Disclaimer: I do not own any part of the Naruto franchise or High School DxD.
Warning: Spoilers for High School DxD past Volume 4
Read, Review, and Enjoy.
"Prez! I'm not a swordsman like Kiba, a magician genius like Akeno, don't have the ridiculous superhuman strength that Koneko has, or Asia's healing powers. However, I still want to be the strongest pawn! For your sake, I would destroy even God himself!" A green light shone brightly from the jewel embedded in his left arm gauntlet. "Shine forth! Over-boost! Welsh Dragon Over-Booster! This is the power of a low-level devil: Balance Breaker, Boosted Gear Scale-mail!"
"The once sealed, Balance Breaker?" Rias, astonished by the Issei's transformation and rapid increase in power, stared at her lowly pawn fighting for her freedom.
"I'm not through yet! I'll show you the power my sensei entrusted to me! AH!" Issei screamed as power rushes through his recently developed chakra coils. An unearthly, purple light and golden, red-yellow aura erupted from the red dragon armor. The golden energy wrapped around the armor; single dragon tail split into nine, free-flowing golden tails. Two ear-like projections grew from the helmet. Soon after, the purple light solidified and engulfed the red aura. The extra layer took shape as well, that of an ancient Japanese samurai. Two feathery, purple wings jut out from where Scale-mail's rockets were located. Six black orbs comprised of every element formed a halo behind the Red Dragon Emperor.
"Boosted Gear: Susano'o!" The transformation finally settled as the wisped smoke clears to reveal Issei's Balance Breaker in combination with another power; a power that no devil in the royal court knows. Even the Devil King, Sirzechs Lucifer, can only gaze in awe upon the magnificent form. Shinto God of the seas and storms, Susano'o, for the Red Dragon Emperor to name the unknown purple armor after a god, it must be very powerful. Not just that, but the mask possessed a rather elongated nose, resembling a tengu.
"Riser…" Issei's tone suddenly turned dark and serious. In his right hand, he revealed a cross and bottle of holy water. Then, the six orbs behind Issei combined with the holy trinkets to form a katana. "I'll give you a warning now: surrender, or else. Boost! Transfer!" Taking the holy sword with his gauntlet, the Red Dragon Emperor infused Susano'o and blade with his own power.
"Wha-what? How are you holding those objects! They are supposed to cause intense pain to devils! You dare mock me?! You lowly, devil slave! Know your place! I'm Riser Phenex! The next head of the almighty Phenex clan! You shall perish here!" The irate fire bird hurled an enormous flaming ball at Susano'o. However, after the resulting smoke and debris cleared, the attack had no effect. Trembling, Riser threw fire balls again and again, yet the same result repeated continuously. The purple armor cloaking the Red Dragon Emperor nullified all the attacks.
"Riser, stop," Issei easily knocked aside another fire ball. "This blade, infused not only with a cross and holy water, contains Onmyōton, or so I'm told. I don't understand it myself, but if this cuts you, no matter what powers your clan bloodline offers, you will never recover or regenerate. I don't want use this, but for President's sake, I WILL CUT YOU DOWN!" Issei declared as he slowly marched toward the quivering Phenex. The slow march quickly turned into a full-on sprint at speeds which Riser and even higher-level devils could not perceive. Out of nowhere, a thunderous right hook empowered with holy attributes slammed into Riser's face.
"Asia told me that devils hate crosses and holy water," Issei Hyoudou reiterated from his bishop peer a fact spanning across those of his kind, "and that if I used both at the same time, the damage would be too much to recover from." Issei gripped Riser's head and rammed his knee into Riser's face. "Kiba told me to think like your enemy when fighting!" The nine tails sprouting from the dragon's tail wrapped around Riser's limbs. He forced the Phenex to prostrate, ready to decapitate. "Akeno told me, that magic flows from you through your aura! Concentrate all your energy and just feel the magic waves! Koneko told me to always aim for the center and never let your guard down!" Issei transferred all his power and anger into Onmyōton blade.
"W-Wait!" Raiser coughed up as the instrument of his destruction hung over his head. "Do you understand what you're doing? Pure-blooded devils drastically decreased in population after the last war. For the sake of all devils, the marriage is absolute! It's not something a lowly, shitty devil like you could understand!"
"I don't understand difficult things. But you know, there is one thing I remember from when you defeated me earlier," A quick but painful image of Rias's face flashed before his eyes. "Prez was crying! That is the only reason I need to cut you down!"
"And one final thing my sensei told me: Never give up and never go back on my word. That is my Nindo! My way!" Issei screamed at the top of his lungs. With the power of light and darkness, the blade was ready to end Riser's life. Closing his eyes, Riser waited for the final slash, but it never came. Slowly, but fearfully opening his eyes, he saw his sister, Ravel Phenex, standing between the Red Dragon Emperor and him. Luckily, Issei was able to stop his blade mid-swing just before it touched the younger Phenex.
"If I kill your brother here, the Phenex clan and you will seek vengeance on me," Issei released Riser from his strangle-hold. Ravel quickly caught her brother from falling to the ground. Susano'o and Scale-Mail slowly dissolved; the tension holding Issei up suddenly gave out, and he fell to his knees as well. "My sensei told me, 'we are both but men, driven to seek vengeance under the banner of justice. However, if there is justice in vengeance, then justice will breed only more vengeance. Thus, continuing the vicious cycle of hatred. Dying like trash, never ending hatred, pain that never heals, that is war.' When he told me this, I never understood what he meant, but now, I think I have a small idea. Therefore, I shall spare your brother's life."
"Yet, who are the ones who write history, you little shit?" Issei's eyes widened as Riser kicked him, in the gut, with enough force to dent the opposite wall. "The ones who write history are the victors! The losers are thrown into the trash, like you! For humiliating me, you'll burn in the Phenex's everlasting hellfire!" Riser, neither heeding his sister's pleas nor listening to Sirzech's call to end the match, readied to incinerate Issei. However…
"Yo, what you think you're doing? I'd think a person of your stature have more class and honor," A hand gripped the salty Riser's wrist. Riser didn't even sense this person. Where had he come from?
"Jiraiya-sensei…" Issei mumbled in relief as his mentor arrives just in time. "The hero always arrives at the last second. Right, sensei?" Blood spewed from Issei's mouth as his injury from Riser's attack kicked in. He slowly lost consciousness.
Two months ago…
Issei Hyoudou, seventeen year old high school student, brown hair, light brown eyes, and average in every way possible except in one aspect: lust. His perversion knew no bounds or limits. His two friends, Mitsuda and Motohama, and he were known as the "Perverted Trio" amongst his peers at Kuoh Academy. Because of this, he has yet to find a girlfriend (though he unknowingly past first base in the past).
Just like any other normal, average day, Issei wore the standard academy uniform, but with a red undershirt and blue sneakers. On his usual route back home from school, there seemed to be an unusual presence coming from the massage/spa parlor he normally passed by and periodically peeked at the beautiful females enjoying a sauna. His pervert senses tingling, Issei cut into an alley that led to his group's hidden peep hole. However, someone else had the same idea. Said person looked to be into his fifties, long gray, spiky hair tied into a pony tail, two shoulder-length bangs that framed both sides of his face, red lines that ran down from his eyes, and an unusually shaped horned forehead protector. To add to his attire, the man wore a green short shirt and pants, and finally wore a red haori. Wearing such clothing in this modern age and giggling, this man was to be avoided, but at the moment, he's monopolizing Issei's personal peep hole, and that cannot slide.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Issei taps on the older man's shoulder, but no response. The man was too entranced at the site before him. "I'm right here! Listen God damn you!" The brown-haired teenager kicked him in the back. The resulting impact made a sound which alerted the female spa occupants of a potential peeping tom. Immediately, they all evacuated the sauna.
"Damn brat," The gray-haired man picked himself up. He stood at least a head and shoulder height above Issei. "What do you think you're doing? I was in the middle of very important research!"
"Research my ass!" Issei, pointing his finger accusingly, countered. "You're just a creepy old pervert getting off on young ladies. I don't know whether to turn you in or praise you! Who the hell are you?"
"Thanks for asking!" The man posed and whipped his long pony-tail. "Mt. Myoboku's Holy Master Sage, also known as Toad Sage. Believe it! Also, I'm not just a pervert…"
"Then what?" Issei felt as if he regretted asking.
"A super pervert!" A lecherous grin spread cheek to cheek as the so-called Toad Sage perverted groped a non-existent pair of breasts.
"…" Even Issei's lecherous mind paled in comparison to the perverseness this man excluded from every fiber of his being. However, this man stepped onto his turf. "You know, a guy like me committing this act is seen as a prank, but a guy your age will get sent to prison. What's stopping me from contacting the authorities?" Issei pulled out his cell phone and threatens to turn him in.
"What's stopping me from doing this?" Jiraiya countered. "Oi, oi! This is the guy peeping on you earlier. Please come out and punish him in the cruelest way possible."
Every alarm went off in Issei's brain. Turning around, he saw the sauna manager, employees, and female customers blocking the exit, but when he turned back, Jiraiya was nowhere to be seen. Slowly, the gang forced Issei's back to the walls. Eyes quickly shifting left and right, he found no way out of this situation. Accepting his fate, he closed his eyes, but suddenly, what felt like a gust of wind swept him off his feet. When everything settled down, he found himself sitting on a fountain's edge in the local park where Jiraiya handed him what appeared to be an orange book.
"Look kid, you and I got on the wrong foot here. Here's my apology," The older man gave him the orange book.
"Wha…how did you…what's this?" Issei's mind went left and right as he incoherently formed his questions. Taking a closer look at the cover, he immediately recognized the title. "Isn't this Make-Out Violence? This is the announced sequel to the bestselling adult novel that came out late last month! How did you get this? Wait…" The dots began to connect. "Jiraiya, are you the Jiraiya, author of Make-out Paradise?!"
"That I am. I'm surprised you know of my greatness. The first book is off-limits to anyone under eighteen, but who cares about age restrictions. I can tell you have a taste for great writing and art. Tell you what, I'm in need of an assistant; if you keep my identity a secret, I'll make you that assistant," Jiraiya offered to the young man. Stars intensely lit up in said young man's eyes. Nodding his head exuberantly, Issei gladly accepted his off.
"Good. Let's meet at this location again tomorrow at this time. Remember tell no one about this arrangement except your parents, the book, or my identity. Got it?" Jiraiya quickly laid out the conditions to Issei's newfound apprenticeship. Accepting any conditions he may have had, Issei, on cloud-nine right under the long desired fluffy bounce of a woman's breasts, left him.
"That left arm of his," Once Issei was out of sight, Jiraiya's demeanor turned from jovial to serious, "there's something in there. Even though this whole town is saturated with energy, that arm in particular gave off an energy that felt eerily similar to him. Does that make him one of them? I'll need to keep a close watch over Issei Hyoudou. However, there's something else I need to investigate first."
The next day, Friday, a crowd of students split as if Moses commanded the Red Sea to part. The Kuoh Academy students made way for the school's two gems, the top idols: Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima. Both busty, bodily mature for their age, women wore the standard female academy uniform: a white long-sleeved, button-down shirt with a black ribbon, a black shoulder cape and matching button-down corset, and a magenta skirt with white accents. Rias Gremory, heir to the Gremory glan, had blue-green eyes and amazingly long and beautiful crimson red hair reaching down to her thighs. A single strand stuck out from the top of the redhead. Her best friend and queen, Akeno Himejima, was bustier and had long raven hair, violent eyes, pale skin, and beasts comparable to those of Tsunade and the Mizukage. She tied the long hair with an orange ribbon into a pony tail reaching down to her legs. The pair walked down the ordinary school front as if they were celebrities walking down a red carpet. However, a person, oblivious to the unfolding event, accidentally stepped in front of them. The three bumped into each other, but only the two women fell to the ground.
"My apologies," The student held out his hands to help up the two. He pulled up Rias with his left and Akeno with his right.
"That's ok. We also were not prepared," Rias brushes aside her bangs to get a look at the guy. What she was not prepared for was how handsome the guy was. Even though he was human, his looks were on high male devil standards. Wearing the standard male academy uniform, he had onyx black eyes, chin-length bangs, and spiky hair jutting out the back. His fair-skin and looks gave him that bishounen vibe on par to that of Yuuto Kiba! Even the angry female student population fell head-over-heels just from his face and completely forgot the fact that he bumped into the school's idols.
"I've never seen you before. New this year?" Akeno asked as she straightened her skirt. "Is it not polite to introduce yourself after helping two young ladies?" She flirtatiously suggested with a coy, playful look in her eyes.
"Sasuke Uchiha, 2nd year, just transferred. I am looking for the admissions department to turn in the necessary forms," The black-hair, new student responded formally without a hint of nervousness. His deep, manly voice set a good number of the female students over the edge. Akeno pouted; he did not react at all to her attempt to play with his emotions. Was he frigid?
"Just down the hall on the first floor. Have fun during your time here, Mr. Uchiha," Rias cordially welcomed the new student. She already could tell that he'll make an impact in this school. He already marked his presence amongst the female students as the hottest guy in school before he even stepped foot onto the institution.
With a curt, silent nod, Sasuke made his way to the admissions department.
Perverted giggles quietly sounded from a pair peeping on the girl's locker room. Normally, this pair had a third member, and the trio routinely peeped on the female kendo club members whilst they changed. The female flesh and soft milky skin nearly sent the two over the edge. However, they wondered where the third member was. What was greater than witnessing the grandeur of the female physique? Unbeknownst to them, someone found them. Silently, said person crept up behind them. Revealing her presence, she tapped the two on the shoulders. Eyes glazed over, they barely noticed a flash of pink before the two were decked by the most powerful punches they'll ever feel in their entire lives.
"AHHH!"
The student body and Issei Hyoudou lifted their heads when a loud scream pierced the entire school building. Sighing, Issei knew what most likely happened: his friends, Mitsuda and Motohama, skipped first period, had been discovered, and the kendo club girls had their way with them, again. This time, though, he was not on the receiving end. Instead, he was in home room as he giggled perversely at the chapter he just finished reading. Jiraiya was a genius! The writing style, descriptive scenes, and actual plot had him engrossed from the first chapter. Now he can't put the book down. Even in first period Issei read almost the whole time and kept his giggles to a minimum, but a few strays got out. When that happened, the whole class knew instantly who the source was, but he didn't care. Though, the teacher did and nearly confiscated the book. The class was abuzz with energy and anticipation. A new, transfer student apparently was going to make a debut.
"Ok, class, I'd like to introduce to you our newest student. Please, introduce yourself," the teacher instructed. The new female student wrote her name on the white board.
"Hello, I'm Sakura Haruno. Pleased to make your acquaintance. I hope we get along well this year," The pink-hair student bowed courteously. Though the pink hair definitely stood out, what the class noticed was her distinctively large forehead. Recognizing the stares she received, Sakura sighed. Prejudice was everywhere she went, but one boy wasn't looking. Instead, the brown-hair guy was head deep into whatever book he was reading. Sakura noticed some female students groaned out of dismay. She deduced that they were waiting for Sasuke, but the administration assigned him to another second year class.
"Please take the empty seat," the teacher pointed out the empty seat which was right behind the boy reading the book. Nodding, Sakura took her seat. Throughout the whole homeroom, the boy never acknowledged her presence.
"Thank you for coming," A bespectacled young, slim woman greeted the redhead she called for personally. Sona Shitori, or Sitri, styled her black hair in a short bob cut and had violet eyes. The hair style, glasses, and posture conveyed a regal presence around her. Standing next to her was Tsubaki Shinra. Though Tsubaki also wore glasses and had black hair, her semi-rimmed, square spectacle frame and long knee-length hair differentiated her from her king. Together, Sona and Tsubaki were the student council's president and vice-president respectively.
"It's not like you to contact me personally unless something important. What's going on?" Rias graciously drank the warm tea Tsubaki placed for her.
"I believe we have an intruder in our territory," Sona went straight to the point. "Normally, something like a stray devil would not cause concern, but I don't think we're dealing with a stray devil or fallen angel." Sona pulled out two student files and placed them in front of Rias. The redhead looked at who the fields belonged to: Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno.
"This new guy? Sasuke Uchiha, Akeno and I accidently bumped into him this morning. I also agree with your suspicions," Rias set her finished tea which Tsubaki immediately removed. "If he were a normal human, I would have felt his presence, but I felt nothing. There was nothing around him, as if he were air. He must be skilled to completely cover his presence like this. You also suspect this girl, Sakura Haruno?"
"Yes. According to their files, the two came from the same hometown and school before transferring to Kuoh Academy. However, this is the disturbing part. Tsubaki and I do not recall ever processing these two," Sona relayed this bit of information that had Rias curious. Sona was normally on top of everything, and if she were not, Tsubaki would pick up the slack. "Even though your elder brother is the academy's administrator, the student council coordinates with admissions and registration to determine who are accepted into this school, including transfers. Procedures are processed at minimum in a week. Admissions and Registration accepted these two immediately without discussing anything with me. When I asked them what had happened, the admissions staff could not remember. I don't remember ever writing my signature on these forms either. It's almost as if…"
"Admissions and the student council were under an illusion," Rias finished her childhood friend's thought. She narrowed her eyes. Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno were able to slip underneath both their noses; these two duped the heirs to the Gremory and Sitri clan. "What is their purpose?"
"That, I do not know. Neither do I have the evidence to convict them of trespassing," Sona groans.
"Does my brother or your sister know?"
"I don't think so. These two were admitted so fast that probably the news has yet reached the underworld. If anything, Uchiha and Haruno don't seem to be the main culprit, but just lackeys, and the mastermind, if there is one, is not aware of our statuses as devils. Maybe this is a simple recon," Sona's keen mind immediately bypasses improbable scenarios and picks the best fit. "However, we never can be too cautious. Rias, may your peerage and you keep watch over these two? The student council will look further into their agenda."
"Sounds like a plan," Rias was about to take her leave before another topic came up in her head. "There's someone else I suspect. My rook, Koneko, while she tailed the student Issei Hyoudou, suspected to possess a sacred gear, saw Issei interacting with an elderly individual. However, much like Uchiha and Haruno, this man also removed his presence entirely."
"That is an issue, but we no information regarding this person. For now," Sona concluded, "we'll continue with our plan. You may take your leave."
"See ya soon," Rias waves good-bye.
Issei Hyoudou ran as fast as possible to reach the designated location where he was supposed to be his new mentor. Luckily, he noticed the time and left school instead of sticking around with Mitsuda and Motohama. However, instead of the local park fountain, Jiraiya changed the rendezvous to the local recreation center. Also, he notified Issei to bring his gym clothes. When he arrived, Issei found the older man at the quarter-mile, elliptical track course. Letting his mind stray, Issei noticed female joggers wearing nothing but sports bras and shorts. His eyes followed their every movement and slight jiggle as they ran around the track.
"I see you're already adept at focusing on the female form," Jiraiya commented. Immediately, Issei turned his direct attention to the older man; he didn't even notice Jiraiya sneaking up behind him. Wasn't he all the way over there a second ago? Laughing off the abrupt change in mood, Jiraiya patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry. We'll get to those sorts of things later. First we need to train," Jiraiya pointed at the running track in front of them.
"Um, Mr. Jiraiya, may I ask why?" Issei hesitantly questioned his mentor's methodology. What's the point to this? Aren't they writing books?
"The job world requires long hours of weary, and time consuming work. If you're going to work alongside me, we have to prepare you for sleepless nights to make deadlines and such. Now, that may not apply to the position I offered you, but you may not always be my assistant. One day, sooner rather than later, you'll be on the job market, and work some underpaid job extending way past the 9-5 work day. Issei, do you know what the word 'shinobi' stands for?" Jiraiya, after ranting his long spew of the adult world from which Issei is only one year from, asked him a peculiar question.
"Um…no," Issei rubbed the back of his head in slight embarrassment.
"Shinobi has the same kanji as 'endure,'" Jiraiya answered. "Shinobi are those who endure, no matter what obstacles may lay ahead of them. Tell me, what's your dream?"
"Well," Issei was at a loss of words from the sudden change in conversation. "Aside from touching a woman's boobs before dying and forming a harem, I haven't really thought about it." Issei reflected on his life so far. Growing up in a single child household with a working father and stay-at-home mother, he hadn't have true hardship in his life so far.
"Where I come from," Jiraiya started, but Issei noticed a faraway look in his eyes, "a person, far wiser and smarter than I, told my friend, 'shinobi are people who endure to achieve their goals, but depending on what they choose as their goal, they change.' So Issei, what does all that mean to you? Your goal, at minimum, is to one day have a girlfriend, judging from your response earlier. That's a nice goal for the short term, or long term depending on how your future relationship goes. However, I wonder how you'll change when you finally land a special one."
"Um…" Issei finally found a moment to interrupt Jiraiya's rant, "did you say your friend was a shinobi? Where the hell did you come from?! Do ninjas still exist?!"
"That is a story for another time. I'll tell you one day, but for now," Jiraiya pulled out another book from his pocket, "it's time to train. If you do well today, I may just let you have a peek at the rough draft of the third book in the Make-Out series." The author dangled the prized item in front of the star-eyed teenager.
"No way, there's a third book," Issei, spellbound by the book tantalizingly hanging before him, immediately started warming up for whatever trials Jiraiya may put him through.
"That's the spirit!" Jiraiya chuckled at his assistant's sudden enthusiasm. "However, how about you bring over your friend?" Jiraiya pointed towards the dark, open entrance. Issei, unaware of the other person, looked at that direction as well.
From the shadows came a petite, young Kuoh academy student sporting the standard female attire. The adolescent had hazel eyes and white hair with two long bangs growing past her shoulders and several loose bangs hanging over her forehead, while the back had a short bob cut. Issei knew who this person: Koneko Toujou. Aside from Rias and Akeno, the top Kuoh Academy idols, Koneko is quite popular amongst certain groups of guys, and amongst girls, she's treated as a mascot for her childishly cute face and small body. Though beyond the cute factor, she's rather emotionless beneath.
"Well, introduce me to your cute friend here," Jiraiya patted Issei on the shoulder. This prompted Issei to stand upright and gentlemanly mediate between the two.
"Jiraiya-sensei, this is Koneko Toujou. She's a first year student at the school I go to," Issei answered. Said student bowed courteously before the older man.
"Nice to meet you," Jiraiya extended his right hand. The little girl gripped the much larger hand compared to her petite one. Instantly, Jiraiya felt strength that exceeded what he expected from her small frame. Slightly narrowing her eyes, Koneko noticed that this man was not reacting to the amount of force she's exerting.
"Likewise, Mr. Jiraiya," Koneko responded with her small voice.
"How about it? Want to run with us?" Jiraiya offered the petite woman. "This boy here could use a bit of encouragement, if you know what I mean."
"Pervert," Koneko flat out called the older man. To this, Jiraiya laughed aloud.
"Oh, I'm not just any pervert," A lecherous grin spread across his face. "I'm a Super Pervert!" Jiraiya's hands wiggled suggestively as if they were groping a nonexistent woman.
"I'm leaving," Koneko immediately high-tailed out and away from potential stranger-danger.
"Damn you, Jiraiya-sensei!" Issei punched him in the arm. "Why did you have to do that? The Koneko Toujou was right here next to me! Why did you scare her away with your perverted tendencies?!"
"Lighten up kid. It's not like you were going to score with her anyhow. If I was not here, Koneko would have fled from you upon first sight," Jiraiya crossed his arms in a half-hearted attempt to dismiss the event. "However, she seemed to be following Issei, and not for relationship purposes. Does she also sense the unusual power coming from Issei? Why is she interested in his potential abilities? Is she working on her own, or for someone else? Hopefully Sasuke and Sakura can find out since they are at school with her." Jiraiya silently examined the situation in his head and not alarm the adolescent assistant.
"Damn," Issei, know Jiraiya was most likely correct, sighed. "Well, are we starting or what? I want to know what happens after Make-Out Violence!"
"Ho, you finished the second book in less than a day? With that diligence, you should be at the top of your class!" Jiraiya's ego went further up past the atmosphere and into space.
"Well, about that…" Issei sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. His grades are far from the top. He only passed the entrance exam to get into Kuoh Academy because of the number of girls at the school. Other than that, he's average academically.
"Anyhow, let's begin!"
The old school building, listed as one of the "seven wonders of school" at Kuoh Academy, stood silently amongst the trees shadowing the wooden walls. In a room located inside, President of the Occult Research Club, Rias Gremory, and her queen, Akeno Himejima, prepared to listen to Koneko's report on Issei and any progress on his sacred gear. According to her rook, Issei was training with the enigmatic man, named Jiraiya, for some unknown reason. Was this Jiraiya part of another faction? Was he a devil or fallen angel seeking Issei's sacred gear? From Koneko, Jiraiya, at minimum, possessed strength superior to that of a normal human. However like before, Koneko felt nothing from Jiraiya that indicated he belonged to any known race or faction.
"This is unsettling," Rias leaned back into her chair. "We still have no clues to their objectives. The only thing we know is that they are interested in Issei's sacred gear, as we are."
"My, oh my, what should we do about them?" Akeno smiled sweetly and yet behind those loving eyes held an extraordinary amount of lust, and not in a sexual connotation. Lightning slowly crackled from her fingertips.
"We can't take action in that manner since we have no evidence. Sona said that she's looking further into the matter. Even though it's only been less than twenty-four hours, Sona normally would have something more substantial. So far, we know nothing about Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno aside from their previous hometown, school, and family background. Even then, she and I are suspecting forgery amongst these documents. Jiraiya, surprisingly lacks a surname, is the author of the highly awarded Make-Out Paradise, an adult novel," Rias read off a report Sona sent to her in the morning. Aside from Jiraiya's background in writing, nothing else of use was discovered.
"Birds of a feather flock together," Koneko blandly commented before sipping her tea. Obviously, she referred to Jiraiya's and Issei's perverted tendencies.
"We can tell these three are not human, but what race or faction do they belong to? Koneko, you're sure you didn't feel anything when you physically shook this man's hand?" Rias asked her rook once more. To that question, Koneko slightly stiffened.
"That man, Jiraiya, is most definitely human. I think the reason we didn't feel any aura or presence from him is because we are viewing the situation in the wrong perspective. Though I cannot confirm, I think the man uses chakra," Koneko, with a slight quiver in her tone, stated her opinion. Rias and Akeno were both astonished by this revelation.
"Far-fetched as it may be," Rias began, "all living creatures possess energy necessary to live, life force. As you know first-hand Koneko, this energy comes from the combination of spiritual energy and physical energy to generate chakra. Though not potent as demonic energy or magic, chakra, as seen in martial artists, can be a powerful weapon. However, do you think this man may be able to…"
Before Rias could complete her question, she noticed the pained look in her rook's eyes. Both Rias and Akeno knew of Koneko's sister. It was only because of her older brother, Sirzechs, that Koneko was still alive after her sister killed their former devil master and went rogue. This event traumatized the young yokai and left her near emotionless.
"I'll confirm this on my own," Koneko declared with more vigor in her voice than she normally used. "If Jiraiya can really use senjutsu and not lose himself to mania, maybe there's hope for her."
"You sure you can handle this?" Rias, concerned, asked her rook for confirmation. "We don't know his agenda, strength, or abilities. I can send Kiba with you."
"It's alright," Koneko held up her palm, indicating Rias to stop. "If Jiraiya is related to my sister at all, it's my responsibility to handle this."
"Ok," Rias allowed, "continue your surveillance over Issei Hyoudou and Jiraiya. Akeno and I will watch over Uchiha and Haruno. Just be sure to summon us if something goes wrong, ok?" The king gently asked her servant. Koneko nodded, and the meeting adjourned.
Saturday morning, Issei felt like puddy; his legs were about to give out at any second. Who the hell wakes up at 5:00 am in the morning via a bucket of cold water?! Jiraiya-sensei even persuaded Issei's parents to let him take Issei under his apprenticeship. His parents were too gullible at times! Seriously, I knew I lounged around all day, ate, slept, looked at manga (hentai), surfed the web (for hentai), and even exercised (masturbate). Ok, so I basically described myself as a NEET, but even so! A modern kid living in a city was not built for this sort of work! Jiraiya made me run how many laps around the track until the sun set. I'm pretty sure he had to carry me home. He's going to do who knows what to me today! Since the recreational center was not open this early in the morning, Jiraiya ordered me to meet at the park.
"Today, we're going to run around park until the sun rises as our warm-up!" Jiraiya said with a huge grin on his face. Issei's mouth dropped wide open.
"You're crazy old man!" Issei shouted and pointed his finger. "You said that I'll need this conditioning to handle my position as your apprentice and adulthood, but I see no point to this! My body feels like jelly, never smelled worse in my entire life from sweat, had no time to fulfill my perverted desires yesterday, and worst of all, you didn't even let me look at Make-Out Tactics! I've had enough!"
"Damn, you're such whiny bitch," Jiraiya rubbed the back of his head. "Look kid, if you didn't want to be here, you wouldn't have woken up and meet me in person. Your conscience compelled you to come. If you weren't here, what would you be doing? Sleeping? Jacking off? A voice in your head is telling you that you can be better than a bum sitting in front of the computer screen. Your entire life so far, you had have been a dependent child. It's your choice now: continue as a child and jack off, or be an adult and become a contributing member of society," Jiraiya stated in a stern tone.
What Jiraiya said really resonated within Issei. If he didn't want to come, he wouldn't have woken up in the first place. It may be only the second day of training, but he already felt a difference in his body. Maybe because this was the first time he did any form of strenuous exercise, but he noticed he lost some unnecessary fat. Sure Issei's a skinny adolescent, but seventeen years lack of exercise left him flappy. Another benefit is the allure of apprenticeship under Jiraiya, author of the Make-Out series. As an immature child, Issei realized that it'll take time and effort to gain Jiraiya's complete trust to help handle the writing process. Again, it's barely the second day, and Jiraiya only let Issei read the unreleased second book, Make-Out Violence, to apologize for ratting him out. Taking in a deep breath, Issei calmed down.
"Ok, I'll go along with whatever form of torture you deem necessary," Issei sighed as he resigned to his fate.
Jiraiya nodded. The two began jogging in the twilight hours. Slowly but surely, the early morning sky brightened until the dawn arrived. Jogging for about an hour, Issei decided to take a much needed break at the park fountain. Hanging his head high, he gulped down large volumes of air. Even a light jog tired him out. Just then, Jiraiya arrived with two water bottles and handed one to him. Issei immediately drank half. With a satisfied gasp, he finished the bottle in no time. Other morning joggers began their routes. The two pervs for several minutes observed females running in sport bras and short-shorts.
"For a brat, you did well this morning to keep up with me," Jiraiya broke the silence as he took another sip. "I was a bit harsh earlier, but that's because my previous student took everything I threw at him and weathered the storm. Maybe I was a bit naïve to believe you would respond the same way to training as he did. You reminded me a bit of my previous student, in that you're almost the complete opposite to him."
"Really?" Issei asked curiously. "Who was this student?"
"He was the number one hyperactive, unpredictable knucklehead. All throughout his life, he was considered the dead-last. He constantly failed at everything he did. You remind me a lot of him, but there's one thing he had that you don't," Jiraiya explained.
"And that would be?"
"Guts," Jiraiya stated bluntly, "The guts to never give up, that's what he had. His motto: 'I'll never give up and never go back on my word.' No matter what obstacle laid before him, he ran up the mountain and climbed to the top every time. Not once I saw him cry. He probably had no more tears to cry when I first met him."
"What does that mean?" Issei asked knowing something bad occurred.
"That is a story for another time, but my message is this: Never give up. Never go back on your word. If you make a promise, find a way to keep it. Stand up no matter what may lie ahead of you. One day, you'll reach your dream. Find a woman willing to let you grope her. Gather a harem. Well, that's enough for now. Go back home and eat breakfast, take a shower, and meet me at the recreational center," Jiraiya commanded.
"Yes sir!" Issei nodded and headed home. Unbeknownst to him, there was someone else spying on them.
"Now then, are you done stalking your prey, little kitty?" Jiraiya called out once Issei was out of sight. From behind a tree, Koneko revealed herself.
"As suspected, you are more than a normal human," Koneko confirmed her suspicion. No human could have detected her presence and locate her a second time.
"I can say the same to you. So, what faction do you belong to?" Jiraiya questioned; the atmosphere around him quickly intensified, even Koneko felt the weight upon her shoulders.
"I have come for diplomacy on behalf of the House of Gremory," Koneko, hoping her stunt would pay off, responded.
"House of Gremory?" Jiraiya questioned. "They are not affiliated with the Khaos Brigade as far as I know. The house of Gremory and Sitri are the governing bodies in this area. I guess the heiresses saw through my charade to a degree. I'm also guessing they suspect Sasuke and Sakura. The two, Rias and Sona, and are stronger than I first assessed." Jiraiya mentally analyzed the situation before him. Now, he can either come forward, or work around the current situation. "What does the House of Gremory want with me?"
"What are your current objectives? What are your plans regarding Issei Hyoudou? What is your relation with Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno?" Koneko emotionlessly interrogated the older man.
"Can't answer, he's a pervert just like me, and I don't know a 'Sasuke Uchiha' or 'Sakura Haruno,'" Jiraiya answered in order respective to her question, but really didn't answer anything and outright lied.
"Fine," Koneko realized she wasn't going to get a straight answer from this man. "How are you able to use chakra? Can you utilize senjutsu?"
To her questions, Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. Unlike her previous questions, there was a small quiver in her voice. There was some bad blood with senjutsu in her past. Mastering the sage arts, Jiraiya knew the dangers of undergoing sage training. Perhaps a relative of hers failed at the sage arts and suffered the consequences.
"Yes, I'm the toad sage of Mt. Myoboku," Jiraiya, surprising Koneko, answered directly. "I'm a master of the sage arts, and fully utilize chakra and senjutsu."
"Then," Koneko whimpered, "how do you not fall to the madness of the world? Senjutsu users absorb the natural energy of your surroundings, but also take in the world's malice. The madness drives users to insanity!" Her eyes and voice expressed great pain underneath her emotionless mask.
"Hold out your fist," Jiraiya extended his right fist. Cautiously, the adolescent connected hers. Closing his eyes, Jiraiya took in a deep breath, and after a few moments, he released the link with her. "I understand. Meet me tomorrow morning. I'll help you understand senjutsu and reconcile your past."
"Wha…" Koneko, extremely confused, was at a loss for words for a bit. "Ok…but it'll be at a location I choose: the old school building at Kuoh Academy."
"The school Issei and you go to? Is it open on the weekends? Nevermind, I'm sure you have your reasons. Want your allies to keep an eye on an old man like me? Pretty smart for a youngster, so I'll play your game. See ya tomorrow. I have to finish dealing with Issei later today," With that, Jiraiya took his leave. A bewildered Koneko silently watched him disappear in a whirlwind of leaves.
Hours later after putting Issei through the gauntlet, Jiraiya let him return home to rest. Because he's meeting with Koneko, Jiraiya cancelled his rendezvous with Issei on Sunday. Late Saturday night, Jiraiya sat alone at a rundown ramen shop. Waiting for his order, he mused about the situation the young Koneko went through. The hardships because her own flesh and blood cursed her with were difficult for any child to endure. Remedying such a case will be difficult. After ten minutes past, the waitress served his meal. Before he could dig in, another presence made itself known.
"Geez, just when I was about to enjoy my first bowl of ramen. Couldn't you have come by after I finished eating?" Jiraiya groaned.
"Still enjoy ramen? Should I even ask the question?" Said person took the seat across from him. In this empty shop, they were the only customers.
"So, still tailing me, eh Ophis?" Jiraiya eyed the little gothic Lolita sitting across from him.
"I'm surprised you wear such a disguise. Why not show your true self, Naruto Uzumaki?"
At an undisclosed location, the direct descendant of the original Lucifer, Rizevim Livan Lucifer, sat bored at the world. He, one of the three super devils, had lost sight of himself and lived a rather unfulfilled life. A devil, with such a long life span, can often times lose their sense of purpose. However, a recent revelation came upon him. Euclid Lucifuge, the long lost younger brother of Grayfia Lucifuge, recently came into contact with a most interesting individual. Said individual was to arrive soon.
"So, you're an original Lucifer," A voice spoke from out of nowhere. Even Rizevim was startled. Something got the jump on him, and he didn't even feel a presence.
"Interesting, this is very interesting," A wicked smile spread across his face. "To think I, Rizevim Lucifer, would not detect your presence. You're no devil, fallen angel, angel, or any race I'm familiar with. What are you?"
"I'm just a lonely messenger carrying out my master's will," A shadowy, dark figure slithered out of the shadows from within Lucifer's chambers. This shadow had a humanoid body, but only half a head and one red eye. This red eye immediately grabbed Rizevim's attention. What kind of eye had concentric circles radiating from the pupil and magatama? "How about I tell you about a world outside the realm of the Gods?"
A/N: This is my first crossover story in a long time. Right now, I'm looking for a collaborator and a beta reader to work with. With my schedule, it will be nice to have another person to work out ideas and go over the story for structure, flow, and grammatical mistakes. I prefer someone who has read up to Volume 17 of the High School DxD light novels and up-to-date with the current events in the Naruto manga. If you're interested, you may leave a review or send a private message.
As for the story, it'll most likely not be a Naruto x Harem type story. There are already enough of those in the crossover section. Also, the direction of the story in later chapters probably prohibit it. I'm open to constructive criticism in reviews or pm's if you readers have ideas. In terms of strength, there should be enough hints as to where Naruto stands. However, this is my ranking:
God of the Bible
Kaguya Otsutsuki / Hagomoro + Hamura Otsutsuki - Great Red / 666 Trihexa
Ashura Naruto + Indra Sasuke - Ophis (complete)
Rikudo Madara / Six Paths Obito - Sirzechs Lucifer / Ajuka Beelzebub / Rizevim Rivan Lucifer
Rinnegan Madara - Former Devil Lords / Indra / Odin / Zeus
KLM-Sage Naruto / EMS Madara Uchiha / Harashima Senju - Archangel Michael / Serafall Sitri / Falbium Asmodeus / Azazel
Tobirama Senju / Hiruzen Sarutobi / Minato Namikaze - Sun Wukong
KCM Naruto / EMS Sasuke - Loki
Cardinal Crimson Promotion Issei and Emperieo Juggernaut Overdrive Vali, I don't know how to rank them. They have much more destructive power than Sun Wukong, but are easily defeated by the likes of Sun Wukong because they lack control and stamina to maintain their strongest abilities as of Volume 17. The evil dragons, I don't know where to rank them either because I don't know enough of them yet. Though, Crom Cruach was said to be on the level of heavenly dragons as of now.
It probably goes without saying that Kaguya, Hagomoro, and Hamura deserve to rank up with Great Red and 666 Trihexa. God of the Bible, even dead in High School DxD, sealed 666 Trihexa, so God ranks above them. God probably died due to fatigue after sealing 666 Trihexa, and the former devil lords finally killed God along with themselves. Ashura Naruto and Indra Sasuke, Naruto has more much more Sixth Paths Sage chakra and destructive techniques than Sasuke, but Perfect Susanoo, Rinnegan, and Instantaneous Switch helps rank Ashura Naruto and Indra Sasuke with Ophis. The last ones I think are ranked accordingly.
Again, constructive criticisms are welcomed.