"You may not be interested in war, but war is interested in you."
- Leon Trotsky (1879-1940)
The clan elders agree to hold a meeting to discuss neutrality terms in a few days time. This was promptly followed by both parties fleeing for their lives. All the while, Kyuubi watches on with malicious glee.
"Remind me to bring you to all our negotiations, it will save us a lot of time." I joke halfheartedly.
"What exactly are you planning, Skitter?" he rumbles. "Why are you making deals with these humans, especially since it concerns MY mountain. Besides, no matter what they promise it is inevitable that they will betray their word."
As I pause to think of a response the swarm clone disperses and reforms into a large cloud hovering before Kyuubi.
"The plan is to keep ourselves out of their war. Negotiation seems like the easiest way to keep ourselves from being involved without outright killing them. If they decide to renege on their agreements then we can show them why that is a bad idea for their long term survival. Besides, I really want to figure out what they are capable of. Even if you don't like their jutsu, it's still a good idea to keep tabs on what they can do, just in case they decide to use it on you."
The fox laughs at my last statement.
"The reason I care so little is because the sage created my siblings and I as immortal beings. We are incapable of dying. No matter how hard the pitiful humans try they will never be able to kill one of us. Though I admit it has been a long time since any were stupid enough to try."
"Still, don't you find the constant wars annoying? All these people with such potential and they just waste it. Haven't you ever wondered what would happen if your father's dream could be accomplished?"
Kyuubi looks at the swarm with skepticism.
"What exactly do you mean? My father's dream was ill thought-out. He couldn't see the fundamental hatred mankind had for one another. Even with the teachings of ninshu his dream was a failure because people simply did not care enough to even try."
"I think your father's idea failed because there was no common understanding for large groups of people to build on. His ninshu could be a powerful force for unity, but as you've described it it only worked from person to person and by physical contact. Once jutsu became prominent it may have seemed the easiest path to take for most people instead of gambling with their feelings. I think this failure was caused due to ninshu's inability to be used at range or with multiple people at once. Anyone who tried using it probably died to a fireball instead of actually accomplishing anything. That's why I think my world's philosophies could thrive here. In my world there was a system of ideas that, when they became widespread , we started to really change how things had been done for most of the rest of history. We called them 'enlightenment thinking', and I think you should know of them for you to understand what I plan to do with the clans."
Kyuubi gives a thoughtful hum before turning back towards the mountain and heading in the direction of my real body.
XxxxX XxxxX
Settling back into the cavern, I begin my lesson of the day. I begin with a basic outline of the evolution of the scientific method and how it and its accompanying philosophies spread around my world. Then I try describing how these philosophies and cultural ideals lead to continent-spanning civilizations. This inevitably leads to more questions from Kyuubi about how my world handled themselves.
"If these countries' populations numbered in the hundreds of millions, then how was there not war constantly. I find it hard to believe that these countries didn't just fight continuously amongst themselves."
"Well, most of human history is littered with hundreds of wars. It was only really during the last 50 years where we collectively decided that large-scale war would be too costly to initiate. Some attributed this to the creation of weapons of mass destruction, where the use of said weapons would ensure retaliation of the same kind."
"What exactly is a 'weapon of mass destruction', then?" interrupted the fox. "If it can cow even humans into not killing one another it must be truly devastating."
"Yes, they were universally recognized as the most deadly technology of its time all the way up until scion arrived. With powers, the whole paradigm of war shifted to recognize Parahumans as the ultimate determining factor. Well, mostly anyway. It depended on the power. But almost any power could be leveraged into a weapon of some kind."
"So what is your goal here Skitter? Do you plan to teach the humans here to create these weapons and simply hope that they won't kill one another? If so I can guarantee that this plan is destined to fail."
"No, my plan is to simply teach some kids about basic scientific thinking. If we can deter the nearby feuding clans with your presence, then that will be good enough for the short term. I would like to learn more about this world and its culture before I do anything drastic like cause a social revolution".
Our lesson quickly breaks down into the usual random questions Kyuubi has about my world. At the same time I decide to start fashioning myself a hammock out of spider silk. I talk through the night until I nearly fall asleep trying to describe how planetary motions are governed by gravity. Kyuubi eventually grows tired of asking questions and I manage to finish my my increased insect numbers the project is finished quicker than I anticipated. I build it right on my disheveled apple trees branches, upon lying down I fall almost immediately into a deep sleep.
The next morning proved to be a cloudy one. This gave the cave a rather dreary appearance and I found myself relying on my insects to get around without tripping on anything. Kyuubi seems to be in a contemplative mood so I decide not to pester him for more lessons just yet. About midway through the day the sun finally broke through the cloud layer and illuminated the caves interior, almost at the same time I notice two figures heading toward the mountain with my swarm.
I groan out loud, causing Kyuubi to raise his head from his napping position.
What the hell are those two doing? It's only been a day since they discovered they were mortal enemies. There is no way their parents are allowing them to come to the mountain, especially after Kyuubi's reveal.
Noticing Kyuubi's questioning stare I decide to explain while I form a swarm clone in front of the approaching boys."It appears my students have returned. I really can't fathom what they are trying to accomplish by coming here. Can't you sense them from here?"
"I could if I was concentrating, children tend not to have as much hatred as adults do. Tell me what their excuses are for treading on my territory."
The boys have stopped in front of my clone and look a bit unsure of themselves.
"Well, what are you two doing here? Does anyone even know you are here?"
Both boys look at one another before shaking their heads. Hashirama speaks after whispering something to Madara.
"Our clans are too busy panicking over the awakening of the Kyūbi no Yōko. We met by the river a little while ago to discuss what happened and to make sure that we were going to continue training together." Hashirama states happily
"That still doesn't tell me why you've decided to enter Kyuubi's domain. He isn't exactly keen on having human visitors, you know," I state. This time it was Madara who spoke up.
"Our intention is to bring offerings to the two of you, and to ask some questions. My clan is extremely distressed at the prospect of confronting the Kyuubi. The only reason they aren't in more of a panic is because the Kyuubi has never been recorded as being able to speak, and they hope he can be reasoned with. I learned from Hashirama that the Senju plan to negotiate for a cease fire until they can find out more about the two of you."
"What Madara means is that both of our clans are being stupid and ignoring each other in favor of freaking out about you two. So we decided to get to know you before our clans can decide to do something stupid like challenging you two to battle."
Hashirama nods at the last statement while I contemplate what to do next.
"Well, what do the brats want?" Kyuubi asks impatiently.
The sudden loud voice startles me from my conversation with the Kids.
"They want to talk, and I think they brought gifts for us or something." I answer distractedly.
The fox seems to mull over what I said for a moment before responding. "Tell them to come here. I wish to meet these two, there is something about them that I want to confirm."
I consider this for a moment before reluctantly telling the boys to head towards the cave entrance. At the same time I move to a spot that will hide my real body, a small alcove that sits behind Kyuubi's favorite resting spot.
"You aren't going to kill them or eat them are you?" I ask accusingly
"So long as they behave themselves and their offerings are sufficient I promise not to eat them."
The thought doesn't give me much comfort as the two boys follow my swarm cloud into the foxes den. Hesitantly at first the two make their way through the entranceway, walking with deliberate care and trying their best not to make too much noise. Eventually they make it into the main living area with its crystalline formations and large skylight. They stared in awe of the vast room and its sole occupant. Kyuubi was eyeing the boys with a speculative gaze, before finally deciding to speak.
"Tell me, do you two enjoy gambling with your lives? If it were not for Skitter you two would not have survived trespassing onto my land, be grateful that I even deign to speak with you."
Both boys quickly bow almost parallel to the floor before making their way closer to Kyuubi so as not to have to yell from across the room. When they stop I imagine they think they are at a safe range, I know from experience that this is not true. Still the boys put on a brave face and start their introduction.
"We apologize for intruding O great and powerful Kyuubi. We ask for your forgiveness and to accept these offerings of peace." Madara states in a slightly shaky voice while he and Hashirama pull out what looks to be a set of scrolls.
With a nod from Kyuubi the two place the scrolls on the ground before unrolling them. Upon placing their hands onto the scrolls a faint popping sound occurs followed by an immense cloud of smoke.
Those must be the portable pocket dimensions Kyuubi told me about. For some reason I thought those would be rarer, I guess these kids were serious when they want to try appeasing Kyuubi.
Once the smoke disperses the gifts are revealed in all their glory. On Madara's scroll a myriad of cooked meats and elegantly prepared foods of all types and sizes are piled. They only amounted to a mouthful for Kyuubi but, to me the size of the heap was pretty impressive. On Hashirama's side there was an odd assortment of nick-nacks. Everything from large incense candles to origami in the shapes of various foxes to objects i'd never seen before. It was surprising that these two managed to get so much stuff in such a short amount of time.
I bet these two had a few superstitious clan members helping to collect this bounty. Kyuubi actually looks pleased with the gifts, though I wonder what he wants with them. I eye up Madara's pile. Other than eat them, of course.
"Very well, your gifts are sufficient for the time being. Now what reason do you have for coming here. Skitter has already arranged a meeting between your clans. Why, then, could this not wait?"
"After our initial meeting both Hashirama and I discovered that our clans planed to continue the war. No talks were planned between our clans and the neutrality agreements will likely only concern your territory."
"Yeah, the grown-ups are being idiots. If they really want to bring a stop to this endless fighting, they need to sit down with one another and reach a truce. If we can do it then they should be able to." Hashirama interjects resolutely.
Kyuubi looks at the two with an amused glint in his eye before breaking out into a sinister barking chuckle.
"So history repeats itself, does it? It's been quite a long time since last we met. Tell me, do the names Ashura and Indra ring any bells?"
AN: Shorter chapter this week, thanks again to QafianSage for the help tidying up my mess of words into coherent sentences. Also comments feed my inspiration and drive. So please feel free to throw your thoughts out there.
Next chapter: Cold war part 2