Ch 41 Part 3

Few Moments Ago

Outskirts of Kyoto

Sirzechs, Serafall, Amaterasu, and Tsukuyomi materialised on the outskirts of Kyoto, their arrival heralded by a shimmering burst of celestial light and magical energy. The four powerhouses exchanged glances, fully prepared to wade into an ongoing battle of apocalyptic proportions.

However, what they found instead was a battlefield already purged of its demonic infestation. Burnt carcasses and remnants of dark energy lay scattered, but there was no sign of the chaotic invasion they had braced themselves for.

"Seems like we're late to the party," Sirzechs noted, his crimson eyes taking in the scene with a mixture of relief and curiosity.

Serafall looked around, twirling her magical staff. "The kiddos really cleaned up, huh? They didn't even leave a single demon for us to play with!"

Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, deities of the Shinto pantheon, surveyed the field with an air of divine gravitas. "The disturbance has been quelled," Amaterasu stated, her eyes glowing like molten gold.

Tsukuyomi added, "Indeed. But who could have possibly contained such chaos? Even the Gods had difficulty sealing that rift."

As if in answer to their question, a pulse of magic washed over the city. It was a complex weaving of shadow magic, but tinged with a warmth and light that seemed to undo the earlier destruction. Buildings reassembled themselves, trees regrew, and the burnt ground was covered with fresh grass as if the city itself was inhaling life once more.

Following the trail of the magic, they arrived at a plaza where they found Naruto, his hands outstretched, the dark shadows emanating from him reconstructing the city with meticulous care. Beside him stood Yasaka, Rias, Sona, Reni and their respective groups, their faces etched with exhaustion but glowing with the pride of a hard-fought victory.

Naruto looked up, sensing their arrival, and met their gazes. "Sorry for taking care of the party before you guys could join," he said, a playful smirk crossing his lips but his eyes still carrying the weight of the battle.

Sirzechs chuckled. "Naruto, it seems we underestimated you. You handled this crisis before we could even lift a finger."

Serafall jumped in excitedly, "Oh, let me take a selfie with the hero of the hour!"

Amaterasu stepped forward, concern etched into her divine features. "This is an impressive display of power, Naruto-dono, but what of the destruction? The very fabric of this realm was torn. How was that dealt with?"

Naruto met her gaze, his cerulean eyes tinged with a pearl of hard-won wisdom. "The destruction was extensive, but not irreversible. I used my magic to restore the physical realm. As for the spiritual damage, I made sure the Ley Lines were left intact during the battle and resealed the wards afterwards."

A sigh of relief escaped Amaterasu's lips. "That's reassuring. Your capacity to restore is as formidable as your ability to destroy."

Tsukuyomi, ever the stoic, nodded. "Indeed, the balance has been maintained. Though, Naruto-dono, your actions today bring questions about our own preparedness."

"Or lack thereof," Naruto added, his voice tinged with disappointment. "If the gods of this realm can't protect it, how are its people supposed to feel safe? What if I hadn't been here?"

The celestial atmosphere grew tense. Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi exchanged glances, acknowledging the weight of Naruto's words. This is not just about a single battle won; it is about the promise of safety and the expectations of divine guardianship.

Yasaka isolated them from the passersby, not wanting the mortals to witness a potential argument between gods and devils and unwilling to reveal their existence in the city centre. She would have asked them to wait till they went back to her mansion, but she couldn't object to Naruto's valid concern.

Amaterasu finally broke the silence. "Your point is valid, Naruto-dono. We failed in our duties, and for that, I am truly sorry. But your actions today serve as a wake-up call for all of us. We noticed a breach in the celestial wards yesterday and wrote it off as a one-off malfunction. We must reassess our strategies and fortify our defences."

Naruto's eyes narrowed as he turned to face Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi, the weight of the battle settling back onto his shoulders. "I appreciate the kind words," he began, his voice noticeably colder, "but where were you two when this rift opened? Where was the security from the Shinto gods to prevent such an event?" he asked coldly.

"Or did you think that the Kyuubi can handle 100 thousand Oni's with 100 Oni Generals and 1 prime general you sealed eons ago?" He asked, hints of his rage for the peace threatened resurfacing. Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi gulped at Naruto's cold tone and piercing eyes.

Amaterasu looked into Naruto's eyes, her divine calm momentarily faltering. "We were dealing with disturbances in other realms. However, I admit that our attention should have been here, safeguarding our own world."

Tsukuyomi nodded, his face solemn. "You're right to criticize us. Our negligence put countless lives at risk. For that, we take full responsibility."

Naruto shook his head, frustrated. "Taking responsibility means little to the people who could have lost their lives, their families, and their homes. If we hadn't been here, how many would have died? How many souls would have been lost to darkness?"

Sirzechs and Serafall exchanged glances, sensing the intensity of the conversation but knowing it was a dialogue that needed to happen.

"Your anger is justified," Amaterasu conceded, lowering her eyes for a moment before meeting Naruto's gaze once more. "We will take immediate steps to fortify the barriers between worlds and make amends for our failure."

Naruto exhaled a weighted sigh, his eyes softening just a fraction as he turned to leave. "I've done my part, and I'm glad to hear more effort will be made. Strengthen your defenses, Amaterasu. We might have the power to protect this world, but the responsibility shouldn't fall solely on the shoulders of young Devils merely trying to live peaceful lives."

With that, he walked away, leaving the celestial beings and Devil Kings in contemplative silence. Although tension still marked his visage, there was a palpable sense of relief, as if a shared burden had been acknowledged, and a tacit commitment made for greater vigilance.

Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi watched his retreating figure, a newfound respect flickering in their eyes. "He's absolutely correct," Amaterasu conceded. "We've become complacent, reliant on our own perceived invincibility. The time has come to rectify that."

"Agreed," Tsukuyomi added, his voice steady but earnest. "We can't afford another failure."

Sirzechs observed with a sense of pride as Naruto not only protected Kyoto but also managed to challenge the gods, causing them to reevaluate their roles. It was a leadership quality that couldn't be taught, one that chastised even those who saw themselves as the epitome of divine power.

Serafall, too, absorbed the unfolding dynamics, and both Devil Kings experienced a moment of quiet satisfaction as they witnessed Naruto catalyze change even within stalwart beings like Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi.

What was equally astonishing to them was the sheer speed and efficiency with which Naruto had vanquished the invading force. Ten minutes—that was the disconcertingly brief interval between the breach of the celestial barriers and their arrival. And in that short span, the battle had already been decisively won.

Both Devil Kings were also acutely aware of how valuable this confrontation had been for Rias and Sona, offering them not just a spectacle of power but invaluable real-world combat experience. Experience that would undoubtedly serve them well in their future endeavours, particularly in the fiercely competitive arena of Rating Games.

Thus, in that reclaimed moment of peace, the gathering sensed that it wasn't just the city of Kyoto that had been restored. The event served as a poignant reminder for all, nudging gods and Devils alike toward a more vigilant and unified guardianship of the worlds they were sworn to protect.

After the customary farewells and a promise to tighten defences, all of them vanished to their respective realms, and the weight of the conversation hung in the air. A point had been made, and a lesson learned; power alone is not enough to guard against complacency, and sometimes the sternest reminders came from those who held the courage to speak the uncomfortable truth.

And Cut!

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