Phantom of the Underworld - Chapter 4 (Patreon)

6/20/2022

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, Highschool DxD or any other anime I use in this story.

Arc I- Sunset

Chapter 4-Identity

"All I'm surrounded by is fear. And dead men."

The thing stood there, perfectly still, as if it hadn't killed someone just now. What's more, its clothes were perfectly dry, even when the shower of blood looked like it had completely washed over it.

"Bastard!" The smallest of the group shouted. He then pointed his arms at the masked figure, showing that he had some type of device strapped to his wrists. It looked to be a wrist mounted rocket launcher of some kind.

It then fired a multitude of small objects at the ghost, their explosion nearly blinding the occupants in the room and causing the building to shake. Smoke filling the area of detonation.

"That ought to have taken him out." The short man said confidently.

"K-Kiho" the masked one pointed at the smokescreen.

As the smoke cleared it revealed the Ghost, no worse for wear. His clothing was in perfect condition as if he hadn't been hit at all, almost like a…

"What! How'd you do that?" The now named Kiho questioned angrily, he then pointed his wrist launchers at the figure again.

Ready to launch another volley, Kiho was stopped by Shinji, who raised his arm.

"Wait!" He ordered Kiho, he then faced the masked one of the group." Kirigiri, do it!"

To which the now named Kirigiri noded.

Just then a black smoke began to be released from Kirigiri's cloak. It's black smoke screen filling up a large portion of the room.

"Nurari!" Shinji shouted, the skinsuit-wearing clown nodded. He charged into the smoke screen.

While Shinji summoned several groups of bats that flew into the smoke at their targets.

While Kiho not long after fired a missile into the smoke.

XXX

Inside the smoke, the ghost dodged Nurari's fist that had been sent at him from behind. He then noticed several figures in front of him, each one looked like an identical copy of the masked one named Kirigiri. It seemed that he had some ability to create tangible clones within the smoke.

He sent a kick at one of the clones, with it successfully landing, from the sheer force of the blow the clone was sent backwards, knocking into the other clones next to it.

Nurari tried to hit him from the back again, however this time he grabbed his wrist. However the skin suit wearing man seemed to have a mucus-like substance that surrounded his body, joining their limbs together, when he touched him.

Using Amaterasu, he summoned his black flames; he was able to successfully burn the substance off his hand, along with Nurari in the process. He threw the burning Nurari at a group of bats. The bats sticking to the man, just as his limb had been forced to earlier in the fight. And later they were engulfed by the flames as they flew outside the smoke .

Jumping up, narrowly as another group of bats was set to hit him. The bats however, instead of hitting him, they hit another set of Kirigiri's clones.

Grabbing the missile out of the air he spun around and launched it back at the opposing direction.

XXX

"He really is something," Kabuto stated, with a hint of admiration in his voice.

Watching the carnage ensue he could tell each step was heavily planned out.

Nurari had apparently been set aflame, him flying out of the smoke directly onto Kirigiri. The black flames engulfing them both as their screams echoed throughout the room.

The ghost having simultaneously taken out two opponents and disabling the smoke screen. Without Kirigiri to maintain the technique it started to dissipate.

A missile came flying out of the smoke. The explosion catching both Rinji and Kiho within the edge of the blast radius.

The smoke dissipated, the masked figure was standing still. No scuffs on his clothing and no worse for wear.

'Fast' Koneko thought, wondered at the display. Especially as each of them had used the cursed power of the sage arts.

"Who … or what is he?" Rias questioned, both marveled and slightly terrified at the little display of power.

Her other peerage members agreed with her thoughts.

"Oh him?" Kabuto asked

Smirking, he answered." I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise, now would I? After all, things are just now getting interesting."

A swarm of bats flew straight at the figure.

However a kunai appeared from his sleeve. Throwing the object at Shinji like a bullet, much faster than the bats flying could vaguely see a faint blue outline around the blade as it cleanly cut through the bat-user's head like butter. The summons disappeared without their summoner being among the living anymore.

Kiho shook in fear at the display of power of the masked figure, him being on his back from the explosion earlier.

He crawled backwards in fear as the masked figure stepped closer toward him.

"St-Stop! I-I Give Up! J-Just Let me Go… I-I Didn't want to do this, I-" his ramblings ended as the masked figure shoved his foot directly into Kiho's head. Him suffering a similar fate as Gozu as his blood splattered everywhere.

Step, step, step. He walked toward them again.

Kabuto clapped his hands at the display. The rings of Twilight Healing on each of his middle fingers.

"Wonderful! Just wonderful!" Kabuto commented on the display. " Honestly that strength is one of the things I admire about you."

Silence

"Ah yes I really do admire you… after all the pain you went through in your life.." Kabuto stated, the masked man stopping at the remark.

"Oh, ready to listen now?" He mocked, however a kunai was sent directly at Kabuto's face

Kabuto activated his Chakra Scalpels as his hands started to glow blue as he cut straight through the kunai.

However the silver ring when exposed to the powerful lacerating energy had cracked.

"Oh no! Look at what you made me do." He said, inspecting the cracks on the ring. An evil smirk erected itself onto his face.

He channeled more of his energy into both of his hands. The powerful rings straining under the pressure.

Shatter

The divine rings breaking under the pressure as the Twilight Healing of Asia Argento was no more.

"No!" Issei screamed in rage, "Those Were Asia's Dammit! And You Broke Them!"

"Again with the interruptions."Kabuto sighed.

The snakes that wrapped around her peerage members constricted them even more.

"Ack!" Issei moaned in pain, the rest of her peerage did as well. Akeno however seemed to moan in pleasure.

The snakes then wrapped themselves around their mouths.

"Stop This Right Now!" Rias demanded, not happy with her peerage's suffering. Kabuto turned towards her.

The ghost stepped forward.

"You're in no position to be demanding anything." Kabuto stated.

A white snake slithered up to Rias's hanging position, its fangs ready to bite her at any moment. This stopped the masked figure's movement.

Turning back to the masked figure. "Now that all of the interruptions are taken care of. Where was I?" he took on a thoughtful expression

"As I was saying…after Lord Orochimaru died, I lost sense of my identity again…of who I was. I never knew my parents or homeland. The enemy took me into their custody when I was very little. I was used as a spy since I was a child, moving around from country to country. Faction to faction, for a long time the idea of homeland was alien to me. Until I became Lord Orochimaru's disciple… And now, it's gone again.

The pain of not knowing who I am or being without an identity. You understand it well don't you?" He asked.

Silence

"Who are you really? Are you yourself… or Indra's Ghost? I know you have lost everything, and with what Lord Orochimaru put you through, you must have questioned your identity? Who you were meant to be."

He turned his head to the left.

"But you had faith in your strength, and told yourself that you truly are yourself. You forged your own identity, in doing so you overcame everything. That's why your confident, and you have no doubts at all about your identity, and why you found friends who accept you so readily. But my story is different-"

He pulled his hood down.

"Instead of reaching beyond Lord Orochimaru, I stubbornly kept clinging on tightly to his power."

He took off his glasses.

"Now I have an idea about what you must have felt about yourself. You made me see, and so I decided I would be like you. That's why my path is clear to me-"

He turned his head, revealing the left side of his face. It was like an infection, his left side was white and scaly, like that of his snakes. Kabuto's eye became yellow with slitted pupils, around which were characteristic purple clan markings.

"I'm going to use what I've absorbed of Lord Orochimaru. To become a better, stronger Kabuto Yakushi!"

Shock was evident on everyone's faces.

"I will find a new identity! And you've given me a clue as to how, that is why I'm so grateful towards you. Lord orochimaru is a symbol of renewal, he will live inside me as a reminder of what I must overcome.

That's right! I took a part of Orochimaru's corpse after you had defeated him. And then I simply grafted that piece right onto my own body."

He showed his left arm, which had a similar pale color and scale texture to it.

"And since then, you won't believe the life force it's given me. Everyday I can feel it steadily consuming my entire body. It's amazing! It's unbelievable… I have to fight desperately, just to avoid being completely subsumed by it. Everyday I feel my will to surpass Lord Orochimaru reaffirm to me!" He shouted.

"You are a fool." The masked figure spoke.

Kabuto sighed as he put back on his glasses. "Maybe… but if you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." He bit his thumb.

He then raised his hand in front of him.

"But, even so… I'm not foolish enough to face you just yet!" Kabuto shouted, as he lowered his hand.

The ghost rushed toward his direction as he shouted, "Summoning Justsu!"

XXX

The church was completely destroyed, in its wake was a giant three headed snake. Kabuto was nowhere to be seen.

Off to the side of the wreckage, a black spiral appeared out of thin air.

Out stepped the masked figure that had been in the church seconds before.

Observing his surroundings he spotted the giant snake.

Holding out his hand, his right eye spun, a black swirling orb seemed to materialize within his palm. It's black orb seemed to grow larger, gaining four white curved blades on each of its sides. He pulled his hand back, and threw the large mass of magic.

'Inferno Style: Rasenshuriken' he thought

The technique flying at its target like a bullet. It striking the snake and released a large explosion of the black flames of Amaterasu. Its three heads screamed in pain as it felt flames that burned at the same temperature as the surface of the sun.

It collapsed to the ground not long after, dead. The masked figure staring at its lifeless form.

His left eye spun, a black spiral appeared out of it. However instead of sucking the figure in, it released the occupants from its pocket dimension.

Throwing the now freed Rias, Akeno, Koneko, Issei, and Kiba.

"Owww!" Issei groaned from the rough landing.

"Where are we?" He asked, Issei surveyed his surroundings, seeing the masked figure walking away from them all, his back turned.

"Where's Asia!" He asked worriedly , not seeing the dead body of his friend.

He heard footsteps in front of him and saw the masked figure holding her cold, dead body bridal style. Her body had severe burns and she was covered in dust, but he had recognized her instantly.

It was then that Asia's death hit him.

"Asia!." Issei cried, clutching onto her crisp body. The masked figure didn't say a word, turning as he walked off.

"Wait!" Rias called, the masked figure stopped and turned his head. Showing his blood red eyes with three tomoe.

"Who are you?" She asked, he didn't answer, he only turned and walked forward as he disappeared within a black spiral.

XXX

One week later

"Ria-Tan!" Her brother's voice rang throughout the ORC building.

"I was so worried when I found out what happened! Why didn't you tell me!" Her brother questioned.

Sirzechs is a handsome man who seems to be in his early 20's. He has shoulder length crimson hair and blue eyes, which heinherited from her father Zeoticus, similar to her own. He wore an expensive looking black suit with gold lining, matching pants , a white shirt and red tie.

Honestly he very much looked like a male version of herself.

"Sirzechs-Onisama, I'm fine and there is no need to worry." She reassured.

Sirzechs frowned, "Yeah I know, but you were kidnapped. And if you didn't save yourself you could've been hurt badly."

That had been the story she had told Sona. That she and her peerage had been ambushed and briefly taken hostage. Then she had managed to free herself and her peerage. However the assailant had fled and left behind a very dangerous toxin, it had to be sealed off with a barrier for the safety of the town. It had been the best thing she could think of to get her off her back.

She had neglected to tell her friend about the masked individual, and she would continue to do so for the time being. AT least until they received new information on him.

Something about the man seemed familiar, and it was bugging her.

Her [Queen] who was standing right beside her interjected. "Yes! You're right, and the way that horrendous man had tied us up like that… I felt so dirty!" Her words were contradictory to her actions. Akeno was currently rubbing her thighs together with a heavy blush adorning her face.

Ignoring Akeno for the moment she spoke, " But the point is, that we're fine. So you can get back to your duties… and how did you get away from Grayfia anyway?"

Sirzechs rubbed the back of his head, " Oh that, I kinda of teleported here when she wasn't looking." He said with a laugh.

It was then that Issei walked into the room, an intense aura of depression seemed to radiate off of him.

"Hey Buchou, are those werid black flames gone yet?" He asked, not paying attention to the occupants in the room.

He walked over to the unoccupied couch and unceremoniously plopped himself face forward.

"Black flames?" Sirzechs asked, his mind running a marathon at this new information.

Thinking quickly she told him, " the assailant used intense black flames that didn't seem to stop burning . And to answer your question Issei, the black flames disappeared last night."

"I see." He stated. However, she could see the cogs turning inside his head. Though he pushed this information to the back of his mindfor now.

"Look Rias," he told her, "the point isn't that your fine. It's that we're worried you didn't tell us. Not just me but Mother and Father as well. We all care about you and just want you to be safe."

"If you cared about me, you wouldn't force me to Marry Him!" She retorted with a hiss.

Sirzechs had a regretful expression but Rias continued, " Now if you excuse me, my peerage and I have somewhere to be."

She got up from her desk, and headed out the door with Akeno following. She grabbed her [Pawn's] arm, who seemed to have not been paying attention to their conversation at all.

All the while, The Lucifer was thinking about the conversation that had just occurred.

XXX

It had all been a blur, he could vaguely recall Akeno giving the opening statement. She had worn a white and red traditional miko outfit. He was so lost that he didn't even ogle her.

Rias had really gone all out for him. He knew that she hadn't known Asia and her death likely didn't effect her that much. But she still had gotten Asia a large amount of white flowers, an extravagant white dress and she even paid for an expensive looking casket. But none of those things could bring her back.

Asia Argento was dead.

They had decided to bury her outside the destroyed church, it being a fitting place for her to be buried. They had just been waiting for those black flames to dissipate so they could host a funeral.

He didn't know how long he stood there. Minutes? Hours? Days? He just stood there, staring at her grave. A grave he had caused, he failed to save her… and she had paid the price for it.

He vaguely heard footsteps.

"Issei." A voice called out, he turned slightly, it was Rias. She wore a black dress, it looked nice on her, and she was holding an equally black umbrella.

"I think it's time to go inside… it's raining." Oh so that was why his face was wet. He had just chalked up the moistness to him crying. Now that he paid attention he could see that, yes it was raining. A constant downpour of water from the dark stormy clouds.

"No… I'm find here." He stated, not minding the rain.

"Issei, you'll catch a cold." She told him, concerned about his well being.

"Look Rias… I think I'll stay out here for a bit." He told her.

Rias frowned. "Issei… I know what you're going through, I-"

But she was interrupted by her [Pawn].

"You Don't Know A Damn Thing About It!" He screamed, he collapsed to his knees, right in front of Asia's.

"What would you know? Your just some dumb heiress who's lived in a castle her whole life." He asked.

Rias had her head low, she clutched the vial necklace she had on with her hand.

"I had a friend," she spoke, " he was the nicest, kindest and goofiest person you could ever meet, even if he was a devil ." Rias told him.

Her description reminded him of Asia, her golden hair, her kind demeanor and her innocent outlook on life.

"He used to visit me every week and we would play, watch anime or even just talk about our problems we had that day. Even when I was down he always try to make my day better. He was honestly probably the most important person I had at the time. And his family was like a second family to me. His mother used to be so doting and his father so laid back, much like my own parents. And with how they constantly tease me and him, it was always a good time around them.

But then one fateful day… when I was ten, my mother came into my room, she told me… that they had died. That their entire compound had caught fire and their entire clan had perished.

I know it seems ludicrous, that a clan of powerful devils died in a common house fire… but that's what happened.

We had their funeral, there were no bodies to bury. When devils die, they don't leave bodies. You just vanish, fade away, and then you're gone."

She put her hand on his shoulder, " So that's why I do know how you feel. Not being able to save someone you love from death. Believe me if I could revive him I would, but I can't."

Issei stood up, his head was low, his hair shadowing his eyes.

"And Why Can't You!" He screamed, Rias took a step back in shock of his outburst . "Why can't you revive Asia? If you could revive me then you can revive her!"

Rias frowned, she reached into her pocket and took out what looked to be a chess piece, a bishop to be exact.

"Issei, do you know what this is?" She asked him.

"It's a chess piece, So What!" He said, irritated from the question.

"Close, but it's what we devil's call an [Evil Piece]. This piece has the ability to convert living creatures into half-devils." She informed, " of course there are exceptions, one of those being, if a body is too damaged, the revival will not prove successful."

Issei's mind was at work, one of the rare occasions it wasn't used to think about breasts.

"So," his hand was clenched, "If we hadn't been attacked, Asia would be here right now?"

Rias, noticing her [Pawn's] hostility, tried to calm him down. "Issei, she was a holy maiden, she's in heaven. She is happy in the eternal paradise. The life of a devil isn't for everyone, she was a nun, her sacred gear was destroyed. She wouldn't have been able to make it as a devil."

She handed him the umbrella she had in her hands, not caring that she was being rained on, and she walked away.

All the while, Issei was shaking in rage.

XXX

(Flashback 9 years ago)

It had been a year since he had gotten his familiar with Rias. Currently he was on his way to the Phenex Mansion. The Phenexs were throwing some type of party and he was forced to go by his parents.

Low and behold their house just as grand as the other houses he had been to. Don't get him wrong, he too had a large house, but he always found the need for them to be nonexistent.

He just didn't see the point in showing strength through the wealth you had. Especially when that wealth was mostly inherited or gained through political means.

But he was here, his forced to be here as he was of a Phenex blood.

His father had at one point belonged to the Phenex clan. He had been a low-class side branch member that had quickly risen through the ranks during the Great War with his cunning intellect and strength. That was how he had met his mother, he had saved her from being captured. Not knowing she was the heiress of the Uzumaki clan at the time. They had continued to meet in secret and later fallen in love and gotten married shortly after the Great War ended. With Minato marrying into the Uzumaki clan.

With his father previously being a member of the Phenex clan, he had gained some of their skills. He didn't have the aptitude for fire magic, but he was excellent in wind magic according to his mother. He had also gained a regenerative ability as well, which had been super useful at times. He could also produce Phenex tears, however he didn't like producing them, so he tried to avoid it.

From his mother's family he had gained a large amount of magic. That was something his clan was known for. He had also gain the clan's ability to awaken the Sharingan, which was a eye technique that members of his clan could awaken, where he was in the familiar forest. His clan mainly used it for things like seals, which were another thing their family was known for.

XXX

Being ushered inside to the ballroom his parents promptly left to talk with the other guests. This left him alone so he had decided to go to where the other young devils were hanging out.

Spotting someone he knew he approached them.

"Hello Sona." He greeted.

Sona Sitri was a young bespectacled girl his age with black hair styled in a short bob cut and violet eyes.

He had met Sona through Rias. The two having had a good friendship and Rivalry with each other, at least according to Rias.

"Greetings Uzumaki-San." She greeted him back.

"Oh come on Sona, we've known each other for years. I think you've earned the right to call me Naruto by now." He told her.

She adjusted her glasses and said, " And as I've told you a multitude of times, I will refrain from calling you in such a personal fashion."

He frowned, and was about to retort before he was interrupted.

"Naruto-Kun, you know no matter how many times you ask her, she won't abide by your wishes." A voice spoke.

It was Rias, " after all she's too uptight for things like that." She teased.

"By uptight she means, too refined for such lack of proper manners." Sona glared back.

An arm hooked around his shoulder, he smiled because he knew who it belonged to.

It was a handsome young man with black hair and violet eyes. He is very tall and has a muscular build due to the extreme training he has done. This was Rias's cousin, Sairaorg Bael.

He had met him shortly after word got out that he killed a Demon Boar. He was a pretty cool guy once you looked past the constant training he put himself through.

"Oh come on Sona, learn to be less uptight sometimes." Sairaorg told her.

"I believe I am acting appropriately to our current setting." She retorted, gesturing that they were currently at a ball. " Perhaps a battle maniac like you might stand to learn to be more 'uptight' in the future.

Sairaorg laughed, it was a pretty well known thing that he was known as a 'battle maniac' among the others .

"Speaking of battles," he spoke turning to himself. "Want to come over for a spar sometime, I can tell you've gotten stronger since our last one." He asked him.

He noded, "Sure we can do it whene-"

He was interrupted by another voice, "Ha, him getting stronger. He's just a half blood Phenex, from a middle rate clan not even part of the 72 pillars!" Riser insulted.

Riser is a tall and handsome young man in his teens with short blond hair and dark blue eyes.

Riser was the third son of the Phenex family. So it was obvious why he was here. He and the others had never liked him for his arrogant attitude and generally playboy wannabe attributes. Riser had an idealism that since he was a High-Class Phenex with immense regenerative abilities that made him invincible.

In accordance with this philosophy Riser had always tried to put him down on account of his father originally being a Low-Class Phenex. Him being worse as he despite being a High-Class devil, is only a half-blooded Phenex.

"Hello Riser it's certainly… distinctive that you are here right now." He greeted, holding back what he wanted to say. His mother wouldn't be pleased if he got into a fight, at least when he starts it.

"As it should, Riser has honored you all with higlorious presence." He agreed, not taking the hint that it may not have been a compliment.

"Don't you have any more women somewhere else to ogle at?" Sairaorg asked.

Riser turned to Sairaorg and laughed. "Well well, if it isn't the destruction-less Bael. "

"If it isn't the immortal chicken." He retorted back.

Riser scowled at him, but decided to change the subject. " isn't it lovely that Riser's family decided to host such a grand party? Riser knows you must be delighted seeing as how you rarely get to attend things like these. With you being denounced as Heir and all."

Sairaorg stepped forward, "Not as lovely as when I'll smash your face in."

"Riser would like to see you try you faulty Bael" Riser goaded back.

Rias stepped in to try to quell the impending argument, " Boys, boys why don't we calm down for a little while, we wouldn't want to cause such a scene right now."

"You are absolutely right," Riser agreed, " you have always been a smart one, Riser can tell you will grow up to become a beautiful woman."

He went to grab her hand, she tried to pull away, but he forced it back as he lent down to kiss it.

He grit his teeth, he could tell that Riser was making Rias uncomfortable.

"Hey Riser, why don't you go and get Rias some wine? I can tell she's rather parched." He asked, surprisingly he had complied, he guessed riser was trying to act chivalrous.

Rias gave him a grateful look, she didn't like Riser that much.

He offered her his hand, "Why don't we get out of here before Riser comes back?" He asked, she took a moment to think. She then took his hand and agreed to Naruto's proposal.

As they left, Sairaorg had one thing on his mind. "They have totally forgotten we were here, haven't they?"

"Pretty much." Sona stated.

"Want to get some wine?" He asked, she shrugged.

XXX

"What is this place?" Rias asked. Naruto had just taken her hand and teleported her somewhere whenever others weren't looking.

"This is one of the safe houses that my family has in place in case anything happens. It's just outside of a small town in the underworld named Konoha, backwater territory. So nobody really knows about this place, so nobody will know we're here." He told her.

"Come to think of it… this one was the place I was born." He said in thought.

That piqued her interest, "Really?"

"Yeah, this place is great. It's got a bunch of things, like 10 bedrooms, a living room, a library, a training area and a bunch of other cool things. Come on, let me give you a tour!" He told her.

Naruto spent the next hour or so showing her around the estate, it was very large. Although the expirence was fun, much funnier than the ball would've been.

"And over here is wh-"as he turned the corner he was face to face with something… his mother.

His very pissed off mother.

"Naruto! What did I say about sneaking out of the parties we bring you to?"She asked.

"Ummm… to not get caught?" He replied.

"Yes! " she replied.

Smack

He was promptly hit on the head, he guessed he might've gotten caught sneaking out.

"Ow!" he whined as he rubbed his wound.

"What are you even doing here?" His mother asked.

"Well I umm," he scratched his cheek, " Rias was getting uncomfortable at the party… so I kinda took her here." He said.

Kushina took this moment to think, " Rias, can I speak with you for a second… alone?" She asked, adding the last part as an afterthought.

Said girl was shrinking at the scary woman's gaze, but she nodded in affirmation.

Kushina took Rias into the other room, while Naruto wondered if he was going to get punished or not.

XXX

Somewhere outside of Konoha

(Present, 1 Week Later)

"So that's what happened." He said, after he retold recent events, seemingly to no one.

He was in his Naruto Namikaze look, so black hair and pale skin, with orange pants and sandals. He wore a black uniform jacket with an orange zipper and buttons on the waist and sleeves,

Upon further inspection it could been said that he was talking to a slab of rock… a headstone.

"Things have been different without you around." He told the grave.

"I know you're probably rolling in your grave right now… You always taught me to stay true to myself. I can't help but think about what Kabuto said. He was wrong."

He looked up, gazing at the sky, "Everyone has something that defines them as a person, that makes them who they are. It makes them... them.

But that thing that defines themselves on who they are… it isn't there for me. Ever since I saw 'them', I can't help but feel like I'm changing. That the thing that made me… me, doesn't exist anymore or that it never has.

When I was a kid, things were so simple. After I lost my parents you were there to guide me. You were there to teach me how to fight, to guide me when I felt lost. You were like a grandfather to me. But now you're gone.

Master,you were always so good at pushing, pushing me to live my life how I want to, Truth is…

You should have pushed a little harder." He told the grave.

"You know… I still have nightmares about him. What I could have done better, how I could have done something different. And the dreams aren't just about him… but everyone else too. What happens when I'm not there to protect them. I can't go through that again. Never again."

He ran his hand through his hair.

"I still hate him, and not just Orochimaru. But the rest of them too. And I've tried so hard… to forgive them, to move on with my life. But every time I think of them I still feel a burning hatred within my core. Believe me I've tried, from meditation with Sensei to even getting help from an angel."

He chuckled slightly, " I know it's a bit ironic, but it's true. An angel helping a devil, what's worse is that devil is me, but it's true.

But I still feel this intense hatred for them.

I can't help but feel that… something is coming. It might be time I start setting my plans in motion. The plans you and I spent working towards. A complete overhaul on the underworld's system as a whole.

To stop all the wounds the heads have inflicted. And that means that we start at the top, with the Great King of the Underworld first."

He walked away, stepping away from the grave of his deceased master and grandfather figure.

"Sarutobi Hiruzen" the headstone read.

All the while a pair of red slitted eyes were watching him closely, it's mind at work, thinking back to what he's just witnessed.

XXX

Konoha's Uzumaki Hideout

He opened the door, "I'm home." He called out.

Nobody answered, currently everyone in his peerage was away. According to a report from Kurama, three of his peerage members would return any day now. Those being Shark, Owl and Rabbit.

They had been exploring some of Orochimaru's other bases for him. Gathering the information Orochimaru had on various organizations and people he had collected over the years.

The door led him straight to the living room, which was equipped with a multitude of speakers, couches, a table and even a TV. This was where the majority of his peerage spent time when trying to relax. Some of them were rather lazy, he really had to push them to train. Especially Cat and Dog, who were probably the laziest of his peerage. While other peerage members did nothing but train, he was one of them, but it was mainly [Queen] these days.

Heading to one of the bathrooms to take a quick shower.

After a few minutes he came out of the bathroom wearing nothing but a white bathrobe with the Uzumaki spiral on the back.

Quickly making his way to the kitchen he got himself a glass of ice water.

Taking a sip, his stomach grumbled. Quickly heading to the kitchen he made himself a sandwich. After a couple minutes he headed back into the living room.

Taking a bit as he opened the door he was race to race with one crimson-haired beauty and an equally beautiful Ravenette.

'How is she here? There should be a system in place to keep unauthorized people out!' He mentally screamed.

Silently freaking out he turned back and tried to make his way back into the kitchen. However fate was no longer kind to him as right as he stepped forward-

Creak

Slowly turning around he was face to face with Rias Gremory and Akeno Himejima.

He said the only thing that could come to his mind,

"Hey!" He greeted.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"

End Chapter

AN:alright in this chapter we learned alot… while also learning very little, let me explain:

We find out that Naruto had some incidentregarding Orochimaru.

Additionally Naruto has come into contact with the curse mark before. (The two may be related)

We find out that Naruto has identity issues.

Naruto knows an angel.

We find out the 'official' story of Naruto's clan's destruction.

Naruto was taught by Hiruzen Sarutobi and another person entirely.

Kabuto's motivation (taken from Naruto Shippuden ep.122)

And that Naruto has a fear of the death of his loved ones.

And Naruto's ultimate goal: a COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE ENTIRE UNDERWORLD.

I tried to give things away without actually giving things away. This creates tension and a mystery. I'm not going to give Naruto's full backstory for a while. Not until the end of the first Arc, so about 6-7 chapters (or the end of the Phenex arc).

But a brief summary is that for about 8 years Naruto has been gaining peerage members, training and completing missions.

I hope I did the fight scene right, I wanted Naruto to seem powerful but also smart at the same time, as for power level I'd put him at mid-high ultimate class, so powerful but not the most powerful yet.

Kabuto is also a really good character who gets pushed aside a lot. He's insanely strong with edo tensei and his backstory is pretty tragic.

"Ever since I saw them, I can't help but feel like I'm changing." Who is Naruto referring to? (Answers is the chapters to come.)

Asia Argento is dead. Big shocker, but I've got to say one thing… I'm not sorry. Originally I wasn't going to kill her off. However with all that dialogue in the death scene I decided it had to mean something.

Also DxD has a VERY large cast. So I can't exactly keep up with everyone of them in my story.

I don't hate Asia or even Issei, but I wanted the character development to continue and with this it does. Also, I'm going to try stay away from cliches, I want to try something a bit more original. I've never seen a story where Asia dies. So yes… I killed a character off just because I could. I probably will do it again.

Also a bit of info on his peerage's personalities.

Plus the main location of where Naruto has been for the past 8 years.

Next chapter we'll be seeing Rias and Naruto meeting, finding out how she put together Naruto was alive and even a few of Naruto's peerage members in Shark, Owl and Rabbit. Plus some info on the Uzumaki clan, Sharingan and Indra Otsutsuki.

If you didn't notice, Naruto's Mangekyo abilities are Left eye: Amaterasu and Right eye: Kamui (short range), he also has a tsudo Kagutsuchi (Sasuke's ability to control Amaterasu,) becuase of his Phenex blood.

But what color should I make his Susanoo? Purple ( like Indra's and Sasuke)? Orange? Light blue (like Hagaromo or Kakashi)? White or maybe even black?

I want to talk more, like why I made Naruto have attachment issues, but this getting too long. I'll explain more in the next chapters so please wait.

Shoutout to those who recognized the Bendy and the ink machine line and Megamind reference.

Ja Ne