Page Nine
Skies above Kouh
Vali, in his balance breaks form, smashed through yet another building, clearing the structure and into a park, crashing down hard enough to form a ten metre trench as he slid to a stop.
After shaking off the dizziness, the white armoured hybrid pushes up from the dirt and glances up the way he came to see a smug looking Ddraig hovering there calmly with arms crossed, his red boned, green membrane skinned wings glistening in the light of the moon above.
The human form dragon chuckled, shaking his head in disappointment. Eventually, Ddraig offered. "I feel bad for you Albion. This fool lacks the talent to truly understand your true might."
Vali growled at that, still puzzled as to why he can't drain this dragon's power but that is also a mute point as he isn't dealing with some scrub but an actual, true to life dragon emperor here and all his battle experience over an ageless lifetime.
As he stands, spreading his wings to return to the skies, Albion speaks up, out of curiosity mostly. "How did you get out, Ddraig? What is this about a greater purpose?"
Ddraig ducked and weaved around the sloppy attacks from the hybrid whilst clearly distracted by the question, perfectly pissing off the lucifer hybrid more, and replied carefully. "The sage has shown me a new path, so to speak. I have learnt of his troubled past, know of his current drive, and have glimpsed the future he strides for."
Shifting away from an over extended lunge, the casual reverse heel strike from Ddraig, with enough force to level a skyscraper, shot the white one through another building and back into the same trench Vali left last time.
Eventually, the red dragon continued. "I know I typically boast about things, Albion. You know me better than most, so hear me when I say that I truly believe that he will usher in an age I will be proud to have been apart of bringing forth. I shall boast about it till the end of time."
Getting up again, Vali was about to charge back at the red one again when suddenly his balance breaker shattered and returned to just his winged form, Albion asking. "What has happened to bring this out of you, Ddraig? Please, tell me what you have learnt."
Ddraig smirked, glad he has peaked the interest of his oldest of rivals. If setting the world straight is Naruto's end goal, he will need all the allies he can get and surely there will be no finer comrade than an honourable dragon like Albion.
Just have to deal with his high strung, arrogant Uchiha prick of a host. At least, that's what the others would likely call this Vali character, Ddraig mused to himself.
Kouh Academy
Naruto stands against the three heroes of the recently renamed, not by their own volition mind you, human faction by the other supernatural powers at large. At his side, Yasaka of the Youkai faction, their leader too, and the rogue Youkai/devil hybrid Kuroka the Stray.
Opposing the three chakra users was none other than the leader of the human faction, Cao Cao who was brandishing the bladed spear, the True Longinus. A god slaying, world ending spear and holiest weapon of them all. In theory and on paper at least.
He was backed up by Perseus, a reincarnation of the original hero of the Greek pantheon and member of the newly renamed Human Faction. Armed with a sword and an ageis shield, thanks to his sacred gear.
The last member of the human team is a heroine named Jeanne, inheritor of the soul of Joan of arc, and a rapier wielder.
Abruptly, Cao Cao's grin spread as he aimed his spear at Naruto and without warning, it shot forward, extending at speed, directly at the sage. Without a second thought, one of Naruto's truth seeking balls blasted forward for the intercept but found itself sliced clean through.
A surprise to be sure, but Team Chakra leaped off in different directions to escape the sudden eruption of light when the bladed end slammed against the concrete they had been standing atop.
Landing by the forests edge, Naruto looks around for a moment but was swiftly joined by his two self assigned teammates, but he notices the sizzling wafting from Kuroka who hissed out. "I am half devil right now. That things the most potent holy weapon known…"
The deep bellowing laughter of Cao Cao interrupted them, and drew their eye as he took aim with a bright glow eminiting from the blade itself, the helical rings around it and Naruto knew that this was going to be something. Kissing his teeth, Naruto muttered. "I hate being on defence."
This drew the other's attention briefly, as Naruto attempted to seal away calibrun but for whatever reason it wasn't working. Growling, he shifts it to his back and uses chakra to pin it there. Finally, his hand was allowed to be released and he flexes it briefly before mentioning. "Gonna need some fire."
Yasaka caught on immediately, having seen his collaboration before, and grinned as she replied. "Gladly…"
Not to be outdone, or upstaged, Kuroka began to call upon her Youjutsu and adds. "Same!"
Naruto goes through the handsigns and feels both Shukaku and Chomei adding their own chakra for this, despite him not asking for it. This is going to be his strongest display of power yet it seems. As he stops on the last sign, chakra primed, Naruto called out aloud to allow his team to time theirs. "Wind Style; Grand Breakthough."
Taking a deep breath, he unleashed winds so powerful, the clouds high above were being effected by it.
Yasaka timed her breathing with Naruto's and on his exhale, her near light cyan flames merged with the winds and expanded greatly and turned near enough pure white.
Kuroka's flames were a solid deep blue and only buffed the now white wall of seering heat and death.
Despite the three-way attack's ability to turn the concrete to molten magma, burn away the clouds ahead, and suck the sound from the city, it was parted down the centre by a blast of potent light which was heading directly towards the three.
Thinking quickly, the remaining seven truth seeking balls darted forward and merged into one thick disk. Just before they made contact, it angled itself at a thirty degree angle, just enough to clear the three it was defending.
It worked.
As the beam of light died down, Naruto's eyes had hardened at the power used in the hands of someone so extreme. Gaze dropping from the returned darkened sky, onto the three humans currently standing against them, their leader looking rather confident in his strength, Naruto could only image a certain duckbutt in his place.
Another breath, nature energy rushed into his chakra network in a timely and orderly manner. His two party members felt it immediately, both snapping to him in shock and a bit of awe at the speed in which he did it. The sage did not care about that now as he ordered. "Senjutsu up, hit these guys hard and don't stop until they are down. That spear wielder is mine."
Naruto spoke with such intense authority, neither the Kyuubi nor Nekoshou even contemplate the thought of asking why he's taking charge and just began drawing on their senjutsu on reflex. The next blink he was gone, a loud crash was heard as Cao Cao barely saw the kick that sent him crashing through a building and into the hill side beyond by the blonde, who gave chase immediately.
This happened so fast that neither Perseus nor Jeanna see, let alone react to and they did not have time to ponder that as both Kuroka and Yasaka was on them quick, fox against Perseus and cat against the French maiden.
At the rear…
The second that light blast erupted forward towards the three chakra users, Amaterasu's hold on her young charge, Kunou, hand tighter before deciding and stating commanding. "This is growing dangerous. Come, little kit, you shall come with me until this is over."
Before the young girl could say anything, she was whisked away in a beam of a light alongside the other Shinto gods and leaving the devil leaders, fallen governor, and arch pure angels to deal with this engagement.
A moment later a sonic boom was heard, a loud crash was heard, and smoke bellowed from the hillside. The flash of orange and the blessing of the sage fell off sharply though thankfully, those relying on it to stay alive had been picked up by a certain devil nun.
This drew the attention of even the old faction devils, all eyes followed the flash and before anyone spoke Katerea blasted off in pursuit along with Sirzechs, Azazel, and Gabriel following shortly afterwards out of concern.
Surprisingly, Creuserey had stayed put, arms crossed, and only offering a fleeting glance as to his partner left. He did however crack a grin, chuckling lowly. "My… how quintessentially oversightful."
Michael looked up at the man, asking with a raised brow. "Are you not concerned about this development?"
The man glanced, back at the bane of his existence with truly a dismissive sneer, Creuserey did not ordain it required for him to respond to such a foul beast.
Naruto Vs Cao Cao
Out of a crater at the end of a trench, Cao unleashed a massive radius blast of light back the way he came, that lit up the sky as if the sun had risen early and missed the target entirely. Naruto appeared off to his right, with the holy sword extended with razor winds, doing a full reverse circle sweep and exposing his back as he twists.
The resultant slash near enough cut through reality itself and Cao Cao barely escaped the creation of the new trench through the forested hillside. The holder of the True Longinus, was not to be out done by anyone, thrusting his spear and extending it whilst surrounded by a potent blast of light.
Naruto did not care who this creature thought he was, and living up to the reputation of every Namikaze that had come before him, even if there was only one, and evaded the perfectly rehearsed jabs and arching thrusts with speed and agility. Abruptly, he flicked out three of the kunai that gave his family their reputation. Cao Cao deflected them, as Naruto figured he would and so all three found them dotted about the landing site behind the fool the next second.
A flash of yellow and the spear missed by a long shot. Another three kunai now flung out and now Cao Cao had now been surrounded by six kunai of the three pronged persuasion. It was already over and the hero leader had no idea yet.
Cao Cao turned back to see Naruto taking up a stance slowly and deliberately, the sage speaking in a despetive calm. "I have battle against madmen before, both the delusional and the brilliant. People who had defied even death itself to achieve their goals."
At his back deliberately gently form a full new set of truth seeking orbs, as he pulls out a single kunai from his pouch as he continued. "I have seen what happens when they are given world toppling weapons, and so, Cao or whatever…"
Naruto meets Cao cao's eyes directly as the kunai reaches his mouth, the sage states. "I cannot in good conscious allow you to succeed here. For the sake of all…"
He bites down on the handle before retrieving Caliburn from his back, and his tanto from its holster before taking up a new stance with both blades out, one the holy gold and the other a calmly rippling blue. Naruto finishes. "We shall defeat you."
Cao Cao shakes his head in disappointment, still grinning like he was in control of the situation, spinning his spear idly in hand as he declared. "It truly is a shame, really it is. We could have done gods work together and save mankind from the likes of…"
In a literal flash of light, Naruto was behind the arrogant jackass with Caliburn mid-swing, and Cao Cao barely managed to deflect it with the handle of his spear. Though, he still got singed by the power radiating off the holy king sword. Kicking out, the hero leader's foot never made it to Naruto's form as another flash of gold and the shinobi was at his back before he comprehend he had moved.
Yet, as if sensing danger, the spear let out a radial blast of light, that burnt the sage slightly before he flashed away, again. Grinning, Cao Cao looked over to where he saw the steaming Sage, who looked more pissed off than injured but the hero looked smug as he talked with casual ease. "As you can see, I am…"
Not feeling listening to this song and dance, Naruto takes a deep breath and closes his eyes whilst internally calling. "Shadow clone jutsu…"
Much to Cao Cao, and the secretly watching Governor, Arch Angel, and both sides of the devil race's governmental body, surprise five additional Naruto's appear and all were similarly equipped. The human chuckled, shaking his head as he asks. "Really…? Simple illusions?"
Then without warning, the area as littered with flashes of gold, before as one, all three appear from different vectors and Cao Cao couldn't determine which was the real from the fake. Again, he as saved by his sacred gear that let off a radial wave of light that incinerated all three doppelgängers.
The second the blast died down however, another three appeared in flashes of gold replacing the first group and all swung at the human. Cao Cao managed to block two of the three Caliburn's, luckily one was the real one, but the third cut down his back and the clones reverse slash with his tanto sliced open his side cleanly.
This all happened in the span of five seconds. Again, the true Longinus released another radial blast of light, yet this time Naruto and his clones escaped the radial explosion of light.
Before it fully died down this time however, Naruto's truth seeking orbs turned spikes slammed down on the location of Cao Cao, punching the into the ground. The sage kissing his teeth however indicated he knew he had missed.
Following a path the observers had no detected, Naruto's gaze fell on the armoured form of a white dragon emperor, holding up the human leader, and hovering above the tree-line. Growling, the sage demands. "Release him now."
Vali just stare down at the sage, the destruction he had wrought in the area and the state Cao Cao was in, clutching his side and his gear nowhere in sight. Before he could respond, a three pronged kunai was a meter away from his head forcing him to snap his head aside and drop altitude.
A flash of yellow later, and a slash down of compressed fire and wind forced both the dragon and human faction leader to crash back into the forest. Not being satisfied with that, Naruto slipped his now caught kunai into his holster as he spoke internally. "Shukaku, apply your curse to this please…"
Perking up, the raccoon of the desert grinned, Shukaku crying out. "Oh boy! One super crippling cursed power coming up!"
Extending his hand, Naruto's resengan pulsed blue, Shukaku's markings fading into it moments later and the sage declared to the wind. "Magnet style; electromagnetic shredder."
The next moment, the sphere of power that was reminiscent of the planet Saturn, that sounded like an ankle grinder, was thrown down towards the bellowing cloud of dust and debris at speeds that the observers thought it was a laser.
For those with normal human-like vision, there was a quick but blinding blue flash from the hills and that was all. Those with enhanced vision that could see across the electromagnetic spectrum, it was a myriad storm of of deep reds, stunning lilac, rushing yellows, and gleaming greens.
Naruto landed on a platform made of his truth seeking balls, and frowned as he looked down at the new clearing muttering. "Damn… they escaped. Perhaps I should have marked him instead of trying to bisect him."
Shukaku was cursing up a storm with his siblings offering him sympathetic glances, though Gyūki offered. "It's fine Naruto-boy. Though, we do need to figure out a way past that automatic defence. Those blast of light are rather potent."
Naruto nodded, replying. "Yeah, hot too. That wasn't anything we've come across before. We'll have to talk to Ddraig later. Speaking of our resident dragon…"
He looked to his right to see said dragon approaching, two devils and angels in tow. Naruto frowned at that, muttering. "I got a feeling we should just leave."
Youkai verse Human
Right after Naruto kicked Cao Cao away…
All four remaining were left for a few seconds at the shock of it. Yet, when the shudder of the impact jolted the two Youkai back to the mission at hand and the order they were given.
Yasaka was on Perseus in a instant, her fist cocked back and coated with glimmering whiteish blue. The teen was survived by his own instincts that raised his shield that took the hit, nearly imploding under the strength used, and forced the reincarnation of the old hero back into the building his boss was kicked through a moment ago.
At the same time, Kuroka had ducked beneath the thrust of Jeanne's Rapier, the heroine however was swift in her approach to battle and continued thrusts. The cat however was faster than that, splitting into three illusion and rushed the holy maiden.
Not knowing which one was real and not, Jeanne leaped back and re-engaged immediately. But again, the three Kuroka's all made a concentrated effort to avoid the jabs, thrusts and sharp swipes but it was for naught. Out of no where, Perseus flew and collided with Jeanne, forcing them to the ground.
Glancing to the side, pout out in force, Kuroka saw a smug kitsune strolling up towards the struggling human's. She comments. "Nya, I didn't even get a chance to do anything…"
Yasaka offered her a fleeting glance, foxy smirk growing, before looking to the two humans and replying. "Ara-ara… kitten-chan. You mustn't be so ungrateful when your own grant you aide."
Kuroka's eyebrow twitched, not liking this fox's attitude, hissing. "I am not a kitten, nya. I am a fully developed and irresistible feline of impeccable quality and future partner of the great sage, nya!"
Yasaka's snapped to her, face a mix of incredulity and fury at the audacity of this lowly nekoshou believing she was worthy of the likes of the True Heroic Sage. Just as she was about to reprimand the foolish kitten, a wave of potent chakra drew both ladies attention to the woods and what they saw both terrified and aroused them.
The enter blast of chakra that shot into the sky created what could only be described as a multicoloured sunrise, despite it being to the north and not the east. The potency and density of it was something neither chakra user thought possible yet, here it was laid out before them.
Heck, they couldn't even determine the nature it held but the colours were inciting and truly mesmerising. Kuroka muttered. "Beautiful…"
This display had successfully distracted them from the small skirmish at their back and the escape of their foes from the battle-site.
Gremory Peerage
A few moments ago…
Issei Hyoudou had gone largely unnoticed by the big guns of the supernatural forces that had been battling it out all over the wrecked school and the buildings nearby. All things considering, he may chalk that up to the fact that his former sacred gear was battling that white gauntlet Vali.
Or maybe the sage currently being a beacon that blocks out everything else. He is just a minor devil now, so who's he to say.
Right now however, he had managed to sneak around to find himself watching the sage pull out the Sacred Gear of that hero guy with the purple smoke. Issei's eyes stare at the orb in the sage's hands and pondered if he could somehow distract the older teen and snag it.
No, unlikely. As fast as he has gotten, this guy outran Kiba going full speed and barely looked like he was trying. Kiba was the fastest person he knew, which means that this sage could kill him before he got close.
Then two goddesses arrived and those bodies are. A flood of dark magic ran up his arm. Right, power first then the oppai later. Just as Issei peaked out, another blonde appeared in front of him, yanked his sword from his grip and went to stab him so fast, the pawn had no idea he was in danger.
The sound of steel clashing against steel snapped Issei to his own situation just before being yanked back, revealing Kiba clashing with that Arthur guy and Koneko, with her cat features exposed, rushing forward to help and it as clear she had been the one to throw him.
Suddenly, a familiar set of mound were squished against his back and a familiar voice in his ear. "How could you be so reckless, Issei?"
It took a moment for the devil to recall the voice, then a sonic boom echoed and everyone halted briefly. Then, he was lowered down towards the ground.
As he was set down, the former dragon host turned back to see. His breath hitched as standing before him was none other than his king. Issei muttered. "H… H… bouchu. How are you…?"
Rias frowned, arms folded as she glanced down at her legs before sighing and replying. "I am not actually standing, Issei. Just hovering convincingly."
That's when issei noticed her wings were out and making very minuscule movements to counteract the forces of gravity and wind to give their master the appearance of standing. Truly, a genius deception.
The she devil's face grew stern, as Rias repeated herself. "I ask you again, Issei. What were you thinking being so reckless?"
Recalling his earlier thought patterns, a flash of recognition hit him, and Issei growled, fist clenched before him as he states. "That sage was right there. He was busy and had his back to me. I was going to…"
He was interrupted by Kiba's form flying past, a cut across his chest, and crashing into the school's outer wall. Rias snapped back to see Koneko ducking and weaving around the descendent of the kings various sword swipes, taking cuts that sizzle close continuously, Sage's blessing coming into action, and eventually she too had to withdraw.
Instinctively, Rias called upon the power of her mother's clan but as it flickered in her hand she recalled that she, like the others, was still under the Sage's blessing. More like a curse for her and her brother right now. But before she could even swear or curse, the area briefly got darker, and the next instant the sound of a thunder clap.
Most missed the flash, as the northern horizon had been filled with a light show like no other. However, in the place of the king's descendant was a four meter wide, eight deep sizzling earth and superheated dirt from a lightning strike unseen by mortal beings in centuries.
Rias gawked at the strike zone for a moment, before her queen and best friend Akeno landed beside her feeling rejuvenated and fresh. Her giggle brought everyone out of their individual moments of shock, from various points, and look to the flushed cheeked queen who was as bubbly as a child in a candy store at her own power display.
The king of the peerage was the first to break the silence, Rias asking. "Akeno… just now. Was that…?"
Akeno just seemed to beam brighter and nodded repeatedly, the happiness seemed uncontainable as she explained cheerily. "Ara-ara… you see. I was suffering from a very lovely case of overpower…"
She shuddered, cuddling herself at the absolute feeling of dominance she had been under due to the Sage's blessing. As a devil, her lightning powers had been boosted by the blessing, but her Fallen half had been wrangling it in that created a perpetual feeling of constraint for Akeno.
Her M-side had never been so indulged so completely and sent her into a mixed haze of pleasure and euphoria, that caused her to lose track of things for a bit there.
Ria's clicking in her face drew her mind from the memories long enough to here her king's words. The redhead asks her queen. "I was aware. That's why we left you there. So… why are you here and what was with that overcharged strike?"
Nodding in understanding of what was being asked, Akeno explained swiftly. "Well, I order to regain my senses enough to think straight again, I just needed to let out my excess power…"
She pointed to the smoking hole in the ground, continuing. "That was it."
Rias nodded understanding that simply enough. A rather basic treatment and straightforward approach. Why didn't she think of that?
Asia stepped forward, Kiba all healed next to her, and announced rather quickly. "Umm, Bachuu… everyone is fine now…"
Rais nodded, smiling at her bishop who has become the centre of attention by the troops here. She had saved enough that even Gabriel had praised her. No doubt she'll be called to the underworld for a promotion after all this. The red head spoke with pride. "You have done amazingly, Asia. We're proud of you…"
Asia's cheeks flushing red was cute when the whole peerage nodded and smiled at her. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight and she had to lower her face or it'll burn off at the heat it was generating.
Yet before she could say anything in reply, two spikes in Ice natured magic drew their attention to the rear line. Rias climbed slightly to witness a tornado of water in the hillsides be blasted by a solid beam of pure, unfiltered ice magic.
The next moment, Creuserey flew past, backward, with his right arm encased in ice and firing off streams of various explosive magics as he yells. "YOU FAKE DAMN TRAITORS!"
Rias's eyebrow twitched at that for some reason, irked in the worst way possible.
The rear line…
Moments before…
Micheal noticed the abrupt appearance of a water tornado around where his sister was heading and asked. "What is that…?"
All eyes follow his gaze and surely enough, all saw that and the still giggling and delirious Serafall somehow felt challenged as some part of her mind recognised Katerea's signature within the water.
Her muddled mind did not like that for whatever reason and in the next moment, Serafall gathered an unnecessarily enormous amount of magic and blasted the funnel of water with every drop of it.
Not liking his earlier warning being ignored, Creuserey, as a being of such noble standing, felt directly disrespected by this commoner and launched his own attack of flames directly at the Satan holding the seat of Leviathan.
On reflex however, Grayfia simultaneously defended against the powerful stream of flames and fired her own blast of pure ice that exploded forth with enough speed that the old Satan was unable to fully escape the attack radius.
Creuserey's right arm was encased in the Lucifuge's legendary ice and he ducked back, in order to gain space to counterattack and free his arm but yelled back. "YOU FAKE DAMN TRAITORS!"
No longer overdosed on her own magic and thinking clearly again, Grayfia's mood darkened as her eyebrow twitched. In a very rare display of her devil nature, that she normally kept locked down tight, the maid wore a truly devious expression that terrified most and even the recently sound of mind Serafall began to sweat at a glimpse of the expression.
The silver haired beauty known as the ice queen of the underworld stepped past the others, remaining elegant as her wings slowly unfolded as she spoke calmly. "I see. My concerns for our kin is misinterpreted by you and yours. Forgive me for not informing you properly and allow me to correct my mistakes in not conveying my intent clearer."
She abruptly took off, shattering the ground and freezing it over as she did so. Grayfia evaded the blast of lightning, flames and water so gracefully you could have mistaken it for a dance.
Ice suddenly coated her arms, extended off them into blades of pure ice and as she passed by the devil of the old faction, Creuserey, her blades narrowly missed his spine and out the back.
Normally a wound this fatal would kill any being, his stomach through to his back cut clean open, but this descendant of the original Asmodeus decided he better get help and left abruptly.
Katerea was on her own.
Grayfia scowled briefly before returning to her usual face of indifference as she swiped off the dirty blood from her two blades of ice then dismissed them and looked towards the hillside.
Forested Hillside
A little while before…
Naruto sighed again, asking internally. "Why can't I leave again?"
Matatabi spoke first, a threatening hiss barely audible. "You said you would stop running away. To fight again. Are you going back on your word, huh?"
Naruto flinched at the tone. Since when did… he halted that thought hearing the groan getting louder and the distinct impression of a flame made cat glaring at him with her two whipping tails at her back.
Nope. Not going to argue.
Gyūki then chimed in, ignoring the cat in the room. "Not to mention, these people seem to represent the majority of the forces we have been in contact with. They may have information we could use."
Kurama scoffed, adding his own Ryo. "Nothing we can't find out ourselves."
A surprise speaker in the form of Isobu spoke next. "Umm… my friends said that they only know about the underwater stuff. Like there is a kingdom and everything. They might know about up here, yes?"
Gyūki nodded, confirming his agreement, replying. "Right. See what we can get from them and if they try anything funny…"
Shukaku cackled up a storm, arms flapping in the air as he bellowed. "We do them naughty!"
Kurama and Naruto grinned, the latter internally as he was maintaining his visage of impassiveness externally, at the thought of making them all dysfunctional. Or dying their hair any number of neon colours. Feeling like neon pink is about to make a comeback.
The foxes chuckling was low and throaty, which only egged on Naruto to do something foxy. Yet he was broken from his forming plans by a certain cat clearing her throat, and an unflinching stare of two stalks holding stern silvery eyes.
His internal deliberations was broken when a massive wall of water erupted around him, snapping Naruto to action and yet, before his chakra could flare, a feminine voice called him. "Lord Sage… I would like a word with you. Nothing more."
The shinobi's eyes lock on to the woman ahead of him, a devil signature which was obvious as her bat wings were out as the two were hovering a good fifty metres off the ground. A voluptuous figure and tanned skin with brown hair and purple eyes. Her outfit could be explained as nothing but provocative.
Do these devils know of the meaning of modesty?
Sighing as he recalls the words of his bossiest, and most troublesome tenant and perfectly ignoring the hiss that resulted from that thought, Naruto met the bespectacled gaze head on and asked. "About what exactly, devil-san?"
Katerea smiled softly, nodding before introducing herself. "Firstly, my name is Katerea Leviathan. As you said, I am a devil but I am not aligned with the current leadership as I believe them to be incompetent leaders."
Upon seeing his raised eyebrows, Katerea continued. "However, that is not the reason for me approaching you right now…"
Naruto raised his hand, sensing the lie in that statement, and she fell silent. "Katerea-san, do not lie to me so brazenly. What do you want to ask of me and what are you offering in return?"
Although surprised, Katerea nodded and explained. "Forgive me. There are a few things but I want to handle them one at a time and would like to employ your help."
Sighing at the suggested length of this discussion, Naruto dropped to sit on the edge of his platform casually, feet kicking calmly, and gestured at her to continued. She did. "A very long story short, I want to restore my house's standing within devil society and regain the lost honour…"
Naruto cut in here, waving that off as he states. "I don't deal with honour and all that. Talk to a samurai, not me. What else?"
Despite maintaining a placating smile, Naruto sensed Katerea shock, fear, annoyance, and more than a trickle of lust and admiration. Interesting. She continued. "Yes well. The thing is, my house is down to two members. Myself, and a cousin that is currently missing. She was kidnapped and the only lead I have suggests that another devil clan is holding her."
Naruto nodded, asking for clarification's sake. "So, you want me to help find her? Is that it?"
Katerea bit her lip for a moment, and Naruto watched her emotions flicker like a kaleidoscope from relief, hope, to wariness, then to fear with a growing undertone of lust. Internally, Naruto moans. "Ah boy… here we go again…"
The two to six tails all roll their eyes at the only possible thing that could mean, though Kurama just grinned. Gyūki just sighed at the sight of another female in heat. Chomei nor Shukaku made any comment or move Eitherway.
Eventually, the old Satan faction devil known as Katerea Leviathan nodded before saying. "Yes, that would be great if you could. Though, as for payment I could serve you as long as you…"
Naruto raised a hand, halting her as he had a deadpan. "As much as I do not wish to disrespect you, Katerea-san, I think that is not something you should throw around so lightly."
Just as Katerea was about to respond, the rushing water funnel they were in froze solid then shattered as Ddraig flew in with Gabriel, Sirzechs and Azazel arriving directly afterwards.
Seeing the casual stance Naruto had, relaxing on that board of that dark material, and the slightly flustered face of the she-devil, Ddraig powered down his fists as he approached, asking. "Anything going on here?"
Naruto waved him off, replying. "Nah, not really. Katerea-san here was proposing a deal."
The other three leaders were more than a little curious as to what the old faction wanted with the sage, with Sirzechs floating forward, asking. "Which is what, exactly?"
Sensing Katerea's growing frustration, Naruto spoke first. "None of your business."
Sirzechs's expression grew darker but Naruto was already sick of this man so added. "And if you have a problem with that…"
Rising his right hand, preparing to click, the sage declared. "A simple click and your little man will wilt and rot before falling off. So don't push me. Am I clear?"
Sirzechs paled, muttering. "You… your bluffing…"
Naruto's foxy grin was Oscar winning and by far more devilish than it had any right to be with the others, who were not the red haired Satan, wondering who here was the sage and who was the devil.
All hesitation fled Sirzechs when the raised hand began to glow slightly brighter, as if charging to initiate the threat, so he bowed his head and whispered. "Crystal."
Nodding, Naruto lowered his hand and looked over the gathering sensing fear from the fallen angel, an oozing amount of lust from the Katerea woman, and admiration from the white winged angel. Sighing, he asks. "Why are you all here? Ddraig I get, but the rest of you?"
Gabriel jumped at this chance and spoke first. "True Hero, my name…"
Naruto cut her off, irritated by the name. "I am not a hero and what the hell is 'True' about it. Like seriously…"
He was confused when the bulk of his beast council let out tired sighs, or faceplams, but listened as Gabriel replied with a soft smile, parroting his words. "Heroes do not need to claim to be heroes; their actions speak for themselves. Their aura tells all that things will be alright. Their mere presence calms the hearts of the panicked. Their will alone drives away the darkness."
Naruto raised both brows, recognising his own words during the fight with those fakers but remained silent. Gabriel took this as her queue to explain. "Those were your words to the hero…"
She shook her head, her golden curled hair flowed like linen by the action, as she corrected herself. "Your words to the Human Faction. You may not see yourself as a hero, but we do. Us angels of heaven recognise your efforts, your drive, and your will to protect thus we shall refer to you as such."
Naruto shook his head in sheer disbelief, replying airily. "I haven't even done anything. I am just trying to figure out what the hell is going on."
It was the smirking Azazel who responded next, commenting. "From what we have seen and found thus far, you haven't even killed your foes unless they were truly lost despite being able to."
Again, Naruto deadpanned. "Again, I haven't done anything like that. I am sure you are projecting."
As he waved that off, Ddraig lands on the platform edge tentatively and surely enough he did not dissolve thus folded in his wings before adding his own. "Well, I have seen and know you. I think you're a candidate for a hero we all need right now. A rallying point to fix everything that's going wrong."
Naruto glanced back at him, brow arched. "You hit your head or something during your fight?"
Looking back at the innocence given female form, the sage continued. "Listen, I am no hero. Tried that once, failed miserably…"
This surprised all but one with Ddraig let out a bellowing laughter, that irritated Naruto something fierce. After a moment, the red dragon emperor retorted. "You did not fail. Far from it…"
Taking back to his wings, the human form dragon floated in front of his newest friend and self-assigned leader and continued. "From what I have heard, friend, you were betrayed, hunted, and terrorised for the best part of three years. Yet, even now, you lack any hatred towards those who turned on you."
Ddraig held out a fist towards the sage who just stared at the familiar gesture for a moment, then up to the dragons human face that had a very serious expression as he stated. "You, on my name as the Welsh Dragon Emperor, are most definitely the very definition of a hero. Even in the darkest of nights you, our light, continued to shine brightly against the forces that dwell there."
His face softened, eyes gleaming in admiration as he finished. "A being worthy of my loyalty to fix my mistakes and problems I have long since ignored. I want to stand by your side with honour and head held high. As a true dragon emperor."
Naruto looked back to the closed fist as his council added their own Ryo, with Shukaku speaking first surprisingly. "Killing shit is always fun and all, Naruto. I will admit that without shame, however, you have shown me, shown all of us, that together we can make a true difference worthy of making. Just like you told Gaara back when we fought, being alone is painful. Stop trying to shoulder this burden alone."
Everyone looked at the one tailed Tanuki in surprise, including Naruto himself, shocked by the fact he did not screech, did not yell, and just spoke with all due seriousness. Though, Gyūki broke out of it first and added to his younger brother's statement. "I agree with that too. Or did you also forget what Itachi said back when he fought us during the war?"
Naruto looked to the eight tails and recalled when he and Killer Bee came across both Itachi and Nagato. Itachi had explained how he tried to do everything alone and failed because of it. It had reminded him that he wasn't alone back then and hearing that again, he asked them back. "But… I have you all. I always…"
Matatabi spoke up here, voice a soothing melody. "Naru-kun…"
Gaining her hosts attention, the two tailed feline continued. "You will always have us, however we can only do so much from in here. Yes, your clones are getting better and we are able to come out in shielded areas but we are still stuck in here."
She then chirped, rather cutely for a cat of her size. "Besides, having more comrades is always better right?"
Chomei added. "Indeed. We will protect you as you have us, Naruto-boy, but you need to move forward."
Son Goku commented. "Besides, that lizard is making a lot of sense right now. He used his name to make it evident that he is putting his faith in you. That should account for something right?"
The others all nodded to that, and Naruto was unknowingly shedding tears as he spoke. "I don't think…"
Kurama snorted, a hard expression on his face as he spoke. "That's your problem right there. Stop thinking. It doesn't suit you. We have your back kit. Everything else you can beat down."
His face softens as he presented his fist, adding. "Naruto. I think it is time to stop running. We are safe now. You made it. Remember what that vixen said."
Recollection flashed over his face as Naruto recalled Yasaka's words to him and the words that cracked his mask. "Lord Sage. Please allow me to welcome you to our home. Our shrine. Your new home."
Wiping his face, Naruto looked up to see all the tailed beasts with their hands atop one another reminding him of the first time he had been with them all during the war. Back when he had just learnt their names.
Stepping forward, as of on autopilot, Naruto spoke aloud their names. "Shukaku, Matatabi, Isobu, Son Goku, Kokuo, Saiken, Chomei, Gyūki – and Kurama…"
As his fist touched theirs, his smile was reminiscent of the time back then and warmed them all as he offered. "Thank you…"
Outside, it might have been because he has been in his headspace before, but Ddraig could almost see what had happened over the last five seconds within the sealed space and found himself grinning like an idiot. It grew further when Naruto seemed to refocus and match him before bumping his fist.
The two began to chuckle as of old friends which confused the others who were not privy to their inside joke. Yet, their chuckles fell off when Katerea, of all people, placed her hands atop their joined fists. Looking at Naruto then to Ddraig then back to the sage, she explained. "I may not know what is happening exactly, but I felt that I should not miss out."
The dragon and sage share a look that conveyed enough for a forth party to get in on that, Azazel's hand atop hers, drawing eyes to him as he grinned before adding. "I agree with the lady. This seems interesting. No way I am missing out on this."
Gabriel was next, almost vibrating in excitement and beaming a million watt smile. "It's going to be awesome!"
Not one to be left out, Sirzechs appeared between Ddraig and Katerea, his hand resting on the pile of them. "I can't be left behind if the old faction is involved."
Katerea rolled her eyes, though Naruto could feel the revulsion rolling off the woman in waves. His tenants were impressed with her self control and neutral expression.
A sudden arrival in the form of one Amaterasu-Omikami and a hesitant Kunou, the young Kyuubi clinging onto the goddess, their hands resting on the pile as the goddess of the sun explained. "You still have our support, Nidaime Sage of Six paths."
Kunou nodded frantically earning chuckles from the others when something clicked in Ddraig's head, voicing it. "Wait, so… six factions in some kind of agreement… with the Sage of Six Paths…"
It hit everyone at the same time, counting the faction's presented at present. Devil's New and Old, The Grigori, Angels of Heaven, Shinto, Dragon and the Youkai.
Naruto jerked his head in the direction of the two Devils, asking. "They are the same race but different factions."
Ddraig shrugged, jerking his head towards the angels. "Same with them."
Azazel interjected. "Not comparable, trust us."
Gabriel nodded in agreement, but looked sad doing so. Naruto just shrugged, not willing to argue it.
Ddraig then announced, probably enjoying this far too much. "Then, the pact of the Six paths is formed."
Naruto deadpanned at his dragon tenant, wondering if he is running low on power and grown delirious or something. Though he sweat dropped upon seeing the agreement in the others, growing after seeing each nod of acceptance. When all eyes fall onto the sage, Naruto let out a tired sigh and muttered. "Troublesome."
Across space and time, a clan of deer herders all halted in place as if someone had hit them with a pause button. With cold sweat, and gulps shared, all these males of high intellect, low motivation, look to the sky and pondered what in the log is someone getting into that is that level of troublesome. Their collective spine shudders put their comrades on high alert, the village danger rank returned to highest level.
Kouh Academy
The group returns to the ruined again academy and were surprised when there was a loud ovation from the gathered guards and fighters. Naruto was the only one confused, though the giggling from his passenger on his shoulders decided to cheer, Kunou declaring. "Mister Sage is back!"
Stepping off his truth seeking platform, Naruto immediately powers down, the remaining orbs disappearing into the wind as if never there, and takes a deep breath to steady himself. Everyone fell silent as they saw him collect himself with even the kit abruptly being pulled from his shoulders by her mother.
It has been a while since he's used six path sage mode for that long and spread it out like that too. As it pulls back from his coils it leaves them thrumming and highly stimulated due to the excessive amount of thick, heavy pressure that chakra is.
As his normal Uzumaki chakra begins to soothe these tingling muscles and coils he finds himself stretching out to get out the cracks, popping joints, and getting blood pumping. Naruto muttered, but naturally everyone heard. "Man, gotten rusty if this was all it took to get me like this…"
As he finishes up and looks back at everyone watching him, he looks owlishly at them for a moment. Eventually he looks to Ddraig and asks. "What…?"
Ddraig looks around and shrugged, answering. "You've gotten rusty?"
Naruto shrugged back, claiming. "Well, yeah… only reason I used that form was the wide range support. It was completely overkill for this fight, even if it was on the lowest setting to maintain it which, in of itself is the problem. I had to balance it carefully as to not loose it and not overpower it."
Another shrug again, as if that explained it all, when he finishes. "That was what tired me out."
It took more than a few moments before Ddraig snorted shaking his head, murmuring. "You are ridiculous for a human."
He bellowed out into laughter at Naruto's foxy smile before pulling him into a half bro hug and both bellowed out in hearty laughter as if old friends. They began moving off, ignoring the group at large though they were soon joined by the two hunters, who simply fell into step with them as if bodyguards, but it was Kunou who broke the rest from their stupors as she called out. "Mister Sage!"
Naruto's group glanced back at her, raised brow asking. "Little kit…?"
This fully broke the status and those from their little meeting stepped clear of the group and stood with him before Azezel announced. "I do think it's time we discuss the finer details of the Pact of the Six Paths."
This caught everyone's attention in totality, though Naruto sighed hard, mumbling about troublesome leaders of stupid factions and dumping stuff on him earning sweat-drops from everyone but Ddraig. The dragon just barked out in laughter causing Naruto to glare at him again.
That was until a certain, self-appointed apprentice, Nekoshou appeared on his back, that caused Naruto to grab and throw her forward, slamming her onto the ground, kunai to their throat and narrowed glare on his visage. Everyone blinked at that, none more than the thrown who looked up at him. The sage muttered. "Never… ever do that again."
The fear in her eyes earned him a hissing cat inside his head that he ignored, removing the weapon that slips back into his sleeve and stepping back as she shakily got back to her feet. The devils looked at her with a certain whitette glaring murder.
Clearing her throat, after being tugged on by her daughter, Yasaka spoke up and offered. "Perhaps we can discuss this in a few days at a venue that is not so…"
The others nod along to this, though Naruto felt Yasaka's peircing gaze upon him this time as she was no doubt listening to ensure he promises this time around and not dump everything on her again.
Kurama chuckled lowly in the back of his mind but even he fell silent at the sight of his sisters looking over at him, the whip like tails a reminder that the feline was not amused.
Letting out a tired sigh, again, Naruto mumbled. "Fine. If you are serious about this and I can get a decent night sleep, we can all meet up in Kyoto."
The other nod along to that beside Yasaka who hadn't even flinched at the announcement, eyes fixed as her brow raised and he sighed again. This time, as everyone was paying attention to the sage, they all saw him flinch from something and only Ddraig knew what it was. His laughter was annoying Naruto something fiercely.
With his head hanging, Naruto nodded as he sighs before muttering out. "I promise I won't leave like before this time."
He met Yasaka's gaze that remained on him for a few moments of silence, then again, her brow raised and he grumbled beneath his breath, unheard by most, with language the vixen felt as uncalled for and unbefitting of his noble rank. Though it did force Naruto to add. "Fine. I will stay for this stupid pact or whatever. Promise."
It took a tense few moments before she inclined her head and Kunou cheered. "Yay! We get to play together again!"
Everyone smiled at that, even Naruto as Amaterasu clapped, gaining everyone's attention, as she explained. "Then, all parties will gather in a week at Kyoto to speak on the issues that must be addressed together by the sage. Any problems with this?"
Negative headshakes and the leader of the Shinto Pantheon nodded with her firm visage before announcing. "Then, as the ruler of these lands I shall act as mediator and guardian of the Sage himself. I look forward to discussing peace with you all. Fare day to you all."
She looks to the Sage and gave him a nod, to which he returned before she vanished into a beam of light.
Azazel was next to speak, offering a hand to Naruto, saying. "I look forward to working with a sage."
Naruto eyed the man warily, sensing his fear and apprehension, asking. "Why…? Just earlier you were about to fight me for the fate of two of your own."
All were listening as Azazel let out a tired sigh, hand lowering before explaining. "Well, of the three factions, mine is the smallest and so I hold them all rather dear to me. I see them all as my family and you are a threat."
Naruto didn't react right away but thought on it. Glancing over the other fallen present, sure, most didn't have the same overwhelming feelings the others had but they were all there and very potent. As the leader, Azazel's was there too and geared towards lustrous tendencies by the feel.
Eventually though, he replied. "Fine, but I am watching you. You perverts are always a pain in my ass."
Everyone was surprised by that statement, none more than Azazel who was wide-eyed and only muttered. "Ha… how did you know?"
Naruto shrugged, not feeling like he should elaborate anymore on his statement and instead looked to Sirzechs asking. "What about you, Leader Slaver-san? Why are you sticking around?"
Sirzechs, and the new faction devils, all bristled at his statement though Katerea looked rather amused by it all. The red head stated firmly. "My name is Sirzechs Lucifer and I am the leader of the New Devil Faction. And lastly, we are not slavers."
Naruto raised a brow before looking to Katerea, asking. "Katerea-san, right?"
Upon seeing her nod, the sage asks. "Forgive me if I am wrong, but forcing something on an unwilling individual by means of external factors to override their free will is considered indentured servitude, yes?"
Adjusting her glasses, head held up imperialistically, Katerea offered a curt nod, replying. "Most certainly, Lord Sage. Most certainly."
Azazel felt the need to interject here, pointing fun at the devil leadership is always fun if not a bit childish. "I have lost a few good people to it too."
The angels were staying clear of this one, even if they happened to agree with the growing consensus. Yasaka spoke next, siding with Azazel. "As have we. It is truly a barbaric practice that has torn our families apart. Alas, we have been powerless to contend with them."
Seeing Sirzechs being cornered and ganged up on like this, Serafall stepped forward and glaring at the old Satan faction member as she growled out. "We bring them into our families. We had to rebuild our numbers after the civil war decimated them…"
Naruto raised a hand, brow reaching hair line as he asked. "By what…? Taking from the other's who had no part to play in your mistakes and failures."
Ajuka steps in, as the creator of the pieces. "I made them so we can…"
Naruto glared at the green Satan, replying. "So, it was you. Perhaps I should…"
Internally however, Matatabi hiss loudly and froze the sage as she spoke. "Calm down, Naru-kun. You are already exhausted and any more fighting will do more harm than good."
Taking a deep breath, Naruto mumbled about bossy women controlling his life which confused people that heard though Ddraig chuckled again, suspecting who.
Eventually, the Sage turned away from them all and was heading towards the forests again. Yasaka asking. "Lord Sage, where are you…?"
As Ddraig arrived at his side, the hunters already keeping pace, Kuroka had remained close to Naruto as he answered. "Something I need to do. Feel free to head back ahead. I'll catch up."
Everyone who remained was a bit too curious, decided to follow him and see what he was doing.
After the light jog through the forest, Naruto reached the clearing made from his magnet style Rasenshuriken landed and had torn the forest apart. The others who had arrived inspected the father sharp-edged trenched crater that was about twenty metres deep and thirty wide. It was like something cut through the earth with a large chainsaw.
The destruction lined the clearing another five metres around the razor sharp looking edge, this where Naruto stopped inspecting the area when Ddraig stepped beside his friend and asked. "Is this…?"
Naruto answered him with a sigh. "Yeah. My attack did this but my opponent teleported away as it hit."
Ddraig nodded, looking around before asking. "This wasn't fire nor your normal winds. It feels like electricity but it isn't…"
Shrugging, Naruto replied casually. "Never really got the hang of using lightning. It isn't very versatile in most cases."
A certain father-daughter duo in the crowd bristled at that, though they also kept a fair distance away from one another.
Naruto continued, as if there wasn't a large group of super natural people watching him. "Well, it isn't that I don't use it… just that I have better means to do the same thing. But that isn't why I came back here."
Taking a seat, Naruto entered the lotus position and all the Youkai sense the sudden shift in his chakra signature, basically vanishing from their senses, and they all stare at him in wonder. All the upper ranked beings looked at him as his power abruptly spiked before settling again.
Naruto, clinging his eyes, then went through handsigns, and now, this up close, Yasaka could see each hand motion folded the chakra in a particular way and order, as he whispered. "Earth Style: Molten core."
Abruptly, the earth of the clearing seemed to shift and churn. The shredded and fallen trees were dragged beneath the now flowing streams of mud, stone, and dirt like a blender.
Right before everyone's eyes, they watched as the ground seemed to fill and patch itself back together leaving a patch of fresh, fertilised and turned dirt, ripe for planting. It was an amazing feet that they were struggling to understand despite having just seen it. The Youkai especially had been stunned at the performance.
The two hunters, and a few others, took tentative steps forward and kneeled before the new field. Together they took up the fresh loose dirt between their fingers and could feel the minerals and microbes within it. This was damn right perfect for cultivation.
The devil's on both sides of the political divide, followed the actions of the hunters in stunned disbelief by this brief power display though neither type of angel were exempt.
Ddraig cleared his thought, glancing at everyone and stated. "Get back. He isn't finished yet."
Some looked sheepishly at that information, but all complied swiftly and got clear of the small clearing. A few seconds later Naruto took a deep breath in, then out went though another long chain of hand signs and a few noticed that the sage seemed to be sweating under some kind of strain before he stopped on the last, and both his hands glowed in that soothing orange glow again. "Wood style: Forest reparation."
Slamming both hands on the ground, sent out a wave of chakra that only the Youkai sensed but it rippled across the field and seemed to bounce off the corners of the area several times. The ground suddenly began to shake lightly, causing many to go on alert, with a few preparing their wings until out from the ground popped out saplings.
First it was one, then five, then two dozen and they grew, fast. Over the next few minutes, the crowd watched as the destroyed clearing, turned freshly tiled land, regrew back to a forest that was denser and far more luscious then the one it had replaced.
When the tree's matched the level of their surroundings, they stopped growing and Naruto let out a heavy breath, moaning. "Man… that was so damn taxing. Next time I'd just blow up half the forest so this would be easier."
Ddraig snorted at his back. The red dragon is always at the sage's back, or side as his self-appointed bodyguard and friend. Though, he also be the first to tell others about how much fun he is having in this human body. Don't get him wrong, his dragon form is superior, but when dealing with others, this is ideal.
Yasaka and Kunou were the first to step into this new part of the forest and both were immediately put at ease by the ambient nature chakra it was giving off. The Hunters were next, stepping in and inspecting the trees one after the next.
The young devils were far less hesitant than their elder counterparts and moved swiftly to inspect the area. Kuroka was already up one tree and found a perfect spot to snooze on lightly. The chakra was so cosy and soft.
All the angels however were looking to the sage in pure awe at this development, their exorcist guards not much better than their charges yet it was Sariel who stepped up beside the Sage, who was standing now and stretching out. "Lord Sage…"
Naruto looked to the silver haired lady, her wings out to display her rank. Upon his nod, Sariel continued. "My name is Sariel; Archangel of Death. I have been meaning to talk to you as you represent my antithesis not just as a sage, but it seems that as a person too."
Naruto and all his tenants raised their brows in surprise at that, the sage asking. "Then, may I ask you, Sariel-san, what you have been meaning to ask of me? You probably know more about things than I do."
Much to everyone's surprise, and her own secret delight, Sariel smiled. A true and genuine smile that Naruto seemed to catch as he wore a matching one. None really knew what to do about the two as they seemed to break into snickers and, despite it being their first official meeting, it seemed they have inside jokes somehow.
After that moment past, Sariel says. "Now that I know your stance…"
Everyone was confused how she could have come to that conclusion in just two sentences. Lady Death continued. "I wish to ask to join your team for a little while as I have much to ask and discuss with you. I believe it will be a fruitful conversation with an avatar of life."
Naruto went to deny but stopped, biting back his reflexive rejection instinct. Damn. This is hard. The tailed beasts can all clearly see his struggle to say or do anything, struggling not to just immediately turn this person away but also unable to say or even acknowledge the question.
Sensing his duress, Ddraig cut in here, suspecting that his friend will likely need a bit to escape his own fear of opening up again. "Lady Sariel, perhaps we can discuss this during the meeting?"
Sariel too had noticed how much the sage had suddenly closed off at the mention of joining the team he has seemingly gathered. At current, it seems that he had the Red Dragon Emperor, those two Hunters, and that stray devil as an apprentice. Not wanting to push things, she nods and replied. "Very well, Lord Ddraig…"
She looks to the sage, who offered a well crafted placating smile and added. "Lord Sage. My team and I will remain nearby. Should you require our assistance, please feel free to rely on us."
Naruto just nodded once, and she curtesy's briefly before heading off to regroup with her fellows. Damn. Things just started getting real. Ddraig's hand on his shoulder, drew his gaze to his friend who offered a nod, and he nodded back. No words needed.
Unknown location
"You can't be serious Bikou!" Vali lucifer, wielder of the white dragon emperor, shouted at the monkey sage currently at the door of their secret rally point somewhere in the underworld. Glancing back over his fur-lined red armoured shoulder, his brown eyes meeting the blues of Vali's, Bikou replied calmly. "I am, Vali. I need check what the ancient texts say about what happened to me. I was completely at his mercy during our ambush."
His fist slamming through the table, Vali stood up and growled. "It was a mistake. A simple miscalculation."
Arthur cut in, looking up from the sword he had confiscated back from the pawn, offering his own thoughts. "Indeed. We had hoped that the battle at large would be a suitable distraction for any allies he may have had and leave him open for our ambush, whilst restricting his own powers out of fear that he may hit an enemy."
With a frown, the holy king's descendant pushed up his glasses elegantly as he continued. "We completely miscalculated our approach."
His little sister, and rescuer, placed down a tea before him before speaking up and bowing. "I am sorry I was so late to arrive, Vali-sama, Bikou-sama, and Lord Brother."
All three men look to the only other occupant in the small, dark living room who was none other than Le Fay Pendragon. The shortest of the four at five-foot three, shoulder length blonde hair frames her blue eyes and face. Though, the large blue hat often hides both but it suited her sorceress-style outfit she donned.
As Arthur sipped his tea, Bikou let out a heavy sigh before pulling the front door open. "I am sorry guys, but I need to do this. I will find out what that Six Path Sage did before we next meet."
The door shut and Vali let out a deep growl of frustration as he dropped down into his seat, glaring at the tea presented and for a moment Arthur thought he'd waste it. Thankfully, the human/devil hybrid let out a tight breath and took the tea gratefully.
The two teens sat in silence for the duration of their tea's, though Le Fay did return with food shortly after and once she had left again, Arthur asks. "What about you? How did your bout with the red one go?"
Vali snorted, arms folded across his chest. "Bout? I was just punched around and couldn't do a damn thing."
Arthur raised a brow at that, asking. "Couldn't you just drain him?"
Frowning, Vali remained quiet this time before digging into his food. Eventually, after the food was done, he answered. "Some kind of barrier stopped me physical contact..
Arthur raised a brow at that but before he could respond, another did. "My-my…"
Both teens jumped to their feet, drawing swords or summoning their gauntlets as stepping out of the shadowy corner came a fairly well-endowed looking teen with long, pitch black hair above a cute childish face and pointy ears. The shadows seem to cling to her form making a frilly, one-piece sundress that covered her alabaster skin.
Arthur knew who this was and was now sweating, not knowing why she of all entities had appeared before them and now was really missing Caliburn right now. A glance at Vali, it seems he too knows of, or at least recognised, this person and was glancing to him in return.
Steeling his resolve, Arthur attempts to come off calm by pushing up his glasses and went to speak but she did first. "You know – word has it that you two attempted to overstep your boundaries recently. Naturally, I thought it was prosperous. There is no way two lowly beings such as yourselves would dare try and take what's mine, even after I staked my claim, right?"
Another shared glance between the two mortals before Arthur spoke hesitantly, gripping his cursed sword tighter. "Lady Nyx. May we ask as to whom…?"
Giggling far too cutely to be real, causing another anxiety induced spit swallowing, Nyx began to tap her chin in an exaggerated expression of thinking things over. Eventually, her smile fades to a thin line as she explained. "You shouldn't touch things that don't belong to you, boy."
The shadows suddenly seem incredibly hostile, and both prepared their last desperate gambit, which amused the primordial as she intends to let them flee. It will help spread her claim after all and none will dare attempt to take what she has claimed again. Now, just a little more and they'll flee with their tails between their legs.
Nyx slowly, and deliberately raised her right arm to her shoulder height. The shadows began to consume the whole room. "Now, I must punish you… for touching my cute little sage."
Immediately, Arthur called out. "Now!"
Just beyond the door, Le Fay casts her light spell, forcing the advancing shadows back long enough for her brother to teleport the three of them away to another hideout.
Now alone, the goddess of the night smiled before glancing over to the right where Oneiros stood, unnoticed by the others, and asks him. "Did you find it?"
He shook his head, replying. "Unfortunately, none of them knew anything. It seems your champion used those orbs of his as weapons and not your blessed blade."
Giggling, Nyx shrugged before twirling on the balls of her feet saying. "Ah, I guess that's expected. He wouldn't be worthy if it were so easy to tempt him."
As she disappeared from the room, her final words seemed to hang in the now abandoned hideout. "He will come. Whether he wants to or not. They all do…"
A/N: The Human Faction, pfft, has been pushed back and, with great effort on multiple fronts, Naruto has agreed to hear people out and stop running. For now at least. Ddraig is being that one guy, Katerea's moves in and plays Naruto's dislike for the slavery systemof the New faction against Sirzechs. It works wonders.
Lady Death interacts with our Life Sage for the first time and it is a mixed bag at best. Dark forces are moving, but are not united and the Pact of the Six Paths is convening in Kyoto. After their inital victory, surely none will see this budding pact as a push over and things can calm down now, right?
Troublesome.
2nd A/N: Last Chapter I alluded to the ultimate fate of the Neo-Slug Sannin. Yes, when I said Team Seven, I mean all of Team Seven. Kakashi and Yamato to the Temp Sai and the, technically rogue, Naruto. They were all there. Might include it's Lost Chapter in here at somepoint.
Same with the confrontations of various other prominent members of the Leaf. I will say now though, as it stands, only Team Eight's fates are going to be covered in an upcoming chapter and is tied into one of Naruto's biggest regrets. One of very few times dealing with the bijuu would be easier than with their container.
Lastly, the stuff in the Elemental Nation will eventually tie in later on, providing context and covering the actions of a few actors in the over arching story. This also includes the consequences of chasing off the Child of Prophecy as, we all know, Naruto's story did not end at the conclusion of the Fourth Shinobi War.
With the various Key members either missing or dead, who is going to save the world in their place?
o7
3rd A/N: If you've gotten this far, I have the general idea of the story under wraps however if... a number of shinobi could be saved and why, I may be convinced to rearrange things. Assuming they haven't already been, killed or otherwise written off. No guarantee, nor promises.
I am also aware of the fact that, at times, only certain chapters are accessible and prevents reading. I have reported it, video evidence and emails, so nothing else I can do besides finding a desktop to work on and upload from.
o7