A/N: Thanks again for your support everyone (that second chapter had a HUGE hit count in comparison to my first chapter) It seems like everyone has huge expectations for this fic and I hope I can live up to them!

I'm glad that everyone seemed to be receptive to Jiraiya/Issei's reaction to the whole Rias situation. I hope that the events in this chapter will also be met with similar amounts of approval.

Having said that this chapter was difficult for me to write as it was more dialogue and action heavy (areas which I now know that I have to develop). I felt that doing this chapter this way was necessary,even if the tone is slightly more serious (i.e. there are less goofy Jiraiya moments) than the previous 2 chapters, in order to establish the plot direction (at least the plot direction outside of the events in DxD canon) I want this fic to go down .

Also I watched (because, yes, I'm one of those people) the ending of Naruto in Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 and that may have effected how I approached this chapter (despite having some grievances over how the Naruto manga ended- I felt Kaguya was a weak villian especially in comparison to Madara-Sasuke's monologue at the end was very well done in my opinion).

I hope that this chapter doesn't disappoint. This chapter isn't betad as my beta seems to be busy (I actually sent this to him 2 days ago and he hasn't responded) so forgive me for any grammatical/canonical/character development errors or problems. I may reupload a betad version when he's less busy.

In the future there will likely be a mix of 'heavier' chapters like this and the 'lighter' chapters (a la Chapter 2) so hopefully people are as receptive to this chapter as they were to previous ones because whilst its true I am the writer who holds the destiny of this fic in my hand, it's your opinions that matter. Without you guys this fic wouldn't exist.


After the dressing down he had given Rias Gremory, Hyoudou Issei travelled to the outskirts of Kuoh Town where an abandoned field was located.

Along the super pervert had noticed he had gained a tail, one that Issei, for the life of him, couldn't shake off.

It was quite concerning; as the former spymaster of Konoha and Hi no Kuni Issei was better than most when it came to misdirection and stalking and yet whoever was following him was obviously privy to all of Issei's tricks.

Which either meant that his stalker was familiar with all the tricks taught to high level Konoha Shinobi or they could somehow pinpoint his location.

Neither explanation of which was particularly comforting for Issei.

After an hour of travelling one way, double back, going into various alley ways or dense streets, Issei arrived at the open field, his shadow sticking close.

Turning towards a tree situated on the other side of the area, Issei decided it was time this proverbial game of cat and mouse came to an end.

"You've been following me the whole day…why don't you come out and face me like a man, Saji Genshirou."

Leaves rustled as the aforementioned Secretary of Kuoh Academy's Student Council landed gracefully on the ground before the tree.

Saji wore a polite smile, one of his hands scratching his head sheepishly, though his eyes were calculating as they bored into Issei's.

"What a coincidence seeing you here, Hyoudou-san. I was just planning on using this field, actually…"

Issei snorted "We both know you've been following ever since I got to school today. Now why don't we get to the point…" Issei pointed a finger dramatically at his blond haired classmate. If the blond wanted to be innocent and clueless, well two can play at that game. "Are you envious I arrived at school with Rias-hime!? I never picked you for the jealous type, Saji!"

Saji sweatdropped in response but his expression quickly took a serious turn. "Let's skip the stupidity, Hyoudou-san. We both know you are different from yesterday; how you hold yourself, the way you talk, the way you recognised that I was following you. Whilst some of that could be explained by your change into a devil, the way you tried to lose me can't be. Those methods are not something that anyone should know. So now, Hyoudou-san, I want to know. Who are you?"

Issei's eyes narrowed. So Saji knew about devils and was likely one himself; that was interesting to know, especially given that the blond haired 2nd year wasn't at the Occult Research Clubroom with Rias, indicating that there was another devil, another 'King' within Kuoh Academy.

"So you're a devil too Saji? That's nice to know. And what do you mean who am I? I am… the Great Hyoudou Issei-sama of the Pervert Trio!"

Saji's eyes were still hardened gems as they bored into Issei's, ignoring the brown haired pervert's first question and his little dance. "You know what I mean. You may be Hyoudou Issei but I know you are someone else at the same time. And whoever you are, I can sense that you are a powerful entity; an unknown variable at Kuoh Academy who could potentially hurt my friends, my King. Especially after the display in the Occult Research Room, it would seem that Rias Gremory has no control over your actions. You are thus accountable to no one and your actions unpredictable as a result. Therefore I need to know who you are. I need to know if you will turn against devils, regardless of their allegiance or what they stand for. I will not let you or anyone harm my comrades, my family."

Hyoudou Issei outwardly remained calm, though his mind was analysing the situation frantically. Saji was proving to be quite the insightful and mysterious individual.

A dangerous combination, Issei noted.

After the silence between the two second years had lasted nearly a full minute, Saji finally spoke again, his tone remaining polite though there was a threatening edge to it this time.

"I have given you the chance to settle this through words, Hyoudou-kun. I detest violence but I will do anything to protect my friends." Saji's right hand came up so that two fingers were pointed up, reminiscent of a half tiger, half ram seal.

In response, Issei's hand came up reciprocating the gesture.

Tairitsu no In. The Seal of Confrontation.

The two stood in silence for a few moments before Saji took the pre-emptive action and moved, a black bug suddenly like gauntlet appearing on the blond's left hand. A black vine extended out quickly aiming to coil itself around Issei's leg.

In response Issei jumped away, avoiding Saji's attack, as he pulled out a kunai and held it in typical defensive fashion, his eyes trained on the blond.

He had an unsettling feeling in his body when Saji smiled slightly (so slightly, Issei was sure someone less perceptive then himself would have missed it) instead of having a more appropriate response to what ended being a futile move.

It was then when Issei heard it.

For a buzzing sound, one not dissimilar to a running chainsaw had cut through the relative silence of the clearing.

Turning his head slightly, he finally saw what had made Saji so confident despite the failed attack.

Or rather, Issei realised, the blond's successful diversion.

For a perfect clone of Saji was a metre away, a short tanto raised above his head. Coursing around the tanto was something that Issei didn't think he would ever see performed by someone else, not since he had realised that the energy coursing through him now was not common place here.

For what was unmistakeably whitish-blue lightening chakra encased the bladed weapon perfectly, offering it unparalleled cutting power.

Issei barley had any time to react when he the sword cut him in two.


"Rias," a voice greeted the crimson haired beauty from the door of the nearly empty Occult Research room.

The aqua eyed girl didn't even bother looking over, already knowing who it was. Rias had requested her presence after all.

"Sona."

Sona Sitri, or Souna Shitori as she was more commonly known around the school, was a fellow third year and the President of the Student Council of Kuoh Academy.

Sona possessed a cool aura, black hair styled into a short bob, her violent eyes always possessing a calculating edge.

And like Rias, was the heiress of one of the 72 pillars virtue of their respective older siblings being passed over due to their inclusion as one of the Maous.

It's no wonder the two were friends- best friends- whilst growing up.

"It's quite rare that you would ask to see me like this," Sona said as Rias brought out a Chess board, the pieces already set up. Placing it on the table, Rias allowed Sona to be the white pieces, as the black haired devil preferred.

Sitting, Sona inspected the board for a moment before making the first move. "Was there something important you wanted to discuss?"

Rias nodded her eyes on the board as she moved her pawn forward, though Sona could tell that her mind was miles away.

The violent eyed devil sighed silently. It seemed like this game wouldn't be as exciting as she had originally anticipated.

"I…yes. I would like to know more about something- someone. It would seem that I am not as well informed as I had previously thought."

Sona nodded, moving her bishop forward. "That would seem to be a problem we both share then."

Rias looked up to her friend surprised, forgetting the game for a second. "What? You are having problems in your peerage as well?"

Sona absentmindedly waved her hand to nothing in particular, as she studied the board. "I wouldn't say it was a problem per say but…there are certainly some questions I want answered."

Rias moved another pawn aimlessly as she pressed Sona for some clarification. "Who exactly is causing our Student President issues I wonder?"

Sona ignored the question, as she inspected the board before advancing a knight. "I believe you wanted to discuss your problems not mine."

Rias grunted, giving her friend a look that said she wouldn't get off the hook that easily, as she moved her Queen. "I am curious about one Hyoudou Issei-kun."

Sona's eyes flashed with something close to irritation as she moved her knight forward to take Rias' bishop. Rias quickly took Sona's knight in response. "The leader of the Perverted Trio. What problem has he caused now?"

Rias sweatdropped slightly. "Is he frequently a problem for you?"

Sona hummed irritably as she moved one of her pieces. "As Student President it is my duty to hear complaints and keep myself up to date on various happenings around the school. It would seem Hyoudou Issei is mentioned in every single piece of paperwork or rumour I hear. He's especially prominent in the complaints lodged by the Girls Kendo Club." Sona looked up, her attention moving from the board to Rias momentarily, whilst she adjusted her glasses. "It would also seem, according to the rumours, Issei is part of your peerage, Rias."

Rias sighed, as she moved her King to avoid check. "Sort of."

Sona raised an eyebrow as she moved her rook forward. "Issei is either in your peerage or he isn't. I don't see how there could be a middle ground between the two."

"We have come to a…agreement of sorts. He only agreed to join my peerage in a more committed capacity if I proved to him I was worth his time."

Sona glanced up, again, surprised. "And you agreed to this? That's remarkably unselfish and uncharacteristic of you, Rias."

The crimson haired beauty shot her friend an irritated look for the jab. Rias was perfectly aware that she was a bit spoilt and selfish; she didn't need her friends pointing that out for her. "It's hard to explain but I don't want to disappoint him."

Sona shrugged; it was not her place to intervene in Rias' business and it wasn't like this little shift in personality was unwelcome. If it was information Rias ultimately wanted, then Sona would help her friend. "Hyoudou Issei, 2nd year student of Kuoh Academy. Average Grades. Self proclaimed 'Japan's number one Super Pervert'. Author of the successful erotic book series, Icha Icha. Has an unidentified Sacred Gear. Very physically fit and it would seem has knowledge of how to fight. Despite being a bit of an idiot, he would ultimately be a solid addition to anyone's peerage."

Rias sighed as she moved her knight forward into Sona's half of the board; the information from Sona was nearly identical to what she had.

The black haired girl looked up as she quickly took Rias' knight. Rias quickly moved her rook out to take Sona's knight in response. "How do you plan on convincing him to be an active member of your peerage if you have decided to play by Issei's rules? I don't need to point out that Riser Phenex is a problem who only gets closer by the day."

"I know..." Rias grimaced at the reminder of her unwanted fiancé.

"However, desperation is not an excuse for me to disregard other people's wishes and desires. Desperation, whilst a reason for some someone's actions is not a justification for them," the crimson haired girl's hand moved so that it was atop her breast, over her heart. "I will prove to Issei that I am worth his time on his conditions." Rias couldn't help but echo Issei's earlier sentiment; she didn't know exactly why she had taken the words to heart (typically she was more stubborn about her views) but Issei had a way of making people think and ultimately learn from him.

He would undoubtedly be a fantastic teacher, the crimson haired girl concluded.

The black haired Sitri family heiress stared at Rias and could only see the determination, the desire to prove herself to Issei burning within the crimson haired girl's eyes.

It had seemed that the usually childish and short sighted Gremory family heir had grown up a little. The change in maturity was small, yes, but it was telling for Sona that her brown haired kohai could force such a change from Rias in less than a day.

Looks like this Hyoudou Issei has made quite the impression on you, Rias.

Finally, Sona moved her queen forward to take Rias' rook. "Checkmate, Rias." The black haired heiress smiled as she studied the board.

Rias looked at the chessboard, sighing. Normally Rias would be annoyed that her friend had beat her yet again but they both knew that the crimson haired girl's mind was elsewhere during their battle of wits. "It would seem like you extend your winning streak, Sona."

Rather than the smug neutralness that was Sona's typical reaction to a chess win, Rias was surprised that her friend's expression was more of a mixture between a grimace and embarrassment.

After almost half a minute Sona reluctantly elaborated on her reaction when Rias kept her questioning stare. "…This would be the start of my new win streak…"

Rias' face turned to one of surprise. She couldn't believe it; Sona was something of a chess prodigy, one who trained herself tirelessly in the game (which was expected given that the black haired heiress broke off her unwanted arranged marriage through chess). "You mean someone beat you at chess? Recently too?" Suddenly Rias' mind flashed to something Sona said earlier in their conversation. "Is this the 'question you wanted answered'?"

Sona didn't give any verbal response; however in this case silence was incriminating as the way she fidgeted was an answer enough for Rias. Alas, the crimson haired devil wanted to know more and thus proceeded to prod and question her fellow heiress; the aqua eyed girl's stubbornness ultimately coming out the victor against the violent eyed girl's patience.

"It was my new pawn…Saji Genshirou."

Rias jolted slightly, straightening her back at the name. "Wait! Saji Genshirou is a man to my knowledge. Does that mean your promise of marrying the first man to show they are smarter than you…" Rias' voice drifted off as her question remained unfinished.

Sona's face turned into an odd mixture of disappointment, relief and confusion. "I…I was rejected…"

"That…that doesn't make sense. From the information I have on Saji Genshirou he would jump at the chance to marry you!"

Sona shook her head, her eyes refusing to meet her friend's intensive, curious stare. "Ever since I reincarnated him into a devil, as per his wishes he has been…different. He became much less infuriated with me, more focused on protecting my peerage, more perceptive to events going on around the school, more humble. However at the same time he still retained his kindness, his loyalty, aspects which make Saji…Saji. I…I just don't know what to make of all of it."

Rias' nodded because she understood her friend's confusion. Something similar had happened to Hyoudou Issei after all. This change in personality and more importantly what caused it would ultimately require more investigation by the pure blooded devil duo.

However, it was apparent the more curious part of Rias' mind was in control right now and by the Maous she wanted to know more. "But, still that doesn't explain why Saji would reject you."

The black haired girl's face reddened, her previous cocktail of an expression returning as she whispered a reply so soft that Rias had to strain her ears to hear her friend's response.

"He said…I was foolish to offer something so important on a condition so arbitrary. That I should save myself for someone I truly see as worthy, that I truly do come to love."

Seeing that the dynamic of the conversation had long swung in her favour, Rias tilted her head, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she giggled nicely.

"How romantic!"

Sona grimaced; embarrassed she had revealed so much to anyone. Normally the violent eyed girl was more conservative with personal information such as this but her male pawn had been such an anomaly, someone who had shown himself to be such an outlier from her usually accurate predictions that she couldn't help but a vent a little to her friend.

It also didn't help that after Saji had said those words, her heart had fluttered in a way it had never fluttered before.

"Interpret it how you wish, Rias" Sona said, standing, refusing to be subject to what she perceived as ridicule from her friend-cum-rival (when the violet eyed girl calmed down later she would see that Rias' comment was more light hearted than teasing). "Ultimately we will have to find out what has made the new members of our peerages change personalities so drastically."

Rias nodded, her mind turning from Sona's love/chess predicament back to Hyoudou Issei as she stared out of a nearby window.

Simultaneously Sona also stared out the same window, as their thoughts echoed one another's.

Hyoudou Issei…

Saji Genshirou…

I wonder who you really are.


Saji's smile turned neutral as he watched from afar as Issei's body was sliced into two, his clone disappearing into smoke. Whilst the blond had certainly felt a minor high from scoring such a decisive hit on his fellow pawn, it didn't mean he enjoyed what he did.

Whilst Hyoudou Issei may be an unknown variable, one who had shown knowledge which nobody in this world should possess; he was still a fellow classmate, a fellow devil.

Whilst the blond knew that killing a fellow devil, one who technically hadn't been marked stray was against the rules he couldn't care less.

Because Saji would do anything, even break the rules, if it was to ensure that his friends, his family (because, even though he had not been a devil long he felt a strong connection to the black haired Sitri heiress and her servants) remained safe.

It was as the old saying went; whilst it was true that those who break the rules are trash, it was also true that those who abandon their comrades, that those who endanger their comrades lives through inaction are worse than trash.

Saji was broken out of his inner musing when the bloody mess that was formerly known as Japan's Number 1 Super Pervert suddenly erupted into smoke. The blond's eyes widened, his senses going on high alert as he easily recognised the trademark technique.

A log! A Kawarimi (Substitution)! Issei must therefore come from that place!

Ranjishigami no Jutsu! (Wild Lion's Mane Technique)

Saji barely jumped in time to avoid the large tangle of lion shaped brown hair that came hurtling towards his location.

Landing ten metres away, the blond turned to face his brown haired opponent, his tanto held in a reverse grip as his feet shifted so that he adopted a perfect fighting stance.

The two second year students of Kuoh remained silent gauging their opponents for any weaknesses, any openings.

After a moment, the two pounced, tanto against kunai, fist against fist.

Sparks flew as the sound of blocked blows echoed throughout the clearing. To a normal outsider observer, the two were blurs, the duo working each other, each bladed swipe blocked or parried, each kick or punch swatted away or redirected.

Two days…two fights…two people wanting to off me…Tsunade-hime's luck must be rubbing onto me…I wish something else of Tsunade-hime's was rubbing me.

Issei's mind was truly one a pervert; even in such a serious, life-threatening situation the author of Icha Icha couldn't keep his mind off the fairer sex and the holy act of procreation.

As the two devils descended into close quarter combat, their deadly dance beginning to gain a rhythm, Issei couldn't help but be amazed by the blond's combat skills, which was at least on par with his own.

The way Saji twisted and turned, the way he compensated for every mistake, created false openings and targeted every one of Issei's opening, spoke volumes about the blond's strength, the blond's experience.

Experience, which should have taken years to attain, too many years for a modern 17 year old High School student to access, Issei noted as his eyes narrowed (he immediately opened them wide again, after a tanto swipe came dangerously close to permanently scarring his face, or as Issei liked to call it, the 'Panty Dropper').

Scratch that…Saji is better than the current me at close quarter combat.

Saji, who obviously saw the near miss as a sign that he was at the advantage, pressed onwards his tanto raining down from all directions, his legs also coming into play as his moves become more acrobatic.

Issei, could barely keep up, his hands and legs a blur as he worked overtime to avoid the blows from both limb and blade. After a full nearly half a minute being on the defensive, the super pervert's undertrained muscles began tiring from their nonstop motion, as cuts started to appear on his arms and legs, Saji's tanto beginning to make contact.

Sensing that he was starting to be overwhelmed, Issei decided that distance was the key to victory. Thus the brown haired pervert avoided the next horizontal throat-seeking strike by bending all the way backwards, rather than blocking with his kunai, planting his hands firmly on the ground as he back-flipped, his feet successfully delivering a skull rattling blow to Saji's jaw.

However, even a blow such as that wasn't enough for Issei to gain any breathing room as Saji had quickly recovered (Issei deduced that Saji likely shrouded his jaw with chakra in order to cushion the otherwise devastating impact of his kick) and was closing quickly on Issei.

Saji's better than good…he's forcing the situation, aiming to always remain in close quarters, to always remain in his comfort zone and not leave his opponents any breathing room.

Remaining calm, Issei hurled his kunai forward to buy himself a few precious seconds before his hands flew through a series of complex handseals.

With my current level of strength, I need to go on the defensive.

Hari Jizo! (Needle Jizo)

Immediately brown haired extended, hardening as it surrounded Issei's body to prove a protective, yet spiky, cacoon which could protect the super pervert from most attacks.

Issei was confident his chakra-enhanced keratin shield could easily deflect any attacks Saji could throw at him; whilst the level of his jutsu was around that of when he was fighting Orochimaru under the influence of Tsunade's chakra-jumbling drug, his Hari Jizo should have still been able to defend against high-levelled jutsu on par with Hatake Kakashi's Chidori.

The super pervert was thus shocked that when Saji's blade hit the brown shield, rather than the unmistakeable 'clang' of metal deflecting off hardened surface, the buzzing sound of continuous sawing filled in the inner sanctum of his hair. Moving his eyes sidewards (Issei's head was largely immobile whilst he was activating the Needle Jizo) he saw his brown hair being penetrated, the beginnings of glinting metal showing inside his keratin shield.

Despite the fact that the tanto was aimed right at Issei's neck, the brown haired pervert was hit with a wave of nostalgia (along with a healthy dose of alarm) when Saji's glistening blade not covered in its previous glorious lightening blue. But rather, the chakra was covered in something different; the manipulation of chakra so unique, that Issei had so seldom seen it that the brown haired boy couldn't quite remember who was able to change their chakra nature in such a way.

For the blade was creating an afterimage of pure snow, the blade being encompassed by…

White chakra! That must mean…

However, with the blade inching closer and closer by the second, Issei had to actively stop his mind from thinking about anything else, actively stop his brain to go to its memory banks to identify who Saji Genshirou really was.

For the blond haired devil with the blade covered in white chakra was, in Issei's mind, undoubtedly from the Elemental Nations.

The brown haired boy grimaced as Saji's blade neared, realising he was in a hopeless, desperate situation.

The Hari Jizo was the only thing decreasing the momentum of the threatening blade yet simultaneously the technique was trapping Issei in a tight space that made evading the space impossible.

Issei was truly between a rock and a hard place.

With the blade half a foot away from making solid contact, Issei scowl deepened as he desperately brought his left arm, encompassing it with a thick layer of wind-natured chakra, in a last valiant attempt to lessen exactly how life threatening the blow would be.

The newly reincarnated devil knew that the act was meaningless; even if Saji's blade didn't permanently sever his arm, the limb would essentially be useless for the rest of the fight.

Which in a fight like this, where his opponent was strong, likely stronger than him meant that Issei would ultimately lose.

The loss of a limb was just one of the reasons that Issei had ultimately loss the fight against Pein (that and the fact that the God of Ame possessed six external bodies and the eyes of the Rikudo Sennin).

Issei's mind jumped, going back to the thoughts that had plagued his mind when he had faced death or near death four times earlier (Tsunade' bashing, Naruto's four tailed form, his battle for Pein and the one-sided fight against Yuuma).

A shinobi is determined by the way he dies, by what he achieves before his death, and not the way he lives…and I have yet to achieve anything of note as Hyoudou Issei- I don't want to die without achieving anything.

The brown haired devil closed his eyes momentarily whilst he unconsciously channelled even more chakra to his arm in response to his desperation to not lose, to not die at the hand of Saji Genshirou.

However, before Saji's tanto made contact he felt something in his left arm change (and not in the same dismembering way it had changed when Pein had blown his left arm off). Rather the feeling was empowering, like somehow the power in his arm had doubled, that the limb had somehow becoming bulkier.

Opening his eyes, Issei was surprised to see that his arm was now enshrouded by a red gauntlet that extended from the tips of his fingers to his elbow, a green gem shining on the back

In fact Issei's gauntlet was reminiscent of the one currently mounted on Saji's wrist, however the former's was much grander in appearance.

From his peripheral vision he could see that Saji was equally shocked by the appearance of Issei's gauntlet.

And to the surprise of both Issei and Saji when the tanto hit the red contraption on the former's arm the chakra-enhanced blade bounced off rather than cutting through.

The blond cursed internally, about to try to cut his brown haired counterpart once again when suddenly a deep booming voice originating from Issei's arm suddenly spoke, the sound echoing through the clearing.

Boost!

A surge of power suddenly pulsed through Issei as his jutsu, his body; his chakra suddenly seemed to double in intensity, in its strength.

The Super Pervert could feel it when his Hari Jizo hardened, guaranteeing nothing would breach it again, its spikes elongating to the point that they were nearly a metre long.

From Saji's point of view, Issei looked like he had just evolved from a baby porcupine to the most grand of its spiky species.

Grateful for whatever was making him stronger Issei realised his Hari Jizo, intent on to confirming who he thought Saji was.

White Chakra, Tanto, Kenjutsu, Great Loyalty to his comrades.

Meanwhile Saji's mind, which had just come out of its adrenaline fuelled battle blur, was going through a similar thought process.

Hair Based Jutsu, Perverted, Great knowledge of espionage techniques.

Both Saji and Issei stared at each other, their eyes communicating.

The next jutsu would be the final jutsu for this fight.

They weren't going to aim to kill any longer, but to aim to confirm something to each other.

Chakra shrouded the two second year Kuoh students as they both crouched ready to release their signature techniques.

Saigo No Shiroi Surasshu (Final White Slash)! Bright white chakra-shaped burned around Saji's tanto with intensity that was unmatched throughout the fight.

Odama Rasengan (Big Ball Rasengan)! A large ball of blue chakra suddenly spun, hovering above the red gauntlet on Issei's left hand.

The two flashed to each other their attacks meeting, cancelling each other out, as they continued forward until the both landed, crouching ten metres between them, their backs facing each other.

Suddenly Issei spoke for the first time since the fight had started, his words echoing that of the sensei of the Legendary Sannin.

"Where the tree leaves dance, one shall find flames…"

"…The fire's shadow will illuminate the village, and once again, tree leaves shall bud anew."

Both Issei and Saji smiled as the blond finished off the famous quote.

This was the final confirmation they needed.

Turning around, their hands, they walked towards each other until their fingers met, overlapping each other.

Wakai no In. The Seal of Reconciliation.

"You haven't change much have you…Jiraiya."

"I can say the same back to you…Hatake Sakumo."


After doing some cooling down exercises, the duo that formerly possessed white hair lay on the ground, looking at the sky, observing the world as time passed.

"Looks like I won again…" Saji said a teasing tone to his voice.

Issei humphed, his eyes focused on a particular cloud which had taken the shape of a sexy lady.

I wonder if I can include something about clouds into my next book… "I think it was a draw, Sakumo."

"If that makes you feel better; I'm still in front 30-20, though."

"I think it was something like 49-1. With me in front. And you cheated that one time."

The blonde snorted, his eyes also latching onto a particular cloud which shaped itself into a scarecrow. "Still as boastful as ever, Jiraiya."

"Well, looks like someone won't be getting the next issue of Icha Icha, Sakumo!"

The blond let out something resembling a gurgled gasp in response (because Kakashi's perversion had to come from somewhere). Issei merely smirked as Saj begrudgingly conceded defeat. "Fine! It was a draw."

The duo fell into a comfortable silent, as they continued to stare at the sky. Nearly ten minutes passing before Issei's soft voice interrupted the tranquility of the afternoon.

"Do you remember how…?"

Saji shook his head, his eyes still trained on the clouds above. "No…Before I was reincarnated I was just Saji Genshirou…a lonely teen with doubts festering his mind…a boastful person, a boy who embodied loyalty but ultimately with no one to be loyal to…then Sona Sirtri saved me, offering me a place in her peerage, in her family; her goals were one which I could adopt, ones which I can support with all my might. Then when I became a devil I remembered. Everything…"

"Do you regret remembering?"

"…No." Saji moved his head so that he could stare at Issei to properly convey his next statement. "Because the last thing I remember from the Elemental Nations was Kakashi forgiving me. And whilst I still have regrets over how I died, over aspects of the life I lived, to have my son forgive me allowed me to look back on my life with a smile…"

Issei, who was eyeing Saji from the corner of his eye, nodded

Whilst he found Saji's statement odd (Issei could distinctly remember that Sakumo had died without anyone by his side; that Sakumo died with the contempt of his son) he didn't doubt his friend's word.

If this whole reincarnation business taught him anything it was that death was unpredictable.

More so than even Naruto. And not many things were more unpredictable than that blond knucklehead.

And Issei ultimately understood what his friend meant; realising that Uzumaki Naruto was the Child of the Prophecy in his final moments had a similar effect on him too.

Looking back on one's life with regret…and, yet, also with a smile…

"And so you decided to support Sona with your strength. That sexy school president sure is lucky…or are you the one who is lucky?" Issei's eyebrows waggling suggestively.

Saji gave his friend a disapproving look; he obviously knew Issei's personality well but that didn't mean the blond liked being the centre of gossip.

Issei quickly averted his eyes as he shuffled a couple of inches away from Saji. Despite what he said earlier, Issei knew that Hatake Sakumo, Konoha's White Fang, was one of the few people who could surpass him in battle.

And Issei didn't really want to fight Kakashi's father again, even if doing so would shed some light on whatever the thing previously on his left arm was.

The blond sighed, his eyes looking at the clouds once again. "My heart is very much still with my wife right now…"

Saji smiled lightly as the cloud reshaped itself into the beautiful silhouette of his wife, of Kakashi's mother.

"As I'm sure Tsunade is still very much in yours."

The brown haired boy nearly choked on his tongue, his eyes quickly darting from Saji's peaceful face to the clouds above.

He cursed in his mind slightly as the cloud which had previously been a beautiful, anonymous woman had reshaped itself into that of Tsunade-hime. "Does it matter, Sakumo? Tsunade-hime found love with Dan. And it's not like she'll be here."

The Tsunade-hime shaped cloud seemed to waft over to another which was shaped like Kato Dan.

That good for nothing ghost-walking bastard…

Far off, a third cloud shaped like his old self, complete with an oil forehead protector seemed to look on in envy.

The blond looked over to his counterpart, his voice full of hope. "You never know, Jiraiya…I think the fact that we are here, now, shows that death can be full of surprises."

Issei knew what Saji really meant with that statement. With the revelation that he wasn't the only one from the Elemental Nations that was reborn here, the blond was obviously hoping that one day he would see his wife again.

"I wish I had your hope, Sakumo." Issei got up, dusting himself off. He was tired after the fight and he really needed to catch up on his research.

He needed to do something to shake off this heavy conversation and what better way was there to get up one's spirit than appreciating female beauty.

"Jiraiya…"

"I prefer Issei. It is only fair to this incarnation of me that who I currently am is not overshadowed by who I was, Saji."

"And I prefer Sakumo when we are in private, Issei. I don't want to forget who I was, who I am."

The brown haired boy smiled sadly as he looked back at Saji.

"Looks like even though we can look back on our time as shinobi proudly, we still retain our flaws, still retain our old regrets…You still keep forgetting to focus on the present, being too mindful of other's opinion of you…"

Saji shook his head as he reciprocated Issei's sad smile. "And despite how much you want Hyoudou Issei to be a new chapter in your existence, Jiraiya, you still allow your failures to define you; you still let your wish for a glorious death, to let fate and not your own will dictate the path your life leads."

Issei didn't respond as he began walking away, however he stopped when Saji called out to him.

"Issei…Let this chance of being a devil be a way to move on, a way to allow you to be Hyoudou Issei and not Jiraiya of the Sannin."

Isse looked back at Saji from the corner of is eye. "Rias Gremory still needs to show to me she's someone I can follow, someone who I can respect."

"Whilst I agree that the way Rias got you to join her peerage was…not well thought out, she is, as you said, ultimately not a bad person. I know that you also feel that she has a vast unrealised potential in strength of character, strength of heart and strength of body. I know you said you'd give her a chance but I don't mean just sit and wait for her to do things herself unilaterally. Give her a real chance; get to know her, get to know her peerage, know her goals. Create bonds with them. Be friends with them. If Rias Gremory is anything like Sona Sitri then I guarantee you won't be disappointed. And ultimately if I am wrong you'll know that it will be entirely her fault, that you did your part that you gave this-gave yourself- a chance."

Issei glanced back at Saji from the corner of his eye before turning his back straight and walking off.

Being a devil as a new chance, huh?

"We'll see, Sakumo."


End note: How did everyone feel about my inclusion of Hatake Sakumo? He is certainty another character who deserves more love and I felt it was necessary for Jiraiya/Issei to have someone who, from the start, he could be his more contemplative self to (everyone points out that Jiraiya is a vet shinobi but simply showing Jiraiya that way I feel restricts his character and doesn't allow his character to develop). I feel a weakness of many fics is that their MCs show no weakness in character and basically can do no wrong. That's a slightly unrealistic take on people and I feel that developing a strong character with some flaws and regrets simply makes them more relateable and provides a much more diverse and interesting cast. Hopefully everyone is on board with that.

I hope the way I've done Sakumo and Jiraiya here debunks that yet simultaneously don't make them 'dark/angsty' characters.

How much screen time Sakumo gets I guess is dependent on the response I get about his inclusion (he will not dethrone Issei as the main protagonist no matter what, though).

Further, I felt that one of the stronger aspects of Naruto (the original work) was the friendship bond between Naruto and Sasuke and I hope to reflect that in this fic (though with a character that is far less polarizing than Sasuke, which is where Sakumo comes in). Adding Sakumo will also add more dynamic action scenes (do tell me how you felt about the fight scene in this chapter because I felt it was...lacking though I'm not sure in what way. Hopefully if some feedback I can improve similar scenes in the future) into the fic, especially when Sona and Rias' peerages fight in the Rating Game later down the road.

Now, before you guys implement suggestions or anything, I do want to make clear there won't be an invasion of Naruto characters in this fic. As of this moment I have four, maybe five, Naruto characters (including Sakumo and Jiraiya) that I plan to include one of which I am on the fence about giving memories back. Further the four I am planning to include aren't ones that are used a lot in the Crossover section (i.e. so don't expect Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Hinata and co. joining in on Jiraiya's great DxD adventure).

About the Sakumo-Jiraiya heart to heart at the end; if that came off angsty then I obviously screwed up writing that part (because it was meant to be serious conversation, one where two friends who found themselves in reincarnated would undoubtedly have and not one where two people just angsted over each other).

The conversation between the two was meant to point out that the duo have character flaws which have transferred across from their past selves. Furthermore, given the manner of their respective deaths, they would have regrets and things they wanted to do before leaving. Character flaws and regrets which, over the course of the fic and with the help of the characters in the DxD verse, they will develop out of and overcome.

Anyway, drop a review, fav/follow and let's see how far this fic will go!

lfonzo out!