AzureKing: Whoo sorry for the late update, this pendemic has been going bad on my mental health. My old man is one of those super careful guys and his words and fears is bringing my mood down. I'll do my best to send out stories as we all need breaks to enjoy from the hard times of the world. So do me a favor and leave reviews as it motivates me to make more as well. This chapter shows the realtionships for Naruto and his friends in the Artemis Familia so I hope you guys like it.

CHAPTER START~!

Artemis glared into a closed box that can fit a human being inside, "…" the beautiful woman closed it gently softly muttering. "I pray they listen to me." This wasn't what she had in mind. Not in a million years would she think that it would come to this.

"Hey, Artemis can I come in now?"

The woman wondered if it was too late to stuff Naruto into the box along with what it was stored in, "Yes… come in." She said as she tucked the box away under a secret compartment. Naruto then walked into the room as soon as she put the box away.

"Are you sure, you don't want me to bury it ten feet and seal it?" Naruto asked walking towards the object and began to take out an inkstone and brush, then applied it to make some restriction seals.

"NO!" Artemis suddenly snapped, causing Naruto to jump. She then composed herself, clearing her throat, "Er-hem, no, that won't be necessary." She answered calmly, "Either way, we have to make sure the rest knows what happened. So no others would feel what Angra did." She explained, trying her best to not show her anger to Naruto.

Naruto could only frown at her answer before shrugging it off. "Okay, whatever you say. Anything else we should do then?"

"No… out." she bluntly pointed to the open doorway as soon as Naruto was finished applying the details to the seal.

"Fine, I'll just run on water!" Naruto spouted/poured back at her, making the moon goddess roll her eyes. As if anyone can really do that, not even Gods...

XXXXXXXXXX

"He's really doing it…" Emma's jaw went slack when watching Naruto running so fast that his arms and legs were a blur, as he barely made a yard before running out of steam, swiftly dropping into the water. The young woman witnessed Naruto swimming towards her and smiled, "Ok you can walk on water!" She laughed as the teen swam towards her.

"Told ya…" Naruto said, pulling himself out of the lake, shaking his head to get rid of the water off his hair. As Emma blushed on how alluring the act was.

"You're really something, aren't you?" Emma mumbled as she tried to look away from the boy, but it was hard not to.

"Not really, my teachers were hard on me," Naruto explained, remembering that even though he was determined to kill Thomas… Phantom, he wasn't even close enough to use a sword right. Some traveling adventurers were able to give the basics and the rest was him getting used to fighting with his usual style. "And I had to keep this body able to go through anything."

The girl turned even redder when some of her thoughts turned naughty when his words could mean something else, "Is that so…?"

"Yeah. What do you think I meant?" Naruto raised a brow. Emma panicked, trying to come up with an answer, but nothing came out of her mouth.

"NOTHING!" She shouted comically before shaking her head. "So it's been nearly a month since that… blood guy attacked." She said, looking back to see the forest where there have been officially a pair of watchers on lookout ever since the attack happened. "It's weird that we've been on edge, nothing like this has ever happened in all the time we all came here."

"Sorry about that." Naruto apologized knowing it was his fault that the odd man was no doubt hunting him for Phantom. Although Emma often assured him that the killer was after her as well.

"N-No, no, it's not your fault," Emma tried to assure the young man.

"It is. I put all of you in danger." Naruto retorted, knowing that the blood sucker was more after Naruto after confirming he was around. "Anyway, what's going on with the vault?" Naruto asked, pointing to where the captain and vice captain of the familia were having a few girls overhauling large boxes of magic shards into a horse drawn wagon.

"It's time for the monthly deposit," Emma smiled widely, "We must have made double since we couldn't go last month due to Artemis locking us down."

Naruto nodded to that logic. It wouldn't be a good idea, even though everyone was physically okay after he brutally cut Peta in half. Speaking of which, he looked at the mountains nearby seeing some of the girls also stationed there as another means of recon. "So you guys are heading to Orario then?"

The rookie of the team nodded, "Yeah. It's the closest and Lady Artemis has an important task back there as well." Emma said standing up, "Well I need to get ready, I'm going with them too."

Naruto nodded until they saw Sophia coming towards them. "Naruto-kun?" She asked in her usually airy like tone, "Do you want to come?"

"Huh? What do you mean, onee-sama, I thought it was the captain who takes you and Lady Artemis to the city?" Emma turned to ask her sister who pointed the nearby Captain of the familia to the Goddess platform where she was speaking to the blue haired deity.

Sophia merely yawned as she continued, "Another new rule, captain has to stay here and I go to the city. Can't afford to waste power by taking the two strongest members away at the same time."

"Wait, seriously?" Emma raised an eyebrow. "When was this?"

"Guessing when I killed Peta…" Naruto drew out with a chuckle. "But why ask me?"

"Lady Artemis wanted to ask but said the second those words left her mouth, 'I would rather stab my tongue…'" Sophia said with almost perfect match to her goddess mannerisms.

"Uh-huh. That sounds about right." Naruto nodded in slight deadpan. "Well, whatever. Let her do what she wants. I guess I could tag along with you girls. Just in case."

"Great, so it would be me, Emma, Naruto, Lady Artemis, Karen, Oriana, Love, and Gita." Sophia listed out the members as Emma realized the big group than the usual three or four means that strength in numbers for Peta's little group attacking her or Naruto. "Like you said, Naruto-kun. Just in case."

"Right. Just in case."

XXXXXXXXXX

ON THE ROAD

XXXXXXXXXX

"So you've been to the city before coming here right?" Karen asked as she and Naruto were behind the large cart that held their double amount of Magic stones to sell to the city.

"Yeah, I've been there every now and then." Naruto shrugged.

The girl nodded to Naruto's words, "I see, I really haven't been there in a while, so I wasn't really able to stay longer than a few days for new equipment."

"Well, now that we got plenty of stock in Magic stones, you might just stay longer." Naruto said. "Besides, a change in scenery would do good for the both of us."

"Right, usually the girls who can join the captain and Sophia had to be the person to run errands for the whole family. From clothes to new adventure equipment," Karen deadpanned with a weak smile. "That was the worst job as you don't have time to shop for yourself when it happens."

"Yikes, that bad huh?" Naruto winced a bit. They can't even buy the essentials for themselves? Just what kind of budget were they on?

"No, not that bad…" Karen stated, "I mean that Artemis doesn't want us to stay longer than we should. Cause… you know… men?"

"Right, her hatred for men." Naruto sighed, being reminded that the girl just outright hates the opposite sex for whatever reason she could think of.

"Apparently her hatred stem from when she, her sisters, and an old friend-" As Karen said that Naruto immediately knew it was Anri/Angra Mainyu she meant by, "Were enjoying a nice bath… until God's and the one person she had a small crush on, peeped on her… which led to-"

Raising a hand, Naruto gave a deadpan look, "Say no more… goddamn it, that sounds like my Godfather would have done."

"Your Godfather?"

"Yeah, his name's Jiraiya. Though I call him Pervy Sage. He may be a badass at everything, but he hits on the beautiful woman all the time." Naruto explained, remembering those days. "The guy just wouldn't stop. So much, I had to keep beating the crap out of him, and even that wasn't enough."

"So… what did you do?" Karen asked.

"Well I introduced him to my friend… when I told her about him beforehand, she summoned a hellhound to attack him… or more specifically… his junk!" He said laughing at the sight of a white haired old man running back and forth with a small fire puppy chasing him.

"Hahaha that's… wait, A HELLHOUND!?" Karen screamed but covered her mouth as they were still outside meaning monsters could hear them. "Are you serious?"

"Plain as day." Naruto shrugged. "And that got him to change his ways after the incident. He won't be some damn pervy old man hitting on the ladies anymore."

But that made Karen laugh, it made her look at him oddly, "You do realize summon magic is almost Level 5 for the top tier members of the magic users right? Even our Captain is level Four, nearly earning fifth from just her experience leveling the playing field against others."

…

"Level what?" Naruto asked as Karen nearly tripped over herself at the idea of Naruto not knowing that. "Guys! Can we take a small break?"

Emma and Artemis head poke out from the back of the cart, before the blue haired woman nodded, as the group decided that it was a good stopping point here. Thankfully, they were resting at a nearby lake, so it was a good idea to resupply for the time being.

XXXXXXXXXX

"So you really don't know about levels?" Emma asked as she saw Naruto broke some kind of brown bar into a pot of food he was making.

"Nope! Not a clue!" Naruto answered them. All the girls sweat dropped at this. This was gonna take a while to explain.

"It would make sense, given Anri's situation…" Artemis whispers to herself giving Naruto a nod of understanding. "Emma would be so kind and tell him?"

The pink haired girl nodded, "in every familia there is a system to tell who is the strongest and weakest, new and veterans. Levels, tells everyone in the familia where they are, nothing bad...depending on the familia you are in."

"Some like mine or even...my younger brother…" Artemis gave a sneer of both disgust and pity when saying her siblings name. "Only use it for just that, to keep the children we have understood their strength. Some have more darker ways to use it or some like businesses to show who is the best at their job. Most of the city of Orario are Level 1, but my girls have at least two with the exception of two others as they joined recently."

"So, it pretty much is a requirement for being an Adventurer?" Naruto tilted his head, "So what level am I?"

"That's going to be hard," Artemis truthfully responded, "As you need a Goddess blood to check your status, but I won't be able to thoroughly check it until you are part of familia. The best I can do is just see some basic stats."

"Then don't worry, so leveling up means beating monsters?" Naruto asked as Sophia handed him some… crudely chop veggies… thank god it was okay for this dish.

"No, you have to at least have a skill and also show something that the Gods are impressed. At least a total of three in Orario or if you live close to it, before you can level up." Sophia said, watching Naruto stir in her chop veggies into the pot. She started to drool as the smell coming from it was exotic and wonderful.

"Ehh? That's not fair…" Naruto whined before slapping a sneaky hand from Sophia from touching the pot.

"But it shows that many who are still Level 1, aren't really worthy of moving up. Many believe they deserve a rank rather than doing something about it." Karen said entering the group, they had to switch familia members every half hour to watch the cart from the inside. And now it was for Oriana to take over, and learn from her what they were talking about.

"Nothing is ever easy, is it." Naruto sighed.

"Giving up so soon?" Emma smiled as Naruto shrugged and smiled at her. "At least I'm a Level Three~"

THUD~

Naruto dropped his knife loudly, as it nearly went all in the makeshift table he was using, IE a stump nearby, "I thought you were a rookie!"

Sophia shook her head, "She technically joined a few months before you helped us, but I have been training her since I joined the familia. She has done amazing stuff before you came and earned her status fairly." She said absentmindedly not knowing Naruto just felt like he was left in the dust.

Naruto's jaw dropped at that. He just couldn't believe it. "I've been lied to! It's all a lie!"

"Shut up and cook…" Artemis rolled her eyes...before looking at him, "Wait, I've been meaning to ask. How did you learn to fight like that, the night with that vampire man?"

Naruto's hands went stiff when hearing her say that, "...It's a long story," He offered as the Goddess didn't seem to like her. He turned to the daze girl, "Keep stirring this until you feel it's getting too thick to do it."

"Hai~" She said, doing what Naruto told her to do, as he went to the campfire that Karen just started, taking a seat.

"Alright, gather round. I'll tell you the story."

"Oh good, a tale of bloated egotism." Artemis said but noticed Naruto's serious look, nothing but a far off look.

"I guess… to me, learning this wasn't about power. At least for my sake, it was for revenge...against Phantom." Naruto remembered the name that Peta said… that name the blood drinker said as if it was someone to admire.

"Phantom…" Emma muttered to herself. "What was this… Phantom like?"

"I don't really know… he likes me. I can never forget how he genuinely seemed kind to me. Like an older brother trying to protect his younger kin." Naruto said, remembering how Phantom tried to appeal to him both when trying to adopt him and convincing him to join him. It was so odd to hate someone who actually wanted to like that person...but his true nature, Phantoms darkness. "He hates anything weak and the Gods… he believes those weak are to parish, at least to my understanding. The fact he wanted me and Ems…" Naruto said as 'Ems' was nicknamed that Emma adores hearing from him. "He sees potential in our growth. But he wasn't all talk, I could tell even now… no one can reach his power."

"That's unsettling…" Love said, Naruto turned to her. She was one of the few members of the Familia he had met a lot during his extended time living with them. Love has red eyes and long pale pink hair along with cat ears and tail of the same color. She wears a red open stomach dress with gold edges, a purple bikini top and bottom, purple gloves, and red leggings with gold edges. She is the most social person of the group, always being a playful girl to those she meets, which is why she and Naruto got along well.

"You have no idea what he's truly capable of." Naruto said, as the girl all looked at each other. Was this Phantom person really that powerful?

"It sounds too good to be true." Artemis crossed her arms in suspicion.

"It didn't matter, I met someone as strong as him… she was one who taught me that power wasn't just the only way to fight." He said, throwing a piece of wood into the fire. "Although I only used this to keep my other means of fighting as a last resort."

"How come?" Sophia inquired about the boy.

"Can't be sure, Phantom is watching me from somewhere." Naruto said with a glare.

"Wait, you mean now?" Emma asked, as she looked around wildly.

He shakes his head, "A precaution if anything, I need every advantage possible. How's the curry coming Sophia?" Naruto asked Sophia now using both hands to stir the pot.

"Oh, it's just about done." Sophia said as she stirred more of the pot. After about half a minute, she grabbed several plates and served the curry along with rice that was also piping hot. "Here you go, everyone. Eat up." She smiled, handing each of them a plate.

"Okay, I'll bite… the hell is curry?" Love said her nose wrinkling at the smell.

Sophia looked rather appalled. "You don't know what curry is?"

"You do, spacecase?" Karen deadpan, surprised to hear that from the absent minded woman.

"Yeah, it's like a sauce…" She said holding a ladle before sipping it… then turning red as she sweated bullets. "That's… like fire…"

"Pfft… " Naruto walked away to go take over for Oriana, "Enjoy the food guys." He said as he passed Oriana who gave a quick thanks. He sat himself on the floor next to the wagon, "Been awhile since I made this for the teacher…"

"The one who trained you?" Sophia said her head popping from the inside of the wagon curtains.

"Yeah…" Naruto nodded, as he looked up at the sky, going down memory lane. He nearly screamed, "What the hell?! Sophia you scared me!"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to." Sophia apologized earnestly, as it really was an accident. "I just happened to overhear."

…

"...You're really not what I imagined for a vice-captain," Naruto said slightly nodded out by this woman, watching her giving him a sweet smile while sitting next to him.

She placed a finger on her lip, tilted her head acutely. " You really think so?" She wondered.

"I thought you guys would be intimidating… you're intimidating as a cute cat." Naruto said as he gave a deadpan look when she yawned cutely and stretched.

"Well, looks can be deceiving." Sophia said. "We might just surprise you."

"Hard to believe someone laidback as you become vice." Naruto shook his head to look back to see Sophia smiling sadly.

"I wasn't like this, I was really stressed out nearly every day of my life." She said leaning on the wagon to sigh softly.

"You don't seem the type to stress."

"Oh, I do. You just don't see it." Sophia shrugged her shoulders, "When me and Emma's parents passed away, I worked tirelessly to afford food for us. I remembered if anyone tried to touch me or look at Emma the wrong way, I hurt them."

"I see. You must really care about Emma." Naruto nodded in understanding.

"She is my only sister, but when we need more money I try to become an adventurer. In Orario, so many familia wanted me for my looks or my skills. But… Lady Artemis came to me, she saw my pain and offered me a home…"

Naruto looked sad before nodding to the reason, "And you've been with her ever since."

"Mhmm. I owe my life to her. Emma is the same." Sophia said with a warm look on her face. "But it told me something...the morning always comes." Naruto looked back as the girl cupped his cheeks, her soft purple eyes stared into his ocean blue ones. "You also went through pain, but it's okay… want to sleep with me?"

…

Foosh!

Suddenly Naruto's body was suddenly covered in his black tattoos before they turned red along with his face, "W-What?"

"What? Emma sometimes sleeps with me if it's thunderstorms." Sophia said as Naruto felt his heart slow down from misunderstanding her meaning. Soon the seals also fade in a matter of moments. "Or maybe…" she let go of his head, before gently sitting him on his side to lay his head on her lap. "This?"

"Um…" Naruto muttered. Who would've thought he'd be given the lap pillow treatment?

"Yoshi… yoshi…" she whispered rubbing his head, her face resembling a kind mother pampering her child. The young man felt sleepy… his eyes were becoming heavy… and his vision became blurry… this felt… nice…

He never had a good night's sleep in years...

"Zzzzzz… Zzzzzzz…"

"Ehehe…" Sophia giggled at the sight of Naruto's dopey face. "He's so cute." she lifted her face to see Artemis' staring at her with a disappointed look on the goddess face., "I'm not waking him."

"That's not the point." Artemis huffed at her. "Just what do you think you're doing?"

"...Spoiling him?" She asked if it wasn't the right action to be doing.

"For what reason?"

"He's worse than me and Emma… he has no parents, lost his home and friends...all alone." Sophia sadly said, rubbing the young man's back, "Naruto fell asleep so fast."

Artemis still shook her head, "I understand but you can't… just be so casual with him."

"And why not?" Sophia pouted cutely at the goddess.

Sophia was indeed her most powerful member of her familia… but the reason she isn't the current captain isn't her skills or experience. But she was dense as a brick.. but at the same time Sophia is the kindest person she ever met. "He isn't our familia member, he will eventually leave."

"It doesn't mean we can't spend more time with him." Sophia pointed out to her.

"Fine, but… clothes on." Artmeis said knowing that if she simply requests it, it would be better and less headaches in the long run.

"Tha~nks!" Sophia smiled brightly as if this decision was one Artemis wasn't going to regret.

XXXXX

As soon as the morning came Naruto was sitting away from Artemis from inside the wagon, somewhat a bit unnerved at her glare at him. "Uhh… did I say something?" He asked as the blue haired woman/goddess shook her head. "Uh… okay?" All he remembered was falling asleep… and it was one of the best ones yet.

"Sigh, you should be slapped for such ignorance." She stated although Naruto nodded to her odd reaction.

It wasn't the first time someone told him his stupidity should be fixed, there was Lord Hyuuga and Anri for starters. "Well, I'm going to do my breathing exercises…" Naruto said as Artemis watched with odd interest as she saw him, exhaling all of the air from his lungs. Four seconds of holding before exhaling once more to continue the process.

Artemis eyes slightly narrowed as she felt… power coming from him, it was slowly rising upwards and steadily kept growing. 'A simple breathing pattern can simply boost his powers?' Her mind was astonished until Naruto's eyes opened and saw some pain in them.

"I'd push it…" He chuckled patting his chest as he felt the pain soon vanish, "Can't do it when it's not fighting." The young man sighed gently as the Goddess mimicked his recent action.

"Alright. I'll ask, what do you mean?" The Goddess of Hunting requested as the boy seemed to… intrigued her oddly enough.

Naruto bashfully smiled as the sight was kinda enduring to see for the woman, even though she wouldn't openly admit to it. "I… have an odd affinity for powers and skill- magics for Dark Based alignment. The Breathing Technique I'd learn from my teacher was on the opposite spectrum,a Light technique." The young man said as Artemis nodded to that statement.

She had heard people having been born from families who have genetic skills or traits that can be passed down. Once, when Anri was still alive, she knew a family who were borderline godly with their fighting abilities and used their own skills against them. Even the youngest member nearly could have snapped her neck, and that was when she wasn't leading a familia. The years now have slightly degraded her skill from back then, but that was when she was more...aggressive to all mortals due to being with Anri for so long. "You know Anri had an odd trait like that. She could copy people that were the worst scum and use their skills back at them with better results."

That made Naruto look at her for that information, it wasn't something that he didn't see. One time when taking Anri to the village nearby the Hyuuga clan compound. Along with forcing the woman to wear clothes due to her nudity. But they saw someone trying to cheat HInata out of her money, only for Anri to use the man's wordplay against him and take his money or she would tell her father, the one who is a big part of the village, that he stole his daughter the heiress money.

"I think I saw her doing that one time. I don't remember when." Naruto shrugged.

The woman nodded, smiling gently something Naruto didn't know she was capable of, "She was stubborn…"

Naruto nodded with a goofy smile on his face, "Foul-mouth…"

"Nudist," Artemis went next rolling her eyes on Anri's excuse on using her 'seals' to cover her parts, it wasn't like they didn't do the job but come on!

"Improper," Naruto grinned widely, knowing her way of speaking and eating wasn't like any kind of divinity that people in the village once believed in wholly.

"But…" They said together, "She was my best friend…"

!

Naruto and Artemis looked at each other in surprise.

"Hey Naruto, want to switch with me?" Sophia asked her head popping from the curtains where he saw Karen holding the reins of the horse.

"Huh?" The young man looked towards the woman in question. "Uh yeah, sure. Hold up." He said, before getting onto the cart. "Here. I'll take over." He offered to Karen.

"No, I got a good speed with these girls." She said moving her neck to Emma where she was in front, "Make sure she doesn't lead us to a cliff." The swordswoman said with a soft giggle as Naruto only looked confused.

The girl, not to mention the whole Artemis Familia, knew that Emma would get lost even if she was going in a straight line… in the middle of the day… even if there were walls that pointed to the destination. Although it takes about… what was it again? Right about ten times before she stopped getting lost in the area, man, the times they had to go find her where the tough… "Go ask her yourself."

"Uh… okay?" Naruto could only furrow his brows in confusion.

The young man got off the wagon to walk fast to meet with Emma who smiled at Naruto, "Had a good talk with Lady Artemis?" she asked as Naruto matched her pace with her. While she was the closest to Naruto, she also was close to her Lady as she was a part of the Familia before she was even a full member.

"For the most part." Naruto shrugged. "At least she wasn't hostile this time around."

That… was oddly weird to hear, the best result from a man talking to Artemis was said man running from the hills holding his junk so she wouldn't shoot them off with those bending arrow shots she mastered. "S-Seriously?" Emma stuttered, it was amazing that her Lady could deal with Naruto so far at this point.

"Yeah," Naruto raised a brow. "You make it sound like the best case scenario was impossible." Although watching Emma's scratching her cheek then proceeded to look away made him lose some faith, but quickly looked at her feet. They were shifting slightly to the right, "Hey you're going to move the right side if you're not careful." He said pointing out a fork in the road, "We gotta stay left to get to a stream nearby to make the horses take a break."

"H-Huh? Oh! I'm sorry!" She apologized quickly as she moved the reins to have the horses move left.

"...Now you're starting to- oof… to bump into me." Naruto said as Emma blushed again, "I think I see what Karen meant by leading us off a cliff."

"Uuuuuuu, don't be such a meanie." Emma whined childishly.

"I'm just saying, it's kinda unique to be a directional challenge even with a clear objective." Naruto teased smiling even when Emma threw fist at his sides, a small scuffle like a child would do to their sibling when getting embarrassed.

"Mou~ Naruto no baka! Baka~!" Emma cried out in complaint.

"That's cute…" Sophia said as Artemis looked at the spot Naruto was sitting before… slightly wondering what was the feeling she was experiencing.

"S-Sorry…" Naruto chuckled as Emma's attacks stopped. She was puffing her cheeks as tears were at the corner of her eyes.

"Baka…" She huffed, clearly not accepting his apology.

"C'mon, I really didn't mean it like that." Naruto tried to placate the girl.

The girl sighed before smirking, "At least I'm still a higher level than you." She singsong out, making Naruto roll his eyes. "And would be the next captain of this Familia!"

"Alright, hotshot, you don't have to brag all about it." Naruto waved off nonchalantly. But then that second part made him stop and look at her a second time. "I'm sorry, what? Next captain?"

"Wow," Her eyes became wide from genuine surprise, "I never met someone who really didn't know the stuff for adventures or Familia's." Nonetheless she looked at the cabin, "You met the captain at least once right?" Naruto nodded his head to seeing Rethusa, the Captain of the familia, a few times. "She is the second in command, which means that if Artemis is busy or sick, we have to deter her guidance. Captains are only chosen by the God or Goddess of the Familia. Some chose them for their skills and experience, some chose them like Artemis' brother Apollo for...stupid reasons."

"Oh…" Naruto looked completely dumbfounded at that statement. "So why do you want to be captain?"

"...Me and my sister were the core members of the familia when Artemis started it up." Emma started walking next to Naruto eyes closed and miraculously not heading to another direction as she continued, "It was just Sophia, Rethusa, and a few others." She said fondly remembering the days it was just a few people before more and more came into their familia. "Sophia never really cared for the vice-captain position, only taking it when it was easier to have it than to reject it. So for always taking care of me, I want to show her that I can stand on my own two feet."

"I see." Naruto nodded, after listening to the story. "You must have been through a lot to get where you are now. I can understand the sentiment."

She nodded to his words, "That's my goal…"

XXXXX

LATER

XXXXX

"How much longer til Orario?" Naruto asked as Artemis came out from the wagon, "Usually I can get there in a day at full speed. So was wondering if we were hitting snags."

"It won't be long. Just a few dozen more miles." Artemis answered the young man.

Naruto gave a thumbs up, looking around and saw Oriana, "Hey Ori! Wanna spar? All these no monster routes are making me feel bored." He saw the girl suddenly rush towards him, with a bright smile.

The woman already had her spear in hand, clearly ready to learn from the man who was able to beat someone the whole family couldn't.

"Well someone's eager." Naruto chuckled. "Alright, but don't come cryin' to me if you lose."

Naruto spread his arms out as black flames spiral around his limbs to show two odd blades, the ones he used against Peta. Oriana dashed in leading her spearhead to Naruto's chest, only for him to kick it upwards before twist his arm to lock his blade underneath the staff while the other stop at her neck, "Dead…" he said before she turn her back to low sweep his feet, tripping him letting go her weapon in hopes-

All that dash away as Naruto let go of his own weapons to wrap his arms on hers while his legs twisted on her neck, "Holy shit, I never thought I could do this in actual fight! Dead," Naruto chuckled with a cocky smile.

"I'm… not done yet…" Ori grunted, as he tried to pry his legs off of her, but the strength of the boy was on a whole different level.

"Give… you'll break your arm before you get me off." Naruto said in a more serious manner, when the girl tried to lift his body, a quick tightening on her arm caused her to fall to her knees in pain. "Crippled…" He said untangling himself from her arm and next to fall gently to the ground before using a hand to roll on his rear end.

"Two deaths and serious injury…" Sophia muttered, smiling at Oriana who moaned at her loss. "Last time it was five deaths and three serious injuries."

Naruto has been helping the girls, the one who are close or at least are fine with him, to train in matches. At first Naruto would harm the girls only for training but Artemis has declared no physical fighting between Familia members… oddly enough when Naruto punched Sophia when she pushed him into a serious mood. Now he stops when he is about to harm them, which is still good as he declares the match either Dead or Crippled to show how serious the match could've been.

"You've been keeping track?" Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"Gahhh~! What's the point in fighting you with weapons? I'm pretty sure others aren't going to be ill-equipped!" She said pointing at herself. "I'm at Level Two, joining around after the core members did. I can fight monsters well enough!" She complained before moving her head to her Goddess, "Please Lady Artemis reconsider letting Naruto use weapons or at the very least strike me! I need more feedback than his two responses!"

"Okay, okay, first off, you need to calm down." Naruto placated the girl, surprising Artemis as he seemed… more polite than usual. Like when they were alone… she stared into the moonless night, wondering why it was odd for him to be like that? "Listen to a story I have… I thought these were the only things I needed and some magic." Naruto started off as he paled comically a second later, "Boy… was I wrong."

"You… seriously thought that was the only thing?" Emma looked incredulous at the boy.

The goddess chuckled, causing everyone to stare at her, "Even I admit that seeing how he handles himself against Peta… I think we can let him do that."

"So you're saying that because I'm cocky or just giving a freebie that has an underlying insult?" Naruto deadpanned as Artemis giggling made him both pout and smile at her reaction. Baby steps, she is starting to joke with him. "Around the time I left my sensei, I met her in year two of my nine training session…" Ignoring the girl's stunned reaction to his dedication of training, he continued on, "I had to learn basic hand to hand, as my teacher would snap my wrist when I still held on to my weapons even when losing tons of blood."

"Whoa…" Karen said from the side as she got a plate of food.

"Wait, you went through nine training sessions?" Eri asked. "Just what did she do to you?"

"No… ok…" Naruto touched the bridge of his nose. "When I had a goal in life, I knew it would be impossible to reach that height. Even now...I can barely grasp the edge of it when using all my power and maybe hold it when my fingernails. Back then, I thought my rage and some power was enough." Naruto fondly chuckled on how hot headed he was...well he admits it's still there but just tempered enough to be a blade for his future enemies.

The young took Oriana's spear, ignoring her cries of touching her beloved weapon, to make a stick figure, "I've trained in the wildness and killed stray monsters to get a feeling for fighting, that was about a year." He said drawing two odd symbols on the dirt. Then I heard of this really scary monster in a port town, that's where I met my first sensei." He said looking at his hands, "I underestimated her, she told me not to enter the port town and go back to…"

Emma looked at Naruto's face as it suddenly gained a pink hue, "What? What'd she say?"

"Suck… on my ma's tit's'." He muttered out as the girls looked at each other.

Why is he acting all meek now?

"A-Anyway, acting like I was hot shit… like a dumbass I was. I challenge her to a fight, the first one to land blood wins." Naruto said as Oriana chuckled.

"Let me guess she won easily?" Her words soon lost its jolly nature as her friend's eyes became devoid of life.

"No… I almost died." He bitterly spat out, "I was going to take it easy cause she was a girl… but she, like, vanished! Like a ghost, then slam her palm into my lower jaw. When in the air, she was already there staring at my eyes, smirking at my confusion, before flipping her body to a kick to send me to the stone floor. All I remember is a loud ringing, a wet warm feeling from the back of my head, and her beautiful smile." He admitted with a faint blush.

All the girls just stared at him with wide eyes.

"I woke up and she already patched me up with a note saying 'go home'" The child of darkness shrugged.

"Just like that?" Sophia asked.

"Just like that. But I chased after her and begged her to train me- wait, we're getting off topic here. The year after I left her, which was my third year, I met a man who taught me that fighting needs more than speed or power, you need dedication to basics and an open mind."

"Open mind?" Oriana said as Naruto nodded.

"You got power, you got defense, and you got a gutsy aura. That makes you awesome~!" He winked at her as the girl smiled at his praise. "But… you're stiff and lack speed. Compared to Emma, you're a boulder and she's a pebble, some pros and cons there. But if you can be more like her, you can smash into your opponents like a boulder. Speed and Power!"

"I… see…" Oriana muttered, taking in his suggestion. "I guess I still have a lot to learn."

"No." He said standing up to draw a circle on the floor, "I just taught you, and the rest of you, how to walk right." The young blonde finished as they were about dozens of small circles around the lancer user and himself. Artemis and the girls all looked in with interest in their gaze. "Alright, Oriana, take this back-" Naruto announced, tossing her the spear, "Then stab me when I try to touch you," He then looked at the Goddess with a smile and thumbs up. "I promise I will only touch her, no hitting or inapporatpet areas~"

"Alright…"

"Are you-"

"…Dead before you realized it." Naruto said a finger gently touching Oriana's forehead as she paled… she didn't see him- her eyes scan to see everyone, including the Goddess, in shock. They couldn't track him either. "I'll go slower, keep up~" He said, jumping to land the dead center of the tiny circles he had made, this time two yards this time. Oriana smiled at this, he was double the distance before reading the spear, she glanced down to see her feet were in the circles too.

"I almost couldn't follow that." Artemis admitted.

"Yeah, it's like he teleported." Emma commented.

"No… he moved with no waste."

Everyone turns to see Sophia, no longer dazed or even happy, but a serious look in her eyes. Normally this was for the serious times of the battles they had fought, like Peta or against other Familia's to see their Vice-Captain acting like this made the others now take this more earnestly.

"Ready~?" Naruto waved at Oriana, "You can move if you think that better for victory, just stay inside the circle."

Oriana eyes widen as once more she can only see blurs of Naruto, this time the distance was to her advantage. She Jump back looking at two circle perfect for her defensive stance, "You're too slow-" her eyes widen when she landed on circle, quickly swiping her weapon to look that Naruto-

"Dead~" he said, using one leg to balance himself with a hand with all the fingers straightened out like a blade. The young maiden took a step back to allow Naruto to stand up, "Did you notice it this time?"

To her shame, Oriana shook her head, "I did not, how could you move like that and still trick me?" She asked.

She was sure as the moon is lovely at night, that her timing and even Naruto's direction were in sync. In fact that he was literally under her attack proved that remark.

"Hehe~ you'll have to figure that out~" Naruto teased.

"You used your weight to do it." Sophia said before she too vanished, causing Naruto to- "Ah…"

The young man summoned his jagged weapon at her before her finger could touch his shoulder, "..." His eyes showed only vengeance before realization sparked life into them, fading the weapon into wisps of smoke. "Sorry!"

Artemis felt something in her hand, to glance down in slight shock to find her bow already in her clutches. Was that moment so intense she was about to intervene? Against Sophia?

Not many knew these save for herself, the Captain, and most likely Emma, but Sophia is the Ace of their Familia. When flipping her serious switch, not many could match her skills, even Peta died the most by her hands until he wore her out in the end. Artemis only wished that she could find a way to flip it more often, as it was the only time Sophia could think like a normal person than her space case self.

Not that she hates it, but the core members hated drilling in common sense into her head. Anri was naked by choice, Sophia constantly forgot to dress herself until a few years ago.

Soon Naruto was greeted by the older girl petting his head, "You're strong… never forget that." She sweetly praised the young man who blushed at her kind words.

"Um… thank you…" He mumbled.

"That style isn't based on any Eastern style." Artemis announced before gazing at her ally, Naruto. "Where did you learn it?"

Naruto shrugged, "Don't ask me, my dad taught my Uncle Hiashi. He said that if it wasn't for my dad, they're fighting style wouldn't have improved to such greatness. My first teacher told me that and Anri also- oops~!" He said covering his mouth on that… busted.

Anri?

Artemis is starting to wonder something, Anri hated humans and learning why made sense. But this child worms into her heart and becomes her friend, not that there's a problem with it. But learning magic, fighting, and even some things that adventurers should know. Why? Why him?

Breathing styles that help his speed and stamina…

A type of footwork that makes him almost fast as Sophia…

Magic only dedicated spellcasters can learn…

No human can learn all those skills in such short of time, not even the most battle tested warriors or God-

God…

No way…

XXXXX

"Oww…"

Naruto smiled as he picked up a stiff Oriana as she overdid her training. "Told you, not all at once." He said gently picking her foot and walked like she was some kind of toy. When reaching her tent he placed the young knight on it. "Sleep tight."

"Ahhhhh…"

"Naruto your shift is open~" Emma yawned as she and Karen came from the campfire, "Sophia is watching and guarding Artemis and the treasure. You're on nightwatch for monsters with Leo, switch after two hours."

"Got it." Naruto waved to her, walking to the campfire to see Leo. The person in question had short blue hair with gray eyes as they wore gray shirts with a dirty brown jacket over them that stopped at their midriff having a red outline and green edges at the sleeve. The look was finished with gunmetal gray pants held together by a brown belt with silver greaves.

"Naruto." She said with a curt nod as Naruto took a seat on a tree stump, "You sure that you want to take the first shift? All that training might make you sleepy."

"It's fine mannnnnn-shit~!" Naruto said as he practically insulted the woman in front of him! "I'm sorry! I completely forgot you were a girl!"

"Hmm? Manshi?"

…

…

…

"Thank you Anri~" Naruto bowed his head in love and gratitude that Leo was also an airhead. "Nothing, so what… level are you?"

"This." Leo said with a single finger that was out. "I just join, with that new Elf girl Primo."

"Oh, I see. You're just starting out." Naruto nodded.

She nodded, smiling, "I want to see someone in Orario, the reason I wanted to be an adventurer."

"Someone? Who would that be?" Naruto tilted his head in curiosity.

"It's embarrassing," She said as Naruto nodded, he too had some shyness in his love for Anri.

He took a small cloth out, unwrapping it to show a small amount of cookies, "Need a pick me up? Hinata's mother taught me to make my okaa-san's favourite cookies."

"Are they good?"

"Kinda, but I can see why my mother likes them." Naruto grinned widely.

"Hmm…" Leo eyed the cookies before taking one and biting it, letting the flavor settle on her tongue and she chewed. "This isn't bad."

"I think it's a western cookie called… Shortbread?" He said, enjoying the crumbling in his mouth.

"That explains why it tastes like bread." Leo commented.

"Buttery taste to it…"

It was simple talk and meeting but Naruto made another good friend from just that.

XXXXX

The next morning

XXXXX

"'Sure, Go hunt a bear,' I said." Naruto grumbled as he walked the first in Hope's of catching a large meal as it would mean enough energy to get to the city faster when their stomachs were filled more than usual simple light meals. But no~, they had to go kill a freakin' bear! Or at least him, the rest were making the meals he suggested as a side, but now it means he has to hunt, and if he doesn't come back he won't eat.

Man… women are scary.

"Buuu!"

"Sounded like a boar!" Naruto smiled, it tasted better than a bear if it was an adult and active. "I guess boar will be on the menu instead."

"Gah!"

The young eyes turned sharp as he heard a female voice in pain, "Come," he said as his blades summoned into his hand to rush forward to see Artemis slightly injured as the boar was about to gore her with its tusks.

"Tch," Artemis gritted her teeth as she drew an arrow and stretched the bow. She was about to release when Naruto threw one of his blades towards the boar, skewering it from the side. The boar squealed in pain before it tumbled on the ground, eventually coming to a stop, and laying lifeless.

"You Alright?!" He said checking on her to see the injury was on her leg but it was light someplace to other injuries he sustained

"It's nothing." Artemis said, "I was about to kill it."

Naruto nodded but he had to voice out something. "Yeah, but would you have been able to shoot that arrow in time?" Naruto retorted.

She glared at him, whether it was he was insulting her skills or from his truth he didn't know.

"Glare at me all you like, but you need to be more careful from now on, yeah?" Naruto waved off nonchalantly.

"I can take care of myself!" Artemis huffed.

"Why risk death?" Naruto asked in a confused tone. "Who cares about proving something, you have others to think about!"

Her eyes gaze at his own, wondering what he meant, "What do you mean?"

"You have a familia don't you?" Naruto asked. "Are you seriously going to throw your life, and leave them behind?"

The young woman lowered her gaze, "I...didn't consider that."

The Avenger simply kneels before her, "Unlike Anri," They both went silent when the name was brought up, "You have people that need you, if the unfortunate event that would happen. They would have to scatter from their home."

Naruto closed his eyes, he wanted to find out if others were alive back at the Hyuuga compound...but he had to focus on training. To kill Phantom and abandon all thoughts of survivors, he wondered...how many did survive that fire? All wants and ifs constantly plague his mind for years like a bad addiction habit he kicks only to rear its ugly head every now and then.

Then again he always likes that, he leaves so he wouldn't see the outcome. When his first sensei told him to leave when telling her his reason for getting stronger, never visiting his second sensei when he felt he learned enough but couldn't tell him why he wanted his lessons.

"You…You'll make them sad." He said remembering his own pain of losing his home and dear friend.

However he was surprised to see that Artemis didn't yell or argue with him, just glared at the ground for her own mistake. "But then what should I do? Stop fighting? Just laze around like Ishtar in her little palace of debauchery?" She demanded to see Naruto come closet with a soft smile that...made her heart...something odd happen to it.

"You can still be strong, just don't put yourself at risk. Remember that you have more value than what you think...and don't make your familia sad." The young man said as the woman lowered her head with a soft smile. "And if you do need to work on your bow, I am offering myself as a target."

"Hmhmhm!" Artemis didn't help but giggled at the kind gesture.

…

"Can you stay...it takes a while to bleed out and gut the boar…" Artemis asked as Naruto nodded, "I would like to share some stories on Anri if you like, as long as you tell me how she was before...you know."

Naruto nodded taking a knife to pass it to his friend, "Sure, hope you like how Anri often causes trouble to idiot males."

The smile she sent Naruto was the second most beautiful smile in the whole world in his opinion…

XXXXXXXXXX

ORARIO GATES

XXXXXXXXXX

"We're here." Emma said, entering the wagon to see Naruto and Artemis who were finishing up their conversation.

"Okay," he replies to the pink clad girl before looking at Artemis. "We'll finish that story on…"

The goddess rolled her eyes, "Atalante."

He snaps his fingers in confirmation, "Yes!" With that he leaped off the wagon to see himself in the gates of the city he recently popped in and out. This time he was going to have some fun as he was given a small amount for saving all the lives of Artemis' familia. "Whoo! Time to have some fun, or my name isn't Naruto-"

But before he could Artemis grab onto his collar, "Wait, we need to get you a non-familia adventurer license." The Goddess stated with a soft glare. "Otherwise you'll get into trouble heading into the dungeon and get caught."

The young man nodded to her words, but noticed her more conflicted look. "What?"

"I...I might need you for the Gods and Goddesses meeting."

Naruto blinked once...twice...thrice…

"WHAT!?" Was all Naruto could say earning everyone looking at him oddly.

XXXXXXXXXX

?

XXXXXXXXXX

Phantom smiled as he stood over a certain mound of dirt, soon a blue a white haired teen walked next to him, "Lord Phantom, Orochimaru-sama has given his findings to be the grave of her."

The red eye teen turned as his eyes now became a soft light amethyst colored irises, "Thank you Kabuto-kun." But he spun on his heels to see the young man still staying, "Something amiss?"

"I...no it's not my place to say." The young man said as Phantom used his unbandage arm to wave him off in a friendly manner.

"Nonsense, speak your mind, you are strong and I am strong. We can speak like equals." The god hater said in a happy manner.

Kabuto took a moment to be slightly flustered, for many years Phantom was to depress from thinking Naruto was dead, suddenly he has been hunting for new allies left and right, high and low, far and close by. "I-I wanted to know why didn't you kill all the children and people in his village? You said-"

"I said...the weak didn't need to live." Phantom said chuckling as he used his free hand to cup his chin, "I would have killed them although... the Hyuuga heiress, her sister, many of the children, and the rest were going to be fine additions. After all, a traumatizing experience is a good way to give them a reason to be stronger. And when they reach their potential I will be there to tempt them with eternal life and untap powers...yes and Naruto shall join me to be with his friends forever."

Kabuto nodded before looking as the mound started to move, "She's awakened."

The leader merely nod softly, "Of course, anyone else besides the strong wouldn't be able to survive the process. Thankfully her body was still fresh enough to be able to recover," He stood in front as a hand slow came into sight, "I need more of Naruto's closest people and those who will make him stronger...and with his teacher I will have a fine amount of women to cater to his desires." He said, grabbing the hand and gently pulling it out. As a woman in western clothing rose from the grave to glare the man, as a red and blue flame tattoo appeared on her neck...that made Phantom smile eerily as he now has another friend to add into his family.

"Welcome to the family~!"

XXXXXXXXXX

NEAR ORARIO

XXXXXXXXXX

A cloak covered female walked as two of her escorts followed her, "You know what to do girls?" she said as the two stop their steps when they turn to look at their master.

"Seduce Naruto into your Familia."

The young girl shook her head with a soft giggle, "Our familia, our little home for Naruto to stay with women who need to heal this heart."

"Right," A rough female voice said, "Fuck and love the kid,"

The master of the two nodded, "Also to look out on potential members...to persuade into our little family." She watched the two vanish as they would enter the city at different gates to find Naruto faster.

"Lady K-"

"Don't speak my name so freely Sasori…" She turns with a dark tone underlying her cute voice. The young woman saw a dashing handsome man in front of her, he wore a skin tight shirt that only covered his upper body and neck leaving his arms totally bare as it had bandages all over them. He had a black pants with some metal plates for protection.

He quickly got on one knee, "My deepest apologies madam...but might I ask you a question?"

"Tch...very well…" She muttered with an annoyed tone.

"Why Naruto?" He simply said afraid he said more, that he will no longer be able to serve as a living mortal.

She looked up into the sky, "I want him to be pampered, that bitch made him into a monster, just like she was~" she stuck out her tongue with eye roll. "And even after her filthy hands touch my beloved Onii-sama...he was so perfect." Closing her eyes to remember… "I was lost, he found me and comforted my distraught heart. I will make sure he is mine and mine alone...enough with the questions and find him Sasori...now."

The man smiled kindly, "Of course, my Goddess of Desires."

With that he also vanished, allowing the girl to take over her cloak to reveal her crimson colored irises to the world smiling as the day to find her beloved savior was here.

…

…

…

At this moment Naruto felt a really, really, scary feeling his heart even though he was happy...weird…

CHAPTER END

AK: As always I hope you guys like that, if you question that need answers feel free to leave them on the reviews. And As I said if you can please one on as its gives me motivation to make more chapters as this whole staying in doors thing is bumming me out and therefore my skills. But to all of you stay safe and healthy and hope that we can get through this.