Summary: For this plan the elders came up with, there can only be death as a punishment. Because there will be no forgiveness for this action, then so be it.

Prequel/sequel to chapter 22. Basically, the backstory to what happened in Chapter 22.


Kazue pushed open the council room of the Ōtsutsuki Clan elders, right on time to hear the words, "There's no other way. How else will we find out if the wrong is Ashura-sama's or Nobuyuki-san's?"

She gazed around as she entered, her eyes catching Indra's. She knows that Nobuyuki's death was his doing, but she cannot prove it and even if she could, no one would believe her anyway. Her word against a noble. Yet she sees now how pale Indra looked. So this troubles him too, she thought in realization. It's one thing to order the death of a rival, but another to be told that his sister was to be violated as some sort of test. Someone he loved dearly.

And all because of his sister's daughter being born with legs fused. What a cruel fate, Kazue thought, nearly despondent.

"But to go so far, it's...it's unjust," another elder-Elder Rokurō, if she recalled correctly-tried to argue and Kazue knows that he was one of the few to oppose this...plan. Elder Rokurō had always been fond of Ashura, often saying she reminded him of his own daughter. "It'll do more harm than good to Ashura-sama."

"It was decided a mere two nights ago," responded Elder Ryūnosuke with a frown. "The plan will be enacted and we will see if the child born from this whole and healthy or as the one before."

And if it is not, what will you do then? were the unspoken thoughts of Indra and Kazue both. This plan will end poorly, both knew that, and both knew, also, that things would never be the same. It didn't it right with Kazue. She was meant to heal-not to help cause harm.

"So be it," Indra murmured. "So be it. It will be as the elders say." Hanabusa refused to do this, when one of the elder's approached him, saying he'll have no part in harming his friend. So who, instead, will the elders have to do such a thing? The platinum-haired woman could almost see the gears in Indra's head turning and it made her uneasy. What was he planning now? But for the moment it mattered little. This plan of the elders...it would end poorly. Both for them all and for Ashura. Hagoromo, should he discover them, will see to that such an attack upon his only daughter would not go unpunished.

We will all be put to death for this, Kazue thought. But so be it. For this, there is no forgiveness.


A/N: I like tormenting these characters needlessly. I don't know why. Must be my need to write something angsty and/or dark. I'm truly sorry about that.

If you got constructive criticism, let me know. I have the desire to know how to improve as a writer. Requests are still open, if you want to give me an idea about what to write for this collection.