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Sketch Theme - Halloween - Demon Harem 05- Kushina
🕑 Added 2021-10-14 01:23:13 +0000 UTCNaruto awoke the next morning with Hinata and Naruko in his bed; he felt tired and sore still from his little scuffle with the fox princess, but with all of his injuries healed he wondered what he would become.
Seeing Naruko, and the fox demon guards, he wondered if in time his appearance would change so drastically.
He looked to Naruko and moved the bangs from the side of her head, looking for rounded ears, but found none, and then touched his own.
He couldn’t imagine not having them on the side of his head and big pointy ears instead.
Nor could he imagine having tails, like the ones that wrapped around him and his...
sister... he had a sister, a family; he didn’t care that it was royal, but the idea that he wasn’t an orphan any more filed him with joy, and yet, he felt himself cry a little.
He got up, leaving the two girls asleep, and moved to the balcony outside his window to get some air.
He looked out over the city, seeing flying succubus going about their business amongst the tall building, and the mansions that gapped between the palace and the tall city buildings, and he began to wonder what the Fox capital was like; what were the people like? HIS people.
He had heard a little about them from Hinata; A warrior race mostly; they were also tricksters, playful sometimes; spies, and infiltrators; their women were often used as hostess bodyguards, acting demure and innocent when hanging upon their clients arms, but at a moment’s notice could turn deadly.
Fox demons were often sought for this kind of work, as bodyguards, and gladiatorial work.
But, unlike the succubus, they had no large industry, or export.
“Are you okay?” came a soft voice.
Naruto turned to see Naruko approach and stand beside him.
“Just thinking.” He replied. “I know so little... I... have so many questions.”
“About your people?” she asked.
“Definitely... I’m wondering a lot about... well everything.” He sighed. “But... that’s not really what I want to ask about...”
“Then what is it you want to know?” she asked.
“Why... why was I in my worl... the human world?” He asked, catching himself on what should now be the new normal for him; THIS was his world, his home. Though would he ever return to the world that raised him?
Naruko looked out over the city and Naruto could see the sadness in her face, but before he could say something, she spoke up.
“I know only what I was told.” She said. “Mother... doesn’t speak of it herself; the... pain is often too much for her.” Her tone was soft and sad. “Father... also never speaks of it. But I managed to get one of the court tutors to tell me.” He took a breath and continued. “A tribe of wandered Orcs had entered our borders, pillaging several border villages quite quickly. By the time the local clan made a move, the orcs had settled in to a defensive position. They were like a plague, spreading through the lower plains, encroaching closer to under-lands of our home.”
“Under-lands?” Naruto interrupted.
“That’s what we call the area beneath our island.” Naruko answered “We leave them wild, as they make good hunting grounds.” She added before resuming her story. “Men were rarely found alive, or uninjured, and many of our women were disgraced in their defeat. Grandmother, Queen Kurama grew angry at the dishonourable way the Orcs treated our kin, like cattle and weak whores, and thus sent our best warriors, mother included, to attack them.” Naruko smiled a little at the next part. “And it was apparently a glorious, hard fought battle. We lost several of our warriors, but the orcs were decimated.” She again looked out over the city. “They showed mercy to those who cowered. But it was a mistake, the leader would return to seek revenge for the death of his son, whose head had been removed by our mother.”
“Taking me to the human world doesn’t sound like the revenge of a brute though.” Naruto stated, confused.
“No, it doesn’t.” she said, “Which makes this a mystery. Because, we believed you dead; Mother came home one night to find a servant dead, his head removed, and our crib empty.”
“OUR crib?” Naruto blinked.
Naruko giggled. “Right... we’re twins.” She revealed. “I’m of course the elder twin.” She grinned.
Naruto chuckled. “How come you weren’t taken as well then?”
“Chance.” She said, sadly. “Luck... a choice made in the moment by our nanny.” It seemed that fact had bothered her ever since she learnt of it. “She had heard the orcs attacking, and with little time, knew she could only save one of us... she managed to grab me as the orcs burst in. She would be found on the steps of the palace, with an orc throwing axe buried in her shoulder, and several other wounds gained from a struggle, all the while keeping me safe.” Naruko thought of her nanny fondly. “She always felt guilty about abandoning you to fate, and even though she lost the use of her arm from the shoulder injury, she remained in our service, caring for me until I came of age to enter the academy. Mother...” She paused again. “...other scoured the land, tracking the orcs from the city in to wild country, until she found the orc chief, who confessed to throwing you in the great chasm.”
“Great chasm; sounds ominous.” Naruto chuckled a little awkwardly, only to get a sharp glare from Naruko.
“It’s not funny! It is an abyss, filled with dark creatures that think only of feeding; mindless devils, and beings so filled with evil they would feast on a child for its flesh without a second thought!” she growled.
Naruto gasped, and Naruko looked away, and sighed. “So either he was lying or... somehow you survived, and ended up in the human world.”
“The book...” he then muttered.
“Book? What book?” Naruko raised an eyebrow.
“Umm... I was found with a book, apparently... It’s actually how I summoned Hinata to my room.” He said.
“Of course... you summoned a Succubus! You pervert.” She pouted, making Naruto blush.
“I... didn’t do it on purpose!” she said, blushing. “But, that’s not the point, Queen Hitomi called it the... umm... Demonomocron.”
Upon hearing that word Naruko froze.
“You lie...” she stated with a nervous, disbelieving tone. “That book...”
“Queen Hitomi said it was some magic tome.” He said, not really expressing the true meaning of what it meant.
“Some... TOME!” Naruko growled. “That book is a nexus of our world!”
“Uhhh....” Naruto blinked, confused.
“It not only holds knowledge of this world’s magical system, but it holds magical spells of the highest levels, many of which are long lost!” she growled, angry. “And you let the succubus take it!!”
“Well...” was all he said before Naruko threw her hands up in the air and yelled out.
“How could you let such a powerful book fall in to the hands of these nymphos? Who knows what they will do with it! It needs to be locked in a vault and guarded by the most powerful warriors and sorcerers we have!” she groaned again, as Naruto could see she was practically panicking.
“And if the Uchiha get their hands on it, it would definitely tip the balance of power!”
“Wouldn’t the foxes use it?” he asked.
“No way! We foxes no the dangers of such an item!” she said. “The queens Grandfather himself attempted to destroy it 500 years ago just prior to the great unification, and in the process lost all his power.” She grumbled. “It was such a waste, it seems, if it still exists. Now we have to get it away from the succubus, even if it causes an incident between our...”
She stopped as Naruto held up the book.
“Wait... you have it?!” he blinked, feeling a little embarrassed for assuming it had been given away.
“Yeah, it’s pretty strange, if someone tries to keep it from me, it just appears next me at some point.” He said. “And if I really want it, I just seem to find myself holding it.”
“That’s crazy...” she blinked, but pleased.
After that, Naruko began making plans about getting the book home as well as Naruto.
During breakfast the conversation continued, Naruko explaining their journey home. It would take four days to travel on dragon-back, but she would also be teaching Naruto some more things about not just his heritage, but some of the essential skills one of their kind should have.
Queen Hitomi was pleased that Naruto would be returning to his birthplace, and that she would miss her daughter Hinata.
This confused them for a moment, until Hitomi explained that Naruto has a contract with Hinata, and they are bound to each other.
Naruko tried to argue it, but Naruto seemed pleased that Hinata would be joining them.
Naruto had little to pack; only what he had brought with him, and what he had been gifted during his time in the succubus city.
What was awkward was the dragon riding. These weren’t the winged type, but the horse proxy kind that he had seen the succubus guards riding.
He had never rode a horse before, let alone a dragon; though he had to admit it was closer to a velociraptor with a dragon head, as it used two larger hind legs to run, and walked on all four, when slow, and boy did it go, surging forward to its top speed within seconds.
Hinata rode with him, side saddle, and arms wrapped around; which he enjoyed, feeling her pressed to his back.
They travelled for hours, and Naruto unused to such a long journey, let alone on a saddle ached all over, which amused the Fox guards, calling him a soft kit.
He felt ashamed, and Naruko sympathised, but said nothing openly in front of the group, defending any insult, and tease would only have made it worse.
Hinata comforted him, massaged his back in their tent, before Naruko joined them, not only to be with her brother, but also to talk more; and informed him that this night would be the only night he could rest that early.
Naruto really didn’t want to, but Naruko pressed him to learn about acting like a fox demon before they arrived, more so for the benefit of their mother, and not to disgrace the reputation of the family.
Leeway may be given due to his circumstance, but as he is, he would be seen as nothing more than a child, as children aged only four had more skills and power than him.
She tried not to pass judgement on him again, like she had at their meeting, but it was a hard truth he had to hear. He was a Kitsune, and there were certain expectations. Even if he could meet the average skills of a non-warrior, it would be enough to be considered acceptable in light of his human world upbringing.
Naruto pondered this while the two girls slept either side of him; which considering they were both naked, proved how much it bothered him, and what he had to do.
When morning broke, there was a determination in Naruto they had not seen the night before, and as they rode, Naruto plagued Naruko with questions on the most basic of things; she had little patience and got frustrated several times, riding ahead just to calm down, but this left Naruto to think, and practice, accessing his demon energy.
Hinata tried to help too, but admitted, that magic differed for them; her own relied on certain emotions to access, and she wasn’t that efficient at doing so, given her innate shyness.
By the second nights camp, Naruto had still not managed even draw out the smallest of energy, even as he tried late in to the night, and getting little sleep.
Still, he was intent on learning all he could.
Naruko told him many things, spells, energy based skill enhancements and attacks.
It was all theory, and Naruto found it hard to understand still; and the worst part was he could do nothing to practice this new knowledge until he could use access the energy he knew he had inside of him.
Four tails; the words rang through his head from what Naruko had said, it was more than she had naturally, though she could conjure a fourth in dire circumstances, and like him, would leave her exhausted after only a short burst; and he had done the same, somehow; if only he could remember.
The voice he vaguely recalled was feminine, and had an air of authority to it. A voice that felt familiar somehow and he wondered about telling Naruko, but ‘hey, I heard a voice in my head’ sounded so weird out loud he thought and never mentioned it.
The third day of travelling, and they had reached the fox territory, and Naruto got a look at the first villages, filled with foxes of all ages, and more casually.
Almost every fox had one tail, and reminded him of just how different he was, despite being one of them.
When they stopped to refresh their dragon steeds, Naruto went for a short walk, slipping away unnoticed.
Hinata had been surrounded by some young men, having never seen a succubus up close, and some even offering to pay her for her services.
She kindly rejected them, saying she was contracted at the moment; which was really an excuse, as she would only need permission from Naruto, but she didn’t want to mention that.
By the time they had dispersed, Naruto had vanished.
He had walked ahead about a mile, just looking around, when he saw a group of kitsune children were playing, and it made him smile, thinking how that could have been him, if he had not been taken.
His thoughts were interrupted though when one of the children got knocked over, and after crying for a moment, got angry at the boy who teased him for falling, and energy erupted out around him, scaring the others for a moment until he calmed down, and apologised.
None of them had run away, so it appeared like a common occurrence, and his control was quickly regained, though it took effort.
An idea formed in his head, and he realised something... he was trying to force the energy out. All the techniques he had been taught to control the energy were based on him already having experienced the feeling of drawing out energy.
He continued to walk, this time faster, and further away from the village, his mind running over the new ideas he was having.
He reached a clear area, not wanting anyone to see him, in case he looked strange, and he sat down, closing his eyes and breathing.
He searched his emotions, bringing up memories that affected him in various ways, and to varying degrees.
He recalled a fight he had been in as a child, younger than the ones he had just seen playing; three boys mocking the scars on his cheek, nothing new, and his foster parents had been sending him to anger management at the time, but this time had been different, he had been teased and pushed, and he had felt something rising inside of him at the time that scared him.
It was a sensation he had forgotten about over the years, but focusing on the memory now, perhaps because of seeing the boy’s reaction, being similar to his own, it was clear.
Had he not calmed himself down at the time, would he have erupted too? Would his demonic self have come to light then, at that age?
He felt a little annoyance at that revelation, and played the moment over and over in his head, imagining the scenario as if it was happening in real time, analysing every word, every action to replicate how he felt, and manipulating the memory in to a conscious dream, where he never calmed down, where he let his anger spill over.
Naruko and the guards had finally tracked him down, and saw him in the distance as they rushed over.
Naruko was ready to hit him, and shout at him for wandering off alone in a country he knew nothing about, but seeing him sat, silent, and eyes closed, got her curious, and the closer she got, the more hesitant the whole group got, except for Hinata.
One of the guards finally stopped, he looked nervous, and hesitated to go closer. His one tail stiffened, alert to the danger he was approaching, the others tensed up too.
Naruko could feel it, and was pleased, that there was finally some energy coming from Naruto... but at the distance they stood, it shouldn’t have reached them as strongly as it was.
“Naruto...” She called out, stopping.
“Naruko, what...” Hinata asked, concerned.
“You might want to get back...” Naruko advised.
Naruto’s tear filed eyes opened, and they were red and slitted, he growled a little, and energy burst out from him like a small explosion, sending dust out in all directions.
When it settled, the group were met by a standing Naruto, two tails waving behind him, energy surrounding his body, but a wild look in his eyes.
“Oh crap!” Naruko said, bringing out her own energy and running at him. “CALM DOWN!” she cried.
She had wanted him to bring out his energy, but for a novice to release this much was dangerous.
She grappled him, and he grabbed her, slamming her to the ground with a heavy impact, the two still gripping the other as they began to roll around on the ground trying to get the upper hand.
“Naruto... you have to get control, focus through it, don’t let it control you, YOU control IT!” she cried, trying to get through his current state.
But he seemed unresponsive. If this had been a child she would have simply over powered him, but Naruto was a near adult, expressing more energy than any novice child!
She wondered if she had made a mistake in trying to teach someone of his age what should have been learnt during weaker formative years!
She feared she would have to really hurt him to stop him if he didn’t listen to...
Hinata leapt in, and tackled Naruto, and rolled with him across the ground.
Naruko looked over worried that she would be killed in his state, only for her expression to deadpan as Naruto’s energy dove to nothing; Hinata on top of him, with his face buried in her chest, his body reverted back to his normal.
There was silence for a moment, before the fox guards all burst out laughing, one saying “Well, that’s one way to do it.”
Naruto tapped her should and said “Thanks Hinata.” His voice muffled by her cleavage. “But I can’t breathe.”
Hinata’s face went red; she had just acted on instinct, not sure what she would do after getting him off of Naruko. “She didn’t expect to ‘fix him’.
Naruko blushed too, embarrassed at the lewd way he was saved... and a little jealous that she hadn’t thought of it, considering she was on top of him several times in the scuffle.
Naruto was exhausted afterwards, and after a stern talking to about wandering off, he napped on the dragon steed, held up by Hinata.
He awoke when they stopped to camp, but he was still tired physically, though mentally, he went over everything he could, to keep it fresh in his head. How it felt to trigger it, how it waved through him, and overpowered him.
The last day they saw the Fox kingdom island in the distance, first it looked like a far mountain range, and the pillars began to appear as it rose up off of the horizon, they would reach the foot of it by night fall, and the next day, they would climb the great pathway.
Unlike the succubus elevator, the fox kingdom built a winding road all the way up the central pillar.
Naruto couldn’t wait to see it, but his enthusiasm would have to wait as he practiced drawing out a touch of energy, using the exercises Naruto had taught him; now that he had a feel for his energy, he progressed much faster, mastering the most basic techniques by midday.
One guard joked that he finally stopped being a baby, but he wasn’t a man yet; something Naruto found more of a friendly jab than an insult, now that he was making progress.
They stopped a little earlier than usual, being told that camping inside the Under-Lands was dangerous enough for an alert hunting group, but with the inexperienced Hinata and Naruto, it was just safer to camp outside and make the journey in the morning.
Naruto didn’t relax though, and continued to practice; the idea of magic and energy skills had fascinated him before, but now he was learning to utilize it consciously, not like he had by instinct during his sparring with Naruko.
Naruko stuck beside him as she saw it as light exercise, and teaching him if he had questions; and by the time he decided to sleep, he had fully utilized his energise to enhance his body for speed, strength, and even his sight, his eyes transforming from the blue of his father, he found out, to red when he enhanced his vision.
He discovered most the physical changes become permanent as the demonic energy saturates his body over time. Normally this effect would occur over a year, growing a small tail, or ears.
There is a time for some children, when they have two sets of ears, and can be quite irritating. Naruko had to wear earmuffs for a month until she either could control the transformation and revert, or go all the way, both of which took constant concentration at this transition point... or earmuffs on her ‘human ears’. She admitted she looked ridiculous for three weeks until the saturation full took.
Naruto found it amusing, and wondered if it was akin to wear braces for a girl; though he couldn’t be sure.
The final night came to an end, and they made an early start.
The road that wrapped around the central pillar was hundreds of levels of pillars that rose up diagonally, each arch slightly higher than the previous before it, an endless ribbon of them that rose up out of sight.
Unlike the succubus under-land, the road to the center was long, straight, and had nothing but woodland either side. It wasn’t until they reached the pillar base, that any sign of civilization existed. It was like a military base that circled the entire pillar, a gate at each direction, and scattered around were fox demons training, both men and women sparring, practicing, and exercising.
The group was mostly ignored, except for some commander who welcomed Naruko home, calling her ‘princess’; Naruto had almost forgotten she was royal, as the guards had referred to her as ma’am or commander on their travels, during camp at night, when they would all drink, and talk, they were more casual, calling her Ruko, or whippy; a nickname she had refused to explain, but he later found out it was because of her pigtails when she was in training, that had gotten wet, and when she turned too fast one time, they slapped her training officer like a whip.
It embarrassed her enough when he found out she had gone pouty for a couple of hours, refusing to acknowledge him.
The steeds couldn’t move as fast as they had done, due to safety reasons, such as slipping and plummeting to death, or sliding all the way back down if they began to roll and couldn’t stop.
So Naruto decided to walk the entire several miles of road so he could look through the pillars easier and out across the under-land and beyond.
It was certainly less claustrophobic than the succubus elevator, though definitely a harder journey up.
They passed a few others heading down, as well as traders on their way up, moving slower, on the incline, as they pulled a heavy wagon.
When they reached the ‘ceiling’ they entered a tunnel that veered straight but on the same inclination until they came out at the end and straight in to a town.
It was busy and Naruko seemed pleased to be home. Stabling the dragon steeds they all walked through town, and out in to a country side portion, with a city ahead of them. Nothing with sky reaching buildings, but a blanket of shorter buildings, which reminded him of something more ancient Greek in style.
The palace was huge, temple like, and colourful, and when they entered they were greeted by several servants who began to take their things, and at Naruko’s orders to place Naruto’s and Hinata’s belongings with hers for now.
And once gone, they entered the main hall; Naruko had told him beforehand that the hall would be filled with clan leaders, and envoys, and to be careful, as the Clan alliance could be fickle amongst the leaders, who all wanted to be treated as royally as Queen Kurama, despite being under her.
Naruto was nervous, and walked behind Naruko, as everyone quietly looked at the group, who approached the throne.
Was this Queen Kurama, he wondered. She wore armour, and had long red hair, and he had to admit, she was beautiful for someone Naruko said was so old.
“Mother?!” Naruko gasped upon looking at the throne. “W-Where is... her majesty.” She caught herself being too casual in her surprised.
But, she was not as surprised as Naruto... his was his mother?!
He felt like running up and hugging her, but quickly stopped himself, unsure of what to expect.
She looked down at them and stood.
“The queen had other business to attend to, I have been acting as proxy.” She said, “Where have you been? I was not informed of your mi...” Kushina paused as her eyes lay upon Naruto, and he visibly tensed for a moment. “...Your... mission.” She finished.
“The Queen had little time to act on information that had been sent us from the Succubus Queen.” Naruko replied, like a subordinate giving a report. “This lady here is the queen’s daughter, Hinata, contracted to...”
“Who is this young man?” Kushina interrupted with a stern look to Naruto, as if ordering him to answer instead of Naruko.
“I...“ he said, before clearing his throat, and giving her a bow, respectfully, like Naruko had done. “I am... n-Naruto.” His voice failing him in the moment, as he wanted to scream ‘I’m your son, mom.’. But he was too Nervous to do it.
She glared at him, and pulled a blade from a sheath on her back. “I am not someone you wish to anger.” She growled. “So be careful of your words.”
There was some hurt in her eyes; hope, and denial.
“Mother... Princess Kushina.” Naruko said, stepping up to and between her mother and brother. “It is... hard to understand... but... but this is my Brother... your son, back from banishment to the human world.”
The words hit Kushina like a slap to the face. “no... My son is dead.” She stated, coldly, though with audible pain in the tone. “He was thrown to the great chasm... so he cannot be...”
“He is fox, like us, his appearance, mother, does he not look like Father?” Naruko spoke, trying to shout, but still plead with her.
Kushina looked him over, and stepped closer.
For several silent moments Naruto tensed, wanting to cry out that he was her son, and to embrace the mother he had never known for the first time in his memory, and it pained him to consider she may reject him.
“Come with me...” she then said turning to leave, and announcing “Court is dismissed until tomorrow.” Getting some groans from some of the clan heads who had yet to have an audience and settle their disputes.
Once they left the hall out a rear door, and in a more comfortable room, Kushina removed her helmet and turned to Naruto.
“Forgive my tone before...” she said with her back to him, but her voice softer. “Let us speak casually.”
She turned, and her face looked distressed. “You say you are my son? My dead baby Naruto?”
Naruto looked heartbroken at the pain in her face that she was trying to hold back. “I... Yes.” Was all he could say? “I don’t know... how or why I was in the human world, but... until two weeks ago, I was an orphan and ignorant of this world even existing, but...” and a few tears began to run down his cheek. “I have been told I am your son.”
Kushina looked to him, and after a few hesitant moments, she moved in, and embraced him, tears of her own falling.
