Desclaimer:-
The cast of Naruto is transported to an unknown dimension as the watch the first world in a crossover with High School DxD. While there are many versions of this crossover, give this one a chance. Unlike the others, it is not focused on humor. Instead, it is a serious and beautifully written fanfiction called "Saigo" by Shinmai. In this story, I have chosen to gradually increase the tragic and emotional conflicts among the characters, rather than introducing them suddenly. My main goal is to develop the characters and their relationships. Although there may be some humor in this chapter, it will decrease as the tension among the characters increases in future installments. This chapter alone is approximately 10,000 words long. Please share it with your community, leave suggestions in the review section, and don't forget to follow and favorite this story.
A shattering aspect of narutoverse
Chapter 2
At the same time, the screen of the theater starts to flicker and the vision of the first world they can properly see.
Love.
If defined by its true meaning written in the dictionaries of her world, was a pure and strong feeling that you feel towards someone whose happiness has suddenly become more important to you than your own. The most notable example of this sensation was that of God, a being who loved his children more than he loved himself.
According to the tales inscribed in the books of the Underworld, the infamous God of Heaven was supposed to be the creator of this feeling and bestowed it upon his children so that they too would be able to relish the elixir that was love. It was because of him and the emotion known as love, that entities of his world were finally able to settle down in a false peace. If not for love, then they would have been fighting with each other for eternity.
"Then why is my life completely devoid of it?" Rias whispered to herself, her face contouring into a scowl as she gazed at the stars in the skies above.
They were looking as beautiful as ever and just like the old times, she couldn't see a flicker of defect there. They were flawless and why wouldn't they be? They were supposed to be serene and strong after all.
The screen flickered, casting an eerie glow across their faces. As the image came into focus, pained breaths echoed through the room.
Before them appeared a haunting vision - a young woman with long, lustrous crimson locks cascading down her back like a bloody waterfall. Cerulean eyes glimmered beneath sculpted bangs, concealing shadows and sorrow. Her lithe body was accentuated by a tight black shirt and short red skirt, hugging dangerous curves. She was tragically beautiful, evoking bittersweet memories and dangerous longing.
"Kushina..." Tsunade whispered, her voice thick with emotion. Tears gathered on golden lashes as she was assaulted by memories of her lost friend. Jiraiya grit his teeth beside her, regret carving deep lines on his face. Kakashi remained frozen, but inside he was bleeding. This ghostly apparition clawed open old wounds, leaving his failures exposed.
Oblivious to the anguish around him, Kiba whooped excitedly, pumping his fists. "Yeah! She's totally gorgeous! I just know I'm gonna marry her someday!" Kurenai closed her eyes against the callous words, mourning her student's innocence. In a gentle voice laced with melancholy, she replied, "One day, you may understand the sorrow she evokes, Kiba. I pray that day is not soon..."
Ino's hands clenched white-knuckled at her sides, bitterness poisoning her soft features as she glared at the screen. "Look at her...we're just stupid little girls playing dress-up compared to that." She barked a harsh, hollow laugh. "Forehead Girl and I will never measure up."
Beside her, Sakura visibly wilted, eyes glistening. Ino's words pierced her fragile confidence like senbon. "She's right," Sakura thought miserably, "I'm weak...useless. Even Sasuke-kun would want someone like that."
Nearby, Hinata was shrouded in darkness, soft features twisted in obsession. "Naruto-kun can't look away from her...he never looks at me that way..." she muttered under her breath. Kurenai rested a hand on her shoulder, deep concern in her crimson eyes. "Hinata, this path leads only to more pain. You must turn back before it's too late-" She recoiled as Hinata violently wrenched away, pale eyes wild. "No! He is mine! I won't let anyone take him from me!" Kurenai shuddered at the unhinged declaration. When had her gentle student fallen so far?
Naruto, entranced by the tragic beauty on screen, spoke in hushed tones. "her red hair is so beautiful...like the first light of dawn breaking across a blood-red sea." Kakashi stiffened at the vivid imagery, reminded of too many war-stained sunrises.
Nearby, Moegi clasped her hands earnestly. "She's so gorgeous! Like a goddess!" Konohamaru chimed in brashly, "Yeah! Way hotter than Forehead Girl over there!" Sakura trembled with rage, fresh tears spilling down her cheeks. "What did you say, you little twerp?!"
Sensing the precarious atmosphere, Iruka raised his hands placatingly. "Everyone please, remain calm!" But his words fell on deaf ears. The crimson-haired siren had opened floodgates of emotion that could no longer be contained. She was an ill omen of tragedy to come.
"Strong…"
Sadness overwhelmed the admiration as she remembered the deception she was put in by the members of her family. "They ruined my life." The red-haired girl whispered to herself, clearly recalling the injustice that was done to her for no rational reason. "For my entire life they scolded me to be a strong devil like them, but before I could become one, they threw me with that monster like I was some sort of a worthless object." Tears welled up in her eyes but before they could fall and taint the ground, she wiped them away. They were of no use now. If they couldn't change her life in the past then she was sure they won't change it now either.
Now her whole life was in control of someone else, someone who she barely knew anything about. The only thing she knew about him was that he's a strong devil and if she wanted to stay safe under his care then she needed to control her emotions and follow his orders. These trivial emotions like sadness and anger were her biggest enemy and would make her life a living hell if she didn't learn to control them sooner.
Rias could still remember what her mother-in-law had told her when she had first met her.
'If you want to be happy like me and your mother, then you have to understand that you are a part of Riser's life from now on. Understand that and he will always be nice to you.'
Rias knew her mother-in-law was lying when she uttered those words to her. There was no way she could be happy under a man who saw women as if they were some sort of rare collectibles. Never. She could never be happy with him.
"But what other choice do I have?"
The broken girl's whispered words echoed hauntingly across the silent room. "They ruined my life." Her voice, fragile as glass, could not conceal the raging anguish within. Fiery locks obscured her face, failing to hide the silent tears tracing down porcelain cheeks. Eyes once bright as the summer sky were now clouded, reflecting only pain and betrayal.
Kakashi turned away, masked face betraying no emotion. But his lone grey eye was heavy with sorrow. "I know well that sorrow, to be a blade forged only for another's purpose," he uttered softly. Iruka buried his face in his hands, scarred by the cruelty of forcing such burdens upon one so young. His voice shook with impotent rage. "She's just a child...it's monstrous to demand this of her!"
Hinata trembled like a frightened doe in Kurenai's protective embrace. Her sensei's blazing eyes promised retribution should any try to cage her songbird. "They cannot take your wings, little one. I will shred them first." Hinata wept silent tears, mourning the girl's stolen freedom.
Sakura clung to Ino, haunted by visions of herself bartered like an object to the highest bidder. "Is that our fate too?" she whispered, voice small and terrified. Ino snarled in false bravado, "I'd like to see them try! We're not some porcelain dolls!" But her confident words could not mask the fear in her eyes.
Naruto visibly struggled to contain his raging emotions. "I know that loneliness - to be thrown away as worthless." His voice shook with the effort. "It's not right. I have to save her!" Kakashi rested a hand on his student's shoulder. "You cannot save everyone, Naruto. No matter how much you wish to." Naruto violently shook him off, cerulean eyes ablaze. "I don't care! I'll find a way, dattebayo!" His shout echoed the girl's helplessness.
Neji observed his cousin, features etched in stone. "Now do you understand, Hinata-sama? The caged bird who dreams of flying free?" Hinata turned away, haunted. Jiraiya stroked his chin thoughtfully despite Tsunade's scathing glare. "She has spirit yet. I hope it is not extinguished."
The crimson-haired girl's tragic tale had opened floodgates of anguish. Her broken spirit reflected their deepest fears and failures. She was a haunting reminder that some birds were destined to remain caged, their freedom forever out of reach.
Her current life was nothing more of a tragedy. Never in her scariest dream did she imagine that she would be forced to live a life with a man that viewed her as an object created to satiate his lust. Rias hated it, she hated it with all her heart. Yet, she couldn't run away from it as it was her only way of surviving now. What used to be a girl embellished with bright feathers of freedom and contentment was now turned into a creature that wanted nothing but a sweet release from death.
"It's all because of me. I should have never backed off that day." Rias admonished herself for the thousandth time for not having the courage that day. "I should have jumped off that bridge. At least then I could have been free of all the troubles and my past." Her soft-spoken words went unheard as usual and her heart sank even deeper into the vale of sadness.
'Thud…'
Every thought left her mind as soon as the odd sound of footsteps reached her ears.
"Lady Rias, how many times do I have to tell you that you shouldn't leave your apartment without notifying me?" A familiar voice made itself known to the girl. "I was given the duty to look after you and when you vanish like that, everyone holds me accountable for it." The monotonous voice of the individual made Rias even sadder as they were the living proof of what her life was slowly turning into.
A hell.
"I didn't want anyone to follow me here, Mihae. Just tell me why you are here and leave."
The incoherent sigh that Mihae let out didn't go unheard by Rias, but after living with her for so long, she had gotten used to it. They were like fake threats that meant nothing. "Don't act like you are the one in control, Lady Rias. We both know Master Riser controls everything and when he hears that you have left your apartment without me, he gets very possessive." Unlike her warnings, the fear in Mihae's voice was genuine but still, it had no visible effect on Rias as the girl continued to stare at the beautiful dark skies.
"Hmm…"
The hidden leaf village shinobi gathered in the mysterious room stared intently at the screen projected before them. On it was the image of a young red headed girl who bore a striking resemblance to Kushina Uzumaki now named Rias as called by the other young women prsumed as maid. Her broken blue green eyes and smile tugged at their hearts.
The legendary sannin Jiraiya and Tsunade exchanged puzzled glances, silently wondering about the girl's situation and how she could be connected to their rambunctious young friend. They looked over at the enigmatic cloaked figure they knew only as 'The Author' hoping for answers, but he simply sat calmly on a plush couch sipping apple juice through the darkness concealing his face.
Kakashi pondered the situation deeply, noting similarities between the girl, Naruto, and his late teacher wife. Glancing at Jiraiya and Tsunade, he could tell they were having a wordless conversation about whether to finally reveal Naruto's heritage. They had long kept it secret to protect him, but feared this strange scenario might accidently expose the truth.
The Author's voice suddenly broke the tense silence telling them Naruto deserved to know about his parents, as many things long hidden would soon be coming to light.
Tsunade glared at the presumptuous man who had summoned them here against their will. "Are you an idiot?" she seethed. "First you kidnap us, now you want to carelessly reveal village secrets which can very well destroy the foundation of konoha ?" Jiraiya nodded in agreement as Kakashi hesitantly concurred despite his doubts.
The Author simply replied "As you wish" in an infuriatingly dismissive tone.
Tsunade clenched her fists vowing to wipe that mocking grin she imagined behind his hood if given the chance.
But for now they could only exchange subtle expressions, their true thoughts masked by the Author's mysterious powers.
An almost invisible smile appeared on Rias' face when she heard Mihae sigh in defeat. If there was one thing that made her boring life somewhat positive then it was annoying Mihae for no reason. It was always nice to see the poor girl shiver and seethe because of her. "Anyway, I just wanted to inform you that Lord Beelzebub has granted your wish to move your peerage members under your mother's care. They no longer belong to you which means that they are no longer included in the marriage contract." Now that shocked Rias to her very core.
Did she hear it right?
"Lady Rias?"
Did her beloved brother actually do something by going against their father?
"Lady Rias you there?"
'Kiba… Gasper… Koneko… And Akeno…'
Tears welled up in her eyes again and this time she did nothing to stop them from falling to the ground.
"Lady…" Mihae stopped midway through her sentence when her ears picked up the sound of Rias' sobs. '...' Eyes down in remorse and respect, she turned her face away from the girl in order to hide her shame. Slave or not, she was still a girl and could feel everything that Rias was feeling at the moment. 'I'm sorry, Lady Rias.' With that thought in mind, she began to walk away from the girl, only to be stopped by her mid-stride.
"T-Thank you for informing me about it, Mihae."
Mihae's lips quivered as she tried to hold back her whimpers.
"Your welcome, Lady Rias."
The shinobi reacted to the news of Rias' freed peerage with a mix of descriptive dialogue and growing hope.
Kakashi eye-smiled, the creases by his Sharingan crinkling with faint optimism. "A sliver of light in the darkness. She's not entirely alone now."
Iruka exhaled slowly, tension bleeding from his shoulders. His chocolate eyes shone warmly. "Thank goodness her loved ones are spared this ordeal."
Jiraiya's chakra surged with relief and he thumped Tsunade on the back. "Haha! The vixen has allies on the outside!" Honey eyes flashing, Tsunade allowed a grin. "Good, she'll need all the help she can get to crush these oppressors."
Cerulean eyes bright, Naruto cheered loudly, fists pumping the air. "Yeah! Her friends are free, dattebayo!" Beside him, Hinata beamed, pearl eyes luminous. "I'm so relieved for Rias-san. Her bonds give her strength."
Sakura clasped her hands, emerald eyes hopeful. Ino hugged her, sky-blue eyes cleared of their storms. "Now Rias has comrades to help her fight." Forehead pressed together, Sakura whispered back, "She's not alone."
Thumbs up, tears of elation trailing down his cheeks, Lee shouted exuberantly, "The glorious power of love prevails! Their passionate flames cannot be extinguished!" Tenten laughed indulgently, gentling patting his shaking shoulder. Neji's stoic expression softened minutely with relief.
Stroking his goatee, Shikamaru nodded thoughtfully, inky eyes keen. "This changes things. Her peerage could shift the board in her favor." Beside him, Choji beamed around mouthfuls of chips. "She has true comrades now."
Kurenai tenderly tucked a strand of Hinata's hair back, scarlet eyes warm. "You see little bird, Rias still has ties to those she loves." Pearl orbs luminous, Hinata whispered back, "Yes Kurenai-sensei, bonds can give such strength."
Konohamaru whooped, jumping up and down as he pumped his fist. "Yeah! Go Rias, you show them!" Moegi jumped excitedly beside him while Udon looked on, tension bleeding from his slender shoulders.
Hands raised placatingly, Iruka cautioned, "Steady now everyone, we still don't have the full picture." But his chocolate eyes swam with growing hope.
The shinobi clung to this glimmer of light in Rias' darkness. Their descriptive reactions conveyed a shared sense of rising hope that perhaps her bonds could now be her salvation.
-Rias' Apartment-
"What are you going to do with your daughter, Lord Gremory?"
"I… I don't know, Marvin. She is good for nothing without that power."
"I know, that's why I asked, Master. Without that power, her importance in that contract is almost nothing. She brings nothing of value to that union."
"I know but there is nothing we can do about it, my friend. Her uselessness has brought nothing but shame to our house in the past few years. I'm afraid that she will only tarnish our reputation further after the marriage."
"That is somewhat-"
Slam!
Silence claimed the room after the sound of glass shattering echoed from the walls of the large and lavish chamber.
"Just look at her, Marvin. She is so pathetic."
"Master-"
"Please don't interrupt me this time. I want to vent out my frustration. So let me have a moment with my daughter."
"As you wish, Master."
"Rias!"
A pair of beautiful blue eyes looked away in shame and fear as they found themselves cornered by the cold gaze of an individual who once used to see as her own with fondness and admiration.
"Why are you so weak, Rias? Why aren't you like your mother and brother? Tell me… Please tell me."
Tears began to well up within them, bestowing them with an unusual charm of innocence and guilt.
"Look at me, my child."
She didn't. She couldn't.
"Look at me… Please…"
A sliver of hope and courage sparked inside her when she heard her father's vulnerable voice. Maybe… just maybe for once, he was being nice to her.
"Look at me, you pathetic excuse for a devil!"
Pain surged through her mind as the cold words of her father entered her ears.
"Do you know how ashamed I feel whenever I meet my friends and talk about you? It always ends up with them making jokes about me and my position in our society. Your weakness is ridiculed everywhere I go."
Rias whimpered as the bitter words of her father settled inside her mind. He was right. It was all because of her.
"They say that you are nothing without that power and that fact makes me angry."
Her eyes turned towards the ground and glanced at her small hands. 'If only I had that power.' She thought as she tried to suppress her cries from her father. Without the power of destruction and strong magic, she was nothing. They were the pride of her family, a symbol that had made them so commendable in the underworld. That is all she had, nothing more. Nothing less.
"Sometimes I think, I should have sent you somewhere far before anyone could have known about you and your weakness. At least then I could have saved our family from embarrassment by telling these people that I have no daughter."
'N-no daughter?'
Tears began to fall from her eyes and stained the bright marble floor beneath her as the bitter realization finally dawned upon her. It was all futile, wasn't it? Her pleas, her cries, and even her precious tears meant nothing to anyone. For them, she was nothing but a pathetic weak girl who should never have been born into their family.
"Maybe after your marriage, I'll be able to live a life devoid of shame."
Pain and grief got replaced by fear as soon as Rias heard those unpleasant words. 'Marriage...' She was going to be married to someone she didn't even know. She would become a slave, an existence worse than death itself. From what she had heard from her caretaker, the boy she was going to be married to was the worst of the worst. He was everything she despised.
'He's just like my father.'
"From what I have heard, the younger son of Lord Phenex is a brilliant lad. I think he'll be able to control you better than your mother and brother."
Control.
Rias' remaining will crumbled down in a second as flashes of her once feasible dreams began to appear in front of her eyes. They were beautiful and were the source of her conviction. It was because of them, she continued to live a life devoid of love and happiness. They were more important than everything for her, as accomplishing them meant being on the same level as her brother, something for which she was ready to sacrifice everything.
'But soon in a few years, I'll be left with nothing but despair and remorse.'
Her lips began to quiver as thoughts of her future life began to fill her mind. They were vile and vicious, completely opposite to what she wanted her life to be.
'No!'
The shinobi reacted viscerally as Rias' agonizing predicament was laid bare before them.
Jiraiya's sharp gaze took in every detail, seeking clues to the abilities governing this mystifying world. His jaw tightened in frustration and confusion. "Just what is this power they keep mentioning? It's clearly not our shinobi arts." He crossed his thick arms, robes straining over muscular bulk. "We're at a dangerous disadvantage in unknown territory."
Kurenai watched the cruel family dynamics play out with growing unease. Her wine-red eyes darkened, long lashes casting shadows on her porcelain cheeks. She saw too much of a young Hinata's suffering mirrored in Rias' profound isolation. Kurenai's slender fingers clenched white-knuckled on her knees, manicured nails threatening to draw blood. Those who deliberately broke a child's spirit deserved only her contempt. she fear for the sanity and stability of her mind. she sometimes wonder does she have yanderish personality in her.
Hinata hunched in on herself, pearl eyes glistening with sympathy and old shame. Rias' family saw her as defective, just as Hinata always fell short in her exacting clan's eyes. She knew intimately the bone-deep loneliness of being an outcast, a failure. Hinata's midnight blue tresses fell forward, concealing her trembling lips. Even now, her heart ached for paternal approval she would never receive.
Naruto vibrated with outrage, harsh breaths sawing through gritted teeth. His cerulean eyes flashed crimson, slit-pupiled. Clawed fingers drew blood from his palms. "That bastard deserves no mercy for what he's done to his own daughter, dattebayo!" he roared. Seeing one so cherished tortured by family cut Naruto deeper than any blade. His rage was incandescent, Kurama's chakra rising within.
Tsunade stared stone-faced at the screen, muscles coiled tight as steel cords. Her full lips pressed thin and bloodless. Despite her impassive facade, fury simmered beneath the surface. She knew with chilling certainty that such psychological wounds left scars no medical ninjutsu could heal. Some damage was permanent.
Naruto trembled with rage, Kurama's chakra rising within. Tsunade stared stonily ahead, despite the fury simmering underneath.
Beside the Hokage, Konohamaru looked up with innocent distress. "Granny Tsunade, why are Rias' family being so mean to her?"
Tsunade placed a gentle hand on his head, honey eyes softening slightly. "Sometimes people fail to cherish those closest to them, focusing only on selfish pursuits." Her voice held profound regret. "Rias suffers because she is measured only by what she can do for her clan, not who she is."
Ino lifted her chin with determination. "I vow to use my Yamanaka skills to heal the scars left by such cruelty. No one should ever feel so alone." Her sky-blue eyes flashed with purpose. Though brash, she meant every word.
The shinobi scrutinized each nuance of Rias' torment. Their body language revealed visceral reactions to her abuse. Jiraiya was calculating, Kurenai enraged, Hinata haunted, Naruto murderous, Tsunade coldly wrathful. The cruelty inflicted upon Rias stirred their deepest instincts to protect the vulnerable. They braced themselves for more disturbing revelations still to come.
Draped in a thin layer of sweat and tears, Rias' face tightened a little as her dull blue eyes snapped open in shock, and began to stare at the white ceiling above.
The white plaster wall, the cold blue floor, and the white ceiling above, they were all looking menacing and brazen. It was as if they were taunting her for her failures, dreams that she couldn't achieve.
Even the colors mocked her, the pureness and innocence of white, robbed from her life by her husband. The serenity, stability, inspiration, wisdom, or health of blue, walked upon just like the floor.
"You will be free from this contract, Rias. I promise you that."
Out of all the painful memories hidden inside her brain, a long-forgotten one decided to make itself known again after so many years. 'Brother!' A spark of anger flared within her heart as she recognized the owner of the voice in her mind. It was him, an individual who she used to adore the most, one who had promised to free her from her shackles.
It was because of him, she began to dream those false dreams. He was the one who promised to help her earn the freedom she so much wanted to achieve. If not for her brother, Rias would have never been what she was right now. He gave her false hope and she adopted it without a second thought. "I should have never told him about my dream. Maybe then I could have been like Yubelluna. A puppet without dreams." Rias shook her head and muttered something under her breath.
The collected shinobi realized the tragic vision was but a dream - nay, a nightmare - darkly mirroring Rias' bitter disappointments. Even her beloved brother had failed to shield her from engagement to the ominous Riser.
Tsunade's honey-gold eyes darkened as she contemplated the situation, full lips drawing into a tight line. Her brow furrowed, marring the diamond seal as she rubbed her temples with slender fingers, tension evident in the corded muscles of her neck. This unknown Riser evoked only dread if Rias likened him to her cruel father. Tsunade shuddered imperceptibly, ample bosom rising and falling with a heavy sigh. She crossed her arms beneath her breasts, manicured nails drumming anxiously on her forearms as possibilities swirled in her mind, each more troubling than the last. This alliance did not bode well at all.
Kakashi leaned forward intently, his lone grey eye sharpening as it analyzed every nuance. Though his masked face revealed little, the crease between his brows deepened almost imperceptibly. His calloused fingers tapped irregular rhythms on the table, belying his outward calm. Apprehension was etched into every taut line of his tall frame at the same time kakashi's lone grey eye reflected a tempest of regret for promises broken and comrades lost along life's rugged path. Beside him, Iruka clasped his shoulder, grounding him with compassion tempering the churning maelstrom within. "Her hope was but gossamer dreams, fragile as a child's faith. Now she walks the winding road of our existence, stumbling upon truths which lacerate." Kakashi sighed, weary beyond bone and marrow. "Goals once shining bright as stars turn swiftly to ash upon the tongue."
Sakura embraced herself tightly enough to draw scarlet rivulets, sharp nails reopening old scars. Ino wrapped a steadying arm around her trembling frame. "We have all pursued pale phantasms of desire. Yet ephemeral dreams cannot sustain us. The oasis we spy is ever a mirage, vanishing as we approach." Sakura laughed bitterly, the sound grating as shattered glass. "Vain hopes born of ignorance cut far deeper when proven false. Best never to hope at all."
Naruto sat coiled tight as a spring, cerulean eyes refracting a thundercloud of memories betrayed, trust violated callously. Hinata hesitantly took his scarred hand between her own. "When faith is broken, the spirit fractures. But in the cracks, there is space for wisdom to take root." Naruto shook his golden head angrily, jaw tensed to cracking. "Things need not remain this way. The chains that once bound me shall not bind another. I will forge a new path."
Shikamaru stared grimly into the shadows, ever calculating bleak probabilities. Choji's soft voice intruded upon his dark ruminations. "Though dreams often perish, to abandon them entirely is to perish oneself. They sustain us through life's travails." Shikamaru's laugh held no mirth, only ashes. "Or lure us farther astray when proven false. To dream is to court despair."
Lee's fists clenched and unclenched compulsively like a man in fevered delirium. Tenten placed a gentling hand atop his own until the trembling stilled. "The brightest flames race swiftly toward destruction, consuming all in their wake. Moderation preserves us." Neji added solemnly, "Passion grants wings to soar, yet attachments are shackles binding us to earth. We walk a narrow precipice between elation and ruin." Lee's shoulders slumped beneath the weight of wisdom dearly bought
The shinobi sat in solemn contemplation of dreams lost and hope betrayed, reflecting on youthful ideals crushed under the weight of reality. Rias' profound disillusionment echoed their own. They could not erase her scars any more than their own. They could only share this moment of unspoken understanding.
The other shinobi exchanged uneasy glances, postures reflecting their growing dread. Sakura bit her lip anxiously, while Hinata's pale eyes held unspoken fears. Naruto clenched his fists till they shook, jaw tight with frustration. The ominous engagement cast its shadow over them all, and they braced for the coming storm.
Rias shook her head and muttered something under her breath.
'What am I thinking?' She whispered. False as they might be, her dreams of freedom were still the only thing that had helped her endure her sad childhood. If not for them, she would have given up the hope a long time ago. So instead of being angry at her brother, she should be thankful to him as he was the one who gave her that hope.
In her sad and depressing childhood, her brother and mother were her only anchor that kept her safe from drowning in the sea of death. Unlike her, who hated her very presence, her mother and brother both loved her to no end. For them, she was their Princess, someone they needed to protect at every cost. Unfortunately for them, by the time they could even help her she was already far gone from their grasps.
"No need to think about them now. It will only deter my mental health more." With that said, Rias left the comforts of her bed and began to walk towards the washroom. "I need to meet Sōna too. Now that my school time is almost over, I think it's time to finally cut off ties with the human world once and for all." Rias whispered to herself while slowly rubbing away the sleep from her eyes.
Naruto watched Rias silently battle with herself, heart aching. He saw his own yearning mirrored in her - the desperate need to believe family would come through despite all evidence to the contrary. Naive hope died hardest. Cerulean eyes dimmed with memories of an isolated childhood awaiting redemption that never came.
Sakura bit her lip, blinking back tears. She understood that desire to retreat from hurt, to sever bonds too painful to sustain. In her weakest moments, she had craved escape. But in the end, she knew isolation was no true shelter. Loneliness ever crept back in.
Lee jumped up, eyes burning with fervent optimism. "Though her spirit wavers, I believe Rias' flames will reignite brilliant and strong! The power of youth cannot be extinguished!" Neji observed his exuberant teammate with veiled amusement, envying such determined idealism. But life had long muted his own childish faith.
Shikamaru stared broodingly ahead, cataloging each new revelation, analyzing motives and predicting outcomes in his methodical way. Though laziness was his shield, keen intelligence pierced Rias' vulnerabilities. In shogi, he would turn them against her enemies with ruthless precision. Emotions only clouded judgment.
Kurenai gently cradled a distraught Hinata, humming soft soothing notes. She knew the shy girl saw herself in Rias, a disappointment to stern father and clan. Kurenai's scarlet eyes blazed, silently daring any to try caging her little bird again. None would clip her wings ever again.
The shinobi reacted in their own characteristic ways, but an undercurrent of empathy persisted. Rias' plight awakened old wounds, hopes, and fears within each of them. They could only watch and wait as her tale unfolded.
Sasuke sat slightly apart from the others, aloof as always. His onyx eyes narrowed broodingly at the revelations about Rias' engagement, pale sculpted features betraying no outward reaction. Yet underneath the Uchiha's façade, tumultuous emotions roiled
His slender fingers clenched briefly into fists before relaxing with deliberate effort. Sasuke's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly as memories arose unbidden - a kind elder brother who shattered his world with one horrific act. Betrayal by those held most dear awakened echoes of an old anguish he thought long buried.
Sasuke watched impassively as Rias chided herself for resenting her brother's false promises. Though outwardly aloof, he understood all too well the conflicting emotions she grappled with.
Onyx eyes clouded ever so slightly with memories of a smiling elder brother who had once been his everything. Even after Itachi shattered his world, some naive part of Sasuke still clung to precious recollections of gentle affection. The mind knew betrayal, yet the heart yearned to go on believing.
Sasuke's slender fingers curled involuntarily, nails biting into his palms. His jaw tightened and a muscle feathered in his cheek. Echoes of a young boy's anguished confusion and need for family warred with the bitter rage of betrayal. For all his efforts, the past yet haunted him.
With an almost invisible shake of his head, Sasuke focused his wandering thoughts. Now was not the time to get lost in old wounds. He understood Rias' conflict all too intimately, but dwelling on such things would not help her.
Still, as she spoke of cutting ties with the human world, Sasuke's eyes narrowed faintly. He knew that path led only to isolation and emptiness. Vengeance had granted him no peace. Perhaps she still had a chance to choose a different road, though the shadows encroached. Sasuke hoped Rias would find the light that always eluded his grasp.
Jiraiya's dark eyes widened as revelation struck. He hastily whipped out a worn notebook and scribbled furiously, calloused fingers clenching the pen with white-knuckled intensity. Bushy white brows drew together in concentration and he chewed his lip absently, completely focused on capturing this vital insight.
"Not human..." he muttered under his breath. "An unknown realm, strange powers, and now she speaks of cutting ties with the human world..." Jiraiya straightened abruptly, craning his thick neck to meet Tsunade's curious golden gaze.
"You see it too, don't you?" He prodded urgently. "This is no mere human drama unfolding. The girl, this world, it's something beyond our experience." Tsunade's eyes narrowed thoughtfully as she nodded.
Kakashi and Iruka exchanged a weighted glance, the crease between Kakashi's brows deepening. Asuma blew out a stream of smoke, tension evident in the set of his broad shoulders. Kurenai absently twirled a lock of raven hair around one slender finger, crimson eyes distant and contemplative.
Jiraiya scratched his jaw where stubble was already growing in. "Every new revelation only brings more questions. Just what is Rias' true nature if she speaks of cutting ties with humanity?" His sharp eyes took in each companion's reaction. There would be much to discuss about this unsettling development.
Kuoh Academy was huge, Rias noted idly as she stared at the huge building of concrete that was standing tall in front of her. It was beautiful, large, and full of life. The children that were going in and out of the building were only giving the establishment a more friendly touch.
Although she had seen the building countless times in the past few years, no matter how much she looked at it, the view of the building could never get old in her eyes. It was and would always remain incredible and invaluable to her.
"Wonder where Sōna is right now," She whispered to herself, eyes still not moving away from the building. There was something serene about it, something that had always made her calm no matter how panicked or sad she was. "Maybe it's because it used to be my second home..." Her statement made her flinch as she realized that she no longer would be able to call it one soon. "But it still gave me many nice memories to live with." That calmed her down a little so she decided to drop the subject for the time being.
As she strolled closer to the building, her heart began to beat faster due to anxiety. She was sad, Rias wouldn't lie about that. And why wouldn't she? She had been a part of this place for so long and now she was being forced to say goodbye to it by people who didn't even know anything about her life and dreams.
"Issei-kun, you are such an impolite individual!"
Sōna's distinct voice immediately brought Rias out of her stupor and forced her to spin towards the direction of the sound
"Huh?" Rias blinked at the odd scene in front of her, a smile daring to blossom on her lips as she saw the forced smile on Sōna's face. The girl was having a hard time with the boy, the expression on her face was a clear giveaway for that. 'Poor Sōna…' She wanted to laugh at her but even if she tried to, Rias knew she wouldn't be able to muster up a laugh now. The times when she could laugh at or with her friends without a care in the world were long gone. Now, the only thing she could do was flash a fake smile at them.
"Buchou, you are embarrassing me in front of Rias-senpai. It wasn't that big of a deal anyway. I just complimented her breasts.
Iruka's chocolate brown eyes lit up with delight as he took in the sprawling school building. "Magnificent! I've never seen a dedicated academy so grand. Just imagine the knowledge and community fostered within those walls." His scarred face was wistful, clearly envisioning the laughter of children learning and playing together.
Naruto bounced excitedly in his seat slightly recovering from his somber mood. "Whoa, that place is huge dattebayo! Way bigger than our Academy. I bet they have ramen there too!" Hinata giggled softly beside him. Ino just rolled her eyes indulgently.
Sakura's emerald eyes shone as she admired the architecture. "It's beautiful...so open and airy. Nothing like our underground classrooms." Beside her, Ino nodded appreciatively, no doubt imagining the stylish outfits permitted here.
Lee leapt up, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "Such a glorious monument to the fiery power of youth! The passion for learning burning within must be immense! I wish to run its hallowed halls!" Tenten bit back a laugh and gently tugged his sleeve to sit back down.
Shikamaru observed lazily, though his hooded eyes were assessing. "Hn. Seems like a troublesome amount of people to gather in one place." Ever the tactician, he was gauging strengths and vulnerabilities.
As Rias and Sona appeared onscreen, Jiraiya's face split into a lecherous grin. His eyes roamed over their figures as he giggled perversely, scribbling in his notebook.
Tsunade's eye twitched in anger and disgust. She smacked Jiraiya upside the head, knocking off his forehead protector. "You never learn, do you?!" she yelled, vein pulsing in her forehead.
Shizune sighed wearily at the familiar antics while Sakura and Ino edged away from the Sannin in revulsion. Even the normally unflappable Kakashi seemed mildly disturbed.
In the corner, Anko leaned forward predatorily, the dango stick dangling from her smirking lips. Her hazel eyes glinted with sadistic glee as she observed Jiraiya leering at the girls.
"Heheh, the old perv's just begging to play with my snakes," she snickered. Anko licked her lips, already envisioning the sage writhing in agony as her conjured vipers suffocated the life from him. "Mmm, nothing gets the blood pumping like a good torture session."
Twirling the dango stick between her fingers, Anko giggled maniacally. "Maybe I'll let my pets have a little snack too. I bet the gaki's delicious life force would make them drunk!"
Kurenai edged away warily from her unhinged friend, gently steering Hinata away as well. She knew Anko's bloodlust was never fully contained. Placating her was the wisest course.
Anko's deranged cackling sent a chill down the shinobi's spines. When her predatory gaze locked onto Jiraiya, even the bold Sannin paled slightly. Anko relished evoking such dread. Soon, their fear would be realized. Her chuckles rose in twisted anticipation
Rias' focus turned towards the boy. "Issei…" As soon as she laid her eyes on him, a wave of familiar energy blinded her vision. 'He is even stronger now.' She couldn't help but notice as she tried to recollect her thoughts. 'I'm glad he is doing fine with his life. The last time I saw him, he was rather indecent and was having various problems in his life. Maybe Sōna helped him sort out things.' Rias' thoughts then took an unusual turn as she recalled the time she had avoided the chance to get him into her peerage. It was a rather effortless opportunity to capitalize on but for some reason, she didn't.
Rias couldn't bring herself to include another individual in her peerage, only to see him suffer later on in the match against Riser. Sure he had a sacred gear inside him but even that would have changed nothing. Her defeat was inevitable and she wanted no one else to be a part of it. 'But now that I look at him, I can't help but think… Did I make a mistake by not getting him in my peerage?' Her eyes turned towards him again but this time instead of getting thwarted by that energy, she was welcomed by nothing but a shallow pond of lust and sinful thoughts.
'Maybe not…'
"What are you looking at, Rias?" Rias' thoughts were yet again obstructed by Sōna, who was now walking towards her with Issei closely following her behind. "Are you looking at Issei? If yes, then please don't. Issei-kun already has a huge problem with girls and I don't want you to give him any second thoughts by staring at him like that." The way Sōna phrased that statement was odd considering she was supposed to be a calm and well-mannered individual. At that moment, she sounded like she was being cold to her, something that confused Rias a little as she had never seen her friend do that.
"I was not staring at him, Sōna. I was just thinking about something else."
"By something else do you mean your marriage with that man?" Sōna's words were full of contempt and anger. "Or leaving this school and us alone to live somewhere you don't belong to?"
"S-Sōna?" Rias didn't know what her friend was trying to achieve with that change in her behavior but fortunately for her, everything became clear when Sōna opened her mouth again and began to speak.
"President. Call me Student President, Rias. I'm no longer your friend. Our friendship broke up the moment you refused to accept my help that day." Sōna's eyes momentarily turned over to the opposite direction where lots of students were standing and talking to each other. "If you had considered me your friend, then you would have seized Issei before me but you didn't. You rejected him, just like everyone else who I had offered to you before him."
Rias, who was listening to every word, lowered her head in shame.
Kakashi's gaze lingered on Issei, his sharp mind troubled by the odd energy radiating from the boy. And still no detectable chakra, another piece that didn't fit. Rias' complicated history with Issei was a puzzle he intended to unravel.
Naruto squinted at Issei in frustration. Just what was that pervy guy's deal? He seemed connected to Rias somehow, but his chakra signature was all weird. Was he even human? More mysteries...Naruto scratched his head, completely baffled.
Neji focused his Byakugan on Issei, veins protruding alarmingly. But the all-seeing eyes found only darkness, this boy's inner workings obscured. Clenching his jaw, Neji pushed more chakra into the doujutsu. Still that void stared back mockingly. Impossible.
Shikamaru's hooded eyes narrowed dangerously. First Rias and Sona, now this Issei. Their lack of normal chakra was troubling, hinting at origins beyond their world. He disliked unknown variables threatening his calculations. Troublesome didn't begin to describe this mess.
While the shinobi pondered friendship's fraying ties, this new enigma deepened their unease. Strange energies, missing chakra, and Rias' connection to Issei raisedalarms. Neji's failed Byakugan only compounding the mystery. They were operating blind, and shinobi hated the unknown. Rias' fate seemed bound to forces beyond their reckoning.
Konohamaru scratched his head in confusion as he watched Rias and Sona argue. "I don't get it. They're supposed to be friends, so why are they fighting?"
Moegi frowned sadly. "Friendships can be complicated. Sometimes you hurt each other without meaning to." Udon adjusted his glasses. "Misunderstandings happen easily. They just need to talk it out."
Asuma took a long drag of his cigarette, features grim. He'd seen bonds tested on the battlefield. Not all survived intact. "Losing comrades is painful, but abandoning them first is a mistake she'll regret."
Kurenai's crimson eyes softened with sympathy. She smoothed Hinata's hair gently, knowing the shy girl felt every hurt deeply. "Your kindness is a strength, little one. Stay true to it always." Hinata leaned into the maternal touch, finding solace.
The younger shinobi were saddened to see friendship fraying while the jounin reflected wisdom earned through bitter experience. They hoped Rias and Sona would find reconciliation, but feared the widening rift signaled greater troubles still ahead. Their concern for both girls was evident
"Don't act all sad now Rias. We can't change anything now so it's better to move on from it."
"Hmm…
Sona sighed at the girl. "If you are here to collect your graduation certificate then don't worry about it. I'll send it to your home with someone from the department."
Rias' eyes dilated with despair and grief as her ears picked up the sounds of Sōna's footsteps. She was going away from her and she could do nothing but stare at her back hopelessly. 'I'm sorry, Sōna.' She was about to leave too but stopped when Sōna decided to speak out of nowhere.
"Also, since you have nothing to do at your home, I'll send some flyers with your certificate."
Rias was about to ask why but got her answer immediately.
"That will give you a reason to enjoy your last day here without that girl following you. Just tell her it's an assignment from me."
With that said, Sōna left the vicinity with Issei, leaving a sad and somewhat glad Rias all alone to herself
Naruto's whiskered face scrunched up in distress, cerulean eyes glistening with barely contained tears. He clenched and unclenched his fists repeatedly as he muttered "It's not fair, dattebayo! How can her friend be so cold?"
He whirled towards Kakashi, features clouding in anger at seeing his sensei's calm, blissful smile. "Why are you smiling?" Naruto demanded, voice cracking with emotion. "Her friend abandoned her!"
Kakashi's one visible eye creased gently in understanding even as Naruto trembled before him. "Look underneath the underneath, Naruto," he said softly. "Her harsh words are born of care, not malice. She is disappointed that Rias won't stand up for herself."
Naruto's brow furrowed in confusion, anger dissipating. Beside him, Sakura bit her lip anxiously while Sasuke remained stoic, though his dark eyes were intent on Kakashi's words.
"The bonds between friends run deep," Kakashi continued sagely. "What seems cruel can be meant to inspire strength." He squeezed Naruto's shoulder. "Have faith. With love, many wounds can heal."
Naruto scrubbed at his eyes with his sleeve as understanding dawned, features relaxing. Kakashi's gentle wisdom soothed his anguished heart. The rest of Team 7 also visibly unclenched with this spark of hope that all was not yet lost for Rias and her friend.
Sasuke listened silently as Kakashi imparted his wisdom to Naruto, speaking of the complex bonds between friends. Onyx eyes narrowed faintly, lips pressed in a thin line.
Though his face remained stoic, Sasuke's mind churned with memories of a smiling brother who betrayed and broken him. He had severed bonds that ran deeper than blood in pursuit of vengeance. Only later did he realize the void left behind.
Kakashi's eye drifted to his brooding student, seeing the conflict reflected beneath that impassive facade. He knew Sasuke understood that ache of abandoned ties all too intimately. For so long, hatred eclipsed everything.
"Those we think lost to us forever still leave their imprint," Kakashi said gently. "The past can be redeemed, if we step forward with an open heart."
Sasuke tensed ever so slightly, jaw clenching. His own heart had been closed off for too long. But surrounded by this team that became family, he felt the ice thawing despite himself. For them, he could try to find the path foregone long ago.
With a barely perceptible nod, Sasuke acknowledged Kakashi's wisdom. Rias and Sona's rift cut deeply into his own scars. But perhaps there was yet time to mend what was broken, before the shards could not be pieced together again.
while the team7 was having their moment, Jiraiya and tsunade were lost in their own thoughts
Jiraiya stroked his chin thoughtfully as he listened to Kakashi counsel Naruto, the sage's piercing eyes growing distant. Tsunade glanced at her old teammate, seeing the memories swirling behind that contemplative gaze.
"The bonds between comrades...how often have they been tested for us all," Jiraiya murmured. Tsunade swallowed hard, visions of long lost loved ones flashing before her eyes.
"Even when stretched to the breaking point, some ties can still be pieced back together if both hearts remain open," Kakashi said gently.
Tsunade blinked back a sudden sharp sting in her eyes. Jiraiya's large hand came to rest on her shoulder, a silent gesture of understanding. "The pain never fully fades," she whispered hoarsely. Jiraiya's bittersweet smile held a lifetime of regrets.
"But the memories of joy persist too, if you allow them to," he replied, uncharacteristically somber. Tsunade inhaled a shuddering breath, steeling herself against old griefs. She could not change the past, but the future still held possibility if she had courage to hope.
Jiraiya and Tsunade felt the echoes of their own losses in Kakashi's words. But they also heard the Ringing truth - even devastated bonds could be rebuilt if both hearts were open. It was never too late for healing. Their wistful reactions spoke of old wounds and the promise of reconciliation.
Kurenai listened thoughtfully, crimson eyes softening as she gently stroked Hinata's hair. Kakashi's wisdom resonated with her nurturing spirit. "There is always room for forgiveness, if it comes from a place of love," she murmured.
Hinata gazed up at her teacher, heart lifted by this spark of hope. Beside her, Kiba grumbled but Akamaru yipped encouragingly, mellowing the brash youth. Shino adjusted his glasses, stoic yet also affected in his subtle way.
Nearby, Anko scoffed, though not with her usual derision. "Bonds make you weak, open you to hurt." She paused, gazing at Kakashi curiously. "But you never give up on them, do you?" For all her bluntness, she seemed contemplative.
Kakashi eye-smiled gently. "Bonds nurture strength and give life meaning." Anko looked away, throat working. The ice around her heart wavered, if only for a moment. Someday she might believe that truth. But for now, this was enough.
Kurenai radiated nurturing warmth while Hinata drew hope from Kakashi's words. Kiba and Shino also reacted in line with their natures. Tough-as-nails Anko alone remained unconvinced, but perhaps not unaffected. In their own ways, Kakashi's message resonated with each of them.
Asuma exhaled a long stream of smoke, strong features somber as he listened. His mind drifted to internal turmoil within the Sarutobi clan after his father's passing, the bitter estrangement from Konohamaru.
Nearby, Konohamaru fidgeted restlessly, still struggling to reconcile memories of his stern grandfather with the village's revered Professor. He recalled only cold disapproval, not the warmth Kakashi spoke of.
Noticing the boy's distress, Asuma placed a broad hand on his shoulder. "The bonds of family are not easily broken, even when strained," he rumbled.
Konohamaru blinked up at his uncle, eyes glistening. After so long feeling disconnected from his lineage, this kindness kindled a fragile hope of reconciliation.
Asuma gave a bittersweet smile, knowing their clan's lost history could not be reclaimed overnight. But Kakashi's words encouraged him to rebuild what was damaged with this boy, the Will of Fire still burning if nurtured gently.
Konohamaru offered a watery grin in return. With time and forgiveness, the embers of connection could be coaxed into new life. Some links endured beyond even death.
Seeing Konohamaru's glistening eyes, Iruka knelt down and drew the boy into a comforting embrace. As a fellow orphan, he understood such complicated grief all too well.
Konohamaru clutched at his teacher tightly, feeling the warmth and care he had missed for so long. Iruka ruffled his spiky hair affectionately, offering the physical reassurance the child needed.
Nearby, Moegi and Udon crowded close, unity bolstering their friend in this emotional moment. Naruto especially watched Konohamaru intently, empathizing profoundly with his loneliness and longing for family. He wished he could take away that pain.
"Bonds of the heart can overcome even the deepest hurts, if given time and care," Iruka said gently as he held the weeping boy close. Around them, the shinobi bore silent witness, unified in this tender moment promising hope.
With Iruka's strong yet gentle comfort, Moegi and Udon's stalwart support, and Naruto's heartfelt empathy, Konohamaru felt the cold void inside him thaw, if only slightly. Their compassion kindled the flickering ember of connection once more. Healing would come slowly, but come it would in time.
The author observed everything around him while sipping his glass of orange juice, which surprisingly remained untouched. Standing up from his chair, he caught the attention of all the shinobi, interrupting their emotional moment.
Tsunade, the current hokage, still harbored anger towards his dismissive attitude but refrained from expressing it. She knew there was nothing she could do to compel him to send them back. Now, even she was intrigued by the red-headed girl and her connection to her favorite blonde. She had some ideas, but she didn't want to jump to any conclusions. Exchanging glances with her jonins and Jiraiya, they silently agreed to wait and watch as the situation unfolded.
The author simply smiled at their thought process and let out a hearty laugh. "For today, that's enough. Let's continue observing tomorrow. All of you can go to your assigned rooms, and remember, the male and female rooms are separate," he playfully told them before disappearing in a swirl of fire and lightning, causing the younger shinobi to shout in excitement. Especially Naruto, who exclaimed, "That was awesome, dattebayo! I want to learn that too!" His eyes and voice radiated with clear excitement, supported by Konohamaru, who had forgotten about the earlier ordeal.
Tsunade shook her head and instructed all the shinobi to go to their assigned rooms. She was exhausted and not in the mood for anything. Jiraiya let out a perverse grin and decided to continue his research and have some idea about his new Icha Icha Novel , while the other shinobi went about their own activities.
Author Note:-
Greetings! It's me, Author. I hope you've been enjoying this chapter—I think I've written about 10,000 words in total so far. If you have, please take a moment to leave some feedback. I'm thinking of introducing Naruto's parents; do you think I should? Any suggestions can be left in the review section, as it really helps keep me motivated and gain a readership. If you're enjoying this story and want to read more, please follow it—and follow me personally too so that you can receive updates when new chapters are posted