Ch 43 Part 3

Kuroka Pov

Kuroka sat silently, her eyes locked onto the table as the discussion unfolded. She is good at keeping her emotions hidden, a skill honed from years of survival in the underworld. But inside, her mind is a storm of conflict and emotion.

'Naruto!' she thought, her heart making a tiny leap at the mention of the name. The enigmatic individual who has become her protector and love. 'He took out an Oni army, their generals, and the Prime General in ten minutes?' Her thoughts raced, a mixture of pride and disbelief filling her. 'Is there anything you can't do, Naruto?' a stray thought came up.

As Ophis delivered her concluding thoughts, Kuroka felt her resolve harden. If Naruto is deemed an enemy by the Khaos Brigade, she knew she will have to make a choice. A choice between the life she has now and... well, something better. She is just waiting for the call of her blonde lover.

She looked around the room. Vali, who had always been like a brother to her; Ophis, who remained an enigma; and the rest of the members, each with their own twisted goals. Could she really go against them if the need arose? Yes, she can with the help of Naruto. Hell, she can even go against the Devils if he stands beside her.

Then her thoughts shifted to Koneko, her little sister. How would she feel about Naruto? Koneko had always been so innocent, so untainted by the cruel realities that had befallen them. She remembered Naruto's promise to reunite them and a small smile graced her lips.

'As long as Koneko is safe, as long as she's happy, that's all that matters,' Kuroka thought, her will firm with newfound determination. 'I'll have to tell Naruto everything... about this discussion, and about how dangerously close they're getting to marking him an enemy. We're walking on a tightrope, and it's time to choose a side.'

However, she knew the reason Naruto didn't take her in is because of her abilities as his spy in the rogue organisation. She can understand his thinking to an extent, did she like it, no. She only wants to keep Koneko safe and be on his side.

Vali Pov

Vali listened attentively, his eyes half-lidded but sharp. The tale of the Kyoto incident spun itself out, a web of complexities and unpredictable turns. It was Naruto Uzumaki, a name previously unknown to him, who had shifted the balance of power with almost unthinkable speed. He felt a jolt of excitement, a flame kindling deep within him.

'Ten minutes. He erased an entire Oni army and their leadership in ten minutes,' Vali thought, almost incredulous but tinged with anticipation. 'With Skiadrum, a Shadow Dragon that is said to rival Ddraig and Albion. Fascinating.'

"Be careful with him, Vali. I trust Ophis and her judgement. If he is what he is said to be, he shouldn't be trifled with." Albion spoke.

'Trust me, Albion, the thought has crossed my mind,' Vali replied, contemplating the dragon's words as he hovered above the clouds in his mind, feeling the wind rush past him. 'But think about it—what's life without a few challenges?'

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Albion questioned, his tone tinged with curiosity. "This isn't just any challenge. We're talking about a dragon who can tip scales in Ophis' favour in her fight against Great Red. And this Naruto is a Hybrid, isn't he? Who knows what else he can do? It's not a typical Sunday spar, you know."

Vali chuckled. 'All the more reason to meet him. A fighter like him comes around once in several lifetimes. And besides, the world is changing, Albion. New players are entering the field. I only hope our nemesis is awake as well. We can't afford to sit idly by.'

Albion sighed, a subtle vibration coursing through the sacred gear that linked him with Vali. "Very well. But be mindful of the balance. While it's true that the landscape is shifting, reckless actions could tip the scales in unpredictable ways. And Skiadrum is most fond of Balance."

'Ah, Balance,' Vali mused, his eyes narrowing at the thought. 'That's what it always comes back to, doesn't it? The delicate dance of forces trying to maintain their equilibrium.'

"Exactly," Albion affirmed. "And as beings of immense power, it's our responsibility to be wary of how we influence that balance. Especially now, when someone like Naruto Uzumaki is reshaping the definitions of what we thought possible."

Vali grinned, feeling a thrill rise within him at the prospect of meeting this enigmatic new warrior. 'Then it's settled. We'll approach cautiously but stay true to our nature. After all, the world won't wait for us to make up our minds.'

The room was buzzing with speculation and whispers, but Vali was disconnected from it. His focus had zeroed in on the prospect of meeting Naruto. But for now, all he could do is wait, his thoughts a blend of impatience and excitement, disappointment and hope. Vali knew that the world is on the cusp of a seismic shift, and for the first time in a long time, he couldn't predict where the cracks would appear.

"Enough," the disguised figure accompanying Shalba finally interrupted, wearing a hidden cunning smile. "While I understand the fascination with this Naruto character and his peerage, I believe we're losing sight of our objective by overestimating his potential impact."

Cao Cao frowned, visibly irritated. "And what makes you think that, Schemer? We've just learned that he may wield a power potentially rivalling that of Ddraig and Albion. That alone merits discussion."

The figure folded his hands, opting for a veneer of reason, deciding to ignore Cao Cao's crude name for him. "I'm not arguing his power is insignificant; however, speculation and fixation serve us no purpose. If this Naruto is as potent as we believe, he'll become a wall, a barrier to our objectives. And if we can't utilise him, we'd do better to find a way to neutralise him, rather than wasting time pondering his existence." His statement made others pause.

"And as you said, your member only saw him from a distance, due to its scale, he may have missed others say- that Kyuubi destroyed thousands of Oni's as well. I'm not saying he missed it, merely suggesting there is a chance of such a thing happening." He elaborated, getting more attention from others.

Cao Cao looked visibly frustrated as the conversation kept circling back to his group's ineffectiveness. "That boy is a problem, one we cannot ignore." He argued blindly, his voice reaching a new high.

Ophis listened, her eyes like dark pools, absorbing the intensity of the discussion. "The power of Skiadrum is indeed formidable," she mused.

Cackling under his hood, Diodora seized the moment to interject. "I agree," he said, his voice calm but authoritative, drawing all eyes to him. "But we've only seen one instance of this young man's abilities, that too against an enemy he was emotionally motivated to defeat. That doesn't automatically make him a universal threat or an asset worth recruiting and definitely not make him the second coming of Skiadrum."

Cao Cao's eyes narrowed. "You think we should ignore him?"

Diodora shook his head. "No, I'm saying we should be cautious in our assumptions. What if he's a one-trick pony? We could waste valuable resources going after someone who may not be a significant player in the larger conflict."

Internally, Diodora's thoughts were a labyrinth of ulterior motives. 'If they bring Naruto into the Brigade, taking Lavinia Reni by force will become impossible. She's linked to him, and I can't jeopardise my true plans by making a play for her within the organisation. Better to paint Naruto as an anomaly, an exception rather than the Dragon they think of him as.'

His hood obscured his face, but one could almost sense the smug grin forming. 'Let them underestimate him. That serves my agenda well. As long as they're focused elsewhere, I can go about my plans unhindered.'

The room was silent for a moment, contemplating The 'Schemer's' words. Finally, Ophis spoke: "Your counsel is wise. We have many other matters to attend to. This Naruto will be observed, but we won't divert resources...yet."

Diodora almost jumped in joy. The first stage of his plan is in motion, and he has successfully directed the Brigade's attention away from Naruto, at least for the time being. Now to get the Ouroborus.

With the final conclusion made, the members of the Khaos Brigade dispersed from the meeting room, Ophis, the Dragon God, gestured for Diodora to approach her. With a sense of ceremony, her eyes met his, piercing through the hood that concealed his identity. "Schemer," she began, her voice devoid of emotion, "your words have weight, and your ideas hold potential chaos. A fitting attribute for one who will wield the Ouroboros."

Ophis extended her arm, and from the void that seemed to form around her, the Ouroboros symbol materialised. Diodora extended his left hand, meeting her hand and the purplish-black Ouroboros got imprinted on his left palm. As Diodora took it, a rush of chaotic energy surged through him. His body absorbed the symbol, and he felt as if a cyclone of raw, unbridled power had been unleashed within him.

'So this is the Ouroboros,' he thought, nearly trembling with exhilaration. As Diodora felt the Ouroboros integrate with his very essence, a torrent of complex emotions and dark ambitions spiralled through his mind.

'This power... it's unlike anything I've ever felt. A true game-changer. I'm ascendant, beyond even the most arrogant of devils who've ever scorned me,' he mused internally, revelling in his newfound strength.

However, amidst this whirlpool of egotistical and grandiose thoughts, the face of Lavinia Reni kept emerging like a beacon. 'Lavinia, my love Princess, who has always been out of my reach. You chose to align yourself with Naruto, a nobody. How you'll regret that decision,' his thoughts grew darker, fueled by a twisted blend of desire and resentment.

'But now, the tables have turned. With the Ouroborus, I possess something that even Naruto can't match. I can imagine it, the look on his face when he realises that he's outmatched, that he can't protect what he cherishes,' Diodora fantasised, a malevolent grin forming in the recesses of his hood.

His thoughts turned even more insidious. 'And once I've shown Naruto his place, shown him the futility of his actions, claiming Lavinia will be like plucking a ripe fruit from a tree. She won't have a choice. The Ouroboros and I will make sure of it,' he strategized, his mind sketching out warped scenarios in vivid detail.

His internal monologue took a darker turn. 'Lavinia, you won't be able to resist the chaos I'll bring. You'll be a crucial piece in my grand scheme, a scheme that will see the Devils, the World bow before me, and you, my Princess, will be at my side whether you like or not.'

The feeling of the Ouroboros within him intensified these dark desires, making them feel not just possible, but inevitable. His resolve hardened, 'First, Naruto and his peerage. Then, the world. And finally, my dear Lavinia, you.'

In this moment, Diodora felt as though he is invincible, untouchable. His twisted aspirations didn't feel like mere fantasies anymore; they are concrete goals, and objectives that are well within his reach. And for Diodora Astaroth, this newfound sense of empowerment is intoxicating to the point of madness.

And Cut!

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