FicWad

Two years later:

A meek, irritated groan echoed throughout the lab as a pair of silver eyes fluttered open for the first time in over a century and a half. Her vision was blurry… what happened? Where was…

Miranda jolted up as the memories came back to her - Roxanne! She… she....! That BITCH!? She left her to die! Allowed that awakened to... to… the mere thought of what that fucker did to her made the former Number 35 want to throw up. She could still feel her body getting torn apart, and mutilated.

“Ah, finally!” a male voice chuckled in relief. “I was beginning to think I’d failed again. Well? Can you speak? State your name and rank. Do you remember your generation?”

“M-my name is Miranda,” the girl answered robotically. “Warrior Number 35 and the 205th graduate of the 74th Generation.” Then, she looked at the man who asked and blinked several times. “D-Dae? Is that you? What happened?!”

What happened, indeed? She didn’t remember him having only half a face, nor did she recall the man looking that old! Sure he was pretty damn ancient, last she’d seen him, but the guy looked like he’d aged a good few decades.

“Time has a way of changing people,” the man said. “You’ve been dead for upwards of 150 years, my dear.”

Miranda stared at him in utter shock and awe. Then, she slowly lied back down and closed her eyes with her hands over them. “Yup, I’m still dreaming… what happened before was just a nightmare. Oh, thank the gods it was just a nightmare...”

“I am afraid it was more than a nightmare.” Dae replied, “Soon after your death, your friend Cassandra tried to kill the one who allowed it to happen. She died in the attempt,” when Miranda shot up again, looking at him with wide disbelieving eyes, he quickly raised his hands and added in a reassuring manner, “but rest assured that justice was served, nonetheless.” He then nudged her, urging the girl to get off the slab. “Now, please do get up. The Organization has a very important task for you.”

“B-but how?” Miranda shrieked, her tone becoming ever more indignant as she went on. “There’s no way! I was… I was a head! There’s no coming back from that! Even if there was, why revive me, of all people and not Cassandra?”

“The Organization is in dire straights, my dear.” the man calmly replied. “I have been tasked to find a way to revive the strongest of the previous Number 1’s - including Cassandra - and some others, to deal with a problem we’re facing.”

Miranda blinked owlishly. “B-but why-”

“I’m getting to that,” Dae interrupted sternly. “Among the others is Roxanne. We need you to keep these two from killing each other, at least until the job is done. I suspect that there are a few others who will want to kill her as well.” he then shrugged nonchalantly. “Once this threat is dealt with, you and Cassandra can do as you please with Roxanne, for all I care.”

“U-uh… I see... “ Miranda nervously licked her suddenly dry lips. “So… what is this task the Organization wants me and the other warriors you’re bringing… back to life... to do?” Despite herself the Number 35 couldn’t help wonder what pushed the Organization so far as to bring back dead warriors. She didn’t think such a thing was possible!

Dae smiled at her cooperation. She always was the agreeable type. “There is a young man who’s been inciting a rebellion of sorts amongst the women of the organization,” he explained. “A dreadful, young man, he is. He’s seduced and brainwashed the women into thinking we are somehow evil or some such nonsense, convinced them that we are the ones creating the youma.” there had been warriors in the past that implied the Organization were the ones to make youma, and send them to towns that refused to pay them. Teresa being one of them. While it may be true, Miranda doesn’t know that, and telling her a little… ‘truthful lie…’ can go a long way in getting someone to do what you want. “To make matters worse, he has none other than Riful of the West at his beck and call - along with two other Awakened beings of comparable strength. We need this man and his harem dealt with as soon as possible.”

Miranda went white as a sheet. Before her death, the only one comparable to Riful was Isley! Now there’s two? The way Dae made it sound, these two were this ‘threat’s’ lovers, so… unless Isley had some preferences, Miranda hadn’t been aware of, these two were female, in other words, it was reasonable to assume that the number of Abyssal Ones had doubled since her time!

“Who are these other awakened beings?” information is key, and she wanted to know as much as possible. Lest she unknowingly provoke them, prematurely.

“One is a redheaded woman known as Luciela of the South,” Dae answered. “ She popped about three generations after yours. The other’s a brunette by the name of Priscilla, the One-Horned Monster. Her appearance is fairly recent - a bit more than two decades ago, give or take. She is also the most powerful, by far - nearly as strong as Riful and Luciela, combined.”

Poor Miranda nearly fainted from sheer terror. “R-right… no pressure… no pressure, at all. Who is this threat, then?”

“A man from a previously undiscovered continent, where the locals have strange, unimaginable power. He has blond hair and blue eyes, with markings on his cheeks that resemble whiskers like those of a cat.” Dae relayed to her. “His name is Naruto Uzumaki, better known by the the people here as ‘Ladykiller’ Naruto. Be warned: he seems to have this uncanny ability to sway women to his side - no doubt some manner of seduction. Nearly every woman he’s come in contact with has fallen in love with him to the point that they are sadly beyond salvation. If he is to be dealt with, it must be done swiftly and with great caution.” The elderly scientist gave her a firm look as he finished, “I cannot emphasize this enough!”

“Y-yes, sir!” Miranda replied with a salute and the best game face she could muster. “W-when do we begin?”

----

Never in her life did Tsunade need a drink so damn badly! How the hell did Naruto keep track of so many kids?! Now, there were 31 of the little fuckers running about… with five more on the way!

It legitimately scared her…

Just a bit more than a year ago, came Clare’s kid, Shauna. Then, Priscilla gave birth to her daughter Nyx, Cynthia had a son named Alexandre, and Riful had a pair of twins named Elspeth and Nicholas, in that order, all in the same damn month!

Not even two weeks after that, Miria gave birth to a girl named Sherlie and Tabitha had a boy named Caiden the next day! About two months later, Luciela had a daughter named Chandra, and then the next wave hit the following year.

How in the hell did he manage to keep it up!? It was impressive… and scary. Having Uzumaki stamina, enhanced by being a Jinchuuriki of the strongest Tailed Beast made for a scary combination.

Sparing Tsunade’s sanity, Naruto only produced four kids this year: a girl named Damia with Undine; a boy named Sorin with Yuma; Ophelia had a boy whom she named after her dead brother, Jason; and finally, Luciela had yet another little girl, named Liliana!

The aged, former Kage eyeballed Riful out the corner of her eye. Seeing the Abyssal loli with a sizeable baby bump on her seemed… off. Such a thing didn’t belong on such a young-looking body - shape-shifting demon girl or not.

Jean was only about a month in, while Cynthia was due any day, as was Priscilla.

Apparently, those three and Riful in particular were having themselves a competition of sorts - each one as hellbent as the other three to pump out as many screaming bundles of vomit and soiled diapers as they possibly could. Whatever the holy hell made them think that was a good idea simply lied well beyond Tsunade’s ability and willingness to understand.

Then again, love does tend to make people do stupid things. That much she can understand… from experience, no less. Shaking those depressing memories aside, Tsunade sighed and got back to the person she was checking up.

“Well, while it’s too early to tell, I can say that you are a healthy woman Jean.” the blonde told woman in front of her. “Come back to me when the bump is showing and I’ll be able to tell you more.”

The former Number 9 nodded. “Very well, then,” she said, bowing respectfully. “Thank you.”

Tsunade waved her off, “Don’t worry about it, I’m just doing my job.” then she peered at the loli. “Riful, you’re next.”

Said brunette nodded, scooting onto the table, just as Jean vacated it.

The former Kage couldn’t help but be unnerved by the ‘brat’ before her. Something about the Abyssal loli never failed to creep her out. Her hair for one didn’t look… natural. Tsunade always thought it was the trick of the eyes, since at times, it would sometimes look metallic or get a sharp edge. Then she saw the brat training one day with Naruto and found that no she was not seeing things. Riful was apparently able to somehow turn herself into a sentient mass of ribbons - a trait she seemed to pass down to her kids - and often like using her hair in partial transformations.

Setting those thoughts aside for later, Tsunade blazed through a few hand seals and cast a diagnostic technique to see how the loli’s kid was doing. “Hmm, well, it’s a boy. I can tell you that much.” Riful giggled. “He seems fine, all things considered; but, unless you transform into a more mature physique his growth is going to be difficult for your body to handle.” Tsunade scowled what she was about to say leaving a bad taste in her mouth. “A new… shipment from Kumo should be arriving tomorrow. That should help you out, until I can finally get done setting up that lab.”

While said ‘shipment’ was entirely comprised of the worst scumbags Kumo had on death row, Tsunade couldn’t wish their fate on even them. The Blood Prison was also a viable place to go to get them nourishment - but luckily for the bastards within, they were too important to kill. Or in this case, to have them served as food for the awakened ones.

“Okay.” Ritul nodded. Then, she hummed thoughtfully, unable to help but ask. “I wonder if anyone back in the Elemental Nations is aware of what their criminals are being used for?”

Tsunade shrugged with an uncaring expression. “Not really. Nine times out of ten, the Missing-nin that are captured are killed off quietly. No one would know or care what happens to their bodies afterwards. We normally collect the heads and burn the bodies after the deed is done so no secrets of their hidden village is discovered. However, if they’re too important to kill, then they’re sent to the Blood Prison.”

Riful shrugged indifferently. Well, that explained why so many of them were headless on arrival. She did so enjoy when they had a live meal for her, though~! “I suppose that makes sense,” she said.

“Had Naruto failed to defeat the shinobi and Kunoichi that caused The Suna Incident, there would have been a small chance he would have been killed via decapitation. But since he’s far too important to kill, he would most likely have gone straight to the Blood Prison.”

“I figured,” Riful replied. “He is a war hero, after all.” then, she let loose a perverted giggle, rubbing her swollen belly. “I’m glad that didn’t happen, though~!”

Tsunade twitched; that particular giggle reminded her far too much of the late Toad Sage. Unlike him however, the woman didn’t deck Riful over the head with her super strength - since, you know, she’d likely try to kill her the instant that happens? And she’s pregnant as well… death by literal slaughter was far from being off the table if the blonde were to try something that stupid.

Tsunade let out another sigh as she cancelled the jutsu. “Well that is you done. All you have to do now is to eat and transform into a more proper form, so you can support the growth of your child.” she told the loli, “Cynthia, you’re up next. And where is Priscilla? She’s another person who needs to be checked up!”

Cynthia took Riful’s place as she slipped off. “Priscilla is, unsurprisingly, with Naruto,” the very pregnant blonde muttered in irritation. “She’s been by his side for two fucking weeks!” and her hormones were acting up again, making her more easily irritable and quick to anger. Not to mention she’s going through a withdrawal due to a lack of snuggles from her man.

She. Wants. Her. Snuggles, DAMNIT!!!

“I’ll see if I can talk to him about it,” Tsunade promised. No need to make this more unpleasant. Then, she blazed through the same hand seals from before and ran another diagnostic.”I still find it hard to believe you’re having a second pair of twins…” the former Kage muttered.

“Ugh, tell me about it.” Cynthia complained with an irritated scowl; it was an expression that looked entirely out of place on such a sweet girl like her. “It was hard enough having one pair of twins. Hell, I don’t even know how I survived giving birth to them back to back! But now, I have another pair?! What are the chances of that happening?!” she ranted throwing her arms up and comically waving them around with indignation.

“Pretty low; though, it depends on your fertility,” Tsunade answered.

“ARE YOU TELLING ME IT’S MY FAULT?!”

“Not at all,” Tsunade assured. “For the record your little girls are doing just fine. Keep it up,”

And just like that, Cynthia went from being irritated and angry, to bubbly and happy.

She clasped her hands together, gasping with joy. “Daughters?! Yay!” she squealed.

Tsunade was used to this. When pregnant, women tend to go through mood whiplashes very quickly. So their moods can change at the drop of a hat. It didn’t mean she didn’t find it tiring at times though; the former kage couldn’t help but wonder how Naruto had managed to put up with them? She heard what had happened to Priscilla when she went into labor a few years ago; she transformed mid-labor and tried to take off his arm, scaring everyone in the castle they were in at the time.

Then there was Riful… who scared Naruto do much that he avoided her outright for weeks, or months, depending on the person who told it. Shockingly, that wasn’t the worst! Ophelia, Luciela and Priscilla literally threatened to eat him. Tsunade didn't know which one to feel more sorry for, in that case.

Though in Priscilla's case, the amount of things she said she was going to do to him got more and more hilarious. Ranging from shoving a clone's head up the ass of another clone, to elbow dropping him in his sleep!

Then Cynthia brought Tsunade back to the present by asking, “So do you want me to get Priscilla? Or to get Naruto, to get Priscilla, to get her check up, with him getting to come with her?”

The former kage blinked owlishly. That was an… oddly phrased question; nevertheless, the blonde nodded and Cynthia grinned cheerfully as she got down from the bed to get them.

“Okay! One irritated Priscilla coming up!” unfortunately for Tsunade she didn’t specify if Naruto should come or not. And with Cynthia out of the room the former kage couldn’t tell her.

And so there Tsunade sat; on her seat, looking at the doorway with her eyes as wide as saucers. Then fucking Riful decided to lean in, pressing her cheek against the frozen blonde’s with an arm over her shoulder, and childishly say, “Oooooooh~! You fucked up!”

----

Meanwhile, in the bailey of the citadel, Naruto - the original one - was busy training his girls and children to use chakra in a more proficient and fun way: ninja tag. Originally, it was a game for kids to play when they were in the academy back in Konoha, since he use to play it with Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi when he was younger.

But he repurposed it for more practical reasons. One person would be assigned as the ‘tagger’, any people they touched, would be on their ‘team’. The more people that got touched the easier their task at tagging the others would be. They were not allowed to use their claymores or any elemental techniques, nor were they allowed to transform - partially or otherwise.

The Uzumaki Patriarch wanted this to be fair on everyone. No one would have any advantages over anyone else. The ones who were not caught had an armband tied to their bicep. Those who were caught had to take them off to show you are on the other team.

Naruto ducked under Harja’s hand with a laugh, “Nice try little one!” he said, as he spun out of the way and ran in the opposite direction as her. He suddenly leapt up and flipped over William and Teresa who tried to blind side him with their hands outstretched.

They crashed into each other and fell on their asses with a pain filled yelp. They glared half-heartedly at their father who chuckled at their misfortune. “Nice try you two; if Harja kept me distracted a little bit longer, I would have been caught there.”

He then side stepped when Helen’s outstretched arm tried to grab him by the arm. He grinned and gave the woman a cheeky wink before leaping up and backflipping onto a wall in order to avoid Miria, who suddenly appeared behind him with her arm outstretched also.

Miria tsked in disappointment, but she had a smile on her face as she looked up at her husband who was grinning and waving cheekily at her and the others with closed eyes. Then he snapped his eyes open when Veronica landed on the wall beside him, using chakra in her hands and feet to stick to the surface. He looked at her, and blinked owlishly when she tapped him on the shoulder with a triumphant grin. Sighing, Naruto closed his eyes, and took off his armband as he dropped to the ground with an audible chuckle, with Veronica following after him.

That is what he gets for closing his eyes.

Both blonds, plus Miria, Helen, Harja ,William and Teresa all looked around to see who still had their armbands on still.

“I have to admit this game you got us playing is damn fun!” Helen said with a chuckle. “I thought it would be stupid, but, boy was I wrong.”

“Anything boring can be made interesting.” Naruto pointed out to her. “I had to adjust it a little so this can count as training. It’s a fun way to train, as well. It keeps us focused on our surroundings and our chakra control sharp. Not to mention it’s a good way to keep your control over your yoki as well.”

Miria nodded in total agreement with that, “So when are we heading out again? It’s been a few months…” then she looked off in the distance, with narrowed eyes. “and those yoki signatures have not left the outskirts of Morris for long periods of time, after these two years.”

“They haven’t tried anything yet.” Naruto pointed out. “I met them once - they seemed like nice people; then again appearances can be deceiving. One of them was so damn lazy, she reminded me of someone I know back in the Elemental Nations.” if he remembered right, that one’s name is Europa - a former single digit.

And she looks like a loli as well; and wise too… when they spoke for a brief moment, she displayed wisdom that would be beyond her age. So that told him that one was older than she let on, like Riful.

“Besides, you do know I will put them down if they do try to attack the populace here. Not to mention with Riful, Luciela, Ophelia and Priscilla here, along with twenty-eight of you, attacking Morris would be committing suicide. They know this; so they wouldn’t risk attacking unless they want to kill themselves five times over. Now, let’s go and see if we can get those armbands off of everyone else.” Naruto told them conclusively.

“Right! I see Yuma and Ophelia over there.” Helen said, pointing at one part of the bailey where Ophelia was dodging and weaving through the hands of many children trying to catch her with a joyous laugh. Yuma was using a combination wall walking and acrobatics to avoid their grabby little hands.

They were doing a very good job at keeping ahead of the kids, that’s for sure.

Naruto chuckled. No sooner than the instant that thought crossed his mind did Harja leap into the fray. Teresa and William followed after her with a loud war cry that took Ophelia and Yuma both by surprise, leaving the women open for the others to tag them.

They cried out indignantly when they were dogpiled by the kids, with Harja, William and Teresa leading the charge.

Naruto couldn’t help but smile at the sight. It was so adorable! “Well... that happened.” he chuckled.

Miria, Helen and Veronica chuckled in agreement, thoroughly amused as they watched a smiling Yuma trying to crawl out of the mass of tiny limbs. Poor Ophelia was nowhere to be seen.

Finding a few others wearing the armbands, Naruto stretched his fingers before leaping into the fray. He was going to do this again, sometime. It was fun, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

----

Some time later in the day

When Kurama opened his eyes, he found himself back in the shared mindscape he has with the other Tailed Beasts. He sat up and looked around; it seemed he was the only one there for the moment.

So he waited, and waited… and waited some more.

With a snort, the Nine-Tailed fox laid back down and closed his eyes after nearly ten minutes of waiting. Whoever called him here can wake him up when he or she arrives. And if they don’t like it? Too bad! They should have thought of that before they decided to waste ten minutes of his time!

And so, he waited; and waited; and waited… and then waited some more. By the time twenty minutes had passed, Kurama was fast asleep and snoring.

An hour passed, and Kurama, without provocation whatsoever, jumped awake and sat up. Blinking owlishly the Nine-Tailed fox rapidly looked around his surroundings, before remembering where he was.

He hung his head and closed his eyes, “Tch… I don’t know why I got startled…” Kurama said aloud; then his eyes opened and he looked around again with a frown.

“There you are Kurama…” said the familiar voice of Isobu. He seemingly faded into existence, like a mirage had been lifted.

Said fox looked in the direction he heard his sibling and deadpanned at the turtle. “Here I... Isobu, I’ve been here for what felt like ages. I’ve been here for so long, waiting for someone to show up, that I fell asleep out of utter boredom! Where in the Sage’s name were you?”

Isobu looked sheepish, “Ah, sorry about that Kurama. Something had caught my attention where I was stationed.”

“The Organization?”

“Who else?” The turtle said rhetorically, “Not too far from their headquarters - I’d say fifteen miles out to the North/Northwest and heading in that direction - I detected several sources of yoki just showing up out of nowhere. For someone like Naruto, and those women who were with him in the Elemental Nations two-years-ago, they’re nothing to worry about. However, they will pose a problem for the towns and villages if they’re not taken care of soon.”

Kurama closed his eyes and said, “I see…” then they opened again, “Thank you for bringing this to my attention Isobu, I will let Naruto know about this immediately.”

With that Kurama closed his eyes and faded away from the shared mindscape.

----

While he was in the middle of chakra jumping after Jean, Naruto shoulders jumped in surprise when he heard Kurama suddenly speak to him. “Brat, we have a little problem.”

Hearing the seriousness in his tenants voice caused the blond to stop chasing after his wife and adopt a serious expression, catching Jean’s attention in the process. “What is it, buddy? Is the Organization up to something stupid, again?”

“I doubt it, but it is a possibility. There’s several sources of yoki to the North/Northeast of our location.”

“North/Northeast? That’s Isley’s territory, isn’t it? Um… Alphonse, right?”

“That it would be,” Kurama replied. “The thing is, these yoki have popped up out of nowhere. While they may not be of any threat to you or your… ‘family’, they’re going to cause a lot of problems to many towns and villages in the north if they are left by themselves.”

“I see… awakened beings then?”

Kurama grunted, “That would appear to be the case.” he said, “Their yoki is pretty big, but compared to what you faced brat, they’re ants. The same goes for your family here, now that they’re proficient enough in using chakra.” if there is one thing Kurama doesn’t like, it is when warriors are a one-trick pony. So his host training his women and soon, children, to use chakra and have them use to fighting opponents that like to fight dirty and use underhanded tactics is something he really likes to see.

“Alright. Chances the Organization is going to send someone over there?” Naruto asked.

“I’d say the chances the evil fuckers of sending several people over there to ‘eliminate’ the threat are pretty high.” The fox was doubtful about that though; since the Organization was the one creating the youma in the first place, the chances are they’re being sent out there to die. And with Isley still in the North - as far as Naruto and the fox knows - they’re probably going to get slaughtered.

“Honey,” Jean asked, “is something wrong?”

Naruto blinked and regained focus in the present. “Kurama’s telling me several sources of yoki popped up, North/Northeast of here.” the blond told her, “They just suddenly appeared, and seeing as the Organization are the ones that are making youma and awakened beings, he thinks the Organization is behind it. I believe him.”

The former Number 9 frowned. “I see... I take it you’ll be heading out to investigate, soon, then?” What a time to be pregnant… She wanted to go with, but knew it would be too dangerous for their unborn child.

“Yeah. I will.” He replied; when he saw the depressed look, Naruto sighed and pointed out, “If you want you can make a shadow clone to come with me. You’ll get her memories and everything if you do. It’ll be like you were really there. Not to mention our child won’t get hurt.”

Jean’s eyes lit up at that. “A-alright.”

He smiled and kissed her on the lips. “I can’t believe you forgot about that.”

She gave him a half hearted jab in the arm. “I’m still getting used to it,” Jean muttered. “I’ve only ever used it for chakra training, so I’m still learning what they’re capable of.”

“They’re dispelled with a good hit. But if you put enough chakra into one clone, then they can last for a very long time. They can also take a few more hits too… so long as it’s not a lethal wound. But, since they’re capable of doing everything you can, that shouldn’t be a problem.” Naruto told her with a chuckle as he rubbed his arm before taking her into a one-armed hug.

Jean smiled, wrapping her arms around her husband and giving him a peck on the cheek. “Just let me know when you’re about to head out.”

“Of course,” he replied warmly. “I’ll let the ones I’m taking with me know as well. Luciela and Rafaela could do with some stretching. Miria too. Then, we can go.”

“Okay.” Jean kept hugging him for several more minutes, not wanting to let go. Then she did let him go, to do what he needed with a sigh. She hated being separated from him so much, but she would get a nice gift when he returned, at least.

----

The door to a dark chamber eerily creaked open as Clarice cautiously walked in. It was pitch black in here. Was this really the right place? Looking over her shoulder, the silver-eyed brunette gave the handler a questioning look. He nodded.

Shrugging, Clarice turned to look ahead of her and cautiously walked on further in. Her footsteps echoed as she entered. Then, she jumped when the door suddenly slammed shut behind her, as if on its own! Taking a calming breath, she squinted her eyes as she looked around as best she could.

“H-hello?” she called out. “Is anyone in-”

Clarice stopped dead in her tracks as her eyes finally adjusted to see a little girl sitting in the middle of the room, curled up in a ball and rocking back and forth.

Her hair was pale blonde like most other warriors, reaching down to mid-calf, and she was extremely young. She couldn’t be much older than thirteen!

As if sensing the brunette’s upon her, the long-haired blonde snapped her head up and glared. The way her hair covered up her entire face except for a single eye, combined with the dark as fuck room, made for a very scary sight. Then, she moved.

The room spun, and Clarice didn’t have the foggiest clue what happened. One second she was standing and the next, she was lying on her back, with the glaring girl straddling her with a claymore held to her neck!

“S-sorry! I didn’t mean to intrude!” Clarice sputtered nervously.

“Did you kill them?” the girl hissed, her single eye narrowing dangerously, “Mama and Papa? Did you kill them?”

A wide eyed Clarice gulped, “W-what?” She was just as confused as she was scared, not knowing what the girl was talking about. “What do you mean?”

The girl hissed before she suddenly got off of her. Clarice slowly sat up as she heard the girl harshly whisper to herself. “Mama and Papa… eaten… youma, monsters, had to die. Had to eat them to stay alive… Mama and Papa… Had to eat them to stay alive… Youma killed Mama and Papa, left me alone… Had to eat them to stay alive…”

Clarice frowned at the girl’s jumbled retelling. “I… I’m sorry.” She flinched when the blonde suddenly looked up at her.

Her one visible eye glinted when she looked at Clarice again, as if recognising her. “M-Mama?”

“Wha…?” Now, the brunette was even more confused.

“MAMA!” The girl squealed, tackling a startled but bewildered Clarice to the ground.

Clarice yelped when the girl straddled her, grabbed her top and tore it open on the front. She let out a squeal when the girl latched on to the nub of her breast and started suckling against it like a newborn babe.

Completely bewildered and unsure what else to do, Clarice instinctively wrapped her arms around the young girl. What the hell did she just get herself into?!

----

Naruto let out a tired sigh as he overlooked the town from his bedchamber’s balcony. Behind him stood Miria, Luciela, Rafaela, Jean, Riful, Tsunade, and Team Samui.

“Riful,” he said, “you’re in charge while I’m gone. Samui, I want you and your team to keep an eye on those awakened beings outside of town. I don’t think they’ll try anything, but if they do, eliminate them.”

“You can be rest assured that I won’t hesitate, honey,” Karui told him. She was understandably wary of so many unknown entities - man-eating ones, at that - so close to her son. Many of Naruto’s other wives shared that sentiment.

The blond smiled at her, before addressing Tsunade. “You are the doctor here, so I’m giving you full authority to boss anyone around who is pregnant and should not be doing anything strenuous.” He then looked at Riful in particular as he added, “That means you have to listen to her when she tells you to do something. So if she tells you not to completely transform, then do not completely transform.”

The Abyssal loli scowled but nodded. She had no intentions to endanger her unborn son.

“Miria, Luciela and Rafaela, you’re going to be coming with me. Jean, you can go ahead and make that shadow clone, now.”

The former Number 9 nodded and put her hands in the cross seal, pouring most of her chakra into it and reinforcing it further with her yoki. The clone that came forth as a result was incredibly sturdy. She also wasn’t carrying a clone of the child - a nice perk to the chakra/yoki combination technique.

Jean and her clone looked at one another for a moment; then the clone looked at Naruto and gave him a saucy grin, leaning on her right leg with a hand on her hip. Another thing that came with Jean’s clones is that they tend to be a bit… quirky. Nothing too bad, but they were quite a bit more willing to act upon her more repressed emotions - which made for some kinky moments, much to the original’s usual embarrassment.

Miria sighed and asked her husband, “When are we heading out?”

“As soon as you’re able.”

“Raf and I will gather the supplies, then,” Luciela said, and then proceeded to drag her exasperated sister out of the bedchambers. “C’mon Raf! Let’s go get food and drinks to last the entire journey!”

Naruto chuckled as he watched the ginger pulling her quietly protesting sister out of the room. It was quite adorable to be honest. Then, he felt something squeezing his arm and looked to see Jean’s clone latching onto him.

“Shall we entertain you while we wait~?” she asked, unabashedly.

The original buried her face into her hands as she groaned in embarrassment. Why? Why was her clone doing this, offering herself in front of so many people!? They ALWAYS did something like this. She may have… had sex with her man while among other women... but that was totally and completely different! Shut up!

Naruto chuckled, “Sorry, Jean, but I have a feeling we’d be here for hours if we get started.” he told her clone.

“Would you please mind not sharing?!” Tsunade barked.

Jean’s clone scowled and openly glared at the former Kage. “Would you please not be such a prude?!” She then gave Tsunade an evil grin, making many in the room question their life choices. “I mean, I’m sure we’d love to hear why you’re called the Le-”

Knowing what she was about to say,Naruto immediately covered her mouth, before she could finish. “Please don’t mind her,” he said with a nervous chuckle as a violently-twitching Tsunade glared at the doppelganger. “you know how shadow clones are Granny-Tsunade; they have their own quirks and stuff! I’m pretty sure the real Jean doesn’t mean it. Please don’t punch her head off...” he begged her towards the end and quickly gave the clone he was covering the mouth of a disapproving shake of his head.

Tsunade took a deep, calming breath, before scowling. “You owe me a new bottle of sake.”

“There is a winery; get four bottles of the stuff in there.” he told her.

Sighing Tsunade looked at Riful and Team Samui. “Come along. Let’s leave them be. I want my bottles of sake.”

“...Fine.” Riful grumpily said; but before she left she walked over and gave her husband a tongue filled kiss. “Be safe, my love~!” with that out of the way she strode out of the bedchamber.

Karui went over and did the same thing; though she used less tongue. She then yelped when Jean’s clone gave her a playful swat on the rear.

“Nice ass~!” the doppelganger whispered with a teasing grin.

“Oh, behave, you,” Naruto chuckled.

Karui went red faced in embarrassment, but smiled at the complement. “Take good care of him. We both know how insatiable he is~!”

“Oh, I think Miria, Luciela and Rafaela can handle him. We’ll wring out as much cu-” Jean’s clone blinked and gave her man an amused stare when he stopped her from finishing that sentence.

Naruto gave her a pointed look as he said. “No kinky talk, please. I want to get through this as unaroused as possible.”

“Oh fine.” Jean’s clone said through his palm. She’ll keep from getting him worked up. But once this whole thing was done, then all bets were off~.

...As long as he didn’t forcibly dispel her that is.

Then Karui and Team Samui followed Tsunade out of the bedchamber, leaving Naruto, Jean, her clone that no longer had her mouth covered, and Miria alone.

“So… what do you girls want to do - that is not sex!” Naruto quickly added when he saw the perverse glint in the eyes of Jean’s clone.

“Spoilsport…” The clone said, “I dunno… tell us a story of your past? Like how you fucked that princess in a porno or maybe the psychic nun?”

“Shion isn’t a nun, and that is still sex...” Naruto said with a sigh and a rub of his forehead. This Jean was going to take some getting used to… kinky as fuck, but something he just had to get used to.

----

Two weeks later

Clarice’s teeth clattered as she hugged the thick, wooly cloak closer to her body and adjusted the hood to keep the blizzard out of her face. She peered down at her side and found little Miata clad in a thick wooly cloak the same as her, walking by her side. She was unaffected of the biting cold winds.

The Number 47 couldn’t help but be jealous of her. How she wished the cold didn’t affect her as well. But, something went wrong during her conversion. She barely had yoki, had trouble fighting off the weakest of youmas and had trouble carrying her claymore with both hands. And she had brown hair instead of the common silver and pale blonde, or sandy-brown. Apart from her silver eyes, you wouldn’t be able to tell she was a hybrid if she were in civilian clothes.

Out of everyone; she was more human. The only reason she graduated from a trainee was because the Organization was short staffed. Really, she shouldn’t even be out here. And then there was little Miata… the girl who thinks she is her mama… she is the child’s handler. Or guardian. Or… or parent? Was she even capable of taking care of this kid? Really, she’s about 13-years-old but has the mentality of a 7-year-old. Or even younger! And she’s a lot stronger than her too!

Clarice scowled bitterly. She hated feeling so inadequate, but, damn it, she wasn’t exactly experienced in caring for a child! Let alone one that is mentally unstable!

Miata whimpered, grabbing into Mama’s leg. “Why are you angry Mama?”

Clarice sighed, patting the brat on the head. “I’m mad at myself, honey,” she said. “I’m not very good at being a mommy, but I’ll do my best. You have nothing to worry about, okay?” She hoped there was nothing to worry about, at least. She allowed Miata to breastfeed on her to calm her down, and as much as she didn’t want to admit it, she felt something. She didn’t know what that was, but it was something. “We’re getting close to our destination, Miata; the rest of the awakened being hunting party should be in Dabi up ahead.”

And Dabi was near the crater that was once Pieta, no less. Luckily the Ladykiller was no longer here in the North, so, the chances of them encountering him should be minimal. However… that left Isley of the North. She really hoped they aren’t here to deal with him.

Thankfully, the amount of time it took to close the gap and enter the tavern their comrades were waiting in was mercifully short. How this village survived was a good question, but Clarice chalked it up to Dabi being out of Isley’s direct path. Several survivors of Pieta had apparently taken up residence here, as well - most of the ones who opted out of trekking to Morris, a fortified town that had been abandoned for decades, no less. That said, this place had become quite the goldmine for information pertaining to the Ladykiller. According to the rumors, this was even where his nickname had originated!

As soon as she and Miata stepped in the two hybrids sense was assaulted with the thick scent of beer, music, and people chatting. No one took notice of them; good. That would make things a little easier. Now all they had to do was find out the one who’s leading them.

Technically it would be Miata, due to her being a Number 4… but considering her mental state, that would not be a wise idea. So, what was this chick’s name, again?

Off to the side, a woman with short, wild, sideswept hair and a sultry grin leaned down against the bar, her position accentuating her sizeable breasts. Despite being a warrior of the organization, she’d become rather popular with the male patrons over the course of her stay, here.

This woman was Camilla the Charmer, the current Warrior Number 20 - so named for her natural charisma.

“So, you don’t know where the ‘Ladykiller’ came from?” She asked, sensually stroking the chin of a young teenage boy with a flirtatious smile. “Are you sure? I’ll make it worth your while if you tell me, I promise~!”

The poor fucker wanted so badly to say he knew, but damn it, the guy never told anyone! “I really don’t know, miss.” he replied in the calmest tone he could muster, doing his damnedest to conceal his raging boner. “He just showed up out of nowhere during the beginning of the attack, and seemed to know at least two claymores who were in Pieta. All I can say for sure is that he came from the south, but that’s not saying much...”

Meanwhile, sitting at a round table, playing a round of poker with the guys, was an attractive woman with her hair styled in a bowl haircut, parted in the middle. Her lips were curled up in a cocky grin as she laid down her hand - a full house. “Pay up, ladies,” she chuckled. “I win, again~!”

Many men grumbled at that, though they pushed the small pile of Bera to her.

The winner of the pot was none other than the Organization’s Number 21, Elise the Tease. Despite her nickname, though, she was most notorious amongst the other warriors for her gambling addiction. Though, nine times out of ten, she tended to win, it was still quite the irritating distraction amongst her handlers and the Single-Digits.

And lastly, in a corner with a pint of ale, sat Shadow-Hunter Nina - Warrior Number 9 of the Organization. Her hair was mostly put up in a tight ponytail, but with a fringe trailing down the left side of her face. She took the pint to her lips and closed her eyes as she drank down the liquid; while she isn’t affected by the cold, she had to admit the way ale warmed up her body felt… nice. “I was wondering when you’d finally show up,” she called out, after taking down her mouthful of ale and lowering the mug to the table.

Just like that, all eyes within the tavern were suddenly upon Clarice and Miata. The former went stiff under her cloak upon having all eyes on her, though no one but her noticed thanks to said garment. Miata slowly surveyed the room, looking at the patreons with disturbing intensity.

“If any of them hurt Mama,” Miata thought as she clenched Clarice’s cloak, “I will hurt them back.”

Clarice cleared her throat and marched on up to the woman who spoke, Miata in tow. Then, the brunette bowed apologetically. “M-my apologies. We got held up by a large group of youma along the way.”

“A large group you say?” Elise said, getting up from her table after taking her share of Bera from the poor suckers. “How many?”

“At least 10.” Clarice replied, “half of them ran away after the other half were killed.”

Nina narrowed her eyes. “And you didn’t think to pursue them?” she accused.

Clarice shook her head. “No. We were told to come here, so we did.” she answered politely and respectfully.

Nina narrowed her eyes, hearing the teeth clattering from the young woman in front of her. “Why are you wearing that hood? Take it off and tell us your name and rank.” she demanded. Miata didn’t take too kindly with that and would have gone and made her pay for insulting her mama, had Clarice not put her hand out in front of the preteen.

The brunette did just that. “My name is Clarice, Number 47. I was wearing the hood, because it’s cold outside.”

Nina, Elise and Camilla inhaled sharply, becoming wide eyed in shock when they saw the colour of her hair.

The Number 9 stood up abruptly as she exclaimed, “What the- what’s up with your hair?! It still has pigment in it!”

Clarice blinked owlishly, taken aback at their reactions. “Ah… Well… it’s special… the original colour was strong and not all of it went away.” she replied in utter bewilderment. It wasn’t that much of a big deal was it?

Apparently, it was, if the scowl, narrowed eyes, and gritted teeth Nina had was any indication…

“When we become half-human half-youma, the colour of our hair fades out. But yours hasn’t. And you can’t control the temperature of your own body.” Nina leaned against the table and her eyes narrowed even more, her scowl of irritation becoming more pronounced. “You’re dead weight, a loser who barely scraped by to get the lowest number.” she coldly and ruthlessly drilled.

Clarice was hurt by this, but didn’t let it show; she opted to show more confusion. “Uh… dead weight?”

Miata clung to Clarice, growling at the bitch yelling at her mama.

Nina ignored the growling brat as she looked down at the table. “The Northern region is a pile of shit; the worst of the worst voracious eaters are holed up here. What’s a single digit Number like me doing here dragging your worthless ass arou-”

She stopped dead in her tracks when the edge of a claymore pressed against her throat. Nina looked up from it to see that the brat had apparently teleported onto the table in front of her and giving her the most psychotic glare she’d ever seen.

“Say you’re sorry!” the kid demanded.

“M-Miata, it’s okay,” Clarice assured. Then, with a commanding tone, she said, “get down from there and put your sword away, you’re scaring the people here.”

“Miata?!” Nina could barely believe it. But, that would explain how insanely fast this kid was. “As in Blood Eye Miata?!”

Nina was promptly ignored as the brat in question looked back to Clarice with a pout. “But, she called you worthless, Mama…”

“I heard her, honey,” the brunette said. “But, she’s…” she quickly looked around and saw the mug of ale on the table Nina was at. “...drunk. People say stupid things when they have too much ale. It’s okay. She didn’t mean it. Now, come on. Off the table, like I said.”

Miata was so terribly confused. If ale did that to a person, then why would someone drink it? Still, she didn’t want to make Mama angry at her, and she said it was okay... so, she put her sword away and hopped off the table.

Clarice sighed in relief and patted her… ‘daughter’, on the head. “That’s a good girl, Miata.” She then looked back at Nina. “This is Miata, Warrior Number 4 of the Organization. Due to her… youth, she can’t lead this party, so if you are truely a single digit, then you’re in charge. Please try to refrain from provoking... my ‘daughter’ in the future, though. She’s a bit unpredictable.” she took a deep breath and asked in a polite tone, “So, um, now that that is out of the way, what are your names and numbers?”

The first to answer was the woman at the bar. “I am Number 20, Camilla,” she said. Then, the sultry woman smiled warmly. “Nice job there, by the way. I’m impressed.”

There was a chuckle from the woman dealing out fresh hands for another round. “I’m Number 21, Elise,” she said. “The chick with the stick up her ass is Number 9, Nina. Don’t let her get to ya.”

Miata looked at Nina and back at Clarice. “Why does she have a stick in her butt, Mama?”

Feeling just a bit spiteful from such a cold reception after that long-ass trip here, the brunette just couldn’t help herself. “I don’t know, honey. You’ll have to ask her yourself.”

Elise couldn’t help but laugh at that.

Miata blinked, looking back at Nina, before doing just that. “Why do you have a stick in your butt? Does it hurt? Who put it there?”

The Organization’s Number 9 glared at Elise, not looking forward to this mission.

----

A mile outside of Dabi was a heavily clothed and cloaked, Naruto, Miria, Jean, and finally Luciela and Rafaela. The blizzard wasn’t so bad it impeded their movement, but it was thick enough to covered their approach. Oddly the cloaks they’re wearing didn’t seem to even move or ruffle as the bitingly cold wind battered against them.

“How many are there, Naruto?” Luciela asked.

“...inside of the town itself, there’s five. Two of them are stronger; single digits it looks like one is… barely there. she is worse than Clare was five years ago. So she would be definitely be a Number 47. Elsewhere, there is five awakened beings lingering around. I guess they’re waiting for the girls to come out.”

“In other words they’re planning to kill them first, before moving on to Dabi.” Miria deduced.

“Most likely,” Naruto agreed. “Seeing as how two of the warriors here are single-digits, I’d like to avoid fighting them... maybe make a few friends if all goes well.”

“You want to fuck them, don’t you?” Jean asked teasingly.

Naruto chuckled. “That depends on the girls, themselves. I don’t go after them unless they show any interest in me.” That and he is a patent mother fucker; he’ll wait for years for them to make the first move. Or if they do show interest in him then he’ll go for them personally.

Miria scoffed, she didn’t believe that for a second. “You’re just saying that; we all know you want some new harem members to fuck silly.”

“Oh?” the clocked blond leaned against his woman with a teasing laugh, “Is that jealousy I hear?”

“No. Of course it’s not. It’s irritation.” Miria quickly replied; though she leaned back against him.

The Uzumaki Patriarch chuckled, “I see. Well, I think we should wait here and see what happens next. What about you girls? Stay here or go book a room?”

“Book a room~!” Jean predictably cooed, throwing herself against her man and rubbing herself against his body in an attempt to entice him.

Luciela giggled. “I like this version,” she commented. Then, the redhead looked to her mate and added, “I also concur.”

Rafaela looked at her sister, then to Jean’s clone, and to Miria before sighing. “A room is a lot better than staying out here in this damn cold.” the cold may not affect her, but that doesn’t mean it can’t get uncomfortable.

“I’m outvoted.” Miria merely said. They might as well book a room now and see what happens next.

With that, Naruto waltzed on up to town, made his way to the tavern and entered with his women in tow. When he lowered his hood, he noted that never in his life had he seen someone as terrified as the chick in the corner when he entered.

Nina was so close to shitting herself in sheer fright. The Ladykiller was here… he was right here, in front of her! Why? Was he hunting down the warriors of the Organization?

Naruto waved at her. “Hi!” Seeing the woman flinch, he shrugged and moved along.

Off to the side, Miata looked up and asked, “who’s that, Mama?”

“That’s L-Ladykiller Naruto,” Clarice said, visibly trembling. “W-w-what’s he d-doing here?” Clearing her throat and regaining her composure, she then looked down to Miata and whispered, “the Organization has us under strict orders not to engage. Don’t provoke him, okay, sweetie?”

Miata frowned in confusion, but nodded.

Next to enter and lower her hood was Luciela of the fucking South, followed by her sister Rafaela, Phantom Miria, and finally, Drillsword Jean.

Naruto turned to his lovers, “I’ll go find a manager and rent us all a shared room. Go find yourselves a vacant table.” he told them. The girls nodded and did just as they were told while he greeted the man behind the counter. “Jakob, it’s been a while. I see you’ve set up shop here.”

The man in question was a lanky, silver-haired gentleman with his hair in a rat tail. He wore a leather sleeveless tunic, dark brown undershirt with matching linen pants. He smiled a small smile when the Hero of Pieta finally found the rest of the survivors.

“Yes. Business is not as good as it was in Pieta though.” Jakob said with a sigh; then he gave him a narrowed eyed look. “I have to say, did you really have to utterly destroy it?”

“It wasn’t my intention. Something… happened that really made me angry. Rest assured though, I have no intention of starting something here. Unless Dabi was to be suddenly attacked, or something, then I will take action.”

Jakob sighed. “Just try to spare my place, this time, eh? Buildings aren’t cheap.”

“I’ll try.” Naruto promised. “If things do go south, there’s always Morris. The other survivors of Pieta have set up shop there. And I’m keeping a very close eye on it.”

“I see. Thank you for telling me.” Then the barman leaned against the counter, “So what brings you here? It can’t be… them can it?”

Blinking Naruto followed his gaze and found the other hybrids staring at him. “No. It’s not them,” he then looked to Jakob once more and said, “long story short, I’ve gotten reports of some voracious eaters showing up in the area. I was in town, so I decided to deal with them. My girls and I could use a place to stay for the night though.” He placed a handful of Beras on the counter. “Will this do?”

“T-that’s more than twice what I charged, back in Pieta,” Jakob pointed out.

“Good,” Naruto chirped. “You’ll be able to put that back for expansion, or maybe moving to a place with more potential clients.”

“Well, well,” Camilla purred, sliding up beside him. “Looks like the Ladykiller’s loaded… and handsome~!”

Naruto looked at her with an arched brow, he had to admit the blonde woman beside him is smoking hot! He grinned, “Well, it’s not every day I see a smoking hot babe just waltz on up to me like that. What brings you over here to talk to me?”

“I’m simply… curious.” Camilla purred, leaning to him with a mischievous grin. The Organization said to not engage him, they never did specify what type of engagement that entailed. “I’ve heard quite the interesting yarns being spun about you and just had to see for myself what was and was not true~!”

“Well that depends; are you here to fight me? Because I’d rather not hurt a fine ass babe like you.”

Miria’s eye twitched at her man blatantly flirting with a woman he’d literally just met.

“So bold,” Camilla giggled. “Oh, I see why you’re so popular with the ladies~!”

Naruto chuckled. “A near decade ago and that would have been an entirely different story. Was never popular with the fairer sex when I was younger.” he sighed and leaned against the counter. “So, what brings you all the way out here to the North? Is it the youma or voracious eaters that suddenly popped up?”

Camilla gave him a smile. “Well-informed, too, are we~? The voracious eaters in the mountains are why we’re here. They’ve been causing a small fuss in the area, so we were sent to eliminate them.”

“That is quite enough, Camilla,” Nina called out. “Please do bear in mind that the Ladykiller is not on good terms with the Organization.”

“It’s their own damn fault for sending two of my lovers on a suicide mission,” Naruto pointed out flatly. He then turned to the Number 9, “I lost one of my lovers, a warrior named Natalie, in that fight, too; and not long after that, they tried to kill another one of my lovers, God-Eye Galatea. And then two years ago, they had the gall to try and dig up Natalie’s body from her resting place. So, yes, the Organization is on my shit list.” he snarled, then he took a deep breath to calm himself and added in a much calmer tone, “You warriors are fine though, since I have no bone to pick with you.”

Camilla sighed. Well, that killed the mood she was trying to set. Time for plan B. The blond was really lucky she found him genuinely attractive. “I’m sorry to hear that, truly... Would you care for a drink to get your mind off it?”

He quirked an eyebrow at her. Did she really think she was being subtle? Nevertheless, it really would help get his mind off of it; even if being a Jinchuuriki won’t allow him to get wasted. “Alright…”

Elise quickly sat down beside him on the opposite side and said, “I-I’ll join in!” She then slammed a few Beras down. “A bottle of your strongest drink, sir,” the Number 21 said.

“Elise!” Nina cried out aghast; he was the enemy! What are they doing, fraternizing with him!?

“Oh, lighten up will you,” Camilla chided the Number 9, “You heard him, he’s not here to fight. So what’s the harm in getting to know him? Oi, Number 47, Number 4 come join us will ya?”

Clarice jumped, taken by surprise at being called out like that. “Ah… I’ll pass-”

Miata lightly tugged on her hand. “Mama, I’m thirsty.”

The poor woman was caught in a bind at one hand she wanted to be as far away from the Ladykiller as possible. On the other, she didn’t want Miata to be set off because she didn’t get what she wanted… and she was thirsty too.

“...Okay.” She relented.

With a chuckle Naruto turned to the barkeep and said, “Jakob, a cup of milk for the youngling. I’ll give you fifteen more Beras if you do.”

Jakob stopped what he was doing to look over his shoulder at the blond. And he was not kidding; Naruto put down an extra fifteen Bera’s on the counter for him. “You got it, Naruto.”

Meanwhile Miria was glowering at Camilla, Elise, Clarice and Nina from where she sat, as they seemingly forgotten about their very presence. How dare those harlots flirt with her man! She was so very tempted to get up and go over there to show them just who he belonged too! A hand on her cloaked shoulder from Rafaela, stopped her from doing just that though. When she looked at the one-eyed woman Rafaela silently shook her head as she returned her gaze to her husband with the newer generation of hybrids.

“Don’t go over there. Let’s see how this plays out first.”

“What?” Miria hissed lowly, “They’re flirting with him! He’s ours; we had him first!”

“He may be gathering information on them.” Rafaela pointed out remindingly, “Really, you, Jean, Luciela and myself all have read the book on his own life once it got translated. You know he was trained by someone who was once a very skilled spymaster - someone who did this sort of thing for a living. Have faith in him.”

Miria growled; she didn’t like it but relented. The scarred woman had a point after all. And she did remember the book saying Naruto had gone on a training trip with Jiraiya for two and a half years. He learned a lot from the man, ranging from seduction, to lying, to seals and finally hand to hand. Getting information by flirting and seducing his target - usually females - was one of the things he had done during that training trip.

Back with Naruto he flashed a friendly smile at Miata when he saw her. She was pretty damn adorable, with the long hair covering almost the entirety of her face. “My, my, aren’t you the most adorable, little thing?” as she looked up at him, cocking her head to the side in curiosity, his smile grew wider when he felt how strong she was; this little girl has the potential to go quite far if she puts her mind to it. “Strong too. You’d be quite the powerhouse when you’re older.” then he looked at Clarice and frowned when he discovered the dangerous lack of yoki was coming from her. “Strange… your yoki is almost nonexistent. It’s like a lantern being unable to run properly because there’s not enough oil to keep it going. That must be the reason why your hair hasn’t lost its tinge. You must get a lot of flak for that, huh?”

Clarice blinked, “Uh…”

“I think the colour suits you.” he complimented her, “I just can’t see you with silver or pale blonde hair. It would take away your uniqueness. It makes you special.” hearing those words made the Number 47 perk up; when she had the blood and flesh of youma spliced into her body, and her hair retained its natural colour, she had felt she had become special and hearing him, the infamous Ladykiller call her that special word... special… it gave her a feeling of gratitude though she kept it from showing. “Having a lack of yoki doesn’t mean you can’t grow strong though, there are other ways for a person to become truly strong.”

Despite herself Clarice could not help but lean in. “Ah… really? How? How does one such as me become truly strong?” She looked at the mug of ale that was put on the counter in front of her, and found Miata had a cup of milk in her hands.

“It differs for each person. For me, it’s when I have people that I love with all my being, that I want to protect them with all I have.” he looked at the irritable Miria and smiled genuinely. “Like Miria.”

Said woman turned beet red at that.

Then, Naruto looked to Clarice again and said, “For you, it can be something as simple as ‘being strong because you want to be strong’.”

Looking down at her mug of ale, Clarice brought it to her lips and took a mouthful as she thought on his words. Then after setting the mug on the table she asked, “What happens if I can’t find a reason?”

“Well, that’s all on you.” Naruto told her, seeing her inquisitive look he elaborated, “There are other ways for a person to become strong. You are the weakest ‘claymore’ of your generation now, maybe in history.” he gave Miata a bemused smile when she growled at him and seeing the downcast look on the brunette’s face he added, “But… that doesn’t mean it will stay that way forever. How does a person at the very bottom become strong? They train their asses off.” with a chuckle and looked at Camilla, Elise, Nina who had joined them when he began to speak with wisdom, and then finally he looked to Clarice and Miata. “Let me tell you all a secret: eleven years ago, when I first became a warrior, I was the weakest of my generation.” he paused to let that sink in for a moment, and and when he was being given looks of awes he continued. “Now I am one of the strongest. Training for two and a half years, had helped me out of being the loser, the dead weight. If that can work for me then it can definitely work for you. Never underestimate the underdogs.”

Clarice thought hard on that. It certainly made her feel better. She took another swig of ale.

Miata smiled. She could tell this man was making Mama happy.

Camilla giggled, deciding to add in her two cents. “So, I take it you like her~?”

The poor brunette nearly choked on her drink and Naruto patted her on the back with a chuckle. “She reminds me a little of myself. She’s a hell of a lot more level headed than I was, though; smarter, too. And what can I say? She’s beautiful, so, of course I like her.”

Clarice had previously never known she could blush so hard.

“Oh? So what can you tell us about yourself?” Camilla asked.

“I’ve told you quite a bit, already.” Naruto chuckled. “How ‘bout we play a game? You tell me a bit about yourself and I do the same? It’ll be like asking 20 questions.” he then leaned in and asked in a seductive whisper, “how does that sound?”

“Oh-ho-ho~!” Camilla chuckled back. “Well, well, feeling bold, are we?”

“Look who’s talking,” Naruto teased. “You’re the one who offered me a drink while blatantly flirting with me~!” he lightly elbowed her on the arm, “So, go ahead; tell me about yourself, cutie.”

She leaned in, pressing her bosom against his arm and whispered into his ear, “I have a 37-inch bust~!” The impish woman then slipped her hand under his cloak and fondled him. “So, tell me, how big is your little Ladykiller?”

He grinned at her blatant groping; going straight for second base is she? “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you~!”

“Try me,” she purred.

Chuckling Naruto leaned in and whispered into her ear, “15 inches.”

Camilla jumped. “No way!”

“Told you~!” Naruto chuckled, again. Then he pulled away and said in a louder voice, “Tell ya what, I’ll give you a freebie, sense that one has a bit of a farfetched answer. Fire away.”

Elisa immediately asked, “Is it true you turned into a giant Nine-Tailed fox?”

“Uh, kinda?” Naruto said, regulating his breathing when Camilla got a little… enthusiastic in rubbing his mini-Naruto. Before she could call him out for cheating, he elaborated. “It’s more like I was wrapped in that form… kinda like a suit, rather than actually turning into the fox, itself.”

“Like a… voracious eater?” Nina asked.

“Not exactly. Voracious eaters actually change physical form. As I said, I was wrapped in that form. It’s not a physical transformation, though it does feel like one, because the yoki I use to manifest the... ‘fox cloak’, if you will, is so thick it takes solid form. The more tails I bring out, the stronger that form becomes. Nine is the strongest, at least of those fox transformations.” Then, he gave a flirty grin. “Now, it’s time for one of you lovely ladies to tell me something about yourselves.”

“I like milk,” Miata chirped.

Naruto let out a loud, hearty chuckle and ruffled her scalp. “Alright, I guess that counts. What do you want to know about me then, kid?”

Miata giggled. “Why do you smell like a fox?” she asked, tilting her head curiously.

“Hmm… good question.” Naruto rubbed his chin thoughtfully, “No one ever said I smelled like a fox. I guess it’s because I can kinda turn into a giant, fluffy one? Your guess is as good as mine, honestly.”

“Bitch, I ain’t fluffy!” Kurama grumbled.

“I’m sure the kid would beg to differ,” Naruto internally chuckled. “Since I don’t really know the answer to that one, I’ll grant another freebie. So, any of you got another question?”

Camilla was not about to let this opportunity pass. She leaned in and whispered, “is it true that you fucked Riful of the West and three warriors in one go?”

Naruto grinned at her. “Yeah. It is. It kept on going towards the end of the week, too, in Riful’s case. Poor Raf still hates me for that, because she was ordered to keep an eye on me at the time.” He smiled sheepishly at the thought. “I can only imagine the embarrassment she felt at the time. Now, it’s one of your turns to tell me something about you.”

Clarice took several swigs of ale before putting the mug back down on the table, and covered her mouth with embarrassment as she let out an unladylike burp. “E-excuse me!”

Jakob, meanwhile, handed Naruto a key to the finest room in the house.

Camilla slipped her hand into the blond’s trousers and cooed at the prize she felt. “While I am still a virgin,” she whispered, “I have quite a bit of experience in pleasuring men with my mouth and hands~!” Then, she asked just loudly enough for everyone to hear, “so, where are you from, prettyboy~?”

“I’m from… around.” he leaned in and said low enough for no one to eavesdrop but loud enough for the four of them to hear him “I’m actually from a different continent altogether. Across the sea to the West… pretty far, too. We didn’t even know this place existed until I found it.”

Elise, Clarice, Nina, Camilla and Miata all looked at him with wide eyes at that. There was another continent out there?! Clarice was about to ask why no one had discovered this continent he belongs to, until she remembered what he had said towards the end. He didn’t know this place existed until he found it, so it can work both ways…

Now that she thought about it, have the Organization tried to find where he came from? Since the handlers have given them very strict orders to not engage him, they consider him to be a very legitimate threat; it would make sense for them to find out where he came from.

“Now it’s one of your turns to tell me something else about yourselves.” Naruto told them, and kept his disappointment from showing when Camilla subtly took her hand out from under his pants and cloak. Nevertheless he was thankful she finally stopped; he didn’t want the little girl to ask the more… awkward questions if she so happened to find out what the hell she was doing.

Wondering what they were talking about, Miria whose curiosity had finally gotten the better of her, steeled her face and made her way over to her husband to make sure those hussies aren’t doing anything... inappropriate to him. And there’s a child there as well, so that gives her all the more reason to go over there and make sure he doesn’t say or do anything inappropriate for someone her age to see.

With sigh of exasperation Rafaela rolled her one good eye and got up to follow after the former Number 6.

----

While Naruto was getting to know the four women, plus one child in Dabi, in the Eastern Quadrant named Sutare, a new warrior was about to return to the land of the living.

A woman with pointed ears and long, naturally blonde, curly hair groaned as her silver eyes fluttered. “What hit me?” she groaned.

“The Abyssal One you pissed off,” Dae replied flatly. “You have no idea how hard it was to convince him not to kill us all.”

Lutecia the Universal sat up with a pained grunt. Damn, she felt like shit! What did Isley do to…? Her train of thought came to a crashing halt as Lutecia vividly remembered her own death.

----

50 Years Ago

A man with long, golden locks and a fur coat sat upon his mighty steed as he looked down towards the woman before him. “Have you no clue whom you face, child?” the man asked. “Of whom you intend to provoke. Run along, little one, and I’ll peg this as something along the lines of temporary insanity.”

“Isley of the North,” the woman shouted back. “I am Lutecia the Universal, Number 1 of the Organization. I know precisely what I am provoking and it has plagued these lands for far too long. I am here to put an end to that blight, once and for all.” Punctuating that last word with a mighty leap, Lutecia vaulted forth with her sword held high. Then, there was a clang and she flew back.

She slid across the ground with a grunt, a hand pressed against a nasty gash on her abdomen. She didn’t even see him draw his sword! But, there it was drawn and matted with her blood. She clicked her tongue in irritation.

The weapon was a near mirror image of her own, save for the insignia. Was he mocking her by using the claymore given to him by the Organisation?!

The wound he’d given her closed up almost instantly, but there was something amiss. “Transform, beast, and let me see you for the creature you really are!” Lutecia commanded haughtily.

Isley scoffed. “With that pathetic yoki of yours?” he mocked. “You are not worthy of fighting me, child, and you try my patience. Fortunately, you’ve caught me in a good mood.” His tone then became deadly serious promising a fate worse than death and more, should she not comply with his wishes. “This is your last warning: go home or suffer my wrath.”

Lutecia’s jaw dropped as she stared at him, utterly appalled. Did this thing just have the gall to call her pathetic?! “H-how dare you?!” she shouted. “How fucking dare you beast?! I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD FOR THAT!”

With that, Lutecia leapt forth, once more. But, Isley was having none of that. He spurred his horse, charging forth to meet her while she was in mid-air, and swiftly relieved his opponent of her sword arm.

Lutecia wailed in agony and rage, then, just as she landed and turned to retrieve her fallen limb, the soon-to-be former Number 1 heard the sound of galloping, before a firm whack and the pain of her severed leg drowned out all other sensations.

Rearing back, Isley turned and trampled upon the fallen woman. Lutecia tumbled and coughed as his mighty, black stallion’s hooves broke skin and bone - pummelling the woman within an inch of her life and knocking the wind out of her. Then, he turned and did it again, and again, and again, until long after the mangled warrior stopped moving.

Then he partially transformed his left arm into a large cleaver, and decapitated her mangled corpse. Then and only then did he dismount to fetch the woman’s head. Bringing her severed head up to his, Isley saw her expression had frozen in the display of pain and agony.

“Tch… annoying.” then he mounted his steed once more and made his way to the east. He was going to make the Organization pay for this.

----

Lutecia growled at the memory of Isley killing her off in such an insulting manner. He didn’t even transform! Hell, he didn’t even dismount to fight her like a man, and he still bested her in only three blows! Adding insult to injury, he swung his claymore faster than her eyes could see, and that was just with his natural speed! He didn’t even release a shred his yoki to best her! He didn’t need to!

It made her sick.

“What the hell happened to me after I was… killed?” the Number 1 asked, “No, actually, how the hell am I alive?” she looked to Dae and paused, “And who are you?” she didn’t recognise him. Though something about him was familiar.

“Well, obviously, I brought you back to life,” Dae replied with no small amount of pride. “Also, I’ve only had half a face for a couple decades, so I suppose I can forgive you for not recognizing me.”

Lutecia squinted her eyes at him at him. She gave him a full face and aged him down a few decades…

“...Dae?” she said, looking unsure. “The fuck happened to you? And why am I alive?”

“Many things, I can assure you,” he cackled. “As for why you’re alive, the Organization has itself a bit of a… problem. And I have been tasked to revive our strongest Number 1’s… and then some, to deal with it.”

“What kind of problem?” she asked, then the elf-eared woman grinned arrogantly, “Heh, whoever it is won’t be a problem for me. You really shouldn’t have bothered reviving the others.”

“He’s stronger than Isley, and has the other two Abyssal Ones at his beck and call,” Dae deadpanned. “We cannot afford to take any chances with this being.”

Lutecia, despite herself, couldn’t help but waver at that. Though, she also couldn’t help but feel a little… suspicious; who could be stronger than fucking Isley of the North?!

“Oh… just how strong is he?”

“That is currently unknown,” Dae replied, his expression dire. “He’s stronger than Riful of the West and Luciela of the South, combined, and has enough power to be able to reduce Pieta to a crater in an instant.”

Lutecia stared, and stared, and stared some more, before finally she laid back down on the slab and closed her eyes. “And you’re reviving your strongest warriors to take him on... Great. Just great.” with another sigh, the elf-eared woman looked at the two-face reject and asked, “What can you tell me about him? If I am to fight, I might as well know as much as I can about him, eh?” She was not going to make the same mistake and underestimate this being like she did Isley.

“That would be wise,” the old man said with a sagely nod.

----

In Dabi, back with Naruto, the blond who was now sitting with the rest of his girls, was talking to Clarice and her team. Naruto was sitting with his girls on one end and the others were at the other. The table had mugs of ale, or a cup of milk in Miata’s case. They were noticeably more comfortable around the blond now, and were enraptured with his retelling of his childhood.

“You actually been through that?” Clarice asked in wide eyed horrification.

Naruto nodded, with Miria and Jean holding his hands comfortingly. “Yep. It was suffocating at times, but I got through it.”

“You poor thing… How did you not lose your mind?” a now somber Camilla asked; she was looking at Naruto in a new light now. “If it were me, I would have given up a long time ago.”

Naruto shrugged. “I’ve always been a bit too stubborn for my own good. Though, in that case, it was a good thing. I saw what I could have become had I given up years later, in someone else.” he shuddered. “And it was not a pretty sight.”

“Who?” Miata asked, a single eye was looking up at him through her hair with childlike curiosity.

“His name is Gaara. When we first met, he was psychotic and axe-crazy. Long story short: he tried to kill me to ‘prove his existence’ or something crazy like that.” He shrugged. “Then, I beat some sense into him… literally. Not quite sure how, but I did... and now, we’re best friends.”

“So… this person was a psychopath?” Elise asked, leaning against the table with her arms crossed in front of her. And Clarice gave her… ‘daughter’ a nervous but subtle glance, since she is mentally unstable - though she was very surprised and relieved that she seemed to have calmed down now that she was listening to the blond.

Even more surprising, was that she was calmer around him and less nervous.

Naruto nodded with a sigh, “Yes. He was. Not from any fault of his own, mind you; the main cause of it was his own bas- ehm, jerk of a father.” he quickly corrected himself when he remembered he was in the presence of an impressionable, little girl. “He sent assassins to try and kill him every day. When they didn’t work, he got Gaara’s uncle to try and kill him. That didn’t kill him, either. But the experience left him… broken, for lack of a better word. He had never been the same since… until I came along.”

“As someone once told me: ‘he has a way of bringing the best out of the people around him’.” said Miria, quoting Tsunade two years before, as she lovingly leaned her head against his shoulder.

“I’ll say~.” Luciela giggled, her eyes glazing over as she reminisced her first time with him. His dick really brought out the best in her alright~. Speaking of dicks she wouldn’t mind having another go with him; and having her sister involved this time. Her one-eyed sister hardly joined in; not to mention she only got a small dose of dickings from her husband during the five years they were together.

Rafaela sighed in exasperation. She had a feeling her sister was thinking of something lewd. “Behave yourself, Luciela.” the spiky-bob haired woman told her beloved sister.

“I am behaving myself, dear sister of mine.” The ginger told her, her shoulders jumping in silent laughter. “You need to loosen up a bit more. There’s no need to act so… reserved.”

“They’re still with the Organization.” Rafaela pointed out to her older sister. “We may not be fighting, but it doesn’t change the fact they’re still working for the enemy.”

Being reminded of that had made Clarice, Nina, Elise and Camilla nervous; they weren’t going to turn on them now were they? While they may have very strict orders to not fight the Ladykiller under any circumstances, that didn’t mean they could not try and fend him off. As unlikely as that may be to actually work.

Luckily Naruto came to the rescue by giving them a healthy dose of his logic. “That is true. They are working for the Organization - but, reality is a very fickle thing. Today, they can be our enemy. Tomorrow, they could be our greatest allies. It all depends on what happens between then and now.” Then Naruto looked at the latest generation of warriors, and gave them an encouraging smile. “Now, I want you four to be completely honest okay? What did the Organization say about me exactly? Because, for all you know, the Organization could be spouting a bunch of lies. And, well, sometimes you have to see to believe it. So - don’t hold back on what you were told.”

“That you were brainwashing these women into thinking the Organization was evil,” Clarice said. “And that you’re sexually exploiting them. We’re also under strict orders not to engage, and to flee on sight if able.”

Naruto quirked an eyebrow at that. “So, why haven’t you fled?”

“Because if we tried, you’d easily catch up or block our exit,” Nina deadpanned.

“That and there is only one way out and you were in front of it at the time.” Camilla deadpanned as well.

The blond shrugged. “Fair enough. And what do you think now that you’ve seen me in person?”

With a frown Nina rubbed her chin thoughtfully. “...You are not as bad as the Organization made you out to be.” she looked at Miria, Jean and Rafaela and squint at them. “And they don’t look brainwashed either...”

“They look genuinely happy as well.” Elise said, as she looked at Miria and Jean sitting beside him.

Gulping down another mouthful of milk Miata exhaled happily before putting the near empty cup on the table. “Mister, why are you fighting the Organization?”

Naruto looked at her for a moment. Giving her a short answer wouldn’t hurt. He can also tell Clarice, Nina, Elise and Camilla were curious to know as well. “A couple of reasons actually: as I said before, they were responsible for sending people I care about on a suicide mission.”

“The battle of Pieta.” Clarice said.

“Right.” the blond nodded, “I lost someone I cared for, Natalie. We may not have known each other for long, but, the short amount of time I spent with her was enough for me to genuinely care for her. I lost it. Then they sent Alicia and Beth, along with Renee and Dietrich - the Numbers 1, 2 and 6 of your generation and a promising trainee - to kill God Eye Galatea someone else I care for. They failed obviously.”

“A-are they…?” Clarice hesitantly asked.

“Dead?” he finished for her, and when she nodded Naruto shook his head and said, “No. They’re still alive and with me.”

Nina furrowed her brow. “You mentioned three numbers… Alicia and Beth were Numbers 1 and 2, that much I know - but who is, or was, Number 6? Because you mentioned four people and there’s three numbers that were mentioned.”

“Renee was Number 6. Dietrich was a trainee. I think she would have been in the single digits had she graduated. She’s certainly strong enough to be one. Dietrich was brought along because she was very good at tracking.” Naruto informed her then he cleared his throat and shifted around on his chair. “Anyway, after I beat them they decided to stay with me. I can’t remember the exact reason for it now though, since it’s been around half of a decade ago when it happened.”

Suddenly Naruto looked to his left and furrowed his brow as a frown pulled at his lips. Those negative presences are beginning to move now. Most likely on Dabi itself. With a grunt the blond slowly got up, slipped his hands out from Miria and Jean’s as he looked to the entrance of the tavern with narrowed and squint eyes.

Miria, Jean, Luciela and Rafaela all look at him, perplexed. Ninja, Clarice, Camilla, Elise and Miata all looked at him as well, though out of them all only Clarice was fidgeting nervously. He looked very intimidating now.

“Is there something wrong?” Miria asked.

Naruto didn’t look at her. “Spread your senses out. Tell me what you feel.” he told his wife.

Frowning confusedly at him Miria nonetheless did as he asked and used her yoki sensing. That was when she sensed it, multiple yoki signatured were descending on Dabi at a slow sedate pace. The yoki’s belonging to these beings were being heavily suppressed which was why she didn’t sense anything until her husband told her to.

“Multiple yoki signatures are approaching Dabi.” the light-brunette said, “Voracious eaters, most likely.”

Luciela, Jean and Rafaela weren’t at all surprised; they were expecting the awakened beings to attack at any time. Naruto and Luciela being here may have warded them off, but it was only a matter of time before they acted on their baser instincts. They wanted to eat and Dabi was too good an opportunity for them to miss.

The others, excluding Miata, on the other hand were more alarmed. Nina abruptly stood up and looked towards the doors to the tavern. Elise and Camilla had stood up as well hands on the grip of their claymores. Clarice had gone pale faced, but it was Miata holding her hand what kept her from losing her cool.

“Are you going to take care of them, honey?” Luciela asked, even though she already knew the answer. It was what they were here to do in the first place after all.

“Yeah.” answered Naruto, he then got out from behind the table and casually made his way out of the tavern. But before he left completely, the blond stopped at the doorway and looked at Miata, Nina, Clarice, Elise and Camilla and said, “If you want to see then you’re more than welcome. If not, then you can stay here.”

After that, Naruto proceeded to leave the building.

“He’s seriously not thinking of taking on a group of awakened beings is he?!” Nina exclaimed; her eyes were wide with disbelief. The woman forgot who she was dealing with for the moment, and was promptly reminded by one of his wives.

“He utterly demolished a small group of awakened beings a few days before we got to Pieta. And he did that in a more weakened transformation of his Nine Tailed fox form. He’ll be fine.” Rafaela said, she looked and sounded completely unconcerned for her husband and for good reason.

Miata got up and followed after Naruto. She just had to see this! The child’s curiosity simply would not stop nagging her.

Clarice took notice of her ward following after the Ladykiller, “Ah! Miata!” and when the 13-year-old didn’t answer, the brunette went after her. Strong or not, Miata is still a young girl and needs looking after.

Meanwhile, outside, the Uzumaki Patriarch pulled his hood up as he walked out in the open before coming to a stop. He leaned his head down and adjusted the cowl as to keep the biting cold wind from his face.

The weather seems to be getting worse. Thicker. Lucky for him he doesn’t need to use his eyes to see where they are. Their negativity gave them away.

“Well, well, well,” a feminine voice chuckled. “What have we here?”

“A human. But, if I remain as one, depends entirely on you and the others you have with you, lurking in the blizzard.” Naruto replied.

“Oh, how cute,” the woman chortled. Her voice became a tad more playful, as she continued. “I recognize your yoki, young man… Ladykiller, is it? What brings you this far North? Finally getting around to hunting down Isley? I could point you in his direction if you want.”

Naruto chuckled. “I already know where he is. Just like I know there is someone directly behind me.” then he suddenly reached behind him, and carelessly tossed them in front of the woman.

An elf-eared blonde with wavy hair yelped as she plopped down between Naruto and the other woman.

“As for why I’m here, it’s because you all suddenly showed up actually.” he continued as if he hadn’t tossed someone in front of him.

“Well, some among us did,” the woman continued, stepping forward. She was a dark brunette with short, wavy locks flaring wildly about. Her eyes were a deep crimson and she had white eyelashes. Despite the blizzard, she was decked out in a light, frilly dress.

“I, on the other hand, have been around for a while.” She gestured to the blonde and said, “as has she.” then, the brunette gave Naruto a polite curtsey. “Evianna, former Number 2, at your service. The blonde is named Betty. Do forgive her rudeness, she’s famished, as are we all.”

Naruto crossed his arms at that. “I hope you’re not planning on using this town as a way to get nourishment.”

The newly-named Evianna chuckled almost sheepishly. “Admittedly, we were, but then you showed up… and I have no intention of recreating what happened to Pieta.”

“I see…” with a sigh Naruto walked over to Betty and pulled her up on her two feet. An act that left her bewildered. “Well, I understand; I don’t approve you were going to kill innocent people but I do understand. You can’t help it…” Then he smirked when he felt three other yoki signatures; they didn’t seem to be aggressive, cautious yes, but not aggressive. “So… how many of you are there here?”

He knew there was five of them, but the blond wanted to know what Evianna was going to say first. If things go sideways, well, he can easily take them on. One at a time or all at once, he’ll take them on.

“Five total,” Evianna said. “The other three are newly-awakened. Apparently, the newest generation was a bit… rushed. They all lost control at the same time.”

“That might explain why Kurama detected them popping up out of nowhere,” Naruto muttered to himself. Then he sighed, “Alright, I can’t exactly let you girls stay here…”

Evianna crossed her own arms and asked, “so, what do you propose, then? I know you brought Luciela of the South here, so you’re at least willing to be friendly to our kind.”

“Luciela is my wife, actually.” he informed her, and took enjoyment in the surprise that little revelation had given her. “As for what I propose…” Naruto cocked his head to the side, and smiled, not that she noticed it. “I escort you five women out of Dabi and lead you all to a bandit camp nearby.” There’s one to the Southwest, if his negative emotion sensing is right. There’s a lot of malice coming from that general direction. “No one here gets hurt, and you still get fed. Everybody wins.”

Evianna blinked owlishly, caught thoroughly by surprise. Then she smiled. “How kind of you,” the former Number 2 said in genuine gratitude. She looked back at the tavern and couldn’t help but ask. “So… how did the two of you get together? I simply must know.”

She also spotted the brat in the doorway and noted how surprisingly powerful Miata was.

“Believe it or not, Luciela seeked me out when she felt my yoki. She wanted to ‘claim’ me as her consort; to make a long story short, I claimed her instead.”

“Oh? That’s quite the daring claim,” Eviana chortled.

Naruto shrugged nonchalantly, “Maybe so, I claimed Riful of the West as my consort, and then made her my wife too. Including two other Awakened Beings. So I’m well aware of your… unique diet.”

“Ladykiller, indeed,” Betty said with a raised eyebrow.

“I get that alot,” Naruto replied with a hearty chuckle. “So, will you accept my offer?”

“Yes, we will.” Evianna nodded. “As the strongest one of my little group, I call the shots.” she punctuated that with a dirty look to the other three. If they tried something, she’d kill them herself. She had no intention to be butchered by this man, or Luciela.

“Alright, let me go and tell the others.” Evianna, Betty, and the other three awakened beings jumped when a poof of smoke appeared beside the blond, and to their shock and astonishment another Naruto appeared beside him wearing the same get up. “You know what to do.”

“Aye. Boss.” the clone saluted before skipping back to the tavern.

Naruto stared at his clone with dull eyes, before palming his face and dragging down his hand. “Why do my clones have to be so… quirky!?” he asked aloud, sighing exasperatedly.

“That is quite the curious technique,” Betty said. “I didn’t sense you using any yoki.”

“Different type of energy,.” Naruto explained. Then, he flashed the blonde a grin. “Stick around and I might teach it to you.”

That definitely piqued her interest, as well as Evianna’s.

“Come on, pretty ladies, let’s go get you something to eat, eh?” he punctuated that statement by giving Betty and Evianna’s rear ends a slap as he walked past.

Both women yelped as the latter giggled.

“Bold, are we?” Evianna teased. She looked to Betty and the other three unnamed women and gestured them to follow as she went with the blond.

“You folks nicknamed me, ‘Ladykiller’.” he replied with a chuckle. “I might as well live up to that nickname - even though I think it’s a lame one.” he looked at the elf eared woman beside her and grinned, “Besides, you both have a rocking hot body. How can I not take the opportunity to give you a little tap on your fine ass?”

Betty turned beet red at that.

“So, what about you three? What are your names?” Naruto asked, looking at the others with a curious glance from over his shoulder.

The women in question were a redhead and two brunettes. The one on the left had pointed ears long, curly hair slicked back, and cascading down to her tailbone while the other had her hair in a pair of high pigtails with chin-length bangs framing her face.

“I-I’m Pyrrha,” the redhead answered first. She had her hair in a ponytail and was decked out in a brown and white, scoop-neck dress with a brown bodice.

The one with the pigtails answered next. “I’m Megan,” she said.

Last, the girl with the pointed ears answered last, visibly the most nervous. She also stood out as the only one who was armed and armored - decked out in a brown jerkin with steel pauldrons, vambraces and greaves over a black, sleeveless thong leotard. Slung across her back was a claymore - presumably hers. She looked back nervously with naturally gold eyes.

“I-I’m Glissa,” she said fidgeting uncomfortably.

“You look a bit nervous, there,” Naruto pointed out. “Is something wrong?”

“N-not really…” she replied. “Y-your presence is just… overwhelming.”

“Really? I’m not even using yoki…” he frowned and cupped his chin. “Come here for a moment will you?”

She timidly nodded and obliged. When he put a hand on her arm Glissa inhaled sharply, and her eyes grew wide when she felt herself energised. A warmth spread through her entire physique. It was… intoxicating.

Then he took his hand away, and just like that the warmth was gone. But… she felt a difference. His presence wasn’t as almost overbearing as before. It was tolerable, now.

“There, how do you feel now, cutie?”

“Powerful…” she whispered in surprise. “What did you do?”

“Just gave you a little boost,” he chuckled. “Mind you, it’s nothing like what I did for the warriors that were in Pieta. I gave them a power boost that allowed them to go toe to toe with single digits for a limited time; it included boosting all of their abilities as well. The one they were facing was called… Rigardo, I believe? A lot of the acting captains would have died to him had I not given them that limited power boost. But, this one I gave you is permanent.”

“The Silver-Eyed Lion King…” Evianna muttered thoughtfully. “Seeing as how Isley’s still around, it doesn’t surprise me that he was the one to lead the charge.”

“I wiped the little-wolf wannabe off the face of the planet, after he murdered one of my lovers.”

“D-duly noted,” Glissa muttered timidly. She was not about to fuck with this man!

Naruto noted that the other girls shared that sentiment. “Good to know,” he chirped. “Don’t fuck with me, and I’m the nicest guy out there, but there are reasons I don't have very many enemies. They have a way of dying. Or end up being my friends. Dunno how for the latter, don’t ask.”

Evianna chuckled. “You’re quite the interesting, young man, I must say.”

“Thanks. And for man-eating monster girls, you’re not bad either. Not sure what you look like in your awakened form; I’m almost afraid to find out actually. But, in your human forms you women are down right gorgeous. Fuckable, even!”

At that, Evianna had one hell of a good, genuine laugh. “Keep that up and I’ll consider it~!”

Naruto chuckled, “We’ll see, pretty lady. We’ll see.”

----

Meanwhile, back in the tavern...

“What do you mean he’s going with them?!”

The clone had his hands raised placatingly. “The Boss is leading them away to a bandit camp, Miria. It’s to make sure they don’t go and kill everyone here.”

“But why can’t he just give them directions?!”

“Because this is the Boss we’re talking about? He’s not the type of person to leave things to chance. Besides, they pretty much confirmed they were here to eat people. The only reason they had not bothered attacking yet was mainly because of the Boss.”

“Miria, we should let him do what needs to be done.”

“Jean, he’s-”

“Capable of taking care of himself. Really, if he wanted to, he would have them off the face of the Earth. Believe me, I know what he is capable of. We all do.”

Miria sighed. She hated to admit it, but Jean was right. “Fine… but I want my snuggles from you.” she took Naruto’s clone by the arm and dragged him against his will towards their rented bedroom. “Now!”

----

Back with the original Naruto, he and the five awakened beings were now making their way on the outskirts of Dabi to the Southwest. He was still talking to them, mainly to pass the time, and mainly to see how flustered he can get them before they tell him to stop.

Despite being so overwhelmed earlier, Glissa was the hardest nut to crack of the lot. In fact, she seemed to enjoy his attention. Same with Evianna.

Pyrrha was the easiest to rile up, by far. The poor thing was so innocent… it was kinda cute, really.

So far none of them had told him to stop flirting with them. They actually liked him complimenting them. Maybe it’s time to… kick it up a notch? With a devious grin he walked in between Evianna and Betty, reached around their backs and grabbed a handful of their tit through their dress and pulled them in for a one armed hug.

He was surprised to feel the jealousy coming off Glissa in waves when he did.

Evianna giggled and Betty turned beet red, but didn’t resist. And when he started kneading her tit, the blonde almost moaned out loud but managed to reduce it to a pitiful whimper instead. The brunette, however, had no such reservations.

She placed her hand on Naruto’s and encouraged him to squeeze harder, groaning lewdly with a lecherous grin.

“Well, well, well,” Naruto chuckled, as he looked at Evianna from under his hood with a grin. “You’re quite the naughty little minx, aren’t ya?”

The brunette giggled once more, slipping her hand down his trousers. “Perhaps~! Come on, cutie, show me how you got the name Ladykiller~!”

“Maybe later,” he told her, “we still got to get you something to eat first.”

“Treating me to dinner, before taking my innocence?” she teased, “how noble of you~!”

“I’m treating all of you to ‘dinner’, an all you can eat a little bandit buffet.” Naruto replied. “And as for innocence? What innocence? I see before me a very seductive woman who knows how to use her womanly wiles~. Only someone with a lot of experience is capable of pulling that off.”

“Perhaps,” she giggled. “I know what men want, but I’ve never taken it all the way. I never needed to.”

He gave her a knowing look from under his hood. “Because you would eat them before it ever comes to that, right?”

“I’m not the only one.” She leered at Glissa. “A certain someone caught my attention by trying the same thing~!”

“Oh?” Naruto said, looking at the girl in question.

Glissa giggled at that. “Guilty as charged,” she said with an impish grin.

“I’ll say,” he looked her up and down appreciatively. “your leotard looks good on you. And I saw what type it was, you naughty girl~.”

She blushed and smiled, enjoying the attention. “I can be even moreso, if you want. Just say the word~!”

Naruto smiled back. “I’ll consider it.”

With that Naruto guided Glissa, Pyrrha, Betty, Megan and Evianna to the Southeast to get their source of nourishment.

----

Four hours later

“Hmm… a small camp this time around.” Naruto said as he observed the small palisaded campsite ahead of him with the awakened beings. “I’d say, it fits 20 to 30 people. So you’re going to have plenty of innards to eat. There might be a scouting party or two away, though. I can take a look around if you want?” he directed that question to Evianna since she was the leader of this small ragtag group.

The brunette shrugged. “I could help. My awakened form flies and it’s relatively small. If I’m high up enough it’s easy to mistake for a bird.”

“That’s a good idea. I can fly myself, but, I would be like a beacon to every living thing around a 100 miles or more if I did that. So that’s out of the question.”

“Alright,” she giggled. Then, the woman started to strip, giggling again when Naruto wolf whistled, before transforming.

Her neck stretched outwards and her arms morphed into a pair of wings. Her feet were replaced by talons, and the brunette’s whole body shifted into the form of a metallic bird that looked like it was wearing a porcelain mask with a woman’s face.

“Huh… Interesting,” Naruto muttered thoughtfully. “I wonder if you’re as fast as Chomei…” he mused aloud to himself.

“Choumei? That’s a curious name,” she replied, cocking her head to the side. “Who is this Choumei?”

“You wouldn’t know her,” Naruto chuckled. “She’s a demon from my homeland. We’re close friends, though I haven’t seen her in nearly a decade. She’s a titanous six-winged beetle. The friendliest creature you’d ever meet, despite her appearance, though.”

“How big is she?” Megan asked.

“You heard rumours of how big the Nine-tailed fox that wiped Pieta off the face of the earth was right?” When Megan nodded, Naruto continued, “She is just as big. And is just as capable of doing the same thing as the fox did. But as I said: Chomei is the most friendly demon you’ll ever meet. The chances of her doing that are nearly nonexistent. Unless you piss her off. Hmm... I wonder if she’s anywhere nearby…?”

The chances of her being away from the Elemental Nations is minimal, but if Tsunade was on this continent for the past five years without him knowing, then who knows - maybe Chomei is nearby too and he doesn’t know it.

He looked up and shrugged. Putting those thoughts aside, he readdressed Evianna. “Alright, wondering aside, you take to the skies, I’ll take the ground.” he then looked to Megan and the others. “The chances of them running with their tails between their legs is going to be very high. You want me to stop anyone that tries to run away while you’re feasting on those fuckers?”

Glissa smiled impishly. “I actually prefer chasing them myself. I enjoy the hunt~.”

Pyrrha shifted uncomfortably upon hearing that.

“Pyrrha,” she looked at Naruto when he called her name, “remember: bandits are the scum of the earth. They like to rape, kidnap, and burn entire villages to the ground for the heck of it. You would be doing the world a favour by getting rid of them. Okay?”

She didn’t like it but Pyrrha nodded nonetheless.

“Okay. I’ll be circling around and making sure none of the bandits try to run away. Otherwise, go nuts.” With that, he gave Glissa, Pyrrha, Betty and Megan a quick spank or ass fondling; his movement was too fast for them to react before he suddenly darted off towards the bandit camp. He was moving so fast it was like he was a blur to the naked eye.

Glissa giggled, loving the attention. Pyrrha yelped and her cheeks shared the same color as her hair, while Betty and Megan smiled shyly at him. When he ran ahead, Evianna took to the skies, Glissa ran over to the camp drawing her claymore from its scabbard; Betty and Megan did the same thing and Pyrrha being the most reluctant to eat human innards, decided to follow them at a distance.

Glissa, Betty and Megan suddenly appeared in the middle of the camp catching many men, young and adult completely unaware. The poor fuckers had no idea just what had gotten themselves in the middle of their camp. Then as they smiled maliciously, their eyes changed from their natural colour to a demonic, gold with vertical slit irises, their teeth lengthened into sharpened tips, and in the case of Betty she split herself down the middle from head to groin revealing rows upon rows of teeth, several tendrils shot out and coiled themselves around some poor fucker and yanked him in between her.

The unlucky bastard only had enough time to scream in fear before Betty closed around him, much like an iron maiden. She began chewing contentedly, the sickening sound of crunching bones were heard as she chewed on the now dead bandit. She proceeded to do the same thing on another unlucky bastard that got in her path. And another. And another.

As she didn’t want to ruin her only set of clothing on her back, Glissa had partially transformed. Her teeth lengthened to fangs, and her black hair turned into writhing, metallic, cord-like tentacles as her skin turned green and her hands turned into golden, razor-sharp claws. Her hair then coiled around two hapless fuckers from the chest and waist and ripped them in half. She then pounced upon them, ripping their carcasses to shreds with her claws as she feasted.

Megan growled as her teeth lengthened also, becoming reminiscent of a saber tooth tiger. Due to the size of her awakened form, she opted for a partial transformation, not wanting her clothes to get damaged beyond repair. Megan’s hands lengthened in size and height; her skin around her arms and hands turned a deep, bluish grey as they morphed into jagged, hook-like blades, similar to those of a praying mantis. She grabbed one hapless victim and ripped him in half.

Pyrrha barely changed at all - her ears drooping on becoming more beast-like, coated with red fur as a pair of small horns poked out from just below her hairline. Then, the redhead opened her mouth and her long, tentacle-like tongue stretched outwards, wrapping around the neck of a man ten feet away and snapping it with a sickening crack, as she charged forth.

Then Evianna swooped down like a bird of prey and snatched one man up in her talons and flew off. The man’s screams were abruptly cut off when she tore into his body, and ripped out his intestines before devouring it.

When Evianna was done with him, Betty snatched the bandit’s falling carcass out of the air and happily devoured it.

Not too far away, Naruto watched the awakened beings go to work. He kept an eye out for any of the bandits trying to run away from the slaughter. Sure enough, there were a few that tried to run for their lives, though Glissa immediately gave chase, giggling madly.

She grabbed the one in front by the ankles and dragged him back, tripping the others in the process as she pounced upon him and ripped the hapless fucker open with her claws. The other three didn’t get far as she picked them off one by one.

Pyrrha also chased after several others, making quick work of them with her extending tongue while Evianna circled around snatched up the rest. Letting them fall to their deaths one by one, while eating a few.

“Hmm. Looks like I won’t have to get myself involved, after all.” he said to himself. “They work together pretty damn well. I’m impressed.”

Any that tried to run away, they would be run down instead and dragged to their deaths. No one had noticed him thanks to them facing in the direction of the blizzard. Those few who were brave enough to fight were swiftly taken down, either by Betty, Glissa, or Pyrrha.

Megan was no slouch, though she was busy happily nibbling away at the leader’s carcass - a woman with long, flowing, chestnut locks and an eyepatch over her right eye. Too bad… The woman was quite hot, actually.

At least the tents are still up and in good condition. Well, some of them anyway. Maybe he could stash those away for later? No need to let good loot go to waste. With the women now feasting on the corpses of the fallen bandits, Naruto took that moment to rejoin them.

“I hope you’re enjoying yourselves.” he told them and gave Pyrrha a spank on the rear while she was still eating. “And full up on eating human innards.” the blond added and kneaded the her faun-like rear for a moment before moving on. “Because if you are we can go straight back to Dabi once you’re ready.”

Pyrrha blushed heavily, but carried on after giving him a nod.

Then Naruto yelped as Glissa pounced upon him. “You honestly think I’d let you get away with all that teasing~?” She giggled. “C’mon, tiger, show me what you’re packing in those pants of yours~!”

As aroused as he is, Glissa was still covered in blood. And had the remains of her victim's innards around her mouth and cheeks. He wasn’t going to do anything until she cleaned herself up. Unfortunately, they were in the north so him using water jutsu he used to clean Ophelia and Rafaela all those years ago would not be a wise thing to do here. Even if it was tempting to do.

“I would love to - but you’re covered in blood. That kinda kills the mood.” he pointed out to her. Not to mention he needed to get back to Dabi as well.

Glissa chuckled sheepishly. “Fair enough.”

“Sorry,” he leaned up and gave her a bemused look. “Care to get off of me now?”

Glissa hopped off and set off to see if the bandits had something for her to bathe with. Surely their leader wouldn’t have enjoyed being smelled from a mile away.

It didn’t take long for them to finish up.

They even picked clean the bones of the ones Betty didn’t eat whole for good measure, while Glissa dug up a little tub designed to be used over a fire. Oh, she was going to enjoy the first hot bath she’d had in a long, long time~!

Naruto chuckled as the elf-eared brunette made a show of stripping herself down and slipping into the tub as soon as it was ready. The other girls just needed to wash their faces, with the exception of Betty. She was next in line for the bath.

Not too long after, the girls were all cleaned up and Glissa was teasing Naruto once more… while still naked.

The blond chuckled as she hugged his arm, pressing her tits against him as she hungrily eyeballed the object of her desire. Not one to be left out, Evianna clung onto his other arm and asked with a seductive grin, “so, is it true that you fucked warriors in Pieta in one sitting~?”

Naruto let out a hearty chuckle at that. “With my clones, I could, but no. Most of them weren’t interested at the time. I did pound a team of five, though.” he admitted. “I don’t go for anyone that doesn’t show any interest in me. And those that do, well, it doesn’t need saying.” then he blinked and looked at her owlishly. “How did you know about that anyway? I never told anyone.”

Evianna chuckled, “Word gets around; and rumours say they were loud. Can you confirm that?”

Naruto gave her a bemused grin, “I’m not going to say…” and Evianna and Glissa yelped in surprise when the blond they were holding on was abruptly replaced by a log. The five awakened beings wildly looked around and quickly found the blond himself a yard away, adjusting his cloak and hood. “And I’m not sure about you but I should be getting back to Dabi. Luciela tends to get cranky if I’m not around for long. And I’m not all that keen to leave an Abyssal One to herself.”

“Wait!” Naruto stopped himself from moving when he heard Pyrrha call out to him. He looked at her and gestured for her to continue. “W-where can we find you if we w-want to see you again?”

Naruto was quiet for the longest time. Then just when Pyrrha was about to tell him to forget answering if he didn’t want to, he finally answered her, “To the West in the Dragonspine Mountains, there is a fortified town called Morris. It has a Citadel perched on the peak of the closest mountain, so you can’t miss it. It’s a two week journey from here, so if you want to find me, you will find me there. I’ll warn you though, Riful of the West is there, along with two other awakened beings, one of whom is stronger than Riful and Luciela combined. There’s also 25 other warriors there as well. So if you’re going to cause trouble: don’t. They won’t take too kindly to that.”

“U-understood,” Pyrrha muttered. She then looked to Evianna questioningly.

Said brunette had no intention to pass up this opportunity. Protection from the organization, plus food, shelter, and a cute boy toy? Who the hell wouldn’t want all that?

“How about we accompany you back there, instead?” she asked with a saucy grin, sauntering on up to the blond with a sway to her hips.

Glissa let out a little giggle, striking a sexy pose as she added, “We’d gladly keep you company if you want~!”

Naruto chortled, “Very tempting. But I have plenty of girls back in Morris to keep me company. All 29 of them. You can come with if you want, though. Hell, I’d prefer it. It would keep you pretty ladies out of trouble, and you get fed some criminals from my continent weekly… until we figure out how to grow entrails for you to eat all you want.”

Evianna blinked at that, unable to believe what she’d just heard. “Grow?”

Naruto showed them his right arm and when he pulled up the sleeve of his undershirt past the elbow, they all noticed the discolouration around its bicep.

“I lost the most of my arm a near decade ago, but thanks to a… scientist at Morris, I was able to replace it, by having a new one grown for me. Long story short: if a limb is able to be grown, then I don’t see why innards and other organs can’t be grown, as well. We’re still working on it though; so in the meantime, we’re getting the preserved bodies of criminals as the source of nourishment for the awakened ones living there.”

He was amused when Glissa ran her hand up and down his fake arm; the woman was unable to keep the awed expression off her face at how real it felt.

Evianna hummed thoughtfully. “And you’re sure they'll be enough to go around, when the number living there suddenly doubles?”

“It’ll take some planning, but we can manage,” Naruto replied with a grin. “There’s a few awakened beings lurking on the outskirts of Morris as well… they’ve been there for the past two years, in fact. And haven’t done anything else. We’ve been making preparations to ‘take care’ of them in case they decided to attack the populace. We’ve also been preparing to house them in case they decided to take up residence in the citadel. But, like I mentioned, they haven’t made a move; maybe if you lot came back with me and my girls, they will come out of hiding themselves… If so, everybody wins.”

Evianna nodded in agreement. That made sense. “Alright… I like the sound of that.”

“Okay then, now…” his eyes roamed up and down her physique, “as much as I love the sight of your naked body, you and Glissa should get dressed up and ready to move out.”

The elf-eared brunette pouted. “Spoilsport,” she said teasingly.

Naruto chuckled. “A blizzard is still going on,” he pointed out. “Though it’s letting up now. And unlike you, I’m affected by the cold.” He then gave her a playful swat on the rear. “Be a good girl and you’ll be rewarded, though~!”

Glissa giggled and skipped off to grab her clothes and armour. Evianna sighed and went to do the same. Once they were all clothed, dried and now decent once more, Naruto made several clones who got to work on disassembling the still intact tents and any loot they could find.

He wasn’t going to let that go to waste. Not to mention he can sell them all to a trader or two for some Bera. And get some supplies for his citadel.

“Impressive.” Evianna said. “I saw you making one, but I had no idea you could make this many.”

“I could make a lot more if I wanted to,” Naruto replied with a chuckle.

“How many in total?” Megan asked.

“The last time it was around… two to three thousand? I’m not too sure.” he said, with a scratch to the side of his head. “I can make a lot more than that, now that I’m older.” deciding to give them a little bit of information on the clones, just to make doubly sure they wouldn’t try anything reckless. They were clearly not idiots, but it was better to be safe than sorry. “Interesting fact: the clones are capable of doing anything I can do. So, the fox you heard destroying Pieta? They can all turn into it.” He gestured for them to follow him, “Come on, let’s head on back to Dabi.”

Evianna sighed heavily. Damn, she was glad to have decided not to attack him!

With all that said and done, the small party of six went on their merry way.

----

Four hours later

Just as Jean’s clone was about to go out and see if she could spot Naruto coming back, the tavern door opened to reveal him and five others following. With a sigh the blond lowered his cowl and made his way over to his wives, and the hybrids they were keeping company, though not before he told the awakened women to stay where they are.

He’s pretty sure the warriors of the Organization were going to be jumpy as fuck, now that there’s five more awakened beings in the tavern. Luckily, it was just them and no one else. Seems the tavern was vacated while he was away.

“Glissa?!” Elise jolted out of her chair at the sight of the elf-eared brunette.

Said woman suddenly felt a bit awkward. “Hey… It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Naruto looked between the two repeatedly. “...you two know each other?” he asked, looking a little clueless.

“Y-yeah,” Glissa replied. “We were fellow trainees back in the Organization. She helped me learn proper edge alignment when I was still having a bit of trouble with it.”

“What Number were you then?” he asked, now more than a little curious. And he wondered if she learned anything else from her… due to the way she dressed..

“I was Number 45,” she replied, gesturing to her claymore. “It’s the reason I still have this. Seeing as how I was such a low-tier warrior, I figured being armed might help my chances of surviving when I awakened.”

“Smart move, if you ask me.” he complimented. “How’d you awaken anyway? You don’t seem like the type to go over her limit easily.”

“I… don’t know…” she admitted sheepishly. “I always had a hard time keeping it in check, until after I awakened.”

“Hmm... that’s a mystery…” with her having his full attention, Naruto turned to face Glissa directly. “What do you remember? Were you fighting anyone? Training?”

“I awakened on my first mission…” she replied, visibly embarrassed. “I was sent to fight a youma, here in the North; it was stronger than I was expecting, and… I lost control, I guess?”

“Well… that’s one mystery solved then.” Naruto muttered.

Evianna jumped in upon hearing his concern. “Megan and Pyrrha suffered a similar fate,” she pointed out. “No doubt the fact that they are all low-tier is no coincidence.”

At that Naruto narrowed his eyes in suspicion; this has the Organization's name written all over it. He looked at the girls in question. “You both were sent on a mission where the youma you fought was stronger than expected?”

“Yes. It was on my first assignment to the North.” Megan replied. “I was Number 39, prior to awakening.”

“The same for me. Only it was on my third assignment. The first and second youmas were… stronger than i thought, but I took care of them by tricking them. It was the third that made me go over my limit.” Pyrrha added. “ I was Number 32 before I awakened.”

“After seeing the mudhead over there a few days ago,” Betty added, “I’ve had a suspicion that the low-tier warriors of this generation were a bit… half-assed in their conversion. Evianna seems to share that belief.”

“Evianna?!” her shout came from the hallway as Miria came back down to greet her man. “As in the Highland Harpy?”

“Not a nickname I’m proud of, but yes,” the former Number 2 grumbled, crossing her arms.

“I take it you know of her, honey?” Naruto asked.

“Yes. She was a Number 2, back in Roxanne of Love and Hate’s time.”

Naruto furrowed his brow. “Roxanne of Love and Hate?”

“An evil bitch that should have been put down like the dog she was a long time ago.” Evianna growled. She was someone the Former Number 2 loathed. “Any friends she made would end up dead in an Awakened Hunt she took part in some time later. She got the Number 1 in her time, Dust Eater Cassandra, killed after taunting her with the death of her only friend. Cassandra was hacked to death by her fellow compatriots after they got scared bearing witness to her Dust Eater technique.”

Naruto frowned, clearly detecting a grudge. “That’s not why you hate Roxanne, though, is it?”

Evianna frowned, sighing sadly. “One of her victims was my beloved sister, Uranus.” crossing her arms and averting her gaze, Evianna continued, her voice dripping with venom as she spoke. “When I confronted her about it, that bitch just laughed in my face, calling my sister a dog for inventing her ‘Blade of Evil’ fighting style. Adding insult to injury, my nickname of ‘Highland Harpy’ has nothing to do with my awakened form.”

“...I’m going to guess she called you that? And it stuck?” the blond said.

Evianna nodded bitterly. “She accused me of nagging her. I know she’s responsible, even though I can’t prove it. Uranus was simply too experienced to go down that easily. She knew what she was doing!”

Naruto sighed and pulled the awakened woman into a caring hug. “Well, at least Roxanne’s dead now,” he said. “If you’ll let me, I’d be happy to help you move on.”

“I already have,” she said. “Hearing that bitch’s name just opened up an old wound. I’ll be fine, though. Thanks.” she gave Naruto a genuine smile and kissed him on the cheek.

Then Naruto yelped when Miria pulled him to her with a possessive hiss, “Mine!”

Upon being greeted with such a sight after coming down to check on her man, Luciela let out a loud chuckle. “Looks like my tom has some new additions to his ever-growing family, no?”

“I wouldn’t go that far, just yet, Lucy.” the blond replied, bringing an agitated Miria in for a one armed hug and a peck on the cheek. She calmed down considerably to that. “They are coming back with us to Morris, though. So they don’t cause trouble. So who knows, maybe in time they will.”

Miria sighed, giving him a reluctant nod. “A-alright, then.”

Rafaela huffed, not at all convinced. Her husband was a shameless womanizer and they all knew it; he’d fuck all five of them, eventually… the warriors, too… and the big-breasted bimbo back home. She just knew it!

Naruto sighed tiredly, feeling Rafaela’s jealousy wash over him like a tidal wave. So he slipped his arm out from Miria and made his way over to her, before placing a finger under the one-eyed woman’s chin and guiding her into a deep, loving kiss.

Her knees buckled, instantly. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders to keep herself upright, and to pull him against her as she leaned in. Naruto meanwhile moved his hands to her waist and thighs, and hugged her to him. Then he slithered his tongue past her lips and explored her mouth to his heart's content.

Camilla giggled lewdly at the sight. “My, my… what is one man to do with so many women to please~? I simply must know how you pull it off!”

Elise, meanwhile, couldn’t keep the amusement off her face as she dealt out for another round of poker.

Nina was less than amused, while Clarice was busy awkwardly explaining to a curious Miata what Naruto and Rafaela were doing.

Then the couple pulled away, with Rafaela blushing profusely for making out with her husband in front of so many people. Still, she was appreciative for the show of affection.

“You better now?” he asked her with an expectant, yet amused, grin.

“Admittedly,” she confirmed, shyly averting her gaze.

“Good.” he pulled her into a one armed hug and led her to the table they were occupying previously. “We’re gonna stay here for the night. Might as well put that room I got for us to use, no?” He then pulled Rafaela into his lap, and wrapped his arms around her stomach as he pulled her back, flush against his chest.

“Oh, I will,” Jean’s clone giggled.

Chuckling at that, the blond redirected his attention to Nina. “It seems I dealt with your job for you. So, what are you going to do now?” he politely, and respectfully asked her as Miria, Jean and the other awakened beings that came back with him sat around the table.

“...We’ll stay for the night too.” the Number 9 eventually answered. “In the morning, we’ll be returning to the Organization.”

“So… does that mean we can talk to him still?” Camilla asked, looking at the blond with a grin.

“Just… don’t say anything lewd in front of the kid.” Nina relented.

“I’ll be sure to reword them, then.” the naughty Number 20 assured. Then she went over to the table Naruto was at and sat on the opposite end. “Hello again~.”

“Well, hello, there,” Naruto chuckled. “I take it you had a chat with my wives while I was gone?”

“Jean and Luciela were particularly informative,” she answered with a nod and a saucy grin. “I still simply can’t believe a man could be that big without seeing it for myself, though~!”

“Camilla!” Nina barked.

“Miata doesn’t know what I mean~,” said woman singingly responded.

“Maybe you should ask questions that won’t make it awkward for poor Clarice to explain.” Naruto advised, gesturing to the brunette in question with a chuckle. “But yes. I am. What else did they tell you I wonder?” he added looking at an impish Jean and Luciela.

Camilla gave him a dead serious look. “That you can heal our stigmas.”

Nina, Clarice and Elise jolted up, but it was Nina who slammed her hands on the table and shouted. “IMPOSSIBLE!” Miata, having the mind of a 5 year old, didn’t understand what the big deal was.

Jean giggled, lifting her shirt to show that her stomach was now completely unblemished.

Naruto smiled at the befuddled women, awakened and otherwise. “That was one of the reasons, though not the main one, on why the warriors from Pieta defected. I could do the same for you. But then the Organization would probably do everything they can to get their hands on me.”

“With good reason,” Evianna muttered. “They would want that power.”

“They’ve tried everything to get it shut.” Miria said, before looking at Nina with a serious expression. “We want to keep as much information about him from the Organization as possible. Even now the amount of knowledge they have on him is barebones at best. It’s likely just guess work.”

Though they may know more about him now, since they sent someone to the Elemental Nations itself to get help. So they may have some knowledge on what he can do.

“...Why would you want to keep the knowledge of being able to heal our stigma away from the Organization? Wouldn’t that be a good thing?”

“Think of it this way: if the organization knows about me capable of healing your stigmas, then they’ll send you to capture me. As in, you’ll have to fight me.” he paused to let his words sink in. “They’re also responsible for the death of one of my lovers, as well as the suffering of many others, so my willingness to work with them is… not very high.” he censored himself at the last second, seeing as how Miata was nearby.

“I see…” Camilla said with a frown.

“Not to mention if you want our man to heal your stigma, then you’re going to have to desert the Organization.” Jean added.

“Why should we have to desert?” Nina asked, looking at Jean with narrowed eyes.

“Well, if the Organization found out your stigma is gone, do you honestly think they’ll let you leave their clutches? To go on more assignments?” Miria rhetorically asked. “You’d become Dae’s guinea pig the second they find out. You would be dissected and experimented on to see how it happened, and if they can somehow replicate it.”

Nina frowned, unable to deny that. And Clarice and Camilla shuddered; Dae was just plain creepy. The man just… rubbed them the wrong way. And it was not because of him missing the skin on one half of his face, though it certainly didn’t help.

Evianna decided to jump in. She just had to see this healing technique in action. “Perhaps you could claim to have sent one of her party after him as a spy?” she suggested.

Rafaela scowled. “I was sent to keep an eye on him; the second they found out I was ‘compromised’, they immediately branded me a traitor. The chances of them doing so again, and taking it out on them is high.” she gestured to Nina and her awakened being hunting team in question.

The awakened brunette shrugged. At least she tried.

“I’ve heard they don’t have a lot of tolerance for failure either.” Naruto added, remembering what those reports he took had said. “There’s a small pattern I’ve been thinking on since Pieta: they send their troublemakers on tough missions, or at least missions that gives them less chances of survival.”

Camilla frowned. “That would explain why they sent us on a hunt to deal with several voracious eaters,” she said, “They never seemed to like me all that much.”

“I take it you didn’t know how many of them there were either.” Naruto asked. “Because if they had come here to fight, quite a lot of you would have either died, or been heavily injured at best.” he added, gesturing to Evianna and her group. Plant the seeds of doubt, and they will ask questions, forcing them to think and make their own decisions.

And it was working.

“Evianna, here, as Miria pointed out,” he continued, “was Number 2, back in her day. The odds of you having a chance against her, alone are pretty slim. Add another four and well… the numbers speak for themselves. Sure, most of them were low-tier, but they’re pretty good at working as a team, from what I’ve seen.”

Nina scowled deeply at that. She couldn’t deny that the handlers were unhappy with her track record.

“To add on to that,” Miria began, getting everyone’s attention on her, “the last awakened being hunt I led, all party members were troublemakers. We were lied too about the awakened being we were hunting, and almost died. Not long after that we were sent to Pieta, and all warriors who were sent there were troublemakers. Quite a few of us that were sent there were those that almost awakened. Jean and myself being some of the few who had almost awakened.”

“In my case I did awaken.” Jean added, much to the shock of everyone excluding her husband, Miria, Rafaela, and Luciela. “But I managed to keep my human soul intact long enough for another warrior to bring me back and she was a warrior that almost awakened at some point, and another that was sent to Pieta as well.”

“So to recap: if the Organization is unhappy with you, then they’re gonna send you on difficult missions, purposely hold back on information, or send you on awakened being hunts where you’re most likely going to die. If you almost awakened the same thing will happen. Any questions?” Naruto asked them with a smile that even they could tell was faked.

“This is… a lot to take in.” Camilla said as she rubbed her temples.

“Indeed,” Nina concurred. “But what he says makes sense. The Organization is not happy with us. Clarice… being a failed conversion, is more likely to be sent on missions that will get her killed. Miata is… unstable..”

Elise, who had broken away from the poker game she was in, joined them. She was able to hear everything that was said. “It’s your call, Nina. What do we do with this information?”

“If I may?” Miria spoke up. “Naruto, you have that seal to get to us in the blink of an eye no matter where we are. You can give it to them and they would be able to call on you whenever they’re in trouble.”

“You can?” Nina looked at him with wide eyes.

Naruto chuckled. “Yup. If you find yourselves needing my help to pull you out of a bad situation, I’d be glad to.”

“We have to meet a handler after our mission was complete.” Nina said. “How long does this ‘seal’ take to apply?”

“Not long,” he assured, “A few minutes, at most. You can easily get it done tonight, or tomorrow morning.”

Camilla grinned as a thought came to her, “Or, we can go to our handler tomorrow and inform him we found the Ladykiller and made peaceful contact with him on our mission. Since he knows us, we could ‘offer’ the Organization a way to get information on him.”

“I like that idea,” Elise said, “Nina, should we meet the handler tomorrow? And offer to ‘spy’ on him?”

Miria growled in irritation. She knew those two were just scheming to try and seduce her man. Naruto calmed the woman down by French kissing her.

“Perhaps we will.” Nina answered, then she looked at the blond in question. “You will be here tomorrow morning, right? It should take us a few hours to reach the rendezvous point.”

Pulling away from the liplock he had with his wife, Naruto shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Oh, I want you to pass them along a message if you can.”

“What would that be?” Nina asked.

“Tell them ‘the Ladykiller and the kages know about everything they’re doing here, and we’re not happy about it.’”

“The kages?” she asked inquisitively.

“They’ll know what I mean,” he answered cryptically, with a grin that sent a shiver up the warriors’ spines.

Then he gave Rafaela a tap on the thigh and with a disappointed moan, she scooted off his lap, giving the blond’s legs some much needed rest and to get the blood flowing again. Only for Miria to take her place and rub her ass suggestively against his groin as if she were marking her territory.

He couldn’t help but laugh at that. Miria’s possessiveness was so cute!

Oh, how tempted he was to ‘claim’ his territory, right then and there~! But, there was a kid in the room. And they were in public, too. So, he settled for hugging her close and giving his wife some much-needed snuggles.

“We’ll deliver the message,” Nina assured uncomfortably. That blatant display of affection Phantom Miria was showing him was giving her… strange feelings. She quite easily identified the jealousy, but the others... not so much.

Camilla was far more amused, as were Glissa and Evianna. They wanted so badly to see what he had to offer~! Clarice was blushing and had covered Miata’s eyes from the sight, lest she continue asking more questions… or have what was left of her innocence be ruined by the suggestive display.

One could practically see the question marks floating above the Number 4’s head.

Pyrrha and Megan were so horribly confused, as well, wondering how seeing Miria rubbing her butt against Naruto’s crotch made them feel so… hot. Elise had a better understanding, though she was uncharacteristically flustered, unable to help but be a bit jealous, as well.

“Time for bed, then, I guess,” Naruto called out. “Hey, Jakob! You mind finding the new girls a room? They’re with me.”

“I’ll see what I can do!” the man called back; then Jakob went to go and check if he had any spare keys. He came back out and placed a key on the counter. “I got one room left. Since you already paid me more than enough Bera to last you several days, you can have this one for free.”

Naruto didn’t feel like freeloading off of the man, and replied with. “I’ll pay you for their room anyway. How’s 20 Beras sound?”

“You truly are too kind,” Jakob replied.

Chuckling Naruto got Miria to slide off his lap and went over to the counter and took the key. He then took out a pouch and put 20 gold rods in its place. Jakob happily took the extra Bera; he earned more from Naruto in one night than he did for an entire week! Then he made his way back to his table and handed the key to Evianna.

Evianna smiled at the blond. “Thank you for your generosity,” she said, taking the key. “I’d be happy to… ‘reward’ you for it, if you so wish~.”

Miria responded by pulling Naruto down in his seat and taking her spot back on his lap with a possessive hiss. “He’s mine! Mine, mine, mine!”

The awakened brunette couldn’t help but giggle at the childish display. “Quite the devoted one you have there~!”

Miria growled at her, before yelping subduedly when Naruto gave her a firm smack on the ass.

“She can be a bit… jealous when she sees a newcomer,” Naruto chuckled. “But, this is the first time I ever saw her act like this. I can’t help but find it cute, though.”

Miria turned beet red at the compliment and started rubbing her rear against him, again. That did it… She yelped again, upon feeling Naruto get up and scoop her into a bridal carry.

“If you ladies will excuse me, I need to… tend to my wife.”

With that, Naruto retreated into the hall, carrying a beet red Miria to his room for the night.

“Mama?”

“Yes, honey?” Clarice asked, dreading what Miata wanted to know.

“Why was there a big bump in Naruto’s pants?”

Clarice stared at the curious Number 4... and then there was a loud thunk as the brunette’s forehead hit the table. “What did I ever do to deserve this?” she whined, pitifully.

“Y-you’ll find out when you’re older, Miata.” Nina decided to help Clarice out of pity. “You’re too young to understand.” well... mentally, anyway.

Miata cocked her head to the side, thoroughly confused, but she nodded with acceptance.