Chapter Twenty-Six
A Favor Cashed In
"Good morning, Naruto."
The blonde looked up from the bar to see who greeted him, finding a familiar face looking at him. "Oh, hey, Husk. How are you?"
Husk is a former Overlord that controlled a good chunk of the Entertainment District until ten years ago, then it fell under Velvette's control. He fell from his position when he went against an Overlord called the Radio Demon, an epithet of his control of radio devices all over Pentagram City. It was all before Naruto's arrival in Hell so he didn't think much about it.
He has become acquainted with the man who had been a frequent visitor of the bar for cheap booze and decent food. The demon is also the main reason Naruto makes the discount on booze a repetitive thing. He just spends so much on alcohol that it would be a loss if he didn't keep the man coming back.
"All's quiet with the recent events of the Extermination," Husk answered Naruto's question with a shrug and a meaningful look. "Heard you were the one kicking angel ass."
"Yup," Naruto confirmed with a grin as he grabbed the man's usual. "Black Label?"
"The whole bottle." Husk grinned as he waved over the full bottle of Hell's version of Johnnie Walker scotch. "I never would have thought you'd end up like this, though, kid. First the Vees, and now sending a message to Heaven. Got sick of being in the background?"
"Nah, I kinda miss it, actually," Naruto chuckled to himself and grabbed a few small balls of lean beef. "I just got tired of everyone treating each other like shit and abusing each other. So I took charge to bring some peace."
"Mighty fine job you're doing, kid."
Naruto grinned at the compliment as he tossed two patties onto the sizzling flat-top grill. He very much liked the alcoholic demon despite his crass attitude and addictions to booze and gambling. He reminded Naruto so much of Tsunade that it was always refreshing when the man came by to drink and talk. That's what made the man grow on him, habits and all, and he snorted at the thought of the two of them meeting.
They may end up owing each other so much money, and cause so many problems when intoxicated.
"Don't forget the onions."
Naruto rolled his eyes as he reached into the wide fridge under the grill to grab the onions and peppers to place on top of the beef. "Of course not."
Grabbing the circular smasher, he firmly pressed it onto the beef to create a thinner patty. The peppers and onions were mashed into the beef, just like the man liked it, and he grabbed the seasoning shaker to put it onto the patty. Usually the onions and peppers went on the bun but Husk was picky ever since Naruto acquiesced one time to his request.
As those cooked, Naruto wiped his hands of the beef and vegetable juices. Then he heard someone tap the bell he had on the counter in case no one was at the bar. Turning around, he was surprised to see Cherri and an unfamiliar face in front of him.
The woman's companion is a very effeminate man, as much as Haku, but was a furred demon with four arms. His fur is prominently white with some pink designs, his gaze noting a heart shape outline on the man's chest that is puffed out like breasts. Then there's a fashionable outfit that also screamed sexual deviant to him, if the miniskirt and high heels were anything to go by.
"Cherri! How are you? Want something?" Naruto's eyes quickly went back to Cherri and shined with questioning confusion. "Anything for your friend?"
"Now that you mention it, got some good vodka?"
Naruto laughed at that and nodded his head. "Of course. Flavored or regular?"
"Surprise me," his grin is flirtatious but Naruto easily ignored that as he walked down the line.
Being around Haku makes him very resistant to gay flirts, which is pretty common when he interacts with his customers that swung that way. He moved a finger through the line of vodka he had before landing on an unlabeled clear glass bottle. He kept most of the cheaper liquors without their labels, mostly just to keep his customers guessing on how good they are and to try new drinks.
Grabbing a shot glass, he brought both over and filled the small cup before passing it to the effeminate man. "Here you go."
As her friend knocked back the drink, Cherri looked at Naruto with a smirk on her face. "I want to cash in the favor you owe me."
"Favor?" Naruto raised an eyebrow before opening his mouth. "Ah, right, the video. Sure, what do you need?"
"Another shot."
Cherri gave a playfully annoyed sideways stare but Naruto laughed and poured more in the man's cup. "I want you to take in Angie. By the way, Naruto, this is my bestie Angel. Angie, this is Naruto."
"I know who he is, sugar tits," Angel grinned at the blonde and leaned forward on the counter, puffing out his furred chest.
"I know those aren't actual tits, if that's what you're trying to show off," Naruto told Angel smoothly while pouring another shot.
"Snrk- cough cough!" Husk snorted into his gloss before coughing and choking.
Naruto grabbed some napkins before sliding it to the man, getting a quiet "thanks" before looking at Cherri. "You know I'm not dating guys, Cherri."
"I can change ya mind."
"No thanks."
Cherri rolled her eyes at the man's quick response. "Listen, I heard you're taking in a bunch of strays and helping people. I need you to do the same for my girl Angie."
Naruto raised an eyebrow and glanced at Angel to see him knocking back the next shot he poured. "Elaborate."
"Help him get sober. And I don't mean alcohol." Cherri had to specify when she saw him grabbing the bottle he had just poured into Angel's glass. "I mean drugs. And porn. Mostly the first."
"Drugs and porn." Naruto repeated slowly and looked at Angel. "You're a prostitute."
"Actor, babe. Prostitution has no class, I'm an adult actor." Angel boasted with a wave of his hand. "You've probably seen some of my films?"
"Definitely not."
"Really?" Angel challenged. "Hole Glory 1 through 3? Bewitching Shaman 5? The Twink Chronicles?"
"I don't watch porn."
Angel blinked owlishly at the blonde's response. "You're kidding?"
"Nope." Naruto shook his head and turned back to Cherri. "Anything else?"
"Keep him safe like you do with the others."
Naruto nodded his head. That was a given. Anyone under his care he made sure to protect as much as ningenly possible.
"Well, Angel," Naruto held out his hand to the demon. "Welcome to the team. You'll be staying here, if you agree, that is, and you will be working for me."
"What am I agreeing to?"
"You'll be staying with me and working in my restaurant. While here, you will be getting clean from drugs and porn." Naruto answered with a smile while still extending his hand. "While here, I will house you and feed you but in return you help with the restaurant. I give you some spending money for fun, but you will no longer be having drugs. Do you agree?"
"Free room and food? Count me in!" Angel shook Naruto's hand with an excited grin. "I could suck your dick if you want!"
"I'll pass, thank you for the offer though."
"Aw," Angel pouted.
Husky snickered to the side while Naruto's eyebrow twitched but he continued to smile. "You'll get along well with Haku, I'm sure. Will you be needing help to move your stuff here?"
As he asked the question and got a confirmation from the pornstar, he realized that he was going to have to create a fourth floor now. He was getting away with Helsa and Charlie sharing a room when Loona and Octavia moved in but now he can't avoid it. He was lucky that his control of the elements had broadened enough that he will be able to manipulate the outline and creation of the next floor.
Three more rooms should be fine for now but at this point I'll be running a hotel on top of my restaurant. I should expand into the empty buildings around me.
He was already outlining apartment complexes and other residential areas for the demons currently living and planning to move into his district. He wanted comfortable and clean areas that weren't so rundown for Sinners and other demons to live in. The buildings around him are some of the most rundown as when he gained this territory when he first arrived, it was being neglected by the Vees and he wasn't taking care of it.
That'll have to change now as well.
"Alright, I'll help you but your room won't be ready until next week. Just come by Sunday and everything should be fine."
"Thank you, Naruto," Cherri nodded her head to the blonde and he waved her off.
"I repay my debts, and this isn't enough to consider our debt even."
And he meant it. He would help anyone for free if he deemed them worth the time and effort. As far as he was concerned, he hasn't repaid the favor Cherri did for him with this. This was something he would do outside of the circumstances so he shouldn't use it to repay a favor.
Cherri appreciated the blonde's words, more glad that he was a true man of his word. She knows that Angel can be a bit rough for some people especially with his promiscuous and sexual deviance. Naruto took it smoothly though and rolled with the comments made by her friend.
Emily bounced her knee anxiously as she looked over the notes she had compiled of a few Seraphim. It's only four people so far that she has found suspect considering everything she has investigated.
The first is Sera, which has been a tough pill to swallow for her. Sera had the most access to manipulate the records that led to Naruto's fall. She has free reign to look at any record compiled on any ningen, the only other being the Architect of Lives.
Sera has led the Seraphim Council for a long time, which has granted her most of these privileges. She has overseen the ruling that kept Naruto's existence as the second Son of God a secret from the rest of Heaven. Even if she is not the one that proposed that rule, she was the final swing vote that ultimately led to it being implemented.
The final damning evidence is that she was the one who was mentoring Emily during her time as a judge of purgatory. She is the reason why she didn't know the procedures brought up by Azrael that would have saved Naruto his judgment to Hell. Even after it all, she was never shown how to do them and Sera had mentored more than just her over her tenure as Seraphim.
The thought of all the possible wrongfully condemned souls now living in Hades made her stomach churn uneasily. How many have been wrongfully judged by our negligence?
The next Seraphim to be suspect to Emily is Brunhilde. The woman is the first to bring forth the idea of making Naruto's identity as Child of God hidden from Heaven. At first she wanted no one but those currently in the know to have the knowledge but the Elders made the condition that Virtues were given the knowledge as well. Considering the generation at the time we're already privy to it, it was not that much of a change.
Brunhilde is a warrior spirit who had gone against her senior leader ages ago. She was a soldier on behalf of Óðinn who helped watch over the Norse people and lead them to God. When Óðinn began presenting himself as a god, and his most loyal angels becoming the main members of his pantheon, Brunhilde had still followed him as she didn't want to abandon the people she promised to protect.
She ended up going against Óðinn and his self-centered pantheon the moment God found out. She and the other "valkyries" fought against them and even though a lot of them died they still won and Brunhilde herself would be lifted to the station of Seraphim. She was still a warrior and has grown cold since losing her sisters in their fight, all of which formed the mind of the woman today.
But the only one she talks to without issue is the Architect of Lives, the angel in charge of compiling summaries of every ningen's life. He is to order the good and bad in an unbiased and objective report for a proper judgment in purgatory. He is blessed with the ability to see the entire life of anyone from Ninkai whose name he sees in the daily judgment.
Izuna Uchiha is a ningen angel whose arrival had startled quite a few because of his life as a warrior during an era known as the Warring States era. His life was filled with death and fighting but he himself was a soft soul that did not enjoy or desire the killing. He loved his brother too much to say no to fighting though.
His role as the Architect of Lives puts him responsible for the report that ended up in Emily's hands to judge Naruto. Normally, this fact would make him guilty of the crime as he was responsible for it. But even the Elder's are unsure if he knows of the report because he has not brought up anything acknowledging the Son of God is dead.
So did he really make the report? Or did someone else do it?
That brings her to the final possible culprit; Solomon, the son of David, and the final King of a unified Israel from long ago. He is one of the most magically talented angels currently alive, putting him on par with the likes of the Elders.
Solomon is wise and kind to everyone, making him a difficult person to suspect of any heresy. But Emily reminds herself that no one is perfect, especially not the same man that had used the early generation of demons for his own purposes. The man was not above many things, finding any method well enough if the reasons are justifiable.
His solitary life makes Emily suspicious of him even though he has done nothing outright damning. He also ended up not supporting the law that made Naruto's existence hidden from the rest of Heaven. He became a vocal opposition as he had believed that something as tremendous as God's Second Son's birth is something everyone should know and celebrate.
But that was not from the beginning. Actually, he was for the law for most of the talks that would lead to the passing of it. It changed when the former Virtue of Diligence, Mito, had fought him for a crude remark about the child's birth. She had scarred him in their fight and when it became evident that the law would be passed, she passed on her position and left Heaven.
After that, Solomon changed his view and opposed the law.
But someone as wise and smart as him could be hiding his true plans.
Emily tapped her nails anxiously on the table as she continued to mull over the information once more. She was really regretting accepting the task the Elders gave her, now more than ever. She would have never suspected anyone doing anything such as this but here she was suspecting her fellow Seraphim.
Her own mentor is on this list, pulling her heartstrings as she felt betrayed that Sera could be the potential heretic. The only thing she could not understand was the motive from any of these people. Are they fallen to Darkness and are merely hiding it?
I miss when things were simpler.
Emily sadly closed the binder and put it inside her desk before stretching. She was getting tired so she will just continue her investigation when she wakes up and is refreshed.
Naruto hummed softly as he counted his refrigerator inventory for the end of the day. His nose is red from the extended period in the cold temperatures but he did not really mind it. If anything, he actually enjoyed it.
I'll need more beef, we've been going through a lot of it lately.
The sliders were a sponsored favorite ever since Bee had been ordering them for her parties. She would order three hundred sliders at a time and with her science magic made them into full burgers during the party. Of course, she paid for all of it and then some privately.
But that was making the new demons that came to eat at his restaurant order his food more. It seems that his food is actually good compared to many places around, most either being carelessly made or too overwhelming in flavor. Add in the fact he kept his prices cheap and not greedily high compared to other restaurants that only wanted money, he was even more famous now than ever.
Exiting the cooler with his checklist filled out with the upcoming order needs, he leaned against the fridge door as he finished various other items that are not produce or drinks. This was miscellaneous items like cleaning supplies, tools and such to maintain equipment, and a separate list for items that he and his friends/employees needed outside of operations.
"Hey, brat, almost done?"
Naruto glanced up when he heard Jiraiya's question and found the toad demon leaning on the wall. He was clearly wanting something judging by the way he looked at him expectantly.
"Almost finished, what do you need, Jiraiya?"
Seeing this as the invitation to just start talking, Jiraiya accepted. "I wanted to have that talk. We haven't had the time since I arrived yesterday."
"Yeah, that's because I lead a decent afterlife right now," Naruto answered as he scribbled the last lines of the checklist before closing the booklet. "I run a restaurant, I run the Entertainment District, and I have a group of people I call my family that I take care of. Your questions and your excuses are not at the top of important things I have to do."
Jiraiya frowned at the final statement his godson made. "I get that you're upset but-"
"Don't say you get it when you don't. I get that you have your own experiences but you're not me. You can understand my feelings but you don't get me anymore." Naruto breathed deeply before shaking his head. "As I said, I am busy and do not have the time to argue about excuses and questions. When I have the time, I will give it to you. Until then, make yourself busy with things that don't involve me."
Jiraiya watched his godson walk away with a sad look on his face. He should have expected this, but he truthfully thought the boy would be looking to have his own questions answered.
He turned around to make his way back into the restaurant when he was spooked by the appearance of Mito standing a bit behind him. "Oh, hello, Mito-sama."
The Uzumaki woman just looked at where the blonde boy disappeared before waving her hand for the man to follow. "Come, we have our own discussion to have."
Naruto sighed as he opened his office door and tossed his notebook on the desk table. He rolled his head around to get a crack from his stiff neck before plopping down in his chair.
Now that's done, I need to get the funds to furnish the fourth floor.
The blonde already had clones using Wood and Earth elements to mold the walls of the fourth floor and four rooms. Thankfully, his use of clones to read and learn about the modern technology and building regulations allowed him to do the wiring and electrical stuff without being an idiot. It would be embarrassing if he died of electricity when doing it all.
I have a terrible feeling about the next few days.