Chapter 156:
– Haru –
Early the next morning.
My tails had betrayed me completely.
All ten of them wagged behind me with enough force to stir the dust around Gemma’s portable forge as she applied the final touches to my requests. The proposal gifts for Naruko and Kushina.
Kushina’s weapon rested across the workbench. The large katana was pure white from its hilt to the tip of its gently curved blade, its polished surface gleaming like moonlit bone. A chain made from the White Wraith’s altered material hung from the pommel, each pale link small enough to appear decorative at first glance.
It was anything but decorative.
The chain could extend far beyond its apparent length, moving according to Kushina’s will and wrapping itself around monsters or human opponents. Once it caught something, it would drain the victim’s power and feed that energy directly into her. Combined with Kushina’s natural chakra chains, it would make escaping her almost impossible.
She was going to love it.
She might also use it to tie me to our bed at some point, but I was willing to accept that risk.
Naruko’s gifts were displayed beside the katana. Gemma had forged her a complete set of flexible kunoichi armor mesh, pale white and light enough not to hinder her speed. The mesh would fit closely around Naruko’s slender, curving body while reinforcing the areas most likely to take a hit. Gemma had managed to make it protective without turning it into the heavy, restrictive armor that most warriors preferred.
Naruko fought up close and personal, either with her own fists or through an overwhelming swarm of shadow clones. Heavy armor would only slow her down.
The pair of spiked white gloves sitting beside the mesh suited her perfectly. Each reinforced knuckle ended in a short spike made from the White Wraith’s material. Every enemy Naruko punched would have some of their power drained and transferred into her.
Considering how much Naruko enjoyed punching people in the face, the gloves might have been the most appropriate gift I had ever given anyone.
Then I considered what would happen when hundreds of her shadow clones appeared wearing copies of those same gloves.
That was terrifying.
It was also incredibly attractive.
“Gemma, these are amazing,” I said.
Before she could react, I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into a tight hug.
“Eep!” Gemma squeaked.
I lifted her clear off the ground, my tails wagging even faster as I squeezed her. “You did an incredible job,” I told her. “They’re perfect. Both of them are going to love these.”
“You can put me down now, handsome,” Gemma said, although her laughter made the complaint rather unconvincing.
“Gemma really did outdo herself,” Alma said from nearby.
I glanced at Alma. She was smiling, but there was a strange hint of jealousy behind it as she watched me holding Gemma.
I decided not to investigate that.
My romantic life was already complicated enough without digging into mysterious looks from attractive women.
I placed Gemma back on her feet. Her cheeks were flushed, though she immediately fixed her ponytail and attempted to recover her dignity.
“This might be some of my best work yet,” Gemma declared as she proudly looked over the two gifts. “I’ve never forged anything from material that could absorb and transfer energy before. Your women had better appreciate how much work went into these.”
“They will,” I assured her.
Gemma’s satisfied smile lasted until Sasuke scoffed from the other side of the forge.
“She isn’t finished,” Sasuke said. “She still needs to forge my gift for Naruko.” Sasuke stood beside the carcass of another monster he had hunted during the night. After the White Wraith had stolen the body of the Rey Dau he had nearly died killing, he had gone back into the wilderness to find a replacement.
The second monster was impressive. It was not nearly as impressive as Rey Dau.
Sasuke knew that, too, judging by the permanent irritation carved into his face.
“It may not possess Rey Dau’s lightning,” Sasuke said, “but its materials should still be sufficient for a worthy weapon!”
Gemma looked from Sasuke to the carcass and sighed.
Before she could answer him, Thor strode forward with his hands planted proudly on his hips. “And then you must forge a mighty and beautiful coat for my lady Jane, fair smith Gemma,” Thor declared loudly.
Gemma stared at Sasuke.
Then she stared at Thor.
Finally, she looked at me.
“I’m going to start charging all three of you double,” Gemma said.
“I’m heading back to the Fox Hole,” I said. “You two can return whenever you’re ready.”
Thor was still discussing the glorious coat Gemma would forge for Jane, while Sasuke hovered protectively near the remains of his second monster. Neither of them looked prepared to leave anytime soon.
The moment I turned toward one of the cave walls, space rippled.
A wooden door appeared beside the Guild’s stacked supply crates. One second, there had been nothing but rough stone. The next, the familiar entrance to my restaurant stood there as though someone had built it into the cave years ago.
The nearby hunters and supporters gasped.
Several hunters reached instinctively for their weapons. A supporter carrying a box of monster bones nearly dropped it on his foot. The Hunter’s Palico arched its back as every strand of fur on its body puffed outward.
“Mrrrrow!” the Palico yowled.
I had to admit that the cat’s reaction was adorable.
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at me.
“You had better not be trying to get ahead of me,” Sasuke warned. “If you intend to take those gifts to Naruko before mine is finished—”
I waved one hand dismissively.
“Relax,” I said. “I’m not going to Konoha yet. I have a few things to handle at the restaurant first.”
Sasuke continued staring at me suspiciously.
Apparently, he thought I might sprint through the door, fly straight to Konoha, and propose to Naruko before he could finish skinning his monster.
It was not the worst idea I had ever heard. I still was not going to do it.
I had just reached for the doorknob when hurried footsteps sounded behind me.
“Wait!” Alma called.
I glanced over my shoulder as she rushed toward me, clutching her field journal against her chest. Her eyes moved rapidly between me and the impossible wooden door embedded in the cave wall.
“Where did that door come from?” Alma asked. “How did it appear inside the camp? Is your restaurant really on the other side? Is it in another world? Does the doorway cross dimensions or fold physical space? Can anyone use it? Can I come with you?” She managed to ask every question without stopping to breathe.
I grinned at her. “Of course you can come,” I said. “The Fox Hole welcomes everyone, after all.”
Alma’s face lit up with the unmistakable expression of a researcher who had just discovered an entirely new subject to interrogate.
I suddenly suspected I had made a terrible mistake.
Still smiling, I opened the door. Warm light spilled into the cave, revealing the polished floor, wooden tables, and familiar bar of my restaurant on the other side.
Alma stared through the doorway in breathless wonder.
Behind us, the Palico cautiously crept closer and sniffed at the threshold.
“You can come too,” I told the Palico.
The Palico immediately abandoned all caution and darted through the door ahead of us.
Unfortunately, sprinting through an unfamiliar doorway without looking ahead rarely ended well.
The Palico shot into the Fox Hole at full speed and ran directly into someone’s legs. It bounced backward, landed on its rump, and stared up at the person it had collided with.
Aela stood beside the bar, chatting with Serana. My first girlfriend slowly looked down at the strange feline creature sitting at her feet.
Her blue eyes almost glowed.
The Palico’s pupils widened. Its ears flattened against its head as some deeply buried survival instinct recognized that Aela was far more dangerous than an ordinary human.
“Evil doggy! No!” the Palico shrieked.
It scrambled upright, raced across the restaurant, and dove beneath the table of an empty booth. Only the tip of its trembling tail remained visible.
Aela stared after it for several seconds. Then she chuckled. “I am neither evil nor a dog,” Aela said. “Although I suppose the little creature was closer than most people would manage.”
“It probably sensed your beast blood,” Serana said.
“Or perhaps it smelled wet dog,” I suggested.
Aela’s glowing eyes immediately shifted toward me.
I smiled innocently.
“Welcome back, my love,” Aela said. “How did your hunt go?”
“It was amazing,” I declared. “That world was absolutely filled with prey. There were enormous monsters everywhere. Hircine himself would have wept with envy if he had seen it.”
Aela’s expression tightened nervously at my casual insult toward her patron deity.
She really did take Hircine too seriously sometimes.
The Daedric Prince had no power inside my restaurant, and there was no chance he could hear me from an entirely separate universe. Even if he somehow managed it, interfering with the Fox Hole would attract Ranni’s attention. And then she would slap the shit out of him…
I almost felt sorry for him.
“It sounds as though you enjoyed yourself,” Aela said carefully.
“That is an understatement,” I said. “You need to see what I brought back.”
With a small exertion of will, I reached into my dimensional inventory and summoned Naruko’s and Kushina’s completed gifts. Both sets of equipment appeared in flashes of blue foxfire before settling onto an empty table.
Aela’s attention snapped toward them. The nervousness vanished from her face instantly. She crossed the distance in three quick strides and picked up Kushina’s white katana. She tested its weight, examined the blade’s edge, and then studied the strange chain hanging from its pommel.
“This chain moves according to the wielder’s will,” I explained. “It can wrap around an enemy, drain their power, and transfer that energy into Kushina.”
Aela gave the chain an experimental tug.
Several additional links silently extended from nowhere.
Her smile widened. “That is a vicious weapon,” Aela said approvingly.
“She already has chakra chains capable of restraining enormous monsters,” I said. “I thought a sword incorporating the same fighting style would suit her.”
Aela carefully returned the katana to the table before examining Naruko’s armor. Her fingers moved across the pale mesh, testing its flexibility and the reinforced sections protecting its most vulnerable areas. Then she picked up one of the spiked gloves.
“The spikes possess the same draining properties as Kushina’s chain,” I explained. “Naruko prefers fighting with her fists, so every punch will steal power from whoever she hits.”
Aela slipped one glove over her hand and clenched her fist. The material adjusted itself around her fingers as though it had been tailored specifically for her.
Her eyes lit up. “This is some of the finest equipment I have ever seen,” Aela said. “It may even be better than anything Eorlund Gray-Mane could forge.”
Coming from a member of the Companions, that was an extraordinary compliment. Aela practically worshipped the weapons Eorlund produced at the Skyforge.
She looked toward the doorway leading back to the Forbidden Lands.
I recognized that expression.
Aela wanted to charge through the door, disappear into the wilderness, and start hunting the largest monster she could find. If I told her about the White Wraith, Rey Dau, or the countless apex predators wandering that world, I might not see her again for several weeks.
Instead, Aela removed the glove and placed it beside Naruko’s armor. She seized the front of my clothing, pulled me toward her, and passionately crushed her lips against mine.
I wrapped my arms around her waist as my tails began wagging all over again.
Aela’s lips remained pressed against mine as I held my beautiful werewolf girlfriend close. One of my hands rested against the small of her back while several of my tails curled possessively around her legs.
Then a series of embarrassed squeaking noises came from behind me.
I reluctantly broke the kiss and glanced over my shoulder.
Alma stood just inside the doorway, clutching her journal against her chest like a shield. Her entire face had turned red, and she seemed unsure whether she should look at us or study the ceiling.
Serana crossed her arms and gave us both a disapproving stare. “Could the two of you control yourselves?” Serana scolded. “You are fortunate it is early and the restaurant is empty. Or would you prefer every member of the Companions to see you behaving like this?”
Aela slowly licked her lips. Mischief danced in her blue eyes as she remained pressed against me. “Let them see,” Aela replied. “Every Companion already knows I have been claimed by the greatest of men.”
Serana’s eyes narrowed. She bared her fangs and released an offended hiss. “Haru is not nearly as manly as my Agnar,” Serana snapped.
Aela turned away from me and faced the vampire. “Would you care to test that claim?” Aela asked.
“I would be delighted,” Serana replied.
Aela’s hand drifted toward the dagger at her waist. Frost began creeping across Serana’s fingertips.
Apparently, comparing the masculinity of their lovers is enough to restart the ancient conflict between vampires and werewolves.
Alma cleared her throat before either woman could attack. “My name is Alma,” Alma said nervously. “I am a Guild handler assigned to the Research Commission’s expedition in the Forbidden Lands. I manage quests, organize information, assist hunters with preparations, and document new discoveries.”
The mention of hunters immediately drew Aela’s attention away from Serana.
Serana’s frost vanished as she also turned toward our guest.
Alma relaxed slightly now that two extremely dangerous women were no longer preparing to fight in the middle of the restaurant. “There is also a matter I should discuss with Haru,” Alma continued. “Technically, people are not permitted to hunt monsters without first becoming official members of the Hunter’s Guild.”
Aela slowly looked at me. Her lips curved into a predatory smirk. “You broke the law in another world?” Aela teased. “Does that mean you must spend the night in a dungeon?”
I allowed my shoulders to slump. My fox ears drooped against my head, and I gave Alma the saddest expression I could manage. “Are you going to drag me away in chains?” I asked mournfully. “I am far too delicate for prison.”
Alma’s face became even redder. “Please stop teasing me,” Alma muttered.
“I was not teasing,” Aela said. “I would be happy to help place him in chains.”
I glanced at Aela.
The look in her eyes suggested she was no longer discussing criminal punishment.
Alma seemed to reach the same conclusion because she immediately buried her face in her journal.
“You will probably only receive an official warning,” Alma said. “The circumstances surrounding your arrival were highly unusual, and the Guild knows you helped rescue people and defeat an extremely dangerous monster.”
“That sounded reasonable,” I said.
“People should still register before they begin hunting,” Alma explained. “The Guild has spent generations gathering information about monsters, their habitats, their behavior, and their weaknesses. Registered hunters receive that information freely, along with logistical support, medical assistance, equipment maintenance, and access to smiths capable of upgrading weapons and armor with harvested monster materials.”
Aela’s interest grew with every word.
Her posture straightened when Alma mentioned generations of accumulated monster knowledge. Her eyes brightened at the promise of mighty beasts, specialized equipment, and an entire organization dedicated to hunting them.
“Would any capable warrior be permitted to register?” Aela asked.
“Potential hunters would need to be evaluated first,” Alma answered. “The Guild would determine their abilities and assign an appropriate rank. More dangerous hunts would become available as they proved themselves.”
“And this world contains many powerful monsters?” Aela asked.
“The Forbidden Lands contain more large monsters than we have been able to catalogue,” Alma replied. “Some of them can destroy entire settlements.”
Aela smiled.
It was the same smile she wore whenever someone mentioned a particularly dangerous creature that no sensible person would ever willingly approach.
I knew exactly where this was going.
The moment Aela told the Companions about a world filled with enormous monsters, ancient hunting traditions, and armor forged from slain beasts, every Nord in Jorrvaskr would come charging through my door to prove themselves!
The Hunter’s Guild had no idea what Alma had just unleashed upon them…
Aela led Alma toward a nearby table and immediately began questioning her about the Hunter’s Guild, its ranking system, and the largest monsters anyone had ever killed.
The Palico finally crept out from beneath the booth. Its fur had settled, but it continued watching Aela with deep suspicion. Whenever Aela shifted in her chair, the Palico froze and prepared to dive back into hiding.
Aela noticed. Her amused smile probably did nothing to reassure it.
With those two occupied, I turned toward the kitchen. It was still early, but more customers would begin arriving soon. If I wanted breakfast ready before the morning rush, I needed to start cooking.
I glanced at Serana before leaving. “Would you like your usual blood sausages?” I asked.
Serana smirked. “You know me so well,” Serana replied. Then her expression softened. A faint trace of color appeared in her pale cheeks. It was barely noticeable, but for a vampire as pale as Serana, it might as well have been a brilliant blush. “Could I have my food to take away today?” Serana asked. “I would also like a hearty plate prepared for Agnar.”
“Of course,” I said. “Is he finally returning from his latest adventure?”
“He returned late last night,” Serana explained. “Today is our anniversary, and I wanted to surprise him with breakfast when he wakes.”
That was unexpectedly sweet.
Serana must have noticed my smile because her blush darkened slightly. “Do not look at me like that,” Serana muttered. “I am perfectly capable of being a loving wife.”
“I never doubted it,” I assured her.
Serana’s embarrassment disappeared beneath a wicked grin. “You probably should not expect to see Agnar for several days,” Serana added. “Vampires possess practically unlimited stamina, provided we are not exposed to direct sunlight.”
I chuckled. “Then I wish my Dragonborn friend the best of luck,” I said.
“He will need it,” Serana replied.
She turned toward the bar with an unmistakably pleased expression.
I silently wished Agnar well with his obviously excited vampire bride. Fighting dragons, gods, and armies of undead had prepared him for many things, but I was not certain any amount of adventuring could prepare a man for several uninterrupted days alone with Serana, his horny vampire wife.
Hopefully, he remembers to drink plenty of water.
I stepped into the kitchen and tied on my apron. Breakfast ingredients emerged from my inventory in flickers of blue foxfire, arranging themselves across the counters as I heated the stoves.
Romance seemed to be in the air lately around my restaurant.
More friends and customers arrived as the morning approached a respectable breakfast hour. The quiet restaurant gradually filled with conversation, clinking silverware, and the overlapping scents of coffee, fried meat, fresh bread, and sweet pastries.
I remained in the kitchen and prepared every plate personally.
Using shadow clones to cook and manage the Fox Hole had been convenient lately. Once a clone dispersed, all its memories and experiences returned to me, so I still remembered every dish it prepared and every customer it served.
It was not quite the same, though.
Receiving the memory of cooking felt different from standing over the stove myself. I wanted to hear the food sizzling, smell the spices blooming in hot oil, and feel the knife moving beneath my fingers. The Fox Hole had been my dream long before it became a multidimensional political hub, occasional emergency shelter, occasional mercenary headquarters, and gathering place for gods.
I was still its chef.
Alma and Aela had left together about an hour earlier. Alma had intended to return to the Guild camp, while Aela wanted to begin registering as an official hunter immediately. I suspected she would finish whatever evaluation the Guild gave her and disappear into the Forbidden Lands before lunchtime.
Serana had also departed with enough food to feed Agnar for several days.
Whether Agnar would actually be permitted to stop for meals was another question…
I carried two freshly prepared plates out of the kitchen and approached the bar. Rias and Kiba occupied neighboring stools.
I placed a plate in front of each of them. “Here you are,” I said. “One embarrassingly sweet breakfast for Rias and one sensible breakfast for Kiba.”
“My breakfast is not embarrassingly sweet,” Rias protested.
“Your pancakes are filled with chocolate, covered in strawberries, and buried beneath whipped cream,” I pointed out.
“That sounds perfectly reasonable,” Rias said.
“Thank you for the food, Haru,” Kiba said politely.
Rias was my fiancée, but she was also Sasuke’s King. After joining her peerage, Sasuke had become her second Knight alongside Kiba.
Kiba was also the closest thing Sasuke had to a best friend within the peerage.
Calling them best friends might have been generous. Their relationship remained somewhat questionable. They trained together, competed constantly, and communicated through long silences and occasional insults. Still, Kiba was one of the few people Sasuke seemed to respect.
That had to count for something.
Rias and Kiba had come to provide emotional support when Sasuke inevitably lost our bet. Once Sasuke returned from the Forbidden Lands, we would travel to Konoha so he could present his gift to Naruko and convince her that she should choose him over me.
He was going to fail.
There was no uncertainty involved. Sasuke’s chances were not small. They were nonexistent.
Naruko had already made her feelings clear, but Sasuke had somehow convinced himself that a sufficiently impressive gift would change her mind. After losing Rey Dau’s corpse and replacing it with a less impressive monster, even his gift was unlikely to help.
I leaned against the counter and looked at Rias.
“Thank you for coming,” I said. “I know you had to miss classes to be here.”
“I have missed classes for much less important reasons,” Rias replied.
“I am also sorry about the trouble I caused,” I continued. “I dragged Sasuke into another world for most of yesterday and started this entire bet with him.”
Rias shook her head. “You do not need to apologize,” Rias said. “This was probably the best way you could have handled him.”
“I challenged his pride and encouraged him to hunt an enormous monster,” I said. “That does not sound especially responsible when spoken aloud.”
“The alternative was Sasuke challenging you to an unnecessarily dramatic fight to the death,” Rias explained. “There would have been lightning, black flames, shouting about destiny, and at least one speech about how you had stolen everything from him.”
“That does sound like Sasuke,” I admitted.
“He asked me whether our training grounds could survive a complete Susanoo,” Kiba said dryly. “When I asked why, he refused to answer.”
I stared at Kiba. “Then I may have prevented a great deal of property damage,” I said.
“That was my conclusion,” Kiba replied.
Rias cut into her pancakes and took a bite. Her eyes briefly closed in pleasure before she remembered that she was trying to have a serious conversation. “Besides, I am his King,” Rias said. “It is my responsibility to be present when the newest member of my family has his heart broken.” Rias gestured toward Kiba with her fork. “Kiba is Sasuke’s fellow Knight,” Rias continued. “He can stop Sasuke from doing anything stupid afterward.”
“I can try,” Kiba sighed.
“Trying may not be enough,” I warned him.
“I am aware,” Kiba replied.
Rias ate another bite of her pancakes before continuing. “We should give Sasuke a few weeks to recover,” Rias said. “After that, I may introduce him to one of my redheaded cousins, as we planned. He needs someone who is not already deeply in love with another man.”
“Does your cousin know you intend to introduce her to him?” I asked.
“Not yet,” Rias admitted.
“Does she know what Sasuke is like?” I asked.
“She will… eventually,” Rias replied, with a tiny awkward pause.
That did not fill me with confidence.
Still, finding Sasuke someone who might return his feelings was probably healthier than allowing him to spend the next several years glaring at me whenever Naruko kissed me.
Rias finished the last bite of her pancakes before pulling out her phone. Her fingers moved rapidly across the screen as a mischievous smile spread across her face.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“I am informing everyone that today is the day,” Rias replied.
My ears twitched.
“Everyone?” I asked.
“Everyone except Naruko and Kushina,” Rias assured me. “I am not going to ruin the surprise.”
She selected nearly every member of the group chat my girlfriends and fiancées had created. I still had no idea what they normally discussed in there. Whenever I asked, they all gave me identical smiles and changed the subject.
Rias sent her message.
“Haru is proposing to Naruko and Kushina today,” Rias had written.
“You could have made that sound slightly less like a public announcement,” I said.
“You are proposing to two women on the same day,” Rias pointed out. “That qualifies as a public announcement.”
Her phone began vibrating almost immediately.
Rias grinned and turned the screen toward me. “I knew they would respond quickly,” Rias said. More messages continued filling the screen. Some of my women sent hearts and congratulations. Others offered advice about what I should say. Several playfully demanded to know when they would receive proposals of their own?
I swallowed nervously.
Rias looked far too entertained by my growing discomfort. “They all seem supportive,” Rias said.
“Half of them just demanded engagement rings,” I said.
“They can be supportive and jealous at the same time,” Rias replied.
Kiba glanced at the flood of messages and gave me a knowing grin. “That is why you should keep your harem at a manageable size,” Kiba said.
I raised an eyebrow at him. “Do you even have a harem yet?” I asked.
Kiba’s grin disappeared. A blush spread across his face as he suddenly became fascinated by his breakfast. “That is not relevant…” Kiba muttered.
“Do not tease him,” Rias scolded playfully. “Kiba already becomes overwhelmed by all the attention he receives from the girls at school.”
“I do not become overwhelmed!” Kiba protested.
“You fled through a second-story window when three girls tried to give you chocolate on Valentine’s Day,” Rias said.
“They blocked the door…” Kiba replied with a deeper blush.
I opened my mouth to continue teasing him, but the Fox Hole’s entrance swung open.
Thor strode into the restaurant with an enormous grin on his face. He carried a small pink fur jacket in both hands with a degree of care I rarely saw him show anything other than Mjolnir.
Gemma had transformed the Congalala’s hide into something surprisingly stylish. The jacket was fitted for Jane’s smaller body. No one looking at it would ever guess it had come from an enormous ape that attacked people with weaponized flatulence.
“Behold!” Thor declared. “The fair smith Gemma has created a garment worthy of my Jane!”
“It looks good,” I admitted.
“It is magnificent,” Thor corrected me. “Jane shall be the envy of every woman in Midgard!”
Sasuke entered behind him. He wore the dark kimono I had lent him after his Kuoh Academy uniform was destroyed. His injuries were gone, his posture was straight, and his expression radiated absolute confidence. I could not see the gift Gemma had forged for him. A storage scroll was secured at his waist, so I assumed he had sealed it inside.
Sasuke genuinely believed he was about to win.
Rias looked at her newest Knight and released a quiet sigh. “I suppose it is time,” Rias said. She put away her phone and gave me a gentle smile. “Good luck with Naruko and Kushina,” Rias continued. “They will say yes, of course. They will also probably want you to themselves for the rest of the day.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“Kiba and I will handle Sasuke afterward,” Rias promised. “You should focus on your new fiancées.”
Kiba glanced toward Sasuke. “We will do our best,” Kiba added. That was not especially reassuring, but I appreciated the effort.
Sasuke stopped several feet away from me.
“Haru,” Sasuke called. “Let us return to Konoha. It is time to settle our bet!”
…The trip to Konoha took less than a minute, although my nerves made the walk to the Hokage Tower feel considerably longer.
By the time Rias, Kiba, Sasuke, and I entered Tsunade’s office, my tails had become unusually stiff behind me. Naruko’s armor and Kushina’s katana remained safely stored within my dimensional inventory.
Tsunade rose from behind her desk the moment she saw us.
“Tsunade!” Rias exclaimed happily.
Rias rushed around the desk and threw her arms around her Rook. Tsunade laughed as she returned the embrace. Their large breasts pressed together between them, creating a sight that was nearly impossible not to appreciate.
Kiba politely studied the ceiling.
Sasuke looked impatient.
I stared for approximately two seconds longer than I should have.
When Tsunade finally pulled away, she caught me looking. A teasing grin spread across her face.
My lips tingled as I remembered the last time we had spoken. Tsunade had kissed me without warning before casually walking away as though she had not left me standing there with every tail rigid behind me.
“So, it is finally time, huh?” Tsunade asked with a chuckle.
“That is the plan,” I replied.
Tsunade leaned against the front of her desk and folded her arms beneath her chest.
“I have known Naruko and Kushina for so long that they might as well be family,” Tsunade said. “I know exactly how excited they will be when you officially propose.”
Hearing that did nothing to settle my nerves.
Naruko and Kushina loved me. They were both carrying my children. I already knew what their answers would be.
That knowledge somehow made everything more terrifying.
Tsunade’s grin widened.
“Just do me one favor afterward,” Tsunade continued. “Please try not to destroy Konoha with powerful and dangerous jinchūriki sex.”
Kiba coughed into his fist.
Rias covered her mouth, although she failed to hide her laughter.
I stared at Tsunade.
“I am joking,” Tsunade added. “Mostly.”
“Naruko would never sleep with Haru that easily!” Sasuke said with a dismissive scoff.
The entire office became silent.
Rias suddenly found the village skyline outside the window fascinating. Kiba lowered his gaze toward the floor. Tsunade glanced at me before slowly looking away.
I scratched the back of my neck.
Naruko had already done considerably more than merely sleep with me. She was carrying my child.
Unfortunately, telling Sasuke about the pregnancy before he presented his gift seemed like an excellent way to undo several weeks of delicate mental healing.
Sasuke failed to notice everyone’s reaction. He stood with his arms crossed and an expression of absolute confidence.
“Naruko possesses more pride than that,” Sasuke continued. “She would never surrender herself to someone simply because he was powerful or attractive.”
No one corrected him.
Tsunade cleared her throat awkwardly and glanced at Rias.
“You have your work cut out for you with this one,” Tsunade said.
Rias released a quiet sigh, but her expression softened when she looked at Sasuke.
“Perhaps I do,” Rias replied. “However, both you and Sasuke are members of my peerage. That means all of us are family now. I am not giving up on either of you.”
Tsunade’s irritation faded slightly at the warmth in Rias’s voice.
Then Sasuke scoffed again.
Tsunade’s eye twitched.
“You should have chosen Naruto as your second Knight instead,” Tsunade grumbled.
“I can hear you,” Sasuke said coldly.
“That was intentional,” Tsunade replied.
Kiba looked between Sasuke and Tsunade before releasing a tired breath. “I am beginning to understand why Lady Rias asked me to come,” Kiba murmured.
Sasuke glared at his fellow Knight.
Kiba calmly returned the stare.
I checked the gifts inside my inventory one more time. Kushina’s white katana waited beside Naruko’s armor and spiked gloves, both sets gleaming with the White Wraith’s stolen power.
My heart pounded harder.
The jokes, arguments, and Sasuke’s inevitable emotional disaster could wait.
“I’ll send a message to Naruko and Kushina, telling them to come to the top of the Hokage monument.” Tsunade snapped her fingers and a messenger hawk flew in from the open window. She scribbled a note quickly, tied it to the bird's legs, and it took off back into the village.
– Kushina Uzumaki –
Inside her bedroom at the Uzumaki apartment, Kushina dragged a wide brush through the fur of her ninth tail.
She released a soft sigh as the bristles passed through the thick crimson fur. Grooming nine tails every morning was tedious, especially when she needed to reach the awkward places near their bases, but she could not deny how wonderful it felt. Every careful stroke sent pleasant tingles along her spine and made her fox ears twitch atop her head.
It was a small price to pay for finally becoming a nine-tailed fox yokai herself.
Kushina infinitely preferred this existence to being a jinchūriki with that disgusting, malicious fox sealed inside her. Kurama had been a constant weight inside her body, a monstrous presence forever waiting for her control to weaken.
The creature had killed this timeline’s version of her and left Naruto and Naruko to grow up as orphans.
That alone was enough to kill any sympathy Kushina might have possessed for it.
Her new tails belonged to her. Their power belonged to her. She was no longer a living prison for something that hated humanity.
Kushina gave her final tail several vigorous strokes until its fur puffed out magnificently behind her. She turned slightly, admiring all nine tails in the bedroom mirror.
They looked glorious.
Across the room, Naruko slipped into a tight red kimono. She drew the fabric up around her freshly showered body before wrapping it across her chest and waist. Her damp crimson hair hung down her back, brushing the bases of nine equally red fox tails.
Kushina watched her daughter with quiet pride.
Naruko had grown into an exceptionally beautiful young woman. People mistook them for twins constantly, especially now that they possessed the same fox ears, red hair, and nine fluffy tails. Kushina considered that an enormous compliment.
Naruko was less amused whenever someone assumed she was the older twin.
“Why is Tsunade summoning us to the top of the Hokage Monument?” Naruko asked. “And why did she specifically tell us to dress nicely?”
Kushina placed her brush on the dressing table and rose. She straightened her own kimono, smoothing the elegant fabric across her breasts and hips. “I have no idea,” Kushina replied. “She only told me that it was important and that we needed to arrive together.”
“That does not sound suspicious at all,” Naruko muttered.
“Tsunade enjoys being dramatic,” Kushina said. “Whatever she wants, she could probably have told us in her office.”
Naruko began wrapping a golden sash around her waist.
“Do not make that too tight around your stomach,” Kushina warned.
“I know, Mom,” Naruko said. Naruko loosened the sash slightly before resting one hand against her belly. There was no visible bump yet. Anyone looking at her would never guess that a new life was already growing inside her.
Kushina’s gaze softened. Her own hand drifted toward her stomach almost unconsciously. She was not showing either, but Haru’s child was there. The realization still made warmth rise through her chest and color spread across her cheeks.
Both she and Naruko were carrying Haru’s children at the same time.
Their situation was unconventional even by the increasingly absurd standards of their lives, but Kushina had stopped questioning it. Haru loved them. They loved him. Their children would grow up surrounded by an enormous family filled with people powerful enough to tear apart armies and protective enough to challenge gods.
Kushina could not imagine a safer family for any child.
“You are thinking about him again,” Naruko said.
“I am not,” Kushina replied immediately.
Naruko raised one eyebrow. “You are touching your stomach and blushing,” Naruko said.
Kushina lifted her chin with exaggerated dignity. “A pregnant woman is allowed to admire the father of her child,” Kushina declared.
Naruko’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “I did not say you weren’t allowed,” Naruko replied.
“Then stop looking so smug, Dattebane,” Kushina said.
Naruko laughed before turning toward the mirror. Kushina stepped behind her and gently adjusted the kimono’s collar, then straightened the golden sash. She carefully arranged Naruko’s damp hair so it fell neatly between her fox ears.
“There,” Kushina said. “Now you look presentable.”
“I looked presentable before,” Naruko protested.
“You looked like you wrapped yourself in the first kimono you found,” Kushina corrected.
“That was exactly what I did,” Naruko admitted.
Kushina moved beside her daughter and examined their reflections.
They had chosen similarly elegant kimonos without meaning to. Naruko’s was a rich crimson with golden flowers embroidered around the sleeves and hem. Kushina wore a darker red kimono decorated with pale swirling patterns resembling wind and falling leaves.
Their nine tails filled nearly the entire reflection behind them.
“If anyone calls us twins today, I am saying you are the older one,” Kushina teased.
“If anyone calls us twins today, I am telling them you are pregnant,” Naruko replied.
Kushina narrowed her eyes. “You would not dare,” Kushina said.
Naruko’s grin widened. “Try me,” Naruko replied.
Kushina hooked one arm through Naruko’s before her troublesome daughter could escape.
Together, the two redheaded fox women left the apartment and headed into the village.
Whatever Tsunade had planned, they would discover it soon enough.
Canon Omake: A Couple Hours Later…
– Rias Gremory –
Sasuke had taken Naruko’s rejection with considerably more grace than Rias had expected from her newest Knight.
Newly reincarnated Devils were often emotional. Their senses changed, their instincts sharpened, and demonic power had a tendency to amplify whatever feelings they already carried.
Sasuke had already been a brooding emotional disaster before Rias reincarnated him.
She had quietly prepared for several possible reactions. Those possibilities included Sasuke challenging Haru to a duel, activating his Susanoo in the middle of Konoha, or disappearing into the wilderness to stare dramatically at the moon for several days.
Instead, he had accepted Naruko’s answer.
He had not accepted it happily, but he had not attacked anyone either.
Rias considered that progress.
She knew Sasuke would remain difficult for a long time. He was stubborn, proud, and burdened by more trauma than most Devils accumulated over several centuries. Yet Rias could already feel herself becoming protective of him.
One day, she would love Sasuke the same way she loved Kiba—as an infuriating little brother who occasionally needed to be hugged and occasionally needed to be struck over the head.
At present, Kiba was handling the second responsibility.
Rias sat on a thick tree branch and watched her two Knights spar in the forest outside Konoha. Sasuke and Kiba crossed blades below her, moving quickly enough that an ordinary human would have struggled to follow them.
Their swords collided with a ringing crash.
The force shook the surrounding trees and sent several startled birds fleeing from the canopy.
Kiba twisted his wrist, redirecting Sasuke’s blade before driving one shoulder into his chest. Sasuke slid backward through the dirt, recovered instantly, and surged forward again.
This was not a serious fight. Neither Knight used demonic magic, special techniques, or their full speed. Kiba had suggested the spar so Sasuke could burn away some of his frustration without destroying anything important.
Rias thought it had been an excellent idea.
To Sasuke’s credit, his gift for Naruko had genuinely been impressive. Gemma had created a magnificent bō staff from the bones of the powerful monster Sasuke had hunted. The weapon was strong, light, and capable of channeling both chakra and demonic energy.
Naruko had admired it. She had still rejected him.
No gift could have changed that outcome. Naruko was deeply in love with Haru, carried his child, and had just accepted his proposal. Sasuke could have dragged a dead god into Konoha and offered Naruko a weapon carved from its spine, and she still would not have left Haru for him.
Kiba ducked beneath Sasuke’s blade and swept one leg toward his ankles. Sasuke jumped over the attack, twisted in midair, and brought his sword down with both hands.
Kiba caught the blow.
Another shock wave rushed through the forest. “You are taking today remarkably well,” Kiba said.
Sasuke pushed harder against Kiba’s blade. “I am sad that Naruko rejected me,” Sasuke replied with a scoff. “I will get over it.”
Kiba disengaged and stepped back before Sasuke could trap his sword. “That sounds unexpectedly mature,” Kiba said.
“I am not going to waste years pining after a girl who rejected me,” Sasuke declared. “I am not Naruto.”
Kiba raised an eyebrow. “What does Naruto have to do with this?” Kiba asked.
“He spent years chasing Sakura even though she loved me the entire time,” Sasuke explained.
Rias wisely remained silent. Sasuke’s statement contained so much outdated information that she did not know where to begin correcting him. Sakura Haruno was no longer pining after Sasuke. She had barely reacted when Tsunade brought his unconscious body back to Konoha. Ino had recovered from her childhood crush as well. If Haru showed Sakura the slightest genuine romantic interest, the pink-haired kunoichi would probably jump into his bed before he finished asking.
Rias tapped one finger against her chin. Sakura might make an excellent pawn. She possessed tremendous physical strength, advanced medical knowledge, and enough chakra control to become exceptionally powerful after reincarnation. Rias could already imagine how much stronger Sakura would become after receiving a Devil’s lifespan and magical enhancement.
However, Rias already had two shinobi in her peerage. Tsunade was her second Rook, while Sasuke was her newest Knight.
Did she truly need a third ninja?
Probably. Ninjas were extremely useful. Rias filed the thought away for later consideration. And cool…
Below her, Sasuke attacked again. Kiba met him directly, their blades striking so rapidly that individual impacts merged into a continuous metallic roar.
Neither of them used supernatural techniques, but both were breathing heavily by the time their exchange ended.
Kiba knocked Sasuke’s sword aside and stopped his own blade an inch from Sasuke’s throat.
Sasuke’s weapon rested just as close to Kiba’s ribs.
For several seconds, neither Knight moved.
“I believe that makes this a draw,” Kiba said between breaths.
“I would have won if we were using our full abilities,” Sasuke replied.
“You said that after our last three draws,” Kiba said.
“It was true every time,” Sasuke insisted.
Rias could no longer contain herself. Her Devil wings erupted from her back. She launched herself from the tree and flew toward both young men before either could react. “I am so proud of you!” Rias exclaimed.
She struck them with a flying hug, wrapping one arm around each Knight as her momentum nearly knocked all three of them into the dirt.
Kiba stumbled sideways.
Sasuke made a strangled sound as Rias crushed him against her chest.
“You handled Naruko’s answer so maturely,” Rias continued. “I also heard you killed an enormous lightning dragon by yourself. That was incredibly cool!”
“It was not technically a dragon,” Sasuke corrected.
“It flew, breathed lightning, and was enormous,” Rias replied. “That is close enough.”
“Lady Rias, we are both covered in sweat,” Kiba protested.
“I do not care,” Rias said. She squeezed them tighter.
Kiba sighed with the long-suffering patience of someone accustomed to Rias’s affection. Sasuke initially remained stiff in her embrace, clearly uncertain how to respond.
Then Rias saw it.
The brooding expression faded from Sasuke’s face, replaced by the smallest hint of a smile.
It only lasted a moment, but it was real.
Rias smiled brightly and held both of her Knights closer.
Sasuke would be all right.
He was difficult, dramatic, and emotionally constipated, but he was part of her family now. Rias would make certain he understood that eventually.
XXX
A/N: Sasuke will be alright…