Chapter Thirty-Five
Promise Kept
Sasuke hung his head as he finished telling everyone of how he died. He was placed in a chair during all of it but only at the insistence of Charlie as she felt bad for him. Jiraiya was not going to let him go at first but considering it was the Princess of Hell that told him to do it, he took it as an order like any other.
Now that his tale is done, Sasuke took the time during the silence to look around the ruined building. It looked to have been a restaurant at some point, considering there was still alcohol on the wall among shattered bottles. He wondered if this place was Naruto's given that all of these people kept mentioning his dead brother.
He seems to have done well for himself in this kind of place. Sasuke thought to himself before being brought back to the present when he heard shouting.
"This is a load of toad shit!" Jiraiya jabbed a finger at the Uchiha while heatedly yelling at Haku. "You can't possibly believe that this traitor would risk his life for anyone but himself. A large phoenix giving him power to not only defeat my former student but to also revive all the lost souls?!"
"Maybe let Naruto talk to me and make the decision of if my story is believable or not," Sasuke suggested softly, not argumentative or anything like that.
"You think we would give you the chance to get close to your victim?" Jiraiya accused and turned his glare on the young boy.
"Hey, hey!" Charlie stood between Jiraiya and Sasuke with open arms, shocking the two men. "Stop! This isn't helping the situation."
"Listen, Charlie-dono, this… boy had murdered my godson, Naruto, when they were teens. I have no ounce of niceness or sympathy for him." Jiraiya pinched his nose and exhaled roughly through his mouth.
"We all have something to hate him for," Haku spoke up calmly. "What I want to know is how you ended up sentenced to Hell if your death was indeed self-sacrificing."
Sasuke sighed and hung his head between his knees. "I've killed and I've done plenty of things the angels said constituted major sins. Even with my sacrifice being selfless to some extent, it was not completely done in that regard."
"How so?"
"I desired to do the right thing not because it is right but because I wanted to be able to have done something that…Naruto would be proud of." The boy's pale face and ears started to turn red in either embarrassment or shame, much to the bemusement of the others.
Nobody said anything, unsure of how to react to the boy's clear change from the comrade-killer they had in their head. This Sasuke was neither what they expected nor what they thought he would be. It was hard to reconcile but for Jiraiya the man did not believe a single word he said.
"Where is Naruto, by the way," Sasuke asked as he looked around once more. "I'm assuming you all work with him."
Everyone looked between each other and reacted differently to the innocent question. Charlie began to rub her arm anxiously while Octavia held her with her head on the princess' shoulder. Jiraiya bit back a growl and turned away as he held back a nasty remark building in his throat. Tayuya genuinely cussed under her breath before stomping over to the bar to grab the first unbroken bottle of alcohol she could.
Haku leaned his head back and closed his eyes while taking a deep breath to calm his nerves. "Naruto…is going to be gone for a bit. He had to go handle something."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes in confusion as he glanced at everyone. "I'm guessing it's not good."
"We were attacked late last night," Charlie answered softly, looking at the ground. "Two of our friends were kidnapped…my girlfriend. Naru went to go save them."
Sasuke narrowed his eyes at that and got to his feet. "Why didn't anyone go with him? What if he needs help?"
"Sit your ass the fuck down, kid," Jiraiya shoved Sasuke into the chair.
Sasuke wobbled and fell into the chair as he was still not used to his new feet. He glared up at the Sannin and sneered at the unphased man.
"Naruto wanted to go alone." Haku shook his head as he slumped slightly in his chair.
"Do you know where he is? There could still be time to go help him."
"No, only he knows where Helsa and Loona were being held," Tayuya called from the bar as she lifted up a whole bottle and guzzled it down.
"How did he know?" Sasuke glanced at the former Sound kunoichi.
"The kidnappers left a note for him, likely with where he was to meet them." Jiraiya sighed and rubbed his temples. "He took the note with him so we couldn't find out as well."
"No one tailed him?" Sasuke glanced around as he got more frustrated. How could they not try to help?!
"Sinners are not to leave the city, kid."
Octavia perked up at this new voice and smiled when she saw the man walking to them. "Husk! You're fine!"
"As good as new," Husk grinned back before turning his attention back on the newcomer. "Good to see you're safe as well. I heard what happened to the other two. I'm sure Naruto will get them back soon enough."
Octavia smiled at the man's words as she understood it as his way to assure them of their fears. The ex-Overlord was a rough man but he did care in some way. That's why Naruto liked the man so much, he saw something in the man that made him want to help.
"Speak of the devil," Jiraiya squinted as he stared up over the buildings to the south.
Everyone rushed to the front of the restaurant just as two Narutos dropped into the street. Both of them were carrying either Helsa or Loona as the girls were sleeping in his arms.
"Naruto!" Charlie rushed to the blonde that was carrying her girlfriend and fussed over the girl in his hands. "You did it! You actually did it!"
"I keep my promises, dattebayo," the blonde grinned and kissed Charlie on her temple when he noticed she was starting to cry. "Helsa-chan will be just fine, Charlie-hime. Don't worry."
Charlie was shaking and she gave the best nod she could but she was just smiling and sniffling as she looked at Helsa. She did not realize how worried she was after seeing her girlfriend be taken away by those Hoplites. She was relieved to see her again safe and sound.
Octavia walked to check on Loona, running a finger over the bandages that covered parts of the hellhound. She looked up at Naruto and found him staring down at Loona's sleeping face, his eyes soft and concerned. She caressed his cheek and gave him a quick kiss.
"You did good, Naru."
"I should have seen this coming." Naruto bowed his head in shame. "I should have protected all of you."
Octavia clicked her teeth before wrapping the blonde in a hug while making sure not to disturb Loona's rest. "You can't be everywhere at once."
Naruto knew that was true but a piece of him couldn't help but bitterly think otherwise. What if I could be?
However, his eyes snapped up when he felt a familiar chakra in his restaurant. His eyes widened when he saw the black-haired young adult come out of the restaurant slowly. It's been years but he knew what his former brother would look like even to this day.
"Hello…Naruto," Sasuke greeted hesitantly, awkwardly standing at the entrance with his gaze lowered. "It's- ahem, it's good to see you again."
The clones both had narrowed gazes as they regarded their former teammate, taking in his appearance quickly. "I wish I could say the same thing. What are you doing here, Sasuke?"
"That doesn't matter right now," Haku interrupted before the two boys could get into it. "That can be discussed later."
"Naruto," Jiraiya walked a bit forward after standing silently for a while before glancing between the two. "Where is the real you?"
Everyone was surprised by the man's words but that morphed into shock when the two clones sighed.
"What happened?" Haku asked now after there was a moment of silence, his eyes stern as he looked at his crush. "Why aren't you here, too?"
"The original stayed back after giving himself up so long as we could get Helsa-chan and Loona-chan away," the clone holding Helsa answered honestly. "Our orders were to escape with them as quickly as possible."
"They don't even know that we are both clones," the other clone commented in reference to the girls in their arms. "They would not have trusted us to come back to Pride if they knew the truth."
"What are you saying, Naruto?" Charlie asked but the clone shook his head.
"He's saying that he was captured getting the girls out," Husk grunted and his eyes watched the scene apathetically. "Those Greek fuckers got him."
"W-we need to go get him!" Charlie looked around before turning to the clone near her. "Where did you go? What Ring?"
"It wouldn't matter, princess," Jiraiya shook his head. "It's been long enough that they would not still be in the same area. We have no idea where they've taken him."
Haku watched in silence with narrowed, thoughtful eyes while holding the cross hanging above his neck. Naruto was gone now from saving Helsa and Loona and they had no idea where he could be. Considering their enemies, they could be anywhere in Hell or in any of the living dimensions.
What do we know about them?
The only thing he knows is of the one who orchestrated the kidnapping, at least the name that Charlie had overheard. Ares. He was called a fallen god by Eir, who worked for another by the name of Óðinn.
She would know more about it.
"What are you thinking, kid," Jiraiya asked as he watched Haku for a bit. "You got an idea?"
"Naruto," Haku looked up and got the two clones' attention. "What was the name of the leader you met?"
"He went by two names. Mars and Ares."
"Was there anyone called Óðinn there?" The blonde shook his head at Haku's follow-up question.
"You got an idea on who they are?"
Haku shook his head. "No, but I know someone who does. That hellbeast back at Mito-sama's house, Eir, she knew who these people were. She knew of Mara, and says she used to follow one like him."
"She could know where they are!" Jiraiya shouted at that, his own eyes brightening up at that. "She'll know where Naruto is being taken!"
"Possibly," Haku stressed to try and keep the man's hopes lowered. "But it's better than nothing and we will at least have a trail to follow."
"I can ask my father!" Charlie shouted as she got to her feet. "He should know of anyone, he was the first Seraphim and one of the Elders during creation!"
"My great grandfather would know too," Octavia said softly but had a determined glint in her eyes. "He's the oldest Goetia and one of the first to fall after King Lucifer."
"That will help, we need to get as much information as possible," Haku nodded his head, his own hope growing in his chest. "We should go ask them as soon as possible. Then we will meet back here to go over what we've learned."
Sasuke cleared his throat and hesitantly raised his hand. "Is there anything I can help with?"
Jiraiya scoffed with a roll of his eyes and was about to tell the boy off when Haku interrupted him.
"You can help me. There will be something for you to do but until then, just be available." Haku had little patience for grudges, especially against someone who only one of them can justifiably hate.
He was not going to turn down available help, and an Uchiha's eyes would be very useful.
"While all of you do that, I'm taking Helsa back to her family," the clone said before lifting the girl up. "They should have time with her. If they and she are comfortable to come back then she will. Until then, it is only right."
Charlie smiled sadly and caressed the boy's cheek. "Don't hate yourself."
She whispered into his ear and he nodded his head stiffly.
"I will go get Blitzø and he can come here to see Loona," the other clone said before walking into the restaurant. "In the meantime, I'll start cleaning up this mess."
"Welcome, come sit." Hagoromo waved the three of them inside his home, a smile on his face. "Don't mind the mess, just pick anywhere at the table."
The mess he mentions is the scrolls and books he has had Kushina studying for the last few days. It was various texts on the history of Heaven, the full history, as well as the formations of the dimensions and of Hell. She had been adamant in providing some kind of help to get Naruto to Heaven and to protect him from Darkness. He couldn't tell her no."
The three stopped just outside the door to his dining room, causing him to just walk past them to the whining kettle. He glanced to his side and Kushina was still there, reading over the text of the Heaven-Ōtsutsuki War. She had been nonstop reading of all the materials he gave and he was reminded how doggedly determined she can be when she wanted to be.
"Need a refill of your tea, Kushina?"
"Hn," Kushina grunted and moved her cup on the table closer to him.
The man took that as a yes and lifted the kettle from the stove to bring it over along with four more cups. He glanced up at Azrael, Uriel, and Eve as he grabbed Kushina's cup to fill and found them still standing at the door. He raised an eyebrow and motioned to the chairs positioned around the table.
"Come, sit, we have a lot to talk about and we need to catch Kushina up to speed," he told them before walking around to fill everyone's cup.
"What do you mean catch her up to speed?" Uriel asked with a tilt of her head but decided to grab a seat like the Virtue requested.
"I've already told her what happened to her son since she had found him in Hell," Hagoromo gave a look at Azrael as he said that. "Before you tried to kill him, that is. So, since she knows this much, I decided that she might as well join us."
"Is that smart?" Azrael asked as he took his seat.
"You're lucky that the geezer sage talked me down days ago because I was about to come and shove your scythe up your ass for trying to lay a hand on my son," Kushina glared up from her book. "I may not have my Biju but I am an Uzumaki."
"And we know all about Uzumaki tempers," Hagoromo placated the mother with a soft-hearted smile on his face.
"I think it's perfect," Uriel commented with a bright smile on her face. "Glad to have you on board, Kushina."
Kushina grunted before returning to her book. "I still don't know what group I ended up joining."
"We like to call ourselves the Next Unification," Uriel informed her before shooing her hand at the book. "Put that away for a bit, you'll need to focus on what we have to say."
Kushina sighed and placed a bookmark where she left off and set it to the side as Hagoromo took his seat next to her.
"The Next Unification is our group and the people we've trusted with the knowledge of what we plan to do about the Child of God," Eve began speaking, gaining the redhead's attention. "We seek the best possible outcome of the final prophecy, the one about your son. Unlike the other angels who do not take the prophecy seriously or do not believe it of importance, we know that should anything happen to Naruto the worst things will come to be."
"We have three missions to operate with the intent to manipulate the prophecy without becoming a fallen for going against God's Will. The first is to find and protect the Promised Child." Eve held up a single finger as she spoke. "It used to be just to protect him but after he was killed before his time and we lost him we ended up having to add that little piece in there."
"Still can't believe an abomination of considerable strength was ignored long enough to get the chance to get my son killed," Kushina muttered under her breath.
"So are we, and the Elders are the ones looking into all of that," Eve answered as she had heard her. "Second is that we are to stop the New Order."
"Who are they?" Kushina sat up now. "Are they from the Darkness?"
"Not entirely," Uriel shook her head. "Most of them are corrupted by Darkness but not of it. They wish to use Naruto for their own purposes."
"Hence the need to stop them," Azrael smirked sarcastically.
"And lastly," Even gave a pointed stare at the lazily grinning Angel of Death. "We are to defend Heaven against the growing elements of Darkness."
"The last one is just to maintain our positions as the soldiers of Heaven." Hagoromo told her when she looked confused on why that was for them.
"But our main purpose is with the intent to guide and nurture Naruto to become the savior he is meant to be," Uriel stated happily. "That's why we are called the Next Unification; it is our belief that Naruto will be the one to join all the realms of God together, even bringing Hell and redeeming their souls! It will bring a true unified existence!"
"Well, that's not the intent of everyone, apparently," Kushina said with a glare sent at Azrael.
"You can't possibly understand my motives, bellpepper," Azrael rolled his eyes at the woman. "I had my reasons whether you agree with them or not."
"Enough, please," Hagoromo sighed at the two as he noticed Kushina preparing to fight the angel. "I do not want damage to come to my home, please."
"Whatever." Kushina turned to Eve now. "What happens now? When will you approach my son about coming to Heaven or trusting us to help him?"
"We had a meeting with your son yesterday afternoon," Azrael told the woman with a sigh as he rolled his head back in the palm of his hand. "He doesn't want to come to Heaven. Michael gave the offer and he turned it down."
Kushina's eyes widened and she looked at the raven-haired man with wide eyes. But…why?
"He says he has a family of people he cares for in Hell," Uriel told her with a gentle smile on her lips. "He doesn't wish to abandon them to the Exterminations. The good thing is that he is receptive to talking with us angels."
"Which is a good step to start with," Eve insisted. "That means he's not completely against us despite everything."
Kushina nodded her head as she wrung her hands together anxiously. She just wanted her son back. She can rest easier if he was by her side, maybe they could both free his father from the Shinigami's control! Then she will have her family back together.
"We have nothing to do until we can get his trust." Eve said and gave Kushina a reassuring smile. "Do not worry. I have a Sinner bound to me through a deal and he should be watching or interacting with your son and his group."