Uchiha Sasuke: Hell Chronicles

by oppopopo

Thrown into hell by an irritated Sage, Uchiha Sasuke is faced with the moral dilemma of the ages. Should he strive to be the ruler of heaven or hell? Being the big bad of the underworld was appealing, but being prayed to by the multitudes in churches had its own charms. To top it all off there's a magical girl on his case. The trials of an Uchiha never end. Why was he so badass?

4. Chapter 4 - Dragon Tales - Part 2

Chapter 4 - Dragon Tales - Part 2 - You got a friend in me

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or High School DxD

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Author's note-

Six paths translation-

Deva Path - Tendo

Asura Path - Shurado

Human Path - Ningendo

Animal Path - Chikushodo

Preta Path - Gakido

Naraka Path - Jigokudo

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Kuoh Academy, day of the Three Factions' conference

Occult Research Club

I, Hyoudou Issei, sputtered as my cup of tea burst into a million shards as I sipped from it. Splashing my face with burning liquid, and sending the brew up my nose.

"Cough! Cough!" I choked as I hurried to grab the covers of the clubroom's sofa to wipe my face.

A-Aaah! It burns! It burns!

[…this feeling.]

Yeah! It's a pretty hot feeling!

I moaned in pain, wincing as I separated the cloth from my face. And when I opened my eyes, I found the Boosted Gear having formed on my hand, with drops of brown tea dripping off it, along with broken cup pieces embedded within the cracks of its armor.

I frowned.

I summoned my gear?

When did that happen?

[Hrmmm.]

The jewel of my sacred gear glowed as Ddraig rumbled within me. His growl troubled and anxious.

Oi… Oi, partner!

[-lbion, are you…? Fighting?]

I scratched my head, wondering what was up with Ddraig. Why he sounded like he was chewing over something. His voice restless, as if he paced inside my mind in circles, his tail waving erratically as made his rounds.

I called out to him.

Hey, partner! You okay? You seem distracted.

[Hm? What?]

Uhh, nothing. Just wanted to know why you felt like breaking that cup in my face.

I pouted.

That was senpai's tea! And I just wasted a whole cupful of it!

[Hrmmm. Why? …so excited, huh? White one…]

I sighed in exasperation. What the heck was up with my dragon? Speaking in broken sentences, as if his head wasn't all there. Also white one? Who the heck is-

[The White Dragon Emperor. Albion.]

I blinked.

Shit, we're talking about Vali?

My eyes widened.

I-Is he here or something?!

Ddraig blew jets of air through his nose. A dragon's way of sighing explosively I guess?

[No. Not here. But… somewhere.]

His wings flapped.

[His power.]

Ddraig looked up at my mind's ceiling.

[I can feel it being used. …Hmph. I can smell his grin. The odor of his armor. I know it well.]

Ddraig scowled.

[Who has you so excited, white one?]

I scratched my head awkwardly, as I heard the real question clear as day-

Who has you so excited, and why isn't it me?

I pursed my lips.

Ermm… Sorry? Ddraig?

I winced.

F-For being so weak-

Ddraig cut me off.

[Chin up, partner.]

My dragon shook his head.

[You sell yourself short.]

I scowled. What the hell was he saying? We both saw Vali, and how he manhandled that Fallen.

Gripping my fists, I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. My face troubled and my brow furrowed.

That day…

I would have died.

Buchou… would have died.

Asia, Senpai, Kiba, Koneko, Irina.

O-Oh crap.

If it weren't for Vali's interference…

I gulped.

Bye bye, new game plus.

Sweat trailed down my neck as my mind played me the movie of the horror that thankfully didn't become true.

Vanishing without a trace… Burned by the light… My friends…

Buchou…

Screams. Tears. Faces forever frozen in terror.

Not even time for a goodbye… and a thank you.

I sighed, burying my face in my hand. Trying to wrestle my thoughts away from that terrible stuff.

Which brought me straight back to my… savior.

Vali.

That's the guy I'm supposed to fight? That battle maniac. A guy who bodied a freaking big boss of the Fallen. And he's my destined rival?

W-Would I even survive?

I rubbed my forehead as these thoughts attacked me.

And that's when the words of my newest friend echoed in my mind.

There I was, moping on the set of Oppai Dragon, sitting in the break room. Being freshly reprimanded by Leviathan-sama for getting the beat wrong and missing a few dance steps, my movements out of sync with the music and forcing a reshoot. It's not like she was harsh or anything, she looked more amused and happy, as she skipped over to my friend and began chatting happily at him while he sulked in a corner, trying to ignore her.

She'd cheerily informed him that he'd have to dance again because I'd messed up, putting her arm around his shoulder and playfully punching his side.

My friend had groaned in anguish at the news, making Leviathan-sama chuckle and ruffle his hair.

He'd then turned his gaze to me, my throat caught with slight fear as I saw his cold and piercing eyes. Frightening eyes of rippled purple and solid black. And by the time I blinked, he was already standing in front of me. His lips fixed in a scowl, and irritation obvious in his brow.

And I'll never forget what he said to me on that day.

'Don't let her push you. She'll keep me here all day if you do.'

He growled.

'There was nothing wrong in your moves. She's just coming up with new things to torment me.'

I'd scratched my head.

But… but I did go out of sync with the other dancers-

He scoffed.

'So what? Aren't you the main focus? You're supposed to be out of sync.'

He smirked.

'What's the point if you're like everyone else?'

I was deeply affected by his words. My eyes wide as I thought it through.

He was Karasu.

The hero of hell.

And by the papers, a top level tsundere.

If you think about it, he acts more like a villain than a good guy.

Hiding in the shadows.

Glaring at the children on set who surrounded him with bright smiles while asking to be picked up.

And the way he chuckles to himself, his eyes smug and his face satisfied, as if he's imagining a grand scheme obvious only to him.

I smiled as I thought about it.

At the end of the day, he was still a good guy.

He'd freely helped the assistants and cameramen in the studio, while snorting and saying he just wanted to end the nightmare and go home.

The children squealed happily and sat down around him, as he commanded them to hear his legend and then spread the terror of his story among their parents. I gotta say, the way he and that Naruto came up with that shuriken tactic was pretty cool.

And finally, though he seems aloof and cold, as if cursing each and every person who wastes his time, he doesn't show a bit of that when talking with Leviathan-sama. Arguing, joking, and fighting with her all the time. Well… joking mostly to annoy her, but still. It's pretty funny watching him chuckle as she pouts at him. Though I don't think she's really that bothered about that, as her face would glow bright with a happy smile the second he turned around.

And then they'd start bickering and heckling each other again. Both of them trying to one-up the other. I don't know the score, but I spotted Karasu ending up a blushing mess most of the time, while Leviathan-sama giggled and posed in victory, thrusting out a peace sign in Karasu's face while he glowered… you know what? Recalling that, I think he was actually pouting.

I laughed, amusement lighting up my eyes.

Looks like someone had a crush.

Leviathan-sama is amazing for bringing those feelings out such of a stand-offish guy. And if it weren't for her, I don't think anybody would've known how much of a tsundere he really is, and we'd all have misunderstood his real intentions. A hero would've been labeled a bad guy. And as Koneko says, that would've been just the worst.

Karasu spoke to me, looking at me with glare.

'You're the one in control. She needs you. Not the other way around. Take charge and don't be a coward.'

I'd winced.

But… Leviathan-sama was a Satan, how can I go against her? That's like a death wish-

His eye rippled as he caught my shoulder in a tight grip.

'If you die, then die. Following your goals. Nobody gives a damn about your ambitions, so if you aren't pathetic, give a damn. If not for your sake then for mine. Do you really want to waste anymore time here? Don't you have anything better to do?'

My desires filled me. My dreams flushed with color. As I let his words take over me.

I blinked in wonder as I reflected on it. His point slotting my confused thoughts into their right buckets.

Really.

What the hell was I doing here?

I had women's figures to appreciate.

A backlog of oppai to gaze at.

And training… I had to train.

To fulfill my dream, I had to train till I'm dead tired!

Aargh!

Why am I wasting time dancing in a studio?!

I beamed at Karasu. A ton of gratitude filling my insides as he reminded me what was truly important in life.

In this second life of mine.

Though he left me and went over to sulk in another corner of the set, trying to make himself inconspicuous but not really succeeding as the kids hunted him out again and swarmed him with eager requests for another story, I thanked him in my heart.

Boobs.

They're the stuff of dreams after all.

And for illuminating my path to boobs, I dubbed my friend, my mentor, my heroic but misunderstood chum, as,

My Breast Buddy.

I grinned. He wouldn't be on the set of Oppai Dragon if he weren't a connoisseur of the female form now, would he?

It was great knowing there were such men of culture in high places. 'Cause that meant I was hanging out with the right crowd!

And one day! I'll be just like them!

Cool! Looked up to! And swimming in women!

I felt a stab of envy as I watched Karasu ignore yet another gorgeous lady on set, an actress I think, making googly eyes at him.

But I stomped down such feelings.

He was my Breast Buddy! So I gotta learn from him! Not waste time being jealous!

I gripped my fist in determination.

He looked out for me.

So from now on, if I ever get the chance to, I'm gonna look out for him!

I smiled.

This is the start of a beautiful relationship.

I can just feel it!

But before I did that, I'd gone to Leviathan-sama and told her that since I was supposed to be the protagonist I had a few ideas of my own, and that some of her dance steps weren't really suited for guys.

I mean, I doubt anyone wants to see my kick my legs up as if I was wearing a mini-skirt and had something to showoff as fan-service.

She'd pouted at me, her attention taken off Karasu who was regaling the children another one of his stories. Something about an exam this time and lots of sand.

'But I want more blackmai- I-I mean I want to see Kara-chan be all cute! And I won't get another chance! I'm lucky as it is he was careless enough to bet on doing anything if he lost!'

She then turned to Karasu again, who now held a column of black flames along his hands, going from his right hand to his left. His red eye spun as he grabbed, twisted and tied the black flames with his fingers, the fire bending and obeying his will. He then presented his creation to the kids, making them goggle with wonder.

A balloon dog. Only, this one was made of black flames rather then inflated rubber.

Karasu huffed imperiously and tossed a kid the flaming dog, making him shriek in fright as he ducked and covered his front with his hands, but he then blinked in confusion as the flaming dog harmless bounced off his head and fell on the ground. Scratching his head, the kid hesitantly knelt and touched the black flames, and when nothing happened he smiled wide and grabbed the toy dog with a laugh, hugging it to his chest. He beamed at Karasu.

Karasu smirked.

'There now. Don't you dare let me catch you praising sand manipulation over flames ever again.'

The kid nodded his head eagerly. Proclaiming that Lord Karasu was the coolest there is.

Leviathan-sama giggled as Karasu was soon pounced on by the other kids, all demanding a flaming dog of their own while climbing him and dangling off his shoulders or hugging his legs.

'He's good with children, isn't he?'

She said with a… happy smile. But this one didn't seem like her usual excited grins.

I scratched my head as I tried to place it.

…fond.

Yeah, that's it!

Her smile radiated fondness as she looked at my Breast Buddy. A sparkle in her eyes, as she saw Karasu glare fiercely at the kids and demand that they get off him at once. Before he proceeded to produce black flames around his whole body, and manipulated them to form fiery wings on the kids' backs, making them flap and pick the kids off him one by one.

I chuckled.

And well, the kids pretty much went crazy at the spectacle and started yelling in excitement. The boy with the flaming balloon dog pouted and pulled on Karasu's pants, meekly asking if he could fly like that too.

Leviathan-sama laughed happily, a camera popping out of a pink magic circle and dropping into her hands. She quickly proceed to snap pictures of Karasu and the kids, saying,

'Kara-chan sure keeps me on my toes!'

The kids then sprouted their own devil wings in addition to Karasu's flaming wings. Karasu squawked in surprise as they all flew at him with squeals, pouncing on him and making them fall together to the ground in a dogpile with Karasu buried underneath. He sputtered angrily, yelling at them to leave him alone.

As one, the kids all turned to Leviathan-sama.

One black haired girl asked with a frown,

'Levi-tan, is nii-chan saying he's lonely?'

Leviathan-sama snickered and gave her a thumbs-up.

The girl gained a determined look and turned back to rest of the kids, giving them a firm nod. She said in a commanding voice,

'Let's give our shy nii-chan lots of love! Remember guys! The more he gets angry, the more he loves it!'

Karasu's eyes widened, and it looked like he opened his mouth to roar in protest.

'Hugsies!'

Yelled the children, falling on him and covering him in hugs from head to toe. They muffled his voice as they latched their arms around his face and embraced him with giggles. The hero sounded like he had something to say, but alas, love trumps all.

I snickered.

Tsundere protests included.

Leviathan-sama started giggling with giddiness, and her hands went wild as she snapped picture after picture of the adorable pile of fluff, containing many smiling kids and one scowling hero.

'He's such a silly idiot.'

She said with a dreamy sigh. Mischief dancing in her eyes.

'You never know when he'll start acting all cute! These are going straight into my collection! Hehehe, s-so much blackmail! Soon, Kara-chan~ Soon, you'll be mine!'

I gulped as I saw the far-off look in the Satan's eyes, as she licked her lips and giggled to herself.

L-Looks like Breast Buddy was in for a ride.

I closed my eyes and put a hand over my heart, wishing him the breast of luck.

Hopefully he'd score.

If not… I hope he'll survive at least. I kinda want to hang out with him later.

Anyway! Back to matter at hand, I asked Leviathan-sama if she were open to ideas. Telling her I kinda wanted to do things my way.

She frowned at me and started humming, tapping her finger to her lips. As if she weren't sure what to make of my request. Her eyes looked like they were digging into me, looking for something.

I shook in my boots, smiling shakily and hoping she wouldn't vaporize me for going against her.

I wanted to avert my eyes.

I wanted to look away so badly.

She may look cute and bubbly, but at the end of the day she was still a Satan. One of the strongest devils in the underworld. And here I was, telling her directly to her face that I wanted to run the show.

M-Maybe just one peek away to steel my nerves-

Karasu yelled in exasperation.

'Get the hell off! Why in the world are you hugging me! I'm not your plaything!'

The kids giggled and one girl yelled back with glee.

'Nii-chan! Our bodies moved on their on own! Just like when you protected your friend, we're going to protect you, nii-chan!'

Karasu groaned.

'All the blood and gore I retell in explicit detail, and that's the part you focus on?'

Still humming and tapping her lip, Leviathan-sama giggled a little. Rolling her eyes and shaking her head a tad with amusement coloring her smile.

And me?

…it filled me up with a sort of fire.

My eyes burning, as a desire slammed itself into me.

A desire to prove myself in front of my Breast friend.

He… he protected his friend with his body? Something… something so brave and cool?

I shook my head and slapped my cheeks. Not breaking my gaze off Leviathan-sama's eyes for a moment. Taking all my doubt in myself, all my insecurity at being so out of place before her, and shoving it all into a deep corner of my mind, I faced her with a confident grin.

She smiled back at me, right when I'd started looking back with courage in my eyes. She said, crossing her arms and taking a peek at the masked hero and kids,

'Kara-chan strikes again.'

She chuckled, turning back to me.

'I was afraid how much you believed in yourself, because trust me, Satan or not, it hurts like heck when someone calls your idea stupid.'

She pouted.

'Especially when you spent all night coming up with it! Magical girls are so last decade they said! Hmph! I showed them!'

I grinned and pumped a fist in the air.

Yeah! Magical girls rocked! The skimpy ones are the best! I mean they're so full of… character and life lessons. Haha. Teaching everyone to be c-confident in their bodies and all. H-Hah!

And now take that and give Oppai Dragon the same flair with some tasteful twists… and voila! You have a masterpiece in your hands!

An excited grin took over my face, as I thought of Karasu's techniques that Buchou told me about. He had that Shinra Tensei right? Now what if we combine it with my Dress Break-

'By the 72 pillars, Dragon-chan! That's amazing!'

Leviathan-sama ruffled my hair with a beaming smile.

'I've decided! You're getting all the creative freedom you can get! Hahaha! Sirzechs-chan was right! You have a talent for this stuff! You're a once in a millennium perverted genius!'

S-Should I be proud the Satans themselves consider me such a big deviant? H-Haha. At least kaa-san and tou-san have something to brag about now?

If they knew about all this I mean…

I frowned. It always makes me sad, thinking how much I'm not really their son anymore. At the same time how much they are a part me, and how they will forever be. As long as I breathe, they'll be the ones who raised me, who took care of me and who always smile at me when I get back home, despite how much I know I'm disappointing them…

…I mean aside from the whole bringing home girls who end up sleeping in my bed.

I pouted.

Really kaa-san, tou-san! Is it that unbelievable that I'll get married one day that you both cry tears of joy?

I mean come on!

Swap those tears with knowing smiles! As if you were expecting me to be a stud all along! Like, 'I knew he had it in him! That's my boy!'

…

Hmm… Swapping…

A slow grin rose on my face.

The things I could do with swapping things instantaneously.

I felt a blush rise to my cheeks as I snickered.

Ehehehe.

Man, Breast Buddy, you could totally be an ero game protag if you wanted to.

Slam!

I yelped and jumped in surprise as a hand slammed on my shoulder.

'Write that down! Write that down!'

Leviathan-sama yelled at me with an excited grin. She shoved a notebook and pencil in my hands and started pushing me away towards the chairs in the break room.

'Dragon-chan, I want you to fill that book with all your ideas! Let's make Kara-chan a star!'

I grinned at her, kinda surprised I'd been speaking my ideas aloud, and hella pumped at her enthusiasm.

Yeah!

It's the least I can do for him!

I mean it is his words that drove me so far! To take a chance and push forward! To burn in my insides with a drive to prove myself! A fire which Leviathan-sama herself acknowledged!

Thanks, Breast Buddy!

You gave me the confidence to believe in myself and my goals!

I'm gonna pay you back tenfold!

It's a promise!

'Pfft! H-Hahaha! B-Breast Buddy?!'

Leviathan-sama started giggling again, folding into herself and punching her knee twice as she shook with laughter.

'O-Oh! Y-You're killing me, Dragon-chan! Ahahaha! S-See you in a few, Dragon-chan! I-I need to make a phone call!'

I stared after her as she skipped away, laughing happily. She stopped by Breast Buddy, kneeling down and pinching his cheeks with a snicker, making him growl at her with narrowed eyes but still buried under kids. She winked at him with a grin and then left the set, her delighted laughter following her as departed.

I scratched my head.

Man, did I call him that out loud?

Hmm, I wonder if he'd mind me assuming that we're friends…

Bah, we're doing the intro of a pervy show together! If that doesn't make you friends I don't know what does!

I grinned and punched my fist into my palm as I sat down on the chair and began writing my ideas.

Just wait till the shoot is done, Karasu! After that, we'll be Breast friends forever!

I can't wait!

[…neither can I.]

I blinked. Huh?

I looked around myself and saw the clubroom's furniture and curtains stare back at me. I turned my head to the clock in the room and my jaw dropped.

P-Praise the Gremory! I was lost in my head for thirty minutes! Holy sh- Ow! I-I mean, unholy shit! Where did the time go!

[Are you done reminiscing?]

Ddraig sighed.

[Such an impression he left on you?]

He narrowed his eyes. Looking at me like my tou-san sometimes did, like he was looking out for me.

[Be warned, partner. Never judge a book by its cover… Though I don't think I need to tell you this. Consider this a reminder nevertheless.]

I grimaced.

He's nothing like her. Like that fallen.

I… I believe in him. And Leviathan-sama believes in him!

He's just misunderstood!

Plus he's a pretty cool guy!

[Okay. I'll trust your judgment.]

I smiled.

Thanks, partner!

[Heh. Anytime.]

I frowned. Ddraig's voice… still seemed far away. His focus elsewhere, and his nose sniffing the air every now and then and his throat growling.

Clutching my fingers with a slight tremor, I bunched up my pants.

I… know who my partner's looking for.

And I really don't want to meet that guy again.

If he's standing in front of me, I'd happily run away as fast as I can.

But… but if I do that… how can I ever grow stronger?

'Take charge and don't be a coward.'

I gripped my fists, clenching them hard. My face set in a grim frown.

I won't.

I won't run.

'If you die, then die. Following your goals.'

I stood up with my eyes burning with determination and my body shaking with terrific fear, as I shut my eyes and shook my head hard, trying to forget the difference in power between me and Vali.

I smiled shakily.

A-Ahahaha!

I-I'm a total idiot for what I'm about to do.

Karasu's cocky smirk flashed in my head. With him crossing his arms, his eyes radiating confidence, as he asked me a question which bounced around in my head ever since that day.

'What's the point if you're like everyone else?'

I chuckled. Cracking my knuckles as those words drenched me with the courage to grasp my wits about me and walk towards my possible death with a cheer.

I might die.

But I'll do it with a smile.

I grinned.

Chicks love that shit!

I rang my partner.

Hey, Ddraig! Let's go fetch us a Hakuryuukou!

I chuckled.

I'm feeling suicidal today!

[Hm?]

Ddraig rumbled. And already I could hear excitement in his growl as he stood up on his haunches.

[Are you sure about this? We are in no way prepared to meet him in battle if we come to blows.]

I nodded.

Nobody gets in the way of my dream.

Of being a harem king!

I smiled.

No strongass pretty boy's gonna be stealing this man's women!

My dragon barked a surprised laugh.

[Hahaha! While your motive's questionable, your drive is something I can admire. Now tell me, partner. What will you do if you fail before his power? If your bravado ends up being your undoing? Will you see this foolishness to its end.]

Ddraig looked at me with narrowed eyes, looking like a teacher staring down at his student during his test. Expectant, hopeful, and secretly rooting for his pupil.

[Your empty words might coax your self. But the question is, can you deliver?]

I shook my head with a smile.

Silly Ddraig. Don't you know?

Where there's a boob there's a way.

They're my drive.

They drive me crazy.

And I'm not going to waste time being scared of my enemies.

Not when there's better things to do. Not when there are people I have to protect.

I clutched my hand. The boosted gear singing with power in response to my yearning.

I, am the Red Dragon Emperor!

And I will protect my kingdom of breasts!

And no shitty white dragon is going to scare me away from my destiny!

Ahahaha!

I grinned at my dragon.

You and me, partner. Let's kick some white dragon butt?

Ddraig chuckled, radiating approval and some pride, as he nodded with a grin on his snout.

[Hah, splendid! Then let's be foolish together, Sekiryuutei!]

Ya got it, Sekiryuutei!

Smiling, my dragon and I exchanged a mental bro fist, before I jogged out of the clubroom.

So! Where is he, partner?

[I can feel his power in the air. But it isn't the air of the human world.]

I scratched my head. While Ddraig sniffed and licked the air once again.

[This taint… it's the underworld if I'm reading it right… question is, why is it spread out in your school?]

I frowned.

Hmm, uhh, there's the peace conference today right? Maybe that's why?

[…devils or fallen coming from hell through magic circles. Huh. Makes sense. Well done, partner.]

I smiled, happy at the praise. I then saw two tall guys in armor move past the corridor, muttering to themselves.

One of them went-

"-are you positive we can ignore the situation?"

The other shrugged.

"Do you want to face the one who downed Kokabiel?" He shook his head, "Leviathan-sama left standing orders to leave him in charge."

The first one sighed. "My daughter loves him, he played with her the other day in the studio." He chuckled. "She can't stop talking about him." He grimaced, "why are we discussing peace when the fallen attack our city."

The second one shook his head, "stop saying things that will get you killed. That's Leviathan-sama's domain, not ours." He put his hand on the first one's shoulder, "leave it to Karasu, he'll deal with the Hakuryuukou." He chuckled, "he's the hero of hell after all."

The two of them exchanged a chuckle, as they disappeared from view, their shoulders tense with anxiety but a little less burdened after their small talk.

My eyes on the other hand were wide open with shock.

T-That bastard was picking on my Breast Buddy?!

N-No!

I gripped my hand tight and snarled.

How dare he attack my friend!

[How dare he excite my rival?! I have seniority!]

I blinked as my dragon roared indignantly.

W-What? Ddraig?

What are you talking about-

[Not now, partner! We must root out this illicit fight at once! Preposterous!]

Ddraig spat with contempt.

While I blinked with ever more confusion. Since when were fights illicit? You're making it seem like an affair-

[Partner! Focus! They're blowing each other as we speak!]

I sputtered with wide eyes.

"W-What the fuck?!"

Ddraig roared again. Sounding restless and incensed.

[Graaah! I have to see this for myself! Unacceptable! Grr... Come! We must move! Before their punches legitimize this sordid fling!]

I breathed a sigh of relief.

T-Thank Satan. You meant blow as in punches. The mental image scared me for a second-

[Partner!]

I winced.

Alright! Alright! We'll go save your one true rival!

[Tch! I can't believe this! To do this behind my back! After all these years! What dark temptations have ensnared you, Albion!]

Oh my devil wings. This sounds like a lovers' quarrel on an afternoon soap opera.

Confused as heck on how to respond to my growling and anxious partner, I just focused on moving through the corridor, trying to find where the devil soldiers like I'd seen a few seconds ago were appearing from.

And after a few moments I spotted a storeroom which was too small for the number of people who were coming out of it. Men and women carrying stacks of papers, soldiers with wary faces and weapons on their person, and a few people who wore suits and had politicians' smiles on their faces.

[Oh, you like his attacks, do you, white one? …stop grinning like that! Have some dignity! It's so obvious I can smell it from miles away! …wait I know. You're trying to evoke my envy, aren't you? Hah! This is all a ploy to hasten my training of my host, isn't it?]

I waited till the storeroom's door stopped flapping with people coming out. I opened the door and found a standard broom closet, with cleaning supplies, a broom, some rags stuffed into the cupboard.

And a magic circle drawn on the floor.

[Really, Albion. You couldn't wait to engage me in an all out battle, could you? Haha! A truly hopeless dragon you are, my rival. But fret not! I shall deliver you a reminder in the form of a trouncing! To quench your thirst for the moment.]

This is seriously starting to sound like denial.

Ddraig shook his head with a smile, still talking to himself.

[You were always an impatient one, my rival. Haha, my bad for jumping to conclusions. I'm sure we'll have a proper dragon to dragon discussion and have a good fight! Maybe even hammer this Karasu with a few jolly blasts! Just to drive in how far outclassed he is! After all! We're the heavenly dragons! You and I! Me and you! We're a pair! And no greenhorn of a crow has a place between us!]

I frowned.

Breast Buddy isn't a pushover…

I shook my head, breaking free of the power scaling argument. Seriously, if I got into that I'd be sitting here all day arguing with my dragon rather than focusing on backing up Karasu.

I scowled.

That jerk Vali has another thing coming if he thinks he can mess with my friends.

I knelt down, and passed my hand over the inscribed pretty shapes on the ground. My eyes narrowing with focus, as I observed the lines, the circles, the stars, and the odd triangle here and there. I became one with the circle, and the circle became one with me. I could feel a connection between us, as if greeting an old friend-

[You can't make heads or tails of it, can you?]

"E-Ehehehe."

I chuckled, smiling sheepishly and rubbing the back of my head. I-I'm catching up on my studies! I'm sure I'll get it one day!

Ddraig hummed.

[Alright. Pass the boosted gear over the circle. It's already infused with devil power, and scribed for teleportation going by the devils who kept popping out of the room. Should be simple enough to alter the destination.]

I grinned.

Wow! You even know devil magic?

You're amazing, partner!

I pressed my gauntlet to the floor and immediately I could feel a small drain on my stamina, Ddraig controlling my energy for me.

My awesome partner said in a focused voice.

[Yes. He's close. A few miles to the left… A little closer to ground aaand-]

Bling!

The circle began glowing a bright red, making me wince and cover my face with my free hand, only letting my eyes peek through the gaps of my fingers.

Drum! Drum! Drum!

"A-Ah!"

I yelped as the floor started shaking, making me stumble and fall forward, catching myself with my knees. The closet rattled, cleaning soap and empty buckets tumbling down the cupboards. The broom falling down and nearly smacking the top of my head.

"O-Oi, partner! Do you know what you're doing!"

[…is that how that's supposed to go?]

My dragon said with confused eyes. He then blinked and nodded to himself with a pleased smile.

[Oh, right. That's the explosion spell. Haha, how easy it is to mix up these silly circles. Worry not, partner mine! We'll have a right big banger of a firestorm on our hands! Hah! What a happy accident!]

I gaped.

"W-What the hell! I just wanted to go to hell!"

I glanced down and stared stupidly as another magic circle overlay the one inscribed on the wooden floor. The new crimson red circle sparked and throbbed with energy as it interlocked with the yellow circle on the floor. I sputtered with indignant terror, my eyes wide and imagining all the horrific tales of magical accidents that Akeno-senpai had taken extreme pleasure in regaling me with a smile.

"D-Ddraig! W-What did you do!"

Ddraig smirked.

[Oh we shall go to hell alright. Ahahaha!]

Ddraig grinned as he boomed with laughter.

[And explode right in the white one's face!]

The room lit up with bright crimson light!

I cursed as I was consumed by it.

"G-Goddamn it, Ddraaaaig!"

Fuck the pain in my head! My dragon's gone crazy!

[Gahahaha! Ready or not, Albion! Here I come!]

Boom!

And all I knew was red.

---

Meanwhile, in the outskirts of Lilith

I, Vali Lucifer, felt my smile stretching to impossible limits as I grinned with excitement.

Swap!

Karasu appeared before me, his palms sparking with electricity, and his hands thrust out to his sides.

He yelled,

"Tendo: Temple of Thunder!"

Boom!

Lightning exploded off his hands, spreading around him in a sphere of electricity. Forcing me to fly back in a hurry unless I wanted to be blasted by an electric shockwave.

I laughed, and called out to him, turning around to face him as I flew backwards and cupped my hands around my mouth. "You do know that thunder is just the sound right!" My cheeks flapped against the wind as they currently lay unsheltered, Karasu had blown off my helmet in one of our earlier clashes, breaking it off with black flaming spikes which he'd suddenly summoned from thin air.

Karasu retorted loudly, while hurling small pitch black knives at me with expert precision, "oh look, Mr. Demonic Pulse is out here poking holes from his crumbling castle of creativity."

I chuckled and shot off from a boulder towards him again, kicking myself off it and crumbling it to pieces with my armored foot. The lightning in the air petered off, leaving me a clear path to my rival.

I blinked as that word came naturally to me.

…Rival huh?

I barked a delighted laugh and smiled.

Yes, he's definitely my rival now.

Zoom!

I casually said as I positioned my hand to swipe off his head, "how about, 'Tendo: Lightning Realm.'"

Swipe!

I chuckled and continued as he twisted in the air and leaned backwards, making me miss by an inch yet again, "sounds a lot snappier, don't you think?"

He scowled and muttered right before he swapped away, "…why didn't I think of that. Tch."

Swap!

Appearing atop a boulder, he pointed his sword at me with a glare. "If anyone asks, I came up with it." His eye rippled. "Of course you are grateful for my generosity in accepting your tribute." He smirked and sheathed his sword, crouching in a sword drawing stance. "One you surrendered upon your defeat obviously."

His red eye spun, and he muttered, "Kagutsuchi." And as he unsheathed his blade, it emerged covered in black flames, dancing around the steel of his sword and seemingly solidifying around it to form an extra layer of sharpness around it.

I laughed, watching with enthusiasm as he slowly floated up the air, reaching up to my altitude. He grimaced, pursing his lips as if thinking something to himself. He then sighed and said, "Shurado: Flight of the Demon." I heard the sounds of sharp whirring, before his feet and elbows started transforming. Shifting like metallic gears, his skin rising and moving as it were made of plates and revealing holes akin to the exhausts of rockets. I blinked as a familiar red light glowed out of them, similar to the one that severed hand had while it'd been choking me.

I grinned as the full picture came into view.

Okay, so let me get this straight…

Cyborg swordsman superhero. With unpredictable teleportation. Moldable black flames. Instantaneous shockwaves. Tacky attack names-

Boom!

Flames blasted off Karasu's feet and elbows in a small explosion, hurling him through the air towards me, with fire bursting from the exhausts on his limbs.

Rocket thrusters! Rocket skates! Or rocket boots! Whatever they are, he had even those!

Ducking away from his sword swipe which tried to dismember my hand shoulder up, I barked a laugh, gazing at the hodgepodge of abilities which were my rival's arsenal.

This just keeps getting better and better!

Karasu grinned, him flying above me and me right under him in the air. "Dodge this, flighty lizard." He inhaled deeply, his chest filling up and expanding with air. He brought his palms together, and his fingers shifted rapidly though some handsigns. "Katon: Great Fireball Jutsu!" He roared as he spat a giant flaming ball at me.

[Hah! These flames are akin to a mild sunbath! I'm insulted he didn't use the black ones!]

Albion said, a mocking lilt in his battle crazed grin.

[Catch them with your bare hands and kick it right back at him!]

I nodded lightly, coating my palms with devil power and catching the fireball right as it would've consumed me. A purple sheen coating the fireball as I contained it.

"Here, I think you dropped this!" I said, and kicked the ball back at him. Blasting it back towards him-

Hey wait, I just lost sight of him behind the huge fireball…

My eyes widened. This wasn't an attack, it was a cover!

[Oh… My bad.]

You know we really should stop posturing in the middle of a fight.

[But what are fights if not the best stage for displaying your hard earned prowess? Who else will we show off to? A gaggle of children in one of those moving pictures? That's just demeaning.]

I frowned…. Albion did have a point. My face shifted into a scowl. Damn it, if only I could get my hands on this slippery bastard, right now I just look like a guy who can fly fast and hit really really hard.

[Oh, look. Black lightning.]

I don't know what it is about black and Karasu, but it makes everything so much better.

Spark!

Dark chuckles accompanied the snapping of electricity against the air, as I saw black lightning crackling outside the circumference of the fireball which currently had my vision blocked from whatever was behind it.

His smug voice slithered into my ears as he whispered, his words being carried despite the harsh billowing of air around us in the sky, "how eager you are in your assistance to your own downfall." He chuckled, "I appreciate the helping hand, dragon." His voice became serious again and he uttered, "Kagutsuchi: Chidori."

Keeeee!

Man, what a cool name. Also, isn't that the sound his rockets make just before they-

Boom!

A small explosion blasted behind the fireball. I watched with confused eyes as the ball seemed to fold in on itself, bending concavely towards me, as if something was piercing it from the other end…

[…Is he?]

I grinned.

I think he is.

The flaming red hot fireball erupted into a blazing black, with the black spreading from the center of the concave hull the ball had been twisted into. And it didn't end there. As soon as the black flames had formed, they themselves were consumed and turned into black lightning. And then, my rival's voice boomed-

"Say your prayers, dragon."

His hand tore through the black fireball's center, the flames licking his whole body as he emerged from the hole he rent and sped towards me.

I blinked with amazement as I saw him move ever so closer towards me. Time seemingly moving in slow motion.

Now consider how all this appeared to me-

It was like a gazing upon a grinning demon wreathed in flames of hell itself, his hand a spear of sparking black, and his eyes a wrathful red and mad purple. A ring of fire surrounded him. The inner circles black, and eating up the outer edges which were red. All this against the backdrop of an orange evening sky. But the thing which stood out for me, was how his cape billowed and made him look like an ancient hero from the mythologies descended from the skies, wielding his legendary weapon in his hands as he smites his enemy with righteousness flashing in his gaze.

Albion and I gazed with dumbfounded eyes.

My dragon whispered with shocked awe.

[Oh my dragon breath-]

This is so-

[Goddamn-]

Stunning!

Damn, I wish I had a camera!

Albion shook his head and roared at me.

[We can admire later! Dodge! I'd rather not be electrocuted!]

I nodded. Right. Karasu might be fast with his rocket boots, but that's nothing compared to Divine Dividing. His fastest sprint is still a baby's crawl to me.

My wings shifted in preparation.

And right as Karasu reached me, his hand thrust forward to pierce me-

Zoom!

I flew back at my usual dizzying speeds. His attack completely missing me-

[Why is he smiling?]

I blinked and tried to see his face from the distance, as he continued in his downward fall to the ground-

Swap!

I gaped as I saw his face right above me.

He smirked.

"Think again, dragon."

[Oh blast it!]

Curse his damn teleportation!

Lo and behold! The utter jackass shifted me to be positioned right under him!

I grimaced. This teleportation is something I need to come up with a strategy for. I wonder how Leviathan keeps defeating him if the her words in the papers are to be trusted.

Keeee!

Karasu coiled his crackling palm back for another thrust. His thrusters glowed with explosive intent.

I smirked. Divine Dividing is truly divine in terms of speed. Here you go, Karasu. Have another missed attack.

My wings glowed with energy.

Zoom!

I blasted away again-

Karasu pointed his free hand at me, uttering imperiously, "I don't think so." His purple eye rippled. "Bansho Tennin."

Yank!

"G-Gaah!" I yelled as I lost my bearings at the sudden pull upon my body, losing my aerial control of my flight at the force which tugged my body. Sending me sailing right towards him.

Albion shouted.

[Vali! Brace for impact!]

I coated myself with my devil energy, and right as I pulled my arms and legs closer to defend my body-

Boom!

Karasu exploded forward, meeting me before I could put up a defense.

He smirked, "do survive."

He thrust his hand forward at my unguarded chest.

Pierce!

Crack!

"G-Guh!" I let out a choked yell as his hand shattered my chest plate and broke through. My hands quickly snapped to grab his wrist and stop it from going any further and stabbing me. With a tight grip on his wrist and gritting my teeth as I held him at bay while my devil power protected me from being electrocuted by his lightning, I spoke through gritted teeth, "n-nice try-"

Keeee!

He wagged a finger in my face with a self-satisfied smile, "we're not done yet." His thrusters glowed with explosive intent.

Albion winced.

[This… will probably hurt.]

My eyes twitched with annoyance.

Son of a-

Boom!

"Aaaaah!" I yelled as we rocketed towards the ground. Pain shooting through me as his lightning encased palm dug deeper and deeper, my grip on him slipping.

"Mwhahaha!" He cackled like a madman. "Remember this day, dragon!" He grinned as the wind rushed past his face, "The day you were felled by a god!"

I chuckled through the agony. I could feel it, he'd broken through my flesh. The wetness of blood spread through the insides of my armor, drenching my shirt. "Y-You cocky bastard," I said, smirking at him.

He smirked right back, "ten seconds to impact." He said, looking behind me at the ground. He turned his gaze back to me. "Surrender, and I won't drive my hand straight through you."

I shook my head with a laugh. "S-Surrender huh?" I smiled, looking at the sky. "B-Been a while since anyone asked me that." I let my gaze fall to him again. "Ten seconds you said?" I grinned. "That's more than enough time."

Karasu blinked and scowled, wariness immediately entering his eyes again.

I continued, "you really should have gone for my vitals." I gave him a lop-sided smile. "A merciful god-" I winced, "-are you? Hah. Just fell short of stabbing my heart." I narrowed my eyes. "Not that I would've let you."

"…your bravado won't save you." He said with a glare. "This fight is over."

I gazed at my hands, which currently had his wrist gripped, with a sharp smile.

Albion.

[Yes?]

Let's reduce to him nothing.

Albion nodded with a vicious smile.

[At your go.]

I gave my dragon a mental nod and turned my attention back to the one currently stabbing me.

"You're right, Karasu." I said in a conversant tone, smiling at him. "It is over."

I pointed my hand at him, my palm glowing a swirling bright yellow.

[Divide! Divide! Divide!-]

His eyes widened, as his grip on me slackened, becoming much weaker. He ripped his hand out of me and placed his feet against my torso, tensing his legs to jump away-

I smirked and caught him by the throat. "Where are you going?" I said tightening my grip and choking him, observing with vindictive relish as he snarled and tried to claw my hand off. I chuckled, "the fun's just begun!" My wings spread open as I halted our descent and floated us in the air.

[Divide! Divide! Divide!-]

His red eye started flickering, shifting between crimson red and solid black. He growled as his fists glowed blue and started shooting punches at my head, "the hell are you doing to me!"

[Divide! Divide! Divide!-]

Slam! Slam! Slam!

His punches lost their blue glow long before they even met my face. I gave him a mocking grin, his fist still resting against my cheeks as I didn't even flinch at his punches. "Was that supposed to hurt?" Karasu started panting raggedly and I threw him a look of concern, "hey are you okay? Do you want a break?" I smirked, "puny god." I winced lightly.

I shook my head to shake the pain off-

He'd inhaled deeply in the meantime, his fingers set in one of his handseals again.

I blinked.

O-Oh shit-

He roared weakly, his hands and feet trembling, "K-Katon: Great Fireball-"

My eyes wide, I quickly started halving him again.

[Divide! Divide! Divide!-]

"-J-Jutsu!" He finished the technique, shivering horribly but still managing to spit out a fireball in my face.

"Gah!" I kicked him away and covered myself, as the fire hit me point blank, with nothing guarding me from the flame's heat this time as I'd long since deactivated the layer of magic around me, thinking I'd well enough won the bout already.

Unfortunately for him, my armor does not make a good fuel for a flame. And I was prudent enough to guard my face and the hole in my chest plate before the fire reached them.

Emerging relatively unscathed from Karasu's last ditch effort to save himself, I uncovered my face to see my rival kneeling on all fours on the ground, most likely the loss of his power depriving him of his ability to float as he'd been doing until now. He glared at me with fury, as he held his chest and breathed in pained gasps.

"W-What the hell are you?" came his voice, as I descended to the ground and stood before him, a few paces away. His clutched and unclutched his trembling palms. "M-My chakra." He glared. "W-Where? W-Where is it?"

I raised my hand to him again. "Surrender. And I will end this here." My hand glowed with the Divine Dividing. "Though it saddens me that you could not counter this," I said with a chuckle.

He pursed his lips. His eyes calculating. "You… don't need to keep touching me for your blasted ability."

I nodded. "Allow me to demonstrate." His eyes widened, I smirked.

How delightful. To have him on the receiving end of a palm being thrust in his face.

[Divide!-]

His coughed harshly. "Y-You're-!"

[Divide!-]

He collapsed to the ground, slamming into it face first. "S-S-Siphoning my-!"

[Divide!]

"C-Chakra!" He tried to pushing himself up with his hands, rising a few inches, only for their strength to fail and wack his face to the ground again.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Give up, Karasu. You're not my match."

His whole body started trembling as he coiled into himself. Soft, but sinister chuckles echoed off him. Weak, but entirely self-assured in nature.

He rolled onto his back, and stared at me from his spot on the ground. A menacing grin on his face. "Y-You think this is e-enough to stop m-m-me? H-H-Hahaha!"

I raised an unimpressed brow. "You're at my feet. At my mercy." I pointed my hand at him. "Would you let pride be your undoing?" I frowned.

I didn't want to damage him irreparably. That would be such a waste, this man is a good combatant. I grinned lightly. I can't wait for the next time we clash, I wonder what strategy he'd come up with for handling Divine Dividing.

He immediately answered my wishes.

"Y-Your technique is useless." He chuckled weakly. "H-How f-foolish of me, to have let you use it s-so flagrantly." He smirked at me. "G-Go ahead. Use it again." His purple eye rippled. "I'll crush it."

I frowned at him. Looking at the confidence in his gaze, the faith in his own strength.

…I want to test that strength.

I want to see him rise from this.

I grinned lightly.

I want to see just how anyone can turn this around.

A hopeless situation.

I raised my palm at him.

He grinned.

[Divi-]

He roared.

"Gakido!"

[-de!]

…

…

…what?

I blinked.

Where… where's the power that's supposed to flow inside me? The familiar sensation of energy being torn from my enemy and being absorbed into me was nowhere to be felt.

I started laughing. My hand glowing ever more as I pointed it at him.

[Divide! Divide! Divide!-]

Nothing! Hahaha! Not a drop of energy added to my pool!

[Divide! Divide! Divide!-]

A transparent barrier shone around him, as he had his hands pointed to the sky. I could feel my ability hitting him, but nothing escaping his barrier. Not a hint, clue or speck of power escaped it.

[Divide! Divide! Divide!]

"A-A-Are you even trying, dragon?" He said with a chuckle, gazing at me with smug eyes. "S-So much for being a dragon emperor, h-haha."

Albion barked a laugh.

[You know what? I'm not even insulted.]

I laughed along with him.

If you had a rival like this, who would be?

[Indeed.]

Albion then stood up in my mind's eyes. Looking down at Karasu with a penetrating gaze. And when he spoke, my wings shone along with his voice, echoing his words in the clearing.

[You! The one who calls himself Karasu! I acknowledge you as a satisfactory opponent! Nay! Not merely satisfactory, but a worthy, and brilliant rival as well!]

The man frowned. "W-Who's talking?"

Albion roared in a strong voice.

[I am Albion! The Vanishing Dragon! The Dragon sealed in the sacred gear of Divine Dividing! And for besting my ability, and giving me a smashing good time of a fight, I dub you, Karasu, as The Relentless-]

Karasu cut him off.

"W-Who the fuck said we're done here?"

Albion blinked.

[What?]

Karasu snickered and jumped to his feet. He rolled his shoulders, "oh please. I'm just warming up." He nodded, "you're a good challenge, I'll let you have that." He scowled, "but damn me if I don't win this fight. I'm done being kicked around by Levi-tan." He turned desperate eyes to me. "I need this victory dammit!"

I furrowed my brow. Does he seem… fully recovered?

[…what are talking about?]

I stared at Karasu with puzzled eyes. At the same time feeling Albion stroke his jaw as he gazed at me.

Frowning with confusion, I asked my rival the thing which befuddled me that most. "You call her, Levi-tan?" I scratched my head.

His eyes widened. "I-I meant Leviathan. Get your ears checked." He nodded with a thunderous glare, daring me to say otherwise.

"Riiight," I gave him an unimpressed stare. I shook my head and smiled eagerly, shifting to a battle ready stance. "Let's finish this-"

His voice whispered from behind me, "way ahead of you."

I blinked and launched a backhanded strike, not thinking about how he got behind me but more concerned about not letting him get the jump on me.

Thud!

He caught my hand square with his palm. He chuckled, as his red eye spun. "You call that a punch? Hah. Weak."

I growled and caught his wrist, pulling him forward. My knee shot up to kick him in the stomach.

Slam!

"Guh!" He let out a pained gasp as his eyes popped out. "…hahaha!" Before he began laughing and stood up straight, not a hint of hurt on him. "Oh, please tell me you had your hopes up for a moment." He grinned. "Let me bask in the joy of having stomped them."

I scowled. What… what is happening. He was not this durable.

He held his fist in the air, not even bothering to hide his intent to attack me. He said with a lazy grin, "now this?" His fist flashed forward, and my eyes widened at its speed. I brought my hands up just in time-

Bang!

"Gaah!" I yelled in pain as the punch blasted me away despite the guard I'd put up. I slammed into the ground and skid across it, rolling to a halt as I left tracks of broken soil with the edges of my armor.

He continued, chuckling. "That was a real punch." He shook his head and looked at me with a sardonic smile. "I'm sorry, was that too strong." He gave me a look of faked concern, "I'll try to hold back." He chuckled, "feeble reptile."

Glaring at him and spitting the dirt out of my mouth, I slowly, warily got to my feet again. "What the hell did you do?" I asked, putting up a wary stance again. "You weren't this physically strong."

"Oh? You don't you know?" Karasu rolled his shoulder and cracked his neck, looking the very picture of unconcerned. "My chakra only holds me back." He smiled with gratitude, "so thank you for taking it off my hands and into yourself."

Albion hailed me. His voice cautious and wary.

[Vali… Expel his energy.]

I frowned.

What are you-

"Oh, you're thinking," Karasu's hand was suddenly around my shoulder as he stood right beside me. I jumped in surprise and tried to back away but he locked his hand around my neck. And try as I might, kicking his shins, clawing his hands and even trying to fly off the ground, all my efforts proved pointless in the wake of his newfound strength. Karasu chuckled, "you really don't have the luxury of getting to think."

He grabbed my face and forced me to look into his eyes, which were two spinning wheels of blood red.

Karasu whispered.

"Tell me… what's your favorite nightmare."

He grinned a grin which tore his skin, moving past his cheeks and breaking his flesh and spreading his smile from chin to forehead. His teeth a rotten yellow and sharp as a shark's. He clutched my face with his fingers and hauled it closer, opening his mouth wide and-

"Raaaaaawr!"

"A-Aaaaah!"

My eyes wide, I screamed in fright at that monstrous roar. I tried to get away. My feet burrowing holes in the ground as he held me in place.

Black tendrils tore open the skin on his shoulder, emerging from within and latching onto me. Slowly slithering onto my armor, cracking it open piece by piece with their drill like hair.

"G-Get off me, you monster!" I said trying to kick him off, only to have him cackle with crazed laughter. I focused a ball of devil power in my hand and thrust my hand at him, letting it explode against his face-

Bang!

Completely unflinching, he only laughed harder, throwing his head back and howling. Chilling me to the bone and terrorizing me that I was dealing with a maniac.

More tendrils burst out of his hands and started piercing me, covering me all over and constricting me.

"Gaah!" I groaned with pain as my armor creaked, as it started to bend at the pressure upon it. My body throbbed, the dark tendrils squeezing me harder and harder.

Albion shouted with panicked concern.

[Vali! Expel his energy! I don't know what you're seeing, but do it now!]

I immediately did as asked.

My wings shone bright with all the energy I'd absorbed from Karasu.

---

Gasping and crawling on the ground

I, Uchiha Sasuke, dug my fingers into the ground.

Pulling myself forward.

I panted as I bent my knee, and pushed myself.

Shoving against the ground.

I spat out the dirt which I'd involuntarily picked up into my mouth, as I inched forward on all fours, lying on my stomach, crawling, my face dragging against the soil as I breathed with aching gasps.

Twisting my head up, I glared balefully at the loathsome bastard who brought me to such a state.

V stood a few feet before me, staring off into space with a vacant look in his eyes. His guard down and his hands loose against his sides.

I scowled as I crawled forward, the sensation of having my chakra ripped out of me all too fresh, the sting of falling for his ploy all too raw.

Siphoning off an enemy's chakra from a distance.

What a dangerous power.

And the requirement being just a touch of the opponent?

"Tch." I clicked my tongue with narrowed eyes.

That is too cheap a price for too advantageous of an ability.

"U-Uurgh," V shivered, his face uncomfortable as his brow began sweating. He pursed his lips in agitation, but with the same vacant look in his eye.

Hmph. Good.

That's what you get for stealing my chakra.

I smiled maliciously as I continued crawling closer towards him.

Fool.

You had me right where you wanted.

Why the hell did you let me talk?

I shook my head.

Gave me enough time to manipulate my chakra inside you, you dimwit.

Genjutsu.

That's all it took to stop your victory parade.

I'd learned early on upon my unceremonious entry into this world, that the devils around me had no such thing as chakra, at least nothing similar to what exists in the elemental nations. And well, that made casting illusions… not impossible, but more involved.

Now chakra's just a combination of physical and spiritual energy, and as long as you're alive you're going to have both of those things.

Just that manipulating each of them separately and not as a whole makes casting my illusions a bit more taxing. Both in the focus required and the chakra spent.

Lucky for me, V was currently filled to the brim with my glorious chakra. Chakra which is eager to please, as it obeys my command to flow inside V and manipulate his senses. Making his reality a puppet to my whims.

Why manipulate someone else's energy when I can manipulate my own?

I smirked darkly.

What fun genjutsu is.

And how delighted it made me when I discovered that all it took to cast my illusions in this world is some practice.

Good thing I have a lot of… willing test subjects. Misguided cretins who pay me visits during my sweeps of the nighttime criminal life. Ha. If anyone thinks they're going to spread havoc in my presence they're sorely mistaken.

Uchiha Sasuke spares none who dare do his job for him.

I… just haven't gotten around to doing it yet. I've some unfinished business before I start on that.

First I must wipe out the shame of losing to a magical girl from my battle records.

Then I have to squeeze the life out of the Sekiryuutei for the slander upon my name.

I smiled with dark pleasure.

The future looks…

Absolutely amazing.

So bright and welcoming for the first time in years.

Hahaha…

What wonderful times are to be had.

First time in forever.

…I'll buy the brats some snacks on my way home. And I ought to have some new clothes tailor made for them. Father had always insisted that I wear clothes with the clan symbol on them when I was a child. And mother was only too happy to take me from shop to shop, holding out rolls of cloth before me, and humming as she judged how cute I'd looked in clothes made of them. And then when I'd complain of being bored she'd pinch my cheeks with a chuckle and promise to make me my favorite food if I held out for a bit longer.

…I was such a fool.

I should have cherished my moments with her more.

I chuckled darkly as evil intent filled me.

Now with brats of my own to annoy… Hah.

I'll make sure to be very indecisive. And make them try on a hundred clothes before I'm satisfied.

And maybe I'll invite Levi-tan as well and we can make a date out of it!

…

Of course that would only be a lure as I spring my trap (which I have yet to come up with) on her and take her by surprise!

Hah! It's perfect!

She'd never expect it!

…yeah.

I'm almost at the Hakuryuukou's feet, I'll think of my vengeance later.

Shine!

I winced as a white light suddenly began shining. Partially covering my face I looked at V to see his wings shine bright with energy.

My eyes widened.

I-Is that my chakra!

Is he planning on spending it?!

I began crawling faster.

Shit, I expected my illusion to last longer!

"Y-You bastard," he began mumbling, blinking his eyes, the life and cognition returning to them. He winced and held his face, grabbing his forehead as if he had a headache. "To hell with your poisoned energy," his wings rose, shining bright and suffusing with my chakra.

Boom!

His wings exploded, shooting out my chakra in a blast. The shockwave threw me into the air, flipping me up along with the dirt and debris which burst off the ground along with me.

"G-Gakido!"

I quickly spread my arms forward, pointed towards V, the epicenter of the blast of energy. My insides instantly filled with mild relief as the chakra which had spread in the air began flowing into me.

Thud!

I landed on my feet in a crouch, wincing slightly as they still ached but felt much better now as a fraction of my chakra was restored.

The dust around V cleared and he slowly emerged, walking forward with slow steps. He muttered with a frown, his gaze looking interested, "…how much did you recover."

I stood up with a scowl. As if I'd tell him-

"Less than quarter I'd say," he said, rubbing his chin.

My scowl deepened. Damn it.

V smiled, "sounds about right." He rubbed the back of his head, "so you've even given me a reason to never attempt stealing your energy again." He glowered at me, "you have a sick mind."

I smiled with sadism, "thank you, I try my best. Which part was your favorite? Was it being eaten alive, or being crushed to death?" I asked with genuine curiosity. It's not often I get critique on my genjutsu after all. Most of my critics end up gibbering messes who need to be hospitalized.

V sighed, "the part where it ended." He shivered and slapped his cheeks, shaking his head. He then gazed at me with a sharp grin, "I'm Vali Lucifer. Be my rival, Karasu." He chuckled and said with excited eyes, "this is the most fun I had in years! And I'll be damned if I let you get away."

I gazed back at him with a grin of my own. "You're way outta your league. And I frankly don't care." I waved him away with a roll of my eyes. "Just stay out of Lilith and I'll spare you, dragon."

He blinked and then scowled, "are you still on about underestimating me?" He punched his fist into his palm and gave me a feral smile, "I mean I'm still up for round five."

I opened my mouth to reply-

Bling!

A red magic circle began glowing on the ground between us.

"What the?" I muttered, wondering why it shone brighter and brighter.

V, …or Vali I guess, idly commented gazing at the circle, "that's going to explode." He looked up at me, "we should probably step back."

I scoffed, "unlike you, reptile, I face explosions head on." I sent him a superior grin, "like a man." I then blinked as something occurred to me.

He called me his rival… Hah. I could sure use a rivalry right now.

"In fact," I began with a nonchalant smile, stepping closer into the circle with neither care nor caution, "I'm going to stand right here, and it won't hurt me a tad." I crossed my arms and gave him a grin in challenge, "better clear out before you're caught in the blast, feeble reptile."

Vali's eyes twitched and he stepped forward himself with narrowed eyes, "you think a mere explosion can damage my armor?" His armor shone white, and the hole I'd made in it disappeared as the light died, fixing his armor and making it seem as if it was never rent.

I shrugged and stepped further towards the red circle, "I don't know, you're standing pretty far away for someone boasting such confidence." I tilted my head, "I don't acknowledge cowards."

He scowled and walked even more forward. "You were saying?"

I pursed my lips, impressed, "getting warmer to a rivalry, dragon." I walked into the outer edges of the circle, "I might just have to start taking you seriously."

Vali blinked in surprise and then gave me a sharp smile, "this is nothing, in fact this is not even my final form!" He declared in a grand fashion as he jogged into the outer edges from his end.

I hummed with curious lilt, allowing an interested smile on my face, "do tell me. I can just feel my blood pumping with anticipation." Just a few more steps to the center…

Vali chuckled and shook his head, "do I look like an idiot?" (Do you really want me to answer that?) He smirked, "I can tell you're holding back as well, why would I give up my few secrets before we clash at full power?"

Standing right at the center of the circle, I barked a laugh and held my hand forward, "I can respect that." I smiled, "guess you are an interesting one after all, my rival." I peeked a glance at the floor, as I stood right at the center of the magic circle. Right. Looks about ready.

Vali's eyes lit up with enthusiasm as he stepped before me and clasped my hand with gusto, "giving your hand to the Vanishing Dragon? That's probably the boldest thing anyone's ever done." He then rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, looking unsure, "so, uhhh, how're we gonna do this? You have a phone or anything? We can exchange numbers or-"

I wagged a finger in his face, letting my malice shine through and flow free from my eyes and smile, stopping him short in surprise. "No need for exchanges, I'm number one and you're a zero."

Vali frowned, "what-"

I clapped his shoulder in good cheer, "fooling you, has been a bang." I chuckled, "we should do this again sometime. You know, swapping punching and all."

Vali didn't disappoint as he caught on. He peeked at the ground.

Shiiine!

The magic circle shone a bright crimson red, engulfing us and our surroundings.

Vali took a deep breath and exhaled explosively. Gnashing his teeth at me with pissed fury, he growled, "you rotten, dirty, no-good-"

Swap!

I disappeared and reappeared a good few feet away from the magic circle.

I heard the trail end of his swan song to me, "-messed up asshole!"

Boom!

I covered my eyes with my hands as the circle exploded with my rival in its center. I chuckled with sadistic pleasure. Well, promoted from bastard to asshole, I'm certainly moving up in the world.

"You're mine, you asshole!" I heard Vali roar from within the clouds of dust that rose up the ground.

I blinked.

A white bolt cracked through the air.

Zoom!

"Gah!" I shouted in surprise as I suddenly found the dragon tackling me, slamming into me and throwing us to the ground. His armor charred black but looking no worse for wear. We skid a few paces before we halted, with him straddling me on top and holding my collar with a pissed glare, while I just laughed in his face, pleased beyond measure at offering up his hatred as a tribute to the departed souls of the Uchiha clan. His eyes twitched with irritation at my merriment.

I asked with a raised brow, "what now? Are you going to show me your final form?" I chuckled, "you really can't keep your hands off me, can you?"

Vali scowled, "keep that up and I'll unleash the dragon all over your face."

I smirked, "well don't keep me waiting." My Mangekyo emerged and began spinning lazily, and I said in a goading whisper, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours."

Vali scoffed and then grinned down at me, "you think you can handle it?"

A boy's voice shrieked in horror, "o-oh crap, what the hell are you guys doing?"

Vali and I blinked, turning to the cloud of dust that cleared, observing as a brown haired boy wearing a uniform of some kind emerged, coughing and waving the dust away from his face. One of his hands was a crimson gauntlet with green gems.

Before either of us could speak, the boy said with an angry glare, pointing at Vali, "you! What the hell are you doing! Don't make my buddy stray from the true path!" He stepped forward, walking towards us, slight fear in his brow, but one glance at me and he smiled with confidence and continued onward. He pointed his gauntlet at Vali, "I'll be your opponent, leave Karasu alone."

I pursed my lips. I've seen this boy before… just where?

Vali on the other hand frowned at him. "What are you doing here?"

The boy scowled, "what are you doing here? Aren't you with the Fallen Angels? Why the hell are you attacking during the peace conference?"

Vali blinked, looking surprised. "That was today?" He pursed his lips muttering to himself under his breath. "Damn it, why today of all days…" He then turned his eyes to me, studying me with a clinical gaze. He spoke in an inquisitive voice, "what would you do if I tell you there will be an attempt on Leviathan's life?"

.

.

.

"C-Cough! Y-You can stop choking me," the dead body spoke through some miracle, "the Old Satans are the ones targeting her."

I growled out, letting go of his throat and grabbing his collar, hauling him down to face me, "when. Where. Who."

Nobody steals my prey.

I'll fucking kill them.

Rubbing his throat with a wince, Vali spoke with a smirk, "today. Kuoh Academy. Katerea Leviathan."

The other boy blinked in confusion. "W-Wait what? In Kuoh Academy?"

Vali then spread his wings wide and jumped off me, making me cough out my breath as the bastard kneed me in the gut before he flew away.

He threw me a smile, "you're my rival, Karasu. But that doesn't make us friends." A purple magic circle shone into existence behind him as he began flying backwards, "see you on the battlefield." He waved his hand at me-

I immediately jumped to my feet and sharpened my gaze on him, my Rinnegan rippled-

Swap!

…

But the bastard was already gone by then, disappearing into his magic circle and making me swap out nothing for nothing.

While I was left gasping for air, my chakra coils screaming as I taxed them. I tried to walk forward, but with my energy yet again depleted I stumbled forward, tripping over my own feet-

"Whoa!" A pair of hands grabbed me, "I got you, buddy!"

Gasping for air, and my body shuddering again, I turned my gaze to the brown haired boy currently looking at me with a worried face. "W-Who are you?" I asked him with a scowl, "and why do you know that… Vali."

The boy deflated as soon as I asked who he was, he mumbled, "you don't remember?" He sighed and shook his head, "I'm Hyoudou Issei, we were in that show together? Oppai Dragon?"

I blinked.

He continued with a smile, "people call me the Sekiryuutei."

.

.

.

He mumbled in a confused voice, "uhh, I'm happy to see you too, but we don't have time to hug it out, Breast Buddy." He chuckled, "but hey! You recognized me!"

You fool. I'm not hugging you, I'm trying to squeeze the life out of you. I'd clasped my arms around his back, grasping as hard as I could, but my weakened state turned my death's embrace into an emotional greeting.

The dead man walking chuckled and patted my back. "Hey, let's hang out later?" (Oh one of us will hang alright).

The Sekiryuutei's face then became serious, "we gotta go to Kuoh Academy right now! I don't like the way Vali was talking." He frowned with worry, "I think something bad's about to happen."

I pursed my lips, letting him go for the moment, "w-where is Kuoh Academy?"

He put my arm over his shoulder, as he walked us to where the red magic circle had been. "It's in the human world, I just came from the academy actually." He then cursed as he saw an empty spot where the circle should've been, "shit, the circle's gone. Now how do we get back?" He frowned at the ground for a few seconds before he turned to me, "uh, should we go find some devils to help us out?"

I scowled, "that'll take too long."

As I gazed at the sky, considering my options, the boy's gauntlet shone and a voice spoke out of it.

[You, boy! Your eye can manipulate space, can it not? I felt it, right as my host and I appeared in hell.]

I turned to the glowing gauntlet, "who-?"

The gauntlet roared.

[I am Ddraig! The Red Dragon Emperor! Now with the introductions out of the way, can you transport us to the Academy if I guide you? Surely the one who has the Hakuryuukou's eye can do that much?]

I frowned, "I'm out of ch-chakra."

The dragon (why was a dragon in a gauntlet?) sounded like he was grinning.

[Partner. Use it.]

The boy blinked in surprise, staring at his gauntlet. "You mean?" The gauntlet glowed twice as if in agreement. "B-But you told me it was an unholy and obscene spell which should never grace anyone's eyes-"

The dragon spoke in an admonishing tone.

[Partner. This is a man who has Albion's attention. Hahaha… Spells like that are made for people like him. And isn't he the one who inspired you to create it?]

The dragon chuckled.

[Such a happy white dragon you left in your wake, Crow. This whole clearing reeks of joy. How delightful. But 'tis not enough I'm afraid! To be as fierce and resplendent as a Dragon Emperor you have a long way to go. You are in good company however, so worry not! For I shall raise you to… my level.]

I frowned. Am I imagining it or does he sound sinister…

Hyoudou scratched his head, "oppai crow just doesn't sound righ-"

[Bwhahaha! Anyway! Apply the spell on our feathered friend over here! And transfer all the boost we've been gathering into it! That'll give him his energy back.]

Hyoudou's eyes brightened and he nodded with an eager smile, holding his gauntlet up and muttering some incantation under his breath.

Pursing my lips with confusion I asked, "w-what are you talking about?"

Hyoudou finished his mumbles and looked at me with a grin, "it's a spell I created. It'll let me bring out the hidden potential in all those I use it on." He smiled, raising his gauntlet towards me, "it needs to be used together with my boost to really show its effects, so if your energy's running low, this'll fill you right up!" He shrugged, "or at least make your energy strong enough that even a little is a lot."

I furrowed my brow, "what hidden potential-"

The dragon cut me off.

[Crow, do we really have the time to belabor semantics? Trust me, I know what we're doing.]

I scowled, "I don't trust you…" I then turned to the boy, looking into his eyes and seeing an earnest desire to help me in them, along with anxious concern, most likely to do with his academy. I sighed, "don't make me regret this, Hyoudou Issei." I nodded at him, "let's do it."

Hyoudou, who'd frowned sadly at my words of not trusting him, immediately brightened up, beaming at me with an excited grin, "you'll love it, Breast Buddy! I created this spell exactly for shy guys like you!"

I growled at him with narrowed eyes, "why do you keep calling me that-"

Chuckling with an eager smile, Hyoudou paid no heed to my words and put his gauntlet on my shoulder. I stopped short, my eyes widening as I felt something a foreign power latch itself onto me, forming a bridge between me and Hyoudou. And then all of a sudden, chakra exploded inside me, like a tsunami crashing against the shore, filling up my coils with power, and replenishing me to more than half my reserves.

There was some strangeness to the nature of the chakra which flowed through me, a slight alteration to the usual crackling and burning feeling I associate with it.

I don't know how to describe it but… if I had to name it a color I'd call it…

Pink.

"So, you doing good? Any strange sensations?" Hyoudou asked with an excited smile, getting in my face and looking like an eager puppy. He asked with a sly grin, "feeling more adventurous?" I blinked and he was back to smiling eagerly again, making me wonder if I'd imagined the scheming on his face.

"My chakra's back from almost nothing," I replied, taking my shoulder off him and furling and unfurling my hands. I looked at him with a scowl, "you have a broken ability."

He rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile, "I get that a lot."

[So, ready to depart?]

I nodded my head and clasped the gauntlet when Hyoudou offered it.

My Rinnegan rippled.

[Follow my directions. Observe the residual distortions in the air around us. The gaps, the holes, the parts which don't belong.]

I recalled the day the Sage threw me in hell. How he'd torn open a black portal in space and threw me inside it as I'd tried to spear him with a chidori. I remembered how my Rinnegan saw the Sage's technique in explicit detail, how his eyes acted as a window between two disconnected realities, and transformed that window into a door between the two worlds.

[Follow the threads. From what I gather, you're no magician, but your eyes shall compensate… yes, that's it, you're following the link to the human world. Right, that's the one.]

My eye followed the dragon's words, seeing the lines going in the air, and as I followed them-

I saw.

I blinked with wide eyes.

An… An academy.

With boys and girls milling about.

Wearing uniforms identical to Hyoudou. Holding books in their hands, chatting, loitering, and shuffling into rooms.

And then… Vali. Standing behind a tall blond haired man and leaning against the wall with a bored face.

Is that… is that Levi-tan? She's wearing a suit? Wow, that looks good on her-

Explosions. A barrier sprung to life. Cutting off my vision from her. Robed men and women stormed the school, and all the students seemed to freeze in time, the last expressions on many of their faces were ones of surprise and terror.

I snarled.

Not on my watch!

I grabbed the threads which connected the two dimensions.

And pulled!

Zwoosh!

A swirling black portal opened before me.

The dragon spoke with approval.

[Well done, now-]

I didn't wait for him to finish and jumped into the portal.

I heard Hyoudou sputter and start after me, "h-hey wait for me, Breast Buddy!"

---

Hallway, Kuoh Academy

I, Uchiha Sasuke, burst out of the black portal and immediately took on a fighting stance against the robed men and women patrolling the hallway.

One of them spotted me and whipped her head towards me, her hands glowed with magic circles as she gave me a nasty glare, "stop! In the name of the Khaos Brigade-"

I let loose with a roar, pointing my hand at all the villain wannabes in the hallway, lining them up perfectly for my attack.

"Shinra Tensei!"

My shockwave blasted through the hallway and-

Strip!

The sounds of cloth tearing filled the air. Torn strips of fabric flew up and hit the ceiling. Naked flash was laid bare.

I blinked big eyes.

"K-Kyaaah! Y-You pervert!" Screamed all the women in the hallway, covering themselves and looking at me with disgusted glares.

Woodenly, I pointed my hand at another set of robed enemies running towards me.

"Shinra Tensei."

Strip!

"H-Hey, what the hell!" The disrobed women skidded to a halt and began hiding behind each other while their male counterparts hurried to find them some clothes.

I rubbed my eyes. Wondering if I was in some nightmare.

M-Maybe this was just a misfire? H-H-Haha.

Seeing another pair of women trying to ambush me, I tried again.

"S-Shinra Tensei."

Strip!

"Huh, why does it feel breezy- H-Holy shit, where's my clothes!"

I tried again.

"S-Shinra T-Tensei."

Strip!

"Iyaaah! K-Karasu-sama, not in front of everyone~"

And again.

"S-S-Shinra… T-Tensei."

Strip!

"What the heck! I just bought those yesterday, you jerk!"

I felt a hand on my shoulder, followed by Hyoudou's reverent voice, "I-I knew it. You… you're the one." He covered his face and let out an overjoyed sob, "y-you're the legendary super pervert!"

I snarled and leapt onto him, "what the fuck did you do to me, you bastard!" I grabbed his throat and began choking him.

He just laughed, grinning up at me, "n-no need for thanks, buddy!" He gave me a thumbs-up, "I gotcha covered!"

"But who's got you covered!" yelled a feminine voice, from above.

I pointed my hand up, seeing a woman floating in the air above us with glowing magic circles in her hands. Well if Shinra Tensei won't work-

"Bansho Tennin!"

"E-Eek!" She shrieked and covered herself.

Her clothes flew into my hand… Especially her… under-

I stopped thinking.

Hyoudou let out a choked a sob muttering, "d-dude you're so cool. You're my damn hero, man." He then put his hand on my shoulder, looking seriously at… my spoils of war, "you should treasure that."

I lied down for a nap.

Tucking myself with my cape.

I felt myself picked up over Hyoudou's shoulder.

"Don't worry, Breast Budddy! You rest up! I'll take us to our targets- I mean enemies! Hehehe, definitely enemies." He snickered a lecherous laugh.

Do whatever you want.

I gazed vacantly at the floor.

Life has no meaning anymore…

I've brought shame upon the Uchiha clan.

Only by bathing in hatred can I atone for my sins…

Hyoudou continued, jogging us through the corridors, "actually Leviathan-sama's the one who helped me create the spell!"

…she what?

He chuckled, "man she's so different from Sona-Kaichou! One is jumping with excitement all the time and the other gives you detention if she catches you hanging out in the hallway!"

…I smiled.

Life has new meaning again.

I whispered with interest.

"Sona you say?"

I chuckled, the dark embers of vengeance burning in my eyes.

"Tell me all about her, …Breast Buddy."

Hyoudou jumped in joy and let loose the floodgates of information.

And I listened with a smile.

"Sona Sitri…" I whispered, tasting her name on my lips.

I'll have you in the palm of my hand.

Then let's see you mess with me, Levi-tan!

I cackled as my mind flooded with schemes.

"Ahahahaha! Vengeance will be mine!"

But first!

Let's rid the school of scum!

"Shinra Tensei!"

"Kyaaaah!"

"Way to go, Breast Buddy!"

Thanks, Hyoudou.

Thank you very much.

---

Author's Note-

Hi!

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