Humanity's Stranger

He woke up with more than an hour to spare. Rias had commanded all of them to get what rest they could before the game started but he hadn't managed to really sleep.

Instead he had spent the last hours lying in bed thinking and sometimes dozing off for a few minutes. There wasn't much else he could do now since he had been forbidden from training today, to save his strength.

Getting up he threw on his school uniform and sat on his bed. He had wondered if he shouldn't wear some kind of armour but Rias had explained that normal armour wouldn't save him from Riser's flames and they didn't have the time right now to organize anything in that regard anyway.

"Let's show them how strong Rias Gremory's peerage is."

"I have, we have trained a lot. We won't lose." Issei clenched his fists as he thought of what Rias had told all of them.

His solemn declaration was slightly undercut by a knock on his door.

"Issei-san, can I come in?" Asia's muffled voice was easy enough to identify.

"Go ahead and come in."

The door opened and the young nun was revealed in the same attire he had first met her in. He was surprised for a moment but Asia seemed to read his expression easily enough.

"I still feel most comfortable in this attire, even if it isn't very appropriate any more." Her tone was quiet and bashful, the norm for her, but there was no trace of the newcomer, unsure about her place in the group, left in her.

"It fits you perfectly." Issei grinned at her.

"Could-Could I stay with you until it's time?"

"Feel free to." Issei made some room on his bed for her and Asia joined him there moments later. When she took his arm in a tight grip and leaned into him he was a bit surprised.

"Asia?"

She couldn't meet his eyes, only looking down towards his arm.

"This will be a scary fight, right?"

For a moment Issei thought of denying it and telling her that everything was going to be just fine, but he thought better of it. He wouldn't lie to her.

"Yeah."

He felt her shoulders fall a bit at his serious answer.

"But I'll be fine with you there with me." She raised her head, meeting his eyes. "Can I always be there, by your side?"

"Yes, we'll always be together."

Her smile was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen.

The quiet moment was interrupted by his alarm clock.

"Wake up! It's time! Or-" He leaned over and stopped the blaring voice.

'It's time.'

They both headed for the school.

'A few minutes.'

Sona and her queen Tsubaki had just departed the room to exchange some last words with Rias and her peerage before the match began after greeting the two of them.

Kuroka had commanded one of the couches in the room for herself while Naruto opted for a chair next to it for now.

She had been unhappy with the timing of the event, Kuroka enjoyed her sleep after all, and was therefore spending even the last remaining minutes lazing around on the piece of furniture while dangerously close to dozing off.

Not that he thought she actually would succumb to sleep, for all her complaining she was more interested in watching the match than he was.

He had expected some investment but the sheer enthusiasm with which she had recounted the experience of teaching her sister had surprised him.

But it was out of her hands now. It was up to Koneko, and by extension Rias and the rest of the peerage, to use all they had worked on effectively, to beat the odds they faced.

Naruto still wasn't convinced that those odds were as even as Rias seemed to believe them to be, but that deliberation no longer had a point, she had made her decision, there was no going back now.

The door opened and Sona entered, followed closely by her queen.

The two settled at the desk in the middle of the room. Sona preparing the magic for her duties in managing the broadcasting of the match.

Grayfia's voice signalled the official start of the broadcast.

"My name is Grayfia Lucifuge and I stand as judge in this matter between Pillars Phenex and Gremory. For the battleground of this match Kuoh Academy, the school Rias Gremory attends in the human world was chosen, under consideration of the opinions of both Riser Phenex and Rias Gremory."

A few seconds passed in silence, both Sona and Tsubaki quickly adjusting the viewpoint of the broadcast from an overview of the field to a close-up on both teams.

"Both parties are currently present at their home base. Riser Phenex claims the principal's office in the new schoolhouse as his base while Rias Gremory claims the clubroom of the Occult Research Club in the old schoolhouse. Pawns are therefore capable of promoting while inside the opposing teams schoolhouse."

In the last moment before the match began both teams took time to set up magic for communication on the battlefield while the Kings gave some last second directions.

"This unofficial Rating Game is hereby declared begun!"

Both teams had been supplied with a map of the school grounds. Even if that didn't negate Rias' advantage in knowing the terrain better, it served both to illustrate the battleground and gave the plans of both teams more context for those watching.

Rating Games usually followed similar paths. Even only witnessing a few of them made that clear. Kings employed their pieces against the other side's while trying to develop some and get their Pawns in position. The way that strategy was approached mimicked chess in some ways.

Naruto absolutely hated it.

In chess, like in many board games, you had all the available information right in front of you. Even if the Rating Game was intended to replicate the game, it couldn't by it's very nature.

Developing different pieces and using most of them was usually necessary to beat a capable opponent in a game of chess. Not so in a Rating Game. Since there was the possibility that one piece from one side was stronger than all the pieces from the other, even attempting to act as you would in a game of chess was sheer lunacy.

A pawn promoted to a queen was an incredible difference in power while playing chess. In a Rating Game it might as well not matter. Especially in Rias' situation. A useless pawn promoted to a queen was still useless. A pawn with some ability promoted to queen could potentially punch far above it's weight even if only for a short time.

Promoting Issei may allow him to stand on equal footing with one of Riser's knights but he would still be incapable of countering Riser's most powerful options. On the other hand, if Riser could promote all eight of his pawns they could be a real threat to both Kiba and Koneko, maybe even Akeno.

If Rias approached this match like she would a game of chess or even a normal Rating Game, she would lose. She didn't have the quantity or quality of pieces.

Which was what he had told her.

Naruto watched Riser send out most of his pawns with one rook, knight, and bishop. He held his other pieces back. The group split up after leaving the building, the bishop unfurled her wings and flew to the top of the building while the pawns split into two groups of three, each one accompanied by one of the stronger pieces.

Rias sent out everyone. Akeno took of in one direction, sent to trap the way to their home base. The others went together for a bit before splitting into two groups as well. Issei with Kiba and Asia, Rias with Koneko, supernatural features on full display from the start.

The first group was on a direct collision course with one of Riser's. They would either fight in the gymnasium or around in. Rias and Koneko on the other hand would take longer to meet any resistance.

Their path on the outer premises of the grounds would hide them well but they would meet resistance on or near the tennis field. If they fought on the field, Riser's bishop would spot them immediately and if Rias was seen that could mean an early end to the game, if Riser committed the rest of his forces as soon as he knew.

Rias' best option was getting herself or Akeno near the enemy base undetected and setting up a finishing blow on all the pieces inside. Dealing with Riser in a normal confrontation was impossible for them.

They needed stealth and surprise. But the fact that defeated pieces were announced for all to hear made that a lot more difficult.

They rushed towards the gym. Even if they had some cover through the woods, Rias had warned them against relying on that.

When they reached the wall they stopped for a second to allow Kiba to peek around the corner, to see if anyone was coming towards them. Akeno supplied additional information.

"I'm almost finished with my task. I saw no one trying to cross the baseball field."

Kiba signalled that he would take the right side and enter through another door. He was better at sneaking than them.

Issei focused on his own task. Opening the door as quietly as he could he ushered Asia through before entering himself. The inside was dark, and he couldn't hear anybody. He was still careful.

Taking the lead he led Asia over the stage, both of them hidden by the half-closed curtain. He chanced a glance around the edge of the curtain, but he didn't see anyone in the room. Issei turned behind him and signalled for Asia to wait here. She acquiesced with a tight nod.

Creeping around the curtain he tried lowering himself to the ground as quietly as he could. When his feet touched the ground the lights went on.

Issei whirled around, his eyes landing on four figures in the room that hadn't been there before. Two of them looked identical, with the same short green hair and matching gym uniforms. The third one was the girl that had defeated him at their last meeting, the girl with the staff – Mara or something?

The last one looked the weirdest. A white mask covered one side of her face and she wore something that looked like a biker's get up. The leather jacket, ripped jeans and fingerless gloves creating quite the look. She also had great breasts, the half of a jacket she wore allowing a clear view of what lay underneath.

"Rias Gremory's pawn."

Issei barely heard the words, still distracted by the sight presented to him. He only wrenched his eyes away when that same sight moved. With fists raised in front of her and one foot further back, she was clearly ready to fight.

"My name is Isabella, rook to Riser Phenex. Here I come."

She didn't even wait for the others to introduce themselves, instantly rushing forward to pummel him.

"Boosted Gear!"

'Boost!'

In a green glow his Sacred Gear appeared, the red gauntlet enveloping his left forearm and hand. He had to immediately put it to use to block the first punch that came at his face.

His arm shook under the impact but nothing more than that. Issei would still try to avoid repeating it.

The next fist barely missed his midsection as he pivoted to the right. He had spent most of his time while training with Kiba, trying to keep his cool while he was under attack and learning to avoid dodging into the next blow.

Luckily Isabella was not nearly as quick as Kiba.

He wove around the rain of blows easily enough but he didn't have the time to counter. That was fine, he just needed to last.

'Boost!'

'That's the second one.'

Issei ducked under another attack but the follow-up grazed his chin from below, making his head snap back despite dodging the brunt of it. Fortunately, looking upwards through teary eyes barely allowed him to see the attack coming from above.

"Mira, pawn to Riser Phenex!" Issei heard through the ringing in his skull.

Instead of pivoting on his foot as he had wanted, he jumped back, trying to put as much distance between them as he could.

Mira's staff impacted the floor where he had been a second ago, the ground fracturing despite her small stature. Isabella was hot on his heels, fist chambered to knock his lights out.

Issei tried to backpedal as quickly as possible once he landed.

He stumbled.

"Fuh-"

From one moment to the next gravity took over, flinging him to the floor despite his intentions. Just underneath the blow meant for his head.

Issei felt the air move with the blow as the fist snapped forward and missed him. From his position on the ground he could see through his opponent's legs, giving him a view of the two green-haired twins as they pulled chainsaws out of their gym bags.

"What the hell?!"

'Boost!'

The door of the gym opened behind the twins and Kiba entered the building in their blind spot. Issei couldn't fight the grin on his face.

That expression was wiped off quickly, when he looked up again to find a fist barrelling towards his face.

"Eep!" The sound he made was decidedly unmanly but he had more important things to focus on.

Issei rolled to the side and heard the floor crack once more, noticeably louder than the last time.

Scrambling to his feet he faced Isabella again, while keeping an eye out for Mira, who had positioned herself to his side, making that endeavour quite difficult.

Three boosts had to be enough for now.

"Explosion!"

His body was enveloped in magical energy and he felt the pain in his chin lessen slightly.

Mira moved first, her staff held forward like a spear. Isabella, who was closer to him, started circling him for a moment before also rushing in.

The two were almost directly opposite each other now and both on the way to pummel him.

He extended his gauntlet towards Isabella and the green jewel started glowing with a malevolent energy, a small red ball appearing in front of his hand.

'This isn't enough to take out a rook, but it will buy me time.'

"Take this! Dragon Shot!" His fist impacted the red ball, a beam of power shooting out from the collision. Isabella's eyes widened slightly before she flung herself to the side, desperate to evade the attack.

Issei had already turned to his true target. Sprinting towards Mira he kept careful watch of her staff. She still held it in the same position on the left side of her body.

When Rias had presented her plan to them before the start of the game she had made it clear that the likelihood of him beating any one but the pawns was low. But right now he was facing a pawn, and he had practised fighting against a weapon with Kiba.

He ignored the explosion behind him as his attack impacted the wall of the building. Issei only had a few precious seconds before Isabella would be on him again.

Mira rushed in, and with one step thrust her staff at his face. His left hand came in from the side, catching the staff and deflecting the blow away, the wood only grazing his cheek as it passed him by.

Issei didn't let go.

The strike she tried to use to hit his head from the side didn't have enough power to hurt him much and for a moment she wasn't balanced well. He grabbed the staff with his other hand as well and struggled against her grip for only a moment.

Then he was the one holding the weapon.

"Hah! How do you like that!"

Issei broke the wood over his knee and threw the pieces away.

The steps behind him alerted him to his other opponent. Issei threw himself to the side, unwilling to take another attack right now. He needn't have bothered.

Kiba cut in, quite literally.

"Two pawns of Riser Phenex have been eliminated."

The announcement went ignored by the remaining participants in the gym.

Issei turned after his escape, only to see Isabella fade away, the wound on her looking quite serious. Kiba had already moved onto Mira. He looked away as the sword came down, distracting himself with massaging his chin.

As Mira faded away too Asia stepped out of her hiding place and hurried over to him.

"Issei-san!"

When she was close enough she placed her glowing hands on his face, a soothing feeling taking the remaining pain away.

Kiba joined them, sword sheathed at his side, as the announcement rang out.

"One pawn and one rook of Riser Phenex have been eliminated."

"We need to get moving. I could have been seen when I entered." Kiba was looking around, gaze switching between the different entrances while he moved towards the entrance he had used earlier.

It didn't take long for Asia to take care of the few wounds that he had gotten. When she had finished Issei got back up.

"Good luck, Kiba."

Issei and Asia hurried towards another door. Kiba exited the building and a few seconds later they heard his voice in their heads.

"I have their attention, get moving."

They opened the door to the football field. Issei glanced around but he could see no one watching them. Both of them ran across the field towards the assembly hall. Kiba would make his way over the grounds towards the club house while they would meet up with Rias and Koneko to defeat Riser.

Halfway across the field the quiet was interrupted by multiple sources.

'Careful, Partner!'

"Issei, Asia, run!"

In the same moment that he comprehended the words the world exploded. Issei got a grip on Asia's hand in the last moment but both of them were flung to the ground. His body didn't obey him like it usually did, simply caught in the forces being imposed on it.

Issei felt himself hit the ground hard and for a moment the world seemed too bright and too loud.

Before he knew what was really happening he heard the same sound again. The air exploded, though this time it was joined by a crack of lightning and the sound was further in the air, the ensuing blast barely doing anything but ruffle his clothes and hair.

He sat up, though he couldn't see much of anything through the smoke and dust. His right hand was still gripping onto Asia's wrist. Getting up on shaky legs he looked around with bleary eyes while pulling Asia up beside him. The nun had clamped down on his arm, unwilling to let him go.

As the air cleared he saw Akeno hovering above them, her eyes trained on her opponent and her arm extended forward. It was the woman Riser had kissed and groped in the club room. Yubelluna, his queen. She was still in the same navy blue dress as the last time and in her hand was a staff with an intricate grey top.

"Issei-kun, go on. I'll take care of her."

"Akeno-san..." He squared his shoulders and gave a tight nod even if Akeno couldn't see it.

"Come to us after you win!" With those words he turned to hurry off.

Asia made a low noise of protest. Looking down he spotted the problem. Asia's leg was broken, one half of the shin hanging at an awkward angle from the other. Even though she was obviously in a lot of pain, she didn't scream, her mouth pressed into a hard line that wobbled with every movement.

Behind them the air exploded again and again.

Moving her arm over his shoulder Issei half carried half dragged Asia away. He just hoped they'd have a moment for Asia to heal herself.

"Three pawns of Riser Phenex have been eliminated."

He saw Sona relax slightly with the last announcement. Even if she didn't say it she was clearly glad about the current direction of the game.

Naruto thought that relaxation was a bit premature.

'The hard part only just started.'

Kiba had made good progress on his way to the club house when he was confronted, but he didn't look surprised about being stopped before accomplishing his goal. He had understood his role as a further distraction for the actual plan to win the game.

He had drawn Riser's bishop from her lookout on top of the school building and one of Riser's knights had confronted him directly. The two-handed greatsword she wielded was as long as she was tall, though she seemed well adjusted to the weight and feel of the weapon in her hand.

That fight wouldn't be easy for Rias' knight and would likely end in his defeat. A knight with magical support from a bishop was a tall task for anyone, especially if you had no great advantage in power over either of them.

Yubelluna against Akeno was similarly not a match that favoured Rias' side.

Then there were the remaining two of Riser's pawns. Right now they were still being delayed by Akeno's earlier efforts but even that wouldn't last much longer. When they reached their goal and promoted they would be able to assist in what ever fights remained undecided, closing the door on any chance for Rias.

Naruto looked towards Kuroka.

Unlike her earlier position she was sitting up now and tracking her sister's movements with an intensity that was unlike her. There was affection there and some quiet pride even if Koneko's actions until now weren't particularly noteworthy to an outsider.

She had still handled the situation well. Only one of the three pawns had even noticed her before being defeated, and that had been mostly because the two others had been disappearing and clutching their shattered ribs in agony.

The knight was still on her feet. Her flaming sword limiting Koneko's movements slightly.

Kuroka noticed his gaze on her, meeting his eyes for a small moment.

He tried to ignore the fire her warm gaze always lit in him. The overpowering love he saw in her eyes always served to inflame his desires, as he knew his own did to hers.

Naruto had read understanding for the situation in that look. Kuroka knew battle, and could read its flow well enough to know how things currently stood.

He reached out with one hand, her own hand meeting his questing fingers early, like she had sought out his hand in the same moment that he had hers.

The moment their fingers threaded together a small smile blossomed on her lips and he knew an answering smile had appeared on his own face.

She should have known it wouldn't be that easy.

In the beginning everything had gone according to plan. Kiba and Issei had taken care of the enemies in the gymnasium and split up. Akeno had deployed traps to hinder any of Riser's pawns from reaching the old schoolhouse and gone to set up a direct strike on Riser.

She and Koneko had made their way around the premises. They had expected to eventually meet some resistance but Koneko was quite good at remaining undetected and had taken care of the three pawns easily enough.

Now she was facing the remaining knight while Rias had continued on.

She had wanted desperately to remain and help her rook but she would stick to her own plan. She couldn't take the chance of being discovered. As long as Riser still thought that she was defending her own home base she could set herself up for a winning move.

Kiba was facing bad odds, Akeno was fighting her direct opposite with all she had and Issei and Asia had almost been defeated in one attack.

Entering the assembly hall revealed a dark room full of seats. Her eyes had no problem seeing in the darkness so she didn't bother with the lights. Rias circled around the room before exiting on the other side.

She crept along the wall, until she was near the main entrance of the school. Then she started gathering power. If she wanted to actually have a chance of taking out Riser she would need quite a lot of it.

"What are everyone's situations?" she asked, well aware that some of them had more important things on their minds but in need of a status update any way.

"Me and Issei-san have reached the assembly hall." Asia's quiet voice was the first to answer.

The next answer took a bit longer, every second making her more and more anxious.

"They have one more phoenix tear!" Her queen sounded panicked and a moment later it became quite clear why. The sound of explosions had been constant since the two queens had started fighting. Now it was quiet.

"The queen of Rias Gremory has been eliminated."

'Akeno!' She felt despair well up in her but she contained herself. The anger Rias felt at her friend being beaten only served to fuel her own demonic energy.

The magic circle in front of her pulsed a malevolent crimson, the power contained inside making sparks lash out at the ground.

"Get clear of the new school building!"

She unleashed her Power of Destruction.

A great magic circle appeared above the school building. It pulsed with power for a moment before unleashing havoc on everything below.

Rias watched the whole building be enveloped in her attack. One, two seconds later only rubble remained of the structure, most of it simply ceasing to exist.

"One knight of Rias Gremory and one knight of Riser Phenex have been eliminated."

"What!" Rias was shocked, the dispassionate announcement taking the wind out of her figurative sails.

"Quite the display, my love. Even if it was slightly miss-aimed I must congratulate you on the attempt." The voice of the man she despised most in the world shook her to her core.

She turned towards the voice.

Riser was surrounded by some of his remaining pieces. His queen, his remaining rook, and his sister. She could only stare at them, not really comprehending what was happening. All four of them were standing near the school house, not even five metres from the rubble; barely out of range of her attack.

"One knight of Riser Phenex has been eliminated."

"That rook of yours is quite resilient, isn't she? Well, she'll have her hands full soon enough. I wonder how she will fare against two queens?" Riser's tone made it clear that he wasn't actually all that impressed but was simply trying to maintain a polite facade.

He was treating this like some casual meeting, as if her struggle was barely worth acknowledging.

She saw red.

"Buchou!" "Rias-senpai!"

Issei and Asia exited the building the same way she had done minutes before. Something was off about Issei though. He seemed more powerful than usual. That's when she noticed what was going on. He had promoted, likely only moments before she had annihilated the building.

'You reckless fool.' Even in her own head she couldn't maintain the harsh tone she intended to use.

"Xuelan. Yubelluna." Riser's tone held a touch of annoyance as he addressed the two members of his peerage.

His rook and queen moved.

"Xuelan, rook to Riser Phenex."

Issei barely had the time to summon his Sacred Gear before he earned a kick to the side of the face. His body was flung away by the force of the blow and tumbled uncontrollably across the rocky ground for a bit before his movement was stopped by the school gate.

"Issei-san!"

Asia only had time to scream before a magic circle appeared beneath her, the purple glow illuminating her scared expression.

The nun struggled against whatever effect was being imposed on her but it made no difference. The purple magic surrounded her entire body, binding her movements while a larger part was focused near her hands.

The silver rings she wore, the physical form of Twilight Healing, were surrounded by a strong field of magic, muting their magical presence. Asia probably couldn't use her Sacred Gear like that.

"Now then, my love. You can see that resisting will be futile. Accept defeat and your position beside me."

"Never!" Rias shouted. "I'm not beaten yet."

Despite her words Rias knew that her situation was less than ideal. With Kiba and Akeno defeated and Koneko and Issei occupied she was on her own against Riser, his queen, and his sister.

"One bishop and one pawn to Riser Phenex have been eliminated."

The confident smirk on Riser's face faltered for a moment, replaced instead by an annoyed sneer.

"Very well then. Struggle if you wish. Just know that I gave you the chance to surrender instead of having you attempt the impossible in vain."

He didn't even attempt to defend himself. Riser simply stood there, hands in his pockets, and waited.

Crimson magic surrounded her hands and she attacked. Again and again. For minutes on end.

She blasted away arms, legs, his head, his shoulders. It didn't matter. As soon as her attack was over the stuck-up prick regenerated all the damage she had dealt.

Rias could feel her reserves get lower and lower but she wasn't deterred.

"Dragon Shot!"

The shout of her only pawn was immediately followed by a beam of destructive energy. It missed centre mass but still annihilated Riser's left side. But even that damage was quickly regenerated.

She looked towards Issei.

Her pawn sported a bruised face, scorch marks on his skin and clothing and the way he held his right arm spoke of broken bones, but still his stance was unyielding. The look he fixed on Riser was full of rage and anger, so much so that Rias almost didn't recognise him for a moment.

Xuelan, his actual opponent, had evaded the attack, though its main target had obviously been Riser himself. The rook was already rushing back in, fire sheathing her limbs as she lashed out at Issei.

Issei was struggling immensely, barely managing to dodge most of the blows. But not all of them. Again and again attacks hit home with all of a rook's strength. He was fighting well, blocking some of the blows with his Sacred Gear, the flames showing no effect against the magical artefact tethered to his soul.

"One rook to Rias Gremory and one pawn to Riser Phenex have been eliminated."

"Why don't you stop acting all smug, bastard, and start actually fighting!"

Even if Issei's focus was on his opponent and his attempts at evading further harm, his voice had only one target.

For the first time Riser's expression showed more than just annoyance. Issei had managed to make him genuinely angry.

"You! You dare interfere again?! I humoured your last attempt but now you have earned a proper response from me. Be honoured that you have truly earned my wrath."

"Bah! I won't feel honoured until you are on your knees apologizing! The only thing I care about is this, I am a pawn to Rias Gremory and I'll show you what that means for you!"

The jewel in Issei's gauntlet had started glowing halfway through his statement but now it was genuinely blinding. In an explosion of power Issei disappeared from sight.

"Dragon Booster Second Liberation!"

When he was visible again his Sacred Gear had changed. The gauntlet now covered most of his arm, a second green jewel joining the first near his elbow.

He used the reprieve that the display had given him to fix her with a look.

"Buchou! Hit me with everything you have!"

She wanted to refuse, to deny the very idea of doing so but Issei's eyes held nothing but confidence.

Rias built up as much magical energy as she could, the magic circle that appeared brimming with almost all of her remaining power. She unleashed the attack upon her own pawn.

'Please, please don't make me regret this Issei.' Rias could only close her eyes to plead that everything would work out. She would never wish harm upon one of her own.

The maelstrom of crimson energy reached her pawn. It stopped. And then it disappeared.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing.

"Transfer!"

The jewels that normally shone with a calming green were now brimming with crimson destruction. Issei's arm shook and he seemed to exert great effort in extending his hand towards Riser, his other arm being used to help despite it's injured state.

"Take this!"

For a moment the battlefield seemed frozen in time. In a great roar Issei attacked.

It reminded her of his dragon shot during their training. Back then he had annihilated a mountaintop by using as much power as he was capable of.

That display paled in comparison to this.

A beam of pure destruction was launched from the Boosted Gear, the crimson energy barrelling forwards and screaming past her at speeds she couldn't have avoided even if she had tried. She saw the ground simply cease to exist underneath the attack, as if simple proximity was enough to be reduced to atoms.

The sheer force and speed of the attack sucked in the air around it, and even metres away she had to strain against being thrown off her feet.

The beam of energy wasn't as wide as the one during training, but what it lacked in diameter it made up for in destructive power. It was display of pure force unlike any she had ever seen.

In that moment Rias understood why the soul trapped in Issei's Boosted Gear was called the Dragon of Domination.

Energy and power and destruction were in harmony, working together to achieve this feat of strength.

From one moment to the next, it ended.

There was no continual loss of power, no gradual receding of magical energy. It was there, and then it ceased to exist, just like everything in its path had just moments before.

She turned her exhausted eyes towards Issei first. She imagined many things in that moment. For Issei to ruin the moment with a comment about breasts, for him to laugh uproariously at the thing he had just accomplished, or for him to continue insulting Riser.

None of those things happened.

Issei was face-down on the ground. Only the sight of his breathing dampening her concern at the sight of his bleeding head and scorched hair.

Riser's rook was standing over his body, none the worse for wear. She almost looked entirely unruffled but her gaze was trained on the body at her feet.

"Qui-" (Cough) "Quite the..." (Cough) "...attempt."

Horror welled up in her stomach at hearing Riser's voice. Even turning in the direction of his voice was exhausting. All she wanted to do was lay down and not wake up for a week, but she had to know.

The clearing dust allowed her a view of the destruction. A fissure had been ripped into the ground and rubble, scarring the land. The earth and stone were entirely smooth where they had been hit, simply ending at exactly the point it had been affected by Issei's last attack.

At the edge of the fissure stood Ravel, one half of her brother right next to her, his arm in her hand. The other was simply an amalgamation of flames. Unlike the other times where Riser had regenerated all the damage almost instantaneously this one was clearly giving him some trouble.

There was no wild freedom to the flames that made up half of Riser Phenex.

Ravel looked deeply disturbed before she seemed to remember something important. Her eyes widened as her free hand groped at something near her neck, where a small capsule was fastened with a band.

She ripped the capsule off before forcing the content down what remained of her brother's throat.

There was an immediate effect. The flames gained some energy and slowly but surely the person beneath was revealed again.

'"They have one more phoenix tear!"' Akeno's statement from before came to her in that moment.

Everything crumbled around her and suddenly she felt nothing. No anger at Riser, no worry for Issei and her peerage, no frustration at her own inability to finish Riser, nothing. Simply nothing.

"One bishop and one pawn of Rias Gremory have been eliminated."

"I yield." Rias' tone wasn't defeated or frustrated or even angry. It was simply empty.

Azazel walked the hallway at a relaxed pace, a cooler box tucked under one arm and two fishing rods under the other. He hadn't caught anything but it had been a nice, relaxing evening, even if he had failed to convince Vali to join him.

He was whistling a cheery tune as he reached the door to his apartment, a content smile on his lips.

Unlocking the door he stepped into the dark room. Lowering the cooler to the floor he reached for the light switch. All his senses screamed at him.

The familiar sound of ice clinking against glass.

Azazel switched the light on and turned around, scanning the room, while acting as if nothing was amiss. Magic energy was gathering inside his body, ready to be unleashed in the event of an attack.

The intruder was seated on his couch with his eyes closed, glass of alcohol in one hand. Azazel recognised the white hair and lean face immediately.

The desk in front held a bottle of whiskey and another glass, ice cube already inside, though there was no alcohol in it yet.

"If you wanted to visit, you could have just said so."

The man didn't react to the words, but Azazel hadn't expected him to. Instead of conversing further he walked into the next room, storing the fishing rods and cooler box away.

His head was furiously working through potential reasons for this meeting despite his casual exterior. He couldn't recall being part of anything that could have earned him that one's ire in the last decades, taking Vali under his wing excluded.

Azazel had been warned, that until Vali was an adult he would be included in punishments for the boy's missteps in regards to the Heavenly Dragons. But Vali was an adult now, and he knew of no such missteps.

Then maybe this was about something else.

Taking a calming breath, he slowed his racing thoughts.

"Ha, panicking over something like this. I'm losing my edge." Azazel chuckled to himself in the quiet supply closet.

Walking back into the main room he took a seat on the opposite couch and poured himself a glass as well, the chakra he felt in the ice cubes receding once he picked the drink up.

"Thanks for keeping it cold for me."

His attempt at lightening the mood in the room went ignored once more.

"I don't intend to take up your whole night so let me get straight to business. Did you have business in Europe last week?"

That took Azazel by surprise. Business in Europe? He couldn't think of anything. He had been completely engrossed by some progress on his personal projects for the last month.

"Europe? No, not that I know of," he answered after taking a sip.

Naruto took out a small object and placed it on the desk. It was a dark half-circle of wood. The straight bottom looked unblemished while the crescent at the top looked like it had been cut or ripped out of a greater whole.

In the middle of the piece was an intricate symbol. Surrounded by a golden circle was a white scroll on a field of black feathers. His old personal symbol.

Naruto opened his eyes. In that look Azazel saw a harsh coldness that made it clear that there would be no mercy found there.

"A lot of important people with a lot of resources believe that you did."

Azazel picked up the piece, carefully inspecting it from all sides. The symbol was the genuine article. His personal seal of approval and guarantee of quality.

The wood was of high quality though it had obviously been destroyed. Any magic that had been part of the complete product was long gone from this fragment.

He couldn't think of any piece like this he had made, but there were thousands of those. Keeping them all in his head was neither possible nor helpful.

Something was going on, something he didn't know about. That was never good, especially if it implicated him to people willing and able to hire one of the most dangerous people in existence.

He saw Naruto drain the rest of his glass even transfixed as he was on the object and the implications of it's reveal.

"I expressed my doubts that this alone was a guarantee of your involvement. There is an investigation into the issue going on and not everyone is convinced yet," Naruto said and stood up, placing the glass on the table.

Obviously considering the conversation to be over, he walked to the door and left.

Azazel was alone with himself and his thoughts now, eyes fixed on the piece of wood without really seeing it.

Someone was framing him for something. Successfully. He didn't like that at all.

He needed to know what had happened in Europe, his experiments would have to wait for a few days until he knew what this was about.

'Penemue will know something.'

Draining his glass he rushed to contact different people, any thoughts of sleep or relaxation entirely forgotten.

"You mean you really haven't heard?"

"If I had, would I be asking you?" Azazel asked, slightly annoyed. He was sitting at his work desk, papers containing calculations and theories strewn all around and projects in differing stages of progress filling up the rest of the space.

"Three fragments of Excalibur were stolen. Caused quite the stir. Apparently the Vatican hired some outside help and got their fragment back in France. The other two fragments are still missing. Our last information is that Valper Galilei is somehow involved, but that message is two days old now. I'm still waiting for news but our contacts have been quiet since then," Penemue explained. He could hear paper shuffling on her side, probably the files she had put together on the whole situation.

"Valper Galilei?" The name didn't ring any bells.

"A researcher of holy swords. He was excommunicated by the Vatican and kicked around in our own research department for a few years afterwards. He left about a year ago, claiming his goals couldn't be achieved on his current path. I have people looking for him already."

"Keep me updated if you find out anything on the man."

"Why the sudden interest? I thought you were still chasing the fruits of your newest idea?" Penemue sounded genuinely curious about his answer and he understood why. While he was the leader of Grigori he rarely involved himself with most of the day-to-day management outside of his own personal projects and plans.

He fingered the small piece of wood, turning it between his fingers and exposing the symbol stamped on it for a moment.

"It just so happens that I'm currently a prime suspect in that investigation."

Azazel heard her choking on air for a moment, the relaxed air between them disappearing quickly.

"What the hell did you do, Azazel?" Even without seeing her he knew that Penemue was currently massaging her forehead in frustration.

"Well, that's the problem. As far as I'm aware, I did nothing. I was having a relaxing evening and when I came back I was confronted with the evidence. Something of mine was found during the church's investigation, something that identifies me. Unfortunately the outside help the Vatican called in is exceedingly dangerous. I'm just lucky I know the guy and earned some goodwill in the past."

Not that it would protect him.

Just his luck that Naruto was involved. No one fucked with that guy.

Azazel was confident in his own capabilities, there were exceedingly few individuals in the world who outstripped him in terms of power.

He wasn't scared of getting into a fight, even against people with that kind of power. But that guy wouldn't make it a fight, or at least not a fair one.

The line was silent for a moment.

"That bad?"

"Yes. But I'm not in any danger for now. Not everyone is convinced of my involvement yet, and until that happens we have time to find out the truth for ourselves."

"What do you need me to do?"

"I suspect that one of my old projects was stolen and then used in the theft. They identified me through that. I need you to find out what is missing and who could be responsible."

"Any way of narrowing it down?" Azazel heard her make notes as she asked. He had made thousands of things in his centuries of life. Even with a hundred people combing the vaults it could take weeks to make a full inventory.

"It's one of my first pieces. Disregard everything more than two hundred years after I fell. It had my first insignia. Made of wood if that helps at all."

Penemue made a noise of confirmation and continued scribbling for a few seconds.

"I'll get the order out, our best people will be on it. You want the others to know?"

He considered the question for only a moment.

"Yes, but I'll tell them myself. Try to get updates on any progress in the Vatican, I'd like to be prepared if they give the order."

"I'll keep you updated," she hesitated for a moment. "Don't get killed Azazel."

"I didn't know you cared so much," he said, humour in his voice. Hearing her snort in amusement he moved on. "I'll contact you again tomorrow."

Azazel put the phone down after ending the call. Penemue would find out what she could and then they could try to work out what had happened from their side.

There were already some obvious possibilities.

The main question was whether his current predicament was intentional or just a side-effect. Even if Azazel was grateful for the warning Naruto had given him he would have appreciated more information. It was obvious that he had helped the Vatican in retrieving their stolen fragment but how exactly had his own creation played into it?

Even just knowing what object exactly the piece was a part of would have helped.

But he didn't and there was no use worrying about it for now.

The timing was also suspicious. While his efforts in getting Heaven and the Devils to the negotiation table for a clearer peace agreement between them weren't widely known yet the fact that he had been implicated on an attack against the church triggered every warning bell he had accumulated over the years.

There were no coincidences. Something fishy was going on and he would get to the bottom of it. Clearing this up may even convince the others of his plan's necessity.

"There has been an unusual amount of activity lately. It was a slow trickle at first but now one person leaves every two weeks. I have reports on some physical confrontations but no eyewitnesses. There is no clear pattern to it yet. Sometimes there is a message left behind, sometimes nothing. Two times we found traces of holy aura on the scene. Chakra every time."

"Hmm." Naruto was looking over the mentioned reports, taking special care in trying to identify what he could from the provided pictures.

"We haven't had any luck in tracking them down yet. Some leave by plane, some by boat. Sometimes to North America, sometimes Europe, sometimes Africa. Even then, different countries and different ports."

"Any similar news from outside the country?"

"Yes, but older. Whoever is doing this is relying on one particular individual or group. The reports from Europe are months old, the ones we have from America even older. I have ordered tighter watches for the remaining targets."

"Good work. We need to know what's going on. Anything else?"

"From what we can determine Ophis has been more active lately. Hexennacht is also planning something. Nothing concrete on those fronts yet."

"Find out as much as you can. And be careful, Kazane."

"I always am."

"You ready yet?" Naruto knocked on the door before entering the room.

"Almost."

Kuroka was standing in front of a mirror clad in a black silk gown laced with cloth-of-gold. The garment exposed her whole back down to her tails, and her black hair, usually contained in two braids, was freely hanging down just past her bare shoulders.

Unlike her usual attire there was almost no cleavage exposed, though the way the halter neck came down and crossed over the area, producing a window from below her bosom, drew attention to the area nonetheless. Kuroka stood slightly taller than usual, her heels, hidden beneath the floor-length garment except for a slit at the side, granting her a few additional inches when compared to her usual sandals.

He had been present when Kuroka had commissioned the piece but he still took a few seconds to silently admire her form.

She turned to him after giving herself a last once-over in the mirror, exposing the slight make-up she had applied. Nothing fancy, Kuroka preferred a smaller amount if any when she dressed up for an event, just something to highlight her eyes a little or a trace of rouge.

"What do you think?"

Kuroka twirled around once to give him a view from every side.

"You look beautiful," Naruto answered without preamble. She rolled her eyes good-naturedly, as if to ask why she even bothered.

"You would have said the same thing no matter what I was wearing. Sometimes I wonder how you even manage to clothe yourself."

"Bold words from a person who has to be forced into changing outfits once in a while," Naruto mocked lightly.

"And all you wear is combat gear or a suit. At least my sense of fashion is distinguishable from a century ago." Stepping close she patted him on the chest consolingly.

He almost couldn't believe the sheer nerve behind that statement, seeing as his current outfit was neither a suit nor combat gear.

The black doublet he wore was embroidered in gold, mimicking the patterns of her gown. Dark and breeches and leather boots finished the outfit, together with the sheathed dagger belted to his waist. An older design perhaps, but that would not make him stand out today.

The weapon was a bit out of place for an engagement party, but since most devils could wreak more havoc without a weapon than with one, no one should bat an eye.

It was an outfit more at home a few centuries in the past but among devils it would fit right in. If Sirzechs attended in his ceremonial armour Naruto would look downright modern.

Okay maybe it did look like a military garb. Kuroka had forbidden him from wearing actual armour and he wore enough suits in day-to-day life so his choices had been somewhat limited.

"You weren't alive a century ago," he countered in good humour. She waved her hand dismissing that fact as a minor detail.

"But you were, and you had all that time to find other things to wear." Kuroka patted his cheek mockingly, an indulgent smile on her lips. Naruto rolled his eyes at her attempt to win the conversation. He could never win against the women he loved, had never been able to.

Before she could fully open her pretty little mouth for another dig at his inability to sufficiently critique women's fashion he closed it with his own. Her surprise quickly turned into pleasure, her body instinctively moving closer.

His hands crept upwards from her hips, ghosting up her sides before landing on her bare shoulders. He felt goosebumps break out along the path he took, a smile breaking out on his lips, despite their current activity, as he felt Kuroka's arms wandering up his back.

He snatched both arms by the wrist and cut the kiss short, despite her noise of complaint.

Spinning her around, Naruto caged her with her own arms, trapping her against his chest.

Leaning down next to her ear he whispered, "I like what you did to your eyes and the dress looks absolutely stunning on you. Rias may get angry at you for outshining her at her own party."

He felt her shiver against him and heard her heartbeat speed up further, her breaths quick.

Pecking her cheek Naruto released her arms and straightening his clothes.

"So, you ready to go?" he asked, an amused twinkle in his eye.

Kuroka glared at him but it was half-hearted at best. Turning away she fixed her own attire, one tail flicking out to slap his arm.

There was silence between them for a few moments afterwards, a serious atmosphere setting in.

"What do you think is gonna happen?"

"I honestly don't know, I just know that something is," Naruto answered, a frown working itself onto his face.

With Rias' loss three days ago, the engagement had been officially agreed to by every party. Originally the engagement was supposed to be finalised with a party the very next day but Rias had pushed for two additional days.

Neither Koneko nor Issei had been fully recovered the day after the match, and she had wanted her entire Peerage to attend. Koneko had woken up yesterday but even with Issei still recovering there would be no further delays.

Even so there was no way the whole thing would actually go through. Rias hated the very idea and Sirzechs loved his sister to the point of obsession. There was no way he wouldn't find some way to interfere.

'"I want to be loved for myself. Not as Rias Gremory, heiress to Pillar Gremory and sister to the Satan Lucifer. But as Rias. I want to find someone that loves me for that, for who I am."'

What a fool.

But he would bet his fortune on the fact that the marriage would never go through, so it seemed like she would get what she wanted anyway.

"Either way it's not all that important. We'll just watch and make ourselves an enjoyable evening." Naruto shrugged his shoulders. He had no interest in interfering either way. Whether Rias was stuck with a husband she didn't like or not, he didn't really care.

Walking further into the room he took out a slip of paper, a magic circle printed on one side. It was keyed to the party's venue so the guests could arrive quickly and in comfort. And there would be a lot of them. Most of the Pillars would sent at least one representative and everyone who was anyone in the underworld was invited.

Kuroka joined him in the centre of the room, one hand placed in the crook of his arm.

"Okay, we can leave." She gave him a smile and he activated the teleportation.

In a bright flash of magical energy they changed location.

When the light lessened they stood in the antechamber to a great hall. Hundreds of tables dotted the outer edge, while the middle was clear, people using the space to mingle with each other. Servants rushed about with platters filled with beverages, while others showed guests to their seats or tables.

There weren't many people yet, a quick count said about fifty. The official beginning was scheduled for thirty minutes from now so most had not arrived yet.

The two guards at the doorway barely spared them a glance, their polished armour and steel weapons cutting quite the striking figure. Naruto wasn't impressed but he was intrigued. Both guards were clearly new to the role, their backs too straight and their demeanour too uncertain for anyone with experience.

The personnel was a mixture of Gremory and Phenex, but the black and crimson sigil of the former on their chests made it clear whose household these guards belonged to.

Curious but not his concern for now.

Naruto scanned the different faces in the hall, many of them already turned in their direction. There was a clear focus on the antechamber from all the people present, all of them interested in who would arrive next. Spotting a familiar face he led the way through the hall.

"Lady Phenex, it's good to see you again." Leaning over her extended hand he pressed a kiss to the back in greeting.

Layla had not changed since the last time he saw her, but that was common among the supernatural. Long blonde hair, done up in an intricate braid, and lively blue eyes greeted him accompanied by a small smile.

In private they would have greeted each other more affectionately but that wasn't appropriate at a public event like this.

"It's good to see you too, Naruto."

Extending his hand he motioned towards them as he introduced the two women.

"This is Layla Phenex, current Lady of Pillar Phenex and mother to Riser. Layla, this is Kuroka, a Nekoshou and my lover," he said, not that the first part was hard to spot with the tails and ears.

Kuroka couldn't normally be bothered with anything like a curtsy but she performed the formal gesture quite elegantly that day. She had asked him about it two days ago, in a flight of fancy no doubt, but her inexperience didn't show.

While the two greeted each other and exchanged a few words he looked around for the other people that should already be here.

Lord Phenex was quietly talking to Zeoticus, while two young men that could only be Layla's other sons were clearly locked in an important discussion nearby, judging by their serious faces.

He couldn't see Sirzechs or Grayfia anywhere but that was to be expected. They would arrive shortly before the actual beginning, it wouldn't do to have Lucifer look like he had too much free time.

Sona and her queen were sitting at a table with the members of Rias' peerage, exchanging small talk while Riser's peerage was seated two tables over.

Every few seconds more people were arriving, slowly but surely filling the grand hall. And this was only the engagement party.

"To be honest, except for the Game between my son and his fiancee my year has been dreadfully dull so far."

"Not like that was particularly exciting either," Naruto chipped in absent-mindedly. Certain parts had been engaging enough, but it had all been marred by the fact that he had been convinced of the outcome from the very start.

"You did not enjoy the spectacle?" Layla asked.

He raised a questioning eyebrow, "Did you?"

They held each other's gaze for a few seconds.

"No, not particularly," she admitted eventually. A mischievous smile grew on her face, "Though hearing the recounting of my children's first meeting with you certainly was."

"I'm not apologizing."

"Oh, I don't expect you to. I know Riser's flaws quite well." Hearing her say that with a straight face gave him pause.

'If that's the case why is he such an ass?' But that thought Naruto kept to himself.

"Far be it from me to tell you how to raise your children but don't you think that some of those flaws are fixable problems?" He didn't mean for it to sound like an accusation, even with his contacts he wasn't aware of everything that went on in the Underworld.

As the third son to a Pillar Riser held none of the responsibilities of his brothers but all the entitlement that came with his family name. From what Naruto had been able to gather Riser didn't actually have any duties, instead spending his time following his fancies or in the rare Rating Game.

No wonder the boy acted the way that he did.

Ruval and Rasel were proud men but that pride was tempered with personal duties that included responsibilities for hundreds of people and their family name. As heir Ruval played a big part in managing the Pillar even with both of his parents being alive and well and his brother Rasel acted as steward for the territories in the human world that, as far as Devils were concerned, belonged to Pillar Phenex in addition to his personal ownership of a media company.

"That does sound like you telling me how to raise my children." Layla didn't sound annoyed but she didn't sound particularly happy either. "But I agree. That was the main reason behind this engagement after all."

Glancing at Kuroka revealed the same confusion on her face that he currently felt.

"It doesn't seem to be working," Naruto said. Kuroka snorted in amusement.

"And do you think I haven't noticed?" The underlying frustration Layla clearly felt was becoming obvious. "This engagement was decided years ago, and we thought that with time the two could come to care for each other. That they would be able to balance each other."

"But Rias spurned him the very minute they met. I can sympathise with her feelings, Riser wasn't particularly enthused either, but to reject the very idea of marrying him without even getting to know him?" Layla shook her head. "Even that would have been acceptable, as long as they married and had a child, no one would care who she spent the rest of her time with. But to blame him for the whole affair?"

What a mess.

Maybe he was just lucky but none of his marriages had ever contained this much drama, even the ones for political benefit, rare as they were.

Layla loved her children, that would never change, and she believed that Rias was at least partly to blame for the current situation of one of them.

"So, what now?" Instead of dwelling on it, he moved on. You couldn't change what was, you had to deal with it and plan what could be.

"What now?" she echoed.

"What will you do now? We both know this engagement is never going through. There's no point thinking about it any more. What's your next step?" he clarified.

Layla's shoulders fell slightly before she gathered herself with a deep breath.

"It's that obvious, is it?" They both gave her a nod. Layla seemed to gather her thoughts for a few seconds before answering. "I have debated having him learn under his brother for a bit before making him responsible for our phoenix tear sales."

"That's your duty right now, correct?"

"One of the major ones, yes." Naruto suspected that it was the major one but he did not voice that thought.

It was a good idea for now. He wasn't sure if Riser had any inclination in that direction but it was better than nothing.

"Well, if you need help, I'm always available." The offer was made offhand but was no less sincere. They may not be involved intimately any more but he still treasured his friendship and his memories of the time he spent with Layla.

"I know you are," Layla answered with an understanding smile.

A waiter came by, offering them beverages and all three agreed to a glass of wine. They spent a few minutes simply conversing when Naruto spotted someone making their way over. Layla reacted a moment later, obviously well accustomed to her daughter's energy signature.

"Ravel, join us."

"Of course, mother." The young girl was wearing a purple dress, her golden hair done in two braids.

"As you no doubt recall, Naruto and his lover Kuroka." Ravel blushed slightly at her mother's words and Naruto saw a mischievous grin grow on Kuroka's face. There would be teasing to come.

"It is an honour to meet you again." Her curtsy was flawless, the very picture of a young daughter to a prominent Pillar.

"The honour is ours."

Holding out his hand until she laid her own on top, he mirrored the greeting he had performed for her mother. The long gloves Ravel was wearing ruined the effect slightly but she was still clearly flustered by the gesture.

"So, Ravel how do your marriage prospects look?" Kuroka's question earned her chuckles from him and Layla, while Ravel sputtered, her flushed cheeks becoming even more pronounced.

"I don't, that is, I'm not really, ehm," she nervously played with her braids while trying and failing to answer the question.

Fortunately her mother took mercy on her.

"We have not yet decided on a match for Ravel. There is still time."

Naruto wasn't particularly invested in Devil society but he still kept track of the broader happenings. There were only a few young devils from the Pillars that could be a match for Ravel. Magdaran and Sairaorg Bael were close enough in age, though both came with caveats. Sairaorg was disliked by his own family but far outstripped his half-brother in power, and while Magdaran had that support, it was shaky at best.

Seectas Barbatos was a possibility but an unlikely one. Zekram would never let it go through if there was the possibility to bind the Phenex to his own family instead. There was Falbium's cousin Zephyrdor who was slated to become heir to his family after an unfortunate accident with the previous one.

Sairaorg had some candidates in his Peerage too, though marrying the only daughter of the Phenex Pillar to the last vestige of a ruined Pillar was probably unlikely.

He thought the only two real possibilities were Diehauser Belial, even if the age difference was a bit much, not that he could really complain on that front, and Millicas Gremory, son to Sirzechs and Grayfia. Millicas was the only candidate that was actually younger than Ravel but what truly mattered was his heritage.

An unheard of amount of magical energy even at his young age, the Bael's Power of Destruction, and significant talent at using both. Even Zekram would hope for a granddaughter just so he could marry the boy back into his family.

With the engagement between Rias and Riser unlikely to happen, overtures would likely have to made. Naruto would be surprised if an engagement between Ravel and Millicas wouldn't be demanded in recompense.

"Well, has anyone caught your eye, Ravel?" Kuroka clearly wouldn't let it go that easily. "Maybe Rias' knight?"

They all saw her unconsciously glance in Kiba's direction, the flush on her cheeks spreading over her face. A moment later she remembered the attention on her and quickly stopped looking, avoiding all of their gazes in embarrassment.

Kuroka enjoyed herself immensely.

Naruto's attention moved from the conversation unconsciously as Grayfia arrived in a magic circle. He could smell Issei immediately even if the boy wasn't here. That strangely powerful and yet distant draconic scent was incredibly rare and would have gotten his attention even if he hadn't met the boy already.

'So that's their plan?'

There was no reason for Grayfia to carry that scent. Issei had been declared physically and magically recovered this morning and was only resting now. Yet she had just been with him, likely giving him instructions on what to do.

He wasn't sure what Sirzechs was expecting from the boy. The attack he had used against Riser at the end of the match had been powerful, but Riser had survived taking the hit, even after suffering all the damage Rias had done by herself. That attack alone had overstrained the boy's magic energy so much that he had been unconscious for days, and he had had time to charge up then.

In a one-on-one fight? There was no way Issei could pull something similar off again.

There were other ways of defeating Riser of course but Issei didn't seem like the type to stray from his basic way of handling problems.

It did explain the guards however. Ordering them to ignore the boy barging in uninvited could have drawn attention but with surprise on his side the fresh recruits wouldn't impede him much.

It didn't matter, Naruto reminded himself. Whatever happened wasn't his problem. Draining his wine he focussed back on the conversation.

"Do you have something in mind that you will do until then, Ravel?" Naruto addressed her.

"Do until then?" Ravel repeated his question, confused.

"What are your personal plans for the future? Will you gather a peerage of your own and compete in Rating Games? Or is there some other goal you wish to accomplish?" he clarified.

Ravel seemed honestly surprised by the question. She spent a few seconds in deep thought before she answered.

"I have no plans to form my own peerage or actively compete in Rating Games in the near future. For now I think I will stay with my brother and assist him with strategy during his own games." She had tried to hide it beneath a veneer of humility but he had noticed the quiet pride when she had mentioned her own assistance.

"Did you take part in forming his strategy during the game?" Kuroka asked, clearly hearing the same thing he had.

"I mostly advised him about certain exploitable flaws in his strategy," Ravel cautiously answered. She was obviously concerned about avoiding bragging. Most likely she had played a much bigger part in the planning than she had admitted.

"There is no need to be modest Ravel, Riser told me he was quite impressed with your contributions," Layla said, encouraging her daughter. Ravel flushed in embarrassment.

"He did?" she squeaked in surprise and Naruto could understand why. Riser didn't seem the type to praise freely.

"He is your brother, don't look so shocked," Layla said with a fond smile on her face.

"Would you explain in detail then, what exactly you advised?" he asked. Riser's strategy had been simple and relied mostly on the superiority of his pieces but that didn't mean that Ravel didn't have potential.

Ravel glanced at her mother, who motioned for her to go on.

"Rias had two obvious problems going in. Her singular pawn against Riser's eight and her own inability to beat Riser in a fair fight." As she explained Ravel relaxed, the mental exercise serving to distract her from the earlier topic.

"I thought it logical to distribute our own pawns for a chance at promotion. That would give us information about her movements and allow us to turn the advantage in numbers into a bigger advantage in strength, even if not all of them got through."

"I wasn't certain what exactly Rias would do but with the difference in numbers she faced I didn't think that she would commit only a part of her pieces at the beginning. If she wanted to win, she had to try overwhelming the first pieces we sent against her with surprise."

"When Ni and Li promoted without any interference, Rias' goal was obvious enough. She and her queen are the only ones powerful enough to possibly defeat Riser. Since she wasn't at her own base she was obviously attacking, that's why we evacuated and left the building. Finding her afterwards was easy enough." Ravel finished her explanation with a decisive nod. Layla was smiling proudly next to her and even Kuroka looked impressed.

"And what would you have done in Rias' position?" Naruto asked, a good-natured smile on his face.

Ravel scrunched her eyebrows in thought, while tapping her index-finger against her leg. She slowly started thinking through the question aloud, "Maybe,…if she had waited slightly longer before setting out she could have ambushed Ni and Li on the way. With both defeated we wouldn't have been sure that she was on the move. Her attack could have worked that way." Ravel's tone made it clear that she wasn't completely happy with the idea she had presented.

Naruto nodded once, for a quick idea it wasn't bad.

"A good idea but it has it's weak points. First, Rias didn't know exactly where Ni and Li were coming from. She certainly could have waited in the base for them to arrive but being forced into a defensive position isn't preferable. With her disadvantages, speed and surprise were the most important factors. Sacrificing the protection of her base for speed wasn't a bad idea on its face."

"Secondly, had she committed to a fight with them and been unable to defeat them quickly she risks one or two of the other fights being decided by the time she is able to move freely again. The more she slows down, the bigger your advantage."

Ravel accepted most of his words easily enough, all except one part. Seeing the slight narrowing of her eyes, he motioned for her to speak her mind.

"But, Rias is much stronger than even Ni and Li together. Surely that risk is negligible."

"Ah, now that is where you are wrong." Ravel looked confused now, though she seemed to realize that neither of the other adults were.

"Rias is certainly more powerful than both of them, but if power was the sole deciding factor in a fight there would be no need to fight at all. If you could swing a sword twice as hard as me but I am capable of dodging or blocking every single strike, is the strength of your swing a guarantee of success?" He shook his head in denial. "In the end if you cut of the head, they are dead no matter how powerful."

Remembering who exactly he was talking to Naruto amended that last statement slightly, "Well, most of the time." Both Kuroka and Layla looked highly amused but Ravel seemed to take the lesson to heart. He continued his original explanation.

"Consider instead that Rias has a limited understanding of their abilities and limits, and that they do not need to beat her, only sufficiently delay her. Barriers, illusions, spiritual bindings, environment changes, there are many ways they could have found to accomplish it."

"As it stood in that moment, there were two better options for her. Reinforce either Kiba or Akeno. With her assistance both fights could have ended in Rias' favour instead. Eliminating Yubelluna from the field would have been the more significant advantage despite the higher risk but either one was better than what she ended up doing."

Actually Akeno should have used the opportunity she had been presented to strike at Yubelluna herself, instead of blocking the blow for the other two and announcing her presence. Trading Issei and Asia for Yubelluna would have been favourable, and if either one survived the surprise attack all the better.

Beating Yubelluna wouldn't have guaranteed victory but it would have certainly raised the likelihood.

"Still, I'm impressed," he finished. "Have you considered learning under Ruval? Even if he doesn't fight as often any more there are many past matches of his that you could learn from. With your talents an advisory position during Rating Games may be a possibility."

Ravel nodded after a moment of thought before looking to her mother, who seemed to be seriously considering the idea.

"You mean like a coach?" Kuroka asked him.

"Kind of, yes. It's not the norm, I know, but there is nothing forbidding such a position either," he answered. Usually the king of the peerage, with assistance from the queen, was in charge of all strategy, and on the field that would always be the case but there was certainly room for a strategic advisor before the actual game began.

Sporting competitions employed coaches almost universally and Rating Games were just that.

"We can talk to your brothers later. For now it may be easier if you stayed with Riser, to gain a bit more experience first," Layla proposed, glancing towards the other members of her family.

"The easiest way to gain recognition for such a role would certainly be to compete yourself, though acting in the same capacity for one of your brothers could work too," Naruto threw in. Many coaches were former players in their sport, which helped establish their suitability for the position to others, and obviously came with the experience necessary for the position.

The great doors closed, signalling the official beginning of the festivities.

"It looks like it's starting. Please excuse us for now. Hopefully we'll be able to continue later," Layla said apologetically. He motioned for them to go on with a small smile. She and her daughter gave a curtsy before moving towards the other members of their family.

Riser appeared in a fiery magic circle. He addressed the room, his arms spread in an encompassing gesture.

"Famed nobles and honoured guests! The Phenex family is grateful for your attendance tonight. We invited you to share in a historic moment with us today. I proudly announce to all, that I, Riser Phenex and the heiress apparent of the Gremory family, Rias Gremory, intend to marry each other, thereby joining our two families for centuries."

Riser's announcement was met with polite clapping from most of the guests, some even raising their glasses in an impromptu toast.

He turned to the side after allowing a few seconds for the applause.

"Without further ado, allow me to present my future bride, Rias Gremory!" A crimson magic circle appeared next to him and Rias appeared in a flash of light. Naruto raised an eyebrow at seeing her gown. It was basically a traditional european wedding dress, with the white and the veil, and it featured surprisingly little of either family on it. No embroidery for either faction, certainly not their colours. Odd.

Naruto felt the magic circle activate behind the closed doors. He recognized Issei immediately, despite the boy's weak magical signature. In the same moment that he recognized the person, he also noticed a much heavier presence that immediately put him on edge.

In the back of his mind he noticed Grayfia moving towards him, but his focus was on Issei.

As weak as Issei had been and still was, a part of the boy always screamed dragon at everyone who knew what to look for. It was weak, so weak that no one would actually mistake him for one but the presence of Ddraig's soul fundamentally coloured Issei's existence. That was normal for any wielder of the Boosted Gear.

What he was feeling right now was not normal. Not in the slightest.

Balance Breaker did not cause this, hell Juggernaut Drive did not cause this, at least initially. Either one would have ripped the boy apart at his current power, normally. He could feel the split in the boy's magic, in his presence, in his spirit, everywhere.

That fool.

"That damned fool," Naruto growled quietly.

He had warned him against this, explained the consequences of doing this.

Naruto lost his cool for a single moment, his chakra flaring with murderous intent, before he clamped down on his energy with an iron grip.

When he tried to take a step, he was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He turned a glare onto Grayfia, giving her one chance to explain herself. She wasn't intimidated, matching his irritated look with a calm one of her own.

"You are right. He is a fool, but an honest one. I'm not asking you to ignore it, just to wait."

Another hand landed on his other shoulder. Kuroka's touch calmed him slightly, it always did.

"Let this play out, dear. You can do what you need to afterwards."

He was aware of his own irritation in that moment and relied on his training. Bury emotion and feeling. Let focus and neutrality take their place.

On a mission, there is no place for your humanity. Set it aside. Do what is necessary.

He took a slow breath and blocked out any thought of Issei for now. He clinically noted the door being blown open but didn't spare that fact any further thought.

"Fine." Naruto's voice lacked any inflection. He shrugged off their hands and turned around. "But we'll talk about this later." Both of them nodded, understanding that it wasn't up for discussion.

One of the few waiters not frozen in place came by and presented an assortment of alcoholic drinks to choose from. He ignored the urge to huff in amusement, clearly Grayfia had come prepared.

"Boosted Gear!"

The red gauntlet settled on his arm the same way it always did, but covering his elbow as well now, the two green jewels flashing for a moment.

But the feeling was completely different. Before, wearing the gauntlet felt the way he imagined wearing real armour would feel, a noticeable weight on his arm and hand. From the start it had been lighter than it's size would suggest and a clear feeling of power accompanied it.

Now it felt the way things looked through dirty glass. His whole arm was numb and unclear and wasn't at the same time. Touching things was bizarre, one moment everything felt normal and the next it felt like he didn't have an arm at all. It reminded him of having a limb fall asleep but without any problems in moving that limb.

It terrified him a little. Giving up an arm had seemed like a small price to pay. But Issei still had the arm, it just wasn't entirely his own anymore.

He clenched his fists, one feeling like only an echo of the other.

It was a small price to pay. He didn't regret it. He'd never allow Rias to get married to a guy like that. The very idea made him sick to his stomach. Never.

"Issei-san!" Asia barged into the room, having collected the items he had asked for.

"Asia, thank you." He opened his hand to accept the cross and holy water.

She hesitated but still held out both items. "Are you really sure? Won't it hurt you?"

His expression softened slightly as he grabbed onto the cross with his left hand. There was no pain for him, as if he had picked up any normal object, unlike the reaction that act would have had before.

"This arm is no longer mine. See? I can even touch a cross now."

Issei saw the tears gathering in her eyes as she seemed to understand the implication of what he had just said.

"Please, just be careful. Don't get hurt that way again. I can't stand to see you like that." Tears streaming down her face Asia threw herself into his arms, almost knocking him over.

"A–sia." He felt wetness where she was pressing her face to his shirt and awkwardly raised his right hand to pat her back. Asia clearly needed the comfort in that moment.

"Don't worry. I'll beat up that bastard quickly and then I'll come back with Rias-buchou."

His proclamation only sparked a sob from the young girl crying into his front. He gave her a last pat on the back before gently prying her off of him.

"I have to go now." He clutched the cross in his fist and put the flask of holy water into his pocket. Holding the piece of paper that Grayfia-san had given him earlier he turned to Asia one last time and gave her a confident grin.

'Boost!'

"I'll be right back!"

In a flash of red energy he left his room and appeared in a chamber he had never seen.

The two great doors were closed, only two people in the room with him. They were clearly surprised to see him, the butt of their spears still placed on the floor.

Issei rushed forward, the two men reacting in the same moment. They both moved in front of the door, trying to block his way.

"Dragon Shot!"

With only one boost the attack wasn't particularly strong but it still flung both guards backwards and against the doors.

The two great doors rattled with the impact and neither guard moved from their position on the ground afterwards. Focusing his strength he punched the middle of the two doors, blowing them open with a bang.

All the people in the room focused on him in that moment.

Issei saw them turn towards him, some looking shocked or surprised while others looked on in confusion. At the end of the hall he saw Rias-buchou and Riser together and in the crowd that had turned in his direction he spotted Akeno-san and Kiba and Koneko-chan.

"Issei!" Rias' shout echoed throughout the quiet hall.

"President!" In that moment he had only eyes for her. He saw her surprise and shock at his entrance, the hope at his attempt and defeat for her situation. His resolve was iron-clad.

"How dare you interrupt these proceed-" He cut Riser's outrage of with another shout of his own, brandishing his Sacred Gear, his anger at the blonde bastard running strong. He didn't care about the other people in the room, there were only two that were important to him right now.

"I am Hyoudou Issei, a member of the Occult Research Club at Kuoh Academy! Rias Gremory's virginity is mine!" He thought he heard the sound of a palm hitting a face but he may have imagined it.

"Wha—! How dare you?! Apprehend this intruder now!" Guards were already in the process of following the order and running towards him.

'Boost!'

They quickly surrounded him with raised weapons but he was ready to go. He needn't have bothered. Akeno, Kiba, and Koneko took care of them.

"Issei-kun, we'll handle these guys."

"You're late."

"Kiba! Koneko-chan! Akeno-san!"

Issei ignored the sounds of fighting behind him as the three of them took care of the guards. He moved forward, intent on beating Riser up and saving Rias. The other guests were loudly wondering what was going on, shouts and whispers breaking out all over the hall.

"Rias-dono, what is going on?"

A person he had never seen before cut in.

"Just a little entertainment I prepared." Issei was confused, and everyone else seemed to be of the same mind. The man was wearing some odd kind of armour over his shoulders but Issei mostly focused on his striking scarlet hair.

"Onii-sama!"

'What!' He barely caught himself from stumbling. That guy was her brother?! Wasn't her brother supposed to be a...Satan. 'He's a Satan?!'

"Lucifer-sama, what do you mean by entertain—"

Rias' brother raised his hand to signal for silence.

"Riser-kun, the Rating Game between you two was very interesting to watch. However against an opponent that is inexperienced and has half the pieces, it was a bit…," he trailed off, though what he meant was heard loud and clear.

"Do you object against the outcome of the match?" Riser seemed almost insulted by the suggestion, the slightest edge to his tone.

Rias' brother was entirely unruffled.

"No, no. Not at all. I simply wished for something flashy, to commemorate my sister's engagement appropriately." The man turned towards him a small grin on his face. "You, dragon boy."

Issei raised his a finger, pointing at himself in confusion. He wasn't really following what was going on any more. He had imagined things a bit differently.

"I wish to see the power of the dragon you possess for myself, so I had arrangements made."

Riser had his confidence back now, clearly comprehending what was going on better than Issei had.

"I see. So basically..." Riser trailed off, a grin once more on his features.

"Dragon against Phoenix. A contest of such legendary powers is sure to bring some excitement, is it not?" The confused whispers from before had turned to surprise and excitement now, a clear indication of the crowd's feelings on the matter.

Rias had been dreading this day for most of her life. Ever since her parents had informed her of the planned engagement she had been imagining it. She hated every single version she could come up with.

The first time she had met Riser, shortly after that, had not endeared her to the idea. He had ridiculed her interests, calling them childish and unbecoming of someone with such noble lineage. In her dreams her future husband was brave and strong, always willing to stand up for his dreams and ideals, and about her age, maybe slightly older.

She had not even been twelve then, while Riser was approaching sixteen. They didn't have anything in common.

Before the Rating Game she had been confident that she could escape her fate. Beat Riser? Maybe it wouldn't be a walk in the park, but she'd pull it off. Only she hadn't.

They had performed well, eliminating most of Riser's pieces but in the end that alone wasn't enough. Riser and his queen had been more formidable than she had expected and Ravel had not even interfered at all.

When Issei had been beaten her last chance to win had vanished with him.

Defeat had been plain to see and yet accepting it had felt like willingly swallowing poison. Even now there was a bitter aftertaste in her mouth.

The dress had been insulting but even that she had barely noticed, even if she tried to put up a defiant front. Her thoughts had been on her peerage, on Kiba and Akeno and Asia, on Koneko who had fought hard, harder than ever before and beaten so many opponents on her own, and on Issei, who had done everything in his power to secure victory for her.

Issei, who was now about to fight Riser.

She had just teleported into the room herself when a spike of murderous intent had appeared and then vanished so quickly that she wasn't sure she hadn't imagined it. Then Issei had barged into the room, two guards on the ground behind him.

"Issei!" She had barely noticed herself shouting, still struck by the current events.

The way her pawn had looked in that moment brought her back to the last moments of the Rating Game. The sheer resolve in his brown eyes pulled her in, enchanting her in a way she had never thought possible.

The others joined him then, when the other guards were about to attack him and she felt proud, so unbelievably proud of them. For doing such a stupid, wonderful thing, and for fighting for her even now.

"What boon do you wish, should you win this match?" her brother had asked. He continued ignoring the protests against the idea, "Nobility? Beautiful women? Riches? I will grant you anything."

"None of those things." Issei shook his head. "Rias Gremory-sama, I want her back!"

Her brother had chuckled then, clearly amused. "Very well. Should you win, it will be granted."

Issei only gave a resolute nod in answer. Then he had turned to her.

"Don't worry President!" The stupid grin on his face made her want to scold him for taking this too lightly but also scoop him up in her arms and never let go.

"Issei." She tried for a serious face. "You have my permission to promote."

Everyone was moving outside now, where people were currently setting up a magical barrier to allow for a suitable fighting arena.

She passed her father quietly talking to Riser's father though he spared her a small smile. Her mother was nearby talking with a few other noble ladies as they walked to one of the exits leading to the inner garden.

Rias found herself on a small balcony, not in the mood for any conversation before the duel was decided. Looking at the arena she couldn't help but hope. Hope that Issei would really win, and she wouldn't have to marry Riser.

Issei and Riser stood on opposite sides of the arena, about twenty metres between them.

"Begin." Her brother's voice rang out for all to hear.

"I'll settle this in ten seconds!" Issei shouted.

"Then I'll shut your impudent mouth in five," Riser calmly rebuked. He clearly didn't put much stock in the proclamation. Riser summoned his wings, two orange and yellow limbs of pure fire, and took to the air.

Issei ran forward, trying to close the distance between them.

"I don't have any of the talents the others have but I'll still become the strongest Pawn that there is! Promotion! Queen!" He brandished his Sacred Gear, the jewel above his hand flashing with magical energy.

"Glow, Over-boost!"

"Welsh-Dragon Over-booster!" The voice from inside the Boosted Gear was deep, with a gravely quality to it, and demanded the attention of everyone in range.

The armour on Issei's left arm expanded. Up the arm to the shoulder, then over his torso and down his legs while simultaneously moving to cover his right arm as well. The last piece was the helmet, completely covering Issei's body from view.

The scarlet armour was inlaid with multiple green gems all over, the largest of which sat directly over his chest. They all flashed with a green light, the power contained in each one plain to see for everyone in attendance.

"Balance Breaker, Boosted Gear Scale Mail!"

Issei's speed heightened the second he was fully clad in the armour, now almost as quick as Kiba was at his fastest.

The first Dragon Shot was immediate but it missed Riser as he swerved through the air in an effort to present a more difficult target. Issei was right behind the blast however, having jumped into the air to reach his opponent.

Riser was able to avoid that too and Issei continued on, only stopping once he collided with one edge of the arena, the sheer force of the impact a testament to the power he had access to now. It was clear that her pawn had no true control over the strength he currently used, flailing about without any strategic thought.

Riser clearly noticed too.

"Damned brat! You're no better than a monster like that, are you? You are all power with no control at all right now! Let's see if it allows you to take the fire of a Phoenix!" Riser flexed his demonic energy, a ball of orange flames growing in front of him.

Issei was trying to dislodge himself from the debris he had gotten stuck in, which left him an easy target.

Riser let loose. The fireball flew through the air, leaving a shimmer of heat behind it as it travelled towards her pawn.

Rias saw Issei finally pull free and fully turn toward the attack. Instead of evading, his own demonic energy settled around him and he jumped to meet the attack head on. Both met in an explosion of demonic energy.

Issei pulled through, emerging mostly unscathed on the other side, though his armour's jewels had lost some of their earlier luster, with his fist raised for a punch. Riser summoned another torrent of flames around his fist, obviously willing to meet him in hand-to-hand combat as well.

Both punches connected but the effects were not the same. Even with the armour Riser's fist had caved in the scarlet helmet slightly, maybe even breaking some of the bones that lay underneath. Riser himself barely had a scratch on his cheek.

Then he coughed up blood with a grunt of pain.

The scratch was no scratch at all, but a patch of burned skin, the usual fate of such wounds on a member of the Phenex family strangely absent. The pain he felt from the wound was clearly disproportionate to it's extent. Though he didn't seem sure about the reason behind it either.

Rias spotted the cross dangling in Issei's left fist.

But that made no sense. The cross' origin was easy enough to understand, Asia had been a nun after all, and the effects it had when used to attack a devil were similarly simple. Even the regeneration of a Phenex was subject to a devil's weakness to anything Holy. So was Issei however.

Holding onto the object for so long should have disabled the arm or at least the hand already.

"Don't tell me…. You gave your entire arm to the dragon within it?! Have you completely lost your mind?!"

For the first time in her life Rias felt inclined to agree with Riser.

It explained a lot. A sacrifice of that magnitude could impart a significant amount of power in exchange, which explained Issei's current capabilities. Additionally if Issei had truly given up that arm, it was technically no longer the arm of a devil, so wasn't subject to the effects of being one.

Had he truly done so? Given up an entire arm? For her?

"So what?! My arm is a small price to pay to get Rias-buchou back!" Issei rushed forward again, clearly unbothered by what he had just revealed. The jewels flashed again, power settling around Issei, a large part pooling in his left fist.

Rias was struck still. He really had given up his arm for her. She didn't know whether she should cry, scream or laugh. She did neither, instead she simply continued watching. Whatever happened she would not avert her eyes.

Riser seemed frozen in place, and Issei was rapidly closing the gap between them. When there were less than six metres between them, Issei stumbled slightly.

"Count off!"

His armour vanished into specks of green light and Issei crashed to the ground with only his gauntlet remaining. She could see his weakness in the way his arms trembled as he tried to push himself to his feet.

Riser used the moment he had been given. Closing the distance he hoisted him up by the front of his shirt. Issei didn't have the strength to resist and with his feet dangling above the ground it would be difficult to do anything.

"Well then, time to put you to sleep." Riser leaned in, confident in his victory.

She saw Issei reach into his pocket and pull out a small flask. The green jewel on his hand flashed once before darkening, all of it's power spent.

"Boosted Gear Gift." Issei's voice sounded as exhausted as his body looked. He flicked off the top of the flask with one of the claw-like fingers of his Sacred Gear. His arm swung down, splashing the liquid inside all over Riser.

The moment the glowing substance touched him Riser started screaming in agony. He released the grip he had on Issei and stared clutching the places the liquid had touched.

Every few moments flames flashed into existence all over Riser's body but his famed regeneration was of no use here. The Holy substance, it's effect enhanced by the power Issei had supplied, acted like an acid, dissolving skin and flesh as soon as it regenerated.

It was truly a gruesome display, and probably as painful as it looked. Worse, possibly, since Riser's own regeneration meant that the agony would only stop once all of the energy had been used up. Rias wasn't sure if any being was capable of withstanding such a thing with their mind intact.

Issei seemed surprised by the effect, but he wasn't deterred. He struggled to his feet again and upended the rest of the flask over the cross in his hand. With the combined effect there was a real chance he could kill Riser right there.

He raised his hand for a punch, his elbow shaking more and more with each moment.

"The match is over." Rias heard her brother's voice ring out, signalling the end of the bout. Issei dropped his hand, his shoulders sagging. Despite the short length of the duel he had clearly spent almost all of his energy.

Riser's screams continued.

"Riser!" Rias heard the cry from below her. A moment later Ravel rushed towards her brother, intent on finding some way to stop the agony he was in.

The barrier allowed her access. It took a few seconds to really set in what that meant.

She was free, Issei had won. She could barely suppress the sob that worked its way to the surface and felt tears prick her eyes. It was like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

Rias could see others moving closer to the barrier, as soon as it fully dissolved they would have a closer look at everything that was going on.

Rias made to leave the balcony too.

Cold dread settled in her stomach and she didn't know why. Then she realised the barrier wasn't dissolving. She froze in her tracks. The barrier wasn't dissolving!

"I warned you, boy." The voice was harsh and unfeeling. Cold and hard in a way she had never experienced.

Naruto was inside the barrier, only a few steps behind Riser and Ravel, but he had eyes only for Issei.

He spared Riser and Ravel a glance. One stuck screaming in agony, the other wishing and yet unable to help. Ravel was hovering around her brother, desperately trying to think of some way to stop what was happening.

Naruto bent down next to them and channelled some chakra. Laying one hand on Riser he targeted every point where he could feel Ddraig's energy in contact with the young devil and crushed the remaining power under his own.

Immediately Riser's screams lessened, the effects of the Holy water no longer enhanced to such a high degree. It still burned him, and the wounds were more resistant to his own regeneration but the worst was over.

His right hand formed a fist and he laid his flat left hand on top, forming the dog hand seal, commonly used for water jutsu. He used his chakra again, the same way he would when gathering water from the environment for a jutsu, but instead focused only on the Holy water in the immediate vicinity.

A small sphere of liquid formed in front of him, drop by drop. After a few seconds he had removed all of the substance from Riser, who promptly collapsed to the ground and lost consciousness.

"Get him out." Naruto saw Ravel flinch in his periphery before she moved to do as he said, but he ignored it. He was completely focused on his target.

The boy hadn't moved, straining to even stay standing after the toll that Balance Breaker had taken on his unprepared body. Yet his eyes were still determined.

Naruto walked forward slowly, one hand moving to the dagger at his side.

"You are lucky, boy. People I hold dear to my heart spoke for you. That is the only thing that preserves your life today. It won't happen a second time. You'd do well to remember that."

He unsheathed the blade. The weapon was unsuited for what he intended, meant for piercing and not slashing even if it carried an edge, but that didn't matter. Wind chakra rushed along the blade, lengthening and sharpening the weapon.

His wind cut better than any steel.

"Even so, I made you a promise." He held the dagger out to the side, never straying from his slow, measured pace. "Let's see if you are truly prepared to lose an arm."

The boy's eyes widened in realisation but it was already too late. When only a few metres still separated them Naruto rushed forward at his full speed.

"Wai—"

He crossed the distance in the blink of an eye, swinging the blade down at the left shoulder with his own left hand. He grabbed the draconic limb with his right arm, stretching it out to the side.

The wind chakra cut through the shoulder without resistance. Flesh, muscle, and bone yielding easily.

The force generated by the swing threw Issei backwards, blood dripping from the wound, his exhausted body unable to resist the pull of gravity, and left Naruto with a draconic arm in his right hand.

He heard Issei grunt in discomfort as he landed on the ground but he didn't pay it any mind, solely focused on the arm. Naruto tightened his grip, chakra turned ice flash-freezing the whole limb, the outside covered in a thin sheet of frost.

More chakra moved into the now frozen limb before he applied speed and rotation to it, essentially mimicking a Rasengan inside of the arm, with predictable results. With the limb frozen solid, it simply shattered apart into small chips of frozen arm, a dusting of red hanging in the air where the arm used to be.

A wave of his hand summoned a gust of wind that scattered whatever specks that remained. That was when the screaming started.

Issei's remaining hand was clutching at his bleeding wound, his eyes screwed shut and teeth gritted in pain. He was writhing on the ground, a pool of blood beneath him. Naruto could hear his quick breaths and elevated heartbeat. He felt no sympathy.

Turning away he relaxed the hold his chakra had over the barrier isolating them from the other attendees. He walked away and sheathed his dagger, leaving Issei where he was as the barrier dissolved.

Most of the guests were focused on either Issei or him, while some alternated between them rapidly. He couldn't see Riser, Ravel or Layla anywhere but they were likely with a healer, to make sure Riser recovered fully.

"Issei!"

Rias and Akeno rushed past him, healing magic at their fingertips, while Koneko and Kiba blocked his way.

"No further."

Kiba had a sword with a blade of fire in his hands, ready to attack or defend at any moment. Koneko stood next to him, chakra gathered around her hands and ready to be launched his way, single tail barely moving behind her back and ears pushed back.

Naruto stopped a few feet from them, casually noting their tense bodies and narrowed eyes. Their breaths were even, if slightly fast and their heart rates elevated, but they didn't yield. They were determined despite the hopeless odds they faced. He could respect that.

"Or what?" he asked, head tilted to the side. "You'll fight me? Stop me? Kill me?" For a single moment he allowed a part of his presence to be felt, releasing it from the tight control he had it under. They both seized up, their muscles locking together for that single moment and then it was over.

Both of them nearly stumbled, the effort they used to not drop to the ground working against them. He saw the fear in their eyes, the terror of being hopelessly outmatched, mixed with the confusion of someone who isn't sure that what just happened was truly real. Naruto ignored it.

He scoffed once and walked forward again, unconcerned with the two of them. They both tensed up again the moment he took a step. Neither of them moved to attack him however, and he passed between them without problem.

The angry demonic presence behind him was expected, as were the words that followed.

"You monster." Rias said it quietly but he heard her easily enough.

"Monster, huh?" Naruto didn't break his stride, the words not really meant for anyone. He'd been called that a lot in his life, there was a surprisingly high number of things about him that had warranted the label.

The Kyuubi, his power, Artemis' curse, hell even just his own actions. There was a lot of things he wasn't proud of, but lingering on that didn't help in any way.

Being called a monster by Rias had no bite, her opinion didn't really matter, certainly not to him, and she didn't even know the truly monstrous things about him. Cutting of an arm? With a warning? That was pretty mild all things considered.

The guests gave him a wide berth as he walked back into the hall. Devils may accept violence more easily than most modern humans but seeing someone being crippled like this was still rare. Naruto grabbed a drink from one of the trays and slugged the rich wine down like water.

He rolled his tense shoulders, released an exasperated breath and turned around.

"Well, this was quite the party. A bit on the short side though." Grayfia gave him an unimpressed look for the comment and Kuroka flashed her teeth in a grin, fangs easily visible.

"Quite tragic really, I hope any future parties will be longer," she added and took a sip from her own glass. Despite her earlier interference Kuroka clearly didn't particularly mind what had happened.

"So what was this about? Why stop me?" Naruto heard the steps coming towards them but focused on the coming explanation instead.

Grayfia folded her hands, mulling over her words before opening her mouth to explain when she was interrupted.

"Perhaps this conversation could take place somewhere else?" The newcomer's identity was immediately clear. Zeoticus Gremory shared his colouring with his two children, the striking blue eyes and distinctive crimson hair an obvious sign of their familial relation.

The middle-aged looking devil gave them a pleasant smile, no indication of any tension in his expression.

"Zeoticus." Naruto gave a curt nod in greeting which was returned by the Gremory patriarch.

"Naruto. If you would be so kind as to relocate your conversation?" Zeoticus reiterated his earlier remark, polite insistence audible.

The events of today were sure to have upset people, especially the Pillars, and the easiest way to deal with that was to have the problem disappear. Issei was already gone, being teleported away shortly after Naruto had left the gardens so he was the only remaining troublemaker.

Well, technically Kuroka counted too, her attendance had to have ruffled some feathers but the spotlight wasn't on her today.

Out of sight, out of mind held true with most things.

As co-hosts the Gremory and Phenex would be looked at with some derision for the events of today, and Sirzechs' clear involvement would gain him some difficulties as well, but if Naruto was seen leaving the location on behalf of Zeoticus and with Grayfia in tow, presumably to ensure he caused no further trouble, some may consider the whole ordeal appropriately handled.

Not everyone would buy it, certainly no one that actually knew him, but convincing everyone wasn't necessary.

He'd play along.

"Excuse the trouble I've caused, Lord Gremory. I will endeavour not to repeat today's events in the future." Naruto finished with a deep bow, his voice audible to the few curious onlookers that had returned to the hall as well.

There was gratitude in Zeoticus' eyes even if he had exchanged his smile for a neutral expression. He waved his hand and Grayfia activated a teleportation circle, the light grey magic appearing beneath their feet.

Naruto, Kuroka, and Grayfia disappeared from the hall in a flash of magic.

They reappeared in large room, couches and seats of different sizes arranged around a low table in the middle. Grayfia motioned for them to sit even if Kuroka had already taken the opportunity to sprawl herself on one of the couches.

He took an armchair next to Kuroka for himself while Grayfia sat down opposite him.

Naruto raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms, his previous question still hanging between them.

"Where should I begin?" Grayfia asked.

"I know why Rias resented the engagement, why Issei intervened is obvious enough, as is the reason for the engagement. What I want to know is why you stopped me and more importantly how that could be your actual plan to prevent the marriage."

"It worked, no?" Grayfia countered, though it was only a token effort.

If it's stupid and it works it isn't stupid, did usually apply to any kind of plan but since this one had only succeeded through copious amounts of luck and foolishness that train of thought seemed inappropriate. The success of the plan hadn't actually been the result of the plan itself.

"Despite your plan and not because of it. Or are you responsible for the actions Issei took?" His voice gained a dangerous tone for the last part. He counted Grayfia among his dearest friends but that wouldn't shield her from all consequences.

Excusing the mistakes of those he had a bond with could be a slippery slope. They would always have more leeway than others but there had to be a line, even for the people dear to him.

She shook her head and denied the accusation.

"We simply supplied him the opportunity to interfere today and a possible escape, that decision was entirely his own."

"Then how was Issei supposed to accomplish anything in your plan?" Kuroka asked. The boy may have exceeded expectations during the Rating Game but that wasn't enough to come close to ensuring victory against Riser.

Issei was a low-class Devil in power and rank and only recently turned. The difference between him and Riser was so large Issei likely didn't even truly understand just how outclassed he was. The sacrifice of his arm had given him access to enough power to bridge that gap for a few seconds, allowing him to barely pull of a win, but if neither Grayfia nor Sirzechs had planned that sacrifice their plan looked to be based on nothing at all.

"The duel between them wasn't intended but when it became clear that Issei had acquired the power he had it was the possibility with the highest chance of success. I gave him a summoning circle for a griffin, to allow them a chance to escape the venue together. In the following uproar there would have been a possibility of convincing everyone that binding the owner of the Boosted Gear to our society more tightly should take priority over the marriage between two pure-blooded Devils."

Grayfia motioned towards him with one hand.

"The knowledge that Evil Pieces can be removed is not public yet, but that would have convinced many that such an arrangement was necessary, after all the boy clearly holds no regard for our customs."

That made a lot more sense. He had thought of a similar thing, proposing a marriage between Rias and Issei instead of the intended one had a real possibility of working. A bit of fear-mongering here and some insight into the boy's priorities there and believing that option to be necessary would come easily to parts of the nobility.

If they proposed a marriage between Ravel and Millicas as well, every side would be more or less satisfied. Though there was the question if Sirzechs would trade the unwanted engagement of his sister for a new engagement with his own son. Naruto didn't know.

"So once Rias is out of there you come in with an arrangement that would appease most of the relevant parties. That certainly makes more sense than what we saw." Naruto refrained from mentioning Millicas and his possible involvement. Grayfia had surely considered the idea and of the two she was certainly more likely to accept it than Sirzechs, but she probably still disliked it.

It was certainly less extreme than his other idea.

'I want to be loved for myself,' Rias had proclaimed and he had latched onto that immediately. If she truly believed those words the whole situation had a very easy solution.

Renounce any claim to the Gremory name and her position as heir-apparent, cut any ties to her family and her position as nobility and she could do exactly as she wanted. With Millicas as next in line to the Gremory name there was no problem of succession either. There would be no trouble finding someone who loved her only for herself then, she would have nothing else after all.

But then Rias didn't actually believe those words. She was in love with the idealized thought of them, with the image she had conjured in her head. She wanted to benefit from all those things, her family name, her position in society, the resources available to her, but taking on the responsibilities that came with it? That wasn't as easy to accept.

His own views aside that was a reasonable enough explanation for Grayfia's role in stopping him. A dead Issei would have complicated those plans significantly.

"And you?" Naruto turned towards Kuroka.

"Koneko would be sad if he died," she answered simply. That was about what he had expected. Kuroka didn't care for political plotting and she wasn't inclined to help any Devil out, but her sister was important to her.

"I can live with that." Naruto stood up to leave, Kuroka following shortly after. Before he activated the teleportation circle he addressed Grayfia again.

"Nevertheless you won't save the boy a second time. Make sure he understands that I'm serious, if today didn't already impress that upon him"

"I'll make sure," Grayfia agreed.

Naruto nodded in acceptance and channelled his magical energy. He and Kuroka vanished in a flash of light.

I hope you enjoyed chapter 3 and the last of the material I have already finished. I am roughly halfway done with the next chapter, but as I mentioned before my priorities are currently on A Song of Magic, so any progress may be some time yet.

I tried to change the Rating Game slightly, to make Rias loss more satisfying than in canon, but there is only so much Naruto's advice and a bit of training for Koneko can do about abysmal chances. Riser, Yubelluna, and Ravel could have probably won against Rias' peerage by themselves in terms of power, since two of them are incredibly hard to get rid off.

Rias is strong for her age, but she is overly convinced of her might, and has no true grasp of the power differential between her peers and the true monsters: Sirzechs, Ajuka, Naruto, the Gods, even Grayfia or Kuroka. Which is to say nothing of the big three: Great Red, Ophis, and Trihexa. Those things aren't monsters, they are walking apocalypses.

Riser torturing Issei at the end of the Rating Game is an anime invention, as far as I know, and significantly darkens his character. Unfortunately nothing comes of it afterwards, because Riser just breaks apart after the loss and becomes a joke character, so I did not include it.

Layla's account is nearly as biased towards Riser as Rias' is against him. She is his mother after all. When we meet him in the story he and Rias have clearly been antagonising each other for years, which can sour even best prospects. In the end everyone can view the drama of that arranged marriage however they wish, but I think I managed to exemplify the character differences concerning the topic.

This Naruto is all about promises and consequences, and he is a ruthless mercenary that is a known and dangerous quantity in certain circles.

Devil society is some rough approximation of medieval noble circles, but power is more important than blood. People know about the Heavenly Dragons and what their wielders are or will be capable off, so I can definitely imagine people paying careful attention just where they have their allegiance. Even if Issei is an idiot, he is the rough equivalent to a jinchuriki, and throwing one away is just asking for someone else to get their hands on him and abuse the shit out of his abilities.

In any case, thanks for reading and reviewing.