Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Shuffle along with any other references made.

Beta reader Phoenix Helix

Chapter nine-What Lays Ahead

(A medical room)

"I'm so happy you're okay!" exclaimed Kou hugging her daughter.

Mayumi only smiled while returning the hug. Her father smiled at seeing his daughter safe and sound.

"All of your injuries are healed?" asked Maritza.

"Yes, interesting enough. Mayumi-san healed a little faster than normal, when healing magic was applied," replied the nurse that checked over Mayumi.

Maritza looked at the nurse and asked, "Healed faster?"

"Yes, but Mayumi-san only had scarps with being a little sore. So, it might be nothing," answered the nurse.

However, Maritza looked serious at the answer.

"I'll leave you alone, but don't forget. If you need anything give us a call," replied the nurse leaving the room.

Maritza nodded and let the nurse leave. After making sure the nurse left, he looked at his daughter firmly.

"You've awakened didn't you, Mayumi," stated Maritza at the teen.

Kou looked shocked at the statement and let go of her daughter.

Mayumi sobered and nodded, "Yes, I did."

"I thought so. I'm the same way, if any kind of magic is used on me, it will be absorbed faster than normal," replied Mayumi's father calmly.

"I thought Mayumi was carrying it," said Kou. "I know she has been trying to awaken it, so what changed?"

"I'm not sure mom," replied Mayumi. "It just…happened during the fighting. When I was about to be punched by that pink-haired ninja, I've meet myself that held my power. She tested me to see if I could withstand the power and I passed."

Kou looked scared at hearing her offspring being in a fight. Even her husband looked scared at hearing this.

"You were in a fight!" exclaimed Kou at Mayumi.

Mayumi nodded and answered, "Yes, I was."

"What happened?" asked Maritza firmly.

Kou also looked at Mayumi, wanting to know what happened. They weren't told what went on with their daughter.

"It happened like this," Mayumi started to tell her story of her kidnapping.

(Another room)

Naruto was with Forbesii, with the former ninja looking sheepish.

"Don't let it get you down Naruto-kun," said Forbesii. "They were only scared of anything happening to you and Mayumi-chan."

"Your right," replied Naruto with a sigh. Sia, Kikyou and Nerine each give him a stern lecture on his reckless behavior.

Naruto looked at the demon's king and asked. "Why is it that Mayumi-chan was able to stop Sakura's attacks? I know for a fact that she has excellent charka control."

Forbesii hummed in thought at the question. Naruto already told him about the energy that the ninjas used for their jutus. For about a minute of thinking, the king gave Naruto his answer.

"Since your charka relies on combing two energies, Mayumi-chan's taking Sakura's mana or in this case the spiritual part of charka. Prevented her from forming it," Forbesii explained.

"Your right, no one in the Elemental counties tried to do that before. They only focused on collecting fully formed charka," replied Naruto with a hand on his chin.

Forbesii nodded at Naruto's explanation.

As for Naruto, he hummed in thought. There was something missing. He didn't think about it at the time, but there seemed to one person…missing!

"We've missed one!" Naruto exclaimed in realization.

"I know," replied Forbesii calmly.

"What! You know about Kakashi?!" Naruto asked franticly at the demon king.

"Technically, it was Shin's forces that notice him," Forbesii stated calmly.

"He was watching us!" Naruto exclaimed in shock.

"Yes. We figured after your fight with Sasuke. He appeared and stayed hidden, watching us to make a move," Forbesii stated calmly.

Naruto growled at the thought of his old teacher running loose. Mayumi did say he was going to allow Sasuke to have his way.

"We need to find him," Naruto said firmly.

"No we don't," said Forbesii dead serious.

Naruto looked confused at the statement, but it became clear to him.

"You've baited him," Naruto commented.

"Right, we thought it would be best to do that. He might have found a way to get word to your village. So, best to get that information from him," Forbesii replied with steel.

"I can understand that, but despite my…distrust of them. They might not say anything," said a firm Naruto.

"True, but we have a specialist of sorts. He is very good collecting information," Forbesii said very calmly.

Naruto raised an eyebrow at the demon king's tone. It would seem that this person was a sore subject.

(Nearby the doors entrance to the prison)

"That was easy," muttered Kakashi. He just knocked out a guard and entered the building.

So far he tracked his team to this place. This looked like a prison of sorts.

'No time to think about it. I've got to bust them out of here, maybe Hinata to. That girl can't be left alone, she knows too much about our village. I probably don't get the whole idea as to why she betrayed us, but it's not unexpected,' thought the scarecrow with quiet sigh.

He kept on walking slowly though the hallway, making no noises.

"It's about time you showed up," said a male voice calmly.

Kakashi reached for a kunai and looked to Eustoma standing behind him.

"Shit," muttered Kakashi at falling for a trap.

Kakashi got a good look at god's king. He seemed to be ready in an orange and red robe with slash. By the looks of things, he wanted to fight him.

"It would be best to surrender yourself," Eustoma stated firmly.

"About that I'll say no. I'm on an important mission for my village, so why don't you just let us go. I'm sure you wouldn't want trouble," Kakashi said with an eye-smile.

Eustoma slowly moved one foot forward, readying himself. "We're past that. You've came to this country to take back a former ninja with almost harming my wives."

Kakashi only tensed at Eustoma's reply. This was very bad.

"Your right, but we need Naruto back. Plus, I didn't want to hurt your wives," Kakashi replied calmly while uncovering his Sharingan eye for the fight.

Eustoma tensed even more at the action. Remembering what Naruto told him about this ninja.

"But your interfering with our mission, I'm sorry. But I'm not going to go easy on you," Kakashi stated firmly at king.

Eustoma felt someone behind him, after Kakashi's reply. Instinctually, he rolled out of the way, dodging Kakashi's strike.

'Not bad,' thought Eustoma at strike.

Kakashi did quick hand signs and disappeared in a puff of smoke. Eustoma looked around for the ninja.

The sound of birds chirping soon appeared. Kakashi was charging the God's King with a Chidori.

Interesting though, Eustoma charged at him. Faster than Kakashi could react, Eustoma was able to swat away the Chidori and land a solid punch on the ninja.

*Poof*

"Smart move," muttered Eustoma at seeing it was shadow clone.

This time a fireball went toward the King.

A stream of water stopped it cold.

'This is getting dangerous,' thought a hidden Kakashi. He was testing the king, sensing he was stronger then he looked and it was proving right.

*Bam*

Kakashi let out a grunt of pain. Eustoma hit him directly in the stomach and boy it hurt like hell. The masked ninja rolled with force of the punch and recovered from it.

'What the hell is he?! That strength is unreal!' thought Kakashi with a shiver, from what he could tell that punch wasn't his full strength.

*Bam* *POW*

Kakashi cursed again at his foolishness. Eustoma wasn't only strong. But he was fast; he might even be faster than Gai or his leader.

'Or mixture of both!' thought Kakashi at seeing the king charging at him again with more speed.

Kakashi tried to trade blows with his opponent, but felt his bones creak from the monstrous blows.

Kakashi tried to strike the king, but the he countered with a kick to Kakashi's back.

*Boom*

Kakashi desperately tried to recover from this blow. He felt his spine was close to breaking.

'Enough of this, I can't win against this…monster! I'll use my triumph card,' thought a frantic Kakashi. The strain of using the Kamui might be a risk in this place, but with this fight. It wouldn't matter.

Even his implanted Sharingan eye didn't help any.

Eustoma glowed with mana, readying for anything. His battle instincts were telling him this ninja was getting desperate and desperate people do crazy things.

"Kamui," Kakashi said softly while looking at the king.

A vortex shot toward the king, which engulfed him. It looked like it was working.

"That's good," muttered a relieved Kakashi, "Now time for my esca…oh no!"

The reason for his cry of panic, Eustoma had broken his Kamui. By the looks of things, he was glaring at the ninja.

"Something tells me, a god is going to answer me on how you have that trick," muttered a pissed off Eustoma. He has experience with these kinds of attacks, but they were from demons and a few gods.

No human should have the kind of power that seemed to have…a god feeling to it.

Kakashi looked at the king again, but.

*Bam*

Kakashi's screams filled the air.

"You're not doing that again," replied Eustoma firmly with a punch at Kakashi's stomach.

Kakashi felt a cold sweat run down his spine at the reply. Suddenly, dozens of blows rained down on the masked ninja. Kakashi felt like he was punching bag. The fists were coming so fast and furious. He couldn't react to defend himself.

They all stopped and Kakashi landed on his feet wobbly. He tried to get into a fighting stance, but screamed in pain.

'I'm now feeling the pain! He is a monster!' thought Kakashi trying to stand, but was failing.

The reason for this was because his legs were broken with his arms. The adrenaline would have helped, but.

*Bam*

Eustoma landed another blow that knocked out the ninja.

Kakashi only fell unconscious at that point.

"You can come out now," Eustoma ordered to the hidden forces.

They did come out, looking worried for their king.

"It was reckless of you, Shin-sama to do this," said one of the enforcers.

"I know, but was needed. We didn't know what this ninja was capable of doing. So me fighting him was best, since I can fight better then you," replied the king.

There were nods of agreement. They didn't know if they could take on this ninja.

"Plus, he has the presence of god or at least a part of it," answered Eustoma tightly.

"What do you mean Shin-sama?" asked one of enforcers.

They were cuffing Kakashi to make sure he didn't cause anymore trouble.

"That attack of his, it wasn't human-like at all. The feeling of mana it was…cold like death," answered Eustoma tightly.

"I don't understand Shin-sama? We know that his eye was from a clan descended from this so-called Sage of Six Paths. Wouldn't the great beast have given his eye that power," replied a special force member.

"True, but this wasn't that feeling. I would know for fact there was some demonic power at play here, with the way he was trying to read me. Along with everything else…there is too much of a flux to be sure. I want that eye looked at, but don't take it out," Eustoma ordered.

"Sir," the group responded with a salute at the order.

'I don't like this," thought Eustoma with a growl.

When he and Forbesii were looking into the process of life, they talked it over with the current death god. Unlike them, they were long lived. The current one was over a thousand years old.

'What is that old guy up to,' thought the god's king with hum. The way that god looked at him and Forbesii was one of disgust.

It was during that talk he warned them about bringing people back from the dead, but from what Naruto told them. The ninja's were able to do that with no repercussions.

"He is going to answer that," muttered Eustoma walking away from site of his little fight.

Kakashi was taken to a cell, after being healed enough to make sure he would recover.

(Later-Kakashi's cell)

Kakashi started to stir.

"Man that king packs a punch," muttered Kakashi waking up.

"Thank goodness you're waking up sempai," said a male voice.

Kakashi looked up to see his team, all in cells with seals on them.

"So much for your rescue effort," Sasuke muttered sourly. He still was missing his right arm; it was forever lost to him.

"Well I tried," replied an eye-smiling Kakashi.

There was sweat dropping from the reply.

"If we wanted him dead, Shin-sama would have killed him," stated a male voice.

Everyone stiffened at the voice and looked to see a god walking into the room. He looked like a scientist of sorts, with messy white hair and big glasses.

"And might you be…whitie," said Sai with a glare.

The god only walked with shake of his head.

"Talk about rudeness," he muttered. "That's expected, you've been captured, forced to into prison cells complete with having your butts kick."

Sai growled at the lack of respect, but know what this man was.

"You're here for information," Kakashi answered the unspoken question.

The god clapped mockingly.

"Bravo, bravo of the dumb teacher," mocked the god.

"How am I a dumb teacher," replied Kakashi with a growl.

"Easy, you've ignored one your students, but we're getting off track. I'm here to get information on you little…exploration," said the god with a smile.

"Go ahead limply!" Sai spat out.

The god looked at the young man flatly, "A friskily one."

Sai growled at the jab, "You're not going to get anything from us. We have been trained to fight torture, so bring it on limply."

The chuckled at challenge. Oh boy this one was going to be fun.

"Good to hear. I've been bored lately, with no war so you could say. I'm anxious to work. Why don't we start with you young man," replied the god with a smirk.

Sai fought to keep calm. He had his training with root, but this person gave him the shivers.

His cell opened Sai would have fought, but his strength was gone. Out of thin air, a pair of guards grabbed Sai.

"Let's get started, Shin-sama is most curious about them," said the god with hum.

The group left the room.

"Do you think he will be okay?" asked a shaky Sakura. She heard tells of what happened with captured ninjas and it wasn't pleasant.

"I don't know Sakura," answered Kakashi. "Sai might have an advantage, with his training in root. But there is not telling what this bunch can-"

"AAHHHHHH!" a huge scream pain interrupted Kakashi.

This brought shivers to the revival team.

"Holy…that sounded like they nearly killed him!" said a frantic Kiba. That sound did sound like someone was being killed.

"Your right Kiba," answered Kakashi tightly. Knowing the cries of pain of being killed were like and that one was close to it.

"That man doesn't waste time," muttered Tenten.

"But if they try to kill him wouldn't that be futile?" asked a confused Temari.

"Your right, but I'm sorry to say. It would be best. This is fate of being captured," said solemn Yamato.

The rest of team looked down at the fate of their comrade.

(With Sai)

The pain was extreme for the ninja. It felt like his guts were ripped out! Along with legs being broken, currently his eyes were closed. He was laid down on a table of some kind and then the pain came.

Sai smirked in victory though. With those kinds' injuries, his death would come soon. He opened his eyes to a shocking site.

"What in the hell is this?!" asked a shocked Sai. He wasn't hurt in the least!

"That my friend is my invention," answered the god.

Sai looked at him for an answer.

"You see. There is a problem with my field of work you could say. If we aren't careful the person would die, but if we gave them pain," replied god reaching for a button.

Sai felt another wave of intense pain. This time, it felt like his whole body was crushed.

"There is no limit to how pain, I can inflict," answered the god with a smirk.

Sai only looked away to show his defiance.

"That's expected, I didn't think you would cooperate right now, so let's get to work," replied god simply.

Another wave of pain came to the ninja; he tried to not scream again. But let out a couple at certain points.

(In a room)

Currently in the room, Hinata talked to the two kings. Telling them everything she knows about her village.

"That's everything you know," said Eustoma softly at Hinata.

Hinata nodded glad that the kings seem to be going easy on her. They could have used harsher methods like with her old team.

"Now that we're done with business matters," said Forbesii. "How are you on personal matters?"

Hinata looked a little lost on the question, but started to understand it.

"I'm a little uneasy with it, but I won't cause any trouble for Naruto-kun or Mayumi-san," Hinata answered softly.

The two kings looked at each with a nod.

"If you're really interested, there is a way for you to still be with Naruto," said Eustoma.

Hinata looked at him with confusion.

"I don't understand I know our counties let clans that are dying out have multiple wives. If they need it," replied Hinata.

"We understand that, but it's also possible here. If Naruto were to date a goddess, he could have you along with Mayumi," Eustoma explained to the younger woman.

Hinata's eyes widened at the information. There was still a chance for her to be with Naruto, but…

"No," Hinata answered softly.

"How come?" asked Forbesii.

"I don't feel that it's right for me to do it. I wasn't there for Naruto-kun when he needed it at the village. There are also Naruto-kun's wishes to think about. He might not want an um…harem so to speak. Even if he did, I don't want to be a part of it. I've lost my chance so I'll live with my choice," Hinata answered.

"That's understandable," replied Forbesii with a nod.

Hinata only smiled sadly, she wasn't going to back out of her decision.

"Well then let's have them talk," Eustoma with a smile.

"Huh?" asked a confused Hinata.

Forbesii only followed his friend out the door. Naruto walked in at they left.

"Naruto-kun," Hinata muttered in surprise.

"Right Hinata," replied the blond ninja.

"Did you hear everything?" asked Hinata.

"Yep," answered Naruto with a nod.

Hinata looked away, not sure as what to say next. As for Naruto, he took a seat across from Hinata.

"I've talked to Mayumi-chan about what you did," Naruto started to talk.

Hinata only lowered her head in shame.

"I may be a little put off at your starting talk. But I'm glad you didn't hurt Mayumi-chan," thanked a smiling Naruto.

"It was the right thing to do Naruto-kun. We didn't have the right to act like this. I thought that I was okay with you leaving, sorry about my…part in it," Hinata apologized.

"Apology accepted Hinata," replied Naruto.

Hinata looked at Naruto with a smile.

"So what are you going to do now?" asked Naruto.

"I'm not sure Naruto-kun. I've disobeyed orders, lady Tsunade might be lenient toward me, but I'm at a lost on what to do," Hinata replied with confusion.

Naruto kept quiet, waiting for Hinata.

"I don't want to return to the village. I want to do something different with my life," Hinata finally said after thinking about it.

"Why do you want that?" asked Naruto.

"I've followed what my family wanted, hoping to be recognized by them. Much like you wanted Naruto-kun. I wanted to do something different before, but it didn't seem like it would work there."

"Why don't you do that," Naruto replied softly to Hinata.

"You mean, work on doing I want?" Hinata asked softly.

Naruto nodded. "Why not, you're entitled to it."

Hinata couldn't help, but like the idea.

"Looks like I'm going to following your example Naruto-kun," said Hinata to the blond ninja.

'There are times, I'm beginning to think. That I'm a fixer up of sorts,' thought Naruto with a sweat-drop. But, he was glad to be helping Hinata.

(A Day Later)

Both Kings of the realm were sitting across from a god. To be precise, it was the Shinigami dressed in his usual attire.

"Why am I here?" he asked rather rudely toward the kings.

"For starters," said Eustoma tightly. "Why is it that we found evidence that you've be helping the ninjas of the Elemental counties."

The Shinigami stiffened a little, but stared at Eustoma.

"Your point is."

"Also, you know where the Jubi was at. When you should have let us known," Forbesii said this time.

"So what if I did know about him? It wasn't an urgent matter," replied the death god coldly.

Forbesii glared at the god's altitude. It was like last time they talked to him.

Eustoma stood up and a slammed his fist on the table.

"Enough! We're tired of beating around the bush! You've help those ninjas learning to use their charka in bringing back the dead, maybe more. When you've harped at use for experimenting with life, or you've didn't see that," Eustoma drilled the god, tightly.

The Shinigami's aura flared, giving everyone around a sense of dread. It was filled with the scent of death.

"You question my judgment?" asked the death god steely.

"Watch your tone. Both I and Forbesii are kings of the realms. So, don't anger us anymore," Eustoma replied deadly calm at the god.

Forbesii glared at the death god. He even flared a bit of his magic, ready for any action ahead.

"Kings...bah!" exclaimed the Shinigami. "I don't see them. You want to know why I didn't tell you."

Both of the kings nodded, but were on edge.

"I thought those humans would enter your realm and take you out," explained the death god.

"What?" Eustoma asked firmly.

"I'm tired of answering to so-called kings. So, I'll take matters into my own hands!" the Shinigami exclaimed while bring out his full power.

If there were any mortals around, they would be frozen in terror.

Suddenly, one…no two auras of power flooded the room.

The Shinigami sweated at feeling them and seeing where they came from. It was from the two kings he challenged.

"So the little traitor wants to take us on," commented Forbesii with sickly sweet tone that screams danger.

"It looks like Forbesii," replied Eustoma. "If he wants to do that, then let's show him the other part why we're the kings!"

Eustoma creaked his knuckles for this little…bout.

As for the death god, he realized one important detail. The two kings were stronger then he thought. There was only one thing he could mutter.

"Oh shit."

(Hallway by the meeting room)

The interrogator was walking toward the room that housed the kings. He was holding a folder that held his report.

"This is not good, that Kakashi is crafty," muttered the god. That one-eyed ninja was a tuff nut to creak, but he did. That piece of information that he let out, it wasn't good.

*Boom*

"What in the name?!" exclaimed the god, gathering magic for anything.

A magic explosion will do that to anyone.

He looked to see a figure on ground. He looked closer, slowly.

It was the head Shinigami, moaning in pain. His robe looked torn with burn marks, even his mask looked cracked.

"Um…how are you beat up like that?" asked the confused god.

"Easy," answered a voice. "We did it, because he was trying to take over."

The interrogator god looked to it was Eustoma that answered him. Forbesii followed him, both looking fine.

"Ma, all that talk and he can't fight that well. No wonder he needed humans to fight for him. He isn't that strong," Forbesii commented with disappointment.

The interrogator god's sweat-drop got bigger.

"Time for some else to take over his position," Eustoma replied while looking at the defeated god with disgust.

"I'm not one for politics, but won't that be unwise," replied glasses wearing god with a raised hand.

Eustoma looked at him and replied, "Maybe, but what he was doing crossed the line. He was trying to manipulate those ninja to do his dirty work; I will not stand for that!"

"Fair enough," replied the one who asked the question.

"What have you found, Matsu?" Eustoma asked the god, seeing the folder.

"Not good news," answered Matsu gravely.

This made both kings uneasy.

(Konoha-Hokage's office)

Tsunade held a report, sitting at her desk. She had a bad feeling about this report. One of Kakashi's summons delivered it to her.

Lately, she was winning at various gambling games. Which means something bad is going to happen. How bad, she wasn't sure.

The village's leader opened the scroll. She started to read it.

Tsunade's face started to turn red from rage. She let a string of curses while slamming a fist into her desk, which became splinters from the blow.

"Tsunade-sama, what's wrong?" asked Shizune walking to the room, concerned.

"We've sent a group of bakas is what!" answered an enraged Tsunade.

Shizune looked confused, but saw the scroll. "What happened to the team?"

Tsunade calmed down to at least talk clearly. "What happened, is that they did find Naruto, but."

"But?" asked a gulping Shizune.

"It seems the rumors of there being gods and demons being there is true, but they are peaceful. They've intermingled in that society with no problems," Tsunade explained the report.

"If that's right, then what's the problem?" asked Shizune.

Tsunade growled her reply, "The problem is that, our team enraged there kings. By attacking their wives is what!"

Shizune felt a cold shiver run down her spine, knowing that any attack on royalty was asking for trouble in spades.

"Is Naruto…dating any of their daughters?" Shizune asked again, wanting to know the story.

"No," Tsunade answered. "This Mayumi is hybrid civilian, one that has a bloodline limit of sorts."

"A bloodline limit over there," Shizune muttered with disbelief.

"Right but there is no telling what it does. She hasn't awakened it, even Naruto might not know about it," Tsunade stated rubbing her head.

'Here is the bad news,' thought Tsunade with a sigh.

"This is the really bad part. Not only did they attack those kings wives, they also kidnapped Mayumi, thankfully by Sasuke," replied Tsunade callously.

Shizune thought about what this might, she knows that attacking those wives was dangerous, but what about the civilian girl.

"How does Mayumi's kidnapping make it worse?" asked a confused Shizune.

"How it makes it worse is she's friends with those king's daughters, plus her parents might be old friends with the demon king. I'm not sure Kakashi's information is scarce about that, but I bet it doesn't matter. We've angered them with those attacks alone!

Even Naruto is pissed at us. This has turned into one big mess!" Tsunade exclaimed.

"So what now?" a confused Shizune asked.

"The only thing we can do is. I'm going there with another team, ready for a fight," Tsunade answered with steel.

Shizune felt a shiver ran down her spine. "You're sure that's a good idea? I mean, what if those kings' forces are strong or they themselves are too much."

"We have to take that chance. Naruto must come back," Tsunade stated firmly while walking out of her office. She needed to get everything ready.

Shizune watched her teacher leave, not sure about this. This could lead to dire situations.

'I hope you know what you're doing Tsunade-sama,' thought Shizune, hoping they weren't making the wrong choice.

The only thing she could do was wait and see what happens.

To be continued

A/N comments and reviews are welcomed. To the one who said about this not being a harem, sorry but I don't see any reason to do that. If anyone is curious, I'm thinking about making two Naruto crossover stories in the future with that element.