Chapter Eleven
What Do You Mean "My Turf"
"What do you mean I can't adopt her?!"
Blitzø slammed his hands on the desk of the director of the Bernard's Hellbeast Adoption Center, glaring down at the doberman hellhound. She is tall and slender at around six-foot-four, although with the black high heels she was wearing she was probably closer to six-foot-seven. Her dark brown and black fur is meticulously brushed and glossy with care, the glasses on her nose being designer but not prescription.
"I'm sorry, mister Buckzo," the woman's voice was rich and sultry. "But our selection process is meticulous and meant to make sure that each of our children find the perfect forever home. But you and your… history as well as your proclivity to do things that we deem irresponsible just do not make you a viable candidate."
"What the fuck are you saying, bitch?!"
The woman gave a narrowed stare at him before sitting up straight and leaning forward. She rested her elbows on her desk and hid the lower half of her snout behind it but the imo could tell that she was frowning.
"You are not capable of adopting a hound, mister Buckzo. Now leave before I call the authorities."
Blitzø was tempted to pull out his gun and shoot this mutt in her face… but then he would definitely not be able to adopt Loona. He needed to be smart about this… or at least smarter.
"Thank you for your interest, sir, the head caretaker will guide you out."
Blitzø scoffed and spun around to march out of the room without waiting for the bulldog hellhound to lead the way. How dare that stuck up bitch tell him that he could not adopt a hound! He was more than qualified to be a father! Just because he wasn't some boring ass adult doesn't mean he was a danger!
"Don't take it too harshly, sir," the head caretaker drawled sympathetically. "Ever since director Dobermann came to run this adoption center, she hasn't approved anyone to adopt."
Blitzø glared at the woman but he was just confused now. "How can she do that?"
"The ones who would openly dispute her have been let go," she answered and opened the door outside. "There is someone you can talk to that can handle this and allow you to adopt Loona if you want."
Blitzø watched as she pulled out a card and handed it to him. He took it and read it but all he found was an address. "The fuck is this?"
"Just go to that address and ask for mister Uzumaki. He will help you."
With that, the door closed and the imp was left to stare at the card in thought.
Word had spread around the Entertainment District that Beelzebub had visited Get Wasted and Get Out and that's caused a lot of Sinners and hellborn to make up theories. It was amusing and baffling how wildly these theories range from, some being close to the truth while most are so untrue it was crazy that anyone would believe it.
But people did, and they went even further with those theories to draw up their own extreme opinions. He's heard from some customers that Bee came to have a date with him and that he was her new toy for a week. Others have said that she's come to grant him power in exchange for making tributes in her honor. And finally, the rest say that she had been sent to threaten him on behalf of the Magne and von Eldritch families for their daughters.
"These people have nothing better to do than gossip." Naruto pinched his nose and rubbed his face as he closed the door to his basement behind him. "It's ridiculous what people come up with in their free time."
"Yeah, if only they knew that you like to keep women chained up in your basement."
Naruto looked over to see Cherri sitting down on one side of the room while Rin was on the other. They both were sitting in padded chairs and had no technology or other items near them, mostly because he wasn't sure how crafty either of them are. Cherri was a cunning woman and surprisingly smart considering she was an arsonist by nature, while Rin was literally trained by the Fourth Hokage and served in a war.
"I'll have to agree with her, this does not look good on you." Rin concurred but she was far from bothered by her predicament.
Truthfully, she was going to wait around the blonde boy's restaurant until he had a chance to talk. She wanted to learn more about him and how her home was after her death, but also because she wanted to learn about his possible parents. She did have time to think about it and now that he is in front of her again she can see that he was pretty much a replica of Minato-sensei.
But where were they if they did die? She highly doubted that with their service that they would end up in Heaven. Minato, himself, killed over a few hundred shinobi in one attack without giving them a chance to surrender. Kushina could have repented for her sins, considering Uzumaki had been believers of the Old Ways prior to their destruction, and she was then allowed into Heaven.
"Huh," Naruto looked around, between the two girls and the locked door he had unlocked and entered through. "It… really does look bad. Shit."
Rin chuckled softly while Cherri gave a raucous laughter at the boy's stumped features.
"You're a dense one, aren't you?"
Naruto rolled his eyes at Cherri's question and puffed out his cheeks. "I just don't look at things sexually. Fuck, I was raised as a shinobi practically since birth so forgive me if my understanding of love, sex and relationships was stunted until my death."
Haku makes fun of me enough that she doesn't need to add to it!
He really did mean it when he said he doesn't understand whether he wants to find love or companionship in most situations. He thought he loved Sakura but really he craved having a friend and she was the prettiest, in his eyes, girl in the academy. Then there was Haku, who proved that you didn't need to be a girl to be pretty and he honestly had to rethink his sexuality upon meeting him again in Hell.
Granted, I did feel like I was going to throw up when I accidentally kissed Sasuke at graduation. But he was clearly willing to die for the boy, so maybe it wasn't that he wasn't gay but it was just how repulsed he was from Sasuke's attitude and personality. He didn't really care either way since he was in Hell and just wanted to survive the mayhem that was this afterlife.
"A child soldier? What are we in, the fifteen hundreds?" Cherri asked rhetorically but found the other two were not laughing. "You're supposed to laugh, it's a joke."
"We come from a different world than Earth," Rin answered for Naruto as the blonde was figuring out the best way to explain it. "From what I can understand, our time is the equivalent of 12th and 16th century Asia with some modern innovations."
"There's a different world with humans?" Cherri couldn't believe it even after she said it.
"More like another dimension," Naruto answered this time. "We were created by God as well but we didn't get our Jesus Christ savior. I also don't think we have a First Man and Woman like you all."
Naruto looked at Rin at this, Cherri doing the same when she realized he was, and the woman blinked at the stares. "Don't look at me, I usually tuned out Kushina-sama's lessons on the Old Ways that her clan followed."
Naruto sighed at that, knowing it was too good to think she would know, before sitting at the second to last step. "So, what the fuck happened today? I'm out doing my shit to keep my business going at full capacity and I learn that there is a turf war between you two on my doorstep and I had to come stop you both from damaging all the property."
Add the fact that he had recently been buying all of the buildings around him so he can start offering cheap housing for those who already live here and those that will soon arrive. He wanted to have a place for his friends and loved ones when they finally arrived, that way he can protect them from the Extermination.
"I was actually trying to stop her from trying to take over your turf," Cherri jabbed a thumb over at Rin.
Naruto raised an eyebrow at that and looked at Rin. "That true?"
"Partly," Rin shrugged. "This area that is considered your turf is actually considered unowned because you aren't an active Overlord. I saw it as an easy grab and expansion from my small neighborhood in the Industrial District on the border."
"How can I have turf if I'm not an Overlord?"
"That's why I said it's considered unowned," Rin answered back. "And you're actually a minor Overlord like Cherri and I, mostly because you are acquainted with the von Eldritch daughter and have even the Vees not messing with you."
Naruto shrugged his shoulders at that. "I would have thought my area would still be considered theirs in the grand scheme of things, but I guess not."
"I mean, you're not seen as an Overlord just yet," Cherri shrugged. "But that's bound to change, especially now that everyone has seen you beat both of us."
Naruto sighed and hung his head between his hands. Perfect. "Alright, well, I think we've finally reached the ending I wanted. I don't want this to happen again, no more fighting near my restaurant or in my… turf. It's bad for business."
Cherri snorted at that but had the decency to look ashamed. "I'll admit that I may have gotten… overly excited with my bombs."
"I'm sorry that it was your territory I targeted," Rin shrugged but was not entirely sorry. "But you beat me fair and square, so I guess me and my territory is yours."
Naruto looked at her when she said that and was confused. "What now?"
"You defended your territory, which makes you the victor of the turf war. Technically, you can claim my territory for yourself and I could contest you again on it but I've decided I won't."
Naruto raised an eyebrow. "Why not?"
"Something tells me you're going to be someone interesting to follow." She did not elaborate on her statement, simply shrugging at his confused stare.
Naruto did not know what to say to that, mostly because he didn't know her well enough to know a motive. She didn't have any negative emotions, even dishonesty, so he knew she wasn't trying to trick him. But that did beg the question of why did she have such expectations of him?
"Alright, well," Naruto cleared his throat. "You're both free to do whatever you want, I got my point across and I'm sure neither of you will be starting fights together anytime soon."
Naruto brushed off the back of his pants as he stood up and began making his way up the stairs.
"This is the fucking place?"
Blitzø looked up at the sign of what is clearly a restaurant-apartment duo. It was packed with both Sinners and Hellborn customers enjoying alcohol and food in a mild manner that surprised him at first, but then he saw the blonde woman walking around talking to the customers. He could recognize the princess of Hell from anywhere but what in the fuck was she doing here?
"Enjoy the meal!"
He sighed and walked into the restaurant just as the princess told that to one of the groups in the booth. When the door rang, she turned to him and her face was blindingly joyous and happy as she walked over.
"Welcome to Get Wasted and Get Out, just a table for one?"
"I'm here to see Uzumaki, I was given this card," he waved the little notecard in his hand at her. "I was told he could help with the bitch at the adoption center down the street."
Charlie raised her eyebrows at that before nodding her head. "I can get Naru, just wait right here!"
"Not like I have a fucking choice." Blitz crossed his arms as he annoyedly answered the blonde girl.
She gave an apologetic smile before quickly walking off to the back, giving a few words to the girl behind the bar.
It was a long two minute wait before the princess came out with a taller blonde man, who he hoped was the Uzumaki guy he was told to talk to. At first glance, he looked like any other bitch Sinner that came down and died within their first few years of Exterminations. But then he got close and something seemed to… crackle in the air as his red eyes stared down at him from the difference in their heights.
But those eyes were not judgemental or condescending but they did critically take in every little detail that made the imp feel naked. And he did not like that feeling!
"You the Uzumaki cuck I have to talk to or are you just another voyeur fucker," Blitz aggressively asked the blonde while palming the handle of his gun.
"What is going on at the Bernard's Adoption Center?" The blonde's question completely ignored his own.
"I was told by the caretaker that you could help me adopt Loona!" Blitz tossed the card at the blonde as he began to lose his patience. "You gonna help or not?"
Naruto took a deep breath and exhaled before answering calmly. "It depends on why Gretchen sent you to me. I want to know what is happening, so tell me everything and I will decide what I need to do to fix things."
Charlie watched as the blonde spoke as calmly as possible but she has worked with him long enough, a full month now, and has learned the little nuances of his habits and personality. It wasn't everything but it was enough to know when he was actually upset or not. With the way his left ear twitches every few moments when he was annoyed, or the way his tail flicked to the right and kicked up a bit of wind when he was angry. His nose twitched when he was sad, which was the hardest one to see as the blonde Sinner was very rarely bothered enough to be sad.
But right now, she can see all of the habits of when he was angry - pissed, if she had an assumption. And it would be correct if she could read his mind.
Bernard's Adoption Center is one of the first places he visited since it was the most rundown but longest-standing business in the area. He had wanted to learn a bit of the hellborn races mostly, but there was a part of him that had been reminded of his own life in the orphanage in Konoha. The way he was treated had traumatized him and he had secretly made the decision that he would not allow the same to happen to anyone else. Even those who call this shitty place home.
When he first arrived at Bernard's, he had been appalled by the conditions of the adoption center and on how each of the hounds were treated by the caretakers that should be protecting them. The fact that they treated the children of their species as nothing more than brainless animals had made him relive a bunch of memories he would have wanted to remain forgotten. But to see a glorified prison made him snap and he killed the last director - a terrier-like hellhound who he cared little to remember the name of. Then he gave the remaining caretakers the only warning they will ever get.
Treat these kids humanely like you would the Ars Goetia, or I will take everything into my own hands and you will not like that.
He left finding a new director to Gretchen, the senior caretaker of the facility. If it wasn't for how lazy or how little she cared for who tells her what to do, he was sure she would have made a decent new director.
"Shit, where to fucking start," Blitzø asked rhetorically before recounting everything that happened.
From his visit to the adoption center for a child to raise for reasons he did not give, to how he applied for the eldest hound that would be phased out in a few months, to how the new director denied his application. He told how the head caretaker had said that no one was being approved as adoptive parents ever since she arrived around a year ago. The director, Dobermann, had threatened him with authorities and if not for the mess that would come of him killing the one person that could approve his adoption he would have shot her.
As he spoke, he noticed that the face of the Sinner became grimmer and grimmer, even the princess was starting to look downcast but she was not angry. The blonde man was absolutely livid and was ready to lash out if it was not for him wanting to hear everything before making any decisions. His tail bristled like a porcupine and a red magic-like energy began to emit from his long nails and the fur on his tail. It was almost like a partial demon transformation but it was different.
He could not tell how, but deep down he knew it was more dangerous than any demonic transformation he has witnessed.
"I understand," Naruto's voice was strained as he spoke before turning to Charlie. "Tell the others I am going to have a meeting with this Director Dobermann. I will be back later, okay?"
Charlie nodded her head in understanding. "Just be careful, okay, Naru?"
The blonde smiled softly and nodded his head. "I promise, Kōtaishihi Denka."
"If you're done being gross, let's go!"
Naruto raised an eyebrow at the imp but decided against saying anything to him, just accepting the phthalo and lapis for jitters. He doubted the demon really cared about anyone but himself, but that only made it more confusing why he was so dead set on adopting a hellhound. There were quite a few adoption centers in the Entertainment District alone so why didn't he just go look there?
What is it that you want, imp?
Lilith thrummed her fingers across the table as she spaced out in thought, something she has been doing often lately.
The mansion has been quiet ever since she sent Charlie to work at that boy's restaurant. There were times where she went to her daughter's room expecting to hear her giggling and talking to herself about anything and everything that interested her. She would be thinking about ways to help Luci run Hell, ways to make their jobs easier and better the living conditions of their citizens.
Then she would open the door and her daughter would not be there. The room will be dark and empty, the air claustrophobic and reminding her of the fact that there had been a chance she could have lost Charlie. There was that tense feeling despite the bodies being disposed of and all blood cleaned from all of the surfaces. It was… almost like experiencing thanatophobia all over again.
She would sit in her daughter's room on her bed and just… remind herself that her little girl is safe and alive and protected. Safe and protected by the boy that saved her with powers beyond the normal magic of Earth. It would ease her nerves a little, especially when she got those daily updates over the phone from her little girl.
But something remains unknown.
It was extended beyond her perception, like a silhouette in the distance. She can feel like she can make out what it is but it still escapes her. The blonde, Naruto Uzumaki, was unique even among the ningen. There was plenty of wrath and gluttony tied to his soul, but there was something more. Something pure laid underneath even after being in Hell for two years now.
No killing in life despite being part of the profession that did a lot of it. He was powerful, very dangerous even among those who have arrived at twice his age, but he controlled himself well beyond his peers. He did not want to kill, having only done it when truly necessary, and she was sure that if not for Charlie's sake he would not have killed that Prefect as he did.
His sins are not unable to be cleansed, anyone who can sense what I do can see that. Why was he sentenced here from Heaven then?
Lilith stopped drumming her fingers as she finally felt a small piece of the puzzle sneak up in the back of her mind. But… it just couldn't be. There wouldn't have been that much of a mistake, right? Right?
Lilith's eyes narrowed before she stood up and began walking to her and her husband's room.
I'm going to go see my sister.
It only took a half hour to make it to Bernard's and it could have been quicker had Naruto simply enhanced his speed with chakra but he did not want to leave behind Blitzø. He felt like the imp had to be around for when he confronted the new director and had a look at the conditions himself. It was a weird gut feeling that disgusted him as it almost felt like it was fate for it to be this way and he just hated that idea.
He hated the idea of fate and even destiny to a lesser extent. He did not like the idea of something else dictating his life and his choices, much less the people around him, and that all stemmed from his history. He had been told he was destined to be nothing more than a dead last academy student with little hope to become a shinobi of Konoha. He was told that he was a demon and would bring the destruction of the village eventually.
So trust him when he says he loathes anything to do with destiny and fate. That was why he had a violent reaction to Neji in the Chunin Exams all those years ago. Yes, he was pissed about what happened to Hinata since she was such a sweet girl, but it was his idea that she or anyone is shackled by fate that had him react the way he did.
I'll deal with this when I decide to care.
Naruto sighed as he opened the door to the reception area.
"Mister Uzumaki, I see you are making a visit," Gretchen stood behind the desk almost expectantly if not for the slow and uncaring drawl of her voice. "Should I let Director Dobermann know of your arrival?"
Naruto shook his head, marching past the desk in the direction he knew was to the childrens' rooms. "Do not bother, I will make my way to her when I've checked on the children."
Gretchen nodded her head and followed behind Blitzø, who was wanting to get to Loona. "If you wish, mister Uzumaki."
Naruto said nothing as he opened the door to the bunkrooms that he remodeled after killing the previous director. What he found made him stop and his blood boiled. Once, there were jail doors and in each room were anywhere from three to seven kids in a cramped space. Then he took those gates off and expanded the rooms into a lower floor where children would be divided by age and would follow a buddy system. Four kids per room between the ages of six to fourteen, then only two from fourteen to eighteen where they would then be allowed an apartment somewhere close by - or sent to him for a job.
Now, there were thick glass walls with a small door that remained locked. Each room once again had over six kids in each room and no longer were they divided by age.
"Did the new Director order this?"
Naruto did not need to look to know Gretchen had nodded her head.
"Yes, she felt that the original system works best."
Naruto said nothing before reaching the end of the hall where he found a young hellhound girl curled up on a wooden bed that had a simple blanket and raggedy pillow. She was sniffling and hiccuping to herself but her face was buried in her knees so he could not see anything else about her. She did have white and gray fur and wore a red shirt with a black pentagram as well as ripped black jeans.
"That's Loona!" Blitz rushed to the glass wall and pressed his face against it.
"I heard that those who reach eighteen are phased out," Naruto asked before turning to look at Gretchen. "What does that mean?"
"I do not know, they are simply taken away," Gretchen did not react to the blonde's dark face. "Loona is the only one to phase out in the next few months before the year ends."
Naruto looked back over his shoulder to the room and now had a full view of the girl as she had finally heard the commotion. He can see from here with his enhanced eyesight that the girl, Loona, had marks along her wrists, throat, and feet. It was clear abuse from someone else, which extended beyond physical as he can see a fucking muzzle on her.
That was the last straw and, in a flare of power and a flick of his tail, the air vibrated.
Shatter!
All of the glass walls keeping the children in completely shatter in an explosion of shards and various pieces of metal that locked it in place.
"What the fuck!"
Naruto did not give a second look at the imp that threw himself back and fell on his ass. He walked into Loona's room and then his eyes met hers and he could now see her curling her lip and inching away from him until her back hit the wall. She was audibly growling at him before her breath hitched upon hitting the wall.
"Get… back!"
She was able to get the two words out through the muzzle but he did not listen, finally cornering her. He reached over and with a simple tug tore the muzzle strap keeping it tied to her head.
"There we go," he said as he pulled the muzzle off.
Chomp!
Naruto flinched as, when he finally took off the device, the hellhound had lashed out and bit his arm. He looked into her red eyes softly and did not move. Her aura flooded his taste buds and eyesight. He can taste copper, chili pepper, and cherry in abundance that he felt his lips purse at the strength of the respective flavors.
"It's okay," Naruto dropped the muzzle and crouched to be more eye level with Loona. "I'm not here to hurt you. I am here to correct what has happened here."
Loona snarled but she eventually opened her mouth enough to let go, her red eyes watching his every movement as he took his arm back and stepped away. Her eyes did, however, widen slightly when she saw her bitemark begin to sizzle and heal within moments.
"Gretchen," Naruto turned to look at the caretaker. "I think it's time to speak to Director Dobermann now."
"This way," she nodded her head and turned on her heel to make her way to the entrance they just came from.
"Stay here, Blitzø. I'm going to have a quick talk."
Blitz smirked as he was already liking the sound of that. "I can't wait, I'll just be down here getting to know my future daughter."
Naruto said nothing as he created two clones before silently ordering one to go to the next floor to let out those children while the last one was ordered to begin rounding up the kids into the cafeteria. He will get them all together, clothed and fed, before he decides what he is going to do after he handles Dobermann. He was likely just going to kill her but he wanted to know what was happening to the children that phased out.
Something tells him he won't like the answer.
Gretchen led him to the top floor where the Director's office was. He moved past the hound caretaker and opened the door without knocking, slamming the door against the wall with the force he pushed it.
The hellhound woman behind the desk looked up in surprise, her dark eyes looking at him in anger. "Who are you?"
Naruto slowly walked inside, his tail flicking wildly and kicking up dust and posters with his wild chakra. His eyes remained on the woman until he stopped a foot away from the desk and he looked down at the paperwork she was writing on. In a cursory glance, he was able to catch that it was about Loona and sending her somewhere called Driftwood Cathedral.
"I am Naruto Uzumaki, I run Get Wasted and Get Out," Naruto looked back up at Dobermann. "However, on top of that, I take care of the places around me. That includes this adoption center, which you have found yourself the new Director of."
"I've heard of your place," Dobermann now sat back, her red and lapis aura now turning brown and purple. "I was sent here to take over the responsibilities after it was learned that the previous Director passed away."
"He didn't pass away," Naruto smirked before sitting in the chair across from the hellhound. "You see, I found out how the children are treated under his direction and I punished him accordingly. I fixed it up, and gave explicit orders that this did not happen again. It comes to my surprise that I learn that the new Director begins to do just that and I am told by someone who is denied adopting a child. In fact, no one has been able to adopt any of the kids. Why is that?"
Dobermann shrugged her shoulders. "I have high expectations for prospective adoptive owners. Not just anyone should be able to come in and take one of our hounds."
"And the fact you are keeping the children locked up like sardines?" Naruto's red eyes narrowed at the woman.
"Privacy must be sacrificed so everyone has a place to sleep," Dobermann responded immediately and she began to inspect her nail. "I am doing everything beyond what other adoption centers do. I cannot be blamed for some sacrifices that must be made."
Naruto had to take a moment before he explodes on the woman, taking a deep breath before exhaling. "Okay, well, here's what's going to happen. I don't care for your excuses. I'm going to find out what's been happening to the children that have turned eighteen, then I will decide what to do with you."
His eyes looked up and waited for her to look at him. "Look into my eyes, please, Director Dobermann."
When she did, the room turned silent.