Unknown Location – Hospital – Unknown Room.
Slowly opening his eyes, Naruto blinked to adjust to the light before instinctively bringing a hand to his abdomen.
"Pain?"
Naruto wondered. He didn't really know what he had been stabbed with. There were very few weapons capable of harming him, since it wasn't just his soul inhabiting his body—he possessed most of the dangerous weapons himself, including the Dagger of Destiny, among others.
Naruto sighed and, with a grimace, grabbed the bed sheets and pushed himself back with another wince. His abdomen really hurt… that damned Susano'o had interfered just as he was about to act. He hadn't expected it, nor accounted for it. A totally unexpected event, beyond his control… such a variable didn't surprise him, but he had anticipated others—just not that one.
Naruto: When I see him again, I'll torture him… he thought as he sat up. He would also kill Susano'o's family right in front of him.
Naruto sighed and began scanning this strange place. For a hospital, it looked old-fashioned or dilapidated.
"Oh, he woke up…"
Naruto turned his attention to the woman standing at the door, dressed as a nurse and holding a clipboard on which she was writing.
Naruto: I didn't feel her… he thought, surprised. He only noticed her once she was already there.
"I'll inform Uchiha-sama of your recovery so he can come see you."
The nurse informed him and turned away as the door closed silently.
Naruto: Interesting… he thought calmly before turning his gaze to the window. He looked outside, noticing the strange infrastructure of this odd place. He didn't sense any magical presence other than a faint yokai—literally the only one.
Naruto sighed and looked back at his abdomen. He moved his gown aside, finding no wound, but the pain lingered. And now… where the hell was the dagger?
Naruto closed his eyes briefly before opening them again and decided to rest. He sensed no danger nearby, and besides, he didn't know where the hell he was.
30 Minutes Later
Having dozed off while remaining aware, Naruto opened his eyes when the bedroom door opened—and she walked inside.
Naruto: Akeno? he wondered for a moment before blinking, noticing she was very different from his little lover.
"What a relief to see you're alright. You looked like you were about to die before… I'm the one who saved you. Nice to meet you, Mikoto Uchiha. Sorry if I talk too much."
The beautiful raven-haired woman introduced herself with an apologetic smile as she looked at Naruto.
Naruto observed her silently, noting that her appearance wasn't too different from Akeno's—but Akeno definitely had the edge; she was far more voluptuous. Though Mikoto wasn't far behind.
Naruto: "Don't worry, and thank you for 'saving' me, Mikoto. I'm Naruto Phoenix, and I'll remember your help. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask." He replied calmly, unwilling to owe anything even though he didn't really need help.
Mikoto smiled.
Mikoto: "Do you remember how you ended up in that place or who gave you those wounds? They seemed intent on killing you…" she asked, moving a little closer to Naruto's bed. She was truly curious about this young boy—his strange clothes, his weapon, and the fact that she found him in the middle of nowhere, without a scroll, a ninja headband, or even money… plus, he didn't have a single ounce of chakra. How is he even alive? How did he recover? And Phoenix? I've never heard that surname.
Naruto smiled slightly.
Naruto: "Don't worry, I left him worse… Where am I?" he asked, curious—not just about the hospital.
Mikoto hummed.
Mikoto: "You're in Konoha Hospital, in the village of Konohagakure," she replied calmly, watching his face so she wouldn't miss any reaction in case he was some kind of spy.
Naruto frowned.
Naruto: "Konohagakure? A village?" He asked curiously; he knew the entire human world yet had never heard that name before—so it must be a place he had overlooked.
Mikoto nodded.
Naruto: "Do you know America?" he asked—a common reference worldwide.
This time Mikoto frowned.
Mikoto: "America? What's that? Is it edible?" she asked, genuinely confused.
Naruto confirmed to himself that she had no idea but shook his head.
Naruto: "Don't worry."
Mikoto nodded.
Mikoto: "Do you have somewhere to return to?" she asked, since she was responsible for bringing him here and supervising whether he was a spy or enemy.
Naruto shook his head.
Naruto: "Not really, I don't remember."
He answered "honestly," and Mikoto couldn't detect a lie.
Mikoto: "The doctor said your memory might be a little fractured after waking up…" she said, nodding mostly to herself.
Mikoto: "You'll stay with me until you regain your memories, but you'll be kept under surveillance as a precaution. That doesn't bother you, does it?"
Naruto shook his head.
Mikoto smiled. If he weren't so handsome, she would have kicked him out already—but he was even more handsome and younger than Minato. A great catch… though he seemed to be a civilian. Hmm.
Mikoto: "How are you feeling?"
Naruto: "Better," he replied calmly.
Mikoto nodded. They could discharge him today. It was strange—two days ago he looked dead, and now… hmm. Perhaps a bloodline limit.
Mikoto took the bench next to Naruto and sat down.
Mikoto: "Well, we can get to know each other a bit while we eat, Naruto-kun."
Naruto nodded, noticing Mikoto's imperceptible movements.
Naruto: Definitely a fighter… he thought before blinking in surprise as she pulled food out of a strange paper.
Back in DxD – Japan – Kyoto – Outside Kyoto
Watching Susano'o disappear into particles, Amaterasu appeared—who, in her rage, turned him to dust, including his soul. But her anger didn't fade. She didn't know where the hell Naruto was, and Susano'o himself apparently didn't know—or so it seemed. He should have known.
"AAAHHH—!"
Amaterasu growled, annoyed by everything, and vanished in a flash to reduce several bastards near her faction into dust.
Underworld – Lilith City – Lucifer Castle – Demon King's Office
Comfortably seated in the leader's chair was Marianne, accompanied by her friend Mylene, her son's third wife.
They were reviewing documents.
Mylene: "It's strange Naruto-sama hasn't checked in…" she commented, causing Marianne to stop halfway through sealing a paper.
Marianne: "He has his periodic disappearances. We simply have to follow through with what was agreed, with or without him," she replied calmly. He was her son—she knew him better than anyone, even his wives.
Mylene snorted. She just wanted to bring him closer. Her daughter had grown up and no longer wanted pampering—she had become a second Grayfia, completely rebellious… but if she had another daughter, she could raise her from scratch again.
Marianne sweated. For some reason, Lady Lucifuge always made her feel nervous and cautious. She seemed like an angel while being a she-devil. Definitely someone to be careful with—Lilith agreed as well.
The office door suddenly opened… revealing an old man.
Marianne sighed.
Marianne: "Zekram-dono, if it's not important, it's best if you leave," she said calmly to the true leader of House Bael.
Zekram frowned. As always—that boy left control of the underworld in the hands of his little women. Without a doubt, he wasn't leader material.
Zekram: "I heard Lord Lucifer was in the human world, and disasters are happening here. Not only that, but a massive operation is underway toward fallen territory."
Mylene: "It has nothing to do with you or your clan. We haven't called your people, so stay calm."
Zekram's gaze darkened.
Marianne: "What she said. And we don't need advice, so remain still. Besides, you have good spies. I want to meet them later."
Zekram clenched his fists and left. He knew he couldn't win, much less make the situation public. His superiors would act against him and his clan. He needed to find a way to eliminate even one of them. After one fell, the others would follow. Perhaps the Nekoshou incident—where the demon leader killed his own people—and—
"That's right. Clans have a population limit. I want those 200 extra members present in the Fire Nation tomorrow. If even one is missing, the Bael will send 100 of their own in return. If two are missing… you understand."
Zekram froze, closing his eyes.
Zekram: "As you command."
He left feeling defeated. He should have listened to Venelana. This Phoenix matriarch was a cunning, dangerous monster… And how the hell did she even know?
Mylene silently examined Marianne. Truly interesting—undoubtedly the dangerous and cunning feminine embodiment.
Elemental Nations – Konohagakure – Afternoon – Konoha Hospital Entrance
Here Naruto and Mikoto walked together. She had her arm around his shoulders, helping him walk. Though he was mostly fine, Naruto's abdomen still hurt.
Mikoto was gentle, walking slowly—something Naruto found curious. He felt strange in the clothes they had given him, and even stranger seeing the nurses.
Naruto: Not pretty at all… he thought, sweating. He was used to beautiful women—even humans—but here, wherever this was, there were mostly plain ones, with few exceptions.
Naruto looked up, observing this unfamiliar, clearly backward place.
Mikoto: "As I told you, this is the Konoha district. I'll take you to the Uchiha territory," she said softly.
Naruto nodded, letting her guide him while she explained the area—just common information about shops and streets.
Naruto blinked; this girl definitely smelled good… and was warm.
His focus shifted when he noticed some people suddenly jumping onto rooftops, followed by others.
Naruto blinked. He felt a hint of energy similar to yokai, but far too weak—nothing like Yasaka or Kunou. It was strange.
Mikoto: "Those are ninjas," she said, glancing at Naruto's genuinely surprised expression. He looked like someone who had never seen a ninja before.
Mikoto blinked, wondering again where this makai = Underworld he mentioned was.
Naruto's attention shifted to a girl walking toward him, with strange purple markings on one side of her face—but still cute. Naruto liked cute girls.
The girl noticed Naruto looking at her and instantly blushed, lowering her head.
Naruto hummed inwardly as they passed. Mikoto didn't notice.
They walked at a leisurely pace until reaching the Uchiha compound. The entrance was guarded by several Uchiha, who didn't intervene upon seeing who accompanied the stranger—Mikoto Uchiha, only daughter of the elderly leader of the radical faction.
Mikoto nodded to the guards.
They nodded back, though they couldn't help glancing at Naruto. His eye color was truly unique—an intense, brilliant gold.
Naruto paid them no mind, but as he stepped forward, he noticed a barrier he passed through—though he didn't think much of it.
Mikoto guided Naruto through the area, neither noticing the pair of red eyes with spinning tomoe watching from afar.
Old Man Kenji's House
In the living room sat the first elder of the radical faction, sipping tea while contemplating recent information. His daughter had brought the boy she rescued near the Valley of the End into Uchiha territory—and even to her home.
Kenji didn't understand his daughter's decision, but she was a capable jonin, so he didn't question much. She knew what she was doing, and with the coming war, he hoped she made good choices. The Senju were disappearing silently…
Kenji sipped his tea and looked toward a photo of Naruto beside him. It was the only information available about the boy. He would send someone to retrieve his medical records later.
"This is your new place."
Mikoto smiled as she showed Naruto her modest home. He sweatdropped. It wasn't very different from Akeno's old-fashioned house—but he wasn't complaining. Akeno was richer than most kids her age, owning a temple and a huge plot of land in a tourist area of Kuoh. If he had been poor, he definitely would have hit the jackpot with Akeno.
Naruto smiled.
Naruto: "Thanks for your help, Mikoto," he said softly.
Mikoto: "Don't worry," she replied with a gentle smile—hiding the fact that if he weren't cute and hot, she would have kicked him out already.
Naruto sweatdropped for some reason.
One Week Later
A week passed with Naruto adapting to his new surroundings—not bothered at all about being in an unfamiliar place or being "kept" in a house as a "guest" of his sexy savior, who didn't treat him like a servant nor forbid him from leaving. She simply explained that, for precaution, she would accompany him outside if he wished.
Naruto laughed. Susano'o really got him. He hated him enough to banish him here, stopping the fun he himself started.
Naruto: "Bastard…" he muttered, tossing and turning before getting up. Doing nothing was boring.
Naruto grabbed his ninja sandals, didn't bother fastening them, stood up, and left the guest room Mikoto gave him after he cleaned it up.
He walked calmly, hearing voices downstairs.
First Floor
Here Mikoto and her best friend Kushina shared a bottle of sake.
Mikoto sweatdropped at her friend's tearful, miserable behavior. But she understood. Kushina had been relieved of duty due to the approaching war and the fact that she couldn't fully control her "friend," a secret known to few.
Kushina, her face flushed, began complaining loudly.
Kushina: "And you know what? That bastard Minato didn't support me while that bastard Hiruzen kicked me out of the ninja forces… I left him…" she said with a hiccup.
Mikoto sighed.
Mikoto: "I understand… I feel like it's going to be more troublesome for us to reunite in the future. I noticed the way the Hokage looks at me when I'm with you. He wants you alone and isolated…" she explained. Whenever she was paired with Kushina on missions, it was always the same.
Kushina nodded. She had noticed long ago how slowly but systematically they were isolating her from everyone except Minato and his inner circle. She wasn't stupid—she saw the subtle changes.
Mikoto sighed and took a sip.
Kushina: "It's a shame we're not like Mito-sama. Then they'd think twice before treating us like decorations and fools. I'm the Red Hot Habanero, for heaven's sake…" she said, drinking straight from the bottle. She wanted to relax—her hell began tomorrow. And besides, she didn't get along with the Kyuubi, so getting drunk was a good idea.
Mikoto sighed. Her friend…
Then she blinked when she heard a noise and looked aside, finding Naruto watching them—which made her smile.
Mikoto: "Naruto, come join us. I'll introduce you to my best friend, Kushina Uzumaki," she said with a smile.
Naruto stared at the hot redhead drinking sake like water.
Mikoto sweatdropped.
Mikoto: "She's got problems…" she said with a nervous giggle, as Naruto took a seat beside them.
"Uaaagh…"
Kushina slammed the empty sake bottle down and grabbed another one.
Mikoto shook her head but didn't stop her. She poured Naruto a cup, and he sipped lightly as the warm atmosphere enveloped him.
Naruto: So these are the yokai… he thought calmly as he listened to Mikoto, who began a conversation—none of them aware they were in the presence of the devil in every sense of the word.
…
…
TO BE CONTINUED.