Underworld – Phoenix Territory – Phoenix Castle – Living Room.
Still sitting comfortably, Naruto and Marianne were catching up on everything that had happened over the last two months.
Naruto quickly understood some things that Rizevim had already confirmed to him, and he also saw with his own eyes the absurd attempt of his father and some traitors to seize power.
Naruto sighed and pulled his mother into an embrace, and Marianne shifted to rest her head against her son's chest.
Naruto: You don't have to worry about anything now, Mother. I'm here… – he told her softly, looking into his mother's beautiful eyes as she smiled.
Marianne: To think my baby would grow so much and now is capable of protecting me, what joy… – she said with a smile as she closed her eyes.
Naruto drew his mother closer, while two fire clones appeared in the middle of the room and quickly teleported away to carry out certain tasks.
Marianne: I still don't understand how you create and control them. I can create clones, but not share consciousness, so they act more like statues… – she said calmly, making Naruto sweat and avert his gaze.
From Amon's book, Naruto knew that in order to truly create clones capable of moving and imitating, the caster needed to meet one condition… to have mental issues. A person with normal motor faculties could never divide their consciousness.
Naruto didn't know why, but he felt offended when he read that part.
Marianne opened one of her eyes, prompting Naruto to pinch her cheek.
"Heyyy… I'm the mother here…"
Marianne whimpered pitifully before laughing along with Naruto, both simply enjoying each other's presence.
The news of Naruto Phoenix's awakening quickly spread throughout the underworld, and the devil media wasted no time in promoting their savior, who was still with them. By his mere existence, angels and fallen angels wouldn't dare to invade during this tense and dark situation.
The demon population was happy and excited, eagerly awaiting some kind of declaration from Naruto Phoenix himself. Many times in the past he had appeared to speak about aid and other matters. He was a demon who earned love from the population simply with his presence.
But just as there were those who praised and called for him, there were also those who didn't. In fact, his awakening worried some—namely certain Lords and Elders of the different houses, as well as the Demon Council, which had never dealt directly with Naruto Phoenix. He was the most popular demon of the underworld, and both Lucifer himself and now Rizevim had granted him a power that made him untouchable, free to act as he pleased without opposition. He didn't answer to the council, nor to the law. Only a few demons had ever achieved such a privilege: Lucifer, Lilith, Beelzebub, Asmodeus, Leviathan, Rizevim… and now, Naruto Phoenix.
An unparalleled achievement that truly made many nervous, as the Phoenix influence in the underworld continued to grow and consolidate. With Naruto Phoenix's own might added to that, the Demon Council wanted to control him but had no idea how to even begin.
Many Lords of other houses were also irritated at being surpassed by a child… a child who had been a newborn not long ago, who had fought alongside the Maous themselves, and now enjoyed more prestige than they did as veterans.
Envy was clearly the greatest sin of the underworld at present.
Lucifuge Territory – Lucifuge Castle – Grayfia's Room.
Emerging from the shower, the now 15-year-old Grayfia appeared with a towel wrapped around her chest and another in her hands as she dried her hair.
Grayfia blinked upon seeing a figure sitting on her bed and gasped before sighing.
"What?"
Grayfia: You kill the mood when you're just a clone… – she said coldly.
Naruto huffed.
Naruto: I have to pamper my mother, you know. She was the one who suffered the most… – he replied, and Grayfia didn't hesitate to nod. Lovers or spouses—nothing compares to a mother's love. It was unquestionable.
Grayfia smiled softly.
Grayfia: I know. I just hope the real you visits me. And I'm very happy you're awake… I couldn't see you. Rizevim-sama guarded you jealously, and since I'm now co-managing the clan with Mother, I couldn't serve as your maid… Father died in the war… – she explained quietly, averting her eyes at the mention of her father.
Naruto nodded and gently patted Grayfia's head but didn't embrace her. He knew the rebellious demoness disliked clones—nothing intimate; she preferred the original.
Naruto: I'm sorry for that, I couldn't protect you all and… – he trailed off when Grayfia shook her head softly, her long hair cascading down her back.
Grayfia: It's not your fault. You helped a lot and saved many lives when dealing with the Heavenly Dragons. Later I learned that Father died beside Lucifer-sama. He didn't fall before you were wounded… You aren't injured now, right?… – she asked with doubt, and Naruto shook his head with a smile.
Naruto: Rizevim is very capable when he puts his mind to it… – he said with a smile.
Grayfia made a doubtful face before sighing. It was better to talk to the original about more important matters.
Grayfia: Tell me what happened before you fell unconscious and about your transformation… – she requested calmly as she moved toward where her clothes were.
Naruto followed her with his eyes and began to speak.
While the pair caught up after months apart, something similar was happening in the human world.
Human World – Phoenix Island – Phoenix Castle – Living Room.
"Tsk… a clone…"
"Heyy…"
Naruto sweated as he saw his mother and Lilith snapping their fingers mockingly at him.
Yoruhime smiled in amusement—one less problem for now.
Naruto turned his gaze toward Lilith, whose belly had grown a little more, and remained silent.
Lilith looked away, making Naruto sweat again.
Naruto then shifted his gaze to a stunning blonde standing beside Yoruhime.
She was a woman of divine bearing, with golden curly hair adorned with white flowers, sky-blue eyes, and a light white dress that revealed much of her figure. She wore golden jewelry and walked barefoot, radiating ethereal elegance and sensuality.
Naruto hummed; she felt strangely familiar.
Noticing his gaze, Yoruhime decided to explain.
Yoruhime: She's a Greek I found along the way. She shares divinity with Gaia, and her name is Aphrodite… – she introduced her calmly.
Naruto nodded.
Naruto: That's not normal. I'm just a clone without lust or libido, yet I feel attracted to her… – he remarked curiously.
Aphrodite smiled softly at him.
Lilith: In fact, I noticed that same peculiarity when she went out to watch the primitive warriors. They acted like fools, almost as if a succubus were in front of them—aside from me, of course, since I control my abilities… – she said, also intrigued by the phenomenon.
In truth, they all were.
Naruto sighed.
Naruto: Well, we'll just have to wait until the real me comes tomorrow and see what happens… – he said calmly. Suddenly, the room fell silent. Naruto loosened his collar nervously… suddenly everything felt dangerous.
Olga smiled.
Gaia: Why tomorrow?… – she asked seriously.
Naruto: As I said, I have to console my mother. With her pregnancy she's a bit weak, and Father tried to take advantage of that and my unconscious state to consolidate his power as Lord Phoenix, when he isn't of royal blood. He's just someone my mother chose. He truly has neither the blood nor the status to sit on the Lord's seat. He's only… an image to show, without real power… – he explained calmly.
Lilith nodded; she already knew this. Marianne had confessed it when she asked why he treated her poorly, besides his slip with Mother Azula… Marianne was simply too dominant and power-loving. She had never loved him—she only chose him for being docile and the most presentable among her grandmother's candidates… a transaction, since after the marriage she would take control of the Phoenix clan.
Olga frowned.
Olga: Even if she's pregnant, it's not normal for her to feel weak, or anything like that. A demon woman's constitution is far superior, almost at the level of true goddesses. They can launch attacks and fight until two months before giving birth and still be in perfect condition… – she said doubtfully, looking at Lady Lilith, who radiated health and energy.
Lilith smiled and nodded in agreement. Marianne's case was very strange.
The others paid close attention in silence.
Lilith: Thinking about it, weakness in just a few months of pregnancy… there are only two causes. Either Marianne slept with Lucifer—who is practically walking poison, and having a child with him can lead to death, which is why only Rizevim truly exists—or she slept with you… – she said, staring directly at the clone.
The others widened their eyes in surprise.
Lilith: In fact, there have been no similar cases, only one when we first descended into the underworld. Direct siblings of the same father and mother had a relationship… the young woman became pregnant and weak. The baby consumed more nutrients from the mother's body—it was a mutation, truly strange, but in the end the young woman died along with the baby who had devoured her to the bone. That's why direct relationships were declared taboo. It was a superficial ban, really, since they can still happen in secret, but no one considers having a child that way… What would people say?… – she explained what might now be happening to Marianne.
Gaia looked at her son, blushing and surprised.
Gaia: You… seriously?… – she asked, looking directly into her son's eyes.
Naruto sighed. Now he understood why Rizevim was Lucifer and Lilith's only child. But with his mother, he would have to change his plans and ideas with Rizevim. They couldn't plunge into war, not if it endangered his mother's life and health. To hell with it—his firstborn, whether son or daughter, had to be born healthy and in a calm environment, away from external schemes… Lilith was fine because they didn't share direct bloodlines, not to mention the infusions, but his mother… Damn, he hadn't realized she could be in danger. "If I had known before, would I have stopped?"
Naruto: Maybe not… – he thought. He accepted it—his mother was a primordial desire for him, to possess her and make her bear his offspring. To hell with the dangers; his desire was stronger and greater. Now he only needed to resolve the setbacks.
The women in the room sweated. He hadn't even denied it; he simply fell silent in his thoughts. That was more than a confirmation.
Naruto snapped out of his thoughts and was about to speak when he noticed his mother's strange look toward him.
Naruto: What's going on with her?… – he wondered curiously.
Underworld – Gremory Territory – Gremory Castle – Sirzechs' Room.
Standing by the window of his room, overlooking the garden, Sirzechs Gremory sipped from a glass of wine.
Sirzechs hummed.
Sirzechs: Even if you've awakened, Naruto, clearly you'll still be weak… You should just stay silent and watch. Maybe then I'll grant you some minor position in the future… – he thought with a cold smile. Tomorrow, he would make sure his spies stirred up more trouble in the underworld to justify what they were planning to do.
…
TO BE CONTINUED.