"You really think stabbing me in the chest will stop me?"
Those were the last words Adrian Blake ever said in his original life. A normal 18-year-old, obsessed with anime, bored of reality, and crossing the street while watching Seven Deadly Sins clips on his phone. A screech of tires, a flash of pain, and then... nothing.
[Reincarnation System Initiated]
You have died.
Because of your karmic potential, you are offered a chance at reincarnation.
Would you like to reincarnate as: Ban the Undead?
✅ YES
❌ NO
Adrian hit "YES" faster than Ban could say "Fountain of Youth."
Chapter 2: The New Ban
He woke up in a forest, somewhere warm and humid. His body was lean, muscular, and covered in the iconic red leather jacket and tight pants. His silver hair swayed as he stood, and he felt it—the immortality, flowing in his veins like wildfire.
"I'm... Ban?"
A whisper of wind, a squirrel ran past him, then froze mid-run. His hand had unconsciously reached out and stole its speed. Snatch. Just like that.
"Snatch... it works."
He laughed.
Then a notification rang in his mind.
Welcome to the World of High School DxD.
Your current location: Kuoh Town Outskirts.
Objective: Survive. Thrive. Unleash chaos—or save the world. Your choice, Undead King.
Chapter 3: First Contact with the Occult Research Club
Ban strolled into Kuoh Academy wearing a tight red school uniform jacket (courtesy of the Snatch skill, which modified his clothes to pass as school-acceptable). Girls swooned, boys got jealous, and rumors spread like wildfire.
He met Issei Hyoudou by the vending machine, getting denied by the 8th girl that day.
"Yo. You always this bad at flirting?" Ban asked, grinning.
"WHO—wait, are you a new student?"
"I'm Ban. Just transferred. You got the stink of devil on you."
"...The what now?"
Before Issei could ask more, a familiar voice rang out.
"Hyoudou-kun. Who's your friend?"
Rias Gremory.
Ban turned—and for the first time since his reincarnation, something in his undead heart thumped.
She was radiance in a crimson cloak. Grace, confidence, power—and a smell of sulfur laced with roses.
"Name's Ban," he said, holding out his hand.
She hesitated—then shook it.
"Your aura... it's chaotic. You're not human, are you?"
He smirked.
"Not anymore."
Chapter 4: Rias Wants Him, So Do the Others
It didn't take long before the Occult Research Club caught wind of Ban's capabilities.
After Ban stole the power from a fallen angel trying to assassinate Issei, the devils realized Ban wasn't a devil, nor an angel, nor a dragon.
He was... something else.
Immortal.
Unkillable.
And wildly unpredictable.
Scene: Rias's Mansion
"Join my peerage," Rias offered one night, laying down a Bishop Piece.
Ban chuckled. "You want to own me, Princess?"
"No. I want to make sure you're on our side. Your power is dangerous."
"What if I just want to live free and punch gods in the face for fun?"
Akeno smiled, licking her lips. "You're the kind of chaos I enjoy."
Koneko stared at him. "I smell death on you."
"More like I can't die, kitty cat."
Chapter 5: Clash with Kokabiel
The fallen angels tried to start a war again.
Kokabiel descended on Kuoh Academy with a grin and a spear of light.
"You vermin think you can challenge me?"
Ban stepped forward, bored.
"Hey, pigeon boy. Shut up."
He snatched Kokabiel's strength in one flick—and then punched him so hard the sky rippled.
Kokabiel's wings twisted, blood spewing from his mouth.
"WHAT—what are you!?"
Ban walked up to him slowly, eyes gleaming like a predator.
"I'm the guy who made Meliodas flinch once. You? You're just Tuesday."
BOOM—Ban threw him into the horizon like a baseball.
Chapter 6: A Devil's Heart and an Undead's Soul
In the quiet after battle, Rias approached him on the school roof.
"You could become something terrifying, you know. A king of destruction."
"Not interested," Ban replied.
She leaned close. "Then what are you interested in?"
He grinned. "Maybe... finding someone worth dying for again."
She didn't reply. But her hand lingered in his just a second longer than necessary.
Chapter 7: Heaven's Judgment
The Archangel Michael himself descended weeks later.
"You do not belong here, thief of life."
"I didn't ask to be born in your chessboard," Ban snapped back.
A clash unlike any shook Kuoh Town. Holy light against immortal fury.
The heavens realized something.
You can't kill what doesn't want to die.
Epilogue: The Immortal Among Devils
Ban stayed.
He never joined a peerage, never bent the knee, and never stopped stealing power from enemies dumb enough to fight him.
But he did protect Kuoh.
He did love—quietly, fiercely.
And in Rias's heart, somewhere between duty and longing, she loved the man who couldn't die.
Even if he would outlive them all.
Death is a quiet thing. At least, until the system boots up.
Adrian Blake never expected the afterlife to come with UI prompts.
One moment, he was sprinting across the road—headphones in, Seven Deadly Sins AMV playing on full volume—and the next, his body was airborne, flipping like a ragdoll over a delivery truck, bones crunching like popcorn in his ears. The world spun, and he hit the pavement like a wet sack of concrete. Darkness swallowed him whole.
Then, a screen blinked into view—right in the center of the black void.
🟡 [You Have Died]
Cause of Death: Truck-kun
Alignment: Neutral Good
Karma: +843
Eligible for Reincarnation Program
"...This is a joke, right?" Adrian muttered into the darkness. He tried to feel his body—nothing. Just voice, thought, and this weird floating UI.
Based on your karma and affinity, you may reincarnate as:
[BAN — The Undead]
Race: Human (Immortal)
Skills: Snatch, Physical Regeneration, Enhanced Senses, Immortality
Personality Traits: Chaotic Loyalist | Anti-Hero | Soft Spot for Redheads
Power Limitations: None (Yet)
World: High School DxD
"Wait. You're telling me I get to be Ban, the Ban, and live in the DxD world?"
✅ Accept
❌ Decline
His grin stretched impossibly wide.
"Hit me with that 'YES' like I just drank from the Fountain of Youth."
The moment he confirmed, the void shattered like glass, and he fell—through stars, through memory, through pain and sensation rebuilding bone by bone.
[Reincarnation Complete: Welcome to Kuoh, Japan]
Adrian—no, Ban now—woke up in the middle of a forest clearing just outside Kuoh. His body ached like it had been pulled out of a blender and reassembled with too much caffeine. But it was his. Tall, lean, chiseled like a god sculpted him while drunk. His red leather jacket fit like a second skin. His silver hair hung wild over his eyes.
He flexed his fingers and felt something. Power. Raw, electric potential surging just beneath his skin.
"Whoa," he muttered. "So this is what it feels like to be Ban…"
He looked down at his palm and willed a tree branch to snap in half. Instead, the whole branch flew into his hand like a missile.
Snatch. The skill worked.
He focused again. This time, a rabbit in the bushes froze—literally. It stopped, mid-hop, as Ban reached out and snatched its kinetic energy. He tossed it gently back into motion with a wave.
"Oh yeah. This is going to be fun."
The system pinged again.
Location: Kuoh Town Outskirts
Time until Main Event (Issei Death Flag): 3 Days
Mission: Survive. Integrate. Influence.
Ban stretched, his red jacket glinting under the rising sun.
Time to go to school.
Scene: Kuoh Academy
"You're the new transfer student?"
The secretary peered at him over her clipboard like he was a graffiti tag on an expensive painting.
"Blake Ban," Ban said smoothly, using his old surname flipped. "From Europe."
"Mm-hmm. Here's your uniform. You're in Class 2-B."
He took the uniform, half-smirked, and walked out without bothering to change. Within minutes, whispers trailed behind him like perfume.
"Is he an actor?"
"That silver hair can't be real."
"Did he just wink at the math teacher?"
At lunch, Ban found a quiet spot beneath a tree on school grounds. He lit a lollipop—couldn't find a cigarette in this damn world—and leaned back to watch the clouds.
Then came the familiar voice of teenage desperation.
"Why does every girl turn me down!?"
He tilted his head.
A brown-haired boy with pervy energy levels that could probably light up a city stumbled past, clutching his chest.
Issei Hyoudou, the future Harem King of DxD, already in full simp mode.
Ban chuckled.
"Yo. You always this bad with women?"
Issei blinked, turning. "Huh? Who are you?"
"Name's Ban. Just transferred in."
Issei eyed him up and down. "You look like a delinquent from a fantasy anime."
"I take that as a compliment."
They chatted for a bit. Ban was relaxed, magnetic in a roguish way. Issei, for once, felt like he wasn't the weirdest guy around.
But then, the air shifted. Magic.
Ban felt it like static dancing up his spine.
A girl with bright crimson hair stepped around the corner, her presence like a pressure wave. Eyes like polished rubies. Grace in every step.
Rias Gremory.
Issei's eyes went wide.
"R-Rias-senpai!"
Ban turned to look—and stopped breathing.
Something in him twisted. Redhead. Fire. Commanding presence. A memory stirred deep in his soul. Elaine?
No. This was someone else.
But his undead heart trembled anyway.
Rias met his eyes and paused.
"You're... not ordinary."
Ban grinned. "Takes one to know one, princess."
Scene: The Occult Research Club
Later that evening, Ban found himself "invited" to the Occult Research Club building—teleportation circle and all. Akeno greeted him with a teasing smile and a tray of tea. Koneko just stared like she was trying to decode his entire DNA.
"Ban Blake," Rias said, sitting on her crimson throne. "You're not on any registry. No paper trail. And your aura…"
"It's not devil, angel, or fallen," Akeno added. "It's... ancient. Chaotic."
Ban sipped his tea, unimpressed.
"I like tea, I like girls, and I hate paperwork. Is that a crime?"
Rias narrowed her eyes. "You fought off a stray devil near the school last night, didn't you?"
Ban shrugged. "It tried to eat a cat. I don't like that."
"You ripped its arms off," Koneko said flatly.
"He got better," Ban replied with a wink.
Silence stretched.
Then Rias leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
"Join my peerage. I'll make you a knight."
Ban laughed. Loudly.
"You think you can tame me? I'm already dead, Princess. No pawn shop's getting this soul."
Akeno chuckled. "He has spirit. I like that."
Rias sighed. "Then what are you after?"
Ban looked around—at the group, the world.
"Maybe I'm just here to mess with fate. Or maybe I'm here to stop your war before it starts. Either way… you're stuck with me now."
Scene: The First Fight
It didn't take long for trouble to find him.
Two nights later, a fallen angel—Kalawarner—descended on the town again, hunting Issei per her canon orders.
Ban intercepted her in a dark alley behind a convenience store, mid-attack.
"Wrong turn, angelcake."
Kalawarner snarled. "Step aside, mortal."
"Oh, I'm not mortal anymore."
She threw a spear of light at his chest.
It impaled him straight through the heart.
For three seconds, Ban looked down.
"...Huh."
Then he smiled.
"Didn't tickle."
He ripped the spear out, walked through her next blast like it was spring rain, and Snatched the strength from her wings.
She crashed to the ground, twitching, powerless.
"You... You shouldn't exist," she hissed.
"Tell that to the last god who tried."
He walked away as she collapsed, unconscious.
Scene: Aftermath & Reflection
Back at his apartment—an abandoned house he "snatched" from some thugs—Ban sat alone. Shirtless, wounds knitting back together in real-time.
He stared into the mirror.
This wasn't cosplay. This was real.
The face staring back was his, but not. The scars were real. The weight of immortality sat heavy on his shoulders.
He wasn't just playing Ban.
He was Ban.
And for the first time, he wondered what that really meant.
Chapter 2: Devils, Swords, and Red Velvet Eyes
The moon hung low over Kuoh like a lazy eye, casting silver shadows across the rooftops. Ban sat cross-legged on the school gym roof, chewing on a lollipop—his new vice in a world without decent booze. The wrapper crinkled in his jacket pocket, his scarred fingers tapping idly against the rooftop tiles.
Below him, the night buzzed with life.
Rias's peerage trained in secret. Magic circles flared to life in the old building known as the Occult Research Club. Even from this height, Ban could hear the hiss of energy bolts, the clash of summoned swords, the pounding of feet against reinforced floors.
They were preparing for something.
He already knew what: the fallen angels were stirring, and the devils were scared.
Ban wasn't scared. He was bored.
Until a familiar voice cut through the night.
"You always watch from the rooftops like some kind of delinquent superhero?"
Ban glanced over his shoulder.
Yuuto Kiba stood on the roof's edge, hands in his pockets, blond hair fluttering in the wind. He looked like a model who wandered into a sword catalog.
Ban gave a lazy smirk. "Nah. Superheroes wear tights. I wear tight pants. There's a difference."
Kiba chuckled and approached cautiously.
"You're not just a transfer student, are you?"
"Would you believe I'm just a misunderstood guy who enjoys violence and hates shirts?"
"Maybe. But you're different from the rest of us. I can feel it. That fight the other night... You took a holy spear to the chest and smiled."
Ban stood, stretching his arms.
"Yeah. That was nostalgic."
Kiba narrowed his eyes.
"Are you a Sacred Gear user?"
Ban turned fully now, his smile gone.
"Nope. I'm the gear itself."
Kiba stared.
Ban stepped closer. "Let me guess. Rias wants to keep an eye on me, and you're the designated golden boy she sent?"
"She's worried you'll throw off the balance."
Ban leaned in, his voice lower now.
"There's no balance, pretty boy. Just power and who's too afraid to grab it."
For a heartbeat, Kiba held his gaze. Then he looked away, sighing.
"She said you'd say something like that."
Ban grinned again, spun his lollipop, and sat back down.
"Tell her I said hi."
Scene: Rias's Office, That Same Night
"I'm not sure we can trust him," Kiba said, standing before Rias, Akeno, and Koneko.
"He's strong. Too strong."
Akeno swirled tea in her cup, watching the steam curl upward.
"I like him. He's wild. Raw. Reminds me of old gods."
Koneko sniffed the air. "He smells like blood and lightning. And something... not from here."
Rias tapped her chin thoughtfully.
"He's not a Sacred Gear user. Not a devil. He resists light magic. He tore apart a fallen angel with his bare hands."
She looked toward the window, toward the rooftops.
"And yet, he smiles like he's just here to party."
A pause.
"I want him on our side."
Scene: School Courtyard – The Next Day
Ban leaned against a vending machine, eyes half-lidded, waiting for Issei. He still hadn't fully decided if he liked the pervert or not, but at least the kid made him laugh.
When Issei stumbled out of the building—clearly in pain from another Koneko punch—Ban flicked a can of orange soda at his head.
"Catch."
Issei barely did.
"Thanks," he muttered, rubbing his bruised cheek. "Why does Koneko-chan hit like a truck?"
"Because she can," Ban said. "You need better defense stats."
"I don't even know what stats I have!" Issei complained. "I still don't get any of this devil stuff."
Ban tilted his head.
"You're telling me they haven't told you yet?"
"Told me what?"
Ban raised an eyebrow.
"You've got something inside you, kid. I can feel it. Something ancient. Powerful. Maybe horny."
Issei choked on his soda. "Wh-what?!"
Ban laughed.
"I mean it. Your body hums like a time bomb. You're not normal—not even for a devil pawn."
Before Issei could respond, the ground trembled.
Both boys turned.
Magic surged in the air—bright and oppressive.
Then came the scream.
Scene: Ambush in the Park
Raynare.
She descended like a vulture from a church bell, dressed in a skin-tight Gothic outfit that practically screamed "fallen angel dominatrix."
Ban caught her aura before he even saw her—twisted, cruel, laced with false promises and real venom.
"Oh good," Ban muttered. "A cliché."
Raynare ignored him, all focus on Issei.
"You," she said coldly. "You shouldn't exist."
She raised a glowing spear of light.
Issei froze. "What is happening?!"
Ban sighed. "Guess it's time for your wake-up call."
He stepped in front of Issei just as Raynare hurled her spear.
It hit him dead center—through the ribs, cracking through bone.
Ban groaned, looked down at the golden blade lodged in his chest, then yanked it out like a splinter.
"Okay. That did tickle."
Raynare's eyes widened. "Impossible."
Ban tossed the holy weapon aside.
"I get that a lot."
With a flick of his fingers, he used Snatch, ripping Raynare's mobility from her wings.
She crashed into the park fountain behind her, soaking wet and spitting curses.
Ban walked over casually, cracked his neck, and smirked.
"You just tried to kill my only source of daily entertainment. Unforgivable."
Raynare summoned another spear—but Ban was faster.
One punch.
Just one.
And the entire air around them warped as she went flying backward, hitting the fountain edge with a crack.
He leaned down beside her twitching form.
"Tell your boss that Kuoh's under new management."
Then he picked up Issei like a sack of potatoes.
"C'mon, perv. You've got a date with destiny. And maybe Rias."
Issei groaned. "I... don't even know what that means…"
Scene: Gremory Mansion – Emergency Briefing
Rias sat in her personal study, Issei laid out on a velvet couch like a broken doll, groaning every few minutes. Ban leaned against the wall, arms folded, his red jacket open at the chest.
Akeno patched Issei's wounds with healing magic.
"You sure this one's worth it?" Ban asked.
Rias glared at him. "Yes. He's a Sacred Gear user. One of the most powerful in centuries."
Ban whistled low.
"Nice catch, Princess."
"Don't call me that."
"Make me."
Rias flushed but ignored him. Barely.
Koneko walked in with a fresh towel and plopped it over Ban's head.
"You stink like divine metal."
Ban ruffled her hair.
"You stink like tuna."
She hissed, low and feline.
But didn't hit him.
Progress.
Rias finally turned to him fully.
"You saved Issei. Thank you."
Ban shrugged. "I owed him a soda."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
Rias stepped closer. Her aura crackled faintly. This wasn't the schoolgirl persona. This was the Gremory heir.
"You're not in a peerage. You're not bound by devil laws. You resist angelic and holy power. What are you?"
Ban leaned down until their faces were inches apart.
"Something your world forgot existed."
She didn't flinch.
Neither did he.
The tension sparked between them like a battlefield before the charge.
Finally, she stepped back.
"I won't ask again."
"Good. I'd lie anyway."
Scene: Midnight Confession
That night, Ban sat atop Kuoh Academy's roof again, watching the stars.
He didn't feel tired. He hadn't slept since reincarnating. His body didn't need it. His mind… maybe did.
He looked at his hands—scarred, indestructible, cursed.
"I died once for love," he murmured. "Would I do it again?"
Footsteps behind him.
Rias.
She sat beside him, silent.
They didn't speak for a long time.
Finally, she asked:
"Do you ever miss being human?"
Ban thought about it.
"No. I miss what came with it. Emotions that had meaning. Loss that actually hurt. A hug that wasn't dulled by immortal nerves."
Rias nodded.
"Immortality is a prison, huh?"
He chuckled darkly.
"No, Princess. Immortality is the cell. Loneliness is the lock."
Silence again.
Rias looked at him, something soft in her eyes.
"Would you ever give it up?"
Ban stared into the stars.
"For the right person?"
A long pause.
"Maybe."
Chapter 3: Of Dragons, Fallen, and Immortals
Word Count: ~2,250
Scene 1: The Storm Arrives
The skies over Kuoh darkened without warning.
Thunder rolled across the town, though no clouds loomed overhead. It wasn't weather. It was magic—raw, primordial, and angry. Somewhere beyond human eyes, a force awakened.
Ban stood in the middle of an alleyway, eyes narrowed to the sky.
"That's new."
A cold chill traced down his spine—not fear, but a warning. His immortal body didn't react to danger, but whatever this was? It had teeth sharp enough to try.
Then came the sound.
A crack, like thunder splitting the Earth.
He turned—and saw a figure descending from the clouds, silver hair blowing in the wind like silk.
Vali Lucifer.
Armor pieces shimmered around his body, not yet fully summoned. His gaze locked onto Ban like a hawk finding prey.
"You're the anomaly," Vali said as he landed, boots crunching gravel.
Ban sized him up lazily. "You're overdressed for an intro."
Vali didn't smile. "You're not registered as devil, fallen, human, or angel. Yet you tore through a fallen angel like she was paper."
Ban gave a slow shrug. "She came at me with a holy spear. I came back with a counteroffer."
"You interest me," Vali said, stepping closer. "Your power doesn't follow this world's rules."
Ban cracked his neck. "Because I'm not from this world."
They stood mere feet apart now—immortal thief and dragon host, both freaks in a universe of order.
Vali tilted his head. "Let me test you."
"No thanks."
Vali's fist moved before he finished the sentence—straight for Ban's face.
But Ban was gone.
Appeared behind him mid-air with a cocky smirk, fingers ready to Snatch.
Vali twisted, armor activating in a flare of blue light.
BOOST!
The voice from within echoed in the sky. The Boosted Gear answered.
Ban's palm touched his shoulder. "Gimme that speed."
SNATCH.
Vali's boost vanished—redirected into Ban's body.
For one glorious second, Ban moved faster than light.
He grinned as his fist slammed into Vali's armored chest, sending the White Dragon crashing into a row of parked cars.
Vali rose slowly, surprised—and smiling.
"Well then," he said. "This might actually be fun."
Scene 2: Interference – Grigori HQ
Far above the chaos, in the skybox of a hidden floating fortress, Azazel watched through a glass screen with narrowed eyes.
Beside him, several high-ranking fallen murmured about power levels and Sacred Gear resonance.
Azazel sipped coffee, unusually silent.
"Sir, shall we intervene?" one of his subordinates asked.
"No," he said flatly. "Not yet. That boy…"
He paused.
"He's not using a Sacred Gear. He is the gear."
"But how can a human body withstand that level of divine and demonic fusion? It should've torn him apart."
Azazel tapped his screen. "He's not human. At least, not anymore."
He leaned back.
"I want him studied."
Scene 3: After the Clash
Vali dusted himself off, armor retracting as Ban leaned against a light pole, panting.
"You're fast," Ban admitted. "Even after I Snatched your boost."
"You adapt mid-fight," Vali said, intrigued. "You're not like the others."
Ban stretched his shoulders. "Guess not."
Vali smirked. "Join me."
Ban raised an eyebrow.
"I'm building a faction. Beyond devils, angels, dragons. You don't belong with Rias and her children's club. You belong with us—with real monsters."
Ban laughed.
"You think I take orders from pretty boys with God complexes?"
"I think you're bored," Vali countered.
That stopped Ban cold.
He stared at Vali.
"…Maybe."
Vali turned to go. "Think about it."
He vanished in a pulse of teleportation magic.
Ban remained, expression unreadable.
For once, someone had seen through the bravado.
Scene 4: Gremory Confrontation
Ban walked back into the Occult Research Club at sunset, covered in dust and blood.
Everyone was waiting—Rias, Akeno, Kiba, Koneko, and a barely-healed Issei.
"Where were you?" Rias demanded.
"Out. Bonding," Ban replied, flopping onto the couch like a cat.
"With who?" Kiba asked warily.
Ban yawned. "Vali. White Dragon boy. Said hi. Tried to kill me. Nice hair."
Rias's fists clenched. "Vali is dangerous."
"So am I."
A tense silence.
Akeno broke it with a slow clap.
"You're either brave or insane."
"Little of both."
Rias sat opposite him.
"You're being watched. Not just by us. By Azazel. By the Church. Maybe even worse."
Ban met her gaze.
"Let 'em watch. I'll smile for the cameras."
Her voice lowered.
"Why are you really here, Ban?"
That again.
He looked away.
"I don't know."
And for the first time, he meant it.
Scene 5: Infinity's Whisper
Late that night, in the shrine behind Kuoh, Ban sensed a shift.
Something primal stirred.
He turned—and she was there.
Ophis.
The Infinite Dragon God. The silent void in child form.
She stood barefoot in the moonlight, expression unreadable.
"...You're not from this world," she said, voice like a whisper through glass.
Ban said nothing, just stared.
"You are not bound by death," she added.
He nodded.
"I was once," he replied. "Then I stole my life back."
She tilted her head. "You smell like broken timelines. Like forgotten gods."
Ban cracked his neck.
"I smell like trouble."
Ophis blinked slowly.
"Will you fight the Great Red?"
Ban laughed. "Only if he punches first."
A pause.
"Do you fear me?" she asked.
He walked past her, brushing shoulders.
"No."
She didn't stop him.
But her voice followed him.
"You could destroy balance."
He stopped, half-turned.
"Balance is boring."
Scene 6: Fire and Embers
Ban returned to the school roof once more.
The stars were dull that night. The world felt heavier.
He sat alone, chewing a new lollipop, watching lights twinkle across Kuoh.
Then he felt her.
Rias joined him silently, sitting beside him like it had become routine.
"You met Ophis," she said.
Ban didn't ask how she knew.
"She didn't kill you."
"Not for lack of trying," he murmured. "She looked inside me. Didn't like what she saw."
"Or maybe… she did."
Ban leaned back, eyes closed.
"You keep asking who I am. Why I'm here."
He exhaled.
"I think… I'm here to matter."
She looked at him, eyes softening.
"Ban—"
He stopped her with a glance.
"Don't fall for me, Princess."
She smirked sadly. "Too late."
Chapter 4: Silent Flames and Broken Chains
Word Count: ~2,200
Scene 1: Training Grounds — A Thorn Among Roses
The courtyard of Kuoh Academy was unusually quiet for once, the sun dipping low and casting long shadows over the worn stone paths. Ban lounged against a tree, the sleeves of his red jacket rolled up to reveal lean, scarred arms. His silver hair was a mess, and he had that signature smirk—half bored, half amused.
Across from him, Koneko Toujou sat perched like a statue, eyes narrowed, arms crossed. She had never been one for words, but today she was here willingly. That alone intrigued Ban.
"Not much of a talker, huh?" Ban teased, flicking a small pebble at her.
Koneko didn't respond, but her sharp gaze softened just a bit.
Ban exhaled, cracking his neck. "Look, I know you're used to doing things your way. But if you want to survive—and maybe win that damn Rating Game—you're gonna have to listen."
She finally looked up, the faintest hint of a smile tugging her lips.
"Teach me," she said quietly.
Ban grinned. "Thought you'd never ask."
Scene 2: Hard Lessons and Quiet Moments
Days bled into nights as Ban trained Koneko in brutal, unorthodox ways. He pushed her limits, teaching her to harness her strength and agility, to combine her stealth with his Snatch skill for unpredictable attacks.
One evening, after a particularly grueling session where Koneko barely kept up, Ban found her sitting alone beneath the stars, arms wrapped around her knees.
"You okay?" he asked, sitting beside her.
She nodded silently, but Ban wasn't convinced.
"You don't have to be tough all the time, you know."
Koneko looked at him, eyes glinting with something unspoken.
"People who survive aren't always the strongest. Sometimes, it's the ones who learn to lean on others."
He shifted closer.
"I'm not just some immortal jerk who steals power. I'm… something else."
She didn't say anything, but her hand found his.
For a long moment, the two sat in silence, the cold night air warmer for the connection between them.
Scene 3: The Rating Games Begin
Kuoh Academy was buzzing with tension. The annual Rating Games were underway, and the Occult Research Club was ready—but they had a new wildcard on their side.
Ban stepped into the arena, a devil's grin plastered across his face. His reputation had grown, whispered rumors of the "Immortal Thief" who fought without fear, who stole the strength of gods.
Across the battlefield, Riser Phoenix smirked, flames flickering around his hands. He was cocky, powerful, and underestimating Ban—a mistake he would soon regret.
The crowd roared as Ban and Riser clashed. Flames met flesh and steel, light against immortal endurance.
Ban's Snatch skill made Riser's fire falter. Every attack Riser threw, Ban absorbed or dodged with ease.
The fight ended with Ban slamming Riser into the ground, unscathed but victorious.
Koneko watched from the sidelines, eyes shining with pride.
Scene 4: The Unexpected Embrace
After the games, exhaustion weighed heavy on the club. Ban found Koneko alone again, leaning against a wall.
"You were amazing," he said, voice low.
She smiled shyly.
Without thinking, Ban reached out and gently tucked a stray lock of silver hair behind her ear.
She stiffened, then slowly leaned into his touch.
Their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them.
"I don't want to lose you," Ban confessed quietly.
Koneko's cheeks flushed.
"You're not alone anymore," she whispered.
Ban's immortal heart, long thought numb, beat a little faster.
Scene 5: Rias's Decision — Chains Broken
In the quiet of her room, Rias Gremory paced, conflicted. Koneko had grown distant lately, and the bond between her and Ban was undeniable.
Finally, she stood before her trusted companion.
"Koneko," she said gently. "You've earned your freedom."
Koneko's eyes widened.
"What? But you're—"
"Your life, your choices. I can't hold you back anymore."
Tears shimmered in Koneko's eyes. "Thank you, Senpai."
Rias nodded, swallowing her own feelings.
"Just promise me you'll be careful."
Scene 6: Farewell and New Beginnings
Ban found Koneko outside the school at dawn, bags packed.
"Leaving already?" he asked, heart tight.
Koneko nodded.
"I have to find my own path. Not as a pawn, but as myself."
Ban smiled sadly.
"Then go. But know this—I'll be waiting, no matter how long it takes."
She took his hand, squeezing it once before pulling away.
As she disappeared into the morning light, Ban vowed silently—
This was only the beginning.
Chapter 5: Shadows and Serpents — The Birth of a New Power
Word Count: ~2,300
Scene 1: Dawn of Freedom
The early morning sun spilled golden light over Kuoh Town, but for Ban and Koneko, the day felt like the start of something far darker and more promising.
Ban stood at the edge of the city, his usual smirk replaced by a rare, serious expression. Beside him, Koneko's eyes gleamed—not with uncertainty, but purpose.
"Leaving Rias's peerage was the right choice," Ban said, voice low. "She rules with fire and grace, but sometimes... you need shadows to balance the light."
Koneko nodded silently.
"We build our own path," Ban continued. "One where no one chains us."
They moved in sync, their steps silent and confident as they disappeared into the maze of Kuoh's backstreets, toward a place few dared tread.
Scene 2: The Meeting of Legends — Ophis and Kuroka
The abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town creaked under the weight of silence. Inside, faint glimmers of supernatural energy pulsed through the stale air.
A slender figure leaned against a pillar—a tall woman with serpentine eyes, silver hair cascading like liquid metal. The Infinite Dragon God, Ophis, regarded Ban and Koneko with curious amusement.
"Immortal thief and fierce feline," Ophis purred. "You come seeking power or purpose?"
Ban's grin stretched wide. "Both. But mostly freedom."
From the shadows, another figure stepped forward. Kuroka—dark hair framing her fierce, golden eyes—smiled wickedly.
"You're the one who shook Kuoh Academy, huh?" Kuroka teased. "I like your style."
Koneko's gaze softened at the sight of Kuroka, a kindred spirit born from the same fallen clan.
"We're tired of puppets and kings," Koneko said. "We want something new."
Ophis's smile deepened. "Then let us weave a new web. One where no strings bind us."
Scene 3: Forging the Faction — The Black Serpent's Pact
The four gathered around a flickering holographic map of Kuoh and its supernatural territories.
Ban placed his hand on the map, the red glow of his jacket reflecting in the dim light.
"We start small," he said. "Recruit those who don't fit the devil, angel, or fallen angel molds. Outcasts, rebels, immortals... anyone hungry for change."
Kuroka nodded. "I know where to find them. The stray demons, the rogue beasts. They're eager."
Ophis's eyes glimmered like stars. "And I will provide the ancient knowledge and strength. My power is eternal."
Koneko, usually quiet, spoke with quiet authority.
"We protect each other. No hierarchy, no betrayals. Just a family forged in trust."
Ban smiled, feeling something long buried stirring inside him: hope.
"We are the Black Serpents," he declared.
A new faction was born.
Scene 4: Building Strength and Influence
Weeks passed in a whirlwind of activity. The Black Serpents grew rapidly as Ban's charisma, Koneko's discipline, Kuroka's ferocity, and Ophis's wisdom attracted the disenchanted and the powerful alike.
Ban taught recruits the art of Snatch—how to take and turn enemy strength into their own advantage. Koneko trained them in stealth and combat discipline. Kuroka kept morale high with her fierce protectiveness, and Ophis offered visions of strategy beyond mortal understanding.
Ban often found himself watching Koneko from across training grounds—the way her fierce determination softened when no one was looking, the small smiles she reserved only for him.
One evening, as the faction gathered around a fire, Ban raised a glass.
"To freedom," he said.
"To family," Koneko echoed.
"To a future no one dares control," Ophis added.
Kuroka grinned. "Let them try to stop us."
Scene 5: Rumors and Ripples — The World Takes Notice
News of a new faction quickly spread through Kuoh's supernatural circles. Whispers of Ban the Immortal and his band of misfits reached the ears of both Rias Gremory and the leaders of fallen angels and devils alike.
Rias sat in her crimson-draped chamber, her eyes narrowing as a messenger relayed the news.
"Ban has formed a faction with Ophis and Kuroka," the messenger said, voice trembling slightly.
Rias stood, cold fire burning in her gaze.
"He's a threat we cannot ignore."
Scene 6: Ban and Koneko — The Quiet Storm
Late at night, Ban and Koneko stood on a rooftop overlooking Kuoh. The city lights shimmered beneath them like distant stars.
Koneko broke the silence.
"You've changed," she said softly.
Ban shrugged, smiling. "Maybe. Or maybe I just found something worth fighting for."
She turned to him, eyes reflecting moonlight.
"What is that?"
Ban's expression softened.
"You."
Koneko's cheeks flushed faintly, a rare vulnerability breaking through.
"Then don't ever leave," she whispered.
Ban pulled her close, the world falling away.
"No. This time, I'm not going anywhere."
Scene 7: The First Test — Shadows Against the Storm
Their newfound peace was short-lived.
A coalition of devils and fallen angels, uneasy with the Black Serpents' rise, launched a surprise attack on one of their hideouts.
Ban and Koneko led the defense, moving like shadows and storms.
Ban's Snatch skill tore through enemy ranks, stealing power and redistributing it to their fighters.
Koneko moved with lethal grace, protecting their comrades and striking down foes with silent fury.
Kuroka's claws raked through the battlefield, while Ophis unleashed ancient draconic energy that bent reality itself.
The attackers were routed, but the war for Kuoh's soul had only just begun.
Chapter 6: Rift of Loyalties and Worlds
Word Count: ~2,400
Scene 1: The Confrontation — Flames and Fangs Collide
Kuoh Academy's rooftop was bathed in the fading glow of twilight, crimson clouds swirling like blood spilled across the horizon.
Ban stood with Koneko at his side, their black leather jackets a sharp contrast against the school's pristine architecture. They had come to confront Rias—no more shadows, no more half-truths.
Rias's ruby eyes burned with a mixture of disbelief and fury as she stepped forward, her crimson cloak billowing like a storm.
"You betray me, Ban. After everything I offered—everything I tried to protect," she spat, voice cold and sharp.
Ban smirked, undeterred. "Protect? Or control? You want to own me, Rias, but I'm not a piece on your chessboard."
Koneko's pale gaze was steady. "You tried to chain us all under your rule. That's not freedom."
Rias's lips curled into a bitter smile. "You misunderstand. This world needs order, or it will drown in chaos. I am that order."
Ban shook his head. "No. Order built on fear and domination is just another cage."
The tension crackled like lightning. Rias lifted her hand, summoning a blazing crimson sphere—the Power of Destruction humming with lethal energy.
"Then I'll break your chains... and your rebellion."
Scene 2: The Silent Strike — Sona's Hidden Gambit
Before Rias could release her devastating attack, a sharp pulse of energy sliced through the air—a hidden arrow fired from the shadows.
Sona Sitri, her blue hair shimmering in the twilight, emerged suddenly from the rooftop's edge. Her eyes were fierce, her voice calm but resolute.
"Rias, stop! This is not the way."
Rias's gaze flicked, narrowing at Sona, but she didn't lower her power.
Sona raised a shimmering spear of blue light, launching a counterattack to incapacitate Rias.
"Enough bloodshed."
The two attacks collided midair—a storm of crimson destruction and sapphire precision. The shockwave tore through the rooftop, cracking the very foundation of the academy.
Scene 3: Cataclysm — The Rift Opens
The energy battle spiraled out of control.
Rias, unwilling to back down, summoned the full might of her Power of Destruction.
With a cry, she unleashed it in a blinding beam aimed not just to repel, but to annihilate.
Sona responded with a desperate shield of pure magic.
The clashing forces warped reality—the air shimmered, twisted, and suddenly space itself tore open—a jagged rift in time and dimension.
The rift sucked in the three combatants—Ban, Koneko, and Sona—like moths into a dying star.
Rias screamed, eyes wide in shock as the portal slammed shut behind them.
Scene 4: Aftermath — A Silent World Believes Them Dead
Back on the rooftop, stunned silence reigned.
Rias fell to her knees, trembling. "No... No, this can't be."
Issei and the others gathered, eyes wide with horror and disbelief.
"Ban... Koneko... Sona... they're gone," Akeno whispered, voice breaking.
The rip in space-time vanished without trace, leaving behind only fear and confusion.
Scene 5: Awakening in the Desert — Strangers in a Strange Land
Ban's eyes fluttered open. Blinding sunlight scorched his eyelids.
He groaned, muscles aching—not from battle wounds, but from disorientation.
He sat up. Around him stretched a vast desert—endless dunes shimmering under a merciless sun.
"Where the hell..." Ban muttered.
Koneko stirred nearby, her silver hair dusted with sand, eyes sharp but wary.
"S...Ban?" Her voice was hoarse but alive.
Sona lay a few meters away, unconscious but breathing steadily.
Ban crawled over, shaking his head clear.
"Looks like... we're not in Kuoh anymore."
Koneko stood, scanning the horizon. "No buildings. No demons. No devils."
Ban smirked despite the heat and confusion.
"Great. Just what I needed. Another messed-up world to mess with."
Scene 6: Uneasy Allies
Sona's eyes fluttered open, taking in the endless desert and the two figures watching over her.
She sat up slowly. "Where are we?"
Ban met her gaze. "That's what we're about to find out."
Koneko crossed her arms, silently warning.
"Whatever this place is... we survive. Together."
The three shared a tense nod—their conflict paused by the unknown.
Scene 7: Shadows in the Distance
As the sun dipped, casting long shadows, the desert was anything but empty.
A distant rumble stirred the sands.
Ban stood, hand on his jacket pocket where a knife used to be.
"Koneko, Sona... get ready."
The desert wind carried whispers—of old powers, new enemies, and a battle just beginning.
hapter 7: Desert Whispers and Shattered Legends (Continued)
Word Count: +1,000
Scene 7: Bickering Over Direction — Fraying Edges
The news about the Kazekage's death stirred more than just curiosity—it ignited tension among the trio.
Ban paced under the desert's fading sun, the air thick with exhaustion and dust.
"We can't just stay in one place, waiting for answers to fall into our laps," Ban said gruffly. "We need to move. Anywhere but here."
Koneko crossed her arms, voice cold. "And where exactly do you suggest? We have no map, no clue."
Sona sighed. "Wandering blindly could get us killed."
Ban slammed his fist against a rock. "Better to die searching than rot in the sand!"
The trio fell into a terse silence, the desert wind their only companion.
Finally, Sona gave a reluctant nod. "Fine. We pick a direction. Random."
Koneko shook her head. "You call that a plan?"
Ban smirked. "It's a plan with style."
With that, they picked a random bearing and plunged forward.
Scene 8: Escaping the Desert — The Forest's Embrace
Days blurred as they walked, the relentless sun finally softening as the terrain changed.
The sand gave way to scrub, then tall grass, until finally they stepped beneath towering trees—cool shade and rich earth underfoot.
Ban breathed in deeply. "Finally... something that doesn't want to kill us with heatstroke."
Koneko's expression softened just a fraction. "This forest… feels alive. Different than the desert."
Sona nodded. "We should stay alert."
The forest was dense, shadows shifting with the wind, strange sounds echoing between trunks.
But more importantly—it was a refuge.
Scene 9: The Whirlpool Basin — Mysteries in the Mist
After hours of trekking, the forest opened into a clearing overlooking a vast basin.
Below them, spiraling whirlpools churned violently in a wide river, their frothing mouths swallowing anything that ventured too close.
And at the center of the whirlpools sat an abandoned village.
Roofs caved in, wooden walls gray with age and rot.
No smoke, no movement.
Just silence.
Ban stared in fascination, voice low.
"Looks like someone didn't want this place found."
Koneko crouched, scanning the area with her sharp senses.
"No life signs. But something lingers."
Sona's eyes narrowed.
"Whatever happened here… it was sudden. Violent."
Scene 10: Deciding the Next Move — Risk or Retreat?
Ban smirked, cracking his knuckles.
"Looks like we got ourselves a mystery. You in?"
Koneko stood, brushing dirt from her knees.
"If we want answers, we can't run from the unknown."
Sona's gaze met theirs both.
"We enter carefully. This village might hold the secrets we need—or traps meant for the foolish."
The trio prepared to descend toward the village surrounded by perilous whirlpools, their fate once again hanging on a knife's edge.
Chapter 8: Ghosts Beneath the Whirlpool
Word Count: ~2,450
Scene 1: Crossing the Whirlpools
The roar of churning water echoed like the growl of a beast from below.
Sona floated a few feet above the ground, a glowing magic circle humming beneath her feet as she gathered the others.
"We go over. The currents are too unstable to risk anything else."
Ban raised an eyebrow. "You sure you've got the juice for three passengers?"
"I don't, not indefinitely," she replied. "But I can get us across—if you don't do anything stupid."
Ban grinned. "That's a tall order, Princess Sitri."
They formed a small cluster, and Sona extended her barrier around them. Her brow furrowed as she adjusted the spell's weight, then launched into the air with a sharp fwoosh, magic thrumming around her.
Below them, the whirlpools twisted, foam and shadow swirling as if angry they had been denied their prey.
Koneko stared down silently. "Something's... wrong here."
Ban nodded. "The water's too loud. Like it's guarding something."
Moments later, they touched down inside the heart of the village, landing softly on cracked stone and withered moss.
Scene 2: The Village of Bones
The scent hit them first—musty, like rain-soaked earth over old decay.
The village was long dead.
Homes stood hollowed by time. Crumbled walls and shattered glass hinted at once-thriving life. But there were no animals, no signs of natural reclamation. Just quiet.
And then Ban saw the first body.
Slumped beside an old well—skeletal, dressed in ragged shinobi gear, a rusted metal plate with an unfamiliar symbol still tied to the forehead.
"Shinobi," he muttered. "We're in a ninja village."
Sona knelt beside the body, inspecting it with clinical precision.
"Judging by decomposition, they've been dead for at least a decade. Yet… no rot. It's like something froze time here."
Koneko whispered, "This was a battle."
As they moved through the ruined town, they found more bodies.
Dozens.
Some burned. Some torn apart. Some with weapons still clenched in skeletal hands.
Ban frowned, fists clenched. "Who the hell kills children, old folks... and just leaves them to rot like this?"
Sona's lips were tight, her eyes unreadable. "Not just a war. A massacre."
They kept walking, Ban silently lifting corpses one by one, digging shallow graves with his bare hands. Koneko joined without a word. Even Sona, quiet and collected as ever, helped — building markers, whispering silent prayers.
It wasn't just right.
It was human.
Scene 3: The Red-Haired Boy
Near what remained of a central plaza, they found a building that had partially collapsed — a shrine of sorts.
Inside, cradled in the remnants of a shattered altar, was a small body.
A boy.
No more than six years old.
Red hair, wild and unkempt. Dirt on his skin, but no blood. His clothing was torn, but his face... peaceful.
Like he had simply fallen asleep.
Ban froze mid-step.
Koneko's breath hitched. "He's… untouched."
Sona walked forward slowly, dropping to her knees.
"He's perfectly preserved," she whispered, placing a glowing hand on the child's forehead. "Vital signs... faint. He's not fully dead. Just... stalled."
"Stalled?" Ban repeated. "Like in stasis?"
"Possibly. Some kind of sealed sleep. Magic I've never seen before."
Ban looked at her sideways. "And I've seen a lot of magic."
Sona reached into the inner pocket of her jacket — and pulled out a single glowing, crystalline chess piece.
A Knight.
Her last one.
Ban's eyes narrowed. "You sure about this?"
Sona didn't speak right away.
"I saved this piece... for someone I knew I could trust. Someone who could fight. Someone who could survive."
She looked down at the boy.
"This child... he was protected for a reason. Hidden. Preserved. And I can't leave him like this. Not after what we saw."
Koneko stepped forward. "He deserves a chance. Like we got."
Ban crossed his arms, eyes serious for once.
"You use that piece, it binds him to you. This isn't a pet. You're bringing back someone who might carry a legacy — or a curse."
Sona nodded. "I know. I'm willing to bear the consequences."
She held the piece over the boy's chest.
"Knight."
The piece glowed blindingly — golden veins of magic cracking through the air as it sank into the boy's heart.
His chest arched.
He gasped.
A shudder passed through his body, then he collapsed back, chest rising and falling.
Alive.
Scene 4: The Boy Wakes
Minutes passed. Then the boy's eyes fluttered open — dark crimson, the color of a burning storm.
He blinked at the strangers around him, then sat up slowly.
Ban knelt beside him, smiling gently. "Hey, kid. Welcome back."
The boy's lips parted. "I... I had a sister."
Sona's breath caught.
"What's your name?" she asked softly.
The boy looked down.
"...Karasu. Karasu Uzumaki."
The name hit like thunder.
Ban stood slowly, eyes wide.
"Uzumaki…?"
Sona turned toward the whirlpools beyond the edge of the basin.
And suddenly, it all clicked.
"This was Uzushio."
The lost village of the Whirlpool Country.
A land erased from maps. A clan scattered. A legend buried in silence.
Scene 5: A New Legacy
That night, as stars blinked overhead and the wind howled gently through empty streets, the trio sat near a fire with the boy asleep beside them.
Ban chewed on a dry piece of jerky. "So. Now we've got a ninja ghost kid and a murder mystery that spans decades. Anyone else feel like we just became protagonists in another story?"
Koneko whispered, "Maybe this is why we were sent here."
Sona watched the firelight flicker against her Knight piece case — now empty.
"I thought we were lost. Now... I think we're exactly where we need to be."
Ban smirked.
"Well then, time to shake the dust off. This village was wiped out once. Let's make sure it doesn't happen again."
Chapter 9: Bloodlines and Awakening
Word Count: ~2,500
Scene 1: The Screaming
Night had settled across the ruined village like a blanket stitched from silence and shadows.
The stars shimmered high above, distant and unaware of the pain below.
Ban leaned back on a crumbling stone wall, Koneko resting quietly near the fire, Sona flipping through a salvaged scroll under flickering firelight.
The boy, Santos, slept on a bed of worn cloth and repurposed canvas.
And then—
"AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!"
Santos jolted awake, his scream ripping through the night like a blade. His body thrashed, eyes wide and glowing.
Ban was on his feet in an instant, Koneko rushing to the boy's side.
"Santos!" Sona said firmly, placing both hands on his shoulders. "You're safe. You're awake!"
"NO! NO NO—where's my mother!? Where's—!" He flailed, his small hands clawing at the earth.
Ban dropped beside him, gripping the boy's wrists gently but firmly. "Hey, hey. Breathe, kid. Look at me."
Santos's eyes locked onto Ban's—one shimmering violet, the other glowing white like a pearl.
A jolt of something ancient passed through Ban's spine.
Heterochromatic eyes. The mark of a bloodline awakened.
"Your name's Santos, right?" Ban said softly. "You're alive. But your family… they didn't make it."
Santos whimpered, tears falling in quiet streams down his dirt-stained cheeks. His shoulders shook.
"They… they died because of me. I was supposed to be strong. I was supposed to—!"
Ban pulled the boy into a hug.
Tight. Steady. Warm.
"I know the pain," he whispered. "I've lost family too. People I loved more than life. And it doesn't get easier... but you don't have to carry that weight alone."
Koneko knelt beside them, her expression gentle.
"We'll help you stand again," she said quietly.
Sona looked down at them, lips pressed into a rare, unguarded expression.
"You're not alone, Santos Uzumaki."
Scene 2: The Truth of Uzushio
As the boy calmed, wiping his face with the sleeve of Ban's jacket, he began to speak between sobs.
"They came at night. Shinobi from the Stone... and others. So many. They said we were too dangerous. That the Uzumaki had lived too long…"
Sona's jaw tightened.
Ban's eyes narrowed. "A purge. They were wiped out because they were powerful."
Santos nodded. "My mother… she put me in the shrine and sealed me away. She said I had something inside me... a legacy I wasn't ready for."
Silence followed, only the crackle of the fire breaking it.
Ban stood slowly, gaze scanning the hollow village. "Then we owe them more than just a grave. We rebuild this place."
Koneko looked up at him. "All of it?"
"All of it," Ban replied. "Uzushio lives again. Starting now."
Scene 3: Ruins and Scrolls
Over the next few days, the trio worked tirelessly.
Ban cleared debris with raw strength, moving stone like it weighed nothing. Koneko's small form slipped through ruins, salvaging food stores and scrolls. Sona led the structural restoration, using reinforcement magic to stabilize walls and support beams.
They uncovered dozens of scrolls — most sealed, some in ancient Uzumaki cipher. Many were burnt or stained, but enough remained to offer secrets.
Sealing jutsu. Chakra theory. Clan history. Bloodline techniques.
One scroll caught Ban's eye.
Chakra Unlocking — Emergency Protocol
He unrolled it near the fire, Sona reading over his shoulder.
"It looks like a focused breathing and meditation technique," she said. "Designed for non-shinobi to access latent chakra reserves."
Ban cracked his knuckles.
"Only one way to find out."
Scene 4: Ban's Awakening
Ban sat in the shrine ruins, legs crossed, the scroll open before him. Koneko and Santos watched from a distance. Sona stood behind, ready in case something went wrong.
He followed the instructions: slow breathing, focus on the center of the body, draw on life force, will it to ignite.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then—
BOOM
An explosion of raw energy burst from Ban's chest, a blue-gold light erupting like a solar flare.
The air shook. The ground rumbled. Whirlpools in the distance briefly stilled, as if awed by what had been unleashed.
Ban stood slowly, his body surrounded by a swirling aura of chakra that coiled like fire around him.
Sona staggered back. "T-that's not chakra… that's a storm."
Koneko shielded Santos with her arms. "It's like the Nine-Tails…"
Ban's eyes glowed gold.
He raised his hand—and nearby stones lifted into the air with a flick of his finger, guided by instinct.
"Holy crap," he muttered. "I feel like I could punch a planet."
Sona blinked hard. "You just unlocked more chakra than most Jonin generate in a lifetime. How is that even possible?"
Koneko stepped forward, narrowing her gaze. "Ban… you might not just be undead. You might be something else now."
Ban grinned. "Told ya I was special."
Scene 5: Koneko and Sona Follow
Encouraged by Ban's success, Sona and Koneko took their turns over the next two days.
Sona unlocked her chakra through precision, her aura glowing an icy blue — steady and sharp like a blade.
Koneko, calm and inwardly focused, awakened a soft white chakra that radiated raw power. Her Touki began to interact with chakra naturally, increasing her combat presence tenfold.
Their chakra levels were far below Ban's, but still extraordinary by this world's standards.
Sona sighed after her session. "Well… I'm no tailed beast, but I'll take Chunin-tier chakra as a start."
Koneko cracked her knuckles. "Feels good. Different from Touki, but... natural."
Scene 6: Blood Awakens — Santos's Power Surges
While Ban trained with tree-busting punches and Sona refined her seals, Santos wandered to the shrine where he'd first been found.
He stood before the cracked altar, eyes heavy with memories.
He clenched his fists.
"I want to protect them. I want to be strong... like my mother."
And suddenly—
CRACK.
Black energy burst from his hands.
Chains — pure black chakra — lashed out from his back and shoulders, coiling like serpents of war. The air around him froze, his aura briefly eclipsing the firelight from the village.
Sona turned first. "What in the—!"
Ban leapt to his feet. "Kid's unlocking something big—!"
They rushed to him just as the chains snapped back into his body, dissipating like smoke.
Santos collapsed to his knees, breathing hard.
Koneko lifted him gently. "You're okay. Just drained."
Sona stared in awe. "Those were… chakra chains. But not ordinary. Black... like shadow-forged adamant."
Ban crouched beside the boy. "Santos... that's your bloodline. The Uzumaki weren't just sealmasters. They were chain-wielders. Guardians."
Santos looked up. "Can I learn to use them?"
Ban smiled.
"You're damn right you can."
Scene 7: The Future of Uzushio
That night, they stood atop a rebuilt tower overlooking the ruins.
Torches burned around the village. Scrolls were stacked in crates. The air no longer carried the stench of death, but the promise of rebirth.
Ban rested his hands on the railing.
"We've got a home now. We've got history. And we've got power."
Koneko leaned beside him, her voice steady. "We protect it. Like the Uzumaki once did."
Sona folded her arms, staring at the horizon. "And we prepare. Because if Santos survived… someone out there knows he did."
Ban turned to her, the firelight reflecting in his silver eyes.
"Then let 'em come."