"Ever since I saw you here, I've been wondering about something." Sasuke said as he looked to Itachi's left arm. "You were able to bring the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror into this dimension… Where did you first get them?"
Upon being asked, Itachi noticed that he could feel a sword's hilt in his right hand and a shield on his left arm. "So that's what these are… How can you see them? I can't see you…"
"Since the last time we were together, I awakened the Rinnegan."
Itachi was taken aback in shock.
"One of its abilities is to see disembodied spirits. That includes weapons as well as people, which is why I asked. I've come to suspect it wasn't you that first found the spiritual weapons, but someone else." As a hint, Sasuke let go of his brother and proceeded to tickle Itachi's right middle finger.
"That's where…" Itachi smirked as he realized what Sasuke meant. "… So you figured it out. Yes, Nagato was indeed the one who gave me these weapons. After I thwarted Orochimaru's attempt to steal my body and exposed him as a traitor, Nagato gave these weapons to me as a reward. Though when he did, he was using a different body than usual. Rather than short and spiky hair, it was long and straight."
Sasuke nodded. "I understand. Nagato channeled different abilities into different bodies. The one he used to give you the weapons had the powers involving splitting apart minds and bodies. Like with you, the weapons must have bonded to Nagato's soul, and he had to sever those parts of his soul from his body to give them to you… by touching you, I assume?"
"Precisely. Nagato tried to take Naruto's soul during our fight in the war… I suppose he did the opposite to give me the weapons."
"That's how I came here. Though I did need some help in learning how… Say, why did Nagato think you could wield the weapons if he couldn't do it himself?"
"That's because I used Susano'o the first time when I defeated Orochimaru and forced him to defect from our organization." Itachi said, surprising Sasuke. "Despite knowing the history Orochimaru had with our parents, to find he was another member of Akatsuki… it relieved me. I thought I'd have some comfort in knowing there was someone else from the village in the group. That I wouldn't have to face what lied ahead all alone like I intended… That dream was crushed the moment he tried to steal my body… That feeling of loss awakened a power in my eyes I didn't know I had until then. A power Nagato saw as befitting the spiritual weapons he had but couldn't use himself."
That explains why Orochimaru was so shocked to see Itachi with the Totsuka Blade… Orochimaru was there when Itachi used Susano'o for the first time, and back then Itachi didn't have it! Sasuke thought.
"But how did he know that Susano'o was needed to wield them to begin with, Big Brother?" Sasuke asked.
"That is because the weapons have memories of their own. Nagato didn't tell me everything, but he said that when he found the weapons, he acquired their memories. Of them being created by their original owner, physically manifesting via a chakra construct similar to my own Susano'o, then being discarded from their soul in the hopes one of his descendants would find them. Nagato figured that the creator was the Elder Son of the Six Paths, and his descendants were the Uchiha clan. After having seen my Susano'o, he thought I could use them. He was right, but not entirely; I had an adverse reaction to having the weapons bonded to my mind."
"You mean that illness you had when we fought. That was caused by the Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror not being totally compatible with you, hn… I suppose that's to be expected, since those weapons are fragments of the Elder Son's spiritual energy, and you didn't have the same chakra he once did. The weapons would try to reject you in some way, and that manifested as your illness."
"Yes, that's it exactly. Nagato was also ill for the same reason until he gave the weapons away, but because of him using the Six Paths of Pain I never noticed it before acquiring the weapons myself. At any rate, it seems like only the Rinnegan can see them in their sealed forms, only a Susano'o can physically manifest them and release their power… and only someone with the Elder Son's spiritual energy can hold on to them without getting sick… But the Elder Son of the Six Paths is long dead, so I doubt anyone could wield them without drawback anymore…"
"Actually… there is one person who can wield them properly now."
Sasuke's declaration visibly astounded Itachi.
"You never learned who the real mastermind behind Akatsuki was or what they were trying to accomplish, so it's only natural you wouldn't know this either… Indra Otsutsuki, Elder Son of the Six Paths, reincarnated countless times throughout history, each reincarnation being an Uchiha with the same incredibly powerful spiritual energy that he once had. His reincarnations; they're the only ones who can wield the Totsuka Blade and the Yata Mirror without suffering from the illness you were afflicted with. And Indra's current reincarnation… is me."
"Are you sure about this, Sasuke?" Itachi asked.
"My Rinnegan is the proof. Only Indra's reincarnations can use the spiritual weapons without drawback, and they're also the only ones who can awaken the Rinnegan. And before you ask, Nagato wasn't a reincarnation of Indra. His Rinnegan were awakened by Madara Uchiha after he survived his battle with the First Hokage using Izanagi, absorbing some of his DNA, then almost dying of old age around the same time Nagato was born. I'm Indra's current reincarnation, and Madara was the previous one."
"I see… so Nagato and I knew even less about what was going on than we thought. Nevertheless, I'm glad that you will be able to take these weapons off my hands without hurting yourself. Nagato… He's still stuck inside the Totsuka Blade. Someone needs to free him and let his soul pass on to the Pure World, and I won't be able to do it after you release us."
"Thank you, Brother…"
Sasuke nodded as he placed his hand on the Yata Mirror, removing it from Itachi's soul and absorbing it into his own. The shield became strapped to Sasuke's back. Next, he did the same with the Totsuka Blade, overlaying the place his sword would normally be, stuck to his waist with the hilt at Sasuke's right side. And with both weapons came their memories; being created by Indra, used in battle against Asura, discarded before Indra's death, found centuries later by Nagato, given to Itachi, used by Itachi to seal away the part of Orochimaru that attempted to take Sasuke's own body, then used again after Itachi's revival to seal away Nagato, and finally being passed on to Sasuke himself.
The transaction ended when both weapons changed colour from Itachi orange-red to Sasuke's dark purple, finalizing the bond to Sasuke's soul. "I'll make sure Nagato is freed when we get out of here… Now then, I have a Shinigami to slice."
With those words, Sasuke turned around to face the Shinigami.
"Hold on… just one more thing…" Itachi objected, halting Sasuke's movement. "I love you, Sasuke."
"I love you too, Itachi."
Sasuke turned his head back and smiled, and after just one more second to embrace looking back to his brother for the last time, he turned forward to the Shinigami and drew the Totsuka Blade. He reached the Shinigami once more, but hesitated before attacking. "Any last words before emptying the Shinigami? Ino… Jashin?"
Jashin… That was the god Hidan worshipped, isn't it? He was… in here all along? Did you fight and defeat Jashin, Sasuke? To defeat a god… you've certainly grown stronger than I could have possibly imagined… Then again, you have my Mangekyo Sharingan and Nagato's Rinnegan, so I suppose it's only natural that you'd surpass us both. I am… proud to be your brother, Sasuke. Itachi thought.
"Last words? … I have something like those…" Jashin let out a faint chuckle, startling Sasuke. "This battle we had… it was only the beginning. When I'm released from here, I won't be going to the Pure World right away. There are still two places my soul could wind up… I wonder if you can find them before I acquire my next vessel… Hee hee hee…"
"Two places, hn…" Sasuke smirked. "Good. If it's just two places, then I know what those places are. We'll be meeting again, don't you worry… And when I do, you're going to lose again… permanently."
"I have something to say, too!" Ino interjected. "What you were talking with Itachi about… I got most of it, but there were a few things I didn't get… like what Itachi would 'have to face' after leaving the village… Did he just mean fighting you, or what?"
Ino's question stunned Itachi speechless, though Sasuke was much calmer hearing it.
"It's better if you don't know for now." Sasuke said, knowing Itachi could hear every word they were saying. However, Sasuke proceeded to sheath the Totsuka Blade and poke Ino's forehead, smiling as he continued, Ino's light blue cheeks turning red all the while:
"… but if things ever get serious between you and Sai, come ask me again. We both know he can't keep a secret to save his life."
As soon as he finished his promise, Sasuke took his hand off Ino's forehead and drew the Totsuka Blade once more. "Now… let's all leave this world, and return to where we rightfully belong."
Without another word Sasuke wound up for a swing, bringing the Totsuka Blade up behind his left shoulder. Then he brought the spiritual sword down in a diagonal slice, wounding the Shinigami's abdomen, and in the next instant all the souls in the Shinigami's dimension were sucked into its wound. It started with those with physical energy, followed by all the rest, and the next thing they knew they were flying out of the point of connection and back to where their souls were meant to be.
[X-X-X]
At the Hidden Leaf Hospital…
"Wha… what's going on?" Suigetsu thought aloud as he opened his eyes to find himself in a hospital room, lying down in what seemed to be a slug similar to the ones he saw when he, Karin, and Orochimaru saved the Five Kage during the Fourth Ninja World War. He got up to find that Shino, Kiba, and Akamaru were beside him inside the slug, waking up along with him. Then he noticed the doctor in the room, a familiar face with white skin, purple eye markings, and glasses.
"Kabuto?! What the fuck happened?! Where are Sasuke, Karin, and Butsuma?! They were with me right before… I don't know. I was swallowed by this unending darkne-"
Suigetsu was cut off by Kabuto putting a finger to his lips.
"Shh… you'll disrupt the other patients here." Kabuto whispered. "That you're waking up means that Sasuke succeeded… I'll explain everything that's happened since your endeavour at the Southern Hideout."
[X-X-X]
At said Southern Hideout…
"Okay… all I need to do is release my Hundred Strengths Seal. Then I'll be able to summon a large enough piece of Katsuyu…" Tsunade declared as she, Sai, and Lee landed on the wrecked island where Aoda's body was. She disembarked from the bird made of ink first then made the appropriate hand seals, but before she could finish, she was distracted by Aoda moving his head all on his own:
"Do noth… sthummon anything… Justh… heal my thongue…"
T giant blue snake laid his head down near the group of three and opened his mouth to reveal four puncture wounds on his tongue.
"Very well then, Aoda… I'll heal your tongue, and then you can go back to Ryuchi Cave on your own." Tsunade grinned as she raised her sleeves.
"What does this mean, Sai-kun?" Lee asked. "Aoda-san just woke up on his own…"
"That must mean… Sasuke has freed everyone from the Shinigami." Sai inferred with a smile, but that smile quickly faded into a frown. "Unfortunately, since Lord Butsuma's body was destroyed when Sasuke used Planetary Devastation, he could not make it no matter what we did. My apologies, Lady Fifth… Your great grandfather is dead. For good, this time."
Upon hearing the news, Tsunade cried a single tear before smiling, still focused on healing Aoda. "But that does mean his soul can rest in peace now… and that's all I was betting on anyway."
[X-X-X]
Meanwhile, Ino found her way back to her body to find it wasn't damaged in any way. While relieved that Jashin was telling the truth about keeping her body 'fair and flawless' as he touched it, the thought of him touching her still disturbed her. But she stopped thinking about herself within seconds, because she saw the condition of Shikamaru's body.
"Shikamaru!"
Ino ran to his side and promptly put both her hands on Shikamaru's left shoulder, beginning to heal however much she could.
"Ino… so we're back?" Shikamaru asked, struggling to raise his voice.
"Don't talk! You're hurt!"
Shikamaru silently nodded and let Ino proceed without interruptions. However, one voice did interrupt her:
"Ino? Shikamaru? What happened to us?"
The voice belonged to Choji, who stood up and approached their position.
"We were in the Shinigami!" Ino said, shocking both her teammates. "I helped Sasuke get us out and beat the snot out of the guy that put us in there! … Well, Sasuke did pretty much all the work, since I didn't have enough physical energy for any jutsu…"
Choji scratched his head. "The Shinigami… and Sasuke? I trust you, but you're not making a lot of sense…"
"It'll take some time to explain!" Ino shouted. "I can do it and heal Shikamaru at the same time! You go look for clues as to what happened to Jashin and Hidan, Choji!"
"Alright, Ino… I'll do it!"
Choji jogged over to the cart that their team once held Hidan in. Much to his surprise, all the boxes in the cart were open and strewn about on the ground. "Looks like whoever was here released Hidan and put him back together…"
Then Choji looked down and noticed something else peculiar:
"There are two sets of footprints that start here and go further east. One of them belongs to Hidan, I can tell that much. The other… I don't know, but they were barefoot, and have bigger feet than Hidan…"
"That's gotta be Jashin!" Ino deduced. "The guy that called himself Jashin was barefoot when he fought with us, and was bigger than Hidan to boot! And there's no one else alive that Hidan would willingly follow! As soon as I'm done healing Shikamaru's shoulder as best I can, we're following those footsteps! Come on: Jashin might have fought someone else on the way to Whirlpool Island, and those people need our help!"
Choji tilted his head in confusion. "Whirlpool Island? You mean where the Hidden Whirlpool Village was before it was destroyed in the Third Ninja World War? … What would Jashin want in a place like that, Ino?"
"To answer that, I need to start from the beginning… here's everything I learned inside the Shinigami."
[X-X-X]
On the other end of those footprints…
Killer B had spent the past few hours inside what seemed to be an eternal darkness with the only light coming from bluish white flames in the sky. It was an incredibly boring experience for him, unable to move and unable to hear himself sing. When he would wake up back in his body, however, he found that the dull life inside the Shinigami was preferable to the horror that awaited him once he left it.
B first noticed that his left arm was gone, and in its place was a blood stain covering the entire left side of his body.
"Was my awesome attack a dud?! I lost my left arm to an explosion of blood! … Say it ain't so! I got the same wound as my bro!"
The next thing he observed was that Karin's bound body was nowhere to be seen.
"I couldn't save the lady in red… I feel just a tiny bit dead…"
That wasn't nearly the worst of it, however; he would soon turn his head to find Gyuki's body laying limp just about a hundred metres away.
"Gyuki, it's your partner Killer B! If you can hear me, then say 'Whee!'…"
There was no response. B hoped Gyuki was just unconscious, and so walked over to his body, struggling to keep balance having just lost an arm. Eventually he reached Gyuki's body and climbed to his head to wake his best friend up, but during his ascent he noticed two stab wounds at the back of Gyuki's neck, and at the moment of discovery all of B's hope had turned to despair.
"No… You were my partner in crime… together at Turtle Island, we did the time…" B sang, but his voice was depressed, and he soon changed his lyrics' tune. "Oh what's the point… without you, I'm in no mood to rhyme…"
B laid down on Gyuki's back, not feeling the energy he once did as Gyuki's death deflated all the tension in his body, sending him into a lethargic trance. That's why he failed to notice that he was slipping off Gyuki's body until he felt the impact of hitting the ground from a fall chest-first.
"Damn… I didn't know I could be this weak of a man…" B remarked in self-pity, but even in his depression B could notice something in the distance: a trail of footsteps that ended nearby.
With nothing else fueling his life's drive, B decided to follow the footprints in the opposite direction to see what awaited him on the other side.
"Gyuki… you won't always be gone… All I can do… is keep waiting for you… and live on…"
[X-X-X]
Back on Whirlpool Island…
As soon as Sasuke found himself in his body, he stood up and ran to where he remembered Hinata was. To his surprise, he found Sakura - and only Sakura - tending to Hinata's injury. Sakura being present wasn't what took him aback; it was the lack of Karin or, as of this moment, Naruto.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura and Hinata exclaimed in unison upon seeing Sasuke return from the Shinigami's dimension, Sakura kneeling down with her hands on what remained of Hinata's right leg and healing her.
"Sakura, Hinata… Jashin's lost all his Shinigami Energy and everyone was freed. The souls that Jashin took should all be going back to their bodies at any time now." Sasuke reported with a smile.
"Does that mean we won, that the world is safe from Jashin once and for all?!" Sakura enthusiastically asked.
Sasuke's smile turned upside down and his eyes narrowed. "No… Jashin's not done yet. There are two places in the world Jashin's mind could have gone."
"Two places? What would those be, Sasuke-kun?" Hinata wondered, having recovered enough strength to talk normally.
"I learned that one becomes a follower of Jashin by drinking the blood from his original body, from what Jashin calls his Holy Grail. Someone with Jashin's original blood in them could be somewhere Jashin might wind up, or he might end up in the Holy Grail itself, waiting for the first person to drink from it from here on to become his new vessel."
Sakura's eyes widened. "But the only follower of Jashin after the Purge was…"
"… Hidan." All three said at once.
"Yes… Hidan's the key to finding Jashin either way." Sasuke said. "Either Jashin possessed Hidan's body, or he's gone to the Holy Grail. And Hidan must know where it is, since he drank from it."
Sasuke turned his attention toward Hinata. "Do you have enough chakra to use your Byakugan to search the island and the waters beneath for Hidan's whereabouts?"
"She can't do it right now; she needs healing!" Sakura objected.
Sasuke walked behind the women and knelt down, placing his hand on Hinata's back. "Then let me pass her some of my chakra."
Sakura looked down in irritation. "I can do that, Sasuke-kun… And you might not even be able to do it; transferring chakra is a completely different skill than combining chakra…"
"But you need to focus on healing, Sakura. As for transferring chakra… If it's Hinata, then I can do it. No doubt in my mind."
"If it's me… why are you so sure, Sasuke-kun?" Hinata asked.
"Because our chakra signatures are very similar. Your Twin Lion Fists and my Susano'o: both of them are Shape Manipulation techniques, and they're both the same colour. They wouldn't both be purple if our chakra, in their purest forms, weren't similar to begin with. It won't be nearly as powerful as when Naruto passed chakra to either of us, since his colour, yellow, is complementary to ours rather than similar… but it should be easier for us to connect in theory."
"Then… it's worth a try." Hinata nodded, steeling herself. "Please transfer some of your chakra, Sasuke-kun."
The Uchiha nodded in turn and focused his chakra into his hand, and further aimed his chakra for Hinata's spine. Just as he thought, the transition was seamless and Hinata soon received enough chakra to use her Byakugan despite her serious wound. She blinked once and her Byakugan was activated. After looking through the southern half of the island with the precision of a fine-toothed comb, she deactivated her Byakugan and shook her head:
"Hidan is not on this side of the island… Sorry Sasuke-kun, Sakura-san…"
Sasuke's eyes widened. "Hidan must have followed the swift currents around to the northern side of the island, too far for your Byakugan to see."
"The Hidden Whirlpool Village is just a little ways north of the centre…" Sakura said. "That's where Karin and Kurama - sorry, Naruto – are right now. Karin wanted to dispel the barrier and Kurama offered to protect her while she was doing it, leaving me to heal Hinata by myself."
"Then we need to head back right away." Sasuke commanded as he stood up and turned north. "I'll go on ahead to the Hidden Whirlpool Village. You two follow me when the healing is finished."
"Actually… I'm feeling pretty good now, Sasuke-kun." Hinata smiled and relaxed her muscles. "We can follow you right away…"
"We're going to take longer getting there, though." Sakura said as she stopped healing Hinata's right leg and spun around, squatting with her back to Hinata.
"Hinata can't run without half her right leg, fully healed or otherwise, so I'll have to carry her. That will slow us down. You okay with that, Hinata?" Sakura asked with her head tilted so she could see Hinata out of the corner of her left eye.
Hinata hugged Sakura from behind with both arms from where she was sitting. "Yes. Thank you so much, Sakura-san."
Sakura promptly stood up while holding Hinata's butt up with both her hands to keep her from falling.
"Please go on ahead, Sasuke-kun… We'll be with you shortly." Hinata declared.
"Alright."
Sasuke nodded, and then quickly started running for the Hidden Whirlpool Village, where he awaited Karin, Naruto… and Hidan.
