A lot of things are going to happen in this chapter, buckle up!

Chapter 9: He of the Beginning

"To think that master is still this far above me... it's humbling." Sairaorg lay on the ground, as sure in his assessment of Indra as he'd ever been. His power was overwhelming even when he'd met him all those years ago, and now, he was still outclassed. The gap was absolutely massive, astronomical, unthinkable. He had been on a sort of high, winning whatever spars his family had shoehorned him into over the years after he had met his master, but this one was the most telling. This was the benchmark of power he measured himself by, and it seemed that he still had a long way to go to even be a blip on his master's radar.

"You did well", Sasuke spoke calmly, but with a hint of joy. Sairaorg was far ahead of anyone his age that Sasuke had seen or heard of, and ahead of even some of the elder devils he had run into. This 'balance breaker' transformation seemed to grant him a large portion of Ddraig's power (not all of it, though. The dragon in it's prime was far more powerful). If he could harness it's full power, he might even be able to challenge the rulers of the underworld.

"Master, if I may, I have one more request of you." Sairaorg made his intentions known.

"Speak."

"What is it that makes you so powerful? What do you fight for?" Sairaorg felt the utmost curiosity about this. His own motivations were no secret. He may be highborn according to his lineage, but by ability, he was no more than a commoner. He did not hold his clan's famed ability, the "Power of Destruction", which does exactly what one would think it does (even his redheaded cousins inherited the power). No, he had to work for anything he has and has ever had. Even the gift that his master gave him required years of dedication to progress it to the point that he has.

But Indra-sama was different. He was ancient, if the way he talked about events that Sairaorg had learned about in history class was anything to go by. He only ever talked in first-person accounts, as if he was actually there. This was not much of a surprise to Sairaorg, as devils themselves had no known caps on their lifespan. The oldest devils were thousands of years old themselves. His master, as he had come to learn, has had the power to alter the landscape since he was his age, though. How does one become that powerful, that quickly? What does someone who accumulates all that power so fast even have to fight for, back then and now?

"..." Sasuke's speech stilled. What did he have to fight for now? All of his childhood friends, associates, and loved ones are long dead. He had only descendants now, ones with whom he had not interacted with of his own volition. His only remaining friend is Naruto, and the only thing they're doing is starting a religion, which isn't a cause he's fighting for so much as a job that he took out of convenience.

He had no one to love, no one that loved him, and no reason to be involved with love.

No grand scheme like he did after the 4th war.

No true purpose.

"I suppose... I fight simply to live." It wasn't a lie. He was an immortal that had lived for eons. He had nothing to fight for. Truth be told, he was searching for a purpose.

Sairaorg started laughing.

"Hahaha... That was an interesting response, master. I'm sorry for the laughter, but, it's just so absurd. One as powerful and as majestic as you, having such a simple reason for your being." He got up off the ground, dusting himself off.

"I suppose it is rather simple." Sasuke trailed off, knowing that Sairaorg was right. He needed to find a new purpose, as this was exactly what he had come here for: to start anew. He had just been going wherever the wind took him up until now. 15 years with hardly any progress.

The gauntlet on Sairaorg's arm appeared, and a voice came through the green gem.

"[Why not start a family, Indra-san?]"

"Ddraig?" Sasuke spoke out loud. He hadn't heard much from the dragon after he gave the gauntlet to Sairaorg, only the occasional quip about his age and how he missed the glory days when he had a physical body. He seemed to be content with Sairaorg as his host, at the very least.

"[Yes, it is I. You haven't forgotten me in this feeble passage of time, have you?]"

"No, I haven't. You're just not the talkative type, and neither am I if I'm being honest."

Sairaorg was fascinated. It's true that neither his master nor his resident dragon spirit were chatty Kathy's. Seeing them speak to each other about something at length, much less something of this much importance, felt like a once-in-a-lifetime event, so he stood there silently, trying to take it all in.

"[Point taken. Anyway, back to the topic. Why don't you start a family? You could have any number of concubines with your strength, status, and poise. Polygamist relationships are far from abnormal in this world.]"

"Tch." Sasuke almost scoffed at the suggestion.

"I have no intentions of accepting any female that throws themselves at me with reckless abandon, especially because of my power or position." Sasuke had had enough fangirls chasing and annoying him for one lifetime (several lifetimes, in fact).

Sakura, ironically, was probably his biggest fan, and biggest annoyance. She annoyed him, more than any other girl ever had. She was clingy, borderline obsessive, and practically useless to boot early on in their careers. However...

She came to love him for him after a few years passed. She loved him, despite his broken mind. She loved him, despite his callous and cold demeanor towards her and her friends. She loved him, despite him even trying to kill her at several points, and ultimately, he came to love her back. He had seen that her feelings were more than just surface level, more than just looks, and that's the type of woman he'd needed. She honestly deserved better than him, but he'd since made the decision to be the best husband he could be to her.

To sleep with an assortment of women after him only for their benefit would be to spit on her memory.

"[I understand. I merely threw the idea out there to aid you.]"

"... I'll consider it. No concubines or any other annoyances, but... I might settle down again one of these days." Sasuke smiled wistfully, being reminded of Sakura almost always put him in a good mood. It was funny in a way, Sakura' disposition towards him. Her temper was legendary, but she never even threw so much as a punch his way, even if he felt he had deserved it at several points (she did knock the house down on several occasions, however).

Another effect she had on him was his appreciation for odd hair colors. Pink was such a stand-out color. He could identify her in a crowd of people easily, especially since she was the only person he had ever met with that color-

"We'll spar when you get back!"

Well, she wasn't the only one now. With all this talk of family, maybe he'd pay the place where he got started in this world a visit? Catch up with the dobe's newest acquaintance (and he used that word VERY loosely) and spar with that Akasha woman. It had been years, and he had agreed to do so anyway.

An ethereal light began to envelope Sairaorg, and his body began to shimmer and become translucent.

"As much as I'd like to continue speaking with you, master, it appears I am being summoned for a contract. I will speak to you later!"

"[Until we meet again, Indra!]" Ddraig said his piece, and with that, the duo teleported to the destination they were summoned, leaving Sasuke to himself. He made a note to come back to this "realm of the nephilim" later, and vanished through a portal without a trace.

-Naruto's Mansion, Daybreak-

"This is... incredible." Vali slumped on the ground, speaking in between labored breaths and pained coughs. He'd never fought anyone as strong as this deity in front of him, and it only excited him the more the fight dragged on. It had been hours, and he had been put down several times, but he just couldn't get enough. He had even been able to equip the armor from the gauntlet, the "Divine Dividing", as it was called, and use the ability sparingly.

Ophis sat by idly, certain that this deity had to join her cause. He was outright stronger than Albion, so Vali mastering the gear wouldn't even matter. He was possibly stronger than herself, she thought. Removing Great Red would be an afterthought with him on her side.

"Are you done now, kid?" Naruto asked, obviously exasperated. The battle freak just kept coming over and over and over again, and it annoyed him. He was no stranger to fighting for prolonged periods of time, he had gone two full days back in the 4th shinobi world war , against opponents miles stronger than this kid to boot. That didn't mean he liked wasting his entire night fighting a battle maniac and being watched by a bratty dragon who's all but stalked him for 15 years. Sleep was far more preferable than... whatever the fuck this was.

"He is", Ophis said. Vali leveled a glare at her, but knew he wouldn't win an argument if one cropped up, so he stood down.

"You've shown your power adequately for me. Name your price, I must have you on my mission." Her face was adorned with the hint of a smile, assurance that she was one step closer to regaining the "silence" she longed for slowly taking hold in her mind.

Naruto scratched his head, wondering what she was talking about.

"The wish, dumbass. It's only been one night, how could you have forgotten?" Kurama spoke to him over their mental link, chiding him for his forgetfulness and snickering just a bit.

"Well excuse me for forgetting a detail because I had to put up with a stalker and a battle enthusiast all damn night", Naruto fired back. Why does he end up in so many weird situations? 5000 years of this having not driven him insane is nothing short of a miracle. Anyway, he had a wish to make.

"What should it be?" he thought. He didn't need many things, he could make most of what he wanted. What's something he didn't know how to go about?

The sun began to rise above the horizon, and an idea popped into his head. He had made up his mind about taking up Kaguya's role in this place, that is, being the one to spread chakra to mankind. The catch was that he'd have to do the deed if he wanted to do it like Kaguya had done it, and he didn't exactly have anyone he could see himself doing it with just yet (Yasaka was extremely tempting to his basic male instincts, though. That kiss drove him up a wall). Speaking of her, maybe he should pay her a visit sometime soon? He had promised to do so, after all. She could meet Kuroka and Shirone and talk about youkai things, too!

He heard a faint cackle in the back of his head, like someone was laughing at him. That damn fox, what's so funny about taking the two of them to meet Yasaka?

Back to the matter at hand. He needed a way to imbue someone with chakra. He did NOT want to do it the old fashioned way (at least, not yet). He did not currently have a way to do it, other than the old fashioned way. His wish? For another way to do it, of course.

"Hmm, I guess I'd like..." He racked his brain, until it hit him.

"A shogi piece!"

"..."

"..."

"... Why is no one saying anything?" Naruto was perplexed.

"I imagine it's because it's their first time being faced with your special brand of stupidity. I was the same way once upon a time."

"Oi, you damn fox!"

"... I suppose I can grant that. It's rather simple, but if it will get you on my side, I have no quarrel with it." Ophis began to invoke her powers, while Vali sat there dumbfounded. Frankly, he had lost a lot of respect for this deity. Unfathomable power be damned, who'd wish for something so stupid and insignificant? He could've used that wish for something more useful, like power. Or strength. Or the ability to crush whoever stood in your way.

The irony of those things being the exact same were lost on him.

"Wait, wait, WAIT!" Naruto shouted, waiving his hands about in a frantic manner. He probably should've started with the important bits first.

"Ya think, you flesh puppet? Your dad wasn't even this stupid, and he was the one who thought it'd be a good idea to seal an ancient incarnation of hatred and rage into his newborn son."

"Ok, that was a bit of a lowblow, Kurama..."

"I'll stop throwing haymakers when you stop running into them."

"Whatever-ttebayo." He shut off his mental link with Kurama, he didn't need any more sass.

"I meant, like those things the devils in the underworld use. Chess pieces, I think? Things that fuse into people and alter their genetic makeup." Naruto listed off everything he could remember from one of the lessons he had learned in his time staying in Kyoto with Yasaka. She had been adamant on teaching him the basics so he wouldn't go around embarrassing himself. She treated him like a little brother, the more he thought about it. At least, initially.

The thought of the kiss she planted on him replayed in his mind, and his long-lost libido started to take hold of him. He mentally slapped himself, forcing himself to snap out of it, and continued on with his wish.

"I'd make them myself, but, I don't know how to, ya know?" He rubbed the back of his head in a sheepish manner. Those evil piece things were really complicated, and only someone named Ajuka could make them, apparently.

Vali took his assessment back. A replica, of sorts, of the evil piece system? This deity's head was in the right place, apparently. Did he plan on making a peerage to amass even more power?

"Very well, then." Ophis started channeling her power again, closing her eyes and flaring it. A set of 20 shogi pieces appeared, falling into Naruto's hands.

"H-huh? Why did you give me so many? I only asked for one." Naruto sweatdropped. Was she overcompensating in the hopes that he'd join her ranks?

"You said you wanted it to be like the devils'. The devils have 15 pieces."

"Then why'd you give me 20?"

"... No reason." Ophis WAS overcompensating, but only by 5.

Naruto only wanted one for Issei, but supposes he could use the extra ones as spares or something.

"Well, thanks, I guess. I can take it from here." Naruto tried to shoo the two before Ophis popped the inevitable question.

"So, have you changed your mind yet?"

And there it was.

"I think I need, like, another 3 years? I'll have your answer for sure by then." Naruto tried pushing his luck. He had already gotten an extension out of her once.

"... I suppose. Three years is not that long, as I am timeless. Vali, we will return in 3 years." She opened a portal behind her, stepping one foot into it and waiting on Vali. The sun had come up fully by now, shining the rays of early morning light upon everything.

Vali looked at Naruto, and communicated that he was not fooled. "I'll be back much sooner", was the unsaid statement. Naruto simply scoffed.

He found himself thanking god for immortal, timeless beings that had no conception of aging and didn't care about time. Granted, he was currently one of those immortal beings, but whatever. After Vali left, he fixed his landscape and trudged into his house, intent on getting in some type of sleep. As soon as he stepped into his room, he found a black cat.

"Were you concerned, kitty-chan?" The cat transformed back.

"Not really. I know how strong you are. I just wanted to sleep in your comfy bed, nya~" She wasn't telling a lie entirely. His bed felt like it was made out of clouds. Soft, fluffy, and absolutely soothing.. Perfect for lazy cats like herself.

She was lying about her level of concern, though. Deity or not, freak accidents can happen. Asura was the only one that cared for her and her sister, and was genuine in doing so. Every time she felt his chakra, it felt like the sun on a spring day. Warm and enveloping, being in his presence was soothing.

She didn't want to lose that.

"Well, I understand. My beds the best, I made it that way, but you do have your own room with an exact replica of it." Naruto knew she was fibbing. He had finally cracked that hard, outer shell of her emotions and gotten her to trust him, at least on a basic level.

"Well, maybe just a little." Her ears drooped down, and she sported a sad smile. She flinched when Naruto patted her on the head.

"Cheer up, kitty-chan. We're going on a trip in a bit." It had been a long time, so why not go and see Yasaka again? He'd even have two new faces this time. Issei was too much of a risk to take, and he needed to have him take in and get used to the shogi piece anyway. Lusting after Yasaka would ruin his concentration.

He hoped she wasn't mad at him, to boot. Fifteen years is a long time not to see someone.

"A trip?" Kuroka asked.

"Yeah. We're gonna go see an old friend of mine. She'll be excited to meet you and itty bitty kitty, I'm sure." Naruto flashed a cheesy grin.

"...She?" Kuroka started to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Old friend who's a woman, and he has the scent of a woman all over him. A slight bit of irritation crept into her mind, though she was unsure why, as she slowly came to a realization.

He was going to see his old flame.