A Sage's Mission

by EventualFallOut

The Shinobi world is finally at peace. But an attack from the unknown has put the Shinobi world on edge. Now Naruto and his friends need to get to the bottom on who these beings are, and where they came from. He's not going to let another war plague his home after finally achieving peace: Multi-Cross over. "No copyright infringement is intended."

19. Chapter 19

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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I was surprisingly asked this again about Kurama's Red Chakra Cloak and why Naruto can use it.

IF YOU ALREADY KNOW AND UNDERSTAND WHY, SKIP THIS AND GO TO THE STORY.

Now I said this before if Naruto uses full KCM mode or Six Paths, then non-sensory types; people who can't even sense Chakra can feel his Chakra's physical presence nations away. So if Naruto uses that form, all the powerful people in DXD will feel it too. But having Naruto not use Kurama's power at all would be kind of boring.

So Red Cloak can get around this.

It only hurts Naruto if Kurama is at odds with him. But since Naruto and Kurama are friends now, the whole damaged skin, loss of life force and attacking friend and foe alike won't happen anymore. Like with Killer Bee.

Also, the Red Cloak Versions 1 and 2 gives me the chance to write Naruto fighting in a new way, running on all fours, using claws or bone arms, stretching his limbs out, as he did against Pain.

Naruto chooses to use KCM and above because it's better than the Red Cloak in every way. But if his foes don't know Naruto's full power, it gives Naruto an advantage in battle. It's not like Naruto can't use the Red Chakra Cloak anyway. He used it to block Sasuke's Amaterasu at Final Valley, remember.

Plus, I'd like to build up to the day Naruto has to use KCM and then Six Paths, and the world sees how strong he really is.

Why not now? It kinda kills it if Naruto shows all his power and tells everyone what he can do at the start, ruins the mystery about him in other character's eyes.

Besides, what'd think Orphis will do when she learns about his true power.

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Chapter 19: Retaliation

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"What did you just say?" Azazel heard it, but he still couldn't believe it. Where is Rizevim Livan Lucifer? That is what he heard, right? But that's...that's impossible. How did Naruto figure out Vali is a Lucifer, and how in the hell does Naruto even know Rizevim exists? That Devil isn't someone you just bring up during a conversation at dinner.

"Did Yasaka tell Naruto about him? Why? Why him of all people?" Rizevim hardly participated in the war, didn't even bother to fight alongside the Old Satan Faction. Not much changed after the war, and he continued to keep a low profile. "Naruto...how do you about him? What happened?" Azazel asked, but Naruto said nothing. The Shinobi kept his focus on Vali, who, despite wearing his Balance Breaker, Naruto could tell the Devil was also shocked under that helmet.

Vali's fingers twitched uncontrollably. His Demonic Power flexed a little as the Devil's emotions went haywire. Naruto speaking that name struck a nerve, a deeply rooted one. Vali too, wondered how Naruto knew about that man. And why he brought him up?

"I asked you a question, Vali!" And Naruto demanded an answer. He took a few steps forward, but Azazel stopped Naruto by holding out his arm in front of the Shinobi.

"Okay, I'm not even going to ask how you figured out Vali was a Lucifer as much as I want to. But what does Rizevim got to do with any of this?"

"What's he got to do with this?" Naruto shoved Azazel's arm out the way before answering. "He's got everything to do with this. All of this wouldn't even be a thing if it wasn't for him. I wouldn't even know you guys existed if it wasn't for him."

"Kid, what are you talking about?" Azazel was so lost.

"I'm talking about how Rizevim was the one who started it all, old man! Being one of the first Devil's I'd ever seen. When he attacked my home and brought me and my friends into this." An unprovoked attack out the blue from a race the Shinobi never knew existed. "And my home wasn't the only one he hit." Naruto's eyes glanced at Raphtalia.

Vali followed Naruto's line of sight and looked up at Raphtalia on the second floor. Her eyes gave off a more vicious look than Naruto did. Her Fused Excalibur was shinning with Holy Power; she was ready to attack at a moment's notice.

Both Naruto and Raphtalia held Rizevim with strong animosity. But while Naruto lost nothing to his attack, Raphtalia lost everything.

"My home, friends, and family are all gone...because of him. I'm only alive because he kept me as his pet. If you know where he is, then you Vali 'will' tell us." Raphtalia was not interested in a discussion. Vali will tell them what he knows. Nothing else mattered.

Vali looked at the enraged Youkai...those eyes...she really has seen him. Some things were starting to make sense. A mystery was being unravelled bit by bit. But the young Lucifer was still left with many questions. "Bastard, huh...for once, we actually agree on something, Uzumaki. So you're after him because he destroyed your home as he did hers?"

"My home's still standing." Because Naruto personally chased him off. "And he'll answer for what he did to Raphtalia's and anyone else he's wronged."

"If he attacked your home as you say, then it's not standing anymore. Not with his power." Naruto may have the ability to defeat someone on Kokabiel's level. But Rizevim is on a completely different one. "And even if I did know where he was, I wouldn't tell you. I'd go kill him myself." Vali doesn't have one...but if he did have a 'To Kill List', Rizevim would be at the top. Thinking of that man angered Vali, but killing him also excited the young Lucifer.

"Huh?" Naruto was stumped. Did Vali...yes, he did...that was genuine hatred for Rizevim just then.

Kurama felt his hatred too. "Hmmm...He hates Rizevim even more than Raphtalia does...Interesting. "

"Infighting within the clan?" Rizevim is one of the biggest assholes Naruto has ever met, so he shouldn't be surprised. But that doesn't explain Vali's actions. "If that's how you feel about him, then why are you on his side?"

"I'm not on anyone's side. The Khaos Brigade is just a means to an end for me. They'll offer me the chance to..."

"Dumbass, the Khaos Brigade and Old Satan Faction are hand in hand! Your dear old clan member is one of their higher-ups!"

Vali didn't say anything back and merely looked away, like he was thinking of something...coming up with a plan.

"Right then." Azazel caught everyone's attention by clapping his hands. Despite the revelations heard, he still maintained his easygoing attitude. "Let's all cool it. Vali clearly, a whole lot's been going on. The smart thing to do now would be to step back and..."

"No." Vali interrupted Azazel. "This worked out even better than I hoped." Under that helmet, Vali had a Devilish smirk. This wasn't Vali's original plan, but this could work in his favour.

Azazel rubbed his eyes, clearly having a migraine from all the stress. "Please don't, Vali. I know what you're thinking, and it's a dumb idea."

"What could I possibly be thinking?" Vali said sarcastically.

"Oh, I don't l know. Like getting chummy with the Khaos Brigade so you can get closer to him and wring his neck like in all of your wet dreams." Azazel sarcastically said back, though he's pretty sure that's something Vali would do. Once Vali has had his fun, he'll leave the group after killing his grandfather. "Do you know why Rizevim is one of your worst matchups?"

"That Sacred Gear Canceller thingy he's packing?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah...wait, how do you know about that?"

"Oh, he tried to use it on me, but I don't have any of these Gears, so all I got was some mist."

"What'd you just say? You've fought Rizevim...Yeah right, explain how you're still alive then?"

"I don't know. Maybe I throw a meaner punch than him." Naruto had a cheeky smirk.

Azazel raised an eyebrow. Did Naruto just hint at fighting Rizevim and winning? Nah no way...It can't be.

Naruto looked back at Vali. "All right, plan A's no good. Vali hates him and has no clue where he is. Plan B it is then." Naruto walked past Azazel. "Fine, you don't know where he is, but you're reporting to the Khaos Brigade now, so we'll settle with their location then." Naruto phrased it as more of a command than a suggestion. But Vali crossed his arms, showing no signs of cooperation. "That's how you're going to play it, fine by me." Naruto cracked his knuckles. "I've got no problem beating the information out of you."

Vali's posture shifted. He looked enticed by the idea of fighting Naruto and settling the score. But he is surrounded, and while he didn't see Naruto's teammates as a threat, Azazel could be a problem.

Naruto saw his hesitation. "He's going to run." Vali's not ignorant of his position. He is essentially in enemy territory right now.

Vali's armour radiated power; blue wings protruded from his back and glistened in the halls of Azazel's estate. "Thanks for the information Naruto." Vali ascended into the air, aiming for the ceiling and his escape. "We'll meet again and settle our..." Vali was stopped abruptly by a wave of Holy Power. He dodged the strike. He looked to see the attacker; it was Raphtalia. Not letting her try it again, Vali quickly gathered power in the pawn of his hand and fired a blast at the Youkai. But then a purple barrier was summoned to protect Raphtalia and blocked the attack successfully.

"You're welcome, nya." Kuroka took the credit.

"You should be careful who you pick fights with, cat," Vali said.

"Like him?" Kuroka smirked. She got Vali to look.

Naruto then appeared next to Vali, blitzing him once again. "You should pay attention." Naruto's fist was engulfed in Chakra, enough to become visible in blue light. The Shinobi's punch landed and smashed against Vali's helmet. The force cracked the armour and sent the Devil across the hall.

"Watch my stuff!" Azazel saw Vali's pending landing site, and it was something he would not see so much as getting scratched. So the Fallen Angel took off. To onlookers, it seemed he would catch Vali. But instead, he hastily saved a painting and let Vali go through the wall.

CRASH.

The now saved painting's wall was replaced by a Vali sized hole. Naruto jumped to the hole's entrance. Unfortunately for Vali, Naruto's not giving him a chance to catch his breath.

"Do you know what you nearly destroyed?!" Azazel shouted while protectively clutching a painting. "This is one of the five 'Card players by Paul Cézanne'. Do you know how rare this is and much they're worth!?" Azazel may be filthy rich but come on, these kinds of paintings are a collator's dream.

Naruto ignored the complaining Fallen Angel and jumped after Vali. The sounds of battle could be heard echoing in the distance. Hinata was the first one to chase after them. The rest trickled in behind her; Azazel took his time following; he made sure to place defensive spells to protect his stuff. When the rest made it through, they found themselves in an open courtyard. Stone footpaths were leading to the centre of the square, where a water fountain was. The surrounding areas were filled with all kinds of plants, creating a much more vibrate locale when compared to the wasteland outside the walls.

But much to Azazel's carnage, his well-cut planets and bushes, his extravagant water fountain, are in danger of being destroyed in the crossfire. Naruto kept Vali on ground level and forced him to fight on his terms, hand to hand.

If Vali tried to take off, Naruto knocked him down. The Devil quickly got the message. As long as Naruto stands, he can't escape.

To escape, he must defeat Naruto.

While Azazel was frantic about his possession at the risk of being demolished, he was too taken back by Naruto's performance. Azazel trained Vali since he was a kid, so he knows his strength and ability better than anyone. So seeing Naruto stand his ground against him, made the Fallen Angel question what he believed. "Speaking of which..." Azazel looked around and found Naruto's friends. They haven't joined the battle for some reason? "Why aren't they helping him?" They looked calm about it...weird.

Azazel joined them as they watched the battle. "Nothing's stopping you from joining in. No one said it's a one on one duel or any of that junk."

Hinata shook her head. "There'll be no need for us to join the battle. We have a plan. All I ask is for you not to interfere."

Azazel found it amusing for her to ask him such a thing. He didn't find it presumptuous...just...this is his place, yet it feels like he's the guest. "On one condition."

"Which is?"

"Is what that kid said true? About Rizevim, about fighting him and winning or was that a bunch of bull?" Azazel hasn't forgotten about that or what Naruto insinuated.

Hinata and Raphtalia glanced at one another, silently debating how they should answer that; or if they should.

"I would like to know too?" Xenovia said at the back. She's the newest to the team and has so much to catch up on.

"First time I've heard about this, nya." Kuroka shared her curiosity. "First, it's Sun, then Kokabiel, then Grendel, and now I hear something about a Super Devil." Kuroka then playfully shoulder nudged Hinata. "Mind filling your dear teammates on the story, nya?"

Hinata was well aware; telling anyone about Rizevim is a risky endeavour. How the people of this world will react will depend on their feelings about Naruto prior to learning this secret. If someone fears or is wary of Naruto, then learn he is stronger than one of the three Super Devils; it will only cause them to fear or resent him more. Can't let the New Satan Faction learn about this yet, being a wanted man and all.

Hinata trusts Kuroka and Xenovia just as Naruto does, but should Azazel know about this? It's a very Naruto move, a risky gamble. This will either push him away or guarantee his assistance.

Hinata made her choice. "Naruto-Kun spoke the truth. If Rizevim hadn't attacked our home, we would've never learned the existence of Devils, Angels, the Fallen Angels or the Youkai, or have met any of you." Hinata looked at everyone when she said that last part to help it sink in. "Our investigation and search for him has lead us to his allies and co-conspirators." Hinata then glanced at Azazel. "And allies, I hope." The Fallen Angel caught that.

"But did Naruto fight him?" That was what Azazel wanted to know. He heard what Kuroka said. Naruto fought and won against Sun? Does she mean Sun Wukong, and then there's Grendel... the Evil dragon Grendel? Isn't he dead?

"When we find him again, we will defeat him...as Naruto did before," Hinata answered truthfully. She placed all her hopes on Azazel being more intrigued due to this knowledge.

"..."

"Hahahaha...aahhh." Azazel chuckled a little with an easy smile. Hinata's words washed over him like a gentle breeze; he took it in stride. He leaned back and relaxed his arms. "Alright...you kids go have fun and do whatever your plan is. I'll sit back and enjoy the show."

Hinata nodded in appreciation and directed her teammates. She sent each one to cover a section of the courtyard. They only need to keep Vali from escaping should he slip past Naruto. But if everything goes as planned, they won't need to.

Azazel watched as they ran to do their jobs, whatever they may be. He'd sit back and observe the battle between Vali, the White Dragon Emperor and a Lucifer, against Naruto, the human who's apparently defeated Rizevim. "I'm invested now. If what Hinata said is true, then Vali should be a piece of cake for this kid. Might as well see what Yasaka's new favourite can do."

Seeing is believing, after all.

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"Come on then! You want a fight so bad; then let's fight!" When Vali was thrown through the wall, Naruto was on him in seconds. The Shinobi wouldn't give the Devil a chance to escape. Naruto was relentless, Vali screwed him over, and now he's going to pay him back in full, with interest.

Vali tried to push Naruto back with his magic, but Naruto was at arm's length. Whenever Vali attempted to use his Demonic Power, Naruto swiped the arm away, and Vali suffered a barrage of punches and kicks. Vali had no choice but to fight Naruto at close quarters, fist against fist. If the White Dragon Emperor tried to back away, the Shinobi grabbed the closest limb to bring him back. Arm, leg or the tail, it didn't matter.

But it quickly became apparent who held the advantage.

Vali threw a quick left punch. But Naruto parried it, grabbed the arm, twisted it, and followed it up with a swift knee to Vali's neck. The Emperor's Balance Breaker Armour was covered in cracks, and in some places, small armour pieces were destroyed.

Vali is losing this exchange. His partner needs to help him.

"If you continue to fight on his terms, the only outcome afforded to you will be defeat." From within Vali, a dragon, his partner spoke.

"Then what do you suggest, Albion?"

Albion, also known as the Vanishing Dragon, the other Heavenly Dragon and Ddraig's eternal rival. Both powerful dragons and creatures that even gods fear.

"Break away from him doesn't matter how you do it."

"I'll overcome him. I don't need to retreat."

"I know your plan, but if you can't grab him, then you can't use my power." Vali has failed to land a single blow on Naruto. Albion's power, the one he's become famous for, can't be used on one the White Dragon Emperor has failed to touch.

Forgoing hand to hand combat, Vali gathered power within his armour, and its central jewel lit up. The blue orb finished its charge and blasted a beam of energy at Naruto. Naruto tilted his head and narrowly avoided the beam, but Vali kept up his attack, shooting not just from his centre but from his hands as well. Vali aimed at Naruto's head; when that kept missing, he switched to his feet. The ground became unstable, and before it caved in, Naruto back flipped away from the blast. Naruto pivoted his body in midair and dodged additional shots from Vali. With space between them, Vali spread his wings and took to the skies getting a bird's eye view of the courtyard.

Planting his feet, Naruto looked up at the hovering White Dragon Emperor and saw his armour reform. The damaged white dragon armour began fixing itself until it looked good as new. All the damage Naruto inflected has been repaired.

"The armour can fix itself," Kurama said. But this also left him wondering. "It can repair itself, but does it also heal the brat?" They'll need to chip off the armour again to found out.

From the sky above, Vali looked at Naruto with a fresh perspective. He'll admit it. He underestimated him. Vali thought Naruto's first punch was a fluke; it only succeeded because he caught Vali by surprise. But this later exchanged proved something else.

Albion needed Vali to understand. "Stop underestimating him. You have a habit of doing that against your foes, Vali." Vali's pride has been a problem from day one. "It's good to take pride in your abilities, but not when it makes you act the fool."

Vali ignored his partner's advice. "He's able to crack my Balance Breaker so easily. How's he capable of that?"

While annoyed his partner didn't listen, Albion answered nonetheless. "If he can use Senjutsu as the Devils believe. It would explain his physical strength and our inability to sense his power." Only a Senjutsu user can detect Senjutsu. "He may also be able to use Touki if he's skilled enough." It would only be further proof, though Naruto has yet to show it.

"You can fly away if you want!"

Vali's eyes snapped to one who said those words. Naruto shouted to him from the ground. He wore a cocky smile.

"Your dad, uncle...whatever; he did the same thing ya'know! He bailed when I made him permanently right-handed!" More like he got bailed out, but Naruto won't tell him that.

Vali knew what Naruto was trying to do. These lies were just to get under his skin; this human, talking about Rizevim so lightly, like Naruto, has a right to speak Rizevim's name in front of him so brazenly. Rizevim isn't Naruto's, nor is he Raphtalia's to kill. He's Vali's and Vali's alone, and he'll make sure Naruto understands this.

Albion saw their opportunity to escape, but Vali didn't even budge. The Devil's focus was squarely on the human below him. "This is your chance to escape." Albion tried to advise his partner.

"No...Not after that."

"Vali?"

"I'll leave...after I've shown him the difference between us. One single touch, that's all it will take."

"If he brings you down to ground, you'll be right back where you started."

"Then I won't stick around for his counter. I'll stay on the move."

"That would be best." It'd be better if they leave...too late for that.

Vali's in battle mode.

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When Vali stayed in the sky, unmoving like he was, Naruto saw hesitation; the deciding moment if Vali will fight or flight. Naruto needed to act upon it, and act he did. By speaking about his victory over Rizevim so casually, a man Vali wants to kill so badly. It was like pouring oil on a fire. Vali's fuse was lit. Now he won't. He can't leave without making Naruto pay for his words.

Good...It seems a 'Devil's Pride' is a real thing, and Vali's pride is too immense for the man to swallow.

From down below, Naruto saw blue energy build up around Vali, like an aura. His wings expanded and glimmered. Then, he moved.

A zipping blue trail of light in the sky, Vali moved at speeds far surpassing that of Kokabiel. He darted around like a shooting star before suddenly coming at Naruto like a comet. Naruto rolled out the way. He chose to avoid him rather than meet him. That display was to distract him. The charge was to close the gap; there must be a follow-up. But Vali only passed Naruto, confusing the Shinobi. Naruto looked around and checked...no traps or spells or anything he might have dropped or planted...nothing? Vali passed him and did nothing?

"The heck was that?" Naruto didn't understand what Vali was trying to pull. The White Dragon Emperor came around again, repeating the same move. Naruto once again dodged, but Vali kept coming at Naruto repeatedly, and he was getting faster and faster. It looked like Vali was trying to grab him. But why was he so hung up on this to try it over and over? There must be something to this, or Vali wouldn't be so confident.

"Hey, Naruto, nya!" From the stands, Kuroka, watching the fight with great interest, called out to the Shinobi.

"What!?" Naruto shouted back before dodging Vali again.

"You know how the Red Dragon doubles his own power and can give it to others!?"

"Yes! And!?"

"Well, the White Dragon halves the power of others to take for himself! But he has to grab you first to do it! Did you forget already, nya!?" Kuroka's seen Naruto reading books about Sacred Gears. One of them was about the Longinus's.

"..."

"...No!" He totally did. "I should really make an effort to remember what I read." He should.

"Then this brat's assured himself if he takes your power, his victory is guaranteed." Said Kurama; he can see Vali puts a lot of stock in his Sacred Gear.

"But we have touched...wait. No, I've touched him, but Vali hasn't been able to grab me once. So that's what this zipping about is for..." Naruto looked at Vali, who's coming at him once again for another attempt. He fired several blasts at Naruto's position to disrupt his balance. But Naruto readied himself.

"Just as Vali passes you..." Once he over commits.

"Is when he's most vulnerable." Naruto and Kurama were of the same mind.

Naruto waited for the last second, Vali was upon him, and Naruto bent backwards. Vali passed over Naruto, who looked up at the White Dragon Emperor with a smirk. In Naruto's hands were two pieces of paper. He quickly stuck them onto Vali's wings just as he passed.

And after Vali gained some distance...

"Boom," Naruto said smugly.

The two C-Grade paper bombs detonated, and Vali lost his balance. His blue wings were still intact, barely scorched. But Vali needed to plant his feet, if only for a second.

A second was all Naruto needed.

Naruto closed the gap, Vali fired a blast of Demonic power at him, but Naruto jumped over and delivered a spin kick. Vali created a defensive circle to block the attack, but Naruto's kick shattered the defence. Seeing the opening, Naruto created a Rasengan and charged at Vali; now's the time. But under his helmet, Vali smiled and raised his arm. He's got Naruto right where he wants him.

"Now, Vali!" Albion shouted; this was their chance.

"Half Dimension!" Goodbye Naruto.

"Naruto, move!" Kurama, sensing a buildup of power, warned his partner.

Stopping his charge, Naruto didn't waste a moment questioning Kurama and jumped out of the way, narrowly evading waves of blue energy fired by Vali. The waves hit the wall behind Naruto. At first, Naruto expected to see the wall explode or crumble. Instead, it shrank?

Bit by bit, the wall got smaller and smaller until disappearing entirely. What kind of attack was that?

Naruto turned to look at Vali with a stupefied expression. "Did you just try to shrink me?" That Sacred Gear doesn't just half power, but it can half objects and people too?

Vali didn't answer and prepared to use it again. But Naruto already had an attack at the ready. His Rasengan was still in hand.

"Let's go, Kurama!" Naruto infused a small amount of Kurama's Chakra and added his Wind Element to the Rasengan, changing its properties just enough to do this. "Rasengan Flash!" Naruto thrust his arm forward and fired his Rasengan like a beam. His Wind Style carried the Rasengan's Chakra forward. The beam struck Vali's arm, shattering the armour that protected it and interrupted Vali's attack.

Vali and even Albion were mildly surprised by that move. Not a few seconds earlier, they saw Naruto attempt to use that same attack when he charged, to use at close range. But he could use it as a ranged attack as well.

Naruto narrowed his eyes at Vali's arm, now devoid of armour. The wounds Naruto inflected earlier were still present.

"The armour doesn't heal."

"That's all I needed to know."

Naruto created another Rasengan, slightly bigger than the one earlier; this one had a bit more Chakra to it.

Naruto stood before the White Dragon Emperor, radiating confidence, radiating authority. Naruto looked at Vali with such intent. The Devil couldn't hope to look away. Naruto was sending a message.

"He intends to end this here and now." Albion saw the meaning clearly. This is the human's challenge. "His commitment to this attack will be absolute. This will be your best chance. But it will also be his best chance."

"Whoever's the fastest wins this fight." Vali understood what Albion was telling him.

Naruto fought well, more than well. A rare foe he's faced. But Vali's win was inevitable. He was both a Lucifer and the White Dragon Emperor. His existence is akin to a miracle or a joke that the world has never seen before. It didn't matter how strong Naruto was or what tricks he had. A human who came from nowhere could never defeat him. Vali will overcome him, as he will one day overcome all others...even the strongest of dragons.

And he'll prove it now.

Vali gathered as much Demonic Power as he could into his wings. The fastest one wins here, and he'll make sure that it's him. His wings glowed brighter than ever before as they stored his power.

The two adversaries looked at each other silently.

Then they took off.

Vali flew across the ground, his arm reaching out to seize his victory.

Naruto ran across the ground, his arm pulled back, readying his Rasengan to strike.

As the two closed in on one another, a familiar Kunai appeared in Naruto's free hand. The Shinobi swiftly threw the Kunai at Vali, but it harmlessly bounced off the armour, not even leaving a scratch.

The two were mere inches from one another. Vali's hand inched closer to Naruto, while Naruto's Rasengan closed in on Vali.

But Vali threw everything he had into his speed. He would reach his target first. And that he did. Vali reached out his hand and closed in on Naruto's shoulder.

"I win. Divine Dividing!" Vali grasped his victory.

"..."

But...Vali only grabbed thin air. Naruto vanished from sight!

Above Vali, a bandaged hand held a kunai tight. Naruto teleported above Vali just before Vali grabbed him, and his Rasengan was still in hand. In mid-air, Naruto pivoted his body; he's got Vali right where he wants him. "Rasengan!" Naruto slammed the Jutsu into Vali's back. The force of the attack pushed Vali into the ground, destroying a portion of the courtyard they're fighting in.

From the stands, Azazel saw it all go down. From the start, he was impressed by Naruto's abilities. Azazel trained Vali himself, so to see Naruto fight him so well was worth the watch. What Naruto did to Vali...that was not speed. That must have been teleportation, yet over such a short distance? Teleportation techniques are common. Every Faction and race has one, but they're used for travel, not for combat.

Naruto has one that breaks the norm, and it has something to do with that Kunai he threw.

But while Azazel saw what happened, Vali didn't, so caught up in his delusions of victory, he missed the Shinobi's move. One moment Naruto was in front of him, the next, Vali face planted the ground, and his back was being torn apart. His armour was gone; he felt the attack violently grind it to dust. His majestic silver armour became nothing more than scrap metal. The wings that stored a large amount of his Demonic Power for his speed have been destroyed, costing Vali a lot of his energy.

The Devil suffered tremendous pain; he would scream if he could. He felt his skin and flesh being torn to shreds, and his bones and organs were next; they felt like the waves of a vortex would soon pulverise them. For the first time in a long time, Vali felt something, something he's not felt since he was a kid...fear. A slight sense of fear, but it was there. Vali felt the fear of death.

But this is what he wants, fights where his life is on the line so that he could reach new heights.

So why does he...?

But then the pain stopped, the attack ceased. Naruto deactivated his Rasengan just before it would severely damage Vali's organs. All the Devil could feel was the chilling sense of the human's hand's palm, on his back's ruptured skin. Vali was glad for the reprieve. But the meaning behind it infuriated him. Naruto, this human, held Vali's life in his hands. Vali lived because Naruto demanded it. Because he allowed it. And the reprieve was short-lived.

Naruto grabbed Vali and lifted him above his head. Was this for victory? Will he boast of his achievement?

No, he won't.

Naruto's leg shinned bright. A white aura covered it like a shroud of magic.

Vali's seen that aura before. "T-Touki?" Vali barely muttered those words, with his mouth full of blood.

"This could be problematic," Albion stated when he felt the significant amount of life force within the small amount of Touki coming from Naruto. If he can use Touki at that level, then that means...

Without a shred of mercy, Naruto slammed Vali's back against his leg. He did it with such force, right up until he heard the...

SNAP!

Vali, barely responsive, hanged off Naruto's leg. Naruto broke Vali's back, and the Shinobi threw him away like a ragdoll. Like he was nothing more than trash. The defeated White Dragon Emperor lay flat on his back, unable to move. His Demonic Power's shot, the Devil practically in agony and in no condition to use his Sacred Gear.

What could he do?

"You took a bit longer than Rizevim. But he made the mistake of coming to my home. I wasn't interested in learning what he could do." Issei was the first Sacred Gear user Naruto has ever 'sparred' with. But he didn't learn a whole lot from that rookie. On the other hand, Vali showed what a Longinus Sacred Gear could do in the hands of a well trained and natural talent like him.

And that was the most annoying thing about it. "You've got some skill, Vali, ya'know. Talent and the tools most people would be jealous of. And like an idiot, you waste it!" He could do all this, and he sides with terrorists and becomes a traitor. "I guess you can feel good about your existence in a cell while the world moves on. I'll make sure to save the one next to you for Rizevim."

There he goes again, saying his name. Talking like him fighting and beating that bastard is a reality. Despite the pain, despite the tearing of his skin, the crackling of bones, Vali tried to sit up. Vali would look Naruto in the eyes with pure tenacity and rage. He won't lie on the ground in shame. "Rizevim...is...mine!" Vali gritted his teeth as blood seeped between them and travelled down his chin. "I d-don't care what you think you know! Or where you come from, I am the one who's going to kill him, and I promise you. I will overcome you! You are not my ceiling!" Naruto is not the limit Vali can't surpass.

"Save it! You don't get it at all, do you, Vali. What you fight for is pathetic compared to what I fight for! We carry very different things on our backs. No matter how many times we fight, no matter how strong you get or what tricks you learn, you will never beat me."

If Vali could, he'd pray to God to give him the means to kill Naruto right here and now. But Vali's body was immobile; he could only use so much Demonic Power in his condition.

He couldn't fight, he can't win...that leaves...

Damn it. DAMN IT!

To run away in disgrace like this!

Using what power he could, nearly passing out from the strain, Vali used one final spell, Teleportation magic. He has to leave. He must escape. A magical circle formed below Vali and shinned with power. "Next time we meet, I'll show you the true power of the White Dragon Emperor!" Vali promise himself, he'll settle the score with Naruto one day.

Naruto saw what Vali was doing, but he didn't move. He merely looked on as Vali made his getaway. Then Vali vanished from sight, disappeared completely.

Vali successfully escaped.

Then why, why does Naruto smile so? "Thank you, Vali, for being such good help." Now for part two of Naruto's master plan.

.

---

"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT!" Azazel marched over and shouted at the top of his lungs. He could not believe what Naruto let happen, and after destroying his courtyard. Azazel's gardener's going to be pissed. "You had him! WHY!" Azazel was in Naruto's face, he talked so angrily and passionately he was nearly spitting in Naruto's face.

"Azazel..." Naruto tried to speak, but the Fallen Angel was having none of it.

"First, loved the fight, loved watching you in action and loved Vali getting his comeuppance. And then you ruin it by doing something stupid like letting him go!"

"Azazel I..."

"This isn't Dragon Ball Z where you let the bad guy get away for some chivalry nonsense! What was the point!?"

"AZAZEL!"

"WHAT!?"

"First of, I don't know what Dragon Ball Z is! Second, I marked him!"

"..."

"You what?"

"I. Let. Him. Go. Because. I. Marked. Him."

Azazel tilted his head in confusion. Naruto's weird explanation drained all the frustration out of him.

Hinata appeared at Naruto's side while the other team members hanged back. That's when Azazel noticed how everyone else looked pretty chill. Vali got away, and they're not annoyed about it like he is. "How come I'm the only one pissed here?"

Naruto ignored Azazel's question and turned to Hinata. "Is Azazel with us?"

Hinata glanced at Azazel before answering. "He is."

"Are you?" Naruto now wanted to hear him say it.

Azazel shrugged his shoulders. He had no choice anyway. "I mean, it was going to happen in a day or two, but after today...might as well get it out the way. Vali's run off, and I...I need to sort that out."

Accepting his answer, Naruto filled Azazel in. "You saw me teleport to the Kunai earlier, right?"

"That I did."

Naruto held up the Kunai for him to see. "It's the mark I teleport to, and I can place these markers on surfaces and people. Like Vali's back, for instance." After Naruto deactivated his Rasengan, at that moment, he marked Vali's back; and then proceeded to break his back.

"Then you've got one of these markers in my lounge; dude, not cool."

"Hey good thing I put it there when I did," Naruto smirked.

"So what was the point of...?" Azazel muttered as he asked.

Hinata stepped forward to answer that. "The Old Satan Faction and by extension the Khaos Brigade kidnapped some of our people, and we found evidence that suggests they're connected or nearby the outpost we hit earlier. But because of Vali's betrayal, our people will likely be moved by day's end."

"This is why I needed to mark Vali." Naruto then took over, filling in the blanks. "So he can lead me right to them."

Azazel understood the gist of it, but why fight? "But if that's all you wanted to do, then why fight him and go through all that?"

"Because I needed to put Vali in the hospital and get in his head," Naruto explained.

"Huh?"

"Vali's not much of a people person, is he? He's an uptight a-hole who doesn't have any friends out there to turn to when he needs medical help, right?" Naruto said.

"He fights people, and that's about it," Azazel said.

"And since he's been outed as a traitor, he can't turn to the Fallen Angels for medical help either. So that leaves who, old man?"

"The people he's working for now..."

"Which is?"

"The Khaos Brigade?"

"So right now he should be with?"

"The Khaos Brigade."

"And because I've marked him, I can?"

"...Teleport right to the Khaos Brigade..."

Kuroka then slid into the conversation. "Vali could only use a small amount of Demonic Power after what Naruto put him through, nya. He won't be able to teleport too far or out of the Underworld."

"I feel the marker I put on him. It's in the direction of the Badlands if I'm right." Naruto's connected to every Hiraishin marker he puts down. "I also needed to make sure Vali didn't know about my teleportation technique, so I made sure he never saw it. As for fighting him on my own... come on, if we all ganged up on him, he'd notice something was off if we all just stood there like idiots while he made his escape." Big time if Azazel joined in, Vali's not stupid when his mind is right.

Azazel now understood. "You egged him on so he'd be so hung up on beating and shutting you up, he wouldn't leave on his own accord, nor figure out what your real aim was." Naruto played him right from the start.

"What can I say; I'm good at pranking people." And proud of it he was. "Kuroka get us back to Urakyoto. If we're hitting one of their bases, then we'll need to bring more than just us." They'll need to rally a few troops. It's going to be a big party.

Before they could leave, Azazel needed to ask. "Mind if I join you? I could bring along some light-minded individuals to offer a helping hand."

Naruto liked the sound of that, but if Azazel does that, it will be a done deal. "You sure? Join the fight, and you might be stuck with us for good."

"It's in my best interest, and I need to knock some sense into Vali and bring him home before that boy gets himself killed."

Naruto found Azazel's care for the boy interesting. It's obvious Vali isn't just another subordinate. Naruto's gotten curious. "He joined your enemies. Betrayed you and your trust and jeopardised the security of your people. Yet you still care about him? Yasaka and a few others won't share your opinion if they come face to face with him."

"Then could you show him a little pity?"

"Can you tell me a bit about him? Why's he got such a stick up his ass?"

"Sure, but then you've got to promise me something in exchange."

"Don't worry. I promise I will."

"I haven't even told you what yet."

"I've got a good idea what you want from me." Naruto will do his part. But right now, they need to get back and tell their leaders what's happened.

And kick down their enemy's front door.

.

---

Lying on a soft bed, he could only question everything that transpired within the walls of a secure place.

How did that happen?

How did it come to this?

How? It doesn't make any sense?

He asked himself that over and over, hoping for an epiphany to bring him the answers. How could he, Vali Lucifer, lose so badly to some nobody?

But he did lose. That is reality.

Vali did manage to escape successfully, though. Naruto was too caught up in his victory; Vali could still use some power, and Naruto failed to notice. But that escape stung him and wounded his pride. Will he ever shake it? He can only hope.

Using what power he could call upon, Vali transported himself to one of the Khaos Brigade's bases in the Badlands, the one they took him to when he joined up with them. Huh...Joined up with them; that's subjective. The people wandering around this base, they're not his friends, not his allies. They mean nothing to him. Their cause and beliefs are theirs and theirs alone. But in his time of need, he had no choice but to rely on these people for help. Vali doesn't know how to feel about that. But one thing's for sure; he's not grateful. They helped him merely because he can be useful to them. That's as far as their relationship will ever go.

The Khaos Brigade gave him a vial of Phoenix Tears. It was the fastest way to get Vali back on his feet. But it did nothing for his Demonic Power. But that didn't matter; a few Devils and their power to divide worked well enough. He's not back at full strength, but it will do.

Who's he kidding, no it won't. His Demonic Power, his Sacred Gear, and his Balance Breaker weren't enough against him. Remembering that battle and ending sent a chill down Vali's spine and a feeling he could not ignore. Just like back then, why, when he thinks of Naruto, why does his arm shake? Vali sat up from his bed and grabbed his arm, squeezed it as hard as he could until all the blood rushed from the limb. But it didn't stop. Why doesn't it stop?

Vali's not so arrogant to believe it's impossible for him to be defeated, no, far from it. There are a plethora of beings in this world that can soundly defeat him; on their worst day and his best day. These are the foes Vali longs to fight, lose to, and eventually overcome to reach his true potential and goal.

These beings, these people, they've proven themselves.

Their names have been recorded in the pages of history, from great deeds to the stuff of legends. They have proven their power against one another time and time again. The world will forever remember them no matter how much time passes. Vali respects them because they've more than earned the respect of others. They've shown their might. They've proven themselves. They've earned the right. Naruto has done none of that!

Before Kokabiel, he was no one, nothing. Only now has he crawled out from whatever rock he's been hiding behind. He has not proven himself, nor has he showcased his might against the power of this world. He hasn't earned the right. But he talks and acts as if he has. That's what got under Vali's skin the most. Naruto contradicts everything the White Dragon Emperor respects.

"So it is true, you are here."

Vali's ceased his inner-thinking and turned to the door and the one who spoke. Five people entered the room, all human. Vali recognised a few faces, but he focused on the leader of the pack. The leader of a unique group of humans has come to greet him. Oh, what joy he should feel. "Why are you here...Cao Cao?"

Cao Cao is a young man and a descendent of a legend who shares the same name. He has short black hair and blue eyes. Despite his heritage and position, he did not wear anything extravagant, just a take on a purple gakuran uniform with minimal ancient Chinese attire wrapped around his waist to look like a cloak.

Vali would describe him as someone you shouldn't underestimate. He's charismatic and manipulative; has a way with words to convince or coerce. Cao Cao would've tried his luck with Vali if the latter wasn't half Devil. He's a man who Vali will never trust, even more so when he wields that Spear.

Cao Cao approached Vali, getting within a few feet before answering him. "I heard a rumour the White Dragon Emperor encountered a few hurdles. Then I find out you came here for medical help. I was curious."

"There nothing for you to learn."

"I had my own hypothesis. You were exposed, and Azazel was the one who did this to you." Cao Cao talked lightly about his ideas before shifting his words and narrowing his eyes with a calculating look. "Except I hear none of the wounds you suffered were consistent with Holy Power, corrupted or not." It wasn't a Fallen Angel who defeated Vali. "Mind filling me in on your new adversary?"

"I don't know what your mind is conjuring up, but there is no 'new adversary'. Just a mistake I will correct." Vali looked at his hand and tightened his fist. Correct, he shall. He will use everything at his disposal. Including 'that' ability, even if Naruto's just human. He won't make the same mistakes again, and he will show him the difference between them.

Vali's anger did not go unnoticed; it flared the room, only further intriguing Cao Cao. "Any other time, you would've been ecstatic about this, a new opponent for you to battle and surpass. Yet here you are, frustrated and moping in self-loathing. No normal opponent would do this to you."

Cao Cao's questions were the equivalent of poking a hornet's nest, and Vali was getting tired of it. He had questions of his own. The young Devil stood up from the bed and slowly walked towards Cao Cao, who remained in place, not intimidated at all by Vali's aggressive posture. "Who else is a part of the Khaos Brigade? Is Rizevim a part of this group?" Vali demanded answers. Was Naruto speaking the truth, was anything he said about Rizevim true...was all of it?

"My, my, that came out of left field. Why do you want to know about him? Having family troubles?" Cao Cao's not-answer only pushed Vali more, and the Devil's reached his boiling point. Travailing across the room, Vali grabbed Cao Cao by the neck and pushed him up against the stone wall. The impact caused cracks across the stone. But this action only amused Cao Cao, who got a good chuckle out of Vali's antics. "Hahahaha...you're normally cool-headed Vali, you must have had quite the day."

Vali put more strength into his grip, on the verge of strangling the one within his grasp. By continuing to play coy, Cao Cao only pushed Vali more. He would've done more if Vali didn't look out the corner of his eye to notice he was getting flanked.

Cao Cao's allies surrounded the White Dragon Emperor, three young men and a young girl; a Silver-haired swordsman with red eyes, a brown-haired youth with glasses, a tall man with shoulder-length grey hair, and finally, a blonde-haired girl with sky blue eyes.

And those were just the ones he could see. Vali noticed two others have just snuck into the room, hiding, waiting, just in case.

They're all Sacred Gear users, just how Cao Cao wanted it for his little group.

"Your 'companions' won't make a difference." And with the mood Vali's in, he won't be able to hold back. "I'm the one in control here, don't forget that."

But none of Vali's words reached Cao Cao. The latter looked down on him like he's in a position of power and smirked at the young Lucifer. "Are you? Are you in control of this situation?" Then suddenly Cao Cao dropped his smirk, his eyes became cold. "Are you in control of hers?"

"Who's her?" Vali's eyes flinched ever slightly, but Cao Cao noticed.

"You did push her out of your life. Perhaps you've completely forgotten about her." Cao Cao's spoke with little care, like this 'she' was so unimportant. But to Vali, his grip loosened bit by bit. "It is understandable. She lived a hellish life and barely survived it. And with you being her son, if you were not to have distance yourself from her, who knows what kinds of people would come after her for sharing a bed with a Lucifer." Cao Cao took some joy at the sight of Vali's vulnerability, his weak spot. "It's a nice house. Calm and tranquil in the countryside, it'd be hard for someone to stumble across her." The closes neighbours are farmers and a small village. "But she lives alone; if someone were to find her...I do hope nothing happens to your mother."

Vali knew he should never trust him, but he didn't think he would go this far. Cao Cao came here prepared.

How long has he known?

How did he find her?

What are his future intentions?

No matter, Vali just has to play ball until he can get to her and move her. And here, he thought Naruto was the only human he'd end up despising. Understanding the position he's in, Vali released Cao Cao, but his fingers twitched in frustration with small amounts of Demonic Power. Vali's not having a good day.

Cao Cao dusted himself off and fixed his collar. To him, Vali's strangle was no big deal. Or maybe he's just confident, having Vali on a leash to some extent. "Now that we've cleared the air, and have an understanding, mind answering my earlier question."

Begrudgingly, Vali answered. "A human by the name of Naruto Uzumaki."

Cao Cao's eyes lit up with intrigue. The mention of that name gave him a smile. "Oh. The one, the Devils, have taken such an interest in did this to you?" Good, very good. "Other Factions have taken some notice of this young man. Kokabiel made an incursion into Devil territory, and near the same day, Naruto, an unknown, becomes their most wanted. How exactly did your paths cross?"

"He came to Azazel to make a deal on behalf of the Youkai."

"What kind of deal?"

"Information and a potential alliance...in exchange for Kokabiel."

Cao Cao would call himself a liar if this information didn't excite him. Naruto's abilities make him an even more appealing target. But Yasaka's intention also pondered his mind. To make such an offer during these times, the only answer Cao Cao could think of was Kokabiel. Cao Cao knew all along of his aim to start a war, but there must be something else. Something they've learned to push them to take such action. And Yasaka trusted Naruto to take the lead on it. "And with your earlier report of Sirzechs's intervention, this answers a few things. Naruto Uzumaki is not only trusted enough by Yasaka on such matters. He's strong enough to defeat you and skilled enough to escape the strongest Devil. How did such a person stay hidden up until now?" What is he, the Youkai's secret weapon? "Can you shed some light on his abilities?"

"Senjutsu and Touki." Vali was getting tired of answering these questions, but he's up against a wall here.

Touki, when Vali saw Naruto use it, it told him enough. Naruto's a high-level Senjutsu user. He could use a large amount of Touki and control it well enough to focus solely on his leg.

Being Albion's host, his dragon partner has told him much, so many lifetimes of experiences. Touki is one of them. Only two kinds of people can use it, expert Senjutsu users and those who have trained their bodies to extreme levels. But how they learn Touki is a bit different.

A physical user has their Touki come all out at once, bolstering their physical abilities to high levels, but only their physical abilities. But this, in turn, burns through their stamina in seconds and strains their body. They must learn to maintain it without exhausting themselves to be able to use it effectively in battle.

A Senjutsu user must learn to control the energy, the aura that is Touki, to cover their whole body or just parts of their body to improve their physical abilities. Or combine it with their Senjutsu techniques or something else to create move powerful attacks.

One learns to maintain it. The other learns to control it.

That was Albion's worry. Vali will want to fight him again; that's a given. But if Naruto can use Touki, at the levels Albion sensed, it would mean at minimum Naruto should be an expert at Senjutsu, maybe more. Dividing such Senjutsu could be a risky endeavour. It made Albion think, how did Naruto reach that level at such a young age? Is it due to talent, or did he have a good trainer? Could it be Kuroka? Albion doubts it. The only other person Albion could think of in the arts of Senjutsu was Sun Wukong...who should have close ties with Yasaka...if it's him...it explains a few things.

Vali, Albion, and Cao Cao all had different thoughts on this; intentions, plenty of questions, and few answers. But Cao Cao had one last question for Vali. "How did you escape him?"

"I used what power I could call upon and transported myself here."

That answer only made Cao Cao confused. "Just like that? He left you in such condition, and you escaped with relative ease?"

Vali shrugged. "Naruto was too caught up in his victory, and Azazel just watched the show."

Cao Cao jumped from confusion to concern. "He's stayed hidden all this time, defeated Kokabiel and you in open combat, and was good enough to escape Sirzechs. And you just teleported away without hindrance..." He muttered to himself, but loud enough for everyone to hear him. The more he said it, the more ridiculous it sounded. That's when it finally clicked. "Vali, you fool." Cao Cao shook his head in disappointment. "You didn't escape. You lead him right to us." Cao Cao said in such a condescending tone; it was like he's talking to an infant.

Infuriated by his words, Vali was about to rush Cao Cao but stopped midway. He felt something touching his back. A hand? Vali turned around and saw him, as did everyone else. Spiky blond hair, blue eyes, whiskers on each cheek, and that annoying grin. "You?!" Vali shouted in utter shock, mixed with anger. How did he track him here? How did he sneak up on him so easily?

"Here, you can have his." The intruder threw something into the middle of the room. It was a ball of some kind. A bunch of pieces of paper all wrapped together, with strange markings on each slip.

Then there was the sound of a fuse; sparks erupted from the paper...until...

BOOM!

.

---

As soon as he threw the Explosive Tag Ball, Naruto bolted out the closest window. He jumped through it, smashing the glass; the shards shinned like sparkles in the sunlight.

Once outside, Naruto gathered Chakra at his feet and stuck to the wall. He took this chance to get a good look at his surroundings. "Oh yeah, this is more like it." It wasn't some outpost, in a cave, underground. This time it's a castle with an extra wall to serve as a defensive perimeter. Naruto spotted the same towers along the walls, the same ones he saw back at the outpost they hit. It's still the Badlands.

BOOM!

An explosion interrupted Naruto's thoughts; the Explosive Tag Ball just went off. It put a few more holes in the castle. Smoke came out from the openings and the destroyed windows. Never mind that it's time to go to work. Naruto created several Shadow Clones, and each moved to a different area of the castle's grounds. Their job's to make some noise, wake everyone up, and get them out of whatever holes they're hiding in. While the Clones are doing that, Naruto will keep these guy's attention. And deal with Vali.

Just then, a blue trail of light zipped out of the broken window and into the sky. But Naruto could still see who it was; it looks like the White Dragon Emperor's back in action.

"How's the back? Did they fix it right?" Naruto called out to Vali.

Vali said nothing and fired several blasts at Naruto, who evaded each one. Each one he dodged created more holes in the fortress.

"You're messing up your castle, ya'know."

"It's not mine." Vali gathered more power and readied another attack. But then something else shot out of the castle, through the wall this time, creating yet another hole.

"This floor's barely holding together. We're going to bring down the whole roof at this rate." Naruto thought to himself.

What came out was a silver dragon with blue wings. Naruto would've said it's Vali's long lost cousin or something. But Kurama felt different; this dragon felt artificial. It's not a real one. Two people were riding the artificial dragon. A blond girl wearing a gakuran with upper bronze body armour; and a tall, grey-haired man in a similar uniform who nearly had a complete set of armour, he's just missing a helmet.

"They're human Sacred Gear users. Kurama could sense the Sacred Gears and smell they were human. "As are the others still in the castle."

"Anyone else to think about?"

"I can smell the usual Devils, Fallen Angels...and I think there's a small flock of Angels here."

"Angels? You sure?"

"It's Holy Power without the corruption, and they smell like birds." It narrows it down. "They're at the far back of the castle's grounds."

"People from each of the Three Factions, Humans, Dragons, Grim Reapers, maybe even Gods... Khaos Brigade's got people from all corners of this world." Naruto thought it was a possibility, but he hoped he was wrong. "This group's going to be a pain in the ass down the road. I just know it." They'll be many more battles ahead.

The artificial dragon hovered above Naruto, and the rider came to introduce herself. "Hello, Ninja-Chan, nice to meet ya!" The blond-haired girl waved at Naruto. She was surprisingly friendly, at least for now.

"Um...hello-wait! Ninja-Chan?"

"Yeah, you threw that explosive ball thingy. You have that weird headband, and you snuck in here like a ninja."

"Weird headband?" It's not weird. Headbands are cool. "Well, about time someone noticed, but the proper term is Shinobi, ya'know."

"Shinobi-Chan...Nah, I'ma stick with Ninja-Chan."

"But it makes me sound less professional."

"You came here all alone, wouldn't call that professional."

"Pff! Shows what you know." Naruto muttered to himself in annoyance. "So what do I call you? Dragon Rider-Chan?"

"Actually, it's Jeanne. Figured I'd be honest, I mean I know your name. And this stick in the mud behind me is Heracles. Say hi, Heracl-Kun."

"No." Heracles didn't take any part in Jeanne's fun. He sounded like he was rearing for a fight. But then he got a good look at Naruto. "Still can't believe this punk beat Vali." Heracles looked down on Naruto. He has a habit of doing that to just about anyone.

Vali didn't take kindly to what Heracles said. "Don't underestimate him, and don't get in my way." Vali wanted Naruto all to himself. "And you, I won't make the same mistakes I did last time, Naruto Uzumaki." Whether he liked it or not, Vali stopped looking at Naruto as if he was a mere human.

Naruto couldn't help but smile. "Vali, you're still making the same mistakes." Because Devil boy here doesn't see what's really going on. "And this time, I'm not the only one who wants a crack at you guys." It's about time these guys got ambushed for a change.

Cao Cao watched the battle between his comrades, Vali and Naruto. He would not get involved. Instead, he intends to study Naruto's abilities and fighting capabilities. Naruto carried himself with such confidence that a three on one fight against Sacred Gear users was all fun and games to him.

But Cao Cao figured that's the idea. Naruto's not the main event; his duplicates are.

.

---

Each of Naruto's Clones did their job, created all the noise and destruction they could and got each of the castle's residents out and about. They're armoured and ready to fight. But they're also confused. At the different sections of the castle's grounds, the Clones got surrounded. The Khaos Brigade pointed their weapons, aimed their spells, and readied their power to eradicate the surrounded Clones.

But the Clones had a trick up their sleeve. Right on cue, each Clone threw down a smoke bomb and made their move. The castle's defenders all fired into the smoke, not that the Clone's cared. Their jobs done. The smoke dissipated, and the Clones were all gone; they've all been annihilated. The defenders were too busy praising themselves to look up. At the flying Kunai, the new Clone that just teleported in, and those that joined him.

Shadows descended upon the defenders, too many to count. A few noticed the shadows and looked up in confusion, but that confusion turned to shock by what they saw. Humans, Youkai and Fallen Angels, a united front came crashing down on them.

It's the Alliance's turn to be on the offensive.

.

---

Shinobi Justus, Youkai and Fallen Angel magic hit the castle's defenders, the Khaos Brigade's lines before they could even blink...where did they come from? How did they find them? Those who survived the initial attack raised their weapons and spells for whoever's come to fight them. Whichever Faction's come for their heads will sorely regret their folly.

Wait...it's not just a single Faction!

Oni, Kamaitachi, Karasu-Tengu, and Kitsune; wearing the robes and armour of Yasaka's house...the Youkai Faction's here?

Fallen Angels, not strays or deserters like some of them, but Azazel's personal battalion, its members are hand-picked by him; it's his personal guard. Then Azazel must be here too!

And Humans of unknown origin...are they like the ones they have captive? Most donned flak jackets of various colours of green, red, beige, grey and white. They donned headbands with different symbols engraved on them. A few of them had their faces concealed behind masks of various animals; the way those ones stood put the Khaos Brigade on edge.

How is this possible? It took years, effort, and blood to bring the Khaos Brigade to fruition. How have two major Factions and a new one come together without notice?

Before they could reform their lines, yellow lightning and black fire came a swaff across the castle's grounds, between the opposing army's lines. Two more joined the fray, an Oni and a Fallen Angel.

"You take the right. I'll take the left." Benimaru suggested to his ally.

"That leaves the centre," Baraqiel answered back.

Baraqiel, a gruff looking man and another member of the Grigori and Azazel's right-hand man, he's a muscular man with short black hair and a beard reaching ear to ear. He wore black plate armour with a brown cloak.

The two right-hand men of their Faction's leaders stood together. But the question remained, who would take the centre.

"I'll handle that!" Landing between the two, one of Naruto's Clones made his appearance. "Like I was going to miss the Alliance's debut." Three major Factions standing together; like hell, Naruto was going to miss that. "So then, should we get started?" Naruto asked them with a smile on his face.

Benimaru and Baraqiel nodded, and in unison, the three of them charged at the enemy. Their forces rallied behind them and followed their captains into battle.

The clash between the Alliance and the Khaos Brigade has begun.

.

---

Cao Cao chuckled at what he saw. Humans he's never seen before, Youkai, who hide behind their barriers, and Fallen Angels, who don't clean up their own messes, stood and fought side by side. It was surreal.

That must have been teleportation but one without any signs or warnings. What's more impressive is how many Naruto teleported; there are hundreds. Even Ajuka Beelzebub can only teleport a handful of people, and not in quick succession. Naruto possesses a dangerous ability.

This opening move was also the deciding one. The castle is lost. Not that Cao Cao gave a damn, but he should make some effort. "Siegfried, go to the control room and cover our tracks. Georg, you go down below and set it. Leave no trace we were here." The two headed off on their task, leaving Cao Cao alone. Though alone isn't quite right, he still had his two hidden guards. "You two continue to monitor Naruto. If an opportunity presents itself, then make something of it." Cao Cao then left the room. There was someone he needed to get in touch with.

.

---

"You guys, and girl, know this is one for the history books. Youkai, Fallen Angels and humans fighting side by side against a new evil." Azazel was bewildered yet excited. Seeing them all together like this was worth the trip. "Guess having a common enemy is one way to bring people together."

"It adds incentive to each of us. Everyone present desires to punish the Khaos Brigade for their transgressions." In Yasaka's eyes, it's a powerful motivator. When it comes to the Youkai and Fallen Angels, they despise the Khaos Brigade more than they despise each other. Though at this rate, the Youkai are beginning to hate those towers even more. "Raphtalia didn't lie about the sound those towers make." And the Youkai are the only ones who can hear it. "It's quite irritating."

"Can your people put up with it and fight at the same time?" Azazel asked with mild concern.

"They're disciplined fighters. A little background noise won't hamper them."

"Great to hear. So once this is all other, what do you say about getting dinner, just the two of us? We have so much catching up to do." Azazel tried his luck.

"Afraid I'll be busy for the foreseeable future. I'm sure you can find someone else to join you." Yasaka shot him down.

Azazel sighed; he has no luck.

Yasaka, Azazel, and Gaara, with Shikamaru at his side, are at the back lines, overseeing the battle. Each one was in charge of commanding their own forces in this battle. Not efficient to have three commanders for one battle, but that's the way it is. The Fallen Angels wouldn't follow Yasaka's orders, just like the Youkai wouldn't follow Azazel's. They didn't have the time to sort this out, so they went with a quick fix. The commanders will coordinate with one another and relay that to their forces.

The first phase of the attack went well. Naruto's Clones drew out all the defenders from any defensive positions, and now their lines have collapsed from the sudden ambush. It's now down to containment and then clean up. This leaves Vali the only other notable threat to deal with, and Naruto's been tasked with that job.

That's what concerned Gaara. "I'm heading to the front lines. Shikamaru, take command in my place."

"Not one for sitting in the back?" Azazel could understand. Sometimes he's ok with it. Sometimes he hates it.

"Vali's a confirmed threat, but it's the unconfirmed that worries me."

Yasaka shared those worries. "I do sense someone with a high amount of Demonic Power. Be too much for the rank and file to handle."

"Then it's my job to handle it. Yasaka, have you detected any seals?"

Yasaka shook her head. "No. Just like we predicted, only those sent to attack your lands have the seal in place." The discovery of the seals placed within Kokabiel and its connection to the seals that killed the Devils capture by the Shinobi made taking prisoners all but impossible. They would have no idea who would die and who would not.

But the Youkai, after finding the seals, have worked to develop a sensory technique that can detect them. Still in its experimental phase, not ready for mass use, so only those up there with Yasaka and Benimaru can use it. This would be the technique's first real field test, and so far, they're getting positive results.

With this information, Gaara got moving; but actually, he didn't need to take a single step. His sand would do all the work. Sand poured out of the giant gourd on his back, creating a mobile platform for the Kazekage to stand on, and fly. Gaara flew off and headed for the battlefield, where he can be the most useful. And where his partner felt most at home.

"Yes finally! let's goooooo! Hurry up; we need to drop a bigger body count than that stupid fox!" Shukaku could barely contain his blood lust. Kurama's been hogging all the fun, and he wants in on it.

.

---

On the front lines, Shinobi, Youkai, and Fallen Angels stood fast against the Khaos Brigade. They didn't know what to think; it's all happened so fast. The Shinobi, who have yet to get used to this world, found themselves battling in the Underworld. The Youkai stayed safe behind their barriers, and now they leave them to meet an enemy enforce. The Fallen Angels got told to mobilise at the drop of a hat by Azazel. Now they're aiding Youkai and Humans in battle without explanation.

This day's been weird for all of them.

While the three armies fought on their own fronts, their lines eventual intersected, and now they must fight together. But the problem was; they didn't trust each other.

The Youkai doubted the Fallen Angels for their track record of irresponsibility. How can they trust them not to bail on them when things get rough? As for the Shinobi, they may have formed friendly relations; but their alliance is still new. There's still so much they don't know about one another. To entrust their lives with them felt so forced by their queen.

The Fallen Angels were in the dark about everything. Why'd Azazel send them out here? Who are these humans, and where'd they come from? Why are they helping Youkai cowards who hide behind their barriers all day? Who's this whiskered blood guy who's everywhere at once? Why the hell are they even here? The most they've been told was hunting down traitors, but there's more than Fallen Angels here. Have they got to help cowards and newcomers now? What's Azazel thinking?

The Shinobi were disillusioned about all of this. As a whole, they were unsure where they stood. Rescuing their captured people? Of course, that went without question...but staying here after that's done? Half felt the best chance of victory was to go on the attack, take out the enemy at its source. As for making allies, some thought it was necessary. Others felt their leaders were putting too much faith in the people of this world. The other half didn't want to be here. Their home is back through the stone, their people, their friends and their families. Why should they bleed for a world that isn't theirs?

All of them had their doubts, their thoughts. Did they voice them? No.

The battle continued around them, the clashing of weapons, the casting of magic and Jutsu. The so-called allies looked at one another. Could they put their faith in each other? That was for them to decide...but this isn't the time for thinking.

They should focus on the fight ahead...and any fights beyond it.

The Fallen Angels took the skies, the Shinobi pushed the centre, and the Youkai managed the flanks.

Their trust in one another was fragile at best. But to survive this fight, to get home...they'll deal.

But they hope their leaders knew what they were doing.

.

---

So far, the attack's gone according to plan. Naruto's Clones have drawn out the enemy and are assisting the combined forces of Shinobi, Youkai, and Fallen Angels. With all of the defenders outside amid battle, the second phase can begin.

Infiltration teams, tasked with securing vital objectives, have managed to enter the castle undetected. Naruto's team members have been drafted for the infiltration teams. Raphtalia, Xenovia and Souei moved to secure the control room to ensure the towers remain operational. As they do that, Hinata and Kuroka will search for the captured villagers to free and exfiltrate.

After sneaking into the castle, the two teams paired off. Raphtalia, Xenovia and Souei turned left, heading for the control room, while Kuroka and Hinata turned right to find the captured villagers.

After taking the left turn, Raphtalia, Xenovia, and Souei ran down the corridor in the direction of the control room. They encountered no guards down the halls; the plan's working. If they secure the control room, they can take this castle intact. Reaching a large interior steel door, Xenovia summoned her Durandal and sliced the door in two like butter. With the way clear, they entered the room and saw a room similar to the control room at the outpost.

"This is it," Souei said. "Secure the room and..."

"You should know it's quite rude to barge into someone's house without even calling first." A stranger spoke from the corner of the room.

The three spun around and drew their blades, Souei with his katana, Raphtalia with her Fused Excalibur, and Xenovia with her Durandal.

"Who are you?" Raphtalia demanded.

He leaned against the wall. A human with silver hair and red eyes, wearing a gakuran with a priest's coat similar to what Freed wore. "Ah, my apologies, my name is Sieg, descendent of the hero Siegfried. Because of that, my friends prefer to call me that as well. However you wish to address me, it is up to you." Siegfried bowed slightly as he introduced himself, showing a sophisticated demeanour. But that only made the three wearier of him. He's outnumbered three to one, yet he's not fazed by it.

After introducing himself, Siegfried got a good look at his three opponents; he liked what he saw. "Lady Yasaka's top spy and assassin, the church's wielder of Durandal, and the first Youkai to use a Holy Sword, and the Excalibur at that." He nodded as he eyed each of them. "Three sword users come to me. Must be..."

Steel thread suddenly wrapped around him in a cocoon. Souei didn't waste time and made sure to restrain him. Just as he was about to pull on the steel threads to turn Siegfried into minced meat, his threads were cut to pieces. They didn't even put up a resistance.

"I suppose you're right. We're not here to chat." Siegfried effortlessly cut the threads and freed himself from Souei's prison. The blade he used to do it shocked Xenovia.

"It can't be...that's the Demonic Emperor Sword Gram." A large double-edged sword with vibrant red colours. Its pommel and crossguard had golden markings; the edges of the guard were like axes. Along the blade had more golden markings; it looked like an engraving of another sword. The tip of the blade curves outwards, then back inwards, sporting three hollow holes in the form of a triangle located in the middle of the edge curving upwards. "It's said its power is on par with my Durandal." She could feel the tremendous Demonic Power oozing out of it; it even made her Durandal power up in Holy Power as if to contest it.

Siegfried smiled, satisfied with Xenovia's understanding. "You know your swords, good. Saves me the time of explaining."

"How can you use that?"

"Thanks to my ancestor, of course. He wielded this sword before me. But enough about that." Siegfried swung his sword twice before resting the blade and pointing it at his foes. "I wish to see your capabilities as swordsmen. Come on!" Siegfried swung Gram, launching a wave of Demonic Power in an arc.

Raphtalia, Xenovia, and Souei all jumped out the way, avoiding the attack. Xenovia made the first move and came at Siegfried head-on. She slashed at him, but he easily parried her blade. Xenovia intensified her strikes, but she failed to break his guard.

"I see. You prefer power over speed." Siegfried deduced based on her style. "But how's your defence." Siegfried stopped defending and went on the attack, viciously striking at Xenovia's guard.

Xenovia defended, but she saw no way to overcome his assault. All she could do was defend. Luckily Raphtalia took that moment to strike. Seeing her coming, Siegfried kicked Xenovia away and blocked her slash. But rather than matching him blow for blow, Raphtalia used her Fused Excalibur and increased her speed. She broke away from him and then created several illusions, copies. Now there are many Raphtalias.

They all ran around Siegfried, who kept an eye out. He stood there, ignoring the Raphtalias around him. As they're illusions, they can't hurt him.

He then raised his blade and blocked a downward slash from an invisible foe. Knocking the hidden blade aside, Siegfried swung his sword again at his attacker. His strike was blocked, but it caused the invisibility to break, revealing the real Raphtalia. "Rapidly, Nightmare, Transparency, you do possess six of the seven Excalibur swords. But it must take quite a bit out of you to use all those powers at once." He pushed back Raphtalia, who rejoined Xenovia. "One who focuses on power, the other on technique?" Each girl excels in one area but falls short in another. "You're so uneven, but you do complete each other."

Raphtalia and Xenovia ignored his insults and kept their composer. Nodding to each other, they ran at Siegfried, each taking a flank; Raphtalia on the left, Xenovia on the right. Both attacked him at once. Siegfried ducked under Xenovia's strike and blocked Raphtalia's. He maintained his guard and skilfully kept both swordsmen at bay.

Siegfried found an opening and swung to take Xenovia neck. But Raphtalia blocked it just in time and held firm against his sword Gram, allowing Xenovia the chance to dismember his arms.

It was at this moment Souei chose to strike. Appearing behind Siegfried like the assassin he was, Souei moved to take his back. Raphtalia's holding his sword in place, Xenovia's attacking his front, and Souei's taking his back. Siegfried has no moves left; Checkmate.

CLANG!

"..."

In an unexpected move, Siegfried blocked both attacks. The three swordsmen were shocked by this. Within his free hand, Siegfried held a new sword. Not only that, coming out of his back, was a silver arm holding another new sword? Souei knows those swords. "Dáinsleif...and Balmung." Both are Demonic swords. Dáinsleif blocked his katana, and Balmung blocked Raphtalia's Fused Excalibur.

Dáinsleif had the power to manipulate ice and was a very demonic looking sword. Darkish purple with a curved tip. Jagged base to look like a dagger with wings for its guard on one side and a downward horn on the other.

Balmung can create powerful winds and is similar to the design of a typical long sword, but its lower half's purple while its top half's edge is silver. The centre of the blade carried two colours. Pink at the bottom, purple in the middle, and back to pink at the top.

Souei looked at the silver arm holding Dáinsleif. "That's a Twice Critical, a Sacred Gear that doubles the user's power. But a Twice Critical takes the form of a gauntlet?"

"As you can see, mine's a sub-species," Siegfried said while he casually blocked all three of his opponents. Twisting his blades, he deflected all three swordsmen knocking them off balance. They were forced to pull back and regroup.

"Souei, that was a well-timed strike, and you took my back expertly. I see why Yasaka has such faith in you." Siegfried complimented the assassin. But then he turned to the Holy Swordsmen and was dissatisfied. "I must say you've disappointed me. Your swordsmanship needs work, you two haven't mastered your Holy Sword's power, and you spend more time saving each other than playing off each other." Their lack of teamwork was clear to see. Are they new team, or not the one they're used to? "Well, shall we continue?" Siegfried took a new stance, a sword in each hand, while the silver arm that held Dáinsleif moved like a scorpion's stinger.

Raphtalia, Xenovia, and Souei stood side by side and raised their swords to face Siegfried's three. But they wondered how to play this. Siegfried's sword skills and Gram were hard enough. Now he has two more Demonic swords and a twice critical. What's the plan here?

Before Siegfried could attack, a magical circle appeared by his ear. Was he communicating with someone? Whoever he was talking to, whatever was said bothered Siegfried. He sighed; he looked disappointed. "Guess those are the breaks." Surprisingly, Siegfried lowered his swords. "Our time here is up. Real shame too, I was about to get serious." He shook his head lazily.

"Excuse me? What are you talking about?" Raphtalia demanded.

"Careful now, don't want that gift horse to bite you," Siegfried remarked. "But just like you, I have my orders." Swinging his Dáinsleif, Siegfried created a pillar of thick ice between them.

Xenovia didn't hesitate and cut down the ice pillar blocking the way. It came crumbling down, but Siegfried was gone. "He's making a run for it! Quick! We can't let him escape!"

"No," Souei stopped Xenovia from pursuing. "Our objective's to secure and hold the control room."

"We can't just let him go!" Xenovia shouted back.

"And if we pursue him. Can we defeat him?"

Xenovia's words were caught in her throat. It was a good question...could they fight him and win or survive? She was reminded of Kokabiel. She got in a fight she wasn't ready to handle and only survived due to last-second intervention.

"N-no." Siegfried toyed with all three of them at once...if he got serious...

"He's right." Raphtalia agreed with Souei. "For all we know, he could have more Demonic swords up his sleeve. We're not ready for an opponent like him. Not yet. "

"Fine...but next time?"

"Next time."

They've secured their objective, their job in the assault. Now they need to keep it and not let the towers shut down. Or it will be the outpost all over again.

The rest is up to their allies and friends

.

---

A Few Minutes Earlier:

---

.

After taking a right turn, Hinata and Kuroka split off from Raphtalia, Xenovia and Souei. They'll deal with the control room, while Hinata and Kuroka will help the captives.

Using her Byakugan, Hinata searched the halls and floors of the castle until she located the holding cells; and their occupants. With Kuroka by her side, the duo rushed down there, finding the fear-ridden villagers. Most were unconscious, from Kami knows what the Khaos Brigade put them through.

The sad thing was, less than half of the villages are here.

Where are the others? She couldn't find anyone else...did she even want to know the answer to what's happened to them?

Hinata set carefully placed paper bombs to blow open the locks. She asked the villagers to hug the wall. They recognised her eyes; she's a member of the Hyuga Clan. Hope returned to these terrified people; the Shinobi have come for them. Hinata detonated the paper bombs. The cell door was sent flying and hit the cell's back wall. The villagers who were still awake coughed profusely from the smoke, but they helped Hinata and Kuroka move those unconscious to the centre of the room. With the villages secured, Kuroka readied a teleportation spell to take them to Urakyoto.

Hinata was about to join her, but her Byakugan's still active, and she saw someone in the castle. He just appeared out of nowhere, deeper within. He's a human with short dark hair and glasses, dressed in a robe. The strangest thing about him was the fog that followed him around. Was it for stealth, poison; Hinata couldn't tell. The better question was, why isn't he trying to escape or fight? What did he come back for?

"Kuroka, complete the mission and get those villages back to Urakyoto safely."

"Isn't that the plan? Why, you going somewhere nya?" Kuroka's spell was ready to go; what's the holdup?

"Someone's returned to the castle. I'm not going to fight him alone, but I need to find out why he came back."

Kuroka shrugged. "Fine then, nya. I'll get these people to safety, then come back for you. Don't do anything I wouldn't do, nya." Kuroka flashed a smirk at Hinata before activating her spell; she and the villages disappeared in a flash of light.

With the villages now safe, Hinata silently moved through the halls. She kept her eyes on the guy who's still in the castle. She got close to the room he's in. Then she saw him summon something. It just appeared in a whiff of fog. "Summoning or teleportation." It looked to be either. She'd need to stay on her toes and not let the fog touch her. Hinata's worries were cut short when the man surrounded himself in fog and vanished without a trace. Hinata's positive that was teleportation.

With him gone, Hinata entered the room. Her location was around the centre of the castle, right in the middle of the base. She approached the object that's been planted. It was a black cube, with the corners filled down. At the top was a red circle light, but that colour was getting darker. Hinata inspected the device and could see the energy within. Demonic Power, but it was building up rapidly.

The energy wasn't being used for anything; it just kept building up and up. Hinata estimated a few minutes before the device could no longer contain the concentrated energy. If that happens, it will go critical...with this much energy...it would...

"It's a bomb." Hinata was shocked but more so appalled. There was still a battle raging on; if this bomb goes off, it will take out her people, but theirs too. "Are there no levels the Khaos Brigade won't sink to?" Hinata can worry about that later. Right now, she has a bomb to deal with.

Hinata peered into it to found a way to shut it down. No, it's no good. She doesn't know how this device has been put together, nor can she figure out how the device produces energy for her to shut down. Hinata doesn't have time to figure it out. "It's bound to be boobytrapped. Moving it would just set it off. Trying to destroy it would just detonate it prematurely." Perhaps she could get one of Naruto's Clones to teleport it away.

Or better yet, she uses 'it'. "It's been a few months. I've developed it enough for usage, but not for long." Enough to manifest it for a brief moment and use that Jutsu.

Hinata clapped her hands together, controlled her breathing and infused her Chakra. The kind of Chakra control needed to perform this; she's worked towards for the past couple of months. She felt the strain, but she fought through it.

This is what she's strived for.

She shut her eyes from the pain as her Chakra surged. But she managed to keep it under wraps, barely. She hopes no one noticed, especially Naruto. But one day, when Hinata fully masters it, no matter what she tries, she won't be able to hide it from anyone.

It's ready. It hurts, but it's ready. Hinata doesn't have long; she'll need to work fast. Before her, Hinata carefully formed something...a black sphere...an orb?

The black orb hovered in mid-air so calmly, but its darkness consumed the light around it. What kind of Jutsu has Hinata just used? Gently the orb floated towards the bomb, only to then open up and expand. The black orb encased the bomb, and it sealed shut. Then the orb compressed itself, getting smaller and smaller. It would hit the bomb's sides at this rate. But no, it kept shrinking, well past the size of the bomb. It shrank until it became the size of a pebble.

The bomb...It didn't detonate; it's just gone without a trace or explanation.

Hinata halted her infusion of Chakra, clutched her eyes and fell to her knees. She grunted through the pain and held her eyes, hoping for the painful throbbing to stop. "I can do it...finally...I can..." But it's not ready for actual combat. Her eyes have yet to fully evolve, and her body has yet to adapt. She asked herself, after bearing through this excruciating pain for only a short while...is this what Toneri went through.

Suddenly a magical circle appeared next to her ear. Someone's contacting her. "Hello Hinata, testing one, two, three nya." That's Kuroka. "I'm back, so where are you? Am I going to you, or are you coming to me?"

Still recovering from the strain, Hinata spoke softly between breaths. "Kuroka...I'll come to you...just stay where you are, please..."

"Are you okay? You sound like you ran a marathon, nya?"

"I'm fine..." Hinata finally caught her breath and stood up, still clutching her eyes. "I just had to deal with something. But I'm okay now. I'm making my way to you now." Hinata shook her head and removed her hands. She finally opened her eyes. They were sore; they were veiny.

But for the briefest moment, her eyes were not that of a Byakugan.

.

---

Gaara pushed through the front lines, joined the fight, and aided the Shinobi against the Khaos Brigade. The Kazekage was both a guardian and a destroyer. He used his sand to sweep and crush all those who stood against him and protect his allies from enemy fire.

Devils in the air tried to silence his assault, but Gaara's sand defended him without his input. His Sand Shield protected him from all attacks, while Gaara formed sand spears and pierced the Devils around him. It was strange; their defence was lacking and uncoordinated. The Alliance may have taken an early advantage, but there should've been a counterattack. Yet, there hasn't been one. Are the enemy forces stationed here leaderless?

Perhaps he can end this sooner rather than later.

Gaara and his Shinobi reached the castle's main entrance, where the defenders intend to stand their ground. Not aiming for a slaughter, Gaara raised his hand and halted his men from attacking. "Khaos Brigade, the battle is already decided. There's no need for you to throw away your lives needlessly. Throw down your arms and surrender; I promise to show you all fair treatment." If there are indeed no seals within them, they can be taken captive. The Shinobi will get whatever Intel they possess. They'll then be taken as prisoners of war.

The Khaos Brigade's forces looked at one another, uncertain of what decision they should make. Gaara would contribute it to fear, fear of not knowing what fate awaits them in Shinobi hands. But they weren't even looking at Gaara...no; they're afraid of someone else.

"There will be no surrender!"

Gaara looked up, only to see a massive amount of water heading towards him. Gaara wasted no time and expanded his Sand Shield to block the entire attack. The Sand Shield held firm against the torrential water cannon. Judging by the force Gaara felt, this attack was far more than what a regular Devil could produce. So they do have a leader. The attack subsided, and Gaara moved his Sand Shield aside to see his attacker.

"I was hoping for Azazel or Yasaka; they are here, correct? Yet you're the one driving my men back, one of these so-called new humans? Ha! You're just a child." A woman hovered above him with Devil wings. She was tall and had purple eyes but wore glasses. Her skin was tanned, and she had long brown hair tied in a bun. She wore an extremely low-cut purple dress, and it had a high slit that exposed a large portion of her breasts. She came off as extraordinarily proud and vain.

"Are you a Devil of the Old Satans?" Gaara asked.

She flicked her hair out the way of her glasses and gave Gaara an arrogant smile. "I am a descendant of one of the original Satans and a true Devil. Katerea Leviathan...the true Leviathan, not like that pretender who sits on my throne."

"You're one of the three leaders of the Old Satan Faction. You lost the Devils civil war and went into hiding. Then Serafall took your place as Leviathan." Gaara has familiarised himself with the names of anyone of note in both Devil Factions. "You're Devil royalty." Or close to it.

"Royalty?! She looks like a tramp! Let's just kill her already!" Finally, someone who Shukaku can enjoy ripping apart.

Katerea perked up at Gaara's mention of royalty. Her pride was showing. "Good that you understand how things work. Now run along and fetch me Azazel or Yasaka; that's a good boy." She tried to shoo away Gaara. He wasn't worth her time.

Gaara would do no such thing. "I'll say the same to you. Surrender and be shown mercy." Gaara's sand moved around him, creating defences in advance. He already knew her answer.

"Ohohohohoh!" Katerea laughed across the back of her hand, a real noblewoman's laugh. "Such a naive child, I thought you understood your place. You don't belong here, human. So I'll see you out." Her Demonic power flared, an aura surfaced around her. Her forces down below cheered her on; they chanted her name, so sure of her victory.

Gathering power in both hands, Katerea launched two magic blasts at Gaara. The Kazekage quickly defended against the attacks; his Sand Shield blocked her magic without fail. This exchange continued in the air; both sides took note of their opponent.

Katerea still looked down on the boy but took note of his sands capabilities. Its speed and power were commendable. No way that's ordinary sand to block her magic. The human's lack of input suggests it's an automatic defence; Gaara just stood still with his arms crossed while the sand remained in motion stopping her magic.

Mixing it up, Katerea created a large magical circle above Gaara. It built up its power and fired. An immense blast of Demonic Power descended on the Kazekage.

Rather than using the bare Sand Shield, Gaara instead manifests Shukaku's claws. Gaara launched the claws and met Katerea's attack with his own. The explosion's shockwave shattered any windows nearby and pushed back Shinobi and Khaos Brigade alike.

Now Gaara was ready to use Shukaku's claws to catch Katerea, but the Devil was missing.

"Eyes front now." Katerea suddenly appeared next to Gaara, reading her next attack.

Hastily, another Sand Shield was formed and blocked the attack just in time. It was water once again. But then the magic changed from water to ice. Gaara's sand began to freeze solid. "Serafall Leviathan, one of the current Satans, is famous for her power over Ice. Katerea Leviathan has some similarities to her." The ice slowly covered Gaara's sand. The shield became too heavy to maintain its form and position and began to fall.

With the sand out the way, Katerea upped the power of her attack, and the ice attack soon embraced Gaara completely. When the attack ceased, the Kazekage became trapped in ice.

"I suppose you could be used for interior decoration." The Devil said mockingly. "But it be a hassle to move you." Katerea formed a Demonic spear and pierced Gaara's skull. "Should have listened to your betters, child." She gave him a chance. Katerea removed the spear and was ready to move on to the rest of the humans around her. But then she heard it. "What's that? Is that...sand?"

Looking at the frozen human, she saw sand pour out of the hole she created. As for the frozen human, he was hollow?

That's when she realised it. The human isn't dead.

Gaara appeared behind her in a ball of sand. He substituted himself with a Sand Clone. He formed a spear of his own, The Spear of Shukaku. Katerea turned to stop him, but she wasn't fast enough. The spear sliced across her chest, leaving a gaping cut from shoulder to waist. Katerea screamed from the pain, and blood poured at the wound, and Gaara quickly moved to restrain her.

"How dare you! You insolent toddler!" Katerea shouted at the top of her lungs, and power built up around her.

The force made Gaara halt; what's going on.

"Shukaku?"

"Her power's spiking. But I don't think it's her doing."

"Then what's causing it?"

"Huh...I'm no expert, but it kinda feels like something's in her that doesn't belong." It was tricky for Shukaku to nail down, but he could feel something foreign within the Devil's body. "I say we rip her in two and find out what it is."

Katerea's hair bun fell, and her long hair swayed in the wind, her face twisted in rage, and she directed it all at the Kazekage. With reckless abandonment, she charged at Gaara, firing spell after spell.

Gaara backed away, using his sand to block the attacks and lunch counter attacks. He'll focus on restraining her. "Wind Style, Sand Buckshot!" Gaara compressed his sand into many particles and fired them at the assaulting Devil. Katerea forgot all about defence and faced the full brunt of it. She became riddled with holes, but the attack did not dissuade her from advancing. Katerea kept trying to close the distance.

But then suddenly, she couldn't move at all. "What? What did you do?!" It was like her body wouldn't listen to her. She could barely maintain altitude. The sand particles infiltrate her bloodstream, clogging it and immobilising her movement.

With her restrained, Gaara moved closer to her.

No, no, she would not allow this. To be captured by a human! Never! This boy is a threat and needs to be dealt with now! Katerea could still move her hands to a degree; it's enough. Her hands stretched out like rubber and flew towards Gaara. The Sand Shield came to his defences, but the hands wrapped around the sand. Moving along the sand, they wrapped around Gaara too...and started melting into him, becoming one with him? "I don't know who blessed you with power, but you're a threat and some kind of freak!" She couldn't allow this child to live. "I'm not needed for the plan to succeed! I won't allow you to stand in the way of our great work!"

"Her power's gone into flux. She's about to go boom and take you with her." Shukaku found her suicide move amusing.

But Gaara wasn't worried. "You are nothing more than a vain woman obsessed with despotism." And one who has no place in leadership. "And it is your undoing." With this move, Gaara could no longer take her alive. Only one thing left to do.

Katerea lost her nightmarish grin when she saw Gaara's skin fall off? His skin was crumbling; he's falling apart. Katerea's spell doesn't do that; what is this?

With a wave of his hand, Gaara shed his Sand Armour. The Sand Armour is a last line of defence should the Sand Shield be breached. It covers Gaara's entire body in a thick layer of sand. That is what her arms have melted into. Gaara pushed the sand away, and with that, her arms too. There was no need to prolong this. Katerea attempted to retaliate, but Gaara's sand travelled up her arms and wrapped around her. Trapping her arms, legs, feat, her wings, encasing her in sand, she couldn't move at all. Her head was the only thing left to see.

"Sand Coffin!"

"What are you...?" Katerea pleas would not be heard. The sand soon covered her entirely, wrapping her up in a big ball of sand.

"Let it rain blood!" Shukaku loved this part.

"Sand Burial!" Gaara closed his hand, and the sand obeyed his command. The sand collapsed in on itself, crushing Katerea under so much force, there was no one who didn't hear the snapping of bones and her final screams. Blood dripped out of small openings within the ball of sand, dripping down on the battlefield below. Former battlefield...this sight ended it. The Khaos Brigade, who placed their last hopes of victory on Katerea's shoulders, lost the will to fight. They dropped their weapons, fell to their knees and surrendered. There were still pockets of resistance at other parts of the castle's grounds, but here the battles over.

Gaara ordered his men to make sure the enemy is restrained while he checks something out. Shukaku warned him about something within Katerea, something that doesn't belong. Gaara brought the sand ball to him, opened it up to see its contents. Katerea was unrecognisable; no one could tell if it was a man or a woman in there. But he didn't care about that; he cared about whatever that is?!

It was black, wiggling around through her body parts; it somehow survived the Sand Burial Jutsu? It didn't even look scratched. Gaara reached his hand in to grab it.

"Hey hey hey! Don't touch. I don't know what that is, but it's making my Chakra stand up on end." It wasn't the power it gave off, just the energy itself that unnerved Shukaku. Whatever it was, he didn't like it.

The black thing suddenly stopped wiggling around and vanished in black smoke, like it evaporated. Whatever that energy was that freaked out Shukaku, disappeared completely.

"What was that?" Gaara asked.

It looked like a snake.

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"What was that?" Kurama just about caught it. Shukaku encountered something off. All the Bijuu are connected; they share their thoughts if they want. But since Naruto has a piece of Shukaku's Chakra, Kurama can feel things from him even if he doesn't willingly share them. "That energy's new...and dangerous." There wasn't that much power, but its nature was troubling; Kurama will remember it well for next time.

But that wasn't the only strange thing he sensed. That Hinata brat, too, Kurama recognised it. The fox chuckled to himself when he put it all together. "So that's what she's been doing all this time. Keeping it a low profile makes sense, but how did she manage to awaken it? Is it because she now inherits his Chakra? But that alone wouldn't be enough..." Kurama was surprised, that's for sure. He didn't know what to expect from Hinata but certainly not this. "It would be interesting to see if she can fully awaken it." Kurama could also guess why she hasn't told Naruto about it. He didn't care, not his business.

"Hey, Kurama? Kurama, you daydreaming?" Naruto said, interrupting the fox's thoughts.

"Why not. You don't need my help for these brats. Just get on with it."

Naruto was still in the middle of his fight with Vali and his two playmates. But he'd be hard-pressed to call them a team. Both were doing their own thing. It wasn't a bad thing for him, though. Let them keep getting in each other's way makes Naruto's job easier. Not that he needed a handout.

Dodging yet another blast from Vali, Naruto created a Shadow Clone, who threw Naruto at Jeanne's artificial dragon. Naruto landed on its back, and its riders noticed.

"Hey! No hitchhikers!" Jeanne complained. Using her Sacred Gear, swords protruded out of the dragon's back, trying to skewer the young Shinobi.

"Whoa!" Naruto quickly sidestepped and jumped over the swords. He narrowly avoided becoming a pincushion. "Hey, what kind of dragon is this?!" Naruto asked himself as he made his way to Jeanne at the dragon's neck. But Heracles stood in his way. He took a swing at Naruto, but Naruto parried it, spun him around and gave him a swift uppercut, knocking him off the dragon and down below; happy landings.

"Hey, ya'know you're not bad," Jeanne said, complimenting.

"Thanks, but ah...you're next." Creating a Rasengan and avoiding more of her swords, Naruto ran up the dragon's back. But instead of moving closer to her, Naruto switched targets and clipped the dragon's wings. Naruto slammed his Rasengan into the left wing and shattered it.

Losing its balance and ability to fly, the dragon fell. "You dick, no fair!" Jeanne shouted at Ninja-Chan.

Not wanting to join her in a crash landing, Naruto waved goodbye, jumped off the falling dragon, and aimed to land on the castle's walls.

But that's when Vali took advantage. The White Dragon Emperor made a beeline for Naruto, tackling him in midair and into the stone wall, crashing through it. Vali has finally managed to grab Naruto. Vali pinned Naruto to the ground and held him down with a steel grip. "Now, understand how lucky you've been." Vali slammed his hand on Naruto's chest. "Divide!"

"Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide!"

The blue orbs that decorated Vali's amour lit up, and his wings shinned in shimmering light. Waves and waves of energy came out of his wings. They hit Naruto in force, all the while the armour chanted in the voice of Albion. Naruto felt the waves hit him, penetrate him, and its attempt to compress him. It was uncomfortable as hell. "What is this? What's Vali trying to do to me?"

"It's coming for your Chakra, your muscles, even your stamina. It's coming for everything you have." Kurama could feel the waves trying to compress and siphon Naruto's power. "Naruto, use your Chakra to push back. Chakra tug of war, but don't pull him in, push the brat out." Kurama commanded; no way would he allow Naruto to lose this contest.

Naruto sat up against Vali's grip and grabbed his arm. "Get off me!" Naruto flexed his Chakra, empowering it until it became visible all around him.

Vali saw it, a blue aura, but he's never seen this before. He still could not sense this energy. But he could feel its physical presence. It was heavy. "He does have some new kind of magic. It doesn't matter. That power will fuel me." Vali did not release his grip and kept up his Divine Dividing.

"Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide! Divide!"

Vali kept trying to divide him, but Naruto kept pushing back. It didn't take long for Vali to notice; he's not getting stronger? "Albion, why aren't I...?"

Albion did not answer. He, too, didn't know what this blue energy was. But as his Divine Dividing came into contact with it, all he could say was. "Impressive."

Then the waves shattered like glass. The armour stopped its chant, and Vali was left speechless. "Divine Dividing...failed...He resisted Divine Dividing?! But that's not possible! The only way he could've resisted Divine Dividing is if he's..." Vali couldn't believe it.

"Much more powerful than you," Albion answered for him.

Vali was in so much shock, so much denial; he forgot who's right in front of him for a moment. Naruto pushed Vali's arm aside and kicked the Emperor off of him. Naruto stood up, still shrouded in his blue aura; the pressure from his Chakra cracked the floorboards and the walls around them.

Naruto closed in on Vali and delivered a right hook across his face, the strike destroyed a piece of his armour. "What's the matter, Vali?" Then a left hook followed by three right jabs, each strike cracked and shattered his armour. "Not used to fighting someone whose power you can't steal!" Naruto punched Vali deep in the gut, swiped the leg, and created a Rasengan before Vali hit the ground. "Stop looking down on me, and don't look down on us, Shinobi!" Naruto slammed the Rasengan into the armour's central jewel, destroying it and penetrating the armour. Vali soon began to spin with the Jutsu and was sent soaring out the castle and across the sky, twirling as he went.

Vali had no hope to stop his momentum and crashed against the outer wall, bouncing off it and hitting the ground on the other side of the walls, forming a crater where he landed. He took a heavy hit, blood dripped out of his mouth and wounds, but Vali persisted. Ignoring the pain, the White Dragon Emperor stood up, finding himself far outside the castle's walls, where the battle still carries on.

Naruto...resisted Divine Dividing...irrefutable proof of his superior strength. Vali found it impossible to believe how someone capable of all this was unknown till a few days ago. What is going on in this world? Is there something he's not seeing?

Vali stopped thinking about it, and he rubbed his eyes, calming himself down. His confusion, rage and frustration gave way to cold fortitude and conviction. Now he knows, he understands...Balance Breaker's not enough...he must use everything he has in this fight.

Albion saw Vali's intentions, as unbelievable as they were. "You're going that far? Just to prove a point?"

"I can't let this slide. Twice in one day; how can I walk away from that?"

"In your current condition, it's too risky."

"I'm still standing."

"I'm talking about you mentally, not physically." Using that technique when your mind's not right could have adverse effects at best.

Vali ignored Albion's warnings. He could not let this go. The forest, the estate, and now here, Naruto's has a debt to pay. And perhaps he was wrong; maybe Naruto is an opponent he should respect. But that only makes him want to do this more.

"What about your mother then?" Albion tried a different approach to convince Vali to stop and leave.

That got Vali to stop and think for a moment. A point of hesitation. "I...I know...but Naruto tracked us all the way here. He's still tracking me somehow. Even if I escape and get to my mother, he'll just follow me there, and I'll bring the battlefield to her. I can't let anyone else find her or know about her." Before Vali can go get her, he needs to take Naruto out of commission first.

Drawing on the power of his Sacred Gear, Vali held on to his chest plate and called upon the power within.

"I, who am about to awaken." He called upon its power, his potential.

"Am the Heavenly Dragon who has taken the principles of supremacy from God." Power surged and fuelled the wielder, armour shining in ethereal blue light.

"I envy the 'infinite', and I pursue the 'dream'" Drawn to him are the souls of his predecessors, beckoning him to his purpose.

"I shall become the White Dragon of Supremacy." His destiny, his existence, his past, present and future.

"And I shall take you to the limits of white paradise." He called Albion forth for the battle to come.

"Juggernaut Drive!"

And now Naruto will face his full might.

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Chapter 19: Retaliation. Complete

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Vali:

I looked up about Vali a bit more. And there's a weird pattern. Vali's powers don't work on people stronger than him.

Loki stopped Divine Dividing.

Hades stopped Reflect.

Reduce can't affect inorganic targets. So Bijuu, Kurama's avatar, KCM Mode and Susanoo would be immune since they're not organic, but just Chakra.

So is that Vali's thing? Does Reduce and Half Dimension follow this pattern as well, or what?

And as for Naruto wreaking Vali. Naruto is such a hard counter to Vali it's unfair. Naruto was Divine Dividing himself when he was 12, and he could still fight right after. Skip ahead to now, and Divine Dividing can't be used on him.

Plus, this is Vali at the start of the series, so no Reduce or Reflect or higher forms of Balance Breaker. Issei has an incomplete one, while Vali has a complete one and a controlled version of Juggernaut Drive at this stage if I'm right.

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Katerea Leviathan:

Katerea Leviathan didn't have much to her name. She had Devil Magic, and that's about it. I mean, her self-destruct spell was the only other thing she had on the wiki, lol. So since she's a Leviathan, I had her use water and ice because what else could I give her.

I also didn't see a need to keep her around. The first time we hear her name and see her in the show, she gets killed off. She's less important than Freed, and I killed him off, so why not. I figured I'd use that chance to show how Gaara fights in this story, and her death can lead to something else...black snake and all that.

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Gaara:

Gaara's sand (Not Gaara himself.) is fast enough to block Amaterasu at a minimum (Five Kage Summit Arc. That was a few years ago in this story. Which is equivalent to the Fourth Raikage's speed but not his full speed.)

Strong enough to block sword strikes from Madara's Full Body Susanoo (Not the Perfect Susanoo.) Meteor strikes from the moon and so on.

His sand armour took hits from inner gates Lee, back at the Chunin Exams. It would be stronger now with how the power creep went in the last arc.

Since Gaara has Shukaku again, his Jutsu will be stronger, he'll have more Chakra, and he can use Tailed Beast State or manifest parts of Shukaku in his attacks.

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I took a chance to talk about how the rank and file of the Shinobi, Youkai and Fallen Angels feel about all this right now. The leaders and the privates develop different opinions on things because the leaders are in the loop, while the privates are out of the loop on many things for most of the time.

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The Alliance:

I'm fine with sticking to The Alliance or The Factions Alliance for the Shinobi, Youkai, Fallen Angel and future factions working together stick. But if you guys got any ideas for names, thrown them out. I'll look and considered them.

If nothing suits my fancy, I'll stick with The Alliance or The Factions Alliance.

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I'm considering remastering the first three chapters to get them more in line with my later chapters in structure. As well as extend parts that could do with a bit more writing. An example would be Naruto's fight with Rizevim. Naruto would still kick his ass and take his arm, but maybe make the fight a bit more to scale since he's a Super Devil.

I'd focus on new chapters of course, but chip at the remasters bit by bit. They might not take that long since I know what the key points are in the chapters.

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I plan to get the next chapter out sooner. I've already started work on it.

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Next: Chapter 20: The Price of Betrayal

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