[Phantom of the Underworld] Chapter 21 - A Challenge is Made (Patreon)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, High School DxD, or any other anime I use in this story. They belong to their respective owners.

Arc III- Shadows

Chapter 21- A Challenge is Made

"What is up, underworld? We are joining you here today, just a few weeks after Uzumaki's and Bael's latest rating games, and even now, we are still left to wonder what has happened on that day that is shaking up the underworld! As always, I'm Margret Margret with MMU gossip news, and here today joining us is the very announcer that worked on the event, William Shakespeare, as we're hoping to shed some light on the matter." A middle-aged female devil spoke on the news.

As the announcer, the same brown haired man from the rating game sat in a chair right next to the woman. "Why yes, as you know, Naruto is a character inspired in much the same ways as Hamlet, though without the desire for revenge, I hope…" Shakespeare spoke theatrical tone, waving his hands about.

Margret-Margret nodded, "Why yes, Naruto is a person known for his secrets. In fact, it is to my understanding that Naruto has yet to take any interviews regarding the match, despite the underworld's stark desire for him to do so. Why do you think that is?"

"Why yes, Naruto is a rather secretive sort, not wanting anyone to know his next move. He is quite the genius he is, crafting his outward appearance much like a novel, letting the viewer know little about him piece by piece. In fact, I believe we have yet to even see his full peerage as of now, nor do we know of his relationship to some of them," Shakespeare told her.

Margret leaned forward in her seat, "Oh, that's interesting, and would it be safe to assume that you can understand Naruto and the way he thinks?" she asked.

William chuckled, "But of course, Naruto is a character after my own heart, a protagonist so great he belongs in the finest books, I might add! And I believe I have quite the handle on his thought process."

Margret's eyes widened in surprise at his response, "So, can you tell us just what exactly happened in the area with Sairaorg Bael? Our viewers are just dying to know."

William nodded at such a question, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Why yes, I can, as the leading expert on all things Naruto, as well as my own clear judgment. I can surmise… that what happened in that area with young Lord Bael is… well… I have no idea," he told her honestly.

Nobody knew how Naruto beat Sairaorg with just a glance, or what had happened during that time.

Margret-Margret leaned back up in her chair, the illusion broken. "Oh, well, that's a shame."

"Why yes, well, I have some theories…" As the famous writer then jumped on top of his seat. "But mark my words, this next rating game that young Lord Naruto will take part in is going to be big, one for the ages even! And he will show more of his cards on his table, whatever they might be… He might even show a servant on the level of a Longinus wielder!" Shakespeare announced enthusiastically.

He would be all there for it, enjoying the ride.

If Naruto had a story to tell, then he sure as hell was going to be the one to write it.

As the newscaster turned to the camera, "Why yes, you've heard it hear, folks, we have no idea what Naruto is doing right now in the wake of his victory. Perhaps he is out partying, who knows where, or perhaps he is out planning his next rating game. Hell, perhaps he could be relaxing and basking in his victory with his own secret harem! Who knows, maybe he might even have a few kids on the way!"

"This concludes our interview here today…"

XXX

(With Naruto)

As the television played the news broadcast in the background of his office at the Uzumaki manor, as noise in the background.

Many were left wondering what Naruto had been doing in the wake of his victory. Was he celebrating, was he planning for his next move, was he taking even more secretive missions by important benefactors?

Well, he had already had the celebration, granting his peerage a pizza party with the finest pizza in the underworld as a reward for their hard work. That had been right after the rating game.

What was he doing now? Well, currently, he was organizing documents. Trying to get through the loads and loads of paperwork that had stockpiled in the last eight years, and it was alot.

"Damn it, Haku, I don't think I can take much more of this!" Naruto whined, slamming his head on his desk as he chanted about burning the paperwork.

Haku giggled, "Well, Naruto-sama, if you hadn't decided to use your sharingan for each paper to read it quicker, you wouldn't have such a headache right now…" she lectured.

"But if I didn't use my sharingan it would have taken forever…!" he bemoaned. It had taken him already this long to get rid of all the stacks she had given him, and he was putting his foot down.

"And I'm aware this is a hard job for you… I'm just glad I'm not the one doing it," she said with a smirk.

"Har, har… I'm sure it's alot more fun to be the beautiful maid instead of the hardworking noble," Naruto fake laughed, complaining about their situation.

"Here's some tea from a special herb in the underworld, it's said to help with eyesight." Haku walked up to him, with a teapot in hand, as she poured him a glass.

"Thank you," Naruto told her, taking a sip. It was a good blend, earthy yet filled with flavor, and he didn't mind the taste.

As Haku smiled at him, though she did take note of one of Naruto's earlier words. "... you think I'm 'beautiful'?" she asked, quoting his words.

"More than you'll ever know, Haku-chan," he told her, as Naruto leaned back into his chair, taking another sip out of his cup.

A faint dusting started to appear along the ice-user's face, though she hid it well. Coughing into her sleeve, "Yes, well, it seems [Tanuki-san] and his group have returned, although both he and [dog-san] have decided to reside within their lodgings for the evening. Though, [Dragon] is here to see you," she informed.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, "Vali-chan?" he questioned. What could she want to see him for?

Though he supposed he could use the distraction.

"Very well, send her in," he ordered, and with the wave of his hand, Valiana was within the room as Haku decided to exit, giving the two their privacy.

"Naruto…" Valiana looked at him, as he sat along his chair, calm as ever.

"Vali…" Naruto nodded back. Things were still a little awkward after what had happened. "Why don't you take a seat?" he told her.

"Okay, yeah… I'll do that," she said, as she sat at one of the seats Naruto had in front of his desk, a plain black couch he used for his more casual meetings.

"So, how was the mission? I hope it wasn't too troubling," he asked, and she looked at him.

"Honestly?" she asked.

As he smiled, "of course…"

Instantly, Valiana's form deflated on the couch, "It sucked! I mean, we got he mission done, but I don't like the sand at all! It's coarse, it's rough, and it gets everywhere. Even in my boots! You know how hard it is to get sand out of your boots?! Don't even get me started on the sunburns! How the hell can a sun be in the underworld in the first place!" she complained.

Naruto chuckled. It was just like how Valiana had been years ago. Things just hadn't changed.

"Well, I think it's got to do with the way the underworld was formed originally," he told her, almost mirroring what Gaara had said previously.

"Right…" Valiana rolled her eyes. "I want a good reward for this," she told him.

If she had to suffer for weeks in the desert, she hoped he would give her something good. Sure, she had attacked him, and she still felt guilty for it. But she had guessed that Naruto had gotten at least a little payback for sending her to the desert.

Naruto thought about it. Thinking of their relationship, as well as his little talk with Sairaorg on the rating game. How he agreed to try to let more people in, perhaps this would be the perfect opportunity.

He knew just how to reward her.

"Well, then… how about you and I go on a date?" he questioned.

As Valiana stood up, her eyes widened.

"WHAT?!"

XXX

(Within Sirzechs' Office.)

You know, most people thought that getting an impromptu meeting with one of the great satan leaders was a hard task to accomplish.

For him, all it required was a small message. Of course, that was after the fact that he had deserted the man for nearly 8 years. Becoming a freelancer, whom he would later recruit to save his younger sister from a loveless marriage, because he was the only one who could when his hands were tied. Earning a favor from the man. Leading for the satan to gain an interest in his abilities, seeing as he was also the reincarnation of one of the sons of Yahweh, with unmatched potential in the future. Someone who might spell the underworld's destruction as we know it.

So yeah, it was actually kind of hard.

But he had done it, and that's where he was.

"My apologies for the inconvenience for being on such short notice, Lucifier-sama," Naruto told him in a respectful tone, not trying to anger the man.

Sirzechs merely shook his head, "Nonsense, young Naruto, it is always a joy to have you around, after all, we might be siblings one day…" He told him, if everything worked out with the marriage contract, then there was a high possibility that Naruto and his sister Rias would be betrothed and wedded someday.

Naruto merely shook his head in the negative, "I don't know about that, I'm sure Rias just wants her freedom from all her obligations, and you know I just entered the contract so I could get her out of it when we grow up."

That was one of the conditions of the contract; if either one of the participants, him or Rias, outright refused to go into the marriage, then the contract would be null and void. It was a lot more lenient than Rias's contract with Riser Phenex, and the reason he had fought so harshly to revitalize such a document.

Sirzechs merely smirked at that, as if knowing something he didn't. "Well, I don't know, you never know how Rias might react to such things here in the future."

He already knew how his sister felt on the matter, and he had known Rias had long since had a crush on the young blonde, ever since childhood. She wanted to choose who she would end up marrying, well, this was her chance to do so.

She just needed to act upon it.

Naruto chuckled at that, "Don't I know it. You know, sometimes I can never understand her sometimes, I just can't tell what she's thinking."

"Haha, that's every male's experience with all women, so don't trouble yourself too harshly," the former Gremory laughed as well.

Before the Satan grew into a more serious expression, one more fitting of his title of Great Lucifer of the Underworld. "Though I believe this is not a social visit."

Naruto too adopted a sterner nature, "No, just a meeting for business, though that does not mean it will not be a pleasure. You are aware of the favor you owe me? Well, I'm cashing it in now…"

He told the man, and if he was surprised, then he wouldn't show it. He merely raised a single eyebrow. Usually, people had favors he owed them, and they kept them for at least a few years, decades even. Favors from one of the four Maou were not given out sporadically or loosely. But here Naruto was using his after merely a few months, which was quite unusual. For Naruto to need something so soon, it must be important, something only he could do.

What was it?

As the Maou leaned forward in his chair in interest. "From what I hope you are asking of me, I hope it is within my power," he told him.

Although Naruto didn't seem to be the foolish sort, he wouldn't ask him for something like a great amount of wealth or a specific woman as a lover. No, Naruto was a conniver, and what he was about to ask him would no doubt be calculated.

"That is certainly my intention," Naruto told him, as he retrieved a few documents from his Kamui dimension. "You are aware of the SS-class stray devil, the Hell-cat, correct?"

Lucifer began recalling all he had heard of the woman, and of course, he had heard of her, being all too familiar with her work.

The lucifer narrowed his eyes. "What do you wish to know about Kuroka?" he questioned. She was the wanted criminal of a sibling who was his little sister's [Rook, and no doubt the man in front of him knew the general story the public had been given. The she had killed her master in cold blood after going insane from senjutsu, hell, he probably knew that Koneko was her biological sister as well. What more could he have to offer, what more did the man want?

"On the contrary, I don't need to know anything. What I wish for you to do is to exonerate her of her charges…" He told him, giving him several of the documents he had found detailing evidence that Kuroka had not, in fact, gone insane due to a natural energy overdose. But something far more severe, detailing the fact that her original master was doing experiments on his servants, and he intended to obtain Koneko as well.

Such practices were outlawed by the New Satan government decades ago, seeing as they wanted to differentiate themselves from the Old Satans way of doing things.

As Sirzechs looks over the documents for the next few minutes, trying to see if they were authentic. He found no fault in the young Uzumaki's claim and found that he was well organized in the matter.

With such evidence, he would no doubt be able to make a case to take her off the registry.

"Very well, your documents seem legitimate, although…"

There was another matter that might cause a problem for young Kuroka walking the public.

"While this would alleviate Kuroka of her charges, she would still be classified as a stray devil, leading her to still be hunted as such. I'm assuming you are aware of such a problem," Sirzechs told Naruto.

Only for Naruto to smirk, already knowing that this would be a factor. "Let's just say I already have that covered," he merely told him, leaving no doubt in Sirzechs' mind.

If Naruto was implying what he thought he was implying, then…

A powerful ice wielder capable of stopping a longinus, a hyuga heir, and now a Nekomata with enough potential to be SS-class in ranking.

Just what sorts of monsters did Naruto have in his peerage? Not to mention, there was still no telling who Naruto's mysterious [Queen] was.

That thought made him uneasy. Just what more could Naruto be hiding in his group?

Naruto, checking the watch that Sirzechs had placed within the room, "Well, I'd rather not take up any more of your time with this. If there are any more problems, please let me know. Do you mind if I…?" he trailed off, gesturing towards the door.

"By all means," Sirzechs told him, gesturing that he could go.

Although there was one more thing he had to mention…

"Naruto… just so you know, the people who petitioned to make Kuroka an SS-class wanted criminal, the same clansmen of the man she murdered, they might not be happy with the truth getting out and her status getting revoked, besmirching their good name. You will be making enemies of them," Sirzechs warned.

"Don't worry, I'm not afraid of making enemies…"

Naruto nodded in a grave tone before he switched up to a more lighthearted manner. "Now if you'll excuse me… I have a date to get to."

Sirzechs lost his Maou appearance, adopting the 'older brother' appearance he and Rias were used to seeing. "Well, we wouldn't want to hold you now, would we?" Before he turned to his wife, who had been standing in the background, watching the whole ordeal go through. "Grayfia, would you kindly show young Naruto out?"

"Very well, Lucifer-sama…" As the woman bowed to him, but not before adding. "Though, I might add, I did not take kindly to your comments regarding women…" she told him in an emotionless tone.

Instantly, Sirzechs grew terrified, "W-well, you know… my love, it was just harmless talk between men, n-nothing more," he stuttered out.

As Naruto looked at the man, actually somewhat surprised that the Maou was feeling genuine fear right now. Up until he gave a glance at Grayfia, the strongest [Queen, whose hair was shadowing her cold eyes, as a chill ran down his frame… right, he could understand the feeling.

"Of course, Lucifer-sama," Grayfia told him, though he still held her breath. "Uzumaki-sama, shall we be off?" she asked, with a sickeningly sweet smile, as Naruto was absolutely.

"O-Of course, Grayfia-san…" he told her, not wanting to get on her bad side.

XXX

(Outside Sirzechs' Office.)

As the two walked along the halls of the Lucifer mansion, Naruto hoped to get to some form of teleportation circle so that he could be off.

You know, despite what people said, he didn't really care about the customs of teleporting. It was quick and convenient, which was the main benefit of teleportation; why throw that away just so you could parade around in your fancy cars and lord over people with your immense wealth?

He didn't really see the point.

Just because you had wealth, if you were doing anything useful with it, then why bother?

But he digressed. It wasn't his decision for rich people to do what they wanted for money. But him? He would choose the easier option.

His meeting with Sirzechs had been just as expected, though it was necessary.

If he went through normal channels, going through the judicial system, it would require alot more time, alot more work for him to get a decision ratified. And there would also be alot of red tape that would need to be crossed, namely, if Kuroka's original master's clan decided to run amok in the situation.

With Sirzechs' help, it meant that what would take years could be done in a few weeks, maybe even days.

Kuroka would be a free person, which meant he could use her all the more freely for his plans, and…

"Hey! You're standing on my tail!" a voice spoke, breaking him out of his thoughts.

He blinked, looking around as he did not see where the voice was coming from, and he was left utterly confused.

"Down here, buddy!" the voice said again.

As Naruto looked down, seeing a small creature, like a salamander that was red in appearance with a grey stomach and yellow horns, and large wings. He was small, barely a few feet long, all things considered, as he saw that he was, without a doubt, standing on the lizard's tail.

He immediately took his foot off of him, "Right… sorry about that," he immediately apologized. Now, normally, one would say it was strange not to react to a talking salamander, but he had seen talking toads, so this wasn't anything new to him.

"Sorry? You're sorry! Do you know who I am? Do you know what you've just done?!" The lizard spoke.

Naruto nodded, "You're Tanin, one of the five great dragon kings…" he knew who this dragon was, having looked at the man's image numerous times when researching figures of importance in the underworld. Though he didn't expect for him to look like a lizard…

"Yes, and you know how badly you messed up right now?" The dragon questioned.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Naruto said, not really caring, as he tried to usher himself out."Don't you leave!" He shouted, as Naruto gave a deadpan look, he really didn't want to deal with the dragon right now. As he tried to leave again.

"Hey, wait!" Tannin shouted as his form grew to roughly the size of a person standing on his hind legs, as he pointed a clawed finger at the blonde. "Naruto Uzumaki! For your actions here today and for your blatant disrespect for an Ultimate-class devil… I challenge you to a rating game!" He shouted, declaring his intentions.

"Okay…" Naruto blinked, not really thinking that he would escalate things so severely.

"Yeah, so… you should probably get your entire peerage to face me, a great dragon king you don't wanna mess with, okay?" He told him rather awkwardly, as if he were reading from a script.

"Uh-huh… so can I go now?" Naruto asked Grayfia, not even paying attention to the great dragon any longer.

"You may, Uzumaki-sama, you remember where the teleportation room is near the end of the hall?" Grayfia told him in a deadpan, as he nodded.

And Naruto was off, not bothering to look at Tanin's baffled expression.

Before the door to Sirzechs' office opened, letting the two know he was listening in on what happened.

Tannin turned to the Great Devil with an unsure grin, "So, how did I do?" he questioned his acting.

Sirzechs immediately put a palm to his face in response. "Well, you got what we intended, so that's that. Hopefully, Naruto will show more of the cards he has on the table."

He had set up the interaction between the two of them, wanting to get to know more about Naruto after receiving the blonde's request for a meeting. From then on, it was just a matter of stalling for time so that Tanin could get here and…

Well, their goal had been accomplished.

A rating game between Naruto Uzumaki and the Great Dragon Tanin had been set.

… And that was what mattered.

XXX

Some time later.

When Naruto had said he needed to get to a date, he hadn't been lying…

When people said he was unpredictable, most people wouldn't guess that he would schedule a meeting with a Maou and a meeting with the descendant of Lucifer on the same day.

And those who knew him with his usual standoffish nature wouldn't have expected that he would be the one to ask her.

It seemed this day was full of surprises.

He would be lying if he said that he wasn't nervous, though he had been to many fancy events of gatherings on his missions as a bodyguard or an investigator for his various clients. Sometimes, he even brought one of his female servants as his partner to make the disguise more believable.

This was different.

When he was at those sorts of parties, he had done it for the mission, for his goal, and nothing more. Here he was doing it strictly to have a good time with the other.

And it was that aspect that he had no idea what to do on that occasion. Here he was well and truly stumped.

It wasn't like he could ask his parents what to do or how they dated; they were dead. And he could talk to the toad hermit about it, but if he were being honest with himself, he would rather die than let the man try and control how the date would turn out.

So he went to a trusted figure in Kyoto to ask for advice, advice she was more than willing to give on the aspects of courting besides what the documents told you.

But even still, that couldn't calm the doubts within himself.

A small part of him reasoned that perhaps he had been ruining their relationship by asking her out so soon. A part of her that was still hurt by her leaving, fearing the worst that might happen should things end poorly. The other part of him, the more devilish side, called for him to be selfish, to give in to his desires, and to make her known as his.

Each side fighting for control, as he was conflicted.

It had been so easy asking her out that a part of him did it on pure reflex. The rest hadn't been quite so simple.

After Valiana had grown accustomed to her shock, she had eagerly accepted, and with a chuckle, he told her he would be taking her to Konoha for their outing. The place where they had grown to know one another, where they had trained and gotten used to living with one another.

Vali had been one of the first people he got close to after the incident with his clan, and a part of him would always be thankful for his connection to her.

Which is why, when he decided to let people in, Valiana was the first person he thought of.

Even after all this time…

He had asked her to meet him at an old bridge off at the edge of Konoha, one that went over one of the rivers that stretched through the village. How water could flow in the underworld, he still didn't quite understand, but he was more than willing to accept it, given the scenery.

The setting was nice, peaceful, all things considered. A good place to meet someone as he waited for his wayward [Queen] to come to meet him. He was early, earlier than he should have been, but he was never the type to push the important things back.

So he sat there, anxiously waiting for his date to arrive.

More nervous than when he fought Sairaorg or had a talk with all of the Maou, though he had been unreasonably calm during those events.

Here he was not, though outwardly he kept his composure.

Trying to stare at the scenery in front of him, as he held his fingers along the stone railing of the bridge. Staring at the forestry and life below, watching as the trees moved about in the wind. The river flowed and crashed as even a few fish swam through it. Rhythmically tapping his fingers along the rim as the wind flowed along with him. It was an exercise Hiruzen had taught him, one to help him relax and keep his nerves down when he needed a moment to think, not exactly something that was extremely complicated, but it could help in situations like these to pass the time.

Though he was so engrossed in such an action, it seemed an unexpected visitor encroached upon him.

"Umm… excuse me, but weren't you in that rating game a few weeks ago?" a voice sounded.

As Naruto instantly widened his eyes in surprise, instantly turning to see who this new person not recognizing them in the slightest.

The figure in front of him appeared to be a woman, and a beautiful one at that. She was a slender girl with fair skin that was pale and smooth. If he had to designate a color to the woman, it would be purple, as unnatural as her hair was, the color of lilacs, falling in long strands that reached her chest. With purple eyes, thin eyebrows, and full lips.

She didn't dress modestly, though that wasn't to say that she dressed promiscuously. As she wore the right dress that was white in color, with frills along her sleeves that were blue. Wearing a brown belt tied around her waist, and yellow pantyhose with pink shoes. A pair of red glasses framed her beautiful face. Her dress was low cut, and did nothing to hide her curves— and while she was no breast monster like Akeno, she had a well-proportioned body, with wide hips, and a slim waist that seemed perfectly accentuated by her attire.

Naruto was surprised, not only by her appearance but also by the fact that she had snuck up on him so. Perhaps he was losing his touch and had distracted himself so severely to let this woman sneak up on him.

Thought, of course, he wasn't so engrossed in his thoughts to respond to her question.

"I might be, but what's it to you?" he merely ask trying to discern why this woman had approached him.

"Oh, I'm sorry, it must have been rude to interrupt you; you're probably waiting for someone…" she told him.

Naruto shook his head, "No, you are perfectly alright, just a bit of harmless teasing on my part. Though it appears you know my name, and I have yet to know yours," he merely told her. He didn't know why, but he felt he needed to know more about this woman.

Something about her just threw him for a loop.

"Yes, it seems I have yet to introduce myself. You're Naruto Uzumaki, and I'm… you may call me Rize Kamashiro," she introduced herself to him.

"I've always been a huge fan of yours, and when I heard you were taking part in your own rating game, I knew I just had to see it," she told him.

"So you're a fan of rating games? I wasn't aware that you got the broadcasts so far out here in the underworld," Naruto questioned. He had directed the signal of his game here to Konoha, though usually the signals didn't even attempt to go out so far.

Though the woman merely shook his head, "I'm not a fan of the usual rating games; most are just contrived games for boring politics with no violence, but yours… yours I knew I had to see."

As this 'Rize' grew a smile over her face, one that did not go unnoticed, there was something unnatural about her smile; he didn't know what. Her expression did not reach her eyes.

"You see, I've always been a fan of yours and— Oh, would you look at the time, you must be awfully busy, and I don't want to interrupt any of your plans…" she told him, ushering herself to leave.

"Although, one more thing…"

But as she walked away, she turned back to him, looking back at him. And Naruto could swear that he saw her eyes change for a second, her sclera changing to a deep black, and her iris changing to a glowing crimson.

"I'll be watching you. Ṇ̶̛̞͔͉̭͖͓̭̱̍͛̅̍̈̉́̾a̸̡̛͉̟̩̼̰̙̯̼̾͛̄̉͛̐r̸̮̗̳̲̻̰̋͆͋̎̀̑͐̏͜u̷̦̥̠͛̀̅̌͑̇̈̔̏͊̃̔̚͝t̶̢̨͙̤͔̲͓̤̫̬͔̾̐͋̿̈́͋̋̾̐̐͜ò̸̤̱̘̈̆."

It was overwhelming, even larger than Sirzechs' aura. It was dark, deadly, like an array of crows onlooking their next meal; a murder.

Her presence suffocated him as his heart rate unconsciously quickened, a small bead of sweat rolling down his cheek that he could not control.

Her voice was a whisper so loud that Naruto felt his whole body stiffen. He could hear her, feel her presence as if she were right next to his ear. And then, not a second later… it was as if she was gone.

Leaving without a trace, as if she wasn't even there.

Though Naruto knew one thing… she was dangerous.

XXX

(Elsewhere in the Underworld)

Dark forces worked about.

As a dark figure walked through the shadows, his actions were familiar to Naruto, and his appearance well known.

He was a tall male, aged with time, though despite how many years he lived, he still appeared to be within the mid-point of his life. He had long hair and a beard. His hair was silver, and his eyes were a cold blue, with sparkles of silver within them, traits he would later pass on to his descendants. He wore the same attire as Sirzechs, though with a different color scheme, which consisted of several layers of white and blue robes, with gold and blue shoulderpads and armor plating on his chest.

This was Rizevim Livan Lucifer, the child of the original Lucifer, and the original super devil. He was also the grandfather of Valiana Lucifer and the object of her hatred.

He was one of the strongest devils on earth, with the only devils being able to contest being Sirzechs, as well as Adjuka Beelzebub.

At his right was a silver-haired man with blue eyes and a butler outfit, his right hand: Euclid Lucifuge from the original Lucifuge clan, and the brother of Grayfia, the wife of Sirzechs Lucifer.

And his left was Shalba Beelzebub, a brown haired man in purple armor and a black cloak, one of the leaders of the old satan faction, and a Rizevim's informant in the faction, whom he gave orders to, which allowed him to have some reach in the organization.

There was no doubt that this group was formidable, holding one super-class devil and two ultimate-class devils who were monsters in their own right.

And it would be foolish for one to try and contest them.

"You can come out now, I know you are there," Rizevim spoke within the forest.

As from behind a tree trunk, a figure appeared, a man in a dark cloak with red clouds and a spiral mask.

"What do you want, Madara?" The super-devil questioned, familiar with this figure.

"What I desire is a number of things… power, destruction, the power of the Indra, though that is of no concern to you at the moment," the masked man spoke, dropping down onto the ground in front of him.

He was a lone figure in the wake of the three monsters, and yet it seemed he did not falter. There was no fear in the man's voice, only confidence in his tone. Like he knew something that you didn't, that he was smarter than you thought he was, or that you weren't as smart as you first presumed.

Of course, Rizevim knew of this man and of his Akatsuki organization, having used the man on several occasions. The two had worked for a mutual benefit, though that wasn't to say that they trusted one another. Of course, they didn't trust each other; in their line of work, faith wasn't an option. And each person was ready to backstab the other, given the chance.

That was just how business worked, and there was no room for a heart when you were a true devil.

"However, I just came here for a little chat…"

"A chat, as if you are ever at the liberty for a simple chat," Euclid questioned, disdain in his voice at the mere meeting of this man.

"Of course I am, though you're right, I was just preparing for the war that's coming, and I had a thought, and that is… I don't quite need you anymore."

As Rizevim's eyes widened, of course, he knew the war that was coming, though he didn't think that this 'Madara' would have the gall to talk to him the way he did.

"That's right, you're expendable, and although I have valued the resources you have given, your assistance is no longer required."

As the Beelzebub walked up to him, "You can't do this, we are the true devils, the strongest beings in the underworld!" he spoke in a rage.

Squeltch.

Instantly, and before he could move, Madara's hand was through his heart, a move he had demonstrated against the Uzumaki clan in their final days oh so long ago.

"You were the strongest beings in the underworld. Now… You're Nothing."

And within an instant, Madara's Kamui activated, transporting several more individuals to their location. Transporting the rest of Akatsuki there with them.

" I'm adjusting the terms of our agreement, effective immediately," Madara told them.

As Rizevim and Euclid realized they might not be able to handle the situation before them…

End Chapter.