Restaurant Kun'O
The luxurious atmosphere of the upscale restaurant Kun'O, usually filled with the casual chatter and laughter of its patrons, suddenly turned tense. The air felt heavy, even though the air conditioning was working at full capacity. Several diners began to grow restless, though they couldn't quite understand why they suddenly felt the urge to leave. The crystal glasses trembled faintly, as if responding to the presence of an entity beyond human comprehension.
A woman with snow-white hair and golden eyes that radiated undeniable authority walked gracefully toward a corner table. Her white kimono, adorned with golden patterns, seemed to emit a faint glow, affirming her status as a being far beyond ordinary humans. Every step she took was light, barely touching the floor, as if she were gliding through the air.
The restaurant staff instinctively bowed their heads as she passed. One of them even dropped a tray of drinks, his human instincts screaming danger, though his logic couldn't explain why.
Across from her, a man with fiery red hair and cold, mysterious ocean-blue eyes sipped black coffee. Though he looked no older than a seventeen-year-old teenager, the aura around him was dark and deadly, as if the shadow of death itself followed him everywhere. His long, pale fingers toyed with a silver spoon with a grace too refined for any human.
"Long time no see, Amaterasu no Oomikami," the man said, his voice calm yet laced with mockery. His thin lips curled into a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"Long time no see, Usotsuki Naruto," the sun goddess replied, sitting across from him with perfect posture. Her sharp gaze seemed to pierce straight into his soul. Her palm gently touched the table's surface, calming the faint vibrations that had begun to form around them.
Naruto—a legendary hybrid of vampire and kitsune, a hunter whose name was feared by gods and demons alike—merely smirked. His small fangs glinted briefly behind his lips. "My time is limited, oh Sun Goddess. I still have work to do." He glanced at his wristwatch, a deliberate gesture to show his disinterest.
Amaterasu sighed. Her breath was like a summer breeze—warm and revitalizing. "How rude. Fortunately, the Shinto gods aren't as rigid as those from other pantheons." She stared at him with an intensity that made the room's temperature rise. "I wish to hire you, oh Hunter of Darkness. I want you to guard Kuoh City for me."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, his expression shifting to mild interest. "Isn't Kuoh already guarded by two devils under your contract?" His voice carried ancient knowledge, as if he had witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations countless times.
The sunlight streaming through the windows seemed to avoid Naruto's figure, creating a stark contrast with the goddess, who appeared bathed in light.
The goddess scoffed in annoyance. "Are you really asking a foolish question you already know the answer to, oh kitsune descendant?" Her voice trembled with divine power, causing several glasses at nearby tables to crack. The flowers in vases throughout the restaurant suddenly bloomed fully, releasing an intoxicating fragrance. The restaurant owner panicked, trying to call security, but his phone abruptly died.
Naruto merely chuckled, unaffected by her display of power. "Of course not. Only fools trust devils." He took the last sip of his coffee and set the cup down softly. "Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri—both are still too young and naive. You need someone... more experienced."
Amaterasu tilted her head, her snow-white hair swaying gracefully. "The salary I offer is 200 billion yen."
Naruto's eyes gleamed, shifting from blue to red for a split second. Money had always been his weakness. Despite being over two thousand years old, his kitsune cunning and love for wealth never faded. "A tempting amount," he murmured, tapping the table with an ancient rhythm.
"Very well, I accept. But I want your permission," Naruto said, his sly grin widening, revealing longer fangs than before.
Amaterasu already knew where this was going. Her golden eyes narrowed slightly. "You may sleep with all my subjects, but ensure you don't hurt them too badly," she said with a tired sigh. At the end of the day, the man before her was still a man—lust was in their nature. "And don't even think about touching those underage, Naruto. Even my patience has limits."
Naruto burst into laughter, his voice echoing within the illusion he had cast around their table—shielding their conversation from ordinary human ears. "Ah, you understand me well, Amaterasu. Don't worry, I have my own standards."
"How long will you stay in Kuoh?" the goddess asked, her slender fingers lifting a teacup that had suddenly appeared before her.
"As long as necessary," Naruto replied. "Kuoh is becoming the center of attention for many factions. Fallen angels, rogue devils, even some exorcists from the Church are watching this city." He grinned. "Something big is coming, and you want me to be both an observer and a controller. Am I right?"
Amaterasu sipped her tea elegantly. "You've always been sharp, Naruto. Yes, great forces are moving. The three main factions are gathering their power. And Kuoh is right in the eye of the coming storm."
"And you want to ensure your precious humans don't get caught in the crossfire," Naruto added. "Fine, I'll start tomorrow. Anything else I should know?"
The sun goddess produced a small golden envelope from her kimono. "Here are the details. And remember, Naruto—though you work for me, never think you can betray me. Even with your current power, I can make you suffer for millennia."
Naruto took the envelope, tucking it into his jacket pocket, which somehow remained perfectly unwrinkled. "That goes without saying, oh mighty goddess. I value my own life too much."
With that, Amaterasu gave a small nod and stood. "Until we meet again, Usotsuki Naruto. May this hunt satisfy you." She walked away, her body gradually fading into golden particles of light before vanishing completely.
After the goddess's departure, the restaurant's atmosphere returned to normal. The uneasy patrons resumed their conversations and laughter as if nothing had happened. Naruto stared at the golden envelope in his hand with a cunning smile. "Kuoh City... here I come."
Kuoh City Hotel
Naruto stood on the balcony of his luxurious suite in Kuoh's finest hotel, gazing at the city as dusk settled over it. The night breeze carried the distinct urban scent—a mix of vehicle exhaust, street food, and a faint metallic tang from the underworld, detectable only by beings like him.
He wore a black silk sleeping robe, contrasting starkly with his pale, almost corpse-like skin. His long fingers held a glass of red wine, its aroma far stronger than ordinary wine—a special vintage infused with a drop of virgin blood from his private collection.
Two thousand years of life was no short span. For a hybrid vampire-kitsune like him, it was just another chapter in an eternal game. "Well then... Let's see the state of this city," he murmured, his voice like a hissing wind cutting through the darkness.
With a casual flick of his finger—
Sreeeek—!
Thousands of miniature bats—each the size of a fist—emerged from his own shadow, swirling like living black smoke. Their red eyes blinked in unison before scattering in all directions. Each bat carried a fragment of Naruto's consciousness, allowing him to see and hear everything they encountered.
"Spread across every corner of the city. Do not drop your invisibility," Naruto commanded, his eyes flashing red momentarily.
The bats shot off instantly, their forms blending into the darkness, nearly imperceptible to ordinary eyes. They were his extended senses—countless eyes and ears.
Unlike pure vampires, who were bound by classic weaknesses—sunlight, holy energy, even garlic (which Naruto found utterly ridiculous)—he was free from all of it. His kitsune blood neutralized every vampiric weakness, granting him absolute freedom to move, day or night.
"No wonder Amaterasu hired me," he mused, sipping the deep red wine in his crystal glass. The liquid shimmered under the room's lights like freshly spilled blood. "Not many can move as freely as I can among the three factions."
His ocean-blue eyes shifted into feline slits, projecting everything his bats saw. Through their eyes, he observed all of Kuoh—from the dark alleys to the opulent halls of Kuoh Academy.
The academy itself caught his attention. Behind its elite school façade, the place was teeming with supernatural energy. Some of his bats hovered around the old building, sensing two powerful auras—one from the clubroom on the right wing, the other from the student council office on the left.
"So that's their base," Naruto murmured. "Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri."
One of his bats captured an interesting scene in a secluded warehouse on the city's outskirts.
Two figures were fighting—one with an elegant water aura, the other with tattered black wings.
"The Sitri heiress versus a fallen angel? Interesting," Naruto smirked, downing his wine in one gulp.
Sona Sitri, the student council president and heir to the Sitri devil clan, stood calmly yet ready for battle. Her red-framed glasses glinted under the moonlight, her short black hair shifting slightly as she adjusted her stance. Behind her, several members of her peerage stood in a tight defensive formation.
Before her, a fallen angel with half-destroyed black wings raised a sword of light. His tall, gaunt figure was shrouded in a dark aura, thicker than that of an ordinary fallen angel. His glowing red eyes and disheveled white hair completed his menacing appearance.
"You think you can interfere in Kuoh's affairs, devil?!" the fallen angel snarled, his voice hoarse with hatred.
Sona adjusted her glasses with a fingertip, her gaze cold and calculating. "This city is under the protection of the Gremory and Sitri clans. You were not invited." Her voice was calm but firm, befitting a true leader.
With a swift, precise motion, she raised her hand—water from a broken pipe nearby shot forward like a serpent, coiling around the fallen angel. A blue magic circle appeared beneath his feet, emitting the cold energy characteristic of the Sitri family.
But the fallen angel laughed, the sound like shattering glass. "You're weak, devil!" His body emitted an unnatural purple glow.
The corrupted light sword burned brighter, slicing through the water bindings as if they were mere threads. Sona frowned—this was no ordinary opponent. Normally, Sitri's water was difficult for low or mid-level fallen angels to break.
Naruto observed closely from afar through his bat's eyes. "Hmm... A mid-level fallen angel. But why is he bold enough to attack directly?" He tilted his head, sensing something amiss.
Suddenly, he noticed something—a small seal on the fallen angel's arm, half-hidden beneath his black robe.
"Oh? The mark of Kokabiel's Cult?"
Kokabiel's Cult—a group of extremist fallen angels who followed Kokabiel, one of the fallen angels' warlike leaders. They often orchestrated small conflicts like this, attempting to stir tensions between the three main factions of the supernatural world.
Naruto sighed, placing his empty wine glass on the small table beside him. "And here I was hoping to relax," he thought, mentally cursing Amaterasu. He should have asked for more money—this job was clearly more complicated than he'd anticipated.
"But a little intervention won't hurt," he murmured, his fingers moving in an intricate pattern through the air.
The two-thousand-year-old hybrid snapped his fingers, sending a clear mental command. The bat observing the battle suddenly doubled in size, its wings darkening before it swooped down. With a speed invisible to ordinary eyes, it attacked the fallen angel—its fangs piercing his chest before tearing through his neck, splitting his body in two with a single brutal strike. Blackish-purple blood spurted from the bisected corpse, killing him instantly.
Sona and her peerage froze in shock at the sudden intervention of the mysterious bat. The fallen angel's body collapsed, slowly dissolving into black particles that faded into the air.
"Sona-sama... Is this bat a familiar?" asked Tsubaki, the student council vice president and Sona's queen. The long-haired girl stood defensively, ready to face the giant bat now hovering before them.
"No... This bat doesn't feel like an ordinary familiar. I don't sense a familiar contract seal on it. It's likely a vampire's creation," Sona replied warily, water pooling in her hands in case of further attacks.
The bat flew low, its red eyes glowing in the darkness. "No need to worry, young devil. My master has no interest in weaklings like you," it rasped, its ability to speak startling everyone present. A talking familiar was no ordinary feat—it spoke volumes about its owner's power.
Saji, one of Sona's peerage members with spiky blond hair, scowled, his face reddening with anger.
"Hey... Who are you calling weak, you damn bat?!" he snapped, stepping forward with clenched fists.
Sona and Tsubaki facepalmed simultaneously. They knew Saji was hot-headed, but he should have known better than to rise to such obvious bait—especially against an unknown entity far stronger than the fallen angel they'd just fought.
"Enough, Saji!" Sona commanded sharply. Saji reluctantly stepped back, though he continued glaring at the bat. Sona then turned to the giant creature. "I don't know who your master is, but tell him I owe him a life debt," she said diplomatically.
The bat merely nodded before flying off, its body shrinking back to normal size as it vanished into the night.
Back in his hotel room, Naruto smirked as he watched the interaction through his bat's eyes. "Hmmm... There might still be hope for devils," he mused, refilling his glass with deep red wine. Of course, he knew that hope rested solely on Sona Sitri. On the other hand, Rias Gremory hadn't left a positive impression. From his initial observations, the red-haired girl was too spoiled, weak in strategy, and useless in critical situations—a manifestation of modern devils coddled by their family status.
His other bats reported various activities across the city—from rogue devils hiding in abandoned buildings to small groups of fallen angels gathering in an old church on the outskirts.
However, Naruto's attention was diverted when one bat captured a surprising sight—a beautiful long-haired girl in a school uniform talking to a brown-haired boy in a park.
"Yuuma-chan, you really want to go on a date with me?" the boy asked, his face glowing with typical teenage excitement.
"Of course, Issei-kun. How about this Sunday?" the girl replied with a sweet smile that didn't reach her eyes.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. The girl's aura was clearly not human—a disguised fallen angel. And the boy...
"Hyoudou Issei, the wielder of Boosted Gear," Naruto murmured, his grin widening. "How interesting."
'Hmm... It seems I'll need to protect Hyoudou Issei up close,' Naruto thought, observing more closely. It was obvious the girl—or rather, the disguised fallen angel—was after the Sacred Gear sealed within the boy.
Supernatural beings, especially ancient and long-lived ones like himself, were well aware of Sacred Gears—divine artifacts created by Elohim, capable of harming and even killing gods, sealed within certain humans.
Hyoudou Issei was one such wielder. The Sacred Gear within him was the Boosted Gear, which allowed its user to double any form of power. It was classified as a Longinus, housing the soul of a Heavenly Dragon—Ddraig, the Welsh Dragon, one of the legendary Two Heavenly Dragons.
Well then... What disguise should I use to approach him?the vampire-kitsune hybrid pondered, licking his lips in anticipation. Hyoudou Issei was undeniably attractive in a naïve, innocent way—he'd have fun soon enough. But beyond that, a Longinus Sacred Gear was a valuable asset that couldn't fall into the wrong hands.
Naruto sat on the edge of his lavish bed, reviewing the documents from Amaterasu's golden envelope. Detailed information about Kuoh City, maps of supernatural energy signatures, full profiles of the two devil heiresses overseeing the city, and notes on recent suspicious activities.
"Hm, so Azazel has eyes here too," Naruto mused, reading reports of the fallen angel governor's disguised appearances in Kuoh. "And Grigori is moving independently without their leader's knowledge."
He tossed the documents aside and lay back, hands behind his head. "Kokabiel, huh? He's always been trouble." His blue eyes stared at the ceiling, recalling his encounter with the silver-haired fallen angel centuries ago on a European battlefield.
Naruto stood and walked to the window, gazing at the city now cloaked in night. Streetlights and skyscrapers twinkled like artificial stars, creating an urban contrast against the dark sky.
"So, this is the den of young devils," he murmured, fingers touching the cold glass. "And they don't even realize the storm coming."
Naruto closed his eyes, sensing the faint currents of supernatural energy across the city—like a complex spiderweb, with key hubs of activity. Kuoh Academy as the strongest focal point, the old church on the outskirts as the second, and scattered minor energy signatures elsewhere.
"I need a new identity," he muttered, reopening his eyes. "A substitute teacher at Kuoh Academy, perhaps? Or..."
A sly grin spread across his face as a brilliant idea struck. "Ah, of course. Why not just become a student? I can easily manipulate the administrative staff's memories."
He snapped his fingers, and his attire instantly changed into Kuoh Academy's uniform—black pants, white shirt, black blazer with gold accents. His youthful appearance allowed him to pass as a high school student effortlessly.
"Naruto Uzumaki, third-year transfer student," he murmured, examining his reflection in the window. "Perfect."
With this disguise, he could monitor Hyoudou Issei up close while keeping tabs on Rias Gremory and Sona Sitri. Three birds with one stone.
Naruto returned to the bed, picking up his phone. With a few taps, he remotely accessed the school's database—a skill honed over centuries of living among humans. Minutes later, complete records for "Naruto Uzumaki" were embedded in the system, complete with an impressive fake academic history and a recommendation letter from a prestigious Tokyo school.
"Digital manipulation is so much easier than forging physical documents," he mused, smiling in satisfaction.
His phone then buzzed, displaying a message from an unknown number.
"What are you planning, Usotsuki?"A short but clear message from Amaterasu.
Naruto chuckled softly. Of course, the sun goddess was always watching."Entering the devils' den,"he replied succinctly.
A response came shortly:"Don't draw too much attention. There are spies in Kuoh even I can't fully detect."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, intrigued."Who?"
"Not sure. But be cautious. They may be after you too."
The final message gave Naruto pause. If there were entities even Amaterasu couldn't clearly detect, they were truly dangerous. Perhaps remnants of the Old Satan Faction? Or even...
"The Khaos Brigade," he whispered to himself. The supernatural terrorist group led by one of the Great Dragons—Ophis, the Ouroboros Dragon. A faction even the three main powers hesitated to confront directly.
Naruto exhaled deeply. "This just got more interesting." He reached for his half-finished wine. "Seems 200 billion yen isn't enough for all this."
But then he smirked. He could feel it in his blood—chaos was coming, and he would be at the center of it. It thrilled him. He loved chaos. For two thousand years, he had watched everything from the shadows. Order disgusted him. His kitsune blood craved disorder like moths to a flame.
"Be cautious...? You're mistaken if you think I'd lose to them, oh mighty Sun Goddess. I'll show them that Usotsuki Naruto is not to be underestimated,"Naruto thought, his smile cold. He would ensure his name was once again spoken in fear. The more they cursed him, the happier he'd be. A creature born of two darknesses would rise again, bringing chaos and suffering. Not even the gods could stop what was coming—he'd make sure of it.
Usotsuki (嘘月) - False Moon