Demons Have the Most Fun: A Cautionary Tale

Hello this is Simply Hopeless a.k.a. Assassin’s Kiss… a.k.a. Miss Simply… a.k.a. Kiss-sama here saying thank you so much to those who have reviewed this story. I’m giving you all my aliases now because some jerk face tried to plagiarize my story in November. Yep, just up and decided I had abandoned it since I hadn’t updated the story in like a month and then ripped the entire chapter from me, told everyone I was plagiarizing my own self to the admin. And said I had gave them permission to do it when they couldn’t even figure out I was a girl and not a guy.

I’m sorry it takes me a while to update. Technically speaking I have papers backed up I need to write for class but I knew you guys have been waiting patiently for this so please be patient. And if you have concerns e-mail me or pm me, don’t go ripping off work I spent torturous nights working on.

Anyway, I feel your love and it tastes like butterscotch all sweet yet hard to chew. I’m sorry this chapter took so long. I’ve been apologizing a lot lately but I swear this probably took at least 72 hours to write up if not a weeks’ worth of writing and a few months of brainstorming and beating both my muse and Naruto to behave. This is twenty-four pages of hard work. I appreciate your love through your reviews and hope to receive more. So love me all over, okay? =3

Shout outs to: shisui-love-weasels, Mecheela, PhantomOfTheOper (welcome back), choclatbandit, SilverSauce, blue.ruby.exorcist, Alex, etc.

Demons Have the Most Fun A Cautionary Tale

‘Cause I knew you were trouble when you walked in

So shame on me now

Flew me to places i'd never been

So you put me down oh

I knew you were trouble when you walked in

So shame on me now

Flew me to places i'd never been

Now i'm lying on the cold hard ground

Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble

Oh, oh, trouble, trouble, trouble’

~I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift

//Recap//

“Well, well, you barely started your first day of school and already you’ve been sent to the principal’s office,” Itachi said sneeringly.

“Yes… I, unlike you, seem to be in high demand these days,” Naruto countered before turning of the stove and setting the last food item down on the table. “Now if you don’t mind, I’ll have to eat quickly if I’m going to make to my appointment and afternoon classes on time,” he replied, smirking mysteriously. It had been a while since he last attended school. 

Chapter Seven: Never Take a Demon to School

 “We don’t have to go to school today… or ever. I’m fine right here,” Sasuke declared. He simultaneously dug his heels in, forcing Naruto to stop as they neared the gates of the Uchiha compound.

The blonde demon could have easily dragged the boy through the gates, even if it was kicking and screaming. Or even swept him up into his arms and marched him to class despite transforming into his diminutively smaller human form. But instead he just stood there, back still facing Sasuke and his larger hand still wrapped around his small master’s thin wrist. It made Sasuke fidget and squirm at how quiet everything became and how no matter how he pulled he couldn’t free himself from his demon’s grasp.

“And why is that Poppet?” Naruto asked after a space of a full five minutes. Minutes he needed to calm himself down in order to think rationally. “Did you not want to show me off to your little friends? Are you suddenly ashamed of me?” Naruto asked, in a chillingly low tone.

He had, for those five minutes, entertained the idea of crushing that thin wrist; it wouldn’t be that hard. A hard enough squeeze and Sasuke’s bones would rub painfully together before shattering as the pressure increased exponentially. His fingers reflexively tightened at the thought, anticipating that delicious cry of pain and the shimmer of tears against pain filled eyes. But he stopped himself, if barely, wanting to hear what the little one had to say first before delivering judgment.

“Th… That’s not true… it’s just…” Sasuke stuttered out trying to fish for the right words. The fine hairs on his arms were standing up on end, but he didn’t quite know why. All he knew was that once Naruto walked out the gates he wouldn’t be his anymore. Not the demon that set his soul trembling with each touch, word, and look he gave him. Sasuke looked up wanting to convince his demon that they should stay but only froze up, feeling cold inside at his demon’s refusal to even acknowledge his presence by turning around to face him. The only thing keeping the Uchiha from going into possible hysterics was the fact that they were still holding hands.

‘Does he hate me now?’ he thought dumbstruck.

 “Don’t worry Sasuke,” Naruto said dismissively wrenching his hand out of Sasuke’s desperately grasping one. He could only smile inwardly, slightly appeased when he heard his small master’s breathe hitch as they finally lost physical contact with each other. “I’m not just going to let my humanity get the better of me just because I’m forced to be a human,” he murmured. He then stepped confidently out onto the sidewalk outside the gates, before pivoting around to face his master. His demon form fell away only to seamlessly meld into that of his human one. His hair was now short and spiky with no hint of red; his calculating, red-rimmed amber orbs were now a wide and innocent sea of blue. He was significantly smaller as if he had shrunk in the dryer and his form and features seem rounder and softer compared to his demon forms’ more seductively hard edges.

It was a complete 180 from the demon that Sasuke had secretly lusted over. It didn’t matter that the blonde was now wearing the black uniform with red trim that all demon Guardian’s wore at the school. It meant nothing if the ‘human’ Naruto wore it because it was meant for his ‘demon’ side. It just didn’t feel right and that was why he had hesitated to go pass the threshold of the Uchiha Compound. This was not his Naruto and it was all he could do to hold back his frustrated tears and not try to yank the blonde back through the gates.  

“Honestly Poppet, I didn’t know you to be that shallow. Sure my appearance has changed but that’s all. You might regret it one day but I’m rotten to the core... and one day I’ll make it my mission to corrupt and devour you in every way possible but right now…” He trailed off and grabbed Sasuke’s hand with a vulpine grin, “I don’t want us to be late for my first day of school.”

Naruto tugged on the hand and a shell-shocked Sasuke collided with his Guardian’s body. He blinked stupidly up, heart throbbing madly as he gazed into those blue eyes that seemed to take cruel pleasure in his bemusement. ‘It’s the same,’ he thought in relief. Then Sasuke tried his best not to stumble as the blonde began a quick pace towards the school.

Why had the Uchiha assumed that this blonde haired, blue-eyed creature be the complete opposite of his Naruto? Sure, when he stole peeks at the determined blonde human now and when he was still hibernating in the cage, he could clearly see their appearance were different. There was also the fact that most demons that he saw with and without their demon limiters were polar opposites from their counterparts. But those eyes… the intensity in this blue orbs were just as scorching and cruel as his demon Naruto’s amber pools and that fact sent the same familiar thrill throughout his entire body. Was it possibly the first signs that Sasuke was a masochist?

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” Naruto admitted reluctantly as they quickly made their way to the Academy.

“Huh?” Sasuke murmured intelligently. He had been so lost in his thought that it was all he could do to make sure that he didn’t trip or run into anything as he was led to school. He hoped his mother had told the demon how to get to school because he was too distracted to give directions and Naruto had not seen the outside of the establishment in his new lifetime.

“The human form being all soft and weak, it doesn’t happen all at once. Not to demons as old as me, they don’t. Right now these demon limiters on my ear curb my blood lust. But if I were to stay in this human form, except for in the case of emergencies, then it’d happen slowly but surely. I might lose myself to my humanity and once it gets a hold of me, well it might not let go this time,” he sighed out in frustration. His nose wrinkled in disgust at the thought but he knew it was true. He had seen it done to too many worthy adversaries to not be clueless to the ‘change’. (1)

“Is that why no one has seen your human form until now? Is it because you didn’t want to lose to your other self?” Sasuke asked genuinely curious. It seemed to the Uchiha that this humanity that Naruto was talking about was more than just his human form, but another self entirely. A self that was beyond the curbing of blood lust and other animalistic urges that demons may have.

 “In a way I can understand why humans would prefer demons to stay disguised as humans. It’s better this way… safer. My demon side, that side of me is volatile and has its violent impulses that can’t easily be controlled if me or my master aren’t vigilante and of a strong will; if you are human the need to kill will fizzle out and you’ll roughly have the same morals like honesty and loyalty that humans so cherish. Add to that the fact that demons consume more of their master’s life energy to stay in their demon form than in their human forms, then it’s no wonder they want me a neutered human,” Naruto explained thoughtfully.

“I don’t know why… but you’re teaching me so much…I… Thank you,” Sasuke murmured, genuinely grateful. It was clear that Naruto must have pondered this issue each time he was reincarnated and was forced to assume his human form again and again. But honestly the Uchiha hadn’t expected for his demon to be so willing to share his thoughts even if he ordered him to be honest. He had never directly told him to reveal all his theories and trade secrets; but the fact that he deemed the ten-year-old worthy was heartwarming even if possibly influenced by the ‘Demon’s Proposal.’

“Poppet, knowledge is power and strength in this world. You should already know or should be taught these things now versus later. Later is too late when dealing with me and my kind. I’m not going to start vomiting rainbows and glitter anytime soon just because of a few demon limiters. But I will keep you safe, better than if I allowed my human self to take over,” Naruto concluded. He gave Sasuke’s hand a gentle squeeze, pausing to draw it up to brush his lips against his master’s knuckles, before starting to walk again.

Any more questions that Sasuke wanted to ask his blonde demon was met with a wall of determined silence. But this time he was too happily appeased to mind the silence between them; his fingertips tingling with the memory of those lips on his hand.

Barely a few minutes later they came to a stop in front of the Academy’s doors. But although one of the grand double doors was open, it was blocked by a petite, androgynously beautiful male dressed as if they had escaped from a wall scroll or a kung fu movie. Their lean, petite frame was clothed in a black Chinese outfit with embroidered silver phoenix feathers embossed on the sides of the sleeves and pants. His long black hair was drawn back in a clothed covered bun with thick locks of hair framing either side of his face. Just a hint of lip gloss shone on those pouty lips that instantly turned up in a smug smirk as he spied the demon jogging up to him.

“Haiku it’s been a while,” Naruto greeted the pretty teen that was leaning against the door of the only open entryway. He inwardly snorted in amusement as the pretty raven bristled at the demon getting his name wrong. It was one of the few things that could ruffle the otherwise placid face of the ex-Shinigami, that and bringing up Zabuza.

“You know that’s not my name demon. It’s Haku and you’re short,” the beautiful raven spat out, pale cheeks flushed an appealing pink. He had always had to look up at the older demon but now he took great, relishing pleasure in looking down at him now.

“As observant as ever for a Shinigami,” growled out Naruto displeased. He swatted away the delicate hand that tried to ruffle his blonde spikes, openly glowering at the Shinigami. “Why are you here? I thought you were supposed to be Iruka’s lap dog or something,” he half grumbled, half growled out.

“What because your past self ordered it? I am tool to no one except maybe Zabuza; but he’s unfortunately occupied at the moment taking care of our latest Summoner candidate. The little brat is not used to being so far from her village or parents,” Haku explained simply with a miniscule shrug of his shoulders. He didn’t like it but he had grown used to the whining and crying of human children he had to separate from their families for their own good.

“Shouldn’t you be the wiser choice to take care of the child since you look more nurturing?” questioned Naruto, although he doubted it. He was not fooled by the sweet, little smile that Haku offered him now. If Haku hadn’t been born a Shinigami he would have surely been born a demon. It was all in the way that cold, calculating mind of his whirred off plans of attack and ways to wring out the most amusement from any mission taken on. If it weren’t for the fact that Naruto had offered him something a long time ago to make him switch sides then he was sure they would be at each other throats more than they were right now.

“The way I look and my people skills have no correlation to each other. You of all people should know that I only hold one thing precious to me. His dreams are my dreams and the rest of the world could go to hell for all I care,” Haku, said blandly even as his smile sweeten even more on his pouty lips. “By the way you look adorable in that outfit. First day of school, huh? Should we take a picture to commemorate the day you became a ‘big boy’?”

“I forgot that most Shinigami don’t have much in the way of a personality, but nevertheless have a dark sense of humor that leaves them  in hysterics at the cruelest of jokes,” Naruto snorted out even as he tried to walk pass the arrogant ex-Shinigami.

“You have a joke for me Naru-chan? I’d love to hear it. Only a sick mind like yours can come up with such amusing material. It will be your admission inside,” Haku offered quickly, practically salivating at the idea. He was so determined now to hear a joke that he didn’t waste time pulling out senbon needles from his wide sleeves in case the blonde tried to fight his way in.

“I have an appointment,” Naruto insisted, narrowing his eyes cautiously, already pushing his human behind him to protect. He knew as soon as he mentioned ‘joke’ that he shouldn’t have said it. It was him and another ex-Shinigami in England who seemed to practically pounce him each time they thought he might have a good joke for him. (2)

“Don’t worry about that human; he had an unexpected phone conference he needs to conduct with that one’s older brother,” Haku announced, pointing his chin at Sasuke who shrunk further behind Naruto. “So he says if you can spare some time after your classes then that would be preferable. Anyway, that’s no longer important, what’s important is you telling me a joke. A real juicy one Naruto or I’ll convert your little boy toy into a pin cushion,” Haku commanded, haughtily before licking his glossy lips in anticipation.

“Fine,” the blonde sighed out in defeat, barely holding back rolling his blue eyes. Who was he to deny the usually quiet ex-Shinigami his odd request if it meant continuing his first day of school in peace? He crooked his finger for Haku to follow him to a clump of trees more than ten feet away from the school. His hand halted Sasuke from walking with them. “Stay,” he ordered strictly before the ex-Shinigami glided importantly behind him, his body practically trembling with anticipation.

Sasuke frowned feeling slightly slighted, but more curious then anything. He hadn’t known that the beautiful teen was a former Shinigami. He had thought he was a Summoner, the same as the others in the school; except special because he never attended classes and would disappear for long periods of time, only to return with placid or crying children gathered around the giant that was his Guardian. Secretly many began to call Haku the ‘pied piper’ the way he could control children with a sweet, helpful smile and a few notes from his flute hidden somewhere on his person.

Sasuke wanted to know how his volatile Naruto had tempted the pompous Haku to fall from grace. But just as he made a decision to start walking towards him, he flinched as he heard maniacal laughter. He watched in bemusement as the reserved teen began to roll on the ground, hands clutching his sides to keep them from aching. His Guardian stood above the hysterical Shinigami with a somewhat smug look on his face before he made his way back to Sasuke, leaving Haku behind.

“Oh… oh my… you sick bastard,” Haku wheezed out between his laughter. “I haven’t laughed so…You’re so wicked, it’s… it’s delicious. Simply… Ah, Kami, my sides hurt fro… from laughing so hard.”

Silently Sasuke raised his brow at the approaching Naruto about Haku’s cursing and praising among his laughter.  He could hear it all the way from hear it and left the ten-year-old more than a little disturbed. “What could you have possibly said to make him laugh like that?” Sasuke murmured in a hushed whisper, looking anxiously at Haku who had at this point stopped writhing on the ground only to stare at the sky and left out an occasional chuckle.

“If you want to sleep again in the near future, you won’t ask,” Naruto said seriously even as he took up Sasuke’s hand again to lead. He was appreciative that the raven hadn’t pressed further. Only a cruel, twisted mind could feel appreciation in what he had truthfully told Haku. “Also you shouldn’t be afraid of him. He’s mostly harmless once you know his quirks,” the blonde offered off-handedly as he tried to reassure the silent Uchiha.

“Tha… That’s possibly the first time I’ve ever really heard him talk. He usually just stares down anyone who tries to talk to him until they apologize and walk away. Or ignores them completely by turning to that giant partner of his who completely dwarfs him and has sharp teeth and missing his eyebrows,” confessed Sasuke, unable to defect from his hushed tone. Part of him was afraid that the odd ex-Shinigami might trail behind him and possibly fill him with needles if he said anything bad about him or his Zabuza.  

“Except for Zabuza’s company, Haku is more or less a loner. If you want a civilized conversation, you’ll have to go through Zabuza. That’s how I usually go about it if I want to save myself a headache. Zabuza’s also the reason I managed to turn Haku in the end. I’ll tell you about it later if you want to hear more,” offered Naruto, glad that Sasuke didn’t seem as spooked as before. If anyone should make his little human seize up in fear, then it should be him.

“I’d like that,” Sasuke murmured sheepishly, giving Naruto’s hand a grateful squeeze. He thought for the second time that day that maybe school with this version of Naruto wouldn’t be so bad if at the core he was still his usual self. But even as he entertained the idea of smiling pleasantly at that thought, they were forced to stop as a long haired brunette with a loose side ponytail and the uniformed blue and white uniform of a Summoner blocked their way to the classroom that was a few feet away.

 “Move out of our way Hyuga,” Sasuke spat out. He purposely stepped in front of Naruto this time as if he would shield him with his frail ten-year­­-old body that was roughly the same size as his Guardian’s. The Uchiha glowered at his rival, chin up, daring him to challenge him in his choice of demon. He had looked forward to proving how strong and superior his Guardian was to Neji’s once he woke up from hibernation; but now was not the time. He was just starting to accept this other side of his Naruto and he didn’t want that ruined by embarrassment at the diminutive size and innocent appearance of his human form.

“Uchiha, I have to admit that I expected more from your demon than this weak thing. It’s kind of a disappointment,” Neji sneered, looking as if he pitied the delusional boy. He had honestly thought that the boy, that was only two years younger than him and had managed to get his demon sooner than even him, would have had a Guardian that would have made him green with envy. But the pathetic, wide eyed blonde that looked more cuddly then scary was a far cry from that, even if he was in his human form. His clan was talented at gauging out the strength of a demon’s power through their aura and he could barely even sense an even reasonable demon aura off of the blonde boy.

“Whose this asshole?” growled out Naruto, already starting to crack his knuckles. He was trying to make a good first impression by coming to his first day of school on time. But if jackasses like the pampered brunette in front of him kept interrupting his first day out in public with his human, then he was going to have to break a few jaws to make his point clear.

“That’s Hyuga Neji. Ignore him. He’s of no importance,” Sasuke said breezily. He was already smirking at how much that comment had irked the brunette, who was now cutting his pale grey eyes at them.

“Rock Lee, I think we need to teach these failures the proper way to greet the elite,” ordered Neji taking a step away to let his Guardian enter behind him. He smiled smugly, arms crossed as Sasuke shifted nervously as his Lee stepped out. He knew why the Uchiha would hesitate because he had seen firsthand the destructive power that was trapped within that beanpole body when the school had had one of their sanctioned fights.

Rock Lee was a Chinese-looking teenager with a severe bowl-like haircut, which barely hid his very thick eyebrows. The human disguised demon stepped promptly out of the shadows once his name was called, bowing first to his Summoner before bowing politely to his two opponents. In his human form Lee wasn’t ugly looking, far from it; he was actually almost handsome, standing ruler straight after bowing, in his black and red uniform that was identical to Naruto’s own. But there was still something about him that was unsettling. It was hard to put a finger to what it was as the serious teen began to lower his lean frame into a fighting martial stance; but the blonde was determined to figure out what that was at whatever the cost.

“Yes Master Neji. I will show them the power of hard work. I don’t need to hide or disguise my moves. I do not have to. Even if you are hiding some great power among those demon limiters, you will fail because of my might for I am the mighty Rock Lee,” he declared proudly even as he beckoned with his hand for Naruto to come closer. 

“Yes, beat them until they realize how much of a loss cause it is to ever catch up to us. That their fate will always be to be beneath us,” Neji commanded loftily, smirking at the fidgeting Sasuke.

“If you even dare to touch my human I will break every last one of your fingers before you can even have the time to say ‘What the hell?’” Naruto said warningly with a beaming smile.

 “You don’t have to do this,” Sasuke said hurriedly to Naruto. He could already see how the blonde’s blue eyes lit with icy cold anticipation as he began to roll his shoulders and do a little bounce or two in his eagerness. “This isn’t a sanctioned fight. Guardians can’t fight each other in or outside of school grounds unless there is a teacher present to give the okay and assure the safety of bystanders,” Sasuke hurriedly explained. He didn’t want his demon to get kicked out even before he set foot into their homeroom class.

“Do you honestly distrust my skill Sasuke?” Naruto demanded in a low disapproving tone. His smile fell from his lips as he looked at his master, his blue eyes flashing for the briefest moment, molten red.

“I… I have no doubt you’ll be able to defeat him. Even without your tails, but I don’t want to lose you like this. They’ll kick you out if you start breaking the rules now and I can’t… I can’t bear being apart from you again,” Sasuke pleaded, half hysterically. He realized now that Naruto was awake that having a picture of him at school was never enough to satisfy his mark. So to lose him again, no matter how much it made him look like a coward in front of his rival’s eyes was to be avoided at all costs.

No matter how he burned with an ugly desire to see Neji’s ass handed to him on a platter, his desperate need to be with his demon would always, always outweigh his schoolyard rivalry.

Sasuke tried his best to ignore the dull ache he felt when Naruto called him by his given name since the first time they had met. He had gotten so used to the endearing nickname, Poppet, that he never wanted Naruto not to call him that. No matter how silly that sounded, no matter how his body shivered in anticipation of another appearance of that scarlet red in those eyes like when Naruto was hibernating. He didn’t want any of it, if it meant losing the first verbal sign that Naruto cared for him.

“Poppet, if it worries you that much then I won’t. But now that I have time to pause I realize it. Damn it Fuzzy-brows when do you blink? It’s kind of creepy, you know? How you just stared at us this entire time without feeling the need to blink once,” Naruto confessed as he realized what was wrong with him. It wasn’t just that; Lee’s eyes were opened wide enough that he could see the whites all around the pitch-black irises, as if Lee was eternally startled by something. He seemed inwardly pleased at finally realizing that but more so at knowing that his human didn’t doubt his skill, even trapped in this human body.

“Uchiha, are you that much of a loser that you feel the need to rely on rules to save your precious Guardian’s skin? Well fine then. Just admit that I and my Guardian are far superior than you and your Guardian and you can walk away with your tails between your legs,” offered Neji slightly, disappointed but willing to take consolation in this.

“Just let me punch that smug bastard’s face once. I’ll make sure no one will notice that I did it,” Naruto pleaded to Sasuke. It had been a while since he fought in human form but he had been itching for a fight since that slimy Shinigami escaped from their last battle. So Fuzzy-Brows was the best form of entertainment right now

Sasuke knew he was going to give in once those big, luminous blue orbs, begged him silently to accept. He let out a sigh of defeat as he reluctantly nodded his head in agreement. There was still a part of him that sort of wanted to see Neji fall on his ass despite everything he just thought. But just as the two demons sprinted towards each other, Naruto feigning to the left before spinning to the right, someone interrupted the roundhouse kick Lee was already aiming towards Naruto’s back by grabbing Lee’s ankle and the scruff of the blonde’s uniformed collar.

“Gaki! I like a good fight as much as the next person, but I prefer my students in class and not trying to start a schoolyard rumble in the hallways. First day of school and already you’re trying to drive me to drink,” snarled out a very pissed, very buxom blonde, deputy headmistress.

“Like it takes much for you to drink,” snorted Naruto, rolling his eyes. He had stopped his struggling however, seeing it as a pointless pursuit. The blonde demon didn’t feel like taking on Tsunade in this form; not when he knew one small miscalculation and a punch from her would probably shatter his fragile, human bones and end him up in a cast.  

“Gaki don’t undermine my authority in this Academy. You may be my son but I’ll knock the both of you back into your old lives if you piss me off,” Tsunade hissed out even as she gave both demons meaningful looks. She waited until they silently nodded their acceptance before she looked at their Summoners. “And you Hyuga and Uchiha, you two should know better. What do you think we try to teach you in those Summoner classes? You two are so hung up on how you look with your new social status and Summoner uniforms that you two completely forgot that you are supposed to help restrain your Guardians; not encourage them to fight unless it’s to defend the innocent. Demons don’t need much provocation to fight and if they get too invested in it then even their owners can get caught in the crossfire,” Tsunade continued to scold even as she released their Guardians.

Her arms crossing under her pinstripe corset vest, pushing her busty chest up and forward against the already straining crisp white dress shirt and black tie trapped underneath the vest. Her attempt at professionalism was lost on Naruto even though his mother decided to wear black dress slacks instead of a tight mini. Those high heeled shoes, messy blonde bun, pop of red on the lips and of course the corset vest emphasizing Tsunade’s greatest assets, was a distraction to any hormonal, heterosexual male and bi-curious girl in school. As for him, it only irritated and made him more possessive of the demon he reluctantly called his ‘mother’. It was bad enough her Summoner salivated over her; he didn’t need any more filthy humans getting the wrong idea.

“We understand Deputy Headmistress,” the two boys said practically in unison bowing deeply to the crossed blonde. Both boys hoped that their indiscretion wouldn’t mean that they would be issued automatic detentions. But even as they looked up nervously to see what judgment was spelled out for them in those amber orbs, they both seemed to gawk as one at the sight before them. 

Tsunade had crouched down so that she could be eye-level with her fairly irritated son. She took sadistic pleasure in the way he squirmed and easily blushed in embarrassment in his human form with just an involuntary hug given by her. “Naruto-chan I haven’t seen this form in so long. You look so cute, especially in your little Guardian’s uniform. I could just eat you up and Kami, you should have called me right away when you had awakened. I could have walked you to school on your first day or something,” Tsunade gushed, practically smothering him in her chest for the second time around. Then as if that wasn’t undignified enough, she eagerly kissed his forehead before trying to wipe away the kiss mark with her thumb.

“I hate you right now,” he said coldly and loud enough so the others could hear. The smaller blonde did not even bother to participate in either one of Tsunade’s over-enthusiastic hugs that were a disguise to share her message while simultaneously embarrassing him.

“Old allies can be made new again if you allow them a chance to redeem themselves,” she had whispered cryptically into his ear unbeknownst to the others. He knew whom she meant and he didn’t need her meddling in his business. He’d, however, decide on his own whether the person in question was worthy of forgiveness when the time came.

“Y… You don’t… You can’t possibly mean that,” spluttered Tsunade. She widened her eyes dramatically in consternation as if his words actually hurt her. But she had been with him long enough to know that if he had really hated her then he would have disposed of her a long time ago. Theirs was a relationship not just of convenience but that of warm familiarity and appreciation of each other’s quirks and pet peeves.

“No self-respecting man wants to be called cute. Especially not in front of their master and their master’s rival. So if you will excuse me woman, I have a class to attend to,” Naruto said dismissively. He smiled grudgingly at his mother for her little revenge for him not contacting her sooner, before he waved his bewildered master to follow him to class. The blonde had a lot to think of, as he frowned in concentration. Depending on their meeting later today Iruka could be one of the allies that Tsunade hinted at; but he doubted the brunette had anything to offer that was really worthwhile.

 “Naruto you were just about to pass the class,” Sasuke quickly piped up, interrupting the blonde’s train of thoughts. He looked concerned for his Guardian but the blonde shook his head when it looked like the ten-year-old was going to inquire further.

“Let’s get this over with Poppet,” he sighed out in resignation. “It’s time to confuse the enemy by mingling with the sheep,” he mumbled under his breath. It only earned an alarmed look of confusion from Sasuke that only intensified at the sudden, happy-go-lucky smile that spread across Naruto’s lips as he dramatically threw the door to their classroom open.

“I see that you are the absent Guardian. Sasuke’s right? I’m Asuma-sensei; let me introduce you to the cla—” A bearded man, built like a lumberjack began as he scrapped back his chair from his desk. He had tucked back the cigarette, he had been fiddling with, behind his ear; then froze and blinked in surprise as the blonde decided to boldly interrupt him.

“Hi my name is Uchiha Naruto. I hope that we can become fast friends soon; but I understand if we don’t. You might just be intimidated by my sheer awesomeness because I won’t lose to any of you. Got it!” declared the blonde fiend. He thumped his chest proudly before standing with his hands on his hips, legs apart; his toothy smile was carefree and seemingly oblivious to the unbelieving stares.  

Everyone in the classroom, that had been sitting or standing while talking to their classmates, had stopped almost simultaneously to stare at the blonde, dumbfounded. It didn’t take a psychic to puzzle what the others were thinking about this loud, abrasive blonde creature. It was probably along the lines of ‘What the hell!’ and ‘What an idiot!’ But the sleep-slurred ‘troublesome’ from a ponytailed male student could sum things up nicely too.

“Yeah, Uchiha he’s a real keeper,” Neji snorted shouldering his way roughly pass the two boys. His demon’s wide-eyed gaze turned to Naruto, offering him a serious salute of appreciation for his boldness before he quickly moved to flank his master.

“You’re really unpredictable in your human form. So sit over there until I can figure you out,” grumbled Sasuke in disgust as soon as he quickly made it to his desk. How could he believe so easily that ‘human’ Naruto was his Naruto when he did something as idiotic and embarrassing as that? His demon was above such reproachful things and would not have passively participated in that involuntary heart to heart with Tsunade, even if she were his ‘mother’. It filled the small Uchiha with doubt as his ears fairly burned with his embarrassment as all eyes seemed to follow him and his demon. His fingers quickly curled around the pink tips as he bowed his head in shame, wishing the day was over already.

“So mean. What if I call you Poppet, would you let me sit next to you then? Or better yet you can sit on my lap,” Naruto suggested, waggling his eyebrows suggestively even as a smirk eased its way onto his smiling lips. He then plopped down next to Sasuke and patted his lap in offering only to jump in surprise as Sasuke slammed a textbook down between them on the desk.

“Die you little midget! Only he can call me that!” Sasuke hissed out in a loud whisper. His pale cheeks burned a deeper pink as he lifted up his textbook from his desk as if he’d bludgeon the blonde with it this time. Then he suddenly paused at sheer amusement that shone in the blonde’s big blue orbs. Realization of what Naruto said before entering class suddenly dawned on him as he narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the blonde. “Are you trying to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing?” Sasuke asked, irritated.

Naruto tapped his nose with his finger even as a slow and easy smile spread over his lips. He knew he had chosen the right master; his eyes continued to twinkle with mischievous pride before he splayed his arms out in front of his desk. “To know the enemy you must become the enemy,” the blonde said sagely.

“How can anyone here possibly be—” Sasuke began in bewilderment before the teacher let out a loud curse, interrupting him.

“Hey, class will have an impromptu free period for homeroom. My wife’s in labor,” Asuma quickly said even as he hurriedly jammed his arm into his coat sleeves. He practically left his briefcase in his hurry to evacuate the room; his body trembled with both anticipation and dread as he doubled back before finally leaving again.

“What was that just now?” Naruto requested, eyebrows rose incuriously at the human’s sudden retreat. He had been too busy scanning the paired Summoners with their ‘human’ Guardians to really pay attention to the teacher until the buzz of conversation, suddenly increased exponentially in their excitement.

“Idiot, didn’t you hear him? His wife Kurenai-sensei, our other teacher, is in labor. He can’t attend this class because he has to attend to her,” Neji offered sneeringly, even as he came to sit on the edge of a nearby desk. He honestly couldn’t see why anyone would take pride in such an empty-headed blonde when the only thing he had going for him was the many piercings in his right ear.

“Watch it Hyuga,” growled out Sasuke. He didn’t need some snobby brunette calling his Guardian an idiot even if the blonde was playing one for his own amusement.

“I just call them how I see them Uchiha,” Neji huffed, hopping off the desk. He could already see his cousin approaching them and their desks, so he decided to retreat with his demon Lee to somewhere with more savory company.

“Honestly, what the hell is his—” Naruto began before he forced himself to stop as a shy ten-year-old stood in front of them, with her Guardian following reluctantly behind.

“H… Hello, my name is Hi… Hinata. Hinata Hyuga and th… this is my Guardian Shi… Shikamaru,” stammered out a flustered raven-haired girl. She was one of the few that had admired Naruto for his boldness when he introduced himself to the room. She could remember stuttering so badly when she had to introduce herself to the class that in the end the teacher had taken pity on her and allowed her to sit down in her seat without any more words given.

“Hello there, Hinata-chan,” chirped up Naruto happily taking up her hand to kiss. “I hope that we become very close friends.” His smile seemed to widen exponentially at how quickly the already blushing Hyuga, turned beat red as she stilled against those warm lips. She began to splutter and absently nod her head, wanting to get back her hand back while simultaneously liking the feel of his warm hand wrapped around hers.

“Shameless,” grumbled Sasuke. He didn’t know if the blonde was inwardly laughing at him or not but he didn’t like how Hinata was looking at his Guardian, whether he was in human form or not. It still displeased him that Naruto was flirting with Hinata. He had thought he had made himself perfectly clear yesterday that Naruto was his and only his.

“What’s shameless about wanting a new friend?” Naruto asked coyly even as he offered his master a crooked smile. He still had yet to let go of Hinata’s hands, wondering whether she would request it back anytime soon as he playfully slid his hand further up to caress her inner arm. “You can’t obliviously be jealous of the bumbling idiot, now could you?”

 “Troublesome,” sighed out the brunette Guardian as he thrust his hand out in front of the blonde’s face. He watched with sleepy brown eyes as the blonde analyzed the offered appendage before he released his mistress’s hand in order to shake this new one. There was something about the offered idiotic smile that was so deceptively sweet that it was a bit off-putting. Naruto’s word of challenge to the class seemed to ring true in his ears, but the way he presented his challenge and acted now, was most definitely false.

“I… I would li… like that too,” Hinata stuttered, more than a half-beat off. She didn’t know what to do with her trembling hands now that both were free so she kept combing her fingers through her short bob as if she would make herself more presentable.

“Now look you broke her,” Sasuke sneered. He could clearly spot a love rival even if she had yet to know that she was one yet. The jealous streak in him wanted to embarrass the shy raven further for even attempting to get to know his Guardian.

“Did I?” Naruto questioned, barely able to hide being pleased. He winked at the flustered Hyuga and she let out an undignified squeak. She quickly buried her face into her hands before quickly apologizing so that she could retreat to the safety of her desk. Her pony-tailed partner followed at a leisure pace, muttering another ‘Troublesome’ at the love triangle that was already forming.

 “Are you going to introduce us to your new Guardian, Sasuke-kun?” piped up a sickeningly sweet voice from across the room. As soon as Naruto and Sasuke focused their attention on the new person, the person in question gave her bubblegum hair a flirtatious flip before giving what was supposed to be a winning smile.

“Hi, my name is Sakura-chan and this is my huma… err Mistress Ino.” Sakura quickly chirped up while walking; effectively leaving her blonde human behind in order to make a beeline to their desks. She had meant to be the first to introduce herself to her beloved’s new Guardian but unfortunately both Hyuga’s had occupied their attention at different times. So as soon as they were freed up she had gone for it despite her Mistress begging her to wait for her.

“Your fragrance is a bit pungent. Did you bath in it?” Naruto asked, offering the offered hand Sakura thrust into his face, a bored look before dismissing it as unnecessary.

Shikamaru, who had decided to sit relatively close to Sasuke and his Guardian to enjoy the festivities, had let out an amused snort. He shook his head in bemused amusement before shifting his head slightly so that he could passively watch the entertainment unfolding before him from the relative safety of his desk.

Sakura’s smile froze; cheeks flushed a hot pink in embarrassment, as the expected kiss on her hand was rebuffed. She wasn’t even offered a lousy handshake but she pushed on after allowing her hand to flop down to her side. “Well that’s not very nice to say to a lady, is it Sasuke-kun? Your Guardian should be grateful that my Mistress and me have been keeping you company until his return,” she murmured in a sugary-sweet baby voice. She had already plastered herself to the anti-social Uchiha’s side. Her arm was thrown around his shoulder as if her presence didn’t make Sasuke squirm inwardly at the invasion of his privacy.

‘Honestly, if I knew such a cute Master was up for the taking then I would have waited patiently for him to summon me in the demon world instead of settling for Ino-pig,’ she thought mournfully, with a pout. She barely glanced behind her as her Mistress managed to squeeze her way into the tight-knit little gathering. Her mind and body had already dismissed her as unnecessary to her goal of making the delectable human hers. ‘Maybe blondie will be up for a trade?’

 “Don’t touch him,” Naruto said stonily. His eyes were flat and unreadable as they narrowed in warning although he still remained seated.

“Who are you to tell anyone to—” screeched Sakura indignantly before Sasuke interrupted.

“You’re one to talk when you were all over that Hyuga girl. If I want to talk to Sakura-chan then I will with or without your permission. You don’t own me. Actually it’s the opposite,” Sasuke snapped back bitterly. Inwardly he was pleased that his demon was at least jealous of the other Guardian’s proximity to him even if he, himself, was not pleased by the situation.

He had rebuffed her advances time and again, even before he knew he wanted to belong to Naruto; but she was anything if not persistent. He barely bit back a shiver as Sakura practically squealed in his ear in her delight at her precious Sasuke-kun defending her honor. She was already trying to hug him to show her gratitude when she suddenly froze in fright at the overwhelming pressure of someone’s demon aura suddenly beating down on her in waves.

“Are you really that hard of hearing?” snarled out Naruto, showing sharpened canines and a flash of red. He rose to his full height; practically towering over the ‘human’ form of Sakura now as he quickly reverted back to his demon form and the clothes he wore that morning. All of his demon limiters except for the miniature Uchiha fan had shattered as his anger pushed for him to transform.

Sasuke had thought the restrictions placed by the council made it all but impossible to see the blonde like this outside of his home. But now everyone, including his rival, could see how fearsome and powerful his sexy demon was as he shook away the last remnants of his humanity. Involuntarily he began stroke his mating mark while watching, entranced, as his Guardian slowly stalking his prey.

Naruto’s one unbound shadow tail flicked dangerously back and forth like an agitated cat as he glided closer to the annoying pinkette with a quiet determination. The chrome skull cross of his belt similarly mimicked the tail but at a more leisurely pace as it slid back and forth on its chain before occasionally spinning in dizzying circles.

Sensing danger, Sakura had quickly tried to babble what appeared to be an apology as she stepped backwards. Her head occasionally snapping around to see where she was going before her emerald green eyes fastened back on the peeved off demon who looked and felt nothing like the weakling blonde who rebuffed her earlier.

She winced when the back of her legs smacked against one desk and then another in her effort to get away. Her frightened eyes skated pleadingly to her classmates for assistance but they only offered the two a wide berth around the spacious rectangular room. Some pushed her forward when she tried to hide behind the others with a ‘leave us out of this’ or a ‘you brought this on yourself’. She stumbled forward, quickly righting herself before she suddenly noticed an opening and tried to run towards it and into the safety of the hallways. But before she could even touch the cool doorframe of their classroom door, Naruto was there, in front of her, in all his silent fury.  

The blonde fiend effortlessly captured and raised Sakura up by her throat as if she weighed nothing more than a freshly born whelp. His amber eyes, with the thin band of red on the outside, narrowed in both cool anger and sadistic pleasure as she desperately tried to claw at his hands with the talons of her demon form she had shivered into in her defense. With one great shake and a squeeze of his hand she stilled, whimpers falling from under her beak like nose.

She was just as much human as she was bird when in her demon form. Her pink hair was a softer, yet still annoying pink that, that seamlessly melded into a bunch of long, fluffy white feathers midway down her back with softer, shorter downy feathers at her temples. Half her fingers were scaly black tipped talons that had did a number on Naruto’s hand. Feathers radiated horizontally from her spine as if they would form a feathery ribcage to frame her naked torso and mostly feather-covered breasts. Her body was humanoid in form but around the more private areas like her breasts and buttocks, they were covered in reddish brown feathers that ended in a plumage of feathers that connected with her back feathers and wings before leading down to her skirt like tail.

It was clear to everyone that she was some type of harpy. Many hadn’t seen her demon form before because she was most likely reluctant to admit that she was that loathsome, mythological creature that were given to take things from people like scavengers. Her eyes shown with fresh tears as she looked pleadingly at him to release her. However her limp, docile form was nothing to his stony silence.

 “I didn’t want people to see what I was capable of just yet. I really wanted to lay low, play nice and make friends. But you were too empty-headed to understand my warning not to touch him.” Naruto began to speak calmly, choosing his words carefully before he gave another shake of his hand when he spoke the words ‘not’. “Were you being this inappropriate when I wasn’t around, you little harpy bitch? Should I rip off your arms and shove your wings down your goddamn throat so you will be able to comprehend not to touch what is mine?” he snarled out vehemently.

“Naruto, it’s okay,” Sasuke began cautiously. He had come to himself when Naruto had ended his game of cat and mouse and had picked her up in such a way. The small Uchiha carefully began to pick his way towards his Guardian through the maze of broken up desks that were no longer in the eight long, straight lines with the huge divide in the middle. He was fairly surprised that Naruto hadn’t thrown a desk or two around in his rage but this silent, smoldering anger was chilling in its own way. “Put her down before she passes out.”

“I am the only one who can touch you. Isn’t that what you said? ‘Only I can be this close! Only I can feel your fangs against their throat? So what should I do when you allow this silly little slut press her grotesque body against what you told me is rightfully mine,” spat out Naruto in cold fury, seething at Sakura’s limp form.

She let out a barely audible “sorry” that only earned a sneer from Naruto before he tossed her like a rag doll against a line of undisturbed desks. He didn’t even have to look behind him to know that she hesitated to move from the pile of desks for fear that he might do more than leave bruises on her throat and some banged up limbs.  He chuckled darkly even as he slowly made his way towards his displeased master.

“Little master, why so mad? I did what you said,” he quipped teasingly, with a hard smile. He was confident that if he truly went on a rampage, no one, including his master could stop him. Not in time anyway. But not wanting to be separated from his little human just yet he decided to sit back leisurely in a chair, legs crossed as he waited in amusement as Sasuke closed the rest of the distance.

“You can’t choose to remember things when it suits you Naruto. Jealousy is a two way street and you only mocked me when I expressed it. So don’t you dare—” Sasuke began bitterly before he was cut off.

“Dare what, little one?” he murmured in a seductive purr. He slowly encircled Sasuke’s tiny waist and drew him closer even as he uncrossed his legs so that their bodies were now flushed against each other. “I’ll proudly admit in front of all these useless pieces of trash that every vengeful part of me belongs to you and you to me. Not even the blushing of a insignificant girl could change who I chained myself too.” He continued, pleased when Sasuke completely forgot about the semi-circle of classmates around them and wrapped his slender arms around Naruto’s neck.

“So you’re not attracted to Hinata?” Sasuke whispered hotly. His forehead creased in a frown even as he looked at his demon with half-mast lids while he leaned heavily against his demon to enjoy the warmth radiating from his body.  

“She’s just a child,” Naruto snorted incredulously as if that was a no brainer.

“I am too,” grumbled Sasuke displeased. He nearly pouted because Hinata was actually older than him by several months. So if she was considered a child then surely he was one too, which irritated him because he wanted to catch up to his Guardian as soon as possible. He wanted to become an equal that was loved even more that Minato from his past life. But he hesitated to see what Naruto would say if he mentioned him.

“You have too many possibilities to be just a child.” He murmured this sincerely even as his eyes looked intently on the little one who nibbled worriedly at his bottom lip.

Then as if sensed his words weren’t enough Naruto uncoiled Sasuke’s hands from around his neck to flutter kisses against his fingertips. Those butterfly kisses then moved to gently kiss eyelids that quickly fluttered close for him. His hot lips brushed against Sasuke’s forehead to smooth out the frown of doubt before he nipped playfully at his chin. He smirked when he felt his trembling master’s breathe hitch before he finally shifted upward to lay a simple, chaste kiss on those slightly parted lips.

He could have gone farther. An animalistic part of him wanted to claim his human now, regardless of his age so that no more Sakura-bitches would even dare thinking of speaking, nonetheless speaking to his human. But he only allowed his lips to linger on Sasuke’s for the space of a few frantic heart beats before he drew reluctantly away. “Who do you belong to?” he requested, needing to hear his master now.

“Na-ru-to,” stammered Sasuke flustered. Sasuke seemed to have trouble remembering how to breathe as he stared in dazed wonderment at his demon. This was worlds different from the drugged pleasure he received when Naruto bit/teased his mating mark. It was his first kiss and it was in front of everybody. It was… It was so grownup. He could feel his cheeks flaming and coloring to the tips of his ear as he tucked his face against Naruto’s neck.

“You shouldn’t do that! He’s just a child,” screeched Sakura. She had bided her time, waiting until Sasuke and Naruto were thoroughly distracted before he decided to stand up. But she was stopped from marching over Naruto and clawing his eyes out by Shikamaru who placed his hand gently against her shoulder before shaking his head silently ‘no’.

In his books things could have gone a lot worse for everyone in the class if Naruto had ignored his master’s pleas. Shikamaru, personally, had wanted to see things play out; so when he could feel the school’s Guardians running towards the classroom, after sensing the sudden spike in demon energy, he had used a little of his demon powers to kidnap their shadows and hold them frozen a few yards from the classroom door. ‘So this is the true Uchiha Naruto? Still troublesome but more interesting than that other person he was trying to portray,’ he thought reflectively.

“B… But he attacked me first,” squeaked Sakura indignantly, gesturing to her bruised throat. Everything in her screamed for revenge, especially when she had been brushed aside twice by the blonde who was now basking in the warmth of who should have rightfully been her human.

“Are you really that dense that you can’t see that Naruto-kun was only trying to protect his mate,” spat out Shikamaru bitterly, his fingers now digging into the pinkette’s shoulder. Every demon, one by one, sensed the situation as soon as Sasuke had begun to play with his ‘Demon’s Proposal’ that flared to life with Naruto’s intense demon aura. That was why they had all passively given Sakura and the angry Naruto a wide berth so that the stubbornly ignorant Sakura could get her just desserts.

“N… no it can’t be,” Sakura whined, even as she winced at Shikamaru tight grip. She refused to acknowledge the fact that Sasuke-kun was irrevocably taken because she had desperately fallen in love with him as soon as he entered their classroom for the first time.

She would have offered this ‘Naruto’ person any babble she had collected and secreted over the years to take Sasuke off his hands. But not that even this hope was gone she moved dejectedly to an upturned desk, righted it and plopped down with a pout. “We’ll see,” she mumbled, crossing her arms in momentary defeat.

Shikamaru waited a beat to make sure that Sakura would stay and behave. His hand gesturing to Ino to come over and possibly comfort her sulking Guardian before he boldly walked towards the cuddling Naruto and Sasuke. Hands raised halfway to show that he didn’t carry any weapons, he then shoved them back in pocket as he noticed with both relief and disappointment that Naruto had finally went back to his human form.

 “He’s my human. I can do whatever I want to him as long as he accepts it,” growled out Naruto warningly, a flash of red, flickering in otherwise serene blue eyes. He had stubbornly held onto his demon form for as long as he could. Despite shattering the demon limiters except for the one, eight of his tails were still restrained and he was barely fighting back the healing hibernation that came when he used too much energy.

“I never challenged that Naruto-kun. I just came to see if it was okay for us to set back the desks and reassume our seats. Our next class should be starting soon,” began Shikamaru in a calm, reassuring tone. He had been unofficially been named class president and it was his job to keep the peace when the teachers were away.

Naruto hesitated for a moment, sizing up Hinata’s Guardian. But sensing no ill intent he slowly coaxed Sasuke to move out of his hands so he could sand and lead them both back to their desks. He was too stubborn to say thank you but he nodded to Shikamaru in acknowledgement before hiding a huge yawn behind his hand.  Soon the room was filled with the sounds of chairs scraping and desks being lifted and placed back where they rightfully belong. The air was slightly tense as more than one curious pair of eyes looking towards the lightly dozing ‘human’ blonde who was once more holding his content human. Many burned to discuss what played out before their eyes but thought it prudent not to anger Naruto with meager gossip as one by one they sought their chair and prepared for next class.

 “If no one is going to say it then I will. Uchiha, your Guardian has some nerve disrupting the class like that. I don’t care whether he’s the son of the deputy mistress or defending your honor, he’s out of control,” Neji bit out importantly as sought a chair, within earshot but relative safety of his rival.

“I didn’t actually mind,” Sasuke murmured nonchalantly. He wished he could just stand there with Naruto’s arms wrapped around him. His hands occasionally moved backward to pet the golden head of hair to reassure him that this wasn’t just some dream.

“Of course you didn’t,” Neji sneered, popping up from his seat like an eager jack-in-the-box. The brunette was inwardly seething because he had not sensed the massive power that Naruto had hid from him when the Hyuga had first challenged him. There was probably more of it if Naruto was truly the rumored ‘Kyuubi’ and he hated the fact that his rival and not him would be master of such fearsome power.

“Unless you want to volunteer yourself to be my experiment I would suggest you stop talking and sit,” ordered the strict voice of their next teacher. Quickly a bespectacled teen scrawled the words ‘Kabuto – Biology 202 on the board like he did every class before he pushed his cart of curiosities further into the room.

“Of course Kabuto-sensei,” Neji quickly replied, flustered as he sought his chair. He paled at the thought of being a part of one of Kabuto’s experiments as the teacher instructed one of the students to give a small cage of white mice to the ends of each row to share.

“Oh, Sasuke-kun and his new Guardian, Naruto-kun, your presence is required at the headmaster’s office. Apparently you caused quite the ruckus and Headmaster Iruka wants to take disciplinary actions. If he’d just given you to me I’m sure we could have come up with better arrangements,” the lanky teen announced, his glasses becoming opaque in the fluorescent lighting.

“Th… that’s okay. We will go now,” Sasuke quickly announced even as he roughly shook Naruto’s shoulder. “Wake up Idiot, you got us in trouble after all,” the Uchiha grumbled. His panic at the creepy smile Kabuto was continuing to offer him, overriding the afterglow of that kiss or the cold look his demon gave him for being forced out of his light doze.

“I’m up, I’m up,” Naruto slurred. He stumbled to his feet and allowed himself to be led out with another yawn.

A FEW MINUTES LATER, IN THE HALLS

They walked in relative silence all the way to the Headmaster’s office. One or two eyebrows raised at the still frozen Guardian’s under Shikamaru’s shadow spell. Sasuke gave a weak smile of appreciation when Naruto captured up his hand to hold before they walked down the lone corridor to walk to the office, hoping for the best.

Naruto stumbled a little since he was still groggy and in desperate need of an energy boost so he wouldn’t fall over into a sleeping pile. He was just about to let his master know he needed a bite like yesterday when his sleepy eyes widen in surprise before they narrowed in suspicion at a familiar blonde.

“What did you tell him Deidara?” Naruto snarled out, all teeth. He quickly released Sasuke’s hand and didn’t hesitate to slam the taller blonde against the wall despite his smaller, frailer, human form.

“It seems that you remember who I am, un?” snorted the blonde, trying to laugh off the pain radiating from his tailbone hitting the wall.

“Of course I do. You don’t live as long as I do without learning some tricks. I remember you and I remember Baa-chan,” he growled. He was impatient to know what the demon mechanic was up to now and all Deidara was doing now was stalling.

“So do you remember what we were planning on doing before you got distracted by that human, Minato…” Deidara asked inquisitively, curious to see how much Naruto was willing to tell, especially in front of his little human.

“Not here you idiot but yes, yes I do. I’m the one who came up with that plan so their was no way in Hades I was going to let a simple rebirth make me forget that,” grumbled Naruto bitterly. “Now stop distracting me and answer my question Deidara before I go ape shit on your ass.”

Deidra tried his best not to snort because despite Naruto’s diminutive size he knew that if pushed to the brink of insanity, the fiend would happily leap over and drag all around him down with him. “Iruka promised to pay for the machine you broke during the trial if I told you a little about you before you met his Aniki, un. And I… I told him that you… I… we were nameless,” the mechanic said reluctantly, wincing as Naruto’s grip tightened on him. (3)

“What else, what else did you tell him?” snarled out Naruto. His eyes slowly flashed gold then red before he forced it back to tranquil blue.

“Nothing. Only… only that the reason you formed a contract with Minato in the first place because that was the first time in a long while that a human has interested you so much that you offered your servitude to him on a golden platter,” he hissed out in pain as he felt clawed fingers digging through the tough fabric of his mechanic’s jumper and into his flesh.,

“Deidara, you traitor! Did you reveal the plan we had as well?” Naruto fairly snarled out ready to strangle the blonde with his own intestines if he answered in the positive on this question too. But before he could punish the blonde for revealing any of his secrets, Kakashi tentatively cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry Ky—Naruto, Master Sasori told me to assist them the best I could,” Deidara cried out apologetically. He hadn’t wanted to betray an old ally but he couldn’t out-rightly disobey his Master Sasori either.

“You served me first before you served that red-haired nuisance,” snarled out Naruto knowing he should have killed blonde as soon as he expressed interest in a red-haired child.

“My Master Iruka will see you now,” the one eyed male spoke up boldly. Although he was curious to hear more about whom Deidara served and why, he knew his master was anxious to see the blonde in his newest master inside.

Naruto scowled, twisting his fingers inside Deidara before yanking them out and casually licking a bloody finger. “We will talk later Deidara,” he promised. His hooded eyes daring the blonde mechanic to disobey him now after what he did. He waited until the shaken demon nodded his head in agreement before he dismissed him with a flick of his bloody fingertips. “Go.”

He then ignored the stares from two pairs of eyes as he walked into Iruka’s office, licking his fingers. His eyebrow raised in quiet surprise at the fact that his human form dissolved as soon as he entered the headmaster’s office. He was once more wearing his tight-knit turtleneck and hip hugging denim pants. The mini Uchiha fan dangling from his right ear, swung lazily back and forth as he turned his head to make sure that his little master was close behind him before he walked into the room with a knowing smirk and a shake of his head. “A little too trusting if you ask me,” he murmured, silently accepting the tea offered to him.

“We requested that my office also be a free-zone for you to be a demon in good faith. I know now that I could have had no better Guardian than you to serve my Aniki,” Iruka began diplomatically. He tried his best to ignore the blood flecked fingers as he offered him a thoughtful smile.

Naruto offered Iruka a apathetic smile at that before he took a seat on the couch, rather than sit on the seat that Kakashi had gently pulled out for him. “Is this what I think it is?” He could already see something crimson blossoming like a sinister rose in the bottom of otherwise clear water.

“What is it?” Sasuke asked curiously looking down at the clear teacup. If he was anything but an Uchiha he would have touched the water with a finger to see how the blossoming rose remained suspended like that.                                 

“It’s Sun Drop tea. A distant cousin of New Moon Drop tea,” Naruto said with a slightly amused look. “You brew it like you would any normal tea that has loose leaves except when you pour the water over the sifter of leaves the tea will come out clear. But smell,” the fiendish Guardian offered drawing the cup closer to Sasuke.

“It smells like sandalwood and… and summer?” Sasuke said in bemusement. He wondered how something like a tea could embody so well as that tea but the word sprung to his lips unbidden before he could curb the impulse to say it.

“Yes, quite like summer. It’s a tea meant to allow the person drinking it to see the memories of the one who dropped their blood in. Blood has memories of the user’s body, did you know that Sasuke? Even if the mind forgets the past your blood doesn’t because it has water memory. When I first bit you, my mind was flooded with memories of you in your past life. If I were to drink this tea I would taste the memory of Iruka’s, is it? Clever but unnecessary,” Naruto said dismissively as he set the cup down to the headmaster’s disappointment.

Naruto snorted before standing and closing the distance between himself and the headmaster to before yanking off the ‘Death Note’ from around his neck. “You should have this?” he said dismissively setting it in Iruka’s unwilling hands.

“Why, Tsunade gave this to you?” Iruka began with a frown of disappointment. He had honestly thought if the blonde demon had drunk the tea it would trigger a memory of his own. Something that was powerful enough for Kyuubi to remember himself and who he truly loved.

“What do I need with old memories? The ones I seen did me no good and it seems this Minato person was more trouble than he was worth,” Naruto replied with a nonchalant shrug. He made his way back to his anxious human, still feeling a bit hungry. He wished that the brunette Headmaster had some tea with a little bit of soul in it but he doubted he would be that curious for a starving fiend like him.

“You don’t mean that… I…It is ‘cause you can’t remember that… that you…” Iruka murmured shaken but unable to continue. It wasn’t that he disliked Sasuke-kun, far from that; but his brother deserved the man that had risked his life trying to save him. The man who had offered a piece of himself to his dying Aniki and had managed to shed tears for a virtual strangle at his past life’s love confession,  that was who Minato needed now that he was a newborn demon.

“That I loved him? Laughable really and you… until you thought I killed your Aniki you liked me too didn’t you? Maybe did a little hero-worshipping,” Naruto questioned, in amusement, a placid smile offered.

“I… yes… um… you watched me from time to time and you had always kept my brother safe, s… so what wasn’t to admire?” Iruka began bashfully, feeling suddenly embarrassed to admit this after he had been determined to hate him during their last meeting. He then flinched as Naruto suddenly tossed the cup holding the Sun Drop tea, at the wall close to Iruka’s head in a fit of anger.

“And look where that got me. All of the good attentions in the world couldn’t stop you from betraying me in the end, ne? A monster is still a monster no matter what he does, you should remember that too Kakashi or your master might betray you too.” Naruto said dismissively, already bored with the conversation and how Kakashi’s sword was drawn and at the ready now.

“I’m sorry. Is that what you want? I’m sorry for making your new life miserable. Sorry, Sorry, sorry but… but what about me? I had thought my Aniki was dead for so long and I was determined to hate you for that. But you come back into my life again tell me my dead brother is still alive and it fills me with so much hope.

“Yeah, laugh all you want but ever since you gave me the good news I’ve been hoping to have more. I guess I’m greedy that way to want my life to go back to the way it was. Back to when Aniki was hear and at my side and you were there to watch over all of us. It’s the selfish wishes that I had since you stole my childhood away but I want it. I want it all. I want you to remember so everything can go back to the ways things should be,” gasped out Iruka, angry tears of frustration rolling down his face.

The Headmaster looked so lost, so desperate and small standing behind his mahogany desk that if it wasn’t for the knife of betrayal Sasuke felt at what Iruka was saying, he could have sympathized. But if he allowed Iruka’s plan to unfold then he could lose his blonde for good and that would destroy him. He’d rather be painted out to be a villain then give up what he believed felt so right.

“I’m remembering.”

“Wh… What?”Iruka barely managed to whisper as his body was about ready to sag in defeat.

Naruto let a long suffering sigh as he combed his fingers into his already bound hair. He looked into the disbelieving eyes of the Headmaster before turning to look at his small master who had ordered him to always stay truthful to him.“Poppet, ever since I saw Minato’s hologram and realized what I did, I’ve started to remember him. It’s not much. Shards really of fragmented conversations and disembodied feelings; but I think if I allow it, my memories of my past life and the love I felt for him can come back. So what do you think I should do Poppet? You wanted to be treated less like a child so now that you know, what should I do.” 

“A… Anything that will keep you at m… my side. I… I can’t lose you to him,” Sasuke began panicked. He was already feeling his chest tightened painfully at the idea of losing his Guardian to anyone. Especially when that anyone was a ghost that he had thought was dead.

“Then it has been decided. I can only serve one master. So I will kill Minato before I remember to love him again,” Naruto announced determinedly, kissing the crown of silently crying master’s head.

To be continued:

A/N: I promise you when I first wrote this chapter Naruto didn’t remember Minato but then one day it hit me, what if he did. And so here we are, all dum, dum, dumming it again. I’m really looking forward to your comments. Hint, hint; but wow, this was longer than I expected by I introduced a few characters so it is to be expected. Despite Haku’s cute appearance he was a lot more sinister than I first thought O.o; Naruto bursting through the door is reminiscent of the Chunnin exam where he declared himself to everyone. I was tossing back and forth whether I wanted Naruto’s whole behavior to change once he becomes human but someone who as stubborn and strong-willed as Naruto would rather play sweet and trusting then actually be it.

Oh well, can’t wait to see what I write next either… seriously… how am I going to top this @_@ Oh I'm restarting back my e-mailing services to those who need it, To those who have emailed before you have to reapply.As long as I know your reading and reviewing I'll e-mail you when there is an update. Just leave your email and an actual review along with your request to be emailed.

1. 
   – The Change happens when a demon stays in their human disguise too long. The longer they are human with human thoughts, the more they begin to emulate human emotions and start to see humans more as companions than food.  Naruto sees it as a spiritual neutering of demon desires.


2. 
   – Yes, since this story is influenced by the anime Kuroshitsuji I decided to give a shout out to Undertaker with this comments.


3. 
   – The Nameless are demons who come to the human world without a master. So Deidara admitted that he and Naruto were able to live in the world without a master.