbing their hair, and complimenting it. He didn't even know this girl's name.

So he quickly took a step back while letting go of her hair. He then scratched the back of his neck and laughed in embarrassment before saying, "Sorry about that. I can be kind of thoughtless. I hope I didn't alarm you, Ms…?"

Rias once again blinked in shock. He didn't know her name. Yeah, the two had never spoken before, but she was used to everyone at the school knowing her name. Another aspect of him that differed from the norm.

Rias managed to hide her shock and chuckled softly before replying with a small smile, "It is fine, Uzumaki-san. I was surprised, but I'm flattered by your compliment. I'm Rias Gremory by the way. Rias as my given name."

This time it was Naruto's turn to be surprised. He tilted his head in confusion before asking, "I'm sorry for asking, but have we met before, Rias-san? You seem to know me."

"No, we have not. You are simply rather…well known around the school, Naruto-san," Rias replied calmly, surprised but comfortable with his use of her given name. Reciprocating the level of familiarity was automatic for her.

"Ara, ara. It seems I've been overlooked," a soft voice spoke up.

"Oh, sorry. I was distracted," Naruto said while once again scratching the back of his neck in embarrassment at the oversight. He turned to look at the person. Immediately he grew pale.

It wasn't because of the looks of the person. The girl, better to refer to her as a woman, was stunning. She had the classic Yamato Nadeshiko look to her. Her eyes were a clear violet, and her incredibly long black hair was tied back into a ponytail(with an orange ribbon, dattebayo!). Two strands of her hair were sticking up, sloping backwards. She was also incredibly buxom, surpassing even Rias, who was very buxom as well. She was the type of woman every male probably wanted to settle down with.

No, he paled for another reason. His gut and training with Jiraiya told him a very disturbing secret of the proper looking woman in front of him.

Pointing at her in terror, he then yelled in panic, "Aaaahhh! Sadist! Run away!" Naruto then did just that. Turned tail and ran with his tail between his legs.

Never let it be said that Naruto was a masochist. He might have let Sakura hit him, but that was because that had simply been part of the weird relationship they had between them. He did something stupid, she hit him. If he dodged, she just got angry and would try to hit him twice. The only way to avoid being hit entirely was to not do something stupid, not likely, so he just accepted the one hit as the best choice. The idea of someone getting sexual pleasure from causing him pain scared him so much he just outright avoided sadists. Since part of his training with Jiraiya involved being able to properly identify people's sexual fetishes(yes, Jiraiya chose to teach him stuff like that instead of techniques), Naruto was very good at avoiding them.

The football club unfortunately arrived just in time to see Naruto point at Akeno, call her a sadist, before running away. Calling the prim and proper Himejima-oneesama a sadist was more than enough to reignite the fire of their determination to catch and punish Naruto. Such a lie was unforgivable…ignorance is truly bliss. So they ran past the Two Great Ladies of Kuoh Academy while screaming insults at Naruto.

"How dare you insult Himejima-senpai. Die!"

"Filthy lying pervert!"

"Burn him at the stake!"

"For Himejima-oneesama's honor!"

Akeno just watched this all occur with wide eyes. Needless to say, she had never had a guy run away from her before like that. Usually they bowed in worship when she smiled.

Too bad. She liked his book, Icha Icha Slave. Seems there is some truth to his apparent claim to not being the original writer. No one capable of writing a book about masochism so well would run from a sadist with such fear.

"Ufufu, seems someone got a perfect measure of your heart with just one look, Akeno," Rias commented with an amused smile.

Akeno just smiled as she replied calmly, "I am offended, Buchou. I am not only a sadist…I am also a masochist."

Rias just sweat dropped before suggesting, "You say that, but you always seem on S mode. Even I've never seen your M side."

"But, Buchou, you already cover the masochist base in our club. Doubling up is a waste. So I have no choice but to cover the sadist base," Akeno claimed with a wide smile. She then put her cheek in her hand and sighed before adding in an exaggeratedly sad voice, "I'm such a good friend to my king that I have no choice but to take incredible pleasure in the pain of our enemies. Oh, woe is me."

Rias just sweat dropped again before muttering, "You always say that, but I'm not a masochist."

"Yes you are. My sadist senses always tingle around you, Buchou," Akeno retorted immediately.

That caused Rias to shiver. Akeno had always openly claimed to not care about gender. 'As long as they feel pain.' She did not know what to think when Akeno says stuff like that.

Rias' mood took a 180 after that. Straightening, she grew serious before asking, "So that is Uzumaki Naruto. Never met him face to face before. You felt it too, right?"

"Yes," Akeno answered, matching her king's seriousness. She then continued, "His magic reserves are above average…for a human. We've known that for a time."

Rias just thought for a few seconds before asking, "What else do we know about him?"

Akeno shrugged at her king's curiosity before reciting from memory, "Uzumaki Naruto, seventeen years old. Blond hair. Blue eyes. Considered good looking. Just under six feet tall. Looks Scandinavian despite his Japanese name. Orphan. Second year. Transferred in two weeks after the start of the year. Below average grades. Incredibly physical fitness. Writer of the Icha Icha erotic novels. Empathetic, kind, enthusiastic, blunt, honest, and an emphatic prankster. Popular. Rumors of high sexual appetite. Not confirmed. Likely result of his status as author of Icha Icha."

"And his magical abilities and potential?" Rias quickly asked.

"He has above average magical reserves for a normal person. Many of his pranks also indicate a high likelihood that he is capable of using a form of magic, due to the overall difficulty of them. His magic reserves are low for magicians though, meaning he is likely a failed magician. He's physically fit, and claims to know many different martial arts. Possible close combatant. Potential is good, if average. Likely a long term project. Little short term potential. No sacred gear," Akeno explained easily.

"That's a shame," Rias stated with a sigh. He seems a decent candidate for a peerage if one has time to properly nurture him, but she doesn't have that sort of time. She needs someone capable of being an asset within a few months. Seems Issei is still her only real hope. She turned and started walking away as she finished by saying, "He was kind of interesting too. Not bad looking either."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

"Man, who'd have thought calling out a sadist would motivate people so much," Naruto commented as he walked out of class.

The football club had chased him far longer than he expected. They still didn't catch him, but they made him late for class. The teacher gave him extra homework as a punishment. He probably isn't going to do it, but that still means he'll be lectured tomorrow. He may be a master at tuning out lectures, but that doesn't mean he likes them.

"You called Himejima-senpai a sadist. That's practically sacrilege," someone claimed immediately.

Naruto looked over in exasperation to look at the Perverted Trio. Naruto was truly fated to be surrounded by perverts. There's no escaping it. No other way to explain the Perverted Trio all being in his class, and the three living close to him. They always stuck to him like glue on the walk back to their houses.

Naruto finally just shook his head before asking, "Himejima, huh? That's her name. I ran away before I got her name because of the whole, you know, sadist thing she's got going on."

"Yes, that goddesses' name is Himejima Akeno. One of the Two Great Ladies of Kuoh Academy. Beautiful, elegant, and gentle. She is a perfect Japanese beauty," Motohama explained passionately. He then turned to Naruto with an anger he never used before when talking to Naruto. Apparently his love of Akeno surpasses his worship of Naruto. "To have that gentle and demure beauty be called a sadist is the ultimate insult. It insults the entire Yamato Nadeshiko ideology."

"She is though. I know a sadist when I see one, and she is a serious sadist," Naruto asserted stubbornly.

Matsuda and Motohama looked about to physically attack Naruto, but Issei acted first by declaring with a perverted face, "I don't care either way. Those OPPAI! Such beautiful oppai. I don't care if she is a sadist or not. I would face death itself if those magnificent oppai were the reward."

Matsuda and Motohama looked thoughtful for a few moments before gaining equally perverted faces. Matsuda quickly said, "That's true. Akeno-senpai is totally worth any cost. It would be like Icha Icha Slave. Plus, the idea of Akeno-senpai in a leather S&amp;M outfit…*shiver*…Ama~zing!"

Naruto just looked at the trio in disgust. True, the trio had raved about Icha Icha Slave, so they were into that sort of thing, but Naruto could tell they could get off on anything if it meant a beautiful girl. He could stand perverts, but that sort of think was just ridiculous to him. People have standards and preferences. It's just a matter of pride. These three just lacked any whatsoever.

Naruto looked up into the sky and flipped the bird at it. This was just cruel, sticking Naruto with these three. If this was payback for creating the sexy jutsu, then he'd long since paid his due with Jiraiya. Now it was just someone up there laughing their ass off.

"Hyoudou Issei?" a voice interrupted.

Naruto looked towards the person. His eyebrows immediately rose up when he recognized the person. It was a girl their age. Her black hair was in a bob-cut, and her eyes were a violet color. She also had a pair of red glasses on. She was a bit on the short side, with a rather petite figure. He recognized her. Souna Shitori, the student council president. She was the one responsible with issuing him punishments for his many pranks.

Issei looked baffled that she had asked for him. Bewildered, he looked around before pointing to himself questioningly. She nodded before saying, "Yes, I mean you, Hyoudou-san. I need to talk to you."

Issei's mouth opened and closed several times in confusion, forcing Naruto to act. Moving forward, he lightly shoved Issei forward. He then grabbed the back of Matsuda and Motohama's shirts and started pulling the two struggling boys away while telling Souna, "Sure you can. Not like he has anything better to do."

Souna's eyes turned sharp when she acknowledged Naruto. He chuckled awkwardly. She had never forgiven him for when he pranked the student council. Okay, it might have been a slightly inappropriate prank, maybe a bit of a perverted one, but it was to be expected. She was the one to punish him for his pranks most of the time, it was only natural that the student council would get the worst prank. Knowing he was unwanted, he started walking away. Matsuda and Motohama being pulled along.

"What the hell? Why is THE Souna Shitori talking to Issei? Unfair!" Matsuda declared while struggling against Naruto.

"Just shut up. Issei was clearly just as shocked as you two. Now be good friends and be happy that a girl is willingly talking to him," Naruto ordered with a sigh.

"This is messed up. Souna-kaichou is one of the most popular girls in school. Why is she talking to Issei? Don't tell me. A confession?!" Motohama asked in disbelief.

Naruto rolled his eyes and just continued walking away. He doubted it was a confession. Not only was Issei not the type for girls to like, but Souna wasn't the type to do something like that. Her eyes had also been cold, calculating. Naruto hadn't sensed an malicious intent towards Issei either. So she wasn't punishing him for anything. In conclusion, she probably has some business with Issei. More boring than a confession, but anything that gives Issei more experience with woman is a good thing in Naruto's mind. He'll just have to ask Issei tomorrow about it.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Next Morning

"You're joining the student council?" Naruto asked, his eyes wide and his mouth hanging open. He had not been expecting that.

He had arrived this morning to see Matsuda and Motohama trying to interrogate. Issei seemed to have been holding it in though…barely. As soon as he saw Naruto, he burst out that Souna had asked him to join the student council.

Issei nodded eagerly before elaborating, "Yes, although Souna-senpai says I'll have to be an ordinary assistant because people won't elect me to a more important position."

"Why though?" Motohama demanded immediately. He then continued, "There is literally no reason she would ask you to join the student council. I have better grades."

This time Naruto detected clear signs of Issei holding something in. Issei wasn't that good of a liar. So there were many tells when Issei looked away and answered hesitantly, "Souna-senpai says I have a lot more potential than it appears. She says that that joining the student council will teach me discipline, and she can help me study."

The other two clearly bought it. Matsuda crossed his arms as he declared stiffly, "Don't see why you accepted then. Sounds like a drag. It will cut into your peeping time."

"Oh, there are certainly benefits," Issei claimed slyly. Looking around like he was trying to be subtle, he then leaned forward and continued, "Let's just say this brings me one step closer to my harem."

While Matsuda and Motohama recoiled in shock, Naruto just raised an eyebrow before questioning, "Does this have to do with the fact that the entire student council is female?"

Issei laughed uncomfortably while shifting before claiming, "Yeah, that's it. Being around all those girls all the time is a good step, right?"

Naruto narrowed his eyes slightly when he detected that as another lie. Issei is hiding something, which is weird. Usually he blurts everything out, even stuff Naruto wishes he kept to himself. For him to be hiding something indicates it is important.

And why is Issei shying away from the sun? He keeps raising his arm to try and block the rising sun's rays from getting in his eyes. He also seems tired.

Deciding to put away those thoughts, Naruto just put a hand on Issei's head. He then ruffled his hair before commenting, "Don't really know what's going on, but you seem happy about it. That's good enough for me. Good luck with the student council."

Issei grinned happily at Naruto's approval and acceptance. Not surprising since he did honestly idolize Naruto to a rather disturbing degree.

Any further attempts by Matsuda and Motohama to interrogate Issei were cut off by the teacher coming in to start class.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

"Buchou, are you in here?" Akeno called out as she slowly opened the door to the clubroom. She quickly got her answer when she saw Rias at her desk. The young devil was in her chair, her face planted on her desk. An aura of gloom and depression surrounding her.

Akeno blinked in surprise at the sight. Rias had been fine that morning. She'd gone to talk when her friend/rival Sona requested she come to the student council room. Akeno had only come here when she heard Rias hadn't shown up for her classes. Rias and her lived in the old school building, so they never really missed school. What had happened during her talk with Sona that had left Rias so…miserable?

Moving forward, Akeno touched Rias' shoulder before asking gently, "Rias. What happened?" Her use of her name instead of her title showed how concerned Akeno was. Rias eventually said something, but it was nonsensical because her face was still pressed against her desk. Akeno sweat dropped before asking, "Can you repeat that?"

Rias slowly lifted her head to show a despairing face. She then informed her queen, "Sona made Issei part of her peerage last night."

"What?" Akeno asked in shock and dismay.

"You heard me," Rias grumbled before putting her face back against the desk.

Akeno moved to a chair and collapsed into it as she absorbed the news. She then questioned in a tense voice, "What happened? I thought Sona was stepping aside on Issei since you let her pick up three of the more magically talented students without issue."

Rias lifted her head just enough to explain clearly, "She says she did. She says that she has stayed to the sideline for months, but that time ran out. That she gave me plenty of time to make him part of my peerage, but didn't make use of the opportunity. That if I wasn't going to act, she wasn't going to restrain herself."

Akeno wanted to argue, but couldn't. What Sona was saying was true. They identified Issei as a Sacred Gear holder at the end of the last year. They had immediately gone to Sona to claim him, cashing in the favors she owed them to prevent any arguments, but they haven't acted since. They had the entire summer and several more months since to induct him into Rias' peerage, but they hadn't. They had sat by on Rias' orders. To Sona, it must have appeared they had chosen to ignore Issei entirely. Since she had given Rias the chance to claim him, there was no issue in her claiming him now. From a logical standpoint, Sona had every right to claim Issei. So she did.

"This is horrible!" Akeno finally exclaimed.

"I know."

"Riser is sure to come calling soon!"

"I know."

"We have no chance to beat him in a rating game in our current condition!"

"I KNOW, AKENO!"

That stopped Akeno. She immediately stopped talking. She had just been repeating what Rias no doubt knew, and Rias was probably even more terrified by the implications than she was.

Seeing Akeno calm down, Rias put her face back against her desk with a groan of despair. No matter how she thought about it, things did not look good. No, they looked downright terrible.

The reason is because one Riser Phenex, her fiancée. Not by choice though. The two had been engaged since before she had even been born. Put simply, Rias didn't want to marry him…at all. The marriage had a lot of political implications though. With so few pure-blooded devils remaining, it was viewed as a way to ensure the next generation of pure-blooded devils. It would also cement an alliance between the Gremory Clan and Phenex Family, two of the remaining 34 pillar families. So the marriage was pretty much set in stone.

Almost, but not quite. Devils value power greatly. If Rias can prove her power and leadership abilities before the marriage, she could end it. She had few real options to do just that though, considering her age and current power level. The only real option was to beat Riser in an unofficial Rating Match. Rating Matches are a sign of a devils personal power, and the power of their peerage. Defeating Riser would prove Rias was the more powerful devil, thus her opinion would trump Riser's in the mind of the devil community. It was the best option.

The prospects of that occurring were at an all time low though. Riser was older and more experienced than her. He had an entire peerage, fifteen members. She had four total, one of which is useless currently. Including the kings, it was sixteen to four. Numbers don't decide a match, but they sure do help. And the numbers are currently against her. She doesn't even want to acknowledge that Riser is immortal at this point.

No matter how she thinks about it, her chance of winning the match is 0%. No strategy she can come up with, no training they can do, no forbidden spell she could learn, nothing can alter that 0%. She needs more peerage members to simply have the smallest chance of success.

She was also running out of time. Riser was not known for his patience. Since she's had her Evil Piece set for over two years now, it was only a matter of time. Riser was going to run out of patience. He'd then pressure his father, who would pressure her father, who would then pressure her to have the marriage occur. Her brother had recently warned her Riser was tired of waiting. He was starting to complain to his father. She had maybe six months before she ran out of time, but more likely just two or three months. That was an incredibly small window to work with.

She had thought Issei was the opportunity she was looking for. His sacred gear was so powerful that it could only be a Longinus, one of the thirteen most powerful sacred gears in the world. A weapon that can kill a god. The idea of such a person going to her school had practically been fate in Rias' mind. Not that Issei's assistance alone would have been enough to guarantee a victory over Riser. Longinus may be powerful, but they don't start out that way. Their wielders needs unlock such power. They need time, experience, _training_. It had still been enough to give Rias hope that she could beat Riser though. If Issei could gain even basic control over his Longinus, her chance of defeating Riser rose to 5%. 5% is abysmally low still, but Rias would take it over 0%.

And even that small chance had now sunk through her grasp. Sona had stolen even that chance from her. Rias wanted to scream, rant, beat Sona to a pulp with her hands. She couldn't though. Sona had done nothing wrong. She was simply a scapegoat for Rias to blame for her own failure. She finally grumbled out, "Being patient and waiting seems to have come to bite me in the ass."

Akeno somehow managed to hear, and couldn't help but ask, "Why did we wait? I mean, we've known about Issei for half a year. Why did you order us to wait?"

Rias looked nervous and embarrassed. She hesitantly explained, "I figured the fallen angels in the town would eventually identify Issei as a Longinus holder as well. They would no doubt try to eliminate him. I figured I could resurrect him then."

Akeno's eyebrows raised before she replied in a sly, but slightly disbelieving, voice, "Ara Ara. Was Buchou being manipulative? Planning to use someone's death as a way to ensure their loyalty?"

Rias' head shot up and she quickly retorted, "No. That isn't what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?" Akeno immediately asked, confused by her king's unusually flustered behavior. She was also slightly glad Rias hadn't been trying to manipulate Issei. Rias had secured her entire current peerage by saving their lives, herself included. If she showed she was willing to let prospective peerage candidates walk to their deaths in order to gain their loyalty, it would cast a ray of suspicion on how she gained any of them.

Rias once again showed clear hesitation in answering. After a few seconds of stammering, she looked away as she whispered while blushing heavily, "It would have been awkward."

Akeno blinked, having caught her words. She just didn't understand them. She quickly asked, "What do you mean?"

Rias very clearly gathered up her courage before clarifying while blushing more than Akeno had ever seen, "It would have been awkward to explain to Issei about everything. All of you already knew about the supernatural before joining my peerage. I didn't really know how to explain to someone completely ignorant. So I figured the shock of finding out about fallen angels and being reincarnated would make it easier."

Akeno just gaped. After nearly a minute just sitting there in disbelief, she managed to say softly, "So the reason we waited for six months, the reason we lost a Longinus user…is because you thought it would be awkward to explain the supernatural to him."

"…Yes."

"…Idiot."

"I know."

"Like seriously. You are an idiot."

"I know."

"Like the most idiotic thing you have ever done."

"I know!"

"You might have just made the biggest, and most idiotic, mistake of your entire life!"

"I know, okay!" Rias screamed, tears now gathering in her eyes. She then spun to look out the window, turning her back to Akeno.

That quickly stopped any anger Akeno might have been feeling. Anything she was feeling, Rias was probably feeling twice as bad. This mistake might very well force Rias to marry Riser, who is well known for treating his peerage like a harem. Akeno would have to follow Rias in such a case, but Riser would have no right to touch her. Rias was not so lucky. She'd be his _wife._

Akeno couldn't help herself from sighing though. The pure imbecilic quality of Rias' reason to not approach Issei earlier was just too much. Rias was outgoing, had no shame, was friendly, and charming. To find she had been nervous about explaining the supernatural to Issei was something Akeno hadn't ever even considered. Thinking on it, she can see a bit why. Rias, and the entire Gremory family, consider their peerage to be their family. Trying to make the process of introducing a new member as smooth as possible was likely something she hadn't even needed to think about. It was automatic. The possibility of Issei rejecting her or entering denial, which is always possible when telling normal humans about the supernatural, had likely been a nightmare scenario for her. So she instead was willing to wait months in order to optimize the chance of such a thing not happening. Still didn't make it any less stupid though.

Approaching Rias' back, Akeno laid a comforting hand on her shoulder before saying, "It's okay, Rias. I won't lie and say what you did wasn't stupid, but everyone is stupid once in a while. No need to beat yourself up over it."

"I may have just lost my only chance to marry a person I love because I was _shy. _That's a good reason to beat myself up about," Rias' whispered, no doubt holding back tears. Akeno really didn't know how to respond to that, so she just hugged Rias softly. The best she could do was try and show Rias she was there for her, no matter how bad things look. After a few moments of this, Rias asked, "What should I do, Akeno?"

Akeno blinked in shock before asking, "You're asking me?"

"I don't see why not. I've done a pretty good job of botching things up. I'm a complete failure as a king. If you asked me two years ago, I would have declared confidently that most of my peerage would have been filled by this point. That they'd all be well trained and powerful Ready to defeat Riser. Instead I have…_this,_" Rias stated in a bitter voice. She then gave a weak laugh, cracking halfway through due to her emotion. Akeno decided to ignore the possible insult. She knew Rias didn't mean it like that. Rias considered all of them her family, and loved them. It was the idea that she only had four peerage members, one that had to be sealed away for his own safety. Considering she had been preparing and planning for two years to eventually face Riser, her efforts have not borne much fruit. After a few seconds of weak sobs, Rias recovered enough to finish, "Seems like anyone can do better than me right now, and you are way better than a random person. So I don't see why not."

Akeno nodded gravely. Rias had always been certain in her abilities, but this seems to have created a crack in her usual confidence. A crack that had likely been forming for months as the deadline with Riser approached. This incident was the last straw. So now she's looking around her for help, which is actually good. She's not giving up or trying to stand by herself. When weak, its better to lean a bit on your friends. That's what they are for, after all.

So Akeno lead the now outright crying Rias back to her chair. She then pulled out a tissue and gently dabbed at her eyes. Thankfully Rias didn't wear mascara or makeup, so she didn't need to worry about that sort of mess. Once Rias' tears stopped flowing, Akeno stood and started to make two cups of tea. She then gave one to the hiccupping and shaking Rias before sitting opposite her with her own cup. She then waited till Rias took a few sips. The tea did its job in calming Rias down slightly.

Placing her own tea down, Akeno started seriously, "If I am going to give you advice then I am going to be completely honest, Rias…Right now, Sona has proven herself a far superior king than you."

That made Rias flinch. Sure, she had been expecting something like that. Even asked for it. Still didn't make it any easier to hear. Sona was her rival, despite also being her friend. To hear that she had lost to her rival so bluntly was not a good feeling.

Akeno continued on though, explaining, "It isn't do to your personal power or ability or anything. It's simply a matter of the method in which you both gathered your peerage. To be blunt Rias, you did almost nothing. Myself, Koneko, Yuuto, and Gasper. We all fell right into your lap by coincidence, and you simply took advantage. That seems to have colored your expectations though. You have been waiting for it to happen again. For a sacred gear holder, youkai, devil, or whatever to fall into your lap. Even Issei. You knew about him, but it wasn't enough for him to go to our school. You wanted some perfect event. For him to be killed by the fallen angels, and you come to the rescue. You have been waiting for some big opportunity to fall into your lap."

"Now let's think about how Sona went about gathering a peerage. She didn't wait. She carefully evaluated the students in this school who had magical potential. She then recruited the one's with the most, resolving to train them up over time. She didn't wait for already competent candidates to appear. She calculated who could eventually become a competent peerage member, and then set about making them achieve that potential. While you waited for opportunities to appear, she actively worked to create her own opportunities. Thinking about it, her choice to recruit Issei was not only logical, but expected. To her, your choice to wait for a better opportunity to recruit him must have been infuriating. In her mind, if you weren't going to take advantage of this opportunity, she might as well. That she waited six months is actually the unexpected part. I would have guessed she'd have only given you half that time."

"So the answer to your earlier question about what you should do. You need to change your method, Rias. You can't wait for some hero or savior to appear. You have to work at improving your peerage. Put in a true effort," Akeno declared bluntly. She then elaborated, "We'll use our familiars to scout out any possible talent. Anyone that has above average magical potential. Three of our familiars in the school, and one searching the city for any sacred gear users or supernatural creatures. We review them all, and make a decision. We then recruit them. No delay."

Rias nodded, but still argued, "We don't have long before our match with Riser. We don't have time to properly train someone from scratch. We should focus on finding sacred gear users or those already with a proficient fighting level that are in the city."

"Didn't you listen to anything I just said, Rias," Akeno chastised with a frown. She then explained, "There aren't any of those. Or so few the chances of us finding them are low. Do you know why we were sent to this school, besides to fit in? It's because this is the place most likely to have sacred gear holders in this entire city. They don't last long, Rias. They are either killed, or recruited by someone. Don't expect to find some random, middle-aged shop keeper with a sacred gear. Stop expecting someone like that to appear. We have no choice but to look for less appealing options."

Rias lowered her head slightly at the brutal summarization. She still managed to comment, "I just don't think we have enough time to train a regular person to the point they'd be useful."

"Then I'll whip them into shape if I have to," Akeno claimed with a scary look on her face, for once not thinking of receiving pleasure at such an action. She then added, "We don't need them truly powerful. Not to the level of Yuuto or Koneko. As long as they are semi-competent, they'll fill up our numbers. The less Riser's peerage outnumber us, the better our chances. Our current members will just have to fill the gap in skill and experience."

Rias still wasn't sure, but finally gave her assent. Even if the chance of such a plan succeeding were low, it might be her only chance.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

A Week Later

Rias stood looking out the window as she commented, "I guess it was only as matter of time. Naruto-san has been going around pranking clubs since he arrived. He's already passed over us several times, since he probably didn't even know this club exists. He'd eventually find out and hit us, and he seems to have targeted us as individuals instead of a group since there are so few of us. It is a weird coincidence though considering what we were going to talk about today."

Rias then turned to look at the two others in the room with her, Yuuto and Akeno. Naruto had somehow managed to dye Rias' uniform a vibrant red, which raised all sorts of questions. The only chance he had was when she took a shower, and she had placed the uniform within her sight. How the hell did he take it, and dye it all before she even saw him. She didn't even care that he no doubt saw her while she was showering. He'd also managed to write in big, bold letters across the front, where her breasts were, 'Red Hot Mama.' She didn't mind that much, since all of Naruto's prank dyes and paints dissolved once washed. So they only lasted a day. Her biggest complaint was that her entirely red clothing along with her red hair created a bit too much red, and her rampant curiosity over how he did it.

"I don't really mind either. He's done every other club at least twice by now…I did almost get mauled though," Yuuto claimed while laughing awkwardly. Naruto had somehow managed to place a crown and a cape on him, both of which he couldn't remove for some reason. Then on his shirt were the words, 'Kiss The Prince.' Needless to say, his face was decorated with lipstick marks from all the girls who were all too happy to oblige.

"I had fun," Akeno announced with a small smile on her face. Naruto had somehow managed to make her grab two things that she similarly couldn't stop holding. One was a whip. The other was the handle of leash, with a dog on the other end. Where Naruto got the dog was a mystery. On her shirt was a larger message than Rias or Yuuto. It said, 'Anyone want to switch places with the dog? I'm looking for a new pet/slave.'

Rias just sweat dropped at the message, and Akeno's apparent enjoyment of the prank. She quickly asked, "Aren't you upset about Naruto, you know…ruining your image by insisting you are a sadist?"

"I might have been, since I've made such an effort to hide my sadism to not make us stand out too much, but this was entertaining. And illuminating. Look at this," Akeno informed them as she managed to use a loose pinkie to hold up a paper.

Rias frowned and grabbed it. The frown only grew as she skimmed it. She then commented in confusion, "I don't get it. What is this? It's just a list of names, addresses, and phone numbers."

Akeno chuckled before revealing, "That is a list of people willing to become my pet or slave. All it took was walking around like this for three hours, and I got a total of 64 males and 17 females." She then grew thoughtful before asking, "Think I should walk around town like this? Just to see how many are willing. I admit to being curious. Maybe I can break a thousand in a week."

Rias and Yuuto both sweat dropped. Rias quickly answered, "No!…Just...No. That is not…recommended."

"Aww," Akeno groaned with a pout.

Rias just shook her head before looking at the door to the bedroom her and Akeno usually sleep. She then asked, "Why is Koneko hiding in there?"

Yuuto smiled uneasily before telling her, "I'm guessing it has to do with the prank. I head she ended up skipping school after being pranked, but I did hear rumors of what Uzumaki-san did."

Curious, Rias called out, "Koneko. You need to come out now."

"No!"

Rias blinked in surprise. Koneko was usually one of the more well behaved of her servants. She then frowned before ordering, "Koneko. Come out now."

"Don't wanna!"

Now Rias developed a tick mark. She quickly barked out, "Koneko Toujou! As your king, I order you to leave that room this instant."

There was a pause, but the door eventually slowly opened. Koneko then walked out like she was heading to her death. A small blush was on her cheeks, and a near imperceptible pout was on her face.

Once the three saw her, they all couldn't help but burst out laughing. As expected, Koneko had two kitten ears on her head and a tail coming from her tailbone. The colors even matched her hair. That wasn't the part that made them crack up though. It was the words on her shirt. 'Pet The Pussy.'

Koneko pouted even more when they started laughing. Her eyes grew sharp as she muttered, "I don't like this Uzumaki. I suggest we get revenge. Plant magical traps in his home."

Yuuto quickly interrupted between his remaining chuckles, "Not recommended. The baseball club once tried that after he painted all their baseball to look like old, wrinkly testicles. Not only could they not get in, but he then got revenge. He put laxatives in their water right before a game…They couldn't leave the field…That was truly the messiest game in the history of baseball."

Akeno chuckled at the story before moving to look out the window. She then told them, "Plus, it looks like the other students are trying to get revenge for us."

The group moved over to see Naruto running from a group ten times larger than usual. Apparently pranking The Two Great Ladies of Kuoh Academy, the school prince, and the person who many consider to be the school mascot was too much for many of the students. He was still cackling like a maniac though, so it was doubtful they'd catch him. The fact that he could successfully evade several hundred students chasing him at once is rather impressive though.

Rias just sighed before announcing, "Okay, that's enough of that. We need to focus on what the topic of today's meeting is suppose to be about."

The group grew serious and all moved their usual spots. Koneko on the couch, Yuuto beside her, Rias in her chair, and Akeno just behind Rias.

Rias leaned forward and picked up a small pile of folders that were on her desk. She then told them, "You no doubt realize all this, but I'll reiterate. Hyoudou Issei became a part of Sona's peerage roughly a week ago. So we have switched to a different method of gaining allies that Akeno recommended to me. Our familiars have been busy scouting out the potential in our school, with one focusing on the rest of the city. The results were…discouraging."

She indicated the filed before continuing, "In our school we have four individuals who appear to have a potential high enough to even consider. In the city, we found none. Of the four, only one has a good chance of being sufficiently powerful in time for the Rating Match against Riser."

"Uzumaki Naruto. Opinions?"

The group was slightly surprised by her asking for their opinions, but quickly adjusted. They each took one of the folders to read it. Yuuto was the first to speak by commenting, "His magic reserves seem to be growing rapidly. While still nothing to be overly impressed by, they are 45% higher than our estimates were when we first noticed him a month ago. High rate of growth. His physical stats are very impressive. His stealth and trapping skills are exemplary based on his pranks. Also indicates he probably knows a form of magic. His personality is also agreeable, despite his fondness for pranks. Nothing we can't deal with. I say we go for it."

Koneko soon added simply, "Don't like his pranks, but little choice. Yes."

Akeno thought for several moments before declaring with a firm nod, "We need help. Naruto seems the best choice at this point. My answer is obvious."

Rias just sighed before stating, "Then it is unanimous. Yuuto, bring him here after school tomorrow. We'll talk to him then."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Next day

"You do know this random demand for me to accompany you to your club room is rather suspect since I pranked you guys yesterday, right?"

Yuuto just sweat dropped at Naruto's comment. The renown prankster of Kuoh sure did not make it easy. In fact, he seems to have gone out of his way to make it difficult for him. Apparently Naruto was the kind of person that if someone told him to go right, he would go left just to spite them. Basically, he really didn't like being told what to do. Yuuto demanding, if in a very polite way, Naruto to follow him counted as such. Yuuto had to deal with Naruto randomly disappearing on him, talking about inane things, and voicing his reluctance to go visit the Occult Research Club. Naruto even subtle managed to guide Yuuto into the girls locker room. That had not been pretty for Yuuto, and had left Yuuto baffled on how the bloody hell Naruto had managed it.

What would ordinarily have been a five minute walk had turned into a forty minute struggle. Yuuto had not come out of it unscathed. His clothes were torn, his face was once again covered in lipstick prints, his hair was frazzled, and his eyes were fixed on Naruto with a manic intensity. He was not going to allow Naruto to disappear on him again. Overall Yuuto was a step away from cracking. Forty minutes dealing with an annoyed Naruto had left his sanity frayed.

Sighing, Yuuto told him in his best reassuring tone, "Don't worry. We don't care about your pranks…Okay, maybe Koneko does, but only her."

Naruto didn't seem very reassured. He just raised an eyebrow at the shorter blonde before informing him, "Okay, but I'll still warn you. I have a dozen extra strength stink pellets on me, and I will not hesitate to break your window by jumping out of it if the situation turns ugly. I am also not responsible for any rubber chicken induced trauma."

"Okay. I understand," Yuuto claimed with another sweat drop. Naruto may be a nice guy most of the time, but damn if he isn't incredibly weird when he wants to be. How can a rubber chicken be used to traumatize someone? Never mind. He really doesn't want to know.

Naruto stepped in without hesitation when Yuuto opened the door. He may have made it troublesome for him, but Naruto at least had to respect how determined Yuuto was to bring him here. Must mean something serious. Probably revenge for his prank, despite Yuuto's reassurances. Naruto wasn't worried though. He had three rubber chickens on him right now, and he knew how to use them.

Naruto quickly scanned the room. The Occult Research club's room was pretty large, decorated in a style Naruto had briefly been told about. Victory or Victoria style or something. He can't remember. It was a wood paneled room a bit different than the traditional Japanese work Naruto is more used to. The room was also lighted by candles instead of electric lights, giving the room a darker or more mysterious feel to it. The main seating arrangements revolved around two couches on either side of a decent sized table. There was also an official looking desk beyond that, just before the far wall. There was a set of doors to another room. In the far corner was what looked to be a…shower? Okay. Kind of weird, but Naruto isn't a person that can criticize other people for being weird.

Naruto's eyes were quickly drawn to the person sitting on one of the couches. A petite build and silver hair, Naruto easily recognized her. It also helped that he pranked her yesterday. A 'loli' type that many consider to be a mascot of the school. Koneko Youjou. Petite, with interesting silver hair and yellowish-hazel eyes that always made Naruto picture a kitten.

Something she clearly remembered by the way she was glaring at him. Naruto was able to shrug off her weak killing intent. He then leaned closer to Yuuto with a gleeful grin before whispering loud enough for Koneko to hear, "That pussy definitely needs a good rub. So stressed and irritable. Nothing a good long petting session won't relieve though." Koneko's eye started twitching as her killing intent doubled in intensity. Yuuto tried to hide his laugh behind a cough, but failed rather dismally. Naruto pressed on by saying, "Maybe I should do it myself. Animals love my magical hands, and I give great massages. It could be an…_orgasmic _experience." Yuuto slapped a hand over his mouth to muffle his laughter while Koneko was now blushing while giving him a look that showed she dearly wished he would spontaneously combust.

"Ara ara, what is going on here? All I heard was 'orgasmic experience.' Seems you three got really friendly in such a short time," a voice spoke up before Naruto could continue antagonizing Koneko. The three turned to see Akeno walk through one of the doors. She looked at Naruto before giving a polite smile and saying as she approached, "Good to meet you, Uzumaki-san. I am Himejima Akeno. Vice president of this-"

Akeno stopped talking when Naruto suddenly took a step backwards. Eyebrows scrunched in confusion, Akeno took another step forward. Naruto reacted by taking another step back. Tilting her head in wonder, Akeno took two steps forward. Naruto retreated two steps.

"Ufufu, how interesting," Akeno commented, her smile widening in glee. She suddenly started walking towards Naruto.

Naruto reacted going backwards, matching her steps perfectly. Akeno's smile widened even more as she sped up to a fast walk. Naruto once again matched her movements. She quickly started doing her best to approach Naruto, only restricting herself by not breaking into a run. Naruto quickly started having trouble. The room was decently sized, but not enough to really maneuver. More than a few times he had to make a quick dash to escape a corner. Akeno quickly started closing the gap though by strategically moving to box him in. Every step she gained towards him caused him to pale and start sweating more.

He was saved by someone commenting, "As…entertaining as watching this little game is, I think it needs to end."

Naruto took a breath of relief when Akeno stopped to reply, "Aww, Buchou. We were just having a bit of fun. Wouldn't you agree, Uzumaki-kun?"

Naruto immediately dashed to move behind Rias, using her as a barrier between him and Akeno. He then growled out, "I don't know why I'm here, but my first demand to staying here is that the sadist stays a minimum of five feet from me."

"Aww, but I was so looking forward to engaging in skinship with you, Uzumaki-kun. You know, deepen out relationship," Akeno replied, thoroughly enjoying Naruto's apparent fear of her.

"Hell no. I have a feeling engaging in skinship with you would result in me losing some skin," Naruto retorted seriously.

"Can you not use me as a shield, Naruto-san?" Rias requested while sweat dropping. This was no doubt one of the weirdest situations she's ever been in. Literally in the middle of it, but completely disregarded. Her pride was actually rather stung by it. She was being overlooked completely.

Naruto blinked in surprise, having forgotten just who he was using as a shield, but he still managed to reply with, "As long as the sadist complies with my demand."

Akeno really didn't want to, but Rias sent her a scathing look immediately. So she just let out a disappointed sigh and announced, "Understood. I shall not get within five feet of you, Uzumaki-san…For now at least."

That was enough for Naruto to let go of Rias. The young devil straightened her clothes as she tried to regain her composure. That was not how she expected this meeting to start. Once she was suitably collected, she turned to Naruto and said, "Thank you for coming, Uzumaki-san."

"If this is about revenge for the prank, I warn you. I am armed with three rubber chickens," Naruto immediately declared.

Rias blinked before asking the only thing she could think of. "What?"

"Nothing, just messing with you guys. It's really fun to watch people gape when you say something totally random and nonsensical," Naruto stated with a wide grin as he put his hands behind his head.

"O~kay," Rias replied, once again losing her composure due to Naruto's pure randomness. This time when she recovered, she felt some genuine annoyance. She's stressed enough without her potential peerage member doing his best to fuck with them. So she requested in a clearly strained voice, "Can you please be serious, Naruto-san? I have something very serious to talk to you about."

Naruto tilted his head in response, his eyes raking over her form with an intensity that honestly made her feel a bit uncomfortable. It wasn't even perverted or anything. She was well used to perverts looking at her. She didn't even really care. Something about Naruto's gaze though was…powerful. There was power in it. Authority. Experience. It made her feel like she had suddenly lost control. No, she never had control here. Even if Naruto was in her club room. It was a disconcerting revelation. The thought of her desperate situation was enough for her to not completely back down though. She couldn't give up here without a fight. Her freedom was on the line.

Taking note of Rias' sudden change in demeanor, Naruto also observed that she still didn't back down. It impressed him slightly. He was sending spiritual pressure at her, so her ability to not fold under it spoke highly of her mettle. Chakra is partly composed of spiritual energy, so it can be used to convey emotions or urges. Killing intent is the most common use, quite literally just using chakra to communicate a person's desire/ability to kill another. Applying spiritual pressure is a more advanced technique, one Naruto preferred to use. Naruto didn't have any true killing intent in him, so he used a different method for intimidation. Spiritual pressure is, put simply, using chakra to try enforce your will upon another. This allows a near instantaneous battle of wills to determine relationship, who is in control, who has greater authority, who is dominant, etc. A victim can resist if they have the necessary force of will and character. That was rarely a problem for Naruto though. Naruto firm and unwavering will was one of his hallmarks. He was also a natural at exerting spiritual pressure. Jiraiya had claimed that Naruto amazing track record at convincing his enemies is partly due to his spiritual pressure. Naruto apparently subconsciously used spiritual pressure when his emotions ran high. So he uses spiritual pressure to dominate his opponents mentally while simultaneously imposing his dominance physically. It was a two pronged attack that allowed Naruto alter the mindsets of plenty of his enemies. He could still use it despite his weakened state. For Rias to be able to partly resist it is impressive, even if Naruto was holding back a good deal.

Letting up on the spiritual pressure, Naruto decided to listen to her. This must be serious. Guess he'll have to let up on the messing around. He was only doing that because of his own anxiety anyway.

Naruto was far from an accomplished sensor, but even he could tell that this group was far more powerful than most of the humans in this world. He couldn't get an exact estimate of their power levels, but he didn't really need to. He had been dragged to an out of the way building, where he was now surrounded by four people of unknown strength and intent. Now Naruto wouldn't consider himself paranoid like many ninjas, but even he was feeling a bit nervous right now. He was sure he could escape if they proved to have insidious intentions, but he might have to out himself as not being a 'normal' person in the process. He hoped to avoid that. His apprehension had caused him to act out to try and gain more control of the situation. His over the top antics and randomness interrupted their flow, and he used spiritual pressure to gain a psychological edge over Rias, the apparent leader. That allowed him to gain a better measure of her as well.

He was still far from comfortable, but he was more comfortable than when he entered. He still didn't detect any malicious intent, so he doubted they were going to attack him. Naruto was also confident in his ability to avoid being pranked as revenge.

So Naruto grew serious as he nodded at Rias. She seemed happy at the shift, and motioned for him to sit on one of the couches. Naruto decided to do the smart thing for once and not antagonize Koneko by sitting next to her. Akeno then took the spot next to Koneko, since she couldn't sit by Naruto due to his earlier demand. Kiba then took the spot next to Naruto. Rias moved in front of her desk, sitting on the top instead of sitting in her chair. Likely to be closer to the group.

Crossing her arms, Rias smiled at Naruto as she began speaking in a pleasant voice, "Welcome to the Occult Research Club, Naruto-san. Thank you for coming."

Naruto raised an eyebrow before replying coolly, "No offense, but I wasn't exactly eager. Kiba-san worked so hard though, I felt I had to at least listen to what you wanted. He did almost get raped on the way over here after all."

The group sweat dropped at his words, while Yuuto shivered as he remembered when Naruto managed to guide him into the girl's locker room. Yeah, he did almost get raped. He finally commented in a strained tone, "It is…fine, Uzumaki-san. I was careless."

"Yes, regardless. I thank you for coming. As I said before, I have something very important to talk about. Something…life changing," Rias explained carefully, having gone over what to say with Akeno before this. Naruto didn't say anything, just curiously waiting for her to continue. Taking a deep breath, Rias continued, "The Occult Research Club is a mere façade. Nothing more than a hobby. A cover. I'll be frank, Naruto-san…Everyone in this club is a devil." Her declaration was punctuated by everyone present, besides Naruto of course, unfurling black wings that resembled bat wings.

Naruto managed to keep his cool. The only sign of his surprise was a brief widening of his eyes and a tensing of his muscles. That was all that Rias needed to conclude, "You already know about the supernatural world. We suspected as much. How much do you know?"

"Let's just assume that I only know that the supernatural exists. What is the point in you admitting all this to me?" Naruto replied carefully, ready to act if they attack. He still can't detect any malicious intent, but he doesn't see why they are telling him this. There must be a motive.

"I…see. I expected more, but this changes nothing. As for my motive, you must first understand what are referred to as the Three Factions," Rias stated with a small frown on her face at his apparent ignorance. It was quickly removed before she clarified for him, "The Three Factions are the Devils, Fallen Angels, and Angels. They are also sometimes referred to as the Bible Factions. Long ago there was the Great War. Devils reside in the Underworld, referred to by humans as 'hell.' Fallen Angels are angels that have been cast down to the Underworld due to their wicked nature, with their wings turning black as a sign and punishment. There they did their best to destroy us devils to gain dominance of the Underworld, a battle that has been raging since medieval times. Then there are normal angels, the servants of the Biblical God. On the Biblical God's orders, they do their best to eliminate both devils and fallen angels. This has created a three way standoff. The Great War consists of the time period of the heaviest fighting. It ended in a stalemate. Although still in conflict, all three sides had suffered such heavy casualties that none of the three sides could continue the fight or they would be destroyed. This has resulted in a temporary state of…peace. While there is no true peace between the Three Factions, there has been no outright battles so I guess it counts."

Rias then pulled out a chess set, to Naruto's confusion. He quickly noted that there was only one side, with the pieces glowing red. The set was also missing a bishop, knight, rook, queen, and king.

Rias quickly continued, "The massive losses we devils suffered meant that we could not repopulate our numbers without mass breeding. Thus, the Evil Piece System was created. This system allows a high-class devils to reincarnate members of other species as devils. That reincarnated devil is then considered part of that devil's 'peerage.' The Evil Pieces are based on chess. The high-class devil, myself in this case, represents the king. Everyone I choose to resurrect as a devil is represented by the piece used to resurrect them. The entire set consists of eight pawns, two bishops, two knights, two rooks, and one queen. As you can see, I am missing a queen, knight, rook, and bishop. Akeno is my queen. Koneko is my rook. Yuuto is my knight. My bishop is currently incapacitated."

"So am I right to guess you wish to have me join your peerage?" Naruto questioned blankly, hiding his emotions.

Rias nodded before clarifying for him, "Yes, that is why I called you here. We have ascertained that you are a good candidate. You have above average magic reserves for a human, and your physical specs are high."

Naruto just stared at her blankly for a few seconds, before he shrugged and announced with a wide smile on his face, "Sure. I don't see why not."

Now it was Rias' turn to stare. She finally managed to stop gaping to demand in disbelief, "That's it?"

"Yep. That's it," Naruto claimed with a nonchalant shrug. Seeing everyone staring at him, he added, "Well truthfully I was just waiting for something like this to happen. The person who sent me to Kuoh said it was so that I could aid someone that is of paramount importance. She also said it would be clear who when the time comes. This seems pretty darn clear."

"You were went here? By who?" Rias questioned in interest, a bit befuddled by this new piece of information.

Naruto hesitated at that. Raising a hand to rub the back of his head in embarrassment, Naruto told her awkwardly, "Sorry, but I can't tell you that. She said to not reveal my connection to her until 'the link is formed.'" Seeing Rias did not look happy about that, Naruto waved his hands as he added, "Don't worry. It isn't anything that would be harmful to you. She just seems to value her privacy, and didn't want me to blab about it to just anyone."

Rias clearly still wasn't pleased as she asked, "But you will tell me after I reincarnate you?"

Thinking for a moment, Naruto nodded while saying, "Yes. I'm pretty sure that is what she meant by the link."

Apparently deciding that was the best she was getting, Rias decided to be content with that. She quickly grabbed three pieces from the chess board before explaining, "Alright, then the final step is to decide what piece you want to be. Usually it would be my decision as king, but I'll let you decide. I still don't really know anything about your abilities, so you'll probably be able to choose what suits your fighting style and abilities best. Your three options are to be a rook, knight, or bishop."

Tilting his head, Naruto quickly asked, "And what are the differences?"

"We'll go over all of them for the sake of simplicity. A pawn is the most basic unit. A pawn piece receives no special benefits besides the normal advantages of a devil. What a pawn does have is the special ability of 'promotion.' Like in real chess, if a pawn enters deep into enemy territory it can be promoted to any other piece besides the king. Next is the bishop. A bishop is worth three pawns. Bishops gain enhanced magic reserves, thus are typically meant to be magical specialists. Their main weakness is that usually a bishop doesn't have much close combat skill, and thus must stay at a range to be effective. The knight is also worth three pawns. Knights gain enhanced speed and agility, allowing them to perform high speed maneuvers and attacks. Their main weakness is their weak defense. Their offence isn't supplemented either, so most knights are weapon specialists to compensate. A rook is worth five pawns. Rooks gain enhanced offensive and defensive capabilities. Rooks usually act as 'tanks' in battle. Their main weakness is that they don't have any speed enhancements, so hitting faster opponents can be difficult. Then there is the queen. A queen is worth nine pawns. The queen is a combination of all three, bishops, knights, and rooks. This makes the queen the most balanced and powerful piece. Queens typically use spells, but there are those who prefer close quarter combat. Finally we come to the king. The king is the most important piece. It is the duty of the peerage to protect the king above all else. Kings don't receive any special bonuses besides the ability to form a peerage."

Naruto nodded as he absorbed the information. He quickly asked, "I know why king and queen are not an option for me, but why wasn't I given the option to be a pawn? While seemingly the weakest unit, their ability to promote to any piece seems to make the pawn the most adaptable piece for any situation."

Rias nodded, pleasantly surprised at his insight, before explaining, "True. A pawn can make or break a battle if used properly, but they are also dreadfully vulnerable before they are promoted. Thus a pawn needs to have incredibly high base stats to compensate. You are not at that level currently, and we don't have the time to train you up to such a level. An…event is soon approaching where I'll need you as strong as possible."

Raising an eyebrow at the 'event' part, Naruto decided to just accept it for now. He instead looked back towards the three pieces Rias was holding. Magic reserves, speed, or strength and defense. Naruto eventually started slowly and carefully, "I am tempted to do the bishop to gain the chakra reserves I desperately need, but I choose the rook." Koneko's eyes focused on him when he mentioned chakra, he noted in the back of his head.

Everyone looked interested at his choice, and Rias quickly asked, "Mind explaining why?"

"Not at all," Naruto replied with a grin before clarifying, "Right now I am in a dreadfully weakened state. Nearly all of my ninjutsu techniques are unusable to me right now due to my current chakra reserves. The bishop would have alleviated that problem somewhat, but I doubt to the degree I would need. I'll probably have to do it the slow and steady way on that front. With ninjutsu out, I'll have to rely on taijutsu, or hand to hand. On that front, I'm more of the kind of fighter that crashes into someone and hope I can stand back up."

Rias sweat dropped at his explanation before repeating in disbelief, "Crash into someone and hope you can stand back up?"

Naruto shrugged at her disbelief before explaining, "Pretty much. In my old state the number of people who could compete with me in pure power could be counted on one hand. So I used that. I was never one for running around, jumping in and out…or dodging" That's what Shadow Clones are for after all. Absorbing absurd amount of damage in his place. Naruto then continued, "I was durable as fuck, and never ran out of stamina. So I would practically always win if I managed to force my opponent to exchange hit for hit with me." Or them getting ten hits and Naruto getting one. Naruto can't even count the number of times an opponent was throwing him around for ten minutes before losing when Naruto finally managed to return the favor. Naruto had been ready, willing, and capable of taking whatever his opponent dished out as long as he got the opportunity to land his own shot. "So the rook fits my fighting style far better than the knight. Would enable me to take more punishment, and would increase my knockout power to help take advantage of that one opportunity that always presents itself."

Rias nodded in understanding, or at least pretended to understand. She then questioned, "You keep mentioning that you are in a weakened state. What do you mean?"

Chuckling awkwardly, Naruto informed her, "I'll explain everything after this. It is kind of a long story, so we should finish this business up first."

Rias assented to that with a reluctant nod. She then ordered him, "Lay on your back so I can commence the ceremony to reincarnate you as a devil."

Naruto nodded in understanding. He gently laid himself down against the ground and waited. Rias moved to stand above him, incidentally giving him a prime view of her rather lacy panties. He ignored it, well mostly ignored it, in favor of watching as she crouched to place the rook piece on his chest. A red circle of…something immediately formed around Naruto as Rias started chanting.

"I command thee, Uzumaki Naruto, on my name of Rias Gremory, become my servant. Return to this land as a devil. You shall lead a new life with great joy as my rook!"

Naruto could only describe the sensation of the rook sinking into his chest as feeling like ice water was being inserted into his veins. The feeling was even more intense around his chakra coils. It wasn't truly unpleasant, but not pleasant either. It was just an intense, neautral feeling. Then, it disappeared within an instant as soon as Rias finished her chanting.

Naruto took a few deep breaths since it had been a pretty intense process. He quickly recovered though, and stood up. Clenching his hands and hopping lightly on his feet, he commented, "I feel…lighter."

Yuuto was the one to respond as he patted Naruto's shoulder in congratulations, "That is natural. Devils are fundamentally stronger than humans. Muscles are stronger, bones are more durable and light, overall more durable and resistant, and a greater healing factor. It may take a while to adjust completely. Especially since you are a rook. Learning to properly adjust and compensate for your raw strength will take a while. "

"I guess," Naruto replied noncommittally. While somewhat different from chakra enhancement due to it being a physical change instead of a magical one, Naruto was still confident he could adapt after a good workout or two.

He was also rather distracted due to trying to properly judge the increase in his chakra coils. He was currently at the level of a low-level chuunin. It was increase from the mid-level genin he had been at before. Not as much of an increase as he had been hoping for though. This level of chakra was truly pathetic to Naruto. He likely had more chakra than this when he was four. It also limited him a lot. Naruto hadn't ever bother to learn E, D, or C-ranked techniques, besides the Academy Three, because it had literally been easier to learn B or A ranked techniques due to his chakra reserves. Right now he could only use the Transformation, Replacement, Temporary Paralysis, and the Transparent Escape techniques. Those are literally the only techniques Naruto knows that are below B-rank. He isn't even that familiar with any of them either. So Naruto's ninjutsu abilities, his bread and butter, is almost completely sidelined. He can't even use a single Shadow Clone till he gains the chakra capacity of a high-level chuunin.

"Welcome to the family, Naruto-kun," Rias interrupted his thoughts be saying.

Naruto looked at her with surprise before commenting, "Family? No offense, but I thought we were your servants."

Akeno was the one to answer him, although Naruto did take a step back to keep a five foot distance between them, "That might be the case for most peerages, but Buchou here is a member of the Gremory Clan. They are renown for their extraordinary affection for devils. They view their servants as friends and servants."

"That's certainly better than being a servant," Naruto claimed while giving Rias a warm smile at the thought.

Rias blushed slightly at the attention, but then grew serious as she said, "Now, usually I we would do our best to familiarize yourself with any information you would need to know as a devil. I believe you owe me an explanation though."

Naruto nodded in understanding, and quickly announced, "That I do. I suggest getting comfortable because it is a long story." Everyone nodded and sat down in their respective spots. They all then looked at him, content to wait for him to start. Naruto appreciated that, and took a few moments to think on how to start. He finally declared coolly, "The first thing you should know is that I am from a different world."

"A different world?" Rias repeated incredulously. She then raised an eyebrow as she asked, "You mean you come from the Underworld?"

"No. I mean an entirely different world. A world that is typically impossible to travel to from here," Naruto answered while shaking his head. He then started hesitantly, "In my world, humans were capable of wielding power that highly resembles magic through the use of 'chakra.' The greatest examples of this were 'ninjas,' soldiers of the hidden villages. I was a ninja as well. You don't need to know much else, but you do need to know that we were engaged in a war. All the hidden villages teamed up to battle a mad man. The focus of the war was to prevent him from gaining the power to enact a plan to place the entire world in an illusion by obtaining and harnessing the power of a primordial god."

His last words caused both Rias and Akeno to gape before Akeno asked in shock, "Did you just say a primordial god?!"

"Yes," Naruto answered seriously.

With both Rias and Akeno in shock, Yuuto and Koneko were still left confused. Yuuto quickly asked politely, "I'm sorry, but can anyone tell me why that is so serious?"

Rias looked at Akeno meaningfully. Akeno nodded and turned towards the two before explaining, "You both know that Gods and Buddha's exist. That is a fact. You can think of them as the weak knockoffs of a primordial god, born from the fragments of its energy."

That caused both Yuuto and Koneko to gape as well. Rias nodded at their expressions before elaborating, "The existence of primordial gods have always been mere conjecture, since any that existed in this world have long since died. Put simply, primordial gods are the beginning of everything. It is theorized that primordial gods are the beings responsible for the creations of all worlds. Their power is thought to be infinite and limitless. Even they are not immortal though. Eventually they age and die. Their energy then dissipates, eventually birthing the Gods or Buddha's that currently exist."

"Huh, I didn't know that," Naruto commented in interest.

"Then are you sure that you are talking about a true primordial god and not just a regular god," Rias asked quickly.

"I'm sure. Kurama told me that the Juubi was a primordial god, and that it was responsible for the creation of our whole world. Even said that it could destroy our world as well. He would know. Plus, the person that rescued me on this side said that she sensed remnants of a primordial god on me," Naruto immediately replied with certainty clear in his voice.

Rias shook her head as she considered the implications. She finally managed to tell him, "Then your world must have been incredibly young. For a primordial god to still live."

With Rias still looking to be in shock or denial, Yuuto interrupted by announcing, "I'm sure we can talk about this more another time. How about you continue your story, Uzumaki-san?"

Naruto nodded in agreement and explained, "Uchiha Madara, the madman I said earlier, planned to become the jinchuriki of the Juubi. He would then use its power to cast an illusion over the entire world, using the moon as a medium."

"I'm sorry, Naruto-san, but I simply can't believe a human, no matter how powerful, could control a primordial god. The very concept is illogical. Primordial beings are those responsible for creating entire worlds. For creating humans. Their very existence is a level humans cannot even comprehend let alone match," Rias immediately argued.

"You might be underestimating just how freakishly strong Madara was. Madara had managed to unlock the Rinnegan, the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. He had been capable of pulling giant meteors from the sky, growing entire forests in seconds, creating a mountain sized samurai of pure energy, and throwing around nine, mountain sized animals just by _looking _at them. I hate the man, but even I can't deny he was a freaking badass," Naruto retorted, shivering as he remembered just how ridiculously powerful Madara was even before becoming the Juubi jinchuriki.

All of them were now looking at him in disbelief. Koneko finally asked bluntly, "…Are you high?"

Naruto just deadpanned in her direction. Rias managed to say in confusion, "I am really lost here. You mentioned something about a Rinnegan."

"Yes. The Rinnegan is an ocular bloodline that was said to have been possessed by the Sage of Six Paths, characterized by the entirely purple coloring and ripple pattern. The ultimate doujutsu," Naruto told them in exasperation.

"…What's a doujutsu? And who is the Sage of Six Paths?"

Naruto let out an annoyed groan. Trying to explain the clusterfuck that was the Fourth Shinobi World War to people completely ignorant was not easy in the least. Naruto finally straightened and started in an annoyed tone, "Okay, I'm going to start from the very beginning. There used to be a massive tree in my world, thousands of years ago. It was called the God Tree, or the Shinju. One day, a princess, Kaguya Okatsuchi or some weird name like that, decided to eat a fruit from the tree in an attempt to gain the power to stop a war that was going on. It worked, and she managed to stop the war with her godlike powers. The Shinju sensed the theft of its fruit and power though. The tree turned into a massive beast with ten tails, the Juubi. The Juubi had no intelligence and only one purpose. Reclaim the power that was stolen from it. It was a force of nature, razing everything to the ground in its mindless search to reclaim its chakra. Until it was stopped by a man. The princess had apparently died due to the intense power, but she had given birth to a son, Hagoromo or whatever. I'll just call him the Sage of Six Paths from now on, since I hate his real name. The Sage had been born with power surpassing even his mother, the first human to be born with chakra. He soon grew up and confronted the Juubi. He defeated the Juubi in battle, and then sealed it inside his body. Using its power, he became powerful as a god. He then gifted and taught other humans how to use chakra. He ended up having children that would go on to found two separate ninja clans. The Senju and the Uchiha. The Senju inherited the Sage's strong body, and the Uchiha inherited his mystical eyes. Madara was an Uchiha. He managed to unlock the Rinnegan by infusing the DNA of a powerful Senju into his body. In that way he gained the ability to control the Juubi just like the Sage did." Naruto took several deep breaths after the short story.

No one spoke for several seconds after he finished. Koneko was the one to break it by deadpanning, "…That makes no sense. A woman ate a fruit to become a god, which caused a tree to turn into a giant monster, and then it was defeated and absorbed by the woman's son. How high were you when you thought up that lie?"

"I'm not lying. I know its messed up, but it is true," Naruto exclaimed in annoyance. Seriously, he only learned this like an hour before he came to this world. It was just as ridiculous to him, but Madara didn't seem like a liar. Delusional megalomaniac, sure. Liar, not really.

"No, it makes perfect sense," Rias claimed while in deep thought.

Naruto looked at her skeptically before questioning doubtfully, "It does?"

"Yes, it does," Rias claimed with a firm nod. She then looked at Naruto before demanding, "Were there any other gods in your world that you know of?"

Shrugging, Naruto informed her, "Yeah, I think. Ninjas aren't very religious, but I know for certain of at least one god. The Death God, the Shinigami."

"I thought so," Rias said with a satisfied nod. Seeing everyone looking at her curiously, she quickly explained, "It does make sense it you think about it. I believe the Juubi or Shinju or whatever you want to call it, was at the very final stage of its life. It was dying. So it assumed the form of the Shinju. Instead of absorbing nutrients from the ground like a normal tree, it instead likely used this form to pump it energy throughout the planet. Laying the groundwork for later gods to come into being. It was interrupted partway through though. The princess stole part of its energy by eating the fruit. Losing part of its power like that must have entered a…self defense mechanism you could say. It changed into a different form to regain that power. Kaguya couldn't make full use of that energy, but her son could because he had been exposed to and absorbed the energy as a fetus. His body adapted to utilize it to its fullest. This Rinnegan was probably just a physical manifestation of his ability to use a divine energy. It also explains why he could successfully subdue the Juubi. He was capable of using its own power. He had literally adapted to use its energy. Thus absorbing it would be a simple affair. Since the Juubi had no intelligence of its own, his own will was able to control it. He could have been considered a mini-Juubi if you will since he could control its power, and he then in essence became the Juubi after absorbing it."

"This is still only possible because the Juubi was near the end of its life. I also suspect the process of pumping it throughout the planet was near finished. Regular gods are born from the fragments of primordial gods. That gods existed in your world indicates a vast majority of its energy was already gone by the time the princess stole part of its power. So not only was the Juubi a mindless husk of the primordial god without most of its original power, but it was also going against a person specifically adapted to use its power. No wonder it could be controlled so easily."

"Then when the Sage had children, each inherited half of the traits used to control the Juubi. Although I suspect he 'gifted' your people with chakra by using splitting a smaller amount of the Juubi's energy among your people. I'm guessing that's why your species could apparently become so powerful. A small bit, but less than what his descendants got. Once the two halves of the traits his descendants gained were reunited, in this Madara person, he gained the exact same ability to control the Juubi. Once again. A sentient being adapted to use its chakra going up against a mindless husk with power but no control or will. The result is obvious. The sentient being will absorb and gain control of the husk's power."

Akeno tilted her head as she considered that. She then nodded and commented, "That makes sense."

"Really because I didn't get half of that," Naruto admitted as he sweat dropped. Naruto might be intelligent in a fight, but things like that just go right over his head. He did get one thing though. Leaning forward slightly, Naruto questioned nervously, "Are you telling me that the most terrifyingly powerful creature I've ever met, a being with energy levels beyond human comprehension…was an senile old man on his deathbed?"

"A rather tactless way of putting it, but yes. Basically. Primordial gods are beyond comprehension for even regular gods. The concept of a human, adapted to it or not, being able to contain and use its whole power is impossible. A very small portion might just be possible though. A sliver basically. That small portion would still be enough to raise even a human to heights possibly surpassing even regular gods though. It is a terrifying thought," Rias finished.

Naruto considered all that he learned before a thought came to him. Naruto face palmed as he growled out, "We got so off topic."

"Oh. We did. Woops. I just got a bit distracted due to the nature of the topic," Rias admitted. She truly looked a bit sheepish at how preoccupied she had become. She then added, "I do think you should talk to a scientist or historian eventually, Naruto-san. You currently know more about primordial gods than anyone in this dimension."

"Yeah, yeah. I'll do it eventually. Let's get back to the important stuff now though," Naruto grunted out, fibbing a bit at the first part. All this conversation had given him was a headache, so he'd avoid talking about it again like he would a plague.

Akeno chuckled slightly before commenting, "I believe you were talking to us about what happened during the war."

Nodding, Naruto explained, "I think that's right. Anyways, the Shinobi Alliance had hoped to prevent Madara from absorbing the Juubi entirely, but we failed in that aspect. We still fought him, but it was horrible. Madara had been more powerful than anyone had ever even believed possible before, but with the Juubi he was practically a god. We were getting smacked around like children. He just kept dropping meteors on our heads. How do you fight that? Seriously!"

Sweat dropping as Naruto started to freak out from the memories, Rias eventually interrupted, "Uh, Naruto. Can you get back to the story?"

Rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment, Naruto replied sheepishly, "Sorry. Bad memories, hehe." Growing serious, Naruto then continued, "One good thing did happen though. Apparently the concentration of power Madara was putting out by doing his best to drop the sky on our heads was enough to tear the dimensional fabric. A tear just appeared in the air behind him. I knew we could never beat him conventionally, so I decided to do something stupid and insane enough to work. So I put everything I had and just tackled him into the tear. It closed up right behind us."

"So that is how you ended up here," Yuuto commented.

"Yeah, but it was not nearly so easy as it sounds. Dimensional travel is probably the most dangerous thing you can ever imagine," Naruto told him while shivering at the memory.

Akeno quickly retorted, "But it is possible to travel between dimensions. Devils travel between earth and the Underworld all the time."

"Trust me, that is a whole different method," Naruto stated with a frown on his face. He then clarified, "The tear Madara caused was simply a result of how much power he was putting out. He wasn't trying to do it. Completely different from purposefully initiating dimensional travel. Think of the two like conducting heart surgery. Proper dimensional travel is like proper heart surgery. You have a surgeon, scalpels, medicine, assistants, and done over ten hours. Clean and precise. What happened to me is more like someone shoving their hand in a person's chest, ripping out their still beating heart, and then shoving another heart into the hole. The very concept of it working is ridiculous."

"Yet here you are," Koneko pointed out while taking bites out of a snack.

"Trust me, it was a miracle," Naruto grunted out before elaborating, "It felt like every cell in my body was being shredded. Madara, the guy that was for all intents and purposes a god, died after just a second. I was between worlds for four seconds."

"Then how are you alive?" Rias quickly demanded.

"The remnants of the Bijuu's wills, oh yeah. You don't know about the Bijuu. Let's just say that the Juubi decided to try and save me. It managed to wrestle control from Madara for just a few seconds. It used its energy to regenerate any damage I was receiving. Madara was left out to dry though, and died. The energy eventually dissipated in a few seconds after Madara died, but it bought me the time I needed. I was only exposed for half a second before I ended up dropping into this world, and even then the person who saved me said I resembled a pile of shredded meat and bones more than a human. She says I had maybe two seconds before I died if she hadn't put me in a stasis to preserve my life force."

"So we have finally come to this point. Who is this mysterious savior of yours?"

Naruto scratched his cheek before announcing, "Yeah, sorry about not telling you before. She told me her real name is Selene, but apparently she is known by something else. Lady of the Water or something. Wait, she gave me something before sending me here. It's a personal seal or mark." Naruto then started unbuttoning the academy uniform to show off an orange undershirt he was wearing. Over that was a medallion or pendant on a necklace. Grabbing it, Naruto held it out for Rias to examine.

It's a silvery-green pendant. It was actually rather simple. A small circle. The only real identifying feature was a symbol in a blue material that contrasted well with the rest of the metal. Simple, but elegant. It also had a sense of power to it.

Rias immediately confirmed, "That's the symbol of the Lady of the Lake. The aura around it also indicates she likely enchanted it. For what purpose i don't know. Maybe as an energy signature, since the symbol could be copied. This way any god or powerful being that had met her could recognize this as a sign from her."

"The Lady of the Lake. Like from Arthurian Legends," Yuuto asked in interest. He then added, "The spirit that supposedly presented King Arthur with Excalibur." To Naruto Yuuto seemed a little _too_ interested, although he wasn't sure what to make of it.

Rias quickly announced with a small frown on her face, "She's much more than that. That is just the most popular story including her, and even those stories are heavily distorted. She's usually classified as a demi-god, although she is more technically a full god. She simply hasn't ever acted in a way to facilitate worship of her like most gods. Since the overall strength of a god is directly connected to the amount of worshippers they have and the prayers they receive, this means she is one of the weakest gods overall. She does have several unique and powerful abilities though. She is said to have the power of prophecy, or the ability to see the future. She is also said to be able to confer powerful enchantments or blessings, the latter is the true way she interacted with the legendary King Arthur. She supposedly blessed him when he was young. Later versions simply switched what she gave him from a blessing to Excalibur."

"Yep, pretty sure that's her," Naruto declared calmly while shrugging nonchalantly.

The group sweat dropped at his attitude. Rias eventually commented, "Why are you so calm about this? The Lady of the Lake is a god. A secretive one that only appears during times of great change, and interacting with individuals of incredible importance and potential."

"I just don't get why you guys are freaking out. Yeah, she's hot…Totally, amazingly, unbelievably hot, but god or not, she's not a whole lot different from anyone else I've met. I'm more thankful of her for saving my life than I am in awe of her," Naruto claimed, still relaxed about everything. Leaning forward, he continued, "Anyways. Apparently I appeared just above a lake in northern Russia. She, and probably every god or being with great power, felt the disturbance. When I fell in the lake it allowed Selene to transport me to her own little pocket dimension that exists in all lakes. She then put me in stasis when she saw my condition, and she spent the last three decades healing me up."

"T-Three decades?!" Rias asked in shock.

Naruto nodded before explaining to the disbelieving group, "Yep. Specifically, thirty-two years. That's how long it took her to heal me. Apparently well over ninety percent of my cells were shredded completely. It would have been instant death if I didn't have such a powerful life force. It allowed for my life force to remain for a few seconds even after my body was for all intents and purposes dead. The stasis she placed me in then preserved it as she healed my body. It is also the reason I didn't age during that time."

Naruto then let out a depressed sigh before informing the group, "That's also why I am in such a weak state. My chakra circulatory system was destroyed. One of the reasons it took so long to heal me was the pure difficulty she had in recreating it. Apparently humans don't have them here. She couldn't finish either. She managed to recreate it, but in an undeveloped state more suitable for a beginning academy student. She could have brought it up to the state it was before I came here, but she estimates it would have taken her twelve to fourteen years. She didn't have that amount of time since I apparently had to come here during this year, so I'm stuck rebuilding my chakra reserves the old fashioned way."

"Why did you have to come here? I'm grateful you did, since I'm in a bind where I need as much help as I can gey, but I just don't see why she sent you here," Rias pointed out, her natural curiosity showing.

"Hell if I know," Naruto answered with a mystified shrug. Seeing Rias, and everyone else, wasn't happy with the answer, he groaned before telling her while trying to think, "I'm sorry, but Selene never talked about stuff like that. Not to mention she enjoyed speaking in riddles if I asked. I do know that my entrance into the world sent out ripples, for a lack of a better term. Selene is capable of seeing into the future, and no doubt sensed how the future altered when I arrived here. I'm guessing something bad, since it prompted her to spend the next three decades healing me. I assume that something important is going to happen to you, or around you, that can have massive consequences. She once admitted my presence, 'altered the reincarnation process of a select number of Sacred Gear.' So basically something bad happened because I entered this world, and thus she sent me to try and fix it."

"Reincarnation of sacred gears?" Rias muttered to herself as she thought about that. She knew all the pieces were there. She just had to put them together. Deciding to put it in the back of her mind to think on it later, she looked at Naruto to announce, "Alright. I certainly didn't expect anything like this when I decided to add you to my peerage. It is a lot to take in, but I don't see any problem. A god sent you to me, although the reason for such a thing is unknown. That is _probably _a good thing. You are also far more than we believed. I think it will benefit everyone if we conclude the serious business for today. Everyone can sleep on this tonight. Tomorrow we can work on acclimatizing you towards your duties as a devil."

"Finally," Naruto eagerly exclaimed as he jumped to his feet. He then stretched his arms above his head. That had been a long, complicated discussion. Naruto preferred light topics. Not to mention he wanted to go train to try and get used to his new abilities. That thought was put on hold when he heard and felt his stomach growling. Grabbing it, he then claimed in a weak voice, "I need food, preferably ramen."

"That is actually a good idea. Even if we keep it lighthearted, eating together will be a good way to bond as a group," Rias declared in thought.

Naruto reacted by grinning widely and proclaiming loudly, "Awesome. I know this awesome ramen place. They also sell other stuff. Don't know why. Ramen is the food of the gods. Everything else is just a downgrade."

Choosing to ignore Naruto's extra comments, Rias turned to the other members of her peerage and questioned, "Is that okay with you guys?"

They all thought for a moment before replying in their own ways.

"It will be nice to get to know Uzumaki-san better."

"…I guess if I must."

"It would be a pleasure. Ufufu, I call the seat next to Uzumaki-kun."

"Hell no, sadist! Five foot distance."

Rias sighed as the group left the room, Akeno starting to chase the pale and sweating Naruto. Why does she have the feeling that Naruto is going to really complicate things from now on? Oh well. At least she got a silly new brother. With that thought, Rias followed the group out the door.

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**There it is. Tell me what you think. I'm particularly hoping for constructive reviews on the pros and cons. I'm mainly writing fan fiction to improve my writing skills, so I appreciate anyone willing to take a few minutes to critique my work. Please make it constructive though. I don't particular care if you hate my work, but please explain why with more than a 'This story is the worst in the history of fan fiction. F you.' Please and thank you.**

**Warning, my chapters won't be this long if I continue this story. I just like starting with a good foundation. Most updates will probably be around 7,000 words.**

**If you are going to do a constructive review, please read below where I explain several important points. If you just wanted to read a story, you can leave. Below you can see why I did something. Hopefully help you understand my thought process more, and thus allow you to make better arguments for your points.**

**Replacing Issei: **_I do not hate Issei. I actually like him. He becomes pretty badass throughout the story. I didn't put him in Sona's peerage because I hate him. I've just noticed a pattern for stories in this crossover. Almost all of them have Issei stay the same, while introducing Naruto someway. The problem in that is you are basically trying to have two male leads. You need to hit all of Issei's flags to turn him into a badass, but you also need to have Naruto do stuff as well. Too many stories have Naruto really doing nothing or making Issei seem like an incompetent compared to Naruto. It's a balancing act that requires a talented author to properly pull off. I wasn't confident I could do that, so I moved Issei. This will also allow me to alter the events of the story more, since I don't need to worry about hitting important flags for Issei like his death by Reynare's hands, meeting with Asia, saving Asia, etc. You Issei lovers can be assured he is being a badass and building his harem in Sona's peerage. He just won't be a main part of the story. When he pops in though I'll probably be very generous to him. __Anyone that didn't pick up what I did. I removed Genshirou Saji. Naruto's appearance meant he never received a Sacred Gear. He won't be making an appearance. Without Saji to catch Sona's attention, she instead focused on Issei. Taking him when she felt Rias wasted her chance._

**Naruto's Personality: **_A lot of stories practically turn Naruto into an OC character. I'm hoping to avoid that. So I'm trying to make him how I view the canon Naruto. Kind, loud, suffering from ADD, empathetic, a bit dull, determined, adaptable, etc. This chapter ended up emphasizing his pranks a bit more than planned, but they will be put on the backseat for most of the story. One change I will be making is that my Naruto will have a higher battle intelligence than in canon. His observation skills from all his battle experience will allow him to notice things easier than others. If you feel I got Naruto's personality wrong, please tell me. _

**Naruto's power level: **_I ruined Naruto's chakra system to allow him to grow as the story progresses. I don't much point in Naruto being able to walk through every opponent from the start. At first he'll be relying on taijutsu, which Is why I made him a rook. As his chakra reserves grow though, he'll start using ninjutsu again. Right now Naruto is about as strong as Yuuto or Koneko due to his rook enhancements, weaker than Rias or Akeno. He does have an ace in the hole though._

**Names: **_Names are difficult in High School DxD. I'll be making all devils and non-Japanese characters go given name then family name. Like Rias Gremory or Yuuto Kiba. Characters that are clearly Japanese will go family name then given name. Like Uzumaki Naruto and Himejima Akeno. It might be complicated, but certain characters name sound better a certain way. I dislike the sound of Naruto Uzumaki. Traditional Japanese suffixes. San for polite talk, kun or no suffix for informal. Family names for distant relationships, given names between friends._

**Rias' leadership: **_I didn't mean to make Rias sound like an incompetent king. I just needed to come up with logical reasons why Rias would delay on recruiting Issei. Issei was a second year at the start of the story. I don't see how the Fallen Angels could have found out about his Sacred Gear before Rias, since she has been going to the same school as him for a year. So I decided she just waited for the best opportunity to recruit him._

**Magic and chakra: **_I don't want an overly complicated explanation. Magic is pure spiritual energy. Some devils, like Sairaorg Bael, can use physical energy as well. Senjutsu also allows Nekushou to use it along with natural energy. Chakra is the mixture of physical and spiritual energy._

**Romance: **_This is a harem. This is High School DxD. It's to be expected. I won't rush on the romance though. Too many stories have Rias, Akeno, or Koneko all show interest in Naruto really early just cause he's good looking. Especially Koneko. Nearly every story has Koneko act like a kitten around him just because he apparently knows how to pet her head well. I don't plan for any real romance to occur till after the Riser arc finishes. There may be hints or teasing, but that is it. I also won't reveal who is part of the harem…because I don't really know either. Except one. I already have one event occurring that will flip the flow of the romance on its head._

**Lady of the Lake: **_I wanted Naruto to be saved by a god, but I didn't want it to be by any god that plays an role later on in the story, like Indra or Odin. I also wanted a good deal of flexibility, so it had to be a weaker and less known god. Eventually decided on the Lady of the Lake, for a reason that will be shown eventually. Don't expect for me to follow the stories. She'll basically be my OC. I also decided on the name Selene because I like the name. Nothing more. No hidden meaning._

**Long Explanations: **_Just a habit I tend to do. I'm a guy that really over thinks things, and then I inevitably feel like I have to put them in. Like the explanation about the Juubi being a primordial god and everything. I'll try to prevent anymore super long explanations. You also don't need to worry about too many flashbacks or talks about Naruto's past. I think of Naruto as a guy that lives in the present. So he won't be brooding about being in a new world or anything. So hopefully the long explanations will be more spaced out from now on._

**Whew. Long authors note. For any of you that were diligent enough to read the entire thing, I am looking forward to your opinions. Thanks for reading.**


	2. Settling Into the Group

**Man, i asked for reviews and you guys reviewed. 101 reviews as i'm publishing this. Thank you all. I appreciate it a lot. Makes me glad i managed to knuckle down and write this update so quickly. Should wqrite as much as i can while my head is still filled with this story.**

**I was going to so a little answer session for those of you who asked questioned in your reviews, but i just got too many for that to be a viable option. so i'll instead talk about the topics there was the most controversy/questions about.**

**Naruto's power level: **_As i thought, this was easily the most controversial piece in the story. I just want to point out, just because Naruto only has like 1% his previous chakra reserves doesn't mean he is 1% as strong. He just has to be more flexible now. Expand his skills. Some of you guys gave me good ideas, and others managed to guess my plans. I'll leave that stuff alone. Have to keep some information in reserve. A good portion of this chapter is dedicated to showing Naruto's abilities, and i hope proves he isn't as weak as some people seem to believe i made him._

**Naruto's personality: **_Thankfully it seems many people liked that i tried to keep Naruto canon. Others, not so much. My only response to those of you who apparently hate canon Naruto...This is a story centered around Naruto. Not some OC I came up with. There are plenty of OC stories where the main charcter is totally badass, smart, cool, and monstrously powerful. Read those if you hate Naruto so much. I enjoy that Naruto doesn't have to perfect to get things done. That's why i'm writing about him._

**Juubi saving Naruto:** _People brought this up. I hinted at the truth, but it seems to have not gone over. It wasn't the Juubi so much as the Bijuu. The fiasco when Obito was the juubi jinchuriki showed the Bijuu are still in there to some degree, just heavily suppressed. They are the ones that saved Naruto._

**Naruto's past:** _A lot of you seemed happy i didn't have Naruto explain his life story. I'm glad. I specifically tried to avoid having Naruto give away personal information. Not talking about the bijuu, admitting he was the kyuubi jinchuriki, his childhood, and that the Uzumaki were related to the Senju. To Rias and her peerage, he could have been just another foot soldier. I will elaborate on that more in this chapter. So he instead gave them information about the general stuff that didn't particular involve him. An info dump to distract from the info he cared more about._

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"Naruto-kun. It's time to wake up."

"He's not waking."

"…Sloth."

"Ufufu, I can shock him awake."

"I'm awake," Naruto exclaimed at that, still half asleep. He was not going to let someone shock him!

He then wondered what was happening, since he had literally only woken up to avoid being shocked. He popped his head out from the blanket he was bundled in to look around blearily. He was in his room. It was rather Spartan overall, the main feature being his massive bed. He didn't spend much time there besides to sleep. The sun was shining through the window, and his clock said it was nine in the morning. The most important thing was that the entire Occult Research Club was in his room.

Blinking at them, Naruto finally just shrugged and went back into his blanket cocoon. He then tried to go back to sleep…Wait, what? The fact that four people were in his room finally registered to him. Letting out a shocked cry, Naruto tried to jump to his feet in an alert stance. Tried because he forgot his body was thoroughly wrapped up in his blanket. With the blanket constricting his movements, Naruto ended up tumbling off his bed in a heap.

Engaging in a short wrestling match with his blanket, which he swore was fighting back, Naruto finally managed to free himself. He then sprang to his feet and pointed at the amused members of the Occult Club before demanding, "What the hell? How'd you get into my room?"

Rias chuckled at him panic before answering, "Well, you told us your home address yesterday. We came here, but we couldn't seem to get in. So we had no choice but to teleport to you directly."

Naruto blinked at her blankly as he absorbed that information. He then questioned bluntly, "Okay, but why were you looking for me? It's Sunday. A free day."

"Maybe for school, but not for us. As a devil you now have responsibilities. I figured today was just as good a time as any as to familiarize yourself with those duties," Rias told him. She then added, "I figured I could have you spar with Koneko, Yuuto, and Akeno. To find out your abilities and everything. We really don't know anything about you after all."

"I told you a lot yesterday. Don't you believe me?" Naruto pointed out with a raised eyebrow.

"I didn't mean that. While your story is pretty unbelievable, I think you are telling the truth. Your story is just too outlandish and detailed to be a flat out lie. Not everyone will believe you so easily, of course, but that doesn't really matter right now," Rias informed him calmly before adding, "Your story did also rather clearly lack much information on yourself."

Naruto scratched the back of his neck as he commented sheepishly, "So you noticed that?"

"Yes. I realized it when I was going to sleep," Rias claimed in an unamused voice.

Naruto sighed before explaining, "Sorry, but did you really expect me to tell you my entire life story? I only really joined your peerage because Selene wanted me to, and I owed her. Plus, that stuff is in the past. There's no going back."

"I just don't much enjoy the idea of not knowing a member of my peerage," Rias maintained stubbornly.

"We'll get to know each other. You can't force things like this. No offense, but I don't really trust you guys yet. It isn't anything about you, but I just don't know any of you anymore than you know me. That will change over time. For now we should just focus on becoming friends," Naruto professed awkwardly to the group. Telling a group you are now part of that you don't trust them is not an easy task.

"That is…actually rather reasonable," Rias hesitantly admitted. She soon straightened though as she added, "Either way. You are part of my peerage, so there are some things I need to know. Your abilities specifically. You never told me much before besides that you are more of a reckless fighter. You even admitted that you are in a weakened state as well. With your rook enhancements being so new, it will benefit all of us to get a full measure of your battle prowess."

"I guess that makes sense. Just let me get dressed," Naruto replied in acceptance.

"Sure, but I got to ask. What is with that tattoo on your stomach. It doesn't look…normal," Rias asked curiously.

Naruto looked down to see that he had subconsciously started to circulate chakra through his system. This had allowed the Hakke no Fuin Shiki, Eight Trigrams Seal, to appear on his navel. He had been surprised to find out he still had it after having his body destroyed and put back together. It didn't even hold anything anymore.

Apparently Naruto had been so damaged when he arrived here that traditional healing methods wouldn't work. To heal him would require immensely complicated and dangerous healing spells that even Selene was reluctant to do. Instead she had apparently resorted to a time manipulation spell. She didn't heal him so much as reverse the damage he took entirely. It was a very slow process, but it left Naruto in the exact condition he had been before tackling Madara through the dimensional tear. Even all the seals Naruto had on his body were restored. The only reason his chakra network wasn't healed was due to his own chakra interfering in the process. To heal that required Selene to resort to those difficult and risky healing methods he mentioned before. Another reason she had stopped after managing to recreate his chakra system on the basic level. To try and heal it further was simply too dangerous and difficult.

"That's just a seal. Fuinjutsu," Naruto informed them nonchalantly before adding while showing the insides of his wrists, where two tiny seals were. Personal storage seals Jiraiya had applied during his training trip. They hurt like a bitch to apply. Naruto punched Jiraiya in the face for revenge. Naruto quickly finished, "I have a few."

Yuuto was the one to ask, "What's fuinjutsu?"

"The art of sealing," Naruto replied simply before gesturing to his window. The window had several seals inscribed on the inside. He then clarified, "In simple terms, fuinjutsu is a way to mold and shape chakra through the use of writing. A master can accomplish anything with it. I'm not at that level, but I am adept enough to have placed many different levels of protection on my house…Although it matters little since you proved you can just teleport inside. I doubt even a master could come up with a way to prevent that. At least not without years of effort."

Jiraiya had taught Naruto fuinjutsu during the training trip. Naruto just hadn't ever really used it. He'd preferred big ninjutsu techniques to sitting still and writing. That had changed after coming here. With Naruto's reduced chakra capacity, fuinjutsu was a lifesaver. He wasn't a master, but he's still an expert. The only difference between a master and expert is years of experience.

Rias looked closer at the seals on the window as she commented, "That sounds useful. Like a different style of Rune Symbols. We'll have to explore this later, but for now we should just focus on your physical capabilities."

"Alright. We can get to that as soon as I get dressed. Unless any of you guys want me to explain something else first," Naruto asked wryly. Since they woke him up, he was in his sleeping attire. Boxers. Naruto wasn't exactly shy, neither were they since they didn't seem to care either, but having to hold an entire conversation in his boxers was starting to wear on him.

Akeno took this opportunity to remark in a teasing voice, "Ramen themed boxers? Really?"

Naruto just shook his head as he headed towards his closet. On the way he retorted in a sly tone, "Please. You're just jealous you don't have sexy underwear like this, Ms. Granny Panties."

"Granny panties?!" Akeno repeated in an honestly offended tone. She quickly countered by saying indignantly, "I'll have you know I only buy top-of-the-line lingerie. Stuff so sexy you'd-" She was cut off by Rias placing a hand over her mouth.

"Not right now, Akeno," Rias ordered with a sigh.

"Good. Now can you all leave while I change. I'm going to do it even if you stay, but just a warning. If you don't want to see a bit more of me than usual, the hallway awaits," Naruto told them as he opened his closet.

The group seemed overall amused by his attitude towards changing in front of them, but filed out regardless. They waited in the hallway for a minute as he changed. The door opened to reveal him.

Naruto had decided to wear something different compared to the other members of the Occult Club, who were all wearing the Kuoh Academy uniform. He was wearing some white, special order sandals. He was also donning white cargo pants, and an tight, orange sleeveless shirt. Around his head he was tying a white cloth to hold back the hair he hadn't bothered cutting for a while. These were his workout clothes, all of them practical clothes that were reinforced with seals. Not quite to the level of ninja wear, but decent enough to fight and train in.

Naruto quickly asked the group, "Do you guys have any area in particular you want to do the spar?"

"Not really. We just do typical training, cardio runs and stuff, around town or at school. For spars or magical training we just go into the forest outside of town," Rias admitted.

"No need. I have a place. Follow me," Naruto claimed with a grin. He then started ahead of the group. With a shrug from Rias, they quickly followed.

They walked down a long corridor and then started down some stairs. As they walked down another door lined hallway, Yuuto questioned, "No offense, Uzumaki-san, but why do you own such a large home? This is a mansion, and you clearly live alone."

"First of all, enough with the Uzumaki. We're comrades now," Naruto told Yuuto sternly. When Yuuto gave an accepting nod, Naruto continued, "As for this house. Yeah, it's way too big for me. However Icha Icha net me enough to live comfortably for ten years. I'm not really the guy to save my money either. So I really just had so much money I had no idea what to do with it."

"You bought a mansion because you could," Yuuto commented with a sweat drop.

"…Idiot," Koneko muttered blankly.

Ignoring Koneko's insult, Naruto shrugged before admitting, "Kind of, but I did buy this place for a reason. We're just about to enter it." He said this as they walked down a good number of concrete stairs. Reaching a door, Naruto threw it open while gesturing grandiosely, "Behold."

"Wow," Rias muttered in shock before finishing, "This is a massive basement."

Naruto nod with a grin as he explained to the group, "The rich guy that built this place twenty years ago wanted an Olympic sized swimming pool at his house. He couldn't get the land to put one though. Since he couldn't expand outwards, he went down. Building this massive basement, he then built the house on top. The pool was then placed here. I really wanted a place to train without worrying about collateral damage or being seen. I had to fill in the pool and replace the tiles with regular concrete. Cost a pretty penny, especially considering how much this place cost, but I had the cash available. Once I placed reinforcement seals on the walls, I had a private training grounds."

The group looked at the basement that could comfortably fit an Olympic sized pool. It was rather basic. The walls and floor were plain concrete. There were numerous training weights and other gym equipment in a corner.

Rias eventually stated, "That is smart, if extremely wasteful."

Naruto shrugged, accepting both. He did buy a mansion just for the basement. Not something the average person can do. Naruto replied with, "I'm rich. I can be wasteful."

"True. How much did you make on Icha Icha?" Akeno curiously questioned.

"A lot, and I'm still getting payments. I get commissions based on sales. Icha Icha is still being released in numerous countries as the translations finish. Considering I'm writing another book right now, money isn't really an issue for me," Naruto claimed with a shrug.

"Okay. We can't get distracted. Let's get to work right away," Rias announced to the group sternly. When everyone looked at her, she ordered, "Naruto. We'll start with having you spar Koneko."

Naruto looked at her and nodded. Any other response was cut off when a fist collided with his jaw. A fist with a lot of power packed into it. Enough to send Naruto flying. Hitting the ground twenty meters away, Naruto bounced across the concrete multiple times before finally coming to a stop.

Lying on his back, Naruto blinked up at the roof of the basement in a daze. Damn that was a good punch, and that is coming from someone used to being hit by people with super strength(Sakura and Tsunade). Lifting his head to look at the culprit, he asked while rotating his sore jaw, "You've been waiting a while to do that, haven't you Koneko-chan?"

"Yes," Koneko answered without shame as she pulled on some punching gloves.

"Good one," Naruto grunted as he got to his feet. Rule Number Two of Naruto's list of prankster rules was that you can't be mad if someone gets revenge. You have to be accepting of the consequences of your actions. Doesn't mean he's going to let people get him, but if it does happen then he'll accept it. Rule Number Three is always get payback, and always raise the stakes. Weak men stop when they break even. Real men escalate that shit for the hell of it. So Naruto cracked his neck before saying with an eager grin, "Looks like the pussy has some claws."

Koneko's eyes narrowed, and she shot towards him without saying anything. Naruto stood there without moving, a wide grin on his face. He didn't even move when she shot a punch towards his face, letting it connect without dropping his smile. Unlike the last time though, this time he rolled with it to create a spin. Circling around behind her, Naruto then put all the force of the swing into his open palm slap. Which landed right on Koneko's cute little ass.

"Nya!" Koneko yelped/squealed out at the action. Stumbling when she landed, she fell to her knees as her hands fell back to hold her stinging cheek.

Naruto stood there grinning. What he was hiding was the intense pain he was feeling in his hand. Holy crap! Koneko takes the idea of a firm behind to a ridiculous level, likely because she is a rook. Either way, it felt like Naruto slapped a rock.

Naruto watched as Koneko slowly turned to look at him with watering eyes, an adorable pout on her face as she tried to glare at him. Naruto opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out. After a few seconds he admitted with a shrug, "Okay, I got no pussy joke for that. I'm not that clever. Sue me."

"Pervert-senpai," Koneko growled out as she stood up, trying to be intimidating. Naruto just found it adorable. She then finished as she jumped at him again, "You're the worst!"

This time she came at Naruto smart. Not to mention with an abundance of killing intent. Okay, maybe he had pushed the little pussy a bit too far…Nah. It's just starting to get fun.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Darting in when he felt he saw an opportunity, Naruto lashed out with a roundhouse kick at Koneko. Koneko defended by holding her arms in front of her in a guard. The kick landed heavily against her forearms. Despite the block, the attack had enough force to send the petite devil flying through the air. The short flight ended when her back connected with the wall, a nasty crack sounding out from the impact. Koneko fell to the ground, but then showed her rook durability by standing with almost no sign of injury at the attack.

Which caused Naruto to sigh. The spar had been going on for quite a while by this point. While Koneko had attacked him furiously at the beginning, Naruto turned it around after her anger faded slightly from the few hits she managed to land on him. No offense to Koneko, but she couldn't quite match him in hand to hand combat. She didn't give up though. Instead she started fighting defensively, fighting in such a way to prevent him from landing an attack cleanly. She always made sure to block it or deflect most of the power behind it. Her rook toughness took care of the rest. She might be rather worn out, but the only real difference since the start of the spar was in her uniform. That was a mess by this point, multiple holes and tears showing her bra and panties. Not quite what Naruto was looking for.

Naruto decided not to let up and rushed her. Throwing a quick barrage of punches, Koneko reacted by using her small size to slip through the worst of it. Dropping to the ground, Naruto threw a sweep kick. Koneko jumped into the air to avoid it, exactly what Naruto wanted. Flipping on the ground in a break dancing style move, Naruto lashed out with his other leg in a back kick. Koneko crossed her arms to clock the sole of his foot, but the power lifted her into the air. Naruto once again used a break dancing move to spin to his feet, intending to take advantage of Koneko when she was in the air.

Instead he found himself staring down her fist. Crap! Naruto forgot about the whole devil wings thing. She used them to maneuver herself in midair, attacking when he figured she was helpless. The surprise was enough for Naruto not be able to dodge her punch. The resulting impact creating a loud collision sound. Naruto was relatively unaffected though, having turned his head with the punch. The rook's enhanced durability also helped.

Before Koneko could pull her arm back, Naruto gripped it in his hands. Turning his body, Naruto threw the petite girl at the nearest wall. The momentum made it so that she couldn't change her flight projection with her wings. She did manage to position her body to land feet first. Hitting the wall hard, she looked towards Naruto.

This time it was her that found herself staring down a punch. Naruto had immediately followed after throwing her, knowing she would recover. Too late too dodge completely, Koneko only managed to angle her body so that his punch clipped her shoulder. It was still enough to send her spinning, but was successful at deflecting the majority of the force in the punch. It instead crashed into the wall, cracking the reinforced concrete.

Koneko managed to straighten her spin to land on her feet, proving her nature as a cat-like being. Naruto got back into a fighting stance, holding in his scream of pain at punching the wall like that. Naruto shot forward again, intent on pressuring Koneko till she made a mistake or just plain got exhausted.

On the sidelines, the other three members of the Occult Club were watching attentively. Akeno broke the silence by stating, "Naruto-kun is rather impressive. He's got Koneko on the run, even if he can't finish her."

"I agree. It is also rather clear how the two are different despite them both being rooks. Naruto has far more offensive power than Koneko, while Koneko's durability is her advantage. Her natural evasive abilities and small size also allow her to prevent any strikes that could potentially overcome her defensive power from landing cleanly. This makes it extremely difficult to finish her. So she is best suited for a defensive duty or stalling opponents. Her weakness would be widespread, heavy duty spells. She can't dodge, but they still pack enough power to put her down. Naruto's aggressive mindset, vicious offensive power, and relentless stamina make him an ideal front line fighter or shock trooper. His weakness is less clear. Probably a likelihood to fall into traps or ambushes. Both rooks, but near complete opposites," Rias commented analytically, her eyes not leaving the spar.

Yuuto nodded before adding, "True. I am somewhat confused on Naruto's fighting style though. It is rather…well, wild would be the word I'd use."

"I understand what you mean. He basically said he was a soldier yesterday, so you'd think he'd be a rather disciplined fighter. I wonder if Naruto-kun lied to us," Akeno replied, ending in a voice that showed she wasn't pleased with the idea.

"I really don't think so, Akeno. Just because he isn't a…controlled fighter doesn't mean he isn't a soldier," Rias retorted quickly.

"If you say so, Buchou," Akeno replied with a giggle.

"I think you both are misunderstanding my words," Yuuto interrupted calmly. Directing their attention back to the spar, he elaborated, "True, he isn't using a rigid or disciplined fighting style. Even I can tell that. It appears there are holes in his stance, and that he has no real set attack pattern. That doesn't mean it is bad though. Whenever Koneko tries to take advantage of those holes in his defense, he reacts instantly. Like he is expecting her. His rather crazy methods of attacks are also very effective at catching Koneko by surprise. It doesn't quite look purposeful though. Not deceptive. More like it is…malleable. Experienced. He has so much experience at fighting, he doesn't need a style. Everything Koneko has done, he's been ready to counter. If you took away their devil abilities and rook attributes, I'd say Koneko wouldn't stand a chance against Naruto. As it is, he's still raw and inexperienced as a devil and rook. Koneko inherently has the advantage right now. An advantage that is dwindling as this spar continues."

Rias nodded in understanding. Yuuto's words are proving true. Koneko is finding fewer and fewer opportunities to try and counter Naruto as the spar continues. Not to mention Koneko was starting to tire. Naruto's stamina really is impressive. He's still going strong.

Grinning, Rias declared happily, "This is perfect." Seeing both her peerage members look at her, she explained, "It is clear that Naruto is an experienced fighter. He also claims to have fought in a war. That is exactly what we need. Riser has already participated in a number of Rating Games. He's experienced. We aren't. That's a major disadvantage for us, but Naruto might be able to mitigate it somewhat."

Yuuto and Akeno both nodded, understanding her argument. Real life experience is always better than theory. Having a person on their side with plenty of fighting experience to guide them and give them advice against Riser could prove extremely useful.

Deciding the spar had gone on long enough, Rias clapped to draw their attention before announcing, "Okay, that is enough."

Naruto and Koneko immediately stopped their match. Naruto quickly started rolling his shoulders with a wide grin on his face. Turning to Koneko, he told her, "Great match, Koneko-san. You are really strong." Koneko ignored him, making him sweat drop. Okay, maybe he really should stop the pussy jokes. They clearly aren't endearing him to Koneko, but she is so adorable when she is angry at him. Ah, he'll decide later.

"Think you are up for a quick spar with Yuuto, Naruto-kun?" Rias asked.

Naruto did a quick status check. His body was in good shape considering how much power Koneko managed to pack into her punches despite her size. It wasn't anything he couldn't handle though. No broken bones, no internal bleeding. He'll no doubt have some wicked bruises later, but he's tough. The rook enhancements worked miracles in that department. They also lowered the amount of chakra enhancement he needed for his taijutsu to be effective. His new durability meant he didn't have to continuous circulate chakra into his muscles to boost his speed to a level to dodge all attacks since he now could just take the punishment. Only needing a quick burst of speed every now and then. Naruto was particularly happy with his new improved raw strength. Although he couldn't test it out in this basement, he was pretty confident he could replicate the attacks of Sakura and Tsunade's super strength technique eventually. Say what you will, but Naruto had always been a bit put out by being physically weaker than the frail looking Sakura. He didn't even need chakra for it either. Awesome. These things meant his chakra reserves are still going strong. With his larger reserves, he'd used less than a fifth of his total in that match. His stamina meant his body wasn't tired either.

Resolved, Naruto nodded at Rias as he declared, "Bring him on."

Chuckling, Rias waved at Yuuto before telling him, "You heard him, Yuuto. Bring it on."

"Of course, Buchou," Yuuto replied with a smile as he walked towards Naruto. He drew a sword he had prepared beforehand.

As the two blondes faced each other, Koneko reached Rias and Akeno. Rias quickly questioned, "So what do you think of Naruto, Koneko?"

Koneko paused and tilted her head. She then answered blankly, "He is skilled in hand to hand. Adapted to rook attributes quickly. Overall impressive combat abilities."

"Yet I can tell you still have reservations," Rias commented knowingly. When Koneko didn't deny it, Rias sighed before asking, "What is it, Koneko? If you know something, you should tell. Everything we know about Naruto is helpful."

"He uses chakra weird," Koneko finally admitted. She then clarified hesitantly, "Chakra is the base of one's life. The energy of the soul. It is not meant to be a power one can grasp easily. The easiest way to use it is with senjutsu. With senjutsu, one can sense and draw upon it. He isn't drawing it out to use touki or using the ki in chakra to empower his body. He is manipulating the chakra with it remaining part of him. It is…different. I don't know if I could even use such a method."

"He does claim to be from another world. It is only natural that they could develop their own ways to use their inner energies," Rias quickly reasoned.

"I realize. It is different, but not worrying," Koneko claimed emotionlessly.

"Yet you are worried. If not of this, then what?" Akeno pointed out with a quiet certainty.

This time one could see the emotions on Koneko's face. Subtle, but noticeable. It was a mix of dislike and fear. She declared in an uncertain voice, "His chakra…feels similar to the energy of nature. No, not similar. Like the two have interacted. Mixed before."

"You think he knows senjutsu?" Rias demanded with alarm in her voice. Senjutsu is dangerous and taboo. If her new servant knows senjutsu it would complicate things.

"I'm…unsure. Since I have refused to train in senjutsu, my sensing abilities are weak. Plus, usual senjutsu wouldn't result in one's chakra changing. Normal senjutsu requires one to manipulate natural energy outside of their bodies. No mixing it with chakra, thus no change in the chakra," Koneko explained, looking rather baffled herself.

Akeno was the one to connect the dots, and added, "But since Naruto uses chakra differently, then who is to say his method of using senjutsu isn't different as well."

"Exactly," Koneko muttered with a nod, her eyes fixed on Naruto with a scary intensity.

"And I doubt asking him will get us answers. He seems to be playing any personal info close to the chest," Rias grumbled in annoyance. She could understand that Naruto was being careful, but it is only causing her headaches. So she just sighed before continuing, "Koneko. Continue monitoring his chakra to the best of your abilities. If you start to sense a change in his chakra that might indicate he's experimenting or using senjutsu, tell me. I'll confront him about it then. Don't spy on him. Just by aware. We need to gain his trust before he'll open up more with his abilities and past. Hopefully this is nothing.

Koneko nodded in understanding. She truly feared senjutsu. It was a dangerous ability. The possibility that Naruto could use it was naturally making her wary. On the other hand, she never got a sense of danger from Naruto himself. He was infuriating, sure, but her instincts were never acting up around him. If Naruto knew how to use senjutsu in a better way, without going insane, then this might be an opportunity for her. As a Nekoshou, senjutsu comes to her even more naturally than it does a normal Nekomata. She knew she would eventually have to master it or it would master her. If a teacher appeared with a superior method of senjutsu…She would still be scared of senjutsu, but it would still be a preferable alternative than having to experiment by herself.

With the issue put on the backburner, the three turned back to the ongoing spar.

Knowing the spar was already started, Naruto readied himself. Yuuto was a knight, so speed was his strength. Yuuto proved his thoughts by breaking into a sudden dash. He was fast, but Naruto was used to fighting fast opponents. Sasuke had always had the speed advantage over him, and he used a sword as well. Naruto couldn't hope to match Yuuto's speed currently, but he could track him and react in time.

So when Yuuto attacked with a simple slash, Naruto easily leaned out of the way. Yuuto didn't stop for an instant. He dashed again, circling around Naruto to attack from his side. Naruto once again leaned out of the way of the attack. Yuuto then once again dashed to come from the side again.

Naruto quickly grew tired as the cycle repeated. Yuuto wasn't giving him a chance to attack. Moving too fast for Naruto to target, and only stopping to do a quick attack. Naruto had to move out of the way, but by then Yuuto was moving again. It was smart of Yuuto, but it was a pain for Naruto.

So Naruto withdrew a kunai from one of the storage seals on his wrists. He then used it to block the sword strike that had been going to his side. The sudden change was enough to briefly surprise Yuuto. Using the opportunity, Naruto's other hand shot out in a quick jab towards Yuuto's face. The princely blonde barely managed to dodge. Naruto tried to strike again, but Yuuto showed his resourcefulness by kicking out with a leg to connect with the leg Naruto was stepping forward with. Naruto barely even felt the kick, but it did succeed in unbalancing him for a second. Which was more than enough for Yuuto to recover and create some distance.

Yuuto's method of attack quickly changed to a more hit and run style. Instead of running around Naruto, he darted in and out. Each time unleashing a quick combination of sword strikes before leaving once Naruto looked about to retaliate.

This time Naruto stayed calm. He had to be to ensure Yuuto didn't manage to sneak in a strike. A single mistake when fighting a sword wielding opponent could be fatal. Naruto knew that from his fights with Sasuke. His rook durability might be able to deflect a shot, but Naruto really wasn't in the mood to test that theory. Much rather not get stabbed or slashed in any way.

So he stayed calm, and defended as he analyzed Yuuto's sword style. Yuuto was skilled with a sword. He obviously had a good teacher. A style meant there was a pattern though. Yuuto was skilled, but obviously lacked the pure experience necessary to adjust his style on the fly. Getting his rhythm down would enable Naruto to counterattack.

As soon as he got it down, Naruto acted. When Yuuto came in with a downward slash, Naruto rose his kunai to block it. Simultaneously, Naruto's other hand shot out in a hook at Yuuto's face. Yuuto predictably leaned out of the way, but Naruto's hook had been wide enough that he lost his balance in the process. With Yuuto's base unstable, thus preventing him from dodging, Naruto dropped for a sweep kick. Yuuto tried a quick slash to distract Naruto, but it was for naught as Naruto's kunai once again blocked it as his leg swept Yuuto's legs out from under him. Naruto's other leg than shot out in a mule kick towards Yuuto's chest. Yuuto had to use his sword to block the attack. The sword snapped under the force of Naruto's kick, but the force it took to break it was enough to push Yuuto out of the way before the kick hit him. Yuuto rolled with the momentum to regain his feet. He then looked at his broken sword.

Straightening, Naruto taunted with a grin, "Looks like you are out a weapon, Yuuto-san."

"Not at all," Yuuto replied with his usual polite smile. He then easily threw away the broken sword before continuing, "This just means I can go all out."

Naruto was confused, but got ready. Whatever Yuuto was going to do was stopped prematurely when Rias announced, "Okay, that's enough you two. I got enough."

"What? We were only sparing for like three minutes," Naruto exclaimed in annoyance. Even Yuuto didn't look all that happy for the spar to end.

"You can spar another time. I simply wanted to see how you would react to fighting someone with a significant speed advantage over yourself," Rias told them firmly.

Naruto sighed at her explanation before telling her in resignation, "Fine, but you could have just asked. There are usual ways to fight someone faster than yourself. Fight defensively. Minimize your movement. Look for patterns. Try and move to a smaller area, where your opponent will have less area to maneuver. Shoot for simultaneous exchanges. Target their legs or disrupt their footing. Pretty standard stuff."

"Intelligent guidelines, but I still was able to find out much more from watching you do that stuff than just hearing you say that stuff," Rias immediately retorted.

"Guess that makes sense," Naruto reluctantly granted. Turning back to Yuuto, Naruto continued with a grin, "Nice spar, Yuuto-san. You're good. We'll need to do this agi-Fuck! My kunai." Naruto's attitude abruptly changed when he caught sight of the weapon he had used to block Yuuto's sword. The edge was chipped to the point that it was useless to Naruto. Naruto quickly exclaimed in annoyance, "This sucks ass. I've only got eight of these left. Seven now." Naruto had basically forgotten the two storage seals on his wrist before coming here. He'd only had a dozen kunai in one when he arrived, and they weren't the highest quality kunai. Four had broken from his training over these months. To see another one bite the dust was a bitter pill to swallow. He didn't need them, but they were some of the few mementos he had left from his original world.

Yuuto didn't quite understand why Naruto was upset about the loss of a little knife, but it was clearly important to him on some level. So he smiled apologetically before saying, "Sorry. I didn't realize. My demonic swords will damage most human made weapons."

"It's okay," Naruto replied sadly. Naruto then quickly shook his head like a dog to rid himself of the feeling. Feeling sad just wasn't him. Forcing himself to feel upbeat, Naruto turned to Rias and asked, "What's next, Rias-chan?"

Rias answered with a smirk, "Now I need to see how you would fight against a spell user."

Yuuto immediately chuckled as he understood. Naruto was left confused until he heard a soft voice, "Ara ara, looks like it is my turn. Let's have fun, Naruto-kun. Ufufufu."

Naruto paled. Looking at Rias, he looked at her with a face begging for help. She just chuckled in amusement before walking towards the sidelines. Like a man facing his death, Naruto turned around in grim acceptance to face the smiling Akeno. It didn't matter if she was hot. At that moment Naruto was looking the Shinigami in the face.

Giving one last attempt to stop this, Naruto asked in desperation, "What happened to the five foot rule?"

"Ufufufu," Akeno giggled out, not comforting Naruto at all. She then lifted a hand, which started sparking dangerously. She then informed him with her inner sadist starting to peak out, "You seem to be operating under a false assumption, Naruto-kun. I don't need to get within five feet of you to hurt you, and that's all that matters to me."

Naruto immediately groaned out, "I'm screwed, aren't-Geh." Akeno cut him off by shooting a bolt of lightning at him, which was a pretty good answer as well.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Ten minutes later Rias called a stop to the spar.

On one side stood Naruto. Considering he had spent ten minutes sparring a sadist trying to fry his ass with lightning, he was looking pretty good. He was rather singed and burnt from a few close calls, and his hair was sticking up even more than usual due to all the static. Still, he was alive and not suffering nerve damage from electric shocks. That was enough for him. The biggest issue was that he was breathing heavily, and looked tired. The first due to all the screaming and panicking he had been doing. The second due to his nearly exhausted chakra reserves. Another minute or two and he would have dropped.

Akeno was rather untouched overall. However it was clear by her face that she was fuming and disappointed regardless of her untouched state. The spar had clearly not pleased her.

Rias, Yuuto, and Koneko were all showing various levels of bewilderment and amusement. The reason was clear. The ground of the training field was littered with burnt and destroyed logs. Every time Akeno had been about to hit Naruto, he'd managed to replace himself with a log he pulled out of his ass. A lot of logs.

Akeno let out her frustrations by growling furiously, "Where the hell did you even get all these logs?"

Naruto just gasped for breath before admitting, "No idea. I didn't pay attention in class much. Iruka always mentioned something about praising the lord of the log or something, but I just thought that was because he was slipping something into his coffee. I can't believe I didn't use this technique more as a kid. Sasuke was right. I was a dumbass. Not that anyone uses it after a certain point. Either way, I'm ready to start praising the lord of the log."

"Tsk. What a shame. I lost my chance. I'm sure your cries of pain would have been so beautiful," Akeno muttered in dejection.

"I hate sadists so much," Naruto cried out from her words.

"Okay, that's enough," Rias told them while clapping her hands to gather their attention. Looking at Naruto, she continued, "So you clearly have some interesting abilities. That switching thing is clearly useful at evasion. That you didn't attack Akeno indicates you don't have any ranged attacks. Am I right?"

"Yeah. I can recreate several low powered wind techniques with my current reserves, but it will take some time and practice. For now I'm stuck at short range," Naruto replied with no shame over his current limitations. Emphasis on current.

"Wind, huh? That could be useful," Rias muttered in thought. Looking at him, she then asked, "Do you currently know any other techniques?"

Nodding, Naruto told her, "Yep. Two. A third seems to not work on devils."

"Will you show us?" Rias asked. She usually would have ordered him to, but she was trying to get him to trust her.

"Sure," Naruto replied easily. These were all low level techniques, so it didn't matter much. He quickly started explaining, "That was the Replacement Technique. As you saw and the name implies, it allows me to replace myself with something of roughly equal mass. Usually a log."

He then ran through a few hand seals before being engulfed in a puff of smoke. It cleared to show that he had turned into a perfect coy of Rias. He then explained to the stunned club members, "This is the Transformation Technique. This is an illusion. I have a better version where I physically transform, but my current chakra reserves don't allow me to use it."

Poofing back to himself, he then ran through a few more hand seals. This time he seemed to disappear. Those present could see the slight bending around him with their advanced eyesight. Even they would admit that is probably only because they knew exactly where he was. As he was invisible, Naruto explained, "And this is the Transparent Escape Technique. It bends light around the user to turn me invisible. I have still not perfected this technique. I couldn't use it before due to lack of control, and recreated it just from memory. It's good when I'm still, but when I start moving…" The group watching all flinched when a sudden bright light invaded their eyeballs. Naruto quickly told them as he let the technique fall, "I'm still not familiar enough with bending the light properly. When I move it bends wrong and causes flashes of light like that. Not exactly stealthy."

Rias nodded as her eyes recovered. She then commented in a gleefully, "They each have their issues, but are certainly useful. For infiltration, stealth, and battle."

Naruto accepted the compliment with a nod, but it was clear by his heavy breathing and sweat on his forehead that he was tired. He quickly stated, "I hope that's it for today. I used a lot of chakra in the spar with the sadist, and I'm now running on empty from those techniques."

"It's not the end for today, but don't worry. The rest will be relatively boring in comparison," Rias reassured him calmly. She then announced, "We should go back to the clubroom. We can teleport there."

"Think I can shower and eat first? You guys did sort of drag me out of bed," Naruto requested in exasperation. He had worked up a sweat, not to mention he was slightly burnt from Akeno's lightning. A shower would be nice. Getting some food in his stomach will help him recover his lost chakra as well.

"Oh, sorry. I forgot," Rias said with a slight blush and a sheepish expression. Turning to the rest of the club, she told them, "You guys head back first. I'll stay back here with Naruto-kun to teleport him there when he's showered. Akeno, prepare some breakfast once you get there. I think all of us could have a bite to eat."

They nodded before stepping away. Koneko and Yuuto stepped close to Akeno, who closed her eyes and concentrated. A bright red, magic circle formed on the ground beneath them. Naruto watched in interest as another formed above them. The top one then lowered, and the three disappeared as it passed over their bodies. When the two circles lined up, they disappeared in a bright flash to show the three completely gone.

Naruto wasn't too surprised by the spell. Selene had used similar spells. Even taught him one.

Instead he turned to Rias and said, "Let's go upstairs. You can explore or watch TV. Whatever you want. I'll be taking a shower."

"Got it," Rias said in acceptance.

As the two moved towards the door, Naruto's eyes swept across all the burnt and destroyed logs his match with Akeno had resulted in. He then grunted, "Dammit. I'm the one that has to clean this up, too. That's going to suck."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Twenty minutes later Naruto stepped out of his shower. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he stepped towards the mirror. Wiping of the condensation on it, Naruto took a moment to look at his reflection.

His appearance hasn't changed a whole lot since coming here. He'd only been here for a few months after all. His blonde hair had been allowed to grow out a bit, and his whisker marks had faded a bit since he no longer had Kurama in him. Otherwise his face looked the same. He had grown a good three inches in height already, something Naruto was glad about and hoped would continue. It also looked to Naruto like he was a bit more cut, although that could just be his ego talking. He had been doing a lot of physical exercise though.

Shrugging over his concern for inane things like his appearance, Naruto walked out of the bathroom. Moving to his bedroom, he dropped the towel before grabbing some clothes. Since the rest of the club members were using their school uniforms, Naruto figured he should as well. So he slipped on the black dress pants and the white, long sleeved, button up shirt. He passed on the black blazer, since the thing was stuffy as hell. He completely ignored the possibility of wearing a tie or bowtie like some students do. He finished by putting on a pair of brown dress shoes, which Naruto had special ordered to be surprisingly comfy.

With him being fully dressed, Naruto left his room and walked down the stairs to find Rias rummaging through his kitchen. As soon as she sensed him, she commented, "Not a whole lot in here, Naruto-kun. Plenty of instant ramen, but not much else."

Naruto shrugged before claiming nonchalantly, "Not much a cook myself. I actually go to school early to eat breakfast there. Buy lunch there. Usually eat out for dinner. The ramen is just there for when I want a snack after training."

"Well good for you, Akeno is an amazing cook. She usually makes stuff for the club, since the rest of us live in the building," Rias told him as she stopped searching through his cupboards. Approaching him, she asked, "So you ready to teleport to the clubroom?"

"Yep."

"Good. Then give me your hand," Rias ordered. Naruto complied with a shrug. A quick tap was all she did before a glowing red symbol formed on Naruto's palm. She then explained as Naruto examined the mark, "This is a carved mark. It will act as proof that you belong to the Gremory household. It will allow you to teleport with my family's magic circle."

"I see. Is it possible to create my own magic circle?" Naruto asked curiously as he let his marked hand fall.

Rias was surprised by the question, but answered regardless, "Yes, but it requires a substantial amount of skill in using your demonic power. Even I have to rely on my standard family circle. The creation of a personal magic circle is often viewed as a sign of independence and competency due to the difficulty. For a reincarnated devil to manage it is usually taken as a sign that they should be considered a high-class devil. Why?"

Naruto shrugged before replying truthfully, "More curious than anything, but I guess I'm just interested in learning a bit of magic. Seems like it would be useful."

"That can be handled," Rias quickly stated. She hadn't been planning on teaching Naruto how to use his demonic powers in particular. His potential in the field is also rather uncertain, but it could prove useful. A person can never have too many skills, and it will help her if Naruto becomes more powerful. She then continued, "Both Akeno and myself are quite skilled in using our demonic power, even if we mainly stick to our specialties. The best thing to start with would teaching you how to use my family circle. Currently only myself and Akeno can do so, although the main reason Koneko and Yuuto can't is due to a lack of necessity than anything. We have a written circle in the club room which allows anyone with enough magical power to use it to teleport somewhere from there."

"This is something we should talk about later though. For now we should get to the clubroom to talk. Step close and I'll teleport us," Rias ordered.

Naruto shrugged and stepped close enough that their shoulders were touching. Rias didn't even look like she needed to concentrate before the magic circles sprang up. He then waited as they started the process. It was actually a very smooth ride. Naruto had experience with teleporting techniques. Both the reverse summoning jutsu and the hiraishin from when he fought alongside his father. This might not be as fast as those two techniques, but it was less…uncomfortable. He didn't feel the tugging sensation in his chest like when reverse summoned, and there was none of the disorientation you felt when you were instantly moved to another place like the hiraishin. The image of the Occult Research Club's room just started superimposing itself over his vision, and the sight of his kitchen faded in a few seconds to leave him in the clubroom. If he had his eyes closed, he probably wouldn't have even felt the shift.

Rias left his side to move behind her desk to sit down. She then told him, "Take a seat, Naruto-kun."

Naruto did just that. Both Koneko and Yuuto were sitting down, Koneko eating some sweet smelling snack that was on the table. Naruto took a seat on the empty couch.

Right as he got comfortable though, a soft sounding voice spoke up behind him, "Good to see you've arrived, Naruto-kun."

Naruto jumped as his head turned to see that Akeno had somehow managed to creep up behind the couch he was sitting on. Man, she's pretty darn good at suppressing her presence when she wants to. Naturally Naruto didn't focus on that. He instead focused on the fact that she had gotten within five feet of him. So he quickly exclaimed in a panic, "Five foot minimum!" Let it be said spending ten minutes with Akeno trying to shock him had not helped Naruto overcome his fear of her.

Rolling her eyes in amusement, Akeno still stepped back to calm Naruto down. She then gave a melodramatic sigh while lifting a tray of food to show it off. She then declared in a clearly fake sad voice, "That's too bad. I made all this food, but I can't even get close enough to give it to you. Oh well. I guess Buchou and I can split it."

"Wait!" Naruto exclaimed uncertainly, his stomach growling. He then demanded, "Why can't you just place it on the little table?"

"Ufufufu. If I did that, then I wouldn't be able to blackmail you to allow me to sit next to you," Akeno stated in a deadpan, apparently dropping the act.

Naruto just glared at her with a twitching eyebrow. His eyes then drifted to the tray. (Note, they did not stop on her breasts briefly. Naruto would argue that point to the death if anyone dared comment on it.) Should he allow a sadist he is terrified of to sit next to him in return for food or should he go hungry and not put himself in bodily harm?

His stomach rumbling answered for him. Blushing at the loud noise, Naruto finally answered reluctantly, "Fine. You can sit next to me, but if I see any sparks…I'm jumping out the window."

"Ufufufu, of course, Naruto-kun," Akeno replied with a graceful smile. Elegantly taking the spot next to him, she then placed the tray of food on the small table in front of them. She then ruined the elegant image by adding, "Just seeing you so scared is enough for me."

Sweat dropping, Naruto muttered to himself, "I hate sadists so much." He didn't remove himself though, although he was squirming uncomfortably.

Giggling quietly, Akeno then muttered to herself in a whisper purposefully loud enough for Naruto to hear, "Step one: complete. Just got to be patient. He'll be wearing a collar while I whip him in no time at all."

Naruto paled at her words, sweat breaking out on his forehead. He wasn't going to comment though. He didn't want to touch that image with a ten foot pole. Instead he just focused on the tray of food. Grabbing some, he tried it out hesitantly. Rias' earlier words about Akeno's cooking were quickly proven. Naruto immediately dug in. It's too bad Akeno's a sadist. He'd probably be really attracted to her if she wasn't. She was still hot, but the fear overcame his hormones.

Rias just watched all this with a raised eyebrow, not sure what to really think of the interactions. When it stopped though, she coughed to get everyone's attention. She then looked at Naruto and told him, "I'll now be telling you about your other duties as a devil. Koneko, can you get the fliers?"

Koneko nodded and stood up from her spot. Moving over to the nearby counter, she came back with several stacks of papers in her arms. Placing them on the coffee table, she then sat back down and got back to eating without a word. Naruto quickly took a flier to see that it had a type of miniature magic circle printed on it, as well as the words, 'We'll grant your wish.'

Rias quickly explained, "Devils are beings of desire. We form contracts with humans and fulfill their desires in return for compensation. Since few humans are capable of drawing magical circles nowadays, we hand out these fliers with simplified summoning circles. When a person's greed is powerful enough, it will summon us. We create a contract, and we are compensated for satisfying their desire."

Naruto tilted his head before asking curiously, "What sort of compensation do you mean?"

Rias quickly answered casually, "It matters on the job required. Money or objects of value are the typical payment. Technically anything of value. We could even take their lives if the job is high enough, make them work as a servant in the Underworld for the rest of their lives. That is rare nowadays though. Very little is worth such a price."

"So we're basically random chores for money," Naruto deadpanned at her.

Rias just shrugged before explaining him matter-of-factly, "Devils need money as well. As a member of my peerage, you are technically considered a servant of the Gremory Clan. By doing this, you supplement the income of the Gremory Clan."

"Does it really make a difference? Is doing random chores really enough to provide that much of an income?" Naruto pointed out skeptically.

Rias didn't appear bother by his doubt, and explained calmly, "Right now, it really isn't. As a low-class devil, not much is expected of you. While this doesn't apply to you much, Naruto-kun, most low-class devils are supported by their king's family. Akeno, Yuuto, Koneko. Each of them lives rent free in an apartment complex owned by the Gremory Clan. We provide them with food, clothes, and handle almost all of their financial needs. Doing these 'chores' for a small income is more a sign of gratitude than anything. The income is too little to completely reimburse the expenses, but it is more a duty than anything by this point. This is simply what low-class devils are capable of at this point. As devils advance in rank, other methods of creating an income will become available that provide a lot more. A mid or high-class devil is capable of performing duties that would match or exceed the financial demands their presence places on their king's family."

"Not to sound like a jerk, but doesn't that mean I'm exempt from this. I'm rich, and don't receive any financial support from your family," Naruto justified awkwardly.

"You are completely right in not needing to recompense my family," Rias admitted easily before elaborating, "But that doesn't mean you are excused from this entirely. One of the first things evaluated when considering allowing a devil a promotion is the amount of income a devil brings in through this method. The income provided by reincarnated devils is an important aspect of the Underworld economy, so it is an important aspect of being a devil. So you can't just be exempt from performing this duty entirely. I can give you a book detailing the importance of reincarnated devil's incomes, and the effect these incomes have on the devil economy if you wish to gain a greater understanding on why you must perform these duties."

"I'll pass," Naruto replied quickly, holding his hands up to shield himself. He might be curious, but not near enough for him to read a book that is most likely boring as hell.

"I thought you would," Rias said with amusement in her voice. She was finally starting to understand Naruto. He's surprisingly curious, but is laid back or lazy enough that he prefers to keep things simple.

"So I have to hand these out, and then do what the person wants? That sounds…rather sketchy to be honest," Naruto commented as he examined a flier again.

"Don't worry. You don't have to do whatever they want. While it is frowned upon to refuse too many requests, every devil has certain limits. You don't have to have sex with clients, give them money, accept assassination requests, or anything else too extreme. There are devils that specialize in such duties. Any such request goes to them. The magic circles can automatically detect the desires of the user, and the magic circles of the Gremory Clan won't activate for such people. So you don't need to worry about such requests. You can also refuse any request you do end up receiving, but don't take it too far in refusing requests. Some tasks will be mildly annoying or embarrassing. Koneko has a number of clients who ask her to wear cosplay outfits. Akeno is often asked to baby-sit children or clean up a dirty house. Yuuto is often called just to listen to his client's talk about their troubles. Troublesome tasks, but not harmful," Rias explained coolly.

Naruto nodded in understanding. So these were like D-rank missions. The grunt work. A pain in the ass, but stuff everyone has to do at some point.

Looking at the large stack of fliers, Naruto asked in dismay, "And I have to hand all these out by hand?"

Grinning in amusement, Rias answered easily, "Yep. We usually use familiars to do it, but you still lack a familiar. It is also part of the basics for newly reincarnated devils. Building a client base is the first and easiest step to gaining respect and status as a devil."

Akeno then pulled out a small red device and handed it to Naruto. He looked at it with a cocked head. There was a small screen that turned into a radar device after Naruto pressed a button. Akeno quickly informed him, "This is a device developed by devils to aid in this task. This device will locate humans with strong desires since there is no point in wasting fliers on those who lack the desire necessary to call upon us. Using this you go around at night, find the houses of humans with strong desire, and put a flier in their mailbox."

Naruto took in this information with a small frown. This would make the entire task simpler as Naruto wouldn't need to hand out fliers to random people. You can target those relevant to your goals. It still sounded extremely annoying though.

So he quickly questioned, "Just throwing the obvious out there. I'm rich, and I'm still getting income for Icha Icha. Can't I just use that as a source of income instead of doing this?"

"The answer to that is, yes. You can definitely do that. That would be your choice though. Despite being my servant, I cannot simply take the profits from the Icha Icha franchise. You'd have to willingly let us access them, and a large business transaction like that would require a great deal of preparation. You'd have to talk with my father, lawyers would have to discuss terms. It would take months, at least. Until that time you will have to gather income in the usual way," Rias regretfully informed him.

That caused Naruto celebration to be cut down. He quickly demanded in annoyance, "So I still have to hand out fliers?"

"Yes," Rias replied, once again amused by his very open emotional state. She then clarified, "If it makes you feel any better, I would have had you hand out fliers anyways. This is considered the basics of reincarnated devils for a reason. The number of contracts a devil has made is used to determine when they are ready to take the test to become a mid-class devil along with the amount of income they have collected. If you make no contracts, it could lower the chance for you to raise your ranking quickly. This also teaches another skill essential to devils. Social abilities. As creatures of desire, devils have to know how to get what they want. Not everything can be achieved through power. Interacting with clients is a good way to gain a greater understanding of how to properly cooperate with people. You need to be able to comprehend the motives and desires of people, know how to be affable and persuasive, negotiate a contract, evaluate the worth of your actions and choose a suitable reward, etc. These skills can aid us in future endeavors in my opinion, so this is something I must insist you do, Naruto-kun."

"Fine," Naruto grumbled in irritation, reluctantly accepting her words. Grabbing a stack of the fliers, he announced to the group, "If that is all, I'll be heading out.

"Good. That is all I needed to tell you today, so you don't have to return here afterwards. It will likely be dark when you finish. Just come here tomorrow after school."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

The next day Naruto was working his way towards the clubroom with an unusual hurry in his steps.

The previous day had gone as well as could be expected. Handing out fliers sucked, even with the radar. Just a whole lot of running around. Naruto had eventually turned it into a training exercise. The continuous movement helped his endurance, and he decided to travel by rooftop which also worked his chakra control and capacity. So while it might have sucked, it was at least bearable.

The school day was a bit more annoying. Somehow it had leaked to the general school populace that Naruto had joined the Occult Research Club. Gossip naturally resulted, although Naruto had just ignored that. The real problem was with the Perverted Trio. Issei was distracted, but Matsuda and Motohama both grilled Naruto on his reasons. They then begged him to allow them to enter as well, as The Two Great Ladies of Kuoh were in the club as well as the school mascot. That was just annoying for Naruto since they couldn't join, but he couldn't explain why.

So he was glad when they day ended. He was hurrying to the clubroom. He'd forgotten something that was going to happen today, and he had to tell Rias.

Opening the door, Naruto was immediately greeted with, "Good of you to arrive so quickly, Naruto-kun."

Rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, Naruto claimed weakly, "Yeah, but you probably aren't going to like the reason why though…I sort of have somewhere to be in half an hour."

Raising an elegant eyebrow, Rias finally told him, "Really? I'll need an explanation, of course. Sit down and tell me what you have to do. I'll decide afterwards.

Nodding, Naruto quickly looked at the two couches. Yuuto wasn't to be seen. Koneko was sitting in her usual spot while eating another sweet smelling snack, and Akeno was sitting opposite her on the other couch. Akeno shot him a wide smile while he was looking. Getting the usual bad feeling in his chest from seeing Akeno, Naruto sat next to Koneko. Akeno pouted at his action.

Rias once again just watched all this in amusement. Despite his statement the day before about not trusting them, Naruto had managed to create his own little niche in their group rather easily. The playful fear of Akeno. A polite relationship with Yuuto that Rias suspected would grow stronger once the two were able to get to know each other. The teasing of Koneko. To her he acted like a blunt, but rather loyal servant. She wondered how long that would last. Naruto did not strike her as the type to stay contained for long.

Leaning forward, she questioned, "So what is it that you need to do?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head as he informed her, "Well, I got sort of bored over the past few months. I couldn't train all the times after all, and I don't have many hobbies. So I started volunteering three or four times a week at different places. Today is specifically the day I usually volunteer at a nearby soup kitchen."

Rias just looked at him curiously. That…actually fit Naruto quite a bit. Thinking deeply, she finally spoke up, "Technically there is nothing against a devil performing charity work. Who is it sponsored by?"

Naruto shrugged before answering easily, "A number of different church groups."

Rias frowned at the answer. Sighing, she commented, "That is what I feared. I'm sorry Naruto, but for your own safety I can't allow you to go."

And that caused Naruto to frown. His eyes hardening, he bluntly informed her, "Yeah, this wasn't so much me asking for permission to go as it was more me telling you that I'm going."

Naruto cut her off by crossing his arms to form an X and declaring, "No way, Rias-chan. You might be my king or whatever, but I am not going to stop going to that soup kitchen just because you are worried. The people there are nice, and I help people. Just because you tell me they are my enemies doesn't make it true in my mind."

Shaking her head in slight annoyance at his defiance, Rias argued, "Think this through, Naruto-kun. If any members of the Christian church find out you are a devil, they could send an exorcist after you. Humans blessed by the biblical god. When a devil is exorcized, there is no fixing it. No healing or revival possible. You are dead as dead can be."

"Your point? They don't know, and I wouldn't care if they did. Even if they did send an exorcist after me, which it isn't certain they would, then I am confident that I could escape," Naruto retorted stubbornly.

Rias sighed as that and pointed out, "Don't get arrogant. Many of the exorcists of the church are far stronger than you currently are. Plus, they specifically target the weaknesses of devils."

"And you shouldn't be paranoid. Just because they are from the Christian church doesn't mean they are immediately our enemies," Naruto reasoned persistently.

"But they could be, and I have no intention of putting one of my servants at risk," Rias asserted, not backing down.

"Clearly your idea of risk is different from my idea of risk," Naruto retorted, not about to back down either. By now Naruto had stood up, and the two were facing off with each other.

Akeno and Koneko both watched with wide eyes. This was unexpected. Naruto had been getting along with Rias overall, probably more than anyone else in the club. This argument came out of nowhere, but you could tell neither were about to back down.

Knowing it needed to be diffused before it escalated any further, Akeno stood up and separated the two with her hands. She then spoke in a calming voice, "That is enough you two. Naruto, Buchou is just worrying about your safety. And Buchou, you are acting without even considering the feelings Naruto obviously has towards that soup kitchen. Now I suggest both of you take a deep breath and calm down."

Both Naruto and Rias reluctantly followed the suggestion. Crossing his arms, Naruto looked away with a huff. Despite his defiant body language, he muttered, "Sorry, Rias-chan. I still won't stop volunteering at the soup kitchen, but I will do my best to stay safe. That's the best I can do."

Rias rubbed her brow as she replied in a disgruntled voice, "And that's probably the best I'll get out of you. I can't stop you, but there are rules you must follow. You still have to perform your duties. Handing out fliers and meeting clients during the night. If you can do that, I guess I can't stop you from doing what you want during the day. Be careful though. Devils and religions have never gotten along well."

"Maybe that's cause both sides allow stupid preconceptions from allowing them to try," Naruto retorted directly. Decided nothing else needed to be said, Naruto walked out of the clubroom.

And there is his natural unruliness acting up. Earlier than she expected, but she apparently touched on a rather sensitive topic. Rias sighed before explaining, "I told you before that the Biblical God is the leader of heaven and the angels, and thus our enemy. The system he created ensures things related to him harm us. We can't pray without migraines. People doing it near us also harm us. Light magic, holy water, crosses, and bibles will also harm us. Thus an event organized by the Christian church is simply too dangerous. Not to mention most religions don't take kindly to devils. For safety you can't-"

That could have gone better. Naruto knew it would have eventually happened. It was inevitable. As a kid Naruto had been a disobedient hellion. Kakashi had managed to teach Naruto to accept the little stuff. He knew how to work together with each other on a team, but the big stuff never went over so well. Naruto admitted he wasn't the smartest or most philosophical guy in the world, but he still has his own beliefs. And he was willing to stand by those beliefs. He wasn't going to bow to the will of another.

Even Rias, despite willingly becoming her servant. Naruto had little doubt Rias was far more intelligent than him, but that wasn't enough. Naruto could see in her eyes she was woefully inexperienced. Experience was one thing Naruto had. His will and beliefs had been tested by the likes of Pein, Obito, and Madara. Nothing Rias came up with could possibly compete with that. Her apparent belief that followers of the Biblical God should be treated warily, to the point of considering them enemies, didn't sit well with Naruto. It reminded him of how the hidden villages used to see each other. Perceptions like that only increase the likelihood of conflict and the continuation of the cycle of hatred.

So of course he wasn't just going to fall in line. That probably made him a crappy servant. However if he abandoned his beliefs, then he'd be a crappy person. The choice was clear for Naruto.

That meant this wouldn't be the last argument the two of them had. Whether she even realizes it, Rias expects her peerage to follow her lead. With Naruto not doing so, the tension would build and build. Naruto hopes they can resolve this before things go bad. He honestly liked Rias. She was a genuinely good person. Disagreeing with her views doesn't change that.

As he walked, a new thought came to his head. The Biblical God apparently punishes devils for uttering his name. A stupid idea came to his head, but Naruto decided to go with it.

Looking up into the sky, he started, "Hey there, god.*wince* Never really cared to talk to you before, but I'm bored and feel like messing with someone….God, god, god, god, god, god. God…God…God…Go-oh. Okay, that stings. Are you a sadist, god? Geh! Seems that annoyed you. Someone seems a bit insecure. Geh! That time I didn't even say your name! That's just cheating. Unfair. Shouldn't you be setting a good example for your followers…What? No comeback…Wow, who would have guessed god is a wimp-Geh! That one had some kick behind it. Good. You see, real men always escalate. Everything worth doing is worth overdoing. Get it, god. Geh!"

Never let it be said Naruto was a bright person. No matter how experienced or worldly he become, he'll always be the same person at heart. The type of person that will willingly suffer pain just for the chance to annoy a person with inane chatter. The fact that god apparently didn't want devils to say his name was only a bonus. The fact he was literally trolling god made the shooting pain in his head so worth it.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Up in heaven, Archangel Michael started developing a headache. Oh boy. He had a feeling this wasn't going to end anytime soon.

**There it is. I'm not so happy about this chapter because it seems to have come out to another explanation/settling in chapter. Either way, i felt it was necessary. I once again ended up adding a bit too much extra information. I was shooting for 7,000-8,000 words in this chapter. The chapter alone ended up just under 12,000. Cutting down on my word count isn't quite as easy as it sounds.**

**As you see, some tension is building up between Naruto and Rias. I really don't see Naruto as an obedient servant. Eventually his different ideas and beliefs will start to clash with Rias. At the beginning of High School DxD, Rias rather pointedly told Issei to not interact with anyone from the church. It's just her way of trying to prevent her friends/pieces from being targeted by the 'enemy.' Naruto not only is more independent, but he also sees her attitude as paranoid and unnecessary. So the slight conflict at the end there.**

**Next chapter will be when we start getting into the canon events. For those of you wondering about the timeline, this is about one month before the canon events start. Things started moving just days after Issei became a devil. Naruto will have a bit more time to settle in. Next chapter will hopefully be faster paced.**

**Tell me what you think.**


	3. The Nun

**Hey, everyone. Here's the third chapter of High school Maelstrom. It ended up way longer than i was aiming for, over 16,000 words, but whatever. I am actually looking for opinions on that. What do you readers consider the 'optimal length' for a chapter? I'd definitely have a minimum of 7,000 words, but does it bother you when chapters start reaching this length? Tell me what you think. Would you have preferred this chapter be split in two, or is this length better?**

**Trolling God: **_A lot of you liked this. It's a good thing i put it in. I wasn't so sure before. I actually sat for like five minutes debating whether to include it or remove it. Clearly i did the right choice. So i did include an omake at the end of this chapter. Hope you enjoy it. I'm not sure if i'll have one every chapter, mainly depends on what ideas i have._

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Naruto and Yuuto clashed together, their weapons hitting together repeatedly as the two exchanged blows. Yuuto had the reach advantage, but Naruto had two weapons and maneuverability. Together with their respective strengths, the two were roughly evenly matched. Clashing against each other in a test of strength, it was no surprise Naruto managed to force Yuuto back. The handsome blonde proved his ability though in just using Naruto's push to fuel a jump to gain some distance.

When he hit the ground, Yuuto announced before Naruto could charge again, "Okay, Naruto. I think that's good for today."

Naruto paused at that, quickly looking at Yuuto's condition. Their sparring hadn't been hard enough that Yuuto was injured, but it was clear that he was tiring. His chest was heaving, and he was sweating rather heavily by this point. Their spars usually ended this way, with Yuuto finally running out of stamina. So Naruto just shrugged and replied, "Okay. Good spar, Yuuto."

"You too," Yuuto politely said as he tried to regain his breath.

Naruto relaxed his stance as well. He then turned to the gauntlets he had been using to block Yuuto's sword. Realizing he had to have a backup plan incase an enemy had a weapon, Naruto had decided to get something to allow him to block bladed weapons. Experiments had proven that Naruto's rook defensive ability was high enough to block blades with only small cuts resulting, but Naruto didn't doubt there were weapons he couldn't withstand that way. He decided on gauntlets as he wanted a weapon he could incorporate into his hand to hand style. He didn't have the time to learn how to correctly wield a proper weapon. When he told Rias, she made a call to the Underworld. Within a week the special order had arrived.

Calling them gauntlets might actually be a bit inaccurate. They weren't so bulky or covering. Armored gloves is probably a more appropriate title. The gloves themselves were a nice burnt orange, which Naruto loved, while the scattered metal plates were a gleaming white. Their relatively small amount of metal coverings made it a bit tricky for Naruto to learn how to block blades without cutting open his fingers, but he was okay with that. They were very light, flexible, and comfortable. He didn't want to have to wear bulky and restrictive gauntlets on his hands in a fight since he would have never been able to use hand seals like that. The greater offensive and defensive bonuses wouldn't be worth losing his ninjutsu.

Pulling the gloves off, Naruto quickly sealed them into his wrists. He then turned to Yuuto and said, "You going back to the clubroom right away?"

Yuuto nodded before admitting, "I'm sweaty and will probably start smelling in a few minutes. I'll go back to the old school building to shower, and then go to the clubroom. You?"

"I'm thinking the same. Shower and change first," Naruto replied easily.

"Got it. See you in a bit then," Yuuto said as he moved over to a written magic circle. A few seconds later and he was gone.

Naruto just turned and walked towards the stairs out of his basement. The rest of the Occult Club had quickly seen how useful his training area was. Rias had written the magical circle there to increase its accessibility just a week after he joined the group. It was now the go to area for training, although they still did long distance running in town. The basement wasn't _that _large.

Leaving the basement behind, Naruto moved to one of his numerous bathrooms to shower. Stripping his workout clothes off, he stepped under the hot water. Naruto went to work quickly, cleaning himself of any sweat. He was out within four minutes. Putting on a quick splash of deodorant, he then walked to his room to get dressed in his academy uniform. Or at least how he usually wore it.

Closing his eyes, a magic circle sprang around him without the aid of a written circle. He waited for several seconds before opening his eyes, knowing he had arrived in the clubroom. Lifting his hands, he said nonchalantly, "Yo."

"Hello, Naruto-kun. You beat Yuuto here," Rias told him while looking at something on her desk, not reacting at all to his entrance.

"He'll be here in a minute or two, Rias-chan…Or ten. Yuuto cares about his looks a bit more than me. He has to primp and all that stuff," Naruto commented with a grin.

"I heard that," Yuuto announced as he opened the door to the clubroom.

"I know. I meant you to," Naruto replied immediately before adding, "It's me telling you in an unsubtle way that you spend too much time on your hair, Yuuto. A guy spending so much time trying to look good makes people wonder."

"Sorry if not all of us want to play the role of scraggly lout. It's not my fault I'm good looking or that my clients prefer the prince look," Yuuto claimed without a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Excuses," Naruto huffed as he turned his head away from the bishounen. Their words were all in good fun though. It had been about a month since Naruto joined Rias' peerage and became a devil. In that time he'd basically gotten his interactions with the different members down.

Surprisingly, he got closest to Yuuto in that time. At least five days a week Naruto and Yuuto went at it for a few hours. It also helped that Naruto had never really had a close guy friend. The best he ever had was with Sasuke when they were on a team, which ultimately only lasted about a year. In Konoha he also had a number of friends who were guys, but none that he ever hang out with everyday. So it was very easy for the two to bond through guy time, especially since the rest of the club was female. You wouldn't hear Naruto complaining about being surrounded by hot women, but there was a time when guys just wanted to be guys. Kiba and him had to team up or they would be swallowed by the femininity…and the boobs. Can't forget the boobs. They will swallow you up in this club. Akeno and Rias more than made up for Koneko in that department. Even Yuuto's creepy ambiguous sexuality wasn't that bad to Naruto, since he was used to guys that seemingly had no interest in females, Sasuke, Neji, etc.

"Okay you two. Enough banter. It's not like you two haven't argued about that point a dozen times already," Rias told them in amusement.

"Whatever, Rias-chan. Stop being such a spoilsport. You're becoming boring," Naruto stated quickly, pouting at the premature end to the argument.

"I'm not a spoilsport. You are just a child, needing to argue about everything and nothing all at once," Rias retorted, used to this song a dance by now.

"That's why you love me though, Rias-chan," Naruto declared with a mischievous grin.

After Yuuto, Rias was the person he probably got closest to. The two just…clicked. Rias was a bit more serious and sophisticated than Naruto, but if anything she seemed amused by his behavior and antics. Like his carefree and relaxed attitude was infectious, and helped her not worry about her own problems as much. Naruto in turn thought Rias was a nice turn from the usual arrogant and obnoxious nobles. She had the aura of a princess, but was still warm and friendly. They were different, but surprisingly compatible.

Rias just shook her head in amusement. She instead asked, "Have you decided what avenue you want to take your magic yet?"

"Sorry. Not yet. I have several ideas, but I want to be entirely sure of what i want. Can't waste time learning a magic that doesn't fit my style," Naruto told her seriously.

Naruto had taken a few magic lessons from Rias to learn how to effectively use his demonic power. It took a while for Naruto to learn how to use a different energy than chakra, but afterwards his experience in using chakra allowed him to get the basics down quickly.

Unfortunately that meant those lessons quickly came to an end. Naruto had quickly learned how to form teleportation circles, fly with his wings, and other such basics. Since Naruto didn't want to specialize entirely in magic though, it meant he had to pick and choose what areas he wanted to learn the intermediate stuff in. He couldn't learn everything. At least not without years of study and training. Naruto hadn't really been able to decide yet, so the magic lessons had ended for the meantime. It would be put on the backburner till Naruto made a decision.

Which was unfortunate since those were really the only times he had been able talk to Rias alone. Now he could only talk to her during club time. They were in different grades for school, and Rias never trained in his basement since practicing her Power of Destruction underground was just plain unsafe. Without bonding time they simply couldn't get too close.

Turning away from Rias, Naruto looked at Koneko. She was doing her usual activity. Sitting on the couch and eating a sweet snack. "And how are you, Koneko-chan?"

She just stared at him a moment before muttering, "Fine."

Her response made Naruto shake his head in annoyance. Naruto's relationship with Koneko was the worst of the group. He'd stopped the pussy jokes to hopefully improve how Koneko viewed him, but it didn't turn out so well. It wasn't that bad. Naruto just always got the feeling that Koneko didn't really know what to think of him, which is just weird since he'd been here a month. Usually more than enough time to form an opinion of someone.

Naruto naturally didn't like the idea. She was his comrade , sort of. He hated that she treated him like a stranger. So he bent down in front of her so that he could look her face to face and asked, "Are you ever going to say more than one word to me at a time?"

"...Possibly," Koneko replied simply.

The one word reply caused Naruto to sigh. It was always like this. She wasn't rude as long as he stayed away from the pussy jokes. She was just always apathetic around him, only using a single word when he asked her a question. It wasn't all that different from how she acted around the other members, but it still bothered Naruto. He was never good around quiet types.

Which caused him to occasionally bombard her with pussy jokes till she cracked and attacked him. It usually happened once a week. He didn't even care about the attempts on his life, and manhood, that she made during these times. Koneko was cute when she was angry. Much better than her usual boring, emotionless self. Not to mention Naruto firmly believed that bottling up emotions was a bad thing.

Otherwise he resolved to wait. Patience wasn't Naruto's strong feature, but he could do it. He frequently felt her eyes on him, evaluating him for whatever reason. He's just be himself and let Koneko make her own impression of him. Hopefully it would be good. If not...Naruto has a tendency to grow on people, some would say like a weed. He'd get her to like him somehow.

So he just went to the other couch and collapsed on it in a heap. He wasn't surprised when Akeno immediately announced, "Good to see, Naruto-kun. I have food ready."

"Of course you do," Naruto muttered with narrowed eyes at her.

Akeno just laughed as she took the spot next to him, placing the plate of food she had been holding on the table. His relationship with the resident sadist of the club had grown a little better, but was still rather quirky. On one hand one can get used to basically anything with time, so Naruto wasn't quite as scared of Akeno as before. He still got the heebie-jeebies around her though. Something she obviously knew. She had eventually figured out that the best way to calm Naruto down was through his stomach. He was rather simple that way. Naruto was never as agreeable as when he was eating. As long as she had a plate of food he'd usually let her sit next to him. Needless to say, she always had a plate of food on hand after that.

Akeno quickly informed him, "I tried to make these according to what i've noticed you prefer. You seem to avoid most crunchy things, so all these pastries are fluffy and soft. You also have a sweet tooth, but tend to shy away from the artificial sugar based sweets Koneko prefers. Things like powdered sugar, caramel, candy, and chocolate. You tend to prefer the sweetness of certain fruits. So most of these pastries have a jam filling that should fit your particular palate."

Naruto just stared at her, wondering just where all that came from. He didn't even understand half of what she just said. Still, she brought food, and he was hungry. So he grabbed one of the pastries she had made. Taking a quick bite, Naruto immediately commented, "Not sure what you just said, but something must have been right in there. Your food is always delicious, but this is amazing. Thanks, sadist-chan."

"Ufufufu, I'm glad to hear that, Naruto-kun," Akeno replied with her usual demure smile. She also took the opportunity to slide closer to Naruto while he was occupied by the pastry. Moving till her hip was touching his, she also placed a hand on his shoulder as she added, "You'll eat anything, but i simply couldn't stand knowing my cooking wasn't to your taste."

Naruto didn't really hear her words, only registering the hand on his shoulder. He quickly slid a bit away from her so that she wasn't in his personal space anymore. That was a problem that had quickly appeared when Akeno found out how to sit next to him. She then got all..._touchy. _Always moving close and touching him unnecessarily. It creeps him out, which is probably why she did it. Eventually Naruto would end up pressed against the armrest with Akeno right in the middle of the couch due to the gradual movement to the side this game produced.

"Thanks, sadist-chan. You really didn't have to though. As you said, i'll eat anything you put in front of me," Naruto finally managed to tell her once he reestablished a safe distance from the club's sadist.

"Nonsense. My pride as a cook won't allow sub par snacks, but I have to ask. Are you ever going to call me by my name, Naruto-kun?" Akeno asked.

"Are you ever going to stop being a sadist? That's your answer," Naruto answered bluntly.

"That's a shame," Akeno lamented before continuing with a smile, "I so wish to hear you call out my name. To scream it out. 'Akeno-sama!' I dream of it every night."

See why Naruto still felt uncomfortable around her?

Naruto didn't even want to have to respond, so he just went back to his food without a word. Yuuto took the spot next to Koneko. The group then settled in and got comfortable.

Until Rias surprised them by announcing, "Okay. Now that everyone is here, I have news from the archduke."

"Wait. We actually have something to do?" Naruto asked in genuine surprise.

His surprise was well warranted. Being a devil wasn't quite as exciting as one would think. They'd only had one actual task since Naruto joined. Otherwise they'd just spent every afternoon and early night sitting in the club room, since that was the time when clients usually summoned them. Just relaxing till they had something to do. It wasn't bad, but it was a bit lacking in the excitement Naruto preferred.

"Yes, Naruto-kun. We have a task," Rias informed him matter-of-factly. She then explained, "Viser, a stray devil that killed her king and ran, has started residing nearby. She's been luring and then eating humans. We've been ordered to deal with her."

That cut Naruto's happiness at the thought of a job short. He quickly waved his hand before grumbling, "I'll pass then."

The other task had been hunting down a stray devil as well. That had been a very boring job, and it had the same signs as this one. That this Viser is eating humans is a bad sign. While eating humans is a quick way to get strong, it is only effective for very weak devils. Humans aren't strong enough to provide a decent boost to more powerful devils. That she was located is another indication of her power. She wasn't even able to put up a barrier to conceal her energy signature. The final sign was that Rias was given the job. That the handling of Viser was given to such a young and untested devil means Viser is not a real danger to anyone with actual strength. So a pest, in simple terms. Not enough for Naruto to bother.

Rias clearly didn't agree as she told him, "Sorry, Naruto-kun, but you can't pass. I decided to send you, Yuuto, and Akeno to dispose of her."

"Come on! Akeno alone is enough," Naruto argued in annoyance. Akeno was the strongest person in their group, even including Rias. She could easily handle some pesky stray, although it might be drawn out for pleasure.

"Most likely, but better to be safe than sorry," Rias retorted immediately, not affected by Naruto's clear displeasure. She then added as she turned back to several papers on her desk, "Unless you can get Koneko to switch places with you, you're going."

Naruto turned towards Koneko hopefully, but Koneko cut him off when he opened his mouth to announce emotionlessly, "Don't wanna."

Groaning, Naruto threw up his hands and declared, "Fine. I'll go, but I'm not happy about it." He then moved to stand by where Yuuto and Akeno stood. He then crossed his arms while pouting.

"Your opinion is noted, but ignored. Now go exterminate that devil," Rias ordered with an amused grin.

Naruto just stuck his tongue out at her as Akeno summoned the teleportation circle. The trio quickly found themselves in a forest, a mansion in view. Naruto pulled back his tongue since there was no redhead that had sent him on an annoying task here.

"Viser is in there," Akeno told them as they started moving forward. Since Rias wasn't here, she was sort of the leader.

The three started moving through the forest towards the mansion. Still not very happy about being forced to come, Naruto tried to be optimistic by commenting, "Maybe i jumped to conclusions. This Viser did kill her king. The other one just ran away. That has to mean she's at a higher level, right?"

"Not necessarily," Akeno quickly pointed out before explaining, "I saw her picture from the report Buchou received. Viser is quite beautiful. It is probable that she was reincarnated for the sole purpose of acting as a concubine for her master. Such practices are common among members of the pillar families. So she would have had plenty of opportunities to poison him or to kill him while he was sleeping. The archduke didn't inform us of any special skills or talents she had that would indicate she is anything more than a devil who got tired of her role as a concubine."

Seeing Naruto's head drop in depression from her words, Yuuto pitched in, "Don't make any snap judgement. She could have killed her master in battle."

"Even if that is true, it likely wouldn't make much difference. Not all high class devils are strong. Buchou is considered a genius at using her demonic power. It's not always a matter of power that determines who can form a peerage. Sometimes it is determined by birth. There are many high-class devils who never leave their family home or train. They just rely on their peerage to protect them. Viser could have been the servant of just another arrogant noble with no discernible power of their own. So it wouldn't be too impressive an accomplishment if she did kill her master in combat."

With his hope of facing a decent opponent once again crushed, Naruto sent a baleful glare at Akeno before asking, "You just love stomping on my hopes, don't you?"

Akeno put her hand in front of her mouth as she replied gleefully, "Ufufufu, you just make the cutest faces when disappointing. I can't resist."

That caused Naruto to pout and turn his head away from her childishly. His exaggerated anger at her quickly dissipated as the trio walked into the entrance hall of the mansion though. Looking around, Naruto announced neutrally, "I recognize this place. My Realtor showed me it. The previous owner died four years ago with no kids. There aren't a whole lot of people wealthy enough to buy a place like this in town, so it's stayed on the market."

"Something tells me this isn't going to help its sell value," Yuuto remarked as he eyed the broken windows and disorganized paintings on the walls.

"Yeah, I doubt that as well," Naruto deadpanned.

"Quiet, you two. We are now in Viser's home-turf. This will probably be easy, but we should stay alert. Arrogance has killed many powerful individuals," Akeno warned.

It was unnecessary advice since Yuuto and Naruto were both being careful, but the point still got across. No needless talking or joking till Viser is dead. So they both straightened a bit more as they made there was through the entrance hall. Akeno opened the next door and it immediately became clear Viser was there. The scent of blood was heavy in the air.

Naruto scanned the large room that was filled with multiple pillars. The scattered remains of mauled humans were spread throughout the room. Yeah, Viser definitely had to die. This was a lair for a wild animal. Not a person.

"I smell something foul, but also something delicious. Are you sweet? Or are you bitter? I need to find out," a haunting female voice called out. A figure then appeared on the far side of the room. It allowed the group to see the stray devil's torso. She was rather attractive woman with long black hair. She was also rather voluptuous, something that was practically impossible to ignore since she wasn't wearing a stitch of clothes to cover herself. So her breasts were on clear display.

No response came from there group for several seconds. Naruto finally scratched his head as he told the stray in front of them, "Sorry, but our king isn't here. She's usually the one to do the whole, pre-fight banter thing. Can we just skip straight to the part where we kick your ass? We have things to do."

Viser clearly wasn't pleased with his words as she immediately snapped out, "Such impudent brats. I'll dye the walls with your blood."

She then grabbed her breasts and seemingly started groping herself. The group just stared at her with raised eyebrows before they all saw the magical circles forming over her nipples. The three all easily dodged when yellow blasts were fired from her nipples. Considering the walls where they hit melted, it's probably a good thing they did.

Naruto quickly muttered to himself, "Geez, if you wanted to banter I could have done it. No need to shoot your stupidly sexual attack at us."

"Naruto-kun, not exactly the best time," Yuuto commented.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's just get this over with. I feel like taking a nap in the clubroom," Naruto replied flippantly, not at all nervous about their current situation.

"Die~!" Viser screamed in rage as she moved towards them, revealing her bottom half. Unlike her top half which was reasonably attractive, the bottom was clearly that of a monster. It was faintly reminiscent of a centaur, her four legs being furred, and having a tail shaped like a snake. That effectively ruined any degree of appeal she once might have had.

None of the group were surprised by her physical state. It turns out reincarnated devils can't control their power very well at first. The evil piece system instead uses their king as a sort of filter or control on that power, preventing it from running wild. Reincarnated devils eventually can control it themselves once they become strong enough or spend enough time as a devil. When a devil becomes a stray before that point though, those filters on their powers stop working. Their bodies are then twisted by their powers, with their minds corroding as well. This process is only enhanced when that stray devil then starts eating humans to gain power. They gain more power that they can't control. In a few weeks Viser will be nothing more than a beast, in both mind and body.

Yuuto decided to be the first one to attack, typical since he's a knight. His job is really to weaken the opponent with his speed. He moved so fast he would disappear to weaker devils, jumping towards Viser's torso to cut off her human arms. With Viser screaming in pain, he pulled back.

That was Naruto's cue. With Viser distracted by the pain of her sudden amputations, he jumped in with an axe kick. "Tsutenkyaku!" He spoke as his heel connected with Viser's centaur body. The copied attack of Tsunade had enough power to slam Viser's large body into the ground with enough force to crack the stone ground. Viser howled in agony.

Naruto landed calmly beside her, but was surprised when her snake tail snapped towards him. Seems the tail has some degree of consciousness or self-instinct since Viser is still incapacitated from his kick. Despite being surprised, Naruto's reflexes were still fast enough to grab it's head inches before it dug its fangs into his shoulder. With a frown, he grabbed it with his other hand. He then spun around and pulled, intending to toss Viser over his shoulder. It would have worked, but it turns out the snake isn't quite as strong as he hoped. It snapped halfway through the throw, so Viser went flying through the air instead of slamming into the ground. Crashing through one of the pillars, her flight was ended when she connected with the wall.

Sliding down the wall, Viser struggled to her feet weakly as she hissed, "Impossible. Such young children can't be so strong…I'll crush you all."

"Naw. You're just weak," Naruto pointed out, completely unconcerned with her threat.

That just caused her to scream in rage again. A large magic circle formed in front of her. Seems she's going to try and blow the entire place to hell. Can't have that. Before Naruto could stop her, Viser was interrupted when she was consumed by lightning.

Akeno had finally stepped in. It should be noted she could have finished this at any time, but felt that Naruto and Yuuto deserved at least some action since they were forced to come along. She should end this now though since Viser is very clearly becoming unstable. She simply had no choice but to shock her now. To cause her agonizing pain…she loved her life at times like this.

Naruto sweat dropped when Akeno started repeatedly shocking Viser, repeatedly mocking her by commenting that she was still alive. A blush on her cheeks, and sensually licking her lips all the while. It was times like this Naruto only reaffirmed that being afraid of Akeno is a good choice for his health. Avoiding sadists is simply a smart life choice.

He was starting to feel sorry for Viser by now though. This was starting to drag out too long. Looking at Yuuto, the knight understood. He quickly created a short sword with his sacred gear, Sword Birth. He then tossed it to Naruto. Weighing it briefly, Naruto then chucked it at Viser. His aim proved true as the sword sank right into the stray devil's neck. With the shape she had been in, it only took a few seconds for the body to go limp.

"Ara ara. You took away my toy, Naruto-kun. Is that your way of volunteering yourself as a replacement?" Akeno questioned, clearly not pleased by Viser's premature end.

That would have usually sent Naruto running with his tail between his legs, but he wasn't quite in the mood to back down right now. So he just looked back at her firmly as he stated firmly, "Akeno, you are out of line right now. We don't torture defeated enemies. Understand?!"

He understood the desire to hurt someone who wronged you, but that wasn't here or there. Viser might have been a murderous, insane bitch, but that was still unnecessary. She wasn't a threat. They still had to kill her, she was out of control after all, but not like that. She was little more than a rabid animal. It should have been quick and easy. Torturing her just too much, and Naruto was going to make that clear to Akeno. He doesn't care if she is a sadist. He isn't going to let her take her sick pleasures out on every enemy they defeat. No way.

Several sparks came from Akeno as her eyes narrowed at Naruto. Clearly his sudden stand against her sadism didn't agree with her. Naruto's body tensed as he actually considered that she might attack him. He had basically called her out right in the middle of her most intense sadist mode.

The sparks and the glare both ended instantly as her bearing changed. Tilting her head and putting her cheek in her palm, she spoke up in her usual soft voice, "Ara ara. It seems I got a little bit too excited. I apologize, Naruto-kun."

Naruto wasn't sure what to think of her sudden change, but decided to just accept it for now. He'd rather not come to blows with Akeno. He wasn't sure he could win. He might be able to pull something out of his ass, but right now she simply had more firepower at her disposal than him. He didn't want to have his ass shocked like Viser.

Thankfully Naruto was given the perfect opportunity to bail from this tense situation when he felt a slight tug. Recognizing it, he quickly informed the group, "You guys can go back by yourself. A client is summoning me. Tell Rias-chan I'll return in a bit." He then summoned a magic circle and disappeared.

So he didn't notice Akeno's eyes fixed on the spot he had previously been inhabiting, an unidentifiable emotion in her eyes. She only broke her intense look when she felt Yuuto's eyes on her. Hiding whatever emotions she had been feeling, she put her hand before her mouth before saying in an airy voice, "Ufufufu, sorry. I was distracted. Let's go back to the clubroom."

Those two then teleported away, leaving the mansion empty once again. Another devil would be sent to do cleanup. Their job was done.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Next Morning

"Maybe I should skip the first half of the day to nap in the clubroom," Naruto muttered to himself as he slowly walked towards school. He'd had a number of late night clients the previous night. Devils don't need to sleep as much as humans, but three hours was pushing it. He really shouldn't skip part of the day considering his grades, but he really doesn't feel like listening to the teachers drone on right now.

As he was considering, a peculiar feeling washed over him. Stopping, he cocked his head and closed his eyes to concentrate on it. It felt like…medical chakra. No, not exactly. It's similar though.

Now which should he do? Go to school and listen to his teachers blabber or should he skip and investigate this feeling? Who is he kidding? His choice is clear to anyone that knows him. Fuck school!

So Naruto turned and started sprinting in the direction of the feeling, which almost immediately led him to a large park. Naruto often came here to enjoy the nature of the place. It didn't take him long after entering to pinpoint the source of the feeling. Leaning against a tree from a slight distance, he just watched.

The source of the feeling was a young nun, appearing to be 15 or 16 years old. Her long blonde hair was partially covered by a white veil with light blue edges. She was wearing a typical dark blue nun outfit that had light blue edges as well. Naruto's attention was also forcefully drawn to a silver cross hanging around her neck.

She was crouching beside a small boy, her hands hovering over a scraped knee. Naruto saw a light green glow coming from her hands, specifically the two rings on her hands. It felt eerily similar to healing jutsu, but still felt a bit off. It also felt a bit different from the healing spell Rias had demonstrated for him. Either way, the energy quickly finished healing the scrape of the boy. Seems Naruto had arrived right at the end of the process.

The kid straightened and started eagerly talking to the nun, but Naruto was a bit too far to hear what he was saying. The kid then ran off to a nearby woman that was talking on a cell phone. Pulling on her dress, he pointed at the nun while babbling something. No doubt telling his mother that the nun had healed his injury. The woman just frowned and narrowed her eyes at the nun in suspicion. She then grabbed the boy's hands and started to drag him away from the nun, despite obvious protests on his part.

Naruto sighed in frustration at that. Religion was starting to be distrusted nowadays. The woman likely thought the nun was up to something.

Seeing the nun looking sad at the act of the mother, Naruto couldn't help but walk over to her. Once he was standing behind her, he told her in a warm voice, "Don't let that woman bother you. What you did was very kind."

The nun jumped slightly, having not detected him. She looked over her shoulder at him. Standing up, she turned to face him before she started apologizing profusely, "Sorry, sir. I didn't see you there."

Naruto waved his hand nonchalantly before replying without care, "No worries. I'm a ninja. Can sneak up on people, you know."

The nun didn't really know how to reply, but finally just giggled and commented, "Not very ninja-like of you to say that."

Grinning, Naruto eagerly explained to her, "No. It is the perfect thing to do. Who expects a ninja to declare himself a ninja? No one. By acting opposite of what people expect, I defy what they consider a ninja to be. Thus they never even suspect. It's perfect. I am the greatest ninja of all time."

That just caused her to giggle, which caused Naruto to pout. Why did no one believe him? Even announcing it outright, everyone just thought he was joking. He's a ninja, dattebayo!

"You're funny, sir. Oh, I'm being rude. My name is Asia Argento. A pleasure to meet you," the nun said as she gave a short bow in his direction.

"My name is Uzumaki Naruto. Nice to meet you," Naruto replied with a grin. His eyes quickly looking at her features. She's rather small and petite, although not to Koneko's level, with modest curves. Her large eyes are green, and she has long blonde hair that flows down her back. Her pale skin was flawless. Wow, she's a cutie. Not to mention the innocence in her eyes enhanced the nun angle she had going on. Putting her attractiveness out of mind, Naruto then added, "Especially since you have such a cool power."

The nun blushed slightly at that. She fiddled with her fingers as she bashfully explained, "Oh, you saw that. I just sort of acted. I must have surprised you."

"Kind of, but it doesn't matter. It's an amazing power. I wish I could heal people like that," Naruto stated with a grin. He was honest about his desire to be able to heal instead of only destroy, but he'd never had a talent at it.

"T-thank you," Asia whispered, obviously unused to such blatant praise. She then told him modestly, "It's a gift from God. Allowing me to heal all who are injured. A truly…amazing power." Naruto detected the gloom surrounding the last bit, but decided not to pry.

The 'gift from God' part means that it is the power of a sacred gear. A Sacred Gear to heal the injured. What a powerful item. You got to hand it to God on that front, his sacred gears are remarkable. Makes part of Naruto wish he had one. Oh well, he's awesome enough as he is. Anything else just wouldn't fair for every other male in existence. It's hard enough to measure up to him as is.

"A-Ano," Asia started hesitantly, grabbing her dress while looking at the ground. She then looked up at him with a small blush before finishing nervously, "I seem to have lost my way. D-do you think you can help me?"

"Sure," Naruto answered immediately, no hesitation whatsoever. He couldn't have denied that face even if she had asked for something more troublesome. The upturned eyes, slight blush on her cheek, and waver in her voice. It was a knockout look. No chance of resistance.

"Thank you so much. I've been wandering around for a while," Asia exclaimed happily. She then continued by telling him, "I've been transferred to the church in this town."

"The church?" Naruto muttered as he scratched his nose. He quickly explained to her, "Sorry. That just caught me off guard. I'm friendly with most of the church groups in town. They don't meet at churches, instead using community centers."

"So you don't know where the church is," Asia said softly, clearly depressed by his answer.

"Not at all. I know where it is," Naruto quickly claimed, holding his hands up to prevent Asia from getting sad. "I was just surprised. The only official church in town has been abandoned for quite a few years. I can still show you the way though."

"Thank you very much. I appreciate it," Asia declared while giving another bow.

"No problem. The church isn't too far. Just follow me," Naruto said with an uncaring shrug. Seeing Asia pick up a brown suitcase, Naruto acted quickly by picking it up himself and claiming, "I'll carry this for you."

"Ah, you don't have to do that, Naruto-san. I can carry it myself," Asia protested adorably, her hands waving awkwardly like she didn't know what to do with them.

"Nonsense. It's the duty of a man to carry the heavy stuff. Especially for a cute girl like you," Naruto said with a wink at the end.

Now that left Asia even more flustered. Her face going beet red, it was clear she was unsure how to respond. Finally lowering her head and twiddling with her fingers, she muttered out in an embarrassed voice, "T-Thank you, Naruto-san."

So cute. Man, if only Koneko could act like this. The clumsy and shy appeal wouldn't quite work for Koneko like it does Asia, but even that would be better than the cold emotionless thing she's doing now. Naruto had always had a weakness for little things that are cute. Koneko's attitude didn't work for him much, but Asia just scored a critical hit. Naruto had to fight the urge to squeal and hug her for the sheer amount of adorable she was putting out. Thankfully he didn't end up doing that, instead just shooting her a grin as he started walking.

The two started walking together, but they were mainly silent. Asia still looked embarrassed from his earlier comment. Naruto was thinking about the implications of Asia's presence. Rias had explained that the reason there was only a single abandoned church in town was because the Angels really don't have a presence in town. The Fallen angels apparently have a small presence, but not much either. This city is deep within devil territory, specifically the Gremory and Sitri Clans. The other factions don't allocate any resources here because it is enemy central, so to speak. Those resources can be better put defending their own territories or in territories where their presence is more ingrained. There are religious people in town, but none that actually are an asset to the war or know of the war. They are just normal people. Asia is clearly a nun though, and she wields a sacred gear. A powerful one in Naruto's opinion. She's a powerful asset, no doubt. That she has been transferred here could be an indication that the angels might be making a push. An uncomfortable thought since the peace between the Three Factions is very unsteady.

Naruto's thoughts were interrupted by Asia asking nervously, "A-Ano, Naruto-san? You said you are familiar with many of the church groups in this town. Are you a Christian?"

"Uh, no. Not at all. I'm friendly with many Christians, and those who follow other religions. However God and me are…well, let's just say my presence isn't exactly welcomed by God," Naruto awkwardly admitted, unsure of how to really put it.

"I don't believe that. Naruto-san seems like a good person, and I believe God welcomes all with open arms," Asia proclaimed with a certainty only born of faith.

Naruto shouldn't. He knows he shouldn't. Rias will be pissed. Ah, fuck it! Naruto can't deceive such an innocent girl, "I'm kind of a…devil."

That caused Asia to freeze. No surprise. Part of Naruto was hitting himself for just outing himself like that, but Naruto wasn't too bothered overall. Although leaving out important pieces of information isn't technically lying, the thought of doing such a thing right now didn't sit well with him. Asia was too innocent for that. He already liked her, and he'd rather she know such an important piece of information before they interact anymore. He'd rather not start a friendship out with a lie. If this changes things, then he overestimated her.

She just slowly turned to look at him with wide eyes before stuttering out, "A-A d-d-devil?"

Putting his hands up in the universal peace sign, Naruto quickly burst out, "Yes, but you don't need to worry. I'm not planning to attack you or anything. I also lack a craving to drink human blood, don't feel like causing any wars, killing God, or want to devour any babies…Although I do have to admit I am curious on what a baby would taste like. They say humans taste like chicken, but I'd think babies would taste like veal…or pork." Naruto actually came to a stop and got into a thinking pose as he considered that last bit.

Which was apparently a bit too much for Asia, and she burst out giggling. Trying to cover her laugh behind a hand, she admitted, "You really aren't what I heard devils are suppose to be like, Naruto-san."

Grinning at her lack of fear, Naruto shrugged before replying, "Not a surprise really. It's only natural you'd be told all devils are evil. It's a flawed opinion, but one that ultimately is an enticing view."

"What do you mean, Naruto-san?" Asia asked, actually listening to his words.

Shrugging, Naruto answered simply, "Each side wants to believe the other factions are evil. It's easier to think that instead of the truth."

"I'm…not so sure what you mean, Naruto-san," Asia claimed in confusion.

Naruto looked at her before explaining a bit awkwardly, "Well, we're at war. There may not be any outright battles, but the Three Factions are still at war. War sucks, and no one comes out the same way. It's just easier for people to claim that they are right and the enemy is wrong, you know?"

"N-Not really," Asia admitted.

"Ugh. Sorry, just give me a second to think on how to say it right," Naruto told her as he started rubbing the bridge of his nose. After several seconds he started slowly, "The Three Factions are at war. In war, lines are drawn. People start thinking in terms of 'us' and 'them.' They start building these walls to separate themselves from their enemies. The people on the other side are no longer just like them. They are the 'enemy.' This is done to protect themselves emotionally from the stress and trauma of war."

Asia's face scrunched up as she tried to make sense of his words. She finally muttered carefully, "You are saying they create reasons to limit the empathy they feel for their enemy...To limit the guilt they feel."

"Yes! Exactly," Naruto exclaimed with a grin. Sort of sad that she could phrase his words better than him, but he'll take what he can get. He quickly elaborated, "In war, all the participants suffer. People die. Are crippled. Face incredible guilt. There is a reason that PTSD exists and some just go insane because of it all. War is harsh enough when you don't sympathize with your enemy, that people eventually just convince themselves their enemies are evil. Because it would be even harder if they accepted that their enemies are just like them. They don't want to accept that their enemy is just as afraid of death. That their enemy has family waiting for him at home. That they have hopes and dreams of their own. It is just easier to believe the enemy are evil monsters that have no feelings."

"That...is kind of sad," Asia commented as she considered his words.

"Maybe. Choosing the easy path may be attractive, but it also means you miss out on many opportunities. People grow and learn when they face difficulties. When people just do what's easiest, they limit their own potential. Life isn't easy, and its when people try to make it easy that conflict is born," Naruto claimed, his eyes glazing over as he thought of all the challenges he had faced in his life. They were agonizing, but they are also what made him into the person he is today. A grin eventually grew on his face. Turning to Asia, he added enthusiastically, "I don't believe it this can't be changed though. My master told me that he believed one day everyone would grow to understand each other, and i choose to believe that as well. Maybe not today, tomorrow, next year, or even 100 years from now, but one day...People will make a genuine attempt to understand each other, and then one day they will succeed. I dream of that day because when everyone is able to understand one another, there will be no need for war."

Asia just stared at him with eyes wide in awe. She then smiled softly before claiming, "I believe that's a wonderful dream, Naruto-san."

Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly at her words. He then admitted, "Thanks, but i know most people think such a thing is naive or impossible. I'll stand by it though. After all, it's why i met you."

Asia blinked in confusion before asking, "What do you mean?"

Naruto just flicked the silver cross on her chest, ignoring the slight shock that ran though his finger at the brief contact. He then explained, "You are a nun, and i am a devil. Some would say we are destined to be enemies. I'll gladly prove them wrong. To me, it didn't matter that you were a nun. I chose to instead see you as a kind girl willing to heal a complete stranger. All i had to do was look in your eyes to confirm you were a good girl. If someone couldn't see that because of the cross on your chest, then they're idiots."

Asia blushed at his words. Looking down to the ground, she gripped her dress as she tried to contain her embarrassment. She'd rarely had someone say things like that to her. People had always praised her power, but had seemed to view her as a simple vessel. Anything good she did was simply expected of the holder of a power like hers. To be complimented so openly felt...nice.

Naruto then continued despite her looking away, "And you proved me right. I told you i'm a devil, and yet you are still walking alongside me. You didn't scream and throw holy water at me. Instead you have listened to my words. You gave me the benefit of the doubt, despite no doubt being told how evil devils are. For that i thank you, Asia-chan."

"I should be thanking you, Naruto-san. You've helped me when i was lost," Asia told him with honesty clear in her eyes.

"Yeah, but i did go all deep on you. Really doubt you were wanting to listen to be drone on about all this stuff," Naruto remarked apologetically.

"No, i really enjoyed it. You are very wise, Naruto-san. Your words are profound and pure. I can't help but want to believe in them," Asia claimed earnestly.

That caused Naruto to scratch the back of his head as he explained self-consciously, "Thanks, but that's not really me so much. Not too bright myself. I've just inherited these beliefs from a lot of amazing people. They're the ones you should be praising." Jiraiya, his father, his mother, the Third Hokage. They are the ones who paved the way for him.

"A pure and kind heart is more important than anything else, and i can tell you have that, Naruto-san" Asia stated quickly, looking at him with respect clear in her eyes.

"Thanks, Asia-chan," Naruto whispered with a grin, his cheeks flushed slightly at her words. He shook his head to rid himself of the embarrassment her words had provoked in him. Grinning widely, he crossed his arms behind his head as he exclaimed happily, "I can't help but be happy right now. If a devil and a nun can meet randomly and become friends, then that's just more reason to believe this entire war between the Three Factions can be ended if we stopped fighting for a minute to actually talk to each other."

"Yes, i hope so as well," Asia whispered with a soft smile on her face as she looked at Naruto.

Catching sight of something in the distance, Naruto announced, "Well there it is. It's been abandoned for a few years, but that's the only church in town. I can't accompany you for obvious reasons, but it's pretty easy to get there from here." He said all this while pointing at the church that was resting on top of the nearby hill.

"Thank you, Naruto-san. You're a lifesaver," Asia exclaimed in relief at the sight of the church. Turning to him, she grew a bit flustered. She finally managed to tell him, "I'm really glad I met a person like you by coming to Japan. This must be God's will."

"Not so sure about that, but if that turns out to be true I'll have to thank him someday. I owe him for letting me meet a good girl like you," Naruto replied with a wide grin.

Asia blushed again, but quickly declared with an abnormal amount of steel in her voice from what Naruto could tell, "I hope to meet you again, Naruto-san. Even if you are a d-devil, you are a good person. I would like to become f-friends with you." She ended with a slight blush.

"You too, Asia-chan," Naruto replied immediately, grinning happily at the prospect of making a new friend. Thinking for a moment, Naruto told her, "I do volunteer work at the park where we met. Every Thursday after school I tend the plants there. If you ever want to talk, you can find me there. I'm sure we can find other times to hang out."

"Thursday, after school. I got it. Thank you, Naruto-san," Asia stated as she gave him another bow. She then reluctantly turned from him and started moving towards the church after taking her suitcase from him. She briefly looked over her shoulder to see Naruto watching her. He gave her a short wave, and she let out a small squeak. As she turned around though, she couldn't help the smile on her face. She certainly hadn't ever expected this to happen, but she was happy that it had. Naruto may be a devil, but she could feel in her heart he was a good person. A coincidental meeting like this has to be a sign from god.

Naruto watched her go for several moments before turning around to head to school. He's probably already missed first period since he took his time talking to Asia. Rias won't be happy, but he can deal with it. He made a new friend. That's definitely worth a lecture from Rias.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Two Days Later

Naruto was instantly on guard when he finished teleporting. His instincts were screaming at him. It only took a few seconds for his senses to pick up just why this situation was sure to turn bad. Naruto had always had a sensitive nose, and becoming a devil only enhanced that feature. So the scent of blood was near overwhelming for him. Then there was the mass amount of malicious intent coming from the last room. Finally he detected a subtle barrier up around the house.

Naruto just sighed as he realized something was up. The barrier would stall Rias for a bit, so he'd have to survive on his own for a bit. Not a problem considering the strength of the signature in the next room.

Unsealing his armored gloves, he slipped them on reluctantly. This wasn't even suppose to be his job. Rias had really not been happy about his lackadaisical attitude towards school for some reason. When she found out he skipped half a day to nap in the clubroom, she'd punished him by forcing him to attend more clients for a few days. Naruto only had a few clients since his charity work successfully gathered more desire, so Rias decided he'd help the other members attend to their clients. This one was Koneko's. Of course Naruto would get the fuckup assignment. Naruto's luck was hit or miss like that.

Ready for battle, Naruto stepped into the next room. He stopped before he stepped in a puddle of blood. His eyes quickly traced it to the source, an obviously dead man who was crucified upside-down on the wall. Frowning at the brutal display, Naruto looked at the perpetrator.

"Sinners must be punished. I tried borrowing words of the Bible," a person said as he sat on the couch, facing away from Naruto. He ended his words by looking over his shoulder at Naruto, sticking his tongue out to complete an insane image.

Naruto just stared for a moment or two before commenting blandly, "Yep, that's a face that says talking like reasonable people is not an option."

"You finally came, little Devil-kun. I got bored. My name is Freed Sellzen," the priest said as he turned to face Naruto. The guy had silver hair, and red eyes that spoke of pure insanity. He was dressed in white priest robes with a dark blue overcoat. Giving Naruto a polite bow, he then showed his loony self by starting a silly dance while singing out, "I am a boy-priest, performing exorcisms for mankind."

Naruto just stared at him blankly, not humored or put off guard in the least. Instead he nodded at the mutilated corpse before asking calmly, "You do this?"

Freed just gave an insane smile as he nodded enthusiastically and claimed, "Yep, yep. There was proof that he was in league with devils. A repeat offender. So I killed him. To combat devils is my job."

"I highly doubt doing _that _is your job. You clearly tortured the man," Naruto pointed out evenly.

"Yeah, so. I got bored waiting for you, you shitty devil. I got kicked out of the church for it after all," Freed screamed out in glee.

"Oh well, that makes things easier for me," Naruto claimed with a shrug. Putting his hands up in a basic fighting stance, he finished by announcing, "Now I won't need to worry about putting a rabid dog like you down."

"Ah, what is that? I don't want to hear stuff like that from a devil? Plus, you don't even have any killing intent. I love feeling the intent to kill and be killed. You're just boring," Freed exclaimed with his tongue hanging out like an imbecile.

"And you're a pest. Killing you is doing the world a favor. I'm doing charity. Killing intent is unneeded here," Naruto explained calmly.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid," Freed yelled like a maniac. He then pulled out a gun and a hilt. The hilt then spawned a light sword. Now armed, he continued screaming, "I don't care. I just want to kill shitty devils like you. Killing shitty devils with their shitty faces in shitty ways is my job."

"Then come try it, you shitty priest," Naruto ordered with a shrug.

Freed did just that by charging in with a slash. Naruto calmly leaned out of the way of a slash, and then raised his hands to block the sword of light when it came back around. With Naruto's hands occupied holding back the sword, Freed lifted the gun with his other hand to point it at Naruto. It quickly released a bullet of light towards Naruto's face. A simple twist of his arm allowed Naruto to block the shot with his forearm. The bullet bounced off, burning a hole in his shirt and leaving a small welt on his skin. The light burned a bit, but overall it was an injury Naruto could ignore entirely.

The failure of the bullet was clearly a surprise to Freed, allowing Naruto to remove one of his hands from the sword. Freed dodged when Naruto tried to backhand him though. Jumping back, Freed launched a barrage of light bullets at Naruto. Naruto moved forward while calmly using his armored gloves to deflect the shots away from him. Once he got close enough, Naruto was forced to deflect the light sword repeatedly. Freed was swinging it with one hand while continuously firing the gun with the other. Tired of the double assault, Naruto threw a kick at the hand holding the gun.

Freed screamed in triumph, swinging the sword to intercept the kick. What would have been a crippling blow failed though when the light sword failed to cut into his thigh deeply. The sword simply stopped due to Naruto's rook defensive capabilities. Able to follow through with his kick, Naruto kicked the gun out of Freed's hand. Jumping after it, the gun was thoroughly destroyed when Naruto landed on it.

Turning back to Freed, Naruto got ready again. His thigh was stinging something fierce, but it wasn't a debilitating injury. The cut was long, but shallow. The light was the main problem, but Naruto could easily ignore it. His leg was still at full capability. Freed only had one weapon now as well. Those light bullets may not do much damage, but they were annoying. Like suffering from bee stings during a battle. Now he could focus entirely on the light sword.

"Oh, the shitty devil has some moves. This is getting me excited. It will make your death all the sweeter," Freed yelled as he jumped at Naruto with his sword raised for an overhand slash.

Which was so easy to counter it wasn't even funny. Spinning out of the way at the last moment, Naruto spun his way into Freed's guard. Naruto used the momentum of the spin to fuel an elbow that was right about to connect with Freed's spine. With Naruto's strength it would certainly be broken. Unfortunately Freed proved he actually had a degree of skill to go along with his insanity and bloodlust, which sucked since it only made him more dangerous. Sensing the danger, Freed didn't do the mistake of trying to turn to face Naruto. Instead he just jumped forward into a roll, narrowly dodging the potentially fatal strike to his back.

Naruto grunted in annoyance. He'd been aiming to end the fight with that. Oh well. He was about to charge the recovering Freed, but stopped as a scream rang out through the room. Naruto froze, recognizing the two then turned to look at the one who screamed.

Naruto's eyes widened as he saw Asia. She was staring at the mutilated corpse in horror, her hands raised to her mouth. Naruto immediately wondered what she was doing here. Freed admitted to being a stray priest, so why was Asia here?

"What's happened here?" Asia questioned, her voice trembling and her eyes filling with tears.

Freed immediately responded by approaching the nun. Throwing an arm over her shoulders, he explained in a glee filled voice, "I see, I see. You're still a beginner. You see, this is our job. This human was collaborating with devils, so we killed him. Then, we ambush the devils that come running."

"But you-" Asia got out before she spotted Naruto. She then exclaimed in shock, "Naruto-san."

"Ehh, you know this shitty devil?" Freed asked with his tongue sticking out again, his eyes darting between Naruto and Asia.

"What are you doing here? "Asia asked in confusion.

"I could ask you the same thing, Asia-chan," Naruto replied calmly, still not letting his guard down around Freed. Nodding at the corpse, Naruto explained, "That man summoned me. When I came, the priest attacked me."

"Ah ah ah. Sorry, Asia-chan, but a human and a devil can't interact. Because we can't live without the permission of a fallen angel," Freed stated slyly, leering at Asia.

Naruto's thoughts raced at that. Asia was working with a fallen angel. Naruto hadn't even considered that. Naruto still retained a bit of the negative emotion sensing he received from Kurama. Asia just had so little negative emotion in her. Everyone, even good people, had negative emotion. Asia though had about as little as Naruto could figure a person could have without there being something seriously wrong with them. What could such a pure girl do to leave the church? Especially if it meant she became involved with a maniac like Freed?

Turning away from Asia, Freed announced with a grin, "Now let's finish this, shall we? Let's do this!"

Before Freed could charge again though, Asia ran between him and Naruto. Spreading her arms out wide with her back to Naruto, Asia started to plead desperately, "Please stop this, Father. I'm begging you. Don't do this."

"Sweetie, do you realize what you are doing?" Freed demanded in an annoyed tone.

"Yes, I do, but even if he is a devil Naruto-san is a good person," Asia declared firmly, despite clearly being scared out of her mind. Naruto actually lowered his guard as he took in this new development. Asia quickly continued, "Father, I don't believe God would be happy with your actions. Even if that man worked with devils, I don't believe he deserved to die. Especially in such a way."

"Don't talk shit to me," Freed screamed, finally showing his irritation. Naruto was too shocked by the sudden action to interfere when he swung his light sword down. Luckily the blade didn't bisect Asia, but it did cut open her nun outfit. Even her bra was cut in the middle, which was actually pretty impressive since her skin wasn't even slight cut. The bra was thrown off as her breasts bounced from their new freedom. Asia immediately covered herself with her arms while letting out a shocked cry, but Freed didn't give her any time to do anything else. Grabbing her arm, he roughly threw her into the wall. Using one hand to hold her arms above her head, he stabbed the light sword through her sleeves. Releasing that hand, he moved it to cup her face as he exclaimed in outrage, "You shitty bitch! Do you have worms in your brains? That's a shitty devil. We kill shitty devils! I can't hurt you since the fallen angels have plans for you, but you still clearly deserve punishment."

His hand started descending south, but its path was stopped along with his words. It was only due to Freed sensing the danger that he was at least partly able to defend himself. Removing his blade from the wall, he tried to use it to block Naruto's punch. The blow snapped the blade though, and still was able to connect with the stray exorcists face. Freed was launched back till he collided with the far wall.

With his fist still extended, Naruto announced with anger clear in his voice, "I'm going to stop you there. Cause if you were going to do what I think you were, I would have felt obligated to crush your balls in my hand. I really don't want to touch another man there, so I'm going to finish this before you can do anything rapey."

With his eyes fixed on the still recovering Freed, Naruto used his hands to unbutton his shirt. Slipping it off, Naruto left himself bare from the waist up. He the kneeled down and draped it over the exposed Asia's shoulders. Making sure to not look at her very exposed breasts, Naruto did up one of the buttons. Thankfully the size difference between the two meant that Asia didn't even have to put her arms through the holes. It could just encompass her whole torso.

"Cover yourself up. I'll handle the shitty priest," Naruto told her as he kept his eyes on Freed.

"T-Thank you, Naruto-san," Asia whispered in a wavering voice, obviously shaken by what just happened.

Nodding Naruto stood up to face Freed, who was getting to his feet. The stray exorcist was cradling his already swelling jaw with one hand, his other grasping his light sword, which had restored itself. He was forced to lean on the wall for balance, but the fact that he was standing and not down for the count on the ground is rather impressive.

"Shitty devil, that hurts!" Freed exclaimed in fury.

"Kind of the point, shitty priest," Naruto replied instantly as he got ready to fight again. He then claimed firmly, "My next hit will finish you. That's a promise."

"Ah, shitty devil thinks he's hot shit now that he landed a shot. I'll make you die a painful death," Freed exclaimed as he readied himself.

Unfortunately, Naruto's next hit never came. The exchange was stopped before it started by a large red magic circle forming between them. The members of the Occult Research Club then appeared.

"Naruto. We've come as soon as we could."

"Ara ara. What a problem we have here."

"…Exorcist."

"Seems you had some trouble, Naruto-kun."

Naruto just deadpanned at the group before muttering, "You guys have really bad timing. Another ten seconds and that guy would have been knocked out on the floor with a fractured skull."

Rias slumped slightly at his words, a bit put out by the remark. She then informed with seriously, "A barrier was put up. We couldn't tell what the situation was, so we came as quickly as we could. Better safe than sorry."

"I know, just pointing out that the timing was bad," Naruto commented with a remark. He then looked at Freed before adding, "This guy really needs to be put down."

"Oh look, the entire shitty devil group arrived. How wonderful! Hunting you shitty worms is what I live for. Now just stay quiet and let me kill you," Freed exclaimed, once more slipping into his more insane mindset.

"What a foul mouth. Seems you are one of those types. The types that cause us the most trouble," Rias muttered as she looked at Freed. Freed opened his mouth to reply, but was cut off when Rias sent a blast of dark red energy at him. He barely managed to dodge, the spell disintegrating a portion of the wall instead. Rias was engulfed in a red energy as she muttered in a quiet anger, "Vulgar scum like you…anger me to no end."

Freed backed away as he felt the amount of energy Rias was releasing. He seemed to finally realize his situation. Outnumbered by devils, several no doubt stronger than him. Even someone like Freed didn't like those odds. He grumbled to himself nervously as he continued backing away, "Isn't all that power kind of dangerous? Isn't she really dangerous?"

Once again Freed's end was postponed at the last second. This time by a dark blue and purple portal of some kind forming on the ceiling above him. Koneko was the one to announce after sniffing a few time, "Multiple fallen angels coming."

"Buchou."

Rias just frowned before ordering, "Retreat. Akeno, prepare the jump. There's no reason for us to start a fight with multiple fallen angels."

Naruto blinked before exclaiming loudly, "Rias-chan. We need to get Asia-chan out of here as well." He moved to crouch down beside Asia to make it clear who he meant.

Rias' eyes hardened slightly when they fell on Asia, focusing briefly on the nun veil she was wearing. She then announced sternly, "We can't. Only those of my clan can jump with this circle."

Growling, Naruto crouched down in front of Asia. Looking over his shoulder, he barked out at her resolutely, "Asia-chan. Get up on my back."

Asia was clearly confused, but instinctively listened to the authority in his voice. Climbing on his back, Naruto grasped her thighs to hold her better. He then stood up completely.

"What are you doing, Naruto?!" Rias demanded, clearly not pleased by his actions.

Naruto didn't back down though and growled out, "If Asia can't teleport with us, I'll carry her out of here."

"You can't. She's allied with the fallen angels. They'll come to get her," Rias declared with a prominent frown on her face.

"Then let them come. I'm not going to leave Asia anywhere near that maniac. Plus, the fallen angels apparently have 'plans' for her. That doesn't sound like anything good to me," Naruto quickly argued.

"Only more reason to leave her here. The fallen angels will chase after you. You won't be able to escape them," Rias urged desperately.

"I don't care. I'm not leaving Asia with them," Naruto proclaimed with steel in his voice. He then punctuated his statement by running out the door.

"Dammit, that idiot," Rias snapped, biting her lower lip. The fallen angels are almost here. They'll chase after Naruto. She could have the rest of them join him, but that would definitely result in a fight. They can't possibly escape the fallen angels by flying. The only one who can run as fast or faster than Naruto is…

"Don't worry, Buchou. I'll bring Naruto back to the club," Yuuto promised as he stepped out of the magic circle. He then quickly dashed out of the door as well.

Rias was not reassured, but knew she didn't have more time to think. Uttering a curse, Rias let the teleportation finish and disappeared from the room. She could do nothing but wait for now.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

"Naruto."

That caused Naruto to look over his shoulder, recognizing Yuuto's voice. Seeing the bishounen running to catch up to him, Naruto demanded immediately, "Yuuto, what are you doing? Why didn't you go back with Rias-chan?"

"Well someone had to make sure you make it out of this in one piece. You did just basically call out the fallen angels by taking one of their servants," Yuuto pointed out as the two ran down the street at speeds no human could match.

"I can handle myself," Naruto grunted out stubbornly, but then added begrudgingly, "Thanks though."

"What are friends for if not to bail you out of trouble when you do something stupid?" Yuuto remarked with a chuckle.

"A-Ano, Naruto-san. You don't have to do this. I'll go back to the fallen angels," Asia spoke up hesitantly, finally recovered enough to speak up.

"You don't mean that. I can sense how scared you are," Naruto claimed quickly.

Asia wavered at that, but still managed to claim, "I-I know. I am scared, but I don't want to get Naruto-san in trouble. Even if that means I have to go back with the fallen angels"

"Fuck that!" Naruto snapped right away. He then continued firmly, "I can tell they have no good intentions for you, Asia-chan. I have no intention of letting a good girl like you suffer at their hands. It will take a lot more than a few fallen angels to intimidate me. A whole lot more."

Asia didn't respond immediately. Finally lowering her face into the crook of his neck, she whispered with tears gathering in her eyes, "Thank you, Naruto-san."

"No problem. You're my friend after all, and I never abandon my friends," Naruto replied, grinning widely despite the fact that she couldn't see it.

"Naruto. Fallen angels approaching fast," Yuuto exclaimed as he peeked over his shoulder.

"How many?"

"Four," Yuuto announced.

"Crap," Naruto cursed as he absorbed that information.

Maneuvering his arms and twisting his torso, Naruto plucked Asia from his back. She squeaked at the sudden shift, but didn't struggle against him thankfully. He quickly positioned Asia in front of him, pressing her head against his chest. Since he was still bare-chested from loaning Asia his shirt, this caused the nun to blush at the intimate contact. With one arm still hooked under her knees and his other wrapped around her shoulders and head, Naruto did his best to shield her tiny body with his torso.

Not a moment too soon either. Naruto felt like his back was being pelted with rocks as light spears rained around him, the spears cracking the concrete where they hit. His rook enhancements once again came in handy, the spears that hit him just bouncing off. They left small punctures on his back, but nothing that could be called a real injury. Asia had been shielded entirely by Naruto, and Yuuto had dashed to the side to evade the cluster attack.

Yuuto jumped back to Naruto's side after the hail of spears ended. He then questioned urgently, "We can't lose them like this, Naruto. What do we do?"

Naruto cursed as he accepted Yuuto's words. Both of them were on foot, while the fallen angels were flying after them. Naruto was carrying Asia, who while light still slowed him down. Yuuto couldn't go his full speed either due to needing to stay with Naruto.

Anymore thoughts were ended when Yuuto called out desperately, "Look out."

The warning came too late for Naruto, who cried out as he felt pain in his arm and leg. Instead of the hail of spears from before, this time only four spears launched at them. Two at Yuuto and two for Naruto. Yuuto managed to dodge his with a jump, but Naruto had less warning and had to protect Asia. So one of the spears sank into the back of his right thigh, and the other one cut into his left arm as it passed him by. Now these hurt. Naruto could still function, but these aren't little bug bites he can ignore. These will affect him.

Damn, he'd gotten overconfident. His rook defense had been enough to block almost everything tonight. He should have suspected fallen angels could enhance their light attacks to a point they would hurt him.

Stumbling, Naruto had to move into a forward roll to not land right on Asia. Asia still cried out at the disorientating sensation, but the roll allowed Naruto to resume his run quickly. He then reached down and ripped out the light spear that was still stuck in his leg. Light weapons will gradually saturate a devil's blood if they remain in their bodies, acting like a poison.

Throwing the spear away, Naruto yelled to the concerned Yuuto, "Split up. You can't go full speed when with me, and I can't be as stealthy with you. They have four sets of eyes on us right now, we need to split that up. Use the back alleys to block their sight of you from the sky, and don't go straight. Keep moving randomly till you lose them."

Yuuto looked hesitant, but eventually nodded. When they came to a split in the road, the two separated. Naruto then moved into the first side alley he came to. He knew this part of town, so he was confident that he wouldn't hit any dead ends. The buildings would also hide him at certain angles from the fallen angels.

As Naruto set out to lose his pursuers, he cursed at the leg wound. While certainly better than catching that spear in the back of the head, spine, or heart, the leg still sucked. Naruto's mobility was effectively crippled. He could still run and jump, but not at the level he was used to.

So he did his best to be the cunning rascal that had outrun ANBU as a kid. Taking a random route, Naruto took as many turns as possible. Avoiding open areas. If only he had mastered the Transparent Escape Technique this would be easy, but he hadn't managed it yet despite training a bit in it. So he just had to deal.

After ten minutes of this runaround, Naruto finally pressed himself into a dark corner of a narrow alley as he checked to see if any fallen angels were still on his trail. Not seeing any, Naruto's mind raced.

"Asia-chan, you said your sacred gear can heal all who are injured, right? Can you heal devils as well?" Naruto asked in a whisper to the girl still held in his arms.

"Um," Asia said blankly as she processed his words. She finally nodded and claimed, "Yes. I can."

"Okay, good. I need you to heal my leg. My speed and mobility is too hampered with my leg injured. If it is healed, I'm confident I can lose any fallen angels still looking for us," Naruto informed her quietly, his eyes still darting around.

"Understood, Naruto-san. It will only take a minute," Asia declared firmly, looking relieved that she could help him somehow.

"No, not here," Naruto muttered to her before clarifying, "The fallen angels are still surely looking for us. If they find us here, we'll be trapped like rats. The park is nearby. If they find us that will be the better area to fight."

With that spoken, Naruto once again started moving through the alleys. Seeing the park in front of him, he dashed at top speed through the open area between the alley and the park. Not stopping once he entered the trees, Naruto kept going till he was a minute's run into the dense trees. He then allowed himself to come to a stop.

Letting Asia down, the nun quickly kneeled down to examine the wound in his leg. She gasped at the sight as Naruto grimaced. Devils were really weak to light, and running for ten minutes afterwards didn't help the wound at all. The large gash in his thigh was deep. Much of it seemed burned from the light, but the run had ripped the burns open to allow blood to pour out. It was not pretty. Naruto was rather surprised he had managed to move as well as he had with his leg in such a condition.

Asia placed her hands over the injury. Two rings appeared on her hands as a green light appeared. Naruto let out a sigh as the pain from the wound faded slightly. It didn't even feel weird or anything. The pain, and wound, were just disappearing.

Before Asia could even get halfway through though, Naruto cursed as he felt a surge of power. A barrier had just been erected over this portion of the park. Naruto interrupted Asia's healing by lifting her up by grabbing under her arms. He then gently pushed her towards the trees as he ordered her, "A fallen angel is here. Hide behind a tree. Don't make any noise or try to get close enough to see. I'll deal with the fallen angel. I'll call for you when I'm done."

"But, Naruto-san. You are still injured," Asia exclaimed in concern.

Naruto just shot her a grin and lightly slapped his thigh before commenting, "You healed me up quite a bit. I barely even feel it anymore. I can easily handle a fallen angel with just this scratch." It was a pretty blatant lie. She hadn't nearly healed it enough to restore his full mobility or erase all the pain, but it would have to be enough.

Asia was clearly still worried as well, but the determined look in his eyes was enough to get her to hide behind a tree.

With Asia somewhat safe, Naruto started walking towards a nearby clearing where he felt a power signature. Walking into the open, Naruto quickly examined the fallen angel standing in the middle of the clearing with his wings out. It was a middle-aged man with short black hair. He was wearing a black trench coat, a white undershirt, black pants, and a black fedora on his head.

"I knew you would come here," the man claimed with a grin as Naruto revealed himself. Naruto stayed quiet, so he continued, "We lost you in the alleys, but I knew you would come here. It's the most open space. The only space we can have a proper fight in. So all I had to do was fly above and wait till you came. Which you did."  
"I didn't come here to fight," Naruto grunted out.

"But you did," the man declared with a wide grin on his face. He then elaborated, "I could sense it. You fought Freed. You are a warrior, and warriors don't hide in alleys like rats. You were aching for a fight, which is why you came here. A warrior can only let loose in an area like this."

Naruto scowled at his words, but couldn't quite deny them. He did come here because it would allow him to go all out if a fallen angel had managed to track them. He didn't come here to fight though. He would have gladly gone without another fight this night if he could have.

Deciding to move on, Naruto asked with a tilted head, "What's with the barrier? I don't sense any of your fallen angel friends in here."

"Of course not. Why would I let any of those bitches interrupt my fun? I haven't had a good fight in ages. I knew you would satisfy my battle lust. You even gave me the perfect excuse to kill you by taking that useless nun Raynare is obsessed with. I don't want Raynare or the other bitches to interfere though. I don't give two fucks about that foolish girl. Maybe one fuck, but then I'd just throw her away like the trash weaklings like her are. So I put up the barrier. Now we can fight to our heart's content. It will only come down when I release it, which will be when you are on the ground dead," the man explained in satisfaction.

"Or you are," Naruto growled out, pissed at the insinuations he made concerning Asia.

"Of course, but that won't happen," the man exclaimed, seemingly growing more excited by the second. He quickly added, "Don't die too quickly. I'd hate to have to take out my anger on that little nun because you didn't entertain me enough."

Naruto felt his anger grow even more at his words, but restrained himself. This Dohnaseek was both arrogant and sure that he was going to kill Naruto. That's a recipe for some loose lips. This was an opportunity to gain some information. So Naruto quickly questioned, "Why do you all plan to do with Asia-chan? She has no combat abilities."

"I have no interest in her whatsoever, but Raynare does. Claims that her sacred gear will come in handy. Considering she ran with you though, i bet Raynare is going to resort to desperate measures," Dohnaseek answered without any care whatsoever as to the information he was giving away.

"Desperate measures? What do you mean?" Naruto immediately demanded, knowing that he wasn't going to like the answer.

"Let's just say that your nun won't be able to make any escape attempts again," Dohnaseek stated with a smirk. He then shrugged and added, "As i said though, i don't really care. I only joined with Raynare for a chance to fight. The Grigori is so annoying, ordering us to avoid starting any fights. If that means i have to help some bitch with a nun, then so be it."

Naruto was now barely restraining himself from attacking the man. He was just like Freed. He didn't care at all for anything else than satisfying his own desires. He was willing to hurt Asia just so he could fight. Between Dohnaseek and Freed, Naruto knew he couldn't let Asia go back with them. This Raynare person only solidified that decision.

With Naruto silent, Dohnaseek acted. Forming a light spear in one hand, he then used his other to remove his hat. Giving a polite bow, he gave Naruto a patronizing smile as he informed him, "Since I'm a gentleman, I'll let you know the name of your killer. I am Dohnaseek."

Frowning, Naruto replied as he got into a fighting stance, "Uzumaki Naruto, and I won't let you take Asia-chan."

"Blah, blah, blah. Enough with the talking. Let's get to the fighting!" Dohnaseek screamed, seemingly reaching the end of his patience. Jumping, his wings flapped to keep him airborne.

Wanting to make the first move, Naruto shot at him. Grunting at the pain in his thigh, Naruto threw his fist forward with all his rook strength. Dohnaseek blocked it with his light spear, but grunted as his arms caved behind it. The spear pushed into his stomach and his body went flying backwards through the air.

He managed to recover before he collided with a tree by flapping his wings though. That caused Naruto to frown. The weapon didn't break, meaning it is one of the one's that can hurt him deeply. There was also the matter of dealing Dohnaseek damage. With him staying in the air, the power behind Naruto's attacks are diffused greatly. He'll just get pushed back. Naruto's leg injury also meant he didn't have the explosive power for a straight forward attack to be successful.

Dohnaseek didn't give him anymore time to think by flying at him with a gleeful laugh. Naruto immediately had to dodge the barrage of thrusts from the spear, using his armored gloves to block that which he couldn't dodge. There weren't any openings for Naruto to take advantage of. Dohnaseek isn't that bad with melee combat. Looks like Naruto will have to be a bit creative.

Dohnaseek let out a cry of triumph when he felt his spear connect with Naruto's chest, but the cry was cut forth when he found a log on the other end of his weapon. Looking at it in confusion, Dohnaseek tried to turn when he sensed Naruto approaching. Too bad he forgot about the log on the other end of his weapon, the weight preventing him from bringing it to bare quickly enough. So Dohnaseek could only lift his other hand in a block.

Which was broken by the force behind Naruto's flying kick. Naruto's foot connected solidly with Dohnaseek's chest. The fallen angel was sent flying and couldn't recover before his back connected with a tree barely ten feet behind him. The tree broke under the pressure, and it toppled under Dohnaseek.

Naruto figured that was probably enough, but was quickly proven wrong when Dohnaseek flew back into the air while laughing in delight. He then declared with a bit of blood leaking from the side of his mouth, "Yes, that's it. Struggle! It will make your death even more satisfying." The fallen angel then dived at Naruto again.

Blocking the series of strikes Dohnaseek sent at him, Naruto decided that being creative was a better option than standing still. So he jumped back away from the fallen angel. When the winged man followed him, Naruto started jumping through the trees and branches. Naruto was from Konoha, dattebayo. A forest is his home turf.

As shown by the fact that Dohnaseek lost sight of Naruto within seconds. Looking around, Dohnaseek yelled out in annoyance to his unseen opponent, "Hiding like a rat again. Seems you aren't as much of a warrior as I thought."

Hearing noise behind him, he spun around with a grin. The grin dropped when he saw just what had made the noise. Naruto was standing there twenty meters away. The noise was from him ripping a small boulder from the ground and chucking it at Dohnaseek.

Caught of guard by the unexpected attack, Dohnaseek tried to deflect the boulder with his light spear. That didn't work so well. The weight of the boulder and the force by which it had been thrown made the idea of deflecting it ridiculous. The light spear broke and the boulder collided with Dohnaseek's shoulder. The fallen angel let out a cry as he felt something crack, simultaneously entering an uncontrollable spin from the impact on one side of his body. He only stopped when he fell to the ground. Shaking his head to gather his bearings, Dohnaseek snarled at Naruto. Lifting his good arm, he formed a dozen light spears in the air above him. A simple flick of his wrist sent them at Naruto.

Naruto just contemptuously swiped his arm at them, the weak light spears shattering. Growling, Dohnaseek got to his feet and jumped at Naruto while forming a single light spear in his hand. The reckless attack was easy for Naruto to dodge. Jumping straight into the air, Naruto flipped so his feet landed on the underside of a thick branch. Using that, Naruto changed his direction by leaping down. Flipping once again, Naruto landed with a powerful stomp to the ground.

Dohnaseek barely prevented his head from being turned to mush by rolling. He then swung his light spear at Naruto's neck. Leaning out of the way, Naruto then leaned in and nailed Dohnaseek with a lightning fast jab. With Naruto's rook strength, even that was enough to send Dohnaseek flying backwards. Skidding on the ground, it was a rough on Dohnaseek's wings. The fallen angel struggled to his feet with another growl, his wings aching from dragging on the ground.

Seeing Naruto just standing there, Dohnaseek once again sent a hail of light spears at Naruto. And Naruto once again easily destroyed them when they got within his range. Shooting a smirk at Dohnaseek, Naruto practically melted into the shadows of the forest.

Dohnaseek growled at the action, but didn't move. He wasn't going to walk into another trap. Instead he stayed still, searching for his infuriating devil opponent. Nothing happened for a minute. Suddenly Dohnaseek spun when he heard a cacophony of sound, ready to dodge whatever trick his opponent was throwing at him. His jaw dropped at the sight that greeted him.

He had certainly not expected this. Naruto had gone to the tree he had broken with Dohnaseek's body earlier. Picking it up, he proceeded to chuck it at the fallen angel. The entire, fully grown tree. Maybe not as hard as a rock and more unwieldy to throw, but dodging a tree baring down on you is practically impossible. Something Dohnaseek found out when he failed to clear the large mass of branches at the top of the tree-turned-projectile. The fallen angel found himself crushed and buried by the tree.

Naruto breathed deeply as he looked at the tree. Pretty sure he tore something in his shoulder with that move, but it was so worth it. Dohnaseek's face was priceless. Super strength really is awesome.

Naruto's eye twitched when he heard movement from the tree. He then watched as a sword of light cut through part of the branches, allowing Dohnaseek to burst out. Naruto took great pleasure in seeing the fallen angel's current state though. Dohnaseek's clothes and skin was rife with cuts and scuffs from the branches. His hat was also gone, his hair instead filled with twigs that made the man look comical.

"You little piece-of-shit devil," Dohnaseek roared out in anger.

Naruto didn't react though, instead smirking as he commented, "Looks like I'll be the one to walk away from here, huh Dohna-bitch?"

Dohnaseek growled at the insult, but couldn't refute the point. Naruto had the complete advantage. Dohnaseek was in rough shape, and Naruto's only injuries were those he had accrued before this fight.

Naruto was simply too much for Dohnaseek to handle. Naruto was far better at fighting among trees, and had many tricks up his sleeves that gave him a huge advantage in an indirect battle. Straight combat also favored Naruto. Naruto was fast and skilled enough that Dohnaseek could only hit him if he used widespread light weapon attacks, but the weapons for such an attack were too weak to get past his defense. Only if he condenses all that power in a single weapon can he damage Naruto, but he couldn't hit Naruto with only a single weapon. It was a case of whether to hit but do no damage or not hit at all. All the while Naruto was damaging him with repeated attacks.

Dohnaseek really didn't know what to do till he saw a flash of color. A vicious smile immediately crossed his face. Morphing the light sword in his hand into a spear, he pulled his arm back and chucked it.

Naruto dodged the attack with contemptuous ease, but he then saw Dohnaseek's smirk. A heavy weight forming in his gut, Naruto spun to look at where the spear was headed. His heart skipped a beat at what he saw.

Asia. Their battle had wandered close to her hiding position, and she had tried moving away. Dohnaseek's attack wasn't headed for him, but Asia.

Ignoring the agony in his thigh, Naruto forced his body to move as fast as possible. No, even faster. He had to reach it in time. He _had _to. Reaching out his hand desperately, Naruto gave a cry of victory as his hand managed to close around the very end of the spear. The spear's trajectory came to a stop just a foot from Asia's head. The nun fell back onto her butt in shock at her near death, and Naruto let out a sigh of relief.

Until he coughed out blood. Eyes wide in pain and shock, Naruto lowered his head to see a blade emerging from the left side of his chest, right where his heart is. It had been a distraction. A way to provide an opportunity to strike.

"Looks like I'll be the one leaving, little devil," Dohnaseek whispered in satisfaction from behind Naruto.

Asia let out a horrified scream as she realized what had happened. Naruto's arm shook from where he was still holding onto the light spear. Naruto coughed up another glob of blood. Dohnaseek began to laugh at his victory.

Until Naruto spun the spear in his hand and stabbed it behind him.

Dohnaseek gave a pained grunt as his own weapon sank into his stomach. He then groaned out in anger, "H-How dare you?! My own…w-weapon."

"Even if you stab me through the heart…I won't let you take Asia," Naruto growled out, ignoring the blood welling up in his throat.

Dohnaseek stumbled back, the weapons being pulled out of their respective torsos. Gripping the spear tightly in his hand, Naruto felt as it started disappearing. Dohnaseek wasn't going to let him use it again. Gritting his teeth, Naruto channeled his own magic into it. The previously bluish white spear turned a golden white as it came back with a vengeance.

Spinning around, Naruto thrust the light spear at Dohnaseek with all that remained of his rapidly fading strength. Dohnaseek countered by doing the same with his own weapon. The two roared as they did one last exchange.

***Omake***

Rias paused as her hand touched the doorknob to the clubroom. Tilting her head, she listened as she heard Naruto's voice talking aloud with exaggerated emotions and moans.

"'Yes,' Tsuna cried out in ecstasy, feeling herself approaching another peak. She then added, 'Harder. Harder. I'm about to cum!' Hearing this, Jirya followed the demand. Using his powerful legs, he thrust into Tsuna's core with even more passion. The two felt themselves reach their climax. In unison, the two cried out their pleasure to the world."

Blushing slightly, Rias walked into the room in a panic. She immediately saw Naruto laying down on one of the couches, an orange book his hands. Hearing her entrance, Naruto looked up. He stared at her blankly before saying nonchalantly, "Sup, Rias-chan."

"What are you doing?" Rias demanded in embarrassment. What was her rook doing reading Icha Icha out loud in the clubroom while alone? She was not going to clean up any stains on those couches!

Rubbing the back of her head in embarrassment, Naruto told her sheepishly, "Uh, see. I had this thought. God has to be celibate and all that jazz, right? So he's clearly not had any hanky panky in a while. Being the good Samaritan I am, I decided to give him something to fantasize about. So I'm kind of reading him a particularly steamy scene from Icha Icha Journey."

Rias just stared with a gaping jaw. Was he insane?

Reading her thoughts, Naruto nodded before declaring proudly, "Yes, I am insane, but I'm also the only guy on earth with the balls necessary to troll god. So I'll accept being insane. Now, if that is all. I need to finish this scene. Oh, another great idea. Why don't you help me? You can moan along and stuff. Do the female voice. It will be amazing!"

Rias just stared as Naruto started to rave about this new idea. She just turned and walked out the room. She was not going to mess with God like that. Damn, Naruto is crazy, baiting the Biblical God like that…That does take balls though. Big, brass ones. Even she could admit that.

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Archangel Michael had his face buried in his hands as he sat in his private quarters.

A knock came from the door, before a female walked in while asking in concern, "Michael, is everything okay? You just randomly froze up, blushed, and walked in here thirty minutes ago."

Michael didn't respond for a few seconds. He then replied in a tired voice, "Gabriel, just please…Leave me alone right now…Your presence isn't helping."

Gabriel was concerned, but decided to leave her brother alone.

As the door closed behind her, Michael let out another sigh. How long was this reading suppose to last? This was even worse than what the weirdest devil he's ever met usually does. At least Gabriel left him alone. This scene happened to be a brother-sister incest scene, no doubt chosen for the taboo of it. Needless to say, the last person he wanted to see right now is his sister, who is regarded as the most beautiful woman in heaven. That was just asking for trouble.

What would happen if he did succumb? He is the center of the heaven system right now? Could he even fall?

Ah! Bad thoughts! Bad thoughts! Think of old, wrinkly testicles...Eww!

He is so going to get the cause of his torment back for this! His natural magnetism for perverts is going to multiply by ten. Ten! May he drown in perverts!

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Naruto shivered suddenly. Aw crap, he has a bad feeling. Guess it was only inevitable. Maybe he is a masochist. Why else would he do something guaranteed to come to bite him in the ass?…Nah. This is just him being a prankster. Now how is he going to escalate this battle between him and god next?

**Yes, a cliffhanger. I know. It sucks, but this chapter was long enough as it is. I was also planning this cliffhanger from the beginning. I'll try to get the next chapter up as quickly as possible. Some of you will probably guess what i have in mind, but the rest of you will have to wait for my next chapter.**

**Asia: **_Asia appears. I was actually unsure how to handle Asia. I usually preferred Asia being paired with Issei, since she is the first thing he handles well. As i got thinking about it though, Asia probably fits Naruto better than any other characters. An honest, innocent, naive girl whose longs for friends due to being alienated due to her sacred gear. The two just...mesh well. At least in my mind. The conversations started out a bit awkward, since Issei is the one who usually talks to her. As i wrote it though it got easier. There are parts i feel to be awkward, like when he tells her about the whole good and evil spiel, but i can't be perfect. Their relationship will be a bit more mentor/student than Issei and Asia's, simply due to Naruto being more experienced. Give me your opinions on how i handled Asia._

**Naruto and magic: **_What type of magic should Naruto have? I left it pretty open for that reason. He'll use chakra for wind release. So no wind magic. I'm taking suggestions. Either name an element or a 'type' of magic. A short description would be nice._

_Tsutenkyaku-Heavenly Foot of Pain_


	4. The Rescue

**Well here it is. The fourth chapter of High School Maelstrom. It's about 18,000 words, and i had figured this would be the short chapter. Seems i just fail at keeping control over my word count. Oh well, it seems most of you don't care.**

**I had been planning to have this chapter out two days ago, three days after my last one. Didn't turn out so well. I just could not get one scene. It's the talking scene between Rias and Akeno you'll soon be reading. I literally spent three days on that scene, and rewrote it at least a dozen times. I'm still not satisfied with it. I finally just skipped it and managed to write the rest of the chapter in two days. Sorry for the longer wait.**

**P.S. I also rewrote a few of the scenes in the last chapter that i thought came out awkward during this time. I hope it makes it all flow better.**

**I also didn't write an omake scene since this chapter was long enough, and i'm tired of writing right now. I'll try and give you guys one next chapter.**

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Interestingly, it was a strand of hair that woke Naruto up. It was tickling his nose. Scrunching his nose up, he shook his head to try and remove it. Even that failed, so he mustered up the strength to raised an arm to move it. Grabbing the strand of hair, he flicked it away.

That seemed to be enough to force the darkness away from him though, and he couldn't get back to sleep. So he sighed before opening his eyes. Closing them from the bright glare from the window, he gradually opened his eyes. Blinking blankly, he sat up.

He blinked in confusion as he looked around the unfamiliar room. He was lying in a large Victorian bed, in a smallish room that only had a large dresser otherwise. There was window that was letting in the light, showing that the sun was at the point it was just about to sink beyond the horizon.

Anymore thoughts were cut off when Naruto shifted his body and his hand fell onto something squishy. Tilting his head in wonder, he squeezed the object again. A soft moan punctuated the action. Having a suspicion on what it is, he turned to look himself.

Yep, it is Rias, and he's groping one of her breasts. That was made easier by the fact that she was naked. Naruto questioned why he was in bed with a naked Rias, but his brain wasn't quite functioning too well at the moment. Instead his thought wandered to her breasts. Nice. Very nice. Quite large, but still maintaining a very appealing shape. They sat perky and round on her chest, despite her laying on her back. No prominent veins or discolorations. Her cute little pink nipples were perfectly positioned. Each breath she took caused them to jiggle enticingly. With another tilt of his head, Naruto's hand took a quick squeeze. Firm, with a superior elasticity. These are some grade-A breasts. Right up there with Samui and Shion.

Rias' crimson hair was also stunning in how it spread around her. Her cute face was relaxed and content in her sleep. It's a pretty large contrast to her serious and stressed look he usually sees on her face. Her thin waist was shown, but her hips and legs were covered by the blanket.

Naruto blinked in shock as his brain finally started to work properly instead of absently admiring the scene he was treated to.

Why was he in bed with Rias? Why was she naked?

And what happened with the fallen angel, Dohnaseek? Wait…Asia!

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"Son-of-a-bitch!"

"Ara ara, it appears Naruto-kun has woken up," Akeno announced as the shout rang out through the old school building.

"And it doesn't appear he is happy either," Yuuto commented with an anxious chuckle.

"Not a surprise. Senpai is…passionate…and loud," Koneko muttered as she stopped eating her snack. Probably not a good idea right now.

Anymore dialogue was cut off when the door to Rias' room burst open, revealing Naruto in all his glory. His head looked around rapidly before settling on Yuuto. Naruto immediately demanded, "Yuuto, what happened? Where's Asia?"

Yuuto lowered his gaze at the question, forcing Naruto's heart to clench. It was practically unnecessary when Yuuto answered simply, "Things did not end well, Naruto."

Naruto immediately growled out, "What happened?!"

"Calm down, Naruto-kun," a new voice ordered. Naruto turned to see Rias appearing from behind him. Not a surprise. He did yell out right next to her. Not much chance of her not sleeping through that. She didn't even bother covering her nudity, instead locking eyes with him intently and continuing, "We'll tell you what you want to know, so calm down. I really doubt you want an explanation while in the nude."

Naruto blinked before looking down. He then groaned out, "Aw, crap." Turns out he had been naked as well, and hadn't even noticed. He had some bandages around his chest and his right thigh, but he was otherwise bare. Great, he'd just flashed the entire club. Turning around, he walked back into the room and shut the door behind him.

"Ara ara. Naruto-kun is as much man as the rumors state," Akeno commented with her amusement clear, a hand raised to cover her salacious grin.

Koneko's eyes just twitched as the image replayed in her mind. That was more of her annoying senpai than she wanted to see, and caused a thought to pop into her head. Her eyes moved to Rias' exposed chest, which seemed to jiggle for no reason when she looked at it. Another twitch of her eyebrow. Her eyes then moved to Akeno's chest. Another eye twitch. She then looked down at her own chest.

"Our club is a gathering ground for oversized sexual organs," she grumbled as she protectively cupped her own lacking chest. She then added, "There's nothing wrong with being small…right Yuuto?"

"Hey," Yuuto immediately protested, not happy at her insinuation about his size.

Rias just shook her head. Pinching the brow of her nose, she told them, "Akeno, can you get me a uniform? Everyone else, ready yourself. I doubt this is going to be a fun conversation."

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Five minutes later Naruto was sitting on one of the couches, Koneko next to him. He was dressed in the academy uniform. Anyone could tell by his body language though that he was barely restraining himself from freaking out.

Looking at Yuuto, Naruto growled out impatiently, "Yuuto, what happened?"

Sighing, Yuuto answered carefully, "Well, you beat the fallen angel you were fighting…kind of. He was dead, but it was clear you were about to join him."

"I mean, what happened to Asia?" Naruto grunted out irritably.

"Just keep calm, Naruto-kun. Let Yuuto explain," Rias ordered in a scolding tone.

Naruto frowned, but waited as Yuuto began, "After we split up, I did my best to lose the fallen angels that were chasing me. I succeeded, and then went to try and find you. Except I couldn't. Your signature was just gone."

"Dohnaseek put up a barrier to prevent anyone from interfering," Naruto informed them.

"I figured. Either way, it wasn't till the barrier dropped that I could sense you. I arrived right at the same time as the fallen angels. The fallen angel was dead, but you were on the ground with two gaping holes in your chest. One through your heart. The nun was healing you," Yuuto hesitated here before slowly continuing, "The other three fallen angels got there at the same time. I got ready to fight them, but they claimed that they didn't want to fight. They announced that as long as the nun went with them, they would leave us peacefully. The nun agreed, and went with them."

"And you let her go?" Naruto demanded, outraged.

"What did you want me to do, Naruto?" Yuuto asked with a grimace that showed he wasn't happy about his actions either. Naruto clearly cared enough about the nun to risk his life for her, and he had clearly failed his friend by letting her go. He elaborated regretfully, "There were three of them, Naruto. Even if we ignore the political implications of battling with the fallen angels, I couldn't have won. Not outnumbered like that. Especially since I would have had to defend you and the nun. If I had tried to fight, the same thing would have happened. Except you and I wouldn't be here."

Naruto wanted to protest. To rage against Yuuto's words, but he couldn't. There was nothing Yuuto could have done. He'd simply made the best of a bad situation.

Seeing Naruto and Yuuto weren't going to speak, Rias explained, "You were critically injured, Naruto-kun. A deep gash in your leg, two stab wounds to your torso, one of which nicked your heart. The only reason you survived is because the nun managed to heal the damage to your heart before she was taken away. As it is, you only barely made it."

Yuuto quickly added, "Buchou spent all night with you. She ran out of energy, and Akeno had to replace her. Akeno then ran out several hours ago, and Buchou had to step in again. You've been asleep for 18 hours. You still aren't completely healed."

Naruto grimaced at that, and looked at his chest. The wounds were mainly gone, but they were still very tender. Hard to believe he'd had two holes in his chest the previous night. It was like having Kurama inside of him again.

"Now we need to discuss your punishment," Rias announced, showing her displeasure as she looked at him. Seeing Naruto's baffled look, she explained sternly, "You picked a fight with the fallen angels by kidnapping one of their servants. Even if she wanted your help, what you did was irresponsible and _dangerous. _You also directly disobeyed me. I cannot let behavior like that go off without punishment."

Naruto lowered his head at her words, his bangs shadowing his eyes. He gritted his teeth before muttering, "Then double it."

Rias blinked in confusion before asking, "What?"

"I said double it," Naruto replied. Standing up, he declared firmly, "Double whatever punishment you have in mind because I'm about to pick another fight with the fallen angels. I'm going to go rescue Asia, and this time I won't fail."

"No!" Rias yelled, shooting to her feet and slamming her hands down on her desk hrshly. She then told him sternly, "You are part of my peerage, and thus part of my household. Your actions aren't just your own, Naruto! They reflect upon me and my entire family. It's a miracle that things didn't spiral out of control yesterday already. You kidnapped one of their servants, and then killed a fallen angel. The only reason they backed off after getting the nun is because they were no doubt thinking you wouldn't last the night. If you attack them again, the implications could be catastrophic."

"Then kick me out of your household," Naruto immediately barked out before continuing defiantly, "Disown me. Hell, I'll even let you rip your rook piece out of me tomorrow. I don't care what the consequences are for me-"

Naruto was cut off when Rias' open hand connected with his cheek. Naruto blinked in shock as his cheek stung. He then looked at Rias with wide eyes as she hissed out with barely controlled emotions heavy in her voice, "Don't even talk about that. You aren't thinking straight right now. You are letting your emotions rule you."

Touching his bright red cheek, Naruto's eyes only grew more determined as he whispered, "I am. My emotions have always guided me. That isn't a bad thing in my opinion though. I refuse to sit here calmly while a friend needs me…I will save Asia. I'm not going to let them hurt her simply because I'm afraid of the fallout. Because I know, in my heart, that that is the right thing to do." Turning his back on Rias, Naruto started walking to the door as he added, "You stay here and do the logical thing. Disown me. I will follow my heart, and go save Asia."

"If you go, you will almost certainly die," Rias told him angrily, barely holding in her disbelief at her servant completely going against her orders. She quickly elaborated when she saw Naruto stop, "You nearly died fighting one fallen angel. There are at least three more guarding the nun, and who knows how many stray exorcists or other servants. I have no doubt you've kept secrets from me. Kept certain abilities hidden, but trying to assault a fallen angel base alone is practically a suicide mission. No matter what things you have kept hidden, there is a strong chance you will die."

"You act like I'm afraid of death," Naruto remarked after a few seconds of silence. Without looking back, he continued, "I already embraced death once, and have faced it down dozens of other times. No, I'm not afraid of death…What I'm afraid of is a future where I can't look myself in the mirror for shame. Of a future where I let a silly little thing like a fear of dying keep me from doing what I believe is right. I'd rather die tonight than live a life like that." He started walking again.

Rias' hands shook as she saw Naruto continue walking towards the door. Finally she just yelled desperately, "You are being stupid!"

Naruto once again paused, this time right in the middle of the doorframe. Chuckling, he replied with a shrug, "Maybe I am. It's a good thing I never claimed to be smart then because if being smart means letting an innocent girl be killed…I'd prefer to be an idiot for the rest of my life."

And with that, he was gone.

Rias just stared at the door for several moments before slowly sitting down in a daze. She then leaned forward and put her face in her hands. A massive sigh escaped her lips as her mind raced in disbelief.

Sensing Akeno appear behind her, Rias asked in a depressed voice, "What should I do, Akeno?"

"Ara ara, Buchou asking for advice? Just like a month ago. What an interesting month it has been," Akeno commented airily.

"Please, Akeno. Just be serious," Rias pleaded before waving a hand and continuing, "Naruto and I have been getting along. We joke around. Tease each other. Yet now he's disobeying my orders, practically ordering me to announce him a stray. I don't get how things could have gone bottom up so quickly."

Akeno sighed as she realized just how distressed Rias was by this turn of events. So she finally spoke up seriously, "No offense, Rias, but you are the only one here that is surprised by Naruto's actions. Can you seriously claim you didn't think Naruto would go stomping out of that door when he learned this Asia was back with the fallen angels?"

"What would make you think Naruto would willingly pick a fight with fallen angels to save some random girl?" Rias questioned in disbelief, not understanding what Akeno meant.

"You are thinking too exact, Rias. It's not about whether we knew he would pick a fight with fallen angels to save a random girl. What we knew was that Naruto would do his best to help his friends. That's what is going on. Naruto is going to help his friend. The fallen angels. That she is a nun. Those are just details in his mind. He's going to help his friend. That's the only thing going through his mind," Akeno explained like it was obvious.

"But she isn't his friend," Rias argued.

"You saw how protective Naruto-kun was of her. Do you really believe they hadn't met before?" Akeno asked with a raised eyebrow. When Rias didn't reply, she continued, "It's pretty obvious that Naruto met that girl before. Maybe she is one of the friends he'd made during his volunteer work. Or not. Either way, Naruto seems to consider her his friend."

"Okay, fine. She's his friend, but that still doesn't change the fact that he directly disobeyed me," Rias stated in annoyance.

"You really don't know Naruto-kun, do you, Rias?" Akeno asked, clearly not happy at Rias' statement.

"What is that suppose to mean?" Rias demanded, uncomfortable with the anger she was seeing in her queen's eyes.

"Rias. Naruto is like wild stallion. He runs free whether you want him to or not. You aren't going to tame him. The best you can do is befriend him. He'll answer your call, even carry you on his back if you need him to, but he won't be your pet. He won't let you chain him. Yuuto knows this. I know this. Hell, even Koneko knows this. It seems you alone don't seem to understand this. Not that I'm too surprised. You haven't made much of an attempt to get to know him," Akeno explained seriously.

"I've made plenty of attempts to get to know Naruto-kun. I taught him magic," Rias claimed indignantly.

"True, but did you talk to him about anything else other than magic during those lessons?" Akeno asked with a raised eyebrow. Seeing the answer in Rias' face, Akeno shook her head before telling her, "Let's face it, Rias. You took the time to learn about Naruto's combat abilities and basic history, but then you shoved him to the side. You saw that he was a competent fighter and that he quickly adapted to being a devil, so you decided you could turn your attention elsewhere. You've spent more time this month studying strategies for Rating Games than you have talking to Naruto-kun."

"That isn't true," Rias claimed, although it was easy to see the uncertainty in her eyes.

Akeno just asked with a raised eyebrow, "Then how do you explain your obliviousness to his personality? Yuuto and Naruto-kun have basically become best friends in this month. I've been desperately trying to get closer to him. Even Koneko is always watching him and analyzing his words, even if she doesn't show it. What effort have you put into figuring Naruto-kun out, Rias?…Whether you want to accept it or not, Rias, you've put no effort in. You and Naruto do get along. That is plain to see, but that is all. He likes you. I'm not so sure he respects you as a king. He doesn't refer you to as Buchou, but Rias-chan. He may have not meant it as an insult, but it is a sign. A sign that he in no way considered you his superior. You haven't put in an effort to make him think of you as a friend, and he doesn't view you as his leader."

Now that caused Rias to protest by declaring, "I am friends with Naruto-kun."

"You certainly didn't behave like his friend just now," Akeno immediately claimed before elaborating, "You were more concerned with punishing him for disobeying you than finding out why he disobeyed you. You didn't try to understand his feelings. You didn't ask him how he knew the nun. Hell, you didn't even ask him how he was feeling."  
"I did too ask him," Rias claimed before blinking as she thought back. She then asked uncertainly, "Didn't I?"

"No, you didn't," Akeno told her bluntly.

"I…I didn't realize I was behaving like that," Rias finally admitted, clearly being vulnerable at the realization of what she had been doing. She then continued weakly, "Naruto-kun just adapted so easy I figured having him be a member of my peerage would be easy. That I didn't need to worry about him. So I just got caught up in my own worries. Riser, the upcoming match, all that. And then this nun. I just never expecting him to…act out like this. It just caught me by surprise, and I reacted without thought."

Akeno sighed as she tried to make all her anger drain away. She really shouldn't have said all that stuff. She knew Rias was stressed enough without her adding onto it. She was just mad and annoyed by how Rias had been treating Naruto like a side concern. It wasn't as bad as she had made it seem, and Rias hadn't been doing it with any malicious intent. She had simply been distracted. Hopefully she'll change. For now she has to make sure this situation doesn't end badly.

She then put a comforting hand on Rias' shoulder before telling her, "I'm sure Naruto-kun barely even noticed. He certainly won't hold it against you."

"Even I know that," Rias commented with a small smirk. She then asked, "So what is it you recommend I do in this situation, Akeno?"

Akeno thought for a moment before announcing calmly, "Rias, you've been spoiled by myself, Koneko, and Yuuto. We all listen to you without much protest. It isn't your fault. This is just the first time you've had to deal with a servant who is disobeying you. So you now need to make a decision, Rias. Do you want a servant…or a friend?"

"Is that even a question, Akeno? You know the answer to that," Rias stated in disbelief.

"Do I? I know which choice I hope you choose, but you still have to make it. If only to yourself. You haven't been behaving like the answer should be clear. You've been thinking of Naruto as a servant, and haven't tried to be his friend," Akeno informed her seriously before continuing, "You are a member of the Gremory Clan, a family that has such extraordinary affection among devils that they are said to not differentiate between servants and themselves. It's time to prove it. Accept Naruto as he is, faults and all. Think of him as a friend, and not a servant. If you do that, the answer of what we should do is pretty clear."

Rias took her words in seriously. Being a friend is accepting the faults of your friends, and still staying beside them. Even when they do something dangerous and reckless.

Looking up at the other members of her peerage, she examined them. Yuuto looked like he was barely stopping himself from sprinting out the door. Of course he wanted to go help Naruto. Koneko was actually slipping on a pair of combat gloves. For all her aloof behavior, Koneko was the type to help her comrades when they need it. Akeno would look calm and composed to most people, but Rias had known her for years. The two were best friends. So it was easy for Rias to tell Akeno was in the same state as Yuuto, barely containing herself. What they wanted to do was abundantly clear.

With a small smile, Rias stood up. She then announced, "Looks like we need to go help out friend…even if he is being reckless and dangerous."

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

Naruto teleported onto the street right before the church he had directed Asia to before. That meant it was the base of the fallen angels, where they were now holding Asia.

The sky was dark. The sun had been setting when he had left the clubroom, and he had briefly headed home. He'd changed into his workout clothes and devoured some food in record time. His workout clothes were better suited for combat than the academy uniform. The food was just common sense. He hadn't eaten for near a full day, and he had been hungry. This was going to be difficult enough without his stomach aching from hunger.

Now he was all ready and looking at the large gate of the fence around the church. He couldn't hold anything back. He was going all out right from the beginning.

Naruto had already made the mistake of underestimating his opponents yesterday. He was still berating himself for what happened the previous day. He'd made mistake after mistake. Not even honest mistakes either. Stupid, amateur ones. The sort of things he would have made as a genin. Okay, he's still a genin, but he means before he had gone on the training trip with Jiraiya. He hadn't taken Freed seriously enough, allowing the exorcist to survive till the fallen angels had come. He tried to hide in an obvious space like the park, allowing Dohnaseek to find him. He'd prioritized getting information out of Dohnaseek over finishing him and getting Asia to safety. Most of all, Naruto had gotten cocky when it became clear he outclassed Dohnaseek. That had allowed the fallen angel to target Asia, and near fatally injure Naruto. One thing after another.

Naruto had clearly lost his edge since coming to this world because he was sure the Naruto that defeated Pein or fought Madara wouldn't have done such a poor job of protecting Asia, decreased power or not. He would have pulled out all the stops to rescue his friend. He would have fought and struggled till he succeeded.

Instead Naruto had botched it.

Not again though. He was going to pull out all the stops this time. He would rescue Asia or he would die trying.

His mind firm and unwavering, Naruto started walking forward. Once he was right in front of the gate, he raised his leg. A power packed kick sent the large gates flying. The metal crashed onto the ground, making a ruckus in the process. Just what he wanted.

Naruto only got ten steps in before three blurs came out of the church entrance. Naruto stopped and watched seriously as the three blurs alighted on the ground a short distance from him. He wasn't surprised to see they were fallen angels.

All three of them were females. The one on the right was a petite blonde hair done up in short pigtails and blue eyes. She seemed to be wearing a gothic Lolita dress. A black dress with lots of white frills. The one on the left was a more mature woman. She had navy blue hair which fell over her right eye. She was tall and rather buxom, facts that were highlighted by her cleavage displaying shirt and a miniskirt. The one in the center seemed to be the leader, having the strongest magic signature of the three. She was a brunette with violet eyes. Her generously curved figure was covered by what can only be described as leather straps. A single strap wrapped around her breasts, covering her nipples. Just under her breasts was a thicker strap which seemed to serve no purpose really. What appeared to be a skimpy bikini bottom or leather thong covered her crotch. Otherwise she had shoulder pads, leather gloves that went to her upper arm, and leather thigh high boots. It was kind of ridiculous that the gloves and boots covered more skin than her top and bottoms.

The apparent leader looked at him with a tilted head, a smirk on her face. She then commented in amusement, "So you lived. Actually rather impressive. We thought for sure you were a goner. Clearly you suffered some brain damage though, since you came here like this." Naruto didn't answer in favor of just looking at her seriously. Ordinarily he would have fired back by commenting on how she was wearing belts as clothing, but he was not interested in bantering. She didn't seem bothered by his silence though, and just lifted her hands in a 'what-can-you-do' gesture before continuing, "You even got here before we could finish preparing the ceremony. It is taking a bit longer without Dohnaseek, but we'll manage. We'll just use this opportunity to play with you a bit. You did kill Dohnaseek after all. The man was a pain, but that doesn't mean we'll let you off. Kalawarner. Mittelt."

The two others quickly jumped into the air. Naruto tensed in preparation, but they didn't attack him. The two just hovered as magic circles formed in front of them. After they finished whatever is was that they were doing, a purple dome formed above the church. A barrier. The two quickly dropped back down.

The little blonde then told Naruto mockingly, "And now no help will be coming for you. We've got you all to ourselves."

The older one then added, "Three women all to yourself. Isn't this a man's dream? The reality doesn't quite match the fantasy, but I heard it is better to be optimistic when about to die."

When Naruto still didn't respond, the leader tilted her head and questioned in a teasing voice, "What's wrong? Cat-got-your-tongue? Too scared to say anything? Come on. This isn't as fun for us if you don't play along."

"I'm only going to give you one warning," Naruto finally announced. Making sure to look each of them in the eyes, he took a deep breath before declaring seriously, "Let Asia go. If you do that, I shall leave without a fight. If you insist upon keeping her though, I cannot guarantee you won't be the same after tonight."

The three blinked at him in shock before they burst out laughing in unison. The leader held a hand to her face as she giggled. She then removed it to show a wide smile as she retorted happily, "That's good. I needed a good laugh. Keep saying things like that, and I'll be tempted to keep you."

"I warned you," Naruto replied solemnly.

"Yes, you did. Now let's see if you can back up your bark, little boy," the leader said, clearly not intimidated in the least by Naruto. Not only was she stronger than Dohnaseek, but she had two allies by her side while he was alone. Crossing her arms, she looked at him expectantly with a small smile. Just blatantly showing how unworried she was by his threat.

Never say Naruto isn't prepared to back up his words. He may talk loud, but he is always ready to back them up. He'd rather gnaw off his own arm then break a promise.

So he just took a deep breath as he held his right arm out to the side. The fallen angels didn't even attempt to stop whatever it was he was planning, their arrogance at play. A golden magic circle immediately formed before Naruto's outstretched hand. Reaching into it, the end of his arm seemed to dissolved. Naruto could still feel it though, and he searched the pocket dimension with his hand. Feeling his hand come into contact with what he was looking for, he grasped it and started pulling his hand back.

His arm was drawn back out of the magic circle. When it got to his hand though, it revealed he had something grasped in his hand. Slowly, inch by inch the object was revealed. First the handle and hilt were revealed, intricate blue and gold designs were embedded into it. Several small purple gems were placed along the center. The long blade was then exposed to the air. The blade was golden, the sharpened edges a gleaming silver. Several runes were inscribed at the base of the blade, and the tip had a blue symbol. It was a beautiful sword, almost grandiose.

It wasn't just showy either. As soon as the golden magic circle Naruto had pulled it from disappeared, it was like a dam had burst. The immediate area around them was bathed in a holy aura. Enough power that it felt like it was pressing down on everyone in its presence.

The fallen angels all reacted in shock and horror as they felt the holy power of the sword. The leader immediately screeched as she took a step back, "Where did you get a true holy sword? And how can a devil wield it?"

Holding the sword in front of him in a ready position, Naruto informed them in a blank voice of stating fact, "This is Excalibur Ruler, the Holy Sword of Control. An important friend gifted me with it. As for why I wield it…I wield it because she entrusted it to me, and I never betray those who place their trust in me. Being a devil won't prevent that."

"Excalibur Ruler! Crap! Stay away from-" The leader shrieked as the three prepared to try and flee.

"Too late. Obey!" Naruto interrupted as he invoked Excalibur Ruler's ability to control anything the wielder wishes.

The sword immediately shined brightly, the light invading the eyes of everyone who could see it. The fallen angels screamed as they were engulfed. The light remained for a second before it blinked out. Naruto looked to see the three fallen angels standing where they had before. Except they weren't about to flee any longer. The three were just standing there, their eyes blank and glazed over.

"I warned you, but now I got to save Asia. I'll deal with you three later," Naruto muttered as he walked past the three hypnotized fallen angels.

With the main threats dealt with, Naruto strode into the church with a determined gait. He looked around in annoyance when he saw it was empty. Closing his eyes, Naruto drew upon a miniscule amount of natural energy. He didn't have the reserves to try and enter Sage Mode right now, but he could still call upon the sensor capabilities his sage training had given him. It only took a second for Naruto to locate Asia, especially since she was surrounded by about sixty people Naruto suspected to be stray exorcists. There was a large underground chamber under the church.

Naruto quickly strode towards where he sensed the entrance tunnel with single-minded focus. Reaching the wooden altar, Naruto didn't hesitate to smack it with his open left hand. The altar was destroyed, the fragments flying through the air to hit the stone wall. In its place was the hidden tunnel.

Naruto headed down quickly. There were quite a lot of steps. It felt like he descended a hundred before he finally came out into the large stone chamber. The roof was at least thirty meters tall, and the entire room was probably fifty meters long and wide. Good. This room had clearly been structurally stabilized with magic by the fallen angels. That meant Naruto could go all out without worry about the place collapsing on top of him.

His eyes were then drawn to the mass of exorcists. They were all dressed in black robes, with black hoods covering their faces. Only their eyes and mouths were shown. Almost all of them were holding light swords.

Naruto's eyes then moved onward to see that the stray exorcists were standing protectively before a large, pyramid-like platform. On top of which rested Asia, right before a large ornate cross. She was dressed in a dirty tan slip instead of her nun attire. She was down on her knees, looking at him in shock. Standing right beside her was Freed.

"Oh, looks like the shitty devil got past the fallen angels. How annoying, bur exciting for me. Now I get to watch you die myself," Freed exclaimed loudly.

Naruto ignored the insane priest entirely in favor of locking eyes with Asia. Flashing her a confident smile, he declared, "Don't you worry, Asia-chan. I'll rescue you, no problem. It's a promise. Just wait up there for a few minutes."

Asia looked shocked, but eventually broke into a grin. With tears forming in her eyes, she nodded at him.

"Hey, shitty devil. Don't ignore me," Freed screamed in anger.

Naruto brushed off his words in favor of looking at the gathering of priests. He then announced, "I'll do the same thing for you all that I did for the fallen angels. I'll give you one warning. Let Asia go. If you do that, I shall leave without a fight. If you insist on keeping her though, expect me to come at you full strength. I'll hold nothing back."

"Eh, shitty devil is making threats now. Fuck off with that shit. Those bitches apparently failed to deal with you, but you're probably tired now. We also outnumber you," Freed grumbled in annoyance.

Naruto just shrugged at his words. Freed's words were true. Despite getting past the fallen angels without a fight, using Excalibur Ruler was draining. The process by which it controlled others is energy demanding. Thankfully the energy consumption partly relied upon the wills of the one using it and the one being affected. Those fallen angels weren't shmucks when it came to willpower, but Naruto was widely known for his indomitable will. It was no contest. So it had taken comparatively little energy to control them than if they had the stronger willpower, but it was still a good amount. To get all three of them Naruto had used a good chunk of his chakra. He didn't have enough left to control all sixty exorcists here. So he had to fight them using more conventional methods, where their numbers could be used against him. He was still confident though.

"I warned you," Naruto told them seriously.

The exorcists all prepared to charge towards Naruto to swarm him en mass, but Naruto always preferred having the first move. With a jump Naruto launched himself into the air. Predicting his arc and when he would hit the ground, Naruto started flipping as he came down. Landing right in the middle of the exorcists, Naruto's flip was perfect so that his heel connected with the ground first. The exorcists had all gotten out of the way of the blindingly obvious axe kick, but they had no way of knowing what a reaction the attack would cause.

"Tsutenkyaku," Naruto announced as the ground cracked and exploded around the impact zone of his kick. The stone ground shattered, and large pieces of the ground shot upwards.

The exorcists were completely caught off guard. Those closest to Naruto were knocked down either by the ground collapsing under them or from being victims of the flying stones his kick had launched into the air. Those further away had to raise their hands up to prevent the dust and rocks filling the air from getting into their eyes.

Which was a perfect opportunity for Naruto to attack. Kicking off the nearest stone piece, Naruto shot towards the nearest cluster of exorcists. Lifting Excalibur Ruler, Naruto slashed at the nearest exorcist. The exorcist lifted his light blade to block.

Now, Excalibur Ruler is not the most destructive sword. Even among the fragments of Excalibur. Despite being hailed as the strongest fragment, it wasn't meant to be a massively overpowered sword. It didn't launch blasts of holy energy or destroy everything it touched. It was instead a more elegant sword, with its main ability being its control capability.

However it still was a 'true' holy sword. When used with Naruto's rook strength behind it, the cheap, mass produced light swords of the exorcists didn't stand a chance. They shattered like glass. Excalibur Ruler than continued, slicing clean through the closest exorcist's waist to cut into the two behind him as well. Just like that, three exorcists down.

Naruto turned and jumped towards the next closest group of exorcists, and like that the slaughter began.

Naruto did not have Yuuto's skill with a blade. He didn't have any skill with a blade. While passable with a kunai, trying to use Excalibur Ruler like a kunai was just stupid. So he didn't even try to be elegant or graceful while using Excalibur Ruler. He instead embraced waving it around like a club. It worked after all.

The exorcists couldn't block his strikes. Their weapons shattered from the force Naruto was putting into his swings. With wide swings he could hit any that were close together. Any that got close to him also fell prey to his wild swings.

A number of the exorcists took out guns like Freed had used the previous night, but those failed to change anything either. Naruto completely ignored the ineffective shots. They just bounced off. Instead he just continued to wade into any nearby groups of exorcists. It helped that none of them proved as good with them as Freed had been. As long as he kept moving, most of the shots missed him. Some hit their own guys.

Naruto felt like a butcher, but he didn't back down. He'd warned them. These guys had been willing to harm Asia for her Sacred Gear. They chose for things to end up this way.

Naruto's rhythm was interrupted when he felt Excalibur Ruler stop in the rib cage of an exorcist. With a frown, he tried to pull it out. It stayed in their stubbornly though. It was stuck in the guy's bones.

Naruto would have just pulled it out with brute force, but several nearby exorcists saw the chance. One tried to slice through Naruto's arm that was grasping Excalibur Ruler, forcing Naruto to let go. A simple hook with his now free right hand broke the guy's jaw and sent him flying.

Seeing more exorcists trying to attack now that Naruto was weaponless, Naruto decided to revert to good old fisticuffs. Pressing one hand against a nearby boulder from when Naruto had broken the floor, he used chakra to make it stick to his hand. He then chucked it at the group. The results were not pretty for those that were hit. Naruto followed in the wake of the boulder as well, using quick strikes to finish any that had managed to avoid.

Taking the exorcists out was more difficult now that he couldn't just randomly wade into he enemy while swinging his sword around. The light swords couldn't damage Naruto too badly, but he wasn't going to risk them managing to slice a muscle, tendon, or important artery. So he made sure to avoid the weapons of the enemy. It involved much more darting around then before. Naruto jumped on any lone exorcist, and chucked boulders at any groups that tried to attack him. Several times he grabbed the arms of those who were swinging at him, and threw them into walls with bone breaking force. With most of the exorcists already sliced down, it only took Naruto a few minutes to finish off the remnants.

Although he didn't come out unscathed. He got a few wounds in the process of cutting the exorcists down. His sleeveless shirt had been turned to scrap by all the light bullets. His right forearm sported a shallow cut. The most annoying was a small cut on his hairline though, which caused a stream of blood to run down one side of his face. He was mostly unharmed though.

Any feeling of triumph was cut off when he heard an insane laughter. Naruto turned to see Freed holding Excalibur Ruler. His eyes widened in shock. What the?! Selene had told him people capable of suing holy swords are extremely rare. It's why he felt confident with leaving it there. Of course Freed happens to be able to use them. That's just Naruto's luck. As soon as he lets Excalibur Ruler out of his grasp, someone who can use it is right there.

Naruto immediately demanded, "How are you holding Excalibur Ruler?!"

"Haha, it worked. I thought that old fucker was messing with me, but it worked. He actually gave me the ability to wield a true holy sword," Freed declared gleefully. He then looked at Naruto with a menacing smirk as he continued, "Thanks, shitty devil. I always wanted one of these, but I wasn't considered 'stable' enough. Even after that old fucker experimented on me, they told me to 'wait for the right time' and all that shit. Now I've got the strongest fragment of Excalibur. Not sure where you got this, and I sure as hell don't care. All I know is that I'll put this to good use, and I know of a few people who will really like this development. First I'll kill you, and then I think I'll control that shitty nun you are so infatuated with. She seems like she'll be a good slave. Yep, I'll have a lot of fun with her. Hell, those fallen angel bitches too. Never liked them. The possibilities are endless. Dealing with you is first though. I'm going to really enjoy this you shitty devil. Now stand still and let me cut you up."

The end of his spiel was punctuated by Excalibur Ruler lighting up again. Naruto had tried to reach Freed before it could set in, but he just didn't have that sort of speed. He cursed as he felt Excalibur Ruler start affecting his mind.

The light died down to show Naruto standing with his head down, his hair shadowing his eyes. Seeing that he was helpless, Freed jumped forward. With a gleeful cackle he swung the blade at Naruto.

"Don't fuck with me!" Naruto screamed as he moved. Slipping under the swing, Naruto grabbed under Freed's shoulder and tossed him over his hip with Freed's momentum. Freed went flying down the length of the chamber, finally landing in a heap. As the insane priest got up while cursing profusely, Naruto pointed at him and declared with a powerful resolve, "Don't act so confident just because you have a fancy sword in your hand. You know nothing about that sword."

"Excalibur Ruler is heavily dependent upon the wills of both the wielder _and _the victim. I promised Asia I would rescue her. I never break my promises. I shall rescue her, and no one can change that. Not you, not Excalibur Ruler, not even god himself. Someone like you can never understand that sort of resolve. You may be able to hold that sword, but you will never be able to use its power to control me," Naruto proclaimed boldly.

"Shitty fucking sword. Not doing what it was frickin built to do," Freed snapped as he got to his feet. Growling at Naruto, he held up the sword as he snarled out, "Fine then. Fight back. I've got a fucking holy sword now, devil. One scratch with this and you are done. So bring it on!"

"You won't get one scratch," Naruto claimed, unflinching at the thought of battling with a holy sword.

"Just die already, you shitty devil," Freed screamed out as he charged at Naruto.

Naruto shot forward as well. As the two approached, Naruto held out his armored hand while Freed swung Excalibur Ruler. Freed's sneer widened as it became clear Naruto was going to try and catch the sword. That was not going to work against a holy sword, armored gloves or not. Right as it looked inevitable that Naruto would lose a hand, Naruto locked eyes with Freed. The exorcist immediate froze up, stopping all movement. Naruto took advantage of the opportunity. His raised hand caught Freed's wrist, snapping it with a flick of his wrist. Freed's damaged wrist caused him to drop Excalibur Ruler. Naruto then stepped forward, lifting up his leg.

"You first, shitty priest!" Naruto yelled as the bottom of his foot connected with Freed's chest. The front snap kick had enough power to send Freed flying backward till he connected with the wall, a sickening crack sounding out. The priest fell to the ground limply.

Temporary Paralysis Technique for the win. The simple technique allowed one to temporarily restrain an opponent through eye contact. It appeared devils and fallen angels were immune to it. It's a good thing Freed is a human then. It only works for a second if the victim is strong, but Naruto had just proved one second is more than enough.

Naruto bent down and grabbed Excalibur Ruler's handle as he grumbled, "Taking my sword. If he wants it so bad I'm willing to shove it up his ass."

With his holy sword safely back in his possession, Naruto's mind wandered back to just why he had come here. His head snapped up and he yelled out, "Asia." Seeing her still on top of the platform, Naruto started running in her direction. Quickly climbing the steps, he soon arrived right in front of her. He immediately crouched down and started looking over her as he questioned in concern, "Are you alright? They didn't hurt you, did they?"

Asia just watched him with wide eyes. After a few seconds though her eyes started watering. Naruto immediately panicked in response, but she threw herself at him before he could ask her anything. Burying her head in his chest and throwing her arms around him, she sobbed out, "I-I was so s-scared. R-Raynare-sama said she wanted my Twilight Healing. S-She was going to t-t-take it."

Naruto was caught off guard, but eventually managed to recover enough to wrap his arms around the crying nun. He then whispered to her soothingly, "There, there. They can't hurt you now."

"Y-yes, but you know what?" Asia replied with her face still buried in his chest, muffling the words slightly. She then looked at Naruto to show that despite her teary eyes, she was beaming. She then declared, "I knew Naruto-san would come. I didn't pray to god. I didn't say my prayers. My life didn't flash before my eyes. Because I knew you would come rescue me."

That surprised Naruto, but he quickly gave her a wide grin as he exclaimed, "Of course. I promised to protect you, and I always keep my promises."

Putting her face back against his chest when she felt herself blushing, she nodded her head at his words. She then mumbled into his chest, "Meeting you really was a gift from god, Naruto-san."

Naruto raised his free hand to scratch the back of his head sheepishly at that. A gift from god, huh? That isn't going to inflate his ego.

Looking around at the scattered bodies littering the floor of the chamber, Naruto let out a sigh. Pulling away from Asia, he looked at her before asking softly, "Do you think you can do something for me, Asia-chan?"

Asia looked surprised at the question, but quickly nodded her head and answered, "Of course, Naruto-san. Whatever you want, I'll do it."

"Do you think you can go check on the exorcists? Heal any of them?" Naruto asked awkwardly. Seeing Asia's surprised look, he scratched his head before explaining awkwardly, "I know I gave them a choice. I know they were standing between me and you. I know some of them probably deserved to die…but I've never been comfortable with killing. I'll probably regret it, but I'd prefer to save any that can be."

Asia just stared at him with wide eyes, but then nodded with a wide smile and answered, "Okay. I'll heal any that I can."

"Thanks, Asia-chan. I know I'm being kind of selfish here. They were just holding you after all. This is probably hard for you," Naruto said to her regretfully.

"No. It's fine," Asia quickly claimed before looking at him in admiration while adding, "It's nice that you care. Even if you just were fighting them, you value their lives. You care about even your enemies. That isn't something you should ever have to apologize for, Naruto-san. That is a trait that just proves how beautiful a soul you have."

And that caused Naruto to blush. He looked away, not quite sure how to respond. Asia seemed to realize what she said. She squeaked and looked at the ground, her face flushed. After a few moments of this, Asia started scurrying down the steps to start looking for any of the injured that could be saved.

Naruto quickly added, "Except Freed." That maniac just needed to die.

Asia nodded and started looking over all the bodies. It quickly became clear that the vast majority of them were already dead. Naruto had kept his word about not holding back. Some of the exorcists had been entirely bisected at their waists, some were decapitated, and lets not forget those Naruto chucked boulders at. A human doesn't take a boulder to the face without things getting messy. Asia managed to find a few that had gone into shock from losing a limb to Naruto. Those she managed to patch up. They'd still lose the limb, but they'd live. Most of the ones she managed to save were those that had received friendly fire from their buddies with the light guns. In the end Asia had only managed to work on just short a dozen exorcists, one or two likely to still pass away. Maybe ten survivors of a group of sixty.

Naruto was actually impressed by Asia. It was a messy scene, what with bisected bodies and crushed skulls. Yet she didn't flinch or shy away. She just got a firm look on her face and continued working.

"Okay, I think that's it. I've done what I can for those I could help," Asia finally announced as she stopped healing one exorcist who had received three light bullets to the stomach.

"Alright. Good job, Asia-chan," Naruto said from where he had been sitting. While she had been working, he'd been taking a breather. He still had a bit of chakra, but he had just tanked sixty exorcists. That is rather intense, and he needed a bit of a rest.

"Thanks, but I wish I could have helped more of them," Asia claimed while looking at the ground sadly.

"Look at me Asia-chan," Naruto ordered her as he stood up and approached her. She hesitantly followed the order. Looking her in the eyes, Naruto laid his hands on her shoulders as he told her firmly, "If it wasn't for you, those ten wouldn't stand a chance. I'm the one that killed the others. That's on me. You just saved ten lives. That's a magnificent job. No one could expect more."

"T-Thank you, Naruto-san," Asia whispered shyly, blushing and averting her eyes. She then opened her mouth to speak, but suddenly lost her balance.

"Whoa," Naruto exclaimed as he caught the falling nun. He then asked in concern, "Are you okay, Asia-chan?"

"Y-Yes, Naruto-san. I'm just feeling a bit lightheaded," Asia claimed sheepishly.

Naruto frowned as he mentally berated himself. Of course she would be tired. Who knows when the fallen angels had last allowed her to eat. Not to mention the emotional stress from being held prisoner, and then rescued. Finally healing life threatening injuries of ten people. She was just reaching the end of her rope mentally. She needed time for rest and relaxation. To absorb all that had happened.

What Naruto did next was only natural. Hooking an arm under her legs, while making sure to keep the sword he had in the hand from cutting her, he lifted her up into a bridal carry while saying, "Up you go."

Asia blushed profusely at the action and immediately stuttered out, "W-What a-are you d-doing, Naruto-san?"

"Isn't it obvious? You're clearly tired, so I'm going to carry you out of here," Naruto replied nonchalantly.

"T-That is unnecessary. I am fine," Asia claimed with her embarrassment clear.

"Nonsense. You've been through enough, and I asked you to use your powers. Carrying you out of here is the least I can do. Now stop talking and look pretty while I get us out of here before these exorcists wake up," Naruto told her with a wide grin.

Asia blushed again, but seemed to follow the order. Before Naruto could start walking though, the two heard a grinding noise. Naruto turned to see Freed limping into a dark tunnel that definitely hadn't been there a few minutes ago. They then watched as it closed behind him.

Naruto just stood gaping. What the hell? Freed was alive. He took a full on kick from Naruto. Naruto had thought he'd caved in his ribcage. Not to mention the stray priest had smacked into a stone wall with sickening force. The fact that he was not only alive, but walking was just astonishing. Freed may be a fucking maniac, but he's a durable fucking maniac.

Naruto considered trying to chase him down. He could probably break through that hidden tunnel and catch Freed before he got too far. He was clearly injured considering how he was walking. When he looked at Asia though, he scrapped the idea. Asia was tired and vulnerable. He wasn't going to leave her alone to go chasing after Freed. He couldn't allow himself to get sidetracked. He'd done that enough yesterday. He'd completed what he set out to do. Saving Asia. He'd have to be satisfied with that.

Naruto just knew letting Freed go was going to come back to bite him in the ass down the road though.

Turning away from where Freed had escaped, Naruto started moving towards the way back out of this chamber. Walking up the stairs, they soon entered the regular church. He didn't get close to the door though before it was kicked open from the outside. Naruto looked in shock as two figures ran inside before coming to a stop after seeing him.

"Yuuto? Koneko-chan?" Naruto questioned in surprise at seeing the two devils.

"Naruto," Yuuto exclaimed in equal surprise. He then saw Asia in his arms and commented in surprise, "You finished already."

"Senpai works fast…Impressive," Koneko remarked with the slightest bit of surprise in her voice.

"Uh, what are you two doing here? Rias-chan is going to be mad at you," Naruto asked in concern. He might have been willing to become a stray to save Asia, but he didn't want to drag these two down with him.

Yuuto just shot him a smile before stating, "No she isn't. She came too, after all."

"What?"

"Look," Yuuto told him in amusement, stepping aside.

Naruto tilted his head, but walked out of the church. He immediately saw what Yuuto meant. Rias and Akeno were both looking at the three hypnotized fallen angels, perplexed. Rias snapped her fingers in front of their faces before asking in blatant confusion, "What sort of illusion is this? I've never seen anything like this."

"Rias-chan," Naruto called out. She looked at him, so he quickly moved closer to her before he questioned, "What are you doing here, Rias-chan?"

"Well, we were planning to assist you," Rias claimed before continuing while looking at Asia, "Unfortunately, that pesky barrier was rather stubborn. It took a few minutes for Akeno and I to break it down. It seems our help was unnecessary though. You seem to have managed on your own."

"Yeah," Naruto replied. He then quickly added, "I appreciate the thought regardless."

"I hope so," Rias stated with a shrug. She nodded towards the unresponsive fallen angels and commented, "I have to ask about this though. I've never seen anything like it before."

"Oh that. Yeah, that's this sword at work," Naruto informed, waving it a bit while still holding Asia.

"That sword?" Rias mumbled, confused by the answer.

A gasp quickly drew her attention though. She turned to see Yuuto looking at the sword with wide eyes. His hands then clenched as he proclaimed, "I knew I sensed a holy sword, but never thought this. The power to control other living beings…That is Excalibur Ruler."

"Wait! What? Excalibur Ruler?" Rias exclaimed in astonishment. She then looked at the sword in Naruto's hand with wide eyes.

Excalibur Ruler. The strongest fragment of the holy sword Excalibur, the weapon wielded by King Arthur himself. The fragment that disappeared soon after it was constructed and has remained missing for centuries.

And Naruto, a devil, was wielding it.

Naruto ignored the disbelieving stares in favor of announcing, "Yep. Selene gave it to me."

"The Lady of the Lake?" Akeno repeated in confusion.

"Yep. Apparently the blessing she gave King Arthur ended up saving his life at some point. He then swore her a debt of gratitude. Unfortunately, he died before he could fulfill it. So the burden fell on his family. For several centuries they couldn't fulfill it, and they considered it a blight on their ancestor's memory. When the original Excalibur broke, they managed to gain possession of Excalibur Ruler. They then gave it to her as payment for that old debt," Naruto explained.

"And she just gave it to you?" Akeno questioned skeptically.

Naruto shrugged before clarifying without much care, "Excalibur Ruler might be a valuable tool for us, but it was practically useless to her. She claims to have only accepted it in the first place because she wanted the Pendragon family to move on. She'd never particularly cared about the debt in the first place. She gave King Arthur the blessing to help him, and viewed the debt as unnecessary. With no use for it though, it was just gathering dust. When she sent me off to go to Kuoh, she gave it to me. She said she just wanted it gone, and was looking to pass it on at the first opportunity."

That caused the listeners to sweat drop. That makes a disturbing amount of sense. For a true holy sword to be treated as a useless burden is a disturbing thought regardless. The Lady of the Lake is a god so she had powers that far surpass a fragment of Excalibur, but still.

Seeing them all speechless, Naruto continued, "I really couldn't afford to hold back. Fighting these three would have been far too draining, even if I did win. I don't really like the idea of using this sword, but it was the best option."

Naruto really wasn't fond of Excalibur Ruler's ability. Control over all things the user wishes. The ability to subjugate the will of a person or even an object. It was like Kotoamatsukami all over again. If it wasn't for the fact that Excalibur Ruler can be resisted if the person has a strong enough will, as Naruto proved with Freed, he'd probably refuse to use it entirely. Even now he had resolved to only use that ability sparingly.

"Then let me destroy it!" Yuuto burst out.

Naruto's head snapped around to look at him in shock. Naruto hadn't ever heard such anger in Yuuto's voice before. Yuuto was always kind and polite to a fault. Yet his face was currently twisted with hatred as he glared at Excalibur Ruler, almost as if he was attempting to melt it into molten slag with his gaze.

Feeling entirely uncomfortable with the hatred in the normally kind bishounen, Naruto shifted the sword to an angle where Yuuto couldn't see it. Yuuto's eyes quickly flicked to Naruto's, his anger at the move apparent. That only made Naruto more uneasy. Yuuto, who he considered his best friend at this point, was glaring at him.

Steeling himself, Naruto asked evenly, "Why do you want to destroy it?"

"Does it matter?" Yuuto demanded shortly.

"Yes," Naruto replied honestly before adding, "Selene gave this to me. Not only was it a gift, but she told me to treasure it. To treat it as a companion. That it would be important in the future. I may not like its ability, but I owe Selene my life. I also trust her with my life. If she says it will be important, then I believe her. So you better have a damn good reason if you expect me to destroy this sword."

Yuuto looked incensed by his words. Naruto actually saw his hand twitch towards his sword. He then spun around and threw his hands into the air as he let out a curse. Yuuto never cursed. Yeah, something is definitely wrong.

Thoroughly worried by Yuuto's behavior, Naruto watched him go carefully. His thoughts were ended though when he felt a small poke on his chest. Looking down, he saw Asia poking her index fingers together. She then asked timidly, "N-Naruto-san…Can you put me down now?"

Realizing he had been holding Asia through the entire explanation, Naruto chuckled awkwardly. Carefully placing the nun on her feet, he watched carefully to make sure she was okay. When she showed she could stand steadily, he nodded happily.

Rias just watched all this silently before nodding towards the fallen angels again and questioning, "So you used Excalibur Ruler to subdue them. Why haven't you killed them?"

Naruto scratched his cheek as he claimed thoughtfully, "I knew that what I was doing could threaten to destabilize the current situation between the Three Factions. I don't want to cause a war, so I decided to spare these three. I figured the Grigori would care more about them than the stray exorcists inside. I pacified them with the order of 'stay here and don't do anything.' Once I saved Asia, I was going to order them to return to the Grigori. I'd have my hold on them release once they got there. I had hoped by avoiding killing anymore fallen angels that this incident would be passed off as an isolated incident not worth raising a fuss about."

"That is…actually rather sensible," Rias admitted with some slight surprise. When Naruto had gone storming off, vowing to rescue Asia, she'd assume he wouldn't make any plans or contingencies. Clearly she'd underestimated him. This would hurt the pride of the fallen angels, but the loss of anymore fallen angels would make the leaders pass it off as inconsequential beyond that.

"Seems unnecessary now though. It appears that this group has gone rogue. They went against orders by planning to take Asia's sacred gear. The Grigori probably aren't happy with them right now," Naruto informed the group.

"How do you know that?" Akeno asked with a confused tilt of her head.

"Dohnaseek implied it last night. I can also gain an…understanding of the victims when I use Excalibur Ruler. I can read their minds, you can say," Naruto claimed.

"That's…kind of scary," Rias admitted as she considered that. You can read minds with magic, but it is a very weak magic. Anyone with a strong mind is immediately immune. You can also only read the person's surface thoughts even if it does work.

"I know. It's another reason I'm am reluctant to use this sword for anything other than dire situations," Naruto commented as he looked at the fallen angels. His eyes narrowed as a thought started going through him mind. He finally asked, "Rias, do you mind helping me with something?"

Rias blinked in surprise before replying, "Matters what is it."

"I want you to lend me energy like you do when you are healing me," Naruto told her bluntly. Gesturing towards the fallen angels, he elaborated, "I was just going to send them away, but I got a better idea. Excalibur Ruler is capable of completely overwriting the will of a victim. The process either takes a long time or a lot of energy. We don't have the time, and I don't have the energy. If you loan me energy though, I can probably manage it."

Rias blinked in surprise before exclaiming in surprise, "You want to brainwash them?!"

"No! That really came out wrong," Naruto spat out in shock, scandalized at the very idea. He massaged the bridge of his nose as he grumbled to himself before starting carefully, "That came out wrong. I wouldn't be brainwashing them. I would leave their core personality the same. I would simply be removing the…corruption, if you get what that means."

"I think I speak for all of us when I say no, we do not get what you mean," Akeno stated frankly.

"Okay, okay. It appears that the very…essence of angels revolve around their moral choices. It appears to be why angels suffer physical changes if they indulge in one of the seven deadly sins, becoming fallen angels. It doesn't just stop there though. The longer they are exposed to these changes, the more it affects them. Not just physically either, but mentally and emotionally. It can be resisted if ones will is strong enough, but if not their psyches will be slowly corrupted by those feelings. Like a disease or cancer. It then alters everything about them without truly changing them," Naruto awkwardly explained. Seeing the blank looks he was receiving, he sighed and gestured at the fallen angels as he continued, "Let's use these three as examples."

"Mittelt here became a fallen angel by succumbing to wrath. She lost friends to devils, and became a fallen angel due to her desire to get revenge. Kalawarner fell in love with a human. Angels can have sex, but both participants have to go through long rituals to purify themselves. Neither participant can have possessive thoughts either, it has to be done through pure love. Naturally most humans can never fulfill that second requirement. She decided to be with him regardless. So she 'fell' due to her lust and greed for a relationship with that person, but then her lover died several decades later and she was left a fallen angel. She feels like she did nothing wrong, just falling in love with a human. Raynare succumbed to pride and greed. She not only has a strong pride, but also feels a strong desire to prove herself. So she desires power. She 'fell' when she turned to more unscrupulous methods of gaining power."

"I won't be changing who they are. Mittelt will still feel wrath towards devils. Kalawarner will still feel bitter towards god for punishing her for falling in love with a human. Raynare will still desire power. That is part of their base personality, which I will be leaving alone. I'll simply use Excalibur Ruler to remove the corruption that has formed in their psyches from centuries of having those feelings fester," Naruto explained to them.

"So you'll almost be…turning back the clock in their minds?" Akeno questioned with a tilt of her head.

"Yes," Naruto claimed immediately, pointing at her happily. He then continued, "I shall remove all the damage their minds have accumulated over the centuries of them being fallen angels. Return them to a mental state most similar to when they first fell. They won't be allies per say, but they'll definitely be much more reasonable and rational."

"I see," Rias mumbled as she considered what Naruto was saying. She couldn't quite understand what he meant, but Naruto was a good guy. If he wanted to do this, then it was probably beneficial to the fallen angels. Finally she nodded and asked, "Okay. What do I have to do?"

"Just supply me with energy. I'll be able to speed up the process if I don't worry about energy consumption, but it will still take ten minutes or so," Naruto informed her. When she nodded, he turned towards the fallen angels.

Lifting Excalibur Ruler, he closed his eyes and focused. The holy sword lit up with light again, but this time didn't die down. All those watching looked at the spectacle in interest. Rias was given a front row seat as she had to keep her hand in contact with Naruto's shoulder. Akeno and Asia both stayed close. Koneko was a bit further away. Yuuto had gone the farthest, leaning against a tree just barely in sight.

The process stretched into minutes. All those watching noticed as Naruto seemed to wilt as it continued. His shoulders slumped, he started breathing heavier, dark bags started forming under his eyes, and his face grew stiff. It was like every minute took two or three hours out of him.

It stopped near the fifteen minute mark. The light from the holy sword died down. Naruto slumped and stumbled, but Rias quickly caught him. Putting his arm around her shoulders, she allowed him to lean on her. She then turned them towards the fallen angels, who had all fallen to their knees.

"Gah, what did you do to us?" Kalawarner demanded as she held her head in her hands.

"Oh good lord, I feel all loopy," Mittelt muttered to herself.

Despite being completely beat, Naruto told them, "I did warn you three that you might not be the same after tonight. So congratulations. You just had yours truly poking around in your minds."

"What?!" The three all demanded in unison.

Sighing at having to explain, he told them brusquely, "I didn't do anything sinister. You are still you. I didn't make you sex slaves or anything. No sudden urges or changes. If anything, you'll probably feel more clearheaded than you have in years."

"It feels like a fog has been lifted from my thoughts," Raynare admitted in surprise.

Nodding, Naruto replied, "Exactly. I used Excalibur Ruler to purge the corruption from your minds. You are still yourselves, but I hope more rational and considerate versions of yourselves."

The three didn't quite know how to respond. What do you say to someone who just went through your minds?

Seeing they weren't going to say anything, Naruto told them since he just wanted to go and rest, "I saved Asia, and now you are outnumbered. There are a few exorcists still alive inside. Go fetch them, and then go back to your leaders."

"Wait, not quite yet," Rias burst out suddenly. She had just had a brilliant, insane idea. Naruto and the fallen angels looked at her in surprise. Straightening and putting on a noble bearing, she told the three sternly, "We know you three disobeyed your orders from the Grigori. Not only that, but you started acting within my territory. Your exorcist killed one of our clients, and attacked one of my servants. Your fate lies within my hands."

"What do you want?" Raynare cautiously asked.

Pointing at the three, Rias announced calmly, "I shall let two of you go, but one of you must stay here and become my servant. To become a devil in my peerage."

As the fallen angels recoiled in horror, Rias' own peerage showed varying states of surprise. Their expressions then changed to show what they were thinking of it. Naruto and Koneko both looked neutral about it, but Yuuto didn't look happy. Surprisingly, neither did Akeno.

Rias didn't allow her expression to change though. She kept her calm and collected look, despite the fact that she was flying by the seat of her pants here. She had not planned this out ahead of time. It had just come to her. This was an amazing opportunity. She now had three fallen angels at her mercy. If Rias is the type of king that waits for opportunities to fall into her lap, then she simply has to take advantage of this.

The fallen angels didn't seem to pleased by the idea though, and Mittelt quickly snapped, "Hell no!"

Rias just shrugged before informing them nonchalantly, "Too bad. You three are under my control. If I don't willingly let you go, then my responsibility is to send you to the Underworld as hostages. You'd then have to wait until the Grigori negotiated for your release. Considering none of you have multiple sets of wings though, the chance of that ever happening is low. You are even traitors as well. They might be willing to take you back, but give reparations to get you back. Not good odds." The fallen angels were looking more and more uneasy as she continued.

Rias quickly glared at Naruto when he opened his mouth, making it clear he wasn't to speak. Luckily Naruto closed his mouth since she looked scary right then.

Turning back to the fallen angels, she finished, "So you have two options. One of you becomes a devil by joining my peerage, and the other two get to go free. Or you three can become political hostages for the rest of your life. You can choose."

The fallen angels now looked at each other wearily. It was clear which option they preferred, but clearly none of them wanted to be the sacrifice. Mittelt finally declared loudly, "I am not becoming a devil. No way."

"Well I'm not going to become the servant of a little girl either," Kalawarner claimed stubbornly.

Kalawarner and Mittelt met eyes, and a message seemed to pass between them. The two then turned in unison to look at Raynare. The brunette blinked before exclaiming defiantly, "What? No! Why me?"

"This whole thing was your idea, Raynare-sama. We just followed your lead," Mittelt pointed out with a smirk.

"Plus, as the leader you would be receiving the worst punishment when we return," Kalawarner added quickly.

"T-That's," Raynare stuttered out, incapable of getting more out before she gained a thoughtful look. After several seconds of thought she shrugged and said, "Alright."

"That's it?" Rias asked, hiding her surprise. She had expected more protests and arguments.

"Well, yeah," Raynare admitted with a shrug. She then explained, "I'm certainly not happy at the idea of becoming a devil. Or at becoming your servant, but I am the one who concocted this plan. Which means I'd be given the harshest punishment."

"So becoming a devil under my control is simply preferable to serving your punishment," Rias deadpanned blankly. Seeing Raynare shrug at her words, she sighed. She'll take what she can get though. So she informed the group, "Alright. Raynare-san has to stay, but you two can leave."

The two nodded and quickly went into the church. Probably to wait for them to leave and gather any stuff they had there. Not to mention gather up what exorcists remained.

Rias then turned to Asia. Frowning slightly, she looked between the nun and Naruto repeatedly before informing the blonde girl, "You come with us as well. We have a lot to discuss."

Asia looked nervous at finally being addressed. She had felt awkward ever since Naruto had put her down, almost to the point she wished she was still in her arms. She didn't want to be in his arms again for any other reason. Nope. Being around all these unknown people who appear to be devils is just intimidating. She just needed her safety blanket in Naruto.

She looked scared to reply to Rias' order, but Naruto quickly sidled over to her side. Feeling comforted by his presence, she managed to give a firm nod towards Rias and reply, "A-Alright."

"Then everyone get close. We'll be leaving in one group. I want this entire situation figured out before any of us split up," Rias announced, waving everyone closer to her.

Everyone moved closer to her, some more reluctantly. Yuuto and Akeno both made sure to stay as far from Raynare as possible, and the fallen angel just looked impassive/annoyed by the entire situation. Asia moved right to Naruto's side.

A thought popped into Naruto's head though, and he questioned Rias curiously, "I thought your summoning circles could only transport members of your household? How are you going to jump Asia-chan and Raynare-san?"

"I'm going to use a more advanced circle. One neither you or Akeno and do. It takes a few minutes to prepare, which is why I couldn't use it last night. Now just stay still as I form it," Rias explained before closing her eyes.

As she concentrated on performing the more complex teleportation spell, Naruto's eyes drifted up into the sky. Someone had been watching them. Naruto wasn't sure if he had been there when he arrived, but he had sensed him when he had left the church with Asia. Whoever it was had been hiding under an extremely powerful cloaking spell. Powerful enough for neither Rias or Akeno to notice his presence. Naruto only sensed him because his negative emotions sensing ability allowed him to notice the mass amounts of negative emotions the man had been directing at Naruto. Clearly Naruto had pissed him off by rescuing Asia, although Naruto doesn't know why.

Naruto couldn't pinpoint his location though. He figured he'd have to go full on Sage Mode to have located his precise position, which was still outside his current abilities. Instead Naruto had behaved normally, like he didn't notice. He'd then tried to take control of the person with Excalibur Ruler when he had used it on the fallen angels. Unfortunately Naruto inability to see or locate the person had hampered the process, allowing the man to seemingly notice and teleport away before the control settled in.

The situation seems resolved, but Naruto would still tell Rias. Someone hadn't wanted Naruto to rescue Asia, and was pissed about it. She probably wouldn't be able to make much more of it than him, but she should still know.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

The group was now in the clubroom. Raynare was laying in the middle of a red magic circle, with Rias standing above her. Naruto and Asia were sitting together on one of the couches. Koneko was on the other one. The three of them were watching the proceedings with neutral expressions. Both Akeno and Yuuto were leaning against the farthest wall, neither looking happy at what was happening.

"I command thee, Raynare, on my name of Rias Gremory, become my servant. Return to this land as a devil. You shall lead a new life with great joy as my pawn!"

With that the pawn piece sunk into Raynare's chest, who had been lying on the floor. The red magic circle around her glowed before dying down. Raynare took a deep breath before slowly getting to her feet. She then looked at her hands and clenched them.

"I don't really feel any different," Raynare announced impassively.

"Well I've never heard of a situation where a fallen angel has been reincarnated as a devil. Technically it should work, but there are bound to be a few differences. Unlike a human, you shouldn't receive any large physical enhancements from the process," Rias admitted carefully. Akeno shifted awkwardly at the first statement, but it went unnoticed in the room.

"So I haven't received any benefits, but I've now got all the weaknesses of a devil. How great," Raynare stated sarcastically, with a pronounced frown.

Her words caused Rias to frown as well. Despite her apparent acceptance of the situation, it was clear Raynare wasn't happy with all that had occurred. She simply knew it was better than the alternative, being punished by the Grigori.

Trying to be somewhat understanding towards her newest servant, but also needing to keep a big secret of one of her peerage members, Rias replied warily, "We aren't sure. As I said, I at least don't know of another situation like this. You have gained the ability to use demonic power surely, and there might be other benefits from mixing fallen angel abilities with devil abilities. You might even end up not having any of the typical weaknesses of a devil, or possibly to a lessened amount. On the other hand though, you could receive no benefits and all the weaknesses. We are mixing two different types of beings. It could be amazing or catastrophic."

"Great, so I'm an experiment," Raynare muttered in discontent.

"Think of it as taking a gamble," Rias said optimistically.

"A gamble where I'm an experiment," Raynare still grumbled. Looking over her shoulder, she extended her wings curiously. They sprouted out of her shoulders. The right wing was the usual dark fallen angel wing, but her left was now a bat wing. The two different wings created an awkward dissymmetry that made her groan. She would have even preferred two devil wings. At least they'd match then. This was just unbalanced.

Rias was interested though and commented, "Interesting. You still have clear signs of being a fallen angel. I'd say it is more appropriate to refer to you as a fallen angel/devil hybrid than a pure reincarnated devil."

That did actually make Raynare feel a little better. She had never been the most prideful about fallen angels like some she had met, but it was a bit relieving to know she hadn't completely changed species. She didn't quite express that relief though and just muttered calmly, "I guess its something."

"I'll do a bit of research into your situation. I doubt this is the first time this has occurred. It's just a matter of if they recorded any information, and if they did, finding it. For now we'll proceed as if we're on our own," Rias announced, her eyes flickering to Akeno briefly.

"Got it."

"Good, now we'll move on to the next piece of business," Rias said as she looked away from Raynare towards Asia. She then continued, "I need to come to a decision regarding you now, Argento-san."

"Y-Yes," Asia replied nervously. She was immediately calmed when Naruto laid a hand on her shoulder.

The nun was seated on the couch by Naruto. Rias frowned slightly when she saw just how close the nun had sidled up to her rook. It wasn't even a conscious act on her part, just instinctive. Rias really shouldn't be surprised. Asia is in a room with devils, of course she'd want to be close to the person she is comfortable with. Although it was probably more than that. Naruto had assaulted an enemy fortress alone just to rescue her. He'd saved her life, and literally swept her off her feet and carried her to safety. That's as close to a fairy tail ending that real life can get. What woman wouldn't feel their heart's flutter at the thought of that? Damn, even Rias was jealous. She was proud of her strength, but Naruto had hit the dashing warrior/prince ideal on the head with that act. Asia got Naruto, and she gets…Riser. Ugh. Life is so not fair sometimes.

Throwing those envious thoughts out of her mind, Rias looked at Asia seriously before telling her, "I won't ask how you and Naruto met. You are clearly his friend, and that is enough for this club. I do however need to know just who you are? Why did you come here and why were you working with the fallen angels?"

Asia looked hesitant, looking at Naruto timidly for some sign of what she should do. He didn't say anything, instead just shooting her a reassuring grin. The message was clear. It was her choice.

Which seemed to comfort her more than any words could have. Getting a resolute glint in her eyes, she looked at Rias and informed her, "I came here after being exiled from the church."

"Exiled? Why were you exiled?" Rias immediately asked.

Asia fiddled with the nun attire she had changed to as she explained shyly, "I-I was abandoned in front of a church as a baby. I was raised in the way of the lord. When I was eight, I found an injured dog. I prayed to god in hopes that he would heal it, and something amazing happened. The dog healed. When the priests and nuns found out what I did, I was sent to a larger church. I was then told to heal the injuries of the Christians that came from all over the world. I was happy that my power could be used to help people. I was called The Holy Priestess. After a few years though, I came upon an injured devil. I healed him. That devil then attacked and killed a father. When everyone found out what I did, I was called a witch. My power, which was previous praised, was now considered heretical since it could be used to heal devils."

Naruto interrupted by wrapping his arm around her shoulders. When she looked at him, he exclaimed indignantly, "Then they're idiots. They decided to change their minds because they didn't like a particular aspect of your ability. Instead of focusing on the good, they only cared about the bad. That's their loss. You are a good girl with an amazing power. They must be blind to not see that."

Asia blushed and muttered while poking her index fingers together, "T-Thank you, Naruto-san, but it is because of me that the father died."

"No, it's because of the devil. He's the one who killed that man," Naruto asserted strongly before continuing her, "You are guilty of nothing more than being a healer. You didn't care about that person's species. Only that he was injured. That is the trait of a good healer. You received that Twilight Healing for a reason, Asia-chan. You were born with the heart of a true healer, and the Twilight Healing is only a manifestation of that."

Asia was clearly happy at his words, but Asia interrupted by Rias saying, "I'm sorry for interrupting your moment, but we really need to get back to business." She wasn't too happy about Naruto and Asia having a moment right in front of her.

Asia blushed and quickly said, "S-Sorry."

"It's fine. Just please get back to your story," Rias told her brusquely, still not too happy.

"Right…I was soon cast out of the church. I had nowhere to go. I was lost and without purpose. I was then found by a man. He said that the fallen angels were willing to take me in. I had no other options, and accepted. I was given a plane ticket to this town, and told to report to the church," Asia claimed before saying regretfully, "I had no idea what they were planning. When I found out Father Freed had killed that man, I was horrified and scared. I had met Naruto-san before, and knew him to be a good person. So I willingly went with him."

"I see. I'd heard about The Holy Priestess, but I hadn't heard she'd been excommunicated. Makes sense. The church wouldn't want to broadcast an event like that," Rias muttered thoughtfully. She then turned to Raynare and asked, "And how did you come into this?"

Raynare frowned before admitting, "I'd long been interested in using the ritual to take a sacred gear. It was well known. A few weeks ago I was given a letter detailing the information that the holder of Twilight Healing would be coming to this town. It said that arrangements had been made to ensure I would be without supervision for a short time. I was to come here and take charge of this situation with whatever allies I could gather. The stray exorcists were already here when I arrived. I was to use the ritual to remove her Sacred Gear. It then said I would receive Twilight Healing as a reward."

Rias quickly asked, "Who sent you the letter?"

Raynare reluctantly admitted at that, "It didn't say."

Naruto was the one to pipe in with, "And you didn't find that at all suspicious?"

Raynare frowned at the intent behind the question and explained in annoyance, "That is what I meant by saying a fog was lifted from my mind earlier. I could finally see that all my decisions for the past century have been foolish. Full of arrogance. The intent behind them fits my goals, but the methods were clearly flawed. I wasn't thinking clearly. Currently I can clearly see I was being set up for something. At the time I simply figured it was a higher ranked fallen angel who wanted to strengthen our faction by gaining powerful sacred gears. Azazel-sama has forbidden using the ritual, and many fallen angels dislike that. The secrecy was to prevent them from being implicated as well. Truthfully though, I didn't even think about it much. The temptation of gaining Twilight Healing was enough for me to throw away any suspicions I might have had."

Rias stayed silent as she leaned against her desk. Thinking for a few more moments, she declared seriously, "It appears that someone was manipulating all of this. Considering the person Naruto sensed was mad at him, we can assume they were wanting Asia to die having her sacred gear extracted. For what purpose we don't know. It must be a group with considerable influence though to have organized all those stray exorcists and prevented the Grigori from investigating your absence. A group of fallen angels could have done it. The church probably could have orchestrated it as well."

"What? The church wouldn't do that," Asia protested immediately.

"It makes sense. You were a great asset for them, but having you wander around after having you excommunicated would be a sign of weakness for the faithful. Not to mention the chance of you joining another faction. The motive to have you taken care of is there," Rias justified logically. Asia still looked like she was denying her words though. Rias then shrugged and added, "Although I personally doubt it. I was simply saying it is possible. It's also possible devils orchestrated this. Or humans. Or another group. A group of fallen angels are the most likely suspects. However if they really wanted Twilight Healing, they would have sent a stronger force of fallen angels. Not to mention not tried to conduct it deep within devil territory. There's just too little information to make a conclusion."

"That stinks, but I guess there is little we can do about it," Naruto muttered in an annoyed tone.

"I agree with you. For now we need to get back to the main business," Rias claimed. She then moved and sat down behind her desk. Crossing her fingers in front of her face, Rias looked at Asia before announcing seriously, "The matter is clear. As a follower of the church, even if excommunicated, I cannot offer you my protection."

"But Rias-chan?!"

"Quiet, Naruto," Rias snapped quickly before Naruto could protest even more. Knowing Naruto couldn't restrain himself for long, Rias looked back at the now depressed Asia. She then continued, "However, there is an option available to you."

Rias pulled out a bishop piece before explaining, "The bishops role is to support the rest of the household. Your Twilight Healing means you are very well qualified for this duty. I cannot offer you my protection when you are simply a follower of the Biblical God, even if you are excommunicated. If you join my peerage though, you would be within my jurisdiction and thus under my protection. I am offering you that chance."

"If I did this…became a devil…I could stay here?" Asia asked uncertainly.

Rias quickly nodded and assured her, "Yes. You would be considered a part of my household, and all that entails. You would probably end up going to this school and joining this club as well."

Asia only hesitated for a second. Peeking at Naruto out of the corner of her eyes, she gave a determined nod before answering, "Okay. I'll do it. If I can stay here, then I'll become a devil."

"Understood. Lay down on the floor and I'll start the process of reincarnating you as my bishop," Rias said as she stood up.

As Asia slowly laid on the ground, Raynare commented in an insulted tone, "I'm a pawn, but she gets to be a bishop."

Rias sighed and rolled her eyes before clarifying, "It's simply a matter of classifying each of you into the roles you are best suited for. Asia's sacred gear and personality practically guarantee that she'll be relegated to a support role. Thus the bishop fits her. You are not only stronger and have a wider array of skills, but you are also far more experienced. Pawns are meant to be the pieces most likely to make it deep into enemy territory so they can be promoted. You have a good chance of surviving till that point."

With the prideful hybrid now satisfied, Rias focused on Asia. Putting the bishop piece on her chest, Rias straightened back up. A red magic circle sprang up as Rias began her chant.

"I command thee, Asia Argento, on my name of Rias Gremory, become my servant. Return to this land as a devil. You shall lead a new life with great joy as my bishop!"

And with that it was done. Asia weakly got to her feet. Naruto immediately moved to help her. He lead her back to the couch where she had been sitting before.

Rias then gave a weary sigh before announcing, "I think that is enough for today. It is late, and a lot has happened today. Naruto, it is only sensible that Raynare-san and Asia-san live with you."

"Why is that 'sensible'?" Raynare asked with a raised eyebrow. Asia also let out a small squeak at the news.

Naruto just looked at her before saying blankly, "I live alone in a mansion."

Raynare just stared, caught off guard. Seeing no lie in his eyes though, she shrugged and commented, "At least the housing will be good."

As the group started leaving though, Rias called out, "Naruto-kun. Can you wait for a minute? I want to talk to you…alone."

Naruto looked at her in befuddlement, but finally gave a nod. He turned to Asia and Raynare and Asia and told them, "Just wait outside. I'll be out in a few."

The two then walked out of the door, although Asia was far more reluctant. Once the door closed behind them, Naruto turned towards Rias. Scratching the back of his head awkwardly, he finally took a seat on the couch. She joined him, but neither of the two talked.

Naruto finally broke the silence by turning to her and telling her, "I still need to thank you for coming to help me, Rias-chan. Thanks. I also appreciate that you helped Asia-chan. I know she doesn't mean much to you, but she's my friend. So it means a lot to me."

"It's fine. Even I can empathize with her situation. It's nice to be able to help her. Not to mention I got a sacred gear using bishop out of it. So it isn't entirely selfless," Rias admitted shamelessly. She then grew noticeably nervous as she looked at Naruto, which was weird since Rias is rarely nervous. She finally burst out by saying, "I'm sorry."

"Huh," was Naruto's intelligent reply.

Rias took a deep breath and looked Naruto in the eyes before going ahead all at once, "I've not been a good king to you, Naruto-kun. I haven't been paying you enough attention. I saw that you were a competent fighter and adapted to being a devil quickly, and decided that was enough. I didn't make an effort to check with your progress or get to know you beyond a bit of banter when we were both in the clubroom. I neglected getting to know you, and instead viewed you as a servant. I'm sorry. I sincerely regret doing such a thing. I've just been distracted and because of that I was treating you badly."

"…Really? I never noticed," Naruto finally commented, scratching his cheek with a puzzled grin on his face. He then shrugged and continued, "I mean, yeah. You were distracted, but I'm bet it was about something really important. I'm not going to hold that against you. Plus, it isn't like you were mean or anything. Just busy. I like you enough to think of you as a friend. Maybe not a close friend, but still a friend."

"That's it?" Rias asked skeptically.

"Of course. Holding grudges is for people with nothing better to do. I'm glad to get to know you better, and I'm certainly not going to let some slight you imagined you made against me prevent that," Naruto stated casually.

Rias burst out laughing at his answer. Seeing him looking at her curiously, she told him between chuckles, "Both Akeno and me commented that you would behave like that. Barely notice, and then wave it off."

Shrugging at the answer, Naruto told her, "Since you apologized, I guess it is only right I do the same. I'm certainly not saying I won't do it again, but I am sorry I left like that."

"I'm not sure that counts as an apology," Rias pointed out wryly. Naruto shrugged in acceptance of her words, making her giggle again. She then added, "But it's really all I can get from you. You are going to just go running off again as soon as one of your friends is in trouble. It's just one of your faults that I'll have to accept…although it is admirable in a way."

"I'd like to think so, but you can take something else from it as well," Naruto told her with a smile.

Rias raised an eyebrow and asked, "And what is that?"

Naruto leaned forward till he was just an inch away from her face. Grinning at the flustered devil, he proclaimed honestly, "You'll know that as my friend, I'll always come running when you need my help. Doesn't matter what I'm currently doing. What the problem is. Or who tries to stop me. I'll come running. That's a promise, dattebayo."

Rias blushed slightly at his words, but managed to recover quickly. Smiling at him, she gestured at the door while saying, "That means a lot, Naruto-kun, but I think it is time you take our two newest comrades to their new home."

"Oh right. I forgot," Naruto exclaimed in dismay. Shooting to his feet, he ran to the door. He waved at her before leaving and added, "See you tomorrow, Rias-chan."

As soon as he left, Rias slumped back on the couch. She then lifted a hand to her beating heart, trying to fight down her blush. Damn, Naruto really does fit the dashing warrior ideal to a tee. Even she can't help but be drawn in when he says stuff like that.

That's food for thought for another time though. After Riser has been dealt with. For now she would just be satisfied with what happened today. It was a turbulent day, what with Naruto storming out, but it had also been a very productive day. She now had a fallen angel as a pawn, and gained a sacred gear user as a bishop. She'd also solidified the relationship between herself and Naruto. That's a good day in her book.

She'll focus on that, and shove any confusing thoughts of Naruto to the back of her head.

VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVV

_**Notice: I'm thinking of doing a rewrite. There are several things i felt i dropped the ball on in favor of getting right into the story. Mainly the beginning would be changed. I'm still rewriting it though. I'm also looking for someone to give me their opinions on several of the changes. PM me if you are interested.**_

**There it is. A lot happened this chapter. Tell me what you think. Naruto tanked the entire fallen angel hideout. If that doesn't prove he's a badass, i don't know what will.**

**Excalibur Ruler: **_Not the most original idea, but one i've been planning from the beginning. It's actually why i chose the Lady of the Lake as the god to rescue Naruto. Her connection to Arthurian Legend made it easier to explain why she would have it. I have big ambitions for this sword. Naruto will be using the control ability sparingly for the obvious reason that it is a hax power, but Excalibur Ruler will become important in the future. I couldn't find a description of it, so i selected a picture. I'll put the link on my profile._

**Raynare: **_Some of you guessed this would happen. It actually annoyed me a bit. I seriously considered using Mittelt instead simply to be able to claim the idea to be totally original, but finally decided that would be childish. Raynare joined Rias' peerage. She won't be a girl scout even with Naruto's mind fuck, as some of you can no doubt tell based on how i wrote her. I simply can't think of her as a good girl considering i just watched the anime of her. She'll be a bit power hungry, and a bit grumpy since she is now a servant to devils. She'll act as a straight man in the group. Since all angels/fallen angels were created by god, it is reasonable to assume all of them are at least a few centuries old. So she'll be the mature one of the group, who is less amused by some of the childish antics that might happen. Any personality changes she goes through will be slow and realistic. She isn't going to change overnight. The devil/fallen angel hybrid does call into question Akeno. First, Rias and Akeno are keeping that secret. So even if Rias and Akeno know about her, they are pretending they don't. Two, Akeno was a human/fallen angel hybrid before being reincarnated. The situation with her could be different from a pure fallen angel. Three, Akeno does not use any holy powers till like novel six or something, if i remember correctly. She just ignored that part of her. So they still don't know at this point what a hybrid can do. I also want to state this now. Just because Raynare is part of Rias' peerage doesn't mean she'll end up with Naruto. He isn't going to bone every female in the series. She might, but she might not. It all matters how i end up writing it, and whether i am 'feeling it.' _

**Rias' Kingship: **_Did not plan to make her seem like a bad king. The comment on how she has been distracted and slightly ignoring Naruto is simply how the scene turned out. So i rolled with it. It is also a good way to emphasize the group overcoming some problems, and growing stronger from those problems. As for why Rias didn't give Naruto the go ahead to rescue Asia compared with Issei. Rias had a lot longer to think about the situation in canon. Issei told her about meeting Asia, Naruto did not. She first found out about Asia the night where Naruto fought Freed. She then has to deal with Naruto practically dying. It isn't her being a bitch. She simply prioritized the safety of her peerage in a situation she hadn't quite managed to digest yet._

**Miscellaneous: **_I am still taking suggestions for Naruto's magic. I have plans and ideas, but not to the point i wouldn't consider changing them if someone suggested a brilliant idea. I am also open to ideas for other people to join Rias' peerage. If it hasn't set in yet, because she didn't put all her pawns into Issei Rias has seven more pawn pieces. I won't add seven characters since that is just an overload of main characters, but the idea is there. I am putting a limit of two choices per person. If you just list fifteen anime characters, i will ignore you. I'd prefer at least one male character in the two._


	5. Trouble in the Peerage

**Sorry for the long break, folks. I became overwhelmed with possible ideas for stories, and couldn't focus on this story. On that front, i want to thank **nad destroyer **for acting as a bouncing board and helping me get my head on straight. I'm probably going to write a second story in this crossover, but that will be in the future. I'm going to try and focus on this one for a good while. So my next chapter won't take so long. **

**Timeline:**_Some people have been asking when Naruto ended up traveling dimensions. I'm setting the point as right after he got the Yin half of the Kyuubi, but before he met the Sage. In this story, the Sage of Six Paths never appeared before Naruto and Sasuke. So Naruto tried to face Madara when he returned, and I've already explained the rest._

**Peerage and Magic:** _I got a lot of suggestions, and i thank you all for that. Naruto's magic will be explained later in this chapter. The potential peerage members is a bit more iffy, but i've got a few ideas. That is still quite a bit in the future though._

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"...This sucks," Raynare spat out between gasps as she wearily ran down the street.

"No, you suck," Naruto retorted immediately, running alongside her with only a bit of sweat from the exercise.

Raynare flipped him off in response, making Naruto chuckle. Raynare was far from the nicest individual. She was rather sharp-tongued, rude, and impatient. Naruto was good with less than sociable individuals though, so nothing she did was enough to drive him away. Her taunts and barbs just flowed off him, and she didn't do anything severe enough to really annoy him. Although that might just be because she knew her boundaries well, and wasn't stupid enough to do anything that might warrant a punishment. Naruto liked to think she was just putting up a tough shell to hide the gooey inside though. Realistically, the former was more likely.

It had been a week since Raynare and Asia had joined Rias' peerage. Asia had fit in perfectly. It was difficult to dislike the benevolent nun.

Raynare's integration into the Occult Club was not nearly as seamless, no doubt due to her previous species and actions. Her less-than-stellar personality didn't help either. Yuuto and Akeno both avoided her quite bluntly, barely behaving enough to not be outright abrasive to her. Koneko was as cold and apathetic towards her as she was to most people. Rias was clearly doing her best to be professional and nonbiased towards her, but it was easy to see she didn't quite trust the former fallen angel yet. Asia actually treated her the best besides Naruto, surprising since Raynare had been the one planning to steal her sacred gear and kill her. Just reinforced how genuinely forgiving and kind the former nun is. Asia was putting in a genuine effort to be nice to Raynare, but even Asia couldn't simply throw aside the fear she felt for Raynare. So the efforts she put in generally turned out awkward and inept.

With the rest of the club being less than welcoming, Naruto felt it was his duty to help her integrate and adapt to her new life. Unfortunately, Naruto's method of that didn't quite agree with Raynare too much. Naruto was of the belief that the only way to change the minds of people was to put in some honest effort. To genuinely work for it. So Naruto's method of helping Raynare was to get her to train at becoming the best devil she can be.

Two days after she joined, he woke her up at the crack of dawn to go for some cardio training. That first day Raynare had not only complained and protested the entire time, but had also been driven to the brink of exhaustion. It should be noted that Naruto was inadvertently a slave driver in endurance training due to his own inhuman stamina. Much to Raynare's horror, Naruto had very clearly informed her this was to become a regular thing. With it being several days after that, Naruto was used to her complaining during the run. He was just ignoring it now or firing back retorts.

Naruto took a moment to look at Raynare out of the corner of his eyes. The woman had thankfully seemed to give up her more daring fashion sense after Naruto messed with her mind. Something Naruto was glad for. He wasn't sure how his libido would react if she had continued wearing clothes like what he had first seen her in. Right now she was dressed in a purple and black tracksuit. She was still quite beautiful, but not in the racy and seductive way from before. Naruto can handle beautiful.

Otherwise she was not looking good. Her chest was heaving as she tried to gather her breath. Her bangs were soaked with sweat. Her face was flushed. It was also more accurate to say she was stumbling forward than running.

Yep, she was not in good shape. So much so Naruto felt compelled to comment, "Your physical stamina is pathetic, you know that right?"

"I can fly. Why does it matter if I can run," Raynare barked out irritably.

"I don't know. Health. Leg strength. Speed. Stamina. Any of these sound important?" Naruto replied sarcastically.

"I chuck spears of light at things. None of those are needed for that," she countered immediately.

"If chucking spears of light at things is all you can do, I fear when you find someone that doesn't work against," Naruto claimed with a frown.

"That's my problem. Not yours," Raynare pointed out.

That caused Naruto to shake his head in exasperation. Yeah, Raynare definitely needed help integrating with the group. She clearly had no real concept of teamwork or comradeship.

His thoughts were cut off when Raynare suddenly came to a halt and screamed out in anger, "That's it. I'm done. I'm not running anymore."

Frowning, Naruto quickly declared in an energetic voice, "Come on. It's only two more miles. Barely anything. I know you can do it."

The energetic tone only seemed to annoy her even more, and she crossed her arms before saying heatedly, "No. I don't care. We've run way longer than yesterday."

"Yeah. I added an extra ten miles. I didn't want you to get to used to the distance. The point of training is to always push yourself," Naruto reasoned calmly, trying to be patient.

"That's easy for you to say," Raynare growled out, looking at his easy breathing and slight amount of sweat in annoyance and envy. She then gestured at herself before continuing irritably, "My feet are aching, and probably swollen. My lungs feel like they are on fire. I'm all sticky from sweat, and smell like body odor. My legs feel like they're about to collapse under me."

"Yeah, but that stuff is usual for when you are training. The way you're acting, you'd think you had never trained before," Naruto noted with a raised eyebrow. When Raynare didn't respond immediately, instead just looking away from him, his jaw dropped. He then exclaimed in shock, "What? How have you never trained before?"

"I have trained before," Raynare claimed defensively before continuing, "Just never like this. I just made sure to keep my skills sharp. Or to become more proficient with my light spears."

Naruto pinched the bridge of his nose as he sighed. The type of training she was talking about could barely be called training. Just the sort of stuff one does when they grow complacent. As a person always striving to better himself, Naruto just couldn't understand how could do so little training.

Breathing deeply to calm himself, Naruto told her in a forcibly even tone, "That sort of training isn't enough if you want to become truly strong. For someone wanting to become more powerful, it doesn't appear you put much effort into it."

"Shut up," Raynare snapped, flushing slightly in embarrassment. She then turned her head away as she continued, "I did try. Just not like this."

"You mean by trying to take a sacred gear?" Naruto asked with a tilted head.

"Obviously."

"Why? I know they're powerful, but it isn't like you can't become strong without one," Naruto reasoned.

"You mean by doing stuff like this day in and day out. Sure, but it's far from the easiest method of gaining power," Raynare grumbled in annoyance.

"The easiest method isn't always the best. Power earned is far better than power given," Naruto stated confidently. The reaction he got was not what he expected.

"Power earned. Hah, what a joke," Raynare declared with a mocking laugh. Glaring at him, she continued scornfully, "Who says sacred gear holders earned those? Let's use your precious nun as an example. Twilight Healing. A powerful, if not unique, sacred gear. What did she ever do to deserve that?! Did she train? Did she run miles and miles every morning? No. _She was born with it. _She got lucky. Before she could even say a word or form a coherent thought, she was blessed with a power like that. Just like every other sacred gear holder. It's easy to think of me as a greedy bitch trying to take another's power, and maybe I was. If I had succeeded though, wouldn't I have done more to earn that sacred gear than her? I would have risked my neck, gathered my allies, and successfully managed to perform the ritual to take it. That's way more than just being born with it."

She was now glaring at Naruto as she raged at him, "Let's not forget that blasted sword of yours. The power to control whatever you wish. What did you say? Someone gave it to you. So how did you earn that power? What gave you the right to use that power? To mess with my head? The fact that you wielded that sword was enough in your mind. So how is that any different from my trying to gain a sacred gear? Going by your belief, if I wielded a sacred gear I would have the right to use it. Maybe I would have killed the nun in the process, but you killed Dohnaseek. Your hands aren't clean either."

Naruto's eyes were wide now as Raynare turned around a threw her hands in the air as she continued yelling contemptuously, "There are so many people who wield power they didn't earn. Like our new _king. _Her Power of Destruction. She didn't earn it. She was born with that. She still uses it. Every sacred gear holder hasn't earned their sacred gears. They were born with them. It's not wrong for them to use them though. Archangel Michael. He was born with all his current wings. Six sets. Azazel-sama was born with five sets, and gained his sixth later. All the Seraph were born with four or five sets of wings. Is it wrong for them to use that power they were given by god? Did they earn those powers somehow before they were even born? No, they got lucky by being god's favored creations. You want to know how _I _was born. I was mass produced by god to fill up numbers during the Great War. I was created in a batch of thousands. One set of wings. A grunt. There to soak up attacks to protect the important angels. I have no unique ability or power. I was created completely ordinary."

"Don't act like I'm some spoiled princess unused to toil and hardship. I've never been given anything. I've had to take everything I've got, even if that might have been by reprehensible means. I'm not going to apologize either. The world is in no way fair. So tell me, oh so wise master. Why should I have to do stuff like this for power when there are so many that had it handed to them?" Raynare finally demanded, some of her anger fading into weariness. Clearly these thoughts had been festering for a while, and airing them out was emotionally taxing.

Naruto blinked at her in shock, his thoughts whirling. He certainly hadn't expected her to go off like that, and he was now being asked to respond. Talk about putting a guy on the spot.

"You aren't totally wrong," Naruto finally managed to several seconds of thoughts. Raynare smirked at his words.

Some people do have advantages that they didn't earn. Bloodline limits back home. Sacred gear users. Even jinchuriki. Being a jinchuriki might have wrecked Naruto's childhood, but it had allowed him to access a seemingly endless amount of chakra whenever things became dicey. How many times over the years would he have died without his healing factor? Or being able to use Kurama's chakra to defeat enemies he couldn't? Even his natural chakra reserves had partly been due to Kurama. People who don't have such advantages really do start out at a disadvantage.

"But you certainly aren't right either," Naruto added at the end.

Raynare's smirk disappeared, and she crossed her arms as she eyed him crossly. She then demanded, "Really? And why not?"

Naruto opened to his mouth to respond, but stopped when he saw her eyes. Closing his eyes, he sighed before commenting, "You know, I've always been really good at convincing people of stuff. It's because I'm very good at understanding people. So I can tell nothing I can say right now will really change your mind."

"So you really aren't as preachy and sanctimonious as I took you for," Raynare announced smugly before continuing, "Seems you realize people don't really care about your opinion all that much."

Naruto's eye twitched in irritation at her words. He isn't afraid to defend his beliefs, but he wouldn't call himself preachy…Right?…Okay, maybe a little bit preachy.

Taking a deep breathe to calm himself, Naruto looked Raynare in the eyes before suggesting, "How about a bet instead?"

"A bet?"

"Yeah," Naruto affirmed with a nod before elaborating, "I'm not going to tell you anything. Instead I'll show you."

"Really?" Raynare asked skeptically, her arms crossed.

"Yep. This is what I propose….A month. No, two months. You do my sort of training for two months. No complaining. Putting actual effort into it. At the end of that second month, you review how much stronger you have grown. You can then determine who won the bet. I bet you will grow stronger in two months of my training than you have in centuries by using your means," Naruto announced with a confident grin.

"Are you stupid?" Raynare immediately asked bluntly. She continued bluntly, "You said I would determine the winner. Of course I'd say I won, no matter what happens."

Naruto shrugged before saying casually with his grin still on his face, "Maybe, but I'm willing to bet differently."

"Fine. You're funeral," Raynare replied with a shrug. She then looked at him as she questioned, "So what do I get if I win? It better be something good if you expect me to do this stupid stuff for two months."

"The satisfaction of being correct and no longer having me force you to exercise," Naruto suggested hopefully.

"Yeah-No! I can just refuse to do your training. My reward would have to be worth two months of doing this torture," Raynare answered brusquely.

Naruto sighed and thought to himself. He really didn't have much that could entice a person like Raynare. He couldn't give her Excalibur Ruler. She can't use holy swords herself. Money likely didn't mean much to her. She wanted something to do with power. Snapping his fingers in realization, he pointed at her and exclaimed, "A blessing."

"Heh?"

Naruto nodded as he explained to the confused fallen angel, "Yeah. If you win, I'll request Selene to give you a blessing. She can do many things with her blessings. Maybe increase the light attribute in your body, thus making your light spears stronger. Or something else you want. A blessing from a god. That has to be worth a bit of training."

"The Lady of the Lake, huh?" Raynare muttered to herself in thought. She'd heard of Naruto's relationship with the Lady of the Lake. He could probably pull it off. Blessings can be somewhat unclear, but it is generally acknowledged that they are incredibly useful. Giving a satisfied nod, she claimed, "Alright. That will work."

Naruto nodded happily and started, "And if I win-"

"Which you won't."

"-If I win," Naruto continued a bit more forcefully, acting as if she hadn't interrupted, "Then you have to…apologize to Asia for trying to take her sacred gear."

"What?" Raynare asked in shock, surprised by the simple nature of his demand. She expected something…more.

Naruto nodded as he clarified, "Yep. Apologize to Asia. That's all I want, and I don't mean a quick apology. A sincere and true admission that you were wrong in your actions. You said before that you wouldn't apologize for your actions, so I want for you to admit _to yourself _that what you did to Asia was wrong. It will also hopefully improve things between you and Asia."

Raynare frowned as he spoke. Okay, the way he put it made that sound a lot more than what she had previously thought. Basically he was saying he wanted her to renounce her current beliefs. To admit that her desire for a sacred gear was wrong.

Finally shrugging, she declared, "Fine. I accept. There's no way I'll lose anyways."

"Great," Naruto exclaimed excitedly. He then grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet as he announced, "Now let's finish this run. Only eight more miles."

"Wait! You said only two miles a few minutes ago," Raynare quickly argued.

Naruto just grinned as he explained, "Yeah, but that was before you took a break. So I added a bit on." Pulling her hand till she started running alongside him, he added in excitement, "Don't worry. It will be over before you know it."

Raynare just groaned in response.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"We're back, Asia-chan," Naruto announced as Raynare and him walked through the front entrance.

"Ah, good morning, Naruto-san," Asia said happily as she walked into the entranceway of Naruto's mansion. She was wearing a cream-colored dress, a hand-me-down of Rias. It turns out Asia only really had a few of her nun attires, and several sets of undergarments. She didn't have any casual clothes, so Rias and Akeno had gifted her with some of their old clothes. She also had an apron on over it. Asia grew visibly nervous when she turned to Raynare, but still managed to squeak out, "G-Good morning, R-Raynare-san."

"Yeah, whatever. I'm going to go take a shower," Raynare said as she walked pass Asia, not even really looking at her. Naruto could tell Raynare was also quite unsure of how to act around Asia. She clearly didn't totally reject her previous actions, but he could tell she was still a bit guilty about them. Unfortunately she seems to have decided to disregard Asia entirely, barely acknowledging her at all. Basically just ignoring the problem.

"A-Ano, breakfast will be ready in fifteen minutes," Asia informed Raynare's retreating back, who didn't give any sign that she heard. After Raynare disappeared around a corner, Asia turned back to Naruto. Looking him over, she asked in concern, "Are you okay, Naruto-san? You always go training with Raynare before I even wake up. It must be tiring."

Naruto waved his hand as he told her nonchalantly, "No, I'm good. These runs are nothing to me."

"I'm glad," Asia replied, clearly happy at his words.

Naruto just smiled at her as he ruffled her hair. She pouted slightly, but looked rather happy at the action and nuzzled her head against his hand. Removing it, he told her as he walked away, "I'm going to take a quick shower as well. I'll be down in ten."

"Okay, Naruto-san."

Ten minutes later Naruto came down in his academy uniform, his hair still damp from his shower. Moving into the kitchen, he took a seat on one of the stools. He then watched as Asia moved around the kitchen, humming a tune.

Asia had quickly taken up the position of cook when she found out how lacking Naruto was in the kitchen. Naruto hadn't cared, and bought her the food and ingredients to cook. She usually only had to make breakfast since every lunch and dinner they typically ate Akeno's food in the clubroom. It was nice regardless. Asia was a surprisingly accomplished cook considering she had been raised in a church. She tended to stick with western food, but she had claimed to be eager to experiment with some eastern dishes.

Focusing on the smell wafting through the air, Naruto commented warmly, "I know I said you didn't have to cook for us, Asia-chan, but I have to admit it's pretty nice."

Asia smiled as she stirred a porridge and claimed modestly, "I'm glad to help. Naruto-san is housing me and rescued me. It's the least I can do to repay you."

Naruto rolled his eyes at her words, but didn't chide her. She really didn't have to do anything for him, but he knew it was useless to tell her that. She was just an earnest type of person. She is just trying to repay him for a debt she believes she owes him. She's just too sincere in her actions to dislike. Plus, she was really cute when she acts like a housewife.

Finishing up with the food, Asia set the dishes out. Removing her apron, she left the kitchen as she told Naruto, "The food is still hot, Naruto-san. It might be best to let it sit for a few minutes. I'm going to go change into the academy uniform."

"Got it," Naruto replied. The delectable aroma of the breakfast dishes was tempting, but Naruto resisted. Eating with others was always better than by yourself.

It only took five minutes for Asia to come back down. Standing in the entrance to the kitchen, the nun did a quick spin to model her clothes before asking him hopefully, "Do these clothes suit me, Naruto-san?"

Asia was now wearing the academy uniform with a few alterations. The red and white skirt as well as the white shirt. Instead of the black cape and corset though, she was instead wearing a black sweater vest. Naruto took this all in over a moment.

He then smiled at her and told her honestly, "You look cute, Asia-chan." Asia smiled cheerfully at his words. Naruto turned his head slightly as he added, "You look nice as well, Raynare-chan."

Raynare just gave an uncaring sniff as she passed by Asia. She quickly replied, "Of course I do."

Naruto tilted his head as he scrutinized the fallen angel. Like Asia, she was wearing the school uniform. Without the alterations of course. The uniform did a fabulous job of emphasizing her generous bust, just as it did Rias and Akeno.

Something else caught Naruto's attention though. Curiously he asked her, "Why are your features…different?"

His words were true. Raynare's entire face had seemingly grown less mature and more innocent. Her eyes were a bit less sharp. Her cheeks were more plump, giving her a more youthful look. She now looked more like a schoolgirl than an alluring and sultry woman. Not to mention Naruto was pretty sure she had lost an inch or two.

Raynare was quick to explain as she started eating, "Most fallen angels naturally have a minute control over their looks. We can alter our appearances slightly without having to resort to alteration magic. I prefer having a more mature appearance, but I would look too old to attend high school. So I desired to look younger, and just lost two or three years."

Naruto raised an eyebrow, but there was no reason to believe she is lying. She is several centuries old. If she can look 20 years old, why can't she look 17?

So Naruto shrugged and started eating as well. They needed to get going soon. It had taken a week, but Rias had managed to pull some strings to get both Raynare and Asia admitted into the school. Raynare as a 3rd year, and Asia as a 2nd. It might have taken a week, but it is still pretty impressive when you consider how exclusive Kuoh Academy is. There's a waiting list a mile long.

After the three took a few bites, Naruto asked, "Are you two excited to go to school?"

Raynare immediately claimed in a disgruntled voice, "Obviously not. There's no point besides being close to Buchou. I'm certainly not going to gain anything from it."

"Stop being so pessimistic. Make a few friends. You may surprise yourself with how much you enjoy it," Naruto told her enthusiastically. Raynare didn't appear to put much stock in his words, but he didn't mind.

Asia was quick to break the silence by announcing joyfully, "I'm very much looking forward to it. I've never attended school before."

"I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Knowing our school everyone will welcome you quickly," Naruto told her honestly. The guys would adore the cute blonde, and the girls at their school were thankfully kind and welcoming. She'll fit right in.

"I hope so," Asia claimed with a wistful smile.

Naruto rubbed her head as he informed her sincerely, "I know so."

Asia looked happy at his words, a small blush spreading across her face. Clearly embarrassed, she looked back towards her food. Raynare rolled her eyes at the byplay, the pure sentimentality of the scene appearing ridiculous to her. She stayed quiet though.

The three finished the breakfast without anymore talking. Naruto took all their dishes and put them in the sink. He then turned back to them and announced with a grin, "Time to get to school. Can't be late on your first day."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Ah, Asia-chan. Naruto-kun. Good to see you two."

Those were the words that came from Rias' mouth as Naruto and Asia walked into the clubroom after school ended. Currently only Akeno and Koneko were there besides Rias herself.

"Thank you. Nice to see you all as well," Asia replied with a smile.

"Sup, Rias-chan, Sadist-chan, Koneko-chan," Naruto added as well.

Akeno smiled before saying herself, "Good afternoon, Naruto-kun, Asia-chan."

Koneko just turned her head slightly to look at them from the corner of her eyes. Pausing in her snacking, she muttered softly, "Naruto-senpai. Asia-senpai." With her very short greeting over, she went right back to eating.

With the obligatory greetings over, Asia headed over and sat in the couch opposite Koneko. To no one's surprise, Naruto immediately took the spot next to her. Akeno pouted slightly at her inability to sit next to Naruto, but otherwise didn't move from her spot just behind and to the side of Rias.

Rias crossed her fingers in front of her face as she turned to Asia and asked, "How was your first day, Asia-chan?"

"It was wonderful," Asia immediately answered.

Naruto nodded along with her words. The day had gone far smoother than even he had expected. Asia had introduced herself, and a number of girls had immediately started to talk to her. The guys were also raving over the blonde bishoujo. Asia had seemed a bit overwhelmed by the attention at first, but the students had accepted any hesitance or awkwardness as simply a difference in cultures.

The only hiccup came when Asia had unwittingly let out the information that she was staying with Naruto. That had caught the attention of the class. The innocent Asia was living under the same roof as the Ultimate Pervert, Uzumaki Naruto. The rumors had crossed into the absurd incredibly fast. Really. In what world was it believable that Naruto had traveled to Italy over the weekend, saved the nun during a plot by vampires to bring down the Christian religion, and had in turn God had gifted him with Asia to act as the perfect housewife? Or there was the rumor that Naruto had a nun fetish, and had traveled to Italy, seduced Asia, and had then kidnapped her from the church to act as his sex slave. Either Naruto was a hero who had inadvertently saved the world or he was a sexual scoundrel. Talk about opposite sides of the spectrum.

Naruto had quickly done his best to put a stop to that by explaining the situation very clearly. That due to his large and currently empty home, Naruto had volunteered to host several transfer students. Asia was one, and there was another one as well. Overall true, if not with several important details left out.

That had put a stop to most of the rumors. Although several students had raised issue with Naruto housing Asia. Mainly the Perverted Trio. Even Issei had been outrageously jealous of Naruto. A few of the girls also warned Asia to beware of Naruto supposedly inexhaustible sexual appetite.

It was still better than Naruto had expected. Asia had made some friends, and people had seemingly accepted their story. Naruto could deal with rumors. So Naruto was overall satisfied.

Asia immediately continued by announcing, "Several of the girls even asked if I wanted to go shopping tomorrow after they heard I don't have much clothing of my own."

"That's nice," Rias commented before adding thoughtfully, "It might be a good idea for myself and Akeno to go along as well. As my servant, I can pay for your necessities."

"I can handle that, Rias-chan," Naruto immediately piped in.

"That's not necessary, Naruto-kun. Asia is my servant, and thus my responsibility. You are already doing more than enough by housing her and Raynare. Plus, this way Akeno and I can make sure Asia-chan gets all the appropriate clothing a devil might need," Rias reasoned.

Naruto tilted his head before shrugging in acceptance. Makes sense. Naruto won't need to go shopping himself this way as well.

"I'm here," Raynare announced as she walked into the room.

"Good afternoon, Raynare-san," Rias stated evenly.

"Sup, Raynare-chan."

"H-Hello, Raynare-san."

Raynare gave a polite nod at their greetings, ignoring Akeno just as Akeno was doing to her. The two ignoring each other was clearly the best way for them to remain civil. Raynare then sat down beside Koneko, who just gave her a cold nod of acknowledgement.

"So, how was your day, Raynare-san?" Rias questioned, trying to make Raynare comfortable despite the tense atmosphere her presence had evoked.

"It was tolerable, I guess. I'm not happy about attending, but it is easy to fit in. As long as you are attractive, giggle, and act like you are interested in them humans will accept you with open arms," Raynare claimed with an uncaring shrug.

Naruto quickly broke in by saying, "Have you ever considered being yourself?"

"Why would I do that?" Raynare asked with a snort. She then continued bluntly, "I told you this morning. I'm not here to make friends. I'm here because I have to be. That means I'm going to do my best to make attending this school as simple as possible. I'll be all affable and ordinary, and then slip into the background after the interest wanes. A bit of magic, and people won't even send me a second look. Once I place an illusion on the teachers, I won't even have to attend class."

"I'd prefer if you didn't do such a thing, Raynare-san," Rias immediately remarked.

"And why not? Isn't this simply a way for me to stay close to you? If I stay in the clubroom during the school day, what is the problem?" Raynare demanded in annoyance.

Rias took a deep breath before answering calmly, "You are right. It wouldn't make much of a difference in my opinion. My opinion isn't the only one that matters though. Sona will not appreciate a member of my peerage using magic on the students and teachers. We cannot afford to antagonize the king of another peerage in such a way. Since we share the same territory, avoiding conflict with them is a must."

Raynare clearly didn't like that information, but restrained herself from snapping at her. Raynare very clearly knew her limits. She may not like her situation, but she'll avoid doing anything that could make it even worse. She realizes that her fate is in Rias' hand.

Everyone turned to look at the door when it opened again. It was the final member of Rias' peerage, Yuuto. The normally smiling and polite knight had a clear aura of anger and bitterness surrounding him. He briefly glared at Raynare, who just looked away with a frown and ignored him. His gaze then fell to Naruto, who was extremely uncomfortable with the resentment and animosity in his eyes.

Stiffly looking towards Rias, Yuuto told her rigidly, "I'm going to train on my own, Buchou. I'll still handle all my clients tonight."

Rias didn't look happy, but she could clearly see he wasn't asking for permission. So she just sighed and nodded as she replied, "Alright, Yuuto. Check in with me tomorrow morning to give a quick status report."

Yuuto nodded before turning and leaving the room. He left an extremely awkward atmosphere in the room. The room had already been tense before he arrived, but his clear decision to not stay with the group was affecting most of the members. Yuuto was something of a constant among the group, and his absence was clearly uncomfortable for most of the members.

Sighing in gloom, Rias then turned to Naruto and declared firmly, "You have to deal with the situation between you and Yuuto, Naruto-kun."

Naruto nodded in understanding and acceptance. The sudden change between himself and Yuuto is the real problem here. Yuuto clearly isn't happy about Raynare joining their group, but the usual Yuuto would have at least tolerated her. If he had just ignored her like Akeno was, then things would have at least been stable in their group. It was Naruto's exposed ownership of Excalibur Ruler that had truly made the situation go bottom up. The holy sword had suddenly turned the pleasant and well-mannered Yuuto into a brooder on Sasuke's level. Rias could see where this was going just as well as Naruto. Yuuto could barely even be in the same room as Naruto right now. If nothing is done to fix the friendship between Naruto and Yuuto, the peerage might very well fracture.

"Don't worry, Rias-chan. I was already planning on it," Naruto told her seriously. He's not going to let another friend of his turn into a obsessed avenger.

"Good," Rias commented simply. Focusing on Asia and Raynare, she announced, "I'm sorry about not being able to see you two much this past week. I wish I could have given you two a proper welcome, but I had a number of issues to resolve."

Her words were true. Rias had barely been able to interact with her two new peerage members over the entire week. It wasn't really her fault though. Reincarnating a former nun and a fallen angel into her peerage had clearly caused a few problems in the Underworld. Raynare especially. Rias has had to leave the two in Naruto and Akeno's care as she sorted through piles of paperwork. She even had to go to the Underworld for two days at one point. The only time she'd seen them for longer than a minute or two was when she explained their duties as members of her peerage.

"I-It is fine, Buchou-san. You were busy," Asia acknowledged in understanding.

"I don't really care," Raynare claimed bluntly.

"Regardless. I felt it needed to be said," Rias said. She quickly asked, "You two have been handing out fliers for the past week, right?"

Asia nodded and explained enthusiastically, "Yes. Every night. We've run out of the fliers you allocated us."

"Good. That makes things simpler. Starting tonight you both can answer summons and start making contracts with clients with the rest of us," Rias announced. Standing up, she announced with a smile, "That will have to wait till tonight though. Until then, it is time I familiarize myself with you two and what you have been doing over the week. Let's all go to Naruto's training area, and we'll have a group discussion. Koneko. Akeno. You will come as well."

"Understood, Buchou."

"…Okay."

Rias nodded at the two's acceptance and turned to Naruto and warned him, "We'll be returning here afterwards. You'll be studying as usual, Naruto-kun."

That caused Naruto to flinch before asking pleadingly, "Come on, Rias-chan. I've already been studying for a week. Isn't that enough?"

"Of course not. This is your punishment after all," Rias declared with an amused giggle.

Her words caused Naruto's head to drop. Rias claimed that even though she could accept him doing stupid stuff, she couldn't endorse it. Or leave him without being punished for disobeying her. Unfortunately for Naruto, Rias had touched upon a very good punishment this time. Forcing Naruto to study. Not only did Naruto hate doing it, but Rias claimed she didn't want a member of her peerage having nearly failing grades. Every night when the group gathered to wait for clients to summon them, Rias had charged Akeno to force Naruto to study…with a punishment of shocking if he just lounged around. Needless to say, Naruto had never studied so hard in his life. He wasn't going to get shocked. He just wasn't.

Seeing Naruto depression, Asia patted Naruto's shoulder and told him reassuringly, "It is okay, Naruto-san. Books can be really fun." Naturally her words fell on deaf ears.

Rias quickly chipped in by commenting, "And this way your grades might improve. You won't be in the red anymore."

"Aww, shut up. Let's just go to my basement," Naruto grumbled out in irritation. Studying really put him in a bad mood. Well until he shoved it to the back of his head. Then he's back to normal.

Everyone quickly stood up at his words. Gathering together in a group, Rias teleported them all into Naruto's basement. Everyone spread out a little bit more before looking towards Rias for direction.

Rias just looked at them all with a smile before explaining, "It might be on the basic side, but I think we should all start out with introductions. I expect us all to be comrades. I know it won't happen overnight, but at least knowing each other a bit more is a good first step. Understood?"

"I totally agree. I'll even go first," Naruto exclaimed enthusiastically. This was just like what Kakashi had Team Seven do. It may sound simple, but becoming at least professionally familiar with your comrades is a fundamental aspect of teamwork. Stopping briefly, Naruto proclaimed with a grin, "My name is Uzumaki Naruto. Call me Naruto. I like ramen, training, and making friends. I dislike arrogance, people who underestimate me, and people who don't consider the feelings of others. My hobbies are training, gardening, volunteering, and helping others. My dream is…Not really sure to be honest. It's actually kind of weird since I lived most of my life trying to earn the acknowledgement of the people around me. I guess my current goal is to create a peace between the Three Factions, not just a ceasefire."

"Ara ara. Such a large goal," Akeno stated with a hint of admiration in her voice.

"Unexpectedly heroic," Koneko admitted, actually showing a bit of emotion to Naruto for one of the first times, this time in the form of approval.

Naruto just heard her words though, and asked her in a deadpan, "Why is that unexpected?"

"Writer of Icha Icha."

Koneko's short statement scored a critical hit on Naruto. Damn. That's going to haunt Naruto for the rest of his life. He just knows it. Asia patted Naruto on the shoulder reassuringly as he hung his head in depression.

"I like Naruto's format. Everyone state their names, likes, dislikes, hobbies, and goals. I'll go next," Rias ordered before continuing, "My name is Rias Gremory, heiress apparent of the Gremory Clan. I'd prefer to be called Buchou, but that is flexible. I like Japan, my family, and my peerage. I dislike a certain phoenix and those who insult my peerage. My hobbies are researching strategies for Rating Games, anime, talking with my peerage, and competing against Sona. My goals are to win a Rating Game against a certain person and become a worthy heiress to the Gremory Clan."

Akeno then started, "My name is Himejima Akeno. I like causing my enemies pain, teasing people, cooking, and interesting individuals not afraid to be unique. I dislike Fallen Angels," She shot a pointed glare at Raynare there. She then continued, "and those who attack Buchou. My hobbies are cooking and fighting. My goal is…a secret. Ufufufu~."

"That's not fair," Naruto immediately protested.

Akeno just smiled at him and tapped him on the nose. Naruto just blinked in confusion as Akeno declared, "But you are so cute like this." Naruto immediately pouted.

Everyone turned to look at Koneko, who just stared at them silently till it became awkward. She then sighed and stated bluntly, "Koneko Toujou. I like snacks and things that smell nice. I dislike stray devils and those that recklessly use dangerous abilities. My goal is to be a good rook to Buchou." Wow, that's the most Naruto's ever heard her say.

Asia gripped her skirt as she started anxiously, "My name is Asia Argento. Please call me Asia. I like healing, kind people, and the Christian Church. I dislike cruel people. My hobby is cooking for Naruto-san and reading the Bible. My dream is to make a lot of friends. Buy books and pick flowers together. Talk to each other. Have fun together." Although Naruto and Raynare both already knew, Rias and Akeno showed their surprise when she talked about still liking the Christian Church. No one was surprised by her dream. It fit a pure girl like Asia.

Everyone turned towards Raynare now, who just gave them a look that said 'really?' Shaking her head in annoyance, she explained, "My name is Raynare. I'm using the family name Amano in school. I don't have a lot of likes, and dislike a lot of stuff. All you need to know is that I desire power. That's it." Talk about unsociable. That was even worse than Koneko's. Naruto sighed at the challenge ahead of him in turning Raynare into an empathetic individual.

Rias didn't look anymore pleased by her introduction than Naruto, but didn't demand anything more. Instead she explained, "Alright. With introductions out of the way, we'll move onto learning the skill sets of our newest members. Please tell us what your current capabilities, as well as any field you are interested in expanding into. Asia. If you'll please start."

"Of course, Buchou-san," Asia replied quickly. Holding her hands up, two silver rings formed on each of her middle fingers. A green light emanated from her palms as she informed the group, "My main ability is Twilight Healing, which God gifted me with. I have heard some call it Smile of the Holy Mother. With it I can rapidly heal all injuries, but I am incapable of restoring amputated limbs, reduce exhaustion, or cure sicknesses."

"A powerful ability," Rias commented encouragingly.

"Thank you," Asia said with a small blush on her face. She then added, "I am trying to learn two other skills that Naruto-san recommended me. Barriers and potion making."

"Really?" Rias asked in surprise, not having heard this before.

Naruto quickly popped in by clarifying, "As a bishop, Asia is suppose to rely on magic. I really doubted Asia would ever excel at attacking, so I figured improving upon her support abilities would be best. Barriers and potion making made the most sense to me after giving it some thought. Is that alright, Rias-chan?"

"Of course. It's good," Rias quickly proclaimed. Really good. The bishops job is to support other members of a household. Asia's Twilight Healing already made her an invaluable support member. Rias was sure that ability alone would make her a crucial member of her peerage, with the fate of a battle possibly depending on her actions. If she did expand her abilities though, she could become an even more fantastic bishop. She already had a healing and support ability in Twilight Healing. Being skilled in making barriers would give her additional defensive and support capabilities. Potions were a rarity among devils, being more popular among magicians, but potions can also act as supplements to her healing and support capabilities. It would surely take a long time for her to become truly skilled in either area, but afterwards those skills would become incredibly useful. Tilting her head in thought, Rias quickly questioned, "How are you learning those? Naruto-kun has no talent in either of those areas to my knowledge."

"I have been helping Asia-chan, Buchou," Akeno quickly announced.

"Yes. Akeno-senpai has been extremely kind to me," Asia said while bowing towards Akeno in gratitude.

"Ufufufu, Asia-chan is a very good student as well," Akeno claimed before clarifying to Rias, "Asia-chan has a good deal of talent in using her demonic power, and her current capacity of demonic-power is only inferior to myself and Buchou in the group. Since she is putting all that potential into forming barriers, she has thoroughly grasped the basics with an impressive speed. Several more weeks will be necessary before she'll be competent enough to use any in battle, but it is impressive regardless."

"I see," Rias said with a small smile. She then quickly asked, "What about potion making? You don't even know the basics of potion making, Akeno."

Nodding in understanding, Akeno explained, "Buchou is correct. When I accompanied you to the Underworld I managed to acquire a book from the Gremory library, with permission from your Otou-sama of course. I sent it to Asia-chan to study on her own."

Asia took that as her cue, and informed Rias nervously while poking her index fingers together, "Potions are surprisingly complex. I have barely touched upon the very basics. Any potions above beginner level are incredibly volatile and unstable, and thus require an intimate understanding of the attributes and properties of hundreds of potion components and ingredients. It will be months before I can even touch upon intermediate potions. Thankfully beginner level potions are stable enough to be brewed by recorded recipes, although I currently lack the ingredients and components necessary to do so."

Placing a comporting hand on Asia's shoulder, Rias told her while beaming, "Do not worry, Asia-chan. You are already doing more than enough. Take your time and be careful. As for ingredients, give me a list of what you need. I'll have my family procure them, and send it all to you."

"Y-You don't need to do that, Buchou-san," Asia quickly protested.

"Nonsense. It is my duty as your king to give you the opportunity to grow. Plus, there is a selfish motive behind this. As a member of my peerage, it reflects positively on me the more skilled you become. So I'm behind you one-hundred percent," Rias exclaimed with a playful wink. Asia nodded uncertainly at her words. Rias then turned to Raynare and ordered, "Since I've got a good understanding of where Asia is standing and working towards, it is now your turn, Raynare-san."

Raynare huffed a bit, but took a few steps away from the group. Putting on a pair of leather gloves, she then unfurled her mismatched wings and formed a pink light spear as she explained, "I've spent most the past week adjusting to the changes of becoming a devil."

"I assume your light abilities became unstable," Rias questioned, looking at her light spear warily.

"Not particularly," Raynare claimed before clarifying, "It's more like my entire magic became unstable. The introduction of demonic power wrecked my control. My flight ability became erratic, and my light spears did become somewhat unstable. Thankfully it just took a few days of practice to adjust to the change. Afterwards my light magic returned to the way it was before I became a devil, and I've regained my previous flight capabilities."

"That's good. We didn't know how your reincarnation would affect your abilities," Rias admitted.

Raynare quickly informed her bluntly, "It isn't perfect. I have to wear gloves or my own light spears will burn me."

"Expected. You are a devil. Light will harm you, although I have a suspect your resistance to light is far higher than the usual devil," Rias commented thoughtfully.

"Shouldn't you already know this stuff?" Raynare questioned skeptically.

"What do you mean?" Rias questioned in confusion.

"Please don't play innocent. I can easily tell that ponytail there is-" Raynare began before she was interrupted.

"I suggest you hold your words, fallen angel. Or you might find yourself not liking what happens to you," Akeno spoke slowly, a scary look entering her eyes as she glared at Raynare openly.

Raynare didn't look intimidated. She scowled at Akeno before her lips turned upwards into a playful smirk. She then said in a teasing voice, "Oh, so someone doesn't like her heritage. I was wondering why it was being hidden, but I just figured it was because you are a half-breed. The fallen angel blood in you is diluted, even considering you were reincarnated as an devil. Still there, but clearly that of a half-breed."

As Naruto and Asia reacted in shock at that tidbit. Even Koneko's eyes widened in surprise, which was a huge reaction for her. Akeno was a half-breed fallen angel. Or was. Whatever you would call her after being reincarnated. A hybrid like Raynare?

By far the biggest reaction was from Akeno though. Pure murder was in her eyes as she looked at Raynare, and sparks started gathering around her hand. The killing intent she was sending out was beyond obvious to anyone even partially accomplished in sensing. Akeno's sparking hand started to raise to no doubt fire a spell at Raynare.

Only for Rias to quickly grab it. Flinching slightly at the shock she received, she powered through to exclaim firmly to her enraged queen, "Enough, Akeno. Calm yourself."

Akeno looked split between following the order of her king or attacking the fallen angel, but finally stopped her attempted spell. Lowering her head towards Rias in a bow, she spoke simply, "Sorry, Buchou." She then looked towards Raynare with clear malicious intent as she hissed, "You're lucky, fallen angel."

"Yeah, yeah," Raynare replied uncaringly.

"That is enough from you to, Raynare-san. I understand that you aren't happy with your current situation as my servant, but I will not allow you to antagonize Akeno. If you continue to so so, I will punish you. Understand," Rias sternly informed the fallen angel, her patience for the fallen angel's bad attitude finally running out.

Raynare looked rebellious, but after a few seconds she lowered her head submissively and replied, "Of course. I was…out of line."

Giving a stiff nod at the obedient reply, Rias still sent a meaningful look at Naruto. He gave her a grim nod of understanding. Things were not going well. First the quarrel between Yuuto and Naruto over Excalibur Ruler, and now the barely restrained hostility between Akeno and Raynare. Any sense of unity in the peerage is impossible with conflicts such as these existing between the members. If things didn't change soon the peerage would probably break apart within a week, much less excel as a team is meant to. Yuuto is likely to attack Naruto or go stray due to Naruto's ownership of Excalibur Ruler, and Rias will probably be forced to trade Raynare away if the situation with Akeno isn't resolved. Between Akeno and Raynare, it is no contest who is more valuable in Rias' mind. She might be trying to give the fallen angel a chance, but Akeno has been Rias' best friend for years by this point. Naruto was already planning on dealing with Yuuto soon, but it was becoming increasingly clear he'd also have to step in between Akeno and Raynare. As it is he's the one with the best rapport with Raynare, no matter how little that is.

With Akeno turning away from Raynare bluntly, Rias sighed and looked towards Naruto, Asia, and Koneko. She then told them carefully, "It is true. Akeno's mother was human…but her father was a fallen angel. The rest is her business to tell you on her own, but the relationship between her and her father is nonexistent." Turning to Raynare, Rias continued, "As for why we don't know more about fallen angel/devil hybrids…Akeno has chosen not to utilize her fallen angel blood. I also won't force her to explore her capabilities in light. Thus we have little to no previous knowledge of how they would react when used by a reincarnated devil."

"A waste. Using light is in her blood," Raynare growled out as she crossed her arms.

Akeno snarled at her, but Rias put a stop to any argument from beginning by repeating firmly, "It is still her choice, and I shall respect that. I wish to hear no more of this topic."

"Fine," Raynare reluctantly acceded.

Naruto watched all this thoughtfully. It was clear Akeno had bad experiences related to her fallen angel blood, and in Naruto's experience such issues tended to come to light sooner or later. Naruto wouldn't press her, but he should still talk to her a bit. He knows what it's like to have a power you didn't ask for.

Raynare's thoughts were a bit more of a mystery. Despite it appearing so, Raynare wasn't just antagonizing Akeno. She's not so stupid as to provoke someone who is already hostile towards her. No, it's far more likely that Raynare was simply curious about who she sensed to have fallen angel blood. Her reaction to finding out Akeno outright rejected that side of her was either due to disgust over her refusing to use her natural abilities or due to disappointment. No matter how much Raynare is trying to act tough and independent, it's only natural for a person to seek out those similar to them when in a new environment. For a possible fellow fallen angel to so harshly reject her heritage had likely been a huge disappointment for Raynare.

Rias took control of the situation by clapping her hands together to draw attention to her. She then announced calmly, "Alright. Enough of that topic. Let's get back to talking about your abilities, Raynare-san. So your flight and light capabilities have returned to normal. Is there anything else you need to tell us?"

Nodding towards Naruto, Raynare grunted out, "Blondie there is forcing me to run every morning, and has me do other physical drills in the afternoon."

Rias looked at him questioning, so Naruto explained, "She seems to have a good grasp over her light spears, and has a decent enough amount of power in her. Physically I noticed she is weak though. If nothing improving her base specs will allow her to fight longer, and take more damage."

"I see. Sensible and well thought out," Rias remarked with an approving nod. Turning back to Raynare, she asked, "Anything else you are working on."

"No. Should I be?" Raynare grumbled in annoyance.

"Not at all. Just making sure I had a good grasp on where you currently stand," Rias quickly answered. She then added, "There is one thing I figure you should become more aware of though that you can work on since I am currently here. Promotion."

"Promotion," Raynare repeated with a tilted head. "You mentioned that briefly when you made me a devil, but didn't explain what it actually is."

"Sorry. I should have explained it, but there were issues that distracted me," Rias admitted sheepishly. Growing serious, she elaborated to Raynare, "The Evil Piece system is based on chess. Thus just like in chess, a pawn has the ability to promote to any other piece besides the king if the proper circumstances have been met. Specifically, entering deep into enemy's territory or receiving the permission of the king. In this way, a pawn can vastly increase their power. Thus mastering this power is a vital part of being a successful pawn."

Raynare nodded in understanding. It was clear she was interested in this ability, as well she should. The ability to promote to another piece is a powerful ability, something she's naturally interested in.

She quickly questioned, "So how do I do this?"

"I'm giving you permission to promote. It's mainly just forming a conscious desire," Rias explained simply.

Raynare nodded. She felt a little foolish, but still announced after a shrug, "Promotion: Queen."

Naruto immediate felt the difference. Not only did Raynare's power increase substantially, but Naruto sensed Raynare's muscles and bones being saturated with energy as well. The process was clearly felt by Raynare. Naruto saw a look of pain spread across her face, and her body stiffened noticeably.

Rias clearly saw it too, and immediately barked out, "Deny."

The power immediately disappeared, and Raynare relaxed slightly. Her muscles relaxed, and the look of pain disappeared from her face. She wasn't entirely back to normal though. Sweat was gathering on her forehead, and one could tell she was somewhat shaken. She even muttered to Rias sincerely, "Thanks."

"It's no problem. It's partly my fault. I should have warned you to not start out with queen," Rias replied, looking at Raynare with obvious concern.

Raynare shook her head in an attempt to gather her composure as she claimed, "It felt like my muscles all started to contract painfully."

"Not a surprise," Rias commented before clarifying, "Promotion is not perfect. When someone is reincarnated as a certain piece, they are permanently changed to better accommodate the power of that piece. It is permanent. On the other hand, promotion is merely temporary. Even if you aren't supplying the power, your body is being forced to perform at a level it isn't used to. That inherently places stress upon your body."

"So when I promoted myself…?" Raynare asked slowly.

"The queen is the most powerful piece on the board, possessing all the characteristics of rooks, knights, and bishops. So the stress is far greater on your body. While it appears you handled the power of a bishop well, your muscles were incapable of handling the power of the knight and rook. Causing the reaction you just experienced," Rias informed her carefully.

Raynare nodded in understanding. She then asked, "So if I want to promote to a queen-"

"You'll have to improve upon your physical state. If your base stats increase, your body should better be able to handle the stress of promotion," Rias said clearly.

Raynare's eye twitched as her king's words rang out. She then felt a presence form over her shoulder. Slowly and regretfully turning her head, she turned to see Naruto standing right behind her with a victorious grin.

"Hear that, Raynare-chan. Turns out you need to work on your physical abilities. Now, who noticed the exact same thing a week ago?" Naruto commented with a teasing smirk.

Ignoring Raynare's dismay with the information, Rias added with an approving nod, "Yes, Naruto seems to have instinctively grasped on to your greatest flaw, and is already taking steps to remedy it."

Naruto threw an arm around Raynare's shoulder, but the fallen angel slipped away from him. Pointing at him, she declared defiantly, "This doesn't mean you won the bet."

Still grinning, Naruto replied without losing his good mood, "I never did. Just pointing out that I was right to start working on your physical abilities. After all, didn't you ask just how such things would benefit you? Well now we have a definitive answer. To master promotion you need a stronger body than you currently have." Raynare growled, but couldn't rebuke his words.

Rias raised an eyebrow at the exchange, but decided to trust that Naruto knew what he was doing. So she refocused on Raynare and ordered, "So promotion to queen is still out of your reach. We should also avoid trying the knight and rook for now. No point placing unnecessary stress on your body when you are already training to improve your body. So we'll focus on a bishop promotion for now."

Nodding in understanding, Raynare concentrated before saying with a slight bit of trepidation, "Promotion: Bishop."

The change became apparent to all those that has some skill at sensing, although the change was limited to her energy reserves this time. Any nervousness faded from Raynare as the change happened without any debilitating side effects like last time. The fallen angel clenched her hands a few times, and Naruto also sensed her flexing her energy to get a good feel over the improvement.

Crossing her arms under her breasts, Rias declared with a satisfied smile, "Success. How do you feel?"

Raynare took a few seconds to answer, as she was still checking on her improved power level. She then answered slowly, "I feel…good. My reserves have improved greatly, but my control seems unaffected."

"Good," Rias remarked with a pleased nod. She then stated, "It will still be a good idea to get a more in-depth look at your improvements. Not to mention I have yet to see you in action myself. A spar should suffice."

"I volunteer," Akeno immediately announced, getting dubious looks from those present.

Rias quickly stated bluntly, "I do not think that is a good idea." Turning to the shortest person present, she continued, "Koneko. You're up."

It was the obvious choice in Naruto's opinion. Akeno is definitely out. No way would she hold herself back. Rias is naturally out. Asia is out. No fighting abilities of her own. Between Naruto and Koneko, Koneko is the more static and predictable fighter. She's a better measuring stick to judge Raynare by.

The small rook nodded emotionlessly at Rias, and walked away from the group to gain the space to spar. Raynare shrugged and did the same. The two turned and faced each other.

"Begin," Rias quickly ordered.

Raynare made the first move. Flapping her wings, she jumped into the air to fly above Koneko. She then quickly formed a pink light spear which she chucked at Koneko. Koneko predictably jumped to the side to dodge, but the rook was surprised when the light spear exploded after piercing the ground. The pink explosion of light shredded the sleeve of Koneko's uniform as well as sending her flying to the side. She managed to break her fall into a roll though. She looked up only to see Raynare chuck another light spear at her. This time she ran to the side, getting enough distance to avoid the resulting explosion entirely. She couldn't come to a stop though, as Raynare continued throwing the spears at her.

Koneko's sprinting around was ended when Raynare managed to adjust to her speed, and managed to throw a spear far more accurately. Sensing the danger, Koneko came to a stop just in time to have the spear impact the ground right in front of her. She immediately jumped back to avoid the explosion that she had come to expect. Only it didn't. No explosion.

"Got you," Raynare claimed with a smirk as six light spears formed in a circle around her. With a wave of her hand, the spears shot forward.

Koneko silently cursed to herself. It had been a feint. Raynare hadn't made that last spear an exploding one, which allowed her to form a number of spears quickly. Koneko hadn't known though, and had jumped back to avoid what she had thought would explode. All Raynare had to do was correctly calculate where Koneko was about to land, and throw the spears there. Koneko wouldn't have time to jump out of the way before the light spears hit.

Thankfully it would take more than that to finish Koneko off. Using her small stature to her advantage, Koneko twisted her body to avoid the spears without moving from the spot. It took a remarkable amount of flexibility and wouldn't have worked if she was average sized, but she was flexible and very petite. So she managed to slip through the barrage of light spears unharmed.

Using Raynare's surprise at her maneuver, Koneko jumped towards the flying fallen angel. Cocking a hand back, Koneko shot a super powered punch at her. Too bad Raynare didn't stay still to take it. The fallen angel just flapped her wings to rise above the arc Koneko was flying in, avoiding the punch.

Koenko tsked to herself at the failed attack. She knew that would be too simple. Looking over her shoulder, she saw that Raynare had thrown a light spear at her back. Showing she wasn't vulnerable in the air either, Koneko unfurled her own wings. She flapped them to alter her course enough to dodge the light spear. Spinning around, she shot towards Raynare.

On the sidelines, the four other people present watched as Koneko tried to catch Raynare. Something the fallen angel clearly didn't want to happen, as she used impressive aerial maneuvers to keep a distance from the rook chasing her. With his eyes following the action, Naruto remarked seriously, "It's the classic close range vs. long range scenario. Koneko needs to get close, and Raynare doesn't want her to."

"Raynare-san is really strong," Asia whispered nervously to herself, although everyone else heard her. Devil senses. Very handy.

"In a way," Rias replied before clarifying, "If you are talking about power-wise, she isn't that impressive. Even with a bishop promotion, she's average in pure power. That doesn't mean she's weak either. Her control over her light spears is above-average for a fallen angel with only one set of wings. She capable of creating more than one, and is able to make them explosive. It gives her a good versatility. Her flight capabilities are also rather impressive. Clearly the mark of someone who prefers to fight from the air. She also clearly has the experience necessary to alter her tactics and form strategies in the heart of the moment."

"I doubt she would be using such an energy demanding strategy if she didn't have the bishop promotion. She'd burn herself out too quickly," Akeno pointed out harshly as Raynare once again unleashed a barrage of light spears towards Koneko.

"True, but that is the point of practicing with the promotion. For her to learn how to effectively fight in such a state. For her to ignore her larger reserves while fighting as a bishop would be wasteful," Rias countered immediately.

Akeno reluctantly acceded that point. She still grunted out, "Still doesn't help her personality."

"Her attitude is a problem," Rias admitted hesitantly before continuing, "She clearly still has a problem with working alongside devil, and she isn't hiding her disgruntlement with the situation. She's being unsociable, aloof, and downright hostile."

"You mean she's being a bitch," Akeno stated openly.

Those that heard her stared at her due to her profanity. Akeno always put up the 'respectable onee-sama' appearance, so she rarely if ever acted vulgar. Raynare was clearly affecting her even more than anyone had suspected.

Naruto sighed as he realized he'd have to talk to her now. Stepping forward, Naruto forced down his trepidation of Akeno and placed a hand on her shoulder. She looked at him with wide eyes from the contact. He quickly requested seriously, "Can I talk to you in private for a minute?"

Akeno just stared at him as she questioned in astonishment, "Talk to _me_?…In private?"

"Why is that such a surprise?" Naruto asked indignantly.

"Well, you haven't spoke to me alone…ever," Akeno pointed out suspiciously.

"Yeah. In fact, you tend to be unnerved by her very presence," Rias quickly added.

Massaging the bridge of his nose in frustration, Naruto replied in a forced even tone, "Okay, but I really need to talk to her now. Is that okay, sadist-chan?"

Akeno still looked suspicious, but eventually that faded and a new gleam entered her eyes. She nodded happily as she claimed, "Of course, Naruto-kun."

"Thanks," Naruto let out in relief.

Gesturing with his hand, he lead Akeno away from Rias and Asia. He opened the door to the stairs for her, and then closed it behind them. The two stopped there. No need to go too far.

"So what is it you wanted to talk to me about, Naruto-kun?" Akeno asked.

Leaning against the wall, Naruto looked at her as he informed her, "I want to talk to you about things between you and Raynare. Specifically, I want you to try and be a bit more…amenable and understanding towards her."

"So you're taking her side?" Akeno demanded with a scowl forming on her pretty face. She then declared angrily, "Why?! Do you know what she did? She was willing to kill Asia just a week ago, and she's only proven herself a selfish, power-hungry bitch since. She-"

"Revealed your secret?" Naruto finished for her knowingly.

Akeno took a few deep breaths to calm herself before replying evenly, "She knows nothing about this household."

"And she won't ever if we don't give her a chance."

"She's been uncooperative, rude, and unpleasant to us all."

"You've been the same to her."

"Why are you taking her side?!" Akeno once again demanded as Naruto countered each of her statements.

"I'm not taking sides," Naruto insisted. Stepping a bit closer to Akeno, who seemed to grow somewhat shy at the closeness, he told her serious, "I'm just trying to resolve this situation. I'm already working with Raynare concerning her behavior, but it will take time. In the meantime, this can't be a one way street. Even before she said a word to you, you've been looking for a reason to unload on her. Admit it."

"She shouldn't even be here," Akeno exclaimed in rage, her control apparently snapping. "Buchou made a mistake. Maybe that is partly my mistake for encouraging her to expand her peerage, but it is still a mistake. Buchou spent a week quelling all the protests recruiting Raynare instigated in the Underworld. Her reputation took a huge hit for 'consorting with the enemy,' and that bimbo doesn't even care. She's not going to change because it's in her nature to be selfish and uncaring towards others. She's a fallen angel. We are devils. We are inherently enemies. Nothing is going to change that, and expecting her to change will only end in tragedy."

Naruto just looked at the furious queen in a vague sense of disappointment. Sighing, he locked eyes with her before asking softly, "So I assume you feel the same about Asia?"

"Asia is an entirely different matter," Akeno quickly claimed.

"Really? How? Asia was a nun. She still believes in the biblical god. Wouldn't that make her our enemy as well? Yet you seem pretty accepting of her," Naruto pointed out. Akeno couldn't make out a counter, so Naruto continued, "Plus, you apparently have fallen angel blood. Does that make you an ene-"

"Don't you dare lump me in with them. Don't you dare. Not you," Akeno snapped out, almost looking close to tears.

Which made Naruto feel like a complete dick. He had clearly touched upon a very sensitive issue for Akeno. Letting out a sigh, Naruto told Akeno comfortingly, "Sorry. That came out wrong. I didn't mean it like that."

Leaning back against the wall, Naruto took several moments to think before bursting out, "You just aren't making sense. You are trying to justify hating Raynare, but you don't hate her for that reason. Call something what it is. You don't hate Raynare because you perceive her to be an enemy. You hate her because she is a fallen angel…I'm not going to try and claim I understand what you are thinking, and I'm not going to try and press you to explain just why you hate fallen angels. I simply want you to try and be rational about this. Give Raynare a chance."

Akeno looked at Naruto solemnly for several moments, obviously thinking intently on his words. Finally she lowered her head to break eye contact with him. She then shook her head before proclaiming in a trembling voice, "I-I'm sorry, Naruto-kun. I just…I just can't. I can't forgive that man. Not even for you."

Naruto assumes 'that man' is meant to mean Akeno's father, who is apparently a fallen angel. So the real problem she has is with her father, and that grudge has spread to include all fallen angels. He's not really sure what she meant by not even him, but that isn't important.

"Then ignore her," Naruto exclaimed without thought. When Akeno looked at him in surprise, Naruto told her in a rush, "Pretend she doesn't exist. Interact with her only when necessary. Even if that is better than you and her taking shots at each other or, god forbid, you two actually fight. Just do what you need to stay in control around her."

Akeno actually seemed surprised by his suggestion. He hoped it was something she could do. While far from an ideal relationship between the two, that would involve the two without clothes, a bed, some melted chocolate, and Naruto watching with a video camera…but Naruto could be satisfied as long as the two aren't at each other's throats.

Akeno seemed unsure, but finally whispered, "Okay." Naruto fist pumped, but his celebratory gesture was cut short when Akeno continued, "But you have to do something for me, Naruto-kun."

Tilting his head, Naruto grinned easily before replying, "Sure. Anything. What do you want?"

Akeno flushed slightly and seemed to revert to a personality similar to Asia's. Looking down, she shuffled her feet before she looked up at him with somewhat red cheeks and requested, "Call me by my name?"

Naruto blinked in surprise. That's it?

"Okay. If that's what you want…Akeno-senpai," Naruto said as he rubbed the back of his head. That was actually kind of embarrassing. Much more than it should have been.

Akeno seemed a bit let down by his words, but recovered quickly. Shaking her head with a small smile, she announced, "Okay. I shall do my best to not fry Raynare. I still think this is a mistake, but I can't refuse if it's Naruto-kun requesting it of me. I'll simply restrict myself to watching and waiting."

Thanks," Naruto told her with a wide grin. He then added, "There is one another thing I wanted to talk to you about."

That surprised Akeno, and she asked with a tilt to her head, "What do you mean?"

Naruto grew a bit sheepish. Rubbing the back of his head, he looked away as he told her anxiously, "I know I said I wasn't going to press you about your heritage, and I'm not. I did however want to tell you that while I can't know exactly how you feel, I have had my own issues with my father and having a power I didn't want. I'm not going to force it, but I just wanted you to know that if you ever wanted to talk about it…I'm here."

Akeno just stared at him with wide eyes. Naruto couldn't tell what she was thinking. Feeling increasingly awkward as her gaze didn't relent, Naruto finally turned around and opened the door back to the basement.

"Let's get back to the group, shall we?" Naruto said as he held the door open for Akeno.

Which seemed enough to snap her out of whatever thoughts she had been consumed by. Shaking her head while smiling, she walked past him into the large basement. Naruto quickly followed after her.

As the two approached the group, Naruto scanned them. It appears the spar between Raynare and Koneko has ended. Koneko was looking worn, with a number of light burns on her. Her clothes were also basically shreds by this point. Raynare was looking untouched besides her right arm, which she was holding very gingerly. It was also being healed by Asia. To the side Rias was talking.

"You did well, Raynare-san. You had the advantage for most of the spar, but your fighting style needs work. You seem to favor an energy demanding style. The problem is that even with a bishop promotion, you don't have the reserves necessary to keep it up for too long. So you burned yourself out quickly, thus allowing Koneko to close with you to land a hit," Rias explained in a lecturing voice. Raynare didn't look happy at the criticism, but didn't argue either. So she clearly saw that Rias was right. Nodding happily at her rebellious servant's compliance, Rias turned to Koneko and said, "You did well, Koneko. You fought an opponent that refused to close with you, but you stayed calm. You patiently pursued her and did your best to avoid taking any serious damage. I wish you had controlled your final strike though. Breaking Raynare's arm when she blocked meant you put a far more force into the punch than necessary."

"…She was throwing light spears at me," Koneko pointed out bluntly, a hint of a whine in her voice.

Rias looked amused as she replied, "True, and I already berated her for putting more power into those spears than necessary. Asia's healing ability does mean we can spar more recklessly, but we should do our best to avoid breaking limbs."

"Fine," Koneko grumbled softly.

"Alright. Your arm is all healed, Raynare-san," Asia announced as she stepped away from Raynare. She then turned to Koneko and started healing her as she hummed to herself, "Heal~. Heal well~."

Raynare tested out her arm before commenting in grudging respect, "Very useful sacred gear."

Deciding to ignore the possible implications of that statement, Rias informed Raynare carefully, "Your fighting ability is good. My only recommendation is for you to work on wasting less energy while fighting. The number of light spears you squandered needlessly was considerable. Even with a bishop promotion you were only capable of keeping it up for a short time. You never know when we might become embroiled in a long fight or even a gauntlet of opponents. We can't have you exhausting yourself after ten minutes in such a situation."

"Understood," Raynare grumbled.

Nodding happily, Rias turned to Naruto and suggested, "Alright. So we've gone over Asia and Raynare's progress and future plans. What about you, Naruto-kun? Anything you feel I should know?"

Thinking for a moment, Naruto started, "Well I have shifted my training plans since I rescued Asia. Before I was focusing on tempering my rook characteristics. My hand to hand. I feel I've reached a satisfactory level in that respect though, and have switched to gaining some mid to long-range capabilities. So far I've focused on recreating some wind jutsu."

"I see. Any progress?"

Nodding, Naruto strode in front of them till he faced the empty half of the large basement. Naruto quickly gathered wind chakra around his hand without using hand seals. Swiping his hand through the air, the gathered wind chakra shot out in a blade of wind chakra. The blade covered the length of the basement and connected with the wall. The fuinjutsu reinforced stone resisted the cutting attack, but no one watching didn't see the potential damage such an attack could do to a person.

Naruto waited till the wind he had kicked up calmed down before turning to face the group and explaining, "It has been going very well. My smaller chakra reserves and previous training meant I was able to refine my control over wind chakra quickly. After that I've just had to focus on recreating whatever wind jutsu I've seen before."

Unfortunately, Naruto hadn't really ever learned that many wind jutsu himself. He had only learned nature manipulation to finish the Rasengan, so he hadn't ever garnered an impressive reservoir of techniques. Good thing he had still become an expert in using wind chakra. It meant he could recreate most of the wind jutsu he has seen. He's easily grasped how to form cutting attacks and pressure attacks. He's struggling a bit with successfully utilizing vacuums, but he'll manage it with a few weeks or months of experimenting and practice. The technique he had just performed was a rough reconstruction of the Beast Wave Palm he'd seen Sora use before.

"Wow, Naruto-san is amazing," Asia commenting in awe, making Naruto blush slightly.

"Yes, it is very impressive. While not as wide scale as most wind spells, his technique was noticeably more concentrated than what wind magic I've seen," Rias stated thoughtfully.

"…Weird use of chakra," Koneko added as she scrutinized Naruto.

Rubbing the back of his head and laughing, Naruto quickly admitted, "I still have a way to go. While I have the raw nature manipulation, I still haven't recreated most of the techniques to a point I can do them in a time a battle would require. I need more practice."

"Regardless, you are clearly well on your way," Rias pointed out with a smile. Looking at him, she questioned him seriously, "If you want to expand your ranged capabilities, it might be a good idea to continue your lessons in magic…Unless you intend to stick to your chakra."

Naruto quickly put his hands up and exclaimed, "Not at all. I never received nature manipulation training for any other element. I might be able to manage, but it would be slow. Better to just stick with wind for chakra, and use magic for the other elements. That way I can have a proper teacher tell me what to do."

Rias seemed pleased by his answer as she asked, "So have you given anymore thought towards what type of magic you'd like to learn?"

"I have actually," Naruto answered honestly. Cupping his chin in his hand, he turned to Akeno as he said, "Akeno-senpai told me that the elements fire, water, and thunder are the easiest to use."

Rias blinked in confusion at the difference in how he referred to Akeno, but just put it to the back of her mind as she replied, "That is correct. Fire and water particularly."

Nodding, Naruto explained, "I'm planning on learning some illusion magic, since I absolutely suck at genjutsu. Unfortunately, it appears to be a rather complex magic. Not something to learn as an amateur. So I decided to put that on hold, and instead learn a simpler magic as a stepping point to reach that point. I was debating between fire and water. Both are simple, and can be used with my wind jutsu to form collaboration techniques. So both were suitable. I finally decided on fire."

Rias grew thoughtful at that. After a few seconds, she nodded and claimed, "Fire. I approve. It fits your fighting style. Very offensive. Somewhat destructive."

"I thought so too," Naruto commented, not at all bothered by her calling him destructive. He kind of was.

"Illusion magic is another interesting choice, but you are right. It is a bit more of a complex magic. Not a good choice for a beginner," Rias continued as she considered. Shrugging, she said, "So it's a good idea to focus on fire for now. I'll arrange some time for me to teach you the basics."

"Ara ara, Buchou. Shouldn't I be the one to teach, Naruto-kun? I am more accomplished at using fire than you," Akeno interrupted by pointing out.

Rias' eyes narrowed at her queen. Closing her eyes, she said in a forced even tone, "True, but I am still proficient in fire. I also have more free time than you, Akeno. I've gathered all the necessary research on Rating Game strategies that we'll be needing for a while. You however still need to form contracts with clients."

Naruto just tilted his head in a as he watched Rias and Akeno start arguing with each other. Shrugging and deciding not to think about it too much, Naruto turned to look at Asia, Raynare, and Koneko. One in particular. "Koneko-chan."

The emotionless loli just looked at him blankly before asking, "What, Naruto-senpai?"

"I need your help," Naruto exclaimed bluntly.

Koneko tilted her head in slight confusion as she looked at him.

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The next day Naruto was standing in his basement, waiting.

His wait came to an end when the magic circle written on the floor lit up. Naruto waited as Koneko and Yuuto teleported into the room. Yuuto's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Naruto.

"I thought you said Naruto was out with a client, and we were going to spar, Koneko-chan?" Yuuto growled out as he glared at Naruto.

"I told her to bring you here," Naruto informed him calmly.

His words clearly incensed Yuuto, and he gave Koneko a betrayed look. Making a noise with his tongue, he turned and started walking back towards the magical circle as he snapped, "It appears I can't trust anyone."

The knight came to a stop though when a strong fingers grabbed the back of his uniform. He looked over his shoulder with angry eyes to see a sad looking Koneko holding him. It was like a sad kitten. Even his anger couldn't take the sight without weakening a bit.

"I'm sad without you around, Yuuto-senpai," Koneko whispered, more emotion in her voice than he had ever heard before.

"Koneko-chan," He muttered, struck by the melancholy she was showing.

"Don't you see, Yuuto?" Naruto said as he gestured at Koneko. He then continued, "This isn't just between you and Excalibur, or even me and you. This is affecting everyone in the club. You can bet Rias and Akeno are feeling your absence just as acutely as Koneko-chan."

Yuuto wavered a bit at that, allowing Koneko to tell him firmly, "Come back to us, Yuuto-senapi." She then let go of him and walked past him to stand in the magic circle. As it glowed around her, she looked at Naruto and practically ordered, "Come back with Yuuto-senpai, Naruto-senpai."

"I will," Naruto claimed without a shadow of a doubt in his voice. His words seemed to reassure her slightly as she teleported out of the room.

Silence stretched between the two for close to a minute. With the absence of Koneko, Yuuto's anger was once again growing. Standing in the very presence of a wielder of Excalibur was filling him with anger.

"I'm leaving," Yuuto finally grunted out as he started moving towards the teleportation circle.

"I don't think so," Naruto grumbled, and a wave of his hand sent a barrage of wind blades at the teleportation circle. They were weak, but still proved sufficient for destroying whatever part of the written circle they hit. Rias would be pissed at him for destroying it, but she'd understand. Yuuto was now trapped here with Naruto. The only exit left was the door, and Naruto was standing in Yuuto's way to reach it.

Something Yuuto no doubt realized. He quickly snarled out, "Let me leave. I have no desire to talk to you, Naruto."

"Well too bad because I want to talk to you," Naruto instantly retorted. Yuuto just turned his head away bluntly.

Sighing, Naruto closed his eyes and concentrating. Holding his right hand out, a golden magic circle sprang to life just before his hand. Reaching into it, he pulled out Excalibur Ruler. As soon as it appeared, Yuuto's killing intent doubled.

"This is what you want, isn't it?" Naruto asked as he held Excalibur Ruler up. Getting into a rough starting position, Naruto barked out, "Then come and get it."

"Watch yourself, Naruto. I might lose what little control I have left if you say something like that," Yuuto claimed with a frightening look in his eyes.

"I know, but it seems like I'll have to strip away whatever control you have to get to the heart of the problem," Naruto grumbled as he shifted his ready position slightly. He really needs to learn how to use a sword properly. Locking eyes with Yuuto, Naruto told him seriously, "I said come on. You want to destroy this sword. Come destroy it."

That was the breaking point for Yuuto. Half a dozen of his demon swords shot up from the ground, his Sword Birth at work. Grasping one, he shot toward at Naruto in a dash. Naruto was able to predict his movements though, and raised Excalibur Ruler up to block Yuuto's downward slash. Yuuto struggled fruitlessly against Naruto's strength for a moment, but soon gave up that fight. Jumping back, he shot in again with a sideward slash. Naruto opnce again blocked it.

"You've been wanting to do this all week, haven't you, Yuuto?" Naruto asked as he worked to block the numerous strikes Yuuto was sending towards him.

Grunting as his holy demon sword was blocked once again. Locking up with Naruto again, he admitted, "You're right. I have. The very thought of having that sword so close to me was too much for me."

Grunting as he shoved Yuuto back, Naruto demanded, "So why do you hate this sword so much?"

"Why didn't you ask Buchou if you wanted to know?" Yuuto questioned as he was once again pushed back by Naruto.

"Because I wanted to hear it from you," Naruto shouted as this time he charged Yuuto. Swinging with enough force that Yuuto's blade was knocked around whenever they connected, Naruto continued passionately, "This is your business. Your feelings. Your revenge. I want to understand."

"You can't understand," Yuuto angrily snapped as his arm shook from blocking another heavy strike from Naruto.

"Then help me understand," Naruto countered.

"Fine then," Yuuto snarled as he jumped away from Naruto. Throwing away the sword he had been using, he grasped two other sword. One in each hand. With a small incantation, one lit up with flames as the other was consumed with ice. Charging forward, he forced Naruto back with his rapid strikes as he raged out, "As a kid, I was part of a project by the church. The Holy Sword Project. As you know, only select individuals can naturally wield holy swords. The point of the project was to find a way to artificially create people capable of wielding holy swords. Specifically, the fragments of Excalibur."

Jumping back, Naruto grimaced slightly as a small cut on his chest throbbed. Yuuto had nicked him. Forcing the small pain back, Naruto looked at Yuuto as he questioned, "So what happened? What is so bad about that?"

"They treated us like animals," Yuuto yelled, actually pausing in his attack as he continued unleashing his long pent up feelings, "We were stripped of our freedom. We weren't even considered humans anymore. Days went by of that hell, but we still believed. We believed we had been chosen by God, and that one day we might become special. So we desperately held on, but…we couldn't do it. None of us could wield the holy swords. The experiment was a failure, and you know what they did then…They disposed of us in order to hide the existence of the project. My friends died to give me the chance to escape. As I lay in the snow, dying, I swore to get justice for my friends. That determination formed the basis of why Buchou revived me as a devil. It's why I became a devil. To destroy the swords that caused all our pain. All that death. And that's what I'm going to do now."

Yuuto jumped forward, swinging both his swords towards Naruto. Naruto just gritted his teeth, his head lowered so his bangs covered his eyes. As Yuuto's strike approached, the holy aura of Excalibur Ruler doubled as Naruto channeled his power into it.

"Don't fuck with me!" Naruto shouted as he swung Excalibur Ruler. The holy sword destroyed both of Yuuto's demon blades. The shocked Yuuto couldn't dodge as Naruto did a front kick to his chest. Yuuto flew backwards before sliding along the ground. As he struggled to his feet, Naruto gestured to Excalibur Ruler and declared angrily, "What the hell is wrong with you? _This is a sword_. A fucking sword. It was not responsible for what happened to you and your friends."

"It's because of those swords, because of their existence," Yuuto growled out as he got to his feet.

"No, it isn't because of the Excalibur fragments. Because they are swords. It's the fault of whatever asshole was in charge of that project. You are just focusing all your rage on these swords because you can't make that man pay. You need something to focus all your anger on, and you decided to do the next closest things. The reason the project was created," Naruto snapped out.

"What's your point?" Yuuto demanded as he grabbed another of his demon swords.

"My point is that you are being selfish. You are letting your desire for vengeance consume you. You are attacking an inanimate object in an attempt to make yourself feel better, and you are letting that hurt all those around you who care about you," Naruto exclaimed angrily.

"So?" Yuuto commented with a mocking grin despite the emptiness in his eyes. "Devils are naturally self-centered beings. It's only natural I work towards my goal with a single-minded determination, uncaring of what that entails."

"Don't use that crap on me," Naruto snarled out. "I have not felt a single thing like that since I became a devil. That's just an excuse for you to do what you want without feeling guilty."

"You just don't understand," Yuuto yelled as he once again charged Naruto. Their swords clashed against each other.

"Damn right I don't," Naruto exclaimed before telling him passionately, "I don't want to understand why you would be willing to hurt the people close to you for something like this. Didn't you hear Koneko-chan. She misses you, Yuuto. Rias-chan does as well. Akeno-senpai too. Don't you care that you are hurting them?!"

"Of course I do," Yuuto maintained before adding, "But this is something I have to do."

"No it isn't. It's something you are choosing to do," Naruto asserted as he avoided Yuuto's increasingly wild swings. "And if you continue like this, you won't succeed. All you'll achieve is an early death. Haven't you been wondering why I'm keeping up with you?"

"It's because you know my fighting style," Yuuto claimed as he kept trying to tattack Naruto.

"No, it's because you suck right now. You wouldn't even be a challenge if I wasn't using a sword. You aren't a knight right now. You're just trying to hack me to death in the most direct and violent way possible," Naruto informed him. He then continued passionately, "If fighting an Excalibur Ruler is enough to lower you to this point, what do you think will happen when you actually face one? One that knows what they are doing and is trying to kill you right back? You'll fucking lose. You'll leave the rest of us to grieve over you."

"You're wrong. I won't die. I don't care what I have to do. I will destroy the Excalibu-geh!"

Yuuto's declaration was ended when Naruto shot his head forward while clashing blades. The result was a crushing head butt. Yuuto's eyes crossed before rolling back in his head as Naruto's rock hard head connected with his own. He slowly tilted back to fall backwards. The dazed knight laid on his back, looking up at the ceiling with glazed over eyes. Blood was forming on his forehead.

Naruto breathed deeply as he watched Yuuto slowly come back to. When he felt the knight was coherent enough, Naruto threw his hands up in the air as he announced, "I don't want that, Yuuto. No one in the club wants that. We don't want to see you destroy yourself because of this hatred for the Excalibur's. I don't want to watch as another friend falls to darkness. If that means I have to sacrifice something, then so be it."

Naruto stabbed Excalibur Ruler into the ground. Stepping back, Naruto gestured at it as he told Yuuto, "You want to destroy Excalibur. Well that is what I'm giving you. The strongest fragment of Excalibur. I'm going to let you destroy it…but I demand something in return. If you destroy this blade, I want you to swear on your honor as a knight that afterwards you will never do this again. I don't care what happens. If another fragment shows up. You will never lash out like this again. You will give up this hatred of yours, Yuuto. That is my demand."

With that Naruto turned around and walked out of the basement. Yuuto watched him go with wide eyes before slowly turning to examine the sword that he had left behind. The strongest fragment of Excalibur. Right there. No one to defend it.

But Naruto's words kept running through his head. Swear upon his honor as a knight that he would give up his vengeance. A memory of his friends rang through his mind. He watched as they were ruthlessly gassed. As they held the armored soldiers down as they screamed for him to run. He has to destroy the fragments of Excalibur, for them.

Yet this time he thought of the Occult Research Club. Koneko misses him. He doesn't want to hurt her, and Rias is far to caring and stubborn to let him go without a fight. Akeno will probably go all S mode on him. He still has to see Gasper learn to control his sacred gear. He wants to spar with Naruto again. Like they used to, not this screaming match. He doesn't want to lose the life he's made here.

Feeling tears well up in his eyes, Yuuto crossed his arms over his eyes as he pondered this dilemma.

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Naruto laid on the couch as he waited for Yuuto to show up. It had already been half an hour since Naruto had left him down there. He had already treated the cut across his chest, and so there was nothing more to do until Yuuto came up. The other members of the Occult Research Club were at the clubroom, so there was no chance of an interruption.

Hearing the door open, Naruto turned his head to see look towards the stairs down to the basement. Yuuto was standing in the doorway. His eyes looked red, and there was still dried blood on his forehead. The two stared at each other in silence for close to a minute.

Naruto finally broke the silence by questioning blankly, "Well?"

"Excalibur Ruler is in the basement," Yuuto told him softly.

"In one piece?"

"Yes, in one piece."

"You are still going to try and destroy all the fragments of Excalibur," Naruto commented. It was a statement. Not a question.

"Yes," Yuuto whispered in an almost sad tone. Taking a deep breath, he explained, "I just…can't give it up. I owe it to all my friends who gave their lives for me." Naruto frowned and straightened. He was cut off when he opened his moth by Yuuto adding, "But…I'm going to do it my way. I'm not going to give up my ambition, but I'm also not going to give up the life I've made here."

Raising an eyebrow, Naruto quickly pointed out, "And how are you going to do that?"

"I'm going to control myself. I can't give up my hatred of Excalibur, but if I plan on destroying it entirely I need to have control. I've been consumed by my anger this past week," Yuuto admitted before looking at Naruto and declaring with a clear resolve, "I'll eventually destroy Excalibur Ruler, but it will be on better terms. I'll do something for you so great that you have no choice but to allow me to destroy it. And when I find other fragments, I'll have my comrades by my side. I'm not going to stop being a knight of the Gremory Clan to destroy the fragments of Excalibur. I'll destroy the fragments of Excalibur _as _a knight of the Gremory Clan. That is my resolve."

Naruto just looked at him blankly before a wide grin formed on his face. Throwing an arm around the knight's shoulder, Naruto exclaimed happily, "It may not be ideal, but that is definitely something I can accept."

"That's good. For what it's worth, I'm sorry with how I've been behaving since I found out you wielded Excalibur Ruler," Yuuto apologized sincerely, his head lowered in despondency.

"No issue. I'm just glad you came to your senses," Naruto replied honestly. His face then grew serious as he claimed earnestly, "I do however want to tell you one more thing. I can't claim to understand how you are feeling, but I do know what it is like to sacrifice one's life for others…They didn't do it so that you could avenge them, Yuuto. They did it so you could live. Don't forget that. If you don't want their sacrifice to be in vain, then live a long and happy life."

Yuuto looked at Naruto with wide eyes, unsure of how to respond. He'd forgotten that Naruto claimed to have willingly given his life to stop that 'Madara' person. Just to save his comrades. He can't completely accept his words. He still feels that the Excalibur fragments need to be destroyed before his friends can rest in peace, but…he would at least remember Naruto's words.

"I'll teleport us back to the clubroom. The others will want to talk to you," Naruto announced with a smile. The smile morphed into a smirk as he told Yuuto in a teasing voice, "Rias-chan hasn't been happy lately. She's probably going to punish you for acting out. I even heard her telling Akeno that you'll be receiving 1000 spanks."

That caused Yuuto to stiffen slightly. His bottom was already hurting, but he finally gave a forced laugh as he claimed, "I guess I deserve it slightly."

Naruto just laughed. Yuuto was not very convincing right then. He was definitely dreading that punishment.

Elbowing him in the ribs, Naruto shot him a small grin as he told him honestly, "Good to have you back, Yuuto."

Yuuto chuckled before replying sincerely, "Good to be back."

With that, the teleportation circle sprang up and teleported them away.

***Omake***

Naruto just stared out his window with a twitching eyebrow. "Touche, God. Touche."

Outside of Naruto's house, a vast crowd of people were gathered. Somehow it had gotten out on the internet that Naruto was the real writer of Icha Icha. His address was also leaked. The news had caused a mass migration of perverts to his house. Hence the crowd surrounding his mansion.

Geez, there were a lot of them. Thousands. They were just milling around out there. Some were chanting praises in his name, and others were doing public readings of certain passages of Icha Icha. It was like they were praising a god.

Massaging the bridge of his nose, Naruto let out a sigh. He couldn't even leave his house like this. He'd be mauled and torn apart.

Fine then. If God wants to curse Naruto with perverts, he'll shoot right back. Always escalate, bitch. A vicious smirk spread across Naruto's face as he came up with the perfect revenge.

Throwing open his largest window, the crowd of perverts cheered as Naruto was revealed to them.

"Naruto-sama!"

"Erogami-sama!"

"All hail the blessed writer of Icha Icha!"

Holding up his hands to call for quiet, the crowd silence and waited to hear him speak with baited breath. Taking a deep breath, Naruto announced loudly, "I am blessed to have followers such as you, but I have a request of all you. I am a Christian. I firmly believe God favors perverts. So I want us all to lead a prayer towards God, and do not hold back. Reveal all of your most private desires because God loves and accepts us all. So everyone…start praying for women, tits, asses, thighs, and everything else you might desire."

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"What is Michael-sama doing?"

"I'm not sure, Uriel-dono," Gabriel admitted as the two watched Michael slam his head into a stone pillar with horrible force. She then explained in confusion, "He just randomly froze. He then burst out in tears and covered his crotch before started smashing his head like that."

As the two stared at him, Michael just continued smashing his head. He had to overwhelm the thousands of perverted prayers with pain. He had to.

Why? Oh why did he escalate?! This was cruel and unusual!

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**So there it is. A lot of talking this chapter. Next chapter will be the familiar arc, which i'll be expanding a bit on.**

**Raynare: **_I said that Raynare wouldn't be a girl scout, and i proved it. As you can see, she's rude, impatient, and unsociable. Just because she is willing to work with devils doesn't mean she has to like it, which i clearly showed this chapter. I just feel this is the realistic response a fallen angel would have to ending up the servant of a devil. Changes in personality will be gradual and realistic(i hope)._

**Conflict in the peerage: **_In __the actual story, there is almost no conflict within Rias' peerage. Besides Yuuto in the Excalibur arc, the most conflict is between the girls fighting over Issei. I just don't think that is realistic. A group as closely knit as a peerage will have problems arise. This chapter really showed that. Yuuto and Akeno's grudge against fallen angels means they don't just accept Raynare, and Yuuto isn't just going to ignore that Naruto owns Excalibur Ruler. This chapter had a few patches made to these conflicts, but they certainly aren't completely settled yet._

**Magic: **_I got a lot of suggestions for Naruto's magic. Some were simple and solid, like fire, water, or ice. Others were creative and out there, illusion magic, reflection magic. So i decided on one of each. Fire and ice were the two most repeated forms of magic. Fire can be mixed with wind though, which is why i chose it instead of ice. Illusion magic just made sense to me. Naruto sucks at genjutsu, so he had to have some measure of defense in that field. It won't pop up for a while though. There is also a twist i'll be adding next chapter. I also expanded on Asia's abilities. As integral as Asia's healing ability is, i feel like some potential was wasted there in the light novels. So i decided to have her learn barriers and potion making. Both things i see as good support abilities._


	6. Gotta Catch'em All

**Yo everybody. I'm back. I actually wanted this chapter out four or five days ago, but it really ended up expanding. The final product is 24,000 words, my longest yet, and that is after i removed a 5,000 word scene. That scene will be in the next chapter since it wasn't really a specifically timed scene. So i've already got a quarter of the next chapter done. Hope you enjoy.**

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Landing softly on the roof of another house, Naruto's legs absorbed the impact before launching him back into the air. As he rose into the air, his eyes surveyed his surroundings. The darkness of night didn't affect him much as a devil, but he made sure to keep a good sense of his own position and remembered the linings of the houses. Didn't want to end up smashing into the side of a building instead of the roof simply because he started daydreaming.

Despite flying through the air at a high speed, it was quiet enough for Naruto to hear Asia's soft voice as she whispered in his ear, "Three houses down, four to the left." Naruto nodded and started heading that way.

Asia was currently riding on Naruto's back, her arms wrapped around his shoulders and his hands holding her thighs. She wasn't panicking at riding him through the night air. They'd already done this plenty of times before, so she had gotten used to it.

As Naruto alighted in front of the house she had told him about, he crouched down and let her off her back. Asia was currently wearing a white tracksuit. One of her hands held a red device, the radar that she was using to direct him to houses of people with strong greed. She walked up to the nearby mailbox. Reaching into one of her pockets, she came out holding one of the fliers to summon them. Slipping it in, she turned back to Naruto with a smile.

"We are almost done, Naruto-san," she told him happily.

"Great. Let's hurry it up and finish," Naruto replied as he allowed the former nun to climb back onto his back. With her position fixed once more, Naruto took a monumental leap to start his roof hopping.

It had been close to a month now since Asia and Raynare had become a devil. During that time this had become a regular activity between Naruto and Asia. It was Naruto helping Asia hand out her fliers. She had been diligent at handing out her fliers, much more than him, but it quickly became apparent that she was rather slow at it. Asia was capable of flying, but she didn't particularly like to. She also wasn't physically adept, since her training revolved around magic and other sedentary tasks. She was simply incapable of covering the distance the other members of the club could manage.

So Naruto stepped in. Doing this benefited both parties. Asia got to hand out her fliers faster, and Naruto similarly handed out his fliers using this method. It could also be counted as a bit of training, carrying her and running all over town. He didn't need to worry about people seeing him. Not only was it night, but since they were working people ignored them. It had something to do with their demonic power.

Not a whole lot had changed in the last few weeks concerning the Occult Research Club. It was just business as usual. Everyone was training. Serving clients. Attending school.

The only point to note was actually concerning Raynare. The fallen angels attitude hadn't changed much at all, but something had quickly become apparent. She was actually very skilled at forming contracts with clients. Within a fortnight of starting to work with clients, she was already outpacing the other members of the Occult Research Club in the number of contracts she was forming. She was just extremely skilled at interacting with clients. It really shouldn't have been a surprise. Raynare overall has more experience at interacting, and manipulating, humans than the rest of them put together. She is several centuries old after all. Despite her usual aloof attitude, Raynare was very good at influencing people when she tries. It's simply a fact that there are some annoying and uncooperative clients. Everyone in the club has accepted that by this point. Some clients were just difficult to work with. Raynare just seemed to be able to manage around everyone, no matter their attitude. It wasn't just in the pure number of contracts she managed to make either. She is capable of negotiating greater rewards for the same, or even less, amount of work as the rest of them. It was impressive. No one could deny that.

Otherwise not a whole lot had changed. Yuuto had returned to the club. He didn't really get along with Raynare, but he was at least able to tolerate her. His relationships with the rest of the club had also returned to normal. Akeno and Raynare were able to be in the same room as long as they ignored each other. Things were stable, if not idyllic.

Naruto's thoughts were prematurely ended when Asia told him, "Naruto-san. It is already after midnight. This is enough for tonight."

Naruto quickly looked up at the sky. Confirming her words by the position of the moon, he nodded and replied, "Got it, Asia. Let's head home. We'll pick up tomorrow."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Does anyone have any particular plans tonight or tomorrow?" Rias asked the gathered members of her peerage.

Naruto looked at her curiously from where he was sitting. Another couch had been added to the clubroom so that everyone could sit down. Naruto was next to Raynare. Akeno was with Asia. And that left Yuuto and Koneko together. As usual, Rias was sitting behind her desk.

Everyone answered her in the negative, with Naruto finishing, "Besides school, just the usual. Asia and I will be handing out fliers tonight."

"You can pass on that. There will be no need for that anymore. We'll be skipping school tomorrow. I've already arranged it with Sona," Rias announced to the group.

"I'm certainly not complaining, but is there are specific reason we'll be skipping?" Raynare questioned suspiciously. It likely meant they had a job or something.

"Glad you asked, Raynare-san. You see tomorrow we'll be going to get you, Naruto, and Asia familiars," Rias claimed with a pleased smile.

"A familiar?" Asia asked with a tilted head.

"Yes. Familiars are extra hands for us devils. They are one of our most basic tools, although partners is a better way of putting it. They can perform tasks like delivering messages, searching for objects or people, and nearly all familiars can learn basic magic spells. Depending on the familiar, they can even fight alongside us or provide unique abilities," Rias explained in a lecturing voice. Holding up a hand, a red bat appeared above her hand with only a puff of smoke to herald its entrance. She then continued, "Among this household, only you three lack a familiar. This is my familiar."

"This one is mine," Akeno announced as pointed at the floor. A small green Oni appeared. She quickly added, "I have a small family of them."

"…This is Shiro," Koneko said as she cuddled a cute little kitten with fur the same color as her hair.

"This little one is mine," Yuuto said as a small bird appeared on his shoulder.

As Naruto and Asia examined the familiars, Raynare questioned with a raised eyebrow, "If familiars are so important, why are we just now getting one?"

"It's mainly just tradition," Rias admitted casually before clarifying, "One of the more typical duties of a familiar is distributing fliers to clients. However handing out the fliers is one of the basics for reincarnated devils, so some time is placed between reincarnating someone as a devil and getting them a familiar. Typically a month. Naruto was just about ready when you and Asia joined, but I decided to wait and do you all as one group."

"Wait. So you mean we had to hand out all those fliers for a tradition?" Raynare demanded in outrage. She was amazing at interacting with clients, but that didn't transfer over to handing out the fliers. That's was still plain annoying and tiresome.

"It's training. Distributing fliers personally is the best way to form your own client base. It also teaches you patience," Rias quickly argued.

Raynare clearly didn't agree, but Asia spoke up first, "Ano, how do you get a familiar?"

"It's actually quite a simple process, if one that has an inordinate amount of uncertainty and reliance on luck," Rias commented before finishing, "We'll be going tomorrow morning to a special area where you will get your familiars. So I expect you to relax tonight and be in top condition tomorrow. The area isn't usually dangerous to devils as long as the proper precautions are taken, but anything can happen. There are many dangerous creatures there that could attack if we aren't careful."

Everyone nodded in understanding.

Until Naruto looked towards Yuuto and asked, "Hey, Yuuto. Want to go practice swords?"

"What did I just say, Naruto-kun?" Rias demanded with an exasperated sigh.

"You said to be in top condition tomorrow. That doesn't mean Yuuto and I can't have a bit of sword practice. We'll go easy," Naruto reasoned without much care.

It had taken a week of convincing for Naruto to get Yuuto to start teaching him swordsmanship, and even then they had to practice with bokkens. Yuuto refused to teach him while using Excalibur Ruler. It wasn't very serious practice. Naruto had no plans to become a serious swordsman, but Excalibur Ruler deserved more than being used as a club. He could at least learn the basics of using a sword. Naruto worked best when he had room to improvise and adapt during a fight anyway. He generally avoided strict or complex fighting styles. Naruto went by the seat of his pants. It's his modus operandi.

"Don't worry, Buchou. I'll make sure Naruto stops before he exhausts himself," Yuuto claimed with a reassuring smile towards Rias.

Rias looked hesitant, but eventually sighed and reluctantly admitted, "I guess that is acceptable. Seriously though, don't exhaust yourself. We'll be heading there at eight in the morning, and probably won't be leaving till nightfall. A full day."

"Got it, Rias-chan. Only eight hours of sparring then," Naruto said teasingly, doing a sarcastic salute.

Rias just groaned and replied by stating, "Yuuto. You are in charge."

"Got it, Buchou."

"Hey," Naruto cried out indignantly. Turning his head away while pouting, Naruto grumbled, "I was just joking. I'm not a child that needs supervising."

"You certainly act like a child," Raynare quickly commented.

Instead of replying in a mature manner, Naruto stuck his tongue out at the fallen angel while pulling one of his eyelids down. His counter caused her eye to twitch in irritation.

Chuckling awkwardly, Yuuto placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder as he told him, "Not helping your case, Naruto."

"Ah, who cares?" Naruto remarked with a shrug before adding, "If being an adult means being all serious and contemplative all the time, I'm perfectly fine with being a child."

"You preach too much to behave like a child all the time. Just makes you seem hypocritical," Raynare remarked snidely.

"I'm not preachy," Naruto immediately snapped back. Kind of a lie, but Raynare has made a habit of pointing it out. It's starting to annoy him.

"Sure you aren't. Now how about you two go play together with your swords. Cause that isn't gay at all," Raynare ordered gesturing for them to leave.

"…I'm gonna break you next time I train you," Naruto grunted after a second of glaring at Raynare. She tried to act like she didn't care, but Naruto saw her face pale slightly.

Never piss of the person training you. They can just ramp up the sadism during your next session. It's a lesson Naruto has learned well. Jiraiya didn't throw Naruto into that canyon just to learn how to summon the Kyuubi's chakra. Pa didn't beat Naruto over the head with that stick just to remove the nature energy from him. He just pissed them off a bit too much.

Satisfied that Raynare was secretly terrified, Naruto walked to the magic circle and said, "Come on, Yuuto." Once Yuuto joined him, the two teleported out of the clubroom.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The entire Occult Research Club appeared from within a crimson magic circle. They were in a varied state of dress. Rias, Akeno, Koneko, and Asia all chose to go in their academy uniforms. Yuuto and Raynare decided on tracksuits, Yuuto a gray and white one with Raynare in a purple and black one. Naruto was wearing his preferred workout/fighting clothes. White cargo pants, modified sandals, orange sleeveless shirt, and a white cloth around his head to hold back his longer hair. He'd even put on the white and orange armored gloves Rias had gotten him, just in case.

As they arrived, Rias immediately announced, "This is a special forest containing many magical creatures that can be turned into familiars for devils."

The Familiar Forest. It was…actually something of a let down. The trees are very large, but almost entirely devoid of leaves or other signs of life. The trees blocked much of the sky, and what sky they could see was overcast. The two together made it seem like it was nighttime, and not morning. It's thankful they are all devils and can thus see in the dark. Overall it looked like a stereotypical creepy forest you see in movies.

"This place is creepy," Raynare commented as she scanned the surroundings with a pronounced frown.

"No kidding. It reminds me of a number of horror movies I've seen. I'm just waiting for zombies to start bursting out of the ground," Naruto stated in agreement. His words seemed to frighten Asia slightly, and she started clinging to his side.

"It's not that bad. We all got our familiars here," Yuuto claimed in a reassuring voice.

"Gotta catch'em all!"

"With his help," Rias instantly announced as she looked up into the trees.

They all turned to see someone standing among the branches. He was a middle-aged man with red hair. He was wearing some loose shorts, a white wife beater, a backwards cap, and a backpack. He looked rather weird to Naruto, like a guy that hasn't accepted he stopped being young fifteen years ago.

"I'm Zatouji, the Familiar Master. I can catch any familiar," the man announced while making a weird symbol with his hands.

Naruto looked at the man skeptically, Asia looked nervous, and Raynare appeared exasperated.

Seeing their looks, Akeno quickly informed them, "He's a familiar master. They are a small group of people that study familiars. They are professionals when it comes to familiars."

"Yes. They also aid young devils in obtaining familiars. I arranged to meet with him today over three weeks ago. Today we'll be gaining you three familiars with his advice and assistance," Rias explained to them before looking at the man and adding, "Good morning, Zatouji-san. Thank you for your assistance this day."

"No problem, Ojou-sama. I need to work to eat as well, and your family has always been generous," the man declared as he jumped down to the ground.

"These three are the ones I spoke of," Rias told him as she pointed towards Naruto, Asia, and Raynare.

"I see. A blonde bishoujo with a pure aura, an attractive brunette with some noticeable darkness, and a wild looking blond with a strong, but gentle presence to him. OK. Leave it to me. I can definitely work with you to gain familiars," the man claimed as he looked over the three of them. He then questioned, "Now what are you looking for in a familiar? Something that can fly? Or something fast? A good hiding ability?"

The three didn't reply immediately. Naruto looked between Asia and Raynare, but it was clear they didn't know. So Naruto shrugged and replied, "I'd like something with some abilities in healing. I've got no talent at it, and I'd like having at least something at my disposal that can."

Zatouji cupped his chin as he thought out loud, "Healing ability. Difficult, but not impossible. Most familiars can learn magic. Healing magic is a bit more complex than the simple magic, but it is-"

"No, that isn't what I meant," Naruto quickly interrupted. Patting Asia's shoulder, Naruto clarified, "If it's simple healing magic, then Asia's Twilight Healing is far superior. She however can't cure exhaustion, illnesses, or amputated limbs. I'm not saying they have to be able to handle those things, but I expect more than ordinary healing magic. Rias-chan and Akeno-senpai can do that. I'm looking for something…out of the ordinary."

"That wouldn't be a low-tier familiar, boy," Zatouji announced seriously.

"What do you mean by that?" Naruto asked in confusion.

"You don't even know that? Did you not take the time to study familiars at all beforehand?" Zatouji asked mockingly.

Eye twitching in annoyance, Naruto grunted out, "We learned about coming here yesterday. Of course we didn't study."

"Alright, alright," Zatouji replied before taking a lecturing posture and starting, "The familiar classification system was created by devils back during the Great War. It categorizes familiars into three categories. Low-tier, mid-tier, and high-tier. Low-tier familiars are those that lack any unique traits or characteristics, and have specs too low to be used in battles. They are usually magical version of ordinary animals. As low-class devils currently aiming to gain your first familiar, it is expected for you to start with a low-tier familiar."

"And why is that? Not criticizing low-tier familiars, but they seem to be the least useful," Naruto pointed out, not getting the explanation.

Zatouji immediately answered like it should be obvious, "They are, but they are also the easiest to handle. Mid and high-tier familiars are much more difficult for their masters. They can be rarer, harder to tame, outright dangerous, require long ceremonies to attract, or any number of challenges. Low-tier familiars are generally nonviolent and passive, easy to take care of, and relatively simple to find. So it is acknowledged that newbie's like you start with low-tier familiars."

Rias then told Naruto calmly, "Devils aren't restricted to only one familiar, Naruto-kun. Some ultimate-class devils actually have around half a dozen familiars, often times all of different abilities and uses. As a devil matures and grows stronger, they are capable of handling more powerful familiars. As young devils without familiars though, it is recommended to start with the easiest familiars."

Now Naruto gets it. So as a rookie, it is expected for them to start with beginner level familiars, aka low-tier ones. Then they gradually work their way up from there.

Naruto never liked doing things conventionally though. Looking at Rias, Naruto asked seriously, "But there is nothing that says we can't aim for a higher level familiar, right?"

Sighing, Rias knew Naruto was already set on this. So she reluctantly acceded and answered, "No. There isn't."

"Then I want to aim for a different familiar, Rias-chan. Will you give me permission?" Naruto requested earnestly.

"I don't think not giving it will stop you," Rias commented bluntly.

"…True, but I'd certainly prefer having your permission," Naruto claimed with a sheepish grin.

"Alright. I give you my permission," Rias stated hesitantly. Her eyes turned a bit sharp as she told him solemnly, "Know the risk you are taking though. Mid and high-tier familiars aren't easy to claim. Chances are high that you will fail to obtain one today. You can come back here anytime, but you will be on your own. It takes weeks to schedule assistance with a familiar master. If you don't have a familiar, you will also have to continue handing out your fliers by hand. Understand?"

"Got it, Rias-chan. I'll take full responsibility," Naruto declared with a confident smile.

"Ufufufu, should have expected this. Naruto-kun isn't one to give up what he wants," Akeno commented.

"…You mean he's stubborn," Koneko quickly added.

"And an idiot." Raynare.

"I'm not sure whether to admire his determination or condemn his foolishness," Zatouji claimed with a small, slightly mocking, smile. Shrugging he continued, "If you want to continue though, I should at least explain the other groups to you."

"So there are mid and high-tier familiars. Despite what the names might imply, high-tier familiars aren't inherently superior to mid-tier ones. The familiars that fit into these groups are those that have special or unique traits and characteristics. The only difference is whether those abilities are related to battle or not. High-tier familiars are those that are considered inherently suitable for battle. Bigger, stronger, faster, more powerful magic, that sort of stuff. Incidentally, that means most high-tier familiars are difficult to tame and possibly dangerous to their owner. Mid-tier familiars are those that have traits or abilities not directly related to battle. These familiars tend to be rare, difficult to attract, and oftentimes are difficult to take care of."

"So why are those battle worthy considered 'high-tier'? The mid-tier familiars seem just as useful. Not everything is about battle," Naruto pointed out.

"You got to remember this system was made by devils back during the Great War. At the time the greatest concern of devils was defeating the angels and fallen angels. So those familiars useful in battle were more highly valued at the time," Zatouji easily explained.

"That makes sense," Naruto admitted as he thought over it.

"Of course it does. Now what did you say you wanted? A familiar with an unusual healing capability?" Zatouji said to himself. He then started muttering out loud as he thought, "That's actually a tall order. The horn of unicorns are treasured as a medicine to cure everything, but they only are attracted to pure virgin females…Phoenixes are legendary creatures rare to the point of nonexistence…Sky dragons too difficult to find outside of tall mountains…Gulon aren't in this region…Ruamano only found at sea…What about?…Yes, yes. That would work. Difficult, but possible."

Straightening, Zatouji looked at Naruto before announcing, "The only possible option for you would be a fairy."

"A fairy?" Naruto asked with a tilted head.

"Yes, a fairy. Also called pixies. They are small spirits. Their main characteristic is a type of dust they produce, unimaginatively called fairy or pixie dust. It is an extremely valuable component in potion making and alchemy. The main advantage of having a fairy as a familiar is economically. An ounce of fairy dust is worth a good chunk of change to the right people. Usually it has to be gathered from areas of heavy fairy activity, a difficult and inefficient method. A person with fairies as a familiar can gather it much easier. The reason I recommend it to you is that when the dust is fresh, it contains healing properties. The specifics vary on the type of fairy," Zatouji clarified expertly.

"Okay," Naruto replied, not seeing anything wrong with that.

"Aren't fairies difficult to make familiars though?" Rias questioned in concern.

"Of course. Fairies are more holy creatures, and thus rarely bond with devils. They are also extremely fickle, and don't usually interact with other beings," Zatouji admitted.

"So why are you recommending them to Naruto?" Rias immediately demanding.

"I'm recommending them because they are the only option available. All other familiars with natural healing capabilities are unsuitable for various reasons. Even a bad option is the best choice when it is the only option. Unless of course he is willing to change his desire," Zatouji explained before looking at Naruto expectantly.

Crossing his arms to form an X, Naruto claimed, "Nope. I want what I want, and I'm going to get it."

Rias just sighed at his answer before grumbling, "Your stubbornness is probably going to come bite you in the ass right now, Naruto-kun."

"Well lucky for you, I know the procedure to gain a fairy as a familiar," Zatouji declared smugly before raising a finger and elaborating, "It is a three-step process. The first step involves gathering a variety of ingredients. Once you have gathered them all, they can be mixed to create a powder that smells extremely pleasant to fairies. It is the bait. It will draw all the fairies in the region. The next step is creating a sort of shrine or offering with objects important to you. The fairies drawn by the smell will judge you based on this shrine. The third step is basically just waiting. Any fairies that find you satisfactory will come up to you. After that you form the typical familiar contract."

"Sounds simple," Naruto commented thoughtfully.

"It isn't," Zatouji immediately argued before explaining, "The first step is relatively simple, if rather time consuming. The second is the easiest, but the third step is fraught with uncertainty. I have seen devils try to court a fairy to become a familiar for months or even years without success, and others succeed in days. There is no guarantee."

"I don't care," Naruto claimed nonchalantly before continuing with a confident grin, "I tend to shine in difficult situations with little chance of success. It's when things are going well that things go to hell. This is right up my alley." Whenever life gets too easy for Naruto, his luck turns to shit. Yet it is always luck that tends to save him when things seem hopeless. It is hit or miss like that.

"Confident without any basis for it. You really are an idiot," Raynare exclaimed bluntly.

"It is fine, Naruto-san. I know you will succeed," Asia said honestly.

"Aww, you are so supportive, Asia," Naruto exclaimed loudly, pulling the nun into a hug and rubbing his cheek against the top of her head. She naturally blushed at the contact. Naruto then lifted his head to glare at Raynare as he added childishly, "Not like that meanie, Ray-chan."

"Ray-chan?" Raynare repeated in disbelief, sounding out the nickname like it was completely foreign. Rubbing her forehead in annoyance, she just turned her back on Naruto as she added, "No…Just…no. I'm not even going to acknowledge that stupid nickname."

Grinning mischievously, Naruto let go of Asia and darted towards the fallen angel. Moving to face her, he said slowly and clearly, "Ray-chan."

Raynare just turned her back on him again, trying to ignore him completely. He tried again, but the cycle just repeated. She refused to even acknowledge that nickname. The best way to punish an attention whore like Naruto is to ignore him entirely. It pisses him off more than anything…Or he'll just think of this as a game to see who's more stubborn.

Just sweat dropping at how Naruto has seemingly forgotten what they were talking about, Yuuto turned to Zatouji and questioned, "You said that the first task was time consuming? Just how long does it usually take?"

"I'd say a week. Travel isn't an issue since devils can fly, but most of these ingredients are prized by several inhabitants of this forest. They'll give them up, but usually require you to perform tasks in payment," Zatouji answered.

Proving he had been listening, Naruto stopped trying to bug Raynare in favor of declaring, "I better hurry then. If I plan to finish by tonight."

"Impossible."

Naruto just grinned at Zatouji's statement and replied confidently, "I'll make you eat those words, ossan."

Zatouji looked annoyed at how he was addressed, but still pulled out a notepad. Writing on it for a minute, he tore it off and shoved it in Naruto's hand as he informed him, "This is a list of the ingredients you'll need to gather."

"Got it. I'll go gather them now," Naruto claimed enthusiastically.

"Wait. You're going to leave us, Naruto-san," Asia asked uncertainly.

"Not at all," Naruto said with a mischievous grin, only confusing the group. How can he go collect ingredients and stay with them at the same time? Grin only widening at their confusion, Naruto crossed his fingers and called out, "Kage Bunshin no Jutsu." A second Naruto appeared beside him in a puff of smoke.

Everyone just stared in disbelief. Naruto decided not revealing this technique before was worth it. He'd only felt confident enough in his chakra reserves a week ago to use this technique again. He'd kept it hidden though so that he could see all their faces. Totally worth it.

Patting his clone on the shoulder, Naruto explained to the shocked group, "This could probably have been called my trademark technique before coming here. The Shadow Clone Technique. It creates near perfect copies of myself."

"…Such a glorious technique," Akeno finally proclaimed in awe, a blush spreading across her face as X-rated thoughts went through her mind.

Koneko just stared at her dispassionately before muttering, "…Ero-senpai." Akeno didn't even seem to hear the remark or just didn't care.

"How long have you been capable of doing this?" Yuuto asked as he looked over the clone.

"I probably could have managed it a month ago, but not to the level I'd have much confidence in. A week ago is when I gained the chakra reserves necessary to perform it to my satisfaction," Naruto informed them.

"And these are perfect copies?" Rias asked as she attempted to dissect the mechanics of the technique, already thinking of the possibilities such an ability would allow.

"Near perfect," Naruto answered before clarifying, "They are me. They think exactly like me, except with the knowledge that they aren't real. They also have flesh and blood. They can eat, go to the bathroom, and even bleed. The only problem is that the chakra matrix is relatively fragile. A sudden disturbance or disruption will cause the chakra to destabilize. The clone then poofs away in a cloud of smoke. I then get back any leftover chakra, which also allows me to gain the memories of the clone."

"What exactly counts as a 'sudden disturbance or disruption?' Rias questioned intently.

"Typically a good solid hit. I however, am a master of this technique. Unless I create a group all at once, my clones should be able to withstand a small of punishment. So this guy should be able to endure a handful of shots," Naruto enlightened the group while puffing out his chest proudly.

"Yeah. I'm totally awesome," the clone added as well.

Raynare let out a groan as she muttered in horror, "There's two of them. Two. What sort of hell is this? This must be a nightmare."

Ignoring the rather insulting words, Naruto announced, "My clone will accompany you guys. I'll go and collect these ingredients. That okay?"

Everyone nodded in acceptance, so Naruto unfurled his devil wings. Jumping into the air, Naruto started flying away. The group watched as he disappeared in the distance.

Zatouji then quickly announced, "Okay, we should get going then. Not only do we need to find these two little ladies familiars, but we also have a lot of ground to cover."

"What do you mean?" Akeno quickly asked in confusion.

"This forest is very large, but it also has several different areas in it. Right now we are in the area where familiars more closely aligned with darkness gather. That is because those are the familiars more likely to bond with devils. Fairies are more holy creatures, and thus are more populous in another part of the forest. It's a few hours away even if we don't take time to find these two familiars, so we need to head out immediately if we want to make it before nightfall. I seriously doubt he'll have gathered all the ingredients, but we might as head there regardless."

"I trust Naruto-san. He said he'd finish by tonight, and so I believe he will," Asia immediately claimed, looking displeased by Zatouji's lack of faith.

"She's right. Naruto-kun's far from being the smartest or calmest person, but he's resourceful. He'll figure out a way to get from A to B. No matter how many obstacles seem to get in the way," Akeno added.

"It's the luck of being an overpowered idiot. They just blow up every obstacle before them," Raynare commented in a way that made it unclear whether she was praising Naruto or insulting him. Probably both. Her and Naruto have a weird relationship.

"Absolutely right. He's my precious servant after all," Rias declared as she nodded in agreement with her servants.

Koneko even walked up to Zatouji and told him with a blank face, "Naruto-senpai's an infuriating idiot…"

"…And?" Zatouji asked, expecting for her to continue.

"…That's it," Koneko claimed, turning and walking away.

Everyone else sweat dropped. The others stood up for Naruto, she just called him an idiot. Yuuto chuckled awkwardly before remarking, "Looks like Koneko-chan is still upset with Naruto for using cat nip to trick her into sitting on his lap two days ago."

"In my defense…she was totally adorable. She even purred when I rubbed her head," the Naruto clone declared like that was a viable reason.

"Go die, molester," Koneko replied bluntly.

Naruto grabbed his heart and made an exaggerated act that his heart had been pierced. Yuuto decided to explain, "Koneko is rather protective of letting people rub her head. It's kind of a personal thing for her, and so feels Naruto crossed a line."

Zatouji just sweat dropped as the group wandered off topic again. What a weird group of devils. Deciding to put a stop to it, he clapped his hands together before announcing, "Alright. You can talk as we start moving. We can't sit here all day."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The real Naruto searched the area from the sky, but couldn't glean very much. The forest went miles and miles in every direction. The only breaks in the tress were some large rocky areas, too small to be mountains, and some bodies of water to the north. He was currently heading in the general direction of the rocky hills.

"Guess I should check out that list," Naruto muttered to himself. Pulling the paper from his pocket, Naruto read aloud, "Cucumber of a kappa. Golden banana of the monkey tribe. Kelp of the mermaids. Petal of the flower colloquially known as the 'Golden Death.' Huh, shorter list than I expected. Yosh! I can totally do this. Time to get to it."

It took close to a minute of flying for Naruto to have a realization. Pulling on his hair, Naruto exclaimed in dismay, "Crap! I don't have any idea where to find these ingredients in this big ass forest."

If anyone was watching, they'd probably be amused to see Naruto freaking out while floating in midair. Thankfully no one was, so Naruto was left alone to vent his feelings in private.

At least for a minute he was able to. Sensing a primal killing intent, Naruto flapped his wings and quickly dropped several feet. Naruto could feel the air currents of something sharp running right through the space his neck had previous been occupying. Spinning around as well as he could, Naruto saw some sort of reptilian bird thing making a circle to head back towards Naruto. Naruto readied himself since this thing had attempted to just take his head off. It just got real!

Naruto swerves around the claws of the bird thingy as it tried to swipe him while flying by again. Naruto cursed to himself. This thing was fast, and aerial combat is not Naruto's forte. Deciding to resort to ninjutsu, Naruto put his hands in the bird hand seal. Breathing in deeply, he called out, "Fuuton: Renkudan."

Naruto then spat out several compressed balls of air. The technique seemed to catch the creature by surprise. The first one clipped its wing, destabilizing its flight. The second landed rather solidly against its torso. The third narrowly missed. The attack was sufficient to force the creature to let out a screech of pain, and send it off balance.

It quickly regained its stable flight, but Naruto was already. Having closed in its momentary vulnerability, Naruto dodged its desperate attempt to take a chunk out of his shoulder. He then wrapped his arms around its surprisingly strong neck. Using his wings to force himself downwards, Naruto used that momentum and spun his body around. With his grip around its neck, it created a sort of midair throw.

Unfortunately, the issue with throwing something from a hundred feet in the air is that it has a lot of time to recover. The bird/lizard thing managed to recover twenty feet before hitting the stone below them. Frowning, Naruto shot down at it. He missed cleanly though when it flew away from him completely.

Confused, Naruto watched at it aligned on a nearby rock to hiss and snarl at him. It then moved away from him. It was retreating.

Grinning widely at his victory, Naruto went down till he landed on his feet. Retracting his wings, Naruto held his hands up to his mouth as he yelled tauntingly at the back of the creature, "Yeah, that's right. Run, bitch. You can't take this. Nobody can handle the pure, raw awesomeness Uzumaki Naruto just exudes naturally. Ha."

His obligatory victory taunting over, Naruto prepared to fly away again. He was interrupted however by a feminine voice calling out, "Wait. Hold on. Don't go."

Raising an eyebrow, Naruto decided to wait. He soon found the source of the voice. It was a busty girl with her brown hair done into elegant curls. She was wearing some gray and brown camping clothes that blended in nicely with the surrounding rock. She was scrambling over the disjointed rocks slowly, but easily. Human, but with good athletic ability.

Naruto waited till she finally arrived in front of him. She took several breaths before saying gracefully, "I certainly did not expect to see you, Uzumaki-san, but this could be some good fortune for both of us."

Naruto just stared. The seconds turned into minutes, and the girl became increasingly more awkward and creeped out. Finally Naruto asked blankly, "Do I know you?"

The girl seemed somewhat put out by the question, her pride probably hurting from his ignorance concerning her. Taking a few seconds to regain her composure, she placed a hand on her chest as she informed him, "My name is Abe Kiyome. I'm a third year at Kuoh Academy. I also happen to be a beast tamer."

Naruto's blank stare just continued before he claimed bluntly, "Doesn't ring a bell."

"I'm captain of the tennis club."

"Nope. Nada."

"…You once pranked me by writing on the back of my shirt during a tournament, 'I'm really good with handling balls.'"

"Oh, Abe-senpai," Naruto exclaimed as he finally recognized her. He quickly asked, "Didn't I also once write on the butt of your panties 'Uzumaki Naruto was here'?"

"Yes, you did. For weeks people thought I slept with you," Kiyome replied stiffly, not pleased at the memory.

"Didn't I also take a rubber chicken and-"

"Yes! Yes, you did. You've pranked the tennis club, and me, a lot," she snapped, not wanting to have all the traumatic memories brought back up.

"Sorry," Naruto said sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. Thinking for a second, Naruto continued, "Not to be a dick, but I sort of have something to do. Did you need something?"

"Yes, actually. I was hoping for your assistance in a certain matter," Kiyome claimed as she regained her cool.

Tilting his head in confusion, Naruto quickly questioned, "And what would that be?"

"I was hoping for your assistance in taming that wyvern you just battled," Kiyome told him simply.

"Wyvern? Is that what that thing just was?"

"You don't even know what a wyvern is?" Kiyome asked critically, raising an eyebrow as she looked over him skeptically.

"Sorry if I'm not a monster expert. I was also more concerned with not having my throat ripped out," Naruto replied in irritation.

"Sorry. I guess I'm used to interacting with people who have more knowledge on monsters," she replied, looking slightly apologetic. She then quickly explained, "Yes, that was a wyvern. Some compare them to dragons, but they aren't even distantly related to dragons. They are more closely related to birds. They can grow up to eight meters in height, although that is rare. They average at five meters. They have a beak filled with sharp teeth, two wings, and two legs which they can walk with. They also have scales. Their intelligence is low, but to a degree that they are capable of basic learning. In the wild they are solitary, and very territorial. That one attacked you because you started flying in its territory."

"Uhh, thanks for the lesson," Naruto said, unsure of how to take the impromptu lecture. Rubbing his head awkwardly, Naruto decided to go blunt and questioned, "So what do you need me for? You said you are a beast tamer or something. So you want to make it your familiar or something?"

"Of course not. The concept of a familiar is exclusive to supernatural beings, and it is a clumsy and ham-fisted method of taming beasts. I am completely human, and know only basic magic. Which means I have to use a far more…elegant and refined method," Kiyome declared in a haughty voice.

Naruto just looked at her expressionlessly, "If you are so skilled…what do you need me for?"

His cutting remark seemed to embarrass her slightly, as he reluctantly explained as she poked her fingers together, "I've managed to tame a number of different beasts, but I've been having a problem with more feral and aggressive monsters. I managed to find this wyvern, and decided it was a good choice. It is the proper age, size, and actually has a reasonable temperament for its species. Unfortunately, the primary method of taming wyverns require them to be injured at the start, and for the beast tamer in question to nurse them back to health."

"Wow, wow, wow. Back the train up," Naruto interrupted as he lifted a hand. Looking at her blankly, he continued, "They have to be injured first, and then nursed back to health. How is that more elegant and precise? That just sounds like you beat them up, and play doctor to earn their trust."

Kiyome blushed slightly and looked away as she admitted, "That…is the usual method. As I stated before. I am human. Beast tamers are human. We have limited tools at our disposal, and thus must use whatever we can. Besides, the wyvern is one of the only monsters that require this method."

"Whatever," Naruto grumbled, totally not buying it. Thinking about her words, he continued, "So I'm guessing you want me to injure it for you?"

"Yes," Kiyome said with a nod before clarifying, "I found this wyvern five weeks ago. I've been watching it since. My hope has been that it would battle with another monster and get injured, but it appears this general area is devoid of monsters of the caliber necessary. Likely why it chose this place. At this rate I'll never get the opportunity to tame it. It appears you have the power necessary to defeat it."

"Yeah. Based on that little spat, I can definitely handle that little beastie," Naruto proclaimed confidently. He then smirked as he asked, "What's in it for me though, Abe-senpai?"

Kiyome looked hesitant as she mumbled quietly, "Darn it. This must be what people mean when they say 'making a deal with the devil'. I've diligently done my best to distance myself from the devils in my school. Yet I now need the aid of one. I really want to add that wyvern to my collection, but I really don't want to lose my soul in the process. What a conundrum."

"Ara ara, you don't know anything, Abe-senpai. I don't want your soul. I want…" Naruto claimed with a wide. A little too wide for anyone that knows him to believe it to totally be innocent. Kiyome didn't know that though, and looked at him curiously. Leaning close to her, Naruto finished, "-your virginity."

"W-What?! T-That's even worse," Kiyome proclaimed as she recoiled from him. She looked ready to run from him by that point.

Until Naruto burst out laughing. Falling to his knees, Naruto pounded on the ground with a fist as he burst out gleefully, "Haha! Your-Your face. Haha! You should have seen it."

Unfortunately, being part of Rias' peerage meant Naruto's pranks had been drastically reduced. So Naruto had to look for entertainment from other sources. He had quickly made a habit of messing with the clients that were more unsure about dealing with devils. It actually helped somewhat. Yeah, they were kind of annoyed, but Naruto's behavior also tended to destroy any tension they felt.

"We don't require stuff like that, unless you want something really big," Naruto informed her as he managed to recover. He then pulled out his list and handed it to the annoyed monster tamer as he told her, "You said you've been coming here frequently for five weeks, right? I need to gather those ingredients. Can you help me?"

"Kappa. Monkey yokai. Mermaids. Golden Death flowers," Kiyome muttered as she quickly scanned the list. She then looked at him and claimed easily, "Sure. These are easy. Well, easy to find. Actually getting them is quite a bit more complicated."

"I can deal with that. If you can just lead me to the proper areas, I can do the rest," Naruto claimed confidently. Holding out his hand for a hand shake, he explained to her, "If you are willing to do that, I'll injure big and ugly. Deal?"

Kiyome looked at his offered hand suspiciously. "No losing my soul?"

"Nope."

"No taking my virginity?"

"Well, I wouldn't say no. You're far from unattractive. I might come for that in the future, but it wouldn't be as payment for doing this. Trust me. If I'm going to take your virginity, it'll be after you beg for me to take it."

Kiyome looked wholly unamused by his cocky statement. Pinching the bridge of her nose in irritation, she replied, "Moving on from the absurd…If its just for today, I guess I can help you."

"That works."

Taking a deep breath, Kiyome muttered, "Sorry, Mother, Father. It looks like I'll have to go against your warnings." She then shook Naruto's hand, sealing the deal.

Grinning widely, Naruto started stretching out his arms in preparation to beat down a certain wyvern. "Anything I should know before I do this?"

"The claws on the ends of its wings are dangerously sharp, and it has incredible jaw strength," Kiyome informed him.

"Avoid the claws and teeth. Wow. Never would have thought of that myself," Naruto remarked sarcastically.

Kiyome ignored him in favor of continuing, "Make sure not to kill it, but it will have to be incapacitated for at least 3-5 days. That is the typical amount of time it takes to earn the trust of a wyvern. If it recovers too early, it could attack me."

"Got it," Naruto announced before bending his legs. He then took a mighty leap in the direction the wyvern had gone.

It was far closer than Naruto would have imagined. Like fifty meters. Landing on a nearby rock, the wyvern snarled at Naruto.

Which he ignored in favor of examining the creature. He hadn't taken the opportunity in their previous fight. It looked to be about four meters tall. Naruto quickly decided it didn't much resemble a dragon, just like Kiyome had said before. Most dragons seem to resemble lizards with wings. This thing looked like a bird with scales. It was standing on its back two legs, its arms were wings instead. It had a surprisingly large head, with a beak filled with rather vicious looking teeth. It was a dull green color.

The small little depression it was in was clearly its home. There was pile of wood nearby that was made into a nest. The bones from its many meals also littered the area.

Giving a cocky grin towards the wyvern, Naruto called out, "Okay, this is how it works. We can either do this the easy way or the hard way. The easy way involved you bending over so I can put my foot in your ass without much of a hassle. The hard way involves me utterly defeating you and crushing your pride before shoving a frickin' tree up there. Now make your choice."

The response of the wyvern was a furious roar, as if it understood what Naruto had said to it.

"Good. The hard way is way more entertaining," Naruto said as he confidently strolled towards the wyvern.

As the sounds of battle started, Kiyome managed to peek over a boulder. She started turning green. She just watched in horror as the bloodbath occurred.

"That was totally over the top and unnecessary," Kiyome declared as she urgently bandaged the brutalized wyvern five minute later.

"Hey, that thing went for my throat. It's lucky I didn't return the favor," Naruto replied stubbornly. Geez. Do a girl a favor, and what does he get? A thank you? No. He gets lectured.

"Lucky?!" Kiyome exclaimed in disbelief before declaring, "Thousand Years of Death?! What sort of messed up, shameful technique is that? You took the largest bone you could find, and shoved it up…t-there."

"Hey, it's the one that chose the hard way," Naruto said in defense.

Kiyome just ignored him in favor of tending to the wyvern. Muttering to herself with a large frown on her face, she spent the next ten minutes diligently doing what she could. After disinfecting and bandaging all the wounds, she stood up and announced, "Okay, that's all I can do for now. I'll return tomorrow and continue the treatment."

"Great. Now we can continue, Kiyome-senpai," Naruto declared enthusiastically.

"I didn't give you permission to refer to me so familiarly," Kiyome told him quickly.

Naruto just brushed her comment off though as he claimed, "Come on. We're working together. That's at least enough to call each other by our given names. Be happy I didn't call you Kiyome-chan."

Kiyome just rubbed her brow in annoyance. Deciding to just move on, she pulled out a large piece of paper. Placing it on the flattest rock she could find, she started to write on it quickly. Naruto tried to peak over her shoulder to see what she was writing, but she subconsciously moved her body to block his view. Naruto pouted at the move, but moved back and waited.

"Okay. I'm done," Kiyome declared as she straightened. Turning to Naruto she handed the paper to him. Naruto took it and saw it was a type of map. Kiyome quickly clarified, "That is a basic map of this forest. I marked where we are, and the four places you can find your ingredients."

"Thanks for this, but I thought you were going to help me personally," Naruto commented with a small frown. The map would be useful, but he expected a bit…more.

"I am, but you'll still need this. I'll only be helping you for today. Each of these locations are several hours walking distance from each other. Not to mention what you'll have to do to actually get the ingredients once you get there. I'll only be able to get you started on one of the ingredients today," Kiyome informed him professionally.

"That's too bad cause I'm going to finish gathering the ingredients by tonight," Naruto said with a grin.

"Impossible," Kiyome stated immediately before elaborating, "I've interacted a bit with the kappa and mermaids. The cucumbers and kelp you need are their food source. They'd demand at least a day of labor from you before giving you even one…each."

"That's my problem. I'll figure something out," Naruto claimed nonchalantly, which seemed to annoy Kiyome slightly for whatever reason. He then shot her a grin and asked, "And travel distance? Ha. No need to worry about that."

"And what is that suppose to mean?" Kiyome demanded.

As an answer, Naruto unfurled his devil wings. Kiyome paled as she realized what he meant.

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"I still think that the Undine was a good option," Zatouji claimed stubbornly.

The entire group was walking away from the pond that the familiar master had showed them the water spirit, Undine. Several members of the group were aghast from seeing the creature, which looked like a martial artist more than anything. A muscle bound, terrifying looking…female.

"How was that thing a good option?" Naruto demanded.

"Well you're aiming to make a fairy your familiar, right? Fairies are actually related to Undines," Zatouji informed him matter-of-factly.

"Geh! Are you telling me fairies look like that?" Naruto demanded in horror. Naruto isn't usual one to discriminate based on appearance, but that Undine scared the crap out of him. That thing looked like it could knock his head off with a punch.

"The appearance of fairies vary depending on the type of fairy in question. They typically take humanoid forms, but usually with a twist of the elements they represent," Zatouji told them calmly.

"You said that fairies and Undines are related. Can you elaborate?" Rias requested.

"Of course, Ojou-sama," Zatouji gushed out, seemingly charmed by Rias' appearance. He quickly turned serious though and explained to the group, "Both fairies and Undines are spirits, a type of magical creature. Spirits don't reproduce like flesh and blood creatures. They are instead born from the elements themselves. Fairies can be born from practically every element. An Undine is an Elemental. Elementals are far more powerful than their fairy cousins, but that also means they can only be born from the four most powerful and essential elements. Water, fire, earth, and air. Water elementals are the Undine. Fire elementals are the legendary Salamanders. Earth elementals are the Gnomes. Wind elementals are the Sylphs. Elementals are basically the high-tier equivalent of fairies."

"Fascinating," Rias muttered honestly. Turning to the Naruto clone, she asked him, "What do you think, Naruto?"

Before Naruto could answer, Zatouji pitched with, "Undines are also far simpler to handle than fairies. Instead of going through a complicated and uncertain ceremony, all you have to do to tame an Undine is defeat them in hand to hand combat."

"Are you kidding?!" Naruto demanded with wide eyes. Defeat that thing in hand to hand combat. They had watched as that thing battled another of its kind over territory. Needless to say, the clone doubted even the original could defeat it. Crossing his arms to form an X, Naruto exclaimed stubbornly, "Hell no. I'm not going to think about a fist fight with that thing. Plus, I want something that can heal. Not something that can knock me out with a single punch."

"Such a stubborn servant I have," Rias lamented to herself.

"You must have be having a hard time, Ojou-sama," Zatouji remarked with a wry grin.

"Shut it, ossan," Naruto snapped in irritation.

"A-Ano, she had pure eyes," Asia claimed nervously before adding, "I'm sure she was a good-natured girl."

Naruto rubbed Asia's head in response to her remark. Aww, Asia is such a good girl. Empathizing even with that creature that looked like the Hulk. Always being optimistic and kind. Asia looked confused by his random gesture since he didn't say his thoughts aloud, but didn't remove his hand from her head.

"I'm sure she is, Asia, but I really doubt I can handle something like that. That's a familiar that can break us if we aren't careful. I'd rather have a familiar that is more…passive and nonviolent," Naruto told her softly.

"I guess so," Asia replied hesitantly before adding as she looked back, "But I think she was lonely. We could have named her Dine-chan."

Naruto just chuckled awkwardly. Despite urging Naruto to take the Undine, Asia seems to have bonded a bit with the muscular creature.

Naruto stiffened slightly as memories rushed into his head. Taking a moment to sort through the information the original sent back by creating and dispelling a clone, the clone quickly announced, "The boss found some help. A girl from our school that claims to be a beast tamer. Abe Kiyome."

"Oh yes. I know her, if only distantly. I'm surprised Naruto-kun managed to gain her aid. Abe-san seems very wary of devils, and thus carefully keeps her distance from us," Rias remarked thoughtfully.

"Yeah. Boss had to beat up a wyvern for her," the clone told them.

"Oh you helped her with that beastie," Zatouji commented with a raised eyebrow.

"You know of her?" Akeno asked curiously.

"Of course. That girl has been coming here for years. For the past month or so she's been hanging around the haunt of an adolescent wyvern. At least three days a week. Good girl. Comes from a long and prestigious line of beast tamers. She skilled and knowledgeable concerning taming monsters, but she's been having difficulty with the stronger and more violent monsters. She lacks the pure animal dominance that is sometimes necessary with certain monsters," Zatouji informed them nonchalantly.

"Good thing she ran into the boss then. That wyvern is in no position to defy her right now," the clone exclaimed with a grin.

"That's good. Plus, she's now helping you, right?" Yuuto replied thoughtfully.

"Yep. For today she'll be helping."

"That will no doubt make things easier," Yuuto claimed cheerfully.

"I know. She saved the boss a lot of problems," the clone said with a wide smile, sure his quest to gain a fairy as a familiar was moving forward smoothly.

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"STOP SCREAMING IN MY EAR, WOMAN," Naruto yelled in frustration. Naruto was currently jumping through the tops of the trees, carrying Kiyome in a piggyback. The beast tamer was also screaming her head off.

"HOW CAN I NOT SCREAM?! WE'RE JUMPING THROUGH THE TREES. WE'RE GONNA DIE. THIS IS INSANE AND DANGEROUS," Kiyome screamed out, and unfortunately for Naruto, her mouth was right by his ear.

"You're the one who didn't want to fly. We don't have time to walk, so this was the only option," Naruto growled out.

Despite being a beast tamer, Kiyome was clearly human. And not the human from Naruto's world. The type of human that hasn't ever flown without an airplane, doesn't climb more than twenty feet in the air, and prefers to avoid any potentially dangerous activities. So she found Naruto's methods of travel terrifying. Apparently she isn't an advanced enough beast tamer to have grown used to more exotic methods of travel.

Which was further proven by her yelling in a panic, "OH GOOD LORD. WE'RE GOING TO RUN INTO SOMETHING. THEN WE'LL FALL AND DIE."

Turning to look at her angrily, Naruto returned, "I'm not going to run into anything unless you keep screaming in my ear. Now shut up, or I swear you'll be the one receiving the Thousand Years of Death next time. Unde-"

"LOOK OUT," Kiyome interrupted by calling out.

Turns out you shouldn't tree hop without looking where you are going. As soon as Naruto looked forward, his face met with a thick branch. The wood exploded from the force of the collision. Naruto fell backwards as he lost his balance, and Kiyome screamed as they plummeted towards the ground. Naruto acted on instinct and pulled her from his back onto his chest so that he didn't crush her when he landed back first on the ground.

The air driven from his lungs by the impact, Naruto laid there in a daze. Kiyome was similarly stunned, but seemed unharmed thanks to Naruto's quick action. After a few seconds, Naruto wheezed out, "That was totally your fault."

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Unaware of the original's plight, the clone walked with the rest of the Occult Research Club in silence. They had been walking in silence for several minutes till the clone's patience finally ran out. He finally burst out by exclaiming, "Okay, what are we doing now?"

Zatouji rolled his eyes before claiming, "We're waiting for these two to make a decision in regards to their familiars." Pointing to Asia and Raynare.

"What are we even meant to be doing?" Raynare demanded in slight annoyance.

"Y-yes. How do we choose a familiar?" Asia asked nervously.

Sighing, Zatouji explained, "Just choose one. It's that simple. Low-tier familiars are easy to tame and catch. Just find one you like, and choose it. You can also just wait. Sometimes familiars will choose their own masters."

Akeno quickly pitched in, "Buchou and Yuuto both wanted familiars that could fly, and I wanted to go for numbers. We just chose familiars that fit those desires. Shiro chose Koneko."

The two fell silent at that, absorbing the information. There were multiple creatures running around. So they just had to choose one, huh?

Raynare didn't really care. She wasn't looking for anything fantastic. She just wanted something that would hand out those annoying fliers for her. Anything would do. She'll probably just choose something at the last minute.

Asia poked her fingers together as she admitted, "Ano, I was hoping for a cute familiar."

Zatouji gave her an indulgent smile before telling her, "Then all you have to do is find one, bishoujo-chan."

Asia quickly started looking around with an enthusiasm that had previously been missing.

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"This is a terrible idea," Kiyome groaned out as she held her face in her hands. Looking up, she watched as Naruto treaded water in a pond alongside a green creature. Roughly the size of a large child, it had a green carapace, a beak, and a plate on its head. A kappa.

"No, it's an awesome idea," Naruto retorted.

"You can't beat a kappa in a swim race," Kiyome snapped.

"Well I can't stay around here for a day doing chores," Naruto claimed. After arriving, Kiyome had talked to the kappa. It expected a day's labor from Naruto in return for one of its special cucumbers. Naruto can't do that, and so challenged the kappa to a swim race. If Naruto wins, he gets a cucumber as a reward. If he loses, he has to do the day of chores without a reward.

"That doesn't change the fact that you can't win. Even a devil can't beat a kappa in water," Kiyome argued in annoyance at his nonchalant attitude.

Grinning at her, Naruto declared with a grin, "Watch me."

Sighing and shaking her head, she decided to let him make his own grave in peace. "You two ready?" The kappa nodded immediately, but Naruto submerged for a few seconds before coming back up. Shaking out his hands, he nodded as well. So she announced, "Then…Begin!"

The kappa started swimming with terrific force, an entire wave forming behind it from the amount of water it was displacing. It was truly living up to its nature as a water yokai.

If only it was actually moving. It took several seconds for the kappa to realize it was still in the same spot. Feeling a weird pressure, it spun onto its back. It then lifted one leg. The jaws of both the kappa and Kiyome dropped when they saw a thread of metal wire wrapped around its ankle. They followed the string till they saw it wrapped around a tree trunk ten feet away.

The two slowly turned to look at Naruto, who had finished the swim by now. Only his eyes were above the water as he looked at them. He slowly rose up, revealing a wide grin and his hands forming two peace signs. He then declared, "I'm a ninja. We cheat."

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"Wait. Look."

Those were the words of Zatouji when he abruptly came to a stop. He then pointed up into the trees. The Gremory group all looked up to see that he was pointing at a small creature. It was a small dragon. Only slightly taller than a foot, it had blue diamond-like scales, red eyes, a pair of small wings, and a short tail. It was just relaxing on a branch, ignoring the group entirely.

"Sprite Dragon," Zatouji said in surprise before adding automatically, "A dragon that uses blue lightning."

"It's cute," Asia commented gleefully.

"It's quite a high class one, even among high-tier familiars," Yuuto remarked in interest.

"Amazing. This is my first time seeing one. What beautiful scales," Rias exclaimed softly, looking at the small dragon in awe.

"I recommend one of you try and make it your familiar," Zatouji said seriously.

Naruto looked at him annoyance as he demanded, "What the hell? You discouraged me from getting anything but a low-tier familiar, but now you're telling us to try a high-tier one."

"This is entirely different, boy," Zatouji claimed before elaborating as he looked back at the Sprite Dragon, "There is a major difference between searching and aiming for a familiar beyond your expectations, and having one fall right into your lap. Sprite Dragons are rare, and they can only be properly trained as a baby. Like this one. Any older and they become uncontrollable. Finding one randomly like this is as close to fate as you can get."

"Then we can't waste this opportunity," Rias declared passionately.

Akeno was the one to pose the ultimate question, "Okay, but who will be the one attempting to tame it?"

That caused a brief silence to encompass the group. Rias finally announced hesitantly, "Those without familiars should get first choice."

"Although it might be a good idea for us who have more experience dealing with familiars to try. They are still rookies," Yuuto pointed out reasonably.

Rias quickly proposed, "Let's first go and see who wants to submit their name for consideration."

"Remember to consider your compatibility with it. It is also said Sprite Dragons only open up to those with pure hearts. They can be trained regardless, but having a high compatibility and a pure heart would surely make it easier," Zatouji told them as he kept his eyes fixed on the Sprite Dragon. A small dragon like that can't escape a group like this. If it moves, they'll easily be able to keep up. As long as it doesn't sneak away.

"In that case, I'll pass. I feel like I wouldn't be a good match," Yuuto said with slight reluctance.

"…Pass," Koneko said calmly.

"In that case, I'll similarly withdraw," Rias declared regretfully.

"Ara ara. I think I'll stay in. I use thunder, and I've received training as a Shinto priestess. Seems I fulfill both requirements," Akeno stated with a smile.

"You realize being a priestess doesn't automatically mean you have a pure heart, Akeno-senpai. Or should I call you sadist-chan," Naruto commented wryly.

"Ara ara. Did you say something, Naruto-kun?" Akeno asked while giving him a smile. Despite the smile, Naruto could sense the malicious intent behind the question.

Looking away, Naruto decided to change the topic by announcing, "I'll pass. I want something that can heal, dammit!"

Raynare looked contemplative before shrugging and saying, "Why not. I'll stay in."

"A-Ano. It is cute, but I'm not sure I can handle a dragon. Not to mention I don't want to get in the way," Asia claimed timidly.

With the selection apparently down to Akeno and Raynare, Naruto turned around and walked away while informing them, "You guys can decide among yourselves. I'm going to go drain the main vein."

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"Alright. I got it. Thank you," Kiyome said happily as she stood across from an elderly looking monkey.

The kappa had surprisingly kept its end of the deal after losing to Naruto. Something about its honor, and being amused by Naruto's trick. With one item of the list, Naruto and Kiyome had quickly headed for the monkey yokai tribe. As soon as they arrived, Kiyome had started negotiating with the elder one to gain one of the gold bananas. They already had a procedure for giving them away. Naruto just needs to perform a few tasks for them. It should take two days. Naruto won't be happy, but he'll just have to deal with it. He got lucky with the kappa, but no way can he weasel out of the work this time.

Kiyome turned to tell this to Naruto, but was stunned by what she saw him doing. Naruto was currently acting as a climbing post for half a dozen baby monkeys. Once they were all hanging off of him, he started spinning. The baby monkeys screeched happily at the ride they were receiving.

Kiyome was horrified. You do not interact with the children of yokai. They are extremely protective over their young.

Turning warily around to face the elder, she quickly told him carefully, "I'm so sorry. I assure you he doesn't mean any harm."

"No harm, young lady," the yokai spoke in an unusually deep voice as he observed the play between Naruto and the baby monkeys carefully. He then continued, "The children like him. How rare. They usually avoid strangers…I'll go get the banana."

"Wait. What?" Kiyome asked in shock.

"I'll give him the banana without asking for anything in return," the elder answered calmly.

"…Just like that?" Kiyome demanded in disbelief.

"Yep," the elder replied casually before adding as if it explained everything, "The children like him."

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"I was gone for two minutes, and this happens," Naruto deadpanned as he saw the scene before him.

He'd stepped to go to the bathroom, and the group had apparently been attacked in that time. By a ferocious monster? No. By a piece of slime. The girls of their group were being attacked by a perverted slime monster…What is this? Some third-rate hentai?

"Stop gawking, Naruto-kun, and help us," Rias called out from where she was struggling with the slime.

"…So slimy. Gross!" Koneko stated in discomfort.

"Oh no. They're dissolving," Asia called out as her clothes started dissolving.

"These are slimes that primarily feed on the textile of clothing. Women's in particular. They aren't dangerous, but they are annoying pests," Zatouji explained as he watched all this occur with blood flowing from his nose.

Naruto decided to do the responsible thing when your classmates are having their clothes being eaten while being watched by a middle-aged man. Naruto's fist connected with the unsuspecting Zatouji's head. The familiar master went down like a bag of potatoes.

Straightening up, Naruto saw that Yuuto was struggling with a piece of slime which had landed right on his eyes. Since he was the only one who could see the erotic show being performed, Naruto prepared to turn around to allow the girls to keep their modesty. Naruto might be a bit of a pervert, but he doesn't peep very often.

"Naruto-kun. Help us."

That order cut off his retreat. Spinning around, he demanded in irritation, "Why? It's slime. Can't you get out on your own?"

"We can't use our demonic power…like this," Akeno claimed, a moan breaking up her words. The slime covering her had wrapped around her breasts in a figure eight.

"Fine," Naruto spat as he approached Akeno warily. By now the slime had eaten through the majority of her clothes, offering a rather stimulating peep show to Naruto. Naruto definitely couldn't ever call Akeno granny panties again, since he could see the very racy bottoms she was currently wearing. Naruto quickly shook those thoughts away. Since it appeared most of the slime was concentrated around her breasts, Naruto started there. Doing his best to not touch the incredibly ample breasts themselves, Naruto pinched the slimes and started pulling on them. Unfortunately, that only caused the slime to tighten, causing Akeno to moan sensually and start wiggling around. Naruto quickly snapped while fighting down a blush, "Stop moving. You are already completely exposed. I don't need you adding to that by…jiggling."

"Was that really necessary, Koneko-chan?" Naruto asked ten minutes later with a pout, a hand held up to his aching cheek.

"Yes," Koneko replied immediately. The loli character was currently trying to use her arms to cover her underwear. She was actually lucky that she still had her underwear, as Rias, Akeno, and Raynare had lost theirs entirely by the time Naruto freed them. Koneko obviously didn't care much, since she the first thing she did to Naruto when he freed her was sucker punch him. She quickly added, "You saw."

"Yeah, but I didn't have much of a choice," Naruto replied with a sigh. He was going to be suppressing perverted thoughts for a while, what with all the material he received from this incident.

Standing up, Naruto turned with a sigh towards Asia. He'd left her for last on purpose. Removing the slimes was a surprisingly difficult task, and it inevitably felt like some erotic play. You couldn't have beautiful women, slimy tentacle things, and dissolving clothes all together without the scene becoming somewhat suggestive and arousing. If Naruto did that with Asia, it would feel like he was tainting her purity or something. So he'd held out some slim hope that Asia could manage to free herself. A hope which had seemingly ran out.

Asia still had her underwear intact, as most of the slimes had targeted Rias, Akeno, and Raynare. The underwear was looking increasingly ragged by the second though. If Naruto didn't want to see Asia au naturel, he'd have to remove the textile-eating slimes quickly.

"Sorry, Asia," Naruto told her as he hardened his heart. He'd go in and get this done as quickly as possible. With his resolve firm, Naruto approached Asia with his finger smaking pinching motions.

He never made it. Naruto was abruptly stopped when he received a painful shock. Stiffening from the electricity running through his body, Naruto finally collapsed when it stopped. Coughing painfully, Naruto lifted his head to see the cause of his pain.

The Sprite Dragon. It was floating just floating there in the air. Turning away from Naruto, it turned to face Asia.

Naruto's eyes widened in alarm as he saw it open its mouth, but he was still paralyzed. So he wasn't capable of stopping it before it launched blue lightning at the nun. Naruto's horror turned to confusion though when despite clearly touching her, the lightning only seemed to harm the slime. Asia herself was unharmed.

"Spite Dragons only give electrical damage to those it recognizes as enemies. It must not have viewed the girl as an enemy," Zatouji explained. Naruto wondered when the familiar master had regained consciousness. As if sensing his thoughts, Zatouji glared at Naruto before declaring, "I really don't like you kid."

Naruto just shrugged as he struggled to his feet. "Whatever. You weren't getting a free peep show, ossan."

Every fell silent though when the Sprite Dragon shot forward and latched onto Asia's chest. It started rubbing its head against her bra clad chest. Asia looked surprised by the affectionate gesture, but quickly seemed to melt from the cuteness of the dragon. She quickly started rubbing its head, causing it to coo in appreciation.

"That is…" Koneko said with a slight bit of surprise.

"Ah, that must be a male dragon. Males will often become attached to females of other species. He seems to have chosen the girl. It explains why it attacked you and the slime. It thought you were attacking her, and acted to protect her," Zatouji informed them as it eyed the dragon, which was still happily being spoiled by Asia.

"Not a surprise actually. Since Sprite Dragons supposedly only open up to those with pure hearts, the former nun Asia is an obvious choice," Yuuto commented as he approached the group.

"How long have you been freed from that slime?" Naruto asked the princely blonde suspiciously.

Yuuto just chuckled before replying, "Oh, I could have escaped anytime. I just didn't really want to have to deal with that situation. That way I was able to make you deal with it."

Naruto growled in annoyance, but couldn't fault him. Not to mention a part of Naruto was pleased he got to see the club members in such erotic states. It was annoying, but it also provided Naruto with some incredible memories.

"A-Ano, can I really make this dragon into any familiar?" Asia asked hesitantly, despite holding the dragon very closely.

"Of course. It chose you, so it's only right that it becomes your familiar," Zatouji replied matter-of-factly.

"Here, let's get you changed, Asia. Then you can do form the familiar contract," Rias suggested. The rest of the girls had been changing while Naruto freed them, so only Asia was in a partially undressed state.

Two minutes later, Asia was fully dressed as she chanted, "I-Tin the name of A-Asia Argento, I order you to form a contract as my familiar." The sprite dragon was in the middle of a green magic circle as Asia spoke. The circle died down once she finished.

The dragon then flew back into the arms of Asia, who pet it as she told it, "Thank you for becoming my familiar, Raito-kun."

"Raito?" Rias asked with a raised eyebrow.

Asia blushed slightly before explaining, "Well, it uses lightning. So I took 'Raigeki' and combined it with Naruto-san's name."

Naruto pointed to himself before asking in confusion, "You named it after me?"

"Y-Yes," Asia replied with a small blush before asking nervously, "Is that a problem?"

"Not at all. Just caught me by surprise," Naruto replied sheepishly while rubbing the back of his head. Looking at Raito, Naruto reached forward to pet it while saying, "Hope we can work well together Rai-"

Naruto was cut off when he received a shot of lightning. The Naruto clone fell back, doing his best to not pop. Kiba had similarly been hit by the lightning, but the girls were unaffected. Zatouji was standing a small distance away, enough that he hadn't been hit.

Zatouji grinned before informing them, "Did I forget to mention that male dragons hate males of other species?"

Naruto glared before coughing out, "You let me walk into that."

"You knocked me out. Now we're even," Zatouji grunted unapologetically.

Eye twitching, Naruto decided to let it pass. Turning back to Raito, Naruto growled at him. Raito immediately shot more lightning at Naruto, but this time Naruto used wind chakra to dissipate it before it connected. With Raito shocked by the move, Naruto moved and grabbed him by the back of his neck. Looking at the group with a smile, Naruto told them, "I'm going to go teach this guy a little lesson. Be back in five."

Naruto then started walking away, carrying a struggling Raito.

Five minutes later, Naruto reappeared. Raito also returned, flying towards Asia frantically. Burying his head in her chest, the dragon started shivering.

"What did you do to him," Rias asked curiously, watching Asia try and comfort the terrified dragon.

"I simply explained that attacking myself and Kiba won't help the group dynamic," Naruto claimed with a smile too wide to be entirely innocent. "Isn't that right, Raito-kun?"

The dragon nodded immediately without removing his head from Asia's chest, the shivering increasing.

"Ara ara. Naruto-kun has his own sadistic streak. Who would have guessed?" Akeno commented with a small blush.

Koneko immediately raised her hand as she pointed out, "He's the ultimate pervert."

Naruto grabbed his heart as that scored a critical hit. He never should have published Icha Icha. Koneko's never going to let him live it down.

Zatouji just shook his head as he told the group, "Since the girl has found her familiar, we should continue moving."

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"Okay. Mermaids live in this lake. I am actually familiar with this group, having tamed one for my collection. I absolutely guarantee you that there is no way you'll get some of their kelp without doing some work. You aren't going to evade your work this time," Kiyome declared firmly as the two stood before the shores of a large lake.

Naruto didn't respond immediately, something having caught his eye. As he walked towards it, he told Kiyome, "Kiyome-senpai. We're here for some kelp, right?"

"Yes. Mermaids grow their own kelp as their main food source. They are very possessive. You better be ready to do some work," Kiyome claimed haughtily. She was kind of annoyed how Naruto somehow managed to get the previous two ingredients without doing anything.

"Sorry, but I don't think so," Naruto replied in an amused voice.

"And why is that?" Kiyome demanded with her eyes closed from annoyance over him no doubt attempting to skip the work again.

"Cause some kelp just washed up over here," Naruto told her in amusement.

"Impossible. The mermaids are meticulous about tending their-" Kiyome started before she actually looked at Naruto, who was holding a good length of a greenish brown plant. Her eyes immediately widened as she exclaimed in shock, "That's the kelp."

Grinning in satisfaction, Naruto stood up and walked away as he commented, "Sweet. Another ingredient down."

Kiyome just stared at the water desolately. Three items. Each meant to take one or two days to take, and he'd gotten each within ten minutes. What the hell is going on?

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"Oh, it looks like another one of you has been chosen," Zatouji commented as he made the group come to a stop.

"What do you mean?" Rias immediately questioned.

"Considering that fox over there is eyeing this group so intently, it's likely chosen one of you as a master," Zatouji explained as he pointed to the side.

Naruto stiffened with a grimace when he heard it was a fox. Darn. He'd been dreading this possibility. He'd always known the chance of him getting a fox as a familiar was extremely high. It's sort of an aspect of Naruto's very identity, having a fox as a partner.

Now there was nothing wrong with foxes, but Naruto just really didn't want one as a familiar. Let's face it. There's not a fox in the world that can compare to Kurama, and any that Naruto ends up with is going to be a downgrade. Well, any familiar is going to be a downgrade from having Kurama as a partner. A mountain-sized fox capable of destroying mountains and causing tsunamis with a swing of his tail is a difficult precedent to match. Naruto was at least hoping for a familiar which didn't remind him of Kurama so much though.

So Naruto turned with resignation showing in his body language, looking in the direction that Zatouji had pointed. Naruto immediately saw the fox. It was just sitting there, looking at the group openly. It was a black fox, or mostly black. The tip of its tail and its paws were a pure white. There was also a sizeable area of gray on its chest. Otherwise its entire coat was a midnight black. It appeared to be an adolescent fox. It was too large to rightfully be called a kit, but its coat still retained the fluffiness and bushiness of youth. Its eyes were yellow.

With the attention of the entire group focused on it, the fox seemingly decided to act. Standing, it started to slowly move in their direction. The group just waited silently, Naruto closing his eyes in dread.

After half a minute, the fox yipped. Naruto frowned slightly as that sounded like it was a small distance from him.

"Looks like you've found your familiar, Raynare-san," Rias commented in satisfaction.

Naruto's eyes shot wide at that, and his head spun to look towards Raynare in disbelief. It was true. The fox had sat right before the fallen angel.

Raynare seemed rather perplexed by the entire situation. Tilting her head, she examined the creature sitting before her. Finally she crouched down and held out her hand. The fox immediately licked her palm. With a raised eyebrow, she started petting its head. The fox started purring from the treatment.

"I guess you'll do. Didn't really think about a fox before, but I don't see any reason not to. You're…kind of cute," Raynare stated as she pet the fox.

"Great," Ris exclaimed while clapping her hands together, a satisfied smile on her face. And why not. Asia had gotten a high-tier familiar by accident, and Raynare now had a familiar choose her. So far this trip had no doubt exceeded her expectations. She quickly added, "We can form the familiar contract now."

"What's wrong, Naruto? You look like you've eaten something sour," Yuuto asked curiously.

Forcefully forming a smile, Naruto replied casually, "Nothing. Just had a weird thought."

Yuuto didn't look to have bought it, but eventually turned with a shrug. They then focused back on Raynare who formed the magic circle around the fox.

Naruto really hadn't wanted a fox as a familiar, so he should be happy it didn't choose him.

Is it wrong that he feels snubbed though?

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"This is the final ingredient. The petals of this flower, the Golden Death," Kiyome announced as they peeked over a hill.

"I expected something a little bit more…intimidating," Naruto admitted as he looked at the scene in front of them.

The flower were growing in a small depression in the ground. There wasn't just one either. There were hundreds, packed together tightly. They looked rather ordinary, having purple petals and a golden center. The only weird thing was that there was a golden haze above them.

"Don't be fooled," Kiyome warned him before clarifying, "The flowers themselves aren't the dangerous part of them. Quite the contrary actually. The petals of the flowers are said to create an amazing tea, and the nectar and roots can be used as alchemical ingredients. No, the dangerous part is the air above them. These flowers periodically release a puff of a specific chemical into the air. They grow in dense groups like this to the point that the chemical forms a cloud above them. The cloud then blocks access to them, since these flowers grow in small depressions in the ground."

"So I'm assuming the cloud is dangerous or something?" Naruto asked.

"Yes. Very dangerous," Kiyome said grimly before explaining, "The chemical can have a variety of effects based on how you are exposed to it. If the chemical gets on your skin, it causes a terrible rash. You'd spend the next few days itching your skin off, which would only make things worse. If the chemical is introduced into your bloodstream through a cut or scratch, it causes hallucinations and fever. If it gets in your eyes, it can cause loss of vision. The most dangerous part is if you breath it in. If introduced to your lungs, it will cause respiratory failure within minutes."

"Yeah, that doesn't sound pleasant," Naruto commented with a flinch. Looking at her, he asked, "So I'm assuming there's a way around all that, Kiyome-senpai."

Nodding, Kiyome answered automatically, "Of course. The safest option is to just wait. There are a number of animals adapted to feeding on these flowers. They run in and carry aa few flowers out. We could then steal one of those. The other option is a slight bit more dangerous. We can create a specific salve that counteracts the chemical's effect on the skin. We can then cover our mouths and noses, close your eyes, and then run in. Grab a flower quick, and run out. We'd then have to apply the salve to any exposed skin."

"I see," Naruto replied thoughtfully.

"…Why do I feel you have a different idea?" Kiyome deadpanned.

"Cause I do," Naruto stated with a grin. Stretching his arms out and cracking his fingers, Naruto started walking forward.

Pausing ten feet away from the cloud of yellow, Naruto took a deep breath. Forming wind chakra in his lungs, he then blew it out. The resulting gust of wind was unsuitable for inflicting damage in a battle, but it proved more than suitable for scattering the cloud of chemicals.

With a grin, Naruto strolled forward calmly. Reaching down, he pulled one of the flowers. He then spun around and started walking back to Kiyome. Holding the flower up, he called out, "Got it."

Kiyome was silent for several seconds. She then exclaimed emotionlessly, "I'm done. I don't care anymore."

Tilting his head, Naruto immediately questioned, "What do you mean?"

"I mean I don't care anymore. I don't care that you've somehow managed to accomplish in hours what would have taken me a week. I just want to finish this up, and leave," Kiyome said as she massaged her temples.

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"Alright. This location should be satisfactory. The population of fairies in this area is more than satisfactory," Zatouji announced as the group entered a wide clearing.

The group had been walking for hours by that point, and the landscape had changed to reflect as such. Instead of the creepy forest they had entered in, they were now in a healthy and beautiful forest. The trees were covered in leaves, and the sky had cleared up so sunlight peeked through the canopy. A beautiful and clear lake was a short distance away. There was also a greater abundance of small animals here, from squirrels to birds. If the previous forest was something out of a horror movie, this one was from a fairy tail.

Zatouji turned to the group and announced, "There's not a whole lot more to do, but wait. The two girls got their familiars. All that is left is the kid. Since he refuses to change his mind, we need to wait till the real one arrives with the ingredients. Well, if he arrives."

"The boss will come," the Naruto clone immediately claimed in annoyance. He quickly added, "I made a clone to transmit our current location to him. He'll be here once he finishes."

Rias nodded at the clone before announcing, "Alright then. Everyone can relax and do their own things until Naruto-kun arrives."

Everyone nodded. Almost immediately the focus of those present turned towards their familiars. Asia started cuddling with Raito, and Raynare started half-heartedly using a stick as a toy to play with her fox. The rest of the group quickly followed their leads, and summoned their familiars to play with them. Zatouji seemed to take this opportunity to survey the creatures in the area.

It all left Naruto feeling a bit left out. Deciding he didn't have much of a use currently, Naruto informed the group, "I'm going to dispel myself. The boss will be here soon anyway."

The group nodded their understanding, and so the clone went up in a puff of smoke.

The group stayed there for half an hour waiting. The first warning they had was when a group of birds started flying a distance away. Barely ten seconds later, a blur shot out from the canopy of leaves to land in the clearing.

Once it came to a stop, it showed Naruto. Kiyome was perched on his back, looking rather windswept. As soon as they came to a stop, she clambered off his back. She then quickly did her best to tame her hair that had been ruined by the high speed they had been traveling.

Akeno, Asia, Yuuto, and Rias called out while Raynare and Koneko stayed silent.

Naruto straightened and flashed them a grin as he said, "Hey guys. Sorry about keeping you waiting."

"Nonsense. You came with plenty of time to spare," Rias replied. Turning to Kiyome, Rias added, "Which I guess I should thank you for, Abe Kiyome-san."

"No need for that, Rias-san," Kiyome stated stiffly, looking to be wary of Rias. She then explained, "Uzumaki-san assisted me in a certain matter. I was simply fulfilling my end of the bargain by showing him to the proper locations. Now that we are finished though, I would like to leave. No offense, but I would rather conclude my dealings with your kind as quickly and hassle free as possible. I do not wish to lose my soul anytime soon."

Rias gave a slightly bitter smile at her words. It wasn't an opinion she hadn't heard before. To many people, devils were a symbol of evil. They viewed them as beings to be feared. Naruto was quite skilled at working with the types that feared them like that. Kiyome had clearly lost whatever fear or wariness she had of him. That did not transfer over to Rias and her peerage though.

"You may leave whenever you wish. I simply wanted to thank you for helping my servant regardless," Rias said calmly.

Kiyome nodded tensely, and moved a short distance away. She closed her eyes and concentrated for several moments. A yellow magic circle slowly started forming around her. It was forming pathetically slow compared to one of their own, but that wasn't a surprise. Kiyome might know a small bit of magic to teleport to places like this, but she was a beast tamer. Not a magician.

As the magic circle formed, Kiyome turned to Naruto and remarked in a surprisingly friendly voice, "I thank you, Uzumaki-san, for your aid dealing with that wyvern. I won't deny you infuriated me by the ease by which you gathered the ingredients, but I was impressed regardless. You are an…interesting character, Uzumaki-kun. I might be willing to work with you again in the future."

"Sure, Kiyome-chan," Naruto replied with a friendly grin.

"Don't call me that. I'm still getting used to you calling me Kiyome-senpai," Kiyome stated immediately.

"Don't say that. You know you love me," Naruto declared with a smile. He then continued, "Don't worry, Kiyome-chan. I'll make sure to prank the tennis club sometime soon. I won't forget you."

"Please don't do that," Kiyome requested as she rubbed her brow in irritation. "I've changed my mind. I don't want to work with you again, Uzumaki-san. You're too infuriating. I'm going. Goodbye." The beast tamer then disappeared as her magic circle finally finished.

With Kiyome gone, Rias turned towards Naruto and questioned, "Well? Did you gather the ingredients?"

Naruto didn't answer her, instead turning towards Zatouji. Approaching the familiar master, Naruto's smile widened. Withdrawing the items from the storage seals on his wrists, he handed them to Zatouji as he said, "A cucumber of a kappa. Golden banana of the monkey yokai tribe. Kelp of the mermaids. Petal of the Golden Death flower." With Zatouji now holding all the ingredients, Naruto exclaimed victoriously, "All within six hours. Booyah!"

Zatouji looked perplexed before he chuckled as he replied, "Well I'll be damned. You proved me wrong kid. I'll go grind these into a powder. In the meantime, you should make the shrine."

"Uhh…yeah. Can you explain that whole shrine thing to me again?" Naruto requested sheepishly, having forgotten.

Zatouji sighed in exasperation, but still told Naruto indulgently, "The powder created from these ingredients will attract all nearby fairies, but the shrine will be how those fairies judge you. Simply create a small pile of objects that describe you."

"What do you mean by 'that describe you'?" Naruto asked, not getting it.

"Exactly that. Fairies are spirits. They don't…think like us. They process and interpret the world around them differently than we do. They can understand things beyond the physical realm. They are capable of sensing the emotions and meaning behind objects. They inherently understand what the objects symbolize. If you lay out objects with personal significance, they can comprehend why. They can then judge you based on those objects," Zatouji explained slowly, choosing his words carefully.

"Okay. I think I get it," Naruto claimed hesitantly, scratching his head as he thought over those words.

Zatouji quickly walked to the edge of the clearing and pulled out several tools. He then set to work.

Naruto turned around as he considered what he had just been told. Yuuto quickly came up and patted his shoulder as he informed him, "This is something you need to do yourself, Naruto. Good luck."

Naruto nodded and continued thinking as the rest of the group went back to interacting with their familiars. Things important to him. Make a shrine that describes himself.

Naruto quickly started pulling objects from the storage seals on his wrists. His Konoha headband. The piece of metal was battered to the point of being unrecognizable from the trip over here, but Naruto had kept it anyways. It was important to him, symbolizing Konoha and his dream to become Hokage. Naruto then pulled out Gama-chan, his old wallet reminding Naruto of the toads. It was also the first gift Naruto had ever received. The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja. Ero-Sennin and the source of Naruto's name. The headband for the Shinobi Alliance. Peace and cooperation. The tatters of his old orange tracksuit. Cause orange is awesome, dattebayo! A sealed cup of instant ramen. Cause ramen is also awesome, dattebayo! It also reminded him of the Ichirakus.

Now his new life. Naruto pulled out Excalibur Ruler. A gift from Selene, who gave Naruto a second chance at life. A copy of Icha Icha. Despite his resentment of how it affected his reputation, it was Naruto's way of earning money. Thus he had to own the consequences. Both the good and the bad. A bucket of orange paint. To represent his love of pranks.

Tilting his head in thought, Naruto turned and called out, "Hey. Can I get a strand of hair from each of you?"

The unusual request shocked everyone, and Raynare quickly demanded, "What the hell kind of request is that?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head in embarrassment as he admitted, "Comrades are really important to me. So I want to put something here which will symbolize our group. Hair seems the easiest option."

Accepting his explanation, they all complied with his demand. Although several did it grudgingly. Carefully grabbing them, Naruto bent down and picked up a small twig from the ground. He then wrapped each hair around the twig, tying a knot afterwards so they wouldn't fall off. With the hairs secured, Naruto placed it on the small pile of items.

He then stepped back to examine the small pile of objects. It wasn't totally complete. Naruto wished he had something to represent his parents. A reminder of the Rookie 12. The necklace he won from Tsunade. Unfortunately, Naruto could only use what was in his storage seals, and his trip over here hadn't exactly been planned. So while it wasn't perfect, Naruto was satisfied.

"You done?" Rias asked as she came up behind Naruto.

"Yep," Naruto replied simply. Turning his head, he then called out, "You ready yet, ossan?"

"Yeah, yeah. Hold your horses," Zatouji replied shortly as he approached. He was holding a bowl. Looking at Naruto, he asked, "That pile yours?"

"…Yeah," Naruto replied, not quite liking how he referred to a number of Naruto's prized possessions.

Zatouji either didn't notice or didn't care, as he just walked over. Reaching into the bowl, he threw a handful of powder onto the pile of objects. He then announced, "That's it."

"That's it?" Naruto repeated skeptically.

Shrugging nonchalantly, Zatouji claimed, "That's it. The powder will attract the fairies, but now we are onto the most uncertain step. Waiting. If they deem you suitable, they'll come to you. Otherwise, there is nothing more we can do."

"It's been a good six hours since we arrived. We've got maybe four more hours before we need to head back," Rias announced seriously.

"Got it, Rias-chan," Naruto said with an understanding nod. Nothing to do now, but wait.

"Since the other two have got their familiars there's nothing for us to do, but wait," Zatouji commented with a shrug.

"Actually, there's one thing I was planning to do on this trip," Naruto claimed softly. Looking at Zatouji, Naruto asked, "Do you think you can…leave for a little while? No offense, but this is something rather private."

Zatouji looked a bit befuddled by the request, but shrugged and answered calmly, "Sure. I'll just go for a walk. I'll be back in half an hour."

"That will work. Thanks," Naruto said gratefully.

So Zatouji turned and started walking into the woods. He disappeared quickly.

As soon as he was gone, Rias asked curiously, "What is it you are planning, Naruto-kun?"

Instead of answering, Naruto started heading towards the lake while simultaneously calling out to everyone, "Come here. I have something to show you guys. Something cool. You definitely won't want to miss it."

His words brought everyone together. Asia quickly asked, "What is it, Naruto-san?"

"It better not be something stupid," Raynare grunted out.

"Only if you would consider Selene as something stupid," Naruto claimed with a wide grin.

"Wait," Rias exclaimed immediately. "As in the Lady of the Lake?"

Naruto nodded enthusiastically before explaining, "Yeah. I've been wanting to introduce you guys to her for a while, but she's kind of private. I also need a large body of water to summon her. Altogether I couldn't summon her in the city. I realized yesterday though that this is a great opportunity for you guys to meet her. We're in the wilderness, and by ourselves."

"M-Meeting the Lady of the Lake. I'm kind of n-nervous," Asia admitted timidly.

"Asia has a point. It isn't everyday you meet a true goddess," Akeno remarked, looking a tad bit nervous as well.

"Don't worry you guys. She's friendly," Naruto told them.

"Let's hope so," Rias muttered before gesturing to Naruto and saying, "Guess there's nothing to do but get to it. So proceed, Naruto-kun."

Nodding, Naruto stepped away from the group. He had positioned them beside the lake before, and he now walked towards it. Using the water walking exercise, Naruto walked across the surface of the water. After making it out ten meters or so, Naruto removed the silver-green pendant from his neck. The pendant he received from the Lady of the Lake. Holding it in his hand, he crouched down over the surface of the water. Naruto then used the pendant to trace the symbol inside the pendant on the water, the symbol of the Lady of the Lake. The pendant left a gold trail where it touched the water. When he was done, there was a glowing golden symbol in the water. Standing up, Naruto quickly retreated as the symbol faded. Reaching the shore, he waited expectantly.

He didn't have to wait long. Within three seconds, a figure rose up out of the water right where the symbol had been. Once the figure was entirely out of the water, she started to slowly make her way towards the group. Her steps didn't cause even the slightest ripple across the water, making her seem almost ethereal. Naruto's grin widened at the sight of the Lady of the Lake, the others looking at her in awe.

The Lady of the Lake was quite tall, standing an inch or two taller than Naruto. Her alabaster skin was so clear it was almost translucent, the white skin also had a slight bluish tinge. Her wavy hair was white with a slight hint of green to it, falling down to the small of her back. Her eyes were quite large, and were a soft pink color. Her face was perfect to a degree that it almost didn't seem natural. Her body was beautiful. She didn't have the outrageously curved figure of Rias or Akeno, but everything still seemed perfect. Her long legs, the gentle arch of her hip, her trim and flat stomach, the graceful slope of her breasts, the delicate collarbone and neck. It was a perfection artists couldn't ever achieve in their works. Her attire was…interesting to say the least. Seaweed ran up her legs, sticking to her skin like it was magnetically attracted to her. The seaweed continued from her legs, the large leaves covering her groin. It even continued further, running up her stomach to cover her breasts. Much of her skin was exposed by the wandering vines, but the important bits were covered.

She was utterly gorgeous. Even the females couldn't help but lose their breath over her ethereal beauty. Yet, there was something…otherworldly about it. Maybe it was her too perfect face and body or the slight discolorations of her hair and skin, but it was almost too much. No mortal could achieve such perfection. Anyone to see her would feel in their hearts that this was a being that existed in a whole different realm of existence. That she was simply…superior.

The pure wonder the members of the Occult Club were feeling shattered when Naruto let out an eager yell, "Selene!" Naruto then jumped forward, catching the goddess in a flying glomp.

She staggered slightly, but seems to have expected it. She seemed slightly amused by Naruto, who was still hugging her in delight. Patting him on the head, she spoke up in a light and airy voice, "Naruto. Nice to see you again."

Reluctantly pulling away, Naruto quickly replied with a grin, "Yeah, I've missed you these past few months, Selene."

"Still. You have done well, Naruto. You have made many fine comrades in the months since we separated," Selene commented as she turned to look at the gob smacked members of the Occult Research Club. She then said, "Greetings."

The members seemed speechless and incapable of replying. Naruto finally remarked, "I think they are still recovering from your Glamour, Selene. Why did you even arrive without suppressing it? You knew this would happen."

"It shall be a good experience for them to experience a Glamour. They do not have the natural immunity you do, thus they must be aware if it ever happens to them," Selene claimed calmly before telling the confused members of the club, "I apologize. You were previously affected by my Glamour. It is a tool used by gods to influence mortals and nourish worship. Most gods must mentally invoke a Glamour…Unfortunately, one of my unique abilities is my unusually powerful Glamour that is constant. I must consciously suppress it." She ended with a small, bitter smile.

"I-It is…fine," Rias stuttered out awkwardly, her cheeks burning. A Glamour. She's read about those before. They can be resisted by any with a strong will. For her to be caught in it was downright embarrassing. Naruto had clearly been able to resist it.

It was clearly gone now though. The previous presence of Selene had disappeared. She was still just as perfect, but they weren't taken in by that perfection anymore.

"It is wonderful to meet you…?" Rias began formally, speaking in a highly formal and slightly deferential voice. The being before her might not hold any worship among devils, but she was still a god. That demands a certain amount of submission, even from a high class devil like Rias. Rias quickly questioned awkwardly, "I'm sorry, milady, but what should we call you?"

Selene didn't seem at all affected by Rias' attitude, and answered serenely, "It does not matter to me. Names mean little. I have been called many over the ages. Lady of the Lake, Nimue, Viviane, Elaine, Nivian, Nyneve, Evienne, Niniane, and many others. Naruto fancies the name Selene. For the sake of convenience, you may refer to me as that."

"Understood, Selene-sama," Rias replied while giving her a respectful bow. She then announced, "I am Rias Gremory, heiress apparent of the Gremory Clan. I thank you for the assistance you rendered my servant previously."

"No thanks are needed. Naruto was not your servant at the time," Selene said coolly before adding with a small teasing smile, "On the contrary, I should thank you. Naruto is not…an easy person to have as a servant."

Rias couldn't help but chuckle slightly at that. She then retorted, "I noticed. I really doubt he can be referred to as a servant."

"Nope. Not really," Selene admitted with a small smile. She then turned to Asia and continued, "Hello, Asia Argento."

"P-P-Pleased to meet you, milady," Asia stuttered out anxiously, giving a hasty bow at the end.

"There is no need to fear me. I am not your enemy. Quite the contrary," Selene claimed, laying a soft hand on Asia's head.

"T-Thank you," Asia replied, still unable to hide or hide her nervousness.

Selene just moved on though, turning to Raynare. "Hello, Raynare."

"It's a honor, Selene-sama," Raynare said formally, unconsciously straightening under the gaze of the goddess before her.

Selene tilted her head before commenting, "Five more weeks remaining in the bet. Continue carefully. The decisions you make in that time shall determine the path you walk."

Raynare blinked in surprise at her words, sending Naruto a questioning gaze. He just shrugged and explained, "Selene knows damn near everything. Apparently her real domain is knowledge. She knows our pasts and futures. Without even meeting someone she knows that person better than they know themselves. It's why she refers to everyone familiarly."

With that piece of information explained, the group focused back on Selene. The goddess apparently didn't care about his words, as she now focused on Yuuto. The knight immediately fell to a knee before the goddess. Bowing his head, he said courteously, "It's an honor, milady."

Selene just smiled softly before gently lifting the surprised Yuuto to his feet. She then told him regally, "Do not bow to me, knight of the House of Gremory. I have done nothing to deserve it."

Yuuto reluctantly straightened, but anyone could see he was uncomfortable in the presence of the goddess.

Thankfully, Selene moved on to Koneko. This time Selene tilted her head in thought while looking at the impassive Koneko. She finally asked, "Your name?"

Deciding to disregard why she asked, Koneko answered shortly, "Koneko Toujou."

"And your real name?" Selene asked calmly.

Koneko's eyes grew hard at that. She finally grunted out, "It doesn't matter. You yourself said…that names don't matter."

"They don't, but you didn't just change your name. You are rejecting part of your nature. Your very identity. That does matter," Selene said wisely. Koneko actually scowled at her words, and turned away irritably. Selene just gave a serene smile as she added, "I hope to speak to Shirone someday." She then turned away from the glowering Koneko.

Now facing a visibly nervous Akeno, Selene just smile as she said, "Same to you, Himejima Akeno."

Akeno's presence turned noticeably darker at her words, although the polite smile she was wearing didn't change. She then replied in a clearly forced polite voice, "Ufufufu. We shall see, Selene-sama."

Nodding tranquilly despite no doubt feeling Akeno's darker emotions, Selene turned back to Rias and commented, "You have a good peerage, Rias. I look forward to seeing you all fulfill your potential."

"Thank you for your kind words. It is valuable praise from one such as you," Rias replied politely, pride seeping into her voice.

Selene then turned to Naruto and asked, "Do you have a proper object?"

Naruto immediately pouted as he grumbled, "Your whole future sight thing really ruins the fun. Not only can I never surprise you, but you don't even give me the opportunity to say anything because you know what I'm going to say and reply before I even say it."

"Good. It's entertaining to mess with you," Selene claimed in a teasing tone.

Naruto started muttering to himself. He'd finally met his match in Selene. She didn't really do anything besides tease him sometimes, but he could not for the life of him prank her. It was infuriating. She sees everything.

Getting rid of those thoughts, Naruto quickly pulled out a small bundle wrapped in a white cloth. He then told her, "I know you need some sort of object. So here it is."

Selene approached him and took the bundle. She then slowly opened it, revealing a gleaming silver cross. Asia immediately gasped at the sight.

Which drew Rias' attention, who quickly asked, "Is something wrong, Asia?"

"T-That's my cross," Asia claimed in shock.

Rias blinked in bewilderment before asking, "You have a cross?"

Asia looked down as she admitted, "Y-Yes. It was a cross I used to wear on my nun attire, but I couldn't do that after I became a devil. I still kept it in my room though."

"Yeah, sorry about that, Asia. I snuck into your room this morning and got it. I hope that is okay," Naruto told her sheepishly.

"It is okay, but why did you need it, Naruto-san?" Asia asked in confusion.

Naruto just gestured to Selene. The goddess didn't look at them, instead focusing on the cross. Holding it up, a glow appeared in the hands grasping it. Everyone could sense the powerful magic. Still holding the cross in one hand, Selene bent down and barely touched the surface of the water with a finger. She then straightened, a single drop of water clinging to her finger tip. Her mouth moved as she silently spoke to herself. Lifting the finger up, the drop of water fell onto the cross. The silver cross immediately turned a lustrous gold. Selene nodded in satisfaction at the sight.

She then called out, "Asia Argento. Come forward."

Asia looked baffled by the order, and was clearly reluctant. When she looked towards Naruto for guidance though, he gave her an encouraging smile. Drawing courage from that, Asia hesitantly stepped forward.

Selene closed the distance till she was almost uncomfortably close to Asia. Gently grabbing her chin, Selene forced Asia to look up into her face. She then announced, "Asia Argento, possessor of Twilight Healing. With this act, I hereby bestow upon you a gift."

Selene then leaned down and placed a tender kiss upon Asia's forehead, drawing a gasp of surprise from the nun. Pulling back, Selene then held up the golden cross. She touched it firmly onto the spot she had just kissed. Asia recoiled, expecting a burning pain from the cross, but was confused when nothing happened. Smiling softly, Selene placed the cross into the amazed Asia's hands.

She then announced, "As per Naruto's desire, I have both enchanted this cross and placed a blessing upon you."

Everyone quickly looked at Naruto, who scratched the back of his head in embarrassment as he explained, "Well Asia is still a dedicated Christian. She prays before meals, even with the migraines she suffers. She also reads the Bible. She has even kept her cross. I really didn't want her to have to suffer, so I was hoping Selene could help her."

Selene then clarified, "I placed an enchantment on this cross, and a blessing on Asia. As long as she wears this cross, Asia should be immune to the devil's weakness of light, holy water, and crosses. My blessing shall exempt her from the punishments a devil receives when praying or reading the Bible."

"You can do that?" Rias asked in astonishment, completely blown away from this news. The system set up by the Biblical God himself is the reason for all that. Selene would have to be capable of…well, hacking into that system to do what she just did. A system created and maintained by the Biblical God himself.

"Yes, I can. I have many abilities, and many secrets," Selene stated with a mysterious smile before quickly adding, "And no, I cannot create more of those crosses. I accomplished this by manipulating loopholes in the Biblical God's system. This was only possible because of Asia's genuine belief and faith. I simply forcefully reclassified her as a follower of the Biblical God by using her faith as a sticking point, allowing her to pray and read the Bible without punishment. The cross is used to protect her from the natural weaknesses of a devil, like light. The cross in specific was difficult to create, and making too many might have inadvertent side effects on the entire system. That might draw the attention of the Biblical God and heaven."

Rias deflated slightly at that. After her shock, she had immediately seen potential in this. Most devils wouldn't want the ability to pray, but enchantments capable of protecting them from light and holy water would be invaluable. Guess that would be too much to ask for.

Raynare quickly questioned while looking at Naruto critically, "Why did you do it for Asia, but not yourself? You pray right beside her."

Naruto just shrugged with a wry grin as he exclaimed, "It's totally different between myself and Asia. I pray to piss God off. She prays because she genuinely believes in him. I can accept the punishment because it's just me being me, but Asia doesn't deserve to be in pain just because she is a devil. That's racist."

Rias sighed as she accepted Naruto statement. She then turned towards Asia and asked, "Well? What do you think, Asia? You might be the first devil in history given this opportunity."

Asia didn't reply immediately. For the past minute she had been staring at the cross in her hand blankly. Finally after Rias called out to her again, Asia slowly lifted her head to look at Naruto with wide eyes. Naruto was trouble as her eyes started watering. He became downright concerned when tears started falling from Asia's eyes and she started sniffling. As soon as he took a step towards her though, she shot at him with a speed Naruto had never seen from her before.

Burying her face in his chest and wrapping her arms around his waist, she started bawling. Naruto flinched, unsure what was going on. At least until he heard Asia thanking him repeatedly. It was difficult to make out, but it was definitely there. It seemed Naruto's action had reduced the nun to tears.

Letting out a sigh of relief that he hadn't done something wrong, Naruto wrapped his arms around Asia's small body. He then patiently waited for her to finish crying. The other members of the group were looking at the scene awkwardly, feeling like they were intruding on something intensely personal.

With everyone distracted, Rias took the opportunity. Looking around for Selene, she finally found her a short distance away. The goddess was looking at her meaningfully. She obviously knew what Rias had been planning. Rias quickly moved towards her, leaving the hearing distance of the group.

"You have a question for me," Selene said once she was getting close. It was a statement, and both of them knew it.

Rias nodded seriously. Taking a deep breath, she asked, "I need to know about my future Rating Match against Riser. Do I win? If not, how did I lose?"

"You wish to change the future," Selene commented emotionlessly.

"I wish to cement the future I want," Rias proclaimed firmly.

"An impossible task," Selene remarked quickly, a visible frown on her face. She then clarified to the confused Rias, "The future is not so simple as that. It is twisting and turbulent. Always changing. There is no destiny. Every decision can change things. Every act. Every thought. It's that complex."

"What I mean is that the future isn't set in stone. I can't tell you what will happen because it hasn't happened yet. I can tell you what _might_ happen. What _can_ happen. But never what _will_ happen. I can lay out thousand or even millions of potential paths you can take. Some paths you may win your match with the one known as Riser, and in others you shall lose. I cannot set you on a certain path because every thought and decision you make changes things. The future isn't decided by one or two major decisions, but millions of nearly unnoticeable ones," Selene explained seriously.

Rias let out a depressed sigh at the answer and remarked gloomily, "So you can't help me?"

"No. I cannot," Selene said solemnly.

Rias nodded in understanding before another thought occurred to her. Hesitating about whether she wanted to ask this question, she finally took a deep breath and asked, "Then can you tell me what would have happened if Naruto never arrived in this world?" When Selene didn't answer immediately, Rias continued, "Naruto said you sent him here because his presence changed how things were suppose to turn out. I've tried not to think about it, but it keeps coming to mind. What did he change? Would I have gained Issei as a peerage member? Would I have met Asia?…How would things have turned out?"

Selene just looked at Rias without answering. Finally she closed her eyes and replied softly, "There's a reason they recommend letting sleeping dogs lie, Rias. As I said, the future is never certain. That future disappeared years ago when Naruto appeared in this world, long before you were even born. Telling you what might have happened would only cause heartache."

Rias sighed at once again being denied an answer, but couldn't deny the wisdom of her words. She'd rather not consider what she believes might have happened. That future is gone.

"Are you happy with your current life, Rias?" Selene questioned suddenly.

Rias blinked in surprise at the question, but nodded and immediately answered, "Of course."

"Then be satisfied with that," Selene said simply as she glided back to the group.

Rias stayed still for a few seconds after that. Such a simple statement, but it really resonated with her. Rias had always been one to consider 'what if,' wondering if she could have done something better. Yet, she truly can't find any faults with her current life. Sure, there were small issues. Raynare' attitude. Riser. Naruto's stubbornness and rebelliousness. Life is full of ups and down. That's only natural, but…she is satisfied. She really is. She loves her life, and no one is going to ruin that. Not Riser. Not her father. Not anyone.

Smiling at her inner revelation, Rias turned and walked back to the group. Asia was still clinging to Naruto, although she had stopped crying. Rias couldn't blame her either. Naruto just did something that hadn't been done in history. He gave Asia, a devil, the ability to pray. Naruto really is Asia's personal hero by this point.

Selene meanwhile announced to the group, "It is time I take my leave."

Naruto's head immediately shot up and he yelled while trying not to jostle Asia, "What?! But you just arrived."

"And I'm sorry about that. Unfortunately, I have business to attend to," Selene claimed while smiling at Naruto regretfully. She then grew a bit brighter as she informed him, "Don't worry though. You'll be seeing me sooner than expected."

"…Promise?" Naruto demanded grudgingly.

Selene gave a tinkling laugh before saying, "I promise."

Giving a wave to the rest of the group, Selene walked back onto the lake. She then sunk into it like a ghost, not even a ripple to mark her departure.

Akeno seemed to brighten at the goddess's departure, and clapped her hands together as she announced, "This will be a good time to have lunch. I prepared it beforehand."

As if to emphasize her words, several stomachs rumbled. Needless to say, Akeno's food was gratefully accepted by the group.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Several hours, the group started getting ready to leave.

Naruto sighed from where he was sitting down with his back against a tree. After eating lunch, the group had simply hung out and talked to each other. They could have left, but they hade wanted to give Naruto as much time as possible for a fairy to choose him. It had not been a success. Naruto had felt multiple small energy signatures in the area, and had even seen some from the corner of his eyes. None had apparently chosen him though, and time had run out. They had to go back.

Naruto lowered his head to look at a sleeping Asia. After she finished crying, the nun had fallen asleep. Using his lap as a pillow. Naruto didn't mind, even if it was a bit uncomfortable.

They needed to leave now though, so Naruto pet Asia's head as he told her loudly, "Asia. You have to wake up now. We're about to leave."

Asia softly mewled protests while still asleep, but Naruto held in his fan boyish squeal and continued. Finally Asia's eyes opened. Sitting up, she blearily rubbed her eyes. She then looked around in confusion, having just woken up.

Her cheeks immediately flared up as she realized what she had been doing. She quickly exclaimed in embarrassment, "S-S-Sorry, N-Naruto-san. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

Naruto just laughed and replied, "No prob, Asia."

"B-But it was probably pretty uncomfortable," Asia mumbled as she poked her fingers together.

"I didn't mind," Naruto claimed cheerfully before his grin became more mischievous. He then added, "Plus, your sleeping face is really cute."

Asia blushed deeply at that, and looked at the ground. After a minute she looked back up. Her face immediately lit up in joy as she squealed, "You got a fairy. I knew you could, Naruto-san."

Naruto just looked at her in confusion before telling her, "What do you mean? I didn't gain a fairy as a familiar."

"Then, what is that?" Asia asked in confusion, pointing to just behind Naruto's head. Raising an eyebrow, Naruto looked over. Nothing. Asia quickly continued, "Wait. She moved. She's now to your left."

Naruto looked again, but still nothing. Asia immediately claimed 'she' moved again. Getting tired of this, Naruto reached behind his head without looking. Quickly grabbing something, Naruto heard a surprised squeak. Bringing his hand forward, Naruto looked at what he caught.

It was a fairy. Or at least what Naruto thinks is a fairy. Grasped in Naruto's hand was a small female figure, no more than six inches tall. She had long, light green hair and green eyes, but Naruto couldn't see anything else since he was holding her.

"Uhh…Who are you?" Naruto asked in confusion.

The fairy looked to be in a panic, desperately trying to escape. Naruto finally opened his hand. It revealed that the fairy was wearing a light orange slip. She also had what looked to be butterfly wings on her back. As soon as she was free, the fairy darted away.

Naruto let out a soft sigh at that, but several seconds a small voice spoke up timidly, "K-Kareha. M-My name is…Kareha." Naruto turned his head to see that the fairy had flown behind the tree Naruto was lying against, and was peeking around it just enough to look at Naruto with one eye. It meant Naruto could barely see her, since she was already so small.

Naruto finally asked, "Why were you hiding behind my head? Wait. Actually, how were you able to hide behind my head?" Naruto could feel the fairies flittering around in the trees, but he could not sense this one.

"I-I'm a nature fairy," Kareha claimed softly, answering Naruto's questions. Naruto could sense the other fairies because their signatures were different from the natural energy that shrouded everything. It was like spotting different colors on a green backboard, but this was a nature fairy. She was literally made of natural energy. So she blended into the background. She's completely invisible to Naruto, who relies on senjutsu to sense energy. Kareha then continued shyly, "A-As for why I was hiding b-behind your head. I wanted to ask you something, b-but I was too scared. I couldn't work up the c-courage."

Aww, this fairy almost resembled Asia, but even shyer.

"What did you want to ask me?" Naruto asked with a tilt of his head.

"W-Why do you feel connected to nature?"

Naruto blinked. Wow, this fairy was capable of sensing that. Naruto quickly told her, "Because I'm a sage, or used to be."

"I knew it," Kareha exclaimed excitedly before seemingly realizing that she was still nervous. Shrinking back again, she eventually continued slowly, "Some of the older nature fairies have told me about people who would absorb the energy of nature into their very souls. That they fought alongside nature. They said they were all gone, but I knew you had to be one."

Naruto scratched the back of his head as he admitted, "Yeah, but I can't do that right now. I don't currently have the chakra reserves to balance the nature energy within me. If I tried, I'd turn to stone."

"But you know how, right?"

"Yeah."

"That's enough," Kareha declared before growing timid again. Hiding behind the tree again, it took several moments before she peeked out again and informed him, "Y-You are looking for a fairy, right? I've been curious about you since you entered this forest. I sensed your connection to nature…I really want to see a true sage. So, I-I'd be willing to j-join you."

"Really?!" Naruto cried with stars in his eyes, leaning close to Kareha.

Kareha flew back instinctively in fear when he got close, but eventually recovered and stuttered out, "Y-Yes."

"Oh hell, no!"

A new voice interrupted before Naruto could reply. A small blur darted out, actually smacking Naruto in the nose. As Naruto flinched, the blur shot towards Kareha. By the time Naruto looked, a new fairy was holding Kareha in a protective hug.

This fairy was extremely different from Kareha. The new fairy was dark-skinned, and had a wicked fro. He was dressed in some dark brown clothing, rougher than Kareha's. His wings were also thinner, more like a dragonfly than a butterfly. He had three different sets of them, compared to Kareha's one set.

He was also glaring at Naruto. Pointing at Naruto, the new fairy declared belligerently, "I'm not letting Kareha go with you. You're sketchy."

"Sketchy?" Naruto repeated indignantly.

"Yeah. You left porn in your shrine. That's totally sketchy," the fairy declared. Naruto felt an arrow pierce his heart. Owning up to his less-than-stellar livelihood was truly a painful ordeal.

"Chikyu," Kareha said softly. "He's a sage, and the rest of his shrine was very admirable. He's very pure-hearted."

"So? He still left porn there. That makes him inherently a person to be wary of. Everyone else agreed," the now identified Chikyu argued to Kareha. Naruto felt another arrow pierce his heart. Apparently leaving Icha Icha there was a really bad choice. It scared off the fairies apparently. Owning up to publishing Icha Icha has totally come to bite him in the ass.

"B-But he's a s-sage," Kareha whimpered out.

"I'm sorry, but I don't care. He's sketchy," Chikyu declared bluntly.

"Hey. You realize I'm right here? Don't talk like I'm not here," Naruto called out in irritation, tired of being called sketchy.

Chikyu just clicked his tongue as he turned to Naruto. Sneering, he pointed at Naruto as he proclaimed, "I don't care what you think. I'm not going to leave Kareha alone with a guy like you. I don't trust you."

"A-Ano, then why don't you become Naruto-san's familiar along with Kareha? Then you can be with Kareha," Asia suggested.

Chikyu just looked at her in disbelief as he burst out, "Ehh! Are you kidding. No way am I go-"

"That's a great idea," Kareha exclaimed happily. She shot towards Chikyu and grabbed his hands before she continued happily, "This way we can still be together. It will be so much more fun like this."

Chikyu immediately stuttered, "B-But, Kareha. I don't want to become this guy's familiar."

"B-B-But it would be so fun. P-Please?" Kareha whispered out pathetically, her eyes tearing up.

Chikyu struggled to not fall to the look, but it was a fight he couldn't win. He finally exhaled as he said grudgingly, "Fine. I'll do it."

"Hehe. Whipped," Naruto taunted while hiding it beneath a cough, sniggering at the fairy that had insulted him.

Chikyu clearly heard. Glaring at Naruto, he shot forward and punched Naruto's nose. Naruto yelped slightly. For a little thing, he packed quite a punch. That actually stung. Naruto reacted by pulling on the fairy's cheeks. To Naruto's shock, they stretched easily, quickly becoming as wide as the fairy was tall.

Zatouji, who had apparently been watching this whole time, pitched in by explaining, "Fairies are surprisingly resilient, physically. They are vulnerable to cutting attacks, but are practically immune to blunt force trauma. Their bodies are similar to rubber, and are also very stretchy. As you can see."

"Letsh go ofsh mi shretchy fashe," Chikyu mumbled out while having his cheeks stretched wide by Naruto.

Naruto did just that, but almost immediately regretted it. Chikyu immediately darted closer to his face and spit in Naruto's eye. Naruto recoiled with a cry, rubbing at his eye with a hand.

"What the hell? That was a cheap shot," Naruto spat angrily as he tried to clear a surprising amount of debris from his eye. Looking at it, Naruto demanded in irritation, "Is this dirt? That's both painful and insulting."

"Ah. He must be an earth fairy," Zatouji said in realization.

Chikyu smirked as he commented to Naruto mockingly, "I think you got something in your eye. Looks painful."

Naruto growled and immediately grabbed and stretched his cheeks again, even with one of his eyes closed. Chikyu started struggling again.

The rest of the club just sweat dropped at the increasingly comedic and ridiculous scene. They had been watching this whole time. Despite Kareha apparently being the one that chose Naruto, Chikyu was like a mirror copy of Naruto. Protective, blunt, teasing, and slightly obnoxious. And based on the scene before them, this was a case of similar personalities clashing.

Rias still couldn't help feeling satisfied though. She had feared Naruto would fail to get a familiar, but Naruto lived up to his unpredictable nature. A devil gaining not one, but two fairies as familiars all in one day. She was pretty darn sure that had never happened before.

This trip had turned out very productive. All three of her servants gained their familiars. Asia got a dragon which would turn into a powerful asset in a few years, and Naruto got two fairies. Fairies have all sorts of special attributes that can be helpful. She couldn't have asked for more.

Just in time too. It was just about time. Riser would probably come calling any day now. While she wished she had more time, Rias couldn't find fault with her peerage's current capabilities. They were ready.

*Omake*

"Naruto-kun…Why is there an official document for you from the Underworld Diplomatic Department?"

Rias' question drew everyone's attention. Naruto himself looked at her with beady eyes, being caught completely off guard. Rias just silently handed Naruto a letter.

Naruto looked at the letter suspiciously, but eventually had no choice but to open it. Doing so, he skimmed over its content quickly. His jaw dropped as he read.

"Well? What is it?" Rias questioned curiously, but Naruto didn't answer. He instead just stared at the letter with uncomprehending eyes.

Growing annoyed, Rias grabbed the letter. As she started reading, the rest of the club looked over her shoulder to read too.

_Dear Uzumaki Naruto, Rook of Rias Gremory, Low-class Devil_

_ This department has recently received a missive from Archangel Michael on behalf of Heaven. They claim you have been 'praying with exaggerated malicious and lustful intent.' The issue is apparently so great that they threaten war if you do not cease and desist._

_ As it is our responsibility to maintain relations with other factions, we find ourselves with no choice. With the authority bestowed upon us by the Four Great Satans themselves, we hereby order you to desist all prayers you might be sending to the Biblical God, maliciously intended or not. If you fail to follow this order, you shall be punished with the full force of the law. In this case, Archangel Michael demanded a punishment of castration. We have agreed._

_Underworld Diplomatic Department._

As the club members reread the letter in disbelief, Naruto muttered in disbelief, "He told on me."

That was just not fair. You can't tell on your opponent in a prank war. God brought the authorities into this, and he even threatened Naruto's manhood. That's a low blow.

Naruto looked up and pointed up as he declared furiously, "If this is how you want to do it, tattletale, then fine. I won't pray anymore…_but…_I swear this upon my honor as a prankster…One day, we will meet face to face, and one that day…I shall punch you in the face, and then I'll make you cry. I don't know when, where, or even how, but I swear it…I! WILL! MAKE! YOU! CRY!"

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**There it is. The end of the familiar arc. Way longer than expected, but what can you do. Hope you enjoyed it. Next chapter will be the appearance of Riser, and the training trip. The chapter after that will be the Rating Game.**

_**Familiars: **Really had to expand upon the familiar presence. The familiar trip was only really made as a short story tribute to Pokemon. The author admits it. So nothing in it really matters. The only thing of any real importance was Asia gaining Rassei, and he barely ever appears in the story. I decided to make familiars a bit more important, so i had to flesh the entire familiar system out into something that resembles an essential part of devil culture. That is why this chapter became so long. The other members of Rias' peerage might receive additional familiars as the story continued. _

**_Fairies:_**_ Cliche, but i don't care. I really didn't want to give Naruto a fox familiar. That is even more cliche, and any fox is going to fail when compared with Kurama. Instead Raynare got the fox. Naruto doesn't really need a familiar to fight alongside, so i decided to give him one with support capabilities. Kareha and Chikyu. I tried to make them opposites. Kareha is shy, kind, and exceedingly polite. Chikyu is in your face, blunt, and confident._

**_Abe Kiyome:_**_ I decided to make getting some familiars more difficult then 'choosing them'. Originally i just had Naruto gather the ingredients on his own, but then i questioned how he found them. Kiyome came to mind when i considered Naruto getting some help, and that whole side plot developed from there. It's one of the reasons this chapter became so long. She probably won't play a major role in this story, but she might make occasional appearances. _

_**Lady of the Lake: **She finally makes an appearance. You guys really wanted for her to appear. This was mainly an introduction more than anything. Didn't get into many really important subjects. She'll make more appearances in the future, and she will actually become an important character. Maybe not a main character, but an important one regardless. I'm trying to give her a sense of mystique. She'll rarely give clear answers. She'll be a character that works behind the scenes._

**_Gasper: _**_Random, but i wanted to run something by you readers. I'm considering making Gasper a girl? Gasper is just a bit too comic relief in the novels. His backstory is great, but then you make him into a hikkikomori or whatever and a crossdresser. I just have difficulty taking his character seriously. Changing him to a girl would take away that crossdressing issue. Not to mention he looks better as a female. If i did, I'd probably pair him/her with Iseei. Tell me what you guys think of those ideas. I put up a poll of the gender question on my profile. Vote and be heard!_


	7. The Phoenix Rises

**Hello, everybody. I'm here. Sorry for the lateness, but it was finals week. This chapter is also another long one. 20,000 words before my authors notes. ..*Sigh* I just can't seem to contain my word count. Oh well. A long term goal, I guess.**

**I really got a lot of you guys with the '_WTF Does Both Mean?_' Just put that up there for shits and giggles. It really got you guys. I even got like a dozen PM's and several dozen reviews about it. So I'll even give an answer. What does 'Both' mean?...Why the hell are you asking me? I don't know...Really the only answer I can give.**

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"Naruto-san. Are you out here?"

"Yeah, Asia. I'm out by the bushes," Naruto immediately called out without stopping what he was doing.

Asia quickly turned the corner of the house, coming within sight of him. Tilting her head, Asia asked curiously, "What are you doing, Naruto-san? You came out here right after you finished your morning run with Raynare-san."

Naruto ripped out another weed from his hands and knees. He then leaned back onto his haunches. Removing the gardening gloves he had been wearing, he wiped the sweat that had been gathering on his forehead. Despite being early morning, the sun had already brought a good amount of heat to the day. Gardening was also more strenuous than most people gave it credit for. Naruto then turned to Asia, who was wearing the apron she usually wore when making breakfast.

"I'm gardening," Naruto informed her simply. Seeing her blink at him blankly, Naruto gestured towards the bush he had been tending, he clarified, "We've got a good bit of land here, but I've been letting it become unkempt recently. It's been an oversight on my part, since I've made time to volunteer at the nearby park once a week. With Kareha and Chikyu living in this area, I felt I should clean up the surrounding plants."

Kareha immediately popped up out of the leaves of the bush, a large smile on her face. She quickly declared cheerfully, "The plants here aren't as vigorous or as strong as back in the forest, but they are healthy. With Naruto-sama tending them regularly and my presence energizing them, they should grow stronger over time."

Naruto quickly told Asia, "I don't have a lot of free time, but I figure I can do half an hour every morning. That should be enough to fix this place up in several weeks, and then maintain it after that."

"I see," Asia said with a nod.

"So what is it that you needed, Asia?" Naruto asked.

"Oh, yes. Dinner will be ready in ten. I just noticed that you weren't showering or getting ready. You'll need to hurry if you don't want to be late," Asia told him in concern.

"Thanks. I'll go get ready right now," Naruto assured her with a smile. Standing with a grunt, he looked at the bush and asked, "You good, Kareha-chan?"

"Yes, Naruto-sama. The city is scary. It's all metal and concrete…but the area around your house is comforting. The energy of nature is quite abundant here. Your presence seems to have affected your surroundings," Kareha claimed thoughtfully.

Naruto blinked in confusion at that. He wasn't even capable of using senjutsu in his current state. Is it possible that his presence still managed to draw in natural energy? Or was it the other way around? Could this mansion have been built in an area of a greater concentration of natural energy, and that subconsciously drew Naruto here? Something to think about.

"Glad your are comfortable here," Naruto said with a smile. He then bent over to look under the bush. Sitting on the bare dirt he had cleared was Chikyu. Naruto quickly asked, "And how about you, Chikyu-kun?"

"Don't call me that. It sounds weird coming from your mouth. Just call me Chikyu," Chikyu grunted out. He then grabbed some of the dirt he was sitting on, and let it fall through his fingers as he commented, "The soil here is decent enough, I guess. It will suffice."

"Don't worry. I'll start treating the soil with fertilizer once I've got the plants properly tended," Naruto claimed quickly.

"Thanks. That will make this place more comfortable," Chikyu grudgingly admitted.

Naruto nodded and straightened. He then turned to Asia and said, "Let's go."

Asia nodded and the two started walking back to the house. Naruto crossed his hands behind his head as considered how things were currently going.

It had been two days since they had gotten their familiars. The new additions had made a surprisingly large impact. Especially Kareha. All fairy dust contains a healing quality, but each type of fairy have additional capabilities. Kareha, as a nature fairy, can use her dust to help rejuvenate a person's stamina and energy levels. While it can't completely refresh someone who is exhausted, it can remove severe exhaustion. Naturally this had implications on their training capabilities. Such as with Raynare. Usually Naruto drove her to exhaustion on their morning runs, but now a quick session with Kareha cure her of that. She'd still be tired, but it was manageable. Well, it was manageable before. Naruto wasn't that demanding, but she would definitely be more comfortable now. The ability to remove a third of a person's exhaustion was incredibly useful for training purposes.

Chikyu was a bit different. His unique attribute was a bit more complicated to utilize, although just as useful. So Chikyu seemed to take it upon himself to do the grunt work of distributing fliers. He complained like nobody's business, but it was clear he wasn't going to relegate such duties to Kareha. The earth fairy was astoundingly protective of his compatriot. He'd handle anything he felt was too difficult or unsuitable for Kareha. It was quite gallant of him. If it wasn't for fairies not reproducing through sex and thus lacking such feelings as lust, Naruto would suspect Chikyu was in love with Kareha. As it was it seemed something of a brother-sister relationship.

This had actually freed up a good portion of Naruto's time. He still had to attend to the clients themselves, but he didn't have to hand out the fliers. Since Naruto had also helped Asia in handing out her fliers, that neither had to do such anymore meant a few hours a day was open. Naruto hadn't yet decided what to do with that time.

Oh well. He's sure he'd come up with something. He needs to hurry anyways or he won't have time to eat Asia's breakfast before going to school.

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"Nice day out," Naruto commented as he walked beside Asia and Raynare on the way to school. The sky was completely clear, and the sun seemed extra bright today.

"The glare of the sun is annoying," Raynare immediately claimed. She had developed a habit of disagreeing with everything Naruto said just to try and piss him off.

"You're annoying," Naruto said without missing a beat, his grin not faltering from her words.

"Can't you come up with a different insult. You just say I'm whatever I previously said. It's getting boring," Raynare growled out with a twitching eye.

"You're boring," Naruto returned, his grin widening slightly as he saw Raynare's hands start making strangling motions. It's fun to mess with Raynare.

"A-Ano, the sun is a bit bright today," Asia admitted softly.

Throwing a shoulder around her shoulder, he pulled the now blushing nun into his side as he declared melodramatically, "Great Scott! You're right, Asia. The sun is bright, but don't worry. I'll protect you from the evil sun."

"What the hell is with that? You mocked me when I said the sun was bright?!" Raynare demanded upon seeing his shielding Asia from the sun.

Shooting her a teasing grin, Naruto shrugged and exclaimed, "That's because you were just messing with me. You and I aren't overly affected by sunlight. The same can't be said for Asia." Which was true. The stronger the devil, the less affected by light they are. Turning away from Raynare, Naruto added with a huff, "Plus, you and Asia are completely different. Asia's all cute and innocent. I can't help but want to hug her and protect her. If I tried to hug and protect you from the sun, you'd knee me in the nuts."

Raynare opened her mouth to protest, but paused and thought for several seconds. She then confessed without shame, "Good point. I'd totally do that."

"See. Now stop complaining," Naruto said.

Just shaking her head with a sigh, Raynare then looked around her before claiming, "Might want to stop playing around though. You're attracting a lot of attention."

Naruto lifted his head and looked around. They'd arrived at the entrance to the school, and students were milling around. Many of them were looking at Naruto. Not a surprise since Naruto was basically doing his best to envelop the tiny Asia.

Looking down at the blushing Asia, Naruto questioned, "Want me to let go, Asia?"

Stuttering slightly, she finally told him, "I-I d-don't…mind this."

"You heard the lady," Naruto said as he lifted his head again. Turning to the kids watching them, Naruto used a finger to pull an eyelid down and stuck out his tongue at the spectators. A number of the students looked ticked at the taunt, especially the males, but they eventually turned and continued moving.

Raynare just held her face in exasperation as she groaned out, "You're so weird."

"Nothing wrong with that," Naruto immediately quipped.

Sighing and shaking her head, she started walking away as she announced, "I'm going to class."

"Hold on, Raynare-san," Asia called out. Reluctantly separating from Naruto, she jogged up to the fallen angel. She then dug in her bag before pulling out a bento wrapped in a purple cloth. Holding it out, she said, "Here's your lunch."

Raynare took it before muttering as she quickly left, "Thanks."

Naruto smiled a bit at the scene. Asia had managed to get over her fear of Raynare over the past few weeks, and had done her best to improve her relationship with the fallen angel. The results were mixed, but seemed generally positive. Raynare wasn't completely ignoring Asia anymore, and that was a win in Naruto's book. Naruto had to take every inch of progress he could in integrating Raynare into the household.

Asia came back to Naruto and handed him a bento wrapped in a golden cloth. "Here you are, Naruto-san."

Naruto took it with a wide smile as he gushed, "Thanks, Asia. I really appreciate you making me a lunch everyday."

"I'm happy to, Naruto-san," Asia claimed brightly.

The two started walking towards class. Naruto tilted his head in thought as something occurred to him. Turning to Asia, he questioned, "Why aren't you wearing the cross Selene made for you? You should be immune to sunlight now."

"I have it right here," Asia confessed as she reached into her bag. She then pulled out the golden cross as she explained, "I decided not to wear it at school. I fear it might draw unnecessary attention. The other students know I used to be a nun, but the magical aura of the cross is powerful."

Naruto nodded in understanding. As the cross was so powerful, as an object that directly cancels out the system of the Biblical God, its aura of power was rather noticeable. Even a regular human could sense it in close proximity if they are somewhat supernaturally sensitive or observant. They didn't need people becoming suspicious from Asia's cross giving them a weird feeling.

Naruto still told Asia seriously, "Alright, but make sure you have it on you at all times. It's ability to protect you from the weaknesses of devils is too valuable to dismiss. It could save your life someday."

"I know, Naruto-san," Asia claimed before admitting with a small smile as she cradled the cross, "You don't need to worry though. I make sure to always have it close. It means too much to me to forget about it."

"Good," Naruto replied with satisfaction. Silence followed for several seconds before Naruto asked, "Looking forward to today?"

"Oh yes. We are playing softball in physical education today. It's my first time," Asia explained enthusiastically. Naruto sweat dropped slightly at her excitement, since Asia was not talented at sports. Not at all. She's the type that will oftentimes trip over her own feet. He decided not to point it out, and listened patiently as she talked about how a number of the girls wanted to play with her.

"Ah, Asia-chan. Over here," a girl called out as they entered their classroom, gesturing Asia towards a group of girls talking together.

Asia looked towards Naruto for permission, so he just chuckled and said, "Go on. I'm not your handler."

"Okay," Asia said as she moved closer to the group.

Naruto watched her go with a smile before heading over to his own seat. His grin widened as he saw the person sitting behind him. Slapping a hand on the person's back, Naruto exclaimed loudly, "Sup, Issei-kun."

"Ahhh! Don't do that, Naruto-sama. So sore," Issei groaned out from where he was laying facedown on his desk.

"Come on. Don't be so down," Naruto said as he laid his bags down. He then plopped down facing the wrong way in his seat so that he was looking at Issei. Poking him several times, Naruto added, "Don't be a drama queen, Issei-kun."

Issei's head shot up before he grabbed Naruto's collar. Shaking him back and forth, Issei exclaimed as he cried anime tears, "I'm not being a drama queen. I'm just that sore."

Flinching slightly at the distressed look on Issei's face, Naruto asked, "That bad?"

"Even worse," Issei immediately claimed before explaining, "Kaichou is so strict. It's terrible. She works me constantly. Every morning and night she pushes me to till I collapse from exhaustion."

"That isn't so bad. We train too," Naruto pointed out reasonably.

"It's not just that! She trains me to till I collapse. She gives me a ten minute break, and then sends me out bicycling to hand out fliers. Sometimes I collapse in the middle of the street, and no one helps because I'm working. Once I laid there for three hours till Momo-chan came and helped me. Kaichou doesn't even care though. After that I have to study," Issei explained with a manic look in his eyes before continuing as he slammed a fist against his desk, "If it's not training, it is work as a devil. If it's not work, it is school and studying. If it's not school or studying, it is more training. I never have a break besides when I sleep. I haven't even been able to peep in three weeks. I'm going through withdrawal. Withdrawal, I say!"

Naruto sweat dropped slightly. He then admitted slowly, "That sounds…harsh."

"I know," Issei bawled out, falling back into his seat in exhaustion. He then turned to Naruto and asked desperately, "Is Rias-senpai strict with you guys as well?"

Naruto turned away slightly as he answered hesitantly, "Yeah. Totally strict."

Kind of a lie there. Rias was strict, but it was the gentle and caring strict. Sona-kaichou is clearly the devilish and cold strict. Totally different, but Issei clearly doesn't want to hear that. He wants to believe that Naruto is having just as hard a time as he is.

Turning back, Naruto grabbed Issei's arm before commenting, "Might want to stop peeking for good. You're actually putting on some good muscle. No longer a limp noodle. Not to mention your grades have improved. The training is doing some good for you."

Pulling his arm back, Issei felt his more muscled arm as he replied in depression, "I certainly hope so. Kaichou has restricted me almost singularly to physical training. I have so little demonic power that I can't even teleport. 'A lost cause', she said. Better to work on my basics, and rely on the Boosted Gear's ability to make up the difference."

"Smart. Your sacred gear doubles your power every ten seconds. The higher your base, the greater the boost. Not to mention you need a strong body to handle the strain. Your sacred gear is powerful, but it can be said that you are the weak point. The stronger you are, the less of a weakness that is," Naruto explained thoughtfully.

"I know that. Kaichou practically recites it to me everyday," Issei grumbled in irritation.

Naruto patted Issei on the back sympathetically. Issei was starting to remind Naruto of himself more and more. The kid apparently had no natural talent as a devil. Rias had been shocked that someone Issei's age didn't have enough demonic power to teleport, saying most devil toddlers have enough power for that. Issei's sole saving grace was his Boosted Gear, and his obsession with gaining his own harem. It was scarily similar to Naruto having the Kyuubi, and wanting to be Hokage. Yeah, Naruto had a butt load of chakra to rely on unlike Issei's lack of personal power, but in turn Issei had a trainer/master determined to turn him into a powerful asset while Naruto had been forced to deal with half-assed teachers for a good portion of his life. It all evened out in Naruto's mind.

"Come on, Issei-kun. There must be some upsides. The student council is made up entirely of females besides you. Doesn't that make it like…your personal nirvana or something?" Naruto questioned, trying to be positive for his buddy.

Naruto grudging friendship with the pervert had improved quite a bit after they both became devils. Issei had been shocked when Naruto revealed he had become a devil as well. Apparently Issei hadn't even known there were other devils in the school. After awhile though he happily accepted Naruto as a pillar of support in his struggles as a devil.

Issei thought a bit as he mumbled out, "Yeah, but Kaichou is really strict. We are always working or training. So I can't just stare at their oppai or Kaichou will punish me for neglecting my duties. Well, Momo-chan and Ruruko-chan are nice. I'd have probably died from exhaustion if it weren't for them."

"See. There are upsides," Naruto pointed out optimistically.

"But something terrible happened three days ago," Issei claimed frantically before bursting out in jealous anger, "Kaichou got another pawn."

"Really?" Naruto asked in genuine surprise.

"Yeah, yeah. His name is Genshirou Saji," Issei announced, seemingly irritated just talking about the guy.

"The new transfer student?"

"Yeah, he transferred in a week ago. Kaichou found out he had a sacred gear, and recruited him as fast as possible," Issei explained grudgingly.

"A sacred gear?" Naruto muttered as his eyebrows furrowed. Damn, Sona-kaichou works fast. Rias is probably going to be annoyed that her rival snatched up another sacred gear user, although it is probably her own fault. Rias has started to focus on training her peerage for whatever reason instead of looking for new members. Sona-kaichou is clearly still on the prowl.

"Yeah, the 'Absorption Line.' It allows him to connect a line to someone and absorb their power gradually. We're still figuring it out since he just arrived a few days ago," Issei said.

"Seems like a powerful ability. Makes for a good comrade. So why are you mad?" Naruto questioned in confusion.

"I just don't like him. He's always staring at Kaichou, and I can clearly see the lust in his eyes," Issei exclaimed crossly.

"So he's like you," Naruto deadpanned.

"Yes," Issei declared without shame before clarifying, "He's a pervert just like me, even if he is hiding it. I don't need competition. That was my one saving grace. That I was the only guy in the club. I was going to use that as the foundation for building my own harem, but he took that away."

Naruto just chuckled. Issei was just entertaining if you could ignore his outrageously perverted thoughts. Clapping him on the shoulder, Naruto suggested, "Try to become friends with him. You two are comrades, and you two are apparently similar enough. Trust me. Having a friend working alongside you will only help the both of you."

"Don't wanna," Issei grumbled childishly as he crossed his arms and turned away with a pout.

Naruto just laughed at the response. After several seconds of thought, Naruto inquired in confusion, "How did he become a pawn though? Rias-chan told me that as a Longinus-possessor, you would require a large number of evil pieces to reincarnate. This Saji would also require multiple pieces due to his sacred gear. So how did she make you both pawns?"

"A mutation piece," Issei answered immediately. Naruto nodded in understanding, so Issei elaborated, "Kaichou estimated that I would take eight pawn pieces. She already had Ruruko-chan as a pawn, but she did have a mutation pawn piece. She used that for me, but it wasn't enough. I also required two more pawn pieces alongside the mutation piece. So Ruruko-chan took one, and I took three. Saji took the remaining four."

Naruto nodded in understanding. He'd heard about mutation pieces before. He thought they could reincarnate anyone, but apparently not. They were just far higher value. If Issei originally would need eight pawn pieces, then that meant the mutation piece was equal to six ordinary pieces since Issei required two more pawns alongside it. Very few servants would require six pawns, so it is unlikely very many devils found this out. Not to mention if the numerical value held up in other pieces, a knight or bishop mutation piece would be equal to eighteen pawn pieces. A rook, thirty. That meant only a pawn mutation piece had the slightest chance of proving insufficient in reincarnating someone.

That worked out very well for Sona-kaichou though. Even one less pawn piece and she wouldn't have had enough for Saji. She'd have had to reincarnate him as something else. This way all her pawn pieces are gone, but she got two sacred gear users, one of which was a Longinus, and another person. Definitely worth it in Sona's mind.

Naruto and Issei lapped into silence for a minute, Issei laying his head back down on his desk. Naruto took a moment to check on Asia, who was still talking to the other girls. Asia had fit in very well, and had become popular almost instantly in school. In a different way from Rias or Akeno though. She was just like an angel to the other students. Just being around her and talking to her made people's worries disappear. Maybe it was some side effect of her sacred gear, but multiple students have claimed Asia almost had a healing presence to her. Naruto just thought it was part of her natural charm, simply a result of her pure heart and inherent benevolence.

"Checking out your girlfriend, Naruto-sama," a voice spoke up from behind him.

Naruto wasn't surprised, as he had sensed the two before they had spoken up. Turning his head, he looked at Matsuda and Motohama impassively. Giving a small sigh, he told them, "She's not my girlfriend."

"You two walk to school together every morning," Matsuda exclaimed pointedly, his jealousy clear.

"And she makes you a bento everyday as well," Motohama added, just as jealous.

Rolling his eyes, Naruto replied casually, "We walk together everyday because we live together, and Raynare-chan walks with us as well. Asia makes lunch for me because she feels like she owes me, and has decided cooking for me is the best way she can repay me."

"C-C-Cook for you?! You mean she cooks your every meal," Matsuda asked in shock.

"Yep."

"Does she refill the plates for you?"

"…Yeah."

"Damn you," Matsuda exclaimed as he slammed a fist down on his desk. He then continued enviously, "It isn't fair. Why are you being surrounded by all the beauties? Rias-senpai and Akeno-senpai. The 'Two Great Onee-samas of Kuoh Academy. The cute school mascot, Koneko-chan. The blonde beauty, Asia-chan, who many are already calling an angel. Even the strangely underappreciated Raynare-senpai lives with you. It isn't fair."

Naruto just sweat dropped at their indignation. He was also rather surprised that they included Raynare in that list. The fallen angel had earned Rais' annoyance by using an illusion on the students to make them ignore her, despite Rias' previous warning. At least she still attended classes. Apparently magic isn't enough to keep these two perverts from appreciating a beautiful girl though.

Focusing back on the two perverts basically harassing him, Naruto explained, "I'm only surrounded by them because they are in the same club as me."

"That's the whole point. Why were you allowed to join the Occult Research Club, aka the beautiful people's club? You aren't that handsome. When I tried to apply, I was told you had to be personally invited by Rias-senpai. It isn't fair," Motohama pointed out furiously.

"I really don't want to talk about that. It's Rias-chan's club. She gets to decide who joins. Stop complaining about it already," Naruto grunted out in annoyance. This was not the first time they had brought this up. They just didn't accept the lack of a proper reason they couldn't join the club. Not like Naruto can tell them the club is composed of devils.

"Just admit it. You seduced Rias-senpai to get the invitation, and you are now using the bishoujo of the club to sate your sexual desires. You have turned the Occult Research Club into a den of debauchery…I'm so jealous!" Matsuda declared before bursting into tears at the end.

"Good grief. Stop imposing your own perverted fantasies onto my life and actions," Naruto groaned out while burying his face in his hands. Matsuda said that loud enough for the entire class to hear, and now they were all looking at him and gossiping amongst themselves.

"Who knows," a new voice commented. Naruto looked up to see Matsuda's declaration had drawn the attention of one Aika Kiriyuu. One of Naruto's most ardent former lovers. She had light brown hair that was done up in two pigtails, and had large glasses over her yellowish-green eyes. She was attractive, if in a girl-next-door kind of way. Certainly not to the level of the girls in the Occult Research Club. Beside her was a confused looking Asia. Giving a small smirk, she stated, "Certainly possible. You did stop all of your…extracurricular activities after joining that club. Wouldn't surprise me if you simply found different partners to play with. Higher quality partners." Her smile turned a bit bitter at the end.

Naruto flinched a bit at her words. The reactions among Naruto's former lovers when he ended things ran the gamut, but Kiriyuu had certainly been one of those that didn't take it quite as well. She had simply been baffled when he put a stop to their friends-with-benefit relationship, and didn't see any reason. With rumors running around about Naruto joining the Occult Research Club, it would be easy for her to believe he had dumped her in favor of the 'higher quality' girls in the club. It was only natural that she would be a bit bitter with that conclusion. She clearly wasn't allowing it to overly affect her since she had quickly become one of Asia's closest friends in the class, but Naruto didn't much enjoy the idea of a girl he genuinely liked to a certain degree thinking he tossed her away for a more attractive girl. He'd only engaged in those relationships during a tough point in his life, and ended them when things improved. Part of him was already regretting it since it was clear he'd inadvertently hurt a number of the girls.

Naruto didn't have the time to try and form a response before Asia interrupted with a tilted head, "What do you mean, Kiriyuu-san? Naruto-san still does extracurricular activities outside the club. He volunteers three times a week. I go with him to the soup kitchen."

Kiriyuu just chuckled a rubbed the increasingly confused Asia on the head as she replied, "Aww, how cute. Naruto probably just loves that. He probably tires you out every night, doesn't he?"

"Kiriyuu," Naruto groaned out, not enjoying the turn this conversation has taken.

"He certainly does," Asia announced with a small pout on her face. Everyone in the entire class whipped their head around to stare at her with shock. Naruto just stared in horror as she continued, "Naruto-san is very demanding. I enjoy it, but he just makes it go on so long. I just collapse into bed at the end of the day. I've got it the easiest too. Raynare-san has it the worst. Every morning and night he goes till she's drained completely. Sometimes she just faints towards the end and he has to put her to bed himself. Koneko-san is a bit more rare, but she also can't keep up with him when they do it together. Not even Buchou-san or Akeno-san can keep up with him. Sometimes he runs the gauntlet and does it with all of us, and is still ready to go at the end. His stamina never ends."

Naruto's face drained of blood as Asia continued, the faces of the rest of the students flushed as they absorbed her words. The first to react was surprisingly Issei, who actually punched Naruto in the stomach while screaming in resentment, "You liar. You said you were having it rough, but in fact you've just been playing with their oppai, and doing this, and that, and-and-" Issei's voice just failed at the end as he started crying. He was quickly joined by Matsuda and Motohama.

If that wasn't enough though, Asia quickly added, "Not to mention Kiba. Those two go at it for hours and hours."

That made most of the girls in class sport nosebleeds. A random girl reached towards Asia unsteadily as she whispered with a perverse giggle and glazed over eyes, "Naruto and Kiba…Going at it?…Please tell me you are serious."

Asia just gave an innocent smile and nodded. "Yep. Those two are very close. It's very nice to see."

"So jealous! Asia gets to watch. Please tell us. Who is the seme and the uke? Naruto is probably the seme, right? Kiba the uke? Naruto definitely seems like the dominant type," a girl groaned out.

Asia just tilted her head in confusion and repeated, "Seme and uke? What do those words mean?"

Ignoring that conversation, Kiriyuu turned to Naruto before commenting, "I was just joking before, but I guess I stumbled on the truth. Didn't guess you swung both ways though."

"I don't, dattebayo!" Naruto declared loudly as he stood and slammed his hands down on his desk. Gaining everyone's attention, Naruto explained quickly in a desperate voice, "You all totally misunderstood what Asia meant. Rias-chan insists on every member of the club being able to defend themselves in case we actually do run into anything supernatural. I was put in charge of physical training. I make them run and do exercises you know. That is what she meant. I run them ragged physically."

Naruto desperately hoped they believed him. He had to make up something on the spot there. It's probably already too late to stop the spread of even more rumors, but at least they would stay just that. Rumors. Most of the students don't actually believe them, but they find it fun to comment on them.

When people turned to Asia, she looked baffled as she stated, "Of course that is what I meant. What did you all think I meant?"

"So innocent," Kiriyuu remarked as she massaged the bridge of her nose. Gaining a smirk, she leaned close to Asia and whispered, "We thought you meant Naruto was-"

"Kiriyuu. Don't corrupt Asia with your fantasies," Naruto swiftly ordered firmly.

"Boo. No fun," Kiriyuu claimed with a pout.

Naruto's comment was stopped short by the members of the perverted trio. The three jumped on his back and started doing their best to strangle him. Naruto usually would have just shrugged them off, but Issei was quite a bit stronger now. So they actually managed to hold on through stubborn persistence if nothing else.

"Teme, you've been training all those beautiful girls. Not only that, but you've been pushing them so hard. Asia-chan said that Raynare-senpai actually faints from it all. Die for abusing the bishoujo," Motohama screamed in his ear. This was really not Naruto's best morning.

He's not even really sure what Asia is talking about. He doesn't work the girls that hard. Asia barely receives any physical training at all, since her talent lay in her use of demonic power and Twilight Healing. He's toned it down on Raynare after she did faint once. He wasn't cruel. The rest of the club chooses when to spar and train with him. He does push them during those times, but that's simply being a good training partner. Naruto has really hit his stride during these past few weeks. Naruto can now compete with Rias and Akeno in a fight, and his stamina far surpasses them. However he's made sure to control himself when training with someone. Can't be unreasonable. As stated before, he wasn't cruel. So he has no idea what Asia was talking about. Especially with Kareha now being around to heal the worst of their exhaustion.

"Don't do that," Asia quickly said before clarifying, "I was exaggerating. Naruto-san is very kind during training. I was trying to make a joke."

Oh Asia. Usually her naivety and social awkwardness comes of as cute and adorable, but sometimes she just fails to make her point. How was exaggerating her training suppose to come off as a joke? Maybe it was meant to be teasing towards Naruto like Akeno or Rias sometimes do. Either way she failed at it, and Naruto just knew this wasn't the last social blunder she would make.

"I'm sorry, Naruto-san. I caused trouble for you," Asia murmured softly, clearly feeling terrible. Small tears were gathering her eyes as she looked at him pitifully.

Ugh! Critical hit! Too much adorable.

"It's okay, Asia. You didn't mean anything by it," Naruto said as he rubbed her head reassuringly, something which she seemed to enjoy. This may not be the last time Asia causes a misunderstanding, but Naruto didn't care. He just couldn't stay mad at Asia even if he tried. He just couldn't. All she had to do was look at him with those big ole eyes and he'd fold like a limp noodle.

Naruto could deal with rumors anyway. He always had been surrounded by them. Plus there were worse things to be accused of then somehow managing to make a harem from the most popular ladies in the school. He could do without the rumor between himself and Kiba, but what can you do?

The conversation was ended when the teacher walked in. Naruto mentally cursed her for being ten minutes late. If she had just arrived on time, this entire conversation could have been avoided. Of course Naruto isn't that lucky.

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"What are you reading, Naruto-kun?" Rias asked curiously.

The Occult Research Club was incomplete at the moment. Akeno, Yuuto, and Raynare were all off forming contracts with clients. That left Naruto, Rias, Asia, and Koneko in the room. They were used to it though. Night had fallen two or three hours ago, so this was the busy time of the day for devils. Right when the most clients called.

So they were all just doing their own thing. Koneko was silently eating her snacks, donuts today. She also frequently sent glances towards Naruto. Asia was reading her book on potion making. Considering the former nun was teaching herself in that field, her progress was slow. She didn't give up though, and typically used much of her free time to try and familiarize herself with the complex skill. Naruto had been reading a book himself, which was a bit unusual. He usually spent his free time trying to chat with everyone else. It was abnormal enough to catch Rias' attention. The king of the group had been doing her usual paperwork, but the past few days she had clearly been distracted. Having spent several hours going at it halfheartedly, she finally gave up and decided to try and start a conversation.

Naruto looked up from his book. He then clearly showed the cover of the book to Rias before answering, "A book on alchemy."

"Alchemy?" Rias repeated, blinking in shock.

"Yeah," Naruto replied casually before explaining, "Kareha's well suited for support and healing. Chikyu is a bit more difficult though. If I really want to make use of his dust, then I need to learn at least a small bit of alchemy."

"Alchemy is difficult, Naruto-kun. Even learning a small bit is not an easy task," Rias told him, her worry clear.

"I noticed," Naruto admitted before continuing optimistically, "But I think I can do it. I'd say Asia's potion making is far harder than alchemy. At least what I want to use alchemy for. All I'd be doing is conferring properties upon already created objects using Chikyu's dust. That's the basics for alchemy. It will still take me quite a while. It is pretty complicated. A few weeks at least. Months most likely."

"Don't you think you're stretching yourself thin, Naruto-kun? You are taking on quite a load," Rias asked in concern.

"Don't worry, Rias-chan," Naruto told her with an easy smile, clearly not worried by what she was saying.

"You are doing a lot, Naruto-san," Asia muttered nervously.

Sighing, Naruto pointed out, "Yeah, but it isn't above what I'm able to do. I'm the kind of guy that has to be doing something. School and waiting here after school is bad enough. Besides five hours of sleep, I want to be doing _something _for the rest of the day. I've gotten used to using my rook enhancements in my hand to hand, so I just work on that in sparring. I've recreated a good selection of wind techniques. I've still got a few more powerful techniques I still can't do, but I'll need to wait for my chakra reserves to increase to start on those. I am taking two hour lessons on fire magic from Rias-chan or Akeno-senpai four times a week. The other three days I volunteer during that time. I work with Kiba on swordsmanship _maybe_ two or three hours a week, tops. I spend more time training Raynare or sparring you guys than anything. Since I no longer have to hand out fliers with Asia, there is several hours of free time I don't know what to do with."

"You could study. Ever since that punishment stopped your grades dropped again," Rias pointed out playfully.

Naruto just gave her an amused look before informing her, "And that will keep happening. I am not book smart. I'm just not. I've accepted that. Eventually you're going to have to as well, Rias-chan. I don't give a crap about chemistry or math. I'm always going to suck in those classes."

"That really isn't something to sound so proud of," Rias commented wryly.

"I'm not proud of it. I've just accepted it, and am fine with it," Naruto claimed with a shrug. Holding the book back up, he continued, "So I have plenty enough time for learning some basic alchemy. Especially if I use the time I'm usually sitting here doing nothing."

"Fine," Rias said with a defeated sigh. She then looked at him and told him carefully, "Just make sure not to overdue everything. A few hours of rest a day can be good for you."

"That's what school and volunteering are for. Doing nothing and relaxing, respectively of course," Naruto stated with a grin.

"I'm not sure I'm happy about that, since you admitted you do nothing in school," Rias commented with a conflicted look on her face. She briefly looked at her papers before letting out a sigh and announcing, "Okay, that's enough for today. I'll send a message to those currently with clients. Go home and relax. Get some extra sleep. Make sure to be in top shape tomorrow."

The three servants currently there sent her curious and wary looks. Asia soon asked anxiously, "You did the same thing yesterday, Buchou-san. Is something going on?"

Koneko nodded and added, "This is…unusual."

Rias just sighed and answered carefully, "I won't deny that an important event will be happening soon, but you need not worry yourself about it at the moment. Just…take this time to relax and be fully prepared for anything."

The three nodded at her words. So something was happening, but she didn't know when. As the three stood up and moved towards the door, Naruto stopped and turned to Rias.

Crossing his arms with a frown, Naruto asked, "You sure you don't want to tell us about it?"

"I already told you. You three need not concern yourself with it," Rias remarked sternly.

Naruto frown only deepened and he instantly countered, "And if we want to?" That surprised and confused Rias, so he continued, "You clearly know what it happening, and you are clearly worried. We've all noticed it. So what if we want to know, if just to help support you bare the burden?"

Rias seemed somewhat touched by his words. Hesitating slightly, she finally closed her eyes as she announced regretfully, "While I appreciate the sentiment, it is unneeded. I assure you that you shall soon find out, but I would prefer to wait for the proper time to reveal it."

Naruto wasn't happy with that answer, but he wasn't going to push it. So he just turned and walked out of the room with Asia and Koneko. The three didn't talk till they left the building. It was dark outside by this point.

"I'll teleport us, Asia," Naruto announced.

"Okay, Naruto-san," Asia said. The nun had joined Rias, Akeno, and Naruto in being able to form her own teleportation circle around a week ago. As a bishop, which is meant to specialize in using magic and demonic power, it was a natural skill for her to eventually learn.

Turning to the petite loli beside them, Naruto asked, "Do you want us to teleport you to your apartment, Koneko-chan?"

"No…Like I'd let you in my apartment," Koneko replied bluntly.

Naruto just chuckled awkwardly before muttering, "What kind of person do you think I am?"

Koneko clearly heard him and informed him bluntly, "A pervert."

Naruto sighed in defeat, not even bothering to over exaggerate his reaction to that statement. His patience was starting to run out in getting Koneko to like him. Sure he made a few blunders over the past few months. A few too many pussy jokes and especially that catnip incident where he pet her head. It's at least partly Koneko's fault as well, in Naruto's mind. Seriously. There had to be another reason the small rook didn't even try to bond with Naruto. That's the only explanation that makes sense to Naruto. The fact that Naruto published Icha Icha, he made it clear to the club he wasn't the original author, just wasn't enough to have created a dislike for this long. There had to be something more.

Shrugging in defeat, Naruto put a hand on Asia's shoulder and started concentrating. Before he could create the magic circle though, a hand grabbed his shirt. Naruto opened his eyes in confusion and turned to see Koneko was the culprit.

"…Naruto-senpai," Koneko began hesitantly.

Blinking, Naruto asked gently, making sure to be encouraging, "Yes, Koneko-chan?"

Koneko opened her mouth to speak, but her eyes then flicked to the curious Asia. Her expression immediately hardened, any emotion or vulnerability in her expression disappearing almost instantly. She then claimed, "Nothing." She then turned and started walking away.

Naruto's shoulders slumped in depression at that. That was another thing that had been happening recently. Not only did Naruto catch Koneko looking at him multiple times in the past few days, but she had also approached him several times just like that. Yet she always backed out at the last moment. It was clear that she didn't want to talk to him with other people around. Yet since Naruto and Koneko never were alone together since she never wanted to be alone with him, it made that impossible. Naruto figured she was using that as an excuse to put off whatever she wanted to talk to him about. Considering she could just ask him if they could talk alone, that she neglected to do so indicated that part of her didn't want to talk about whatever it is.

She better hurry it up though. Naruto's patience was starting to run out. Whatever it is she wants to talk to him about, Naruto has a gut feeling it is the way for him to bond with Koneko. If she keeps delaying, he might just snap. Naruto snapping is never a good idea.

He'll probably end up kidnapping her and locking her in a room with him till they sort everything out. Not the best way to bond with someone.

Any thoughts towards Koneko were forcefully removed from his mind when Naruto felt a powerful energy appear in the building they just left. His head snapped around. He then focused on the energy source with a mix of awe and wariness.

Naruto had only been able to sense it for a moment before the energy source was suppressed, but that single moment had told Naruto more than enough to be put on edge. Saying the person who possessed that energy was a level or two above Naruto was too much of an understatement. Even using someone on Naruto's level as a baseline to compare to this person would be a indignity to the owner of this energy. The person was in a whole different dimension from anyone Naruto had met in this world, besides Selene. It wasn't just a matter of size and intensity either. Naruto had only been able to sense the energy for a single instant, the flare of the person teleporting in. Naruto was sure he could pick them up if he drew upon senjutsu, but that was still some serious control on the part of this person. To be invisible to Naruto's usual sensing abilities despite being no more than twenty meters from his current position.

Naruto made sure to wait several seconds. Waiting for any flare of energy from Rias that might indicate this person was hostile, and that she might need his help. He wasn't sure he could do anything against whoever this person is, but he'd try regardless…But nothing happened. There was nothing to indicate this person was hostile. Rias must know the person.

"A-Ano, Naruto-san. Is something wrong?" Asia asked, seeing Naruto's posture.

Naruto gave her a strained smile before telling her, "Nothing. I just thought I sensed something…Let's go home."

Asia looked unsure whether to believe him or not, but eventually gave him a nod of assent. Naruto called up the magic circle, but he couldn't help a small smile from appearing on his face. He'd always known there were some really strong people out there, but this was the first time he's personally sensed such a person. It was a dramatic difference. The strongest devils he's met personally so far are Rias and Akeno. To finally feel how strong some people in this world are…is it weird that he's getting excited?

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Rias teleported into Naruto's room with a stern look on her face. She expected for Naruto to awaken from the display, but he remained in a deep sleep. Rias gave an amused chuckle. Sometimes Naruto seemed so powerful, but other times he's just so silly and non-threatening. Even she would wake up if someone teleported into her room. Oh well, its part of who Naruto is. A person of contradictions.

This actually made it a bit easier. Now she doesn't have to explain what she wants him to do. She'll be able to get far enough into the act that he won't even care for an explanation when he wakes up.

So she started to quickly and silently strip herself of her academy uniform. Once she was totally devoid of clothing, she approached Naruto's bed. Pausing at the edge, she muttered softly, "Sorry, Naruto-kun, but I refuse to marry Riser. You'll probably enjoy this anyways."

Rias was glad she sent those three away when she did because Grayfia ended up teleporting into the room not two minutes later. Her sister-in-law and brother's queen had come to announce that a date had been set for the wedding with Riser. Rias had of course been expecting it, although she was still pissed at the new time table. Rias had previously been assured that she would be able to finish attending a university before being forced to marry Riser. It's a good thing she had been expecting for Riser to not be that patient, but she was annoyed with her brother and father for breaking their promise.

It was also that news that compelled her to come here tonight. Rias was confident in her peerage. Truthfully, she couldn't have expected more. She even gave herself a good chance of defeating Riser in a Rating Game, but she wasn't satisfied with 'a good chance.' She wanted to be absolutely certain that she wouldn't marry Riser.

So she wanted a backup plan. Despite devils naturally having less modesty then humans, there were certain rules towards modesty that had to be upheld. An arranged marriage between two pure-blood devils wasn't just a union between the devils themselves, but between the two houses of those devils. So female devils were expected to abstain from extracurricular relationships after being engaged. Doing otherwise would be a sign of disrespect to the other clan. It didn't even have to do with the 'immorality' of sleeping with another person when being engaged. It was purely political.

So for Rias, who had become engaged long before she could have become sexually active, it was expected for her to be a virgin. Losing her virginity would instantly be more than enough to break off the marriage. It definitely wasn't the preferred option though. Doing such would basically be spitting in the face of the Phenex Clan. It would ruin the relationship between the Gremory and Phenex clans for centuries, and might even require the Gremory to pay reparations. Definitely not her first choice.

So she was being smart about this. She would sleep with Naruto, and then ask him to keep it secret. She would then battle Riser in a Rating Game. If she won, then no one would ever know what she had done. If she lost though, she would reveal it. The marriage would then be called off. She'd still much rather win the Rating Game for multiple reasons, but this was still a win-win situation for her. Even if the second win has a few catches.

So here she was. She wasn't thrilled about having to lose her virginity to someone she doesn't love. She liked Naruto well enough, and had even considered the possibility of the two becoming more than friends. For the moment though, she definitely lacked any true romantic feelings towards her blonde rook. She could accept it though. She didn't have much modesty, and Naruto would more than likely make this very enjoyable for her. The rumor mill about the blonde spoke highly of his sexual prowess. He was easily the best candidate at this point for her to lose her virginity to.

With her thoughts clear and her resolve firmed, Rias slowly climbed onto Naruto's bed. The blonde was only sleeping in a pair of boxers, ramen-themed again. That certainly made it easier for her. She carefully reached her hand into his boxers, grasping Naruto-junior. She then used her other hand to lower his boxers enough to reveal it.

Her world then spinning uncontrollably.

Rias felt a hand grasp her shoulder for a moment before she was spun around. After that she couldn't make any sense of what was happening. She felt her limbs being wrenched around at an amazing speed, something wrapping around her at the same time. After ten seconds of complete confusion, Rias felt her arms being pulled behind her back. It was rough enough for her to let out a cry of shock and pain, but was quickly cut off when something was shoved in her mouth. With her mouth now forced to stay open, she could only endure whatever the hell was happening to her.

No more than fifteen seconds after it started, Rias felt the motions stopping. She was then treated to a rough shove. She tried to catch herself, but her limbs were unable to respond to her commands. So she took a rough tumble off the foot of the bed, landing on her side roughly.

She was slightly stunned, but she was finally given a chance to recover. After taking a few seconds to recover from shock, Rias tried to reorient herself. Her limbs weren't responding, struggling against something. She was lying on the ground at the foot of Naruto's bed. She was unharmed despite everything. Her mouth was also being forced open by some object. The last one was what she focused on first. Using her tongue, she quickly deduced that it was some sort of ball. There also seemed to be a strap going around her head from it. Rias blinked in disbelief as she finally realized.

It was a ball gag.

Looking down as much as she could, her disbelief only widened at what she saw. Her breasts were restrained by rope in a figure eight pattern that only served to emphasize her chest. Turning her head, she found rope also restraining her arms behind her back, and her legs were fully wrapped up and pulled back by a rope connecting to her wrists. It meant Rias' entire body was being forced to bend back awkwardly.

What the hell?!

This was…bondage…Like extreme bondage.

What's more, Rias could detect the soft snored of Naruto. He was still asleep. Yet he was the only possible culprit of how this had happened.

Naruto had tied Rias up in an extreme bondage style…while still asleep.

Shaking her head as much as she could, Rias immediately tried to escape, but she couldn't. The knots were solid, and the ropes were expertly tied to prevent any excess movement. She tried to draw upon her Power of Destruction to destroy the bonds, but failed to feel even a bit of demonic power. That means…these roped have those seal things on them. They are suppressing her demonic power.

Refusing to believe that she was trapped, Rias only picked up her struggles. There had to be a mistake somewhere. A knot not properly tied. One not tight enough. Maybe the rope was too thin. Something!

For the next twenty minutes, Rias tried everything…Nothing worked. She only succeeded in tiring herself out. She was now sweating quite a bit, exhausted from her frantic efforts. She was also drooling around the ball gag uncontrollably from when she had tried to make enough noise to wake Naruto.

Laying there exhausted, Rias was surprised to find a teleportation circle form in the darkness. Her eyes widened in horror as Grayfia appeared in the room. This could not get any worse!

"I'm disappointed in you, Ojou-sama. Trying to lose your chastity in such a…manner…" Grayfia began automatically after she appeared, but her words trailed off as she took in the situation. Naruto still fast asleep, his junk hanging out of his boxers like a boss. Rias on the ground at the foot of his bed, tied up bondage style. Rias was also covered in sweat. Grayfia's mind nearly short-circuited as her mind came to the obvious conclusion. In shock at the fetish of Rias, Grafia spoke in an airy and empty voice that clearly showed she wasn't all there at the moment, "It seems I was too late."

Rias immediately started struggling, trying to say something to the maid. The sounds came out muffled and unintelligible due to the ball gag in her mouth.

"Sirzechs-sama and the master would be sad to find out that you've lost your chastity…and in such a way," Grayfia stated, her voice gradually weakening as she tried to ignore the situation and thoughts going through her mind. Finally she couldn't anymore. So she continued, "This…isn't the time or place for this conversation. I shall explain to Sirzechs-sama what has occurred, but I shall wait to talk to you tomorrow for an explanation before informing the master. For now…enjoy yourself?" Grayfia ended, clearly unsure what to say to the person she now identifies as a hardcore bondage lover.

Rias' struggles only increased, but that proved fruitless as Grayfia quickly teleported away. If it wasn't leaving via a magic spell, it was clear she would have fled the awkward situation like a bat out of hell. The thought of being in a love nest that involved such intense sexual play clearly didn't agree with her.

Rias cried anime tears as her sister-in-law left. She definitely misunderstood the situation. She's now going to go tell Rias' brother that Rias enjoys being tied up and sleeping on the floor like a dog. How humiliating! This could not get worse.

Oh wait…Grayfia didn't release her from her bonds…Now she has to stay the entire night like this.

…It just got worse.

How did this night go so incredibly wrong?!

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"Naruto-san. It's time to wake…"

Those were the words that woke Naruto up, although she trailed off towards the end. Asia was such a good girl. Waking up early just to wake Naruto and Raynare up for their morning training.

Not wanting to bother her further, Naruto forced off all the remnants of sleep gripping him. Sitting up and stretching his arms out with a large nod, Naruto then opened his eyes as he muttered, "Thanks, Asia."

Asia didn't respond though, just looking at him with a red face. Her eyes were flickering from Naruto's crotch, to something on the floor. Her face was only growing more and more red. Naruto finally looked down. Giving a yelp when he saw that his little guy was hanging out, Naruto quickly stuffed it back in his boxers. It must have slipped out in his sleep.

Growing curious on what else Asia had been looking at, Naruto crawled to the end of his bed and looked at the floor. He was treated to the sight of a naked Rias sleeping in a very uncomfortable position caused by being tied up bondage style. Naruto blinked blankly at the sight. What happened last night?!

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Naruto sighed in depression as he headed to school. He then declared pleadingly once again, "Come on, Asia. I'm telling you. Nothing happened.

Asia only turned away with a huff, a displeased look on her face.

Naruto sighed once again before turning to a gleefully smirking Raynare and spitting out, "I know this is your fault, Raynare."

Raynare's smirk only widened, but she replied in a clearly fake innocent voice, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Naruto growled at her, but didn't feel like starting an argument right now. He had other issues to contemplate.

Naruto's morning surprise had ended as weirdly as it started. After waking Rias up, he had quickly untied her. The pure-blooded demon didn't bother explain anything though. She just gathered her clothes from the ground with a furious blush on her face, and then teleported away.

Leaving Naruto to deal with the mess she left behind. Asia had quickly drawn several not so innocent conclusions. Natural with what she had seen. Naruto had managed to assure her that nothing happened, but then Raynare stepped in. The fallen angel had somehow managed to figure out the situation despite not being told by anyone. Then after Naruto went to shower, he came down to find Asia pouting petulantly at him while refusing to talk to him. All the while Raynare had a Cheshire grin on her face. Naruto just knew she had been telling all sorts of insidious stuff to Asia while he had been showering as revenge for the brutal training she had given her.

Deciding that Asia just needed some space, and a reassurance from Rias that nothing happened, Naruto decided to think on a different topic.

Like why Rias had been sleeping naked in his room, tied up and on the ground.

Naruto could actually answer the tied up and on the ground thing. It was part of Naruto's training. Naruto slept like a rock. He couldn't deny it. He might not sleep a lot, but when he did he slept heavy. Jiraiya had not been happy about that. Apparently true 'elite' ninjas will wake up if a single fly or leaf enters their room from an open window. Jiraiya tried to train Naruto to sleep light like that, but he failed completely.

So instead he tried to train Naruto to defend himself in his sleep. That had been a horrible few weeks for Naruto. Multiple times he was deprived of sleep for days, and Jiraiya made it a habit of attacking him in his sleep. It was successful though…sort of. Naruto would tie up anyone that touches him while he is sleeping without waking up…occasionally. It was a 40% chance at best. Considering how long it's been, that's probably fallen to a 20% chance. So Rias just got really unlucky.

That still left the question of why Rias had touched him while he was sleeping. She was also naked at the time, since Naruto doesn't strip the victim. So why did Rias crawl into Naruto's bed, naked, while he was sleeping?

Now Naruto didn't want to jump to conclusions, but there weren't many viable reason why she would do that. Naruto hadn't been injured, so she wasn't healing him. Rias supposedly sleeps naked, so she might have just tried to sleep in his bed. She's never done that before though, so that is unlikely. Why would she do that now? It's too random.

Naruto's thought just kept coming back to the answer he feels most likely…sex. A naked girl crawling into his bed. The thought immediately goes towards sex.

That only raises a new set of questions though. Why did Rias want to sleep with Naruto? There had to be a reason. Naruto would admit that Rias and him clicked very well. The two had almost immediately become friendly with each other, but, to the best of Naruto's knowledge, that friendly relationship hadn't grown into romantic feelings on either side. So there had to be a reason she would try. A serious one too.

Naruto had several possible answers, but couldn't come to any real conclusion.

So he instead considered something else. As it was, it was only chance Naruto had tied Rias up before she had woken him up. What if that hadn't happened? Naruto would readily admit Rias was amazingly attractive. If she had crawled into his bed and told him to take her, he highly doubted he would have refused.

So part of Naruto was actually glad things worked out this way. Make no mistake. Naruto loves sex. It's awesome! Yet the short conversation with Kiryuu yesterday had shown such frivolous coupling had consequences. Sleeping with any and every girl you could might be fun, but it isn't a very good life choice. That inevitably leads to hurt feelings. Naruto had already inadvertently done that before joining the Occult Club, and he'd rather avoid doing it again. Especially to Rias, who is his 'master.' Naruto would rather not create bad feelings between them since they will very likely be working together for centuries.

Man, there are too many thoughts and arguments going through Naruto's head right now. He should just clear his head till after school when he can get answers from Rias. Yeah. Think of ramen and other lighthearted topics…Ah, who is he kidding. He'll spend the entire day thinking about this.

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"We're here," Naruto announced as he walked through the door, Yuuto, Asia, and Raynare at his back.

The group immediately came to a stop when they felt the atmosphere in the room, their eyes looking around warily. Rias, Akeno, and Koneko were already there, but there was another person.

Naruto immediately identified her as the one with the incredibly power he had sensed yesterday. He scanned her warily. Well, she was beautiful. No doubt about that. She was a woman who appeared to be in her early twenties. She had silver hair that had two small braids in front and two larger braids doing down her back. Her eyes were also a matching gray color. Oddly she appeared to be wearing a maid outfit.

Finally turning away from her, Naruto looked at the others present. Rias had a grim face, she was also avoiding Naruto's eyes. Akeno had a smile, but she was giving out a cold feeling. Koneko was sitting in the corner, obviously not wanting to draw attention. The air in the room was unusually tense.

Those who just entered cautiously took seats, being affected by the atmosphere of the room. Asia took the spot by Naruto, her earlier displeasure at him fading in favor of seeking comfort from him. Naruto pat her head comfortingly, hiding how uncomfortable he himself was.

The maid was staring at him. Like seriously staring at him. Her eyes were fixed on him with a disturbing intensity. It was starting to creep him out.

Rias finally broke the silence be announcing, "Sorry, everybody. Before we start the club several things need to be explained to you all."

"And who is this, Buchou?" Raynare asked in an unusually respectful voice, eyeing the maid warily. She had clearly picked up the person's power as well, and was playing it safe with her attitude.

The maid answered by stepping forward slightly and bowing as she announced, "I'm a maid of the Gremory household. My name is Grayfia. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"She's also the queen of my onii-sama. As well as his wife," Rias added blankly. Grayfia seemed annoyed by the addition, but fitting her current role as a servant didn't protest.

Naruto now looked at Grayfia with dawning comprehension. Naruto had talked with Rias quite a bit over the past month. They tended to avoid matters of her family, but Naruto had learned a bit. Like that her brother is the current Lucifer, leader of the Four Great Satans. He's the strongest devil in existence. If she's his queen, then it is only natural she's so incredibly powerful.

"Ojou-sama, do you wish for me to explain the situation?" Grayfia asked calmly.

"No, I'll do it," Rias replied with a sigh. Looking at them, she opened her mouth to speak.

She never got to start as the magic circle lit up. Someone was teleporting here. The magic circle also changed into a different circle.

"Phenex. The devil clan with inherent powers similar to a phoenix, the legendary bird," Yuuto muttered.

Naruto immediately absorbed those words. Phoenix. The legendary bird that burst into flames when they die, and are then supposedly reborn from the ashes. For a family of devils to be compared to them carries a lot of meaning.

As Naruto thought of that, the magic circle burst into flame. The room was flooded with heat. Naruto ignored it though, instead focusing on the figure that appeared from within the flames. The figure waved an arm, and the flames were extinguished.

"It's been a while since I came to the human world," the man commented haughtily. It was a man that appeared to be in his early twenties. The bangs of his blonde hair was swept back. He was wearing a red suit, although it was missing a tie and several buttons were undone to expose some of his chest. He was maybe an inch or two taller than Naruto. Naruto absently noted the man could probably be considered handsome, although Naruto could also practically feel the arrogance rolling of him. He turned towards Rias, and smirked as he declared, "My lovely Rias, I have come to see you. We should go and survey the ceremony hall together. With the date set, we need to check it beforehand."

With things starting to fit together in Naruto's mind, Grayfia explained, "This is Riser Phenex-sama, a pure-blooded devil and third son of the Phenex Clan. He is also engaged to the heiress apparent of the Gremory Clan. As in the fiancé of Rias-ojousama."

Yep. Naruto called it.

Five minutes later Riser took a cup of tea from Akeno. Taking a sip, he commented, "My, Rias' queen prepares some delicious tea."

"Thank you very much," Akeno said politely with a small bow, but Naruto could easily sense the coldness Akeno was concealing.

Riser was now sitting on one of the couches, Rias next to him. After placing the tea down, Riser put his arm around Rias' shoulder. His hand started to play with her hair and his other hand went to her thigh.

"Stop that," Rias snapped as she stood. Turning back to Riser with sharp eyes, she declared angrily, "I already told you, Riser. I will not marry you."

This only confirmed the conclusion Naruto had come to. Rias was engaged to this guy, against her will. She had likely come to Naruto's house to break the marriage by sleeping with him. It all made sense…sort of.

Riser didn't seem bothered by her words, and he just said calmly, "Yes, I heard that before. Your household is up against the wall right now though, Rias. You don't have the option to be selfish here."

"That is none of your concern, Riser. I am the heiress of the Gremory Clan, and I won't bring my family down. Otou-sama, Onii-sama, and everyone else of my clan are simply rushing it," Rias claimed firmly.

"You think so," Riser remarked with a small smirk before continuing thoughtfully, "You no doubt understand the situation of the Underworld. We lost many pure-blooded devils during the great war, and our war with the fallen angels and heaven hasn't ended. It isn't rare for successors of important families to worthlessly die in battles against them. As it is, less than half of the original 72 pillar families remain."

"The newly produced devils-. The reincarnated devils, like your servants, are growing in strength. Many old nobles are getting close to reincarnated devils, and possibly rightly so. Reincarnated devils are important to our future, but that doesn't mean pure devils with old history like us should lose our place. To lose even a single remaining pillar family would send ripples throughout the Underworld, with many potentially devastating effects among devils as a whole."

"So it is only natural that pure-blooded devils get together to create the next generation of pure-blooded devils. We cannot allow more pillar families to go extinct. My family is safe since I have two elder brothers, one of which has already produced a pure-blooded child. The Gremory are not so fortunate though. Your parents had only two children, and your older brother left the house to become Maou Lucifer. Even with Sirzechs-sama having a son, there are many top devils who wish for that child to bare the name Lucifer as well. Which leaves only you to carry on the name of your household. If you don't take a husband, then your household will end with your generation. Is that what you want, Rias? To bring down your family which has endured for such a long time?"

Naruto took in everything Riser talked about. Naruto knew it a bit already, but he could always know more. Naruto hadn't realized the situation among the pillar families was so bad. Naruto understood their importance as well. It was like the clans back in Konoha. The majority of ninjas hadn't been clan born, but the clan children filled out the jounin ranks. The devils seemed the same. The reincarnated and ordinary devils were more numerous, but the pillar families clearly were the ones to produce most of the 'elite' devils. So it is important for the pillar families to continue. For the Gremory clan, it must be very important to have the sole heir, Rias, marry and produce children.

Rias no doubt understood this much more than Naruto as she announced solemnly, "My household need not worry. I shall eventually take a husband, and eventually sire an heir." Riser looked happy, but Rias quickly continued strongly, "But it shall be a person of my choosing, at a time of my choice. Even pure-blooded devils like us deserve to choose."

That finally seemed to annoy Riser. His face turned unpleasant as he stood. Cupping Rias' chin, he leaned down till his face was just inches from hers as he informed her softly, "…You know, Rias. I carry the name of Phenex, and I can't allow that name to get tarnished. I don't even like coming to the human world. The fire and wind here is filthy. For a devil who ruled fire and wind, like me, it is terrible. I had no choice though, as I came here with a purpose. I shall fulfill that purpose and bring you back with me to the Underworld-"

Fire burst into existence from around Riser, gradually forming into two wings on his back. He then finished threateningly, "-even if I have to burn your servants to ash in the process."

Now Naruto wasn't going to take that lying down. Using his own aura and killing intent to counter that which Riser sent at their group, Naruto stepped forward. Raising his own power with each step, Naruto commented with an amused grin. "Is that so? I'd love to see you try."

Rias seemed surprised at Naruto's interruption, and Riser turned to look at Naruto haughtily. He quickly demanded loftily, as if speaking to a bug, "And who might you be?"

Naruto just grinned and countered mockingly, "My name doesn't matter. All you need to know is that if you threaten anyone in this group again, I'll throw your ass out the window. Name be damned."

Riser's face grew angry and he spat out, "Y-You low-"

"Class devil?" Naruto finished with a smirk. Seeing Riser's pause in surprise, Naruto added, "I know types like you. So I practically know everything that will come out of your mouth."

"Don't get ahead-"

"Of yourself, trash," Naruto once again finished. Seeing Riser pause, Naruto raised a hand to his forehead as he declared, "See? I'm already getting bored talking to you."

This time Riser just snarled, and fire exploded from his back again, greatly enlarging his wings. His power also rose sharply. Naruto just grinned as he matched and then surpassed the output. Riser's response to raise it even further, Naruto immediately matched it.

The two were now in a clear face off. Riser looked murderous, while Naruto had a smile on his face. His mind was racing in truth though. This guy was no joke. Truthfully, this was all a bluff for Naruto. The power output Naruto's putting out to match Riser is too high for him to maintain for long. Hopefully Riser's the same. Otherwise the pure-blooded devil has more raw power at his disposal than Naruto. Raw power doesn't always transfer to actual fighting ability, but it's a damned good place to start. Naruto was also aware of the intense heat Riser's flames were releasing. Based on what he's feeling right now, Rias has little chance of being able to defeat Riser one on one. Naruto is also unsure if he would be able to either.

The showdown was abruptly ended by Grayfia announcing calmly, "I was sent here by Sirzechs-sama is resolve this issue peacefully. If you both continue, I shall step in. For Sirzechs-sama's honor, I won't hold back."

She also punctuated her statement by flaring her potent energy for just an instant. It was more than enough for her to demonstrate a power far higher than Naruto and Riser put together. It wasn't a bluff or for show. It was a simple statement. That they stand absolutely no chance against her.

Both of them clearly got the message, and stopped their face off. His flame wings disappearing, Riser held his hands up in a 'what-can-you-do' gesture before commenting flippantly, "If it is the 'Strongest Queen' saying that, even I must back down. I definitely don't want to fight with anyone from Sirzechs-sama's peerage, which is said to be composed of monsters."

Naruto similarly acceded by saying, "I can be rather stupid, but I'm not that stupid."

Nodding at their backing down, Grayfia turned to Rias and asked, "I assume you are still refusing to cooperate with the marriage, Ojou-sama?"

"Of course," Rias answered immediately.

"We expected as much," Grayfia claimed with a small sigh before announcing seriously, "Master, Sirzechs-sama, and those of the House of Phenex suspected this might happen. We hoped an agreement could be made, but it was unlikely from the start. So as a last resort, this matter shall be decided in a Rating Game. Usually immature devils like Ojou-sama can't compete, but it is possible for two pure-blooded devils to compete in a match to resolve family and household problems. Do both of you agree?"

"I'm fine with that," Riser answered confidently. He then looked at Rias with a smirk as he asked her, "Are you though, Rias? I'm a mature devil, and have participated in the official game. Won most of them as well."

"I accept. I'll blow you away, Riser," Rias declared fiercely, glaring at Riser intently.

"Understood. I have received the confirmation from both parties," Grayfia stated calmly.

Riser didn't register that, instead turning towards where the members of the Occult Research Club were gathered. His eyes lingered a bit longer on Naruto then the rest, dislike apparent in his eyes. Naruto returned to sentiment. He then asked with a smirk, "Hey, Rias. These wouldn't happen to be all your servants, would they?"

Rias' eye twitched as she snapped, "So what?"

Riser just smirked as he raised a hand. Snapping his fingers, the magic circle on the floor once again lit up. A large burst of fire appeared, along with fifteen figures. Riser also announced, "These are my cute servants."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. Fifteen servants. A full peerage. Naruto quickly used a small bit of spiritual power on the group. Watching which of them flinched or paled, Naruto focused on them while ignoring those who didn't even notice. Nothing wrong with getting a head start on the mind games.

Riser quickly continued smugly, "As you can see, I have a full peerage. Fifteen servants. Including us, that means it is 16-7. As you can see, I have the clear advantage. You might as well submit now, Rias."

"I have confidence in my peerage, Riser. Continue underestimating us, and you'll end up burned Riser," Rias stated boldly.

Riser sneered at her, but he couldn't reply before Naruto laughed loudly and spoke up, "A phoenix being burned. Wouldn't that be yakitori?"

Riser's face grew red at that, along with a number of his peerage. Turning to Naruto he spat out, "Y-Yakitori?! You little-" He was rudely stopped when Naruto shoved a hand in his face.

"Little bastard-yadda yadda-know who I am-blabber blabber-House of Phenex-jabber jabber-teach you your place," Naruto spoke up in a mocking superior voice. Naruto then grinned as he told the furious Riser, "I already told you. I can guess every bullshit thing coming out of your mouth. I mean, seriously. If you are going to be such a cliché character, at least come up with some unique lines. This is just pathetic."

Naruto then backed away as he announced, "Now I'm going to leave. Cause I'm getting bored, and I have better things to do then listen to you prattle on. See you at the Rating Game. I think I'll bring some yakitori. That way you'll have company for when I serve your burnt ass as the entrée at our victory party. Till then."

With that insult, Naruto turned away from the speechless Riser. Naruto carefully walked towards the members of Riser's peerage that were the most unnerved by Naruto's spiritual pressure. They instinctively shied away from him, clearing the path for him. He grinned at their move, and moved to the door. He walked out without looking back, leaving a stunned and bewildered room behind him.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Why exactly are you up here, Naruto-kun?" Rias asked as she flew up onto the roof of the Old School Building.

Naruto was sitting cross-legged, looking at the setting sun with a sulking expression on his face. Looking at Rias from the corner of his eyes, he looked away as he replied, "Just thinking."

Setting down beside him, Rias asked gently, "About what?"

Naruto immediately grumbled, "About how mad I am at you."

"I figured you were, despite you not showing it in there," Rias stated with a sigh.

"That certainly wasn't the time or place to have an argument," Naruto claimed grudgingly.

"Instead Riser served as a scapegoat for your anger at me," Rias pointed out softly.

"Well, he's a dick. He was practically asking for it anyway," Naruto argued grouchily.

After that the two fell into silence. Naruto refusing to be the one to broach the topic, and Rias being very reluctant about it. So they just sat there for a minute.

Rias finally broke and questioned in resignation, "Why are you mad at me?"

Naruto didn't respond immediately. His eyes just stayed fixed on the setting sun. After half a minute, he finally asked bluntly, "Do you not trust me, Rias-chan?"

"Of course I do, Naruto-kun," Rias immediately claimed, surprised by the question.

"It sure doesn't seem like it," Naruto declared petulantly. Taking deep breath to control himself, he continued, "Right after I rescued Asia, I told you that I would always help you if you had a problem. A month ago, and yet I'm just finding out about this very big problem now. At the very last moment possible. How am I suppose to take that? I knew something was wrong, and yet you still chose to keep it secret from me. It is also pretty clear that the only reason you told me now is because you had no choice."

"T-That's…not…" Rias stuttered out, unsure of really how to respond.

"That's what I thought," Naruto remarked with a disappointed sigh at her difficulty in giving him an answer.

Rias didn't know how to respond. Finally she just whispered, "You're right. I should have told you. I just…didn't want to." Rias paused for several moments before asking, "Are you still willing to come running if I have a problem?"

"Of course, Rias-chan," Naruto replied immediately, no hesitation whatsoever. Giving Rias a grin, he told her honestly, "You'll find out it will take a lot more than this to send me running. I'll pout and whine for a while, but I'm not the kind of guy whose loyalty is so weak as to allow something like this affect him."

Rias gave a small, happy smile at his answer as she told him, "Thank you, Naruto-kun. I really appreciate your help."

Putting his arms behind his head, Naruto commented thoughtfully, "Still wish you would have told me sooner. Yeah, we've been training, but it was without any real purpose. If we knew earlier we could have properly prepared and come up with a plan, you know."

"That's exactly why I didn't tell you, Naruto-kun," Rias declared. Rubbing the bridge of her nose, she finally explained to the confused Naruto, "I didn't want anymore reminders of Riser than I already did. I've long known about my engagement to Riser, and I thought about it all the time. Way more than I wish I did. Akeno, Yuuto, and Koneko all knew as well. Every time I go home, I have to deal with my parents trying to convince me to agree to the marriage. It feels like everywhere I go, the signs were always right in my face. You, Asia, and Raynare not knowing…it was a breath of fresh air. I knew if I told you though, you'd constantly work to handle it. You're just the type of guy that plows straight ahead, facing every problem head on. It's admirable, no doubt about that, but I didn't want to spend every hour of every day worrying about this."

Naruto just listened as Rias gave a sigh and continued, "You guys being ignorant of Riser meant that I had a distraction from it all. It might have been a foolish desire, but…I didn't want what little normality I had in my life come to an end. My engagement to Riser has already upset my life more than enough."

Naruto scratched the back of his head and admitted, "I guess that makes sense. Still going to pout and whine about not being told, but you are human…okay, you're actually a devil, but what I mean is that everyone deserves to be selfish sometimes."

"Human nature, huh?" Rias commented with slight amusement before adding, "Should probably be called devil nature. Devils are inherently more selfish than humans."

"I still call bullshit on that. I haven't felt jack diddly squat since becoming a devil. Devils aren't innately more selfish than other beings. If anything that is either a cultural tradition dating back to the original Maou's, who were rather evil, or an excuse to allow devils to behave how they wish," Naruto immediately argued.

Rias just shook her head as she chuckled. Patting Naruto's head, she told him, "Of course you wouldn't notice a difference, Naruto-kun. You're special like that."

"That sounds like both a compliment and an insult," Naruto murmured with a suspicious look on his face.

"I don't know what you mean," Rias claimed, a mischievous smile on her face.

Naruto stared at her in suspicion for several seconds before chuckles burst from his mouth. Deciding to just accept what she said, Naruto laid back while putting his arms behind his head. With the abrupt end to their weird tangent, silence ensued.

Naruto really hated his empathy sometimes. Despite Rias' words, Naruto couldn't help but be slightly hurt. Naruto genuinely valued things like trust, comrades, and friends to a near absurd degree. To have a comrade and friend withhold something important from him stung. He couldn't help but wonder if it spoke of a lack of trust.

Unfortunately, Naruto had always been empathetic. He was just able to understand other people very well. So Naruto understood to a certain degree why Rias would hide her engagement to Riser from him, and nothing stopped anger and indignation like empathizing with the person you want to be mad at.

Oh, he still had some righteous anger inside of him, but now it was just a bunch of hot air. He'd work it out with a tough training session, and maybe a prank against Rias. Just one though…He'll have to make it a good one to make up. What to do? So many options.

Deciding to think on that later, Naruto decided to move on. Turning his head towards Rias, Naruto questioned, "So what happened after I left? When is the Rating Game?"

"Not a whole lot happened after you left. You sort of ruined the atmosphere by saying all that stuff and then leaving. No one really knew what to do. Grayfia said she'd get information. Riser did give us ten days to train though," Rias informed Naruto calmly.

"Really?" Naruto asked in surprise before reluctantly confessing, "Not what I'd have expected from him. Being generous and all."

Rias immediately corrected him, "Oh, it wasn't him being generous. It's basically a backhanded way of saying that nothing we can do in ten days will make a difference."

"Yep, there's the arrogance I expected," Naruto commented with a sagely nod.

"Riser is nothing if not arrogant," Rias stated bluntly before regretfully continuing, "His confidence isn't completely unfounded though. When it comes to Rating Games, there is no devil clan among the pillar families better suited than the Phenex."

"I got that the Phenex are important, but are they really that powerful?" Naruto asked curiously.

"Yes," Rias claimed immediately before explaining seriously, "The legendary phoenix is a bird that rules fire, wind, and is blessed with immortality. They are extremely rare in any world, but they have become very well known in the human world. So much so that a clan of devils that has abilities matching them was given the name Phenex as a sign of their similarity to a phoenix. Controlling fire and wind comes second nature to a Phenex, and they are also blessed with immortality."

"That's…a bit disconcerting, I'll admit," Naruto divulged before adding with a shrug, "I don't believe in immortality though. Everything can be killed or beaten. It's just a matter of finding out how, and then doing it."

"Oh, the Phenex are certainly beatable. They can even be killed. It is just very, very difficult," Rias stated thoughtfully, a small frown on her face.

"No kidding. I could sense the fear coming off Riser towards Grayfia. He'd probably crap his pants if he had to fight her," Naruto declared with a naughty grin. He then confessed, "Not that I can blame him. Seriously, that lady is scary strong."

"She is my brother's queen. Of course she's strong," Rias proclaimed, a hint of pride in her voice. "Grayfia was one of the strongest devils even before she became onii-sama's queen. She once even challenged the current Leviathan for the title. She lost, but-"

"That very fact that she could seriously challenge a Maou is a sign of how powerful she is," Naruto finished for her.

"Exactly. Leviathan-sama is the current strongest female devil, but Grayfia is likely the best contender for runner up," Rias claimed.

"She was also kind of creepy. The maid outfit I could ignore, but she was staring at me. Whenever she wasn't looking at you or Riser, she was staring at me. It was honestly creeping me out," Naruto admitted, shivering as he remembered the unrelenting, accusing gaze of the Strongest Queen.

Rias blushed at that. She had tried to sort out the misunderstanding with Grayfia that morning, but she got the feeling her sister-in-law didn't believe her. Rias also couldn't prove she was still a virgin. Pure-blooded devils lack hymens. All Rias could do was use a spell to prove their was no semen in her. A quick, and embarrassing, examination of her privates also showed she didn't have any signs of having engaged in sex recently. All that proved though was that Rias hadn't had sex last night. Grayfia seemed to be under the impression that Rias and Naruto were sexually active, and that they just hadn't done it the previous night. Rias blushed deeper as she realized that meant Grayfia figured she was even more of a hardcore bondage lover than before. That Naruto didn't just tie her up during sex, but during nights where all they did was sleep.

Geez, that's so embarrassing to think about. Not to mention Grayfia no doubt told Rias' brother about it. With that misunderstanding in his mind, Rias is not sure if her brother will welcome Naruto as a new family member or try to destroy him for having the nerve to tie Rias up and make her sleep on the floor like a dog.

Not that she is going to explain that to Naruto. She's going to do her best to deny that incident ever happened. So she claimed bluntly, "Yeah, Grayfia doesn't like you. You should avoid talking to her…ever."

"That's rather uncalled for. I didn't even say anything to her, but I guess I should avoid pissing her off anyways. She may destroy me if I annoy her too much," Naruto muttered.

"Definitely a good idea. Once when onii-sama annoyed her too much, she froze him solid. She then left him there for twelve hours," Rias informed him with a grin.

Naruto didn't visibly react to her words, instead cupping his chin as he continued thoughtfully, "On the other hand, my pride as a prankster is rearing its head. I didn't do anything to warrant her dislike of me. If she hates me for no reason, I just got to prank her. The hardest and most dangerous targets are always the most entertaining ones anyways. I'm sure I could get her, but I have to not get annihilated afterwards. Maybe I could somehow shift the blame onto your brother."

"…Antagonizing the Strongest Queen and then attempting to shift the blame onto a Maou…Sometimes you really worry me, Naruto-kun," Rias confessed in a worried voice, looking unsure how to really react. She then added, "You also annoyed the Biblical God before."

"Oh, we haven't even gotten to the good stuff yet," Naruto claimed with a roguish smirk before announcing, "Just wait till I meet Leviathan. I don't know why or how, but I've got a gut feeling things will really hit the fan when I meet her. Meeting the strongest female devil…Oh the potential of that meeting."

Rias just stared in disbelief and wariness as Naruto started doing that cackle he does after pranks…She doesn't even want to know what is going through his head right now. No doubt it involves pranks…and rubber chickens. She really hopes Serafall doesn't come to this school anytime soon. That's a meeting rife with potential to cause chaos. With Naruto involved, it will likely be something so random and unpredictable everyone will be left speechless.

Not wanting to consider it any longer, Rias instead announced, "Tomorrow morning we'll be heading to a villa of my family in the mountains. We'll be training there for the Rating Game against Riser."

They've got ten days to prepare for the match her future rides on. She's going to put that time to full use.

"Oh yeah, are we ever going to talk about what happened last night?"

"Nope. It never happened."

"Got it."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"How rich is your family, Rias-chan?"

That was Naruto's question when Rias showed them her family's mountain villa. The group had set out as soon as the sun rose. Rias decided that they would hike there instead of teleporting, as a start to their training. It was easy enough for all of them. Even with the varying sized packs Rias assigned them. As it is, most of them only broke a sweat due to the bright sun. Asia struggled a bit, but even she got through it.

The two hour hike ended when they arrived at their destination. A villa owned by the Gremory Clan. It was no simple log cabin or something like that either. It was an estate. Firstly there was a large mansion, looking to be European style. To the side of the mansion was a stage-like building, in Greek or Roman style. Several beautiful lakes were before the mansion. It was a very idyllic and beautiful area.

It was also a perfect place for training. This villa and the surrounding area were concealed using demonic power. So no ordinary people will wander nearby by accident, which will allow the group to train with no worries.

A good mix of luxury and practicality.

Naruto was still blow away by the grandness of the estate though, which is why he asked his question.

Rias just shrugged as she answered casually, "Quite. My family owns a territory the size of Honshu in the Underworld. It's mainly open space though, so more important to our wealth is that we have a very developed industry in our territory. We have many castles in our territory. The Gremory have also made a concerted effort to have a higher degree of integration in the human world, in order to use the Evil Piece system to the greatest possible extent. So we have many estates like this around the human world."

So Rias' family wasn't just rich, but super rich. Maybe add two or three more supers on. Not even Naruto is that rich. He might have bought a mansion, but that's the main expense he can make until his next book comes out. He can't throw money away like nothing.

Either not noticing or not caring about Naruto's disbelief, Rias announced to the group, "This is where we'll be training. There are many different rooms, but I'd prefer us to bunk together by gender. That way we'll hopefully bond a bit more with each other. Let's get settled. This estate is usually uninhabited, which is why we brought all this stuff. I want to have all the miscellaneous stuff put away first. That way we'll be able to focus purely on training afterwards. In an hour we'll have an initial strategy meeting. That should be enough time for you all to settle in."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

As they started walking towards the main building though, Naruto was stopped when something grabbed the back of his shirt. By now recognizing the feeling, Naruto turned around to look at the culprit. Koneko.

Everyone had changed into hiking clothing for the trip. Koneko was wearing a blue skirt, white shirt, and tan unzipped vest. It was an interesting sight for Naruto, since Koneko almost always wore her school uniform. It was also rather comical since Rias had given Koneko a backpack the size of a small minivan to carry, considering her strength. Only Naruto had a larger pack. She didn't look even slightly stressed by the weight though. It was still funny since the tiny and petite girl was completely dwarfed by it.

Well it would have been funny if Naruto didn't sense the hesitation and even the slight bit of fear radiating from the small rook. She wasn't looking at him, instead looking at the ground. The hand she was holding Naruto's shirt was even shaking.

It seemed to Naruto like the wrong move would send her running, so he just stayed quiet and waited. Finally Koneko seemed to steady her wavering courage with a deep breath. She then looked up at him. Looking him in the eye, she told him, "I need to talk to you, Naruto-senpai…alone."

That was all Naruto needed. Quickly creating two clones, he handed his bag off to one. The other snatched Koneko's when the girl was still surprised. With Koneko still shocked and confused, the real Naruto snatched her up and held her by his side. His hand holding her midsection, her legs and torso hanging free.

"You heard the girl. We need to be alone. We'll be back," Naruto told the group with a quick salute. Naruto then disappeared in a Body Flicker Technique.

A few seconds later, the two reappeared several hundred meters away. As soon as the disorientation caused by the technique faded, Koneko started struggling from how he was holding her while hissing, "Put me down."

"Sorry, sorry," Naruto said as he put the petite girl down. He might have been a tad bit overexcited that Koneko had finally asked to talk to him. He's been waiting for days.

Koneko glared at him a bit once she regained her feet. Naruto just smiled at her apologetically as he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. She finally snapped, "Don't do that again."

"Okay. Sorry. I acted without thinking," Naruto replied with a shrug. Koneko didn't look totally appeased, but seemed willing to put it behind her. When Koneko looked away silently, Naruto decided to ask, "So what is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Koneko didn't look at him. She just stayed silent. This time Naruto followed her. She had to take the first step here, just like in asking to talk to him.

"…senjutsu."

It was near two minutes later that Koneko finally muttered that. Naruto tilted his head before repeating in a confused tone, "Senjutsu?"

"…You are a sage," Koneko stated. Finally looking at him, she continued, "…You know senjutsu."

"Yeah," Naruto answered easily, not getting what she meant quite yet.

"How?" Koneko immediately demanded. A fire was seemingly lit in her now that she had started, "How do you use senjutsu? You are a human. I thought humans couldn't use senjutsu."

Blinking, Naruto explained, "I learned it from my summons. I guess in this world they would be called toad youkai. It was…just under a year ago I think."

"_How_ do you use it though? What method do you employ?" Koneko questioned intently.

Scratching his cheek as he considered, Naruto clarified, "Well…I meditate, and I draw in natural energy. I then…use it?" Naruto could use senjutsu. During the end of the war, he was probably the most accomplished user of senjutsu in the world. For a human, at least. Only the Shodaime Hokage could probably compare. That did not mean he was eloquent in explaining the mechanics of it, especially when it was sprung on him like this.

His less than perfect answer clearly didn't please Koneko, who exclaimed with more emotion in her voice than Naruto had ever heard, "There has to be more to it than that. That doesn't explain how you overcame the world's hatred and malice."

"You mean all the negative emotions saturating the natural energy of this world," Naruto commented as he gestured at the air. Koneko nodded. Naruto rubbed the back of his head as he admitted, "Yeah, that wasn't there back in my world. Natural energy wasn't quite as abundant there either. It's practically overflowing in this world."

Koneko seemed to grow depressed at that, and she remarked, "So your world was just different. You can't use senjutsu in this world either."

"I'm not saying that," Naruto stated immediately before clarifying, "True, I can't use senjutsu currently. It has nothing to do with the negative emotions in the natural energy though. I simply lack the chakra reserves necessary at this point. Once I gain those back, it should be easier than in my world. As I said, the natural energy is way more abundant here."

"But the malice of the world-" Koneko started.

Naruto quickly interrupted by declaring with a shrug, "Is minimal. It is there. I'll admit that, but it's far from potent. Unless you consume impossibly huge quantities of natural energy, there should be no eff-"

"That's impossible!" Koneko exclaimed loudly, seemingly losing the composure she always had. She then continued defiantly, "I know it has effects. Kuroka-neesama-…She…" Koneko's sudden burst of speech ended there, replaced by hesitation and uncertainty.

Naruto sighed. Of course there was something else. Some back story he doesn't know about.

"Tell me about it," Naruto said gently.

Koneko was silent for several moment. Finally Naruto felt a small release of energy from Koneko, and he watched as a physical change occurred. Two cat ears matching the color of her hair appeared on her head, and a similarly colored tail appeared from just above her butt. She then announced, "Before Buchou reincarnated me, I was a cat youkai."

She stopped there, seemingly waiting for something. Naruto finally tilted his head and asked, "…And?"

"…You aren't surprised?" Koneko asked in confusion.

Naruto just blinked before pointing out matter-of-factly, "I bombarded you with pussy jokes, and even used catnip on you. I guessed you were some type of cat youkai quite a while ago. Like as soon as I met you." Koneko didn't seem to know how to react to that knowledge, so Naruto continued, "I checked. You are a Nekomata, right?"

"No," Koneko claimed before explaining, "Nekomata are the main type of cat youkai. I am a Nekoshou, which is a far rarer breed of cat youkai. They are related, but different."

"Nekoshou, got it," Naruto declared with a nod.

Koneko then informed him solemnly, "I had an older sister."

"Did she die?" Naruto asked carefully, hearing the past tense Koneko used.

"No…" Koneko answered bluntly. Naruto blinked in surprise at that, but decided to just wait patiently. Koneko took a deep breath before she began, "My mother died two years after I was born. We didn't have a father. Nekoshou females typically mate with human males since male Nekoshou are basically nonexistent. Our youkai blood means such children are still full-blooded youkai. Even after being reincarnated as a devil, any children I might have are likely to still be born as Nekoshou as well. Such is the strength of our blood."

"So after our mother died, I was left alone with my older sister, Kuroka. We had no home, and were rejected by society. Nekoshou are feared. We lived on the streets and stole to survive. It was difficult, but we survived."

"Everything changed when we were found by a particular devil. Kuroka-neesama was a genius at using youjutsu, youkai magical techniques, and this devil had tracked her down in an attempt to make her his servant. Kuroka-neesama agreed, and she was reincarnated as a devil using two bishop pieces. In return we were taken in by him, and were now capable of living a decent life. The future seemed bright for us…It was not to be," Koneko explained, looking to be heartbroken at the end. "The innate talent of Kuroka-neesama started to overflow after becoming a devil. Not only was she a master in youjutsu, but she quickly surpassed her master in magical power. Finally she even started to invoke senjutsu. Having totally surpassed her master in such a short time, senjutsu was the final straw. Taking in the malice and hatred of the world, she became drunk on her own power. She rampaged, killing her own master. She then fled, killing all the pursuit squads sent after her. She is still one of the most wanted criminals of the Underworld."

Naruto listened to all this silently. This was by far the most he had heard Koneko talk. About such a personal topic as well. It was a lot to take in for Naruto.

Taking a deep breath, Koneko continued solemnly, "With Kuroka-neesama having escaped, everyone turned to me. The reason Nekoshou are so feared is because we not only have the capacity to master youjutsu like a Nekomata, but we also have an inborn talent in senjutsu. I had…have the potential to follow in Kuroka-neesama's footsteps. They felt I was a possible risk, a menace just waiting to be let loose. I would have been executed if not for Lucifer-sama. He said that I was not to blame for my sister's actions. I was released by Lucifer-sama, and placed under Buchou's care. Buchou then gave me the name Toujou Koneko."

"Shirone," Naruto exclaimed in understanding.

"That isn't my name…not anymore," Koneko said firmly, her eyes growing sharp.

Naruto lifted his hands in a pacifying gesture. Seeing Koneko calm down, Naruto started thinking. That was a whole lot to take in.

He finally commented, "So that is why you wanted to talk to me. You heard Kareha-chan call me a sage, and wanted to talk to me about senjutsu."

Koneko nodded before remarking, "Senjutsu is a danger. A hazard that shouldn't be messed with."

"I wouldn't say that," Naruto replied with a small frown. Shrugging, he said, "I'm not saying there aren't dangers. I might have turned into a stone statue if I messed up during training. When done safely and responsibly though, senjutsu is a great boon to anyone's arsenal."

"Senjutsu can't be done 'safely and responsibly'," Koneko claimed stubbornly.

"Says who?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow.

Senjutsu was dangerous. Of that there was no doubt. If you were overcome by natural energy, you could turn into a stone statue. That is actually pretty rare though. The supposed valley the toads showed him of failed senjutsu users was actually a fake. After finishing his senjutsu training, the toads had admitted those statues were just carved stone statues they used scare any summoners who want to learn senjutsu. To prevent any summoners from wanting to learn senjutsu before they are deemed ready, and to prevent any recklessness when learning it. In actuality only eight summoners/toads had actually succumbed to the effects of uncontrolled natural energy, and those statues had been buried. Eight over close to two thousand years isn't that bad. One had to be careful for sure, but it wasn't so inherently dangerous if treated with the proper respect and caution.

"Everyone," Koneko declared.

"And by everyone, I take that to mean people who can't use senjutsu," Naruto pointed out. With a shrug, Naruto added, "Who are you going to believe? People who likely based their opinion of senjutsu off one bad incident, or a sage."

"Kuroka-neesama lost control," Koneko quickly argued.

"That is one incident. The circumstances of that incident can't automatically be used to define all senjutsu. Who knows what additional factors could have helped escalate that case," argued Naruto calmly.

Koneko looked at Naruto with unblinking eyes. He actually started to feel uncomfortable till she asked, "You really think senjutsu isn't dangerous?"

"I didn't say it isn't dangerous. I am simply claiming that senjutsu isn't that bad if treated with both respect and caution. A knowledgeable teacher would naturally helps as well," Naruto stated confidently. Tilting his head, he asked, "Do you want me to teach you?"

"…No," Koneko answered after a pregnant pause.

"So you interrogated me about senjutsu for nothing except curiosity?" Naruto questioned with a raised eyebrow.

"No…I'll have to learn senjutsu eventually. My blood ensures that. When that day arrives, I'll probably take you up on that offer," Koneko admitted. She then shook her head as she finished, "I don't think that time has arrived though."

Naruto wasn't convinced. It seems like Koneko just wants to avoid it by putting it off. Eventually she'll have to deal with senjutsu if Nekoshou really are so naturally attuned to senjutsu. Oh well. He'll just have to wait till she stops running from it. You can't force a person with things like this.

Naruto put a hand on Koneko's head and ruffled her hair as he told her with a grin, "Alright, if that's what you want. Just tell me if you ever change your mind. I'll be here."

"…Hand off head," Koneko hissed.

"Oh yeah. Sorry," Naruto said as he quickly removed his hand. Koneko's very particular about letting people touch her head. Must be the cat ears. At least she didn't try to punch him in the nuts this time. That's progress. "We should probably head back now."

Koneko nodded in agreement. Before heading off though, she looked around awkwardly before whispering, "Thanks, Naruto-senpai."

Tilting his head, Naruto asked in confusion, "For what?"

"…For putting a few of my worries to rest," Koneko mumbled so low Naruto could barely hear.

Not quite sure what she was referring to, Naruto finally just shrugged. At least he'd done something to help. Smiling, Naruto replied brightly, "No problem, Koneko-chan. I'll always be here for my cute little kouhai." His hand automatically moved to ruffle her hair.

"Don't touch my head," Koneko ordered bluntly.

Naruto chuckled awkwardly as he withdrew his hand. He may have gotten a bit closer to Koneko, but clearly there was still a way to go.

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"Alright, we can begin now that everyone is here," Rias announced.

The entire group were seated around a table. Everyone had changed into workout clothes of their choice. For most of them, that meant tracksuits. Naruto and Yuuto were wearing white and gray tracksuits. Rias, Akeno, and Asia were wearing red and white ones. Raynare was wearing a black and purple one. Akeno and Asia had removed the top pieces, leaving themselves in white shirts. The only one who chose differently was Koneko, who was wearing a white shirt and bloomers.

"Just a quick review of the situation. We have ten days. Nine actually. We'll need a day to recover. We'll then participate in a Rating Game against Riser Phenex and his peerage," Rias reminded them. Taking a seat, she gestured at a chess board in the center of the table. The chess board had one full side, and the other was missing numerous pieces. Rias quickly continued, "Riser has a full peerage. Fifteen members, sixteen with himself included. We have a total of seven, including myself. We have one pawn, one bishops, one knight, two rooks, one queen, and the king. As is obvious, we have a severe numbers problem."

"We shall overcome that regardless," Rias declared confidently. "Riser has the numbers. He also has the advantage of experience. He's competed in ten Rating Games before. However, we have quality and skill on our side. The victor will be decided on who can most successfully use their advantages. Can Riser use his numbers to grind us down into nothing or will we cut through his wall of bodies to gain the chance to strike at him directly? That is the question that will decide the match. For that reason, I'll be placing an emphasis on strategy during this time."

"You mean we aren't going to be training?" Raynare demanded in bewilderment.

"Of course we will," Rias answered dismissively. Intertwining her fingers and putting her chin on her hands, she explained, "We'll be training very hard. Even harder than we have been in the past. I simply feel that strategy and planning will play a larger part in this battle than what improvements we can make in ten days. This group has been training more diligently since Naruto-kun joined. We've already got the advantage in skill. Now we need to make sure we've also got the advantage in strategy. As I said though, we'll still be training. We need ever bit of help we can get. I'm just going to make it that we spend no less than an hour everyday discussing strategy and technical info about Rating Games."

"Okay. So what exactly will we be learning?" Yuuto questioned curiously.

Rias nodded and walked over to a stand she had set up. She removed a plank board to show she had created a sort of graph. She quickly explained to them, "First some basics on Rating Games. Generally participants are classified into four different categories. Power, technique, wizard, and support."

"Akeno and I are firmly placed as Wizard-types. We use magic in general to fight. Yuuto is a Technique-type. He uses speed and technique in a fight. Asia is a Support-type. That is self-explanatory. Naruto is a Power-type. He overwhelms his opponent with power and ferocity," Rias explained to the group. She then gestured at the graph again. They all looked and saw it was designed where both the x and y axes were divided into four, each one of the designations. She elaborated for the group, "You can go into greater detail by assigning secondary designations. Like Naruto-kun. He is mainly a Power-type, but he is a minor Wizard-type as well. A warrior with access to magic."

"Akeno and I are likely pure Wizard-types at this point, Yuuto is probably a pure Technique-type, and Koneko is a pure Power-type. I already explained Naruto-kun. Raynare-san, you are a Wizard-type, but you are also gradually edging into a minor Technique-type as well. Asia, you are a Support-type, and are rapidly advancing into a Wizard-type too," Rias announced, placing a small picture of each person's face where they fit on the graph. Once they were all set, she looked at the group and asked, "Now tell me what you notice about our group?"

Akeno quickly pitched in, "We have an abundance of Wizard-types."

Rias nodded and replied calmly, "Yes. The only two members of our group that are exclusively physical fighters are Yuuto and Koneko. Naruto-kun seems to prefer close combat, but he had access to longer range attacks. Akeno, Raynare, Asia, and I all rely on ranged combat almost exclusively. Not necessarily bad, but it is important to note. Next?"

Asia raised a hand as she answered timidly, "I'm the only Support-type."

"Exactly, Asia. That is probably our biggest weakness at this point. We are all front-line combatants besides her. Support-types make everyone around them better. This means Asia might very well be the most important member of our group, besides myself. Her healing ability is essential to restoring others back to fighting condition. Asia's survival for at least the first three-quarters of the game is crucial. Afterwards is probably the closing battles, where her abilities will become less useful. That means Asia absolutely needs to be protected till that time. She either needs to stay away from the main battlefield or have a bodyguard."

"So overall we're a combat focused team, with little support capabilities," Naruto summed up their situation bluntly. Leaning forward, he asked seriously, "So what does that mean for us?"

Rias matched his seriousness as she answered, "It means we have to take the offensive against Riser. We need to seize the initiative, pick and choose our battles. Swing the momentum in our favor early. Thankfully this will be easy as Riser seems to prefer a defensive approach. He lets his opponent come to him, and uses his peerage to wear them down. By the time they reach him, they are too exhausted to withstand him."

"So wouldn't going on the offensive be playing right into his hands?" Raynare remarked critically, frowning as she considered the situation.

Sighing, Rias reluctantly admitted, "Yes. That is a risk, but it is still our best chance. We don't have the manpower to defend a base. They'll simply attack to distract us, and slip pawns in through the cracks in our defense. If even one or two of his pawns manage to infiltrate our base and promote, our chance of victory almost completely evaporates. We need to control the flow of the battle or else we let Riser play us as he desires."

Yuuto was thinking hard as he commented, "Offense then. We can think of Riser's peerage as a wall surrounding him. I can only think of two options. We can concentrate on a single portion of the wall. Force our way through and try to finish Riser directly."

"Considering his immortality, that isn't a smart idea. He'd just stall till his other servants arrive to help him. We'd be surrounded," Akeno pointed out. "The better option would be a-"

"A systematic destruction of his entire peerage. We then confront him with whoever remains at the end," Rias finished for her queen.

"Once again, we'll just be playing into his hands. If we remove Asia, then we only have six combatants. Five if we keep Buchou out of harms way. That means we'd each have to take out three opponents before fighting him. Even if we all survived, unlikely, we'd be exhausted. Considering how strong this guy appeared in the clubroom, one big attack would probably remove all of us in such a state," Raynare stated sensibly, troubled by the situation.

"Once again, that is a risk we'll have to take," Rias said with a frown, equally troubled.

"Our chances?" Koneko asked blankly.

"Grayfia stated we'd only have a ten percent chance considering numbers and statistics. She's definitely underestimating us though. Considering everyone here, and our possible improvements in the next ten days, I'd put us at least a 35% of victory. 45% if we develop a good plan and really push ourselves training," Rias informed them all emotionlessly.

"So we can win, but we'll have to bring our A-game," Naruto summarized frankly.

"Basically. As I said before, the winner will probably be who can develop the better game plan. Not to mention execute that game plan," Rias claimed with a nod.

"No worries then," Naruto declared with a confident smirk. When everyone looked at him in surprise, his grin widened as he told them, "I usually like charging straight forward. Exciting that way, _but _I am still a ninja. I can do all the sneaky and strategic stuff. Not to mention I'm the best prankster you'll ever meet. Riser gave us ten days. Hah! I'll only need three. Trust me. I've got this. Riser will rue the day he challenged us."

Naruto's certainty in their victory seemed to encourage everyone else as well. Rias clapped her hands and declared with an equally confident grin, "You heard Naruto-kun. Let's all do our best to show Riser just how powerful we are."

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**There it is. Riser's introduction. Next chapter will be the Rating Game. Some of you wanted me to explain the training period, but I decided not to. I prefer to talk about their training a little bit over larger amounts of time. Sprinkle it in here and there. Not one big training montage.**

**Saji: **_Saji is in the story. So many of you asked for him that I decided, 'what the hell. He's in.' Kind of eliminates why Naruto ended up part of Rias' peerage, but whatever. Issei also made his return in the story. He'll appear again soon after the Rating Game, for a more important role that time._

**Koneko and Senjutsu: **_The conversation finally happened. Not everything has been cleared up, but a good step was taken forward. I've also got the mechanics of senjutsu down for this story. Since the senjutsu of Naruto and High School DxD are somewhat different, I'll explain why when that time arrives. Senjutsu is still a bit down the road though._

**Bedroom Scene: **_Poor Rias. Not how she was hoping that would turn out. Truthfully I wanted to avoid the virginity scene. I feel that scene implies Rias wasn't confident in beating Riser. She's more confident in my story, so I felt there was no need for it. I was just going to exclude it entirely. Then I got that idea. Kind of silly, but I thought it was funny. What you guys think? Too silly? Too funny? :)_

**Alchemy: **_Not going to be relevant for a while. This is one of my threads that will take a while to develop into anything relevant. I also want to state one thing. The vast majority of you guys are wrong with where I'm heading with this._


	8. The Pheonix Blazes

**Here is my update. Just a warning. The Rating Game doesn't finish this chapter. I'm already at 20,000 words, and i still have 7 or eight thousand more left before the game ends. That is too long in my opinion. So here is a good portion of the battle. The next chapter will have the finish of the battle, as well as the party afterwards. Good news though, I've got quite a bit of the rest written. I'm aiming to have it out within a week. So no two or three week wait this time.**

_**Alchemy:** There were quite a bit of questions about this. So just a quick explanation. It is not the alchemy from FMA. Alchemy in this story is the creation and manipulation of magical items. It is mainly a support skill. Not a battle skill._

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It was a different atmosphere than what Naruto expected. He had enough battle experience to be relaxed before a battle, but he hadn't expected everyone else to be so calm. They should be tense. Guess he underestimated them.

The entire Occult Research Club was gathered in the clubroom. It was approximately 11:50 at night. The Rating Game was going to start as soon as midnight arrived. The club had gone to school that day, but had skipped doing anything afterwards. Couldn't risk tiring themselves. Instead everyone had been released to do whatever they wanted to in order to relax. They had just met here twenty minutes before. Everyone was doing their own thing by this point.

Yuuto was checking a demonic blade he had created, looking for any imperfections. Naruto wasn't quite sure why, since he could simply create as many as he wanted. Probably just a swordsman thing, a calming ritual. The knight of their group had also put on some basic light armor pieces over the academy uniform. Mainly gauntlets on his hands and some greaves on his shins. Not enough to slow him down, but enough to possibly offer some vital protection.

Koneko was for once not eating some sweet snack. She was instead reading a book. On her hands were martial art gloves with pink cat prints on them. Otherwise she was wearing the academy uniform.

Rias and Akeno were the two that appeared the calmest. Both were elegantly sipping tea, not showing even a single sign of worry. They were both wearing their academy uniforms.

Raynare looked impatient more than anything. With the knowledge that death was practically impossible in a Rating Game, she seemed to be eagerly looking forward to being to engage in a real battle with no real danger. Raynare had chosen to go in the academy uniform. While not totally satisfied with using it as a battle outfit, she didn't have much choice. Apparently she no longer found her previous battle attire from when she was a fallen angel a good choice. Seems she had regained at least a sense of what was too sensual for proper use in a battle.

Asia was without a doubt the most nervous, but Naruto had managed to calm her down by summoning Kareha. The former nun had greatly bonded with the fairy over the training trip, and the two were talking together now. Asia had surprisingly chosen to wear her nun attire. She wasn't wearing the veil, but the golden cross from Selene was around her neck.

Naruto wasn't nervous, but he was similar to Raynare in being impatient for the game to start. Waiting just sucked, not to mention it was plain boring. He was wearing his workout clothes. Orange sleeveless shirt, white cargo pants, modified shinobi sandals, and a white cloth around his forehead to hold back his hair. He really had to cut it. It was starting to get a bit too long. He was also wearing the orange and white armored gloves Rias had gotten him.

With five minutes to go, the magic circle in the room lit up. Grayfia quickly appeared. Eyes taking in the room quickly, she asked, "Five minutes until the start of the game. Are you all ready?"

Everyone nodded and stood up. Rias was the one to say, "Yes. We are."

Grayfia quickly started to explain, "When the time comes for the battle to begin, you'll be teleported to the battlefield through this magic circle. The battlefield will be in a separate dimension specifically for this battle. It will be disposed of afterwards. So there is no need to hold back."

They all nodded. Rias had prepped them with this information over the training period. There were types of Rating Games that have added rules like 'do not destroy the environment' or things like that, but they didn't have to worry about that this time. Those types of matches are exclusive to official matches. Unofficial matches like this one were kept simple. Complex rules might end up favoring one team or another. Expected in pro matches, but likely to be viewed as unfair in matches between two houses to solve household issues.

"Members of both houses will be watching live from a separate location. A number of invited guests will also be watching. After it is done, the recording shall be made available public," Grayfia informed them blankly, although they all picked up the subtle warning in her words.

This was an unofficial match, so it won't be receiving much attention. It will still be available though. Anyone wanting to research the peerage of the Gremory heiress will end up watching their performance here. If they put on an unsightly or underwhelming performance, it will affect Rias and the entire Gremory Clan's reputation. The reverse was true as well though. Perform well here, and people will take note. Grayfia was a servant of the Gremory Clan, so she wants to emphasize the political consequences this match could have.

"Maou Lucifer-sama will also be viewing this battle. Please do not forget that."

That wasn't new information. As Rias' brother and a former member of the Gremory Clan, it is only natural he watches. It still made the atmosphere a bit more intense for the group. Lucifer wass the leader of the Four Great Satans. The head honcho of all devils, if you will. His opinion could very easily influence their futures as devils, and you know what they say. 'You only get one chance to make a good first impression.'

"You need not worry, Grayfia," Rias declared before claiming confidently, "I shall put on a performance that shall not shame the name of Gremory, nor Onii-sama."

Grayfia kept a tight lid on her emotions, just nodding and announcing, "Good. The match is about to start. Everyone stand on the magic circle. Once you arrive, you shall not be able to teleport by magic circle."

That last point was only natural. It would be ridiculous if pawns could just teleport into the enemy base to promote. So the only methods of travel during a Rating Game is by foot and by flying. Well there are a number of other ways, but those only work under rare circumstances.

Everyone moved quickly. They stood in the circle, trying not to fidget. Finally the circle lit up. It changed into a form neither that of the Gremory or Phenex, likely one used specifically for Rating Games.

They were engulfed in light as the circle activated, teleporting them to the field.

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Nothing changed, besides Grayfia disappearing. It was the exact same clubroom. Nothing out of place. Then-

[Greetings, everybody. I am Grayfia, a maid of the Gremory Clan. I shall be the arbiter of today's Rating Game between the House of Gremory and the House of Phenex. I shall judge this match today fairly in the name of my master, Sirzechs Lucifer.]

So Grayfia is the arbiter, huh.

[After consulting the opinions of both Riser-sama and Rias-sama, we have decided the location of the match to be Kuoh Academy. It is the school that Rias-sama attends in the human world.]

Naruto now understood. This was just a replica. He also let out a satisfied grin at the choice of battleground. Rias had put this as her first choice when asked for her desires. They had discussed and created a number of plans for this battlefield.

Sort of surprising they chose it though. Riser must have said something like, 'I don't care. Just let Rias choose. It won't make any difference.' All these handicaps will almost ruin the satisfaction of defeating him…Almost. It will still be fantastic to show up the arrogant prick.

[Each team have been teleported directly to their base. Rias-sama's base will be the old school building. Riser-sama's base will be the new school building. For a pawn to promote, they must step into the opposing team's base. Otherwise all standard Rating Game rules apply.]

[Now it is time for the commencement of the game. This game shall continue for six hours, unless one team is defeated before that point. With that…Game starts now.]

With Grayfia's voice over the intercom ceasing, the Gremory group moved to Rias' large desk. Rias unrolled a large map as they all gathered around. It was a map of Kuoh Academy, with the landmarks split into a blocky, grid system. A chess board.

"We couldn't have asked for a better battlefield. It is definitely in our favor," Rias exclaimed with a happy grin. Pointing at the map, she continued, "So we'll need to use it to the fullest. Rating Games revolve greatly around the proper use of the battlefield."

Circling the old school building and the new school building with a red pen, Rias quickly started, "These are predictably the two bases. The main divide between the two territories is the outer line of the forest. The forest surrounds the old school building, covering a good portion of the battlefield. This could be considered our half, although the shape isn't like half of a chess board. Surrounding the new school building is a great deal of open space. That can be considered Riser's territory. As soon as we leave the forest, we can expect to start facing opposition. There are three main avenues to go from our territory into Riser's. The school yard, the gymnasium, and the sport's field."

Everyone nodded in understanding. The school yard covered the majority of the school grounds. It was basically open space that the students used to move between different buildings. The gymnasium was connected to the new school building by a covered walkway. The back entrance of the gymnasium was barely twenty meters from the edge of the forest. Finally the sport's field. It was basically the sports area of the school. It composed of a joint track and soccer field, a baseball field, and a tennis court. It leads right next to the new school building, with the other end being right by part of the forest that snakes up towards into the top right corner of the school grounds.

Yuuto pointed to the school yard and pointed out, "The school yard is large and open. Basically no cover, and the windows of the new school building face it. We'd be completely exposed, and they could easily watch it."

Naruto pitched in here by stating, "The sports yard is safer because it is to the side of the new school building. No windows face it."

"Riser will realize that though. He'll position a number of pieces there to guard his flank. A knight's mobility will be better suited for the open space there than the power of a rook. So at least one knight will be there. Two or three other pieces as well. It's a standard, but solid move," Rias mused out loud, looking at the map.

"The final option would be the gymnasium," Akeno announced before elaborating seriously, "It's back entrance is close to the forest line, and it connects directly to the new school building. It is the natural connecting point of our two territories. Riser is sure to send a force there as well. The power of a rook will be better suited for the indoor space. Three or four pawns for support as well."

Everyone once again nodded. They all knew this already. They'd put a lot of time into examining this battlefield during the training trip. They were repeated all this just to get the basics of this field down pat.

"So we all remember the plan, right?" Rias asked the entire group. Once everyone nodded, she looked at each person as she gave orders, "Yuuto and Koneko. Summon your familiars and place magical traps throughout the forest. Keep the objective in mind. Make a map as well. I'll copy it and pass it to everyone so we need not worry about triggering them ourselves. Raynare, you place the barrier around the building. Akeno, summon a mist over the forest. Naruto, make a clone to do you know what. Asia and the real Naruto will stay here for now."

Everyone nodded and moved to follow her orders. Naruto created a clone, which immediately opened the window to jump out. Akeno followed after it. Yuuto, Koneko, and Raynare just used the door to leave conventionally.

The trio that remained took seats on the couches. Naruto then lifted a hand, summoning both Kareha and Chikyu. They both faced him as he asked, "You both know what you need to do, right?"

"Yes!"

"Yeah, yeah."

Those were their respective replies. Naruto nodded and removed his armored gloves. Placing them on the table, Naruto sat back and watched as Chikyu started flying over them in circles. Kareha perched on his shoulder.

Asia followed by summoning Raito. The baby sprite dragon quickly cuddled up to the nun, who returned the affection. Rias just watched calmly, waiting.

_ "I've placed the barrier, Buchou," _Raynare announced a minute later over the magical transceivers they had all placed in their ears.

"Good. You can come back in and wait with us," Rias said in reply. She then asked, "Akeno, progress?"

_ "I've summoned the mist, but it needs to be thicker. Five more minutes," _Akeno explained.

"Got it. Yuuto? Koneko?"

_ "On schedule. Fifteen minutes, probably," _Yuuto answered back.

"Good. Take your time, and make sure there are no noticeable gaps," Rias cautioned.

After that all they did was wait. Raynare entered in a minute, and Akeno five minutes later. They waited till Yuuto and Koneko both arrived, and then waited even further. It wasn't till twenty minutes later that Naruto perked up as memories popped into his head.

He quickly announced, "Everything is in order, and Riser has sent his force to the gymnasium."

Rias nodded with a smile and said to everyone present, "Everything is going according to plan then. We'll wait for our opening move to finish. We'll then move out."

They all nodded and waited.

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"What is she planning?" Sona muttered as she watched the screens in front of her with scrutinizing eyes.

Sona was sitting in the student council room with her queen, Tsubaki. They had been given permission to watch the match live. Sona would be showing this to her peerage afterwards.

She had to admit to being confused right now. Screens had shown both groups planning. Rias had sent several servants to do basic tasks, but they had returned and proceeded to do nothing. Riser had sent a force to guard the sports field, and designated another group to take the gymnasium once Rias' servants entered. They'd sat waiting for over half an hour though. No servants of Rias' entered the gymnasium. Riser had finally ordered the group to take it anyway, not willing to wait for Rias to move.

"It seems Rias-sama has decided to take a defensive and reactionary approach," Tsubaki commented, her eyes watching the screens as intently as Sona was.

Sona just shook her head in response before retorting, "No. Rias doesn't have the manpower to defend her base. She has to go on the offense. She's definitely made the first move. We just haven't noticed yet."

Tsubaki didn't refute her king's thoughts, instead focusing on a blank screen and pointing out, "It must be that clone of Uzumaki-san then. It is the only aspect unaccounted for."

Sona nodded in agreement. It was almost eerie. Those broadcasting the match use magic to survey every participant at every point so that spectators can watch everything. This is accomplished by marking them with a magical signal when teleporting them to the battlefield. The clone of Naruto seemed to lack this signal, as it was just a copy. This meant they couldn't watch what the clone was doing.

It definitely put a different flavor into this match. Spectators are used to being able to see everything that is going on. To have something hidden from even them is a unique experience. It was keeping them guessing.

Now they just have to wait.

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The Naruto clone grinned as he watched the small group through the windows. He recognized them as a rook and three pawns. Not as much as they hoped, but still an acceptable catch. They were walking through the covered walkway towards the gymnasium. It took them an annoying amount of time to move on their own. They were obviously waiting for Rias to make a similar move.

Please. The clone was easily able to sneak into the gymnasium without being seen. He is a ninja. The Transparent Escape Technique made it too easy. He then snuck out as well. Right now he was perched in a tree nearby.

He had accomplished his task, and now he just needed to pull the trigger.

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_ "In almost every battlefield used for Rating Games, there is a center point. A point where the two halves of the field meet. Just like the center of the chess match. And just like in chess, the one who controls the center of the chess board has the advantage in positioning. They are able to cross into enemy territory easier by using this route. It is typically the area where the two sides first clash," Rias explained to the group._

_ "Because it is essential?" Naruto asked with a tilted head._

_ "It isn't essential. It is very useful to hold though, so both sides almost always make a play for it," Rias answered._

_ "If it isn't essential, then how about we use it for a different purpose then positioning," Naruto suggested with a grin. Leaning forward, he clarified, "The first thing we need to focus on is minimizing Riser's numbers advantage. We need to take some of them out. If Riser is almost certain to make a play for the center of the board, I say we use that."_

_ "You mean use it as bait for a trap," Rias said knowingly._

_ "You guessed?" Naruto asked while blinking in surprise._

_ "That was a tactic I was similarly contemplating. We send a small force to distract the force sent by Riser. We can then have Akeno charge up an attack to finish them after our members retreat," Rias explained thoughtfully._

_ "No, that doesn't work," Naruto immediately claimed. Rias gave him a surprised look, so he explained, "That would be too taxing on our own members. The real issues with their numbers is that it will be tiring to fight them all. Your plan would involved several of us fighting them for a brief time, and then Akeno using a large attack. That would take away some of our stamina. We can't have that. Every little bit counts. We need to deal them casualties without tiring ourselves out."_

_ "That sounds nice, but it isn't applicable. They won't go down without a fight. An attack to finish them in one shot would require time, and they would sense the large buildup of demonic power. That would only work if we distracted them with a fight," Rias argued._

_ Naruto just smirked as he asked, "And what if I told you I could make a trap that happens with no warning, and would require almost no energy."_

_ Rias gave him a cautious look, but eventually matched his smirk as she replied, "I'd say I'm listening."_

_ Leaning forward, Naruto announced, "You remember me telling you about fuinjutsu-"_

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As soon as the group entered the main gymnasium, the clone put his hands together in a hand seal. He then declared with a victorious grin, "Boom, baby!"

And like that, the gymnasium exploded.

The clone was buffeted by the shockwaves, but didn't lose his smile. It just waited calmly until-

[Riser-sama's rook and three pawns, retired.]

The clone gave a victory fist pump. It was a tiny bit worried it hadn't placed enough explosive tags. That gym was big. A lot of open space for the explosion to diffuse. The rook especially could potentially survive if the explosion wasn't large enough.

So it had gone very heavy on the explosive tags. It had used almost the entire supply the original had managed to make during the training trip. It was a shame that there weren't enough leftovers for a second such trap, but it was an acceptable loss. A tactic was never as effective the second time. The surprise was gone now. The chance of a second such trap working was low.

So they'd have to accept Riser losing four pieces with no loss on their side.

Its duty completed, the clone poofed away.

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"What just happened?" Tsubaki demanded as she straightened.

"Rias' first move," Sona answered calmly. Or at least the appearance of calm. Her mind was also racing from the inexplicable destruction of the gymnasium.

It wasn't that the gym was destroyed that was shocking. Any Wizard-type of Rias or Akeno's level could manage such a feat given enough time to build up the amount of demonic power necessary. That's just it though. There wasn't any buildup of power here. There was no sign of a large spell being used. It was just…boom.

Only an ultimate-class devil could use such a powerful spell so quickly. Even a high class devil would need time to gather enough power. There are no devils of that strength among Rias' peerage though. That leaves only…

"It seems Uzumaki-san is at work," Sona commented seriously. She quickly continued, "Many of his pranks have been similarly mysterious and incomprehensible. His skill set is still unknown for the most part."

Tsubaki nodded in understanding. Looking back at the screen of the smoking gymnasium, she remarked seriously, "This was a very good move for Rias-sama, but this mean Riser-sama will-"

"Riser will have to get serious now," Sona finished. Sitting back, she stated grimly, "Riser must be similarly confused by this event. He'll definitely warn his remaining peerage to look for traps. It's unlikely anymore of them will be caught unawares like that. Riser was and probably still is confident in his victory, but he's no fool. He now knows Rias has some tricks up her sleeve."

"Let's see just how many tricks she has," Tsuabki suggested calmly.

"I agree. This match has already gotten more interesting," Sona claimed with a small smile.

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Every member of the Occult Club heard the explosion. They all stood up and started getting ready. They only paused briefly when-

[Riser-sama's rook and three pawns, retired.]

Rias gave a satisfied smile as she announced, "Step one is a success. Moving on to step two."

Naruto nodded and unsealed two scrolls. He then unrolled them on the table, showing they were filled to the brim with complicated fuinjutsu. Placing a hand on each, he released a pulse of chakra into the seals. The writing on the scrolls immediately responded, crawling onto his skin. After five seconds, his hands were covered in the symbols.

Pulling his hands back with a smile, Naruto turned to Chikyu and asked, "You done with those gauntlets?"

"Yeah. They should hold for…maybe two hours," Chikyu replied.

"Good enough," Naruto claimed with a shrug. Grabbing the armored gloves, he slipped them on to hide the seals on his hands. With them on, he turned to Chikyu and ordered, "Now make sure to follow Akeno-senpai discreetly. Don't let the enemy see you until your objective is about to be used."

"I know, I know," Chikyu replied flippantly, moving to rest on Akeno's shoulder.

Naruto then looked at Kareha and said, "You stay with Asia, Kareha-chan."

Kareha just nodded and flew over to Asia. Asia welcomed the fairy before looking at the dragon in her arms and saying, "Raito-kun, stay with Buchou-san." The dragon reluctantly followed the order.

Rias then clapped her hands and announced, "Alright. Naruto-kun, you move out first. Akeno, you go as well. I shall work on Raynare, and then the rest of will head out as well."

Naruto nodded and jumped out the window. Landing in a tree, he quickly started tree hopping. His speed was great enough that he reached the edge of the sports field within minutes. He jumped into open without a hint of fear. He didn't move further. There were no doubt several of Riser's servants hiding around here. Didn't want them reveal themselves prematurely.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto then yelled out loud enough for Riser to no doubt hear him, "Yo, Yakitori-teme! I'm out in the sport's field. I told you I'm going to fry your ass up to serve yakitori at our victory party, didn't I? Well, I'm here to deliver. I'm going to burn your chicken ass to serve roast phoenix. I know your ass is too chicken to come out here directly though, so send out whoever you want. I'll take out your whole peerage if I have to, but I'll eventually reach you. I'll then turn you into yakitori. So bring it!"

The silence that followed seemed to convey the disbelief Riser's entire peerage was no doubt feeling. For Naruto to insult a high-class devil so openly is brazen to the point it can almost be considered insane. It's…stupid.

Naruto didn't care though. He made his intentions known, and now he just needed to wait for their reaction. Sitting on the ground, Naruto got comfortable to wait for a while. His head turned slightly as he saw a figure flying across the school yard. Akeno.

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Akeno gave a smile as she approached the new school building. They hadn't tried to attack yet, so they obviously weren't sure how to take the bold move. Flying across the open school yard was completely audacious. Not to mention foolish.

Coming to a stop, Akeno's hand started sparking. She then called out, "Oh, Bomb Queen-" She then threw her hand forward, launching a bolt of lightning into one of the windows. The empty room exploded from the attack. "Come on out. I really want to play."

Her smile turning sadistic, Akeno fully entered her S-mode. She then sent another attack to blow up another classroom, laughing gleefully at the destruction.

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_ "I'm not so sure about that, Naruto-kun?" Rias claimed in a worried tone before continuing, "The queen is the most powerful piece. Tying them up in a difficult battle at the beginning is a waste. I was hoping to use Akeno to take care of a few of their pieces first?"_

_ "Think about it, Rias. All the footage we've watched of Riser's Rating Games shows he relies on her heavily. She's an opportunistic striker. Any unaware and open opponent is attacked. She's too much of a powerful opponent to let wander around like that. As it is only you, Akeno, and I stand a chance of defeating her. That means if she runs into anyone else, that person could quickly be eliminated," Naruto argued._

_ "He has a point," Yuuto admitted before elaborating, "You want Akeno to take out some of Riser's pieces first, but Riser will have the same opportunity if you do that. The Bomb Queen might take out one or two of us."_

_ "And losing one or two people will hurt us much more than it does Riser," Raynare added._

_ "…I agree with them, Buchou," Akeno suddenly declared._

_ "You too, Akeno?" Rias asked._

_ "Ufufufu. They make sense, Buchou. Riser relies on her heavily. If we tie her up early, it could mess with his overall strategy," Akeno pointed out calmly._

_ "…Fine," Rias said in defeat._

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Akeno let off three more attacks before the last one was nullified by an explosion. Akeno's smile widened as she turned to see her opponent flying from the roof of the new school building. Seems she finally answered.

Yubelluna, the Bomb Queen. She was a beautiful woman with purple hair and eyes. She was wearing a purple gown that exposed a great deal of her bountiful cleavage. Over that was a white cape-like garment. In her hand she was holding a fancy staff.

"You are bold, Priestess of Thunder," Yubelluna remarked as she approached Akeno. She then added more harshly, "Too bold."

"Ufufufu, I'm so sorry. I was just so excited to have a battle with you," Akeno claimed. She then let out a shiver as she added lustfully, "I'm shivering just from the thought of hearing your pained cries."

Yubelluna remained calm despite the comment, instead saying with a smile, "I admit I was hoping to fight you as well, Priestess of Thunder."

"Then we're both happy," Akeno said as sparks started flying off her arms. Launching an attack, she called out, "Let's see who is happy at the end."

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"Unusual tactics," Tsubaki commented with a frown. "A direct challenge in an open area, and a clash of queens."

"The battle of queens is a good idea for Rias. Tying up the more powerful opponents to focus on the weaker ones first is a risky, but potentially rewarding tactic," Sona noted slowly. Looking at the screen where Naruto was sitting down…while eating a snack, she added, "Uzumaki-san calling out Riser must be a trap. There's no other explanation."

"Riser won't walk into such an obvious setup," Tsubaki muttered.

"He has no choice," Sona claimed before explaining, "Naruto insulted him and challenged him directly. Riser's pride and overall reputation demands that he answer in some form."

"So instead he has to try and react in a way with the least chance of damaging his peerage," Tsubaki remarked.

"Yes, that is the only option," Sona admitted. After several moments of thought, Sona muttered softly, "A two pronged attack. With the destruction of the gymnasium, there are only two avenues to reaching the new school building. Through the school yard, and through the sports field. The two queens are battling over the school yard, and Uzumaki-san is planning to battle right in the middle of the sports yard. The two ways are blocked by battles this way. What is the point? And where is the rest of Rias' peerage?"

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"Finally," Naruto grunted out as he saw three figures walking onto the field from the trees closer to the new school building. He stood up and started approaching them. He also took a bite from his snack…He had gotten hungry waiting.

He quickly observed the three as they approached. The one walking in front Naruto recognized as a knight. She had brown hair that was partially obscured by the bandages she wrapped around her head, and green eyes. Her main feature was the armor she was wearing. It was light armor, but still more than what Yuuto had put on for the battle. She had a longsword on her left hip, and a shortsword behind her hip.

The next one to draw Naruto's attention was the one he recognized as a rook. She had short brown hair with several red streaks in it. Her left eye was gray, but her right eye and part of her face was covered by a silver mask. Her outfit was a black jacket that left her midsection exposed, and jeans with one leg cut off. The jacket was open in front, displaying part of her large breasts.

The final one was Riser's other knight. She was a wild looking woman with her dark blue hair in multiple thin ponytails. She was wearing a tight shirt that had a diamond cut out to reveal her cleavage, and she was wearing tight red shorts. Her shins were covered by armor greaves. On her back was a very large sword.

Two knights and a rook. An expected response. They know this is a trap. So they sent a very strong group. Plus, if it was another explosive trap these three would have a decent enough chance to escape. The two knights by using their speeds to run, and the rook to endure it with her defense.

Too bad it is a different kind of trap this time.

"Yo. So you guys finally worked up the courage to come here," Naruto said flippantly, still eating his snack.

"We have come to answer your challenge to Riser-sama," the rook declared. However any other words were cut off when she saw what Naruto was eating. She then choked out, "A-Are you e-eating…yakitori?"

"Yeah. Well, you guys kept me waiting so long I got hungry," Naruto replied casually. Taking another bite, he moaned in exaggerated happiness. Holding one of the sticks of yakitori out, he continued, "You guys want some? It's really good. Unfortunately, I don't have enough for everyone. That's not an issue though, as I'll be barbequing Riser's ass in a little bit. So eat as much as you want."

"Are you serious?! Are you trying to insult Riser-sama?" the knight in front demanded in an affronted voice.

Naruto just stared at her with blank eyes for several moments, the two with her looking at her in the same way.

"I didn't realize I was being subtle about it," Naruto commented frankly. Shrugging, he added, "Well I hate to be unclear. I'm an upfront kind of guy, you know. So I guess I can kick it up three or four notches. Just to make it completely clear," He then took a deep breath, no doubt to yell even more insulting things at Riser.

He was cut off by the rook, who declared as she swiped her hands through the air, "Enough with this nonsense. This is a battle."

"I guess you're right," Naruto admitted reluctantly although he muttered, "I was really looking forward to some of the insults I had cooking up here. Too bad. Maybe another time."

His eyes suddenly turning serious, Naruto unsealed four kunai from his wrists. The three opposite him tensed. Naruto didn't go at them though. Instead he lobbed two of the kunai over their heads. The two kunai flew in a arc before sticking into the ground behind them quite a distance from each other. Naruto then threw the last two behind him. Someone looking from above would notice the kunai had fallen in a way to form a square.

"Ninpou: Four Pronged Sealed Barrier," Naruto called out as he made a hand seal. The four fuinjutsu tags that had been tied to the ends of the kunai lit up. Four orange walls immediately sprang up between the kunai, forming a square boxing the group in.

"It's a trap," the more naïve knight exclaimed in shock.

"No kidding," Naruto remarked sarcastically. He then shrugged as he said, "At least this one doesn't explode. You are just locked in here with yours truly. This barrier won't fall until I'm defeated." Naruto desperately hoped they didn't notice the barrier didn't have a roof. They could just fly out, not that Naruto would just allow them to do that.

"This appears to be a situation that favors us more than you," the rook pointed out calmly.

Naruto just gave a mischievous grin as he replied easily, "You'd think that, wouldn't you."

The rook frowned at his relaxed response, but couldn't comment before the naïve knight drew her sword and declared, "Alright then. I usually prefer one on one combat, but I seem to have little choice. At least we shall engage in honorable, direct combat here. No tricks. I am Karlamine, knight of Riser Phenex. And you, rook of Rias Gremory?"

Taken aback a bit by the proper and honorable manner of the knight. So she's one of those knights that actually considers herself a knight. Code of Honor and all that.

Shrugging, Naruto gave a bow towards her as he returned, "My name is Uzumaki Naruto. Pleased to meet you, Karlamine-san."

Nodding happily, she remarked, "Good. At least you know how to behave honorably, Uzumaki-dono."

The rook sighed but added in, "My name is Isabella."

Naruto looked at the final knight, waiting for her to do an introduction. All she did was give him a harsh glare. Seems she wasn't going to be forthcoming.

Karlamine quickly pitched in by claiming, "Her name is Siris." That earned her a glare from the woman, but Karlamine ignored it.

"I actually like you, Karlamine-san," Naruto stated with a smile. "So I'll give you a little warning. I'd say…four minutes. If you can't finish me in four minutes, you'll all lose."

"I see. I do not completely understand, but I shall take heed of your generous warning all the same," Karlamine claimed, giving a serious nod.

"Four minutes. That sounds like a boast, but even if you are serious. We have you outnumbered. Do you believe you can last four minutes against us?" Isabella asked as she got into a basic martial art stance.

"Mmmm. Two knights and a rook. Limited space. It would certainly be a challenge," Naruto mused aloud, not even getting into a ready stance.

Grinning in satisfaction at his words, Isabella took that as her cue to dash forward. Karlamine and Siris quickly followed. Isabella came at Naruto straight on, leading the way. Both Karlamine and Siris circled around to flank him the same time as Isabella hit him from the front.

Naruto gave a fierce grin, not caught off guard by the assault at all. Quickly crossing his fingers, he created two shadow clones quickly. The two clones shot off from his sides, clashing with the surprised knights coming at his flanks. The actual Naruto shot forward to meet with Isabella. The enemy rook reared a hand back before shooting it forward in a powerful punch. Naruto waited till the last moment before twisting out of the way. Jumping in the air, his body turned horizontal. The punch missed his arm by inches.

"Got you," Naruto yelled. As he spun in the air, he held his right arm out. Energy coalesced in his palm, forming a swirling maelstrom of power. Once the spinning ball was fully formed, he thrust his arm forward. Combined with the rotation of his spin, the ball of energy connected with Isabella's back before she could hope to dodge. He then declared victoriously, "Rasengan!"

It all happened in a second. Isabella's attack, Naruto's close dodge, and Naruto's counterattack. Not even a second after it started, Isabella was slammed into the ground with horrific force. Not to mention the grinding sphere of energy digging into her back. The impact was enough to throw dust into the air, obscuring her form.

Landing on his feet, Naruto straightened with a satisfied grin on his face. He turned towards where Siris and Karlamine were facing off with his clones. Just as-

[Riser-sama's rook, retired.]

Karlamine immediately exclaimed with shock, "I-Isabella was…"

The shock was understandable. Rooks were meant to be the tanks on the battlefield. They were meant to take punishment and keep going. Their durability made them one of the most troublesome pieces. For a rook to be defeated in one shot completely contradicts their purpose. It just wasn't meant to happen.

Too bad Isabella was facing the wrong person. The main aspect of Naruto's training during the past ten days revolved around increasing his chakra reserves. He'd exhaust his chakra doing the tree walking or water walking exercises. When he ran out, he'd meditate to regenerate chakra while Kareha would use her dust to restore a bit as well. Or Rias would share her energy with him. He'd then do it over again. Rinse and repeat all day everyday.

This method had forced Naruto's chakra coils to expand at a rapid rate. It was actually painful how much they were forced to grow. For seven days they'd done this. Naruto then took a day to rest his chakra coils. It was also during that day of rest that Naruto created the explosive tags used to destroy the gymnasium, along with a few other seals. The final day of training revolved around Naruto redoing the steps to learning the Rasengan. He wanted his finishing move back, damn it!

It had certainly paid off here.

Naruto snapped his fingers, and his clones poofed away. He then looked at the two knights as he claimed, "I can however use my unique techniques and the element of surprise to take out one of you before the battle even begins. Stalling two knights for four minutes…now that is something I can do."

The two knights got into stances, and Naruto grinned as he prepared for the fight.

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"These traps are getting annoying," one of Raiser's pawns grumbled as a block of demonic power shot from her hand to destroy the ninth trap in the last two minutes.

There were three pawns in the group. Two of them were dressed in maid outfits, while the third was dressed in what appeared to be a dancer's outfit. They were the infiltration group. While the rest of their master's peerage played defensively and occupied their opponent's attention, they were to sneak behind their lines, reach the enemy base, and promote.

"No kidding. These are the kind of traps you expect from beginners. Do they seriously expect traps like these to protect them," the dancer commented derisively.

"The fog is getting thicker though," one of the maids pointed out cautiously.

"You need not worry. The fog isn't for you," a new voice called out.

The three tensed in response. The voice was from nearby, but the fog prevented them from seeing the speaker. After no attack came, they relaxed slightly. The dancer motioned for the other two to follow her. The three then slowly walked deeper into the clearing, wary of any surprise attacks. The fog lessened as they moved, allowing them to see better.

They had reached the enemy base. The white old school building was looming up before them. If they stepped foot in there, they could promote.

Only there was an obstacle. Certainly not someone they expected. That crimson hair made it obvious though. The person in front of them was the Gremory heiress, the enemy king.

Seeing their shock, Rias waved at them with a smile as she claimed, "Good to see you finally arrived. The traps were created to lead you straight here."

The three tensed at that, their eyes looking around for any signs of traps being present here. They found nothing. Relaxing slightly, they looked at Rias critically.

Stepping forward, the dancer asked with a raised eyebrow, "Seems pretty stupid. It doesn't appear as if any of your peerage is here. This is an opportunity for us to eliminate you."

Rias just gave a confident smile as she replied casually, "You act as if three pawns are enough to defeat me."

That caused the three to frown. Especially because it was true. She was a high-class devil. To defeat her, they have to promote.

"Plus, I'm not alone."

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_ "Riser usually sends a small infiltration team of pawns. It serves two purposes. The first is obvious. If this team does successfully reach our base, they can promote. However, it also forces us to leave several of our members behind to guard our base. That will lower our offensive capability," Rias explained after they finished watching yet another of Riser's previous Rating Games._

_ "These three pawns seems to be his preference for that role. They seem to rely heavily on promotion. They lack much ability otherwise. As long as we can force them into a direct battle before they promote, myself, Koneko, or Raynare-san could probably take them out," Yuuto reasoned._

_ "That's what I was thinking," Rias claimed before continuing, "I think Yuuto would be the best option. His speed would allow him to finish them quickly, and then allow him to move to the frontlines quickly. We use traps to lure them to an area of our choice, and trap them in a barrier with Yuuto."_

_ "We need Yuuto at the frontlines," Naruto immediately argued. "We're basically doing a blitz. We put them on their back foot with my explosive note trap, and then don't give them time to regain any momentum. That means we need everyone we can get when we start the assault. If we want to eliminate Riser's entire peerage before facing him, we need Yuuto with us. Otherwise we don't have the manpower to prevent them from retreating to reinforce Riser later."_

_ "So you suggest letting these pawns promote just so we can take out every other enemy? That totally shortsighted," Raynare stated scathingly._

_ "That isn't what I mean," Naruto claimed while rolling his eyes._

_ "Then what is it you mean, Naruto-kun? We need someone to defeat the infiltration group," Rias asked with a small frown, not understanding what he is working towards._

_ "Yeah, we need someone to take care of them. It is convenient then that we will have someone with high power basically sitting in our base, right?" Naruto pointed out with a grin._

_ It took a second for Rias to catch on. Eyes widening, she asked in shock, "You mean me? You want me to take care of the infiltration team?"_

_ "Why not?" Naruto replied with a shrug before explaining, "You were going to be in the base anyways. How about we have the traps lead to the base? We can have someone place a barrier over the base itself, and you can meet them in front. You are plenty strong enough to handle them. This way they are taken out, and everyone else can be used on the frontlines. To me it seems the best option."_

_ "Rias is the king though," Akeno quickly pitched in before clarifying, "Kings aren't suppose to move. It is meant to be a battle of servants. Kings usually only move after most of their peerage have been defeated. That's one reason Riser uses his peerage to wear down opponents before engaging himself. To move before most of his servants have been defeated would be considered reckless and premature. Sometimes there are battles between kings, but that is rare. The idea of a king battling three pawns when she still has servants available is…weird. It would be demeaning her position as a king and high-class devil. To do so would lower Rias' estimation as a king in the eyes of many top devils."_

_ Naruto thought about that for a minute before declaring bluntly, "Sounds stupid to me. Rias-chan is plenty strong herself. I don't see why she would need to hide behind her servants. I guess I'm not in the best position to understand though."_

_ Turning to Rias, Naruto told her seriously, "It is up to you, Rias-chan. I still think that you defeating the three would be the best strategic option. I'm not clear with all this political stuff though. I'm sure you are. So it's up to you. We could have Yuuto do it instead, but that could very well mess up the timing with the next step. You are the king. Your decision."_

_ Rias leaned back in her chair with a sigh. Using each hand to massage her temples, she considered the options. Naruto was right. Rias taking care of the infiltration team is the best option strategically, since she'd be sitting in the base doing nothing anyways. She really hadn't even considered that option before though. Akeno was right in stating that it is expected for most kings to hang back. There are a number of rare kings who lead from the front, but those are typically the rare reincarnated devils who gained the rank necessary to create their own peerages. Kings like Rias, who received that right by birth and bloodline, are judged by the ability of their servants. She had been planning on challenging Riser directly, but that is a whole different issue. Battles between kings are rare, but generally accepted. For Rias to participate in the battles between servants would almost be considered slumming. Which to choose? The option most likely to lead to her victory or the one that would preserve her reputation?_

_ With a groan, she announced, "I'll take them out. We need to focus on winning this battle above all else. I can repair any damage to my reputation in future Rating Games."_

_ Naruto grinned at the choice and exclaimed, "Great. So now we just need to decide who is going to set up the barrier around school."_

_ "Plus, I think I have a way for Rias-chan to not face the pawns alone."_

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The three pawns had no warning before the dancer let out a cry of pain, electricity running through her body. The two other pawns looked towards her in concern, but didn't have time to help her. Rias had acted as soon as her opponent's had been distracted. Throwing a hand forward, she launched a large ball of her Power of Destruction at the trio. With not enough time to rescue their compatriot, the two maids were forced to jump away from the incoming attack.

Which left the poor paralyzed dancer helpless before it. The large red ball of demonic power collided with her. She didn't even have enough time to scream or even fall to the ground before she disappeared in light particles. The Power of Destruction lived up to its name by forcing her to retire so quickly.

[Riser-sama's pawn, retired.]

"Shuriya!"

"What happened?"

Rias ignored the two shocked maids and called out, "Good job, Raito-kun. Perfect timing."

The baby sprite dragon flew out from a tree that had been positioned behind the three pawns. Flying over to Rias, he perched on her shoulder. He then let out a high pitched 'roar' of victory.

"A dragon?!" one of the maids exclaimed in shock.

"Yep," Rias replied easily. Rubbing Raito's head, she continued, "Raito-kun is still too young to take you out himself, but he is some very good support. By positioning him beforehand and distracting you myself, I gave him a perfect chance to stun one of you."

Naruto had suggested using Raito as a bit of support. Raito doesn't have the speed or power to fight a devil by himself yet, but that doesn't mean he isn't useful. As long as Rias guards him, he can provide some support fire. His lightning is strong enough to stun a typical low-class devil. More than enough time for Rias to finish them off.

The use of familiars is restricted in Rating Games, especially powerful familiars. It is only natural when one thinks about it. Rating Games are meant to be a battle between servants. If servants have the option to sit back and instead send powerful familiars to fight for them, it will become a battle between familiars.

It is for this reason that mainly only handy familiars are used in Rating Games. Once Raito is fully grown, it will be exceedingly difficult to have him participate in a match. Not to say it is impossible, but there would be restrictions that make it more difficult. Since he is currently still a baby though, there aren't any restriction. Now it is just a matter of finding ways to appropriately put him to use.

Besides the support Raito can provide Rias, there is another benefit to using him now. Dragons have always been respected and feared. Having Raito participate in this match is a way of announcing that Rias or one of her servants managed to turn a dragon into her familiar. That is a powerful statement. Hopefully most of the devils watching will be impressed enough to overlook her fighting these pawns.

Rias launched another blast of her Power of Destruction at one of the remaining pawns, Raito shooting lightning at the other. Both the pawns managed to narrowly avoid the attacks. It was close though.

"Crap! Marion, we need to promote!"

"I know."

The two immediately set off running as fast as they could, frequently dodging attacks. Circling around Rias, they were clearly trying to bypass her to reach the old school building. Once they step inside, they could promote. As pawns they were hopelessly outmatched, but as queens they might stand a chance.

Rias didn't seem worried by their idea though, and it quickly became clear why. A good ten meters from the old school building, a purple barrier sprung up to halt them. The barrier Rias had Raynare set.

"Marion, you take the barrier down. I'll buy you time," one of the maids claimed as she turned to face Rias. Holding her hands out, multiple red magic circled formed in front of her. They formed a clear shield between Rias and the two of them.

Rias still didn't seem worried though. She just watched calmly. The pawn thought it was insane, but then her companion behind her whispered, "T-This is…"

"What is it?" she barked back harshly.

"This isn't a demonic barrier."

Rias just smiled at their shock, commenting casually, "Riser and you all have a great deal more experience than my group, considering your experience in Rating Games. We realized something though. That only applies to experience dealing with devils. Riser hates the human world. So you all have likely never fought a fallen angel. My group is a whole different story. I even have a former fallen angel in my peerage. I decided to use that to my advantage. I had Raynare put that barrier up to protect our base. Considering your lack of experience dealing with the fallen angel system of magic and spells, it will take quite a long time for you to bring it down. More than enough time for me to deal with you."

Growling, the two pawns realized promotion was out of the picture. They would need time to break down a fallen angel type barrier. Something the enemy king obviously wouldn't be giving them. There was no choice but to fight Rias.

"Don't underestimate us," the two yelled out in unison. Moving to stand side by side, magic circles formed in front of them as they called upon what demonic power they had available. They then launched it as a wave in unison towards Rias.

Rias responded by firing a wave of her own demonic power. Her attack easily managed to negate their combined attack. It even continued on, heading towards them. They didn't stay still to take it. Moving in perfect unison, they split up by jumping to each side. They then circled around Rias before each darting in towards Rias. They were going to flank Rias from each side. Their hands started glowing as they focused their demonic power.

"Naïve," Rias declared, putting a hand to each side. In an instant, she managed to shoot a blast of destructive power from each hand. The pawns tried to dodge, but their current momentum and Rias' fast action made it impossible. Both took direct shots of Rias' Power of Destruction.

Just like their compatriot, they didn't even have time to scream or hit the ground before they disappeared into light.

[Riser-sama's two pawns, retired.]

Rias smiled in satisfaction at her victory. The level of those three made her victory certain, but it was still nice. It was even easier than expected.

Turning to Raito, she said, "Good job, Raito-kun. Your job is done. You can leave now."

Raito gave a little nod before disappearing in a magic circle. With the base now secure, it was time for Rias to perform her next task. Rias quickly dug in her pocket. She pulled out a slip of paper which was inscribed with seals.

She needed to hurry. She needed to find her target quickly.

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Currently a group of four was watching from the tree line as Naruto trapped his three opponents in his seal barrier. "It appears we were correct on this being a trap."

"Yes, Ravel-sama. Not that there was much doubt. Such a bold challenge would only be made as bait for a trap," another replied stoically.

The first speaker was a small girl with dark blue eyes and long blonde hair done up in large, drill-like curls. She was wearing a pink dress with white frills that looked like something a princess would wear. She was Ravel Phenex, the younger sister of Riser.

The second was a girl of average height. She truly fit the bill of a Yamato Nadeshiko with her traditional Japanese looks. She was even wearing a fancy kimono. She was a bishop.

The two behind them were twins, although their color schemes seemed reversed. One had blue hair and red eyes, while the other had red hair and blue eyes. Both were wearing modified schoolgirl outfits. The main modification being the tops, which only covered their shoulders down to their nipples. Their stomachs and under part of their breasts were bare. The two also had leopard or cat ears on their heads. Both were pawns.

The bishop quickly suggested, "I'm sure I can bring the barrier down if I attack from the outside. All barriers have a certain level of power they can take. If I surpass it, it should come down."

"No need to put in that much effort," Ravel claimed calmly. Pointing with a hand, she added, "I saw those tags tied to the end of those knives light up when he erected the barrier. They must be some sort of catalyst or stabilizing component of the barrier. They are vulnerable from the outside. We just need to remove them, and I'm sure the barrier will come down."

"Of course, Ravel-sama. We can then reinforce those three to defeat this uncouth rook quickly," the bishop stated.

"Yes. He'll stand no chance after that. We'll show him the folly of insulting Onii-sama and the House of Phenex," Ravel announced, obviously not pleased with said insults.

From behind the two, Ni and Ri waiting patiently. They were simple soldier types. They didn't bother trying to participate in the strategy discussion. They let others handle that, and just followed orders.

It was their lack of participation that made them the first to realize something was wrong. A simple direction change of the breeze brought a new scent to their noses. They _were _beast girls, after all. They have much more sensitive noses than the average person. So they quickly detected the traces of cat and…sugar on the breeze.

Acting by instinct, both tried to turn and dart away. They were just a second too late though. They both found a small, but strong hand latched on to each of their heads. They were helpless then as their heads were brought together with dreadful force. Their heads gave a crack as they connected. The impact was enough to crack their skulls, knocking them unconscious in the process.

The crack of the two heads colliding was what alerted the other two. Both spun around to see Ni and Ri fall limply to the ground. They also saw the culprit. The small form of Koneko was standing between the two.

[Riser-sama's two pawns, retired.]

The bishop immediately raised a hand, wind swirling around her hand. Before she could launch the attack though, Ravel sensed something. She sensed someone appear ten meters from them, as if from air. They weren't there, and then they were. No warning or previous sign. She also sensed the person heading straight for the bishop.

Yuuto appeared at the bishop's flank. His sword already in the middle of a stroke that would cut open her side. The bishop had no chance to dodge.

Ravel managed to interfere in time though. Jumping forward, she managed to shove the bishop out of the way. Instead of carving into the bishop, Yuuto's sword sliced through a good half of Ravel's waist.

And Ravel didn't even blink. As soon as the cut appeared, flames started licking at it. The unique regeneration of the Phenex Clan made the cut irrelevant, healing it entirely within three seconds.

The bishop was briefly left exposed after the surprise shove of Ravel. An opening Koneko attempted to take advantage of. It was Ravel's quick action that once again saved the bishop. Throwing both her hands out, one for each opponent, two separate streams of fire were launched. Yuuto jumped out of the way, but Koneko tried to dodge in a way that didn't put her off course with the bishop. Leaning out of the way, the rook flinched as she felt the intense heat of the flames burn her right shoulder. Stumbling slightly, she tried to press on and land a punch on the bishop. That stumble proved all the difference though. The bishop had recovered. Wind swirling around her fist, she launched it at Koneko when the small rook was just feet away. Koneko couldn't dodge out of the way in time, and took the magical attack straight to the chest. It had enough power to send her flying. It was only after Koneko collided with a tree that her impromptu flight ended. Cracking it in half, Koneko ended up going down with it as it fell to the ground.

"Koneko-chan," Yuuto called out urgently. Making sure to watch his opponents, Yuuto moved towards the wreckage resulting from Koneko's crash. After searching helplessly for several seconds, he spotted some of the debris being lifted. He looked in relief as Koneko stood up. He quickly asked, "Are you okay, Koneko-chan?"

Koneko nodded, but Yuuto easily caught her flinch. Her uniform near her right shoulder was burned off completely. The skin also had a burn on it. Noticing another flinch, Yuuto also realized she probably had bruised or cracked ribs. Koneko just took a magical blast from close range to the chest. Even a rook can't shrug something like that off.

"I underestimated your group. You realized we would have a backup squad for the group that went to confront the crass blonde, and prepared an ambush for us. I'm impressed," Ravel stated calmly, seemingly unruffled by the failed ambush. "I am curious on how you snuck up on us though. Your demonic power was perfectly hidden right up until you attacked."

Yuuto gave a polite smile as he replied, "Sorry, but we aren't quite ready to give up that secret quite yet."

"Disappointing, but it doesn't matter," Ravel claimed with a small sigh.

Yuuto's mind was already racing. This was not the plan. Koneko managed to remove the two pawns, but Yuuto failed to eliminate the bishop. That seriously complicated things. They had been aiming to take out everyone in this group besides Ravel before they even had a chance to recover and mount a defense. This was suppose to be an ambush, not an all out fight. Yuuto had failed to defeat the bishop though, and Koneko has already sustained an injury. Things had very quickly taken a turn for the worst.

They needed to eliminate that bishop.

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_ "Okay. Naruto-kun's challenge should draw most of Riser's attention. His pride will demand it. No to mention the clear trap. I'm guessing he'll use all his remaining pieces to deal with Naruto-kun," Rias explained to the group._

_ Naruto rubbed the back of his head as he reluctantly admitted, "I know I'm good, but I'm not so sure I could handle that many pieces. Three or four would probably be my limit, depending on what pieces they are. Even just stalling a large group would be a challenge."_

_ "Riser will be cautious. He won't send them all out in one group," Rias claimed thoughtfully._

_ "Especially with the explosive trap we plan to open with. He won't risk losing all his pieces like that," Akeno quickly added._

_ "So what will he do?" Naruto questioned. They were relying on Naruto's unpredictable tactics quite a bit, but Naruto wasn't all knowing. Rias was far more likely to be able to predict what Riser will do._

_ Rias thought for several moments before stating slowly, "If it was me, I would split the group. I would choose a small group to set off the obvious trap, confronting Naruto in this case. The rest would then stay back to provide support if needed."_

_ "Somewhat simple, but still solid," Akeno commented with a nod._

_ "Okay. A smaller group I can successfully stall, but that just means we need to take out or distract the backup group," Naruto pointed out._

_ "It seems Yuuto and Koneko will be stepping up," Akeno said with a smile._

_ "Understood."_

_ "Okay."_

_ Those were the respective replies of the two. Raynare quickly pitched in by stating, "Not to burst your bubble, but will they be sufficient? You said Riser will be using all his remaining pieces. That means these two will probably be outnumbered. Maybe I should accompany them?"_

_ "You will already be doing something else," Naruto quickly replied. After a second though, he continued, "You do have a point though. Yuuto and Koneko-chan are tough, but they'll probably be outnumbered."_

_ "There is also the issue of Ravel Phenex," Yuuto added. He quickly elaborated to the group, "From what we've seen, Ravel doesn't fight. Instead she acts as a sort of…field commander while Riser stays at their base. Considering she doesn't fight personally, I doubt she'll be in the group that confronts Naruto. So that means she'll be in the backup group. How would we handle her?"_

_ Rias nodded in understanding and carefully said, "Ravel hasn't ever personally fought in any of Riser's matches, but I doubt she'll sit by if it looks like Riser is going to lose. She also has the same immortality as Riser."_

_ "An ambush then," Naruto suggested. Naruto preferred direct combat, but some ninja tactics stuck with him. If facing a numerically superior force, use an ambush to take them by surprise. "Yuuto and Koneko-chan sneak up on them, and take them out before they even know what is going on. Afterwards they flee. Ravel will still be active, but with the other pieces defeated she'll probably retreat to make a stand with Riser."_

_ "That sounds like a good option, but I'm not sure if I could manage that. Koneko-chan has some stealth skills, but I'm not exactly…sneaky," Yuuto remarked hesitantly._

_ "Don't worry. I think I got something in mind. It won't be perfect, but it should allow you to get close," Naruto declared with a grin._

_ "We'll go with that then," Rias stated simply. Turning to look at Yuuto and Koneko, Rias ordered seriously, "Take them out as quickly as you can. Leave only Ravel active. Eliminate everyone else."_

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Yuuto hadn't managed to complete his objective. Koneko and him couldn't retreat till that other bishop was taken out. When it comes time to defeat Riser and Ravel, they couldn't allow anymore of the enemy to be there to interfere. Defeating not one, but two immortal opponents would be difficult enough without a bishop being there chucking magical attacks at them.

"Koneko-chan. Can you fight?" Yuuto asked as he eyed Ravel and the bishop.

"Yes, Yuuto-senpai," Koneko claimed as she straightened, fighting the pain she was feeling. Yuuto nodded in acceptance of her words and drew his sword, pointing it at the bishop.

The bishop stepped forward, announcing, "I'll take care of these two, Ravel-sama. You have already been forced to do more than enough."

She was going to face them alone? From what they'd seen, this bishop was one of the stronger pieces in Riser's peerage. Not to the point that Yuuto felt he couldn't defeat her in one on one combat though. With Koneko on his side, Yuuto was sure they could finish her.

Ravel apparently came to the same conclusion, as she gave a exaggerated sigh before stepping forward and declaring, "Unfortunately, it appears Onii-sama has greatly underestimated the Gremory Group. We've lost all the pawns, and all of the remaining pieces are tied up in battles. It appears I must step forward to help sort this situation out. Mihae, I shall aid you in this battle."

"Ravel-sama?" The bishop asked in surprise.

Holding a hand up, Ravel created a tightly packed ball of fire. Looking at Yuuto and Koneko, she informed them dispassionately, "Come. I shall teach you the true terror of the word 'immortal.'"

Yuuto inwardly cursed as he got into a ready stance. Yep, things had really taken a turn for the worst. Ravel's participation had completely changed this battle. Now it wasn't a battle just to eliminate that bishop, Mihae, but to survive.

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Raynare felt like cursing as she walked slowly across the school yard. She couldn't help her eyes flicking upwards to watch as the two queens battled in the air. Fire and lightning attacks were constantly clashing, nullifying each other. The delighted laughter of Akeno was also clear. Raynare felt completely vulnerable walking underneath the battle of those two monsters. A stray attack could end her before she could react.

She had no choice though. She had to keep walking. She had to reach the enemy base to promote.

One might wonder how Raynare is walking underneath the battle of queens. Walking right through the wide open school yard. All common sense would dictate she'd be noticed within seconds. Thankfully it wasn't so simple.

They had quickly come to the decision that having Raynare promote was essential to their victory. That was easier said than done, but they had come up with a good plan. Rias had spent the training trip learning a type of transparency illusion. It would allow her to turn anyone invisible. Naruto had also developed a seal that would suppress one's energy signature. When used in unison, a person couldn't be seen or sensed. A perfect camouflage.

Okay, not perfect. The illusion would fail if a person moved too fast. The seal to suppress one's energy signature also had a rather bad side effect. When it was active, the person couldn't use their energy for anything. Right now the most Raynare could do was fly, which would ruin the illusion currently placed on her. So Raynare was basically defenseless right now. A single ill placed magical attack from the queens above could eliminate her.

She didn't have much of a choice though. This was the best way to enter the enemy base and promote. After all, who would expect a pawn to walk across an open field that had two queens battling? It was the whole 'hiding in plain sight' concept. Maybe not plain sight since Raynare is currently hidden, but the concept is still there.

Raynare felt a sense of relief when she finally entered the enemy base. Coming to a stop, she mentally invoked, 'Promotion: Bishop.' She immediately felt her suppressed reserves bolster from the action.

Giving a victorious nod, she immediately turned and left the building. Better not to tempt fate by staying near Riser for too long. Plus, she had somewhere else to be. Mentally cursing at once again being forced to walk underneath the battling queens, Raynare allowed herself to speed up slightly. It didn't matter as much now if the enemy noticed the illusion failing, since Raynare was heading away from the enemy base.

Raynare quickly set course for her objective. The sports field.

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Naruto leaned back to avoid Karlamine's sword. The rapid influx of announcements over Riser's defeated pawns had clearly removed any reservations of the two knights he was fighting. Karlamine was now emitting flames along the length of her sword, and Siris had wind wrapping around the length of her very large blade.

Siris quickly came in and tried to take off Naruto's head with her massive blade, but Naruto quickly jumped over her attack. Karlamine tried to attack Naruto in the air, but he crossed his fingers to create a clone in front of him. Placing his feet on the clones back, Naruto used its back as a springboard. Naruto managed to gain some air while the clone was sent toward Karlamine. The knight had to abort her attack to destroy the clone.

Naruto didn't get much of a break though, as Siris jumped to meet him. This time Naruto blocked her blade with his hands. The intense momentum of the large blade combined with Naruto's position in midair resulted in Naruto being sent flying towards the ground. Legs bending as they were forced to absorb the impact, Naruto immediately turned his body to dodge as Siris tried to bisect him vertically. Damn, this knight was totally vicious. If that hit, Naruto doubted the retiring system would be sufficient for saving Naruto's life. You can't heal a split brain.

Buffeted by the shockwaves of wind from the attack, Naruto still moved to hit her while she was open. Karlamine was there before he could though, sending a barrage of sword strikes at him. Naruto was forced to use his armored gloves to block. Half a dozen strikes in a second were blocked.

Seeing Siris preparing to move, Naruto jumped back to gain a bit of distance. Karlamine didn't try to engage him immediately, instead taking the opportunity to regain her breath. The last minute had been nonstop action. Happy for the small break himself, Naruto took the time to review what he had learned of his two opponents.

Karlamine was definitely the more difficult opponent. Siris might have more lethality from that giant blade she was swinging around, but Karlamine was far faster and more skilled with a blade. Siris' power type sword style didn't mesh so well with the speed of a knight. She had a tendency to go for over exaggerated sword strokes that left her open for counterattacks. She's only still active because Karlamine is preventing Naruto from counterattacking. Karlamine seems relatively equal to Yuuto when it comes to pure swordsmanship and speed. Possibly better in skill as Yuuto relies quite a bit on his demonic blades.

Naruto hadn't expected Karlamine to be so good. While the Gremory group had researched Riser's peerage extensively, it hadn't helped much in regards to Karlamine. The knight was a relatively new member of Riser's peerage. Riser had 'traded' for her just over six months ago. She's only participated in two of his Rating Games. One was one of the two matches Riser threw, and the other only had Karlamine quickly defeat two pawns and a knight. They had been quick victories. Showing she was good, but not giving an accurate assessment of her skills. She was clearly showing now though that Riser hadn't chosen her for nothing.

Naruto needed to separate them. Karlamine would be a difficult opponent, but Naruto was certain he could defeat her. He would need to be able to concentrate on her though. Siris was the easier target, which meant he should eliminate her first. That way he can concentrate solely on Karlamine.

Naruto darted forward. Karlamine charged forward to meet him. Naruto deflected her overhead strike with his hand. Karlamine immediately tensed to dodge a counterattack, but Naruto didn't try and attack her. Instead he bypassed her entirely. Karlamine spun to try and chase him, but only found herself defending against a clone again. With Karlamine occupied, Naruto had a clear shot at his real target. Siris.

The other knight didn't back down. He could give her that. She just tried to decapitate Naruto with a horizontal attack. Naruto easily ducked to make it pass over his head. The strike sent a shockwave that threw dust into the air behind Naruto, the work of the wind flowing along her sword. Naruto thought it was inferior to cutting type wind, but to each their own. Naruto quickly sidestepped when Siris flowed into an overhand strike. The blade dug deeply into the ground, and Naruto quickly placed a foot on it to keep it there. Pulling a fist back, Naruto sent a punch to her face. She leaned dangerously far back to dodge. Naruto grinned as he used his other hand to swipe at her wrists. The unexpected attack forced her to let go of her sword, leaving her in the precarious state of leaning far backwards with no handhold to keep her up. Naruto only hastened her fall backwards by dropping into a crouch and spinning to kick her legs out from under her. Her back hit the ground, and Naruto did a move similar to break dancing to allow him to aim an axe kick at her face. Siris managed to roll out of the way, Naruto's heel digging into the ground instead. The knight jumped to her feet and desperately moved towards her sword. Grabbing the hilt, she lifted it and turned to face Naruto.

Naruto had already prepped his next attack. Rushing through three hand seals, Naruto cocked a fist back. Wind swirled around his fist. Naruto let the attack loose as he called out, "Fuuton: Senpuuken."

Siris tried to block with her sword, but it didn't make much difference. Naruto's raw strength sent her flying backwards, and the wind technique released a whirlwind from Naruto's fist as well. The whirlwind kept drilling into her blade, increasing the speed by which she was flying backwards. It was only after her back collided harshly with the barrier that she came to a stop. She slid down the barrier slowly, stunned by the violent impact.

Naruto didn't get to finish her as the memory of his clone entered his mind. Turning, Naruto was forced to defend as Karlamine attacked him. Both hands were occupied blocking her rapid strikes. All that sparring with Yuuto was coming in handy here. Naruto knew how to minimize his movements to deal with opponents far faster than him.

Karlamine was forced to accept a frontal attack wouldn't work. Striking out at Naruto's legs to put him off balance, she then used her speed to circle around to Naruto's back. Naruto predicted her intent, and didn't bother trying to turn to face her. She had too much of a speed advantage. Instead he bent his legs and took a great leap. Karlamine's strike that had meant to cleave open his back hit open air as Naruto back flipped over her.

Naruto actually sent her a grin in midair, seeing her shocked expression perfectly. She clearly hadn't expected such an acrobatic maneuver. Naruto may prefer to deflect attacks instead of jumping all over the place, but he can be nimble when he wants to be.

Capitalizing on her shock, Naruto concentrated wind chakra around his hands. No hand seals were used. Speed was needed here, not power. As soon as his feet hit the ground, Naruto clapped his hands together before thrusting them towards Karlamine's back. "Fuuton: Repuushou."

The simple C-ranked wind technique wasn't nearly powerful enough to truly hurt Karlamine. It was however fast enough to hit before she could turn around, and it had enough force to send her rolling forward. A simple move to buy some time.

By the time Karlamine regained her feet and turned around, Naruto had ran through five hand seals. Taking a deep breath, Naruto called out, "Fuuton: Renkuudan."

Naruto then shot out half a dozen balls of compressed air at the knight. Karlamine reacted instantly. Zigzagging, she used her great speed to dodge between the attacks. She even demonstrated the uselessness of the technique by slicing clean through the last one with her blade. The missed attacks hit the ground, exploding to leave small holes in the ground.

Reaching Naruto, Karlamine took a weird stance where her center of balance was greatly lowered. She then discarded her cutting attacks in favor of thrusts. All of which were aimed at Naruto's legs. Naruto was quickly put off balance at the attack, Yuuto having never done such a thing. Seems Karlamine knows some unusual methods of attacks. This seems to be a modified form of fencing. The low area of attack made it difficult for Naruto to deflect the thrusts with his hands.

Quickly gaining two cuts on his legs, Naruto realized he had to break away. Tensing his legs, Naruto jumped over her with a flip. Unfortunately, the maneuver failed this time to position Naruto at her back as Karlamine spun right away with a fancy flourish of her sword.

Naruto immediately felt a small pain on his chest when he landed. Looking down, he was shocked to see a long cut across his chest. It was shallow, but there was also a light burn around it. The entire front of his shirt was cut open. Naruto lifted his head to look at Karlamine seriously. She had managed to cut him in midair with that flourish. She had predicted he would jump to avoid escape that assault. She had managed to adjust to the knowledge of his acrobatic side so quickly. That's some honest to god talent there.

Naruto's shock and slight admiration was used against him. It was only when he spotted a descending shadow that he became aware of an impending attack. Spinning, Naruto saw Siris had recovered and was descending with one of those powerful overhead strikes. Too late to dodge, Naruto had to lift his hands and block the attack. The large blade was forcefully stopped when it came into contact with Naruto's armored gloves.

Siris was obviously astonished at the block, and Karlamine even exclaimed in shock, "He stopped Siris' sword?!"

Naruto grinned a bit smugly at that. The special aspect of Chikyu's dust was that it could greatly enhance the durability of any object it was used on. If Naruto learned alchemy he could make the effect permanent, but he isn't quite there yet. Right now it was only temporary. Chikyu had applied it before in the clubroom. Right now Naruto's gloves were practically indestructible. With his rook strength backing it up he could stop even Siris' large blade.

Karlamine moved as soon as she got over her shock, attempting to take advantage of his position. Naruto swayed to narrowly avoid the thrust that was suppose to hit his chest, and removed one hand from Siri's blade. Grabbing Karlamine's sword, Naruto used chakra to firmly grip it. He ignored the flames running along it entirely. With both the enemy blades in his hands, Naruto spun. Using his rook strength to drag the swords with him, the two knights were given the option to let go of their blades or be dragged along. Both chose to hold on to their blades. So with that Naruto used his spin to lift both of them into the air and throw them away. Neither landed elegantly, expected given the way they were thrown. They did manage to avoid skewering themselves on their own swords though, and were on their feet before Naruto could act.

Naruto took several deep breaths as he watched his opponents. He simply couldn't finish them. They were covering each other too well. He wished he could use his strength to break the ground up. Doing so would ruin the flatness of the field they were fighting on, messing with their footing and lowering their speed. Unfortunately, the ground here was soft and loamy. Any strike of Naruto would simply sink that limb into the ground, not cause the earthquake type result he would need.

Fine then. Brute force tactics it is.

Crossing his fingers, Naruto created seven clones around him. That was the most he could make right now. Sending four at Siris, Naruto joined the group of three to attack Karlamine.

The two knights were surprised by the large numbers. Siris immediately fled from the clones chasing her, unwilling to face four opponents at once. Karlamine stood firm, and even managed to dispel one of the clones. She couldn't keep it up though, and failed to dodge a punch from one of the clones. She instead had to block with her sword, and the blade broke before Naruto's strength. It was enough to prevent the punch from landing though, and she quickly retreated.

Throwing away the broken sword with a tsk, she pulled out the short sword that was behind her hip. She then declared, "I am a member from the House of Phenex that rules over wind and fire. Taste it! The wind of fire."

Her blade immediately lit up with flames. She had been doing the same previously, but this time it was to a far greater level. The fire was actually lengthening the short sword, and Naruto could feel the heat. She was using wind to enhance the fire.

Karlamine jumped forward, swinging her blade at Naruto and his clones. Naruto was shocked when the fire extended from her blade, basically throwing a wave of fire at the group. Naruto and the clones scattered, but one dispelled from being too close to the heat. Karlamine didn't let up, attacking furiously. Each strike released a blade of flames that dispelled the clones from the intense heat. Naruto was forced to replace himself with one of the clones chasing Siris to avoid getting a blast of flames to the face. Karlamine immediately moved to attack the clones chasing Siris. Siris quickly fell in to support her fellow knight in eliminating the clones.

Naruto had no choice but to disengage. Damn, he hadn't expected a knight to have such good control over fire and wind. It was no doubt quite taxing for Karlamine energy-wise, but it was still an unexpected skill. Not just good with a sword, but also good with utilizing her demonic power. Naruto would still place Yuuto as stronger than her due to his sacred gear, but Karlamine was clearly ahead of Yuuto in pure skill. Karlamine could probably be considered a hidden ace of Riser's peerage. She might lack the raw power of Riser, Ravel, and Yubelluna, but her pure skill wasn't to be underestimated.

With the last of his clones dispelled, the two knights turned to the remaining Naruto. Karlamine was panting heavily, proving Naruto's belief that this 'wind of fire' technique was draining for her. It reassured Naruto that in a stamina battle, he would end up victorious. No question.

Catching sight of something, Naruto straightened. Relaxing, Naruto shot his opponents a grin and exclaimed, "This was fun, Karlamine-san. I'd like to spar with you in the future, but this is the end today."

"What do you mean?" Karlamine demanded.

"The four minutes is up," Naruto informed her simply. Smiling, Naruto pointed up.

Karlamine and Siris looked into the air, gaping at what they saw. Raynare was hovering above the area they were battling in. All around her were spears of light. Dozens of them. With a hand gesture, the spears of light rained down upon the group.

There was nowhere for Karlamine and Siris to run. The barrier Naruto had set up left them trapped. They were even cut off from what space was available to maneuver by Naruto creating clones to hem them in. A limited space and dozens of light spears. The end result was obvious.

Both were punctured multiple times. They weren't serious wounds. Raynare had favored numbers over size and intensity. The light would ensure even small wounds were sufficient to retire them.

"I lose," Karlamine admitted simply, her voice pained. That was her last words before she disappeared in light.

[Riser-sama's two knights, retired.]

Naruto formed a hand seal to let the barrier drop with a sigh of relief. He then waited for Raynare to alight next to him before commenting, "You were late. That was probably closer to six minutes."

"Shut up. You weren't the one that had to walk under two battling queens while helpless. Plus, I arrived in time to save your ass," Raynare immediately fired back.

"Save my ass? Please. I was just fine," Naruto immediately claimed indignantly.

"If you were just fine, then why didn't you manage to finish them?" Raynare demanded.

"In case you forgot, it was planned that way. I stall them while saving energy, and you come in for the finish," Naruto pointed out.

That was the crux of this trap. Naruto would trap his opponents in a barrier, and stall them. Raynare would meanwhile sneak into the enemy base to promote before coming to reinforce Naruto. A wide scale attack on the trapped opponents would then finish them off.

This was done to save Naruto energy. Naruto could have defeated those two, but it wouldn't have been easy. They need to save as much energy as possibly in case things degenerated into a stamina battle against Riser. Naruto had used little ninjutsu during that battle on purpose. The only technique he used repeatedly was the shadow clone technique. Now while the shadow clone technique requires a lot of chakra to effectively use, it doesn't actually drain much chakra. The user gets all the chakra of the clone back after it dispels. If the clones are limited to taijutsu, the user basically gets all the chakra he put into it back. So while that battle was physically demanding on Naruto, chakra-wise he was okay.

[Rias-sama's rook, retired.]

That sudden announcement cut off any playful banter between Naruto and Raynare.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Narrowly dodging another blast of flames, Yuuto took refuge behind a tree.

Things were not looking good for him and Koneko. Ravel was focusing on Yuuto while Mihae targeted Koneko. On both sides they were being pushed back.

Kneeling down, Yuuto peeked around the tree. Ravel was standing in the open boldly, not worried in the least of an attack. Placing a hand on the ground, Yuuto concentrated on utilizing Sword Birth. Using it from this distance was difficult, but Yuuto managed to birth half a dozen swords from the ground beneath Ravel. The blonde didn't bother moving even when the ground beneath her started shaking. She even stayed still when the demonic blades shot up, piercing her body multiple times. Without flinching, she waited as the newly created wounds bled fire. The fire was so intense that the parts of the blades still imbedded in her were burned to ashes. With her wounds healed, she calmly stepped through the damaged swords.

Yuuto just gave a depressed sigh. That was his fourth time doing that, and it was still having no effect. He had hoped wounding her repeatedly would strain her stamina and mind, but his demonic blades appeared completely ineffective.

Sensing a buildup of demonic power, Yuuto shot away from the tree. Within seconds, the tree was engulfed in an explosion. Taking cover again, Yuuto desperately tried to formulate a plan.

"Come on. I've been taking it easy on you because you are easy on the eyes, but this is starting to bore me. Your little blades are useless against my immortality," Ravel called out mockingly.

While that was totally insulting, Yuuto couldn't argue. Ravel was truly showing him the power behind the word 'immortal.' To have an opponent that can take everything you can dish out without even flinching…It was disheartening. Yuuto had been prepared for it since they spent so long discussing the immortality of the Phenex, but experiencing it himself was totally different.

Not all was lost though. He still had one trump card he could use against Ravel. He just needed to find the proper opportunity.

Not to mention Ravel wasn't his target. Mihae was. Ravel was just the obstacle standing in the way. He doesn't need to defeat Ravel, he just needed to bypass her.

Peeking around the tree again, Yuuto focused on Mihae. She was facing away from him while launching wind spells in the direction of Koneko. The bishop wasn't nearly as powerful as Ravel was, even when Ravel wasn't serious. Yuuto was positive he could defeat her. Koneko wasn't as lucky. From what Yuuto had seen, Koneko was in bad shape. Her ribs were clearly worse than he had first thought. The trees provided plenty of cover for her, but Koneko simply lacked the ease of movement necessary to reach her opponent.

Truthfully, this was just a bad match up for both Yuuto and Koneko. They were both close range fighters. Their opponents were long range fighters. Unless they could close the distance, they were helpless.

Readying himself, Yuuto left his cover. He then moved at Ravel as quickly as possibly. She lazily tossed a few fireballs at him, which he managed to dodge. When he got close enough, Yuuto unleashed several quick strikes with his sword. Ravel didn't bother dodging, letting her regeneration deal with the wounds. Instead with a wide sweep of her hand, she sent a wave of fire at Yuuto while he was up close. Yuuto retreated, but couldn't dodge the attack entirely. His left arm sustained a light burn.

He had managed to complete part of his plan though. While attacking Ravel, he had been subtly circling around her. Now he was between Ravel and Mihae. Turning around, Yuuto used all his speed in an attempt to reach Mihae.

"Don't you know it is rude to turn your back on your superiors," Ravel called out, forming a compressed ball of fire in her hand. She then launched it forward.

The attack was fast enough to pass Yuuto, hitting the ground ten feet in front of him. He desperately tried to come to a stop, but his speed was now a liability. He couldn't halt his momentum in time to retreat, instead being forced to watch in horror as the small ball of flames birthed a large explosion. He was too close. The flames engulfed him, and the shockwave of the explosion sent him flying into the forest.

Ravel let out an annoyed sigh. Starting to walk towards Mihae, she muttered, "I was forced to act, but that wasn't even proper entertainment."

As she approached Mihae though, a frown formed on her face. There was no announcement of the knight retiring. That must mean he was still conscious. Probably covered in burns and writhing in pain, but still conscious. She should go finish him. She wasn't cruel. Proud and conceited, sure, but not cruel.

Before she could move to do just that, a large crash drew her attention. She turned to see that a large chuck of a tree had been thrown by the small rook at Mihae. Mihae had been forced to jump out of the way rather inelegantly. As Mihae tried to regained her feet, the rook took the opportunity to close the distance.

Ravel could have interfered, but decided not to. She could clearly see the rook was injured from the earlier shot Mihae landed. Mihae did not need help.

After reaching her feet, Mihae launched a blast of wind at the approaching rook. Instead of dodging though, the rook just covered her face with her arms and bowled right through the attack. Her shirt was turned to shreds from the attack, only a bra keeping her modesty, but overall the rook seemed to have endured it without injury. Frowning at her attack's failure to inflict damage on the rook, Mihae started gathering demonic power. Wind swirled around Mihae's body as she built up a more powerful attack.

This had just gotten more interesting. Mihae lacked true power in her attacks, instead replying on good control. That left her vulnerable to rooks and other enemies with high defensive capabilities. She had just developed this attack recently as a counter for those types. Ravel was interested in seeing how it held up in an actual battle.

Koneko approached, cocking a fist back. She didn't get close enough to unleash it though. As soon as Koneko got within five feet, Mihae unleashed the attack she had been charging. A wide scale, high intensity blast of wind. Koneko was far too close to even attempt to dodge. The attack smashed into her, and sent her flying even faster than she had from the previous attack. Koneko smashed through three trees, and many other trees were felled by the force of the wind Mihae unleashed.

It took a few seconds for the noise to end, just leaving a scene of destruction in front of Mihae. The two waited for two seconds before-

[Rias-sama's rook, retired.]

Good, the first of the enemy to fall. In Ravel's mind, it was like the first domino to fall. The rest would come crashing down now as well.

That was her thought as the ground beneath her started shaking. She looked at it with a raised eyebrow. Seems the knight wasn't as incapacitated as she had believed. Ravel didn't bother moving as the blades sprang forth. As the ice swords sunk into her though, she immediately felt something was wrong.

As soon as Ravel was stabbed multiple times, Yuuto dashed past her. His clothes were torn and dirty, and he had a sword made out of ice in his hand. His target, Mihae.

Yuuto had barely managed to escape her attack. Too late to dodge, Yuuto had instead managed to create a special type of demon sword at the last second. Flame Delete, a sword that absorbs and devours flames. It was a weapon he developed partially to counter the abilities of the Phenex. The weapon had successfully absorbed the flames before they engulfed him. The shockwaves had still sent him flying though, and he had been stunned when he hit the ground.

Koneko must have suspected he had managed to escape. Knowing he needed time to recover, she had acted. She sacrificed herself to create a distraction.

Her sacrifice wouldn't be in vain.

Yuuto had birthed half a dozen Flame Delete swords to impale Ravel. The regeneration of the Phenex relied on flames that bled from their wounds. By using a flame suppressing sword to attack her, Yuuto hoped that her regeneration would be stalled for a brief time. Ten seconds was all he needed. No. Five seconds. He had to finish Mihae before Ravel managed to overload those blades. She wouldn't be surprised like this again.

Mihae noticed his approach, and turned to face him. Wind was swirling around her. Yuuto knew what that meant. Koneko's sacrifice had also given him a chance to see the trump card of the enemy bishop.

"Sword Birth," Yuuto called out as she sprinted towards Mihae.

A sword rose from the ground before him. Throwing the Flame Delete sword away, Yuuto grasped the new sword as he approached. This one was a gleaming blade with a diamond shape on top, which held a small black ball.

As soon as Yuuto was feet away from her, Mihae let loose the same attack that had defeated Koneko. Yuuto immediately swiped down with his blade. Wind destroyed the ground on each side of Yuuto, but he was left unharmed. His sword, Replenish Calm, was a wind devouring blade. It had absorbed all the wind that would have hit him.

Mihae's eyes widened, and Yuuto let out a victorious grin. The next moment he was behind her, his sword stroke already finished. Mihae gasped in pain as a large cut opened on her side. She feel forward, but disappeared in light before she hit the ground.

[Riser-sama's bishop, retired.]

"Your sacrifice wasn't in vain, Koneko-chan," Yuuto declared in relief.

"It seems we truly have underestimated your group," a voice spoke up behind him. Yuuto spun around to look at Ravel warily. Seems she had managed to overload the Flame Delete swords that had held her. It was only natural such swords had a limit on how much they could absorb. Ravel did not look happy by the recent events either. Compared to the bored and arrogant look she had previously been sporting, her face was now dead serious. "The other group has fallen. It appears it has fallen to Yubelluna, myself, and Onii-sama to bring your group down."

Yuuto shifted anxiously. He couldn't defeat Ravel. He knew that. With Mihae defeated though, he could now retreat. Now he just needed to find the proper opportunity to retreat.

"I'll start by defeating you," Ravel announced, lifting a hand. Fire immediately appeared in her hand. Yuuto immediately sensed the difference between this attack and what she had previously been using. The buildup of demonic power was enormous, easily surpassing the power of Mihae's final attack. She fully intended to finish him with that attack. Throwing her hand forward, Ravel ordered solemnly, "Disappear."

Yuuto immediately dashed away at top speed. He wanted nothing to do with that attack. His only chance was to outrun it.

That was his last thought before his world was engulfed in fire.

...

[Rias-sama's knight, retired.]

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Naruto had been planning to go help Yuuto when Koneko's defeat was announced, but the rapid defeat of Riser's bishop relaxed him slightly. Yuuto could now just flee. Yuuto's speed would hopefully allow him to escape.

Then a massive explosion engulfed part of the forest. The explosion of flames could be seen from their position. Then-

[Rias-sama's knight, retired.]

Naruto gaped in shock. Yuuto had been defeated. That meant that attack had been large and powerful enough to hit him even when he was fleeing. That was not a good sign.

"That isn't good," Raynare muttered as she narrowed her eyes as the smoke rising from the forest.

"You think," Naruto retorted in annoyance.

Naruto ran his hand through his hair as he considered. How had the ambush gone wrong? Yuuto and Koneko managed to achieve their objective, but they got eliminated in the process. That means two less fighters on their side. When you have as few numbers as they do, two is a lot.

"Well, straighten up. We've got company," Raynare claimed as she looked at the tree line.

Naruto followed her gaze and saw what she meant. A small girl was exiting the forest, heading straight towards them. Ravel Phenex.

Naruto took the opportunity to examine her, since she was walking rather slowly…Well, she certainly wasn't threatening looking. She was shorter than Asia, and had a similar body type to Koneko. She really was cute. The fancy dress didn't help things either. Overall, she looked like a princess that should be at a ball. Not in the middle of a battlefield.

Regardless of her looks, Naruto knew that she was a powerful opponent. She had clearly been the one to eliminate Yuuto. She was a high-class devil, just like Rias and Riser. By all rights, she had the ability to start her own peerage. The only reason Akeno was stronger than Rias is due to her queen enhancements. Without that, Rias would be the clear winner. So Ravel, who is both a high-class devil and a bishop, is extra dangerous. An argument could be made that she is the most powerful piece in Riser's peerage.

She also shouldn't be here.

"Yo," Naruto finally said when she came to a stop.

Ravel gave him an unimpressed look in response. Sighing, she told him harshly, "I won't deny that you must have impressive combat capabilities, but otherwise you are a bore. An uncouth and inelegant bore. Rias-sama appears to have a peculiar taste in male servants. At least the last one was handsome. You have such a…commoner look. So rough and maladroit."

"Ouch," Naruto replied, grabbing his chest in exaggerated pain at the insult. Turning to Raynare, Naruto said in a whimper, "Ray-chan! Did you hear her? She called me a bore. I'm not a bore, right? I don't care about my appearance, but I am certainly not a bore."

Raynare's eye twitched in irritation at his words and behavior. Otherwise she didn't respond.

Ravel actually sent her a look of pity before saying, "It must be hard on you. How can you stand him?"

"It is not easy," Raynare claimed with a sigh.

"Haha. Now that the playful banter is done, let's move on," Naruto announced, his face entirely serious now. Looking at Ravel intently, he commented, "Didn't expect to see you here."

"I'd prefer not having to interfere, but your group has done unexpectedly well. While you won't be able to beat Onii-sama, the marriage between Rias-sama and Onii-sama is too important to even give you a chance of success. Thus I unfortunately find myself compelled to act," Ravel stated like it was obvious.

"Too important," Naruto repeated in an amused tone before saying, "Funny. I got the impression that it is more an ego thing."

"Geez, this is why I dislike low-class devils. Not only are you slow and disagreeable, but you act as if you understand the devil society. A former human like yourself who hasn't even visited the Underworld yet has no right to claim to comprehend our ways," Ravel pointed out harshly.

Naruto shrugged before admitting, "Can't really deny that. I was reincarnated just several months ago."

"At least you realize your faults," Ravel replied.

"_But_…I truthfully don't care all that much about the politics behind it. I'm a rather simple guy. Rias-chan doesn't want to go through with this marriage. That's enough for me to help her break up this marriage," Naruto announced easily.

"And what little respect I might have had for you has dissolved," Ravel commented disdainfully. "This marriage is vital for the continued prosperity of devils."

"And yet Rias-chan is refusing," Naruto retorted instantly.

"Rias-sama is…allowing her personal feelings to interfere with her judgment," Ravel claimed after a moments pause. "Onii-sama is partially at fault. He was besotted by Rias-sama to the point that he rushed the courtship process, coming off as demanding and unsympathetic to her feelings. Regardless, Rias-sama shall learn to understand Onii-sama and become content with her life. She'll then see just why this marriage is necessary."

"I still call bullshit on that. If the prosperity of the devil race relies on having Rias marry Riser then I think there are larger issues to worry about," Naruto pointed out skeptically. Sighing, he then continued, "I don't even know why we are talking about this. I'm not going to convince you, and you aren't going to convince us. So let's solve this the old fashioned way by fighting."

"Just as crude as I would expect from someone of your station, but you are correct. I'll try to finish this quickly. I do not feel like wasting more time here than necessary," Ravel announced.

"Don't hurry too much. I made a promise to make some yakitori out of some phoenix today. I'd prefer your brother, but if you underestimate me you might find your cute little ass roasted," Naruto exclaimed with a playful smirk.

That drew the ire of Ravel, who launched a stream of fire at Naruto. Laughing, he dodged out of the way. He managed to send a discreet look at Raynare after he landed though, motioning for her to take to the air. Raynare nodded, grew her wings, and jumped into the air. Naruto then looked back towards Ravel.

She didn't seem worried in the least. Only annoyed by his comments. She clearly didn't view them as a threat. Damn, Naruto was really going to enjoy knocking the arrogance out of this girl.

He started running in her direction. Multiple blasts of fire were released from her hands at Naruto, but he moved to the side to dodge. He then ran a circle around Ravel, who continued trying to fry him. At least until an unpleasant feeling rose in her chest. Acting purely by instinct, Ravel jumped backwards. Just in time to dodge a spear of light Raynare had chucked. It ended up sticking into the ground in front of her. Recognizing the light element of the spear and sensing the unstable makeup of the spear, she raised a wall of flames between herself and the spear. It proved smart as the spear exploded just seconds later.

Naruto slowed to a stop as smoke engulfed Ravel's former position. He doubted that had taken her out. Despite her arrogant attitude, Ravel had good instincts. To have sensed the danger of the light spear and reacted in time to suppress the explosion. It was impressive.

His belief was proven true when Ravel burst out of the smoke, wings of flame on her back. She was heading straight for Raynare. Raynare quickly created half a dozen light spears around her before launching them at the approaching Ravel. Showing impressive aerial ability, Ravel spun to avoid most of them while simultaneously sending a blast of flame to destroy two she couldn't dodge. With the brief obstacle handled, Ravel formed fire around her fists as she closed with Raynare.

Who wanted no part of that. Raynare allowed herself to fall backwards, causing Ravel to fly over her. Forming a light spear in her hand, she tried to take advantage of her maneuver by stabbing Ravel in the stomach. Ravel spun out of the way before unleashing a wide wave of fire from her hand. Incapable of dodging, Raynare was forced to use her light spear to slice the wave of fire in half. As soon as the fire passed around her, she found Ravel diving at her. Raynare quickly threw the spear. Ravel aborted her attack to dodge, sensing that Raynare had destabilized the spear. It exploded between the two.

Raynare glared at her opponent as a brief lull in the fighting appeared. As much as it galled her to admit it, she couldn't deny Ravel was far more powerful than herself. The intensity of her fire attacks was beyond anything Raynare had faced before. She also had far power than Raynare did, even with her bishop promotion. Raynare's one advantage was her ability to use light. Ravel couldn't rely on her regeneration when dealing with light.

"A fallen angel. Rias-sama has a diverse peerage. Your power of light is the natural antithesis of us devils. I have no choice but to eliminate you before it can be put to use," Ravel declared seriously. She then shot off at Raynare.

"Rasengan," Naruto called out as he appeared underneath her. He wasn't going to sit by and watch. The swirling ball of energy in his hand, Naruto shoved it into Ravel's side. An entire third of her waist was destroyed by the attack.

Which didn't seem to bother her one bit. Ignoring the missing part of her torso, Ravel held her hand up before Naruto's chest. Naruto knew he didn't want to take a direct shot from this close. Swiping his hand upwards, Naruto caught her wrist and forced it to the side. Just in time, as her hand spawned an explosion just afterwards. Naruto's quick action saved him from being engulfed by the explosion, but the force of the explosion sent him tumbling to the ground. With that threat temporarily dealt with, Ravel turned towards who she considered to be the larger threat. The light user.

Raynare had tried to take advantage of Naruto's interference by hurling a spear at the distracted Ravel. Ravel acted quickly though, forming balls of fire in both hands. Combining the two attacks together, she launched the attack as a counter to the light spear. The light spear was just feet away from Ravel when the fire attack hit it. It was completely overpowered by the fire. With the light spear consumed, the flames continued onwards to Raynare. Raynare tried to fly backwards, but couldn't dodge it entirely. She was forced to cross her arms over her chest to try and endure the fireball. Raynare was blasted backwards with her arms heavily burned.

Trying to hold in her groan of pain, Raynare quickly turned and tried to flee. She needed to buy time for Naruto to get back into the fight. She couldn't last long against Ravel alone.

"It's useless," Ravel called out. Either predicting Raynare's plan or thinking along similar lines herself, Ravel sent a large blast of flames at the recovering Naruto. With Naruto momentarily distracted, Ravel started pursuing Raynare.

Ravel couldn't deny Raynare was a good flier. In order to catch her, Ravel had to stop her. Hands lighting up in flames, Ravel threw multiple attacks in front of Raynare. Raynare was forced to come to a halt in order to not be caught up in the resulting explosions.

With her own momentum now stopped and Ravel heading towards her at top speed, Raynare knew she couldn't avoid a confrontation. Gritting her teeth, Raynare forced down her pain and lifted an arm. Concentrated as much power as she could into a single light spear, Raynare turned towards the approaching Ravel and shouted defiantly, "Don't underestimate me!"

Raynare thrust her spear towards the approaching Ravel. Surprisingly, Ravel didn't bother dodging. She let the spear pierce through her chest. Raynare quickly found out why, as Ravel used it as an opportunity to close with Raynare. Ravel placed her hands against Raynare's chest in that moment.

Raynare was then engulfed in an explosion.

"Raynare," Naruto called out in concern.

The smoke from the explosion covered the two, briefly obscuring Naruto's view. Only for a second though as he soon saw a figure plummet out of the smoke limply. Naruto quickly identified it as a burnt and heavily damaged Raynare. Before Naruto could jump to catch her, he saw her disappear in light.

[Rias-sama's pawn, retired.]

Naruto clenched his fist in anger. Damn it. Raynare was one of their trump cards if things degenerated into a stamina battle against Riser. Her light spears would be super effective at dealing Riser damage.

Ravel wasn't suppose to be here. The entire group had studied Riser's peerage, and Ravel had quickly been identified as a huge problem. Defeating Riser would be difficult enough without having a second person with immortality interfering. Thankfully, Ravel seemed to be in Riser's peerage in name only. She never fought during any of his Rating Games. They had predicted she'd interfere if it appeared Riser was going to lose, but not like this. They figured she'd retreat to make a 'last stand' with Riser. They certainly didn't expect her to go on the offensive like this. Raynare had been the one to pay the price of this unexpected action.

Naruto also couldn't deny this was partly his fault. Rias had been of the opinion that Raynare should promote to queen, as it was the strongest piece. Naruto had argued against it though. Raynare's intense training meant she could promote to queen, but he still hadn't felt it the best option. Promotion was basically a sacrifice of stamina for power. The more power, the greater the cost in stamina. Once a pawn gains enough stamina the cost becomes negligible, but Raynare isn't quite there yet. After she promotes to queen, Raynare has one good battle in her. She might be able to do a second, but she'd clearly be tired by that point. Since Raynare's greatest use would be in a stamina battle against Riser, Naruto had believed they should prioritize stamina over raw power. Thus the bishop promotion. That had come to bite them in the ass though. With Ravel's unexpected assault, the queen promotion would have been of greater use. Heightened speed for evasion, and greater defense for enduring attacks. Those two aspects might very well have made a huge difference. Naruto doubted Raynare could defeat Ravel even with a queen promotion, but she would have been able to stall Ravel long enough for Naruto to come to her aid.

Now they were out another fighter.

Naruto took a deep breath to calm his thoughts. He then looked up at the cloud of smoke and waited as the smoke slowly cleared. No further announcement came, so Naruto wasn't surprised when the smoke pulled back to reveal Ravel. She was looking quite smug as she looked down at him.

Forcing himself to stay calm, Naruto examined his opponent intently. Clearly a single light spear from someone of Raynare's level wasn't enough to overcome the regeneration of the Phenex Clan, but there had to be some effect. The Phenex were still devils. Light was still extremely effective against them.

Ravel had a hole right in the center of her chest. Flames were licking at it, but the overall healing was going at a snail's pace. Naruto had seen videos of Phenex members regenerate wounds in two or three seconds. Based on his estimations, this small hole would take over a minute. Ravel didn't appear to be in too much pain as she looked down at him, but her skin looked to be paler than it was just a minute ago. There were even beads of sweat forming on her temples.

It all proved Naruto's belief true. Ravel was effected by Raynare's attack. It wasn't enough to eliminate her, not even close, but it was something. Raynare had created the first crack in Ravel's immortality. It now fell to Naruto to tear that crack wide open. He wouldn't let Raynare's defeat be for nothing.

"Now that the only real threat to Onii-sama and I is beaten, I can deal with you," Ravel announced.

"Really? You are just going to write me off like that?" Naruto asked in a deadpan.

"Of course. You do appear competent, but your opponent is the 'immortal bird'. No matter how powerful or competent you are, it has nothing on the 'immortal bird'. The gap is too large for you to currently bridge," Ravel explained as if she was talking to a child.

"I don't really give a crap about your fucking 'immortal bird'," Naruto declared without a hint of the levity or playfulness he usually has. Glaring at her, Naruto continued openly, "I like to think I'm a nice guy, but I absolutely hate seeing my comrades being defeated. In the last ten minutes, three of my comrades have fallen. So I'm rather pissed off. You can keep preaching about your immortality or whatever else you are so proud of, but right now I'm in no mood to humor you. I'm just going to start kicking your ass now."

As he spoke, Naruto's power rose. Wisps of chakra became visible around his form. Combined with the cold look in his eyes, he cut an imposing figure. Even for Ravel, although she wouldn't admit it.

As soon as he stopped speaking, Naruto revealed his devil wings. He then launched towards Ravel.

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**There is the majority of the battle. Most of Riser's peerage has been defeated, but Koneko, Yuuto, and Raynare have also fallen. Now we have Naruto vs. Ravel. Akeno is still battling with Yubelluna as well. And where are Rias and Asia?**

_**Ravel:** I personally like Ravel, and have taken her in a slightly different direction. I just think she's a character with huge potential that hasn't been expanded on before. She's a high class devil, which means she technically could start her own peerage. She also has the inherent powers of the Phenex Clan, which are some of the strongest in the Underworld(in my opinion at least). Add in her bishop enhancement, and you have a dangerous opponent. Yet she never fights...ever. Even in the novels. Instead of a powerful devil in her own right, she is treated as a pencil-pusher for Issei that apparently has no combat ability of her own. Not in this story. I wanted to portray Ravel as a strong devil, even if she prefers not to fight. So tell me what you think. Do you like how i portrayed her? Is she a character with potential? Or is she a side character you don't really care about?_

**_Names of Jutsu:_**_ Some of the more observant of you might have noticed i wasn't consistent with Naruto's technique names. The barrier was said in english, while the wind techniques in japanese. This is for a reason. I prefer doing the jutsu names in japanese, but original techniques are difficult to translate properly. Like the Ninpou: Four Pronged Sealed Barrier Naruto used. Using Google translate, 'four pronged seal barrier' translates as 'Yottsu mata fūin sa reta baria.' That just sounds weird to me. So the inconsistencies in Naruto's techniques names are when i have difficulty translating them properly._

**_The Rating Game: _**_I was aiming for originality when writing this battle. Different tactics and moves on Rias' side because they have Naruto's input. So i hope you enjoyed reading it. I am looking for any input though. Thoughts and opinions from you readers. Especially on the battle scenes. I'm new to writing battle scenes. Were they realistic? Not enough focus on the action? Too much explanation and backstory? I'd much prefer to be aware of any complaints that you might have, then being clueless._


	9. The Phoenix Falls and is Reborn

**Hello, everyone. Sorry, i failed in my goal to post this chapter within a week. By five days too. I'm a failure*sniff, sniff***

**I hope you all enjoy the chapter. 22,000 words.**

_**Ravel's personality: **A number of reviewers said Ravel was too arrogant. Ravel did actually insult Issei when she met him too. Naruto got it worse because he had insulted Riser and the entire Phenex Clan before even talking to her. So she was a bit miffed at him before she even talked to him, and she expressed that annoyance by insulting him. I have a general opinion on Ravel's character. She does usually appear to be modest, elegant, and polite. I view that as just how she's been taught to behave. The behavior of a 'proper lady.' When she moved into Issei's home though, she was shown to be a bit spoiled and immature underneath that. So when flustered or surrounded by people she trusts, she'll behave a bit more like an spoiled princess. That is how i view and shall write her. A bit of a tsundere as well, of course._

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Crossing his fingers, Naruto created two clones in front of him. The clones shot off ahead of him. Splitting up slightly, they both came at Ravel from different angles. Gathering fire around her hands, she shot off attacks at the two of them. They didn't bother dodging. Their job was already done. While Ravel was briefly distracted by the clones, the real Naruto had closed the distance between the two. Ravel only had time to lauch a single fire attack at him.

Naruto didn't stop or dodge. He instead held his hands together to form a block of demonic power. He thrust his hands forward, and the demonic power collided with Ravel's fire to neutralize it. Naruto hadn't practiced much using raw demonic power, but it was useful for on the fly attacks where he didn't have time to form hand seals. The threat dealt with, Naruto reached Ravel.

Before Ravel could dodge, Naruto drove his fist into her stomach as hard as he could. Ravel doubled over from the punch, spit flying from her mouth as she gasped in pain. Naruto didn't give her any time to recover. Grabbing an arm, Naruto used his wings to move downward. Using that momentum, Naruto spun with her arm in his grasp. The maneuver translated into a throw in midair.

Ravel tried to use her wings to prevent her from hitting the ground, but Naruto had expected that. Several hand seals already completed, he drew in a breath as he called out, "Fuuton: Daitoppa."

He then let out a blast of wind. No cutting or compression involved. Just a blast of intense wind.

The wind slammed into Ravel's back, pushing her towards the ground even faster. Ravel collided with the ground in no way any self-respecting person would want. Headfirst. The impact threw up a cloud of dirt.

Naruto quickly dropped to the ground, retracting his wings. He preferred fighting on the ground, even if he could fly. He then watched as the dust receded to show Ravel clumsily getting to her feet. Her previously immaculate dress was covered in dirt, and there was an shakiness to her movements that had previously been absent.

It all confirmed a hypothesis Naruto had come to over the training trip.

Without a doubt, the hardest part of defeating Riser was his immortality. The Phenex control over fire and wind was formidable, but their regeneration was their greatest asset. Get rid of that, and most of the battle was done. Easier said than done, but Naruto had experience dealing with hard to kill people. Orochimaru, Kabuto, Shinno, Tsunade, and those revived with Edo Tensei. Naruto himself had a great healing factor. All of them had weaknesses though. There was no ultimate technique. Everything had limitations. Including the Phenex immortality.

There were ways to kill a Phenex. The best option was to hit them with an attack rivaling the power of a god. An attack of that magnitude would do one of two things. It would crush their mind in one shot or it would damage their body beyond even their ability to regenerate. Naturally the problem with this option was managing an attack of such raw power. Naruto doubted even a regular Rasenshuriken would be sufficient. While Naruto has yet to see any himself, Selene and Rias have told him of beings in this world who are far more powerful than even the strongest ninjas of Naruto's world. So even an S-rank jutsu might not be a 'god-class' attack. So this option was out.

The second option was basically attacking and defeating a Phenex until their will to fight was destroyed. Most people seem to believe you got to go until their mind was crushed, but a person will naturally give up long before their mind breaks. This option was a problem simply because of how long it can take. Not to mention they aren't just going to sit there and let you kill them over and over. Riser is no schmuck. While his immortality was his main strength, he was still a powerful devil. Defeating him once would be difficult enough. Doing so several dozen times was a task likely beyond anyone not of ultimate-class strength. Unfortunately, this was their only option.

So Naruto had researched the regeneration ability of the Phenex. There had to be weaknesses to any healing ability. After watching many fights involving members of the Phenex Clan, Naruto came to a hypothesis. Their healing factor seemed focused on 'fatal' injuries. Naruto had watched Phenex members get their heads blown off. He had watched them get stabbed through the heart. Magical attacks. Swords. The type of attacks that typically dealt the most damage proved the most ineffective.

So he came to the belief that the type of attacks that are typically the least lethal would prove the most effective. Unarmed attacks.

A magical attack to the face was dangerous. A punch to the face, not so much. A sword in the gut was clearly an injury, but can a punch to the stomach truly be viewed as an 'injury'? It was precisely the lack of lethality in these strikes that made the regeneration of the Phenex less effective.

It might not even be a physical difference so much as a mental difference. Phenex members seemed unbothered having half their bodies blown up. There was obviously some discomfort, but not the mind destroying pain such an injury would usually cause. Punches seemed more effective at causing them pain. Naruto theorized there might be some sort of pain threshold. Anything beyond that threshold was suppressed by their healing factor. Anything lower than it was left alone though. Whether Naruto was right with that or not, unarmed attacks seemed to cause Phenex members the most pain.

If you wanted to break someone's will to fight, causing them pain was a good start. Which meant Naruto was going to restrict himself to using blunt force trauma against Ravel. No cutting attacks. He was just going to punch her, kick her, and slam her into stuff till the spoiled and arrogant princess got tired of the abuse and gave up.

Already Ravel looked frazzled and worn. If a single punch to the stomach and throwing her against the ground was able to damage her so much, Naruto doubted this was going to take long. Maybe four or five more successful attacks before she gave up.

Ravel scowled at him before announcing, "Now you've earned my ire. I'm just going to finish this now."

Ravel then held up a hand. Fire formed in a tightly condensed ball. Naruto could feel the demonic power radiating from it. That was a finisher. An attack meant to end a battle. He didn't know it, but this was the same attack that had defeated Yuuto.

Naruto wanted no part of that. There were limits to his rook defense, and he was pretty darn sure that attack surpassed them. A direct hit with that would finish him. No question. Unsure whether he was capable of dodging it, Naruto ran through several hand seals and called out, "Fuuton: Atsugai."

Naruto's best chance was to overpower her attack with one of his own. This was the strongest pressure type attack Naruto knew. If any of his current attacks could manage it, it was this one.

Using wind techniques against fire attacks was generally discouraged. Wind fueled fire, and so the result was usually explosive. Naruto was willing to do it for three reasons here. First, Naruto had found that chakra attacks were generally more concentrated than magic. Magic produced larger attacks, but chakra was more intense and concentrated. Second, Naruto was putting a lot of chakra into this attack. Third, Naruto really didn't have any other choices.

"Disappear," Ravel ordered as she threw the attack at Naruto.

Naruto waited as the attack came at him. Letting it close the distance, Naruto finally acted when it came within twenty feet of him. He released all the wind chakra infused air he had in his lungs. As soon as it left his mouth, the full power of the attack was revealed. The air exploded outwards, forming a whirlwind of incredibly dense air that was aimed right at Ravel.

The two attacks collided just fifteen feet away from Naruto. The condensed ball of flames exploded in a firestorm. Naruto would have easily been engulfed at his distance, but his own attack distorted the explosion enough to protect him. He still felt the intense heat wash over him.

There was one difference between the attacks though. Ravel's was centered around the explosion, that single instant being the climax. Naruto's was a sustained attack. Which meant even after Ravel's attack exploded, Naruto was still breathing out the cyclone of wind. With Ravel's attack spent, Naruto's continued onwards. No, it grew stronger. The flames of Ravel's attack were absorbed and nourished by the powerful winds of Naruto's, creating a massive firestorm. A collaboration attack of wind and fire. A tornado of fire.

And it was heading straight for Ravel.

"Eh?" Was all Ravel managed to get out, caught completely unaware by the sudden turnabout. That was her last act before she was engulfed by the inferno.

The entire attack didn't just stop at Ravel. It continued onwards into the forest. Thankfully, as it detonated not long afterwards. A large chunk of the forest was incinerated, and a wildfire started raging. Naruto had to brace himself as the shockwave hit him. Covering his face with his arms and sticking to the ground with chakra, he weathered the wind washing over him.

And then it was over. Lowering his arms, Naruto looked at the results of the attack with slight awe. The forest was on fire, trees falling over as the intense heat ate away at their structure. The grass all in front of Naruto had turned to ash from the fire.

Damn! That was one big attack. That was fire on the level of some of the techniques Madara had used. Guess that's the level achieved when you combine an overcharged B-rank wind technique and the most powerful fire attack of a high-class devil. If they had been used in concert from the beginning, it might have been even more powerful.

Naruto didn't allow awe to distract him though. He stayed focused on the conflagration. There was no announcement, so Ravel was still active. Apparently even an attack of that magnitude wasn't enough to rival the power of a god. Not that Naruto was aiming to kill Ravel. She may have pissed him off, but killing her was still overkill in his opinion.

It took close to a minute for Ravel to finally reappear.

"You…you dare," Ravel whispered as her form appeared from within the flames. The flames didn't seem to bother her in the least, but that didn't stop her from looking at Naruto murderously as she continued in a voice so soft he could barely hear it over the flames, "…wind…we rule over fire…and wind…You dare to use wind…against me…Not only that…but you turn…my own flames against me…the audacity."

By now Ravel had cleared the flames. She actually looked better than she had before that attack. Her clothes were now free from dirt, and her skin seemed to have regained some color. Apparently that whole 'rule over fire' spiel wasn't a complete load of bull. She genuinely appeared to be rejuvenated by the flames. Naruto saw her limbs trembling though. While it was partly due to anger and indignation, Naruto could see the fear in her eyes as well. Physically the attack had proved less than useless, but mentally it had affected her. Her most powerful attack had been overpowered, and then turned against her. And it was done by wind, another element she supposedly ruled over. That had clearly shaken her confidence. Naruto had just proved that he could actually defeat her in her area of specialty. The sense of superiority she had carried was suddenly gone.

Shrugging Naruto replied casually, "I did say I was going to roast your ass. I never said I was going to use my own flames to do it. I never break my promises, yakitori-chan."

Ravel's trembling increased, although it was clearly due to anger now. She then hissed out furiously, "You think this is a joke?…You have insulted my honor as a Phenex…Y-You insufferable buffoon."

"Calm down, yakitori-chan," Naruto said with a wide grin. His prankster side was acting up. He quickly unsealed something from the storage seals on his wrist. Naruto held up the stick of yakitori as he added mockingly, "You aren't alone. I brought some company for you."

Being mocked with yakitori was clearly the final straw for Ravel. With an enraged scream, she shot at Naruto. She rapidly started striking at him, fire blasting out with each strike. Naruto frantically started dodging.

Despite her rage, Ravel had clearly chosen this method of attack for a reason. These blasts of fire were far weaker than her previous attack, but they came at a faster rate. Staying just five feet away from Naruto, it became nearly impossible for Naruto to dodge the rapid fire attacks. If she actually knew how to do this sort of attack instead of just flailing her arms wildly, it would be very dangerous

Utilizing raw wind manipulation, Naruto did his best to affect the fire coming at him by controlling the wind currents around him. He couldn't change the flow of the fire completely, but he could subtly redirect it to pass by him…Barely. The fire was missing him by inches. The heat of the fire was potent enough for Naruto to worry about being burned just from the proximity.

Knowing he couldn't keep it up, Naruto created two clones without any hand seals. Both moved at Ravel in an attempt to stop the assault. Ravel stopped the rapid fire blasts, but clearly didn't plan to let up. Crossing her arms across her chest, her entire body lit up with flames. Uncrossing her arms, she released a wall of flames in all directions. The two clones were destroyed, and the real Naruto was forced to jump backwards to avoid the flames. As soon as he landed and the flames started dying down, Naruto spotted another attack of Ravel's. It missed by quite a bit, proving that even Ravel couldn't spot him perfectly through the flames. The attack created a large shockwave when it hit the ground though, buffeting Naruto.

Shielding his face, Naruto jumped away a bit. He then saw another attack coming. With the wall of flames down, he also saw Ravel charging another one. So that was her plan now. Just repeatedly chuck attacks at him until something hits.

Naruto was actually a bit disappointed. Ravel's lack of experience was already starting to show through. She came on strong at first, but that momentum was already starting to wear down.

Not planning on just dodging, Naruto unsealed a rock from the seals on his wrists. With a quick snap of his arm, the rock was sent at Ravel. She looked at it dismissively when she calculated it wouldn't hit her, instead focusing on charging her next attack.

She really should have looked closer because an explosive tag was wrapped around the rock. Naruto didn't have enough kunai to waste them, so he just substituted a rock instead. When the rock was closest to Ravel, Naruto detonated it with a hand seal.

Ravel was knocked off her feet and sent rolling. Any real damage quickly healed, but it interrupted the attack she had been charging. She quickly started getting back to her feet, although her hair was frazzled and her clothes dirty from the unexpected tumble she took on the ground. Naruto was already on the move.

Closing the distance before she could get her bearings, Naruto created three clones with a hand seal. The clones moved ahead of him. The first slid in front of her before nailing her in the chin with a rising kick. It sent her into the air. The other two jumped up, both hitting her with kicks to send her higher. At the peak of the jump, the real Naruto was waiting. He readied an axe kick to send her into the ground, but Ravel clearly wasn't going to let him have his way. Screaming in effort, she covered herself in fire. Then those flames exploded outwards.

Naruto had to do a quick substitution with one of his clones to avoid the counter. Looking up with a scowl, Naruto was surprised to see Ravel herself falling down. She hit the ground back first, an inelegant landing to say the least. That attack seems to have cost her as well.

Naruto just watched as Ravel slowly clambered to her feet. Even more dirty and frazzled than before, she was also breathing heavily. Naruto could practically see the weariness settling in.

"You are very good. I'll give you that. It's almost unfair that you could become this strong without any serious training, and I have little doubt you'll get stronger and improve over time simply by virtue of your natural talent," Naruto declared honestly. Ravel immediately perked up while smirking proudly. His words clearly agreed with her. Naruto then stated bluntly, "But I've finished studying your overall ability, and you come up short on what is necessary to defeat me."

That didn't agree with Ravel as much. Crossing her arms, she raised an eyebrow as she asked haughtily despite her disheveled state, "Is that so?"

"Yep," Naruto replied with a smile. Holding up a hand, he formed a Rasengan as he added, "I'll now show you the difference between you and I."

With that, Naruto darted at Ravel. Head on. Ravel frowned. She was confident the attack couldn't harm her, but this battle was not going they way she had predicted. She was…losing. It was galling to admit, but it was true. If she wanted to win, she couldn't take anything for granted. Which meant she had to act as if that attack could finish her.

Calling upon her dwindling demonic power, she formed fireballs in each hand. Slamming them together, she combined them to form a single large attack. With that she launched it at the approaching Naruto. This attack had been powerful enough to overpower the fallen angel's attack. Unless he did those weird hand things, he couldn't match the power of it.

Naruto just grinned as he looked at the approaching fire attack. He didn't plan on tackling it head on. Instead Naruto dropped into a slide, and slid right under the attack. The fire was so close Naruto had a feeling his skin would develop several light burns just from the proximity…but he got through. The attack passed over him safely. As soon as he cleared the fire, he popped back up to his feet.

Ravel was wide open. Eyes wide at the unexpected dodge, she didn't have time to dodge or counter. Naruto lifted his Rasengan. He didn't shove it into Ravel though. No, instead he dropped to a crouch five feet in front of her. He then dug the Rasengan into the ground. The soft earth might as well have been water for all the resistance it gave. As soon as the Rasengan was sunk into the ground as much as it could go, Naruto let the attack destabilize. The release of energy created an explosion, which Naruto controlled to release in Ravel's direction. The explosion of energy carried the dirt with it. The result. A wave of dirt that crashed into Ravel.

Ravel reacted in the way anyone would when pelted with soil. Letting out a cry, she closed her eyes and lifted her arms to shield her face. Which left her completely open to an attack.

Naruto moved at her. Passing by her side, Naruto grabbed her wrist with his hand. His other hand rose to grab her upper arm. Using those two handholds as a grip, Naruto continued running past her. He then used that momentum against Ravel, as with a roar Naruto pulled her arm to throw her in the direction he had been running. Naruto distinctly felt her shoulder dislocate from the force. With a panicked cry, Ravel was helpless as she was sent flying in the direction of the forest that wasn't on fire. Like a bullet she flew before she was stopped after smashing through several trees.

Naruto watched in satisfaction. That no doubt hurt her. Considering her previous state, she was no doubt close to breaking. When someone is close to breaking though, they tend to fight back even harder. Better be prepared. Naruto already had a plan.

Fire erupted from the forest where Ravel had been sent, setting even more of the forest on fire. She then burst out of the flames, flying into the air. Pausing in the air above Naruto, it revealed that the wings of flame on Ravel's back were at least double their previous size. Wasting demonic power needlessly. Yep, Ravel is on her last breath here. A candle always burns brightest right before it goes out after all.

Calm as a cucumber, Naruto lifted a rock in his hand. He then lobbed it into the air high above Ravel. It wouldn't at any point be near Ravel.

Feeling like he was mocking her, Ravel saw red. Screaming in rage, her entire body lit up in flames. Raising her hands above her head, the fire started gathering at one point. Ignoring her lowering energy levels, Ravel put as much demonic power into the attack as she could. She didn't stop until the flames burned with a white center.

"Just disappear already!" Ravel yelled as she sent the attack flying at Naruto. As soon as the attack was sent flying it exploded outwards, turning into a wall of flames.

Naruto just smiled as the attack consumed him.

Ravel panted as the fire died down. She was desperately gulping down air, and she was sure she'd be sweating like a pig if the heat of the flames hadn't evaporated it all. Even her demonic power, which had always been her greatest advantage, was running on empty. She had hit her limit, but that infuriating blonde was finally done.

Wait a second…There was no announcement.

Sensing something, Ravel looked up with wide eyes. All she saw was a descending foot before it connected with the top of her head. The axe kick had horrific power, and sent her speeding to the ground. For the second time that day, Ravel hit the ground headfirst.

Naruto rolled his shoulders as he stayed in the air after the attack. Calm, he watched Ravel laying on the ground trying to recover. Her regeneration might have fixed any real damage, but there were several things it couldn't fix. Like stamina. Ravel was clearly out of stamina. Not to mention an attack straight to the head likely left her dizzy, even if the actual damage was healed.

It took half a minute for Ravel to finally work her way to her feet. After a second though, she collapsed onto her hands and knees. Panting as her muscles were shaking from the strain they hadn't ever felt before, Ravel could only lift her head to glare at Naruto. She then demanded in a weak voice, "H-How?"

Naruto didn't answer the question although the answer was quite simple. After throwing her, Naruto had created a clone. The real one had then transformed into a rock. The clone threw the rock into the air above her. The clone made her waste that powerful attack for no gain, and the original got to land a powerful attack.

Ravel should have noticed that. The explosive note wrapped around the rock earlier would have made her suspicious of the weird move. She would have suspected something was up. The fight had left her panicked and desperate enough that she hadn't noticed though.

"You can't win," Naruto stated simply.

Naruto hated the 'you can't win' speech. So many enemies had said it to him before, and he had repeatedly proved them wrong. He never thought he would say it himself, but here he was. Defeating a Phenex was as much about defeating them mentally as physically. Naruto had already proved he was stronger than her. Now he just needed to force her to accept that.

He didn't want to fight her anymore. Honestly…he was starting to get bored.

On one hand, Ravel was amazingly powerful. With her bishop enhancement, she was equal to Rias in terms of demonic power. Combine that with her easy control over fire and you have a powerful fire user. She's smart and observant, quick to notice fighting habits of opponents. She even theoretically knows what to do in a fight, managing to use positioning in a battle quite well. Add in her immortality and you have a dangerous opponent.

On the other hand though, she had a number of deficiencies. Experience obviously. She had clearly studied battles extensively, and thus can formulate proper methods of battle. At the start of the battle against Naruto and Raynare she had moved brilliantly. You don't always get to think in battle though. You have to be able to act on instinct. Act without thought. When Naruto started to press her, Ravel fell apart. At the beginning she had actually bested Naruto be stalling him long enough to eliminate Raynare, but afterwards the strategically planned moves stopped in favor of repeated fireballs. Which was another problem of Ravel's. With her it was fire, fire, and more fire. A fireball was eventually her answer to everything. She didn't even use any wind.

Naruto really preferred the fight against Karlamine. Ravel would almost certainly defeat Karlamine in a battle, but that was by pure virtue of their power difference. Karlamine trumped Ravel when it came to experience and skill. Every move Naruto had made in their battle, Karlamine had her own counter. She adapted and changed to fight Naruto as efficiently as possible. Ravel…not so much. Naruto used clones. Ravel used fire. Naruto used wind techniques, Ravel used fire. Naruto used taijutsu. Ravel used fire…The pattern was clear.

Ravel had come on strong, but she simply lacked the ability to continue that momentum. She kept doing the same tricks, expecting different results. She was like a lost child. With Naruto having figured out those tricks and devised counters, she was helpless. Even more so now that she's run out of stamina.

Naruto made sure to keep flying. His elevated position making his words even more powerful. "Just admit your loss. I've figured out your fighting style. You've nearly run out of demonic power. Physically your stamina is gone. Even your immortality is failing. I am different. I've used little chakra against you, and have sustained few wounds beside some light burns. I have stamina to spare. The difference is clear. Fighting will achieve you nothing. So just accept your defeat gracefully, and forfeit. I don't want to hurt you anymore than I already have."

Ravel's pride was flaring, but she couldn't deny his words. Ravel had used basically all her demonic power in that last attack. She could regenerate it given time, but she didn't have time. Her body was aching as well. Even if she hadn't been moving around a whole lot, fighting of any kind requires some stamina. Considering her lack of proper training and comfortable lifestyle, it was a surprise her stamina had even lasted so long. Not to mention _she hurt. _She had no real wounds, but her body had received more damage in this battle than she had in her entire life before. Phantom pains were plaguing her. Just standing up would be a challenge in her current state.

It was all too much for her, with her opponent staring down at her. Opening her mouth, she hesitatingly started, "I-I…I surr-"

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With a wave of her hand, Akeno created a multitude of thunder strikes. They came from all directions, surrounding the enemy queen completely.

Yubelluna cursed. Her fire was unsuited for blocking so many attacks. With a wave of her hand, she constructed a series of red magic circles. They formed a box around her. The constructed barrier endured the thunder that attacked it from all sides.

As soon as it ended, Yubelluna waved her hand again. The magic circled rearranged themselves, lining up. Utilizing the remaining demonic power in them, Yubelluna channeled that power into a fire spell.

An attack which Akeno met head on. Thunder formed around her hand. Throwing it forward, a large thunder bolt went shooting forth to meet the fire attack. The two attacks distorted each other, trying to gain dominance. They then exploded when neither gained the advantage, nullifying each other.

"Ufufufu, this is so much fun, Bomb Queen. Don't you agree?" Akeno remarked, a blush on her face. She even licked her lips sensually, showing the battle was arousing her.

Yubelluna stayed quiet, not letting her opponent's actions get to her.

The battle had not gone as she had expected. A battle between two wizard types comes down to a few different factors. Compatibility, power, control, and finally demonic power. Compatibility refers to elemental advantages. A water mage will naturally have the advantage against a fire mage. Neither had the advantage here. Fire and thunder were relatively equal elements, which tend to nullify each other. Power refers to the amount of demonic power one can easily charge into their attacks. Once again, the two are relatively equal in this field. Control is their ability in using their demonic power. Akeno had the advantage here. She can use multiple elements, while Yubelluna is limited to fire and basic devil spells. Demonic power is overall energy reserves. Akeno had the advantage here as well. Overall it was close, but Akeno definitely had the advantage. Yubelluna wasn't surprised by that. She'd actually come in expecting that.

No, it was the attitude of her opponent that was off-putting. Akeno wasn't acting in a professional manner. Not in the least. Akeno had been attacking with sadistic glee the entire battle. There was no caution at all. All she seemed to care about was hurting her opponent.

And she had been successful. Yubelluna was not unscathed from the battle thus far. Akeno had used a fire spell to destroy the staff Yubelluna had been carrying, her hand being burned as well. A subtle ice spell mixed in with a thunder attack had allowed her to pierce Yubelluna twice with ice spikes. Once above her right hip, and in her right thigh. The blood was dripping down her right leg. The repeated thunder attacks had also often shocked her by virtue of proximity as well. Nothing fight ending, but even minor injuries build up over time.

Akeno's reckless fighting style was a double edged sword though. In her desire to hurt Yubelluna, Akeno had also sustained injuries. Her entire right arm and sleeve had been burned moderately bad, and her left foot and calf had received a burn only slightly less intense. Not to mention her miko clothes were burned by this point, just covering enough to keep her modesty.

Not that Akeno seemed to care. Unlike Yubelluna, who was clearly in pain whenever she had to move, Akeno seemed to be enjoying it. Her face was locked in a blush, and she was frequently giggling happily for no real reason. Yes, Akeno had firmly retreated into her S&amp;M mode. She was thoroughly enjoying the experience of inflicting pain on her opponent and having pain inflicted upon her in turn.

It was starting to get to Yubelluna. Even if she isn't showing it, fighting an opponent who only seemed to grow more aroused as the fight continued was rather disturbing. Really. Akeno was looking at her like a piece of meat she wanted to devour. Very worrying.

At least things were going as they desired. Yubelluna was clearly on the losing end so far, but that was acceptable. She came into this battle expecting to be the weaker one. As long as she injured and tired out her opponent enough before using the phoenix tears she had on her, she would win.

"Ara ara, Bomb Queen. This is fun, don't you think?" Akeno asked in an joyful voice. Yubelluna didn't answer. Akeno didn't seem to care though, and just declared, "But I think it is time to finish up this duel."

Lifting her hands into the air, a large yellow magic circle formed above Akeno. The demonic power was palpable. Akeno was clearly putting everything she had left into this attack.

Yubelluna quickly reciprocated. Gritting her pain as she aggravated her burned hand, Yubelluna put both her hands before her. A red magic circle formed as she did her best to match the power of her opponent.

The demonic power between the two was intense as they charged their attacks for fifteen seconds. Like a lightning rod, a bolt of thunder shot down from the sky to collide with Akeno's magic circle. The thunder was summarily absorbed. With that as her cue, Akeno moved her hands in front of her. The magic circle then regurgitated the thunder it had absorbed, this time aimed directly at Yubelluna. Yubelluna shouted as she shot her magic circle forward. The magic circle itself moved to meet the thunder bolt. As soon as they collided, the magic circle detonated to form a large explosion of flames and heat. The thunder was briefly held back, but then pushed through. Her attack overpowered, Yubelluna had no choice but to take it. Crossing her arms and trying to focus her rook attribute, she waited till the thunder connected.

She screamed in pain as the electricity surged through her system. Blasted out of the sky, she wasn't capable of recovering in time to prevent hitting the ground. Her body dug a trench in the ground before she came to a stop. Letting out a pained groan, she sat up.

That hurt, but she had survived. It also signified that Akeno was done as well. A direct shot like that would have defeated Yubelluna at the beginning of their battle. That she had survived indicated that Akeno was out of demonic power. There was no other explanation for her survival.

Which meant it was time for the phoenix tears.

Yubelluna looked into the sky for her opponent, but was confused to see nothing. Her opponent was gone. Frowning, she struggled to her feet. She could use this opportunity to use the phoenix tears, but she wanted to see her opponent's face when she saw that she had been played. Using what little demonic power she had left, she floated into the air. Her head then swiveled as she searched for her opponent. She simply didn't think her opponent was one to flee entirely, so she had to be nearby.

It was a surge in demonic power that drew her attention. Moving in the direction, she came upon a sight she hadn't expected. Her opponent had alighted down near the edge of the trees, but she wasn't alone. The blonde girl, who was wearing a nun habit, was with her.

The blonde was the source of the demonic power. She was clearly concentrating on something. Based on the amount of demonic power and concentration, it was a high level spell.

Something else alarmed Yubelluna though. A little fact. Riser had spied a bit on Rias before he had gone to the human world to talk to her. Just to get a sense of her peerage. He had found out that nun possessed the sacred gear, Twilight Healing. A sacred gear capable of healing nearly any being of nearly any wound. A healer with her injured opponent. The conclusion was obvious.

Not willing to let her opponent be healed, Yubelluna sent an attack towards the nun. It never hit. As soon as the attack was sent off, the nun let out a cry. A golden barrier formed around the duo, which endured Yubelluna's attack.

"A barrier?" Yubelluna remarked in shock. The nun could form barriers already. Basic barriers aren't exactly uncommon, but the nun had supposedly only been a devil for a bit over a month. To learn to create barriers in such a short time was very rare, and implied a great deal of talent in using demonic power.

The barrier wasn't the strongest. If she was at full power, Yubelluna was sure she could destroy it with brute force. She wasn't at full power though. She was exhausted. Yubelluna couldn't deny the brilliant timing of her opponents. Riser hadn't considered the nun much of a threat. While her healing power was powerful, there were several limitations that made it much less of a threat than it could be. The nun had to be physically present for the healing power to work, which would leave her exposed. To their knowledge the nun hadn't had any noteworthy abilities besides her healing, which would simply make her a liability in the middle of the battlefield. Her comrades would be forced to defend her, which would create openings to finish them before they were healed. The nun could heal them outside of battle, but that would become a non-factor as long as the pressure was kept up to deny them the opportunity. Overall, to properly use a powerful, but limited sacred gear like the Twilight Healing in the middle of a battle would require a level of experience and strategy they had believed Rias Gremory lacked.

Which now came to bite Yubelluna in the ass. While she had focused on wearing Akeno down to use phoenix tears, her opponent had been doing the same to her. Once Yubelluna was exhausted herself, the nun came out. Putting up a barrier that Yubelluna was too tired to destroy, the nun was now able to heal Akeno.

Just as Yubelluna believed, Asia had turned to Akeno as soon as she put up a barrier. Reaching into a pocket, she pulled out a vial filled with a purple liquid. Holding it out for Akeno, Asia told her in concern, "Quickly drink this. It will taste bad, but drink all of it. I'll start healing you."

"G-Got it. Thanks, Asia," Akeno replied with pain in her voice. Now that she had exited her S&amp;M mode, the burns on her arm and leg were just plain hurting. Not just pleasurable tingles anymore.

Taking the vial, she opened it. Taking a quick sniff, Akeno couldn't help frowning in displeasure. It smelled horrible. Forcing herself, she threw back her head and drank the potion. Choking it down, she still felt a small warmth start spreading through her belly.

"Kareha-san," Asia called out as she held her hands up to Akeno's burns.

"I know," Kareha called out as she flew towards the two. She quickly began flying in rapid circles above Akeno, golden dust falling down from her trail.

Rias had clearly explained how important Asia's Twilight Healing was to their group, but Naruto had been quick to point out Asia was relatively vulnerable. So they had quickly come up with a plan to protect her until she was needed. At the beginning of the game Akeno had created a thick fog. The main purpose of that fog was actually to hide Asia. Asia had been waiting near the edge of the forest, hiding in the fog. That final attack of Akeno's where she drew lightning down from the sky not only acted as an attack, but also as a signal for Asia to come out to heal her.

The healing then consisted of three parts. Asia naturally would heal any wounds Akeno had accumulated, but that wasn't enough alone. Akeno also needed to recover her demonic power. Rias had asked Asia to brew up a potion that helped recover energy. Asia was still limited to beginner level potions, so the effect was limited. The potion would recover roughly 25% of Akeno's demonic power over ten minutes or so. Not amazing, but enough to possibly make all the difference. Kareha was also using her fairy dust on Akeno. Kareha's dust could recover around 33% of a person's energy. Put together, Akeno would recover half of her demonic power.

Sending a smug smile towards her opponent, Akeno called out, "Just a minute, Bomb Queen. I'll be right out."

Frowning at her inability to stop her opponent from being treated, Yubelluna was still confident. Lifting a hand, she summoned a small magic circle that dropped a small vial in her hand. Phoenix tears.

Produced by the Phenex Clan, phoenix tears were one of the most power restorative agents in any world. The healing ability of phoenix tears was most concentrated when applied directly to wounds, being capable of healing even fatal injuries near instantly. If one lacked a fatal injury though, the best method of using phoenix tears was to drink it. The healing effects would then be spread throughout the entire body, healing every wound a person has. At least any nonfatal wound. Any leftover energy was then used to restore the person's energy levels. Based on her current condition, Yubelluna would not only be healed entirely, but would regain the majority of her demonic power reserves.

Phoenix tears were actually restricted in Rating Games for this very reason. They were just too powerful. Phoenix tears could only be used twice per game, unless a rule was announced that contradicted that.

Whose healing technique was superior? Yubelluna would bet on the phoenix tears.

Before she could drink the phoenix tears, a voice spoke up by her ear, "Lady! Hey, over here."

Yubelluna automatically turned, her eyes wide in surprise at the unexpected occurrence. She quickly found herself staring at a figure no more than six inches tall. The dark-skinned fairy smirked at her, while waving at her. She just stared, baffled by the weird event. Something which Chikyu took advantage of.

By spitting in her eye.

Yubelluna acted as anyone would in such a situation. Letting out a cry, her free hand rose to try and wipe the spit/dirt from her eye. The hand holding the phoenix tears also loosened, which was what Chikyu wanted. He moved to that hand. Grabbing onto one of her fingers, he opened his mouth wide before biting into it with his needle-sharp teeth. Yelping, Yubelluna let go to wring her hand out due to the stinging sensation. She immediately realized that she had let go of the phoenix tears, but Chikyu had acted to take advantage of the involuntary reaction. Grabbing the bottle of phoenix tears in his arms, he immediately darted to the ground. Instead of pulling up, he went full speed into the dirt. The earth fairy ghosted into the dirt harmlessly, but the bottle of phoenix tears wasn't so lucky. It broke open, spilling its precious contents onto the ground. Phoenix tears became impotent when mixed with anything, so they lost any power from this.

Yubelluna just stared with wide eyes, trying to comprehend what had just happened…Did a fairy just jack her phoenix tears?

"Ara ara. Chikyu-kun did very well," Akeno spoke up from where she was still being tended. Sending a victorious at Yubelluna, Akeno added, "Looks like this is checkmate for you, Bomb Queen."

Yubelluna snarled in response, but her mind was already racing. Considering the healing her opponent is undergoing, she wasn't in any shape to take on Akeno in her current shape. She needed phoenix tears to win this. Her own were now gone, but someone else had some.

Her solution found, Yubelluna turned her back on Akeno. She then started flying as fast as she could in the direction she had repeatedly seen fire from. She needed to find Ravel. Thankfully the two battles hadn't been too far from each other, so she arrived there in under a minute. She was astonished by what she saw.

Ravel Phenex was in bad shape. She was on her hands and knees, looking to weak to stand up. She was looking upwards at a blonde who was flying above her. Yubelluna immediately recognized him as the rook that had insulted her king. He looked somewhat worn. Much of his clothes were burned or torn, and his skin sported a number of light burns. Despite that though, he looked unbothered. His posture and air of confidence showed that he was still ready to go.

Yubelluna was shocked that her master's younger sister looked to have been defeated by, who they all believed, had been a arrogant rook with more bark than bite. It meant there was another heavy hitter on the enemy team. Just another reason she needs those phoenix tears.

Quickly acting to save Ravel, Yubelluna launched the most powerful attack she could in her weakened condition at the back of the blonde.

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Naruto sensed the attack just a moment before it hit him. Moving to the side, he narrowly avoided the attack from connecting perfectly. Instead of hitting his back, it connected with his left wing. The resulting explosion not only removed the appendage, but sent Naruto tumbling uncontrollably out of the air from losing the wing and the shockwaves of the explosion. Hitting the ground heavily, his body dug a short trench before coming to a stop.

Naruto cursed as he struggled to his feet. Okay, that had hurt. The overall damage was little though. The attack had not only been off target, but had lacked much punch. He would have survived a direct attack. As it is, the only real damage was the destroyed wing and a few scrapes. The wing would regenerate. They were more natural manifestations of demonic power than physical limbs. He'd be relegated to the ground for a few minutes, but that isn't much of a problem.

Once he got back to his feet, he looked for the culprit behind the sneak attack. So he quickly found the enemy queen alighting next to Ravel. She looked to be in rough shape.

"Yubelluna," Ravel exclaimed in relief at the sight of her ally.

"Ravel-sama. Quick, I need your phoenix tears," Yubelluna declared quickly.

"What? What happened to yours?" Ravel questioned in confusion.

"…A fairy took them," Yubelluna answered after a second of hesitation. That really just sounded like a bad excuse.

"…A fairy?" Ravel asked, looking to be unsure whether to be disbelieving or bewildered.

"Ah, so Chikyu managed it. Good man," Naruto commented, drawing the attention of the two. Shrugging, he pitched in helpfully, "He's one of my familiars."

"You! You own that little monster! He spit dirt in my eye!" Yubelluna raged as she pointed at her eye that was still closed.

"Yeah, he does that," Naruto remarked in amusement. It was funny when it happened to someone else for once.

Yubelluna looked like she wanted to strangle Naruto, but instead to turned to Ravel and said, "So I need your phoenix tears, Ravel-sama."

"O-Of course," Ravel stuttered out as she finally managed to digest the situation. She had basically been beaten into the ground, and the ally who saved her was in bad condition herself.

Ravel created a magic circle to summon the phoenix tears. Naruto prepared to run to prevent her from handing it off, but he didn't need to. A dark crimson beam of energy shot from somewhere behind Yubelluna. Narrowly missing the queen, it headed towards its true target. Ravel and the phoenix tears. The arm holding the phoenix tears and a good third of her torso was annihilated by the attack.

Ravel's regeneration ensured the attack didn't overly harm her, but it still took something important. Ravel stared with disbelieving eyes at her regenerated hand. A hand which had previously been holding the bottle of phoenix tears, but was now empty.

Relaxing, Naruto called out with a grin, "Great timing, Rias-chan."

Yubelluna spun in disbelief to watch as Rias appeared from thin air. The illusion that had been hiding her dropping. It wasn't just that either. Her demonic power had appeared from nothing just a second before that attack shot off.

Rias smiled in satisfaction as she replied happily, "Thank you, Naruto-kun. I barely made it in time."

"What the hell is happening?" Yubelluna screamed, not understanding what had just happened.

Rias grinned smugly, crossing her arms under her breasts as she explained, "After I dispatched the three pawns at our base, I went to the school yard where you and Akeno were battling. Between my illusion and the seal Naruto developed to suppress demonic power, you never even noticed me."

Naruto now took over, "See our original plan was this. After Raynare and I defeated the group that confronted us, we would wait for Yuuto and Koneko to join us. We would rest here until we saw the signal Akeno sent out that said Asia would start healing her. We would then go to the school yard and meet up with Rias-chan. Chikyu was sent with Akeno to try and prevent you to use your phoenix tears, but our plan would manage for both possibilities. If Chikyu failed, we would all team up to eliminate you. If Chikyu succeeded, we would cut off any attempt by you to retreat. After taking you out, we would head to the new school building to confront Riser."

Naruto looked at Ravel as he continued, "Ravel unfortunately ruined that plan. We figured you would retreat to Riser after the ambush. So not only did Yuuto, Koneko, and Raynare end up eliminated, but I was stuck here fighting her. So I couldn't go meet with Rias."

Rias now elaborated while looking at Yubelluna, "Since I was left alone, I positioned myself between you and the new school building to cut off a possible retreat to regroup with Riser. Unfortunately by instead heading to the sport's field, you bypassed me entirely. I ran to catch up, coming up behind you guys just as Ravel pulled out the phoenix tears. We originally didn't care about the phoenix tears Ravel was most likely carrying since our plan was to defeat everyone else before confronting her and Riser. Phoenix tears would do little for a Phenex. I naturally didn't want you to use her phoenix tears. I saw a chance to remove them, and I took it."

There it was. Their master plan. Things didn't end up so nicely, but they managed to adapt nicely.

Yubelluna and Ravel both looked shocked by their plans.

"Ara ara, don't start the fun without us," a voice called out. Everyone turned to see Akeno flying towards them, Asia hanging with her arms around the queen's neck.

Yubelluna and Ravel both realized their situation as Akeno alighted on the ground. Both of them were injured and tired. All the remaining opponents had gathered. All of them looked fresher than them. This was definitely not an ideal situation.

Yubelluna decided to make the first strike in an attempt to catch their opponents off guard. Her target was Akeno and Asia. The two were the closest together, so an explosion might have the chance of injuring both of them.

Surprisingly, it was Asia that managed to act first. Holding her hands out in front, she created a quick barrier before them. The quick barrier was weak, but so was the attack from the exhausted Yubelluna. It held against the explosion, and a cloud of smoke briefly covered the area.

Until Akeno darted out of it, heading towards Yubelluna. Her hands were sparking from her power. Yubelluna was too exhausted to try and counterattack in time, but Ravel managed a quick blast of fire. Rias was ready for that though, and negated it with her Power of Destruction. Which left Yubelluna wide open for Akeno's attack.

Pressing her hands against her opponent's stomach, Akeno announced with a beatific smile not fitting the situation, "Bye bye, Bomb Queen."

And with that, the full power of the attack struck. A massive ball of electricity engulfed Yubelluna. Screaming in agony, she was helpless as the attack carried her backwards. The attack continued on till the tree line. The attack destroyed a few trees before finally ending. Then-

[Riser-sama's Queen, retired.]

"Yubelluna was…" Ravel exclaimed in horror.

They hadn't ever expected for Yubelluna to be eliminated in this match. Yubelluna had only been eliminated in two games before. Both times at heavy cost for the opponents, and at times that Riser had deemed her loss acceptable. This match they hadn't contemplated Yubelluna losing. They had given her phoenix tears, and hadn't figured the opponents to be powerful enough to challenge her.

Seems a lot of their assumptions coming into this match were faulty, and they had been paying for it since the beginning.

"Seems like it is just you now," Naruto whispered, having used Ravel's shock to sneak behind her.

Ravel stiffened before automatically turning and trying to blast him with fire. Using his hand to catch her arm, Naruto then used that grip to throw her away. Landing roughly, she rolled several times before coming to a stop. Struggling to her feet, she looked at the group of opponent's. She was clearly intimidated by the impossible odds against her.

Instead of looking back at her, they all looked upwards as they sensed the powerful source of demonic power. A figure appeared above them, wings of fire holding him up. Riser had arrived.

Seeing a large ball of fire form in his hands, Asia quickly created a barrier. Unfortunately, Riser's attack was on a different level than Yubelluna's. The barrier shattered before the force, and they were forced to scatter to avoid being fried.

The group got back to their feet, smoke covering the area they were in. They waited as it cleared to show that Riser had landed near Ravel. He didn't pay them much attention, instead looking around the field.

"Tsk, I was hoping to arrive in time to save Yubelluna after I heard the second bottle of phoenix tears was destroyed. Seems I was too late," Riser remarked in dissatisfaction. Turning to Ravel, he continued, "At least you are safe, Ravel. Although need I remind you that I ordered you to never fight in my Rating Games. You are my bishop as a fashion and status symbol only. You'll be traded as soon as you or our parents decide upon a new family for you to join. I shall not use a piece I know shall be leaving me soon."

Seemed Ravel's decision to fight went against Riser's orders. The other information was somewhat confusing, at least for Naruto. A fashion and status symbol. Naruto doesn't understand the fashion part, but he at least understands the status part. Kings are judged by the strength of their peerage. For one to have a pure-blood devil, high-class devil in their peerage was a large achievement. Having Ravel in his peerage no doubt boosted Riser's prestige noticeably, even if she hadn't ever fought in his battles.

Ravel looked slightly chastised, but still argued stubbornly, "The marriage between you and Rias-sama is more important than your ego, Onii-sama. I couldn't allow you to lose this match."

"I do not need you to win my matches, Ravel. I shall do that myself," Riser declared in a tone that clearly closed the debate. Turning away from Ravel, his eyes raked over Naruto, Akeno, Asia, before finally landing on Rias. He then claimed, "You have done well, Rias. Much better than I expected…But this is the end. You performed well. If you surrender now, people shall remember that. You have nothing to be ashamed of."

Rias frowned and swiped her arms as she exclaimed, "I intend to win this battle, Riser. Anything less in unacceptable."

Riser scoffed before asserting confidently, "Yet it is impossible. You did well against my servants, but I am on a whole different level. You know this…You cannot beat me."

His words weren't totally as arrogant as they seemed. Riser was on a whole different level from his servants. Even Ravel. Ravel was strong, but she had several clear weaknesses that made her far less dangerous than she could be. Weaknesses that Riser didn't have, or were far less apparent in him. Naruto doubted Riser ever trained a day in his life, but neither had Ravel. Their pure talent and inherent bloodline abilities were what made them so strong. Even doing nothing, they will still improve over time. Riser had at least five years on Ravel, so his demonic power reserves and overall skill are no doubt higher. Riser has also fought in Rating Games before. He wasn't a newbie like Ravel when it came to actual battles. He had experience. Riser wasn't called a genius for nothing. He really was strong.

Their side wasn't quite as well off. Rias was as fresh as could be hoped for, but she was rather useless against Riser. That sounds harsh, but it was true. Her Power of Destruction was a bad match for Riser's immortality. The Power of Destruction was so feared because of its pure lethality, but as stated before the Phenex Regeneration was centered on countering 'lethal' techniques. So Rias' main strength was rendered useless here. Akeno was a bit better off, but not much. The only chance she had of seriously hurting Riser was if she combined light with her thunder to create lightning. Something she was both reluctant to do, and has no experience doing. Not to mention she wasn't completely healed from her battle with Yubelluna. Asia has no offensive capabilities, and her barriers aren't strong enough yet to block any of Riser's attack. She'd be a liability in battle as they'd have to protect her. Naruto himself had proved he could defeat a Phenex, but he wasn't in the best shape. Kareha was doing her best to restore his energy, but there were limits. He's been in two long battles by this point, and so his stamina might not be up for an extremely long battle of killing Riser over and over again.

Thinking about it logically, they were actually at the disadvantage despite their numbers.

Luckily, Naruto wasn't one constrained by logic. Removing his armored gloves casually, Naruto asked mockingly with a raised eyebrow, "Really? You are so sure we can't beat you?"

Looking down at Naruto, Riser replied in a haughty voice, "Of course."

"Completely sure?"

"Yes."

"Totally, absolute, 100% sure?"

"Naturally."

"So if I walked up to you, right now…There is absolutely nothing I could do that would defeat you."

"No, there isn't."

Giving a playful smile, Naruto shrugged as he commented, "Alrighty then."

With that, Naruto started to walk towards Riser. Not fast or slow. Just a normal walk. Riser raised an eyebrow in amusement, but didn't do anything. Ravel looked cautious, but Riser was completely confident. He just smirked as Naruto finally came to a stop just inches in front of him. Naruto looked up at the slightly taller blonde, a wide grin on his face. Nothing happened for several seconds.

…

…

"Bitch slap!"

A loud smack rang through the area from Naruto's palm impacting Riser's cheek. Riser's anger spiked at the action. To be disrespected like that. Riser prepared to roast the infuriating rook.

Instead his body crapped out on him. Riser just fell to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut. Not elegant or graceful at all. A total flop.

As soon as his hand had impacted Riser's cheek, Naruto had shot off at Ravel. She tried to stop him in a panic, but she was too tired and exhausted to really put up a fight. Clasping her hand in his own, Ravel struggled for a second before her body too fell limp. Unlike Riser though, Naruto caught her.

Lowering her to the ground, Naruto was forced to listen as she yelled out in panic, "What is this? What did you do?!"

Sighing, Naruto looked at her and claimed, "Don't worry. I'll be explaining to Riser in a minute. You can listen, but I'd rather you didn't talk. Ruins the mood, you know."

"Are you an-" Ravel started, but was stopped halfway through when Naruto shoved something in her mouth.

"I was going to do this the easy way, but you don't seem like you'll stay quiet. So the hard way it is," Naruto grunted out with a shrug.

Naruto removed his hand to show that he had shoved a ball gag in Ravel's mouth. Rias blushed slightly as she recognized it as the same gag that had been used on her. Naruto stood up, ignoring Ravel's muffles of outrage.

Turning towards Rias, Naruto shot her a piece sign as he announced gleefully, "It worked!"

"I'm actually a bit surprised it did," Rias admitted before continuing, "Seems you proved me wrong, Naruto-kun."

"Never doubt Uzumaki Naruto, Rias-chan. It's just not smart," Naruto told her smugly.

"Stop ignoring me, dammit," Riser growled out.

Showing Rias he'll take care of it, Naruto walked over to where the immobile Riser was. Naruto kicked him none too gently to roll him onto his back. Stepping till Naruto was standing over Riser entirely, Naruto crouched down.

"I know you are arrogant, but that was still pathetically easy to trick you. Letting an opponent walk up to you and take a free shot? Are secretly an idiot?" Naruto questioned mockingly. "I know I played off your confidence and all that, but did you really have to make it so easy? All it took was a few sentences to make you give me a free shot. That's just stupid, you know."

Growling, Riser spat out, "Shut the hell up, you peasant. What have you done to me? I demand an answer."

Giving Riser a smug grin, Naruto indulged him by explaining, "You see, I know this obscure art called fuinjutsu. The art of sealing. With that ten day grace period you were so kind to give us, I managed to develop a specific type of seal. By placing it on my hands before we started, I then applied it to you through skin contact. Its purpose is to seal all movement of the victim from the neck down, which you are now bearing witness to."

It was a seal Jiraiya had showed him during their training trip. The Seal of Subjugation was mainly used as a way to allow the easier interrogation of prisoners. It would seal the victim's ability to resist in any way, but would still allow them to talk. It also wouldn't interfere in vital bodily functions like the beating of the person's heart. Usually it had to be applied directly to a person's body, but Naruto managed to modify it with a Transference Seal. That way he could draw it up on a scroll, put it on his own skin, and then transfer it to someone else through skin contact.

There were plenty of downsides though. The seal took up quite a long time to draw up, upwards of three hours each. The Transference Seal also destabilized the entire seal. Not in a way that would make it fail, but the seal would very quickly break down. It would only last on a scroll for three days, and just one hour when on Naruto's skin. The Transference Seal was also automatic. The seal would activate on the first person to touch the seal directly. Naruto didn't control who it would work on. A careless brush from a teammate would turn them into the victim.

Naruto got around these issues in various ways. He wrote up the seals two days ago, and used his gloves to prevent anyone from touching the seals after he transferred them to his hands. He then removed those gloves as he talked to Riser. The seal on the right hand was then used on Riser. The left on Ravel.

It was still very much a seal that could only work under specific conditions though. Naruto needed to know exactly when a battle would happen in advance otherwise he wouldn't be able to create the seal in the proper time frame for it to be viable. The surprise of the attack was also vital. Naruto hadn't dared use the seal on Ravel at risk of warning the more powerful Riser of the danger. Not to mention the time limit. If the Rating Game lasted longer than an hour, a very real possibility since some of the longest Rating Games can last days, the seal would break down before Naruto could use it.

Naruto naturally had backup plans, but this was easily the best option for defeating Riser.

"Such a cowardly method of fighting," Riser claimed with a sneer.

"Please. It is called being smart. I enjoy a good brawl as much as the next guy, but you aren't exactly a guy that can be dealt with like that. I'm man enough to admit that I'd probably lose if I fought you upfront, no tricks," Naruto acknowledged without shame.

"At least you know your place," Riser said with an arrogant smirk.

"I do…It's above you. If you haven't noticed, I am the one standing while you are on the ground. Not a position to be acting all high and mighty about," Naruto pointed out while crossing his arms.

Riser didn't lose any of his confidence at Naruto's words, instead retorting instantly, "Take pleasure while it lasts because it won't last for long. I'll admit to being impressed by this 'seal' thing, but this is far from over. I am still immortal. You can take all the shots you want at me right now, but it will do you no good. If anything, you'll only be hastening your end. I very much doubt that my body will regenerate with this 'seal' still on me. Once it is removed, I'll make sure to punish you for every insult you've paid me."

He had a point. The seal had moved to Riser's neck, looking like some form of a collar. The Subjugation Seal was meant to restrain a prisoner. It wasn't constructed to withstand damage to the sealing matrix. As soon as the seal was damaged, it will fail. No seal, no helpless Riser.

Naruto just rolled his eyes though, and exclaimed in exasperation, "Please. You think I haven't considered that. You really are a fool if you believe your healing factor is so flawless. I'll confess it is amazing concerning battle injuries, but it is focused around the type of injuries one would obtain in battle. There are plenty of other methods of harming you that I doubt your regeneration can help. Such as…Maybe burying you alive."

Riser's eyes nearly popped out of his head at that, his skin also turned pale. It was unlikely even a Phenex could survive being buried alive while incapable of moving. Naruto's not quite sure if you can burn dirt, but Naruto doubts it. So getting your lungs filled with dirt would be a viable way of killing a Phenex. Not to mention fire consumes oxygen, so it was very unlikely the Phenex's regeneration born from flames could prevent them from suffocating. Yes. Burying Riser alive would have a high chance of killing him.

Laughing at Riser's realization, Naruto threw his arms out wide as he declared, "I see you finally realize. There are actually a lot of methods that could successfully kill you. The problem is that these methods would be very difficult to manage if you were fighting me at the time, but you just so happen to be immobile and helpless right now. So those options are complete feasible right now."

"Don't worry though. I don't want to kill you," Naruto stated with a shrug before elaborating, "After all, I just need to make you give up. Seasoned torturers are supposedly able to make victims wish for death after just a few hours. I once knew a guy who managed to managed to make a room full of soldiers with years of experience run away with just words. Good for you, I'm not a seasoned torturer. Bad for you, I am a fuinjutsu expert. Which is just as bad because it means I can do this."

Crouching down, Naruto ripped Riser's jacket open. With Riser's chest now accessible, Naruto moved to sit down beside him. Pulling out a set of sealing tools, Naruto quickly started writing on Riser's chest with elegant brushstrokes.

"Hey. What are you doing? Stop that!" Riser protested futilely, completely helpless to stop Naruto.

Naruto ignored Riser completely, focusing on the seal he was creating. Rias, Akeno, and Asia had all sat down to rest. They had nothing else to do. This battle was won. Riser just hadn't made it official yet. Ravel was still trying to scream from around the gag, but gradually fell silent when all that achieved was to exacerbate how much she was drooling around the ball gag.

It took fifteen minutes for Naruto to finish applying the seal. Letting out a relieved sigh, he sealed up his equipment. He then stood back up.

"What the hell did you do to me?" Riser demanded angrily, clearly not happy about his position or being ignored.

Sending him a smile, Naruto made a hand seal as he replied cheerfully, "Why would I tell you when I can show you?"

"What do yo-AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Riser started before cutting off to let out a scream of pure agony. The seal was lit up on Riser's skin.

Naruto let it go on for about five seconds before dropping the hand seal. Riser immediately stopped screaming, his face going slack as he panted heavily from the excruciating ordeal. His body hadn't moved at all when he was screaming, but that was just the paralysis seal at work. Riser had clearly been in agony.

"Yep. This is a torture seal. This is actually my first time using it. It synchronizes with your nervous system to send signals that your brain interprets as pain. Nasty, isn't it? That was actually a pretty mild usage. The full power ones tend to leave the victims as vegetables," Naruto explained clearly. He really hated using this seal. Not even Riser deserved to be tortured, but this was the best way to force him to surrender. Very little was more intimidating than an opponent capable of causing you agonizing pain by a hand seal.

"Ha…ha…I'll kill you," Riser muttered out, clearly still affected by the pain he had just experienced. His anger apparently surpassed that though as he spat at Naruto furiously, "You dare treat me like this?! Do you know who I am? I am a mighty member of the Phenex Clan? A high class devil with an honorable bloodline and inherent talent you can't even contemplate. You are just a low-class devil. A human who was lucky enough to be reincarnated. You are below me! You will always be below me!"

Naruto didn't flinch away. He actually chuckled as he replied with a wide smile, "Keep telling yourself that, Riser. I don't care because…It doesn't matter…It doesn't matter if I'm a low-class devil and you are a high-class devil. It doesn't matter that I am a reincarnated devil and you are a pure-blood. It doesn't matter if I grew up an orphan while you are from a pillar family. Those things might matter in that little fantasy world you believe to be true, but the real world doesn't work that way. What matters is what we make of ourselves. With enough effort, anyone can become great. Even a low-class devil like myself can defeat a high-class devil like you."

Naruto kneeled down there. Gripping Riser's neck in his hand, he straightened. Naruto easily raised lifted Riser into the air with a single arm. As Riser dangled helplessly, Naruto continued, "And I did defeat you. And you want to know what that means? It means that right now…regardless of what station in life either of us occupy…in this instant…**I own you!**"

With that ominous statement setting in to Riser, Naruto formed half a hand seal as he finished bluntly, "So I'm going to tell you your two options. Either you can surrender now…Or you can refuse, and I activate the seal a few more time. And then you surrender…Make your choice."

Riser glared at Naruto while gritting his teeth. Naruto just met his eyes sternly. Riser finally backed down by lowering his eyes meekly, finally being forced to accept his defeat.

"I…forfeit."

As soon as those words came from Riser's mouth, Naruto dropped him. Leaving the defeated opponent behind, Naruto turned towards where Rias, Akeno, and Asia were standing. Naruto immediately shot Rias a grin. He then gave her a peace sign as he declared gleefully, "There you go, Rias-chan. Uzumaki Naruto for the win. One engagement, broken."

Rias actually looked like she wanted to cry. The years of stress. The years of fear. The years of knowing she might be forced to marry someone she doesn't love. It all seemed to drain out of her as her eyes started to overflow. Trying to hold it in for several seconds, the dam finally broke. The tears running down her face were offset by the beautiful smile of relief that spread across her face. Delighted laughter bursting out of her mouth, Rias moved suddenly. Running at Naruto, she jumped to catch him in a hug. Naruto was shocked, but managed to stay upright. His own laughter quickly joined in with her own. Asia and Akeno stayed back, smiling as they watched the scene.

[Riser-sama forfeits. The winner of this Rating Game is Rias Gremory.]

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

_ "Good evening, everyone. The Gremory Clan thanks you for attending this party. We are hosting this party to celebrate the heiress apparent of our clan's first victory in the Rating Game. An array of drinks are currently being served, and food shall be served soon. I hope you all enjoy the party."_

Apparently invitations for a party had already been sent out to many different nobles of the Underworld before the Rating Game even happened. It was a joint party of both the Gremory and Phenex Clans to celebrate the eventual result of the Rating Game between Rias and Riser. Clearly everyone had been expecting Riser to win, and thus expected it to be an engagement party. Rias' upset victory changed that though. The party was too late to cancel, and they couldn't exactly celebrate that the marriage wasn't going to happen. Apparently they decided to make it a party to celebrate Rias' first Rating Game victory.

Naruto really didn't care, honestly. Something else was on his mind. Turning to Rias, he once again demanded indignantly, "Why do I got to wear this monkey suit? It's uncomfortable."

Giving a heavy sigh, Rias explained once again, "This is a formal party. Formal wear is required. Just deal with it. It's not like wearing a tuxedo for a few hours will kill you."

"It might, and I don't really want to take that chance," Naruto retorted quickly. Seeing Rias just roll her eyes at him, he started fiddling with the tie as he grumbled, "This tie is too tight."

Slapping Naruto's hands away from the tie of the knot, Rias snapped in exasperation, "It isn't too tight. These clothes were adjusted specifically to fit you by professional tailors. They even took your measurements, remember?"

"Don't remind me," Naruto murmured petulantly. Those tailors had measured everything, and Naruto meant everything. At least they were guys…Actually, that just makes it worse. If Naruto was going to be pseudo molested, he'd prefer the one doing the molesting be female. "That should count as sexual harassment. Those tailors officially know more about my body now then I do. They even refused to let me wear orange, not even the tie. I might have been able to take being choked by a piece of cloth if it was at least orange."

Rias just raised a hand to her forehead. Apparently Naruto disliked formal parties. He's been complaining the entire time. Rias could understand a bit. Naruto and 'formal' were basically mortal enemies. Being forced to wear a tuxedo and surrounded by people Naruto would likely consider to be pretentious and snobby is far from what Naruto would consider enjoyable. Still doesn't mean she isn't getting tired of his childish grumblings.

Turning to him, she looked him in the eyes seriously before asking sincerely, "Please, Naruto-kun. Just endure it. Two hours. That's all I'm asking. After that you can return to your usual joking, playful, and disrespectful ways."

"…Promise I can be disrespectful again afterwards?" Naruto asked seriously.

"I promise."

"Fine," Naruto said while lowering his head.

"Thank you, Naruto-kun," Rias exclaimed in relief.

Resigned to the party, Naruto looked around as he reminisced on how he ended up in this situation. As soon as they were teleported out of the battlefield, they were separated. After being treated for any injuries, they were given some food before being put to bed. After waking up, Naruto was forced to follow do a bunch of seemingly random things. He'd gone to tailors, seen a stylist for a haircut, and had even been doused with cologne. No answers or anything. By the time Naruto had been shown to the party, he'd been a step away from punching someone. Thankfully, Rias had quickly found him before he could throw a fit over being led around like a dog all day.

At least he looked good. Naruto had never felt he was a particularly good looking guy. He knew he had some good features, but he wasn't overtly handsome like Sasuke or Yuuto were. Right now he was drawing some looks though. No doubt some from his performance in the match, but more than a few were admiring looks from nearby females. Naruto's blond hair had been washed with some fancy shampoo that made it even brighter than usual. Hair gel had been used to slick back a majority of his hair, but a few of the longer bangs were left to fall down to eye level. He was dressed in a black, silk tuxedo that probably cost more than anything Naruto had ever worn before. Naruto still couldn't compete with someone like Yuuto, but he didn't care.

Speaking of Yuuto, Naruto spotted him. Yuuto's hair was slicked back similarly to Naruto, and he was dressed in a differently styled tuxedo. Clearly Naruto hadn't been the only one receiving a makeover. As expected, the princely knight was surrounded by a gaggle of young female devils enamored by his appearance.

The rest of Rias' peerage was scattered around the hall.

Akeno was wearing a formal kimono that really emphasized her Yamato Nadeshiko vibe. A couple of male devils were talking to her, although Akeno looked rather uncomfortable. Naruto had little doubt she would eventually excuse herself.

Koneko and Asia were together at a table. Koneko was wearing a pink, strapless piece, and Asia was wearing an baby blue cocktail dress. The two were eating, and that appeared to prevent anyone from trying to talk to them.

Raynare was sitting at a table in a corner. She was wearing a plum colored evening gown that was very stylish, and suited her greatly. Everyone kept their distance though as she was sending out an aura that discouraged anyone from talking to her. She was clearly in a mood.

And of course one couldn't forget about Rias. Rias was wearing a white evening gown. It bared her shoulders and complimented her bust greatly, the bottom falling to the ground to hide her legs. A diamond necklace was around her neck, but otherwise she was devoid of jewelry. As the star of the party, her looks only solidified that she would be the center of attention here. Naruto noticed that basically everyone in sight was looking to her frequently, no doubt waiting for her to become available.

Naruto's thoughts were cut off by Rias tugging on his arms and informing him, "My father wanted to talk to you, Naruto-kun."

"What?" Naruto asked owlishly. Pointing to himself, he questioned, "Why would he want to talk to me?"

"Why wouldn't he? You're part of my peerage, but he hasn't been introduced to you yet. He'll probably use this party to talk to Asia and Raynare as well. Not to mention, you were without a doubt the MVP of the match. You probably caught the attention of every devil in this room with your performance," Rias explained matter-of-factly.

Couldn't really argue with that. So Naruto just shrugged and told Rias, "Lead the way."

"Got it. Last time I saw him, he was this way," Rias claimed as she started moving through the throng of people. After a minute of searching, she seemed to spot her target. Changing direction slightly, she called out, "Otou-sama."

"Ah, Rias," a man said in response.

As Rias led Naruto, he examined the man who appeared to be Rias' father. The resemblance was definitely there. He had the same vibrant crimson hair as Rias, and his eyes were a similar blue color. He looked like a man in his late 20's. His hair was long, and he had a small beard on his chin. He was dressed in a predominantly white suit, that had golden highlights and a black undershirt.

He wasn't alone either. He was standing with two others. A man and a woman. The man had a clear resemblance to Riser, although his features were overall kinder looking. Looking to be middle-aged, he was dressed in a red and gold suit. The woman looked like an older version of Ravel. Similar facial structure, blonde hair, and blue eyes. The only difference was that instead of Ravel's drill-curl hairstyle, this woman had her hair done up in an elegant looking bun. Her hair had a web of string running through it that had diamonds and pearls interspaced. That piece alone was no doubt prohibitively expensive. Their figures were also different. This lady was a bit taller than the petite Ravel, and her figure was curvier. She was wearing a red evening gown. The resemblance of the two towards the two Phenex members Naruto had met made it clear who they were.

A though that Rias reinforced by bowing slightly and saying, "Lord Phenex. Lady Phenex. I apologize if I've interrupted."

"Do not worry, Rias-san. We were talking of nothing of import," Lord Phenex claimed with a nonchalant wave of his hand. Turning to look at Naruto, he added, "You actually brought someone we've been hoping to talk to."

Feeling Rias elbow him in the side and send him a commanding gaze, Naruto reluctantly bowed and said politely, "Hello, sirs and madam. My name is Uzumaki Naruto. Nice to meet you."

"Naruto-kun, these two are the Lord and Lady of the Phenex Clan," Rias informed him needlessly.

"And I happen to be the father of this young girl, who seems to have disregarded her own parent," Lord Gremory pitched in, giving an amused look in Rias' direction.

Rias looked somewhat chastised, but Naruto could clearly see she was uncomfortable. The reason was obvious. She was standing near the parents of the person she refused to marry.

Something Lord Phenex disregarded in favor of examining Naruto. He finally commented, "So you are the one that defeated my son and daughter so completely."

Rias replied before Naruto could by bowing and saying in a rush, "I'm sorry, Lord Phenex. I know I disrespected your clan by my actions, but-"

"Do not worry, Rias-san," Lord Phenex immediately claimed easily. "We long knew you weren't exactly pleased with the engagement. We shall not blame you for acting on that. We accepted the idea of a Rating Game to decide it, and we shall abide by it. No hard feelings."

"If you knew Rias-chan didn't want to marry Riser, than why did you continue the engagement?" Naruto asked bluntly. Rias immediately elbowed his side, but he didn't care.

Lord Phenex gave a wry smile as he answered, "I'd say it was our greed as devils acting up. Both Lord Gremory and I have a pure-blood grandchild by our eldest children. Having achieved that, we naturally desired more. Our greed blinded us."

"Does every devil use some inherent selfishness of devils as an excuse to do what they want?" Naruto questioned frankly. "Cause I still say I haven't felt diddly squat since-" Rias finally managed to snap out of her shock and cover his mouth before he could continue.

Blushing in embarrassment at her servant's words, Rias turned to the surprised Lord Phenex and claimed, "I'm sorry, Lord Phenex. My servant is kind of thoughtless. Please accept my-"

She was now cut off by Lord Phenex bursting out in laughter, quickly being joined by Lord Gremory. The two actually threw their arms around each other as they continued laughing. Lady Phenex looked slightly embarrassed by their behavior.

Lord Phenex quickly exclaimed happily, "Man, it's been so long since I've been called out like that. Especially by a low-class devil."

"Seems we've turned into the old geezers we used to criticize. Using the 'nature of devils' to justify doing whatever we want," Lord Gremory added. "We're getting old, Rihal. Just a few more decades and we'll be retiring. Maybe it is time."

"I think so too, Rouge. The next generation has grown up well while we've apparently turned into our parents," Lord Phenex admitted.

Naruto and Rias just looked at the two laughing devils in confusion and bewilderment. Taking pity on them Lady Phenex explained, "You might see it much nowadays, but those two were among the first generation to turn against the old ways of the original Maou. You'd be surprised by how much trouble they got into when teens for saying very similar things to their parents."

"But I've met Obaa-sama and Ojii-sama. They don't seem to follow the old ways," Rias claimed in confusion.

"Remember that you are from the Gremory Clan, Rias-san. A Clan that has long been known for its affectionate devils. It was the generation of most of the current clan heads that first turned against the Old Satan Faction, even if it wasn't until the current Four Great Satans rose up that the war was won. Almost every devil from before that generation was a follower of the old ways. They've basically been forced into retirement to prevent their beliefs from influencing the next generation. Your grandparents might be an exception, but my children haven't been allowed to meet with their grandparents due to the conflict in beliefs," Lady Phenex explained to them.

"I knew that Sona had never met her grandparents, but I never was told it was because of differing beliefs," Rias muttered in surprise.

Lady Phenex nodded before looking at the chuckling clan heads and elaborating, "Being criticized like that probably have caused those two to reminisce of those days. Back when they were teens fighting against their parents just like you two are now."

"I see," Rias muttered, still looking somewhat confused. Finally she turned to Lady Phenex and asked, "I saw Ravel earlier, but not Riser. Is he attending?"

Lady Phenex sighed before admitting, "No, he isn't present. I tried to get that child to attend, to show he isn't a sore loser, but he locked himself in his room. He seems to be brooding. This is Riser's first actual loss in a Rating Game. Not to mention Riser's first real defeat, on a personal level. He no doubt feels mortified by the result. Not to mention the engagement being broken. Despite his behavior and attitude, he really did on some level desire to marry you, Rias-san. Even if it was just lust."

"I'm so-" Rias started.

"Don't even say you are sorry, cause we know you are not sorry to have broken the engagement with Riser," Lady Phenex quickly interrupted with a sigh. Looking Rias in the eye, she announced honestly, "You need not worry, Rias-san. My husband and I hold no hard feelings. I particularly am somewhat happy with the result. I never agreed with the engagement in the first place. Matching devils up for the sole purpose of producing stronger devils is disturbingly similar to the old way. I myself refused the husband my parents chose for me, instead choosing my husband personally. I'd be a hypocrite if I refused you the same opportunity just because it was my son you were going to marry."

Lord Phenex seemed to have recovered from his amusement, and came over to add, "Our family is not so weak that a broken engagement will hurt us. The opposite actually. Riser was in need of a humbling. Our family is not by any means invincible. He needed to be shown that, and your rook went above all expectations to deliver Riser a complete and utter defeat. Hopefully Riser takes the time to think about that. If he comes out of this with more humility and a greater understanding of his own weaknesses, then we'll happily accept this defeat."

"It seems the task of humbling or changing people frequently falls to me," Naruto remarked in amusement. Neji, Gaara, and who knows how many others had changed after fighting Naruto. It might be because of Naruto's hero complex that he insists on beating the stupid out of people. That whole spiel he told Riser at the end of the battle was actually an attempt to force Riser to acknowledge that he wasn't invincible. Naruto simply couldn't be around so much arrogance without doing anything.

"Speaking of your defeat of Riser," Lord Gremory said as he came back into the conversation. Looking at Naruto, he commented, "I figured you would use Excalibur Ruler, Naruto-san."

"Excalibur Ruler?" Lord Phenex repeated in confusion.

"Yep. Rias sent me a letter explaining that this boy was the wielder of Excalibur Ruler," Lord Phenex informed them simply.

Seeing attention turn to him, Naruto told them simply, "Excalibur Ruler was one of my backup plans."

"Backup plans?"

"Yeah. The seals I used on Riser have a few weaknesses that meant they might not have been usable. If they failed, I had a few backup plans. Excalibur Ruler was one of my last resorts," Naruto explained to them. Naruto had multiple backup plans. He still had ten gallons of holy water sealed. Holy water alone wouldn't be enough to defeat Riser, but enough of it might just do. He had a few more seals in backup to weaken Riser. He had even sealed one of Raynare's light spears. Even if the main seal had failed, Naruto was sure he could have pulled out a victory.

"Why one of the last resorts? It seems like using it would be a sure victory?"

Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly as he admitted, "Well I'm not too fond of its Ruler ability. It isn't a power I want to use too often."

Rias quickly pitched in, "I also felt that the Ruler ability will probably be restricted during Rating Games. Its use might have called the entire game into question."

"That was smart of you, Rias," Lord Gremory claimed before explaining seriously, "Rating Games are meant to be similar to real battles, but they aren't real life battles. There are rules and special conditions that make the game more intense and entertaining. Items or abilities that would in a sense 'ruin' the game are forbidden. Like phoenix tears. If every team could use as many as they could afford, there would be a long period of each side simply restoring their fallen comrades. So their use is restricted. Excalibur Ruler will probably be limited in the same way. Controlling your opponents would make the entire game pointless. I actually expected you to use Excalibur Ruler to win. In which case I planned to give Riser a rematch. I would have made it a year from now, but that was my original plan."

Rias looked relieved by his words.

"So Excalibur Ruler will be forbidden in all future Rating Games?" Naruto asked.

"Not totally. Just the Ruler ability. It could still be used as a holy sword," Lord Gremory answered.

Satisfied with that, Naruto decided to look around the room. Yuuto was still surrounded by female devils. The life of a handsome guy appears to be difficult. Akeno was now sitting with Asia and Koneko. Sona, who was wearing a blue strapless dress, was sitting with them. Raynare was still in her previous spot, alone.

Naruto then caught the eye of someone he hadn't expected. Ravel. She was dressed in a purple dress with spaghetti straps. Naruto recognized the person next to her as Isabella. Despite wearing formal wear as well, she was clearly standing in a way that showed she was Ravel's bodyguard. Naruto and Ravel met eyes, since Ravel seemed to have been looking at him.

Blinking in surprise, Naruto finally smiled and waved at her. Ravel's response was a sharp turn of her head, clearly snubbing his friendly gesture. Sighing at the gesture, Naruto shrugged in acceptance. Like he really cared.

When he turned back to the group though, he found Lady Phenex looking at him. She quickly commented, "Seems Ravel is somewhat interested in you, Naruto-san."

Scratching the back of his head, Naruto grunted out, "Naw, I think she's just mad at me."

"Oh, she's definitely mad at you. Just because she's mad at you doesn't mean your abilities didn't draw some attention from her though," Lady Phenex claimed.

"What do you mean?" Naruto asked in confusion.

"You managed to overpower her flames, and you did it with wind. The Phenex Clan rules over fire and wind. Ravel has to respect such a powerful wind user. Not to mention you defeated her brother. Ravel admires Riser greatly. She definitely has taken note of your abilities," Lady Phenex explained to Naruto.

"Really. I always got the feeling she was pissed at me," Naruto muttered thoughtfully.

"She was and is. After all, you did insult Riser and the Phenex Clan multiple times. She was mad at you before she even talked to you," Lady Phenex told him bluntly, an amused smile on her face.

Naruto could definitely believe that. Naruto had insulted Riser liberally. Ravel apparently respects her brother greatly, so no doubt found the disrespect infuriating. Not to mention many of the insults could be considered as insults to the entire Phenex Clan, of which she was a part of. She had been harsher towards Naruto than she had been to anyone else. It was entirely believable that she was already ticked at him, and was just expressing that.

Lady Phenex quickly continued, "You also became the first person to defeat her. You then defeated Riser, hurting and humiliating the brother she so admires. Not to mention you shoved a ball gag in her mouth at the end."

"Oh yeah. She must hate me," Naruto exclaimed seriously. On one hand Ravel had to acknowledge Naruto's strength. On the other hand, he basically did everything he could to piss her off. Professionally she was interested in his abilities, but personality wise she definitely dislikes him.

"Yep. That girl is still surprisingly immature sometimes. Those insults of yours really got to her. She also lacks experience, so she doesn't really know how to react to her defeat by your hands. She's unsure whether to be impressed or angry. She seems to be leaning towards anger. I thought she was more mature than that, but it seems I was mistaken," Lady Phenex explained, concern in her voice.

"Don't worry about Ravel. Maturity comes from life experience, not lessons or coaching. A girl as talented as her will surely grow well when she gets some life experience," Naruto commented, his mature side showing through.

"Life experience is a difficult thing for a girl like Ravel to gain."

"Is it really?" Naruto questioned immediately. Looking at the woman with a raised eyebrow, he continued, "There are many ways to experience life. Don't make it complicated. Just choose one."

Lady Phenex just looked at him in surprise for several seconds before chuckling and remarking, "I guess you are right. Seems the wisdom of youth is as strong today as it was during our younger days."

Naruto rolled his eyes at that. More like the stupidity of the old is as strong as it ever was. People always act as if being childish and naïve is bad, but adults are the ones who do the really stupid stuff like start wars.

"Aw, the food is here," Lord Gremory suddenly announced as a number of waiters appeared carrying platters. He quickly waved one over.

As soon as everyone saw what was being served, they froze. Lord Phenex finally commented, "…It's yakitori."

Lord Gremory suddenly waved his hands as he claimed in a panic, "It was suppose to be lamb kabobs. I don't know what happened."

"Really, Naruto-kun?" Rias asked in resignation, knowing only one person that would do something like this.

Naruto just crossed his arms and gave an amused smile as he retorted, "Really, Rias-chan? You've seen the pranks I do for fun. I was dragged around all day without a single explanation. You really didn't think that I might just replace myself with a clone for a time? You also think that if I stumbled across the kitchen, I would be incapable of convincing the chef that the main entrée had been changed? Plus, I promised to serve yakitori at our victory party. I never break my promises."

Rias rubbed her temples in exasperation. Looking towards Lord Phenex, she started, "I'm sorry about-"

"Don't worry, Rias-san. Riser and Ravel might fall for such childish jokes, but your servant isn't the first or the last person that will use the yakitori joke in reference towards the Phenex Clan. Plus, personally," Lord Phenex declared before taking a stick of yakitori. Taking a bite, he finished, "I love yakitori."

"See, he has a sense of humor, Rias-chan. No reason to freak out," Naruto exclaimed with a wide grin.

Sighing, Rias just told him, "I think you can go now, Naruto-kun. Try not to offend anyone."

"No promises," Naruto stated immediately as he turned and walked away. Looking around briefly, Naruto quickly decided where to go. Naruto slid into a seat at a table as he exclaimed, "Why so grumpy, Ray-chan?"

"Stop calling me that," Raynare immediately grunted out. Slowly turning her head to show Naruto her unamused face, she demanded bluntly, "What do you want, Uzumaki?"

"I want to know why you in a corner brooding when a party is going on." Naruto answered honestly.

"You act as if I want to attend a party with a bunch of devils. When it comes down to it I am still a fallen angel in their eyes, and in my own as well. Fallen angels and devils don't mix," Raynare replied harshly. "Plus, not like I have a lot to celebrate. You are the one who won the match. I got eliminated in my first battle."

Naruto figured that second thing was what was really bothering her. Raynare was so prideful that losing to Ravel no doubt bothered her. Her elimination of Karlamine and Siris was by ambush, so her battle with Ravel was her only real battle in the match. Not the best showcase of her abilities, being eliminated so quickly.

"You really have nothing to be ashamed of. You probably could have defeated most of their team. You just happened to fight-"

"I lost to a fifteen year old girl that you proved had no actual experience in battle. Even with promotion I was completely overwhelmed by a brat like her," Raynare snapped in irritation. Her words silenced Naruto, who just waited for her to continue. Raynare stayed silent for a minute, glaring at the table. She then continued in a whisper, "When you first insisted upon training me, I told you that the world isn't fair because some people are blessed with power they haven't earned. As far as I'm concerned, this battle just proved me true."

"And back then I admitted you were partly right. Honestly, even I was a bit intimidated by Ravel. High class devils are scary. I've never encountered a person like Ravel. Someone who could become so strong without any training whatsoever," Naruto confessed thoughtfully, looking up at the ceiling.

Naruto had long since accepted that the world wasn't fair. There would always be 'geniuses' and 'prodigies'. People who are just so naturally talented it was unfair to everyone else.

His battle with Ravel scared Naruto though because it showed Naruto how different this world was from his own. Naruto beat Ravel, and probably any jounin level shinobi could have done the same. That didn't detract from just how powerful Ravel had been though, and she got that powerful by pure talent. No training whatsoever. That was something Naruto hadn't ever experienced before. Even people like Sasuke and Neji still had to train to become powerful. They just learned faster. Ravel wasn't like that. That all came as natural as breathing to Ravel.

And that seemed the norm among the pillar families. That was the differences between devils and even the humans of Naruto's world. Ninjas used intense training to become powerful Being powerful was just part of being a pure-blood devil.

Then there was probably the scariest thing about devils. Their lifespan. Devils just had so much time on their hands. Ninjas had about 3 or 4 decades before their bodies started to weaken from age(assuming they start training at ten). Some devils alive today are over 3,000 years old. The thought of Uchiha Madara having even a 1,000 years to train and hone his skills was enough to send shivers down Naruto's spine.

Devils weren't alone in that either. Angels and fallen angels. Youkai. Dragons. There are even gods in this world. Some born with power to rival the strongest of ninjas, and thousands of years to hone that power. It was no surprise that there are beings capable of destroying entire countries with ease when you consider that. Even Uchiha Madara couldn't compare to some of the beings Naruto has been told about, like Great Red or Ophis.

"Yep, very scary," Naruto repeated before smiling and continuing, "Yet I beat Ravel, and I beat Riser. It might be scary, but you can still overcome it."

"You are an exception," Raynare grumbled out.

"Yeah right. I'm not an exception to anything. I was the dead last of my class. I get by on guts and hard work. No talent involved," Naruto retorted indignantly. It might be a weird thing to be proud of, but he was. Naruto wasn't a guy that could just breeze through life on talent. He fought and earned everything he gained. Leaning back and crossing his arms, he continued, "Talent can be beat with training and effort. Everything in my life has shown that to be true. Training will never betray you. You lost. Big deal. Get your ass back to training, and work that ass twice as hard this time so you won't lose next time."

Raynare just stared at him. After a minute Naruto started to get a bit uncomfortable. Finally Raynare chuckled before claiming, "I thought you were going to say something to cheer me up, but that failed completely. 'Get my ass back to training.' How was that suppose to make me feel better?"

"It wasn't it. It was a reality check to get you to stop brooding and feeling sorry for yourself," Naruto retorted quickly. Waving a waiter over, Naruto took the entire tray from the surprised guy. Placing it on the table, Naruto gestured to the tray full of glasses of champagne as he continued, "As for making you feel better, that's what getting shit faced drunk is for."

Raynare laughed at that. Not a chuckle. A full blown laugh. Probably the first one Naruto had ever heard from her. When it died down, she said in an amused voice, "For once, you say something I completely agree with, Naruto."

"Oh referring to me by my name just because I got you some alcohol. What will I get if I get you drunk? A lap dance?" Naruto questioned teasingly.

"You wish," Raynare countered as she took a glass of champagne.

"Of course. Every real man is always up for a good lap dance," Naruto declared as he took a glass himself.

"Pervert."

"You wish," Naruto said in a joking tone. Lifting up his glass, Naruto said, "To getting shit faced drunk."

"I'll drink to that," Raynare said as she touched her glass to his. The two then drank their glasses in one go.

Twenty minutes later the two were still drinking. Each had gone through half a dozen glasses of champagne. Naruto still wasn't feeling it, but Raynare was clearly feeling a buzz. Naruto had suggested talking to other people, but Raynare appeared to not be in the mood to converse with others. Naruto similarly doubted he could interact with most of these people without somehow offending them. If you got nothing nice to say, then don't say anything at all.

Naruto did have his eyes on something though. It appears Maou Sirzechs Lucifer was attending the party. Naruto had finally caught sight of the most powerful devil, but had been content to watching for now. The Maou had been surrounded by people the entire time. Grayfia was standing at his side, still in her maid outfit.

Seeing the Maou appear to withdraw himself for a bit more privacy, Naruto acted. Especially when he saw the Maou send him a look, clearly acknowledging that he had sensed Naruto's look. Standing up, Naruto told Raynare, "I'll be gone for a little bit." Raynare just waved him off.

Approaching the Maou, Naruto stopped in front of the man. Sirzechs Luvifer was a handsome man that appeared to be in his early 20's. He honestly looked like a male version of Rias. His shoulder length hair was a crimson just a tad darker than Rias', and his eyes were the same blue color. Standing a bit taller than Naruto, he was dressed in an elaborate black and gold armor with a blue cape. He really cut a regal figure. Not to mention Naruto could sense immense power in him that surpassed even Grayfia.

"Ah, Uzumaki Naruto-kun. I was hoping to have a chance to talk to my sister's newest rook," the Maou stated with a friendly smile.

"Maou Sirzechs Lucifer-sama," Naruto started, bowing his head slightly in respect. Looking at the Maou with sharp eyes, Naruto continued, "If you don't mind, I reque…No. Actually I demand to speak with you in private."

That drew gasps from all the devils in hearing range. A low-class devil, demanding to speaking with a Maou. It was outrageous.

Grayfia stepped forward and informed him sternly, "You do not demand anything of Lucifer-sama. If you even insinuate such a thing again, I shall step for to issue your punishment myself."

Anything else was cut off by Sirzechs raising his hand to stop her. Smiling at Naruto amicably, he proclaimed, "There is no need, Grayfia. I shall acquiesce. I am interested in what he wants to talk about."

"Thank you," Naruto said blankly.

Still smiling, Sirzechs led Naruto out of the hall. Entering a hallway, Sirzechs went to the nearest door. Checking to see if it was empty, he nodded in satisfaction and announced, "This room shall do. Grayfia, stand guard. Do not let anyone enter."

"Yes, Lucifer-sama," Grayfia intoned emotionlessly.

Naruto followed the Maou into the room. Grayfia closed the door behind them. The room was an empty, circular room. Naruto couldn't guess its purpose, but it didn't really matter.

Turning to Naruto, Sirzechs smiled before asking, "Now that we are alone, what did you wish to speak to me about?"

"Well firstly, I wanted to do this," Naruto announced grimly. Reaching forward, Naruto hooked his hands in the armor of the Maou. Using that as a handhold, Naruto pulled. Snapping his head forward, the top of Naruto's head collided with Sirzechs' nose.

Sirzechs stumbled backwards, managing to keep his feet. Quickly lifting his hands to his throbbing nose, he looked at Naruto in complete shock. A low-class devil attacking a Maou is more than enough for them to be executed.

"Did you just head butt me?"

"Yep," Naruto admitted unabashedly.

"Is there a reason or did you just want to be executed?" Sirzechs questioned, recovering from the shock of the attack.

"Of course. I did it for Rias-chan," Naruto claimed.

"For Rias?" Sirzechs repeated, completely confused.

Naruto leaned forward as he declared angrily at the Maou, "Rias-chan didn't want to marry Riser. You no doubt knew that. So where the hell were you? Isn't it the job of an older brother to protect his younger sibling? You are a Maou. You could have stopped the marriage. I want to know why. Rias-chan says that you love her deeply. Where the hell was that love when she needed your help?"

"I see," Sirzechs muttered to himself as he lowered his hands. His nose was a bit tender, but lacked any physical marks from the head butt. "Out of curiosity, did you head butt my father as well?"

"No," Naruto admitted reluctantly before elaborating, "Parents make mistakes of their own. He at least gave her an out by allowing her to fight in the Rating Match. He did something to give Rias a chance. I haven't heard anything about you acting to help Rias-chan."

"I didn't," Sirzechs confessed without shame. He then continued, "After all, I was the one that proposed the idea of marrying Rias to Riser to my father and Lord Phenex."

That surprised Naruto. That shock quickly turned to anger. Grabbing the Maou's armor again, Naruto proceeded to give the Maou another head butt. This time the Maou actually fell on his butt, cradling his nose again.

"What the hell?! You had to have known Rias-chan wouldn't have wanted to marry that prick. So why would you encourage an arranged marriage? Don't you care about Rias-chan?!" Naruto demanded loudly.

"Don't you dare insinuate I don't care about Rias," Sirzechs hissed out, looking at Naruto with sharp eyes for the first time. Even the slight bit of blood leaking from his nose didn't lessen the intensity of his glare. Standing up, Sirzechs continued strongly, "I held Rias as a baby. I watched her grow up. I read her bed time stories. I taught her to use her Power of Destruction. She is and always will be my precious Imouto."

Realizing he may have crossed a line, Naruto forced himself to calm down before asking, "Then why?"

Sirzechs stared at Naruto grimly for several moments, his amiable persona gone. Turning around, he explained without looking at Naruto, "Rias might not like it, but she is the heiress of the Gremory Clan. More than that, she is my sister. The sister of a Maou. Rias may wish to believe it doesn't mean anything, but it does."

"I remember when it happened. Rias came up to me when she was twelve, and told me that she wanted to study in the human world. She wanted to become independent. To step out of the shadow of expectations as the 'Gremory heiress' and 'Lucifer's sister.' It was admirable, but I felt the fear appear in my heart that day. As much as Rias wants to become independent as a devil and as a king, she can't change who she is. Even if she renounced her position as heiress, she is still my sister…I have enemies. Enemies who would do anything to try and strike at me. Even strike at Rias. In our castle, she is safe. In the Underworld, I can protect her. The human world though…Rias could be killed before I even receive a message of help."

"That girl though. She insisted, and kept insisting till our parents allowed it. I wanted more reassurance though. I wanted to test her. If she wanted to live in the human world without my protection then she needed to prove herself powerful enough to defend herself. So I to suggest to my parents of having her marry Riser. Riser is powerful, yes, but he has clear weaknesses. He was a perfect hurdle for Rias. Rias would never accept the marriage, and the obvious conclusion was to use a Rating Match. It would push Rias to become stronger."

Naruto was gaping by this point. Finally, he whispered out in disbelief, "A test…This was all a test. You risked Rias getting married…for a test."

"I risked nothing," Sirzechs quickly claimed. "You were right before. I'm a Maou. At any point I could have cancelled the engagement. If Rias proved herself incapable of handling Riser, I would have stepped in."

"So this was all for nothing? No consequences or anything?" Naruto demanded, getting angry again.

"Of course there would be consequences," Sirzechs asserted. "If Rias proved herself incapable of breaking her engagement to Riser herself and I was forced to step in…I would have forbade Rias from returning to the human world. She would have been forced to stay in the Underworld and focus on her duties as heiress."

"I told you. I did this due to my concern for Rias' safety. I would give Rias and her peerage as much chances as they wanted to break the engagement. If they succeeded, I deemed they would be powerful enough for Rias to live in the human world. If they failed, the opposite. It would be proof that Rias wasn't powerful enough to be without my or our family's protection."

Naruto took a deep breath to try and calm himself. The Maou's words infuriated Naruto. Naruto could actually understand where he was coming from, but that didn't make it any easier for Naruto to accept. Rias had been afraid for years of being forced to marry Riser. All because this guy was overprotective. Finally calm, Naruto looked at the Maou.

And then head butt him again.

"Gah! Will you stop doing that?!" Sirzechs demanded as he once again was forced to cradle his nose.

"Then don't do stupid things!" Naruto yelled in anger. "Did you ever consider just telling Rias about your worries?! You had to go through some manipulative plot?"

"Rias needed the motivation that came from her belief of her possibly being forced to marry Riser. She wouldn't have worked so hard otherwise," Sirzechs argued stubbornly.

"Maybe so, but she wouldn't have gone through several years of emotional distress either. If you want to become strong, you are upfront with them. You don't trick them. You should of explained to Rias and her peerage your worries. Then test her progress biannually. Rias isn't one to betray someone's trust, so why the hell didn't you just believe in her?!" Naruto shouted.

"…Rias has found some good servants," Sirzechs claimed randomly. "I think I can entrust her to you and the rest of her peerage."

"…Don't just change the topic when you don't have a comeback," Naruto exclaimed in irritation.

"I stick by my choice. I know I might have hurt Rias, but I would do anything to protect her. Even if she might hate me for it. That is the duty of an older brother," Sirzechs claimed solemnly.

Naruto just stared at him for several moments before groaning and admitting, "Great, now I can't even tell her what you did. It would just cause all sorts of problems about a closed issue."

"Hehe. I'd appreciate that. I'll tell Rias someday, when she might understand why I did it," Sirzechs stated sheepishly. Looking at Naruto seriously, he continued, "I meant what I said before though, Naruto-kun. I'm entrusting Rias' safety to you and the rest of her peerage."

"Why does that sound ominous?" Naruto asked cautiously, his danger sense tingling.

"I told you before. Rias is my sister, and I have enemies that would strike at her to hurt me. Worse, Rias goes to school with Sona, the sister of Serafall. Two younger siblings of Maou in one school. It is a tempting target. There is a large chance that someone will eventually attack either Rias or Sona," Sirzechs explained.

"Come on. It can't be that bad. I haven't heard of any attacks before, and both Rias and Sona have been attending Kuoh for year," Naruto pointed out. Seeing Sirzechs looking sheepish, Naruto deadpanned, "You did something."

Chuckling awkwardly, Sirzechs looked away as he admitted, "I _might _have ordered Falbium to station scouts around the city, without Rias knowing. The scouts wouldn't interfere in things Rias could handle herself, but they would act as an advance warning system. As well as reinforcements if something did happen."

"So why did you do all this about making Rias stronger if you were protecting Rias anyway?" Naruto demanded, not understanding the thought process of the person in front of him.

"I respect Rias' desire to be independent. I'm sure she'd be mad if she found out I was protecting her from the shadows, but…I'm her brother. I'm always going to want to protect her," Sirzechs said softly, a small smile on his face. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "When I did this, I made a promise to myself. If Rias managed to break her engagement to Riser, I would legitimately allow her to become independent. I would withdraw those troops. The time has come to follow through on that."

"The other factions no doubt noted the troop presence around the city. They backed off, knowing myself and Serafall would protect our siblings. With that presence gone, it might galvanize some of our enemies to act. If that happens, I entrust Rias' safety to you and the rest of her peerage. I do not want war, but if Rias were ever to be harmed…I'm not sure I could control myself."

"Crap. Not like I can refuse that," Naruto groaned out with a hand held to his head. Sighing, Naruto turned to Sirzechs as he declared honestly, "I shall protect Rias. You don't need to worry about that."

"Good," Sirzechs said with a smile. He then held out his hand to Naruto. Naruto automatically grabbed it. Bad decision. Naruto's hand was grabbed in a vice grip. Sirzechs' face turned scary as he whispered in a deadly voice, "Because if Rias is ever hurt because you got scared and ran…No force on this earth could protect you from my wrath."

Holy Crap! Naruto's hand was being crushed. Naruto could literally feel his bones cracking.

Naruto sure as hell wasn't going to back down though. Gripping back as hard as he could, Naruto leaned forward to press his forehead against the Maou's. Glaring, Naruto told him determinedly, "Don't worry then cause I'd rather kill myself than turn my back on my friends. If Rias is hurt, it will only be after I'm placed in a body bag."

Apparently satisfied with the answer, Sirzechs pulled back. Letting go of Naruto's hand in the process. Naruto let out a sigh of relief. He was sure he had a few broken bones.

Walking towards the door, Sirzechs stated happily, "Yep. Rias has got herself some very good servants."

Taking the compliment in stride, Naruto followed after the Maou. That was way more than Naruto expected. He'd known he might be going out in chains for attacking a Maou. That might have been better than the responsibility Naruto had been given. The day might arrive where Naruto was the only thing preventing war from breaking out. No pressure.

As soon as Sirzechs opened the door, it revealed Rias arguing with Grayfia. Rias turned to Sirzechs as soon as she saw him and exclaimed, "Thank goodness. Grayfia wouldn't let me…Did something happen to your nose Onii-sama?"

The Maou's nose was slightly swollen and red. He'd wiped the blood, but it was still noticeable. Laughing slightly, Sirzechs answered easily, "Yep. Your servant head butt me."

"He what?" Rias asked in horror.

"Head butt me…Three times actually."

"Three times?" Rias repeated, her horror growing.

"Yep. Yelled at me too," Sirzechs claimed with a smile.

Rias' eyes could not go any wider as she looked at Naruto in disbelief. Naruto blushed slightly. Crossing his arms, he looked away as he explained in embarrassment, "Well I wanted answers. I couldn't just allow him to get off scot-free after not helping you when you needed it."

"B-But, he's a Maou. You could get executed for that," Rias said to him incredulously.

"So?" Naruto asked with a raised eyebrow. He shot her a grin as he declared without hesitation, "I promised to help you, Rias-chan. No matter who stood in the way. If that means I have to head butt a Maou…three times, I'll do it. I'll always protect you, Rias-chan. That's a promise."

"Naruto," Rias whispered, blushing at his words. Her heart was suddenly beating very fast.

The moment was cut short by Grayfia. Placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder, she remarked calmly, "I've changed my opinion of you, Uzumaki-kun. I thought you were a pervert and deviant who seduced Ojou-sama. Now I see that you aren't a deviant. You are a fine young man. A massive pervert, but still a fine man. Plus, I always welcome a person who can keep this carefree master of mine in check."

Naruto could only respond with, "What the hell are you talking about lady?"

"Oh yeah, that reminds me," Sirzechs burst out, punching a hand into his palm. Turning to Rias, he exclaimed, "I heard that from Grayfia that you two do sexual play where Rias is tied up before sleeping on the floor like a dog. Boy was I surprised. I was actually planning on eradicating from existence the foul culprit who would dare do such a thing with my precious Ria-tan. Yet it appears my precious Ria-tan is actually a pervert who enjoys being treated like that. Seems Akeno had been right all along about you being a masochist."

"O-O-Onii-sama. I told Grayfia it was a misunderstanding," Rias stuttered out, her face red as a lobster.

"I'm still confused over here," Naruto stated, only to be ignored.

Sirzechs continued by claiming, "I was so very confused on what to do. Someone hurting and degrading my precious Rias-tan. I should destroy them with my Power of Destruction. Yet she enjoys it. Should I praise the person instead for taking care of her. Yet can such a thing truly be considered taking care of her?"

"So you're just going to ignore me." Yep, they just continued ignoring him.

"So eventually I decided to try and understand your fetish," Sirzechs finally announced. He gave Rias a starry eyes look as he continued, "I finally understood. It is so liberating being helpless like that. Grayfia refused to do it regularly, but I understand your feelings. Embrace your inner masochist, Ria-tan. You have my full support."

That caused Naruto to burst out laughing. Sirzechs looked confused by the outburst. Rias still looked mortified by the entire conversation. Grayfia was somehow maintaining her cool despite the ridiculous scene happening in front of her.

Naruto didn't care though. He couldn't stop laughing. The Crimson Satan. The Leader of the Four Great Satans. The strongest devil in existence…is a masochist.

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"We're ready to go, Rias-chan," Naruto called out as the entire group gathered together.

"Good. Now we just need to wait on one more person," Rias claimed.

Tilting his head in confusion, Naruto asked, "What do you mean? Everyone is here."

"You'll see, Naruto," Rias answered.

Rias had changed to calling Naruto by his name alone since the previous night. Naruto had wondered why, but didn't dwell on it. Not like he cared.

Naruto quickly looked around. It was the morning after the party, and the entire group was waiting to return to Kuoh. Raynare was holding her head slightly. Naruto and her had ended the night by getting drunk. Unfortunately, Naruto had not gotten that lap dance. Oh well. Raynare seemed to be affected by the hangover. Something which Naruto thankfully lacked. Uzumaki vitality FTW! Everyone else was alright and looked eager to be off.

Too bad they were apparently waiting for someone. After five more minutes, the door opened. "Sorry for being late. This daughter of mine tried to pack her entire closet."

Huh. It was Lady Phenex, and she was leading Ravel. After the two came three servants, who were holding two suitcases each for a total of six suitcases.

"What is this, Buchou?" Yuuto asked in confusion.

Closing her eyes, Rias replied emotionlessly, "Lady Phenex made a request of me last night."

Lady Phenex quickly came up and said with a smile, "I once again thank you for agreeing with my selfish request, Rias-san."

Rias quickly told the baffled group, "Lady Phenex requested that I allow Ravel to attend Kuoh Academy under my protection."

Wait, what?

Lady Phenex smiled as she explained, "Truthfully, I originally asked for Rias to take Ravel on as a bishop. Unfortunately, Rias' other bishop already seems occupied. So instead I requested that she be a allowed to join the Gremory Group, even if as a guest."

"Why?" Naruto asked bluntly.

"Naruto's bluntness aside, I think we would all welcome an explanation of why you would ask this, Phenex-sama," Yuuto said.

Nodding in understanding, Lady Phenex started calmly, "Ravel chose to become a bishop. Her inevitable fate is to eventually join the peerage of another devil. The wish of myself and my husband is to increase her value as a bishop as much as possible before that."

They understood what she meant. For whatever reason, Ravel chose to become a servant instead of a king. That meant she was viewed as a bishop, and just like any other servant she had a 'value' as a bishop. Ravel would naturally become part of a devil's peerage. The greater her 'value' as a bishop, the greater leverage the Phenex Clan would have when it came time to trade her. If the Phenex Clan managed to put Ravel into the peerage of a powerful or influential devil, they would gain a certain amount of influence with that devil. The higher the 'value' of Ravel, the greater the devil.

"We allowed her to temporarily join Riser's peerage to allow her to gain experience in the Rating Game. Her battle with Uzumaki-san showed that while our attempt was successful, she still lacks experience of other natures. Your group was very impressive, managing to defeat Riser's peerage. I feel there is a high likelihood of Ravel managing to experience many different things if she attends the same school as you all," Lady Phenex clarified for the group.

Basically she was saying that she was impressed enough that she was sending her daughter with them in the hope that some of their awesomeness would rub off on her. Uzumaki translation.

Ravel clearly wasn't happy about it though. She gave them a stiff bow as she said, "I thank you all for this opportunity. Please take care of me from now on."

"So Ravel shall be joining the Occult Research Club. She'll also be under my protection. So view her as an…unofficial member of my peerage," Rias informed the group.

Huh, looks like the Gremory Group has a new addition.

***Omake* Inspired by KuroKishi, who created possibly the funniest ending to a serious fight, ever.**

"I found the perfect way to to force you to give up," Naruto declared to the immobile Riser.

"Give me your worse," Riser spat.

"Oh, you'll regret say that," Naruto claimed with a demonic grin.

Bending down, Naruto rolled Riser over. He then carefully placed Riser into a position where his ass was in the air. Things then took a turn for the wird when Naruto pulled Riser's pants down.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing?" Riser demanded, not liking where this was going.

"Just setting you up," Naruto said simply. Walking in front of Riser, Naruto showed him as he unsealed something. The object. A six inch dildo. Waving it in front of Riser's wide eyes, Naruto told him, "You want to forfeit before I have to use this."

Riser actually hesitated. Finally he grunted out, "You wouldn't."

Instead of responding with words, Naruto walked behind Riser. He then acted. In one shot, Naruto shoved the dildo in Riser's ass.

"Ghhheeeeeeiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!"

Riser screamed/squealed at the unwelcome penetration.

"Ready to give up now?" Naruto asked him.

"…I'm going to kill you," Riser hissed out.

"Wrong answer," Naruto said. Unsealing another dildo, he once again showed it to Riser.

Riser immediately turned pale as a ghost. This dildo was around fifteen inches, and _thick. _The black, obviously, dildo even had some spikes on the first six inches.

Riser's next action was obvious.

"I FORFEIT! BY THE MAOU, I FORFEIT!"

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**There it is. The end of the Rating Game, and the after party. Sorry for those of you that wanted an epic showdown between Naruto and Riser, but this is what i had planned all along. I originally even created the Naruto vs. Ravel fight because there wouldn't be a Riser fight. I just think that if Naruto was given ten days to plan ways to defeat Riser, he'd have Riser so beat that it can't even be considered a fight. Hence beaten on the first move.**

_**Warning: **I'm having a bit of an overflow of ideas for stories. Since i don't want to just start new stories, i'll be doing something a bit different. I'll be writing the first chapter to a number of story ideas, and posting them as challenges. Hopefully for other authors to pick up. Just a warning to those of you who are following me. My next update or two might not be this story._

**_Gremory and Phenex names: _**_I named Lord Phenex Rihal, since it was similar to the names of his children. Lord Gremory was named Rouge, which is french for red. Not really important, but just for those of you who were wondering why i chose those names._

_**Ravel:** Yes, Ravel has joined the group. Some of you probably guessed what i was going to do. I like Ravel and decided to give her a bigger part. She isn't officially part of Rias' peerage since Rias' two bishop slots are take, but she'll basically be an associative member. Like she is in the light novel. She won't just be in the background either. She'll be receiving quite a bit of attention from now on as well. I also hope i portrayed Ravel's strength level correctly. I wanted to make it seem like she was powerful, but very much in need of some fine tuning._


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High School DxD/ハイスクールD×D, Naruto, Adventure, Drama