Chapter 4: Shadows of Doubt
The abandoned warehouse was a hollow shell, echoing with Sasuke's restless pacing. Moonlight filtered through the shattered windows, casting elongated shadows that danced and twisted, mocking his confinement. He ran a hand through his hair, the frustration evident in his sharp exhale.
Holy swords, fallen angels, devils, Gods... The words echoed in his mind, each syllable a stark reminder of the alien reality he now inhabited.
And this world operated on a power far different from the chakra he knew.
He placed his palm on his left eyes as his thoughts drifted to his Rinnegan, the ocular jutsu that granted him dominion over space and time.
With a surge of resolve, Sasuke activated his Rinnegan, its six tomoe swirling like a vortex of power. He focused his chakra, pouring every ounce of his will into opening a portal to his own dimension.
A ripple formed in the air before him, a distortion in the fabric of reality. But instead of the familiar swirling vortex that would transport him home, a tiny fissure appeared, barely the size of his fist. The effort drained him, leaving him breathless and weakened.
Dammit! Not enough, he realized with a pang of frustration.
He had tried this before, in the days following his arrival, but his attempts had been met with failure. His chakra reserves, depleted from the tumultuous journey through the dimensional rift, had been insufficient to open a stable portal. Now, though he had recovered some of his strength and chakra, it was clear that this amount would not suffice.
Sasuke leaned back against the cold wall, his mind racing. A wave of helplessness washed over him, a sensation he hadn't felt since his days as a vengeful outcast.
But he quickly pushed it aside. He would not succumb to despair. He would find a way out of this predicament, even if it meant unraveling the secrets of this world and bending its power to his will.
The Occult Research Club room was bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun, yet a chill hung in the air. Koneko stood before Rias and Akeno, her usual stoicism tinged with a hint of unease. She recounted her encounter with the mysterious stranger, her voice barely above a whisper.
"He was fast," she began, her golden eyes reflecting the sunlight filtering through the window. "Faster than any human I've ever seen. And his energy... It is similar to mine, but... different. More complete, somehow."
Rias leaned forward, her crimson eyes gleaming with interest. "Complete?" she echoed. "Can you elaborate?"
Koneko hesitated, searching for the right words. "It felt... pure yet dark." she finally said. "Like a concentrated source of power, unlike anything I've sensed before. And he seemed strong. Very strong."
Akeno, her serene smile unwavering, tilted her head in thought. "A human with such power, yet his energy signature is similar to Koneko. Could he be a yokai, perhaps?"
As Rias pondered this possibility, her gaze drifting towards Kiba, who stood silently in the corner, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a brooding intensity. She knew the mention of holy swords had stirred up painful memories for him, dredging up the trauma of his past.
"It's possible," Rias conceded, her voice thoughtful. "But we need more information. Koneko, did you learn anything else about him?"
Koneko shook her head. "He caught me following him," she admitted, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. "He agreed to meet you, Buchou. Tomorrow at dusk, in the park near the old church."
She turned back to Koneko. "Did he give you his name?"
Koneko shook her head.
Rias nodded, a plan already forming in her mind. "Very well," she said, her voice laced with determination. "We will meet with him and learn what we can. But we must be cautious. This stranger is a wild card, and we cannot afford to underestimate him."
Akeno placed a reassuring hand on Koneko's shoulder. "Well done, Koneko," she said, her voice gentle. "You did what you could. Now, let us prepare for tomorrow's encounter."
As the club members dispersed, each lost in their own thoughts, Rias remained seated, her gaze fixed on the setting sun. The stranger's energy signature, so different yet so similar, intrigued her.
The city was a labyrinth of sights and sounds, a symphony of chaos that assaulted Sasuke's senses. He moved through the bustling crowds like a phantom, his dark attire blending seamlessly with the shadows. He observed the inhabitants of this strange world, their lives a stark contrast to the disciplined existence he had known in Konoha.
As he turned a corner, a familiar sight caught his eye. Two figures in white robes knelt on the sidewalk, their heads bowed in prayer. A jolt of recognition shot through him. The exorcists.
He struggled to recall their names, the foreign syllables slipping through his grasp like grains of sand.
"Please give blessings to the lost lamb-"
"Please give charity to us on behalf of the father in heaven!"
Their voices, though filled with piety, held an undercurrent of desperation. A small crowd had gathered, their expressions ranging from amusement to pity. Sasuke watched from a distance, his lips curling into a smirk.
"How can this be? This is the reality of the developed country of Japan? That's why I don't like countries that don't have the smell of our beliefs."
"Don't say that, Xenovia. We lost all the money we had. So we have to rely on charity from these heretics or else we can't get food, you know? Aaah, we can't even buy a single loaf of bread!"
Sasuke's smirk widened. It seemed these exorcists were not as infallible as they appeared. Their plight, while amusing, also presented an opportunity.
"Hmph. It all happened because you bought that fake-looking painting," Xenovia grumbled, pointing at a garish depiction of a saint.
"What are you saying? This painting has the drawing of someone who looks like a saint! That's what the person in the exhibition said as well!"
Sasuke shook his head, a wave of disbelief washing over him. These women, warriors of God, had been swindled by a street vendor. It was almost too absurd to be true.
"Then do you know who the person in the drawing is? I certainly don't," Xenovia questioned, her voice laced with skepticism.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he examined the painting. The figure depicted was indeed peculiar, dressed in tattered robes with a strange head covering. A cherubic angel hovered in the background, its trumpet raised in a silent fanfare.
"I think it's... Saint... Peter...?" Irina offered tentatively, her voice filled with uncertainty.
Xenovia scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous. Saint Peter wouldn't look like that."
A pang of hunger interrupted their debate, their stomachs growling in unison. The two exorcists exchanged a look of shared misery.
"First of all, let's do something to fill our stomachs," Irina declared, her voice taking on a determined edge. "Or else it's not a matter of retrieving the Excaliburs, it's a matter of survival."
"You are right," Xenovia agreed, her tone grim. "Do you want to get money from the heretics by threatening them? I think God will forgive us if we threaten them."
Irina's eyes widened in alarm. "Do you plan to attack the shrine? Or do you plan to steal their offertory box? Don't do either!"
Xenovia sighed, her shoulders slumping. "Let's use our swords to put on a performance. It's an international entertainment that works in every country."
Irina's face brightened. "That's an excellent idea! If we can cut fruits with our Excaliburs, then we can gather cash!"
"Well, we don't have fruits," Xenovia pointed out, her tone flat. "It can't be helped. Let's cut that picture."
"No! You can't cut this down!" Irina protested, clutching the painting to her chest.
"No, he must have looked like this! I'm sure about it!" Xenovia insisted, her voice rising in frustration.
The two exorcists resumed their bickering, their voices a discordant symphony amidst the bustling city. Sasuke watched their antics with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. These women, warriors of God, were reduced to squabbling over a ridiculous painting.
Sasuke's amusement turned to pity. He couldn't leave them in this state.
He took a step forward, ready to help them, when a group of three approached the exorcists. Sasuke recognized the petite girl with white hair from their previous encounter yesterday.
She was accompanied by two boys in school uniforms, one with messy brown hair and the other with short blond hair. The distinct aura of devils radiated from all three, though the blond boy's energy felt different from the other two.
The white haired girl's eyes met Sasuke's for a fleeting moment, a flicker of recognition passed her eyes as she made a surprised expression.
Sasuke, his expression remained calm, disappearing from the crowd as if he wasn't there to begin with.
Koneko, her brow furrowed in concentration, continued to scan the crowd, but the stranger had vanished without a trace.
"Everything alright, Koneko-chan?" the brown-haired boy asked, his voice laced with concern.
She turned back to her companions, a sense of unease settling over her.
Koneko nodded, but her eyes remained troubled. Although the person's face was different from yesterday when she met him, the energy she sensed remained the same. She was certain that both of them were the same person.
The park was bathed in the warm hues of dusk, the air filled with the sounds of laughter and distant music. Children chased each other amongst the trees, their carefree voices a stark contrast to the tension that Rias Gremory felt as she approached the meeting spot.
She paused at the entrance, her gaze sweeping across the park's expanse. Her eyes settled on a lone figure seated on a bench near the edge of a pond. Even from a distance, she could sense the unfamiliar energy emanating from him, a raw power that hummed beneath the surface of his demeanor.
As she drew closer, the details of his appearance became clearer.
His dark hair fell loosely around his face, partially obscuring his left eye. His expression was serene, a stark contrast to the intensity Koneko had described.
He wore a high-collared, dark cloak that draped over his shoulders and fell to the ground, enveloping his figure in an air of mystery. Beneath the cloak, he wore a simple, dark tunic and pants, with bandages wrapped around his shins and traditional sandals.
He seemed to be lost in thought as he stared in daze.
Rias approached cautiously, her footsteps barely disturbing the fallen leaves that carpeted the path. "Excuse me," she said, her voice soft yet confident. "May I join you?"
Sasuke's head turned slowly, his dark eyes meeting hers. He gave a curt nod, as he recognised the lady before him. His expression unreadable.
Rias gracefully took a seat beside him, the bench creaking slightly under her weight. For a moment, an awkward silence hung between them, the only sound the gentle lapping of water against the pond's edge.
Sasuke broke the silence, his voice low and gruff. "You requested this meeting. What do you want?"
Rias smiled, a hint of amusement playing on her lips. "Straight to the point, I see," she said. "I admire that." She paused, her eyes searching his face. "Are you the one who dealt with the stray devil a few nights ago?"
Sasuke remained silent, his gaze unwavering.
Rias continued, undeterred by his silence. "I understand if you're hesitant to trust me," she said, her voice softening. "But I assure you, I have no ill intentions. In fact, I believe we may be able to help each other."
Sasuke raised an eyebrow, "Help each other?" he repeated, his tone skeptical.
Rias nodded. "Yes," she confirmed. "I am Rias Gremory, heiress to the Gremory clan, one of the 72 Pillars of the Underworld. I govern this territory and it is my duty to protect it from stray devils and other supernatural threats."
Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. "Devils," he said, "And you protect humans?"
Rias smiled. "Not all devils are evil," she said, "We have our own rules, our own society. And we coexist with humans, often in secret."
Sasuke remained silent, absorbing this new information. This world was far more vast than he had initially imagined.
Rias continued, "There's another reason I sought you out. I've heard rumors of fallen angels causing trouble in my territory. They've stolen powerful holy swords, artifacts of great power."
Sasuke listened intently, recalling the conversation he'd with exorcist girls. "Fallen angels," he repeated.
Rias nodded. "These swords are incredibly powerful, and in the wrong hands, they could cause harm to others. I believe you could be a valuable ally by helping us in stopping them."
She paused, gauging his reaction. "Join my peerage," she offered, her voice filled with sincerity. "Together, we can protect this town and uncover the truth behind the fallen angels' plot."
Sasuke's expression hardened. "Peerage?" he questioned, his tone cold. "You ask me to be your servant?"
Rias shook her head. "Not a servant," she corrected him. "My peerage are my family, my most trusted allies. We fight together, protect each other, and share a bond that transcends the boundaries of servant-master."
Sasuke remained unconvinced. "I am not one to follow orders," he stated bluntly. "I forge my own path."
Rias chuckled softly. "I wouldn't expect anything less from someone of your... capabilities," she said, choosing her words carefully.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "You seem rather careless, meeting with a stranger like this, with only one other devil nearby," he observed.
Rias's smile didn't waver. "I have faith in my abilities," she replied calmly. "And besides, I have a feeling you're not the type to attack without provocation."
"Tsk." Sasuke clicked his tongue.
"Having faith in yourself is one thing but marching in a situation with insufficient knowledge is a first step to getting killed. How naive of you."
Rias remained silent, finding words to refute his statement but nothing came to her mind.
A brief silence fell between them, the tension palpable.
"May I ask your name?" Rias asked, her curiosity piqued by this enigmatic stranger.
"Sasuke," he said, his voice a low growl. "My name is Sasuke Uchiha."
Their conversation continued, delving deeper into the intricacies of the supernatural world. Sasuke learned more about the devils, their society, and their ongoing conflict with the fallen angels and angels. Rias, in turn, was intrigued by Sasuke's quiet strength and sharp intellect.
As the sky turned black, leaving both of them alone in the park, a fragile bridge built upon shared interests and a mutual understanding of power.
Sasuke looked towards a certain direction, his eyes focused on a distant point. "If you truly consider your peerage a family," he said, his voice sharp, "then you shouldn't be idly chatting with me."
Rias, startled by his sudden change in demeanor, looked at him questioningly. "What do you mean?"
Sasuke pointed towards a direction and told her, "It seems your peerage members are fighting against a certain rogue priest."
Rias's eyes widened in alarm. She turned her head to where Sasuke pointed out. She sensed Koneko, Kiba and Issei fighting far away from the park. She greeted her teeth in frustration for being careless, just now she boasted about her abilities and now she embarrassed herself.
"Thank you, Sasuke-san. Let's meet again." she said, her voice urgent.
With a surge of crimson energy, a magic circle appeared beneath her feet, and she vanished in a flash of light.
Sasuke remained on the bench, as he saw the crimson haired girl teleported from the park and in a few seconds he sensed Rias and another devil hiding earlier arrived at the battle.
His mind was a maelstrom of conflicting thoughts. He had been offered a chance to belong, to fight alongside others once more. But his ultimate goal remained unchanged: to return to his own world. He would not be easily swayed, not until he had a clearer understanding of this new reality.
Chapter End.
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