/ "Dialogue." /
/ 'Internal Thoughts.' /
/ "Flashback Dialogue." /
I think I'll start naming chapters now.
"Excited."
Koneko Toujou's voice carried a rare enthusiasm as she looked out the window.
It had only been three days since their absence, but for this tight-knit group, it had felt much longer. Many of them had no families, or had lost them, or believed they were no longer part of them. Yet, being a part of this, whatever it was, had granted them a strong connection to one another. They had grown up, had become real, unique people, and were facing the world's struggles as a unit.
Even Gasper, usually shy and reserved, seemed in high spirits. His bond with his comrades had grown stronger over time, but he absolutely adored his friend Issei. The two had become close over the months, and had developed a genuine brotherly connection.
The Queen had been the one to come up with the idea of a small, welcome-home gathering. She was festive, always in good spirits, and had missed her 'King' above all else. Akeno had grown up with Rias, had learned from her family, and truly was the sister she never had.
When everyone else had departed for Kyoto, these three had stayed behind, and though the connection between them had grown, they had all missed the rest of their family. Next time, no one would be left out.
"I want to show Issei-san my new spell," the Dhampir said proudly. "I hope I can perfect it in time for the rating game."
Akeno gave him a nod. "You've worked very hard, Gasper." she took a large silver plate and placed it on the table. "I have no doubt Buchou will be proud."
"I want to fight Sasuke-senpai," the Rook chimed in, "To make up for last time. I was defeated... too easily."
There was much anticipation stirring in the world. The rating game being prepared between Rias Gremory and Sairaorg Bael was said to be the most highly anticipated match of the year.
"I am placing all my faith in Lucifer and money on Lady Rias."
They all looked over to see the sole guest of club. She sat there in her noble devil attire, one leg over the other, a cup of tea in her hand. Her elegant, smooth blonde hair trailed down her back. Her blue eyes winked at the Queen, and the smile she wore gave assurance that she most certainly would be placing bets on this game.
"I know my uncle will be attending, as well as gods from different religions. You all represent our generation."
The Queen gave a humble bow. "Thank you, Lady Latia-sama. That is very kind of you."
It had been a surprise when the heiress to House Astaroth came to visit Kuoh. She had never made the journey before but had no doubt expressed a strong desire to see her old friend, Rias. Unfortunately, the "King" was in Kyoto, so Latia decided to stay for the past two days. The club had been her escort, showing her that a small town in the human world had just as much life as the grand sprawls in the Underworld.
"We need to have some girl time," the heiress replied. "I would like to take Lady Rias, and you, Lady Himejima, to accompany me after the game. Perhaps around Agreas? Perhaps reign an ice-hell over House Phenex territory?" Her laugh assured them she was joking, though they had trouble believing it.
Akeno almost blushed. "Ara, you honor me. I am no Lady."
"Nonsense," Latia replied. "You—"
[GLOW]
A sudden bright light, bearing the emblem of House Gremory, flashed in the middle of the clubroom. The candles swayed but retained their cool flames. Soon, figures began to emerge as shadows, their appearances gradually manifesting before them.
Everyone stood idle, no one daring to move from their positions. A heavy sense of conflict filled the air—shock, confusion, regret, and perhaps even shame.
Rias eventually stepped forward, her gaze scanning the rest of her peerage and the surprised guest. She straightened her posture and exhaled heavily. She had grown and developed enough not to shy away from delivering… tragic news. She had a duty to her club, to her friends, to everyone. No matter what, it was her job to look after them and maintain her composure, even in the most daunting of times.
Gasper suddenly ran forward, arms stretched out. "Welcome back!" he said excitedly.
The silence that followed was intoxicating, so much so that even the young bishop finally read the room.
Their 'King' swallowed painfully.
"We…"
There was no movement. It hung there, isolated in its place. It was white, and the dark blue sky around it made the moon seem as though it were lost at sea.
Black clouds drifted aimlessly, like lost souls wandering.
This world has never the warmth of a sun.
One could divide the Underworld into three distinct regions. This was the third. Far removed, remote, utterly isolated from the others as well as the surface. A place that could not sustain normal life. A place no living being would ever truly wish to be, no matter their struggles.
Across the land was a display of decay. Death hung in the air, heavy and quiet. To be here, to walk this world, was the end of the road. It wasn't the ruins of a fallen kingdom but a place born this way—blackened, hated, and yet necessary. To those who had understood its purpose, it held a grim value, but no warmth, no love. It had never been loved. It never would be loved.
At the borders of these realms stood towering black-stone fortresses. There was deep history here, and war had not been uncommon. Though, it had been hundreds of years since a conflict had truly broke out. But no one was naive enough to believe that peace could ever truly last forever.
The same material was seen scattered around the plain. All the structures, in fact, were made from this strange, magic-coated dark concrete. Towers, castles strongholds, prisons, roads, all of the earth came from the sinister eastern rocky mountains.
As deathly quiet as it was, it was not empty.
What could occupy such a land? Nothing ordinary, or even close to it. Skeletons roamed, sometimes in packs of five, ten, a hundred, even a thousand. Commanding them in formation were strange, ominous, dark, hooded figures armed with scythes. They roamed in patrols, non-stop, day after day, century after century, fulfilling their God-given duty.
There were rivers of green liquid streaming from the highest points down to the lowest. Even purple lakes bubbled and oozed, their surfaces restless, as if alive—or as if something was alive within them. Alongside the humanoid skeletons came the moving, bony figures of other creatures—horses, elephants, lions—all descending into the pits and creeks to drink and fill themselves.
Many of these beings prayed. Though countless statues adorned the land, they knelt before only one.
At the heart of it all loomed a fortress unlike any other. Its darkness seemed alive, an embodiment of death itself, where shadow and power intertwined. This was the core, the seat of dominion. From here, a single figure ruled—a being unmatched in authority and terror.
The Realm of the Dead
There was no peace and quiet within these walls. These foreigners were not accustomed. They did not understand. Death was so out of place for them. It was supposed to come only once, and it had come, for them.
"GIVE IT BACK!"
A blood-curdling scream rang down the dark hall. Its tone was so full of panic, so full of despair, and so full of the fear of the unknown.
When he had arrived, he was a man. Now, most of the flesh from his body had fallen away, leaving only bone and magic to hold him together. His empty eye sockets glowed faintly with yellow lights, allowing him to witness the transformation in full. He shoved his face through the rusted, magic-infused metal bars of his cell, his fingers gripping so tightly that even the flesh from them began to slip off, piece by piece.
"PLUTO! WARDEN! I MADE A MISTAKE! GIVE IT BACK! GIVE IT BACK!"
Had madness taken over him?
No, it was the natural fear, that natural fear of... something some might say was worse than death.
Walking down the halls was a band of skeletons wearing light-grey robes. They held weapons—not scythes, but wooden staffs. Ahead of them was a large skeleton, with chains hanging all around his body. He carried a scythe, marking his status as he led his subordinates.
The Warden was tall, twice the height of an average man. He appeared before the maddened prisoner, and as the cell opened, two of the guards poured in, subduing his lunacy, smashing him with their staffs, knocking him to the ground, beating him, and beating him until he could no longer scream.
'He gave it up. And now, he regrets it.'
Sasuke stared down the hallway, lying down, his back against the black wall. His expression was blank, his onyx eyes observing everything with as much detail as they could manage on their own. The guards seized the unconscious 'man' and dragged him into the dark hallway beyond. There was no more screaming now. His gaze flicked toward the other cells. He could make out the twisted forms of prisoners—men, women, devils, magicians, youkai—young and old, huddled or pacing like caged beasts.
Every faction from every religion seemed to be here. Except angels or exorcists—he had not seen any of them.
'The longer they stay here, the more they lose. First, the soul, then the flesh, and then, the mind.'
The concept of losing one's soul—he didn't understand it. Such incidents had never occurred where he was from, at least as far as he was aware.
One might think they could hold out, to refuse to give it up. But this place had a way of convincing its prisoners.
There were whispers in the air, voices trying to drive him insane. He did not know how long the others had been here, but judging from their fidgeting, their hands tangled through their hair, their groveling, it was clear it had been some time.
The cell he shared was not like the others. Larger and circular, it even had a window carved into the thick stone wall, allowing him a view of the abyssal world outside. From his view, he studied the desolate sky, but more specifically, those black clouds. He had counted them—each cycle was the same, every few hours, and it was the same set of clouds, same shapes and designs. By his calculations, he had been here two days. But it felt like years.
He was like a princess locked in a castle, hoping a prince would come to save him.
But there was no prince.
The bindings on his wrists glowed faintly, runes carved into the magical iron cuffs. Sealing magic—strong enough to suppress his chakra entirely. The crusted blood around the cuffs told him these weren't new. Someone else had worn them before. Someone who had likely died here. Likely, another being who used chakra. The restraints were strong, suppressing even his Sharingan or Rinnegan from activating. But even if they could be, using them with his chakra bound might do irreparable damage to his body.
His captors fed him food that looked heavenly. The best-looking rice, perfectly fried katsu chicken, a fresh and vibrant salad, and the most elegantly aromatic tea.
What fool would fall for such an illusion?
Uchiha Sasuke wouldn't. He didn't even need his dōjutsu to realize that this was a fake. Poison, perhaps. Something to drive him insane, like what had happened to the rest of the prisoners.
A glowing light caught his attention. In the courtyard just outside the prison was a large circular imprint set into the ground. The black rocks formed runes in a language he did not understand. All around it knelt sorcerers in light-black robes, their staffs pressed into the ground in precise formation. A dark green glow came from the cracked floor as ancient symbols ignited outward to meet at the middle of the ritual site.
The man who had lost his mind earlier was suddenly placed on his back in the center. All the magic congregated toward him, causing the remaining flesh—and likely his psyche—to evaporate into the air, leaving behind only an empty, lifeless skeleton.
Once again, the light came, filling what had been that man and transforming him into a sentient, conscious, cadaverous body. No longer human, it stood up, unclothed, its eyes glowing green. A new beginning for whoever that person had been.
Someone who had given up his soul to become... this.
Dead? Undead? It did not matter to Sasuke. They were all the same to him.
He decided to rest his body for a moment. If they were going to try and kill him, they would have already.
[RATTLE]
[RATTLE]
Onyx eyes opened, tired and irritated. He hated being woken like this. Chains rattled outside his cell, the metallic clang at his cell. He could never sleep for more than a few hours before someone disrupted him. That was their plan—poison him, drive him mad, deny him rest. They wanted to break him, to make him give up what mattered most. But not everyone could break. Not everyone would break.
A figure loomed in the dim hallway, its presence darker than the shadows. It was one of the Grim Reapers, but this one was different. Black robes draped his form, adorned with intricate ornaments and strange symbols Even his mask, a feature Sasuke had glimpsed only twice before, bore ominous markings that no other being he has seen so far wore.
The man from earlier had screamed this ones name.
Pluto.
Sasuke remembered him from the Dimensional Gap, at that meeting. But the reaper had failed to recognize him.
Pluto's voice broke the silence, low and unimpressed, "What is your problem, human?" he asked. "You have yet to touch your food."
He hadn't spoken to anyone since his arrival. Silence had been his weapon—his refusal to entertain their games. But boredom and frustration gnawed at him, fueling the desire to escape. His gazed matched the green-filled eye sockets of his captor, low and annoyed.
"Food is sacred for the living. It is the ultimate trust. And I don't trust dead things. I'd rather starve than poison myself. Though I suppose dying like that is preferable to becoming… whatever you are."
Pluto tilted his head slightly, as though amused. "We are not dead men," he replied, "And your insolence will only make this more difficult. But it is time."
Suddenly, the cell opened, and two guards poured in.
The first guard lunged, his wooden staff aimed at Sasuke's ribs. He sidestepped, letting the strike slide harmlessly off the magical bindings on his hands. His fingers snapped forward, closing around the polished wood. With a sharp twist, he yanked the staff free, kicking the skeletal guard with enough force to send it crashing against the stone wall, its skull shattering on impact.
The second guard reacted immediately, its staff swinging in a swift arc. Sasuke parried, the sound of wood-on-wood violence coming. He slid his stolen weapon upward, forcing the staff against the skeleton's neck. Then, with a powerful thrust, he drove the tip into the guard's eye socket. The brittle skull fractured under the force, crumbling to dust as the lifeless bones fell to the ground.
He instantly turned to face the last threat, gripping the staff like a lifeline.
"Don't test me, boy," Pluto growled, "One cut from this, and you will truly die."
He lifted his scythe—a wicked weapon, its blade reflecting the dim light. This was no simple farmer's tool. Even a blind man could see the dark magic that coated it. But what caught Sasuke's attention was the thinness of the blade. If one could have it strike down just between his hands, binds like these would surely fall apart. No doubt it was a risky maneuver, but one he had been considering. It would require precision, awareness, and agility—skills that a shinobi possessed.
Before Sasuke could react, Pluto recoiled the weapon, faster than he had expected, disrupting the plan.
"His Lordship has summoned you," the Reaper then said, "If you wish to air your grievances, you may do so before him."
They moved along the winding black road, their footsteps loud against the cursed stone. Passing from one fortress to the next, he felt relief as his joints stretched and loosened. The suffocating confines of his cell had left little room for movement beyond push-ups and basic drills. He was not one to remain idle in a single place for long. Yet, in exchange for this brief freedom, he was under heavy watch. Pluto walked at his side, and a small army of skeleton guards—fifty—trailed close behind.
More shrines. More rituals. More sacraments.
It was a factory of the dead.
The road dipped ahead, descending into a shallow ditch. Nestled within, lay something that froze Sasuke mid-step—a massive skeleton.
These bones were colossal, sprawling across the ditch. Its skull, immense, and in a strange shape he had never seen before on a creature. As he inspected, his eyes widened, but he knew he shouldn't be surprised.
A dragon.
As he stared, The dragon's empty eye sockets began to glow. It was... alive, at least, in this world's definition.
Pluto, who had been walking ahead, stopped and glanced back over his shoulder, "The Ismenian Dragon. "Once slain by the Greek hero Cadmus, who cursed it into the form of a serpent. When the dragon came here, it swore its soul and fealty for the chance to reclaim its power. Now, it is greater—bigger, stronger, and far wiser than before."
Sasuke frowned, "He's like you. Dead."
The Grim Reaper chuckled, the sound dry, "Ah, your wit persists. I am not unsympathetic to your beliefs, human boy. Once, I was as you are. Once, I stood in the very cell you occupied. Once, I held the same fear you do."
He raised an eyebrow, "You remember anything? Must be horrifying. Waking up and seeing that face of yours."
"I remember fear. Fear of the gods, fear of death itself. It is the one certainty in life, is it not? The last gate, the final battle. We, the Reapers, are the keepers of that gate—the watchers of souls, the harbingers of the aftermath. But look at me now." He spread his arms, his black robe swaying slightly. "I am no longer afraid. I serve the Almighty. Not your gods, nor your devils, but the true Almighty—something far greater than myself. One day, when your time comes, you will learn. You will understand. You will become one of us."
There was some simmering anger growing in Sasuke from that. He hated when people decided his fate for him. Perhaps, nothing angered him more. But, he did not let it show.
"Why me? Why am I so special?"
Pluto turned to face him fully, the glow of his mask's flaring to life.
"Don't lie to me," He said, his voice suddenly sharp, "I hate liars, and frauds even more. You are not of this world, human. My lord and I know it."
The Uchiha grinned, "Then you would be wise to treat me better."
"Hm. We will see."
Some silence passed before the captive was asked another question.
"Where you are from, do you have beings like us? Keepers? Observers of death?"
Sasuke replied coldly, "Dead is dead. Beings like you would not be tolerated. It is the end." Though, that was a lie. There were a few ways to circumnavigate death, as he had come to realize. And that had led to some devastating consequences. Still, it was extremely rare
"No," the Reaper replied, his voice final, "Dead is not the end in this place. Our Lordship, our God—He decides what 'dead' truly means. Not you." He stepped closer, "I was dead. My life came to its natural end. And yet, here I stand. Why? Because I did not want to die. Now I live. Longer than I ever should have. Longer than anyone ever should. But that is for a reason—we serve the greater good. A true purpose. Not for our own seven sins, but for the true end."
That Uchiha frowned at that, "No one wants to die before they've done what they believe they're supposed to. But no one lives forever, either. Your time will come, no matter how hard you try to avoid it."
Of course, his own plans involved him living a long, long life. However, just like the Sage of Six Paths, or Madara, or anyone else, really, dying was just a part of life. His goal was to rule the Elemental Nations in his image, to bring about the changes he deemed necessary. But one day, he would die.
However, how would he continue that legacy?
There were a few ways he had already thought of. Descendants, children, reincarnation—all valid means. Perhaps he could rewrite the stone inscription in the Uchiha compound. Make it so his vision of the world became absolute, convincing his children, or generations far down the line, of why he had done what he did and how to maintain that vision.
But living forever?
That just reminded him of Kaguya, who was God-knows-how-old.
Pluto's reaction was immediate, "Not while I hold this scythe. As long as it remains in my hands, I will not fall. My power has never been greater. I stand at the very apex of what I am."
Sasuke's expression twisted into a grin, "Fine, then. Who were you back when you weren't a slave?"
For a moment, the Reaper hesitated, his weapon lowering. When he spoke, his voice was quieter, softer—something that might have resembled the sound of his voice when he was still a person.
"Our lord has only given us one memory to think of. The most important one. The faces, the colors—they have faded over time. I was a Lord once, on the borderlands. And I had been ordered by the King, or someone close to the King, to hunt down this rogue knight. We were ambushed, we were betrayed. I looked over my shoulder and saw the deaths of my men, but I do not recall their names." His bony fingers tightened around the shaft of his scythe. "And there was the largest man I had ever seen, clad in steel armor. We rode horses, and we clashed. But I was afraid. Gods, I was scared. I swung my sword and missed, and he took his own and made his great blade go through my helmet and into my skull."
Sasuke gave a respectful nod at that. "That is the way it goes."
The Grim Reaper discarded his vulnerability then, his tone sharpening once more. "At that moment, I died, but I was also born. I am no longer that man. Now, I am Pluto, right hand of Hades, the God of Gods. The true almighty in this world."
Over the hill, they could now see the heart of this world.
"And now, we have come to your true beginning."
The heart of the Realm of the Dead was a black fortress that dwarfed all other structures. Its towering spires nearly reached the clouds. The walls were thick and rough, made of the same magic-stone seen throughout this world. Grim Reapers occupied every corner, roaming and patrolling, yet it was eerily quiet. There were no commands given, yet they moved—either out of repetition or at the will of someone directing them in silence.
Still, even after spending time in this world, some things shocked him. Even here, in this lifeless realm, there was a vast ecosystem.
Trading, training, currency, politicians—it was more advanced than the human had initially believed.
'Dead is dead.' Sasuke reminded himself.
They made their way to the top floor of the fortress, where the heart of this world's power resided. Strangely enough, there was no roof or walls, leaving it entirely open to the skies. From there, one could see the entire realm, the peak so high that even some of the black clouds passed through.
At the center stood a single throne, carved from black magical obsidian and encrusted with glowing red gemstones. Upon it sat a figure cloaked in darkness, his very presence bending the space around him.
For a skeleton, at his core, the figure emitted an overwhelming aura of death. His frame seemed deceptively large, far more imposing than the bare bones that formed him. Unlike the other Grim Reapers, his robes were a blend of yellow and black, streaked with red and white—an odd set of colors.
Hades.
'All this trouble...'
On his left rested a staff, topped with a skull, its hollow eyes glowing faintly with an unnatural light. To his right, a gargantuan scythe leaned against the throne, its blade black as midnight and covered with intricate runes that pulsed with a violet-light. The weapon dwarfed its owner, its size so disproportionate to his height that Sasuke couldn't help but wonder if it was ceremonial—or if the skeleton's true form was far larger than it appeared.
Powerful, yes. A God, yes.
The God sat with boredom, his chin resting lazily on one hand while the other tapped idly in impatience.
Before him stood another Grim Reaper at the base of the throne.
The Reaper spoke, his tone formal and commanding. "It is expected to kneel in the presence of a deity, especially one who commands the balance between life and death."
Pluto, in a childish tone, replied, "I know, Orcus. I've known that rule longer than you've existed." He nudged the Uchiha with his scythe. "Kneel, boy."
Sasuke remained idle, his eyes focused solely on Hades, as if the other two didn't matter.
When no sign of submission came, the one known as Orcus pressed his scythe against the ground, his tone sharp. "Pluto, your orders were to break him and make him understand our ways. He looks malnourished yet solid as the rock we stand on. Perhaps too much faith was placed in you to accomplish such a menial task. His Majesty should have tasked the Warden to handle it."
'Grim Reaper rivalry? ' Sasuke thought with amusement. 'All vying for their master's attention.'
Pluto did not take the comment well. "You command your own legions of nimble-minded, low-class beings such as yourself. Not me. Do not think your place is at my level."
"You've spent too much time in the borderlands, old man," Orcus taunted. "I've been made commander of all legions."
If his rival could have looked shocked, he would have. Despite the simmering anger and his clear desire to fight, Pluto relented. Fighting before his God would not be the best course of action. Perhaps later, when it would be more appropriate.
There was a long, drawn-out pause, quite dramatic.
"My Lord," the Ultimate-Class Reaper said, "I bring you a special human. He goes by the name Uchiha Sasuke. The one said to be—"
Hades interrupted, his tone heavy with annoyance, "I know what he is, Pluto! I'm the one who orchestrated his arrival here. Did you truly think I knew nothing about him?!" his servant offered no response, simply bowing in response. Then, he stood at his side, like a dog to his master, with his counterpart on the other.
The God then rubbed his chin, "Still, a part of me believed that boy with his toy spear would renege on our deal and attempt to take you for himself. Perhaps he is wiser than I thought."
Orcus replied, "A fatal flaw, had that child betrayed your trust, my Lord."
Sasuke lowered his eyes, 'Cao Cao...' That was, without a doubt, the original plan—to bring the Uchiha here, to the Realm of the Dead. However, he had intended to betray his godly allies in favor of saving the shinobi instead. When he failed to convince his his fellow human to join the Hero Faction, the spearmen simply reverted to his original plan. And now, it was as if that entire debacle had never even occurred.
"Do you know who I am, boy?" Hades asked, his voice sharp, "Don't be afraid to speak. I would not blame you if you had no concept of what I am."
"A dead man." he answered with an amused smirk.
Pluto's grip tightened on his scythe. "We already had this conv—"
"Silence!" Hades thundered, his voice reverberating through the chamber. "Do not interrupted our chat. Or I will have both of you thrown into Cocytus."
After the threat came, he continued to keep his gaze on his prisoner.
"I am the God of the Realm of the Dead. But I am not dead, nor am I death incarnate. I manage the souls leaving life—processing, capturing, harvesting, securing. You could say that I am the last stage before death. But one thing is for certain. I am the true God. Whoever else, whatever else, does not matter. What I do, no one does. No one ever could."
The Uchiha thought about that, and out of curiosity asked, "I saw no Angels. Do you discriminate?"
Hades suddenly squeezed his chair tightly, the tension in the air rising. "The King of Heaven has his own methods, aye. I don't deal with those of his faith, and he supports me against these bats and crows. Though, I suppose with his death, that deal is likely at its end as well. This is the last time you will bring this situation to me."
Sasuke's response was not well received. "I prefer the Underworld. This place reeks of death and thirst for power."
"This is the Underworld!" Hades snapped, his voice rising with anger. "Before that boy of Lucifer and his band of bats came. The whole Underworld was the Realm of the Dead. They were not here first—I was. We waged war, and now we see the consequences of those who failed to assist me. Bats everywhere."
Straightening on his throne, Hades spokes, "I am the Greek God Hades. I am the son of Kronos and Rhea. I am no evil god; I do not take pleasure in tormenting others. But I am a true entity—a reality. And in that reality, death is absolute. Many curse me, hate me, but I am here because that is my duty."
"Now, tell me—what is your name and your purpose in this world?"
There was no hesitation, no desire to be genuine or honest, but there was a clear desire to be mischievous.
"My name is Uchiha Sasuke, and I've come... to destroy your world."
A moment of silence followed, as if the Grim Reapers were expecting more from his words. After what felt like an eternity, Hades rested his head on his hand once more, looking thoroughly unimpressed.
"Oh, you're amusing. Yes, quite the jest. And where do you hail from?"
"The Realm of the Living."
Before the God could respond, Sasuke continued.
"Why am I here? Had you wanted a conversation, you didn't need to ruin my day. I could have come willingly." He glanced down at his wrists and then added, "Take these binds off me. They are an eyesore, much like your Grim Reapers."
Pluto brazenly began to speak. "I am—"
"You are what I say you are," Hades interrupted sharply, his gaze cutting down to Pluto before shifting back to Sasuke. "As for what to do with you… I originally wished to simply… watch you. Study you. Perhaps dissect you. But you are not particularly unique. A human with chakra, the same organs, the same lifespan. I thought, maybe, of breeding you with one of our female Grim Reapers, or perhaps using you as leverage against that son of Lucifer."
There was much to unpack in that statement.
'Rizevim…' Sasuke began to think but didn't finish before another unsettling thought filled his mind, 'There are half-human, half-Grim Reapers? What man or woman would ever—'
"My daughter, Bennia," Orcus said suddenly, looking toward his God. "She is unmarried and does not find any other Reaper to her liking. She enjoys the idea of flesh and… 'handsome men,' as she described." He sighed. "I don't understand my daughter, my Lord."
The Uchiha lowered his gaze slightly, his thoughts sharpening. Hades didn't want him for anything more than curiosity, to twist him around and see what he could do, what he couldn't do. To see if he would break, kneel, grovel. To this god, Sasuke was nothing more than a source of temporary amusement.
Hades saw him as a toy.
And what happens to toys when children play with them?
They break.
Sasuke's lips tightened. "I refuse. Put me back in my cell. I'd rather wallow in silence than to hear what you abominations have to say."
A brush of the outside wind came. A cloud casting a shadow over the already open-aired dark throne.
"I am curious to know more," the God of Death replied, his voice cold. "Perhaps, when I take your soul, I can take in those memories as well. Everyone's life that passes through here, I get to know, if I choose to. Usually, I let them pass. But for the extraordinary, or those with potential, I let them serve me."
Hades inspected his staff with idle interest.
Sasuke reiterated firmly, "I refuse. And I already know of your tricks. You will not break me."
That caught his attention. Instead of Pluto suggesting that he simply had no choice, it made Sasuke wonder if there was some kind of deal that had to be made. After all, the man from earlier had agreed to give up his soul but regretted the decision shortly after. That would also explain why they were even in a prison to begin with. It was designed to drive you mad, weaken you, break you. And those who were broken were very much enticed to join, simply for the psychological torment to end.
CLAP
CLAP
Hades slowly clapped his skeletal hands together. "You seem to have figured out how it works—not that it was ever a secret. Yes, under treaties and rules of law, I am not allowed to take whichever soul I please. I can only do so if you agree to become one of mine. That is why I have ways of encouraging... many."
"This is an ancient deal. That is why all religions come to me. I am a convenience to them. Though there is only one other faction able to process their own." Hades leaned forward slightly, his hollow eyes glowing with amusement. "But you, you are a human with the devils—not with those high in the sky, behind their golden gates."
'Heaven?'
"But you are no one here!"
"You have no religion!"
"You are protected by no treaty!"
"I can take you as I will because you are not from this world!"
A massive tremor suddenly shook the ground. The entire castle groaned and shifted as the quake ripped through its foundation. Structures and statues fell from their perches, crashing to the ground. At first, the chaos was intimidating, as if the castle itself were responding to Hades' fury. But after a moment, the tremor faded, and everyone regained their footing.
"Pluto." Hades said, "Prepare the sacrament. I want to know how effective an alien will serve as a grim reaper."
The Grim Reaper would have grinned if he could. Instead, he bowed deeply. From his back, wide, skeletal wings unfolded. With a swift motion, he leapt into the air and descended from the castle.
"You know, I didn't appreciate you putting me in a cage," Sasuke said, his voice sharp, "Maybe one day, someone will put you in a cage. And make you watch this pitiful, disgusting world you've created."
Hades laughed, a deep and resonant sound. "Boy, you haven't been here long, have you? Yet you speak as if you understand the bigger picture. The world is changing faster than ever. Gods are fighting, religions are clashing. Enemies once sworn as enemies are forming alliances, upsetting the balance of power. Even beings from other worlds are stepping into this fray. An army must be forged—one that can force the world back into its rightful position."
Before Sasuke could respond, another massive tremor rippled through the castle. This one was longer and more ferocious. The walls seemed to wobble precariously, swaying from left to right as if the entire structure were on the brink of collapse. Yet, somehow, it stood, weathering the strange, storm-like force.
"What is that!?" Hades yelled, his tone laced with irritation. "Is something happening on the surface?" His gaze turned toward one of his subordinates. "Orcus, find out."
POUND
The Grim Reaper known as Orcus suddenly dropped his scythe. The weapon clattered loudly against the stone floor. He extended his arms, palms open as if embracing the air itself. His glowing yellow eyes abruptly turned white, their light intensifying. His body began to hover, caught in a trance-like state, as if his mind had left his physical form entirely.
The room fell silent. Whatever he was doing, it was clear that he was reaching beyond this castle, his consciousness traveling to uncover the source of the disturbance.
When he "returned" to his normal state, he fell to his knees. His bony hands pressed against the floor
"My Lord!" he yelled, his body exhaling, "I was incinerated!"
Sasuke thought, 'Did he take control of another Grim Reaper or Skeleton?'
Hades flared his power, the room trembling under the weight of his wrath. "By what!? Is it Thanatos again!? Letting his power rupture my domain!?"
Orcus rose to his feet, his scythe gripping tightly in his skeletal hands. "Lord Hades-sama, we are under attack!"
There was a pause—a moment of disbelief. Never in hundreds of years had a war been waged upon the Realm of the Dead. Even more ancient was the memory of a time when battles had never reached its sacred grounds. All fighting had always been sent elsewhere, away from this place of finality.
"Bats and crows…" Hades sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. "The lustful boy and the red-haired child who calls him Lucifer have come for me at last, have they?"
Azazel and Sirzechs… of course... they must have come to rescue the human who had been aligning himself with their cause.
Sasuke wondered how long it had taken them to realize where he had gone. It wasn't exactly a mystery—his transport by dark magic wasn't subtle. And Hades, an ancient and infamous God, was well known even in other realms. Someone would have recognized the power that had been used. Even if it was Georg, a human, and not a Reaper, the magic itself had left its unmistakable mark.
Orcus suddenly slammed the base of his scythe against the ground, the sound echoing loudly.
His voice boomed with urgency and fury, "No!" he roared, correcting his masters assumption. "Neither of them! Something far larger, far more devastating. Fire—endless fire—engulfs the skies and the realm itself!"
He turned, his hollow gaze locking onto his God, his voice trembling with both shock and dread.
"Dragons!"
In their confusion, they failed to notice the slow, creeping smile forming on their prisoner's face.
He stood tall on his scaly mount, in his human shape, flying through the vastness of the Dimensional Gap. His long golden and black hair whipped behind him as they soared forward. Around him, one-hundred of his kind, fully transformed into their fearsome dragon forms, assembled. A support force trailed behind them, ready to reinforce and assist.
"We're almost through the gate!" Crom Cruach roared, his voice booming across the formation. "You know your orders! Swarm the enemy! Set the Realm of the Dead on fire! Everything is a target! Apophis and I will find the boy. Our Diabolism Dragon, ensure the vampires are positioned to cover our way back!"
As they crossed realm after realm, destruction came swiftly.
The once-static black clouds that covered the sky evaporated under the dragons' entry, their weight tearing through the dark atmosphere. Crom could see his forces descending into action immediately, their flames lighting up the bleak, lifeless realm.
Patrols of skeletons, led by grim reapers, and other boney creatures were incinerated on sight. Explosions of color—red, orange, yellow, green, violet—all dragon fire that begun scorching the landscape.
"I see the Ismenian-snake was rewarded back his form when he submitted here." Apophis growled from below, his true-form guiding his boss. "Grendel…"
Crom Cruach grinned, his eyes following the manic green dragon as it collided midair with the undead Greek beast. "I see him!" he replied, his voice amused.
Behind them, Ladon's signature ability surrounded the dragon gate with a distortion of space. Barriers upon barriers blocked any attempt to destroy their point of entry. If the gate is destroyed, the entire force would have been trapped. The beast himself also patrolled, devouring any grim reaper who dared to approach, biting and shredding them into pieces.
Their tactics were simple and effective—no direct confrontation with Hades' full forces, just unrelenting destruction.
From below, magic circles bearing the crest of House Tepes flared to life. Vampires emerged, not in great numbers but with elite strength. These were old warriors, hardened by centuries of battle. They fought on the ground below the gate, ensuring no enemy could surround their entry point. It was unholy against unholy—a battlefield of death and chaos. Grim reapers swung their scythes, only to find them ineffective against the vampires' extensive lifespans. Meanwhile, the vampires struggled, as their opponents had no blood to drain and were resistant to the darkness they wielded.
Apophis growled, "In front of us! Join me!"
The two witnessed a legion of flying reapers, using bones as wings. Together, they inhaled and exhaled, combining their devastating scorch of incineration. The blast was so potent and intense that it melted away any magical defensive barriers as well as the natural defenses of the undead servants of Hades.
"Down there!" Crom pointed toward the towering black fortress at the heart of the world.
Apophis descended swiftly, his massive form clinging to one of the towers. The impact sent a tremor through the castle, the stones crumbling under the weight of the ancient dragon.
Below, a sight froze both of them.
Sasuke stood at the center of it all, his hands free, though a massive gash ran across his left forearm. Strange, glowing armor wrapped around his body, shielding him from the relentless barrage of magic and the deadly strikes from Hades' scythe.
The Uchiha's face had turned pale, his body appearing nauseous, as if he were very sick—or perhaps, losing himself.
Crom Cruach narrowed his eyes. "Are we too late?"
When the scythe came down, its deadly arc would have penetrated his forehead, killing him instantly. He bent his knees, ready to evade, but as the blade neared him, the ground trembled violently. Another sudden quake rocked the castle, throwing everyone, including the God, off balance. His trajectory wavered, missing its intended mark. Instead, it sliced downward, but the shinobi moved in time, widening his arms, and the glowing magic binds shattered apart.
A sense of relief and freedom surged through him, his chakra immediately flowing. But in that same instant, the sharp edge of the scythe nicked his forearm, leaving a deep, bloody gash. Pain shot through his arm, but Sasuke gritted his teeth and pushed it aside.
Blood dripped from his wound.
Yet, it did not matter.
The binds were gone!
Hades appeared before him, his speed not matching his massive frame, far faster than anticipated. The staff in his left hand began to glow ominously, and Sasuke jumped back, but as he did, his body became suspended as the power from the God kept him idle. Coming out of his body was a strange purple-material. It was long, and stretchy, about as lengthy was he was. There no other distinct features, it was not blood, nor was it chakra. Never before in his life had he ever seen something like this.
But it hit him, and it hit hard. The answer soon reaching into his mind. This was not just a piece of him or his power.
This was Itachi showing him archery. It was his mother and his father. It was tree-climbing with Naruto. It was the Land of Fire. It was Aoba and Garuda. It was his dōjutsu, his Chidori, and his sword. It was the Land of Waves, the Chunin Exams. When Taka had attacked the Five Kage Summit, it was friendship, it was betrayal. It was love, it was hate. Even combating Obito, Madara, and Kaguya.
It was everything.
It was his soul.
And that God was taking it right before his eyes.
There was an uncontrollable emotion to it, like that of the man in his cell. A wave of negative emotions. This was pain. This was devastating.
"Kuku..." Hades groaned. "I see. This boy with blond hair—what an enigma. I'm excited about him just from your memories. Perhaps, when we learn the magic to transport worlds, I will have you collect his soul for me. Along with that girl and the white-haired man."
[SQUEEZE]
Having your soul taken by Hades did not immediately demand death, though that would come eventually. Sasuke stood soulless, but no—he was not out. He was not done. His Mangekyō flared, finally awake. It screamed with fury, conjuring its ultimate power. Susanoo manifested, ferocious as ever. It grabbed his enemy with its massive fists, and though it suffered some recourse from holding a God, it refused to relinquish its hold.
Hades looked up, his voice sharp with disbelief. "What is this? That can touch me?"
His sharingan caught it—the magic coating Hades' skeletal body. It was dark and thick, a power that would not go well with direct skin-to-bone contact. But he didn't need his own hands.
The God raised his scythe and slashed downward, the blade imbued with dark magic. The strike did little but enrage the ultimate defense. Susanoo tightened its grip, squeezing harder, attempting to crush the bones of the God into dust.
"Let me go! I command you, let me go!" Hades demanded.
Madness.
That is what happens when one loses there souls.
The boy surprised them all.
Sasuke walked forward toward Hades, and stared at what he is, in that form. That thing that represented his whole identity.
Hades explained with torment, "I've taken it. It's mine—now and forever. Your body is just a shell now, soulless, empty, a void. It's just flesh."
When his eyes met it, he felt as if it stared back at him. Calling to him. Though it was not chakra, he made a strange decision—perhaps one that many had tried in vain to do before, when this God had taken the most precious thing from them.
He reached out and grabbed it.
The deity clenched it in his left hand, but Sasuke yanked as hard as he possibly could. Never had a game of tug-of-war been so vital, so grueling.
"You're touching it!?" Hades' voice trembled with disbelief. "In what world can a mere human grab his own soul!? Not even Gods can do such actions! This is my power. This soul is mine. I take them, I secure them—this power has been mine since I was born. Only that God of Heaven has ever taken back their soul. Who are you really, boy? Are you truly him come again!? What is your world really!?"
Sasuke remained silent, the pull dragging his soul back into himself. When it came, a surge of emotion flooded his body. Even a tear managed to roll down his cheek without him ever feeling the desire to let it go. It was such a euphoric, beautiful sensation. Never in his life had he experienced such an overwhelmingly soothing event. It was as if he had found himself again—discovered himself after being lost. Even though it had only been a few moments.
In the corner of his eyes, something slid across the stone floor. Something familiar. A weapon—one the Uchiha had missed. One that reminded him of home. With a flick of his telekinesis, he gripped it firmly. Both he and Hades turned to see two dragons watching idly, their expressions grinning with amusement.
"You stole something that doesn't belong to you, Hades," Crom Cruach taunted. "Sorry about this lovely place, but we need to send a message—to you and the other Gods who think about messing with our human friend."
Hades spat venomously, "This betrayal will work against your master's interests, you slithering lizard. I've already had Orcus remove the seal on the one you all fear most, and he will devour you all. Your souls will be mine!"
Crom's eyes narrowed slightly. It was rare to see an evil dragon like him tense up, "…Him?"
After intentionally releasing Susanoo, the Uchiha moved fast, so much faster than the God anticipated. His blade clashed against the massive scythe with a bright spark. He cautiously kept his distance, his sharingan still observing the strange power radiating from Hades' bones. Touching him directly would be unwise.
A blaze of Amaterasu conjured against this thieving ruler, black flames erupting across his figure. Though potent, the flames did not burn as painfully as Sasuke had hoped. Hades waved his arm dismissively, struggling to flicker them off. "Fire out of nowhere! Are you a dragon now!?"
The ground trembled as the battle raged across the crumbling terrain. Sasuke raised a chunk of the collapsing tower and hurled it, forcing the God to back away.
He flashed around Hades, teleporting with blinding speed, keeping the God on the defensive. A back-and-forth exchange of slashes, slices, stabs, and counters ensued, each met with parries and counterattacks of their own. His Rinnegan continuously glowed, allowing him to shift around the room to maintain a speed that blitzed the larger foe. Each strike of the holy sword proved effective, its divine energy cutting through despite Hades' godliness.
Hades swung his scythe downward, powerful and massive, but slow. Sasuke maneuvered under it, blocking and countering with his blade. The lightning-infused holy sword surged, slicing downward toward his forearm fast. The cut was precise—cleanly severing Hades' left hand.
The staff fell from his grasp, clattering to the ground. With it, his power waned, though the God felt no pain as a mortal might.
Before the Greek Deity could try to counter, the Uchiha opened his palm and unleashed an almighty push, slamming Hades' massive frame against the throne, destroying it in an instant.
Standing over him, sword in hand, he was ready to end it.
"No," Sasuke said coldly. "Too easy."
He sheathed his blade and clenched his right hand. After a moment, something small emerged—something seemingly insignificant. A tiny black sphere rose from his hand and into the air. It flew high and mighty, past a cloud and up, to where the moon stared down at this world.
Hades' face twisted into rage, "I curse you, boy! I curse you with humanity! My scythe has already struck you!" His voice grew frantic, his screams echoing. "Do you hear me!? I CURSE YOU!"
The Realm of the Dead began to move.
It began to speak.
It began to amass in one particular spot.
By… its moon.
The black, ominous, magical stone that made up every structure in this world began to stir after its lifetime of idleness. It rose, along with rock from the earth, ascending and clashing with itself. Those near could hear the roaring of the God Hades—cursing his enemies, cursing his allies, cursing the world. His body attempted to teleport, but it was being pulled toward the moon, into the growing, expanding sphere.
Then came the pummel. A slam. The mountains, where all material in this realm was mined, crumbled and slammed into the point where the God had last been seen.
Black ooze seeped from the sphere—perhaps the blood of Hades—but it didn't satisfy the one who had conjured this attack. Huge swarms of black flames erupted, coating the rock and creating an inferno planet.
Those who served the ruler heard his telepathic command. Return to their ruler. Save him.
Many Grim Reapers continued the fight, while others led skeletons toward the massive rock. They swarmed the base of the sphere, forming ladders out of their bodies like ants. Controlled by their hivemind, they climbed, gnawing and chipping away at the mass.
But the durable magic, combined with the black flames of Amaterasu, consumed their bodies and disintegrated them before any progress could be made.
Hades was trapped.
And he could only feel his world burn.
Never before had the Realm of the Dead had a sun.
Until now.
[SMASH]
After
[SMASH]
There was much amusement in watching Susanoo utterly obliterate any skeleton that came his way. And when Grim Reapers approached, Sasuke handled the issue with ease. A master swordsman in single combat had every advantage against scythe users. Even if they could curse, they could not touch him. Lightning and holy energy were the antidote to these so-called undead warriors.
He wielded his blade with his right hand, while his left summoned magic circles that unleashed devastating lightning. It was practice for him—sharpening his newly-learned magical abilities to shred apart these enemies.
The Deva Path had also become a more frequent tool. A complete force of destruction. He had blasted Hades and now used it to lift Reapers off the ground, slamming them repeatedly against walls until their bones shattered, the magic unable to hold them together. Their servitude came to a definitive end.
"Oi… Warden." Sasuke yelled with a smirk as he stood before the prison where he had been caged.
The Warden's colossal size and massive scythe dwarfed those of the others. His guards charged at Sasuke brazenly, but it meant nothing. Sasuke dashed forward, swapping positions with one of them. Instead of cutting them down, he stood idle, curving his lips into a smug grin.
"Shinra Tensei."
Everything within a 360-degree radius blasted outward. All those who came at him were hurled back, colliding with the walls of the fortress. Even the fortress itself could not withstand his power. The prison came down, taking with it the souls who had been trapped inside. With only a slight surge of his chakra, Sasuke had caused mass destruction. He could only imagine the devastation if he used the technique at full strength.
He thought briefly of the prisoners scrambling amidst the chaos. 'If they resist long enough, their souls will move on. They just have to hold on a little longer.' Judging by the state of the battlefield, it was likely they would survive this ordeal.
A massive, thunderous crash behind him shook the ground. Sasuke turned to see the dragon who had come to meet him. Its golden aura swirled around its black scales and wings, and its dual-colored eyes of shadow and yellow light radiated power.
Crom Cruach spoke, his voice laced with amusement. "Kukuku, we had a feeling you were still alive, boy."
Sasuke replied in his low, cold tone, "You came too early. I was planning to destroy this place piece by piece."
"Come. Let us depart," Crom said. "We've had our fun."
The Uchiha had never ridden a dragon before—creatures like this didn't exist back home. Kabuto may have claimed to be a dragon, but it was nothing like this.
As they took to the skies, it was an experience unlike any other. Far different from riding a snake or a hawk, dragons were massive, fast, and the embodiment of wrath. He thought briefly of how wars back home would change if these beasts could become summoning jutsu.
"What did you do to Hades?" The dragon asked, his voice tinged with amusement. "We figured you'd be the one imprisoned, tortured, or worse—your soul taken. Not him."
Sasuke smiled. "He did. I just took it back."
"Kukuku… a brazen one, you are. Never did I imagine this would happen."
For the first time in days, he could relax. Watching the grand view of the battlefield all around him. He had no idea vampires had come as well, 'Marius wouldn't have sent them. Euclid must have made him.' The terrain, which, had been somewhat stable, was now just-devastation. It was clear the Realm was nothing without its ruler guiding them in battle.
Scorched earth, that's what it was. Blazes of flames that were not being doused. Even the lake were ablaze.
As for the Chibaku Tensei, it had taken all of the structures within a decent-sized radius. Craters upon craters scarred the land. The mountains had broken apart. This place had become a ruin, all from just one fight. All from just one mistake.
It also appeared all the evil-dragons from Tepes Castle had come. Likely in search of battle and excitement.
Sasuke did not need there help, his plan involved him solving this issue alone. But the thought counted.
His eyes suddenly went wide, his senses flaring. He looked over his shoulder and narrowed his gaze. Bursting through the dark clouds, something was trailing behind him. They were being chased, even though the enemy had already lost this battle.
'A Fallen Angel?' The Uchiha said with amusement, 'Working for the Grim Reapers?' Perhaps, a soul that had submitted. Then, his eyes really began to observe. To see who was riding on that strange beast behind them.
"... Turn around."
The dragon's eyes trailed back, "Our orders were to come get you. The war was for fun. And we've had our fun, for now."
A smaller, yet fast-beast swooped from above, snapping its jaws. Crom Cruach angled himself, dodging the the bite, his wings batting ferociously. Sasuke gripped the dragon tightly, as to not fall off. Though, he would be fine even if he did.
Instead, he was angry, "You're going to let him toy with you like that?"
"Shut your mouth, boy. Do you know who that is? That is Samael! One bite from him, and I am dead. No dragon defenses can match his power. He is a cursed being! More cursed than you even! Look at your hand, that will kill you!"
Sasuke spat in disgust. "You Evil Dragons pride yourselves on fighting, yet you run like frightened dogs when it comes to the real thing. I should kill you out of mercy and put down this creature you are so afraid of."
Crom Cruach eyed him sharply, clearly bewildered by the insult.
"Turn around," Sasuke ordered again, pointing the sword at the dragon's neck. "Or I'll make you turn around."
The Crescent Circle Dragon stared into the shinobi's deep, colorful eyes—eyes unlike anything he had ever seen before. And in those eyes, he saw something rare. A ferociousness. A lack of fear. A thirst for battle. Determination like no other. They were like his fellow dragons.
"Do you have any defensive spells?" Crom asked at last. "One strike, one drop of his blood on me, and I will crash into the ground and become one of Hades' pets."
Sasuke lowered his eyes and grinned, "If it's armor you want, that is what you will get."
"You have not been dismissed!"
Pluto readied himself, soaring through the dark clouds. As he ascended, he passed one of the skeleton dragons being devoured by an evil one—a green-scaled beast that laughed maniacally. Grendel was its name, though Pluto had no concern for it at the moment.
"Samael, change your appearance!" he commanded. "Grant yourself mandibles, a dragon head, and prepare to consume those you despise!"
Below him, the beast known as Samael was a strange entity even in this world. Though not a dragon by origin, it was unmatched when it came to fighting them. On its forehead rested its humanoid form—black fallen-angel wings stretched, and he was slouched as if unconscious. Its true head, however, resembled that of an eastern dragon, its fangs deadly and its blood even more so.
A being so hated, even God almighty had cursed him, giving him this horrific fate as an eternal beast.
[COME TO ME, PLUTO! AT ONCE!]
Hades' voice roared through his head, commanding his servant from afar. Pluto glanced toward the glowing blackened sun and cursed under his breath, 'This human… How could he have done something like that? Your Majesty, don't worry! I will defeat this dragon, route our enemies, destroy the boy, save his soul for you, and free you!'
[YOU WILL DO AS I SAY! COME TO ME! LEAVE THE BOY!]
He ignored the order, keeping his focus forward. He wanted to prove himself. To be better than Orcus. To be the best Grim Reaper.
Samael blasted through the clouds, smaller but faster than the other related creatures. On its way, it devoured a minor evil-dragon in one swift bite. Its serpentine body twisted and coiled through the air, gaining speed as it ascended.
It rose sharply, charging toward the belly of Crom Cruach. Samael opened its maw, its deadly fangs poised to tear into the black dragon. A single bite would be fatal to most of his species—regardless of their strength or status.
Crom dodged, evading the mouth.
Samael, though smaller, flew faster and more aggressively. When it broke through the clouds again, the Crescent Circle Dragon waited, jaws wide, ready to devour the pursuer.
Pluto raised his scythe and slashed at his scales, causing blood to spray across the sky. But dragons were ageless, and the curse imbued into the weapon meant to shorten a lifespan, would have no effect.
Samael surged upward again, its mandibles wide and clamping down with perfect speed and precision. Yet, as it bit, a purple ethereal ooze coated its fangs, locking its jaws and preventing them from venturing deeper. Crom Cruach's entire frame glowed with this purple coating, acting as armor and protecting him from the cursed blood.
Suddenly, the attacker shrieked in agony. Pluto looked over to see the evil dragon countering, carving its armored claws into the scales of the smaller beast. The armor shielded itself from the blood—or rather, the poison—allowing him to continue striking without fear of consequence.
"What darkness is this!?" Pluto muttered. "This is no magic!"
The Ultimate-Evil Dragon bit down onto the back of Samael's neck, and the two now were descending together toward the ground. No matter how hard the latter tried attacking, this strange-foreign armor protected his foe. It was a revolting sound, hearing dragons scream like this, in either pain or fury. Yet, the riders watched them spiral downward, their clash threatening to crash them both into the ground.
"Pull back, Samael! I will free you from this beast!" Pluto yelled, raising his scythe. He struck at the ethereal armor, but his weapon failed to penetrate it. The material was not flesh, nor was it mortal. His gaze suddenly looked upward, to where the most hated being in all of the Realm of the Dead stood.
He stared down, sword in hand. The blade coated in black-lighting, while the hilt was glowing holy-yellow.
"You aren't even from this world!" The reaper yelled with anger, "What business do you have coming here? Are you truly intent on destroying it!?"
Those red and purple eyes of his stared down, as if judging, "No, just yours." he replied lowly.
This shake of unpredictable movement sent the two holding on tightly. Pluto fell to one knee and gripped his mount firmly, reeling his scythe back as he continued to break Crom Cruach's grasp.
Sasuke felt the pressure as well, but his control over his telekinesis gave him an edge. Instead of squatting or clinging to his mount, he bent his knees and leapt from one dragon to the other.
Pluto flinched, unprepared for the sudden movement. He raised his scythe in one hand, but the Uchiha moved too fast for his awareness. The swordsman parried the slash effortlessly, using the momentum to disarm the reaper, sending the weapon hurtling toward the ground.
For the first time in a long, long time, Pluto felt something he hadn't experienced since he was alive.
That dark, cold, icy feeling. That primal panic all living creatures face at least once in their lives. For most, it was the only time. Yet, in this case, it was the second.
The words echoed in his mind.
"Your time will come."
And it had.
Sasuke drove the blade of his Kusanagi through the reapers skull, ending his second-life with a grin.
His lifeless form then dropped, along with Susanoo's hand gripping its master and pulling him onto Crom Cruach's back.
The wave of satisfied adrenaline continued to course through his veins. He cast one last glance at across the Realm of the Dead just before they were to enter the Dragon-Gate. Grim Reaper corpses lay scattered across the ground—burned, eaten, or torn apart by the vampires who had joined the fray. Skeletons lay shattered in pieces, their remains mingling with those of skeletal animals, fallen dragons, and everything else that had served Hades.
He inspected his wound, the gash on his arm still bleeding. His eyes widened when he noticed something unusual. Black tendrils seemed to course through the veins around the injury. When he looked closer at his fingertips, he saw them begin to transform before his eyes.
They became… wrinkled, as though he had been submerged in water for too long. The effect traced down his hand, and soon a strange sensation overtook him. His arms felt cold—so cold—and his hands grew unbearably heavy.
The sword slipped from his grip, clattering onto Crom's back. Sasuke sat down, his breathing growing shallow and rapid.
He gripped his face, feeling the texture of soft, loose skin spreading unnaturally. A strand of hair fell in front of his eyes, its color catching his attention.
Grey.
Sasuke stared in disbelief. He grabbed his sword again, though it felt far heavier than before, and angled it to see his reflection in the blade. His mind raced as he stared at the image before him.
What he saw was no injury.
'Madara!?'
He inspected closer, his eyes widening in shock. The words of Hades suddenly echoed in his mind.
"I curse you with humanity!"
No…
This wasn't Madara.
It was himself... but older.
His vision began to fade, his hearing dimmed as well.
There was never a time when a Shinto priestess did not keep to her duties. This was more than work—it was culture, pride, history, and honor. Akeno Himejima loved it. She came from a long lineage deeply rooted in this field, and her mother had specifically shown her the path to becoming a dignified miko caretaker. Though her extended family never approved of her position, she continued anyway, as a tribute to the parent she had lost.
Even after school, clubs, training, and her role as a Queen in a devil peerage, she found peace here. Over the years, it had become easier. Cleaning, preparing, educating—it was all part of her routine. Many of the shrine's visitors were elderly, requiring special assistance to pray or make offerings. Some, though less and less, were children, and it was a challenge to make it more... exciting for the modern audience.
And she did it all by herself.
At the top of the windy cobblestone staircase is where the gate was. Visitors rarely came at night—except during summer festivals—not so much in winter.
'Snow came early this year...'
This weather was never too overly prominent in Kuoh, but it was enough to see its beauty. Small white flakes fell gracefully to the ground, piling up. It would not get too high, but if the wind got bad it could act as a very chilly night. Her eyes went up to the dark grey clouds, her gaze following the snow falling from the sky, to the ground-until it landed.
One small glimpse, however, fell on something—or rather, someone. Like the snow, it seemed an angel had fallen from heaven. One with a pale face, black hair, and colorful eyes. He looked like a dark angel, with a dark cloud hanging over him, reflected in the frown on his face.
When Akeno locked eyes with him, her instincts nearly took over. Yes, it was him, looking at her. And he had those eyes—his real eyes, as she had come to think of them.
Her desire swelled. To run, to hug, to barrage him with questions.
What happened? Where did you go? Why did it take so long to come back? We're so happy you're here. I'm so happy you're here.
But she knew Uchiha Sasuke well enough to hold back—for now at least.
"Sorry, sir, the shrine is closed for the night. If you so wish, you can still may offerings or pray, but those are the only services available."
The visitor walked up the stairs, his eyes never leaving her. When he came close, he looked clean, well kept, even a tad taller than she last remembered him. His eyes did not change either, as if, he wanted her to see them.
"A pity." He replied in his low voice, "I was hoping for the grand tour. There is so much I do not know."
Akeno bowed, "And there is much to tell. Though, we would likely need a few days to get to know everything, both here as well the history."
His reply came smooth, and quick, "I want to know everything."
She swallowed and looked away, "I'm sure the scheduling would allow it. What time and day you wish to visit?"
"Any time. Any day."
There was a blush on her now, he had won, "Oh, my... are we still talking about the shrine?"
Sasuke clarified, "We're talking about whatever you wish. That's what you wanted to do, right? To ask me something?"
"Akeno paused, her composure slipping slightly. "I… I want to ask you something."
Ask me now," he said firmly. "You never know—I may never come back."
The bluntness of his words caught her off guard. She stammered, "Ara… at least give me time to prepare myself. It's not like I've ever done this before, ufufu."
Sasuke stared at her for a long moment, then finally relented. "Fine, then."
That memory had not been forgotten, but it had been pushed to the back of her mind. He had been gone for over a week since everyone else had returned from Kyoto. The pain of not knowing where he had gone had affected them all, and she was not immune to it either. Akeno would have felt that way about any of her friends leaving. After all, she had grown up surrounded by people she considered friends rather than blood-related family. She didn't even believe she had a family.
The peerage, the club—to her, it was all she had.
Sasuke saw it too, the sudden emotional buildup in her. It wasn't as explosive as it might have been for some others, but it was unmistakable on her face and in those violet eyes.
"You can, if you want." He suddenly said.
With permission, she hugged him.
Akeno kept her composure, her voice calm. "I told them not to worry. But they did. They thought you'd never make it back."
Of course, Sasuke didn't believe that, but he played along. "Good. The last thing I need is people worrying about me."
She released her grasp, studying him closely. "You seem like you just got back. Are you hungry?"
He shook his head. "I'm fine. I only came to see you."
The Queen tilted her head. "Oh?"
"Unfinished business."
She tilted her head further. "Oh?"
"Are you going to keep evading," Sasuke asked with a smirk, "Or will you ask me what you wanted to before I left?"
Perhaps, this was not the best time. There a lot of emotions in the air, a lot of unanswered questions. Yet, he did not appear to focus on that as of now. Instead, she decided to go through with it as he said. It was not supposed to be a big deal, these things happen all the time. But she had a bit of an issue with it, personally. A strong sense of being unaccepted from her life, and unacceptable in the eyes of others, if they knew her own lineage.
And then, a sudden movement caught her attention.
Akeno smiled. "Nervous, are we?" Seeing his left hand suddenly shake brought her a strange sense of ease. As stern as he always was, even he seemed to feel the air.
Sasuke looked down, confused, and stared at his trembling hand. Across it lay a clean, deep scar—a wound from a previous battle, one that had left its mark in more ways than one. His eyes lowered, his mouth tightened into a frown, and a flicker of genuine anger crossed his face.
Out of nowhere, he quickly walked passed Akeno, surprising her.
For a moment, the Queen thought he was going to embrace her. A hug, or maybe even something more bold.
Instead, he stopped at the fountain and hovered over it, staring at his own reflection. He rubbed his cheek and exhaled deeply, a sigh of relief.
He was still back to normal.
A curse been placed on him, though he seemed to have been cured, 'That God...' he thought with fury, 'Next time, I'll be sure to do more than just leave his realm in ruin.'
'That God… ' he thought with absolute disgust. 'He accelerated my age. Had I not been Of course, he did not forget the curse that was placed on him.
After a moment, Sasuke straightened, composed himself, and pretended to cough.
"The weather," he said, his tone flat. "I may be getting sick."
Akeno knew immediately that sounded off but paid no mind to it. "That's not unusual. Perhaps you could come in, and I can make some ginger and honey tea? That always helps with a cold."
He shook his head. "I don't think so. I only came to talk to you, and then I should go home and rest."
The Queen took a deep breath, surprising both him and herself. Instead of speaking softly, weakly, or with any trace of nervousness—though she was most certainly nervous—she straightened her posture, standing tall and confident. She decided to ask the question she had been preparing for before he left.
"I…"
Before she could even begin, Sasuke interrupted.
There was a very bad feeling about this. He's felt it before. What she wanted to do, what she wanted to say. It was not the first time a woman had been nervous like this, spoke like this.
He spoke heavy, but truthful, "I've been down this road before. It usually never goes well for the person standing where you are. If you think it's worth it, go ahead. I'm listening."
That was very odd to hear from him. He had asked her to go forward, and is now retracting. It was not him like to be unsure, conflicted, hesitant, even a shred of vulnerability in his eyes. Something had happened when he was gone, she knew instantly, but she did not inquire... yet.
She replied as graceful as she could, "Ara, you certainly know how to make a girl feel confident." he felt the sarcasm and smiled, "Should I reconsider?"
"Don't let someone else tell you what to do."
Akeno rose herself up, walking to him with more confidence than before, "Good. Now, you listen to me." her voice was gentle, yet firm, "I missed you. Everything about you. It's easier to be around you since it's almost like you aren't from here at all. When I am with you, I suddenly feel like I can tell you who I am, what I fear, and would feel great about it. I know you don't like to talk about yourself, but I hope we can spend more time together. You and I... it makes me happy to think about. Will you…"
He stopped her, again.
"You love me?"
Loving him? That was dangerous. It had not been so well for the last person who had spent her life loving him and never giving up on him.
It was then, where Akeno stood, her eyes turned green, and her hair turned pink. Just a brief reflection between the two.
"You're annoying."
"Stop! Don't hug me!"
"You're the same as Naruto. If you have time to bother me, practice a jutsu or two. Frankly, your ability is below his."
"No matter what, you always hate me, don't you?"
"I love you with all my heart," Sakura said, her voice trembling, "If you were to stay with me, there would be no regrets. I would do anything for you. I'd even help you with your revenge. I don't know what I could do, but I'd try my best to do something. So please… stay with me. Or take me with you if you can't stay here."
"You really are annoying." He had replied to that.
Sakura...
He wasn't blind, nor entirely ignorant. He remembered the past and situations like this. When it came to women, he was always indifferent. He had been very close to his mother, as she gave him a sense of self-worth and made him feel loved. But when she died, that had been the end of it.
Then, there was his teammate. She had thrown herself on him—too suffocating, too intoxicating. Too much love. Too much care.
The last memory he had of Sakura Haruno was putting her into a genjutsu so he and Naruto could fight to the death.
Now, she probably hated him.
Akeno spoke again, clarifying her intentions. "Ara, Sasuke-kun, don't get ahead of yourself. I was only asking for us to spend more time together. As for anything else after that… well, we'll just have to wait and see."
That made it better. A lot better. Sasuke lifted his head. The fact that it wasn't love made it less intense. Less difficult to process.
"Have you ever asked anyone this before?"
Akeno shook her head, a playful grin spreading across her face. "Ufufufu, usually, it's the boys who ask the girls. And, no."
Not usual for him, though.
"... Have you ever loved someone else?" she brazenly asked.
He had loved his family, his clan, his teammates. But in that way?
"No," Sasuke said sternly. "Never. But..."
There was a long pause as he debated whether he should even mention her. But it was as Akeno had said—she wanted to know him, as much as she could.
"There was someone who loved me, once," he began, his voice low and thoughtful. "I never returned it. In fact, I rejected it—many times. I wasn't ready for that. I was focused on… other things. But have you seen what love can do to someone? She always hurt herself, hoping I'd love her back. Love isn't something that lets people rest easy and simply be happy. It had done her no good. Sometimes, I wonder why she wanted it so desperately."
Akeno responded softly, "I don't know. But I've seen it too. My mother… she married my father, an evil spirit. She lost so much for that. Our clan exiled her, swearing her off entirely."
Her words struck him. There were many questions he wanted to ask, but only one made it out.
"Do you think it was worth it?"
The Queen took a step back, a playful smirk crossing her face as she spun lightly, showing herself off.
"You tell me, ufufu."
He smirked faintly. "I suppose we're all worth something. Some, a little more than others."
There was a pause as he looked at her again. A small compliment seemed to go a long way with her, given the smile that lingered on her face.
His mind drifted back to what had happened that week. After the events in the Realm of the Dead, he had spent some time at Tepes Castle, recovering from his curse. That had been a daunting time as well. His life, his humanity, his future, his goals—it was no doubt an overwhelming time resting in that bed. All of it had come crashing down on him at once.
Sasuke finally asked, "... You're in a clan?"
And that, it seemed, was a question she had been hoping to hear.
Akeno walked passed him, toward the door. Turning back, she gave him one more welcoming smile.
"It's getting cold. I'd like to go inside and make some tea. Care to join me? We can talk all about me, if that's what you want. But I'm not rude—it would be nice to hear more about you, too."
The snow continued to fall, blanketing the shrine around them.
He knew what it meant, to go inside.
In the past, he would have rebuked such offers. Never even giving them a chance. Now, though, it felt... easier. Less pressure. Less... tears than it had been with other women in his life. And he did wish to know more about her, as well.
"Lead the way."
Finally, after fucking seventeen chapters, we get a SHRED of romance. And more it, for sure.
Also, those reviews tho