The Pantheon of Nine

By: Finn Mertenz

A/N: biginferno - I'm glad.

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN NARUTO. I DO NOT CLAIM TO OWN NARUTO.


Chapter 107: Adrift In The Land Of Sea! The Southern Hideout.

Sunday 9:36am, July 25th 58SSP.

Shuffling through a handful of wrinkled papers, Tayuya blew a harsh gust of wind from her mouth. Blowing her red bangs to the side, Tayuya was scribbling on a piece of paper.

"Okay, okay... My list is almost done." Mumbling these words, Tayuya was propped against Naruto's back.

This pair of traveling friends were sprawled in front of a wooden desk, littered with books and scrolls. This wooden bench was positioned inside an ornate cabin, the personal quarters for Princess Koyuki herself.

Gifting her iron vessel to Naruto, Koyuki's ship was being escorted by Paku and Kahyō, sailing towards the Land of Waves. Covered with a fresh array of wooden planks, Koyuki's ship was once again sea worthy.

"So far... You owe me thirty-two hats, twenty-four socks, nineteen shirts and twelve shorts." Checking her list, Tayuya beamed with joy.

"I mean, I didn't really do anything that bad..." Naruto stuttered in response, rubbing the back of his head.

Hearing these words, Tayuya instantly jumped up from her seat, throwing her list against a distant wall. Afterwards, Tayuya grabbed Naruto's bench before flipping it over, knocking him to the ground.

"You fucking shot me!" Tayuya snarled with rage.

"You're lucky I like your face! Anyone else would be dead!" Clenching both fists, Tayuya hurled a handful of paper into the air.

Pierced by the distinct squawking of Shisui, this violet-eyed raven was perched atop a nearby porthole. Also, Snowball was curled up atop a nearby pillow, snoring like a muffled cat.

"But, you're completely fine... The wound healed itself." Muttering his reply, Naruto leaned up off the floor.

Grabbing her panda hat off a poorly-made bed, Tayuya tossed this bundle of fabric against Naruto's face. Tayuya then charged forward before piling on top of Naruto, pinning her hat across his face.

"Kiss my fucking ass!" Spitting these words out, Tayuya held both hands over Naruto's mouth.

Suddenly, Koyuki's ship was violently rocked by an unknown collision, forcing Naruto and Tayuya to roll across the floor. Before long, Tayuya was held in place by Naruto, accidently brushing their noses together.

Matching her bright red hair, Tayuya's face was abruptly swollen with a deep blush, biting her lower lip. But instead of pushing Naruto away, Tayuya became frozen with hesitation, stuttering under her breath.

Hypnotized by Naruto's violet eyes, Tayuya reached out before playing with his whiskers, pulling his face closer. Interrupting these close friends, the nearby door was kicked open by Karin, charging into few.

"Didn't you guys hear that? What are you do-..." Karin spoke out, freezing midsentence.

Illuminated by rays of light from the hallway, Tayuya's blushing face was fully exposed to view. Also, Karin noticed how close Tayuya was to Naruto, inspiring a gasp in protest.

Before Karin could speak, Koyuki's ship was once again struck by an unknown force, shaking the entire vessel. Falling to the floor, Karin was quickly overshadowed by Naruto and Tayuya, running down the hallway.


Meanwhile.

"What did you do now?!" Kahyō shrieked, holding both arms in front of her chest.

"Me? Why do you always blame me?" Paku mumbled, lowering her pale-skinned face.

This pair of Yuki kunoichi were assembled atop Koyuki's ship, standing between a displaced pile of cracked barrels. Shrouded by the shadows of overcast sails, Gaara and Jūgo ran into view.

Standing over an iron railing, Gaara and Jūgo became blinded by a sparkling aura of sunlight. Reflecting against the ocean's surface, these rays of light eventually dissipated, revealing the pristine Land of Sea.

Consisting of four islands, the isle of Hahajima was the capital of this isolated nation. Surrounded by three smaller islands, Jiro, Taro and the Demonic Isle, Orochimaru's southern hideout was hidden on these distant shores.

"Help! Help!" An elderly fisherman could be heard, garnishing everyone's attention.

Defined by his sunbaked skin and the glimmering bald spot on his head, this elderly man was trapped on a sinking boat. Oddly enough, this water-filled vessel was adrift on a cloud of seaweed.

These clumps of wet weeds polluted the entire shoreline, clogging the propeller of Koyuki's ship. Eventually, this iron vessel was brought to a dramatic still, plugged by dense seaweed.

Gripped by a stream of shifting sand, the elderly fisherman was pulled onto Koyuki's ship, panting with relief. Struggling for air, this elderly man was known as Suekoku, a veteran sailor.

Crawling to his feet, Suekoku charged towards Jūgo, grabbing the loose fabric of his Anbu robe. This brought attention to Suekoku's outfit, a tattered collection of tan shorts and a sleeveless black shirt.

"A demon! A demon of the ocean!" Choking on these words, Suekoku could barely stand.

Reaching out, Jūgo propped Suekoku up with one hand, easily handling the elderly fisherman. However, before Jūgo could speak, he was interrupted by a flock of chirping birds, landing atop his head and shoulders.

"A demon?!" Tayuya muttered, rushing into view.

"Nonsense! There hasn't been a demon in these lands for a thousand years!" Karin cut in, shoving Tayuya to the side.

"The Sage of Six Paths killed them all! Everybody knows that!" Holding both arms in front of her flat chest, Karin scoffed with annoyance.

Before this conversation could progress, Karin was tackled by Tayuya, viciously rolling across the wooden floor. Pinching the bridge of his nose in response, Naruto tried to ignore these wrestling kunoichi.

"Just calm down and breathe... I don't see any demon." Gaara exclaimed, crouched beside the elderly fisherman.

Caught by a brief moment of hesitation, Suekoku reluctantly apologized, blaming his crash on the abundance of seaweed. In the past, Suekoku's shoreline was crystal clear and pristine, but now, seaweed cluttered the entire mass.


Ten minutes later.

The sound of frothing foam and steaming liquid could be heard, exposing an array of colorful and chemical tubes. This concoction of boiling oils was positioned beside an ornate pile of books.

Littered with various markings and circles, these books were shrouded by the scrawny shadow of Amachi. Irradiated by brief flickers of candlelight, Amachi's most prominent feature was his pale skin.

Amachi was a 35 year old rogue shinobi from Konoha, a medical ninja and a scientist who once served Orochimaru. But now, Amachi was his own boss, taking over the southern hideout.

Defined by his shoulder-length pale blonde hair, several strands were tied into a short ponytail in the back. Also, Amachi's outfit consisted of a black kimono shirt and matching pants, contrasting his ankle-length white lab coat.

"So... You've finally finished my cure?!" The ecstatic yet timid voice of a purple haired girl spoke out.

This 13 year old teenager was just an average girl, characterized by extremely pale skin, rarely exposed to direct sunlight. This skin partially matched the linen bandages across her body, wrapped in odd spots and angles.

Adorned with an ocean-blue sleeveless blouse, this loose fabric was held in place by a white sash around her waist. This bright attire deeply contrasted her brown shorts and wooden sandals.

"Yes, Isaribi... If you do everything I say, I'll cure you." Amachi declared, hunched over a batch of boiling chemicals.

After speaking, Amachi was interrupted by the distinct echo of foot steps, rippling across his lab. But instead of responding, Amachi continued to experiment with his chemicals, mixing them together.

"Cure, cure, cure. That's all you talk about." Suigetsu complained, sighing with boredom.

Suigetsu was a 14 year old shinobi from Kiri, a descendant of the infamous Hōzuki clan, renown for water manipulation. Previously imprisoned by Orochimaru, this young shinobi was freed by Amachi.

Similar to Isaribi, Suigetsu's skin was extremely pale, matching his ear-length and moon white hair. Jutting out in all directions, this hair was unkempt and messy, but Suigetsu was too lazy to comb it.

Soon, Suigetu's violet eyes could be seen, radiating a mesmeric aura of purple light. However, these eyes were overshadowed by Suigetsu's shark-like teeth, denoting his status as a swordsmen of the mist.

Lavished with the same color as Isaribi's hair, Suigetsu wore a sleeveless purple shirt. Contrasting this bright fabric, Suigetsu had ankle-length grey pants with a leather belt around his waist, holding two water bottles in place.

Wel-... Well, I just wanna be a normal girl again." Twirling her fingers together, Isaribi downcast her timid face.

Scoffing in response, Suigetsu walked forward before wrapping one arm around Isaribi, pulling her close. Resting his pale chin atop her violet hair, Suigetsu sighed with a dramatic tone, exposing his sharpened row of teeth.

"You look pretty normal to me." Suigetsu mumbled, cleaning his ear with one finger.

"I'm glad you two get along so well, but stay focused." Amachi cut in, stirring a jar of chemicals.

"I can't finish my work unless I get more experiments." Muttering under his breath, Amachi soon hovered over a microscope.

Rubbing her bandaged arms with a nervous tick, Isaribi bit her lower lip while twitching. Combing one hand through his messy hair, Suigetsu continued to lean against Isaribi, briefly yawning.

"Fine... We'll go grab some experiments." Speaking with a lazy tone, Suigetsu turned around before hobbling away.

Frozen with anxious fear, Isaribi stood completely still for several minutes, twirling her fingers together. Soon, Isaribi's nervous hand was yanked by Suigetsu, pulling her out of view.


Meanwhile.

The iconic sound of foot steps could be heard, stomping across a partially rotten dockyard, littered with old barrels. These foot steps belonged to a crowd of crew members, pulling the seaweed from Koyuki's propeller.

"I'm so excited! I've read about this nation over a hundred times!" Karin beamed, repetitively clapping both hands together.

Hearing these words, a deep scowl abruptly spread across Tayuya's face, glancing from side-to-side. This allowed Tayuya to observe a distant village of wooden shacks, stacking piles of trash in the street.

"This island looks like a shithole." Tayuya snarled her words, wrinkling her nose.

Interrupted by a booming laugh, Tayuya and Karin became distracted by Suekoku, stumbling into sight. Using one arm to wipe the sweat from his face, Suekoku soon stood between each of these kunoichi.

"Yea... Lately, our nation hasn't been doing well." Suekoku admitted.

"Is it because of the demon?" Naruto cut in, poking his head over Tayuya's shoulder.

Shocked by this sudden appearance, Tayuya abruptly blushed before tripping over her own feet. Falling to the ground, Tayuya accidently pushed Karin off the dock, knocking her into the frigid water below.

"Yes, young man... A demon of the ocean has plagued my village for several weeks now." Suekoku replied.

"It attacks all ships coming in and out of our nation... We can't even trade anymore." As Suekoku spoke, he rubbed his chin.

"Worse than that, it's forced tourism to collapse, so no one visits our island anymore." Pinching the bridge of his nose, Suekoku downcast his face.

Ignoring these words, Tayuya was sprawled across her backside on the wooden floor, mumbling under her breath. As this occurred, Karin ruptured out from the water below, climbing up a wooden pillar.

"Why would anyone pay to come here?" Tayuya spat out, rolling her eyes with annoyance.

Pulling both knees against her flat chest, Tayuya was defined by her ankle-length Anbu robe, worn by each of her friends. However, Tayuya's most prominent feature was her fluffy panda hat, adorned with fuzzy ears.

Framing a distinct layer of bangs across her pale nose, Tayuya's red hair jutted out from her beanie. Sparkling like a jewel of garnet, Tayuya's waist-length hair was polluted with static, clinging to her outfit.

"Now, now, young girl. This island is a sacred place." Suekoku chuckled.

Growling in response, Tayuya pulled her shoe off before throwing it to the side, soaring through the air. Eventually, Karin's face came into view, promptly smacked by this shoe before falling into the water, again.

"What could possibly be sacred about this lame island, in the middle of no where?" Scowling as she spoke, Tayuya jumped to her feet.

Instead of reacting with anger, Suekoku displayed a genuine smile before reaching out, pointing with one finger. This elderly fisherman was pointing towards the Demonic Isle, a grey-colored island devoid of trees and grass.

Because of its empty plain, Naruto and his friends quickly noticed an ornate shrine on this distant isle. Painted with a radiant tone of crimson red, this shrine was surrounded by hundreds of gravestones.

"According to legend, a thousand years ago, the Land of Sea was connected to the mainland..." Suekoku spoke with a humble tone.

"After purging the mainland of demons, the Sage of Six Paths cornered their remaining armies here, blocking their escape." Raising one finger into the air, Suekoku resembled an elderly scholar.

"For seven days and seven nights, he fought the demonic hordes, destroying mountains and carving oceans." Crossing both arms behind his back, Suekoku breathed through his nose.

"This battle became so chaotic, the Land of Sea was completely separated from the mainland, isolated from society." Suekoku recited the same legend from his childhood.

After speaking, Suekoku was briefly interrupted by a flock of seagulls, honking in perfect unison as they flew overhead. However, these seagulls were quickly muffled by the squawks of Shisui, polluting the air with black feathers.

"Striking down the last of these demons, the Sage of Six Paths fell ill with a tainted wound." As Suekoku spoke, Shisui was attacking a seagull in the background.

"The Sage eventually died on the Demonic Isle. So now, grass and trees refuse to grow there." After speaking, Suekoku coughed into one hand.

As this conversation progressed, dozens of crew members were swaying nets through nearby water. Pulling the seaweed from Koyuki's propeller, this iron vessel was finally able to move again.

"Usually, tourists flock to the Demonic Isle, the final resting place for the Sage of Six Paths." Rubbing his chin as he spoke, Suekoku narrowed both of his black eyes.

"But with the recent appearance of demons, people fear that our island is already lost." These words were followed by an awkward silence.

Crawling atop the wooden dock, Karin was partially obscured by thick layers of seaweed, clinging to her petite body. But before Karin could speak, she was startled by a pair of seagulls, falling into the water for a third time.

"So, where's the demon?" Tayuya questioned, wrinkling her pale nose.

Chuckling in response, Suekoku strolled towards the nearby village, encouraging Naruto and Tayuya to follow. Pulling Karin from the water, this group of friends all trailed behind Suekoku, concealed by rays of sunlight.


Five minutes later.

"Twenty Ryo?! You'll make me homeless with those prices!" Suekoku gasped, standing in front of a wooden stall.

Surrounded by Naruto, Tayuya and Karin, this elderly fisherman was delivering his daily catch to town. Defined by rotten wood, shattered windows and ripped signs, this town was basically abandoned.

Despite its eerie appearance, this village was the provincial capital that ruled the Land of Sea. Called Sui by the locals, this shack-filled town barely fit the description of a village, but it was the only thing Suekoku had.

"I'm sorry... It's the demon, I just can't pay anymore." A middle-aged shopkeeper spoke out, shaking his head from side-to-side.

"The market is bone dry, I barely have enough to feed my own family..." As this unnamed man spoke, a scowl soon spread across Tayuya's face.

Interrupting these grown adults, Tayuya kicked a full barrel of fresh fish to the ground. Shocking each of these elderly bystanders, Tayuya snarled before pointing at Suekoku.

"Demon this, demon that! Demon, demon, demon! There is no demon!' Tayuya complained.

After Tayuya spoke, nearby shacks were abruptly swallowed by waves of seaweed. Shaking the entire village, the air was muffled by distant screams as civilians ran for safety.

"Oh no! It's happening again!" Suekoku panicked, ducking for cover.

Undaunted by these thrashing waves, Tayuya and Naruto both rushed through the streets. But Karin followed Suekoku's lead, hiding behind a wooden barrel before biting her nails.


Meanwhile.

"What was that?" Gaara murmured, standing atop a cloud of sand.

Gaara, Kahyō, Paku and Jūgo were all assembled outside of Koyuki's ship, pulling seaweed from the water. However, this group of friends were distracted by a nearby explosion, rippling out from Sui.

"Hehah! Nothing!" Paku snorted, freezing a patch of water with one hand.

Skating across this uneven surface, Paku shot ice from her fingertips while giggling, acting like a child. Pinching the bridge of her nose, Kahyō tried to remain calm, but she was constantly babysitting Paku.

Blending in with the purified water, Paku's ocean blue hair contrasted her freshly made ice. Giggling for several moments, Paku made a brief snow angel before Kahyō threw seaweed at her.

"They'll be fine, let's get rid of this seaweed, before they get back." Kahyō muttered under her breath, getting back to work.


Meanwhile.

Obscured by a geysers of green seaweed, the villagers of Sui were running for their lives. As planks of rotten wooden and rustic debris polluted the air, a jumbling behemoth of seaweed could be seen.

Woven together like a generic giant, this mound of wet weeds stood over 10ft tall, dwarfing the nearby shacks. Characterized by hollow eyes and a gapping mouth, this stumbling creature was littered with trash.

Cans, bottles and rusty knives all protruded out from this mass of seaweed, stained with piles of garbage. Swinging its lengthy arms in protest, this bulging giant unleashed a stream of seaweed, launched through the air.

Easily dodging these mossy-covered projectiles, Tayuya scoffed before blowing the bangs from her face. Without warning, a barrage of wooden barrels flew over Tayuya's head, shrouding her in shadows.

Propelled by an unseen force with the strength of gravity, these barrels collided against the unnamed giant. Erupting into a moss-filled explosion, seaweed was launched in all directions.

Running away, Tayuya was eventually hit by a glob of seaweed, concealing her red hair from view. Rupturing out from this bush of wet weeds, Tayuya gagged with disgust, pulling her panda hat off.

As Tayuya continued to gag, Naruto was hunched over a bundle of seaweed, grabbing a handful of the wet plant. Empowered by his Rinnegan, Naruto could see the dense chakra that pulsated through this seaweed.

Infact, Naruto had seen this seaweed once before, years ago during another life.


Ten minutes later.

"Done!" Paku jumped for joy.

Technically, Paku was the oldest member of this traveling group, but she acted like the youngest. Constantly reminded of this fact, Kahyō downcast her face, rubbing her eyes with both hands.

Pulling the last shred of seaweed from Koyuki's ship, Kahyō noticed the distant outline of Tayuya, Karin and Naruto. These young friends were escorting Suekoku back to his boat, strolling across the dock.

"The island channels are too narrow for our ship... Could we borrow your boat?" Naruto mumbled.

Earning a quick nod in response, Suekoku soon reached the end of the dock, jumping atop his weathered boat. Barely big enough to fit four people, the paint on this boat was chipped and flaking.

"Where are we going now?" Jūgo cut in, dwarfing Naruto in size.

"Nope! Not me! I didn't sign up for this!" Karin interrupted, dramatically poking Jūgo's chest.

"Demons?! Demons?! Uh un! Nope!" Stuttering these words, Karin rushed onto Koyuki's ship.

Running downstairs, Karin quickly disappeared from view, finding the safest cabin to board up and hide in. Tilting his head with confusion, Jūgo rubbed one hand through his spiky orange hair.

"We're gonna go check out the Demonic Isle... Gaara, can you watch Karin until we get back?" Naruto exclaimed, answered by a stiff nod from Gaara.

"You're burning daylight! Let's get moving!" Suekoku shrieked, beating his oar against the water.

Inspired by these words, Naruto, Tayuya and Jūgo all boarded Suekoku's small boat, rippling the nearby water. Without a moment of hesitation, Suekoku pushed off from the dock, sailing towards the Demonic Isle.


Five minutes later.

Drifting through a narrow channel of polluted water, Suekoku maneuvered past various clumps of seaweed. Surrounded by Jiro and Taro island, Suekoku's boat was the perfect size for these narrow waters.

Despite the short distance between Jiro and Taro island, neither of these islands had a formal beach. Instead, a steep cliffside enveloped both of them, leading towards a dark abyss without end.

True to their name, the Land of Sea wasn't surrounded by a lake or river, they were adrift in the open ocean. Because of this, the channels between the Land of Sea were extremely deep, even the sun couldn't reach them.

"Suekoku… I've been meaning to ask you something." Naruto spoke out, sitting beside Tayuya.

"Yes? What is it, young man." Suekoku remarked, swishing his oar through the water.

"I thought the Land of Sea was protected by Kiri, where are they?" Hearing these words, Suekoku sighed in response.

Pierced by the distinct squawking of Shisui, this violet-eyed raven soared into view, landing atop Naruto's shoulder. At the same time, the iconic rumbling of clouds could be heard, swirling overhead.

"Because of our distance from the mainland... We pay our monthly tribute to Kiri by boat..." Suekoku muttered.

"And since the demon attacks all your ships, you can't pay Kiri for help." Tayuya cut in, earning a depressed nod from Suekoku.

Fueled by a splash of water, Suekoku's boat drifted into the open ocean, exposing the nearby Demonic Isle. Barely a stones throw from Jiro island, the Demonic Isle was the most remote island inside the Land of Sea.

Suddenly, Suekoku's boat was rocked by hostile waves, growing in size and volume with each second. Eventually, these waves forced Shisui to jump from Naruto's shoulder, soaring towards the sky.

Leaping atop this violent water, Naruto's vibrant hair was stained with strands of seaweed, drenching his outfit. Clapping both hands together, an unseen force rippled out from Naruto, disrupting the distant wave.

Protruding out from the ocean's surface, streams of seaweed quickly wrapped around Naruto's ankles. Yanked below the water, Naruto's Rinnegan were still recovering from previous usage.

Unable to free himself, Naruto was pulled into a deep abyss, sinking to depths beyond sunlight. Crushed under dense waves, Naruto gagged for air, spewing bubbles that ruptured the water's surface.

Without warning, Naruto's head was smashed against an underwater boulder, struck into a daze for several moments. Sinking between pillars of wet stone, Naruto was soon propped against a moss-covered rock.

Draining the air from his lungs, Naruto was barely conscious as a pale hand caressed his chin. Pulling Naruto's whiskered face, Isaribi leaned forward before blowing air into his lungs, pressing their lips together.

Choking on a breath of fresh air, Naruto caught a glimpse of Isaribi's black eyes, narrowed and timid. Unhindered by the deep water pressure, Isaribi wrapped both arms around Naruto before swimming to safety.

Erupting atop the ocean's surface, Naruto gasped for air while leaning against Isaribi. Followed by the emerged outline of Tayuya, this red-haired kunoichi had a sour expression across her face..

Instead of questioning the sudden appearance of a strange girl, Jūgo reached out before pulling Naruto onto the boat. Dripping water from her hair, Isaribi's linen bandages were soaking wet.

"Not so fast! That boat is for Tayuya-approved personnel! Back away!" Spitting these words out, Tayuya swam in front of Isaribi.

Bobbing atop the water without her hat, strands of Tayuya's bright hair were sprawled across the shifting waves. Before long, Tayuya grinded her teeth together while glaring at Isaribi.

"Um-... Uh... Okay?" As Isaribi mumbled these words, Tayuya snarled with hostility.

"Don't be so angry now, young lady! Let her climb aboard!" Suekoku cut in, helping Isaribi onto his boat.

Grumbling various insults under her breath, Tayuya crawled atop Suekoku's boat, shaking the water from her hair. Glaring at Isaribi with unblinking eyes, Tayuya sat in front of Naruto, pushing down on his stomach.

Squeezing the water from his lungs, Naruto choked on air as Tayuya continued to push on his stomach. But instead of recognizing this sound, Tayuya was too distracted by Isaribi, fuming with rage.

"So, what hole did you swim out of?!" Grinding these words between her teeth, Tayuya was still pushing down on Naruto's chest.

"Well... I live on the cape of Jiro island... And I saw your boat." Twirling her fingers together, Isaribi downcast her face.

Hiding from Tayuya's inquisitive glare, this red-hair kunoichi eventually pressed her face against Isaribi. Shoving their noses against each other, Tayuya hummed with hostility, growling like a rabid ferret.

"Jiro island? Not many people call that place home. The soil is too dry for farming and the beaches are too deep for fishing." Suekoku spoke out.

"But let's stay focused, young travelers... We're almost there." While speaking, Suekoku pointed at an ornate dock with one hand.

Fashioned together with fine wood, this dock jutted out from a grey-colored cliffside, devoid of grass. Leading to the mainland, the entrance of this dock was enshrined by a crimson waypoint.

Characterized by an overhanging arch, the paint on this waypoint was partially chipped and cracked. Constantly exposed to an ocean breeze, this waypoint was a rustic shadow of its former glory.

Drifting up against this ancient dock, Naruto groaned before throwing up a mouthful of water. Wrapping both arms across Naruto's stomach, Isaribi pumped the last ounce of water from his mouth.

Enraged by this display, Tayuya promptly shoved Isaribi off the boat, submerging her in the water. Holding Isaribi's head down for several minutes, Tayuya was trying to drown her new rival.

Shaking his head from side-to-side, Suekoku tied his boat to the dock before walking inland, followed by Jūgo. Ignoring these footsteps, Tayuya became shocked as Isaribi casually held her breath without end.

"What the fuck, are you a deep sea diver?" Tayuya questioned, freeing Isaribi from her grasp.

"U-...Um... Ye-Yea, I sure am." Isaribi muttered in response.

Bobbing her head above tranquil waves, the bandages across Isaribi's face were soaking wet, drenching her violet hair. This dripping hair was the first thing Naruto saw after opening his vibrant eyes.

Snagged by a glimpse of Naruto's Rinnegan, Isaribi accidently bit her own tongue before gasping with shock. Pushing himself up with one hand, Naruto leaned over the boat, hovering mere inches from Isaribi.

"I've seen you before... I know you." Slurring these words, Naruto scratched the side of his head while speaking.

"You're thinking of someone else, I've never met you before. Sorry." Apologizing with a timid voice, Isaribi crawled atop Suekoku's boat.

Enthralled with jealousy, Tayuya leapt in front of Naruto, foaming at the mouth like a wild wolf. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Naruto grabbed Tayuya's hand before pulling her onto the dock, trailing after Jūgo.

Briefly hesitating, Isaribi glanced over her shoulder, focused on a distinct ripple of water next to Suekoku's boat. Jumping atop the nearby dock, Isaribi chased after Naruto, causing her violet hair to rustle in the breeze.


Five minutes later.

Strolling down a dirt-filled road, Naruto, Tayuya and Isaribi were surrounded by countless gravestones. This group of friends were traveling behind Jūgo and Suekoku, standing in front of the Sage's Shrine.

Holding both hands against the back of her fluffy panda hat, Tayuya was wrinkling her nose with a sour face. Standing between Naruto and Isaribi, Tayuya was determined to keep them separated.

"So... Where do you two come from? You didn't grow up here." Isaribi exclaimed.

"I don't trust you." Blurting these words out, Tayuya narrowed her brown eyes.

"Something smells fishy here, and it's definitely you." Crossing both arms in front of her flat chest, Tayuya scowled.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Naruto eventually caught up with Jūgo and Suekoku, illuminated by sunlight. At the same time, the iconic squawking of seagulls could be heard, soaring through the background.

"It's good to be back... I used to be the groundskeeper here, before the demon came." Suekoku remarked, rubbing his belly.

Hearing these words, Isaribi downcast her face while twirling her fingers together, a nervous habit. This fidgeting movement was easily noticed by Tayuya, but Jūgo and Naruto were distracted by Suekoku.

Walking into the Sage's Shrine, Suekoku dramatically breathed through his nose, releasing a cheerful sigh. Despite his veteran age, Suekoku was reminded of his youth, filling him with vigor.

Strolling into the center of this shrine, a wooden casket was engraved in the floor, cracked and defiled. This casket was the final resting place for the Sage of Six Paths, housing his ancient corpse.

"The Sage! His casket has been opened!" Shrieking these words, Suekoku ran forward before crouching down.

Pushing the wooden lid off, an empty casket was put on full display, forcing Suekoku's mouth to fall open. This revelation created beads of sweat that partially drenched Suekoku's face, dripping from his chin.

"They've stolen him! They took his body! Someone's stolen the Sage of Six Paths!" Filled with panicked, Suekoku gripped his bald head with both hands.

"Stolen him? But he's been dead for almost a thousand years." Jūgo muttered.

Instead of waiting for a response, Isaribi turned around before running out the door. Earning an accusatory scoff from Tayuya, this red-haired kunoichi quickly chased after Isaribi.

Running towards the water, each of these girls were abruptly swallowed by waves of water. Washing across the Demonic Isle, these steep waves completely obscured Isaribi from view.

"Bitch! Where did you go!" Choking on these words, Tayuya paddled across the water's surface.

Crawling atop a wooden pillar, Suekoku's teeth chattered as the Sage's Shrine was flooded with water. Standing like a giant, Jūgo's ankles were barely soaked by these thrashing waves.

"Not again..." As Naruto mumbled these words, the rushing water grew in volume.

Suddenly, a pair of watery hands protruded out from these waves, shaped and molded by dense chakra. Quickly restrained by these chakra-filled hands, Jūgo picked Naruto up before throwing him to safety.

Landing against a rustic wall, Naruto hovered in place by funneling chakra towards his feet. Wiping the water from his whiskers, Naruto gasped as Jūgo was pulled underwater.

Reaching out, Naruto was interrupted by a barrage of chakra-filled liquid bullets, erupting from the water below. Blasting dozens of holes across the wooden wall, Naruto hastily outran these rapid projectiles.

"No! No, no, no! This shrine is sacred!" Suekoku flew into a frenzy, clinging to a wooden rafter.

Without warning, an entire section of the Sage's Shrine was torn from its foundation, overwhelmed by water. Startled by this abrupt jolt, Naruto lost his balance before tripping over a wooden window.

Falling through the air, Naruto was hit by a condensed stream of water, spewing out like a geyser. This violent impact forced Naruto to flip and skid across the water's surface, landing in a bundle of seaweed.

"Tch… That was easier than I thought." Suigetsu chuckled with triumphant, poking his head out of the water.

Defined by his shark-tooth smile, Suigetsu was just a floating head atop the water, devoid of any body or weapon. This was the result of the Water Transformation Technique, a hallmark of the Hōzuki clan.

"At this rate, Amachi will have his experiments in no time." As Suigetsu spoke, he slowly rose from the water.

Held together by a pulsating vortex of water, this liquid eventually solidified into a fleshy body. Revealing the slender outline of Suigetsu, this white-haired shinobi was drenched with water, dripping from every muscle.

In the past, Suigetsu was a loyal shinobi of Kiri, answerable only to the Misukage, and his older brother. But with the premature death of Mangetsu, Suigetsu briefly lost his purpose in life.

Captured and experimented on by Orochimaru, Suigetsu was nothing more than a rabid criminal now. Terrorizing the Land of Sea, this once great shinobi had lost all pride, gone with his brother.


Meanwhile.

"Where did that loser go?" Tayuya talked to herself, crawling atop the water's surface.

Tayuya was standing in the middle of a deep channel, dripping water from her hair and robe. Pulling her hat loose, this fluffy garment was soaking wet, creating a sour expression across Tayuya's face.

"This better air dry..." Mumbling these words, Tayuya flinched as a green fin protruded out from the distant water.

Surging across the open ocean, this fin created a chaotic ripple of water, swelling into dense waves. Moving fasting than Tayuya's reflexes, this fin resembled a demonic shark with spiky protrusions.

Sinking beneath the waves, this fin abruptly disappeared for several moments, hidden below the water. Glancing from side-to-side, Tayuya scoffed before wrinkling her pale nose.

Piercing the water, a pair of scaled-covered green hands ruptured out from below, gripping each of Tayuya's ankles. Overwhelmed by these webbed fingers, Tayuya was yanked into the water.

Obscured by a thin layer of bubbles, Tayuya choked on water as her panda hat floated to the surface. Struggling to free herself, Tayuya kicked both legs through the dark water.

Striking out against a distorted face, Tayuya was battling a slim-covered outline of scales and spikes. Yanked towards an endless abyss, Tayuya was oddly comfortable at these extreme depths.

Distracted by her rage, Tayuya didn't even notice that she was breathing underwater, undaunted by the harsh pressure. Pushing off against this strange opponent, Tayuya's red hair was battered by salt-filled water.

As strands of red hair drifted in every direction, Tayuya swayed both arms and legs through the water. Barely able to distinguish the sun, Tayuya was almost completely enveloped by dark water.

Empowered by parting clouds, this vibrant sun depicted a pristine array of twinkling jewels across the ocean. Seeping below these waves, rays of sunlight eventually reached Tayuya, allowing her hair to sparkle.

This sunlight also irradiated the nearby water, revealing the scale-covered silhouette of Isaribi. Defined by webbed feet, hands and her fin, Isaribi resembled an odd mutation of human and fish.

Shocked by this revelation, Tayuya's jawline fell open, spewing a mouthful of bubbles to the water's surface. Because of Isaribi's strange appearance, Tayuya could barely recognize this young girl.

Covered by thick scales from head to toe, even Isaribi's hair had morphed into hardened skin, drenched with slim. Isaribi's last human trait were her black eyes, filled with a blank and shallow expression.

In the past, Isaribi would sit at home and fish all day, she wasn't a shinobi and she had no desire to be one. But one dream still burned inside of her, she wanted to be a normal girl.