The Top Ten

VII

Heaven

(The day before the Core Stone resurfaces)

“Brother?”

Michael released a deep breath and raised his head to meet the gazes of his fellow Seraphim. Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael were standing in front of him. He could tell that Gabriel and Uriel had no clue why they were called but Raphael knew. Michael honestly did not know how he would go about revealing this but he knew that he could not and should not delay this any longer. After all, the core stone would be resurfacing the next day. And all of them would be seeing Naruto Ōtsutsuki face to face. And he had a strong feeling that Naruto would be the center of the attention, one way or the other.

“What I am about to tell you should not leave this room, under any circumstances,” All of the three Seraphim straightened up, “And I also urge you not to make any rash decisions yourselves. Remember, in these trying times, we do not represent the Heaven faction only, but also our father.”

It was clear that Gabriel wanted to say something but held herself back. Michael sighed, “With that being said, may I know about your thoughts on Naruto Ōtsutsuki?”

The question was a bit random, and he could see the confusion in Gabriel and Uriel’s faces. It was Uriel who spoke up, albeit cautiously, “In a general term, Naruto Ōtsutsuki is a great king. Yes, some of his actions may seem questionable in our eyes, but that also meant that he is capable of making hard choices. As for my personal opinion, I will reserve my judgment since I have not met him directly.”

Michael nodded and turned to Gabriel, “Do you believe the same?”

Their sister pondered for a while and then nodded back.

“I see,” Michael let out a tired and pained smile, “A year ago I had a meeting with him, you all know that. I wanted to persuade him not to take any direct confrontation. But when I saw him, what I saw in him...” Michael paused and released a heavy sigh. Even now, he was not sure how he was to tell about this. After a brief moment of hesitation, Michael decided to go with a visual approach since he was not able to find the right words. He waved his hand and immediately the light in front of him distorted and started taking Naruto’s shape. He purposefully made it in a way so that his eyes were the last one to reveal. And when Gabriel and Uriel finally saw the eyes,

“This cannot be!”

“By the Heavens…!”

Michael let his calming aura wash over them. Although they stopped shouting, they were still very tense. With a sigh, Michael continued, “I have told Raphael about this before,” He immediately raised his hand to stop Gabriel and Uriel, “The reason why I did not tell you two because I myself was lost. Out of you three, I was sure that at least Raphael would not have charged toward the Avalon Kingdom to confront him directly.” The sheepish smiles on Gabriel and Uriel brought a gentle smile on his face, “I even consulted with Azazel. We had a long discussion regarding this. We have not come up with any concrete idea but Azazel believes this may be something to do with power cores.”

Even the Seraphim did not know how the power cores were created. All they knew was that the Biblical God at his last breath did something which resulted in the creation of the power cores. And as far as they knew, one way or the other, all the factions had found one power core each. Unfortunately, it was not the case for the Heaven faction, the Grigori and the Devil faction. Michael thought the power cores, which were meant for them, might had created new Longinus or they were still dormant. But Azazel till now had different opinions. He believed that the power cores reserved for them were special. He believed that they had a purpose of their own; either that or someone already found them. Both fervently hoped that it was not the last case.

“Do you mean that he is our father’s reincarnation?” Gabriel spoke, her voice was nervous and hopeful.

Michael did not have the heart to say it, and so Raphael spoke up, “I am sorry sister but I do not believe so. But I do think that he is somehow related to our father.”

“The easiest way to find that out is to see how much control he has over the Heaven system.” Michael thought he would be criticized but it seemed he was wrong.

“Are we going to approach him at the core stone?” Gabriel asked.

“If the opportunity arises, then we will. But,” Michael’s voice became stern, “Do not approach him on your own, do not do anything which may set him off. I promise you this, if we do not find the right timing tomorrow, I will try my best to set up a meeting with him after the top ten revelations.”

Although reluctant, Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael nodded their heads. Michael gave a wry smile and hoped… no, he prayed that the next day would pass by without many commotions.

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X

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Underworld

(The day before the Core Stone resurfaces)

“This… when did this happen?”

Sirzechs gave Ajuka a wry smile. He could not blame his best friend for being so shocked. Because, the news he gave him just now was anything but pleasant. Sighing for the umpteenth time, Sirzechs motioned Ajuka to sit down, “Mephisto Pheles personally passed the news to me today morning,” Then he pointed at the paper Ajuka was holding, “And he had it in a written form as well.”

“Sirzechs,” It was clear to Sirzechs that his friend’s shocked state was gone, now it was replaced with frustration, “This is outrageous. The core stone is resurfacing tomorrow! And he pulled this stunt today. We are not fools, Sirzechs. It is clear that Mephisto had planned this for quite some time. This is clearly an act of treason.”

Sirzechs smiled, though it had no humor in it, “Is it now?” Seeing the stunned look on his friend’s face, he started to elaborate, “As you said, Mephisto had been planning this for quite some time. If so, then do you really think that the old coot missed any blind spot? Yes, we are not fools. But compared to him, we can still be considered as foolish children.”

“So, you are just going to let him leave like that?” Ajuka was not angry, but he was getting there.

The silence in his study room became quite deafening.

Sirzechs let that uncomfortable silence linger for a little longer before he finally decided to break it, “Ajuka, Mephisto did not betray us.” Ajuka’s eyes narrowed in defiance but Sirzechs continued regardless, “Do not forget, Mephisto Pheles is the oldest devil alive; older than Zekram Bael himself. This devil is the one who outright defied the original Satans and lived to tell about it. And in the civil war, although he did not help us directly, he passed many valuable information to us. So, personally, I do not think he the type that would backstab. Even if he was, I am sure he was smart enough to do it more discreetly than this.”

Another bout of silence passed before Ajuka released a deep breath and slouched on his chair, “I do not like this Sirzechs,” Sirzechs did not say anything back, his silence was enough to rile up the usually calm devil, “Damn it Sirzechs! Don’t tell you don’t see the pattern, that you don’t hear the whispers. Something big is going to happen tomorrow, there is no doubt about it. And I can guarantee you that the Avalon Kingdom will be in the center of this shitstorm.”

Ajuka tightened his hold on the paper so much that it started to crumple, “Believe me when I say that I agree with you on Mephisto’s character. He is neither a backstabbing devil nor a malicious one. But that does not remove the fact that he is a very dangerous individual. His real power is not his experience or strength that he collected throughout his long life, it is his knowledge. After all, as you said, he is older than Zekram Bael. And unlike Zekram who spends all of his time and resources in creating the ultimate political throne, Mephisto used his to seek knowledge of all kinds.” Ajuka then roughly put down the paper on his table, “And now Mephisto officially cut all ties with the devil faction. He stated here that he did it to pursue further knowledge but even your young sister, Rias, can tell that this is bullshit.”

“But what can I do?” Sirzechs interrupted, his voice was tired, “From a general perspective, everyone agreed since what he gave away is quite generous. All of his lands in the underworld and his complete fortune under his Pheles House name in exchange for officially cutting ties with the devil world. Who would complain? I mean to everyone else, he is from the Extra Demon who rarely stays in the underworld. And plus,” Again Sirzechs pointed at the paper, “He called in few favors.”

“I have a feeling that…”

“I know!” Sirzechs growled which effectively shut Ajuka up. It seemed his anger was finally slipping out, “I know where he is going. What I want to know is why he is going to them and when he started associating with them. And how would it affect us.”

“You want me to find the answers,” It was not a question but a statement.

“We already know,” Sirzechs started to rub his forehead, “We are going to find out tomorrow.”

Ajuka eyebrows shot up as he understood what he meant. Regardless, Sirzechs could see that Ajuka had calmed down and was already calculating. That was good. He needed his best friend’s mind right now.

With a sigh, Sirzechs got up and went to the shelf near his desk. In his mind, it did not matter much at this point. Because to him, the Avalon Kingdom had already rolled the dice. And the only thing the devil faction could do was to wait for the result. Yes, there was a chance that Ajuka could figure out the result, the motives. But even if Ajuka’s prediction would come true, they would not be able to stop the Avalon Kingdom. By no means, he was blaming his best friend. It was just that if Ajuka could come up with a hundred scenarios, there was no way they could prepare the contingency plans for all of them. It was just not feasible. And Sirzechs knew, from experience, that Naruto Otsutsuki was not someone that anyone could predict.

Sirzechs picked up a photo frame. The past year was one hell of a ride for him. The devils went out of control under his rule, as a consequence he was crushed in a duel with him and the whole faction was brought to its knees when the devils went against him and his faction. The foundation of the devil faction afterward was so shaken that he was worried it might spark another civil war. It was, after all, a worst-case scenario that Ajuka thought of. Fortunately, it did not happen, rather the four Satans got more political control over their faction which they used to rebuild the foundation. Yes, Sirzechs could safely say that by few more years they would completely recuperate… but the scars were still there . And he could say for certain that these scars would remain for centuries, maybe even longer than that.

Sirzechs gently stroked the picture of his family. The only ones who truly knew about his mental scars were his father and his wife. His father, because Sirzechs told him. He had a feeling that he would have figured it out anyway. As for his wife, with all her stoic personalities, she was quite perceptive when needed to be. She was the first one who saw through him and also the one who suggested consulting with his father. Without their help, he shuddered at the thought of what he might have done or become.

Unfortunately, his defeat affected his other family members as well. The one who was affected the most was his sister Rias. While his mother, Venelana Gremory, and his son, Millicas Gremory, became insecure and would often check up on him, Rias took his defeat differently.

She started training seriously.

Although it started somewhat on a good ground, over time she became obsessed on getting stronger. And this obsession was not only aimed at her. Her obsession, her desperation to get stronger started to crack her relationship with her peerages. Fortunately, he noticed it immediately. And because of that, he was able to help her before it was too late.

So, right now to him, everything was almost on the verge of completely being fixed. And then this happened.

“No, I became too relaxed,” Sirzechs thought with a grimace. He was so busy with rebuilding the devil faction, improving the foreign relationships, helping his family, monitoring the Avalon Kingdom… fixing himself that he forgot about the resurfacing of the core stone. And what usually would happen to the supernatural world afterward. But most importantly, the inevitable meeting he would have with the one and only Naruto Otsutsuki. Maybe it was a prediction, maybe it was an omen, but something told him that the outcome of the meeting at the core stone would change the course of the supernatural world.

Sirzechs Lucifer hoped… prayed that this change would not undo the fixes he had done. Because he was not confident enough if he could redo all of them again.

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X

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Amaterasu, the capital of the Avalon Kingdom

(The day of the Core Stone resurfacing)

“They threw you out, didn’t they?”

Naruto rolled his eyes at Jiraiya’s jab, “I wanted to see how my hime looks like!” He immediately raised his hand to interrupt Jiraiya, “I know~ I know~ I will be seeing her when she is completely done dressing up. But I wanted to see the process as well. How she goes from pretty to prettier.”

Jiraiya gave a flat look which spoke volumes.

“I know it sounds stupid.”

“You think?”

Now it was Naruto who gave Jiraiya a flat look who dismissed it nonchalantly and gestured toward the exit of the palace garden. With a sigh and an understanding nod, Naruto started following Jiraiya.

“So how are you feeling?”

Naruto slightly turned his head toward Jiraiya and raised his eyebrow, “Are you seriously asking me that, ero-jiji?”

“Yes, I am. I know your resume as a leader is beyond amazing. After all, you were one of the best Hokage ever to live, heck many would say that you and Gaara were the best Kage ever to exist. Even in this dimension, you united the youkai as a great champion; and currently doing your best as a ruler. No one can doubt your charisma and brilliance, let alone your ability as a leader. But that does not mean you cannot be concerned when attending something of this caliber, especially since you will be pulling all those huge-ass stunts. Yes, you need to be calm and in control in front of your people and companions, but that does not necessarily mean you are.” Jiraiya smiled, it was one of those smiles that always got him, “And from experience I can tell, talking always helps.”

Naruto chuckled but did not say anything back for a while. As always, Jiraiya went right for the bullseye. The thing was, he expected that. He let the comfortable silence linger for a while before he finally spoke up, “I am not that worried, ero-jiji. Compared to the people from our old dimension, the ones from here are… how should I say… predictable. I am not saying that they are dumb. No, it’s just that, I guess that living for so long affected their views and goals. Not only that, the way they think, the way they handle and approach a situation seems quite rigid and straightforward, quite unoriginal if I say so myself. Not all the times, yes; but most of the times. It also means that it is easy for us to predict their plans and disrupt them.” Releasing a deep breath, Naruto looked up, “But that does not mean we can predict everything and even if we can, not all the time we can stop them before it is too late.”

“Sometimes we have to let other people’s fields burn so that we can keep ours safe.”

Naruto closed his eyes and grimaced at Jiraiya’s words, “Because there is responsibility and then there is heroism.”

There was a pause before Jiraiya spoke up, “I think the ladies are almost done,” It seemed that he was also reluctant to broach that topic again.

Naruto did not need to look at the palace garden. With his enhanced senses, he knew Yasaka and Amaterasu were done dressing up and in a few minutes, they would reach the garden. He turned to Jiraiya. Since Jiraiya intentionally changed the subject, he decided to go with it as well, “Are you sure about not joining?”

Jiraiya shrugged with a smile, “The Core Stone resurfaces at the core of the earth. Only a handful of people can go there from each faction. From our Kingdom, you, Yasaka and August are more than enough I believe. The Shinto faction is attending separately as planned, with Lady Amaterasu, Lord Susanoo, and Lord Tsukuyomi.”

“Do we really need to go separately?” Naruto groaned, “I am sure everyone already knows that our Kingdom and the Shinto faction are allies.”

“For appearance's sake,”

Naruto groaned again, “For appearance's sake, of course.”

“And besides, I need to stay back to make sure all of our projects are running smoothly since all the big shots are leaving.” Jiraiya grinned and started walking back toward the garden.

Naruto did not like it but he knew he had to give up. Even now, Jiraiya preferred to work from the shadows. He was content with running the spy network and training the anbu elites. Of course, he would never shy away from handling big projects rather he would take them if he could manage the time. But attending or hosting big meetings was still a no go for him. He would only attend any big events if there were no options available or he was the best option for them.

Unfortunately, all his thoughts regarding Jiraiya came to a stop when he saw his wife, Yasaka. His wife was one of the most gorgeous women he had ever seen, both in this life and the previous one. And there was no one who could make him think otherwise. But right now, she looked breathtakingly beautiful. Usually, she would wear a formal shrine maiden attire, the design of it would vary based on the occasion. But it seemed she went all out this time. She was wearing a lavender-colored royal kimono mixed with beautiful snow-white patterns. The kimono showed off her neck as she was wearing a small but artistically crafted fox necklace. And instead of wearing her usual small crown, she was wearing a head ornament made of crystal and pearl which enhanced the beauty of her long flowing blonde hair. At that moment, she really looked like an untouchable queen.

“You look beautiful,” Naruto breathed out as he gently took her hand.

“Thank you,” Yasaka giggled, “You look dashing yourself.” Hearing that, Naruto let out a satisfied grin. But when he turned to her side, his grin turned into an embarrassed smile.

“I know Yasaka looks gorgeous but at least try to act as if you have seen others as well.” Amaterasu was not offended, Naruto could tell from her smile. But he knew for sure she would tease him about it later.

“My fault. I mean no disrespect, all of you ladies look beautiful. It is just that I am a whipped husband,” Naruto gave everyone in the vicinity a charming smile. The ladies who were accompanying his wife and Amaterasu giggled lightly into their hands, even Amaterasu was amused.

With a light chuckle, Naruto turned his body to the side, “Shall we go then?”

“You two go first,” Amaterasu spoke up, “I will meet with Susanoo and Tsukuyomi, and go there on our own.”

Naruto nodded back in understanding. Then he turned to look at Yasaka and squeezed her hand, who nodded back immediately. And then a second later, he teleported both of them to the Kyoto lookout. It was a small artificial land, floating above Kyoto city. The moment Naruto teleported there with Yasaka, he was greeted by Sesshomaru.

“Everything is ready Naruto, Lady Yasaka.”

Naruto nodded but did not say anything, he just looked up to see the crack in the sky. From what he learned, no one could go directly to where the core stone was located. Even though everyone knew it was at the core of the planet, it was not possible to reach that place. According to Jiraiya, that place was so tightly secured as if it did not exist at all. The only way to have access to that place was to go through these portals. During the day of the resurfacing of the core stone, these portals would appear all over the world and they would remain open just for that day. Each faction would secure the nearest portal and then a few selected would travel using it. It was quite cumbersome but Naruto could see the reasoning behind such securities.

“Alright then, we should not keep August waiting,” Naruto let go of Yasaka’s hand. It was not that he wanted to but he had to. Because, according to the rules set by all the factions, each person had to travel on their own from this point onward. With a sigh, he looked at Yasaka, “Here goes nothing.”

Naruto flew toward the crack and dove right in. The travel was instantaneous, although he could tell that it was not teleportation. Regardless, the first thing that came to his mind when he reached his destination was, “How unoriginal~”

The place was large, heck, it looked endless since the only thing Naruto could see at the very far end was the ground and the sky merging. Speaking of ground, it was just a reflective surface and the sky was pure white. Even the core stone, which was situated in the middle, was just a plain huge marble pillar. There was no carving, no decoration. Everything looked so plain.

“My king, you have arrived.” August greeted him politely.

August’s voice snapped Naruto out of his trance as he finally noticed that he was not alone. Yes, the place looked ordinary but everyone who was there was anything but ordinary. And all these extraordinary beings were either subtly or openly looking at his direction.

The first one Naruto noticed was the Hindu faction, or more like Shiva. His current appearance was that of a young adult, lightly build and tanned with neatly combed black hair and sharp blue eyes. He knew Shiva had a tendency to change his appearance and age but after his bout with Naruto, he stuck to this form. He was not alone, Brahma and Vishnu were accompanying him. But there was another group from the Hindu faction which was standing away from them. He did not know anyone from the second group but he could tell who was Indra even though he personally never met him. Buzzcut brown hair with a medium build, tan skin and brown hair, nothing out of the ordinary. But even though he was suppressing it, Naruto could still sense his real power.

It had been while so Naruto wanted to greet Shiva but his sudden impulse was stopped when he felt the tug on his coat. He looked to see it was Yasaka who had just arrived. And seeing her concerned look, he gave a weak grin. It was not the right time and this was not his old dimension, it seemed he almost forgot it. He turned to see that Shiva was also looking back at him. The God of Destruction nodded his head at him and then turned his gaze away. Naruto understood his message loud and clear.

With a heavy sigh, Naruto started inspecting other factions. It was completely unintentional but the next faction to catch his eyes was the Greek faction. Not because there was anything special, but because he caught Ares not so subtly eyeing his wife. Naruto knew his wife was beautiful, and so did many others. That was why she was highly sought after, but that was before her marriage. After their marriage was announced, everyone backed off; everyone except this one. At first, he thought it was just a fascination that would disappear but the recent event told him otherwise. Naruto could not help but chuckle. The God of War had no idea how close they were into figuring out their biggest well-kept secret… the location of their home. And when he would find out, he would give them a personal visit.

But that was something for the future. Naruto put his hand delicately behind his wife’s slim waist and then he moved in a way to block Ares’ gaze. It was then he noticed that there was a silver-haired woman beside Areas who was very subtly looking at him. Dismissing her, Naruto quickly looked over to see that Poseidon and Hades were there as well. But although they were in a group, he felt a distance amongst themselves. Noting this odd behavior, Naruto’s focus moved on.

The moment Naruto’s eyes landed on the Norse faction, they met Odin’s. Immediately the smile on the chief Norse deity turned mischievous. Naruto could only groan. It was frightening how much Odin and Jiraiya were similar to each other. His gaze then moved toward his sons Thor and Vidar, who were talking with a few other Norse gods. Unfortunately, Naruto did not know them well. Yes, he was quite familiar with Odin but it was his wife who had a close relationship with the Norse faction as a whole. He wanted to officially visit Asgard but he never got the time to do it, something he was going to rectify soon. With that in mind, Naruto looked at the faction closest to them.

The Heaven faction of the Biblical faction had the most attendees. As usual, the Biblical God was missing but all the four Seraphim were here, Michael, Gabriel, Raphael, and Uriel. There were two more angels other than the Seraphim. Unfortunately, Naruto could not recall their names, just as he could not remember the current Pope’s name who was also present there. It was not that he was not informed about them, quite the opposite in fact. August and Jiraiya came up with a list of possible candidates from each faction who could be joining. Naruto just did not go through all of them. He wanted to focus on the bigshots today. Of course, he would not have done that if he was here alone. He knew for sure that August and Yasaka already knew the profile of each and every being present here. With a shake, Naruto looked at the other attendees from the Heaven faction. He knew Griselda Quarta and Vasco Strada, but he did not know the boy. Blond hair, green eyes and looked quite laid-back but Naruto knew that he was strong. He could sense the Longinus within him, he did not know which one was it, but he could tell it was one of the high-tier ones. One thing which felt a bit odd was that for some reason, the Seraphim were trying their best not to look at him.

Next was the Grigori of the Biblical faction. Naruto was surprised to find that Azazel, leader of the fallen angels was looking at him openly. When their gazes met, he gave a nod of acknowledgment. Naruto returned the gesture politely. He saw that other members of the Grigori, Shemhazai, Baraqiel, and Kokabiel were also looking at him, albeit they were being very subtle about it. Kokabiel on the other hand, for some reason, looked quite wary of him.

The Devil faction was the only Naruto wanted to skip. It was not out of spite but he already knew about them enough. One glance was enough to tell him everything he needed to know. But Naruto knew that every being present here was observing his movements with rapt attention. So with an indifferent expression Naruto kept his gaze on the Devil faction group. He knew all four Satan would be present. And they were. Although Sirzechs Lucifer, Serafall Leviathan and Falbium Asmodeus were talking amongst themselves; Ajuka Beelzebub was quiet and was standing a few steps away from them. Even though his eyes were closed and he looked like he was resting, Naruto could tell all of the green-haired Satan’s senses were locked on him. Unfortunately, Naruto could neither blame him nor he could do anything about that in that situation. So, he moved his focus again.

But a small ripple in the energy shifted his attention. In an empty space, approximately thirty feet away from him, Amaterasu appeared; followed by Susanoo and Tsukuyomi. All three of their gazes locked onto his first. A small nod and then all three of them started scouting the area like him.

He was surprised to notice that most of the beings were still focused on him. With a grin, he turned his head toward the group with the most eccentric attires. It was the Egyptian faction.

Unfortunately, another energy ripple forced his attention to see the newcomer. It was Khaoss. He had the appearance of an old man with crimson eyes, a very long white beard, and long eyebrows. He was wearing a plain white toga with black embroidery, which was quite loose on his body, giving him an old and frail look. Despite looking like this and the fact that the man was walking slowly with using a wooden staff, Naruto knew that everyone could tell that the old man was anything but frail.

And which faction was Khaoss belong to? The answer was none. Because no one was sure about his origin. According to the legends, there was a primordial entity from Greek faction called Khaoss. Some even thought that he was the one who created the Greek faction, by creating Ouranos and Gaia. Then he used the rest of his life-force to create Tartaros, Eros, Erebos, Nyx, Aether, Hemera, Pontos, Thalassa, Phanes, Physis, Chronos, and Ananke. That was the end of Khaoss of the Greek. And then this being appeared somewhere around the mid of Middle Ages and called himself Khaoss. Many factions tried to recruit him but had no success. Heck, most did not even know where he usually stayed.

Naruto’s musing stopped when he heard a loud bell. Blinking, he looked at the source of the sound. It was the core stone. It pulsed again, creating that loud bell-like sound and slowly started to rise up.

“Esteemed attendees, it seems that the core stone is going to start revealing the Top Ten very soon,” Michael said as he stepped away from his group and stood near the stone.

“Damn, we should have come a bit earlier,” Naruto clicked his tongue. He quickly glanced over the rest of the groups. Amun-Ra was leading the Egyptian faction. Tiamat was leading the dragon group, and then there was Mephisto Pheles leading the mage faction. He frowned when he noticed that the Celtic faction and the Persian faction were missing.

Another pulse came from the core stone, and the chattering of the crowds increased. Everyone’s attention was now solely on the core stone, Naruto was no exception. Ten seconds later the stone pulsed once more but this time it glowed as well; and the anticipation in the air increased by tenfold immediately after. It was time for the core stone to start revealing the names, starting from the tenth place. And then the first name was shown at the very bottom of the core stone,

Yasaka Otsutsuki

Shinto Goddess of the Stars

Immediately after the name came out, there was a pin-drop silence. Naruto could not blame anyone since he himself was stunned. And when Naruto looked at Yasaka, he found her expression super cute. She was completely stiff as if she had no idea how to react. Naruto gave Yasaka a one-arm hug and kissed her lightly. Honestly, he wanted to do more but for now, that had to suffice. Although he was thrilled that his wife, Yasaka made it to the top ten, it also brought one major concern. Not to demean his wife, but Yasaka was not strong enough to reach the top ten six months ago. Only after her ascension and the special training they had together, Yasaka’s strength grew by leaps and bounds. But this growth was very recent. So, his question was… how did the system behind the core stone was able to find this?

Unfortunately, the next pulse from the core stone took away his attention,

Ares

Greek God of War

The silence was broken by Ares’s deep throaty chuckle. The pride in his stance was hard to miss. The rest of the Greek faction’s attendees nodded their heads in satisfaction, but Naruto could tell something was amiss. He needed to discuss this with Jiraiya.

Another pulse from the core stone and next name came out,

Ajuka

Emerald Devil of Creation

Naruto instantly knew who fell out of the top ten. It was Thor, Hades, and Lugh. And without even looking at any other factions, Naruto knew that they had also figured it out. Now that everyone knew that the bottom tier of the top ten had been changed, their focus was back on him again. After all, his positioning on the core stone was the main dish. It was then that Naruto noticed something odd. Regardless of whose name was coming out, not a single being was doing anything remotely to show a bit of recognition or appreciation. It was understandable since most here were not on friendly terms. And then there were the consequences of such actions. Even though Naruto understood this, he did not like it. It was making everyone look unfriendly and frankly, Naruto thought it was rude.

Next pulse and the fourth name came out,

Sirzechs

Crimson Devil of Destruction

Even though Naruto knew everyone’s attention was on him, Naruto still turned his head and looked at the Devil faction’s group. Unsurprisingly, he found all the Satans staring back at him, confused and cautious. He knew he would be hearing an earful from Yasaka and August later, but he could not stop himself. A wine glass was materialized on his right hand as he was still hugging Yasaka with his left. And then while locking his gaze with Ajuka, he tilted the glass toward him and gave him a genuine smile. A gesture of respect and recognition. And then he turned toward Sirzechs and did the same. He did not wait for their response and turned his gaze back at the core stone. He could see their dumbfounded faces without actually looking at them. Heck, he could feel that everyone was beyond shocked at this. Well… almost everyone, his wife just let out a knowing sigh.

The fifth name came out with the next pulse,

Amun-Ra

The Supreme Egyptian God of Sun and Light

The Primordial One

Naruto did not know Amun-Ra at all. So he was positively surprised when he found the Egyptian God was staring back at him with pure amusement. As Naruto gave him the same gesture of respect and recognition, Amun-Ra nodded back in appreciation, his staff tilting toward him.

Naruto had to turn his head toward the core stone as it pulsed once more,

Indra

Hindu God of Heaven and War

King of Svarga and Devas

Another major god that Naruto had no contact with, something that he would have to rectify soon. Unlike Amun-Ra, Indra had a calculating look on his face as their gazes met, something Naruto had no problem with. He did the same gesture to Indra who nodded back in appreciation but Naruto noticed the slight hesitation. It was when Naruto turned his head away from Indra that he noticed it. The anticipation on the air was rising. Naruto already knew why.

The seventh name was out,

Khaoss

The Primordial One

Naruto felt the surprise from most of the attendees, heck they were now outright staring at him. Dismissing the increase amount of attention, Naruto turned toward Khaoss and gave him the same gesture of respect and recognition. And as expected, the old man did not even open his eyes. He just stood there like a statue, eyes closed.

Then came the eighth name after the next pulse,

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

Guardians of Hell and Abyss

The Primordial One

Now Naruto was surprised. He already knew that he was stronger than Khaoss but he did not know for sure if he was able to surpass the four horsemen. They were a force to be reckoned with. After all, he was speaking from experience. Regardless, it seemed he got the second place. Not bad for…

The ninth name was out,

Brahma

The Hindu God of Creation

Deity of Supreme Divinity

The Primordial One

Vishnu

The Hindu God of Protection and Preservation

Deity of Supreme Divinity

The Primordial One

Shiva

The Hindu God of Destruction

Deity of Supreme Divinity

The Primordial One

Naruto blinked; once, twice. The silence this time was quite deafening. Naruto did not know about others, but his mind was blown away. He was so shocked that his left hand fell off from Yasaka’s shoulder and the wine glass disappeared since he lost his focus. There was a possibility for this scenario but it was very damn low.

Naruto was awakened from his trance by the last pulse from the core stone,

Naruto Ōtsutsuki

The GodKing of Monsters

Sage of Absolute Order

God-king of monsters? Sage of Absolute Order?

“What the fuck?!” Naruto was certain that he did not say those words out loud, but maybe it was his expression? Yasaka lightly tugged his sleeve and that was enough for Naruto to compose himself.

Naruto was told about the titles that the core stone would give. If it was a deity, the title would be their domain area plus their faction name. It was done for a title not to be repeated. The only exception was ‘The Primordial One’ title. This title was only given to those who existed from the dawn of time. And then there was ‘Deity of Supreme Divinity’ title shared by Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu. They were the only ones who had such a unique title. Until now…

Naruto took a step forward and he immediately felt everyone’s direct gaze. But he did not let it bother him. Telling that the last few minutes were shocking would be a grave understatement. But the main show was about to start now, and he was the host.

When Naruto reached his destination, which was few meters away from the core stone, he turned around. His gaze met his wife’s first, and immediately she nodded her head, silently encouraging him. Then he turned toward Amaterasu. She, Susanoo and Tsukuyomi were standing slightly far away from their group. She also smiled at him encouragingly. Naruto returned the smile and then released a deep breath, “I believe a small introduction is in order. Although no one is saying it out loud, I am sure most of you here are thinking ‘who is that damn brat’. I cannot say I do not understand your concern,” Naruto pointed the core stone behind him with his thumb, “The core stone here really did not help my case. So, before everyone’s imagination starts running wild, I want to introduce myself.”

Ares sneered. Naruto just looked at him. There was no threatening or condemning expression on Naruto’s face, just a lazy smile. The sneer from Ares completely evaporated as his face took a neutral expression. But Naruto did not miss the sweats forming on Ares’s forehead. Regardless, he continued, “I will not lie. Will I tell only what I deem is necessary? Yes. But I will not lie. Will I avoid answering particular questions? Maybe. But I will not lie. Will I twist my words to make all of you believe what I want to? That is up for your interpretation. But I will not lie. Whether you believe me or not, now that is entirely up to all of you.”

Naruto’s focused gaze met Shiva’s amused one as he kept going with his introduction, “My name is Naruto Ōtsutsuki. A leader’s death, a power core and a plea for a miracle brought me to life.” Naruto chuckled when he saw that almost everyone had a questioning or disbelieve look on their faces, “A puzzle, I know. But that is all I can tell about my origin. As for my adventures, I joined the Great faction war seventy years ago. I led my side to victory but at the end of the last fight, I was… let’s say, immobilized. It took some time but I got back up on my feet. After that, I united the youkai, married the most beautiful woman, created a kingdom by allying with the Faeries, made that kingdom a safe haven for many. Unfortunately, most of you know me because of the recent conflict we had,” Naruto looked at the devils when he said the last words.

“I know that many of you are thinking that I have not revealed much, or that why am I bothering to reveal anything at all; or what is my message behind all of this,” Naruto turned sideways to face the core stone, which was still floating, “After the core stone reveals all the names, everyone usually parts their ways without speaking to any other factions. Everyone goes back to their faction and discusses amongst themselves to decide on their next course of action. Now, just to be clear, I am not judging anyone here or stopping anyone from leaving. It is just that I want to share something… a step that I have taken, and an idea that I came up with. So, I was hoping if everyone could spare some time.”

“I do not mind,” The first one who spoke up was Azazel, “I must say, that was quite a remarkable speech. I hope I am not being rude here, but what kind of news will you be sharing? Just in case, so that we are prepared if you throw something mind-blowing at us.”

Naruto chuckled but his eyes quickly glanced over everyone. It seemed that other than Ares, he had everyone’s attention and from the looks of it, most agreed with Azazel. So, it was time for the main course, “Thank you, Lord Azazel. As for the answer to your question, there are only two things that I will share and both are quite mind-blowing if I am being honest. But to what extent, that I will leave it up to your discretion.”

“First of all, I am happy and proud to present ‘The Alliance’, a newly formed faction.” Naruto dismissed the pure shocked expression on most and carried on, “Although I called the Alliance a faction, it is more than that. Just as the name suggested, the Alliance came to be when multiple factions, groups, and people with similar mindsets came together to create something unique, something to rely on. Now, as for who are the members of the Alliance …”

Yasaka and August started walking toward Naruto. When they were close enough, Yasaka spoke up, “The Avalon Kingdom is a member of the Alliance. We are also the founders.”

Amaterasu started moving when Yasaka was finished. She, Susanoo and Tsukuyomi stood close to Yasaka and August. Amaterasu’s voice didn’t show an ounce of the emotion of what Naruto was sure she was feeling, “The Shinto faction is a member of the Alliance.”

The moment she was done, Mephisto started walking along with his mages. He stopped when he reached his destination and turned to face everyone else, “The Magician Society is a member of the Alliance. And for all those who do not know, the Magician Society includes all the magician organizations as well as all the contracted and legal mages.”

Then it was Tiamat, the dragon queen, who came and stood near Mephisto. She was accompanied by Fafnir and Yu-long. All the three dragons were in their human forms. Tiamat’s voice was quite laidback compared to her sharp features, “The Dragons under the current living dragon kings will be a part of the Alliance.”

Then the final member finally started walking. By now everyone stopped breathing but seeing him moving toward the large group, Naruto was sure that their brains stopped working.

“I, Khaoss, will join the Alliance.”

Maybe this was Naruto’s biggest guilty pleasure, doing something so unpredictable that results in everybody’s souls leaving their bodies. Other than the members of the Alliance, everyone was shocked. Naruto let out a small mischievous smile as he thoroughly enjoyed the view. He was truly savoring the moment and making sure he was not missing any details. After all, he would have to share the memory with Jiraiya.

And then the guarded, wary and unfriendly expressions started to emerge on their faces. Unfortunately, Naruto knew why. From their point of view, Naruto basically announced the third High-tier faction which was much deadlier than the Biblical faction and the Hindu faction. Since one, they…

Naruto blinked and looked at Shiva. The mighty God of Destruction was chuckling, and soon it became full-blown laughter. The pressure in the vicinity dropped as again everyone, including Naruto and his companions, were stunned. Shiva turned to Naruto, his laughter stopped but he still had a huge smile, “I know you are unpredictable but to pull something like this,” Then his gaze went toward the core stone, “And in the day of the top ten revelations no less. You truly are an amusing and unpredictable king.”

Naruto chuckled, “I aim to please Lord Shiva.”

Shiva then turned around and addressed the rest of the beings, “I know we all have questions, we all have our concerns. But may I suggest, we hold onto those reservations till the end. After all,” Then he turned to Naruto, “King Naruto is not finished. And I for one would like to hear and see what more mind-blowing things you can share with us.”

Brahman and Vishnu took a step forward and stood side by side with Shiva. The message was clear, they wholeheartedly agreed with Shiva. And just like that, everyone focused their attention on Naruto again, albeit some were quite displeased but no one voiced out anything.

Naruto nodded gratefully at Shiva, “Thank you, Lord Shiva,” Then he faced everyone again, “I know everyone has tons of questions regarding the Alliance. But, we have limited time right now. So what I propose is that I will send a messenger to each faction who would answer your questions to the best of their abilities. Not just about the Alliance, but about the next topic as well.”

With a wave of his hand, Naruto’s overcoat disintegrated into particles. But those particles didn’t disappear, rather they moved forward and started to combine slowly. And finally, the full shape was revealed. It was a miniature sculpture of an island, with multiple smaller islands surrounding it. The main island had a huge mansion right at the center.

“I am proud to present to all of you,” Naruto pointed at the miniature sculpture in front of him, “The Elemental Academy.”

Disregarding the stunned silence, Naruto started to circle the sculpture, “I know, this came out of nowhere. I mean I announced the birth of a new faction and then next I am announcing the opening of an academy. Where is the connection here? The answer is, there is no connection. The Alliance was created because there was a need. But the academy was created because I wanted to create an institution which is open for all the factions.”

Naruto paused, to let his audience digest the words. Slowly whispers began. And a moment later, Azazel stepped forward, “You mean to tell me that you opened some kind of an inter-factional school?”

“Yes. I am formally inviting all the factions to send possible candidates to attend the Elemental academy,” Naruto grinned, “And before everyone starts asking all the tiny details… what are the courses, who are the teachers, what are the rules and regulations? Let me tell you frankly. I do not know.” Naruto again savored the stunned look on everyone’s faces before he continued, “Because other than the headmaster’s position, every position is open. Rules, regulations, courses, management, structure, funding, everything else is left for suggestions.”

Naruto counted to three in his head, and then everyone exploded. Technically, no one was shouting but their voices were quite high. It seemed they stopped all pretense of subtlety. Naruto looked at the commotion in front of him and wondered, “Maybe I should have gotten the ‘The Mischievous one’ title?”

Shiva took a step forward and everyone immediately held their tongues. He raised an eyebrow at Naruto, amusement flashing in his eyes, “Maybe instead of enjoying the mayhem, King Naruto, you could tell us exactly why you created an academy out of nowhere and what are you expect with this move?”

“Busted,” Naruto grinned sheepishly and then faced his audiences again, the island sculpture behind him, “Guilty as charged, and I apologize for that Lord Shiva. But the answers to your questions are quite simple, at least from my point of view. You see, I am quite new to this world compared to most of you. But even then, I had to participate in a great war and in many battles. I have seen lots of deaths and sufferings. And that is within a span of seventy years. I mean no disrespect to anyone, but I have learned that even though there are many cultures, many differences, one thing is common; the strong thrives while the weak withers.”

Naruto’s gaze hardened, “So why I created the academy? What do I expect from this? Simple, I want a better future, a peaceful world for my children; and the children of all of my companions and people. But to achieve that, they need to learn about other factions, their cultures, their way of life. And what better way for them to do that then,” Naruto turned and pointed at the sculpture. “I understand that there is a, let’s say, an urge to flex our muscles sometimes. While we, the adults, may not have many options for that why not we let our children do it in a controlled and safe environment. So, it will not be just a place for them to learn but also to showcase their talents.”

The silence that came after this was quite comfortable than before. The whispers were also more controlled. Finally, someone stepped forward, it was Odin, “A phenomenal idea for a very noble cause. Just as Lord Shiva said, you do leave up to your name as an Unpredictable Ruler. But I have a few questions, quite simple ones actually. So I hope you can answer them to the best of your abilities.”

Naruto smiled and motioned for Odin to continue. Odin stroked his beard once as he asked, “Who is the headmaster of this academy?”

Naruto turned sideways and respectfully pointed at Khaoss, “Lord Khaoss will be the headmaster of the Elemental academy.”

Odin disregarded the stunned silence, he looked more expert at this than Naruto, and continued, “Will there be a board of directors?”

Naruto smiled, “This is not set yet, but I am hoping to create one. The board of directors will include one person from each faction, factions who will be sending someone to the academy. They will also be the ones who will come up with the rules and courses, along with the headmaster.”

Odin smiled and stroked his beard again, “Giving an equal chance to everyone, splendid. Now, my next question is, you said that everything else is up for suggestion meaning you already have a draft plan for everything. May I know what is your plan regarding safety and security?”

Naruto's smile widened. He moved away so everyone could clearly see the sculpture. Then he pointed at the main island, “the Alliance will personally set up protective barriers and runes around the island and Lord Khaoss will be in charge of maintaining them. Of course, before the start of the academy, the board of directors can personally see and test them as well. And, if any factions want to help with setting up the barriers, then they are more than welcome. That is for the main island, where the academy is.”

Then Naruto pointed out the smaller islands, “As for the living arrangements for the students and teachers, each faction can take one island and use it as a boarding house of their own. They can add as many protective spells as they want and build the boarding house however they want. Of course, you have to submit in a written form as to what spells and magic you have used and Lord Khaoss will personally check if they are authentic and durable or no.”

“As for the guards and the securities,” Naruto turned toward Odin and shrugged, “I will leave it up to the board of directors and the headmaster.”

Odin hummed and kept stroking his beard. He didn’t say anything for a full ten seconds. Then out of nowhere, he started chuckling, “Since you cannot help the old change their ways, you are paving the way for the young to make their own decision. After all, it is the young who are the future.” After that Odin looked back at Thor and Vidar. A second later, he turned and looked at Naruto. Odin’s smile turned warmer and sincere, “The Norse Faction welcomes the Alliance as the new faction. We will also send possible candidates to attend the Elemental academy.”

“The Egyptian Faction also welcomes the Alliance as the new faction,” Amun-Ra spoke up immediately after Odin, “As for the academy’s part, we believe it is a splendid idea. Unfortunately, we have to decline your generous invitation. I hope we have not offended you.”

“No, Lord Amun-Ra,” Naruto shook his head vigorously, “You have not offended me or anyone else by declining the invitation. Make no mistake, this is an invitation only, not a demand. And I know this is a lot to take. So, I am not expecting an answer right now. But,” Naruto turned toward Odin, his smiled mirrored his, “Thank you for the leap of faith.”

“If I may King Naruto,” Indra stepped forward, “I have a few questions regarding the academy.” When Naruto nodded his head toward him, Indra continued, “How many seats in the board of director can each faction take?”

“One faction can only send one representative to be in the board of director.” Naruto answered immediately, “Again, this is not set yet. But, the Alliance can come with the first draft of founding rules and send it to all the participating factions for evaluation.”

Indra nodded his head and then asked, “If a certain faction has too many attendees, students and teachers alike, will it affect other factions in any way?”

“No, the headmaster will make sure that everyone is treated fairly.” Naruto’s voice was resolute.

“Now my next question may be a bit sensitive but I believe I must ask. Will Biblical faction have one representative or three representatives in the board of directors?” Indra asked, his gaze locked on to Naruto.

Naruto felt the uneasiness coming in waves from the Heaven faction, the Grigori faction, and the Devil faction, but he did not turn away from Indra, “I can see your concern, Lord Indra. But let me tell you something. Let’s say, there are ten members on the board of directors. Nine of them want to make a new rule but one is strongly against it since it will affect all the attendees from his faction. Then the rule will not pass. After all, my moto is either everyone is eating less or everyone is eating until they are full. No one will be left starving.”

Indra did not say anything, he just held his gaze with Naruto. It was as if he was searching for something in his eyes. And then a moment later, he turned toward Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu; all of whom nodded back at him. Then he turned back at Naruto, his gaze was soft and his smile was sincere, “The Hindu faction welcomes the Alliance as the new faction. We will also send possible candidates to attend the Elemental academy.”

“The Greek faction welcomes the Alliance as the new faction,” The lifeless voice made Naruto to look at the speaker. It was Hades. For some reason, that guy gave Naruto goosebumps. Hades was not done, “As for the invitation, we will need some time to think it through.”

And with that, everyone from the Greek faction disappeared.

“They left, huh~” Naruto mused. Then he turned toward the remaining factions, the Heaven faction, the Grigori faction, and the Devil faction, “I do not need an answer right now. Please, do not feel pressured just because some have already accepted. Take your time.”

“I believe we should take our leave now. Maybe unintentionally, our presence is creating a sense of pressure. If so, I sincerely apologize for that. We had no such intentions,” Naruto then took a step back and waved his right hand. The miniature sculpture of the academy disintegrated and slowly gathered around his to take the shape of his former overcoat. He then turned toward the Hindu faction’s groups and let out a sincere smile, “Thank you for the leap of faith.” Then he turned toward the rest, “I sincerely thank each and every one of you for staying back and listen to what I had to say. I hope everyone had a productive time. I pray everyone to have a long and peaceful life ahead of them.”

Naruto then raised his right hand and snapped his fingers.

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Azazel’s POV

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The moment Naruto snapped his fingers, he along with all the members of the Alliance disappeared. Yes, there was a rule that you have to enter the place one by one but there was no such rule for leaving.

It was as if a spell had been lifted, a show had ended. The moment they had left, everyone just stood there. There was no denying the fact that Naruto and his little presentation left a huge impression on everyone. Then slowly, one by one each group started leaving till only the Grigori and the Heaven faction left.

“All of you should return,” Azazel told Shemhazai, Baraqiel, and Kokabiel. All of whom nodded and disappeared. But Azazel didn’t miss the complicated expression on their faces.

“I have something to discuss with Azazel,” Michael spoke up as well, his voice was resolute and final. Azazel clearly saw the displeased faces. Surprisingly though the rest of the Seraphim agreed quite easily. It was the pope and Griselda who were the most reluctant. But in the end, all of them left.

“You have told Gabriel, Uriel, and Raphael?” Azazel asked. They were the only ones left in that endless space.

“I have told Raphael long ago. Gabriel and Uriel just learned yesterday,” Michael looked at the core stone. Azazel knew what he was looking at, or more precisely whose name he was focused on.

“I see.” Azazel slowly walked till he stood beside Michael, “Quite surprising that they did not make a fuss during his stay.”

“He did not reveal his eye, that helped,” Michael mused, “What about your people?”

Azazel grinned, “I told them to be prepared for a huge surprise. Who knew that the surprise would turn out to be this?”

“A leader’s death, a power core and a plea for a miracle,” Michael turned to face Azazel, “You were right about him.”

Azazel shook his head, “Don’t jump to conclusion so quickly, brother. I suggest that instead of guessing we should confront him directly.” He then looked at the core stone, the name glowing on the topmost section, “I can say for sure that he will sincerely listen to us. But I am afraid, after today, I cannot say for sure what actions he will take after he learns about the impact his power has over the Biblical faction.” Seeing the concerned expression on Michael’s face, Azazel sighed and started elaborating, “I am not sure if you have noticed it or not, but that guy in one go completely changed both the power structure and the social system.”

“How can I not?” Michael sighed, “The Alliance may not be the strongest faction in terms of pure power and followers, but it is, without a doubt the strongest active faction.” Again he turned toward the core stone, “Khaoss and the Four Horsemen have no concerns regarding the supernatural world. The Trimurti will only intervene if their faction faces grave danger. But Naruto Ōtsutsuki is completely different. Even the reclusive Khaoss who refused to join any factions until now has sided with him. That alone should tell anyone how much he has shaken the power structure.”

“And then the Elemental academy, an ingenious idea if I say so for myself,” Azazel voice was filled with admiration, he could not help it, “To be honest, it was not the idea but the presentation and the momentum which hit the mark. At the beginning, he revealed himself as a mysterious and powerful ruler. After which he dropped the main bomb… the Alliance. And here was his trick. He gained the attention of everyone using the first two points and then he told us about the academy. He gave us a way which we can use to learn more about him and the Alliance… in a nonviolent fashion no less. I have to admit, I didn’t think it was possible to come up with an idea which would interest every faction, ultimately making them invest in it.”

“He has not reached there yet, but he will,”

“No, he has already reached there.” Azazel shook his head, completely disagreeing with Michael, “The Norse faction and the Hindu faction openly accepted the invitation, meaning they will very soon get in touch with Naruto and will be involved further. I do not know about the Egyptian faction, the Celtic faction, but the Greek faction may send at least a few to attend there. Of course, they will have hidden motives but even I think they are not stupid enough to try something directly. As for us,” Azazel paused as his gaze met Michael’s, “The Grigori faction will send candidates to attend the Elemental academy, both as students and teachers. And I hope you do the same. We can use this chance to get close to him and have that conversation.”

The surprise in Michael’s face was easy to see. But the understanding that followed soon after was not something Azazel expected.

“Of course,” Michael smiled, “If it was up to me only, I would have accepted the invitation right there. Unfortunately, I have to discuss it with a few before confirming it.”

There was a pulse that forced Azazel and Michael to look at the source. The names in the core stone slowly started to fade as the stone started to descend. The moment it touched the ground surface, it pulsed one last time.

“Guess, it is time for us to go.”

Azazel spoke up, Michael nodded in agreement. Then in a blink both disappeared.