Epilogue part 2 - Hero
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or High School DxD
Author's note-
Six paths translation-
Deva Path - Tendo
Asura Path - Shurado
Human Path - Ningendo
Animal Path - Chikushodo
Preta Path - Gakido
Naraka Path - Jigokudo
After the Evil Dragon War
…
…
…
The sun is shining.
The birds are chirping.
And the world doesn't make sense.
…
…
…
Factions.
Factions.
Factions.
…
…
…
Nonsense.
Nonsense.
Nonsense.
…
…
…
What a waste.
So disappointing.
A thousand years… I'm separated from you by at least a thousand years..
…
…
…
I come back to the question that's been haunting me for so long.
What does it mean to be a god?
What does it mean to rule with absolute power?
…
…
…
Apparently… not much…
Skirmish after skirmish after skirmish…
Battle after battle after battle…
When will it end?
When will it stop?
…
…
…
The titans of this dimension…
Great Red? More like blockhead.
Ophis? Can't find her way out of a paper bag.
Trihexa?
Now that's a monster worth respecting… Such… malice. Such insanity. Such zeal to wipe out life. What unbridled chaos…
To me, Trihexa… You are the strongest. Because… you're the only creature I actually feel like killing…
Ahahaha…
…
…
…
I've thought about it, Azazel.
I've thought about it, Otsutsuki.
I really did.
I could have accepted your answers.
That suffering has no solution.
That the cosmos is uncaring, unbiased, and unconcerned with right or wrong.
I really could have accepted your answers. To just settle down, raise my clan and do my best to help those I can…
But… my kids are crying. Asking me where their nee-san is.
Sona stares off into space, her face broken with sadness.
Issei does his best to console Rias, her eyes vacant and void of all emotion.
Vali skulks around town, cursing, mad with anger, and seeking me out to spar and take his mind off from whom he lost.
…
Well played Rizevim… Well played. You sorry excuse for a creature. Boredom? That's what drove you to wreak havoc? It's insulting. To all those you tortured, killed, devastated… It's insulting.
I can't let this stand. Accepting this… losing to a fool like you… unacceptable.
…
…
…
Naruto.
What would you do?
You're among the few people whose opinion I respect.
You're the one man who tried to talk to me. Who tried to understand me. Even after I stabbed you, attacked you, almost killed you… You still smiled as if none of that happened and asked me when we could hang out again.
…
Ahahaha…
Never send a god to do an Uchiha's job.
Never send a dragon to do an Uchiha's job.
What is an Uchiha's job you ask?
To be so crazy, so daring, so unabashedly contemptuous of fate, that they'd tear the world apart to save their family.
I made my promise long ago.
I'll plunge the world into darkness a million times over if it means I can be with my loved ones… my loved one… with… her…
…
Y-You bitch.
Couldn't spare a moment to say goodbye.
H-Haha, at least then I'd have knocked you unconscious and stopped you from this madness.
S-Serafall…
Are you fucking insane?
S-Sealing yourself away with that monster. For s-so long…
You could die.
N-No… y-you can't die… you're not allowed to d-die…
…
I'll… I'll be dead by the time you come out…
I'll… never see you again…
You didn't even say goodbye…
…
Why did it have to be you? There are already so many worthless gods and other creatures who can fill in for you… Why did you have to go?
The world could have a hundred of you, and it'd still be shortchanged. You're the only one of your kind, there's no one else like you.
…
W-Why did you leave me?
Would you have stayed if I'd told you how much I love you?
It… it hurts.
My heart's being torn open.
It's being stabbed.
Every second it realizes that you're not beside me…
I love you. I love you.
I'll scream it at the top of my lungs.
I'll holler till my throat gives out.
I LOVE YOU!
…so p-please come back.
…
My answer.
To the problem of suffering.
Is to save the world.
And I'll save it.
Again and again and again.
However many times it takes.
I…
Will be the hero.
Maybe not the one the world wants. I don't care, I'll force my heroism upon the world.
For you, Serafall.
I will be a hero. Your hero.
…
…
I won't survive this…
Hahaha…
I guess it's time…
To kill Uchiha Sasuke.
And prove to the world. To etch into living memory. To terrorize power-hungry fools who wish to fight and fight and fight… To terrorize them with the fear…
That I, Uchiha Sasuke.
Am the world's strongest.
Serafall Memorial Hospital
I walked into the hospital, along with my clan. Shura herding them together and making sure we were all together. The hospital was filled with patients. Filled to the brim. With nurses, doctors, and the hospital staff looking harried, and walking briskly from one room to another of the hospital. Attending to the wounded, mauled, or dying soldiers, devils, and other creatures which fought in the most recent… disaster? Skirmish?
I don't know what to call it. Such incidents seem to happen every other week or month. No time to breathe. No time to just be with my clan for five minutes without worrying about which fool is now attempting some psychotic world ending plot.
No more.
I walked up to the receptionist and said,
"Hyoudou Issei's room. I believe he's been moved to a different room since his recovery."
The woman manning the desk nodded and gave me the room number and the directions. I grunted in thanks and moved along. Trusting Shura to make sure our clan keeps pace with me…
I can't bear to look at the brats' faces right now.
I don't want to show them the severe look on my face.
I want to part on a… happy note.
As I walked along, I picked up my phone and dialed a number. Holding it to my ear.
The other end picked up.
"Sasuke?" Came Sona's voice, sounding brittle. "What is it?"
I muttered,
"How are you holding up, Sona?"
"…I'll live." She sighed, sadness mixed in her voice. "Still getting over… you know."
I scowled.
"Yeah." I clutched my face and let out a frustrated growl. "I know."
We both stayed quiet.
And then Sona began in a tentative voice.
"Sasuke… Have you reconsidered becoming a devil? As it stands… you won't be able to see nee-sama again."
My grip on the phone tightened. "I know. Sona." In Kyoto, when I'd held the True Longinus with my bare hands, while fighting the false hero who wielded that spear, I did not suffer any adverse effects.
All this in direct sight of Azazel, who immediately outed me as a human.
Serafall was shocked. That shock turned to anger. Anger turned to fear… That I'd leave her soon. She'd started imploring me to consider turning into a devil. That it didn't really matter that I was a human, telling me she and the other Satans trusted me enough to have the Devils' best interests at heart, but she'd love it if I lived for thousands of years alongside her…
The seventeen years I've lived… have more than filled my appetite for life. Conspiracies, murders, betrayals. Being tortured, seeking revenge, roiling with hatred…
No. I don't care for a long life.
I don't want to endure a lifetime which stretches beyond a human's natural lifespan…
…I think I understand how Serafall must have felt. Knowing that I won't exist after some point in the near future. After a while of my non-committal answers, she'd started actively attacking me whenever she was in the mood or was feeling particularly playful. 'Don't worry, Sasuke-chan! If I kill you by accident, I have a queen piece with your name on it right here in my pocket!' she'd say that in a cheery voice. Thinking back, I know there was some desperation and longing in her words.
…sorry. I made you feel like that.
I'd do anything to have five more seconds of seeing you again. To make you smile one more time.
I can't imagine what the thought of spending hundreds of years without me must have felt like for you.
I replied to Sona,
"I'll think about it."
A modicum of happiness entered her voice, "I'm glad, Satan." Sona chuckled lightly, "nee-sama isn't the only one who'd miss your company."
I grimaced.
Yeah…
Sorry…
I don't think that's going to happen.
I have no use for unnecessary questions or concern right now, so I moved on, getting to the point of why I called her.
"Sona, can I leave the children with you." I heard the brats mutter behind me, asking what I was talking about. I continued, "will you take care of them? I won't be able to."
"Sasuke, what's this about?" Her voice slightly suspicious.
Lie.
"I need some time alone." Fucking lie. "I-I can't believe that idiot sacrificed herself." I let out a bitter laugh. "So yeah, I need to get away from everything." So that I can get her back.
"I'm… here if you want to talk about it." I don't need your concern, Sona. I just need to give you back your sister.
I rubbed my face with frustration.
Aaah… I hate older siblings.
And their self-sacrificial crap.
Sona spoke again as I'd remained quiet.
"I'll look after your children. Please take as long as you need to… but not too long." She chuckled, "I'll miss my pun-pal if you do."
I allowed myself to smile, "thanks, Sona." I chuckled, "you're So-naice."
She snickered, "I'll really miss you, Satan." She added in a more level tone, "when would you like me to pick them up?" Hopefully now. I don't want to waste any time. I informed her as such, telling her I was with them in the hospital. "Tsubaki will come by in a while to take them to my estate." She hummed, "I have to go now, talk to you later."
"Thanks again, Sona." I said as I cut the call and put the phone back in my pocket.
Shura spoke out immediately as I finished talking, his voice angry, "nii-san. What are you doing?"
I shook my head, "not now, Shura." We reached Issei's room. I turned around and gave Shura a smile, putting a hand on his shoulder, "wait here okay? I need to have a chat with Issei."
Chikusho looked at me with a frown, "nii-san… you're sad."
I ruffled the boy's head, giving him a big smile. "You're slipping, Chikusho. You're supposed to read body language better than that. I'm fine, don't worry."
I turned to Shura, ignoring how Chikusho's frown deepened and became more worried. "Stay here, okay?" I smiled at him, "and Shura… I'm proud of you. For letting go of your anger."
Shura's brow rose and disappeared in his hair, "okay. You're freaking me out now." He scowled. "Are… are you trying to fill in for nee-san?" He grimaced with sadness, "d-don't do that okay? We love you the way you are."
…don't say that.
Don't make this harder.
Not wanting to further the conversation, I just patted the boy's shoulder and walked away.
"Issei. I'm coming in." I announced as I opened the door to his room, and entered.
Inside, I saw Issei who gave me a weak smile as he saw me. He looked paler than usual, with machines hooked up to him and monitoring his vitals. His fight with the Evil Dragons was brutal.
And leaning against the wall beside the window was Vali. His lips pursed and his hands in his pant pockets. He stared at me with a glower. His countenance making it clear how he still hadn't come to terms with losing Azazel.
"I'm here, Uchiha," began Vali, looking at me with a scowl. "Why did you call me here."
I smirked at him. "What? Why the sour face, lizard?"
Vali growled, taking his hands off his pockets and clenching his fists hard. "Y-You fucker." He gritted his teeth, "why did you never use it? Your ability to just swap me out of my armor…" His eyes twitched with irritation. "None of our matches mean anything now!" The poor guy glared at me, "you could've just swapped me out anytime instead of throwing down! Why didn't you do it?"
I chuckled, "because I knew it'd piss you off when you found out."
"Oh my fucking… graah!" Vali growled, covering his face with two quivering hands as he tried to contain his anger. Which just brought a smile to my face as I stared at him with mocking glee.
Imagine my surprise when I found out I could teleport things which are hidden from sight. The only requirement for my Rinnegan seemed to be that I had to gaze at least once at the object I wanted to teleport, and then as long as that object remained within a certain range I can swap it at will. Whether or not it is hidden from view.
Now, apply this logic to the two Sacred Gear users before me, Vali and Issei. Both of whom use armor to access their power.
I chuckled.
It doesn't matter how strong you are.
If I can just swap you out of your armor and render you back to your base form.
Issei chuckled, "man, even if I'm way stronger than I was before, you got a way around it." He smiled at me, "you're cool as ever, breast buddy."
I turned to Issei with a frown, observing him clad in his hospital gown and tucked in the bedsheets. He looked less lively than usual. He'd normally have his hand around my shoulder by now, yammering on about some perverted thing or the other. I'd normally have ignored someone like him… but Issei apparently had no intentions of ignoring me.
He'd seemingly one-sidedly decided that we were good friends and would barge every weekend into my home along with his co-workers, Kiba and Gasper. And right as I was about to kick them out, Issei dared utter those damned words-
"Hey I bought this new video game!" He'd grinned at me while holding a box like contraption in his hands. "Bet you can't beat my high score!"
Yeah right… as if something like that would rile me up.
But Gendo just had to open his big fat mouth.
He said with a confident smile, "nii-san can do anything! He's the best!" He beamed at me, "come on, nii-san! Show him the might of the Uchiha clan!"
And then the other brats banded behind him and began chanting, "go-go nii-san! Go-go nii-san!"
…when you put it like that, I can't just back down can I?
Serafall had joined their cheering, wearing a pink cheerleader costume out of the blue and thrusting pom-pom's in the air. She sang, "Sasuke-chan is my right hand man! If he can't do it, no-one can! Gooo, Sasuke-chan!"
…when you put it like that, I can't back down at all can I?
I'd snatched the device from Issei and demanded that he teach me how to play, so that I could put him in his place.
And that began the downward spiral of Issei and his friends visiting me again and again and again. My mind so bombarded by him calling me 'bro', 'buddy', 'breast friend' that it started associating those words with Issei in my mind… I was basically hypnotized into friendship.
And then dear Vali had decided to pay me a visit one day.
"…hey, are you a pervert?" He'd asked me with a downtrodden face while floating in the air outside my apartment window. "I-I couldn't believe my eyes during the peace conference… a-are you for real? Stripping women like that?" He gave me a desperate look, his hands latching onto my collar, "t-this is just some grand plot right? You're just fooling everyone and getting close to the Sekiryuutei to strike him down some day." He let out a weak chuckle, "y-you're not a degenerate… right?
I put a reassuring hand on Vali's shoulder and comforted him.
I smiled, "boobs are awesome."
Vali's smile cracked.
I rubbed my chin in deep thought, "hmm, but I am partial to a woman's waist as well…" I cocked a brow at him, "what do you think?"
Vali started backing away, his face falling as if he saw his hopes crumbling before him, he muttered, "no, no, no." He shook his head, "t-this can't be happening."
I tapped my chin as I made up my mind, "no… boobs are way better." I chuckled, "I mean you can stick your head in there and push against them all day-"
Zoom!
Vali disappeared towards the sky in a bolt of light.
I snorted, having caught a glimpse of his face flushing with embarrassment. What a wuss.
"Hey, Sasuke-chan~ Were you speaking from experience?" Serafall's voice echoed as she walked into view from behind a corner, grinning at me and disappearing the huge arrow of ice which I spied floating behind her. (Well, I guess Vali dodged that kunai.) She snickered, "I didn't know you liked it that much! Hehe, you perv~"
I flushed with embarrassment as I saw her. O-Oh shit she heard all that?
She then skipped over and put her arms around my neck, pulling us close and looking at me with a smile which made my heart beat faster. "Hey… which part of me do you like best?"
"Y-Your eyes." I muttered as I stared into her bright blue eyes. A clear window into her which shows me just how beautiful and amazing a devil she is. Every glimpse I catch leaves my chest feeling warm, a sense of contentment filling me.
Serafall blinked wide eyes at me, her mouth opened in slight shock. She gulped and let out a small giggle, "I-I like your eyes too!" She snickered, "especially when they go all freaky!"
I glowered at her, "they're not freaky. They're legendary."
She smiled and cheered, "okay, bunny wunny!"
I made a face at her, "…the fuck?"
Serafall tilted her head, "no good? How about honeybunch!"
I grimaced.
She tried another one, "snuggle buddy!"
I shivered.
"Pumpkin?"
Do I look like a fruit?
She started pouting, "…cutie pie?"
Do I look like dessert?
"Candy cane!"
…are you trying to tell me something? You won't start eating me someday will you?
Serafall winked, "not unless you want me to!" She giggled, "Hehe, get it? Eat you."
My eyes twitched. T-This woman will be the death of me…
She grinned and magic circles began glowing all around her, the entire air being filled with ice arrows pointed towards me. "That's fine, birdie! 'Cause I got a queen piece with your name on it!"
I scowled at her, "stop trying to kill me-"
Serafall smacked my lips and then cheered. "Prepare to dieee!"
T-That's the most affectionate death threat I ever heard…
…
And I'd do anything to have her threaten my life again.
I shook my head, dislodging the memories and focusing on the present. On what I had to do.
I gazed at Issei and Vali, fixing them with pursed lips. "Issei, Vali… I need a favor."
Issei gave me a thumbs-up. "Sure thing, bro." (…don't you want to know what I'm going to ask?) He smiled, "consider it done." (…thanks, breast buddy.)
Vali was the more sensible one, fixing me with narrowed eyes. "You're asking? Not demanding? It's something we wouldn't agree to, isn't it?" He pursed his lips. "…okay, I'll bite. What is it?"
I turned to the White Dragon Emperor. "Your Half Dimension." I gave him a severe look, "can you selectively target objects to halve? Rather than everything."
Vali frowned. "How selective?"
"Let's say… all the pain receptors in a human body." I smirked at him, "halve the size of the neurons in me responsible for sending threat signals to my brain and make them useless."
Vali blinked, "are you mad-"
I spoke over him, "don't question me. Don't ask. And most importantly." I glared with the Mangekyo spinning in my eye. "Don't you fucking dare stop me."
Vali glared back, "you're not the only one who lost someone. Stop overreacting-"
"Do as I say, and I will bring Azazel back."
"…are you serious?" He gazed at me with anger and grief warring in his eyes. "If… if this is a joke I… I don't know what I'll do to you."
I crossed my arms, "can you do it or not?" I scowled. "This is not a joke."
Vali stayed silent, turning away and looking out the window with pursed lips. "…will there be any casualties because of your plan?"
Yes. Me.
"No, no casualties."
Vali turned to me with narrowed eyes. "What of Trihexa?"
I said with hard determination filling my voice,
"It will die."
His question was instant.
"How?"
Power of friendship, that's how. Hah. Serafall will love that.
"It's a little something called the spirit bomb." I smirked, resisting the urge to laugh. I'm going to friend the whole world… Mwhahaha. I continued in a level tone, letting out no inkling of my nefarious intentions. "It will kill the beast." I smiled. "Trust me." The white dragon still had a doubtful look on his face. So I added, "I'll let you examine the spirit bomb yourself before I use it, does that satisfy you?" Not like you'll be able to do anything by then…
Vali thought for a few seconds before he added with considering eyes, "…why deaden your pain receptors? Does your attack have recoil?"
It'll fry me to a crisp.
I scoffed. "What do I look like? An amateur?" I shook my head, "no, it's just a precaution. I don't want to take any chances." I narrowed my eyes. "I can afford to lose an arm or leg… but I can't let pain get in the way and waste my attack on the beast."
Issei grimaced, muttering, "dude, don't talk like that."
Vali became silent, leaning back against the wall and seemingly mulling things over.
So I turned to Issei. "I need you to start gathering your boost. I'll be back in a while, and when I'm back you need to transfer that boost to me." I don't want to ask this of him as he's still recovering… but I don't have a choice. Every second Serafall is in that barrier field is a second she could die. "Can… can you do that for me, Issei?"
His face looked uncomfortable, "bro, shouldn't we be bringing this up with Beelzebub-sama? He's the one in-charge of things now."
I gave Issei a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, this is just a test run. If it's successful, we'll tell Beelzebub right away."
Issei blinked and then smiled, "oh, in that case sure." He winced in slight pain as his boosted gear manifested on his hand. "I-I'll start gathering it right now."
…I'm sorry for fooling you, Issei.
Feeling guilty, I added with regret filled eyes, "are you sure I can't just heal you with the King of Hell?"
Issei shook his head, "n-nah. Ophis' power is still kinda in me. P-Power of infinity will poison you." He smiled, "t-thanks for the offer, bro."
Vali then decided to speak again, looking at me with narrowed eyes, "you'd permanently damage your body for the sake of a test run?"
I shrugged. "I can heal myself using the King of Hell." I glowered at him. "I'm not an idiot." I'm in love.
…actually there's not much difference between the two. So I guess I'm an idiot.
Vali pushed himself off the wall and started for the door, muttering under his breath. "I need to grab some books on anatomy. Give me two hours to be ready for your test run."
That's plenty of time to visit my hometown and come back.
I caught Vali's shoulder as he passed me by. "Thanks, lizard."
He rolled his eyes, "whatever, asshole." He glanced at me with narrowed eyes, "next time we spar, you're going all out. Got it?"
I chuckled, "sure. I'll try not to hurt your pride too much."
Vali smirked. "We'll see about that." He said, waving a hand over his back as he left the room, "I'll find a loophole around your bullshit ability."
Huh, says the guy with an even more bullshit ability than mine. Well, he can overcome being swapped out if he just shows up to the fight fully decked in his armor. If I don't catch a glimpse of him without his scale mail, I can't really swap him out…
I'll leave that for him to figure out.
Issei then spoke out, "yeah. T-Two hours." He grinned. "All the power I can gather in two hours, I-I'll give it to you."
I frowned, "are you sure?"
He waved me off, "i-it's fine. It's nothing compared to when I have my armor on." He frowned, "but will this be enough to destroy the beast? I fought it at full power with Lucifer-sama. It… it didn't do crap."
I doubt you and Lucifer combined could compare to the energy of the entire world.
All the gods, dragons, devils, angels, fallen, humans, youkai, reapers, vampires, undead, legendary beasts…
Let the world unite.
…mwhahaha.
Amazing.
Anyway, I'm not going to use your power for the spirit bomb, Issei. It's for something else.
I nodded at Issei, "it'll be enough." I gave him a light smile. "Thanks, Issei."
He shook his head. "Anytime, bro." He grimaced, "if this'll bring Azazel back, I'm all for it."
You'll have him back. Don't worry.
I turned away from Issei, saying my goodbye and exiting his room.
As I stepped outside, opening the door-
"A-Aaah!"
A bunch of children's shrieks rang out as they all fell forward when I pulled the door towards me to open it.
"You little…" I said with vexed eyes, looking at the pile of Uchiha brats who lay in a pile at my feet. "Were you listening?" I barked out with a stern face.
My brats looked at me and gulped.
I sighed, kneeling down and helping them up, dusting their clothes and making sure they didn't hurt themselves. "Come on, we'll talk outside."
They gave me meek nods and followed me as I closed the door and took us to the lounge of the hospital.
We all sat down in the chairs laid out for visitors. The children had troubled looks on their faces. Half of them looking scared to meet my eyes, afraid of what I had to tell them.
Gaki began with a trembling voice, bunching up her pants with her fists, "n-nii-san, a-are you going to leave us?" I winced. Her eyes widened as she saw this, "b-but you promised!" She jumped out of her seat and ran to hug my waist, looking at me with wide eyes, "you said you'd never leave me!" She hiccuped, tears forming in her eyes. "D-Don't leave!"
I patted her head, gently wiping off the tears which rolled off her eyes. "Don't worry, Gaki. Serafall will take care of you." I tried to smile reassuringly, "I'm going to bring that meanie back alright? She's going to apologize for leaving you all without a word."
Jigo had hopped down and joined the hug, looking at me with a frown. "B-But what about you?"
I scoffed, "it'll be alright. You'll be moving into Serafall's home." I gave them an excited smile. "You've seen it right? It's a huge mansion. Much better than my run down apartment-"
Gendo frowned, looking at me with a glare. "Oi, stuff it. It's our run down apartment and I love it!" He scowled, "it's… it's our home."
My throat started burning. "I-Is that so?" I forced an exasperated look on my face, "I guess I can trust Levi-tan with the keys-"
Chikusho interrupted with a sniff, looking on the verge of tears, "n-nii-san. Why are you so sad? U-Uugh," he sobbed lightly, shuffling towards me and hopping onto the chair beside me, leaning towards me and burying his face into my chest. "D-Don't leave, nii-san."
…fuck.
Is this why you left without a word, Serafall?
Oh fuck, my insides hurt.
Don't… don't cry…
Man, I suck with children.
I muttered, gently patting Chikusho's back. "I… I'm sorry." I blinked hard, and found to my dismay tracts of tears rolling down my face. "I-I love you guys. T-Take care, alright?"
Their eyes widened with panic and they all yelled, "n-nii-san!" All of them except Shura jumped atop me and buried me in a desperate hug. Tears rolling down each of their eyes as they sobbed, "d-don't leave, nii-san! W-We love you!"
I chuckled.
"T-Thanks." I leaned back, prying myself from their arms. My Sharingan spinning in my eye. I met each of Gaki, Jigo, Gendo and Chikusho's gazes, "would you look at that, it's your naptime." I kissed each of their foreheads and smiled at them. "Go to sleep, you know I won't tolerate any sloppiness in either your training or games."
I cast an illusion on them, and soon their sobs subsided as their eyes blinked close with sleepiness. They fell against me, unconscious and with tears drying on their faces.
"T-That was a dick move," muttered Shura, looking at me with a glare, furiously rubbing his eyes. He fixed me with a scowl. "I can't stop you, can I?"
I gave him a mirthless smile, "well, if you really wanted to, you can just blab to Beelzebub and have him throw me in the looney bin."
Shura's eyes narrowed. "…do you have to do this?"
I looked away, my chest hurting. "…yes."
He ran a hand through his hair, turmoil occupying his eyes, "w-will you survive?"
I shook my head.
I'm a rotten bastard.
My judgment day has come.
Shura stepped close, gently taking his siblings off me and laying them on the other chairs. He muttered, "thank you for everything." He walked over to me, and put his arms around me. "I… I love you big brother."
I ruffled his hair and closed my arms around him, "look after them okay?"
He sniffed, "o-okay. Y-You can count on me."
We stayed like that for a few minutes, until I spotted Tsubaki heading towards the reception.
I patted Shura's shoulder. "I need to leave now. Stay here, Tsubaki will find you."
Shura hiccuped, "g-goodbye, nii-san."
I tightened my hug for a second and let him go. Standing up and walking away without another word. Saying anything more would be superfluous.
I stepped outside the hospital.
My Rinnegan rippled.
And I tore open a portal to my damn hometown.
Konoha.
Konoha, Elemental Nations
"Uchiha Sasuke. You have become more proficient with the Rinnegan's space manipulation I see."
I scowled at the Sage. Who'd been floating in the same spot above Konoha as when he'd kicked me around.
The God Tree was still in view. People still trapped in their pods.
The Sage frowned at me, "why have you returned? You have yet more time to spend in your dimension." He shook his head, "your teammates are still in midst of their quest-"
I cut him off.
"Give me the bijuus' chakra." I scowled. "I'm asking nicely."
The Sage crossed his arms, giving me a solemn look. "For what purpose, child?" He looked into my eyes, "I see great unrest in your soul. Tell me, what ails you?"
"…can you fight the gods of the dimension you sent me to?"
The Sage shook his head, "I'm a mass of chakra, Uchiha Sasuke. My physical body has perished long ago. My power is nothing like what it used to be." He frowned. "And without a body to anchor my soul, I might not find my way out of the dimensional door once I enter it. As it stands I would only send my clone through the portals if needed."
…useless as ever.
I looked at the ground, as I floated hundreds of miles up the air. I saw the nine bijuu glaring warily at me. Their chakra flaring with aggression. If I could just cast Chibaku Tensei again-
"Don't even think about it." The Sage narrowed his eyes.
I sighed.
I don't have time for this.
I looked at the Sage. "Look. I need that chakra. Just a sliver is enough."
"Why?"
I smiled. "My loved one is sick. I want to help her get better." I chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of my head. "I… I want to tell her how much I love her, kinda need her to recover before I say that. Thought the bijuu's chakra could help?" I shrugged, "if combined right, the properties of the chakra are ridiculous."
The Sage gazed to the ground. "What do you say, Kurama?"
I heard the fox's bark.
"…he's telling the truth." The fox growled at me with hate. "What a surprise, Uchiha. To think a fool like you would fall in *love."
I smirked at the beast, "go hump a tree, fox. Not like you'll ever find love."
The fox bared his teeth at me. "I'll have you on your knees one day, Uchiha. Count on it." He barked a laugh. "I shall instruct my other half with Naruto the same. To have you abandon all your dignity and beg for the bijuus' forgiveness." He then crossed his arms and gloated, his tails waving like a dog's in the air. "And I'll have you know that the other me in Naruto's dimension is happily divorced!"
I blinked. The heck? "What are you talking about?"
The Kyuubi grinned. "I met her in this thing called a galge. Her name is Sayori and she lives in a small rectangular device." He rubbed his chin, "I was skeptical, but Naruto assured me that she was real. We've been dating ever since, got married and just last week we signed our divorce papers." He smiled, "I've never seen her happier than when the proceedings finished."
…does he know what a divorce is? Scratch that, does he know what a galge is? (Issei made sure I knew what a galge is…)
Naruto's in for a beating when the beast finds out the truth…
Yeah, not going to touch that explosive tag…
I sighed.
Dumbass is still a dumbass as usual.
I then glared and got back to the point, "look. Are you going to give your chakra or not? I'm not asking to become your jinchuriki, just a small amount of all the tailed beasts' chakra."
The fox shrugged. "Sure. If it's just a small chunk." He gave me a serious look. "Sayori told me to be a good neighbor and that sharing is caring." He scratched his head, "she always says that when she wants something I have… especially food or money."
I turned to the Sage and gave him a flat look.
"…Kurama has his own lessons to learn," said the Sage after a few seconds of me staring at him.
I was about to reply but then I heard monstrous roars from the ground-
"Bijuu dama!"
Nine waves of dark condensed chakra blasted towards me from the ground.
I gazed upon them with contempt, spreading my hands wide and muttering.
"Gakido."
The Preta Path's barrier formed around me and as the tailed beasts' attack hit me, all of its chakra got sucked into my palms. Filling my coils and giving me a slight chakra high which made me grin.
"Goddamn it! Who yelled out their attack!" The fox barked looking at the other bijuu with a glare.
The bijuu began loudly arguing with each other on the ground.
I paid it no mind, as I focused on the chakra I just absorbed. Nine different signatures, each of a different nature and potency. All flowing within me.
My Rinnegan rippled.
Mix it. Blend it. Fuse it. Each tailed beast's chakra a part of the puzzle which my Rinnegan clearly saw. Slide the three tails' chakra over there. Slot the six tails beside the nine tails. (Heh, six and nine… You have ruined me, Issei.) Stack the eight and two at the edges. Put the one tails at the center. Mash the four, five and seven together and-
Spark!
…haha.
I grinned at the power coursing through my coils. My hands glowing a sinister crimson black.
Well, well, well.
Can someone say Juubi?
The Sage looked at me with surprised eyes. "Did… did you recombine the nine bijuus' chakra?"
I smirked at him. "What if I did?"
His eyes narrowed and began rippling. "State your intentions right this instant."
I chuckled. My eye tearing open a portal behind me.
"I'm going to save the woman I love."
With Infinite Tsukuyomi.
The Sage furrowed his brow, "what?"
I gave him the finger.
And before the Sage replied, I flew back through the portal.
My last view of Konoha shutting close with the portal.
Lilith, evening
Hell's artificial moon shone in the sky.
It was a full moon tonight.
And I am Uchiha Sasuke.
There are a lot of things I hate.
The things I like are a precious few.
I used to have an ambition. One I was beguiled into. My current one is to have the world under my heel.
Dreams? I don't really have a dream right now. More of a… desire? To ensure my kids have a good life. And to hold Serafall Leviathan one more time in my arms.
What about you, Trihexa?
Tell me about yourself.
My Rinnegan pierced through the isolation barrier field and saw the monster in all its glory inside the sealed space.
Twice the size of my perfect Susanoo. Four arms as thick as a building, and two legs stockier than that. A body which hung forward like a baboon's, with black fur covering it all over. A slight sheen underneath which poked out at the edges, giving view to its thick scales. Seven heads emerged from its trunk, spreading out via long necks. Each head was of a different animal's, a snake, a lion, a bear, a dragon, an ox, a gorilla, and a bird. Seven tails sprung out its back. Six pairs of wings flapped and held it in the air, as it roared and let loose mammoth fireballs at the inter-mythological alliance sealed inside the barrier field along with it. All the while taking god class attacks head on and not even flinching as it instantaneously regenerated.
I grinned and sent a flare of chakra towards it to get its attention.
…
Nope, didn't even look at me.
Let's fix that.
I whipped my head around to the two dragons flying in the air behind me. An excited grin on my face.
"Do it, Vali."
He nodded and pointed his hand towards me.
The air around me began to distort, vibrating and making my vision blurry. And all of a sudden it stopped.
"It's done," said Vali, observing me from top to bottom. "I only targeted half your total nerves." He frowned. "A complete loss of sensation is dangerous."
Meh. I can work with that.
I nodded at him and turned to Issei, whose red gauntlet was pulsing with energy.
"Your move, Issei." I smirked. "Gimme a boost."
Issei chuckled, "coming right up!" He put his hand on my shoulder and-
Pulse!
The Juubi's chakra within me multiplied exponentially!
A gust of air blew around me as the chakra exploded inside me. Making my eyes pop out and my limbs jerk at the sudden blast of highly potent chakra flowing through my coils. My eyes became dizzy in the haze of becoming chakra drunk and I wobbled slightly in the air.
"B-Bro, y-your forehead!"
"Uchiha, are you alright?"
Came Issei's and Vali's voices, sounding anxious and bewildered.
I shook my head hard to come back to my senses and looked at them, asking what was wrong.
Issei gulped, staring at me with wide eyes. "Y-You have a third eye! S-Shit, dude I'm sorry! I-I think I messed up the transfer!"
I chuckled nefariously. What worrywarts, nothing's wrong. And everything is right.
I touched my forehead, feeling the eyelid of my third eye, trying to get a sense of it. A timely use of Gakido let me sense my chakra pathways and determine after a few trials how I could supply chakra to my third eye.
To my Rinne Sharingan.
Vali looked at me with a frown. "And it's glowing now."
Issei started dragging me, "c-come on! We'll get this looked at in the hospital!"
I turned to the two of them, putting a hand on each of their shoulders and smiling lightly. I looked at Vali, "Vali, it's been fun duping you time and again." His eyes twitched, making me chuckle. "Do try to rely a little less on your sacred gear." I gave him a mocking grin, "as it stands I completely own you, my rival."
Vali narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "…why are you speaking like this?"
I ignored him, turning to Issei, frowning at him. "Issei, I get that you like women. But try to restrain yourself sometimes." He blinked and then pouted. I smirked, "I mean you can't keep going full steam ahead all the time, right? You need to keep them guessing, a song is made of both music and silence." I chuckled and clapped his shoulder, "you need to work on your subtlety."
Issei gave me a hesitant smile, "bro, why the sudden advice?"
I pulled them close and hugged them, "it pleases me to call you two my friends."
Vali muttered, looking away, "I swear if anyone sees us like this and draws fanart of us I'm going to kill you."
Issei chuckled, scratching his cheek, "uhh, too late for that. Kuroka was showing me some stuff she found on the internet the other day and whew! You two are getting it on!"
Vali wilted in my grasp. "…why was she searching for that?" He groaned, running a palm down his face, "and why is she showing it to other people?"
I chuckled, "goodbye. Look after everyone in my place."
They both stiffened.
Vali growled, "Uchiha, what are you-"
Issei yelped, "S-Sasuke, are you okay-"
My knees shot up and hit the two of them straight in the gut.
"Guah!"
They yelled in pain and caught their stomachs. Bending forward and coughing as I forced the breath out of their lungs.
While they recovered, I gathered the Juubi's chakra and-
Boom!
Blasted myself high above Lilith. Flying at dizzying speeds and stopping when I hung above the tallest structure of the city.
I began muttering, supplying my Rinne Sharingan with chakra, seeing a dull red radiance emanate from it.
"When someone who possesses the power of Samsara approaches the moon, an eye will open that is reflected on the moon to grant the eternal dream."
I clenched my fists and measured my strength, as the Juubi's power flowed through me.
I need more power.
"A clash between Trihexa and Great Red would destroy the world." said Azazel before he sealed himself away. "A fight among such titanic equals would wreak havoc."
I focused all my chakra around my eyes, feeling the air around me glow a bright crimson.
"Sirzechs and Issei failed to deal any damage to the beast… We're moving to plan B." Azazel didn't even have the decency to tell me what plan B was. Apparently it was above my clearance level. Either that or Serafall glaring at Azazel from behind my back to keep his mouth shut.
I gazed upon the moon.
Power. Overwhelming power. I cannot fight the beast of the apocalypse as an equal. I have to completely dominate it. Eradicate it. Crush it. A fight between equals would demolish the world. A one-sided massacre would avoid that fate.
So, I need more than the Juubi's chakra I have with me. More power. The entire world's power. The apocalypse shall be beaten by the genesis. The strength of living.
I lay my gaze upon all the lands of the mythologies. My Rinnegan seeing them all. Traveling with Serafall on her diplomatic missions made me intimately familiar with all the abodes of the mythical. My Rinnegan stared across space.
It saw the Norse.
Zwoosh!
A portal opened.
The Roman.
Zwoosh!
Another portal opened.
The Hindu.
Zwoosh!
The Egyptian.
Zwoosh!
Heaven.
Zwoosh!
Earth.
Zwoosh!
The Shinto. The Buddhist. The Babylonian. All the underworlds. All the heavens. Every world of every supernatural creature.
Zwoosh! Zwoosh! Zwooooosh!
I opened a portal to them all.
So that the moon's light may travel through the portals and reach them all.
I heard Issei and Vali's yells as they approached me from the ground.
"Uchiha!"
"Sasuke!"
I uttered.
"Infinite Tsukuyomi."
And a malevolent red eye reflected off the moon, and gazed down from the sky.
And a second later.
The moon shone the brightest light you'd ever see in the sky. An all penetrating light which spread throughout the world, no matter whether day or night, no matter in which shadow you hide. The light would find you and enter your eyes.
The moon shone over hell.
The devils and the fallen gazed up at the sky. The ripples of the Rinnegan forming in their eyes.
The light spread across earth.
All humans stopped their activities and stared vacantly at the sky in a trance.
The radiance shone across heaven.
The angels spread their wings and basked in the shine.
The Rinne Sharingan saw all. And all saw the Rinne Sharingan.
The dragons of the world lifted their heads and gazed upon it.
The gods in the heavens gazed upon it.
The monsters in the underworlds gazed upon it.
I had issued a command via the Rinne Sharingan, to allow all those in the middle of something important to continue to retain some amount of control over their actions. But otherwise, the whole world was under my control.
I chuckled.
If it weren't for my rescue operation, this really would be my uprising.
"Even when you're not here, you continue to thwart me." I raised my hands to the sky. "You're a real hassle, Serafall." My Mangekyo spun. "Susanoo."
My complete body Susanoo formed around me, raising its hands to the sky.
I spoke to the world.
"Everyone who is able. Everyone who isn't a child. Everyone who isn't otherwise occupied with anything life threatening. Share your energy with me."
The world raised its hands.
And a blue ball of genki, life energy began forming above my hands.
Zap!
I grimaced, watching as the ball which begun forming atop me crackled a bolt of ki at my Susanoo. Great. My fate's about sealed-
Ring! Ring!
I blinked, as my phone rang in my pocket. I frowned and picked it up, confused who could be contacting me.
I spoke into it, "hello?"
I heard her voice.
"Sasuke-chan, what's happening out there-!"
I cut the call.
I gazed up at the spirit ball. Okay… it's as big as my apartment now-
Boom!
I winced and my arms slightly bucked as it'd decided to hurl another wave at me. Just bear it.
Ring! Ring!
I groaned. I'm trying to focus here!
I snatched the phone again and spoke into it, "what?"
Serafall growled,
"Hey, this is serious! We tried contacting the command center in hell but no-one's answering!"
I scowled, "you call me for this? But not to say hi, how are you, I'm sorry for being a total bitch who just abandoned you-"
"Do not do this right now." She sounded angry. "This line is only supposed to be used for emergencies and important communications. It's… it's not for personal use."
My eyes were trained on the ball of energy. It was bigger. Way bigger than a skyscraper. Blue wispy waves of ki flowed up to the genki dama, from the landscape of hell, and from every portal I'd created.
The spirit bomb sparkled angrily and-
Blast!
"G-Goddamn it!" I cursed as it rocked me within the Susanoo displacing me slightly within the sky, as it sent yet another explosion at me. The strongest one yet. I grimaced. It's only going to get worse the more potent the ball becomes.
Serafall sounded panicked, "h-hey, what was that! Are you under attack!"
I shook my head, "no. I'm fine… you're just probably just hearing sounds from your end. Someone must've thrown an explosion at the beast." I pursed my lips. "How… how are you doing in there?"
"Sa… Sasuke-chan… I really need to know the situation at the command center."
"…it's good to hear your voice again." I muttered. I let out a self-deprecating laugh, "I was worried I wouldn't get to talk to you before I die." And before she questioned me further I changed the topic, "about that becoming a devil… I think I'll do it."
"W-What? R-Really!" Oh god she sounds so happy. "I-I'll get to see you again!"
I narrowed my eyes, "you'd have seen me everyday if you didn't go away."
"P-Please don't say that. It's pretty hard not to think of you and Sona everyday. S-Sniff." I blinked wide eyes. I-Is she crying? "I-I'm sorry, but your safety is m-more important to me."
Blast!
"God fuckin- uurgh!" My teeth rattled as I clamped down my mouth to stop myself from cursing. I glared at the spirit bomb. Do you fucking mind? I'm trying to talk to her.
I shook my head and spoke into the phone, "your safety is important to me too."
She chuckled, "d-don't worry. I'm pretty tough. I'll be back before you know it.
I scowled. "I want you now."
"…uhh …you mean like to hang out or-"
I smirked, "I'll hug you close, running my hand through your hair. Trialing chaste kisses along your neck, whispering softly how beautiful you are. Slowly and steadying pushing you backward until your back is pressed against the wall. Your face flushed with excitement, letting out a moan, and that's when I capture your lips and-"
She squeaked, sounding embarrassed, "whoa, whoa, whoa! I-I'm in a battlefield and you're getting me all hot and bothered here!"
I chuckled, "so even you get flustered? How adorable."
Serafall grumbled with irritation, "…I think I'm a bad influence on you."
I scowled and immediately corrected her, "you're the best influence I ever had."
Blast!
Her voice was angry, "if I ever meet half of the people in your life I'm going to strangle them! Don't you ever go back to them! There's always a place for you in hell! Okay?"
"…okay." I felt a smile crawl up my face at her words. At how concerned she sounded on my behalf. "Hey… listen." I have to get these words out while I have the chance. "I… I love you."
"…I-I love you too." Her voice was filled with longing. "I-I want to be with you, right now." A little anger in her voice, "s-stupid. I-If you weren't so shy and repressed we wouldn't be confessing over the phone like this…"
Blast!
I looked up and the spirit bomb, and saw a huge glowing ball as big as the size of Lilith.
It's ready.
I spoke into the phone, "I'll find out what's wrong at the command center okay?"
"Okay. And… I'm not sure when we'll talk again so… lots of over the wire hugs and kisses from me!"
I chuckled. "Yeah. See you soon."
She sniffed, "y-yeah."
"In like five minutes."
"…wait what-"
I smirked. "Find a good spot to spectate. I'll show you how it's done." I looked up to see the ball of glowing blue ki. "I'm taking over the fight."
"What?! Sasuke-chan, you stay put right there-!"
I crushed the phone with my fist and threw it away. There. That'll give them enough warning to anticipate my joining the fight.
I stared up at the big blue ball of destruction with a frown.
For now it seems content to blast me with ki every few seconds. But if I throw it and it decides to attack me instead of my enemy… that'd be a problem.
…no. I need to absorb it and use the energy directly.
I grimaced.
Judgment day indeed.
"Gakido."
The absorption barrier surrounded my Susanoo. And began sucking the spirit bomb into my chakra guardian's hands. Filling the insides with the genki, and leaving me right in the center. I used the abundance of energy to change my Susanoo's wings to ones formed by electricity. And I unsheathed the giant sword hanging by its waist. And changed it's composition from my own chakra to that of the spirit bomb's energy.
My skin reddened and sizzled. A crackling noise as it smoked. I frowned. I'd probably be in excruciating pain right now if it weren't for deadening my pain receptors.
I gripped my fist and scowled with determination.
Let's make this quick.
I gazed up at the moon and quickly dispelled the Infinite Tsukuyomi. (If I die, then no-one will be able to call off the genjutsu.)
I looked at Trihexa through the barrier field again and flared my energy.
It paused in midst of spitting out a fireball. And as one, its seven heads whipped towards me and roared.
I grinned.
Now that's more like it.
My Rinnegan rippled.
A portal to the insides of the isolation barrier field emerged.
Flash!
And I sped through it in a flash of blue.
Isolation Barrier Field
Flash!
I entered the battlefield and quickly took stock of my-
"Graaaaaah!"
The beast was instantly upon me. Cutting through the air with extreme speed, it appeared before me the very second I joined the battle. Itss arms sailed for my torso-
Swap!
I appeared above its heads and slashed at it.
It flew up, straight into my attack-
Slash!
My sword cut straight through five of its heads, but it continued onward undeterred and slammed into my chest.
Bang!
"Grk!" I bit back a yell as I felt that strike, a chunk of my Susanoo flying off.
It grabbed my foot, pulled me close. The cut heads regenerated and it's seven heads spat a fireball at me-
My Mangekyo spun. Eat your own damn flames. "Amaterasu!"
Its supercharged flames were overtaken by my black flames, which rushed towards it and set its whole upper half on fire.
"Graaaaaaaah!"
It roared in rage, seeming grabbing its flesh and-
Rip!
Tore it off to get the flames off. It discarded its old skin, as a new layer rapidly regenerated over its torn parts.
"Kagutsuchi." My black flames sharpened to spikes and struck the beast, piercing through its skin once again and setting it on fire.
Flash!
I leapt upon it with my spirit bomb charged sword and struck it clean down the neck-
Boom!
"Graaaaaah!"
"Aaaaah!"
The both of us were knocked away from the explosion.
I struck the ground, while Trihexa hit the ceiling of the barrier. A sizable portion of Trihexa's body missing. Its three arms, five heads, and the whole front of its body missing with a smoking hole where I'd struck it… A black Chibaku Tensei sphere placed right in its center.
I pointed my hand towards it (…my hand is charred black. Dammit, I need to finish this.) I immediately activated the sphere, "Chibaku Tensei!"
Trihexa's flesh regenerated over the sphere. The beast stilled, its movement halting for a moment before it roared, all its flesh began being pulled towards its center, its body imploding upon itself. Its innards being dragged towards the center of the Chibaku Tensei, and at the same time its healing factor rapidly regenerating its body. It tried to claw out the sphere but it kept healing itself faster than it could hurt itself.
"Cough!" I coughed harshly. Feeling blood leak from my mouth and trail down my chin. I… I dared glimpse at my body. My legs were bent at odd angles. My fingers were cracked. My chest was swollen and probably bleeding internally. Red vapors rose from my skin as the genki boiled my blood while I lay suspended in it while within my Susanoo.
I heard the flap of wings, and turned to see Serafall, Lucifer and Azazel land beside me.
Serafall gasped as she stepped closer and knelt down beside me. "S-Sasuke-chan, w-wait a moment. I-I'll give you some phoenix tears!" She hunted a small bottle off her pockets and poured it over me… The liquid just fell upon my Susanoo and slid off. "H-Hey, open up a little, we'll get you fixed r-right up!"
I shook my head. "Can't." I wiped the blood off my mouth. "If I release it, all this energy will disperse."
Lucifer had his gaze on the beast, his eyes narrowed. "It's looking straight at you, Uchiha. Does it feel threatened by you, I wonder." He glared at me. "Ajuka has filled me in on the happenings outside the barrier. Casting an illusion on the entire world and siphoning energy from everyone. Have you thought of the repercussions?"
I sighed and looked away. "The reparations will be my death-"
"N-No!" Serafall said, glaring at me. "You're not dying!"
Azazel then added, giving me a considering look. "Sasuke… we better act fast. Before Trihexa gets smart and decides to split its body to escape your technique." He grimaced. "Do… do what you must."
"You shut up!" Serafall yelled at him. She turned back to me with a trembling smile, "S-Sasuke-chan, I'll have a medical team ready to receive you outside. S-So just teleport out and disperse all that energy, okay?"
I looked at the sky. My vision becoming blurry.
The sun is shining.
Monstrous roars fill the air.
And my body is giving out.
I turned towards Serafall and smiled.
"I'm sorry."
My Susanoo began glowing a bright blue. As I focused all the genki upon myself, centering it all with me at the innermost point.
Serafall's eyes widened and her face broke into a panic as she dove at me, "n-no, stooop!"
Flash!
I was before Trihexa, my hands clutching it and-
Azazel's voice roared, "everyone form a barrier around yourself! Now!"
Serafall yelled, "S-Sasuke! Don't do it!"
Tears rolled down my eyes as I held the spirit bomb within me.
Thanks for everything, Serafall.
Hah.
I, Uchiha Sasuke, die on this day.
I laughed.
But at least I did some good in my life.
I release Susanoo and lit up the spirit bomb.
BOOM!
White exploded everywhere.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
"Foolish little brother."
…no.
"You aren't weak."
No. No. No. No!
"Why aren't you weak?"
You're dead. You're dead. You're fucking dead!
That smug soft spoken voice, that cold ruthless voice, spoke in my ears.
"You're filled with love, Sasuke." He chuckled. "I'm proud of you."
Where are you! Why can't I see anything!
"You're dying, Sasuke." Came Itachi's voice. "I'm afraid you have no eyes to see with right now."
I growled.
What the fuck do you want, Itachi. How are you even here?
"It's not actually me, brother. This is a chakra construct I entrusted to my crow summons and had it reside within you."
…you shoved a fucking crow down my throat?
I heard the rustle of cloth as if he shrugged. "Everyone needs a hobby."
That's your hobby?!
"Do you want to live a long life, Sasuke? To spend it alongside the ones you hold dear."
I… I don't know.
You gave me enough shit to last a lifetime.
"Do you still desire burning Konoha?"
I don't care about Konoha. It'll burn itself someday. I have better things to do.
Itachi chuckled lightly, "sounds like you have unfinished business, brother."
…yeah.
"Goodbye, Sasuke" I felt the flare of chakra. "Izanagi."
I heard the flap of wings as I faded into unconsciousness.
Sitri Mansion
I woke up lying on a bed.
Blinking with slight pain as the sun fell directly in my eyes.
I sat up and looked around, and immediately saw a pair of bloodshot eyes staring back at me.
I gulped. "H-Hi, Serafall."
Serafall lay sitting on a chair beside me. Wearing a blue blouse and green skirt. Her face looked haggard, her eyes sunken, and her face dour.
She put her palm on my cheek, touching me gently.
"...I'm putting you on a leash," she muttered.
I frowned, "what leash."
She pointed towards my palm and I turned my head and blinked in surprise. Finding a ring there. I turned to her in question and she showed me her own palm. Which had a ring of a similar design.
"...did we get engaged while I was unconscious," I muttered in disbelief.
She scowled at me, "I ought to do worse than that. I should have you tied up and keep teasing you till you call me mistress and listen to me like a good boy."
...that sounds like a good time to be honest.
Serafall chuckled, "you're grinning like a pervert by the way." She smiled, "Issei-chan is good at teaching you to loosen up."
I shrugged. "Maybe." I observed her face, still seeing sadness there. "Hey, give me your queen piece. I'll become a devil now." That should cheer her up.
She frowned, looking at me as if I were an idiot. "Sasuke-chan, you were vulnerable, helpless, and totally at my mercy for two weeks." She tilted her head, "what makes you think you're still human?"
My eyes twitched with irritation. "I-Is there anything else you did while I was in dreamland?"
Serafall looked away, whistling a happy tune.
I scowled, "hey tell me."
She giggled, "did you remember a particularly naughty dream?" She grinned at me, "because that might be a teensy bit based in reality!"
"...I-I can't believe you'd do that when I'm unconscious." I glared at her. "Let's do it right now."
Serafall rolled her eyes, "you just woke up." She glowered at me. "You jerk. First you took my sister, and then you take my throne."
I blinked. An excited smile upon my face. "What? I've been made Satan-"
She threw a newspaper in my face, "no! You took my spot in the popularity contest!" She pouted and crossed her arms, "Uchiha Sasuke! Vanquisher of Trihexa! The underworld's Solo King! The world's strongest being!" She glared, "half of those titles are just plain lies! You're no hero! You're just a villain who seduced me!"
I chuckled as I read the paper. Which sang praise after praise of me. Sasuke the misunderstood hero. The man with a plan. The human who dared defy the heavens. I grinned, "hell yeah." I smiled as I thought about it, "Uchiha Sasuke: Hero of Hell... yeah that kinda grows on you doesn't it?"
"Like a disease!" She pouted. "Damn you, Sasuke-chan!" She scowled and turned away in a huff.
I laughed and put my arms around her and pulled her in a hug. "Love you too, Serafall."
The door to the room opened, with Gaki opening the door with a curious look. Her eyes widened upon seeing me. "G-Guys! Nii-san's awake!"
And immediately I heard the sounds of footsteps slamming the ground and a crowd of people barged into the room.
Gaki wailed as she hugged me, "n-nii-san you dummy!"
Jigo smiled wide, "n-nii-san, you really have to teach me your technique. Hehehe~" (You still scare me, Jigo. You still scare me.)
Gendo bawled, rubbing his eyes, "yoshaaa!"
Shura muttered, "jackass, making me get all emotional for nothing."
Chikusho hopped onto me with a giggle, "nii-san you look much happier now!"
Vali shuffled into the room with twitching eyes, "Uchiha... I found fanart of you, me and Hyoudou..." He gave me a scared look, "we need to do something!"
Issei saluted me, "Sasuke, bro, we gotta play this cool new eroge I just bought! It's awesome!"
Sona gave me a considering look, "Satan, I've been thinking of writing a book on puns." She gave me a serious frown. "I require your assistance."
In midst of all the commotion in the room,
Serafall leaned towards me, whispering, "I love you."
I smiled back. "I love you too."
She gave me a hopeful look, "so... you won't do anymore crazy things right?"
I chuckled and shook my head. "nah. Not really." I quickly muttered under my breath. "I do have a plot to invade heaven but that's still a work in progress."
She blinked and frowned, "what was that."
I smirked. "Nothing, kooky." I kissed her cheek to distract her. "Nothing at all."
Mwhahaha.
Now that I'm a hero.
Nobody will expect me to be a conquering mastermind!
...but such machinations can wait.
For now I'm content with just being Uchiha Sasuke.
A man who is filled to the brim with hopes and dreams for the future.
Author's Note:-
And that's the end of the story!
Hope you enjoyed it!
Would love to hear your thoughts on this chapter!
And also your thoughts on the story as a whole!
See you later everyone!
Let's meet again on some other story!
But for now,
Cheers!