"Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement." Prof. J.R.R. Tolkien

Have no fear, my loyal fans! This is one Kuroinu story that is far from over and still alive as we at last jump into chapter 23 that continues the surprise of Delva and her band of Dark Elves joining forces with the Chivalry to combat Iruyana.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Kuroinu.
Notes: If you still haven't seen it yet, I direct your attention to my months old deviantart A Welcome Shocker to get a look at Delva's group.
.The character Amarie was named by friend and supporter Flyppy24.
.Also, Iruyana's title of The Rooster is named for my favorite song by grunge band Alice in Chains and with the day I finally finished being Layne Staley's birthday a few days ago, I couldn't have thought of a better occasion (was having it proofread since then just to be safe).
Vocal Cast
Musuta: Michelle Rojas
Ruberanora: Tiffany Grant
Amarie: Alison Viktorin
Cleo Rada: Amber Lee Conners
Rutejia: Madeleine Morris
Anni: Melissa Davis
Elisha: Mikaela Krantz

A SKETCHRAPTOR PRODUCTION

A bat shrieked as Elda split its head apart with its body crashing into the earth and Shamsiel noticing Ruberanora and Satan helping the now healed Chloe back onto her feet.

"We've got this! Go!" The beret-wearing Dark Elf, Cleo Rada, said to Satan as Ruberanora nodded to her before Chloe looked around for Origa.

"Where's Origa-sama!" Chloe said with Satan gesturing to said Dark Queen battling Iruyana with Delva and Elda before Cleo glanced to her.

"Going out of line on this one, but you'd be better off staying out of that brawl, Chloe." Cleo said and while the half-elf looked opened her mouth to give a retort until a flash of light returned her attention to Iruyana swooping down at Origa from above only to be stabbed at by Delva. Following this, Evelyn sprang at him only to be blocked by his bones and Misery formed a barrier of magic on either side of her as she kept her attention on the four Dark Elves.

Chloe's healed hand balled into a fist before her ears picked up on a nearby rattling noise and Cleo spotted a massive blur take place nearby where Iruyana's renewed arms formed with him creating dual black spheres. Falling to the earth, he slammed his fists into the earth with the magic spreading in the form of a new red mist while Delva and Evelyn looked to the other and backed away.

"Over here!" Origa called out while the mist spread and the earth they stood on shook yet again with the Dark Queen catching sight of Nana's doppelgänger, Anni, using her magic to envelop the head of an attacking corpse and disorienting it enough for her blonde look-alike to sever it. Once it fell to the ground, Origa glanced to Iruyana's crown and Evelyn glanced at her for a moment.

"Anything we should know about him, My Grace?" Delva asked while keeping her attention on Iruyana.

Meanwhile

Misery kept her eyes on the battling quartet as Lucie and Rutejia guarded her back view with Miria glaring at Delva and Evelyn.

"Miria!" Meiriin called out as her serpent bit into a skeleton with the elder Dark Elf looking to her side and using her own serpent to pull it to pieces from the waist down. It was at that point a bat came their way with the dark elf sporting daggers, Musuta, springing into the air and stabbing into it's underbelly.

Screeching as it careened through the air, Musuta clung to the beast for as long as she could manage until Shamsiel swooped in to pry her and her weapons free.

"Thanks, little lady." She said while Shamsiel soared ahead.

"Feeling brave?" Shamsiel asked as they began to descend and Musuta smiled.

"Always!" Musuta said while clutching her daggers as Shamsiel brought her down onto the supernatural horde as magic shrouded the blades and cut through the nearest skulls. Eventually setting her down, Musuta thrust her dagger into the underjaw of a corpse engaging Claudia and jerking its head back enough for Prim to slash through the neck.

With the head still on the blade, Musuta spun around to see Celestine smash the last of the bats into the earth and then meta-forming into the form of a pale Orc before knocking her foes around with her ears twitching. She held out her palms before Lucie and the young Dark Elf with the crossbow, Elisha, appeared before standing on her shoulder; balancing both as they then fired magic-shrouded arrows into the skeletons with Naruto appearing before Satan.

"Do you have any more injured?" She asked with Naruto blinking at the sound of her voice before having a nearby shadow clone come to him.

"Go with him." Naruto said before the clone took off with Satan and he then rejoined the fight with the mint-haired Dark Elf, Amarie, cracking the skull of a skeleton Hermione held captive via her magic. The pink-haired teenager spun to see Serafina thrust her weapon into the skull of a corpse enough times to disorient it in time for Cleo formed bright neon blue wires from her fingers before launching them into the midsection and yanking it out.

Maia's sword cleaved another corpse's skull with Chloe lashing her chain into the neck of another and it was then another skeleton was downed by Elisha's arrow and Kaguya's talisman. As Elda hacked through a few of the supernatural at a time, Rutejia stood guard over Misery and kept her eyes peeled on Miria staring at them for a brief time until she resumed fighting.

Elsewhere

Iruyana hurled two black spheres with Delva stepping in their path and using her sword to block them with her blade holding the powers back. It was then she, keeping her blade as a deterrent, side-step the attack and gave Origa and Evelyn the opening to charge.

"Gift ins Leben, Schmerz in den Atem. Rufen Sie mich an! (Venom into life, pain into breath. Call to me!)" Origa chanted with strands of electricity bursting from his arms as they came to her spell seals and it was then Evelyn flipped off the ground with her sword raised over her head. The electricity bounced off the seals before striking the sword and Iruyana observed Evelyn flying up to him at great speed before using his bone extensions to sever his arms.

However, he then spotted Evelyn grabbing onto him with her free arm and sliced off his ear before hacking into his eye with enough force to the blade to exit the back of his head. Iruyana remained silent before his appendages enveloped both of them akin to a cocoon as he soared to the earth as Origa chanted again with his magic shrouding them.

"Verfaulen (Rot!)!" The Dark Queen said with Iruyana's appendages suddenly snapping off and Evelyn wrapping her arm around his neck before maneuvering out of his grip as she fell to the earth. Delva caught her sibling with Iruyana looking back at his extensions to see the ends imbued in magic the same color as Origa's spell seals with the broken pieces of her sceptre beneath as he looked to his arms with his working eye.

"Just what you'd expect from a Queen." Iruyana mentally said before Delva slashed at his ribs and he only sprang over her before she spun around to impale him. Bringing him and the blade down into the earth, Evelyn severed his arm as Origa observing the head wound and focusing on his still-damaged eye.

Iruyana twisted free of the blades before holding out his hands with his ears twitching with the sound of crackling power filling the air and he looked back to see multiple surges electricity forming atop the spell seals. He then looked back to all three of his fellow Dark Elves as Origa's hands powered while touching both Delva and Evelyn's blades and it was then the electricity behind him launched into a blinding bombardment of energy crashing into him.

As he felt the power tearing through him from behind, he began to sink into the ground with his flesh yet again charred beyond recognition while his working eye attempted to concentrate on his adversaries and a loud clap occurred once the energy died down. Iruyana arose to his feet with most of his abdomen and chest having a gaping hole with him rasping before springing up only to see Origa use her spell seals to levitate Delva and Evelyn's swords as both glowed with power.

More electric magic beams fired from the blades before colliding into his face and sending him back into the earth as he continued to wheeze. While feeling his face being ripped to shreds, he pictured himself painting Origa's castle while occasionally glancing to the sights of Sophie helping Hermione clean a pig and Galadriel teaching a class of young Dark Elves alongside Meiriin with all his tribe members contributing around Garan with Miria and Chloe, as a pure-blooded Dark Elf along with a different set of parents, guarding their Queen.

Iruyana landed on his back only to lift his head a second time for a final beam to hit him dead in his failed eye as his brain matter erupted from his skull and he completely collapsed onto the ground once more. Origa returned the blades to their respective wielders as the three cautiously approached the fallen Dark Elf and stood over him as they observed his brain matter spilling out opposite the half of his head that remained.

Misery took down the barrier with the remaining Chivalry, Naruto, and the newly arrived Dark Elves along with their allies as they joined the threesome in looking down at Iruyana; some with solemn pity and others in grim triumph. As Iruyana's eye remained unmoving, Naruto bound him in a combination of chakra chains and sealing jutsu before lifting him off the ground while making their way to the Citadel in passing the homicidal being's downed forces before incarnated through Fire ninjutsu.

Citadel Infirmary

"This way, Catue." Amarie said as she, lending her staff to said Princess Knight, and Shamsiel carried her to a bed with a tearful Nina embracing her daughter. She held onto her mother's arm before looking to Ruu-Ruu resting nearby and Janne's abdomen being wrapped in gauze tape as Celine held onto her.

"He's not dead." Celestine spoke as she, Origa, and Naruto stood over the still-shackled Iruyana down in the deepest dungeons as none of his wounds had healed and he showed no signs of awakening. The Dark Queen looked at him with her normal stoic gaze and Naruto sighed before glancing to her.

"What'll you do with him?" Naruto asked.

"Execution would be my first choice before if he's still living after all I've seen today, I'm at a lost on what can be done outside of seeing to it that he not be able to harm anyone else on my watch if you'll leave his fate in my hands." Origa said with Naruto looking at Iruyana's brain.

"I don't know about his healing but looking at his brain, I can't help but wonder if he'll be more unstable or he'll have some kind of amnesia or something." Naruto said.

"If either one comes to pass, I'll do whatever I can to handle the situation." Origa said while mentally herself asking if having a nigh invincible enemy fate's in her hands was penance for the Dark Elves lost in her war.

"Very well, Origa. His life is yours to decide" Celestine said with the Dark Queen nodding before departing the dungeons and heading to the infirmary to find Chloe and Ruberanora.

"Chloe, do you know her?" Celestine asked.

"Yes, she's my milk-sibling from my slavery days who kept me and my sisters alive for the first few years of our lives." Chloe said.

"My name is Ruberanora, and Origa-sama, I cannot express my deepest gratitude of the care you've given Chloe all this time." Said Dark Elf spoke.

"I appreciate your gratitude, though I must offer my apologies for not being able to save Jackie in time." Origa said with Ruberanora only nodding and Celestine resumed her way to the infirmary with Naruto in stride. They arrived to see Satan and Kaguya standing before Alicia's petrified form with Prim and Astrid looking on and Celestine stepped into the room.

"Satan, Kaguya-sama, what's their condition so far?"

"The good news so far is that Ruu-Ruu's jaw will be back to normal before she knows it." Satan said while glancing to Kaguya.

"However, Catue's vocal cords are charred beyond recognition and nothing we've attempted so far seems to be off any help in restoring Janne's wings. As for Alicia, getting her out will not be an easy task." Kaguya said.

"Why, Kaguya-sama?" Astrid asked.

"I would have believed that Iruyana's defeat would mean the end of this spell but going off of this…" Kaguya said while looking to Celestine as she nodded and the Rabbit Goddess frowned.

"What does that mean for Alicia then?" Janne spoke with Satan placing her staff on the Knight of Iris' heart and Kaguya placing her hand on her head.

"While we can get her out, there's no telling what aftereffects she might have." Kaguya said.

"Please, Kaguya-sama, Satan-san, do what you can." Prim said with both imbuing Alicia in a mixture of magic and chakra with the stone beginning to fade from her face with a loud gasp sounding. Astrid and Prim's eyes shined as Alicia returned to her normal state and collapsed to her knees with the two catching her.

"Alicia, are you alright?" Kaguya asked with the Princess Knight looking up at her and Satan with her eyes having become a dull purple with her squinting.

"Where's Iruyana? Where's…" Alicia started to say with Chloe entering the room.

"It's alright, Alicia. Origa-sama got him but more to the point, are you unwell in any way?" Chloe asked with her friend looking to her and the half dark elf's fist clenching as she observed her eyes.

"My eyes…" She said to herself with Astrid and Prim embracing her as Satan and Kaguya throw the other concerned looks as did Celestine.

"Alicia, I have a gamble but trust me." Kaguya said before she took on a form akin to Black Zetsu and ran up the Princess Knight's arm until she settled on her shoulder. It was then her eyes resumed their normal appearance and she placed her hands on her mother and sister before embracing both of them.

"What did she just do?" Nina asked.

"I'm doing what I can to keep any remnants of Iruyana's magic at bay, but I've never merged with a non-chakra host before so any effects she'll have from my being like this are a mystery." Kaguya's voice sounded from the dark shape and as Astrid and Prim helped Alicia up, Hermione peered into the room from the doorway. While surveying her recovering allies, she hung her head and only straightened up as she held Amarie approaching.

"Hermione, was it? You alright?" Amarie said with the pink-haired teen not looking back at her.

"I'm fine." She answered.

Later on

As Nina remained by Catue's bed, her head rested on it as she slept and it was then that Naruto came into the infirmary. He looked to the Queen of Dragundaala and approached before placing his jacket on her shoulders while he looked to Ruu-Ruu resting soundly along with Janne and Alicia.

The blonde exited the room with Ayr's face manifesting from small red flames before hovering closer to Catue and sending a trail of fiery magic into her mouth. Wheezing for a brief time, she settled back to sleep with Ayr's manifestation flying out the room and leaving Catue to yawn without any of the vassals assigned to watch over them noticing.

Elsewhere in the Citadel

"Farewell, Celestine, Origa. We wish your comrades only the best of recovery." Delva said to the Chivalry and Naruto as she assembled all her forces outside of Ruberanora and Rutejia, who was now back in her disguised form.

"Don't know what you plan to do with Iruyana, but hopefully he gets what's coming to him" Anni said.

"I guarantee he will, but Ruberanora, what do you plan to do now that you've finally been reunited with Chloe?" Origa said.

"I know very little about you beyond only I've been told but the fact of the matter is that you protected Chloe in the time I couldn't and for that, I'll stay here if you'll allow me." Ruberanora said.

"You're more than welcome to remain here as are all of you." Origa said with Elda scowling at her with Miria's casting a cold glare at Delva and Evelyn that didn't go unnoticed by the two.

"Misery appreciates your thoughtfulness, Origa-sama, but prepares it's for the best that only Ruberanora remain here." Said Elf spoke.

"Why's that?" Meiriin said.

"From what we can see, we have little reason to be here besides stopping another pointless war to break out from another unstable Dark Elf." Elda said before Chloe immediately punched said Dark Elf in the jaw and the elder blonde only winced.

"How dare you speak that way about Origa-sama?!" Chloe demanded with Alphimia and Musuta holding onto Elda's shoulders with Lucy frowning.

"Girly, you are damn lucky Ruberanora has been looking for you this whole time…!" Elda started to bark.

"Easy, Elda." Musuta said with Origa standing before Chloe.

"Chloe…" Ruberanora worried said.

"Just how long have you known about me?" Origa said.

"Long enough to know that crown on your head was previously worn by Erina Discordia and that your war was a blight on our whole species." Delva said with Miria stepping forward.

"Just as I thought! You haven't changed a bit!" Miria said.

"I already stated my piece to you and Jerrik and have nothing more to say about it." Delva said with Origa's stoic demeanor falling for a moment as the Chivalry remained quiet.

"Wait a moment! Just how you know my Mother and Father?" Origa said with all Delva, Elda, and Evelyn scrutinizing her expression before looking to Miria.

"Nothing worth talking about, Dark Princess." Elda almost hissed with Origa scowling.

"Let's not do this." Evelyn whispered.

"No. Know what? Let's." Elda said.

"Just what are you talking about?!" Chloe asked.

"What are we talking about?! We're asking how any of how you folks killed Volt but are willing to befriend this coward!" Elda said with Origa still glowering.

"Coward?! Going off your knowledge of her war, I see all of you knew about it, yet you stand here judging Origa-sama when the fact of the mater is none of you lifted a finger in helping the outcome!" Meiriin shot back.

"Her war was none of our business in the slightest and never had a leg to stand on in the first place." Delva spoke.

"Neither did Iruyana yet all of you showed up without a second thought!" Naruto said.

"Leaving him unchecked is no different than letting a rabid beast run loose, so call our being a here more of a mutual benefit than us taking part in your war would have done." Alphimia said.

"Matter of fact, what's stopping us from ending you here in this citadel right now." Elda asked before Naruto and the Chivalry stepping ahead until the Dark Queen was surrounded.

"Not gonna happen." Naruto and Chloe spoke while staring down Elda.

"Naruto, you helped kill Volt, a man who only came into the power he did because of her pointless war. So, I ask you upfront: why didn't you slay her when you had the chance?" Elda said.

"What would killing her have done for anyone when over half of the Dark Elves were already gone?"

"Those same Dark Elves you mentioned wouldn't be the corpses they are today if not for her war, and yet all of you are content in letting her walk free when all she did led to all the endless death and destruction it did for ages?" Elda said.

"Elda, killing Origa will not bring anyone back but tell us, what exactly did her war to any of you that you're so determined to end her life?" Claudia said with Delva's group of Dark Elves and Ruberanora each frowning.

"Look, I don't know all the details of what goes on in her head, but all I know is that she's a threat to all that remains of our kind the longer she's allowed to walk free and I'll be damned if…" Elda said with Celestine approaching.

"Elda. While I cannot express my gratitude enough on the help you've given us today, know that not one of us fears anything on this green earth that threatens one of our own. Is this in any way unclear?" The Goddess spoke with Elda only quietly growling as Celestine looked her in the face with a serene yet firm gaze.

"Why do you protect her so much?" Alphimia said

"Look, you all might have your own issues with one another and some of em' might be good, some might be crap. But you all need to keep something important in mind. I will not allow you to wipe your race out with another pointless war and if need be, I will step in and put an end to it. On both sides." Naruto said while Elda and Alphimia scowled at him as he lifted one finger in the far end of the room with his power surrounding it just before said location started to rumble with the opposing Dark Elves and their allies glancing at said location with Elda and a select few becoming stiff.

"Iruyana's homicidal hide might be one thing, but it's not like there's any benefit to keeping her alive and.." Elda said.

"Look, I stayed mostly out of this last fight with him since it was a conflict you guys needed to settle for personal reasons among your own kind. But rest assured-should the dickhead try to cause any more trouble, I'll help Origa keep him line. I'll step in personally if need be!" "" Naruto started to say as he placed a hand on Origa's shoulder while she bowed her head in thought.

"Blondie, if you're so intent on…."

"Elda, you better hold your tongue 'cuz I'm about to ram my foot so far…!' Chloe said before Hermione got between them.

"That's enough! Aren't there enough Dark Elves dead already?!" Hermione screamed with both sides falling silent and staying that way until Delva then did an about-face before leaving with her forces following suit one by one. As they left, Delva glanced back at Hermione and Serafina along with Amarie and Elisha and returned her gaze to her front.

"Jasper and Rakia…" Delva thought with Miria and Serafina touching Hermione's shoulders.

"What in the world was that about?" Claudia asked.

"Miria, how long have you known Delva and those two?" Serafina asked and the white-haired Dark Elf turned to face Origa.

"The truth is, I've known about them longer than I've known most of you." Miria said and Origa threw her a bewildered expression.

"Then you knew it was them back when they met Naruto as well?" Origa said.

"Yes." Miria explained with all going silent once more with all eyes on her in confusion and the Dark Queen took in all she had heard before exhaling.

"Can you explain?" Origa asked and Miria looked to her with a grim expression while occasionally looking to the side. It was then Miria held up her hand with a sphere forming akin to a floating crystal ball and it showed Dark Elves battling against all kinds of species.

"To tell you all I know of those three can't be told without bringing up our late great Dark King Jerrik-Sama and his bride Erina aka the Midnight Scorpion." Miria said as all looked at the sphere.

Making both sides have a point can be tricky, but I pulled it off and Iruyana is finally down for the count though will he return? Only time will time.

Anyway, I've been busy tying up unfinished business with my other fics for more free time and wanted to update to let you all know this story isn't dead and I'll tell you all right now that this is one Kuroinu writer that has no plans/interest to end his story to do a remake/retelling of this.

Though recently, my views on the Kuroinu fanfic community has changed in the time I've been gone but I'll fill you in on that another day as the next few chapters will focus on the background of Garan and it's history (was originally going to have Miria explain everything in one chapter but then I figured it was best you see it for yourselves)

So until next time, take care of yourselves and thanks for your support as always.