DxD: Uchiha Sasuke

Sasuke leaned back in his chair, eyes half-lidded as the last lesson of the day wrapped up. He had barely been paying attention, his mind drifting between various thoughts, his encounter with Baraqiel, and now, the unexpected message from Aiko. It seems that there are new problems.

"Our president wants to see you later. Come by the Council after school."

That was all Aiko had said. No further details, no explanations. Just a simple summons.

Sasuke wasn't particularly opposed to the idea, but he found himself slightly skeptical. Cleria had never called him out of the blue like this before. The last time she specifically requested his presence was when she asked him to train her. That alone made this meeting… unusual.

Still, there was a small flicker of curiosity. Cleria wasn't the type to waste time with meaningless conversation during school. If she wanted to talk, it was because she had something worth saying.

With a quiet exhale, Sasuke stood up from his seat and slung his bag over his shoulder. He ignored the usual chatter of students as he walked out of the classroom, making his way toward the council.

---

Arriving at the Council, Sasuke barely paused before stepping inside. He had been here enough times before, so her Peerage didn't bothered him. One of them merely nodded and motioned toward an another room, where he could sense Cleria's presence.

Stepping into the room, Sasuke's sharp gaze immediately landed on Cleria, who was seated on one of the lavish couches, a glass of wine in her hand. Her usual playful demeanor was present, but there was something else beneath it, something serious.

She greets me with a glass of wine in her hands, is this really something serious? Sasuke can't help but get annoyed seeing Cleria's carefree look.

"You're here faster than I expected," Cleria noted, swirling the wine in her glass before looking at him with those intelligent eyes.

"You don't usually call for me like this," Sasuke said bluntly, walking over and stopping a few feet from her. His gaze narrowed slightly. "What do you want, Cleria?" After a while he got to the point of using formalities with her and calling her by her first name.

Cleria smirked. "So impatient." She set the glass down on the table beside her and leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand. "Can't a woman enjoy a conversation before getting to the point?"

Sasuke gave her a flat look. He started to turn around to leave before she exclaimed.

Cleria chuckled. "Fine, fine. Straight to business, then." Her expression shifted, the teasing glint in her eyes dimming just slightly. "Tell me, Sasuke, have you ever heard of something called the King Piece?"

Sasuke remained silent for a moment, analyzing her tone. Eventually, he gave a short shake of his head. "No. What is it?"

Cleria sat back, crossing one leg over the other. "It's a very special kind of Evil Piece a rare one. So rare, in fact, that most Devils don't even know it exists."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. He had a vague understanding of the Evil Pieces. Cleria had explained them once before, how they were used to reincarnate beings into Devils, how they dictated ranks within a peerage. But if there was something even more powerful than those…

"What makes it different?" he asked.

Cleria's smirk faded just a fraction, her voice lowering slightly. "Power." She tapped her fingers against the armrest. "Unlike regular Evil Pieces, a King Piece allows a Devil to surpass their natural limits. It can turn an average fighter into a monster, a low-class Devil into an ultimate-class one. It breaks the rules of strength."

Sasuke processed that for a moment. A piece capable of artificially granting power beyond natural limits? That was… interesting. And dangerous.

It's like giving a lambda Shinobi Hachirama's cells, making him much more stronger than a standard Shinobi. If he himself had grafted these cells in the process, he would surely be more powerful than Naruto by having two rinnegan instead of one.

He had to find out about these King Pieces, he had a doubt about their origins. Hagoromo had warned him, sooner or later the Otsutsuki will get their hands on this world, he had to find out about this piece at all costs if it has connections with them or not.

Cleria studied his expression before continuing. "I haven't confirmed much yet. It's mostly rumors, but something about it doesn't sit right with me. If this King Piece truly exists, it could be something that changes the balance of power in the Underworld."

Sasuke exhaled through his nose. "So you want to know if it's real ?" He was planning on doing his own research anyway now that she had revealed the existence of this thing to him.

Cleria smiled. "See? You always catch on quick." She tilted her head slightly. "So… what do you think?"

Sasuke was silent for a moment, contemplating. He honestly hadn't expected to be interested in whatever Cleria wanted to talk about, but this was different. If this happens to have bond with Otsutsuki, it's dangerous.

He finally met Cleria's gaze again. "I'll look into it."

Cleria blinked, clearly surprised. She had expected some reluctance, maybe even a scoff. Instead, he had accepted without much of a fight.

"…That was fast," she muttered, before smirking slightly. "I almost feel honored."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Don't."

Cleria chuckled before nodding. "Alright then. I'll keep digging on my end. If I find anything useful, I'll let you know."

Sasuke gave a small nod. There was nothing else to say. Without another word, he turned toward the exit.

But just as he reached the door, Cleria called out again.

"Oh, and Sasuke?"

He paused, glancing back over his shoulder.

Cleria gave him a knowing smile. "Be careful. I have a feeling this won't be as simple as just chasing down rumors."

Sasuke held her gaze for a moment before turning back. "I never expect anything to be simple."

With that, he stepped out of the estate, disappearing into the fading afternoon light. Skipping school is not a problem, he had a mission.

And right now, he can only go to see that one person.

Baraqiel.

The fallen angel was a high-ranking figure in the Grigori. If anyone within that faction had knowledge of a secret like this, it would either be him or someone higher up. And if Baraqiel didn't know… then Sasuke would demand to meet someone who did.

His steps slowed as he arrived at the isolated sanctuary where they had first met. The atmosphere here was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the faint rustling of leaves in the trees.

Sasuke didn't hesitate as he stepped forward. He could already sense the familiar presence nearby.

He didn't call out. He didn't need to.

A gust of wind rushed past him as a figure descended from above, landing with a heavy thud.

Baraqiel stood before him, his large black wings folding against his back as his piercing eyes met Sasuke's. His expression was unreadable, but there was something different from their last meeting, less hostility, more curiosity.

"You again," Baraqiel muttered, crossing his arms over his chest. "Didn't expect to see you so soon. Let me guess, you're here to pick another fight?"

Sasuke remained impassive. "No." His crimson Sharingan gleamed slightly as he studied the fallen angel. "I need information."

Baraqiel raised an eyebrow. "Oh?" He gestured vaguely with one hand. "And what makes you think I have what you're looking for?"

Sasuke didn't waste time. "The King Piece. Do you know what it is?"

For the first time, Baraqiel's expression shifted. His brow furrowed slightly, and his stance grew more rigid. Not out of fear, but caution.

"King Piece?" he repeated, as if testing the words on his tongue. After a moment, he shook his head. "Can't say I've heard of it."

Sasuke's gaze remained sharp, scanning him for any sign of deception. But Baraqiel wasn't lying. There was no hesitation in his answer, no flicker of recognition.

"Tch." Sasuke clicked his tongue in irritation. He had hoped this would be quicker.

Baraqiel watched him carefully. "What's got you so interested in this King Piece?"

Sasuke remained silent for a moment before speaking. "It's something that shouldn't exist."

Baraqiel exhaled through his nose. "That so?" He looked at Sasuke more closely. "I don't know much, but if you're asking about something that secretive, you might be looking in places you shouldn't."

Sasuke wasn't deterred. If Baraqiel didn't know, then there was only one logical step forward.

"Then I need to meet your leader."

The air grew tense.

Baraqiel's expression darkened just slightly, his arms uncrossing as he stared Sasuke down. His posture wasn't aggressive, but there was a clear sense of scrutiny behind his gaze.

"You mean Azazel," Baraqiel finally said.

Azazel.

So that was the name of the Grigori's Governor.

Sasuke committed the name to memory.

Baraqiel studied him before letting out a low chuckle. "Heh. I don't know if I should be impressed or concerned that you think you can just ask to meet him."

Sasuke's expression remained cold. "Can you arrange it or not?"

Baraqiel scoffed lightly before rubbing his chin in thought. "You're a real pain in the ass, you know that?" He exhaled, shaking his head. "Fine. I'll see what I can do. No promises, though. Azazel doesn't meet just anyone. Especially not a kid with glowing red eyes who's poking around for information."

Sasuke gave a curt nod. That was enough for now.

Baraqiel watched him for a moment longer before smirking. "Tch. You remind me of that white haired kid..."

Sasuke didn't respond. He had already turned around, walking away.

Baraqiel shook his head, watching him go. "This kid is gonna be trouble…"

He didn't tell him the whole truth, in fact Azazel wanted to meet this boy after he told him about his existence. As for King Piece, he doesn't really know what it is but he already heard Azazel mention it once, but why is he trying to find out what it is?

It's not his problem anyway.

---

The sun had long since dipped below the horizon, casting Kuoh into the cool embrace of night. The distant hum of cicadas filled the air as Sasuke arrived at his apartment, his mind already turning over what he had learned today.

Stepping into his apartment, he shut the door behind him, his senses already scanning the room. He knew the moment he entered that he wasn't alone.

"You're late," a smooth, lazy voice drawled from the living room.

Sasuke's eyes immediately flicked to the couch, where a man lounged without a care in the world. A can of beer was in his hand, his golden eyes half-lidded as he smirked at the younger man. His messy blonde hair was slightly unkempt, and his relaxed posture screamed nonchalance.

Azazel.

Governor General of the Grigori.

Sasuke's Sharingan activated on instinct, but he made no immediate move. Instead, he simply stared at the fallen angel, unimpressed.

"...You broke into my apartment."

Azazel chuckled. "Technically, I let myself in. Doors are just so inconvenient, you know?" He took a sip of his drink, sighing in satisfaction. "Nice place, by the way. A bit empty, though. You don't really personalize things, huh?"

Sasuke remained silent, unmoving. He was already analyzing Azazel's presence. He felt no immediate hostility, but there was something undeniably sharp about the man, like a blade kept hidden behind a carefree smile.

"You gonna stand there all night?" Azazel gestured lazily to the chair across from him. "Come on, kid, sit down. I don't bite."

Sasuke didn't move. "What do you want?"

Azazel smirked. "That's my line, actually." He set the beer can down and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Baraqiel tells me you're quite the interesting one. A human who doesn't belong to Church and appeared out of nowhere." His golden eyes gleamed with curiosity. "Red and purple eyes, huh? I never saw fhat before, are you perhaps from an another world?"

Sasuke didn't react.

Azazel studied him for a moment before grinning. "Man, you're a tough nut to crack. Most people at least flinch when they realize I know more than I should." He leaned back again. "But that's fine. I'm a patient guy."

Sasuke exhaled through his nose. "Are we done?"

Azazel snorted. "Geez, you're even worse than he is."

Sasuke's gaze sharpened slightly. "Who?"

Azazel smirked. "Eh, just a white-haired kid that I carry around. Similar attitude. Not as broody, though." He waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, let's get to the fun part. You were very eager to meet me, weren't you?"

Sasuke didn't hesitate. "The King Piece."

The shift in atmosphere was instant.

Azazel's expression, once playful and relaxed, became unreadable. His golden eyes lost their glimmer of amusement, turning cold and calculating. He stared at Sasuke in silence for a long moment before speaking.

"Where did you hear that name?"

Sasuke didn't answer.

Azazel's gaze darkened slightly. "You know, most people don't just stumble across something like the King Piece. It's not common knowledge." He leaned forward again, his fingers interlocking. "So tell me… who told you?"

Sasuke remained impassive. "That's not important."

Azazel clicked his tongue. "Tch. So stubborn." He studied Sasuke for a few moments before sighing, rubbing the back of his head. "You really don't make this easy, huh?"

Sasuke didn't react.

Azazel leaned back against the couch, eyes closing for a brief second before he spoke again. "The King Piece isn't something you should be digging into, kid." His voice had lost its usual playfulness. "It's… complicated."

Sasuke crossed his arms. "Then explain."

Azazel exhaled. "Figures you wouldn't just drop it." He drummed his fingers against his armrest before finally meeting Sasuke's gaze again. "Alright, fine. I'll tell you what I can."

There was a short pause before he continued.

Azazel exhaled. "Here's the short version. The King Piece is an illegal variation of the standard Evil Pieces. Unlike the regular ones, which reincarnate people and define their rank, the King Piece overwrites the natural order. It forcefully raises a Devil's power, no matter how weak they originally were."

He tapped his fingers against the can in his hand. "Imagine a low-class Devil, nothing special, suddenly jumping up to Ultimate-Class power overnight. No training, no talent, just raw strength given to them like a cheat code." His golden eyes gleamed. "It's a shortcut to power. But it's not free."

Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly. "What's the cost? "

Azazel was silent for a moment before he sighed. "That's the part nobody really knows. The information is so buried that even I don't have all the details. But there is a cost. Something about it changes the Devils who use it. Corrupts them, maybe. Makes them… less like Devils and more like something else."

Azazel studied him before continuing. "The ones who control these pieces are not the kind of people you want to mess with."

Sasuke remained silent, prompting Azazel to elaborate.

"The Great King Faction is the one pulling the strings on this." His tone darkened. "They're one of the most powerful noble factions in the Underworld. Mostly made up of old blooded, arrogant bastards who think they should rule just because their ancestors did. And they do not  like people knowing about things they shouldn't."

He leaned back. "Right now, the Great King Faction possesses six King Pieces. And Ajuka Beelzebub, the Devil responsible for creating the Evil Piece system, has three of them."

Sasuke's eyes flickered slightly. That name.

He had heard of Ajuka from Cleria as well before, one of the Four Great Satans, the man considered the smartest Devil alive. If he had three of these pieces, that meant he was either researching them… or keeping them away from the Great King Faction.

He couldn't know that Ajuka didn't care that the Great Faction had the rest of the pieces.

Azazel continued. "Now, if they find out that some random nobody, not a Devil, not even a part of their world, knows about the King Piece?" He clicked his tongue. "They will come after you. And they will kill you."

Sasuke wasn't surprised. If the Great King Faction was trying to keep this secret buried, then eliminating any leaks was the obvious move.

Azazel smirked, though it didn't hold much amusement. "I have to say, kid, you've got some serious balls poking around this. Most people with a brain would've backed off by now."

Sasuke's expression didn't change. "I don't care."

Azazel chuckled. "Yeah, I figured you'd say that." He tilted his head slightly. "So? What's your plan? You gonna march into the Underworld and demand answers?"

Sasuke didn't answer immediately. His mind was already turning over the information, processing possible paths forward.

Azazel sighed, stretching his arms. "Well, whatever you do, just remember, these guys don't play fair. The Great King Faction isn't like the Satans. They operate from the shadows, moving pieces around without anyone realizing it. And they don't like outsiders messing with their business."

Sasuke finally spoke. "Then they shouldn't have made their business everyone's problem." His Sharingan was spinning slowly, but he confirmed something thanks to Azazel.

The Otsutsuki have nothing to do with these pieces, so it doesn't concern him anymore. He has no reason to get involved in demon politics, or even the supernatural world. His role is simply to make sure the Otsutsuki don't get their hands on this world. He will tell Cleria the information, as he had told her, but he will not investigate further.

Azazel blinked before grinning. "Damn. You really are a pain in the ass."

He stood up, finishing his beer. "Alright, kid. I gave you what I know. Consider it a freebie." He turned toward the window, but before leaving, he glanced back. "One last piece of advice, watch your back. If you keep digging, it won't just be Devils you'll have to worry about."

Sasuke watched him with a cold gaze. "I know."

Azazel smirked, spreading his wings. "Then good luck, Sasuke-kun~."

And with that, he disappeared into the night.

Sasuke wasn't surprised that the man knew his name, having probably done his research on him. But calling him like that? It gave him chills to think of a mad scientist chasing his body.

A good sleep wouldn't hurt him, he didn't want to get involved with these people any longer.