Chapter 6: The Devil's Waltz
Minato Namikaze shot forward, Rasengan in hand, golden chakra flickering around him like a divine beacon. His speed blurred the air, the signature Flying Raijin technique making his movements impossible to predict.
Lucifer, still holding his wine glass, let out a sigh of amusement. Oh, how delightful. He really is fast.
Minato closed the gap in an instant, the Rasengan screaming as it tore through the air. But just before impact
Lucifer took a single step sideways.
Minato's attack hit nothing but empty space. His sharp eyes barely caught Lucifer pivoting with casual elegance, twirling his wine glass effortlessly.
"Lovely technique," Lucifer mused, swirling the crimson liquid in his glass. "Really, it's quite dazzling. But you see" He raised his free hand and flicked Minato on the forehead.
A shockwave burst outward.
Minato vanished in a flash of yellow, appearing several meters away, kunai already spinning between his fingers. His forehead stung from the mere flick. He barely moved…
Jiraiya took the chance to summon Fukasaku and Shima, his face already shifting into his imperfect Sage Mode. "Enough playing around!"
From the other side of the battlefield, Guy exploded forward, veins bulging, steam erupting from his body. "SEVENTH GATE, OPEN!" The air around him ignited with sheer force, blue vapor roaring outward.
Kakashi, blade crackling with lightning, charged in tandem, followed by Fugaku and Shisui, both materializing their Susanoo, ethereal warriors rising with blazing chakra weapons. Tenzo rooted his feet to the ground, hands flashing through seals as towering wooden pillars surged forth, attempting to ensnare Lucifer.
Lucifer's eyes gleamed.
"Oh, now this is getting interesting."
---
Hidden behind a jagged rock, Obito watched as the Devil, his supposed savior, fought against Konoha's finest without even putting down his wine. His gut twisted with an unfamiliar emotion.
What... is this thing?
For all his years preparing to bring forth the Moon's Eye Plan, for all his training under Madara Uchiha himself, nothing had prepared him for this.
Lucifer Morningstar didn't move like a ninja. He didn't move like a god.
He moved like a man who simply didn't care.
And that terrified Obito more than anything else.
---
Fugaku's Susanoo swung it's massive sword, the blade cleaving down to cut Lucifer in half
Lucifer caught it between two fingers.
He sipped his wine.
Fugaku's eyes widened. Impossible.
"You Uchiha and your oversized chakra dolls," Lucifer drawled. "Always compensating, aren't we?" With a lazy twist of his wrist, he snapped the sword in half, sending Fugaku staggering back.
Shisui blurred forward with a Body Flicker, his drill-like lance of Susanoo spinning rapidly as he aimed straight for Lucifer's heart.
Lucifer flicked his wrist, and suddenly, gravity itself betrayed Shisui.
The young Uchiha felt himself flung in reverse, spinning mid-air uncontrollably. "What?!"
"Up you go!" Lucifer chuckled, sending Shisui flying skyward like a ragdoll.
At that moment, Jiraiya clapped his hands.
"Fukasaku! Shima! Now!"
"Senpō: Goemon!" The elder toads spewed out a scorching river of oil, wind, and fire, creating an inferno large enough to swallow the battlefield.
Lucifer stood there.
The flames engulfed him entirely. The heat was blinding, the cavern itself trembling from the sheer force of the attack.
For a moment, silence.
Then
Lucifer walked out of the fire, completely unharmed, drinking the flames like they were mist. He exhaled, and breathed fire back at them, a hellish torrent of destruction.
Minato teleported the flames with Flying Thunder God: Guiding Thunder technique.
"Really, Jiraiya? You use fire against me?" Lucifer smirked. "You do realize I invented this stuff, right?"
Guy launched himself forward, fists igniting like meteors. "TAKE THIS, MORNING PEACOCK!"
A barrage of fists faster than the eye could track erupted against Lucifer.
Each impact sent a shockwave, but Lucifer barely flinched. Instead, he simply raised his pinky, and suddenly, Guy was pinned to the ground, gravity increasing a hundredfold.
Guy growled, veins bulging as he tried to push up. "Damn it !"
"Strong will. I respect that," Lucifer said. "But you should try relaxing. Too much strain isn't good for the heart."
Kakashi appeared from behind, lightning blade aimed straight at Lucifer's neck.
Lucifer caught it between his teeth.
Kakashi froze. "WHAT?!"
Lucifer bit down, snapping the blade apart. He gave a casual wink. "Shocking, isn't it?"
Kakashi leaped back, his mind racing. This is insane.
---
Anko Mitarashi cracked her whip of snakes, commanding them to strike Lucifer down, only for them to suddenly...
...coil around his legs, nuzzling against him.
"H-Hey! What the hell?!" Anko shouted.
Lucifer looked down at the affectionate serpents and smirked. "Oh, darling, you didn't know? I love snakes. Used to be my signature creature, you know." He knelt and stroked one under its chin, earning a happy hiss. "Who's a good little viper? You are~"
Anko gawked. "TRAITORS!"
Lucifer snapped his fingers, and suddenly, Anko was floating.
"Now, now, dear," he teased. "How about we take this a little slower?" He gently spun her in the air like a lazy twirl, grinning.
"PUT ME DOWN, DAMN IT!"
---
Minato reappeared behind Lucifer, this time glowing with Sage Mode. His golden pupils sharpened, his presence amplified.
Lucifer raised an eyebrow. "Oh? You've finally decided to take this seriously?"
"Enough games," Minato said. "Rasen Senkō Rendandan!"
A flash of yellow.
A barrage of Sage-enhanced Rasengans exploded against Lucifer in rapid succession. The entire battlefield trembled.
Dust and debris clouded the scene. The shinobi took cautious steps forward, waiting for any sign of movement.
Then
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Lucifer walked out of the dust cloud, clapping.
"Now that was something," he grinned. "You're really pushing yourselves now. I'm almost impressed."
Minato's jaw tightened. He's barely trying.
Lucifer smirked. He raised his glass, now empty.
"Tsk. I'm out of wine."
He flicked his fingers. A new bottle appeared in mid-air. He popped it open, pouring himself another drink.
"Tell you what," Lucifer said, swirling the liquid. "Let's go another round, shall we?"
The shinobi tensed.
Lucifer took a sip.
And then
He smiled.
___
Chapter 7: The Devil's Finale
Lucifer took another sip of his wine, sighing with content as the rich flavor coated his tongue. Mmm, a fine vintage. He swirled the liquid lazily, crimson eyes gleaming with amusement as he glanced at the battered and exhausted shinobi before him.
"Well," he drawled, "this has been fun, hasn't it? Exercise is good for the soul." He smirked.
The Konoha forces stood their ground, bodies aching, breathing heavy, but their spirits unbroken. Minato wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. Jiraiya steadied himself on one knee, Ma and Pa Toad panting on his shoulders. Guy's Seventh Gate aura flickered as he gritted his teeth, his fists clenched tight.
The others, Asuma, Kurenai, Anko, Itachi, Shikaku, Choza, Shibi, Tsume, Hiashi, Inoichi, Yugao, Tenzo, Kakashi, Shisui, Fugaku, stood shoulder to shoulder, their combined will burning stronger than ever.
This thing, this so-called Devil was barely taking them seriously. That fact alone made them furious.
Shikaku narrowed his eyes. "Troublesome." His mind raced. "We need a strategy," he muttered to Inoichi.
"Obviously," Inoichi snapped, sweat dripping down his face. "But what the hell do you suggest?"
Shikaku took a breath, activating his Shadow Imitation Jutsu without hesitation. "We're going to bind him. That's the only way we stand a chance."
"Bind me?" Lucifer he thought with a chuckled
In an instant, Shikaku's shadow shot out, stretching toward Lucifer's feet.
Lucifer yawned.
The shadow suddenly froze in place, unable to move further.
Shikaku's eyes widened. "What?!"
"Law Manipulation, dear boy," Lucifer sighed, wagging his finger. "I simply decided that shadows should not bind me."
Shikaku cursed. "This guy is a nightmare..."
"Then let's make it his nightmare!" Anko grinned, cracking her knuckles.
At her command, dozens of venomous snakes burst from her sleeves, slithering toward Lucifer like a tidal wave of fangs.
Lucifer sighed. "We've been over this, darling. The snakes love me."
The snakes immediately curled around his legs, happily hissing in affection. One wrapped around his arm like an eager pet, nuzzling against his wrist.
"WHAT THE HELL, YOU TRAITORS?!" Anko screeched.
Lucifer gently patted the snake's head. "There, there. Good boy."
Anko stomped her foot in frustration. "I hate this guy!"
"Enough talking! We hit him all at once!" Minato commanded.
Instantly, the battlefield exploded into action.
Kakashi launched forward with his Raikiri, moving in perfect sync with Guy's Hirudora.
Asuma swung his chakra blades, the wind chakra extending like lethal razors.
Kurenai cast a genjutsu, weaving illusions to distort Lucifer's senses.
Shisui blurred in and out of reality, his Susanoo striking with rapid precision.
Fugaku activated Amaterasu, black flames roaring toward Lucifer.
Tenzo created massive wooden dragons.
Inochi launched his mind transfer.
It was a perfect, synchronized assault.
Lucifer took another sip of his wine.
Then
With a snap of his fingers, gravity shifted.
The shinobi froze mid-attack, their bodies suddenly weightless. They floated, helpless, their weapons and techniques halted in mid-air.
Lucifer smirked. "I do love a good group effort."
With a lazy flick of his wrist, he reversed gravity, sending everyone crashing down with a thunderous boom.
Dust and debris erupted, the ground cracking beneath their impact.
"Damn it!" Fugaku coughed, struggling to push himself up. "He's not even fighting seriously!"
Lucifer sighed. "Well, I was having fun, but I think it's about time I wrapped this up."
The air shook.
A golden aura erupted from Lucifer, heat distorting the atmosphere. He raised his hand, and a miniature sun began forming in his palm.
"This is bad..." Minato gritted his teeth.
Just as Lucifer prepared to unleash his attack
Minato vanished.
Reappearing right in front of Lucifer, Sage Mode fully activated.
"Rasengan!"
Lucifer blocked the attack.
Minato's Rasengan slammed into his palm, the force rippling outward. Lucifer's feet skidded back slightly.
Minato smirked. "Gotcha."
At that moment, everyone re-engaged.
Jiraiya and the toads unleashed Senpō: Chōōdama Rasengan!
Guy activated Evening Elephant!
Fugaku and Shisui's Susanoo punched forward!
Tenzo's wooden pillars erupted, slamming toward Lucifer's sides!
Kakashi, Asuma, and Anko blasted him with their jutsu.
Lucifer finally sighed.
"Alright, alright," he muttered. "Let's call it here."
The instant before their attacks landed
Lucifer vanished.
The battlefield fell silent.
The Konoha forces panted, scanning the area. "Did we get him?" Yugao asked, gripping her blade.
"No," Minato said, breathing heavily. "He chose to leave."
They turned
Lucifer stood atop a rock, his wine glass somehow still intact. He raised it slightly in a mock toast.
"You've all been delightful," he said. "Truly. But I'm afraid playtime is over."
His crimson eyes gleamed. "Do take care now."
And with that
He vanished, leaving only the echo of his laughter behind.
Aftermath
Silence.
Jiraiya collapsed onto his back, groaning. "I need a drink."
Guy fell into a crouch, panting. "That... was the toughest opponent I've ever faced."
Kakashi wiped sweat from his brow. "And he wasn't even trying."
Minato narrowed his eyes. "This isn't over. Not by a long shot."
Shikaku sighed, rubbing his temples. "Troublesome..."
Shisui chuckled, though his eyes were sharp with unease. "Who was that guy?"
Fugaku clenched his fists. "And what does he want?"
Minato glanced toward the horizon, a grim determination in his gaze.
Whoever or whatever, Lucifer was, they would face him again.
Tbc