Injustice Book 2: Darkness in the Light (Naruto + Young Justice Crossover)

Chapter CXV - Hunting the Thirteen

"Normal Speech."

'Normal Thought.'

"Demon Speech."

'Demon Thought.'

"Other Speech variants."

Location/Time.

-X- Line Break -X-

Sunday 14th July 2013, 06:45.

Tartarus,

Location Unknown.

An explosion ripped through the air, a powerful rush of warm air surging across the land as fire burst to life. Demons cried out, body parts ripped off and flung through the sky. Up above, a portal opened up and Naruto dropped through, diving towards the ground.

Thrusting his fist forwards, he released a sustained stream of fire that crashed against the ground like a wave. More Demons caught within its crossfire, those in its direct epicentre eviscerated while those outside of it erupted into flames.

Bursting through the flames, Blue Devil swung his trident round, wide sweeping slashes that cut through dozens in a single dash. Above him, Kid Devil flipped over, mouth opening and releasing a concentrated blast of flames that upon contacting the ground exploded outwards. As he landed, he quickly spun, sweeping the legs out of a nearby Demon that was cut in half by a slash of wind from Naruto as he dashed towards the small Demon that clashed against Blue Devil.

Both seemed equally matched in terms of speed and strength, but the Demon that the demonic Hero fought against seemed to have the slight advantage in experience while also having some skill in magic.

Not breaking his stride, Naruto sent a burst of magic through the ground, it rippling outwards and bursting up towards the Demon in spikes intent to skewer him. The Demon turned and swiped his hand, summoning a barrier that blocked the strikes, Blue Devil capitalising and swinging his trident down and cut through his chest.

It wasn't massively deep, but it also wasn't shallow.

Naruto continued to close in as the Demon backpedalled, flames bursting towards Blue Devil who summoned a shield to block the desperate attack. Both hands crossed over his shoulders before taking a step forward and swinging them round with a shout. Sharpened blades of wind rushed forth that the Demon summoned a second shield however it didn't hold up.

Once again, two crisscrossed cuts opened up forming a star upon the Demons chest.

Up above, Kid Devil dropped out, another wave of flames rushing out and engulfing the Demon who roared out in pain. A wave of magic burst out from his body and dispersing the flames and continued out, smashing into Kid Devil and knocking him back. Blue Devil swung his trident around and cut through the wave saving himself while Naruto summoned a wall of earth to form upon around him.

As the only one unimpeded, Blue Devil rushed forwards, attacking the scorched and scarred Demon, trident thrusting towards him. The Demon smacked his hands together, catching the trident as he skidded back from the force.

To the side, Naruto shifted the wall into numerous spikes that began to fall to the ground before a gust of wind sent them flying towards the Demon, Blue Devil diving to the ground just as they struck him. They didn't dig him into very deep, most bouncing off his hardened skin, but they knocked him back a few steps each time.

Kid Devil coming up from behind and shoulder checked the Demon to the ground directly at the feet of his master, Blue Devil. He had already raised his trident in the air and begun swinging it down directly towards his head.

It struck the ground and erupted outwards.

However, the Demon was still alive, a deep cut upon his face that was bleeding profusely. He was frustrated and angry, being attacked so blatantly in his citadel of power. The rage he felt was unending and he vowed that the moment he got out of this he would get revenge. It was obvious by the way in which Dalkriig-Hath had easily capitalised on the destabilisation of his brother's land after his death was proof they were working for him.

He didn't know how he had managed to convince them but he had.

Blue Devil was a well-known figure amongst the Thirteen for no reason other than the fact that he wielded the Trident of Lucifer, the First of the Fallen. Before even Lucifer Morningstar, favoured son of God rebelled against his father, there were three others.

The original Satan, the one who went by the First of the Fallen. First of the three to be created and the one that ruled Hell before Lucifer Morningstar came along and forced him out. However, there were two others created, the Second of the Fallen and the Third. Two beings of equal standing that officially stood opposed to the First, ensuring that there was no ruler of Hell. But unofficially, the Three were allied together in opposition of God with the First ruling Hell.

That was until Lucifer Morningstar came along and defeated the First before then defeating the other two as well.

Then there was the unnamed half-breed who had been hunting in their lands for over a year now. Skilled but one that many like himself had viewed as not much of a threat, yet one that still needed to be watched for future prospects. After all, the child was growing rapidly in strength by constantly exposing himself to danger.

And the final member of this group was Blue Devil's protégé, young and hungry to get stronger and someone that was doing so at a steady rate.

Looking through the smoke that clouded his vision, he saw Blue Devil and Kid Devil also looking through it towards him. The distance though between them was significant and he was confident that he could escape.

'Except one thing, where's the other one.' And at that moment he felt something appear behind him, the Demon turned only to feel something sharp cut through his neck, wind rustling through his hair. Slowly the world tilted around him as he watched the form of Naruto begin to plummet to the ground with the rest of his body following him.

Landing in a crouch, Naruto stood up as Daniel and Eddie came up beside him. "That's the second one." Eddie pointed out, nudging the head of the dead Demon at his feet. "So we're done, aren't we?"

"Yep." Naruto nodded his head.

"Our task was to kill two of the Thirteen and we've done that. Belyllioth will be moving in with Dalkriig-Hath's forces soon, so we best leave. Not just this place, but Tartarus all together." It would be turbulent for many months now, but with Dalkriig-Hath now officially the strongest of the Thirteen Princes, not only individually but also holding the largest land and the largest force.

War was coming and it was best they stood far away from it until the situation in Hel.

"Guess I'm returning to the Titans then. You coming too, Naruto?" Eddie asked and Naruto shook his head.

"Jason said he wanted to speak to me about a new training ground, Nabu's busy at this point with whoever's trying to move in on Hell," Naruto explained.

Eddie looked at him. "More training? Do you ever rest?"

Daniel chuckled. "Naruto doesn't ever rest."

Despite the dig at him, Naruto couldn't help but smile. It was true, he never stopped because he couldn't let himself do that. He had promised himself and Barbara that if he was going to train with Nabu then he would give himself to it, one hundred percent. Was it easy? Not in the slightest bit as the leader of the Young Justice and then when he left, he was working with Hank and Don.

In those situations, he always tried to put himself in the most dangerous position possible. He tried to fight the strongest, to make himself their target and take their attention away from the rest of the team and put it onto himself.

That was just who he was.