OP5: Burning Soul by GARNiDELiA
Wednesday (7/27)
Dimensional Gap
Colosseum
Sweat ran down a red-haired, tanned skinned devil's right cheek as he watched his second Rook get kicked in the gut by a large round white female bird known as a Filolial Queen, who acted as Naofumi's Rook. The Rook is immediately teleported away from the battlefield, unable to continue fighting.
"How...can this be...You possess no Sacred Gears, and you possess such a useless weapon, yet..." the young devil asked himself as he bore witness to another one of his peerage members, his Queen, getting cut by Raphtalia's katana, asking her opponent, "How did you get past my barrier?"
"I had a good teacher," said the raccoon-eared girl. Once the Queen disappeared from the field, Raphtalia silently thanks her uncle for his teachings. Naofumi constantly blocks a Knight's curved blade with his shield and pushes him back. When the Knight goes for another swing, Naofumi throws his shield at his face, which bounces back to him. Instead of catching the shield, he kicks it towards the Knight, hitting his opponent in the stomach and bounces back to Naofumi once more, this time catching it and ending his fight with the enemy Knight by charging him with his shield, the Knight disappearing in a flash of light after. Directing his attention to the red-haired King, Naofumi asked him if he was going to stand there looking ridiculous or put up a fight like an actual King.
"Don't give me that look...you...LOW-CLASS DEVIL! YOU DON'T DESERVE THE STATUS GIVEN TO YOU!" shouts the red-haired King, running at Naofumi with a sword decorated with diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.
"Air Strike Shield..." A green transparent shield forms in front of Naofumi, which protects him from the sword swing and repels the red-haired King. When his opponent goes for another swing, Naofumi blocks it with his shield and punches the devil in the throat.
Naofumi watched as the red-haired devil drops his sword and reels back and falls to his knees while clutching his his throat with his left hand. Looking down at his opponent, Naofumi tells him he should surrender while he can, because if he continues to fight him, he won't be showing any mercy.
"It was fifteen against three, how...HOW!? HOW!? HOW!?" he asked out loud as he punched the ground with his right fist.
"You see three Devils and assumed we were weak due to our appearances, using bribery to have opponents throw matches for us. That's why you're the only one left to continue playing in this Rating Game of ours."
"D-...DAAAAMN YOUUUUU!" In an instant, Naofumi traps him in a cage of shields and orders Filo to kick it, sending it flying into a wall, the shield prison quickly fading before the enemy King, crashes into it, rendering him unconscious.
"In a surprise 3-against-15 battle, the Iwatani Peerage wins!"
"Naofumi! Turning to face Raphtalia, the shield-wielding King high fives his Knight on another Rating Game won, a smile on his face.
"You did good out there, Raphtalia," Naofumi told the girl with the raccoon ears.
"What about me Master!?" asked the Filolial Queen, who transforms into a young barefooted blonde blue-eyed girl with a cowlick and a pair of wings on her back. She wore a white dress with a blue bow on the center. "Did I do good?" patting her on the head, Naofumi told her she did great, adding he'll make her something good when they go home.
Naofumi Iwatani?" Turning around to see a messenger devil approach him, the shield-wielding King asked him what he was here for. "First off, congratulations on your victory. It was one of the best I've ever seen while I made my way here. Also..." After rummaging through his bag, the messenger gives him, Raphtalia, and Filo invitations to the Young Devils Gathering.
"You've been invited to the Young Devils Gathering."
"Do I really need to go?" asked Naofumi, not being a fan of them due to "personal experiences" attending one long ago.
"Ajuka insisted that you come to the gathering when he gave me the invites," said the messenger, Naofumi bothered by this response.
"Of course he would..."
A few minutes ago
With Naruto
Train to the Underworld
Train Car 1
"Oh wow, this thick egg nog shooter is amazing Chitose!" Naruto told his Rook, adding that the ginger snap went well with it. "I know you put crickets in them but they taste so good together."
"I am glad you're enjoying it, Naruto," said Chitose, a satisfied look on her face directed towards her King. On the opposite side of Naruto were Azazel and Seekvaira, who were having what he was having. Rias was seated next to him, not having what the others were eating due to the thought of eating something with bugs in them. "Compliments to the chef you have there, Naruto."
"I should get back to the others. Thank you for trying my new recipe." Once the Namikaze Rook left, Naruto looks back up at the holographic screen above him and the others and watched as Naofumi made quick work of his opponent's Knight.
"That shield-wielding Devil, he's pretty impressive if he can fight his opponent with only two members of his peerage by his side compared to the other Devil with a full peerage."
"He's an acquaintance of Ajuka's," Azazel informed the Rook. "You might meet him at the gathering."
"That so..." Once Naofumi's match was finished, Naruto directs his attention back to Azazel, asking him why he wanted him to ride in a train car separate from the others.
"I'm just using this as a chance to better evaluate you."
"Evaluate me? For what?" Closing his eyes and forming a devious smile on his lips, he tells the Agares Rook the reason why is for him to know, until it was the right time to tell him.
"I'm curious about this as well," said Rias, Seekvaira the same. "Knowing you, you're always up to something Azazel."
"I assure you three, it's all for good intentions."
Train Car 5
The only members unable to come, due to personal reasons, were Scáthach, Alivian, and Irisviel. Ayano was occupied with a mission of her own regarding the Yakuza, letting the others know she'll arrive later. Mash and Ritsuka, while they could have come, decided to stay in Japan, the latter wanting to explore more of Japan with her and introduce her to his family. Keito and Mary wanted to focus on the restaurant, due to the potential revenue they'd recceive during the Summer time. As for Sif, unfortunately, he had to stay in a cage and be put with the baggage.
While their kings were up in Train 1, the Devils and their guests, that being Akame and Hoshikari, took this train ride to relax and enjoy what the train had to offer in entertainment and snacks.
"Mmmmmm..." Nero looked very impatient as the members of the Agares, Gremory, and Namikaze Peerages relaxed.
"Mmmmmm I am not okay with this!" Nero yells out while angrily waving her arms up and down. She had insisted she join Naruto with Seekvaira, only to be denied by Azazel. None of the other members were allowed yet Chitose had gone over to make him a dessert and the Kings a dessert.
"Nero, try to relax," Peko told the Saber-class Servant, who responds by asking the Agares Knight why she couldn't go to be with her Praetor, pointing out that Chitose went with no trouble. "Chitose went because Naruto requested her to make him and the others a small snack."
"What about Kotomi!? Why does she get to be in the same train car as him!?"
"She was a special case since..."
Train Car 1
"Mmmm, so these are the golden apples you stole from a hydra," Rias savored the golden fruit's juiciness with every bite alongside Naruto, Azazel, Seekvaira, and Kotomi, who was enjoying one of the apples in her pixie form. "You have these once a day?"
"Yeah. Kotomi has been growing some at Seekvaira's building so we don't run out," Naruto told the Gremory King.
"You don't say...Have you tried baking a pie with them?" asked Rias, Kotomi telling her she baked a few of them last night, and had brought some with her as a snack. "Ooh..."
Train Car 5
"She bribed them with fruit!?"
"They're quite delicious," Peko adds, remembering the crunchy sweet golden apples in her head.
"Mmmmmm PRAETOR! REQUEST ME!" Nero shouts as Peko and Maki, who just came out of the bathroom, try to tell her to keep it down. At the center of the train car they were in, Issei was playing cards with Gasper, Asia, Yuuto, Fujino, Akame, Moka, Archer, and Sayaka. Until...
"I just remembered something," said Moka. "Issei, I remember Naruto telling me how you came to the Underworld to stop an engagement party between your King and some guy named Riser."
"He told you about that?"
"Yes. I was wondering, by doing so, you illegally entered the Underworld without finishing the proper official entry procedure. Wouldn't you be punished for that?" Issei voiced his shock by this, asking Yuuto if he was going to be punished for what happened months ago.
"Not to worry Issei, it was a special case since you used Sirzechs-sama's back-door magic circle," Yuuto assured. "Although I wouldn't try that the second time." The Gremory Pawn sighs a breath of relief once Akeno finished. At the same time, Moka slams her five cards onto the table and shouts, "BOOM! I WIN!", while raising her fists in the air.
"Alright, let's start another game," Akeno told the players. Turning to face Hoshikari, who was resting in a chair separate from the others, eyes closed and katana at his side, the Gremory Queen asked if he wanted to join in.
"Pass." Akeno lets out an annoyed pout, not liking Hoshikari's loner attitude. Walking over to him, she tells him he should try to lighten up more and learn to have fun.
"I'm not part of any peerage, so you have no power over me."
"Maybe so, but I know Naruto would do the same thing, even if you're not part of-"
"Oh? You're calling him by his first name now?" asked Hoshikari, opening his left eye to look at the Gremory Queen. "Have you grown closer to him that much during the Fireworks Festival?" Her cheeks burning red, Akeno tells the fallen angel it came out that way. "Is that right?"
"...Fine, have it your way."
"I will." Her mood a bit ruined, Akeno goes back to play. When Yuuto asks if she's okay, Akeno tells Yuuto to just shuffle the cards, letting those playing know Hoshikari said something to her that made her angry.
"He doesn't play any card games other than UNO," Moka informs Akeno. "Unfortunately, none of us brought an UNO deck."
"Oh, I have a pack with me!" Gasper tells the player, showing them a pack of UNO cards he took out from the box he was in, and grabbing Hoshikari's attention.
"Whoa, Gasper for the win," said Issei, increasing the dhampir's self-esteem. Hoshikari interrupts, telling Yuuto to scoot over so he could play. This made Akeno smile as she turns to attention to Moka, who mouths, "I told you," to her.
"Tell me Akashiya-chan, is Archer here in her Spiritual form?" Moka informs the group she couldn't go with them since she was helping Kokoa with Summer homework and would rendezvous with her when she was finished. While everyone was having fun, Sayaka, sitting by her lonesome self at a bar, on the opposite side of Issei and the others, wonders why Naruto was sitting with Azazel, Rias, and Seekvaira in a separate train car.
"You need to relax, Ms. Paranoid," Xenovia told the Shamanic War Dancer, who was now wearing the official Kuoh Academy Uniform. "Naruto's not talking about anything devious behind our backs with his King, Gremory-senpai, and Azazel."
"Anything is possible," said Sayaka. "If they're not allowing me to do my job properly by denying my request to sit with them in the train car they're in, that must mean-"
"It means nothing," the bluenette interrupts. "I wonder if your friends have to deal with this every time you're around."
"That's not true!" Sayaka shouts in a comical way. "My friendship with some of my friends are very healthy and they don't have any problems with it."
"So the other friends you have need to deal with it still? I feel sorry for them," said Xenovia. "In any case, you don't need to write down how you couldn't sit with him in the train car he's in and write up up a scenario where he is having one of those evil bad guys cooking up a plan with a little cabal. Just to make sure..." Holding up Sayaka's pocket notebook, telling the surprised girl she's confiscating it.
"How'd you-"
"You keeping constant focus on the entrance to the train cars in front of ours made it easy for me to take it from you."
"I was right! It IS you Xenovia-chan!" Hearing a familiar voice, Xenovia narrows her eyes in annoyance as Motoyasu, Itsuki, and Ren enter, with Malty following them from behind.
"Oh great, it's you," Xenovia said in a monotone, turning her stool to face them as the others stopped what they were doing and focused on the four visitors.
"Oh come on, don't be like that, Xenovia-chan! Even as a Devil I still like you," Motoyasu told the bluenette. Ignoring him, Xenovia only gives a welcoming smile to Ren, politely asking him how he's been doing, the stoic sword bearer telling her he was doing alright.
"Xenovia-san, do you know them?" Asia asked the Namikaze Knight.
"Of course she knows us," said Malty, sounding proud about it before telling Xenovia to introduce them to the others, since she was a former member of the Church.
"...The three guys you see now are three of the four Legendary Weapon Bearers, Ren Amaki, Itsuki Kawasumi, and Motoyasu Kitamura," Xenovia told her friends and allies, Chitose and Maki informing them they were aware of who they were. When Issei asked Xenovia who Malty was, she tells the others in a flat voice, "That's just Malty." This would anger her, telling the Knight that she was the daughter of one of the Church officials. "So?"
"So you should put more consideration towards how to introduce someone of my importance, Xenovia."
"I'm a Devil now, so I introduce how I want, and I don't remember ever working under your leadership back when I was still an exorcist." Noticing Hoshikari, Itsuki points at him and shouts, "IT'S THAT FALLEN ANGEL!"
WHAT!?" yelled Motoyasu, who takes out his weapon along with Itsuki, and Ren.
"Oh, are you three planning to relieve my boredom?" asked Hoshikari, a cocky smile forming on his face as his left hands rests on the the pommel of his katana. "I hope you three put up a better fight on the third try."
"Why is a filthy Fallen Angel on this train?" Malty asked, her question making Akeno frown at her.
"You weren't around to hear I was pardoned for my crimes by Sirzechs after I helped protect him during the signing of the treaty," Hoshikari informed Malty and the three weapon bearers.
"You, pardoned!?" Itsuki said in disbelief.
"It is true," Moka adds. "We're all witnesses to his involvement in case you don't believe him."
"Why would I believe something coming from your mouth, especially a mouth of a Devil?" Malty asked the Namikaze Queen, a devious smirk on her face.
"You are just acting ridiculous right now," said Moka, an angered expression now showing on Malty's face as she demands Moka explain herself. "The factions are at peace, and you want to tarnish the treaty the leaders of them signed by getting one of us Devils to lash out in anger and make an attempt to harm you? Are you this eager to start a fight?"
"You call this peace? Please, what you all assume is peace is nothing but a cease fire," Malty tells her. "If anything, you're all ridiculous to believe just because the leaders of all three factions signed a piece of paper means all well and forgiven and we can all live peacefully amongst each other." Following Malty's response, everyone in the room fell silent, with Moka unsure of how to respond, finding truth in Malty's words.
"Why so silent everyone?" Hoshikari asked everyone, grabbing their attention. "Does this mean you believe the words of just one person? Does it take just one person to decide if the peace you all fought for at the academy was real or not?"
"Is it you who decides it?" Hoshikari asked Malty, everyone's attention now directed at him as the fallen angels opens his eyes and looks at the latter. "Maybe what you say has truth in them, or maybe you're saying it to de-value the efforts made to sign the Accords. Either way, the blame falls on you all if this "peace" is not enforced. Did you all believe the fight for peace ends the moment a pen is used? If you all still want peace, keep fighting for it, even if the leaders of the factions say it's been achieved. I know I would, and what Devils like the Four Great Satans would do, and it should be something all of you should do."
With Hoshikari's words, Moka and the others felt their morale restored as Malty clenched her teeth in annoyance and anger, unable to find a way to counter his words, deciding now to go back to her train car, with the three legendary weapon bearers leaving with her. Once the door to Train Car 6 was closed, Hoshikari takes notice of all the eyes in the room directed at him.
"What?"
"Nothing, it's just...I never thought you, of all people, would come to the defense of peace," Moka told the fallen angel. "I didn't have a response to her words, but the way your response was...I didn't expect that, but I am glad you spoke up for us."
"Yeah, that was pretty cool of you," Issei adds.
"Never thought Hoshikari of all people would be the one to defend us," Xenovia said with a smile. "Usually he keeps to himself."
"I'm just doing all this for a good fight, even if it's for peace, whatever form that takes, and I wasn't going to let someone like her get the last word," he told them, resting his eyes after. "With everyone's spirits up, I assume you're all feeling really good right now?"
"Very much, really," said Asia, letting out a big smile to the fallen angel.
"If you want, we're still setting up UNO, do you want to play with us?" asked Akeno.
"After saying all those words, pass. Just wake me up if we're there or something interesting happens." While she would get bothered by this and try to get him to join them, after what he did for them, Akeno decides to leave him be. As the group around the table start a game of UNO, Sayaka had her sights set on Hoshikari.
"Hoshikari, son of Kokabiel, had displayed a rare show of change within himself by lifting the spirits of all the Devils in the train car we're riding in up. This change must be from his stay with the Namikaze family, or from being around Naruto Namikaze. Uplifting as his words were, he still expresses his desire for a fight." - Sayaka
"We will soon be arriving at the Gremory main residence. Thank you for riding this train."
Underworld
Gremory Territory
Gremory-Owned Train Station
"WELCOME HOME, RIAS-OJOU-SAMA!" Naruto, his peerage, Akame, Hoshikari, and Seekvaira's peerage had deadpan looks on their faces as fireworks were set off, soldiers aimed their guns at the sky and fired, and an orchestra band began to play simultaneously. As for Issei and Asia, they were awed by the welcoming party for their arrival.
"Thank you, everyone. I have returned," Rias happily announced to her welcoming party.
"Seekvaira, tell me you don't have something like this set up for when we get to your place eventually." Seekvaira assures her Rook she had nothing of the sorts planned before going behind his back and making a call.
"Call it off, right now. The plan is a no-go. Still pay the workers for putting in the effort and arriving and have them take the day off."
"Welcome Back, Rias." Rias and the others watched as Grayfia appeared and slowly walked towards them. "It's good to see you all arrive here safely. Now then, all family members, and guests, please board the carriages that will take us to the main residence." Naruto, Kotomi, in pixie form, Seekvaira, Issei, Rias, Akeno, Moka, Xenovia, and Grayfia boarded the first carriage while the others who stayed back took the next ones that came after, with Akame grabbing Nero by the back of her uniform when she tried to go after her Praetor. Malty voiced her annoyance with having to wait for a carriage to be available for her, her escorts (Ren, Itsuki, and Motoyasu), and her party, stating she was of greater importance than the members of Rias, Seekvaira, and Naruto's Peerages.
First Carriage
"Apologies for not having room for your Servant, Naruto," Grayfia told him as they rode inside the carriage.
"I know it's mean to leave her, but things like this happen. I'll make sure to give her attention once we get to the main residence." Kotomi voices how glad she was to be a pixie, since she's small enough to not take room while sitting on the Rook's left shoulder.
"Namikaze, from what you've said, I assume you've been to the main residence?"
"Yes, I have," Naruto admits.
"If I remember, Naruto told me he had to babysit Sirzechs' son, along with the kids of other Devils," Issei informed the others. "He said he was shot, stabbed, and blasted several times while killing stray devils. A lot of those injuries he received were said to be fatal." Xenovia, Rias, and Akeno looked at Naruto with wide-eyed expressions on their faces, with Rias asking him how he wasn't dead yet.
"Infernus is one hell of a partner," Naruto responds.
"He made quite a mess of the place," Grayfia adds, her eyes narrowed at a now-tense Naruto. "If you saw the costs it took to repair and replace everything he destroyed, all of you would have a heart attack."
"It wasn't under my control, Grayfia-sama..." The silver-haired maid tells Naruto he was lucky Seekvaira's father managed to repair everything with his Time Magic. When Rias asked to see the receipt she would've stuck Naruto with, Grayfia show it to them, which nearly gave them a heart attack.
"Geez Naruto, you are one hell of a home wrecker when you're pissed," said Issei.
"Yeah he is," said Infernus, Naruto telling him to fuck off.
"He did destroy a large part of the academy with a punch while in his strongest form," Akeno said to the Pawn.
"Just in case, Namikaze-kun, please try not to destroy anything while at the main residence." Naruto assures Grayfia he'll try not to.
Gremory Main Residence
Upon arrival, everyone was met with a line of maids and butlers standing on both sides of them, making a path towards the main residence's front entrance. Once everyone got out of their carriages, Nero quickly rushed over to Naruto and hugged him.
"PRAETOR! I MISSED YOU SO MUCH!"
"Nero, sorry for leaving you by yourself," Naruto told his Servant as she affectionately buried her face into his shirt, the blond Rook gently patting her on the head.
"Everyone, as of today, you are esteemed guests of the House of Gremory. Come, let's head inside."
"Thank you for having us as guests here, Rias," Seekvaira told the Gremory King with respect in her voice before she and the others follow her from behind.
"You're back!" In front of them, Millicas had rushed out of the main residence and ran towards them.
"Millicas! I'm-" To everyone's surprise, and shock, the young red-haired boy passed Rias and embraced a surprised Naruto in a hug.
"Mi-...Millicas?" Rias blinked a few times in confusion as Millicas welcomes Naruto.
"Yes, I am. Have you been behaving for your parents?" Naruto asked the boy, who informs him he's been behaving himself. "Is Mika here?"
"Yes, she's in her room watching tv."
"Buchou, who's that boy?" Issei asked his sulking King, who introduced those new to the residence to Millicas, informing them of his status as both her nephew and the son of Sirzechs.
"Sorry Gremory-senpai, I did not expect this to happen," Naruto said in an apologetic manner. Still sulking, Rias told him it was fine and that Millicas needed a few role models in his life besides his parents and older niece.
"You don't look fine, Gremory-senpai/Buchou/Rias/Rias-ojou-sama!" Everyone, minus an oblivious Millicas, thought in unison.
Night
Dining Room
6:45 pm
"Man, Buchou's Mother is a babe! With her looks she could pass as her older sister!" Issei told Naruto, whom he was seated next to at a huge oblong table, an extravagant chandelier on the ceiling. Across from them was Rias and Sirzechs' mother, Venelana, and Millicas. Sif has a large bowl of monster meat next to him as he laid next to Xenovia's seat, waiting for Sirzechs and Zeoticus to arrive.
"Is it funny to know you used that chandelier above them to crush five unsuspecting Stray Devils?" Infernus asked Naruto, who questions what he finds funny about it as Zeoticus and Sirzechs enter the dining room and welcomes everyone seated at the table.
"Please enjoy yourselves without holding back," Zeoticus told them before everyone dug into their meals. Unlike how they ate in the Human World, those who ate with their hands or acted like ravenous beasts ate their dinners with etiquette, wanting to show respect to the Gremory family.
"Naruto, is it true that time here operates normally like the time back where we live?" Akame asked, wanting to be sure it was true and not come back to a situation where a month in the Underworld was equal to a year in the Human World.
"Yes, it does Akame." Naruto's sister lets out a sigh of relief knowing the time flow in the Underworld was normal.
"Seekvaira, do you plan to head home after dinner with your peerage and young Namikaze's?" Zeoticus asked the Agares King, who confirms it. "It's okay if you and your peerage want to spend the night here."
"On the behalf of my peerage and Naruto's, we thank you for the offer, but we wouldn't want to be a bother," Seekvaira respectfully tells Zeoticus.
"I understand. Perhaps some other time?"
"Yes..." Out of nowhere, Ayano comes out of a portal she made and says hello to everyone. Following her entrance, she is immediately surrounded by the maids and butlers of the main residence, their weapons drawn.
"Wooow, nice pad. Who lives here you guys?" The maids and butlers looked surprised by her ignorance towards the danger she was in while observing her new surroundings. Taking a whiff of the food, Ayano asked if they were having dinner, stating how starved she was from taking down a large drug operation run by a gang of Yakuza in Osaka.
"Gremory-sama (Zeoticus), apologies for our friend Ayano, she tends to appear whenever she pleases," Naruto told the patriarch of the Gremory family.
"She's a friend? Everyone, put your weapons away, she too is a guest." After the maids and butlers put away their assorted weapons and backed away from her, Ayano takes a seat next to Maki, grabs some food and starts scarfing them down, making everyone's eyes widen from her lack of etiquette at the table. Zeoticus, instead of getting angry at her, lets out a laugh.
"She must be very hungry from her activities. Feel free to fill yourself until you're satisfied."
"Oh, arigatou!" Ayano said to Zeoticus while she continued to stuff herself, with everyone around the table amazed by how laidback Zeoticus was.
"Issei-san?" Venelana called out to the Gremory Pawn, who faces the matriarch of the Gremory household and asked her if she wanted to tell him something. "Will you be staying here for a while?"
"Yes. While Buchou…Rias-sama is here, I'll be here too…" Issei responds.
"I see. That's perfect. Since I have to have you acquire gentlemanly behavior as well. You'll study manners a little while here."
Huh? I have to acquire gentlemanly behaviour?" asked Issei. "What do you mean by that?"
"Mother!" Rias yells out. "What kind of thing are you trying to advance!?" Once Rias asked the question, everyone stopped what they were doing, feeling an overwhelming feeling that enveloped the room as Venelana narrows her eyes at her.
"Be silent, Rias. You already canceled your engagement with Riser, remember? The fact that we just permitted it should be thought of as special treatment. How much effort do you think your father and Sirzechs had to put in to take care of things with the other high-class devils? Do you know that he told one noble that "my selfish daughter canceled her engagement using the legendary red dragon"? You may be the younger sister of one of the Four Great Satans, but there is still a limit." Hearing the words that came out of Rias' Mother regarding the engagement party he barged into, Issei questioned if he did something selfish in his head. Rias didn't want to marry Riser, and he (Issei) didn't want the Phenex King to take her away from him. Issei then questioned if the actions he made were right, immediately coming to the conclusion, his conclusion, that he'd like to think that it was right.
Rias had an angry look on her face as she attempts to speak out, but Venelana had more to say as Malty watched her yell at her daughter more, telling herself, "Dinner's going great." With his hearing, Naruto frowned at her side comment, but said nothing as he watched what was unfolding.
"Sirzechs has nothing to do with-"
"With what you do?" Venelana interrupts. "That may be true officially, however, as we speak, everyone sees you as the younger sister of one of the Great Satans. With the three great powers having formed an alliance, you can't behave selfishly as you have in the past. And, above all else, everyone will pay attention to you from now on. This is the position you now find yourself placed in, you know? There will be no second instance of that kind of selfishness. Do you understand?" With no retort, Rias went silent as she look down at her plate. Letting out a breath, Venelana formed a smile on her face and apologized to everyone for showing them "something ugly" during dinner.
This was only temporary, getting serious once more and telling Issei he was the last bit of selfishness of Rias, and that as her parents, she and Zeoticus bore the responsibilities as the family heads until the time comes when Rias becomes the next head.
After Dinner
Gremory-Owned Training Room
"191...192...193...194..." Entering the room, Seekvaira found Naruto finished with practicing kicks with his right leg, switching to his left.
"So instead of relaxing with others in the living room, you come here to train?" Seekvaira asked her Rook.
"Can't hurt to get a little training in..."
"...That was something during dinner, huh..." asked the Agares King, Naruto agreeing with her as he practiced kicking with his left leg while counting in his head.
"It was. Makes me glad you're my King." Seekvaira gives her Rook a smile and thanks him following his response. "It must be difficult...being the next head of the family. Doing what you believe is right, even if they're selfish."
"If we were in Rias and Issei's shoes, no doubt we'd have the same words said to us by my Mother..." Naruto nods his head in agreement after one powerful swing of his left leg.
"By now Issei's in a pretty big spot. His head may even have tons of scenarios playing in his head about his decisions...Seekvaira, were there any repercussions following my fight with Hazama?"
[Inherited Power by Yuki Hayashi (Heroes Rising OST)]
"...Due to the banishment of Hazama, his parents have no one to inherit the responsibilities of being the next head of the Berith house, so they're either "making one under the covers" or plan to adopt. As for me, I did get a talking to from my Mother. She might not have been as harsh as Gremory-sama, she was pretty damn effective with her words, and before you say anything, you don't need to apologize for it. At the very least, she understood your reasons for challenging him, and she commended you for winning your fight since, let's be honest, had you lost, you'd have done the same thing as Issei, and the talking to I had would have been as harsh as Rias' Mother's." Naruto smiles to himself, admitting he and Issei were on the same wavelength when it comes to their Kings.
"Agreed...No matter the difficulties that come with being the next head, and you being my Rook, I know we can manage whatever comes our way, shoulder it together. Don't forget that okay?"
"I won't," he responds.
"Good to hear." Feeling her phone vibrate, Seekvaira pulls it out and checks it to find a text telling her to bring her and Naruto's peerages to their residence. "Looks like it's time to head to my place."
"I am eager to see where you live, and where you keep all the Gundam models you've finished." Seekvaira assures him he was in for quite a time at her place. "Stinks how I won't have time to play my video games tomorrow."
"That is quite a shame. I'm sure you'll survive not playing them for a while."
[Music End]
Agares Residence
Front Gate
"This is where you live!?" Naruto asked his King as his peerage marvels at the look of her abode.
"Mhmm, welcome to the Main Residence of the House of Agares. Once we get in, feel free to make yourselves at home." Upon approaching the front door, the entourage stop at the gate when a man with yellow eyes and short spiky black hair made his way out. He had on a black, white, and yellow garb reminiscent of those worn by samurai, and a long kodachi with a yellow handle resting at his left waist.
"You must be his daughter," said the man. "Your father is not home."
"Did you need him for something..."
"Daigo Junnosuke (JP: Shin-ichiro Miki, ENG: Daniel Southworth)."
"Daigo Junnosuke...Wait, I've heard of you," said the Agares King. "You run an orphanage that also acts as dojo in Sitri territory."
"That is correct..."
"If you want, I can let him know you stopped by." Daigo thanks Seekvaira with a nod before turning his attention to the young King's Peerage.
"Is this your peerage?" Receiving a nod from Seekvaira, he comments on their strength, telling her they're strong, and with the right training, and the right teachers, they'll be stronger. "Hmmm...You have a Human within this party of yours... and a fallen-..." Directing his eyes at Hoshikari, he narrows them as he approached the former.
"What?"
"Who is your father?" he asked.
"Kokabiel, what of it?" asked Hoshikari. Hearing Kokabiel's name, Daigo's energy rose, with Naruto and the others feeling the intent to harm on him. Being the closest one, Hoshikari, felt the full force of it, finding himself on his knees by the fallen angel's energy, a shocked look on his face.
"Seekvaira, this power..." Seekvaira was surprised to see Naruto and the others unable to act as Daigo continued to release his power. When he was about to pull out his katana, he is stopped when Naruto allows Infernus to take over and stop him by putting his hand over the hand that was wrapped around the katana handle.
"This power!..."
"I suggest you continue your way home, maybe pop a few bottles of sake open, and not leave us out here all night when we could be inside instead of here in the cold." Letting out an annoyed grunt, Daigo lowers his power, glaring at Hoshikari after and taking his leave. Once Infernus gives Naruto his body back, the blond rushed over to Hoshikari and asked him if he was okay.
"I'm fine," he told him, refusing Naruto's hand as he got up.
Guest Room (Naruto)
After an apology from Mr. Agares regarding Daigo's actions, everyone went to their separate guest rooms to rest for the night. While Naruto was brushing his teeth, Infernus decides to chat with him.
"That man must be pretty damn strong if you needed me to stop him."
"He is, and I am glad he is on our side," said Naruto. "I believe he is."
"If I were alive, I'd jump at the chance at fighting someone like him. You?" After replaying the intensity of Daigo's strength, Naruto admits he wants to fight him.
"Before that chance comes, you need to get stronger than you already are."
"That is why we're here, aren't we? At least that's why I think we're here." After rinsing his mouth at the sink, Naruto hears a knock on his door. Walking over to open it, he finds Fujino, Akame, and Nero in front of him.
"Naruto, do you think we can sleep in your room tonight?" Knowing this was about what happened at the Front Gate, Naruto lets them in. "I don't plan on falling asleep yet. I was about to do some two-hour meditation."
"Meditation?" asked Akame.
"It's to help better control my growing reserves of energy, along with my focus," Naruto explained. When asked why he would need to do more focus and control training, since his control over his power is already impressive, Naruto tells Akame, "What if I told you Chitose and I found out something pretty cool I could do, and that it requires having the focus and control needed to maintain peak levels of ability?"
"That sounds like a pretty high-risk and high-reward ability," said Fujino.
"As expected of my Praetor!" said Nero. "Your current strength is never enough, so you must continue gaining new strength!"
"Can you tell us what it is?" asked Akame. After a small chuckle, Naruto told Fujino and Akame it wouldn't be cool if everyone knew what it was. "Fine, I won't pry."
"Meditation training...Naruto, may I join in on this?" asked Fujino.
"Of course. You're all open to join."
"If that's the case, I will join as well," said Sayaka, having forced herself into his room.
"Okay Kirasaka, but just know you're not going to find anything devious about this." Quickly making a group circle on the carpeted floor, Akame sat on the right of her brother, Nero looking bothered by this before going over to Naruto's left, only to have the spot taken by Sayaka, making the Servant pout in annoyance. This would prompt her to quickly share the queen-sized bed with Naruto after the two-hour meditation, the latter's face being pressed into her chest, robbing him of an hour of precious sleep.
With Hoshikari
Training Room
Practicing his swordsmanship with a shinai by himself, Hoshikari replayed the feeling of Daigo's energy, questioning the familiarity of it.
"That fallen angel...Who is he?"
With Naruto
Thursday (7/28)
11:55 am
Old Royal Capital: Luciferd
Waiting Room
"Do you wanna die, Zephyrdor?" asked a very pissed off Seekvaira. Naruto, Sayaka, and Nero were the only ones that went with her, with orders to stand and not interfere until issued orders prior to entering the waiting room with her. "There's no doubt in my mind that anyone would blame me if I killed you right here, right now."
"Hah! The way you drive all the guys away, no wonder you've yet to graduate from Virgin Academy!" Zephyrdor said out loud, a huge grin on his face. "That's why I offered to give you a personal "opening ceremony," you ungrateful bitch!"
Right now, Naruto wanted to punch the loud devil in the face, but Seekvaira, using telepathy, orders him not to get involved in an argument between two Kings. Looking at the damaged furniture in the room, Naruto thought to himself, "This is going far beyond just an argument..."
"Praetor, I know we have orders, but I really want to take a swing at that Devil with my sword."
"If we ever do a Rating game against him, you can have a go at him Nero..." Seekvaira and Zephyrdor stop arguing once a tall handsome young man with black hair and violet eyes enters the room, along with Rias and her peerage, and gets their attention.
"I could hear you two out in the hallways," he told the two Kings. "I honestly didn't want to get involved in this meaningless squabble, but if you two keep this up, you'll be fighting me."
"Huuh? You disgrace to the Bael na-" With one punch, the black-haired man knocks Zephyrdor down.
"You had a fair warning."
"Quite a display," said the newly arrived Sona, her peerage with her. Looking over his King's shoulder, Naruto smiles and waves hello to her, Sona doing the same to him, much to Seekvaira's jealousy.
"Whoa, Namikaze, you're the only one here with her?" asked Saji. "Where are the other members of your peerages?"
"Things happened when we arrived at my King's place last night, and we decided to let them stay home. By now they should be up and either training by themselves, or relaxing for their vacation," he explains. "Don't worry, they'll be watching what happens in the room our Kings will be going in soon on TV."
"Rias Gremory, Sairaorg Bael, Sona Sitri. That leaves Diodora Astaroth and Naofumi Iwatani."
"Who's Diodora?"
"Diodora's the heir to the Astorath Clan," Seekvaira answers. "He's also related to Ajuka."
Looking at Issei, Naruto looked just as surprised as Saji when the Gremory Pawn started to get nervous over what he called "an all-star lineup" as more young devils and their peerages gathered in the waiting room, the Sitri Pawn telling him to compose himself and saying how he was looking like an absolute moron.
"You two aren't the least bit nervous?" Issei asked the two. "This is a meeting of High-class Devils, and they all look strong. Who wouldn't be?"
"We have to get it together for the sake of our Kings, Hyoudou," Saji responds.
"Saji's right on having to keep it together. We ARE representing our Kings as members of their peerage," Naruto adds. "We wouldn't want to make them look bad by showing an ounce of weakness to rival peerage members."
"You guys are right. Thanks." As soon as Issei's nerves calmed, Diodora made his appearance, the latter coming alone.
When it came time for the young Kings to meet with the Four Great Satans, Sirzechs got word that Naofumi had decided not to attend the meeting, Ajuka letting out a sigh knowing his reason for doing so.
As Naruto, Issei, and Saji stood out in the waiting room with the other peerages, they overheard plans for the young Kings to engage in Rating Games with one another, Sirzechs calling it an exhibition, the Youth Devil Rating Game Tournament, and that they'll invite leaders from the Fallen Angels and Heaven to watch. When Sairaorg asked if the young Kings will be joining the battle against Khaos Brigade, Sirzechs tells them they weren't sure, but hope they wouldn't have to be involved.
When it came to goals, Sairaorg voiced his dream to become a Devil King, sounding confident about himself. Rias' dream was to continue living as heir to her family while winning each of the ranks of the Rating Game Tournaments. For Sona, she had wished to establish a Rating Game School in the Underworld, one where Low-class Devils and those reincarnated as Devils can learn. This earned the laughter of all the senior members, making Saji angry to hear them laugh at Sona's dream.
"I can't keep quiet!" Saji shouts. "I'm going to give them a piece of-" Before he could Tsubaki stops him.
"Keep your cool Saji. If you barge in there, it'll only make things worse," she told him. "The Council President is here to state her goal for the future." Saji, clenching his teeth, stands down, right as Serafall started scaring the crap out of the senior members and voicing her support for her sister.
Following Serafall's silencing of the senior members of the council, Sirzechs suggests a Rating Game be played between Sona's Peerage and Rias', to their and their peerages' surprise. The council all came to an agreement to it, but only if Rias had a full peerage, something she did not have. Once the meeting was done, all the young Kings leave the Meeting Hall and rendezvous with their peerages.
"That was quite a commotion in there, Seekvaira."
"That it was," said the Agares King, who was massaging a headache.
"Naruto Namikaze!" Hearing his name being called out, he turns to see Sairaorg approaching him with a large smile.
"Sairaorg Bael. Is there a reason for you gracing someone like me with your presence?"
"You don't look like how I pictured you'd be," he told the blond Rook. "Sirzechs told me about you, along with your secret. To think I am meeting the infamous Fire-"
"Yes, I am that guy whom we don't mention out loud," said Naruto, with a random Devil asking if he meant Voldemort, Naruto responding with a yes. Looking at Issei, Sairaorg tells him he looks forward to fighting him as well.
"T-Thanks," said the Gremory Pawn, honored to know someone as great as Sairaorg wanted to fight him.
"Hell, maybe there'll be a day where all three of us fight each other at the same time! What do you think? HAHAHAHAHAAAAA!
"...That sounds pretty cool, I'd be down for that," Naruto told the Bael King, Seekvaira wondering if his Devil instincts were acting up.
"I'd like to know you both better, but I need to go back home with my peerage. Nice talking to you guys." Once he left, Naruto told Seekvaira Sairaorg was cool.
"Rias, if we want to do the Rating Game, we'll need one more knight and rook," Akeno told Rias, wondering how they'll be able to find two members in time before the match in 28 days. "We can't neglect training, so what-..." Coming to a solution, Rias goes over to Seekvaira and her Rook with a large smile on her face.
"Why are you giving us that creepy smile?" asked Seekvaira. Clapping her hands together, she asks them if she could borrow Xenovia and Rinne. "E-...Ehhhh?"
"There are no rules stating Peerages couldn't offer other peerages temporary use of their members for Rating Games, and you're not an official King yet." Thinking about it, Seekvaira admits the rules didn't say they couldn't receive temporary use of another's peerage members for the newly announced Youth Devil Rating Game Tournament. Plus she wasn't having her match with Diodora on the day of Rias and Sona's Rating Game either.
"Please..."
"...You did offer me to use your building to let Akame rest when she was hurt...very well."
"I'll talk to Rinne about it...I trust you'll use her effectively."
Agares Residence
Backyard
Xenovia was crossing swords with Hoshikari, Akame, Ayano, and Maki in a five-way battle, utilizing shinais designed to handle their energy instead of their respective weapons. Akame blocks a diagonal strike from Hoshikari on her left and quickly parries Xenovia's downward after, kicking her away before crossing swords with Ayano, who was wielding a wooden sword in both hands.
Right away, Ayano began overwhelming Akame with her twin sword style, extending her skills to overwhelm even Hoshikari. Looking at each other, Akame and Hoshikari nonverbally agreed to fight Ayano together. Instead of joining in on fighting Ayano, Xenovia found herself up against Maki, blocking a thrusting strike from her. Maki disarms the Namikaze Knight and goes for a left swing.
"Time alter - double accel!" Using a brief burst of speed, Xenovia avoids the swing and grabs Maki by her right wrist and throws her forward, the Agares Pawn falling on her back.
"Forgot you could do that." Xenovia gives her a smile, telling her she wasn't just practicing her sword swings. Rolling out of the way when Hoshikari and Akame swing at them, Xenovia and Maki grab their shinais and engage them and each other once more.
"Sif, back me up!" Xenovia told her pet, Sif joining in to aid his owner.
"What, no fair!" Akame called out. Pekoyama and Eu sat in the lotus position by the koi pond as they meditated, deciding not to in practice sword fighting with the others earlier.
Rinne practiced hand-to-hand combat with Ange, who narrowly avoids a right jab from her and strikes back with a precise left jab to the back of her right ribs making the Rook clutch the area she struck in pain. Spinning around and swinging at Ange with her left leg, Rinne's kick misses when the Pawn activates her C-Ball and jumps up to the air and executes a front diving kick. Rinne puts her arms in front of her as Ange's kick hits.
Fujino lifts up a colossal stone model of the Unicorn Banshee Gundam, moving it up to a spot Lord Agares wanted her to set it. Once she finished, Lord Agares commends her on her telekinesis.
"Thanks."
"You don't feel tired from lifting something that heavy?" asked Lord Agares.
"I used to, but after reincarnating and practicing on smaller objects and gradually working my way up, lifting objects like this don't bother me as much as they should. Back before I became Naruto's Bishop, my Mystic Eyes had the potential to destroy a 10 km bridge. I'm sure I can do more than that, I just need to master them and my mind till then."
"Quite an impressive feat for you prior to becoming a Devil. I'm personally curious to know what you're truly capable of once you master your eyes," Lord Agares finished as he puts an assuring hand on the girl's right shoulder, just as Naruto comes back from the meeting with Seekvaira, Sayaka, and Nero. This was Lord Agares' cue to leave and get back to work in his office.
"Hey Fujino. How have you been while we were gone?" asked Naruto.
"Good, just practiced lifting larger objects than the previous one I did a few days ago." When asked if she was okay, she told him she wasn't troubled by headaches like she usually would.
"Listen, could you tell Xenovia I need to talk to her about something after she's finished training?"
"Of course."
5:45 pm
Guest Room (Naruto)
"Me?" Xenovia asked, having been informed that Rias wanted her and Rinne to be temporary pieces for their upcoming Rating Game with Sona.
"I know it's out of nowhere, and I am aware that we had plans to hang out during our vacation here, but-"
"Sure, I'm open to help."
"You are?" he asked her, a smile forming on the bluenette's lips. "Just like that?"
"Yeah, I've been dying to have a go at the Sitri Peerage. While I can't use Unlimited Blade Works like Archer, yet, my projection magic has improved enough that I can project at least one Class A weapon without straining my body. Would this mean I have to stay over at the Gremory Mansion?" Naruto tells her she could go train with them and he could go pick her up whenever she was done.
"Oh, you'll pick me up?" she asked her boyfriend.
"Wouldn't be nice to let you walk back here, not that I don't think you can't handle yourself."
"I did kick your ass in Italy," she reminds Naruto.
"That you did...Will you play nice with them?"
"I'll be sure to. It's Rinne I am a bit more worried about."
9:35 pm
Training Room
Moka's face was covered in sweat as she focused on manifesting a metal stinger like Ayumi, only managing to manifest half of it before she drops to her hands and knees, gasping for air as the incomplete metal stinger dispered in particles. Entering the room, Naruto rushed over to check if she was okay.
"I'm fine. I'm just nearly out of magic is all..." Moka assures the blond. "Damn, how long did it take Ayumi to master those abilities?"
"Something tells me it's better you don't know. How long have you been at this?"
"After breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Might need a midnight snack," Moka joked before wincing in pain. "Oh it hurts my stomach when I laugh." Exposing his neck to Moka, Naruto offers to let her drink his blood. "Really!?"
"Yeah. Something like blood is good to have for you once in a while." Right away Moka digs her fangs into the Rook's left neck, feeding on his blood to fill herself and her magic energy, leaving Naruto a bit woozy after due to the richness of his blood.
"Thank you for the meal!" she said in a happy manner, just before Naruto drops on the floor. "Ahhh Naruto! I'm so sorry! Did I take too much blood from you!?"
"Ye-Yeah, but I'll be fine. Just give me a sec." Within ten seconds, Naruto recovers and gets up from the floor. "Didn't expect you to be that hungry."
"Eheheheh...I almost had it."
"Just give it some time. There's no rush in getting stronger. I took me a few months to figure out how to create a sling portal, and I have yet to get a good grip on my "side-project", managing to manifest it for just brief moments."
"I remember how you nearly fried out your magic circuits trying to make it happen right away." Naruto pales recalling the intense pain he felt all over his body. "Seekvaira nearly fainted when she rushed over to where we were."
"That was extremely reckless I admit."
"Good thing you were healing under the Sun." Letting out a yawn, Moka decides to call it a night and head to bed. Sniffing herself, she figures she'll have herself a nice shower. Sniffing her friend, she suggests he showers before bed.
"I was planning to head to my room for one."
"...Or you could join me," Moka suggests with an amorous smile before exiting the raining room. Naruto, having been invited to her bathroom shower, takes her up on her suggestion.
"I must warn you. There's a high chance that Kirasaka will join us."
"Oh, I don't mind."
4 Days Later
Friday (8/2)
Unnamed Mountain Range
Afternoon
While writing in her pocket notebook, Sayaka watched the fight between Naruto and his Servant, noting the blond's ability to form new moves for his arsenal, and his decision to halt his training to spar with others when they request it or give them attention. She also wrote down how Hoshikari would deny Naruto's offer to help train together.
"Meteor..." Using powerful bursts of flame, while in the air, to launch himself towards Nero, Naruto puts his right foot forward as he prepares to execute a flame-empowered diving front kick.
"SMAAAAAASH!" Nero puts her sword in front of her before the attack connects, the weapon taking the full force of it as Nero's feet drags into the ground. Once he lands, Naruto moves his body to the right to avoid Nero's downward swing, getting kicked in the stomach after by his Servant's left foot.
Nero follows it up by activating her Imperial Privilege skill, she utilizes Naruto's Bypass Fist, breaking through his defense and knocking him into the side of a mountain with a burst of flames.
"Ow...What the hell was that?" Naruto asked Nero while he got up and brushed rubble off himself.
"It's my Imperial Privilege skill," Nero proudly revealed to the Rook. "Abilities impossible for me to possess can be obtained for a short period of time. Are you impressed by me, Praetor?"
"So this is where you've decided to train," said Azazel, having tagged along with Kotomi, who had brought the three a basket containing their lunch.
"Can't I have one day without seeing you?" Naruto asked the fallen angel as he furrowed his brows.
"Come on, don't be like that. Aren't I like a cool uncle to you?" asked Azazel.
"I already have a cool uncle-like person in my life, and his name is Kakashi."
"Reeeally, I'd like to meet him one day." Taking a break to have lunch with Kotomi, Nero, and Sayaka, Naruto asked Azazel about Issei's progress.
"Issei's training with the Blaze Meteor Dragon Tannin for four straight days now, and he's toughened up quite a lot, but that's about it. He still hasn't achieved his Balance Breaker."
"Still? He'd better hurry if he wants to survive the next time he fights the White Dragon Emperor."
"As the advisor of the ORC, I'll continue to put my faith in him until then." Finishing the rice ball in his left hand, Naruto asked Azazel for his reason behind his visit besides informing him of Issei's progress as he reached for another rice ball.
"I want to know, what do you think of Akeno?"
"Himejima-senpai? I don't know much about her except that she's a Fallen Angel-Devil Hybrid." he told Azazel.
"She told you that?" asked Azazel, finding himself amazed to hear she revealed that piece about her to someone outside of the ORC. "She revealed it to me over tea, after I met Michael for the first time. For what I think of her, she's a nice girl once you share a room with her and not get your tongue tied or be short out of breath when talking to her. I do admit she's beautiful and has a hot body, and I would consider dating her."
"Hmm, so you are interested in the thought of dating her..."
"Just a bit. I'm not that crazy like the guys at the academy. Now what reason do you have for asking me what I think of Himejima-senpai?"
"Her father and I go way back, so I look out for her in his place. Given the situation she finds herself in regarding what she is and how it affects her moving forward, I'm thinking of leaving Akeno to you." Naruto narrows his eyes at him, wondering what he's planning. "Oh come on, what's so wrong about that?"
"I have too much responsibility as it is. If this is about Himejima-senpai, you should be leaving her to Issei, or even Gremory-senpai, preferably Gremory-senpai. Why ask me, of all people? Last I checked, I am a Rook of the Agares Peerage. She'd benefit more being with those who are familiar with her."
"True, she'd also benefit from being trusted to Issei and Rias, I believe she can get more results from you." With a heavy sigh, Naruto agrees.
"Good. The real problem might be Koneko though..." Raising a brow, Naruto asked him what was wrong with the Gremory Rook. "This morning, she collapsed from exhaustion."
"! ! !"
"Asia tends to her wounds, but she can't do anything about her fatigue," Azazel informed the Agares Rook. Koneko's hurting her body instead of making it stronger. She ended up going overboard with it, having doubts about her strength."
"She mentioned a power she was afraid to use, during our Okinawa vacation. She used it on me while we were arm wrestling. Freaked her out. Will she be okay?" Azazel tells Naruto she'll be okay as long as she takes it easy for a while.
"But with the Gremory-Sitri Rating Game coming up, she can't afford to take it easy." Scratching the back of his head, he told Naruto he wrote her a training regimen to make sure she wouldn't hurt herself, only to find out she had went above and beyond and ended up pushing herself too far, calling her an idiot.
"Now that you know, I need you to come with me. Being her friend and a fellow classmate who shares the same homeroom, you can also help her."
"Very well. This way, I can better understand her situation more." Facing Nero and Sayaka, Azazel told them they wouldn't be coming with, even if Sayaka had a duty to fulfill as Naruto's observer, much to her chagrin. Finishing his rice ball, Naruto told Kotomi her cooking was delicious, earning a thanks from the pixie.
"Nero, please head back to the Agares Residence and help Akame with her training. I won't be gone long."
Gremory Main Residence
"Thank you for coming, Namikaze-kun," said Venelana. "I apologize for interrupting your training."
"It's fine, given the situation with Koneko."
"About a day or two of rest and her body will recover. However...she desperately struggles with her own identity and power. She has told me of a friend who helped talk to her about her problems, that friend being you. I believe, while you have opened her eyes regarding her power, she still doubts herself."
"While I did talk about that power of hers in hopes that maybe she can try and accept it as her own, I don't fully understand the origins of it," Naruto admits. "I said all that stuff without knowing anything."
"I'll give you an A for putting in the effort to know her without knowing all of her. For that, I shall tell you a story."
"Story? What kind?" asked Naruto.
There was once a pair of nekomata.
These two sisters had neither kin nor a place to call home.
They relied wholeheartedly on each other to make it in the world together.
One day, they were taken in by a Devil.
The elder sister found a place in his peerage and began to make a life for herself and her younger sister.
Having finally found a decent life, the two sisters believed that they could pass time very happily.
A strange change soon occurred in the elder sister as the result of being reincarnated.
The elder sister awoke to a power she never knew she had.
With it, she quickly surpassed her Master and became drunk with her power, transforming into a wicked, bloodthirsty being who sought only battle.
The elder sister could not restrain her explosive power, and she ended up slaying her Master.
She became a dangerous "stray" who reveled in slaughter.
The Devils came after the little cat, fearing she might also go on such a rampage sooner or later.
They sought to destroy her before then.
The little cat's spirit was crushed by her sister's betrayal, and the Devils' threats.
Out of all the Devils around her, only one had came to her rescue.
He was a young lord, who took pity on her and granted her a new home to call her own and feel safe.
However, even when granted a new home, the little cat had long since lost the will to continue living.
By the suggestion of the young lord's sister, he trusted the little cat's life to her.
Under the young lord's sister, the little cat began to feel again, and she was given a new name...
"Koneko."
"Yes."
"Her sister, what power made her kill her Master?" Naruto asked Venelana.
"The power she used was called youjutsu. With it, the elder sister excelled in her magic talents, even invoking senjutsu, a power only the last of the Sages could use. Koneko was originally a youkai. She is a survivor of the strongest species among the Nekomata, a Nekoushou. They are a high-level youkai species who can not only master youjutsu, but senjutsu as well."
"A nekoushou-devil who fears her own power..." Naruto and Venelana stop in their tracks when they find Issei and Rias at the front of Koneko's Room. Seeing the Rook, Rias asked Naruto for his reason for visiting. "I'm here for Koneko."
"Mother, did you-"
"She did," Naruto interrupts. "Azazel also told me I could try helping her."
"Very well. In here."
Koneko's Room
Entering her room, with Venelana staying outide to give the three privacy, Issei was surprised to see Koneko with a pair of cat ears on her head. With a deadpan expression on his face, Naruto told himself it was to be expected in his head. Sitting at her bedside was Akeno, who was surprised to see the blond.
"I got the gist of things from Gremory-sama (Venelana)," Naruto explained to the Gremory Queen, just as Koneko opened her eyes, her cat ears twitching twice in response to hearing Naruto's voice.
"Issei-senpai, Naruto, why are you both here?" she asked.
"We're just worried is all," Naruto replied. Issei adds to it by saying he and the blond heard her whole story.
"I understand I'm in no position to tell you to take care of your body, but..." Iseei gets interrupted by Koneko, who starts tearing up in front of them.
[Fate/Zero - Painful]
"Stronger. I want to get stronger. I'm completely useless as I am now. Even as a "Rook", I'm the weakest one here...I don't like it...I hate it...I hate being so useless...I don't want to use that power. If I do...I'll end up becoming like my sister...I can't stand the thought of it..."
"Koneko..."
"...I'm leaving." Naruto's response to the crying Koneko was a shock to Rias, Issei, and Akeno.
"Oi, Naruto, are you leaving just like that?" Issei asked the Rook. "Aren't you going to-"
"Issei, Gremory-senpai, Himejima-senpai, you all have a Rating Game to play in less than twenty days, so you're just in the same boat as her. The need to get stronger, you all have to overcome that need together as a "family"."
"Namikaze-kun..."
"All I can do now is have faith in all of you breaking through your walls. If you didn't want to get stronger, you wouldn't have come to the Underworld. I'll be around to hear you all out, but I'm not the solution to your problems." Finished, Naruto left the room, leaving silence in it.
[Music End]
"I'll be taking my leave, Gremory-sama (Venelana)."
"Of course...Thank you for coming," Venelana said with a smile. "The hurdles Rias and her peerage have to complete...only they can pass them. They can't rely on Firebrand to come help them."
"We each have our respective battles, and our respective walls that we ourselves must surpass."
Agares Main Residence
Guest Room (Naruto)
8:45 pm
"Playing "Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate" on his "XBOX Series S", Naruto voiced his surprise when Maki beats his Spawn with Rambo as Mika watched them while sipping down a large Styrofoam cup of green slushie.
"You barely play any video games yet you play like you've entered tournaments before."
"I merely watch how others play online and developed my own way to play by learning their styles and knowing of their victories and defeats," Maki told the Rook as Mika goes for a huge sip and runs out of slushie.
"I am all out of slushie, so says Mika, taking this as time to leave you two be and head back to my room for more before bed." Naruto tells Mika to have a good night before she leaves.
"...How confident are you really on leaving the Gremory Peerage to deal with their own challenges?" Maki asked the Rook as they select new characters and a stage to play against each other.
"I can't feel anything but hopeful that they'll surpass their own expectations. I know they can do it. They have the potential to, and I know they'll win their second Rating Game."
"Maybe this time they'll win with the help of your girlfriend and Rinne." Naruto tells Maki that wouldn't be how the match would play out.
"I'll stick to how I believe it'll play out till then...Tomorrow night I plan to get my familiar and cross getting a pet off my list," Maki informed the Agares Rook as they start another round (Fujin vs Kitana). "Do you have any plans?"
"Besides dropping Xenovia off at the Gremory Residence, I plan to explored Luciferd. I'll put it on my to-do list for tomorrow."
"Thanks." Following their small talk, Maki defeats Naruto's Fujin and performs one of Kitana's two fatalities on him.
Saturday (8/3)
Old Royal Capital: Luciferd
1:05 pm
"Mmm, this grilled chicken sandwich is delicious," Naruto told himself, going in for another bite from the sandwich he bought at a bakery he visited fifteen minutes ago as he explored the streets of the capital. "It must be the fresh toasted sourdough the bakery used to make it, and the sauce spread enhances the flavor of the chicken and the spinach." Naruto was glad to have time for himself without Sayaka having to follow him. He had Akame get her to train with her so he could have his freedom. Before he heads out with Maki to get her familiar tonight, he figured he'd buy something for Akame to thank her.
"How cruel..." Naruto stopped in his tracks after his hearing picked up those two words. Taking this time to pay attention to what he was hearing, he could hear all sorts of people commenting on one certain subject.
"She so young, and yet that representative of the Church..."
"What did that sweet girl do to deserve such a harsh beating from that Church representative?"
"She's not even going easy on her familiar."
"Why is no one stopping this!?"
Looking up at the where everyone around him was looking, Naruto looked horrified to see Malty repeatedly stomping on Asia's familiar Rassei with her right foot while a badly injured Asia could only watch the red-haired girl's cruelty. Seeing the pain the Gremory Bishop and her familiar were being put through, the Agares Rook's anger rose. Going over to one of the viewers, he asked them where the fight was taking place.
Luciferd Colosseum
"Buchou! We have to stop this!" Issei shouts, only to be ordered to stand down by a very distressed Rias. From the way she said it, Issei knew Rias wanted what was happening to Asia to stop, but given how this was a private matter issued by Malty, they couldn't jump in without causing more problems for the House of Gremory. The other members of the Gremory Peerage could do nothing but look away from the cruelty their fellow Bishop and her familiar were receiving.
"Asia, please...just surrender..." Issei said in silence, tears flowing down his cheeks. Inside the arena, Malty, having stopped her stomping of Asia's familiar, decides to blast it with a fireball, a sadistic smile showing on her face.
"Zweite Fi-ahhh!" Looking down, she sees an injured but determined Asia biting down on her left thigh. "You little bitch, you dare bite me!?" She knocks the blond Bishop down before looking at her bite mark. Seeing small trickles of blood flowing down her thigh, Malty lost her cool and starts casting Drifa Fire to finish the Bishop off.
"Fight, Over!" the referee shouts. Asia had lost consciousness and was unable to continue fighting for her own innocence.
"Tch..." While angry she couldn't do more to further hurt the girl, Malty lets it slide knowing she won against someone who "wronged" her and turns to walk away as Issei and the others jump down into the arena to check on Asia and Rassei.
"As her King, you should discipline your members better, Rias Gremory," she told Rias, who did her best to not outright blast her with her Power of Destruction. Out of nowhere, Malty felt something hit her on the leg. Feeling the spot, she checks to find her hand, and part of her skirt, covered in sandwich sauce. Her face seething with anger, she shouts, "WHO THREW THAT!?"
"I did." Looking up at the direction the unfinished sandwich was thrown from, she finds an angry Naruto looking down at her. "You dare throw that at me!?"
"I didn't exactly have any rotten tomatoes to throw, given the district I was in offers only top quality food and ingredients," Naruto responds.
"I remember you. You're that Rook of the Agares Peerage. For the crime of assaulting a Church representative, I shall allow you to prove your innocence by combat."
"Grab Asia and her familiar and get her to a hospital," he calmly told the Gremory Peerage as he enters the arena. Sensing Naruto's energy, Akeno felt a deep rage building within the Rook as she took Asia and flew her to the hospital, with Kiba carrying Rassei as he follows the Queen from behind.
"Tell me...What did Asia do to deserve it?" he asked her, his anger continuing to build up as Malty explains the reason for Asia's suffering.
"That little Devil bumped into me while I was having such a good time with my three loyal guards out in Luciferd, getting sauce stains on my best skirt of all things. To settle the terrible crime she committed, I challenged her to a duel. If she didn't prove her innocence through combat, she would be found guilty of her assault, and well, you know how it started, and ended. You know what they say, might means right. I would fight you, but as you can see, I suffered quite an injury. I'll have my three loyal guards-"
"Now hold on there, as a "guilty devil", I DO have the right to a fair trial by combat against my victim. Does this mean I'm innocent if you're walking away?" Hearing the crowd tell her to fight, with some saying she can still fight even with the "injury" she sustained, she was about to tell them a half-assed reason why she wasn't going to fight him until Naruto injured himself by ripping a small piece of flesh from his left thigh equivalent to the bite mark on Malty's leg.
"Would this be fair?" Malty calls him a dumbass for injuring himself just to fight her. With how much blood he was losing as a result of his self-injury, and given the ever-growing pressure the crowd was giving her, Malty agrees to the trial by combat, telling Ren, Itsuki, and Mototyasu to not interfere, believing she can beat the blond Rook.
"FIGHT, START!"
"Drifa Hellfire!" Malty fires high-speed balls of fire at the Rook who just stood in place. As the dust cleared following the attack, she was startled to find her attack did nothing to faze him. "Zweite Fire!" Once more her attack connects, Naruto still remaining unfazed. The red-haired girl's left eye twitched before she lets out a flurry of fire-based spells at him.
"Zweite Fire Squall! Drifta Hellfire! Zweite Fire Arrow!" Malty continued spending her energy trying to injure the Rook, her face distorted into a crazed expression as she lets out a maniacal laugh. As she looked through the smoke to see if she did any damage. Malty's eyes widen in disbelief when Naruto remained unfazed. From there, the Rook's flames, now black, enveloped his hair, his eyes turning demonic red as he readied himself to attack.
"Time to prove my innocence..." Appearing in front of Malty in a flash, Naruto hits her in the stomach with his left fist, nearly knocking the wind out of her before his right fist connects to her left cheek. Not allowing her to hit the ground, he knees her in the stomach with his left knee, Malty coughing up blood from the force of the blow.
"Don't worry, you'll live through this, though I will send you to the ER." With both hands Naruto grabs her by the head and headbutts her in the face three times, the fourth one giving her a big nosebleed. Allowing her to stand on her own to feet, the Rook watched as she reeled back in pain before continuing his assault.
[The God of High School OST - SIX VS NOX]
The Rook struck Malty in the solar plexus with his right fist, spinning his body to her left side after and swinging his left leg so its heel hits the back of her head. Now appearing under her he struck her chin with his right foot, leaving her in the air and teleporting behind her and striking her in the back with his left elbow, sending her forward.
Naruto then appears in front of her, his left foot forward as her face collides with it. He then struck left cheek, then her right cheek, then her chin in quick succession with his left leg before his flames flared up, signifying his final assault. His red eyes left a glowing trail as he maneuvered himself around Malty and continued to inflict blow after blow on her.
Issei, Rias, Koneko, Gasper, a now silent crowd, and the three horrified legendary weapon bearers all bore witness to Naruto's fury as he relentlessly assaults Malty with pure melee. The Rook didn't use any magic on her, and he didn't need to. All he needed was his arms, his legs, and (sometimes) his head. Each blow either broke bone, inflicted bruises, or had parts of the ground and the walls around the arena painted with the blood that came out of Malty's mouth, nose, and open wounds.
After thirty seconds of continuous strikes, Naruto would finally end his assault with one final strike with his left fist, putting most of his weight into it as it connects to her right cheek and sends her flying into the wall behind her. As Malty finally drops to the ground, the flames around Naruto disperse, his eyes returning to their normal blue. His minor leg injury healed up completely as he looked down on her.
"What was it you said to me before this match? Oh yeah, might means right? Looks like I've been proven innocent."
"FIGHT, OVER!" the referee shouts before the three weapon bearers jump into the arena and head over to check up on the unconcscious Malty. Looking over her injuries, the found about 1/3 of her bones were broken, her face and limbs bruised, her eyes swollen, and her nose broken and bloodied.
"He didn't give her any time to fall to the ground..." said Itsuki, angry at the brutality Naruto displayed. Motoyasu looked just as angry as Itsuki as he looked down at Malty's injured and bruised face. Ren said nothing as he turned to see Naruto turn his back on them.
"That Devil...What is he?" From the highest area of the stands, a tall devil with a very defined muscular build and long black hair styled with a braided ponytail looked at Naruto with amusement.
"Impressive..." From the opposite side of the colosseum, Daigo watched Naruto as the latter prepares to leave the arena.
TO BE CONTINUED...
[Music End]
ED5: Agapanthus by 麻倉 もも
Happy Late New Year people! I know this was a long time coming, but I had to put in the effort to make it long. Plus, work is responsibility and I take it seriously, and that results in me getting very tired at the end of the day so I don't have as much luxury to write. I do make the time when I have days off. Plus the DxD books are also important to read so I get a good feel of what to do.
With the title of this arc, STRONGER, it's meant to focus on Naruto and others getting stronger in their own ways, which also applies to Koneko and her struggles. Naruto may be stronger, but his need to continue to surpass expectations and fight for his King, are what makes him want to be stronger. Hoshikari's arc may also tie in to this arc, or be a separate one.
I honestly took more time to finish this after getting hyped up upon seeing the PV for "Jujutsu Kaisen Cour 2". The anime is one of the best I've ever seen.
I had the idea to add lemons in here with Moka, Sona, and Sona with Momo, but I decided not to since I believe it'd get in the way. Just assume that they did the nasty outside of what is written in this chapter.
With Naruto leaving Koneko's room, I wanted to establish that Naruto wants the Gremory Peerage to get stronger without having him coming in to help. Their development has to come from them, not him. He'll be supportive over their growth and he'll listen to Koneko, but that's it. He already gave her advice in Part II so from here on, it's all up to Koneko to break through her shell. This also applies to Akeno, who take a lot longer to break through it.
Yes, there were some consequences for Naruto and Issei doing what they did near the end of Part I. Just because what you did was right or felt right doesn't mean there weren't any repercussions.
There is no doubt that Fujino is one of the strongest peerage members in the Underworld. If she wanted to, she could literally handle a full peerage by herself, that is if she continues to have better control over her Mystic Eyes and her telekinetic abilities. Good thing she's not there yet.
I know what I did. I put Asia through hell. But at the same time, she shows her fighting spirit by refusing to surrender, even with all those injuries. How she'll recover, I'm not sure, but before the time to fight Sona arrives, I think she'll be much better by then.
I originally wanted Naruto to defend Asia and fight the three weapon bearers but my brother insisted something bad happen to create a more personal conflict and have a legal way for Naruto to go in and avenge Asia. He's better equipped to explain it unlike me, who finds it a bit difficult to explain.
Naruto, despite showing him at his most angriest, he still has control over himself, he just releases his rage before it can build up even further to the point where he can't control it and becomes a berserker. I also felt him only using brute strength and skill was a far better way to inflict his anger onto Malty.
Despite the brutality Naruto inflicted on Malty, don't count her out just yet. She still has many (villainous) roles to play in the future.
Daigo has an importance later on, mainly towards Hoshikari. I'm sure the reason why is fairly obvious.
Yes, Xenovia and Rinne will be helping Rias with fighting the Sitri Peerage. Sona will have a Knight and a Rook she borrows from another peerage. Which peerage it is is unknown, otherwise Raphtalia or Eclair, and Filo will be the ones to temporarily fill those spots until the Gremory-Sitri Rating Game's done. Other people to fill them in may be Akame, Chitose, Mika, and Pekoyama.
Either Melty or Mash may replace Malty as a representative due to the injuries the bitch received. Next chapter continues this one, with the three weapon bearers challenging Naruto, only for Issei to challenge them in a trial through combat, all to release his anger. Otherwise, the fight is stopped and everyone goes to check up on Asia.
