A Sage's Mission

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"Speaking"

"Thinking/ conversation with Tailed beast/Sacred Gear within the mind, Scape."

"Tailed Beast/Sacred gear Dragon speaking."

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There is so little on the Land of Iron that I'll be using Japanese castle's real names, for castles in the Land of Iron.

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Chapter 16: Uchiha in the Land of Iron.

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Appearing from out of the vortex, greeted by a chilling breeze, Sasuke steps into the lands of a Nation he has not been to in a long time.

The Land of Iron, the Samurai's home is to most, a cold wasteland of snow and mountains. Vastly different to the warn forests of the Land of Fire. Sasuke looks ahead to see the Three Wolves Mountain, his destination and where his allies wait for his arrival.

Three Wolves Mountain is the central seat of power in the Nation, and where its fortresses lie. Three mountains protruding in different directions like a three-leaf clover. Jagged spikes of snow and ice form around them, like rows of teeth, hence the name. This land is the Devil's next target after their failed attack on Konoha.

It boggled Sasuke. "Why would the Devils target this Nation? Do they know they're not a part of the Shinobi Union?" The Samurai aren't allies in the same sense as the other hidden villages. Perhaps they believe this Nation would be alone in the fight?

Sasuke took a deep breath, his breath visible in the cold temperatures; he needs to stop pondering to himself. The answers won't magically fall into his lap. He'll get his answers from the Devils...one way or another.

Disappearing from sight, Sasuke got on the move, he needs to meet up with Mifune and join in the defence.

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"Here, huh..." Ironic that Mifune chose this place for the meetup. Well, Sasuke has been here once already, so he knew its location first hand.

Unlike last time when he snuck into this fortress with White Zetsu's help, Sasuke walked across the bridge to reach its front gate, since he's a welcomed guest now...yet welcomed would be subjective here.

Sasuke already felt many eyes upon him.

Guarding the bridge, its walls and gates, are the Samurai of the Land of Iron.

This Nation's soldiers, covered in white segmented plate armour, and helmets with masks, completely covering up their faces. Around their belts or on the backs were scabbards, holding their signature swords. Sasuke could spot a few among them with horns on their helmets, from simple designs to distinctive ones; a sign of rank and achievement.

The moment he stepped foot on the bridge, every single one of them focused nearly all of their attention on him. Sasuke wasn't surprised, why would he be...when they remember him. Looking into the red eyes of the Samurai, Sasuke saw mistrust and even scorn from them.

"A few of them must have been there that day." Survivors and witnesses to his attack. Comrades and friends to those he cut down. Sasuke may have been pardoned for his crimes...but that didn't eliminate the history he set here. He could feel the tension surrounding the Samurai. Many already had hands near the hilts of their blades, ready to draw them in a moment's notice.

Ignoring their abhorrent stares, Sasuke pressed on to one he needs to converse with. Standing outside the main gate, flanked by his elite guard, the leader of the Samurai stood.

Unlike last time, Mifune was equipped for combat. His armour was green instead of silver and lacked some armour sections. He wore no helmet; his long grey hair, goatee and moustache on full display, with bandages wrapped around his head to conceal scars. With his blade Kurosawa at his side, it seemed Mifune was ready to move out, he and his men are just waiting on Sasuke.

Mifune walked forward, as did his men, to meet with Sasuke. The two stopped just a few steps short from one another.

"Sasuke Uchiha...welcome to Himeji Castle," Mifune spoke and greeted the Shinobi.

"So that's the name of this place." White Zetsu never told Sasuke back then. "Kakashi informed me of the situation. Have there been any more attacks?"

"We've only had skirmishes between them and our security patrols throughout the region. Our fortresses stand ready for any incoming assaults. We've evacuated civilians from the nearby towns and villages to a number of them..." Mifune's words soon came to a halt as he closed his eyes and took a breath. An air of concern surrounded him. "...But one of our teams sent to evacuate a village has yet to return or report in."

"Have you lost contact with them?"

Mifune silently nodded. "Our main forces are on the defensive where they will remain, while we move out with a Strike Force to seek out and eliminate the threat."

"The force that approached Konoha was numbered around seven hundred. If these are remnants of those forces, we could be facing anywhere from fifty to two hundred Devils and possible additional forces." If they have another dragon running with them. "If not..." This is what concerns Sasuke the most.

"Which is why I've prepared an adequate force..." Mifune stood to the side and faced the gate, opening to reveal his Strike Force. A battalion of Samurai stood in formation, ready to move out. "...of five hundred strong."

Sasuke could tell this was a battle-hardened elite samurai force; handpicked no doubt, most likely veterans of the last Great Ninja War. "But it's possible we'll be facing anywhere from seven hundred to a thousand." If the enemy force is anything like the one, Sasuke and Naruto faced outside of Konoha.

Mifune turned to him with a smirk. "Then, your assistance will be appreciated."

This caught Sasuke by surprise though he didn't show it. Mifune does not look at him with scorn like those that surround him.

"Our force is strong and can move swiftly. We're heading to the missing Evacuation Team's last know location. We will ascertain the situation, and then find the invaders." Mifune grasped his sword tight, and his troops began their march across the bridge. "Ready to join our hunt Sasuke Uchiha?" Mifune asked the last Uchiha and extended his hand to give Sasuke a radio for communication.

Sasuke only had one thing to say. "Yeah."

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The forest's natural sounds in the Land of Iron were drowned out by Samurai's stampede; that weaved through the trees. Staying within the forest to avoid detection from the sky should the Devils be nearby and overhead. The Strike Force sprinted to the intended location of the missing Evacuation Team. At the front of this force was Mifune, flanked by Sasuke, whose powerful eyes looked for any signs of friend or foe.

"Sasuke..." Mifune grabbed Sasuke's attention as they ran. The space between them and the force behind them gave them a chance for a private conversation. "...while I am grateful for your assistance...I'm sure you already know few truly share that opinion." He told Sasuke how it is while keeping his eyes on the path ahead.

"I know, and I understand their grievances with my presence here. But this isn't the time for past grudges or reconciliation."

"Not to worry, my men will work with you for the sake of the mission and their home. The protection of their land is more vital than their disdain of you. But you should be aware of the position you're in at the moment."

Sasuke held back his words for a short time before he started probing the true meaning behind Mifune's. "Are you trying to give me a chance?"

"An opportunity, but only you can decide that." Mifune corrected. "For words are meaningless without action." Both ended the conversation there, as they soon reached their destination.

The force came to a halt near the edge of the tree line of the village. The Samurai were as silent as a Shinobi. Each concealed within the forest. Sasuke saw no signs of life in the village. Mifune silently ordered his men to enter and form a perimeter around said village. The Samurai moved swiftly and quickly to surround the village, and soon began entering the houses.

It was a small village which would support no more than a few dozen. All the housing was constructed out of wood, with only one having a second floor, serving as an inn for visitors. This is a place travellers would rest before making their way to central cities.

Alas, that purpose has passed; shattered windows and ruined housing, holes in the ground around and within the village; clear signs of attack...with one unsettling narrative.

Mifune waited at the centre of the village until a Samurai came to give him a report. Then another, and another, and another...Mifune didn't like it. "As I thought...no bodies." A battle definitely happened here, yet there are no deceased to be found, on either side.

Another Samurai joined them to give a report. "No bodies around the perimeter either. But we have found signs of battle and patches of blood." Blood snow.

"Is it possible the Evacuation Team and civilians escaped and made it to safety?" One of the Samurai held out hope.

"If that's the case, why haven't they reported in yet?" Another did not.

"These Devils can fly too, so escaping them on foot is unlikely. The Evacuation Team would have to kill them all to escape. So why are there no dead Devils?" Most in the group already came to a conclusion.

Before voicing his own thoughts on the matter, Mifune wanted to hear another's. "And where is Sasuke?" Has the Uchiha found anything?

"Last I saw he went that way, lord Mifune." A Samurai pointed in the direction of the forest. A trail of footprints in the snow for them to follow.

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Sasuke walked out of the village alone, following a lead only he could see. The weather has almost completely covered it up, but the remnants of a trail could still be seen with his Sharingan. Foots steps, signs of running, unclear if it belongs to their side or the enemy's, but someone got out of that battle. Eventually, the path came to a stop next to a tree. At first, Sasuke thought the snow has concealed the rest of the trail.

But then he spotted something buried in the snow. Black metal sticking out, with symbols Sasuke's seen before. Without the need of hand signs Sasuke breathe out a small flame to melt the snow. The snow evaporated and became water, droplets dripping off what was once buried.

It was a dead Devil, wearing the same armour as those he fought against at the start of all this. The cause of death looked to be a puncture wound, consistent with a sword.

A Samurai killed this one...so where's the victor now?

Sasuke heard steps through the snow behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Mifune and a few guards with him. Mifune joined Sasuke's side and inspected the Devil at their feet.

"This one's been dead for a few hours now." Mifune gentled stroked his long beard as he spoke. "Where's the one that killed him?"

"I believe he's up there."

Mifune turned his head to look at Sasuke, only to see him looking up at the sky. Following his line of sight, Mifune looked up and saw him. A Samurai on top of the tree's branch, clutching his side and is unmoving.

"Get him down here!" Mifune order two of his men to retrieve him. Two of the guards jumped up and gently lifted him up. They brought the survivor down and set him up next to the tree's base.

"He's still alive, sir."

"Get a medic."

One of the Samurai ran back to the village at full speed to get help.

The others were about to move him.

"Wait..." The surviving Samurai spoke in a breathy, strained voice. "Lord Mifune...I...I need to report..." The survivor held on to the arm of the Samurai beside him, desperate to pass on a message.

Mifune approached and got on one knee, placing his hand on the survivor's shoulder. "I am here."

The surviving Samurai let out a breath he did not know he held. "My Lord...I regret to report..." Coughing and catching his breath between his words "...we failed to evacuate the village." He grunted and held his ribs tight.

"What happened?"

The survivor took a few more breaths before answering. "Our team was about to evacuate the villagers. But we were ambushed from the sky...and were cut off from the villagers."

"How many did you face?"

The survivor looked into Mifune's eyes. "Hundreds my Lord...the sky was filled with them...this wasn't a skirmish...it...it was their main force. We couldn't retreat...we couldn't win...and they took them." He clutched his chest and rested his head against the tree. The more he talked, the more painful it got.

"Took? You mean the villagers?" Mifune asked for confirmation.

The survivor nodded. "Ye...yes...the villages were taken captive...while they killed and retrieved our dead..."

Mifune pieced it together. "They've switch their tactics...these skirmishes...they're probing us, trying to understand us."

"They don't know the existence of Chakra. To them, we're no different than the humans of their world that have no power." Sasuke added in. "They intend on finding out just how different we are."

Two Samurai came ruining from the village, one with medical skills and equipment and got down next to the survivor to check his wound.

Sasuke then stepped forward. "How did you escape?"

The survivor looked up and with great difficulty, answered Sasuke. "My captain knew...he knew how it was going to end...he ordered me to run through the forest...'escape and survive' were his final orders. He and the rest of the team...with their last act...gave me time." His fist squeezed tight on the snow floor as he spoke of their end. "But one of those Devils was able to track me down and..." He then had a nasty cough, which nearly made the medic back up from him in surprise. "I had to win...to report..." He continued to violent cough, with what sounds like blood swelling behind his mask.

Mifune looked to the medic for his answer. The medic solemnly shook his head...the wound is fatal.

With his last ounce of strength, the surviving Samurai grabbed Mifune's arm and held it tight. His arm shaking as he tried to keep himself awake. "East...my lord they flew east"

"East...that's the direction of..." Mifune had a hunch what the Devil's next action is.

"Captain...I've...successfully delivered...the report..." The hand that held tightly on Mifune's arm abruptly went limp and slowly lost its grip. The arm fell helplessly to the ground.

Mifune looked up...and saw the Samurai's head looking down, completely motionless. Mifune rose to his feet and looked on with a proud yet heavy heart. "He refused...he wouldn't allow himself to pass before delivering the message." He willed himself to survive until others came.

Mifune turned around and addressed his men. "We'll come back for him once we are done. Gather the man and prepare to move out. I know what the Devil's objective is."

"What's their target?" Sasuke asked.

"Matsumoto Castle, it's comparably smaller than the other castles, but it houses something that the Devils would want." If their intentions are to learn about them, then Matsumoto Castle is a perfect target. Mifune's composure has become deadly serious. "An archive on the History of the Elemental Nations." They must have interrogated the villagers for that information.

The main advantage they have against the Old Satan Faction is knowledge and understanding. Through the Youkai they've learned and are continuing to learn more about them and their world every day. While the Devils fumble in the dark.

They hit that archive...and that all changes.

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"Matsumoto Castle do you read?! Matsumoto Castle, this is Mifune, respond if you can hear my voice!" The General of the Land of Iron tried fruitlessly to contact the defenders of the castle. But all he ever heard was the sound of his own voice. "It's not a communications error, the radio works fine. We still have contact with other, more distant locations." The Strike Force gets closer to Matsumoto Castle with each and every step. Yet there is still no response.

"That's reason enough to investigate. I'm positive there's a disturbance there." Sasuke picked up the pace, pulling ahead of Mifune.

"Know something, Sasuke?" Sounds like Sasuke did.

"Naruto had a similar situation not too long ago in their world." Sasuke made sure to keep up with each and every report Naruto, his team and Gaara send.

Looking ahead of them, they saw the end of the forest and a cliff's edge. They came to a halt just at the edge...and saw the state of Matsumoto Castle...It was on fire.

The front gate was breached, and towers were either in rubble or near collapse. They could see Samurai defenders holding out against a Devil force. But the defenders were on the brink of defeat. Along the walls and courtyard of the castle, Samurai and Devils engaged in close combat. Swords met pikes in a battle of survival.

To the sky, the Strike Force saw another force of Devils staying away from the battle. They were split up into two groups with their respected groups taking the castle's left and right flanks. They continuously bombard the fortress with Demonic power to demolish the towers and kill any unlucky defenders caught in the blast.

Sasuke activated his Sharingan to measure the strength of the Devil's force. It was uncannily similar to the Devils he killed before..."I don't see their leader." Sasuke doesn't see a Demonic power that stands out.

Mifune joined his side, looking over the battle. "There's an underground complex, that's where the archive is. If their commander's anywhere, it would be down there. Do you see how they're disrupting communications?"

"There's a barrier around the castle. It must be stopping all singles and transmissions." It's even stopping sound. Despite the battle before their eyes, they could not hear the sounds of explosions. Nor the screams of those that met their end. "The barrier won't stop us from entering." That much Sasuke could tell since snow and even a passing bird flew straight through without hindrance.

That's all Mifune needed to hear. "Battalion commanders gather round!" Three Samurai walked out and joined Mifune and Sasuke in a circle. "Our mission is to lift the siege on Matsumoto Castle and prevent the theft of important and historical documents. The enemy is divided into three groups. Two aerial-attack groups and a single land-attack group." The Devils total size is around four hundred. The air groups have one hundred each, while the ground has two hundred.

"But we must consider the existence of a fourth group inside Matsumoto that is looting it as we speak." Which could be anywhere from two hundred to three hundred if the outside force is any indication. "They may also have the missing villagers with them, so keep an eye out." They can only hope they're still alive and well.

"We will divide our forces for the attack." Mifune then addressed each of the Battalion commanders and gave them their orders. He spoke with such authority that no one would dare interrupt. "Urakaku, Chiyomatsu, take one hundred men each, pair off and attack the Devil's left and right aerial-forces. Use the forest around the castle as cover for the attack. They can't sense Chakra; use that to your advantage." Both commanders acknowledge the order with a short bow. Mifune then addressed the last commander.

"Okisuke you're with me. The moment they attack, we will move through the gate and assist the remaining defenders in retaking the courtyard and walls." The Devils are unaware of their presence. The best chance they have is to rush them from their flanks before the Devils have a chance to regroup; trapping them between their Strike force and the remaining defenders.

The three commanders quickly left to gather their men for the attack, leaving Mifune and Sasuke alone. "Sasuke assist Urakaku and Chiyomatsu in taking out the Devil's aerial attack groups. Once that's done, secure Matsumoto's main entrance to prevent any Devils inside from escaping." There's only one way in and out of the underground complex, once that's secured the remaining Devils will have nowhere to go. If they try tunnelling out, they risk burying themselves alive.

Before separating, Sasuke had one piece of advice. "Make sure your men understand...that they shouldn't bother trying to capture any of them. The seal inscribed on their bodies will rupture their hearts in the event of capture." It was only thanks to Tsunade's quick thinking and expertise that they could save any Devils at all. The best they got right now is medics, not skilled doctors with the right equipment.

Mifune nodded to Sasuke, fully understating the situation...capture is not possible here. The best they can do is to make sure none of them leave here alive.

It's time for the Samurai to save their brothers and sisters, and make the Old Satan Faction pay from this unprovoked attack.

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Spell after spell the Devils bombarded the fortress; it won't be long until this place has been brought to its very foundations. The Devils had some concerns before this. There were rumours about a previous group that never returned after coming to this world.

"Guess they were just rumours after all." The Devil wondered about it...but with how well this has been going, any issues he once had are gone. He kept up his attack from the sky, aiming for any human defenders rather than the towers.

He did think these humans put up more of a fight then he would ever admit to others. In close combat, they performed admirably...even fighting better than the Devils on the ground. Using swords bathed in blue energy, some forming that shapes of axes, hammers and all kinds of weapons.

But these humans can't fly. If they continued to attack from above, victory is assured. "With the castle and the defenders, it's like we're invading Feudal Japan." If he wasn't told about it, he'd never believe this was another world.

Another Devil flew to his side, who also kept up his attack. "This isn't war, this is sport!" This Devil immensely enjoyed the battle and relished every human he incinerated.

"Just watch your fire, or you'll hit our own." He's enjoying himself too but still...stay focus and watch your aim.

"That damn cease-fire stopped anything like this happening. Billions of those lowly humans infesting earth and there's nothing we could do about it." This Devil then chuckled to himself as he corrected his statement. "Well, nothing on this level."

"These humans can put up a fight; makes it more enjoyable." Looking down at the battle, the human defenders pulled back to the entrance, making a last stand to prevent entry...the Devil could taste victory.

But to be honest, he wished they'd hurry up so he can leave. He's had enough of this cold weather.

Although it's starting to feel a bit warmer...acutely it's getting a bit toasty...ok now it's really toasty.

The Devil looked behind him, but caught some light, forcing him to grunt and cover his eyes. "Has the sun finally broken through the clouds?" His eyes adjusted, and he removed his hand to get a better look.

Only to see fire.

"OH SHI...!" His final words before a ball of fire engulfed him and the Devils around him. Few could scream before they were erased from existence in the scorching flames.

Those that survived rushed to figure out what happened. "Where'd that come from?!"

"I didn't see! Was it from the castle or the forest?!" The human defenders never shot anything like that at them.

The leader of the Devil group rallied his men. "Reorganised and find where that shot came from before!" His orders ceased when a sword pierced through the back of his throat. His mouth gaped open, and he choked up blood.

One of the Devils saw it happen. "Captain!" He called out helpless as his Captain breathed his last bloody breath. A human standing on the Captain's back was responsible, he had dark hair and didn't wear armour like all the other humans. The human then pulled the sword out of the Captain's throat, and the Devil fell to the fortress below.

The Devil that saw it happen flew to kill this human. But the human jumped off the falling Captain and landed on the Devil's back...faster than he could track. He turned his head, incapable of understanding what just happened.

The last thing he saw...was a strange red eye.

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Not giving the Devil any chance, Sasuke sliced off his head. Around him, flocks of Devils descended. With Sasuke now in the middle, he can get to work.

Sasuke jumped from Devil to Devil, using each one as leverage to reach the next. Killing as he passed through their lines.

Above him, three Devils readied a collective spell, but Sasuke was faster and shot a fireball at them. All three Devils and an unlucky few perished in the blaze.

Sasuke landed on another Devil, quickly stabbing him through the heart. Another Devil flew straight at him, attempting to impale him. But he backflipped and dodged the attack, safely landing on one of the fortress's still intact towers.

The remaining Devils grouped up and all prepared to bombard Sasuke. But the Shinobi just stood there as they prepared their magical circles. With their attention solely on him, the attack can begin.

Many Chakra waves in an arc shot out from the forest and struck the Devils rear without warning. That Chakra was so sharp that those hit were either sliced in two or lost a limb. The unlucky enough to lose their wings fell to the ground.

And those that could still get up saw themselves surrounded by Samurai.

With this devastating ambush, Mifune and his men rushed the gates to aid in the ground battle. He led the charge and clashed against the Devils that have taken the courtyard and fortress walls.

With Mifune's expert swordsmanship, he used the art of Iaidō to cut down many Devils before they could even raise their weapons or use any magic.

"So it begins." Sasuke would leave Urakaku to deal with the remaining Devils in the first aerial group. He needs to aid Chiyomatsu against the second one.

The ambushed against the second group was not as successful and managed to kill and maim only a few. Chiyomatsu kept his men in the trees to use as concealment against the Devil's counterattack. But the trees offered no protection from the attacks, and those who did not dodge were either killed or injured.

But with the Devil's attention on the forest, Sasuke can be the one to strike their rear.

"Lightning Style: Chidori Stream." Lightning discharged from Sasuke's body in every direction. But Sasuke gained control over it, focused it into his sword, and fired it at one of the Devils. The instant the Lightning touched him, the Devil was lit up like the night's sky and was fried to a crisp; soon becoming a singed black corpse. But the Lightning also bounced off and jumped from Devil to Devil. None were strong enough to withstand it.

Sasuke saw the Devil's group leader trying to get his men to stand their ground. So Sasuke pulled out a kunai added his Lightning Style Chakra to it. He then threw with deadly precision and struck the Devil right between the eyes.

The Devil's leadership is now in shambles, and their numbers have been thinned, Chiyomatsu can clean up what's left. Sasuke needs to secure the entrance.

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The last, brave Samurai Defenders held out against the onslaught of Devils within the main entrance of Matsumoto Castle. The Devils kept their distance and attacked for range. The corridor was swamped in Demonic Power, and the Samurai were pinned. The best they could do was stay behind cover and launch waves of Chakra from their swords at the enemy. But the Devil's front was made up of Devils solely using magical circles for defence.

The Devils slowly marched down the corridor. The front blocked the Samurai's attacks, the rear fired magic overhead at the Samurai's positions.

The remaining defenders prepared themselves...once the Devils reach them...this will be their last stand.

But then they all heard it... despite the sounds of battle, the voices of many...the sounds of footsteps echoed in the halls...from the direction of the entrance.

The Devils at the rear turned around and saw only a single figure slowly walking towards them.

They knew it wasn't a Devil. "Who's there?" It wasn't a Samurai either, he wore no armour.

A lone human...must be suicidal. Very well, they'll give him the death he desires. The rear guard turned around to face this human; he was vastly outnumbered.

But to their shock and surprise, the human showed no reaction, not even an acknowledgement of their numbers and he kept up his pace. Then he suddenly picked it up.

What was once a walk, soon become a run, and then entered a full sprint. The human charged right into their lines. The Devils readied themselves to meet his charge, but in the blink of an eye, the human blitz them and closed the gap...a sword bathed in blue Lightning met their necks.

The Samurai Defenders heard it, the sounds of screaming Devils and steal slicing through flesh. They could even see streaks of blood, and bodies flying and hitting the ceiling near the entrance.

The Samurai Defenders were confused. "What's going on, what's happening back there?" One of the Samurai tired to get a better look.

The Captain of these last defenders quickly figured it out. It felt like a miracle had happened. "Reinforcements..." One could not see it, but behind his mask was a smile in awe. He could hardly believe help actually came.

The Devil's front lines became distracted by what's transpiring behind them, and the Captain took advantage of it. This is their moment to turn this around. He quickly ordered his men out of cover, and at full strength, they collectively launched a powerful wave of Chakra from their blades. It struck and shattered the Devil's front line's magical circles, even managed to kill a few.

Raising his sword, and then pointing it at the enemy, he shouted at the top of his lungs. "Charge!" Their moral soared, and with renewed vigour, the defenders left their positions and charged the Devil's front line.

Smashing right into the enemy it became a messy scrum. But now the Samurai had the advantage and cut down any who opposed them. The Devil's organisation became a mess, and they could not put up a proper defence.

Their reinforcements were quickly approaching them, cutting a swath through the enemy. The Captain couldn't wait to shake their hand.

It was a hard-fought battle, but it finally reached its end, and their lines met their reinforcements...and saw what should have been a company of men...was just one man...one they recognised.

"Sasuke Uchiha?" The Captain whispered under his breath. Sasuke, the one who attacked the Five Kage Summit, killed Samurai...is also the one who rescued them? "Why...why are you here?"

"By order of the Hokage, I was sent to aid Lord Mifune against the Devil threat in this Nation," Sasuke answered, while holding onto a single Devil by the neck, he was still alive, but badly injured.

The Samurai Defenders could still hardly believe it. Most were still wary of Sasuke, they know his history, heard the stories. But the Captain ignored all of that and stepped forward. "You're still an unsettling subject for us." The Captain knew some of the men that died when Sasuke attacked. But even so, he did something that surprised his men and even himself. He bowed respectively to Sasuke. "Thank you for rescuing my men." It was short, but the Captain said his piece.

Sasuke didn't say anything, but he none the less accepted and nodded to him. Turning to the task at hand, Sasuke looked at the Devil struggling in his grip.

"I have nothing to say to you human!" He spat the word 'human' as if it was less than dirt.

Sasuke only tightened his grip, nearly choking the Devil. "I haven't asked yet." Sasuke's black eye turned blood red, his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was activated.

The Devil was confused; he's never seen an eye like that before. But then his vision became blurry, his mind heavy and in pain.

What...what's happing to him?

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The moment he blinked is the moment everything changed. He was no longer in the castle or in that human's hand. The world around him was black and red, and all other colours were gone. The sky was above him too, he somehow change locations?

The Devil tried to move but found himself restrained. His arms and legs were trapped in metal locks. Looking around, the Devil saw himself strung up against a cross. He tried to call on his Demonic Power to break free, but nothing happened; he's never felt so powerless.

The Devil looked down and saw the same human...standing there with a menacing red eye, looking up at him with an expressionless face.

"I don't know what this is, but I won't talk! You hear me! I'll never talk!"

Sasuke drew his sword. "You'll have three days here to change your mind."

The Devils felt a deathly chill go down his spine. "What?" Did he hear that, right? "No...No..." He said to himself, refusing to believe the human's words.

Sasuke began his approach, and Devil squirmed to get free.

He'll be free...after seventy-two hours.

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The group of Samurai stood silently and watched as Sasuke activated his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Sasuke and the Devil froze, but just for a moment, as still as ice on the mountain tops. But that moment quickly passed, and the Devil fell face-first to the ground, unmoving and unresponsive. What did Sasuke just to do him?

Without hesitation, Sasuke drew his sword and stabbed the Devil at his feet, ending his life. "It's true..." This is not good. What that Devil told him...

Sasuke and the Samurai Defenders heard footsteps at the entrance. They looked and saw Mifune and his men approaching.

The Captain of the defenders joined up with Mifune. "Lord Mifune, I'm sorry we were unable to stop them from breaching the castle."

"You held out until we came, for that, I commend you and your men. The outside has been cleared. Are you all that remains?" Are all the other Samurai stationed here dead?

The Captain shook his head. "No my Lord, my team paired off. A group of Devils were able to breach then inner workings of the castle, and I sent a portion of my men to stop them, while the rest of us remained here to hold the entrance." All they could do was hold the line for as long as possible.

"How many gained entry before you could defend the entrance?"

"Thirty at most, sir." The Captain then hung his head low. "I'm sorry, but we couldn't approach them carelessly, they had captured villagers with them." The Captain felt great shame; he couldn't save those civilians, let alone protect the castle.

Mifune didn't show it, but he felt somewhat relieved, those villagers are still alive. "What can you tell me about the thirty Devils that got in?"

"Their armour was more distinguished, looked to be elite guards of some kind. But two in that group stood out; one looked to be wearing formal clothing, not something you would have on the front lines. The other...well I have no idea, he was completely shrouded in a long black hooded cloak. But the air got colder when he was around." And it wasn't due to any ice Jutsu or magic. Something felt wrong about him "To tell you the truth sir we had no idea if help would come. We couldn't contact anyone for aid." But he's glad he was wrong.

Only thirty, that's a lot less than Mifune expected. One of them must be the Devil's commander. "We'll explain later, but for now we need to move out and clear out the last of the enemies within these walls, and rescue those villagers" Mifune ordered.

The Captain and his men stood at attention. "We stand with you, my Lord." They're not in the best shape, but they're not pulling back, their job's not done.

Sasuke interrupted the two; they're something Mifune needs to hear. "We can't waste any more time, we need to move fast."

"What have you learned Sasuke?"

"There's another stone with them." And it's within these walls, they've brought it in.

Which means taking and holding the entrance does nothing in the long run. The Devils have a way to escape.

.

Sasuke, Mifune and his Samurai rushed down the hallways of Matsumoto Castle. They have precious little time. With another stone at the ready, the Devils could escape at any moment.

The castle's last defenders and their Captain went to secure the security room, to get the cameras up and running. A room to room search of the castle would take too long. With the cameras, they can find the stone's exact location.

With that Sasuke, Mifune and his men will go and secure the archives. They passed many rooms and floors but have yet to encounter any resistance. Or the Samurai that were sent to stop the Devils that got in.

After running down a long flight of stairs, they came to a massive open area within the castle. Pillars across the room held up the ceiling. It was strikingly similar to the room Sasuke battled the Fourth Raikage a couple of years ago.

But Sasuke's eyes were drawn elsewhere...to the bodies that littered the entrance.

"The Samurai failed to stop them." Dead Samurai lied at their feet, dismembered and in pieces. They weren't torn apart, the separation's too clean. They were sliced apart by some kind of blade.

Mifune's men draw swords and looked around the surrounding area for survivors and the enemy who did this. Sasuke checked a body, one in particular.

A dead Samurai lying against a pillar, but he's completely intact. In fact, Sasuke couldn't tell how this one died. "The only injures he has are superficial cuts, nothing too deep to cause death from blood loss." It didn't look like he was thrown against the pillar either. An impacted didn't kill him.

Sasuke ripped off the Samurai's mask to see his face. "He was poisoned?" The Samurai's face was whiter than snow like he's been dead for several hours when it's only been a couple. But his eyes are entirely black, with purple veins protruding around them.

Sasuke's time with Orochimaru taught him much about poisons. But he knows none that would do this to someone, especially to the eyes. Sasuke activated his eyes for a better examination...and he can see what killed him.

It's like a black mist or fog circulating around and within the Samurai's body. This would suggest he inhaled a kind of gas, that which killed him. "But why is it still here, and why does it stick to his body so closely?" It's like it's one with him, even after death.

Sasuke stood up and walked back to Mifune. "Far as I can tell a kind of poison killed him. It looks like a kind of gas, but I believe it was applied through cuts." The Samurai wore gas masks so they would have been protected by any airborne toxins or gases.

Sasuke would have elaborated further, but the sounds of battle and chilling screams sounded down the hall. The Samurai have encountered resistance.

Unanimously and without words, Sasuke, Mifune and his men sprinted down the halls to aid their brothers and sisters. Like wind, they passed many pillars, as the sounds of battle got louder and louder. They turned the final pillar, and Sasuke was forced to sidestep and flying Samurai's torso. Blood splattered on Sasuke's cloak.

Sasuke looked to where it came from and saw the one responsible. It was one of the two the Captain spoke of.

It hovered in mid-air, with no visible legs. Its figure was completed shrouded in a long black hooded cloak, its arms and hands totally concealed. Its face was also hidden from sight, it wore a kind of clown mask, but its eye sockets had a faint purple glow. Around its waist was a belt with many lanterns attached to it.

And its weapon was unique.

It swung around a scythe, massive in size and too cumbersome to be used as farming equipment or by most Shinobi.

Sasuke saw it around the weapon, and around this being. "He's the one who killed that Samurai. The same kind of mist I saw back there, I see it heavily concentrated it that weapon, and within him." The mist was so thick it was like the shadows themselves.

Sasuke needed to act. "Mifune, take your men and secure the archives. I'll deal with this."

Mifune attempted to respond, but Sasuke cut him off. "It's not a Devil; I do not see a trace of Demonic Power. I also wager it's stronger than the combined might of the Devil force we just dealt with."

"Then what is it. Has Naruto or Gaara reported anything like this thing?"

"No, and I don't know either. But this creature's just a guard, its job's to delay us or eliminate us." The hooded creature stayed back and watched with its scythe at its side, ready to fight.

It's like its studying them...or Sasuke in particular.

Sasuke took a few steps forward it to get some distance away from Mifune. Sasuke never took his eyes off the thing in front of him.

"I can leave some of my men to assist you?"

"They'll just get in my way. You have your job...I have mine."

Mifune did not respond...but none the less he understood Sasuke's reasoning. The Samurai general nodded to Sasuke and left with his men to secure the archives.

Even when its job was to stop all from gaining entry, the hooded creature didn't even acknowledge the Samurai that passed. It kept its haunting purple eyes focused squarely on Sasuke.

It's like it instinctively knew...Sasuke wasn't someone you take your eyes off either.

.

Sasuke and his hooded foe watched each other for a time, both trying to understand the opponent. Then Sasuke drew his sword and moved at blinding speeds to his enemy.

The creature was forced to block his strike, but Lightning from Sasuke's blade travelled and hit the enemy, causing it to break away. But Sasuke did not relent and kept up his assault. He and this being exchanged blows over and over, each time the creature's scythe met Sasuke's sword and was hit by Lightning.

It tried to back up, but Sasuke refused to give it breathing room and stayed within its arm's length, making it notoriously difficult for it to combat Sasuke's sword with its longer reaching scythe.

Soon enough Sasuke broke through its guard and aimed for its centre torso. But just before his blade struck, the creature faded into a black mist, and Sasuke passed through it.

Sasuke then quickly jumped away to get some distance, dodging an attack from behind. The hooded being's scythe impacted the ground, cracking its surface.

"It can change its physical form to travel and pass its enemies." But it has to reform itself to strike.

The hooded being spun its scythe around it a skilful display, before tightly gripping it and turning into mist once again. It then quickly flew towards Sasuke and just as it reached him, turned back to its physical form and attacked. Sasuke dodged and counterattacked, but it repeated its action and turned to mist once again.

This continued for a time, and Sasuke was forced to dodge; Sasuke needed a new approach.

He waited for it, and once the creature turned to mist again, Sasuke moved. He appeared next to the being instantly and sliced through the mist, with his sword bathed in fire.

His enemy was forced to take physical form, with his cloak partially lit ablaze.

Sasuke's got a solution now. "It's immune to physical attacks when it's like that, but it has no protection to the elements." In that case..."Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!" Sasuke launched a massive fireball moving at incredible speeds towards the enemy.

The hooded being had to move fast and flew above the fireball, just barely dodging it, but then the creature realised...It looked up, and there Sasuke was, looking down on it.

"Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu!" Sasuke launched a second fireball, one that this thing couldn't avoid.

He hit his mark, and the being was engulfed in a fiery explosion. Strong winds and blazing heat scorched the walls and destroyed a few pillars.

The creature was sent plummeting to the ground, smashing into concrete. It took a moment, but the hooded being was able to pick itself up with some effort. Its robes were burned, and parts were sliced open, revealing something through it...something white in colour.

It quickly picked up its weapons and looked around the room. Creepy purple eyes scanned its surroundings, trying to find Sasuke. It then saw a cloak just visible behind a pillar; there he is.

Not wasting time the created moved and appeared right around the pillar and swung its scythe; it landed. A large chunk of the pillar was sliced off, nearly cutting it in half.

It looked at its handy work; to see the human dead at its feet...it didn't get him. It only managed to slice the human's cloak.

Then where did he go?

Above the hooded being, standing on the edge of the pillar, Sasuke stood. He looked down at the enemy that was fooled by his ruse. Sasuke stopped channelling Chakra into his feet and began falling. He readied his sword and aimed true.

The enemy just noticed him, but it was too late. Both crashed to the ground, and a large cloud of dust kicked up, concealing both.

When the cloud cleared, the enemy was flat on its back. Sasuke stood above it, with his sword piercing the clown mask, and through its head. "That was a vital spot." That should do it.

Wait...whats that sound...it sounds like cracking b...

Much to Sasuke's shock, the creature's arm moved and grabbed its weapon. It swung its scythe, with the intent on bisecting Sasuke.

Sasuke grabbed his sword and leapt off the enemy before its attack landed. When Sasuke landed, he jumped again to gain some distance from his enemy.

The creature slowly got up off the ground. What's going on?

Sasuke inspected his blade...nothing. "Flesh, skin, hair, not even blood. But I know I hit something." Sasuke felt the impact. What's under that mask?

When his enemy got up, Sasuke saw its mask cracking in two, until it completely fell off. Sasuke saw its face, now he understands.

Sasuke talked to this foe for the first time. "Judging by your appearance, attacking vital spots won't have any effect on you; because you're not really alive." Not one of flesh and blood.

This enemy was a skeleton. Its hood fell down, and its cloak opened up, revealing a rib cage.

"Is it a like a puppet? Is there a Devil controlling this thing?" Sasuke couldn't see any outside energies linked to this thing. Its actions are its own. But Sasuke did see a crack in its forehead where his sword hit.

"Then, my course of action is to completely eradicate you." Or chop it up into pieces. But then a thought came to Sasuke's mind. Since this thing is a skeleton and not a Devil, then the seal that attacks the heart or brain won't apply to this thing. In that case, Sasuke should use 'that' instead.

The skeleton flew at full speed and got within an inch of Sasuke, aiming for his neck. The skeleton swung its scythe and hit something...but it wasn't Sasuke himself.

The skeleton's purple irises glowed brighter when he saw it. A giant ribcage formed around Sasuke, coincidentally also purple in colour.

This was Sasuke's Susanoo's ribcage, an omnidirectional defence surrounding the user. It's a good defence, but a better starting point. Suddenly a skeletal arm grew out of the ribcage and punched the skeletal enemy before it could react.

The skeleton was sent flying into a pillar, but Sasuke didn't stop there. With the same arm, he grabbed the enemy and held it tight. Sasuke could crush him here and now...

"Are you a Grim Reaper of this world?" A voice that sounded like death on the air was heard, coming from the skeleton within Sasuke's grasp.

Sasuke didn't answer; he was focused on processing this information. "This creature is sentient. It shouldn't even have vocal cords, how can it speak?" It's not a puppet that much Sasuke is sure of. "Grim Reaper...is that what this thing is?" Grim Reaper...that will work for now.

Not wanting to stay in Sasuke's grasp, the Reaper turned to mist and flew around Sasuke. But Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was out and tracked the Reaper's movements perfectly.

Sasuke saw it retaking physical form...NOW!

STAB.

With its weapon raised above its head ready for another attack, the Grim Reaper froze in mid-air. It couldn't move...It looked down to see a massive sword piercing its rib cage. It was purple in colour; it glowed and moved like a liquid or energy made physical.

"Before you go, tell me your name?" That's all Sasuke asked. He didn't want to hear anything else, especially not its life story.

Surprisingly, the creature complied. "I was told strange things about this world. But I didn't expect to meet a fellow Grim Reaper..."

"I'm not." Sasuke's human not some bag of bones.

"I admit my inferiority to you...when the times comes for you to join our one true master. Let him know, I, Pluto, do not regret losing to a superior Grim Reaper." The skeleton entered into a world of its own, speaking strangely as if it's praying...about a 'one true master'?

The sword's power activated, and the skeleton slowly turned to a kind of liquid. It was being pulled into something, completely powerless to escape or save itself.

Sasuke's other Susanoo arm held a giant gourd. The Grim Reaper Pluto was sucked inside. To be sealed away in a world of drunken dreams for all eternity.

Sasuke dismissed his Susanoo and the Totsuka Blade.

Back during the Fourth Great Shinobi War. Sasuke's brother Itachi, who Sasuke once thought of as an unforgiving, cruel person; to a true Shinobi of Konoha, gave him this. Before he passed on to the After World for good, Itachi passed to Sasuke the last of his Mangekyō Sharingan's powers.

A final gift to Sasuke, paired with Itachi's last words to him.

"Sasuke, Sasuke come in!" Sasuke radio went off. It sounded like the defenders Captain talking.

"I'm here," Sasuke answered.

"Right, good, good...um, have you dealt with hooded guy?"

"Yes."

"Oh right, um...ok listen me and my men have taken back the security room. We've got the cameras working, and I think I found that stone you mentioned."

"Where is it?"

"Down in the lower halls, it's black and white and slowly turning. Is that really it?"

"Yes, that's definitely it now tell me how to get to it." Wasting time here.

"Right sorry...ok um...you need to head right to the stairs and then take a left at the bottom..."

.

With the directions given to him by the defender's Captain, Sasuke quickly raced through the halls and found the stone. At the back of the room, between two pillars; it floated in mid-air.

Another stone, a carbon copy of the one in Konoha. They hypothesised there could be more stones out there, but Sasuke hoped they were dead wrong. If there are truly multiple stones, then the Old Satan Faction has several pathways into the Elemental Nations...into their world.

The best Sasuke can do right now is make sure any surviving Devils can't escape. After that is done, he'll take it back to Konoha. With this, they can chase them to their world again, and retrieve what was stolen.

But then the stone lit up, spinning and changing colour, from white to black, just like when he saw Naruto first use it.

"Enemy reinforcements huh." Sasuke drew his blade and channel his Lightning Style Chakra into it. No matter how many Devils come out of there, they won't get far.

The rapid spinning ceased, and the light died down. But to Sasuke's surprised it wasn't an army of Devils that came out. There was just three, and they were...

"Dragons?" Just like how Naruto described. But unlike the white one Naruto killed, these three were red, green and blue.

The moment they saw Sasuke, they all let out a deafening sound roar and charged at Sasuke; with every intent on crushing him underfoot or making a meal out of him.

Sasuke was forced to jump up and stick to the ceiling to avoid getting crushed. The dragons missed him and crashed into the room's walls, trampling and tumbling over each other in the process.

"Clumsy creatures." They've only just appeared and there already making a mess. Sasuke was about to prepare a Jutsu to end these lizards, but then the stone activated again.

"More dragons?" Is it going to be three again this time? But the stone kept spinning and got brighter and brighter, like a star in the night's sky. If something was coming through, it should have happened already?

The spinning became blindingly fast, and the stone slowly ascended like it had a will of its own. Then the stone shot up towards the ceiling...and vanished without a trace. Sasuke couldn't tell if it phased through the ceiling or disappeared before it collided with it. Even his Sharingan couldn't follow the stone's movement.

But Sasuke's Rinnegan caught something. The same thing that happens to those who use it for transportation...looked similar to what happened to the stone itself.

Was the stone...recalled on their end? The stones are capable of that?

But if that's true...then that would suggest the stone the Shinobi captured...

Sasuke didn't get to finish that line of thinking and had to narrowly dodge a dragon's lunge.

The last Uchiha landed on the ground swiftly and had three dragons bearing down on him. He'll end this quick.

The green dragon jumped at Sasuke, its claw aiming to tear Sasuke to ribbons. Sasuke jumped over it and severed the dragon's claw, Sasuke's sword cut through flesh and bone like butter.

Sasuke expected the dragon to roar in pain, but the dragon showed no reaction to it. Scratch that the dragon tried to run normally like it still had that claw, and it ended up tripping on its own momentum and crashed into a pillar. Nearly bringing the pillar down on its head.

These dragons have been acting strangely the moment they showed up, and Sasuke wants answers. The red dragon tired to catch Sasuke in its teeth, but Sasuke quickly jumped over the dragon, landing on its head. Then he thrusted his sword into the dragon's skull, sending waves of Lightning throughout its body. The dragon's nerves numbed and lost their strength. The giant lizard went limp and collapsed, unable to pick itself up or even move its tail.

Sasuke placed his hand on the dragon's head. He'll grab its soul and search its mind...Sasuke found nothing...its mind was empty, Sasuke was unable to grasp anything...these dragons...

"No soul...that explains it." Why they don't have any power? Why they don't have any intelligence? It's because they don't have a soul or personality, just heaps of flesh rampaging about with baseless instinct.

That's why Naruto in Sage Mode couldn't sense that dragon...there was nothing for him to feel, it lacked any kind of energy. Only until the dragon got in Naruto's face could he perceive it.

So what the hell are these things? "Are these things reanimated? No, it's not like that Jutsu, the wounds and severed limbs aren't healing...this is something else."

The other two dragons circled around Sasuke and the downed dragon. Their jaws were wide open, their razor-sharp teeth on full display.

Sasuke was done jumping around, he's ending this now.

He glanced at the green dragon, and a drop of blood dripped from Sasuke's Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. "Amaterasu!" The green dragon was suddenly covered in black flames that consumed light itself. He then glanced at the blue dragon and cast the same Jutsu.

Both dragons were at the mercy of the black flames of Amaterasu; flames that will burn for seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, and cannot be extinguished. These flames will continue to burn until only ash remains.

The dragons did not react to the flames and persisted in their attempt to devour Sasuke. But the fire worked quickly, and the dragons fell apart at the seams. Scales and flesh melted to the bone. Wings, tails and claws slid off the body like slimy gloop. Both the dragons melted until they were puddles of flesh on the ground. Even so, the flames continued to burn.

Using his Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan's power, Sasuke recalled the black flames to his eye, so the deadly fire won't spread to the castle's walls.

The battle is over...but was this a victory?

Sasuke needed to contact Mifune. "Lord Mifune, I'm done over here." Sasuke then glanced at his handy work; two puddles of dragon flesh, and one dragon trapped by Lightning coming from his sword. "Have some of you men come down here with big restraints. I've got a specimen that needs transporting to Konoha."

"Understood," Mifune replied. "We managed to secure the archives. However..."

"Lord Mifune, apologies for the interruption." The defender Captain's voice was heard, interrupting the Samurai General. "But you and Sasuke need to come to the security room...there's something you need to see."

Sounded urgent.

.

Walking down the corridor to the security room, Sasuke soon met up with Mifune. Some parts of his armour were dented with specks of blood on it; the blood wasn't his.

"Dragons...seems like the Old Satan Faction has forces outside just Devils."

"Those dragons were mindless and could only use their physical bodies for combat. I don't believe they have total control over them, or they would have used them alongside their Devil forces." Both times, with Naruto and Sasuke, the dragons fought alone.

"I agree, which means they're used as a sacrificial force to rampage on the battlefield to cause chaos and sow confusion through the ranks." Eventual becoming a third wheel on any battlefield.

Sasuke concurred, but he doubts the Old Satan Faction would leave it like that for future fights. There's a chance the dragons would turn on them in the heat of battle. "Once the dragon's restrained let me know. I want my sword back." Sasuke left it in that lizard to keep it paralysed.

Mifune chuckled but nodded, Sasuke will be the first to know. Both eventually made it to the security room. A few dead Devils were piled up in the corner, while the defender's Captain and his men worked on the equipment.

"Lord Mifune, Sasuke." The Captain greeted them both respectfully.

"What is it you wanted to show us?" Mifune got straight to the point.

The Captain nodded and walked to the computer screen. Tapping a few buttons and bringing up a recording, the screen showed the room with the stone. But it also revealed several Devils guarding the villages that were chained up. One by one, the villages were transported away to their world, until none remained.

Sasuke's fist clenched, but no one saw it. "They took them." They were too late. Kami only knows what's in store for those poor people; men, women and children at the mercy of the Old Satan Faction, if mercy is even in their vocabulary.

Then someone else appeared on screen. All the Devils stood at attention when he showed up, this must be the Devil's commander. He had silver hair in a braided hairstyle and high-class silver robes. He looked young, around twenty, but being a Devil that doesn't mean anything.

Other Devils were with him, with magical circles at their side holding up piles of scrolls and items.

Sasuke glanced at Mifune for confirmation, he noticed and answered. "The archive was hit. It will take time to do a full accounting on how much and what specifically was taken."

Sasuke didn't like the fact that the Devils got anything at all. He then looked at the Captain. "Did he use the stone?"

"Yes, but his timing's interesting." The Captain played Sasuke's fight with the skeleton alongside the recording of the stone and that Devil. The moment Sasuke defeated and sealed the Grim Reaper Pluto, away, the Devil visibly reacted and told his men to use the stone, before using it himself.

The Captain chuckled when he saw it. "Looks like he knew trouble was coming for him and ran for it."

Then defeating that 'Grim Reaper' worked against him. But Sasuke had to work with what he knew at the time. It seems his job is done here. They retook the castle and dealt with the last of the Devils.

Sasuke was about to leave to retrieve his sword. But Mifune had something to say.

"I thank you for aiding us in this battle."

Sasuke stood silently for a moment, he said and did nothing, and then went to walk away.

"Your path is a fickle and strenuous one." Said, Mifune.

With his back to the Samurai General, Sasuke stopped in his tracks; that got his attention.

"Seeking to right the mistakes of your past, to earn forgiveness for those you wronged. Not many have or could walk such a road."

"It's my path of redemption. Whether I deserve it or not is up to others." Sasuke will never ask or demand it from them.

"And you may never earn their forgiveness no matter what you do or how long to try." Mifune then approached Sasuke and stood behind the last Uchiha. "But as long as you hold on to that conviction. Then there will always be a road open to you. Death is not the end, loss of conviction is."

Those words..."Conviction...huh."...they sound like his...

"I'll never give up or go back on my word! That's my Ninja Way!" Not ashamed of who he is and standing with unrivalled determination. Sasuke's best friend always spoke those words for all to hear.

Before Sasuke walked away, he smiled if only a little, so unnoticeable that Mifune was the only one who caught it. "You sound like him."

Mifune barely heard it but didn't ask what Sasuke meant. Mifune just silently watched as Sasuke walked away.

Mifune bore no hatred for Sasuke, as he saw him as one who will pay for his actions the rest of his life. Even if the whole world forgives and accepts him, Sasuke won't treat himself with such kindness.

Mifune will not blindly hate, nor trust Sasuke. Through his actions, Sasuke must earn it, more so than anyone else.

As Sasuke walked down the halls one last time, he passed many Samurai. The warriors of the Land of Iron were tending to the wounded, assessing the damages, counting the casualties and discussing the battle. Most ignored him, but some noticed and openly looked at him.

Their eyes have changed since back on that bridge.

He does not see trust, he does not see forgiveness...but he does not see scorn or hatred either.

They've acknowledged his actions here today, but still, they have not forgotten.

The path of redemption is a road one walks for a lifetime.

.

After the battle, Sasuke returned to Konoha to give his report to Kakashi. A lot happened, as Kakashi painfully found out when Sasuke told him all the details.

Kakashi leaned forward on his desk and spoke to Sasuke. "So the Devils split their forces into separate divisions of air and ground forces?"

"They also seem to create a barrier around their attack targets to prevent communications for aid." Said Sasuke; that's something they'll need to deal with.

"Did you learn anything else from that Devil?" The one Sasuke used Tsukuyomi on.

"Him and his group were transported to the stones. They're doing whatever they can to hide its location, even from their own." It sounded like a mixture of secrecy and lack of trust within their faction. "A bit of good news, I was able to learn the name of the Devil who lead the attack." The one on the camera.

"Who was it this time?"

"A Devil by the name of Euclid Lucifuge." Not a name in any of the reports sent by Gaara or Naruto.

"Not Rizevim Lucifer this time?" Kakashi tilted his head in confusion.

"No, and nothing about the Khaos Brigade either...In fact, Rizevim hasn't been seen for a while now."

"What'd you mean by that?"

"A rumour seems to be circulating within the Old Satan Faction. Rizevim Lucifer has all but disappeared. No one's seen or heard from him since the first attack." He's had plenty of time to recover from any injuries. Maybe he's afraid to show himself since Naruto, a human, defeated him.

"We'll have the recordings get developed. Hopefully, Yasaka can confirm if the commanding Devil is this Euclid Lucifuge. If so he's a target of interest."

Sasuke nodded in agreement with Kakashi and continued. "The creature I captured called himself Pluto, a Grim Reaper. It didn't follow Rizevim Lucifer or Euclid Lucifuge. Pluto spoke of a 'one true master'. For now, I'm keeping him sealed until we know what we're dealing with."

Kakashi nodded, the Youkai should know about it and this master he talked about.

Sasuke continued. "The captured dragon will be transported here as well as the remains of the other two...but with the villagers and scrolls taken, the Old Satan Faction can finally start learning about us."

Kakashi leaned back into his chair and looked up at the ceiling, he breathed out a stressful sigh. He truly felt for those taken. He's read plenty on the Old Satan Faction and the acts they committed during the Great War, but now with this new insight into the stone's capabilities.

"Sasuke...if you're right and the stones can be recalled...the Devils had plenty of time to get the stone we captured back." The Shinobi had it for a few days before they learned to use it. This means..."They allowed us to keep it and use it. Why? It strategically makes no sense, why allow us to pursue?" It was already believed that someone else supplied the Old Satan Faction with the stones. So whose script are they all dancing too?

That's not even the worst part.

Now armed with the knowledge that there are more pairs of stones out there, it spelt it out for Kakashi. "They can come at any time...without warning. All of the Nations are at constant risk of being attacked." Drop a stone from their world into the middle of a city or Nation. Then unleash an army before the Shinobi can mobilise.

Sasuke had a different perspective. "Kakashi...we don't know if they're already here. If they have a foothold and a stone in each Nation." Or an army ready to appear in an instant right as they speak, within the heart of the Nations.

It's hard to tell...in this battle against the Old Satan Faction and those above them...who's really winning here?

.

Urakyoto.

"I'm surprised you dragged me out here sunny boy." Sun Wukong was enjoying this lazy morning. Then Naruto just comes along and kicks him out of bed without as much as a word. "What's got your pants in a twist?"

Naruto looked at Sun with a serious expression, in contracts to his more typical easy-going one. "I just got word from Gaara...the Land of Iron was attacked. People were taken, and everything." Naruto does his best not to show it to others, but it gets to him.

"When I came here I hoped I could protect my home, that I would be on the front lines of this thing...but I don't even know where the battle lines are anymore ya'know." Despite the strides they've made, Naruto's home is still in their enemies crosshairs.

Sun took a puff from his pipe before asking. "Then what do you want from me, huh, kid?"

"I need to be ready for whatever comes my way." Naruto then called on his Touki and both his fists lit up in a white glow. "And this is taking too long for me. So I'm telling ya now, train me to use Touki. I don't care how painful your training regiment is, put me through it." Naruto's not letting Sun weasel his way out this time.

Sun could only smirk at Naruto's determination. "Well, if I remember correctly, you conveniently left out the Toad's diet when you left me on that mountain."

Naruto smirked back with the same cockiness. "Then this is your chance to make it hurt. That is if you're even able to old man."

Now Sun openly smirked with a wide grin and activated his Touki. Unlike Naruto, Sun was utterly bathed in a bright white aura. "Then welcome to Sun's training school for gifted youngsters. You don't get a passing grade till you can match this kid." Sun pointed to himself and the power around him.

"Then bring it on chimp." Naruto learns by doing.

So let's get going already.

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Chapter 16: Uchiha in the Land of Iron. Complete

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Sorry for being gone for what is it now two months. But some things happened as they always do so I got delayed.

Which leads me to ask you guys, are you ok, don't care, or hate it when people post announcements as chapters? Do I do that to let people know I'm not dead, I haven't dropped the story etc.; when I'm gone for a couple of months?

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Sasuke's new powers:

In hindsight, it would have been three, not two new powers so my bad. I kinda just grouped the Susanoo weapons together when really the Yata Mirror and Totsuka Blade are separate.

But most of you guessed that it would be the Susanoo weapons and Tsukuyomi. So I guess I'm saved lol.

Sasuke won't get Kotoamatsukami since both of Shisui's eyes have been destroyed...too bad.

The weapons will be purple and not orange since its Sasuke's Susanoo using them now.

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Genjutsu:

Hit and miss I'm never gonna win with this one, as there is plenty of evidence for both sides and conflicting ones too; whether or not Genjutsu can work on those who lack Chakra.

So I'm just going to have to make a choice here.

Normal Genjutsu won't work (like what Kurenai used on Itachi.) Since a Chakra flow is needed. But visual Genjutsu, at least the powerful ones such as Kotoamatsukami and Tsukuyomi, will work because they go straight for the brain, ignoring the need to mess with Chakra flow.

For other Genjutsu, the Shinobi world would need to develop new Genjutsus that mess with the Demonic power of a Devil, Holy Power of an Angel and so on; for Genjutsu to be applicable.

It's the best middle ground I could come up with between the universes.

This is also why I haven't introduced Shino Aburame or his clan even when others have asked about him. Because his clan's bugs can only devour Chakra, so their main offensive tactic is null and void against Devils and such. Yes, some bugs do stuff such as scout, or poison the enemy. But with a large portion of the battle capabilities useless against foes of the other world, it's a bad idea to send them out to fight.

With that logic, the Aburame clan would need to breed new insects that can deal with new energies. Since the Leaf now have samples of Demonic Power from capture Devils, Fallen Angel Holy Power from Kokabiel, and True Holy Power from Raphtalia, they've got that set now.

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Creation of All Things Technique:

My intention is not to make Naruto and Sasuke look weak when they used COAT, but to prevent it from being abused.

First off we know the COAT created the nine Bijuu from the Ten-Tails, splitting up Chakra that was said to be 'immeasurable' by Kurama. Note: immeasurable is not the same as infinity, infinity is just that, the highest number that can ever be thought of, while immeasurable can have a bunch of different reason why you can't measure the power. Ten-Tails was said to have near-infinite Chakra, and since Ten-Tails was split into nine pieces, which proves it doesn't have infinite power, same with Ophis being divided in two.

But these nine splits were given different forms with unique personalities and various powers and levels of power. Hagoromo has used COAT to create things other than the Ten-Tails, but we don't know what these are.

The main problem for me is that Izanagi, the power that brought Madara back to life hours after death, and the power that saved Danzo several times over, is a derivative of the COAT, as said by Obito when he killed Konan.

Izanagi is based on COAT, so if one can use COAT effectively, they can use and spam an even more powerful version of Izanagi to undo their own death. And since COAT is a Jutsu, not a visual Genjutsu, you won't go blind from using it. Hagoromo's said to have use COAT a few times and never lost eyesight. This means COAT also has control over imagination and reality to a higher degree than Izanagi without the limitations.

This is a problem.

If I give this Jutsu to either Naruto or Sasuke and they can use it practically, what's to stop it from being abused? What's to prevent it from becoming discount Dragon Balls to undo death? (During Itachi's explanation of Izanagi and Izanami, we saw the Uchiha clan using Izanagi to undo the deaths of others, not just themselves.)

What's to stop myself or others thinking 'Why didn't Naruto use COAT to do such and such, to prevent such and such, during such and such?' I'm going to get that enough with Shadow Clones and Flying Raijin alone, I'm not adding COAT into that hot mess.

So I've placed clear restrictions and limitations on the ability for Naruto and Sasuke to prevent this. It was not to make Naruto and Sasuke look weak but to stop an OP Jutsu from getting out of control. Izanagi was balanced because you lose eyesight in the Sharingan used to cast it, losing that eye's abilities too, which can only be undone if you evolve it into the Rinnegan. With COAT, only Hagoromo could use it because he had the eye powers, and types Chakras and Chakra Natures needed for it. Other than that, the Jutsu had no real drawbacks. So once others start being able to use it, problems start happening.

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Now on to the other one...

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Hagoromo:

Some have said I'm over-hyping Hagoromo. Well, I completely disagree. His powers, feats and stuff he's pulled off are crazy. Hagoromo is the son of Kaguya, an Otsutsuki, so he's half Otsutsuki and inherited her powerful Chakra. He has more Chakra than Naruto since he's the origin of both the Senju and Uchiha bloodlines and Chakras, which got split between Asura and Indra. His control allowed him to use Chakra and Jutsus without hand signs, mastered Sage Jutsu with relative ease, and then created Six Paths Senjutsu. He unlocked the EMS Sharingan, and then the Rinnegan and has their powers. He has Truth Seeker Orbs and all Nature transformations, and a Susanoo that is the same size as Ten-Tails and can block Ten Tail's Tailed Beasts Bomb...Cannons (or whatever you'd call that laser beam) with just its swords.

He and his brother battled a more powerful version Kaguya for months, which surpasses any stamina and Chakra limit feat that Characters like Naruto have shown. The Fourth Great Ninja War only lasted a few days. Naruto completely ran out of Chakra by its end while getting several powers ups during the war. Kurama's Tailed Beast State, a recharge from the other half of Kurama when the God Tree drained him of his half of Kurama's Chakra, and Six Paths Sage Mode from Hagoromo.

The Kaguya Naruto and Sasuke fought was not prime Kaguya. She was missing half of Kurama. (Which is a big deal since just half of Kurama foddered five other Tailed Beasts.) And if we high ball it, 1/10 of the other Tailed Beast's Chakra (It's not accurate, just a high ball. We know Naruto only got a small piece from the other eight, but it's impossible to work out how much. Also, keep in mind I'm using the Last Naruto, not Hokage Naruto in my story.)

While the Kaguya, Hagoromo and his brother fought had full Ten-Tails and the two brothers lacked any kind of Tailed Beast Chakra.

It's a fact that full Ten-Tails is stronger than full Kurama. With the only weakness of Ten-Tails being that it's mindless so it can't focus its power or control it properly

Hagoromo then got the Full Ten-Tails and can now use COAT (He still has that Susanoo btw...a possible Majestic Attire Susanoo with Ten Tails instead of Kurama...?Speculation?...not really lol)

After death, he became something else. He can bring himself back from the After World at will; give his Chakra to others even if he's dead. Have two separate conversations with Naruto and Sasuke simultaneously; that were in two different dimensions. (Naruto in Kamui world. Sasuke in the Shinobi world.) Bring the souls of the previous Hokage back from the After World without any kind of sacrifice. Undid the Reanimating Jutsu of the four Hokage...even when only the caster (Orochimaru at the time.) can do that...Hagoromo did it anyway...he looks at the rules of the Naruto verse and just says no...? The databook on this guy sounds like he's from another manga.

If you think I'm overhyping him...you're free to think that, but I still disagree. I'm not downplaying the other members of the clan I know they're powerful. Kinshiki can split the earth, and Momoshiki said he could take Kaguya...and Isshiki needs no introduction.

In terms of hax, I'd put Hagoromo at the top. In terms of raw power and physical ability, I'd put Isshiki Ōtsutsuki at the top. Since he bested both Hokage Naruto and Adult Sasuke when he was in a vessel that could barely handle his own power. I still think Hagoromo has better hax. But if Isshiki shows off more of that eye of his and other abilities he has and shows more crazy shit; I'll gladly put Isshiki above Hagoromo. In both hax and not just raw power and physical ability...but then he died, soul got destroyed and all.

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Then we got Naruto's new form...

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Naruto's Baryon Mode:

Rather than stacking Chakra modes like Naruto always does. (Kurama's Chakra and Six paths Sage Mode for example.) Instead, Naruto's and Kurama's Chakras are consumed as raw material to make an entirely new form of energy or a new kind of Chakra.

In this form, Naruto clearly became the strongest in terms of physical ability and raw power. He went from getting bested by Isshiki, to gaining the upper hand over him for a short time. The form also gives Naruto a new hax ability which reduces the life force of those he attacks, or just touches.

But the downsides of the form outweigh the positives.

This form's energy drain is so extreme that Naruto has even less time with it than Guy did with the Eight Gate of Death. Naruto also can't use Jutsus in this form due to the strain as well. (He can probably use a Jutsu or two, but it won't be worth it for how much it would shorten the time Naruto can use the form.) And Naruto's own life force gets reduced as well.

The hax ability so far shown...is pretty weak. It only shortened Isshiki life force by around 19 hours. Against anyone else that isn't a day or a few days from death, this life force drain won't amount to anything as it is. (However, one can speculate that the life force drain is small because Naruto is just punching and kicking him. If Naruto could use Jutsus effectively, then maybe a Rasengan could drain months or years off, while a Rasenshuriken could drain between a 100 to 1000 years. A Tailed Beast Bomb could take even more...it's pure speculation...don't be annoyed by the numbers I used, I'm just putting it out there.)

Outside of this form, Naruto is inferior to Isshiki. In this form, Naruto physically abilities and raw Chakra surpass Isshiki, but only for a short time, then Naruto will die from it, or so Kurama says. The only way I see Naruto surviving this form is to apply nuclear fission. Rather than using nuclear fusion, to consume their Chakras to create a new form of energy like what Baryon Mode is doing. Instead, apply nuclear fission to split their new Chakra apart to get back their individual Chakras.

It's a possible way for Naruto to save himself from the form. We'll just have to wait for the next few chapters to see what happens.

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Right, I remember someone bringing up Toneri, well he won't play a part in my story. Two reasons:

He lost his eyes, so he lost most of his power.

The portal to the moon is gone so there's no getting to him.

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Next: Chapter 17: The First Steps.

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Oh and because I took so long to update here's a teaser...a blue-haired friend is making a return.

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