Chapter 5 – Everything is gray.

"Now that I look back at my actions, I can't keep myself from wondering if every decision leading up to this was right. Especially now that your failure has led to this."

His master's incandescent rambling brought Cao's mind to a halt. There never was a time that such a tone came, into being, from him, especially towards Cao Cao himself. The hero faction's headquarters were deep underground the city of London. An unassuming cave underneath the underground railroads that formed one of the world's first metro infrastructures.

"Failure? You mean him? Just a nuisance in the greater picture. I don't know why you consider him such a threat. He is nothing but a puppet under that woman now. Not even human anymore." He scoffed.

"Know your place Cao Cao. If only he wasn't so independent and strong willed…" the man sighed wistfully. "…He would be standing in your place now, and you would be three feet underground."

Cao Cao eyed the man ominously, "You sure have no sense of self-preservation master." He threatened.

"Eh, it doesn't matter anymore. The world will descend into chaos and anarchy soon enough, the power of the factions will diminish and our world shall flourish anew. Just like it always has. I wonder Cao, will you be able to survive it? Or will you perish like a rodent on the side of a street. Tread carefully boy, karma does exist after all and failures- even the small ones, often bite the hardest."

The old man finished his speech and comforted himself on his throne. The candles of the dank room shone against Cao's facial features giving him an ominous appearance. He was in front of the exit now but stopped briefly.

"You and I and the rest of the hero faction, would be simple paper-pushers, workers for an unassuming and stale world if everything was peaceful. Chaos brings forth strife, strife brings forth suffering, and suffering creates heroes. Men and women who would put their life on the line to eradicate the same source of their creation. When the world becomes stable again, when there is no need for heroes anymore, when the filthy rodents and crows leave our world the circle will begin anew. It doesn't matter how I die master, there will be ten like me waiting in line."

Cao left the chamber along with the rambunctious laughter of his master. He entered the main hall, a large circular wooden table sat in the middle. Banners with crest hung around the stone walls. "What did master want?" a deep voice rang behind him. A bear of a man stood against the cold gray wall, hands crossed on his chest. He was, at least, two meters tall, with a body made out of chiseled muscles. Long golden hair and deep green eyes.

"Hercules… It was nothing of importance, just a tiny problem that needs to be addressed."

"Oh? I haven't been outside in weeks, maybe I should take care of it?" Hercules offered.

Cao contemplated for a few moments before nodding. "Yeah, that would be great Herc. One of our old recruit failures is stirring problems."

Hercules' eyes widened in understanding. "From your batch? What was his name again? Gabriel?"

"Yeah, he would be dead now, but I hadn't expected the Longinus to give me such a backlash so I had to retreat. He is the Leviathan's queen now and has trained during the last year no doubt. Don't take him lightly, Hercules" he warned.

"Yeah, yeah I know. Though I doubt a youngling like him could pose much of a threat."

"For you? Probably not. But… As I said, he is more than what he seems, cunning like a fox behind a faithful dog's mask. No matter how weak, people like him should be treated like cockroaches. Don't give him a chance. Don't toy with him. And make sure to crush him."

"It's fine I get it!" Hercules shrugged nonchalantly. "Crushing things is what I do anyway." He waved goodbye as he headed out for his mission.

Traveling with public transportation becomes a novelty when the usual way to travel consists of warping every atom in your body to another location. The green scenery outside the bullet train had a calming effect on the fragile nerves of the young devil. Rhythmic sounds coming from the tracks and the hygienic smell had an entrancing effect on his mind. He shuffled uncomfortably in his seat when the speakers announced the next station. Daimon station was the nexus towards Ofuna, from where he would take the next bullet train straight to Kyoto.

He could as easily teleport himself there, but the ride gave him time to process everything. Serafall was on her yearly tour now and wouldn't be back home until next month. He had to make all kinds of excuses to get out of her watchful eye.

"Hello there!" an American-accented voice said.

A hulk of a man sat swiftly next to him and gritted him with a charming smile.

'We will be arriving in Daimon in five minutes. Thank you for choosing Japan's number one railways!' the operator's voice sounded.

"Ah, hello. You American?" he asked. He had to consciously force himself to use English. His meeting with Sirzechs a year ago made it easy to recognize that some people could distinguish devils speaking their universal language.

The man's eyes glittered with excitement when he spoke in fluent English. "Oh, you are American? I guessed correctly then, Japanese is hard man."

"I know right? I've had a hard time getting used to the honorifics and stuff. Let me guess South Cal?"

"No, no…" the man waved his hands in denial. "Miami" he stated with a laugh.

"Yeah, that makes sense too." Naruto smiled. "Though I'd swear you'd pass for a guy from L.A. I'm Naruto." He offered his hand in a friendly gesture. The man smiled even wider and shook it- almost crushing his hand in his thumping hand. "Hercules."

"Ouch man, you really hit the gym huh?"

"Sorry, I sometimes can't control my power" he sheepishly apologized.

"So Greek origins, right? You parents must have known you'd get this big…" Naruto chuckled, "…that or they fed you something special."

"Yeah…" the man heartily laughed. "…father came from Athens. Never stopped spouting about how Greece lost its glory, hated the Turks with a passion too. Oh well, the world has changed a lot lately."

"Old grudges are hard to forget huh?"

Suddenly, Hercules sobered up. "It's a shame Naruto…"

Alarm bells rang in Naruto's head. It was like a dark room that suddenly lightened up with a bulb. Underneath it stood a colossus of a man and Naruto was an ant looking up. Whatever pleasurable aura vanished and Naruto was cornered in his seat.

"…I would have loved to stay and chat with you a bit longer. But it's just business that's all."

Before he got a chance Naruto found his head clutched in an enormous grip. He tried to struggle but it wouldn't loosen and his skull felt as if it would explode in a gory fashion. Like a watermelon between a bodybuilder's thighs. Everyone in their carriage lost consciousness as a schism appeared behind Hercules. "Public fights are a no, no." he muttered as if reminding himself not to crush the devil in front of him just yet."

The usual feeling of teleportation overtook him and Naruto found himself held up from his face. A forest around them surrounded their inevitable battle. Without giving Hercules any time to react he let his right hand fall limp on his side. Malicious red energy surrounded the limb and the sword he received from Tsunade materialized in his palm. Gripping the handle as hard as he could he willed the moisture around them to gather around it, elegantly he tried to stab the man in the stomach. The icy protection shattered like glass upon contact. Naruto instantly swiveled and surrounded Hercules' neck with his feet in a clutch while letting his wings out.

"What are you doing child?" the previously friendly Hercules had an arrogant tone now. He stood there like an immovable rock while Naruto struggled around. Even though enforced with energy and devil muscles he couldn't choke him.

Having enough of Naruto's sputtering form he threw him. Naruto lost his breath upon impact with a tree. The thick wood shattered when he hit it. Naruto had less than a second to roll away from a punch that intended to crack his skull in two. He didn't expect the follow-up explosion. Its force threw him sideways into a large rock. He didn't get a chance to recollect himself because Hercules jumped on him. He was being pummeled underneath Hercules' leather boots. Bones were being crushed, a blow found its way on his face and he felt teeth shattering.

Hercules broke a large piece of stone and lifted it, holding it, at least, three meters above his head. "I don't know what Cao Cao was worried about. Sure most would never survive that pummeling but in the end, of a day a cockroach is a cockroach, nothing more nothing less. Get crushed insect."

The boulder was let free to move its natural course through gravity. It was only when no blood seeped underneath the boulder that Hercules noticed something wrong. There was no blood flowing from any of the wounds on his target's body. The wounds themselves looked black inside. The 'dead' body twitched slightly and broke into a flock of crows slightly blinding him.

Clapping resounded behind him and he turned back baffled at the sight of a completely healthy looking Naruto. "So Cao Cao sent you?" he asked nonchalantly. "Yes. It's easier that way…" a maniacal grin almost split Naruto's face in too. Devil wings sprouted from his back and his darkened face showed two scarlet slit eyes. "…Isn't it easier Hercule's?" he started running towards his attacker, sword safely clutched in his right hand. Jumping in the air and readying himself to strike the hulk Naruto spoke again, "…When the prey comes to its predator?"

Hercules didn't have time to process the words being spoken. 'cunning like a fox… Be careful' Cao Cao's words echoed again as he dodged the slash and rolled sideways. Without taking too much time to think ahead he cocked his fist to punch the blonde in the nose. Naruto swiftly avoided the punch by turning his head sideways and tried to stab the man. The sword performing multiple swings in less than a second. Multiple faints mixed into the motion.

Hercule's not lacking experience in faster opponents elegantly dodged each and everyone, getting away with only a couple of cuts on his side. With a roar, he punched his left towards Naruto while swiftly turning on the top of his heels.

Naruto missed the faint and didn't see Hercules' elbow coming his way because he was busy dodging the punch. It impacted right in his ear and the ringing sound surrounded him completely. His field of sight was distorted right now that he was stunned. There were two Heracles' now running towards him. He tried to avoid the left one but the right one's fist impacted on his face breaking his nose. Naruto rolled with the punch so as to soften the blow but it was for naught. Every bone in his body hurt as he lay there broken on the ground.

'STAND UP' Serafall's voice again. 'Weaklings are the first to die in the world that you so quickly rushed to enter. I- no, No one needs weaklings! No one wants to see people close to them die because of weakness. That's why they died didn't they? You were weak back then, they were weak! And here you are paying the price. So stand up!'

"SHUT. UP! You know nothing of them! You are nothing!"

"What are you blabbering on about insect? Have you lost it now that you couldn't back your words? Ah, what is it you said earlier?" Hercules laughed snobbishly. "That I am the prey? Know your place INSECT!"

He kicked the blond away. Naruto's body soared and impacted upon the boulder and imbedded inside it.

Naruto was silent but suddenly started laughing.

"Piece of crap…" Naruto whispered.

"What?"

"…Know your place."

The forest became quiet. For those who never heard of Naruto- which was perfectly easy to do unless viewing a long forgotten video on devilTube. A video about a young blonde man who nonchalantly interrupted Magical girl's Levia-tan live shooting. A young man, first member of Serafall Leviathan's peerage. Given so much power that his human shell almost exploded the entirety of the Gremory estate on a cold November night a year ago. Amongst the secrecy and hidden facts, it was easy to overlook the fact that Naruto was the first human to attain a 'real' form' after turning into a devil. A state only pure blooded Ultimate class devils ever achieved and only after rigorous training. It was a manifestation of their desire and power. The manifestation of their dreams and aspirations. A devil's ultimate state.

It was a fact that changed the way devils saw evil pieces, a probable way to undo their own existence. It couldn't be revealed so nonchalantly to the underworld population. It was the reason Naruto was not allowed into the middle-class examinations. It was the reason Sirzechs took an interest in him and sent Grayfia to train him. It was the reason Serafall looked worried every time he brooded over his long lost friends. It was the reason that Hercules shook like a leaf while looking upon his maker.

For in front of him now stood the Devil and no matter how much he ordered his brain to get it back together and stand up he couldn't escape his kneeling position. It wasn't even the blonde he met on the train in front of him anymore. A malicious shell of his former self. Red slit eyes observed his very being, clawed hands, and wings resembling of the fallen angels sprouted from his shoulders Naruto's feet had only three extensions now and looked like talons. His skin turned pale white, a stark contrast to his previous tan.

A spear of magic energy formed in Naruto's palm and he got ready to strike. Briefly, that thug in Chicago appeared around Hercules' form. He could see every inch of him shake, like a cornered animal that couldn't accept its fate. "There is no Eli to save you this time."

"Naruto." A growling and very familiar voice echoed behind him. Naruto froze, his spear millimeters away from Hercules' eye.

He sighed and turned around looking like a hurt puppy- a quite menacing puppy but to her a puppy nonetheless. "This isn't like it looks like. Serafall I swear."

"She stood behind him, arms crossed and feet tapping impatiently. She wore her pink Levia-tan costume and her earpiece used for stage still hung around her head. "So here I am singing in front of at least thirty thousand people Naruto…" he glared. "…And I can feel you removing my seal right?" Naruto nodded. Hercules was watching baffled.

"…And so I ABANDON MY OWN FUCKING CONCERT! AND I FIND YOU HERE! LIKE THIS!" taking a calming breath she continued. "…So you better have a very damn good explanation about all of this."

Naruto raised his hands in defense. "Look, just let me finish here and-"

"Go home now."

"What? Why? This ass-face tried to kill me!"

"I'll deal with it. Go home, rest and then find me on my tour bus. You are escorting me until the tour finishes."

"What? Hey, I swear- "

"And there will be daily '1000 spankings'"

Naruto sputtered like a child, the memory of the humiliating punishment fresh in his mind.

"but- "

"No buts go home."

Naruto pursed his lips and tsked. Without saying another word, he teleported away.

Serafall sighed as she eyed the broken man in front of her. Hercules couldn't move and still shook like a leaf. "Who sent you?"

She cast an illusion on him, normally it would take some torture but his spirit was broken so it was way easier.

His eyes widened as he finally recognized who it was that stood in front of him. "Wh- What?" he stuttered.

She rolled her eyes and clutched his chin bringing their eyes on a level. "I will ask you. And you will answer. You tell the truth and your master will see you again. Lie and you'll be buried here in this forest."

"Cao Cao. Ji- Jiraya." He kept muttering the names in a trance. Jiraiya's name made her eyes widen and anger flooded her mind. Any and all secrets Hercules' could spout wouldn't make a difference now. Naruto would be so hurt.

'Naruto' she thought sadly. His desire for vengeance had made him into what he was- partly. A former human with enough potential to one day rival the four great Satan's. A fact that made her immensely proud and sad at the same time. She eyed the spot that Naruto stood upon before he teleported.

"Man… Making me take another life. You're no better than Sirzechs." she sighed while turning to look at Hercules' terrified face. Memories, long forgotten, of bloodied battlefields. Her brethren mutilated and mountains of bodies. Angels losing their minds and falling in the midst of the chaos. Crying as god lost his life. The former Satans' bodies underneath her feet, as she and the rest of their motley crew celebrated their victory.

'There is no reason to dirty your hands for that. You are too pure."

Jiraiya sat atop his throne underneath the city of London. The cavern was briefly illuminated as a snake appeared in front of his feet. It shifted and an amorphous humanoid being took its place. He was not born yesterday he could easily tell that it was a summon, the being offered him a delicate looking wooden box.

'I have a message for you Sage.' It spoke in his mind. He didn't feel the need to break the connection.

'Speak' he ordered.

'It's voice shifted into a more feminine tone, he could recognize that voice anywhere, heard it millions of times through secret recordings and sightings but it lacked the usual playfulness.

'You have overstepped your bounds. If he finds that you are involved in this, he will break. He is family now and attacking the Sitri isn't a wise choice Sage. Tread carefully, the Ouroboros is moving but that won't stop me from tearing you apart. Enjoy my gift.'

The sage stood silently as the being dissolved into thin air. He didn't particularly care for threats coming out of a rodent's mouth. Nimbly he undid the sealing and opened the box. A defeated sigh escaped his lips as he eyed the content. "Stupid boy" he mumbled looking at Hercules' severed head and the patch of skin that held the Ouroboros tattoo.

One of the numerous shadows around him morphed into a similar being to the snake summon. "Leonardo, get me Cao Cao here." He whispered.

A.N Jiraya as an antagonist. This was planned before I even wrote the first word of chapter 1. His motives and aspirations will be explained more clearly down the line. So if you love Jiraya, sorry I guess. I still suck at writing fight scenes, so don't feel too let down; I tried my best *yay* (sighs and cries in a corner). I had an image of Hercules in my mind, a cocky muscle head that loves battles. I tried to not put too much conversation into the fight itself because I hate seeing people explain their abilities to their opponents during fights, oh well.

That being said I am reading up on cannon at the moment. The story is heading towards the Yasaka rescue arc and the inevitable confrontation between Naruto and Cao Cao.

A huge thank you to YuukiAsuna-chan who gave me the light novels to read.

P.S There will be those of you who'll complain about Naruto having a 'true form'. This will be better explained down the line. He is not OP. Not even close. At best I'd say he is a bit less strong than Sairaorg in that form and even then there are numerous limitations (which again will be explained later *no spoilers for you!*.